When Pluto makes transits the Moon, whether it be a conjunction, square, trine, or opposition, it can cause us to delve deeply into our emotions, but it can also aggravate us to deal with issues related to our inner lives that can put our health, relationships, and personal lives in jeopardy. Pluto is the planet of rebirth, transformation, and extreme change; it can signify a trip underground or a profoundly pivotal experience. Since the Moon also represents the body, this transit could indicate a period of profound physical transformation or the manifestation of previously unrecognised health problems (Pluto). It’s a time for mourning and confronting old emotional wounds (the Plutonian unconscious) that haven’t been addressed. Pluto, in the form of betrayal, loss, death, separation, and pain, can pose a serious threat to the Moon’s sense of safety. People who are manipulative, dominant, or abusive may make an appearance in our lives, along with unresolved issues from the past. Death under a Pluto transit to the Moon can manifest on many different planes, from the physiological to the emotional to the death of our naiveté.
Nicky Hilton, heir to the Hilton hotel fortune, was Elizabeth Taylor’s first husband. It was during a transit of Pluto conjunct Jupiter in the 8th house of wealth that the star wed him. According to astrological writings, Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions are indicative of substantial wealth. Liz’s natal Scorpion black Moon was squared by transiting Pluto. After three nights of marriage, Elizabeth said he became mentally and physically abusive. He was a heavy gambler and drinker, she said. Once, while she was pregnant, he kicked her in the stomach so hard that she miscarried. We may have profound encounters or venture into the underworld during a Pluto transit. It is common for Moon-Pluto transits to occur during times of intense emotional conflict, jealousy, and abuse, as well as when we are being forced to confront destructive patterns of behaviour.
Dan Fogelberg performs as a vocalist, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was first diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in May of 2004. As a result of his treatment, he is now in a partial remission from his cancer, which means that his symptoms have improved but that the disease will not spread further. After a three-year battle with cancer, he passed away in 2007 at the age of 56. Transiting Pluto was conjunct the Moon at 21 degrees and Chiron at 27 degrees when the Cancer was diagnosed. Chiron represents the painful experiences that have brought to the surface underlying emotional issues that we feel have been treated unfairly. His Sun-Pluto conjunction in Leo was being opposed by transiting Neptune in the 8th house at the time. Also, when Neptune transits the Sun, people tend to get sick.
In 1952, a calendar featuring a nude photo of Marilyn Monroe caused a scandal. Pluto’s transit opposite her Moon brought back the old images. The Moon represents the past in astrology, and Pluto governs all things secret and forbidden. In such a situation, our vulnerabilities as people and as bearers of secrets could be exposed. Because of Jupiter’s conjunction with the M.C. in transit, the star’s fame was actually improved greatly. As a result of the publicity, she was able to advance in her career (Jupiter in the 10th house), and many people felt sympathetic toward her, which is in keeping with the many transiting Neptune trines that dominated her chart at the time.
At the time of her split from Brad Pitt, Jennifer Anniston had transiting Pluto conjunct her natal Moon. Amidst their intensity, Jennifer’s feelings are very real and honest. Betrayal, jealousy, vulnerability, and the need to rid oneself of emotional attachments are all emotions associated with the Moon-Pluto aspect. It was also a metaphor for the stages of mourning she was going through. There is a strong correlation between the onset of depression and Pluto transits, but these periods can also be transformative for the psyche. The passage of Pluto represents transformation and rebirth, as well as the need to let go of old habits and security blankets. Jennifer’s relationship with her mother was strained, but she would have dealt with it anyway. During this time of transformation, the home front also undergoes profound shifts.
The late opera star’s daughter, Gulian Pavarotti, is famous in her own right. At the time of Gulian’s father’s passing in 2007, she was experiencing the transit of Pluto to her natal Moon. There is a death in the environment when Pluto also squares the Saturn-Pluto opposition. All of a chart’s transits should be analysed; when Pluto aspects the Moon, for example, feelings tend to become more stressful under other challenging transitions. After we’ve processed our grief and recovered our lives, we may find that we’ve developed a deeper connection to our feelings; this is analogous to clearing the decks so that we can begin a new chapter in our journey with a new consciousness.