moon - sun - venus - mars - mercury
pluto is one of the outer planets which profoundly affect the chart and people's lives when it comes to contact with a planet, the asc/dsc. note that the tighter and harsher the aspects are, the more intense or destructive it can get, depending on the placement. i've complied these based on my own observations and sue tompkins' "aspects in astrology" book where you can find more information also.
their emotional life is always intense and extreme rather than peaceful, marked by powerful feelings whether it's love, hurt,loyalty, rage etc. this is because many of them grow up in emotionally volatile environments where their boundaries were crossed. mother-child relationships are often especially intense, enmeshed, protective, controlling or psychologically complicated. they had mother figures who were emotionally overwhelming in their presence. they grow up in environments where privacy, trust, or emotional safety were lacking, which can make them simultaneously crave deep intimacy and fear emotional vulnerability. they need space as much as intensity in
their home and emotional life. those with the conjunction and hard aspects especially, have a tendency to feel invaded and intruded upon so they'll benefit from periodically taking time away from their family and keeping a certain level of distance. rhose with the hard aspects come from a family with a skeleton in the cupboard, some sort of trauma or violation such as illegitimacy, sexual abuse, disablement, someone in the family being involved in the mafia or having gone to jail etc. ties to underworld. of course all families have such skeletons but where a moon-pluto individual is involved, that person will often be the one unconsciously elected to carry and heal the wounds.
this makes moon-pluto natives highly perceptive about the human psych and instinctively sense hidden motives, pain, power dynamics and even unintentionally find themselves in relationships with such undercurrents, especially regarding power dynamics. they may struggle to trust peace so they might subconsciously create problems. they can repeatedly find themselves involved in crises, acting as healers, therapists, truth-tellers, catalysts for emotional transformation. their shadow side can include emotional control, possessiveness, obsession, distrust.
these individuals have an extraordinary capacity to confront darkness without looking away which can shock other people; they can remain indifferent in the face of extreme and absurd events. this is because often, their internal world and experiences are far more volatile than anything most people can experience. wherever there is a crisis, even if it has nothing to do with the native, they usually somehow end up getting embroiled in the matter. these people seem to thrive on crisis and like a vulture may feed on the pickings of trauma – and the type is usually able to smell trauma at quite a distance. this is partially way, those with moon-pluto aspects attract one another. people in crisis often turn to moon–pluto natives for they are strong, can be protective and nothing seems to shock them. the native has seen it all before, felt it all before, and is well aware of and often very compassionate towards the darker side of human nature (doesnt mean they'll be compassionate to you as an individual). those with the hard aspects especially, often feel that they have no reason to trust others with their feelings or their secrets. they feel that opening up to another is a gamble, and the other person will have no idea that the pluto-moon native is hiding so much even if they seem like they are opening up. if other challenging aspects are co-present or pluto aspects 3H, it might take one years to open up. they might come from a background where it wasn’t safe to expose one’s feelings for it was felt that they would be used for purposes of manipulation, control or blackmail.
in women's case: the mother figure is over-protective, controlling and quite unable to let the fledging go. the mom's love may be devouring and manipulative, although often this is subtle and covert. in extreme cases and if the combination is strong, the devouring quality of the mother can indeed make her something of a wicked witch or a vampire, a mother that sucks the life out of the child. a mother-figure who ‘over-mothers’, by constantly invading the child’s space, allowing no hiding-place, no secrets and no privacy. it may be that the mother figure fears that something dreadful will happen to the child and thus is obsessively protective.
for men with pluto-moon, unless its a close conjunction, mother figure is less involved and the native is left to their own devices, usually having to raise themselves emotionally and thus might end up with avoidant tendencies. they can get involved in drugs and cartels
life may not be peaceful or tranquil for this type but the inner world and often the outer life is vivid, multi-coloured and intense. never an ordinary experience.
the identiyy is tied to themes of power, transformation, confronting what others avoid. they often have magnetic and intense presence but keep much of their true self hidden, making them difficult to fully know even for their closest ones. beneath the surface is a deep awareness of themselves and coonstant struggle with issues of control, vulnerability, pride, personal power.
many of them grow up under the influence of a powerful, dominant or psychologically significant father figure or in a family carrying secrets, trauma, taboos, unspoken burdens. they develop a complicated rxship with authority, success and their own ambitions as a result. they can either fear power or become obsessed with it. just as they approach success, recognition, or leadership, unconscious fears can cause them to undermine themselves.
psychologically, they are forced to confront the darker aspects of human nature and of themselves. they may struggle with shame, perfectionism, guilt, obsessive self-examination, and the feeling that they must transform themselves into something stronger, better, or more powerful. the challenge is learning that they are neither monsters nor saviors, but human beings capable of containing both light and darkness. they excel in fields involving healing, psychology, investigation, crisis management, leadership, or exposing hidden truths. their purpose is often to illuminate what has been buried whether in themselves, others or society and help bring about profound transformation.
the native seems to take pains to hide themselves. this isn’t always that obvious or necessarily a conscious decision. either way, it is possible to "know" a sun–pluto person for years without ever seeming to get beyond first base in terms of understanding their inner dynamics. Ithe feelings of closeness are necessarily absent – in fact they will often be very strong but the individuality of the native is often hard to get hold of (esp the actual facts and feelings about their early life.)
the self-protectiveness of the sun–pluto combination is way severe than sun-saturn.
they often have a very powerful presence and can sometimes exert an extraordinarily magnetic hold over people, whilst at the same time remaining essentially impenetrable themselves, letting little in and still lessout which is essentially the core of this aspect. they are often quite powerful in their own way and yet seemingly unaware of this power or overwhelmed by it. often, in earlier life at any rate, the individual finds it difficult to own this power and use it in a direct and extrovert manner.
like moon-pluto, sun-pluto natives also need their privacy (ofc) and often seem to fear invasion. the sun contact makes it so that they fear their very identity is under threat. sometimes there is something in early life which causes the individual to form such a view. though this aspect can be found in charts of extremely extroverted and powerful people, harsh aspects are found in those who are more introverted and defensive. it is as though they have dug a hole and crawled into it
themselves. extroverted and powerful or seemingly the reverse, the sun–pluto individual still seems to be taking pains to hide the real self. It is as if people with these contacts feel as though they have no real hiding place and thus must make an effort to create one themselves.
similar to moon-pluto, for sun-pluto too the family might have history with taboo things like sexual abuse, violence, criminality and madness, etc. the child is taken down into the underworld and exposed to the shadier sides of human life at an early age. this is not always the case in reality, but the feelings attached to hiding up of what the parents may view as previous shady happenings.
although one might expect the father image of sun–pluto to be something of a heavy and domineering character, he is rarely described in those terms although he is certainly usually experienced as the dominant figure in the home. unlike sun–saturn and sun–neptune the personal father was usually very much around with this aspect, sometimes to the extent that there seemed to be nowhere to hide from him. he is often experienced as a suspicious kind of person, maybe a policeman figure. to the native, the father is percieved as someone that knows everything. he might have embodied pluto through his work which might have involved him being exposed to the darker sides of human nature, "taboos", such as violence, death, abuse etc. so common careers for fathers' of pluto-sun natives include policemen, mortician, psychologist, dustman, plumber, sewage worker, military careers
either way the paternal relationship is usually the dominant one. both sexes with this aspect tend to have few relationships with men. it is as though the presence of the father is so strong in the unconscious that it leaves little room for other powerful masculine figures.
while sun-pluto natives have poor self image, paradoxically then can have such a high opinion of themselves that they imagine they are responsible for everything and that they have the means and the power to manipulate everything and everyone to their view.
of course they have a natural talent for understanding, influencing, and navigating human psychology (manipulation). when healthy, this manifests as strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, psychological insight, and the ability to handle complex situations skillfully. but when expressed negatively, this same talent can become manipulation, control, or psychological pressure. They may instinctively know how to push people's buttons, steer situations toward a desired outcome, or corner others into choices that benefit them.
in many differing ways, the sun–pluto native usually has innocence and naivety forcibly removed from them at an early age, and
there really is no going back afterwards. part of the purpose of this aspect seems to be concerned with illuminating those things that are
hidden, bringing what is buried out into the light of day where it can be
acknowledged and valued, turning the spotlight on society’s taboos and thus transforming the collective’s attitude to them.
this is the aspect of someone who loves intensely, obsessively, and rarely does anything halfway in relationships. there's hidden fear of rejection, abandonment or not truly being loveable which creates intense desires for emotional security, loyalty and exclusivity. they can be extraordinarily charming and persuasive, instinctively knowing how to make others feel special and desired, but this same gift can sometimes become manipulation, possessiveness, jealousy or attempts to control relationships out of fear of losing them.
Stephen Arroyo says, the venus–pluto person can be emotionally
insatiable, always requiring masses of attention. this coupled with
tremendous charm and an ability to know just how to please the other
person can lead to exceptional manipulative skills. this would be an
extraordinarily useful combination for a diplomat. they usually have a talent for dealing with people in such a way as to make each person believe that they are the most important person in the world to them. it might be some time before it dawns on the partner that everyone else having any sort of relationship with the venus–pluto native is also at the receiving end of this kind of treatment.
opposition/square might make native experience sudden rejections throughout life which can instill attachment problems.
relationships are rarely peaceful. they tand to be transformative rather than chill. venus-pluto is drawn to emotional intensity, passion, crisis, and profound bonds, often finding ordinary or casual relationships unsatisfying so often, they may become involved in complicated, unavailable, or emotionally difficult relationships and can struggle to let go when feelings are no longer healthy. the challenge is learning that love cannot be forced, possessed or secured through beauty, sex, power, money, or emotional control. the women of this aspect do often use their beauty and charm to secure a relationship, but control is an illusion.
aside from romance, venus-pluto is strongly connected to themes of beauty, attractiveness, appearance, status, and resources. with easy aspects like trine and sextile, they often understand the power of aesthetics and may have talents for fashion, beauty, transformation, styling, psychology, persuasion, or managing resources. it can be rather a point of wound for harsher aspects like opposition/square. money and beauty can become intertwined with self-worth, affection, and influence.
they have a compulsion to own the object of their desire, body and soul or ensure that nobody else does. but it's not always that they're necessarily that interested in the other person, it's simply how venus-pluto works (i also mentioned this in a previous post where i was talking about libra placements aspecting pluto fight for relationships they may not even want). of course, intense feelings of jealousy and possessiveness are common for them especially if the signs taurus, cancer, leo or scorpio are involved in the configuration. they may eagerly become involved in tense, highly charged relationships.
there is a need to love intensely with this combination.
"If we love each other we must be prepared to die for each other."
only the deepest most profound type of relationship will satisfy them, and yet with the hard aspects especially, there is often great fear attached to the prospect of such a relationship. the native feels that the emotional expenditure will in fact kill them. they might deal with
this by avoiding the pain of commitment and tightly controlling those with whom they come into contact, ensuring that friends, or family remain interested but keeping them at arm’s length at the same time, aka leading them on.
typically, the venus–pluto person can overwhelm with charm and intensity to such an extent that it is impossible to reject them.
but they often carry a deep, unconscious fear that they are not truly lovable. because genuine intimacy feels both desired and terrifying, they may be drawn toward relationships that are complicated, unavailable, or impossible in some way which make them interested in long-distance partners, emotionally unavailable people, people already involved with someone else, or situations full of obstacles, it feels safer for them.
paradoxically, these difficult situations allow them to experience intense feelings without having to fully confront the vulnerability of a stable, committed relationship. this is why venus–pluto can sometimes find itself in love triangles or emotionally messy dynamics. unlike venus–mars, which may seek drama for excitement, venus–pluto is often unconsciously avoiding the deeper fear of real emotional exposure and commitment. the obstacle itself becomes part of the attraction.
since they crave to be validated in their desirability, in its darker expression, this can lead them to test their sexual magnetism, flirtation skills, or ability to attract attention, sometimes becoming especially interested in people or situations that are forbidden, complicated, or socially taboo. the taboo itself can feel validating: "If I can attract someone I shouldn't be able to attract, then I must be desirable." (a common example of this is Ariana Grande who has venus-pluto opposite)
for venus-pluto; danger, stakes and risks are irresistable.
inevitably they are attracted to those with money, power, status and command. women of this aspect will attract men that prove their love through materialistic offers and men of this aspect will "buy" others - use money and power as a tool to control.
at its best, they are capable of extraordinary emotional honesty, loyalty, devotion, and relational depth. they are willing to confront difficult truths that others avoid and can help transform both themselves and their partners through love. the greatest lesson is learning to trust love enough to release control to allow people the freedom to stay rather than trying to ensure they never leave.
concepts of fighting to death, fighting for survival, compulsive winning, assertion of power & sexual power are core themes of this aspect
their signature is extreme willpower, survival instincts, buried rage, relentless determination. they feel, concsiously or unconsciously that life is a battle and they must be strong enough to survive whatever comes their way. whenever they commit to something they push beyond ordinary limits, doing anything halfway is unaccaptable.
at the core of this combination is often a history of feeling powerless, controlled, violated or unable to express anger freely so consequently rage, aggression and personal power become deeply attached to the psyche. some compensate by growing up to be highly forceful, dominant and competitive (especially when conjunct) and some others suppress their anger and resort to indirect methods of getting what they want.
this aspect has the reputation for being ruthless and fiercely competitive but as with most pluto aspects this may not always be obvious to the average observer or even to the individual themselves. they might say to themselves, unconsciously if not consciously: "I will win, I will fight, I will survive at all costs." survival is usually a very big issue with this combination. someone i know with sagittarius mars-pluto conjunction was abandoned by his mother and had to spend a brief time in an orphanage. though he had a well-off father and went back to live with him, he was practically raised at the streets and thus of course survival became part of his psyche and his worldview. he enjoyed destroying things, objects or people, for no particular reason other than the fun of it.
the feelings of a strong need to survive and fight are usually the same whatever the aspect, but behaviour indicative of these feelings is much more obvious with the conjunction, opposition and square. in cases where it's less severe, the native may either over-assert themselves to be sure of getting their own way or not seem to bother at all, preferring instead to stay on the side of diplomacy and compromise, believing that it is useless to fight anyway if they have no hope of winning. in this case, they have a pronounced manipulative quality to ensure they get what they want, through more covert and subtle means.
they may often struggle with the darker aspects of aggression, sexuality, and power. admitting how intensely they feel things is uncomfortable for them.
Arroyo says, "there is a compulsive drive for power with these aspects. such power can provide the strength out of which great things are made and out of which great personal transformation occurs but it can also be at the root of great cruelty and violence"
people with tight hard aspects and the conjunction, will often themselves have had a history of physical violence, cruelty or sexual abuse. for mars–pluto there is an aspect of sexuality which is experienced as dark, savage and bestial, and this can be viewed as deeply exciting or lifethreatening.
their compulsive need to win may sometimes prevent partaking in unserious games like monopoly if they're not sure they'll win.
though it's absolutely an energy that needs to be controlled, not owning their rage can also result in the native attracting other people or situations which are violent or require superhuman courage or endurance. through encountering such situations the native is forced to access their own ruthlessness, anger and strong survival instinct. because the mars–pluto natives are well-versed on violation of one sort or another, the individual can have a deep understanding of hidden aspects of our society, and especially of the sides of life that humanity’s civilised persona would rather not admit to having. unsurprisingly, these aspects are often found in the charts of people who work with people who have abused or been abused.
at their best, mars-pluto produces extraordinary courage, endurance, resilience and transformative strength. these are people who can survive situations that would break others, whether physically, emotionally, or psychologically. they often excel in demanding fields, crisis situations, athletics, healing work, psychology, activism, or any environment requiring intense focus and perseverance.
perhaps a double dose of mars energy (mars-pluto) calls for a double dose of venus: music, love, acceptance and forgiveness. expressions of love can do much to heal the scars of this combination.
this is the aspect that makes a mind that is obsessed with uncovering what lies beneath the surface. they are natural investigators, researchers, detectives, psychologists, and truth-seekers. they rarely accept any information given to them at face value and instictively search for hidden motives, secrets, power dynamics, and deeper meanings. if you tell these people anything, they'll make sure to double check it by any means. this can be something as simple as, you tell them "apples have the highest amount of vitamin C", and they won't fully believe it until they research it themselves. information is power, and understanding what is really going on often feels essential for security and survival.
this is one of the aspects that give interest in etymology (the study of the roots of words) and sometimes also interest in "dead" languages such as latin, greek, akkadian etc.
communicating with natives of this aspect can be intense and penetrating. they often have a talent for asking uncomfortable questions, exposing hidden truths, and speaking about subjects others avoid, saying what others are scared to say. they can be powerful writers, speakers, satirists, comedians, researchers, or storytellers because they instinctively gravitate toward taboo topics, psychological complexity, and the darker aspects of human nature. their words can have big impact, whether persuasive, healing ordestructive.
at the same time, theres a complicated relationship with communication itself. many of them grew up around secrets, unspoken tensions, family taboos or information that felt dangerous. whenever there was a family secret, they'd be the first one to know about it whether willingly or by mistake. as a result they become reluctant to reveal their own thoughts while being highly skilled at uncovering everyone else's. they can also feel that speaking the truth could create conflict, destroy relationships or expose something forbidden.
in some charts where mercury-pluto contacts are severe, the siblings have died and it profoundly affected the natives ability to communicate. in some other cases (especially with 8H/11H involved), the mother had a miscarriage or lost a child early prior to the mercury-pluto native's birth. they
this aspect produces extraordinary intellectual depth, psychological insight, research ability and persuasive power. they excel wherever hidden information must be uncovered, analyzed or communicated.
