Saturn opposite Neptune - dissolving the boundaries

At the start of this lunar cycle, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the key events that are going on in the sky right now.

New Moon in Aquarius
As with all new moons, this month's gives us a chance to start a fresh project or adopt a new mindset during the next 28 or so days. Social justice and fairness are strong Aquarian themes, as is focussing on group, rather than individual energy. In the chart for this new moon, Pluto is making a positive contact to the Aquarian Sun and Moon, giving us all the potential to take powerful and transformative action in our lives to do our bit for others less fortunate than ourselves. This will need to be balanced, though, with the responsibilities we have both to ourselves and to those close to us, as Saturn in Leo sits opposite the Sun/Moon combination in the chart. If we can combine concern for others with respect for ourselves and our obligations, there's a great deal of personal satisfaction to be had from work within the community or in group environments this month.

Mercury Retrograde - the devil's in the detail!
We've also just started the first of three Mercury retrograde periods for this year, lasting from February 14th to March 8th. When the planet of communication and commerce appears to move backwards from our earth-centred viewpoint, it's generally not a good time to make large purchases or sign important contracts. However, if you must do so during this period, make sure you've read the small print several times over, and that all parties concerned are clear about the terms. It's also a time when things can go astray in the post, PCs and other forms of electronic communication can give trouble, and timetables can get scrambled, so it's a good time to head out with a large dose of patience in reserve! Instead of trying to go full steam ahead, take time out to revise plans and catch up on the boring admin you've been putting off. Clearing out clutter can be good for the soul, as well as for the bank balance!

Saturn opposite Neptune - dissolving the boundaries
On February 28th 2007 Saturn comes to exactly oppose Neptune in the sky. This is a clash of complete contrasts, with the planetary pair representing totally opposite principles. A planetary opposition, whether it's happening in real time or whether it's in the birth chart, always requires balance and compromise so that the opposing energies can be integrated positively. This is no mean challenge in the present case, as you'll see from some of the keywords each planet represents. Saturn deals with the realm of the material, that which is structured and has tangible boundaries. Neptune on the other hand is wholly ethereal, spiritual and intangible. Saturn is rules and regulations, whereas Neptune dissolves boundaries to an extent that makes the concept of rules irrelevant. Saturn is government, authority and accountability, whereas Neptune is chaos, confusion and avoidance of any responsibility, especially on a social level. This planetary showdown, then, could well carry with it themes of the autocratic establishment (Saturn is in Leo) versus the common collective.

This will be the second time in the current Saturn/Neptune cycle that the opposition has become exact, and a third clash is still to come, meaning the energy of the combination carries through from around 31st August 2006 when the pair first faced off, to 25th June 2007 when their final meeting for this cycle comes in late Leo/Aquarius. The Saturn/Neptune cycle runs its course over around 35 years, and is closely linked to social change. In recent history this has manifested notably in Eastern Europe. At times when the two planets have begun their dance, we've seen events like the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The opposition phase of the cycle often brings awareness or reassessment, so keep an eye out for further developments on a social level in that part of the world.

Saturn/Neptune combinations in the birth chart
As I've already said, this pair is generally difficult to reconcile as they represent very different principles. Saturn is form and structure, whereas Neptune is the intangible, chaos. This can mean that structure and form are very difficult to attain for the individual whose chart contains a combination of the two, especially in opposition to each other. A positive and balanced use of both principles simultaneously would be structuring (Saturn) ones life compassionately or creatively (Neptune). It is the nature of oppositions, however, that we are tempted at different times to swing to one end or the other. Those who honour the Saturn end at the expense of Neptune may tend to repress their creative leanings, denying themselves and others compassion, and rigidly viewing the non tangible side of life as 'airy fairy'. Worst case expression for this group could be a constant need to be in control, both of themselves and other people. Those drawn more towards Neptune could, if they swing too far, become accustomed to playing the victim role to avoid accepting responsibility for themselves. It could also manifest as someone who is full of creative ideas but who is never committed enough to put their creativity into practice in a tangible way. The very worst case for a 'Neptune running away from Saturn' person would be slipping into the grip of addiction to alcohol or drugs. Examples of those who have made positive use of Saturn opposite Neptune in their chart include Ridley Scott the film director, and the authors Ernest Hemmingway and A.S Byatt. All three have taken the fruits of their imaginations and made them into something tangible, which others can share and experience in the real world.

Effects of Saturn/Neptune on the lives of individuals
Some people are more likely than others to be feeling the effects of this particular transit at the moment. It depends largely on the make up of the birth chart and the strength of Saturn and Neptune within that setup. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was born on the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in 1953, is sure to be feeling the force of the pairing as their dance in the sky plays havoc with his chart, as the fact that he has a Saturn/Neptune connection already there from his birth means he's going to be quite sensitive to this energy when it repeats in the sky. He's currently in the midst of a struggle to maintain (Neptune) his credibility as a leader (Saturn) what with Gordon Brown waiting in the wings to pounce on the reins of the Labour Party, and all sorts of vague mutterings going on in the background (Neptune) which bring the solidity of his position (Saturn) into question. Blair's Pluto, planet of power and ultimate authority, is getting a double whammy right now as Saturn in the sky sits on top of it and Neptune sits opposite it, bringing restriction, hard work, onerous responsibility and a huge reality check on the one hand (Saturn) and the undermining and erosion of his position on the other (Neptune).

So if you have a planet in your birth chart at a key point of this current cycle, that is around 17-20 degrees of Leo or Aquarius, or making a strong aspect to that point, e.g. planets in the middling degrees of Taurus or Scorpio, you are likely to be feeling the effects of this combination. If you were born around 14th to 24th February, 6 to 16th May, 8th to 18th August or 8th to 18th November your Sun will be in the firing line of this pair. This means that your sense of self identity and personal power are being affected: you are being asked to take on responsibility or structure on the one hand, but your sense of self is being eroded and dissolved on the other. If you fall into this category a good way of dealing with it is to ask yourself how much balance you have managed to strike between duty, work and material achievement on one hand, and pleasure, creativity and a respect for the more spiritual side of life on the other. If an imbalance exists, something needs adjusting. Do you run away from hard work and pressure? Or is it letting go and expressing your creative or spiritual side that scares you? It can take a lot of effort, but working positively with a planetary opposition, even one as tricky as this, can bring balance to your life.

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