Transformation, Tension & New Beginnings, A Look at 2025, Part 1

Welcome to my bi-weekly newsletter/blog. I begin 2025 with a look at the energy transits that will play out in 2025 and there are some BIG energies to be aware of which will play out globally.

?

In November 2024, Pluto, the planet of rebirth and transformation, re-entered Aquarius, where it will remain until March 2044. Pluto’s energy is one of dismantling the old to rebuild something new. This process often feels chaotic, unpredictable, and challenging as it pushes us toward profound change, reworking power dynamics, and energetic structures.

The last time Pluto was in Aquarius, in the 1700s, the world witnessed the American and French Revolutions, a growing emphasis on human rights, and the early development of systems that shaped today’s technological and urban world. It was a period of upheaval followed by remarkable evolution.

As Pluto revisits Aquarius, we are already experiencing worldwide disruptions. Over the next 20 years, expect profound changes in the foundations of government, science, artificial intelligence, finance, technology, and genetics. This period will demand recalibration—letting go of outdated systems to create solutions better suited for humanity.

The Start of Pluto’s Journey in 2025

From a Human Design perspective, Pluto's influence in 2025 oscillates between two gates: Gate 60 and Gate 41. Both gates reside in the Root Center, a pressure center that drives action, making us restless and uncomfortable with waiting. This year’s dynamic reflects Pluto’s essence: death, rebirth, and a back-and-forth struggle between limitations and the desire for evolution.

• Gate 60 (Gate of Limitations): Represents resistance to change, pulling us toward holding onto the past and maintaining the status quo.
• Gate 41 (Gate of Contraction): Symbolizes the pressure to dream, imagine, and evolve, aligning us with our desires and destiny.

This year, Pluto alternates between these two gates:

• Gate 60 (January–January 29; August 20–December 4)
• Gate 41 (January 30–August 19; December 5–Year End)

This tug-of-war reflects a tension between conserving what is (or even wanting to return to what was) and yearning for something more.

The Shadows and Higher Expressions

In Human Design, each gate has a shadow (its lower expression) and a higher expression.

Gate 60 (The Shadow)

The shadow of Gate 60 clings to limits, resisting change, and settling for the status quo. It reflects a mindset of “there’s nothing I can do” or a blind acceptance of imposed rules without questioning their fairness or relevance.

The higher expression of Gate 60 encourages us to identify and preserve what is good while courageously letting go of what restricts us, building something stronger and more equitable.

Gate 41 (The Shadow)

The shadow of Gate 41 is rooted in fantasy—dreaming of a better future without taking action. When trapped in Gate 60’s shadow, it’s easy to stay stuck in a world where external forces (“they”) control everything, leaving us powerless to act.

The higher expression of Gate 41 fuels imagination and action, inspiring us to create a better life for ourselves and others. It asks us to move beyond fleeting happiness and toward lasting fulfillment and love.

What This Means for 2025

This year, we may feel the push-and-pull between clinging to nostalgia and daring to dream of a better future. For example:

• Gate 60’s Shadow in Action: Nostalgia for a rigid, homogenized past where control was maintained through limited perspectives and rules. Really, we can’t go backwards and nostalgia is often greater than the reality.
• Gate 41’s Higher Expression: A vision of an inclusive world where diversity is celebrated, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

On a global and personal level, 2025 will be a year of recalibration.

• Globally: Societal structures will face tension between those who want to preserve the old and those who envision transformative change. Expect debates, delays, and challenges in agreeing on a path forward.
• Personally: We’ll confront what’s holding us back, balancing the security of the familiar with the risk of pursuing what truly matters.

Your Personal Transformation

This is a year to look inward and ask yourself:

• What do I truly value?
• What brings me fulfillment and satisfaction?
• What am I willing to release to move forward?

Use this time for deep contemplation. Explore your fears of change and identify areas where you’re clinging to outdated patterns. Ask yourself where you can take small, meaningful risks based on your personal values.

2025 is a year for balance—between holding on and letting go, dreaming and doing. When you align with your values and take action toward what fulfills you, you’ll create a foundation for lasting transformation.

This year isn’t about immediate results; it’s about planting seeds for the future. Embrace the discomfort of growth, and trust that the chaos of transformation is leading to a better world—for yourself and for humanity.

Please subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter. It will be filled with practical steps to live aligned using Human Design as the foundation.