by Robert Wilkinson
Saturn goes stationary retrograde at 10 Capricorn on April 17 at 6:47 pm PDT, April 18 at 2:47 am BST, and will remain retrograde until early September when it will go direct at 3 Capricorn. What does this mean?
First, it means that the Saturn in Capricorn “Master’s Class” we’ve been doing since it entered Capricorn last December has now hit a high water mark, and we will begin to review all the Saturn related things that have come up since early January, when Saturn went into its shadow zone for the first time. Since then we’ve gotten a look at the span between 3 and 10 Capricorn, and now get another look at that same span of experience, but from a retrograde angle instead of a direct angle.
This span involves the actional, material, and physical level and the emotional, social, and cultural level of the Scene of Crystallization. The seeds of the current Saturn lessons were sown when Pluto was in this span between late January and late June 2009, November 2009 through January 2013, and July through November 2013. Of particular importance is that Pluto went stationary retrograde at 10 Capricorn in April 2012, and went stationary direct at 3 Capricorn in September 2010.
This implies that whatever we’re about to learn from Saturn is directly related to the seeds we set into motion between the Summer of 2009 and late 2013. This will be particularly true for the seeds that were sprouted and/or killed out after April 2012. In September, at the end of this journey back through the lessons of time, we’ll find ourselves mature enough, or trained enough, or disciplined enough, to allow the yearning for new experience seeded by Pluto in September 2010 to become part of our life structure.
Interestingly, this begins the second phase of a long wave process. Pluto in early Capricorn set certain “seed forms;” Saturn is now bringing structure to those seeds. When Jupiter enters Capricorn in December 2019, it will begin an expansive phase of growth for the seed forms we’re structuring this year.
In 2020, it will cross all the points in Capricorn that Saturn will transit this year and next, bringing growth. That year it will conjunct Pluto in late Capricorn three times, setting another major cycle into motion, and at the end of 2020, conjunct Saturn at 1 Aquarius, initiating a new 20 year era in human history.
We now begin our review of the lessons Saturn has placed before us since January. It’s a time to be open to getting different takes on what we need to do, what we need to ignore, disciplines we need to accept, limitations we don’t need to accept, and how the duties or obligations we’ve taken on since the beginning of the year relate to our authentic Self and our Path of Hastened Attainment. Because it’s the first half of Capricorn, we’re going to get a review of what’s crystallized and needs to be re-shaped, and what needs to be crystallized in the future if we are to fulfill Dharma and not get trapped in needless chains.
While Saturn in Sag taught us to take a more mature view of our spiritual potentials, and examine which truths serve us in our spiritual quest to fulfill Dharma, as well as which lesser truths no longer suit our evolutionary necessity, Saturn in Capricorn is teaching us to “grow up and take responsibility” for our actions, feelings, and thoughts, and accept more important duties and roles in our world. Once a potential is fulfilled, then either we find a new potential in that same field of activity, or we find a new potential in another field of activity.
The Sabian Symbol for Saturn’s Stationary Retrograde Degree
The symbol for the 10th degree of Capricorn is “An albatross feeding from the hand.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree is one of "overcoming of instinctive fears through gentle persuasion,” “kindly conquest,” “culture of spiritual values,” and “harmlessness.”
He goes on to say in The Astrological Mandala that this refers to “the overcoming of fear and its rewards,” where demonstrating harmlessness offers opportunities to generate respect and understanding. He states that love and compassion can bring disparate people and energies together, and this is a symbol of the “ideal of peace and happiness,” as well as “harmlessness and compassion,” can generate trust. Rudhyar says it falls in the span of Illusiveness, the Process of Collectivization, Act of Capitalization, and the Scene of Crystallization on Emotional-Cultural level.
Dr. Marc Edmund Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of a practical self-justification, and our “complete dependence on the co-operation of the world at large” to actualize our experience. He states we must “take the initiative in meeting the needs of others if (we are) to expect them to stir appreciably and similarly in (our) own behalf.
He goes on to say “if (we) reap in life (we) must sow abundantly, and (we) establish ourselves as (we) expend ourselves” leading others to be encouraged to do the same. He says the keyword is NURTURE, and when positive, this degree is “unusual success in dramatizing the potentialities of human nature and its ramifying achievements.”
So Saturn has hit a high water mark, and we enter a 4 month period of learning a lot about overcoming fear, reaching out to others in harmless ways that help them overcome “instinctive fears,” and seeing how we must seize the initiative in taking responsibility for caring for some segment of society, or some part of ourselves with something to contribute to others. Perhaps the “looking back” of the retrograde will show us how we reaped what we had sown in the past, or gave of ourselves in ways where we received rewards for nurturing some potential in self or others.
Summing Up
As Saturn is currently in a tredecile with Uranus, serendipity is in the air! See how what you have learned is perfect for who you are, and how Life brought you the perfect people and conditions to help you bring forth a gift, or bring forth someone else’s uniqueness or genius. During this period, Saturn will be in a favorable aspect with Neptune, showing patience and maturity are favorable for understanding collective consciousness and how we fit into it.
Of extraordinary importance is that Mars conjuncted Saturn at 9 Capricorn in early April, putting the focus of that 2+ year cycle on attunement, and finding techniques for “hearing” what our invisible helpers have to tell us. And of course, since Mars will be in a Saturn-ruled sign until November, it stands as the backdrop and backstop to all that Mars attempts during this time. Much will become clearer regarding Saturn’s current lessons as the planets make oppositions to Saturn between late May and late June.
Because Saturn is retrograde, it’s a review, and may accompany returns of some sort. So whether you’re looking back at your long wave disciplines of Self-realization, or past duties, responsibilities, fears, or limitations, you’re ultimately being led to find ways to let your Soul speak! Just remember that in overcoming fear, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, and lowering the energy can be more soothing than storming the ramparts.
During the coming months, those with planets in early Earth and Water signs can make a lot of progress if they’ve made Saturn their friend. As Saturn in Capricorn will play a powerful role in all our lives, as well as world affairs, and continue its incredibly favorable dance with Uranus this year, if you don’t already have a copy, please consider getting your copy of “Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend.”
In it you’ll understand the Saturn-Uranus “dance of individualization,” and how our inner Saturn helps us give form and structure to our quest for Self-realization. That inner “higher power” is the way to take command of our destiny, becoming spiritual adults and fulfilling our purpose for being alive on Earth. By knowing our Saturnian strengths, we can overcome fear and any sense of victimization or powerlessness.
It was written for both astrologers and non-astrologers, shows why some things happened when they did. Even those with little or no understanding of astrology will benefit from understanding why they had to make certain choices at crucial times that shaped their lives in profound ways.
Each time you read any section of this book you will find new insights about your power to steer your personal evolution. You will understand how to throw off all the attitudes and memories which have held you back from finding and living the life and purpose. Through your journey of self-discovery, you can find ways to live your life on your own terms, and fulfill your purpose for being alive as an Eternal having human experiences!
Please order your copy today! You can go to the Createspace page and this should be all you need to order your copy. The ebook is available through Kindle. Also, I’ve been told people who live overseas get their copy much faster by going through Amazon. And if you would, please write a review on the Amazon site, since the more reviews, the bigger the boost on their site.
Copyright © 2018 Robert Wilkinson
Thanks, Robert. That's a lot to think about - all the dates you highlight were personally significant. My dad lost his health in spring 2009, and passed on in September 2010. My mother lived with me from then until September 2013, when she passed on. And both (in their mid-late 80s) left this world at the tail end of major transits involving Pluto or Saturn. Not to mention that I had my own major Saturn transits (2) during that same period.
Posted by: Denise | April 17, 2018 at 06:45 PM
Collective consciousness fell into a hole
The abyss that exists between ego and Soul
Made deeper by the Lies we are told
from stembrain men whose hearts run cold...
For only the ego is deceived...
and sits on the side where the lies are believed...
Posted by: sue | April 18, 2018 at 07:39 AM