The Mars/Saturn conjunction 2012: how afraid should we be?

clip from the film “Mars Attacks”

Astrologers love to forecast doom and gloom for some reason, and in today’s world of intense energy shifts and change many readers of things astrological tend to filter astrological information through their lens of fear.  I have a mission to dispel this astrological anxiety, and what better time to do this than now.

Mars and Saturn are nearing a conjunction (alignment) in the sky – they will be at the same degree of Libra on August 15th.  Traditional and Vedic astrology consider both Mars and Saturn to be “malefic” – they are seen as promoting danger (Mars) and generally bad things (Saturn).  So when the two come together, this can be perceived as a dangerous time where generally bad things can happen.

Even Richard Nolle, an astrologer I greatly respect, reports in his August forecast “it’s a time to be on the alert for danger due to the haste, recklessness or outright malice of others – including mass shootings and other especially heinous crimes. Be safety-conscious. Steer clear or conflict and danger as best you can.”

There’s no denying that we have seen more than our share of mass shootings over the past few months, but that has had more to do with the alignment of Mars with Uranus and Pluto which began when Mars entered Libra in early July.  Mars represents energy and desire, and when it began to trigger the square between Uranus (rebellion and revolution) and Pluto (destruction and regeneration) in mid-July a great deal of wildness was released into the general consciousness.

Mars and Saturn last united on July 31, 2010, also in Libra.  At the time Mars and Saturn were exactly opposite Uranus, and very close to an exact square to Pluto.  You would have thought that would have stimulated some extreme news, but the news at the time was much calmer than it had been in previous months when the Uranus/Pluto square made its first alignment in June.

This idea that Mars and Saturn are malefic in their nature is something that I am always arguing against.  If it weren’t for Mars we wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning.  Mars is the energy that motivates and excites us – it provides inspiration as well as desire.  When that inspiration and desire is thwarted, Mars can become angry and that can easily escalate into the rage that Mars is known for.  Saturn provides a container and structure for our lives.  It inspires us to make commitments and to set goals for the future.  Saturn’s lessons become difficult when we attempt to ignore the need for rules and structure – then we may get the proverbial bonk on the head from the Celestial Taskmaster.

So when these two planets come together it can be a wonderful thing.  Saturn rules Capricorn, and Mars is said to be exalted in Capricorn, the sign which shares Saturn’s love of rules and order and achievement.  So when Mars and Saturn come together there is the potential to create a container (Saturn) within which our desires (Mars) can take root and grow.  Still, Mars is in Libra which is the sign of its detriment.  In Libra Mars is more concerned with the needs of others which hinders its full expression, and the conjunction with Saturn can add additional repressive force that makes it difficult to put our plans and ideas into motion.

If we resist the structure that Saturn places around our desires, then frustration will occur. We may feel this within ourselves, but we may also feel that others are trying to frustrate and restrict us.  If we understand the nature of the planetary energies we will be better able to utilize this time for careful planning and focused action, instead of wild and unrestrained expressions of desire.

If we feel restricted, we often feel angry and resentful.  The Saturn effect here will limit our ability to express that anger and when anger is not given expression it can turn into rage or worse, become internalized as a health issue in the body.  Physical exercise is the best way to manage a strong Mars event such as this one as it helps to channel the Mars energy more constructively.

Relationships may be stressed during this time because Venus (planet of connecting and love) will be opposite Pluto (intensity and drama).  Watch for power struggles that bring out the Mars side of you, and try to ensure that Mars is expressed in a way that is useful.  Assert yourself appropriately where needed, and be sure that interpersonal combat is as constructive as possible so that it doesn’t degenerate into the emotional violence that we often see with Venus/Pluto.

Mars transits are strongest when they are approaching, so we are in the peak of its effect as I write this.  By the 20th of August or so Mars will have moved far enough away from Saturn that its expression will be unfettered once again.

As an aside, I think it’s an interesting coincidence that the Mars Rover “Curiosity” is landing on Mars just as this conjunction takes place.

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