Exaltation, Detriment, Fall: Saturn

Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius, the two farthest signs from the luminaries in the zodiac. This is appropriate to Saturn as he represents boundaries and limitations. More precisely, Saturn shows us the structures in our world that order our raw experience into something comprehensible. Saturn gives and enforces rules, sometimes tediously if we make the same mistake repeatedly, with the ultimate goal of giving us a satisfying and meaningful scheme to navigate in our time here. Saturn’s domicile of Capricorn begins just at the winter solstice – the darkest, coldest time in the Northern hemisphere, metaphorically the depth of the underworld before life begins germinating again for emergence in the spring. We may also understand Saturn thus as a caretaker – he understands the cycles of death and rebirth, and takes care to honor everything at its proper time, not sooner, not later. Saturn gains his constancy because he approaches his subjects with appropriate detachment. He knows that a lesson failed is never truly failed unless we then cease trying altogether – Saturn is here to make sure we try, having faith that we can withstand whatever we are beholden to do.

Opposite to Capricorn and Aquarius are the signs of Saturn’s detriment: Leo and Cancer, ruled by the Sun and the Moon, respectively. It makes sense that the planet of limitation, structure, and authority would naturally be in conflict with planetary rulers that represent such personal, subjective things as the egoic self and the emotional self.

A native with Saturn in Leo may experience limitations on this ego self, or possibly the effect of fear on self-expression. The planet of structure and authority in the house of the self may also indicate a sense in which ego demands dominate, or rule, over the native’s ability to do the work exhorted by Saturn. This, in turn, may yield a certain amount of capriciousness in making consequential decisions, through an inclination to put immediate ego needs ahead of long-term planning. Or, on the other side of the spectrum, it may be that the self is most effectively expressed through structure! Of course, every chart is unique and will have any number of different factors affecting the expression of a given placement. However you slice it though, Saturn in Leo draws our focus to how the native relates self to authority, two concepts that naturally experience some friction – hence why Saturn is in detriment here.

Saturn’s placement in Cancer may indicate limitations on emotions or the unconscious in some way, or a sense of gravity in dealing with others. The Moon gains its luminosity through reflection, showing us a natural duality of self and other. Saturn in Cancer may indicate how the native relates feelings to authority, or work, or perhaps reflect obstacles in one’s emotional life. A Saturn in Cancer native may have a serious demeanor that they present to others, or may be a hard worker or eminent figure in maternal pursuits or other Moon-ruled occupations. Just as the Sun and Saturn exhibit natural friction, neither is the watery Moon the most comfortable host for strict, boundary-concerned Saturn.

Saturn’s exaltation in Libra initially seems incongruous – the ‘greater malefic’ exalted in the house of the lesser benefic? Ultimately, though, Saturn wants for us exactly what Venus wants – to achieve harmony. The real difference is that Venus gives harmony and Saturn makes us do the work necessary to earn it and enjoy it when it arrives. As an example of the importance of Saturn’s preparation, I’m reminded of yoga practices. Yoga practice is intended to strengthen the body for the stillness of meditation. We could not find comfort or reward in this spiritual practice if not for the preparatory work Saturn asks of us. In the same way, Saturn functions exceptionally well in Libra because we take pleasure in the work as it’s being done, or hold this process in high esteem.

Finally, opposite to its exaltation in Libra, Saturn is in fall in Aries. The archetypal father in the house of the child is no comfortable position for natural leader Saturn. A native with this placement may notice others exerting influence over one’s stability in life, and these may especially be younger or brasher figures. This is particularly frustrating to the Saturn in Aries native because they may feel that these actors do not exhibit the responsibility Saturn himself desires. The inexperience of Aries, being the first sign in the zodiac, also factors into Saturn’s fall here, for it is precisely through experience that Saturn functions. The great teacher of the zodiac has one motto: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. It is through the experience of these trials that we learn the grander lesson Saturn has for us, and the subtlety of lessons taught through repetition may be obscured if we rush in with the full force of Aries’ enthusiasm.

It seems fitting that culmination-oriented Saturn is the subject of this final article in the ‘Exaltation, Detriment, Fall’ series. I hope you’ve taken away something useful from these articles! And please chime in in the comments if you have other topics or concepts you’re interested in hearing about, perhaps in a series like this.