Pleione, 28 Tau, a variable star in the Pleiades cluster, carries the archetype of changeability and loss of form. Its faint light, magnitude 5.05, conceals a deep symbolism of fluidity and inconstancy, associated with myths of flight and disappearance.
Pleione, in Greek mythology, is an Oceanid, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, wife of the Titan Atlas, and mother of the seven Pleiades: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Asterope, Merope, Celaeno, and Alcyone. Her name derives from the Greek 'pleo' (to sail) or 'pleion' (more), which is associated with navigation and abundance. According to myth, Pleione, together with her daughters, was pursued by the hunter Orion and, in a plea for salvation, was transformed by Zeus into doves and then placed in the sky as a star cluster. However, Pleione herself remains a faint star, as if on the verge of disappearance, symbolizing a maternal figure dissolving in the radiance of her offspring. In Roman tradition, Pleione was identified with Maia, the mother of Mercury, as well as with the goddess of spring and growth. In astrological tradition, Pleione is often seen as a source of change, much like ocean currents alter shorelines. Her mythological role is to be the one who gives life and then retreats into the shadows, leaving her children to shine. Allen (1899) notes that Pleione is sometimes confused with Atlas, but her essence lies in constant motion and change.
In traditional astrology, Pleione is associated with changes, inconstancy, and tears. Robson (1923) writes: 'Pleione gives changeability, frequent journeys, love of change, and inconstancy in affairs.' It points to events that come and go like waves, leaving behind a sense of loss. Ptolemy, in the 'Tetrabiblos', attributes the Pleiades to the nature of the Moon and Mars, emphasizing their connection with emotional instability and sudden changes. Ebertin (1971) adds: 'Pleione inclines towards unpredictability, impulsiveness, and an inability to maintain stability in relationships.' Brady (1998) sees in Pleione the archetype of the 'elusive mother', who gives life but does not provide support, leading to a search for security in change. Modern astrologers note that Pleione in the natal chart may indicate cycles of loss and gain, especially in areas related to home and family. In conjunction with planets, it heightens sensitivity to changes in the environment and can manifest through creative instability or a tendency towards frequent moves. In synastry, Pleione creates a dynamic where one partner constantly changes, leaving the other in uncertainty.
The analysis is built on our own database of 18 charts of famous people, 7 historical events, and 7 independence charts — with precise calculation of conjunctions using the Swiss Ephemeris.
The archetype of Pleione, the fifth star of the Pleiades, carries the quality of changeability, not as chaotic instability, but as the ability to change the very structure of knowledge. In the group of scientists and inventors, this manifested through the destruction of established paradigms—not for the sake of destruction, but for a new vision, which often proved premature or unacceptable to contemporaries. Each of them, connecting with Pleione through a specific planet, realized this archetype in their own way: as an intellectual breakthrough, a methodological shift, a conflict with authority, or tragic solitude.
Louis Pasteur, whose Jupiter is in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.32°), embodied the archetype through the transformation of medicine and microbiology. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and authority, gave him the ability not only to discover the germ theory of disease but also to impose it on a skeptical scientific community. His experiments with rabies vaccination in 1885 became a turning point: he challenged age-old ideas about spontaneous generation and hygiene. However, the price of this breakthrough was isolation from colleagues who long rejected his methods. Here, Pleione manifested as the ability to see the invisible, but through conflict with the established order.
Sigmund Freud, with Mercury in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.49°), turned psychology upside down by introducing the concept of the unconscious. Mercury—the planet of mind and communication—combined with the changeable star gave him the sharpness to penetrate the dark corners of the human psyche. His work 'The Interpretation of Dreams' (1900) became a manifesto of a new approach but provoked fierce criticism: he was accused of pseudoscience and moral decay. Here, Pleione manifested as an intellectual revolution that isolated Freud from the academic mainstream but simultaneously attracted devoted followers. His ideas changed culture, but he himself remained a controversial figure, reflecting the duality of the star.
Galileo Galilei, whose Mars is in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.62°), faced direct conflict with church dogma. Mars—the planet of action and struggle—in conjunction with Pleione gave him the courage to defend the heliocentric system based on telescopic observations in 1610. His 'Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems' (1632) was a challenge not only to astronomy but also to authority. The result was the Inquisition trial and lifelong house arrest. Here, Pleione manifested as the ability to see the truth, but through conflict that destroyed his career and health. His discoveries changed science, but he personally paid for this with isolation.
Alan Turing, with Saturn in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.67°), embodied the archetype through solitude and a tragic end. Saturn—the planet of limitations and time—combined with Pleione gave him the capacity for abstract thinking that was ahead of its time. His work on the Turing machine (1936) and the cracking of the Enigma code during World War II changed the course of history, but after the war he was persecuted for his homosexuality. Chemical castration in 1952 and death in 1954 were the price for a vision that society could not accept. Here, Pleione manifested as genius leading to isolation, and as the changeability of fate where scientific triumph turned into personal tragedy.
In the group of power and statesmen, the star Pleione manifests through the archetype of 'power through violence', where the conjunction with planets indicates gaining influence and recognition through direct military action or repressive measures, often with mass consequences. This is not so much personal aggression as the instrumental use of force to achieve goals, where the star emphasizes the changeable nature of such power.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, known as Sonny Lise, had Venus in conjunction with Pleione. Venus, the planet of harmony and values, here takes on the tones of military strategy. Yamamoto was the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet during World War II and planned the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which led to massive losses. Venus in such an aspect points to an aesthetic of war—he valued tactics and efficiency, but his decisions led to destruction. His death in 1943 as a result of a US military operation was a consequence of his own methods.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had the Sun in conjunction with Pleione. The Sun symbolizes personality, power, and leadership. Atatürk carried out radical reforms in Turkey after World War I, including the abolition of the sultanate and caliphate, which was accompanied by the suppression of opposition. The Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923) claimed many lives. His power was built on military force and forced modernization, and the Sun under Pleione points to the changeable and harsh nature of his rule, where personal will was imposed on society.
Chiang Kai-shek had Neptune in conjunction with Pleione. Neptune is associated with illusions, ideals, and chaos. Chiang Kai-shek led the Kuomintang and the Republic of China, fighting against the communists and the Japanese occupation. His campaigns, such as the Northern Expedition (1926-1928), involved mass repression and military actions that led to millions of deaths. Neptune under Pleione points to blurred boundaries between ideology and reality—his rule was marked by corruption and inefficiency, and violence became a tool for maintaining the illusion of power.
Ho Chi Minh had the Sun in conjunction with Pleione. The Sun here also points to leadership, but in the context of the struggle for Vietnamese independence. Ho Chi Minh led the war against France and the USA, using guerrilla tactics, which led to enormous casualties, especially during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). His power was based on violence and mass mobilization, and the Sun under Pleione emphasizes the changeability of his political line—from nationalism to communism, where the end justified the means.
The archetype of Pleione, one of the lost Pleiades, in this group manifests not as a call to destruction, but as the ability to transmute the dark matter of life into a creative act. The artists of the tragic here do not simply depict suffering—they structure chaos, giving it a form that outlasts time. The conjunction with a planet indicates the instrument through which the star acts: Pluto for Picasso, the Moon for Kahlo, Mars for Warhol—each uses their own channel to transform pain into something eternal.
Pablo Picasso, with Pluto in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.05°), lived the archetype of creativity through darkness to the fullest. His 'Guernica' (1937) is not just a reaction to the bombing, but a visual incantation of horror, where torn bodies and animals become the geometry of suffering. Pluto, the planet of deep transformation and power, works here like a brush, forging a monumental canvas from collective trauma. Picasso did not avoid destruction—he entered it as a workshop and emerged with a work that itself becomes history. His Cubist distortions are not deformation for shock value, but a way to see tragedy from multiple points simultaneously, to capture its multidimensionality.
Frida Kahlo, with the Moon in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.64°), made personal pain into public art. Her 'The Two Fridas' (1939) and 'The Broken Column' (1944) are autobiographies written in blood and oil. The Moon, the planet of emotions and memory, here becomes a channel through which Pleione transforms bodily suffering (polio, accident, miscarriages) into symbolic language. Kahlo did not simply depict her operations and corsets—she mythologized them, creating an iconography where pain becomes not weakness, but strength. Her home, the 'Blue House', was both a refuge and a theater where tragedy was performed for the public but remained authentic.
Andy Warhol, with Mars in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.99°, date only), took the archetype into a different plane—not personal, but cultural. His 'Marilyn Diptych' (1962) and 'Car Crash' (1963) are a cold fixation of death and fame through mechanical reproduction. Mars, the planet of action and aggression, here manifests as the impulse to replicate tragedy until it loses its edge, becoming an icon. Warhol did not empathize—he observed how the media chewed over misfortunes and repeated this process in his works. The assassination attempt by Valerie Solanas (1968) left him with a physical wound, but he turned even this into a performance: 'I want to be a machine,' he said, and Pleione through Mars made him an ideal conduit for an era where tragedy is just another product.
In the group of modern celebrities, Pleione manifests through the archetype of public trial, where sharp rises and falls, scandals, and personal tragedies become an integral part of their path. This star, associated with changeability and collective attention, acts as a catalyst for events that cut a person off from their usual life, often through media storms or the loss of loved ones. The conjunction with different planets colors this manifestation in unique tones, from Saturnian karma to Venusian vulnerability.
Tupac Shakur, with Saturn at 0.22° from Pleione, embodied the archetype of public trial through his short but bright life. Saturn brought discipline and weight: his lyrics, full of social criticism, and conflicts with the law led to imprisonment and tragic death in 1996. Here, Pleione manifested as being cut off from life through violence, with Saturn emphasizing the karmic reckoning for a public struggle.
Karl Marx, with Venus at 0.29° from the star, demonstrates a more intellectual, but no less dramatic manifestation. Venus, the planet of values and social connections, was conjunct Pleione at the time of his birth (exact time known). His works, such as 'Das Kapital', sparked global ideological wars, and he himself lived in exile and poverty. The public trial here is the rejection of his ideas during his lifetime and their subsequent deification/demonization after death, reflecting the changeability of Pleione.
Julius Caesar, with Pluto at 0.34° from the star, represents the archetype of power and transformation. Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, in conjunction with Pleione gave him a rapid rise to dictatorship and an equally sharp fall—his assassination in 44 BCE. Here, Pleione manifested as being cut off from life through conspiracy, with Pluto adding depth: his death became the beginning of a new era, and he himself became a symbol of the transition from republic to empire.
Novak Djokovic, with the Sun at 0.60° from Pleione, illustrates the archetype of public trial in sports. The Sun—the planet of personality and recognition—conjunct the changeable star led to a career full of highs (records for titles) and lows (disqualifications, injuries). This was especially evident in 2022, when he was deported from Australia due to vaccination—public humiliation and being cut off from a familiar tournament. Here, Pleione works through media scandals and unpredictability.
Marlon Brando, with Venus at 0.96° from Pleione, demonstrates the Venusian manifestation of the star through beauty and vulnerability. His acting talent ('The Godfather', 'A Streetcar Named Desire') brought him fame, but his personal life was full of tragedies: the death of his daughter, scandals, debts. Here, Pleione cut him off from a normal life through public adoration and subsequent reclusiveness. Venus placed emphasis on love and family dramas.
Adele, with Mercury at 0.96° from Pleione, shows the manifestation of the star through communication and creativity. Her songs about breakups and losses (album '21') became anthems for millions, and she herself experienced a public divorce and voice problems. Mercury, the planet of words, conjunct Pleione made her voice an instrument for expressing collective pain. The public trial here is the constant exposure of her personal life and criticism of her appearance, which cuts her off from privacy.
Thus, Pleione in this group acts as a point of tension, where the planet of conjunction determines the sphere, and the star determines the nature of the trial: being cut off, change, publicity.
In the group of historical figures marked by Pleione, the archetype of 'victim for a higher purpose' manifests through the inevitability of fate, where personal choice intertwines with external circumstances, turning life into a symbol. These people become a voice that sounds after their departure; their stories are not tragedies, but lessons etched in collective memory.
Anne Frank, with Jupiter in conjunction with Pleione (orb 0.60°), is a vivid example. Her diary, written in hiding in Amsterdam from 1942 to 1944, became a testament to inner strength in the face of the inevitable. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and meaning, endowed her writings with universality, turning the personal into the universal human. Pleione, as the star of changeability, emphasized the fragility of her world, where each day could be the last. However, Jupiter softened this, giving her words philosophical depth and hope, making her sacrifice not in vain, but meaningful for future generations.
Pleione, one of the seven sisters of the Pleiades, symbolizes changeability and collective cycles. Its archetype manifests in historical moments where sudden shifts change the course of events, often through changes of power or natural cataclysms. Conjunctions with Pleione point to transitional periods when the old is destroyed and the new has not yet been established, creating instability but also opportunities for transformation.
Mongol Empire—beginning (Genghis Khan, Saturn, orb 0.19°): The birth of an empire under Saturn with Pleione reflects disciplined changeability—nomadic tribes united into a rigid structure, but the empire itself was mobile and adaptive, like the steppes.
Opening of Japan (Perry Expedition, Saturn, orb 0.22°): Saturn with Pleione brought the forced opening of isolation. Changeability manifested in the sharp transition from self-isolation to modernization, which reshaped Japanese society.
1998 Crisis in Indonesia (Suharto's resignation, Sun, orb 0.39°): The Sun with Pleione—the sudden fall of a leader. The financial crisis and protests toppled a long-time dictator, showing the fragility of authoritarian power.
Tohoku Earthquake + Fukushima (Moon, orb 0.41°): The Moon with Pleione—elemental changeability. A natural disaster exposed the vulnerability of technology and led to a reassessment of energy policy.
2014 Thai Military Coup (Sun, orb 0.47°): The Sun with Pleione—a sharp change of power. The coup interrupted the democratic process but reflected the cyclical fluctuations between civilian and military rule.
Siege of Leningrad—beginning (Uranus, orb 0.78°): Uranus with Pleione—a sudden and prolonged trial. The siege became a symbol of resilience, but its beginning was a shock that changed the course of the war.
End of Apartheid—South African elections (Venus, orb 0.85°): Venus with Pleione—peaceful changeability. The transition to democracy through elections showed that even deep divisions can be overcome through compromise.
An active Pleione in the independence chart of a country points to a national identity subject to cyclical changes. Such states often undergo sharp transformations—changes of regimes, borders, or economic models. Changeability becomes part of the national character, allowing adaptation but creating instability.
Russia (Mercury, orb 0.10°, Declaration of Sovereignty of the RSFSR): Mercury with Pleione—intellectual changeability. Russia constantly redefines itself: from empire to soviets, from soviets to federation, with rapid shifts in ideology.
Benin (Mars, orb 0.31°, Independence from France): Mars with Pleione—changeability through action. After independence, the country experienced a series of coups but later stabilized, reflecting cycles of chaos and order.
Luxembourg (Venus, orb 0.31°, Independence from the Netherlands): Venus with Pleione—changeability in alliances. A small state changed sovereignty but preserved cultural identity, balancing between major powers.
South Africa (Venus, orb 0.49°, End of Apartheid): Venus with Pleione—changeability through reconciliation. The transition from apartheid to democracy was sharp but peaceful, showing a capacity for renewal.
Japan (Neptune, orb 0.69°, Meiji Constitution): Neptune with Pleione—changeability of ideals. The Meiji modernization changed the country in decades, transitioning from feudalism to an industrial power.
Netherlands (Moon, orb 0.72°, Constitutional Monarchy): The Moon with Pleione—changeability in governance. The country evolved from a republic to a monarchy, adapting to new political realities.
Yemen (Sun, orb 0.77°, Unification of Yemen): The Sun with Pleione—changeability of unity. Unification was sharp, but subsequent conflicts showed the fragility of synthesizing different traditions.
Pleione is a star of spectral class B8IVe, a Gamma Cassiopeiae variable, with rapid rotation creating a shell of gas. It is part of the open cluster Messier 45 (the Pleiades) in the constellation Taurus, at a distance of about 440 light-years. The star is surrounded by a reflection nebula known as the Maia Nebula (NGC 1432), which emphasizes its nature as a source of variable light. Pleione is one of the faintest stars visible to the naked eye, often lost in the glow of its brighter neighbors. Its variability is linked to the outflow of matter, making it an object of interest for astrophysicists studying stellar evolution.
How the star Pleione influences personality when in exact conjunction with one of the planets in the natal chart.
The star itself is not "located" in a house of the horoscope. But when a natal planet is in exact conjunction with the star Pleione, the star's influence is colored by the theme of the house where that planet is placed.
Pleione bestows the gift of adaptation to any change, the ability to quickly adjust to new circumstances. People with this star are easy-going, they are not afraid to start from scratch and often find joy in the very process of movement. Their life is a series of renewals, which gives them unique experience and breadth of perspective. In creativity, they can create works that reflect the fluidity and changeability of the world. Their emotional flexibility allows them to let go of the past without regret, and their intuitive sense of timing helps them seize moments of luck. In travel and exploration, they find inspiration, and their sociability opens doors to new circles.
The shadow side of Pleione is an inability for constancy and deep connections. People may suffer from superficiality in relationships, leaving behind a trail of unfinished business and broken contacts. They find it difficult to see things through to completion, as interest quickly fades. Emotional instability can lead to impulsive decisions that are later regretted. Financial losses due to an inability to plan are a common problem. Inner emptiness from constant changes of scenery can cause existential longing. They risk remaining alone, as others tire of their unpredictability.