“Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and why? Just as the seed of health is in illness, because illness contains information, your fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore them.” -Marilyn Ferguson
I remember as a child I dreaded the first day of school. It was always anxiety-ridden for me; the prospect of encountering new classrooms, teachers, and subjects was something I didn’t welcome. As human beings we attempt to overcome our fears by finding something familiar in the new situation. For me it was locating my locker, learning where my homeroom was compared to where it was the year before, and seeing friendly faces in my class.
Astrology gives us the same opportunity to deal with change and face the unknown. We can look to history to inform us about the future. Astrology is basically the study of cycles and for thousands of years we’ve watched the planets circle the sky, noted events in our environment, and recorded those observations.
Watching the cycles that unfold in astrology reveal a rythym and pattern to history. While the events themselves may differ, the conditions under which they can or might occur tends to be similar. In school I understood that the ringing bell signaled a change in classes, even if I’d never taken alegra or biology before. In astrology when planets return to particular signs or make aspects to other planets we can look back and review what was happening in the past in order to uncover what those same cycles mean for us today.
At the end of October the planet Saturn will be leaving the sign of Virgo and moving into Libra. Saturn spends approximately two and a half years in each sign, taking about 29-30 years to circle the zodiac. Saturn moves into Libra on October 29, 2009 and remains there until October 2012 (with the exception of a brief return to Virgo from March through July 2010). Saturn was last in Libra from September 1980 through November 1982, and before that from August 1951 through September 1953.
The Mythology of Saturn
Saturn was the son of Ouranos (Uranus) the sky god and Gaia, mother earth. Ouranos was a tyrant and, fearful of being overthrown, banished his children to Tartarus, the underworld. Gaia, like any mothers whose children are threatened, pleaded with her son Saturn to avenge his father. Saturn castrated Ouranos, assumed power, and took over his kingdom. The irony is that Saturn also turned out to be a tyrant. His son, Zeus, eventually waged a battle against him and took over as king of the gods.
What does the mythology tell us about Saturn’s character? First it shows us a clash between generations. Second, it speaks to the importance and power of our relationship with our own fathers to influence our identities. Breakdowns with our parents can have a deep and long-lasting impact on our ability to fully function as adults.
Saturn is the last planet visible with the naked eye and has become associated with concepts such as boundaries, limitations, and confinement. And its trademark rings also speak of a force that constricts, tightens, and obstructs. But, as Sue Tompkins notes in her book Aspects in Astrology, the root problem with Saturn is fear,
“When Saturn contacts a planet in our chart we tend to be frightened of expressing those things symbolized by the planet. More than that we feel unable to express them, for we feel awkward in that area of ourselves- awkward, clumsy, and severly hampered.”
The paranoia experienced by both Ouranus and Saturn illustrates that what we fear we will eventually have to face.
The Greek name for Saturn is Chronos- or time. While Saturn’s influence in our lives may induce fearfulness or insecurity when it contacts other planets in our chart, it also has a brightside. As we mature (time) we tend to overcome our fears and limitations and even turn them into assets. This happens through the attention and energy we put into conquering them.
For example, if Saturn is making an aspect to the Moon in your chart it may manifest as emotional (Moon) insecurity (Saturn), fear (Saturn) around expressing your feelings (Moon), or heavy (Saturn) moods (Moon), i.e. depression.
Over time as one is forced to deal with this placement those characteristics may transform into stable (Saturn) emotions (Moon), mature (Saturn) responses (Moon), or mature (Saturn) feelings (Moon).
The Style of Libra
The planets and signs differ in that planets can be thought of as internal needs or energies that get expressed (or repressed, as it were). Signs, on the other hand, describe the style in which those energies are expressed. An analogy I often use with clients is to think of the planets as actors and the signs as the costumes they wear.
An astrological sign, like Libra, is a style, manner, or approach to expressing a drive or need. A planet in Libra will attempt to express itself in a style that is rational, balanced, and fair.
Libra is an air sign, and like all air signs it is concerned with communicating concepts, sharing ideas, and thinking logically. Libra is ruled by the planet Venus, emphasizing the need to relate to others, uphold social standards, and maintain harmony. Venus is about the power of attraction and it uses beauty, charm, and delicacy to get what it wants. As they say you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.
The first six signs (Aries through Virgo) are considered the personal signs. That is, they tend to deal with the individual and his or her own experience and development. Libra is considered the first social sign. It is the sign of the “other,” the sign that links us with another person. Thus, Libra emphasizes relationship and the social protocols that maintain those connections.
Libra is also the sign of justice- a characteristic that depends on the ability to consider both sides of an issue. A potential weakness with this sign also lies in its ability to see both sides of an issue- it can rationalize almost anything, defer making decisions, and avoid coming to a conclusion. This is compounded by its need to harmonize and its distaste for excluding or alientating anyone.
However, balance is never a static state and Libra shouldn’t be considered overly polite. If things are getting too tedious or dull then Libra can turn up the heat in order to bring balance to the situation.
The Meaning of Saturn in Libra
The keyword for Saturn in Libra is reasonable. Saturn requires that we face up to the facts, and in Libra it does this in a way that wants to harmonize all options.
Saturn is “exalted” in Libra, meaning it really likes it in this sign. It’s like visiting your parent’s home- you’re not in your own home, so you can’t do anything you want to do, but you’re in a place that you’re familiar with and are treated pretty well. Saturn’s affinity with boundaries, rules, and responsibility fits well within a style of expression that endeavors to connect people socially, communicate diplomatically, and interpret circumstances rationally.
Wherever we have Libra in our chart is where we need to be fair with ourselves. And now that Saturn is taking up residence here for the next few years, this is an area where we will be called upon to take on more responsibility, test our limits, and act fairly towards others.
For example, if you have Libra ruling your second house of values and income when Saturn transits that house, as it is now, you may need to limit (Saturn) what you spend (2nd house) on making your environment aesthetically pleasing (Libra). Or you may need to work at upholding (Saturn) your personal (2nd house) sense of justice (Libra).
If you’re a Libra, Cancer, Capricorn, or Aries you may feel this transit more than other signs, since Saturn will be making specific aspects to your Sun. And if you were born in 1951-1953 or 1980-1982 you’ll be having your Saturn return sometime within the next two years. This may be a good time to consult an astrologer to get a better understanding of what this transit will mean for you personally and how to capitalize on this time to use it to your advantage.
About your analogy, I think I’d understand it better as “planets” being the movie script or roles to fill and then the “signs” as being the actors that play them.. I like that analogy better!!!! That might help out a little bit if it’s hard for someone to understand
Actually, I thought about it a bit more and I think I understand your analogy..
Actors are assigned roles (like the planets,) and then it’s the costumes (their signs) they wear that dresses the part..
P.S. I’m an aries and my saturn is in libra, the 7th house!!
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