The Saturn-Neptune Quincunx and its Part in our Economic Woes

©2009 by Guest Blogger, Fabienne Lopez

Donna says:  “transiting Saturn and Neptune have been quincunx off and on for almost a year, but the role it has played in our current financial crisis has been largely unrecognized. Fabienne Lopez analyzed it neatly in an article for one of my recent writing seminars, and since the aspect is about to be exact for the final time, she agreed to let me reprint it. Here’s what Fabienne has to say.”  

 Many astrologers are saying this economic downturn expresses the entrance of Pluto into Capricorn and the opposition between Saturn and Uranus. However, there is an additional astrological aspect that fuels the feeling of economic doom and gloom: the inconjunct between Saturn in Virgo and Neptune in Aquarius that will be exact on September 12, 2009. The inconjunct –also known as quincunx — is an aspect between two planets that are roughly 150° degree apart. It’s an aspect that causes irritation, annoyance and discomfort, much like an itch you can’t stop scratching.

Saturn represents restrictions and limitations of reality, as well as practical life with its responsibilities and commitments. Neptune embodies creative inspiration and all things subtle, faith, ideals and spiritual enlightenment. Conflicts between these two planets will underline the strain existing between the world of wishes and dreams and the world of hard reality. 

On the whole, inconjuncts tell us there is no balance. The planets and points involved in a quincunx don’t understand each other. The signs not only are of a different element (Fire, Earth, Air and Water), they are also of a different modality (Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable). For example, Virgo is Mutable Earth, while Aquarius is Fixed Air. The energies are not easily blended, as they represent distinctly different areas of life and needs.  As Elsa P. editor of Astrodispatch.com (http://www.Astrodispatch.com) said, “the inconjunction represents the ‘but’ in a story”. (“I lived the American dream, but now I am losing my shirt”) I call it the Yes But dilemma.

Each sign holds two possible quincunxes. For Aquarius, the two quincunx signs are Cancer and Virgo. Each time a particular pair of planets is quincunx, circumstances require the two planets to make adjustments. However, the issues and concerns of the signs involved are so different that any compromise seems impossible. The two most recent quincunxes between Saturn and Neptune are a case in point.

 The last time Saturn and Neptune were inconjunct was in 2003/2004, while Saturn was in the sign Cancer. Saturn emphasized the Cancer need for security and comfort of family life, spurring a real estate boom. Neptune, still in Aquarius, fed the illusion that the economic growth could be sustained indefinitely through consumption. The quincunx prevented us from seeing this blind spot.

 Fast forward to mid-September 2009 when the 3^rd of the 5 oppositions between Saturn and Uranus will occur at the same time of the Neptune inconjunct to Saturn in Virgo. In layman’s terms, this configuration could bring, for example, additional turmoil to the economy in general and the healthcare debate, in particular. On one side, Saturn in health oriented Virgo is demanding that the inefficiencies of the actual healthcare be dealt with. Saturn in Virgo is also asking us to have a clear picture of the nuts-and-bolts security that we require in order to feel safe. At the same time, progressive Uranus is clamoring for a solution that would include the 47 million citizens without adequate healthcare.

 On the other side, Neptune in Aquarius still wants us to live the hope of the “American dream” of individual success and wealth amidst severe economic depression, staggering unemployment and huge budget deficit. The inconjunct of Saturn to Neptune acts as a referee, demanding that the American society use more of its resources to relieve the existing social injustices and inequities. However, the discomfort caused by the quincunx seems to be stemming from disagreement about the best way to go about taking care of ALL of the people and what appropriate long term societal adjustments are needed.

 Financial Astrologer, Ray Merriman, says this current inconjunct is asking us to juggle the dream of Camelot with the prospect of the Great Depression  and 9-11 all over again.  Indeed, it seems as if this inconjunct is adding fuel to the widespread feelings of economic doom and gloom.  But we can take up Merriman’s charge. We can juggle between these extremes. The question is how!

 We can juggle these opposing and seemingly incompatible dreams by harnessing the positive qualities of Saturn in Virgo such as service, dedication, and accountability. These qualities can move us toward greater social consciousness, increase our care and concern for all, and insist on better equality between the socially privileged and the rest of society.

Note: for more detail about the current astrological picture involving Neptune in Aquarius see: The Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron Conjunction Hits the US Moon

What Fabienne says about herself: I am Brazilian-born, living in the United States. I have a deep-love for astrology since 2003. I consider astrology a practical spiritual and psychological tool; a science; an intuitive art; a gift; a friend; a path of personal growth and knowledge; and now –a means of personal contribution to others. My brand of chart reading combines a multicultural perspective, intuition, life coaching techniques.  I also have a talent for “stating the obvious”, meaning that I can  help you identify something that is uniquely you but you are not  really able to see. Like a background noise that you are trying to figure what it is. I can point it out to you and you have a ha-ha  moment.  I can be contacted at Fabienne@astro-brasil.com or 415-648-1932 or visit my website at http://www.Astro-Brasil.com.

More Posts about Saturn on this Blog:

• Saturn’s Delays and Why We Should Embrace Them
• Venus-Saturn Aspects—Waiting for Love
• Why Saturn has as much to do with Luck as Jupiter
• Quotes about Saturn’s Issues—Wise Counsel from our Elders
• Some Life Patterns of People with Uranus-Saturn Aspects in the Birth Chart
• The Uranus-Saturn Opposition is Exact Today!
• Taming Transiting Saturn–Guest Blogger Elizabeth Spring
• Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself
• Saturn Transits the 7th House—a Rare Interview with Father Time Himself

MORE POSTS ABOUT NEPTUNE ON THIS BLOG:

• Neptunian Musings—Mysterious but Strangely Apt Quotations
• Planets Squaring the Midheaven—How They Affect your Career (Neptune)
• Relationship Patterns of Venus-Neptune Aspects: The Sociology of Thrice-Married Venusians
• Addicted to Anguish–a Sketch of one Neptunian Type
• Friendship, Equality, and Neptune in the 11th House 
• Contest/Challenge—Find the Best Description of Neptune
• The Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron Conjunction Hits the US Moon
• Neptune & Uranus in Mutual Reception

 

 

Art Credit: The Yes Buts are compliments of flamingtext.com, where you can create your own one-of-a-kind headers, banners, and buttons on line in hundreds of different styles.