Either we work with our Saturn or somebody else does. – Carolyn Casey
I’ve often found astrology to be a helpful lens through which to view what we are being called to dance with. Let me be clear, I’m definitely not an astrologer myself. I find just thinking about the effort necessary to master such an intricate and interpretive language to be daunting. But the first time I understood that one’s natal (birth) chart was a snapshot of the exact sky under which one was born, well I was intrigued. And then when I realized it was also really a map, well then I was hooked. A map with all kinds of hints about the skill sets I bring with me and indications of potential tripping up spots, and information about how the landscape changes with the planetary seasons.
We’re currently in, as well as coming up on, some pretty interesting astrological patterns and my interest has been piqued again.
I recently took a fascinating class on Saturn in Libra with Michele Lessirard. I was really excited when I learned she was offering this class as I’ve been feeling called to work with Saturn energies. But Saturn has always felt somewhat scary to me, and I just didn’t know how to approach this work or what it might look like. But never doubt a teacher shows up when you’re ready, and I’m grateful to have so much more clarity and focus for my exploration now.
Saturn is often portrayed as the stern task master – all about structure and boundaries and discipline. Putting the squeeze on us and testing our meddle. But just changing perspective a little bit and allowing the possibility that this energy is actually supportive and not punitively restrictive really shifted things for me. So now I’m thinking in terms of Saturn asking us to be sure our foundations are strong and not cracked, and to take the time to see where in the past we’ve given away power that can now be called back because we’re ready to stand in ownership. And that got me re-thinking about some of the other qualities associated with Saturn that I could reframe for myself. Authority for example. Rather than getting caught up in negative associations and chafing against the idea that someone might want to exert power over me, what about considering “author”-ity and truly owning all the privileges and responsibilities of authoring my life exactly as I want it to be. And when Saturn is associated with discipline, why not embrace the definition of being a disciple?
And in another blast of synchronistic support, my friend Mo Davies just published an ebook Astro-Crystal-Mandala Healing. I’ve put together the first of what I’m sure will be an evolving mandala to honor my work with Saturn, and I’ve made it a cornerstone of the Saturn altar I’ve set up.
While I certainly encourage you to work with Mo’s book yourself, just to give you an idea of what’s going on with this mandala, I’ve chosen stones to represent my Sun (a geode filled with Quartz druzy), Moon (a crescent moon-shaped Lake Superior concretion), and Ascendant (New Mexican Pink Chalcedony); a stone to represent Saturn (Ruby Jack Sphalerite), and one to anchor the mandala (a striped heart pebble of unknown composition).
For me this feels like a particularly potent time to reconsider a lot of old ideas and long-held beliefs and update them with new understandings. Is there something in your life that is asking to be re-examined?