Hello, Meet Uranus, the MVP of 2021’s Astrology
We had big hopes for 2021 and so far the new year is off to a…well, less than ideal start. In fact, it seems like 2021 is shaping up to be the director’s cut version of 2020. WTF?
Astrologers love to say “I told you so” and—believe it or not—these strange days totally check out from an astrological POV. The astrology of 2021 is drastically different from that of 2020, but just like last year, there’s a lot of activity around the powerful outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, and *ahem* Uranus. Especially Uranus.
So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Uranus’s role in 2021’s astrology—and I can assure you, there’s a lot more to this gas giant than potty humor.
WHY IS URANUS SO IMPORTANT, ANYWAY?
Uranus might be the butt of many jokes (sorry, couldn’t help it!), but this distant outer planet is no laughing matter. In astrology, Uranus is the planet associated with innovation, progress, and revolution, governing everything from technology and medicine to earthquakes and astrology (literally!). Uranian energy is volatile, shocking, and electric, so whenever this powerful planet gets activated, it’s guaranteed to shake sh*t up.
It takes Uranus approximately 84 years to complete an orbit, which means this rebellious planet spends about seven years in each zodiac sign. Back in 2018, Uranus drifted into the sign of Taurus—the first earth sign of the zodiac—and it’s still completing its journey through this sign. While Uranus has a wild, unpredictable nature, Taurus (represented by the bull) is steady, reliable, and traditional. Taurus is associated with the material world—including food, finance, and food—so it’s all about stability.
With progressive Uranus occupying grounded Taurus, we can expect massive changes involving currency, consumption, and the environment to continue through 2026. While we’ve seen clear indications of these developments over the past two and a half years (like with growing conversations about cryptocurrency, climate change, and agricultural sustainability), these will escalate in 2021, when Uranus forms two sharp squares with Jupiter (the planet of expansion) and Saturn (the planet of restriction).
SO…WHAT’S A SQUARE?
If you’re relatively new to astro lingo, phrases beyond the zodiac signs may feel a bit intimidating. But don’t fret—I’ve got you covered. When the planets meet up, they create geometric shapes known as “aspects.” There are soft aspects (such as “trines” and “sextiles”), which indicate harmonious, easy-flowing relationships between the planets. And then there are hard aspects, like squares, which indicate tension and discord.
Squares occur when planets connect at a 90-degree angle, forming powerful connections that can be a bit…sharp. I’m not gonna lie: Squares are seriously challenging. But “challenging” doesn’t mean “bad.” In fact, of all the planetary aspects (there are dozens!), squares are the most associated with action, change, and even ~*~manifestation~*~. This is especially important to remember in the upcoming months because…uh…there are a lot of ’em.
OKAY, TELL ME ABOUT THE JUPITER-URANUS SQUARE
All those Uranus squares kick off on January 17, when Jupiter in Aquarius meets Uranus in Taurus. These two planets last formed a 90-degree angle in 2014 (at that time, Jupiter in Cancer aligned with Uranus in Aries). Generally, this is considered a time of challenging, but advantageous, growth.
This year, however, the stakes are a bit higher. Jupiter in Aquarius is demanding sweeping breakthroughs in technology, medicine, and (cough, cough) government. Uranus in Taurus, on the other hand, isn’t as willing to welcome fast-paced change. We’ll likely experience push-and-pull on a societal level, as some embrace innovation while others cling to tradition.
The story doesn’t end there. Just a few weeks later, Saturn picks up where Jupiter left off, kicking off the next set of Uranus squares.
OKAY, WHAT ABOUT THE SATURN-URANUS SQUARES?
One of 2021’s most defining astrological signatures are the squares between Saturn in Aquarius and Uranus in Taurus, which occur on February 17, June 14, and December 24. These two planets last formed a 90-degree angle in 2000, so we haven’t encountered this alignment in more than 20 years.
This year’s particular Saturn-Uranus connection is especially unusual, because Saturn—the planet of restriction—is in the progressive zodiac sign of Aquarius, while Uranus—the planet of innovation—is in traditional Taurus. In a strange sort of opposite-day scenario, these two planets will feel as if they’re mortal enemies when, in fact, they’re on the exact same team. Talk about a mindf*ck!
WAIT, WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN???
I hate to bring bad news, but as we prepare for this year’s back-to-back Uranus squares, get ready for more lockdowns and restrictions in both the physical and virtual realms. (The World Wide Web was created 30 years ago this August, so the internet is going through some growing pains!) While the world works on “fixing” all its problems, it may become painfully clear that not everyone agrees on the solutions…or even what the problems are.
But it’s not all bad. For instance, don’t be surprised if your relationship with money and material objects changes rapidly over the next 12 months. Big spenders may become more frugal, while those who are risk averse may find themselves making surprising gambles. On a larger scale, financial sectors will experience rapid transformation throughout 2021, with the oldest and newest markets (such as real estate and cryptocurrency) experiencing the most volatility.
Some advice: We must resist extremes. Although Uranus squares can make it seem like everything is black or white, we need to remember that the world is complicated, nuanced, and often surprising. That way, it will be easier to roll with the punches. When we shift our POV, it’s clear that the possibilities are infinite. You got this!
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