U R A N U S C O N J U N C T N E P T U N E
Since Uranus moves just a little slower than
twice as fast as Neptune, Neptune moves a few degrees over half way around the
zodiac in 84 years while Uranus makes a complete cycle. This is why it takes
171 years between conjuncts of Uranus and Neptune, and not 168 years (double
the 84 year cycle of Uranus). Hence, the oppositions and conjuncts tend to take
place a few degrees further along in the zodiac each time. Here is a table:
1993: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 20 degrees Capricorn
1907: Uranus at 10 degrees Capricorn opposition Neptune at 10 degrees Cancer
1821: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 3 degrees Capricorn
1737: Uranus at 0 degrees Capricorn opposition Neptune at 0 degrees Cancer
1650: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 15 degrees Sagittarius
1479: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 29 degrees Scorpio
1307: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 14 degrees Scorpio
1136: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 29 degrees Libra
965: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 11 degrees Libra
794: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 26 degrees Virgo
623: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 10 degrees Virgo
453: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 23 degrees Leo
281: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 08 degrees Leo
Neptunians dream. They live in a world of faith, intuition, and emotion. In contrast to Uranians who have flashing eyes, Neptunian people usually have misty, out-of-focus looks. The primary virtue of Neptune is compassion, the primary failing is hypocrisy.
Neptune represents image, archetypes, faith, compassion, the zeitgeist (spirit of the times), the illusionary grease, the mass media, advertising, drugs, and dreams. The media is the message might be a nice Neptunian phrase. The fads in religion and spirituality come through Neptune. When Neptune was in Scorpio from 1956 to 1970, everyone imagined themselves as sexy, intense, into social change, and deeply psychological. Black leather was in. Drugs were used to dive deep into consciousness. People born in this period became the punk generation. From 1970 to 1984, when Neptune was in Sagittarius, everyone imagined themselves as natural, as organic, as country folk, as philosophical, and as religious. Drugs were used to escape. People born in this period are wearing tie-dies and going to Grateful Dead concerts and reviving folk music. During the current period of Neptune in Capricorn, from 1984 to 1998, people imagine themselves to be tough, independent, hard-working, and serious. Drugs are used to allow you to work harder. People born in this time will have a serious image.
Neptune stays in a sign for 14 years. When Neptune was in Sagittarius (1970-84), everybody was into the "natural" look and the country. Lately, with Neptune in Capricorn (1984-98), the image is the cosmopolitan career person.
In general, when outer planets conjunct a bohemian environment forms. The last outer planet conjunction was Uranus and Pluto in Virgo from 1963-1968. A bohemia happens when a whole class of people find themselves responding to new energies which have no place within the current structure. Outer planet conjunctions open the valve to let new energies come into manifestation.
Let's look at the Uranus-Neptune conjunction from a theoretical viewpoint first -- what should we expect to see? FIrst, Uranus acts upon the Neptune to create an awakening of faith, a flash of joy through religion, a religious rebellion, or a need for change in people's dreams. New dreams appear, and new forms of advertising. Whole new forms of media will make their appearance. Images will take on that odd Uranian wierdness.
Neptune's effect on Uranus will be to space out the flashing of Uranus, to make the rebellious nature of Uranus more diffuse, but more influential. Freedom will become a religion.
With Neptune in Capricorn for the last few years we have witnessed the dreamers striving to accomplish, to have careers, to become recognized. The Horatio Alger myth is the current dream. As Uranus enters Capricorn and joins Neptune we can expect people's eyes to shift from Sagittarian optimism and striving for goals towards the solid, practical means for accomplishing.
However, when Uranus finally overtakes Neptune we can expect to see a cracking out of the Capricornian shell of practicality. An outer planet conjunction although it partakes of some of the qualities of the sign it occupies is always a transformation or rebellion against the nature of the sign. For example, when Uranus and Pluto conjuncted in Virgo in the 60s, people were told to "do their thing" which is Virgoan but the cry "off the establishment" also rang out, where the establishment represented the nuts and bolts interworking of Virgo. With Uranus and Pluto conjunct in Virgo people broke out of the linear, factual thinking of Virgo. It seemed like the interweavings of the society was breaking down.
So with Uranus conjunct Neptune in Capricorn we can expect to see people rebelling against authority, against the past, based on a new hope and vision. This conjunction makes for romantic idealism. There will, of course, be those who are romantically attached to authority -- those who believe if we just stay within the structure all will be ok but even these people will have stars in their eyes. Independence will become a religion, and freedom of religion will be stressed. But before describing the conjunction any more let's look at some past history.
The conjunction takes place once every 171 years. The last few conjunctions were in 1136, 1307, 1479, 1650, and 1821. It is time to crack the history books. Remember, however, that the conjunction moves about a half sign forward in the zodiac each time it occurs. The 1136 conjunct was at the end of Libra, the 1307 conjunction was mid Scorpio, the 1479 conjunct was starting Sagittarius, the 1650 conjunct was at 15 Sagittarius, and the 1821 conjunct was at three degrees Capricorn. Therefore, only the most recent conjunct is in the same sign as the present one.
The major occurrence at the 1136 conjunction was the start of the French Gothic movement. French Gothic lasted from 1136 to 1300 -- exactly one cycle! The movement was initiated by Suger, a man who wanted people to remember the enlightened radiance of God through the inspiration of the radiant art of the stained glass windows in the Gothic cathedrals. Prior to this movement, cathedrals were dark and heavy with massive pillars. The Gothic cathedrals had an external skeleton so inside they could soar without pillars while allowing the walls to have vast stained glass windows since the walls no longer had to bear the load of supporting the cathedral. The airy lightness and flash of Uranus suffused the Neptunian religosity to bring light and glamour into the church. The conjunction started in Libra, the sign of art and beauty. At this same time Abelard was penning his poems of love of God and his feelings toward the woman he had loved who was now a nun (he became a priest and she became a nun out of love for him).
The conjunction in 1307 was quite different. The pope declared that all should bow down before him, that he had ultimate power according to the bull Unum Sanctum (this conjunct was in mid Scorpio). The French king thought otherwise and had the pope thrown into jail were he died. The king then set up a French papacy, the Avignon papacy thus splitting the medieval church. According to the history books, the breakup of the medieval view took place from 1300 to 1650, exactly two Uranus-Neptune conjunction cycles. During this time the nations were building and national self-interest eclipsed the church. This can be seen as the relationship of new forces of nationhood (Uranus) overtaking the established universal glue of religion which held together medieval Europe (Neptune). These forces were outside astrology (obviously if the cycle took 2 conjunctions), however the astrological cycles of Uranus and Neptune openned and closed the gates through which the changes manifested.
The conjunction in 1479 at the beginning of Sagittarius saw Ferdinand and Isabella come to power in Spain (these were the people who financed Columbus). This was a time of exploration (the conjunct was at the start of Sagittarius). For much of this next cycle the Tudors reigned in England. The Renaissance was peaking in Italy, Leonardo de Vinci was in his 30s. Men reached out and upward. The man of principle and virtue (the word "virtue" had a very macho flavor to it in those days) was admired. When Pluto went from Libra to Scorpio in 1491 the Italian Renaissance ended abruptly and Columbus discovered America, but that is another story.
The conjunct in 1650 was in mid Sagittarius and opposition to Pluto in Gemini. With the peace of Westphalia of 1649 the subordination of the church to national self interest which was started in the 1300s was complete. The rule of Cromwell, a religious puritan, lasted from 1649, when king Charles was executed, to 1658. The first English navigational act, which initiated the British supremacy of the seas took place in 1651.
The last conjunct was in 1822 at three degrees Capricorn. Capricorn is a sign of patience, ambition, independence, responsibility, structure, order, and control. The mountain goat, which is the symbol of Capricorn, has sure feet as it leaps in its zig-zag path from ledge to ledge up the mountain. When everything is falling apart and everyone is quitting the Capricorn just stays on and keeps on plugging. Soon the Capricorn is the person holding everything together as the senior member.
Prior to this conjunction, the conservatives, the nobles and kings, held Congresses chaired by Metternich to try to bottle up the changes which were occurring. The French revolution and Napolean had come and gone. Since Waterloo had occurred in 1815 the reaction against the changes which Napolean had inspired was still a hot topic. One of the history books lists this as a time of new wines in old bottles. This is a key phrase for any Uranus - Neptune conjunct. The new wine is Uranus, the wine and the bottle is Neptune. With the conjunct in Capricorn the bottle can be particularly brittle. As we all know, new wine breaks out of old bottles eventually. This breaking out happened in 1830 and in 1848 (when Uranus conjuncted Pluto) often through the work of secret societies formed during the conjunction.
The conservatives (Capricorn) merged their armies so they could flow from country to country (Neptune) putting down revolutions (Uranus). This system broke down as the conjunct started; the last congress occurred in 1822. Since Uranus is better integrated these days, and the conjunct is in mid Capricorn I don't forsee this conjunct being as conservative. Further, the conjunction ends with Uranus in Aquarius and this has got to give a kick of freedom and general weirdness to the conjunction.
This was a time of "isms", nationalism, liberalism, and industrialism. The first trade unions and the first humane labor laws came into being -- children under 9 no longer had to work from dawn to dusk in the cotton mills. In art, this was a time of romanticism. During this last conjunct in 1822, the romantic poets Byron, Keats, and Shelly flourished, Beethoven and Schubert did their greatest work, Walter Scott and Dickens wrote, Owens put forth his utopian ideals, the Greeks fought for independence and Germany and Japan started their drives for independence. The artists and romantic poets were simultaneously heavily romantic and heavily political.
The question for our conjunction is what new wines will be put in old bottles, and how long will it take for the bottles to crack? What new forces are being loosed which will break out and set the tone for the next 171years? What artistic ferment will occur as the conjunction takes place?
The conjunct started in January, 1989, peaks this year, 1993, at 20 degrees Capricorn, starts to separate as Uranus enters Aquarius in 1995, completes with Uranus solidly in Aquarius in 1997 when Uranus is at 5 degrees Aquarius and Neptune is at 28 degrees Capricorn. In 1995 Pluto enters Sagittarius (at the same time that Uranus enters Aquarius!) and in 1998 Neptune enters Aquarius. The entire 1990s will be a time of ferment. The only counter-indication is that the Jupiter - Saturn cycle is on the conservative half, but this has been overpowered in the past by an outer planet conjunction (specifically, the Neptune - Pluto conjunct in the 1890s).
Summing up, the Uranus - Neptune conjunction takes place once every 171 years. The last few conjunctions were in 1136, 1307, 1479, 1650, and 1821. The conjunction in Capricorn will bring a new spirit to religious life. The times will be more romantic (joyful, free Uranus mixing with spiritual, dreamy Neptune). People's faith will go through changes. These conjuncts have been times of transformation for religion -- the religions must conform to the changes that are sweeping the world. In past times this conjunct resulted in new church architecture (1136 in Libra), nation states (1307 in Scorpio), exploration/Renaissance (1479 in Scorpio/Sagittarius), decline of church power/rise in power of states (1650 in Sagittarius) and social unrest against established structures/monarchies (1821 in Capricorn). During the last conjunct, many new "isms" came into being -- people changed the way they collectively thought.
During the Uranus - Neptune conjunct
"waves" started (Islam, industrial revolution, crusades, etc). The
form of the wave is a function of the sign in which the conjunct takes place.
Further, these conjuncts often took place some 20 to 30 years after an old
governmental or religious form had ossified and been swept away, often in a
peaceful way. These conjuncts often represented a turning point when a new
religious/political/social structure is taking hold and is proclaimed.
Examples:
623: Islam comes into being
794: Charlemagne crowned
965: Holy Roman Empire, town life
1136: Monarchies, age of romance, crusades, chivalry
1307: power struggle of Rome versus monarchies, split of papal power and church
1479: discovery of America, height/spread of Renaissance
1650: end of religious wars, states become dominant, end of Holy Roman Empire
1821: industrial revolution, end of monarchies, start of nationalism,
industrialism
1993: end of cold war, electronic media integration
Oftentimes Uranus - Neptune conjuncts represented when wars ended, or was the cleanup period after a war. These were times of new horizons, new possibilities. Old political alliances ended and new ones started. Oftentimes an old political structure died and a new structure arose from its dying embers. The old form often went gracefully since it was merely necessary to recognize that it could no longer function. An example in recent times of this phenomenon was the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
During the current conjunct, in Capricorn just like the 1822 conjunct, people have been reviewing their Capricornian tendencies and striving to break free of them. There is starting to be a Uranian rebellion against too much hard work, too much responsibility, too much stability, too much patience, too much independence, too much asceticism, too much penny-pinching, too much order, too much control, and too much structure. Uranus is the rebel, the eccentric, the free one, the joyful, the weird, the strange, the genius, the ideal, the vision, the avant garde, and the bohemian. As Uranus crosses Capricorn, from 1988 to 1995, people find joy through independence, through accomplishment, through a sly foxiness, through shrewdness, and through control. People are starting to cut themselves some slack.
In the past, the Uranus-Neptune conjuncts have been times of radical changes in peoples image of God and religion. Neptune is the planet of faith, and not just religious faith. Faith is taken for granted, until people lose their faith. The faith in governmental institutions, for example, has been strained throughout the world.
As Uranus gets closer to conjuncting Neptune in Capricorn, people find themselves rebelling against the Neptunian image of seriousness and hard work. People who have had an image of themselves as serious, committed capitalists are suddenly awakening to how they need to nurture themselves more (Uranus often "flips" to the opposite sign, in this case Cancer). People are cutting themselves more slack as the Capricorn structures dissolve under the influence of Neptune. The striving to accomplish, to take control, to be independent is a path people are rebelling against-many are starting to go in the opposite direction towards more free and unstructured time.
Saturn, who rules Capricorn, is also known as father time. As Uranus conjuncts Neptune in Capricorn people find they need more time to dream, to escape, to be creative, to let it flow. While these two planets werent conjunct or were widely conjunct people had both the dream/image and ideal of Capricorn, of accomplishing, of working hard-a time-is-money world. As Uranus and Neptune get closer to an exact conjunct, however, people are dropping out of this world view.
The world view coming in is that of romanticism and independence -- in this way the conjunct is similar to the 1822 conjunct also in Capricorn. Many countries in Eastern Europe are fighting for independence. However, the difficulties of the 1822 conjunct are also manifesting--cultural factions are killing each other in their drive for independence. The Soviet Union broke up in a drive for independence of the various geographical areas and ethnic units.
With the conjunct in Capricorn, the area of stress is the establishment-government and morals. The last time this Uranus-Neptune conjunct occurred was in 1821, also in Capricorn, but towards the start of Capricorn. This was a period of romanticism and "liberalism". Liberalism in those days meant the replacement of kings with nationalism and democracy. In the U.S. this was the time of the Monroe doctrine, representing the recognition of the South American states (and the U.S. and British hegemony over them...). Another event was the Missouri Compromise, which allowed the North and South to continue with their divergent ways of life. One of the primary directives was, "let each country work it out for themselves without interference". For example, at the Congress of Verona in 1822 Canning of Britain said,"Things are getting back to a wholesome state again, every nation for itself and God for us all".
Summed up, this was a time of recognition of the need within each nation for the independence of people to work out their own destinies. And since the people were independent, and should be in control of their lives, democracy and nationalism both were recognized as important.
Some keywords for Capricorn are "recognition" and "authority". But the most important keyword of all is "independence". For example, the tremendous mood change that led to our American "War of Independence" occurred in 1763, the year Pluto entered Capricorn!
This same pattern which occurred in the 1820s is happening again. The Soviet Union is breaking down into a series of independent states, each with more autonomous power. The capitalism they are embracing over there stresses more independent decision making and less centralized control. On the negative side, this can become racist and parochial with the various factions within a region battling amongst themselves.
In this country, we are going through an economic restructuring as well (you can call it a recession if you want...). Transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich and the subsequent government spending on arms throughout the 1980s have left many people on the brink financially. An incredible government and personal debt (to the banks and hence those with money in them-the rich) as well as the savings and loan debacle (another transferral from taxes paid by the middle class mainly to those with surplus money in the banks...) have left the middle class and poor with limited resources. Corporations are burdened with debt due to all the corporate takeovers in the 80s. In the stretch to make ends meet, most families have both parents working. In spite of this, few have attained the living standard of their parents since the standard of living has been declining since the 1970s. This has created stress and overwork among many people who are trying to do the work of two people while not getting the pay of one.
This is the lesson of Capricorn. You must work hard, be productive, pay back your debts, etc. Capricorn is the sign of fiscal responsibility, of savings, of career. During this recession all the excessive debt of government, of corporations, and of individuals must be pared back.
Money borrowed for productive purposes is fine. Money borrowed to build useless missiles, to pay back scams, to change corporations from one persons hands to another, to buy transitory frills, is all frivolous debt. In Capricorn there is no room for frivolousness.
As 1993 and the exact conjunct of Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn approaches, we will feel a need for reform. This drive has already been expressed through the emphasis on change with the Clinton administration. During this year, people will be examining how they want to improve the established structures. Starting in 1993 people will be more active in addressing the problems-this activity will last throughout the remainder of the 1990s.
There will be a surge of romanticism in art and music, as there was in the 1820s. This romanticism will not be an airy one. During the 1820s romanticism was heavily political.
Each time the Uranus-Neptune conjunct occurs (every 171 years) there has been a major adjustment of peoples beliefs, religions, and philosophies to reflect a new world order. There was one in 1650 in Sagittarius as the scientific viewpoint took hold. There was one in 1479 in late Scorpio which initiated the burst of exploration of which Columbus was a part. The conjunct often signals an adventurous time, but also a turbulent one as old beliefs die and new ones replace them. The chapter in one book devoted to the Uranus-Neptune period in the 1820s is labeled "New Wine in Old Bottles". We are seeing some of the bottles shattering in the Soviet Union-the old forms couldnt take the new energies.
Any time planets aspect the Uranus - Neptune conjunct, or especially conjunct it, there will be psychological shifts. The Sun, Venus, and Mercury cross it once a year (in Winter), while Mars crosses the conjunct every 2- 1/2 years. Of course, the Moon conjuncts it once a month.
As planets cross the Uranus-Neptune conjunct, people feel a shaking in their
belief structures. This is why people feel on edge emotionally each month as
the Moon crosses the conjunct in Capricorn. Further Notes on the
conjuncts
1993: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 20 degrees Capricorn
end of cold war, dissolution of Soviet Union, "new world order"
transformation of economy, downsizing (Spartan side of Capricorn)
computer/communications/media revolution -- TV, radio, CD, interactive CD,
computers, movies, animation,
mail, fax, books, etc all merging into one homogenous spectrum
dreamers/Romantics in positions of power
1907: Uranus at 10 degrees Capricorn opposition Neptune at 10
degrees Cancer
in 1905 general theory of relativity
1821: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 3 degrees Capricorn
industrial revolution started to take off outside of just England
in 1815 Holy Alliance, congresses from 1818 to 1823
first trade unions, first humane laws
Hegel, Beethovens Ninth Symphony, Monroe Doctrine, Missouri compromise
1737: Uranus at 0 degrees Capricorn opposition Neptune at 0
degrees Cancer
1650: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 15 degrees Sagittarius
the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 marked an end to the religious wars
1649 = execution of Charles I, change in relationship of King to parliament
1649-1658 = rule of Cromwell
1651= first English navigational act
states became dominant (religion subordinated to national interest)
dissolution of Holy Roman Empire
professional approach
Milton, Descartes, Rembrandt, Louis XIV
1479: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 29 degrees Scorpio
in 1480 end of Mongol rule in Russia
1485-1603 = Tudors in England
1479-1516 = Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain
from 1500-1648 oceans became highways of exploration and commerce
discovery of America
height of Renaissance in 1500 after plundering of Italy
in 1517 Luther and Reformation
agree to disagree rather than universal truth
expansion of horizon
Blending of Scorpionic and Sagittarian energies
1307: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 14 degrees Scorpio
Dante wrote Divine Comedy
in 1350 Black Death
in 1368 to 1644 = Ming dynasty in China
in 1337 to 1453 hundred years war in France
in 1303 - 1417 papacy of Avignon
in 1302 bull Unum sanctum (Pope is supreme authority)
in 1300 - 1650 breakup of Medieval view (says history book...)
1136: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 29 degrees Libra
in 1122 pope versus kings became an issue
in 1100 first crusade
the start of the development of monarchies
age of romance from 1100 to 1300
Henry the Lion-hearted, chivalry, etc
in 1133-1300 Suger - French Gothic = religion and beauty mixed (exactly one
cycle)
965: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 11 degrees Libra
in 962 start of Holy Roman Empire
Clunic reform
spread of Christianity to barbarians
in 1000 to 1300 town life thrust up (965 and 1136 both in Libra)
794: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 26 degrees Virgo
in 800 Charlemagne crowned
623: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 10 degrees Virgo
in 622 Hegira of Mohammed, Islam starts
453: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 23 degrees Leo
in 410 Roman empire plundered
in 453 Attila the Hun dies
in 461 Ireland becomes Christian under St. Patrick
282: Uranus conjunct Neptune at 7 degrees Leo
Notes on Separating Outer Planet Conjunctions
The exact conjunction of Uranus and Neptune occurred in 1993. The conjunction will be separating until 1997 when it leaves an eight-degree orb. The period leading up to an exact outer planet conjunct is when the inklings of the new forms are born and the old is dissolving (like the 12th house). The point when the exact conjunct occurs is like crossing the rising sign--the new entity is born. From the point of the conjunct forward is the unfolding of energy that was born at the conjunct.
In 1ate 1962 the conjunct of Uranus and Pluto in Virgo occurred. The exact conjunct was in 1965-1966. It went out of orb in 1969. Much of the more obvious intensity of this conjunction happened as it was separating. The actual forms coming out of the sixties didnt occur until around 1967, two years after the exact conjunction.
The conjunction of Uranus and Neptune is more romantic, more ethereal than Uranus-Pluto (Neptune versus Pluto). The results are more through decay and a sudden, quiet collapse, as happened in the Soviet Union, rather than through confrontation and a rash-like spread, for which Uranus-Pluto conjuncts are noted.
copyright 1993 - 2007 by Ed Rose