The World Remains Under a Tight Grip

On July 20^th a New Moon falls at 28Cancer27, in tight opposition to Saturn. This is a very important detail which denotes a remarkable amount of heavy energy around the current lunar month. Saturn is often regarded as an “ominous” presence within the zodiac, yet we need to recognize its positive qualities as well, in order to fully understand the enormous depth which characterizes its 29-year cycle. It is absolutely undeniable that whenever Saturn is involved in any astrological event, heaviness, hardships and a generalized sense of “slowdown” are perceived. It is not a case that the word “lockdown” is so popular in the year in which Saturn and Capricorn have been so prominently engaged. On the other hand, we should recognize how immediately discernible manifestations of its astrological influence are profoundly linked with conscious growth and responsibility.

By looking at the current New Moon configuration, a clear emphasis of such themes is evident. The tightness with which the Sun-Moon conjunction opposes retrograde Saturn in Capricorn is not so often reproduced in the skies. The more uncommon or tighter an aspect is, the more significance it acquires, astrologically speaking. We have already seen how the end of July gave rise to a confused “second COVID-19 wave within the first”, especially in the US. The effects of retrograde conjunctions of slow planets, such as the Jupiter-Pluto one which became exact for the second time on June 30^th, are coincident with times of generalized social reassessment and ideological reorientation. The high degree of confusion, together with the new wave of social restrictions, was clearly aligned with the astrological event in question. Under such climate, we are now entering a lunar month which is profoundly characterized by a high degree of disciplined force. This could indicate that the global order, both politically and socially, might experience further reorganizations, perhaps quite evidently. An interesting feature transpires from this synodic month, as the New Moon makes a very tight opposition to taskmaster Saturn, whereas the subsequent Full Moon, which occurs on August 3^rd at 11Aquarius45, creates a T-Square with Uranus in Taurus. Also, the New Moon-Saturn opposition acts over the Cardinal signs of Cancer and Capricorn, whereas the Full Moon is Aquarian and squared by its own co-ruler. What does this all mean?

In simple words, the lunar month brings the “seed” of restoration, but its culminating experience will be related to some acts of sudden destabilization. Evidently, we are still in a phase which potentially brings further uncertainty and instability in order to make enough room for a new global order. In this case, the concept of “global order” does not resonate with any conspiratorial themes, but simply to the fact that the profound shifts which society is facing are already provoking a much needed re-balancing of political, social and possibly spiritual themes as well. This might not be readily evident, unless we carefully look at the big picture, also considering the historical phase during which the powerful Capricornian awakening has been taking place.

Interestingly, the New Moon-Saturn opposition lies on the meridian axis over Florida, one of the regions most aggressively hit by the pandemic. Again we can observe the lack of randomness in the unfoldment of global events, as they closely reflect the prevailing astrological circumstances.

The Aquarian Full Moon which occurs on August 3^rd clearly suggests a high degree of instability, as mentioned already. Also, the humanitarian crisis that is becoming so largely evident is set to be gifted with newer developments. Sectors such as the shipping industry are suffering so intensely under the ongoing wave of restrictions, which has removed any sort of fluidity from regular crew exchanges in an unprecedented manner. Thousands of seafarers still remain stuck on board all sorts of vessels waiting for the slightest hope to get back to their home countries; similarly, huge numbers of workers are waiting to get a new contract, still unable to fly out of their own countries with commercial flights.

It is worth considering the possibility of such dynamism being reflected onto the territory as well. In other words, in early August we might expect intense seismic activity, especially in the Far East, where the Sun-Moon opposition acts over the Meridian Axis, while crossing some important fault lines.

On the same day, Mars in Aries will square Jupiter in Capricorn, giving rise to great ideological zest. The revolutionary power of the upcoming Full Moon is remarkable, and it might deeply affect all those countries born in the late 1940s, when Pluto was at 10 degrees of Leo. Those nations are currently experiencing the long square of Uranus to their natal Pluto placements; mundanely, this transit can be seen as an ongoing dismemberment of deeply ingrained and power-related national dynamics. With Uranus-Pluto aspects, there is an inescapable collective need to face the unknown, and this very process inevitably leads toward a regenerative yet scary encounter with darkness.

On July 25^th Mars will enter its shadow, as it crosses the 15^th degree of Aries, still moving with direct motion. This means that it passes the point at which it will station direct on November 14^th. Evidently, a long season characterized by a literal “reorientation of individual drive and fighting spirit” has already started. In simple words, the long retrogradation of Mars in Aries, a sign which it rules, will square the ongoing gathering of heavy planets in Capricorn, which is unmistakably linked with the unprecedented wave of social change we are currently living through.

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To summarize, those whose birthdays fall near July 20^th or January 20^th may experience a year of increased responsibilities dominated by a generalized sense of slowdown. Limitations may be imposed by either external or inner circumstances, and the way to success will be found mainly through acceptance. Those whose natal Moon is placed around 28 degrees of Cancer or Capricorn will particularly experience such pressure at an emotional level. With the Moon ruling the basic instinctual functions of body and mind, a year of inner reorganization will help in building a solid foundation, though painful or strenuous it may feel.

The Full Moon will fall across the 12^th degrees of Aquarius-Leo. Those whose birthdays fall around August 3^rd or February 3^rd will enter a year of important changes which mainly concern relationships. With a Full Moon being so tightly aspected by Uranus, there may also be separations. All in all, the outcome will be an unrestrained call for freedom and rational understanding. The closer either the Sun or Moon are to the degrees of the current lunar phases, the tighter the aspect in the Solar Return chart; therefore, the stronger the effect will be over the coming months.

As Mars enters its retrogradation period, important developments will hopefully bring more clarity into a poignantly confused world.

Relating to the latest article “Two Eclipses show us the Healing Path”, sudden volcanic activity has occurred in Stromboli, a small island in the Southern Tirrenian Sea. The transit of Mars over the 12^th degree of Aries, in applying square to the recent Capricornian Lunar Eclipse has definitely ignited powerful geological forces, as expected. As I specified previously, more research is obviously needed on the subject. The current astrological knowledge allows us to identify the major stressing factors which are likely to determine powerful geological developments in certain areas of the globe.