Midlife Transits: Pluto Square Pluto

Pluto doesn’t get his due.  This poor guy at the edge of our solar system was a planet and then got demoted, but we astrologers still consider him very important.  He is the planet that represents power and transformation.  He is considered a generational planet as he moves so slowly.  But when and where you experience a transit from Pluto, it can be life-altering.

For example, he is a big part in the trio of transits that constitute that mid-life crisis.  Typically the first one that hits is Transit Neptune square Natal Neptune.  Second is this Transit Pluto square Natal Pluto.  And third is Transit Uranus Oppose Natal Uranus.  (When I say “Transit” that is astrologers-speak for what is going on in the sky right now.  “Natal” refers to what the sky looked like the day you were born.)

Somewhere between the ages of 36-60, Pluto moves across the sky to a 90 degree angle and squares the point where your natal Pluto was in your birth chart.  This is a major aspect that indicates a crisis point.  But it is important to remember that crisis doesn’t always mean breakdown, but can often mean breakthrough.  The symbol for “crisis” in Japanese means danger and opportunity.  This is a window to do something different.  

Mid-life is the perfect time to evaluate the question:  Is this what I want?  You have enough life experience and perspective to compare it to what you were born into, your roots, and the way your parents way of doing things.  And you have enough independence and gumption to change the path whether it is staying the course or changing your sails and switching direction.

Pluto’s square lasts around 12 – 18 months.  He moves slowly around the zodiac and so this is the BIG drama that he plays out in a lifetime.  He represents the source of your personal power and regeneration.  This is the time to really evaluate if something or someone is limiting your growth.  Typically it is something from your past that you were comfortable with.  And many times, it can be as simple as an innate belief.

For me, Pluto’s square hit me when I became pregnant and then a stay at home mom.  My natal Pluto is in my 10th house of career, which is where I identified myself.  What I did what synonymous with who I was.  When I gave up my public persona, the job titles, and the upward path I felt completely lost.  It was almost an 18 month journey before I became comfortable with telling people I stayed at home with my son vs. my long insecure soapbox about me taking a break from my career but I could go back because of my masters degrees yadda yadda yadda.  It was crazy.  I was that person people slowly backed away from at cocktail parties regretting they asked a simple question to start conversations flowing.  But by the end of the transit I was finally comfortable with myself and I released the old me.  

Below is a table that gives a rough guide to when you can expect this transit.

Birth Year Age

1940 45

1945 42

1950 50

1955 39

1960 37

1965 36

1970 36

1975 36

1980 38

1985 40

1990 43

1995 47

2000 51

2005 56

2010 61

2015 66

Like always, if you are interested in where Pluto is asking you to transform your life, please book a reading with me through my consultation page!