Saturn Transits







Saturn transits have been feared for centuries. The superficial reading is that they bring all sorts of calamities. In fact, they bring dissatisfaction and a desire for change. Ages ago, however, who could change?

People were bound to the same routine year after year. When necessary changes aren’t made, Saturn transits tend to force them. This, to ancient peoples, was regarded as disaster. What Saturn transits really do is bring things to a conclusion.

One cycle ends and another begins. And yes, these transits are associated with “Murphy’s Law”, if something can go wrong, it will. Suppose you are burning your candle at both ends. Saturn comes around and you get sick. Bad luck?

No, just the results of the bad actions that you chose. Saturn transits simply tend to bring us the results of our actions, for better or worse. But if you have dotted all the i’s and crossed all the T’s, and took care of everything, Saturn transits can also bring rewards. If you have no loose ends in your life, Saturn will have nothing to chop off. Astrologer Noel Tyl, for instance, mentions a case of someone he knew who got a scholarship to study music in Europe when Saturn was making an opposition aspect to his Sun.

He had to work long and hard to get it, and he would have to continue to work because the grant was dependent on his grades. A gift of money from Saturn, but there are always strings attached: hard work, effort, and discipline. The best way to handle

Saturn transits is to look way ahead and see when they are coming. Will Saturn be going through your 2nd House (money) next year?

Better start saving right now to make sure that you have reserve cash. Perhaps Saturn is headed for your 6th House (work).

This could mean extra demands on the job. It could even mean no job. Update your resume, just in case.  Yes, Saturn periods can be hard, but if you handle them right, the rewards you get are solid and long-lasting.

Saturn Transits Through Your First House: This transit starts with Saturn passing over your Ascendant, and it marks the start of a new cycle in your life. During the next 14 years, or so, you have to concentrate more on taking care of internal matters rather than focusing on what’s going on out there with everyone else. The 1st House is You, your personality and how you approach things. When Saturn moves here, you have a chance to figure out not just who you are, but who you want to be. If you get depressed during this transit, it is most likely an indication that some of the basic routines of your life are faulty and need to be changed.

Saturn Transits Through Your Second House: Watch your money and possessions. Income is more likely to dip during this transit. Or, expenses increase. Either way, you will have less. But there is another possibility. Your desires increase, so even if you have enough, it suddenly seems like you don’t. Saturn rules Capricorn, the sign of ambition, and, when Saturn comes around, it is frequently the time to take the next step up. Even if you are rich, you will feel this effect. After all, the 2nd House rules more than money and possessions. It shows the Value you place on things. When Saturn transits here, you may find that those material possessions you worked so hard for don’t give you a thrill any more. Ok, you got them. What do you do now? This could be the time to search for new goals and values.  Any way you look at it, when Saturn comes around you’ve got to do some extra work.

Saturn Transits Through Your Third House: can mean extra difficulties and problems through siblings and neighbors. If there are any old problems that have been simmering for years, they will tend to come to a head at this time. This could happen in several ways. Maybe they need you to help. Or you could need their help, and, for whatever reason, they can’t provide it. Or they put you through hell for asking. This is also the house of communication. You speech will tend to become more serious when Saturn transits your 3rd House. So will your thoughts. Take care, though, of that negative side of Saturn, depression. It helps if you concentrate on positive steps to take. This is a good time to learn a new skill, something that will be useful or practical. As always with a Saturn transit, look ahead and see what is coming. Then try to take preventive measures before it hits.

Saturn Transits Through Your Fourth House: Like all Saturn transits, not always a bad thing. This transit tends to bring changes in the home. One person I know finally moved out of his parents house at age 31 when Saturn hit his 4th House. The place he moved into was very small, but it was all his, and both he and his therapist were pleased. Saturn crossing over the bottom of your horoscope can also start your life in a new direction, usually upward. According to Grant Lewi, this is the best time to begin a rise in life, to start a long climb that will reach a peak in about 14 years. Yes, that is the tendency, but remember that there are other planets up there that can either reinforce this or interfere with it. Never make a forecast based on the transits of one planet alone. Most astrologers have had bad experiences trying to do that. The 4th House also rules one parent, usually the father. If there are any problems with this parent, particularly problems that have been swept under the rug, they will tend to surface during this transit. This is the transit that can make you suddenly remember how angry you were that they didn’t give you a tricycle for your 3rd birthday. When Saturn is exactly at the bottom of your horoscope, it will be making an opposition aspect to the top, the Mid-Heaven. During that time, your career, “public image”, and relationship with “the boss” will be affected as well. For the details, see the section on Saturn Transits in Aspect to Your Mid-Heaven.

Saturn Transits Through Your Fifth House: This is the house of love, romance, creativity, and children. No, it does not mean that your are going to be celibate for the next two years (well, not always). In fact, during this transit, it is possible to have a really deep, significant love affair. But you are less likely to have light, breezy affairs and one night stands. Saturn transits tend to coincide with things that are deep and serious. Frequently, you reach a turning point in relationships. Get married or break up.

Saturn transits are not good for leaving things up in the air. Of course you have to take this in context. Saturn going through the 5th House of a child will not cause trouble with love affairs (at least, I hope not). But it could mean trouble with fun and games. They could be more likely to loose a favorite toy, for instance. You never can tell, however. I had a client once who wanted me to look at the chart of his 5 year old daughter. She had Jupiter and Mars transits to her 5th House that summer (these tend to be more fun than Saturn transits). I told him that this was a shame because they tended to love affairs and that it was a waste to have these transits hit at that age. We laughed about it. At the end of the summer, he called me to say that his daughter had fallen in love with a 12 year old boy and she was writing him love letters. At least with Jupiter and Mars she was cheerful about it. Saturn would be more likely to bring depression.

In the areas of creativity, sports, and games, Saturn transits will either coincide with times when you have to give up an activity in these areas (you’re 95 years old; time to give up professional football) or an increase in ambition and discipline. Serious about jogging or doing creative work?

Put yourself on a schedule and practice, practice, practice. Time for ambition and discipline. If you have young children — well, there are always problems, aren’t there?

There just seem to be more of them when Saturn transits your 5th House. The kids are grown? There are still problems now. Maybe they want to move back. Maybe they move far away and you miss them. Saturn always means some sort of challenge and an obstacle to be overcome.

Saturn Transits Through Your Sixth House: This is the house of work and health. No, it will not make you loose your job and get sick. Well, not usually. Remember that Saturn transits bring problems to the surface. This should be viewed as an opportunity to solve them. Maybe your day job will seem more of a drag than usual now. Perhaps it’s not right for you any more and it’s time to move on. Update your resume and start searching. If you’re self employed, a Saturn transit through your 6th House means that you may be reaching a make-or-break point. Either your business is going to make it in the next 2 years or so, or you will have to close up shop and work for someone else. If you are an employer, you will probably have more concerns about your employees when Saturn hits. There is more likely to be trouble with them at this time. Either they quit or die or retire, or they just aren’t working as hard as they used to. The first thing to do is check how you’re treating them. It just might be that you are at fault here. Saturn means that the same old way of doing business isn’t going to cut it any more. As far as health is concerned, I am not a doctor and medical astrology is not my specialty. Still, it’s seldom a bad idea to get an extra check-up or two during the years that Saturn transits your 6th House. Saturn rules everything that takes a long time to develop. A check-up can help to catch developing ailments before they become severe.

Saturn Transits Through Your Seventh House: This is the house of marriage and partnership. While Saturn passes through here, is can also be the house of divorce. But only if the relationship is on the rocks to begin with. Saturn transits tend to bring things to a head.  I once had a client who had a husband and a boyfriend. Saturn was going to enter her 7th House in a couple of months, so I told her that she would have to make a decision. She said “I don’t want to make a decision. I like things just the way they are.” Within two weeks after Saturn hit, she lost both of them. She suddenly decided she couldn’t stand her husband any more and walked out, only to have her boyfriend tell her that she waited too long and he had found someone else. Never, Never put decisions off during a Saturn transit. Do not just let things happen. That would be like telling Saturn to make the decisions for you. You may not like the result.  On the positive side, Saturn entering your 7th House means that it is starting to transit the top half of your horoscope. That’s when you begin to get  rewards for your work of the previous seven to fourteen years. Unless some other transit or progression interferes, this is the start of  a new phase of your life. You will tend to be more concerned with career and “external” matters, less concerned with purely personal and “internal” things. Ironically, you may be facing more opposition at this time. Remember, the 7th House rules open enemies as well as marriage and partnership. It rules any relationship where you approach the other person as an equal. Saturn transiting the 7th House makes you suddenly noticeable and the success that this transit tends to bring attracts jealousy. Be prepared to guard your rear. One reason marriages are under greater stress when Saturn goes through this house is that the partner becomes envious of your success. You may have to make an extra effort to soothe their ego. Or, if you think that it’s disgusting for them to be so petty, dump them.

Saturn Transits Through Your Eighth House: Less sex and more taxes. Well, not necessarily. Sex may simply become more important to you. If you previously did a lot of one night stands, they may seem empty now. You are more likely to want something deeper. However, if there are any sexual dysfunctions, they will tend to flare up during this Saturn transit, and you will be forced to deal with them. Remember that Saturn doesn’t cause trouble. All it does is bring it to the surface. Saturn going through your 8th House doesn’t have to indicate anything world shaking. It could be that you suddenly feel the need for more control in sex and you start reading books on the subject. Ok. But please note, you can’t learn everything from books. If you inherit any money or possessions at this time, there will tend to be extra difficulties. Maybe someone disputes the will and there is a legal battle. Or the property you inherit is difficult to deal with in some way. For instance, it may be a house that you can’t sell easily and the taxes are coming due. The 8th House rules other people’s money in general. If you need a line of credit, it could be more difficult to get it at this time. Don’t wait for Saturn to hit you before taking action. Look ahead. See where it is going to be. Then make plans long before it gets there. Saturn transiting your 2nd House can affect your money. Saturn moving through your 8th House can affect partner’s money. Your partner’s income may drop and that can still affect you. As  always with Saturn, make plans before it hits you.

Saturn Transits Through Your Ninth House: Not the best time to take a long distance pleasure trip. But it can be good for business travel. If you must take a vacation during this time, take a short trip instead. Or, if you insist on taking a long distance vacation, bring some work along with you to make Saturn happy. This is also the house of higher education. Saturn is the planet of ambition and dissatisfaction. This could manifest in many different ways. You could feel blocked in your career because you didn’t get the proper education earlier. You then have a choice. Do nothing and be depressed, or start studying. The 9th House comes before the 10th House (career) so what you do now can have a strong influence on your career and public standing in a couple of years. Take your time making your choices.

Saturn Transits Through Your Tenth House: Saturn transits give us the results of our past actions. The 10th House rules our career, public image and standing, the boss, and the goals of our life. Well, you will be able to tell if your life is on the right track. Any lingering problems with supervisors, or career matters in general, will tend to surface now. Any moves you should have made but didn’t, well, now is the time when you will probably say: “I should have.” Saturn passed over the top of Bill Gate’s horoscope when the justice department was readying the anti-trust suit against Microsoft. Chickens coming home to roost. Gates didn’t figure that he would be so good at competing that everyone else would band against him. His “Take no prisoners” attitude gave them little choice. On the positive side, if you planned your work and worked your plan, this is harvest time and Saturn will help you to reach a peak. However, you will still have to work hard to stay there! No time for rest. And be careful that you don’t devote All of your time to career. Other areas of your life could suffer, like family and friends. Make an effort to maintain some balance here.

Saturn Transits Through Your Eleventh House: Saturn transits can get rid of things we think we need but really don’t. Friends, who really aren’t friends, will tend to show their true colors now. Let them go. Good friends can also go out of your life at this time. Saturn rules the end of cycles. As far as the friends who remain, you may be too busy to spend much time with them. Or they may be too busy. On the other hand, they may have extra problems and ask for your help. The same is true for your hopes and wishes. Some of those may be obsolete and need to be changed. The 11th House also shows how we deal with Groups of people. If you belong to a team at work, or some sort of club or organization, Saturn could bring out problems, difficulties, or extra responsibilities. Maybe the group changes and it’s not fun any more. You can also get a promotion at work or get elected to an office in a club. This means more work and responsibility. Saturn benefits are frequently bittersweet.

Saturn Transits Through Your Twelfth House: Watch out for extremely negative people coming into your life now. Usually, they will come to you for “help”. Only the help they need never seems to end. They can drain you. It doesn’t have to be a new person either. It could be someone you already know who suddenly “turns”.  Saturn transiting here frequently marks the end of a long cycle. The two years, or so, that Saturn spends moving through your 12th House is a good time to finish things off. It is not good, however, for starting new, long-range projects. For those, wait until Saturn crosses your Ascendant and enters your 1st House. You can make plans now, but it is not a good time to put them into action. Even if you try to, circumstances will usually cause delays until Saturn reaches your 1st House. Right now, you should be cutting your losses and clearing the decks for action.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to the Natal Sun: When Saturn makes a conjunction with your natal Sun, you get what you worked for, you get the fruits of your actions. Not what you think you worked for. Some books say that Saturn rewards hard work. Not so. It rewards Smart Work. If you work hard in the wrong direction, you get a different sort of reward. As usual with Saturn transits, if there are any problems, they will start to surface during the conjunction and the other stressful aspects (the square and opposition). This is especially true of health matters since the Sun rules the body in general. With the conjunction, though, it is an excellent time to start long-range projects, things that take many years to complete, or to start new health regimens, new habits that are going to be with you permanently. The harmonious aspects of Saturn are of lesser importance. It is almost as if Saturn prefers the stressful ones. When transiting Saturn makes a sextile or trine to your Sun, things tend to be stable and unexciting (unless, of course, transiting Uranus is hitting at the same time!). Keep busy. Remember, with every harmonious aspect that transiting Saturn makes, a stressful aspect is usually only 2 years away. Be sure to keep an eye on the areas of your life ruled by the house that the Sun occupies, as well as those ruled by the house that has the sign of Leo (ruled by the Sun) on the cusp (beginning) of the house.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to the Natal Moon: The Moon is your emotions and feelings, your instincts. Saturn rules depression, especially the stressful aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition). But there is always a way to minimize that. Keep busy, especially around the house. Don’t just sit there. Check the house that the Moon is in and the house that Saturn is moving through. These are areas of your life where normal problems can seem particularly depressing right now. For instance, if you are born with the Moon in the 3rd House, a stressful angel from transiting Saturn could bring up problems with siblings or neighbors. Since the 3rd House also rules communications and transportation, those areas could be affected as well. Maybe you have to do some public speaking and have a panic attack. Or if you have to buy a new car, you may suddenly feel sad about having to give up the old one. In any event, your reaction will tend to be more emotional at this time, rather than logical. And, oh yes. Relations with women tend to be difficult during these transits. This goes for everyone. Not just men.  The best way to deal with these transits is to acknowledge the feelings you have. Do not suppress them. Then, check the reality of the situation. You will probably notice that your emotional reactions are out of proportion to what is happening. Take the rational course, of course. Do the right thing. But then, give yourself a little treat to soothe those emotions. Ice cream usually works for me. The harmonious aspects (the sextile and trine) are usually a better time for dealing with all matters concerning home and real estate. In fact, since your emotions are less likely to conflict with rational needs at these times, it becomes easier to deal with just about anything. The areas of your life ruled by the house the Moon was in when you were born can also be affected. And don’t forget to check the house that has the sign of Cancer (ruled by the Moon) on the cusp.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Mercury: A perfect time for getting interested in serious subjects. Saturn rules both ambition and depression. Actually, it rules dissatisfaction, which can manifest as either one of those. things. Keep busy and work towards a goal and you are less likely to take the depression route.  Saturn transiting your natal Mercury can tend towards depressing thoughts. The way to deal with this is to figure out what you can do about the situation. If you are depressed about something where you can’t do anything (for instance, you get upset when reading that the Pharaoh enslaved the Children of Israel) put the thought out of your mind and plan something constructive. Be sure to check the house where Mercury is located as well. And don’t forget the houses that have either Gemini or Virgo (the signs that Mercury rules) on the cusp (beginning).

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Venus: Venus is the planet of love and happiness. When Saturn transits with a stressful aspect to your natal Venus, problems in intimate relationships will tend to surface, as well as with money. That’s what all the books tell you. What they don’t say is that you can also have difficulties with other areas of your life. Check the houses that have either Libra or Taurus on the cusp (beginning). If, for example, you are born with the sign of Libra on the cusp of your 6th House (work and co-workers) and Saturn transits with a stressful aspect (conjunction, square, or opposition) to your Venus, you could have difficulties with your co-workers, or loose your job. All this while you are being extra careful with your love life, because that’s what the astrology books said!  You have to check the house that Venus is in as well. If it is in the 4th House, for instance, you could have extra expenses connected with your home, or difficulties with a parent. Remember, Saturn transits tend to bring problems to the surface. If you have loose ends in any area that Saturn hits, it cuts them off. As always, plan ahead. See where Saturn is going to hit, and take care of potential problems well in advance.  If you happen to work in the arts, Saturn transiting in stressful aspect to your natal Venus could indicate a dry spell when your inspiration takes a vacation. Conversely, inspiration could be as strong as ever, but circumstances may prevent you from producing. The harmonious aspects (the sextile and trine) are usually quiet, stable times in relationships and financial matters. These periods are usually not too important. Saturn has its biggest effects during the stressful transits.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Mars: Mars is your energy. Saturn can reduce it directly, or make you work so much harder that you drain yourself. This is more likely to happen with the stressful aspects (conjunction, square, or opposition). The harmonious aspects (sextile and trine) are easier to handle. Your energy will tend to be more focused and disciplined and you can accomplish more than usual. The same positive effects can happen with the stress aspects as well, but, in that case, you have to work at it.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Jupiter: Saturn and Jupiter are true opposites. Saturn contracts. Jupiter expands. Saturn is pessimism. Jupiter is optimism. When transiting Saturn makes an aspect to your natal Jupiter, the Jupiter effects tend to be curbed. Under the stress aspects (conjunction, square, and opposition) your optimism shuts off. If you have been getting by on “luck” for a while, the party is over. Time to pay the piper.  As always with Saturn transits,  check to see when this one is coming and plan ahead. If you have some project that is scheduled to be completed during a stressful aspect that Saturn will be making to your natal Jupiter, try to reschedule it. If you can’t, then put in overtime and work harder. Remember, Saturn is the planet of “Murphy’s Law”. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong, usually at the most inconvenient moment. Stressful Saturn transits are the most inconvenient moment. Transits with the harmonious aspects (sextile and trine) are generally good times to do extra work as well, but not because you have to. Most likely, you will want to. Progress will tend to be easier when Saturn makes a transiting trine or sextile to your natal Jupiter. You will be going in the same direction as with the stress aspects, but the road will not be as bumpy.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Saturn: These happen to everyone at about the same time in life. When we are about seven years old, Saturn makes a square aspect to the place where it was when we were born. That is when we start to put things together and make sense of the world. It is also a great time to develop a first neurosis. At around age fourteen, Saturn makes an opposition to its place in our birth chart. That is the time of “adolescent rebellion”, our efforts to break away and be independent. Approximately 29 years later, Saturn makes its second opposition to our birth Saturn. That is the famous “mid-life crisis” when people change jobs and marriages. But if you look at the astrological factor, transiting Saturn opposing natal Saturn, this is only another outbreak of teenage rebellion. The underlying cause is the same: a desire to break away from restrictions. The harmonious aspects (the trine and sextile) are just good times to get extra work done. Unless another major transit is hitting you at this time (like a square from transiting Uranus) this should be a relatively calm and productive period with nothing extraordinary happening.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Uranus: Uranus rules our urge for independence and innovation. Saturn makes for restriction. It’s not that obstacles to your hopes and wishes suddenly appear. Most likely, they’ve been there all along. When a stressful aspect (conjunction, square, or opposition) from transiting Saturn hits your natal Uranus, you start to notice them. You now have two apparent choices: give in and be depressed, or rebel and risk disaster. Naturally, no matter which planet you choose to follow, the other one will “get you”. But there is a solution. You have to mix the traits of both planets at the same time. Make far-reaching changes in your life now (Uranus). But do it in a well planned, orderly, and structured way (Saturn). Don’t expect the changes to be either quick or easy. You have be prepared to stay there for the long haul. One caution. Don’t try to do too much. Under Saturn transits, we sometimes try to work 25 hours a day, and eight days a week. A little rest every now and then won’t kill you. As usual, the harmonious aspects (trine and sextile) from transiting Saturn are easier to deal with. Changes can be made more smoothly when these hit. The problem with the harmonious aspects, however, is that they don’t have the same sense of urgency as the stress aspects. We can feel too comfortable and not get anything done. Be sure to check the houses that Saturn and Uranus rule in your birth chart. These are the ones that have either Capricorn or Aquarius on the cusp (beginning). The tensions and need for change can affect you in the areas ruled by those houses, as well as the house where Uranus is located and the house that Saturn is transiting through. For example, if you are born with Uranus in your 5th House and transiting Saturn is making a square aspect to it from the 2nd House, it may be time to save for your kids’ college education (5th House rules children and 2nd House rules money) or to join gamblers anonymous (5th House rules gambling and speculation as well).

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Neptune: Neptune rules dreams and illusions. Saturn rules “reality”. A stress aspect (conjunction, square, or opposition) from transiting Saturn to one’s natal Neptune can have two basic effects. First, is can make you worry about things that don’t exist or are not going to happen (Saturn depression and Neptune illusions). Second, it can make you see that some dream or fantasy you had will never happen. It may be time to give it up, painful as that is. On the other hand, the dream may be a good one and the Saturn transit will just be making you too pessimistic. Don’t jump to conclusions here. Check those dreams out thoroughly before throwing them out. A better way is to figure out (Saturn) a way to make those dreams a reality. You can do this even during the stressful aspects, but of course that is easier to do when transiting Saturn hits your natal Neptune with a harmonious aspect (trine or sextile). As always, see what house Neptune is in and Saturn is transiting through. And don’t forget to check the houses in your birth chart that these planets rule (the ones with either Capricorn or Pisces on the cusp). These are the areas of your life where the effects will be most likely to occur.

Saturn Transits in Aspect to Natal Pluto: Pluto rules deep and hidden things. Like a volcano, they can build up pressure, unseen and unsuspected until an explosive burst. Saturn is restriction, but it also tends to bring problems to the surface. When Saturn transits natal Pluto with a stressful aspect (conjunction, square, or opposition) the people you meet are not likely to be of the highest caliber, especially those governed by the house that Pluto is in, or the house that it rules (the house with the sign of Scorpio on the cusp). For instance, if you are born with Pluto in your 3rd House (siblings and neighbors) any long simmering disputes you may have with a sibling or neighbor will tend to come to a head. Make an extra effort to solve the problems without letting things get out of hand. Saturn can be bitter and Pluto explosive. There doesn’t even have to be an old dispute. It could also be that either you or they are just “venting” an internal problem. In any event, the people you attract now may not be underworld characters, but they might as well be. Make an extra effort to avoid power struggles. This transit makes it more likely for them to occur. The harmonious transits (sextile and trine) can be very helpful. Pluto is great power and Saturn is focus and discipline. Schedule extra work. You will be able to accomplish more when this one hits. Actually, if you can keep the stressful aspects from exploding, you can accomplish a lot with them as well. After all, stressful aspects do increase power, especially the square.