The “Limits” of Astrology: Saturn for Today
The “Limits” of Astrology: Saturn for Today
by Rev. Alice Miller
The only place where limits truly exist is in consciousness. We hold group definitions of life in the general or world consciousness. We have generally accepted limits of human abilities based on our definition of human beingness. Historically, most of these were regarded as physical and/or what makes the physical acceptable to its spiritual source, so that it can be allowed to return home.
One of the most valuable life-tools that can be learned from the study of astrology is the nature and purpose of limits. The principle has several aspects. Two are of primary importance.
The first of these is that life processes are self-limiting. This can easily be observed in human growth processes. We, quite naturally, stop growing physically when our bodies reach a size that is adequate for our purpose. We do not have to do anything to stop it. There is also a limiting of the reproductive phase in females so that conception does not generally occur before or after the period when women are most physically able to carry a fetus to term. Other limits are defined in terms of internal maturation. Most children learn to communicate near the same age, and they begin to reason during another fairly specific period.
Limits are inherent in being. What a thing is–meaning how we define it, will determine its boundaries and limits. These will remain relatively constant unless we do major work in consciousness to change them. The only real way to expand our limits beyond the accepted norm is to rename and redefine ourselves. Only an expanded consciousness can do so.
We, individually, and as a species, are given certain boundaries and limits in the same way that parents set limits for growing children--according to the development of the child. Even so humanity and life. Each phase of life, each species, has certain limits of development and/or purpose. When those limits have been reached, the species dies or it mutates, adapting to a new purpose or environmental developments.
Saturn and the Moon
Our natal Moon directs the flow of Solar (spirit) energy through our lives. Compare this energy flow to the physical circulatory system. A body, through which no energy flows is dead. Fluid energy is symbolized by Water, perhaps because it has many of the same qualities. Water needs limits, to prevent it from meandering without purpose. It does not run up hill very well, being subject to a rollover or wave effect. Only when converted to ice will it stay in place; only when converted to steam will it naturally rise.
Any element with a natural tendency to flow requires boundaries, if it is to function as a form, a structure, an idea, a concept, a being, or a unit. Image Saturn as the safety net for growth, the container in which creation takes place, the ground in our electrical system, the banks of our stream of consciousness. The interplay between the natal Moon and natal Saturn has a lot to do with physical health and/or a healthy lifestyle. Negative aspects between the two show boundaries that must be dealt with as a part of our maturation process. They may be expanded, re-defined, removed, or gone around, but they cannot be ignored. The process always begins with understanding that such boundaries once served a purpose. In some way they protected us.
Psychologically, Saturn represents your Authority Figure. Traditionally the father, it may now point to the mother, the church or any other person who is the final authority and (usually) the family business manager. The Authority Figure should also be our Protector, the person who makes us feel safe and secure. Some authority figures are scary. These are not really authorities, but abusers. They do not, cannot teach discipline because they are not, themselves, disciplined.
Saturn also defines our personal space and boundaries. By sign it describes where our person space limits are. Aries Saturn, for example, draws the line of acceptable behavior from others at the skin. They will allow anything except and actual threat to their lives–until they lean better.
We use Saturn to define ourselves, as, for example, Leo Saturn may define us by our heritage. We use Saturn to draw our personal limits, using guilt, duty, energy, money, etc.
Our natal Saturn shows our spiritually conferred authority, meaning what we are authorized to do. Claiming that authority, based on our present level of (spiritual) maturity, also confers certain rights.
Contrary to the “old” astrological notions of a negative Saturn, Modern Saturn serves a very important, even a required function in life. The more we love our limits the better they will serve us. Like anything else which is living, limits respond to praise by growing, changing, expanding and to criticism by contracting, losing energy, and dying.
Continual criticism will squeeze the spirit out of a thing, converting all its energy to rock solid form and immovability. It may then die, disintegrate, and have its elements reused in another process; or it may continue to exist for a time, but will not truly live. It will no longer truly be human and able to recognize its essential nature and spirit.
Here we see the flip side of the combined entry of Jupiter/expansion with Saturn/limits into the general consciousness. The Jupiterian ability to unde5rstand the principles of consciousness allows recognition of the value of limits. Like the ability to expand, the recognition of limits is entirely a matter of belief. As spiritual, and therefore essentially unlimited beings, the only limits we can have are those which we regard as necessary, valuable, or useful for identity, creativity and enlightenment.
(Book is available at www.lifeprintastrology.com )
by Rev. Alice Miller
The only place where limits truly exist is in consciousness. We hold group definitions of life in the general or world consciousness. We have generally accepted limits of human abilities based on our definition of human beingness. Historically, most of these were regarded as physical and/or what makes the physical acceptable to its spiritual source, so that it can be allowed to return home.
One of the most valuable life-tools that can be learned from the study of astrology is the nature and purpose of limits. The principle has several aspects. Two are of primary importance.
The first of these is that life processes are self-limiting. This can easily be observed in human growth processes. We, quite naturally, stop growing physically when our bodies reach a size that is adequate for our purpose. We do not have to do anything to stop it. There is also a limiting of the reproductive phase in females so that conception does not generally occur before or after the period when women are most physically able to carry a fetus to term. Other limits are defined in terms of internal maturation. Most children learn to communicate near the same age, and they begin to reason during another fairly specific period.
Limits are inherent in being. What a thing is–meaning how we define it, will determine its boundaries and limits. These will remain relatively constant unless we do major work in consciousness to change them. The only real way to expand our limits beyond the accepted norm is to rename and redefine ourselves. Only an expanded consciousness can do so.
We, individually, and as a species, are given certain boundaries and limits in the same way that parents set limits for growing children--according to the development of the child. Even so humanity and life. Each phase of life, each species, has certain limits of development and/or purpose. When those limits have been reached, the species dies or it mutates, adapting to a new purpose or environmental developments.
Saturn and the Moon
Our natal Moon directs the flow of Solar (spirit) energy through our lives. Compare this energy flow to the physical circulatory system. A body, through which no energy flows is dead. Fluid energy is symbolized by Water, perhaps because it has many of the same qualities. Water needs limits, to prevent it from meandering without purpose. It does not run up hill very well, being subject to a rollover or wave effect. Only when converted to ice will it stay in place; only when converted to steam will it naturally rise.
Any element with a natural tendency to flow requires boundaries, if it is to function as a form, a structure, an idea, a concept, a being, or a unit. Image Saturn as the safety net for growth, the container in which creation takes place, the ground in our electrical system, the banks of our stream of consciousness. The interplay between the natal Moon and natal Saturn has a lot to do with physical health and/or a healthy lifestyle. Negative aspects between the two show boundaries that must be dealt with as a part of our maturation process. They may be expanded, re-defined, removed, or gone around, but they cannot be ignored. The process always begins with understanding that such boundaries once served a purpose. In some way they protected us.
Psychologically, Saturn represents your Authority Figure. Traditionally the father, it may now point to the mother, the church or any other person who is the final authority and (usually) the family business manager. The Authority Figure should also be our Protector, the person who makes us feel safe and secure. Some authority figures are scary. These are not really authorities, but abusers. They do not, cannot teach discipline because they are not, themselves, disciplined.
Saturn also defines our personal space and boundaries. By sign it describes where our person space limits are. Aries Saturn, for example, draws the line of acceptable behavior from others at the skin. They will allow anything except and actual threat to their lives–until they lean better.
We use Saturn to define ourselves, as, for example, Leo Saturn may define us by our heritage. We use Saturn to draw our personal limits, using guilt, duty, energy, money, etc.
Our natal Saturn shows our spiritually conferred authority, meaning what we are authorized to do. Claiming that authority, based on our present level of (spiritual) maturity, also confers certain rights.
Contrary to the “old” astrological notions of a negative Saturn, Modern Saturn serves a very important, even a required function in life. The more we love our limits the better they will serve us. Like anything else which is living, limits respond to praise by growing, changing, expanding and to criticism by contracting, losing energy, and dying.
Continual criticism will squeeze the spirit out of a thing, converting all its energy to rock solid form and immovability. It may then die, disintegrate, and have its elements reused in another process; or it may continue to exist for a time, but will not truly live. It will no longer truly be human and able to recognize its essential nature and spirit.
Here we see the flip side of the combined entry of Jupiter/expansion with Saturn/limits into the general consciousness. The Jupiterian ability to unde5rstand the principles of consciousness allows recognition of the value of limits. Like the ability to expand, the recognition of limits is entirely a matter of belief. As spiritual, and therefore essentially unlimited beings, the only limits we can have are those which we regard as necessary, valuable, or useful for identity, creativity and enlightenment.
(Book is available at www.lifeprintastrology.com )
posted by Alice Miller @ 5:27 AM
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