In contrast to Virgo’s measured, mild-mannered character the incoming Sun cycle is shaping up to be an eventful and pivotal one. It includes the end of Mercury’s retrograde and the start of Uranus’s, sign changes for Mercury, Venus, Mars and of course Pluto, and the beginning of an eclipse series along the Virgo Pisces axis. The strongest theme running throughout the cycle, one familiar to the thoughtful earth sign, is mutability. Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune will remain in the mutable signs of Gemini and Pisces, while Mercury, Venus and the Sun travel through mutable Virgo. Though only the Moon will pass through Sagittarius, from September 9-11th, the mutable fire sign’s influence will be felt via the presence of its ruling planet Jupiter. In astrology’s wheel, each season concludes under a mutable sign. The four mutable signs have come to represent release and preparation. They are also associated with change, flexibility and adaptability. During the Virgo Sun cycle, the planets traveling through the mutable signs will form squares and oppositions to one another, perhaps suggesting what is being let go of and what is being seeded. All of this is happening in the context of the Jupiter Saturn square, giving the upcoming mutable alignments a far deeper resonance. That square begun forming in mid August and will stay largely intact (in an 8º orb) through mid January 2025. Zooming out, the square is part of a wider twenty year cycle.
The Great Conjunction took place on December 21, 2020 when Jupiter and Saturn met at 0º of Aquarius. In astrology the cycles that range from conjunction to conjunction are called synodic. Astronomers use the term to refer to the cycles when each planet conjoins the Sun. For this discussion, the idea is that what began in December of 2020 is part of a cycle that runs through October 31, 2040, when Jupiter and Saturn will again conjoin. A helpful reference, one that should be familiar to many, is the series of Uranus Pluto squares of 2012-2015. Those were the first squares of the synodic cycle that began when Uranus and Pluto conjoined in Virgo in the mid 1960’s. When trying to interpret one of these cycles, the nature of the planets involved is key. For example, a Mars Pluto combo is going to feel very different than a Venus Jupiter one. In the current case, conflicting qualities, like Saturnian restriction and Jupiter’s exuberance, will need to be reconciled, and their mutual traits, such as appreciation of law, will find common purpose. Another important factor is the signs in which the cycle’s original conjunction, waxing squares, opposition and waning squares will take place. In this case, the humanitarian values of Aquarius come into play. Obviously the significance of 2020 cannot be understated. It was the year of the pandemic, and in December the U.S. Presidential election was being contested. (Don’t worry I’m not going to get political on anyone). In autumn 2024, when this Jupiter Saturn synodic cycle is reaching its first square, the first U.S. Presidential election since 2020 will take place. The other important variable to consider is the degree at which the cycle begins. This one was at 0º Aquarius. To be clear, this one just happened to be 0º, but synodic cycles can begin at any degree. Nonetheless, this 0º point is intriguing. Zero is the starting point of each of the twelve signs, and it is the number associated with neutrality (neither positive nor negative), nothing and a nadir or bottom point. Spicing up this cosmic soup all the more, Pluto will be at 0º of Aquarius when the Sun enters Virgo, and will retrograde back to 29º of Capricorn on September 1st (as Uranus turns retrograde). Until November 19th, the outermost planet will be completing the transit that began in January of 2008 and one that had not occurred since 1760-1778. The conclusion of this momentous transit signals that events of historic proportion are unfolding. Pluto is the slowest moving of the planets, and once it re-enters Aquarius it will be moving through this 0º point until December 29th, concurring with the Jupiter Saturn square, which will technically be exact again on December 24th.
The present celestial emphasis on mutability portends a clearing out of what is no longer working. The zero starting point of the wider synodic cycle is pointing towards new possibilities. Interestingly enough, Jupiter and Saturn have one further square in the current series, before they separate and begin heading towards their 2029 opposition. That square will reach exactitude June 15, 2025 when Jupiter has moved into the cardinal water sign of Cancer and Saturn is in the cardinal fire sign of Aries. It will be at 1º. The four cardinal signs are of course astrology’s kickstarters. The unfolding Virgo Sun cycle appears to be clearing the way for new potentials. Viewing impending changes through this lens, contemplating improvements now will ready us for future initiations.
