In 2020 during the global Pandemic lockdown, the outer planets were in earth and water which are compatible elements. Earth: Pluto (transformation) in Capricorn, Uranus (awareness) in Taurus. Water: Neptune (spirituality) in Pisces. In addition, Jupiter (social connection) and Saturn (social status) were in Capricorn and at the very beginning of the lockdown Mars (active principle) was also in Capricorn.

Earth is sensation, practical, daily-life activities. Capricorn is the last earth sign focused on social structure, authority, success, rules, and government. Taurus is the first earth sign focused on body, values, self-worth, and material accumulation.

Water is feeling and emotional connection. Pisces is the last water sign, the most sensitive and psychic, desiring intense, spiritual connection to the point it loses a sense of self. Pisces extremes are savior and scapegoat.

Lockdown was earth – stay at home — and water – amuse yourself in any way that keeps you at home. Alcohol sales increased substantially and media was available for binging. Homebody was the old term for those whose pleasures were mostly in and around the home.

The newer technologies (developed during Uranus and Neptune transits of Aquarius in the 1990s and early 2000s) were leveraged to connect to others. Digital became a replacement for social interaction.

For the more extroverted personalities, lockdown was challenging and created a buildup of unexpressed energy. For extreme introverted personalities, there was now a justifiable way to avoid social involvement – it’s okay to skip that uncomfortable happy hour! (And for all zodiac signs it may have been justification to skip that funeral).

Extroverts may not be aware that there are a lot of people who rarely leave home. You only notice if you know them or live near them. History lesson: These people used to be called “shut ins” and were often older or infirm.

Shift into air and fire

In 2024, Pluto moved into air sign Aquarius. In 2025, Neptune moved into fire sign Aries and Uranus into air sign Gemini. Saturn is also in fire sign Aries and Jupiter is currently in fire sign Leo. Air and fire are compatible elements. After lockdown, much suppressed energy rose to the surface like a volcano.

And there are a lot of fires.

And there is a lot of air – AI launched itself large post-pandemic. We have a new way to communicate (Gemini).

During the quiet early pandemic lockdown, I would hear a lone motorcycle enjoying the empty roads. It was quite romantic.

Today in summer months there is the constant nighttime sound of street racing. The earthly lone wolf motorcycle rider on the probably peaceful and joyful ride has given way to recklessness and competition – risk-taking fire energy.

The shift from earth/water to fire/air is extreme. These are four elements and the concentration of two at a time is imbalanced – too introverted then too extroverted. In about seven years, we’ll have more balance of elements as Uranus moves into water Cancer (family and personal emotions). It will take about seven more years before Neptune moves into earth Taurus (body, home, safety).

Lockdown created need to bust out, to escape. After we let off steam, we’ll return to asking what’s it’s all about, how it makes us feel (Cancer). Taurus stability may become highly attractive.

Pluto in Aquarius: Remote

Fire and air are in constant motion. Water when not in motion is pestilent – emotions like water need to flow to be healthy. Earth – believe it or not – does move. But very, very slowly. This is the only element with clear boundaries.

Pluto transforming the last air sign Aquarius is involved in our shift from personal to digital. Many profess that virtual or remote is just as satisfying for certain relationships as in person. Digital provides the air-sign need for constant stimulation and the ability to connect with individuals across the globe without any physical contact.

Your digital contacts, dating sites alone will prove, are often very different in person.

Air by nature is detached, rational, and is prone to “think” its feelings. Social media and digital have scores of emojis to express emotion but how much is real? How many LOLs and hearts do we send simply to acknowledge friends but are not true feelings?

In English we love both objects and people, so what do our heart emojis represent? If we love as much as our heart emojis suggest, why do people fight so much?

Disassociation from feeling

The challenge of too much air without water is that it can disassociate from feeling. On a personal level it can be troublesome — or not. But inside a war machine, it’s quite disturbing.

Watching a recent documentary about a current war conducted remotely with AI, soldiers explain how it’s like a video game, sometimes even fun. We hear about the digital and remote mechanisms of war and then at the last scene see one, just one, result of those efforts. It’s tear-jerking to see physical destruction and emotional devastation.

The remote attackers use fire (weapons) and air (AI) while the victims experiencing earth (physical destruction) and water (emotional devastation).

Pluto in Aquarius is transforming our life in the air, detached, and remote. It’s a 20-year transit so when it moves into Pisces, my guess is we will be seeking deeper, spiritual connection.

We will “feel” what is happening.

Heads in the cloud

War in the digital age shows how the effects of elemental imbalance can be great. As an astrologer seeing imbalance in the horoscope, I usually recommend some balancing activity such as gardening or carpentry for someone without earth.

In one school of thought, if we were totally balanced, we would disappear in a puff of smoke as we’re here to experience and learn. Our horoscope reveals a theme; the experiences can vary widely on any theme. One can learn self-determination by simply maturing and leaving a loving home. Others may experience self-determination as a nation prying itself from under the yoke of a superior power.

Or one can learn self-determination out of balance by taking over the lives of others based on one’s own needs.

Today our heads are “in the cloud.” Interesting it was named the cloud, the place where we have dreams but also get divorced of reality if not careful.

As with the saying, we also need to keep our feet on the ground.