2021: The Year Ahead

Over the last month or so, I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about the astrology of 2021 with wide eyes and bated breath.

“2021 has to be better than 2020, right?” they say.

And overall, yes, I would agree with this statement. But, I am probably not as optimistic as others in regards to what might lie in the year ahead. Here’s why.

The planetary alignments that occurred in 2020 have irrevocably changed our world.

Just as the 9/11 attacks changed the way in which we travel, for example, COVID-19 has forever altered nearly every aspect of the global human experience. I don’t subscribe to the fact that once most of the population has been vaccinated that our lives will go back to pre-2020 next year. And, I don’t believe the astrology supports this either.

As you probably have heard by now, on December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn formed a Great Conjunction that ushered in a new 20-year period. What’s more though, because the Great Conjunction occurred in an air sign, it actually signals a much more significant change, the likes of which has not been seen for hundreds of years.

Before I continue on, here’s a quick recap of what it means to have both Saturn and Jupiter in the sign of Aquarius:

• Saturn in Aquarius: The last time Saturn was in Aquarius was from 1991 to early 1994. 1991 signaled the advent of the internet, and our lives have entirely changed with this advance in technology. Saturn rules structure, organization and discipline. It also rules what we fear and where we might put up boundaries in our lives out of fear. Aquarius, as a fixed air sign, is associated with humanitarian efforts, our ideals and principles, our associations and how we function better as a group than as individuals. While Saturn is in Aquarius, the focus will be on restructuring our social policies and the way in which we interact with others. Saturn rules governments and authority figures so we can expect new policies to be put in place around how we interact in groups.
• Jupiter in Aquarius: Jupiter is the planet of international relations, of travel, education, belief systems, and law. Principles of expansion and growth can be found in the sign it transits, thus with Jupiter now transiting through Aquarius, there will be a focus on growing our social technology in ways we haven’t quite seen before. There could be a shift to a more socialist political framework in some countries. Our education systems and travel industries will also be introducing some changes under this influence that will continue operating into the future. The last time Jupiter was in Aquarius was in 2009 when Barack Obama was inaugurated as the President of the United States, the first black man to do so. It seems fitting then that Kamala Harris will be the first woman of colour to assume the vice-presidency in January 2021. (And if you know anything about the astrology around the U.S. Election and the Inauguration Chart, it’s doubtful that Joe Biden will finish off his full-term as President, so Kamala might have to take on a lot more sooner than later.)

Will there be a reset?

As I’ve said before, if you’ve heard politicians around the world talking about a Great Reset after the COVID-19 decimation that was 2020, this Great Conjunction signals this type of reset. The transition from the earth element to the air element will shake up the way in which we communicate and even the ideas we have collectively as human beings. Our social and economic systems are under major review in this influence as vision (Jupiter) meets pragmatism (Saturn) in a sign more dedicated to social equality and the needs of the many than the needs of individuals (Aquarius).

With so much inequality and injustice in this world, who wouldn’t welcome a reset? How could you argue against a more fair distribution of wealth, the eradication of racism, the acceptance and ability of all people to live their lives without encountering hatred and discrimination for simply being who they are?

But this is simply too idealistic a proposition. If you look at how history unfolds, humanity does not evolve in a constantly upward trend. We swing to extremes before finding the middle ground which is in itself flawed and never entirely supported. Those with immense power, wealth and influence in the world will not be giving up any of this anytime soon. Thus, you have to wonder what kind of reset might this be? Essentially, I’m saying, we need to consider this Great Conjunction in Aquarius in context to our current world… the world we live in right now, not some utopia or archetypal version of the world we would like to have.

Look, Jupiter and Saturn in the sign of Aquarius will no doubt bring some positive changes: there will likely be a more humanistic, inclusive shift in our social framework—something I believe most of us are already feeling. It will likely also bring about some really innovative technologies to make our lives easier over the next few years. It could bring medical advances to help our most vulnerable. But to get to all of this great stuff, there will inevitably be some major growing pains.

A new era in how we relate to others

Astrologer Michelle Perrin wrote this about 2021: “The era of the individual voice standing up to the Man, where everyone got along and respected each other for their own uniqueness, may be coming to an end.”

I agree. And I believe that 2021 has a lot to do with the deconstruction of “the individual”.

It’s fascinating to see this growing return to what could be perceived as tribalistic behaviour in society, particularly evident on social media where a mob mentality now prevails.

You’re left or you’re right. You’re a masker or an anti-masker. You’re a vaxxer or anti-vaxxer. You’re woke or you’re a racist. You’re right or you’re wrong. Whatever happened to the complexities and context of opinions? When did everything become so black and white: you’re either with us or against us. It’s very difficult to voice an opinion that straddles these two divergent ends of the spectrum. Some people, most people I would hope, defy categorization.

Bertrand Russell wrote: “Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.”

To me, this is part of the current paradigm shift.

Does our world need changing? Absolutely. However, do we have to lose the respect we used to have for others who had differing opinions than ours? We used to debate and learn from others. We used to maybe even have our minds changed by healthy, intellectual conversation. I’m not ready to part with this outward dialogue yet, are you?

The Saturn-Uranus square

This tension, this yearning to preserve our individual self-expression while still moving forward in an inclusive, enlightened way, can be found in the aspect that dominates most of 2021: the Saturn-Uranus square.

Much of this upcoming year will play out this struggle:

• How can we keep the individual alive while we advance our social norms of equality?
• How do maintain our humanity in the face of so much technology?
• How do we stay connected in an era of disconnection?
• How do we distinguish between fake news and real news?
• How do we set-up laws and governance around our social media and networks without becoming a police state?
• How do we show support and compassion to the minority without imposing significant limitations on the lives of the majority?

These—and so many more—are the very difficult questions we will be grappling with this year.

The Saturn-Uranus square goes exact three times in 2021: In February, June and then December. The month or two around each of these exact dates will magnify the potential for intense conflict between what seems like two opposing views. There’s a battle this year between those who are clinging to the pre-2020 past and those who want to propel into the post-2020 future. Once again, these are two extremes where most of us fall somewhere in the middle. We shouldn’t be picking sides, but rather be choosing the best of both worlds and moving forward in that direction.

If I had to summarize 2021 I might say: My sense is that for those who are happy to follow rules (imposed by the government, other institutions and/or a majority population) this year shouldn’t throw you too many curveballs. For those who are not willing to compromise their individual voices, this year will likely be more difficult.

As Friedrich Nietzsche said: “Do you want to have an easy life? Then always stay with the herd and lose yourself in the herd.”

Fixed signs and a holiday for Jupiter

Switching gears, two more astrological highlights of the year are worth noting:

• Those with significant cardinal sign placements (particular in the later degrees) have been getting hammered (read: tension, conflict and transformations) over the past couple of years. There is a definite switch this year to the fixed modality with Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus in fixed signs. Thus, cardinal sign heavies can breathe a (somewhat) sigh of relief (Pluto is still in Capricorn after all) while early to mid-degree fixed dominants should buckle up for some twists and turns this year.
• Jupiter enters one of its favourite placements in Pisces for just over two months in 2021 so there is a bright spot especially for travel and connecting with others from mid-May to mid-July. The planet returns back to Aquarius at the end of July where it stays until the end of December.

I will leave you with a final quotation from Mark Twain. Please keep it close to you in 2021:

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”

Some important dates:

January 6 – Mars enters Taurus igniting the Uranus-Saturn square

January 14 – Uranus goes direct

January 20 – Mars conjunct Uranus

January 30 – Mercury goes retrograde

February 17 – Saturn square Uranus hit #1

February 20 – Mercury goes direct

April 27 – Pluto goes retrograde

May 13 – Jupiter enters Pisces for just over two months

May 23 – Saturn goes retrograde

May 26 – Lunar Eclipse at 5 degrees of Sagittarius

May 29 – Mercury goes retrograde

June 10 – Solar Eclipse at 19 degrees of Gemini

June 14 – Saturn square Uranus hit #2

June 20 – Jupiter goes retrograde on Summer Solstice

June 22 – Mercury turns direct

June 25 – Neptune goes retrograde

July 28 – Jupiter retrogrades back into Aquarius for the rest of the year

September 26 – Mercury goes retrograde

October 10 – Saturn turns direct

November 19 – Lunar Eclipse at 27 degrees of Taurus

December 1 – Neptune goes direct

December 3 – Solar Eclipse at 12 degrees of Sagittarius.

December 19 – Venus turns retrograde in the sign of Capricorn

December 24 – Saturn square Uranus hit #3

December 28 – Jupiter enters Pisces

How is 2021 going to affect you in terms of your physical/mental/emotional well-being? How will it impact your career, your relationships, your goals? What areas of growth can you expect? Where are the challenges? Contact me for your personal year ahead plan.

Until next time astro friends,

M