Ever wondered about our fascination with generations? Well, look no farther than the farthest outer (dwarf) planet Pluto! Pluto has an orbit of 248 years. This planet’s slow movement through each of the 12 zodiac signs is actually a marker for the different generations. The transit of Pluto also sheds some light on why certain people don’t feel a strong relationship to one generation or the other, and often feel caught in the middle. So let’s explore what this Planet means for each of us!
Pluto in Leo-Boomers Part 1
Pluto moved into Leo in 1937 and left this sun ruled fire sign in 1958. The boomer generation was born from 1946-1964, so close to half of this generation has their Pluto in Leo.
Leo is the sign that Pluto is exalted in, meaning that those with this placement reap the most benefits. Since Leo is a fire sign, this part of the generation is spicy! We often think of Boomers as opinionated, strong willed, and a bit self centered (there’s a reason they’re known as the “Me generation”).
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The beauty of this part of the Baby Boomers is their ability to put their needs first. They reaped the benefit of a booming economy and weren’t afraid to ask for more and more. While we often focus on what they got in their heyday, we can’t forget what they lost. They had to bear witness to their leaders tragically fall before them, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and JFK. They learned that even the brightest stars die, but that’s no reason not to shine.
Pluto in Virgo-Boomers Part 2 and Gen X Part 1
Pluto first moved into Virgo in 1956 and left it officially in 1972. Gen Xers were born from 1965 to 1980, with the Baby Boomers preceding them from 1946-1964. That means that Pluto in Virgo is a liminal transit which straddles both younger Boomers and older Gen Xers. However, it’s also possible that these people should be labelled as their own generation entirely…
Believe it or not, Virgo has ties to the underworld. The three stages of Virgo relate to the story of Persephone, the wife of Hades. Having Pluto in this mutable earth sign means that finding your way to your true self, like Persephone, is the journey.
Still, the emphasis of this generation was creation and consumerism. After the boom of Pluto in Leo, Pluto in Virgo worked to sustain and build upon it. This generation gave us the gift of ease and simplicity, Virgo being a sign that seeks out the most efficient and best way to do everything.
Pluto was in Libra from 1971 to 1984. Gen Xers were born from 1965 to 1982, so the majority of Gen Xers have a Pluto in Libra.
Teenagers are the tastemakers of this country, so it’s in those precious and volatile years when we see the biggest impact the generation will have on society. Libra is an air sign focused on balance, peace, justice and socializing. This generation was radical and a bit messy when it came to life. This is the generation that gave us 2nd wave feminism while governments cracked down on crime in unprecedented ways, but with an all encompassing distaste for politics.
As time has gone on we’ve seen how this generation has chosen peace and quiet over violence and the fast pace with which they lived in the late 90s. Still, the latter generations couldn’t get to where they are now without the boldness of Gen X.
Pluto in Scorpio-Millennials
Pluto was in Scorpio from 1983 to 1995, with nearly all Millennials being born at that time. The millennial generation was born from 1983 to 1996.
Pluto is in its domicile in Scorpio, which is a fancy way of saying that this is the most comfortable place for it to be. Millennials were born at the same time as the internet and thus information is the primary benefit and consequence of this generation.
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Scorpio is a fixed water sign with a penchant for darkness and pain, so as a whole this generation has dealt with a more pronounced connection to depression and anxiety compared to their formers. This is also the gift that the Millennial generation had to give the world, as they grew up they have worked hard to destigmatize mental health. Because of Millennials going to therapy has become the norm!
Pluto was in Sagittarius from 1995 to 2008, so almost all Zoomers were born with Pluto in this fire sign since they’re born from 1997-2012.
There’s a certain correlation we see between Gen Z and Baby Boomers, which is why you’ll often hear them referred to as Zoomers. There’s something to be said about generations sharing an element, with Boomers and Zoomers both being fire sign generations.
Every generation leaves a lasting impact on the world and Zoomers, with their Sagittarius Plutos, a greater understanding of personal freedom and self expression. This generation has fought tooth and nail for a better societal understanding of things such as the gender binary and sexual orientation. This generation may not be in control of policy making here in the US, but they are certainly the ones pushing our society forward.
Pluto in Capricorn-Gen Alpha
Pluto was in Capricorn from 2008 to 2023. Gen Alpha is born between 2013-2025.
It’s common for those born at the beginning and end of a generation to feel caught in between two generations, and Pluto might be the reason for that. We see here that Gen Alpha started a few years after Pluto moved into Capricorn, meaning that young Zoomers will probably feel a stronger connection to this generation than the one they were technically born into.
The oldest members of this generation haven’t quite found their voice yet, only have just turned 10 years old, so there’s still much to speculate about what their generational impact will be.
Still, we can look to the Pluto in Virgo generation for a bit of insight, seeing as they too have their Pluto in an Earth sign. We can expect this generation to sustain, refine and perfect the work that has been done before them. And since Capricorn has ties to Capitalism we can assume that there will be huge transformations happening to that structure as these kids grow up.
Pluto in Aquarius-What’s Next?
Pluto dipped a toe into the waters of Aquarius earlier in 2023 but it won’t be until late 2024 until it officially stays in this Saturn ruled air sign until 2043, thus bringing on the next generation… or two! Since Pluto spends so much time in Aquarius it is likely we will see more than one generation born during its time here.
The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was just after the birth of the USA, from about 1777 to 1798.
Pluto in Aquarius is a fall placement, which means that this is the weakest placement for the energy of the planet. This is not necessarily a bad thing though! Pluto is the planet of death and transformation, known for bringing up the seedy underbelly of society. Perhaps this means that these generations will offer a reprieve from the hard fought battles of the past century and instead usher in a time of peace. Only time will tell.
