Saturn: The Slow Walker Takes a Step

January 23rd-24th 2020 marks the movement of Saturn into its own constellation of Capricorn* where it will remain until January of 2023. ​This is important, and will impact many years to come. Read On

Who is Saturn?

Saturn is the furthest planet from us, still visible to the naked eye. This heavenly body is associated with outsiders, isolation, discipline, seriousness, hard work, responsibility, practicality, durability consistency realism, conservatism, sadness, rigidity, loneliness, poverty, chronic pain, the elderly, a slow pace, avoidance of the spotlight. Saturn rules old and deep traditions and ancient cultures. Amongst the days of the week, Saturday is Saturn's day. 

Saturn’s movement brings shakeups and renewals that shape our world for years to come.

The last time Saturn was in Capricorn was December 1991 - March 1993. That significant period set the stage for the next 30 years of innovation and technology which reshaped our world.  Once again we can expect to see a new world born in the next 30 years.  2020 will mark the next trend of “out with the old and on with the new .”

Time and Dharma

One of Saturn’s Sanskrit names is Kāla which means time. Amongst the planets used in Vedic Astrology, Saturn’s movement is the slowest. This slow-walker stays on average in one constellation for 2.5 years before moving to the next, and takes about 30 years to travel the whole zodiac. Compare this to the ever-changing Moon which takes one month to traverse the zodiac.
 
Another Sanskrit name for Saturn is Dharmarāja, the ruler of that which sustains or endures. Saturn’s slow cycle is meaningful and impactful. In other words, what unfolds over the next three years will likely catalyze long trends for many years to come. More on dharma here. 
 
These 2.5 years of Saturn’s time in Capricorn will create changes that catalyze transformations to be established over decades. We will look back on this time as the beginning of something big. 

Disruptive Change

​While growth and change are a constant thread of life, there are times when we undergo more massive and radical shifts in the way we interact with one another other and our world.
 
This is one of those times.
 
Saturn’s slow nature can mean that the transformations to come are not immediately obvious or apparent, however watch for the extinction of the old and the sprouting of the new. The daily life impact of changes will be yet to come.
 
Significant change is often slow to arrive and rises from a hidden or undetectable place, and will ultimately disrupt our daily lives in dramatic ways – be in in your personal life or an industrial or cultural level. 

Industry Impact

Let’s look at some industry disruptions that took place as a result of past phases of Saturn in Capricorn:

• The early 1900s birthed innovation and changes that led to the automobile, oil, and road infrastructure

 

• The early 1930s saw nuclear fusion and a huge economic downturn

 

• The early 1960s generated space exploration which impacted international relationships as well as changes in science, art and a stagnating economy

 

• The early 1990s instigated the rise of the internet and all that entails in our lives today, from carrying the world in your pocket in a smart device to online shopping. There was also a flatline in the economy

 
Each of these periods were followed by a recession, which is something to be aware of and prepared for, as much as possible this year. Know that each recession is unique, based on the industries and financial habits of the current time.
​

• In this phase, beginning with 2020 we can expect – technology around energy solutions including storage and generation and a revamping of infrastructure around the globe – particularly with regard to energy, transportation and financial instruments. I also expect to see China, India and Israel even more prominently in the news during this phase & the years to come. 
  
  

The point here, is that during these 2.5 years, certain major shifts will take place that are disruptive, innovative, and generate more established major changes in several decades to come. The changes brought by Saturn will happen in conjunction with the current significant positions of other key slow-moving planets having a big impact right now which I share about here & here. 

But what about me?

​Depending on the configurations in the individual horoscope, Saturn in Capricorn can play in a number of ways. 

Work: front and center

​Saturn is associated with responsibility and work, or the distaste for both. The two ends of the spectrum are workaholism on one end and laziness or avoidance on the other. This may prove challenging to balance for these few years. It is a time to establish vision and intention and to strategize, knowing that implementation and change will be slow. One foot in front of the other is the best approach, like it or not. Saturn in Capricorn often represents hard work, so this is a time to make some effort without letting your work cause damage to other aspects of your life {which can happen with Saturn in Capricorn}. 

Happy Home

​Saturn can cause a sense of isolation - in realistic or felt terms. Saturn can simultaneously induce a sense of responsibility – for family, marriage and children. Sometimes with Saturn both isolation and family responsibility come together. Whether you are looking for a relationship or are already established in one, this phase is about “slow and steady wins the race”. The workaholic trend of Saturn in Capricorn can impact home life. There can be heavy, dried out, or isolated feelings associated with the home or relationships. This part of your life will likely need maintenance and attention – be it for the home itself or the inhabitants. Make use of Saturn’s tendency to strategize and build home and relationship care into your weekly schedule. As with your health and work, this period will set the stage for the future.

Wellbeing

​Saturn is a Vāta {air and space} constitution planet, and being in its own constellation of Capricorn, we may see an exaggeration of vāta characteristics and symptoms from dryness, anxiety, insomnia, loneliness, over-thinking, worrying, depletion, fatigue, and sensitivity to a drive toward spiritual insight, awareness, and inventiveness. The key remedies will be to maintain routines, moisture, and a sense of support and stability. 

How to use this time

General self-care, planning, commitment and a good dose of remembering to have fun is essential at this time. The values and commitments you establish now will leave a long imprint and impact on the years to come. 

​The gift of Vedic Astrology is understanding when, how and to what to apply your free will. Individual readings can be key to understanding exactly how to apply yourself to instill the right changes and direction that will establish you in the years to come after Saturn's stay in Capricorn. ​

Book a Reading

---

Here’s a small Sanskrit prayer for Saturn that is especially good for Saturdays as well as the day before New or Full Moons

---

OṂ ŚAṂ ŚANAIŚCARĀYA NAMAḤ

​[Om Sham Shanaishcharaya namah]
Oṃ I bow to that auspicious slow mover
listen to the mantra here

---

*Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which calculates planetary locations in accordance with real-time accurate astronomy. When we say that Saturn is in Capricorn, it is literally in that constellation during this exact time frame. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac