Saturn and Pluto are powerful archetypes, and when they connect in their dance, we are transformed individually and as a society. The medicine they bring to us is necessary for our maturation as well as the development of our inner authority. Typically part of this process involves breaking down old habits and patterns to create space for renewal and regeneration. The thing is though, when you walk by a pit in the ground of a construction site, it’s difficult to see the shiny new beautiful building that it will become. We will resemble that construction site at some point during this cycle, some of us more than others depending on how this interacts with your natal chart. To keep our faith and spirits up, it’s critical that we hold the vision of the shiny new building for others and ourselves.
To explore this further, let’s review the Saturn and Pluto archetypes:
Saturn is the archetype of Father Time, and from this energy we gain an inner authority that can really only come with time and experience. There aren’t any shortcuts with Saturn, and its transits mark major periods of development and changes to our life structures and responsibilities.
Pluto, on the other hand, is the Kali/Shakti archetype, both the destroyer of all things (Kali) and the source of the universal energy of creation (Shakti). When Pluto touches us, we experience important endings and beginnings. In addition we are given an opportunity to better understand our power, instincts, and desires, and whether they are serving or hurting us. Unconscious patterns rear their heads under Pluto transits, and we ignore them at our own risk.
Since these planets are coming together in a conjunction, they reinforce and strengthen each other, all in the sign of Capricorn. The archetype of Capricorn, the Sea-Goat, also offers some clues as to how to access and take advantage of this configuration. Often when I think about Capricorn, I think of the mountain goat, clambering up a mountain. It has stamina, resolve, and no problem with harsh conditions. But what about the “Sea” part of that equation? This mythological creature reminds us that creation in the material world doesn’t depend on striving and strength alone. We receive impulses from the sea of our unconscious which are nurtured by our emotions, then we follow our instincts and intuition to take action. This includes periods of rest and renewal. The sign Capricorn has the ability to also tap into the collective unconscious, allowing us to connect our actions to that which most benefits our people and ourselves.
My interpretation of this transit is that we are transforming our relationship to our work and how we manifest. Our culture (and many others) have linked hard work and discipline to faith for centuries. We’re told that striving and pushing through our own resistance is the gold standard from our approach to our job, to our bodies, to making more money, to exercising, and even to self-help/spirituality. And those of us that demonstrate hard work and self-discipline are rewarded by our society. However, with the rise of technology and the knowledge economy, the link between hard work and results becomes less straightforward and more ambiguous. If we choose to be, we can be working all the time, but that doesn’t mean that we’re creating value for others and ourselves or that we’re happy while we’re doing it. And it cuts us off from our intuition and instincts when we override them with our mind.
Enter Pluto and Saturn, asking us to be the boss of ourselves, to take back our power and authority from others that we may be projecting it onto (family members, world leaders, managers are all common targets). When we align our actions to our internal truth versus any “shoulds” or society’s standards, the work feels sustainable and meaningful. We get to create our own timeline, and adjust as we go. I truly believe there is a supernova of untapped courage, strength, and fierceness inside each and every one of us, and that when we are truly empowered, there’s no stopping us. Saturn and Pluto are just clearing the way for us to mature a little and take the reins to shine on.
Want to learn what’s in store for your sun sign in 2020? Become a Stars by Liz member to access the sign-by-sign 2020 forecast here. The first month is free!
12.25 Solar Eclipse in Capricorn – True Empowerment