Saturn and The Inner Journey of Capricorn

In this article from the LCM Archive Soul Astrologer Ruth Hadikin looks at the personality and Soul rulers of Capricorn and their deeper meaning for the spiritual journey of Capricorn…

Capricorn Season is upon us once again, bringing with it an opportunity to return to the light. While having their feet planted firmly upon the ground our Capricorn friends have clear sight of the mountaintop and a sure steady method that will take them there. The sign of Capricorn is associated with practical methodology, steadfastness, business, finances, resource management, ambition and spiritual aspiration. This sign of extremes is associated with both the worst excesses of materialistic egotism at personality level, and yet esoterically is associated with the heights of spiritual aspiration leading to Christ consciousness. We will understand why as we explore the planetary conditions that exist for the soul’s highest development in the mysterious sign of Capricorn.

“Esoterically,  all world Saviours and Sun Gods are born in Capricorn but also the very worst type of man- hard, materialistic, cruel, proud, selfishly ambitious and egoistic. The head rules the heart in such cases,  whereas in the perfect example of the influences of Capricorn , head and heart are perfectly balanced.”

– The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

 

 

As we follow the soul’s journey through the 12 signs of the Zodiac, after the Archer clearly identified the path in Sagittarius, in Capricorn it is time to follow that path of light all the way to Christ Consciousness.

 

Two planets are important in creating the conditions for the soul’s experience and development in Capricorn. Saturn is the planetary space-holder (ruler) at both personality and soul level while interestingly it is Venus that holds space at Hierarchical level. In Esoteric Astrology the Tibetan Master describes the evolution of consciousness in three stages which he refers to as the three crosses.

 

The Mutable cross is where most of humanity currently is. This is where we are largely personality-centered, and personality-driven. The Fixed cross is where we begin to have some soul awareness and follow a more spiritual path, yet we are still identified with personality so duality is still present. The Cardinal cross is where we are fully integrated, living and expressing our lives as fully soul-centered Beings. According to Esoteric Astrology Saturn cannot follow mankind onto the Cardinal cross, and so only has influence at personality and Soul level:

 

“Saturn’s power is completely ended and his work accomplished when man (the spiritual man) has freed himself from Karma and from the power of the two Crosses – the Common [Mutable] and the Fixed. Esoterically, Saturn cannot follow man on to the Cardinal Cross”

– The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

 

 

 

Saturn has a reputation for being a serious, strict, limiting, authoritarian, law-giving Father figure. He is known as the Lord of Karma and the Lord of Time and is known for being a very harsh taskmaster. Believe it or not, this is ultimately all for the highest good for it keeps Capricorn on the truest path towards Christ Consciousness and prevents any wayward diversions that would tempt Capricorn to stray from his path and become lost in the trappings of material existence.

 

To understand Saturn’s role we must understand karma and natural law. If you put your hand in the fire, it will be burnt. You are not being punished for putting your hand in the fire, it is simply the result of natural law. The nature of fire is heat, and so anything coming into proximity with it, will simply be burnt. Although we are spiritual by nature, Saturn brings us important lessons that we must heed while we are living a material existence: namely the law of cause and effect (karma) and the realities of time and limitation. If we are to plant seeds, grow crops and harvest them effectively, to provide food for our survival, we must heed the cycles of time, plant and harvest, according to the seasons. These are the simple lessons of Saturn.

 

Interestingly the Romans thought of Saturn not only as a God of agriculture and time, but as a God of liberation, and there is also a key here to the higher purpose of Saturn and Capricorn. The Soul in Capricorn has to journey up the mountain from the very depths of humanity to the very heights of Christ Consciousness, and this is no small task. The higher purpose of Capricorn involves choosing a spiritual path and understanding the laws of creation so that we may create heaven on Earth.

 

Capricorn rules the knees and this symbology is important in understanding the soul’s journey through Capricorn. It is Saturn’s job, at personality level, to bring Capricorn to his knees so he develops insight, humility, and turns his attention away from the trappings and excesses of materialism that would keep him trapped in ego.

 

“…only when the Capricornian subject learns to kneel in all humility and with his knees upon the rocky mountain top to offer his heart and life to the soul and to human service, can he be permitted to pass through the door of initiation and be entrusted with the secrets of life. Only on his knees can he go through that door.”

– The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

 

 

Saturn is a wise teacher bringing important lessons and guidance to support us in making choices that align with our highest good. The word creation comes from the Latin creõ which means to create, make, produce, beget, give birth to, prepare, cause or choose. So in creating heaven on Earth, there is an element of choice: it is through our choices and actions that we create heaven on Earth, or not.

 

Karma can be thought of simply as the law of cause and effect, and there seems to be a common belief that it refers to the results of our actions. Yet according to some Buddhist traditions karma specifically refers to the volition, motivation, intention and action that creates the result. It is more about the action and intention, than the result. So our personal karma is our past actions and intentions that planted the seeds for the results we are currently experiencing.

 

Saturn is bringing us the important lesson that these seeds ripen over time, and that if we truly want to create heaven on Earth, we need to change our actions and plant different seeds! Once our intentions, motivation, thoughts and actions are fully aligned with Divine Will, we are liberated from the cyclic existence that keeps us trapped in ego and the physical realm (Samsara) and Saturn has fulfilled His role as a God of liberation.

 

Saturn is not only about restriction and limitation, because karma is not only about restriction and limitation. Conventionally many people feel that natal or transiting Saturn is ‘blocking’ them in some way. This might seem to be the case from the perspective of the ego-personality that isn’t getting what it wants, but in reality Saturn brings important lessons about natural law, natures cycles, rhythms, potential, and possibility.

 

“from the ego’s point of view spiritual progress is ‘one insult after another'”

– Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

 

At personality level, Saturn teaches important and necessary natural laws.  The nature of the physical realm is one of limitation because everything works according to change and cycles of time. This lesson lies behind the old story of King Canute who tried to hold back the tide. The limitation is not imposed by Saturn, but actually by our own mind. It is King Canute’s mind that is limiting him, in narrowing his view of reality to only that which he can control with his small ego. The lessons of Saturn are guiding us beyond our small mind, beyond the limitations of ego and the intellect, so we can see the greater reality: the truth of our own being.

 

“Mind gives place to intuition and reason to pure perception”

– The Tibetan Master, Esoteric Astrology

 

 

it is our egoic ideas that limit us and once Saturn has ‘brought us to our knees’ at the personality level, we are forced to accept that there is a greater reality happening outside of our small world, of which we are also a part. It is then that we align with our soul path, and become receptive to the higher teachings of Saturn. Saturn then becomes the Lord of Liberation by showing us the true path to freedom.

 

If you have Sun, Moon, and especially Rising Sign in Capricorn you have an important role to play in creating heaven on earth, by paying attention to your motives and choices and ensuring they are fully aligned with Divine Will for the highest and best good of all. LCM

 

 This post is an excerpt from Ruth’s book “Soul Astrology: How Your Rising Sign Reveals Your Soul Path and Life Purpose” Click HERE to read more and/or order your copy.

 

 

 

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