Jupiter in Aspect to Pluto: Wealth, Gluttony & the Shadow of Extreme Power (Plus Jupiter Opposite Pluto July 2026)
France: "Liberty Leading the People" - Eugène Delacroix (1830)
The things we don’t talk about
This article dropped into my head about a year and a half ago.
Over the years teaching my methodology of astrology, inside of my study sessions with my students, I like to look at some of the most intense characters throughout time. I’m talking about people like Charles Manson, Hitler, and Jim Jones, just to see what makes a psychopath tick, what signature did they incarnate with, and what were they learning here on earth? What can we see inside of the birth charts of some of the most horrific people in history? And how can it show us what is not only possible for everyone, but how karma and free will play a key role in how we live our lives?
The first time I pulled up Jim Jones’ birth chart the first thing I noticed was his Jupiter Pluto conjunction in Cancer in the 7th house. I was fascinated for a few reasons. Jim Jones encouraged the idea that the people of Jones Town were a family, and demanded his followers call him “Father” or “Dad.” In true Cancer 7th house fashion all his relationships carried a connection or energy linked to the family, where it seems Jim Jones played the Patriarch, dominating and maintaining control and power (Pluto) as the “benevolent” (and not so benevolent) leader (Jupiter).
Knowing what I know about Pluto and about Jupiter, and the karmic struggle that happens when the two are in conversation, I began to wonder… Do all cult leaders carry this signature? Is this the signature of a possible tyrant? Is this one of the big indicators of someone who will attempt to amass large amounts of power, wealth, or _____ insert whatever their is desire here?
I was hyper aware that we were slowly heading toward Jupiter moving into Leo, and opposing Pluto in Aquarius, as my natal Jupiter return would be happening in these moments, while Pluto was sitting on my North Node in Aquarius, loosely square my own Pluto.
I went down the rabbit hole, as I always do, and started to research other cult leaders, tyrants, and all around shitty people who have Jupiter aspected by Pluto in the birth chart. And hey, let me start by saying I know not everyone with this aspect is a cult leader, tyrant, or general shitty human being. I myself carry the Jupiter Leo x Pluto Scorpio square in my chart.
But this became a curious study for the possibility we all carry, and why some people claim power more through their karmic blueprint than others. What I found was dumbfounding. A seemingly endless leader of cult leaders, world leaders, tyrants, dominating forces, billionaires, and more having some sort of aspect between Jupiter and Pluto. Moments in history like in 2020 when Jupiter met Pluto in Capricorn twice, while our entire world was flipped upside down by power hungry “leaders” (and their puppet masters behind the screen) gripping for more and more authority control over us through control tactics, the threat of digital ID’s, and staying “six feet apart” while acting like it was for “our greatest good”.
I began to compile a list of human beings who put on a charming and benevolent face, while amassing power behind the scenes like cult leaders Jim Jones (Jones Town), David Koresh (Waco Texas), Warren Jeffs (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), Amy Carlson (Love Has Won), or the founder of the Mormon church, Joseph Smith, who had a loose square between his Sagittarius Jupiter and Pisces Pluto, a true signature of a possible religious fanatic.
From there I found people like Bill Gates, John D. Rockefeller, George Soros, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Sadam Hussain, Vladimir Putin. You might ask why I would lump these people all together. Maybe you’re not aware that Bill Gates has been amassing more farm land you can imagine in the united states, while telling us to eat lab grown meat. Or maybe you’re unaware that he believes in depopulation, or has released millions of GMO mosquitos (& I’m not even touching to worst of his crimes.) Maybe you’re unaware of George Soros hand in many of the sinister things happening in the world, again, a puppet master behind his screen. Or maybe you’re unaware of the radical and horrible changes John D. Rockefeller implemented on the world in the name of amassing wealth and control, second to none, the way he destroyed medicine. I encourage you to go down those rabbit holes, if you’re confused why I put their names next to people like Stalin, Hussain, and Lenin.
I then found other interesting people who may not have been seen as tyrants like Catherine the Great, though she was definitely ruthless in her reign. And Albert Einstein and the role he played in atomic power and what came out of that. Albert Einstein played a pivotal role in creating a very Jupiterian x Plutonian creation that could create mass (Jupiter) destruction (Pluto), even if it was never intended for that purpose.
As I said, not everyone who has this signature is bad. I could spend hours showing real benevolent leaders and philanthropists with this signature, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about today.
Jupiter vs Pluto: Zeus vs Hades
Mythologically were talking about Zeus and Hades. Astrologer Steve Judd makes a great comparison between the two here, reminding us that in Ancient Greek Myth we’re speaking of brothers who had to split dominion over the world (with Poseidon in the ocean, of course). Leaving Zeus ruling above, and Hades ruling the underworld. Steve Judd refers to this as “the over world and the underworld”. The seen, and unseen. Zeus, though he can be portrayed as benevolent, regal, and wise, also has a wandering eye, is vain, and gluttonous, much like Jupiter. Hades is portrayed as just but cold, unyielding, and though he was respected, he was feared, as those who met their end eventually all made it to his domain.
When we’re dealing with Jupiter and Pluto in astrology we’re working with the domain of the benevolent wealth that both of these signs can bring through the type of conversation (aspect) they’re in with each other. Is amassing Jupiterian qualities easy for the individual? And what sort of invitation and transformation through power (Pluto) will inevitably have to happen for them to get it? Why and to what end do they crave power?
Steve Judd gives us some great examples of characteristic of someone who has Jupiter in aspect to Pluto in this video, such as:
“You aspire to greatness, being comfortable in yourself with your own strengths.” (Conjunctions) – Steve Judd
“You must recognize your own capacity to go to extremes” and “You might oppose Jupiterian things (religion philosophy)”, and, “You must always be the best under the most difficult experiences” (Squares) – Steve Judd
“This will take them to heaven, or take them to hell” – opposition, Steve Judd
While this article by Marina, of Dark Star Astrology was one of the only other articles I could find that was speaking to what I was seeing around Cult leaders, and abuses of power. She states:
Jupiter square Pluto or Jupiter opposite Pluto can be a zealous preacher, obsessive predator or magician. Sometimes all at the same time! At the very worst, this archetype is one of a cult leader who abuses his power in order to have sex with his disciples. Jupiter is religion/law and Pluto is politics. As a transit, this can be a period where one can feel witch-hunted and persecuted or worried about rubbing authorities up the wrong way. This does not mean bowing down to these ‘masters’, just having to be careful with tactics. Going down the most direct, activist route only gives the elite an excuse to censor and crank down even harder on the dissent. The freedom is fought for however, but underground. – Marina
Jupiter x Pluto: Benevolence Leaders vs Amassing Power
While Jupiter seeks to expand, grow, and aims to find freedom through philosophy and morality, it can just as easily become righteous and dogmatic, believing it’s philosophies are just and right. Jupiter can bring riches, and ruin, as I’ve seen it. Often through excess and gluttony, like the medical association to the Liver and those who often had fatty liver syndrome are connected to eating far too richly. Isn’t it interesting that a what was once “rich man’s disease” has become so prominent in the “poor/regular people” of today? Jupiter is linked to karmic issues around excess, over consumption, a lack of boundaries, and constant expansion. It’s also linked to priesthood/priestesses and even the power that is amassed through these roles. (I’m side eyeing the catholic church here.)
While Pluto seeks to transform, destroy, alchemize, and detoxify it does this through ruthless life altering moments related to power struggles, control, and phobias. Plutonian people, and Plutonian moments will strip away everything you once felt powerless to control, they will transform your relationship with the truth of things… the things that were once hidden become visible, and the powerlessness you once felt becomes alchemized into your strength.
When these two are in conversation the Jupiterian energy make expand the powerlessness, or in turn, expand the need and desire for power, wealth, desire, control. The benevolent leader may use their philosophy for the highest good “of their people” or “the people”, while they may also be corrupted by the Plutonian desire for power.
How this all plays out, I believe, is entirely related to consciousness, inner work, and the relationship to the shadow. Some souls incarnate not ready or willing to meet the shadow. They’re unwilling to see their Jupiterian gluttony of power and wealth as something possibly harmful (though, of course, it’s not always harmful, good people are wealthy too) while pressing their philosophies on to others “for the highest good.”
Depending on what this soul incarnated to learn here, powerlessness, or powerfulness, they might give all their wealth away, like a true benevolent leader. I’m sure as you’re reading these words you can think about the many infamous “benevolent” leaders who sold their campaigns on a promise of giving everything, only to lead to casualties and death. The Bolsheviks come to mind. The promise of the end of hunger leading to millions slaughtered in the name of the Soviet Party. Yes, approximately 10-20 million people died due to repressive policies, executions, and man-made famines between 1917 and 1953. Insane, I know. And yes, Jupiter was in a sextile to Pluto on the most important days of the Bolshevik revolution of 1917.
When expressing from the lowest octave, it’s always the same thing with these types of people. “We’re here to save you.” And “it’s for the greatest good”, and let’s not forget “We’re all in this together.”
When I started researching this article, I stumble on an article that talked about the people I was thinking of (besides the cult leaders) that blew me away.
Patrick Watson states: “Jupiter is a benefic planet associated with wealth, abundance, growth, excess, wisdom, goodness and generosity. Pluto is a controlling and domineering planet of extremes, warping what it touches to incredibly large and small scales. Jupiter is the aristocrat of the solar system while Pluto is more of a fascist. Jupiter knows he’s better than you, but when he’s with Pluto he can be a real dick about it. Pluto might be intimidating, but when he’s with Jupiter you would prefer to have him on your side. The combination of Jupiter and Pluto evokes the dynamic of empowered wealth and benevolence to the point of corruption, in terms of big philanthropy, big business, the donor class, oligarchies and plutocracies, etc.”
I highly suggest you read the article for a more in depth understand more on this topic. He collected very specific names and things that have amassed wealth, even the start of amazon as examples of people and things with the energy of Jupiter in aspect to Pluto.
“births of people and inceptions of companies occurring around the major junctures of the 12-13 year Jupiter-Pluto cycle (conjunction, opposition, square, and to a lesser extent, the trine and sextile) have the potential to have extraordinary success alongside extraordinary downfalls. Extreme wealth can be used for philanthropic purposes, but it can also be used to acquire undue or undesired influence.” — Patrick Watson
Archetypes + Weitko + Cosmic Rays
It’s all left me wondering… can people become possessed by the archetypes of the planets?
Carl Jung said that when a person is “possessed” by an archetype, the conscious ego is taken over, and the individual acts out a collective unconscious script like the hero, the victim, the caregiver, and the ruler, in this case. The more we work on individuating (coming back to the true self) the less influenced by the archetypes we become.
I then begin to wonder about the parasitic energy described as, Wetiko or Luciferic temptation (different than satan). Like tendrils, it’s said, it creeps in and plays into your benevolence, your spiritual mind, making you believe that you are good. I know I’m not the only one who has wondered if all politicians and some of our more famous “philanthropists” have become puppets of Wetiko.
“Like a fractal, Wetiko operates on multiple dimensions simultaneously--intra-personally (within individuals), inter-personally (among ourselves), collectively (as a species), as well as trans-personally (in a realm beyond our personal selves). Those afflicted with wetiko consume, like a cannibal, the life force of others--human and nonhuman--for private purposes or profit, and do so without giving back something from their own lives.”
― Paul Levy, Dispelling Wetiko
Could the theory of the influence of cosmic rays have some impact through people who incarnate with the energy of Jupiter in aspect to Pluto… like some possibility that can be sparked in the soul working through intense karma around power and wealth, gluttony and greed? Could there be something more easily touched through the tendrils of Wetiko to amass wealth, play the benevolent leader, or the evil dictator through this energy?
And for those working consciously with these energies in their chart — those who incarnated to become the highest octave of this expression — how much power is living within them, begging to get out? And how easily can they become possessed by the Jupiter x Pluto desire to amass wealth, greatness, power, etc. (or deny it.)
There’s no denying it. People with this signature are able to gather wealth, power, fame, success, and influence. They’re charming, they’re inspiring, they’re often fearless — unless impacted by their own past life stories telling them they’re weak and ineffectual. I’ve often wondered, in my own case of Jupiter Square Pluto, am I paying a karmic debt in this life for the versions of the false leader I have been in the past? And how can I complete this cycle as a true benevolent leader? (I sure hope I am doing that with this work, phew.)
Does all of this lead to the down falls mentioned by Patrick Watson above? Because Jupiter rules morality, and Pluto rules destruction, is it integrl one remains moral with this configuration in the chart?
So what’s in store for us?
“Evil is like a pathogen that enters a system, be it an individual, nation-state, or world-system, and exploits that system, knocking it off balance. ― Paul Levy, Dispelling Wetiko
Jupiter enters Leo on June 30th. Jupiter, at 4° Leo 26’, will form an opposition with Pluto at 4° Aquarius 26’ on July 20th 2026.
Understanding Jupiter in Leo:
Jupiter takes approximately 12 months to move full through one sign, and for the next year we meet the energy of Leo. Leo, at it’s highest, is also the benevolent heart lead leader. At it’s lowest? The emotional manipulative, self centred tyrant. Through this year we will all collectively be meeting the self, the ego, and personal and creative expression.
As you’ve learned today, Jupiter is not always for the greatest good, though it can be. Benevolence is all depending on expression, consciousness and choice. Jupiter can bring luck, abundance, wealth, and in Leo, joy. Something we are all in desperate need of. But there’s a cost when it comes to Leo, and the cost is ridding yourself of your fear of visibility long enough to create something, and to express yourself through some form of art or passion.
Leo Karma is linked to the fear of being seen, the fear of being powerless in your creative pursuits, the fear that no one recognizes or celebrates your greatness, and the projection and response of this to inflate and become larger than life to feel powerless. Yes, two things can be true.
Read more about Leo Karma here:
Leo Karma: The problem is you’ve been trying to be everyone but yourself.
The Creativity Wound: Leo, The Sun & the 5th House — [The Wounds of the Zodiac]
Understanding Pluto in Aquarius:
Pluto in Aquarius has been initiating all of us into personal and collective revolutions, though most days I ask myself why we aren’t revolting. Something inside of the collective ticks, demanding the power to be returned to the community, the people. And yet, we struggle to do that very thing. While the illusion is shattered around our 21st century version of the aristocracy (very Jupiterian, very Leo) and the proletariat, aka, working class (very Aquarian). What has existed until now cannot survive. It cannot continue. Suddenly I’ve arrived at the French revolution, a topic many astrologers have explored as Pluto was in Aquarius at that time. And yes, in case you were curious, Jupiter was in Leo and formed an oppostion to Pluto in in Aquarius during the French Revolution.
Oh, and yes, Maximilien Robespierre, one of the leaders of the French Revolution, did have a Jupiter Pluto conjunction in his birth chart, in Sagittarius, expanding ideals and amassing power through his philosophies. This conjunction lands on his midheaven. Do with that what you will.
“Peoples do not judge in the same way as courts of law; they do not hand down sentences, they throw thunderbolts; they do not condemn kings, they drop them back into the void; and this justice is worth just as much as that of the courts.” ― Maximilien Robespierre
Listen to these podcast on Pluto in Aquarius:
Pluto In Aquarius: Can We Remain Human?
The revolution wont happen over night
In these moments it’s important that we remember, as Alan Leo said…
What can do we do?
Oppositions require us to experience the polarity of life. Two opposing forces working in tandem, pulling us personal and collectively in two different directions. Picture the game of tug of war for a moment. The stronger side will always will. In this case, which is the stronger side? Will it be larger than life Jupiter in Leo or Pluto in Aquarius that pulls us out of balance? The thing about oppositions is that the ultimate request is to find balance, but when one force is greater than the other we feel off kilter. Our job is the find the space between the two opposing forces. What exists between Leo and Aquarius? What exists between Jupiter and Pluto? Where is the middle ground.
This moment in time is really about our collective and personal ability to remain heart centred, and remember our role in collective. Who are we, and what did we each individually incarnate to do in the collective community. How do we each have a role to play in the way the world moves forward? How are we complacent, and how are we moving the needle of change?
When the kingdom (Leo) falls, what happens to the people (Aquarius)?
We have to wonder how things got so out of hand in the world, and how we have gotten back to a place where people are starving, gas and food prices are inflating to the point of being inaccessible, and insecurity and survival have reached a pivotal point.
I wonder, as I write these words, is this part of the cycles of history and do moments like this, Pluto and Jupiter coming into conversation, act as emissaries for massive collective change?
All I know, as I sit here reflecting, is that we must remain in our hearts, and yet we must all play our role. Collectively we must sit with the shadows of the world, a world we built (I know, that stings), we live in and meet the darkness that this pivotal transit will most definitely bring to us, whether that’s revolution, clarity, truth, and beyond. And yet we must also maintain our hearts, as it’s becoming easier and easier to step into mob mentality.
This moment is collective, and yet, it is also deeply personal. Every person will have their own individual experience with this transit, and that means the shadows you meet here are deeply your own. We must all meet the monsters and victims within. We must all meet where the collective has been taking, devouring, and disconnecting us from our hearts, and from our communities and bring it back to wholeness.
The opposite of everything I have uncovered in this piece is the medicine. That when we see corruption, we become forces of change. When we choose people and love over amassing wealth, strip mining the earth, mono-cropping, pesticide lacing the world, spraying the skies, genetically modifying mosquitoes, and all the fucked up consuming that has become so normalized in our world — and come back to the community, the citizens, the people — we can change the world. Hopefully not through a violent and bloody French revolution style tactic, for example. This is a time of inner, and outer revolution.
For this reason I’ve created shadow work questions for your Rising Sign for my Karmic Insiders below.The Wounds of the Zodiac is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
