Pluto on the IC

“I realize, as a woman, how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life. And, I was there when she drifted out.” -Sally Fields in Steel Magnolias

I have always found it helpful when someone shares how a transit has affected them personally, and so I’m hoping the story I’m about to share may help some of you. I have an IC in Aquarius at 1 degree. The IC, or the Imum Coeli, is one of the angles found at the base of our chart. The angles are arguably one of the most important parts of our charts and when we have transits to them, they are noticeable. 

The IC speaks to our family–the one we were born into and the one we create (regardless if it includes a partner or children, it’s about the people you surround yourself with). It's about our home life--who we are when we close the door at the end of the day. It’s about our culture and lineage. It's private, it's personal, it's how we feel grounded and safe. There is a mother energy here. Almost on the exact day transiting Pluto came over my IC and into my 4th house, my mom died. One of Pluto’s archetypal meanings is death and transformation. 

I’ve been reflecting on the symbiotic nature between mothers and daughters. Regardless of whether the relationship is deemed good or bad, there’s a thread that connects us. We witness each other’s transformative experiences. She was there when I was born. She was there for each one of my children’s births and for my son who died. I was there when she died. It reminds me of the most ancient symbol, the circle. I have come full circle with my mother. She had a life before I came into existence, we had a life together, and now I have a life without her. The world is a different place knowing she isn’t here. It reminds me of the fragility of life and there’s also a sense of vulnerability. I’ve been reminiscing with my sisters and considering her legacy. What do I want to continue, and also, what do I want to let go of? 

As you can see in the chart below, I had some pretty powerful transits occurring on the day my mother died. I had Pluto on my IC, with Mercury, Mars, and Venus nearby. Jupiter transiting over my natal Saturn in Taurus, setting off my T-square with my Sun and Mercury in Leo and Moon in Aquarius. I also had transiting Saturn in Pisces quincunxing my Sun in Leo. Pluto going over the IC alone is a literal translation of “the death of the mother.” Jupiter on Saturn seems to say, “an expansion of an authority figure.” Saturn quincunx my Sun speaks to an adjustment needed around a life lesson for my ego’s growth. 

I offer this as an example of how astrology works in our lives. Even though I had been tracking my transits, and I knew that the transit could mean a literal death, I was still shocked when I got the news of my mom’s stroke. I felt lucky that I was able to fly down and be with her. And, no matter how painful it was to witness, I was so grateful to be with her when she died.