Learn Astrology: Saturn Problems, and How to Fix Them
August 30th, 2007 at 12:11 pm (Astrology 101)
Saturn is probably blamed for more problems than any other planet; this is one of the first things we hear about when learning astrology. If I had a dollar for every e-mail or comment I get having to do with Saturn problems, I would be the world’s richest astrologer. And, Saturn is traditionally known as the Great Malefic, indicating that our ancestors really disliked Saturn as well. The malign influence of Saturn has been blamed for everything from bad teeth to heartbreak, even old age and death.
So is there some way to fix our Saturn problems, so that we can avoid these problems once and for all? It turns out that people have been thinking about exactly this problem for centuries, and more like millennia. Below is a list of suggestions I found in traditional texts for dealing with Saturn issues:
1. Saturn is good to his own kind. Therefore, if you have been dealing with Saturnian problems, the key is to become more Saturnian yourself. Embrace a life of isolated contemplation (we didn’t say this would be easy!); move to a secluded mountain top. Spend a lot of time alone, and wear lots of black. The Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino called this “divine contemplation.”
2. Saturn will have his due; make some space in your life for him. Most often, our Saturn problems arise from not having enough positive Saturnian influence in your life. Boundaries, meditation and contemplation, seriousness, and responsibility are all Saturnian. Make every Saturday (Saturn’s day) your day of meditation and retreat. Ficino called this “the day of Saturn unfit for action in peace or war but fit for contemplation and for beseeching divine patronage on that same day against dangers.” Brush your teeth and take responsibility for yourself. Restrict harmful things in your life. Go on a healthy diet.
3. Jupiter is an antidote to Saturn. Jupiter is the Great Benefic, and therefore is the only planet that can take on Saturn. Jupiter also governs spiritual contemplation, but more specifically, faith and hope. Jupiter rules positive thinking, and charity. If you feel you’re not getting enough from life, perhaps you should look into giving more yourself.
How have you coped with Saturn problems?
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alexis said,
August 30th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
i’ve had my saturn in leo for a while now.
i’d say its been rough.
One whose chart is ruled by Saturn said,
August 31st, 2007 at 8:47 am
Regarding the wilds & whirlings–a practical approach to Saturnean energy.
Hello Nina,
The practical approach? Accept and allow.
Fastest way to get there: Lying down, in the toes-to-god position, play dead.
Additional aids: Toss spondees and anapests, alternating propitiations with very very mild reprimands as feels right.
Examples anapest–what is THIS, here we GO, lawdy LAWD.
Examples spondee–HERE NOW, OH MY, WHAT NOW, BROWN COW.
Go free form as pressure demands: …oh for goodness sake aren’t we the drama beast tonight…wow that was the ultimate in solemn, good show…
When Saturn moves in for the season there’s no faking levity; but talking like this, in the midst of the storm, helps place everything in perspective (whichever one you have worked out for yourself), and you won’t have to fake the lightening of your heart: it WILL come, it does come.
Remember to turn to your side and stay cool. Run the mantra ‘accept and allow,’ and repeat as needed. You will sleep, probably from exhaustion, but sleep is sleep.
As a note, I have done what Marsilio Ficino recommends: have moved to the mountain, have isolated myself, have embraced a life of isolated contemplation, okay I don’t wear black, and I have found there is no running away and there is no running towards. Saturn, and the rest, will follow you and your chart to the wilderness and will turn into the beast that roars in the night and he will play his role to the hilt, giving you a front row seat in the place of no return. It is from here I write with the humble suggestion that with Saturn we play the grandchild spectator. Allow him his great performance; toss your comments and jestful jibes and accolades with love; and when you have had enough, turn to your side and open an exit into the bigger grander, universe, beyond the gods and godesses, uneffected, at least momentarily, by their aspecting. Repeat ‘accept and allow,’ and you will eventually find the place of laughter within or beyond the fray.
Consider: An African Shaman stepped out into the storm from his tent and called to the wind to be silent while his people conferenced inside. Immediately, the wind stopped. When asked how, the Shaman replied, “Believe you can and you will.”
Veritas said,
September 1st, 2007 at 8:16 am
Dear Nina,
I never took too much notice in astrology. It’s not that I don’t believe that planets can have an influence on people’s lives; it’s enough to see the physical influence of such a small stone as the Moon hs (dragging entire oceans up and down!) to realise they probably DO have an influence.
But when I see my horoscope (or should I say “horrorscope”?), there are so many unanswered questions - especiallly regarding Saturn…
I’d say I was definitely “born under Saturn”, as Wittkower put it.
(I am enclosing my main aspects below.)
Does that mean I am a morose person?
Not at all!
I was born the sunniest creature you can imagine.
True, I was always precocious in many aspects, including - and most especially - introspection. But I never considered that to be a minus - why would I? In fact, introspection and productive solitude have been the most influential forces in my life (and the lives of those who asked me for my advice and took it).
So, I’ve been a good Saturn pupil, all my life - ar t least I think I was.
Unfortunately, it seems that Saturn chose to crush my Jupiter wherever it appears, promising bounty - and what a promise it was…!
Nina, if I had to sum up my life in a single sentence, I’d say this:
I know what HELL is. It’s having been given all the keys to paradise on Earth, even an extensive tour of it - and then dumped in (long-term and very “objective”) circumstances that made each one of the magnificent keyes (= talents, including the talent for love and happiness) unusable.
Awareness of your own immense creativity and your talent for happiness - and being denied (yes, denied) the opportunity to deploy them:
THAT is Hell.
And now, after a year or two of unexpected and devastating losses, compounded by a crippling sadness that will likely drive me to the poorhouse (I work as a freelancer, so I am bound by deadlines and other people’s money - which is not all that great anyway) , I am supposed to face TWO YEARS of Saturn in my rising sign? (AND after that, ANOTHER two years in the Sun sign of a person whose fate - which is not so good right now - matters to me almost more than my own?)
If astrology is right, then I’d rather pack my bags and depart for Elysium right now… No use to wait.
I won’t let anyone take my existential dignity from me - not even Saturn.
I wish you and your readers all the best,
V.
I was born on a “cusp” between Pisces and Aries (Sun in Pisces, 29 + degrees, three hours or so “from” Aries), with the ascendant in Virgo, Moon in Taurus, and Jupiter in Aquarius.
Here are the positions of the Lord of Time in my chart:
- Saturn in 4th and 5th house,
- Saturn in Capricorn
- Saturn conjunct with Jupiter
- Venus square Saturn
- Moon trine Saturn
- Saturn trine ascendant
- Sun sextile Saturn
And some other aspects:
Planetary positions
planet sign degree motion
Sun Pisces 29°50′36 in house 7 direct
Moon Taurus 20°22′05 in house 9 direct
Mercury Pisces 2°07′52 in house 6 direct
Venus Aries 29°05′44 in house 8 stationary (R)
Mars Cancer 8°58′45 in house 10 direct
Jupiter Aquarius 0°56′34 in house 5 direct
Saturn Capricorn 27°53′49 end of house 4 direct
Uranus Leo 22°19′20 in house 11 retrograde
Neptune Scorpio 10°56′48 in house 2 retrograde
Pluto Virgo 6°17′07 in house 12 retrograde
True Node Virgo 6°00′55 in house 12 retrograde
(Copied and pasted from ASTRO.com)
Frank Marcel Lara Jr said,
September 1st, 2007 at 8:56 am
Hi..do you provide “stock market” prognistactions? if so I am indeed interested as I have noticed a high correlation with cycle highs and lows:
My name: Frank Marcel Lara Jr
email: frank_marcelphx@yahoo.com
good day !!
Joe said,
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:13 am
The key to Saturn is Humility. Realizing your boundaries, spiritually, mentally and emotionally, and accepting your position with utter humility and acceptance. I don’t feel inclined to go beyond my means in anyway, whether that be below my standards, or above them; accepting things as they are, being patient, calm and placid will helps ground me into the earth, and the earth is part of my guide.
everything works together. you need all components, but those are a couple personal clues I use.
I know that brushing the teeth has to do with Saturn for sure. My sister relayed to me, that in a dream I told her “everything is going great, I just wish I had toothpaste.” that was a while ago, and when she told me, I knew what it meant…. it meant Saturn’s influence.
Having dreams about brushing your teeth always relate to Saturn and Structure (like the skeleton).
cool.
I have an Exact full scorpio moon conjunct Saturn in scorpio, and pluto in libra, in the 9th house. 23* Capricorn Asc.
Happy Saturn Ingress Everyone !!
Sheri said,
September 4th, 2007 at 5:52 am
I personally find Satrun fascinating. I do not allow it to hinder my happiness. When I stop being impatient and realized there is a peace in living solely in the moment (even the very hellish moments) I learned the value of consistancy.
I am one that had everything planned out, at least three years in advance. (probably my Saturn in the first house and Saturn on my 10th…?) Things had to be logical, realistic in order for me to properly function…so I thought. When my kid was diagnosed with a disease it rocked my realistic, logical, planned out world. No longer could I live in a planned out existance (of my own making). I learned the power of living in today for today and about today!
I am only responsible for TODAY. Not tomorrow. I let tomorrow take care of it’s self. What freedom comes from living today. Saturn has been called all those things Nina mentioned but I prefer to think of it as a freedom maker if allowed to do it’s thing. For me it stablized life only after I stopped trying to manipulate life. Thorugh Jupiter in to my mix (Sun in Sag) and you get a hopeful, content chick that knows the value of a day by day, stable existance. I would change the influece that Saturn has on me for anything.
Have a great DAY!!
Sheri said,
September 4th, 2007 at 5:55 am
Oops. I meant I WOULDN”T change the influence that Staurn has on me for anything.
Veritas said,
September 6th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Dear “One wose chart is ruled by Saturn” -
I for one enjoyed immensely your comment.
If you happen to look this way again, would you mind sharing your opinion as to HOW to get back the original “believe that you can and you will”?
I had it (which is why I know that what you said is true).
Mentally, rationally I still “have” it - that is to say, I KNOW it’s true.
Amazingly enough, it’s my inner “mind” which has gone on strike.
It doesn’t matter what caused it - stress, unexpected losses, self-worth issues…
But if I had it once, surely I can have it again.
Or can I?
V.
P.S. Thank you, Nina, for this amazing blog, with such amazing “commentators”…
one whose chart said,
October 8th, 2007 at 10:34 am
[Dear Nina, I've returned to your site four times in the past two weeks to respond to this person but was unable to lay down anything that felt right . Today I offer this reponse. Post or don't post as you wish. Best regards. ]
Hello Veritas,
Most important may I suggest that in all things you remember to be gentle with yourself.
What follows is my response to your question to me. Keep in mind that these WORDS are not my answer. There is a wonderful passage in Ethics of the Fathers that reveals a true answer. The passage goes:
“As in water face answereth to face, so too the heart of man to man.”
That said and understood, may I suggest you ask a DIFFERENT question.
To play in the world of abstractions one must be willing to freefall in fields of quick-dies and instant-rebirths.
Should you desire to play in a less turbulent world, you must change your focus. How? By changing the question. Ask one that may be answered with an activity, an action–something you can DO. This shifts the energy and directs it into the body, which is quite capable of calming the mind; in fact, I view it as one of the body’s more important functions.
So–Use the body to calm the mind.
First ask the different question, such as What do I like to do? What activity gives me pleasure? The idea here is to offer the mind something to distract it from the abstract. Depending upon your temperament you may choose to walk, run, swim, do martial arts or yoga, knit.
Some use the mind to calm the mind, but for many, using the body is an easier fix.
The asking-of-questions is the mind raising a mirror, like a kite, to help it see and define itself more clearly. When we are tired, or distraught, it is time to give the mind a rest. That is when we come to sites like this for reassurance, which is as valid as anything else we do. We do what we must.
When we return to ourselves again, we are reminded:
There is no answer for the mind.
And we accept. And we allow.
The mind is a world builder, not a hearth keeper.
Use the body to calm the mind.
Use the heart to fill your voids
Be gentle with yourself.
I speak to the part of you that is the same as me.
Somethings to consider from Nisargadatta (emphasis mine):
“I find that somehow, by shifting the focus of attention, I become the very thing I look at, and experience the kind of consciousness it has; I become the inner witness of the thing. I call this capacity of entering other focal points of consciousness, love; you may give it any name you like. LOVE SAYS “I AM EVERYTHING”. WISDOM SAYS “I AM NOTHING”. BETWEEN THE TWO, MY LIFE FLOWS. Since at any point of time and space I can be both the subject and the object of experience, I express it by saying that I am both, and neither, and beyond both.”
More at http://www.mpeters.de/nisargadatta/index.cfm