Saturn opposing Neptune will peak again on Wednesday, February 18th. This aspect has been creating difficulties for us for quite sometime. When planetary energies are in opposition, they are conflicted with one another.
Saturn, which represents earthy reality, karma, and limitation, has been in conflict with Neptune, which represents idealism, illusion, and spiritual awareness. With Neptune in Aquarius, many of us have been longing for a new spiritual attunement, but we’ve been broadsided by the reality of prejudice, bigotry, and the small mindedness, and even violence of those that practice fundamentalist religion. Fundamentalism wears the same clothing no matter which religion is followed, particularly the Western religious faiths of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
The energies of Saturn opposing Neptune are also reflected in the social malaise and pessimism of the present time. American ideals (Neptune) have been shattered. Under this president America is no longer the torchbearer for freedom or democracy. The reality (Saturn) of our government supporting torture at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq and Guantanamo Prison in Cuba, as well as the stealing of two national elections by the Republican Party has been hard to stomach. Although the last election which put the Democrats in control of Congress has helped our collective state of mind, we’re still worried about Iraq and now Iran and how far the Bush administration will go to try to prop up their failing policies. Neptune in the sign of Aquarius represents the humanitarian spirit of goodwill and equality for all, while Saturn in the sign of Leo denotes a blockage (Saturn) of the heart (Leo).
Our government’s response to Hurricane Katrina is another example of this aspect. Bush and his government’s pathetic response to this human tragedy are also indicative of a severe heart block.
Right now and for the past several years while this aspect has been increasing in power, it seems more difficult to access the spiritual life, to be in touch with higher powers and the loving Holy Spirit. But as I was discussing with my Aries friend, Pamela, Saturn energy can be used to discipline ourselves in our meditation practice, to get in touch with these loving energies, no matter what the spiritual path we choose to follow. Further, Saturn is helping us to wake up and see illusion in our personal life as well as in America’s persona. This is the time when we really need to face ourselves and look beneath the façade.
A wonderful book that explores Saturn Neptune as well as other important astrological cycles is Cosmos and Psyche by Professor Richard Tarnas.
It’s interesting to note which politicians are being affected by this Saturn Neptune opposition. While Bush’s Venus has recently been adversely aspected by Saturn in his First House of personality, his poll ratings have remained in the low thirties. Opposed by Neptune in his Seventh House of relationships, he’s been given the wrong advice about everything, particularly about foreign policy, since Neptune rules his 9th House of foreign countries. With Saturn in his First House he should face the reality of his deceptive associates and how they've helped to bring about this disaster in the Middle East. He should face the truth, but he probably won't.
This unpleasant Saturn Neptune opposition is also affecting Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice. Neptune has been in her First House of Personality for quite some time. It has been difficult for her to understand and see herself objectively. With Saturn in her Seventh House of relationships, this opposition aspect has make a discordant square to her Sun Venus conjunction in her 10th house of public standing. This gives me the idea that some of those scandal mags may be right and she has been carrying on in an unseemly manner with Georgie Boy. With the Saturn/Neptune opposition moving into a square to her progressed Saturn in the 9th house of foreign countries, her lack of objectivity will continue to plague her with regards to foreign policy decisions. With Saturn in her Seventh House of Relationships others should force her to see the reality of her own self-deception. She should face the truth about herself, but she probably won't.
Dick Cheney has had the Neptune in his Sixth House of work and health opposing Saturn in his 12th house of secret enemies and self-undoing. This has made an unpleasant square to unpredictable Uranus in his natal 9th House of foreign countries. Fear and loathing is motivating him to react erratically with respect to foreign affairs. He appears to be the chief instigator of a dangerous showdown with Iran. With Neptune in his 6th House, Saturn in his 12th house of his subconscious and self-undoing is revealing the truth about his deceptions in his working environment. Being behind the outing of CIA agent, Valerie Plame, is a good example. He should face the truth, but he probably won't.
Joe Lieberman is another unconscious victim of Saturn Neptune. It’s been hanging around his Ascendant/Descendant Axis. Like Condoleeza Rice, nebulous Neptune in his First House of personality is making him unsure about who he really is, (is he a Democrat or Republican?), while Saturn in his Seventh House is bringing him open enemies due to his support for Bush’s insane foreign policy. Saturn in his Seventh House of relationships is forcing him to look at his confusion about his identity. He should face the truth. Hopefully, he will.
Before and after the election, transiting Saturn was making a square to his birth chart Mars Saturn conjunction. This defeated him in the Democratic primary in Connecticut but didn’t stop him from running as an independent, picking up Republican votes and winning the election in November. Saturn is a conservative planet so I suspect that it gave him a boost when he decided to play the right wing card. Jupiter, the planet of good luck and abundance is already in his 10th house of career but after it leaves this house, he’ll have to pay the price for his bad decision to support the Bush administration.
Unfortunately, this deleterious aspect is also affecting both Hillary Clinton and Barek Obama. Obama as Saturn in his 10th House of Career and public standing. He’s going for the gold and running for president. But Neptune is in his Fourth House of his home and roots, making him feel confused about his ancestry or deceptive about it. He is probably torn between the responsibilities of running for president (Saturn in the 10th house) and his desire to stay close to his family (Neptune in the 4th House).
Clinton has been having her Saturn return in her Third house of communications making the opposition to transiting Neptune in her 9th house of foreign countries. This has been making an unpleasant square to Mercury, the planet of communications in her 6th House of work. With pushy Pluto also in her 6th house of work squaring her Moon in her 10th House of Career, she is being pressured to renounce her vote for the war in Iraq. Saturn (reality) is forcing her to look at her how she went along with the Bush administration's lies and fantasies (Neptune) in order to go to war with Iraq.
This opposition is also influencing John Edwards with Saturn making a conjunction to Pluto in his Second House of Money, opposing Neptune in his 8th house of other people’s money, sex, debts, and death. With this aspect making a positive aspect to his Sun trine Saturn and Neptune, he seems to using it to talk honestly about poverty in this country as well as his mistaken vote for the Iraq war. With this opposition, however, the press has dinged him for his multi-million dollar home in North Carolina.
What we need at the present time is for the Democrats to see through this Neptune/Saturn aspect and blindside the Republicans and the Bush administration with THE TRUTH. Most of us are sick to death of Neptunian deception and long for candidates that are lucid and see clearly. Hopefully the Higher Powers will hear our need and give them and us the strength to see through this Neptunian morass.
