Reflecting on Patterns and Cycles: What’s Been Unfolding Since 2008?

What patterns, big events, or themes started for you back in 2008?

I know, that’s a loaded question. But with Pluto about to move into Aquarius for the next 20 years, we’re wrapping up a 16-year cycle that’s likely shaped us more than we even realize.

I like to think of Pluto as that cosmic force that gives you a nudge—maybe even a shove—when it’s time to let go of something that’s no longer serving you. Kind of like that brutally honest friend who points out what’s holding you back because they want better for you (and yep, I’m totally that friend).

Here’s the thing, though: this cycle that started in 2008? The patterns, beliefs, and themes it brought up usually go back way further.

Ancestral Patterns We Carry
Our bodies don’t just carry our own experiences; they carry the stories and wounds of generations before us. If, for example, you’ve found yourself struggling with relationships or intimacy over the past 16 years, there’s a good chance these issues are rooted in much older, inherited patterns.

Recently, we explored this theme in the Women’s Embodiment Circle with a powerful exercise on ancestral patterns around love. We used a somatic art exercise I learned from Dr. Peter Levine to physically map out how love and connection—or the lack of it—has been passed down through our families. For many, it was eye-opening to see how these patterns show up in our lives in ways we hadn’t fully understood before.

One common pattern that came up was the idea that love was shown only through providing essentials—food, shelter, clothes. Emotional support? Not so much. Some even recognized a tendency to dismiss their own wounds, thinking, “At least my parents weren’t abusive like theirs were.”

Bringing awareness to these patterns and releasing them through the body can feel like going back in time to change the story that was passed down to you. It’s not easy work, but it’s powerful and liberating.

Wrapping Up Old Cycles
As Pluto prepares to leave Capricorn for the last time in our lives, we’re all being called to close out these cycles once and for all. Maybe for you, it’s not about love or relationships, but something else that’s been quietly playing out under the surface.

So, here’s my invitation: take a look at what’s been unfolding since 2008. What patterns keep repeating? What self-beliefs have been hard to shake? Have you been carrying someone else’s story without even realizing it?

And if you’re not sure, a peek at your natal chart might offer some clues. It’s amazing how astrology can reflect back to us the cycles we’re working through and the themes we’re here to heal.

Releasing What’s No Longer Needed
With this shift, it’s a powerful time to let go, to release what no longer serves us. We don’t have to carry these old stories forward. It’s a moment to make space for something new, something intentional, something that feels more aligned.

If you’re ready to start exploring and releasing old cycles, I’d love for us to stay connected. Sign up for my newsletter below, and I’ll send regular reflections, exercises, and support to help you navigate these transitions, let go of what’s heavy, and welcome what’s next.