Pluto Retrograde

In Greek and Roman myth, Pluto (Hades to the Greeks) is the Lord of the Underworld, the realm of the dead. The Greeks and Romans did not have a concept of heaven, although later in their culture the Greeks invented the Elysian Fields, a heaven-like afterworld for their heroes. Access to the Elysium was eventually extended to the especially virtuous; lesser mortals were fated to wander for eternity through the darkness and shadows of The Underworld.

In Egyptian myth, The Underworld is the realm of Osiris. The Egyptian Underworld was a place of transition where judgment was meted out to the newly deceased. Their hearts were weighed on a scale against the feather of Ma’at. If the heart was lighter than Ma’at’s feather, the deceased soul would be led to the Du’at, a heaven-like version of Earth without the pain and sorrow. The location of the Du’at is unclear. It may have been “home” - the place in the stars where the Egyptians believed they came from.

Late in Egypt’s history, celebration of the Osirian Mysteries became a hugely popular event. These rituals told of the murder of Osiris by his brother Set, his resurrection by Isis, and the birth out of death of Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. Osiris emerges as the symbol of a process of transformation whereby new life is born from the death of the old, a perspective central to the modern astrologer’s attitude toward Pluto.

This is a comforting thought yet does not erase the pain that accompanies the process. When Pluto is stationary, our awareness – and perhaps fear - of death is emphasized. Pluto Retrograde describes a period when we collectively descend into The Underworld. When the scent of death is strong, it is important to remind ourselves that birth always follows death.

Pluto/Osiris turns retrograde on May 4 at Aquarius 3°49’ and will turn direct on October 14 at Aquarius 1°22’.

May 3, 2025, by Ruby Falconer. Available for chart readings.

Osiris by Sara Forlenza