The Secretary and a Sports Car

Midlife Transits part 2 – Part 20 – On the Generations

So what do these transits actually do?

In the case of Uranus, the planet is known to bring sudden, unpredictable disruption. It is the “bolt out of the blue” that shocks and electrifies whatever it is combined with. When it opposes itself by 180 degrees the disruption is applied to… the place of disruption. What the opposition aspect does is create a tug-of-war between competing interests. This typically arises out of unexpected events, which create opportunities that weren’t otherwise present. The conflict is that only either the new opportunity or the previous circumstances can go forward – you must choose. If you continue your previous circumstances you give up on the alternative opportunity. If you take the new opportunity, the previous circumstances are lost.

Uranus influences the thinking and intellectual process of the individual. The opposition to itself thereby creates a disruptive idea in the native. It is a moment when the individual questions all of the intellectual choices they have made in the past which have led them to where they are today. This is the ultimate “what could have been” transit and it commonly leads to people taking sudden, unexpected actions in their life to pursue an alternative path that they did not take earlier in their life. Accumulated experience with Uranus disruption and the choices made in response led them to establish an intellectual foundation for their life. At the time of the Uranus opposition that foundation is itself being disrupted. The native is now presented with the real possibility to change course.

Think of it like your house burning down – you can choose to rebuild in place and continue your old life more or less, or you can use this opportunity make that move you always dreamed about but did not execute because of how disruptive it would be to the life that you had already built. This moment asks you just how sure you are about the choices you’ve made in the past and dangles the promise of an off-ramp.

The sign in which Uranus is placed tells us about how well it functions, but also about how it tends to go about things. Let’s explore how each placement of Uranus is inclined to act in the context of Uranus opposing itself:

• Uranus in Gemini: The prototypical Baby Boomer placement is convinced of its own cleverness (and not without some justification). It has ideas – many of them – and switches quickly. Gemini is the sign of “the twins” and is ruled by Mercury, the planet of exchange. Uranus here is heavily biased toward taking action and exploring “the other side of the coin.” With this placement it is more likely than not that changes in thinking will be pursued and embraced at this transit, because the native will be both attracted to the alternative path but also capable of executing a pivot. For them, this time is about throwing off boredom in pursuit of excitement.
• Uranus in Cancer: The other half of the Baby Boomer cohort is prone to emotional disruption. For them, this transit will be characterized by instability and upset. Cancer is a cardinal sign ready to take action and it is ruled by the Moon, the fastest moving planet in the system. For this cohort the Uranus opposition will be removing some element of their emotional foundation and how they feel about their choices could radically shift. The bias is once again toward making changes, but in this case it is about trying to restore emotional stability.
• Uranus in Leo: Generation Jones is thinking first and foremost from a position of identity and ego. Leo is a fixed sign of the fire element, and it is ready to fight for what it thinks. This transit will be experienced as a challenge to their sense of “who they are” and they are most likely to double-down on their previous choices in a fight to maintain that identity.
• Uranus in Virgo: For this cohort, Uranus is contending with the co-presence of Pluto, the planet ruling value systems. For them this transit will be experienced as a challenge to their deeply-considered beliefs and values, and their overall intellectual identity. Virgo is a mutable, Mercury-ruled sign, but it is of the Earth element and relies on solidity. The likely result for this cohort is to continue along their previous path after deep consideration. It will be experienced mostly as a “renewal of vows.” Uranus in this case is unlikely to be strong enough to overcome itself and Pluto. For many, the choice to not act will be made out of fear that they cannot execute the pivot.
• Uranus in Libra: The second Generation X cohort shares the same issue regarding Pluto co-presence, but this time in Libra. For them this transit is most likely to be experienced as a collapse in their social reality, wherein the ideas it was built on are rapidly altered. Libra is an air sign, adept at change, but it is ruled by Venus and depends heavily upon what it receives. For this cohort it is likely that they will change with the currents. The disruptive changes in their mindset will not be individually driven but rather in response to the thinking of their peer group having changed. They will change in order to keep the peace.
• Uranus in Scorpio: The Blank Generation has a plan, and this will be experienced as their moment to implement it. Scorpio is the Mars-ruled, fixed sign of the Water element. The high strategic-thinking function of this placement ensures that whatever it is that they had in mind before the Uranus opposition is going to carry through. Any changes they make in this time will be seen by them as “doing what needs to be done” and they will be highly efficient in doing so. The changes they make may be disruptive but will also be consistent with prior behavior.
• Uranus in Sagittarius: The opposition for this group will be experienced as a crisis of faith. Sagittarius is Jupiter-ruled and mutable. When Uranus opposes their intellectual foundation it is destroying their foundational beliefs. They will be able to successfully pivot, but will be motivated by anger and passion in doing so. This cohort will be evenly split between those who radically alter their previous beliefs and those who dramatically re-embrace them under a new banner.
• Uranus in Capricorn: The second Millennial cohort is characterized by the co-presence of Neptune along with Uranus. For them this transit will be experienced as a deeply confusing dissolution of structures upon which they have come to rely. The fixed Earth sign does not shift with Uranus disruption easily and the additional Neptune aesthetic influence makes this a tough sell. Most of this group will not make changes at this time because they want to maintain stability above all.
• Uranus in Aquarius: For the first cohort of Gen Z this transit will be about consolidation. For them, Uranus is about building and the opposition will interrupt their ability to do so. In response to this challenge, it is most likely that this cohort will change their mode of action but not their intellectual basis. The challenge for them is about shifting methodology rather than shifting of ideas, and the co-presence of Neptune in Aquarius will make this easier. We can expect most of this cohort to take the “new approach” offered by Uranus in opposition.
• Uranus in Pisces: The latter Gen Z cohort will find the Uranus opposition to be somewhat troubling to their way of thinking. It is likely to remove the certainty that comes with Jupiter’s influence and force them to see things in a very stark, realistic fashion. Pisces is mutable and of the water element, so it is at ease with taking the new path, if not enthusiastically. This cohort will experience the opposition as a wake-up call. For them, changes made at this time will be motivated by a loss of belief in what had come before.

In the case of Neptune, the planet is known to dissolve things. It is the place where a fog covers the details and where we don’t see clearly. What the square aspect does is to put things into a state of friction. When Neptune squares itself by transit it applies the dissolution to its own fog and what is left is a clear, stark view of what was there the entire time, but which you had not previously been able to see clearly. Neptune is determining how we want things to be. When we find that things are not as we want them, or that what we wanted wasn’t so great after all, it can be very disappointing.

This transit is about disabusing us of our illusions. What has been your cumulative experience up to now in life in the Neptune area of your chart? Good or bad this was an area that was always covered in a soft focus, rose-colored-glasses haze. That is now gone, have fun! In the clear light of day many things aren’t what we thought, and aren’t as appealing as they seemed to have been. Neptune in the square shows you what is really there and asks if you’d like to have some more of it going forward. It often shows a person what they have been lying to themselves about.

The sign in which Neptune is placed tells us about how well it functions, but also about how it tends to go about things. Let’s explore how each placement of Neptune is inclined to act in the context of Neptune squaring itself:

• Neptune in Libra: The Baby Boomer aesthetic was about beauty, and people getting along. When Neptune squares itself the facade of this would be exposed, showing those living under this natal influence that what they were going for, and what they thought they had built, perhaps never existed as they imagined it at all. Under a group-oriented air sign this cohort would be inclined to change and try and stay ahead of the curve. Their style, image, and aesthetic would need an update, never mind how it was before.
• Neptune in Scorpio: Generation Jones and early Generation X were above all edgy. They wanted things to be deep, comprehensive, and real. Then Neptune pulled away the image and left the stark reality that lay underneath bare. The consequences of constantly challenging things were laid clear. They were asked if “darkness” was a desirable pursuit. Under the fixed, Mars-ruled influence of Scorpio this cohort would stay the course and seek to justify itself.
• Neptune in Sagittarius: These cohorts used to believe in something, until Neptune showed them that maybe it wasn’t what it had appeared to be. The square would illustrate that the lack of fixity and commitment to things left a shallow pool in which to swim. Would it ever have worked? Were they wrong the entire time? Under the mutable fire of Jupiter they would be disillusioned but let it go, and hope something new one day appears beyond the horizon.
• Neptune in Capricorn: With Neptune in the fixed Earth sign, the Millennials are about having it all figured out and squared away. It’s not just the appearance of success, but the practical demonstration of it that matters to them. When Neptune squares their natal position the possibility that they were wrong or that they failed will loom darkly. For this cohort it will be a landslide that washes away the foundation of what they thought they wanted, and when it’s done slipping away they will get right back to the task, with no lessons learned at all.
• Neptune in Aquarius: Wanting to establish a new way to do things is the Gen Z pursuit, and they will tell you all about it. Under the comforting fog of Neptune it is easy for them to move forward and build this new way. When the transit by square comes upon them they will be forced to take proper stock of what they have done. In that time they will learn what the rest of us already know – that not every pursuit was worthwhile. Their response will to be to pretend it never happened, but also to be more serious and responsible going forward.

In the case of Pluto, the planet is known to blow things up. It is the place where extremes exist and all is exaggerated. When Pluto squares itself by transit it applies this method of destruction to itself, popping the bubble it has created. Do you like it now? asks Pluto. This the root of our values and what is most important to us. Pluto is about what we care about and what we build upon. When these things are taken away by the square transit we are left without something that was once important to us, and also the legacy of what its presence led to in our lives.

The sign in which Pluto is placed tells us about how well it functions, but also about how it tends to go about things. Let’s explore how each placement of Pluto is inclined to act in the context of Pluto squaring itself:

• Pluto in Leo: The Baby Boomer, with fixed-Fire Sun ruling the roost, values its own identity above all. When the bubble bursts this placement will seek to restore it immediately because what it gave was vital to them. This will be done by inventing a new identity for themselves to replace the one that was lost.
• Pluto in Virgo: In the mutable-Earth sign ruled by Mercury it is the tangible idea that is most valued. When the bubble bursts it takes the form of notifying this cohort that they were incorrect. They response will be to immediately formulate a new idea to try and correct the error. The core value of being right will be adapted to having meant well. It is the individual sense of virtue that must be restored.
• Pluto in Libra: They want everything and everyone to be ok, but that turns out to be a dream. When the bubble bursts it takes away something which they have great appreciation for, namely the reward for cooperating and getting along. Libra is the sign of “the scales” and balance must be restored. They will be sure to do so.
• Pluto in Scorpio: The Millennial seeks depth and completeness, and is stubbornly fixated on ensuring that nothing is outside of their awareness. When the bubble bursts it comes as a blindside and a revelation that there is something which they were unaware of. The fixed-Water sign ruled by Mars will respond to this by attacking this gap. It is the perception of their own expertise which must be protected here. Denial of their previous stance will be a common tactic.
• Pluto in Sagittarius: Gen Z values doing it because it is there. The movement and action and fire is what fuels them. When the bubble bursts it is a jet of water putting out their fire, leaving them with the empty result of their ephemeral pursuit. Jupiter will not be denied, and in response this cohort will simply start over.

In the ages around 38-44 all people experience these three key transits in succession. What we think, what we want, and what we care about are all put to the test. This is often done by removing what we had built upon in life up until that point. Then there is a choice of how to respond, and for some this is easier than it is for others. What a generation of people do at this moment of their life sets the stage for the real impact they have on the world as a group. Why did the Boomer buy a sports car and run off with his secretary? Because his identity of being young and vigorous was threatened by him turning 40 – officially old – and he wanted to prove to himself that he still “had it.” His wife was preparing to leave him anyway, because she was no longer able to deny that her heart was with someone else before she married him, and she was “meant to be with” that other guy, and live that other life. The “midlife crisis” was the moment when these matters had to be addressed, because to ignore them for longer meant that they would be permanently off the table – it would be too late.

How did it work out for them? What did this tell us about how they would later be seen in the eyes of the future generations? What was their contribution ultimately deemed to be? Could that have been predicted from their behavior at the time of the midlife transits?