The marriage of creative media and communication technology was the great gift of the late 20th century. But what astrologically led to this integrative lifestyle, and how did it become ubiquitous with modern living?
In this article, I shall explore how the Uranus–Neptune conjunction of the early 1990s occurred under very special circumstances, how it influenced the media we consume today, and how it was tested under extreme conditions in 2020. I’ll also look at the birth and influence of Netflix and how its horoscope connects to all of the above.
Hotter than Hell: Hades’s Holiday in the Sun
The pivotal Uranus–Neptune conjunction of 1993 happened during a rare window in time when Pluto was at perihelion (i.e., closest to the Sun). Pluto’s perihelion happens approximately once every 247 years for about 20 years, most recently from 1979 to 1999 (exact three times during 1988–89 at 14° Scorpio) — a period during which the millennials were born.
During the perihelion, the transpersonal planets are reshuffled into a new hierarchy, with Pluto (usually the bad boy at the back of the class) sandwiched between the orbits of Uranus and Neptune and inside the Kuiper Belt. It is as though Pluto takes a holiday from the icy recesses of the solar system to bask in the glory of the Sun — a 20-year break of unbridled UV radiation and a healthy dose of vitamin D for the God of the Underworld!
From a geocentric perspective, our close encounter with Pluto intensifies his influence on an entire generation. Graduates of the Pluto School of Tough Transits can attest to the transformative impact he can have, and often the personal growth brought on by his influence, which is not usually integrated until some time after the storm has passed.
The power of Pluto can be seen as a deep, inner realisation that a set of circumstances that was previously perceived to be impossible is suddenly now possible. Pluto opens our eyes to potentials that once seemed hidden behind a veil.
When Pluto is at perihelion, this collective realisation and evolution can influence the future of humanity. It holds a potential quantum leap for humankind, though its effects may not be immediately obvious. There’s a period of ten years building to its exact perihelion degree (14° Scorpio), followed by another ten-year period of shifting, adaptation, and mutation while exploring a variety of potentials.
Two Become One: The Seeding Moment of Uranus–Neptune
The officially recognised “birth” of the internet is January 1, 1983, when computers on different networks were able to connect and communicate with each other. It occurred under two powerful conjunctions (Saturn–Pluto in early Scorpio and late Libra, respectively, and Jupiter–Uranus in Sagittarius) and with Neptune in alignment with the Galactic Centre (at the tip of the Archer’s Arrow), which I feel hooked humanity up to the cosmic switchboard — a direct connection to the light source at the centre of our galaxy.
A decade on from its birth, 1993 was the year that the World Wide Web was offered royalty-free as a selfless gift to humanity. Unintentionally positioning himself as a modern-day Prometheus, Tim Berners-Lee released the source code for the first web browser and editor, making it easier to sort through the emerging information. This advancement in the internet’s early development was more meaningful and revolutionary than Berners-Lee could ever have imagined.
That year, there were three conjunctions around 18–19° Capricorn between Uranus and Neptune, occurring on February 2, August 19, and October 24, 1993. These conjunctions brought together the unique, abstract innovation of Uranus and the spellbinding, imaginative artistry of Neptune and fused them into a structured channel of technological creativity, earthed through the practical and entrepreneurial sign of Capricorn. Like a cosmic defibrillator, this unconventional and creative planetary pairing woke us from a dream-state. And perhaps animation is the key word, because Pluto’s perihelion offers to this rare but potent planetary configuration the gift of instilling concepts and dreams with a profound vitality.
I consider these rare planetary meetings of Uranus and Neptune (every 171 years) as the jewels in the crown of Pluto’s perihelion. And what beautiful jewels these technologically innovative and expansive combinations were and continue to be — symbolising a new age in entertainment and communication technology, bringing dreams to life, and transforming reality.
The internet wasn’t the only major technological advancement at this time that would alter the course of the future. Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) was first used in cinema in 1991 on Terminator 2 and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; and Jurassic Park (1993) pioneered the use of CGI and animatronics, bringing dinosaurs back to life (fitting for Uranus in Capricorn). Commenting on CGI, astutely observant filmmaker George Lucas said,
A major gap has been crossed and things were never going to be the same. (1)
This is brilliant imagery for the conjunction — as though a bridge were formed uniting old and new methods of film production. Anything could be possible from this point onward.
As the technology shifted, so did the format of film and entertainment. Consumers’ viewing habits were mutating, and the regular Friday night visit to Blockbuster Video for new releases was becoming tiresome. What was there to watch when you’d already borrowed everything in the store? Surely there must be a way to supply an extensive catalogue of TV series and films to customers without carrying major business overheads of retail spaces and their staff?
Necessity, the Mother of Invention, and Netflix
Giving the keynote speech at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013, Kevin Spacey (the then–executive producer and actor of House of Cards) predicted the evolution of consumer viewing habits, stating that the future of film and TV would be online and that TV companies needed to relinquish control to the viewers so they could consume content whenever the mood took them:
If they want to binge then we should let them binge.
He also urged the industry to nurture talent and give audiences “what they want, when they want it.” (2)
Netflix was one of the first to recognise the demand for this style of content consumption and utilised the internet to directly serve their customers through online streaming. Originally, it sold and rented DVDs by mail in the late 1990s. Ten years on, it introduced streaming media and video on demand. In 2011, it began to acquire and produce original content.
The business was originally named “Kibble.” Though there are some untimed charts for the founding date (August 29, 1997, Scotts Valley, California), I prefer to use a timed chart I obtained for the moment the name of the company was changed to Netflix: December 24, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. EST in Dover, Delaware. (3)
Unsurprisingly, the name change came about during Mercury retrograde (just two days before turning direct). The Sun at 3° Capricorn (in the 6th house of small animals and pets) sits at the exact degree that Mercury had turned retrograde three weeks before. Mercury is in the 5th house of enjoyment and pleasure. You might say perfect timing to change the name from “Kibble” (yes, dog food!) to the instantly recognisable brand name of Netflix, which describes exactly what it does: bringing the “flicks” to the viewer through the internet.
Though founded some four years after the Uranus–Neptune conjunction, Netflix is a product of this potent period and is the pioneer of online streaming (Uranus–Neptune), which capitalised on the desire for consumers to watch what they wanted, when they wanted. Whether intentional or not, Netflix challenged the illegal downloads market, offering a safe and legal way for people to satisfy their impulses and watch on demand.
In Netflix’s chart, the Midheaven (MC) is in trailblazing Aries and its ruler Mars is conjunct Uranus. Both describe the ingenuity and pioneering nature that earned Netflix its place as the leading contender in the entertainment industry. Over time, it raised its status to become the world’s foremost online streaming platform in more than 190 countries (venerable Saturn is the nearest planet to the MC).
Saturn rules the 7th house of the consumer. It is elevated and trine to a retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius in the 5th house — an intelligent and inspired placement for playful Mercury to wax lyrical, and for screenwriters to work day and night on creative projects for the company.
The Moon resides at 6° Scorpio in the 4th house and squares Uranus in Aquarius. Netflix’s own term “bingeable” describes an excessive consumption of content (Scorpio) as they encourage customers to enjoy staying at home for some “Netflix ’n’ Chill” (Uranus). The latter phrase is now used in everyday parlance and, over time, has become a double entendre for romantic nights indoors, echoing the Scorpio Moon, Pluto in the 5th, and Jupiter in the 8th. Coupling gets cozy with Netflix.
The 7th-house Aquarius stellium reminds me of the saying: Your vibe attracts your tribe. The role of Netflix in society has grown from being just another DVD rental service to a well-loved pastime that brings people together virtually (regardless of the distance between them). It’s not uncommon for households across the world to have binge-watched a new series over the same weekend or month. For instance, Netflix reported that 1.65 billion hours of Squid Game were watched worldwide in the first 28 days of its release.
The 7th-house stellium in Aquarius also reflects the fact that Netflix has built an exceptional analytical model of likes and dislikes (Venus–Mars) to study the global community it serves. It is built around the anticipation of demand and supply (rather than the usual reversal of this principle). Jupiter in Aquarius in the 8th could also be seen in the company’s detailed datasets to analyse consumer psychology — a “Big Brother” placement.
The Moon’s squares to Venus, Mars, and Uranus in Aquarius describe the evolution of Netflix content from a distribution platform to embracing its own creativity, developing and producing its own films, shows, and docuseries — showing a particular flair for esoteric, alternative, and psychological shows like Dahmer, Stranger Things, and Sex Education, which all reflect the company’s Scorpio Moon, Pluto in the 5th, and the 8th-house Jupiter in Aquarius placement.
Past Creations Become Future Solutions
The Saturn–Pluto conjunction of January 2020 took place at 22° Capricorn — very close to the degrees of the Uranus–Neptune conjunctions of 1993. It crystallised the unique qualities of Uranus–Neptune and forced these to the foreground. Saturn–Pluto scaled back every aspect of life to the bare essentials, and the fruits of the Uranus–Neptune conjunction became a key survival tool in 2020 for life to continue in its adapted state. Like a scratch on a vinyl record heard every time the needle passes the same spot, the sensitivity of these points and the resonance contained within them made it possible for us to see a way through the global pandemic with a “new normal.”
Since the Uranus–Neptune conjunctions of 1993, entertainment media and communication technology had become increasingly intertwined, but suddenly these two technological giants were integrated and used as a force for great productivity during the pandemic.
Much of everyday life continued online, but one casualty was the filmmaking industry. As we were forced to stay at home, pre-made entertainment content was consumed at record levels. People craved mental stimulation, and Netflix’s vast content provided a dopamine fix. Binge-watching became an obsession. It’s no surprise to see that the Netflix horoscope is uncannily in step with the degrees of both the 1993 and 2020 conjunctions — its Ascendant–Descendant axis is at 20° Cancer–Capricorn.
On a collective level, the events of 2020 revealed Netflix to be more than just an entertainment streaming platform — it became a worldwide coping mechanism. With Cancer rising and an airy Aquarius stellium in the 7th house, Netflix played the role of collective caretaker. With its ability to spot niches and track viewing habits (thanks to some clever algorithms), it became a comfort zone for those needing nourishment and escapism.
One of the most interesting placements is Chiron in the 4th house at 14° Scorpio — Pluto’s perihelion degree — suggestive of the role Netflix played during a period of collective trauma. During heartache, grief, rejection, a need to escape, or just wanting to hide away, audiences put on Netflix and disappeared into its vast catalogue of shows.
At the start of the pandemic, transiting Chiron was crossing over Netflix’s Midheaven in Aries and squaring its Capricorn Sun, pointing to the pivotal role it would play during lockdown. In fact, its links to Aries and Capricorn describe what many had to endure: the sense of individual and collective vitality under threat; the curtailment of independence while being forced to follow orders; feeling stuck in the midst of a situation with no clear ending in sight; being overruled by governing bodies and directives that insisted on no physical contact; a limit of an hour of outside time for exercise each day; and the need to put the welfare of society before our personal desires.
If we consider the transits at the time of the Saturn–Pluto conjunction, as well, we find transiting Mars on Netflix’s Pluto in Sagittarius in the 5th house (both planets disposit the Scorpio Moon): 2020 would trigger the biggest binge by “sofa soldiers” known to humanity.
By solar arc, Saturn opposed the natal Moon in the 4th and was square to Uranus — perfect imagery for the sense of immovable “stuckness” we felt at home. These degrees also “plug into” the first Saturn square Uranus in the sky of 2021 — the signature aspect of the battle between hanging on to the familiar and adapting to the “new normal.”
In addition, Netflix’s solar arc Moon stood at 29° Scorpio (considered the crisis degree) in the 5th, reflecting the heightened emotional instability that led to extreme comfort-bingeing during the crisis.
A drawback of Netflix’s streaming model (and possibly connected to Jupiter in Aquarius in the 8th house) became most apparent during this time: people would share their passwords with friends and family so that one account would serve many households, reducing the potential revenue for the company. Netflix responded in January 2022 by reducing the image quality to sub-cinematic definition for lower tariffs, something that would impact viewing on home cinemas. Over one million customers left in anger. Solar arc Mars had moved to 29° Aquarius in the 8th.
Virtual Freedom, or Caught in the Web?
The technology shared at the Uranus–Neptune conjunction and developed since then has become ubiquitous in our lives. Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV, and television companies like the BBC have followed Netflix’s lead and adopted their own online-streaming membership models. And many other services (from grocery shopping to printer ink) have switched to subscription as a convenient way of supply and demand for modern consumers. Facebook is now part of the Meta group, developing Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence.
We’ve become prisoners of these creations and our addiction to technology. We’re in perpetual need of screen stimulation, and we seek out ever more complex and intelligent storylines — and we’ll be looking to VR and AI to satisfy these cravings further.
The potential of a digitally constructed dimension allowing full-bodied interaction is currently in its infancy, but escapism could soon be the new reality, enabling us to be the stars in a storyline of our own creation. I have often wondered whether Pluto’s journey through Aquarius will reveal to the masses that we are already living in some kind of simulation — the planets being the code of our programming.
Paradoxically, our creativity has given us freedom from a world we don’t want to participate in anymore. As we take steps to create the kind of reality we want the world to be, we can escape through the ever-growing channels designed to cater to our specific preferences, embellished through algorithms and detailed analytics of our life’s engagement with these technologies.
Netflix had the foresight to provide accessible content to a global community, inspiring many others to follow in its footsteps. It seemed to uncannily connect with its purpose at the point humanity was experiencing its greatest modern-day crisis. The horoscope for its serendipitous moment of rebranding speaks of this, and it set the stage for Netflix’s future in entertainment media and the film industry.
Rushing to the rescue and providing some much needed entertainment relief while the world around us was in tatters, Netflix was a comfort blanket when we most needed to be soothed. But who — or what — will be here to provide us with some sanctuary at the next major crisis? And by then, will we even be here in “real time,” or experiencing life in virtual reality?
References:
1. https://phys.org/news/2018-06-jurassic-dinosaur-sized-computer-generated-animation-screen.html
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23802572
3. The author has a timed document on file from the State of Delaware Office obtained from Companies House.
(URLs accessed in May 2023.)
Charts use Equal houses and the True Node.
Published in: The Mountain Astrologer, Sep-Nov 2023
Stefanie James joined the London School of Astrology at her Saturn return and has since travelled around the UK and abroad talking, teaching, and writing about astrology. She has been published in The Book of Music Horoscopes (Flare, 2018) and was resident astrologer at Elle magazine (UK). Stefanie hosts the Stellium Astrology Podcast and works as a consultant astrologer, helping her clients optimise their transits to live the life they want. Sign up to her mailing list for regular astro-tips and musings at https://www.stelliumastrology.com.
© 2023 – Stefanie James
Taken from this issue:
This article was published in The Mountain Astrologer, Sep-Nov 2023 and can be purchased here.