AUGUST 2023 NOTE: This series of articles is being updated and converted into a book format! The Generations Book (working title) will be available at some point during the first half of 2024. For updates on release date and pre-ordering information,  sign-up for my mailing list or follow Life By Soul® on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or YouTube.

Click here to sign-up for Generations Book updates!

This article is part three of what started out as a blog about all of the generational icons who passed away in 2016 evolved into a study on our social and societal generations in general. I began looking not only at those celebrities and their influences upon our lives, but also at the political, societal, and social climates we are facing now and in the years ahead.

The outer planets of our solar system – specifically Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – determine our generations and our generational influences. They create the larger grouping, subsets of those groupings, and further subsets still.

In most cases, these planets enter a sign, then retrograde out of that sign before turning around and going forward into the sign again for a full run. For this reason, the ending of one generation and the beginning of the next is not always clearly defined – there is some overlap.

Yet what’s fascinating (astrologically speaking) is how the planetary influences affect our roles in the bigger picture of humanity. We can see the influence certain generations had/have on our cultures and societies simply by looking at which planets were in influence at the time. The planetary positions of the outer bodies reflect:

• The time or era in which they were born and raised – what it taught them about the world, how it influenced them.
• The time or era in which they come into power – how they go about changing the world, how they want to make and leave their mark.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be writing about the generations currently alive and active now.

Because I’m going off of my astrological analysis, my dates for these periods may be different from what is popularly agreed upon by most sociologists.

• In part one, we covered the first group – those in what we popularly call “The Greatest Generation” (born approx. 1914-1929) and “The Silent Generation” (born approx. 1928-1943).
• In part two, we covered “The Baby Boomers” (born approx. 1942-1958) and “The Crisis Generation” (born approx. 1956-1972).
• Here in part three, we will cover “Generation X” (born approx. 1970-1984).
• Coming next in part four, “Generation Y” (born approx. 1983-1996) and “The Millennials” (born approx. 1995-2008).
•  And our last group to be covered in this series, “Generation Z” or what I like to call “the World Changers” (born approx. 2008-2024).

Let’s get to “Generation X”.

This generation got its name from a book published in 1965 called Generation X by British journalists, Jane Deverson and Charles Hamblett. Because there was so much happening so quickly in popular culture, there wasn’t a clear way to define this next generation of people coming into the world. The catchy book title/name stuck (even if it didn’t actually apply for a few more years), creating an air of mystery about what this emerging generation would be all about.

“Generation X” (born 1970-1984) is made of up the majority of current 32-47 year-olds. They were born at a time in which the world was going through some significant and sudden social and societal changes: the latter years of the Vietnam (Second Indochina) War, the post-“Summer of Love” period which ushered in the “free love” and sexual revolutions of the late 60s and 70s (shared with the late Crisis Gen natives), the Watergate scandal leading to the first (and so far, only) resignation of a U.S. President (Nixon), two energy crises (fuel shortages), the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981, the space program era continued manned space flight increasing (especially with the initiation of the U.S. Space Shuttle program), the first woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court (O’Connor), and technology was advancing at a record pace with more and more technology starting to be developed for public consumption. We also experienced the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S leading to the discovery of HIV.

Also in the United States, Generation X was the first generation born fully into post-racial integration in the U.S. bringing them into a world in which racial segregation was not a legally enforced nor socially-encouraged norm. Title IX was passed as part of the Educational Amendments Act in 1972, giving women equal rights to participation in any education-related program or activity. Meanwhile, as legal racism and sexism were starting to be phased out in the majority of the western world, in contrast, apartheid came to its peak in South Africa, resulting in South Africa’s expulsion from the United Nations in 1974 (readmitted in 1994, post-apartheid).

Generation X was also the first “latch key” generation (U.S.) – the first generation where both parents (if there were two parents) in the household were part of the workforce. As women did their best to earn their equal place beside men in the workforce and with parents working to increase the material and societal prominence of their families, many children spent time with other family members or in after-school programs until their parents could pick them up after work. This resulted in many Gen-Xers trying to balance their need for connection to their parents with their forced independence and autonomy. Many natives of this generation feel they were neglected by and invisible to their “Silent Gen” and “Baby Boomer” parents as result of their parents putting their jobs and careers before them.

To that point, worldwide, Generation X has the blessing and the curse of being the children of the “Silent” and “Baby Boomer” generations. The “Silent Generation” had/have a work ethic like no other, while the “Boomers” have strong ego pride which drives them to continue seeking greater and higher levels of acknowledgment for their roles in everyday life. This is a blessing because the Gen-Xers have two generations which taught them the value of hard work and that effort and energy need to be applied if you’re going to have any real success in life.

However, where this position is a curse for Gen-Xers is actually in the fact that the world began to change drastically as the “Greatests” and the “Silents” came into power. Their achievements changed the world, and with it, came innovation and social and societal evolution. The “Boomers” and “Crisis Gens” were then determined to have it better than their parents (financially and materially for the Boomers, socially and ethically for the Crisis Gens) and were changing the workforce to their advantage…but they still changed it within the confines of its predecessors’ terms of engagement.

All of this left the Gen-Xers with some tough acts to follow in a world that was tough to follow in…especially because the world in which their predecessors made their way was crumbling before Gen-X’s eyes.

Gen-X has a strong work ethic, but the structures which rewarded the old ways of working and earning a place in the world were fading fast as technology quickly advanced.  They were raised with a perspective of the world which no longer applies; forcing them to adjust to life in a world they were not taught to live in; teaching themselves, each other, and others how to make it in the world. Because they had to change course as early adults, many of the older generations accuse Generation X of being “slackers” or lazy. What those older generations couldn’t (and in many cases, still don’t or won’t) understand is that the world they came up in was being replaced, and the advice and education they were giving Gen-Xers no longer applied. The new world emerging was one they could not prepare the Generation X natives to thrive in, so Gen X had to find their own way.

In reality, “Generation X” is the bridge generation – the generation responsible for connecting the older and slower methodical approach and work ethic with the new technological and sociological realities of the world now. And though they may be stepping into their own power much later than the generations before them, the majority of Gen-Xers are now beginning to emerge and take their places in society and the world.

Let’s look at the astrology behind this.

Generation X natives began entering the world in early 1970. During their emergence into the world, there were many social changes occurring. For that reason, we’re going to start this exploration of Generation X with the influences of Uranus.

• Uranus had already entered Libra in 1968 (until mid-1975), beginning a relationship rebellion. This marked the beginning of the “Free Love” revolution in which traditional relationship models were shunned in favor of a more open relationship experience. This was also a period in which divorce began to become more prevalent and more socially acceptable, and we saw more and more people taking the institution of marriage far less seriously in favor of relationships which were more sexually liberating. As result, the early Gen-X natives have a more objective approach to relationships, not really being invested in them as much as preceding generations. There seems to be an innate understanding that relationships should not be expected to have permanence, and that you should partner with your best partner(s) in the moment and the relationship will last as long as it needs to last. This became the Gen-X approach to pretty much anything as they learned to accept the changing nature of the world by becoming (or innately being) emotionally detached from their circumstances. It’s a large part of why this generation has a reputation for being “easy-going”. They’ve learned to accept new beginnings and fresh starts as a way of life because there have been and continue to be so many changes for them.
• Uranus first entered Scorpio in late 1974 (through late 1981), bringing with it an unexpected turn toward darker subject matter in popular culture. There was a delving into the emotional-spiritual motives of sexual intimacy, spiritual occultism, death, and other socially “dark” subjects which had been avoided or demonized before this time. Those who engaged in and celebrated many of these deeper, darker, “taboo” subjects were doing so to rebel against those in power and influence who were trying to keep up appearances of optimism, wholesomeness, fairness, and justice while engaging in less than fair, just, diplomatic activities behind the scenes. These rebels called out the hypocrisy and dishonesty they saw through revolutionary social movements such as the anti-war movement, women’s rights (the ERA), environmental activism, and many others. Acts of social rebellion such as the socio-political statements through popular music and the introduction of punk rock music & punk culture in the mid-1970s were also quite prolific as artists made their deepest feelings and truths known in the face of those in power who turned a blind eye and insisted that everything was fine.
• To that point, this Uranus in Scorpio placement is that it also reveals just how much the majority of Gen X is reluctant to trust others. They want and need time to do their research, to get to the bottom of things. They do not trust surface appearances or attempts to placate their concerns. This may cause them to not make decisions quickly, but once they do decide, it will be very difficult to change their minds. The natives of this planetary placement also consider personal privacy a paramount interest, reluctant to share their personal info with others without clear reason to do so.
• Uranus first entered Sagittarius in early 1981, marking a time when bringing truth out into the open began to be the form of rebellion late in the Gen X period. Today, these late Gen-X natives are the ones rebelling against manufactured “truth” while advocating for experiential and factual truth. What may be most interesting about these people is that they have a knack for recognizing which truth is which, and any manufactured truth is recognized immediately as inauthentic and unworthy of trust. This combined with Neptune in Sagittarius, is a major factor in why some Gen-Xers are now emerging as the voices and faces of justice advocacy and journalistic integrity around the world.

The afore-mentioned Uranus changes occurred underneath the umbrella of the following Neptune and Pluto influences:

• Neptune in Sagittarius (1970-1984) is natal to 98% of the Gen-X natives. They idealize truth, freedom, and the expansive expression of authentic expression. Gen-Xers are very sensitive to making sure everyone has opportunities to experience, learn, grow, and expand their greatest self-expressive potential. These people do not want to be fenced in – if they’re going to be pushed to accept the impermanence of the world they live in, they want to be free to be and go and deal with that impermanence as they please. The idea of being forced into a place or position or being stuck in a role that does not allow them to grow and expand is devastating for them. They need to have first-hand experiences of in ways which enable them to seek and find their individual and collective truths. As result, Gen-Xers tend to idealize adventure, travel, and the great outdoors. They also tend to be very aware of their environments of all kinds – both the effects those environments have on them and the effects they have on the environment(s). (Though they were just being born, it’s no surprise that the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 as this generation was first coming into the world!)
• Pluto in Virgo (until mid-1972) is one of the two generational overlap energies (along with Uranus in Libra) which clearly demonstrate how Gen-Xers overlapped with the tail-end of the “Crisis Gen” era. These Gen-X natives – like their Crisis Gen predecessors – are committed to transforming the world with their service ethic. They rarely give up on anything, often sticking with things in order to fix or heal them way longer than they probably should. In some ways, this is wonderful in that they put a lot of effort and energy into project and people, even when things are difficult. Yet Uranus in Libra’s influence makes it easier for the late Crisis Gens and the early Gen-Xers to leave situations which could (and in many cases, should) be abandoned through objective assessment.
• However, this objectivity gained strength in late 1971 when we got our first taste of Pluto in Libra. The majority of Gen-X natives have this Pluto placement. They were strongly influenced by the changing nature of relationships during their upbringing and now as adults, they are now transforming the paradigm of relationships and partnerships of all kinds. They either rely on others completely or resist partnerships altogether. Either way, it takes a lot for them to establish partnerships with others, which gives these natives a reputation for being averse to sharing and/or partnerships. In reality, Gen-Xers are willing to share, but they aren’t willing to share with people who don’t carry their own share of the load. If and when a Gen X native does enter a partnership of any kind, they will learn to rely upon anyone who holds up their end of the deal, while anyone who doesn’t hold up their end of the deal is cut off for good. This is a major reason why many Gen-Xers tend to go it alone – they’d rather do things themselves than delegate to others as they often find partnerships are rarely equal, fair, or balanced in actuality. This recognition of partnerships being unbalanced, unequal, and unfair is why Generation X is also near-obsessed with matters of justice, equality, and fairness. Anything that they perceive as unequal, unfair, or unjust in their individual lives, in their communities, or in the collective of humanity must be brought into balance. There is a powerful advocacy for social and societal justice in Gen-Xers, and this is why you often see so many people of this generation being rather intolerant of racism, sexism, classism, and other social and societal dividing lines. Since they were raised in a time when these issues were being deliberated with inconclusive outcomes, Gen-Xers are determined to fulfill the social advocacy goals started during their childhoods by empowering what aligns with the goals of those movements and eliminating or destroying whatever doesn’t.

Equipped with revolutionary spirits, a desire for substance and authenticity, a willingness to see both the light and the darkness of everything, and open minds, Generation X is capable of changing the way various peoples and cultures of the world relate to each other in ways no one could ever imagine these “slackers” to be able to do, and to do so for the betterment of humanity and the planet. However, the challenge Gen X faces now is bridging the generations before with the generations following in order to transform the way the people of the world relate to each other one-on-one and collectively. It has the task of smoothing the transition between two sets of generations which have VERY different perspectives of and approaches to living in this world.

The majority of the remaining members of the “Greatest Generation” (currently aged 88-104) and the “Silent Generation” (currently aged 74-88) are now getting to points where it’s harder for many of them to be of practical service to the world. Though there are a small few who are still very active and engaged in this fast-moving, fast-changing world, the Greatests who remain are still seeking acknowledgment for their monumental accomplishments as they leave this world while the Silents are trying to maintain their relevance while it becomes harder and harder for them to exert themselves in alignment with their unwavering work ethic.

But remember what I said in Part Two of this series about the “Baby Boomers” (currently aged 59-75) having no intention of giving up their positions of power and influence?

Yep. The Crisis Gen, Gen X and Gen Y are those generations the Boomers have absolutely NO intention of giving up their power to. They refuse to be phased out easily…and this is making the Crisis Gens, Gen-Xers, and Gen Y natives downright angry – especially Gen X.

• For some early Gen-Xers, they are dealing with Silent Gen parents who are trying to be helpful to their children and grandchildren despite of or in denial of their own decreasing abilities to serve and work the way they did 50+ years ago.
• For some late Gen-Xers, they have Crisis Gen parents who are very supportive and encouraging of their efforts to bring fairness and justice to the world.
• But for most Gen-X natives, it’s their Boomer parents who simply won’t let go of their need to have power and control over the society and/or world, and this is making Generation X’s job of bridging and/or closing the generation gap that much more difficult.

Though their hearts are in the right place, the Crisis Gen natives (currently aged 47-61) have become rather submissive to the Boomers, wishing they could assert their power, but often succumbing to the Boomers’ stubborn determination. Realizing that they may not be able to bring about as much change as they hoped, they are now placing a great deal of their faith in the younger generations, hoping they will be able to realize the progress they’ve initiated.

Unlike the Crisis Gens, the Gen-Xers (aged 32-47) are not giving up their fight. In fact, in true late-bloomer fashion, they’re just getting started in looking for ways to either work around the Boomers or put the Boomers into submission and/or retirement. You’ll currently see Generation X advocating for human rights, civil rights, and environmental preservation. You’ll also see them making every effort to hold the Boomers’ responsible and accountable for how the Boomers have obtained and maintain their power and influence. This is their effort to bring the Boomers into balance with the younger generations.

Meanwhile, the Boomers are changing (and/or defying) rules and laws in order to sustain their grip on the world for as long as they can…but they’re running out of room to run away from reality.

This is where “Generation Y” comes in…in the next post of the series.

Thank you for reading and sharing Signs and Numbers. Next post up soon…

~ Light, Love, and Blessings,

Grace