Saturn brings structure, Neptune dissolves it—together, they initiate change
Right now we have an interesting planetary aspect in the heavens that is by its very nature paradoxical. I am referring to the Saturn/Neptune conjunction in the sign of Aries. Specifically, Saturn is at 1° of Aries and Neptune is at 2°, indicating a close conjunction, which began on May 25, 2025, when Saturn entered Aries.
The essence of these two archetypal planets and what makes them paradoxical is that Saturn is the planet that creates the need for structure, solidity, and consolidation, while Neptune, on the other hand, is the principle of dissolving those very structures so that one can experience the true nature of reality—which is this: that every part is connected with every other part and is also a part of a greater whole.
Looking to the Past for Clues
In astrology we can take hints from the present by looking at the same type of transit that occurred in the past. The last time this conjunction took place was in 1989 at around 10° Capricorn. By far the most important event that year was the fall of the Berlin Wall that had separated Germany into two radically different worlds. West Germany was a modern society that was part of the democratic West, while East Germany was Communist and anti-West and anti-capitalist. It was the fall of the Berlin Wall that soon led to the demise of the Soviet Union and the breakup of its domination of the many countries it had absorbed.
One equally significant event was the creation of the World Wide Web, one of the most important technologies the world has ever seen and which started the process of the world coming together in a way that had never happened before. The effects and implications of these events are still affecting the world today. Think of this: We now know what’s happening in the far corners of the world, making us more aware and connected than ever, but with this has also come huge challenges, as humanity is much more aware of the problems and even brutality of human beings. We are so connected now that we are being forced to face what that means, not just as individuals but as humanity in general!
The Walls Are Falling Internally, Too
The specific examples I’ve given express the psychological and sociological image of the “walls coming down,” both in ourselves and in the world. We are coming more and more into contact with others who are different from us, sometimes in significant ways. Now, a new question arises. How can I deal with this? How must I deal with this if I am to both adapt and take advantage of the challenges that I and others are having to face? To me what makes this so critical is that the more self-aware one becomes, the more responsible we are to do something about it, according to our nature. This may seem odd, but the more self-aware one becomes, the more self-aware one must become.
The walls in our own psyche, the ones that separate us from others and from humanity, must be broken so that we can assist the world to be more just and accepting of differences of others. If we do not do this, we become alienated, alone, and bitter. We resist change and use force to remove others who are different. Sound familiar? But, sooner or later, this will fail. Why? Because it must. War is never the solution. War just makes life horrific until enough destruction and death has been done to force us to call a ceasefire. Can we do better than that? Of course we can…because this too is our nature.
To me what makes this so critical is that the more self-aware one becomes, the more responsible we are to do something about it, according to our nature. This may seem odd, but the more self-aware one becomes, the more self-aware one must become.
A Call to Consciousness
Self-awareness grows because it has to. It is what human beings are exclusively able to do and must do, whether it occurs due to exhaustion or increased self-awareness caused by one’s recognition that it is necessary and leads to a higher quality of life for us all. This is what the Saturn/Neptune conjunction can stimulate us to experience and do something about.
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