PLUTO IN AQUARIUS

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On March 23, 2023, the planet Pluto will move from Capricorn into Aquarius, then retrograde back into Capricorn, before finally returning to Aquarius, where it will remain for approximately 20 years.
Whenever a planet changes signs—and especially Pluto, a generational planet—significant shifts in trends emerge depending on the new sign. But from the start, we should strip away the romantic or New Age notion that Aquarius symbolizes pure pacifism and freedom. As astrologer Lisa Morpurgo noted in La Natura dei Segni, Aquarius has characteristics that differ significantly from those described in many popular astrology books.
Aquarius, the eleventh sign of the Zodiac, is ruled by Saturn and Uranus, with influences from Neptune and Pluto. By analogy with its opposite sign, Leo—dominated by the Sun, clear and transparent in its exercise of power—Aquarius seeks influence in more covert ways: through diplomacy, or more often through conflicts masked with claims of securing rights or liberating oppressed nations. The key themes here are masking and freedom.
Historical periods when Pluto was in Aquarius—for example the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution—were motivated by freedom from English rule in the first case, and aristocratic oppression in the second. Yet the French Revolution ultimately gave rise to the Reign of Terror and the guillotine—ironically invented under Pluto in Aquarius, juxtaposed with the bull-necked symbol of Taurus. Similarly, in the 1500s Pluto in Aquarius saw widespread wars and massive loss of life, consistent with Pluto’s symbolism. Even in both prior periods, Russia—then embroiled in conflicts with Poland and Turkey—echoed its current brutal engagement, particularly in Ukraine.
At the same time, powerful earthquakes struck Italy—especially Tuscany (Arezzo), Calabria, and Sicily (Reggio Calabria, Siracusa, Messina)—regions connected to Scorpio, which receives Pluto’s harsh aspect.
Conversely, Pluto in Aquarius has historically stimulated the Gemini sign—its curiosity leading to scientific discovery. These eras saw the rise of Copernicus, the discovery of Uranus in 1781, and satellites of Saturn, such as Enceladus—now again in scientific focus. Other Uranian-themed discoveries followed: the element uranium, breakthroughs in electricity, and even the first hot-air balloon flight, symbolically tied to Uranus’s associations with flight.
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What Can We Expect from Pluto’s Entrance into Aquarius in March 2023?

Although the most impactful events will unfold once Pluto fully enters Aquarius next year, we’ll already see early signs. The Russia–Ukraine conflict is likely to undergo a marked phase change—Russia, astrologically tied to both Aquarius and Pisces, may find itself in a Vietnam style quagmire if no peace treaty emerges. As in previous eras, Turkey and Poland are key players—likely to influence further developments.
Pluto will form a trine to Gemini, where Uranus will also eventually arrive, and with Neptune moving into Aries, expect new astronomical discoveries and novel sky-travel technologies. Innovations may include broader use of electricity in transport (e.g., electric or hydrogen vehicles), breakthroughs in telecommunications beyond our current mobile networks—perhaps satellite based systems—and new models of television and advertising. Gemini’s link to automobiles hints at increased AI integration in vehicles and—even more boldly—a robot lawyer or AI judge, as hinted by Pluto’s trine to Libra.
Thanks to upgraded telescopes, planets possibly able to support life continue to be reported. This transit might coincide with confirmation of a twelfth Zodiac planet, following the discovery of X Eris. It may fuel renewed interest in space travel, echoing earlier balloon flights and airship pioneers.
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Final Observations

Aquarius has historically coincided with the construction of dividing walls between nations. With Pluto entering the eleventh sign, we may see both the strengthening of new divisions—making a united Europe, as many propose, more difficult—or the dismantling of ideological and religious walls, especially since this transit does not benefit Islam or Judaism.
It will also be interesting to track people born under Pluto in Aquarius. In prior Pluto Aquarius cycles, a connection between the Aquarian qualities of music and deafness emerged—most famously embodied by Beethoven. Might future Pluto Aquarius natives also have hearing issues?
Countries likely to be strongly affected by Pinto in Aquarius include China, Argentina, Europe (especially Ireland, England, France, and Russia), and Australia.