Saturn in AstrologyThe 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, since this planet co-rules that sign. Look also to the house containing the ruler of the sign this planet is posited in. This house as well will figure in some way with the house containing Saturn. Difficult aspects to this placement 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 Saturn, sometimes referred to as The Great Teacher, employs quite often his most motivating learning tool – pain! A more in-depth look at this planet 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. This planet 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, this planet 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 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 the Great Teacher (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 this planet'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. This planet 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 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 Saturn 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, this planet's 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 Saturn’s job to teach us, not to break us. In this way, Saturn 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. SATURN SIGNS Saturn symbolizes sensitive points in our makeup and is often referred to as the Great Teacher. In order to ensure that these lessons really hit home, the preferred tool for teaching is often pain. It indicates areas where we are liable to be confronted with frustration, limitation, sorrow, aggravation and so forth. It indicates where we may be fearful and are prone to becoming rigid in our approach to the affairs indicated. These issues tend to be sensitive subjects to us because often we are overly concerned with them. As a result, we can usually observe two very distinct patterns in dealing with these issues. Either the issue takes on too much importance and we tend to overcompensate to make up for feelings of inadequacy, or we try to deal with these issues through avoidance because we are not confident enough to grapple with the problem or we attempt to convince ourselves it is really not all that important anyway. Still, the Great Teacher will continue to prod us along and encourage us to apply ourselves through hard work, patience and discipline to build a strong foundation in this area in order for us to achieve a level of inner security where these issues are concerned. The Great Teacher, in this way, is symbolic of where we tend to meet the harsh realities of life head on. This may not be at all pleasant but, ironically enough, can point the way to where our efforts are best put to use if we wish to find rewards in life on a personal level. This planet is the ruler of the sign Capricorn and the natural ruler of the tenth house; and, as such, may have a primary influence on the profession and career goals of the native. However, this need not be the only issues we need to grapple with where Saturn is concerned. These issues are just as likely to be emotional as material; and, whichever they are, will often be closely aligned with how we wish others to see us and our status before the eyes of the world. Almost as if through these achievements, we can somehow prove our worth. Where this placement is concerned we must exercise maturity, responsibility, discipline and perseverance if we wish to gain our rewards; and, these are not likely to come early on. The sign placement will indicate the types of issues the individual will usually have to grapple with in order to find a degree of inner peace, while the house placement will indicate the department of life where these issues are most often apparent. Aspects to/from Saturn to planets and points in the chart, particularly the inharmonious ones, will also give indications of problems we may have to deal with as well. This planet is a powerful influence and should be studied carefully. However, we should remember it is symbolic of our own built-in teacher attempting to guide us to a more rewarding way of life. When dealing with these issues it is important to keep in mind that, more often than not, the stumbling blocks we encounter tend to be inner blockages although it may at times seem otherwise. By overcoming these problems, the outer blockages in our lives may very well fade away. Click here for information on Saturn in the signs.
|
