the lineup this spring is bull
by Jill Kirby | 5 april, 2000

On the 3rd of May this year there will be an exceptional lineup of planets just before the New Moon. All of the planets from Mercury out to Saturn, as well as the Sun and Moon, will be in the sign of the Bull, Taurus. It is a very rare cosmic event to have all seven of these heavenly bodies occupying just one-twelfth of the Zodiac. The only other time it has happened in the last 500 years was in early February 1962, at the Solar Eclipse in Aquarius. One fellow Astrologer has described the effect of these seven planets pulling in one direction as "energetically like an unbalanced washing machine running on spin cycle - the noise it makes will be hard to ignore." From an Astrological perspective it suggests many possibilities, collectively and individually.

Taurus is an Earth sign, and, as such, is related to the material world. All Earth signs relate to practical, mundane, material matters, and, of all the Earth signs, Taurus is the earthiest. It is Fixed Earth (whereas Capricorn is Cardinal Earth and Virgo, Mutable Earth). Just as the term 'fixed' implies, there is a stubbornness about Taurus, a tendency to dig in the heels and not budge. The only planets not involved in this gathering are the outer three, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which will be creating some rather tense aspects to the Taurus group.With so much energy focussed in this earthy Earth sign, our energies are being directed towards the Earth itself. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are in Taurus already, and, here in Victoria, as I write this article, there is a Climate Change Conference in progress. We will become increasingly aware of the cataclysmic problems which face us if we do not alter our lifestyles in a way that works with, rather than against, the natural order.If we continue to bury our collective heads in the sand, the sand will only become more and more toxic. Global warming is a fact, not science fiction, the permafrost is no longer permanent, the polar caps are melting, the sea water is getting progressively warmer, thus expanding, increasing the sea level and altering the weather patterns. This isn't a natural cyclical planetary change - we have created the 'greenhouse effect' through our use and abuse of the earth's resources. Our love affair with science and technology and our collective arrogance that made us think that we could and should conquer nature, have created this situation. We will likely hear many stories in the news about alternative power sources, like the energy cells being developed by Ballard here in B.C. As well, there will certainly be more stories of "unusually extreme" weather systems like the recent floods.

Uranus symbolizes technology and during the May lineup, this planet of sudden change, upheaval, revolution and rebellion will be forming its last exact square (very challenging aspect) to Saturn, the planet of authority, status quo, structure and order. These two antithetical energies have been clashing with each other since June of 1999, and were exactly square for the spectacular Eclipse of last August. Saturn energy clings to the past, while Uranus embraces the future. Saturn is a symbol of restriction, Uranus a symbol of freedom. Saturn is the 'realist', Uranus the 'idealist'. Saturn symbolizes structure and stability, Uranus, upheaval and change. This is the first square formed between these two since their conjunction in 1988, when they were both in the last degrees of Sagittarius/beginning of Capricorn. However, this is only one piece of a very complicated picture that will be forming in May.

All of the planets, with the exception of Pluto, will be in Fixed signs, the Fixed Earth of Taurus and the Fixed Air of Aquarius, where Uranus and Neptune currently reside. This suggests a major conflict between idealogical ideals and mundane reality. It is not just the ecological, environmental issues that we will see brought to our attention, but also economic issues. The "Battle in Seattle" during the recent World Trade Organization meeting is a good example of the conflicting interests represented by these planetary alignments. The rights and interests of the individual are pitted against the megalithic powers of the multinational organizations and corporations. The current anti-trust suit against Microsoft is another example, as are the recent mergers of corporate giants. Also of increased interest will be genetically modified foods and Internet privacy. It should also make for quite a wild ride for the various world stock markets, of which we've already seen some evidence since Saturn entered Taurus in the summer of 1998, first squaring Neptune in Aquarius, and now, Uranus.

On an individual level, each of you will experience this intense concentration of energy in one part of your chart, usually in one particular house. Depending on which house or houses are affected, you will likely notice the impact in especially in that one area of your life. For example, if you have Taurus on your Tenth house of Career and social standing, you will likely have increased activity in your career, possibly changing jobs, whether through choice or circumstance. You are also likely to experience some conflict from your relationship house (marital or business partners) which affect your social position. Those of us with planets in the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) will probably feel the impact more keenly than others (although most of us have at least one of the planets in those signs). If you do experience a shakeup, then it is generally an indication that your life needs to change. Rather than resist, try moving with the changes that are trying to happen - easier said than done for the Fixed signs, I know (being one myself).

The lineup of the big seven in Taurus is a precursor to the upcoming conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on May 28th. These two planets meet each other every twenty years, beginning a new cycle. In ancient times, when these were the outermost known planets, their conjunction was regarded as very important in the affairs of nations, often signalling the end of one king's reign and the beginning of next. As it happens, the Presidential elections in the U.S. coincide with the Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions. Most, if not all of the U.S. Presidents who have been elected when the conjunction has occurred in an Earth sign, have died in office. I think, if I were considering the job, I'd wait another four years before tossing my hat in the ring! Reagan, who was elected during the last Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, had a very near miss, but that conjunction happened in an Air sign, not Earth. It is certainly an interesting coincidence.

The lineup of planets in Taurus this May should be considered a wakeup call. If we don't have a collective Uranus-in-Aquarius breakthrough in consciousness (before it's too late - if it isn't already) and change the way we conduct our business, live our lives, and use the precious resources of this planet, we will continue the destructive changes that we have begun. And that's no line of bull.