The universe exists in a majestic dance, each celestial body in constant motion. Imagine yourself standing at the center of this wondrous waltz, the grand silent ballroom painted with a billion stars. One player in this palatial performance is Pluto, a partner that invites intensity and insists on evolution. The dance with Pluto, then, is the dance of transformation, and shedding old skin in favor of a new, more empowered self.

Let us begin our discussion with a visit to the icy realms of Pluto. Named after the Roman deity of the underworld, Pluto is buried at the edges of our solar system, shrouded in mystery and cloaked in deep darkness. It was once regarded as a full-fledged planet, then relegated to the status of a dwarf planet in 2006. And therein lies the initial lesson: a symbol of transformation, itself in transformation.

It is easy to surmise that Pluto’s influence is secretive, distant, lurking in the shadows. But do not mistake its remoteness for irrelevance or its elusiveness for deficiency. Like the occult shaman, Pluto’s power is immense, mysterious, and profound.

Pluto’s reign extends over transformation, regeneration, and rebirth. Just as the mythical god presided over the realms below surface, so too does Pluto invoke an exploration of the deep, inner dark spaces within ourselves. It pushes us to courageously face and conquer the daunting forces conspiring within our personal underworld: fear, insecurity, trauma, and taboo. These engagements, as grueling as they may be, are essentially opportunities for profound personal evolution, for Pluto is the alchemist of soul growth and consciousness expansion.

Imagine a cosmic blacksmith, with Pluto as its anvil. Just as a raw metal is pounded, shaped, and tempered into a fine blade, so, too, are our souls sculpted under Pluto’s influence. The process can be unsettling, but it’s only through this seeming chaos that we progress towards our potential.

Consider an event that shook your life, turned everything upside-down, pushed you straight into your fears, left you writhing in agony. These moments – of upheaval, death, and rebirth – are associated with Pluto. They are difficult, painful even, but necessary. In the ashes of what was, lies the potential for becoming. As the mythical Phoenix rises anew from the ashes, so too are we reborn stronger, wiser – transformed!

Since transformation is a process, the journey with Pluto can seem long and meandering. Pluto moves through the zodiac slowly, spending anywhere from 12 to 31 years in each sign. This slow movement ensures that Pluto’s transformative influence is thorough, deep, and lasting. It ushers us gently (and at times not so gently), yet definitively, out of our comfort zones, challenging us to confront those aspects within us that lie in the dark, undiscovered or unaccepted.

Furthermore, Pluto bears influence upon power – and power is a slippery thing. It seduces, tempts, corrupts, and enslaves, but also liberates, strengthens, and singles out leaders from the crowd. Under Pluto’s governance, we are faced with power within us, power outside of us, and the continual dance between the two – the pull and push, the surrender and control.

Pluto empowering is a two-fold phenomenon. Essentially it perturbs our relationship with external authority, to facilitate the discovery of our “inner sovereign.” It is the cosmic catalyst that releases dormant inner strength and brings to the surface our hidden, often unacknowledged, power. However, it also compels us to confront our vulnerability, our dependence on external validation or control. It is through this realization and eventual acceptance of our vulnerability, that we, paradoxically, discover genuine empowerment.

Interacting with Pluto’s energy is akin to engaging in deep spiritual practice. It is uncomfortable and challenging, but the rewards are great. You emerge having retrieved your power, having transformed fear into love, anger into forgiveness, and apathy into passion. You become the co-creator of your reality, no longer a mere pawn to external forces.

Astrology’s wisdom implores us to observe Pluto, not with apprehension, but instead with deep reverence, knowing that its influence, while intense, serves a purpose greater than what surface events indicate. The dance with Pluto ushers us into unfamiliar terrain, urging us to let go of our attachments to the old that no longer serve us, while welcoming the birth of the new, more authentic and empowered self.

Attesting to Pluto’s profound ability to transform, and shedding its dwarf planet status, many modern astrologers have re-crowned it as a potent Planet of Power, welcoming it back into the celestial dance. Pluto may be small in size but it is gargantuan in its impact, a profound catalyst inspiring us to bravely explore the very essence of our being, encounter our shadows, and emerge into the light, evolved and empowered.

In this divine cosmic waltz, every celestial body has its role, every planet its purpose. As poet Rumi once famed, “The wound is where the Light enters you.” And, in its unique way, Pluto is the tender of these challenging wounds, fracturing the shell of our resistance so our soul’s radiance can shine through.

Together, let us embrace Pluto’s transformative energies, allowing the cosmic tides to shape us, shift us, and lift us toward our true potential — toward an embodied experience of our power and authenticity.