Venus Conjunct Pluto: Relationships and the Underworld

On December 11, 2021 Venus will conjunct Pluto at 25 degree 19 Capricorn. Pluto intensifies whatever it touches and speaks to our sometimes darker, subconscious urges.

Although it initially often brings about a sense of crisis, Pluto also rewards us with the promise of transformation. However, there is a caveat: we first have to be brave enough to embark on a journey to the underworld and face what we fear or the uncomfortable shadow that lurks insides of all of us.

When Venus joins with Pluto, we are called to examine our relationships, in particular in their more obsessive, compulsive and addictive forms. Although this might speak to romantic relationships, its can also mean your relationship to money, to your family, to your body and so on. The distinction depends on which house in your natal chart is ruled by Capricorn.

Other topics that might come up are examining how much you sacrifice for the sake of harmony as well as places where your desires may be out of control. It may bring up issues around beauty, women, enjoyment and sexuality, since these are all topics Venus signifies. Since Capricorn is a Saturn-ruled sign, topics around respect and commitment might also come up.

To embark on a Plutonian journey can be frightening, but it also promises reward in the form of transformation and truly letting go of that which binds and possesses you but does not (or no longer) serves a healthy purpose.

To help you get a preview of what might be in store for you during this Venus Pluto conjunction, as well as the Venus retrograde cycle that begins on December 19, read about your rising sign below.

Capricorn Rising

If you have Capricorn rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 1st house. This house is what is called one of the angular houses and it is powerful point in the chart that represents your physical body, who you are and your life purpose and direction. When Venus and Pluto meetup here, you are asked to examine your relationship to yourself and your body.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• How can I show up for myself with more respect and commitment?

• Do I treat my body right?

• Is my life heading in a direction that is true to me, and if not, what unhealthy patterns or behaviors are getting in the way?

Aquarius Rising

If you have Aquarius rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 12th house. The 12th house speaks to the ways we undermine ourselves as well as our hidden fears, which makes this placement and difficult but powerful one. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine the ways in which you are your own worst enemy. As this is also the house of solitude, taking up or intensifying a meditation practice during this time would be very helpful

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• How can I show up for myself with more respect and commitment?

• How do I get in my own way and cause problems for myself?

• Do I have any issues with addiction or overly obsessive behavior? If so, what steps can I take and what commitments can I make to address these problems in a healthy way?

Pisces Rising

If you have Pisces rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 11th house. The 12th house speaks to your friends, networks and associations within groups of people. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these aspects of your life.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• How can I show up for my friendship and alliances more respect and commitment?

• Do I have any toxic relationships in this sphere of life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?

• What are my fears or obsessions in this area of life and how can I learn to face them and let them go?

Aries Rising

If you have Aries rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 10th house. Like the 1st house, the 10th house is a powerful angular house that represents your career and public image as well as your mother. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine your relationships in the workplace and to your career and ambition in general or your relationship with your mother.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment at the workplace or my relationship with my mother, either involving others or my own actions?

• Do I have any toxic relationships in this sphere of life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?

• What are my fears or obsessions in this area of life and how can I learn to face them and let them go?

• Does my career bring me joy? If not, what changes do I need to make?

Taurus Rising

If you have Taurus rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 9th house. The 9th house represents our beliefs, higher learning and foreign travel. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine what you believe in as well as your relationship to people and places foreign to you. Any higher learning studies or spiritual practices are also highlighted here.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment at university, within a religious/spiritual group or discipline?

• Do I have any toxic relationships in this sphere of life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?

• What are my fears or obsessions in this area of life and how can I learn to face them and let them go?

• Have my attitudes towards people from other countries been fear-based, negative, obsessive or sexually charged in any way? If so, how can I work on establishing healthier attitudes and let go of my prejudice or objectification?

Gemini Rising

If you have Gemini rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 8th house. One of the heavier houses, the 8th house represents death, other people’s money (i.e. what we owe, our partners income or inheritance) and fear itself. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine your relationships to these types of topics

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my spouse’s income, either on their side or mine?

• Do I have a toxic relationships to fear? In other words, has my “fear of fear” something I either compulsively refuse to face or obsessively dwell on?

• Is my fear of death overpowering? What ways could I work on a healthier relationship towards the inevitable end of life?

Cancer Rising

If you have Cancer rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 7th house. Another one of the powerful angular houses in your chart, the 7th house represents your partnerships, be they your spouse or business partners as well as other people you encounter in general. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these central relationships.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my spouse, business partner or other people in general, either on their side or mine?

• Do I have an intimate toxic or addictive relationship in my life? If so, have I been acting as an enabler for inappropriate behavior just to keep the peace?

• If I don’t have a romantic partner at this time, do I have any issues or compulsive patterns around choosing the wrong partner? How can I make changes to make more room for healthier choices?

Leo Rising

If you have Leo rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 6th house. The 6th house represents illness and hard, usually thankless work. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these types of topics.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment to your body that might be resulting in illnesses? If so, how might you transform your routines?

• Do I have any health issues I have been ignoring that need to be addressed?

• Do I have issues with responsibility and establishing healthy routines, including hard work that is not always appealing (i.e. housework, less appealing tasks at work)?

Virgo Rising

If you have Virgo rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 5th house. The 5th house stands for romance, pleasure, entertainment, hobbies, children and sexuality. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these topics in your life.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my children, lovers or my relationship to pleasure and enjoyment (please note that I say “lovers” here because a more established relationship would be described by the 7th house, but in the 5th we see things like love affairs or dating)?

• Do I have any compulsive or addictive issues around sexuality?

• If I don’t have any romantic interests at this time, do I have any issues or compulsive patterns around who I choose to become sexually or romantically involved with? How can I make changes to make more room for healthier choices?

• If I have children (especially female children), what is the state of my relationship with them? Is there anything I need to face or come to terms with?

Libra Rising

If you have Libra rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 4th house. Another one of the powerful angular houses in your chart, the 4th house represents you home, ancestry and your parents in general and father in particular. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these topics and relationships in your life.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning my relationship with your father, parents or ancestry, either on my side or theirs?

• What is my relationship to my home and how might it need to change?

• Do I have any compulsive or addictive issues within my family that I need to come to terms with?

Scorpio Rising

If you have Scorpio rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 3rd house. The 3rd house stands for your local neighborhood or region, communication (including online) and your siblings. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these topics in your life.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect and commitment concerning the area where I live, how I communicate with others or in my relationship with neighbors and siblings, either on my side or theirs?

• Do I have any compulsive or obsessive issues around communication online? If so, what adjustments do I need to make?

• If you have any siblings (especially sisters), how is your relationship? Are there any deep-seated issues welling to the surface that need to be addressed?

Sagittarius Rising

If you have Sagittarius rising, this means Venus conjunct Pluto and the Venus retrograde cycle will be taking place in your 2nd house. The 2nd house represents your finances and belongings. When Venus and Pluto meet up here, you are asked to examine these topics in your life.

Questions to ask yourself and what you might be called to face:

• Do I have issues with respect or obsessive tendencies concerning my relationship to money and belongings?

• Do I have any compulsive or toxic issues surrounding my finances? If so, what needs to change?

• How do I feel about spending money on Venusian things (i.e. beautiful objects, romance, entertainment, etc.)? Are there any deep-seated issues welling to the surface that need to be addressed?

I’ll be back soon with a post and podcast about Venus retrograde, which happens on December 10 – so subscribe and stay tuned!

Photo by Daniele D'Andreti on Unsplash