Life At The Crossroads: The Saturn Returns One, Two, and Three

Even if you know nothing else about astrology, you may have heard about the Saturn Return. Its perilous reputation precedes it. It’s when Saturn returns to its natal position in our charts, same sign, same house, same degree. Many, however, do not realize that we get two, or even three, of these, if we live long enough.

If you’ve felt confused in recent days (Neptune has been opposing the Sun so it’s quite likely!), this Moon sets out a clearer path ahead which starts right where we are, not in some distant place we think we should be by now! Delusions or self-deceptions are cast aside by this moon. We can see ourselves as we truly are and in doing so identify what’s needed to address challenges and capitalise on blessings.

Although symbolism and meaning will some­times overlap from planet to planet, each planet has its own distinct vocabulary and flavor. Saturn is no different. If I had to pick a flavor, I would say Saturn is sour, not sweet. Cold, not hot. Matter-of-fact, not passionate.

Mother Earth has suffered shockingly as a result of human ignorance, denial and narcissism for way too long. She lies bleeding at our feet and still we look away. But no more. Once Uranus begins its entry into Taurus in May 2018, the extent of our planet’s unbridled rage and unbounded love will become apparent in equal measure.

There’s always much talk (and a fair amount of hype!) when Mercury turns retrograde, most of it pretty negative and doom laden. Mention of travel disruption, communication breakdown & misunderstandings abound. People roll their eyes and brace themselves for a few weeks of...

Eris, in all her mighty glory, comes to set things straight. Eris knows the power of the feminine, the raw, primal force of childbirth, the fierce protection of a mother’s love, the enduring strength of a broken but embracing heart and the power of an awakened womb which nurtures deep within the hopes and dreams of generations.

Generally speaking, eclipses get a bad rap, no doubt due to the fear they provoked in days gone by when total eclipses plunged people into blackness and the life-sustaining light was eradicated by a seemingly all powerful force. These days we are better informed...

What we actually make of a supermoon is up to us. We can allow ourselves to be consumed with greed and stubbornly pursue our desires even when not in our best interests. Or we can use this powerful time to nurture desires which will enhance our insight, increase our peace and serve a greater good.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is full and its light is blocked by the earth’s shadow. Traditionally a time of fruition and harvest, an eclipsed full moon heralds instead hidden fruits and obscured results. Nothing is quite as it seems.

Mercury stations retrograde in the final degree of Sagittarius, reminding us that sometimes it really is worth looking back before you leap. This retrograde passage of Mercury augurs a time for reflection on what inspires us to action, what gives our life meaning and how we can go about expressing those values in our every day.

A black moon (August 21st 2017) is a particularly powerful new moon which augurs a significant new phase. We can use its energy to prepare for shifts in our inner and outer worlds so powerful they may change the very course of our life. Each black moon cycle lasts until the next black moon, two and a half to three years later...

Mercury is retrograde between 9^th April and 3^rd May 2017 (GMT). This Mercury speaks of the need to trust our instincts over and above the reason of ‘common sense’ logic. There exists great mystery within this process....

In Sagittarius, Saturn requires a broader view of our lives, beyond our personal present. It helps us identify connections between apparently random experiences and reveals how past decisions, attitudes and behaviors have painted the picture that is our life today.

At each Saturn Return, we experience the maximum pressure to conquer the weakness in ourselves that is blocking growth; we have the opportunity to pierce the resistance that is keeping us from breaking through into our greatest potential evolution.

April 2017 sees an increase in retrograde activity, with roughly half of the month (9th – 15th April & 20th April – 3rd May) featuring four retrogrades. This is something we’ve not seen since September 2016 and is a celestial pattern which invites us to retreat, revisit and reflect.

This eclipse speaks of over-due endings and fresh starts. A new way of being is in reach, born of wisdom gleaned from past experience and freedom from shackles that no longer bind. But these endings may not match our expectations...

If you’ve been wondering what on earth’s going on lately – if life has been too good to be true, too tough to endure or too confusing to warrant taking seriously – this eclipse may just help clarify the cause behind the effect and the part we play in life’s unfolding.

We may be disappointed if we want life to go gently with our feelings as the year closes, for there are more potent agendas at work, in service of truth-telling and revelation no matter the cost. This Mercury won’t let anything be swept beneath the carpet for a more convenient time.

When the Moon is eclipsed we may lose touch with our inner compass. When eclipsed in Pisces, even more so! If we find ourselves swayed by ideas, people or situations that seem out of character it’s worth taking a step back before jumping on board.

This solar eclipse highlights the adventure of living in the material world whilst embracing the unseen realms of energy and essence. This is the path of the everyday mystic who lives in communion with the divine whilst scrubbing the floor and fingernails, paying bills, earning a wage and putting out the rubbish. However we experience this eclipse at a personal level, the fundamental message will be the same...

If there are difficult conversations to be had, the next three weeks may just be the time to have them, even though Mercury retrograde is usually characterised as bad for communication. In fact, painting it as such is just a simplification of a far more complex landscape. So bear in mind that whatever you read about this particular passage of Mercury Retrograde...

Mars's entry into Sagittarius indicates a shift to a lighter and more future-focused energy. One which carries with it inspiration and excitement: a vision of possibility that motivates us to soldier on. If you’ve been wading through emotional...

Every now and then you’ll hear that a full moon is designated a blue moon and therefore of particular astrological significance. But you may also notice that different people designate different moons as blue, which can get rather confusing! In fact, there are three different types of blue moon.

Now more than ever Pluto’s transformative power supports a positive manifestation of our collective destiny. In this motif we see the potential for change which consolidates progress even if, at first glance, there appears much cause for despair.

If life has been somewhat puzzling of late, throwing up questions and queries we’ve struggled to address satisfactorily, this passage of Mercury retrograde offers hope in the form of new information, opportunities thus far overlooked and some good old fashioned common sense to ground insights.

There is much to be seen and understood at this time. The floodgates holding back the unconscious are opened by this eclipse and we may feel overwhelmed by what comes pouring through. But remember, whatever it is, it is only ourselves. You and me in our fullness: good and bad, positive and negative...

This passage of Mercury speaks of unexpected and potentially very disruptive surprises which, nonetheless, lead to benefits in the long run. It may be hard to remember that, though, when life suddenly does an unforeseen u-turn or we are blind-sided when we least expect.

When we struggle against the inevitable, or strive to alter the unavoidable timing of Mercury, we oppose the tao of existence. Therefore, understanding the principles of transiting Mercury retrograde as it moves through the elements maximizes potential within a natural rhythm.

When we struggle against the inevitable, or strive to alter the unavoidable timing of Mercury, we oppose the tao of existence. Therefore, understanding the principles of transiting Mercury retrograde as it moves through the elements maximizes potential within a natural rhythm.

Jupiter's involvement in the May 2009 alignment with Neptune and Chiron means that, at the very least, it will be that much more difficult for us to ignore the primary directives of the alignment. But we can also explore what his presence in Aquarius might indicate and how else this vast planet's involvement might...

The promise of Chiron is that as we learn to heal and release the fears and misperceptions related to issues of rejection and abandonment, we also build a bridge to spiritual enlightenment. This is mirrored in physicality by the fact that Chiron's orbit lies primarily between Saturn and Uranus, and so acts as a stepping stone...

This article, while containing information that may be useful for everyone, is written specifically for those who have Pluto positioned between 25 and 27 degrees of Leo in their birth charts. This includes those born between Sept. 1954 and Feb. 1955, between July and Sept. 1955, and...

When Uranus transits itself, we are dealing with life cycles that occur in everyone's chart at relatively the same chronological ages. These can be periods when we receive wake-up calls telling us to follow our path of freedom. During any one of these cycles, our true self wants to break out in some fashion and make its individuality known.

The procedure of slowing, stationing and retrogression is often noted by events or inner mood shifts. Although rarely on the station-day itself, but frequently within a week on either side of it, there is a marked shift in energy patterns, both psychologically and physically.

In the American dream as it's currently dished up, we try to do two things: make money and lose weight. Is that the meaning of life? Making money might give somebody a sense of meaning in life presently, and I don't want to simply disparage that. It could be part of a soul's journey, perhaps part of a larger, creative commitment to building a vision, building a business. Bu...

It is during uncertain times that people are compelled to experience their interior world and heed their inner voice. They recognize a Grand Plan, a higher intelligence, search within themselves for meaning and begin to look for 'signs' on the horizon that might indicate in which direction to turn.

The first part of the retrograde process is where one learns to adapt to new rhythms, and explores different ways of learning. During the entire retrograde period, a different point of view and a new comprehension proceeds to unfold.

Correct use of the Mars principle can make for courage and endurance. Courage does not necessarily, of course, mean aggression or fighting. Courage means facing those things we are frightened of. For some it might be brave not to fight but instead to admit that one is vulnerable and frightened. We need Mars to cope with pressure and to avoid buckling under the stresses and strains of everyday living.

Fear, control and denial. Authority. Discipline. Time. Learning things the hard way. Responsibilities. Duties. Beyond all else perhaps, Saturn represents fear, and many of the problems and difficulties surrounding this planet can be traced to this single root principle.

In contemporary astrology, the planet Saturn reflects one's "karma." It is a simple matter of cause and effect. Saturn can become the herald of your greatest potential for natural balance. The exact location of Saturn in the birth chart (the chart of the celestial bodies' positions at the time of your birth) can tell you even more.

Approximately every seven years, Saturn makes a stressful aspect to the natal placement -- either a square or opposition. Looking back to when you were approximately seven years old and remembering the lessons, fears, and traumas of that time, you can find deep and old patterns still operating in adult life.

In terms of complete Saturn cycles, you have three to work with at the most. The challenges presented by Saturn have at their core the demand that we become who we are, and who we can be, as fully as possible, by separating from that which we are not and could never be.

Before you decide to bring your life to a halt, to stop all important decision making and to sit waiting for the next Mercury Retrograde 'mess up' to overtake you, let's take a look at some important and very relevant Mercury Retrograde facts.

Though Mercury is retrograde only 65 to 70 days a year, its reputation makes it seem to operate most of the time. Most people are somewhat relieved when these periods are over...

What does Mercury retrograde mean? Is it always bad? How can we best use its passage in our lives? Through Mercury, we express ourselves with language, writing, speaking, and reasoning....

Transiting Neptune infrequently aspects itself in the course of a life time, but such "life-cycles" are usually experienced by most people around the same age. All of these phases can be very subtle, giving us the impression that nothing is really going on -- but that's typical for Neptune.

As we advance in our studies of astrology, we become centered and prepared to meet whatever comes. Astrology teaches us to awaken through every experience, meeting each moment with courage...

by Salvatore

Though this article was written in 1995 a lot of the information can be applied to current transits and planetary shifts.

Connecting astrology and mythology, Pluto represents the underworld of the unconscious. It is an extremely powerful force which has rulership over the instinctive forces that lie buried deep in the unknown part of ourselves.

A look at transits, retrogrades, and other aspects that affect our lives. When Mercury moves away from Earth in its orbit around the Sun, it is said to be moving in direct motion. When Mercury approaches earth, it appears to move backwards...

Whatever challenges Saturn brings are tailor-made to help us fulfill our highest potential. Saturn's not against us, it's for us! If we're willing to work with our Saturn, it ultimately reveals some of our greatest strengths and gifts as well as the skills necessary to satisfy our highest destinies.

Aspects form a vital component of the interpretation of the natal chart. It does, however, happen that one or more planets do not receive or make any major aspects. They have no direct influence on other planets (or psychic dynamics), and are themselves also not influenced, so they can exhibit extremes in their effects.