The cycle of Saturn and Uranus

In early November of 2008, and just this week on the 5th of February again, Saturn and Uranus were in opposition to one another. This is a cycle that takes nearly 42 years to complete, so this opposition has not occurred since the mid 1960s.
Interestingly, Saturn and Uranus are two planets that according to conventional astrology are complete opposites. Saturn represents limitations, fear, discipline, controls, and densification of reality...consciousness becoming concrete. In truth, Neptune is closer to the opposite of Saturn, as Neptune represents the removal of borderlines of distinction, the sea from which we all came and all return, dissolution and illusion. All of these things are exact opposite of the above definition of Saturn.
The experience of Uranus can seem to come from nowhere. Just like Neptune, it can seem otherworldly. Truly, Uranus represents a reminder of the soul beyond the chosen limitations of this life. It represents freedom, new ideas and innovations. It is the planet of the INDIVIDUAL. Where as Saturn represents the form and confines of the individual entity, Uranus represents the INDIVIDUATION of that individual. It represents each of us "in the raw"...what we are in pure form. In using the word "pure", I don't necessarily mean innocent. Uranus is a planet which reflects higher levels of knowledge and understanding..it is brilliance, it is the light that shines forth within us. You can consider yourself an innovation of the ONE SPIRIT..this means that you are a unique soul with unique gifts. With this purity comes thought that is more in tune with group consciousness rather than personal consciousness. The realm of Uranus is aware that we are all one body, and governs social change and causes which seek to structure reality in support of all souls rather than fear based, elitist group protecting structures. The incarnation on this earth plane, the limitations of body, mind and perspective is SATURN. The unique spark within us that makes you purely you is URANUS.

Let me take a moment to clarify the irony between the two planets. Saturn is the planet of the individual, yet the individual in the Saturn state is more concerned with ego gratification, and thus shares a behavior with most of the people in the collective....appearing on the surface to perhaps be more attuned to group consciousness. However, the need for others in this dimension is very much tied up in fear. Uranus is the planet of Independence, and yet the independent individual can attune themselves more to group consciousness. Think of great leaders such as Jesus, Gandhi or Buddha.....humans that would stand out and certainly don't conform to the group consciousness, but are in fact in greater support of group consciousness than anyone in the group.



Obviously we have friction between these two concepts. However, I want to clarify the difference between this cycle and the previously discussed Saturn/ Neptune cycle. In both cases, we deal with creating a structure or a world model that must make way for change. The cycle of Saturn and Uranus provides a means for fresh, new and innovative energy to break down current structures of thought, eventually becoming the new structures of consciousness. Now if we are to take a birds eye view of this concept, and see that whenever new structures of thought become CONSENSUS, that within the unconscious of the masses...conscious to a minority, the tradition of old structures still lives within the sea of all that is, was and will be. These realities will perhaps be used or innovated in the future once again. The concept that these realities are a part of that greater sea is NEPTUNE. URANUS is like the lightening from above. It is not something that lies hidden under the surface. Uranus seeks to stand out and be heard above the consensus reality. With Saturn and Neptune, there is often a fear of loss of control...a fear of crumbling into an energetic abyss...that sea in which the ego goes to dissolve. Saturn and Neptune deals with the individuals success or failure (karma) of aligning their individualism with the consciousness of the sea without becoming possessed by it. The friction between Saturn and Uranus is right there in your face. If there is fear, it is the fear of change. A good image for this is the battle of the older generation with its traditions trying to hold on to the values that it grew up appreciating, and the younger generation with its new perspective for a way of life.

At the conjunction, natives stand strong in their need to express their creativity and their unique ideas and ideals. It is likely that they were raised to understand that respect for their individual creativity must be earned. Parents likely held a mindset that encouraged freedom, which is important to the individual, but that it takes hard work and commitment to something in order to have freedom. Natives feel driven to do their duty, but they do not want to be so tied up with responsibility that they are not able to creatively express themselves. They perhaps feel a calling to do or be something that requires their unique perspective and talents in order to accomplish. They realize that they go about getting things done differently, and they feel that this difference must be demonstrated to the masses in order to implement change...a change they feel is for the better. Natives must be careful to not be too dogmatic in their idealism. In being too much of a dictator or tyrant, they are becoming the Saturn energy that is not allowing the free flow of ideas from others. A father that was unique in career and perspective is likely. Depending on other planets involved, the relationship with the father in this way becomes very important. Usually natives of this aspect, as stated above, are encouraged to work hard for their freedom. However, we each define freedom in different ways. Perhaps part of the karma here is that the father eventually sees himself in his child if the child does in fact rebel from the foundation of his teachings. The father may spend early years trying to create a foundation to protect the child from his/ her own impulses that may rock the foundation. If the father is in fact Uranian enough, there may be friction at first, however each party learns to further appreciate and RESPECT each other for their individual uniqueness and accomplishments. They are able to see their differences as similarities. Saturn/ Uranus natives are great at leading social causes. They not only have the spark of Uranian electricity and moxie, but they can ground into a charted course to get things done...to see an unconventional project through. This is a common aspect in great inventors and especially innovators who take something old and find new practical uses for it.

At the square aspect, patience becomes an issue. Natives can feel impatient with a world that may not fully embrace their uniqueness. They are forced to learn and deal with the PROCESS OF CHANGE. Notice both of those key words of process and change. Saturn doesn't like the change, and Uranus doesn't like the process. At the square, natives must face that they have to WORK in order to be truly FREE. Mundane day to day obligations may be frustrating to the native and feel like it ties him/her down from the full spectrum of creative expression. However, they must learn that not grounding into this will allow no structure to permit this very expression, and this would feel like an even worse prison for the native.
If Saturn is more dominant in the chart, meaning Uranus by rulership is weak, a person may experience sudden events that force them to implement or use creativity that they were perhaps scared to express. Life may force them to RECREATE themselves, bringing to the surface their true self. Often initially, the fear of asserting one's Uranian nature is a fear that they will not be supported and be forced into an unknown reality. Perhaps they may feel that their family will disown them if they express their hearts true yearning. They have a difficult time breaking childhood conditioning because of this fear.
If in this aspect, Uranus is the stronger planet, natives will ultimately find that overly radical behavior will only cast them further to the side. They may have to learn to conform to a degree in order to be first accepted, and then seen for the unique soul that they are. There may be difficulty if the family did not allow them to express their creativity freely.
Some natives can even be radical about maintaining tradition..choosing to stick with old fashioned values in the face of change. Saturn/ Uranus people, especially in the square aspect, can be UNCOMPROMISING in their view or feel that others are uncompromising for the freedom of their own expression. Fear of not being appreciated as unique and important, or of not being respected as having a valid and practical view, can be the cause. If the native had a father that was tyrannical and controlling, even if he was revolutionary in his fight for his ideals, then oftentimes the child overcompensates at adulthood by becoming tyrannical about their unique views. Obviously this high tension does not do much to build a practical means for longevity for creative expression. Ultimately, Saturn and Uranus must work together in order to build towards anything that expresses the genuine self. Just as well, you owe it to the planet to be your genuine self in order to help produce the necessary changes of your time. Hard Saturn/ Uranus contacts can be revolutionary periods, periods where individuals can be inspired to challenge heavy rulership and authority. Advances in technology, innovations, and political and economic restructuring are common during these periods.

At the opposition, we initially have a competition of paradigm. Once again we can picture youth versus old age in this competition. At the square, in order to move forward in life successfully, a native had to assimilate the nature of Saturn and Uranus. One of the key differences at the opposition is that circumstances in the life, home or world give opportunity for these polarities to work together to come to a solution. Initially, there is an issue of relating to each other.
Natives here have the opportunity to come fully into authority over themselves, however, they must learn to honor and respect those that have given them support, including the traditional ways they grew up in as well as the youth that will look up to. They must realize that ultimately this support gives them the means to have freedom and express themselves creatively. Wisdom must be acquired through a respect for tradition and a realization that it too was established by a Uranian spark and desire to be expressed. When respect is gained, natives must be careful to be so uncompromising in their authority and stance, otherwise they may draw a Uranian uprising from those that seek their respect and consideration. Just the same, revolting against authority is not the way to get the voice heard.
There is a childself that needs to be expressed and heard in this aspect. However, the childself needs to experience feeling needed growing up for the wave of new energy they come to produce...with ideas unfiltered by the fear of how the idea may be perceived by the current establishments. If this can be the case, then the older soul will be able to maintain a hold of that childself...making mature choices and decisions with a flare of creativity and a pure love that seeks to include the group because the group is not feared.
The Saturn/ Uranus opposition provides an opportunity for the new regime to gain a foothold into how things are done, as well as for the old to experience the need to integrate the new by circumstances that may force the issue...perhaps seeing the limitations of their own Saturnine traditions.
In the 1960s, the countercultures that developed in contrast to the military-industrial regime is an example of the manifestation of the Saturn/ Uranus opposition during that time. During this time, we are welcoming our first black president, who comes into office at a time where the old regime obviously screwed up enough to be forced to yield to the new ideas. In truth it is time, that is ruled by Saturn, that had alot to do with this as George Bush's time was done due to the structure our country has created with a maximum of two 4 year terms. However, this "democratic" process on the surface has a bit of Uranian understanding built into it. Our nation is an Aquarian nation believe it our not, and the revolutionary period it was started under coincided with the very discovery of the planet Uranus.

Interesting that Uranus is considered to be the planet most associated with Astrology. This makes sense since astrology is an awareness and understanding of something beyond ourselves that mirrors the innerself. However, Saturn is required to give structure to this understanding. In my own chart, I have Uranus in conjunction with the Sun making a strain free trine to Saturn. I have a healthy respect for the tradition of this science and use the foundation of the past to BACK my research...however in Uranian fashion, I always place first in any assessment I do, my own intuitive impulses. When I look at a chart if I get an impulse or vision, I go with that long before I go with anything I would read or another astrologer would say about it. This is because I have a healthy trust for my conscious connection to the greater body, and I feel that people that would be drawn to have me read would resonate with a vibration that they feel I would be in tune with at that given time....the very coming together of astrologer and client being a synchronicity within itself. The strain free trine aspect for me also allows me to reflect upon any difficult aspects I have with these planets and gather the discipline to deal with them appropriately rather than have too much of the lesson from these outer planets shake the foundation of my world from without.

In my own chart, I have Saturn in the 12th house, and the current opposition of Saturn and Uranus moving across my Midheaven/ Nadir axis, each forming a hard square to my natal Saturn. I realize on a deeper level that insufficient grounding and impatience is a cause for failure of much of the ideas I tried to apply growing up. Buying a new house (Saturn on the Nadir) and grounding into a new city may limit my ability for travel and freedom on the surface, but will give me greater freedom to express my own creativity through my work (Uranus on the 10th house cusp) through making me more visible to my clients via perceived stability. This is one of the many lessons I am learning during this heavy and key transitory time in my life.

As mentioned, the strain free trine aspect gives natives the ability to capitalize on the fullness of their potential by applying self discipline towards building a life that allows their unique and creative expression to be applied. At the sextile, there is an awareness that knowledge is the key to freedom. Natives of these aspects make good teachers, especially for children where they can give a proper amount of discipline and guidance without squashing the Uranian creativity of the child.

At the inconjunction, natives may be preparing for the coming of change outside of the self without realizing that they need to take full control of their lives in order to have a say in how their lives will change. There can also be a fear that the coming changes will force out their way of life and they feel the need to protect it. The native must learn to take responsibility to do their duty, learning when to help implement change and when to allow for change
What does it say that Barack Obama was born under the inconjunction of Saturn and Uranus while being sworn in under the opposition? He has put himself in a position of a great responsibility during a time when structures are forced to change....failing economy and a failing system to take care of all the people. It will be a challenge for him to stay grounded as a vessel for change rather than an individual controlling the change. Control in the hands of one individual, one party, one group of people is dangerous. He has a drive to protect a way of life dear to him, but change will take a little longer than many may think it would given the initial contrast between his party and the previous one. Mistakes he will make need to be seen as an opportunity for all consensus people to take authority of their own leadership rather than always seeking the answer through some Uranian seeming vessel. The answer is and always has been in the people, and regardless of the individual that is placed in a role of leadership, this self authority must be reeled in from projection onto anyone.

Through the cycle of Saturn and Uranus, we are given an opportunity to attune ourselves to structures that today may seem intangible, but in fact are real as we learn more and more that our body does not end with our physical bodies...we ARE ALL ONE BODY. Knowledge from this perspectives breaks down structures built in fear to protect one group, for it embraces and includes all groups. Responsibility begins by being true to oneself. Only through the authentic nature of each soul can the new structures reflect one voice in harmony.