AstroCast: February 20 – 26, 2019

A formidable triple conjunction of Saturn, Venus and Pluto in Capricorn dominates the week. Venus formed its exact conjunction with Saturn on February 18, reaches the exact midpoint between Saturn and Pluto on February 20 then moves into its conjunction with Pluto on February 22. 

Venus is the planet that rules our relationships and values. It is associated with love, balance, harmony, beauty and art. When Venus is active we make more of an effort to have experiences that bring us into contact with the graces of life. Alternatively we may recognize these necessary things are missing and feel compelled to put more attention into cultivating them. Venus also represents the receptive feminine principle, the anima and yin qualities of humanity and nature. It is the artist who receives and expresses the beauty of life and also shows us where we are imbalanced. Known as the Diplomat, Venus is also the force that can hold the space for opposing viewpoints and find a way to align them with common purpose.

Saturn represents manifestation in the material reality. It rules the structures of society such as governments and corporations. On a personal level, it represents how we structure our life and develop a sense of responsibility and integrity in all we do. The Saturn archetype teaches us to recognize the need to be realistic about our natural limitations and see them as the place from which we build our foundation. When active, it often emphasizes where we are not facing reality. It can correlate to situations that amplify the need to simplify and conserve our energy for what is most important. Saturn asks us to develop and contribute our unique talents to society without thought of reward as the true sign of personal integrity, to do something just for the pure satisfaction of doing it. 

The combined archetypes of Venus/Saturn can manifest as a need to take on more responsibility in one’s relationships, or making hard choices with respect to finances. We may choose the path of greater stability by paying down debt instead of spending to satisfy unnecessary ego desires. There are many cases of relationships going to the next level, such as marriage, under Venus/Saturn transits. On the other hand, there may also be a need to get real about the state of any relationship and be honest if one is not living up to mutual agreements. 

Pluto represents the process by which we reach a fundamental understanding of the depths of the human psyche. This soul-based force rules death and rebirth and can blast through any defense mechanism in order to reveal the truth of our being, which is eternal. Dramatic disruptions in our lives can force us to change from blindly pursuing a superficial life. However, we can make a conscious effort to work with the Pluto archetype to bring our unconscious motivations and desires in to conscious awareness. This is how we discover our soul.

Under the influence of Venus/Pluto, we may be forced to be brutally honest about the games we play with each other and go deep to discover the hidden mental programming that prevents us from having harmonious relationships. We must be willing to face our fear of uncertainty in order to see how we are trying to control and manipulate others to feel safe from the unknown. Only by going through this process can we release our fears and find peace and harmony with who we are at our core. If we make an effort to develop the ability to express ourselves freely and allow others to express without judgment or evaluation, we will begin to feel more authentic and in the process experience the transformational force of love.

On a mundane level, Venus simultaneously commencing new cycles with authoritative Saturn and empowering Pluto, can correlate to an upsurge in powerful women leaders demonstrating their commitment to bringing greater equanimity to societal systems. Susan B. Anthony, the original leader of the women’s rights movement in the U.S., has a tight Venus, 

Saturn, Pluto conjunction in Pisces in her 1820 natal chart. Roughly 100 years later brought another set of Venus, Saturn, Pluto alignments in the matriarchal sign of Cancer. The movement surged again and delivered women the right to vote and their first representative in Congress. Another 100 years on, Venus, Saturn and Pluto are forming another powerful alliance, this time in the patriarchal sign of Capricorn. When Venus and Saturn joined Pluto in Capricorn in December 2017, it correlated to another upsurge of women making their voices heard in society. Now Venus is making its second round aligning with Saturn and Pluto in the sign of public leadership and there will be third in December 2019. The new reality is that we have a record number of women serving in the U.S. Congress and a record number running for President in the 2020 election. Women around the world are rising from the severe limitations patriarchal society imposed on them. The true power and authority of their newfound voices being brought to bear on the world may be revealed as part of this new cycle. There is continuing resistance to the movement but in the long game of evolution the transformational power and foundational strength of all-inclusive love will be the force of reckoning.