Sun – Pluto Aspects in the Natal Chart
Sun conjunct Pluto
There is a distinct intensity to people born under a Sun-Pluto conjunction. Self-knowledge and psychological transformation are their goals. Because the ego is attached to the transformative Pluto, these people undergo many periods of self-renewal. They submit themselves to frequent periods of intense self-analysis.
Perhaps even more obvious than Sun-Pluto people’s intensity is their distaste for superficiality, and their ability to “read” others almost instantly, tapping into their motivations effortlessly. They quickly read between the lines, and although this helps them to experience a deeper dimension of existence, the focus may be a little too dark or negative. They are determined to uncover the truth, but when this aspect is challenged by other planets, this “truth” may be biased on the side of negativity.
In fact, they can be so obsessed to prove that something is wrong, and that things are not as they appear, that it becomes an obsession. They can be very self-destructive. This is largely due to a fear that they are being taken advantage of or being lied to. Refusing to accept things at face value and mistrusting others’ motivations can lead these people to work hard at proving these fears! The result can be self-fulfilling prophecies, and the natives can feel very much alone.
People born under the Sun-Pluto conjunction need to consciously work on this tendency to search for the negative. It is quite an experience to watch a person with Sun-Pluto in their charts finally uncover a wrongdoing. It’s almost as if they are reborn and entirely relieved!
Take for an example a Sun-Pluto person who is married and suspects his spouse is having an affair. The suspicion can be all-encompassing, and uncovering the truth takes on a life of its own. When the truth is finally uncovered, there is a huge sense of release. This is not to say that the truth isn’t painful to these people. It is. But the period of “not knowing” (but suspecting) was even more painful!
On the same lines, there is an expression, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you”. Sun-Pluto people don’t agree. For them, what they don’t know (but suspect) can hurt them–to the point of obsession. It hurts to need to know the truth, and to be suspicious just because things seem to be “too good to be true” or too happy.
It is important for Sun-Pluto people to recognize their self-destructive behaviors. With the conjunction, these people live and breathe Pluto. With any conjunction to the Sun, the planet is so instinctive that it can be hard to even identify with it. It can easily be one’s “blind spot”. But identifying the qualities of that planet is the first step to mindful living.
With Sun-Pluto, the first step is to identify the Pluto energy in one’s life, and then to channel it into positive avenues. There is a strong desire for an added dimension of experience in the life. Ordinary and accepting is boring to Sun-Pluto people. They need more, and they can attract challenges in their lives–life-changing ones–because of this hunger for another layer of experience. They need to learn to let go of things in their lives that are preventing them from moving forward.
Positive channels for Pluto energy can be such things as research (where their skills as “detectives” can be put to good use) or counseling (where their ability to understand people is appreciated).
These people attach meaning to even the most ordinary of experiences. They often have much sexual vitality and passion. In fact, the orgasm itself has the qualities of emotional intensity and concentration, as well as a death/rebirth experience (sometimes referred to as the “little death”), that is very Plutonic.
These people are capable of profound insights, and they usually possess healing powers. They’re talented at getting to the heart of the matter, or finding the “bottom line”, and their lives are likely to be fascinating. These people are learning to be fearless. They may struggle with this at times, but they might find that conquering their fear of their own power, or their own “dark side” is most of the battle.
Famous people with Sun conjunct Pluto: Peter Jennings, Lena Horne, Ian Scott Anderson (Jethro Tull), Loni Anderson, Pierre Cardin, Mick Jagger, Kathie Lee Gifford, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Martha Stewart, Donald Sutherland, Patrick Swayze, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (devoted most of her life to helping people to deal with death).
Sun square or opposition Pluto
People born under a challenging aspect between the Sun and Pluto are prone to inner tension and negative, self-destructive behavior. When things are going well, they suffer from fears that something will come along to change that. Their thought patterns can be negative, and if not kept in check, they can seriously undermine their happiness. Constantly worrying that the rug will be pulled from under their feet can easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Sun-Pluto have tremendous power and strength–when they learn to accept and use that strength, instead of fear it, they are some of the most effective, insightful, helpful, and healing people around!
One of the most prominent characteristics of these aspects is the tendency to be intensely dissatisfied with their personal accomplishments and expressions of self. These people put a lot of pressure on themselves regarding their own endeavors.
A child, for example, with a challenging Sun-Pluto aspect may work hard at a piece of artwork, decide it’s not right, destroy it, and start all over again. This same child will be especially disturbed if they feel people are watching as they create their artwork.
This is a simple example, but it’s quite descriptive of the tendency for these people to be dissatisfied with their creative self-expressions, and to want to hide their expressions from others until they feel the output is “right”. This is largely due to a perceived inability to express or reveal their true personalities to others. They experience a simultaneous urge to express themselves and to hide themselves. They struggle with a deep need to control themselves and life itself.
Rarely are Sun-Pluto people completely satisfied with themselves. They are especially sensitive to criticism, and feel the need to “redo” themselves often. There is a marked fear of losing control, and this might stem from some traumatic event in childhood, or the childhood might have been crisis-ridden or emotionally-charged in general.
As such, these people are often intensely fearful of, or threatened by, change. This can express itself through attempts to control their lives such that they can manage their fears of being taken off guard. Of course, this generally backfires!
Another characteristic of these aspects is an intense need for privacy. They fear being exposed or invaded. Again, this is an expression of their dissatisfaction with the self they are projecting, and they are generally uncomfortable with their evolving ego. They seem to undergo many identity crises, and they feel the need to control what others know about them and think about them.
Their fear of exposing themselves might cause them problems with others, who may begin to mistrust them, presuming that if they are so protective of their privacy, they must have something sinister to hide. The truth is, they struggle with a dissatisfaction with themselves and their fear of being exposed is really about a fear of being vulnerable, as well as a manifestation of their own identity crisis.
These people are quick to read between the lines. They need to be careful, however, to avoid reading negative or dark things into situations or people. They need to know that if their tendency is to hunt for dark “truths” rather than unbiased truths, this is a self-destructive behavior that stems from fear. Many people with these aspects are overly attached to things, habits, people, and their past. At the root of this is an intense fear of change that would threaten to make them vulnerable. Still, Pluto’s goal is to transform through change. Inevitably, Sun-Pluto people will have to face their fear of change and accept that they need change in order to grow.
We all have a dark, irrational side, but people with Sun-Pluto in hard aspect are forced to confront it and integrate it into their personalities. It can be a challenging process, especially because the Sun rules all that is “light” – the rational, conscious mind. The Sun is noble and righteous by nature. Aligned with Pluto, it can have a hard time accepting the darker, intense, and often irrational Pluto energies into one cohesive whole. This is the challenge that Sun-Pluto face.
If these people find themselves using manipulative tactics to get their way, or attempting to control others through subversive tactics, it is a clear cue that they are mishandling Pluto energies. It is a powerful indication that their self-image is low. There is little satisfaction derived from getting our way through manipulation. It only serves to make us feel less effective in the long run and on a personal level.
If I were to win a favor by using subversive tactics, what will it prove to me? It will reinforce my feeling that I am not effective just by being myself. And, effectiveness is something Sun-Pluto craves.
Especially with the opposition, these people might attract manipulative, possessive, or jealous people into their lives. With the square, there is more of a tendency to attract dangerous or upsetting situations in the life.
Either way, these people need to get in touch with the reason why they are attracting these people and situations. In all likelihood, they are not handling their own fears effectively, and they feel they are not in control of their lives, and a looping pattern is thereby created. They eventually come to realize that they are very strong people with enormous resilience. They need to identify with, face, and accept their “dark” side. Self-acceptance is the key to handling this aspect. Channeling Pluto energy into constructive channels is also important.
“Put Your Lights On” by Santana featuring Everlast
Hey now, all you sinners
Put your lights on
Put your lights on
Hey now, all you lovers
Put your lights on
Put your lights on
Hey now, all you killers
Put your lights on
Put your lights on
Hey now, all you children
Leave your lights on
Better leave your lights on
Because there’s a monster living under my bed,
Whispering in my ear.
There’s an angel with a hand on my head
She say I got nothing to fear
There’s a darkness living deep in my soul
Still got a purpose to serve
So let your lights shine,
Deep into my home
God don’t let me lose my nerve
Because there’s a monster living under my bed
Whispering in my ear
There’s an angel with a hand on my head
She say I got nothing to fear
She said, “la la la la hey la la,
we all shine like stars.
la la la la, hey la la
we all shine like stars”
Then we fade away
Famous people with Sun in hard aspect to Pluto: Squares – Wynonna Judd (Sun square Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto), Jamie Lee Curtis, Sally Field; Oppositions – Muhammad Ali, Robert Duvall, John Travolta, Elvis Presley, Steve Allen, John Hurt, James Earl Jones; Oppositions – Nicole Brown Simpson, R.D. Laing, Maya Angelou, Jeffrey Archer, Brooke Shields, Margaret Thatcher, Steffi Graf, Barbra Streisand, Farrah Fawcett.
Sun sextile or trine Pluto
It is easy and natural for those born under a harmonious aspect between the Sun and Pluto to find a passion and pursue it, and to focus on a goal. These people are not much scared of anything. They enjoy and embrace growth, especially of the psychological kind. They love a good mystery, and they are adept at solving it. Many people with these aspects feel they have a “calling” or destiny. They readily assign meaning to what others might consider “ordinary” events. They look for symbols, and read between the lines in most any situation. The physical vitality is generally strong, and the body is usually able to heal quickly.
Others tend to respect those born under a harmonious aspect between the Sun and Pluto. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty, and they are usually quick to help others–not only with mundane tasks, but also on a spiritual or psychological level. Their insight is sharp and sometimes awe-inspiring. These are perceptive people who are not easily rattled or surprised in life. They are not do-gooders, and they are unlikely law-breakers.
However, they are not afraid of the “dark side” of human nature, and they will bend the rules from time to time if they feel the need to do so. Many take particular pleasure in growth and life’s lessons. They are not fond of superficiality, and are generally the first to spot pretense of any kind. Some experiment with their powers to deceive at some early point in their lives, but generally grow in their strength and integrity. In fact, many do their best to rid themselves of any self-delusion that we are all susceptible to at times.
These people are passionate and can be intense. They have a hunger to experience more than just an “ordinary” life, and they can be quite ambitious. Some are perfectionists, demanding much from themselves and reasonable amounts of effort and honesty from others.
The trine aspect is the more dynamic of the two harmonious aspects. Those with the sextile can call upon the talents of this aspect when necessary, and those with the trine have incorporated the traits of the aspect into their personalities, expressing them naturally and consistently.
Famous People with Sun in easy aspect to Pluto: Sextiles – Christina Aguilera, Lisa Bonet, Bob Dylan; Trines – Ed Asner, James Caan, Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Susan Dey, Sam Donaldson, Chris Evert, Bette Midler.
Note from Annie: I have perhaps used more words to describe Sun-Pluto aspects than I have with other planetary aspects. This is because I grew up with astrology books that offered rather dire and extreme descriptions of the aspects.
Because of this, I had problems identifying with the interpretations of my own Sun conjunction Pluto as being “power-hungry”, “dominating”, and “controlling”. Some descriptions suggested an attraction to crime. Except in extreme cases, Sun-Pluto people are not extremists hell-bent on destroying or dominating everyone around them. However, they do need to come to terms with their “dark side”, their intense fears, and their tendency to be very self-protective.
A more humane and psychological approach to defining the aspects can be found in many modern astrology books, and I think it is very beneficial, especially since one of the main challenges to overcome with Sun-Pluto is for the rational ruler of light (the Sun) to identify with the energies of the ruler of dark (Pluto). Nobody benefits if descriptions of the aspects are so extreme that they are quickly dismissed as “wrong.”
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More Aspects of the Sun in the Natal Chart:
Sun-Moon aspects | Sun-Mercury aspects | Sun-Venus aspects | Sun-Mars aspects | Sun-Jupiter aspects | Sun-Saturn aspects | Sun-Uranus aspects | Sun-Neptune aspects | Sun-Pluto aspects | Sun-Ascendant aspects
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Looking for interpretations for other aspects? See quincunx, semi-sextile, and the quintile/biquintile.
Interpretations written by Annie Heese.
