Can you imagine astrology without Pluto or Chiron? It wasn’t long ago that many astrologers doubted the influence of these planets, and not much earlier that they were discovered (in 1930 and 1977, respectively). They are distinctly modern reminders of how we can think of a person: as having depth and an inner life; as being capable of growth and healing; as wanting more out of life than the superficial.
For the next few days, the Sun aspects both Pluto and Chiron. While these two planets are often associated with enforced growth, they are now aligned with the Earth and Sun such that their influence is gentle, penetrating and effective. The Taurus Sun is moving into a trine with Pluto in Capricorn, opening up the flow of deep inspiration. And the Sun is sextile Chiron, a call to awakening that puts clarity and healing within reach.
Chiron and Pluto are now in a long sextile — a 60-degree aspect that will help them integrate their qualities. What happens to one basically happens to the other, since for the next year or so, any faster-moving body that aspects one of them will aspect the other. They are similar agents in the psyche but work differently.
Pluto often acts as an unconscious influence: as something working deep beneath the surface of awareness. Then all at once it manifests as a turning point. Chiron usually strives to get our attention all the time, using a series of measures that gradually grow more intense, until it finally reaches through the waking dream. Both almost always point out areas where we are striving to grow, or where we need to invest the most energy into growth. Sometimes they indicate where we are already making the most progress.
Both have a way of accelerating progress, when present in any situation or chart. We can be sure, at least, that something meaningful is going on when either of these critters is in the equation — and through the weekend, both will be in aspect to the Sun. This is an image of vitality with deep roots, with passion and intensity, striving to draw the vital force up from the core of our being, and to allow it to soak into any dry places.
Though the word is used a bit too much and could use clarification, you could call this an evolutionary moment.