posted July 17, 2006 12:07 AM            

I'm going through a rough patch in my life right now, also known as the dreaded Saturn Return, and it seems a few others here are also experiencing theirs. So, here's a support group for those of us who're trying to keep our chin up & not let it get us down!!

I'm going to start off with some articles on this phenomenon; these are from Cafeastrology:

Sunshine

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

SATURN TRANSITS: Predictive Astrology - Techniques for Predicting the Future

Overview:

Saturn takes about 28-29 years to come full circle. Therefore, every 7 years or so, Saturn will transit conjunct, square, or opposite a natal point. When that natal point is an intensely personal planet or point (such as the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus, or Mars), we feel its effects in an intensely personal way.

Saturn transits and cycles can be considered cycles of achievement and maturity. These periods in our lives can truly feel like lessons. Everything is slowed down--we encounter delays, frustrations, and pressures. But these times also challenge us to face reality, thereby offering us much wisdom and even freedom. Significant decisions are often made during Saturn's hard transits to our personal planets. These transits slow life down (or at least, that is how we perceive it) and make us live our lives in the present. Although Saturn transits can make life feel like a drudgery (these are often times when our lives seem to move at a snail's pace and advancements are hard to see), they also give us the opportunity to gain inner strength, to become more responsible for what we do and say, and to cut out waste.

Saturn transits can also be considered times of conservation in whatever area of life that Saturn is affecting. We generally build up our reserves and conserve our energy during these periods.

Some common real-life events that Saturn transits to personal points are associated with include delays and little but irksome problems. Things break down, our needs often go unmet by others, we often feel misunderstood and even left out, we tend to find others harsh and unsympathetic (although this is often a perception thing - we, in fact, may be lacking a sense of humor), and we often feel burdened or put upon.

Saturn transits teach us to take responsibility for ourselves. At the outset of a Saturn transit, we might feel like the world is a cold place. If we are mature, we will at some point come to the realization that we cannot always pass blame for our lives. We need to reach within and pull out our own inner strength -- to rely on ourselves.

Depression, therefore, can be a byproduct of heavy Saturn transits. However, if we focus our energies into meaningful endeavors without pushing too hard for recognition or support from others, we can fight the inclination towards gloom and doom. When we find ourselves facing great odds or loss during Saturn transits, we must remember that these things are happening because we did not plan or prepare properly. Saturn reminds us of reality and the need for greater self-discipline. Re-organizing the area of life represented by the house or personal point that Saturn is "hitting" can lead to great rewards. Remember that Saturn transits do not flatten us by all means. Instead, they slow us down, make us live in the here and now, keep us from taking unnecessary risks, and help us to build and structure our lives in ways that will reap rewards down the road.

It is interesting to consider the transits and themes that ran through our lives before our Saturn transits. If we were riding high during a high-speed Uranus transit just before Saturn "hit", this period can mark a significant time in our lives when we "pay" for the risks we may have taken during that Uranus phase. If Saturn transits come shortly after a Jupiter-themed period in our lives, we may feel particularly hard hit as well. Perhaps the Jupiter period has lead us to overspend or ignore our basics; and then Saturn moves in to "correct" that situation and to force us to face our personal realities. Life is not, in fact, all fun and games. We have to work and save--and that is what Saturn teaches us. Thus, it is helpful to consider the context of the individual's recent and past experiences when considering how Saturn transits might affect him/her.

Besides considering the nature of the personal planet or point that Saturn is transiting, we should also look to the position of transiting Saturn by house, the zodiac signs involved, and the condition of the personal planet/point itself. If the personal planet/point happens to be our chart ruler (that is, it rules our Ascendant), we may experience particularly powerful events and circumstances, for example. If our natal Sun and Moon are in hard aspect to each other, then Saturn transits will be impacting both personal points at the same time. If transiting Saturn is making a hard aspect with a stellium of planets (for example, if it is squaring your natal Sun conjunct Uranus and Pluto), then we will be experiencing a more complex set of circumstances and attitudes that might have a greater impact than if the personal point alone was affected.

Keys to Handling Saturn Transits:

posted July 17, 2006 12:11 AM            

Saturn takes about 28-29 years to come full circle. We can expect Saturn to spend some time in each of our 12 houses. Unless you work with an equal house system, however, the length of Saturn's transit through a house will depend on how big each house is. Saturn will spend approximately 2-1/2 years in an "average"-size house of 30 degrees.

Note that Saturn's effect is to crystallize, to ground, and to solidify. Generally, the effect of Saturn transiting a house is felt in a more pronounced way in the first part of its transit through the house, as well as when it forms aspects to natal planets. Toward the end of the house, the native tends to have gained increased understanding—experience, if you will—with the effects. Saturn's movement by transit through the houses acts to aid us to learn to depend on ourselves in different areas of life. At first, we generally encounter feelings of being thwarted or unsupported by the outside world in the particular areas of life that are ruled by the house. By the end of the house transit, we will have learned to look within ourselves for support.

In general, as Saturn passes through the fire houses (the first, fifth, and ninth, we deal with self-confidence issues and how these issues have affected our lives and our productivity. Through the earth houses (the second, sixth, and tenth), we confront issues of self-worth and effectiveness. Through the air houses (the third, seventh, and eleventh), we evaluate our relationships with others and how much (or how little) we can depend on these, as well as our mental outlook. Through the water houses (the fourth, eighth, and twelfth), we re-evaluate our inner stores of faith, our connection with the past, and our psychological workings.

Saturn makes us accountable for ourselves wherever it touches. Each house governs specific areas of our lives, and of our personalities, and transits of Saturn will bring these areas up for "inspection", re-organization, and restructure.

Saturn Transiting the First House

Saturn transiting the first house begins with a Saturn conjunction to the Ascendant, a transit of personal significance. The first house is a fire house, a house that rules our personal identity. We concern ourselves with how we come across to others on a personal level with Saturn here. Our physical body becomes a focus as well. Depending on the age of the native, it may be a time when we feel our age, or it is a time when we see our bodies quite clearly. This is an excellent time for beginning health regimens, diets, and the like, simply because it is a time when we look in the mirror and see ourselves clearly—not what we want to see. Our outlook on life changes to a more serious, responsible tone. In the beginning stages of the transit, you may feel frustrated with yourself, let down, and lacking in self-confidence. You might reach out to others in an attempt to validate yourself, looking for ways to boost your confidence. When these attempts fail, you may feel temporarily let down and discouraged. Rest assured that Saturn will re-work these feelings, with your help of course, until you reach a point (as Saturn moves through the house) where you have a stronger sense of self. This transit acts to transform your self-confidence in such a way that you question the source of your confidence to date, and discover a more solid base for pulling up inner strength. Saturn here acts to rip away the superficial. Illusions about the self, the body, and personal abilities will no longer be tolerated. The end result is a newfound identity and a realistic understanding of the self. In terms of career and projects, outward signs of progress may not be as forthcoming, yet the work that you do during this transit will lay a foundation for future success and progress! For example, some years ago, a client began a hobby/project during a Saturn transit to her first house, something that took up a lot of her time and energy and that yielded nothing in terms of immediate financial gain—until later! In fact, this "hobby" turned into her career in the years to follow.


Saturn Transiting the Second House

While a certain level of introspection marked the Saturn transit of the first house, Saturn's movement into the second house marks a new stage of taking stock of our effectiveness, self-worth, and finances. This stage of life is often marked by hard work. It is a practical time in one's life. Financial success may not be remarkable, yet it is generally steady, if slow to come by. This transit has traditionally been associated with financial loss, but in truth, it is more about our perceptions—we are apt to review how effective we have been on a financial level to date, and find some dissatisfaction with our progress. In fact, gains may be slow, but sudden reversals are not common with this transit. The purpose of this transit is for you to make the connection between your own feelings of self-worth and what you produce in the real world/get back from the real world. As with all Saturn transits, at the outset, we might reach out and look for validation from the outside world and from others, and find something lacking in so doing. The initial sense of feeling unsupported can be discouraging (many of us think on the lines of: "I work so hard, and what do I get for all this hard work?"), but as the transit moves forward, you learn to look inside of yourself with a newfound clarity and realism and ideally draw up considerable strength from within. You work on your effectiveness in the world, and see exactly what has been holding you back from achieving the results you want. The challenge here is to capture the newly found and defined self-confidence you gained from the first house transit, and now apply it in the real world.


Saturn Transiting the Third House

This transit marks a time when how you have networked with people around you, and how you gain and disseminate information, come up for inspection by Saturn. A new kind of pressure is produced—it's not about your personality or your resources like it was in the first and second houses. Rather, the pressure centers more around mental output. You may feel pressure to produce ideas, and to make them work. A certain somberness in your outlook may be characteristic of this phase, as it may be a time of worry. It may seem like acquaintances and sometimes siblings are blocking your growth in some manner, and these relationships may be strained as a result. Although you have a desire to make contacts, you are now rather preoccupied with learning, and you may view idle chit-chat as a waste of time. You may feel an unusual pressure to structure your time and effort, and to cut out communication that seems unnecessary. You may at times feel rather overwhelmed by such things as errands, red tape, and other such day-to-day "disruptions". As Saturn moves closer to your IC (the fourth house cusp), there may be some vague feeling of urgency and worry, as if you sense some things in your life are closing. By the end of the transit, however, you will have ideally gained a greater depth of understanding, having focused on information and communication that you really can use to feel more effective in the world.

Saturn Transiting the Fourth House

This marks a time of considerable inner "re-working". In terms of outward signs of achievement, this transit may be the most unremarkable of all the Saturn transits. However, near the end of the transit, and certainly later than that, you will recognize this stage as a critical one in which you made some life-changing personal and psychological advances and developments. During this stage, you are working on solidifying your identity, exploring your roots (where you came from), so that when Saturn begins its transit through the fifth house, you will be ready to differentiate yourself from others and embark on some important work on your ego. For now, however, you will face issues surrounding your attachments to the past. Sometimes this manifests as literal re-organization of your home. Moving house is not associated with this transit as it would if, for example, Uranus was the transiting planet. If moves are made, you might encounter some resistance in yourself. This is not a time when you feel particularly brave in the outer world. However, reorganization in your home, and more importantly, in your soul, embodies the true nature of this transit. Many will go through a major "spring cleaning" inside. Limitations that came from early family conditioning will be brought to the fore. At first, there may be some frustration with your life to date, and how you have limited your opportunities because of early conditioning. A feeling of being alone and unsupported in life may dominate the early stages of this transit. Sometimes, delays and slowdowns are experienced in the areas of health, mobility, and career. As Saturn moves closer to the fifth house, a feeling of some kind of mastery will empower you.

Saturn Transiting the Fifth House

With Saturn moving through the house of creative power, you may feel limited initially by a lack of internal "spark" or "spunk". How you entertain yourself, how you have fun, and issues surrounding how you manage your ego are now coming up for "inspection". By the end of the transit, ideally you will have a stronger sense of purpose, and a re-worked ego. What makes you unique? How do you handle pride? What are your creative talents? Have you worked hard enough to feel good about "playing hard"? These are issues you will face during the course of this transit. By the time Saturn enters the sixth house, you should have a solid sense of what makes you different than others, and a rather concrete belief in your own creative talents. Many people go through a period of re-evaluation of their talents—how they have perhaps wasted them to date, and how they can express themselves in a more practical, useful manner. The fifth house is also associated with love and attention received from others. Issues you will face during this time include how "deserving" you are of special attention from others. Initially, you may feel unloved, and perhaps somewhat neglected or ignored. As you learn the lessons of this transit, you should learn to love yourself and take pride in yourself. Looking outside of yourself for "ego strokes" (whether through romance or other such "applause") may prove to be fruitless. You will learn through the course of this transit to depend on yourself and to take pride in yourself for what you really are, not only how others see you.

Saturn Transiting the Sixth House

Saturn turns his critical eye on matters of the sixth house, and you are likely to feel a certain level of pressure in the areas of work, daily functions, habits, and health. At the beginning of the transit, you might find yourself more accountable than ever when it comes to your work. You may initially feel bogged down by what seems like undue pressure in your routines. The key word here is "seems", simply because the nature of Saturn is such that the pressure it brings is never truly undue. In fact, Saturn knows better than us, and it is in reality very much "due". Why? Because things we may have previously neglected or disregarded now come up for inspection. How can we make best use of our time? How can we manage our day-to-day lives, and our bodies, better? Saturn pressures here make us aware of all of the "fluff" we have surrounding our daily routines and our work, and spring cleaning is now in order. This is an excellent time for starting new regimens to better our health and well-being, such as regular exercise, more structured and productive use of our time, and so forth. In fact, we might be faced with life events that force us to do so, or at least provide us with the motivation to get our acts together. Traditionally, this transit was associated with health problems. Generally, though, if health concerns manifest, they are ones that are manageable. They signal the need for change in diet, routines, and habits. By the end of the transit, you will likely have learned to be more productive, healthier, and considerably more focused.

posted July 17, 2006 12:13 AM            

Saturn Transiting the Eighth House

How do you handle power? Your desire nature? Intimate relationships? What kind of obsessions and addictions do you have? What are your deep-rooted compulsions? What are your unhealthy attachments? When Saturn transits our eighth house, we feel pressure to answer these questions. Often, at the beginning of the transit, we are very sensitive to what seems like outer world pressures that force us to examine some of our deepest desires and attachments. These include our sexual relationships, our finances (especially with regards to debts and shared finances), and our need for control. Sometimes, Saturn transiting the eighth brings about sexual dysfunctions, whether we encounter these in ourselves or in our partners. We may face difficulties satisfying our libido and/or encounter problems with intimacy. These pressures are "designed" to make us more aware of our desire nature, and what exactly it is we want. Dissatisfaction and frustrations getting what we want, especially with reference to relationships with others and with our resources, often characterize the first part of the transit. How have we been using power? During this transit, we may find that previous methods of controlling our environment and the people in our lives simply are not effective any more. We may not even be aware just how we have been employing power and control to date. Another realm over which the eighth house reigns is our mortality. With Saturn here, we become much more aware of our mortality. Just as Saturn transits to our Sun or Ascendant make us more conscious of our age, Saturn transiting the eighth house often brings with it a realization that we do not live forever. Of course, we know this as a fact at the back of our minds, but Saturn reminds us. Before this transit, it is generally wise to begin organizing one's finances. If we don't, Saturn will most likely find ways to force us to do just that. On a psychological level, we face some of our fears that are of a compulsive nature—those fears that lead us to believe we need certain things in order to survive. Take a small example of a superstition. Perhaps we perform some kind of small ritual that we feel will help protect us or give us good luck. If we do it often enough, it becomes an addiction. We are afraid that if we don't do this little ritual, we will set ourselves up for bad luck. If we get rid of this superstition, we feel strong. Something as simple as a superstition or ritual for good luck can undermine us. Why? Because we are giving away our power over ourselves to this compulsive behavior! We are denying that we have power over our own lives. The same is true of any form of compulsive behavior and addiction. We attempt to control our lives through these behaviors, but what we are really doing is letting the addictions control us. Towards the end of the transit, we will have eliminated some deep-seated habits and attachments that have been keeping us back from feeling emotionally free. We emerge healthier and stronger. When we give in to compulsive behaviors, we give up self-control, and guilt undermines our lives. We are not ourselves. By attempting to control others, we give away our own power over ourselves. By the end of this transit, we will feel more emotionally healthy. We will have nixed some of our addictions, and mastered our superstitions. We will feel more powerful because we have given up attempting to control things we cannot or should not control, and we will have gained a feeling of self-mastery instead.

Saturn Transiting the Ninth House

This period in our lives is generally dedicated to self-improvement. We are developing our ideals and our commitments as transiting Saturn makes its way through our ninth house. Ideals and spiritual goals that we may have taken for granted or worked with for many years suddenly seem superficial or not particularly useful to us. If we have been studying, we must watch for a period of questioning exactly what we are working towards. Does this line of study match our true selves? Some of us begin new studies as we unconsciously prepare ourselves for Saturn's next house transit. But most of us come face to face with our self-defeating attitudes during this period of time. The ninth house is a fire house, and it has much to do with our outlook, our sense of adventure, and our confidence. It also is associated with our faith, hope, and vision. Although its attachment to such things as higher learning and travel might mean that a Saturn transit to this house will affect these things, but for most of us, it is more about taking a closer look at, and re-assessing, our attitude and confidence. At the beginning of the transit, we may feel a little somber. The blind faith or optimism that may have carried us to date comes up for inspection. Are our belief systems sound? What do we stand for? What kind of future are we working towards, and why? The spirit that drives us and motivates us to move out and beyond the everyday grind comes up for inspection. By the end of the transit, we will have re-worked our spirit, and come face to face with what it is that offers us hope and optimism as well as that which fuels our drive. The initial entrance of Saturn into our ninth house may cause us to question ourselves, but by the end of the transit, if we work hard at self-improvement, we will have replaced our old spirit with a re-generated one. We will be one step closer to knowing where we are headed, and we will have re-built faith in ourselves. A shaky feeling that causes us to sputter and avoid risks will be replaced with a more mature attitude towards adventure and facing the unknown. We let go of self-defeating attitudes that have been holding us back, we recognize exactly where we have been overdoing our expectations, and we find new ways to nurture faith, hope, and vision.

Saturn Transiting the Tenth House

Saturn reaches the top of our chart when it begins its transit through the tenth house. Ironically enough, there is freedom in knowing some of our limitations, and Saturn's transit through the tenth house teaches us exactly what this means. By the time Saturn leaves the house, we will have learned where we stand in the world, and how we have limited our achievements. This self-evaluation then offers us the freedom to appraise where we want to go. Approximately 14 years before this transit, we learned Saturnine lessons of the fourth house—we built a secure foundation within ourselves. Now it is time we build a secure foundation in our professional and/or most public lives. Our standing in society now comes under Saturn's scrutiny. We are in the spotlight, and what it is exactly that we have been building now comes up for inspection. Any projects begun 12-14 years before this transit are now scrutinized. Some of us find ourselves getting recognition and career "rewards" at this time. If this transit occurs in early adulthood, it is a time when we face our duties as a career person. Although the tenth house is a house of ambition, we do not focus on where we are going as much as we focus on where we stand. The question, "Where are we going?", is reserved for the next house, the eleventh, although on some level we are preparing for that stage as well. Before we know where exactly we are headed, we must know where we stand. Saturn's transit of the tenth house is an eye-opening one—a time when we are working hard, taking on our fair share of duties and responsibilities, and either reaping some of the rewards of our hard work or facing the consequences of poor choices. We become aware of what we have and haven't accomplished to date, and we unconsciously prepare to re-evaluate our lives in terms of our personal goals during the next house transit. What have we achieved to date? We now are treated to a realistic look at what we have built and what we have achieved. We no longer view our place in the world, our careers, our reputations, and our standing in society with rose-colored glasses. We face the facts, and only the facts. At the beginning of the transit, our increased sensitivity to where we stand and to our reputations may feel uncomfortable for some. We may feel exposed, publicly scrutinized, or under fire in our careers. We may also feel burdened by our responsibilities. This discomfort comes only as a result of a rush of reality into the matters of the tenth house, and if the discomfort is great, it is only due to the fact that we may have been holding onto false images of ourselves. Just as a mid-life crisis is experienced differently by different people, Saturn's transit of the tenth house holds different meaning for different people, depending very much on how true we have been to ourselves. However, as Saturn moves through the house, we begin to feel more secure. We recognize what it is exactly that we have accomplished.

Saturn Transiting the Eleventh House

We've spent at least a couple of years focusing much of our energy on our place in society, our responsibilities, and our standing while Saturn transited the tenth house. We should be at a point where we know, realistically, what we are doing. When Saturn transits the eleventh house, events or realizations cause us to ask ourselves where it is that we are going. Our personal goals come under Saturn's scrutiny as he makes his way through our eleventh house. How we fit in with others, our affiliations with people and groups, and our peers all become serious matters in our eyes. We might feel that our personal "circle" or our networks are superficial or unsatisfying at the beginning of the transit. We might feel alienated as we begin to see them for what they are worth, or what they aren't worth. We might feel some disdain for the superficial workings of casual friendships, begin to feel uncomfortable and self-conscious about "going through the motions", doing and saying the right things, and so forth. Alternatively, we might meet someone with whom we establish a serious friendship at this time, or we might become a member of a group or affiliation that we devote much of our time to. Weeding out what seems now to be superfluous social associations from our lives is very likely at this time as we become more serious about what we want, on a personal level, from our lives. We take a hard look at the role we play in others' lives, and consider exactly what it is that satisfies us and contributes to our happiness, beyond marriage, romance, career, religion, and so forth. As Saturn moves further through the house, and by the time the transit is over, we should have found ways to bring definition and articulation to our innermost wishes and hopes for our personal path.

Saturn Transiting the Twelfth House

Contemplation of the meaning of our existence, our accomplishments, and our "failures" is the main focus when Saturn transits our twelfth house. This transit marks the end of a cycle, which can most certainly bring with it a fair measure of confusion and discontent, especially at the beginning of the period. Saturn turns a critical eye to all that lies beneath the surface, and we are forced to do some serious "spring cleaning" of our psyches. During this transit, we face our own demons—the vague yet haunting fears that undermine us. We all have skeletons in our closet. What we don't always realize is that they can seriously undermine our happiness and well-being. Saturn sweeps through our "closet" (the twelfth house) and demands that we take a hard look at what's been hiding in there. Is this process uncomfortable? For most of us, it can be. But getting rid of outdated attachments, and examining and discarding irrational fears, is not only necessary for further growth and development—it's ultimately a huge relief. The twelfth house in some ways is a dumping ground for things we have left "undone". Saturn here wants us to sort through the junk and keep only those things that we truly need for future development. This process can be rather lengthy and it can feel very slow, but if done properly, it can be most rewarding. We deal with endings rather than new beginnings during this transit, as we shed outdated attachments and unconsciously prepare ourselves for Saturn's transit of the first house, when we will work diligently on our individuality and personal identity. We are markedly introspective at this time in our lives. We may isolate ourselves from others in some manner—a process that tends to come naturally. Health issues, generally of a psychosomatic nature, may come to the fore. We may be attracted to alternate ways of living, and to self-study fields, such as psychoanalysis.

Keys to Handling Saturn Transits:

posted July 17, 2006 12:16 AM            

Saturn Transits to Personal Planets: Trines & Sextiles

Every now and again, we are blessed with a pleasing dose of practicality and a measure of control. Although Saturn transits are not traditionally considered "blessings", Saturn does seem to know when we are in need of some stability, steadiness, and even "cooling down", and these periods are often when Saturn trines and sextiles our personal planets or points. Self-reliance is characteristic of these times, and some of us are less sociable during these transits. However, if this is the case, it is intentional and we don't feel forced into solitude or "left out" like we might when Saturn transits in hard aspect to our personal planets. Life seems to be more cut and dry in the natal areas affected, which include the affairs ruled by the personal planet itself and the houses ruled by that planet. Moderation in these areas is easier to maintain.

When transiting Saturn trines or sextiles our natal Sun, we feel more comfortable with who we are. Because we have a more mature grasp of our own capabilities, we project a more responsible, perhaps serious, and self-assured personality to others. We may be more open to receiving grounded, practical advice. Our lives seem more stable during this time period, likely because we are able to look at ourselves in a realistic and reasonable manner. We are less vulnerable to self-delusions. One of the major sources of stress and guilt in our lives stems from uncertainty. If we stop to think about how much stress comes from overestimating our responsibilities and inevitably failing to meet them. Things nag at the back of our minds. Saturn offers us realism, and with transits to the Sun, we see ourselves more clearly and realistically. This transit tends to reduce the uncertainty, at the very least with regards to our capabilities, and offers a welcome reprieve from feelings of guilt and fear. At these times in our lives, we know what our responsibilities are, and we meet them.

When transiting Saturn trines or sextiles our natal Moon, we feel more in control of our emotions, our domestic affairs, and our personal habits. We feel considerably more mature and capable of handling our personal lives. Family matters assume more importance in our lives now, and we meet our responsibilities with maturity and competence. We have much to learn from older people in our lives, and during this transit, we are more likely to actually listen to what they have to say, and learn from them. Which house does the Moon rule in your chart? (There may be more than one). Wherever you find Cancer in your chart, you will notice this mature and steady energy. For example, if the Moon rules your 5th house, you might be less inclined to jump into a romantic fling during this transiting trine and more capable of dealing with children. You might begin a new romance that is considerably more mature in nature than previous ones, or your current relationships might become more practical or reliable. Because the fifth house rules our creative self-expression, and Saturn has a stabilizing and realistic effect, we might turn our hobbies into businesses during this transit. At the very least, our self-expression becomes more sober and practical. If the Moon rules our seventh house, we might notice that our partnerships (including marriage) become more practical and goal-oriented. We are able to manage these relationships with more maturity. If we are not involved in a partnership before the transit, we might enter into one, simply because it is a more relationship-friendly period of time when we get serious about our commitments.

When Saturn transits trine or sextile Mercury, we are more apt to organize our lives and to improve our skills. Progress made during this transit period is likely to bring us rewards in our careers and/or our social lives--if not now, in the future. Our thinking is clear, and we can study and absorb information, perhaps not more readily, but certainly more deeply. What we learn now, we retain. Our thinking is more realistic and practical. We are less inclined to jump to conclusions or to make poor judgments, simply because we take into consideration the consequences, the probable outcome, and the bottom line. This is not a time when we take risks unless they are very educated risks. We tend to rely on time-honored, traditional approaches to new ventures. We are able to formulate plans, lists, and budgets and we think things through.

When Saturn transits trine or sextile Venus, our romantic lives and our financial lives become more grounded. This is a good time to formulate a plan to curb spending and to cut away some accumulated debt, as our outlook is more reasonable and practical in these matters. We might begin a more serious romance, or our current relationship may take on a more responsible, mature, or serious tone. Relationships begun during this transit have a good chance of being long-term. We may be more inclined to socialize with older or more mature people, or we may cut back on socializing of our own doing, perhaps to reserve more energy and time for serious creative endeavors or romantic relationships. We might find that circumstances are such that we mix business and pleasure in pleasing ways, or we make social contacts that lead to business propositions, or we turn an artistic hobby into a business. Our overall manner in social situations is more mature, and we can easily make a good impression with our peers and with those older than us.

When Saturn transits trine or sextile to Mars, we experience a period of time when disciplining ourselves is easier. We are more in touch with our bodies in the sense that we see them for what they are, and many begin exercise programs during this transit. (This is, incidentally, one of the best aspects for starting an exercise routine, another being Saturn trine Ascendant). Self-discipline and self-motivation, a cooling of the passions, increased focus in work and activities, and a sense of purpose. We feel in control of our passions and our impulses, and we face life with more purpose and maturity. We are more practical than usual, and our progress in most projects is perhaps slow but steady.

Important Note: We have lumped together the trine and sextile aspect because they are similar in nature. However, there is a distinct difference that should be kept in mind when reading the interpretations above. While the changes come quite naturally and flowingly with the trine, the sextile represents opportunities that need to be grabbed. In other words, we need to be more conscious of opportunities with the sextile in order to benefit from the positive aspects of the transit, and we tend to experience trines more powerfully because they seem to come naturally.

Saturn Transits to Personal Planets: Conjunctions

Saturn's influence is direct and personal when it transits conjunct a personal planet.

When Saturn transits conjunct the Sun, our level of maturity, realism, and responsibility come up for inspection. The goals we have set for ourselves, as well as our very character, are now re-evaluated for strength and purpose, and tested against reality. Saturn has a way of slowing down our lives, as if it is forcing us to take a really good look at it. Because the Sun rules our vitality, we may feel that our energy is somewhat depleted. We begin to feel our age, and the pressures that may go along with it. We may feel alone and un-parented. Our achievements to date become especially important to us, and we are extremely sensitive to whether or not we have been recognized on a professional level as well as on a personal level. Whether our talents and abilities, and our unique individuality and character, are recognized by others becomes especially important to us. We tend to be self-critical and/or we feel that others do not support or recognize us enough. This process is necessary, as we are learning to see ourselves more realistically—without rose-colored glasses—so that we can move forward with a stronger sense of purpose.

*Increased responsibilities, obligations, perseverance, and hard work are the key issues for this time period. This is a difficult time when pressures and demands can lead to considerable stress.

When Saturn transits conjunct the Moon:

This transit offers the ideal opportunity for deep introspection and self-examination, as long as you do not become overly judgmental. You may feel lonely and depressed, and demands of career and/or family may create stress and financial hardship. Try not to take everything so seriously, and remember to smile at least once a day.

Saturn brings a pre-conceived ideal of perfection and righteousness. If you do not feel you live up to this ideal, you will become very self-critical and begin demanding impossible feats of yourself. If you cannot perform these feats and achieve these impossible goals, you will feel as though you are a failure. This leads to feelings of guilt and even self-destructiveness.

The Moon, however, represents your need for emotional nurturing and compassion--as well as your need and ability to give these to others. The Moon does not respond well to Saturn's demands and sometimes may become overwhelmed. Do not let this self-examination lead to self-doubt. This will in turn create a distance between you and your loved ones and prevent you from getting the nurturing that you also need so badly at this time. Eat right and get plenty of rest to avoid digestion problems.

You may feel like withdrawing from others and may encounter problems with your relationships--especially with females--and women from your past may re-enter your life now. You may feel depressed, as though you have no feelings at all. This is not a good time to make "final" decisions about your emotional life. Wait for this transit to pass so that you can then see what you have learned from it and look at life from a more positive perspective. If relationships break up during this period, don't try to mend them until this transit has passed. -- From our Life Trends report.

*Self-doubt, self-criticism, and feelings of isolation and alienation are key issues at this time. You feel like others do not really understand you, and you need to break from many of your old habits and attachments.

When Saturn transits conjunct Mercury:

#You are very serious-minded now, and you ask probing questions that strike to the heart of the matter. This is a good time for reading, studying, and disciplined, concentrated thinking and research. Your deep thought and analysis can lead you to an important discovery, realization, or decision. Your best work now is on very specific problems or technical issues. You are also able to perfect a technique, such as would be used in a trade, craft, or artistic endeavor.

Your thinking on larger, more philosophical issues, like politics and religion, tends to be very narrow and one-sided in scope, much more so than you are likely to realize. You tend to simplify complex problems and issues into simple terms that have simple answers, and you tend to feel indignant or self-righteously superior when others point out alternatives to your ideas. Try not to oversimplify complex issues.

In general, communications are difficult. This time period is better for personal analysis and research rather than for sharing ideas. Others will usually take little interest in your ideas now, and you will be disappointed by the lack of response.

When Saturn transits conjunct Venus:

This period has both a practical and an emotional significance. In both planes, realities make themselves felt. This transit brings about some important, and probably permanent, revision in your emotional life and in your attitude toward it. Sometimes this is sad and heartbreaking if your love is not capable of surviving the imprint of realities. But it can establish love on a firm basis forever if its foundations are solidly on earth. Guard against sensitiveness, for the fear of being hurt through your emotions can cause you to make your own heart break; in which case self-analysis will make you understand that if "that which you feared has come upon you" it is because your fear was translated into your actions and attracted what you least wanted. In material matters this stabilizes your fortunes and should be used for this purpose. Extravagance must go by the board, and budgets should dominate. Financial programs inaugurated here succeed well, if slowly. Seek consolidation, rather than expansion, of possessions, income and work. -- From the Heaven Knows What report.

#Making a decision in a love relationship is the key issue now. Your feelings about what you want in a mate become very clear to you now. Your tastes have probably gradually changed over the years, and now you have a new image of the kind of person that appeals to you. If you are married or deeply involved with someone whose tastes and interests no longer match yours, the relationship will become very strained at this time, probably to the point of breaking. However, honest, sincere, and deep communication of feelings and attitudes, some of which may have been kept secret, can bring about a rebirth in the relationship, making it deeper and stronger than ever. The relationship is tested to see what is really holding it together.

When Saturn transits conjunct Mars:

Restraint of energies is required. There may be Illness, especially if you try to do too much. Exercise discipline of physical and temperamental forces; your dynamics externalize badly; you may feel that your personality fails to assert itself and should not try to force your will or your ways on others. Avoid strife and excess effort; you'll feel blocked and frustrated if you don't. "Ride loose in the saddle of fate," for this is no time to fight destiny by trying to alter the normal course of events. Will power won't work effectively. Need for complete rest and withdrawal follows any serious effort to break down the resistance of things as they are. Guard health, nerves, human relations. -- From the Heaven Knows What report.

*Hard work and concentrated effort are the key issues for this time period. You are faced with tasks that are tedious and difficult, but which must be completed at this time.

Saturn Transits to Personal Planets: Squares & Oppositions

Saturn's influence is felt more acutely and in the form of a challenge when Saturn transits square or opposition to a personal planet.

When Saturn transits square the Sun, we may experience some form of disillusionment with regards to an important person in our life, or with authority figures. We may feel "left out", blocked from advancing in our chosen life path, and lacking in energy and confidence. Ego boosts don't seem to be forthcoming, or if they are, we don't see them in such a light. Some sort of buckling down is necessary at this time, and, with the square, is often perceived as limitations coming from other people or from circumstances. Financial blocks are quite possible at this time, especially if the Sun is associated with the second house by position or rulership. Physically, this is apt to be a rather low period when we don't have that extra "oomph" or drive to accomplish things. A general feeling of "slowdown" is likely, and if regular tasks seem more overwhelming than usual, it is likely due to poor spirits and lack of motivation. Sometimes, this transit is associated with problems with the teeth, bones in general, and the skin.

*Frustrations, trials, and difficult, critical decisions are key issues at this time. Others are not receptive to your ideas and they do not express interest in your work. This is a time to increase efficiency and hold back the reins.

+Circumstances may affect you in a very direct manner. The great wheel of change may appear to move at a snail's pace or grind to a halt. A time during which everything you do may seem more difficult and require great effort. Could be tough.

When Saturn transits square the Moon, we may be feeling overlooked, left out, on our own, and even uncared for. This transit sometimes occurs when changes on the domestic front leave us feeling "alone in this world", such as when we move out on our own, are separated from family or other loved ones, and so forth. Domestic problems may be part of the picture, often connected to women and sometimes the mother. Everyday coping skills can be compromised at this time--chores and routines seem to be harder to do or more burdensome than usual. It can be hard for us to take risks at this time, and we are likely to focus on the negatives in our lives. Fears and insecurities of all kinds are magnified during this period--fear of rejection, fear of what the future might bring, fear that we won't be able to handle our lives masterfully, and so forth. Although we may long for emotional support from others, we don't receive it well if it is forthcoming. We may be given to sulking, feeling sorry for ourselves, dredging up the past, and focusing on what we haven't done or can't do. We may be feeling awkward and self-conscious, and consequently less sociable as spontaneity is lacking for us now. It is important to remember that this is very much our perception at this time, and it can be managed if we are aware of the general meaning of Saturn's influences. It is a time when we are called upon to take a realistic look at our personal and emotional lives. This is a period when progress on the domestic front is slow, delayed, or denied. Our personal popularity is weakened temporarily, and business may also be affected. The best way of handling this energy is to recognize that it's a time to slow down and re-evaluate our personal lives, and that pushing ourselves to do too much will be frustrating and possibly costly. We need more rest than usual, and we need to learn to rely on ourselves for the time being. This is a time when we are called upon to examine our priorities and make necessary changes to our daily routines in order to improve our lives.

*Your home life and sense of personal security are threatened or undergo a critical change at this time. A problem with a family member may arise that requires special attention, or some familiar and dear possession may be lost or damaged.

+A touch-and-go time when it comes to your emotions and the environment in which you find yourself. You may be up against it for a while, as things get tight and progress is slowed. Your emotional life may slow to a trickle or be completely blocked. Patience.

When Saturn transits square Mercury, we may have a pessimistic attitude towards our lives, feel misunderstood, and find ourselves in conflict with others on intellectual levels. We are likely to experience communication problems. It can appear that others are not especially sympathetic to our point of view. However, it is important that we examine how we are communicating with others, as it is likely that our words are strongly colored with negativity. It is very hard for us to see the "big picture" during this period. In some cases, we may end friendships over disagreements at this time, or come close to doing so. This is a time when we are called upon to examine our thinking patterns to find rigid or negative attitudes that have been holding us back.

*Making important and difficult decisions is a key issue of this time period. You question important issues in your life, and try very hard to come to crystal clear, simple solutions to problems.

+A lot of mental energy churning around, but it may be hard to put it to work. Circumstances may prove difficult regarding communication, writing, ideas, and the like. Things can get tight, and you may find it hard to think or study during this time.

When Saturn transits square Venus:

*A sobering experience in a love relationship occurs around this time. You may be rudely shown ways in which your attitude and behavior towards a loved one is based on misguided principles.

+A time to be patient and tread a little lightly when it comes to indulgence and overextending yourself. Things could be tight. You may find it hard to appreciate or enjoy very much just now, and times may find you feeling lonely and at odds with life.

When Saturn transits square Mars:

*Long-term projects and important work reach a critical point at this time. You are faced with new obstacles that make you reconsider the direction of your work and career.

posted July 17, 2006 12:19 AM            

Saturn Transits to Other Natal Points

Transiting Saturn conjunct North Node
!Transiting Saturn conjunct the natal North Node occurs once in twenty-nine years, can last for a month or more, and is likely to be a period of inhibited social life; there is a sense of depression, dissatisfaction and irritation with existing relationships. You are attracted to and seek contact with persons older than yourself at this time, for you feel the need to associate with more mature and experienced personalities.

Transiting Saturn sextile or trine North Node
!Transiting Saturn contact natal North Node can last for a month or more and its effects can have great importance. During this period you are attracted to and seek contact with people older than yourself. You feel the need to associate with the more mature and experienced type of personality. Romance with an older partner is also a possibility.

Transiting Saturn square or opposition North Node
!Transiting Saturn contact natal North Node can last for a month or more and its effects can be dramatic, having great importance in your life. This aspect indicates a period of inhibited social life, for you are well below par when dealing with others, due, possibly, to a sense of depression, dissatisfaction and irritation with existing relationships. Your lack of co-operation and anti- social reclusive behavior is construed badly by others and this may bring heavy future penalties.

Transiting Saturn conjunct Part of Fortune
!Transiting Saturn conjunct the natal Fortuna occurs once in twenty-nine years and can last for a month or more. During this aspect heavy responsibilities, delays, frustrations and a general slowing down of affairs puts a heavy strain on your feelings of happiness and well-being. However you do have the opportunity to restructure and stabilize your life at this time.

Transiting Saturn sextile or trine Part of Fortune
!Transiting Saturn contact natal Fortune can last for a month or more and its effects can have great importance. Happiness at this time may be experienced through associations with older, more mature people. You have the opportunity to restructure and stabilize your life.

Transiting Saturn square or opposition Part of Fortune
!Transiting Saturn contact natal Fortuna can last for a month or more and its effects can be dramatic, having great importance in your life. Heavy responsibilities, delays, frustrations and a general slowing down of affairs puts heavy strain on your feelings of happiness and well-being. Superiors appear unsympathetic and give little support at this time. Parents may also be something of a pain.

Transiting Saturn conjunct Chiron
#Deep thinking and reflecting on past matters may characterize this time period. Previous beliefs, theories, ideas and attitudes are subject to breakdowns, especially with regard to parental and social upbringing. Situations or conditions in your life which have made you feel insecure or have denied you personal satisfaction (such as a job or relationship you have outgrown) become unsuitable or intolerable at this time. You may be given a chance to heal, repair, or find new solutions to old problems in your life, or you might discover that a certain person, place, or thing in your life poses a no-win situation, and therefore must be released in order for personal growth to flourish. Inner strength and greater self-respect can get you through any difficulties and dilemmas you may experience during this period. A parent or authority figure may either be in need of healing or could be instrumental in giving you guidance and support during this time. This is a good time to abolish old fears, childhood wounds, or painful experiences which stand in the way of personal happiness.

Transiting Saturn opposition Chiron
#Misunderstandings and clashes with superiors, authority figures, or administrative personnel is likely during this period. Traditional rules, guidelines, and procedures in your work situation may no longer feel suitable for you to follow. There is a desire to break away from outdated practices and work methods which inhibit your productivity and success. You may simply not wish to conform to other people's demands and expectations in either your professional or personal life at this time. It might be very difficult to hide your frustrations and disappointments now and you may do something quite out of character which threatens the security and stability of your personal relationships or job conditions. Be aware that other individuals may use guilt, denial, put-downs, and rejections in their dealings with you. To avoid unnecessary discord and disagreements now, you will need to be aware of the proper channels and conduct you must adhere to in your professional and private life.

Transiting Saturn square Chiron
#You may experience difficulties in certain social, personal, or professional situations during this period. You might stir up trouble or create conflicts in your work environment, community, or personal relationships by refusing to play by the rules. You may feel uncomfortable, bored, and a little rebellious with anything too traditional and structured during this time. An inability to harmonize your intentions, viewpoint, beliefs, and attitudes with others can upset your career or personal goals and ambitions. People in authority - bosses, executives, or parental figures - may demonstrate prudish, overly conservative, or disrespectful behavior towards you. Others may judge your personal or work habits and be fault-finding or make critical remarks which hurt your feelings. You may be told to "clean up your act" or to adopt a more responsible and serious attitude toward your duties and obligations. Problems with a parental or father figure might have you dealing with old, painful issues which resurface now. If you want to keep a certain amount of security and stability in your life, you may have to discipline yourself to handle pressures, demands, or responsibilities and situations which you find unpleasant.

Transiting Saturn trine Chiron
#Letting go of painful and wounding experiences stemming from past difficulties, either romantic or business-related, is highlighted now. Failures, regrets, and mistakes in love, work, or career can be forgiven, forgotten, and healed. Barriers and blocks from your past which have interfered with your forming solid, stable relationships, as well as work fulfillment, can be removed. Setting new goals and objectives and making social, work-related, or personal interests more rewarding, successful, and meaningful is indicated now.

Transiting Saturn sextile Chiron
#A greater sense of purpose and direction in career or personal goals is accented now. Some of your old ideas and beliefs regarding work, authorities, professionals, or private matters may not fit in with your newfound outlook at this time. You might have an opportunity to learn or try out different procedures and practices in your work, which stands to benefit your career in the long run. A professional or personal dilemma or situation which once seemed impossible to deal with may now be resolved or healed at this time. Relationships with parents and elders are rewarding and offer you important lessons in life at this time. Take the wisdom and guidance you receive from others and be thankful.

Transiting Saturn conjunction Ceres
#You cherish close ties with family and loved ones now, yet may feel overly responsible for their welfare, care, and concern. You have a tendency now to take a more serious and mature approach to matters regarding the health, education, and protection of family members, especially children, at this time. You need a sense of order, control, and stability in your closest personal relationships, as well as in your home and career. In your attempts to keep everyone comfortable, safe, and pampered, you may neglect to nourish your own emotional needs or feel a lack of fulfillment in this regard. You may have to learn to express your desires for love, affection, and attention more openly, as loved ones might conclude that you have less need to rely on them for support and nurturing. During this period you may also have concerns over the health or well-being of a parent or elderly person in your family. Reflections on your past, upbringing, and childhood are also possible. Close relationships are tested and evaluated to determine if they are sound and enduring. In addition, some alliances will be restructured and improved, or you may experience a separation or loss of a significant relationship in your life.

Transiting Saturn opposition Ceres
#Personal or career ambitions can interfere with your responsibilities toward family members and loved ones at this time. A child, mate, sibling, or parent may place heavy demands on your time and patience so that the sense of emotional obligation that comes over you feels slightly overwhelming. Work progress can be slow or limited until you restructure and organize home affairs. There may be worrisome concerns over children's issues, education, or the health of a family member which requires your involvement and support. Children may need more discipline and structure or you may demonstrate more rigidity and protectiveness toward loved ones. You should avoid criticizing the people you care about if they disappoint you or fail to live up to your expectations. Long-standing ties and close relationships may be in need of reevaluation and examination, especially to determine if people are working along with you and sharing your values and goals or if you are subordinating yourself for their needs and making your own desires secondary. Whether you simply set new ground rules in your relationships or actually experience a loss or separation from someone you care about, this period will ultimately be a lesson in maturity and personal growth.

Transiting Saturn square Ceres
#Frustration and difficulty may be experienced through loved ones and family members during this time. A sense of separation or deprivation may be felt with respect to satisfying your needs for emotional support and nurturing. A loved one may not be taking your needs and desires seriously or may impose restrictions and limitations in this regard. You may also have to assume responsibilities or obligations in your domestic life which becomes a personal burden or hardship. Past and present issues dealing with children, health, education, and parental attitudes need to be sorted out at this time. In addition, you might have to shoulder the blame for failures and mistakes in familial or love relationships. You may feel that the demands and pressures placed upon you by loved ones are unreasonable or unfair and you are left to your own resources to deal with the situation. You may need to draw boundaries, set limits, and give serious consideration to relationships which are unhealthy or one-sided at this time. Improvement will occur in relationships which endure the challenges of this period, and others may be released if they are no longer suitable for you.

Transiting Saturn trine Ceres
#You feel a greater responsibility toward loved ones and family members during this time. You can concentrate on organizing daily affairs, children's interests, or parental duties with more efficiency and order. Mutual cooperation and emotional support in family matters is a likelihood now, and this will enrich and nourish your relationships with loved ones. You will want to encourage and strengthen family values, traditions, and commitment and may use gentle discipline and guidance as a means of protecting those in your care. Domestic relationships should prove quite stable and predictable during this period.

Transiting Saturn sextile Ceres
#You may feel an increased need to be responsible, loyal, and dedicated to loved ones and members of your family at this time. The desire for stability, structure, and consistency in your home life is paramount. During this period you may learn more efficient ways to nurture, educate, heal, and comfort a mate, child, parent, or some other person who means a great deal to you. Remembrance of your own childhood and past emotional experiences may give you a desire to mother and protect loved ones. You might find satisfaction through taking personal responsibility for anyone who needs your concern and assistance as well. You are more likely to be interested in building trust, respect, and enduring bonds in your close relationships and will do your best to ensure that goal.

Transiting Saturn conjunction Pallas
#You may experience delays or limitations in getting your creative or business projects underway. Your capacity to stick to tedious jobs or assignments is diminished. Also some of your more familiar routines and responsibilities are subject to disorder and inefficiency at this time. Your faith in your own mental or creative capabilities may be tested now, and you might feel less secure about your ambitions and objectives. You may become very defensive over your old habits, traditions, and routines in the home or work environment and too much inflexibility in this regard is likely to create problems with co-workers or family members during this period. At this time you may find it necessary to use tact, diplomacy, and prudence when dealing with people and yet make your intentions and motivations clearly evident to others.

Transiting Saturn opposition Pallas
#Work-related or personal goals are subject to reevaluation during this period. Your more conventional ways and habits may need reconditioning or updating in order to achieve your objectives. Issues of self-worth, confidence, and determination may cause you to neglect important responsibilities at this time. You are apt to put yourself down or compare your talents and skills to other individuals now. You may also experience frustrations or setbacks to your ambitions (creative, business or intellectual) due to resistance from superiors or some kind of instability in your work environment.

Transiting Saturn square Pallas
#It will take greater work and effort to formulate your creative and career endeavors at this time. Opportunities to develop your talents and potential may be few or nonexistent during this period. You may need to seriously evaluate your past and present work habits or goals to determine whether they are practical and valid or in need of restructuring. Frustration with work assignments or creative projects is likely now. You may feel dismay over your mistakes and failures or may desire to shirk your responsibilities in this regard. Progress in your work or assignments may be slow or limited as well. Superiors or other individuals may feel your thinking and planning is not efficient. Errors or mistakes in judgment become evident or noticeable during this time. Reorganizing your work and setting priorities will be crucial now.

Transiting Saturn trine Pallas
#Solid, sensible, and realistic thinking benefits your personal, creative, and worldly achievements at this time. You can rely upon a good sense of timing and judgment to afford you with opportunities to put forth your efforts, talents, and goals. Support and cooperation from business associates or higher-ups boosts your morale and confidence. You may feel more certain about the direction you wish to take in career or work ambitions. You might be more assertive than usual or undaunted in your attempts to gain recognition and respect as well. You will not take your responsibilities and obligations lightly. In fact, this is an excellent time to arrange, organize, and put both personal and business affairs in order.

Transiting Saturn sextile Pallas
#Long-term tasks, business assignments, or creative pursuits can be successfully undertaken or completed during this period. You can also establish effective and harmonious alliances with individuals who help prosper your career or personal ambitions. You would also do well in communications and negotiations with others, as your wisdom, enlightenment, and foresight is likely to be taken into consideration. Realistic, practical, and clear thinking makes this an excellent time to make important decisions regarding your direction and goals. Confidence, self-reliance, and determination afford you with opportunities to improve your methods and plans and to put them into operation.

Transiting Saturn conjunction Juno
#Your attention is drawn to long-term romantic or marital relationships during this period. This can be a critical time in a marriage or love relationship, when partnerships are tested for permanence, reliability, and durability. Relationships which are solid and meaningful will likely grow in commitment, loyalty, and devotion. Marriages or romantic relationships which begin under this transit may involve karmic debts and obligations and will probably endure for the long haul. Dysfunctional, unstable, or stifling unions, however, may be dissolved or discarded at this time. Issues which challenge relationships now may deal with parents, work, responsibilities, duties, and personal ambitions, as well as trust and loyalty. A more serious, practical, and realistic attitude is necessary to handle any problems you may encounter during this time. However, you must also make certain you are taking your partner's emotional needs into consideration. Similarly, you should make attempts to bring more warmth and affection to your relationship; otherwise, too strong a sense of duty and obligation would hinder some of the intimacy and romance now.

Transiting Saturn opposition Juno
#There may be barriers and emotional inhibitions in a love relationship or marriage at this time. Affectionate relating may be reduced or cooled down altogether, due to feelings of dissatisfaction or discord in the relationship. One or both of you may be putting responsibilities, demands, and restrictions on the other, causing tension and strain on your partnership. Monotony or boredom is another possibility during this period. What you need to do now is get everything under control, reorganize priorities, work toward fairness and objectivity, and bring back the warmth and intimacy to the union. If your partner is unresponsive, cold, or uncooperative, then you may have to seriously take this into consideration when attempting to work out reasonable solutions to difficulties and dilemmas. You might discover that a relationship is no longer fulfilling your needs or expectations. Sometimes this period can bring about a separation or a breakdown of a partnership. However, if there is true and loyal commitment to each other, the relationship may be restored at a later time.

Transiting Saturn square Juno
#Partnership issues, mainly marital or romantic, are apt to demand your attention at this time. Feelings of dissatisfaction, lack of fulfillment, or dismay may prevail and you may have difficulty coming to grips with the problems in your marriage or love relationship. You might feel confined, caged, or hemmed in by burdens and demands placed upon you by a partner at this time. However, commitment and loyalty to your relationship is foremost to your own needs and emotional longings. You may be hesitant to blame or resent your mate, as you might fear the consequences of any manipulating or controlling actions on your part. Fear can bind you to an unrewarding love relationship now or hinder your attempts to deal with the real conflicts and issues which trouble your partnership. You both may be in a deadlock or at cross-purposes regarding major decisions, job interests, family matters, and intimacy needs in the relationship. It may take considerable effort, teamwork, and open communication to reestablish trust, security, and stability in a significant relationship.

Transiting Saturn trine Juno
#This period can bring stability and endurance to your marital or love relationship. Bonds of affection and intimacy are strengthened and it becomes easier to find reasonable and workable solutions to any difficulties you may be undergoing in a partnership. Commitment, loyalty, and devotion flourish in a solid and secure relationship. This can be a time when you have an opportunity to marry or make a lasting commitment to an individual whom you love and cherish. If already married, your union is afforded a second chance or a renewal of love, faith, and happiness now. Taking responsibilities and obligations with a more serious and mature attitude helps you learn and grow at this time. If you are unattached, you may develop a friendship with someone which grows into a strong love or you may begin a significant love relationship during this period.

Transiting Saturn sextile Juno
#There may be desires for security, permanence, and stability in a love relationship or marriage at this time. You seek more mature and serious attachments and are less inclined to remain in a relationship which lacks commitment, loyalty, and trust. Stable love unions may prosper and grow into even greater meaning and fulfillment for you now. Superficial or stagnant relationships may not feel suitable or comfortable to you at this time. If unmarried, you might have an opportunity to form a solid and responsible love relationship or perhaps learn more about your own needs and desires for love and marriage during this period.

Transiting Saturn conjunction Vesta
#You may become overly preoccupied with a job, career, or personal interest. It will take work, time, and serious attention to tackle projects or responsibilities during this period. However, you are likely to have the stamina and endurance to follow through on your commitments. Also, by examining and clearing away old debts, assignments, and obligations in your business or personal life, you might be able to allow more productive and worthwhile goals and activities to develop now. Much of your focus may need to be on job security, improvement in work efficiency, or establishing your personal or professional relationships on a more stable and firm foundation. Seeking private time to carefully weigh important decisions or finding it necessary to work in solitude on specific tasks and projects may also characterize this time frame.

Transiting Saturn opposition Vesta
#Your current workload might involve heavy obligations and commitments at this time. Pressure or demands from superiors may be difficult to cope with and your work habits or routines may come under close scrutiny. Your work situation may also become unstable due to the lack of success or the overthrow of a boss or other authority figures in the company. Delays or frustrations may hinder your enthusiasm to approach new projects or complete assignments that are tedious and time-consuming. An important personal goal, project, or relationship may suffer problems or setbacks due to work responsibilities. Priorities need to be straightened out and inefficient work practices which stand in the way of progress should be eliminated. Patience, self-discipline, and a willingness to try new methods and practices may be necessary now.

Transiting Saturn square Vesta
#Significant and pressing work-related issues demand your attention at this time. You may be subjected to difficult and burdensome work or undergo stressful and disappointing experiences in your job environment. You might struggle to disentangle yourself from heavy responsibilities and refrain from making commitments due to feelings of discontent and dismay over your job situation. A boss, co-worker, or superior may be unfriendly, uncooperative, or unreasonable now. You might not get the feedback you need to remain dedicated and enthusiastic over your work responsibilities. This period may also characterize a time when you find work to be less meaningful or you try to free yourself from feelings of "burn-out" on the job.

Transiting Saturn trine Vesta
#You may set some new goals or renew an interest in a project which sparks your personal motivation and enthusiasm now. Your career and personal aims may gain more focus during this time. Similarly, your sense of commitment, dedication, and self-discipline aids you in all matters of business or work. Although this period may characterize a time when you are quite capable of working alone and unassisted, and may even prefer to do so, your hard efforts are appreciated by superiors or those who depend upon your job services. This is also a good time to improve work routines, methods, and job efficiency. In your private or professional life, you can make certain commitments and promises with less fear or anxiety about the long-range consequences.

Transiting Saturn sextile Vesta
#Dedication and commitment can now back up your interest in moving forward in your job or career. Reviewing your old habits and traditions gives you an opportunity to make needed changes that bring greater work efficiency and helps you execute your career goals and plans. Stay alert to new possibilities that would increase your status and recognition in your work environment. In your personal life, this is a good time to secure your commitments and responsibilities to loved ones and friends. Taking the time out to give a significant relationship the kind of attention it needs will be highly beneficial at this time.

Keys to Handling Saturn Transits:

posted July 17, 2006 12:28 AM            

Many of us approach our thirtieth birthdays with anxiety, even dread. We start looking for gray hairs and paying attention to ads for wrinkle creams. We question whether we are climbing the career ladder quickly enough. We hear the biological clock ticking loudly and worry that soon we will be too old to bear children.

Astrologers call the period between ages twenty-eight and thirty "Saturn Return." That's because it's the first time the planet Saturn completes its cycle through your birth chart and returns to the spot it occupied when you were born. Internationally respected astrologer Rob Hand calls Saturn Return "one of the most important times in your life. . . a time of endings and new beginnings."

For most of us, ending a phase of life that is familiar and embarking on one that is new and untried is unsettling, even painful. Few people describe Saturn Return as a pleasant period. While undergoing your Saturn Return you may find yourself turning inward and reflecting on your individual destiny. You examine your true needs and desires and the role you want to play on the world's stage. You may feel lonely and alienated from those around you, while family and friends think you are shutting them out. But this is a necessary period of consolidation, when you must retreat from the distractions of the outer world and focus on yourself at your most fundamental level. The Saturn Return is every individual's search for the Holy Grail.

Coming of Age

The first Saturn Return marks the end of youth and the beginning of the productive adult years. It is now that you truly become an adult--not at eighteen or twenty-one. You realize your need to define yourself as an individual within society and to demonstrate what you've learned. Newswoman Jane Pauley described turning thirty as having grown into womanhood. German film director Werner Herzog compared this period in his life with a maiden's loss of virginity, a line drawn across his path marking the end of his youth.

This transition into adulthood is often accompanied by a sense of urgency, a feeling that you must try to accomplish everything you've ever wanted or planned to do now. Goals start to come sharply into focus. If you have not settled into a definite career, or have been pursuing one that is inappropriate for you, you'll experience a strong push to establish yourself in a more fulfilling occupation. Sometimes this means a complete change. During his first Saturn Return Vincent Van Gogh decided to be a painter rather than a minister. More frequently it means a new direction or specialization within your chosen field.

If you have been building steadily toward a goal that's right for you, Saturn Return can be a time of achievement and rewards. Your labors bear fruit. Runner Bill Rodgers' Saturn Return marked the first of three consecutive Boston Marathon wins. William Faulkner published his first novel at age twenty-nine.

According to California astrologer Stephen Arroyo, author of Astrology, Karma and Transformation, "The quality of the entire experience and the extent to which it is felt to be a 'difficult' time depends entirely on how one has lived during the previous twenty-nine years." If you have been pursuing an unsuitable vocation or merely fulfilling someone else's expectations, Saturn can be relentless in prodding you to make adjustments.

Revising Worn Out Patterns

Saturn strips away illusions and points out limitations, allowing you to view yourself in a harsh, often unflattering light. At the same time, it endows you with prudence, practicality, and the perseverance to work hard toward achieving your purposes. Consequently, this is a good time to rearrange your career or lay the foundation for a new one.

Saturn Return almost always requires some major adjustments in lifestyle, attitudes, and relationships. Anything you have outgrown, or have tolerated but not found satisfying, must end now or be altered to meet your emerging needs. According to Hand, "Consciously or unconsciously, you are pruning your life of everything that is not relevant to what you really are as a human being."

Often interpersonal relationships are deeply affected by Saturn Return. Gail Sheehy writes in Passages: Predictable Crises in Adult Life that during this period "Almost everyone who is married will question that commitment." The U.S. Census Bureau lists the peak divorce years as ages twenty-eight to thirty. Some people experience more subtle or private adjustments in their patterns of relating, such as shifts in responsibilities. Many couples decide to become parents, not only altering their relationships but their financial obligations and perhaps their vocations as well.

If a relationship is sound, based on mutual respect, honesty, and sharing, it will probably survive the test of Saturn Return and become even stronger. But a relationship begun before the partners knew what they really wanted is likely to fall apart. Relationships that start during this period may have a "fated" or "karmic" quality about them.

When Enough is Enough

"Saturn. . . is never easy to deal with because his function is that of promoting growth," explains astrologer Liz Greene, author of Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil, "and it is only frustration and pain which at present are sufficient goads to get a human being moving." This frustration and pain have given Saturn a bad reputation. But the planet's often misunderstood value lies in its very ability to evoke pain. Like the pain of an illness, it warns that something is wrong. Saturn doesn't create the problems, it merely illuminates them.

Growth is often accompanied by trepidation and turmoil. As the old self is pushed aside to make room for the new, you may feel weak and vulnerable. You want to move ahead, yet are frustrated by a fear of doing so, torn between a compelling urge to throw off everything connected with your past and an equally frantic need to cling to the familiar rather than brave the great unknown.

Even if your external world seems to be in order, your internal structure may feel as though it's being assaulted with a battering ram. Nervous conditions, irritability, depression, insomnia, and feelings of insecurity are common. Most people go through some sort of identity crisis.

Even though your Saturn Return may be disturbing, ultimately it reveals what you truly want and sweeps away the clutter that may have been impeding your progress. Your Saturn Return is a personal spring cleaning. No matter how difficult it seems to let go of inappropriate people and things, the first Saturn Return is the time to do it. For if lessons are not learned, the problems will come knocking again during your second Saturn Return at about age fifty-eight, when you are more set in your ways. Once the conflict is confronted, the tension usually subsides. You feel stronger and more capable of moving ahead.

Saturn Return is one of the most crucial turning points you ever experience, when you assume the greatest responsibility of all: responsibility for your own life.

THE END

posted July 17, 2006 12:35 AM            

In my chart, Saturn doesn't aspect any of my personal planets (at least not the major aspects); however, it is the focal point of a Yod involving my Venus in Pisces & my Mars in Capricorn. I wasn't able to find interpretations for these aspects either..

posted September 16, 2007 05:48 PM            

everything related to it started to happen 1.5 years before. Maybe even more. And it all ended before - the last thing that happened and could be connected to it, was like 2 month before.

but I was so apprehensive about it, so tensed, so anxious about what *may* happen, that I did get a bit ill. the stress got to me. I got some sort of stomach flu - actually, a somatization of fear and anxiety.

well... Saturn is opposed to my Asc (aka the health center) so it may have been a reaction to transit Saturn opposing my Asc. Dunno.

so - the short version:
I have Leo Saturn, in the 7th, opposing Asc, square Moon (Scorpio, 9th, ruling 5th and 6th), 135 and in mutual reception with Cap Sun (ruling 7th) conj Venus (ruling 2nd and 8th), sextile Jupiter (ruler of my MC), trine Mercury (ruler of 4th) and Chiron.

relationships:
3 years ago I ended a 9 yo relationship as Saturn went out of my 5th house; fell in love again with a guy 7 years older than me and a Leo, who taught me a lot about having fun and enjoying life. this new rel didn't really make it – it was on and off for the whole 3 years - about a week before this Venus retrograde, when tVenus was conj my natal Saturn, I had enough of his irresponsible behaviour and put an end to it.

they say that 7th Saturn ppl shouldn’t marry before their Saturn return. now I know why. this guy I fell in love with, 3 years ago... he felt like *it* and than again it wasn't. he turned out to be a huge disappointment, a liar, a fake, a coward. It was wise of me to hold back like I did. Of course, I can take no credit – it was my Cappy Venus.

I sure did the craziest things I ever did in my life. I took some wild chances, I … sorta made a fool of myself. It felt, all the way, like I was running out of time. My pride didn’t matter that much anymore – I had to sort things out. Had to make sure his feelings were the right ones. They weren’t. Being alone sure feels a lot better than being unsure.

path in life. last year, around may (no specific astro connections; maybe SAPluto conj Uranus, ruler of Asc) I changed careers/domains. Saturn was in my 6th. Quit my job, got myself back to school (Jupiter was transiting my 9th) - this time film school. I was unemployed for a year - yap. 6th Saturn can do that to you. This year in may, 4 months before Saturn return, I found the perfect job in the field - now I'm story editor for a tv series that's just started this fall and seems to be a success (transit Jupiter conj MC the same time of my Saturn return). I'm working in the largest film making company in this country and .. guess I'm on the right path now (as a Saturn return is supposed to be). One way or another (writing, directing, editing), I’m making movies. Did I mention the Sagittarius Neptune-Mercury-MC, opposed by MC ruler Jupiter, in Gemini, from the 4th/5th?

So - as far as Saturn return business is concerned, there was no drama. no pain. no nothing. it's true- I listened to my gut feelings and I took some crazy chances. I did feel like it was 'now or never'. I guess it's that kind of a choice. nothing bad happens if you *don't*. you never get to know what you never did... To me, all of a sudden, that regret was scarier than the fear of failing And that's that.

posted September 18, 2007 08:40 PM              

My Saturn return is rapidly approaching and I am having transit anxiety. I have Saturn in the 2nd, and my 7th house is in Capricorn...with Moon in Capricorn in it. Cancer Ascendant.

posted April 03, 2008 12:19 PM            

I think other transits and progressions at the time were more significant.

posted April 03, 2008 12:37 PM              

my natal saturn is at virgo 27, i'm waiting for the saturn return. for the moment it's conjunct my north node and my jupiter

posted April 03, 2008 02:26 PM            

The transit rhythmogram on astro.com seems to indicate that it will be a relatively moderate transit for me, which would be nice given what Pluto and Uranus have dragged me through in the past few years. Who knows... Bring it on, and let's get it over with...

posted April 24, 2009 07:49 PM            

D: You and I are in a very similar predicament (my Saturn is at 22 degrees Virgo); my Saturn Return is in late August, yours in early September.

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"The only way out is through" ---Robert Frost

posted May 04, 2009 01:46 PM            

My Saturn Return has been very chaotic and traumatic as well as wonderful, I never realised that you could have all of this at once! I moved countries, fell deeply in love and went to hospital. I'm on the plateau now though and nothing hurtful is happening at the moment. I really needed it though, since I was in an unhealthy situation before and this kicked my butt.

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posted June 11, 2009 01:24 PM            

started this job around mid dec. just after saturn's first hit to my natal saturn. it pays more decntly than my previous jobs but its not ideal. i feel like i'm over worked and underpaid!! i guess its the saturn return in my tenth house??? actually its at the end of my tenth...

i have also been feeling this tremendous urge to travel around the world and see new places but i dont have the kinda money right now i feel like getting away from everything and evryone here and staying in another country at least fr a coupla months..

everyone around me seems to want to find me a guy /husband....tho i cant seem to like anyone enough....