This is part 1 of a series where I will explore what I see as Pluto’s influence and its sign transit on popular cinema. Most of the writings are from 2019 when I was still new to all this, so you will find occasional discrepancies in the style of expression.
Scorpio Significations:
- Transformation and Metamorphosis: Pluto in Scorpio signifies a period of intense transformation and regeneration.
- Power and Control: Strong desire for power and control.
- Mystery and the Unknown: They are driven by a deep desire to explore the mysteries of life.
- Death and Rebirth: The energy of Pluto in Scorpio is synonymous with profound change and rebirth.
- Taboo
- The detective archetype
- Penetrating analysis
- Darkness, the black color
- Abuse and misuse of power
- Trauma
- Sexuality
- Resilience and Strength: They have the ability to rise from difficult situations. Rebuild and reinventing one’s self time and time again.
- Depth psychology
In the spheres of music and cinema, it appears that the onset of Pluto’s transit into a new sign often heralds the rise of an under-recognized director or composer. This individual, unencumbered by the constraints of the mainstream industry, resonates with the public consciousness by introducing innovative creative expressions. Their ability to tune into the current transit swiftly outpaces those bound by hierarchical structures and long-term movie production plans, who are still echoing the trends of yesteryears. Unbeknownst to them, the collective desires of the masses have been subtly yet steadily transitioning to the next Sign.
During the Scorpio decade, films exploring themes of transformation - the metamorphosis of one form into another - captivated the public’s attention. The period, characterized by a Halloween-like dissolution of dimensional boundaries, saw a surge in narratives featuring ghosts, aliens, and entities from other dimensions descending from the sky to Earth. This likely symbolized a societal experience of blurring boundaries between the self and the external world or others which mirrors the internal as well. This phenomenon approached the concept of sexual fusion - the merging of two entities. In contemporary thought, sexuality can be viewed as a more primal form of spirituality, where fusion occurs at a higher plane.
Dimensionality and the Psyche:
Dimensionality and shifting of dimension often seen in movies from that period I see as an analogue to shifts from consciousness to subconsciousness. This could be interpreted as the internal realm where “ghosts and monsters” live - which is essentially humans projecting their internal experience of heightened awareness of their own psychology during the transit onto movie form. Everyone got obsessed with this sort of awareness of one’s psyche during that time.
So the travel to/from different dimensions is basically shifting one’s consciousness, not a shift in the real world outside.
In chronological order:
- GhostBusters (1984): Ghosts from another dimension come to the earth. The movie was intended to be a comedy, but it became so popular that people still recognize it to this day.
- The Fly (1984): A lab experiment goes awry, and the protagonist transforms into a fly-human hybrid.
- Highlander (1984): A time-traveling battle of ancient titans. Incorporating another’s personal strength by absorbing their soul/personal power after defeating them. Dark Scorpio stuff.
- Terminator 1/2 (1984/1992): This time the dimension changes from future to present. T1000 is a liquid robot who can change his form at will. He is the embodiment of the essence of elimination. Its attack method mirrors the lethality and the precision of a scorpion’s sting . Like a scorpion that injects venom into its prey, after penetrating other bodies. There is a sense of dread and fear throughout various parts of the movie when meeting the T1000 which is quite powerful.
- Indiana Jones (1984/1989): The image of one of the villains’ faces melting in an acid-like manner is burned into popular consciousness.
- Back to the Future (1985): Time travel (counts as a dimensional change). The rest I do not remember well. Cool kids on hoverboards.
- Predator (1987): An alien-form with tremendous power. Scorpio/Pluto is an “outsider”, “alienated” (unless effort is made) from the rest of the Solar System.
8.Akira (1988): Akira essentially relates to Pluto in Scorpio through the theme of abuse of personal power. Not political, administrative or one acquired through wealth, but sheer personal, occult kind of power. Tetsuo, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities, and due to him growing up having feelings of powerlessness and envy, the power given in his hands becomes severely misused. Overall the atmosphere is one ofnear apocalypsis. Death, rebirth, the unknown and transformation are amongst the primary themes, but the main one is “the consequences of abuse of personal power” I believe. For some reason I do not find this essential theme for everyone with Pluto in Scorpio in Western Cinema… - Batman (1989): Complex psychology. One of the villains is a human-penguin. Another got laced with acid and changed his face/personality and so on. Batman has a heavy and complex unresolved personal psychology. Flashbacks from his childhood. The riddle of his psychology. Does that control him? Is it what dictates what he does? Are his intentions vengeful, will he resist revenge? Should he? Will his psychology catch up to him and do him a number in a critical moment? Does he avoid realizing this is happening? Will he change at some point and just go on a spree driven by his unresolved past?
- Total Recall (1990): Going to Mars, the protagonist is exposed to the Martian atmosphere at the end which deforms and makes his face mutate and explode. Earlier in the movie, he has a perfect future tech mask that transforms his appearance and makes people think he is a fat woman in one of the scenes. There is a woman with three breasts in the movie.
- Twin Peaks (1992): Well, here more “normal” Scorpio themes like a murder, sexual abuse, mysteries, horror. The archetype of a detective is strongly featured. Unearthing a mystery, the very persistence to analyze and unearth a mystery, no matter how crazy things become along the way. The underground space of the last episodes as an analogy to a “different dimension”, strongly reminiscent of the myth of Pluto as well. Freakishness throughout the series. Being taken down into the underground in various scenes. Psychology strongly featured. Disturbed or obsessed by ghosts and non-living entities people.
- Batman - The Animated Series (1992): Same themes but made even more sophisticated. All frames painted on black paper to enhance the darkness.
- Timecop (1994): The movie is about Max Walker, a police officer in 1994 and later a U.S. federal agent in 2004, when time travel has been made possible. He must fend for his life against a shady politician who’s intent on changing the past to control the future. The film explores themes of power and control, mystery and the unknown, and transformation and metamorphosis, as the protagonist navigates through different time periods. The concept of time travel in the movie can be seen as a metaphor for shifting consciousness.
Miscellaneous Movies:
- Fatal Attraction (1987): Sexuality/temptation. Some spy/detective plot if I’m not mistaken.
- Karate Kid (1984, 1986, 1989): Rite-of-passage, personal change.
Part 2: Saggitarius Movies and Pluto transits: Saggitarius