January 13, 2010 – May 30, 2010: Saturn Retrograde
Retrograde periods are times for reflection and heightened inner awareness. Since Saturn symbolizes limits, aging, and karma, this period can yield understandings in related areas of your life. Saturn retrograde lasts about four and one-half months and occurs about every year; the last one took place from December 31, 2008 through May 17, 2009.
This retrograde cycle begins on January 13 and lasts through May 30. During this time, Saturn traverses from 5 degrees of Libra through 28 degrees of Virgo.
Saturn retrograde periods can allow us insights into our idea(l)s of authority, what it is and what our relationship is to it. Some good questions to meditate upon during Saturn retrograde include:
- Is authority something we readily give over to other people or institutions? Do we maintain a healthy level of authority within, being confident that we have the resources to be able to make efficient choices for our long-term well-being?
- Do we have adequate systems in place to filter the counsel we may get from others to see how it fits within our own knowingness of what is best?
- Are we the authors of our lives (or at least integrally contributing co-authors, since not everything is under our control) or have we ceded the role of writing the novel of our live to others?
We can also efficiently use the energies of this planetary cycle to reflect upon what we have built and what we are building. Considering whether projects and relationships that we are putting our hard work and resources into are good investments can be a very worthwhile activity.
As Saturn is related to foundations and protection, it also represents our defense mechanisms. These are the psychological structures that we may have unconsciously put in place to help us deal with the fear of feeling vulnerable. As Saturn goes retrograde, we can look within to see if we can understand more about our defense mechanisms, seeing those that may be supportive and those which may inhibit our ability to more freely connect and express the fullness of who we are. (For more on Saturn’s link to our defenses, see Barriers and Boundaries by Liz Greene.)
While we can gain insights on our relationship to Saturnian principles if we focus and reflect inward during this retrograde period, it’s often more powerful to wait, if possible, to take major related action until after Saturn has gone direct (on May 30).
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It’s interesting how Spring is going to feel so slow and the bam! the summertime t-square and grand cross.
Hi, Michelle. That’s great insight!!! Oh, the summer of 2010…. Peace to you, Stephanie
This is wonderful, sound, and timely advice!! And an excellent thing to make into a regular habit…
I am glad that you found value in it! I hope all is lovely with you. Happy upcoming New Moon Eclipse! Best, Stephanie
Will you please tell me when the Saturn will retrogade next time?
Saturn goes retrograde next on January 25 2011. Blessings, Stephanie