Pluto's Transit from Capricorn to Aquarius in the age of Gen Z
A slow cosmic shift that meets a skeptical generation.
Astrology is a system of divination that involves forecasting earthly and human events through observing celestial frameworks, such as the positioning of the sun, the moon, stars, and planets. Each planet represents a unique aspect of personality, behaviour, and life experiences, and this understanding is adopted into the practice of predicting earthly affairs and individuals' destinies.
As of 2025, Pluto has transitioned from the constellation of Capricorn to the constellation of Aquarius after spending 16 years in Capricorn. Pluto started its transit into Aquarius in 2023, retrograded back, and settled in Aquarius for good in 2024.This transit is discussed on platforms such as TikTok as a phenomenon highlighting the end of a 16-year Karmic cycle for individuals born with suns and placements under the Cardinal signs—Capricorn, Aries, Cancer, and Libra. However, expert astrologer Christina Rodenbeck, who started her research in Astrology in the 1990s, rejected this notion, stating that she does not think "that's necessarily valid as a logical way of interpreting astrology."
Societal implications of Pluto's transit to Aquarius
According to astrology, Pluto represents transformation, power, and control of the subconscious mind. Astrology expert Christina Rodenbeck reflects on Pluto's 16 years in Capricorn by noting, "Capricorn is… the structures of government and finance. These have been transformed from the period 2008 to 2015. For example, when Pluto went into Capricorn, we had the banking crisis." She then shares her prediction for Pluto's current residence in Aquarius. It is outlined that "Aquarius is a system of ideas…systems of communication, such as the internet… Aquarius is associated with high-tech, the internet… so the other thing that's quite interesting to watch with Pluto coming into Aquarius is things like cryptocurrency or digital currency, and how that will be transformed." This could reinforce the rise of AI's integration into society and imply a further development of technological innovation.
Rodenbeck further explains that Pluto's transition from Capricorn to Aquarius is a shift that "on a personal level, will affect Aquarius people who are born with lots of Planets in Aquarius more than other signs… except maybe Leo." Its impact is a slow-burning process because "Pluto is an outer planet," meaning that people born in January will feel the shift first.
Gen Z and Pluto in Aquarius
Rodenbeck argues that Gen Z is a very "radical generation" as most of them were born when Pluto was in Sagittarius (1995 - 2008). Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, thrives on adventure, exploration, and intellectual pursuits and is "one of the signs of communications and philosophy," meaning that Pluto has more outspoken individuals in the “Pluto in Sagittarius” generation. Rodenbeck expands by highlighting historical events from when Pluto was last in Aquarius (1777 - 1798), which most notably saw the French Revolution that people with Pluto caused in Sagittarius. "The French revolution… is much more radical in its thinking because it's remaking society, it's cutting down and restarting." Pluto's transition into Aquarius in 2025 could suggest that Gen Z will likely lead radical, technological, social and cultural revolutions, pushing for equity and freedom of expression, from Malala to the discourse in Hong Kong. With Gen Z entering their 20s/30s as Pluto in Aquarius persists for the next 16 years, this potentially mirrors the leadership age and the idea of redevelopment in historical examples like the French Revolution.
Myth or not?
A common reason behind scepticism of astrology is that it lacks empirical evidence. Whether Astrology is accepted as a valid practice for predicting mundae/cultural events is heavily debated. A 2019 study by IPSOS in America, revealed that 22% of 18-34-year-olds associate with their astrological sign, while 12% of 35-54-year-olds associate with theirs, suggesting astrology taken more seriously by younger generations. The video below shows three students at Oxford Brookes being interviewed about their star signs, whether they felt the shift of Pluto into Aquarius, and their opinions on Astrology.
Pluto’s move into Aquarius marks a cosmic shift with historic echoes of events that have reshaped society such as the French Revolution ran by people with born when Pluto was in Sagittarius. Perhaps this shift does not arrive with thunderclaps or spiritual epiphanies, arriving quietly or not at all. Astrology does not always show up as a feeling, “astrology is multifaceted, multi-various, so you’ll see the symbolism in multiple ways” says Rodenbeck. Maybe Pluto does not ask for belief, it just asks for time.