A lot of astrologers have noticed a correlation between the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn and the spread of COVID-19. I think there is a lot of practicality and usefulness that comes out of these observations. In identifying the main energetic archetypes, themes, and conditions of this world event, we get a sense of its innate nature. Understanding the nature of anything allows us to approach it with intention, rather than being thrust upon it without a clue of what to expect. In many ways, capturing the astrological associations of the pandemic is similar to the articles we see with analyzed data and statistics. It gives us an opportunity to consider how this might unfold in the future, and what to do in preparation.
So with that said, it is crucial to know that at the core of this pandemic is Saturn.
Saturn is a planet of separation, distance, and boundaries. In traditional terms, it is considered to be malefic. The hardships of Saturn is found in the oppression of boundaries, the obstacle of distance or separation, the pain of endings. Saturn is slow moving, it takes almost 30 years to cover all 12 signs of the zodiac, and so when Saturn makes an impact on us, it is felt for years at a time. In this sense, the effect of Saturn is often slow, subtly breaking down or limiting something, quietly reducing reducing reducing until something is erased.
We often see Saturn transits come up through deterioration, letting the weakness of our lives crumble as we develop time-tested practices to work through loss and heaviness.This is a planet of grief, grieving, endings, death, decay, and time.
It is also a planet of reality and that which exists in this 3-D world. It is a material kind of planet which identifies what is real to all. In this sense, Saturn is also a planet of the masses. It considers all people and beings in the world, Saturn looks at each of us with the same gaze.
When we see Saturn exalted or dignified in a chart, there is usually a lot of personal hardship or strictness that a person will go through in the first half of life - they are forced to face certain realities. Eventually a person with dignified Saturn learns to embody or work with the Saturnian boundaries, and it becomes a lasting part of their identity expression.
There are many iterations of Saturn, and in all of our charts, Saturn is creating hardship for us in some part of our lives. We’ve all learned how to face reality in some way - many of us have faced impossible obstacles and even death.
Are you starting to see a pattern now?
Saturn is hard to work with, but work with it we must.
So this is what the energy of COVID-19 carries. And everywhere, we can sense the worldwide panic, the anxiety, the fear. These are also iterations of Saturnian energy - the way fear cuts us off from joy, the way panicked masses deplete resources, the way oppressive leaders and systems limit accessible resources to those in need.
In response, we can take measures to respond to the Saturn energy:
Isolation. Saturn loves distance and boundaries. In creating physical space between yourself and everyone else, you are calling on Saturn’s protective qualities rather than it’s oppressive qualities.
Calm. Saturn is happiest when there is stillness and peace. In finding ways to develop a calm and peaceful environment within your self and your home, you are able to create a sanctuary for Saturn, perhaps putting you in Saturn’s good graces.
Protecting and supporting homeless, poor, disabled, and marginalized folks. These folks can be considered “Saturn’s Children” because they are faced with many Saturnian experiences like misfortune, lack, and oppression. By offering your support to Saturn’s children, you are offering support to Saturn, putting you in Saturn’s good graces. This is most effective on Saturn’s day (Saturday), and best to be given directly to the person rather than to an organization.
Making time to pray or meditate (clearing the auric field). Saturn’s connection to the daytime (diurnal sect) means that it carries spirit in it. Spirit is the motivation we have to keep going, to make the most of our days, to develop our souls and minds. If we consider the ways Spirit can be limited effectively, we might think of deep meditation, prayer, and spiritual cleansing. This can also look like: cleaning your home as a metaphorical act of releasing inner toxins, doing yoga that focuses on releasing toxins, purging your mind by free-writing whatever comes up, and crying.
Do all these things with everyone in mind. Keep the global reality in your headspace as you wipe away fear, create healthy boundaries, nurture peace in your heart, and support those in need. This is the best way to move through a Saturn experience.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ISOLATING & STUCK AT HOME.
As a child of Saturn, I’ve spent a lot of time alone at home, in avoidance of the outside and too much physical contact. As a result, I’m sharing some of my favorite tools to get you through a lot of days, weeks, & months in isolation:
Carve out some time each morning, as soon as you wake up, to create an anchor.
This might look like pulling a daily card, reading a daily horoscope, 5 minutes of meditation or stretching, drinking your morning beverage in a quiet reflection, morning pages (writing whatever is in your brain with the goal of filling a certain number of pages), taking a photo, etc.
The most important element to this is that it is reflective so that you get a sense of your baseline each morning. In doing this, you get a sense of where you are - like a personal status update. It helps you know more about the unfolding energy of the day, and allows you to intentionally respond to how you feel rather than waking up and immediately moving into a space of reaction.
This could even be checking your temperature and recording it, getting a sense of your bodily environment.
One of the most positive effects of anchoring is after several days, weeks, months, years of doing it, you really get a sense of your personal needs and mental health (I’ve found that jumping straight onto social media, news, emails is often not helpful and doesn’t give any sense of true lasting satisfaction or grounding).
CREATE UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTS.
Throughout the day, we do a lot of things: work, play, eat, and sleep. Without creating distinct environments for each activity, it is easy to lose your sense of groundedness and connection to yourself and the world. It can distort the mind and leave you feeling untethered.
Creating unique environments can happen through visual, auditory, olfactory, or other sensory experiences. This can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be - I think the important part of this is that every activity transition feels like a noticeable shift to you.
I’ve found that the more external the change is, the more effective it is - because it turns into an autopilot.
For instance - I only use my bed for sleep or resting. If I am having a hard time mentally transitioning to restfulness, I’ll also light some incense. For me, incense is always for resting or clearing, and nothing else. Another example - I turn on a light or light a candle when I’m writing/working/intellecting in order to notify my mind to focus on the task. When I’m done working, I turn off the light or blow out the candle. I have a specially designated lamp & candle for this. And one more example - for play, I start off with gratitude and write a gratitude list. This opens my heart and gives me reasons to smile regardless of the day.
Media engagement is really important for gathering information, connecting to community, and expressing yourself. I find that cutting it out altogether can leave you in the dark on a lot of important intellectual and social experiences.
That being said, it is crucial to limit media interaction in order to process bodily experiences.
The body moves slower than the mind. The body carries a lot of old baggage that a lot of people don’t really have the resources to process. Whoever is reading this is probably carrying years-old bodily experiences that are still impacting you today, and that is normal.
By spending a lot of time mentally distanced from the body, focusing on information and data and work and socializing, we are giving our bodies a lot of processing to do in a very short amount of time. The body needs space, time, relaxation to fully comprehend things.
I like to think of the body like the stars we see at night. These stars are lightyears away, completely different than what we see. Knowing they are different from what we can visually experience doesn’t change the actual experience of their brightness. It only adds a layer of awareness.
Likewise, the body itself is playing catch up all the time, always years and years away from the reality of the moment. This is why meditation is hard, and being present is work, and having self-compassion is a life-long process. Even when we have developed the skills for body-awareness, the body always surprises us with more revelations, more unfolding.
So, one super kind thing you can do for yourself in moments of heavy isolation, is to learn how to be alone with yourself, how to witness the body. This allows a lot of releasing - crying is one of the most effective stress relievers - and can help clear your mental clutter in the long run.
Limiting social media devices might look like setting restrictions on your apps, creating a curfew for yourself, or defining the maximum amount of hours you spend engaging. I typically try to limit myself to 2 hrs of social media, but do what is realistic for you.
GET A HOBBY THAT ISN’T WORK.
I, myself, am still getting the hang of this one. Currently, I work on coloring books while listening to free audiobooks from the library (which never has anything to do with work or self-improvement). My Capricorn rising always feels so guilty about doing “nothing” because I’m not actively reflecting on inner work nor am I creating anything of use, so what’s the point? BUT, it is actually incredibly helpful for destressing, relaxing, and finding joy. I’ve often finished a coloring page and felt immense pride and a huge boost of confidence that is nearly unmatched by most of my other life experiences. So I keep doing it.
Finding something you can do at home that is exclusively for your pleasure and can be done alone is really helpful in boosting inner joy.
Examples: cooking, dancing, yoga, coloring books, drawing, sketching, singing, poetry, reading, writing, camera-phone photography, knitting, solitaire, crosswords, etc.
I’ve found that physical isolation can lead to social isolation. out of sight out of mind. This is where social media becomes important. It is so valuable to connect with folks, even if only to send a heart emoji or like their tweet.
As someone who is particularly socially anxious, I find that simply commenting on a post or writing a short message of appreciation can be really personally affirming.
It is also important to foster private connections. Connecting with friends via texts, DMing folks online, or if you have a live-in partner or roommate prioritize them. Foster the already good/strong relationships you have. Focus on people who make you feel like you are blooming.
The more you treat your body like an enemy, the harder isolation will be. Working with your body can feel like working with a friend. Don’t discount your own physical presence in your environment. Your body is a crucial part of your life, and by nourishing it you honor yourself with love and care.
If you are sick or unwell, please center your physical healing/rest first. Otherwise, when you can, give your living quarters the magic of attention and investment. Put your clothes away, make your bed, clean your dishes, organize the pillows, open the windows or turn on a fan (get the air moving).
I feel like a space is noticeably lighter and more fluid when you can keep it organized and open. Cleaning it takes this to a whole new level, but it is important to clean only when necessary. I find that obsessive cleaning can put me into a panic, so I give my mind and body the flexibility to say no if that doesn’t feel soothing.
In the panic of pandemic, there can be a sense of urgency. I want to remind you that if you are isolating, there is no where to go and no need to rush there. Remind yourself of this with deep belly breaths, taking time away from your phone or computer, and looking outside the window with a cup of tea or whatever beverage you enjoy.
This is also a really good technique for rationing resources. Indulging yourself with time and attention is extremely powerful when material resources are dwindling.
Please also don’t forget that if you are in need, there are people out in the community (like myself) who are able to offer support and share resources.
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