Between Two Popes: Saturn in Aries and the Collapse of Illusions

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Depending on your location, Saturn will change signs—moving from watery Pisces to fiery Aries—late Saturday night on the 24th or in the early hours of Sunday morning. Saturn has been traveling through Pisces since March 2023, and this elemental shift from water to fire marks a significant change in Saturnian energy that you'll likely notice in your life.

The Elemental Shift: From Mystic Waters to Warrior's Fire

Water and fire express energy in fundamentally different ways:

• Water is feminine, moving slower, representing emotions, feelings, intuition, and the private realm

• Fire is masculine, moving with speed, representing assertion, enthusiasm, passion, impulse, creativity, and fun

Saturn's Fall:

Saturn, often called the Lord of Karma, governs:

• Painful situations and limitations

• Caution and self-control

• Hard work and discipline

• Wisdom and authority

Unfortunately for Saturn, Aries is its place of "fall" (the opposite sign of its exaltation in Libra). Why does Saturn struggle in Aries?

• Saturn's temperament is cold, dry, and slow-moving

• Aries is hot, fast, and action-oriented

• Fire signs (including Aries) represent spirit, energy, self-confidence, and self-expression

• Saturn can block this fiery energy, potentially leading to loss of personality, purpose, and meaning

While Aries loves to initiate, take risks, and act courageously, Saturn tends toward caution, delay, and even fear. The challenge for the next 2.5 years will be managing the friction between these opposing energies. The key is to remain balanced—not getting too high with the highs or too low with the lows.

Cosmic Power Struggle: Saturn and Neptune Clash in the Sign of War

The symbolism of this powerful conjunction brings together:

• Saturn: Structure, authority, discipline

• Neptune: Ideals, illusion, spirituality, mass consciousness

• Aries: Action, war, individualism, new beginnings

This combination suggests a collective clash between rigid systems and visionary ideals—often leading to revolutionary changes or shifts in leadership.

Through the Ages: How Saturn in Aries Reshapes History

Saturn takes 29 years to travel through all 12 signs. In the last 100 years, Saturn has been in Aries seven times, each period marking significant historical developments:

• April 1996-March 1999: Tech boom begins reshaping global power structures

• March 1967-May 1969: 1968 becomes a landmark year with MLK and RFK assassinations

• January 1938-March 1940: Prelude to World War II

• March 1908-May 1910: Prelude to World War I

• May 1878-April 1881: Political restructuring, rebellion against imperial control

• April 1849-February 1852: Rising U.S. tension over slavery and states' rights

• February 1820-April 1822: Fight for independence and identity, crumbling of empires

Five Signature Patterns: What History Reveals About Saturn in Aries

1. Assertion Against Authority:

   • Individuals or groups challenging dominant systems (civil rights, revolutions, independence movements)

2. Birth of Movements:

   • Nationalism, feminism, anarchism, or technology-based revolutions often ignite

3. Pioneering and Innovation:

   • Start of new paradigms (Ford's Model T, Internet, Romanticism)

4. Conflicts and War Preparations:

   • Many periods precede or occur during military tensions or revolutions

5. Karmic Reckonings:

   • Empires collapse, systems fracture, societal shadows come to light

Financial Tsunamis: How Saturn in Aries Disrupts Economies

1. Recovery after Crisis: Many periods followed recessions or depressions (1819, 1873, 1907, 1930s)

2. Monetary Shifts: Major changes in how money was controlled, from gold standards to fiat currencies

3. New Economies Emerging: From gold rushes to tech booms, patterns of speculative expansion

4. Preludes to Economic Realignments: Inflation, war, or structural weaknesses emerge

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Ancient Echoes: The Last Saturn-Neptune Conjunction in Aries

The last time Saturn met Neptune in Aries was May 1380. Let's explore the detailed parallels between 1380 and the 2020s:

🔁 Parallels Between 1380 and 2020s

🪦 Pope Gregory XI died on March 27, 1378, just two years before the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries (May 18, 1380). His death triggered one of the most chaotic and transformative crises in the history of the Catholic Church:

🔥 The Western Schism (1378–1417) After Gregory XI's death:

Modern Parallel: In an extraordinary synchronicity, we're currently experiencing an almost identical pattern with Pope Francis passing away on April 21, 2025, followed by the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025—just as Saturn moves into Aries. This papal transition, like the one in 1378-1380 preceding the Saturn-Neptune conjunction, comes during a period of profound global transformation and institutional questioning.

✨ Why It Matters Spiritually & Symbolically

• Neptune = spiritual idealism, mysticism, illusions.

• Saturn = institutional authority, structure, boundaries.

• In Aries, these energies collide in dramatic, confrontational ways.

🔥 1. Massive Systemic Shifts 1380:

• End of old regimes (death of Charles V, rise of child kings).

• Feudal systems strained—uprisings brewing.

• Centralization of authoritarian power (e.g., Ming China).

Today:

• Democracies and global alliances (like NATO, the UN) are under strain.

• Rise of authoritarianism in various countries.

• Mass distrust in government and institutions.

• Calls for new economic models (e.g., post-capitalist or decentralized systems like crypto).

Connection: We're witnessing the collapse of outdated structures and a power vacuum where new ideals must be forged into sustainable systems.

🌊 2. Spiritual and Ideological Reconfigurations 1380:

• Church losing grip; mysticism and grassroots spirituality rising.

• Russia's battle with the Mongols symbolized spiritual/national awakening.

Today:

• Rise in spiritual seeking beyond organized religion.

• Explosion of interest in astrology, consciousness, and alternative healing.

• Deep ideological polarization and spiritual confusion (fake gurus, conspiracy cults, AI as godlike).

Connection: A major confrontation between disillusionment (Neptune) and reality (Saturn) around spirituality, truth, and belief systems is unfolding.

⚔️ 3. Conflict and Collective Identity Crisis 1380:

• The Battle of Kulikovo: Russia begins to push out centuries of foreign rule.

• Peasants' Revolt (1381): People rising against oppression.

Today:

• Rising populist movements.

• Social uprisings over race, class, climate, and gender.

• Geopolitical tensions (Russia-Ukraine, China-Taiwan, U.S.-Middle East).

• AI and digital identity raising new questions of what it means to be human.

Connection: Just as in 1380, we are in a war of identity, both personal and collective. Who are we as a people, as nations, as a species?

🌀 4. Saturn-Neptune = The Collapse of Illusions

This conjunction often exposes lies, dismantles fantasies, and forces reality checks.

• In 1380, illusions about monarchic stability and divine rule collapsed.

• In 2026, expect disillusionment with:

  • Technology and AI as saviors.

  • Political promises and utopian ideologies.

  • New-age spiritual bypassing.

The message? We must build real, grounded structures that honor truth—not illusion.

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When Illusions Shatter: Saturn-Neptune Effects by Rising Sign

The Saturn-Neptune transit brings the collapse of illusions and forces us to confront reality. Here's how this energy manifests for each rising sign:

♈ Aries Rising – 1st House (Self, Body, Identity)

• A reality check about who you truly are—no more personas or false confidence

• Health or body image illusions shattered; time for practical self-care

• Identity crises pushing you to define yourself authentically

♉ Taurus Rising – 12th House (Secrets, Spirituality, Solitude)

• Hidden truths come to light, whether self-deceptions or others' lies

• Spiritual bypassing no longer works—time to face subconscious fears

• Release victim mentality or karmic baggage

♊ Gemini Rising – 11th House (Friends, Groups, Destiny)

• Friends or groups you idealized may reveal their true nature

• Disillusionment with social causes—what's actually achievable?

• Reality check on long-term aspirations and support systems

♋ Cancer Rising – 10th House (Career, Reputation, Authority)

• Professional illusions collapse—false accolades, unstable career paths

• Authority figures (or yourself) exposed as unreliable

• Building real, sustainable success rather than chasing dreams

♌ Leo Rising – 9th House (Beliefs, Travel, Higher Mind)

• Philosophical or religious beliefs tested for practicality

• Travel plans or educational pursuits face harsh realities

• Dogmatic thinking fails—seek wisdom grounded in experience

♍ Virgo Rising – 8th House (Taboo, Death/Rebirth, Shared Resources)

• Financial or intimate illusions shatter (debts, dependencies, power dynamics)

• Psychological shadows surface—no avoiding deep healing

• Transformative but painful truth about trust, sex, or mortality

♎ Libra Rising – 7th House (Relationships, Contracts, Enemies)

• Romantic or business partnerships reveal their true nature

• Legal or contractual obligations may dissolve if built on false promises

• Renegotiating or walking away from imbalanced connections

♏ Scorpio Rising – 6th House (Health, Daily Routines, Servitude)

• Health or work habits built on denial crash—time for real discipline

• Daily routines may feel oppressive; restructure for sustainability

• Workplace deceptions or self-deceptions about productivity exposed

♐ Sagittarius Rising – 5th House (Creativity, Pleasure, Children)

• Creative blocks or harsh feedback on your self-expression

• Romantic or parental fantasies dissolve—facing reality in love or child-rearing

• Fun escapes now have real consequences

♑ Capricorn Rising – 4th House (Family, Home, Ancestral Karma)

• Family secrets or emotional illusions collapse

• Home life may feel unstable—time to build real security

• Ancestral patterns or false nostalgia must be released

♒ Aquarius Rising – 3rd House (Communication, Siblings, Local Community)

• Miscommunications or false narratives exposed

• Sibling or neighbor dynamics face truth-telling moments

• Ideas must be tested in reality, not just theory

♓ Pisces Rising – 2nd House (Money, Self-Worth, Values)

• Financial delusions shatter, whether get-rich-quick schemes or underselling yourself

• Self-worth must be rebuilt on real skills, not wishful thinking

• Material security requires practical steps, not magical hopes

The Soul's Challenge: Embracing Saturn's Aries Lessons

Saturn in Aries tests your social responsibilities and ability to lead. It's about self-recognition and empowerment. The central question becomes: Do you step up to challenges with courage and confidence, or do you retreat from the world out of fear of getting hurt?

This transit hurts but ultimately liberates. Wherever Saturn-Neptune touches your chart, fantasies die so truth can live. The way forward is to build structures that honor reality, not illusion.

The choice is yours: Step up with strength, maturity, and appropriate assertiveness—or avoid direct confrontations due to fear, stiffness, or reluctance to expose yourself to the world. Saturn in Aries is challenging us all to find authentic courage while maintaining necessary structure.

KNOW THYSELF

BALANCE YOUR ENERGY

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