And when Saturn conjoins with Venus in Libra, like it does today, it is all things Venusian–such as relationships, the expression of what we value, the pursuit of peace and justice–that we are called to make real.

We’ve got two great supports in making things real today.

The Moon in probing Scorpio inspires our passion and a sense of inextricable connectedness. Go deep within, uncovering what you know to be real and true. Commit to it, knowing that at the core, beyond the stickiness of ego attachments, exists a reservoir of personal power.

Additionally, Mars–the planet of assertion and achievement–sweetly connects with both Mercury and the Sun, helping to inspire a fire deep within. Choose what’s important, set your sights upon a goal, and jump out into the playing field of life in aligned action.

Astro-Atlas*
12:27 am: Mercury (Libra) sextile Mars (Leo)
4:55 am: Moon (Scorpio) sextile Pluto (Capricorn)
7:12 am: Moon (Scorpio) square Mars (Leo)
11:12 am: Moon (Scorpio) opposite Jupiter (Taurus)
4:49 pm: Venus (Libra) conjunct Saturn (Libra)
11:44 pm: Sun (Libra) sextile Mars (Leo)

* all times PDT

Waving farewell to the Virgin,
Saturn opens the door
To the Scales.

Shifts yield opportunities
To intention
Desired restructuring.

On agenda:
The way we partner,
Create order, refine grace.

For topics under microscope
Weak links found,
Integrity solutions revealed.

The secret formula:
Honoring Saturn, father time,
Doing the work.

Walking path diligently
Eyes open
To see jewels of achievement.

Note: For more on Saturn in Libra, including potential health trends that may be ushered in as well as related wellness suggestions, see this article.

Saturn is a taskmaster whose aim is to help us create structures of lasting value, those that are reality-based and purposeful. As such, Saturn tests limits, finds the weakest link, and applies pressure—all for the sake of showing us how to forge a creation that has integrity and meaning. Given that Saturn is about doing the work, and not about the quick-and-easy, many people struggle with the energies of this planet. Yet, if we listen as Saturn provides us with guidance, following its one-foot-in-front-of-the-other reality-based tactics, we will be rewarded tangibly since Saturn represents the material and the mundane.

When Saturn transits through a sign, those areas of life ruled by that sign are what the planet of structure focuses its attention upon. What does and doesn’t work is brought to light in a way that we often become very aware of; you can see a lot of it if you focus on themes in the “news.” Hopefully, once faced with knowledge of what doesn’t work, we—both individually and collectively—take this awareness and responsibly work to refine and recreate the broken pieces so that the whole better serves our needs.

Saturn took a break from its recent residence in Virgo (where it had been since September 2007) to do a several month stint in Libra (October 29, 2009 through April 7, 2010). Now, on July 21, it returns to the fairness- and beauty-oriented sign for an extended tenancy, ushering in a new mini-era of collective zeitgeist and cultural trends.  Saturn will remain in Libra through October 5, 2012.

Looking Back to Look Forward

Looking back to the past two-plus years that Saturn has been in Virgo can serve as a great way to see how this planet works when it transits through a sign, giving us a foreshadow of what Saturn in Libra may offer. Known as the sign of the harvest, Virgo rules agriculture and our food supply as well as healthcare, crafts, labor, and pets. These are among the areas that have caught our collective attention during this time.

For example, questions about the integrity of our food—Where and how is grown?…Is it safe?…Is it genetically modified?—too residence in the minds of a much broader audience than in the recent past. As we’ve seen the fallibility of the commercial food industry in such instances as salmonella-contaminated peanut butter and e. coli-tainted hamburgers, we’ve also see the rise of farmers’ markets and the grow-your-own-food movement as well as an increased scrutiny about the way our food is grown, processed, transported, and sold. Another example of Saturn making its way through Virgo is our focus on healthcare, a premier Virgoan arena, something that took center stage in the United States over the past year.

Saturn in Libra Trends

Saturn in Libra will have impacts upon varied aspects of our culture. Under this sign’s purview are law, femininity, relationships, art, fashion, cosmetics, weights and measures, and other areas related to the Libran ideals of fairness and grace. These sectors of society are likely to face scrutiny and go through litmus tests as we also turn our eyes to focus on questions related to equality and justice. That which has integrity will likely flourish while transience is uncovered. Saturn through Libra will potentially expose areas where fairness may be a concept or ideal but is not being practiced as a reality.

This period of Saturn in Libra is certain to be evocative. That’s because while Saturn’s cleaning house in Libra-related areas of our lives, it will be doing so with assistance from other planets with whom it’s in relationship: transformative Pluto (Saturn/Pluto square: 2009-10), unconventional Uranus (Saturn/Uranus opposition: 2010), and expansive Jupiter (Saturn/Jupiter opposition: 2010).

As I find Saturn transits fascinating, it’s tempting for me to write more here about a wide array of potential trends. But, I want to honor Saturn and create a narrow framework for this article, one more in sync with Planetary Apothecary. Therefore, I’m going to hone in on how its residence in Libra may affect some of our perspectives on health as well as the wellness trends it may usher in, while offering suggestions on self-care practices that may be especially beneficial during this time.(If you’re interested in other trends as related to Saturn in Libra or other astrology transits, I have started a page on Facebook called “AstroTrends” that features this focus.)

So, what will Saturn in Libra portend for our approach to wellness? I want to share with you my thoughts on four Libran topics—sugar, blood sugar balance, skin, and relationships—and offer you self-care tools that can help you enhance your health and well-being in these areas.

Sugar

In astrology, sugar is under the domain of Venus, the ruler of Libra; therefore, as Saturn enters Libra, sugar will likely be a topic to which we will all pay more attention. Already, we’ve seen shadows of this with talks of rising sugar prices and its declining availability through the world; the idea of taxing soda; and the rising awareness of the negative impacts of high-fructose corn syrup. I expect these and other sugar-related issues–including more insights into its effects on health–to become even more top of mind as Saturn journeys through Libra.

Self-care suggestions

If you’re looking to reduce your intake of added sugar, here are some ways to do so.

• Sugar is often a “hidden” ingredient in many packaged foods. Even those you wouldn’t think would contain it—such as chips, pretzels, and crackers—may as manufacturers add it to create their product’s unique taste. Therefore, read the food labels carefully, looking both at the ingredients list as well as the grams of sugar per serving. Remember that the ingredients are presented in the list in descending order; if sugar is one of the first ingredients, it comprises a good portion of the food product.
• When you have a sugar craving and just can’t ignore your sweet tooth, grab a piece of fruit rather than a cookie or baked good.
• See if there are places that you can cut back on the amount of added sugar you use. For example, buying plain yogurt and adding  fruit and honey (or fruit jam) will provide you with less refined sugar than if you bought flavored yogurt.
• Expand your snack repertoire to include savory ones in addition to sweet ones.
• Make your own “soda” by adding some 100% fruit juice to sparkling water.

If you haven’t tried more natural forms of sugar, Saturn in Libra presents a great opportunity to explore them. These can be used in place of refined sugar in coffee, tea, and other foods. Many can be used in baked goods recipes as well. (You can find conversion guidelines for refined to natural sweeteners on many websites.)

While there are a lot of natural sweeteners available, my personal preference is the tried and true, the ones closest to whole foods. These include raw honey (except for infants, pregnant women, and those who are immunocompromised), maple syrup, and blackstrap molasses. There is a mini-cornucopia of others to try, including raw sugar, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, xylitol, and stevia.

When it comes to sugar alternatives, I’m partial to natural ones, no matter which ones, over artificial sweeteners. Saccharin may cause cancer, aspartame is thought to be a neurotoxin, and while sucralose hasn’t been found to have any negative impacts yet, I still think it’s more prudent to trust nature rather than laboratories with the foods we ingest.

Blood Sugar Balance

Another way in which our attention may be drawn to the topic of sugar is via a renewed focus on conditions related to blood sugar balance. Not only is Libra related to sugar, but in medical astrology it is also associated with the islets of Langerhans, which produce the glucose-regulating hormone, insulin.

Hopefully, we will see not only new treatments for diabetes types 1 and 2, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, and other conditions related to blood sugar dysregulation but also a focus on preventing them in both children and adults. Just as our lexicon has grown when it comes to foods that are “heart-healthy” or “cancer-preventive” potentially so it will for foods that are “blood-sugar balancing.”

As Saturn goes through Libra, hopefully it will also bring increased awareness to what seems like a more under-the-radar blood sugar condition—hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia may occur in those with diabetes and more chronic blood sugar imbalances as well as in “healthy” individuals. When blood sugar dips below a certain level, we may manifest hypoglycemia and any/all of its related symptoms: fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, sudden hunger, nausea, et al.  While there are many causes of hypoglycemia (including diabetes, some medicines, and alcohol intake), some people just experience a mild form of it during the day as a result of imbalanced food intake patterns.

Self-care suggestions

Here are some dietary tips that can help you promote more regular blood sugar balance. (If you have or are concerned you have health conditions related to glucose imbalance, see a licensed healthcare practitioner for guidance.)

• Reduce added sugars in your diet (see section above for suggestions).
• Ensure your diet provides you with enough fiber-rich foods, as fiber is essential for maintaining blood sugar health (as well as health in general). Fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are your best bets.
• While fiber is important to healthy blood sugar balance, there are many others nutrients as well that play a role. If you’re not sure that your diet is providing you with ample amounts of all the essential nutrients, consider taking a good quality multivitamin.
• If you’re going for more than three hours between meals, eat a light snack to keep your blood sugar on an even keel. Best are snacks that combine complex carbohydrates with some protein or fat, since the latter two macronutrients help to blunt blood sugar elevations that the carbohydrates may cause. Some ideas include whole grain crackers with cheese, rice cakes with almond or cashew butter, fruit with your favorite nuts or seeds, and crudite with yogurt- or tahini-based dip.
• There are many foods that have reputations for helping to keep blood sugar balanced. These include onions, bitter melon, fenugreek, and cinnamon.
• As alcohol can cause hypoglycemia, this is another reason why it’s better not to drink on an empty stomach. Have snacks available to ensure that you are giving your body enough “fuel” to sustain blood sugar levels while imbibing.

Skin Health

As both Saturn and Libra are related to the skin, I’m anticipating that skin care and cosmetics will draw more of our attention when Saturn transits through Libra. While we often focus on the beauty (Libra) of the skin, its structure (Saturn) is integrally important in our health. The skin is the body’s largest organ and a vital component of our detoxification system. Plus healthy skin creates a barrier that protects us from bacteria and infections.

The next few years may see new breakthroughs in skin care research, products, and techniques. Just as likely, there may be a focus on whether existing approaches to skin care have the merit they claim. As we’ve looked at our food supply, individuals may be more inclined to review what’s in their cosmetics and beauty products, with resources like the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database holding even more value. (We’ve begun to see this focus on skin care with the concentrated attention that the issue of sunscreen safety is garnering.)

Self-care suggestions

While Saturn’s in Libra, it’s a great time to focus on skin care, developing new habits that can stay with you throughout your life. Following are some tips.

• Drinking adequate amounts of water can be a wonderful boon to skin health. Water hydrates, keeps cells working efficiently, and helps flush out toxins. Water is also inherently important for the health of the kidneys, another area of the body associated with Libra. The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests general daily guidelines of 9 cups of water for women and 13 for men.
• There are a variety of nutrients important for skin health, including vitamin A, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. The best approach to bolstering skin through diet is to eat a variety of whole foods—vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and beans (and sustainably caught omega-3-rich fish, if you’re not a vegetarian).
• Breakouts, dermatitis, and eczema may be caused by food sensitivities/allergies. If you suspect this may be the case for you, consider going on an Elimination Diet with the guidance of a nutritionist or dietitian. Or do a modified one yourself, focusing on the several of the most commonly allergenic foods. To do so, go for two weeks without eating such foods as wheat, dairy products, and soy and see whether your skin condition improves. After the two weeks, you can then add the suspecting foods back one by one, waiting several days before the reintroduction of the next, to determine which—if any—are one(s) to which you are sensitive.
• Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, helping your skin to breath. Plus, it enhances blood flow. For your face, you can exfoliate while you clean (using a gentle skin brush), use a store-bought natural face scrub, or make your own–using ingredients such as oatmeal, almond powder, or rice flour mixed with yogurt (DIY scrub recipes can be found in books and websites). Also, do a skin scrub once a week over your body while in the shower or bath (or use a dry brush if you prefer). Skin scrubbing tools—such as brushes and mitts made from sisal or nylon—are available in many beauty stores and natural foods markets.
• There are many essential oils that provide skin-health benefits. You can add a drop or two to moisturizers, lotions, or body oils. Some of the essential oils that can benefit skin include: frankincense, with its skin-regenerating and wound-healing properties; chamomile, with its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties; and rose, with calming and hydrating properties.

Relationships

Libra is also the sign of one-on-one relationships. Interacting and relating with others is important to Libra because it is through this that learning and greater understanding of self can occur. The sign of the diplomat, Libra likes to negotiate and create accord and gets fulfillment from doing so.

With Saturn in Libra, we’ll see pressure applied to relationships of all sorts, helping us ideally to define what is a true and healthful partnership and what is not. Potentially we will see that real treasure can be found through partnerships that afford us an ability to create a crucible where two people can honestly and openly be themselves.

Self-care suggestions

While Saturn is in Libra, consider engaging a friend or partner to join you in your wellness activities. This may be especially beneficial if there are hurdles that you’ve faced—such as waning motivation—related to starting an exercise program or pursuing a healthier way of eating. For example, consider finding a workout buddy or seeing if a friend will commit to going to yoga classes with you. Sharing the experience of learning to cook or growing your own vegetables with a friend or partner can also be a great activity. Not only will your relationships deepen, but undertaking wellness activities with another will also make them more fun and provide you with another social outlet (which is of special great benefit when, for example, you’re trying to lose weight and are looking for additional social opportunities that don’t involve meeting for drinks or dinner).

Saturn in Libra can also provide us with an excellent opportunity to focus on our relationships and see whether adjustments can be made to them so that they become more satisfying. It’s a good time to reflect and ask ourselves questions such as: Are my relationships fulfilling? Am I showing up authentically? Is my partner? Are my friends? Are my relationships balanced and fair?

Since our relationships can have a significant impact upon our emotional life—and therefore our emotional health—taking the time to focus on them can provide great benefits. With Libra associated with the mediator and arbitrator, if you become aware of imbalances in the relationship and need an objective perspective, consider seeking the services of a relationship counselor or therapist who may provide the objectivity and insight that can help you renegotiate a harmonious partnership.

If you’re not currently in a partnership, Saturn’s voyage through Libra can be very fruitful as well. It provides an auspicious time for looking back at relationships and the patterns that may have colored them, inventorying what your relationship needs are, and then honestly assessing what type of partner and partnership would truly fulfill you. Doing this type of work is often an important step in manifesting satisfying relationships.

Balancing The Collective With the Personal

Ideally this overview of the potential trends that will capture our attention as Saturn transits Libra has been enlightening and will provide you with opportunities to further enhance your health and well-being. Yet, in addition to how Saturn in Libra may affect us collectively, it will also have an impact upon us individually depending upon the relationship it makes to the planets, personal points, and house(s) in our natal astrology charts. You can learn more about the opportunities that transiting Saturn—as well as the other planets—may present to you by having a personalized consultation with an astrologer. Many astrologers also offer computer-generated written reports that can provide some illumination. You can also find websites offering free mini-reports and services–such as the Free Forecast Report on Astro.com and Planet Forecast on StarIQ.com–that may be helpful. By knowing more about your individual birth chart you can learn more deeply how the cycle of the planets–including Saturn–can provide you with an understanding of the current cycles of unfolding and growth that you are experiencing. To me, this is of essence when it comes to well-being, since self-knowledge, in my opinion, is an instrumental part of attaining health and wellness.

The time keeper’s
Finishing its cleaning house stay
In the sign of food systems,
Purity and craft.

Local, organic, sustainable.
Victory gardens, canning, sharing.
Regulations to avoid contamination.
Evidenced, harvested.

As the shift occurs
We analyze analysis
Critique mode of criticism.
Reflect on approach to refining
Workings of
Self interconnectedness.

Note: In September 2007, Saturn entered Virgo. Today is its last full day in the sign of the harvest until 2037. On July 22, it enters the sign of Libra

New Moons are auspicious monthly celestial events that usher in fresh cycles of creation and becoming. When they are also a Solar Eclipse–as today’s is–they hold additional power for manifestation.

This Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse provides a great opportunity to inventory how we spend our resources. It’s a great time to balance a checkbook, survey investments, or consider an aspect of financial planning we’ve yet to fully explore. Remember, though, our personal economy of resources is not just limited to our money but also includes our time, energy, and skills/talents, all of which comprise the capital that we can use to create a richer life. Whether we are allocating these efficiently–and whether they are generating additional assets or incurring liabilities for us–can be very prudent topics to survey during this eclipse. The answers can help us to create a stronger foundation upon which we can build our future.

Loyalty and commitment may also be important themes during this eclipse. What we may find ourselves looking at isn’t so much the concept of being dutiful but rather whether the people and institutions to which we have granted our allegiance are those that are worthy of it. Readjustments in relationships—involving how much we give and how much we allow ourselves to expect in return—may occur. This is especially emphasized today given that Capricorn’s planetary ruler, Saturn, just went retrograde yesterday in the striving-for-fair-and-balanced sign of Libra.

When there is heightened Capricorn energy circulating—as there is these days—it’s important to watch the tendency to become too rigid in our thinking or expectations. Maintaining a sense of flexibility while focusing on achieving practical outcomes can be a great path to follow during this time.

A New Moon Solar Eclipse signifies a time for beginnings. While something may inherently be coming to a close, there is great focus on the initiation of the new that it brings. Given that Capricorn is connected to the creation of structures of lasting value, we can use this auspicious time to consider what it is that we may want to build or accomplish in the coming year.

Eclipses are often accompanied by identifiable life-changing events that manifest around the time of these celestial happenings. Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

This month’s New Moon falls at 25 degrees of Capricorn (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Capricorn or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

New Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Capricorn is associated with the skeletal system, joints, and skin. Pay attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this New Moon.

Moisturize: This Capricorn New Moon provides a great opportunity to pay special attention to the skin. As this sign carries a relatively drying energetic, taking the time to do a moisturizing treatment is a worthwile wellness activity. If you rarely moisturize your skin, consider even just making an intention to apply body lotion or oil two times today (given that it’s a New Moon, doing so may help to plant the seeds for incorporating body moisturizing as a daily routine). If you already have a good moisturizing ritual, consider applying a moisturizing mask; you can either find them in apothecaries or beauty stores or consider making your own from nourishing ingredients such as avocados, honey, aloe vera, yogurt, and other nurturing food-based ingredients.

Turmeric: Capricorn is associated with the joints, body parts that often express inflammation, which can lead to pain and reduced mobility. One of the best anti-inflammatory compounds, and therefore a great item to promote rheumatic health, is the spice turmeric. While turmeric supplements are available, you can readily include this healing spice into your lifestyle by adding it to your recipes. Traditionally used as a foundation ingredient in curries and other Indian dishes, its earthy flavor can complement many dishes. You can purchase powdered turmeric in the spice section of the grocery store; fresh turmeric rhizome is available in Asian food markets.

January 15, 2010: Mercury Goes Direct

Mercury ends its current retrograde period today, January 15, at 8:52 am PST. The retrograde period was a great time for harnessing insights gained from inner reflection rather than external focus. Did new ideas spring forth from inward contemplation? Did you discover novel ways to communicate ideas? Did you realize better ways to utilize technological equipment/systems to transfer information to others? (Provided, of course, that they didn’t completely break down during this time, which in this case means you’re still likely to have gleaned the characteristics of those that may better suit your needs.) If you want a refresher on what Mercury retrograde is about, click here.

Now that Mercury is direct, you can transform your insights into actions. Please remember, though, that we are still under the transit’s “shadow period”—which lasts until February 4—where the energy of the retrograde still exists, although in a much more diluted and subtle fashion.

January 29, 2010: Aquarius/Leo Full Moon (exact at 10:18 pm)

During an Aquarius/Leo Full Moon, issues involving individuals and their relationship to the collective assume center stage. If you are involved in any groups or associations, you may perceive a heightened sense of tension as the organization strives to accommodate the needs of its members along with its own overarching identity and goals. Yet, if outstanding issues are worked upon, there can be great breakthroughs in group dynamics and team building.

An important strategy for attaining and maintaining group alignment today can be to infuse activities with a sense of playfulness and fun. Levity can help to release rigidity and enhance a sense of coalescence. It can also catalyze a creative process of thinking that can inventively spark the clarity needed to identify the group’s shared vision and the path that can be forged to bring it into manifestation.

There’s a complementary yin/yang energy polarity expressed in this Full Moon. That’s because the Moon, a planet of feminine energy, is connected to masculine Mars (in Leo) while the Sun, a planet of masculine energy is connected feminine Venus (in Aquarius). This alignment emphasizes the need to integrate both the active and passive—and the giving and receiving—parts of ourselves. Additionally, it may bring to the forefront the need to make accommodations in our personal relationships.

Given the involvement of Mars in this Full Moon alignment, it is also especially important to express any desires that may be burning within. Even if you can’t act upon them, articulate them using words, movements, colors, or sounds (either just to yourself or also to others). That’s because if we let the flames of fervor lie dormant within and crystallize, we may get swept up in their fire and either emotionally or physically burn out. Creatively channeling the energy of that which may swirl within can be a heart-healing cathartic exercise.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 11 degrees of Aquarius (Sun) and Leo (Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Aquarius, Leo, or the other fixed signs—Taurus and Scorpio—it may impact you more intensely.

Full Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Aquarius is associated with the calves, ankles, peripheral circulatory system, and the body’s bionergetics while Leo is associated with the heart, spine, and hair. Pay extra attention to these areas of the body around the time of this Full Moon.

Mineral bath: While not a water sign per se, Aquarius is symbolized by the Water Bearer, a figure that delivers the offering of this aquatic elixir in service of humanity. During this Full Moon, why not offer yourself a healing service by taking a relaxing bath. Adding mineral salts—such as Epsom Salts—to the water can enhance your body’s bioenergetic field while including essential oils into your bathing ritual can add a fragrant therapeutic to this nurturing experience. Use your favorite scent or consider ones such as neroli, lemon, and cypress that are especially good for circulation, a wellness focus of this Full Moon. (Rather than putting a few drops of oil directly into the bath, mix it first with some of the mineral salts as this helps enhance the oil’s dispersion in the bath water.)

Legs up the Wall (Viparita Karani): This gentle, restorative pose inspires calm and relaxation. It can provide benefit for the Aquarius-ruled calves and peripheral circulatory system as it helps to bring the blood flow from the lower legs back to the torso. To practice, sit on the floor with the right side of your body next to a wall and your legs bent and feet on the floor. Lie on your left side (perpendicular to the wall) and roll onto your back, bringing your legs straight up to rest against the wall. Scoot your buttocks forward so that they are as close to the wall as possible. Close your eyes and relax for at least five minutes.

January 31, 2010: Saturn Square Pluto

Today is the second of the three Saturn/Pluto squares that are coloring these times. (The first took place on November 13, 2009 while the third will occur on August 21, 2010.) While these dates signal the exact 90-degree relationship between these planets, the energetic pattern that this alignment reflects extends from the autumn of 2009 through mid-year 2011.

Saturn is the creator of structure. It instills a honoring of the natural laws necessary for crystallizing form to make things “come to life.” Its focus, on some level, is continuity.

Pluto is the master of transformation. It requires us to let go in order that we may uncover the depths and powerful resourcefulness of who we are.

These two planets seem, on the surface, to be at odds. After all, Saturn likes the as-is while Pluto cherishes the that-which-will-become. Saturn is known for holding on and appreciating a sense of certainty. Pluto, on the other hand, inspires us to give in and release control, having faith that the Phoenix will rise from the ashes.

This alignment can evoke tension. Saturn may exert its rigidity and hold back Pluto’s natural process while Pluto may cause a breakdown in the structure that Saturn worked so hard to create.

Yet, Saturn and Pluto can work gracefully as well. Saturn can provide a container that can help to give true form to Plutonian transformation. Pluto can breakdown some of the Saturnian rigidity that may have restrained the expression of joy and individual authenticity.

During this Saturn/Pluto alignment, consider, for example, whether there are any aspects of your life—situations, relationships, attitudes, habits, et al.—that you are tightly holding on to but which you know, in your heart of hearts, don’t really serve you. You may be holding on to them because of comfort, because of fear, and/or because you identify yourself with them. Whatever the reason, assess whether they truly align with your inner joy and sense of being. If they don’t, see how you may release them so that you can make space in your life for things that better match your authentic self. This Plutonian change need not be quick nor rash. In fact, it’s important to honor Saturn here and be thoughtful and diligent in your approach. This will help assure that the changes you make are lasting ones that help to inspire your sense of personal empowerment.

During today’s planetary alignment, Saturn is at 4 degrees Libra while Pluto is at 4 degrees Capricorn. While the energies of this celestial event can be felt collectively, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around these degrees of Libra or Capricorn or the other cardinal signs—Aries and Cancer—it may impact you more intensely.

Saturn Square Pluto Apothecary Suggestions

While these suggestions may be especially beneficial around the time of the exact squares—such as today—they may also prove helpful throughout the whole time that we are exposed to this planetary pattern.

Jatamansi essential oil: A relative of valerian, jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) is also known as Himalayan spikenard. It is an amazing essential oil for instilling calm, reducing anxiety, and promoting sleep. Jatamansi is also prized for its use in alleviating the grief associated with loss as well as releasing subconscious trauma. To use, place a few drops on your palms, rub them together, and then inhale the fragrance. Massaging jatamansi mixed with plain massage oil into the soles of the feet promotes nighttime relaxation and is said to quell insomnia.

Deep tissue massage: This type of bodywork focuses on the unwinding of the fascia connective tissue as well as the release of deep muscles. It allows for the break up (Pluto) of crystallized tension (Saturn) and lactic acid reservoirs that may be caused by stress and/or physiological patterns of misalignment. Deep tissue work can reduce chronic pain and lead to freer motion and greater structural integration. If this type of bodywork isn’t available or of interest, even getting a traditional Swedish massage can be of great healing benefit.

Yet, it also provides us with insights into relationships, another Libran arena. In addition to giving us a lens into the partnership culture and role that women played in the early 60s, there are oftentimes great kernels of wisdom included.

“You’re not good at relationships because you don’t value them,” Roger Sterling says to Don Draper in the Season 3 finale.

In this simple statement, Sterling captures an important essence of the lessons that we can collectively learn in the next three years as Saturn transits through Libra. After all, Libra upholds the importance of the partnership, and Saturn helps us to do things right, to do the work that helps us make the lemonade from the lemons. What’s inherently important to being skillful at something, as Sterling points out, is to hold it with value, a stance for which both Libra and Saturn have high regard. If we are looking to be better at something in our lives—for example, our relationships—than cherishing and honoring them is the route that Sterling–and Saturn in Libra–would encourage.

Why is this relevant for today? Early in the day the Moon moves into Libra, the first time it has resided in the sign of the Scales since Saturn moved into Libra two weeks ago. The Libra Moon will be conjunct Saturn (as well as square Pluto), bringing our relationships to the forefront. Therefore, it seems that Sterling’s pithy statement may serve as relevant encouragement and insight for the day.

Beginning today, for the next ten months, Saturn–the planet of structure, of testing limits to ensure integrity–will journey between Virgo and Libra. It moves into Libra today, dips back to Virgo on April 7 and then re-enters Libra on July 21, remaining there until October 5, 2012.

Usually, subsequent signs are thought to not be synergistic. Yet, given that Saturn will be transitioning between these two signs for the next ten months, I have been thinking a lot about the ways that Virgoan and Libran energies can co-exist and even be constructive partners.

Which is where Valentino comes in.

The movie shows an exaltation of Virgoan craftsmanship (and craftswomanship): the nips, the tucks, the thousands of sequins, the fact that every dress is constructed by hand.  Valentino–as well as his head seamstress, Antonietta de Angelis–are models of dedicated perfectionism, which inherently supports his persistent commitment to creating beauty and elevating fashion into art. When asked “What do women want?” Valentino’s reply echoes the archetype of Libra’s planetary ruler, Venus: “They want to be beautiful.” Surveying how the eminence of beauty rests upon painstaking dedication to the details and how art is a reflection of craft, Valentino reflects one example of how Virgo and Libra can work together gracefully. This is, of course, just one manner in which these two signs can sync and benefit one another, and, in turn, us.

Today, as we stand in a microcosm of the next nine months–as Saturn is in Virgo until 10:09 am PDT, at which time it progresses into Libra—consider where, in your life, you can apply the complementary teachings of these two signs. For example, how can you be both methodical (Virgo) and diplomatic (Libra)? What social activities (Libra) can you participate in that will be of benefit to your health (Virgo)? Are there ways in which you can be of greater service (Virgo) to your partner and/or friends (Libra)? Or, like Valentino, how can you use your critical eye (Virgo) to create more beauty (Libra) in your life?

Wednesday is Mercury’s day.  Although this connection is not apparent in the English word we use for the third day of the week (which does, though, reflects the day’s connection to the Anglo-Saxon deity Woden), in other languages we can readily see the link. For example, the word for Wednesday in French is mercredi, in Italian it’s mercoledi, and in Spanish it’s miércoles.

And today, this Wednesday, the planetary energies of the day’s namesake are definitely in focus as early in the morning Mercury delves into Scorpio where it will remain until November 15 (a day you may have already marked on your calendar given that’s the first square aspect between Saturn and Pluto). As the planet of communication dives through stir-the-pot Scorpio, words and expressions become vehicles for getting to the bottom of things and discovering truths that exist below the surface. The planet of communication’s foray into probing Scorpio today is further emboldened by its making a harmonious connection to Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, later in the evening.

Like the god Mercury, this Wednesday is a very active one; in addition to the eponymous planet’s energetic shift as its changes signs, there’s are many other currents in which we’ll swim. The Moon is in dreamy Pisces, pulling us to connect in a compassionate way with others. Combined with the Sun being in Libra and there being a Venus/Jupiter trine this evening, we may be instilled with a yearning for grace, a desire to swathe ourselves in a touch of beauty, glamour, or luxury.

Tomorrow, Saturn will move out of Virgo, where it has sown its seeds since September 2007, and enter Libra (it will reenter Virgo for a spell from April through July of 2010 before it takes up residence in Libra again for another two-plus years). Therefore, with today being its last day in Virgo for a while, it seems like an auspicious time to reflect upon and honor the essence of this sign and its contributions to our lives (you can do this even if you don’t have planets or pivotal chart points in Virgo since everyone connects on some level to the energies of all twelve signs). Consider how being attuned to details, being of service to others, and being connected to the nourishment you get from the earth’s bounty enriches and fortifies your life.

Happy Wednesday!

Saturn is a taskmaster whose aim is to help us create structures of lasting value, those that are reality-based and purposeful. As such, Saturn tests limits, finds the weakest link, and applies pressure—all for the sake of showing us how to forge a creation that has integrity and meaning. Given that Saturn is about doing the work, and not about the quick-and-easy, many people struggle with the energies of this planet. Yet, if we listen as Saturn provides us with guidance, following its one-foot-in-front-of-the-other reality-based tactics, we will be rewarded tangibly since Saturn represents the material and the mundane.

When Saturn transits through a sign, those areas of life ruled by that sign are what the planet of structure focuses its attention upon. What does and doesn’t work is brought to light in a way that we often become very aware of; you can see a lot of it if you focus on themes in the “news.” Hopefully, once faced with knowledge of what doesn’t work, we—both individually and collectively—take this awareness and responsibly work to refine and recreate the broken pieces so that the whole better serves our needs.

A new Saturn mini-era is upon us since on October 29, 2009 Saturn will move into Libra where it will stay until April 7, 2010. After a three-month retreat back into Virgo, Saturn will again take up residence in Libra on July 21, 2010, where it will remain until October 5, 2012.

Looking Back to Look Forward

Looking back to the past two-plus years that Saturn has been in Virgo can serve as a great way to see how this planet works when it transits through a sign, giving us a foreshadow of what Saturn in Libra may offer. Known as the sign of the harvest, Virgo rules agriculture and our food supply as well as healthcare, crafts, labor, and pets. These are among the areas that have caught our collective attention during this time.

For example, questions about the integrity of our food—Where and how is grown?…Is it safe?…Is it genetically modified?—are now on the minds of a much broader audience than in the recent past. As we’ve seen the fallibility of the commercial food industry in such instances as salmonella-contaminated peanut butter and e. coli-tainted hamburgers, we’ve also see the rise of farmers’ markets and the grow-your-own-food movement as well as an increased scrutiny about the way our food is grown, processed, transported, and sold. Another example of Saturn making its way through Virgo is our focus on healthcare, a premier Virgoan arena, something that has taken center stage during this time in the United States.

Saturn in Libra Trends

Saturn in Libra will have impacts upon varied aspects of our culture. Under this sign’s purview are law, femininity, relationships, art, fashion, cosmetics, weights and measures, and other areas related to the Libran ideals of fairness and grace. These sectors of society are likely to face scrutiny and go through litmus tests as we also turn our eyes to focus on questions related to equality and justice. That which has integrity will likely flourish while transience is uncovered. Saturn through Libra will potentially expose areas where fairness may be a concept or ideal but is not being practiced as a reality.

This period of Saturn in Libra is certain to be evocative. That’s because while Saturn’s cleaning house in Libra-related areas of our lives, it will be doing so with assistance from other planets with whom it’s in relationship: transformative Pluto (Saturn/Pluto square: 2009-10), unconventional Uranus (Saturn/Uranus opposition: 2010), and expansive Jupiter (Saturn/Jupiter opposition: 2010).

As I find Saturn transits fascinating, it’s tempting for me to write more here about a wide array of potential trends. But, I want to honor Saturn and create a narrow framework for this article, one more in sync with Planetary Apothecary. Therefore, I’m going to hone in on how its residence in Libra may affect some of our perspectives on health as well as the wellness trends it may usher in, while offering suggestions on self-care practices that may be especially beneficial during this time. (If you’re interested in other trends as related to Saturn in Libra or other astrology transits, follow me at @AstroTrends on Twitter.)

So, what will Saturn in Libra portend for our approach to wellness? I want to share with you my thoughts on four Libran topics—sugar, blood sugar balance, skin, and relationships—and offer you self-care tools that can help you enhance your health and well-being in these areas.

Sugar

In astrology, sugar is under the domain of Venus, the ruler of Libra; therefore, as Saturn enters Libra, sugar will likely be a topic to which we will all pay more attention. Already, we’ve seen shadows of this with talks of rising sugar prices and its declining availability through the world; the idea of taxing soda; the rising awareness of the negative impacts of high-fructose corn syrup; and the court ruling that the USDA illegally approved genetically modified sugar beets. I expect these and other sugar-related issues–including more insights into its effects on health–to become even more top of mind as Saturn journeys through Libra.

Self-care suggestions

If you’re looking to reduce your intake of added sugar, here are some ways to do so.

• Sugar is often a “hidden” ingredient in many packaged foods. Even those you wouldn’t think would contain it—such as chips, pretzels, and crackers—may as manufacturers add it to create their product’s unique taste. Therefore, read the food labels carefully, looking both at the ingredients list as well as the grams of sugar per serving. Remember that the ingredients are presented in the list in descending order; if sugar is one of the first ingredients, it comprises a good portion of the food product.
• When you have a sugar craving and just can’t ignore your sweet tooth, grab a piece of fruit rather than a cookie or baked good.
• See if there are places that you can cut back on the amount of added sugar you use. For example, buying plain yogurt and adding  fruit and honey (or fruit jam) will provide you with less refined sugar than if you bought flavored yogurt.
• Expand your snack repertoire to include savory ones in addition to sweet ones.
• Make your own “soda” by adding some 100% fruit juice to sparkling water.

If you haven’t tried more natural forms of sugar, Saturn in Libra presents a great opportunity to explore them. These can be used in place of refined sugar in coffee, tea, and other foods. Many can be used in baked goods recipes as well. (You can find conversion guidelines for refined to natural sweeteners on many websites.)

While there are a lot of natural sweeteners available, my personal preference is the tried and true, the ones closest to whole foods. These include raw honey (except for infants, pregnant women, and those who are immunocompromised), maple syrup, and blackstrap molasses. There is a mini-cornucopia of others to try, including raw sugar, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, xylitol, and stevia.

When it comes to sugar alternatives, I’m partial to natural ones, no matter which ones, over artificial sweeteners. Saccharin may cause cancer, aspartame is thought to be a neurotoxin, and while sucralose hasn’t been found to have any negative impacts yet, I still think it’s more prudent to trust nature rather than laboratories with the foods we ingest.

Blood Sugar Balance

Another way in which our attention may be drawn to the topic of sugar is via a renewed focus on conditions related to blood sugar balance. Not only is Libra related to sugar, but in medical astrology it is also associated with the islets of Langerhans, which produce the glucose-regulating hormone, insulin.

Hopefully, we will see not only new treatments for diabetes types 1 and 2, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, and other conditions related to blood sugar dysregulation but also a focus on preventing them in both children and adults. Just as our lexicon has grown when it comes to foods that are “heart-healthy” or “cancer-preventive” potentially so it will for foods that are “blood-sugar balancing.”

As Saturn goes through Libra, hopefully it will also bring increased awareness to what seems like a more under-the-radar blood sugar condition—hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia may occur in those with diabetes and more chronic blood sugar imbalances as well as in “healthy” individuals. When blood sugar dips below a certain level, we may manifest hypoglycemia and any/all of its related symptoms: fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, sudden hunger, nausea, et al.  While there are many causes of hypoglycemia (including diabetes, some medicines, and alcohol intake), some people just experience a mild form of it during the day as a result of imbalanced food intake patterns.

Self-care suggestions

Here are some dietary tips that can help you promote more regular blood sugar balance. (If you have or are concerned you have health conditions related to glucose imbalance, see a licensed healthcare practitioner for guidance.)

• Reduce added sugars in your diet (see section above for suggestions).
• Ensure your diet provides you with enough fiber-rich foods, as fiber is essential for maintaining blood sugar health (as well as health in general). Fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are your best bets.
• While fiber is important to healthy blood sugar balance, there are many others nutrients as well that play a role. If you’re not sure that your diet is providing you with ample amounts of all the essential nutrients, consider taking a good quality multivitamin.
• If you’re going for more than three hours between meals, eat a light snack to keep your blood sugar on an even keel. Best are snacks that combine complex carbohydrates with some protein or fat, since the latter two macronutrients help to blunt blood sugar elevations that the carbohydrates may cause. Some ideas include whole grain crackers with cheese, rice cakes with almond or cashew butter, fruit with your favorite nuts or seeds, and crudite with yogurt- or tahini-based dip.
• There are many foods that have reputations for helping to keep blood sugar balanced. These include onions, bitter melon, fenugreek, and cinnamon.
• As alcohol can cause hypoglycemia, this is another reason why it’s better not to drink on an empty stomach. Have snacks available to ensure that you are giving your body enough “fuel” to sustain blood sugar levels while imbibing.

Skin Health

As both Saturn and Libra are related to the skin, I’m anticipating that skin care and cosmetics will draw more of our attention when Saturn transits through Libra. While we often focus on the beauty (Libra) of the skin, its structure (Saturn) is integrally important in our health. The skin is the body’s largest organ and a vital component of our detoxification system. Plus healthy skin creates a barrier that protects us from bacteria and infections.

The next few years may see new breakthroughs in skin care research, products, and techniques. Just as likely, there may be a focus on whether existing approaches to skin care have the merit they claim. As we’ve looked at our food supply, individuals may be more inclined to review what’s in their cosmetics and beauty products, with resources like the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database holding even more value.

Self-care suggestions

While Saturn’s in Libra, it’s a great time to focus on skin care, developing new habits that can stay with you throughout your life. Following are some tips.

• Drinking adequate amounts of water can be a wonderful boon to skin health. Water hydrates, keeps cells working efficiently, and helps flush out toxins. Water is also inherently important for the health of the kidneys, another area of the body associated with Libra. The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests general daily guidelines of 9 cups of water for women and 13 for men.
• There are a variety of nutrients important for skin health, including vitamin A, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. The best approach to bolstering skin through diet is to eat a variety of whole foods—vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and beans (and sustainably caught omega-3-rich fish, if you’re not a vegetarian).
• Breakouts, dermatitis, and eczema may be caused by food sensitivities/allergies. If you suspect this may be the case for you, consider going on an Elimination Diet with the guidance of a nutritionist or dietitian. Or do a modified one yourself, focusing on the several of the most commonly allergenic foods. To do so, go for two weeks without eating such foods as wheat, dairy products, and soy and see whether your skin condition improves. After the two weeks, you can then add the suspecting foods back one by one, waiting several days before the reintroduction of the next, to determine which—if any—are one(s) to which you are sensitive.
• Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, helping your skin to breath. Plus, it enhances blood flow. For your face, you can exfoliate while you clean (using a gentle skin brush), use a store-bought natural face scrub, or make your own–using ingredients such as oatmeal, almond powder, or rice flour mixed with yogurt (DIY scrub recipes can be found in books and websites). Also, do a skin scrub once a week over your body while in the shower or bath (or use a dry brush if you prefer). Skin scrubbing tools—such as brushes and mitts made from sisal or nylon—are available in many beauty stores and natural foods markets.
• There are many essential oils that provide skin-health benefits. You can add a drop or two to moisturizers, lotions, or body oils. Some of the essential oils that can benefit skin include: frankincense, with its skin-regenerating and wound-healing properties; chamomile, with its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties; and rose, with calming and hydrating properties.

Relationships

Libra is also the sign of one-on-one relationships. Interacting and relating with others is important to Libra because it is through this that learning and greater understanding of self can occur. The sign of the diplomat, Libra likes to negotiate and create accord and gets fulfillment from doing so.

With Saturn in Libra, we’ll see pressure applied to relationships of all sorts, helping us ideally to define what is a true and healthful partnership and what is not. Potentially we will see that real treasure can be found through partnerships that afford us an ability to create a crucible where two people can honestly and openly be themselves.

Self-care suggestions

While Saturn is in Libra, consider engaging a friend or partner to join you in your wellness activities. This may be especially beneficial if there are hurdles that you’ve faced—such as waning motivation—related to starting an exercise program or pursuing a healthier way of eating. For example, consider finding a workout buddy or seeing if a friend will commit to going to yoga classes with you. Sharing the experience of learning to cook or growing your own vegetables with a friend or partner can also be a great activity. Not only will your relationships deepen, but undertaking wellness activities with another will also make them more fun and provide you with another social outlet (which is of special great benefit when, for example, you’re trying to lose weight and are looking for additional social opportunities that don’t involve meeting for drinks or dinner).

Saturn in Libra can also provide us with an excellent opportunity to focus on our relationships and see whether adjustments can be made to them so that they become more satisfying. It’s a good time to reflect and ask ourselves questions such as: Are my relationships fulfilling? Am I showing up authentically? Is my partner? Are my friends? Are my relationships balanced and fair?

Since our relationships can have a significant impact upon our emotional life—and therefore our emotional health—taking the time to focus on them can provide great benefits. With Libra associated with the mediator and arbitrator, if you become aware of imbalances in the relationship and need an objective perspective, consider seeking the services of a relationship counselor or therapist who may provide the objectivity and insight that can help you renegotiate a harmonious partnership.

If you’re not currently in a partnership, Saturn’s voyage through Libra can be very fruitful as well. It provides an auspicious time for looking back at relationships and the patterns that may have colored them, inventorying what your relationship needs are, and then honestly assessing what type of partner and partnership would truly fulfill you. Doing this type of work is often an important step in manifesting satisfying relationships.

Balancing The Collective With the Personal

Ideally this overview of the potential trends that will capture our attention as Saturn transits Libra has been enlightening and will provide you with opportunities to further enhance your health and well-being. Yet, in addition to how Saturn in Libra may affect us collectively, it will also have an impact upon us individually depending upon the relationship it makes to the planets, personal points, and house(s) in our natal astrology charts. You can learn more about the opportunities that transiting Saturn—as well as the other planets—may present to you by having a personalized consultation with an astrologer. Many astrologers also offer computer-generated written reports that can provide some illumination. You can also find websites offering free mini-reports and services–such as the Free Forecast Report on Astro.com and Planet Forecast on StarIQ.com–that may be helpful. By knowing more about your individual birth chart you can learn more deeply how the cycle of the planets–including Saturn–can provide you with an understanding of the current cycles of unfolding and growth that you are experiencing. To me, this is of essence when it comes to well-being, since self-knowledge, in my opinion, is an instrumental part of attaining health and wellness.