Saturn-Pluto conjunction

There’s lots to say about the current global situation and the many shifts we can expect over the next few years, so let’s get right to it.

For easier reading, I have divided this into sections.

What Happened, Astrologically Speaking?

The current global situation can be traced back to the January 20, 2020 conjunction (meeting) of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn.

Although the conjunction was exact on January 20 (that was the date when Saturn and Pluto were literally on top of each other), the buildup to that aspect started in November. Astrological aspects operate on a bell curve. The date of the actual aspect is the peak of the bell curve; the energy slowly intensifies during the buildup phase and slowly decreases during the decline phase.

I first posted about the Saturn-Pluto conjunction on my Instagram page in June of 2019; I described the aspect as a harbinger of “political changes and foundational collapse”.

I don’t do “doom and gloom astrology”; foundational collapse was not meant to invoke fear. It was simply a literal translation of the aspect. Saturn is about foundations; Pluto is about collapse. When these two planets meet in a conjunction (as they do roughly every 38 years), that’s the order of the day.

Establish paradigms and foundations (Saturn) collapse (Pluto). The status quo (Saturn) is transformed (Pluto). Subconscious (Pluto) fears (Saturn) surface (Pluto) and must be addressed (Saturn).

FYI: Periods when Saturn and Pluto square (are 90 degrees away from) each other or oppose (are 180 degrees away from) each other also make ripples. The most recent Saturn-Pluto opposition occurred weeks before the September 11 attacks.

Astrology reminds us to maintain perspective. Throughout human history, Saturn and Pluto have interacted with each other hundreds of times. And life has continued. Uncertain times can undoubtedly be challenging, stressful, and emotionally taxing. But, nothing is the “end of the world”.

Why Didn’t Astrologers Predict a Pandemic?

As I always tell my clients, there are limits to astrology (in the same way that your GPS won’t tell you that, thirty minutes into your road trip, a blue car will honk at you and that you’ll stop to buy snacks after two hours).

Most times, astrology tells us the “what”, but not the “how”.

For example, when Saturn travels through a person’s seventh house of personal and business relationships, there is usually at least one monumental relationship-focused event. It could be a significant breakup or a relationship that evolves from casual to serious. In some cases, other factors in the chart can help the astrologer determine the “how”. More often than not, though, the exact details are unknown (because astrology informs us of cycles and themes, not minutia).

All astrologers, for years, had kept a careful watch on the January 20 Saturn-Pluto conjunction. We knew it would bring significant shifts and a definite “before” and “after”. It would, undoubtedly, leave a mark on society.

There’s another reason why astrologers didn’t “predict” (I’m not a fan of this term in astrology, as it only perpetuates the silly idea of astrologers as all-knowing, crystal ball-gazing fortune tellers) a pandemic…

This Pandemic is the Symptom and The Means to An End

COVID-19 is actually not “the significant thing” heralded by the Saturn-Pluto conjunction.

Yes, it’s the only thing we hear in the news. And, yes, it has significantly changed our way of life at the moment.

However, this virus is the means through which we are being asked to address what the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn wants us to tackle as a global society:

Business
Governments
Large industries
Monopolies
Politics

In early March, one of my Instagram followers asked me to weigh in after they had come across a Facebook astrology page which stated that COVID-19 would be just as much as a public health catastrophe as the Spanish Flu of 1918.

I disagreed at the time — and still disagree. COVID-19 has, sadly, resulted in 170,455 worldwide deaths as of April 21, 2020. COVID-19 is real. It’s contagious and can rapidly deteriorate health.

However, comparing it to the Spanish Flu is a gross exaggeration. The Spanish Flu killed 50 million people at a time when our planet housed 2 billion inhabitants. So far, COVID-19 has killed 170,000 out of 7.6 billion.

That is not to say COVID-19 is “harmless” or “not a big deal”. My point is that the astrological landscape clearly shows that this current global situation relates to economics, governments, money, and structures — NOT medicine or public health.

This pandemic has not upended our idea of virology or human biochemistry. It hasn’t made us realize that the way we’ve been doing medicine for the last few decades has been totally wrong. It has, however, rapidly brought some very “Capricornian” themes to our attention:

Resource management (e.g.: many hospitals don’t have the financial, material, or human resources to endure this)
The economic safety net (e.g.: specifically, its absence)
Finances (e.g.: the unsustainability of the current economic landscape)

When they join forces in a sign, Saturn and Pluto let us know if — and how — we have gone too far down that sign’s negative qualities (all signs and planets have positive and negative expressions). If that’s the case, we’re then asked to tap into that sign’s positive qualities and strike a balance.

The negative qualities of Capricorn include:

Coldness/lack of empathy
Division (“You are different from me; you and I have nothing in common”)
Extreme hunger for power
Fear and suspicion
Greed
Materialism
Rigidity
Ruthlessness
Selfishness
Unwavering conformity

Capricorn’s positive qualities include:

Dutifulness
Hardworking
Humility
Pragmatism
Realism
Resourcefulness
Wisdom

So, let’s put all this together. The lessons and asks of COVID-19 are to:

Recognize that power structures rooted in materialism and greed are unsustainable and, ultimately, a house of cards: this pandemic has demonstrated why public health must be prioritized over profits.
Realize we are all in this together (and get away from Capricorn’s lack of empathy): everyone has been impacted by the effects of this pandemic.
Stop using material objects and money as gauges for happiness or success: it is very “negative Capricorn”, for example, to utilize the stock market as a measure of how “well” a country is doing (without taking into account things like rates of anxiety/depression, stress levels, rates of chronic disease, and the health of the environment).
Acknowledge the fundamental problems in unchecked capitalism: among them, the disappearance of safety net that leave hundreds of millions extremely vulnerable at a time like this.
Redirect financial resources wisely: this pandemic has made it evident that many public hospitals around the world are severely underfunded.

What’s Next In 2020? Two Time Periods to Watch

There are two time periods of significant astrological activity that I am watching because they pack a significant amount of important aspects. These aspects have global effects (though some countries will be more affected depending on their individual birth charts)

First, June 6 – July 13. Here’s why:

Mars will conjunct Neptune on June 13: Neptune rules viruses; a conjunction from Mars accelerates things. This aspect will begin building on June 6.
Mercury will retrograde from June 19 to July 13: Although Mercury retrograde can be helpful for fixing past errors and acquiring information that was once overlooked, it can also cause confusion and delays.
Jupiter and Pluto will be conjunct on June 30: these two planets met in Capricorn on April 4. Jupiter acts as a magnifying glass and Pluto is the great transformer and rules whatever is hidden or has been out of sight.
A lunar eclipse takes place on July 5: lunar eclipses bring the end of a cycle — and this one falls very close to the United States’ sun.

To me, this first astrological landscape could manifest as a second wave, or second spike, of COVID-19 cases. Since this is still a few months away, there could be some advancements in treatments by then.

Alternatively, parts of the United States and world that weren’t as affected the first few months of 2020 may find themselves as new “hot spots” at this time, essentially having their first significant wave of cases.

The other significant window of time takes place September 30 – December 30. Here’s why:

Saturn turns direct (AKA: “stops retrograding”) and squares Mars on September 30: the days surrounding a planet’s change of direction are significant. In this case, we have “reality check” Saturn, which also squares off against warrior Mars that same day. Saturn-Mars squares bring conflicts to a head.
Mars squares Jupiter on October 19: Even though this is a square, Jupiter doesn’t get into a fight with Mars. However, this aspect blows up Mars’ energy, passion, and desire to get things going and moving.
Jupiter and Pluto will be conjunct on November 13: these two get together for a final (third) time before saying goodbye. They won’t see each other again for another 13 years, so their final goodbye can be over-the-top and be accompanied by significant events.
A lunar eclipse takes place on November 30: This eclipse indicates the end of a cycle.
A solar eclipse takes place on December 14. This solar eclipse kicks off a new six-month period. Since it takes place in Sagittarius (which rules travel), I suspect the second half of December will likely see international borders opening up and will be the time when air travel begins its return. Or, since this solar eclipse takes place in Sagittarius (the sign of hope and optimism), the surrounding days can bring hopeful news.
Saturn and Jupiter will be conjunct on December 21: a very important aspect (see below for more information).

I believe this window of time will contains the first significant signs that things are “moving”. With so many Jupiter aspects, I think this is when travel will begin to pick up and when there will be the first real semblance of hope. The Saturn-Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius in December may bring news about a novel medical treatment, a vaccine, or some technological development that will allow us to move forward in some way.

The Next Four Years Are a Bridge to “The Age of Aquarius”

“The Age of Aquarius” has been an overused (and misused) term for decades, practically as a panacea for all of humanity’s ills.

While we are not about to enter a land of fairy tales, we will entering a very “Aquarian” era when Pluto enters Aquarius in 2024 (it will dip its toes in 2023, but will then retreat back to Capricorn for a few months before finally taking the plunge into Aquarius on January 21, 2024).

Pluto will spend twenty years in Aquarius.

Between now and, then, several astrological events will provide a hint of what’s to come:

Saturn will be in Aquarius from December 17, 2020 to March 7, 2023 (with a prior “toe-dipping period” from March 21, 2020 to July 1, 2020);
Saturn and Jupiter will meet in Aquarius on December 21, 2020.

Saturn in Aquarius: What to Expect

Saturn governs authority, boundaries, foundations, governments, labor, laws, limits, stability, and structures. Aquarius governs the airwaves, egalitarianism, humanitarianism, new ideas, progressive thinking, the public domain, revolutions, science, technologies, and the greater good.

Let’s take a look at what happened the last time Saturn was in Aquarius (February 6, 1991 to May 20, 1993; June 29, 1993 – January 28, 1994).

Keep in mind that the last time Saturn was in Aquarius, the other planets were in different places than they are now. So, while events won’t be the exact same, overarching themes will arise again:

The “World Wide Web” opened to the public.
The first text message was sent.
The Simon Personal Communicator (now considered the first-ever “smart phone”) launched.
Janet Reno became the first female Attorney General of the United States — a new (Aquarius) kind of authority (Saturn).
The first-known reference to Y2K (then-termed “The Year 2000 Problem”) is published in ComputerWorld magazine. Remember, Saturn is the “better safe than sorry” planet; it identifies problems relating to whatever sign it is in. In this case, Saturn rang the alarm about possible trouble with technology (Aquarius).
The first prescription nicotine patch reached the market.
Thelma & Louise, a movie that revolutionized (Aquarius!) a male-dominated genre, was released to critical acclaim.
The Innocence Project, a criminal justice reform non-profit, launched.
The Maastrich treaty (which founded the European Union) was signed.
Apartheid was dismantled in South Africa. VERY Aquarius; remember, Aquarius is the sign of “we’re all equal… we are one race…”
The North American Free Trade Agreement was signed between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

With that in mind, here are some of the things I believe we can expect over the next three years:

Major technological advancements (to be invented/initially introduced, not necessarily go mainstream)
Significant shifts in power structures — especially “who” is in power
Technological solutions to address humanitarian and environmental problems
A massive increase in remote work and technology to support working from home
Less nationalism/isolationalism; more globalism (with Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus while Saturn is in Aquarius — a planetary combination that is unprecedented — we’ll see the start a new era of globalism with vastly different financial rules and systems).

The Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction of 2020

Jupiter and Saturn meet up in one spot in the sky roughly every twenty years. While that in itself is astrologically significant, the 2020 Jupiter-Saturn meetup is especially important since it serves as a bridge to Pluto’s entrance into Aquarius in 2024.

This conjunction sets a sociopolitical and cultural background tone for the next 18 – 20 years. When Jupiter and Saturn meet, new (Jupiter) paradigms (Saturn) are solidified (Saturn). Belief systems (Jupiter) are expanded (Jupiter) and locked into place (Saturn).

This particular Jupiter-Saturn conjunction is a big deal because it takes place at zero degrees of rebellious and unpredictable Aquarius (zero degrees is a very sensitive point where a particular sign’s energy is highly concentrated).

This aspect suggests the next two decades will bring rapid and significant shifts in Aquarius-related matters (such as technology, social revolutions, community-building, humanitarianism, progressive politics, and social uprisings).

Pluto In Aquarius: The Beginning of a New Era

Everything mentioned until this point will serve as a bridge to connect 2020 to 2024, the year when Pluto enters Aquarius for a twenty-year stint.

Pluto — which brings upheaval, change, crisis, and deep transformation — was last in Aquarius from 1778 to 1798.

As a reminder, here are some of the things Aquarius governs: the air/airwaves, egalitarianism, humanitarianism, new ideas, progressive thinking, the public domain, revolutions, science, technologies, and the greater good.

Keep in mind that, during that time, all the other planets were now where they will be in 2024. So, while the coming transit of Pluto in Aquarius won’t be a carbon copy of the previous one, we can expect similar themes.

Here are some important events that took place during Pluto’s last visit to Aquarius:

The moral theory of utilitarianism (which, among other things, posits that everyone’s happiness counts equally) is introduced. Free basic education and affordable housing for low-income families are examples of utilitarian policies.
The French Revolution
American Revolutionary War
Start of the first Industrial Revolution
The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight
The phenomenon of black holes is first published in a scientific journal
Benjamin Franklin invents bifocals
The United States’ first recorded riot — The Doctors’ Mob — takes place (Aquarius rules riots and social uprisings)
The United States patent system is established (Aquarius is new ideas, and Saturn is law… sometimes astrology is extremely literal).
Development of the smallpox vaccine — the first successful vaccine.
Development of the modern telegraph
The first steamboat is built by Claude de Jouffroy (steam is water in the gas phase — and Aquarius rules gases; additionally, this revolutionized trade and transportation at the time)

Some things we can expect during Pluto’s upcoming transit of Aquarius:

Significant advancements in holograms, nanotechnology, and robotics
The next industrial revolution
A wave of political progressivism (one thing to watch: Aquarius is a fixed sign that, prior to the discovery of Uranus, had Saturn as its ruler… with Pluto in Aquarius, the chance of authoritarian [Saturn key word!] left-wing regimes is higher than usual).
Power struggles around — and new definitions of — intellectual property
Political revolutions
The emergence of new political parties
Significant developments relating to outer space and space travel
New technologies that will decrease our dependence on oil (now that the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn has resulted in oil prices plummeting)
And, in true Aquarius form, technologies we can’t even fathom in 2020!

Over the next few weeks, months, and years, I will delve further into each of these important astrological aspects (either here or on my Instagram page).

We’re certainly living in interesting times!