A link to my talk with Rod Chang on this aspect https://youtu.be/sLDJUwhtqCk
June 2023 sees Jupiter and Saturn form a sextile between 07012 of Taurus and Pisces, the first major aspect in the current Jupiter Saturn cycle which began in 2020.[1] I’ll discuss more on the cycle itself later but first I want to talk about the turtle. Why, may you ask? This particular turtle is a print I have at home at the bottom of the stairs. Every time I walk down them it is there, omnipresent, and makes me smile. It feels spiritual somehow, as though it was meant to come into my home, which was actually by complete chance. I’ve long been searching for an opportunity to write or speak about it, to give it some form of meaning, and now with this approaching Earth/Water sextile, that the turtle lives between these two elements, land and water, and is so adaptable it can navigate a bridge between the two realms, it resonates perfectly. So here I am – it’s very Saturn in Pisces, isn’t it?
We normally associate a waxing sextile with fresh new enthusiasm, excitement and potential, however, here Saturn in Pisces is balsamic and hermitic, a quiet master of its art carrying wisdom, echoing all that is twelfth house, energy that is introspective and reflective. In this case it is even more so as Saturn retrogrades into the sextile only two days before exactment.[2] Furthermore, the sextile occurs in earth and water, both receptive, contemplative, feminine signs.
Jupiter in Taurus is fertile ground, perfect for steady, long term establishment, sustainability and growth. This can mean things such as material acquisition, and an extreme example would be a hoarder, one who overfills their life with possessions they refuse to ever part with lest their sense of security be compromised. But it’s also about belief and value systems: we’ve experienced profound personal changes with the Covid pandemic, and in some ways society is unrecognizable from before and still in a state of flux and readjustment. In being deprived of so much we previously took for granted such as relationships, job situations, finances, social contact and freedom, it can be tempting to now acquire everything we desire just in case we run short again. However we should perhaps stop, take stock and question what is truly important to us now.
This is a time to look within for our own potentials and opportunities, to reflect on how far we’ve come whilst also considering where we are headed. It’s about manifesting a blend of hope, vision but realism as we continue to adapt to new realities. What we believed in pre-2020 is probably very different to what we believe in now and going forward. Similarly what once grounded us has shifted too.
So after the frantic “foot flat to the floor” energy of Jupiter in Aries (any of you with cardinal planets/angles may have particularly felt this), Jupiter ingressing Taurus gives us time to slow down a little and take our time to consider our next steps. Returning to the turtle, it is commonly depicted as wise and patient and with its long lifespan associated with longevity. They can take refuge within their shells, within themselves, and perhaps this is what we are tempted to do in those times when we feel the weight of the world is on our backs, echoing the familiar mythological depiction of the World, or Cosmic, turtle. But turtles also migrate (very Jupiter and very Pisces), and whilst in the ocean this of course involves literal migration, so too can we journey within ourselves, into our inner realms and the experiences we’ve collected over recent years since the start of this cycle. Here we may find, in the fertile waters of the imagination and wisdom we’ve gathered, all that we need to manifest our dreams into longterm substance and to navigate our way forward.
Now think back to December 2020 when this cycle started – this is an opportune time to reflect on what you experienced then and since…..
Every twenty years the Great Chronocators signifiy a steady shift in society’s direction & focus, in effect a measure of historical change. This conjunction was especially significant due to its elemental shift from an era of Earth to one of Air, in other words a Great Mutation. Each era lasts 200 years with cycles all occurring within a particular element. An age of Air might indeed be most welcome, and very different to the previous that of Earth with a less materialistic ethos and fresh potential to look beyond the physical. It began with Jupiter and Saturn conjunct at 00 Aquarius, a critical degree in any horoscope, full of fresh, enthusiastic and innocent energy. This represented a key societal shift into a more cerebral, technological age focusing on evolution of the mind and thought processes as well as new, innovative ways of working and managing industry, as well as progressive ideas around our status in society.
Jupiter represents religion, education, law, travel, growth, expansion, vision and confidence, whereas Saturn represents authority, status, real estate, buildings father time, rules, limitation, responsibility. When the two energies of these planets are positively combined ideas can be manifested and sustained, and in Aquarius suggests controlled growth in communicative and technological innovation. Common causes can be reformed and stabilised.
And of course I can’t mention Aquarius without Pluto, who’s ingress into Aquarius is a further step into Air, and as it dances around 00Aquarius through into 2024 it is triggering that Jupiter Saturn mutational degree, bringing about intense focus on all that was promised by the great conjunction, the evolution of tech, science, the higher mind, and societal organization etc. Returning to the idea of slowing down a little to pause and reflect, one area I’m seeing this in is regarding the rapid development of AI – many leaders in the field are asking us to stop and take stock. To slow down and consider the implications…..
However, the sextile which you can see below, coincides with Pluto’s ingress back into Capricorn. I’ve said often that Pluto is saving the best to last in its intent to expose all that is rotten in society. Many of those in a position of power & privilege still see fit to play slippery games with the truth and here perhaps we might finally see some hard evidence to finally prove the guilt of those who are morally corrupt. Just think of the UK’s Covid enquiry and the government’s attempt to supply only redacted information…. perhaps at last we might see a path towards some divine judgement and justice. As I write, former UK PM Boris Johnson has resigned as an MP and in the US Donald Trump has been indicted, both cases now involving hard (earth) evidence.
Saturn in Pisces can bring doubt around traditional religion and faith, therefore society/groups turn to other sources of spiritual connection to help find a way through a sea of uncertainty and loss of trust in the material world. If you’ve lost your faith, now is time to rethink, or test out new ideologies around faith and belief in those in authority.
But nature is also asking us to reflect and develop more realistic plans around our environment – just look at this week’s dam burst in Ukraine, albeit human instigated, which is a very “Earth Water” event. People, homes, business and resources have all been cast adrift, and are now having to relocate and reevaluate their future, their hopes and dreams. Similarly with the floods in Italy a couple of weeks ago. Their resource systems have been devastated. Now too we also have the earlier than usual wildfires in Canada which are also smothering New York where people are once again having to mask up to protect themselves. These are examples of water flooding earth, and fire scorching earth then polluting the air, and let’s not forget we are in an era of Air which is where our focus is. Pluto in Aquarius will force us detoxify it, along with our rivers, lakes and oceans. Our entire ecosystem needs cleansing and protecting.
On that note, I’d like to take this opportunity to bring in dwarf planet MakeMake, who forms the apex to a Yod with Jupiter and Saturn.
MakeMake is the chief creator god worshipped by the Rapa Nui’s from Easter Island. In a test of resilience and strength young men swam through dangerous waters to collect birds eggs from cliffs on the island. The Tangata (man) Manu (bird) was the winner of this competition, gaining status then living in seclusion for a year. In effect, a rite of passage.
Looking at the history of Easter Island, it became overpopulated and despite the natives being accomplished farmers and stonemasons, they contributed to its demise via deforestation. This was compounded by clan infighting and the Europeans arriving in the 16th century, bringing disease and rats. Rats ate the palm nut seeds, further contributing to the decimation of the natural habitat.
The stone statues have stood the test of time and never fail to bring a sense of awe. But they also serve as a warning around sustainability & responsibility, management and protection of our resources, our environment. Extinction is a strong word, but we need look no further than the barrenness of Easter Island to see what happens when our resource systems are mismanaged or unnecessarily exploited.
Looking again at Canada and the prospect of the wildfires lasting all summer, we can see the yod triggering the national chart: Saturn conjoins Jupiter whilst MakeMake squares the Sun, Uranus and MC/IC axis. MakeMake also sits in the 6th house of health and it is now the health and quality of the Air which is of utmost importance. Note also the proliferation of Gemini/3rd houses themes – this is about our lungs and what we breathe.
This is just one of many warnings we are seeing around the globe, and another push encouraging us to reflect on how we manage the ecology, our greatest resource, as we go forward.
The turtle here again provides inspiration and resonance – it spends much of its life in the water yet returns to the earth to lay eggs in order to reproduce and ensure future generations. To evolve as a species. Yet despite being able to hold its breath for long periods of time it still needs air to breathe and survive. Perhaps many of you have felt as though you’ve been holding your breath for the past few years too, waiting for the next disaster to strike whilst hoping the pressure will lift. But there’s only so long we can do this before we need to exhale, pause and breathe deeply before moving on.
We can also use the potentials of this first juncture to think about how we will blend the evolving mind promised by the Air era with spiritual artistry and divination. How we can ensure we retain our sentience amongst so much technology, before the next challenge which will be in 2024/25 with three passes of the square (see bottom of page for cycle details). We know this is coming, so can we use this time to not only reflect but look forward in preparation? But for now, with this sextile, amongst a potential fear of being lost and adrift we need to find some solid ground, to put what we’ve learnt into practice and to finding meaning. To crystallise new ideas around how to use and protect our material and spiritual resources, both personally and collectively.
So to finish, we can use this energy to look for ways of building bridges between the past, present and future. To consider what we invest and believe in as we move forward. We have all we need contained within, and by combining our past experience with our dreams for the future we’ll find a way ashore. And in this particular moment of time, keep holding on, as slow and steady wins the race.
L.C. McCafferty 09/06/2023
- Conjunction 00Aqu29 (21/12/2020)
- Sextile 07Tau/Pis12 (19/06/2023)
- Square 17Gem/Pis17, 14Gem/Pis01, 01Can/Ari18 (19/08/2024, 24/12/2024, 15/06/2025)
- Trine 13Leo/Ari41, 17Leo/Ari08, 27Leo/Ari10 (31/08/2026, 03/04/2027, 11/07/2023)
- Opposition 14Sco/Tau48, 25Sco/Tau07, 06Sag/Gem04, 19Sag/Gem29, 23Sag/Gem01 (22/12/2029, 24/04 & 20/11/2030, 01/08/2031, 06/10/2031)
- Trine 15Pis/Can00, 05Ari/Leo11, 04Ari/Leo32 (17/02/2034, 02/11/2034, 16/12/2034)
- Square 29Ari/Can02, 17Tau/Leo51, 14Tau/Leo25 (25/04/2035, 22/10/2035, 22/02/2036)
- Sextile 26Gem/Leo02 (05/05/2037)
- Conjunction 17Lib55 (31/10/2040)
[1] Jupiter sextile Saturn 16/06/2023. Jupiter conjunct Saturn 21/12/2020
[2] Saturn Rx 07PIS12 17/06/2023. Saturn direct 02/11/2023 00PIS31
Discover more from Lianne McCafferty, Author & Astrologer
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