One does not have to be a student of heavenly motion to know that we are living through some very turbulent time of social unrest and upheaval. This is no longer in the realm of the ideational level of perception. It is no longer in the visions of seers, mystics, and clairvoyants. It is no longer in the calculations of astrologers. It is happening on the earth and it is happening now. It is being felt and experienced as the extraordinary climatic shifts promised by Mr. Cayce and it is manifesting every day at the gas pump and in our pockets.

These struggles are in large measure the products of the outgoing traditional archetypes and paradigms of the previous World Age and the incoming “New World Order” as it has often been called. Astrologically, we see this as the cuspal shift between the ages of Pisces and Aquarius. Such tensions in recent times have been especially powerful since Neptune and Uranus starting transiting each other’s signs when in March of 2003, Uranus first entered the Celestial Fish.

In addition to the conflicts provoked by the juxtaposition and interplay of these two contrasting signs and their ruling planets, there is another heavenly cycle simultaneously in process. This is the opposition of Saturn and Uranus, representing the incoming fores of global change and the established order seeking to impose its traditional structures and patterns upon the mass of humanity. This goes far beyond American politics for its scope is indeed quite global. We can see this as the forces of true social progress, humanitarianism and democratization (Uranus and if I may add, the Aquarius ascendant of our friend, Senator Obama) meet up with the paralysis of egocentric, fear engendering stasis of a very inverted Saturn. This is clearly seen in the form of Mugabe in Zimbabwe, the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and in the policies of the Christian right-wing of the Republican party in the USA. Cleary the current USA presidential elections totally personify the Saturn/Uranus conflict.

It is no coincidence that the first exact opposition of these two planets takes place at 18.57 Virgo/Pisces at 8.37am EST on election day, November 4, 2008. The Lord ain’t foolin’! The second opposition will occur on February 5, 2009 at 20.29 Virgo/Pisces while the third and final one takes place on September 15, 2009 at 24.42 of these signs. The entire planet and all its inhabitants are being asked to make some significant choices between the old and the new, the exclusive and the inclusive, the egocentric and the “soulcentric.” Those of us with planets or other important natal positions located between 18 and 25 degrees of the mutable signs are being asked by the Heavens to be particularly attentive to these shifts and mutations in our consciousness and lifestyle relative to the planets and house positions so indicated. Those of us with these same degrees in Taurus, Scorpio, Cancer, or Capricorn may find that the integration of these forces will be a lot easier and we may just come up with some solutions that are quite positive in their effects.

The dynamic and often violent, confrontations between the social shifts evoked by a Saturn/Uranus opposition are still clearly in the memory of those of us who experienced them personally. Such oppositions (with Saturn in Pisces and Uranus in Virgo) took place between June 1964 and June 1967 and issued forth the “Love and Peace” generation whose collective contributions to human consciousness brought forth the Woman’s, Black, and Gay liberation movements, the anti-war orientation, the Green Party, organic everything, and so much more.

The previous Saturn/Uranus opposition took place with Saturn in Leo and Uranus in Aquarius during the First World War when the majority of European empires and kingdoms fell to give way to either democracies and republics (Uranus) or the development of the Communist system (Saturn), thus setting the stage for the next cycle of planetary, social evolution. I might point out that the son of the last Romanov Tsar had Saturn in Aquarius in his 4th house opposing his 10th house Leo Sun. He was of course murdered with the rest of his family during the period of the Saturn/Uranus opposition, putting an end to the dynasty and giving birth to the Soviet State.

It is of course no coincidence that the Pluto in Scorpio, Neptune/Uranus in Capricorn Generation is “coming up in the ranks.” Their function is to destroy the old social, economic archetypes and replace them with some new systems. The difficulty with this generation is that they will also bring about some tremendous power battles among themselves for they are lovers of materialism (although saints and visionaries are born in every generation). My hopes for the future rest with their younger brothers and sisters. These are the current children with Pluto in Sagittarius and Uranus and Neptune in Aquarius—but more about these lovely “new ones” in a future Lisbon Letter.

October 23: Sun enters Scorpio at 01.09am.

October 28: New Moon at 5.54 Scorpio at 11.15pm.

October 31: Mars sextile Saturn and trine Uranus at 18-19° Scorpio to 18-19° Virgo/Pisces. The Red Gladiator kick starts the Saturn-Uranus opposition into gear. Look for major activity as the world struggles to bring balance to these warring forces.

November 3: Venus square both Saturn and Uranus at 18-19° Sagittarius to 18-19° Virgo/Pisces. The socio-economic battles continue as we struggle to bring Right Human Relations to the fore of our daily life. Conflicting social value systems become clearer than ever. Homer would smile broadly as the contacts between the Olympian Archetypes and the earthlings manifest with increasing exactitude and precision. Stay lovingly detached, serve wherever and however you can, and don’t forget to VOTE!

November 4: Saturn opposes Uranus at 18.57 Virgo/Pisces; Mercury sextile Pluto at 29.18 Libra/Sagittarius; Mars square Neptune at 21.28 Scorpio/Aquarius (this one I don’t think we needed!); Mercury enters 0° Scorpio. Quite the day! I am reminded of what we chanted back at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago as the police charged the Flower Kids, “The Whole World is Watching.”

November 10/11: The Sun sextile Jupiter at 18.20 Scorpio/Capricorn; the Sun trine Uranus at 18.51 Scorpio/Pisces; the Sun sextile Saturn at 19.34 Scorpio/Virgo. A good time for people to get together and discuss what the goals and visions that have in common; days of reconciliation and union of philosophical and religious viewpoints.

November 12: Venus conjunct Pluto at 29.31 Sagittarius; Venus enters 0° Capricorn later that day. Good opportunity for economic discussions and gatherings. A fine time to structure and reconciles both our financial and social resources and relationships.

November 13: Full Moon at 21.15 Taurus/Scorpio at 06.18am; Sun square Neptune at 21.30 Scorpio/Aquarius. With the Full Moon square to Neptune, this will most likely be quite a chaotic day on the planet. Watch out for astral plane tidal waves, meaning that the air will be pregnant with false rumors and fascinios (Portuguese for “illusions”).

November 16: Mercury trine Uranus at 18.48 Scorpio/Pisces; Mercury sextile Jupiter at 19.26 Scorpio/Capricorn; and Mars enters 0° Sagittarius. As one would imagine, a good day for communications and if this trine touches your chart personally, it is also a fine opportunity for getting your words out to your special group of friends and associates.

November 21: Jupiter trine Saturn at 20.19 Capricorn/Virgo; the Sun enters Sagittarius. Good aspects between Jupiter and Saturn allow for long-range planning as they aid in the practical consideration and structuring of one’s aspirations for the future.