By Amanda Painter

Saturn is now in direct motion in Capricorn, as of Wednesday; this begins the final approach to its conjunction with Pluto in January. On Saturday, Jupiter in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces will complete their last of three exact squares this year. Both of these events seem to ask: what have you been learning about yourself?

Sansevieria blossom; photo by Amanda Painter.

Take the case of Saturn, for starters. The lord of structure, boundaries, responsibility and time, it’s likely coming through with extra emphasis now: partly thanks to being in the sign it rules, and partly due to being stationary.

If getting Saturn in a concentrated form feels intimidating or frustrating, a shift in perspective might help to incorporate its lessons.

For example: even if you don’t know your birth chart info, has there been a particular facet of your daily life where you feel like you’re running up against a wall of some kind? Or where you’ve felt compelled to clear out or restructure things in the last few months? Are you recognizing a need to take greater responsibility or set clearer boundaries?

Saturn stationed retrograde back at the end of April, making that a worthwhile phase of time to reflect upon, in terms of changes you’ve been making or resisting. Some of these messages may be arriving via partners, colleagues, your community, or some other facet of your environment — in addition to the more internal parts of your psyche and experience.

Yet no matter how Saturn is trying to get your attention, or through whom it seems to be operating, one thing is certain: these messages are about you. That is, they are about facing the consequences of things you have done or avoided doing; they’re about where you’re being called to step into greater authority in your life; they’re about where you are in the process of individuating, and how you’re owning your ‘baggage’ and projections when they’re shown to you. Saturn wants us to step up. And until we do, it can often feel like we only ever get stepped on.

Note that Saturn stationed direct in a conjunction to the lunar South Node (a point in space related to the orbits of the Moon and Earth, and where they intersect). Symbolically, the South Node describes old habits that hold us back, karma, what is familiar but no longer useful. This would seem to emphasize Saturn’s message: we’ve had a few months to review, clear space, and reorganize; now it’s time to jettison whatever still remains that would get in the way of building a more solid, functional structure in our lives.

However, Saturn stationed direct right in the thick of Jupiter and Neptune’s final exact square of this series. This could describe some difficulty in seeing Saturn’s messages clearly. Then again, it also suggests an ability to tap into the optimism needed to persevere in a Saturn-heavy moment. Not all situations need to hit ‘rock bottom’ to provoke change and progress. Inspiration has its place in spurring us to overcome obstacles, fear, and limitations. So, too, faith in what might seem impossible, and an ability to look and dream a little further than we can presently reach.

Whether Jupiter and Neptune have been hosting the equivalent of a cosmic keg party that has you looking at your life with beer goggles on; or have been opening up your view to allow you to see, act on and even create possibilities you might not have otherwise dared to reach for, one thing is clear: it’s still all about you. If you feel like you’ve been deluded or deceived, that realization holds vital information about where and in whom you put your faith, what holes in reality you’re all too willing to fill with your imagination, and what parts of your present foundation aren’t quite up to the task of supporting your dreams. You’ll now get the opportunity to adjust your vision; Saturn may help in identifying the missing building blocks for a new plan.

If you feel like you’re manifesting a new phase of life that you had not thought was possible, it is not happening by magic, or because you wished really hard, or because you’re ‘lucky’. It’s more likely a result of things like patient perseverance, hard work, and asking for help when you’ve needed it. Chances are you’ve been willing to take smart risks — such as daring to be creative, curious, invested in your own healing and growth, honest about your desires, and willing to serve a common good (something bigger than your own ego).

Even then, it’s possible to feel like you’ve done all of these things, and are still dealing with disillusionment in some way. There is no magic recipe, and there are always other factors to consider. Blind spots abound — though often there’s someone who can help us see them, if we’re willing to look.

Finally, I want to note that we’re almost at the equinox: the Sun enters Libra on Monday, Sept. 23, at 3:50 am EDT (7:50:02 UTC). This marks the start of Northern Hemisphere autumn, and the astrological halfway point in the year.

Between now and then is the last quarter Moon Saturday into Sunday, with the late-Gemini Moon square the late-Virgo Sun. Minor planets and points in contact with the Sun and Moon include: Bacchus conjunct the Sun in Virgo; Chaos conjunct the Moon in Gemini; and Cupido (Uranian point), the Galactic Core, Pholus and Ixion in Sagittarius.

I think this primarily describes two things. The first is an opportunity to start again almost from ‘nothing’ with a second chance of some kind. It could be one that allows you to make a more ethical choice, or may relate to freeing yourself from something, or is in response to a higher calling or broader cooperative and creative partnership.

The second — and perhaps more tangible — layer is a reminder to watch your intake of alcohol and other mind-altering substances through the weekend. This has been an ongoing caution for the last few weeks as Jupiter and Neptune have moved into position, and now the last quarter Moon is highlighting it again. Pholus in particular suggests that even a little imbibing could lead to significant consequences, depending on your other activities — and could make it harder to see your options clearly.

If you do have a second chance at something, why cloud your ability to harness Saturn and build on it? A new season approaches, and with it new opportunities to reshape your vision.

My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

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