My mum is a lecturer and academic, and we have wonderful, spirited discussions about pedagogical approaches. We typically share our “pedagogical grievances” over a cup of tea – she complains that her law students simply don’t ‘get it’ because of the faculty’s misguided approaches. I grumble about astrological teaching approaches which don’t get to the heart of the matter at hand, but which spiral into a whole host of secondary meanings without grounding the core astrological concept first. Ugh. We agree that as far as the law and astrology are concerned, it’s ‘principle first’! Cue Howard Sasportas: “The core meaning [of the house] must be grasped – that essential inner meaning from which spring all the endless associations and possibilities connected [to that house].”
Anyway. Saturn.
As I was reflecting on my natal chart this week, thinking about my 11th house Saturn, I began to tune in intuitively to the evolutionary meaning and purpose of the planet, the so-called “dweller on the threshold.” It was by turning to the core principles of the planet that I tuned into its role in our lives, especially at this time as we collectively ground increased light levels into material form (Saturn’s domain) in the ascension process.
According to Stephen Arroyo, Saturn represents four key principles/urges:
- The principle of self-preservation and contraction, which, depending on the quality of consciousness, can manifest as fearful attitudes (where the energy is blocked) or the contraction of being inward; directing the consciousness power inward and thus having greater self-reliance and inner strength – where our consciousness power is inner directed, operating from within.
- The principle of form, structure and crystallization.
- The principle of time and learning through immediate experience.
- The urge to defend one’s life structure and personal integrity and the urge toward security through tangible achievement.
Using these core principles as springboards, we can easily tune into Saturn’s role in the context of consciousness evolution. Saturn’s fundamental evolutionary goal is the individual’s perfection/refinement over time through discipline.
In the natal chart the condition of Saturn often indicates how, and in which fields of experience we meet the energy of fear – fear representing an energy blockage, where we have become constricted in ways which obstruct our consciousness power. Saturn’s goal is to bring the required discipline/testing, especially in relation to that which we fear, in order for us to overcome that fear and thus move into greater levels of personal integrity. It is integrity that Saturn intends to crystallize within our being. Fear represents that we are out of integrity – that we are out of alignment vibrationally with the truth of who we are. Once we have gone through Saturn’s disciplining or apparent testing, we are left with deep, long-lasting, consolidated refinement. Saturn is in effect saying, “Here, it is yours to keep. You’ve earned it.” We now reflect the higher vibration attributes of Saturn’s contracting influence as we become inner-directed and self-reliant.
Saturn’s testing and discipline – refinement through pressure – can be seen as assisting to activate newer templates for the higher dimensions of the multidimensional self to integrate into the physical body vehicle form. Saturn’s refinement through pressure can really be said to activate our ‘diamond’ light body templates, removing that which is out of alignment so that we may emanate our greater essence.
Much love
