Astrology and the Roaring Twenties: Celestial Echoes of Rebellion and Renewal
History, as they say, doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. As we move deeper into the 2020s, emerging from the long shadow of a global pandemic and geopolitical unrest, we find ourselves looking back a century to the 1920s. That decade, famously known as the "Roaring Twenties," was also born from the ashes of a World War and the Spanish Flu. It was a time of explosive creativity, manic energy, and profound rebellion.
At the Wilfred Hazelwood Clinic, our lead therapist Martyn J. Shrewsbury views this historical parallel through the twin lenses of Psychological Astrology and Jungian analysis. Was the "Roar" just a party, or was it a planetary necessity? And what can the star charts of the Jazz Age teach us about our own turbulent decade?
Neptune in Leo: The Glamour Factory
If you want to understand the glitz, the gold, and the sheer theatricality of the 1920s, you have to look at Neptune in Leo. Neptune, the planet of illusion, dreams, and bubbles, moved through the royal sign of Leo from 1914 to 1929.
Leo is the sign of the Ego, the Performer, and the King. When Neptune’s fog met Leo’s fire, it created the ultimate "Glamour Factory." This was the birth of the Hollywood Star System, where ordinary people were transformed into screen gods and goddesses. It was the era of The Great Gatsby, a time when appearances mattered more than reality, and the illusion of infinite wealth fuelled a speculative stock market bubble.
Martyn notes the psychological shadow here: "Neptune in Leo created a collective dissociation. The trauma of WWI was so great that society collectively decided to perform happiness rather than process grief. It was a manic defense mechanism wrapped in sequins."
Uranus in Pisces: The Speakeasy Rebellion
While Neptune was painting the town gold, Uranus (the planet of rebellion and shock) was swimming through Pisces (1919–1927). Pisces rules fluids, spirits (both alcoholic and mystical), and the unconscious.
It is no astrological coincidence that Prohibition began in January 1920, just as Uranus settled into Pisces. The government attempted to restrict "spirits," and Uranus responded with typical defiance. The result was the Speakeasy, a hidden, underground world where social barriers dissolved in a haze of illicit gin and jazz.
Pisces also rules music and the intangible. The 1920s saw the explosion of Radio, a Uranian technology that transmitted sound through the "ether." It also birthed Surrealism in art, a movement that sought to liberate the unconscious mind from the shackles of logic, a perfectly Uranian/Pisces endeavor.
Pluto in Cancer: The Flapper and the Family
Perhaps the most profound shift of the decade was the transformation of women's roles, driven by Pluto in Cancer (1914–1939). Cancer is the sign of the Mother, the Home, and emotional security. Pluto is the destroyer and rebuilder.
During this transit, the archetype of the "Victorian Angel in the House" was obliterated. In her place rose the Flapper, women who cut their hair short, smoked, danced, and, crucially, voted (the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920). Pluto in Cancer didn't destroy the family; it forced a painful and necessary evolution of what "security" meant. It was a time when the private sphere became a battleground for power and identity.
Echoes in the 2020s: A Warning from the Stars
So, where are we now? We are currently experiencing Neptune in Pisces (the sign Uranus was in during the 20s). We are seeing a similar dissolution of boundaries, a rise in virtual realities (the Metaverse), and a new focus on mental health and "spirits" of a different kind.
However, Martyn warns that the "Roaring" energy of the 1920s ended with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, just as Saturn prepared to enter its home sign of Capricorn. The lesson of the 1920s is that inflation, whether economic, egoic, or emotional, eventually bursts.
We are currently in a moment of release. The post-pandemic world is hungry for connection, for travel, and for life. But as we embrace the "new roaring twenties," we must remain grounded. The charts of history tell us that while the party is written in the stars, the bill eventually comes due. By integrating the wisdom of psychology with these cosmic cycles, we can enjoy the dance without losing our footing.
