Mars-Saturn Conjunction 2024:  USA

Copyright © John Michael Greer 2024. All rights reserved.

This delineation shows the astrological indications for politics, economics, and society in the United States following the conjunction of the two malefic planets Mars and Saturn on 10 April 2024. It should be read in conjunction with all currently active eclipses and ingress charts. 

Executive Summary: A period of crisis and danger is indicated by this traditional warning sign, which predicts sudden trouble in foreign policy boiling up as carefully concealed weaknesses in America’s current condition become impossible to hide. Fortunately the indications do not suggest war, but this will be cold comfort for those affected by the crisis.  There is some risk of sudden death by accident or violence striking down an important figure in American public life, and also a risk of many deaths due to accident or epidemic disease.  Information about the trouble will be very difficult to come by, feeding the ongoing loss of faith in corporate media, while wild rumors, false stories, and deliberate misinformation will be widespread. Meanwhile the attention of Congress will be fixated on a graver crisis, signaled by the upcoming Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, which has not yet arrived but makes practical action difficult. Severe economic turmoil and drastic volatility in speculative markets can also be expected.  The nation will get through this, but it’s going to be a rough road. 

Conjunction Overview:  Conjunctions of Mars and Saturn happen every 2 to 3 years, as Mars is far and away the swiftest of the outer planets. In traditional mundane astrology conjunctions of these two planets are invariably destructive, since the dynamic energy of Mars combined with the equally potent resistance of Saturn can only result in an explosion. These conjunctions are associated with wars, rebellions, riots, political crises, and other dramatic and violent events.

Under normal circumstances this conjunction would be less powerful than average, since both plaents in it are peregrine in the middle degrees of Pisces and neither has any aspect other than the conjunction.  However, it takes place just two days after an important solar eclipse, while most of the planets have moved only slightly from their eclipse placements, and in the runup to another equally powerful conjunction—the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, which perfects on April 20. Since Uranus rules the house in which Mars and Saturn conjoin, the later conjunction is highlighted here.  As we will see, this chart also draws attention to the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in another particularly striking way. 

As seen from Washington DC, this conjunction takes place just below the western horizon, in the last degree of the 6th house but closely conjunct the 7th house cusp. A major conjunction at the very end of a cadent sign, conjunct the cusp of the next angular sign, is an unusually dangerous configuration, because the planets appear to be weak but are actually strong by house placement.  It thus indicates a crisis that will not be recognized as serious until after it has arrived.  

The 6th house in mundane charts rules public health, the laboring classes, and the armed forces of the nation; the 7th house rules foreign affairs. One possible outcome is therefore that a sudden crisis involving the US military has a disastrous impact on US foreign policy. There are no other indications of imminent war in this chart or in the ingress chart currently in effect, and the 7th house is ruled by pacific Neptune in very good dignity.  Thus it is unlikely that the US will be drawn directly into a shooting war in the near future. More likely is a sudden revelation of US weakness that makes it impossible for the US to enforce its current status vis-a-vis the world’s other major powers.  This weakness may be military, as just suggested; it may be economic, as indicated by the 6th house’s rulership of the laboring classes; or it may be a matter of public health, or the health of President Biden. 

Whatever is indicated by this chart, it will arrive suddenly, and its implications may not be recognized for some time even after it becomes apparent that something is wrong.  This is reinforced by the placement of the conjunction in Pisces, the sign ruled by Neptune, the planet of illusion and collective self-deception in mundane affairs. The 7th house cusp is also in Pisces, and Neptune himself is in Pisces in the 7th house. All this suggests that the weakness that will be revealed has been present for some time, but has gone largely unnoticed due to misperception or deliberate deception. That is likely to change. 

Sun and Moon: The Sun represents the head of government—as of this writing, this is still President Joseph Biden. While the Sun is still under the baleful influence of the solar eclipse of April 8 at the time of this conjunction, the present chart is fairly gentle to him; he is in his exaltation in Aries, unafflicted by any planet, and though he gains no strength from his applying conjunction with fickle Mercury or from placement in the succedent 8th house, at least he suffers no weakness from either.  The impending trouble promised by this conjunction thus leaves Biden largely untouched, though of course the eclipse is another matter, and so is the impending Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, which is much less favorable for the Sun. 

The 8th house is traditionally an indication of death, and the placement of the Sun in the 8th house in a chart such as this can mean the death or removal from office of the head of state of the country for which the chart is cast. This is reinforced by the fact that Mars, one of the planets in the conjunction under review, rules the 8th house—always an unfortunate sign.  With the Sun as well dignified as it is, it does not appear to signal Biden’s imminent death, although—with the Mars-Saturn conjunction in the 6th house—it may mark the diagnosis of a terminal illness. Equally, however, it may indicate the death or removal of other important political figures. 

Mercury is worth close attention here, because in this chart Virgo is on the ascendant and Gemini is on the cusp of the 10th house; Mercury therefore rules both the ordinary people of the country and the government itself, and Mercury is very seriously afflicted in this chart: he is peregrine in Aries, retrograde, and combust by his close and applying conjunction to the Sun. Since Mercury rules the media and communications generally, his debility suggests that there will be frantic attempts on the part of the circle around Biden to keep the nature of the crisis from reaching the American public. With Neptune ruling on the 7th house, foreign sources may be no better informed.  Attend closely to what happens, rather than to what official sources and the media say, and it may be possible to glimpse the reality through the smoke screen. 

The Moon represents the general public, and more particularly that sector of the public that has the capacity to make its voice heard in political and cultural affairs.  The Moon in this chart is in the 9th house, poised in the middle of the narrowing space between Jupiter and Uranus as these two close in on their conjunction on April 20.  The Moon herself is in her exaltation in Taurus and strengthened further by her separating conjunction with Jupiter, but she is weakened by placement in the cadent 9th house, by a semisquare with badly afflicted Venus, and by an applying conjunction with Uranus, still in his fall in Taurus. 

The Moon in this chart rules the 11th house of the national legislature.  Given her condition in this chart, especially with the influence of the potent Jupiter-Uranus conjunction closing in on her from both sides, it seems likely that Congress will be unable to deal with the crisis signaled by the Mars-Saturn conjunction because it will be caught up in trying to cope with an impending crisis of even greater intensity. (That crisis will be discussed in my upcoming delineation of the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.) 

Notice the placement and condition of Venus in relation to the Moon-Jupiter-Uranus stellium. She is in her detriment in Aries, and afflicted by semisquares with the Moon and Uranus, but strengthened by placement in the angular 7th house. She also rules the 9th house.  If the crisis indicated by this chart involves Biden’s life or health, Venus here likely refers to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is Biden’s legal successor (ruling the 9th house of law and the constitution) but is widely considered, by the political class and large sections of the public, as incapable of governing. The United States has had incompetent presidents before, but even the appearance of incompetence can be a serious challenge to the country in time of crisis.

With all this in mind we can proceed to assess the twelve houses of the chart, and see what they have to say about the impact of this conjunciton. 

The Economic Hemisphere: 

1st House: the house of the ordinary people of the nation, and in particular those whose voices aren’t normally heard in the collective discourse of the time, this has Virgo on its cusp and Mercury for its ruler. As already noted, Mercury in this chart is peregrine, cadent, and combust.  The ordinary people of the United States will therefore have little information and less say about the crisis this chart predicts. An afflicted Mercury ruling this house indicates that the public will be agitated and troubled; rumors, wild stories, and deliberate disinformation will be widespread.  Trust in the corporate media will take another nosedive. 

2nd House: the house of the national economy, trade, and banking, this has Libra on its cusp and Venus therefore rules it.  An afflicted Venus as ruler of this house warns of extravagance and waste in government, violent fluctuations in stocks and other investments, and scandals involving money siphoned from government or corporate budgets for extravagant living. 

3rd House: the house of transport, communication, and the media, this has Scorpio on its cusp and its ruler is therefore Mars. In this chart Mars is strongly debilitated, being peregrine, cadent, and afflicted by conjunction with malefic Saturn.  Interests in this sector of the economy face sharp negative impacts from the conjunction; as already noted, public trust in the mainstream media is likely to head toward a new low. Mars as ruler of the 3rd can also signal deaths in transportation accidents. 

4th House: the house of agriculture, mining, and other resource extraction industries, as well as the rural regions of the nation, this has Sagittarius on its cusp and Jupiter thus rules it.  Jupiter in this chart is mildly dignified by term and much more strongly benefited by a close conjunction with the Moon, but suffers from his conjunction with Uranus and his placement in the cadent 9th house. His dignity is therefore mixed. He is generally fortunate in this house, and is therefore favorable for the interests of the people, especially in rural areas.  This house also governs the party out of power, and suggests that the Republican party will tend to come through the impending crisis in better shape than the Democrats. 

5th House: the house of speculative ventures, the rich and famous, and the entertainment industry, this has Capricorn on its cusp and Saturn is its ruler.  In this chart, Saturn is as debilitated as Mars, being peregrine, cadent, and afflicted by conjunction with malefic Mars. Even when well dignified, Saturn is a difficult influence here, and as badly debilitated as he is in this chart, he predicts a very rough time for all 5th house subjects. Speculative markets face a very difficult period, and tourism and the entertainment industries will suffer.  

This placement also predicts that difficult events will cast a shadow over the nation, and especially over its wealthy and powerful classes. Thisis a common placement when the death of an influential figure brings on a national period of mourning.  When a debilitated Saturn rules this and Mars afflicts him, however, this can also indicate a particularly unpleasant class of scandals:  “If [Saturn in this position is] seriously afflicted by Mars, Uranus, or Neptune,” notes H.S. Green in his classic Political or Mundane Astrology, “there will be much crime and vice affecting children and others ruled by this house.” 

6th house: the house of public health, the work force, and the military, this has Aquarius on its cusp and baleful Uranus rules it. As already noted, this is the house on which the force of the Mars-Saturn conjunction focuses, and serious trouble can therefore can be expected in the affairs of this house. Uranus ruling this house warns of problems with public health, and with Saturn and Mars both in this house, there is a serious risk of epidemic illness. Discontent and anger among the laboring classes becomes an important factor; strikes and other labor actions can be expected, and may spill over into political protest or rioting. The military is troubled and may face disruptive accidents or other sudden difficulties. 

The Political Hemisphere: 

7th house: the house of foreign affairs and the activities of other countries has Pisces on its cusp and is therefore ruled by Neptune, who is also placed in this house. Neptune is one of the few planets in this chart that is genuinely well dignified, being in his rulership, angular, and unafflicted by any other planet.  This placement indicates peace and relative stability in foreign affairs, and strongly suggests that whatever events this conjunction predicts, war is an unlikely outcome.  This is also indicated by Venus; even badly debilitated as she is, she is an indication of peace, though in her current condition she suggests a peace born of weakness rather than of goodwill backed by strength. 

8th house: the house of foreign trade and other nations’ money and resources, this has Aries on its cusp and Mars for its ruler. As noted already, Mars is in very bad condition in this chart, and serious troubles with foreign trade and investment are likely in the wake of this conjunction. An afflicted Mars ruling the 8th house is also a traditional sign of mass death, suggesting fires, explosions, accidents, and other forms of violent death. With the Sun and a retrograde Mercury in this house, the possibility of accidental or violent death striking down important political figures cannot be discounted. 

9th house: the house of the judiciary and of organized religion, this has Taurus on its cusp and Venus therefore rules it. An afflicted Venus ruling this house is unfortunate for judicial rulings and religious affairs. The 9th house, however, also indicates events at a great distance—for example, foreign countries far away from the country for which the chart is cast, as well as events on the high seas, in the air, and in space. With Venus in her current condition, the United States is unable to intervene effectively in an emerging crisis in 9th house affairs, even though the nation’s interests will be directly affected by that crisis (Moon and Uranus semisquare house ruler Venus). 

10th house: the house of government and the executive branch has Gemini on its cusp and Mercury is its ruler. Mercury peregrine, retrograde, and combust as ruler of this house leaves the US government fumbling and floundering in the face of events, and potentially without adequate information concerning crucial issues.  This placement also predicts public agitation and turmoil concerning the events indicated by this chart. Here again, rumors, wild stories, and disinformation of various kinds will be widespread, while facts will be thin on the ground. 

11th house: the house of the legislative branch, and more specifically of the lower house of the legislature, this has Cancer on its cusp and the Moon for its ruler.  The Moon in mixed and somewhat weak dignity as ruler of this house is unfortunate for the government and Congress, worsening partisan disputes and fostering dissension within the parties themselves. Faced with a serious crisis, Congress under these conditions is more likely to bicker uselessly than to rally around a meaningful plan of action.  This placement also indicates trouble for state and city governments, which face scandals and other challenges. Since Congress is currently almost unable to act due to partisan hatred, and that quite a number state and city governments already face considerable trouble due to a variety of scandals and poor policies, it is safe to say that the situation will get worse before it gets better. 

12th house: the house of institutions, this has Leo on the cusp and the Sun therefore rules it. The Sun in this chart is one of only two planets in good condition, the other being Neptune. As ruler of this house he predicts a favorable time for the institutional sector. It seems likely that as before, in a period of crisis and uncertainty, public opinion will rally around the traditional symbols and institutions of American public life. Since the Sun receives no supporting aspects, however, this placement further weakens the government and can bring trouble and misfortune to the presidency.