Aspects | Jupiter Conjunct Uranus: A New Cycle

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This week saw a major event in the heavens: Jupiter conjunct Uranus in 2024 marks the beginning of a new Jupiter – Uranus cycle. Every 14 years, the Jupiter and Uranus come together on the ecliptic and their meeting marks the moment of big (Jupiter) radical (Uranus) change here on Planet Earth. Many years ago when I began to study astrology, I read that this planetary combination could be described as a ‘bolt out of the blue’, such was its potential to unleash complete changes of direction, initiate completely new conditions and produce surprises that no-one saw coming.So what can we expect this time around?

When Jupiter and Uranus last met, in 2010 and 2011, the planets crossed the cusp of Aries and Pisces. That was a huge moment symbolically: not only did it bring the dramatic changes promised by the conjunction, that particular cusp also carried huge symbolism as it marked the end of one zodiac cycle and beginning of another. It was a real ‘departure from the past’ moment and brought momentous events: ‘The Arab Spring’ uprisings (Jupiter + Uranus = big rebellion), a huge upsurge in social media and smartphone use (Jupiter + Uranus = technological expansion) and none of those things (or anything else) turned out as expected.

Unforeseen consequences are central to Jupiter conjunct Uranus and, this time around, things will unfold in ways that are easy to predict in one sense (there will be some electrifying and surprising developments that seem to come from nowhere), but their eventual outcomes are unlikely to be as originally anticipated or desired. That gives us a great deal to work with, so in this post, I’m going to look at the basic principles of Jupiter conjunct Uranus, the implications of the current conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus (and a historical perspective on that) and how that aspect works on both a natal chart and a predictive chart.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus : The Basic Principles

I assume you are not about to declare war, or invent something, so here goes: a conjunction aspect brings together the essential nature of two planets – regardless of whether they are harmonious or not. In traditional astrology, Jupiter is known as ‘the great benefic’, but Jupiter’s beneficial nature is often not beneficial in a way that is instantly recognisable as such. Jupiter expands and amplifies everything it touches, so in conjunction with Uranus, Jupiters expansive nature is going to boost Uranus’s core qualities of chaos, revolution, contrariness, disruption, innovation, invention, enlightenment, deviance, genius and freedom.

As both Jupiter and Uranus are associated with freedom, liberation in both a personal and social sense are accentuated when these planets come together. For example, Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Cancer in 1954 – 1955 brought the beginning of the rebellious ‘rock and roll’ years and the explosion of youth culture. The microwave oven was also invented. This aspect also triggered the establishment of the EU and the Warsaw Pact. Tribalism is related to Cancer, so the expansive principles of this aspect were expressed in this sign by the formation of entities designed to protect social and ideological belief systems on a global scale.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus in Taurus: The Cycle

This time around, we have Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus, the sign of stability. Uranus has been causing chaos in this sign since May 2018, destabilising all of those things that Taurus represents, such as the global economy, our personal financial security, employment security, our personal and social values and the environment in which we live. Of course, what has happened, at a fundamental level, is simply classic Uranus: under this planet’s influence, there is exposure and revelation of situations, social attitudes and beliefs that are no longer fit for purpose. Uranus points out where the revolution needs to occur – and helps it on its way.

Jupiter conjunct Uranus occurs every 14 years, but that’s only part of the picture: if you look at the Jupiter – Uranus conjunctions by sign, there is a much longer cycle playing out. The last Jupiter conjunct Uranus aspect in Taurus took place in 1941, so it may be useful to look at history for clues as to what may unfold this time around:

• Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus (1941) occurred after a decade or more of economic instability, stagnation and recession triggered by the 1929 Wall Street Crash.
• Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus (1941) occurred as Europe had descended into war, following a decade of conflict (Spanish Civil War) and political instability across the continent that led to Germany’s annexation of Austria and invasion of other countries that triggered war in 1939.
• Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus (1941) occurred after a decade that had seen the establishment of brutal and ruthless dictatorships and authoritarian regimes in Europe – Hitler (Germany), Franco (Spain), Mussolini (Italy) and Stalin (Russia).
• Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus (1941) brought the United States into World War 2 with the attack on Pearl Harbor – a totally unexpected event. It effectively ended the US Government’s isolationist policy, turned the war into a global conflict and – ultimately – changed the direction of World War 2.

Historical events may seem distant to us now, but they resonate with us in the present – because that is the nature of astrological cycles. So, issues like economic instability; an increase in global conflicts (Ukraine, Gaza) and the rise of authoritarian governments (and extremist political forces and opinions) have become more prevalent in the past decade or more. Some issues appear similar, but others are new. I suspect environmental concerns were less of a concern in 1941, but other Taurus style issues – such as building empires (political and corporate) and amassing great wealth hold currency today.

For example, the 1930’s saw the rise of a massively wealthy ‘billionaire class’, just as we have today: Paul Getty, Randolph Hearst and Howard Hughes were the equivalents of figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Rupert Murdoch today. Then – as now – vastly wealthy industrial and business innovators and press barons sought power and influence. If any of that feels familiar to you maybe it’s because history appears to have the habit of repeating itself.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus in Taurus: Lessons From History

So, is history about to repeat itself once more? The 2024 edition of Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus may contain many of the same themes and dynamics as the 1941 copy, but it will not be a straightforward re-run, any more than the 1941 Jupiter – Uranus conjunction was a repeat of the script that was used in the 1858 Jupiter – Uranus conjunction. That, incidentally saw the inauguration of the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean – a major technological innovation at the time.

Jupiter conjunct Uranus in 1858 triggered the American Civil War – it began two years later. The pattern is a familiar one: the American Civil War occurred after a decade of political instability, westward expansion and a collision of values centred on slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 US presidential election brought matters to a head: his famous ‘house divided’ speech, made as he accepted the Republican nomination, occurred within one month of the Jupiter – Uranus conjunction becoming exact. Lincoln’s election as President in 1860 triggered the ‘big break’ between the Union and the Confederacy – a typically Jupiter conjunct Uranus outcome.

In many ways, both 1941 and 1858 tell us a great deal about how Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus seems to play out:

• It brings an extreme and revolutionary clash of values and ideologies.
• It demands and produces a sometimes violent break with the past.
• There is often a land-based invasion or expansion of some kind that acts as a trigger to those events – and this may have its corollary (once the dust has settled) in the establishment of large or expansive territorial bodies that consolidate a particular set of values – e.g. USA, NATO, UN, EU, Warsaw Pact.
• It also brings advances in technology – but they are often associated (at least initially) with war and strife.

For example, the American Civil War was the world’s first technologically advanced war. Industrial processes that were emerging from the emerging industrial revolution brought about advances in armaments and shipping: ‘ ironclad’, steam powered warships were a significant innovation. It was, to a large extent, the first modern war, with a great number of casualties. It resulted in the abolition of slavery and the creation of the United States in the form that we recognise it today. Jupiter and Uranus are both forward looking forces – but the process of ‘getting there’ is not necessarily the way we would prefer it to be.

In a similar vein, the second world war was fought at a great human cost, but brought about technological advances, many of which we take for granted today. Rocket science brought about space travel and exploration, and the technology (Uranus) of jet engines and radar brought about modern airline travel (Jupiter), without which the foreign travel that many of us enjoy today would not exist. You may add to that list, freeze dried foods, penicillin, blood transfusions and computers: all have their origins in World War 2 – and none of their eventual applications would have been anticipated at that time.

So, are wars, expansionism, breaks, revolutions and invention inevitable? That seems to be the way that Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Taurus has manifested in its past two cycles, but given the unpredictable nature of Uranus, that may not occur this time around – though that is not, I’m afraid, a given. We may have to prepare for all eventualities – including the worst. Whatever happens, the world will be a different place as this aspect unfolds: the American Civil War led to the abolition of slavery – and the assassination of President Lincoln (a surprise? I suspect so). After World War 2, radical changes led to social (Uranus) improvements (Jupiter) – and the formation of supra-national bodies like NATO.

So, it seems that there is an identifiable pattern – and in the past two cycles it seems to have been a ‘no pain, no gain’ process with the following markers:

• A divergence of values and belief systems (often involving extremism) causes revolution, war and social rupture. It’s bloody and painful at first with social improvements and benefits appearing later.
• Shocking and unexpected events are always going to occur – whether they act as ‘trigger events’ to conflict or occur after the conflict has been (or appears to have been) settled.
• War is innovative and those innovations often turn out to have more beneficial uses in peacetime.
• Jupiter conjunct Uranus exacts a high price (Jupiter) for progress (Uranus).

To get the underlying dynamics of this – and how Jupiter conjunct Uranus is going to apply to you at a personal level (because it will one way or another), let’s take a look at the underlying astrological principles of both planets apply if you have them in your natal chart – and how they will impact on you by transit or in your solar return chart this year.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus in Your Natal Chart

If you were born with this conjunction in your natal chart, you may have a pronounced rebellious or excitable disposition. Your drive for freedom is strong – even overwhelming at times – and you rebel against anything and anyone who attempts to limit you in any way. You may be an extremist in so many different ways: massively individualistic; carelessly disruptive; a extreme contrarian or destructively restless. It’s a combination that may be more difficult for other people to live with than you, as you may be overwhelmingly and exhaustingly unpredictable to deal with – and that’s how you like it to be, as it keeps everyone guessing.

However, this is often a highly intelligent – even an intellectual or ‘genius’ placement – though it may result in pseudo-intellectualism in some cases. However it manifests, it’s often the aspect that makes you a maverick: you prefer to align yourself with your own, usually strong, beliefs rather than accept anyone else’s. You may take issue with religious beliefs. It’s more usual, however, for this placement to make you socially or politically aware. It’s often a high risk placement – you take your chances as you find them and your natural optimism may make you take one risk too many. Jupiter conjunct Uranus makes you – however it manifests – a larger than life, dynamic true original.

The natal house where this aspect is found is likely to be a space of constant restlessness and unpredictable change – you may find it difficult to be settled or constant and that may be due to your own inner restlessness being transferred to the environment and concerns of the house in question. It’s often a disruptive influence – and that disruption (if you don’t own it) may come at you from external sources. There can be a lot of tension with this aspect, but there are also some moments of unexpected good fortune: you may not know which one to expect, but find it easier to simply’ roll with the dice’.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus in Predictive Astrology

In a predictive chart – whether it is transits to your natal chart or your solar return chart, Jupiter conjunct Uranus represents the urge for a sudden change or a radical departure from your usual pattern of life in the house that contains this aspect. This aspect ‘shakes things up’, and, it has to be said, that’s often a good thing. You may receive an unexpected (Uranus) opportunity (Jupiter), or be surprised by a rapid change of circumstances. Wherever this transiting aspect touches your natal chart, you will undergo a process of radical change. It may arise through further education or your personal belief system, but your world view will have changed perspective by the time this aspect separates.

In a solar return chart, the same principles of risk and massive change also apply: the house in which this aspect falls may be a place of significant stress during the year. You may be restless if you think any limitations are being placed on your activities there – but it’s possible that you may be trying to get ahead of yourself: you may need to take care that you’re not overreaching yourself or refusing to take good advice, as this aspect may make you arrogant and determined to get your own way at all costs. However, the house containing this house may be where lucky breaks occur during the year – though luck may come in disguise.

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Further Reading

Aspects | Mars Conjunct Saturn: April 2024

Solar Eclipse in Aries: The Great American Eclipse 2024

The Big 2024 Horoscope: The Year Ahead

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© Sara Shipman 2024

Picture credit: Image by Bogdan Radu from Pixabay