A Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Pisces doesn’t happen often. The last one happened 500 years ago. It was in the 1500s, a period marked by religious upheaval, persecution, and shifting power dynamics in spiritual institutions. Now, as we approach another Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Pisces, history seems to be echoing, albeit with different players and under modern political and social structures. This will focus only on the Saturn/Neptune conjunction in Pisces. I will have a follow up article about Saturn/Neptune conjunction in Aries, which will happen in intermittently through 2025-26.

What Happened Last Time?

The 1500s saw one of the most defining moments in religious history: the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther's 95 Theses, nailed to the church doors in 1517, set off a chain of events that forever changed Christianity. The Catholic Church responded with the Counter-Reformation, leading to the brutal persecution of Protestants, the Inquisition, and increased state control over religious practices.

Beyond Christianity, Spain expelled its remaining Jewish population in 1492, and by the early 1500s, forced conversions and the persecution of Muslims (Moriscos) were widespread. Witch hunts escalated, with accusations of heresy becoming tools for controlling marginalized communities, particularly women and those practicing folk traditions.

Astrologically, Saturn in Pisces historically aligns with structures dissolving. Pisces is a sign of fluidity, and Saturn struggles to contain what cannot be confined. The presence of Neptune, a planet tied to illusions, deception, and spirituality, only amplifies these themes. This combination often manifests in major religious shifts, the rise of deception under the guise of moral authority, and the persecution of those deemed "heretical."

Faith Under Constraint: The 1200s and the Saturn-Neptune Conjunction in Pisces

The Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Pisces around the year 1200 coincided with a period of religious consolidation, mystical exploration, and the tightening grip of institutionalized faith. The rise of the Cistercian Order and the formalization of scholastic theology, particularly through institutions like the University of Paris, reflected Saturn’s structuring influence over Neptune’s boundless spiritual ideals.

This was also the era when Pope Innocent III expanded papal authority, leading to stricter enforcement of doctrine and the suppression of heretical movements, such as the Cathars. Saturn in Pisces represents the attempt to control or define spirituality, while Neptune dissolves and reforms existing boundaries. This mirrored the tensions between dogmatic religious institutions and those seeking direct, mystical experiences of faith. This dynamic foreshadowed greater religious upheavals in the centuries to come, much like how today’s Saturn-Neptune cycle may signal shifts in global belief systems and institutional power.

The Current Cycle: Echoes of the Past

As Saturn and Neptune meet again in Pisces in 2025–26, we are witnessing similar patterns. Fascist movements are rising globally, often under the banner of religious nationalism. Donald Trump recently announced a DOJ task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias," despite there being no tangible evidence of systemic anti-Christian persecution in the U.S. In contrast, there has been an observable increase in anti-Palestinian, anti-Black, anti-Mexican, and anti-Pagan sentiment, with raids on spiritual shops selling tarot cards and other non-Christian religious tools.

This rhetoric is eerily reminiscent of past Saturn-Neptune conjunctions, where those in power framed themselves as victims while justifying the suppression of minority groups. History shows that religious persecution doesn’t always begin with overt violence…it starts with legislation, scapegoating, and the gradual erosion of freedoms for those outside the dominant ideology.

Uranus in Taurus: Then and Now

The last time Saturn and Neptune were conjunct in Pisces, Uranus was also in Taurus….just as it is now. In the 1500s, this correlated with massive economic shifts, as European colonialism ramped up, wealth became more centralized, and traditional land-based economies were disrupted. Today, we see similar patterns: economic instability, growing wealth disparity, and the rapid transformation of global markets.

Uranus in Taurus challenges traditional financial and resource structures. It can bring revolutions in agriculture, land ownership, and even currency (such as the rise of cryptocurrency or digital trade replacing physical markets). In the 1500s, Uranus in Taurus saw the rise of exploitative economic systems like plantation slavery and the transatlantic trade. Now, we are watching a breakdown of the global economic order, supply chain disruptions, and the increasing weaponization of resources in geopolitical conflicts.

The Difference This Time: Pluto in Aquarius vs. Pluto in Capricorn

One major difference between then and now is Pluto. In the 1500s, Pluto was in Capricorn, reinforcing hierarchical power structures. The Catholic Church, monarchies, and imperial governments were at their peak, shaping the laws and economies of the Western world. Now, Pluto is entering Aquarius, which shifts the focus from rigid institutions to collective movements, technology, and radical reorganization of power.

Pluto in Aquarius doesn’t necessarily mean liberation. It can also indicate the rise of authoritarian control via technology, surveillance, and mass propaganda. Unlike the religious dominance of Pluto in Capricorn, Pluto in Aquarius suggests power struggles over information, digital infrastructure, and mass ideological control. Instead of the Church policing heresy, we now have algorithms, social media manipulation, and AI-driven censorship shaping public perception.

What’s Next?

With Saturn and Neptune meeting in Pisces, we can expect:

Increased religious and ideological conflicts, often weaponized by political leaders.
The erosion of boundaries between state and religion.
A resurgence of spiritual movements outside traditional structures, but also an attempt to suppress them.
The illusion of religious persecution being used to justify real oppression against marginalized groups.
Major shifts in economic and environmental systems tied to Uranus in Taurus.

While we are not in the 1500s, the astrology suggests we are in a comparable moment of transformation. The question is: will we repeat history, or will Pluto in Aquarius push us toward a new path? That answer depends on whether we recognize the signs and resist the patterns before they fully take hold.

Saturn and Neptune in Pisces: Religious Persecution Then and Now