In the following I will take the perspective of a meta-level. This level is relatively unemotional, but opens up the possibility of an extended perspective. How dangerous the new corona virus is, whether the measures taken are appropriate or not, there is (contradictory) information and opinions upon this subject. Each person can and should follow his/her own assessment.
In connection with the present exceptional situation I am interested in the inner plan, the “divine intention” behind the event. The forces of fate are always revealed through current movements in the sky, the astrological time quality. “As above so below” (Hermes Trismegistos); this is the law of correspondences with which astrology also works.
My questions:
Does the corona pandemic express a higher intention? If so, how does this become astrologically visible?
What happens to us (individually and socially)?
Which old patterns (war, exclusion, blame, isolation) are taking hold – and why?
The following is an astrological-spiritual assessment of these questions.
The spiritual/astrological background of the Corona Pandemic 2019/20
As far as astrology is concerned, collectively significant events are determined by the positions of the signs of the zodiac, aspects and movements of the Transsaturn planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which individually and in relation to each other set epochal markings. These long-term influences are dynamically introduced into the biological, social and spiritual events by the faster planets Saturn and Jupiter. Especially conjunction, opposition and squares between the five planets involved are noticeable triggers. In the current corona situation, remarkable factors are added, which point to a hidden, finely tuned spiritual dimension of the event.
The Pluto-Saturn conjunction in Capricorn, which became exact on January 12, 2020, was described in advance by many astrologers as a threatening quality of time, especially in relation to political, social and economic conditions. As it turns out now – rightly so. The corona pandemic may turn out to be the long awaited/feared system breakpoint. It corresponds in time and content to the expected significance of a Pluto/Saturn conjunction in Capricorn, although the nature of this event is once again surprising. Life is so much more creative than we humans can imagine.
The planet Pluto is associated with subjects of power and powerlessness, of transformation through destruction – all forms of death and loss of control are incumbent on it. Pluto is called the “will of God” and can be unemotional and hard. He is always preparing the ground for the new. His orbital period around the Sun is 248 years.
The planet Saturn stands for structure, limitation, slowdown, fear, caution and control. He points out to mankind everything that needs to be viewed and, if necessary, changed. Even Saturn, superficially seen, is perceived as unfriendly. We look at his effects with a fearful heart. He clearly shows us what needs to be done by suffering from shortcomings or deficiencies. The redeemed version of Saturn expresses itself in maturity, patience, responsibility, perseverance, inner stability and depth. Its orbital period around the Sun is 29 years.
The sign Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign. Capricorn creates framework conditions and structure, being an expression of power and creative force – it is “the law”. Capricorn provides the time and the framework for development and defines limits of what is allowed and is not allowed. This sign favours conservatism and control.
Pluto in Capricorn 2008 till 2024
and the Conjunction with Saturn 2020
In mundane astrology, the sign Capricorn stands for the state, the ruling political and economic system, the law, the power of the government. Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign, and provides real, visible results on the physical plane. Since 2008 and until 2024 the planet Pluto has been passing through this sign. Pluto stands for power as well as for powerlessness, for deep transforming experiences, for destruction of structures that are not worth maintaining because they have survived, and besides, if they are not flexible enough, too rigid, too powerful and not serving life any longer. Pluto is associated with death and transformation. He destroys what, despite all previous efforts by Saturn, may not give way. He embodies the Shiva aspect, the destroyer. With Pluto, there is no choice. Loss of control and liberation of the substance is the result.
7-rays perspective:
The 7 rays are fundamental background influences in creation. Alice A. Bailey has published numerous books on this subject. For those who are not familiar with the 7-rays terminology, the texts in italics below will be incomprehensible. Only so much at this point: Each of the 7 rays reaches the Earth through three signs of the zodiac, i.e. through each sign of the zodiac, between one and three rays are flowing. Every planet is a carrier of at least two rays. Signs are regarded as passive ray containers (background, horizontal) and planets as active ones (foreground, vertical).
Via Capricorn, three of the seven rays reach our planetary system: The 1st ray “Will-Power”, the 3rd ray “Active Intelligence” and the 7th ray “Order, Rhythm, Magic”. This explains the power emanating from Capricorn.
Pluto expresses the 1st ray on the solar-systemic level and the 3rd ray on the planetary-systemic level. The sign Capricorn (rays 1, 3 and 7) and the planet Pluto work closely together! Which may be the reason why the return of Pluto to Capricorn (every 248 years) has always caused systemic upheavals.
Pluto’s return to Capricorn in 2008 was accompanied by the worldwide upheavals caused by the financial crisis. Since then, the financial and economic system is in question, which to this day causes deep insecurity, existential fear and social disintegration. Trust in the international financial system has been massively withdrawn. Unconsciously and collectively, it has been understood that virtual money has no real value. Deep fear/helplessness was and is the consequence, even if mostly repressed.
Global reaction patterns to the financial crisis have run between loss of authority and powerlessness of the state, which can no longer protect its citizens, and the state’s attempt to maintain national interests through manipulation, isolation and authoritarian ruling structures. Both facets correspond to the work of Pluto.
On the other hand, there was and is a worldwide movement, which demands open borders and an appreciative treatment of humans, animals and the environment and, on the economic level, rejects unconditional striving for returns and wants to stop the overheated mega-machine (Occupy Movement 2008, new climate protection movements since 2018, numerous community and networking movements since the turn of the millennium). Astrologically, this “new world” is supported by the revolutionary energy of Uranus in Pisces, Aries and now especially Taurus, while Neptune in Pisces since May 2011 and until 2025 is responsible for the subtle, creeping dissolution of seemingly stable foundations of the society and borders and at the same time plants the longing for a better world into the hearts of people.
Saturn in Capricorn – since 2018
Since January 2018, Pluto’s work in Capricorn has been heading for a climax: the conjunction with Saturn, which has been in Capricorn since the beginning of 2018 and reached Pluto on January 12, 2020. In Capricorn Saturn is particularly powerful because he is the planetary ruler in this sign. Saturn stands for deceleration, limitation, fear, but also for responsibility, authority and – just like Pluto, for death. In the spiritual dimension, he ensures that limitations, hardenings and darkness inevitably become visible to call for insight into that which is inevitable and needs acceptance and corrections – individually and collectively.
7-rays-perspective:
Saturn expresses the 3rd ray on the solar-systemic level and, in relation to the planetary-systemic level of our planet Earth, the 7th ray. So we have Pluto with rays 1 and 3, and we have Saturn with rays 3 and 7. Both planets express exactly rays 1, 3 and 7 dynamically and creatively, which are latently entering our Earth planetary system via Capricorn. This is a very powerful accordance, which releases an enormous power of realization.
The Saturn/Pluto Conjunction in January 2020
The planets Saturn and Pluto actually meet every 35 years in a conjunction. However, in Capricorn, a meeting is extremely rare. Both planets cause the visibility and destruction of surviving structures as combined forces (conjunction). In Capricorn this matter of concern is always opposed by an established system which usually does not want to give way. Saturn alone allows the possibilities of reforms to adapt structures, a society to a new age. If these adjustments are not made, Pluto comes and destroys the obstacles. Whoever does not want to move with the help of Saturn, Pluto will make us move! That is how it is individually and collectively, too.
The last conjunction of Pluto and Saturn in Capricorn took place from 1515 to 1532. In 1517 the Reformation began. As a result, the European system at that time, based on the oppressive power of the church, broke apart. Of course under heavy fights – social revolts (Peasant Wars), inquisition, murder and killing, changes of power. States passed away and were newly created. The result was and is a pluralistic society, the Age of Reconnaissance, the separation of church and state (at least almost…).
The exact triggering of the current conjunction on January 12, 2020 was preceded by a lunar eclipse on January 10th. Eclipses always take place on or near the Lunar Node axis, which at that time was in Capricorn (descending Lunar Node) and Cancer (ascending Lunar Node). Eclipses always bring a shadow aspect into existence, because “the light darkens”. Therefore they have a dubious reputation and were always a “bad omen” in ancient astrology. It is true that they “take the corpses out of the closet”, which is welcomed by all those who do not want corpses in the closet…
Image 1: Pluto Saturn Conjunction
Friday, 10-01-2020, 19:00, CET, Frankfurt (008°41’E/050°07 N)
The lunar eclipse on January 10, 2020 was the appearance of a deep shadow, which should be processed by the simultaneous Saturn-Pluto conjunction (two days of deviation are insignificant). That was and is already very precise and very, very powerful. The good news: At the time of the eclipse, Jupiter was located on the descending Lunar Node, testifying and supporting the divine blessing and the significance of the event. In astrological understanding, the descending Lunar Node stands – in short – for what we have to let go or what falls out of our hands. The ascending Lunar Node stands for what we should hold on to or what we cannot put out of our hand.
In connection with our theme, the “shadow of the ruling system” is symbolised by the descending Lunar Node in Capricorn. With the planets Saturn and Pluto committed to the absolute truth, the pandemic event took its course. This is not the first time, by the way. The “Spanish flu” discussed below was based on similar laws.
In spiritual astrology the axes are always essential. At the beginning of January 2020, when Jupiter, the descending Lunar Node, Sun, Saturn, and Pluto were located in Capricorn, the opposite sign of Cancer became immediately activated as the opposite pole. Because only by including the opposites a space of truth is opened up. Capricorn (the lonely, meagre height) is only possible through the fertile, soft valley (Cancer).
In spiritual astrology Capricorn is not only associated with political rule, worldly power, state and structure, but is also associated with spiritual power, with initiation and peak experience. On a higher turn of the spiral, Capricorn stands for the “community of enlightened thinkers”, which for lack of a better term is also called the “Planetary Hierarchy”, which has accompanied and witnessed the destinies of the planet for eons.
The sign Cancer, on the other hand, stands for “people”, for humanity as a whole, for “place of action”, for incarnation. Cancer stands for Mother Earth, in whose arms all living beings of this planet, all kingdoms of nature have their place. Cancer is the receiving, life-giving, female principle in creation.
The present corona drama takes place in this Capricorn-Cancer polarity. Throughout history, this axis has been activated again and again when major upheavals have taken place – not only during the Reformation. To better understand current events, it is worth taking a look into the past, however, knowing well that history does not repeat itself. We never go round in circles, but are moving in spirals. Let us look back astrologically to a traumatic pandemic of almost exactly 100 years ago and learn to understand the present better
The Spanish Flu
The 1918/19 serious “Spanish flu” occurred under similar conditions as the current corona epidemic 2019/20. In both cases the Cancer-Capricorn axis plays a role – with one important difference. In fact, the Spanish flu met with Pluto in Cancer (loss of control, hopelessness, death) “mankind” (Cancer). Affected were mainly men between 25 and 40 years – i.e. men in their reproductive power (Cancer). The high mortality rate of about 50 million deaths, incidentally, did not begin before the 2nd wave, when transit Jupiter passed over the radix lunar nodal axis/Pluto of the triggering chart in August 1918 – Jupiter here as uncontrolled growth and expansion.
Image 2: Spanish flu – lunar eclipse
Friday, 28-12-1917, 04:30, CET, Frankfurt (008°41‘ E/050°07‘ N)
The first cases of Spanish flu were reported by an American doctor in the first days of January 1918. The flu first spread in American army training camps in the USA. The soldiers brought the flu into the European war 1918, and the importance of this very aggressive flu in ending World War I is disputed. It is undisputed that it first broke out in Europe in the trenches between France and Germany and, with 500,000 to 700,000 cases of German soldiers becoming ill, considerably weakened their military power – crucial in the final phase of the war.
7-rays-perspective:
Pluto, as already mentioned, expresses the 1st ray on the solar-systemic level and the 3rd ray on the planetary-systemic level. Through the sign of Cancer, the 3rd and the 7th rays flow into our system – just as through the sign of Capricorn. Furthermore, through Capricorn the 1st ray of will and power enters our system. Capricorn, Cancer and Pluto work perfectly together: The divine will (Pluto 1st ray) and the plan (Pluto 3rd ray) enter through Cancer (3rd and 7th rays) and Capricorn (1st, 3rd and 7th rays) into the creation and into the physical form/incarnation.
The Plague – the Black Death – 1346 to 1351
Image 3: Spread of the plague in Europe
In this five-year pandemic caused by plague bacteria, up to 1/3 of the European population was killed. An unprecedented event, pure apocalypse, stored in the collective DNA, activated again and again by new outbreaks of plague in the following centuries and transformed into transference of guilt (e.g. persecution of minorities). Even the current corona fear seems to be a result of retraumatization of these “mother of all pandemic fears”.
Are there astrologically visible parallels to the present corona event, the Spanish flu and the plague outbreak? It seems so. Unlike the Spanish Flu and the Corona Flu, no precise date can be determined for the exact outbreak of the plague. The only thing that is clear is that the plague left Asia around 1346 and gradually spread in Europe until 1351 –– according to the speed of travel of humans and rats at that time.
The astrologer searching for correlations might be tempted, due to unclear data, to search until things seem astrologically appropriate. I therefore hesitated to include my observation on the plague outbreak in this text. Nevertheless, I would like to introduce it as a hypothesis, because the connections of the previous events with the Corona presence seem too strong and convincing to me.
Image 4: Plague outbreak 1349 Germany
Tuesday, 30-06-1349, 20:00, LMT, Frankfurt (008°41’E/050°07′ N)
In February 1347 a solar eclipse took place – visible also in the countries from which the new, mutated plague pathogen came at that time (Turkmenistan, China). For the events in Europe, however, the activation of the lunar nodal axis Capricorn-Cancer 1349 was probably again decisive, as well as a lunar eclipse on this axis. Also here a Saturn-Pluto conjunction is found, but in Aries, in square to the lunar nodal axis / lunar eclipse. This conjunction was not exact at the time of the eclipse. However, it was effective within the orbital range of 5° (see graphic), Saturn was retrograde and only in March 1350 the conjunction with Pluto occurred exactly.
This T-square with Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Aries and the lunar nodal axis Capricorn/Cancer has a highly aggressive and transformational potential. From this point of view of mundane astrology, severe violence, war and other deadly events were to be expected. The plague was seen as God’s punishment – concerning this constellation, it is not surprising that the quality of time was interpreted in this way.
7-rays-perspective:
Here we find a concentration of ray 1 (will/power) and ray 7 (order, magic, realization), which reach our planet through Aries and Capricorn. For the 3rd ray, even all three gates are open through this participation of Aries, Cancer and Capricorn. The 3rd ray brings “the plan” intelligently into the world. Pluto as the carrier of the 1st and 3rd rays and Saturn as the carrier of the 3rd and 7th rays are thus once again on their way as immensely powerful agents.
Image 5: Plague outbreak 1349 Germany 30-06-1349, 23:00, LMT,
Frankfurt (008°41’E/050°07’N)
It is most remarkable that when the event happened, three months after the eclipse on the lunar nodal axis Capricorn-Cancer the transit Jupiter passed this point in transit for the first time (September 1349), and then became stationary/retrograde in October. The activation of the lunar nodal axis was repeated twice until June 1350. Jupiter always makes things that he touches to grow, he multiplies and spreads it. From the perspective of spiritually oriented mundane astrology, Jupiter is an expression of the significance and wisdom behind the events.
Jupiterian activity is also remarkable because this Jupiter pattern has been repeated in all three pandemics looked at in this text: “Lunar nodal axis Capricorn/Cancer + eclipse and subsequent spread of the virus/plague bacterium through the influence of Jupiter.”
There is still another astrological parallel between the outbreak of the plague in 1346 and the corona flu in 2020: In both events, Uranus is located in the first degrees of Taurus at the beginning of the outbreak (see images “Plague” and “Corona”). In Taurus, Uranus is questioning the foundations believed to be safe; he literally “is pulling the rug out from under our feet”. He also causes territorial shifts, heat, earthquakes, dissolution/displacement of possessions and values – on all levels.
The Corona Flu 2020
The current corona pandemic is far from being as aggressive as the plague outbreak of 1346 or the Spanish flu of 1918. Although the new corona virus is highly contagious, it will not reach that medical level. It is more likely to be a mild, but highly contagious flu. Dramatization, panic, sensationalism, loss of control and political calculation inflate the situation.
Pluto is not in Cancer – the people are not directly affected. Pluto is in the opposite sign of Capricorn: therefore the elites, the ruling order and established power centres (Capricorn) are affected. Pluto and Saturn “threaten” to destroy them. This creates systemic panic and the unconditional reflex to regain control. The people, humanity, the physical level (Cancer) are only indirectly affected by the infection of the power-economic level and the resulting totalitarian overreactions and propaganda (Pluto). From the medical point of view, all this will be kept within limits – but not from the political and systemic point of view. This is indicated by the agglomeration of Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, Lunar Nodes in Capricorn. Totalitarian intervention of the state, the curtailment of basic rights apparently works relatively easily, if the enemy image is correct (95% agreement, if these statistics are correct). This could be confirmed by the ruling institutions, which have been mobilizing against civilizing tendencies of dissolution for a long time now. It is the dialectic of war that is currently being tried out. But back to the astrological context, which also describes these systemic basic questions.
In the three cases shown (plague, Spanish flu and corona flu) the lunar nodal axis is always involved in the signs Cancer/Capricorn. In each case, lunar eclipses (and solar eclipses 14 days earlier) take place around the time of the first occurrence (see images), whereby collective shadows emerged and are activated.
Interesting in this context is a quote from the Society for German Language: “The corona viruses carry their name because of their appearance. If you look at them under a powerful microscope, structures on the surface of the virus give the impression that it is surrounded by a ring of rays, a so-called corona, as it occurs, for example, during a total solar eclipse”.
Image 6: Corona lunar eclipse – Pluto-Saturn Conjunction, 10.01.2020, 19:00, CET,
Frankfurt (008°, Transit, 02.04.2020
The current corona pandemic in 2020 is the peak of Pluto’s long-standing action in Capricorn since 2008 and until 2024 – triggered by Saturn’s conjunction with Pluto. The international spread of the virus beyond China’s borders is indicated as 12 January 2020, the date of the exact conjunction of Pluto/Saturn. This date marks the beginning of the global spread with the first documented case in South Korea.
As already mentioned, just like during the plague and the Spanish flu, Jupiter is also significantly involved in the distribution of the new corona virus – but this time right at the beginning. On January 10, Jupiter was located on the descending Lunar Node (graphic inner circle). In transit it then passes over Radix-Sun-Saturn-Pluto (outer circle transit Jupiter in red colour). Jupiter recedes in mid-May and crosses the pandemic triggering event two more times until December 2020. With each crossing, the pandemic potential is activated and spread. Thus a 2nd wave in summer and a 3rd wave are expected by December 2020.
In spiritual astrology Jupiter is the messenger of Timeless Wisdom. He stands for meaningfulness and divine guidance. He represents the blessing that is inherent in the event – although perhaps still hidden, and possibly beyond human morality.
In contrast to the Spanish flu, the current corona pandemic almost exclusively affects old, weak and previously ill people (Capricorn stands for old age) – however, to a much lesser extent.
Deeper causes and possible meaningfulness of the pandemic
In addition to the medical/physical component, the corona pandemic has a much stronger emotional and mental dimension. That governments around the world have steered the world into such an existential, dramatic crisis within 12 weeks is not due to current medical effects. The number of (officially) infected and dead people is, for all the drama in the hotspots, relatively low – compared to deaths from the annual flu epidemics (25,000 in 2018) or deaths from resistant hospital germs (up to 20,000 annually). Moreover, mostly old, previously ill people experience a life-threatening course of the disease. When considered from a rational point of view, acceptance of personal restrictions, of suspension of basic rights and economic disaster are incomprehensible.
The entire Western economic, social and political system runs against the brick wall, with previously unimaginable consequences for hundreds of millions of people: Monetary devaluation, existential collapse, poverty, bankruptcies, unemployment, end of cultural experience in the real world, restriction to the digital world, collapse of small, alternative companies, mental state of emergency… All this – just to say it provocatively – so that a few hundred thousands or in extreme cases millions of old people die not now, but a little later?
This view could be seen as polemical, cold and heartless. It touches on a taboo subject, however, and I think it is essential that it be put forward, because the answer is essential: it is natural and perfectly in order for old people to die. Physical life ends with the death of the physical body. Whether the weakened, previously ill person dies of influenza viruses, corona viruses, resistant hospital germs or anything else – is that really important? After all, one has to die of something when the time is up. In our western, materialistic context, the survival of the physical body is placed above everything. The acceptance of death, the willingness to die, is so important. In this world, we are only transients. This is simply not understood enough. It is a taboo to affirm the dying of old, sick people, because it does not really seem to be conceivable that individual existence is possible without a physical body. When the body is used up and is at the end, then it makes sense to take it off and go home.
So why are the politically ruling elites steering towards suicide despite incalculable risks for the elites themselves and for the world?
Thesis: The virus works mainly on the emotional-mental level. Its main effect unfolds on the levels of power, the ruling order, the systemic structures (Pluto in Capricorn). The fear of dissolution of the ruling social order (finances, economy, climate, worldwide mental instability) is immense. It takes only one occasion to declare war on the external enemy. It is about powerlessness, loss of control and the attempt to regain control of the ruling institutions. A reflex! The enemy is unpredictable and lurks everywhere (Pluto), in this case a virus (not Russian, French or Taliban). This makes it much easier.
The corona virus acts like a computer virus – it infects system-relevant software, spreads online (via media, panic and mental pressure), infects connected systems and subsequently causes other computers/programs/system-relevant networks to crash. Loss of control (Pluto/Saturn) is the consequence! The prevailing politics tries to regain control and to react to fear reflexes of the people (Cancer) by empowering laws and regulations (Pluto/Saturn). So far with success. The people (Cancer) follow the authoritarian, totalitarian leadership (Pluto/Saturn). At the same time, the economic foundations of the system break away. A spiral of fear, action and reaction – and possibly unrest may still be pending.
Perhaps in the current corona pandemic we are again dealing with the intervention of a higher power, as we were at the time of the Spanish flu in 1918? The final phase of the First World War, with millions dead in the trenches, was at least shortened by the virus.
And in which war and which final stage of a battle is mankind (Cancer) currently? Mankind, we all are part of and beneficiaries of a destructive system (Pluto/Capricorn). Humanity is at war with Mother Earth (Cancer). The destruction of the basis of life of this planet, the desecration of Mother Earth is progressing massively – in the name of economic growth, consumption, greed, system maintenance and the ruling power (Capricorn). The link of humanity to its origin, to divinity, has been lost.
Up to now, climate change and global warming (no matter what caused it) are unstoppable! A system change? Impossible! Reduction to the essentials, consumption renunciation? That does not work. Now we are forced to do so by a seemingly uncontrollable threat (Pluto/Saturn). Maybe this little corona virus can at least temporarily stop the seemingly unstoppable rattling of the mega-machine and cause us to breathe a sigh of relief and rethink. Or can everything continue as before? Growth, a new I-Phone every year etc. Who knows? And maybe everything will go much faster than we thought and maybe it will take much longer than we can imagine today. Who knows!
What helps? Seeking and living heart contacts, opening up to others, giving compassion, help, enjoying the blue sky, using the local and global breathing space to clear up for yourself: What is actually essential? And: How do I actually want to live?
And: Trust in the wisdom of life and the inner, divine guidance of each individual and the world.
Contact
wbartolain@posteo.de
Sources
Wikipedia, Astro-Wiki (Astrodienst), Horoscope calculations: astrocloud.net
Notes from seminars with Master KPK
Esoteric Astrology Master DK (AAB)
7 Rays by Master EK
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