Saturn in the Houses

The house containing Saturn will be connected to the affairs where we find the Capricorn house and possibly, to a lesser extent, the house containing Aquarius, although Uranus has more sway there. Look also to the house containing the ruler of the sign it is posited in. This house as well will figure in some way with the house containing this planet. Difficult aspects to the Great Teacher can be particularly irksome to the native, but we should keep in mind that inharmonious aspects create friction, a type of energy, and it may be this very impetus that drives the native to strive for balance in these areas.

This planet's placement in the natal chart should never be underestimated as it tends to have a terrific impact on the native. This influence can, in some cases, be so powerful as to override almost everything else in the horoscope. This is due to the fact that this planet, sometimes referred to as The Great Teacher, employs quite often his most motivating learning tool – pain! A more in-depth look at Saturn will make this example quite clear.

This planet often gets a bad rap in astrology, especially among beginning students, and although this is readily understandable it is also quite unfair. Saturn is referred to as the Great Teacher or the Great Disciplinarian and, as stated earlier, his tool of preference to accomplish this is often pain. Also referred to as the Great Taskmaster, it ensures that what we want we must really work for and apply ourselves to this task if we wish to establish anything of meaning and significance for ourselves and if we wish to have these accomplishments be enduring. That is to say, we are required to build a strong foundation (Saturn) on which to build our dreams. If we merely build sandcastles, the incoming tide could quickly wash them away, but with strong foundations our accomplishments will have a much greater chance of standing the tests of adversity and time.

This planet, at its best, is symbolic of the grounding principle we all need in order to achieve our desires. Without Saturn's influence we would have no reality. Consider the works of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, et al, or Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Rembrandt or Galileo. These were people of dreams and vision, but without the influence of Saturn (work) their dreams would have come to naught and have remained as little more than flights of fancy. This is why this planet, although troublesome at times, is needed. Without it, there would be no enduring accomplishment.

Now that we have vindicated the Great Teacher's presence in our lives, let's take a closer look at the more negative manifestations of this energy to understand more clearly where this bad reputation comes from. Saturn is symbolic of fear, pain, restriction, sorrow, grief, frustration, limitation, hardship, rigidity and so forth; if there was an organization called "Masochists Unanimous", and they held a convention, Saturn would be certain to be at the top of the invitation list! Is it any wonder this influence is seen as such a frightening specter in the horoscope? This is true as far as it goes, but it is by confronting and working (Saturn) with these issues that we can overcome them and safely put them behind us so that they cannot trip us up again in the future. In this way, we can see it to be the teacher, disciplinarian and taskmaster that helps us to build strong foundations for our growth and indeed, if we apply ourselves, helps us learn to help ourselves.

On the other side, however, its influence can prove to be so very frustrating that its position and aspects can be indicative of areas of life where we feel hopelessness (keyword) and defeated. Then we see the truly tragic side of humanity through Saturn's influence. This would cause any teacher to grieve, for although it sometimes uses pain to motivate us, no teacher really wishes to break the spirit of their students. In this case, some simply give up and refuse to acknowledge this area of life or give it any importance, but usually this is an elaborate façade and it is simply that this area is a source of such pain and frustration that the native refuses to deal with it again. Therefore, keep in mind it is this planet's job to teach us, not to break us. In this way, it helps us acquire what we often desire most, and in such a manner that we no longer need to be fearful of its loss. Saturn helps us to build a foundation of almost unshakeable inner security.

FIRST HOUSE SATURN

The first house is associated with development of the personality and characteristics that are immediately discernible to others upon first meeting us. Also, here we may find how a person views and approaches the world, especially if planets posited here are in the sign of the Ascendant. Here we may also find physical characteristics the native possesses.

When Saturn is posited in the first house, we may get the impression of a person that is cold and unfriendly upon first meeting them. This, however, is usually a misconception. These natives do have a serious demeanor and outlook on life and tend to act in a very dignified manner, but this is commonly due to their childhood. Usually early on, these people were subjected to the dictates of a disciplinarian parent that may have given the native the impression that rules were more important than the child themselves. This tends to squelch the person's spontaneity, resulting in a deeply reserved manner later in life. At first fun may seem frivolous to these people, but hopefully later in life they learn to loosen up a bit. Often in childhood they were strictly controlled and have trouble letting go as adults.

This can be symbolic of a person that lacks self-confidence or any real sense of self-worth, and this can also be indicative of congenital defects, although this may not be obvious in the person's physical appearance. Due to the harsh early environment, this could indicate an individual that was denied a childhood. In other words, they were expected to act as adults even as children or had responsibilities thrust upon them beyond their years and capability to deal with. This could then manifest as a deep-seated sense of inadequacy in the individual. Usually early on, the world and life is viewed as a cold, harsh place full of pitfalls and struggling and little happiness. Later in life they can learn to lighten up.

On the positive side, these people are usually quite responsible and can be very determined to achieve their goals. They should be warned against feelings of hostility that may be left over from childhood, making some of them ruthless.

SECOND HOUSE SATURN

The second house is associated with personal finances; movable assets, our innate talents and inner resources. On a deeper level, this house includes our personal values, our sense of self-worth and what constitutes inner-security for the native.

When we find Saturn positioned in the second house, we might assume that this would mean economic hardships in the person's life. Although at times this is the case, it is not always so. This planet is, however, symbolic of caution; and as such, could manifest as an individual that takes great care where investments and expenditures are concerned. If economic hardships do occur, it is usually early on in life; and as these people grow older they are often more financially secure. This is usually attributable to any hardship experienced in youth leaving the individual with an appreciation for the value of a dollar, and to Saturn's influence being more benevolent later in life as we learn the lessons of the Great Teacher.

For some, this leads to greed or frugality to the point of austerity. This would be associated with the fear and hostility some astrologers equate to Saturn's influence. These people should take care, however, to make sure they are adequately compensated for their contributions. This planet tends to challenge our feelings of self-worth, in the second house especially, and this could leave these individuals feeling unworthy of higher pay. This can, in some cases, leave these natives feeling exploited, and rightfully so.

On a deeper level, it is this feeling of self-worth mentioned above that this planet may influence here. The second house is associated with the time in our development when we need to be held and cuddled to give us a sense of self-worth and inner-security. Saturn denotes coldness. So at this time in our life, if our parents were too busy or just not the demonstrative type, we may have been left with a feeling of unworthiness. If this was the case, some with this position may be left feeling insecure and may attempt to amass material wealth obsessively merely to prove their worthiness.

THIRD HOUSE SATURN

The third house is associated with communications of all types; early education, left-brain activity, short-distance journeys, the immediate environment, relations with neighbors, siblings and close relatives (excluding parents) and commerce. The third house is also symbolic of how a person tends to think.

When Saturn is placed in the third house, it can prove to be a hindrance to free and easy communication. Often, especially during early education, these people are erroneously labeled as slow. This, however, is usually not the case. Cautious and methodical are keywords for the Great Teacher; and when placed in the third, this may describe more accurately the working of the native's mind. Some are fearful to blurt out what they are thinking for fear of sounding foolish. So they take time to formulate a response and are labeled uncommunicative. Or wishing to thoroughly digest a point mentally before moving on to make certain it is completely understood, they can appear slow. Actually, some with this placement may be well suited for science or mathematics because they are capable of careful and meticulous thought. Many shun small-talk, and this could add to their reputation as being taciturn.

Their early environment may have been strictly disciplined in childhood. They may have been restricted in their explorations as children, leaving them with a sense that the environment imposes restrictions upon them. For others, Saturn could denote a lack of siblings or a responsibility to those siblings, probably younger, in some way. Perhaps they were responsible for their siblings while the parents worked or, in dysfunctional families while the parents spent their evenings drinking or pursuing other interests not including the children.

With this planet all is not ease, but with effort nor is it all travail. Through discipline and effort these people can forge strong mental and communicative faculties that can be of benefit to them in later life. Unfortunately, this may not help too much in traveling difficulties they may encounter.

FOURTH HOUSE SATURN

The fourth house is associated with domesticity; the house we grew up in and the home we wish to establish for ourselves as adults. This house is symbolic of how we end things, including circumstances at the time of our demise. Here we find the house of the parent in the background or the parent least influential in our development.

When we find Saturn posited in the fourth house, it is said to symbolize an early upbringing that was restrictive and disciplinarian. This could also mean that the parents in some way, particularly the parent symbolized by the fourth house, will be burdensome to the native later in life. The home atmosphere perhaps was authoritarian and the native was probably expected to fall in line and might have been found lacking in this manner. This usually leaves the native feeling inadequate in some way and feeling unappreciated and probably resentful as well.

This placement, as well as Saturn in the tenth, usually denotes a coldness or formality in the parent/child relationship. Even if the parents, and the fourth house parent particularly, were examples of disciplined effort and hard work the relationship was probably viewed by the native as lacking in warmth and founded on duty and responsibility. Most of these people feel their families are burdensome in some way or responsible for holding them back, at least in early life.

Later in life, these individuals may have to struggle hard to establish and maintain a home and family. Since placement here indicates a degree of coldness in family relations they may cut themselves off from their families or simply keep ties out of a sense of responsibility. This, however, can leave them feeling lonely and isolated and some do become reclusive in later years. A better tactic might be to work at family relationships as Saturn's promise here is for a stable home life in later years if the native is willing to put forth the effort. This can, and usually does, indicate security for the native and their families in the latter half of their lives.

FIFTH HOUSE SATURN

The fifth house is associated with artistic/creative self-expression; romance, children, hobbies and leisure activities and financial speculation and gambling. In the fifth house we find indications of how the native likes to play.

When Saturn is placed in the fifth house, we might find this person has a tough time relaxing their barriers enough to play at all. Though some of these individuals are talented artistically, they may have a tough time with artistic/creative self-expression. They could have a difficult time loosening up to be creative right from the start and, once they do begin, could have a nagging feeling that their attempts along these lines are somehow lacking or inferior. This could be due to the relationship with the parents that may have left the native with a feeling that they had to conform to parental expectations and that somehow who they really were inside was unacceptable.

This tightness or inferiority complex could come into play in the sphere of romance as well. This could manifest as shyness and awkwardness sexually or indicate a person that gives the appearance of suffering from a cold nature, although many that appear withdrawn may secretly ache with loneliness. Saturn is symbolic of what we need for security, and for these people this could mean a long-term and stable relationship. It is doubtful that these people would appear promiscuous. Sometimes there may be a marked age difference with lovers.

In the fifth house, placement can delay the birth of children until later in life and is sometimes associated with difficult births. These people may be too strict with their children or in some way the relationship could be considered cold; although, more positively, they can be good examples of disciplined effort to their offspring. Financial speculation can be risky and should probably be formed along the lines of sound and long-term investments. Saturn in the fifth house need not be so bad, but these people should attempt to relax and learn to play a bit more. After all, that is what the fifth house is for!

SIXTH HOUSE SATURN

The sixth house is associated with health and work and service to others and our daily routine. Here we find indications concerning our relationships with employers and fellow co-workers and our own employees if we are self-employed. Indications may give clues to the types of illnesses we are susceptible to and what conditions could presage the onset of illness.

When Saturn is posited in the sixth house, we can expect this person to have a serious attitude toward duty. These individuals can be very responsible and good at organization. Their work could involve specialized training of the mind as this house is naturally ruled by Mercury. Responsibilities and obligations to duty could be quite heavy with placement here. These people may toil long and hard before recognition is achieved, and with Saturn this is usually later in life. This house is also associated with daily routine, and since this planet is associated with security this might manifest as a person that is most comfortable in what most people would refer to as a rut.

The sixth house is also associated with the mind/body phenomenon, and this can be a source of problems for this native. If Saturn is heavily afflicted in the sixth house, it could manifest as nagging, chronic health complaints. These need not be too serious, but could plague the native's peace of mind. This can manifest as a gloomy outlook on life or a constant worry over the state of one's health. Quite often, this negative outlook might be directly related to certain health problems. This may be particularly significant when we look at Saturn's proclivity for rigidity and then see a person that has complaints dealing with the skin, bones, teeth, arthritis or rheumatism.

This need not be detrimental to the native's health or success in service to others, but it does indicate much perseverance for the native's ultimate success. These people may work too hard and should be warned to take time to relax both for their body and to increase their productivity.

SEVENTH HOUSE SATURN

The seventh house is associated with marriage and business partnerships. Here we find indications of what we look for in committed relationships. This is the house of public relations, the lower courts and open enemies.

When Saturn is placed in the seventh house, we will find a person that has a serious outlook where relationships are concerned. This need not be an indication of unhappiness in marriage, though for some people it is. This is an indication of duty and responsibility where relationships are concerned. Sometimes these people are shy and awkward in relationships; and it could be a feeling of inadequacy that is the underlying problem. If this is the case, these people may choose domineering partners that will take over control of the native's life, leaving them unfulfilled. But this may be a case of duplicity as the native can then vent on the controlling partner and put the blame for any problems on them.

The placement of Saturn in the seventh house is usually an indication of a marriage later in life. This planet has this influence, no matter where it is positioned, of delaying gratification until we have learned the lessons the Great Teacher symbolizes in our chart. Saturn is also concerned with security, and in the seventh this usually means the native is looking for a long-term, stable relationship or an older partner. But this should be done in harmony and interdependence. If not, the native can be cast in the role of a virtual slave dominated by others through their fears of ever being seen as acceptable by a potential partner. It is probably this fear of being dominated or becoming too dependent on a partner that makes many with this position wary of involvement, thus delaying marriage until later in life after the Great Teacher's lessons are learned.

On the plus side, these individuals are capable of building relationships on strong foundations and are normally very reliable partners. This is the house of Saturn's exaltation. They should be reminded, however, of misdirected hostility.

EIGHTH HOUSE SATURN

The eighth house is associated with jointly-held finances, other people's money, sex, death, taxes, the occult, astrology and, through being one of the natural water houses, the unconscious.

With Saturn placed in the eighth house, we can expect to find restrictions in the area of joint finances. Marriage could be a source of financial hardship for the native. Taxes and other obligations could eat up inheritance or legacies. In the event of divorce, the native will probably get the shorter end of the stick or alimony payments could be burdensome. Like the line from a country/western song years ago – "She got the gold mine and I got the shaft!" Needless to say, these natives could be left feeling resentful!

Financially, benefits ordinarily come later in life, as is this planet's design, and these people will probably prosper best with long-term goals. Eighth placement can ordinarily assume that gains will not be quick and easy. These people do tend to do well later in life, if it is not too seriously afflicted. For some, this could include working as financial advisors, stock brokers or bankers; positions equated with stability, security and finance.

Sexually, these people may be shy and reticent and, here again, we see Saturn's symbolism possibly manifesting as fearfulness, giving these people a degree of insecurity and awkwardness about how they feel about their bodies and their approach to the opposite sex. This need not be tragic but should warn these people to look below the surface to find the underlying cause of these inhibitions. The eighth house deals with transformation, and in this regard the reticence involved and confronted in sexual union could be what the native needs to bring issues to the surface to be dealt with.

Death, with this position favorably aspected, will probably be later in life with the native living to a ripe old age; if afflicted, death could come from chronic long, drawn out illness.

NINTH HOUSE SATURN

The ninth house is associated with higher education; religion, philosophy, the law, higher courts, publishing, ethics, right-brain activity and abstract thought. This house also includes foreign cultures, long-distance journeys and relations with relatives of marriage and business partners.

Saturn posited in the ninth house is indicative of a person with conservative views. These people should guard against allowing their attitudes to become too rigid. They may pursue education dutifully in order to advance their position in life. These natives are sometimes found holding positions in the hierarchy of universities or within religion. The tendency of this planet to be cold, however, could easily give the appearanceof a stern figure to students or congregations despite their capable demeanor.

This position sometimes shows up in the charts of people who have lost their faith or have had it sorely tested. Their image of God could be of a figure that demands strict obedience and punishes severely any that step out of line. Their interpretation of God is rarely seen as benevolent, loving or forgiving. The lesson for these people is to be more open in their attitude and to find hope within themselves again. This is no easy task for Saturn, which is symbolic of gloom and hardship if not downright fearfulness.

Travel for these people will probably come through duty and responsibility of some sort and possibly through their profession. With Saturn here, there is little likelihood that the native finds travel enjoyable, but if the native allows themselves to open up it could be educational. Relationships with the families of marriage and business partners may be based on formality and probably rarely considered warm.

These people question life itself and this may be how they contribute to life through science, theology or education. This planet symbolizes a search for security and in the ninth house could mean ultimately trusting God and ourselves.

TENTH HOUSE SATURN

The tenth house is associated with professional achievements, career ambitions and how we wish to be seen in the eyes of the public. This is also one of the parent houses and usually symbolizes, for good or ill, how we perceived this parent/child relationship. This house will have a bearing on the more influential parent in the native's life.

Saturn in the tenth house is often the victim of a bad reputation and this is due to the fact that both Hitler and Napoleon had this placement in their charts. Hitler is alleged to have had a domineering father, but I have seen this in the charts of people that were victims of domineering mothers, also. So placement here should not be construed to be an indication of the parent's gender.

This placement may be found in the charts of people that had their individuality squelched forcibly, if not violently, by the parent in question. The parent/child relationship was probably cool at best, leaving the child with a lack of confidence or self-esteem. This position, if seriously afflicted, can denote the negative side of parent/child relationships leaving the native feeling unloved, unwanted and unappreciated. This is, of course, the negative manifestation and we should remember this is Saturn's natural house making this a powerful placement. In this regard, the native can become ruthlessly ambitious and feel that the ends justify the means. If this should happen, as it did with Hitler, the Lord of Karma (Saturn) strikes back by pulling these people down.

On the positive side, this usually does indicate success for the individual, but this ordinarily comes later in life. Once again, we see Saturn's gifts coming with maturity. These people are often very sensitive about how other people see them and about their reputations, whether they admit to this or not. This position is good for politicians and bestows organizational ability. These people can make good executives.

In extreme cases, this can manifest as rebellion against what others expect of us and lead to criminality, though this is rare. Usually, these people can be rigid and expect others to conform as they do.

ELEVENTH HOUSE SATURN

The eleventh house is associated with friendships, group associations, professional organizations, civic groups; goals and objectives, hopes and wishes and the collective of humanity generally. On a more personal level, this house is associated with becoming more than we are, and here this is done by contributing and working with others in harmony.

When Saturn is posited in the eleventh house, we may see its limitation by having few friendships; however, these friendships may be enduring and last a lifetime. These people may have older, mature friends that may be an asset to the native in the pursuit of their careers. This planet is not generally thought of as social in nature, so here this could mean friendships of a practical nature where both parties contribute to the well-being of the other and a balance of usefulness is struck. If afflicted, however, the motives could prove to be mercenary and the native may pursue friendships simply to further their own self-interests.

Many with this placement could be shy or awkward in social settings and, as a result, forego socializing as it may tend to make them feel uncomfortable or inadequate in some way. If this fear is allowed to become paralyzing, the native may cut themselves off socially and thereby miss out on the necessary lessons needed to be learned in order to foster a sense of inner-security within themselves. This planet is never frivolous, but these people should make an effort to at least cultivate a few close friends. With Saturn, this may take effort indeed as some people want to completely avoid the sphere that it influences in the chart. This, however, cuts off their best avenue to growth.

Groups these people are attracted to are probably conservative and, keeping with Saturn's practicality, are probably professional in nature. Duties and responsibilities in these groups, as well as in friendship, might be felt to be burdensome at times, but these people do have good organizational skills and are capable of working hard to promote their objectives. Natives should keep in mind the equal distribution of labor.

TWELFTH HOUSE SATURN

The twelfth house is associated with confinement such as hospitals and prisons and includes the staffs of these institutions. Here we also find museums and libraries and those that work there. This is the house where we may find negative influences from our family history. Here, too, we find a natural water house, which is symbolic of the unconscious and things we have difficulty expressing. When we attempt at first to express these things they trip us up, and so this is also called the house of secret enemies, karma and past lives.

Saturn placed in the twelfth house is generally considered to be a challenging placement. These natives may have an underlying feeling of loneliness and despair in life. Often this is compounded by the native spending too much time alone, which can be taken too far. These people need time alone to sort out their feelings, but too much solitude can have the adverse effect of amplifying any underlying fears. These people need to explore the unconscious if they wish to deal with the issues hidden there and attain a degree of peace.

This is considered a good position for people that work behind the scenes in some capacity or with people that need the native's help. In this way, Saturn here may be seen by others to be an indication of a solid, reliable and conscientious individual. If afflicted though, this could mean a person that does not seem to get the credit they deserve for their efforts. This is sometimes considered a good placement for psychologists and therapists. This could mean that their own problems can be alleviated by helping others. This is true to form, as twelfth house gifts are most valuable when shared.

The source of problems indicated by Saturn in the twelfth house can be difficult to pinpoint and usually stem from early childhood, leaving the native with no conscious memory of these events. There is often a nagging sense of fear, guilt or inadequacy that the native has to grapple with if they are to find peace within themselves. There could be a sense of futility or they may shun relationships, contributing to their loneliness. Saturn means work and, although not easy, these issues need to be addressed if the native is to find serenity.

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