Pluto Retrograde, April 12 – September 20

Pluto began its retrograde motion in Capricorn on Friday, April 12, and will continue “backwards” until September 20. Just like any other retrograde planet (including that trickster Mercury), periods of retrograde are periods of “re:” renewing, reflecting, restarting, etc. Instead of being viewed negatively, these retrograde periods are a positive time to slow down (especially now as Pluto begins its retrograde motion) and possibly make some necessary changes.

Pluto, ruler of Scorpio and the eighth house, symbolizes renewal, reincarnation, and the deepest parts of our selves, so now is the time to reflect on any sources of frustration in your life caused by these things (or a lack of). Are we not facing our inner selves, and confrontation of the past or of certain habits needed for a fresh start? Now is not the time to start new projects but rather to finish up any Pluto-related goals or business left unattended. Pluto in Capricorn also provides us a time to set goals related to ambition and career; perhaps these goals themselves are what need to be re-evaluated (again with the “re”).

In her book Cosmic Karma, author and astrologer Marguerite Manning offers the following explanation of Pluto in our charts:

While Pluto demands that we get the life-changing makeover we promised [the universe] to get, it also insists that the only real path to our transformation, and everybody else’s is complete and absolute destruction. That’s why we we’re getting all the power to begin with. According to the Pluto principle, we can’t really create anything new without first eliminating the old. In fact, it’s that very principle that makes natal Pluto more than just our astrological authorization to life-changing power. It’s our promise to the universe that, one way or another, we will create a powerful new us…

Pay attention to what house in your chart Pluto stations retrograde in, as that is where you will be most impacted (depending on the house, the focus of your re-assessments could be money, relationships, career, etc.). Use this time to gain insight and grow, making plans for the changes you will make when Pluto goes direct in September.