Power struggles and forced transformation
Here’s what to do and not do when you have a Saturn Opposite Pluto transit. Below that are some interesting things about this transit.
Avoid During This Transit
- Don’t try to control or manipulate others- this transit can bring out power struggles.
- Avoid making big, life-altering decisions unless you’ve really thought them through.
- Don’t ignore deep feelings or fears that come up. Pushing them down will just make things harder.
- Stay away from unhealthy obsessions- whether it’s with people, work, or old grudges.
- Avoid stubbornness. Being super rigid right now can backfire.
- Don’t resist necessary changes, even if they’re uncomfortable.
- Try not to bottle up anger or resentment- it’s better to talk things out calmly.
- Avoid getting involved in shady situations or making secretive deals.
- Don’t take on heavy responsibilities if you’re already feeling overwhelmed.
- Try not to isolate yourself- reach out if you need support.
Do During This Transit
- Reflect on control issues: This is a good time to notice where you try too hard to control things or people, and practice letting go a bit. Letting things unfold naturally helps.
- Work on self-discipline: Saturn asks you to buckle down. Use its energy to set boundaries and create routines, even if it feels tough at first.
- Face your fears: Stuff you’ve avoided or old anxieties might come up. This is a great time to look them in the eye and start dealing with them.
- Declutter your life: Get rid of things, situations, or habits that don’t serve you anymore. Make space for what really matters.
- Let go of grudges: If you’re carrying old resentment or hurt, this transit helps you shed that heavy energy. Forgive where you can, for your own peace.
- Transform your goals: Rework long-term plans that aren’t working. Be ready to change direction and build on a stronger foundation.
- Deal with power struggles calmly: If you’re caught in a tug-of-war with someone, focus on compromise and clear communication rather than trying to “win.”
- Accept limitations: Sometimes doors close for a reason. Try to see setbacks as redirection, not just obstacles.
- Dig deep for patience: Changes now take time. It’s not a sprint, so be gentle with yourself if progress feels slow.
- Work on emotional healing: Therapy, journaling, or just honest talks with a friend can help you process stuff from your past that comes up now.
What’s Interesting About This Transit
- Saturn’s “Glacial Opposition”: In Astrological Judgement and Practice (1953), Geoffrey L. Nauman mentions that Saturn opposite Pluto can bring a period described as “glacial resignation”- a time when people let go of deep-seated ambitions and accept things as they are, much as glaciers slowly grind down mountains. This isn’t about explosive change, but a quiet, almost icy shift in one’s approach to power and control.
- “Inherited Shadows” Activation: Ivy M. Goldstein-Jacobson writes, in Here and There in Astrology (1961), that this transit can awaken unresolved family issues, especially those related to old secrets or legacies (“shadows inherited from ancestors”), that suddenly feel urgent or heavy, even if they’ve been buried for years.
- Societal Estrangement: According to Ronald C. Davison’s Astrology (1957), Saturn opposite Pluto in transit can create feelings of isolation from society. People might suddenly feel at odds with “the rules of the world,” sensing a gap between their own drive for transformation and society’s expectations.
- Material Detachment: Carter’s Principles of Astrology (1951) discusses how this opposition might lead to an abrupt loss, or a voluntary renunciation, of possessions or wealth, stemming from a deep sense that “material things have lost their grip.” It’s not just hard times- sometimes it’s a strange indifference.
- “Silent Authority” Crisis: In The Progressed Horoscope (Mid-1950s), Alan Leo describes this transit as causing issues with hidden authority figures: clashing with someone who holds more power than is apparent, or discovering where true control in a situation lies- often without an open confrontation.
- Suppressed Physical Symptoms: In Medical Astrology by L.J. Jensen (1964), Saturn opposing Pluto is said to trigger health issues related to suppressed emotions, which can appear as strange, hard-to-diagnose ailments, especially in the bones or elimination systems.
- “Tower on Quicksand” Image: In Grant Lewi’s Heaven Knows What (1950), he talks about a feeling that what you’ve built in life is suddenly “standing on quicksand”- structures that seemed solid may need re-evaluating because their foundations are secretly unstable, often linked to old power dynamics.
- Unusual Dream Symbols: In Astrology and the Dream World (E. Whiteside, 1955), it’s suggested that Saturn opposite Pluto brings heavier, more symbolic dreams- particularly about old buildings, locked doors, or tunnels- or dreams where people face off against shadowy authority figures.
- Time-Reversal Phenomena: According to Frances Sakoian and Louis S. Acker in their mid-century lectures (noted in Handbook of Astrology, 1965), some experience a literal “reversal of fortune” or even odd déjà vu events, like histories repeating in unexpected ways, under this transit.
Experiencing This Transit
Saturn opposite natal Pluto can hit pretty hard, especially if you’re used to doing things your own way. Imagine two forces- Saturn (authority, rules, restrictions) and Pluto (raw power, hidden stuff, transformation)- pulling on you from totally opposite directions. You can feel like you’re stuck in the middle of a tug-of-war between keeping things under control and wanting, or needing, to totally change something in your life.
Challenges during this transit
- Feeling Pressured by Authority Figures: Bosses, parents, or anyone who’s got power over you might suddenly seem more controlling, or just a lot harder to deal with. You could feel like no matter what you do, you can’t please them- or they keep blocking your plans.
- Old Fears Rising Up: Stuff you thought you’d dealt with- old memories, traumas, insecurities- can bubble up unexpectedly. It can feel overwhelming or like things are out of your control.
- Power Struggles: You might find yourself getting into more arguments or silent battles with people. Sometimes, it’s not even about what’s on the surface. There’s this heavy, under-the-table vibe where it feels like everything is about who’s really in control.
- Health and Energy Drains: This transit can feel exhausting. Old health problems can flare up, or you might just feel tired for no clear reason.
- Breaking Points: Sometimes, situations reach their breaking point. Relationships, jobs, even living situations can go through big tests.
Opportunities during this transit
- Massive Growth: If you’re willing to let go of what’s not working, you can actually come out of this transit way stronger. You see what needs to change, and if you face it, you can transform at a deep level.
- Letting Go of Baggage: Hard as it is, this transit is great for finally releasing old baggage or toxic relationships, even if it hurts at first.
- Building Real Power: If you can work through the power struggles, you can step into a much stronger sense of who you are and what you want. You learn how to set real boundaries.
- Rebuilding on Solid Ground: After the dust settles, you’ve got a chance to rebuild something in your life that lasts. Whether it’s a career, relationship, or just your own self-confidence, Saturn rewards effort and commitment.
- Deeper Insight: Pluto brings things up from the deep, and as tough as it feels, you can gain some major insight into yourself- what you really want, what scares you, and what you’re ready to change.
How the Sign of Transiting Saturn Modifies This Transit Opposite to Natal Pluto
Read the one for the current sign of transiting Saturn.
- Transiting Saturn in Aries: This energy pushes you to confront fears of taking charge or starting new things. You might face power struggles with authority when you try to stand up for yourself.
- Transiting Saturn in Taurus: The focus falls on money, values, and stability. Financial issues or stubbornness could highlight deep-seated control issues that need realignment.
- Transiting Saturn in Gemini: Communication gets heavy. Misunderstandings or power games could crop up in your conversations, so it’s a time to be extra careful with words and information.
- Transiting Saturn in Cancer: Emotional boundaries get tested. You might feel pressure around family or home life, and have to deal with past emotional baggage or family power struggles.
- Transiting Saturn in Leo: Challenges around creativity, self-expression, and recognition. You could struggle with feeling blocked or undervalued, which triggers deeper issues about personal power.
- Transiting Saturn in Virgo: Criticism or perfectionism intensifies, especially in work or health. You may feel pressure to get everything right, which can set off control issues and anxiety about routines or responsibilities.
- Transiting Saturn in Libra: Relationships and fairness become the battleground for power dynamics. You could be tested by authority figures or harsh lessons about balance, compromise, and control in partnerships.
- Transiting Saturn in Scorpio: Secrets, trust, and intimacy take center stage. You might feel driven to take control or transform deeper psychological fears, especially around endings or shared resources.
- Transiting Saturn in Sagittarius: Your beliefs or worldview get challenged. Control issues could show up in travel, education, or legal situations, and you’re pushed to let go of rigid opinions.
- Transiting Saturn in Capricorn: Career and ambition issues hit hard. You’ll probably feel the weight of responsibilities and might wrestle with bosses or institutions over who’s in charge.
- Transiting Saturn in Aquarius: Social circles, friendships, and groups are where the friction shows up. You could feel like an outsider or deal with power struggles around fitting in or leading others.
- Transiting Saturn in Pisces: Boundaries get blurry, and you may have to face illusions or escape habits. It’s a push to get real about spirituality and healing, facing fears of letting go and trusting the process.
Moon child
Does this mean “I fight authority, authority always wins?”
I was able to overturn a decision from a judge (by writing my own appeal). Even though I won, I’m back in her court for my civil trial (over my Uncle’s Estate). Does this mean I lose, or that i just can’t succeed in getting her off my case? She’s definitely trying to tank my chances of winning (blocking evidence and witnesses). Can the rest of my chart mitigate how hard this hits for authority winning over me? I’m a Libra rising so can Jupiter in Cancer help me right now? Or even Uranus transiting my 9th?