For Aries: Pluto’s Metamorphosis and the Meaning Behind Its Retrograde Motion (May 1

On March 23, 2023, Pluto moved into Aquarius. This zodiac shift, happening for the first time in around 16 years, can be considered a turning point for the world and the times.

Pluto will spend approximately 21 years in Aquarius, until January 2044. In other words, it signifies that Pluto will have a long and profound influence on people, and on Aries, over the course of these 21 years.

However, from May 1, 2023, for about 8 to 9 months, Pluto will exhibit slightly irregular movement. That’s right, it will enter retrograde. Having just moved into Aquarius, Pluto will start retrograding on this day. Continuing its retrograde, it will temporarily return to Capricorn, where it spent the last 16 years, on June 11, 2023. On October 10, it will end its retrograde, resume direct motion, and move back into Aquarius on January 20, 2024.

To summarize Pluto’s movements:

March 23, 2023: Enters Aquarius, a zodiac shift after 16 years.

May 1, 2023: Starts retrograding in Aquarius.

June 11, 2023: Retrogrades back to the previous sign, Capricorn.

October 10, 2023: Ends retrograde, resumes direct motion.

January 20, 2024: Moves back into Aquarius.

Pluto will go back and forth between two zodiac signs due to its retrograde. This period can be seen as an adjustment phase for the changes in destiny caused by the zodiac shift after 16 years. To ensure a smooth transition of fate, the planet moves backward to loosen the tension in destiny and make adjustments for smoother changes.

What does the retrograde starting May 1 mean for Aries? And what profound influence will Pluto have on you over the course of the long 21-year period?

Here, we will explain in three chapters:

① The role of Pluto

② The “metamorphosis” Pluto brings to Aries until 2044

③ The meaning of Pluto’s retrograde starting on May 1, 2023

Let’s start by discussing them in order.

① The role of Pluto

Pluto brings “destruction and creation” to people. Like a caterpillar shedding its skin to become a beautiful butterfly or a phoenix that dies by diving into fire only to be reborn, Pluto’s role is to end something to create something new. The word “destruction” should be understood symbolically, and it’s okay to perceive it as “ending” or “loss.” Pluto also governs the teaching that “to start something, something else must end.”

Through such “destruction and creation,” Pluto leads us to deep “metamorphosis.” This is slightly different from “reform” or “growth” in nuance. “Metamorphosis” is about

(1014 words remain after this)

transforming everything to an entirely different level by working in the depths of the world, rather than noticeable changes. If Uranus brings about visible transformation, Pluto brings about a more hidden, bottom-up “metamorphosis.” While “transformation” feels revolutionary and lively, “metamorphosis” carries a mysteriousness that something is fundamentally changing from the core.

This feeling might be similar to those sudden moments when you realize that the things you once loved or were obsessed with no longer matter to you. Due to Pluto’s influence, your very being gradually and fundamentally changes, and you unexpectedly notice that you’ve adopted different values from before. While Uranus brings about visible changes, Pluto seems to bring about metamorphosis in the underlying values, thoughts, and emotions that support those surface changes.

Through destruction and creation, you are led to metamorphosis. By losing something, something new is born. Pluto brings about this ceaseless process. Over these 21 years, you will lose many things. However, it is necessary in order to give birth to a new you.

② The Metamorphosis Pluto Brings to Aries during the Period Until 2044

From March 2023, over a period of 21 years, Pluto will bring about changes in the way Aries connects with others. Your interactions with people and your approach to communication will slowly transform, leading to the pursuit of new goals.

A clear example of this transformation is the change in people you connect with in your daily life. As everyone grows, the groups they belong to and the people they interact with change. For instance, it is common for people who were close in elementary school to lose touch with each other by high school. It’s not that the relationship has gone sour, but rather that you may become distant even if you attend the same school or class. This kind of transformation is typical of Pluto’s influence. Your subconscious may feel that you no longer need to connect with certain people or that your place is not here anymore, leading you to seek new connections.

Over these 21 years, you will seek connections that suit you, and various bonds will be formed and dissolved. Pluto will provide opportunities for connections through shared classes, workplaces, or hobby groups. You may also encounter people or groups with whom you don’t have a close relationship but need to work closely within your profession. Meeting one person can lead to a chain reaction of connections with various others.

So, where are these connections headed?

There is always a purpose. Even if it is not clearly visible, there is a destination you are aiming for. To reach that destination, you may sometimes have to connect with people who are not necessarily friendly or comfortable to be around. These connections could be facilitated by money or power dynamics, and the relationships themselves might be challenging. However, your Aries subconscious will see these connections as necessary for achieving your goal. People come together to pursue a common objective, and the resulting connections can create a chemical reaction that leads to even more distant goals.

The concepts of “connection” and “goal” are closely intertwined, stimulating each other to reach farther and higher. As an Aries, you will live through this process of gradual transformation between “connections” and “goals” until 2044.

When this transformation process is complete, the people and groups surrounding you will have changed significantly, as will the goals you share with them. This change may not necessarily mean an increase in size or level, but it could involve a shift in values, such as joining an entirely different industry or starting a community to help the less fortunate. As connections change, goals change, and so does your worldview.

As mentioned earlier, Aries will experience a slow period of transformation, with changes in their relationship with society. Consider Pluto’s influence continuing until 2044. While it may be difficult to consciously recognize these changes, there will come a time when you look back and realize how far you’ve come.

To reiterate, Pluto will gradually transform your values as an Aries over a period of 21 years. During this time, it will go through multiple retrograde cycles, slowly and carefully breaking down and rebuilding your unconscious self to foster growth. It is crucial to be aware that you are on this long journey of metamorphosis and to recognize that Pluto is working subtly and steadily behind the scenes.

③ The Meaning of Pluto Retrograde Starting on May 1, 2023

Beginning May 1, Pluto starts its retrograde motion and temporarily returns to the previous sign of Capricorn on June 11. As mentioned earlier, this is an adjustment to ensure a smooth transition in the significant changes of destiny brought about by Pluto’s movement. It can be described as a period when the destinies of the past and the future coexist.

For about 16 years since 2008, Pluto has been working to create a deep relationship between you, as an Aries, and “society.” Its influence has been geared towards making you more recognized by society. With the retrograde commencing on May 1, 2023, the issue of engaging with “society” will likely resurface.

Reflect on the past 16 years. You should have achieved some social metamorphosis, such as changing companies, becoming independent, graduating from school, joining a new community, and so on. By changing your relationship with society, you will realize that you have become an entirely different person than before.

With that in mind, the retrograde period starting on May 1 can be seen as the final polishing stage. Reconsider your involvement with “society” up to this point and ponder if there is anything left undone. While you should have grown significantly by now, if there is any lingering regret, it’s essential to face it again during this period of Pluto retrograde (from May 1, 2023, to January 20, 2024).

Pluto is a very slow-moving planet. As a result, its effects are also very slow and subtle, hardly noticeable in everyday life. However, deep down, Pluto is steadily influencing your destiny. Occasionally, remembering Pluto’s presence and being conscious of its retrograde can be meaningful.