Pluto in 3rd House

Pluto in the 3rd house means that you are compelled to move beyond superficial understanding of all that is trivial (Gemini’s house/3rd). You may believe that knowledge is power and also empowering, and the deeper you understand something the better. With Pluto in the 3rd house it often gives you tremendous depth and is often referred to as the mind of the detective and researcher. When passionately interested in a subject you never let up and will leave no stone unturned until you reach the bottom of something. The ability to ply information out others, in a sometimes probing and forceful manner may be evident. However you would hate it if somebody else analyzed you in the same way.

The outer planets display a huge amount of collective energy in the spheres of life that they reside. Therefore, Pluto in the 3rd house has the ability to gain intellectual power, and massive reserves of concentration with a penetrating and obsessive mind. You have the ability to look deep into something and uncover its mystery. Anything deep, complex and challenging to the intellect, like solving mystery books, puzzles and any other mind games, usually appeal. Astrologers, fairly or unfairly, say that you too can play mind games with people. If you can withhold something there more power and control over the environment. There may have been a time in early childhood when information proved to be dangerous. Perhaps you thought something bad and it happened and this created paranoia and secrecy. Psychological topics may also be of interest, as you enjoy delving into the minds of others. Sensitive, dark and taboo subjects can also appeal, and an interest in occult/ and all types of unsolved mysteries in the universe. Maybe you solve crime dramas quickly by using powerful analysis.

You have a well of resources in the 3rd house, so writing, communicating, speaking are areas in life that where you have a profound effect upon others. What you say carries emotional weight and it is not taken lightly by others. You may enjoy deep conversations and try to reach the heart of the matter. Healing through all these channels is possible, but sometimes there is difficulty in conversing with other people and you may be secretive, hidden, and extremely quiet. Conversely you may even be a compulsive talker, we saw something similar to this in Big Brother’s, Charlie, who has natal Mercury (naturally rules 3rd house) in square to Pluto and could talk non-stop. She could also hone in on the housemate’s vulnerabilities and has a deep understanding of others and used this aspect negatively as she verbally abused most of them in the house. Those faced with such a verbal assassination may be left silently stunned by these thoughts and ill prepared for such a reveal. In Charlie’s words, “I am just being honest” although sometimes “too” brutally honest. A 3rd house Pluto may seek to dominate by force of speech, ideas, and intellectual confrontations and also by the use of sarcasm.

When you do feel the need to share information and knowledge, Pluto in 3rd house goes in for the kill. They are determined to make an impact positive or negative. Pluto in the 3rd house can also have a deep knowledge of the local area, and like our big brother star, know everyone, nothing passes the powerful senses of survivalist Pluto. You could even be deeply paranoid around the local area and worry about street crime and local criminals. Pluto in some cases kills off the communication; some talk so much and dominate a conversation that no one gets a word in edge ways. Conversation can stop dead if you reveal too much and say something that is considered taboo, destructive, sarcastic and even unnecessary. However, it could be necessary to you, because you hate superficiality, there is a need with all Pluto placements to survive and no more is the instinct stronger than in the 3rd house sphere. Sometimes a mental breakdown occurs that destroys everything that you have previously known and sends you into a crisis.

Early education may have felt invasive or threatening and sometimes there can be persecution by school friends or teachers. A crisis at school may have deeply affected you. The possibilities are endless; however, the plutonian theme would always be evident. The 3rd house rules our siblings and you are powerfully affected by them. Perhaps you have an over controlling and dominant brother or sister and they verbally abused you as a child. You may even be over-protective of a sibling, sensing danger around them, even if they are physically safe. A sibling may be emotionally complex and there are power struggles and confrontations and too much competition. However, difficultly with siblings can be shown show in other ways. For example, American actress Joan Fontaine, held malice towards her sister for years and they hadn’t spoken to each other. Joan felt betrayed and resentful towards her because she was the favourite child. Joan has Moon in the 3rd house opposed by Pluto. It must be said that equally, there can be a positive, transforming and extremely close bond with a sibling when Pluto is in 3rd house. Pluto tends to be all or nothing planet and it is usually one extreme or the other.

Pluto also rules death and can sometimes signify the death of a sibling. Mercury-Pluto aspects are close in meaning and Richard Carpenter has natal Mercury in the 3rd house square Pluto in the 12th house. His sister, Karen Carpenter, had natal Pluto in 3rd house opposite Pluto (extremely powerful) and they were both very close to each other. However, Karen kept many secrets regarding her eating habits. And lyrically her solo album was more sexually charged (Pluto).

In 1979, Richard Carpenter took a year off to cure a dependency on quaaludes, and Karen decided to make a solo album with producer Phil Ramone. Her solo work was markedly different from usual Carpenters fare, consisting of adult-oriented and disco/dance-tempo material with more sexual lyrics and the use of Karen's higher vocal register.

You shouldn’t keep secrets from a 3rd house Pluto and always be honest with them. Keeping secrets often equal betrayal

Karen dated a number of well-known men including Mike Curb, Tony Danza, Mark Harmon, Steve Martin and Alan Osmond. The songwriter Tom Bahler wrote the song "She's Out of My Life" (which eventually became a hit single for Michael Jackson) after she broke up with him because she discovered that he had fathered a child with a married woman.

Her death brought more media attention to anorexia, back then the public had little knowledge about this devastating and life threatening condition.

The Plutonian conflict may be shown with neighbours and there are power-struggles and tensions between you. When the mind is exposed to the underground, on an intellectual level, you comprehend things deeply and it’s difficult to be superficial and take things lightly. There is often a heavier outlook and deadly serious view on topics. If other people’s views appear trivial and shallow, you expose them. Brutal honesty is present here, but most the time you need to have something profound to say. You are aware that saying things lightly and keeping conversations only on a surface level, can lead to non growth and no real understanding. Taken to the highest possible transformation, knowledge is power. And being so gifted at seeing others people’s psychology, you know just what to say and how to have the greatest impact.

Angelina Jolie has Pluto in the 3rd house, and has played the role of those with disturbed minds, i.e. Girl Interrupted. She dreamed of becoming a funeral director, and as a child she said she felt isolated from other children, she was teased by students for being extremely thin and wearing glasses. Pluto is tied in opposition with Moon-Mars and Jupiter, so it is quite active part of her chart and the self-harm of her early days would be significantly tied to these tense and powerful oppositions. Jolie said she found pain to be a therapeutic release. The silent treatment (Pluto 3rd) was given to her father and she refused to speak to him for years. Her father claimed she had serious mental issues. Angelina also shared that “too close for comfort “(Pluto) kiss with her brother (3rd) that stirred up controversy and rumours on an incestuous relationship and is considered taboo.

Martin Luther King, the inspiring leader of the civil rights movement and a man who spoke out against black segregation has Pluto in the 3rd house. His oratory skills were powerful and he had the ability to change people’s views and to think more deeply about these issues. He was the voice for black people. However, he was challenged for his views and received verbal abuse and threats: Yet he was not intimidated by what others said and still spoke with the same powerful conviction.