Reflecting on the global situation based on the current Astronomical planetary configuration and Astrological interpretation, in reference to a key astrological title from the Adyar Library.
These are unprecedented times. A global ‘Pandemic’ has re-shaped the current state and style of life and affairs in society as we know it. We may begin to understand how this may be interpreted, through an examination of the Astrological situation occurring in the heavens above us.
The planet Saturn is currently ‘conjunct’ the planet Pluto in the sign of Capricorn. The planet Jupiter is also co-presiding in same sign of Capricorn. This conjunction was joined in March by the planet Mars. Mars is currently 90° square to this conjunction in the sign of Aries and is currently in a retrograde motion. We may now explore the Astrological inferences of these Astronomical Zodiacal placements and aspects, referencing an important text from the Adyar Library.
The book ‘Planets in Transit, Life Cycles for Living’ by Robert Hand denotes the transiting planetary aspect of Saturn conjunct Pluto (p. 358), during this transit you may have fewer resources available for doing what you want, and you may have to focus the available resources on more restricted and concentrated objectives.”[1] The planet Pluto is astrologically seen to represent the ‘power of transformation’, the planet Saturn may be seen to ‘narrow and focus’ as a planet of maturity and responsibility. Hand states that ‘structure in your life will change significantly’. Hand then continues that “on a material level, this transit often causes financial problems or other kinds of shortages”[2] – do you think that Hand could have predicted those shortages to largely include items such as toilet paper, when the publication first came into print in 1976?
Hand states that the planet “Pluto can signify tremendous evolutionary energies, which Saturn restricts. This can lead to an apparent suppression of the Pluto force. When the suppressed force erupts, it may be dangerous, explosive and quite violent.”[3] The current ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) protests may be seen as an outlet for this radical transformation. The mature, responsible and considered energies of the planet Saturn should be incorporated in this evolution and development, in the building of new structures to correct the problems that we are now facing. We are seeing new structures being built and restrictions put into place, we can only hope that Saturnine respect is being given to these newly built socio-economic structures, for longevity and not merely repression, in order for the outcome to be more ‘fruitful’.
The co-presence of the planet Jupiter also plays into the current global expansive transformation. Jupiter became exactly conjunct Pluto on 5 April 2020. Traditionally in astrology, Jupiter is seen as the planet of luck, travel and expansion. Hand states that “Jupiter signifies the individual reaching out to include more and more of the universe and its experience within himself or herself. It is a planet of growth and enlargement.”[4] Hand includes; “Jupiter will sometimes just enlarge something or make an action grandiose or overdone”[5] (p.265). The growing physical and perceived situation through media coverage of the current pandemic and also civil unrest through protest, may be seen as expanding to new levels. Unprecedented financial and economic packages are revealed and vast social measures and restrictions are implemented, including the complete overhaul and lockdown of international travel and local business. “Jupiter has a strong social dimension as well. It is concerned with the social ’glue’ that holds everything together. Thus it rules the law and the legal system, as well as persons in power and government officials, a function that it shares with the Sun”[6] (astrologically). “One manifestation of certain Jupiter transits can be problems with the law. Of course, under other transits, Jupiter can confer legal power upon you.”[7] Global restrictions and laws have been greatly implemented not least of all to travel. The Australian state of Victoria is currently on ‘lock-down’ with curfew restrictions in place at the time of writing this article. The co-presence in Capricorn sees Saturn effectively applying the brakes to the planet Jupiter’s metaphorical accelerator in regards to travel and expansive movement.
The planet Mars is retrograde in the planet’s astrological home (Fire) sign of Aries, making the planet’s astrological influence greater. An exact 90° ‘Square’ aspect with the planet Saturn will be created on 30 September 2020. Mars is at home in this Fire sign, and square to Capricorn (an Earth sign). We can examine a notional understanding of these elementary energies to deduce a possible energetic outcome, not least of all to observe the actuality of ‘Fire on Earth’, presently in the American state of California. On p.342 of Planets in Transit, Hand states in regards to Saturn square Mars; “It may be that you come across people whose goals are intrinsically opposed to yours. This may happen in any area of your life; most commonly it will affect your work and social life, but it can also affect your personal and domestic life.”[8] Hand advises that one should ‘Not take unnecessary risks’, have regular health check-ups and generally, operating in the best intentions of the planet Saturn, as earlier described, i.e. with controlled maturity and responsibility for the best possible mitigation of risk. It would be best to try not to force or rush things, at least until Mars completes it’s retrograde cycle on 13 November 2020.
[1] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.358
[2] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.359
[3] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.359
[4] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.265
[5] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.265
[6] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.265
[7] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.265
[8] R Hand, Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, USA, 2001, p.342