Gen Z: The Pluto in Sagittarius generation

Spring-Summer 2021 campaign of clothing brand Manors Golf

Did you know your Pluto sign corresponds with your generation? No? Time to shine some love on your Pluto sign!

Pluto and the primary generations

Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are the slowest moving planets in our solar system. This means that entire generations are born with the same Uranus, Neptune and Pluto sign. Therefore, we call these three planets ‘generational planets’. Pluto is the slowest moving planet of them all and spends between 32 and 11 years in one single zodiac sign. Pluto is the planet of power, transformation and survival and is all about how we grow and evolve. Pluto also shows the struggles of a certain era and what we need in order to survive. It’s no surprise that the Pluto signs correspond with the primary generations and each Pluto sign characterizes each primary generation perfectly.

1937-1958: Pluto in Leo - Boomers

1956-1972: Pluto in Virgo - Gen X

1971-1984: Pluto in Libra - Gen X/Millennials

1983-1995: Pluto in Scorpio - Millennials

1995-2008: Pluto in Sagittarius - Gen Z

2008-2024: Pluto in Capricorn - Gen Alpha

I could write many essays on how each Pluto sign characterizes each primary generation and I probably will. For now I’d like to focus on my favorite generation: Gen Z, the Pluto in Sagittarius generation. Bear with me when I write my digital love letter for the funniest generation ever!

The sign of Sagittarius

The keywords for the sign of Sagittarius are straight-forward, playful, freedom-loving, funny, future-oriented, restless, tolerant, idealistic, outspoken, optimistic, questioning, athletic, versatile, free-spirited, truth-seeking and adventurous. Keep this in mind, cause the archetype of Sagittarius couldn’t describe Gen Z any better!

Unapologetically themselves

One of the defining characteristics of Gen Z as demonstrated by McKinsey & Company research is “an expression of individual truth”. Gen Z is indeed way more authentic than any other generation. The Zoomers are not interested in behaving differently on different platforms like LinkedIn (professional), Facebook (family-loving), Instagram (stylish) and Tinder (hot). For Gen Zs, online identity is consistent across platforms: “authenticity and self-expression are paramount”. They also don’t have a different Instagram account for their business or personal life: what you see is what you get.

Open to the unknown

One of the most precious traits of Gen Z, in my opinion, is that they’re more willing to connect with people of different groups on similar causes and interests. They’re also more open to change and fluidity than any other generation. Sagittarius is a mutable sign, meaning it’s adaptable and goes with the flow. Its ruler, Jupiter, is the planet of expansion, making sure Sagittarius completely immerses themselves in the culture of others. It’s Sagittarius’ aim to always expand its horizons both mentally and physically and be open to the unknown. This can be seen clearly in the love of the Pluto in Sagittarius generation for platforms such as Omegle where you can interact online with random people from all over the world. It gives hope for the future of this polarized society we’re currently living in.

Another characteristic of Gen Z that fits well with the above is their invention of ‘airport culture’ meaning they go to airports for fun. They eat edibles, watch planes, have trolley races and talk to people from all over the world. Spending time at an airport while soaking up the atmosphere gives them a sense of freedom and makes them feel good. Genius.

Singer Billie Eilish (Billie Eillish has her Sun, Venus, Pluto and Midheaven in Sagittarius)

Style icons

The mutable, fluid character of Sagittarius also plays out in the clothing style of Gen Z. Gen Z is known for wearing unisex, genderfluid clothing that is more in line with their gender identity. Not to mention that 1 in 6 Gen Z folks identifies as queer or transgender. Moreover, Gen Z Fashion is very casual and athleisure - a stylish version of exercise clothing - is extremely popular. On the other hand, Gen Z fashion is getting wilder and wilder: it’s very common to combine many different outstanding colors and prints. Nothing seems too crazy. There are no limits. In general, the vibe they’re giving off is very laid-back and IDGAF.

Less work, more play

It’s also not surprising that the fun-loving Sagittarius generation is less likely to be working than previous generations when they were teens and young adults. They kind of suffer from Peter Pan syndrome (I’m sure Peter Pan was a Sagittarius too). Only 18% of Gen Z teens (ages 15 to 17) were employed in 2018, compared with 27% of Millennial teens in 2002 and 41% of Gen Xers in 1986. However, when Gen Z is job hunting, they use platforms like TikTok Resumes and Polywork where they can be their true selves. And that satirical version of Linkedin called Shlinkedin where they make fun of bragging Millennials? Yeah, that was a Gen Z invention. Gen Z is fed up with the “status-seeking, back-patting, clout-chasing DNA of social media” and I couldn’t agree more.

The fuelers of TikTok

Speaking of TikTok: TikTok has become the core way for Gen Z to express its own ethos, aesthetic, and attitudes. There’s no TikTok without Gen Z. TikTok videos are typically characterized as raw, high-energy and deeply engaging and the tools are advanced, yet very simple-to-use (for the digital native generation, at least). The content on TikTok is dynamic and expressive in contrast to Instagram's more polished and highly curated feed that is turning into a source of stress and insecurity for Millennials. Unlike Millennials, Gen Z folks really don’t give a fck and tend to overshare on social media (Jupiter, is that you?). Rightfully so, Gen Z loves to bash Millennials and Boomers on TikTok and created the hashtag #bullymillennials (peak Sag energy). In other words: TikTok is simply music to Pluto in Sagittarius’ ears (pun intended).

I am online, therefore I am

Last but not least, here’s a touching paragraph written by Sejla Rizvic about Gen Z, reminding me of Sagittarius’ need to feel alive:

The pandemic has revealed the upper limits of how far virtual connections will take us when the real thing isn’t possible. Gen Zers have managed to expand those limits somewhat and have made the internet more interesting as a result. They will still face the same challenges generations of adolescents have struggled with before—self-image, insecurity, social anxiety—but this time with the ability to magnify those insecurities through an omnipresent camera lens. The fact that young people are not only being exposed to these technologies but are currently unable to balance their online lives with in-person socializing can serve only to exacerbate the anxieties of adolescence—since, during COVID-19, to exist online can feel like the only way to exist at all.

P.S. I didn’t cover the activist side of Gen Z here, because I see activism as a characteristic of Uranus in Aquarius (1995-2003). The Uranus in Aquarius generation can be seen as a subgeneration.