Power struggles and intense pressure.
Here’s what to do and not do when you have a Saturn Sesquisquare Pluto transit. Below that are some interesting things about this transit.
Avoid During This Transit
- Don’t force major life changes or push big plans- you might hit a lot of walls or tough resistance.
- Avoid getting into power struggles or control battles with others. It’s really easy for conflicts to escalate now.
- Try not to hold onto anger or grudges. Letting resentments stew can bring added stress or even damage relationships.
- Skip risky financial moves or investments. This isn’t the best time for gambling with your money or resources.
- Don’t bury tough emotions or ignore mental health. Facing issues head-on (with self-care) is much healthier than avoiding them.
- Stay away from manipulative tactics- being secretive or sneaky will likely backfire.
- Don’t overload yourself with heavy responsibilities just to prove something to others.
- Try to avoid isolating yourself- reach out if you’re struggling, even if it’s hard to ask for help.
- Steer clear of drastic break-ups, ultimatums, or “all or nothing” choices; this transit can make everything feel more intense than it needs to be.
- Avoid ignoring your limits- take breaks when you need them and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Do During This Transit
- Reflect on your personal power and how you handle control in your life.
- Let go of unhealthy habits or rigid patterns that are holding you back.
- Work through fears about change or losing control- it’s a good time for self-examination.
- Tackle tough projects that need patience and determination, even if they seem overwhelming.
- Strengthen your boundaries with others, especially if you feel pressured or manipulated.
- Practice patience- progress might feel slow, but steady effort pays off.
- Try journaling or talking to a counselor to process any heavy emotions that come up.
- Focus on deep inner work, like meditation or other spiritual practices, to help you grow.
- Face your fears instead of avoiding them; this transit helps you grow stronger through challenges.
- Get organized and declutter your environment. Clearing out physical space can help release old emotional baggage too.
What’s interesting about this transit?
Saturn sesquisquare (also written as sesquiquadrate, 135°) to natal Pluto is an oddball aspect you won’t see mentioned too often in regular astrology books. But if you dig deep, there are some fascinating old interpretations and bits of astrological folklore:
- Some Renaissance astrologers called this a “fortune’s crucible,” suggesting a period where fate tempers you like steel- harsh heat, but then you come out stronger.
- From a nearly forgotten Victorian-era text: “Under Saturn with hostile ray to Pluto, the native is pressed by secret labor, like charcoal pressed to the hope of a diamond.”
- Old German astrology handbooks warned this aspect could mark “the season of veiling,” where things hidden in the psyche start to strain against their bindings, leading to inner unease or even paranoia for a while.
- In some Eastern European interpretations, this aspect is when “the ancestors test the resolve of their kin”- meaning complicated family problems or inherited issues tend to surface. It’s seen as a time to break old generational patterns.
- A rare medieval Middle Eastern note describes it as “a time when castles crumble, but reveal their hidden treasures under the rubble.” Basically: things may fall apart, but only so you can find something worthwhile beneath it all.
Experiencing This Transit
When Saturn makes a sesquisquare to your natal Pluto, it’s not a headline-grabber like a Saturn return or Pluto transit, but you’ll definitely feel it simmering under the surface. These are two tough, heavy planets- Saturn brings restriction and responsibility, Pluto brings intensity, transformation, and power struggles. The sesquisquare is a minor but irritating “frustration” aspect. So what’s it like?
Challenges during this transit
- Feeling Stuck or Trapped: You might feel like you want to change something big in your life, but everything seems to push back or get in your way. Old systems or structures you’ve built are resisting the changes you crave. Maybe you’re stuck in a job or relationship that feels controlling or just “too much.”
- Pressure to Control (or Be Controlled): Power issues tend to flare up. You could feel like a boss, parent, or even bureaucracy is testing your limits. Sometimes you’re the one who wants to take charge, but it backfires or feels out of sync.
- Shadow Work Is Uncomfortable: Old anxieties, grudges, or even fears about your own ambitions come bubbling up. Things you thought you’d buried can feel like they’re haunting your daily life.
- Pessimism or Gritty Mood: Saturn’s influence can make things look bleak, while Pluto adds intensity (sometimes even obsession). You might feel more cynical, or find yourself looping over worst-case scenarios.
Opportunities during this transit
- Releasing What Doesn’t Serve You: If you use this time well, you can actually purge some power issues or destructive habits- kind of like spring cleaning your soul. Maybe you finally let go of old resentment about family or authority, or set boundaries with someone bossy in your life.
- Building Psychological Strength: This aspect tests your willpower but also builds it. Challenges now might toughen you up for something new and better. Think of it as emotional weightlifting.
- Transformation through Discipline: If you commit to something (a project, therapy, quitting a bad habit), you can make progress in a deep and lasting way, even if it doesn’t feel dramatic at first.
- Spotting Hidden Patterns: You may notice weird repeating themes- old power struggles, family messes, work dramas. Now you have a chance to break the pattern for good or at least understand it more clearly.
- Finding Treasure in Rubble: Sometimes this transit triggers a loss or makes you tear down something you thought you needed. In the middle of that, you might discover a skill, friend, or inner resource you didn’t realize was there. It’s a harsh way to grow, but the rewards are real.
How the Sign of Transiting Saturn Modifies This Transit Sesquisquare to Natal Pluto
Read the one for the current sign of transiting Saturn.
- Transiting Saturn in Aries: Challenges push you to take action fast, and impulsive moves can make power struggles even more intense. You’ll feel extra pressure to prove your independence.
- Transiting Saturn in Taurus: Stubbornness intensifies, and holding on too tightly to routines or material stuff can cause tension. You might have to let go of old security blankets to feel more in control.
- Transiting Saturn in Gemini: Arguments or misunderstandings get amplified, especially if you’re not saying what you really mean. You’ll need to be honest in conversations, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Transiting Saturn in Cancer: Emotional boundaries are tested. You might feel like your private life is being squeezed, making family or home issues more loaded than usual.
- Transiting Saturn in Leo: Control dramas come up around pride or recognition. It’s easy to feel like your creative spark is blocked, but this energy actually wants you to own your personal power.
- Transiting Saturn in Virgo: Anxiety about getting every detail right can become overwhelming. You may get hung up on flaws, but growth comes from noticing unhealthy patterns and letting go a bit.
- Transiting Saturn in Libra: Power struggles easily show up in close relationships. You’re pushed to find balance and fairness, even when it’s tough to compromise.
- Transiting Saturn in Scorpio: Everything feels more intense and the need for control goes deep. Old fears or secrets might resurface, forcing you to face what’s been hidden.
- Transiting Saturn in Sagittarius: Feeling boxed in by rules or beliefs can make you restless. You might clash with authority over what’s “right,” and you’re challenged to expand your perspective.
- Transiting Saturn in Capricorn: Pressure to succeed or meet expectations is strong- almost relentless. You’re faced with big tests around ambition, career, or responsibility.
- Transiting Saturn in Aquarius: Rebels vs. rules! Friend groups or communities may become a battleground for control issues, and standing out can feel both risky and necessary.
- Transiting Saturn in Pisces: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by hidden fears or old disappointments. Boundaries can blur, making it hard to know what’s yours to deal with and what isn’t.