Saturn – Portal to Spiritual Maturity
To break with a tenacious astrological model, this article will show that Saturn is not the big, bad “malefic” traditional astrology would have you believe. In the more inclusive Transpersonal Astrology model, Saturn steadfastly holds your purpose line for you to manifest your potential. It is a stoic, no-nonsense, serious planet with a heart of gold. “Malefic” sounds evil, like it’s out to crush your spirit.
This label is unethical because it implants a powerfully negative attitude towards Saturn, which in turn can manifest in self-sabotaging ways. That said, there is a trace of truth in this belief which warrants discussion about the condition of your inner state.
To set the stage for that, following are some archetypal dynamics of Saturn viewed through the Transpersonal Astrology lens.
AN ARCHETYPAL PORTRAIT OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLANET
Archetypally, Saturn rules boundaries. In the old days (before the outer planets were discovered), it was the furthest of the visible planets and as such marked the boundary of the known solar system. It consequently represents the boundary of the physical-material reality realm. Saturn’s awesome rings are a visual symbol of this boundary, a micro representation of the visible planets orbiting the Sun.
Saturn also rules structures of all varieties, be they psychic or physical, organizational, systemic, procedural, etc. Structures provide the necessary foundation and framework from which you operate in the physical reality over time (also under Saturn’s rule). It supports your ground-game by governing the structures of your life and tasking you with getting your house in order, internally and externally so you can manifest your dreams. Archetypally, I consider Saturn and its rings as a model of order and grace inherent in the intricate structure of existence following the law of its nature without resistance.
Now to the importance of the condition of your inner state in moving to higher states of consciousness.
STRUCTURES ARE FORMED WITHIN YOUR INNER STATE
There is an affinity between the Moon and Saturn relating to your state of consciousness and living your highest spiritual expression. The Moon rules your early childhood experiences, which shape your beliefs and thought processes. Over time a subconscious mental structure is formed holding your familial and societal codes of conduct, considerations and beliefs, also known as “programming,” which runs mostly on autopilot. Saturn rules this psychic structure of the mind, also known as the ego, which is the “container” of your programming. The ego and other structures are necessary to survive in this physical-material reality to give form to all you do and govern how you function.
A crucial concept here is that how your mind goes, so goes your life. How you think is mirrored in the nature of the life you manifest. Is it resistant dysfunctional chaos or flowing creative functionality? Rigid structures, including egos, can easily fracture and collapse.
SATURN CALLS YOU TO FULFILL THE COSMIC NEED OF YOUR BIRTH CHART
The key to working with Saturn is in understanding the container of the ego is not who you are and is not permanent. It is a malleable form through which your consciousness expresses in the world. Saturn guides you to bring the foundation and structure of your thinking back to wholeness so you can create structures in your life that are flexible, alive and filled with spirit.
Saturn asks you to put attention to recognizing how well (or not) the structure of your ego is supporting your personal life and then to put effort into re-programming its more negative, non-productive contents so they serve you rather than you being imprisoned by them.
“A crucial concept here is that how your mind goes, so goes your life. How you think is mirrored in the nature of the life you manifest. Is it resistant dysfunctional chaos or flowing creative functionality? Rigid structures, including egos, can easily fracture and collapse.”
Saturn’s reputation for being malevolent relates more to the consequences of choosing to not do what is needed. Yes, Saturn can be hard when you are not putting effort into manifesting your potential and fulfilling the unique cosmic need inherent in your birth chart, but if you stick with the process and successfully pass through it, the “consequences” are usually in the form of an unexpected reward. Top of my rewards list is the surprising amount of freedom you gain. Having to constantly deal with conflict and chaos within and without takes up a lot of energetic bandwidth. Following Saturn’s protocol leads to clarity and inner peace. Just imagine what you would do if you consequently earned more time to think strategically and act creatively.
EMBRACING YOUR SATURN TO BECOME THE MASTER OF YOUR REALITY
Getting down to Saturn’s business means setting intentions and being focused on methodically doing what needs to be done. To take this principle even further, consider one simple word associated with Saturn: “mastery.” To master something means to put great effort into developing the skills and/or conditions (psychological as well as practical) necessary to accomplish whatever is needed.
Following are basic Saturnian principles essential in the process of mastery:
Responsibility:
Saturn requires you to take responsibility for your internal psycho-emotional state, your behavior and conditions of your life, without blaming anyone or anything else. Saturn asks you to develop the ability to respond to life’s challenges and pressures by maintaining your core inner stability and clarity. Being accountable for your behavior in the world is part of this as is being willing to walk through your fears and resistance.
Commitment:
It may seem easy to start a process but as soon as something goes “wrong” the impulse to quit can be strong. Saturn asks you to be present with the resistance you feel, to walk through it and finish the cycle of what you started. This applies to anything from simple tasks, to completing a challenging project at work, or maturely addressing problems with your relationships. Facing and willingly walking through everyday challenges and responsibilities demonstrates a commitment to mastering your life on earth. There are no failures in Saturn’s world, only experimentation and learning.
Being realistic:
Learning to discern the difference between what is real and what is imagined might be harder than you think. With Saturn, you can’t project too far down the road of your dreams without considering what it would take to get there. They won’t just magically manifest if you don’t put forth focus and effort to work through countless variables you can’t control and integrate new information coming in along the way. Saturn works methodically but remains open to learning and refining a plan’s overall structure to ensure each manifesting step aligns with the overall intention.
Integrity:
The real magic in mastering anything comes from approaching everything with integrity, with no cut corners, no missed steps, and no leaving out any essential elements. What is ultimately manifested can then be a model of unity in form and function, of wholeness. I have come to think of integrity as coming from the heart, from love, with total honesty and a sense of purity. Integrity infuses divine spirit into everything you do.
USING SATURN ON THE PATH TO HEALING
Using the Transpersonal model, you become aware of the nature of the structure of your ego and the need to integrate unhealed emotional wounds fracturing your inner state. Working with Saturn helps you discover how to repair the fragmented nature of the belief systems, contradictions and paradoxes operating within you, especially the fears, self-doubts and negative thinking that translate into a self-defeating world view.
The more effort you put into Saturn’s sometimes arduous processes, the more stable and productive your life becomes. You feel more empowered and function with greater authority, order, grace and joy. Embracing each internal and external test as it comes moves you to the next step in your personal growth and maturity.
SATURN – THE PORTAL TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Following Saturn’s unique individualized lesson plan as revealed in the birth chart is key to building harmonious structures in your life that honor your true nature. The good news is, every time you pass one of Saturn’s tests, you move towards mastering your life, experiencing meaningful shifts all along the way. You discover your true, de-programmed nature emerging. You become your own authority.
But there is more to Saturn than just mastering your life in this reality. Saturn’s archetypal boundary indicates there is something on the other side you can’t see – unless you make the effort.
“Using the Transpersonal model, you become aware of the nature of the structure of your ego and the need to integrate unhealed emotional wounds fracturing your inner state. Working with Saturn helps you discover how to repair the fragmented nature of the belief systems, contradictions and paradoxes operating within you, especially the fears, self-doubts and negative thinking that translate into a self-defeating world view. ”
Sun through Saturn follow a path of individual development related to harmoniously functioning in the material reality. The discovery of the outer planets (Uranus in 1871, Neptune in 1846 and Pluto in 1930) introduced transcendent archetypes with the potential to catapult you out of the limited ground-based game of Sun through Saturn. In Transpersonal Astrology, these archetypal breakthroughs represented a paradigm shift that re-oriented Sun through Saturn into preparatory stages for leaping into higher consciousness states. At the last stage of development before this leap can happen, Saturn is the ultimate gatekeeper, hermit of the solar system guiding you from its distant perch between the known and the unknown to ensure you are ready and willing to up your game to the next level, without losing your ground.
As the threshold leading to the occult forces represented by the outer planets, Saturn is there to make sure the right conditions are successfully met before you cross into the advanced developmental stages leading to your highest spiritual expression. Saturn teaches you how to put your life in order so you can have the space, time, energy and solid foundation to reach a transcendent state of consciousness that opens you to ever expanding levels of creativity.
Saturn is there when you are ready and willing.
NASA
SATURN’s mastery challenge THROUGH THE SIGNS
The descriptions of Saturn in each sign below focus on challenge areas to be mastered in the path of individual development. Keep in mind Saturn is only one feature to be integrated into your complete archetypal profile.
SATURN IN ARIES – mastering the ability to adapt in ways that protect from your own recklessness the precious seeds of what you are here to create so they will endure for the benefit of all.
SATURN IN TAURUS – mastering non-attachment to material things to alleviate the fear and suffering of loss but also so you are free to release your resources for use in serving the cosmic need you are here to fulfil.
SATURN IN GEMINI – mastering the art of letting things happen by clearing the mind to receive and absorb information in non-linear, non-binary ways to open to true understanding.
SATURN IN CANCER – mastering your sense of belonging, of being “at home” with yourself as you are and knowing your role in the context of the greater whole of the cosmos beyond yourself.
SATURN IN LEO – mastering the simplicity of letting your light shine in the world through creative expression without casting shadows on others, without expectation, just for the pure joy of it.
NASA
SATURN IN VIRGO – mastering tolerance to being in a constant critical state under pressure to grow through the everyday crisis of metamorphosis wherein you are becoming something you are not.
SATURN IN LIBRA – mastering ease in all relationships to achieve balance and harmony in the world by developing the ability to stand your ground and maintain your sense of self without compromising your values just to keep the peace.
SATURN IN SCORPIO – mastering non-identification by developing the ability to concurrently being the flame of passion intent on transforming through total immersion and being the observer tending the flame so it won’t burn out.
SATURN IN SAGITTARIUS – mastering the art of living together through developing wisdom and philosophical principles that support all human beings to live and think independently while pursuing the common purpose of peaceful, collective co-existence.
SATURN IN CAPRICORN (the sign Saturn rules) – mastering personal integrity through developing the ability to create structures for living that are inclusive, flexible and contain spaces within that are infused with grace and divine spirit.
SATURN IN AQUARIUS – mastering the ability to concentrate your personal power through the process of maturity and to employ that power in service to the humanity’s evolution from a state of fear to a state of love.
SATURN IN PISCES – mastering the courage to be present in your earth life as you walk through overwhelming personal challenges and the collective suffering of the world so you can develop the ability to embrace the all of it in a state of love and compassion.