Since I always work with the UK chart in articles like this one as the first of the three nations–UK, USA, India–on which I focus. As always, my chart for the transit of Saturn stationary direct is placed in Greenwich, UK, where we find the Royal Observatory at the Prime Meridian.
I’ve always seen Saturn-ruled Capricorn at the Midheaven (MC) of the natural zodiacal wheel as a clear sign that the Midheaven and the 10th house were associated with business. It may have come from my understandings in reading many works by March and McEvers who indicate the 10th house as the place where we look for profession, professional standing, reputation, business, government and so on. For me, that clearly fits.
Bil Tierney, in his dedication to Marion March in All Around the Zodiac, obviously agrees with my thinking: “I dedicate this book to Marion March, one of astrology’s shining lights, who showed us what positive Aquarian energy is really all about. May she continue to be an inspiration to astrologers everywhere.”
Chronos by Agostino Zoppo, Italian, mid-16th century
I thought about his words while considering his having pointed to Saturn in Sagittarius in Twelve Faces of Saturn as “a test of faith.” Here, Tierney says, is where “Saturn evokes the more profound, philosophical side of Sagittarius, helping to harness its otherwise restless, free-wheeling temperament.”
He expands on this in All Around the Zodiac, where he writes, “Sagittarius tones down its energies when filtered through sobering Saturn. Its capacity for wisdom is accented (Sagittarius is the sign of the wandering sage). Saturn admires Sagittarius’ legalistic mind, and thus its attention is put on the nature and validity of laws (from civil to cosmic). Serious pursuits of the ‘higher mind’ are thus suggested, even those of the scholarly kind. Still, there is much about Saturn that squelches pure Sagittarian enthusiasm, since this sign is much too adventurous for a planet as cautious and distrustful as Saturn. Yet as long as this planet is operating in its typically dutiful and conscientious way, Sagittarius’ notorious irresponsibility and carelessness are less of a problem.”
Of course, depending on what planets will accompany Saturn in one’s personal chart–by transit to natal bodies in Sagittarius or by a hard aspect transit to one of the other mutable signs, lessons will be learned and rewards received. (Learning is another gift of receiving!) But when we’re considering the mundane chart and its impact on a nation, there’s much more at stake than one’s budget, social standing, love life (or not), and so on. Here, we look at these things from that national perspective–and yes, even “social” standing. Transformation on the home front will still need to take place, and much of that will be a need to ensure the national budget can withstand the onslaught of many open hands that will continue to play a key role at this time.
London, 1802
William Wordsworth
Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life’s common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.
The now 5-minute partile semisextile between Chiron and Uranus is still present and even in the same places–Chiron in the 6th and Uranus in the 7th although a bit further from the Descendant than it was the last time I looked, when Uranus had begun its station to Retrograde about two weeks ago. Now, the third point of the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile falls at 9 Libra (LI) 23, just minutes from where it was. The same degree is not only sensitive, it’s also forming a 9-minute partile semisextile to transiting Venus in the 11th. Here, the semisextile also forms a significant Blooming Undecaquartisextile with the third point at 24 Pisces 28, in a mere 8-minute partile conjunction to Chiron and in opposition to Jupiter!
The Eastern 1st and 4th quadrant dominance with an even above- and below-the -horizon split warns that the UK is likely to take the attitude often seen in history by the world beyond as a leader in perhaps a more “Father/Mother knows best” way that would be wise to set aside about now. Do I think that’s likely in this chart? Probably not. But I suppose it doesn’t hurt to add such a caution.
Saturn forms a 24-minute partile (we seem to be loaded with them, don’t we?) sextile to the third point of the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile while simultaneously forming a 15-minute partile square with Venus. The transit establishes a conjunction to the 3rd house cusp, cautioning that wisdom and even a philosophical approach would be wise to adopt in all business dealings–whether with Brexit talks or in other legal matters related to the Kohinoor diamond, or even the Palestinian lawsuit. As I warned before, the United Kingdom will do well to tread lightly and brace itself for what won’t be pretty, regardless of how hard fought their side of the legal battles will be.
This particular chart establishes a clear bond with the 1922 chart for the United Kingdom with a 20-minute partile conjunction to the 7th house. I’m sharing the 1922 chart as an inside view of this transit strictly for students to be able to observe transiting Saturn and its conjunction to the 7th house cusp.
Now I brought up the chart in this way for one reason only: the Sabian Symbol SAGITTARIUS 10 points to A THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION OF A GOLDEN HAIRED GODDESS OF OPPORTUNITY. It didn’t make sense at first until I remembered the legal challenges the UK now faces through the courts with Brexit, India with the Kohinoor diamond, and the Palestinians with the Balfour Treaty.
If the United Kingdom “plays her cards right,” it could feel like an amazing window of opportunity; but if the UK acts like a prima donna–as we often see many megacorporations do when their strength appears to be stronger, larger, in possession of more clout than the so-called little guy–this won’t be likely to be medicine that’s easily swallowed. The United Kingdom and those who prepare to enter the conference and/or courtrooms for these challenges would be wise to remember the story of David and Goliath. Much growth and understanding can be gleaned in the effort to do so.
Again, with the mention of the Kohinoor diamond, my thoughts now turn to India. As I did with the UK chart above, I’m offering the natal inside, so you can take note of the 8th house cusp rising, nothing more.
And now, the Saturn Direct chart.
While neither the Eastern nor Western hemisphere dominates the Saturn SD chart for India, I do have to give props to the nation for its efforts to be above-board (above-the-horizon dominance) although I realize this may come more from the press than from the government actually making the efforts. That’s not a criticism as much as it is just an observation based on what I’m seeing in India’s headlines now. But then Jupiter rules the chart from the 9th house in opposition to Chiron, forming the arm of a T-square to the Moon/Ascendant conjunction which makes me wonder if perhaps India will attempt to push this case through the courts more quickly than would be wise. Relationships, especially legal and foreign ones, will be the focus of the Saturn SD chart.
Again, we see the third point of the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile at 9 Libra 23 (points 1 and 2, respectively with 3rd house Chiron and 4th house Uranus). But then with this resonant third point conjunct the Midheaven on the 10th house side in semisextile to 9th house Venus, the third point of the now Blooming Undecaquartisextile conjunct Chiron again by a partile degree, this third point is also in partile opposition to Jupiter in the 9th. Jupiter’s square to the Moon (while separating, it’s still relevant) as well as its partile approaching square to India’s natal Uranus and the nation’s natal Part of Fortune warns of the potential for pushing for too much too soon. Could a second courtroom battle signal more grief?
Gurus of Peace: “It’s easier to walk away when you’ve got a wounded pride, but when two people stand together that’s how they heal inside. Try to understand, open up your hearts, a fist is just a hand, it can come apart. Let go of the past, let go of the fight. Forgiving fills the world with life.”
A Mars-Saturn approaching conjunction in the 12th house (in the 7th house of the natal chart for India) seems to say so. Here, I have some concerns that such a legal scene might be linked to Pakistan’s involvement with the Kohinoor diamond since Pakistan had still been part of India when the diamond was taken from Lahore. Venus is in the midst of a partile approaching square to Saturn; words spoken in anger at this time aren’t likely to go well. Tempered arguments for one’s case are probably wise now.
I’m not going to go further with India’s view of the Saturn stationary direct chart since I still have the nation’s annual Solar Return to do. This is, however, my biggest concern about the Saturn SD chart.
The Cathedrals of Wall Street – Florine Stettheimer, 1939
A Western, below-the-horizon dominance with the 1st and 2nd quadrants holding the main concentration of the chart, seems to indicate the focus of the United States more on the nation and its domestic issues with a likelihood for more surprises in the political scene, continuing to keep Americans and observers of what’s going on in the USA glued to incoming news. But the 9th house placement of Uranus in this chart gives me some concern since national and international news continue to point fingers at Russia for causing havoc in the US Presidential campaign.
On the other hand, Jerry Sandusky is back in the news as he tries to convince the court to give him another trial. Haven’t we heard those words before? “But I’m innocent!” At the least, we’ll have a refreshing break from the finger pointing on the campaign trail.
I’m not impressed with that Moon as the T-square arm to the Jupiter-Chiron opposition since the Moon is placed in the 5th house, pointing to the recent major injuries and at least one death to children between the ages of 3 and 16 at amusement parks in Kansas, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Hopefully attention will be focused on investigating these tragic accidents as well as Congress stepping up to work on establishing some guidelines for safety requirements on these rides. None of these accidents should have occurred of course. What better time than a Saturn station to direct motion for such attention from the Congress?
Pluto’s presence in the 6th also cautions the need for the CDC and other health-related agencies to address the stunning concerns now with the Zika virus. Pluto’s semisextile to the Descendant with the 3rd point of the Resonant Blooming Undecaquartisextile placed in the 12th house at 29 Cancer 45. Surely attention is not only being given to the environment toward eradication or neutralization of the mosquito carrying this dreaded virus that has claimed the life of at least one newborn,.perhaps this indicates as well the likelihood of researchers already hot on the trail of finding the vaccine that can cure before the damage has been done.
On the personal side, no matter where you are, exercise some patience and remember we’re all in this together. Mars and Saturn in the approaching conjunction offer us opportunities to make wise business decisions if we’re careful. But Venus in square to the conjunction warns us to be patient as Saturn returns to the speed it normally moves when forward. Remember, Saturn’s been retrograde for a while and began to slow about two weeks ago. Be patient. Saturn will be back up to speed in about a week. No matter where Saturn falls in your chart, Saturn’s other name is Chronos–time. Patience. Wisdom. These words fit well now as we make the shift forward again.
In the meantime, I’ll be back literally in some hours. It’s time to begin the returns for Pakistan and India…