“What’s Pluto Got to Do With It? The Alchemy of Desire”

                               "When an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside as fate." Carl Jung

   Pluto points to an area of deep karmic wounding in the birth chart, however it also holds the potential for great personal power and healing. When it hits a 'hot spot' in your chart by transit, you'll have a chance to experience how Pluto intertwines karmic issues into our mundane lives. This article is about the secret the Pluto holds--the secret of deep transformation.

   When you think of the word ‘alchemy’ do you think of obscure etchings in ancient books where the alchemist-astrologer hovered over a crucible seeking to distill the philosopher’s stone? Do you remember how he was supposedly trying to find the meaning of life by transmuting lead into gold? Astrological symbols infused these strange images that were meant to both teach and conceal teachings that were thought to be too advanced for the ordinary man. But we have an advantage. Because we understand the language of astrology we don't need to be an occultist or of royal blood to apply what they thought was esoteric—we can translate the abstract texts and practice real alchemy in our lives. 

   The ancient alchemists knew that there was power in transforming the base metals---or the base emotions—into gold. Whether it be the melancholic Saturnian lead, or 'shit'-- that modern term for all that is dark, disagreeable and trouble-making in our lives---they knew that if we didn’t transform it we would project or transmit this negative energy to others, laying the blame on them. And the results would not be pleasant. Simply put—one transforms or one transmits. And we miss a great opportunity if we ignore the chance to create a little alchemy in our lives. 

   So what’s Pluto got to do with it? What’s love got to do with it? And what is this transforming alchemy of desire? We have to look at what happens when we put desirous Venus together with Pluto. Uncomfortable bed-mates for sure, but like Persephone and Hades, very powerful. We know Venus is about beauty, love, and the striving for harmonious relationship, and Pluto is the uncontrollable urge to go deeper and to transform. The Venus way of desire is the positive yearning for something, and has a sweet flavor. We can deal with the juicy desires of Venus without complaint, but most astrologers would agree that the deeper realms of Plutonian yearnings are shrouded in unconsciousness and are seldom dealt with pro-actively. They happen to us through all degrees of unpleasantness. 
   
   But the Universe is not out to hurt us. Most of us don’t change our course in life or delve into the taboo or deal with negativity till the situation gets very intense. Plutonian circumstances seem to come at us from others—or from external circumstances---and force us to look at what we don’t want to look at and 'corners us' into making a change. 

   So you may thinking, is this like when I haven’t cleaned the house in a long while and the garbage begins to smell, and my house-mate complains of my laziness? Well yes, that’s one way it works. It's also about the time you were just wandering around the internet and came upon a 'singles site' and on a lark you replied to an ad in some .com site and then when he called, you lied, and then your husband found out and… etc. You get it. 

   The alchemists knew that if you want to get what you desire you’re going to have to start with the basics—the Saturnian 'prima-materia', or shit, and transform it. So what can we learn from these ancient astrologer-alchemists? Clean out the garbage before it gets too intense. Go to a marriage counselor, or buy that lingerie and start feeling sexy so that you can enjoy having sex again. That’s acting on Saturn wisdom. But what happens when the uncontrollable Plutonian forces of life start acting up? And what happens when you combine the positive force of desire—of Venus—with Pluto, the God of the Underworld?
 
   Pluto’s favorite stomping grounds are relationships. Not the easy ones. The ones that matter—the ones that stir your ambition or hormones or survival urges. Plutonian love relationships are life transforming and we enter into them willingly because we are drawn by the chemistry or the possibilities of the encounter. And though we may be thinking of 'good sex' here, it’s also about deep friendship, relationships with your brother or sister, and even the relationship you have with your boss that hints of possibilities not included in the employee manual.
 
   Two of Pluto’s ruthless swords are envy and jealousy. The dictionary defines envy as a feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by desire (Venus!) for the possessions or qualities of another. It defines jealous as being fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position; also, resentful or bitter in rivalry, or painfully desirous of another’s advantages. 

   Now this could describe your feelings or theirs—it could be coming at you or it could be rising up within you. Let’s say you’ve been in this pleasing, rather juicy relationship with someone, and then one of you gets a transit of Pluto. Here's one translation of that---one of you does something 'slightly uncharacteristic' and the other feels wildly betrayed. And Pluto is so non-discriminating—the betrayer could be either of you, but the effect is the same: chaotic emotions and feelings of anger and betrayal. How could he/she say that? Do that? And now he/she’s hanging out with someone else and---dare we call what's happening jealousy? 

   Here’s where even a little understanding of alchemy can help a bit. You either get in the stew with them---out of love or obsession—or you get out of the crucible and save yourself from getting cooked. What needs to be understood first is who’s got the most ‘shit’—right? No. Pluto has come along because something was old or stuck or rigid and needed to die and be reborn. Pluto doesn’t care who is right or wrong—it is simply ruthless in its demand for change and reform—and it doesn’t care if you are the innocent party or not.
 
   And because Plutonian feelings are so unpleasant we all love to point the finger of blame somewhere. Maybe even at your favorite astrologer for not thoroughly warning you. But projecting all the blame may ease your conscience, and may be true, but it doesn’t make the pain go away. Something is dying; and eventually a new birth will take place. The labor is never easy. 

   So what's the relationship dynamic here? Maybe one of you was acting arrogant with that 'oh-so-positive' Jupiter aspect that your astrologer did tell you about. Or maybe you forgot that your twelfth house Saturn is about cleaning out your psychic basements and attics, and you still haven’t done the inner work demanded by this placement. Weren’t you going to join Al-anon and not let this person’s actions hold you hostage anymore? Or maybe your innocent Venus just happens to conjoin exactly with the Pluto in your husband's best friend's chart--- and all you have to do is see him and you start to blush? Or every time you see the savvy woman who's head of your favorite committee you find yourself starting to talk faster and faster? Maybe dropping names? What’s happening? 

   The good news is that envy is the highest form of flattery. You wish you had those looks, that position, that relationship, or that house. And it may make you uncomfortable to see your lack—can you admit that? But the high road here is to use this feeling as a guide-post, a wake-up call, and a directional map. You don't have to go unconscious and drop into the resentful emotions of jealousy. Instead you can choose to embody and be that which you desire—and yes, you need to have what it is you feel envious about! But before you despair and argue that it can’t happen; think about it---it doesn’t mean that you can have that particular person, job, or educational advantage specifically---but you can have or become what it deeply symbolizes for you. 

   So we’re back to the symbols. You can get the good feelings back and reclaim your Soul. If you want to have a relationship with Mr. or Ms. Unattainable or have whatever Pluto has taken from you, then you’ve got to play at the level of Pluto. Suffer the lack of it. Feel and see what it is you desire. Name it. Pray and sing and swear about it. Then wait, and give up your suffering and let die whatever is holding you back from “getting it.” You will probably have to make some major changes—like letting one relationship die so that you can have room in your life for a new better one---or you may have to tell your friend that what she/he did was unconscionable and that you’ve had enough. 

   But don’t stop at the death part—keep going and take that 12 step program or weight loss plan or go back to school, or do whatever you need to do to bring the essence of what you desire into your life. Move into the labor, knowing you are birthing. It’s not all about the literal object of your desire. It’s also about how it all makes you feel. And there are many ways of getting at that. Use your desire--- your Venus energy-- to make the connections to other people and a new way of life that brings about the alchemical transformation. Create a transforming new crucible by eliminating what is not essential to your highest purpose. Release the old pattern or person in whatever way you feel called to--- and slowly begin to get out of that stew.
 
   It won’t feel good at first to let go of what you’ve been obsessing about. But here's where 'the Secret is', and it's an old Jungian concept that is indeed a miracle. Now Carl Jung wouldn't call it that, but I will.You've got to hold the tension of the opposites, the pain of the situation and wait. You need to hang on the cross of your suffering and wait--simply holding the awareness that you can see no solution right now. But as you hang there feeling the impossibility of it all---and not trying to escape to a quick addiction or cheap shot solution, you will eventually see the appearance of "the sacred third." At first there seems to be no compromising point, but this new idea or solution or feeling will start to arise. And you'll start being able to sift through the muck and distill flickers of golden insights there. Use them to fuel your new actions and new life. Then you’ll be well on your way to understanding what the philosopher- alchemists knew---that what does not destroy you makes you stronger---and that nothing has the power to destroy your essence without your consent. But the Secret is in the waiting....

Elizabeth Spring Elizabethspring@aol.com www.elizabethspring.com