Here we are. It’s 2020, a time of great change. A quick internet search will quickly reveal that for several years the astrological community has been forecasting that 2020 would be a tumultuous year, filled with challenging times and transformative changes on a global basis. Astrologers attribute global shifts and paradigm changing events to the slower moving outer planets, known as the trans-personal planets. Specifically, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Because they spend long periods of time in a single Zodiacal sign their effects/correlations are said to be generational in nature.
To put it in perspective, Uranus takes 84 years to travel one revolution around the Sun, Neptune 165 years, and Pluto 248 years. Translating this into the movement through a single zodiacal sign, Uranus takes 7 years to pass through a sign, Neptune 14 years, and Pluto roughly 21 years. This year has been marked by a conjunction (two planets in close proximity to each other) in the sign of Capricorn, of Saturn and Pluto. The last time this occurred was the Protestant Reformation in 1518. Additionally, joining the dance has been Jupiter which is doing the salsa with Saturn and they will begin their 20-year conjunction outside of earth signs beginning on December 21, 2020 at 0 degrees of Aquarius, an air sign. This is very significant in that these elemental shifts of conjunctions only take place every 200 years. And it last happened in air signs, 800 years ago, on March 5, 1226.
The other significant observation about this year’s astrology is the fact that three of the five outermost planets are forming an important aspect, a conjunction, with each other in the same year. The last time this happened was over 130 years ago. The cycles I am eluding to represent what are termed in the astrological world as synodic cycles. They cover long-periods of time. As astrologers were looking ahead to 2020, there was a fair level of trepidation as to what it all might mean. Especially given that so many of these new synodic cycles were set to unfold in 2020. In the past such cycles have been a harbinger to a “new era for humanity”.
It is with this backdrop, that we collectively tiptoed into the new year, wondering how it might all play out. As has been evidenced the past two months, the transformative changes have arrived like a swarm of locusts, covering the globe overnight. In almost picture-perfect symbolism, the corona virus walked on to the stage. You see, Pluto which is the trans-personal/collective planet involved in the aforementioned conjunctions, is associated with plagues, bats, bedlam, calamities, conspiracies, death, destruction and viruses. Blend Pluto with its dance partner in Capricorn, Saturn, and you add the energies of abandoned places, bereavement, caution, contemplation, depression, fear, isolation, and quarantines.
As you can see from this list of terms associated with Pluto and Saturn, you don’t have to be an astrologer to recognize that the potential for some challenging development to arise was possible. To add more texture to the story, this conjunction is taking place in the zodiacal sign of Capricorn. This highlights such topics as the economy, governments, old age, and politics. Again, if you connect the energies of Capricorn with the planets involved you can easily see current developments woven into their symbolism.
It’s important to note, my view as an astrologer is not one of claiming that these interactions in the cosmos are causing the events we are experiencing here on earth. Rather, like a clock on the wall, they are signaling what time it might be, but not causing time itself to be. The proverbial canaries in the coal mine, so to speak. They are correlative, not causal in nature. And in this case, we do not want to be like the characters in Shakespeare’s famous Henry IV, part 2 or in Anthony and Cleopatra threatening to shoot the messengers due to the news they are delivering.
Crises are by design disruptive, damaging, and disconcerting. But it is important for us to recognize they have frequently been the thing needed to bring about change that may have otherwise never occurred. Human nature is of such that we can become entrenched in our individual silos, losing sight of the bigger picture. On Wednesday I do this, on Saturday I do that, when I reach for such and such, it’s there, when I need this, I can get it. We create bubbles around our lives that when popped, leave us gasping for air due to an inability to process any atmosphere that isn’t the one we are used to.
Make no mistake crises can be brutal. This one is no exception. The suffering and damage have been broadly experienced. Everyone is having a different experience. For some it has meant death, others businesses lost, unemployment, sickness, weddings cancelled, education interrupted, trips cancelled, financial distress, loneliness, addictions highlighted, depression, and much more. Interestingly, the word crisis in Chinese, is actually composed of two words, danger and opportunity. In my experience, I have found that this is true.
You see the same planetary energies I have mentioned, those of Pluto and Saturn, not only have the potentiality of manifesting the energies that I have mentioned, they can also have a positive impact. Pluto for instance, though often referred to as the dark lord, is also associated with transformation, rebirth, and renewal. Its energies are those of an initiation process, albeit one that requires the initiated to plumb the depths of their own psyche and purge the hidden shadows residing there. Through such experiences a newly discovered empowerment of the self can result.
In the case of Saturnian energies, we find that we experience lessons, learn the meaning of perseverance, and are given a chance to gain wisdom and maturity. We also come to understand time and our place in its continuum.
And so, we find ourselves currently immersed in a seminal moment that contains both danger and opportunity. My wish for us all is that we stay grounded and present. That we recognize that inside of this crisis there likely are individualized messages for each of us. Pluto will coax you to examine your shadows and Saturn will push you to gain wisdom from them. Pluto may even destroy something you are attached to but for the purpose of furthering your own evolution. Saturn will dredge up your fears, ask you to confront them, so that you can emerge possessing more tenacity and willpower than ever before.
These are the moments where we learn the most.
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