Power, Conflict, and Responsibility: A Two-Year Initiation

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I don’t normally write or speak about aspects that occur over such a lengthy time. In studying the aspects between Mars and Pluto for 2026, I came to a decision. I decided to focus on their cycle from conjunction to conjunction. I focused on their waxing and waning conjunctions, squares, trines, and quincunxes. While doing so, I noticed that this cycle is synchronous with Saturn and Neptune in Aries. The dynamics and themes of Saturn, Neptune, and their relationships will affect and color the Mars/Pluto cycle.

Neptune ingresses Aries on January 27, 2026. On the collective level, Neptune dissolves boundaries and rewires the collective dream. In Aries, this manifests as intuition meeting instinct. This is a drive to spiritualize action and reimagine identity. The shadow side of this includes illusions of heroism, escapist crusades, or addictive battles for righteousness. The evolutionary opportunity Neptune offers is to channel its dissolving force into new beginnings. Spiritual ideals are embodied through courageous acts.

The last time Neptune was in Aries (mid-1800s), there were world revolutionary movements and the reshaping of collective ideals. This period saw the building of nations in Japan, Germany, and Italy. The US Civil War served as an impetus for reforging a nation.

Neptune and Saturn in Aries create an evolutionary synthesis. When these two archetypes overlap (2025–2028),
the tension will be profound. Neptune dissolves while Saturn crystallizes. Together, they demand that dreams (Neptune) be tested against reality (Saturn). This creates an archetypal imagination of a visionary warrior who is not reckless but spiritually aligned. The collective challenge is to prevent crusades driven by delusion (Neptune’s shadow). This includes avoiding scapegoating immigrants or others of any kind. It also means resisting the rigid suppression of instinct (Saturn’s shadow). Their evolutionary task is to create a new paradigm of leadership. In this paradigm, courage is infused with compassion. Meanwhile, responsibility is guided by vision.

Neptune in Aries asks: What vision are you willing to act on, even without certainty? Individuals and collectives feel a surge of imaginative energy, blending sensitivity with assertiveness. The human drama and cosmic humor mean that this surge will inspire everyone at every evolutionary stage. In identity & relationships, Neptune in Aries can make selfhood fluid and shifting, depending on context,
while inspiring deep creativity. Positive aspects to this are: bravery, crusading for causes beyond egoism, and being a heroic visionary. The shadow aspects are impulsivity, turbulence, aggressiveness, and being solitary.

Evolution calls us to embody ideals through courageous acts, grounding our spiritual vision in lived reality. Meanwhile, the risks and challenges that will confront us include illusory crusades. These are based on Neptune’s shadow in Aries. This energy inspires false messiahs and reckless movements. Identity dissolution will continue to pose a risk. Individuals struggle with grounding themselves. As selfhood shifts with context, this struggle occurs according to their participation in narcissist/victim dynamics. The fiery Aries energy can lead to rash decisions if not tempered by reflection.

Saturn in Aries 2026 – 2028 is a karmic call to mature the soul’s instinct for action, courage, and identity. It challenges impulsive self-assertion. It demands the disciplined cultivation of authentic leadership. It requires responsibility in desiring and the transformation of raw will into sustainable, soul-aligned purpose. Saturn is in Aries during the cycle of aspects between Mars and Pluto from the conjunction to conjunction during 2026-2028. Saturn entered Aries during the month of May 2025, where it will stay until April 2028. This transit marks the beginning of Saturn’s 29-year cycle. It urges societies and individuals to harness instinctual Aries energy. This energy should be turned into sustainable and responsible action.

Consider the raw drive, instinct, and assertion of Mars. Along with this, there is the deep transformative power of death and rebirth cycles. Pluto’s collective evolution is also involved. Additionally, Mars–Pluto aspects intensify willpower and confront issues of control, survival, and empowerment. They often bring crises or breakthroughs that force us to act from a deeper place than egoism.

Saturn in Aries demands disciplined courage and responsible leadership. Mars–Pluto aspects during this period are filtered through Saturn’s lessons: impulsive force must be matured into strategic, karmically aligned action. The tension is: Do we act from instinct, or do we integrate power responsibly for
long-term transformation?

Individuals will experience Mars–Pluto aspects during Neptune and Saturn in Aries as initiations into soul-level courage. They force individuals to confront shadow impulses and transform them into empowered, disciplined action. In
societies, these aspects mark periods of upheaval, where collective will (Mars) collides with systemic transformation(Pluto).

Saturn in Aries ensures that the outcome is not just destruction. It also leads to the forging of new, lasting structures of leadership and identity. Aries embodies initiation, desiring, and raw instinct. Saturn requires these impulses to be disciplined, structured, and purposeful. Evolutionary Astrology frames this as the soul learning to channel courage into responsibility,
rather than reckless assertion.

Aries is the sign of selfhood and beginnings. Saturn here tests whether identity is rooted in egoism or in soul-aligned will.
The evolutionary task is to embody authentic leadership and take responsibility for one’s choices. Saturn in Aries asks for karmic courage—facing fears of inadequacy, failure, or rejection. The soul must learn to act with integrity, even when instinct pushes toward impulsivity. This is about becoming a “long-term warrior” rather than a short-lived crusader. Saturn sets limits and boundaries; Aries wants to break through. The tension creates lessons around healthy assertion, respecting the autonomy of others, and building sustainable initiatives.
Balancing independence with responsibility promotes evolutionary growth. Societies will test new models of authority and personal responsibility.

Saturn in Aries encourages collective restructuring based on
courage and aligned action. This marks the beginning of a new 29.5-year Saturn cycle, when seeds are planted for how identity and leadership will evolve globally. It may take this time to fix the damage caused by Trump and his supporters. People like them have negatively affected the world. Rash actions without responsibility lead to setbacks. Over-identification with personal will blocks growth, as is seen every day. Aries resists Saturn’s restraint, but the lesson is
to integrate fire with form.

People born in 2026–2028 will carry the signature of disciplined empowerment. They will be warriors of transformation. Balancing instinct with responsibility will be essential for them. The adults who are aware of experiencing this transit will wrestle with events. These events will confront everyone with stark occurrences. Instinct and responsibility are in conflict within ourselves and in society.

In Evolutionary Astrology, Mars/Pluto aspects symbolize the dynamic between the Soul’s deepest evolutionary desires (Pluto). These desires are acted upon in the world through Mars. Mars is often explained as being the lower octave of Pluto. This is based on the perception that they’re being frequencies, which is all fine and good. I invite you to envision them as expressions of the human being. They are related on a spectrum. This ranges from the raw, instinctual, unconscious will and desiring (Pluto). It extends to how it is consciously manifested, harnessed, or distorted in one’s life (Mars). The Plutonian Will holds the deepest intentions for further development. The Martian Will focuses on what and how we consciously manifest our desires.

To understand the phasal relationships of Mars and Pluto, start with Pluto to measure this angular relationship. Pluto is the slowest planet. Mars is faster, but it’s always tied to Pluto’s karmic undertow. Mars activates the impulses of the inner luminaries and planets. These include the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and what we have integrated from the outer planets. But, those conscious actions are still rooted in Pluto’s deeper unconscious impulses of karma and destiny.

With this in mind, let’s look at certain phasal relationships between Pluto and Mars from January 2026 to January 2028.
These are volatile times. This 2-year-long period isn’t so much about prediction. It is about possibilities, probabilities, tensions, and the lessons we’ll be given to face.

Mars enters tropical Aquarius on January 24, 2026. It starts with a waning conjunction during the 3rd week of January. This conjunction becomes exact on the 27th. Then it waxes afterwards until the 1st week in February. The ending of one cycle and the beginning of another cycle are happening in Aquarius. The expressions are instinctual. This conjunction brings about explosive beginnings and catalytic events. On an individual level, this means moments of raw empowerment and facing shadow drives. Collectively, this means societal upheavals, revolutions, technological breakthroughs, and social movements become more active. With Saturn in Aries, these conjunctions demand responsible initiation — not reckless upheaval. This Saturnian expression is the higher aspect of how the framework of laws and their procedures are structured.

The Leo Polarity Point calls us to stand tall. We must take charge of our own lives. We are called to evolve toward creativity, generosity, and love. If one does not align with their Polarity Point’s soul intentions, their expression will be selfish and chaotic. It will also be destructive within the individual and social realms. The effects of this misalignment stand out all the time, especially in the US.

With the waning conjunction, what is being finished will not happen again, as had been formerly experienced. Lessons have been learned, and the spiritual nature of the lessons can be sensed, even made consciously aware. Because this is
the dance of conscious and unconscious will, expect confusion, disillusionment, and even alienation. These experiences help in learning the lessons these states of mind give. They ultimately lead to discovering what is truly meaningful without external crutches. Additionally, they show how one hadn’t discovered the meaningful during the last cycle. Pluto demands we break free from outdated self-definitions.

As the conjunction turns to waxing, progressive initiatives will grow. People will violently defend their attachments to control and power. New endeavors move towards their intentions. They face off with those who adamantly or reluctantly hold onto old definitions of identity and power. These definitions are selfish and devoid of any progressive spiritual context. As the new conjunction arises, people will experience self-discovery. These experiences will clash with what has become rigid. What is no longer viable will also be challenged. These new functions emerge instinctively and spontaneously during this new cycle. They will be based on what has already been developed. They can also be driven by unconscious forces. Either way, experiences arise that promote self-discovery.

A square between Mars and Pluto is a time of conflict, tension, and power struggles. Individually, we will face tests of endurance, learning to assert ourselves without domination. Collectively, there will be clashes between personal will and
systemic transformation. The highest calling by Saturn in Aries calls for these conflicts to be training grounds for mature courage.

May 26 has Mars in the 6thº of Taurus. It forms an exact waxing square with Pluto retrograde in the 6thº of Aquarius. All Mars-Pluto aspects express a deep-seated need to transform limitations to individual identity and reality. As we know, a square is a phase of being “crisis in action”. There is a need to consciously build and make concrete (Mars/Taurus) the new evolutionary impulse indicated at the conjunction. A new form needs to be made. Yet, there is a fear. There is also a temptation to slide back into old habits. This aspect brings a great deal of raw power and energy, which must be consistently channeled toward relevant goals. Aquarian Pluto impels us to rethink externally sourced limitations. We must also reject outmoded self-definitions. We must develop a sense of objectivity and detachment. At the same time, we need to confront any way we are being aloof, uncommitted, and rigid.

We are successful to the degree we achieve living out of the Leo Polarity Point. It involves creative self-expression, heart-centered leadership, and courage to stand in one’s own light. In this way, our conscious activity will be focused on heartfelt, humanitarian endeavors. This square also brings about instances in which physical situations and/or our own values are elements of confrontation. This is shown by the Sabian symbols of 6º Taurus. A bridge is being built across a gorge. Additionally, 6º Aquarius shows a masked figure performing ritualistic acts in a mystery play. We can say the overcoming of difficulties and limitations of intelligence through instinctively practical actions (Taurus Mars) is constructive. It expresses one’s sensitivity to a higher purpose. This involves the innovative, spiritual, and humanitarian aspects (Aquarian Pluto), thus taking charge of one’s own destiny (Leo Polarity Point).

The activity of this square is dependent upon the evolutionary level of the individual. The highly charged sexual power of this square can be channeled anywhere on a spectrum. It ranges from being physically driven to channeling energy towards holding onto society-defined roles and identities. It also involves aggressively defending definitions of individuality. Alternatively, it can focus on the path of self-transformation and service. During the US Pluto return, controversial sexual practices are highlighted. Abuse issues have become a major focus of national concern. This is shown by the so-called release of the Epstein Files and the redactions made.

Mars ingresses into Gemini on June 28. It does so again on July 5. During this time, it makes a waxing trine to Pluto retrograde at 5º in their signs, Gemini and Aquarius. The Sabian symbols for their respective 5º— Mars – A Radical Magazine, Asking for Action, Displays a Sensational Front Page. / Pluto – A Council of Ancestors. These are pictures that illustrate imaginative ideas. They show the compelling and efficient power of propaganda. They also showcase the exteriorization of emotional sympathy found in organized reform. These ideas are based on historical actions that inspire a potent foundation for character. Aligning one’s conscious will with the will of the Higher Self is a challenging task. This alignment is the purpose of Mars aspects with Pluto.

The waxing trine calls for actualizing what one has earlier learned about making this purpose individualistic and specific.
This trine also calls for becoming aware of the entire process of evolutionary purpose. Most positively, this trine makes this process easier to integrate and build within oneself and in society. Those who do not live up to their higher calling will experience a flow of unconscious will. They will also have genius intuitions and have the wish and ability to actualize them in daily life. The proverbial devil will have his day. Yet, higher evolutionary truth will still exist. The individual will experience a humiliating downfall. For many witnessing this, such a downfall can’t happen soon enough.

Mars ingresses into Cancer on August 11 in a waxing inconjunct aspect to Pluto. The exact inconjunct occurs on
August 17 at their respective 4º. Pluto is still retrograde in Aquarius. Mars is at the 4thº of Cancer, represented by the Sabian symbol A Cat Arguing With a Mouse. Pluto is at the 4thº of Aquarius, represented by the Sabian symbol A Hindu Healer. The waxing inconjunct between them, according to Jeffrey Wolf Green, brings either clarification or confusion. This is true in light of the adjustments necessary to achieve one’s evolutionary intent. Inward or outward crises arise to induce us to analyze what needs to be adjusted in our lives. We feel a special purpose to actualize. Still, understanding how to make this real brings us to a crisis point. This unknowing yet feeling the need to adjust oneself calls forth a need for humility.

The archetypes of Mars consist of instinct, action, and passion. They are rooted in Pluto’s archetypes of transformation and unconscious drives. These often manifest as a misalignment between impulse and soul intent. The challenge of Mars involves acting too quickly. This arises through ego-driven Plutonic power struggles and hidden motives. Such actions bring about crises of adjustment and a need for refinement.

Inconjuncts are awkward, requiring reorientation. Here, Mars’ instinctive drive feels misaligned with Pluto’s deeper evolutionary needs. This aspect calls us to recognize compulsive or misdirected actions. We must adjust how personal will (Mars) serves soul evolution (Pluto). This adjustment will help to release old survival strategies. These strategies no longer serve growth. In other words, the evolutionary task is to develop conscious choice and refinement of instinct. All this is born from and calls for
deep transformations and surrender, to align with the spirit’s intentions.

Pluto is the embodiment of the soul’s unconscious evolutionary desires. Mars is the executor of those desires. Together, they show how we act in real time. When in opposition, instinct and soul intent face off. This opposition can manifest as externalized conflict, resulting from projection or confrontation with shadow material. Individually, we will experience confrontations with externalized shadow projections. As a collective, we’ll experience ideological battles and confrontations with generations.

Saturn in Aries requires integration: the warrior must be patient and accountable. Through Evolutionary Astrology, we can understand that the waxing opposition between Mars and Pluto shows a crisis of confrontation. Instinctive action (Mars) meets the soul’s deeper evolutionary intent (Pluto) head-on. This demands awareness of power dynamics. The waning opposition is a crisis of completion. Old patterns of desiring and control must be released. This allows the soul to integrate lessons. It also prepares the soul for renewal.

The waning opposition occurs before the exact aspect and, of course, the waxing opposition. The waning opposition leads toward the closure of the cycle. This is the crisis of completion. The soul confronts what must be released. It lets go of compulsive old survival strategies, power plays, and destructive desires. Its evolutionary task is to integrate by distilling wisdom gained from past confrontations to prepare for renewal. One can experience exhaustion from old battles and recognition of futility in repeating power struggles. The opportunity is for us to surrender and align the instinct with soul purpose through humility and release.

The waxing opposition occurs before the culmination of the cycle. This is a time of crisis through confrontation: Mars’ instinctive drive collides with Pluto’s deeper compulsion. External conflicts highlight inner misalignment and power struggles. On a psychological level, we act out unconscious drives, confronting externalized “enemies” that mirror our inner shadows. This opposition provides the opportunity for conscious confrontation—learning to channel raw energy
into purposeful transformations rather than destructive conflicts. The evolutionary call is to recognize how personal will may be resisting soul-level transformation.

The subtleties of waning and waxing are, of course, over-arched by the archetype of the exact opposition. Mars opposes retrograde Pluto exactly on October 3rd, 2026. This occurs at the 4th° of Leo and the 4th° of Aquarius, respectively. The opposition is about innovation, rebellion, and collective consciousness. It encourages breaking free from traditional constraints. This opposition can lead to intense interactions. Dramatic events or personal revelations arise as energies clash. They seek a resolution between individual desires and collective needs.

This exact opposition suggests a moment of reckoning—where suppressed rage, control issues, or survival fears surface. Retrograde Pluto intensifies the inward pull, forcing individuals and collectives to confront hidden motives and ancestral imprints. Pluto Retrograde brings out unresolved karmic material, unconscious power struggles, and evolutionary pressure to purge what no longer serves. Mars demands immediate action, but Pluto insists on transformation before progress.

The opposition is the tension between the conscious drive of Mars and the unconscious compulsion of Pluto. It often manifests as externalized conflict, projection, or encounters with others who embody the shadow we resist. Encounters with authority figures or adversaries who mirror our own inner shadow will take place, in one form or another. There will be a need to meet and confront authority figures or adversaries who mirror our inner shadow. There is a need to understand the dynamics. One must balance the assertive independence of Mars and the deep transformation of Pluto. Lessons in courage will be marked by choosing conscious action over reactive aggression.

JWG succinctly points out that with this aspect, individual soul intent is given social meaning. The houses in which this opposition transits will show the life areas where the dynamics will manifest socially. One’s needs, ideas, ideals, desires, beliefs, etc., contrast not only with others but also ultimately with Higher Will. These will lead to power struggles between nations, institutions, or ideologies peaking. Old structures collapse. This occurs during Pluto retrograde, while new, bold initiatives emerge. Saturn in Aries symbolizes a collective push to purge toxic leadership or outdated systems.

Mars has a waning quincunx aspect to Pluto on December 5, 2026. Pluto is direct and both are still in the 4thº of their respective signs, Virgo and Aquarius. The evolutionary force of deep transformation, power, and shadow integration now focuses on the outward manifestation of its themes. It no longer emphasizes purely internal review. The quincunx is an aspect of adjustment, tension, and reorientation. It’s neither harmonious nor openly confrontational, but it demands recalibration, which is often through discomfort or a crisis of purpose

The opposition brought clarification or confusion during attempts to achieve one’s evolutionary intent. Inward and outward crises called us to make needed adjustments in our lives. This created a sense of a special purpose to give actualized social meaning to individual soul-intent.

The waning inconjunct clarifies the concepts or awareness of personal and social limitations. It highlights what can and cannot concretize social purpose. Violations of individual or societal boundaries often spark emotional confrontations that cultivate humility in both realms. I cannot fathom nor speculate what it will take for Donald Trump et al to feel humility. Symbolically, the waning phase is the evolutionary “letting go” stage.

Mars is finalizing its cycle with Pluto, suggesting integration of lessons learned and the release of compulsive patterns. This waning quincunx indicates a karmic moment. Instinctual drives (Mars) must be adjusted. They need to align with deeper evolutionary imperatives (Pluto). It’s not about confrontation, like the opposition earlier in October 2026. It is about subtle, often uneasy shifts. Old modes of assertion no longer fit the soul’s trajectory. This makes it a period of inner discomfort where instinctual drives feel “out of sync” with deeper soul imperatives.

Saturn in Aries insists disciplined individuation, courage with responsibility, and karmic accountability towards self-directed action. With Mars and Pluto in a quincunx relationship, Saturn in Aries acts as the stern teacher. It demands that Mars’ impulses be tempered by maturity. The Mars quincunx to Pluto highlights the need to adjust how power and will are expressed. This expression should no longer be through domination or compulsion. Instead, it should be through conscious, responsible courage. These are lessons in patience, learning to act responsibly (Saturn in Aries) while
releasing compulsive patterns (Pluto). There is a need to refine how one asserts independence.This is less about force, more about conscious adjustment. Collectively, this calls for adjustments in global power structures—nations recalibrating military or economic strategies. A shift from overt conflict (October opposition) to subtler restructuring of alliances, authority, and control.

On July 26, 2027, Mars forms a waning trine aspect with a retrograde Pluto. This occurs in the 7thº of their respective signs, Libra and Aquarius. This waning trine marks the integration phase of the Mars–Pluto cycle. Mars is personal will, drive, and action; Pluto symbolizes deep transformation, power, and evolutionary necessity. The trine aspect indicates relative ease, but flow is a better word. The trine operates with all expressions of planetary combinations and evolutionary soul levels. Out of karmic necessity, a harmonious trine can create ease and flow in one’s life. It aims to lead the soul to a necessary downfall. Waning suggests closure, assimilation, and release of lessons from earlier confrontations. Evolutionary Astrology recognizes this is a time to consciously integrate past struggles with power, anger, and passion. These struggles can be turned into wisdom, not repeating destructive patterns. Mars trine Pluto allows individuals and the collective to channel deep, transformative energy constructively. Instead of explosive conflict, there’s potential for strategic empowerment and healing of past misuse of force. Of course, this depends on whether, or not, or to what degree, one is resistant to the impulses for transformation.

Saturn is structure, limits, and karmic accountability. Aries is ruled by Mars, so Saturn here is under Mars’ influence, demanding disciplined assertion and responsible pioneering. This placement emphasizes personal responsibility in initiating new cycles—not reckless beginnings, but carefully structured ones. Collectively, Saturn in Aries often coincides with themes of new leadership, redefining courage, and testing the integrity of bold initiatives.

The waning trine signals the end of a Mars–Pluto cycle. Saturn in Aries marks the start of a Saturn cycle. Together, they symbolize a paradox: closing old karmic struggles with power while responsibly initiating new paths of courage and leadership.

In evolutionary astrology, a waning square (270° phase) is about a crisis in consciousness. It’s not about instinctively building new structures, like the waxing square. It focuses on confronting what has been created. It is about questioning its meaning and releasing what no longer serves. This creates new foundations of awareness that embraces the spiritual.

September 9, 2027, Mars’ personal will collides in a waning square with Pluto’s deeper evolutionary necessity. This often manifests as tension between ego-driven action and the soul’s
demand for surrender, humility, and transformation. Mars is instinctual will, assertion, and direct action. Pluto symbolizes the soul’s evolutionary intent for transformation and the compulsion to purge what is stagnant. The waning square presents a challenge, as Mars seeks to push ahead, but Pluto insists on an inner reckoning. This can feel like frustration. It can also feel like blocked will or compulsive conflict. This feeling persists until one learns to align personal drive with deeper soul purpose.

Mars is at the 5thº of Scorpio, and Pluto is at the 5thº of Aquarius. The Sabian symbols: for Mars—5º Scorpio – A Massive, Rocky Shore Resists the Pounding of the Sea. Revelation of absolutely stable elements in all life. Strong confidence stems from fundamental perception. Without it, one can experience spiritual inertia. For Pluto—5º Aquarius –A Council of Ancestors reveals the rich ancestral heritage of every individual. This heritage, as a part of the foundation of character, directs real inspiration. These symbols corroborate the dynamics of this particular square. They urge one to be clear. Trust Pluto’s inspirations of transformation. This trust leads to the treasure that ensues. Thus, one will act in confidence, knowing one is living according to spiritual law — walking the good red road. Those who resist will constantly react without genuine consideration. They will fly by the seat of their pants to whatever is going on around them.

The evolutionary task of Saturn in Aries is to mature the instinct to act. It demands responsibility in how one asserts
independence, initiates projects, and expresses anger or passion. Instead of impulsive Aries fire, Saturn insists on conscious, disciplined use of willpower. This placement often tests whether one can balance courage with patience. It also tests if one’s pioneering impulses can be grounded in a sustainable form.

Mars waning square Pluto + Saturn and Neptune in Aries creates a crucible in which we will be forged. Mars’ instinctual drive is checked by Pluto’s demand for soul-level transformation and Saturn’s deliberateness. The waning square says: “You can’t just act; you must understand the
deeper meaning of your actions.”This is a karmic moment when the soul is asked to release old patterns of domination,
aggression, or compulsive willfulness. The challenge is to integrate Mars’ assertive energy into Pluto’s evolutionary intent, while Saturn and Neptune are in Aries. This teaches restraint and conscious initiation, by release and surrender of earlier definitions of self and society. The soul learns to act not from compulsion or ego. Instead, it acts from a place of mature responsibility. It aligns with a deeper purpose. The waning square is the confrontation with shadow—realizing that brute force (Mars) cannot conquer the underworld (Pluto).

Saturn in Aries is like the elder warrior archetype. It is no longer the reckless youth. Instead, it’s the seasoned fighter who knows when to act and when to hold back. Together, they symbolize a soul learning to wield power responsibly. It learns to burn away old compulsions. It also learns to start new paths with integrity. The waning trine calls us to consciously integrate what we experienced during past struggles with power, anger, and desiring. We should use wisdom, rather than repeat destructive patterns. To the degree to which an individual, or society, has integrated the potential for strategic empowerment,
and healing of past misuse of force, or to the degree one is resistant to the impulses for transformation, will be part of the foundation of what is now built during the waning square for the future

On January 12, 2028, Mars returns to be conjunct with Pluto at the 7thº of Aquarius. This is the same degree when Mars was in a waning trine to Pluto. Since Mars earlier formed a waning trine to Pluto at this same degree, the conjunction “closes the loop.” It’s like revisiting a karmic checkpoint— what was once flowing and harmonious (trine) now becomes intense and concentrated (conjunction). What was missed or untransformed is upon us again, but now with the force of initiation rather than resolution.

This cycle has been completed while Saturn is in Aries. We have all experienced alienation, confusion, disassociation, discontent, and disillusionment in myriad ways. We learned what our personal and collective illusions are. We discovered how we have made them meaningful. We also understood what we need for security. We have explored the raw catalytic power of Mars and Pluto. Mars is conscious will, drive, and assertion. These qualities connect to Pluto’s deeply transformative power through different aspects. When conjunct again, they signify collective surges of force, breakthroughs, or confrontations with hidden power.

This is happening in an Aquarius setting. The conjunction channels themes of collective systems and technology. It also includes social movements and radical restructuring of our consciousness. It’s about personal battles and group dynamics. It also involves networks and societal evolution. The lemniscate of experience lives between the collective and the individual. They affect each other.

The Mars-Pluto cycles last about 2 years. The waning trine is a period of integration and release, while the conjunction marks a new seed-moment. Returning to the same degree suggests a resurfacing of a continuity of unfinished thematic business.

Saturn in Aries (2026–2028) is the defining power that emphasizes discipline in self-assertion, pioneering structures, and testing individual willpower. It adds a stern, karmic frame around the Mars–Pluto Aquarian intensity. The impulse to act is checked by Saturn’s demand for responsibility and maturity. This calls us to confront hidden forces within the collective and technological order.

As human beings, we continuously face each moment with various levels of consciousness. We are often totally unconscious and react unconsciously. Sometimes, we dream through our experiences and continue to react unconsciously. Sometimes, we are dimly aware. Our unconscious is activated, with some conscious awareness seeping through. Hopefully, we will bring more of our unconscious content into consciousness. Eventually, our daily consciousness will be rooted in an unconscious filled with more transformed content.

May our conscious choices be in alignment with the spirit. May we be devoted to goodness, beauty, and truth.

Michael