The planets have something in store this winter: On January 21, the sun will meet up with Pluto for the first time in our lifetime. And it is bound to be big. Big as in you might feel it on a collective level. When any planet connects closely with the sun, it’s what we call a “cazimi” in astrology, and we here on Earth will be impacted in numerous ways. “This is a very special moment for the planet because it is temporarily purified by the Sun’s rays and is able to shine in its purest form,” says professional astrologer and tarot reader Erin River Sunday. 

If you’re wondering if it’s a coincidence that the sun is meeting up around the same time as the presidential inauguration, it’s not. On a collective level, the sun’s connection with Pluto influences institutions and society at large, which is apropos to its trek through Aquarius, the sign of progress and collective change. According to Sunday, “Aquarius is all about community and future progress for all of us, so this is a moment of striking clarity around the dark themes that need to be visible so they can be transmuted.” In other words, for the next month, expect plenty of political tension and social pushback during the sun’s orbit through Aquarius.

Read on to learn more about this unique planetary alignment and what it might mean for you.

What are the planetary alignments during this moment?

What are aspects and how do they affect us collectively and individually? Planets constantly make aspects, or angles, to one another during their transit. In astrology, these angles (conjunction, sextile, trine, square, quincunx, and quintile) synergize energies of the planets at play, coloring the way they work with (or against) each other. During the planets’ transit, however, aspects describe these merging themes and the energy they send forth to the collective.

Conjunctions, specifically, happen when two or more cosmic bodies come together within close degrees of each other and in the same sign. Energetically, the two planets involved strengthen or “conjunct” their energies—which can unite an auspicious or challenging energy, depending on how compatible the planets are.

A conjunction between the sun (AKA our core ego) and Pluto (which symbolizes transformation and rebirth) can reveal hidden truths, at least on an individual scale. “Pluto is about shadow work, and when it connects with the sun, what we need to work on—that we might prefer to ignore or hide away—will become illuminated,” explains Sunday.

You might feel the unification of this energy on a deeper level if the sun in transit makes a conjunction with Pluto in your natal chart. Because the planet’s conjunction is happening in Aquarius, Sunday says this will show up more clearly for the individual in whichever house, or sector of life, Aquarius falls in. “Because we’ll be in Aquarius season, these themes will be circulating for several weeks—but this day specifically will highlight the work Pluto is there to do over the coming 20 years of their life,” Sunday explains.

Let’s say Aquarius is in your seventh house of partnerships, “the Pluto cazimi is likely to highlight power structures within your one-on-one relationships (marriage, business partnerships, BFFs, etc.) that you’ll be working on for decades to come,” says Sunday. That’s because Pluto is a generational planet, signaling karma and revealing hard, stifled truths. The sun, on the other hand, is a personal planet, or as Sunday puts it, what people visibly understand to be true about us. “With these planets coming together, it’s a magical opportunity to peek behind the curtain and illuminate what might be scary or dark,” Sunday says.

All about Pluto

In astrology, Pluto rules over the dark side—think: death, sex, power, and control—and the light that can come from confronting these things head-on. Though it may be the smallest planet in astrology (actually considered a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union), don’t let its petite size fool you; the heavenly body is far from delicate. It rules the elusive Scorpio and gives rise to the zodiac sign’s strong, dark vibe (which totally checks out, since in Greek mythology, Pluto is associated with Hades, the god of the underworld).

“Pluto’s energy is about clearing out the patterns, places, people, and things in your life that have met their expiration dates,” spiritual mentor Andrea Donnelly previously told Well+Good. “It’s about embracing how cathartic it is to make peace with [and let go of] parts of yourself that no longer align with the truth and complexity of who you are.”

On a societal level, Pluto similarly pushes us to unearth old ideas and traditions that may be hiding beneath the surface and consider whether they’re due for reinvention. Given that the planet is now in Aquarius, that process will likely occur in Aquarian realms of life, like humanitarian rights and technology—which we’re already seeing, á la the rise of sophisticated artificial intelligence and the political battles around bodily autonomy.

When the sun meets with Pluto in Aquarius on January 21, it will highlight what to expect for our society and illuminate more of your personal Pluto. So be prepared.