Saturn's ingress in Virgo

[tattwa]

The planet Saturn, the astrological symbol of limitations and heavy burdens, exits the sign of Leo and enters Virgo on 2 September 2007 .This indicates a nearly three-year period of relatively limitations and challenges for those people having a number of personal planets in the mutable cross that is the signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces ; this is apt to be a time of tests, difficulties and frustrations for them until the planet leaves Virgo on 21 July 2010. There is an emphasis on work, clear communication, practicality and health matters. The mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces will feels its effects most obviously since Saturn in hard aspect requires a more serious, structured, realistic approach to life.

Saturn, is the ruler of Capricorn. It takes Saturn 28-30 years to complete its orbit of the zodiac. It is masculine energy and rules Capricorn and Aquarius and the Tenth and Eleventh Houses. In Greek Mythology, Cronus was one of the Titans, and the father of Zeus. Cronus ate his children to prevent himself from being dethroned as the King of the Gods. That is, until his wife, Rhea, tricked him into swallowing a stone when Zeus was born. The reign of Saturn was celebrated by the poets as the Golden Age which was later celebrated by the Romans as Saturnalia. Along with the Solsitice celebrations, this holiday later became the Christian Christmas. Colours: Grey, black, dark colours. Stones and metals” obsidian and Jet, lead.
In astrology, Saturn is associated with restriction and limitation. Where Jupiter expands, Saturn constricts. Although the themes of Saturn seem depressing, Saturn brings structure and meaning to our world. Saturn knows the limits of time and matter. Saturn reminds us of our boundaries, our responsibilities, and our commitments. It brings definition to our lives. Saturn makes us aware of the need for self-control and of boundaries and our limits.
Saturn is often associated with our fathers or father/authority figures. In childhood, the discipline, rules, and regulations imposed on us by our authority figures--from parents, teachers, and the like--were not always pleasant, but they actually helped us to understand the world around us. Similarly, Saturn's lessons actually help us to grow.

In our astrological chart, the position of Saturn by sign and house reveals our own limitations, fears, and sense of responsibility. Saturn is the task master and it shows you where the most important lessons you have to go through this life time lie. Saturn brings definition, and often limitation, to the planets it aspects. However, always keep in mind with Saturn that once a task has been completed, the rewards to be reaped are plentiful and satisfying as Saturn is the Builder.

There's a great story about Saturn aspects, Saturn's "looks". Once, Lord Shiva and Parvati after having their first child Lord Ganesh, held a party and invited all of the gods, demi Gods and Planets to participate. It was a beautiful celebration except one of the planets, Lord Saturn, seem to be kind of depressed and moping in the corner (go figure!) - in fact he would not even look at the beautiful Ganesh. Now, the planets are powerful -- but they are not as powerful as the gods, especially the mighty Lord Shiva and Mother Shakti, Parvati.

So the great goddess upon seeing Lord Saturn unmoved by the festivities asked him why he was not participating. Saturn replied "Great Goddess, your child is beautiful and I do not want my looks to ruin that beauty - a glance from me is not always welcome". "Nonsense!", declared Parvati, "I insist you look at my child immediately!". At which time Lord Saturn gaze gently at the beautiful Ganesh. No sooner did Saturn look at Ganesh, then did the beautiful boys head falloff!! One look from Saturn decapitated Ganesh. Lord Shiva went to find a suitable replacement head and was said to have found the head of one of Lord Indra's elephants - and so Ganesh was given this elephant head.

Another story that comes to my mind: Lord Krishna was about to go through a difficult Saturn transit. But he challeged Saturn:” Oh ! You will see , the year will pass and nothing will happen to me”. And to protect himself , Lord Krishna went to hide into a dark lake, infested with crocodiles for the whole duration of Saturn's transit. Then when he came out, Saturn told him:” well, you cannot tell me that you did not spend a miserable year, lonely, in the dark, surrounded with dangerous crocodiles, so you see, Lord Krishna , even you cannot escape me”.
Saturn doesn't make things easy. That's the role of the taskmaster of the Zodiac. Saturn commands us to get to work and to work hard. Discipline and responsibility are important to this Planet, yet if we're eager to conquer the world, that's okay, too.

Much like Father Time, Saturn implores us to look at the clock (its glyph, after all, is the sickle of Chronos, the God of Time). Is there time for everything we want to do, or are there limits? Those limitations are important to Saturn, and we must learn to manage them. Restrictions are the province of this Planet, as is any form of discipline or delay.
In keeping with the passage of time, Saturn governs old age along with the lessons it teaches us. Learning life's lessons is key to this Planet, in keeping with its role as teacher. The majesty of older age also brings with it a certain sense of tradition, conventionality (our learned patterns of behavior) and wisdom, and Saturn is mindful of these characteristics. This planet applauds our perseverance and the fact that we've withstood the test of time (yes, time comes up once again). This senior status further brings with it a measure of authority, and Saturn lords over that as well.

In Soul-centered astrology, we view Saturn as the agent and administrator of Karmic Law. It is Saturn who stands at the Gates of Initiation, ready to put all who aspire to a higher state of consciousness to the test. In Christian theology, this function is represented by St. Peter for it is He who acts as the Guardian to the Doors of Heaven. As one approaches Paradise, one’s deeds are weighed on the Scales of Divine Justice. It is no wonder then, that Saturn is said to be in its position of exaltation when it is placed in the sign of Libra! There is another important term in the esoteric doctrine which characterizes the karmic nature and function of Saturn. This term is “The Dweller on the Threshold”. The “Dweller” represents those parts of our personality which have not been redeemed or transformed by the loving agencies of the Soul. This is a place of karmic debt and of crystallized energy that does not permit us to go beyond the “Threshold” of our limited consciousness. The position of Saturn is also one of opportunity. It is by understanding and working with Saturn that we may come to balance a great deal of past karma and may go forward consciously to a more refined way of self-expression. As we progress through life, we often find that it is through restrictions and the pain which comes from thwarted desires or aspirations, that we develop a greater understanding of the Laws of Life. The structure and administration of these Laws is also under the rulership of Saturn. The sign and house position of Saturn in your natal chart will reveal much about the nature of your personal “Dweller” and show the areas where successful work has been achieved (positive aspects to and from Saturn) or where work still has to be done (hard aspects or conjunctions with Saturn).

Therefore, in essence, no planet is essentially “difficult” or “easy”, each planet represents a function in our life. So do not dislike Saturn, make it your friend.