Saturn Enters the Sign of Leo
by Monica Ann Wallach
July 8, 2005
I find it interesting to chart Saturn’s movement through the signs, and notice how events here on Earth correlate with that movement. Saturn has a twenty-nine and one half year cycle through the zodiac. During one cycle, Saturn spends two to three years in each of the twelve signs. In this article, we will examine Saturn’s movement over the past four years, and analyze where it will go next.
The planet Saturn has been observed to bring restrictions, endings, challenges, and maturity. The adjective “saturnine” comes from the root word Saturn. Often, Saturn has been depicted as Father Time -- representing the wisdom which comes from watching and waiting. Saturn also has been associated with the ability to endure hardship, and the need to deal with harsh realities. Saturn is shown sometimes as the grim reaper -- he carries a scythe in his hands to cut down the old stalks of corn. As such, Saturn indicates endings and the turning of cycles.
From April 2001 to June 2003, Saturn was moving through the zodiac sign of Gemini, the sign of the twins. The astrological symbol used to represent Gemini looks like the Roman numeral II. During Saturn’s transit of Gemini, the world trade center was destroyed. The world trade center was known as the “twin towers” and, physically, the towers looked like the symbol for the sign of Gemini. Interestingly, the world trade towers had been built during Saturn’s last cycle through Gemini, roughly 30 years earlier -- the north tower was opened in December 1970 and the south tower in January 1972. Astrologers watch and catalog this type of correspondence between planetary alignments and events on earth.
Gemini is associated with travel. As Saturn moved through Gemini, all travel was restricted and made more difficult. There were many delays, and worldwide, the travel industry suffered.
In the physical body, Gemini has an association with the lungs. Saturn’s transit of Gemini coincided with the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in late 2002, early 2003. The virus causing SARS attacks the respiratory system -- the lungs. SARS killed thousands worldwide before the outbreak was brought under control in June 2003 -- just as Saturn left the sign of Gemini.
In June 2003, Saturn moved into the sign of Cancer. Cancer represents motherhood, the home, family, and children. As Saturn moved through Cancer, we have seen a surge in issues around the family and its breakdown. Fears arose associated with the changing family structure.
In the physical body, Cancer is associated with the stomach. During Saturn’s transit through Cancer, obesity became a focus point for our country, and for many countries around the world. Obesity was recognized as a serious and life-threatening disease. Interestingly, Saturn in Cancer coincided with a rapid increase in the number of stomach reduction surgeries.
The United States was born when the Sun was moving through the sign of Cancer (July 4, 1776). Hence as a country, the U.S. has the tendency to “mother” the world, giving food and aid to those less fortunate. One of the U.S.’s most beloved symbols, the Statue of Liberty, depicts a Cancer theme -- a female stretching out her arms to welcome the poor and suffering. This embodies the type of nurturing energy associated with the sign of Cancer.
As Saturn moved into the sign of Cancer, it came into conjunction with the Sun in the U.S. chart. Recall that Saturn has a twenty-nine and a half year cycle through the zodiac. The last time the U.S. had this Saturn transit to the Sun was in August 1974. What happened then? The Watergate scandal culminated in the resignation of President Richard Nixon. That was a difficult period, as faith in the U.S. government was irrevocably changed. We can see that same loss of faith repeating again in the events which have manifested in the past two years.
Looking back to earlier cycles, Saturn transited the U.S. Sun in the summer of 1945. That was when the United States made the decision to use nuclear weapons, and dropped atomic bombs on two cities in Japan, resulting in enormous loss of civilian lives. Going back further, the prior conjunction of Saturn/Sun occurred in 1915-1916 when the U.S. was drawn into World War I.
As Saturn transited Cancer in 2003-2005, we have seen the scandals of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. The Iraq war has brought destruction and death. Faith and credibility in the U.S. government has reached a nadir. On July 17, 2005, Saturn moves out of Cancer and into the sign of Leo, where it will stay until September 2007. Hopefully, Saturn’s movement out of Cancer will improve these situations.
What events here on Earth may arise in correspondence with this transit of Saturn through Leo? Leo is the sign most associated with fatherhood -- so we may see events manifest which tie in with concepts or issues concerning fathers and fatherhood.
Leo is associated with the theater and with acting, so the entertainment industry may be impacted in some way. Leo is also associated with sexuality, creativity, and the ability to play around and have fun. So, there may be saturnine experiences in the next two years in the areas of sexuality, creative expression, and social activities.
In the physical body, Leo is associated with the heart and the lower spine. We may see an increase in ailments in these areas. Individuals with heart conditions (or, if no present condition, if they have Leo as their Sun sign, Rising sign, etc) need to take good care of their heart. Over the next two years, they may want to have regular check-ups and take other preventative measures to assure good heart health.
Saturn has been associated with wisdom and maturity. When we observe cycles over and over, ideally, we can learn from them. This can help us to avoid past mistakes and enable us to draw on past successes.
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