Moon conjunct/square Pluto in Synastry

If you have a Moon conjunct Pluto with someone you can look forward to feeling attached on a deep level.  This attachment would make it very difficult for two people to not become psychologically linked.

What is a psychological link?  It is when you and another person become vulnerable with each other and exchange a sense of intimacy. This feeling can become very addictive because you become open to parts of yourself that are usually controlled. Moon-Pluto works like deep water that sips into the earth of your foundation. Who you think you are, your personality and social identity become irrelevant when this happens. The couple may experience a sense of crisis about parts of themselves they used to find natural and easy. Suddenly, your emotional reactions, childhood habits and sense of security are put on display.  

You may feel this is happening because your partner has a way of making you feel seen.  You may think that something about them is making you feel safe enough to not hide who you are. The Pluto person has a tendency to skip social politeness and go straight into the emotional being of the Moon person. There is often a sense of not knowing why the attraction is so alluring and strong. In actuality, both people are fascinated with seeing their own hidden, repressed or feral parts come to light. There is a mistaken belief that the other person holds the power to understand us. This belief tends to make people fascinated and obsessed with each other.

The truth is, that the relationship itself can be very revealing and raw. We can’t hide the fact we do things because of some need we have and it feels good to know the other person feels this compulsion too. It also feels very good that it is an unspoken, mysterious connection where both people know they are playing cat and mouse. The fact it is such an unspoken current of the relationship makes it attractive and even sexy. There is a lot of space for both people to project their own animalistic yearning onto the other person and let that fester and grow into a compulsion to become emotionally naked. This aspect tends to override the fact that two people have nothing in common or might not even be one another’s “type”. It creates a pulsing sense of urgency to bond, get emotionally naked and reveal all secrets. This sense of compulsion creates a lot of fear or even guilt in both people. They may ask themselves why do they feel so bewitched with this person? What is it about them that makes it is so important to connect?

Some people experience a sense of repulsion with the other person. They fear their own need to get close to them and they even blame their partner for trying to manipulate them. They might turn to various manipulations in the form of trying to shape and control the relationship dynamic. They want the other person and they would never give up but they deal with their fear by being the one in control of the emotional well-being of the other person (usually the Moon). It is very Moon for the Pluto person to act like a therapist or psychologist so that they can catalog the emotional reactions of the Moon person.

The Moon person when Pluto crosses the line

They do so to ‘help’ the Moon person open up and feel safe. They want Moon to open up so they can feed on the rich emotional nature and sensitivity of their display. It makes Pluto feel powerful and in charge of this kingdom that is the heart of the Moon person. They genuinely revel and enjoy the Moon person’s weakness and displays of instinctive reactions. The Moon person feels very validated that the Pluto person is not running away when seeing them like that. They feel they can be messy, sad, hurt and as dark as can be and still the Pluto person would love them. The problem is that the Pluto person is not always aware that what they really want is to experience their own repressed nature through the Moon person. They may miscalculate their own obsessions and needs when playing this game. For example, they might act cold in order to make the Moon person show how much they need them. By the time the Moon person surrenders and admits they can’t live without the they have repressed their own yearning for them so much that they might lash out in an almost aggressive manner. They would become possessive and fearful and in actuality the Moon person would have the upper hand in this situation. Why? Because they are connected to their truth and emotions and can admit what they need. The Pluto person would intuitively sense this fact and become even more obsessed with finding ways to predict and catalog the emotional reactions of their partner.

If Venus is involved in the Synastry they might do so through kind gestures and nurturing ways. For example, they would want to know what their partner’s favorite food or gift is and use that knowledge when they feel the Moon person is shifting away from the bond. They would show the Moon person with all sorts of actions but would never reveal their own compulsive need to also receive affection and nurturing. It is almost like the Pluto person is living their emotions through the Moon person. This creates a very co-dependent dynamic because both people can’t really fully experience who they are without the other person. The Moon person lost their guard and “skin” to the point where they are very unsafe if the Pluto person stops being their shield. The Pluto person acts like a protective barrier against any outside influence on the Moon person. They can very genuinely keep them safe from harm but this safety means the Moon person must stay in the imaginary fort that Pluto created for them.

The Moon should ask themselves whether this fort is a golden cage, a prison or home? It is usually all three.

The healthier the relationship the more honest Pluto can be about how attached they are to the Moon. The less honest they are with themselves about why they provoke or protect the Moon the more likely this relationship would turn into a cage where they both feel exposed, weak and unfulfilled. Yet, they would always care and love one another because no other person has ever touched them so deeply and exposed them to something they didn’t think was possible in our world that can be called real intimacy. Intimacy not based on anything superficial but on real sharing of two souls. They might recognize the relationship is unhealthy and move on but with a sense of gratitude for the experience. It is also possible they would stay but both would have to transform and be very raw with each other about their fears and their need to feel safe. If they are ready to work together they would become conjoined into an entity that is hard to destruct. The bond would be unbreakable and fiercely loyal.

Attractive people

The Astrology of how you appear to others and what makes you attractive is something I’ve observed most easily in the chart of actors. It is usually indicated in the states of the 1st and 10th house, while the 5th and 12th house would indicate acting ability and fame. It doesn’t mean people who have different careers can’t be attractive or famous! It just means that the chart would look different and have other indicators.

Are there indicators of physical beauty and attractiveness in a natal chart?

The answer is yes but we also know that Ideals of beauty change depending on time, culture, and context so there is no one indicator or ideal to look for in a chart. To make matters even more complex, beauty is often a result of charisma and expression of personality. The erotic energy of a person can also create an element of attractiveness that is not related to physical aspects. The attractive people we all know tend to be famous and related to careers in the realm of Neptune like film, theater, fashion and modeling. Therefore, indicators in their chart show work and fame in those realms. For example, charts of conventional fashion models only show indicators that they are very tall and very thin. Charts of actors have a lot of 12th house and Neptune emphasis. A very attractive doctor or teacher would have different indicators that are not fame dependent.

Today we would take a glance at a chart of several attractive famous personas and try and see the common patterns. For physical attractiveness in Astrology we usually first look at the following:

The state of the Ascendant and its ruler.
The state of Venus and her ruler.
The state of Mars and his ruler.
Conjunctions between rulers of the first house, Venus, and outer planets.
Emphasis on the outer planets: Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus.

Sun- Charisma and public persona.
Moon- Expression and emotional aura.
Mercury- Body language and facial expression.
Venus- Style and overall attractiveness.
Saturn- The bone structure and smaller body features.
Jupiter- Fat and bigger body features.
Mars- Sex appeal and muscles.
Pluto- Magnetism and mystery.
Uranus- Alternative fashion and persona.
Neptune- Projecting an image and glamour.

Easy aspects suggest classic beauty and style and hard aspects express in more alternative or unexpected beauty. I will only use A or AA approved astro-data bank natal charts.

The Classic beauty or Water
The first example is the classically beautiful princess Grace Kelly. We can see all of the traditional indicators of beauty in her chart.

Comfort in water- Scorpio-Cancer-Pisces beauty.

Kelly’s Ascendant in Scorpio and its ruler Mars are the first house conjunct her Sun in an easy aspect to the modern ruler Pluto in Cancer. Scorpio and Cancer are both feminine signs and with an emphasis on the Self (Sun) in conjunction with the physical expression (Mars and Mercury) would project that feminine beauty for all people to see at first glance. Venus is in its traditional co-ruler of Libra, adding refinement, delicate bone structure, and a sense of style. The Libra Venus in the 12th house expresses through the projection of social dreams of what feminine beauty is. Kelly could create an aura of what was socially in style and what people wanted to see in her. Neptune in the 10th house square her first house would suggest it is a form of mystical image creating that brought her social standing. Neptune squares are very common in actors and models. As a whole, the chart has a grand trine in feminine planets and signs and in houses that emphasize expression and projection. This fits with the idea that her attractiveness is feminine and classic. It is a pleasant attractiveness that doesn’t challenge or frighten people. It is conventionally stylish and social ideas of gender roles. This grand trine also suggests that her talents and beauty come very naturally to her but can be misused by other people. Grand tines are talents but they are also often “weak” in terms of the native not controlling what they have. The control here is coming through society (1st, 9th, 5th house) and other people’s desires and projections. It also speaks of a very kind and soft personality that has a hard time saying no. That being said, strong sexuality (Scorpio stellium with Mars) and intense love nature (Moon in Pisces in the 5th house) is part of the hidden appeal. She was foremost a very sensitive person who could get easily hurt. Notice the color scheme is very Pisces-like:

Like a mystical mermaid, she is a Moon in Pisces with a water grand-trine.

The Edgy beauty or Fire

Aries 10th house stellium shows warrior persona with added curves from Venus in Cancer.

Our second example is going to be someone less “classic” and edgier so you can see the difference. Angelina Jolie is more known as edgy and even gothic in her beauty. The first easy indicator of beauty is her Venus conjunct the Ascendant in the sign Cancer. The first house is what we are known for and the sign Cancer is “the mother”. Having children and being nurturing towards people makes her more attractive. The reason her persona and physical appearance are almost more masculine, powerful and active is that her ruler (the moon) is in the warrior sign of Aries. Not only that but her Moon is part of a tight stellium in the 10th house of public image. Again, attractiveness is something all people know about her and it’s her persona. The stellium of Mars-Moon-Jupiter in Aries is square to her Saturn and Venus. This on the one hand makes her a “warrior mother for a cause” but on the other hand, makes her attractiveness more aggressive and even uneasy for some people. There is a tension there that comes through her body and more sharp features. Saturn rules the bones so this psychological tension comes through weight loss and a bony appearance. In her early years, she looked softer and rounded like a Venus in Cancer but with time and adopting her warrior mission she became muscular and thin.

Saturn squares to the chart ruler can create bony appearance when under stress.

Jupiter makes things bigger (like larger lips & Aries rules the head) Mars gives muscle tone and active persona (Lara Croft rile in movies) and Moon allows it all to express in a passionate manner. Sun in Gemini in opposition to Neptune in the 5th house of acting is another classic image-creating acting position. The most striking aspect that explains why her fashion and persona are more alternative and edgy is her Venus conjunct Ascendant square to Uranus in the 4th house. Likely, these fashion choices act out the lack of stability in childhood and the home and help her overcome them. She is a free spirit, very independent, and had to deal with males trying to control her behind the scenes (12h house) as expressed in Saturn squaring her Aries stellium.

The Boy Rebel or Air

Uranus in the first house, Aries persona and Scorpio Moon.

Our third example is going to be James Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955). He is known for his rebel without a cause persona and leather jacket. Amazingly, Uranus the planet of rebellion and the breaking of conventions is conjunct his Aries ascendant. Aries is the first sign rules young people and Uranus rules counter-culture and teenagers. Aries is young and boyish but also masculine and loves fast cars and adrenaline rides. His persona fits that counter-culture, motorcycle riding boy. The ruler of his Ascendant Mars is in the 5th house of creativity and short affairs. This suggests acting but also short love affairs and “free love”. Mars is square Moon in Scorpio in the 7th house which indicates an animalistic sex-appeal and intensity in behavior towards others.

V-shaped forehead indicator if Aries and intense gaze of Moon in Scorpio.

Venus in Capricorn would add a more refined element and smaller body structure. It is close enough to the MC to suggest an additional indicator of attractiveness and being known for charisma. The nice trine to Neptune would add a romantic beautiful aura to the image. Neptune aspects add something other people can day-dream about and project their fantasies into. Moon in Scorpio in the 7th house of the other would also create a sense of other people projecting their own intense attraction onto Dean’s mysterious persona.

Charisma just charisma or Earth

Venus in Taurus with a Leo rising.

Our fourth and last example is someone who is less conventional-looking. I chose Jack Nicholson who is charismatic and highly energetic. I do trust he has a Leo Ascendant even if it’s very early. Right away, we notice Pluto in the 12h house casting his shadow on the persona. Pluto would create a persona that is magnetic, sexy, mysterious and very intense. It creates an image of someone attractive but at times frightening and dominating. The 12th house is often associated with fame and the ability to project an image through the first house which comes in handy in an acting career. The ruler of Nicholson’s first house, the Sun is conjunct Venus and Uranus in the public 10th house. Venus in the sensual and attractive sign of Taurus while Sun and Uranus are in the masculine Aries. We see the planets fall in their “best” signs and are in conjunction. The conjunction is a hard aspect that can generate a lot of power and charisma.

Uranus in relation to the persona would make the appearance strange or a little erratic while Venus would tone it down to a more gentlemanly and sensual mannerism. Again, we see an emphasis on the outer planet conjunction to the persona planets in public houses. We can also note Sun-Venus-Uranus is square Neptune. This would be someone who is not conventionally attractive but electric, ,mysterious, and somewhat different. The attractiveness would come from the psychology (12h house) of their personality and the charisma of Pluto. They have an inner hidden battery that makes them shine.

Here is…Pluto!

Do you have any of these indicators in your natal chart?