This week’s question comes from Cooper:

Pluto is crossing my Ascendant and now involved with my first house! Would you please be so kind to give me your take on this most significant configuration!

Neith’s response:

Cooper, this is a transit I’ve undergone, and my experience suggests it will have a deep impact on the way you perceive the world and the way others experience you. Others may feel threatened by what they perceive as your power and launch unexpected attacks embroiling you in power struggles. If you are someone who is naturally assertive, you may find that upgraded to aggressive!

Of course, any planets in your first house will all be conjoined as Pluto crosses them, and this will make you very aware of the deeper levels of meaning of those planets in your life. Please note that you might find yourself obsessing endlessly about the smallest details, too. If Pluto forms squares or oppositions to other natal planets triggering natal aspect patterns, the concerns of the houses those planets are in will be emphasized.

In my experience, supported by other astrologers, the best way to handle Pluto’s tendency to drag us into obsessive behavior is to first accept all facets of our being with as little judgment as possible and second, consciously seek to find your center and practice neutrality. When Pluto conjoined Venus in my first house, I finally found a Tai Chi class and have been practicing it daily ever since. The simple flowing movements have been very helpful for maintaining a quiet mind as well as happier joints.

In general, with Pluto going direct on September 8 in Sagittarius, this question is particularly important because all things Pluto-related will be released from stasis and will demand our attention once more.

Best of luck with this transit, Cooper and if you have more questions, please feel free to ask.

Pat’s answer:

Cooper, I agree entirely with Neith, our resident Pluto expert.

What I will add is that the transformation of your personality will take place over several years and that it may be so subtle that you don’t realize it’s happening. Then, one day you may wake up and wonder who that person in the mirror is. That’s because Pluto’s effects take place over time.

Incidentally, because of Pluto’s 248-year orbit, not everyone will experience this transit in a lifetime. Right now, anyone whose Rising sign is between about 27 degrees Sagittarius and 2 degrees Capricorn is feeling the effects, as Pluto is hovering on your Ascendant.

As Neith noted, Pluto returns direct on Monday. The exact degree is 28°30′ Sagittarius. The closer your Ascendant is to this degree, the more powerfully you will experience this event. In fact, as I write, Pluto is stationed in preparation for resuming his forward motion (what it looks like from down here, anyway; obviously planets do not move in reverse orbit). Also, the more closely transiting Pluto is aspecting planets in your natal chart, the more you will feel Pluto’s return direct.

But back to Pluto in the first house … As someone with Pluto-ruled Scorpio on the Midheaven, I have undergone several life changes that almost feel like reincarnating within a single lifetime. Mostly, this has involved my career, as might be expected, since the Midheaven is the cusp of the tenth house, which is the career area of the chart. As you are going through a first-house Pluto transit, you may transform your life entirely. This is not “good” or “bad,” it just is. Life is a process and a cycle. You will feel this more keenly as a result of Pluto’s visit to your first house. It sounds scary, but truly, there is nothing to fear.

I join Neith in wishing you the best of luck. Do keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

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