HISTORY OF PLUTO TRANSITS
- taylorwright1503
- Jul 11, 2025
- 15 min read
Pluto is the planet of power, control, greed, corruption, death, decay, rebirth and transformation. This post outlines each Pluto transit from Aries-Pisces and summarises signficant world events that occurred.
Pluto in Aries:
Pluto in Aries destroyed then transformed the notions of conflict, assertion, independence and individualism. These transits marked the transformation of bold action, invention and national self-assertion as exemplified in the 1848 European revolutions. This transit exposed personal and collective power and reshaped the world via conflict and war.
1822-52:
1821-32: the Greek War of Independence occurred. This was fought so that the Greeks could gain independence from the Ottoman Empire, an Islamic empire that ruled many countries in South East Europe, West Asia and North Africa.
25 Aug 1830 – 21 Jul 1831: the Belgian revolution happened. Belgium broke away from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and established their independent Kingdom of Belgium. This was a rebellion over national identity (Aries).
1830-40s: British colonization in Australia intensified as penal colonies expanded, this led to violent suppression of the Aboriginal population.
1840s: percussion cap firearms started to be mass-produced, these allowed for faster and more reliable firing.
1846-48: the Mexican-American War happened as a result of the annexation of Texas. This was a conflict which resulted in the US gaining a vast amount of territory and disputes over the Texas-Mexico border.
15th March 1848: the Hungarian Revolution happened, this was motivated by a desire for national sovereignty and self-determination and a need for more freedoms and political rights.
23 Mar 1848 – 22 Aug 1849: the First Italian War of Independence was fought by the Kingdom of Sardinia and Italian volunteers against the conservative leadership of the Austrian Empire.
Next happens: 2068-2097.
Pluto in Taurus:
Pluto in Taurus destroyed and transformed material values, land ownership and wealth. The Industrial Revolution brought change in agriculture, labour and the distribution of wealth. Traditional ways of life were replaced with increasing capitalism. This eras exposed the shadow sides of possessiveness and materalism, it also reshaped societies relationship to the physical and natural world.
1852-84:
5th October 1853 - 30th March 1956: The Crimean War happened, Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia fought against Russia.
1862: the Homestead Act was enacted during the American Civil War. Adult citizens could claim 160 acres of government land. Taurus is connected to the physical earth and land.
1863: Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation granted freedom for American slaves. This destroyed the concept of slaves as property.
14th September 1867: Karl Marx published 'Das Kapital', this book critiqued capitalism, labour exploitation and ownership over production.
1873-79: The Panic of 1873 happened, this was a financial crisis that affected Europe and North America, this brought an economic depression to both continents. In Britain, the Panic began 20 years of stagnation, this was known as the "Long Depression".
14th July 1877 - 4th September 1877: The Great Railroad strike started in Martinsburg, West Virginia. This was a nationwide labour strike, it was triggered by wage cuts and poor working conditions.
2nd April 1878: the Land War occurred, this was a period of agitation in rural Ireland. This challenged Taurean themes of land ownership.
Next happens: 2068-2097.
Pluto in Gemini:
Pluto in Gemini destroyed and transformed communication, education, transport and early stage technological developments such as the telephone, cinema and mass media. This period brought accelerated intellectual exchanges but it also coincided with ideological conflicts and propaganda. There was a rise in modern journalism and new technologies that reframed established thought.
1884-1914:
1884: the first long-distance telephone line opened between Boston and New York. This covered 235 miles and used copper, a first for this time.
1885-86: the modern automobile was invented, this radically transformed how people travelled and thought about space and time.
4th May 1896: there was a rise of mass circulation newspapers, this coincided with the first issue of the Daily Mail. This indicated a shift in the public consumption of information which was often sensationalized.
12th December 1901: the first transatlantic radio signal was sent by Guglielmo Marconi and his assistant George Kempt. This led to considerable advances in technology and science going forward.
1903: The film The Great Train Robbery directed by Edwin S. Porter was the first silent narrative film to be released. This laid the foundation for modern storytelling, film and media became a new language for the masses.
17th December 1903: the Wright Flyer became the first flight by a controlled aircraft. This brought air travel into reality and altered global movement.
27th October 1904: the New York City Subway developed intricate systems of local travel. This was one of the world's oldest public transit systems.
Next happens: 2127-2159.
Pluto in Cancer:
Pluto in Cancer destroyed and transformed the ideas of home, family and emotional security but it also coincided with increasing protectionism and nationalism during World War One. It also lined up with the economic and domestic devastation of the Great Depression (1929-39). This transit exposed the insecurity regarding safety and what it means to belong, it fueled loyalty to the homeland but uprooted millions via migration during conflict. This period saw the transformation of collective identity tied to ancestry and tradition.
1914-1938:
28th July 1914 - 11th November 1918: World War 1 happened, this reflected the dark side of Cancerian themes: fear for the homeland, nationalism and the urge to protect one's own nation. Pluto brings deep and painful transformations to the surface.
1915-16: the Armenian Genocide happened, the Ottoman Empire deported and mass killed the Armenian population. Up to 1.2 million Armenians were exterminated and targeted for their ethnic and religious identity.
11th November 1918: the interwar period occurred, families were torn apart of homes were destroyed after World War 1. Fascist leaders such as Mussolini (Italy), Hitler (Germany) and Franco (Spain) centred on ethnic purity and "lost greatness". The 1930s saw mass migration of Jews who were fleeing persecution.
1918: women were granted the right to vote in the United Kingdom following the suffragette movement.
1929-39: the Great Depression saw a collapse of Cancerian themes of emotional and physical safety in the form of home, food, shelter, family and stability.
17th June 1930: the Smoot-Hawley tariffs were implemented as a protectionist measure signed into law by President Herbert Hoover.
15th September 1935: the Nuremberg Laws were passed by the Nazis, these were antisemitic and racist laws that made Jews legally different from non-Jewish neighbours. This criminalised marriage between Jews and non-Jewish Germans, Jewish people were stripped of German citizenship and banned from schools and professions etc.
Next happens: 2159-2185.
Pluto in Leo:
Pluto in Leo destroyed and transformed the themes of power, creativity and identity and brought a period of dramatic self-expression, and cultural icons (in Hollywood) but also rising nationalism and ego-centred leadership. This era emphasises charisma, heroism and legacy but also revealed the dark sides of pride, dominance and ego (Nazi Germany). It brought the Golden Age in addition to the shadow sides of political authoritarianism.
1938-57:
9th - 10th November 1938: Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany occurred, this was an attack on Jewish communities. It was the declaration of war against German and Austrian Jews.
1st September 1939: Germany invaded Poland initiating World War 2. The destructive force of Pluto erupted globally. Hitler's regime was built on extreme authoritarian charisma and nationalist pride.
3rd September 1939: Britain and France declared war on Germany.
7th December 1941: the attack on Pearl Harbour occurred, a surprise attack by the Japanese military on Oahu, Hawaii.
10th May 1940 - 26th July 1945 & 26th October 1951 - 6th April 1955: Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister, this marked the rise of a leader during political and global crisis.
1946: The baby boom began, there was an increase in the amount of babies being born during this time.
Hollywood, media and entertainment:
Peaking in 1939: the rise in Hollywood's Golden Age saw the beginning of celebrities via on-screen presence.
November 1939: the Wizard of Oz was released. This film included the cowardly lion who wanted to be brave and noble, Pluto represented the shadow side of not living up to his self-image.
Late 1930-40s: major film studios such as MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox controlled all elements of the entertainment industry. Stars were owned by the studios but they were often abusive, this highlights Pluto in Leo's obsession with control over image.
18th April 1940: Gone with the Wind was released, this was a film about the American Civil War.
5th July 1954: Elvis Presley recorded his song "That's All Right" at Sun Records, this is often cited as the birth of rock and roll.
1946: Marilyn Monroe had her acting debut, she became a sex symbol and represented charisma, beauty and feminity. She was born with a Leo rising/ascendant.
Next happens: 2185-2204
Pluto in Virgo:
Pluto in Virgo destroyed and transformed work, healthcare and systems and brought scrutiny to routine, medicine, labour rights and the environment. This transit brought a need for efficiency and to purify broken systems. There were many breakthroughs regarding workplace rights, public health and ecological awareness during this transit. It exposed the downsides of perfectionism and control.
1957-71:
May 1960: the first birth control pill was approved by the Federal Drug Administration. Virgo is connected to health and medicine.
10th June 1963: the Equal Pay Act was passed in the US which prohibited discrimination based on sex in the workplace. This was enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.
2nd July 1964: the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, this outlawed workplace discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex and national origin.
9th February 1964: the Beatles debuted on the Ed Sullivan Show, this saw the birth of Beatlemania and new youth identity.
30th July 1965: Medicare was signed into law by US President Lyndon Johnson in Missouri.
27th June 1967: the first ATM was built, a cash machine by Barclay's. This machine was inaugurated by English actor Reg Varney.
1967: the first handheld calculator was prototyped, this was called Cal Tech. It could add, multiply, subtract, and divide, and its output device was a paper tape.
22nd April 1970: the first Earth Day happened, 20 million people globally intended inaugural events in schools, universities and community sites.
1970: the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act was passed in the US which banned TV and radio adverts for cigarettes.
Next happens: 2204-2218.
Pluto in Libra:
Pluto in Libra destroyed and transformed relationship norms, justice, aesthetics and legal systems. Traditional ideas of marriage, gender roles and diplomacy evolved during this time. Throughout this period, divorce became more common and there were developments in civil rights and feminist movements. This transit exposed power dynamics in partnerships and pushed society towards more equitable and balanced connections.
1971-84:
10th February 1972: David Bowie debuts his Ziggy Stardust persona on his first televised appearance.
22nd January 1973: The Roe v. Wade decision was made, this was an important piece of legislation that legalised abortion across the US and redefined relationships and bodily autonomy.
27th January 1973: the Paris Peace Accords were signed. This officially ended direct US involvement in the Vietnam War. The aim was to establish peace in Vietnam and end the war. This marked a Pluto in Libra shift from war to diplomacy.
31st October 1975: the song Bohemian Rhapsody was released by Queen, this saw dramatic and genre-blending music.
16th August 1977: The king of rock n' roll Elvis Presley died.
27th November 1978: Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California (San Francisco) was assassinated.
Late 70s-80s: designer labels such as Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani rose, this saw beauty and aesthetics become a source of capitalism.
1981: the AIDS epidemic began, it exposed Pluto in Libra themes of relationships, sexuality and death in political and cultural discourse. This happened under the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Libra.
Next happens: 2218-2230.
Pluto in Scorpio:
Pluto in Scorpio destroyed and transformed the themes of power, secrecy, death, rebirth, transformation, sexuality, control and obsession. This transit forced society to confront the shadows and it brought an awareness of abuse, trauma, sexual abuse and cults. It also brought a fascination with the occult and psychology. This period highlighted the importance of facing what has been hidden to evolve.
1984-95:
3rd December 1984: the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred in India. This was considered the worst industrial disaster in history.
Mid-1980s-early 1990s: the Satanic Panic occurred, this created hysteria over ritual abuse, devil worship and underground cults.
1984: there were major advancements in forensic DNA analysis due to the development of DNA fingerprinting (or profiling) by Sir Alec Jeffreys.
March 1985: the first blood test for HIV (the ELISA TEST) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
26th April 1986: the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster happened, this involved death, secrecy and hidden danger all Scorpio themes.
Late 1980s: child abuse scandals at the hands of the Catholic Church emerged. Accusations of abuse and cover-ups received public attention during this period. Most victims were between the ages of 11-14.
1980s-90s: Kevin Mitnick became the first cybercriminal/hacker. He accessed the most secure networks worldwide, for example, Motorola, Nokia, NORAD and Pacific Bell.
Early 1990s: the Riot Grrrl movement rises, this was an underground feminist punk movement that began in Olympia, Washington. This aimed to normalise women expressing anger and celebrating their sexuality.
13th February 1990: artist and gay rights activist Keith Haring died of AIDS-related complications.
24th November 1991: Freddie Mercury from the band Queen died due to AIDS-related complications.
31st May 1991: the film The Silence of the Lambs was released, a psychological horror about the criminal psyche. This film explored death, transformation and power dynamics, predator vs. prey.
23rd October 1992: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was released.
Next happens: 2230-2242.
Pluto in Sagittarius:
Pluto in Sagittarius destroyed and transformed global belief systems, religion, education and travel. This transit exposed dogma and brought the rise of globalisation and accompanying extremist ideologies as exemplfied by 9/11. There was a deep reshaping of truth, freedom and worldviews. Society was forced to confront the shadow side of cultural expansion and ideological conviction.
1995-2008:
1995: the World Trade Organization was established, this expanded global trade governance. This is used to negotiate trade agreements, settle trade disputes and support developing countries.
7th August 1998: bombings were carried out by Al Qaeda in Kenya and Tanzania. Over 200 people died and thousands were injured during these attacks.
1st January 1999: the European Union currency (Euro) was created, this unified Europe economically and highlighted Sagittarius expansionist energy.
24th March - 10th June 1999: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bombed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War.
11th September 2001: the 9/11 attacks were carried out on the World Trade Center and Pentagon by Al-Qaeda (Pluto in Sagittarius was opposite Saturn in Gemini).
7th October 2001 - 17th December 2001: the United States invasion of Afghanistan occurred declaring a war on terror proceeding the 9/11 attacks.
11th December 2001: China joined the World Trade Organization and opened the gates to a new globalized economy.
11th March 2004: the Madrid train bombings happened against the train system of Madrid, Spain. This killed 193 people and injured around 2,500. This occurred just 3 days before Spain's general elections.
7th July 2005: the London bombings were carried out by Islamist terrorists, they were 4 suicide attacks that targeted commuters travelling on London's public transport.
Next happens: 2242-2255.
Pluto in Capricorn:
Pluto in Capricorn destroyed and transformed power structures, the government, authorities, work and status. It exposed corruption and weaknesses in financial and political institutions and corporations. There was a restructuring of these long-standing systems as exemplifed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This transit demanded responsibility, discipline and an investigation into how power is built.
2008-24:
2008: the Global Financial Crisis occurred leading to a recession, this marled destruction (Pluto) related to career, status and public image (Capricorn). People's livelihoods were at stake.
2009 - late 2010s: the Eurozone Debt Crisis happened and austerity measures were implemented in Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy. This led to debt restructuring, political instability and flaws in financial governance.
3rd January 2009: The Genesis Block of Bitcoin was created, this marked the beginning of decentralised finance.
17th September 2011: Occupy Wall Street protests happened, this was a movement against economic inequality, capitalism and corporate greed.
6th May 2016: the Panama Papers were leaked, this exposed tax havens by elities and corporations, this unveiled power abuses within institutions.
11th March 2020: the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Pluto (destruction, death and transformation), Saturn (boundaries and restrictions), Jupiter (expansion) and Mars (conflict and action) were all in Capricorn the sign associated with career, status and corporations.
27th May 2020: the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest was sparked by the murder of George Floyd, this exposed systemic racism and triggered the critique of institutions and the police.
2020 - 2022: the COVID-19 pandemic led to supply chain disruptions across the globe.
24th February 2022: the Russian Invasion of Ukraine began, this reasserted dominance and power under a strategic military.
Next happens: 2255-2270.
*Pluto will be in Aquarius from 2024-2044. From 2044-2068, Pluto will transit Pisces. I will now provide a timeline for what happened during the previous transits.
Pluto in Aquarius:
Pluto in Aquarius transformed society as a whole, technology, science and collective ideals. It lined up with the American and French Revolutions and shattered the old systems of control in favour of liberty and equality. This transit introduced new ideas regarding democracy, human rights and science, it coincided with the early part of the Industrial Revolution. This era brought changes in group identity and pushed humanity towards new visions of progress and rebellion against authoritarian regimes.
*Image: The Industrial Revolution.
1778-1797:
5th February 1778: South Carolina was the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. This was an agreement in the Thirteen British Colonies which served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution.
6th February 1778: The Treaty of Alliance was signed between France and the United States, this was a significant turning point during the American Revolutionary War. France allied with American revolutionaries against Britain. This shifted global power dynamics (Pluto) and reflected alliance and revolution (Aquarius).
29th December 1778: British forces captured Savannah, Georgia. This was one of the final major successful British offensives. This victory was part of the aim to regain control and power (Pluto) of rebellious colonies (Aquarius). Pluto can represent stealing and capturing whilst Aquarius rules groups of people.
28th September - 19th October 1781: The British people surrendered (Pluto = loss of control) at Yorktown, the marked the ending of land battles that occurred during the American Revolutionary War. Pluto in Aquarius brought a new and revolutionary form of government for the USA.
3rd September 1783: The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War between the American colonies and Great Britain. This officially recognized the United States as an independent nation.
1785: The Industrial Revolution - Edmund Cartwright invented the power loom, this used water power to accelerate the weaving process. It was the predecessor the the modern power loom.
1785-1795: The Northwest Indian War happened, this was an armed conflict which aimed to gain control (Pluto) of the Northwest Territory betwen the United States and a united group (Aquarius) of Native American's.
17th September 1787: The United States Constitution was officially signed at the Independence Hall in Philadelphial. This laid the foundation of radical new systems (Uranus) of democratic governance (Aquarius).
14th July 1789: The French Revolution began with the Storming of Bastille, a crowd of Parisians captured the Bastille, a medieval fortress and political prison. This was triggered by desires to seize weapons and gunpowder. The French people (Aquarius) defied against the monarchy, this became a symbol of power (Pluto).
Began 21st August 1791: The Haitian Revolution began when enslaved Africans (Pluto = abuses of power) began the largest slave uprising in history. This was highly connected to emancipation, rebellion and liberation (Aquarius).
Current transit: 2024-2044.
Pluto in Pisces:
Pluto in Pisces destroyed and transformed spirituality, collective empathy and unseen forces shaping society. It aligned with the rise of Romanticism, Napoleon's rise and spiritualism. This transit dissolves boundaries about faith, art, mysticism and imagination and it brought a surge in abolitionist movements and utopian thinking. This era brought mass movements based on compassion, transcendence and a connection to the invisible.
1797-1821:
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