On December 21st, something pretty phenomenal will happen in the heavens: The Great Conjunction.

This rare celestial event will be visible around the world and is sure to carry some powerful energy.

But what exactly is the Great Conjunction?

In simplest terms, Jupiter and Saturn will meet at a mere 0.1 degrees apart from one another. That’s less than 1/5 of the moon’s diameter and nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye! The planets will meet together, at 29 degrees Aquarius – so they’ll also be hanging around the same spot in the zodiac.

These planets (the largest in our solar system) enjoy their “kiss” once every 20 years, but this year it’s an especially close one. In fact, the last time there was a conjunction this close was back in the 1400’s.

So, why do we care?

Great Conjunctions are usually pretty good at ushering in change (even when they aren’t this close). But don’t just take my word for it – let’s look back at the last few cycles:

2000 – Popularization of the Internet, New Millennium, Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage, first crew on the International Space Station, Hillary Clinton is elected to the U.S. Senate.

1980 – New Wave movement in art and fashion, U.S. defeats Soviets at the Olympics, John Lennon is assassinated in New York City, Mount St. Helen erupts, CNN launches 24/7 news.

1960 – JFK is elected President, the Greensboro sit-in occurs, the Vietnam War civil war erupts, Eisenhower signs the Civil Rights Act, birth control is approved by the FDA.

1940 – Hattie McDaniel becomes the first black woman to win an Oscar, the color television is invented, FDR wins the Presidential election, the Great Depression starts to ease up.

Okay, but what about the last time Saturn and Jupiter joined in the sky at 0.1 degrees?

The 1400’s symbolized the end of the Dark Ages and the dawning of the Renaissance. We saw global, mass creation on every level – art, architecture, music, theatre, government. Martin Luther started his religious revolution and Johann Gutenberg assembled his very first Bible in the 15th century. And, in 1492, Columbus set sail for Turtle Island (aka North America).

In other words, the last Greatest Conjunction signaled a complete overhaul of society as we know it (sound familiar…?)

If that’s not enough to spark your interest, get this – Jupiter and Saturn will meet in the air sign of Aquarius, the Great Communicator.

You’ve probably heard your New Age friends (and the cast of Hair) talk about the Aquarian Age. The Aquarian Age refers to Earth’s presence in the sign of Aquarius, where we’ll hang out for roughly the next 1,250 years.

A thousand years. Let that settle in for a moment.

Think of everything that humanity has moved through in the last millennia. The progress, the technology, the innovation.

Now, think of those innovations within the context of community-oriented Aquarius; think, less hierarchy, more collective conscious. The Age of Aquarius signals a shift from oppression and scarcity into a world where all voices are valued – where power is shared by the collective instead of a few, privileged few.

Oh, and one last note about the Great Conjunction…

Saturn and Jupiter will appear as one great big, Christmas star in the night sky.

You read that right: on December 21st, the day of the Winter Solstice, and exactly 4 days before Christmas…people all around the world will see the infamous Christmas Star.

Now, I certainly can’t prove that the Great Conjunction was the same astronomical event that lead certain wise fellas to a certain stable…

I’ll leave that for you to decide.

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Tell me, are you going to try to spot the Great Conjunction in the night sky?