Saturn in Aquarius and Celestial Notes for This Week

This week: At 15 minutes before midnight Eastern Time on Sunday March 22, Saturn entered Aquarius, and will spend the majority of the rest of 2020 playing zig zag, running between the final degrees of Capricorn and the first degrees of Aquarius, before settling in for the long haul of about the next 2 ½ years of Saturn in Aquarius, beginning in December 2020. 

This is the first time Saturn has been in Aquarius since the last time, the last time being February 1991 through the beginning of 1994, more or less, considering the retrogrades at both the beginning and the end of that period. But this Saturn in Aquarius differs in that it contains the conjunction of Saturn to Jupiter, the Great Conjunction, in the sign of Aquarius for the first time since 1405. This happens in December of this year, and the entire year is a lead-up to this celestial portent which signals the paradigm shift, change of world leaders, systems, and the end of the old cycle, beginning of the new. We’re in labor folks, and we’re dilated to 10 and we’re pushing! We’re pushing!

Also Sunday Mercury, back in Pisces but finally going in the right direction, that is to say moving forward, makes a sextile to Uranus in Taurus, which is going to make vague information (that’s Mercury in Pisces) more embodied (that’s Taurus) and solid, maybe in a surprising way or from someone “different” or unique, or perhaps it’s the information itself which comes as a surprise. Venus in Gemini sextiles Neptune and with the Moon in Pisces conjunct Neptune, I’d worry about too much data overload confusing everything, and the inability of those at the highest levels to see the forest for the trees. 

Monday March 23^rd, Mars in Capricorn conjuncts Pluto. Friends I’m going to try to spin this as positively as I can, but I just can’t sugar coat it, much as I’d like to! Mars in Capricorn is big business, Pluto in Capricorn is big power and big money. The conjunction of these two may trigger outrage and then maybe some outright rage later in the evening when the Moon leaves passive, too easily victimized by external circumstances Pisces and goes roaring into Mars-ruled Aries. 

The astronomical New Moon in Aries Tuesday morning makes a conjunction to the asteroid Chiron, the Wounded Healer. You know what I’d love to hear when that happens? “Hello, we’ve discovered a cure for the Corona Virus!” I hope and pray that’s the call. However because of the Mars/Pluto machinations of the previous day, what I’m the most worried about is Wednesday’s conjunction of the Sun in Aries to Chiron in Aries. With the Cardinal Fire sign of Aries, which remember is the Tribe of Yehuda so just think Yehuda energy but basically unrectified because this is the world we’re living in – The Sun illuminates the pain of this whole world, which is Chiron in Aries. Chiron is “the wounded healer,” this asteriod’s legend and archetype is this: a centaur who lived on Mt. Olympus as tutor to the children of the gods, Chiron was wise, kind, and beneficent to all – maybe a little bit too much so, for because he took pity on the human race and taught them the secret of fire, Zeus, the king of the gods, punished his centaur / tutor by giving him a wound which would never heal. The only relief Chiron could get for his wound was to heal others who were also wounded. So we have Chiron in Aries, the sign of blood, the sign of fire, the sign ruled by Mars, conjunct the Sun. I’d like to hope this means the healing ultraviolet rays of the Sun illuminate the consciousness of all of mankind and remove the primal woundedness from each person through self-awareness. OR it could be a violent (that’s Aries) manifestation of woundedness (people rioting via Zoom?) because the government is dragging their feet around sending relief and dealing with this thing? 

Rosh Chodesh Nissan comes on Thursday and the Moon enters Venus-ruled Taurus. Now things start to get real. We’ve moved out of Solar Pisces and even now out of Chodesh Adar into Chodesh Nissan – the month G*d willing of REDEMPTION, for the Jewish People and the Human Race, may it be so! 

The Moon in earthy Taurus squares practical Saturn in Capricorn on Thursday, prompting investment into solid and concrete value – stocking up on canned goods? Toilet paper? Buying stock in Weight Watchers because you know from all this stress-eating their stock is going to go sky high in the summer? The Moon in Taurus also makes a conjunction to Neptune Thursday evening, and a sextile to Pluto Friday morning. The rich get richer and the poor get angry. Revelations of powerful elites receiving favorable treatments and financial outcomes may stress the general public to the breaking point. That’s on a national level. On a personal level: Emotions are going to ping-pong all over the place, from hopelessness to empowerment, from fear to desperation to climbing the ladder of faith all over again. That’s a description of the New Normal but it’s also Thursday and Friday by the stars. 

Saturday which is the 3^rd of Nissan is Shabbat Parshat Vayikra, Venus in her home sign of Taurus trines Jupiter in Capricorn, and later trines Pluto in Capricorn as well. If you listen to Venus in Taurus what she’s saying is this: take a bath. Eat some chocolate. Make love. Jupiter and Pluto are only too happy to oblige, empower, and facilitate her requests. I suggest you cooperate as well. We are all going to need the most de-stressing of activities to counteract all the stresses going on all around us as the days turn into weeks of social isolation.

The Vernal Equinox: Forecasting The Year of the Jupiter-Saturn Great Conjunction

The Vernal Equinox, or "The Revolution of the World-Year" (tekufat ha-olam) as our great commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra & the medieval Jewish astrologers referred to it, occured in Washington, DC Thursday March 19 at 11:50pm, and Jerusalem Friday March 20 at 5:48am.

The horoscope for the Vernal Equinox (by location) determines the forecast for the year ahead. But this Vernal Equinox is different - because it occurs in a year during which there will be the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (which occurs in December 2020).

The three Jupiter-Saturn conjunction cycles of 20, 240, and 960 years which take place within elemental triplicities (fire, air, earth, water) were viewed as portents of political and social change, the emergence of a new dynasty, nation, or a great prophet. This “Great Conjunction” was the focus of Jewish messianic speculation from the earliest contacts with its origins in Third Century Sassanian Persia through Abu Ma’ashar, the medieval commentators such as Abraham Bar Hiyya, Abraham Ibn Ezra, and others.

Ibn Ezra taught (in his "Eight Macro-Astrological Rules" laid out in the various versions of his Sefer haOlam) that casting the horoscope for the tekufat ha-olam during the year which contains the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction forecasts these world affairs, political and social change, etc.

The upcoming Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in December occurs in Aquarius, for the first time since 1405.

Aquarius is the sign of the Jewish people.

Saturn is the planet known to "rule" the Jewish People (Saturn is "Shabbtai" - a variant of Shabbat).

Pictured here are the horoscopes for both Jerusalem and Washington, DC for the Vernal Equinox 2020.

DAYS ARE COMING. They're coming - and they're already here.

The Capricorn Hot Spot: Getting Hotter and Hotter!

I didn't know how eerily accurate I was when I wrote in December that the Solar Eclipse / New Moon in Capricorn December 25th was the energetic kick-off to an entire year of momentous global stress.

Dec. 31, 2019:
The government in Wuhan, China, confirmed that health authorities were treating dozens of cases. Days later, researchers in China identified a new virus that had infected dozens of people in Asia.

I've also written / spoken extensively about the Saturn-Pluto conjunction on January 12, 2020 and the gigantic structural changes / destruction of the old.

January 11, 2020:
On Jan. 11, Chinese state media reported the first known death from an illness caused by the virus, which had infected dozens of people.

Here are three dates coming this year for the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction which will see a lot of stress around a GIGANTIC (Jupiter) RAW, UNRESTRAINED POWER (Pluto) around "life and death issues" (Pluto, modern ruler of Scorpio, again - death and rebirth, the phoenix rising from the ashes, self-immolation to be born anew from the ashes of destruction, etc.)

APRIL 4 - Jupiter & Pluto conjunct at 24 degrees Capricorn
JUNE 30 - Jupiter & Pluto conjunct at 24 Capricorn RETROGRADE
NOVEMBER 12 - Jupiter & Pluto conjunct at 22 Capricorn

All three of these Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions happen right on top of the same degree of the zodiac where the Saturn-Pluto conjunction occurred January 12 this year.

Because these conjunctions take place so close to the USA's natal Pluto, it's possible the declaration of martial law may occur if panic, hoarding and looting set in. Let's hope I'm really, really wrong about all of this!

Pluto is the god of the underworld, of course. And fabulously wealthy (that's where we get "Plutocracy"). I feel there will be a huge (Jupiter) gap between how the rich ride this out compared with how the poor are able to (or not able to). But isn't that always the case? We see that even now with how the US government is throwing trillions of dollars at the economy to prevent a total meltdown, but most of the money is going to those who already have money. The truly poor will not benefit from this influx of cash - and it's the truly poor who need it most.

Pictured: The USA's natal chart with transits for 3/26/20. Note the position of Pluto in the USA's natal chart at 27 Capricorn, within 4 degrees orb of the the Capricorn "Hot Spot" which has been continually irritated and will continue to be so until after November.

 

Democratic Debate Tonight During Mercury Retrograde in Pisces = UH OH!

With the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn & Pluto in Capricorn, Venus in fiery Aries, and Mercury Retrograde in Pisces, tonight's Democratic Debate should be SPARKY, and confusing.

Misinformation should be watched for very closely. If I were the campaign manager for any of the candidates I'd be drilling them hard on actual verifiable and demonstrable facts all day today.

Transiting Venus in Aries directly opposite Mayor Pete's natal Mars in Libra, and conjunct Bernie's Moon/Mars. Watch for sparring between those two, which inadvertently may strengthen Bloomberg's Venus-ruled Mars in Taurus.

Don't count Warren out yet. Though we don't know her birth time, her natal North Node at 23 Aries is hard-squared by the 2020 Capricorn Cluster (22-25 degrees), making 2020 her do-or-die year. Her biggest astrological problem is her Sun/Uranus conjunction at Zero degrees Cancer ("a planet is not established in a sign until it reaches 1 degree), making it nearly impossible to pin down who she REALLY is - we think we know her in some way, but she's not really "knowable" by the public. BUT her natal Jupiter is at 0 degrees Aquarius: the degree where the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of December 2020 takes place. Don't count "weird luck" out of the equation. 

Biden's Sun, Mercury, and Venus in Scorpio are all sextiled by the Capricorn Cluster, which normally is a supportive angle, and his natal Jupiter (his ruling planet because Sagittarius Rising) at 25 Cancer in his 8th House (things he shares with others including values, valuables, resources & intimacies) is opposed by the Saturn/Pluto/Jupiter Capricorn Cluster in his 2nd House (stuff that belongs to him). He literally believes he "owns" the nomination, and is increasingly shocked as days and weeks go by to find that he in fact, does not.

And Amy? Her Mars in Aries (like Bernie's) makes her a hardcore fighter, and going into the DNC nominating convention in July transiting Venus in Gemini will be conjunct her Sun/Moon/Mercury in Gemini and retrograde Mars in Aries will be conjunct her natal Mars, and her natal North Node at 21 Virgo is harmoniously trined with the Capricorn Cluster. She is having a Very Good Year and may end up in a powerful and advantageous position at the DNC. Of course we'll have to wait and see. First let's get through tonight's debate, and on to Super Tuesday & the rest of the primaries (Mercury Retrograde in Pisces on Super Tuesday - balloting MAY be an issue, as well as misinformation around exit polls - just sayin').

Amy Klobuchar's Natal Chart

Joe Biden's Natal Chart

Mike Bloomberg's Natal Chart

Pete Buttigieg's Natal Chart

Elizabeth Warren's Natal Chart (TIME UNKNOWN)

 

Bernie Sanders Natal Chart (Whole Sign)

Bernie Sanders - DNC Nominee?

Bernie Sanders: DNC Nominee?

During the DNC nominating convention in July, the transiting North Lunar Node (the "dragon's head", Rahu, or the T'li of the Sefer Yetzirah - meaning the theoretical mathematical point thought to indicate the karmic trajectory or tikkun point in a person's natal chart) will be conjunct Bernie's Parts of Fortune, his natal "Shefa Point" in his 8th House (things he shares with others: values, valuables, resources & intimacies). 

On election day the North Lunar Node will be conjunct his natal Jupiter in Gemini, also in his 8th House. North Node conjunct Jupiter in 8th House = "BIG WIN"... but....but....but....

It happens to be Bernie's natal Jupiter is very close to Trump's natal Sun in Gemini, so the North Node when making a conjunction to Bernie's Jupiter will also be conjunct Trump's Sun (and opposite his natal Moon in Sagittarius, which of course means the South Lunar Node will be conjunct his natal Moon). If they do end up running against each other that configuration will be a real live "Clash of the Titans", more so than any other candidate in the race.

I'm fairly confident about his Ascendant being Scorpio, though his birth time is in question, I'm holding with the astrologer who asked for, received, and recorded his birth time several decades ago. Scorpio Rising makes us look at Mars, the classical ruler of Scorpio, conjunct his Moon in fiery, combative Aries (that's why he's always yelling) in his 6th House, the place of "work", "service" and "unequal / hierarchical relationships" (such as employer/employee, pet/pet owner, etc.) Mars/Moon conjunction in Aries = an emotional (Moon) fighter (Mars) who fights for 6th House issues ("workers rights" is a very 6th House concept). Pluto, the modern ruler of Scorpio, is in Leo conjunct his Midheaven (the most public place in his chart). Pluto in Leo is a fighter as well - Trump has Pluto in Leo as does his whole generation (more or less from August 1938- August 1957). Both Bernie and Trump's Pluto in Leo placements make them "fighters" who roar like lions when they're on the attack - But Bernie's Pluto in Leo at his midheaven makes aggression his JOB, he's a "professional" (10th House) fighter, fighting for other people (that's his "job"/10th House as Senator) and Trump's Pluto AND Mars in Leo in the sign of his Ascendant makes him fight primarily for himself, fight in self-defense, fight to get what he wants for himself. 

Bernie and Trump are not that different in this sense: both have Fire Sign Mars placements (Trump in Leo, Bernie in Aries), both have strong Pluto placements in Leo, both have Mercury-ruled Sun Signs (Trump in Gemini, Bernie in Virgo), both have Fire Sign Moon placements (Trump in Sagittarius, Bernie in Aries). Trump's Leo Rising makes the Sun his ruling planet, greatly strengthening him. Bernie's Scorpio Rising makes Mars/Pluto his co-rulers; the conjunction of Saturn/Pluto in Capricorn this past January and the upcoming trifecta of Jupiter-Pluto Capricorn conjunctions during 2020 ALL make a harmonious, supportive and empowering Trine to Bernie's natal North Node (his "fate" or "destiny") in Virgo as well as to his natal Saturn in Taurus, and a hard Square, forcing decisive action, to his natal Mars/Moon conjunction in Aries. 

So like I said: clash of the Titans. But that won't happen unless Bernie is nominated, and the nominating convention in July happens during transiting Mars in Aries and transiting Jupiter and Pluto conjunct THE 2020 Capricorn Cluster Zone (22-25 degrees), with Saturn at 29 Capricorn - the ultimate degree. Bernie will literally have to fight his way to the nomination, and his opponent is the Status Quo - he'll have to beat the collective fears of the Democratic Party "powers that be" (which are an entirely different demographic than the actual voters) at the nominating convention, and that fight may be nasty. Stay tuned.

Pictured here: Bernie Sander's natal chart, whole signs method for easier viewing.

The Saturn - Pluto Conjuction: Destruction of the Old, Making Way for the New

#Saturn / #Pluto conjunction (exact today after a tortuously long build-up) at 22 degrees of Capricorn. Destruction (Pluto) of systems, structures and constrictions (Saturn) which previously seemed useful but are now exposed as impeding progress and prosperity.

Decay/Death (Pluto) of structures and systems (Saturn) to make way for the new. Separation of the essential / useful from that which no longer serves. End of the cycle which began in 1982/83 - death of the last remnants of the NeoCons, for one thing (though their death-throes be nasty with long-lasting effects; they're still dying). Collective and personal grief and loss over the destruction of the status-quo; breakdown and failure of social and economic systems consolidating power and wealth in the hands of the few. 

They that are not busy being born are busy dying (Dylan, more or less). That's the theme of this transit.



The Saturn-Pluto opposition September 2001 brought us 9/11. There Saturn in Gemini (information, communications, immediate environment i.e. "our neighborhood") was opposed by Pluto in Sagittarius (religion, "foreign" people, places and things). We all know what happened.

At the conjunction of Saturn/Pluto in Capricorn we've seen the US and Iran at the brink of war last week. Iranian students are being seen refusing to trample US and Israeli flags after discovering their leaders lied about shooting down the Ukrainian passenger plane last week.

It's interesting to note than in his Sefer HaOlam, Ibn Ezra gives the zodiac signs and planets associated with certain cities and countries. He states that Bagdad (the capital of Persia during his lifetime as well as during other periods of Persian history) was associated with 21 Cancer: exactly opposite today's Saturn/Pluto conjunction. 

It's also interesting to note that in the natal chart for the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Saturn/Pluto conjunction is exactly opposite the current Iranian government's natal Vertex. I call the Vertex "the rabbit hole" because in my experience as an astrologer it's the point where, like Alice in Wonderland following the White Rabbit, one unconsciously follows patterns which lead to repeating the same mistake over and over again until the lesson is finally learned. How many times must one fall down the rabbit hole until one learns not to follow that White Rabbit? 

The Vertex has to do with unchosen but seemingly "fated" encounters, those that seem compelled. In the Islamic Republic of Iran's natal chart, the Vertex at 23 Cancer in the 8th House (values/valuables/resources & intimacies we share with others) opposite Saturn/Pluto seems to be saying: Wait a minute! Was that really a White Rabbit I saw running past me, and do I really have to follow him down the rabbit hole again?

The consequences and long term effects of this conjunction will unfold this year as Jupiter and Pluto make three conjunctions in Capricorn, enlarging (Jupiter) the Pluto effect: death/destruction in order to create transformative change. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes of his own self-immolation, Pluto (modern planetary ruler of Scorpio)  doesn't do things halfway. There is no half-death and partial transformation: it's all or nothing now. Leading up to December 2020's Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at Zero degrees Aquarius (classically ruled by Saturn; modern ruler Uranus), by the time we get to the end of 2020 we'll be looking at ourselves and our world in the mirror and asking: Who is this? What are we becoming? Let us hope the angels of our better/best selves collectively agree we're getting better, not worse, as a human race.

CHODESH TEVET: GROWING UP AND GETTING REAL

CHODESH TEVET: GROWING UP AND GETTING REAL

Capricorn "G'di" from the Hammat Tiberias Synagogue floor mosaic, 4th Century

Why is this Chodesh Tevet (December 28, 2019 – January 26, 2020) different than all other Tevets which have gone before? Tevet is the mazal of Capricorn / G’di, the mountain goat, the month ruled by the planet Saturn/Shabbtai, and associated with the Tribe of Dan. That never changes. What’s different this month is the long-awaited (and much feared by the non-Jewish astro-blogosphere) conjunction of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn which occurs January 12^th, with Mercury, Jupiter, and the South Lunar Node in Capricorn as well. This conjunction is bookended by the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius, for the first time since the year 1405, which will take place in December 2020. The entire year of 2020 is parenthetically enclosed by these two powerful, historic Saturn conjunctions! 

Medieval commentators Abraham Bar Hiyya, Abraham ibn Ezra, Kabbalists such as Joseph Ashkenazi and Abraham Abulafia, Moshe Cordovero, and a host of others all mention the planet Saturn as having a special connection to the Jewish people. In classical astrology Saturn was the ruling planet of both Capricorn and Aquarius, though now modern astrology assigns rulership of Aquarius to Uranus. 

In personal astrology, Saturn’s role is to develop maturity. Shouldering adult responsibility and accepting hard work and personal sacrifice as the price of progress is essential. The Full Cancerian Moon / Lunar Eclipse January 10^th opposite Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and the South Node contrasts empathetic maternal energy with pragmatism so practical it’s practically heartless. Aquarius New Moon January 24 illuminates the value of compassion and tender care for the vulnerable and weak. Saturn’s transit through Capricorn into Aquarius this year is an unflinching, unvarnished, bottom-line reality check intended to ultimately develop the fully individuated, unique, empathetic and effective Self in each one of us. Growing up and getting real: these are our Tevet tasks.