-Saturn in Pisces- We’ll Build A New Jerusalem

‘A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees, if the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite.’

William Blake-

On March 7th this year, the planet Saturn moves into the water sign of Pisces, and for the first time since December 2017, it will not be in a sign that it rules.

Saturn, the master of time, serves as the boundary of the visible universe, we can see no further with the naked eye, than this beautifully ringed planet and, until the discovery of telescopes, most people thought that beyond Saturn, there was nothing, only the fixed stars. In his role as the archetypal bad cop or authoritative parent Saturn’s association with limitation, boundaries and structure gets him rather a bad rap; many of us don’t generally care to be told what to do, but Saturn will have his way, and if you do not succumb willingly, you will be dragged, kicking and screaming, whether you like it or not!

Saturn is associated with the principles of contraction, limitation and control, as well as fear, and we have all seen those qualities in action over the last four years as Saturn has been at its peak strength as it has transited first Capricorn and then Aquarius. Saturn is also associated with duty, discipline, hard work and application, mortality, time and death; it is not a bundle of laughs, but, strangely, it does have something to do with comedy. Because of its association with timing, and we all know how important good timing is for comedy; being able to laugh at the black comedy that is our lives can often be what saves the day!

As Saturn’s Aquarian crown is removed, and he enters the watery kingdom of Pisces, the tempo changes and he begins to take a slightly different although no less important role. At his best, Saturn is the master of self sufficiency, duty and self discipline; he really knows how to apply himself and work hard to get what he wants, but how is this expressed in the sign of Pisces, and how can we make the best use of this energy for the next few years?

Saturn in the sign of Pisces is expressed through the feeling function and natives with this chart placement can often spend much of their lives rebuilding their emotional structures, as the ones they were given were often not fit for purpose, or in some cases did not even exist at all. Emotional matters will be reviewed throughout life, and there can often be a great distrust of others, mainly through a fear of being irrevocably hurt; their sensitivity is second to none and one of their greatest lessons is to learn the correct boundaries so that they do not try to take on the burdens of the world. Those born with Saturn in Pisces will be experiencing their first, (age 28-30) second, (age 58-60) or third (age 88-90) Saturn return.

While Saturn traverses Pisces for the next two years, we will be given the opportunity to create new patterns of emotional behaviour in whichever area of our horoscopes is being affected. Here, we will be prompted to look at where previous patterns may have caused emotional distress or negative outcomes, and how we might construct new, different ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The frameworks that shape our emotional experiences and responses are often established early in life, based on our upbringing and social environment, but they are not set in stone. Now is the perfect opportunity to develop new habits of thought and behaviour and to learn new mechanisms for dealing with our emotional challenges.

This all requires self-awareness, reflection, and even perhaps guidance from others, but it could be particularly beneficial focus to learn to communicate more effectively, particularly with the self or with your higher self in whichever area you are dealing with. Pisces is very much a spiritual sign, with a strong awareness of the interconnected nature of all life; developing this facet of your nature through practicing mindfulness, self-compassion, meditation or prayer is very much in harmony with Saturn’s sojourn through Pisces and I expect to be be able to attend to my own practices with renewed enthusiasm during this time. In my own experiences, as someone born with Saturn in Pisces, revising or rebuilding my own personal emotional structures has been at the foundation of much of my own work, the basis for emotional well-being, greater resilience and an improved relationship with myself.

One of the drawbacks to this transit is likely to be the propensity for a fear of the unknown and the apocalyptic visions of an overactive imagination. Fears can multiply very rapidly in Pisces, it may feel like walking on quicksand. The extreme sensitivity of this mutable water sign can end up leading to a lack of action or planning, which in turn can increase levels of anxiety and fear, leaving the individual feeling powerless to change their fate, or with an impending sense of hopelessness and despair. Although there can be a strong sense of duty and responsibility, there may be also be an obsessive focus on limitations as well as a struggle with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. This can lead to a lack of confidence in the ability to achieve mastery, and may result in a passive approach to goals.

The term New Jerusalem appears to be first mentioned in the Hebrew bible, in the book of the prophet Ezekiel and has become a part of our cultural imagery since then. In more recent times it was popularised in the early 20th century hymn “And did those feet in ancient times”, using words from the English visionary, William Blake, who published the poem in 1808 as a preface to his work The Prophetic Books. The poem reflects Blake’s vision of a utopian society, which he believed would be built on principles of social justice and equality, carrying on a theme which was first written of in pre-history. It is a theme that I believe will become stronger in the coming years, the idealism and spiritual vision of Pisces, combined with the structure and reality of Saturn. Our increased sensitivity will magnify our awareness of the passage of time and the innate fragility of life, leading to a heightened appreciation for each moment. The same sensitivity can also foster our compassion and empathy towards each other and help us to see beyond the limitations of our physical life and imagine the possibilities of a world it may be possible to dream into reality.

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