When Two Devils Meet: Saturn Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn 2020

For months, even years, astrologers have been dreading the upcoming Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, which will be exact on January 12th, 2020, at 22'46 degrees.

Saturn and Pluto

Saturn and Pluto are the two most widely feared planets in astrology, both representing archetypes of Hell in some fashion. Those born with heavy Saturn or Pluto aspects in their natal charts are some of the most likely to experience heavy trauma or hardships of some sort. Most would agree that they are the most difficult planets to navigate. Why is this? What do these two planets represent? And what kind of things should we expect when they come together?

Saturn is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Titan, Kronos, the God of time. The son of Uranus, the sky, and Gaia, the Earth, he was envious of his father's place as ruler of the universe, so he overthrew him, using a sickle to castrate him. Now, Kronos was ruler of the material world, but feared that one of his sons would overthrow his power one day, just like he did to his own father. So, to prevent that from happening, he ate his own children as soon as they were born. But when the sixth child, Zeus was born, the Greek counterpart of the planet Jupiter, his wife Rhea hatched a plan to save Zeus, raising him secret, and handing her husband a stone to swallow, thinking it was his son. When Zeus grew up, he forced his father to throw up the contents of his stomach one by one, saving his siblings. Now, his siblings were free, and Zeus took over Kronos's place as King of the Gods.

This myth highlights Jupiter's role as the liberator, freeing his siblings from Saturn, and Saturn's role as oppressor, doing everything in it's power to prevent his children from usurping his power. It also highlights Saturn's role as a boundary-maker, separating the Earth from the Sky, male from female, order from chaos.

Saturn, in astrology, is considered to be the Great Malefic, but it is also the planet of order and boundaries. It represents limitation, rules, delays and blockages. It rules over governments, corporations, religious institutions and all things authoritarian. In it's darkest form, it represents oppression and hierarchy.

Saturn, being the farthest of the classical planets away from the Sun, symbol of all that is light and good, was a symbol of darkness, and malice, winter, scarcity. Many have noted the word Saturn's phonetic similarity to the word Satan, and many parallel's can be drawn. Just as Saturn is the Father of Time, Christians have referred to Satan as "the God of this World," and a symbol of materialism and corporeality. Saturn's jealousy and castration of his father can be compared to Satan's rebellion against God; and the jealousy over his own children can be compared to Satan's jealousy over Adam or mankind. Saturn rules the signs of Aquarius and Capricorn, where it is placed now. Capricorn, of course, is the sign of the goat, and we all know what animal The Devil is usually depicted as. As an additional note, I'll point out that many conspiracy theorists have noted the elite's worship of Saturn, whose symbolism we can see in the logos of many corporations, and honestly, given it's astrological associations with authority and material wealth and ambitions, I can believe it.

Pluto, on the other hand, is the God of the Underworld, the Roman counterpart of the Greek Hades. After it's discovery in 1930, it replaced Saturn's place as the farthest from the Sun, and with it, has seemed to replace Saturn's place as the darkest and most fearsome of all planets. It rules death, decay, loss, but with it, transformation and rebirth. It also has associations with underbelly of society, things that are dark and hidden. This includes crime, the most horrific we an imagine, but also the occult, and the hidden intentions of our governments, and other institutions. As the modern ruler of Scorpio, it represents power and those who seek it, power for it's own sake.

When these two planets come together, everything bad in the world seems to be made more intense. Oppression, war, disease, famine, injustice - all of it. The darkness is all encompassing; we can't ignore it - but on the bright side of things, because we can't ignore it, Pluto's conjunction to Saturn gives us the power to change it. Pluto, as the planet of death and decay, and Saturn as the planet representing government, hierarchy, and the structure of society, helps to destroy and with it transform the institutions that are no longer needed, the institutions that harm and process us. When we view things in this light, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction is really about revolution. Things may seem negative at the moment, and let's be honest - they kind of are, but this temporary negativity is necessary, in order to re-build a society that is positive, free and fair to all.

Saturn-Pluto in History

The conjunction between Saturn and Pluto occurs about every 33 to 34 years or so. To get a sense of how the upcoming Saturn-Pluto conjunction will affect us, it's important to look at history, and how it has affected us in the past.

World War 1: The Saturn-Pluto Conjunction of 1914 & 1915

World War 1 began in 1914 when Saturn and Pluto were conjunct at the first degree of Cancer. The war began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on June 28th. The assassination was driven by Serbian nationalists who wanted to drive the Austro-Hungarian Empire out of the Balkan region to make way for a unified state for all Slavic people. This set off a rapidly escalating chain of events, with many countries around the world blaming the Serbian government for the attack.

War wasn't officially declared, however, for another month, when Mars (planet of war) in late Virgo/early Libra passed by Saturn and Pluto by square. This war, which killed more than 16 million people, drastically changed the entire political fabric of European society, overthrowing empires that had been in existence for over hundreds of years (German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Romanov) and creating new nations in it's wake (such as Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia). The war, primarily fought between the Central Powers (of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire) and the Allied Powers (of Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States) ended in 1918 with the Treaty of Versailles aiming to make it the "war to end all wars" but as we shall see, things did not work out that simply...

The conjunction occurred three times. First, on October 4th, 1914, at 2 degrees Cancer. On that date, 25,000 Canadian troops departed for Europe to take part in the War and the Manifesto of the Ninety Three was signed in Germany to support the war effort. There was also an earthquake in Turkey with a magnitude of 7.0, destroying more than 17,000 homes. Pluto and Saturn met again on November 1st, again at 2 degrees Cancer. This was the date of the Battle of Coronel, or the first British naval defeat of the war. The last conjunction happened on May 19th, 1915, when the third attack on the Anzac Cove by Ottomon forces was repelled by Army Corps from Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to World War 1, some other major events to occur during that time period include the Armenian Genocide, the American occupation of Haiti, the Mexican Revolution, Women's Suffrage granted in various countries throughout Scandinavia, and the Easter Rising in Ireland. The Saturn-Pluto conjunction of 1914 & 1915 also gave birth to the first ever airline service in St. Petersburg & Tampa Florida, along with the Federal Reserve Bank.

Economic Distress: The Saturn-Pluto Opposition of 1931

In 1931, Saturn and Pluto opposed each other at 19-21 degrees of the signs, Capricorn and Cancer, respectively. Just like with the conjunction, this opposition occurred three times: February 17th, July 8th & December 13th. It's important to note that this opposition made a t-square to Uranus in Aries, and a grand cross to the North and South Node, in Aries and Libra respectively.

This is when the Great Depression was at it's peak, with over 6 million Americans unemployed. The number of homeless people increased, as industrial production decreased by half. Meanwhile, the Dust Bowl drove farming families into the city to search for work. During these times, Herbert Hoover was president until replaced by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected by a landslide.

The aftermath of World War 1 left many other countries in economic distress, as well. The Versailles Treaty left a huge economic burden on Germany in particular, who were forced to pay reparations to France and Great Britain. This is a large part of what inspired Adolf Hitler's rise to power: the people were at a vulnerable point and Hitler had a plan to change things, as well as someone to blame. Germany's wealthy Jewish bankers and business owners were a convenient scapegoat for the country's economic troubles.

The Capricorn/Cancer axis has a lot to do with the economy. Saturn in Capricorn placed limits on people's wealth, status, and income, while Pluto in Cancer forced many people out of their homes. Meanwhile, the square to Uranus in Aries signified revolution and upheaval.

World War 2: The Saturn-Pluto Square of 1940

Contrary to memes I keep seeing on the internet, World War 2 did not coincide with a Saturn-Pluto conjunction as World War 1 did. However, it's beginning did coincide with the Saturn-Pluto square at around 0 degrees of the signs of Taurus and Leo (exact on March 26th, just six months after World War 2 began). As with World War 1, the war seemed to be triggered by an opposition or square from Mars in Aquarius. Saturn was also conjunct the South Node in Aries and opposite the North Node in Libra, showing heavy karma at work.

The interesting thing about this one is the way it affected Adolf Hitler's natal chart, specifically. Saturn was exactly conjunct Adolf Hitler's Sun at 0 degrees Taurus when the war begin, adding an even stronger rigidity to his personality. Meanwhile, Pluto at 0 degrees Leo, was transiting his 10th house (career, ambition) and making a square to his Sun, increasing his thirst for power in a way that knew no bounds. He was a control freak, who needed to be in power at all costs, so much so that he had to kill himself before others could kill him, but as the war went on, his power was stripped away, and his limits became increasingly more obvious.

However, it was probably the most horrible war in the history of humanity, with over 65 million lives lost. During the Holocaust, an estimated 15,000 Jews were murdered each day. With both Saturn and Pluto at zero degrees of Taurus and Pluto, respectively, the square represented new beginnings. World War 2 gave birth to new technologies to be used in war, such as the Atomic Bomb which destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, as well as new conflicts between previous allies the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R which would dominate later Saturn-Pluto cycles.

A New Cycle: The Saturn-Pluto Conjunction of 1947

The next Saturn-Pluto conjunction in August of 1947 at 13 degrees Leo marked the beginning of a new cycle which would give birth to the Cold War. After World War 2, previous allies against Nazi Germany, the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R (now known as Russia) were left as the two major world superpowers, but both had vastly different political systems. The individualistic capitalism and democracy of the United States on one side, and the authoritarian communism of the Soviet Union on the other. The sign of Leo makes sense for this because what this war really was, was a war of the egos. There was no direct or large scale fighting between the two countries. Rather, it was a competition of which nation could be the most powerful, which country could gain the most influence, as both sought out to conquer the whole world.

1947 would also mark the beginning of the Chinese Civil War, which would end with Mao Zedong's communist revolution in 1949.

The Vietnam War: The Saturn-Pluto Opposition of 1965 & 1966

This cycle continued on with the Saturn-Pluto oppositions of 1965 and 1966, at around 13-17 degrees of the signs of Pisces and Virgo, respectively. It was made even more intense by Pluto's conjunction to Uranus in Virgo, a symbol of revolution, rebellion, and upheaval.

The Vietnam War intensified shortly before the first Saturn-Pluto opposition of the year, on April 23rd, with 3,500 U.S Marine troops departing for Vietnam in early March, and Australian troops joining shortly after. The war was made even more intense around the time of it's second conjunction on August 17th, with Operation Starlite, one of the first major battles of the Vietnam War, happening just a day later.

The Vietnam War was very much a continuation of the ideas behind the Cold War, which began with the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Leo, at the beginning of the cycle. The capitalistic U.S. government feared that if Vietnam fell to communism, that other Southeast Asian countries would follow.

This war, which killed over 2 million Vietnamese civilians, was unpopular from the start, with hundreds of American protesters burning their draft cards. This helped spark the beginning of the hippie movement, and the counterculture of today. The music of Bob Dylan, the Beatles and Jefferson Airplane were popular at this time, along with the use of psychedelic drugs.

Racism was another major issue of the times. Martin Luther King Jr. lead multiple marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to protest white supremacy. In response, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, was finally signed. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the Race Relations Act of 1965 was passed into legislation as well.

It's important to note that Virgo is the sign of the servant or the worker, and the Pluto-Uranus conjunction in opposition to Saturn could represent the revolt of the lower class, or typical class distinctions being overthrown. The spread of communism was popular during this time, and in the capitalist country of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid in order to combat poverty.

Our Last Cycle: The Pluto-Saturn Conjunction of 1982 & 1983

Saturn and Pluto last met up in 1982 & 1983. This conjunction occurred at about 27-28 degrees Libra (side note: that's the same degree of the zodiac as my Sun & Mercury!) squaring the United State's Pluto at 27 degrees Capricorn. The conjunction was exact only once on November 8, 1982.

I’m wondering if because Libra is a sign associated with peace, that the 1982-1983 conjunction was rather mild by Saturn-Pluto standards, or maybe it’s because Saturn was exalted here and therefore at its best. In fact, there was a lot of talk about nuclear disarmament, and the United Nations held its first ever International Day of Peace. In another move for peace, Poland announced the end of martial law and release of its political prisoners. This was also the year Walt Disney World’s Epcot was opened in Orlando, Florida, a theme park based on Walt Disney’s idealistic vision for humanity.

That doesn’t mean it was all tame, however. This was the year of the Falklands War, the 10 week war between Argentina and the U.K, whose Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher’s Libra Sun and Mercury was not too far from the conjunction. There were also conflicts in Lebanon, including the famous bombings of Beirut in 1983, as well as nuclear disasters, earthquakes, plane crashes, volcano eruptions and murders across the world, as well as record cold weather. Interestingly enough, in February of 1983, Australia experienced one of the worst bushfires in its history until now, known as the Ash Wednesday bushfires killing 75 people.

1982 & 1983 also saw many notable technological advancements, both good and bad. 1983 saw the invention of both the internet and cell phones, two things that brought people together in a Libra-like fashion. However, 1982 also saw the invention of the first computer virus. The Personal Computer was even elected 1982's Person of the Year for Time Magazine.

The last nuclear scare of the Cold War occurred just one day before the Pluto-Saturn conjunction went exact, ending the cycle started in 1947.

The Saturn-Pluto Opposition of 2001 & 2002

In more recent history, Saturn and Pluto opposed each other back in 2001-2002, in the signs of Gemini & Sagittarius respectively. Specifically, these oppositions occurred on August 5th, 2001, at 12 degrees Gemini and Sagittarius, November 2nd 2001 at 13 degrees, and on May 26, 2002 at 16 degrees.

The September 11th plane crash (led by Al-Qaeda) into the World Trade Center (otherwise known as the Twin Towers) in New York City may be the most notable event connected with this opposition. This event, which killed or injured about 2996 people, prompted President George W. Bush into declaring a War on Terror in the Middle East (particularly Afghanistan and Iraq).

It's interesting to note that Pluto was conjunct the Ascendant for the United States' natal chart at 12 degrees Sagittarius at the time of the 9/11 attacks, which were the most deadly to occur on U.S soil. Sagittarius is a fitting sign for the United States of America, given that at it's best it's a symbol of freedom and other lofty ideals - liberty and justice for all - but also dogmatism, hypocrisy and expansion of the kind that characterize U.S imperialism. The imperialism and hypocrisy of the United States (Sagittarius) were precisely what Osama Bin Laden was angry at and sought out to destroy (Pluto). Sagittarius is also a sign associated with religion and other forms of ideology, and Pluto in Sagittarius could be interpreted as a symbol of the religious extremism characterizing militant Islamic groups such as Al-Qaeda.

The war triggered by this Saturn-Pluto opposition was similar to the effects triggered by the 1965 opposition in that the War on Terror was just as unpopular as the War in Vietnam, inspiring protests across the United States. Many believe that while 9/11 was a tragic event, it simply masked the true motivation for the war: Big Oil.

January 12th Chart & Predictions

This Saturn-Pluto conjunction, happening only two days after the Lunar Eclipse in Cancer, forms a stellium with Mercury, the Sun, Jupiter, and the asteroid, Ceres, all in Capricorn, sign of the goat. This massive influx of Capricorn energy will likely bring drastic changes to our economic and political structures. Feelings of oppression, and hierarchy, are likely to be intensified.

The asteroid Ceres rules over health, nutrition, and agriculture, and may indicate famine or hunger, even food-borne illnesses, as climate change takes a toll on our environment. There may also be issues relating to GMO's or the chemicals in our food. We may be forced to reexamine our diets, as the earth's resources are massively dwindling. Meanwhile, Mercury's influence may have something to do with the media, which is owned entirely by corporate giants who we realize feed us misinformation.

In September, Mars in Aries, it's home sign, will form a square to Saturn and Pluto, just like it did during World War 1 and World War 2. This forms an astrological basis for the rumors regarding World War 3. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise to me that Donald Trump ordered the airstrike resulting in the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, resulting in these rumors only a little over a week before the Saturn-Pluto conjunction became exact. That this conflict should take place in the Middle East completes the cycle of previous Saturn-Pluto aspects in 2001 & 2002. This conflict may intensify towards the end of the year, or with the South Node also in Capricorn and the Great Benefic Jupiter as well, it may just be another relatively minor one, like the Falklands War in 1982.

Because this Saturn-Pluto conjunction should occur months before America's first ever Pluto Return at 27 degrees Capricorn, many astrologers predict political upheaval in the United States, maybe even the downfall of an Empire. Depending on how the 2020 election pays out, there could even be another all-out civil war between Trump's "alt-right," and the Democratic Socialists of the future, or just you know, anyone with morals or a brain. My fear is that even if Trump loses the election, his followers will not accept his defeat. In any case, the United States is having to confront it's demons, it's secrets, the skeletons in it's closet. This country was built on the genocide of Indigenous People and the slavery of Africans. No more hiding it, no more hypocrisy. Time to pay reparations. A revolution could be on it's way, not a death or a fall, but a rebirth, as America sheds the skin of it's past and becomes a place truly honoring the liberty and justice of all.

Overall, there is a sense of doom and gloom in the air. A sense of totalitarianism, a loss of freedom. A feeling that the end is near. An intuition that maybe the conspiracy theorists are right - that they are building a technocratic New World Order, a world run by billionaires who just kept on getting richer as the rest of us all suffer. But do not let this feeling get to you, do not let it bring you down; do not lose hope or give up on trying to build a better world. We need this; we need to know just how bad it can get, in order to change and transform. We need a push, a nudge in the right direction, to stop us before it's too late. We need to save the planet while we still can. Don't let the fear get to you, remember that it is just temporary, and let it be your reminder.