Planets: Saturn—ray 3 (sacred)

G Ray 3 (sacred planet)

Method: Intensification, growth through the opportunities of crisis

Saturn: general information

Saturn has a complex role in esoteric astrology, depending on context. In the vast cosmic sense it conveys the first ray energy of will from the Great Bear via Leo (see triangle) to our solar system, yet also governs the general third aspect of matter or cosmic form (or to us: intelligence, mind) in this solar system, and consequently life in the “three worlds” of human experience (physical, emotional, mental).

Saturn is the focal point for the transmission of cosmic mind to our entire seven planetary schemes. (TCF 378)

Further, for life on the Fixed Cross it is the planet that provides opportunities for the development of the second aspect of consciousness and love/wisdom (see triangle). So look for the placement of Saturn in an esoteric horoscope to find the area (by sign and aspect) where opportunities of crisis will be experienced. This is an essential part of the overall Fixed Cross experience, and its placement in a sign of each cross will suggest whether these crises will be primarily: material (Mutable); emotional (Fixed); or mental (Cardinal).

So although Saturn’s role in esoteric astrology may appear complex and slightly confusing for a Ray 3 planet, it serves the purpose of the three main principles in quite distinct ways:

1. Will: the quality of persistence (mental)
2. Love-Wisdom: the provision of opportunity (emotional)
3. Intelligence: the field of experience (physical)

The Saturn scheme is esoterically regarded as having absorbed the “frictional fires” of solar space. (TCF 1154)

This quote from A Treatise on Cosmic Fire might sound a little remote or cryptic, but makes sense when stepped down to the human level. The most important way that Saturn influences our development is neatly summed up by the following succinct phrase:

This is the planet which conditions primarily the point in evolution where choice definitely becomes possible, where rejection of opportunity or its acceptance can consciously be undertaken, and the shouldering of personal responsibility becomes a recognised fact in a planned and ordered life (EA 19-20 emphasis added)

The role of “friction” is a tidy metaphor for this process, as “fire by friction” is how we experience resistance to the karmic necessities of the learning process, while enduring the long period of repeated trial and error, which act to burn up that which veils the steadily increasing brilliance of solar fire (EA 444). In other words, we only learn to become more soul-focussed—the “solar fire”—through the friction of (often bitter) experience.

That evolutionary journey, encompassing:

• the shift from passive learning by repeated experience (fire by friction)
• through gradual understanding of the consequences of our behaviour (solar fire)
• to a position of active conscious choice (“electric” fire)

is summed up neatly in the following passages (from The Old Commentary), which accurately represent the broad sweep of the influence of—and humanity’s journey through—the three crosses, Mutable, Fixed and Cardinal:

Amid the whirling forces, I stand confused. I know them not, for, during all my past, they swept me up and down the land wherein I moved, blinded and unaware. From place to place and point to point, they drove me up and down the land and nowhere was there rest. (Mutable)

I know them now and here I stand and will not move until I know the Law which governs all this movement up and down the land. I may revolve and turning face the many different ways; I face some wide horizons and yet today I stand. (Fixed)

I will determine for myself the way to go. Then onward I will move. I will not travel up and down the land nor turn in space. But onward I will move. (Cardinal) (EA 20, bracketed text added)

These three facets of Saturn sum up the entire process of inner growth, each leading to what is termed in the esoteric philosophy as the paths of: probation, discipleship and initiation and their associated initiations or beginnings.

Focussing on the central stage of development for those undergoing conscious inner growth, Saturn’s role as provider opportunities for the development of greater awareness (by which imposed limits become respected boundaries) was misunderstood in traditional astrology as a “malefic” influence (difficulties, challenges, delays etc.). This is transformed by experience on the Fixed Cross, where Saturn:

brings about… certain great points of crisis which are unavoidable and present definite opportunity. Saturn is dominant in bringing this about. (EA 350)

When successfully handled, each point of crisis—while initially unwelcome—leads to greater understanding and a consequent expansion in consciousness. Eventually, these crises become identifiable as cautionary limits to unproductive behaviour, and are willingly heeded. Saturn thereby shepherds us toward a more productive and less impulsive path; the resulting “skill in action” leads to a calmer, less reactive and more proactive path through life’s challenges and choices.

Alan Leo makes a salient observation about the overall role of Saturn in this process:

The highest mental attribute of Saturn is perfection … giving an intense desire to find out the true state of things. … Saturn delays, retards and hinders for no other purpose than that perfection shall be reached by all things and all [people]. Saturn concentrates and purifies until all impurities are, as it were, precipitated to the bottom of each earth life, until right action is performed for right’s sake only. —Alan Leo The Art of Synthesis, p93

In a greater role as one of the key planets in a series of three triangles (EA 436) at the very root of esoteric astrology, Saturn is:

primarily concerned with presenting opportunity to the Hierarchy and its affiliated disciples. The phrase that “Saturn is the planet of discipleship” is basically true because [the individual in the general population], except in group formation, does not come so potently under its influence. For the Hierarchy—as a group—is facing a great crisis of approach to Shamballa, analogous to that confronting Humanity today, as it seeks approach and contact with the Hierarchy. Thus there are two inter-related crises affecting both Humanity and the Hierarchy, and these should produce—if correctly effected—that which is called alignment or integration, resulting in a far freer inflow of divine energy. Both these “approaches” (which are in the nature of magnetic attractive “pulls”) are conditioned by Saturn; in the case of Humanity this pull comes via the Hierarchy and—apart from that Hierarchy—mankind cannot today surmount or properly handle the crisis. This should be remembered and should speed the work of the disciples and aspirants of the world as they struggle for human liberation (…) The intervention desired should come via the Hierarchy, if it is not to be too destructive in its effect. (EA 440)

Saturn: Rulerships

• Orthodox: Capricorn
• Esoteric: Capricorn
• Hierarchical: Libra

Orthodox: Capricorn ⇧

In Capricorn the influence of Saturn is both exoteric and esoteric. It’s influence in Aquarius is superseded by Uranus.

[this allocation] is dealing entirely with… progress [on] the ordinary… wheel of life, and the Saturn… ruling Aquarius is the Saturnian influence of Capricorn, in which sign Saturn governs in two fields. On the reversed wheel, the Saturnian influence exhausts itself in Capricorn and the [individual] is then free from karma and needs no presentation of opportunity [and as] a free initiate … can then proceed with world service undeterred … held back by no thought of self or selfish desire. (EA 137)

The height of personal ambition, achievement and wealth under the Mutable Cross leads—in the best cases—to an urge to improve humanity’s lot. At worst, it leads to a separation of the self in a super-wealthy or powerful elite, who must develop some kind of moral compass before they are able to face the psychological challenges of the Fixed Cross.

Esoteric: Capricorn ⇧

Stability of purpose, consolidation of the personal self as a vehicle for the expression of greater purpose. Globally, this is the meeting of humanity’s “Dweller on the Threshold” (how we stand in our own light) and “Angel of the Presence” (humanity’s collective inner self) and the realisation that they must be aligned and managed in order to ground initiatives that advance us as a whole.

The exoteric and the esoteric planetary rulers of Capricorn are the same, and Saturn rules … on the Mutable or the Fixed Cross. … On the Mutable Cross and on the Fixed Cross we have the so-called green ray, controlling not only the daily life of karmic liability upon the path of evolution, but also controlling the experiences and processes of evolution. The reason for this is that Capricorn is an earth sign and because the third and fifth rays work pre-eminently through this sign, embodying the third major [cosmic] aspect, active intelligence plus that of its subsidiary power, the fifth Ray of Mind. These pour through Capricorn to Saturn and to Venus and so reach our planet, the Earth. Saturn is one of the most potent of the four Lords of Karma and forces [us] to face up to the past, and in the present to prepare for the future. Such is the intention and purpose of karmic opportunity. From certain angles, Saturn can be regarded as the planetary Dweller on the Threshold, for humanity as a whole has to face that Dweller as well as the Angel of the Presence, and in so doing discover that both the Dweller and the Angel are that complex duality which is the human family. Saturn, in a peculiar relation to the sign Gemini, makes this possible. [Individuals make] this discovery… in the sign Capricorn; the fourth and fifth Creative Hierarchies do the same thing in Libra. (EA 163-4)

The fourth and fifth Creative Hierarchies are respectively: the individual human form in which we incarnate (humanity, the Fourth Hierarchy), and the true self or human soul (the “Solar Angels” or Fifth Hierarchy). At a certain stage of individual evolution, these two come into conflict, roughly equating to the “dweller” and the “angel” mentioned above, the latter actually being us, or our inner selves on its own true plane; the ultimate human aim as units of the fifth Hierarchy, known as:

“The Hearts of Fiery Love”; they save through love, and in their turn these lives are peculiarly close to the great Heart of Love of the solar Logos [the Sun on Ray 2]. (TCF 1204)

Hierarchical: Libra ⇧

…Venus is also the hierarchical ruler of Capricorn, thus showing the power of the mind and its place and purpose in connection with both the major human crises: Individualisation and Initiation. (EA 355)

“Initiation” here means the stage of personal integration, so that the personality becomes solely the vehicle for the less strictly personal aims of the inner self or “soul”. Ray 5 “pours through” Capricorn to Earth via Venus in this case.

Everything abstract and formless needs form and will refine that form to suit its purpose. In the resulting processing of experience is our esoteric role in the refinement of matter. For the deeper significance see Makara—the cryptic “secret of the crocodiles” and the mythology of Venus in Capricorn. Also see the 5th hierarchy (EA 37, 45-49), the fifth kingdom and the Lords of Flame.

[After] the third initiation [we] can consciously mount the Cardinal Cross, [and are] released from the ruling of Saturn and [come] under the influence of Venus, …ruler of the Hierarchy which is that of the Crocodiles. [Only] upon the Cardinal Cross [does] the significance, purpose and potencies of the Creative Hierarchies become clear… (EA 163-4)

Saturn decanates

In conventional astrology, decanates simply follow the rulerships of each elemental triad, but Esoteric Astrology has inconsistent information. See notes about the decanates, and the “decans” tab under each sign.

Saturn Dignities

• Exaltation: Libra
• Fall: Aries
• Detriment: Cancer Leo

Exaltation in Libra ⇧

The exaltation of Saturn in Libra concerns Libra’s pivotal role in the “reversal of the wheel” for developing individuals who reach a point of balance between the personality and soul. The options are either to expand consciousness or continue to focus on purely personal goals and life. At this point:

…opportunity comes and a situation is staged which makes a choice and a determination inevitable. It is a choice which has to be made intelligently and upon the physical plane, in the waking brain consciousness. (EA 249)

The implication is that life circumstances force this choice, which is where the traditional role of Saturn switches into the planet of “opportunity” when solutions to a life situation require acceptance—often of challenging circumstances—in order to stimulate a shift in focus.

Humanity in general is currently at the point of undergoing this challenge, which is covered under Libra, where Saturn is the hierarchical ruler.

Fall in Aries ⇧

Saturn falling in Aries has two meanings (the two horns of Aries make it a “dual” sign):

1. On the involutionary arc into matter and repeated incarnation Saturn is the Lord of Karma… who demands full payment of all debts and… condemns us to the struggle for existence, both from the form side and from the soul side. (EA 105) Individually, Saturn “falls” with us into each incarnation, but also “fell” with all humanity into our long journey into learning through experience.
2. Once we have freed ourselves from the above process, the work of Saturn as Lord of Karma (learning through repeated experience on the Mutable and Fixed crosses) is done, and on the Cardinal Cross (in general as symbol) esoterically, Saturn is no longer the Lord of Karma.

Bearing in mind that the role of the three crosses has a broad symbolic meaning, as well as how the three crosses work in individual esoteric horoscopes.

Detriment in Cancer ⇧

Esoterically, Cancer is the sign through which humanity “enters into incarnation” and the long process of learning through experience, which is doubled through the power of Ray 3 in both sign and planet. Coming under the influence of the Moon in this sign brings in the essential 4th Ray experience of humanity in general, which makes Cancer a place of symbolic imprisonment and emphasises the pains and penalties of wrong orientation. Pain is only felt as a consequence of conflict between the inner self (soul) and the human life in which it is embodied and the environment in which we find ourselves as a consequence of previous actions, genetics, etc. These penalties of incarnation provide

those conditions of suffering which the soul has willingly undertaken when—with open eyes and clear vision—the soul chose the path of earth life with all its consequent sacrifices and pains, in order to salvage the lives with which it had an affinity. (EA 342)

The latter sentence contains a deep esoteric hint as to one of the purposes behind our own progress: to take with us on our journey of expanding consciousness the “lesser” lives that make up the vehicles of our own personality: material, etheric, emotional and mental.

Detriment in Leo ⇧

[in Leo] the power of both Uranus and Saturn is somewhat lessened… the advanced Leo subject … will be distinguished by … personal freedom from outside control. [They are rulers of their] own life and, therefore, no planet is exalted and likewise no planet falls. (EA 310)

As such, we are no longer swayed or drawn into surroundings or personal issues but manage them with deliberation, bringing out of circumstances and gathering from our environment whatever is required to aid the progression of humanity. The power of Saturn—the Lord of Karma—is therefore lessened (EA 310-11).