2020’s Winter Solstice Rare Planetary Alignment

Like the Halloween full moon, 2020’s Winter Solstice will bring a rare astronomical event too: a planetary alignment between Jupiter and Saturn. But that’s not the only rarity that’s happening with the Great Conjunction.

So what makes this alignment so special? What are Jupiter and Saturn’s significance from an astrological perspective? Let’s take a look.

2020’s Winter Solstice Jupiter and Saturn Alignment Not Social Distancing

As Rice University astronomer Patrick Hartigan said in a USA Today article, an alignment between these two particular planets is rare anyway, happening about once every 20 years.

However, he further explained “…this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another. You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.”

That’s almost 800 years ago. (794 to be exact.)

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and the fourth brightest in the night sky. (The Sun, the Moon, and Venus, respectively, are brighter.)

In astrology, Jupiter is the ruling planet of the signs Sagittarius and Cancer. It’s viewed as the “king” of the other planets and also the planet of luck. Overall, Jupiter is considered a “benefic” planet, meaning one having favorable influence.

Some of the things Jupiter influences include growth, expansion, healing, prosperity, and miracles. It also governs long distance and foreign travel, big business and wealth, higher education, religion, and the law. Freedom and exploration, as well as gambling and merrymaking, are urges often felt thanks to Jupiter’s influence.

Saturn

Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system.

In astrology, it rules Capricorn. Saturn is not a benefic planet. It’s definitely malefic, often called the taskmaster of the planets. It teaches lessons –usually hard ones– and doles out karma. Whenever Saturn’s around be prepared to learn some hard truths and reap what you’ve sown.

It’s associated with focus, precision, nobility, ethics, civility, lofty goals, career, great achievements, dedication, authority figures, stability, virtues, productiveness, destiny, structures, protective roles, balance, and conservation.

What will it mean when Jupiter and Saturn align?

It’s called a Great Conjunction because Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets.

They’ll look like they’re overlapping and creating a rare “double planet” effect. Some are calling it the “Christmas star” or “Star of Bethlehem.” (Maybe a Great Conjunction did happen and caused the bright light seen in the sky that’s mentioned in the nativity story?)

As Astrology.com put it: “When Jupiter and Saturn come together there is both the intensity of old forms dying as well as the fertility of new growth beginning to take shape.” And, “…we need the inspirational revitalization of Jupiter to mediate the negative side of Saturn that can bring fear over limitations and obstacles and lead to depressive stagnation.”

The Element: Something Else Rare About the Great Conjunction

The other major difference with this Jupiter and Saturn Great Conjunction has to do with the element that it will be in. This year marks a move into a new one.

Great Conjunctions stay in the same element for about 200 years or so. They happened in water signs from the start of the 15th century to the 17th century. They were in fire signs from the 17th century until the start of the 19th century, 1802. Then, for the last 218 years, they’ve been in earth signs.

However, during 2020’s Winter Solstice on December 21, they’ll unite in Aquarius, an air sign. That’s the first time that’s happened in about 600 years.

End of One Era, Dawn of a New One

On October 29, 2019, Astrology.com published “The 2020 Great Conjunction: Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius.”

That was well before 2020’s chaos started to ensue. And that’s why I found the last paragraph of their article so interesting. Perhaps even prophetic?

Thus 2020 is at the end of a two-hundred-year era of Jupiter and Saturn uniting in earth signs. While the earth element signifies focus on material security and consolidation of resources that is resistant to change, the era of air will bring disruption to established orders and dramatic changes in collective ideas and the way we communicate. Vitally, not only will Jupiter and Saturn be uniting in Aquarius, they will also be forming a catalytic square aspect with Uranus in Taurus. At this pivotal moment in our journey, the lightning bolts of Jupiter and Uranus will not only bring down old societal structures but will also impel us to release old personal dreams and drama we have been attached to. There will be new challenges and unknown potential arising as we begin a new era of Jupiter and Saturn that we will need to make space for in our lives. During 2020 ask yourself what you need to leave behind and what you truly desire to carry forward.

Basically, 2020’s Winter Solstice is going to shift us whether we like it or not. Into what? I don’t know. Something new. Something unknown. Maybe that’ll even feel a little bit scary.

But maybe that’s also what all of 2020’s calamity has been prepping us for? I’m both nervous and excited for whatever changes are ahead. What about you?

Check-In

Whether you believe in the astrology of Jupiter and Saturn aligning or not, are you interested in the event from an astronomy perspective? Are you curious to see just how bright both planets will appear on December 21?