If you followed the news this week, at the top of your feed should have been news from Ohio – the passing of Issue 1 (state constitutional right to abortion) and Issue 2 (legal use of recreational marijuana). Scrolling down your news feed you may have seen news about the war in Israel. Scrolling further down you might have seen some news about zoo pandas being returned to China or the war in Ukraine. Even further down your feed, should you have the 21^st century patience to scroll that far, you might have seen that last Wednesday (November 8) was a Republican presidential debate.

While political debates prior to the national election year or month may have historically generated low interest, this year’s rock-bottom interest over pandas going back to China sets a new low. And the minimal coverage it received nationally was a spat over the use of Tik Tok.

Pluto in Leo Generation

You’ve heard of the “Me Generation,” right? That generation was born with slow-moving (20 years in sign), generational Pluto in the fixed fire “me” sign of Leo. Leo is confident, enthusiastic, energetic, bold, and always center stage. This generation defined much of the life we live today and their retirement and passing from the planet represents a shift of both energy and economics for the generations behind them.

While we had a dip in the Pluto-in-Virgo generation with President Barack Obama, post-presidency we retracted into the prior Pluto-in-Leo generation (Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump) and appear to be unwilling to let go.

Our five Republican presidential candidate debaters have Pluto in Virgo or Pluto in Libra. They are all trailing their Pluto-in-Leo master of brand (Trump).

My “Mr. Spock” mind is fascinated that everyone purports to hate “the government” but we can’t let go of grandmotherly and grandfatherly and Santa Claus (Sanders) leaders who represent our hanging on to a past we believe we want to discard.

In fascinating timing, transiting Pluto will dip its toes back into fixed, air-sign Aquarius in January 2024 and will fall back into cardinal, earth-sign Capricorn from September through the November election when it then returns late November to Aquarius.

Pluto changing signs is a shift – and in Aquarius is the sign opposite Leo representing a shift from “me” to “we.” Aquarius represents group consciousness and shared ideals. These are your friends rather than family which we didn’t consciously choose.

“We” or “me” – that’s our collective shift. We are a global village and now affect each other’s day-to-day life in so many ways beyond open war. We drink each other’s water and depend both on our friends and enemies for daily life.

Two generations of 30-ish people have Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn and/or Aquarius. These generations will continue to debate Capricorn authority versus Aquarian freedom. It’s their time. They will figure it out.

2024 Planetary Shifts

In 2024, two social/outer planets will shift: Jupiter from Taurus to Gemini (May) and Pluto from Capricorn to Aquarius and back again (January, September, and November).

Other social/outer planets will continue in the signs they are today: Saturn in Pisces, Uranus in Taurus, and Neptune in Pisces.

How will the shift of Pluto from Capricorn to Aquarius affect each candidate in 2024?

November 8 Republican Debaters

These five individuals (links to Astrotheme horoscopes) spent 90 minutes last week debating the national issues and, of course, attacking each other. Alphabetically, let’s see what 2024 brings for each and, free of charge, offer a 2024 New Year’s resolution.

Chris Christie (former New Jersey Governor)

2024 astrological landscape: With natal Saturn in Aquarius, Pluto will transit that placement in 2024 and already has this year. Pluto is power regardless of title (think mafia) and Saturn is structure and rules (think police). What happens when the mafia and police meet? It’s a very intense power play. Pluto is underground so behind the scenes Christie will mostly likely be forced to step aside. When Jupiter transits into Gemini in May, it will create a grand-square with Christie’s moon in Sagittarius, Jupiter in Pisces, and sun/Pluto in Virgo. In Christie fashion, he will have parting words which tends to reduce future party invitations.

2024 New Year’s Resolution suggestion: Meet new people by joining a new social organization.

Ron Desantis (Florida Governor)

2024 astrological landscape: With natal Jupiter in early Leo, Pluto will oppose this natal placement. With natal moon in Aquarius (probably late degree), Pluto won’t be in orb but will have an effect. As with Christie, this opposition has already occurred. It represents what is already reported in the news (way low on your news feed) – attack on confidence (Leo) and overwhelming demands from your tribe (Pluto in same sign as moon). If Desantis prevails, the forces behind politics will make great emotional demands on him. With sun in Virgo and moon in Aquarius, emotional demands are like eating liver and onions. Mental and intellectual demands are fine. Dietary demands are fine. Schedule demands are fine. Emotional demands, yuck!

2024 New Year’s Resolution suggestion: Let go of ideas of perfection and quit fearing mistakes.

Nikki Haley (former U.N. Ambassador)

2024 astrological landscape: With sun in 29 degrees of Capricorn, transiting Pluto in late Capricorn and early Aquarius is trampling all over Haley’s sun. This represents transformation of self which may correspond with reaching a high office (and being a female co-candidate would compete with the current gender politics). Pluto in Aquarius trines her natal Pluto in Libra and also out-of-sign with Saturn in 29 Taurus. Haley has made peace with both the mafia and police. Haley’s moon is either in late Pisces or early Aries. In Pisces, this brings sensitivity that is not always useful in politics and with Neptune transiting, the rigors of campaigning may take a toll on her emotional health. In Aries, this woman can’t be stopped.

2024 New Year’s Resolution suggestion: Be a good partner to my political bedmate. No whining even if he acts like a jerk in public.

Vivek Ramaswamy (Entrepreneur)

2024 astrological landscape: With most natal planets in the fixed signs (Mars/sun/Mercury in Leo, Jupiter in Aquarius, Saturn and maybe moon in Taurus, and Pluto in Scorpio), Pluto in Aquarius has the ability to completely transform Ramaswamy’s life. Fixed signs are tough and stubborn but Pluto forces, it doesn’t ask. Where to begin? It’s like a domino effect – does the body change or money go down the drain knocking everything else over? Or is it that he’s kicked out of the social club and now has no friends? Or do those long-ago love affairs come to light, especially the one with the wild, unsavory traits?

2024 New Year’s Resolution suggestion: Learn to be tough without driving a steamroller over everyone in my life.

Tim Scott (South Carolina Senator)

2024 astrological landscape: With natal Venus, Neptune and Mars in Scorpio, transiting Pluto in Aquarius creates a square. Scorpio is emotional and passionate; Aquarius rational and detached. With moon in Cancer, there’s a personal, emotional and sentimental nature. That’s a loving, warm nature that is probably appreciated by friends and family but Scott’s political party is leaning toward rogue cowboy rather than sensitive, caring person. With Uranus/Pluto/Mercury/sun in Virgo there’s lots of intelligence (like Desantis) but that, too, is not always appreciated in politics. The story is always detailed but the public prefers less than ten words in one’s slogan. Saturn in Pisces means that Scott is having a Saturn return which represents maturity. In this watery sign and watery chart, it’s emotional maturity which includes letting oneself cry openly at the tearjerker movie. It also means letting go of past emotional trauma.

2024 New Year’s Resolution suggestion: Stop thinking too much. Learn not to be hurt by every slight. Watch Bambi when I want to cry and Fight Club when I want to toughen up.