From baby boomers to Generation Alpha – all generations have their own special characteristics. It is exciting to see how differently these groups are perceived in the world of work. But what if not only economics, but also a rather inconspicuous celestial body like Pluto helps us to understand generations?
This blog article describes the generations with a focus on GenZ. The article also shows the surprising insights that the planet Pluto has to offer – and why it has more to do with our personality than it seems. Have fun discovering!
Why Pluto helps to describe generations
Pluto is the outermost celestial body in our solar system – small and yet fascinating. It is already used in astrology to highlight generational themes. With an orbital period of around 250 years, it passes through a sign of the zodiac in around 20 years.
Pluto does not serve to superficially analyse individual personalities. Rather, it delves into the depths of the personality and also reveals collective themes.
Each sign of the zodiac harbours around 5-7 Human Design Gates, which allow an even finer interpretation. With Pluto’s dwell time of 3 to 5 years in a Human Design Gate, the celestial body influences us in a subtle but powerful way.
But before we dive deep, let’s take a closer look at the familiar generational categorisations and topics. What does generational research tell us – and what does Pluto have to say when we look at the shiny side of the coin? You’ll see, the answers are super insightful.
The characteristics of generations and their Pluto activations
The baby boomer generation
The baby boomer generation comprises those born between 1950 and 1964, as their members were born at a time of sharply rising birth rates after the Second World War. They are the first generation to experience the benefits of mass production of goods such as cars and fridges during the economic miracle. They are characterised above all by economic growth and rapidly improving living conditions. But also by many competitors on the labour market. The last members of the baby boomer generation will be leaving the labour market in the coming years – some are already retired.
The Pluto activations of the baby boomers
The baby boomer generation is characterised by the activation of the following human design gates:
Gate 4 – Developing their own theories / theorising: They have a strong imagination and a relentless desire for answers (e.g. World War 2). With this ability, they develop logical solutions to problems, offer new approaches without being asked and contribute visionary ideas for a better future.
Gate 29 – Commitment: Baby boomers show an impressive ability to commit to processes and persevere even in difficult times. This energy represents their potential to embody commitment and consistency in their endeavours.
Gate 59 – Intimacy: You have a special life force for intimacy and the ability to build deep bonds – both in procreation and in social relationships. Your strength lies in intimacy and building trusting connections.
Gate 40 – Aloneness / Determination: Baby boomers often work efficiently and purposefully on their own, but need a good work-life balance and time for themselves. This self-care enables them to maintain their performance in the long term and realise their full potential.
Gate 64 – Reflection: You are under constant mental pressure to reflect on past experiences and decipher their meaning. This process of looking back can be confusing at first, but it ultimately leads to clarity and a deeper understanding.
With these gates, the baby boomers characterise a generation that plays a special role in social development through creativity, perseverance, relationship skills, personal responsibility and reflection.
The Generation X
Generation X stands for those born between 1965 and 1980 and is the generation in the world of work that is currently setting the pace in economic structures and politics. This is because the majority of positions in management and politics are held by Xers. Their ideas of work characterise the current working world the most – but they also differ greatly from the younger generations. The members of Generation X are characterised by a strong desire for independence and self-realisation and place greater value on a high standard of living. At the same time, they are characterised by a pragmatic and adaptable attitude that has been shaped by their experiences with technological innovations and the transition to a globalised world.
The Pluto activations of Generation X
Generation X carries within them the energies of the following gates, which characterise their collective identity and their contribution to society: Gate 47 – Distress: they are under intense mental pressure to understand the past and piece together fragments of memory to make sense of it. This ability helps them not only to come to terms with their own history, but also to process collective experiences and challenges.
Gate 6 – level-headedness / argument: Generation X has an emotional intelligence that regulates the flow of their feelings. They consciously decide whether or not to open up to intimacy and thus maintain their emotional balance, which is of great value in relationships and conflict situations.
Gate 46 – Anticipation / open-mindedness: With an intuitive sense of timing and opportunity, they are often in the right place at the right time. They make skilful use of opportunities, treat their body with care and impress at work with their exceptional coordination skills.
Gate 18 – Correct / Judgement: They have a strong survival instinct and sharp judgement. By questioning existing norms and standards, they strive for improvement and perfection, thereby initiating lasting change.
Gate 48 – Depth: Generation X draws on a source of deep wisdom that is strengthened by their tastes and preferences. This energy gives them the ability to make the right decisions for survival and advancement, even in difficult times.
Gate 57 – Clarity / alertness: With an intuitive awareness that is focussed on the present, they recognise dangers early on and avoid risks. This clarity and alertness serve well-being and ensure survival in challenging circumstances.
Gate 32 – Continuity / Duration: They maintain a keen sense of the true value of people and things. With their ability to balance adaptation and the preservation of traditional values, they contribute to stability and continuity in their communities.
To summarise, Generation X combines emotional intelligence, intuitive awareness and the ability to reflect with a pronounced striving for perfection and continuity. It brings profound wisdom and adaptability while mastering both individual and collective challenges.
The Generation Y
Those born between 1981 and 1994 are referred to as Generation Y, symbolised by the Y for WHY: The Generation Y generation of employees is characterised by a search for a deeper meaning in work than any previous generation. Their values are performance- and career-orientated. They demand flexibility and work-life blending from employers. Members of this generation are known as digital natives; they experienced the mass spread of the internet at a young age. In the world of work, Generation Y demands working from home, internships, but also a meaningful and sustainable career.
Many of the younger Ylers were unable to decide what they wanted to be for a long time. They also started their careers relatively late – much later than was usual for previous generations. A lot has changed in other ways too. Generation Y applied for jobs with a lot of internship experience. It was surprisingly easy for us to inspire them with their own MacBook, working from home and work-life blending, i.e. the merging of work and private life.
The Pluto activations of Generation Y
Gate 32 – Continuity / Duration: They maintain a keen sense of the true value of people and things. With their ability to balance adaptation and the preservation of traditional values, they contribute to stability and continuity in their communities.
Gate 50 – Values: They are guided by ethical principles and base their actions on values. This wisdom bundles a deep sense of survival in which the assumption of responsibility plays a central role.
Gate 28 – Taking risks: Generation Y is prepared to take risks in order to experience life in depth and give it meaning. Through this willingness, they discover new possibilities and create a conscious and fulfilling life.
Gate 44 – Cooperation: They have a keen sense of instinctive cooperation and can recognise helpful cooperation partners. With their ability to develop structures based on experience, they promote community and progress.
Gate 1 – Originality: Creativity and originality are key characteristics of this generation. They strive to create something new in unpredictable ways, motivated not by material gain or external recognition, but by the authentic realisation of their ideas.
Gate 43 – Insight: Generation Y has the gift of suddenly gaining profound insights through their inner voice. These often lead to innovative ideas and a clear understanding that emerges independently of external opinions.
Gate 14 – Labour: They are passionate about activities that energise them and bring them joy. Their attitude is characterised by benevolent service and generosity, while refusing to compromise themselves or their values.
In general, Generation Y is characterised by responsibility, originality and the ability to collaborate. They combine a focus on values with creativity and profound insight, while their passion and willingness to take risks leads them down new paths to find meaning and fulfilment.
The Generation Z
Generation Z comprises those born between 1995 and 2009, is one of the best educated generations to date and is characterised by strong self-confidence. They benefit from a labour market characterised by low competition and a shortage of skilled workers. In contrast to previous generations, Zler can choose their employers and expect not only appropriate remuneration, but also a positive working environment. Their values and priorities have changed significantly: Leisure time, social contacts and family are at the centre of their lives. Work is seen as a means to an end and should fit harmoniously into their personal lives.
Their interaction with the digital world is particularly striking. Generation Z has grown up entirely with digital technologies and uses them intuitively. Social networks in particular play a central role in their everyday lives. In this context, Generation Z is unfortunately also referred to as the lost generation. They are the guinea pigs of the networked world, which is constantly throwing new digital innovations at young people’s feet. Jonathan Haidt* speaks of overprotection in the real (physical) world and underprotection in the virtual (mental) world. In terms of human design, one could deduce that there is a parental over-focussing on design (left unconscious side) and an under-focussing on personality (right conscious side). This relates in particular to social interaction.
Back to the world of work: Generation Z is looking for employers who understand their world and adapt to their needs. Flexible working time models, meaningful activities and a clear work-life balance are essential for them. This change in values presents companies with the challenge of finding and implementing new ways of dealing with this generation.
At a time when the solidarity economy is crumbling and the old system no longer works, some people accuse them of being lazy and that the economy is doomed. In addition to this assertion, the injustice to the younger generation must also be recognised when you consider how much money they would have to pay into the pension funds today and in the future so that the pension system would no longer have to be cross-financed – an impossible undertaking.
The Pluto activations of Generation Z
Gate 34 – Power / Strength: They have a strong energy that aims to express their uniqueness and power. This strength helps them to assert themselves and makes them active shapers of their environment.
Gate 9 – Concentration on details / focussing: Generation Z has the ability to concentrate on details with perseverance and focus. They use their energy in a targeted manner to achieve their goals efficiently and precisely.
One could spontaneously assume that social media is throwing a spanner in the works.
Gate 5 – Rhythm: Patience and the ability to find their own rhythm are characteristic of them. They create patterns and structures that are in harmony with nature and the circumstances of their lives.
Gate 26 – Tactics: They have an exceptional talent for achieving maximum results with minimum effort. Their powers of persuasion enable them to influence others and rise up the hierarchy. At the same time, they are required to maintain a balance in order to avoid overconfidence.
Gate 11 – Ideas: Generation Z is rich in creative ideas drawn from reflection and experience. Their visions often serve as inspiration for others, even if they are not directly realised, and have the potential to improve social conditions.
Gate 10 – Authenticity: Authenticity is a key characteristic of this generation. They express themselves confidently and honestly, inspired by their inner joie de vivre, without subordinating themselves to the expectations of others.
Generation Z combines strength, focus and creativity with a deep sense of authenticity and tactics. They demonstrate patience and innovation to promote both individual and collective progress. With their ability to stay true to themselves, they inspire others to live their own uniqueness.
Generation Alpha
Generation Alpha comprises those born from 2010 onwards and is growing up in a world that is completely permeated by digital technologies. Unlike their predecessors, Generation Z, this generation does not know life without smartphones, tablets or smart devices.
It is described as the first generation to be fully integrated into the digital world. This not only influences their communication behaviour, but also the way they learn, absorb information and solve problems. Children of Generation Alpha often experience intensive support from their parents, who focus strongly on education and personal development. At the same time, there is a growing awareness of issues such as sustainability, climate change and social justice, as these values play an increasingly important role in their environment.
However, educators also report an increasing number of conspicuous behavioural patterns, which is attributed to the influence of digital media and changing social dynamics. Important characteristics of this generation are their openness to new things, their technological understanding and their ability to process information quickly.
It will be crucial for companies, educational institutions and society as a whole not only to support this generation technologically, but also to strengthen their social skills and resilience in order to prepare them for the challenges of an increasingly complex world. The problems that Generation Z has with the networked world can be transferred to Generation Alpha as long as we have a solution to the problems identified and implement it.
The Pluto activations of the Alpha generation
Gate 10 – Authenticity: They express themselves authentically from an early age and inspire others to embrace their uniqueness. Their inner joy of life characterises their actions and they do not conform to the expectations of others.
Gate 58 – Joie de vivre: Generation Alpha enjoys life with carefree cheerfulness and optimism. They feel the desire to improve things and strive for perfection, with their zest for life being a driving force.
Gate 38 – Perseverance: You show remarkable perseverance when it comes to defending your integrity and independence. This determination strengthens their personal attitude and resilience.
Gate 54 – Ambition: Generation Alpha is characterised by a strong desire for success and social advancement. They actively build relationships and use their ambition to gain influence in communities and achieve their goals.
Gate 61 – Exploration / Inner Truth: They carry a natural curiosity and mental pressure to recognise absolute truths and mentally explore life and the unknown. They share their findings to inspire others and promote collective understanding.
Gate 60 – Further development / realism: With their realism and ability to accept limits, they preserve what already exists while at the same time enabling innovation. They draw creative strength from melancholy and drive fundamental change.
Gate 41 – Hope: Generation Alpha has a strong potential for hope and longing. They see restrictions as an impetus to gain new experiences and make progress.
As the carrier of the DNA start codon, Gate 41 symbolises the beginning of a new cycle and the basis for change. It is interesting that Gate 41 is activated in 2027, when the cross of the sleeping phoenix awakens and heralds a new era. Is this also the starting signal for the mutation of humans? You can find more information about this in my blog post Human Design 2027.
Conclusion
Have you noticed how the scientific findings and the Pluto activations complement each other and where there are differences? Perhaps you have recognised connections while reading that you were not aware of before.
For example, as a Generation Y person, I was fascinated by the fact that the topic of values in economics and Pluto activation coincide. It is precisely such similarities, but also differences, that help us to better understand the dynamics between the generations.
If you have any questions or comments on this topic, please write them in the comments below.
Would you like to take a closer look at your generation? We can take a closer look at this and many other aspects in a human design career reading. Book your personal reading now!
0 Comments