Saturn
Saturn entered mutable fire sign Sagittarius on December 23, 2014 and will transit here until December 2017.
Rules: Capricorn (cardinal earth) // masculine energy
Named after the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn is the farthest planet from Earth that can still be seen with the naked eye. It takes this planet about 28-29 years to come full circle around the Sun and approximately 11 hours to spin on his axis. Saturn’s density is so low that he would actually float if placed upon one of Earth’s oceans. The pale yellow hue comes from ammonia in the upper atmosphere. Saturn has 62 moons and the largest, Titan, exceeds Mercury in size and has its own atmosphere. The North Pole of Saturn features a mysterious hexagonal pattern, while the South Pole boasts a hurricane-like storm the size of Earth that has been raging for billions of years.
I like to think of Saturn as Father Time. He has a reputation for being cold and mechanical, but underneath it all he’s actually looking out for us. Saturn’s lessons are rarely quick or easy. He turns our attention again and again to the inevitable. Saturn is deep and abiding. He does not allow for idleness or living on the surface. Saturn teaches us the value of working long and hard for what we want. In this we see the cardinal nature of the planet in full force.
In classic astrology, Saturn rules cardinal earth sign Capricorn. Saturnian energy is authoritarian and cutting. He is masterful at exposing deceit and hypocrisy. Nothing slips by Saturn; he is brutally honest and straightforward. Lessons doled out by Saturn are tough, that much is true, but their purpose is to help us evolve into our higher selves. Much like the rules and discipline we first encounter as children, Saturn provides a healthy respect for authority. We push until we find the edge of the boundary lines. In this way, we grow and better understand the world around us.
Saturn rules manifestation, karma, responsibility, commitment, discipline, survival, trust and sacrifice. In a roundabout way, Saturn complicates our life in order to make it simpler. This is how Saturn teaches the value of structure. Paradoxically, we cultivate our freedom here. A certain level of self-denial aids clarity, decision-making and discernment. Limitations are blessings in disguise. They show us that we have only so much control over the outcome of all that which is external, allowing us to live more freely and authentically.
Unlike Jupiter’s expansive energy, Saturn is all about restriction and regulation; and unlike Uranus’ bend for freedom, Saturn adds definition and control to our lives. Click here to ascertain your personal Saturn sign. If you were born with Saturn Retrograde, learn more on this page.