The Covid-19 vaccine is dominating headlines; Saturn Square Uranus is exact 3 times in 2021 & Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine and the procedure of vaccination – had a natal Saturn-Uranus square!

Looking back in time certainly shows some interesting correlations with vaccination – including vaccination legislation – and Saturn-Uranus alignments.

Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus is the stand out aspect of 2021. Due to the pandemic, on the horizon is also the possibility of vaccine passports – and the prospect of governments barring the un-vaccinated from travelling, holding certain jobs, and attending public events; which clearly embraces Saturn-Uranus themes – social responsibility versus personal freedom.

Vaccine passports are undeniably controversial, and inevitably likely to be a heated, high profile issue. Furthermore – historically for almost as long as vaccination has existed so has criticism and opposition to it, especially if legislation makes vaccination compulsory.

Edward Jenner ~ saturn square uranus native

Whilst the history of immunisation does not start with Edward Jenner, he did pioneer the smallpox vaccine – the first vaccine to be developed against a contagious disease – and a new procedure he called vaccination. Edward Jenner is often called the “father of immunology” and his work is said to have “saved more lives than the work of any other human”.

Edward Jenner tested the vaccine by administering the first vaccination to an 8 year old boy, James Phipps, who was successfully vaccinated against smallpox in 1796 (May 14th/July 1st) – when Saturn was square Uranus. Additionally, Edward Jenner was himself a Saturn square Uranus native – with the transiting square forming a T-square with his Sun, Mercury and Venus! ~ (Birth data ~ 6th May 1749 Jul.Cal./17th May 1749 Greg.Cal. ~ from astro.com)

Transit Saturn square Uranus & natal Sun

Between July 1794 & February 1796 there were 5 exact Saturn-Uranus squares. What is truly fitting – (& fascinating!) – given Edward Jenner’s discovery and how it shaped his life (and the world), is that throughout this time, transit Saturn & Uranus were also influencing his natal Sun.

Edward Jenner’s natal Sun was at 26 Taurus – and the 1st of 5 squares took place on July 9th 1794, when Saturn at 26 Taurus was exactly square Uranus at 26 Leo – so he was experiencing transit Saturn conjunct, & transit Uranus square, his natal Sun. The final 2 squares in January/February 1796 saw transit Uranus trine his natal – exalted – Mars in Capricorn.

Although Edward Jenner received worldwide recognition and honours for his discovery, he made no attempt to financially gain from it. In fact, he devoted so much time to the cause of vaccination – despite attacks and ridicule from some spheres – that his private practice and personal affairs suffered.

Before vaccination, the first method of protection against smallpox was called variolation – a primitive and more risky procedure – which was practised by the Chinese as early as the 15th Century, and by the 1700s was being widely used in England. Gradually, vaccination replaced variolation and in the United Kingdom a series of legislative acts were passed by parliament.

The Vaccination Acts (United Kingdom)

The Vaccination Acts of 1840, 1853, 1867, 1898 and 1907 all correlated with Saturn-Uranus alignments.

The vaccination Act of 1840 provided free vaccinations and made variolation illegal (Saturn-Uranus square 1839/40 ~ Closing square of the Saturn-Uranus cycle that began in 1805).

The Vaccination Act of 1853 made it compulsory for all infants up to three months old to be vaccinated against smallpox, with failure to do so resulting in a fine (Saturn-Uranus conjunction 1852 ~ Start of a new Saturn-Uranus cycle).

The 1853 Act was extended in 1867 (Saturn trine Uranus 1866), when the age requirement for vaccination was increased to 14 and further penalties added for refusal.

The laws making vaccinations compulsory were met with resistance from the people. The Anti-Vaccination League was founded in 1866 (Saturn trine Uranus), growing from earlier smaller organisations, and furthermore anti-vaccine journals were published and anti-vaccine rallies held. The Leicester Demonstration of 1885 was one of the most notorious, taking place when a triple Saturn-Uranus square (Closing square) was influential in the sky – June 1885/November 1885 & April 1886.

The Leicester Daily Post described it as “the greatest and most representative demonstration against the vaccination acts ever witnessed in this country.” (1)

“The most important outcome of the demonstration emerged the following year at the triennial election of the Guardians, the body responsible for the enforcement of the Vaccination Acts. The anti-vaccinators swept the field  and the new Board pledged itself to non-compliance with the law.

In the years that followed Leicester became notorious for its policy; to most outsiders it was regarded as negligent.” (2)

The Leicester Demonstration took place on March 23rd 1885. The chart shows that whilst the square between Saturn & Uranus is wide, they are forming a bi-septile aspect (102.50 degrees). Charles Harvey in ‘Mundane Astrology’ says about the closing square:

 A point of major crisis, instability and tension in any cycle

and the incoming bi-septile:

This marks a renewed possibility for some kind of inner vision in relation to the meaning and purpose of the cycle in question.

The chart also reveals another highly significant influence as Uranus in Libra was trine Pluto in Gemini, with the exact trine occurring on March 29th 1885.

Notably, ahead – during 2026/27 – we will experience three Uranus-Pluto trines – in air signs – between Uranus in Gemini & Pluto in Aquarius.

Such demonstrations and general opposition partially succeeded in generating change, as they led to the 1898 Vaccination Act. Where a clause was added to allow parents who did not believe that vaccination was efficacious or safe to obtain a certificate of exemption. This clause gave rise to the term “conscientious objector” (Triple Saturn-Uranus conjunction 1897 ~ Start of a new Saturn-Uranus cycle).

The resistance to, and campaign to end compulsory vaccination continued, and the 1907 Vaccination Act further simplified the process of exemption. This enabled parents to make a statutory declaration, instead of having to satisfy two magistrates of their conscientious objections to obtain a certificate (Saturn-Uranus sextile June/August 1905 & March 1906 ~ Waxing sextile – when ideas initiated by the conjunction can become integrated).

The abolition of compulsory smallpox vaccination was finally achieved when the Vaccination Acts were repealed by the National Health Service Act of 1946. This act came into effect on July 5th 1948 creating the National Health Service. The 1942 Beveridge Report established the principles of the NHS – that health services should be comprehensive, universal and free, based on clinical need not on ability to pay (Saturn-Uranus Conjunction 1942).

Jacobson v. Massachusetts (united states of america)

In the United States of America, as smallpox outbreaks led to vaccination laws – just the same as in the U.K – this gave rise to the development of anti-vaccine movements. One individuals refusal to be vaccinated led to a precedent case – Jacobson v. Massachusetts – which has been used recently during the pandemic to justify public health orders.

In Massachusetts, one of the eleven states to have compulsory vaccination laws, resident Henning Jacobson refused vaccination during an outbreak of smallpox in 1902, and was fined $5. Henning Jacobson had suffered adverse effects after a vaccination and argued that the law violated his right to care for his own body.

After losing his court battle locally he appealed to the Supreme Court; where in 1905 the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Jacobson v. Massachusetts upheld the governments right to mandate vaccination to preserve the public health – but even so – that it is not in their power to vaccinate anyone by force (Saturn-Uranus sextile June/August 1905 & March 1906).

The case was heard on December 4th 1904 and a verdict given on February 20th 1905; and notably in regards to the present, Saturn was in Aquarius from January 1903 until January 1906.

The chart for December 4th shows a Saturn-Uranus semi-square, an aspect that can be highly purposeful and relate to the “precipitation of events” (3). The chart for February 20th reveals a septile aspect between Saturn & Uranus. With a septile “there often seems to be something more obviously ‘fated’ about the events and circumstances of this phase” (4).

Whilst I was researching this, the Leicester Demonstration & Jacobson v. Massachusetts stood out as key events, so I looked for the exact dates to look at the charts. Studying the charts revealed additional fascinating, and meaningful Saturn-Uranus aspects. Without doubt I will be doing further study into septiles, bi-septiles and tri-septiles – which are 7th harmonic aspects – as this has really triggered my curiosity!

Update (18/04/2021) ~ A News article I came across revealed that vaccine passports actually date back more than 120 years. The first time that certificates of vaccination were required was in India in the midst of a plague epidemic, during which time the British Government of India passed the Epidemic Diseases Act in 1897 – when there was a Triple Saturn-Uranus Conjunction.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, India has invoked provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, to limit the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic (Wikipedia).

 ahead ~ liberty or authoritarian health laws?

So, to me – based on my very modest bit of research – the correspondence of Saturn-Uranus aspects with vaccination/vaccination legislation/passports is seemingly notable.

The three exact Saturn-Uranus squares in 2021 are the closing squares of the current Saturn-Uranus cycle which began in 1988. A new cycle begins at the next Saturn-Uranus conjunction in 2032, in Gemini. About historical periods when there were dynamic aspects between Saturn and Uranus, Richard Tarnas in ‘Cosmos and Psyche’ says that these periods were marked by:

the exacerbation of tensions between authority and rebellion, order and freedom, structure and change

What will come to pass ahead is hard to say, but what will possibly be bought (even more) sharply into focus is a contentious confrontation between basic human rights and individual liberty, with authoritarian health laws.

Currently there are already so many restrictions in place – around travel and the wearing of masks for instance – which are seemingly unlikely to be lifted anytime soon.

So ultimately, where are we heading? freedom or oppression?

Andre Barbault ~ 2026

With incredible accuracy, the magnificent French astrologer Andre Barbault – in 2011 – predicted a pandemic would occur. Ahead he gives us hope, as a (relatively) short distance away in 2026 is when he says:

there is a harmonic Saturn-Neptune conjunction at the central point of an encouraging double sextile to Uranus and Pluto which are trine each other. It will probably be a change for the better when the headlines will be more agreeable and the civilisation of our new mini Great Year at last becomes adult

In light of the fact that there is a great deal still unknown about covid-19, including any long term effects of the new covid-19 vaccines, and ongoing discord over the political handling of the pandemic – ahead Saturn moves into Pisces in 2023.

Since Saturn entered Capricorn on December 20th 2017, he has been in a strong position. Once Saturn enters Pisces (ruled by Jupiter & Neptune) his power is (to an extent) reined in and curtailed – Saturn no longer has the final say.

Following this, Saturn sextile Uranus will be exact April/August 2025 & January 2026. Then, in February 2026 is Saturn conjunct Neptune, at 0 Aries – the vernal point – a significant point in the zodiac.

This suggests that from 2023 onwards is when some concrete information (Saturn) starts to emerge about the vaccine and the handling of the pandemic (Neptune). Alongside, as to anything that has been dishonourable or coercive – Saturn-Neptune bestows the potential for the reversal and dissolving of it. The weakening of authority and the possibility of some having to take responsibility for any measures that proved harmful.

This includes any legislation – either pushed forwards to be, or potentially become – put in place to make vaccination mandatory/vaccination passports compulsory. As it is undoubtedly highly likely this would currently be met with opposition – and then ongoing resistance.

In company with Saturn-Neptune will be Uranus trine Pluto, mentioned earlier in relation to the Leicester Demonstration (exact July/November 2026 & June 2027).

About Saturn-Neptune & Uranus trine Pluto, Andre Barbault additionally says:

It is one of the most benefic configurations of the century

It contains a harmonious relationship between primordial polar opposites; the coming together of the external and the internal, rational and spiritual, mind and soul… human beings surpassing themselves while experiencing life on a higher level.

 

References

 

Mundane Astrology ~ Michael Baigent, Nicholas Campion and Charles Harvey (3&4)

Planetary Cycles, Mundane Astrology ~ Andre Barbault

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination ~ Stefan Riedel, MD, PhD

www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – The Fight against Vaccination: The Leicester Demonstration of 1885 ~ Christopher Charlton (1&2)

www.supreme.justia.com – Jacobson v. Massachusetts :: 197 U.S. 11 (1905) :: Justia US Supreme Court Center

www.bu.edu – Rediscovering Jacobson in the Era of Covid-19 ~ Wendy E. Parmet

www.npr.org -The Vaccine Passport Debate Actually Began in 1897 Over A Plague Vaccine ~ Fran Kritz

 

Images

John Raphael Smith: Edward Jenner on a tree ~ Wikimedia Commons

Horrible Monster Vaccination ~ Wikimedia Commons