Story by Katharine Florence
Staff Writer
Illustration by Alicia Zhang
Staff Illustrator
This coming year holds a lot of potential in terms of astrology. The impactful Jupiter/Saturn conjunction — when two or more planets line up and exemplify the powers of the planets — in Aquarius last December has set up 2021 as the beginning of a new era. While Jupiter and Saturn meet every 20 years in the signs of the same element (water, earth, fire, air), every 200 years, they shift into a new element. After 200 years of meeting in earth signs, this alignment in Aquarius marks the entry into a 200-year emphasis on air sign energy, which has not occurred since 1623.
Jupiter, the planet of growth, expansion, and prosperity, and Saturn, the planet of responsibility, maturity, and discipline together mark the tone of our reality through the lens of air signs. This will be shown in things like ideological domination, spread of pandemics, data collection, and innovation.
2021 will bring revolution and a shift in the collective consciousness over the next year. Aquarius is the sign that represents the collective, progress, and humanitarian efforts. The world will hold this independent and intellectual Aquarian energy. People will rebel against old, outdated Saturnian forces. These Aquarian themes will continue to be highlighted profoundly until 2023. This great conjunction also occurred at zero degrees. In astrology, a zero degree point symbolizes new beginnings. This transit lasts about one year, meaning it is one of the most defining astrological events of 2021
From 2020 to 2023, Saturn will be squaring Uranus. A square is a 90° aspect that represents tension and challenges. Again, Saturn is the planet of responsibility, maturity, and discipline, whereas Uranus symbolizes technology, rebellion, and innovation. This hard aspect represents conservative past ideologies coming up against future progressive ideologies. Throughout history, Saturn/Uranus squares have coincided with the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed groups.
For example, this square occurred from 1929 to 1933, which paralleled the stock market crash and the establishment of the Third Reich. Another Saturn/Uranus square dates from 1974 to 1978. During that time in Cambodia, Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge in a revolution that killed millions. The last square before the one we are living through now happened between 1998 and 2001 which most infamously concluded with the attack on the New York City World Trade Center.
To bring some good news, Venus, the planet of love, relationships, and aesthetics, as well as Mars, the planet of action, assertion, and sex, are no longer retrograde. Retrograde is an adjective, describing a period in which a planet is moving backward or in a direction opposite to that of the motions of other planets. In 2020, both Venus and Mars were retrograde. In 2021, the absence of these retrograded planets only means better days are ahead. These planets are also going to come together in Leo between June and July. This conjunction is a reunion of the feminine from Venus and masculine energy from Mars, encouraging harmonious relationships.
