Saturn Conjunct Neptune - When Structures Dissolve

 This July we see one of the most important transits of the year, Saturn conjoining Neptune in the sign of Aries. The two planets will not from an exact conjunction until February 20, 2026, however from July 15 - 17 they will be only 1 degree apart. This is a very slow moving transit, so we are going to see its effect not only on these days. It is important to note that these two planets will be close to each other throughout 2024 - 2027, so these themes will be in play for a while. Saturn is the planet of rules, structures, boundaries and traditions, while Neptune is about dissolving boundaries, a sense of oneness, idealism, fantasy and delusion. When the two planets meet every 36 years, we often see structures and norms we took for granted dissolve and disappear. On a positive note, this can be about breaking something down in the hopes of building something new and better for the future. 

Astro Codes Oracle

 

The last time Saturn and Neptune were exactly conjunct was in 1989, although they were very close through 1988 - 1990. This cojunction was in the sign of Capricorn, which is about government, large organizations and literal walls. This conjunction saw the dissolving of the Iron Curtain and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It also led to the end of the Soviet Union, once one of the most powerful countries in the world, something that seemed impossible just a few short years before. Saturn and Neptune conjunctions often take us by surprise as what seemed so sturdy and solid (Saturn) just seems to vanish overnight (Neptune). Things end with a whimper, rather than a bang, and we are left to try to build something new out of the remnants. 

The time before that was in 1952 - 53, in the sign of Libra.  Libra is about balance, harmony, fairness, and diplomacy.  In 1953 Stalin died, changing the Soviet Union's leadership. Under Stalin millions of people died, due to his purges, campaigns of starvation and sending citizens to the gulag. His death in 1953 led to hope for change in the Soviet Union and more moderate leadership. After his death some of the citizen's rights, like women's rights, which had rolled back under Stalin, moved forward again. In China there was the end of the Korean War and the first of the 5 year plans, to try to industrialize the country. Both countries saw massive changes in how their society was organized. This was also the early stages of the Cold War with the world being divided between being allied with either the Soviet Union or the United States, between capitalism and communism. The world was divided between the two ends of the scales.

The one we are experiencing now, is in the sign of Aries, which is about independence, leadership, individuality and war. Structures that we took for granted will disappear, leaving us to have to potentially be more independent and self reliant. As Aries is about leadership and warrior energy, we may see prominent leaders either die, retire or be overthrown. We may also see armies dissolve or organizations that once seemed all powerful fragment and crumble. Often with Saturn Neptune conjunctions, these changes seem to come out of nowhere and things end in surprising ways. It's like what we once believed in so passionately and took for granted, suddenly we just don't anymore. 

The last time we had a Saturn Neptune conjunction in Aries was in 1702. That year saw the death of England's King William III and Queen Anne come to the throne. It was also start of the War of the Spanish Succession, in which England and the Dutch declared war against France and Spain. They were later that year joined by the Holy Roman Empire (Germany) in their war against the French and Spanish. This war featured several prominent naval battles, which makes me wonder if this theme will re-emerge again this time around. In North America the Queen Anne's War was fought (also known as the Second French Indian War). This was a war between the English and French along with their Indigenous allies. France and England were the two emerging super powers at the time, (Spain was in decline). This time around will we see declining super powers like the US and Russia, or emerging ones like China in conflict?

Its hard to say exactly how the Saturn Neptune conjunction will play out over the next few years. However I do expect some of the long standing structures and organizations we took for granted to disappear, or change drastically. I also expect that themes around independence, self reliance, self expression and leadership to be highlighted more. In each of our own lives it in important to look at the Aries part of your chart to see where outdated habits, structures or beliefs might need to be discarded and how you can become more independent and expressive. You are being asked to take the lead in this part of your life now and to dissolve what no longer serves you.

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