Uranus and Pluto were conjunct in 1965 and 1966. This started a big new astrological cycle with big social shifts. In the US, it was connected to the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movements, Hippie culture and NASA lunar orbit missions. The contraceptive pill was developed in the 1960’s giving women more control over their bodies and life choices.
Uranus is the agitator, the planet associated with freedom and independence, innovation and technology. It is connected to electricity. It’s nature is unpredictable and unstable.
Pluto is associated with the underworld. What is dark and secret? Pluto travels unseen and forces us to discard what is no longer beneficial and supportive in our lives. It starts a process of purging and decay. This is often messy and yet it is what is discarded that comes to nourish us once it’s been through a process of shedding and discarding to create the compost for future growth. It is this death and rebirth cycle which is so important in the process of life on earth.
These two planets speak about a process of creative destruction. What needs to be discarded and what emerges? It sets about big social adjustments that are unstoppable. Once they have momentum things change regardless.
Between 1995 and 1997 Uranus was sextile Pluto. This was an interesting time for South Africa as we embarked on our democratic journey post 1994. We had much hope and anticipation of better things to come for our collective. But it was also associated with the Bosnian War and Yugoslavian wars and the world trying to make sense of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 – wars associated with ethnic cleansing.
Between 2012 to 2015 Uranus was square Pluto. This was a very difficult time economically and became known as the Great Recession across the globe. Conflict seems ongoing in the Middle East and in Central and North Africa.
Now Uranus will trine Pluto between July 2026 and May 2028. These planets are exact in
- Jul/Nov 2026
- June 2027
- Jan/May 2028
We are witnessing a time of profound change and this process of creative destruction has a momentum of its own. Uranus is now in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius. The innovation and disruption will be felt in areas of life associated with knowledge, information, trade, ideas and transport. Driverless cars are no longer far fetched. The nature of war has shifted enormously. Drones and missiles dominate the skies. This has made it difficult for traditionally strong nations and armies to propel smaller, more nuggety opposition. The wars in Ukraine/Russia and Iran/Middle East have both demonstrated how significantly the dynamics of war have changed.
Pluto in Aquarius is a reminder to leaders who are disconnected from the needs of ordinary people to watch out. When Pluto was last in Aquarius it was the time of the French Revolution and the American War of Independence. But as always there is a dark side and we need to be mindful of how big tech and big data can control the lives of ordinary people. It is very much a time of power to the people, but ordinary people need to step up and start creating the societies they wish to be part of in the future.
We had a Saturn Neptune conjunction on 20 Feb 2026 at 0 Aries – the World Axis. This was the start of a new 36 year cycle which also had a profound impact on the world. This cycle is always connected to major changes in Russia. When it last happened in 1989 we watched the fall of communism and the collapse of the Berlin Wall. It was also connected with the 1953 Iranian coup which was instigated by the UK and US and allowed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran to rule more firmly as a monarch. Saturn and Neptune were conjunct in 1952 and 1953 and connected to the dissolution of certain structures and land boundaries.
What is going to unfold over the next few years will be Neptune making aspects to both Uranus and Pluto. These are the 3 outer planets all in a tight configuration exerting more pressure for change.
Neptune sextile Pluto exact on these dates
- Jul 2026 and Sep 2026
- June/Oct 2027
- June/Nov 2028
- May/Nov 2029
- May/Dec 2030
- April 2031
- Feb 2032
Uranus sextile Neptune exact on these dates
- Aug/Nov 2025
- July 2026
- Jan/June 2027
Looking at these exact dates we need to see what unfolds this year between June/July and Sep 2026. Change is inevitable. The speed of change is also likely to be significant as air and fire elements dominate. Buckle up – we are in for exciting, turbulent times. We also need to consider climate matters. There is a strong likelihood that we are about to experience a Super El Nino with the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This could lead to droughts and flooding across the globe. Not only could war disrupt trade as oil and fertiliser trade is blocked, which will have an impact of agriculture and food production, but so too could climate issues.
