posted March 05, 2006 04:46 PM            

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Pluto transits
When Pluto transits a planet in the natal horoscope, the balance of power begins to shift and you
might gain or lose power during this time. You want to gain so that you will have the option of living
your life according to the principles set down during Uranus and Neptune transits to your natal planets.
Without empowerment, you will be forced to live by someone else’s rules. You can strengthen your
position naturally or use force. The growth-oriented-response is to empower both yourself and others,
internally and externally. There is much to be gained here by everyone from a kinetic human exchange.

Unfortunately, many find the empowerment task difficult to accomplish under the best of
circumstances. Fears from the unconscious magnify threats to personal power causing defensive or
offensive reactions. The perceived danger associated with a Pluto transit is the possibility of losing
control over your own life. As combatants take a stance and stake out a claim, situations escalate and
complications arise. Complex scenarios are the hallmark of the Pluto transit. Problems tend to be
compounded by numerous subplots. There are no clear-cut answers to questions or perfect solutions
to problems and one can easily become emotionally overwhelmed by their circumstances.

To gain power and move forward during a Pluto transit, you must understand the Path to
Empowerment. This includes the extent and source of your personal power, how to best use or expand
it, and where you are headed. Once these parameters are set you can move forward decisively by
anticipating the next step toward growth and having the courage to take it. You cannot begin to do this
until you understand where power needs to be applied. This is a crucial point to understanding the Pluto
transit. The path splits here. There are only two broad choices, only two points of reference. Either you
apply power internally, intent on maintaining and acquiring inner strength and knowledge, or you apply
power externally, intent on fulfilling your personal or professional ambitions in the world arena.

Although both orientations might be connected or follow one another in the final analysis, your reactions
or goals during this transit and your effectiveness in the end are determined by your ability to discern the
most powerful and appropriate action at any given time. The nature of the transit is that you must choose
and choose well to progress. You cannot be wishy-washy. The longer you delay the decision, the more
complex the situation becomes. Vacillation leads to complications and power leakages since definitive
action does not take place and you undermine yourself. It is only when you come down firmly on one
path or the other that your course of action becomes clear no matter how complicated the situation
becomes. Under these circumstances you will progress steadily. Incorrect choices will be obvious since
all actions in keeping with an inappropriate path will lead to failure and frustration.

The problem with the Pluto transit is that many people automatically assume a defensive or
offensive position before they have considered using power in a positive and transformative manner.
Fear speaks louder than insight with this transit and it is easy to lose your way and overreact. One engages
the enemy without fully understanding the root nature of the threat or choosing an appropriate course
of action.

Path of internal empowerment
What does it mean to choose internal empowerment? It means that who you are is more
important than what you do, and what you understand is more important than what others think. It
means you practice personal wholeness, a process by which individual integrity is maintained regardless
of the external situation.

What do you gain from the process of internal empowerment? You gain freedom of personal
action. Since all decisions are based on your personal value system, the possibility of interference is
removed. You are not dependent on external criteria or results. It is not what you do, but who you are
in the processing of doing or not doing that is important. You maintain a goal of trueness to self. Inner
calmness sets in and you are able to focus and not lose momentum. There is an efficiency of thought and
deed. Power is not split between two courses of action, but used in a consistent manner. Emotional
overreactions are eliminated and therefore complications based on fear are kept to a minimum. You
easily release counterproductive situations and personality traits. You control yourself internally and
remain fearless. You influence others indirectly through the power of your calm presence and example.
Issues are handled rationally by all parties. De-escalation occurs. Power is conserved.

Techniques for gaining and maintaining internal power
For internal empowerment to occur, growth and inner transformation must be emphasized over
external results. Those who are sensitive to inner transitions understand the movement taking place
regardless of external circumstances. You detach from what others think. You accept conditions as they
are. This is the way of no resistance and there is minimal pain when it is followed. If two people fight
over a rubber band, the one who lets go first doesn’t get hurt. To truly practice the path of internal
empowerment you must know when to let go and then do it with great regularity. The way of no resistance
is the course of action to chose when there is nothing you can do which will make a difference in the long
run. Matters are out of your hands. Any attempts at controlling outcomes lead to frustration and lost
power. This is also the course of action to take when you are in a very weakened state and have no more
to give. You must focus inward on recover.

It is natural to want to fix things. But sometimes we try to fix things that are not our responsibility.
It might be better not to take action and allow situations to develop on their own. This conserves energy
and power.

Internal loss of power
For some, gaining power starts with preventing the loss of power. Certain character traits can
erode personal strength. Reactionary blind spots get you in trouble. Psychological buttons bring forth
an immediate response of a less than intellectual nature. As you get out of control, fears arise, tempers
flare and conflicts escalate. Weaknesses must be recognized and corrected before someone uses them
to his or her own advantage against you.

You can also lose power by remaining in circumstances which are nonproductive and draining.
These situations have no maintaining power of their own and are only preserved through the force and
power of your own will or someone else’s. I am speaking specifically of relationships and positions which
are passe’. Healthy circumstances will be sustained naturally and will not require extraordinary methods
or effort.

Some people use psychological insights to control and block their own growth. They set up a
negative pattern of stagnation wherein information is not accepted, but twisted to fit previously
conceived notions about life and self. Insights become weapons against growth and understanding.
Contradictory realizations are suppressed or misinterpreted by the ego. A fixed mind-set is imposed on
all information. In a very negative situation such as this, the power associated with increased Plutonian
awareness and its creative potential is never realized.

Misuse of the inner Plutonian process creates an inability to continue on the life path until issues
are resolved and lessons are learned. Stagnation occurs when the individual is afraid to progress to the
next level of comprehension and misinterprets all available information.

Path of external empowerment
What does it mean to choose external empowerment? It means to take action. If you have an idea
that can make the world a better place, you implement it. The emphasis in not on what you think or know
internally, but the application of knowledge to an external situation with a specific purpose in mind.
Results are important and sometimes the ends justify the means. What you accomplish is more important
than who you are. You establish a goal and go for it, holding to the highest good for all those involved.
Personal power is used to make things happen and if it is done correctly, empowerment occurs.

What do you gain from the process of external empowerment? You gain results, confidence and
position. The environment changes because you directly influence others and situations. You gain
freedom of action since you are the one in control. In the best of circumstances, many of the participating
parties become stronger because of the empowerment process.

Techniques for gaining and maintaining external power
One way to gain external power while also conserving energy is to anticipate and circumvent
problems before they occur. Energy follows thought. There is a natural progression to every chain of
events. Those who are perceptive can anticipate the next move and stay one step ahead of the game by
using de-escalation techniques to defuse explosive situations. Respond to anger with calmness and
intelligent insight. Create alternatives and negotiate compromises which are win-win situations. Provide
avenues for the release of tension before things get out of hand.

To gain the most empowerment from this path, kinetic interactions must occur. This leads to
the creation of power for all those involved. Perhaps an example is the best way to clarify this process.
The Dalai Lama, who is an exile from his own country, preaches and practices nonviolence in all things.
Others have been drawn to his teachings and he has gained a following. He is a Nobel Peace Prize winner
and 1991 has been called “The Year of Tibet.” Many people are being empowered by his insights, but
he is also gaining external empowerment from the kinetic interaction. Anytime anyone establishes a goal
which is clearly good for all those involved, it catches fire and is embraced. Kinetic interactions create
power for all those involved. To walk this path you must be as concerned with the welfare of others as
you are with your own gratification. When others realize your good intentions, all fears abate and creative
solutions arise. In daily living, seek out those situations of heightened power and kinetic interchange.

External loss of power
One reason for losing external power is a lack of concern for others. There is no respect for the
highest good of anyone. You defend your territory only and do not care about the implications to others.
Others perceive a threat to their position and barriers go up. Fears magnify and defensive and offensive
attacks begin. Power struggles ensue. No one is totally right and no one is totally wrong. Everyone is
caught in a cycle of reactionary responses that only complicate issues. Always be aware of the interactive
process and the role you play in any battle. Blaming others for your problems distorts perceptions of self.

The other reason you lose power is a lack of concern for self. You undermine your own position
or surrender power to others. A world without struggle is an ideal, and not reality. At some point in your
life it may be essential to take a stand. Certain injustices must be corrected for everyone to progress.
Sometimes the only viable option is to fight back. Always be aware of the struggle you take on. Go for
the simplest task that gets the job done. It is usually easier to correct a situation than to convince your
opponent he or she is wrong. It is easier to get forgiveness after the fact than permission before. Seek
the quickest solution. Do not get locked into unnecessary long drawn out struggles. Do it up right and
get the job done. Power struggles are expensive in terms of time and energy. Some are essential to growth,
others are self-inflicted. Know the difference and don’t waste your time on unnecessary or nonproductive
conflicts.

The most efficient use of power exists on the internal plane. It is much easier to use energy to
control your own reactions than to seek power externally. However, there are times when you must take
action. In these instances, wield power wisely.

Pluto transiting the Sun
When Pluto transits the Sun, empowerment can occur either through awareness of self or
struggle with others. The more attuned you are to your own personal power and any lacks you might
have, the more likely you are to grow through awareness. Insights into power are heightened. You
become acutely perceptive and easily observe how people get, maintain, use, and abuse power for
personal gain or loss and control of others. Power usage in everyday situations becomes more obvious,
but even subtle shifts in power are evident as you learn to recognize psychological motivations and
manipulations. It is only when you identify the manipulative tactics aimed at you personally that you
beginning to dismantle the controlling influences of others. This process by itself is very empowering.

Experiencing an upsurge in personal power or the lack thereof can also occur through conflict.
You might have to defend yourself from an attack by a controlling or angry person. These situations are
more likely to occur to victim personalities and those who do not know how to defend themselves. You
do not have to be swayed by guilt, fear, or irrational accusations. Learn to neutralize these negative
influences. Awareness of manipulative tactics is particularly helpful in deflecting blows and dealing with
attacks on your character.

Some individuals study psychology during this transit. Others enter therapy or consciousness
raising groups. Psychological awareness breeds power. Regardless of the educational background, many
people notice examples of obsessive, compulsive, phobic, neurotic, or manipulative behaviors in
themselves or others. Unconscious needs are intensified. You see your own shadow reflected in the
people you meet and situations you encounter. A cleansing of negative behavior patterns can take place
in those who are introspective about their own actions.

Professional ambition is one of the more positive and noticeable manifestations of this transit.
You are more likely to start you own business and become self-employed. The desire for power and self-control can reach into any area of life. Learning to deal effectively with power on many levels is the
hallmark of the Plutonian transit.

Marilyn was married and had one teenaged son. She had been an agoraphobic for years. She would never leave the house and was afraid of open spaces. As Pluto began to make contact with Marilyn’s Sun, she decided to seek therapy for her problem. While in counselling, she realized how powerless she was. She had no financial security. Her husband had put them on the brink of financial disaster by gambling and spending
money extravagantly. They were deeply in debt.
As the months passed, Marilyn went on outings with her therapy group and began to leave the house on her own. She grew stronger mentally and became more assertive in her relationship with her husband. When he was about to leave on a week-long golfing trip they couldn’t afford, she confronted him with their unpaid bills and financial problems. She demanded to know what he intend to do about them. He patted her on the head and said, “You’ll think of something.” Then he left.
Marilyn did think of something and it only took her one week to do it. She decided she had progressed as far as she could internally. Thanks to her therapy group and therapist, she had made numerous inner changes, but now she needed to make some external changes to have power over her life. It took her two days to find a full-time job. She wrote all the credit card companies and disavowed any responsibility for her husband’s bills. She established her own credit and separate bank accounts.
Then she saw a lawyer, filed for a legal separation and had all the locks changed on the house. When her
husband came home after one week, his clothes were packed and on the porch along with a note that
said, “I thought of something.”
Marilyn had empowered herself internally as much as she could. When the time came to shift gears to the external process, she was able to do so. She chose to use her personal power swiftly and in the most efficient way.

Pluto transiting the Moon
When Pluto transits the Moon, the emotional makeup is complicated by unconscious influences.
Emotions are tainted by events or complexes from the past, and you relive a former happening in an
immediate and present situation. The garbage can of your own mind opens up so you can survey the
contents and eliminate the trash. Feelings seem more volatile, intense, and even overwhelming.
Reasoning becomes based on emotional factors and sometimes defies logic.

Relationships are likely to be affected and unconscious influences can distort communications.
You or someone close might need counseling. If the other person is less than rational, you must deal with
issues in an insightful way. This is a good time to become more aware of how psychological games affect
you emotionally. You may merely observe these influences or you may be directly involved, playing either
manipulator or manipulated. If you are feeling insecure, you might cling to others and try controlling
them.

At their worst, Pluto transits to the Moon imply a major emotional power struggle. Though you
may think you are struggling with another, you are also struggling with yourself. For example, suppose
you have limited means, but are married to a wealthy person who is very tight with money. Since you
resent this person’s power over your economic situation, you withhold sexual relations. You have now
gained some power over your spouses’s life and the two of you have established a power struggle which
complicates your relationship. Although you have succeeded in controlling your spouses behavior to
some extent, you have not gained any power over your own existence. Your situation has not improved
much and you are still without financial recourse. There are more positive ways to handle this situation.
Either one or both of you could decide to enter counseling to resolve this problem. Or you could get
a job, earn your own money and totally frustrate your spouse.s attempts to control you. Emotional
blackmail and manipulation are consistent with this transit, but they only work if you allow another
person to have control over some portion of your life. As soon as you begin to control yourself and take
responsibility for your own well-being, manipulators lose all power.

Not all Pluto-Moon transits involve difficult circumstances. Writers, counselors, psychology
students, poets, artists, and those whose work depend on their ability to understand human nature use
this transit to gain insight. It is the awareness which is significant and not the struggle itself.
Knowledge brings power. Use this time to become aware of how unconscious drives affect your
life. A very pleasant reason for being so emotional is an involvement in a new and exciting romantic
relationship. All relationships, even those which are established, are subject to transformation.

Domestic situations can also change. You can move, renovate, add on, or tear down. Roommates
might come or go. The changes occurring in the physical home are symbolic of the internal emotional
changes taking place. (See the example for Pluto transiting Mercury.)

Pluto aspecting Mercury
Pluto transits to Mercury indicate a time when the conscious mind is more apt to be aware of
unconscious material and psychological complexes. This awareness may originate from naturally
occurring insights into human behavior or educational pursuits. You are better able to perceive what is
unspoken or hidden. Mind games and motivations will be clear to you even when they are not verbally
stated. Awareness is not all one-sided. You will be as aware of your own unconscious nature as you are
of the complexes of others. Being aware of these psychological forces can be stressful, especially if you
know more than you are capable of handling or the realizations come too quickly. In these cases, seek
counselling.

You might be involved in a verbal battle over ideology, religion, or the truth. Others might doubt
what you say, or push you to defend what you know or think on a given subject matter. The implication
here is that knowledge is power and it is not taken for granted that you speak the truth. You must stick
with your story to be heard. If you would convey wisdom and insight, you must make your words relevant
and understandable to others.

A passion for learning is associated with this transit. Obsession with any topic is likely, but
certainly an obsession with any occult practice is common. All forms of information are valuable whether
they come from a book or the observation of life. Great insights can be gained from journaling and
creative writing. This is a time meant for those who wish to know more.

Laura was a young housewife and mother. She could not remember much of her childhood and she did
not know why. As Pluto squared her Mercury and conjuncted her Moon she began to have horrible flashbacks
to a time long ago. She thought she remembered being raped at a very young age by a family friend. She
went into therapy to help her cope with the memories and to also bring them to the surface. Gradually the interval between 3 and 12 years of age began to fill in and it was not a happy time.
Laura spent many days crying alone after the children went to school. She smashed empty glass bottles
on the basement walls trying to release her rage. Image after image rose and haunted her. It was particularly upsetting that her parents were still best friends with her attacker. She could not face another holiday with this person around. After harboring the secret for many months, she finally began to tell others. Not everyone believed her and this was hard on Laura emotionally.
She stuck to her story and one day sent a certified letter to her rapist, telling him of her memories
and accusing him of the attacks. He denied the accusations, but Laura did not back down. Next she
decided to visit her parents and personally tell them of the trauma. She and her therapist rehearsed the
meeting many times, and ultimately, Laura was able to tell her parents about the various incidents. She
was not sure they would believe her, but she had to have some semblance of power after such a long time
of powerlessness. She knew the truth even if they could not accept it. As it turned out, they supported
her 100% and shun their long time friend. It was very important that they believe her. This calmed Laura’s
nerves. She knew her children and the other grandchildren would be protected from this man.

Pluto transiting Venus
Pluto transits to Venus indicate intense emotional involvements. New relationships begun at this
time are especially compelling and kinetic for reasons you do not quite understand. Unconscious forces
play a major role in these attractions. Like a moth to a flame, you are drawn to a particular individual
without understanding why. In the beginning, the perceived loss of control and diminished rationality
is disconcerting. Enthusiasm is high and you might feel obsessed. Regardless of what you think or plan,
you end up reacting to situations in a spontaneous and revealing manner. Your usual psychological
defenses don’t seem to work while all your unconscious complexes are laid bare for the world to see. A
persistent sense of vulnerability becomes coupled with your growing need for intimacy. If you are able
keep your defenses lowered, a relationship begun at this time can be most rewarding.

Potential or existing partners might exhibit a new and troubling flaw (which may or may not be
serious). In all relationships, considerable emotional growth can occur if you work with faults, and
become aware of the unconscious urges and psychological games played by both parties. These ploys
are barriers to further intimacy and must be recognized. Learning to deal effectively with these influences
affects the success of the relationship. It is a good time for counseling of any kind, especially marriage
or relationship counselling.

Situational barriers include attraction to married, gay or bisexual partners, those living in a
different locality, or those who cannot be fully present or involved for one reason or another. These
preexisting impediments to intimacy were probably known or suspected before the relationship began.
Psychological impediments to intimacy are those unconscious complexes which distort reality
and destroy trust. These include, but are not limited to, possessiveness, obsessive thinking, sexual
fantasies, compulsive behaviors and controlling attitudes.

Power is an issue in both intimate and casual relationships. Individuals who learn to trust,
compromise, and share power see their relationships deepen and transform. Accommodating the
emotional needs of others breeds increased understanding as long as you do not compromise self and
surrender too much power. Those who are unable to reach compromises should let go of passe’
relationships before they become locked in power struggles. Combatants view their fates as dependent
on the whims of others. They feel powerless to control their own destiny until they have resolved some
issue to their personal satisfaction. They resort to controlling behaviors as the only solution. Within this
kind of power struggle, manipulative techniques are the main weapons; sex and money become the main
issues.

Financially, Pluto transits to Venus indicate strong financial changes or complex monetary
arrangements. Salary changes are common and may result from a career move, relocation, leave of
absence without pay, cutback in hours, or retirement. On the other hand, ambition can cause your salary
to rise dramatically, especially if your earnings are based on commissions or profit-sharing. Those who
are self-employed experience monetary ups and downs. If your financial status depends on another’s
resources, a struggle over shared money is likely.

The goal here is to experience personal power in relationships and power over your own financial
situation. By gaining insight into your behavior and the behavior of others, you can master both areas
of concern. (See the example for Pluto transiting Mars.)

Pluto transiting Mars
When Pluto transits Mars, actions are not truly conscious or planned out. There is an acute
awareness of the interplay between what appears to be directed activities and unconscious motivations.
One does not just set career goals, one is driven to succeed. Compulsions and obsessions, healthy or not,
are common since many psychological issues and complexes are indigenous to the scenarios you are
involved in. With very negative situations, fears arise and phobias develop. The psychological influences
affecting you spring unsolicited from your own unconscious, but are more likely to arise from your
encounters with another. Generally, you must deal with this person regularly, and he or she may or may
not be totally rational. Reacting from the gut level can become the standard mode of operation for those
who do not work toward a greater understanding of these forces.

Control issues are likely during this time, and some individuals get locked into power struggles.
In this type of situation, you are both able to manipulate others and subject to manipulation yourself.
Surreptitious actions or underhanded maneuvers are also possible. Rather than battling with someone
else, you can instead (or also) be locked into a power struggle with yourself. One man with Pluto transiting
his Mars was seriously wounded by a past relationship. He recognized the need to deal with unconscious
anger and develop a philosophy for handling future anger-producing situations. During this transit, he
met and was compulsively drawn to a new relationship. The loss of control over the inhibitions to
intimacy frightened him. Consequently, the scene was set and the interplay between the unconscious
obsession to resolve the anger issues and fear of being hurt again dominated the involvement. Efforts
to consciously control yourself will be thwarted until you gain insight into the problem at hand. The man
was both irresistibly drawn and frightened by the attraction until he began to resolve issues from the
original relationship. This cleared the way for a more meaningful interchange.

Understanding psychological forces and learning to work with them rather than against can lead
to productive encounters. Use insight to break bad habits and negative attitudes. The ability to
comprehend new knowledge fostered by the unconscious leads to new power over your own actions and
the situations you are involved in. It is at this point that realistic control over behavior begins.

Heather was married to a verbally abusive man for many years. She eventually left him and started a new life on her own in a distant state, but she never divorced her husband or sought a formal separation agreement. He still carried her on his health insurance policy and gave her a little money from time to time. Heather worked to support herself, but she always struggled with limited funds. During the years they were separated, her husband grew fairly wealthy, unbeknownst to her. There was little contact between the two parties until Heather’s husband decided to remarry and asked for a formal divorce. It was during the divorce proceedings that Heather learned how much her husband was worth and that she had been a fool not to get a separation agreement before she left. Many years had passed and it was impossible to recover funds. The court’s position was that since she left without anything, she was not entitled to much now. Her husband cut off all extra money. While Heather continued to struggle to feed and clothe herself, her husband’s new love arrived at the court house decked out in jewels and fancy clothes.
The stress eventually wore on Heather’s health and she became seriously ill. When she submitted her medical bills to the insurance company, her husband received and cashed the health insurance refund
checks, leaving her seriously in debt. Heather’s anger grew and so did her chronic illness which became
more and more debilitating. Eventually she could no longer work. She thought that the judge would
recognize her disability and award her a fair amount of money plus permanent maintenance. He did not.
Heather found it difficult to go to court and speak in her own defense though her husband told lies about
their relationship. This hurt her case. In the end, Heather was given a small sum of money from the house
they owned jointly valued at the time of the separation. That’s it.
Externally, Heather was not in a position of power at the beginning of the divorce proceedings.
She had not anticipated the next step when she left her husband years ago. The choices she made proved
disastrous. She was not internally powerful either. She vacillated between feeling like a victim of her
husband’s continuing abuse and feeling guilty about asking for money. She was as angry with herself as
she was at her husband. The internal conflict wore on her body until eventually she was ill. She never
took a definitive position and worked against herself in all matters. This left the door open for someone
else to assume power.

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posted September 07, 2011 09:08 AM            

thanks for bumping this, very useful