Saturn: Aries/Libra, 1st/7th, Mars/Venus

[This is a continuation of a previous post]. In the following post, I will address Saturn in Aries and Libra, Saturn in 1st House and 7th House, and Saturn in aspect to Mars (the planetary ruler of Aries) and Venus (the planetary ruler of Libra):

Saturn in Aries:      

The structure of consciousness is formed around the notions of “courage” and “initiation”. If Saturn is functioning in a healthy manner, consciousness will be structured based on a priority of the “self” to the “other”. Autonomy of personal will would be the “default” context through which conscious life is perceived and constructed.

The conscious mind would tend to organize the whole sphere of mundane experience in reference to the “self”, as it seems that the evolutionary path of the individual would encourage a conscious focus on the “self”, rather than take into account the various forms of conscious reality which may be constructed through “relationality” and “interdependence” of things.*

Difficulties of Saturn in Aries:

If Saturn is not functioning comfortably, the individual may put too much emphasis on the authenticity of his or her limited experience or may perceive the world as a rather combative environment where “survival of the fittest” is the only truth. In this case, it is important to be aware of the rather “aggressive” conscious mechanism through which the individual is approaching the world, and try to balance this process by diverting some of the conscious energy towards the “other”, the merits of the “other” and the warmth and beauty of social existence.

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*This by no means indicates that the individual cannot think in terms of “relationality” and “interdependence” of things, for “thinking” would be mostly symbolized by the condition of Mercury in the chart. Saturn, on the other hand, shows how the very “conscious” structure is formed in the first place, within which “thinking” (i.e. “reasoning”, “processing”, etc.) takes place subsequently. Alternatively, one may think of Saturn as a constant “background” note against which personal planets can intermittently play their own particular notes.

Saturn in First House:

There is a “serious” tone in the way one perceives oneself. One aspires to construct a self-image that includes a high level of control, a low level of wastefulness, and just the right amount of authority. If Saturn is comfortable in the First House, one would see oneself as an “old soul” and would be largely comfortable with the process of aging and decay.

“Time” would be understood realistically, and one’s major steps in life would be usually planned after a good deal of pondering and with a large amount of prudence. If Saturn is comfortable, the person would often find himself or herself in sync with the events that life brings forth, and would usually experience a feeling of being in the right place at the right time.

Difficulties of Saturn in First House:

If Saturn is not comfortable, it is possible that the individual would perceive himself or herself through a rather “pessimistic” filter: in this case, one’s shortcomings would be magnified, and one’s success or talents would be largely disregarded by the conscious mind.

The individual may develop a rather pronounced tendency for depression, as the perception of “self” would largely include a constant consciousness of one’s imperfections, mistakes, or failures, rather than an inspiring recollection of one’s wise moves or achievements in life. Alternatively, one may feel out of sync with life or may develop a sense that nothing happens in the right place at the right time, or one’s wishes are granted in a delayed or distorted fashion.

Evolutionary Path of Saturn in First House:

The evolutionary path for an individual with Saturn in the First House seems to include gradual development of conscious “optimism”, and a life-long focus on the improvement and “fine-tuning” of the perception one has of oneself. Those with this placement can eventually gain “mastery” over their own psychological impetus, and later in life, they are likely to develop a profound level of self-knowledge which would enable them to be absolutely alone and yet not lonely in the company of themselves.

Additionally, with this placement one has to learn that “cosmic timing” is different from “human timing”, and that one has to trust the wisdom of the universe in granting one’s wishes in a timely manner even if one may experience a degree of frustration in the process.

Saturn in Aspect to Mars:

With the planet of “consciousness” in aspect to the planet of “action”, one’s instinctual impulse for action would usually be curbed by careful consideration and introspection. In other words, there will usually exist a level of “control” over what is “raw” and “wild” in the psyche.

If the planets in aspect to each other are comfortable in this configuration, a high degree of “effectiveness” will be evident in the conscious life of the individual, as well as reluctance for taking uncalculated risks or embarking on an absolutely spontaneous course of action. “Strategy” would tend to be prior to “enthusiasm” in this case, and the individual would be capable of making decisions or taking action in the manner of a master chess player, usually after calculating every single step and meditating upon the most probable outcomes.

Difficulties of Saturn in aspect to Mars:

If Saturn and Mars are not comfortable in association with each other, libidinal urges may get severely suppressed in the psyche of the individual, to the point of creating a degree of literal or metaphorical “impotence” with regards to initiating or acting in a timely or effective manner.

“Father Complex” of Saturn in Association with Aries, 1st House, or Mars:

Saturn in Aries, in the First House, or in aspect to Mars can symbolize a father figure who has a rather strong urge to be “free”, and/or a father whose natural enthusiasm for life has been somehow curbed, probably because of his adherence to societal expectations or the burden of responsibilities created by his family.

With Saturn in the First House or close to Ascendant, the individual would usually tend to identify with the father figure (especially the suppressed or unrealized aspects of the father), either for better or for worse. It is important to note the psychological influence that the father may exert on the individual in this case, especially in the first thirty years of life (i.e. before the first Saturn Return).

As the individual grows older, this influence may become more conscious, and the individual can, therefore, have an opportunity to distinguish between what comprises his or her own conscious choices or moral decrees and what he or she has duly “inherited” from his or her father.

Saturn in Libra:

The structure of consciousness is formed around the notions of “otherness” and “relation”. If Saturn is functioning in a healthy manner, consciousness is structured based on a priority of the “other” to the “self”. Inter-relatedness of things would be the “default” context through which conscious life is perceived and constructed. The conscious mind would tend to “balance” concepts and produce “equilibrium” as much as possible, and the fundamental tool in organizing one’s conscious experience would be “comparing and contrasting”.

Difficulties of Saturn in Libra:

If Saturn is not functioning comfortably, the individual may lose his or her “sense of self” as a result of constantly attempting to see things through the eyes of the “other”. In this case, the conscious life of the individual may simply serve as a mirror held to reflect the beauty and glory of the “other”, rather than pointing to the authenticity and uniqueness of the self. It is important, therefore, to be aware of the degree of distortion involved here: no matter how much one yearns for it, one cannot be the “other”.

“Relationality” may very well be the key to understanding cosmos (e.g. yin and yang interaction, or polarities at work in astrological archetypes), but without One no Two will be possible. A recognition of the authenticity of “self”, therefore, will be required for a true understanding of inter-existence and a healthy engagement with the “other”.

Saturn in Seventh House:

There is a tendency to project one’s conscious experience of life onto the “other”, which can indicate that the “other” holds the key to what the individual consciously constructs and accepts as inner paradigms. One may inexplicably be drawn to older, wiser, socially established, or morally constant figures in life, and then adopt the ideology of such figures as one’s own.

Alternatively, one may seek in the “other” the inner stability one desires to establish in oneself, thus one may automatically develop an attitude of respect and devotion to the “other”, which in turn is intuitively felt and responded to by the “other”. It is not uncommon for an individual with Saturn in the Seventh House to come across as someone quite solid and strong to count on, as the inner need for strength and stability that such an individual may project unto the outside world would be often mistaken for a well-developed inherent quality in himself or herself.

This by no means indicates that the individual is not capable of being solid or strong, as the totality of the chart and the amount of conscious work the individual has done on himself or herself over years would decide that. This simply means that the core of consciousness in an individual with this placement is functioning in a more visible and thus vulnerable manner.

Difficulties of Saturn in Seventh House:

If Saturn is not comfortable, one may not have any rhyme or reason to exist without constant inspecting of the “self” through the mirror of the “other”. The “other” does not have to be a person, dead or alive. It can be anything personified and projected unto.

In some cases, one may “encounter” an experience that can personify Saturnian qualities for better or for worse: long, slow, and impossible-to-resolve scenarios, or in contrast, security-generating situations, such as a long marriage to a committed partner. Either case, as the source of consciousness, and hence psychological stability seems to be outside of the boundaries of self, one may find it difficult at times to feel “grounded” in himself or herself.

Evolutionary Path of Saturn in Seventh House:

The evolutionary path for an individual with Saturn in the Seventh House seems to include a voluntary practice of “mindfulness” relative to the nature of the self. The meditative “breathing” exercises developed by ancient cultures are specifically helpful in this case: through reconnecting with one’s breath in the present moment, one “relates” to oneself.

As Saturn in the Seventh House or Libra may make one rather predisposed to being divorced from the self, cultivating an appreciation of the self and developing a healthy relationship with the conscious core of one’s existence will be of utmost importance through the course of one’s life.

Saturn in Aspect to Venus:

With the planet of “consciousness” in aspect to the planet of “relation”, one’s mode of relating to the “self” and the “other” is imbued with caution and contemplation. In other words, there is a degree of “control” over one’s perception of self and/or inter-action with the “other”.

As the concepts of “excellence” (Saturn) and “infatuation” (Venus) are linked in the psyche of the individual, one tends to have a higher degree of initial scrutiny with regards to the self and the significant others, hence one’s sense of self-acceptance or admiration for the “other” tend to mature over time.

The individual may experience a noted inclination towards whatever that is “old” or “traditional”: history, antiquity, archives, and genealogy may be interesting areas of study. There may also be present love of grandparents or a tendency to have more mature friends or acquaintances who enjoy social status or recognition.

Difficulties of Saturn in aspect to Venus:

If Saturn and Venus are not comfortable in association with each other, the individual may see an inherent incompatibility between “love” and “commitment”, or may develop a tendency to severely limit his or her joy and pleasures in life as a result of not feeling “deserving” enough.

Alternatively, the individual may be too frugal, or too exacting in his or her relationships, to a point of embittering the sweet spontaneity of courtship, or making the beloved feel not “good” enough in the course of a relationship.

“Father Complex” of Saturn in Association with Libra, 7th House, or Venus:

Saturn in Libra, in the Seventh House, or in aspect to Venus can symbolize a father figure whose sense of self has been largely compromised by his social functions or by what the “other” (including his wife) expects of him. Such a father may be overtly committed to his relationships and friendships, to the point of having lost a sense of autonomy.

Alternatively, the father may have been perceived by the individual as someone who has overlooked his “manly” aspects in favor of not “rocking the boat” of family life. In its positive form, the father may be someone whose professional life involves mediating (lawyers, therapists, counselors, etc.) or someone with suppressed artistic abilities (“I decided to join the Army because I couldn’t make money playing the guitar.”)

In general, the association of Saturn with the archetype of Libra in any of its variations (in the Seventh House, or in association with Venus) may incline the individual to choose partners who somehow resemble the father figure (for better or worse), even if this choice may not be quite conscious, especially in the first thirty years of life (i.e. before the first Saturn Return).

As one grows older, a consciousness of this pattern may help one form relationships with a less degree of unconscious projection carried over from childhood expectations. Regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the individual with Saturn in association with Libra, Seventh House, or Venus in the birth chart, intimate relationships and social interactions seem to become more enduring and satisfying over time.

In the next post, I will address Saturn in the Second House, or in Taurus, as well as the opposite polarity of Saturn in the Eighth House, in Scorpio, or in association with Pluto.

*Please note that the above interpretations are oversimplified and can be modified by other factors present in each individual chart.

**For an introduction to Saturn, please read this article.

• For an edited and expanded version of this article and all other Saturn posts, or a Spanish edition, click here.
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