“Powerful Destiny Shifts”
Here’s what to do and not do when you have a Pluto Square North Node transit. Below that are some interesting things about this transit.
Avoid During This Transit
- Don’t resist change, even if it feels scary- trying to control things too much will only make it harder.
- Avoid clinging to old habits or relationships just because they’re familiar- this is a time for growth, not sticking to what you know.
- Don’t ignore your intuition if it’s telling you something’s off- it’s easy to push your feelings aside, but you’ll regret it later.
- Try not to get caught up in power struggles or drama, whether that’s at work or in your personal life- it’s easy to attract intensity now, but it rarely ends well.
- Don’t make any big, irreversible decisions out of fear or obsession, especially if you’re feeling pressured- give yourself time to breathe and reflect.
- Avoid manipulating situations or people to get what you want- it will backfire under this energy.
- Don’t ignore your deeper goals and callings- if you keep sidestepping your true path, you’ll feel more stuck or frustrated than ever.
- Avoid bottling things up or pretending everything’s fine- Pluto brings buried stuff to the surface, so it’s better to face emotions honestly.
- Don’t push others too hard to change or “see things your way”- everyone’s learning their own lessons during this time.
- Avoid neglecting self-care, since intense energies can be draining- rest and recharge when you need to.
Do During This Transit
- Face old fears – This transit is about digging deep. Face those things you’ve been avoiding, no matter how tough they seem.
- Let go of the past – It’s a great time to break free from old habits, relationships, or patterns that hold you back.
- Work on self-empowerment – Focus on building your confidence and standing up for what you want in life.
- Reflect on your life direction – Think about where you’re headed, especially if you’ve felt stuck or lost.
- Transform your mindset – Challenge negative beliefs and replace them with more positive, powerful ones.
- Reassess your goals – Make sure what you’re chasing still matters to you. If not, it’s okay to change paths.
- Embrace change – Don’t fight the transformations happening in your life. Trust that it’s all leading you where you need to go.
- Cut ties with toxic influences – If someone or something is dragging you down, use this time to step away for good.
- Journal or talk it out – Processing your feelings out loud or on paper can help you make sense of all the intense emotions.
- Practice patience – Pluto’s changes don’t happen overnight. Give yourself time and space to grow into who you’re becoming.
What’s Interesting About This Transit
- Challenging Fateful Meetings – According to Pluto: The Reawakener by William B. Butler (1963), Pluto squaring the North Node sometimes marks “unforeseen encounters with those whose karmic ties date back many lifetimes, often in the guise of antagonists”- in other words, not always harmonious soul-mates, but people who might radically test your path or even act as disruptive gurus.
- Secret Alliances & Betrayals – C.E.O. Carter in Essays on the Foundations of Astrology (1947) connects Pluto-Nodal aspects with “underground movements,” suggesting you could get drawn into hidden group schemes or power plays during this transit, sometimes without even realizing how deep in you are until it’s too late.
- Inherited Collective Baggage – In The Astrological Aspects by Charles E.O. Carter (1967), it’s mentioned that Pluto and the Nodes can signal the surfacing of “ancestral compulsions,” where family patterns, secrets, or downright weird obsessions suddenly become your problem to solve, especially when the square is active.
- Breakdown of Old Ideals – Joan Negus points out in her 1975 pamphlet Nodes in Aspect that Pluto squaring the North Node “breaks up crystallized group goals,” leading you to feel separated from communities or dreams you once held dear, almost as if you’re being forced to find a new collective to belong to.
- The ‘Dark Invitation’ – From Dennis Elwell’s Cosmic Loom (1987), there’s the idea that Pluto squaring the Node “offers an invitation into the shadows of one’s purpose,” urging a person to voluntarily face taboo subjects or painful lessons hiding beneath their ambitions.
- Temptation to Manipulate Destiny – In Pluto: The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul by Jeff Green (1980, referencing older unpublished lectures), this transit is one where you might consciously try to circumvent the lessons of your North Node path- maybe through controlling people or situations- to avoid a scary or unknown future.
- Collective Upheaval Affecting You – Old ephemerides and planetary daybooks (like Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide, 1958) note that during a Pluto square to the Node, world events are more likely to “interfere with individual progress,” meaning that someone’s personal journey may get hijacked by larger historical or social shifts.
- Strange Health Changes – In Medical Astrology by Cornell (1933, reprinted in the ’50s), the Pluto-Nodal square is said to bring “hard-to-diagnose physical symptoms that match psychological transformation,” especially if you’re resisting changes the transit wants to bring.
- Reversal in Spiritual Teachings – Sepharial writes in New Manual of Astrology (1951) that Pluto squaring the Node can mean “the guide becomes the guided,” so teachers, mentors, or even spiritual leaders might find themselves in a total role reversal, facing their own unresolved issues.
Experiencing This Transit
When Pluto makes a square to your natal North Node, things can feel intense, heavy, and sometimes a bit out of control. It’s like the universe is pushing you to confront parts of yourself (and your life path) that you probably hoped to sidestep. You might catch feelings of being stuck, pressured, or even dragged toward something big and unavoidable.
Challenges during this transit
- Major Power Struggles: You might notice struggles with people in positions of authority, or someone behind the scenes seems to be blocking your progress. For example, your boss suddenly scrutinizes your work, or a mentor turns oddly critical right when you’re trying to move forward.
- Feeling Overwhelmed by Old Stuff: Past issues, even things you think you’ve dealt with, can suddenly resurface. Maybe an unresolved argument with family comes back, or you’re hit with old emotional patterns you thought you grew out of.
- Loss of Direction: You can feel like your path is totally unclear, as if your internal “compass” is spinning. You might question your goals, values, and even your sense of purpose.
- Inner Turmoil: Deep fears, obsessions, or compulsions can show up. Maybe you develop a sudden anxiety about failure, or you obsess over not making enough progress in your life.
- Letting Go is Hard: There’s this urge to hold onto old habits, people, or situations- even when you know they’re not helping you anymore. It’s like shedding a skin, and it can get uncomfortable.
Opportunities during this transit
- Personal Transformation: The biggest gift here is deep internal growth. You might finally see what’s holding you back and get the power to let it go. For instance, you could have a breakthrough in therapy, quit a toxic job, or break a destructive habit for good.
- Facing Fears Head-On: This is your shot to be brave about things that scare you. Maybe you find the courage to, say, confront a family member about a long-standing issue, or apply for something you’ve always thought was out of your reach.
- Cutting Old Ties: You get to make space for new things by cleaning out what’s no longer serving you. This could be as literal as decluttering your living space, or as serious as moving on from old relationships.
- Finding Your True North: Even if you feel lost at first, this transit makes you dig deep into what you really want and need. You may discover a passion or purpose you didn’t realize was so important to you.
- Building Resilience: Because Pluto forces you to push past your limits, you come out tougher, wiser, and smarter about yourself. The stuff you survive during this transit becomes your superpower later on.
How the Sign of Transiting Pluto Modifies This Transit Square to Natal North Node
Read the one for the current sign of transiting Pluto.
- Transiting Pluto in Aries: You’ll feel pushed to make bold moves or take risks you wouldn’t normally take. There’s a big urge to break free from limitations, sometimes a little recklessly.
- Transiting Pluto in Taurus: Power struggles might show up around money, security, or possessions. You could be asked to let go of something you thought you needed to feel safe.
- Transiting Pluto in Gemini: Communication takes center stage. Intense conversations, secrets coming out, or challenges with siblings could steer your growth now.
- Transiting Pluto in Cancer: Family issues or emotional roots get shaken up. You might face deep childhood stuff or major changes in family dynamics on your path forward.
- Transiting Pluto in Leo: This stirs up ego, creativity, or love life issues. You may need to let go of old ideas about being “special” or how you get recognition from others.
- Transiting Pluto in Virgo: Your routines, work, or health could go through big transformations. Perfectionism or old habits might need to be released so you can move on.
- Transiting Pluto in Libra: Partnerships get intense. It could be make-or-break time for certain relationships, as power dynamics or old patterns get revealed.
- Transiting Pluto in Scorpio: Deepest fears or desires come up. It’s time to face trust issues, big endings, or even obsessions so you can keep growing.
- Transiting Pluto in Sagittarius: Your beliefs, worldview, or need for adventure gets challenged. Maybe you’re being called to let go of old philosophies or expand beyond your comfort zone.
- Transiting Pluto in Capricorn: Career, status, or authority figures are in the spotlight. You’ll likely deal with big changes in how you approach success or deal with structures in your life.
- Transiting Pluto in Aquarius: The way you fit into groups, friendships, or social causes is shaken up. It’s about breaking free from old tribal identities or social expectations.
- Transiting Pluto in Pisces: Spiritual beliefs, escapism, or subconscious stuff becomes super important. You might have to let go of illusions or face things you’ve been avoiding.