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Saturn
in Cancer, June 2003 - July 2005
Could the Celestial Lord of the Rings
tests the metal of America?
""Time and tide stayeth for
no man." — R. Brathwaite (1636)
Saturn, Father
of the Gods, bringer of Karma, and enforcer of discipline, will
move through the watery sign Cancer from June of 2003 until July
of 2005. This two-year passage will elicit deep emotional currents
and intensify issues of security individually, nationally and internationally.
As Saturn moves symbolically from the mental realm of Gemini into
the metaphorical ocean of Cancer, the planet will move physically
behind the Sun into a period of invisibility, reappearing in the
morning sky in mid July.
Lord of the
Rings
The ringed planet
represents the force of gravity and embodies the energy of limitation.
In a paradoxical manner, Saturn seems to act as an external teacher,
manifesting tests in our lives through people and events. In actuality,
it is our own inner consciousness, seeking balance, and striving
toward fulfillment, which brings about these "tests."
Saturn is sometimes
pictured as the Grim Reaper, delivering trials as a stern but wise
task master. In Qabalah, Saturn corresponds to the Sephirah Binah
on the Tree of Life. Binah is the Great Mother, the matrix of the
manifested universe, who limitation as a fundamental principle of
creation. Saturn acts to eliminate the results of our wrong choices,
and this process often feels like loss. Saturn actually works to
bring us closer to our heart's desire by showing us the consequences
of choices which led in the opposite direction.
Saturn's cycles
As the wheel of
heaven turns, Saturn makes a complete circuit around the Sun in
twenty-nine and a half years, so Saturn's influence in a sign is
felt every thirty years. Astrologically Saturn rules Capricorn,
the Seagoat, and is therefore said to be in a position of weakness
in the opposite sign, Cancer, the Crab. Authoritarian Saturn doesn't
blend easily with soft-hearted Cancer.
Because we live
in a three-dimensional world the planet Saturn is perhaps the most
important transiting influence to understand. Saturn demonstrates
how we have structured our personal and collective universe. In
a horoscope the area of life Saturn inhabits during a transit indicates
what area of life will be tested, or receive the greatest stress,
and reveal how the piper must be paid.
For example, in
the birth chart of the United States, Saturn's transit through Cancer
will pass through the houses of partnerships, contracts, open enemies
and shared resources. Tests for America will include both tacit
and written agreements we have made as a nation. Living up to contracts
and fulfilling expectations will be paramount.
Gratefully, Saturn's
shift into Cancer moves the giant planet away from the intense and
difficult opposition to Pluto we've endured for the past couple
years. This should relieve an undefined internal pressure and sense
of depression and may also herald a slow improvement in economic
matters.
Hearing the
voice of the sea
Whimsically, it's
said if you hold a shell to your ear you can hear the voice of the
sea. Our emotions, symbolized by the ocean, are the propelling force
in our lives. What we feel and desire generates the fuel for the
engine of our actions. Cancer's energy contains strong emotional
currents which operate under the surface. Cancers, like their symbol
the crab, are said to have hard shells which protect soft centers.
Strongly focused on the home, the crab carries her house on her
back. The claws are a dominant feature of the crab, emphasizing
a grasping energy. Cancers hold on for dear life to feelings, people,
possessions, traditions and memories. If it weren't for Cancers
it's unlikely we would have antiques.
This transit brings
the influence of the ringed giant into the domain of the Moon, which
astrologically rules the sign of Cancer. This placement emphasizes
the desire for security, making people cautious financially, and
prompting feelings of guarding and cherishing whatever we feel is
under our care. Saturn is serious and reserved, and Cancer fears
too much vulnerability. Practical considerations and concerns about
security issues may restrict emotional spontaneity. Saturn's influence
may cause sensitive Cancer to retreat into her shell.
This energetic combination
stirs ancestral memories, family lineages, and a desire to return
to our roots. On the high side this combination can engender a positive,
nurturing urge. Expressed selfishly, Saturn in Cancer causes a provincial
clinging to what we believe is "ours" alone. There is potential
for clannish provincialism on the one hand versus an inclusive desire
to nurture and support on the other.
Home is where
the heart is
Saturn in Cancer
can also teach us the archetype of mothering. Individually we can
perceive the forming power of our own early domestic situation,
and understand what needs to be owned and healed. Watery Cancer
can dissolve the structures of Saturn, bringing the feelings to
bear on a tendency toward too much duty. Home becomes a major focus
of attention, but Saturn can be a stern taskmaster, imposing too
many authoritarian rules.
Emotions are not
warmed by this placement, but they run exceedingly deep and are
intensely loyal. Saturn in Cancer may also serve to stabilize the
emotional nature. People born with this placement are faithful,
even to a fault, caring and serving long after others have abandoned
the cause. Saturn in Cancer may make it harder to express what we're
feeling even though we feel an increased sense of empathy for the
suffering of others. Feelings that aren't expressed may cause us
to feel "sick to our stomach."
Saturn in Cancer
can confer great strength of character. In the highest expression
this imbues our consciousness with compassion, bringing great sensitivity
for the pain of others, and creating champions of the downtrodden
and suffering of the world. As nation we will have the chance to
reaffirm the vision of our founders. Saturn in Cancer can also teach
us about stewardship of resources and understanding our limits so
we don't spread ourselves too thin.
George Bush
and USA charts
Astrologer Rob Hand
says, "Planets that Saturn transits (occupies the same degree) in
your natal chart represent energies in your life that are being
challenged and behavior patterns that require examination." The
Sun was in the sign Cancer when America was born on July 4, 1776.
Mercury, Jupiter and Venus were also in Cancer, endowing the United
States with a strong emphasis in this sign. Saturn's action by transit
is to test, discipline, and limit.
As Saturn moves
through the zodiacal sign of Cancer from June 2003 to July 2005,
the ringed planet will pass over these degrees in the birth chart
of the United States: Venus, (3 Cancer), Jupiter (5 Cancer), Sun
(13 Cancer), and Mercury (24 Cancer). Because these planets were
placed in areas of the horoscope which deal with partnerships and
joint resources, the next two years will test our nation in theses
areas. The responses called for are hard work, responsibility, perseverance
and grace under fire.
President George
Bush was born on July 6, 1946. George Bush's Sun was placed at 13
degrees of Cancer, the exact degree of the US Sun. His Moon at 16
Libra conjoins the US Saturn at 14 Libra. Bush was also born with
the planet Saturn in Cancer, so as Saturn moves through this sign
it will return to engage the place it occupied at his birth (his
second Saturn return). Because of these Cancer placements, the movement
of Saturn through Cancer will strongly impact both the President
and the nation.
Trigger Points
Saturn will conjoin
the US Venus on June 27 of this year. This aspect tests relationships
and may bring some potentially harsh lessons in how relationships
have been formed. Saturn conjunct Venus may signal the arrival of
a new and "fated" relationship for our country whose influence will
be felt for fourteen years. Saturn will then move to join the US
Jupiter on July 20. This will likely cause frustration and impatience
as the country pushes hard for economic recovery while still feeling
the crunch. This combination is like driving with one foot on the
accelerator and the other on the brake.
The Sun and Saturn
formed what astrologers call a "square" aspect in America's birth
chart. (Saturn at 14 Libra and the Sun at 13 Cancer). This aspect
creates stress with growth and awareness as the hoped-for result.
When Saturn moves to join the US Sun in June 2004, this aspect will
be activated. Our experience as a nation may feel as if "enemies"
cause us to lose face. Fourteen years ago Saturn opposed the Sun,
and in that timeframe we were dealing with issues from another Gulf
War. The conjunction of Saturn with the Sun brings the chickens
home to roost. This transit carries the warning of possibly winning
the battle, but losing the larger war. Our long-term perspective
will be crucial as this transit progresses. This could be a trying
time as we are forced to reclaim, or reinvent, what we stand for
in the world.
Saturn will also
cross George Bush's Sun in June of 2004, bringing the culmination
of a major life cycle to a head. The Full Moon of July 2, 2004 (at
four degrees of Capricorn), happening just before our "birthday"
as a nation, will be opposite a conjunction of the Sun and Saturn.
The force of Saturn moving through the sky, and this aspect, will
activate the inherent tension which exists in both America's and
President Bush's birth charts. Based on where these configurations
occur, I believe this will mark a critical period of questioning
how national leadership and foreign policy express the character
and ideals of the American people.
Saturn will move
to join Mercury in Cancer in the US Chart in September of 2004.
This signals a period of serious and intense communication, centering
on the subject of shared resources. The topic of conversation in
board rooms, at dinner tables, and in Washington will likely be
debt.
Then, in October
of 2004 Saturn will conjoin Saturn in George Bush's chart at 26
Cancer. Unless he responds to other influences operating in his
chart, this does not bode well for his reelection.
Isabel Hickey says,
"Saturn in Cancer engenders the test of responsibility and empathy."
The microcosm of our personal lives always reflects the macrocosm
of the larger reality. This cycle asks, "is my emotional security
based on a narrow definition of what is mine to the exclusion of
others, or does it stem from an inclusive view that everything is
connected? The ultimate lesson of this transit for each of us may
lie in the danger of drawing lines.
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