Grounded Exuberance

The big astrological news this month is Pluto’s ingress into Capricorn, marking a new generation—a new time in history—which will take us through 2024.

Outer planets such as Pluto move very slowly, in comparison to the sun, for example. Whereas the sun changes signs every month, Pluto changes every 12-20+ years. I was born just as Pluto was getting ready to exit Virgo, where it found its home from 1956- 1971. The Pluto in Virgo generation is a health conscious one. It is a generation that began to cultivate a respectful relationship with the environment. We take our work seriously, and can be prone to anxiety about the changes around us and what such changes mean for our sense of self and independence—thanks in part to Pluto’s proximity to Uranus during these years. Pluto is currently, and (for the most part) has been, in Sagittarius since 1995. We can reflect on the nature of the collective ethos beginning in about 1995 in order to capture an experiential sense of Pluto in Sag. Among other things, it is a sense of expansiveness, shooting for the heavens, optimism, and wishing to live “big.” Pluto in Sag marks a generation of visionaries, those that reflect on the big picture, and are concerned with cultivating a philosophy of life and ongoing learning, expanding their horizons in addition to super-sizing their homes and food products. The shadow side of such expansiveness has been made known to us as banks, homeowners, and businesses all face the crash of structures that were built upon unsupported grandiosity.

Speaking of Sag more generally, it is represented by an archer shooting toward the sky and is ruled by the planet Jupiter, the largest planet in the Earth’s solar system. It is the sign of vision, physical and psychological/ imaginary travel, athleticism, reaching beyond where we find ourselves in the moment. The Olympics are a good example of a Sag-infused event. Likewise, Sagittarian-influenced individuals can be exuberant in their ability to dream. John F. Kennedy, Jr.; Tina Turner; Bette Midler; and Winston Churchill are among some well-known Sun-sign Sagittarians. These are big personalities with a meaning or purpose behind their greatness. It is as though the desire for expanded horizons and philosophical thinking tempers the potential for narcissism.

So, as the Sun makes its way across Sag this month, Pluto makes its way out—and into Capricorn. Adjacent signs tend to compensate for one another. Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, tends to correct for Sagittarius’ exuberance. And just as Saturn and Jupiter represent somewhat opposite energies, so too do the signs they rule. Whereas Sagittarius (and Jupiter) are about expansion, Capricorn (and Saturn) have something to do with containment. Capricorn is about structure; it’s an energy that cares about foundations—solid foundations that can ground our optimism & dreams and support our goals. For a culture that was too caught up in a grandiose energy without attending to its shadow side, Pluto’s trip into Capricorn will likely be experienced as a rude awakening. Again, most of us have already felt this shock as we’ve watched our retirement accounts, homes, and jobs slip away from us. The universe has an interesting way of assisting us in our evolution, in our learning about how to balance and respect various energies and take accountability for all of our choices.

Over time, I’ve learned something about balancing these energies. The rulers of Sag and Cap sit exactly opposite from one another in significant positions within my natal chart. With Jupiter and Saturn exactly opposite one another, I and others born in and around 1970, are likely to experience the profound tension between expansion and contraction, letting go and holding on, philosophizing and practicality; dreaming and realism. What I’m learning is that the Saturn side of the equation—the structure, containment, crucible, reality-checks, and accountability—makes possible the dreams and learning (Jupiter). I think this lesson is one we will all be challenged to learn, collectively, through 2024 as Pluto traverses Capricorn. And the sooner we learn it, the sooner we will be able to experience the benefit of structures and policies that have legs to stand on; grounded exuberance; and dreams becoming reality.