Pluto transits again

So...what can a person do to work with Pluto energy instead of against it? I don't have all the answers, but here are a few thoughts. 

1.  Figure out what the heck the purpose of the transit is and start implementing it immediately.  How do you figure out what the purpose of the transit is? 

Sometimes it's obvious because your insides are screaming with it.  "Get out of this marriage!!!" your miserable soul shouts at you.  "Get a different job; this one is killing you!" your gut keeps growling at you.  And so on. 

Pluto transits are so often about giving things up.  Often they're about giving up things you don't want to give up because it will be scary or difficult to do so.  A limiting friendship, a business partnership, a career, a home, a way of approaching life, a romantic attachment that will never work, a toxic relationship with a parent or sibling.  There are an awful lot of things in life that a normal person doesn't want to give up even though they're not good for him or her.  Pluto tries to force us to give them up. 

If you can't immediately tell what the purpose of your Pluto transit is by sheer instinct, move on to figuring it out astrologically.  My method is to look first at the house of the planet being squashed by Pluto.  Transiting Pluto squaring your natal sun in the 7th house--most likely Pluto is taking aim at your relationships.  What he's usually trying to do is smash up your relationship template like a dinner dish. 

IIt might be helpful to know why Pluto does this. In my experience, Pluto does this because your old templates are standing in the way of what you really want, the things you dream of.  You don't necessarily realize this at the time (or at least I don't), but Pluto does.  An unhealthy attachment to your aging mother might seem like a source of support and validation of your caring nature to you.  To Pluto, it might seem like the thing that holds you back from real physical and romantic connection with people of your own age.  Although what you have may feel like love, it may hold you back from the love you really want and are capable of experiencing.  You may not realize that you're finally ready for a mature romantic love--but Pluto does. 

Hm. Well, I am having a Pluto trine to my 7th house cusp/Sun/Chiron. To be honest, I feel more of the "argh, jobs" thing more than relationships of late. I guess it's a good time to be single so I can't have a relationship break up on me now, huzzah.

On the other hand, "an unhealthy attachment to your aging mother", that whole bit? Uh...yeah, no arguing with this one, because it's a huge issue. That said, group therapy is helping a LOT with this one. Not that I'm likely to start dating again anyway, but maybe in another decade when I do, she won't be so bratty about it :)

If looking at the astrological houses doesn't help you analyze the purpose, look at the planets involved and then the signs.  Transits to the sun, for example, often involve an update of identity or role in life.  They very often have to do with a deep inner sense of purpose. 

Yeah, that seems more right.

The rest of this sounds like a Saturn thing, doesn't it?

Pluto's ultimate aim is to take what used to work in your life but doesn't any more--and get rid of it.  Whether it's an attitude, a habit, a person, a situation, a place, or something else--the sooner you are willing to work to get rid of what's no longer functional, the sooner Pluto will reward you. 

And Pluto does dish out some pretty handsome rewards when he's done torturing you.  So you might think of what you most desire and set your mind towards the idea that if you can fulfill your Pluto task, you just might get it.

On a related note, here's a profile of Kal Penn, who's a year and a day older than me, apparently.

Penn's astrological chart (also known as the birthchart, or horoscope) shows that he was born with the Sun in Taurus, which was in close proximity (conjunct) Chiron, which is also known as the Wounded Healer.  This planetary combination shows that Penn is a person who cherishes stability in life and doesn't like change (Taurus), but that he has had difficulty establishing a sense of his own identity (Chiron conjunct the Sun).  With the Sun conjunct Mercury (which with its mercurial nature lends itself to taking on other roles) he has a natural facility for acting, but he has an extremely serious side as well.

 

Saturn, the planet of hard work and discipline, forms a challenging aspect to Penn's Sun which suggests that he puts a great deal of pressure on himself to be successful.  Saturn is in Leo, which reveals that he is uncomfortable with attention and fame, despite the news reports that claim that Penn quit the House gig out of an attack of egomania.

 

The Taurus Sun desires a comfortable life that is stable and secure, and acting certainly provides a good income when one has a steady television career. But the serious side of Penn has always reached for something deeper and more meaningful.  In 2007 it was announced that Penn would be teaching undergraduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania.  It was around this time that his Moon progressed into Virgo which has a longing to be of service and to do meaningful work.  At the same time, transiting Pluto has been forming a trine to his Sun which is encouraging him to transform his life in order to better reflect his true self.

 

Penn is having some wonderfully positive planetary transits this year, which shows that this is a good move for him and will enable him to express himself in ways that have previously been impossible.