in Leo

Pluto was in Leo from 1939 to 1956 (and also January to August 1957), the first time since 1700. During this 17-year period there arose (perhaps for the first time in the general population) the consciousness of and the will to create and direct one's own play or destiny. Individuals born during these years are learning how to actualize themselves, to find and identify the creative principle within them, to be self-expressive. You feel that you have a special destiny to fulfill, and need to be recognized and treated as special and unique. In some this can appear to be a seemingly unfillable need for attention and love. Many individuals with this placement are sensitive and vulnerable when it comes to expressing themselves, and tend to utilize periods of intense creativity to go through changes and inner growth. This generation is generally marked by the intense will, dramatic self-expression, power and pride symbolized by Pluto in Leo.

Pluto takes 248 years to circle the Sun; that's how long its "year" is. Pluto therefore stays on average 21 years in a sign, although its orbit is so elliptical that it can reside from 12 years (Scorpio) to 32 years (Taurus) in one sign. Pluto's effect by sign position is therefore collective, global, or generational, rather than personal. Everyone in a particular generation has Pluto in the same sign, and it therefore effects and characterizes the psyches of entire generations. Each of the outer planets, however, including Pluto, is in a different house every two hours due to the earth’s daily rotation on its axis. Therefore Pluto's position by house (see "The Houses" section in "You and the Universe") is very individual.

This Pluto in Leo page and much of this 600-page website are excerpted from the personalized Fine Art Book You and the Universe.