The Saturn/Uranus opposition:A Powerplay in five Acts

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lillyjgc

Senior Member, Educational board Editor
The Saturn/Uranus opposition of 2008: A Power Play in Five Acts.
This cycle began back in 1988, 13th February, with the conjunction of Saturn and Uranus, in the sign of Sagittarius (at 29.56 deg). By 1999-2000 a square aspect between the two had formed. Saturn was posited in Taurus and Uranus in Aquarius.
Now, in 2008-9 the two oppose, on the Virgo /Pisces axis.
This is a significant cycle because the oppositions will occur no less than five times before completion.
Saturn moves in retrograde motion about seven degrees each year and moves forward about 20 degrees during direct motion. Saturn thus travels about 12-13 degrees a year.
Dates
The first exactitude of the current opposition occurs on November 4th 2008, then Feb 4, 2009 then September 14, 2009, April 26th 2010 and finalises the cycle on July 25th 2010 over the Aries/Libra axis, bringing the focus back to *Self and, or versus Others*. It is interesting to note that Saturn and Uranus will be opposed again, in 2056, May 2nd again on the Aries/Libra axis.
History

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In 1965, this same opposition occurred, but Saturn was posited in Pisces and Uranus in Virgo, the converse of what we are currently experiencing. That series of oppositions began in March 1964. This lasted through Sept.’64, and picked up again Jan ‘65, and despite a very wide orb at times, lasted through March 1967.
At that time, moreover, Mars and Pluto were both also conjunct Uranus. Planets Jupiter and Neptune were also locked in opposition to one another.
There is no doubt that 1965 was a major turning point time, globally. Significant world events were occurring at that time. It was the year that Lyndon Byrd Johnson made his *Social Unity* speech, Malcolm X was assassinated. The term *Black Power* emerged. It was the year both the U.S. and Australia started sending combat missions to Vietnam.
Ferdinand Marcos became President of the Phillipines, India and Pakistan went to war with one another, again over Kashmir.
It was the year also, that Sir Winston Churchill died. Perhaps his death symbolized the end of an era, and arising from the ashes of that, a year of social revolution, and youth dissent against the Establishment.

The Beatles released *Rubber Soul*, the album that was ranked in 2003 by Rolling Stones Magazine, as being in the top five best selling albums, *of all time*.It was to be the beginning of their revolutionary lyric writing with songs like *Think for yourself*. Later albums became much more strident.
In terms of mythology, Saturn and Uranus are mortal enemies, their natures being very different, but Saturn, Father Time, prevailed over Oranos. Saturn demands structure, but can also erode that same structure. Saturn limits, restricts and generates challenges. Uranus, on the other hand, is less concerned with maintaining the status quo and more about seeking change, even in a destructive way. Yet to adopt a modern astrological perspective, Uranus is said to rule technology ,and few would argue that technology has in itself become an important part of our social and economic infra structure. Interestingly, also in 1965, the US experienced its worst power failure in modern times, affecting over seven states.

In 1965, the first commercial satellite, *Early Bird* was launched. Sony introduced the earliest Home Video Recorders, Betamax, and television began to broadcast in colour. The War in Vietnam was suddenly being broadcast into living rooms at dinner time in all its graphic monstrosity. The confronting nature of that television presence contributed to strong and divided opinions on the veracity of that war.This was the time when Draft resistors were going to prison in order to exercise their political and moral conscience. In Australia conscription (Saturn) was introduced, and the Uranian Demonstrations that ensued resulted in a level of police brutality that had never been previously caught on film.

With Saturn in Virgo we may experience negative effects on our digestive systems. Uranus in Pisces intensifies the nervous energy in and around us, affecting our endocrine balance and sleep patterns. This energy will also impact on animals. This may be especially pronounced during scene five of the unfoldment, July 2010, as the moon is also full at that time.
Ebertin says, in <Combination of Stellar Influences >, that Saturn with Uranus brings “inhibitions of rhythm.” This could work on numerous levels, affecting the rhythm also of our daily lives.
Uranus energy is often the harbinger of change through instability. There are often sudden and unexpected events that shake our foundations and force us to look at things from a new angle. In that sense Saturn and Uranus both work toward change.
The forthcoming series of five oppositions could be said to provide five opportunities for change but through dissent. Neither Virgo nor Pisces are regarded as *violent signs*. That is usually the perogative of Mars.
Joyce Hopewell makes this observation in regard to the nature of the energies at work: (she uses the Huber method )
<Uranus is surprisingly similar to Saturn in principle. Whereas Saturn seeks to keep things static and maintain the status quo, resisting change because security has been achieved, Uranus also seeks security. But it does so by bringing change, by tearing up the old and often outworn blueprints and drawing on creative, innovative new approaches which will provide security and stability at a different level and of a different kind to the outworn Saturnian version.>

2008
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At the time of the first opposition, on Nov 4, 2008, Mars, still in its own sign of Scorpio, is closely square Neptune but also forms several sextiles, with Jupiter and Saturn. Also the moon sextiles Mars that day. Venus, on the other hand, separates from the square to Saturn. It is likely that relationships will be affected significantly also. The moon will be in Capricorn, Saturn’s sign, during *Round one* of the oppositions, certainly not able to help much but favouring resistance to change and thus more aligned with the Saturnian influence. On November 4th, the moon will trine Saturn and sextile Uranus. Both ends of the Uranus/Saturn opposition will be square to Venus in Sagittarius.
Of course the eyes of the World will be intently focussed on the election in the USA. One thing is certain, regardless of which party is elected, scenes from the day will be replayed four more times before the opposition is technically over, midway through 2010.

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By February, 2009, we have a stellium in Aquarius, the sign that Modern astrologers assign to Uranus, but that Traditional astrologers assign to Saturn. That stellium comprises, Neptune conjunct with Chiron, the Sun, the North Node and Jupiter-all within an orb of sixteen degrees, with the North Node at 9 degrees Aquarius conjunct Jupiter at 7 degrees Aquarius. Mars is at a critical degree-29.53 Capricorn thus adding to the Saturnian energy. Through this phase the moon is in Gemini into Cancer. The sun, Chiron and Neptune are inconjunct Saturn at that time. There will undoubtedly be disturbances at that time, with Mars about to bring its energy to Aquarius also. Disruptions to technology would be almost certain under those influences. The moon going through Gemini over those couple of days will square both Saturn and Uranus in that phase, but mercury offers a sextile to Uranus and a trine to Saturn, which may contribute positively to the energy.

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By September 15th 2009, when the opposition again exacts, the Sun and Mercury will be conjunct Saturn, and Uranus will be sextile to the North Node. The moon will be moving from Cancer to Leo over that time, and will form a quincunx to Uranus and a semi-sextile to Saturn. Venus will be in opposition to Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter. This will be a very challenging day as Pluto is forming a T-square to both Saturn and Uranus as well.

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Around April 25th 2010, the opposition occurs again, with Saturn in retrograde motion. They oppose at 28 deg. This time the moon conjoins with Saturn, and Uranus is coupled with Jupiter, strong in its own sign Pisces, but adding a great deal of weight to the Uranian end of the opposition. Mars will be in Leo at that time, about ten degrees. Both the moon and Saturn will be applying a square to Pluto (at 5 degrees Capricorn) and the sun and Mercury apply to a combustion, in Taurus. Both the sun and Mercury also apply a square to Mars,(at 10 degrees Leo).

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The Closing Scene is played out around July 25th 2010. A chart drawn for that day shows Jupiter just past the conjunction with Uranus and Saturn, opposite, conjoined with Mars. Both ends of the opposition are square Pluto. This time Saturn is in Libra, the sign of its exaltation, Mars leaving Virgo to enter the sign of its Fall, Uranus in Aries conjunct with Jupiter in Aries-This could be a very wild combination. The word *Fireball* comes to mind. Jupiter is also retrograde at this time. In addition, no planets are in Water signs at this final stage of the opposition. Venus is also in Fall in Virgo, peregrine. There will also be a full moon in Aquarius at that time.

Conclusions:
Alexander Ruperti says this of the Saturn/Uranus opposition.
“Habit patterns will always resist change and when the pressure of some creative challenge is felt, the ego will experience a sense of impending doom, generating fear and resisting change.”

Those born around 1964-1966 may have the opposition natally.
Those therefore aged between 43 and 45 may experience this opposition most profoundly if it triggers natal aspects, especially when considering the 1965 conjunction of Uranus and Pluto.

Bill street, in his excellent article *The Astrology of 2010.Personal and Generational Implications.* (03/01/04), makes this observation:
The 1960’s was a decade of upheaval, reaction, turbulence, creativity, activism, protest and social change. The youth coming of age at the time rallied against the structures they inherited with an intensity and sweep that was almost unprecedented—certainly there was no precedence for this earlier in the twentieth century. Ironically, however, the children of the sixties, for the most part, haven’t had the thirst for social activism, political change, or the tenacity for tearing down structures as their parents did. However, many of the 1960’s generation are just beginning to throttle through their mid-life transition, which can bring about significant attitudinal changes and value shifts.”

This is certainly true for those of my associates born in the mid-sixties.
Those around the age of about 38-42 often experience the transit of Uranus in opposition to their natal Uranus. This current set of oppositions may hit them hard, and those around the age of 28-29, or 58-59, or 89-90, who are experiencing a Saturn return may also feel the effects very significantly.

Of course every chart will receive this oppositional transit *somewhere*. It is important to look at just where this occurs in your chart, because the houses affected will be under that influence until around 2010. Also the houses under Saturn’s rulership in the natal chart will be involved.

Further reading:
http://www.astrologyweekly.com/astrological-aspects/uranus-opposition-saturn.php

http://www.astrologynyc.org/ncgrnyc-articlee.html

http://www.skyscript.co.uk/uranusaspects.html

http://www.astropro.com/features/tables/geo/sa-ur/sa-180-ur/index.html

http://www.mmacycles.com/articles/articles/saturn-in-virgo,-oppositiion-to-uranus/


Lillyjgc
2008
 
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