This Year’s Pluto Retrograde And Stations

Is Pluto Retrograde?
Pluto is currently direct (i.e. moving forwards)

You’ve likely heard of Mercury Retrograde, the celestial event most discussed by the astrological layman. But did you know that other planets go retrograde as well?

When Pluto, the lord of death and transformation, goes retrograde, it can mark a period of major metamorphosis and rebirth. But this period can also be a deeply gratifying one and bring you closer to your true self, if you know how to handle it.

What Is Pluto Retrograde?

“Retrograde” means “moving backwards.” That means that when Pluto is retrograde, it is moving backwards in apparent motion from our viewpoint here on Earth.  In other words, instead of progressing forward through the zodiac, Pluto is actually backing up.  It may be a visual illusion, but it’s a meaningful and measurable one.

What Is A Pluto Station?

Pluto spends more than half of every year moving forwards (or “direct”, as astrologers say). But when Pluto slows, stops, and changes direction, we call that moment a “station.”

When Pluto ceases moving forwards and is in the process of changing direction, we say, “Pluto is stationing retrograde.” On the other hand, when Pluto has stopped backwards motion and is in the process of turning forwards, we say “Pluto is stationary direct.”

I call these stations “pivotal days.” That’s because the planet in question is literally pivoting. In addition, stations tend to lead to pivotal events for those of us Earthlings who are most affected by them.  These pivotal events trigger deep Plutonic changes.

Pluto Transits: A Long, Dark Night Of The Soul

A Pluto transit is the most profound of all the planetary transits: it is nothing less than a total and complete transformation from one way of being to another. In nature, this is best illustrated by the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

In the cocoon, the caterpillar’s structure melts down to a mass resembling stem cells. Miraculously, it is from this gooey mass that the animal finds a new shape as butterfly.

During a Pluto transit, we are plunged into the psychological process of metamorphosis. We feel “lost in the dark” as we are completely melted down into something unrecognizable. And frighteningly, we have no idea how we will come out on the other side.  However, once we emerge, we will be a stronger and truer version of ourselves– the proverbial butterfly.

Death And Rebirth Through Pluto Retrograde

The nature of a Pluto transit is to prompt metaphysical death in service of a rebirth into something ultimately more true. We become more authentic through the confrontation with and processing of shadow material and past trauma. The transit brings toxic habits to light in order to be cleansed and transformed.

Pluto can transform your toxic relationships (Venus), toxic emotional patterns (Moon), or toxic attitudes towards work and status (Saturn). Actually, it all depends on where Pluto functions in your chart, where it is transiting, and what natal house it rules.

In order to change us, Pluto must unearth what is rotten. However, if we accept and allow the process to happen instead of fighting it, we can come out closer to ourselves than we have ever been before.

Pluto Retrograde 2026 In Aquarius: Transformation Of Social Hierarchy

Pluto entered Aquarius back in 2024, bringing his death and rebirth experience to the realms of humanitarianism, innovation, science and technology. With this sign change, we begin to focus on transforming problems revolving around emotional detachment, rebellion, collective humanitarian ideals, technology and futurism.

In Aquarius, Pluto promises to bring the rot to the surface in:

Our understanding of autism and neurodivergence
The ideologies that our social groups and political views center on
The ways we innovate, especially in the fields of science and technology
Our concept of what progress is
Our ways of organizing our communities and pushing for social change
This collective, worldwide communication device we call the internet

During Pluto in Aquarius, some of these kinds of questions may arise:

Is progress really progress if it happens by the same old mechanisms that cost many while benefiting only a few? And if this form of progress isn’t real, what would real progress look like?  
Is the internet a wonderful thing or rotten to the core? What kind of death and rebirth would it have to go through to stop being such a garbage dump?  
Where do we find ideologies that strengthen and sustain us, instead of poisoning and killing us?  
How do we understand neurodivergence in ways that help the most people, instead of just a few (very rich) people?  
How can diverse people and communities live together and share land and government in mutual respect instead of misanthropy, bigotry or exploitation? 
How can the people make their voices heard and be the choosers of their government when power is being concentrated into fewer and fewer hands?  
Is there a set of civil rights ideals that a whole people can agree on? Or will it always be a war between the haves and the have-nots? 
With the advent of AI, how do we know which information to trust?  
With the corruption that’s surfaced during Pluto in Capricorn, how do we know which scientific voices and viewpoints to trust? 
Is tearing it all down and starting over the answer? Or is the more sustainable answer more nuanced than that?

When you yourself have a Pluto transit, you might find yourself relating to some of these questions very personally.

For more about this momentous astrological event, read our blog post about Pluto in Aquarius 2023-2044.

Understanding the Pluto cycle and Pluto Retrograde 2026
can help you integrate past trauma
and allow you to live your life in a more authentic way.
To learn how, contact Pandora Astrology
for a Natal and Transits Reading.

The Span Of Pluto Retrograde 2026:

In 2026, Pluto travels forward to 5° Aquarius, then stations retrograde and travels backward to 3° Aquarius, stations direct, and travels forward past 5° Aquarius again. Then it moves into the next patch of degrees, where it will do a similar thing next year.

How Does Pluto Retrograde 2026 Affect You?

This means that if you have any planet in 3-5° of Aquarius, Pluto is heavily transiting that planet this year. Because Pluto in Aquarius forms a challenging aspect to Taurus, Leo and Scorpio, if you have any planet in 3-5° degrees of any of those signs, Pluto is also transiting that planet.

We feel a transit the most strongly when it’s exact to the degree. Additionally, we feel transits most strongly during their stations, or pivotal days. For example, if you have Mars at 4° Aquarius, you’ll feel Pluto’s influence the most strongly when Pluto is passing through 4° Aquarius, and on the days Pluto turns retrograde and direct.

There’s also no doubt that if your Sun is in a degree along Pluto’ retrograde path, you will feel it too. Here are the birthdates (in any year at all) that are affected by 2026’s Pluto retrograde:
January 22 to 25
April 22 to 25
July 25 to 28
October 26 to 29

How To Get A Diagram Of Your Pluto Retrograde 2026 Transit

In a reading with Jamie of Pandora Astrology, you can get a diagram of your Pluto transit that’s personalized for you and shows the exact dates when it peaks. In the reading, you’ll see which of your own planets is being triggered by Pluto. We will talk about what this transit means for you and where in your life to look for its effects. This gives you a chance to process it more fully and powerfully. Getting this kind of personally timed information is the main reason people consult astrologers, and talking about it together is half the benefit.

Sometimes, when you‘re in a long, dark night of the soul, just knowing that it will come to a definite end, and knowing when, makes all the difference.

How To Handle Your Pluto Retrograde 2026 Transit:

Pluto’s process calls for a deep trust in the ways of nature and in oneself.  It requires letting go of what needs to pass away and allowing the new to come forth from the unknown.  This is abjectly terrifying for us human beings, who want to be in control.

During a Pluto transit the need to be in control can lead to out-of-control behavior, addictions and power struggles, both within and without.  But does it have to be this way?  Not really. You can meet this transit head on, learn to let go of control and allow change to pass through your life. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Understanding the Pluto cycle can help you integrate and process past trauma, and allow you to live your life in a more authentic way. A professional astrology reading can help you identify what is asking to be transformed in your life and why. To learn how Pluto functions specifically in your chart and how to use Pluto’s transit in the best possible way, contact Pandora Astrology for a Natal and Transits Reading.