Montreal Theosophy Project: Astrology: Summer Solstice June 20, 2020

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This pivotal year has so far has lived up to it’s promise in quite a striking manner, with the culmination of three major planetary cycles: Saturn-Pluto (38 years), Jupiter-Pluto (13 years) and Jupiter-Saturn (20 years), which are quite interconnected as multiples of the cycles make for a closely coinciding period of 38, 39 (13 x 3) and 40 (20 x 2) years. One can see a remarkable symmetry in the alignments around the summer solstice. The solar eclipse coinciding with the solstice (just 8 hours later) is the middle eclipse in a series of three (June 5, June 21, July 5). There are seven eclipses this year, with two at the beginning, close to the Saturn-Pluto conjunction, and two more near the end, close to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, again, very symmetrical. The exact Jupiter-Pluto conjunction on June 30 is the middle of a series of three this year and can be considered to mark a midway point between the two other major conjunctions (April 4, June 30, November 12), the Saturn-Pluto conjunction of January 12 and the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on December 21, at the Winter Solstice.

Moreover, Mercury goes retrograde (June 18 to July 12) and Neptune (June 22- November 28) soon after. As of June 22, Mercury, Venus (May 13 to June 25), Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto are retrograde. The summer retrograde season provides a time to pause and process the social upheavals caused by the pandemic and the racial injustice protests. Although I don’t think this year’s dramatic moments are all behind us, as the fall has some powerful Mars squares with the conjunct Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn. The first half of the year can be scene as a kind of setting of the stage which served to highlight certain social tensions and imbalances, which were marked by Saturnian constriction and repression, whereas the second half of the year leading up to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction should be marked by a more pro-active, constructive process of implementing positive change and re-building outdated structures, based on the long-standing imbalances that the first part of the year brought to light.

This year can be seen as a kind of power play between the Saturn and Jupiter forces, with Pluto providing support to Saturn in the first quarter, to Jupiter in the second quarter and third quarters, with the fourth quarter being a more direct experience of the Jupiter-Saturn pairing. The first half set the stage to dramatically bring the issues of government control, oppression (elderly, poor, minorities). In the second we should witness the ramifications of these realities as the protesting forces of social justice try to gain practical change, concrete implementation of new, healthy, fair-minded modes of living. In a way, the current protests can be seen as a culmination of ten years of protest marked by the Uranus-Pluto square aspect (2009-2015), corresponding to the second half of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle, which is generally more Saturnian than the more Jupiterian first half.

Saturn-Pluto conjunction (January 12)

A basic description of this aspect:

1- Pluto transforms, Saturn narrows focus. Fewer resources for more restricted objectives. Structures change, come to an end. A time to get rid of old structures to bring about evolution and growth

2- Financial problems, shortages. Government impositions, restrictions. Health incidents that restrict our movement.

3- Confines energies, to better focus them on more serious issues, because a later crisis may force you to start from square one if you are spread too thin.

4- Pluto can signify tremendous evolutionary energies, energies that Saturn can restrict, causing dangerous, violent explosion. Use energy to bring about necessary evolution in your life. As well as repress, Saturn can give form to Pluto’s transformative energies, then it is much more fruitful.

Some of the more intense themes that tend to emerge with this aspect are: ‘’Harsh oppression and constraint, crime and punishment, sin and judgment, trauma and retribution, rigid control and dark consequences, intensely challenging contradictions and tensions, the depths of shadow and moral discernment’’ (Tarnas, 270).

For most of the year Capricorn is the dominant sign and Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn: ‘’Capricorn and Saturn are very similar. Both strive for material achievement, and both are strongly concerned with social recognition. Both are symbols of self-denial and the deferral of immediate gratification in favor of long-range necessity. Both are strongly connected to the father and to all symbols of authority and guidance, and in both discipline is strong’’ (Hand, Symbols, 235).

Jupiter conjunct Pluto (April 4, June 30, November 12)

A basic description of this aspect:

1-Urge to achieve, great effort to succeed, major project bears fruit.

2- Great drive for power, powers come without trying, relatively great or small.

3- If power drive has no outlet, then conflict with authorities, overly large, against society, resulting in loss. Good to find an area where you can achieve respect and recognition.

4- Dominant drive for self-betterment, with a danger to focus on money and power. Danger of fanaticism or self-righteousness.

5- Possibility to create something great, or distort your life

Close to this conjunction on April 4, Ethiopian Airlines released preliminary report on the major plane crash of March, 10, 2019. Australia has passed a sweeping law to stop the spread of violent content online, following a mass shooting in a Church on May 12, 2018. The FBI has warned of a new potential privacy and security concern called "Zoombombing." President Trump fired Michael Atkinson, who informed Congress about the whistleblower complaint regarding Trump's communications with Ukraine that eventually led to his impeachment.

Jupiter can be cooperative in the socio-political oriented Capricorn, and is ‘’often quite happy to turn its attention to the achievement of social status and importance’’ (Hand, Symbols, 235).

Jupiter conjunct Saturn (December 21)

A basic description of this aspect:

1-Confronting inhibitions, self-restrictions and outer restrictions. Breaking out and trying new things or changing within existing limits.

2- Restlessness, the need to break away and seek freedom from restrictive structures. Change of job, residence, and end of a relationship.

3- Building new structures, expanding existing orders, carefully and cautiously.

4- If there are tensions, then changes will be more abrupt. If things were stable, the changes will be more gradual.

The Saturn-Pluto conjunction seemed to catalyse the health problems of the Covid-19 pandemic (although the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction and Neptune in Pisces were most likely also involved) and the ensuing governmental restrictions with the necessary social compliance. Whereas the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction seemed to have catalysed a more dynamic reaction to the more abusive aspects of the repressive social restrictions and the pent-up restlessness caused by the enforced isolation, resulting in mass protests against racism, police brutality and social inequalities.

The ambitious Jupiter-driven protest force was able to gain certain government support possibly due to the Saturn transit into Aquarius (from March 21 to July, 1, 2020, and then later, from December 17, 2020, to March 7, 2023), Aquarius being more humanitarian, and progressive than the more conformist, conservative, strict Capricorn.

Power and Passion

Moon square Mars One of the two tightest aspects of this chart. Passionate emotions and a need for action, activity, and challenges. Impulsive and temperamental.

Mars sextile Jupiter. The other of the two tightest aspects. Decisive action comes naturally. Willpower, verve, and energy that we can direct toward achieving goals. Success in contracts, negotiations.

Sun square Mars Driven by a restless desire to do something; impulsive actions and needless arguments. Channel this excess energy constructively, you can accomplish much. Prone to bursts of anger and frustration.

Family Affairs

(Mercury in Cancer, Pluto, Neptune triangle of opportunity)

Neptune sextile Pluto A pioneering spirit, making one unafraid to challenge the accepted way of thinking and doing things. One can remove political, religious, cultural and gender bias and reconstruct it in a more advanced and unadulterated state. One can be inspired by truth and human potential.

Mercury square Pluto. Suspiciousness, making mountains out of molehills, telling others only what we want them to know are possible themes. Mental anxiety or troubles could manifest now. Compulsive thinking is possible. Also the ability to engage in deep, penetrating communication.

Mercury trine Neptune. Imagination and intuition run high. Can easily sense the thoughts and feelings of others. We express ourselves with subtle flair. Favors the art and spirituality.

Here the triangle of potential (a loose one, but influence might still be felt) means to solve the Mercury-Pluto conflict with Neptune trine and sextile. The challenges of the health restrictions and political upheavals have quite possibly placed stress on family relations causing divisions, power conflicts and disagreements. Here the solution would be to listen to one’s intuition, look to a higher power and holistic ideals that rise above petty differences.

Productive Meetings

Venus trine Saturn. Maturity with others allows us to see our relationships realistically. Advances can be made in business and in partnerships through strengthening and bonding. Support from older people or authority figures may come.

Mercury sextile Uranus. This is an opportune time to attend meetings and other organized group activities, to communicate online, and to take part in activities involving computers, scientific projects, and metaphysics. We can take advantage of our ability to see things in a new light by breathing life into old projects or solving problems in new, creative ways.

Conclusion

This year’s summer solstice coincides with the mid-point of a series of three eclipses (the last one on July 5, being in the potent Cancer-Capricorn axis). One has to appreciate how these planetary configurations (7 eclipses, 5 exact conjunctions with 3 planets, close to the Solstices) are symmetrically spaced out marking the beginning, mid-point and ending of the calendar year, making this solstice a potent middle point, were a striking number of planetary events over the first half of the year will be met with an equivalent number of strong configurations over the second half.

As the final aspect, a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, shifts from the conservative, authority-conscious Capricorn to the more progressive, humanitarian Aquarius, there is the possibility that the harsh realities that the difficulties of the pandemic and racial oppressions have brought to light could result in productive social change (and have already done so to a certain extent, at least provisionally). However, authoritarian backlashes are to be expected, as the first week of July sees the second Jupiter-Pluto conjunction (June 30), a return of Saturn into Capricorn (July 1^st) and an eclipse with the Moon in Capricorn (July 5^th). Beginning mid-September, due to retrogradation, Mars will go through an extra-long two-month period squaring the Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto conjunction, which could be at least as volatile as a similar period in 2019.

From a theosophical perspective, Kamadeva, because of the sign of Makara (Capricornus) on his banner is connected to Makara-Ketu and can be said to represent the ‘’all embracing desire for universal good, love, and for all that lives and feels, needs help and kindness, the first feeling of infinite tender compassion and mercy’’ (Blavatsky, Kamadeva. Theosophical Glossary). Morevoer, the sign of Makara is connected with ‘’the birth of the spiritual “microcosm,” and the death or dissolution of the physical Universe (its passage into the realm of the Spiritual); so the Dhyan Chohans, called in India Kumara, are connected with both’’ (Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine I, 579). Hence the intense activity in Capricorn this year is a particular interest. It may be worth nothing that Deneb Algedi, known as the ‘’tail of the goat’’ in the constellation of Capricorn is in trine with the Moon on the summer solstice.