Saturn-Pluto, Economic Recessions, and Eclipses

The 1981-82 Recession

On November 8, 1982 Saturn and Pluto, both slow-moving planets of karma (reaping what was sown) met @27Lib36 as the unemployment rate in the US reached a distressing 11%. Of course, 1980 was no picnic either with unemployment at 7.5% so that the 1980s decade, aka, the Decade of Greed, began on a low note for millions of US workers particularly in the auto, manufacturing, and construction industries. This created a restrictive atmosphere over the next couple of years with the recession plodding on from July 1981 to November 1982, and, prior to the 2007--08 recession, this had been the worst economic downturn in the US since the Great Depression. Follow the link, above, for more details.

Will History Rhyme?

Now in 2019 signs are hinting that another recession is on the horizon or has already begun as heavyweights Saturn and Pluto align once again for another of their approximately 33-year conjunctions, this time in practical Earth sign Capricorn (@22Cap46), a sign that also relates to more than Business and Investments, but also to Politics, Government, and Law. Exact on January 12, 2020 (see link, below), some astrologers see trouble for Trump in or into the New Year (2020), and with this I must agree--for one reason, the 2020 Saturn-Pluto conjunction lands upon Trump's natal Vertex of fated encounters and opposes his natal Saturn.

(Yet even though I have never wanted the self-styled 'King Of Debt' con man with mobster leanings mucking around in the Oval Office, I know that how POTUS goes, so goes America so I must wish him the best. Yet if he was selected to play the POTUS role in order to 'take down' America, he's doing a 'great' job of it so far but my fervent hope remains: that America is stronger than the oh-so-flawed snake oil salesman, Donald Trump, a cantankerous varmint as ever there was.)

Now some economists expect a recession by the end of 2020, some by the end of 2021--so basically, within the next two years. And astrologically, a recession time frame based on cycles may be linked to the next Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Saturn-ruled Capricorn especially since Saturn in its own sign of Capricorn tends to mess with markets even without input from powerful Pluto (a favorite with plutocrats everywhere!) and his extreme wealth and treasure in hidden places, plus, who can forget manipulator Pluto's nasty habit of exploiting the masses.

Then it occurred to me that for more info we can compare eclipse cycles via the Solar Eclipses of 1980, 1981, and 1982 with those of our current day to see how or if they link with one another by Saros Series theme, by degree, or by similar event. So here is an eclipse list I compiled for you, not to alarm but to inform:

1980: February 16 @27AQ (conjunct US natal Moon) 18 South: endings, separations, partings that can lead to positive situations. August 10 @18Leo 19 North: realism, coming down to earth, seeing an old situation for what it really is, a constructive time for tackling the truth. 18 South and 19 North also occurred in 2016--19N is the Prenatal Eclipse Series of Election 2016 and Inauguration 2017 (and we're still trying to 'tackle truth' while Trump and his minions work and sue to hide it). Plus, the 19N eclipse of 1980 is the PE of the Reagan Inauguration of 1981.

1981: February 4 @16AQ 19 South: the lucky win, a pleasant surprise, a joyful event. July 31 @8Leo 1 North: (this is the Mother of All Eclipses series of Nostradamus fame) unexpected events concerning friends or groups place great pressure on relationships; matters loom large but make no hasty decisions since information is distorted or possibly false; health or fatigue issues may be involved. A 1 North eclipse manifested on August 21, 2017 @29Leo as 'The Great American Eclipse' conjunct the natal Ascendant and rising Mars of Donald Trump. You'll remember his taking off safety glasses to look directly at the eclipse like a nimcompoop would do.

Four Solar Eclipses in 1982: 1. January 25 @5AQ (conjunct US natal South Node) 1 South: flooded with ideas and options. A 1 South eclipse occurred @27AQ (conjunct US natal Moon as did the February 16, 1980 eclipse of endings and separations) on February 15, 2018. 2. June 21 @30Gemini 2 Old North: separations, endings of relationships, bad news about relationships or associations; things look glum but fast action can bring good results. 2 Old North is Trump's Prenatal Eclipse series and it repeated for him on July 12, 2018 @21Cancer, about two degrees from his natal 11th house Saturn in watery, emotionally defensive Cancer. He remains desperate to build his lucrative wall (Saturn) to keep out marauders and boost his authority (also Saturn)! 3. July 20 @28Cancer (opposite US natal Pluto Rx) 2 New North: this is The Tower series with themes of: sudden collapse of plans or lifestyles, confusion, rebuilding once the dust settles, and complete changes of direction via the sudden collapse of an existing structure. A 2 Old North eclipse manifested @18Leo (as did the August 1980 19N eclipse) on August 11, 2018, and the series initially began on June 17, 1928 @27Gemini which you may or may not agree links 2018 to economic and market conditions of that time period. 4. December 15 @23Sagittarius (same degree as the upcoming December 2020 4S eclipse, see below) in the 2 South series which is the Saros Series we're now in as we await the July 2, 2019 eclipse. As you know, 2 South imprinted upon the 116th Congress with its theme of: joining unusual groups and gaining a great deal from it and occurred on January 5, 2019 @15Cap25. Plus, 2 South was the PE of the New Millennium!

Coming Soon to a Cosmos Near You

So now we face another solar eclipse in the 3 North series occurring on July 2, 2019 @10Can37--directly in the midst of America's business-oriented Venus-Jupiter-Sun trio of 1776. So basically, the Cosmos gifts America with a solar eclipse for her 243rd birthday which can be positive, negative, or a mixture of both; and of course with any 'wild card' 'cosmic blink' eclipse, a change of direction is indicated along with some measure of Uranian-style disruption. 3N themes are: news concerning a young person or news that transforms a situation and can cause worry or obsession; large plans or activities are wanted but don't get carried away. 3N is the PE of The Crash of 1929 (@18Taurus) and also the PE of the 9/11 attacks for it's the Summer Solstice Eclipse of 2001 (@00Cancer, a World Point of global events) and, besides any economic influences (or perhaps because of them), may again herald a misguided excursion by the US military into yet another war of destruction, plunder, and misery for the masses. Sad to say, that with 'Captain Bone Spurs' at the helm of chaos, outcomes are even more unpredictable than usual.

And we must add here that the June 21, 2020 solar eclipse also perfects @00Cancer - but this time in the difficult 4 North series with themes of: restriction, restraint, inhibition, illusions, separation, and the tendency to misjudge strength or the situation. Next is a 4 South eclipse on December 14, 2020 @23Sagittarius--no picnic either--with themes of: strong emotions over money and/or relationships which are beyond personal control (sense of fatedness), possible endings, and blocks or frustrations; avoid taking rash action until issues settle down. And 23Sag is awfully near Trump's 4th house, problematic Moon-SN conjunction.

Yet as we look toward Summer 2019 and ponder such weighty topics there is at least one thing to be grateful for--that the July 2, 2019 solar eclipse does not perfect upon a Cardinal World Point of Manifestation!

Related Posts include but are not limited to: DC Horoscopes: July 2019 Solar and Lunar Eclipses; Horoscopes: The 1982 and 2020 Saturn-Pluto Conjunctions; Horoscope: the Reaganomics Eclipse of 1981. And check out economist Paul Krugman's 2009 op-ed Reagan Did It about The Gipper's 1982 signing of the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act which led to, as Professor Krugman terms it, "utter catastrophe."

For more eclipse info see Brady's Predictive Astrology now available on Kindle.

Karmic Saturn in Capricorn until Dec 2020

Transit Saturn's Three Major Aspects to Outer Planets 2018--2020

by Jude Cowell

If you've wondered what old man Saturn, the lesson bringer and task master, has in store for society while traversing his own sign of Capricorn you're not alone. It's been approximately 26 years since the 'old devil' visited his natural domain of the Zodiac, agent of change that he is, and a few rules may be in order. Not my rules or yours, but rules of the Saturnian kind. After all, no one evades the universal law of karma and reaping what was sown must be dealt with by us all. So for those who have followed dutiful, dignified Saturn's directives and demands in the past (also his domain!), long lasting rewards are on the way for long hours of hard work. Or at least, that's one of the the more positive potentials on the 2018--2020 horizon.

Of course, in a natal horoscope planet Saturn's sign reveals our 'fatal flaw' and also describes something about our deepest fear. Saturn's house placement is important as well when assessing how a general transit will affect our lives but since I primarily write about mundane topics here let's consider Saturn in Capricorn, sign of government, law, and business and what its transit may portend. Perhaps a peek at outer planets in angular relationship to Saturn as his Capricorn visit plods on can provide a few clues on what to expect with Saturn's societal influences. Naturally, the planet's rule of structure, systems, form, reality, and time will be affected in various ways, or will be 'on the schedule' so to speak.

Transpersonal Planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto with Saturn 2018--2020

During his stay in Capricorn, Saturn makes three quite easy aspects to the three outer planets. By sign, Saturn will trine Uranus, and the pair representing the past and the future will get along in general and support creative activities with Uranian ideas, ideals, and inventions fitting well into Saturnian form and are therefore more likely to become reality. This works best when transit Uranus is in Taurus, sign of the builder and the preserver. As you know, status quo Saturn, planet of The Establishment, likes to preserve and conserve so it would be wonderful if the current GOP push toward damaging the environment for the sake of exploiting natural resources was placed back under control in spite of the current Trump administration's dismantling of regulations that protect us.

And although Saturn in Capricorn can be dampening or restrictive to markets and commerce via Saturn's aversion to risk and tendency toward austerity measures, the Saturn-Uranus influence when in effect may benefit business and finance particularly in relation to group and organizational matters. Yes, the economy may continue its upward direction, for a while at least, though some of its more bubbly aspects have been concerning of late due to past transgressions and crimes committed by that gambling casino they call 'Wall Street' ('wall' being a Saturnian word, Uranus = technology) so another crash prior to 2020 cannot be completely ruled out for bubbles always burst, after all. But maybe that's just me, a rather typical fretting Capricorn!

Of course in personal finances benefits will depend upon Saturn and Uranus placements and aspects in natal charts which is beyond the scope of this post, as noted.

During this time frame, transit Saturn will also form an opportunistic sextile with nebulous, dreamy Neptune, planet of fraud, falsehood, and idealism. A Saturn-Neptune sextile period is great for creative projects including music and visionary imaginations may soar under its influence. Charitable organizations may be more in focus along with addiction issues (much needed!) and spiritual quests and interests--also needed in our society. Practicing discrimination between fantasy and reality will continue to be an issue as fakery (Neptune) vs truth (Saturn) gets in the way of progress and 'getting to the bottom of things' remains difficult as preferred by some propagandists who use such tactics against society.

A general interest in Mythology may flourish as it did in a bygone era and those with a talent for long-range planning are in their element under this sextile though following through with decisions may be somewhat difficult since concentration can ebb and flow like the waves of a Neptunian sea. Plus, priorities may be continually revised which adds to the follow-through problem and some folk may paint rosy pictures in order to cover up real problems and avoid or procrastinate about dealing with them.

And since the Saturn-Neptune pair relates to the ill, weak, elderly, and/or suffering among us, we can expect such discussions to continue but perhaps with more compassion than the usual political hard-heartedness for Neptune is softening and likes to merge with others while Saturn can be hard, cold, isolating, frugal, calculating, and just plain mean. As you know, our already tattered social safety net is under siege now in Washington and the reality of Americans hungry in the streets due to cutbacks for the sake of wealthy corporate types is an outrageous possibility. How many times must the old guns vs butter concept be debated in America?

For more info, see Social Security: What Millennials Need to Know, a Thom Hartmann video segment.

On the societal level, another negative potential of a Saturn-Neptune sextile is invasion (Neptune) of boundaries (Saturn) which is somehow made more possible due to the opportunities a sextile (60) aspect creates. This applies on a personal level as well (ex: personal space) but also to refugees, and to those who invade countries (militarily or otherwise), or who infiltrate them and/or their governments. Spies and secret agents are implied and of course cyber crimes may be involved for secretive, insinuating Neptune rules nets and networks of all sorts and Saturn has his blocking function and a demand for control. Yet limits must still apply for even moderation must be moderated.

Then when transit Saturn and Pluto sextile one another, those in the legal professions, journalism, and research and development are favored. Control and the grasping and holding of power are issues on the table which sounds more negative than positive to me although you may disagree. During this period, sticking to budgets will be very important though too much austerity delays progress. Also important will be more intense levels of advocacy of causes such as defending the rights of those who are oppressed, exploited, and victimized (for they will be). And if we can avoid obsessing over piddly details we'll fare better under this sextile for necessary adjustments are more difficult to achieve when rules are too rigid or inflexible.

For a more personal view check out AstroButterfly's article How Saturn in Capricorn Will Affect You--Big Changes Are Ahead.

And if you feel daring, why not look ahead to a brand new Saturn-Pluto cycle (of appr 33 years) beginning January 12, 2020 when the hardship and cruelty pair meet (at same degree same minute same second as calculated by Solar Fire Gold v9) in the Cosmos @22Cap46. And with both planets considered 'karmic' we may wish to consider the Conjunction horoscope and thus the Vertex, a point of fated encounters.

Also, on my no-politics Astrology blog, you may wish to check out today's posting of a round-up of three videos by astrologers predicting what's to come in 2018...Nostradamus included!