Saturn

Saturn is the Lord of Karma and more so than any other planet in astrology brings its impacts based on a judgment. Saturn carries a sense of what is right and what is wrong and those unable to bring their actions into alignment with Saturn's moral requirements find Saturn astrological activity to bring restrictions. As Saturn moves direct today the influence of the planet changes from internal to external, bringing with it discipline or restriction. 

When Saturn moves direct it can feel like being hit by a ton of bricks since the planet calls our responsibilities due. However, when we exhibit self-restraint and self-discipline that Saturn requires you will be rewarded. This is the planet of grit and determination. The one that drives you to get up and do the thing, even though you reeeeaally don’t want to do the thing, because you know that at the end of the day you need to do the thing. 

Saturn is the outermost planet visible to the naked eye. The coldest planet in the Solar system from the view of the ancients, and both of the signs ruled by Saturn lie in the dead of winter during the coldest time of the year. These signs lie in opposition to the two signs ruled by the luminaries, the Sun and Moon, making them sister signs. Sister signs are everything that the other one isn’t in a way that makes them a perfect pairing. So Cancer and Leo being the most radiant in the zodiac, falling in the brightest, hottest time of summer are often in conflict with the cold, detached, old souled Capricorns and Aquarians. However, the balance drives us to better ourselves. After all, we are not exhibiting our best selves when we give free reign to our emotions or our ego. 

Saturn in Pisces can feel uncomfortable. The Jupiterian nature of the sign finds the restricted nature of the planet difficult. Pisces holds our eternal depths. It is everything untouchable to us, including what haunts our subconscious, and with Saturn moving direct we are called to discipline our own minds. This will also manifest as an external judgment if we have lost ourselves to the excessive indulgence of disassociation. There is a call to reign in our fears and an opportunity for our applied effort to make our dreams come true. 

 

Signs Ruled by Saturn

Saturn Direct - Capricorn - 10th House - Cardinal Earth

Capricorn is ruled by the direct expression of Saturn and is how the planet takes action in the world. Since Capricorn is cardinal earth we can see that most actions started in the material realm require the drive and grit of Saturn. Only with dedicated efforts can we truly change the face of the planet and it is these efforts that earn our place in our career and shape the legacy that we leave on the world. Capricorn is the sign where we overcome hardship, pull ourselves out from the darkest of nights, and move forward with determination. 

Saturn Retrograde - Aquarius - 11th House - Fixed Air

Saturn’s outermost nature means that the two signs it rules fall back to back in the astrological chart. This is the belly of the ouroboros, where the planets circle back on themselves and so Aquarius is ruled by the retrograde expression of Saturn, with the planet's influence applied internally. While Aquarians can seem cold, it isn’t the absence of feeling so much as an incredible amount of emotional discipline. This is an air sign, where Saturn's influence brings a rationality that overcomes feeling. On the other hand, Aquarius is also where the passions and dedication of the group can come together in creative innovation. Within these structures Aquarians find connection and the opportunity to create true communities. 

 

Zodiac Relationships 

Signs ruled by Saturn make specific angles with the other planetary rulers. Both of Saturn’s signs are trine a sign ruled by Venus and a sign ruled by Mercury as Saturn, Venus, and Mercury each rule both an Air sign and Earth sign. These three planets work in trinity with each other in both elements (making squares with the Venus ruled signs, and quincunx with the Mercurian signs of the other element in both cases). Mars signs make squares with Saturn signs between Air & Water and Earth & Fire while also making sextiles between Earth & Water and Air & Fire. Jupiter signs make sextiles between Earth & Water and Air & Fire while making inconjuncts between Air & Water and Earth & Fire. This is exemplary of the relationship between these elements and these planets. 

 

Tarot - The Universe 

All journeys have destinations of which the traveler is unaware. - Martin Buber

The Universe is the final trump card of the tarot deck and what began with the Fool meets its completion here. Seeds have come to fruit and the totality of life is revealed as cycles are fulfilled. This card indicates that things have come full circle but also holds everything else within. It is not so much an ending as an understanding that it took every little step along the way to bring us to wholeness. 

 

Decans

Libra 2: 3 of Swords - Sorrow 

In the three, we find a restrictive understanding of what makes us different. In the sign of one-on one relationships the judgment of Saturn seems harsh, reminding us of what we don’t or can’t have. This tarot card is known as the Lord of Sorrow but remember that Saturn is exalted in Libra. Together the planets bring disciplined justice that comes from moral truth. 

 

Leo 1: 5 of Wands - Strife

The fives in tarot indicate a tension of overabundance. Fixed Fire burns constantly but the nature of Saturn is to restrict. As the suite hits a cresting point there is a pressure that builds and seeks release. This can be an uncomfortable and melancholy time, but there is also an element of extreme drive for success. 

 

Taurus 2: 7 of Earth - Failure

The seven indicates completion in the short term, it is winning the battle but not the war. In Taurus the reward is physical and unchanging. As a face of Saturn this is the attainment of wealth and value that have been earned through disciplined efforts over time. 

 

Pisces 1: 8 of Cups - Indolence

Eight’s have recognized that the completion of the seven was temporary and are a realigning of the path to final fulfillment. The Saturnian face of Pisces knows that there is emotional work to be done. There is an element of disillusionment as we move past abandoned dreams with renewed mental focus and discipline. 

Sagittarius 3: 10 of Wands - Oppression

The ten is the final of the numerical cards in each suite and indicates reaching the end of the cycle. This effect is magnified since this decan ends on the Winter Solstice, the long night. In the realm of fire the dutiful efforts required by Saturn feel like lead weights that must be dragged to completion. Jupiters touch only serves to expand the time and effort it takes to finish what was started as an energetic spark.

 

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