2020 to 2021 Astrological Transition: Overview
The 2020 to 2021 Astrology transition starts off with some intensity. That’s an understatement, right? As I was finishing up my writing for this first blog of the New Year, the US State Capitol breach was taking place.
There is a significant shift in the overarching energetics of planetary relationships that will be active as 2020 fades into 2021. A different type of energetic mix-up is taking form.
The Planets represent different types of energies, they define what those energies are. Saturn represents the establishment like government and financial institutions in mundane astrology, the astrology of world events.
In our life he represents our structure, discipline and how we experience limitations and set boundaries.
Planets move at different speeds and over time the slower moving planets form relationships that mark a significant period of time, like a whole year or 6 months.
In 2020 we had a stellium of planets in Capricorn all year (Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter) or Mars in Aries for 6 months because of its retrograde motion (usually it’s in a sign around 6 weeks).
The slower moving planets that form longer periods of planetary configurations are Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter. We experienced Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter highlighted in 2020 in the sign Capricorn.
In mid-December of 2020 Saturn and Jupiter moved into the sign of Aquarius. More on this below.
If planets represent what the energy is, then the zodiac signs represent how planets express that energy. If there is an astrological relationship between planets, called aspects, it describes how that relationship functions.
If we look at a time period of a year, we must zoom out and see what planets are making aspects, or relationships, that are active for that longer period of time. Because planets go retrograde, they can make contact 3 times. Once going forward, twice going backward, and again going forward.
This year Uranus and Saturn become the highlighted planets and they are in a relationship practically all of 2021. They make contact three times due to the retrograde motion of Saturn.
That contact, or relationship, is a square, a 90 degree angle. A square is action oriented, growth fostering, and comes with a challenge, like the catalyst initiating the change.
Forecasting with the Planets
When astrologers do weekly or monthly astrology reports, they are able to zoom in, so the weekly or monthly astro weather astrologers talk about are able to focus on the faster moving planets, like the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars.
These four moving bodies don’t usually stay in a sign for very long, so they typically aren’t overarching energetics representing a flavor of the year.
On average these planets stay in a sign for around a month, give or take a few days. But with retrograde motion they can stay in a sign longer. Much longer as we saw last year with the Mars retrograde.
In 2020 Mars got involved with the Capricorn stellium activating an already contentious group of planets. Thankfully Mars will be direct all of 2021. In fact, Mars won’t go retrograde again until October of 2022.
So though Mars will still square planets as he moves along through the zodiac in 2021, he won’t maintain that square for 6 months, or to a difficult stellium in Capricorn like in 2020. Phew!
The Moon moves so fast that we look at her aspects for short periods of time, like daily or weekly forecasts.
When we look at longer trends, like for a year, we look at the movement of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Some astrologers leave Jupiter out of the mix because his transits are typically helpful. In 2021, less so. Because Jupiter joined that Capricorn stellium, his expansive energy reflected the expansion of the virus.
Summing up 2020
2020 was characterized by a stellium (group) of planets in the sign of Capricorn. They were Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter. I covered this in more depth in my blog article ‘Astrology 2020, What Happened?!‘ so I won’t go into much detail here.
To sum it up, and let me stress this is a super brief summary, here are the key ways to look at the 2020 three planet stellium:
Pluto is the planet of power (and it’s misuse), big change, and destruction, like a pandemic. Saturn represents structure, discipline, and restrictions, like the lockdown. Jupiter represents growth, opportunity, and expansion, like a virus spreading out of control.
Now that summed up 2020.
But that’s not all. Mars came along and squared this stellium with its influence starting late summer. You could say this was a challenge, it stirred up the problem and brought along some anger, antagonism, and impatience.
Because Mars went retrograde in Aries, it squared those Capricorn stellium planets 3 times each. The signs Aries and Capricorn are 90 degrees apart.
This configuration has finally broken up as Jupiter and Saturn moved into Aquarius mid December 2020.
Mars moved out of Aries, and out of a square to late degrees of Capricorn, on Wednesday, January 6. So that sensitive Capricorn stellium energy has calmed down.
Pluto will remain in Capricorn for another few years. The important thing is that it is no longer traveling close with Saturn and square Mars. What a relief.
Aquarius is highlighted in 2021
You may have already heard about Jupiter and Saturn moving into Aquarius as it is a big deal in Astrology, and the majority of astrologers have been talking about it at length.
It is also a big deal in Astronomy as the planets were really close to each other in the sky. Media, astrologers and astronomers were talking about getting outside to get a glimpse of the stars shining in the sky mid-December 2020.
As a matter of fact, there will be another chance to see Jupiter and Saturn lining up in the sky and joined by the planet Mercury, all in Aquarius, for a trio spectacle on January 8 – 11, 2021.
This move of Saturn and Jupiter out of the stellium with Pluto, from Capricorn to Aquarius, also changes the element from heavy and materialistic earth to social and communicative air.
It is noteworthy to mention that when Mars moves from Aries to Taurus, he will be in the same sign as Uranus. This will aggravate this new energy rising out of the dust of 2020.
There will be a huge stellium of planets in Aquarius February 10-12 with six, yes six planets piling up in the sign. Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Sun and Moon will all occupy this one sign in a stellium.
Air signs may start feeling highly energized with so much planetary energy blowing in. More on this in upcoming weather reports.
Saturn square Uranus
This aspect is arguably the centerpiece of astrological planetary movements in 2021.
Saturn is the planet of boundaries, structure, and limitations. He represents long-term institutions, the establishment, foundations, authority, and time (think father time, Kronos).
Saturn can be very helpful, we need structure in our life. He represents the bones in our body, which we need to hold our bodies together. Without boundaries, we don’t know where something starts or ends.
A nice metaphor I have heard astrologers use is to think of Saturn as a boat on the ocean. We are in that boat, along with the other personal planets that represent us as individuals: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter.
Saturn is the boundary or structure keeping us from falling in the ocean. Keeping us separate.
This metaphor helps understand the division between the personal planets, which we work with everyday in carrying out our lives. And the transpersonal planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which represent the collective, external parts of life we can’t control.
These outer planets, Uranus, Pluto and Neptune, represent the ocean in the metaphor that Saturn keeps us from falling into.
Uranus is about freedom, independence, and is known to bring sudden and unexpected change.
While Saturn represents the establishment, structures and tradition, Uranus is about breaking down those structures, he is rebellious and wants independence.
We should see the beginning of the breaking down of old and outdated systems through rebellion and a demand to hear the voice of all.
We should see more voice coming from the people and an insistence on considering society as a whole rather than the powerful elite.
Saturn will make the square to Uranus in February, June, and December of 2021. Expect astrologers to be talking about this throughout the year, and especially during those months. I certainly will be sharing more information about this highlighted transit of the year.
Mars Conjuncts Uranus
Mars will inch closer and closer to Uranus through January until he reaches Uranus in a conjunction on January 20-21, 2021.
The few days before and after may have some aggressive and tense moments that produce something sudden and unexpected. If you have planets in your chart in fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius around 6 degrees you will feel this energy personally.
Get a free print out of your chart here.
Be aware that you may trigger more easily than usual. Try to give it a few days before reacting if you can.
This energy will pass fairly quickly as Mars will not retrograde back to this point. Mars will move out of Aquarius on March 3 or 4 depending on where you live.
Jupiter and Saturn Cycle
Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius reflect a change in social structure. Both of these planets represent society and how we engage with it on a personal level. In mundane, or world events astrology, they represent society.
When Jupiter and Saturn meet in a conjunction, it represents a new cycle, and it happens every 20 years. These 20 year cycles are part of a greater trend than changes around every 200 years. That trend is the element that the two planets meet in conjunction every 20 years.
Now that this trend has moved to the element of air (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius), we should see societal change in social structures. Before, Saturn and Jupiter were meeting every 20 years in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn). The earth cycle was focused on the material and the establishment.
We had a preview of Jupiter and Saturn in the air element in 1980 when they met in Libra. As part of the transition of element there was a dip in air before going back to earth in 2000. Now that these two have met in air again in December of 2020 they will continue to meet in air signs every 20 years for around 200 years. Interesting eh?
Wrap Up
2021 should bring society some relief from the pandemic. But it should also give a preview of the change we can expect to see over the next 20 years, or the next 200 years.
When the Saturn square Uranus hits in February, June and December, the expression of this square should be more pronounced in world affairs and the news.
Leading up to the Saturn square Uranus in February are some intense transits in January. Mars is in the same sign as Uranus most of January instigating some aggression.
The New Moon on January 13 also shows to be intense with a conjunction of the Sun, Moon and Pluto in Capricorn. Plus Mars is already within a few degrees of conjunction with Uranus.
I wrote a separate blog on the Capricorn New Moon you can read here.
2021 should prove to be a better year, but not without its difficulties. We all have our part to play in the creation and development of the world, community, and families we live in.
With Aquarian energy rushing in fresh new air, an energy based in communication, and an essence of originality that is inclusive of all voices, we can have hope for more peace in 2021.
I wish you the best in 2021!