Jupiter and Saturn Conjunction 21 Dec 2020

Sagittarius New Moon and Solar Eclipse

As is true with all New Moons, this one allows us the opportunity for new beginnings and new emotional starts in the areas associated with the sign. The higher expression of Sagittarius includes being straightforward, generous, enthusiastic, adventurous, ethical, fun-loving, and optimistic. However, it’s lower expression can include being self-righteous, self-indulgent, tactless, pushy, and blunt.
This Sagittarius New Moon is a total Solar Eclipse, which makes it very powerful. It will only be visible in the far southern part of South America. All eclipses are basically “wake up calls” regarding what we individually and collectively need to do in order to progress on our spiritual paths. They indicate needed adjustments that will likely play out over the next six months, which is when the next eclipse cycle occurs. With Solar Eclipses, we tend to see things more clearly, and this may spark a decision(s) that brings about a new beginning.

Any Eclipse intensifies the meaning of the New Moon, and this includes our choice to use either the higher or lower expression of the sign. With a Solar Eclipse, the Sun’s light is temporarily blocked by the Moon. Some believe that the lack of light (Sun) allows the lower expression of the sign to creep out of shadows and be more prominent. Sagittarius is a sign associated with what we personally believe to be “the truth.” Given that the lower expression of Sagittarius can be self-righteousness, it will be important to be very conscious of any tendency toward judging the beliefs of others as “wrong.” We all have a right to our own beliefs, and I think we all would agree that it is infuriating and disrespectful when someone tells us that what we believe is “wrong.” Rather than imposing our beliefs on others, we need to use the higher expression of Sagittarius by taking a step back to gain perspective and doing our best to see the world through the other person’s eyes. The Sagittarian goal is to expand our perspective so that all individuals, cultures, and nations can transcend duality and seek unity as a human species.

Along the way, though, remember to find ways to laugh and be light-hearted, which are hallmarks of the higher expression of Sagittarius ’s energy. This will help us tap into other higher expressions of Sagittarius: optimism and hope! Additionally, Sagittarius is a fire sign, which means we will feel energized to do something, although we do need to be patient with ourselves and with others. New Moons mean our focus is on our emotions, so it will be important to do things that help emotions move through our body. We need to let go of any old emotions that block our progress. Movement and exercise will be helpful.

During the time of this Sagittarius New Moon, Saturn is located at 29° of Capricorn, and Jupiter will be at 29° of Capricorn several hours later. 29° of any sign is referred to as a “critical degree.” We can think of it as the “do or die” point of a planet’s movement through a sign. When taking into consideration the qualities of Jupiter, Saturn, and Capricorn, one way to look at this is that we are all being given a last chance to make changes (or wrap up changes) related to structures, responsibility, beliefs, values, and even leadership.

However, it isn’t long before both planets move out of Capricorn and into Aquarius. Saturn is the first to make this shift on Wednesday, December 16. It will remain in Aquarius for about 2.5 years (until 2023). Jupiter is next on Saturday, December 19, where it will remain until the very end of 2021 (i.e., about 1 year). And then on Monday, December 21, these two powerful planets meet up for the long-anticipated Great Conjunction.
NOTE: For the star-watchers out there, if you look at the sky on December 21, you’ll see that Jupiter and Saturn are so close together that they almost look like 1 planet. Given the proximity of this event to the Christian celebration of Christmas, some are referring to this astronomical event as the Christmas Star. The last time Jupiter and Saturn were this close together was in the year 1226, so it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.

Different authors are referring to this as The Great Conjunction or The Great Mutation. Let me begin this discussion by explaining why this conjunction is so significant:

• Jupiter and Saturn are only conjunct (0°) every 19.6 years. When they come together, it is believed to mark the beginning of a new 20-year cycle for us individually but especially collectively.
• But with this conjunction, it’s also important to talk about a 200-year elemental cycle. With only a few exceptions, Jupiter and Saturn meet up every 20 years in signs of the same element (i.e., fire, earth, air, water). For the last 200 years, Jupiter and Saturn have been primarily conjunct in earth signs (i.e., Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). The earth element involves slow, methodical movement toward building foundations. Its focus is on creating what is needed to live successfully in the physical world (e.g., cars, telephones, apartment buildings).
  With this conjunction, Jupiter and Saturn are in Aquarius, which is an air sign). For the next approximately 200 years, they will be conjunct in air signs (i.e., Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). The element of air brings change, intellectual energy, and lightness. Its focus is on the future and on the blending of technology/science and spirituality.
• Additionally, the orbits of all the planets in our solar system are not perfectly circular. Because of this, their distance when they pass each other can vary. The current conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn is unique in that they will be traveling much closer to each other than during most conjunctions, which means it’s more powerful. To give you some perspective, the last time they were so close was the year 1623.
• And one final note: The conjunction is happening in the first degree of Aquarius. The first degree of any sign is considered a powerful point of new beginnings.
  Numerous articles are being written on The Great Conjunction, and I encourage you to research it further, if you are interested. I will try to summarize some key points. Keep in mind that astrology is all about possibilities and potentialities. This means there’s no way to predict exactly how the energies will play out. However, it is very clear that this is a major paradigm shift that will impact us on a personal and societal level.

Jupiter and Saturn are classified as the two “social planets.” When they change signs or are in aspect with each other (i.e., conjunct, square, trine), this often correlates with changes to social institutions, such as social norms, businesses, governments, cultures, and society as a whole. However, because we all deal with these social institutions on a daily basis, any changes in these arenas will often impact us individually. Given that both of the social planets are changing signs at the same time and are also meeting up in a conjunction (0°), it is believed that this time period represents a major evolutionary shift that will unfold over the next two decades. Additionally, given it’s also the beginning of a new 200-year elemental cycle, it is believed that we have encountered a “tipping point,” and there is no going back to how things were.

The sign of Aquarius is represented by the symbol of the water bearer, which pours nurturing water over parched earth. It does this through innovation and humanitarianism. Aquarius is a very progressive, future-oriented sign that can also be rebellious and revolutionary. Its goal is freedom and individuality, but it also feels responsible for serving all of humanity. New, creative solutions are very possible. It’s also a very intuitive sign that is interested in the connections between the body, mind, and spirit.

The ruler of Aquarius is Uranus, which is the planet of change. This further reinforces that it’s time for change! Uranus is the planet most associated with things like technology, energy, and vibration. It’s likely that during the next 20 years, science will shift its focus and play a significant role in “proving” much of what those in the metaphysical fields have known all along about how energy impacts the body-mind-spirit connection. For example, there will likely be more research done to show how energy (e.g., Reiki, sound, light, color) can be used to heal the body. Science may also provide support for how we can use our minds to influence energy (i.e., manifesting).

I wish I could say that we were entering a golden era in which problems won’t exist. It’s not that old issues will disappear. Challenges will happen in all areas of our lives, such as business, home, finances, relationships, health, etc. However, this shift to air energy means that we will approach these issues in new and different ways. Given Uranus is involved as the ruler of Aquarius, breakdowns are possible, especially for those trying to hold onto the old structures (i.e., the old Capricorn/earth energy). However, those breakdowns will likely lead to breakthroughs, and the shifts could be sudden and rapid.

Summary

Overall, this Sagittarius New Moon and Solar Eclipse are opening a doorway that leads to The Great Conjunction on December 21.

The New Moon and Eclipse remind us that we need to make sure we aren’t approaching this new era in humanity’s history from a place of self-righteousness or judgement. We are encouraged to become the centaur/the archer who shoots its arrow into the sky to gain a broader perspective. If we use this Solar Eclipse energy appropriately, the next six months could be spent leaving behind outmoded beliefs, judgements, and/or perspectives. And there is reason to hope. A new era is on the horizon!

Having the Great Conjunction occur on the same day as the Solstice is like opening a cosmic doorway that has a sign on it that reads, “Come with me to new dimensions, learn new things, and then bring them back down to the Earth plane to help humanity.”
Although the full impact will play out over 20 years, this Great Conjunction could be a life-changing event for us individually and collectively. Let’s carry with us the hope and optimism of the Sagittarius New Moon as we enter that doorway with the belief in a new future that will serve humanity in glorious ways.