From November 2008 through August 2010, the outer planets Saturn and Uranus are forming an opposition (180°) with one another for the first time since the mid-to-late 1960’s. This pits the planet representing form, structure, rules, resistance, and fear (Saturn) at odds with the planet representing freedom, originality, rebellion, individuality, and collective consciousness (Uranus).
Just like with the Moon’s phases, the other planetary bodies go through their own phases relative to the Earth. Like a New Moon, the start of any coupled planetary cycle begins with their conjunction (same location in the sky). As the faster planet moves away from the slower planet, eventually it comes to a 90° angle (waxing square) to it, followed by the 180° opposition (like a Full Moon), the second 90° angle (waning square), and then the cycle finishes when a new cycle between the planets is born at the next conjunction. See below for the basic outline of the process including the associated energy of each of these important climax points in the planetary cycles:
Conjunction (0°) – Birth and creation.
Waxing Square (90°) – Tension due to growth.
Opposition (180°) – Culmination and results.
Waning Square (270°) – Tension due to decay.
The Saturn/Uranus cycle takes approximately 45 years to complete and represents a conservative cycle as the resistant energies of Saturn seemingly squash the freedom-seeking energy of Uranus. This cycle represents things like capitalism and imperialism, heavy industry, investments, and the stock market for example. Usually, at the start of these cycles, conservative decisions tend to be hatched and these decisions and values are reflected in how money is invested and distributed during these times.
As time moves on, there is usually some tension related to those decisions that come up for review around 11-12 years later when Saturn and Uranus make their first (waxing) square to each other. Then another 11-12 years goes by and Saturn makes an opposition to Uranus. Just like our current period, this is the time where the culmination or results of those ideas and of the decision making that started at the conjunction bear their fruit. Then the second (waning) square represents a time of decay and last minute decisions related to the same energies birthed at the start of the cycle.
Below is a look at the most recent complete Saturn/Uranus cycle relative to US issues and concerns, followed by a look at where we are in the current Saturn/Uranus cycle. I also include a few tidbits of information regarding those periods in terms of the US that I will discuss later.
Saturn/Uranus Cycle (early 1940’s – late 1980’s)
Saturn conjunct Uranus (April 1942)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s radio address, “Total War and Total Effort”, on US spending for war purposes.
Saturn waxing square to Uranus (November 1951 - October 1952)
US signs peace treaties with Japan.
Saturn opposite Uranus (March 1965 - January 1967)
America takes charge in Vietnam War; Medicare Act implemented; Unrest in the US.
Saturn waning square to Uranus (June 1976 - May 1977)
Carter returns control of Panama Canal to Panama.
It appears that the themes for this cycle related mostly to the US focus on defense spending and the military. Part of the decisions to spend more on war efforts during WWII eventually lead to the need to spend more on health care and other previously neglected domestic issues by the time things culminated at the Saturn/Uranus opposition from 1965-1967. This led to, among other things, the implementation of the Medicare Act in 1965.
Also, this conservative focus on spending on defense and the military that was necessary in the early 1940’s resulted in the USA’s eventual involvement in more questionable foreign affairs like the war in Vietnam by the time this cycle culminated at the Saturn/Uranus opposition (1965-1967).
Saturn/Uranus Cycle (late 1980’s – early 2030’s)
Saturn conjunct Uranus (January 1988 - November 1988)
Health care cost crisis leads to reduction in government spending on health care; In September 1988, the US Dept. of Commerce approved shipment of weapons grade anthrax and botulinum to Iraq.
Saturn waxing square to Uranus (July 1999 - May 2000)
Bush administration ready to take over; Import sanctions with Iran were eased; Worries about increases in health care costs.
*Saturn opposite Uranus (November 2008 - August 2010)*
Health care debate peaks regarding government involvement. Also, could our decisions to approve shipments of anthrax and botulinum to Iraq combined with eased sanctions with Iran come to culmination for the US in some way during this period??
The themes for the most recent Saturn/Uranus cycle appear to involve a heavy emphasis on government spending for health care as well as on intended or unintended involvement with potential war supplies to and from the Middle East. It’s no surprise that right at the peak of the current Saturn/Uranus opposition culmination period that we are being forced to look at the results of some more conservative health care spending decisions from the late 1980’s when Reagan and Bush, Sr. were at the helm. Now is a time to engage in much needed change and to bring new structure to a system that isn’t working properly.
I only hope that we do not see any fallout related to any weaponry that may have been gained in the Middle East associated with this cycle. But it may be that conflict between Iraq and Iran during this current time may be partially due to some decisions made during the Saturn/Uranus conjunction in the late 1980’s and with the waxing square at the turn of the millennium.
Regardless of what actually occurs during this current time period, the Saturn/Uranus opposition of which we are currently in the midst is about the battle or tension between change (Uranus) and the status quo (Saturn). In fact, when we look at the exact oppositions between Saturn and Uranus during this current time period, so far we can easily see this theme of choosing between the new and the old ways of doing things.
Saturn/Uranus EXACT Oppositions (+/- 1-2 weeks on each side of these dates)
November 4, 2008
Barak Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected president in the US.
February 5, 2009
Obama mandates salary cap for corporate executives that want bailout funds.
September 15, 2009
Health care debate reaches a crisis point. Fear and resistance (Saturn) stall efforts for reform (Uranus).
April 26, 2010 - ??
July 26, 2010 - ??
Also, when we think of what the atmosphere was like during the last Saturn/Uranus opposition in the mid-late 1960’s, it is hard not to draw some similarities. Both then (Vietnam) and today (Iraq), there is a war occurring that is questionable at best in terms of our country’s involvement. Back then there was a massive fear-based resistance to change (Saturn) with regards to equal rights and freedom (Uranus). This led to violent uprisings and even assassinations. That same type of tension is occurring now as it is hard to ignore the intense level of resistance to change that is present. The health care issue seems to be taking center stage as the scapegoat for this type of realization. However, in reality this energy would play itself out in whatever way for which we presented it an opportunity.
Advice for American Leaders and the People
When Saturn and Uranus oppose one another it is time to assess where we have been (Saturn) and to make adjustments (Uranus) with regards to where we are going. Change is eminent during these times and the level of tension due to that change is directly related to the level of engagement with that change versus the level of resistance to that change. It would be easy to read this article and to judge that being on the resistor side (Republicans) is ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ and that being on the change side (Democrats) is ‘good’ or ‘right’. But there is no 'right' or 'wrong' side in this case. There is just a beneficial approach or a harmful approach to this time and both sides of the argument are contributing to the benefit or the detriment.
The beneficial way to approach this time period is to merge the old and the new and to create a new structure (Saturn) that reflects the needs of today and tomorrow (Uranus) rather than the needs of yesterday. If both parties recognize that change is necessary and then mutually engage in the solution process to form (Saturn) a plan that incorporates much needed change (Uranus), then this time period would be utilized to its optimal potential.
However, if one side plays the role of resistor that spreads fear (Saturn) and the other plays the role of radical revolutionary (Uranus), then both sides are contributing to the more detrimental potentials of this current time period. As long as each side refuses to see value in the ultimate intentions of the other side then this time period could yield similar violence and upheaval that we saw in the mid-late 1960’s. But even through that turbulent time, progress was eventually made. Ultimately it is up to us and our leaders whether we get through this time in a peaceful and cooperative manner or in a potentially violent manner.
Remember that the ultimate intention of this time period is embracing much needed change to create structures (Saturn) that better reflect modern needs (Uranus). Laying our fear of change to rest is the first step in the process.
For this particular time period perhaps Billy Joel said it best in his song, “Keeping the Faith”, when he said, “the good ol' days weren't always good and tomorrow aint as bad as it seems”.
And so it is…
Readers, if you enjoyed the content of this type of article, please check back as I will be posting articles soon related to other planetary cycles which are at major turning points over the next few years as well. Stay tuned!
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