To the ancients the longest orbits within the solar system were those of Jupiter, 12 years, and Saturn, 30 years. Thus the points at which Jupiter caught up with and passed Saturn marked the greatest super-cycle with which they were able to deal. This phenomenon occurred every 20 years at an advance of about 243°. Therefore, for some 200 years or more (exactly 198 years, 265 days) these conjunctions would recur successively in a Sign of the same element. Thereby every 800 to 960 years it would return in Sagittarius, making the Grand Climactic conjunction which marked supreme epochs in the history of mankind. This conjunction made its reappearance in Sagittarius around the commencement of the Christian era, and again in the eighth and sixteenth centuries, bringing periods of great world-upheaval. For this reason Jupiter and Saturn are called the great chronocrators - a word which does not appear in Webster's Dictionary nor the Encyclopedia Britannica, but about which volumes have been written by astrological authorities.



The 20-year conjunctions are termed minims, or specialis; the 200-year cycle; and the 800-year cycle, maxima, or climacteria. In the series there are ten conjunctions in Signs of the Fire-element, ten in Earth, and so on.

The Jupiter - Saturn conjunct cycle is the longest cycle that doesn't involve the transcendental planets, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto. The entire cycle takes approximately 800 years. The last twenty year cycle in which both planets were conjunct began in the year 2000 (May 28) when both were conjunct in the 23rd degree of Taurus.

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For the last 200 years, the conjunct is happening near the start of the even numbered decades (1901, 1921, 1940, 1961, 1980, 2000, 2020, etc). What do these conjuncts mean?

At the conjunction the tone is set for the "style" of material manifestation and social interaction, the balance of the Jupiter principle and the Saturn principle. The first decade after the conjunction is a period where Jupiter dominates, the "waxing" of Jupiter relative to Saturn. The second decade after the conjunction is the "waning" of Jupiter, where Saturn dominates. Therefore, even decades (1960, 1980, 2000) are more Jupiterian, more open, progressive, humorous, etc. Odd decades (1970, 1990, 2010) tend to be times of consolidation, testing, conservatism, and seriousness. Of course, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto modify this, which can make a decade more open then it would normally be, or more conservative.

The basic groundrules are that social and physical power stems from the element that the Jupiter - Saturn conjunct last took place within. In 1802 was the first conjunction in an earth sign (with a fire conjunct in 1821) followed by earth conjuncts from 1842 to 1980. In 1980 - 1981 were the first air conjuncts at 9 Libra. On May 28 2000, the conjunct was at 22 Taurus 43 and in 2020 it will be at the very start of Aquarius (2020 onwards for at least 100 years in air).

This is the start of a 200-year period of fluidity, of the breaking down of national boundaries, of intellectual capital (rather than physical capital). Even money is on computers, rather than in gold coins and bars that you can hold.

Ever heard of Irish Astrology?

The year 2000 started a 20 year period which will help define the transition from material capital and national boundaries to intellectual capital and cultural boundaries (boundaries based on people being able to "talk the same language").

On a personal level, wherever 22 degrees and 43 minutes of Taurus shows up in your birthmap will be a vibrant "energy source" for the next two decades! You should see that house placement as crucial for your growth along religious, spiritual, philosophical, educational, financial and social pathways.

And if 22+ Taurus conjuncts any one of your natal planets, asteroids or angles of the horoscope, that principle-force-quality will be accentuated to an extraordinary degree. Make sure you also watch any placements 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees or 180 degrees away from 22+ Taurus, as those zodiacal positions will also be galvanized.