This coming week’s Saturn-Sun conjunction is one of the most serious moments of the year—it can bring a sense of an organizing structure in our lives ending or needing to be reworked. Since this is taking place in Pisces, there can be a sort of spiritual heaviness about this, not to mention a difficult-to-grasp slipperiness that comes along with this mutable water sign. There’s magic at play here, though, with Mercury’s presence miraculously making a precise and rare triple conjunction on Wednesday.
Let’s break it down.
The Saturn Synodic Cycle
The Saturn-Sun conjunction marks the end of a cycle between these two and the start of another, symbolizing a period of endings, maturation, and a call for responsibility. As Saturn and the Sun align, there's a palpable sense of something "dying," with certain hard, sturdy, enduring aspects of our lives, internally or externally, fading away. This might look like a particular commitment ending, an external responsibility shifting, or a configuration with an authority figure changing. There might be a need to say a hard “No,” or we even might be having one said to us.
This is the first conjunction between the Sun and Saturn with Saturn in Pisces—you might think of this as a yearly check-in with Saturn, as if a contract needs to be renewed or renegotiated. In these sorts of check-ins, it’s good to reflect and assess how things have gone and realistically forecast into the future. From that clear-sighted standpoint, how might we re-write our contract with life right now? It’s natural for the structures of life to shift and change and even for things to die. With Mercury around, this could be a large restructuring, especially if there are soulful needs and spiritual powers at play.
Of course, this is playing out in particular parts of our charts—but depending on where that is, this process may be more or less all-encompassing for you.
Saturn in Pisces
With Saturn in Pisces, there’s a sort of solemnity and reverence at play, which might actually make it hard to take realistic assessments of things. Pisces is a water sign, and Saturn’s cold heaviness can lead to blockages. There might be swampy, hard-to-process emotions at play. Pisces is also a mutable water sign—so sentiments might be quickly shifting and vague, spanning from hopelessness to faith in a miracle waiting to happen. It’s hard to discern in this thick mist, and it can be hard to find solid ground.
As of this publication, the Sun is already within 5 degrees of Saturn, which means that this heavy, cold influence should have been felt for five days or so already. We also had really huge solar flares this week—altogether creating a stressful atmosphere.
What is certainly needed is a sturdy connection to the inward realm—more than fleeting fantasy, a sense of deep, nourishing stillness, and a steady, clear quality of inner imagery. Making extra time for sleep and dreaming could be necessary, as would extra long walks in nature—Jupiter, the traditional ruler of Pisces, is still making a sextile to Saturn from Taurus, the earthiest sign.
Mercury in Pisces
Mercury's journey through Pisces started early on the morning of Friday the 23rd. While traditionally considered debilitated in Pisces due to its mutable and watery nature, Mercury's presence in this ethereal sign adds a touch of otherworldly charm to our communication and thought processes. While this might make discernment extra difficult, it can also bring the potential for bigger magic.
On Wednesday the 28th, we’ll have one of Mercury’s six conjunctions that they make with the Sun every year—a pattern that sketches out a hexagram across the zodiac. This conjunction is a Cazimi—a planet being in the “heart of the Sun”—and with Saturn also present, there are two voices in the throne room. These can be moments of heightened clarity and lasting influence. It's a chance to not only listen to Saturn's teachings but also to infuse the conversation with Mercurial magic and suggestions, helping Saturn adapt and maybe lighten up.
The Virgo Full Moon
All of this is happening alongside and after the Virgo Full Moon, which is taking place at 6:30 am CST on Saturday the 24th. As sunrise on Saturday is a typical time to invoke Saturn, it could be rewarding to do so, waking up for some reflection, meditation, or journaling, even if Saturn’s wisdom comes with a good deal of heaviness.
The Virgo Full Moon can help us show how these Saturnian commitments and responsibilities are playing out in our everyday lives—how they are lived out and woven into our daily, weekly, and monthly rhythms. This weekend would be a good time to think through your habits and practices.
With Saturn still going through the process of renewal, it’s not necessarily starting anything new right now—it would be better to reflect, assess, and clear space for new developments, and maybe write a sort of draft of this new contract with life.
And now the play-by-play for my lovely paid subscribers!
Of course, please reach out for a reading if you would like to explore all of this in your chart more in-depth.
Warmth,
Charlie