Saturn’s Entrance into Scorpio, pt One

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This post is more of an introduction to Saturn in Spiritual Astrology, more to follow on Saturn specifically in Scorpio.

Recently, a reader submitted a comment asking me to elaborate on Saturn’s entrance into Pluto’s domain.  She mentioned that she had some planets in Scorpio, so she may have a bit more than mere curiosity riding on it.  However, in order to be specific in answering her question, I need to know more.  This is because Western Astrology is a complex subject, especially if it is practiced appropriately – keeping the language open ended (choice centered, frequency based) and staying away from fortune-telling-esque fatalistic predictions.  And when dealing with Saturn, unfortunately it is easy to revert to older Astrological-recipe-cookbooks and talk about the delays and restrictions which Saturn can impose.

But does Saturn have to be the stern disciplinarian?  How much of the ancient, “Saturn is the edge of the solar system, therefore it guarantees a cold, distant, restrictive influence in the chart” attitude is still necessary today?

If you have read my previous posts in the Spiritual Astrology category, you will notice that I am actually a huge fan of Saturn.  Even Saturn in Scorpio, even conjunct some “difficult” planets, I love Saturn and the structure and responsibility it indicates.  Why is this?  Because Saturn, in addition to being associated with a dry, cold, distant, contracting energy, has to do with growth, maturity and taking responsibility.  It is the Buddhist’s planet (aside from Chiron, but there is a strong association between these two, which is a tale for another day.  Sorry I digress.).  That is, if you want to work on yourself spiritually, then you have to have many ducks in a row with regard to personal responsibility – we need to be fiscally responsible, we need to be practical in our outlook, we need to be emotionally responsible and we need to admit when we have made a mistake and act to clean up our inner and outer environs.  Let me unpack these statements.

In Buddhism, the theory is that no Divine Deity can save us.  The Buddha said that we must work at our own salvation.  We all possess Buddhanature, a pure seed of clear-light-mind.  But for the majority of people on this planet, this seed is grossly obscured by deeply ingrained patterns and umpteen bad habits.  Therefore we must work to get to know ourselves better and to take responsibility for cleaning up our inner psyche – resolving misunderstandings, dissolving misconceptions and coming into a comfortable, embodied alignment.  It is then that we have a chance to move forward on a spiritual path.  But if we have a mindset that constantly yearns for an easy solution (Jupiter or Leo or Aries), or if we believe exclusively in magical “it-will-all-work-out-in-the-end” solutions (is there a difference between these two?) (I’m talking to you Neptune and Pisces), then we might be groping around in the dark for a long time.  What I am trying to say is that we can change our karma, but it takes some effort.  And this effort is Saturn’s domain.

[I am getting on my soapbox for this paragraph.]  When we seek an easy solution, a more Jovial or Neptunian resolution filled with ease and as little work as possible, then Saturn will reflect a challenge, a test or a limitation.  And then, quite unfortunately, Saturn gets that bad name.  We will say, “Yeah, I was doing so well, things were flowing and I was so happy; and then Saturn came along and slowed everything down, I got sick, and everything got to be so much harder.”  Really?  With a little disclaimer (see the end of this article below) I would argue that if this is your answer to Saturn’s call to responsibility, then you were procrastinating a bit much when things were easy, when your positive karma was manifesting, you were sitting back and soaking it all in, expecting that it would never cease.  But end it always does.  Impermanence is Saturn’s worst fear, and its greatest ally.  Everything changes.  So we should keep working on ourselves even when it disrupts our idyllic vacation from discomfort.  Then, during Saturn’s transits, we can be rewarded for self-reflection and the “it hurts so good” cathartic personal growth work.

Don’t get me wrong though.  Timing is everything.  If we work with divination tools like the I Ching, we swiftly notice that there are times when the tide is coming in and times when it is receding, times when we must slow our roll and times when it is ideal to exert a lot of effort.  There are times when we need to rest and recover.  And there are times when hard work is easier, necessary even, and when it pays great dividends.  And the payoff can be great.  But we have to know when the tide crests and when the receding water reveals previously unknown treasures.  This is where knowing the Transits and Progressions of Timing Astrology comes in handy.  Because many people worry about meeting ends, getting bills paid, which is necessary of course, but it would be best to save while we have abundance, so we are prepared (a Saturnian word) for tough times.

Astrology is a complex subject.  To fully answer a question like, “I have several planets in Scorpio in my sixth and seventh houses, and here comes Saturn, what does this mean?”  One must know what frequency is the individual at?  Are they the type of person who respects the wisdom of taking responsibility for their lives?  Or are they the type who frets about Saturn and chooses to curl up in a ball, waiting out the storm?  (Which might be smart at times!)  What do they do when they encounter stagnation?  Because the results of spiritual practice are only revealed when we encounter difficult situations.

Then, knowing the frequency of the individual (do they have a meditation practice?  Do they have a living lineage of healing wisdom that they connect with on a daily or weekly basis?  Do they receive bodywork / energy work?  What are their goals and objectives in this lifetime?  Are they more stubborn or more open in general?), we can start to apply Spiritual Astrology to meet them where they are.  But even knowing someone’s frequency, we still need to know the rest of their chart.  Because Saturn’s entrance into Scorpio will be much different for someone with a Sun or Moon or Rising Sign in Scorpio than for someone with more outer planets in Pluto’s domain.

Either way though, having multiple planets in Scorpio, it would probably be good to continue reading future posts on this subject.  Because Scorpio is the most powerful of all the signs (Leo and Aquarius might disagree, but ultimately, Scorpio is Pluto’s domain, and the god of the Underworld has sway over the lowest venomous energies and the highest wisdom of healing in its Minerva aspect), it is good to generate understanding about the subconscious world.  It is good to know what Scorpio is about and it is good to know about Saturn.  Then we can be prepared for whatever karma we may have unfolding, positive or challenging.

Therefore I will just touch the surface of this subject, because we are all approaching astrology where we are, and I cannot write a single article which will deeply touch many numerous individuals’ subjective experiences.  But I will brush the surface of Saturn’s entrance into Scorpio pertaining to the houses of the horoscope.

Look for this in an upcoming post soon.  Thank you for reading.

As for that disclaimer from above, occasionally, Saturn’s influence in a chart will indicate karma which we do not have a choice about.  If this is the case, and I will provide examples here in a second, then my statement above does not hold water.  For instance, if Saturn is doing some funky aspects in the Natal chart with Mercury, Jupiter and / or Uranus (3rd or 12th houses) and it has manifested in a learning disability, then you have to work with what you have.  Do not push where pushing will cause obvious harm!  We must know ourselves and work within our limits (which is also Saturnian wisdom).

Similarly if we are born with highly functional Down’s Syndrome, there will be different talents and abilities from someone else.  So start where you are and only challenge yourself appropriately.  Do not take my words as gospel, rather see if they work for you.  If not, then please discard them  🙂

[Updated Nov 2017: I would highly recommend reading the book “Gut and Psychology Syndrome” a book by a British doctor and nutrition expert who looks at all the manifestations that an unhealthy bio-flora can cause, including ADD, ADHD, schizophrenia, depression and other mental health issues plus an unhealthy gut can lead to serious auto-immune problems! Wild stuff – and it can all possible change just by changing our diets!]

Thanks for reading,

km