In a spiritual group recently, the speaker mentioned that humans grow in awareness through the trigger of shock. Astrology contains this symbolism with Uranus as the great awakener who brings sudden and unexpected events which usually disturb but ultimately are meant to enlighten.

A common relationship Uranus experience is the partner “suddenly” decides to leave for “no reason.” There are people who do extreme things for no reason upon impulse (a certain president comes to mind), but most have a least some history of thought or discontent before walking out the door.

The shock then is the awareness that the partner probably was unhappy for at least a little while; and maybe planning escape; and maybe thinking of another — the things that shock a loving heart.

Uranus goes through each sign for about seven years and is a commonly referenced cycle of change (seven-year itch) which can be discontent or merely the desire to do something new, live “more.”

At our Uranus opposition which occurs in our early 40s we are often seen to have a “midlife crisis” which is simply Uranus moving to a position opposite of your own natal position making you focus on “out there” and potentially persons, places and things you have not understood to aid in your self awareness.

So at your midlife “crisis,” you are simply having the awareness of energies available that you never thought to engage.

Uranus in Taurus

In May 2018, Uranus moved into Taurus but went back into Aries for while before moving direct through Taurus in March 2019. Taurus is the fixed earth sign associated with body, property, money, food and anything tangible i.e., “stuff.” Taurus is the third dimension itself. Taurus is the the earth. Taurus is now.

Uranus is creating shock and awareness in these areas.

Earth and Body

How we treat our bodies, each other and the earth are all the same. The MeToo Movement focuses on sexual indiscretion, which appears rife. What we do to women, we do to the planet. The earth is “the woman” in all of our lives. Do we treat her with respect? Do we ask permission before taking things from her? Do we know when to stop and let her rejuvenate?

Rape happens to everyone and everything on the planet.

The current pandemic has put much of the globe into their Taurus abodes for a “sheltering-in-place.” Nature doesn’t seem to mind as polluted cities can now see blue sky; waterfowl are returning to places normally overrun by man; squirrels can cross the street in peace (unless there are doggies about). We can see the stars.

Uranus in Taurus has initiated climate improvement by taking away the cause of much distress – humans. As we humans focus on what’s essential, much is left alone. Earth needed its space, it appears, a “breather” from humans. At least we are still allowed to live upon its crusty surface.

Thank you, earth.

Maybe it’s the earth that’s sheltering-in-place and not humans.

Food

Food is essential to live so will always be big on the agenda. Yet the theory that the current pandemic began at a wet market in China brings up the food awakening.

Walk into an American supermarket and you will not smell food. The area of fresh food is very small, even in the largest grocery, while frozen, prepared and packaged goods are possibly 80-90 percent of what’s available.

Fresh equals alive and if you eat meat there is somewhere – maybe not in front of you – that an animal is slaughtered. Disgust at the thought of a wet market means that one is far away from where one’s food is produced.

There may be some shocks and awareness in how food is produced as the pandemic causes people to hoard. How much of our food comes from these places? What is truly fresh? What are we really eating?

Stuff

While Uranus is in Taurus, it seemed a good time to read some inspirational books including and Eckhart Tolle’s The New Earth (2005).

In The New Earth, moon-in-Taurus Tolle expounds upon the ego’s need for stuff:

As we have seen having – the concept of ownership – is a fiction created by the ego to give itself solidity and and permanency and make itself stand out, make itself special. Since you cannot find yourself through having, however, there is another more powerful drive underneath it that pertains to the structure of the ego: the need for more which we also call “wanting.” No ego can last for long without the need for more. Therefore wanting keeps the ego alive much more than having. The ego wants to want more than it wants to have. And so the shallow satisfaction of having is always replaced by more wanting. This is the psychological need for more, that is to say, more things to identify with. It is an addictive need, not an authentic one.

The ego needs a lot more than stuff as Tolle explains, but with Uranus in Taurus, stuff will be of focus.

Those with Saturn in Taurus or moon in Taurus will find even greater shock and awareness than others regarding their food, body, money and stuff. For natal Saturn in Taurus, there is a feeling of lack of stuff, physical touch and affection. Even for those who grew up in the midst of physical wealth and plenty, Saturn in Taurus tends to feel it’s not enough in some way.

In contrast, moon in Taurus finds comfort and emotional security in these same areas and will also have changes that affect comfort, compulsive behavior and reaction. The loss of favorite products during the razing of grocery store shelves can affect the Taurus moon more than other moon signs as a favorite item is not available. And if physical pleasures are blocked, even more discomfort.

With the current hoarding of stuff due to the pandemic, there’s a collective learning about supply chain and why some products take time to be replaced and others don’t. There’s also more awareness of where our stuff comes from. It’s been an awakening in the US to find critical items come from the same place where the pandemic was first recognized.

Money

As much of the earth shuts down for business, we’re seeing what money really is. It takes approximately two weeks for the whole financial system to shut down if people don’t work. And we are learning that money can come out of nowhere and be sent to you when this happens.

Where does this money come from? It’s like instant water.

The shock of sudden financial collapse can create great awareness of how financial and monetary systems work. Until it collapses, there’s no reason to examine it – who can change an entire system, anyway?

As we watch money disappear and then reappear and stock markets fluctuate, there may be great shock and awareness of the foundations of our economic systems. Uranus will provide volatility so it may be six more years of watching the financial perform like slot machines.

Taurus also rules self-worth which is often associated with money. As many become unemployed, this will create shock about self-worth and awareness that it’s not tied to your employment or income.

Shock Doctrine

It’s quite natural that even in catastrophic circumstances, individuals and groups will seek opportunity. It’s sometimes referred to as Disaster Capitalism.

Saturn-and-sun-in-Taurus author Naomi Klein brings this to our attention in her book The Shock Doctrine (2008). As we are in a global state of shock, there is awareness of power-grabbing by governments, corporations and individuals.

It’s definitely a challenge in a time of any shock and vulnerability to maintain awareness of surroundings and ward against the crossing of boundaries. This is the problem of healthcare system as well – often those trying to negotiate with the healthcare system and its ancillary systems are often in a weakened state from illness.

Every chart has Saturn. The sign in which it’s placed indicates your area of vulnerability and also greatest growth. For Klein, Saturn in Taurus makes her aware of the need to protect those who are in a state of physical or financial vulnerability. Her Saturn in Taurus is trying to warn and protect others having a transitory Saturn-in-Taurus experience of physical lack.

Uranus is shocking us into now

As more people stay home unemployed or work from home, it’s more common to hear “What day is it today?” That’s the breakdown of structure which is a little bit Uranus but mostly the Jupiter/Saturn/Pluto in Capricorn energies (although Saturn is now dipping into Aquarius).

Tolle writes that a focus on the now wipes away ego concerns and allows us to be our true selves. Uranus in Taurus created a shock to our very physical existence in many ways until we had to focus solely on what was deemed essential. Clearly days of the week are not essential. Uranus has taken us from mental, emotional and spiritual worlds into the physical world of now.