This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. No, not the opening of the hit 1968 musical “Hair,” but a historic transit that is sure to bring about an era of change.

Jan. 20 marks the beginning of Aquarius season, when the sun moves into the sign, like any other season in the astrological calendar year. But this year, Jan. 21 also marked the first day Pluto has been in Aquarius — besides brief stints when Pluto was in retrograde — since 1798.

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Pluto only changes signs once every 20 years or so, usually marking a literal generational shift. Most people in Generation Z have their Pluto in Sagittarius, Millennial in Scorpio and so on. Generation Beta will begin next year, and most of them will have Pluto in Aquarius, which honestly gives me hope for the future.

Aquarius is the sign of change. Many Aquarians are contrarians, with a tendency to critique the world’s systems and institutions. Many of the world’s most historic figures were Aquarians.

Aquarius is just barely behind Scorpio as the sign with the most United States presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, William McKinley and William Henry Harrison. Whether signing the Emancipation Proclamation or serving only 31 days in office, these presidents are all particularly historic in one way or another.

In the present day, some of the most famous Aquarians are Harry Styles, Oprah Winfrey, Megan Thee Stallion, Ed Sheeran and Guy Fieri. (Equally as influential, some may argue.)

So it’s interesting to think about how the last time Pluto moved into Aquarius was 1777, shortly after the onset of the American Revolution. Some astrologers think, based on the historical significance of Pluto in Aquarius, that the United States is due for another revolution of sorts between now and when Pluto moves into Pisces in 2044.

Although it might only be a dwarf planet, Pluto has major astrological implications. In general, since Pluto rules for many years at a time, it represents collective rebirth. Pluto is also named after the Roman god of death, symbolizing generational subconsciousness. 

While the sign that Pluto is in influences individual birth charts and personalities, it also represents the societal energy of that moment in time. As we move into the Pluto-in-Aquarius era of our lifetimes, its energy is sure to seep into public consciousness.

Aquarius is an air sign, symbolizing sociability, connection and intellectualism. Although Aquarians tend to march to the beat of their own drum, they recognize that the most powerful way to make change is to collaborate and communicate. It’s also a fixed sign, giving Aquarians just enough stubbornness to be successful in their goals.

It’s important to note that, technically speaking, the “Age of Aquarius” hasn’t arrived. Astrologers disagree about its exact start date, and it’s impossible to know for sure, but the current earliest prediction is 2062. Each astrological age — different from an astrological season — is marked by the slight shift of the tilt of Earth’s axis pointing to a different constellation every 2,000 years or so.

But to anti-war activists in the 1960s and ’70s, the Age of Aquarius was more metaphorical. Many used the idea of a new age as a way to find hope, inspiration and comfort in the fact that there would eventually be a spiritual time of peace, light, and communal understanding that transcends hate and war.

On a more personal level, this transit into Pluto will most affect the area of life Aquarius represents in your birth chart. For example, if you have an Aquarius Venus, you might experience major changes in the way you go about love and relationships. If you don’t have Aquarius placements, look at what house it falls into in your chart. If it’s in your Eleventh House, you might experience shifts in friendships or a change in your philosophical outlook on life if it’s in your Ninth House.

Wherever it falls, lean into the energy, especially through the rest of this year’s Aquarius season, which lasts through Feb. 18. As we approach the astrological new year in March, now is the perfect time to begin reflecting on any area of your life that you may feel stuck in, and use Aquarius’ energy to push through and move forward.

Jenna Peterson is a senior writing about anything and everything astrology related in her column, “Written in the Stars,” which runs every other Friday.