Saturn-Pluto 2020: Meeting the dark shadow

Saturn and Pluto are in a conjunction that becomes exact the week of January 12, 2020. This powerful aspect occurs about every 33-38 years, and brings global changes as well as personal change in our lives. January 2020 is a significant astrological shift and a new era in the world and evolution of man as Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter meet up in Capricorn during the year. At the end of the year Saturn and Jupiter will meet up a second time in the sign of Aquarius which rules the collective.

Changes occur as a result of pressure building in many areas that finally reaches a peak. We have been under this transit throughout 2019, but the two planets have not yet met up. Astrologers have been watching this aspect for years, and we have begun to see the results play out in 2019 in terms of increased global tensions, the rise of nationalism across the world, deep seated problems such as Brexit in the UK, and Presidential impeachment proceedings in the United States. Protests continue in Hong Kong, mass shootings have become common and polarization of political parties continue and deep seated issues concerning corruption, security and abuse of power have become the norm, as well as global concerns over climate change, fires and extreme weather conditions. These transits occurred in 1819, 1851, 1883, 1914, 1947 and 1982.

Abuse and abuse of power is always present during these cycles, but so is the push back and resistance to those things and individuals who desire to exert control over others just as this occurred at the junctures of WW1, WW2, and other eras that have gone by as Saturn connects with Pluto.

This transit will set the stage for the year 2020 and the changes we experience will alter some things forever. All is not negative however; as Pluto tends to remove things that need to make room for the new. As we move through January we will see a great deal of change, and unfortunately we will see a lot of collective stress as well that will set the stage for the New Year. This transit brings issues to the forefront so they can be dealt with and removed.

The last Saturn-Pluto cycle occurred in 1982 and 2019 is the end of a cyclical period that that began at this time. Now, different personal and collective patterns and cultural situations and values now must be addressed, changed or purged from society.  The exact conjunction at 22 degrees of Capricorn on January 12, initiates a new global and personal cycle that will forge new structures, ideas and attitudes and even governments that will collectively sustain us in either an uplifting or degrading manner in the years ahead. It is our job to sustain our own efforts personally and if we do so we will have new or stronger set of personal structures to support us that will endure.

Pluto in Capricorn

Pluto is considered the planet of transformation and it has been in Capricorn for the past 11 years or since November 2008. Its entrance in this sign coincided with the ‘Great recession,’ of 2007-09, the longest since WW11. Pluto will remain in Capricorn until late 2024. While in Capricorn, Pluto deals with big business and their global influence as well as organizations like NATO, banking, money, the earth, buildings and structures. Its reach however extends far beyond these things as Pluto is represented by the mythological Hades, the God of the Underworld, who governs over the dead. Pluto rules the dark side of the human psyche, the unseen and taboo, psychology and all transforming doctrines, sex and sex trafficking. Pluto rules crime, dictatorships and fascism, abuse and abuse of power and its reach is lasting and profound.

Saturn in Capricorn

Saturn entered Capricorn late 2017 and will remain there until December 2020, with a 3 month break when it enters Aquarius March-July 2020.

Saturn is known as the ‘taskmaster,’ and represents qualities like restriction, responsibilities, and learning our personal limits and boundaries, delays and obstructions as well as age and time itself. While Saturn has been in Capricorn you may have noticed a tendency or need to get more real, or get down to the basics. This is Saturn in Capricorn and it can represent both great wealth and great privation. Saturn in this sign produces conservatism, ambition, caution, perseverance and authoritarianism.

Saturn conjunct Pluto

When these two planets conjoin we experience major events in the world such as WW1 (Saturn conjunct Pluto in Cancer), the aftermath of WW11 and Hiroshima and (Saturn-Pluto in Leo), McCarthyism, the independence of India from the British Raj and bloodshed that followed. 1982 brought the outbreak and escalation of AIDS and the start of the gay rights movement  (Libra-1982). This time was also part of the Cold War and increased hostiles between the Soviet Union and the US, as well as the aftermath of the Iranian hostage crisis. We have also experienced economic downturns during these times and economic upturns such as the one after WW11. Saturn was conjunct Pluto in 1850, which produced the fugitive slave act which provided for the return of slaves that escaped to free states in the US and President Zachery Taylor died. (Saturn-Pluto in Aries).

There is often great progress during these times in terms of science and advancements in thinking and the arts. During each of these cycles certain things came to a head as new ways of thinking become common. None of these periods are easy times in the world but in the end they bring about much needed change. After 2020 we won’t have another Saturn-Pluto conjunction until 2052 when it will conjoin in Pisces. Saturn conjunct Pluto will represent the breakdown of structures, governments, institutions and perhaps the earth’s climate itself, to rebuild anew.

Saturn’s last conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn 1518

1518 was the last time Saturn was conjunct Pluto in the sign Capricorn. At this time the Catholic Church was all powerful in Europe. Local priests had a great deal of power as their teachings were all the local people knew, and the church was heavily involved in politics. In 1517 a monk named Martin Luther penned a document attacking the Catholic Church’s practices. This sparked the Protestant reformation and the Catholic Church was ever divided changing the religious and cultural history of the West forever more. During this period the ‘dancing plague,’ occurred in what is now modern day France, and by 1518 the first African captives were shipped to the Americas as slaves and these are just a few of the global events that occurred at this time.

Saturn conjunct Pluto and you

As in any other period of history there are those who will profit and thrive during the times and others who will be forced to make significant changes in their lives. As the conjunction is at 22 degrees of Capricorn those most affected will be born under Cardinal signs or have cardinal planets (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn at 20-24 degrees. These individuals will have to work harder and may meet with difficult to solve obstacles.

The Saturn-Pluto conjunction is not easy to understand as Pluto deals with that which is deeply hidden, and Saturn relates to structures, time and limitations. When combined with Pluto, Saturn becomes very demanding and certain things must be transformed during this period that can include many different areas of your life. Saturn-Pluto will test situations, things and people in our lives for resilience just as earthquake will tests a building's structure. A building that is structurally sound is much more likely to withstand the earthquake but a house built of cards will be eliminated. We are being put in a position to defend our positions on many matters and make changes, and some things will end at this time or have to be changed in some way.

Look at this list of sun signs to determine where the Saturn-Pluto falls in your chart and the areas of life it will affect. If you know your ascendants use that.

Aries-10^th house of career and priorities

Taurus-9th house of education, travel, legal issues and world view

Gemini-8^th house of sex, other people’s money, debt and taxes, death and transformation.

Cancer-7^th house of marriage and partnerships

Leo-6^th house of health and work

Virgo-5^th house of children, friends, creativity and love

Libra-4^th house of home, and the basic foundation of life

Scorpio-3^rd house of immediate family, co-workers, neighbors, thinking

Sagittarius-2^nd house of income and money

Capricorn-1^st house of personal matters and self

Aquarius-12^th house of seclusion, the subconscious mind, matter that are hidden, secluded places

Pisces-11^th house of groups, friends, hopes and wishes

Saturn-Pluto and the week of January 5th

Saturn and Pluto will be conjunct at 22 degrees of Capricorn the week of January 5th, 2020 and the transit will peak January 12, 2020 at 11 59 AM, EST. At this time it will also conjunct the Sun and Mercury. We can expect to see world events play out at this time that will involve serious and significant communication. In the US it will involve the President some type of information and it is volatile. Global events will occur in rapid succession on or around this time. While this represents the peak of the energy, things will be set into motion that will last throughout 2020 or longer. The peak of this transit is not the end as these planets will remain in close proximity throughout most of the year.

The lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020

A powerful lunar eclipse falls on January 10, at 20 degrees of Cancer, which will ‘set off,’ the Saturn-Pluto conjunction and we will see events connected to this transit occur at this time and in the days before and after.

This eclipse falls on the 4^th-10^th house axis which concerns home, the homeland, business and security.

Cancer is the most emotional of signs and as it opposes Pluto, Saturn, Mercury and the Sun it will be an emotionally challenging time for many. Many things will end at this time, or be transformed in some way. Moon-Pluto transits can bring up deep seated fears and anxieties. This can cause inner turmoil, drama in relationships and new information can be revealed. Something could change or transform in some way at this time. Pluto is an obsessive planet and we must use care at this time not to function off of obsessions, jealousy or fear Moon-Saturn transits tend toward negative thinking, and things may seem worse than they are. It can seem lonely, depressing or tiring. You could feel burdened or unable to express yourself.

Now is the time to set your plans for the New Year and focus on them to make positive use of this energy. This is an eclipse to use caution on, and be aware of your own actions and surroundings.

The Sun conjunct Mercury concerns significant communication and argument and accidents are possible, but with its opposition to Saturn and Pluto the energy is cold, it could seem oppressive and many things are subject to change. Now is the time to get rid of undesirable habits, situations and people that no longer serve your purpose.

Moon opposing Mercury relates to communication, young people travel and accidents. It causes polarized or unbalanced or biased thinking and can lead to arguments.

Moon trine Neptune is a mild influence with the oppositions but it can provide a glimmer of optimism, hope, compassion and faith.

On the world stage this eclipse will play out in terms of authoritarian and ruthless leaders, volatility and violence, and we could hear news concerning nuclear weapons and the like. Politics will be front and center and this eclipse could affect global trade in the US, financial markets and there could be a significant national death in the New Year.

Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto

Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto will all meet up within 5 degrees of each other July-October 2020 combining the energies of these 3 powerful planets. This will be a time of testing on the world stage in regard to politics, the financial markets, and those power brokers who wish to push their ideas on others. Jupiter-Pluto transits are associated with the rise of international terrorism.

Jupiter-Saturn transits occur every 20 years and these two planets are known as the ‘Great chroniclers,’ of the ages, and their cycle is considered to be the base of world development that marks the interaction between ideas, potential and possibility in the material world. It can be a clash of ideas where the old versus the new and is forced to reform in some way. Saturn and Jupiter will be exact at 28 degrees of Capricorn mid-December, and then both Saturn and Jupiter will ingress into Aquarius at the end of 2020. Many changes will occur at this time and Aquarius rules the 11^th house of the collective which will become all important.

How to make the most positive use of this powerful energy and make it work for you!

Life will go on with this transit, and with some awareness we can all make the most of it.

The first thing we must do is to be aware of what this energy is about and how it applies in your personal chart. Once you know the area of your life this energy will affect you can get to work.

As with all harsh Saturn and Pluto transits it is important to remember there are some things we can control and other things we can’t. We can’t control death, sickness, what happens in the world or another person’s actions. We can control ourselves, our focus and direction, and how we respond to things.

It is important to know that with a harsh Pluto transit something in your life will change if it is directly aspecting your chart. Pluto can seem harsh, and if something is going to change in many cases it may be out of your control. It is important to fight for what we want and need in life, but we must pick our battles carefully, especially at this time.

Let’s say for example, you are getting a good idea things aren’t going well at work, and your job could end. If you feel strongly about this, rather than wait for the shoe to drop, take action and start looking for another job while you are ahead. The same goes for other areas of your life. Pluto transits can be especially harsh if you try to hang on to things or situations that are clearly no longer working.

Saturn is called a harsh taskmaster but it does give us perseverance and determination. The energy is there, it is up to us to direct it into worthwhile projects and situations. Take charge of the energy and direct it, rather than letting it direct you. This is the most positive use of this transit. At times, things can come together on transits like this. Lastly, nothing is permanent, and all transits will pass. This is not the first time we have seen a heavy aspect like this one.

Best wishes for 2020.