Astrologically, it has been documented that when a nation is going through powerfully challenging times, which seem to shake the very structure of the society, at least three of the following planets are notably present and in challenge to each other by transit:
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Let's explore which of these planets are currently active as we find ourselves in the middle of a global economic downturn, and with the likelihood of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns emerging throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
As outlined in the Saturn/Uranus Opposition article of August 2008, posted in the archived articles, there is a challenging opposition between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces taking place four times between October of 2008 and August of 2010. It was noted that:
"When the pendulum swings to the Saturn side, we favor stability, security, though we may also feel static, contracted, caught in a "chop wood, carry water" phase. We feel the density of our physical bodies and the efforts of dealing with the physical plane. We worry about money and the uncertainty of the future. We resist change, as we resist having to face those nagging doubts, fears and worries which keep coming to the surface.
When the pendulum swings to the Uranus side, we make great effort to break free, to escape the "hold" of Saturnian limitations. We frantically search for that which will give us a framework for all that we are experiencing. We take bold strides and make strong statements to strengthen our sense of freedom, independence and individual expression. We make deals with God - "I'll make the effort to go with the flow in the wake of these huge changes taking place on Planet Earth, if you'll personally share with me what your plan is!"
Saturn will be in the sign of Libra from October 29, 2009 through the end of March, 2010. It then retrogrades back in to the sign of Virgo, April through July 21, 2010, and comes back into Libra, July 22, 2010, where it remains through Oct 5, 2012.
A challenging 'square' between Saturn in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn is in effect from November 15, 2009 through August 21, 2010. This comes to an exact square November 15, 2009, January 31, 2010 and August 21, 2010.
A Saturn/Pluto square carries the qualities of tension, frustration, struggle, restriction and limitation, so this contributes to individuals adopting a serious, no-nonsense attitude, buckling down, getting with the program, and casting aside frivolity and dreams and placing all of our attention on taking care of the business at hand.
The planet, Uranus, enters the picture in July and August of 2010, when it moves into the sign of Aries, opposes Saturn in Libra (the fifth opposition between these two planets) and squares Pluto in Capricorn, creating a challenging T-square configuration. Pluto does not come to the exact degree of the other two planets but hovers around close enough to make an impact. Uranus in Aries comes into an exact opposition with Saturn in Libra on July 26, 2010.
With this combination, we are likely to witness an acceleration of unpredictable weather patterns. The Uranus element is likely to catapult a handful of revolutionary public figures into the fore front, who seek to take the lead and boldly challenge the status quo.
On a psychological note, about Saturn and Pluto, astrologer and Jungian analyst, Liz Greene writes: "Death is irrevocable; when anything ends or has reached its term of completion, it cannot in any sense of the word be recreated exactly the same - whether it is an individual, a state of consciousness, a feeling, a relationship, or a society. We observe this process in the endings and beginnings of social structures, of nations, of religions, of the world of nature. It is worth trying to understand this archetype of death, rebirth, and the eternal cycling around the unchanging centre."
Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, who took great interest in astrology, was born with a Saturn/Pluto square in his natal chart and realized that if he was to understand the workings of this planetary combination, he would need to explore archetypes and their connection to the collective unconscious.
Jung became so fascinated by what he discovered while immersed in his own inner shadow work, and by the powerful dreams of his patients, that he dedicated his life to writing about the importance of the individual becoming aware of the shadow and integrating it, for without this understanding and integration, he believed it was not possible to become whole.
When we are aware of the psychological element at work here, it's obvious that the global economic downturn, along with other changes taking place, and yet to take place on our planet, are the outer expression of what is stirring within the collective unconscious.
For those not familiar with psychological processes, the thought of unseen, energetic forces stirring up the collective unconscious may create feelings of fear, ambiguity and mistrust, but in effect, this is part of a natural cycle. We've gone through this so many times in history, most recently, in the 1960's.
Along with the restrictive elements of the McCarthy political era, the 1950's revealed a stronghold of conservative family values and an increase in the willingness to accept the emergence of the new consumer power available to middle class Americans. People began to settle-in after the strains of the second world war. Things were beginning to look pretty tidy, idyllic and predictable.
Then along came the 1960's and the stirrings of the collective unconscious, as a growing number of individuals began to protest and revolt against middle class values, the Vietnam war, the current political environment and the sovereign power it held over the status quo. A new movement began to gather momentum, hence the birth of the counter-culture revolution.
During the 1960's, we might say that the 'darkness' came in the form of the Vietnam War, extensive drug use and abuse, the breaking down of family values and a total lack of respect of the current model of authority. However, it is also true that a new consciousness emerged, which prepared the way for a more liberal way of life, among many other things.
These powerful planetary transits always represent a learning experience, for they bring our attention to what we need to address within ourselves, within our current circumstances, within our relationships and within our society.
So here we are together, facing the end of an old way of life and on the cusp of heralding in a new era! The outer goings on are not happening to us, rather they are happening within us. Our job is to consciously step into the flow and maintain flexibility, become resilient and masterful at making our way in the world, learn hands-on energy tools and emotional tools to help us stay centered and grounded, show kindness and patience toward others and do spiritual practices which help us align with divine guidance.
This next 2 years and 8 months of Saturn transiting through the relationship oriented sign of Libra will likely indicate that the time is upon us where we must find the way to live in peace, harmony and effectively with each other, with our national and international community, with nature, and with Divine laws.
