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2021’s Saturn/Uranus square: the Shattered Mirror

By Dana Gerhardt

World transits are long in the making and slow to unravel. Astrologically we’re not done with 2020 yet; the orb of its unprecedented three conjunctions stretches throughout the year.*  However, the defining influence of 2021 is this one: the Saturn/Uranus square.  A new world dawned in 2020. The planets now battling to define this new world are Uranus and Saturn.

Their square is exact on February 17, June 15 and December 24, 2021.

From one conjunction to the next, each Saturn/Uranus cycle lasts about 45 years. The conjunctions plant seeds; the oppositions and squares incite crisis, chaos, uncertainty. Together these archetypes bring revolutionary uprisings and repressive crackdowns—social breakdowns and breakthroughs.

The day that Georgia voters handed the Senate to Democrats and Trump supporters stormed the Capitol illustrates the yin and yang of the Saturn/Uranus square. 2021 brings the waning square of a cycle that began in 1988—when eruptions of democratic freedom and the violence of authoritarian repression were also in the news.

It was then that the cold war between the US and the Soviets thawed; the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain across Eastern Europe fell. In China there was the inspiring student protest at Tiananmen Square—and the horrific state massacre that followed.

Saturn is the lord of authority, tradition, order and control.  Uranus favors originality, the unexpected, freedom and rebellion. Their collisions represent a classic tale of social change—how “what’s new” must inevitably fight with “what’s old.” Yet things are not always what they seem. This battle between Saturn and Uranus is typically fought inside a house of mirrors.

The central Saturn/Uranus myth

In Greek myth, as Kronos, Saturn was actually the “new” one, the youngest child of Gaia and Ouranos, the original deities of Earth and Sky. It was Ouranos who didn’t like change. He rejected the future by stuffing his own children into crevices, the underworld, and Gaia’s very womb!

Tired of the nonsense, Gaia plots with her youngest son. She makes a stone scythe which Kronos then wields—to sever his father’s genitals. He topples the sky god and overtakes his father’s throne.

Yet–the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same.  Now it’s Kronos who starts eating his children.  A prophet had once whispered in his ear, “Your son will overthrow you.”  It’s Power that can’t stand change.  So much does Authority love itself that it will eventually turn itself inside out–and become what it resisted.  Or: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Kronos is just like Ouranos.

Also tired of the nonsense, Rhea—Kronos’ sister and wife—hatches her plot. She births her youngest, Zeus, in a cave, out of view—and then hands her hubby a stone in swaddling clothes to devour.  Surreptitiously she raises Zeus—until he comes of age, overthrows his father, and makes him regurgitate all of the swallowed children.

Zeus truly changes the game. This is Jupiter—god of growth and expansion. He’s a lusty fellow. Not only does he not eat his children—he has them in abundance!  Forever fearful of their own progeny, Saturn and Uranus are locked in a never-ending battle for control.

Jupiter breaking this cycle (no son deposed him) says it’s love and creativity—not violence—that truly changes the world.   We also can’t neglect the significant role of the Divine Feminine in this tale. Gaia and Rhea are key instigators for real change. We’ll talk more about their role in a future post, when we look at how to put this transit to work in our own lives.  After all, we have a whole year to journey inside this archetypal complex, angling to get the best from it.

Will the real patriots please stand up?

But first it’s important to see this as the collective transit that it is.  It’s no secret that we live in a fractured society.  This is an important time for choosing the leaders we want to follow and the causes we want to fund.  Saturn is in Aquarius, the sign that’s the very definition of “the collective.” At its best Aquarius is progressive, humanitarian, democratic–valuing the greatest good for the greatest number.  At its worst it’s the source of tyranny.

Which side do you endorse?  Who are the real patriots?  Alas, words can’t help us.  After years of disinformation campaigns, in some circles words have become virtually meaningless. Today on both sides of the US divide you’ll hear “We’re the freedom fighters! We’re the ones who love this country!” In dark and divided times like these, shadow is a powerful, unconscious force. Under its spell it’s easy to become the very thing that we oppose. On the news I heard a Trump supporter at the Capitol shocked that she’d been tear-gassed—“It’s not us!” she shouted, “BLM and Antifa are the bad ones!”

Astrology aspects always play out on a continuum that ranges from the best to the worst.  It’s not the gods, but we humans who ultimately shape events. Archetypal powers are wild and colorful yet essentially neutral energies—that our free will decides how to use.

Poised at the crossroads of history

True to the volatile and chaotic nature of Saturn/Uranus periods, the choices that confront us today are both exhilarating, scary, divisive and sad. We find ourselves in the unstable weeks between two presidents who are stark opposites—under the dual threats of a global pandemic and widespread economic catastrophe—seeing things we never thought we’d see. As extremism rises, alongside what some have called the greatest social movement in US history, BLM, we struggle to address the long-standing inequality, racism, and police brutality that have tarnished our ideals.

In his aptly titled “A Cascade of Crises,” NY Times writer David Leonhardt recalls another chaotic time in US history–1932-33–when we were in the throes of the Great Depression:

In the four months between Franklin Roosevelt’s election and his 1933 inauguration, much of the world descended into chaos. Adolf Hitler took power in Germany, and the Reichstag — the Parliament building — burned. Japan quit the League of Nations. In the U.S., hundreds of banks shut down. Lynchings surged in the South.

During those weeks, like now, we were under the beams of a waning Saturn/Uranus square, with Saturn also in Aquarius. Back then, Hitler took his country down the road to tyranny. Franklin Delano Roosevelt launched the New Deal–a breathtaking set of government programs  dedicated to the welfare of the common man.  How similar are the options this year. I hope the collective chooses wisely.

* 2020’s three powerful conjunctions were Saturn/Pluto, Jupiter/Pluto, and Jupiter/Saturn.

“Do your transits, my teacher used to say, “or they’ll do you!”  What are your transits in the coming year?  Fine-tune your personal forecast for 2021 with Steven Forrest’s fabulous Skylog report, available here.    If your birthday is in the past or next three months, Mary Shea’s solar return report can complete the picture. 

For more on The Saturn/Uranus square, these articles by Jessica Davidson are superb:

The Saturn/Uranus Cycle: Archetypes and History

The Saturn/Uranus Square: Freedom or Slavery. Time to Choose

Filed under: Chart Play Tutorials, Home New Moon Featured Article

About Dana Gerhardt

A popular columnist with The Mountain Astrologer since 1991, Dana Gerhardt is an internationally respected astrologer. She has lectured extensively and written for astrology publications on several continents. Her ongoing passions are the moon and living the intuitive life. Dana worked for many years in the corporate sector, where she observed the undeniable influence of natural cycles. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Occidental College in Los Angeles and did graduate work in literature at Columbia University and CSULA. Dana can be contacted by email.

Comments

  1. Drew says

    Jun 14, 2021 at 12:47 pm

    Very informative. Best be wary of the house of mirrors. You never know what’s really happening unless you can clear any assumptions and bias enough to see what’s under the surface.

    Reply
  2. Daniel says

    May 1, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    Hello Dana…
    Nice to read your take on the waning Saturn/Uranus square. Interesting times.
    Hope you are well.

    Reply
  3. Robert says

    Feb 5, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    i would love to have a reading with you….how does it work?

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Feb 5, 2021 at 12:12 pm

      Look for the tab on the mooncircles navigation bar that says “sessions with Dana“–all you need to know is there!

      Reply
  4. Jelena says

    Jan 28, 2021 at 3:44 pm

    Thanks so much for your insights Dana. I dearly hope that more people choose the path of love and respect.

    Reply
  5. Manuela Leite says

    Jan 11, 2021 at 11:41 am

    DANA ;
    Que belo seu Artigo, tão bem aplicado à situação actual, já vejo mais esperanças,…..
    sempre com ponto de interrogação.
    TÃO dificil em acreditar, nesta horrivel verdade que foi o an0 de 2020……
    América foi , …….,voltará a ser UMA ESPERANÇA DE TODOS NÓS.
    sONHO EM 2021 VOLTAR….
    oBRIGADA, ATÉ BREVE
    gRANDE aBRAÇO, Maria

    Reply

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The Moon is in its
New Phase

in the
Sign of Aries


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon sextile Mars, 5:13pm  Mar 23 2023
  • Moon square Pluto, 6:42pm  Mar 23 2023
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 9:57pm  Mar 23 2023

Venus is currently
The Evening Star

in the sign of Taurus


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.