Saturn in Capricorn – feel the fear and do it anyway

   

 

Feel the fear and do it anyway is pretty much Saturn’s motto. Getting to grips with it will be crucial as it moves through Capricorn, its own sign, from now till 2020.

One of the most misunderstood signs of the zodiac, Saturn is two-faced, not in the sense of being devious or slippery, quite the contrary. It rules Capricorn, so presides over the New Year, facing backwards to lament the dying year and looking forward to plan for the next 12 months. Mourning and celebrations go hand in hand. Utterly realistic, it demands an acceptance of time’s inexorable march, of mortality and inevitable loss and, at the same time, rewards self-discipline, self-control and brings a bounty for conscientious effort.

It also contains within it the sinner and the saint – the horned god of lust and indulgence; and the bringer of rules and justice, order to society. Now in its own sign for the first time in 29 years, which doubles up the energy, it’s worth considering its strengths. Capricorn itself is dual-faceted, dubbed unfairly as exclusively coldly ambitious and materialistic, it is also highly creative. The old astrological glyph was of a goat body with a fish tail pointing to its symbolic role as the ‘stander on the threshold’ between the watery realms of the unconscious and inspiration, and the grounded earthy realm where dreams are made real. Capricorn takes an idea and turns it into a viable business or an artistic achievement.

Saturn is essentially about structure; it plans, prepares, thinks long term to a feasible goal, then gets foundations laid, builds slowly and securely so the end result stands the test of time. It won’t necessarily be aesthetic, since Saturn isn’t concerned with cosmetic fripperies, but it is enduring. With the same steady ambition as Capricorn, it is willing to forego instant gratification for long term goals. Like the symbolic mountain goat, it starts in the foothills and works its way up to the peak, along a winding path if necessary.

Saturn restricts, so oversees limits and boundaries which may not feel like fun but are essential, psychologically as well as practically, in life. Neptune dissolves boundaries, Pluto invades across them to grab all the territory, Uranus blows them up, but Saturn stands firm for order, delineation, marked borders. In action, it is like a gardener who prunes plants back, lopping off overgrown branches, to stimulate fresh growth and produce a more manageable shape. It is concerned with material security and can come across as a money-grubbing scrooge, so less than generous and open-hearted. It can be cold, putting up a defensive wall against any encroachment, tending to put things above feelings, and is better at ‘doing’ than ‘being’.

There have been financial recessions during the last three Saturn in Capricorns which occurred in the 20th Century but none are much of a guide. The late 1980s was tied into a triple conjunction with Uranus and Neptune, so was an immensely complex time. The 1960 one was a Saturn Jupiter conjunction, somewhat similar to 2019, but the recession passed over quickly. The 1930 Saturn in Capricorn was tied into Pluto and Uranus, resulting in the Great Depression, to which again 2019 bears some similarities though Jupiter will help to soften the effect.

The key lesson to be learnt from Saturn is that you reap what you sow. Resounding pats on the back for work well-prepared and punishment for sloppy, wing-and-a-prayer, half-hearted efforts. Go for quick fixes and cutting corners and chickens will come home to roost with a loud squawk.

10 thoughts on “Saturn in Capricorn – feel the fear and do it anyway”

  1. I remember 1988 (and the period around it) as the happiest time of my life and so I am hopeful that it repeats with Saturn in Capricorn. Not only will Saturn be entering Capricorn, it will soon be conjunct my Descendant. What will that herald? (that is an actual question and not a rhetorical one. I look forward to answers)

  2. What a well-written and illuminating analysis of that ol’ devil Saturn. Thank you, Marjorie. Saturn has just entered my 12th house, where for the last 9 years Pluto has been dredging up all kinds of difficult memories re past behavior. It has been BRUTAL. The only positive: I’ve shed much of my former self and become–I hope–a better person. I shudder to think what challenges the heavyweight pairing of Saturn and Pluto might bring. Ah well, here it comes…..

  4. What a beautifully written insight into the gifts of Saturn. I’ve learnt to see it as a firm but fair teacher. I’m rather hoping that its move into Capricorn will give my life back some stability, financial and otherwise, just as it did in 1989.

    Thanks Marjorie for all the time and effort you put into helping us understand the strange and wonderful effects of the planets – it’s very much appreciated!

  5. Eleanor,

    You and I must have been born at about the same time and both have Libra rising. Like you, Pluto has rocked and all but destroyed my former ‘world’. I am looking forward to Saturn to help me put the foundations of my life and health back together again. However, I also have Sun/Moon conjunct in Cancer in the 10th and it will be opposed by the conjunction of Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars in a couple of years time. So, foundations of concrete for you and me this time, no more sandbags! : )

  6. My second Saturn Return begins with transit Sun, Venus and Saturn all conjunct my natal Saturn at 1 degree (retrograde) in Capricorn, 4th House. For me this is a time of endings and new beginnings; for serious study and reflection as well as laying the groundwork for future plans. The approach has seen me sorting through and clearing out everything that is no longer useful – be it material, physical or emotional. There is a certain freedom in that. It does feel a bit heavy, but so far anyway not nearly as bad as when Pluto crossed over my natal Saturn in 2008. I survived. You’re right Marjorie, ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ perfectly expresses this energy. Thank you.

  7. Thank you Marjorie, for your thought-provoking and inspirational write about Saturn in Capricorn. Hopefully, in the long term, it will turn the world into a better place for all of us earthlings. Happy Christmas:)

  9. “Back in 1988/89, that triple conjunction rode over my ascendant when everything I cherished went to hell in a handcart – unhelpfully, tr. Pluto squared my Sun at the same time. ”

    A good thing about Saturn is it also has a learning curve. I have a Capricorn Moon, and had just become a teenager when the Triple Conjunction hit. It wasn’t all bad for me, I had a baby brother I’d always wanted back then. And now my brother is going to have his Saturn Return! I’m happy though that Saturn/Pluto will eventually happen well out of orb to my Moon (although they will square my Mars…).

  10. Thank you, Marjorie, you capture Saturn so very well and hint at Capricorn’s less-well-known spirituality personified by the likes of Kahlil Gibran. Back in 1988/89, that triple conjunction rode over my ascendant when everything I cherished went to hell in a handcart – unhelpfully, tr. Pluto squared my Sun at the same time. This time, I’m hoping that Saturn on his own will be kinder. Someone wise once wrote that Saturn sets stern tasks, yet grants immense rewards, which echoes your ‘you reap what you sow’ take on the old devil. Here comes Saturn… ready or not!

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