Saturn Squares Neptune

2015 & 2016

As 2014 drew to a close, I glanced nervously at the 90° angle between Saturn and Neptune, a square that provokes the contradictory qualities of these two planets. I worry that I am consistently the bearer of bad news but it is the challenging planetary aspects that are developmental, that provoke progress, that make a difference, they are the ones that demand examination. And so it is that I mostly write about the tough stuff.

Any 90° angle between two planets causes friction and tension that shows up in daily life as obstacles and difficulties, not to be spitefully problematic or deliberately contrary, rather to propel us out of complacency and inertia. It stimulates action. It breaks through lethargy. It breaks down resistance. It makes things happen. It builds and shapes our world.

All through 2015 and 2016 Saturn and Neptune will move in and out of the square aspect. It is well worth scrutinising previous time periods when these two giants were 90° apart on the zodiacal belt.

·       The end of 1978 + all through 1979 & 1980

·       All through 1998 & 1999 + the beginning of 2000

By carefully examining the events that occurred during the abovementioned years in relation to the influences I shall do my best to interpret, hopefully we shall have a better feel for the themes underpinning our lives during 2015 and 2016. Remember that each month the new and full moons will trigger components of the bigger themes.

Saturn and Neptune are by nature vastly different and it is going to be difficult to manage their contradictory forces. Structures built over many years that support knowledge & personal beliefs are weakened with doubt. Truth upon which we built our lives becomes shaky. Understanding that shaped our characters becomes clouded with confusion. Trust that was built into relationships, teeters on wobbly legs. Belief in a life path or career, wavers. Uncertainty creeps into the outer edges of our spiritual beliefs (or non-beliefs), putting what we have learnt about ourselves and life on earth into question.

Saturn's job is to makes us face, with brutal honesty, that which is vulnerable – specifically the weak part of ourselves symbolised by Neptune:

·       Self-defeating behaviour

·       Sabotaging tendencies

·       Denial

·       Deception – of self & others

·       Victim / victimising behaviour

·       Addiction

·       Delusion

·       Betrayal

Neptune’s task is to dissolve that which is weak – specifically the part of ourselves symbolised by Saturn:

·       Dissolves life structures erected out of guilt, fear or obligation

·       Dissolves limitation

·       Dissolves restrictive boundaries or inappropriate ones that are no longer supportive

·       Dissolves misplaced responsibilities

·       Dissolves structures that have become too frail to hold up all we have built in our lives

·       Dissolves patterns rooted in fear

·       Dissolves undermined authority

We are forced to face what we have neglected. Neglect through avoidance or justified distractions, is neglect, whichever way we package it. Responsibilities that were adroitly side-stepped in the past, refuse to be ignored. Lies and secrets pop up and we cringe with embarrassment or turn away in shame. One reaction could be vehement denial but Saturn’s persistent push for the truth makes us squirm until we squarely face the realities before us. If we admit to mistakes or dishonest behaviour, we find inspiration to reshape the harsh reality.

This square whips up crises after crises until we see the truth. It is how we behave in the crises that reveals who we really are. When challenged, our true nature emerges and we stand naked in the truth, with integrity and honour, only of course if that is what we choose. There is always a risk of perpetuating self-deception, betrayal and denial.

With time, we become accustomed to the tricky forces of the Saturn/Neptune square and we get the hang of turning the challenges into something seriously worthwhile, because the purpose of enduring this 90° angle is to overcome undermining weakness, to build stronger and more supportive life structures and to turn dreams into reality.

Saturn restructures, strengthens and builds the parts of ourselves symbolised by Neptune:

·       Strengthens creative ability

·       Builds inspiration

·       Strengthens and makes the best use of talent

·       Builds a stronger connection with the true self

·       Makes dreams come true

·       Makes the best use of the imagination and turns fantasy into reality

Neptune inspires the parts of ourselves symbolised by Saturn and helps us to creatively make the best use of these qualities:

·       Inspires commitment

·       Inspires taking responsibility

·       Inspires the building of healthy supportive boundaries

·       Inspires the defining of goals

·       Inspires the building of supportive relationship structures

·       Inspires the building of a material security

·       Inspires career advancement

In 2006 I wrote an article on the Saturn/Neptune opposition. Research led me to discover that John Lennon, during the previous opposition in 1971, released his song ‘Imagine’. I included the lyrics in that article because it perfectly symbolised an encounter between Neptune and Saturn.

When I looked back at what happened in the world during the previous Saturn/Neptune squares, I discovered John Lennon was shot dead in 1980. So once again I end my article with the words of this musical master.

 IMAGINE

Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy of you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

 

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

 

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

 

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

 

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

 

JOHN LENNON