The astrology of sex, love, romance and relationships

Thursday, July 24, 2008

How the Saturn-Uranus opposition will affect your love life

The need for stability versus the yearning to break new ground -- this universal dynamic can be characterized by the facing off of Saturn and Uranus. Over the course of the next couple of years, these two planets will be making a succession of 180-degree angles to each other. From our perspective on Earth, they will be at exactly opposite ends of the sky.

However, you don't need to understand astronomy to feel this opposition's impact on your life. This aspect will correspond with significant changes throughout the world -- especially in the realms of technology and politics -- but it may also have personal significance for you.

Saturn is the planet of restriction, responsibility, maturity and wisdom. It is a planet of tests and obstacles, placing limitations on our lives so that we can focus our efforts to overcome feelings of inadequacy. Uranus is the planet of revolution, rebellion, surprises and sudden changes. This planet's impetus is to shake up rigid structures, to innovate and forge an independent identity.

As you can see, the meanings of these planets cannot be more far apart. Sometimes they work well together (as when brilliant Uranian ideas are made manifest by Saturn) and sometimes not (as when Uranus shatters the structures built by Saturn). The opposition is particularly stressful, as these planets are coming at each other head on. It is a culmination point, when energy builds up to a moment of release. The 180-degree angle is akin to the Full Moon, and we all know how crazy-making that can be! In addition, the opposition is a relationship aspect: opposition implies something directly across from you, and corresponds with the axis of the First and Seventh Houses (of Self and Partnership, respectively). The question invoked during this aspect is, "How can we balance these opposing principles? How can we find a middle ground?"

How will Saturn-Uranus affect me?

Elsewhere on this blog, I've discussed the respective influences of Saturn and Uranus on Venus. Both Venus-Saturn and Venus-Uranus aspects can correspond with problematic love lives, as either there's not enough affection or one doesn't want to stick around for the same 'ole thing. Well, imagine have both at the same time!

  • Part of you craves stability while the other needs to shake things up.
  • Whatever feeling of security you've built is threatened by a contradictory desire to throw out the rule book.
  • Your pursuit of exciting sexual encounters seems thwarted at every turn.
  • Unconventional expressions of sexuality are met with stern reprimands or even punishment.
  • Another person can "take on" one of these archetypes, either repressing (Saturn) you or disrupting (Uranus) your life. In other words, you could embody Uranus while a parnter goes all Saturn on your ass, or vice versa.

This opposition won't affect everybody's love lives: these planets will need to make an angular relationship to an important planet in your natal chart. Currently, Saturn is in Virgo and Uranus is in Pisces (both mutable signs), and soon they will ingress (move) into cardinal signs Libra and Aries. Their contacts are as follows:

  • November 4, 2008 - 18 degrees mutable (Saturn direct, Uranus retrograde)
  • February 5, 2009 - 20 degrees mutable (both planets direct)
  • September 15, 2009 - 24 degrees mutable (Saturn direct, Uranus retrograde)
  • April 27, 2010 - 28 degrees mutable (Saturn retrograde, Uranus direct)
  • July 26, 2010 - 0 degrees cardinal (both planets direct)

How to tell if these aspects will personally affect you

If you have key planets in late mutable signs or early cardinal signs, then your love life will not be the same once this aspect has had its way with you. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, and the key degree areas are pretty much the last fifteen degrees of these signs. The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, and the key degree areas are the first five degrees of these signs. (I am highlighting the conjunction, square and opposition aspects to your natal planets. The Saturn-Uranus opposition may also make "soft" aspects -- the sextile and trine -- to one of your natal planets. Also, Saturn or Uranus may fall in one of your sex/relationship houses, or make an angle to your Ascendant.)

First look at Venus, as she traditionally governs love and relationships. Mars relates to sexual desire. And the Sun and Moon can symbolize key people in our lives. For example, the Sun may represent a woman's husband; the Moon, a man's wife. (Or a very important person -- you don't have to be married to them!)

Also, look at the planet ruling your Seventh House of Partnership. If you don't know it, first look up your Rising Sign and then read How to determine the planetary ruler of your Seventh House. Personally, I use the traditional rulers, so Saturn would rule an Aquarius Descendant, Jupiter would rule a Pisces Descendant, and Mars would rule a Scorpio Descendant. But feel free to use the modern rulers and observe if they work for you.

Me: A Case Study

My natal Venus is at 24 Pisces in my Seventh House, opposite Pluto at 26 Virgo. Relationship themes will likely be affected by this transit, as my planet of love is in my house of partnership. The first two oppositions will stimulate my Venus, but I expect the third (September 2009 at 24 Virgo-Pisces) to be the strongest, as it will be falling exactly on this planet. Uranus will be on my Venus while Saturn will be on my Pluto. I expect my Venus to feel "unified" with the archetype of innovation, rebellion and change (Uranus), while Saturn's conjunction with Pluto will evoke a feeling of tremendous pressure and the potential for upheaval and destruction of my identity (First House). The two heaviest, darkest planets versus an electric, unpredictable sensuality and artistic drive.

Stay tuned, and in a few years I might tell you how it all turned out.

Comment below: Will the Saturn-Uranus opposition hit any of your key planets?



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33 Comments:

Blogger leslee said...

I've been curious as to how this will shake out (so to speak). I have Sun at 18 Virgo (2nd house) and transiting Uranus stationed at 18 Pisces (my 8th) last summer and will station at 18 Pisces again in November. Also, I have Saturn at 19 Sag (5th house cusp). At the same time I have a Chiron return on my Descendant (17/18 Aqu).

7:50 AM  
Blogger akakarma said...

Wow- My H. is a Cap who has Mars,Jupiter,Mercury (Sag) as well as Sun (cap) in 4th house in the ranges you outlined. Moon in Pisces in the 7th. I only have moon in Sag (11th) and jup.mercury Virgo in the 8th. I feel pretty well doomed now! It'll be interesting to see what happens.

8:01 AM  
Anonymous Shygirl said...

"...while Saturn's conjunction with Pluto will evoke a feeling of tremendous pressure and the potential for upheaval and destruction of my identity (First House)...."

Jeff, so this exact conjunction between natal Pluto and transiting Saturn, happening in someone's 7th house instead of 1st would mean upheaval & destruction of their relationship?...:-(
I'm talking bout someone with the exact opposite configuration than your chart, with Pisces rising and Virgo on descendant.

11:40 AM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

@shygirl, if not the relationship, then upheaval/destruction in a partner (romantic/business) or client's life.

12:40 PM  
Anonymous Shygirl said...

So how does one get ready for a period of upheaval & destruction? What's the right attitude to approach this with? Just go with flow and pray??

3:54 PM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

An emergency preparedness kit -- many gallons of filtered water, canned foods, band-aids. Antibacterial ointment. A boat.

9:06 PM  
Anonymous Shygirl said...

@ Jeffrey, Thanks for the list. I've got almost everything on that list ready already except for the boat. Once I get that taken care of, I should be off sailing. If I make it past 9/15/09, when Saturn squares my Sag Venus from Virgo & Uranus squares it from Pisces simultaneously and also past 4/27/10, when Saturn sits on my natal Pluto & squares my Gemini Moon, while Uranus opposes my natal Pluto and squares the Moon and also past 7/26/10, when this duo squares my natal Cap Sun and my natal Taurus Saturn, I will come back if I'm still alive and kicking & post an update.

9:46 PM  
Anonymous Shygirl said...

Ooooops...wrong about the Taurus Saturn square I wrote above, but everything else looks right.

9:55 PM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

Gosh, you make it sound as if the planets are going to kill you.

9:41 AM  
Anonymous Shygirl said...

Gosh, you make it sound as if the planets are going to kill you.

What's that supposed to mean?

10:40 AM  
Blogger angelineelise said...

@ Jeff and Shygirl:

The number one cause of death is life.

lol!

12:10 PM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

@shygirl, you wonder if you will survive these transits. If you don't die, then you will have grown (hopefully) as the result of having been through a whole lot of change. "If I make it past [a transit]" to me sounds like a struggle to the death, like one is wrestling against the Angel of Squares and Oppositions. Everyone, regardless of whether they observe their transits or even believe in astrology, goes through this. It's called life. I'm not exactly thrilled about this Saturn transit, but I think the best way to approach it is, "How do I ride this wave? How do I go with the flow of this archetype?" Yes, there are times when I just feel like a victim of fate -- I whine and complain -- but ultimately the best I can do is help God do with me as God will. Not to fight against it. If astrology has any value, it's to give us the knowledge to help the process along, rather than ignorantly get thrown around by the winds of fate.

2:40 PM  
Anonymous Michelle said...

I am really happy that you made this post, and especially because I also have Virgo rising and Venus/cusp 7-8th. I will feel the biggest effects of this opposition on July 26, 2010 when Uranus is conjunct Venus in Aries and Saturn opposes them. At that time the Venus/Uranus conjunction will also trine my Moon at 2 degrees Leo.

Because Uranus is already transiting my 7th and Saturn is about to enter my 1st, I feel like I have begun to confront these issues right now. In the past few weeks I have been struggling to understand whether I should try to work through my problems with my BF and build a new foundation, or whether I should just break up and start over. I feel that if we do continue on together, then we have to change things in our relationship to make our communication better. The wonderful thing is that I feel that we are both working towards getting through our problems and truly setting up new patterns of relating. This is a very difficult period in our relationship, but I hope that ultimately when it is over we find ourselves in a better relationship. This transit definitely signifies to me the struggle of old and new, and that the old will have to be broken down in some way to survive, and this is not all necessarily negative. With the recent transit of Saturn through my 12th house I have decided to start working with a therapist for the first time in my life. I think it is good timing because transiting Pluto is getting close to leaving my 4th and I want to resolve all of my unresolved issues.

3:00 PM  
Anonymous May said...

November 4, 2008 - 18 degrees mutable (Saturn direct, Uranus retrograde)

Both planets exactly square my natal chiron in Gemini (loosely square my Gemini Mars)

# February 5, 2009 - 20 degrees mutable (both planets direct)

Exactly square my natal Sag Saturn. (and loosely square my Sag Uranus)

# April 27, 2010 - 28 degrees mutable (Saturn retrograde, Uranus direct)


Uranus exactly conjunct my Pisces Ascendant and Saturn conjunct my Virgo Descendant

# July 26, 2010 - 0 degrees cardinal (both planets direct)

Uranus exactly conjunct my Aries Venus (1h) and Saturn opposes it (7h)


Uranus will visit my 1st house planets in 2 years. I question what will become of me? Will I progress? Develop traits of Uranian? Will my appearances be "crazier"? Things will not be the same, I am certain.

7:23 PM  
Anonymous x Kate x said...

I have Venus and Mars in Virgo, Moon in Cancer. How does this affect me ? Because lately, I feel like I've been blurting things out that I normally keep to myself (I've got Sun in Scorpio)... I also feel that I'm ready for a steady, reliable, long-term relationship, thanks to Saturn. But what's gonna happen now ? Because I like to be prepared for the things that are probably going to happen. (If not now, maybe in the near future...)

2:55 PM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

@x Kate x, that would be hard to say without looking at your chart (and I don't analyze charts in the comments section). From what you're saying, it sounds like a transit to your Mercury. I'm available for consultations if you want to get a handle on your future.

3:39 PM  
Blogger lyricgirl said...

Kudos! (dbl Pi/Vir rising. I feel the change...it started with the past eclipses of Vir/Pi which, ironically brought back a welcome friend/potential love interest I left during the eclipses of 96-97 also in Vir/Pi. wow. anyway. I hope this is all good! Cause I am going for it! I have sun, mean node and true node in the 7th/his Uranus 7th.
My Venus & sat (conj) in 8th ((his venus is also conj my sat)) with his jupiter and neptune in the 8th.
My jupiter, uranus, pluto in the 1st/his mer, ven, Pallas, Chiron in the 1st.

Also, my mars is in Sag w his moon.

Jeffry, can you give me some ideas as to what is going on here and what type of chart I should purchase to help me clarify? Peace!

10:16 AM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

@lyricgirl, try out my Ask Jeff a Question feature and I can look at how the opposition will impact your chart. Peace!

12:14 PM  
Anonymous Astral Al said...

Well I have my Sun at 18 degrees Pisces, which Uranus is currently moving back towards, in the 2nd. For the first time in my life, I am broke with mounting debts and worried about it. I owe my father a lot of money too, which I cant pay back. I have a flat for sale which isnt selling. My partner left me last November after 9 years but continues to hover near to me (platonically) but I sense I am not going to get back with him, despite still being in love with him.

Looks like the next opposition will hit my Sun direct - November 4, 2008 - 18 degrees mutable (Saturn direct, Uranus retrograde) and the one after virually on my Mercury at 22 Pisces.

How could this manifest on your Sun !?

12:27 PM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

@astral al, Saturn will be (if it isn't already) transiting your 8th house (Money you owe), to oppose your Sun, which could signify your father. Meanwhile, your financial situation (2nd) is unstable (tr. Uranus). Maybe it's about separating from him while at the same feeling beholden to him.

10:05 AM  
Anonymous Astral Al said...

Hi Jeff, thankyou so much for your reply, that is really interesting! My Saturn is in fact in my 7th still (and went over my Moon last year at 28'11' Leo). The Saturn conjucnt Mars recently was in my 7th (is this meant to be a 'death blow'?)

We split last year but we own property - the unsold flat was mine, but its in HIS name. It will affect his tax situation, and I half own his house, which isnt mine but is on paper, so its all a mess. From what you are saying, its like we will finally separate, but still be tied - financially I guess.

3:33 AM  
Anonymous Astral Al said...

..ah and yes, you are right, I am headed for a Saturn opposite Sun transit, on the 8th-2nd axis and I wont be able to pay back my Dad for at least another year, or more. You are so right! Wow, amazing how astrology always "fits" when you look closely.

Also, the situation with my ex will mean complex mortgage/tax issues, plus with Uranus there, my income is unstable. I had given up my Web programming career and am now trying to get back into it, especially as its very Uranian way to make money, but I am finding it hard and there are only temp contracts available in my vicinity! My financial situation keeps fluctuating since Uranus went into my 2nd, no doubt about it.

3:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you are so insightful Jeffrey- i need help with uranus in my 7th,saturn about to hit my asc. iam super depressed as i have a natal saturn sq sun.
list goes on. can one survive saturn hit to the as.
pisces virgo ris.
thanks

1:57 AM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

I'm a Pisces, Virgo Rising as well, and I survived Saturn's hit to my Ascendant. I wouldn't classify it as fun, though.

10:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ahh wow amazing. yes uranus on desc too. i find iam so down but i suppose this is a chop wood carry water time and it is arduous as you know.. i am hope full that when saturn moves into the first house a little weight will be lifted? iam 23 feb. thanks v much

2:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the article! I`ve been trying to find information about this opposition since my friend has Ascendant rising in 23 degrees of Virgo. If I understood correctly he might be having some major chances ahead as the ruler of his DC is Pisces/Neptune and now Neptune is opposing his natal Venus and conjuncting natal moon in 5th. Just thinking are these transits for good or bad for his relationship?

4:08 PM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

Neptune has a dissolving and deluding influence. If it is transiting his moon and Venus, he may experience loss or sacrifice. A very different energy than described in this post .

5:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mmmmm very interesting comments - i will have the Saturn/Uranus opposition of 2008 transit my ASC/DSC...... I guess I'll soon know exactly what new structures will be presented in the relationship's between myself and others.

Virgo rising

10:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

In a word yes!! I am a capricorn, with virgo rising. Pluto & Uranus are in my first house in opposition to Saturn & Chiron in Pisces in my 7th house. So transiting Saturn is going through my first house & is about to conjunct my Pluto & Uranus, and oppose my Saturn & Chiron. And transiting Uranus is going through my seventh house & is conjuncting my Saturn & Chiron & opposing my Pluto and Uranus!!!!!
Wow what a transit!! Relationhip & identity issues & how I relate to others are being highlighted shall we say at the mo!! (confirmed also by Saturn being the ruler my 5th house). Over the years, I've come to understand that Saturn on Pluto is not to be feared, but I do feel there is some kind of "inevitable ending" coming up for me, which feels sad but necessary.
Anyone else out there got the same transit going on or been through it already?? This fledgling phoenix would love to hear how you are dealing with it or how you triumphantly rose from your own ashes!!

11:41 AM  
Blogger Jeffrey Kishner said...

That is a potent combo for the late sixties kids. I would also love to hear from others about this. With all these cardinal ingresses of the outer planets coming up, I'm also curious how that will resonate with you folks.

12:41 PM  
Anonymous virgolover said...

My partner has Saturn, Sun, and Mercury all conjunct in Virgo at 17 degrees in his 6th house, squared by his Gemini Moon.
Today transiting Saturn is at 15 degrees as it's lining up for the Uranus opposition, and the transiting Moon is in Sagittarius; Mercury is retrograde. Today my partner had a seizure at work (and has not had one in about 14yrs.) Now he cannot drive (he needs to for work, but does not want to endanger himself or others on the road,) and needs to begin seeing a neurologist (yay 6th house and yay Saturn return.) Pretty strong symbolism in the chart echoing all of his reality today! The Uranus factor seems to be offering possibilities for regeneration in his career though, as today they supportively phoned and offered him a different position where he will learn new skills and not need to drive as part of it. It's not the position he was hanging onto, but he had been feeling stuck in it, so... life keeps moving forward.

1:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have Sun at 23 Virgo square Saturn at 19 Sag. The first "hit" of Sat/Uranus brought a married man into my life. He'd been a friend for many years but all of a sudden (Uranus).... it's more. But Saturn is sitting on my Sun saying Whoa! What are you doing?? Uranus wants me to rebel against my moral code (Saturn in Sag). I can tell I am up for a fight since I have very strong feelings for this man (Sun rules my 5th house). I am not liking this challenge. Normally it would be a no-brainer but it's not so easy right now. I know Uranus isn't bringing me any kind of permanent relationship so given the fact that I have a Scorp. moon, it makes it easier to see the reality.

9:27 PM  
Anonymous diane said...

It will be very interesting to see how some of the mid to late 60's born will do. Case in point: a friend born 12.21.66 has the Uranus/Pluto conjunction at 23 Virgo on the Midheaven. The Saturn/Chiron conjunction is exactly opposite. Both square the Sun and Mercury in mid to late Sagittarius in the first house. She is a control freak to say the least, and has recently been promoted in her field, which has served to really elevate her ego. Pluto sits on her Sun as we speak. She is typical Sag in that she knows what's best for everyone and has alienated a lot of people. Her husband is afraid of her but lacks the gumption to do anything about it. It's hard for me to be around her right now but I have to admit so much astrological curiosity (it's all field research, folks!) as Saturn is approaching the opposition bundle. I know the promotion was part of the transit but it was awarded before Saturn approached Virgo. I hope to read more from people who have info about the 60's folks as they go through this incredible transit.

11:06 PM  

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