Astrology of 2020 and Beyond
There was a conversation recently on the Diviners Anonymous Discord Server about what makes the astrology of 2020 different than other years. It made me realize that I’ve written about the astrology of 2020 quite a lot for Patreon but not a lot for the wider community. Even though it is now September, I think it’s still worth looking at the astrological weather for this year. The Pluto/Saturn/Jupiter drama is coming to a close, but a couple of the plot arcs are just gearing up.
In Austin Coppock's conversation with Gordon White about the astrology of the second half of 2020, he said that we've reached the point where we pretty much know how global events are going to impact us for the next little while. We have already started to experience all of the big influences that will be in play over the next few years, so we have a good view of the overall lay of the land. The game is in play, and we've seen our opponent's cards.
The game isn't over. At the individual level, people may be in for some personal surprises, but we’re unlikely to be surprised by anything that happens on the global stage.
It's time to focus on how current events are impacting us personally.
Go on a news fast. Get some sleep. Think about how this is impacting you and focus on what you need to do to get through this.
How Astrological Prediction Works
For as long as the concept of history has existed, people have studied the cycles of history and tried to predict it. Historians in the 19th and 20th centuries looked to Rome to understand the rise and fall of modern industrial empires. Karl Marx tried to use cycles to understand the rise and fall of economies.
In ancient times, the wise used the cycles of the planets to talk about the cycles of history. Modern astrologers still look to the stars for guidance. Influenced by the work of CG Jung, they have learned that events do not repeat literally, but important events in planetary cycles tend to have common (archetypal) themes.
The basic techniques astrologers use have changed very little in over 2,000 years. As planets go around the sun, they make the same patterns over and over again. They appear to come together. They separate until they appear to be on opposite sides of the sky, and then they come together again.
Through observation, ancient astrologers discovered that some planetary configurations correspond to special events on earth. When two or more planets come together (conjunction), it is the beginning of a new cycle. When they appear to be as far apart as they can be (opposition), events that were foreshadowed at the beginning of the cycle reach their greatest intensity. When the planets come together again, the cycle ends, and a new one begins.
One complete planetary cycle has the same structure as a story with a beginning (astrological conjunction), rising action (astrological square), climax (astrological opposition), and conclusion (astrological conjunction) which also serves as the new beginning.
Major Astrological Events
Saturn/Pluto/Jupiter Conjunctions
Exact on January 12, 2020.
Saturn is the planet of structure, institutions, boundaries, borders, limits, old age, and conservatism. During Saturn times, conservative forces are in the spotlight. We deal with issues involving containment, the protection/creation of borders, and the life-cycle of institutions.
Pluto is named after the Roman god of the underworld. It is the planet of death, destruction, and transformation. Pluto times correspond to times of extreme pruning. Things that are dysfunctional collapse, often causing death and destruction.
When Saturn and Pluto come together, the world tends to experience disease, totalitarianism, lockdowns, and economic failure.
This is the end of an old Saturn/Pluto cycle and the beginning of a new one. The last cycle began in 1982 and reached its climax in the fall of 2001. The new cycle will reach its climax in 2035 and end in 2053.
Adding Jupiter to the picture is a mixed blessing. Jupiter is a benefic planet that tries to improve whatever it touches. It is not at its best in Capricorn, however, so it isn’t able to help as much as it otherwise would. At the same time, Jupiter is an amplifier expanding whatever it touches, which adds to the drama.
Saturn/Pluto Through History
1776 - American Revolution (square)
1914 - The Outbreak of World War I (conjunction)
1931, 1940 - The Great Depression, the rise of fascism in Europe, the beginning of World War II (opposition and square)
1982 - Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, the Iran-Iraq War, the Soviet war in Afghanistan that lead to the jihadist movement, AIDS epidemic (conjunction)
2001 - 9/11, the Israel-Palestine crisis (opposition)
Saturn square Uranus
Gearing up in 2020, exact in 2022-2023.
Saturn is containment, conservatism, structure, boundaries, and authority.
Uranus is explosive, progressive, and revolutionary. Uranus times are marked by shocking, sudden events. Some of these events are experienced as subjectively good. Some are experienced as subjectively bad.
When Saturn and Uranus meet, they create tension between revolutionary forces and authoritarian structures. This can manifest as social unrest/protests and lockdowns, erratic authorities, repressive revolutions, and sudden breakdowns/breakthroughs.
The current cycle began in 1988, reached its climax in 2008-2010, and is in its falling action now (square). The cycle will end in 2032.
Saturn/Uranus Through History
1861 - American Civil War (square)
1918-1919 - End of World War I, Spanish Flu Epidemic (opposition)
1930 - Great Depression (square)
1988 - Lockerbie terrorist attack, troubles in Ireland (conjunction)
2008-2010 - Arab Spring (opposition)
Mars in Aries
Enters Aries on June 27, retrograde (15-28 degrees Aries) September 9-November 13
Mars is named after the god of war. It is an extremely hot, dry planet astrologically. Mars times are inflammatory--aggressive, angry, and conflict-prone. Fevers, fires, separations--things that burn and cut are Mars things. Mars corresponds to physical inflammation. It gets things started, and it causes friction in relationships.
Mars rules Aries, which means the planet is very powerful there and doesn't need anyone's permission to do what it wants.
Mars usually spends six weeks in Aries. Because it is going retrograde in Aries this year, it will be going much more slowly than usual, spending six months in this sign. It is as if the Mars in Aries chapter is extra long in the story of 2020. Mars has more time to cause a big impact.
During Mars retrograde season, Mars is asking: What is worth fighting over? We had until mid-August to get a feel for how this is going to show up for us. Pay attention to how you're dealing with anger and conflict. Are you a person who could use motivation and energy to start things? Do you tend to get angry? Is inflammation a problem for you? Don't overcommit or get too busy or get over-optimistic while Mars is retrograde.
This transit is more personal than the other transits. It is especially not a time to focus on world events. Focus on how it is hitting you personally. (What houses/planets are in the second half of Aries for you? What houses does Mars rule?)
US Pluto Return
Exact in 2022.
When a planet returns to the same place in its orbit that it was in when a birth/event occurred, it is said to be going through a “planetary return.” Pluto’s orbit is approximately 250 years long, and it is approaching the place where it was in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Pluto is named after the god of the underworld. During Pluto times, we confront the collective shadow. Structures that are no longer sustainable are torn down.
During a Pluto return, problems (such as racial injustice, balance of power between branches of government, tensions between states, electoral college in the United States) that have been in place since the beginning come into serious review. Pluto is the great leveler.
In Capricorn, Pluto’s focus is on highlighting structural issues in society. This has been a theme worldwide since the economic collapse in 2008 when Pluto entered Capricorn, but 2020-2024 (when Pluto leaves Capricorn) is a particularly intense period for the US.
Sources
Angela Slezak, "Capricorn Evolution in the United States," Mountain Astrologer, 6 February 2017
Richard Tarnas, Cosmos and Psyche
Gordon White, "H2 2020 Astrological Forecast with Austin Coppock" (YouTube)
This post was originally published on adapembroke.com.
