On February 20, the USA will experience the first exact hit of its Pluto return, which will be followed by two more (July 11 and December 28).
Then from March 2023 – January 2024, Pluto will move back and forth between Capricorn and Aquarius, and in October 2023 it will come very close (but just shy of exact) to the nation’s Pluto.
And why is this so significant?
Pluto is the planet of sweeping transformations, and its preferred method is to obliterate and rebuild anew. However, in contrast to Uranus, which strikes suddenly, destroys quickly and leaves devastation in its wake, Plutonian demolition is a long drawn out process.
In other words, whereas Uranus is a quick death, Pluto is a long dying.
And yes, it sounds grim until we remember that with Pluto, death is followed by rebirth.
So what kind of death and rebirth can we expect?
With the Pluto return occurring in the nation’s second house of wealth, resources and possessions, those are areas targeted for major transformation.
However, the second house also represents national values, and since Pluto rules control, it’s no surprise that there’s been a major power struggle going on in the nation connected to economic, social, moral, environmental, religious and political values.
In fact, while legally the USA is one country, ideologically it has become two separate nations, and this polarization is the legacy of the transiting Uranus-Pluto squares.
From June 2012 – March 2015, Uranus in Aries (individual self-determination) and Pluto in Capricorn (government control) fought for supremacy in the heavens, and as they battled it out, they demanded we choose a side (click here for my 7/4/16 insights into this series of aspects).
By the time they parted ways, the nation was divided, and both sides of the political aisles were claiming they were the true champions of individual rights and their opponents were guilty of authoritarian ambitions.
It’s now seven years later, and we’re still listening to the same script.
Only worse.
And that’s because the events that flowed from the Saturn-Pluto conjunction (1/12/20) not only offered additional reasons for division, but the accompanying fear triggered a collective urge for self-preservation that further divided the nation. Whether one feared loss of life or loss of liberty, it came down to a difference in values.
As the fear escalated, so did the pronouncements. Whether it was between friends and family, posted on social media or reported on broadcast news channels, the voices were increasingly tinged with condemnation, bigotry, intolerance, hatred and brutality.
Sadly, that remains the tone until today.
When Pluto first dipped its toe into Capricorn and set a course for its natal placement in the USA’s chart, it promised to bring irrevocable change to its finances, resources and most of all, its values.
It’s time to make good on that promise.
So what does that mean?
It means this is just the beginning.
In the USA’s chart, Pluto rules the 12th house of dirty little secrets, concealed enemies and dealings that are against the public interest. From now until 2024 (when Pluto exits Capricorn for good), we can expect the Lord of the Underworld to expose the deepest levels of corruption in all government branches and agencies, political parties and behemoth corporations.
While the individual acts of corruption will be varied, you can expect them to be tied to the nation’s second house of money and resources in the form of bribes, insider trading and other forms of ill-gotten gains at the public’s expense.
Some will surrender, some will resist. But in the end, Pluto always wins.
On the personal level, many will experience a crisis of faith as their long-held beliefs and allegiances are crushed by the weight of Pluto’s revelations, and they will need time to mourn their loss.
On the collective level, the nation will have the opportunity to unite in a common cause to clean house, heal divisions and right past wrongs.
Through the process of rebirth, Pluto allows what has been taken to be replaced with something better. Not only will Pluto offer inspiration for a better future, he’ll also give us tools we can use to create it.
And then it’s up to us to get the job done.
How so?
From September 1- November 20, 2024, Pluto will visit Capricorn one last time before taking up long-term residence in Aquarius.
Just in time for the 2024 Presidential election.
