Jupiter and Saturn: what marks out history?

The conditions leading up to the spectacular Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Taurus in May 2000. Is this the beginning of a few financial mindset?

November 1998

The cycle of Jupiter and Saturn from one conjunction to another takes almost exactly 20 years. It marks out significant periods in history and is particularly associated with cycles in finance. In addition, the elements of the signs in which these conjunctions occur mark out a larger cycle of about 240 years.

The changing of the element in which this conjunction occurs reflects changes in the social fabric and structure of society. For example in 1802 the first conjunction in Earth took place, marking the start of the current cycle and reflecting the growing industrialisation of society.

It is usual for there to be a crossover in this cycle, i.e. 1802 - Virgo, Earth, 1821 - Aries, Fire, 1842 - Capricorn, Earth, and 1981 - Libra, Air, 2000 - Taurus, Earth, 2020 - Aquarius, Air.

As you can see from the dates above we are in the process of changing elements at the moment, which is reflected by the increase in computer technology, information availability and the debate about the "Post Industrial Society". Many Astrologers agree that the first conjunction in an element is important and will influence the whole cycle, but there is disagreement whether this is the first in an element i.e. 1802 or 1981 or the first of the uninterrupted period i.e. 1842 or 2020.

Whatever the answer, it is clear that we are in a period of transition between an Industrial society and an Information society, and our attitudes towards wealth are undergoing a similar change.

Financial crises are commonly associated with hard aspects between Jupiter and Saturn, the last square between them occurred in 1995; let's examine its impact on the world's money markets.

There was only one exact square, occurring in November, but in the February they came within a degree of completing the aspect before retrograding away. It was in the February that British Investment bank Barrings collapsed after suffering huge losses, reflecting the tense relationship between Jupiter and Saturn at that time.

It would be fair to have expected similar incidents at the time of the exact square in November 1995, but, perhaps surprisingly, no significant event was reported. More interestingly the serious fluctuations of summer 1998, including the Asian crisis and Russian debacle have taken place under the sanguine influence of an approaching sextile.

So we must look deeper and bring in other cycles.

The first square of the Saturn Neptune cycle together with Saturn travelling into Taurus took place in June, which was at the very time that the media first picked up on the crisis in Asia, and the start of the financial market jitters which are still in process. Now, let's look at the other cycles that will come into play over the course of the remainder of this cycle:

The first square of the Uranus Saturn cycle will take place in June 1999 at 15 degrees of Taurus and Aquarius, coinciding with the eclipse of the Sun in August 1999 at 18 degrees of Leo. Further squares between Uranus and Saturn take place in the teenage degrees of the fixed signs and the last will be at 20 degrees just days before the Jupiter Saturn conjunction.

In May 2000, just prior to the Jupiter Saturn conjunction there will be several planets in Taurus.

Looking ahead you can see this marks the start of 18 months leading up to the next Jupiter Saturn conjunction in May 2000.

Lets break this down into pieces:

1    Saturn into Taurus - hype and bluster is no longer enough, now we require absolute facts and solid evidence. We must be able to count and see out assets. Taurus is associated with wealth and property and is seen by some as the most material of signs; Saturn is the most material of planets, taken together the twin influence forces us to re-appraise how we look at our financial systems. Do our measures of wealth hold up to scrutiny?

2    The Saturn Neptune conjunction Capricorn together with the Uranus Neptune conjunction of the early 90's has influenced changes in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The first square of any cycle puts pressure of what was born at the conjunction to justify itself and test its integrity. Saturn represents Law, and Neptune Deception and Confusion. It doesn't take much imagination to apply this image to the situation in Russia. Taken in terms of the global economy, we will have the wool pulled over our eyes no longer. As well as confusion, Neptune is associated with fraud, dodgy dealing and also the Idealism of Martyrs. Markets have been perceived as Gods, being both untouchable, unquestionable and the means of our Salvation.

3    Saturn Jupiter square of 1995 saw no associated crash. If you look at the chart for this set for London, you can see the descendant is 28 Pisces and Saturn is at 18 Pisces, which happen to be the stations of Jupiter as it travels through Pisces this year. Perhaps the latent stress of the square could be triggered then.

4    Saturn will retrograde into Aries, and Neptune will retrograde into Capricorn before their series of squares has finished. This echoes the need to have substantial and quantifiable assets, not just numbers and reassurances. Hierarchy and structure are Capricornian themes; it may be that the process of dissolution started with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 has not finished.

5    The change of element from Earth to Air and back to Earth shows the need to re-evaluate how we measure our wealth and conduct our business. The last 20 years have seen drastic changes. The symbolism would suggest we must find a balance between earth and air.

6    There is a "pile up" of planets in Taurus immediately before the conjunction but they have moved into Gemini by the time it is exact would indicate that this is a problem which we need to deal with before we can fully embrace a realistic (Earth) Information Society.

7    Saturn Uranus cycles track the implementation of ideals in society. Does the fact that the Saturn Uranus square takes place just prior to the Jupiter Saturn conjunction give us hope that we will be able implement our new found lessons?

Saturn and Uranus represent the boundary between the visible and personal/social and the invisible/transpersonal planets. They are also linked with Chiron as the asteroid/planetoid crosses both their orbits. Chiron is currently in the late teens of Scorpio and one of its themes is transcending the polarity and holding two ideas - not A or B but both. Could it be that we are laying the ground now, as Chiron moves through these fixed degrees, that will enable us to have ideas and substance? To Have and Have Not...?