While the spread of Coronavirus is undoubtedly
serious and we must all do what we can to keep ourselves and others safe, what
we are also in the midst of is a pandemic of fear.
With the Saturn Pluto Conjunction ongoing, the astrology
is clear. Saturn and Pluto hard aspects have fear written all over them. They
are an astrological archetype of collective fear.
The last Saturn Pluto Conjunction was in
1981-83 in Libra, a sign associated with relationships and sharing. The fear
during that Conjunction was the threat of the AIDs and HIV, a virus transmitted
mainly through sex and also the sharing of needles during drug taking. Again,
this virus was very real and at the time it had the potential to be a death sentence
for those who contracted it.
In my world, however, as a young women just
starting out on her sexual journey, I was never really at risk. It was all
about the fear. I clearly remember the UK government campaign, ‘Don’t Die of
Ignorance.’ The visuals – tombstones and funereal bouquets – piled on the
scares. This disease, we were told, could take us directly to the bowels of
Pluto’s underworld if we didn’t exercise extreme caution (Saturn) when having
sex. Protection took the form of the barrier method (Saturn) of contraception.
My girlfriends and I had all gone ‘on the pill’ as soon as we were ready to be
sexually active. This is what young women did in the early eighties. We were
the beneficiaries of the sexual revolution started by our parents’ generation.
AIDS ended that. We were all scared. There was also a sense of feeling the fear
and doing it anyway (with protection), but we were definitely, especially us
women, denied the sexual freedoms we had thought were our right.
So here we are, with a new Saturn Pluto
Conjunction, this time in Capricorn and another new, seemingly terrifying
virus. Most at risk are the elderly and those with some underlying health
conditions, but most particularly elders with underlying conditions. Saturn in
Capricorn clearly describes the elderly.
Jupiter, also in Capricorn, amplifies
everything. Are we as a society and individuals overreacting,
over-exaggerating? Some say yes, some say no, but time will tell. What is clear
and again Saturnian, is that we are all looking to Government and other
experts, such as health and medical professionals for advice and instruction.
In many countries, laws are changing, if even temporarily. Some laws are being
relaxed to help flagging economies affected by the virus and other laws are
being set to help control the virus’ spread and by implication to control the
behaviour of citizens. Law and order come under Saturn’s symbolism and control
is a classic Saturnian word.
There’s a sense of being at war and war-like
language is being used, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who understand the combined
symbolism of Saturn and Pluto.
In the UK, people are panic buying toilet paper
(or loo roll, as us Brits like to call it), even though Coronavirus doesn’t
apparently cause bowel upsets. Pluto is of course associated with bowels and
with waste in general. It’s about what we get rid of once we’ve taken what we
need. This applies as much to our bodily functions as it does to our psyches.
To purge is also to cleanse and hand sanitising gels are also currently being
rationed due to high demand.
People with the virus are being forced to
self-isolate. Again, it is typical of Pluto transits to isolate us, as
individuals but also collectively. Walk around central London today and you
will find that people are keeping each other at a physical distance. Expect a
space to clear around you should you cough or sneeze. Usually it’s impossible
to walk down the main shopping street near my office without literally brushing
up against someone. Now we’re back in the realm of Saturnian boundaries and
barriers.
Keep your distance, says Saturn! By keeping away you are being isolated, says
Pluto! ‘Social distancing’ currently looks like becoming one of the phrases of
the year.
Yesterday (10th March), Mercury
turned Direct in Aquarius, having spent most of its Retrograde in the sign of
its Fall, Pisces. I tend to underplay Mercury Retrograde’s significance and for
good reason, but this one was severe. Under Pisces, things can spread, become
infected. Because of the fear of spread, we have travel restrictions, cancelled
flights, holiday plans ruined, big crowd events cancelled, closed schools,
fears about the virus spreading on public transport, massive strains on
‘Piscean’ institutions such as hospitals, prisons and care homes. And let’s not
forget all the cruise passengers trapped on board floating germ factories. Of
course, on its own, Mercury Retrograde doesn’t symbolise the whole picture, but
it’s nevertheless interesting to note the clear symbolic resonances.
Saturn is today at 29 degrees Capricorn. When a
planet is in the last degree of any sign, the meanings of the planet and its
sign are intensified. The seminal work on this and the other ‘power degrees’ of
the zodiac has been done by Frank Clifford who writes that at 29 degrees we
“encounter some of the most challenging facets of that meaning.” A four stage
plan to tackle the outbreak is in operation in the UK and elsewhere. Stage one is
Containment. The second is Delay. Both of these are Saturn key words and these stages
are incredibly challenging to implement and to live by. If the UK goes into Delay
stage (as it has in Italy and other places) it means not going to work or
school, not visiting elderly relatives, not travelling unless it’s an emergency
and not socialising. And where this is being enforced there are threats of
criminalisation for non-compliance, undoubtedly representing the most
challenging aspects of Saturn, at the end of Capricorn.
And as I publish, the World Health Organisation has just confirmed the Coronavirus as a pandemic.
And as I publish, the World Health Organisation has just confirmed the Coronavirus as a pandemic.
Saturn moves into Aquarius on 22nd
March. We shall see what happens then. It’s the sign of humanitarianism,
community, collaboration. It’s also the sign of innovation and technology,
which bodes well for the 3rd stage – Research – which is already
underway to develop a vaccine and also find existing drugs that can help with
treatment. Reports are that pharma companies are collaborating positively. The
Mitigation phase, if all else fails, focuses on saving lives, whilst maintainin
public services and law and order. Stay safe, look after each other and don’t
panic, this too shall pass.
(Here's a happy picture I took in the park today - spring is on it's way).
With love,
Mandi
