2011 PLANETARY LINEUPS & URANUS IN ARIES

From February 23 – March 9, the Sun, Mercury, Mars and Uranus were in Pisces, which is a changeable, idealistic sign so this was a time of flux and uncertainty in the world.  From April 2nd through the 20th, Sun, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus are in Aries and from April 21 – May 11, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus are in this sign.  Aries is very independent, energetic, freedom-loving, impulsive, and courageous (much like the Sun, Mars and Uranus) so we might expect more demonstrations for freedom and independence in repressive and corrupt regimes around the world.  We can also expect more demonstrations in the U.S. against massive layoffs and unfair treatment of workers by Republican governors as well as state legislatures and school boards dominated by Republicans.  Because of the big lineups of planets in Aries, this spring (which begins when the Sun enters the tropical sign of Aries) will come roaring in – partly as a result of the exceptionally cold and severe winter in many places.  We will see an abundance of insects and larger populations of other wildlife later in the year.  It also means a beautiful spring, as flowering plant-life bounces back from a harsh winter.  With so many planets in Aries, this is a good time for us humans to initiate projects and to embark on bold adventures.

Although Jupiter entered the sign of Aries on January 22, its opposition to Saturn is during March and April.  This opposition occurs every 20 years and symbolizes polarization (as in politics now), dichotomies, extremes (fueled by the Uranus-Pluto square addressed later in this article), wars and contentions (according to Guido Bonatti, 13th century astrologer), “the people subject to rebel against their Kings and Governors” (says Haly Abenragel, 11th century astrologer), “rich men will suffer much” and those in power will depose many out of their positions (says Abu Ma'shar, 9th century astrologer), and “there will be no quiet, for the minds of men cannot rest,” says David Origanus, 16th century astrologer (R.E., pp. 110-111 (1664)).  This fits with recent events in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Providence, RI.  Both Saturn and Jupiter are strong – Saturn is exalted in and triplicity ruler of Libra, Jupiter is a triplicity ruler of Aries – so the wars, contentions, and strifes will be strong, with neither side willing to give in to the other.  However, Saturn is the stronger of the two so the more conservative, reactionary, unsympathetic, self-serving side (meaning Republicans in the U.S.) is more likely to prevail.

Uranus' period of revolution around the Sun is 84 years so it spends almost exactly seven years in each zodiacal sign.  It's interesting that the 9.0 earthquake 80 miles off the coast of Sendai, Japan occurred on March 11 - the very day that Uranus entered the sign of Aries where it will remain for the next seven years.  Uranus represents anarchy, rebelliousness, freedom, disorder, revolution, crises, autonomy, fanaticism, extremism, excitement, unrest, inconsistency, and upheaval to mention just a few of its keywords.  Aries has some of the same or very similar keywords: courage, boldness, violence (including violent weather and earthquakes), rebellious, freedom-loving, autonomy, and excitement.  Thus, when Uranus is in the sign of Aries (2011-2017) it will be a volatile and interesting period.  Hopefully, the masses of disenfranchised and underprivileged people in the world and in the U.S. will rise up against those in power (the wealthy) and demand better treatment (Uranus represents equality and fair treatment for everyone – it is a very socialistic and revolutionary planet).

The last time Uranus was in Aries was 1927-1934.  Too much wealth had been accumulated in the hands of too few and the great social programs of FDR's New Deal were initiated (Aries) to help those who were homeless and/or unemployed by taxing the wealthy at higher rates.  This period also saw the greatest collapse of the world's stock markets in the 20th century; the beginning of the worst world-wide depression in recent history; the Teapot Dome scandal in the U.S.; Hitler gaining dictatorial power in Germany; revolutions in Brazil, Argentina, and Austria; a general strike in France; and the assassination of the Japanese Premier and the Austrian Chancellor.

An interesting and ominous similarity between the 1927-1934 transit of Uranus through Aries is that it formed a square with transiting Pluto during that period, just as it is during 2011-2017, when it is in Aries this time!  This is quite extraordinary – for two consecutive squares between these two slow-moving planets to occur when Uranus is in the same sign – because it has not happened in the previous 1,000 years!  The Uranus-Pluto square is ominous because it is disruptive (example: the March 11 earthquake in Japan), explosive, revolutionary, and brings sweeping changes that are often painful.  I will investigate and elucidate the meaning of the Uranus-Pluto square in future articles.  Positive potentials from Uranus in Aries will be tempered by its square to Pluto, although there will be some.  These include a proliferation of innovation (Aries), an explosion new technology through experimentation (Aries), and less tolerance for the status quo.