During the past few years, astrology seems to have found its way onto the internet, and its credibility has been declining since. Despite the hilarious Instagram meme pages, the release of the fascinating app Co–Star, and Vin Diesel’s memorable line on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, “you don’t know your rising, bro?”, astrology still isn’t for everyone. But regardless of your stance on the stars, there’s one thing I think we can all agree on: this year has been a bit of a disaster. And what’s more, the stars predicted it. That’s right— astrologers have been anticipating the chaos of 2020 for years, due to the major transits that are blessing us this year, but they could never be sure exactly how to predict these “unprecedented times”. Now, I know the year is almost over, and we’ll be bloody glad to see the back of it, but we can still look back and see how the planets have played their part (or ruined our lives; take your pick) during this astrologically packed year.
So, I’m here to give you a rundown of the key transits of 2020, to offer you a little bit of hope for the remainder of this strange year.
Key Transits of 2020:
Jan 12th — Saturn conjunct Pluto: 2020 started with a bang with this extremely rare conjunction. So rare, in fact, that this is the first time these planets have met at the same degree in 38 years (translation: Pretty. Big. Deal). Saturn, the planet of restriction and karma, coupled with Pluto, the planet of transformation and rebirth, equals a painful but freeing clear-out of the old. Fun fact: this conjunction occurred in 1914 (the start of WW1) and in 1982, amidst the AIDS crisis, so this year was cursed from the start.
March 21st — Saturn entered Aquarius: Any avid astrology fan knows that Aquarius is the sign of innovation and new ideas, so when Saturn is in this sign its focus is on changing social structures for the better, and we get the chance to re-evaluate the structure of our own lives. (Is it a coincidence that this occurred two days before lockdown was announced in the UK? I think not). It stayed in this sign until July 1st, and it will be back in Aquarius on December 17th, where it will stay until March 2023.
June 5th, June 21st, July 5th— Eclipse season: I won’t go into too much detail about the individual eclipses, but what you need to know is that there are seven eclipses in 2020, which *shock* is the maximum amount of eclipses there can be in a year. Eclipses bring drama and impulsive decisions, and they also spark our destiny; what happens during eclipse season was going to happen anyway (if that makes you feel any better).
Eclipses also open our eyes to reality, and in the case of 2020, and specifically the Black Lives Matter movement, the spotlight has been shone more prevalently onto the oppressive systems and racial injustice which are still deeply embedded in the nations of the world, so it makes sense that many protests were happening during that time.
May 13th- June 29th — Mars in Pisces: The planet of action moved into the empathetic sign of Pisces in mid-May, 12 days before George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police and the BLM movement saw a global uprising in protest of the police brutality and systemic racism which allowed the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many other innocent black people to occur. Mars in Pisces urged people to see the situation from a human perspective- to have some empathy- and made us question how we treat each other.
Sept 9th -Nov 13th — Mars retrograde in Aries: If 2020 hasn’t put enough of a downer on everyone’s lives already, this transit is sure to suck the last bit of motivation out of you and leave you wondering “Why am I even doing this degree?”, “Why spend all day watching pre-recorded lectures, when my bed and Netflix exist?”. Well, you’re not alone, because the planet of aggression, action and passion is currently in a two-month retrograde in its favourite sign, Aries, meaning energy levels are low (yes, even lower than before), getting motivated is a struggle, and anger management may be necessary. So, crank up your self-care routine for the next few weeks- it’s not going to be easy.
Oct 13th-Nov 3rd— Mercury retrograde in Scorpio & Libra: Oh look, it’s everyone’s favourite transit—not. Mercury Rx has earned quite the reputation for the havoc it creates surrounding all things related to communication, technology and travel. So, the normal advice applies to this three-week period: back-up that assignment, check for traffic before leaving for the day, and try to stay out of any petty arguments. To flow with the Scorpio energy, it’s best to retreat when problems arise instead of reacting straight away. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “is there any good news in this article?”. Well, the answer is yes: this is the last Mercury Rx of 2020. We’re nearly there.
Dec 17th— Saturn enters Aquarius: After being in Capricorn since 2017 and bringing to light social inequalities, faulty governmental systems and oppressive leaders, and making a quick stop in Aquarius in March before a gruelling retrograde in Capricorn, Saturn FINALLY stays put in revolutionary Aquarius for the first time in 26 years! This will bring about global changes, including new laws and technological advancements, and world leaders will be held accountable. But since Saturn is the sign of accountability, we will have to work for the changes ahead and keep in mind how our own beliefs may be preventing further growth, both personally and within society.
Dec 21st — Jupiter conjunct Saturn: Finally, the light at the end of this dark, twisted tunnel otherwise known as 2020. This event has been well-awaited by many astrologers for some time, so much so that it has its own nickname: The Great Conjunction. Sounds pretty special, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is: this is their closest conjunction since 1623! There has been tension building throughout the year leading up to this event, as a new era is surfacing whilst old ideas and structures are resurfacing and collapsing. In other words, the year isn’t over yet (re: The U.S. presidential election and Boris’ ever-confusing, ever-changing lockdown rules), but there’s a purpose behind it all, I promise.
This has been a year of multiple rare planetary transits, and even the stubbornest of non-believers can’t deny the accuracy of the stars of 2020. This year more than ever, it seems that astrology has provided a lot of people with a bit of encouragement to make it through these hard times—one site, Medium Chat, found a 104% increase in horoscope enquiries since lockdown was announced in March. So, whether you’re still suspicious of the craft or are feeling as confident as ever in the magic that is astrology, I ask of you one thing: remember that 2020 has been an anomaly year and in just over two months we will get a planetary reset, so let’s use it to kickstart the changes necessary for a better world. (Also, we’re all a bit of a mess right now, so take it easy on yourself, okay?).
Words By: Olivia Flower
Edited By: Nina Bitkowska