Generational Differences in Elemental Balances

The balance of elements and modes in natal charts has always been seen as the major factor
in the synthesis of a natal chart. However, what has never been studied is how this has varied
between generations of people taken as a group.

There seems to be some sort of pattern in the general trends of elemental balance. Most
characteristically, a pair of elements will usually tend to be dominant over a period ranging
from about 2.5 years (the average time taken by Saturn to transit a single sign) to about
seven or eight years (the average time taken by Uranus to transit a sign). In some cases, this
can be extended if Uranus does not move to one of the "remaining" elements when it
changes sign.

This dominance is not expressed in a higher frequency of charts dominated completely or
nearly so by the elements in which the outer planets are located. Rather, it is expressed,
broadly speaking, in a higher frequency of chart with the remaining elements completely
absent. This can also be seen at a shorter-term scale through looking at the position of
Jupiter and combining/comparing it with that of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. However,
there are problems here because Jupiter tends to change sign very frequently due to
retrograde cycles if it is not conjunct the Sun when moving initially into a new sign. On scales
of a year or less extremes of elemental absence are often associated with Mars retrogrades
which increase the time Mars takes to transit a sign from 38-50 days (fewest in Aquarius and
Pisces, most in Leo and Virgo) to 180-220 days. A long stay of Mars in a sign can intensify
the absence of an element not represented among outer planets.

Examples can be seen in the high frequency of water-weak charts during the 1880s and
1940s. Except for Saturn transits of Cancer, none of the four outermost planets were in water
signs between 1879 and 1890 or between 1940 and 1948. At times, as during April/May and
September of 1889, April/May and October of 1890 and the "Great Astrological Drought" of
1943, more than a month could pass by with no planets in water apart from Moon transits. In
1943 as much as three full months passed without any other planet in a water sign and there
was no other planet in water from 31 March to 26 May of 1890.

However, extremely water-rich charts were in no way precluded during these periods. Though
born during the "dry" 1940s, Martin Scorsese had all but the four outermost planets in water,
and on 24-25 February 1887 all visible planets were in water signs (five in Pisces alone!).
However, these periods were always very short-lived, ending as soon as inner (personal)
planets moved with the Sun into other elements or modes.

The early 1880s saw amazing concentrations of earth and fixed signs. On 8-10 and 17-18
May of 1881 nine planets were in earth (Mars was in Pisces and then Aries). Four outer
planets in Taurus (five if Chiron is counted!) is an occurrence unparalleled for many centuries.
On June 22-23 1881 there were seven (eight with Chiron) planets in Taurus (Sun
and Mercury in Cancer; Uranus in Virgo), whilst on June 29-30 and July 1 there were eight
(nine with Chiron) planets in fixed signs (Moon and Mercury in Leo; Sun in Cancer; Uranus in
Virgo; Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron all in Taurus).

The dominance of fixed signs, however, was a carryover from the 1870s, when during 1875
and 1876 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto formed a fixed grand cross. The late 1880s saw
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto all in air signs, with many of the airiest charts ever recorded
concentrated in this period. A high frequency of fire-weak charts rivalled since only
in the 1960s was another characteristic of this period, which combined with the water
deficiency to make the "Lost Generation" noted for scientific and practical talent. The
fire-weak character fits in with the generation's sensitivity noted by historians, though they had
to be aggressive in coping with twentieth century crises.

Major periods without fire planets (exclusive of Moon transits) occurred from:
- September 29, 1881 to November 22, 1881
- January 3, 1882 to March 16, 1882
- January 14, 1886 to March 10, 1886
- September 5, 1891 to November 8, 1891

The mid-1890s saw a period of air/water dominance associated with the Neptune-Pluto
conjunction in Gemini (in orb until 1894) and a Saturn-Uranus conjunction in Scorpio later that
decade. On June 4 and 5 1895 all ten planets were in Gemini (Sun, Neptune, Pluto), Cancer
(Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter) and Scorpio (Moon, Saturn, Uranus) - an occurrence since
repeated only in February 1914, December 1995 and May 2000. Associated with the
Saturn-Uranus conjunction and a Jupiter transit of Leo were two cases during August 1896 of
all planets except Neptune and Pluto being in fixed signs. This nearly occurred again in
August 1955.

The turn of the century saw a very brief but marked period of dominance of positive fire and
air signs. This has been associated with a generation of outgoing and magnetic personalities
born at that time. During late November 1898 and September/October 1900 all five outer
planets were in fire/air for the last time before 1943. A very marked absence of fixed signs
meant "outward" orientation of charts reached a level not since equalled. The 1900s saw a
gradual move toward earth/water dominance as the decade evolved. This "Intebellum
Generation" has been seen by most historians as overtly acquisitive and conservative -
exactly the qualities to be expected of the need for security resulting from earth/water
dominance.

The Uranus in Aquarius period of the 1910s contained the highest frequency of earth-weak
charts in the past century and a half. For instance:
- January 26 to April 8 1914
- and September 25 to December 2 1915
both saw a complete absence of earth signs apart from Moon transits. Two
such long periods so close together is as remarkable as the water "drought" of July to
October 1943. Earth-weak charts were generally abundant until the late 1920s except during
Saturn's transit of Virgo in 1919-1921.

During the 1920's Uranus in Pisces period, two of the three outermost planets were in water
for the only time in the last two hundred years. With Saturn in Scorpio from 1924 to 1926,
three of four outer planets were in water. The strength of water is in accordance with the
1920s generation's reputation for warmth and humanitarianism, whilst Neptune's presence in
Leo gave it a strong dramatic quality. In the late 1920's when Uranus entered Aries fire
became generally strong. At one point in July 1927 there were eight planets in fire signs, with
the Sun and Pluto in Cancer. However, the lack of fixed signs in many charts from the late
1920's and early 1930's made this generation unsure of its goals and unable to find a
genuine cause to fight for

The Saturn in Pisces period of 1935 to early 1937 was notable for the extreme concentration
of negative earth and water signs. All four outermost planets were in negative signs for the
first time since 1883. The term "silent generation" is most consistently applied of this period.
The deep influence of the troubled times of World War II on their childhood made these
people shy, quiet, but deeply interested to help others. A major T square in mutable signs
during 1936 (a grand cross if Chiron is included) made this at times an unpredictable and
always "adaptive" generation. During July 1935, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune came
close (they did not achieve it) to forming a grand sextile in earth and water with the North
Node and the Sun.

Those born after Saturn and Pluto changed from water to fire signs in 1937/1938 were
completely different. With fire, earth and fixed signs predominating to an unusual degree, this
was a strong-willed, extremely self-motivated but thoroughly practical generation. Most of the
leaders of the late 1960s "underground" were born during this time. Twice during May 1941,
nine planets were in fixed signs (plus several cases of eight), and in many cases, no planets
were in either air or water.

The remainder of the 1940s and early 1950s is noticeable for the general dominance of
positive fire and air signs. Many conservative historians have seen the "baby boom"
generation as one willing - even desperate - to throw out traditions that they believe strongly to
have sustained civilisation ever since it began. This is in accordance with the absence of the
retentive earth and water signs from many charts. Nonetheless, water became very strong at
the extreme end of this period with seven planets in water at one point in November of 1954.
This earth weakness clearly distinguishes the "baby boomers" born between 1943 and 1956
from the stubborn, self-willed "war babies" born between 1938 and 1943.

For instance, November 28, 1943 was the first time all ten planets were in fire or air since
October 5, 1900. Apart from Saturn transits of Gemini and Virgo, cardinal and fixed signs
predominated over mutable ones up to 1956, when a rare event of all four outermost planets
changed sign in the same year. Several times during the 1950s there were no planets in
mutable signs for the first time since 1919. From September 24 to November 23 of 1954, no
planets were in mutable signs apart from Moon transits and a very brief Venus station at 0.1°
Sagittarius.

Those born in the "baby bust" era of the late 1950s and 1960s are regarded as strong-willed,
passionate in their opinions, secretive and suspicious. These characteristics fit in very well
with Neptune being in Scorpio throughout this period and are most clearly seen in the early
1960s when fixed signs were especially prominent and cardinal and mutable ones relatively
weak. Cases of seven or more planets in fixed signs are reminiscent of the early 1940s,
though most of this fixed mode was concentrated in Aquarius (Great Aquarius Conjunction of
February 1962) or Scorpio (November that year). The general scarcity of cardinal signs
among the "baby busters" and "Generation X" is quite unlike the "silent generation" but more
similar to the 1880's "lost generation", and may reflect the inability to initiate either social
bonding (Cancer and Libra) or large structures or states (Capricorn and Aries). They have
thus tried perhaps to maintain or adapt to present systems of social and political interaction
even if these need redevelopment or complete overhaul. The early "Generation X" period of
Saturn's Pisces transit of 1964 to 1967 is remarkably similar element-wise to the "silent
generation" of the last Pisces transit in the 1930s, with earth/water and the mutable mode
dominating. Weakness in fire was almost consistent, since the two Mars retrogrades
occurring in Virgo and Libra. This generation has seemed to express quite different attributes
of the earth and water elements from the "silent generation", notably in the cynicism and
depression of so much 1990s popular music, which has been seen by some in the religious
right as merely expressing "the worthlessness of life".

The 1970s saw a dramatic reversal of the 1960s, with cardinal and positive (fire/air)
becoming prominent and fixed signs weaker than at any point since the turn-of-the-century
Uranus/Pluto opposition. The later part of the 1970s, astrologically speaking, often appears to
have much in common with the 1920s, though little of the warmth and passion expected from
fire and water predominating in charts appears. The early 1980s saw a period of strong
fire/air dominance that was very similar to that of Uranus' previous Sagittarius transit at the
turn of the century. This whole period saw frequent earth-weak charts, leading perhaps to
unrealistic expectations for society among many young people.

The generation born the late 1980s Pluto in Scorpio period resembles the 1930s and 1960s
in its earth/water dominance. However, being focused on cardinal rather than mutable or fixed
signs, and many see it therefore as one with potential to rebuild society and solve the
problems today's society is often believed to possess. With Pluto in Sagittarius since 1995,
though there are too few charts to examine, there has been some return to fire/air dominance,
especially during the 2001-2003 Saturn in Gemini period, when all ten planets were in
positive fire and air signs more frequently than in any comparably short period during the last
two hundred years. However, this was interrupted by a remarkable conjunction in Taurus in
2000 that rivals those of the 1880s (and is analogous to the 1887 Pisces conjunction of Sun,
Moon and all inner planets).

Attempts to study elemental and modal imbalances over the years have either made one of
two mistakes. The first strategy has been to use a very simple quantitative count of planets in
each type of sign. This places generational influence on an equal footing with faster-moving
personal planets that obviously have greater astrological influence.

Astrodatabank, on the other hand, obstinately insists that the sign placement of Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto can under no circumstance have any influence whatsoever on a person's
elemental balance, even if they are personalised. This is understandable to distribute
deficiencies throughout all generations. However, the mere fact that the lunar nodes, which
change sign more often than Saturn, are treated in the same way as trans-Saturnian planets,
suggests they do not have a perfect perspective.

However, William Strauss and Neil Howe's book "Generations" shows, at least in the United
States and Britain, a definite tendency towards generational cycles that coincide to a
considerable degree with cycles of the trans-Saturnian planets. In this book, a four-stage
generational cycle of roughly twenty years is identified, repeating every eighty years - which
roughly corresponds to one Uranus transit or Neptune half-transit of the zodiac. This twenty
year generational cycle corresponds to the average length of time spent by Pluto in a single
sign. Because of the irregularity of Pluto's orbit and the fact that Strauss and Howe show
generations to be of more uniform length, one cannot use Pluto's sign changes as evidence
for or against generational bias. However, each type ("Idealist", "Reactive", "Civic" and
"Adaptive") of generation is linked closely with the sign placements of Uranus. Because
Neptune's orbit is almost equal to two Uranus orbits, each type of generation can also be
associated with Neptune placed in a pair of opposite signs.

This suggests a clear influence of generational elements on all people, but one is left with the
question of what to say about those whose more rapidly-moving planets are all in elements or
modes different from those predominant among outer planets? Do they transcend the
influence of their generation? Obviously, they cannot do so completely unless they are totally
isolated from other people of the same generation, which of course must be described as
impossible. Nonetheless, influences of personal planets are likely to make such people at
odds with the ideals of most people of the generation. In this respect, they are likely to be able
to strongly stand out and feel both lost and ignored by others of their generation. On the other
hand, they might receive a lot of public attention for being different from most people of their
generation.

Generational bias, I feel, needs to be incorporated into all personal studies of chart balance.
Overdoing it is as bad as assuming that it does not exist and those whose inner planets are in
signs completely different from those occupied by outer planets are "outside" their own
generation.