Menu
  • Home
        • What to Do as Pluto Enters Aquarius

          What to Do as Pluto Enters Aquarius

          Aquarius is a future-oriented, humanistic sign that rules technology, scientific breakthroughs, and social revolutions. We can't over-estimate how dramatically (Aquarian) …Read More »
        • Aries New Moon: Warrior Spirit

          Aries New Moon: Warrior Spirit

          What big dream are you ready to fight for? The Aries New Moon, which falls on the heels of the …Read More »
        • Aries New Moon Energy Reboot

          Aries New Moon Energy Reboot

          Energy: Where to find it, how to grow it, how to conserve it, and how to channel it: that is …Read More »
    • Close
  • Free Astrology
    Chart
  • Your Birth
    Moon Phase
  • Dana’s Moon
    Workshop
  • The Astrology
    of Bliss
  • Astrology
    Reports
  • Sessions
    with Dana
          • Astrology Readings With Dana

            Astrology Readings With Dana

            I believe in life, in the archetypes, and the capacity of people to write better and better stories for themselves. …Read More »
          • Astrology Mentoring

            Astrology Mentoring

            Are you an astrology student who’d like to turn pro? Hoping to read charts with greater insight and accuracy? Desiring a boost in confidence? …Read More »
          • Boundaries & Emotional Mastery Sessions

            Boundaries & Emotional Mastery Sessions

            From the beginning, my 12th House Moon has attracted plenty of likeminded spirits I call “energy sensitives,” whose intuitively gifted natures benefit …Read More »
    • Close
  • Books
    • [Widget Area]
          • Dana's eBooks

            Dana's eBooks

            Dana’s writing… brings the meaning of the planets to life like no other writer in this field. She’s the Meryl Streep of astrological writers: …” Jeff Jawer, The Mountain Astrologer …Read More »
          • Free eBooks

            Free eBooks

            “It took me years to learn each of these simple principles, and with each one, my Moon practice deepened. May they do the same for you!” …Read More »
          • Books We Love

            Books We Love

            Looking for a good read? Mooncircles authors share a few of the great books on their shelves. Read More »
    • Close
  • Store

Mooncircles

Moon Astrology

Current Moon Ritual
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • View Cart
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Sep152009

Uranus and Saturn, or Outburst and Contrition

By Dana Gerhardt

unsportsmanlike_serena_090913_mnToday brings the third of five oppositions between Uranus and Saturn. What have we learned from the planets this week? That humans can really annoy each other. Of course we’re supposed to act like this isn’t true. But then sometimes–perhaps when the planets are aligned just so, or more likely, when certain neurochemicals flood our cell receptors–disgust shoots out (Uranus-style) and the the fuddy-duddy forces of decorum get to wring their hands (Saturn-style) at the decline of society. Joe Wilson calls the President a liar and is sanctioned. Serena Williams threatens a line judge and is punished. Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech to complain that Beyonce didn’t get it–and even Beyonce turns against him. Obama calls Kanye a jackass.

I like to think the planets want more from us, however, than embarrassment and forced apologies. The secret to all oppositions is that for that precise moment when two are opposed, they are looking in a mirror. The eruptions of the outraged Saturns are mirror images of the raw Uranian outbursts. When the two come round to realizing there is no difference between them, an opposition becomes a conjunction. Seeing the Uranus/Saturn opposition as a conjunction allows us to divine its truer purpose: to so utterly change our structures that we humans genuinely progress.

If we use Uranus/Saturn properly, we just might figure out how to pull ourselves back from the 2012 brink that the Mayan calendar implies is the end of our world. I did find inspiration for that this week too–in a story not as widely reported. Saturn (the Grim Reaper) took a Genuine Innovator (Uranus), someone who actually did change the world, although I never heard of him before.

Norman Borlaug died at 95. Many credit him with saving over a billion lives; by developing wheat with a higher yield, he single-handedly helped to avert a global famine. Borlaug often said that his real interest wasn’t wheat, it was improving people’s lives. Now that he’s passed from this world, it’s up to us to continue holding his humanitarian aspiration. When I’m asked to take my part in visioning a brighter future, I’ll take my cue from Borlaug, who in his Nobel prize acceptance speech outlined a simple formula for what a better world be: one where everyone has enough to eat, opportunities to learn, well-paying employment, comfortable housing, nice clothing, along with effective and compassionate medical care. It’s simple–but revolutionary. May we call on Uranus and Saturn to help us get there.

Filed under: Astrology trends

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. Chris Mickles says

    Sep 23, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Grace Slick wrote the lyrics to White Rabbit in 1965-66 during the previous Saturn Uranus opposition.

    Reply
    • Dana says

      Sep 23, 2009 at 3:53 pm

      Interesting correspondences, Chris!

      Reply
  2. Chris Mickles says

    Sep 22, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    Wonderfull insight! Made me think of Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871)Saturn and Uranus were in opposition! {from wikipedia}…a work of children’s literature by Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), generally categorized as literary nonsense.[citation needed] It is the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). Although it makes no reference to the events in the earlier book, the themes and settings of Through the Looking-Glass make it a kind of mirror image of Wonderland: the first book begins outdoors, in the warm month of May, on Alice’s birthday (May 4),[1] uses frequent changes in size as a plot device, and draws on the imagery of playing cards; the second opens indoors on a snowy, wintry night exactly six months later, on November 4 (the day before Guy Fawkes Night),[2] uses frequent changes in time and spatial directions as a plot device, and draws on the imagery of chess. In it, there are many mirror themes, including opposites, time running backwards, and so on.

    Reply
  3. Best Fiction says

    Sep 20, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    Thanks for writing about Friday’s new moon! I liked the line, “What have we learned from the planets this week? That humans can really annoy each other.”

    The moon fell EXACTLY on my ascendant degree along with Saturn on Friday. I expected something momentous to happen, and had begun wondering about astrological timing when Friday night rolled by without anything happening…

    Then my room mate (who knows no astrology) got into a fight with some shady characters on our street, and they came to give us a scare at 4 in the morning. After two calls to the police, we’ve decided to move out temporarily and look for a new place.

    I wonder if the ascendant, as the “door” to the chart, can symbolize the front door, and Saturn the belligerent drunk who may or may not be in a gang.

    I hope everyone felt Friday’s new moon with somewhat less excitement! 🙂

    Reply
    • Dana says

      Sep 21, 2009 at 8:20 pm

      Yikes! And yes, sometimes the planets make their way into our lives in surprising ways… it’s indeed possible that the Ascendant functioned as your front door in this case… those nefarious characters certainly came close to your body, which is also the first house.

      Reply
  4. Diane Miether says

    Sep 18, 2009 at 8:43 am

    I’ve just found your blog – very interesting and informative. Just wanted to comment on this – and since I now know you’re a dog lover – on Wednesday, I observed two of my three dogs get into a serious all-out fight. This was not a play fight and I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t been there to stop it. This is the first time I’ve ever seen my dogs fight like this. (I have the mama dog – she was a street dog when I started feeding her – and the two fighting are her daughters from two different litters.) Anyway, within moments I observed the dog (Sweetee) who seemed to be the angriest in the fight, go over and make up (licked the other dog’s nose and head) with Mato. Even in the dog world, huh?

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth says

    Sep 18, 2009 at 8:12 am

    It is interesting how our collective impressions and responses to this phase of the opposition is seemingly superficial… lots of finger wagging and “corrections.” But humans are still children, gawd bless ’em, and apparently this is the bottom line on how evolved we are as a whole. On another note, I wish that people would get off this 2012 thing. The focus on some vague end-of-the-world scenario which really has little to back it up merely takes us out of the PRESENT. There is so much wonderful, juicy opportunity right now! Forward looking to 2012 does little to serve us which brings me to the most important point: It is all happening right now! Don’t wait for the opportunity to deepen your experience. Leverage the present!

    Reply
  6. Kathleen Botsford says

    Sep 16, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    Wow! This is so what happened this past weekend at my conference. I miss you.

    Reply
  7. Tracy says

    Sep 16, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Hi Dana,
    Thank you, again, I appreciate your writing and insights. I thought of another meeting this week highlighting outbursts of the dark and dirty kind – the square between Mercury and Pluto. With Pluto just turning Direct, but Mercury still Retrograde, it’s harder to keep the stuff inside that’s been brewing. But unfortunately, when we do say something, it doesn’t come out how we meant it to. Does that make sense? It sure seems to be happening to me! (huh, should I be submitting a comment right now? LOL)

    Reply
    • Dana says

      Sep 16, 2009 at 1:37 pm

      Retro Mercury and direct Pluto… yes!

      Reply
  8. NR says

    Sep 16, 2009 at 8:23 am

    I need to do this with my Saturn and Uranus: “turning your squares into trines.” I think I’ve been trying to do this ever since I accepted how strong (and repressed)my Uranus was.

    Reply
  9. Lucy says

    Sep 15, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    Interesting idea! However- a conjunction in what, Virgo or Pisces? Those are two very different conjunctions indeed!

    Reply
    • Dana says

      Sep 15, 2009 at 6:41 pm

      Tracy Marks used to talk about turning your squares into trines, which has always made me think of turning oppositions into a conjunction. You don’t choose either Virgo or Pisces, you blend both ends of the polarity. If they didn’t have a resonance, they wouldn’t be in opposition!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

dana-astro-ebooks
Dana’s writing… brings the meaning of the planets to life like no other writer in this field. She’s the Meryl Streep of astrological writers: smart, sane, and insightful...”
Jeff Jawer, The Mountain Astrologer
dana-astro-ebooksLessons in Astrology as Magic
dana-astro-ebooksNaked Astrology
dana-astro-ebooks dana-astro-ebooks
Elements/Modes and Planetary Playbook
dana-astro-ebooksMoonWatching
dana-astro-ebooksIn Wonderland: The Houses of Your Chart
dana-astro-ebooksThe Living Planets
dana-astro-ebooksGoldilocks is an Aries

© 2000 - 2023 Mooncircles.com

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.