Headed straight toward World War III? Analysis by Susan Taylor

Baba Vanga, the famous blind Bulgarian clairvoyant, predicted a devastating global nuclear war. Just like Nostradamus, who declared, "A devastating nuclear bomb will explode"… 😱 So what should you make of these prophecies? Do certain planetary events point to a third world war? Here are some answers.

Similar planetary aspects for World War I and World War II

For both world wars, we see similar planetary aspects: Saturn and Pluto in conjunction or square. When these two planets combine, they create powerful tension 💥. In conjunction, or when they’re poorly aspected, these planets are symbols of destruction, neurosis, and anxiety.

Mindsets harden and clash, tensions rise, Pluto destroys violently, and the planet Saturn cuts down. But the idea behind this is eventual rebuilding—a completely different, better kind of renewal.

World War I (1914–1918): Saturn–Pluto conjunction

At the start of summer 1914, Saturn and Pluto were in conjunction—side by side in the zodiac—so the planets blended both their positive and negative influences.

World War II (1939–1945): Saturn and Pluto square

In September 1939, the two planets were 90 degrees apart in the zodiac. A square indicates strong tension, and both planets expressed their harsher sides.

The Saturn–Pluto conjunction, the square, or even the opposition hasn’t always led to world wars, thankfully, but these aspects have often coincided with major events—sometimes liberating, sometimes dramatic. By the way, what exactly is an aspect? 👉 Astrological aspects: meaning & influence

For example:

• India’s declaration of independence took place under a Saturn–Pluto conjunction in 1947.
• In 2001, during the World Trade Center attack (9/11), Saturn was in opposition to Pluto.
• In 2010, Saturn square Pluto (both also poorly aspected to Uranus) intensified the economic crisis!

And what about 2025? Reassuring predictions

🖋️ Predictions from September 18, 2024.

Despite some challenging aspects—a Saturn–Pluto semi-square in January, then a Jupiter–Saturn square and a Jupiter–Neptune square in June—2025 doesn’t appear to herald World War III.

In fact, these aspects point more to moments of doubt, bitterness, and disappointment—stalemates, difficulty reaching agreement, and economic constraints… Yes, this suggests tension among political leaders across nations, and current wars aren’t likely to resolve overnight. However, it looks like there shouldn’t be an escalation of violence severe enough to trigger a global conflict.

During summer 2025, we enter the early phase of a Saturn–Neptune conjunction (exact in February 2026). Saturn, the planet of structure and discipline, joins Neptune, the planet of ideals, dreams, the collective, and sharing. This conjunction occurs in Aries, which heightens the urge to act on convictions with passion and inspiration.

This brings Russia to mind. Notably, this conjunction appeared in 1917–1918 (the Russian Revolution and the rise of the USSR), in 1953–1954 (Stalin’s death and its aftermath), and in 1989–1990 (the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR). So you can imagine the beginning of a decline for Putin and his policies, a major shift in Russian politics, a change in its stance toward Ukraine, and the emergence of a new Russia different from the current leadership.

Looking at Saturn–Uranus aspects (their conjunction is historically linked to fascism), in 2025 we have a beneficial sextile between Saturn and Uranus in April and again in August. That eases tension and rigidity. Under this aspect, you can stay the course—determined, disciplined, and serious—while keeping healthy distance from situations and avoiding intransigence or fanaticism.

So you can envision a desire for understanding among different nations and even opposing schools of thought… With this aspect, some may set aside old grudges, let the past be the past, and bury the hatchet to move toward tomorrow (I’m thinking of Israel–Palestine, among others). Agreements of this kind are often fragile… but there will be attempts—I hope.

Plus, in August and November, the Uranus–Neptune sextile supports a balance between individuality and community that favors open‑mindedness, tolerance, and a certain human richness—overall, a pacifist tone. You can also expect plenty of creativity, inventions, and brilliant discoveries to capture attention.

Overall, that makes for a 2025 overview that’s rather reassuring regarding the question of a third world war. I hope you enjoyed this analysis—don’t hesitate to leave me a quick comment 🙂.

Looking ahead to 2026

Article written on September 22, 2025

As I already mentioned in 2024, I’m concerned about 2028, when an exact square (a very tense aspect) between Saturn and Pluto repeats twice. It reminds us of extremely complicated periods associated with negative Saturn–Pluto aspects (conjunction, opposition, or square). I’ve talked about this before: World War I and II, the World Trade Center attack in 2001, the major financial crisis of 2010… Most recently, the COVID pandemic and crisis in 2020. So from now on, we’ll need to remain extremely vigilant and cautious so the events of 2028 are more liberating than explosive.

When I analyzed 2025’s interplanetary aspects back in 2024, I didn’t feel that World War III would break out. Even though I noted some conflict‑prone configurations, there were always other planetary patterns counterbalancing the negatives. That’s what you can see now that 2025 is well underway: even if violence and power plays among nations have worsened, some leaders are responding cautiously in an effort not to heighten the risk of a world war.

So what about 2026’s planetary influences?

In 2026, the major aspects are positive and constructive overall. Still, what catches my eye is the exact Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Aries in February. It’s amplified by a rather aggressive minor pattern: a Mars–Pluto conjunction in Aquarius in late January. Then Mars will intensify the Saturn–Neptune conjunction in April. We also see Mars with Uranus and Jupiter with Pluto stirring tension in July—but other bodies call for peace.

The Saturn–Neptune conjunction is closely tied to Russia. It showed up in 1917–1918 (the Russian Revolution and the rise of the USSR), in 1953–1954 (Stalin’s death and its consequences), and in 1989–1990 (the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR).

The Saturn–Neptune conjunction was nearly exact in summer 2025, and during that period Putin was invited both to the United States and to China by leaders who fawned over him… Vladimir Putin then intensified attacks in Ukraine and also began provoking Europe by violating certain territories with Russian drones.
The beginning of the year, April, and summer 2026 will therefore be decisive moments in our relations with Russia—and in the global conflict this could risk triggering.

As for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, I don’t have the impression it will calm down, with the State of Israel set on expanding more and more (it’s marked by Uranus and Jupiter, which push to impose authority at all costs). Since it’s supported by the United States and contradicted by much of the UN, that doesn’t help. An agreement could be reached in June, but there’s a lot of inconsistency here—advances followed by disappointments.

Add to that the economic rivalries the U.S. set in motion in 2025 with its international partners, and it’s not easy to stay optimistic!

Even so, Russia’s posture worries me most… Based on other 2026 aspects that are evolutionary and hopeful, I think that despite numerous complications and increasingly risky situations, World War III can still be avoided in 2026.

And for you—what does the year have in store? To find out, check your 2026 horoscope and the key dates for 2026.