Quenching steel in water arranges the carbon molecules to form a more brittle microstructure. That’s toughened steel to you and me. The symbolism here lies with the cool, fixed air sign of Aquarius the water-bearer, and his carbon-rich ruler Saturn. Both hot planet and sign will fix form, and the form in question is the red-hot forge-metal Mars who will become our blade. We see this conjunction on the 5th of April in the East above the pre-dawn horizon.
If Mars conjunct Pluto in Capricorn is the calculating military leader, then Mars conjunct Saturn in Aquarius can be one of two things; the rebel (but not an anarchist, this is a Saturn ruled sign, and fixed) or the opposition government, ripping up the policies and drawing up new ones. Mars conjunct Pluto in Capricorn is the police state, Mars conjunct Saturn in Aquarius is the rescue mission from that.
What does Saturn in Aquarius do? Well he rules this sign, even though he is the planet of inert earth, and Aquarius is an air sign; so he is at home here at high altitude as the mountain range is against the skyline; just as stark and imposing. Aquarius is future-orientated and seeks originality, alternatives, and newness. So the two together focus on restructuring boundaries. This is where the new political ideologies replace old ones, where new technologies make those we are used to defunct. The ultimate update to the system. Like many attempts at reforming worn out, well anything, there is upheaval. Industrial looms replaced weavers, computers replaced type-writers and their typists… every restructure has had some person, some profession, political parties, worldviews, and even whole nations fall under the wheel. Is it worth it? It depends on the outcome you were aiming for vs the outcome you get. It also depends on how you get there.
With Mars, there is little room for compromise. This is the planet of force. He is the planet of decisive action and division. He is the knife, the military, the police, the destructive measures. And Saturn is the commander in chief.
Saturn is, however, more pragmatic than Pluto. Pluto is also Hades, the God of the underworld who does not want to let anyone leave his realm at any costs (see earlier post). Saturn devours his own children, lest they usurp him. But he is terrestrial, he is not hidden, nor deep. What you see is what you get. He is computational compared to Pluto’s mystery. The closer planet, faster too, he is more knowable.
Pluto distorts and destroys things from within, blowing them up and intensifying with great immediacy every problem you thought would just go away. Saturn constricts and compresses, places boundaries, and imprisons. When we see what Mars with Pluto did; we can see what Mars with Saturn might do. In your own life, this may be confrontations and zealous defenses, impositions, and unwarranted overhauls.
But there are positive ways forward with these planets; Mars conjunct Saturn can be the fortitude it takes to withstand anything. It is the tempering of steel to make the finest blade that will endure for many generations. It is the tilling of the soil and the mining of ore, the field surgeon and the barricade. It is ignition in the engine.
In Aquarius, it is the forging of new ways of being in the world, the revolution we wait for, and the desire to build a new life with firmer foundations. It is empowerment to make real what you will to do. And, of course, cold hard determination and will to survive. Constructively you could channel this into taking a stand where justice is needed and powering up where much-needed structure in your life. I hope that Mars in Saturn is for you of the empowering kind so that you can go on to do the work that our far kinder and more compassionate Jupiter in Pisces would direct us to do.
Saturn cools Mars, especially in Aquarius, but simultaneously Mars warms cold Saturn. A little balance (neither asked for) reduces the negative impact but sours them both in the process. Both are dry, so what we need is a little moisture – queue our mid-month stellium in Pisces.
Like satellites over a megalith, Venus and Mars pass by Saturn, their narratives quick, in comparison to his glacial pace.
Venus has spent most of her time in March besieged (astrological term, here, not just a current affairs analogy) between Pluto and Saturn, having spent a good while in the underworld with Pluto (see earlier post). She doesn’t escape the Saturn guard until the 7th of April, although she will have left his realm and found refuge in Pisces a day before. Mars will be separating from his conjunction with Saturn, his last sting, or parting blow will be known by this point, and we will move into gentler times with themes of healing and compassion. The story doesn’t end there so don’t get comfy; Mars has yet to square Pluto and conjunct Neptune and Uranus this year. His year. Don’t let him hog it all, pour every drop of compassion and love on him, and maybe we will drown his angry throes out. There is plenty of Pisces to go around. We can quench that steel yet.
Astrology Imaginarium 