For all of my life on earth there have been humans living in what my Western perspective would call authoritarian governments. Like all countries, mine has an educational system and propaganda of its own. And like each country, there is a unique culture feeding it. So how we define authoritarian – excessive governmental control – is unique to our own experience of it.

But like religion which breaks off into sects and cults, authoritarianism needs an organizational chart of the various types, subtypes and rogue types. With Pluto in Capricorn, it’s a good time to acknowledge authoritarianism in all of its forms.

In early 2020 as Pluto joined with Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn, the sign that rules authority itself, we had a Pluto destruction and transformation of government – for the first time in our known history we had most, if not all, governments of the world taking the same action at the same time due to a viral illness.

That’s big, my friends, very big.

And while we still maintain we have different governments ruled by different methods and “isms,” if you examine the actions of these governments of very different philosophy, you will find very similar actions and not just in relation to the illness.

In my Western perspective, authoritarianism was described in Orwell’s novel 1984, which I read in 1983 to the confusion of my friends. The themes of authoritarianism, cults and psychologies that have people act in ways contrary to their interests has always been an interest to me.

Why do we choose authoritarianism? It appears as many reasons as our personalities allow but primarily – safety, security, and seeking of saviors.

And how does it manifest? In as many ways as cultures allow from ones with official control of media and movement to the other extreme of influencing people through fear (which is easier than ever in a digital world) so that they allow it.

Maybe that’s why the universe asked me in? It’s a fabulous time to study authoritarianism and how it masks itself in so many ways. It’s always interested me.

Pluto in Capricorn – Authoritarianism

If I were to create a chart of authoritarianism, I would start with the top two boxes being “external” and “internal.” In the novel 1984, the protagonist is already living in an authoritarian system that appears externally-forced upon him.

But was it?

We don’t know how Orwell’s society came into being.  Nor, as an aside, do we fully understand it in the re-popular Atwood novel The Handmaid’s Tale.  My culture assumes it was mean people taking control. But maybe the prequel to each of those novels is a society gradually giving up control through fear, desire for safety and security or just because they are offered some entertainment.

From my understanding of 20th century revolutions and the authoritarianism it ultimately produced, it appears the “revolution” is a shock – ruled by Uranus – which allows an exhilarating freedom. That crack is an energy release.

That energy is then siphoned off by the revolutionaries for their own needs. It’s was a pattern that repeated many times.  This form of authoritarianism comes from being fooled by the promises of revolution.

The authoritarianism of today in what are called “the developed countries” is even more fascinating. It actually comes from everywhere – from rebellion, from compliance. Fear is the guiding factor and I return to my oft-provided analogy. If we were in 15th century England as the Yorks and Lancasters fought for the crown, who would we follow?

This historical period is called the War of the Roses due to the imagery of the banners (the red rose won – House of Tudor). And, I warn you, if you read about that period, be prepared to be confused as nobles changed sides with every shift of the political wind.

Future historians may have the same trouble today. There is overt, external authoritarianism and covert, benign authoritarianism. No matter where you look, it is there. The rebel is authoritarian; the protector is authoritarian – nothing makes sense but all roads lead to the same place.

At the same time as Pluto is transiting Capricorn, Uranus is transiting Taurus. Both are earth signs with Taurus as the earthiest of the earth and ruling the body.

Twentieth century revolutions converted our minds. With Uranus in Taurus, our bodies are now involved. In the world’s strictest authoritarian regimes, the body is part and parcel of the control – there is mass starvation in a brutal and medieval form of control. In the more benign authoritarianisms, certain control of the body is now being enforced.

It’s both terrifying and fascinating. The question is: how far will we take this?

Pluto in Aquarius – Union

Some reading from this week gave me insight into more positive paths where this could lead. As noted above, we are now one world government in many ways. In that sense, we humans who are not part of the Plutocracy are now one global family.

We are united.

During a seasonal stint at a big box store many years ago, the four-hour “training” was about three hours of why we didn’t want to be in a union and the rest was about safety and I think about 15 minutes on how to actually perform the role.

To its credit, the big box store treated me very kindly. No issue there. The only small problem is the wages were not adequate to live in anything but a tent. Luckily I have options. Some don’t.

Union is still a naughty word and I feel my own reluctance to type it. Union. There, I did it again.

Pluto will first ingress into Aquarius – the sign of humanity – in spring 2023. As Pluto is generational, destructive and transformative, the changes are like a ramp. We’re already seeing what Pluto in Aquarius will bring.

About the time of the global lockdown in 2020, Saturn entered Aquarius. Saturn as contraction forced us into our homes and away from our family and friends with the goal of reducing the spread of illness.

While that tactic may have been needed, human isolation does not meet the needs of human connection and what provides meaning to life on earth. Reading about addiction several years ago, it appears a combination of genetics and environment, an environment where there is no emotional or spiritual connection.

Prior to Pluto’s ingress into Aquarius, Saturn (still in Aquarius) will move into Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, mutable water and living on emotional and spiritual connection to others. I’m seeing the headlines now about how a world stuck indoors developed habits of addiction, including the excessive consumption of alcohol. In my part of the world, the grocery stores are being rearranged to have more room – right as you walk in – for alcohol.

Neptune, the planet that rules Pisces, has been in Pisces for years and will also shift – into Aries – a couple years after Pluto’s shift into Aquarius. Neptune and Pisces are known for escapism when life is overwhelming, as it often is for this extremely sensitive sign.

At the astrological party, Pluto (in Capricorn) brought control, Uranus (in Taurus) brought the body and Neptune (in Pisces) brought the drinks.

The shifts that will be occurring from 2023 – 2025, which also include Uranus moving into Gemini, will usher in a new pattern.

Will the authoritarianism of Pluto in Capricorn remain as an established pattern?

The new patterns from 2023 on have the energetic focus of human connection from an Aquarian perspective. Aquarius is an air sign and is idealistic. It represents shared ideals, fraternal connection, and rational choices. It’s not lovey-dovey by any means. Uranus in Gemini is also air so there is definitely a need for social interaction that is friendly, interesting and fun. In other words, let’s dispense with the serious talk and have some fun after years of fear and isolation.

Will we be having fun within a benign authoritarianism that allows it or will we be having fun because we are free of authoritarianism?

When these shifts occur, some fear we will become robots, due to the lack of emotion that occurs combined with an increasingly digital environment. Yes, anything is possible if we bring our authoritarianism with us.

One of the patterns of authoritarianism, to me, is the desire for a savior. Our tech lords are the new saviors. We’ve already walked into their snare and now all of our information is available for those smart enough to get at it. We can’t take it back as Facebook has told us by re-branding as Meta with an eternity symbol.  We were lured in by our human nature for stimulation and attraction to images. We were willing to relinquish our information and privacy for public recognition of our social activities.

Shifts are where the energy disrupts which creates a release. It’s up to us to decide what we want to accomplish when that occurs. If we think of it that way, we can be prepared for the shifts and understand that there will always be external forces desiring to harness it.

Think of energy as a business model. A big and bold entrepreneur has seen the opportunity of transferring energy released during shift into a product or service to acquire that energy. That transfer is often demonstrated as physical wealth. The year 2020 increased the wealth substantially of many energy harnessers.

Pluto in Capricorn is also about personal responsibility within a social structure. During the next major energy shifts, will we take responsibility for our own energy? Or will we have others take responsibility for us?