Before the telescope was invented, Saturn was the furthest visible planet: the limit of our known Universe, and it still provides our boundaries and limitations. It shows us where we need to grow up and take responsibility for our lives. Saturn gives us discipline, structure and the work ethic that we all need to actually get sh*t done! (And face it, however much you’d love to spend life frolicking around in a Neptunian mist, it’s not what you came here to do, it is? And nor is it what planet Earth needs you to do, either).
SATURN’S MEDICINE CAN BE HARSH.
It brings you face-to-face with your purpose (and where you’re avoiding it) and asks you to get mighty real around the architecture you’ve built to bring that purpose to life. It has a pesky way of showing up your weak spots and calling you to step up and work a little harder to overcome your own resistance.
SATURN IS THE DEFINITION OF TOUGH LOVE.
Every year for around 5 months, the (we say unfairly named) malefic planet turns retrograde. During this backspin, which lasts about a third of the year, it can really feel like the dampers are on, and work and projects S l o w. R i g h t. D o w n.
It could feel frustrating.
That delicious momentum that you’ve been sailing along on since last year is probably going to drop off.
And worse – the hold-ups and hindrances are likely to combine to highlight your own weak spots and self-sabotaging tendencies. Which means that like most retrograde planets (yep, we’re looking at you, Mercury!) this astrology ushers in a time of reflection and re-evaluation.
SATURN RETROGRADE 2022 DATES
June 5 (in Aquarius) – Oct 23 (in Aquarius)
Don’t expect retrograde Saturn to spin life out of control like, say, a Mercury retrograde can. How much you’ll feel this planetary retrograde depends very much on where Saturn sits in your natal chart, ie. whether you have any planets at 1º of the Fixed signs (that’s Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius), or between 25º and 30º of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn). It’s worth also looking at which of your houses this transit crosses, to get a better idea of which areas of your life may be touched.
So what’s the best plan when it comes to navigating the tireless taskmasters retrograde?
It’s a long time, so forming a game plan is a must.
1. RECOGNIZE YOUR RESTRICTIONS
Start by asking yourself a few simple questions:
- Do you feel restricted?
- How are you being restricted by outside forces?
- How are you restricting yourself?
- What are you scared of?
- What is being eclipsed, concealed or sits outside the edges of the limits of your focus?
- And are these limitations helping, or harming you?
Take some time and really dig deep into these questions, even putting pen to paper to explore what rises to the surface of your awareness. Saturn holds a probing and fiercely critical approach (amplified in the tenth house) so the more of this you can muster, the greater the insight you’ll uncover.
2. BREAK FREE FROM YOUR FEARS!
When you’ve gleaned a greater understanding of the nature of the limitations in your life (both real and illusory) you’ll be in a much greater position to reassess whether you want to grow strong within them, or rise up beyond them.
Limits aren’t always a bad thing – Saturn offers discipline and routine, order and reliability. Without this energy running through our lives, we’d all be in a hot mess pretty quickly so don’t dismiss all of the limitations you uncover as negative or needlessly restrictive.
Instead, focus on your fears.
These are what’s really restricting your growth and enjoyment of life.
But uncovering these insights about your inner world isn’t means to be daunting. The journey to overcome them is a large part of the story of your emergence. Working to overcome your fears is where life experience comes from (and life experience is what Capricorn is all about!) and doing this work under Saturn’s retrograde could be life-changing. Because this will help the work to become the dissolution of karma. You’ll be less likely to repeat your mistakes, and more likely to take responsibility for your actions from this point onward.
But here’s the thing. Don’t get all trigger happy and start launching your new, fearless self out into the world just yet. Saturn retrograde supports the internal work – firming up foundation and doing the behind-the-scenes-building. Strengthen your core. Do your research, get your long-term plans honed and ready. Until the planet stations direct on October 11, don’t run before you’ve got your walking boots on.
RELATED POST: How To Recognize Your Life’s Major Turning Points By Tracking Saturn
3. RE-ALLOCATE SATURN’S ENERGY
Another great way to make use of this astrological transit (and your active participation in it) is to re-allocate of Saturn’s energy through your life. Because if you’ve truly been working hard, and seeking progress but you’re still waiting for results, then it may be that you’re just using Saturn’s influence in the wrong areas of your life and a little re-distribution is required, for example:
If you’re feeling too serious and restricted in certain areas of your life, shift that strong, knuckle-down Saturnian energy into another place, where you’re unfocused and scattered.
Where you’re dithering and not really committing to an end goal that you really, truly want to reach, move in some of Saturn’s persistent and resolute desire to remain focused and work hard.
If fear is holding you back, open up to the fiercely honest and accountable energy that is Saturn’s biggest gift.
And if you’ve been stuck fast is survival mode, chasing money and security above all else for the past few months (or beyond!) re-focus your efforts into beauty, pleasure, art, or whatever else makes your heart sing for a change.
Or vice versa – use this planetary energy how YOU need it most.
ALSO CHECK OUT: The Seven of Saturn – How The Planet’s 7-Year Influence Impacts Your Long-Term Success
THE TAKEAWAY
Saturn wants us to take responsibility for ourselves and our lives. Your sticky spots have the potential to be your greatest teachers, and your weaknesses your greatest strengths.
Saturn holds the mirror.
It’s up to you how deeply you look. But it’s not going away for a while.
How do you plan on using your weaknesses to your advantage? Let us know in the comments below!
