Sun-Venus-Mars Conjunction

Figure 1 shows the forthcoming conjunction of Sun, Venus and Mars around January 6th to 8th of 2026 in the area of 16º to 18º of Capricorn. The conjunction is opposed by Jupiter in 20º retrograde of Cancer.  The midpoint between my Ascendant and Sun is almost exactly 19º Aries so it's likely to have some effect on me.

Figure 1

Here is what Gemini had to say about the synodic period of Venus and Mars.

The synodic period of Mars and Venus relative to each other—specifically the interval between their conjunctions as viewed from Earth—is approximately 2.13 years (about 780 days) on average.

However, this interval is highly irregular compared to the standard synodic periods of planets relative to the Sun. While the mathematical average is about 2.13 years, the actual gap between conjunctions can swing between roughly 1.9 years and 2.6 years due to the planets' complex relative motions.

Here is a breakdown of why this happens and how the cycle works:

1. The "Geocentric" Mechanism

To understand the timing, it helps to view the motions from Earth's perspective:

• Mars moves relatively slowly across the sky. The Sun (and Earth) "laps" Mars every 780 days (Mars's synodic period).

• Venus is an "inferior" planet, meaning it is tethered to the Sun from our perspective. It never strays more than 47° from the Sun.

• The Result: Since Venus always stays close to the Sun, it effectively "tags along" with the Sun as the Sun laps Mars. Therefore, Venus also passes Mars on average every 780 days.

2. Why the Interval Varies

Unlike the Sun, which moves at a relatively steady pace along the ecliptic, Venus oscillates back and forth around the Sun (appearing as the Morning Star or Evening Star).

• Short Interval (~1.9 years): If Venus is on the "leading" side of the Sun during one pass and on the "trailing" side during the next, it catches up to Mars sooner.

• Long Interval (~2.6 years): If Venus is "trailing" the Sun and then switches to "leading" for the next encounter, the gap between conjunctions widens significantly.

• Triple Conjunctions: Occasionally, if Mars is moving very slowly (near retrograde) and Venus swings past it, reverses, and passes it again, you can get three conjunctions in a short span of a few months.

Summary of Recent & Future Conjunctions

To illustrate the irregularity, here are recent and upcoming dates:

• July 13, 2021: Conjunction (Separation ~0.5°)

• February 22, 2024: Conjunction (Interval: ~2.6 years)

• January 8, 2026: Next Conjunction (Interval: ~1.9 years)

Note on Visibility: The conjunction on January 8, 2026, will be very difficult to see because both planets will be very close to the Sun in the sky (solar conjunction).  

Comparison: Heliocentric Period

If you were floating in space looking at the planets orbiting the Sun (heliocentric view), Mars and Venus align much more frequently—every 334 days. We don't see this from Earth because our own orbital motion constantly shifts our viewing angle.

Eris

Having made a post about Eris in my Astrology blog (link), I've now added it to my natal chart (Figure 1) and considered its current position relative to my chart (Figure 2).

Figure 1

Figure 2

As can be seen, transiting Eris is now retrograde and sitting right on my Ascendant and is likely to be in that vicinity for quite some time. Transiting Chiron is close by. Eris will turn stationary direct in 24º37' of Aries on January 11th of 2026. This dwarf planet will remain in Aries until 2044.

Jupiter Station

It seems that transiting Jupiter is heading for a station near a sensitive point in my chart. Figure 2 shows the alignments.

Figure 1

The Jupiter station will occur on November 11th 2025 in 25º09' of Cancer, square my Ascendant and very close to my Nadir. At the same time, transiting Saturn will be in 25º23' retrograde of Pisces, so the two planets will be in trine. Jupiter is currently moving forward through Cancer but it will station and turn retrograde on the day mentioned. Transiting Chiron will be retrograde in 23º45' of Aries, very close to my Ascendant and in a square aspect to transiting Jupiter.

Spiritual Discipline

I looked back at the last time Saturn transited through Aries. It entered Aries shortly after my birthday in 1996 and exited in March of 1999. This time period was a very significant period of my life. It marked the start of my life overseas during which time I visited Meherabad in India with my then wife Sylvia. My appreciation and knowledge of Meher Baba deepened and culminated in Bhau Kalchuri's visit to Singapore in 1999. I also travelled to China and Nepal with students from the school at which I was teaching. I'm sure I've reviewed my Saturn's transits before but I'll push on as if I hadn't and maybe compare the two time-separated reflections later.

Saturn's first transit through Aries took place from March of 1969 until May of 1969. This was again a very important phase of my life. It marked the start of life beyond school. In 1967, I inadvertantly came across mention of Meher Baba in a book by Paul Brunton, titled "A Search in Secret India". It had been lent to me by my good friend Steve Ross and remember sitting in the sun at University and reading it. The next year, I attended a talk by Bill LePage about Meher Baba. That cemented Baba's name in my memory and proved the trigger to my acquisition of the book "God Speaks" in 1981. Academically this period was rather dismal but I made good friends during this time and was slowly growing into adulthood.

So the two previous transits of Saturn through Aries marked transformative phases of my life and both involve Meher Baba, the first laying the groundwork for my later epiphany and the second consolidating this same epiphany. Perhaps third time around there will be further developments in my relationship with Meher Baba. The presence of Neptune in Aries at the same time certainly makes this a possibility. However, it plays out I must embrace these dual influences and perhaps "Spiritual Discipline" is a good phrase to describe their very different energies. Lately I've been in a very negative state of mind but I have snapped out of it in the last couple of days and I need to ensure that I don't relapse.

I'm not sure what "spiritual discipline" entails but my physical discipline has certainly improved. I'm doing my usual round of exercises at least once and sometimes twice a day. This upcoming Saturn transit offers the opportunity to really make concrete skills and proficiencies that I've dabbled in but never fully mastered. 

A Bad Day

Yesterday I felt very bad psychologically and not good physically either. I wasn't good in the morning and by midday I took two panadol and lay down to rest. Psychologically, I'd been feeling quite negative for a few days but physically I'd been OK. Yesterday I felt I was coming down with the flu or a bad cold. However, today I feel much better. What was happening transit-wise yesterday. Well, as it turns out, quite a lot. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

Let's list the transits that were active yesterday.

• Chiron R was in 25º31' of Aries was conjunct my Ascendant in 24º15' of Aries: still active
• Mercury was in 24º39' of Libra, conjunct my Descendant: still active
• Sun in 10º15' of Libra, opposite my Mars-Venus conjunction: still active
• Ceres in 9º27' of Aries, conjunct my Mars-Venus conjunction: still active
• Moon in 18º07' of Aquarius, opposite my Ceres-Pluto conjuction

Transiting Neptune and Saturn of course are in early Aries and late Pisces respectively and remain very influential in the long term. Given the transient nature of my condition, it would seem that the Moon's transit was the probable culprit. However, notice how transiting Venus in 16º47' Virgo is exactly conjunct the Moon's South Node in 16º55' of Virgo. This very transient aspect might be a contributing factor although it doesn't seem to impact my natal chart in any obvious way.

Coming Mars Transits

I won't divulge the details of this "accident" that was quite trivial in the grand scheme of things but it could have proven very embarrassing had there been witnesses. Fortunately there weren't and so it remains my little secret. However, it was a salutary reminder of my increasing age and the consequent physical decline. I thought it might be interesting to look at the astrological configuration at the time of the "accident". This was around 10am on August 2nd 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

What struck me was the almost exact square between transiting Mars in 26º55' of Virgo and my natal Uranus in 26º52' of Gemini. Transiting Mars is on the cusp of the sixth house which is appropriate enough. Given the minor nature of the event, only fast moving transits need be considered and so Mars qualifies in that regard.

I tend to neglect Martian transits because the aspects that they form to natal planets are usually short-lived but this incident reminds me that they can produce "results". I'll try to monitor my Martian transits more closely, especially when Uranus is involved. Talking of which, Mars will oppose the transiting Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries on August 7th. Mars will just have entered Aries. This is the day that I'm having my potential skin cancer excised. This will involve cutting (Mars) into the skin (Saturn) with an element of mystery (Neptune) involved because it's undecided if it is cancerous. Only a subsequent pathology examination will reveal that. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

By the time I get my results on August 21st, Mars will be in 8º50' of Aries and thus almost exactly opposite my natal Mars-Venus conjunction in Aries. Transiting Mercury will be in 9º46' of Leo and so it will aspect both ends of the opposition. Transiting Venus in 24º25' of Cancer will be exactly square my Ascendant-Descendant. See Figure 3. 

Figure 3

Saturn and Neptune Stationary Retrograde

I can't remember if I've commented on this before but both transiting Saturn and Neptune will turn stationary retrograde in July. Here are the details along with some other relevant astrological factors:

• On July 4th 2025, Neptune turns stationary retrograde in 2º10' of Aries
• On July 12th 2025, Saturn turns stationary retrograde in 1º56' of Aries
• On July 7th 2025, Uranus enters Gemini

These positions are almost exactly conjunct my natal Mercury in 2º14' of Aries. As Uranus enters Gemini it will form an exact square with my natal Saturn. During this period from early to mid-July, Ceres will pass over my natal Sun, Chiron is close to the natal North Node of the Moon, Venus passes over my natal Moon and Mercury passes over my natal Ceres-Pluto conjunction. However, it is the big three (Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) that carry most of the weight. The faster moving planets will determine the timing. The timing of what is the big question both personally and on a global level.

It's interesting that Saturn gets to within 0º14' of Neptune before turning back. An exact conjunction will not occur until late February of 2026 in 0º43' of Aries. By that time, Uranus will have retrograded into Taurus (27º34') and will be moving toward another conjunction with my natal Moon. Chiron will still be on my Ascendant and joined by Ceres. Incidentally, the celestial latitudes of Saturn and Neptune at the time of their near conjunction are not far apart (-2º15' versus -1º19'). Once Uranus enters Gemini, it will advance to 1º27' before turning stationary retrograde on September 5th of 2025.