Moon Opposite Pluto in Synastry

Synastry is the astrological analysis of two (or more) people’s energy signatures (natal charts), in order to assess their ease or difficulty in relating to each other. Regardless of the nature of the relationship, when two people relate to each other they mix their joint energies into a shared cauldron and make some type of stew out of it. Whether or not the stew is edible depends on a number of factors, not the least of which are the planets that “speak” the loudest through the interactions of these people.

Fated Feeling

Have you ever met someone and been convinced that fate brought you together? It’s not an uncommon feeling—certainly not if the pairing is flavored with an opposition between one person’s Moon and the other person’s Pluto. Yet Carl Jung had this to say about fate: ”When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate.” The man knew a thing or two about the inner workings of the human psyche. He knew a thing or two about astrology, too. He may as well have been describing the unconscious energy of the emotional body (as described by one’s natal Moon) and our deepest compulsions and drives (as described by natal Pluto). Put these two celestial bodies together in a synastry opposition and you’ve got a potent recipe for being unaware of your inner situation.

But not for long…This ‘fated’ relationship is one of such extreme (Pluto) emotional (Moon) confrontation (opposition) that the people who bear its synastry will be unable to remain in the dark forever. Like it or not, each will become more enlightened about hidden aspects of their selves. That’s the medicine or salvation of one person’s Moon in opposition to another person’s Pluto. But how badly do you want the medicine? Because it may be a bitter pill to swallow, and it may come with some unpleasant side effects.

Come Here, Go Away

At its core (a Plutonian word), when Moon and Pluto oppose each other in synastry, the tension from this aspect can interfere with the development of the relationship, owing to at least one person’s compulsion for control and demand for power. It is often the case that two people who have this signature in their synastry share a simultaneous attraction for and repulsion of each other that seems to constellate around whatever either or both of them deem taboo. It usually has a sexual component. Guilt gets tied in to the desire for (or fear of) these perceived taboos. In time, the relationship inevitably undergoes some kind of crisis (which is Pluto’s primary modus operandus).

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[show_to accesslevel=’All-Access’]If Moon opposite Pluto in the natal chart can be read as I don’t trust my feelings, it could be said that—in synastry, at least—Moon opposite Pluto reads like I don’t trust anybody. Should a trusting Moon in Pisces (for example) get hooked by Pluto in Virgo, the Pisces Moon person may come to learn about deep distrust—and likely won’t thank teacher Pluto for the lesson. And trust is hardly the only issue that synastry Moon-Pluto oppositions contend with. The sexual tension may be palpable, and perhaps delicious. But bring on the fetishes, fantasies, and feeling depraved or filthy or nasty.

As the Pluto partner strips away the Lunar’s illusions of who s/he is (or, at least who s/he is safe to be), the Moon person will grapple with everything s/he’s buried in Pluto’s Underworld. Some of the shadow qualities that are attributed to Pluto are possessiveness, jealousy, guilt-tripping, domination, oppression and manipulation. In short, the emotional intensity that is bred of the lunar person’s encounter with the Pluto person is strong enough to annihilate either or both of them on some level. Kind of like what happens when atoms are split—which happens to be a Pluto thing.

Depending on such variables as the zodiac sign(s) and houses that each person’s Moon and Pluto are in, the (im)balance of power may shift from one person to the other. When crisis hits the fan, these two will either call it quits or choose to upgrade their Lunar and Pluto energies in the hopes of forging an honest and deeper soul union.

Soul Power

And for that to happen—a closer and more meaningful union—the synastry must be brought from the interior cavern of unconscious material into the light of mutual self-awareness. Beyond the protective posturing of ego dramas that a Moon-Pluto synastry opposition can engender, is the potential for soul retrieval; that’s the healing that comes from owning your stuff so that you don’t need to project it onto the other to see it. Although we don’t normally ascribe wholesomeness to Pluto, there is a path to wholesomeness if you can go neutral with your hang-ups, and instead get curious about who you are underneath the socially-sanctioned layers you wear.

One avenue to healing can be erotic roleplay. If ever there was a synastry duo that cried out for consensual kink, it’s Moon opposite Pluto. It’s one way to acknowledge those aspects of yourself that have been buried under should’s and should not’s. Once you’re done with the self-mortification of who am I when I’m with this bad ass? you may benefit from journalling about why you feel drawn to certain types of experiences (sexual or otherwise). This can help you draw up disowned bits from your inner well. The journalling isn’t meant to be about shaming yourself or your partner. It’s about the value in knowing what makes you want what you want, what repels you, and why. Once you get that, you’re in a position to choose your experiences, rather than be undermined by them—which often shows up like being overpowered by another.

Self-knowledge comes from honesty. It usually follows that if you can be honest with yourself, you can be honest with others. And that is the most potent inoculation against the manipulation that can plague a Moon-Pluto synastry opposition. Whether through mutual sexual healing, private journalling or direct communication in place of passive-aggressive demands, there is power in summoning your courage to explore your Plutonian playground. This is how your Lunar-Plutonian synastry becomes a gateway to true soul power.[/show_to]