Studying the astrology of the AIDS pandemic, and how the timing of it correlated with the Saturn-Pluto cycle, with astrologers Gary Lorentzen and Chris Brennan.

In this episode we study the AIDS pandemic from the perspective of mundane astrology, but then also discuss it in terms of the impact it had on the astrological community.

We begin by noting the parallel between the Saturn-Pluto conjunction that happened in January 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic and the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in the early 1980s at the start of the AIDS pandemic.

We then follow the 40-year Saturn-Pluto cycle and note how some key turning points during the course of the AIDS pandemic occurred around the time of the squares and opposition.

We also talk about the pandemic from perspective of the impact it had on the astrological community, and the astrologers who died of AIDS in the 1980s and 90s, and how their loss set the community back by decades.

Gary approaches the topic both as a seasoned expert in mundane astrology, as well as from the perspective of a gay man that lived through the pandemic and witnessed the impact it had.

You can find out more about Gary on his website:

http://garylorentzen.com

This is episode 409 of The Astrology Podcast:

https://theastrologypodcast.com/2023/07/16/the-astrology-of-the-aids-pandemic/

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro
00:02:05 Gary's background and natal chart
00:08:18 1970s and formation of queer astrology
00:13:22 Astrologers that died during height of AIDS pandemic
00:15:55 Astrological community not welcoming to gay astrologers 1980s & 90s
00:20:18 Gay rights movement in 1970s
00:24:35 Emergence of AIDS in early 1980s
00:26:00 Saturn-Pluto 2020 and pandemic
00:32:55 Saturn-Pluto 1980s and AIDS
00:36:04 Saturn-Pluto description from Gary's article
00:39:55 Shift in how gay men viewed relationships
00:43:21 Legalization of gay marriage
00:48:40 40 year cycle of Saturn-Pluto
00:56:55 June 5, 1981 AIDS chart
00:58:11 AIDS timeline
01:02:20 HIV vs AIDS and symptoms
01:07:59 Ryan White's natal chart
01:17:20 AIDS Named natal chart
01:19:25 Mark's coming out
01:26:48 Rock Hudson's natal chart
01:34:45 More AIDS timeline charts
02:05:10 Venus retrograde in Leo
02:07:06 More AIDS Saturn-Pluto timeline charts
02:56:53 Graphics of transit timeline
03:03:52 Gary's website
03:04:22 Firsthand experience of transits
03:07:00 Making mundane astrology practical
03:18:20 Shout outs
03:23:01 Gary's articles and lectures
03:29:50 Patrons and sponsors