The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need

by Joanna Martine Woolfold

  Saturn’s effect is to delay rewards until they are earned. It perfects human nature while it bestows an ability to wait. It is the planet of courage, steadfastness, and integrity.

  Many people shrink from accepting its burdens, but Saturn is not to be feared. If you look into your past, you will probably see that you have achieved lasting strength and satisfaction from triumphing over obstacles.

  As a negative influence, Saturn can make a person overly ambitious, calculating and selfish, solitary, inhibited, and unhappy. Its negative influence is associated with inflexibility, cruelty, humorlessness, and pessimism. Saturn also represents illness, handicaps, and misfortune.

  Keep in mind, however, that Saturn is only one of many influences in a chart. Obviously, it is an important influence, but Saturn’s power is not necessarily felt in an overwhelming way.

  In its symbolic form, Saturn is our destiny. It rules fate, the things we cannot escape, and the payment we must make for what we receive.

  Where Is Your Saturn?

  To find out what sign Saturn was in on the day of your birth, consult the Saturn Tables on page 506.

  SATURN IN ARIES Saturn brings delay to Aries, the sign of initiative, and the result is confusion. If you are a Saturn-Arien, you can be strong and powerful one minute and irresolute and wavering the next. This position is not an easy one, for you must continually fight against obstacles placed in your way. Many of you achieve success, but not without disappointment and setback. Saturn in Aries makes you ambitious and determined, and promotes your power to control other people. On the negative side, Saturn-Ariens can be stubborn, dictatorial, and sometimes solitary and grumpy. In general, your hardest times come early in life. It is then that you develop the strength of character that serves you well in later years. As you grow older, each year brings less struggle and more success. Natives of this Saturn position tend to suffer from headaches and dental problems.

  SATURN IN TAURUS In Taurus, the obstinate and tenacious qualities of Saturn are emphasized. With this Saturn position you are determined and capable, and take responsibility seriously. Your strong willpower borders on stubbornness and rigidity. You usually try to amass possessions and wealth because of your underlying fear that you will be left alone and bereft, without material resources or love. Unfortunately, Saturn in Taurus does not predict an easy time financially. Money tends to come in slowly and to be dissipated along the way. You tend to spend a lot of effort trying to put away the savings, stocks, bonds, and real estate you feel you must have. As a result, you are sometimes considered materialistic and selfish. However, once you achieve material comfort (usually later in life), you are generous to others in need, for you understand what it means not to have enough. Saturn in this position makes you susceptible to colds, sore throats, and thyroid problems.

  SATURN IN GEMINI Gemini is a good home for Saturn. This versatile sign’s intellectual qualities are emphasized by Saturn. With Saturn in Gemini, you have a sharp mind that is deepened with understanding under this planet’s steadying influence. You can, however, be cynical and sarcastic, skeptical and coldhearted. Much more likely, you have a happy combination of native wisdom and a youthful wish to learn. Saturn-Geminis sometimes have a difficult childhood during which you suffer loneliness or sorrow. You may have a hard time obtaining an education. Later in life, you are likely to encounter obstacles while traveling. However, Saturn endows you with a good head for finances, and also a musical ability. You prosper when engaged in work that requires both patience and intelligence. Saturn-Geminis are susceptible to ailments of the chest and lungs.

  SATURN IN CANCER Saturn encourages too much dependence on others in this emotional and clinging sign. As a Saturn-Cancerian, you love to overindulge in eating, drinking, and other sensual pleasures. In this position, though, Saturn also gives a shrewdness and tenacity to your personality. You are superb at seeing a task through to completion. You are also ambitious and strive to find material wealth to make your life secure. The obstacles that Saturn places in your path are insecurity and lack of confidence. Sometimes your early life is marked by problems with parents, especially a mother. Many of you Saturn-Cancerians had to take on family responsibility at a very young age. Natives of this position tend to marry someone older in an effort to find an anchor and stability. Saturn endows you with good business sense, although you must be cautious in dealings with relatives. The negative side of Saturn in Cancer is a tendency to melancholy and self-pity. You are prone to digestive and stomach problems; if you are not careful, you can become quite overweight.

  SATURN IN LEO Restrictive Saturn and the expansive sign of Leo are not in harmony. Saturn in Leo is likely to bring a chill to the emotions and disappointment in love. There are, however, many good points to this Saturn position: You are proud and strong-willed, self-assured and authoritative. You are good at organizing people and assuming responsibility. As a Saturn-Leo, you have an instinct for knowing how to draw a public to you. You are inclined to be cold and analytical in choosing your associations, though you are subtle enough to keep this from being obvious to the casual observer. You fear appearing mediocre and ordinary, and you hide feelings of envy and jealousy because this is a weakness you will never admit to. You strive to make a dramatic impression, but tend to be suspicious of compliments and dislike excessive displays of affection. In your career you often rise to great heights, but Saturn in Leo has a way of causing a downfall when you are at the peak. Natives of this position are susceptible to high blood pressure and heart ailments.

  SATURN IN VIRGO The responsible planet Saturn and the conscientious sign of Virgo work well together. This Saturn position heightens Virgo’s intellectual ability and practical turn of mind. You are methodical and organized, willing to work hard to achieve goals. To you, theory and practice are one and the same; you immediately put what you learn into use. Saturn does place hardship in your path, usually early in life when you must sometimes cope with sorrow, disappointment, or frail health. You can become bogged down in trivialities because you are a stickler for details. You are also capable of becoming a petty tyrant when others don’t see things your way. Saturn gives you wisdom but not necessarily vision. Too often you see the dark side of life and fear the unknown—that is, what you cannot categorize and control. On the plus side, Saturn endows you with an ability to make money, especially in real estate. Natives of this Saturn position are vulnerable to intestinal upsets and ulcers.

  SATURN IN LIBRA Libra is a favorable sign for Saturn. As a Saturn-Libran you are gifted with good judgment and an instinct for making the right impression on others. You know when to be aggressive and when to be diplomatic. Though it is part of Saturn’s lessons to bring some sorrow and disappointment in relationships, you usually benefit from the stability of marriage. However, there may be a divorce before you find happiness with a mate. Sometimes an early love affair turns out to be the love of your life but ends in loss. Saturn in Libra may suppress the desire to share and be close to another person, which often results in loneliness. In general, this is an excellent position for success in public life, and also for a strong showing in artistic pursuits. It has been said that if your Saturn is in Libra, you will only get into trouble when you are doing what you ought not to be doing. Saturn-Librans are susceptible to back injuries and kidney problems.

  SATURN IN SCORPIO Saturn is powerful in this secretive and passionate sign, lending subtlety and force to the personality. As a native of this position you understand human motivation, which enables you to control others. Your dominating strength is often hidden under a pleasant and genial exterior. Saturn, however, places obstacles in your path in the form of emotional difficulties and sometimes scandal. You tend to be drawn to secret love affairs that bring sorrow or trouble into your life. When you achieve power you sometimes undergo a downfall because of rumor and gossip. When young you often have health problems, but you get through this and tend to live to a ripe old age. This is an excellent planetary position for executive
ability and an unswerving commitment to a goal. Your strong will can become inflexible. Once you set on a course, you see it through to the end. You are prone to secret brooding, but there is usually a touch of dry Saturnian humor to relieve it. Saturn-Scorpios are liable to suffer the loss of loved ones early in life.

  SATURN IN SAGITTARIUS In Sagittarius, Saturn has the effect of delaying success until the lessons of patience and perseverance are learned. You may encounter adversity and setbacks early in life, and often must work hard and long to receive what is due you. However, as you get older you acquire wisdom, vision, and a depth of understanding that fashions you into a leader. Saturn gives your mind a philosophical bent; you can usually face up to what life offers because you put your faith in the long-term outcome. This is an excellent position for success in law, politics, writing, and foreign affairs. Saturn, however, emphasizes Sagittarius’s tactlessness and cynical point of view. It is possible you may suffer a blow to your reputation because of something heedless you have said. As a Saturn-Sagittarian you experience inner conflict between your need for order and security and your desire to seek adventure and challenge. Natives of this Saturn position are susceptible to accidents involving the hips and thighs.

  SATURN IN CAPRICORN Saturn rules the sign of Capricorn, and thus its power is strong here. Both the positive and negative qualities of Saturn are powerfully emphasized in you. You are ambitious and independent, dedicated and unswerving, but your methods can be dictatorial and overbearing and you may sometimes be thought of as selfish and mean. Saturn puts many obstacles in your path, and you learn early in life to be self-sufficient. You want to do everything yourself. It would be easier to take a cub away from a mother bear than a task away from a Saturn-Capricorn. You also have an instinct for doing things the hard way; you don’t listen to advice. However, you do learn from experience. As a child you may have been insecure and timid, but as you grow older you gain in authority. Loneliness and an inability to share is a running thread throughout your life. Many of you are prone to melancholy, but you usually have a witty, dry sense of humor. Generally, you attract faithful friends, but Saturn in Capricorn tends to bring disappointment in love. Natives of this Saturn position are prone to aches in the joints and knees.

  SATURN IN AQUARIUS In the humanitarian sign of Aquarius, Saturn’s qualities of trustworthiness and self-discipline are well placed. As a Saturn-Aquarian, you have a talent for dealing with people and appealing to the masses. Many of you achieve fame in both the entertainment world and politics because of this ability. Saturn in Aquarius enhances a rational and original mind, capable of learning and study. Like those with Saturn in the other fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio, you are likely to encounter obstacles and difficulties early in life, but you tend to gain the wisdom and maturity that serve you well as you get older. You like to run the show and get your own way, and you are clever about manipulating people so you can. You can be obstinate and cunning at the same time. Saturn gives you the aggressiveness to take leadership, but you know how to avoid rubbing others the wrong way. You have humor and wit, though your need for independence sometimes leads to a lonely life. Natives of this Saturn position are prone to injuries to the lower legs and ankles.

  SATURN IN PISCES Saturn in the mystical sign of Pisces does not favor material success. What you gain in life are sagacity and discernment. Your vivid imagination can be translated into creative work; your sympathy and intuition enable you to draw others to yourself. However, more than people of any other Saturn position, you are sensitive to the woes and harshness of the world. Saturn often brings disappointment and loss; the way it does so for you is to force you to make personal sacrifices for others or dictate that you take an inferior position even though your talents are superior. In time you can change this, but you must first develop the courage and determination to do so. Pisces is the sign of self-undoing, and your greatest power comes when you learn not to be the cause of your own unhappiness. You are drawn to philosophy, writing, and teaching of a spiritual or occult nature. Natives of this Saturn placement are vulnerable to ailments and problems involving the feet.

  URANUS

  URANUS IS THE PLANET of change and originality, symbolizing the element of surprise in your life. Uranus brings about sudden events and opportunities. It awakens, shocks, and revolutionizes. It is responsible for the flash of human genius that creates something new—whether it be in art or science.

  Do you often take an action that has no rhyme or reason? Are you attracted to an unusual line of work or to odd, colorful people? Do you feel that you are a more inventive thinker than those around you? Do you take an interest in modern science and the latest discoveries in the world? Are you known for your startling pronouncements or being an unusual character?

  A person who has a strong Uranus in his or her birth chart will answer yes to these questions. It is important for you to know the sign that Uranus occupies in your horoscope in order to see where your own originality and special self-expression can best be utilized.

  Uranus was not known to the ancients, for the planet was discovered only in 1781. Uranus is the first of the three modern planets, and the first ever to be found through a telescope. On March 13, 1781, at Bath, England, the British court astronomer Sir William Herschel discovered what he thought was a comet. After a year of careful observation, he verified that this heavenly body was a new planet in our solar system.

  Herschel named the planet Georgium Sidus (Star of George) in honor of King George III of England, but the name never caught on. For a while it was called Herschel, and finally was changed to Uranus. (The letter H, for Herschel, is still embodied in the symbol for Uranus: ***************.)

  Uranus was the Roman sky god, the first ruler of the universe. In astrology Uranus is the planet of the future, associated with modern science, invention, electricity, humanitarian movements, and revolution. It is the planet of sudden upheaval and swift, unexpected happenings. Its domain is all that is new, original, different, and unorthodox.

  Uranus relates to your inner will and your secret power. In certain respects its power is similar to that of Mars. The difference is that Uranus is a deep-seated energy within the personality, an unconscious purpose that is revealed over a lifetime. As the great astrologer Evangeline Adams explains, a person can be powerful even if he or she is physically crippled, and another person may have enormous energy that he or she scatters about to no purpose. The first person has a strong Uranus and an afflicted Mars. The second has a powerful Mars and a weak Uranus.

  Uranus’s position in your chart indicates whether you have an inventive or unconventional mind and if you are attracted to odd and peculiar ideas. It designates what kind of genius you possess, whether you encounter unusual circumstances in work, travel, and relationships, and your propensity for sudden and dramatic events that mark your life.

  If Uranus is prominent in your horoscope, you are inclined to be independent and resourceful. You may dress in an unusual manner, create your own style, and invent new gadgets. People may be attracted to you because of your “far-out” point of view. You may even be psychic. Uranus is the guiding force behind the visionary.

  Uranus’s influence also tends to make a person eccentric in behavior, undisciplined, reckless, and perverse. He or she may be difficult to get along with because of an abrupt manner, rebelliousness, or unpredictable moods.

  In addition to having a personal meaning in your horoscope, Uranus is one of three planets in astrology that have a generational influence. The three modern planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, are so far away from the Sun that they travel very slowly through the zodiac. They spend a long time in each of the signs: Uranus takes seven years to transit one sign, Neptune spends fourteen years in one sign, and Pluto takes from thirteen to thirty-two years to go through one sign. Astrologers believe that these planets influence a whole generation as well as individuals. Uranus was first discovered at the time of the industrial revolution, the beginning of the mod
ern age. The planet’s journey through the zodiac corresponds with the new discoveries of science. For example, between 1996 and 2003, Uranus traveled through the sign of Aquarius, the sign that it rules. Aquarius represents the airwaves, space, freedom of opinion and far-flung communication. During Uranus’s transit, the computer and micro-technology literally took charge of every aspect of our lives—how we communicate, do business, file information. Indeed, the world is run by the microchip, and scientists say the computer has changed the very way human beings think. Uranus is the ruler of the new Age we are in, the Age of Aquarius (see chapter 13).

  Uranus brings change into our lives, new situations, and new people. Its gifts are always sudden and ephemeral; you have to take immediate advantage of them before they flash by. The message of Uranus is to move with change and not be afraid of the future.

  Where Is Your Uranus?

  To find out what sign Uranus was in on the day of your birth, consult the Uranus Tables on page 510.

  URANUS IN ARIES Uranus in the active sign of Aries favors an original and inventive mind. You need to be in charge and, given the chance, you will run other people’s lives. You can be brusque and blunt because you feel that you know better than others. What you want is to see things clearly and not be a victim of confused or disorganized thinking. You immediately try to put your own ideas into action and have little patience with tried-and-true methods. You believe that people who play it safe are usually sorry. Often you have an inimitable style of dressing, a look all your own. You tend to change jobs or residences often and are fond of traveling.

  URANUS IN TAURUS Uranus is very strong in Taurus and its influence promotes willpower and determination. Uranus in Taurus helps you to produce results through patient and concerted effort. You have a need to build, to be constructive, and to achieve. You tend to be blessed with financial luck, particularly with possessions that gain in value. Often you have a mania for owning new and different objects, and Uranus sometimes brings a sudden find into your life. A taste for bright colors and vivid patterns is evident in the way you dress and decorate. Uranus in Taurus usually indicates a happy and prosperous marriage.