The Astrology of the Salem Witch Trials

As the Sun entered the realm of mysterious Scorpio yesterday, we are officially in the most spiritually dense part of the year. Spirits are stirring, and magical experiences are more likely to happen. This is the time of year most associated with witches, whom mainstream society has branded as "old, evil, ugly, and wicked." That definition couldn't be farther from the truth. Witches are women who have always represented empowerment, independence, and a deep connection to nature and spirituality. They are healers, inventors, and possess wisdom and intuition that allow them to see beyond the surface.

That being said, I recently refreshed my knowledge of the Salem Witch Trials, which took place from 1692 to 1693 in the Puritan settlements of Salem and surrounding areas in Massachusetts. The Puritans were English Protestants seeking to purify the Church of England of its Catholic influences and lived fugal, disciplined lives.

It was a dark time in history when innocent women, and even some men, were falsely accused of working with “witchcraft” aka “Satan” and were then executed or left to die in prison. These accusations stemmed from the mysterious illnesses and erratic behavior of young girls in the settlements. When we look at the astrological transits of the time, we can better understand how these events spiraled into chaos.

The most prominent transit during this period was Chiron, the wounded healer, in the sign of Gemini. For society, this placement brought confusion and uncertainty around knowledge and truth, manifesting as misinformation and widespread distrust. This transit made it easier for lies to spread and for people to manipulate information they received.

Adding to this chaos, Mars was conjunct Chiron in Gemini in January 1692, just as the first accusations were made. This conjunction triggered malicious communication and confrontations, setting the stage for what was to come.

At the same time, Saturn was transiting Sagittarius, a placement that brings fear and restriction around religious beliefs. The Puritans, so gripped by their rigid religious ideologies, made it illegal not to attend church and feared that Satan was acting through witches. A symptom of Saturn in Sagittarius is to cause people to take religious ideologies to the extreme, as we saw in Salem.

Another significant transit during this time was Jupiter in Gemini, which was in opposition to Saturn in Sagittarius. Jupiter in Gemini encourages curiosity and communication but can lead to exaggerated or distorted stories. The opposition with Saturn created a struggle for truth, as Saturn demanded that society commit to only one explanation for the girls' illnesses: witchcraft.

As the trials progressed to the first execution of Bridget Bishop, Jupiter became conjunct Uranus in Gemini, amplifying the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the time. This energy contributed to the greater spread of false stories, leading to the deaths of innocent people.

By the end of the trials, Jupiter was conjunct Chiron in Gemini, a transit that invited reflection and healing. People were weary of the accusations, and society began to reexamine the belief systems that had caused so much harm.

The Salem Witch Trials serve as a haunting reminder of how fear, misinformation, and extremism can devastate lives. The astrological transits of the time reveal a deeper understanding of the energetic forces that contributed to this tragic chapter in history. As we navigate Scorpio season, it's a time to reflect on our own power, intuition, and the importance of staying grounded in truth amidst the unknown.