In the past, the longest orbits within the solar system were those of Jupiter, 12 years, and Saturn, almost 30 years. The points at which Jupiter caught up with and passed Saturn marked the largest supercycle that early astrologers/astronomers could deal with. And this phenomenon occurs every 20 years. The 800-year cycle where both return in the same sign is the Great Climatic Conjunction, which marked supreme epochs in human history. This conjunction made its reappearance in Sagittarius around the beginning of the Christian era, and again in the eighth and sixteenth centuries, bringing periods of great world upheaval. For this reason Jupiter and Saturn are called the Great Chronocrators.

The Jupiter – Saturn cycle is the longest cycle that does not involve the transcendental planets, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto. The complete cycle lasts about 800 years and is called climacteric. The current twenty-year cycle (20-year cycles are called cycles specialis) began in the year 2000 (May 28) when both were conjunct at the 23rd degree of Taurus. What do these conjunctions mean?

The year 2000 began a 20-year period that will help define the transition from material capital and national borders to intellectual capital and cultural borders. The first decade after the conjunction is a period where Jupiter dominates, the second decade is where Saturn dominates. Therefore, this decade (2000) is more Jupiterian, more open, progressive, humorous, etc. Whereas the 2010s will tend to be a time of consolidation, testing, conservatism and seriousness. Of course, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto tweak this, which can make a decade more open than it normally would be, or more conservative. In 2020 you will be at the very beginning of Aquarius.

On a personal level, wherever the 23rd degree of Taurus is located in your natal chart, it will signify a source of vibrant energy for the next two decades. He must see the location of the house as crucial to his growth along religious, spiritual, philosophical, educational, financial, and social paths.

And if this degree of Taurus conjoined any of your natal planets, asteroids, or chart angles on May 28, 2000, then that force of energy will be galvanized and accentuated to an extraordinary degree.