What Your Pluto Sign Means — And How To Find Yours
Pluto's influence changes from one generation to the next.
vsop / Shutterstock Pluto is the planet of transformation, power, dreams, and illusions, and is associated with the underworld and subconscious forces, which relates to the planet being named after the Greek God Hades. Even though Pluto means transformation, it can also indicate how you are diligent or self-disciplined.
Historically, the planet wasn’t discovered until 1930, so it’s relatively new to natal charts.
What is your Pluto sign, and what does it mean in astrology?
Your Pluto sign stands for your zodiac sign's growth or renewal, and where you will experience it. Depending on the house or sign placement, Pluto’s position indicates power, death, or some type of transformation.
Having Pluto in a certain astrological house could mean that you have good control over yourself, meaning you have a sense of resilience and power over your life and surroundings. For example, someone with Pluto transiting their eighth or sixth house may feel an urge to change physically and emotionally.
But there are negative aspects of having Pluto in a specific house, and could indicate some type of power struggle within yourself or others. Sometimes, this is shown in a person being manipulative to get what they want.
Currently, and until 2024, Pluto resides in the Capricorn zodiac sign.
Because Pluto moves so slowly, its energy defines the problems and challenges of entire generations, on both a cultural and personal level. For this reason, it’s known as a generational planet.
Unlike this generational planet, our personal planets include Mars, Venus, Mercury, the Sun and the Moon; the transpersonal planets include Jupiter and Saturn, the other two generational planets are Uranus and Neptune.
It’s interesting to see how Pluto's influence changes from one generation to the next, defining the rifts between parents and children.
As one of the slowest moving planets, how long does Pluto stay in each sign? In the past 100 years or so, Pluto has only transited through seven zodiac signs. Pluto spends about 12 to 31 years in each zodiac sign, and takes approximately 248 years to transit through all twelve signs.
Pluto Sign Dates And Meanings
There’s an aspect of growth and renewal in everything we do, and though it’s difficult going through transitions, Pluto has a way of impacting every sign in its own way.
There's a huge benefit to knowing all about Pluto in your sign, whether you're new to the Zodiac, or are one of the advanced students of astrology.
Pluto in Aries (1823 - 1853)
Under Pluto’s energies, Aries’ love of action turns into impatience and insistence on getting their own way.
Aries rules leadership, and in this zodiac sign, the planet exudes leadership traits. Aries in Pluto shows initiative and takes control in a good way.
When Pluto was in Aries, the planet itself had yet to be discovered; still, the New World was discovered in this span of time. Pluto will return to Aries in the year 2068.
Pluto in Taurus (1853 - 1884)
With Pluto in Taurus, this planet turns the Bull’s gentle, stubbornly protective nature and appreciation of material wealth into greed and controlling behavior.
Taurus rules agriculture, and are so focused on getting more that they fail to appreciate what they already have; they ignore the valuable aspects of life. Taurus is set in their ways, showing consistency and stubbornness towards change, so Pluto in this sign may be fixed in its ways, too.
When Pluto was in Taurus, the planet hadn’t been discovered, but Marxism began during this period. Pluto will return to Taurus in the year 2098.
Pluto in Gemini (1884 - 1914)
Gemini is even more distracted and hyper when Pluto is in it. Ideas and projects come fast, but rarely get finished. Gemini may have so many acquaintances that they never develop any real friendships.
Gemini rules transportation and communication; they are open to transformations and are greatly influenced by the things around them.
Pluto was in Gemini between 1884 to 1912, but retrograde re-entered Gemini after leaving in late 1912 and stayed in this sign until 1914. During that time, the auto assembly industry boomed, electricity was invented, and airplanes were invented. Pluto will transit through Gemini again in 2132.
Pluto in Cancer (1914 - 1939)
Cancer is a private, emotional zodiac sign. Pluto is a lover of secrets, which becomes a problem when Cancer retreats into themselves too much, refusing to let anyone else in and blaming others when they stop trying.
Cancer rules the home, and are usually very helpful and motherly. They love to be around people who influence them into their transformation. They need an emotional connection but have trouble finding positive ways to express it.
During Pluto’s stay in Cancer, the Stock Market crashed, the New Deal was established, World War II occurred, and the Great Depression struck America.
Pluto in Leo (1939 - 1958)
Leo craves attention and is good about sharing their love with others. They are confident in themselves and are aware of their potential, which helps them achieve great things. Unfortunately, Pluto blocks these generous traits and turns warm-hearted Leo into a thoughtless, self-centered jerk.
Leo rules creativity, which could explain why many of the “Free Love” Baby Boomers and the “Me Generation” from the 1970s have their Pluto in Leo. (Just think about how they created the economic and environmental problems we’re dealing with today.)
While Pluto was in Leo, the atomic bomb was created, women’s fashion began to take off, and the Women’s Liberation Movement was just beginning.
Pluto in Virgo (1959 - 1972)
Ever the observant perfectionist, Virgo becomes downright picky, and rather nasty about it, when paired with Pluto. The honest Virgo urge to help is still there, but it gets twisted up with the need to call others out the little things.
Virgo rules health, wellness, and habits. But this sign is also strict and rule-abiding, and have a hard time admitting they’re wrong. If there's a destruction to Pluto, they might self-blame.
When Pluto was in Virgo, the sexual revolution began, and medical procedures involving organ transplants became popular in modern science.
Pluto in Libra (1971 - 1984)
Libra seeks balance and equality, but with Pluto in this sign, it’s hard for them to make a decision. With Pluto in Libra, they spend a lot of time evaluating options and considering all the possibilities, but they don’t want to take responsibility for a mistake, so they stop short of taking real action.
Libras rule the new perspectives. They have common sense and are balanced, but Pluto's position can make them feel unbalanced or unsure of what to expect.
When Pluto was in Libra, the Vietnam War ended, Nixon was impeached, and the fight against global famine began.
Pluto in Scorpio (1984 - 1995)
One of the reasons Scorpio has such a dark reputation is because Pluto is its ruling planet. Pluto in Scorpio amplifies all the natural Scorpio traits, good and bad: secretiveness, intense emotions, dramatic mood swings, and rebelliousness for its own sake.
Scorpio rules sex, transformation, and even death. They are intrigued by mystery and curiosity, and use this to find their needed changes.
When Pluto was in Scorpio, AIDs was discovered, the Persian Gulf War began, and the Soviet Union was dissolved.
Pluto in Sagittarius (1995 - 2008)
With Pluto’s influence, unconventional Sagittarius just can’t settle down. They're always looking for the next big thrill, and achieving personal and spiritual growth. Pluto in Sagittarius gets bored quickly, but instead of finding positive ways to stay occupied, the need for constant stimulation and novelty provokes risky, dangerous behavior.
Sagittarius rules travel and higher education. And their philosophical ways make them naturally understanding, so the transformation with Pluto’s energies is the easiest for this sign.
When Pluto was in Sagittarius, the internet was born, September 11th changed the entire world, and the United States population boomed to 300 million.
Pluto in Capricorn (2008 - 2024)
Capricorn’s efficient practicality becomes fastidious and inflexible with Pluto. This affects the current generation of kids who are about to grow up and deal with the mess they’ve inherited, so this careful, no-nonsense approach might just help turn things around.
Capricorn rules career success and aspirations, and with Pluto in Capricorn, the current generation can take control and change the world, even if it’s likely to create a lot of uncomfortable tension. Capricorns are also able to make these transformations because most things around them are changing as well.
With Pluto currently in Capricorn, we’ve seen the start of Brexit, Barack Obama becoming president, and we all experienced a major change in the political climate around the world.
Pluto in Aquarius (1778 - 1798; 2024 - 2044)
Pluto in Aquarius will take the changes created by Pluto in Capricorn and push them into realms we can’t yet imagine today. It’s likely that people born with the future Pluto in Aquarius placement will deal with revealing all the negativity of the past, and focusing on building a better future.
Aquarius rules humanitarianism and innovation, making this sign well adjusted to a Pluto placement. Aquarius is a progressive sign and handles change effortlessly because it gives them a sense of freedom and independence.
This generation hasn’t been born yet, but the last time Pluto was in Aquarius, social and political revolutions happened across Europe and the Americas.
Pluto in Pisces (1798 - 1823; 2044 - 2068)
Pluto’s troubling transformations are especially hard on emotional, sensitive Pisces. With Pluto in Pisces, everything feels like an open wound, and Pisces is just as concerned about others’ pain as they are about their own.
Pisces rules intuition, dreams, and emotions. And because of their creativity and imagination, Pluto gives this sign the feeling of being able to achieve something bigger than them.
This generation will be born in the distant future, and will find themselves reeling from the after-effects of the previous decades, as they try to work out how to make everything better. The last time Pluto was in this sign, poetry took root with writers like Byron and Keats, and music composers like Beethoven were born.
See What The Universe Has In Store For You
Trudi Mentior is a writer specializing in astrology who lives in Vancouver, Washington, with her husband, three cats, and a loudmouthed hyacinth macaw.