In Part 1 of this two-part series, we examined Pluto, our karmic teacher, and explored the sign of Capricorn. Then we looked back to the previous era of Pluto in Capricorn. We have done our due diligence, extracted the nectar, and reflected on what we learned during that period.
Pluto moved into Aquarius on March 23rd but will retrograde into Capricorn on June 12th, 2023. Capricorn and Aquarius dance with Pluto for some time until finally, Pluto moves into Aquarius in November 2024 and stays there until 2043, when it moves into Pisces.
Now it is time to look forward and speculate on what might happen in the next 20-year period. To fully understand what Pluto in Aquarius might hold for us, we first need to explore the sign of Aquarius and, historically, what happened during the transition from Capricorn to Aquarius the last time Pluto made this shift.
Aquarius
Aquarius is an astrological sign known for its rebellious nature. It is innovative, independent, and creative—and rules over energy and technology.
Dan Furst, in his book Surfing Aquarius: How to Ace the Wave of Change, mentions Eleven Principles of Aquarius:
Revolution
Evolution
Unity
Friendship
Transparency
Magic (Mystery)*
Comedy (vs. the Tragedy of Pisces)*
Abundance
Electricity (Energy)*
Brilliance
Freedom
*my understanding of those words
Dan’s book is an excellent guide to help navigate Pluto’s journey through Aquarius and the more significant shift as we transition into the great Age of Aquarius over the next 100 years. I will touch on most of these principles in more detail below, but please look at this list and draw your own conclusions.
Aquarius’ ruler is Uranus—energy and the integration of opposites—symbolized by the caduceus. Our Uranus opposition is one of the most profound personal transits we encounter in our lifetime. A turning point. That point where we have a new perspective and all the rules we previously lived by no longer apply. The moment Jung called the”sacred marriage”—where we integrate both masculine and feminine energy—often resulting in a mid-life crisis or a “life begins at 40” perspective.
This transition from Capricorn to Aquarius marks a new era of change. Aquarius is the sign of progress, revolution, and reform—it’s all about breaking away from outdated norms and embracing a new way of thinking. Pluto’s transition from Capricorn to Aquarius was last seen between 1762 and 1778—a period when monarchies were in question, inequality was coming to a breaking point, and revolution was in the air. It is easy to draw parallels between that and what we have experienced with Pluto in Capricorn over the last 15 years—elitism and hierarchies are no longer acceptable.
Pluto in Aquarius
The dawn of that new era was upon us when Pluto entered Aquarius on March 23rd. This astrological event has been highly anticipated by many and will bring about another period of significant change. The focus in this new era will highlight all the Aquarian attributes previously discussed, such as independence and freedom, and emancipation from the structures that showed us their dark side during Pluto in Capricorn— perhaps decentralization or networking.
One such change that could be seen during this period is the emergence of new borders, both physical and metaphorical. As Pluto enters Aquarius, it may increase awareness of the need for different forms of boundaries internally and externally—something we became aware of during the pandemic—creating inner, sacred space and divisions between nations, communities, and individuals.
Some speculate this new perspective could lead to changes in borders in the USA, Europe, Russia, Scotland, and Ireland or even the formation of entirely new nations, as in 1776, the last time Pluto moved into Aquarius.
Global organizations such as the UN and NATO may reconfigure or disappear altogether. Monarchies break down or redefine themselves (which is already happening). And then the highly speculated new digital one-world currency.
Remember, Pluto is a powerful and strict teacher. It will be challenging. Typically, humans must learn the hard way, but being “forewarned is forearmed,” and this is where astrology (and mythology) is a gift.
Think about all the veils that were lifted during Pluto and Capricorn, and you will know where to look for the changes (banks, governments, and medical systems). But as we move away from the interface, the transition between the two, I see other themes emerging. The themes that arise for me are: expanded states of consciousness, technology (specifically AI), and the non-material world.
States of Consciousness
It seems that we are coming to the end of “the war on drugs”—cannabis is legal in many places, and there is a lot of research emerging on the positive effects of DMT, Psilocybin, and MDMA—promising ways to cure deep-seated problems such as trauma, addiction, and PTSD. Many of these substances are sacred plants that indigenous people have used since the beginning of time.
Since Pluto is here to stir the pot, I fear the commercialization of these sacred plants. I feel the plant devas will show us what happens when we use sacred plants without reverence. This lesson arises from ayahuasca ceremonies conducted left and right by untrained facilitators—often with unfortunate outcomes. We also see it in the cultural appropriation of indigenous people—such as someone believing they can become a shaman in a weekend workshop when it has taken others generations to achieve this title. The results are disrespectful and often not pretty.
Technology
What about technology? Technology is a very Aquarian contribution. Pluto is the sign of transformation and may show us the limits or breakdown of technology. Another thing that is already beginning to happen.
Maximization vs. Creative Expression
A common goal is that humans should advance technology so that no one needs to work. I believe our purpose on earth, what makes us human, is our ability to create, whether art, technology, children, or projects—our gift is creativity. Maybe we need not stop “working” but redefine the word “work” to see it as how we as individuals expend our energy to create—lest we lose one of our greatest gifts—the ability to imagine.
Technology in and of itself is not evil. It is what we as humans choose to do with it( while we still can). If we use it as a tool to create, then it can be a blessing. If we use it as a weapon, which bullies often do on social media, then it is toxic. It is an addiction if we don’t have conversations with others because we have been sucked deeply into our phones.
Information Wars
If we use media (social or mass) as a source of information, then we have stopped thinking. Do you notice the number of statistics offered in any article, press conference, or post? Where is this information coming from? Does anyone care? No. It sounds intelligent to say that there is a 10% chance that AI will destroy the human race (I’ll get to that in a minute).
People jump on these bytes of information and repeat them over and over again. If you are familiar with the 100th Monkey Theory (morphic resonance), affirmations, or egregores, then you know what we say or think repeatedly becomes true.
During the pandemic, everyone had statistics. And many of them could provide references, which brings up the second disturbing realization “we see what we look for,” and by we, I am referring to scientists here. More and more information (yes, from research projects) points to how subjective science is.
Rupert Sheldrake is studying this phenomenon. He is exploring why experiments are rarely repeatable by a different group of investigators in classical scientific experiments—which is one of the basic precepts of scientific investigation—an experiment must be repeatable and conclude the same results to “prove” a hypothesis. Sadly subsequent experiments that fail to prove the hypothesis are just not published.
Typically research into metaphysis is much more stringent in removing any parameters of external influence than classical science. The reason is that research into metaphysis comes under much more scrutiny.
The observer effect is much stronger than previously realized. People have been shown to have the ability to influence random number generators. The scientist can and does affect the outcome. Metaphysics has purported this for a long time. The deeper we get into quantum theory and the realization that everything is a waveform that can be influenced, the more science fiction becomes a reality, clearly in alignment with our Aquarian journey.
The Digital World
Although the malleability of the digital world makes it fast and easy, there is also a problem with that—it can be easily altered. This may be why people are not afraid to make statements of “fact” that might later be proven untrue. All one needs to do is delete and re-publish. There is no “paper trail”—unless someone took a screenshot or printed it.
My advice—read a book! I mean an actual physical book, not an ebook or Kindle. I heard a controversial author speak about how he happened to look at the digital copy of his book, and it had been edited, not by him! Someone deleted certain controversial parts. Whether it was Big Brother or a glitch, it’s something to consider. Digital is very impermanent.
Having said that, there is a place for everything. During the pandemic, I was thankful that digital books were an option. I read a lot, and living in Egypt, English books are difficult to find—especially on subjects I want to read. I couldn’t travel for some time but could read digital books from my phone. And I was grateful for that.
The other reason I recommend books over posts or blogs is that writing a book is much more complex and time-consuming. I know from personal experience. The number of times I needed to re-read my book to edit it was a significant commitment, so I wanted it to be correct. Other editors will probably read it as well. Getting away with things is much more difficult (although possible)—most published books are well-vetted.
Artificial Intelligence
Back to AI as promised: I love technology, the internet, cell phones, all of it (most of it, facial recognition may be too far). I believe these are all great gifts—in moderation—as long as they don’t isolate us or stop us from thinking and being creative.
I use AI when I write. Grammarly has become my best friend. I am crap at spelling and grammar. But something interesting happened from using this technology; I am learning—my grammar has improved. I now know where commas and emdashes go!
The question is not if but how much. Cell phones are great if you are lost and can use Google maps to find your way home. But not if it becomes a substitute for real interactions with real humans. Our nervous systems need other humans to co-regulate. And as far as I know, we still don’t have an app for that (I’m almost sorry I put that out there).
The Non-material World
AI can be an analogy for the non-material world, like email is an analogy for telepathy. We write an email on a device (our brain/nervous system) and send it through the wifi (ethers) to the world wide web (zero point field), where it is received on another device (someone else’s brain/nervous system). Technology has opened the door that allows people to believe in the unseen world. In a way, it grounds spirituality in science. In ancient cultures, they were never separate. We may have come full circle.
It’s interesting to note that ChatGPT, although it has been around for quite some time, exploded in popularity just after launching its newest version. In five days (or two months, depending on your source), it reached 100 million users. All this came just months before Pluto left Capricorn and moved into Aquarius—a glimpse into the future. I bring this up because the reaction to ChatGPT is SO polarized. For some people, this is the best thing that has ever happened; for others, people in the tech world, in fact (if facts still exist, they have become sort of like fairies, either you believe they exist or you don’t, and no one is going to change your mind) there is a 10% chance it could it destroy us. I will refer you to a very enlightening podcast with Ezra Klein & Kelsey Piper for that fact and others.
I honestly have mixed feelings. We are at a turning point. How do we know if we are getting the truth? We must learn to trust our “bullshit” detector. Truth has a feeling—hone that skill. We have these abilities; we must choose to use them and do the work to develop them. There is no such thing as a “free lunch” or, in this age of commercialism, a “free offer.” There is always an upsell or an agenda. Use your inherent “technology,” your gifts, and create your plan or outcome.
We must seek a higher level of direct communication with the unseen world. Not one that has been programmed or influenced by a corporation or institution, which may its own agenda. Pluto in Capricorn already taught us that lesson. And if you don’t already know, this key to AI is the prompt—the stimulus, the question. Without us creating questions, it doesn’t do anything—it needs our creative spark. Why not ask your guides or higher self? We have it all in us!
Hybrid Humans
Then, of course, there is the topic of hybrid humans. All I have to say on that subject is anyone who wants to have a chip put in their head after seeing the videos of people frantically trying to control their computer-based cars when the computer has hit a glitch and decided it should go 100 mph and can’t be stopped—go for it. To each his own demise.
New is Not Better
People will learn that new is not necessarily better—and usually, it is not even new—just new for us. Things need to stand the test of time.
Typically western culture has no respect for the Wisewoman/Sage/Tribal Elders—one of our greatest downfalls. The expression “respect your elders” has merit. Young people think what they are going through is new. It’s not; only the details are unique. The stages: teenage angst, desire to be an individual, mid-life crisis, and growing old have all happened to each generation before us. We go through it; our parents and grandparents go through it, and our children and grandchildren will go through all the same cycles and stages. We see just the current iteration of that same life transitions.
Bringing it Together
We started this journey in Part 1, looking back at the terrain we had just traveled when Pluto was in Capricorn. Looking back, we could process what happened to us during that period and gain insight into how Pluto, our karmic teacher, delivers its lessons.
We then explored the nature of Aquarius and how Pluto might feel in that sign. Some aspects are already on the horizon, while others are pure speculation. Use the contemplation questions below to take a mental voyage through this new landscape and arrive at your own conclusions using Aquarius’s gifts—freedom, innovation, imagination, and the integration of opposites. It’s no longer either or; it’s both and. And with the clarity that you gain and a sense of adventure, move forward into your future.
The point is to be mindful. Exercise your ability to make a choice. The only freedom we genuinely possess is mental freedom—the ability to think for ourselves. It is a hugely important gift that most people don’t use. Other species are driven by instinct. We, as humans, have a well-developed pre-frontal cortex that allows us to contemplate and make choices. We give all our power away when we let others think and make choices for us. Think for yourself. We are not free if we don’t think for ourselves.
Enjoy the journey!
Possible Contemplation Questions:
Considering all you know about Aquarius, what themes come up for you?
Where do you see us, as humanity, going in this next period as Pluto enters Aquarius?
What hard lessons might come up for you—and how best can you prepare for them?
Please share your thoughts and visions in the comments if you are inclined. You can join us in our online communities, Dancing Down the Moon and WiseWomans Way, to watch the replay.
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Leslie Zehr is a sacred arts teacher, workshop leader, mentor, podcaster, and author. For more than 30 years has supported women to reconnect to the Divine Feminine within through the mysteries of ancient Egypt. A trained hypnotherapist, reiki master, astrologer, aromatherapist, and homeopath, Leslie is the author of two books –The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer and The Al-chemia Remedies: Vibrational Essences from Egyptian Flowers and Sacred Sites. Her lectures and workshops have taken her from Cairo, ancient Egyptian temples, and archaeological sites along the Nile River to studios and centers across the United States. Currently, Leslie offers courses through her online school, Universal Dancer Temple of the Sacred Arts, and she is the Host and Producer of The Universal Dancer Podcast.