January-February-March 2007 - Saturn in Leo Is Helping Us Achieve Focus

by Robert Wilkinson

As you've probably noticed, Saturn in Leo has shown us some heart tests like we haven't known in a long time. Leo keywords include courage, strength, heart, nobility, resoluteness, autonomy, playfulness, dramatic self-expression, and leadership, whether of ourselves or others. We've been dealing with Saturn in Leo since July 2005, and will be finishing up our lessons through early September 2007, so we're in the "end game" of learning what we have to learn about this force majure, the "binding principle," that which either enslaves or liberates us from our fears, inhibitions, and obsolete rules that keep us from living fully.

The reason we're taking especial note of Saturn at this time is that all the planets are across the zodiac from Saturn, with most of them occupying signs that are ruled by Saturn. That's fairly extraordinary, since it means that Saturn is the dispositor of the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Capricorn (we do have a New Moon in Capricorn coming January 18!), as well as Venus and Neptune in Aquarius, showing a very powerful "backdrop" influence to how all of these planets are currently working. If you want to know more about how this works, when you're done with this article please go to Dispositors and Planetary Influence which explains this astrological principle.

As an aside to astrologers reading this article, the fact that Jupiter is the "final dispositor" of Mars, Uranus and Pluto shows that everything is ruled by Jupiter and Saturn for quite some time to come, since every one of the inner planets will transit a sign ruled by Jupiter or Saturn until Venus finally breaks through the field into Aries the last week of February. Of course, when it does it will be disposited by Mars in Capricorn and then Aquarius, both signs ruled by Saturn. So Jupiter and Saturn will rule the field through March 17, when Venus finally slips into Taurus, the sign it rules, and becomes its own "final dispositor."

Back to the point of this post. Saturn is currently the nozzle focusing the energy of all the other planets clustered between Sagittarius and Pisces. Because Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are the "harvest sector" of the zodiac, it would imply that during the next few weeks we can tune into larger perspectives, transpersonal understanding, and more of a collective, "timeless" view of things, since this is where the inner planets are transiting, including the Moon until it breaks on through to Aries on January 23. Even then, it only modifies the pattern, since all the inner planets except the Moon continue in the Harvest signs until Venus slips into Aries. As it stands, we are now one week into a seven week "harvest."

All of this collective energy will be focused through the only planet outside the Bundle, the awesome Saturn. Saturn shows the cause, the effort, the problem, the solution, the release, the focus, the point of just about everything confronting us now and in the near future. If you need a way to deal with something or someone, reference Saturn in Leo and the heart lessons you've been learning. Naturally, the usual Saturn keywords will be crucial to effective behavior - patience, discipline, organization, patience, maturity, wisdom, patience, authority, responsibility, and of course, patience.

Nothing will evolve quickly or thoughtlessly, so we may as well kick back and relax as we learn the rules of whatever system we're dealing with, or acting within, showing as much heart and creativity and playfulness as we can express, given Saturn's penchant for heaviness. We can learn a lot about dharma during the next few weeks, as well as what we should not be trying to prop up through a misplaced sense of responsibility or obligation. If we run into roadblocks or delays, it should tell us a lot about patience, as well as what limitations and burdens we can live with and what we cannot.

Due to the impending oppositions, a lot of what we thought we were doing will come to an end these next six weeks, but it will be useful to see it as a practice period, or a training period for things yet to come. At least we should get clear about the ideal relative to the reality, and either see the way to create a more ideal future making time our ally, or deciding to bring an end to old responsibilities by getting a clear sense of how they are blocking our ideals.

Saturn is teaching us concentration and inner focus from January 9-24, which should result in forms of character development through letting go of externals and paying attention to more important inner work. January 25-February 6 will call for resoluteness and patience as we tame and train the powerful anima within each of us, ultimately leading to a "supremacy" for those who have begun to master their senses and emotions. This will lead to a "full utilization of inner powers," naturally expressed through glimpses of how to deliver a message or serve the world between February 6-18.

This period we're passing through is the retrograde period echoing Saturn's first transit of this span between September 28 and November 1, 2006. We are now getting new information about our experience of that period, like the data is "echoing back" from that time span, teaching us more, leading us inward and deeper, or bringing forth karmic echoes of whatever was set into motion then. How we deal with the next few weeks will be crucial to the rewards and/or restrictions Saturn will bring forth when it traverses this span a third time from June 17 through July 16 as it begins to move out of Leo into Virgo on September 2.

Take note, since Saturn is truly the "Ring Pass Not," and symbolizes the limits of our worldly experience and abilities. Saturn as the nozzle of the Bucket "Jones Pattern" shows that we're all getting focused on a purpose, a work, a cause, or a need. Follow your heart, follow your creativity, be patient, be mature, and you can find your authorship in a way that shows you a way beyond being enslaved by fears, exercising your Divine Dominion in perfect alignment with your Dharma.

© Copyright 2007 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Diane Scholten]

Robert, you prolific one -

I just checked your blog manually, then decided to check bloglines (my rss feed) and lo & behold you'd updated again - you amaze me.

You wrote: "Due to the impending oppositions, a lot of what we thought we were doing will come to an end these next six weeks, but it will be useful to see it as a practice period, or a training period for things yet to come. At least we should get clear about the ideal relative to the reality, and either see the way to create a more ideal future making time our ally, or deciding to bring an end to old responsibilities by getting a clear sense of how they are blocking our ideals."

I have served on a nonprofit Board of Directors for 10 years, as president the last 18 months. The last 18 months have been pure hell, culminating in tonight's truly evil seeming meeting, where my service finally came to an end. Your words helped put it in a context. Getting clear about the ideal -- service to a cause I believe in --- and the reality --- the people on this Board are ill-equipped to do the job they are supposed to do and my 'business like' ways (for which I was berated, mind you!) --- being too Saturn, I guess - was just too much.

But my dear friend & former partner Sue reminded me that I'm getting upset about something not worth my upset and people I should have moved beyond a long time ago. So now Saturn in Leo has helped clear more of a path.

"my barn having burned to the ground now I can better see the moon" -- I think that's some of what you're descriving with this aspec.t lucky me that it is such a mild manifestation with my 3 planets & MC in Aquarius....

[Robert]

Hi Diane - Well, as I found out when Saturn crossed my Ascendant opposing my Moon and square my Venus last Summer, it's easier for narrow minded control freaks to tear down someone else and their accomplished works than actually put anything of themselves on the line. "Armchair generals" and all that. And yet it took me out of a tiresome role as a political blogger and left me a lot of time to devote to my studies and this blog, both of which are far more fulfilling than the old political blog ever could be. In hindsight, if you're an eagle then fly with eagles, and let go of worrying about or wasting time struggling with chickens who are clucking on the ground walking around in their own excrement.

[Stevo]

Hi again Robert,
It's Stevo-Saturn in Aries. I really need your help. Mars in Capricorn hit me real hard yesterday. I continue to have major financial setbacks. And with me being a self-employed musician, looks like time to move on. This is a financial battle I won't win. Could you please have a look to see where I can direct my energies for the future? Once again, I seem to be caught between transiting Saturn and my Progressed Moon. A 3-4 year cycle I cannot break.
Thank you Sir! 10/29/68 10:44 pm ET
Stevo

[Jennifer Pruden]

HI Robert! This may be the place to bring my questions since this last article seemed to speak the the ones I emailed you, mainly the Saturn, Neptune opposition with my natal Pluto at 17 degrees Leo as well as to mention Uranus coming up to my north node in Pisces at 15 degrees. As I stated in my question in the email, I was trying to understand this toal feeling of nebulousness and feeling like nothing for almost two years nor having the energy to get myself up. Now we have a an internal shift occurring. I need a translator-thanks! AND some understanding as to how to use these aspects to move on.

[Diane Scholten]

Robert -

While your commentary on the political scene was quite astute, you are a GENIUS astrologer. I'm glad we got more of your incredible bandwidth, here. I wonder what it is in nature (or our charts) that can make us --- me, I guess --- assume I need to try harder, or it's my fault, or if only I would __________, when, as you say, we could be flying with eagles rather than pecking around with the chickens who are, indeed, chickenshit!! Thanks for the good reminder. And your post made me realize I hadn't even looked at your politicla blog for forever and sounds like now it's gone. Hopefully the cause for it will be gone, gone, gone in another year....

[Robert]

Hi Stevo - We all have to do multiple tasking as we fulfill our purpose. Sometimes we must develop other skills we will need down the road that seem to have nothing to do with what we've been doing. You'll be a musician, regardless of whatever other things you must do from time to time to bring in the dough. It's good that you can recognize battles that "cannot be won," since that indicates you're not insane, if the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over expecting different results. Though it feels disappointing, there are other sources of fun and money out there, and as for your musical life, to defer is not to abandon.

By my calculations, your Prog Moon is in Cancer, while transiting Saturn is in Leo, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. As it is, you have a Grand Fire Trine at work the first half of this year working on your Saturn and Jupiter in Sag should be doing great things on your Libra planets and your Venus in Sag. You have a Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto conjunct in Virgo, showing anything to do with plants or animals is favored, along with anything in the health industries, especially natural healing techniques. Mostly your discouragement comes from Saturn square your Neptune, and with Pluto square your Virgo, forces beyond your control are forcing you to adapt away from an "either-or" approach. Learn not to play to your natural Merc opposed Saturn tendency to narrow the view, as Jupiter is showing you a broader set of options.

Hi Jennifer - All of us born in the late 40s and early 50s are dealing with Saturn on our Pluto and Neptune opposed our Pluto. I'm composing an article on Saturn's effect on various generations which I'll post next week. As for Neptune opposed Pluto, it would seem that it is a broad energy allowing us to bring our power to surface in ideal ways if we have confronted our Plutonic energy and made it productive in the world. Uranus on our NN is great for us learning how to forgive, be compassionate, and let a lot of stuff go, blessing the endings and ambivalence and sense of personal suffering in unique, individualized ways. Our sense of evolutionary direction is being revolutionized and individuated, with little clarity, since Pisces is NEVER that clear. Look to Jupiter trine our Pluto and sextile our Neptune to see the best way to point the energies at work.

Hi Diane - Sometimes things end. We may not want them to, but in a world where our free will interacts with others' free will, it can become a crap shoot fairly quickly, with the odds definitely favoring bad guys who are ruthless, or good guys who think in the future. My political blog was stolen by a short sighted, rudderless, impatient, petulant, and arrogant young man who found it easier to tear down than to build up. Then, not content to leave well enough alone, he hacked this site and bombed it, taking it off line for two days. (Follow the link to learn how this guy did it and the name of his web "services" to avoid.) That said, I'd rather find out who I can and cannot trust sooner than later, since the last thing we need is to form alliances with betrayers and feckless beings. I know these are redundant terms when speaking of the political arena.

The "good guys" will ALWAYS do a self-examination first to see if there's something they should or should not have done to (fill in the blank.) Villains NEVER examine whether they should not jam others, since they thrive by doing exactly that. The lower ego can be selfish, shortsighted, fearful, arrogant, and cunning. When faced with these in another, frankly I'd rather go to the beach! And to me, solitude is always preferable to dealing with other people who seem intent on inflicting wounds rather than engaging in reasonable dialogue. I may at some point start a new political blog focused on positive solutions to our individual and collective problems, but for now, I'm taking a break from the world of the screaming memes. "You tell me it's the institution Well, you know you better free your mind instead ...."

[Stevo]

Thanks Robert! Great advice! And I greatly appreciate your time. You've touched on a lot of things I'd been thinking about for awhile now. Yes, my prog Moon is in Cancer. I spent a lot of time last year using the prog chart to explore my past. I was amazed how it marked major life transitions. Transiting Saturn also said a lot. There's been some sort of time warp that I get caught in when a 3rd year approaches. Be it a job, home, financial relationship, creative venture, etc. Almost like a "test" to move on or to stay. By hanging in, I've often found myself on the short end of the stick and denied a 4th! I thought this might have something to do with the distance of time between the movement of my prog Moon and transiting Saturn. But perhaps it's best explained by the cycles of Mars.

And yes, unfortunately. The Pluto square lingers. There's a big part of me that questions my ability to stay focused and ride out the storms. Thus, my connection to this article. I believe it's that very thing that keeps me from zooming in on Jupiter. I question if I really need "expansion" or concentrated effort. And at the crux of all this is a choice between 2 different musical instruments and 2 different paths. I've tried to do both. Saturn has a serious grip on my 27 year relationship with the guitar. This is marked by my Descendant in my natal chart. I could almost write a book on the struggle that has been. The other choice being keyboards/composition has been more of a touch and go relationship of maybe 20 years or more. And it bugs me that I can't pin this one down in my chart. LOL! Needless to say, I feel these things should have paid off for me by now.

But no, I won't quit. That spiritual connection is way too strong. I just need to build some financial resources. I think a lot of us have been the victims of ruthless greed recently. And that alone forces me to wince at both Saturn and Jupiter. I guess that loose trine from the Uranus Pisces to my Scorpio Sun is working on me. I may just go there and wait for Saturn in Virgo and Jupiter in Capricorn. Maybe water will be appreciated then! LOL!! Thanks Robert, you've been a real friend.

Stevo

[Paul]

Hi Robert ,
Happy new year 2007 !Well you looked at my chart last year and gave some good advice ..I've just launched my website .not quite the writer you are and allot of it is experimental still but at least its a start :-)

kind regards,

Paul.

[Rachel]

Robert,

I just discovered your site and am WOWED by the depth and breadth of knowledge and wisdom you impart. Thanks for being Here.

Google sent me to you via the keywords Venus Opposition Pluto (exact), which seems to be up for me in the next day or so. Birthdate: 3/18/53, 6:10am, Washington, DC. For years I struggled with my decision to stay in this body, firmly planted on this fine planetary orb. As a true Piscean, I admit I have always deeply loved the agony AND the ecstasy of absolute and utter fragmentation and ongoing opportunity to dance with Divinity while in line at the post office. Yes, I Know it's all moving magnificently. Why oh why, though, this continuing conundrum with manifesting enough of the green to keep myself in food, a bit of electricity, a trustworthy vehicle, and an occasional morsel of material comfort? This Fish yearns for 150 acres and a warm, sunny cob cottage to call home. Am I barking up the wrong current? Or is living via 150 percent Trust, still not enough...

[toni]

Robert, I keep being amazed at how much you are producing on this website. And you take the time to answer personal questions for everyone, (for me as well several times in the past). I would like to contribute money to this site. What I am wondering, though is why you donate so much of your time? It seems incredible to me. Thank you. Toni

[sue]

Hi Robert,
Another very timely article indeed. I seem to be heavily under the influence of Saturn at present as what you write mirrors my experience - even the time frames are accurate. Before reading this post I had just mentally given myself six weeks to sort out what burdens I really need to be carrying and finding ways to make time my ally while still fulfilling my worldly obligations. Your thoughts have helped me see the deeper ramifications of what I'm going through.

One question - you use the word dharma. Its one of those words I've never been totally clear about. Have you written about dharma previously and do you have any insight into how astrology can be used to throw light on an individual's dharma. I'd love to read your thoughts on this.

Sue (from Oz- birth time - 9.30 pm. 1/3/1949 Melb. Aust.)

[sue]

Also - I second Paul the Piscean's thoughts. How do Pisceans work out how to stay flush financially?

[Rachel]

Sue,

Actually, Rachel is the Posting Piscean. The professional projects and prosperity began flowing wonderfully in November and December 2006 -- and then hit that wall again this month. I am extraordinarily motivated, energized, inspired, creative, productive, focused, organized, connected to Source and VERY VERY RICH ...in character development.

I have gathered the stones, tilled the soil, planted the seeds, talked to the sprouts, sprinkled around manure as appropriate, prayed for rain and sun, and once again await the harvest. Patience, the man said. More patience...

[Robert]

Hi Stevo - There are many things that create the timing on what we get and when. And many tests generate creative imagination for future opportunities. Of course, there's nothing else to do BUT ride the storm out. When you have achieved concentration, then you can expand almost as much as you want, since the direction is valid.

Two different instruments is excellent, along with technical skills in production. Try to remember that the path of the Artist, the 4th Ray, is Harmony through Friction. You'll never be satisfied or comfortable since it's the tension that generates true originality and keeps the true artist from ever being able to "phone in" the performance. That said, we still need to do whatever we must to ensure a roof and meals, so from time to time we often feel diverted into odd directions to make some money. It's all good, as long as you're not compromising your long range karma by setting things into motion you shouldn't. And I'm glad to know I've been able to help.

Hi Paul - Happy to you as well. May your website be all you want it to be, and remember that since it and you and we and all are works in progress, enjoy the ride as you write and rewrite until you're as good as it gets!

Hi Rachel - You're most welcome, and thanks for your kind words. I have some strong Pisces in me, and you're right in that it is a peculiar "agony and ecstasy" of the whole of the human condition all pulled together in a vast oceanic field. As for the gelt, we who follow the light do so as our primary focus, and so we're not concentrating on acquiring and defending material accumulations. Our hearts and minds are directed toward timeless things, not holding on to everything we can. Is it any wonder that we tend not to get strung out on getting what we can by any means possible? Trust is good, so is effort directed in the right way at the right time. And life is a series of small steps. I believe we often lumber things down by expecting too much too fast, or believing it's an "either-or" situation regarding how we earn enough to do well. Experiment, and you may find fun ways to augment your income without it draining the lifeblood out of you.

Hi Toni - That's a very nice offer, and of course I'll accept any donations with gratitude and appreciation. Paypal takes a large bite out of anything sent through the site, and I'll always take a check. ;-) As for what you're wondering, you have opened the door for a long-delayed post. I'll be pondering how to say what I should have explained a long time ago, but just never got around to posting it. Thanks for reminding me that some people wonder about the man behind the blog. Aum and blessings.

Hi Sue - Glad I've been able to validate your sense of timing. That's the best use of astrology. I find it all works best when we learn to trust our intuition as to when and/or how, and then find external sources that mirror our realization. Perhaps there's an element of self-fulfilling prophesy in it, but even then, if it's the right time, what's the problem? I tried to do a quick gloss on Dharma in today's post, but it would be impossible to discuss ALL the implications of that term. Effectively, Saturn teaches us about dharma in general, our dharma specifically, and whatever dharma we have with other lightworkers in our group Soul.

As for the other question, Rachel and Sue, remember that the world is being bled dry by the merchants of death, where hundreds of billions of dollars are devoted to war, weapons, poisons, legalized bribery and "no bid contracts," along with advertising cancer sticks, unhealthy lifestyles, "fashion," and gadgets that distract us from our Higher Self.

The banks and megacorps have concentrated more money in a shorter time than ever before in human history. Money that used to go to the arts and sciences has been diverted offshore into the accounts of the bloated, conscienceless parasites that rob our world of its present and future culture. Is it any wonder that most people with a conscience are struggling to make ends meet? Still, a new and better idea always opens the doors to a million jobs paying a lot of people who then spread it around, so I'm waiting for the next tech revolution, like the last one involving computers and then telecommunications that generated billions of dollars exchanged between the hands of the people. Then all our "character development" will be put to better use than before, with opportunities naturally evolving from what we've learned before then.

[sue]

Hi Robert,
Thanks for the 'reality check'. It gets frighteningly easy to become totally materialistic when finding the money to pay the bills and buy food gets light on the ground. Of course you are right that money is currently being grossly mispent on a global scale and that the conscienceless actions of mega-rich are bleeding the planet dry. At least learning to live with less means we are leaving a lighter footprint than our bloated neighbours!

(Sorry I called you Paul, Rachel - I was reading the wrong posting name)

[Lisbeth]

Hi Robert,

I am so impressed by the depth of your knowledge, and your ability to articulate this for us all, right here. The Aquarius Papers - Global Astrology is the best I've seen in a long time, by far the most informative and engaging. Praises! And thankyou..

Lisbeth

[DianatheHuntress]

Cool reminder, Lisbeth!
Thank you for bringing this up..... :-} -----

[Robert]

Hi Lisbeth - Welcome to the site, and thanks for your encouraging words. I started a site back in 1998 when people encouraged me to offer a macro view of what is happening beyond individual transits which lasted till 2004. The experience taught me that websites are somewhat cumbersome, so I started this blog about 3 years ago. And as I recently mentioned, I could not have imagined the outpouring of support and genuine community this cantina seems to attract.

Hi Diana - Kiss Big Sur's sky for me.