Meet Saturn
"Where Saturn goes, trouble follows" so the ancient (and even some modern) astrologers would tell you. Unfortunately, where there’s smoke there’s fire. Saturn events are difficult. However they are also (or at least they can be) enlightening and empowering.
Saturn, the planet of strength and challenge, is heading for new terrain. After a couple of years in Virgo he briefly entered Libra last October, only to retrograde back to Virgo in April. Now, on July 21st he returns to Libra – this time to stay. On average, Saturn spends about two and a half years in each sign of the Zodiac. He will not leave Libra again until October of 2012.
Saturn is a great teacher, if you are willing to learn. In the world according to Saturn, challenges are opportunities, failures hold valuable lessons, hardships build strength, and experience transforms to wisdom. Hard work and patience pay off. Not everything in life can come easily, what does isn’t Saturn’s terrain.
Mythology, and the deities associated with planets can tell us a great deal about the astrological influences of the planet.
Saturn (or Saturnus) is the ancient Roman God of agriculture. The nature of agriculture is challenging. The seasons must be followed, tasks must be completed at the correct time, and losses are inevitable. Planting (preparation and beginning) is one of the most difficult parts. If this is done correctly, all that is needed is diligence, patience and consistently dedicating a small amount of time and effort. Slowly but surely, the tiny seed grows into a big, strong plant – and the fruits of your labor begin to ripen. Then comes the other difficult part. Harvesting (reaping the rewards) is perhaps the most laborious time in agriculture.
Saturn, and even more so Cronus his Greek ‘counterpart’ was the God of time. This trait is deeply ingrained in the planetary Saturn as well. From traditions to past lives, Saturn relates to what takes time and what has time already invested. This is the planet of karma. What you have projected, be it good or bad, comes back. Deeds of the past are connected to ‘luck’ of the present. All in time, you reap what you have sown.
Saturn contact ages, matures, and strengthens. He is the Crone of our Solar System. This statement alone explains how we come to earn the greatest gift Saturn has to offer: wisdom.
Introducing Libra
As he travels through the Zodiac, Saturn evolves and changes. The Wheel of the Year turns with the Sun’s journey through the Zodiac. Every planet makes this same journey; changing, evolving, opening and closing doors in an endless cycle. Saturn is now reaching the cusp of Libra – the who is host to Lughnassadh in the Sun God’s journey.
Lughnassadh, when the Sun reaches Libra, is the point in the year when day equals night- perfect balance has been achieved. However, as perfect balance equals inertia – and everything exists in a constant state of change, the scales must be tipped. As we celebrate the balance and beauty of Autumn, we are slipping into the dark of the year.
Like all signs of the Air Element, Libra is a sign of duality, and paradox. The concept of the scales of justice, as it refers to Libra, is in itself a paradox. In reality it applies to much more than justice. Libra’s scales are the scales of balance.
If the scales are tipped in one direction, there must be a shift toward the other if we are to achieve balance. If the shift is too dramatic, the scales must be tipped the other way again if we are to find balance. If the shift is not to dramatic, and absolute balance is achieved the momentum ceases. Then we have an imbalance of another kind – all the weight is on the side of balance, and none on the side of change and evolution. Again, the scales must tip.
Mark Twain said "moderation in all things, including moderation". When speaking of Libra we could say "balance in all things, including balance".
When Saturn is in Libra
Now the formidable force of Saturn will be holding the scales. The first thing this brings to mind is Saturn’s association with karma. Karma is considered by some as the justice system of the esoteric world. As Saturn travels through Libra, you may find the scales in your life tipping according to what weights you’ve put there in the past.
If you find yourself confronted with a mess of your own making – be it through karma, or logical cause and effect – Saturn leaves only two options. Give up and let it consume you, or clean it up and tip the scales in another direction. He gives no easy out, and no quick fix. Saturn challenges us to make the effort, and learn the lesson. Knowledge may come easily, but wisdom does not.
Saturn in Libra operates with a paradox – setting and testing limitations, building and testing strength. He challenges you to face your own imbalances and stagnation.
Where you believe you have strength, stability, and consistency in your life, he may drop a few weights in the other side of the scale. What if people, things, or situations you take for granted were no longer there, or no longer rock-solid?
Both Saturn and Libra relate to harvest – the fruits of your labor. Part of agricultural harvest is weeding out the chafe, deciding what to keep, what to discard , and what to let ripen for next year’s seed. Likewise, in life, we must decide what is worth the effort of harvest. Saturn is reminding us that change is inevitable – and there is no such thing as a guarantee.
If you want to hang on to that which seems to be slipping away, it takes a commitment and effort. He will remind us it’s not as it always was, and you aren’t who you always were. Everyone and everything is a little different with each breath. In time, those subtleties accumulate.
When we ignore, take for granted, parts of our lives or selves we forget to look at the reality of this moment – we are working with a static mental image of some time in the past. In an ever-changing world, a static image isn’t an accurate one. Are you willing to take the challenge of re-acquainting yourself with whatever Saturn takes down from the shelf and dusts off? Is it worth the effort of reintegrating it into your life? Or will taking an honest, hard look at the reality of it show you that you’ve evolved in another direction? Is it worth the effort of removing it from your life?
These are not easy questions to face. The seemingly easy answer is to not answer. Ignore it, it’s just not worth the effort, why try if it’s going to be this way… The darker side of Saturn offers the simple solution of "give up if it’s too hard, and don’t bother if you might fail". Giving up, turning a blind eye, learning to expect failure – as we know, evolution is inevitable and this is a recipe for evolution in the wrong direction
Saturn is known as the planet of maturity (remember, he carries the energy of the Crone). He does not throw blockages in your path just to trip you, although it can seem that way. The concept that everything happens for a reason is very Saturnine. Maybe there’s a reason you needed to stop at that point. You may miss it if you don’t bother to look around. Maybe there are lessons to be learned, or skills to be gained in the process of getting around it. You’ll miss out if you don’t try.
Navigating Saturn requires a leap of faith, in a way. He’s a great teacher, but he doesn’t show you the lesson plan. Only after the challenge has been met do you realize what you really gained from it. If you meet Saturn’s challenges by drawing upon wisdom and strength you already have, and the intent of gaining more wisdom and strength you will be rewarded.
