Transit Pluto through the 1st house: a slow change of self

If Pluto has crossed your Ascendant, you have probably noticed that the old you no longer fits. A Pluto transit through the 1st house is a long, steady change of self, and transit Pluto stays in your 1st house for 10 to 20 years or more, depending on house size and sign.

Your body, your manner and your first impression all belong to the 1st house. Pluto works slowly and from the root. Together they change the way you stand in a room. This is one of the longest transits you will meet, and it gives you a theme and not a prediction.

The way you walk into a room

People could say you seem different. You pause more before you speak. You stop laughing at the joke you never liked. Small talk gets shorter, and you could notice others taking you more seriously, or watching you a bit more carefully.

Your own idea of yourself is changing under the surface. Roles you played for years, like the easygoing one or the helper, start to feel like old costumes. You can try on something plainer. For a while you may not know what to call yourself, and that is a normal stage of the process.

Your body and your look

Many people want a new look in these years. They cut their hair, clear out the closet or take up strength training. Your appearance tends to follow your inner changes, so you could see it happen a little at a time. Old photos can look like a younger cousin.

Some people get more serious about their health habits. That is a good use of this energy. Keep it steady and sensible, and take questions about your body to a doctor. A chart can’t tell you anything about your health.

Love and being known

Partners who liked the old arrangement can need time. You could stop agreeing just to keep things calm. You can say what you want in bed, at dinner or on holiday, and it can surprise you both. Good relationships have room for this kind of growth, and many grow closer with it.

Other people can feel strongly about you now, either way. Some are drawn to your new directness and others keep their distance. If you are dating, you may have less interest in charm and more interest in honesty. Let people get to know you slowly. You are still finding out who you are too.

Power, choices and daily work

You may be less willing to take orders you don’t believe in. Some people step up, start a business or take charge of a project. Others leave a role that made them small, after careful planning and over a period of years.

Keep an eye on how you use your new force. Pushing people too hard or insisting on being right can cost you goodwill. Try asking one more question before you give your view in a meeting. Your strength holds up better when it has some warmth in it. If a conflict with an employer gets serious, speak with a qualified adviser.

How long Pluto stays in the 1st house

Plan on 10 to 20 years or more. The first crossing of your Ascendant tends to feel the strongest, and the later years settle. People born with this contact can read Pluto conjunct Ascendant.

Your exact timing needs an exact birth time, because the Ascendant moves about one degree every few minutes. If yours is missing or rounded, read the guide to unknown birth times. Pluto is in Aquarius now, so this transit is active for many readers with a Capricorn or Aquarius Rising. The page on Pluto in Aquarius has the wider picture.

When you feel between selves

There can be stretches when the old self has gone and the new one has not arrived. You might feel exposed, or feel that nobody quite knows you. Being alone with that is tiring. Tell a friend what you are going through, even in rough words.

Strong moods can come with this kind of change. Anger, grief or stubbornness may rise from nowhere. Let them have a place, like a journal or a hard walk. If they start to run your days, a licensed therapist is a good person to see. See a doctor if your sleep or energy changes for more than a couple of weeks.

Ways to work with the change

• Ask what you are doing out of habit, and drop one thing a month.
• Keep two or three people who knew you before, and let them tease you.
• Move your body regularly. It gives the energy somewhere to go.
• Pick your battles, and say no in a calm voice.
• Take photos once a year, so you can see the change.
• Remember that you can take your time.

The person you grow into

Years on, people often describe feeling more solid. Being liked stops running your choices, and you can say what you will and won’t do. Pluto then moves on to your 2nd house, where the same honesty turns toward what you own and value.