What does Jupiter square Saturn mean?

2020 felt like a glitch in the matrix, many of which were noted by astrologers in the years leading up to the global pandemic. They foresaw that 2020 could be a year of profound transformation for the world. On December 21, at the close of that fateful year, two titan planets, Jupiter and Saturn, aligned in Aquarius. This celestial event inspired the viral phenomenon on X (formerly known as Twitter), where people channeled the cosmic energy into the idea of gaining superpowers. Now, we’ve entered the second stage of this cycle. Jupiter in Gemini is squaring off to Saturn in Pisces on August 20, 2024. This is the zone of genius where we can realign and readjust the ideas, projects, and structures born during that time. Just to note, this is the first out of three alignments, so make a note of the following dates: December 25, 2024 and June 15/16, 2025.

Psychological astrologer and psychoanalyst Liz Greene adds, “If Jupiter and Saturn meet, then I think the collective begins asking questions.”

Jupiter is the planet of expansion, while Saturn governs refinement. Essentially, growth in the right direction requires us to trim what’s unnecessary for the next phase. As Jupiter transits Gemini, we’re questioning whether our systems and foundations are truly supporting our growth, purpose, and spiritual mission, especially with Saturn in Pisces.

As Philip Lucas, an astrologer explains, “The principle of expansion, growth, opening, and trust in providence (Jupiter) combines with the principle of contraction, limitation, inhibition, concentration, structure, and crystallisation (Saturn).”

Refining and cleansing

This is an excellent time to reflect on whether your spiritual beliefs genuinely resonate with you on a soul level, or if you’ve merely been conditioned to accept them as the only truth. It’s important to find your own voice within your beliefs so that you can step into the authenticity of your self-expression without being held back by rules that stifle your sense of freedom and liberation.

Financial budgeting

Given that both planets are linked to resources, we can expect a boom and bust in several financial sectors. Consequently, most of us won’t feel inclined to indulge in shopping sprees à la Confessions of a Shopaholic instead, we’ll focus on budgeting and gaining better control over our finances. Refresh your budgeting spreadsheets and invest your time and money in things that will provide long-term benefits.

Adding a dose of realism to your goals

If you feel like you haven’t made much progress toward your goals recently, it could be for two reasons: either your goals are based on unrealistic ideals and expectations, or you haven’t broken them down into manageable steps, which has led to overwhelm and paralysis. In either case, it’s easy to spiral into self-doubt. Use this time to reconsider your execution strategy and align your goals with a realistic timeline, so you don’t feel like you’re constantly racing against the clock.

Relationship values

Some of you may be re-evaluating how your relationships impact your growth – whether they support your goals or hold you back. The people we spend the most time with greatly influence us. If they are consistently negative, or draining your life force like an ‘energetic vampire’ you may find yourself distancing yourself from them as you realise their toxic messages have seeped into your inner world. On the other hand, you may have an epiphany about the incredible mentors in your life and recognise their priceless value – so don’t hesitate to show them appreciation.