Pluto’s Final Breath in Capricorn and the Early September Transits

Overarching Astrological Energies from September 1st - 15th

As I start this article, it’s 102 degrees outside (though it feels like 109), and it’s the day before the Aquarius full moon. As I mentioned last month, there’s a buildup of energy between the conjunctions—including cazimis with the Sun—and squares galore. Will we get some relief in September? It depends on how you view the change in energy, but regardless, the next few months can be transformative both collectively and personally. In mid-September, we’ll have a few grand trines, which will help loosen up the energy and allow us to move forward.

We start the month with Venus in Libra, known as its domicile, meaning the sign where Venus is most comfortable. Some of us may be high on love and good vibes, depending on how Venus is interacting with your chart. Collectively, there may be a renewed sense of hope and a possibility of harmony, but as you may know, nothing is quite that simple. We start off with Venus conjunct the South Node, which means issues from the past may resurface. When I think of Venus, I tend to think of women’s health issues, but with the South Node, it can be more than that. The South Node can represent illnesses, especially those transmitted by air. Now, I know what you may be thinking, and no, I am not predicting anything like 2020. Sometimes astrology is predictive, and other times it’s reflective. With schools reopening and the start of cold and flu season, this conjunction may be a little bit of both. But take heed and do the things you normally would to prevent yourself from getting sick. (This conjunction overlaps with the new moon on the 2nd, which emphasizes taking care of our health.)

The following transit will be much talked about in astrological circles. On September 1st (or the 2nd if you live in the Eastern Hemisphere), Pluto will move back into Capricorn for its last fated breath during our lifetime. We can’t ignore the societal significance, especially if you’re in the United States. On July 4th, 1776—the date we associate with the birth of the nation—Pluto was in Capricorn at 27 degrees retrograde. This current Pluto retrograde will last through October 11th, going direct on the 12th. Throughout the retrograde period, Pluto will be at the 29th anaretic degree. The anaretic degree is a point of tension; it allows for transformation. It is the degree of maturity and moving away from the past. My take is that Pluto is taking one last remedial class before graduating and moving on to something new.

If we were to ask Pluto (and we’re pretending Pluto is a sentient being that can talk and has a soul), “Why are you going into Capricorn for the third time?” I imagine Pluto would reply, “To give those rich old bastards one last shot at correcting the status quo before we break down their institutions.” With the 29th degree, decisions need to be made. Does the old guard want to hold on to something that no longer serves everyone? Some may choose that route, but they will most likely regret that decision. Power is the energy to create something beneficial. When power is not shared and is hoarded, we may think of the quote, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” by Lord Acton.

Let’s consider the first time Pluto was in Capricorn in American history. In the decade leading up to the United States declaring independence, the colonies’ financial situation was heavily dependent on British rule, which imposed significant hardships on most colonists. The scarcity of currency, coupled with a series of Acts passed by England that imposed taxes and tariffs, created widespread strife between the colonists and the British government. These economic pressures, along with the resulting protests, boycotts, declarations of rights and grievances, and sporadic violent events, ultimately fueled the colonies’ desire to declare independence and secede from Britain.

Not all of the colonists’ complaints fell on deaf ears within the British government. Some issues were addressed, but these concessions were not sufficient to grant the colonists a true voice or the opportunity to grow economically. The power remained firmly in England’s hands, with little willingness to transform and empower the people of America. This refusal to adapt and share power set the stage for conflict.

Today, as the United States experiences similar Pluto transits, some may fear we are headed toward a similar upheaval. However, it’s crucial to remember that the course of history is not fixed. If Britain had established a fair and livable economic structure for the colonists, war might have been avoided. This serves as a reminder that it’s not just about observing past events in light of specific transits, but also considering how those events could have unfolded differently.

Pluto, after all, is not just about power—it’s about transformation. As Pluto makes its final retrograde into Capricorn, it serves as a nudge to the oligarchs of today, reminding them that history repeats itself only when past and present lessons go unlearned. And we, the American people and the collective, have over 250 years of lessons that we can apply to make change and disperse the power that’s held by the wealthy and corporations. By paying attention to where our dollars are spent, using our laws and bringing suits against institutions that violate the public, and by voting and electing politicians that truly represent our interests—not the interests of the billionaire class—we can shift the dynamics. This is why the richest spend an exorbitant amount of money to keep us separated—that is the only way they’ve been able to maintain a financial stranglehold on us.

With that said, the next few months may harken back to 2008 when Pluto first entered Capricorn. Now, as Pluto makes its final pass through Capricorn, we may witness significant financial challenges in key sectors such as telecommunications, automotive manufacturing, conglomerates like General Electric, large streaming services, banks engaged in higher-risk investments, and the airline industry. The transformative energy of these astrological transits could bring to light underlying vulnerabilities, especially in regards to high debt loads, leading to potential restructurings, mergers, or even bankruptcies within these industries. The industries impacted the most are those that have not transformed, that are bloated with power, dragging their proverbial feet to evolve and focus on their impact on humanity. Pluto will shine a light on their shortcomings, and these established institutions may eventually go the way of the dinosaur.

This does not mean that modern companies and private equity firms will dodge being scrutinized. As we see now, the DOJ is suing RealPage, a software company owned by a private equity firm that drove up rental prices. The announcement was made while Pluto is in Aquarius, and when Pluto goes back into Aquarius on January 20th, 2025, I expect we will see more investigations and suits against AI-driven software that gouges American citizens, as well as the private equity firms that are damaging and undermining the middle and lower economic classes. However, this prediction can go in reverse depending on who is elected as President and the makeup of our upcoming Congress.

Now, let’s shift gears to the next change-up in our astrological map. Within several hours of Pluto entering Capricorn, the planet Uranus goes into retrograde in the sign of Taurus. Yes, that’s correct, two of our outermost planets have significant relevance. Uranus will stay in retrograde through January 30th, 2025. Earthy Taurus and unpredictable Uranus will have us thinking about the land, especially when it comes to agriculture, our processes and procedures relating to farming, and our ongoing obesity epidemic in the United States. Uranus is making a trine to Pluto, so we may be thinking of transformative ways to grow crops that are healthier for the consumer. This would be at the highest level of thought with this transit, especially as Mercury traverses through the sign of Virgo after the first week of September. With Uranus, Mercury, and Pluto all in earth signs, there could be something leaked from a powerful corporation in regard to unethical farming practices.

Beyond that, there may be an increased focus on our infrastructures such as roads, public spaces, utilities, and access to them. There will be discussions upon values (which obviously makes sense during an election season) in a more inclusive way than has been discussed in the past. We may hear of, or participate in, conversations that explore outside-the-box solutions to our current issues that were not previously considered.

On a personal level, when Uranus is in retrograde, we tend to look inward. We may start to question our certainty regarding our thoughts and opinions about people, institutions, religion, social groups, politicians, health, media, communications, beliefs, authority, and ourselves—pretty much everything. With the Pluto transit and Uranus retrograde, many of us may have moments of clarity where we realize that our prior foundations just aren’t what we thought they were. It could be a harsh shake-up for some and impact their sense of identity. I just ask that you be kind to yourself and others who are experiencing the impact of Uranus stationing retrograde. However, since Uranus is at a higher octave and tends to impact the collective more than the individual, there may still be people who are shown the truth with verifiable facts and still hold on to falsehoods. It may take time for reality to settle in.

With Uranus square to Leo Mercury through the 9th of the month, you may need to watch what you say to others, or you may hear things that are brash or unreasonable. Here you have two planets that are about the mind: one that is retrograde and somewhat grounded (well, as grounded as Uranus can be—which is not saying much) and the other that is fiery and somewhat of a diva. Thinking more about the big picture than the moment may garner you better long-term results. But this square can bring forth new and innovative ideas. This energy is also great for how we can present ideas; it has the ability to bring others to the fold, especially when they can recognize how a solution could be mutually beneficial.

We have the new moon occurring in the early evening hours on September 2nd. This Virgo new moon is in opposition to Saturn in Pisces. Saturn is the teacher of restraint, patience, and responsibility. We had a full moon in the sign of Virgo at the end of February 2024. Though full moons are generally a completion and new moons are beginnings, you may have started thinking about your health and well-being during that time. If you have taken action on your health, such as improving your diet, exercising, visiting a doctor, reducing stress, or anything else that aligns you with self-care, then this new moon may not have much significance. But if you haven’t, you could potentially get a rude poke alerting you to address your own needs. You do not need to wait until a new moon to take care of yourself. With Jupiter in Gemini making a square to the Virgo sun and Pisces Saturn from the 5th through the 15th, expect to hear about many people getting sick. Keep in mind, sickness is common at the start of every school year, but with this square, it could be worse than usual. Being diligent with your health is the most prudent way to dodge illness. (I will go into depth regarding the new moon when I publish my personal forecasts for September.)

The next transit that will impact many of us is Mars ingress into the sign of Cancer, which happens on the afternoon of September 4th. On a personal note, I love Mars in Cancer, but I can see why some think it is a tricky juxtaposition. Mars is fiery and action-oriented, while Cancer is watery and nurturing—on the surface, it just doesn’t seem to make sense. However, I think of Mars in Cancer with two beautiful dualities. The first expression that comes to mind is the mother who gains extraordinary strength, lifting an impossibly heavy object to save her offspring. It is protection with action—the champion of the underdog. The other expression has to do with merging feminine and masculine energy, blurring the line between the two. No matter what gender we identify with, we all have both receptive and active energy. Mars in Cancer, to me, symbolizes the balance between those two life forces.

However, the transits of Mars in Cancer can be tricky since it combines emotion with impulse. Depending on which house it transits in your chart and the aspects it makes, it can either make you act more maternal and empathic towards others or influence you to be a hot emotional mess. Knowing that Mars is in Cancer, just take a few slow, deep breaths before doing anything that has fired up your energy (actually, this is advice that is warranted whenever we feel ablaze). When someone cuts you off on the road or says something that gets under your skin, you may want to take a step back and think, “What if this was my mom, spouse, sibling, best friend, etc.? How would I react then? Would I be more forgiving?” And if that doesn’t work, think, “Will this really matter in the long run?”—and if not, you may want to let it slide or at least approach without anger or hostility.

Mars will also square the nodes, so there may be a change in direction for some, especially when it comes to their careers or life path. It could be a swift turn, and with the impact of Uranus in retrograde, it may feel like a light switch has been flipped, and your perception of what was has suddenly changed. But we may see this energy play out on the world stage; alliances may be tested, and new ones could be formed.

Mercury enters Virgo for the second time this year on the 9th of the month, making a sextile to Mars. Sextiles are considered a harmonious aspect, but Cancer and Virgo energy can sometimes be a little prickly. Now, this is not intentional; it’s more like someone telling you something you already know, repeating the message, asking if you understand, then bringing up something you did in the past, and maybe having a critical eye before accepting that you got the message. It can be exhausting when the energy is passive-aggressive, but when it truly is harmonious, it can be helpful and nurturing, empathetic and logical. Regardless of how the energy is expressed, the underlying current is about servitude. You may be drawn to activities with your family, or you may be involved with others who “feel” like family—such as sorority sisters, co-workers, clubs, or your circle of friends.

Also on the 9th, Mercury is squared to the Sagittarius moon and Uranus in Taurus. This is a day when people may be surprisingly direct, critical, or just say something that is out of left field. When Sagittarius moon energy is provoked by something unpleasant, it can shoot an arrow, hitting the target with a hurtful thrust. Just be careful on this day and think before you speak, especially if you are discussing sensitive subjects. However, Sagittarius energy more often than not is optimistic. Lean into the cheerfulness of the sign during this square. The 9th isn’t a “bad” day per se; it just has some aspects that can make communication go one of two ways: friendly and warm, or angsty and defensive. It is up to you to choose which way you want to communicate.

The best day of the month is September 15th. Most of the energy is trines and sextiles. Though Mercury is in opposition to Saturn, which may lead to restrictive or negative thinking, Saturn also gives Mercury a boost of self-reflection, ownership of identity, and a chance to reinvent yourself. With the Virgo-Pisces polarity, you can transcend to positive self-talk and understand your connection to the collective, Earth, and the ethereal. You may get a burst of energy this day with the Virgo Sun squaring Jupiter in Gemini. The ideas are flowing, and you may be tapping into your life path. The only downside is you may be so filled with a “gung-ho” outlook that you could take on too many tasks (but keep in mind you can always prioritize or delegate if need be). If you are thinking about launching something new, this is the most opportune day to bring it to fruition. The Aquarius Moon is making a grand trine with Libra Venus and Jupiter in Gemini, allowing innovative ideas to align with your values and expand through communication and a little bit of luck.

I have covered the first half of the month here, and soon I will cover the second half and then do readings based on rising signs. I am splitting this up into three parts instead of two this month, to make it easier to go back and access the information you find helpful.

After navigating the first half of September, the energies set the stage for some pivotal moments. In the next installment, we’ll dive deeper into the start of eclipse season, with a focus on the partial lunar eclipse in Pisces on September 17th. This event, along with the transits, and culminating with a Sun-Mercury cazimi in Libra, promises to bring even more profound shifts both personally and collectively. Stay tuned.

Want to see how these transits affect your own chart? Book a personal reading with me for tailored insights.

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