Jupiter the great benefic, opposes Saturn the great malefic on 28 March: these two planets are known as the Great Chronocrators or “timekeepers of the cosmos” and are applied specifically as such in mundane astrology (the study of events in the world). Does this planetary movement have major significance globally and for South Africa specifically?

There exist 3 astrological couplings: Sun/Moon, Venus/Mars and Saturn/Jupiter. This is so due to the opposing planetary signatures of these celestial bodies. In this article we address the combination of Saturn and Jupiter.

Saturn rules restriction, death, time, justice, punishment, boundaries and all the awful things that we believe we are victims of. Saturn is the outermost planet which can be seen with the naked eye and he is the planet closest to The Source. He is therefore the slowest of our 7 planets, traversing along the ecliptic and through the zodiacal sphere in a time period of approximately 29 years. He is currently in Libra, only entering this zodiacal section approximately every 27 years; he remains in a zodiacal section of which there are 12, for roughly two and a half years. Libra is the only sign in which Saturn is exalted, with each of the 7 planets having one sign for its exaltation.

Exaltation is likened to being in your friend's home where you are relaxed and familiar with your surroundings, however you do not enjoy the same amount of freedom that you do at home; for a planet this is where it is in dignity as it is posited in a sign that it rules and is thus in its celestial home. Whilst home you can make yourself a snack any time you choose, watch TV while placing your feet on the coffee table, or even walk around naked if you desire. When visiting your friend when he offers you refreshments  you end up eating or drinking more than you should as you are too polite to refuse another slice of cake, and eventually you long to return home where you can lose your “honoured guest” status and unbutton your now-too-tight trousers.

This exalted status of Saturn means that his planetary signatures (areas of rulership) are all currently exaggerated. Saturn rules mines, all things that happen and exist underground, the harvest (crops), and foundations including the ground itself. The recent floods that have devastated crops and which will in time to come result in food shortages highlight Saturn’s position of exaltation at this time, as does the ongoing mining fiasco in South Africa. Further supporting testimony is the recent events in Egypt and Libya where the status of traditional despots (Saturn) has been highlighted in a most exaggerated fashion.

Jupiter is known as the Great Benefic, the good guy, as opposed to Saturn who is the Great Malefic, the bad guy. Jupiter is bright and clear, of an Azure colour, travels through the zodiacal belt in 12 years (the 2nd slowest planet after Saturn), and he is the author of temperance, modesty, sobriety and mercy. He rules the liver, the largest organ in the body, the left ear, the lungs, blood and semen, he rules the metal tin and Thursday is his day of rulership (it is always best to ask for a raise or a loan on this day). Jupiter is the opposite of Saturn in that he rules things that are expansive, expensive, luxurious, big and generous; he is also the natural significator of rain and wealth. He is currently direct in motion in Aries.

International impact

While the Grand Conjunction (same degree and sign) occurring every 20 years is the most important aspect between these two planets (the next occurrence is in 2020), we cannot ignore the opposition which brings them together with regret, denoting conflict (the next opposition will occur in 2029). It is extremely difficult to pin point how this will manifest internationally: to predict accurately, the individual birth charts (and other charts such as Aries ingress charts) of countries must be assessed and the celestial opposition has to connect with these nativities. Any astrologers making abstract predictions without doing the work are simply guessing.

On an abstract level however, it is safe to say that the international political tension and economic uncertainty will continue for months to come which is why I have being saying that 2011 would bring more of the same as in 2010, if not worse. It is also safe to say that any major change and expansion of old traditional policies and values that will manifest will do so switfly and brutally.

Jupiter the planet of expansion in the fiery sign of Aries will bring swift and ruthless change to Saturnine structures, including the earth. The possibility of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions exists around this time as do severe electrical thunderstorms.

In mythology Zeus (Jupiter) is the king of the gods and while posited in Aries, a highly combative fire sign, the good fortune which Jupiter bestows will not materialise without a price. He is openly engaged in battle with his father Cronus (Saturn) who was one of the seven Titans. Jupiter overthrew and imprisoned Saturn, so this open conflict cannot bode well while the battle wages. Saturn is associated with the letter of the law and is the archetypal taskmaster: as I stated in my 2011 forecast, the adage of not throwing the baby out with the bath water will hold true for 2011, with the baby being either the old, with its firm, solid and secure parameters (Saturn) or the new which possibly still has to define its boundaries (Jupiter). 

Impact on South Africa

In South Africa's nativity Jupiter is Lord 1, meaning he rules the first house as Sagittarius is on the cusp of the Ascendant. Does this Saturn/Jupiter opposition connect with the birth chart in any way using the technical methodologies required to attain judgement? The opposition perfects when Jupiter is at 14 degrees of Aries and Saturn at 14 degrees of Libra: this transiting opposition does not connect bodily to the birth chart of South Africa in a specific manner. But, the antiscion (mirror image of the planets) of this opposition, is posited square the Ascendant/Descendant axis of South Africa's chart, sort of where the Midheaven ought to be.

The Midheaven is the public persona of the individual or its public accolades; simply put, it is any notoriety or fame achieved through public interaction and engagement with the world at large. It is also the government and its leader. Whether or not this will have bearing remains to be seen as it doesn't specifically connect with a natal body - but common sense dictates that South Africa, especially with Jupiter being its main significator, cannot escape the global events unscathed. Companies and individuals who use (traditional) astrologers to plot the way forward in order to make prudent decisions would do best to investigate if and how this opposition will affect them personally within the greater scheme of things.

The Sun: On 20 March 2011 at 23:21 GMT the Vernal or March equinox 

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the Sun being vertically above a point on the Equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, the night and day are approximately equally long. It may be better understood to mean that latitudes + L and - L north and south of the equator experience nights of equal length. (Wikipedia). At the equinox, the length of the day is equal to the length of the night.

This Vernal or March equinox symbolises a time of death and rebirth, a period of new beginnings and change and offers great opportunities to start afresh. Just as we ‘spring clean' in the southern hemisphere when it is the Autumnal or September equinox, so too are we able to apply that principle at this time. Using the energy of Mars who will have exited combustion, this is an ideal opportunity to clear any debris from our lives on all levels – spiritually, emotionally and physically; the effort invested in this soul-searching and subsequent action to correct any imbalances in our lives, will be well worth it.

Examples of importance attached to the Vernal or March equinox:

• The March equinox marks the first day of various calendars including the Iranian calendar and the Bahá'í calendar. The Persian (Iranian) New Year's festival of Nowruz is celebrated then. According to the ancient Persian mythology Jamshid, the mythological king of Persia, ascended to the throne on this day and each year this is commemorated with festivities for two weeks. These festivities recall the story of creation and the ancient cosmology of Iranian and Persian people. It is also a holiday for Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Turkey, Zanzibar, Albania, and various countries of Central Asia, as well as among the Kurds. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday, it is also a holy day for adherents of the Bahá'í Faith and the Nizari Ismaili Muslims.
• Sham El Nessim was an ancient Egyptian holiday which can be traced back as far as 2700 B.C. It is still one of the public holidays in Egypt. Sometime during Egypt's Christian period (c. 200-639) the date moved to Easter Monday, but before then it coincided with the vernal equinox.
• The Jewish Passover usually falls on the first full moon after the Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox, although occasionally (7 times every 19 years) it will occur on the second full moon.
• The Christian churches calculate Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. The official church definition for the equinox is March 21; however, as the Eastern Orthodox Churches use the older Julian calendar, while the Western Churches use the Gregorian calendar, both of which designate March 21 as the equinox, the actual date of Easter differs. The earliest possible Easter date in any year is therefore March 22 on each calendar. The latest possible Easter date in any year is April 25.
• World Citizen Day occurs on the March equinox.

Mercury turns retrograde on 31 March 2011

The 29th and 30th are a vulnerable time when he is stationary retrograde prior to turning retrograde on the 31st. If you need to sign documents or prepare extensive documentation it is best that you do so prior to this time. Mercury rules a Wednesday so do remember that this is always a positive day for attending to Mercurial matters. Mercury, as the planet of articulation and communication, conjuncts Uranus on the 9th.

We can expect to see sudden change or separation on some level in these realms when this happens, as well as to his natural rulerships: the IT world, the media, transport and currency. Mercury delights in windy, stormy and violent weather as well as in earthquakes in hot countries. Weather patterns pertaining to this could be affected while he is in conjunction to Uranus.

New Moon in March 2011 is on the 4th and Full Moon is on the 19th

In a Discovery Channel programme on the Moon and her effects on earth, policemen and doctors interviewed reported an increase in crime and crime-related injuries at Full Moon. Their conclusion was that yes, the Moon does have an effect on people and causes strange behaviour. As they are not astrologers, the subtle understanding of this is bypassed: as we know, the planets have no effect on us at all, not even the Moon.

Her proximity to earth affects the vast water mass on earth but the liquid in our bodies is so minimal in comparison that there can be no effect. The symbolism is that at Full Moon she is in direct opposition to the Sun; as oppositions bring regrets the manifestation of man's desire nature, full blown and displayed at this time, opposes the will of the Lord of Light. The desire nature feeds the basal natures of man – debauchery and immoral behaviour, which no doubt can lead to crime and related injuries if allowed to manifest without restriction.