Pluto and Mars, Confused Rulerships
Does Pluto Rule Sagittarius ?
Restoring Mars’ Rulership of Scorpio
Astrologers still aren’t quite clear about Pluto. Does the obscurity of this planet’s character mask a basic mistake in recognising his true rulership ? Both of Mars’ rulership Signs, Scorpio and Aries have been proposed for Pluto’s rulership but no one has really recognised the basic characteristics of either Sign in a Rising Pluto or in his transits.
Pluto was the Lord of the distant land of the dead, the alien realm beyond this world and his name translates as ‘the Rich One,’ suggesting wealth. When his transits, especially with Saturn, show any distinct feature, it is often travel and Pluto Rising often marks a love of travel and a philosophical, searching nature. (This evidence precedes his present passage through Sagittarius.) His influence shows none of the sexy, psychic, jealous, emotional characteristics of Scorpio which are clearly marked in Mars. Mars should never have been displaced from the rulership of Scorpio. He carries all the Scorpio characteristics and his position determines the character of Scorpio in the horoscope.
Both Pluto’s ancient role and his name agree with his evident nature to point towards a Sagittarian character. This also agrees with his distant, wandering orbit and even the problem of his mistaken nature. Sagittarius is the Sign of travel, wandering, philosophy, mistakes and learning, the travellers’ syndrome, characteristic of a stranger in a strange land.
Assigning Pluto to Scorpio is based on the association of Scorpio and the Eighth House with the stroke of death. But this god portrays death as much more than the dramatic end we see on earth : instead it is a journey to a strange land. All the ancient faiths believed in a life after death. Following Pythagoras, the wise in Greece believed in the ultimate ‘life-changing experience’ of reincarnation. Pluto is all about life changing experiences on earth. These may be dramatic and destabilising but they can be extremely positive learning experiences. Like travel. Recognising life as a journey, a learning journey.
In 2006 astronomers arbitrarily downgraded Pluto to a ‘minor planet,’ not properly part of the solar family but belonging to the Kuiper Belt. This is another mistake ! His orbit actually approaches within that of Neptune, much closer to the Sun than any Kuiper Belt rivals. He was known as a planet by astronomers and astrologers at least three thousand years ago, as we can see from his place on the Tree of Life at Knowledge, a name which strongly suggests the sage of Sagittarius.
The Tree of Life is the central figure of the Kabbalah, the esoteric Tradition behind the Bible. It is entirely astrological, based on the ten planets and twelve Signs of the horoscope. It is mentioned in both Genesis and Revelation where it is clearly associated with the Sun’s annual cycle through the twelve zodiac Signs ‘the tree of life yields twelve crops of fruit, one for each month of the year. The leaves of the tree shall serve for the healing of the nations.’ Rev. 22. 2 This evidence shows the planets were all known in ancient times and even more shockingly, that astrology lies at the very heart of the biblical Tradition, from the Beginning to the End.
Pluto’s rulership is discussed more fully in the author’s lecture, Ruling Planets, to the Astrological Lodge of London, 13th Nov. 2006.
Other astrology topics are discussed in the Astrology section of Facts Behind Faith See also Menu above.
Other Brief Introductions