The Grand Conjunction and the Age of Aquarius…

Last week we talked about the impact of eclipses and how we can deal with change. I mentioned that the solar eclipse on December 14^th was setting the stage for a much larger cosmic transit. This week we are talking about that larger transit, and also answering the question–why does everyone keep talking about the Age of Aquarius? See this week’s video here: https://youtu.be/22sTba-7T5w

Depending on where you are in the world, if you look up at the night sky, you might see what looks like an unusually bright and very large star. What you might actually be seeing is the conjunction of the two largest planets in our solar system—Saturn and Jupiter. It is a remarkable sight; Pluto is also close by, adding its own shimmer to the mix, and we can only just marvel at how amazing the cosmos truly are. This coming together of Saturn and Jupiter, however, has a more important meaning, than just a beautiful celestial sight, it foretells a new beginning for all of us. Some astrologers have hailed this momentous meeting as the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. You may have heard the song “Aquarius” which most people refer to as “The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius.” A few lyrics say,

“When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius
Aquarius…”

It’s a catchy song from the late 1960s by the group “The 5^th Dimension” and it really highlights what some people think of when they hear, “the Age of Aquarius.” That would be themes of love, harmony, and just the elevation of humanity’s collective consciousness to a place of more empathy, compassion, and peace. The Age of Aquarius has been referred to as the Age of Freedom and Technology. Some people claim that this period will usher in a time when we are more concerned with the purification of our physical and spiritual bodies and cleaning up and taking care of the Earth. Some people say that it will usher in major innovations in everything from space travel, communication, and overall technology, while also encouraging the breakdown of systems that simply do not work anymore. Saturn in Aquarius transits have brought us the internet, the fall of apartheid, and so much more.

But what does this have to do with the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter? 

Well, on December 21^st/22^nd in some parts of the world, Saturn and Jupiter will have conjunction (a meeting) in the sign of Aquarius. This is important for several reasons. When Jupiter and Saturn meet it is called a Grand/Great Conjunction. They are also called “King Makers” or the “Royal conjunction.” It is said that when Together Jupiter and Saturn combine expansive and imaginative vision with the structure and discipline needed to both manifest results as well as strip away the inessential. This is momentous for many reasons. Although Jupiter and Saturn conjunct every 20 years, this is happening on the Winter Solstice at 0 degrees Aquarius. This indicates a new beginning. It is also the first time in over 200 years that these two planets are meeting in an Air Sign, and over 600 years since they met in Aquarius. It is the closest that Jupiter and Saturn have been since 1623. 

I mentioned that this meeting takes place on the Winter Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest amount of sunlight and the longest night. From that point, the days will begin to lengthen in terms of sunlight. The Winter Solstice also marks the day that the sun will enter the sign of Capricorn. This is a cardinal sign, and it means that this is the beginning of a season—the beginning of something new. When Saturn and Jupiter meet on this day, they will do so in the 0 degree of Aquarius. The 0 degree in astrology is called a critical degree. The 0 degree is also representative of a new beginning and a new journey ahead. Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac. They are the last air sign in the zodiac, expanding on the lessons from their air counterparts—Gemini and Libra;

In modern astrology, the planet Uranus rules Aquarius—Uranus is the planet of the unexpected, but Aquarius’s traditional ruler was Saturn—the sign is coming home in a sense. 

It confuses a lot of people that Aquarius is an air sign because their symbol is the water bearer. However, they are indeed an air sign. The “Water Bearer” represents symbolically and eternally giving life and spiritual food to the world. The water from the vessel washes away the past, leaving room for a fresh, new start. The sign of Aquarius is forward-looking and growth-oriented. Concerned with equality and individual freedom, Aquarius seeks to dispense its knowledge, and its vision of equality and individuality, to all. This is important because when most people think of the energy for next year these Aquarian traits are what they are picturing. That of the humanitarian, the visionary, the intellectual, the innovator, and the progressive. Those are what I call the best of Aquarius. Like all signs, they also have their shadow side, and can be cold, eccentric, and distant. In fact, earlier this year when Saturn spent some time in Aquarius, the entire world experienced Saturnian themes of “restriction” with Aquarian themes of “social distancing.”

So is this conjunction the beginning of the actual Age of Aquarius? 

First, I should explain what an astrological age actually is. Wikipedia has a great definition.  “An astrological age is a time period in astrologic theology which astrologers claim parallels major changes in the development of Earth’s inhabitants, particularly relating to culture, society, and politics. There are twelve astrological ages corresponding to the twelve zodiacal signs in western astrology. Advocates believe that when one cycle of the twelve astrological ages is completed, another cycle of twelve ages begins. The length of one cycle of twelve ages is 25,860 years. The 25,860 years cycle is called the Great Year. 

Some astrologers believe that during a given age, some events are directly caused or indirectly influenced by the astrological sign associated with that age, while other astrologers believe the different astrological ages do not influence events in any way. Astrologers do not agree upon exact dates for the beginning or ending of the ages, with given dates varying by hundreds of years. Most astrologers calculate that one astrological age is around 2160 years, and because of this calculation, some figure that the Age of Aquarius has not started as yet. The ages move in reverse through the Zodiac, so instead of going from Pisces to Aries, we would be going from Pisces to Aquarius. Also, most astrologers do agree that the “age” doesn’t begin on a particular day, but that it is the result of a gradual transition called a “cusp.”

So the question of whether we are in the age of Aquarius or not is a difficult question. I will call the Age of Aquarius a bit of a salacious controversy in astrology because there is disagreement about this. There are three viewpoints here. 

The first is that it hasn’t started yet, and will start anywhere from 2500 to 3500 CE (Common Era). The second is that it started and we are in it. The third viewpoint, and the one you will probably hear the most about into next year is that it is about to start. 

And why are there three thoughts on this? Because, it all has to do with calculations. 

As with the birth chart, where there are three different methods for calculations, there are also different methods that people use to calculate other astrological happenings. This can be super frustrating if you just want a clear answer. I have my own intuitive feeling that we are at either the beginning or moving into what I would call the Age of Aquarius. One of my favorite astrologers says it ain’t so, that there are just a lot of cosmic energies that will tap into Aquarian energy, and that when the Age of Aquarius begins that it won’t start until a vernal equinox. Another astrologer that I admire said that the Age of Pisces is over and we are entering the Age of Aquarius, and that we each have an important role to play! I will actually let you decide for yourself. How do you feel about this intuitively?

I think that whatever you believe, we can all agree that the conjunction on the 21st carries with it a heavy energy of change, and the beginning of something new. Most people would welcome a new energy after the year that 2020 has been. I don’t think it will mean that things change immediately, but there is definitely no going back to how things were. There is a new energy unfolding, and as this year ends (maybe what we can actually do as a people is commit ourselves to helping create the type of world that we would like to see, and then taking actions to make it so. We may not be in the Age of Aquarius, but that doesn’t stop us from living more peacefully, more compassionately, and in a more loving way with those around us. I hope that as we look up to see the beautiful conjunction in the night’s sky, that we feel inspired to live the ideals that are the best of each sign—ad especially the best of Aquarius. More love, more harmony, more understanding, and more peace. May the stars shine ever so brightly over you week. Thank you!