The Call of the Triffids
On July 17th we have a very powerful New Moon in Cancer, a cardinal (action oriented) sign. This New Moon squares the nodal (future destiny) axis which, just an hour and a half later, changes from the fixed signs of Taurus/Scorpio to the Cardinal signs of Aries/Libra. The Taurus/Scorpio axis is slow, deep and steady with the accent on finance and values versus resources. The Aries/Libra axis is more about me versus you, war versus peace and, like the New Moon, is in cardinal signs and, therefore, favours action. Additionally, the New Moon activates all the outer planets (and therefore the collective), with harmonious aspects to Uranus and Neptune, and an opposition (not so harmonious) to Pluto. However, with all the outer planets currently retrograde, we may well be going back over old ground. Decisions, actions or events are likely to hold an energy that could have a profound effect on the collective, particularly as the Aries solar eclipse of April 20th is retriggered. The Moon is also ‘out of bounds’, which means she behaves in a bit more of a feisty ‘maverick’ fashion.
There are no planets in the Air element at this New Moon so we may find that Reason and Wisdom are missing right now - although many would argue that both went AWOL some time ago. The element of Air represents our ability to stand back and take an overview of a given situation, so a lack of Air may render us much more susceptible to fake news and false flags. If we are feeling the effects of a power force, then Power without the balance of Wisdom and Reason, becomes a very dangerous thing – as do actions and decisions without Wisdom and Reason also. As I write this mainstream news is reporting on how AI can produce such a good deep fake of a person in terms of their facial features and voice that even a family member could be fooled. AI for me is still a tale of two halves - one of positivity and growth if used responsibly for society, but also of potential misery.
Astrology primarily studies cycles, but we astrologers must also be ‘whol-istic’ in our approach to ensure we look at the whole cycle and not just the apparent strength of one dominant main aspect. The universe is always interlocking and interconnected, holding the energy of a background context apparent within the thinking of the collective.
At a New Moon the Sun and Moon sit together – the Sun representing the leaders and the Moon the people, women in general, the family unit. If we overlay the chart for this July New Moon against the chart for the United Kingdom we see the activation of the 10th house of government, the monarchy and our image portrayed to the rest of the world. The nodal axis of Aries/Libra activates the UK first house of the body politic vis a vis other nations. Where do we capitulate or compromise too much as a nation (Libra)? How do we go forward alongside our world partners (Aries)? How do we balance so called global needs vis a vis the needs of the nation as a whole?
This New Moon marks the beginnings of a new cycle of Jupiter and Uranus. Although not exact until April of next year, the gap between the two planets now begins to close - it is at just over ten degrees which in geo-political astrology is in the boundaries of a conjunction. This meeting between the two planets will complete the cycle that began in 2010 which kicked off with a square from Pluto, potently ushering in a period of political turmoil and revolutions, together with scientific innovations and breakthroughs. It began with violent protests around the world - anti-government protests in Thailand, anti-austerity protests in Greece and most importantly the Arab Spring which spread throughout the Middle East. The upcoming conjunction occurs not long after a total solar eclipse in cardinal Aries.
Jupiter/Uranus cycles correlate with breakthroughs and discoveries in science, technological innovations and with new ideas, rebellions and protests in political and social arenas bringing new beginnings. At the beginning of the last cycle we saw the creation of the first human embryo using the DNA of three people, whilst US scientists created the first artificial life form – the first fully functional synthetic living cell. The Hadron Collider at CERN also began its first experiments with proton beams and the first solar powered plane made a 24-hour flight. Bitcoin began just before the start of the last Jupiter/Uranus cycle – very interesting as we approach a period of potential central bank digital currency alongside digital identity. Jupiter and Uranus began the last cycle at the significant global point of 0 Aries, where in 2026 we will see the conjunction of Saturn Neptune. Anything at 0 degrees of a cardinal sign such as Aries holds a deep worldwide significance and indeed many events have occurred to change our world. Pluto was at the time in early Capricorn, a period that is also coming to an end. Pluto’s 14 year stay there will have revealed the rise of the corporatisation of our lives and its corruption, resulting in an unprecedented control of government policies by corporates and industry.
What might this conjunction next year mean for us in the UK as well as for the wider world? Let’s first strip back to the basic archetypal meanings. Jupiter signifies benevolence, the desire for abundance, questing, growth, the search for meaning in life and expansion. On the downside though it can signify arrogance, self-importance, extravagance and excess.
Uranus signifies the alien, the unexpected, disruption, the principle of change, contrariness, science, revolution, liberation, innovation. Where we see Uranus we see excitement, an ‘electricness’ and an unpredictability. Jupiter always expands whatever he touches whilst Uranus’ directness and honesty can often be disruptive energies all by themselves. However, it can also encourage over expansion or taking things too far, but always as an ‘electric’ fast moving energy whose suddenness takes people by surprise.
Each cycle builds on the last, ideas cross fertilise, and innovations lead on to further innovations. The conjunction of 1775 saw the beginnings of the American revolution. As Jupiter and Uranus meet, Pluto will have returned to Aquarius - the last Pluto cycle in Aquarius saw the beginnings of the French Revolution. France in particular has a very revolutionary feel at the moment as protestors spill out in the streets to make their displeasure known. So will this new Jupiter/Uranus cycle spark a sudden escalation in the war within Russia/Ukraine or maybe somewhere new? The war in Ukraine is another disruptive energy, particularly when there seems no desire for peace. Consider that the USA is planning to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs, a munition that has been banned around the world because its barbaric effects can last for generations. These cluster bombs can lie dormant for years – in Lebanon for instance and still in Laos people are maimed or killed by the leftovers from the Vietnam War. The financial gains are many though, judging by the recently well attended Ukraine recovery conference here in London.
Jupiter and Uranus will meet in the sign of Taurus, a fixed sign signifying values, finance, currency, the earth, nature, fertility. Both Jupiter and Uranus were seen as gods of the skies so at the most extreme we could see something of an extra-terrestrial nature or an event emanating from the atmosphere or some kind of natural disaster involving the earth, such as volcanic eruption or earthquake. The Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in the UK highlights the 8th house of finances and crisis, and we can see how digital currency coupled with digital identity could disrupt individual finances, particularly if some kind of social credit were to be adopted. Cryptocurrency in general is a disruptive energy to how banking and finances have been carried out for some time.
As Jupiter and Uranus meet next year, Pluto will re-enter the sign of Aquarius, a significator of the sudden eruption of AI in the form of ChatGPT. AI will for sure be very disruptive to society, particularly as a reliance on the role of the human will keep on diminishing in more areas than we can imagine. In my humble opinion Jupiter Uranus together also signifies a society that is very entitled in its desires and in its opinions – possibly almost to the point of fanatical. The Bible documents a time when ‘people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money … boastful, proud, abusive’.[1] Schooled, almost fanatical opinions which are backed up by media have the power in themselves to become extremely disruptive – for example opinions on climate change seem completely unshakeable. And we see Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto in 2024 all in Fixed immovable signs. Whoever controls the media controls the minds but, if those minds are lacking in Wisdom and Reason, humanity has a serious problem.
I tend to forget the plot of books once I have read them, but one that I remember vividly from my earlier years is John Wyndham’s post-apocalyptic novel The Day of the Triffids.[2] I recently re-read it and found that its meaning actually felt even more poignant now - much more of a warning. The novel was written in 1951 just as the Green Revolution was beginning. To satisfy the growing population’s need for food in a world where demand was outstripping supply, a type of carnivorous plant was ‘bred’ to provide very high-quality oils. These plants did not need a rooting system but instead were supported by three ‘legs’ which also allowed them to move – they were called triffids. The triffids also had the potential to deliver a sting that could lash out and be fatal to humans. Some were kept enclosed on triffid farms, but seeding occurred via exploding pods allowing eventual global spread. However, no one considered what the results of such genetic modification could be, especially the potential of coinciding with a future catastrophic event creating a ‘perfect storm’, instead concentrating on the yield return from the high value oils the triffids produced – only money mattered. When Saturn entered Pisces I wrote on the consequences of science without morality. Saturn is essentially a very moral planet, but in Pisces issues of undermining, deception and confusion could creep in, resulting in the potential for the negative side of Saturn that seeks authority and control to take over. As I said at the time - Just because we can, should we?
In the novel some kind of ‘celestial event’ occurred, which could have been natural or could have been deliberate, man/extra-terrestrial made. Those who watched the ‘event’ were rendered blind by the incredible lights of this ‘celestial event’ and at the same time a plague/entero-type virus hit wiping out more of humanity. Survivors began to group together in communities, some sighted and some blind, but then had to battle the triffids who appeared to become bolder and more ‘intelligent’ in terms of their actions and their attacks on survivors. The triffids also appeared to develop a kind of language between themselves that was unexpected. Anyone else think this sounds a bit like AI?
Mars moves to oppose Saturn in this New Moon chart, perhaps heralding the Age of the Machine. A focal Pluto is symbolic of the ‘nuclear’ warning, whilst planets in Pisces ‘muddy’ the waters. But with the Moon and then the nodes all in cardinal (action) signs, we appear to be at a critical pivotal point. With no real desire for peace talks whatsoever in Ukraine - in fact it seems more the opposite - then it would not take much to trigger this scenario into something unthinkable. However, I am not sure the public would have the stomach for a nuclear escalation – I can’t quite say the same for the leaders.
A New Moon in Cancer is symbolic of women in general who have campaigned successfully to increase their influence on society. However, this risks being demolished. Women’s body parts, where a vagina becomes just a ‘bonus’ or ‘front hole, appear a symptom of a world where incredibly it is seemingly so difficult to define what a woman is - something that was so easy and straightforward until now. The word mother becomes replaced by birthing parent and now it is seemingly possible for a man to both menstruate and give birth. What is most incredulous is that this is happening with the very participation of women who seem unable to speak up on this matter, effectively meaning that they are taking part in their own destruction (Pluto opposite the New Moon square the nodes).
This New Moon is at a pivotal degree. 22 degrees of a Cardinal sign appears to be a point that heralds turning point events and this New Moon is just two degrees away. In October this year we have a solar eclipse at 21 degrees of Libra aligning with the nodal axis and squaring Pluto, so there is a lot more emphasis on the notion of events that have a strong likelihood of affecting our future lives, particularly as we move forward towards 2025/6 when a new energy comes into play with so many planets in early degrees of their signs.
This New Moon sits with Fixed Star Pollux bringing, according to Bernadette Brady, a focus on the shadowy or difficult side of issues; understanding or wisdom may only be gained through pain or angst.[3] And indeed, using Moon Phases techniques, we may not see the true climax of the events augured until the beginning of January 2025, which suggests that we must go through whatever the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction has in store for us as we approach some kind of new beginning. We have a banking and industrial cabal seeking to control society on a digital level and we have AI indicated by Pluto in Aquarius facilitating this. Behind all this we have the background of confusion and deception indicated by Neptune and Saturn in Pisces. One thing leads to another and, whilst the future informs the present, what happens next depends on choices we make now - and that is dependent on the level of consciousness we bring to bear on the present.
Adding to the idea that we are entering a more ‘active’ period, our Sun is also becoming more active. During this last Jupiter/Uranus and Pluto cycle our Sun has been unusually quiet. However, sunspot activity appears to be returning to a much higher level – a more active Sun = a more active life on Earth because the Sun gives us life in many many ways. Does this mean that the Sun as in leaders will prove more active also? The fictional post-apocalyptic storm written about in Day of the Triffids reflected the collision of events that created a perfect storm leading to a catastrophic wipe out of humanity. Maybe the author was writing a fictional instance where the Sun exploded with such force that a geo magnetic storm created unprecedented complex auroras. What ‘perfect storm’ of events might come together to affect the future of humanity today? In the novel people were rendered physically blind – analogously where might we be psychologically ‘blinded’ to present-day events, unable to make wise decisions?
[1] 2 Timothy 3:2
[2] John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Penguin
[3] Bernadette Brady, Star and Planet Combinations, The Wessex Astrologer, 2008.