In the early 1980’s a severe economic recession affected much of the developed world, but America’s National Bureau of Economic Research reckons the economic slump was two separate recessions – one lasting from January to June 1980 and the other from July 1981 to November 1982.
Saturn is the planet of recession and recessions occur when many economic variables flip from expansion (Jupiter) to contraction (Saturn).
They can take years to develop and creep up gradually or they can strike suddenly out of the blue (Uranus); and an economic downturn can occur without a major stock market crash (house 5).
The influence of Saturn – through fear and pessimism – is to reduce demand, contract business activity, increase unemployment, reduce profits, cut costs and curtail consumer spending.
The January – June 1980 recession
In January 1980 the US economy entered a recession that, at the time, was the most significant since the Great Depression.
Here on Earth the Iranian Revolution in 1979 had sparked a second large round of oil price rises (Neptune) and the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tame inflation (Neptune) through restrictive (Saturn) monetary policy which dampened economic growth are considered to be its two main triggers.
And in the sky Saturn had moved into orb of a high-discord square aspect with Neptune in September 1978 and from then until September 1980 their three square aspects reached peak power on September 14, 1979, March 26, 1980 and June 22, 1980.
Saturn square Neptune in the sky timed and scripted the January-June 1980 recession.
The July 1981 – November 1982 recession
The two recessions that occurred in America in the early 1980s were separated by a robust but uneven and tenuous recovery and at the time two significant economic developments occurred. The incomes of wealthy (Jupiter) and working class Americans (Saturn) began to diverge sharply, and Ronald Reagan’s fiscal policies led to unprecedented federal budget deficits (Saturn) and a massive buildup of the national debt (Saturn-house 8).
On August 5, 1980 Jupiter in the sky – the planet of expansion – moved into orb of a conjunction aspect with Saturn – the planet of contraction; and their prominence energy-event reached peak power on December 31, 1980.
On January 15, 1981 Saturn turned retrograde and on January 24 Jupiter turned retrograde and on March 4, 1981 they formed their second conjunction aspect.
March 1981 was an eventful month. A new Mars cycle commenced on March 19 and a new Saturn cycle commenced on March 30 and in both cycle charts Jupiter was conjunction Saturn.
On May 22, 1981 Jupiter (at 00 Libra 26) reversed its retrograde motion; and on June 5, 1981 Saturn (at 2 Libra 59) turned to direct motion; and on July 24, 1981 Jupiter and Saturn formed their third conjunction aspect. It timed the start of the July 1981 – November 1982 recession.
America’s Jupiter-Saturn conjunction chart July 24, 1981
Chart data is July 24, 1981 at 12.19am EDT (77W01; 38N53)
Jupiter and Saturn are in house 6 (labor, workers and employees); Saturn is cusp ruler of house 10 (business activity); and Jupiter and Saturn are sextile Sun in house 4 and square Mars in house 3.
Saturn conjunction Pluto November 8, 1982
Jupiter moved out of orb of a conjunction aspect with Saturn in early December 1981 but by then – in September 1981 – Saturn had moved into orb of a conjunction aspect with Pluto. Their in-sky merger reached peak power on November 8, 1982.
Saturn moved out of orb of a conjunction aspect with Pluto in December 1983.
(Throughout 1982 the influence of Saturn was constant and pronounced as Saturn and Pluto formed three high-discord parallel aspects on December 6, 1981, February 25, 1982 and September 5, 1982.)
Jupiter conjunction Saturn and Saturn conjunction Pluto in the sky timed and scripted the July 1981–November 1982 recession here on Earth.
America’s Saturn-Pluto conjunction chart November 7, 1982
Chart data is November 7, 1982 at 7.43.53pm EST (77W01; 38N53)
Saturn and Pluto (and Sun, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter) are in house 5 so the in-sky energy-event directly impacted and influenced the stock market, entertainment industry, children, schools and sport.
A brief timeline of what happened
In America in 1980 inflation (Neptune) soared to 13.5%; in June 1982 the prime interest rate reached 21.5%; and in November and December 1982 (with Saturn conjunction Pluto in the sky at peak power) unemployment reached 10.8% – the highest since the Great Depression.
By mid-1982 there were 42 bank failures (Jupiter) as the recession and high interest rates inflicted financial damage; but the banking industry (Jupiter-house 2) was affected for a long time after the economic downturn had technically ended, in November 1982. In 1983 another 50 banks failed.
The world economy remained in the doldrums throughout 1982; and high unemployment affected OECD nations until at least 1985.
Saturn was conjunction Pluto in the sky from September 1981 to December 1983.
Related reading
- March 10, 2000: The dotcom boom busts
- Jupiter conjunction Saturn: December 21, 2020
- More about the in-sky Jupiter-Saturn conjunction
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