SATURN CONJUNCT PLUTO JANUARY 12, 2020

Taking a cue from astrologer Patrick Watson, we could say that Saturn thwarts Pluto just as Pluto hypes up the fear factor inherent to Saturn.

In January 2020 there will be the much-announced conjunction between Saturn and Pluto at 22°46’ Capricorn (antiscion 7°14’ Sagittarius), a Cardinal Earth sign. These two planets have been conjoined by parallel of declination for most of 2019 and this aspect will dissolve only in Spring 2020: we’ve already been experiencing this energy over the last year and many astrologers, myself included, believe the parallel conjunction to be much stronger than the longitudinal one. The two planets will conjoin in the 3^rd decan of Capricorn which is Virgo, thus giving a Mercurial nuance to it. Earth signs are about handling matters on a practical level and many of the upheavals around the world are led by young people (Mercury) as they endeavour to completely transform (Pluto) the way their countries are being governed (Saturn).

This conjunction ends a cycle and begins a new one for the two planets, with a change of element from Air to Earth.

This is what is known as a GENERATIONAL TRANSIT being, as it is, formed by two of the slower moving planets and, as such, it will affect millions and millions of persons around the world who have planets or angles in the Cardinal signs between 17-25° (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The effect will filter down to a personal level through the Capricorn-Cancer axis for all, and in particular for those with planets or angles in the above-cited degrees/signs and in the houses ruled by Saturn and Pluto and their relative placements in the natal chart, together with the aspect that these planets receive or make to other planets in the chart.

As I wrote earlier however, the conjunction by parallel of declination has been in force for nearly a year and will continue into early Spring so, if our charts are affected, we probably already have an idea of the dynamics at play.

The conjunction will be operating on the traditional 10-4 house axis since Capricorn rules the 10^th house in traditional astrology inherent to the public sphere of life, whilst Cancer rules the traditional 4^th house and is connected to home, family and private life or the people (4^th) versus government (10^th) in mundane charts.

Pluto-Saturn will also conjoin on their respective nodal axis – a cycle about the redistribution of power, on a personal and global level and a test of integrity about the use of power. There could also be a feeling of stalemate as situations appear blocked for some reason only to burst free violently as the cards are reshuffled and power is distributed in a totally different manner.

This conjunction, taking place approximately every 33-37 years, occurred the last time during 1982 to mid-1983 at 27° Libra, a Cardinal Air sign, and mainly concerned relationships and justice; this conjunction operated along the 7-1^st axis, the “we” versus “you” theme. Since this aspect occurred in the Mercury-ruled Gemini decan of Libra, it had a slightly “mercurial” feel to it.

I have been able to follow quite a large group of people born under this last conjunction, not only at an astrological level but also by observing them as a group through the various stages of development of their lives.

I can state with come confidence that for people born in 1982-83 who have the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Libra in their natal chart, relationships have been difficult to hard due to an underlying fear (Saturn) of commitment and the need to keep transforming and evolving them (Pluto), which has meant that many of these persons have not had much luck relationship-wise: some, indeed, preferring to not have any commitments at all since they apparently have difficulty deciding who wields and who yields the power in all of their connections, be it romantic or otherwise. Many have unfortunately chosen the “doormat” position for many years. The occurrence of the conjunction in an Air sign also a lot of over-thinking on the decisions taken.

So, if, on a mundane level the two planets close a cycle and open a new chapter, for the persons with the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Libra, this new conjunction actually forms a square aspect to their natal positions.

Broadly speaking, these people might therefore experience  the following effect: Pluto-Pluto square (Libra-Capricorn): something comes up for evaluation (intimacy and relationships) and has to be contemplated and changed to then be rebuilt; Saturn-Saturn square (Libra-Capricorn): relationships have to be put into perspective and intimacy admitted into our lives without fear. I think that last year and over the upcoming two years the 1982-83ers may finally find their peace and the desired balance in their relationships.

There have been so many talks and articles over the last year about this 2020 conjunction and I’d like to add a few excerpts from the ones I found most interesting.

From the Astrodienst newsletter:

“Now it will become abundantly clear which foundations in our society have become too fragile to offer reliable stability. Corrections are inevitable. Where these are denied, fierce confrontations are to be expected. Thus, for some time, your personal path could lead you through challenging terrain where every step counts, just as the heroine and the hero must experience on their journey. Your room for manoeuvre may be limited, as many things are now subject to the laws of necessity for some time to come.”

From Patrick Watson’s excellent article in the Mountain Astrologer:

“During the past two millennia, only four conjunctions occurred in Capricorn; however, in this same time period, there were seven conjunctions in Pisces and eight in Taurus. Capricorn may be a significant part of the zodiac for this conjunction, because that is where the south nodes of both Saturn and Pluto have been located for many centuries, an astrological indication of the amplification of the past — that is, the tendency to refer to an ancestral tradition or attempt to invoke previous idealized social norms. Pluto spends about 15 years in Capricorn and crosses its south node, which is now at about 22 degrees. The transit of Saturn through the sign, lasting only around 2½ years, may act like a focusing agent for the power and territorial evolution symbolized by Pluto, which is already in process. Perhaps rulership also plays a role in the relative strength of a conjunction. The association of Saturn with Capricorn suggests that conjunctions in this sign may relate more to deep structural changes than when Saturn is positioned elsewhere.

The battle over knowledge, reality, and facts is widespread. […] It is not just that large groups of people hold different views; it is that some of these beliefs and assumptions are today sustained by a lack of facts and by misleading information […]. As reality presses in with the forming of the Saturn–Pluto conjunction, maintaining these beliefs and assumptions will require increasing denials of reality. I would argue that societal conditions around the time of the conjunction (which includes recent years), and in the years following it, will severely strain these beliefs, perhaps to the breaking point. […] This is a terrible situation, and there are two possible results. We would hope that those whose worldview is based as closely on facts as is possible will gain the upper hand politically, build on existing agreements with other nations, and accelerate the transformation of the global energy economy. But it is equally likely that conflicts over facts will continue, not enough change will be implemented, and our descendants will inherit a planet with a climate system on the way to a hotter and more turbulent set point — a drastic change causing massive migrations that force boundary and power issues […]”

From Anne Whitaker writing from the 12^th house published on Astrodienst:

“In essence, Saturn/Pluto lets us off with nothing, either personally or collectively. We are forced into increasingly tight corners, whilst the pressure is ramped up on us to face and deal with the present consequences of past decisions, some of which might not be of our direct making. The environmental crisis which has become so vivid this year with the Nodal Axis joining the dance of Saturn/Pluto throughout 2019, is a case in point.

To give a historical flavour, the last time Saturn and Pluto were conjunct in Capricorn was in 1518. The most famous event of that year is probably Martin Luther’s refusal at the Diet of Worms to withdraw his powerful critique of the Catholic Church.

It is highly indicative of a changing world order, of movement into a radically different way of living on Planet Earth, that Saturn’s movement away from Pluto during the course of 2020 sees him enter Aquarius in December 2020, just a few years before Pluto is due to enter that sign in 2024. However, he does not make that shift alone: he does it in Jupiter’s company as they make their first conjunction, at 0 degrees Aquarius, since 2000 when they met at 23 degrees Taurus.

[…] the transition of the conjunction from one element to another – the ‘Mutation Conjunction’ – has always been considered to be of particular importance marking a major shift in emphasis and orientation in the world […]

The Sabian symbol for 23° Capricorn: “A soldier receiving two awards for bravery in combat.” Indicating the reward offered by society for the fulfilment of individual responsibility.

For 8° Sagittarius: “Within the depths of the Earth new elements are being formed.” Indicating the alchemical fire which both purifies and transforms the very substance of man’s inner life.

“Transformation is a process, and as life happens there are tons of ups and downs. It’s a journey of discovery – there are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair.”  R Warren

Bibliography

Kaldera R. (2011) “Moon Phase Astrology” pp. 214-243, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont. USA

Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. p 234, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA

Watson P. (2019) Mountain Astrologer magazine digital edition http://digital.mountainastrologer.com.s3.amazonaws.com/619pdfs/TMA619-scofield.pdf accessed December 2019

Whitaker A. (2019) https://www.astro.com/astrology/in_awcycles_e.htm?  fbclid=IwAR25VGCs2fbRYORlS19oeE7VChAqnM7Duu4eSMYr5sA0JDnYb5k2W8H2du4 accessed 25.11.2019

“The Current Quality of Time” from the Astrodienst January 2020 newsletter, https://www.astro.com/prod/pr_news1912_e.htm, accessed 30.12.2019

Artwork: myskypie2020

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