One more thing regarding the last time Saturn and Pluto were conjunct in Capricorn, in 1518, was that this was also the year denoting a significant turning point regarding the African Slave Trade. In August 1518 King Charles of Spain authorised the transportation of slaves directly from Africa to the Americas for the first time.

The signing of this new law instigated an enormous rise in the numbers of slaves that were transported from Africa across the Atlantic – over 10 million in the subsequent 350 years.

While the tensions and systemic racism towards the black population that exist in the US has been surfacing for a long time, it is very interesting how now in 2020, as Saturn and Pluto meet again in Capricorn for the first time since 1518, these tensions have reached boiling point. All over the US we are seeing mass protests in response to the murder of George Floyd by a white policeman in Minneapolis.

Given the astrological symbolism, I think it’s reasonable to say that the roots of this racism have been deeply embedded in the collective for 500 years. Capricorn is a symbol for the ruling class and authorities; Saturn and Pluto together serve to bring deeply repressed energies to the surface, and in so doing a battle rages between those in power who want to maintain it, and those who want to overthrow the injustice and abuse. When Pluto comes to prominence the results can be explosive – like a volcano that has been simmering for aeons finally exploding.

It seems that the time has finally arrived whereby 500 years of control and oppression can begin to be truly addressed and, maybe, eventually healed. Just think of how much collective pain has been caused by the barbaric treatment of slaves for hundreds of years. With Pluto involved things are going to be heavy and potentially violent for a while. Pluto is sometimes described as ‘creative destruction’. The old structures have to be destroyed before the new can be built.

And while it will take a long time for such a huge transformation to occur, the 2020 Saturn-Pluto conjunction gives the potential for this to begin in earnest for the first time.