Saturn, the planet which represents recession, is also related with structured systems, structuralism, methods, working systematically, precautions and prudence. It is related with metallurgy, farming and construction sector.  Saturn does not like spending money; it prefers buying the things with the cheapest price, being on the safe side and working hard. It is related with unemployment, poverty and the poor. It is also related with the government agencies and municipalities and the people working in those places. Not he people who are in organizational positions, who bring order and who make laws but the ones who enforce the laws signify Saturn nature. If Saturn is in positive aspects with other planets then we may see developments in public revenues, stock markets, investments and banking sector. Business life and institutionalism reflect Saturn nature. If Saturn is in hard aspects with other planets, there may be some problems in business life.            

Neptune, the planet of dreams and ideals, represents dreaming about being rich or on the contrary being uninterested in financial requisites. Neptune does not like dealing with difficulties; it immediately dissolves. It is prone to deception and illusion. It is related with bankruptcy. In stock exchange market, Neptune represents the companies which produce oil and gas, sea products and liquors. Films, photography, pharmaceutical industry, alcohol and tobacco are related with Neptune. It rules subconscious. If Neptune is in hard aspects with other planets, we may see speculations and diversions in stock exchange market; prices which temporarily increase speculatively may fall down soon. Neptune represents socialism, communism, ideals of the left wing and defending democratic rights.  If it is afflicted, political instability may be seen. All conspiracies, deceitful and fraud acts, illegal affairs, front companies, downfalls, destructions and chaotic situations are the issues related with Neptune. When it is in good aspects with other planets, we may expect positive developments in maritime sector, marine transportation, oil and pharmaceutical industry.           

Last Quarter Phase

Now we may address the cycles between the pairs of those three planets which form the T-square aspect pattern. Jupiter-Saturn and Saturn-Neptune aspects will take place during the last quarter phase of that cycle. Last quarter phase is the phase when the aspect between the fast moving planet and the slow moving planet is between 270 and 314 degrees. Last quarter phase reflects ending energy; there may be some friction between traditional values and the new trends. In order to create change, some crisis may be seen in common social and hierarchical order.

This phase signifies that it is time to use our talents in a functional way and in a way to help the others. Here we are faced with the energy of letting-go and deciding to make changes and getting prepared for the new.

Jupiter-Saturn square and economics

Jupiter and Saturn are slow moving planets. They are known as social planets as Saturn represents social rules, laws, prohibitions and limitations and Jupiter represents moral values, beliefs and cultural issues. During hard aspects between Jupiter and Saturn, we are faced with stress, restrictions, constraints and changes following all these challenges. Their cycle which begins with conjunction takes approximately 20 years.

The aspects between Jupiter and Saturn are crucial in terms of understanding the ups and downs in economics and business life. During hard aspects between those planets, we see difficulties in financial matters, imbalance in markets and recession.

When we analyse historically, we see that when Jupiter-Saturn hard aspects overlapped Saturn-Neptune hard aspects, there was economic depression. When the cycles of these planet pairs overlap, first we see a Jupiter-Saturn aspect and a Saturn-Neptune hard aspect or vice versa first we see a Saturn-Neptune aspect and a following Jupiter-Saturn aspect.

We should briefly mention Jupiter-Neptune opposition here. This aspect which occurs once in 13 years may create disintegration in economics. This aspect discourages the people for the future and makes them lose their motivation. While running after our ideals represented by Neptune, we may also be drawn in fantasies. We may hope for the impossible. We may also face with manipulations in business life.

Now, let’s look at the current period: on August 3rd, 2015 we had a square between Jupiter in Leo and Saturn in Scorpio and the second will take place on March 23rd, 2016 between Jupiter in Virgo and Saturn in Sagittarius. The third and the last square between this pair of planets will occur on May 26th, 2016 when Jupiter will be in Virgo 13° and Saturn in Sagittarius 13°. Under these circumstances, we may conclude that we should be careful about economics in the spring of 2016.

Saturn-Neptune square and economics

Saturn is related with preserving the order while Neptune is related with the disintegration of it. During the hard aspects between those planets, current structures, institutions and relations tend to disintegrate and change into a new form because new things are about to enter our lives. During such periods we may often witness some problems and scandals due to neglect or exploitation of duty of the ones who are in charge of social, cultural, educational, economic and political institutions.

The cycle of these planets which start with their conjunction takes 36 year. When the planets make 90 and 180 degree aspects, we are faced with turmoil in various fields including economic turmoil.

As in each synodic cycle, the planet which is in a stronger position in Zodiac will be more dominant than the other; the developments will be on the issues represented by this sign. For example, Saturn in Sagittarius which is not a favourable position for Saturn however Neptune is Pisces, the sign that it rules. That means Neptune will display its characteristics easily. So, current realities in economics and politics will have to dissolve.

Great Economic Depressions in the History

Jupiter represents capitalism, Neptune represents inflation and Saturn represents depression. Cycles between the pairs of those three planets coincide with major changes in economics. Now, let’s have a look of those events. The reason we learn about the history is to learn about past mistakes and not to repeat them again. As we know that we have experienced similar periods before, we should now work on when such events may take place and find out what could be different. There is a phrase which I always admire “The ones who do not know the history cannot foresee future”. Astrology can help us on this at that point!

Panic of 1837

One of the squares of Saturn-Neptune pair during the last quarter phase coincides with the panic of 1837. While Saturn was in Scorpio and Neptune in Aquarius, the first square reached the exact degree on December 11th, 1835; the second on Mart 4th, 1836 and the third and the last on September 21st, 1836. Those squares were harbingers of a coming crisis. There was a T-square between Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune as it is now. Jupiter-Neptune opposition in Leo and Aquarius occurred on August 19th, 1836 and the first Jupiter-Saturn square reached the exact degree on July 28th, 1836, the second on January 13th, 1837 and the third and the last on May 27th, 1837.

The panic of 1837 was a financial crisis that touched off a major recession that lasted until the mid-1840s. Profits, prices, and wages went down while unemployment went up. Pessimism abounded during the time. The panic had both domestic and foreign origins. Speculative lending practices in western states, a sharp decline in cotton prices, a collapsing land bubble, international specie flows, and restrictive lending policies in Great Britain were all to blame. On May 10, 1837, banks in New York City suspended specie payments, meaning that they would no longer redeem commercial paper in specie at full face value.  Out of 850 banks in the United States, 343 closed entirely, 62 failed partially, and the system of State banks received a shock from which it never fully recovered. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1837) Surviving banks could not make payment to their depositors. Unemployment went up and there was a negative growth within the following five years.

Below, you may see the chart for May 10th, 1837.

Panic of 1873

As mentioned before, hard aspects between Saturn-Neptune pair brings difficulties, turmoil and depression in economics. 1873 was one of the years when those two planets made a square in the last quarter phase; it was the first depression of capitalism. The panic was known as “Great Depression”; it was the period when the nations suffered from unprofitability due to persistent inflation and negative conditions for investment.

The outbreak of crisis was on September 18th, 1873. The New York Stock Exchange closed for ten days starting 20 September. While factories boosted the production, the prices began to fall due to the decrease in demand. As a result, some factories discharged workers while some others where closed due to below cost pricing. The crash of the factories also led to the crash of the banks which financed them and this caused the crash in financial sector.

Below, you may see the chart for May 10th, 1837.

Jupiter-Neptune opposition reached to exact degree on December 27th, 1874 and on March 25th, 1875 in Libra and Aries and then in Scorpio and Taurus on September 20th, 1875. After those oppositions, Jupiter-Saturn square reached to exact degree on December 22nd, 1875, March 18th, 1876 and October 13th, 1876 for three times. Saturn-Uranus-Pluto T-square was present at the same time.

Panic of 1873 deepened meanwhile. As the economic crisis in America and Europe spread to Middle East, the Ottoman Empire had to float its share in Suez Canal in Egypt and published a decree in 1874 to split its debts into instalments. This financial crisis in the East continued until 1878.

To be continue…