top of page
  • Writer's pictureWilliam Ding

The Great Conjunction in Aquarius

Updated: Aug 15, 2021


The Great Conjunction


This past year has been a mess in countless ways for everyone, and we are all hoping that 2021 will be better. 2021 is already looking more positive, with several things to look forward to regarding the Academy High community. Our first senior class will be graduating this semester, which also marks the first full school year with our new Head of School. This is the beginning of our first full semester as an accredited school as well. Interestingly, 2020 ended with a significant astrological event, The Great Conjunction, which marks the start of a new age and positive change. There are many things we can look forward to during this new year, and many ways we can make the best out of this event.


If you are not familiar with astrology, it comes from an ancient tradition that connects planetary cycles to human archetypes. It focuses on the movements of celestial bodies, and makes claims as to how these movements affect themes within our lives such as opportunity, luck, growth, and challenge. Astrology isn’t based in science, rather it takes measurements between planets and celestial bodies and assigns meaning to trends in the data. It’s a form of divination, meaning it assigns divine or supernatural value to the known world, but it doesn’t worship a deity and it doesn’t assign a moral code. While you may not believe in astrology, it can still be interesting to explore another worldview. It offers another perspective that may be what you need to jumpstart personal development.


Astrology has roots in many civilizations, from the Chaldeans of Babylon (modern-day Iraq) as early as 5800 BC to Arabic cultures from North Africa and the Eastern portion of the Mediterranean in the 8th century. The Maya of Central America, people from ancient India, and the Chinese all practiced astrology from 2000 BC, as did Greece in 500 BC. The Great Conjunction in Aquarius is an event that occurs within the canon of Western astrology, which borrows aspects from both Greek and Babylonian astrology.

 

What is it?


On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn met in the constellation Aquarius, forming a conjunction. A conjunction in astrology happens when two planets line up with the Earth. Both Jupiter and Saturn are associated with authority, so it is called the “Great” Conjunction when they meet. Astrologers know Jupiter as a symbol of luck and abundance, so it is associated with health, wealth, and a good time. Saturn is the Planet of Authority and is related to strict responsibility and setting limits. The Great Conjunction happens about every 20 years, but the last time the planets have been as close as they were in December was in 1623. They met in zero degrees Aquarius, meaning the conjunction occurred at the very beginning of the constellation. This, according to Narayana Montufar, is related to the beginning of a brand-new cycle. She believes that it is an excellent time to start from scratch and rethink your approach to freedom, equality, and caring for the common good.


Many astrologers also believe that this marks the shift from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius. Every astrological age lasts about 2,160 years and goes through the 12 zodiac signs but backward. This theory stems from the major events that happened during the past astrological ages. For example, in the Age of Leo (10,000 - 8,000 BC), humans started to conceive themselves differently and develop unique qualities, and in the Age of Aries (2,000 BC - 0 AD), large civilizations like Egyptians, the Greeks, and Spartans worshipped figures that represented strength and had powerful militaries. Various astrologers debate over when that change into Aquarius is, but we know it could be happening in the present.


Another event to note is the Winter Solstice, when the sun is down the longest in the year, which occurred on the same day as the Great Conjunction. These are believed to be the turning points in the year’s natural cycle and are suitable for rituals, reading tarot cards, and manifesting. They mark a new beginning, and there is much ripe energy that goes towards changes. This month, in February, Aquarius’ energy may also be felt very heavily because there was a stellium, which is when three or more celestial bodies group together in a constellation. In this case, the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and asteroid Pallas, were all together in Aquarius.

 

How will this affect us?


In the past, the Great Conjunction was believed to have shaped historical trends/eras and mark a time of immense change. For example, the last Great Conjunction happened in 2000, the start of a new millennium. We should look for outdated social structures and ideas to die and for new ones to be born.


Aquarius is an innovative sign, so we may be encouraged to participate in progressive social activism to embrace its humanitarian characteristics. Any changes might be slow, but our community can grow more inclusive over time and build a modern way of relating to each other. Especially after 2020, there is a more vital need to push for a more equal world. Jake Register, from Jakesastrology, says that “during this pandemic, people have been living in their own little worlds, and I feel like those walls are going to be coming down soon and people are going to realize that if we want change to happen, we can’t go at it alone.” Because of Aquarius’ open-hearted and open-minded nature, it is also associated with LGBTQIA+ people, so this could be the beginning of a time where anyone, no matter their sexuality or gender identity, can express themselves without judgment or criticism.


From March 21 to July 1, Saturn traveled through Aquarius, and during this time we saw some social change, humanitarian efforts, and a push for justice for all. There was a global outpour of support for the Black Lives Matter movement after the murder of George Floyd. The world saw a greater emphasis on fixing inequalities, taking responsibility, and helping in whatever way possible, like signing petitions, protesting, and donating money. The Great Conjunction sets the movement to possibly gain even more momentum this year.


Beforehand, most of the Great Conjunctions have been in Earth signs. Besides in 1981, this is the first time it has been in an Air sign since the 1400s. As Air signs are affiliated with communication and knowledge, some believe that this signifies that we will collectively move away from a focus on materialism and industrialization to a focus that’s more humanistic, technological, and inclusive. Many astrologers see this cycle as a foundation that the world is built on, and it is considered as a ground base for human connection and the interaction between ideas, possibilities, and manifestations of the material world. From this and the new age, they speculate that we are shifting into a period of technological and ideological advances.

 

What can we do?


Although you might not believe in astrology, you can still learn something from it. Some advice doesn’t hurt, and even if it might help some more than others, it could be something that you need to hear to help yourself grow. Right now is the time to start something important and meaningful. It might be some project or big goal that you have had for a while, but it should be something that you will be very committed to and will want to put a lot of effort into for a long time. You could write a book, start a job, or even run for office. Whatever it is, astrologers believe that Jupiter’s accelerating force and Saturn’s solid foundation will ensure that your results will be long-lasting, and this will particularly be great for your career’s success. To give yourself a clean start, you might want to spend a few months wrapping up projects or tasks that you have put off, remove any toxic relationships, and drop old habits to start new ones. This won’t just last a few months, it will unravel over the years for the next few decades, but the expansive nature of these planets will help you accomplish things that have seemed out of reach before.

 

Sources -

34 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page