Saturn, you may remember, is the planet that surrounds itself with rings. This is an apt metaphor for the restrictive quality that Saturn represents and which is the predominant influence right now. We have Pluto having just entered the sign of Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn and shares its love of restriction, limitation, hard work, social mores, governmental structures. And now we have Saturn preparing to turn retrograde.
Planets obviously don’t ever move backwards, but astrology is not astronomically correct. Yes, scientists – it’s true, because astrologers view the motion of the planets from our perspective on earth. Most of the planets from time to time appear to travel in reverse motion, and we call that “retrograde.” When a planet is preparing to change direction, either in reverse or direct (forward) motion, its motion slows down to a crawl. The planet is then said to be “stationary,” or “making a station.” This is very like the motion of a car that is making a U-turn – as it turns it remains in the same location and stays there until it has built up sufficient speed to begin traveling again.
When a planet is retrograde, its influence is accentuated and there is a tendency for the processes of life that are governed by that planet to become stalled. This forces us to pay more attention to those processes and perfect them in a way we would not be motivated to do otherwise, The most famous retrograde is Mercury, and even people who know nothing about astrology are familiar with “Mercury Retrograde” periods in which communication gets difficult and machinery often stops operating. But all planets have retrograde periods, so we have the opportunity to get to know them all more intimately during those retrograde periods.
Right now we are dealing with Saturn which turned retrograde on December 31st at 21 degrees Virgo. Saturn will be retrograde until mid-May, during which time the intense focus that Pluto has brought to bear on Saturnine/Capricornian matters will become even sharper. Frederick Woodruff has some interesting things to say about Saturn:
The Greeks associated Saturn with gravitas, the quality of substance or depth of personality. Gravitas is a sort of plumb line for the soul and it’s time we employ it. This means creating a way for and welcoming the effects of depression. The Jungian James Hillman has written extensively about depression serving as a curative for the widespread manic activism that dominates our culture. In The Planets Within, Thomas Moore explains: “Feeling low and heavy we are forced to move inward, turning to fantasy rather than the literal action of the ego. And that turn inward is necessary for the soul, for it creates psychic space, a container for deeper reflection where soul increases and the surface of events becomes less important.”
We need this inward turning as a remedial form for establishing balance. In order to make something from nothing — another function of the Saturnian expression — we must first encounter the quiet of the dark, to become inspired and enlivened by that which is beyond the ego’s control — and this can only come from fresh visions, enlivening inculcations from the imaginal realm. Saturn depresses but also establishes. So the second half of the equation is finding a way to give shape to the images, the insights we encounter in Saturn’s gloom-world.
If the Saturnian impulse to create and give substance isn’t utilized — by first welcoming the type of depression that facilitates the process — that same force will turn against us and become tyrannical. Saturn gone wrong places us under the dominion of what Freud defined as our superego. The superego is a function of the psyche comprised of the internalized voices of our parents. Critical admonishments that attempt to control by belittling and bringing attention to our shortcomings. The harsh world of our inner critic. Once the superego is activated it’s very hard to accomplish anything in life. We’re infantilized, cut off from the power of our adulthood. We tend to freeze and venture nothing, leaving us stalled and floundering in the depressive state.
read more here…
I like to think that with Saturn conjunct my Sun in my birthchart I have grown intimately familiar with Saturn and he does have a lovely side. In fact, I wrote an article about this a while ago called
Saturn: Both Beast & Prince which I will probably repost tomorrow. If we know what Saturn wants when he’s operating as the Celestial Taskmaster, either in our natal chart or by transit, we are much more likely to gain the material rewards of success that comes from Saturnian qualities of discipline and hard work.
posted January 2, 2009 at 9:28 am
If you’re interested in Thomas Moore’s work, check out a blog, Barque, dedicated to his explorations at http://barque.blogspot.com . It links to a free forum. Some Barque members are interested in astrology and sensitive to the planets within.
posted January 2, 2009 at 10:32 am
Thanks for this link! Thomas Moore is one of my favorite authors and I will check this out and report back to my readers.
posted January 2, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Hi Lynn,
I also have Sun conj. Saturn. I just read your Both Beast and Prince article and this jumped out at me:
“He demands that we seek nothing less than perfection and is ready with criticism when we fall short of our goals so that we will work to correct our errors. He restricts us from enjoyable pursuits unless we have achieved those goals, and creates blocks and disappointments until we do.”
That last sentence seems to be the theme of my life, and the fact that it still is at my age scares me because it must mean I’m not learning, and I have no idea what errors I am supposed to correct! I don’t have many fears, but the idea of being kept from “enjoyable pursuits” until I die scares the living daylights out of me. I wish I could see the Prince, but I only see the Beast lol.
posted January 2, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hi Marianne – I’m sorry this article scared you! It’s supposed to do the reverse.
Of course you won’t be kept from enjoyable pursuits – but when Saturn is on your Sun, as it is mine, there is a lot of work on the table. Perhaps a reading might help to show you where the doorway is into Prince-land??
posted January 2, 2009 at 6:27 pm
As one with Saturn in the 1st house, I too am intimately familiar with the crusty old man. My first Saturn Return was quite rewarding, but he has since been transiting my 5th house and I am much more prone to gloom than usual (on top of a Cap Moon, thankyouverymuch). Thankfully, I read Thomas Moore’s Dark Nights of the Soul some 2 years ago and am a bit more comfortable with this period of darkness than I might otherwise be. It’s still troubling at times, but has certainly given me a lot to think about.
posted January 3, 2009 at 2:57 am
Saturn conjunct the sun seems to feel similar to saturn squared the sun.(?)
posted January 3, 2009 at 8:17 am
Joe, I don’t know how old you are but my comfort level with Saturn increased exponentially after age 40. They say about Saturn people that they’re old when they’re young and young when they’re old. The strength of character that you’re forced to develop as a youngster with a heavy Saturnine influence (and the Cap Moon adds more Saturn) serves you well as you get older. I think it helps you to enjoy the aging process too, which is a valuable thing as people’s lifespans are longer and longer now.
posted January 4, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Hi Lynne
What affect does Saturn have on the progressed chart. I have sun, moon, mercury in virgo, 15, 18 and 16 respectively. My natal moon is 7 degrees Virgo. Thanks for any help. Kathy
posted January 5, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Hi Kathy – the progressed chart reflects the changes of our inner world and Saturn transiting these planets will/are challenging you to take responsibility for yourself and your emotions (Moon) as well as your thoughts (Mercury). This is an excellent time for planning for the future and getting to know your inward thoughts a little better.
posted March 27, 2009 at 9:44 am
Any insights on Retrograde Saturn in 9th house Aries, near the north node? I’m 41 and hope the coming days of my life are a bit easier to deal with than the past 40 years (which covered more crisis and hardship than many tragedian plays). Any comments would be appreciated, 12/5/67, 8:55pm, Mineral Wells, TX. Thank You.
posted March 28, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Hi Kendra, Saturn in your chart isn’t actually near the North Node, but retrograde natal planets act on individuals in a more personal way. So the voice of Saturn can be louder and more insistent with retrograde in the birthchart. This can be countered by reframing any tendency towards self-criticism into a habit of positive and encouraging thoughts. Your Saturn isn’t particularly stressed in the chart but you’ve had a series of difficult transits over the Uranus/Pluto conjunction in your chart that is opposed by Chiron. You’ve got a bit more of that to deal with and then you will be in the clear.
posted September 29, 2009 at 4:19 pm
What is the difference betweeen Saturn turning retrograde and Saturn turning retrograde in my personal chart? Thank you
posted September 30, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Jeannette, when Saturn is retrograde in your own chart, it is operating at a more internal level for you specifically. When Saturn is retrograde in the sky, it is affecting everyone that way.
posted April 30, 2011 at 9:22 pm
I have been trying to help a friend determine their time of birth. It’s not on their birth certificate and they are estranged from their family. They have Saturn retrograde in early Pisces. I think it might be in their 9th whole house. Would that be indicative of difficulty with religion? They are estranged from their family BECAUSE of religion. Their whole family is Jehovah’s witnesses and they themselves were banished even before adulthood which is strange by itself. So if we look at their 9th house retrograde Saturn in early Pisces ruled by Jupiter and Jupiter in this chart is 1 degree away from Algol.