Saturn + Neptune Meet in Aries
In a matter of days, Saturn (limits, wisdom, thresholds) and Neptune (disillusionment, escapism, blurred boundaries) will meet in early Aries (bravery, courage, fire).
What might this mean for an individual?
What might this mean for the collective?
What is being reflected to us in the mirrors of our world, our relationships and that quiet voice inside our heads?
For individual delineation, we look to our own charts and find Aries. We may ask, how am I being called to stand my ground? Where is courage trying to be expressed through me? Which thresholds am I willing to cross in order to move towards defending my values?
To take this further, we may explore the placement of Mars, managing or "ruling over" this dynamic which is unfolding in his fiery home of Aries. Transiting Mars is dancing through the Airy sign of Aquarius at the moment. I picture Mars as the manager of the Saturn/Neptune conjunction in Aries, wearing an Aquarian cloak, imbued with lofty ideals, an ideal vision (Ideal to whom?) and ungrounded hope.
Is ungrounded hope the vision that strives to move humanity forward or too theoretical to harness? That's for each of us to discern.
For the collective, I'm reminded of words by astrologer Becca Tarnus when referring to the meeting of Saturn and Neptune. Those of, "Merging the ideal with the real." Neptune representing the ideal and Saturn the real.
This meeting of Saturn/Neptune hovers over the IC of the United States of America's chart. Recently on a visit to the Museum of the American Revolution in my hometown, I sat with these words while watching a video about the American Revolution. The narrator used the exact same key words - ideal and real - to describe what was happening in America during the late 1700s. Words Tarnus used to describe the impending Saturn/Neptune conjunction.
We can infer from looking at the chart below, that Saturn had recently pulled away from a conjunction with Neptune (about 3 years prior to the inception of the nation).
As these planets reengage, like they did in the 1770s, we see these themes emerge again but also an intense interest in the birth of America - with Ken Burns' The American Revolution documentary being buzzed about, many museums and landmarks preparing for 250th celebrations and Visit Philly dedicating a whole planning guide to this landmark birthday.
Saturn will move on from this first decan of Aries in about a year's time (due to retrograde motion). Neptune however, will be splashing waves upon the IC for about twice as long.
In the meantime, Uranus will be returning and crossing another angle in the chart.
I do not pretend to ever know what Uranus has in store for me, let alone anyone else. For times such as these, I defer to Amos Lee,
"There is nothing more powerful than beauty in a wicked world."
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Want to spend time with the ancient symbols together? Contemplative Astrology course starts March 12. All are welcome.