The much dreaded planet in traditional astrology. The significator of delays, restriction, limitations, coldness, darkness, duties, responsibilities, burdens, absence of love, joy and happiness. Also the planet of Karma and life lessons. Understanding Saturn’s role in our chart is the first step in acknowledging and accepting our karmic load this lifetime.
A strong Saturn is mindful of time, duties, responsibilities. What one must do and when comes naturally to these folks. A healthy Saturn knows when to persevere and when to let go.
With a Saturn prominently featured in my birth chart, I’m very familiar with its pattern. ‘Man proposes and god disposes’ should have been ‘I plan and Saturn frustrates‘.
After countless disappointments, struggles, delays, and failures; I’ve come to Respect the energy of Saturn in my life. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. There’s no winning when you’re fighting a battle against time. You’ve got to work with time, go with the flow. Not resist what you are meant to experience. If it is meant to happen, it will. And All one can do is to wait. For suffering to pass and arrival of peace.
And wait for the right time. ‘Shanaishchar’ in Jyothish means that which moves slowly. To please Saturn or Shani resist plucking fruits before they’re ripe. Do what needs to be done and when it needs to be done without focusing on the outcome. Allow events to naturally unfold without any resistance from our end.
One of the toughest and the most challenging lessons to learn in life is when to hold on and when to let go. When to hold on to a marriage, a job, a friend, grudges, dreams, pain, trauma. It is usually extremely difficult to release our hold on something until either the thing itself wriggles out from our grasp or we get tired and exhausted from grabbing on to it tenaciously.
Enter Saturn, the record keeper and father time. The one who balances any karmic dues from past lifetimes.
Saturn says- Let go or be dragged.
What Are You Meant To Let Go Off?
In Aries:
Being in its Fall in Aries, Saturn constricts the natural martian impulses and ability to take action spontaneously. It’s a prickly position as the native is filled with self doubt about taking the first step towards something, quite antithetical to the ‘me-first’ energy of the stereotypical Aries Ram .
Saturn in Aries possibly causes enormous anxiety surrounding action which could lead to inappropriately expressing the martian energy as overt, inappropriate aggression or passiveness. The individual may either leap hurriedly into something or ruminate until they drive themselves into self doubt and fear of failure. While the Ram wants to lead with a fiery passion and enthusiasm, the Goat will hold back and wait for someone to authorize them to lead. While the Ram rushes, the goat hangs around the sidelines; calm, detached and watching patiently.
What this combination creates is a compulsive need to act which arises not from careful planning but from anxiety, frustration and fear of being sidelined and losing out.
Lessons: To learn patience and to work diligently without expecting instant results. To avoid conflict with authority figures and release the subconscious need to be first in everything.
In Taurus
Saturn tests our value system in this sign. What do we value and why? Can we relax and enjoy what we have at present or do we struggle for that elusive Goldilocks zone of success, wealth, status and prestige. Saturn in Taurus craves financial stability and societal prominence. It yearns for a comfortable life, where one does not have to get on that hamster wheel, yet is extremely restless and will avoid relaxation.
This placement enjoys the idea of luxury but often denies itself by not spending on things that would bring a comfortable or luxurious life. Often, these individuals could be very stingy or cheap with regards to their spending habits.
This is the person, who despite having very robust finances, incessantly complains about their financial misfortunes. Who remembers the lost $10 bill rather than the $100 sitting in their wallet. Who denies themselves the comfort money can buy despite having worked very hard and long for that money. These natives are the very few who actually enjoy a highly restrictive diet and possibly thrive on denying themselves the pleasures of good food.
Lessons: Indulge yourself and allow yourself to relax and enjoy the finer aspects of life. Let go of the need to hoard and learn to share your possessions.
In Gemini
People with this placement are often misunderstood. They struggle to communicate effectively with others in their immediate environment. Either they are compulsive communicators or are withdrawn and tend to silence. They are often deep thinkers who don’t prefer small talk as Saturn restricts their ability to access the lighthearted humor and mental agility of Mercury.
It possibly makes the individual very unsure of their ability to mentally focus on the details and grasp information swiftly in a conversation. These people could also feel inadequate when it comes to effectively engaging with others in social situations. They could go through bursts of vivacity and gregariousness followed by depressive silence while they overthink every word they’ve said in a conversation.
This placement makes it challenging for the native to explore diverse perspectives or readily adapt to change. It usually suggests that the native is resistant to changing their mind and can be very argumentative when faced with an opposing perspective.
Lessons: Approach social interactions with optimism with a growth mindset. Look for opportunities to learn and grow intellectually.
In Cancer
The lord of limitations in the sign of maternal nurturing, emotional sensitivity and the guardian of home and hearth. What could go wrong, right?
With Saturn in Cancer, these natives find it challenging to access their emotions and the inner voice. Usually this takes the form of repression of feelings and emotions; of oneself and others. These individuals are emotional and sensitive but unable to express it effectively causing them to either under-react or over-react. Very often, they resort to stoicism as emotions seem too unpredictable and intense and resort to manage them in a structured, organized way that Saturn loves.
Most often, there is a lack of emotional nurturing or emotional neglect in the family and a sense of rootlessness and insecurity. This in turn makes them susceptible to seek safety and security in the external world through material security or through relationships.
None of these will ever fill the void that this placement could feel. What does make them feel whole?
Lessons: Learn to take care and nurture living beings, whether they are your pets or plants or children. Express emotions as you feel them without judgement or suppression. Release the need to be in control and stoic at all times.
In Leo
In detriment in Leo, Saturn forces the native to release their need to ‘shine’ and be recognised for their talents, skills and endeavors. People with this placement could struggle for years to achieve success in societal terms but it seems out of reach and elusive. They are forced, by circumstances, to play second fiddle to others, and are somehow never allowed the opportunity to lead. If unaddressed, these natives lose childlike spontaneity which is essential to enjoying an activity and become very rigid and structured
There seems to be a deep need felt to achieve fame and fortune but fear holds them back from pursuing fame. A distinct lack of courage to stand in the spotlight and face the bouquets and brickbats leads these natives to hide in the privacy of their own minds and safe spaces.
Lessons: Indulge your inner child. Be present like carefree children deeply engaged in an activity. Let go of distrust of public judgements and release the fear of standing out and being different. Dare to be seen.
In Virgo
Problem solver extraordinaire. Saturn in this mutable, earthy, service oriented sign gives a keenly analytical, detail oriented mind that in turn seems overwhelmed with the intellectual demands of virgo and at the same time compelled to virgo’an qualities of self improvement and perfectionism.
Can anything be perfected even if enormous amount of time is poured into it? Saturn forces the native to discriminate between multiple interests and choose the activity, job, pursuit that is worth spending time, effort on. But, discrimination and discernment does not imply criticality, irritability or worrying over trivialities.
Lessons: When to persist and when to release something- whether it is improving an idea, a project, relationships, or ourselves.
In Libra
Exalted in Venus’s sign, Saturn demands cooperation and a relationship oriented outlook on life. The native will need to face the very qualities that Libra avoids- confrontation, disharmony, imbalance, courseness and vulgarity. In their pursuit of harmonious relationships and fairness, individuals with this placement will often bear responsibilities that are not theirs to carry.
It is only by facing and resolving harsh realities of life and relationships, instead of smoothening things over superficially and pushing things under the rug; will this native find the inner harmony and peace that they seek
Lessons: Release the need to be fair and harmonious. Be comfortable with the ugliness in life and accept that not everyone can be helped.
In Scorpio
Getting stuck in the depths of emotional hell would be second nature to individuals with Saturn in scorpio. Unable to move on from past hurts or wounds, these natives can hold on to a grudge like no other. Saturn can lend a great deal of secretiveness to an already secretive personality, and intensity of emotions that, if not wisely managed, can be extremely vindictive and destructive to the native and others around them.
Lessons: Not all Scorpio dominant personalities rise from the ashes like a Phoenix. Some burn themselves down, and destroy everything in their path. To evolve as a Phoenix, one must let go of the past completely whether others deserve forgiveness or not. Release the desire to control and assert dominance and power over others.
In Sagittarius
Saturn placed in Jupiter’s domicile gives the native with this placement the curious effect of grounding and structuring the 35,000 feet above sea level ideas of Jupiter. These natives can be gifted teachers who enjoy working and helping the needy and under-privileged. They retain the foresight and philosophical mindset of Jupiter, but can be fanatical, dogmatic and very rigid in their beliefs and ideas. The one person I know with this placement can argue endlessly about the ‘right’ political party and the ‘right’ economic system and the ‘right’ religion. Saturn in Sagittarius can be excessively narrow minded and thus exhausting in social interactions.
Lessons: Broaden your mind through travel and expanding your social circles. Pursue understanding and appreciation of cultures and religions other than your own to embody healthy Jupiterian values.
In Capricorn
Saturn’s domicile which gives these natives tremendous perseverance and drive to achieve material goals. Very pragmatic and down to earth, the evolved capricornian is cognizant of their duties and responsibilities. Despite the delays and obstacles Saturn throws in their path, they are disciplined, clear sighted and ambitious and usually don’t veer off course. There is a strong sense of duty which might seem like burdens if Jupiter is afflicted or in detriment. Potential to become very rigid and uncompromising in their outlook over time.
The astrologer Isabelle Hickey called this placement the “karmic clearing house” where the best or the worst of this placement is expressed.
Lessons: Adapt and bend to circumstances and people. Open yourself up to possibilities and develop an adventurous mindset. Find that internal fountain of joy that makes all your hard work seem worthwhile and meaningful.
In Aquarius
Traditionally, Saturn has ruled Aquarius until Uranus was discovered and rulership of Aquarius has passed on to Uranus in modern astrology. If Capricorn is the earth bound, materialistic manifestation of Saturn; then Aquarius is the saturnian energy that transcends earthly expressions. In this sign, Saturn comes to identify with humanity as a whole and connects the lower self to the higher self. Natives with this placement can be intellectuals who are just, strong, opinionated, and detached.
Lessons: Learning to associate and relate one-on-one to each person is just as rewarding as relating to the mass of humanity. Vulnerability and emotional connect with your loved ones will help you feel more connected to your humanitarian goals.
In Pisces
Saturn in a watery boundary dissolving sign like Pisces can lead to natives too involved with the problems in others lives. It is challenging to discern where the self ends and others begin. It has the potential to make the native fearful and react emotionally to life’s struggles.
Lessons: Emotional, psychological boundaries are healthy and despite the temptation to help others unconditionally, remember that one cannot help everyone and cultivating detached compassion is very crucial to avoid mental health issues.
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