Saturn in Scorpio 2012 - 2015

http://astrodynamics.net/astrologicalmusings/tag/saturn-trine-chiron/

Saturn has moved into Scorpio for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Saturn is the planet that structures our lives and instills the values of achievement and responsibility.  For this reason it is known as the Celestial Taskmaster and often gets a bad rap from astrologers.  When prominently placed in the birthchart Saturn often brings hardship and challenge, especially in the younger years.  Saturn transits typically bring delays and disappointments and tests of our endurance.

Yet astronomers consider Saturn to be the “jewel of the solar system,” and Saturn’sastrological gifts are many.  Saturn takes about two and a half years to transit a sign and it’s entire orbital cycle is 28-30 years.  During the time Saturn travels through each sign of the zodiac, it creates new structures and challenges for the areas of life governed by that sign.  For example, Saturn has recently ended a trip through Libra, the sign of marriage and beauty, and both of these ideas have been in the forefront of human experience.

So what can we expect with Saturn in Scorpio?  Scorpio deals with the underworld of life – the areas of the psyche and human experience which require courage and tenacity to traverse.  There is no superficiality with Scorpio – no casual pleasure or enjoyment.  Scorpio also deals with intimacy, particularly sexuality – areas of life where we must surrender our own ego in order to merge into an experience that is greater than our individual selves.

Because of Scorpio’s association with sexuality, Saturn traveling through Scorpio is likely to bring up issues of a sexual nature.  Saturn was last in Scorpio between 1982 and 1985 as the AIDS epidemic was just beginning (Pluto had also just entered Scorpio which accelerated the intensity of the epidemic and its effect on human experience).

Saturn in Scorpio will force us into the underworld to face our demons, but it’s important to remember that the greatest treasures can be found there.  Diamonds, rubies, emeralds – all require mining beneath the surface of the earth.  The same is true of our psyche and our soul, and Saturn will hold our feet to the fire to ensure that we do the work required in order to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  More than any other sign, Saturn does reward our hard work with material  gifts.

Saturn and Pluto are in what’s called “mutual reception” now.  Saturn is in Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, and Pluto is in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn.  This binds the effect of the two planets together for the next few years which may seem somewhat terrifying when we think about these two planets as being the Lords of Death (Saturn was considered the Lord of Death before Pluto’s discovery when Pluto took on that role).  And it’s true that if you look upon life as a superficial journey of fun and parties, this will not be an easy time.  Then again, the “easy time” really ended back in 2008 when Pluto left Sagittarius for Capricorn, stripping our lives of superficialities that lacked a solid foundation.

But if you are on a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment, this is an incredible time as the barriers towards self-awareness are stripped away and we find the real jewels of our personal resources: our inner strength and the root of our soul’s power.  This is a period of shamanic transformation: of awakening the inner spirit and releasing it to fly freely and unencumbered by illusion.  Pluto and Saturn are not only in mutual reception, but they are in a harmonious sextile to each other offering support and encouragement in the process.

We will be further aided in this process by a series of harmonious planetary cycles linking Saturn to other planetary gods.  Saturn is currently in a harmonious trine to Neptune and Chiron which helps us to link our ideals and spiritual experience (Neptune) with the more practical aspects of our lives (Saturn) and facilitates the healing of old wounds (Chiron).  This system of support will remain in effect throughout the middle of 2014 and help us to move through whatever blocks and useless patterns may be holding us back.

If we are already well on our way on the spiritual journey, this will be an incredibly exciting and rewarding time.  Saturn and Pluto both offer the gifts of strength: Saturn’s gift is endurance, and Pluto’s is empowerment.  True personal power is only given to us as the hold of the ego is diminished, and the losses that will be experienced while Saturn is in Scorpio will help to dissolve the hold of the personality that blocks us from our true selves. This is also an opportunity to reclaim aspects of the Self and the soul which have become lost to us.  As the false aspects begin to fall away, the Truth emerges and becomes our reality.

This is not a journey for sissies, but the journey itself teaches the strength and courage required.  We are all allies in this shamanic journey, and we are never alone.