Shadow Work and Pluto Transits: How Astrology Deepens Jungian Therapy
I finally finished Liz Greene's The Astrology of Fate, and it solidified something: astrology and Jungian theory are natural companions in spiritual and depth work. I've learned more about psychology and spirituality through astrology and lived experience than I ever did in formal education or religious settings. Greene explores fate through Greek mythology, fairy tales, and the zodiac, discussing astrology as a psychological tool while bringing profound meaning to Pluto's role in our charts.
That natal promise though? 🥲
Why Astrology Belongs in the Therapy Room
Astrology and spirituality make their way into my therapy sessions often. How could they not? We're here to talk about the darkness so we can learn to love more deeply—ourselves, our loved ones, and this world. These practices help us name what we already know deep in our bones, giving language to the unconscious forces shaping our lives.
When clients come to therapy seeking spiritual growth and self-discovery, astrology is a tool that offers a symbolic map of their psyche. It's not about prediction or fatalism—it's about understanding patterns, timing, and the archetypal energies moving through our lives.
Understanding Pluto Transits: Descent and Transformation
Greene's book helped me articulate something I've experienced personally and witnessed countless times in the therapy room: while Saturn transits may feel depressing, Pluto transits feel like death—a drowning, a descent to hell.
Descending to the underworld, where Pluto rules, is never easy. My astrologer often reminded me of this during my own Pluto transits. And yet, in the deepest and bloodiest rooms, we find treasure chests with the keys to unlock our liberation and call upon light, love, and compassion.
Being on the other side of that descent is beautiful. I often remind myself it wasn't always peaceful. And that's where my gratitude built a home—a home of authenticity, kindness, and rage. To honor my wounds so I can fully embrace love. And I have.
Pluto as Shadow Work
In Jungian depth psychology, Pluto represents the shadow, the underworld of the psyche where we've buried our trauma, shame, and disowned parts. A Pluto transit forces us to confront what we've kept hidden. It's the ultimate shadow work—uncomfortable, terrifying, and ultimately liberating.
This is where astrology and therapy become inseparable. Understanding that you're in a Pluto transit doesn't make it easier, but it provides context. It reminds you that this descent has purpose, that transformation is happening even when it feels like destruction.
Saturn vs. Pluto: Different Flavors of Difficulty
While both Saturn and Pluto transits are challenging, they operate differently:
Saturn (the drill sergeant):
Brings structure, discipline, and hard lessons
Feels restrictive, demanding, like pushing a boulder uphill
Teaches through limitation and responsibility
Results in maturity and earned wisdom
Pluto (the grim reaper):
Brings death, rebirth, and total transformation
Feels annihilating, like everything is falling apart
Forces confrontation with the shadow and unconscious parts
Results in liberation and profound psychological change
Pluto transits helped me destroy, rebuild, and shape a healthier and more integrated understanding of love. Through that process, my faith and gratitude practices deepened, and I came to understand, that love is a practice that takes time to build, requiring Saturnian devotion. Love is deathly serious. Spiritual. Respectful. Curious. Expansive. Accepting. Understanding. Liberating. Kind. Cozy and grounded. And love always finds a way. Period. Choosing to stay faithful is an everyday commitment.
Jungian Psychology and Astrology as Connected Languages
Carl Jung himself was deeply interested in astrology, seeing it as a language of archetypes and symbols. The birth chart, from this perspective, is a map of the psyche, showing where we carry wounds, gifts, and potential for growth.
In my practice as a spiritual therapist in Los Angeles, I've found that astrology:
Validates client experiences: "You’re experiencing a Saturn return, no wonder this year has been hard."
Offers a time map: Knowing a difficult transit will eventually pass
Deepens self-compassion: Your patterns aren't failures, they're human, archetypal, shared
Honors spirituality: Connects therapy to something larger than symptom management, “what does my soul want?”
Archetypal Patterns in Session
I see astrology play out daily in my therapy practice:
The way my ♊️ Gemini clients come with 100 thoughts and extend gratitude for my grounding
The way my ♐️ Sagittarius clients keep me cracking up with mutual camaraderie
The way ♋️ Cancer clients take time to open up before showing their soft underbelly
The way 🌍 earth sign clients show up stoic only to reveal an ocean of feelings
These aren't stereotypes, they're archetypal patterns that help us understand how someone processes emotions, communicates, and approaches healing. Astrology gives us a framework for honoring individual differences while recognizing universal human experiences.
Integration: Finding Treasures in Depth Work
Transcendence is not about escaping our pain, but integrating it. This is the heart of Jungian shadow work and the promise of difficult astrological transits. What will you find when you let go?
When clients come to me for spiritual and depth work therapy, many are in the midst of their own underworld descent. They might be:
Navigating a Pluto transit that's upending their life
Processing childhood trauma that's suddenly surfaced
Experiencing a dark night of the soul
Breaking generational patterns
Questioning their identity and purpose
This is sacred work. This is where therapy becomes both science and art, where the clinical meets the sacred, and healing becomes holy.
If you're drawn to spiritual therapy and depth psychology, incorporating astrology into your healing can deepen your understanding of your patterns and purpose, connect you to something larger than your own suffering, and help you find meaning in the darkness.
You don't need to "believe" in astrology for it to be useful. Like dream work, tarot, or mythology, it's a symbolic system that speaks to the unconscious. It gives us permission to explore the depths without having to explain everything rationally.
Ready to Explore Your Depths?
If you're curious about how astrology, Jungian therapy, and spiritual exploration can support your healing, I offer virtual individual therapy sessions for LGBTQ+ individuals and women in Los Angeles California, Colorado, and Texas.
Together, we can explore the meaning of astrology, work with your shadow, and honor both the psychological and spiritual dimensions of your transformation.
