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What happens when transiting Pluto meets Venus? The phrase that comes to mind is probably “obsessive love.” Challenging (square, conjunction, opposition) Pluto aspects to Venus are anticipated with unease. Pluto’s need for control and deep transformation does not sit comfortably with Venus, who just wants everyone to get along.
If you have natal Venus in Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra, you will feel Pluto’s transit through Capricorn in the form of hard aspects. Read on to see how it will impact your Venus, and what you can do about it. If your natal Venus is between 7-11 degrees of the Cardinal signs, you’ll feel Pluto’s influence from 2012-2013.
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Capricorn
Venus in Capricorn likes relationships with boundaries. You set the rules. No gushy displays of emotion, but with the right partner you’re there for life. And the relationship has to move forward—no stagnant partners, please. You have goals, and your partner better keep up.
When Pluto passes over (conjuncts) your Venus, your love life will receive a depth charge. Pluto in Capricorn renovates structures. But there has to be a “death” before this can happen. This could be the death of an existing relationship that’s going nowhere, a relationship fear, or your romantic values (if they’ve been limiting you). This will probably feel uncomfortable, because those rules that you had all worked out will be transformed. This could come in the form of a new love interest who pushes your buttons. You may develop feelings for a new (or existing) partner that feel compulsive and trigger your urge to control the relationship. Your chilly demeanor will go out the window as you discover depths in you that you never knew you had. You may feel … gasp! … out of control.
A Venus/Pluto conjunction can go either way. A healthy relationship will feel very intense but will be enriching, passionate and profound. You’ll evolve with that partner. An unhealthy relationship will feel controlling and obsessive. You’ll evolve through the intensity of what you’re feeling, but ultimately the relationship will end. In the meantime, the best way to deal with the compulsive energy is to realize that you can’t control anything or anyone. The more you try to clamp down, the worse you’ll feel. Pluto’s ultimate goal is to detach you from limiting behaviors and structures. In their place you’ll develop a deeper, more fearless approach to relationship intimacy.
Cancer
So guess what this Pluto opposition to your Venus will mean? That’s right: change. And it will probably feel threatening, because you’ll be pushed to confront issues like dependency. A new relationship may come along that throws these issues in your face by making you feel extraordinarily needy. You’ll morph from mother to smother, but you’ll just think you’re taking care of the other person. Or the need to kill your lover with kindness could intensify in an existing relationship. Of course, the more you try to make your partner dependent on you, the more they’ll pull away.
Pluto’s opposition could stir up some emotional manipulation in you and your partner as you struggle to gain the upper hand. What to do? Try to embrace the energy of your opposite sign, Capricorn. You are being urged to develop self-sufficiency in relationships. Pluto can stir up some deep fears about abandonment by your lover and, if you’re not careful (read “clingy”), that’s exactly what will happen. The hallmark of a tough Pluto transit is having your deepest fear realized. There’s no guarantee that a Pluto opposition means you will lose a partner, especially if your relationship is sound to begin with. But the more you cling, the greater the risk. Productive use of this transit might include exploring ways you can nurture yourself and allowing your partner some breathing room. By the time this transit is over, you (and others) will be surprised at how independent you’ve become.
Aries
Get ready for your will to be challenged when Pluto squares your Venus. You could meet someone totally compelling who challenges your right to be first. Or you may become involved in a power struggle in your existing relationship. You may want something/someone sooo badly. Charging ahead in your usual fashion, you’ll be met by a brick wall of resistance or disinterest. What if someone doesn’t return your interest? What if someone doesn’t want to do things your way?
This transit will teach you about submitting. That’s an ugly word, especially to Aries. But the harder you push, the less you’ll get. You will be forced (and I mean that literally) to respect the boundaries of others. This sounds violent, but know that the emotional violence and power struggles that can arise will be in direct proportion to the amount of fight you put into something. You cannot win against a square from Pluto. So your best tactic will be to back off. If you must fight for something, fight for the new you that will emerge during this transit. Rather than trying to bend someone to your will, turn your energy inwards and work on yourself. The upside of this transit is that you will have a ridiculous amount of energy and determination. Use it wisely.
Libra
Venus is strong in Libra, the sign that she rules. Strong like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Balance and peace at all costs are what you strive for, even if that means glossing determinedly over unpleasant details. If you’re single, you’re on the lookout for someone because you need to be with a partner. If you’re in a relationship, you may swing back and forth between suppressing your needs and erupting with resentment when they don’t get met.
So what happens when a square from Pluto rocks the Libra boat? No longer will you be able to keep all those unpleasant details under the surface. You may feel pushed to do and say things that are not nice. This transit is not about being nice. It’s about uncovering issues—so get ready to explore some unpleasant stuff. A new relationship may push your boundaries as someone tries to manipulate, take advantage and control you. These issues could come to a head in an existing relationship. Your greatest fear (being alone) may be dangled in front of you as a partner threatens to leave or a new love interest is unavailable. Reacting to this in the old way (attempting to win the other person by turning yourself into what you think they want) will fail.
This transit is about teaching you to develop your own identity in a relationship. That means setting your boundaries and sticking to them. But how will you know what those boundaries are until they’re tested? This square from Pluto may confront you with scenarios such as:
- What are you willing to do to prevent yourself from being alone?
- How far will you go to please someone?
You know there’s iron wrapped up in that Libra package. This transit will uncover it for all to see.
Difficult Pluto-Venus transits are not a piece of cake. They will make you confront your deepest relationship fears/compulsions, but in the process you can learn how to evolve past them. That’s the key with Pluto: evolution. Moving through the Valley with Pluto by your side can be frightening. But what awaits on the other side is a stronger you, with a richer love life.
What is Pluto’s transit through Capricorn forcing you to confront? Let us know in comments below.
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