We’ll start with a summary for the non-astrologers. You can read this paragraph and skip to the bottom if you like.
The year 2020 has been hard. One hard planet in the sign of hard has just moved into the sign of radical. An abundant planet, formerly in the hard sign, trying to help out by demanding the truth, will move into radical too. They will get married, creating a new life cycle of radical change to be our theme for the next twenty years. The expansion of new ideas, technology and other inventions will make our heads spin. In January and February they’ll struggle with a radical planet who is trying to fix earth’s problems, especially climate change and money, and who will be backed up by a stubborn warrior planet. The Darth Vader planet himself will remain in hard, growling, still trying to clean up the mess of the patriarchy of the last 2000 years. We’re leaving 2020 (yay!), we see the truth in technicolor, but all year the various factions will be fighting about the best solutions to rebuild the pile of rubble left in 2020’s wake.
Our only way out is through, and our best way through is with clear consciousness and an open heart.
Maybe I should stop there. We can giggle, because if we don’t we’ll cry, or we’ll be furious that we’ve come to this point, having ignored crisis warnings for decades.
December 21st is a big turning point astrologically. Jupiter and Saturn form a new (synodic) cycle every 20 years. As Jupiter rules truth, philosophies and beliefs--literally the search for meaning of life—and Saturn rules structure, big business, government and the accomplishment of goals, each time they align in a conjunction, our business and governmental worlds are infused with new societal beliefs and philosophies.
The last time they came together was in 2000 in the sign of Taurus at 22:43 degrees. That one launched a major shift toward understanding the dwindling resources on earth, security and insecurity, and the challenges of climate change.
Where is 23 degrees Taurus in your chart?
If it is conjunct (in the same place as) a planet or angle, you were particularly affected by that last Jupiter/Saturn cycle. The house position reflects the back story, where you've been focusing based on these planets’ synthesized meanings. Where Jupiter and Saturn are located in your natal chart deepen the whole story. What are you personally trying to accomplish? Where do you find meaning in life?
This new cycle formation, the Jupiter/Saturn alignment, is on December 21, 2020 (10:20 am Pacific) at 0:29 degrees of Aquarius. That’s half a degree, barely in the infancy of Aquarian energy.
Aquarius is the sign reflecting humanitarian efforts, innovation, technology, invention, equality, radical thinking, revolution, shocking changes, freedom, authenticity--and at its highest, Aquarius is the sign of awakening, enlightenment and liberation. When Aquarius is operating at a dysfunctional level, it can be dissociated, cold, rationalizing, or placing the apparent good of all over the unique needs of individuals.
Where is 0:29 degrees Aquarius in your chart?
This is where you may be in harmony with or affected by the new beliefs and philosophies manifested during the next twenty years. You may have a role to play. If this half a degree Aquarius location contains a planet or angle, you will be particularly affected. You are likely to change more intensely and align with new thinking.
The Beginning of a New Two Hundred Year AIR ERA!
The Jupiter/Saturn alignments change signs to a new element roughly every 200 years. The last two hundred years was in earth signs except for one outlier conjunction in air in Libra in 1981, then we went back to a cycle of earthy Taurus, and now we’ll be all air for the next 200 years.
This 200-year era of rational thought suggests science, innovation, technology and inventions will be engaged in radically different ways to solve world problems for a very long time. We will need to be careful to manage this technology wisely, as the risk can be dissociation and impersonal perspectives, or technology taking over our lives in ways that are harmful. Some might argue this has already happened.
As we begin our new cycle on December 21st, we might note that Aquarius also rules astrology and channeling, and everything that is new rebellious or innovative, so we may find the world opening to many new and different ideas.
It will be helpful to focus on the highest meanings of Aquarius—again—authenticity, individuation, awakening and liberation. Meditation and spiritual teachings are the vehicle to access these states of consciousness. We will need this support to align with our values and soul purpose during these times.