Is this the age of Aquarius?

We live in times of unprecedented change.

In an era of information overload when many of our time honoured institutions and organisations are in the process of falling into disrepute, the sources of guidance that we have relied upon in the past crumble before the onslaught of the new world order that is emerging into the collective. Never has there been a greater need for individuals to reconnect with the wisdom that they hold in their own hearts, for everywhere we look, we find a different opinion, a different view, a different answer, and we are falling into confusion in the face of this onslaught.

As the world embraces the age of Aquarius, connectivity between the individual members of planet earth, both human and otherwise, is becoming, whether we like it or not, ever stronger. The ethos of Aquarius is at the foundation of many of the dramatic changes that we see in the world around us; the ongoing drive for ‘connectivity’ the ‘hive mind’ of the internet, the push towards ‘order & restriction’, and the polarisation of wealth towards fewer and fewer individuals; all these images embody the signature of Aquarius, with the hash tag ‘for the common good’.

In truth however, the water pourer in the symbol of Aquarius, relates to the pouring forth of personal understanding or spiritual knowledge for the benefit of humanity, regardless of status or belief, a responsibility which belongs to each and every one of us. For the previous two thousand years, we have generally been happy to leave the important matter of faith to organised religions, and many nations have risen to power, while forcing others into servitude under that banner. This is an underlying premise of many of the cultures that we have been born into, but it is also an old way, one that is passing into history.

As humanity endures this “end game” of Pluto in Capricorn, a period which started with the financial crash in 2008, I am reminded of the heavyweight Jupiter Saturn Pluto conjunction that took place in Capricorn, at the beginning of 2020, and the occurrence of a “Great Conjunction”, the union of Jupiter and Saturn which took place at the end of 2020. Although the latter occurs every 20 years or so, the last time this pairing occurred in Aquarius, was in 1345, when the bubonic plague spread from the East, through Italy and into the rest of Europe.

The Saturn Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, last seen in 1518, illuminated The Reformation, an event which divided countries, communities and families throughout Europe, giving rise to witch trials and the horrors of The Inquisition. The combination of these momentous historical periods however, had a massive financial impact on Medieval Europe, which eventually moved the balance of wealth and power from the rich, to allow new worlds to emerge out of the ashes of the old, birthing what we in Europe call The Renaissance.

Like our ancestors, who decided that it was time to be able to read the messages of the Bible in their own language, rather than have it interpreted to them by intermediaries, humanity, as a collective is on the brink of deciding that it needs something new to fill the void, a void that has been left by our collective disillusionment and loss. A growing discontent with the power of global capitalism and the feeling that even in democratic countries that the public have no real say in matters of government is pushing us towards different choices, forcing our gaze to a another horizon.

In our search for a renewed sense of connection, many of us are finding ourselves digitally connected to distant parts of the world, arousing such strong beliefs about global issues that this in itself threatens to tear us apart from our neighbours, our families and our communities. As we weep for the plight of others in far off places, feeling helpless in the face of things that we can do nothing about, we become more and more disconnected from our own inner sense of peace and truth; it is no surprise that we feel powerless in the face of the changes that are occurring on a global level.

In light of this, our collective strength grows ever stronger with the power of our own individuality, so that we can do no more for the troubles of the world than to follow our heart’s wisdom. Each of us, in our own way, serves best, when we fulfill our own calling, when we connect to the quiet voice within and follow our hearts path. This is the idealism of Aquarius, to maintain our own individuality for the good of the group, where the strength of the whole is only as good as the strength of each individual part.

Collectively, the human race is in the midst of a dark and intense period, a process in which we must all participate; many of us are feeling at a loss to know what we, as lone individuals on this planet of billions, can do in the face of such enormous need. Many of us find ourselves in dark and difficult places, unable to manage our lives and our sanity, and although this is something that can affect us all, at any age, and for many different reasons, in today’s world the struggle is real; never has it been more important for us to connect to the voice within. As our leaders fail, it is time for us to lead ourselves out of the darkness.

As if to underline the “Great Conjunction” that took place at the end of 2020 at Zero degrees of Aquarius, Venus & Mars conjoined at Zero degrees of Aquarius on March 6th 2022 , whilst heavyweight Pluto will ingress to zero degrees of Aquarius at the end of March 2023. Despite these “trailers” the main movie of “The Age of Aquarius” is an elusive beast, there is no exact start, and many dates have been mooted, some in the past and some in the future. What remains clear, however, is that Aquarius, as one of only two signs represented by a human in the zodiac (the other being Virgo) and the first one for over 12,000 years or thereabouts, signals a time when our connections with each other, and with the world around us will become ever more important. It will be our humanity, or lack thereof that will be the crux. As we build networks with a wider and wider circle, our web can either be a net which traps us, preventing us from expanding, or one that will save us from falling into the abyss.

As the 1960’s which witnessed the Uranus Pluto conjunction were the seed moment for the cycle that we are currently in, I leave you with something from over fifty years ago, recorded in 1969….

My name is Joanna Grant, I am an astrologer of some 30 years and gained my Diploma at the Faculty of Astrological Studies in 2012. Weaving my knowledge of the stars together with intuitive tarot techniques, I craft highly personalised guidance for clients who are often navigating difficult life transitions. Lately, I am very excited to breathe new life into my astrological practice through my study of Horary, which I now consider an essential practice. The traditional techniques of the ancients have helped me to interpret my knowledge in a whole new way and having recently completed the STA Advanced Level Horary Diploma, I feel that in an uncertain world, the integrity of this tradition is an essential tool in giving my clients the guidance they seek.