Saturn in Sagittarius: What It Means for You

Saturn in Sagittarius:
September 2015-December 2017

Where and how will you grow for the next two years? Disciplined Saturn is back in worldly Sagittarius, pushing us to evolve our beliefs and open our minds, but from a practical point of view.

On December 23, 2014, Saturn—the ruler of maturity, growth and challenges—left watery Scorpio for fiery Sagittarius, a new cycle that will last until December 19, 2017. Saturn briefly left Sagittarius in 2015—from June 14 until September 17—then settled back in for a two-year stay. Saturn visits each zodiac sign every 28-30 years, so its arrival heralds a definitive two-to-three year period that reveals where our toughest lessons will be.

Saturn’s last tour of Sagittarius was November 1985 until November 1988, so if you were born then, dial back through your personal history. You may see recurring themes, or issues that resurface. Saturn spotlights your “life’s work,” so stand tall and get cracking on the next round of this soul assignment.

Saturn and Sagittarius are strange bedfellows, because Sagittarius is the sign of optimism and expansion, while Saturn is all about restriction and harsh reality checks. But this blending of opposites could actually strike a healthy balance. Under Saturn’s measured approach, we may see the combustible global politics and uprising settle down again. Saturn can influence leaders, or leadership style, and with philosophical Sagittarius here, we may see some fascinating people rise through the ranks. Of course, as a brash fire-sign, Sagittarius can be rather dogmatic and outspoken, so we might also see a few grandstanding “armchair philosophers” who are more talk than action.

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Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, mythic god of the feast, quite a contrast to self-disciplined Saturn. Our appetites for excess could meet a reality check. Sagittarius is also about higher education and philosophy, and this transit could be a boon for the personal growth industry. The cream rises to the top under Saturn’s reign, so any half-stepping leaders or false gurus will surely be exposed by Saturn’s audit. Belief systems also fall under Sagittarius domain, and under Saturn’s influence, new policies may be added to crack down on corruption within religious organizations.

Colleges and universities are ruled by Sagittarius, and Saturn could force a solution, or at least a reevaluation of the issue, of so many graduates struggling to find jobs or pay exorbitant tuition costs. To wit: at this writing, the Higher Education Act is up for reauthorization in the U.S., which would ease the burden of educational expenses. Since Saturn imposes limits, some universities may see record low enrollment, inspiring them to scale back and rethink their whole system.

If you’re one of the four mutable signs—Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces—this Saturn cycle will have the strongest impact on you. Get ready to see major structures in your personal and/or professional life take on a whole, mature new shape. The mutable signs are forever changing, but with structured Saturn here, these flexible signs may stand their ground and make permanent commitments.

Saturn will pay one last visit to Scorpio from June 14-September 17, 2015. Just as schools let out for summer, this planetary pause gives us a chance to retreat from the action and go within. Introspective Scorpio is all about the little details, while outspoken Sagittarius focuses on the big picture. If you’ve gotten so swept up in the grand vision that you’ve skimped on the details (a no-no under thorough Saturn’s watch), this is your chance to go back and finish what you started.

How will Saturn in Sagittarius affect YOUR zodiac sign?

Aries: Knowledge is power.

Saturn in the 9th house

Relationship relief! Since October 2009, Saturn has been traveling through Libra and Scorpio, rulers of your seventh and eighth houses of partnership. You’ve been tested around commitments, as Saturn has delivered both obstacles and growth opportunities. Bonds that were “meant to be” have endured, while others fell by the wayside.  You’ve learned important lessons on the art of interpersonal affairs, that’s for sure. And now, you are free to apply those to your love life without Saturn on your back. This next cycle is pretty much painless, as Saturn tours your ninth house of higher education, travel and philosophy. You could return to school, find a new belief system (even a formal religious community) or see more of the world. Saturn can reveal new professional paths, so you could explore teaching, spiritual leadership, personal growth sectors, coaching, publishing or motivational speaking. Your work may also involve travel or cross-cultural relations.

Taurus: Merge for mutual gain.

Saturn in the 8th house

The rubber meets the road in your closest relationships for the next three years. Saturn exits your opposite sign of Scorpio, which governs your seventh house of committed partnerships. Having Saturn opposite your Sun sign is never easy—it’s like seeing yourself in stark relief, or mirrored through another person—and not all relationships can survive this challenge. Those that do will usually go the distance. Since October 2012, your closest ties got super-serious, perhaps leading to marriage (even notorious Bull bachelor George Clooney walked down the aisle). Quality time may have also been in short supply, as one or both of you could have been burdened by heavy work or other responsibilities. Now, Saturn deep-dives into your eighth house of intimacy and joint ventures, giving you the (cautious) urge to merge. Your biggest lessons will come through combining money, energy, time and property with another person or entity. Be careful about borrowing money during this time. You’ll come to understand the meaning of “’til death do us part” with Saturn in your eighth house, perhaps through a pregnancy, shared home ownership, a joint investment or letting down your ironclad walls to allow someone in. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable isn’t easy, and some Tauruses will struggle with painful feelings of being exposed or out of control—your sign always wants to appear put-together. The greater payoff will come from hard-won self-acceptance. Take off the mask and be real.

Gemini: The power of two.

Saturn in the 7th house

Healthy, wealthy and wise? Saturn departs Scorpio, your sixth house of health and organization, after two years of playing administrative taskmaster and personal trainer. If you rose to the challenge, you could be in great shape, even if  it meant the chaotic and stressful revamp of, well, your whole life. Now that you’ve overhauled, how about making room for a plus-one? Saturn will spend the next three years in your opposite sign, Sagittarius, putting the emphasis on committed relationships. Gemini, your free-spirited sign can be a little slippery, not wanted to be “tied down.” Now, you’ll discover both the benefits and the challenges of choosing one person or path for the long haul. Everything is a learning experience, so even if a serious relationship doesn’t survive Saturn’s reign, you will emerge wiser, evolved and mature from stepping up to the challenge. And if it does? Well, the two of you could be together ’til the end of the road—humbly and happily ever after.

Cancer: Get healthy & fit. 

Saturn in the 6th house

Change your habits, change your life? Stern Saturn marches into your health and fitness zone for the next three years, blowing the whistle on any excess or messy loose ends. If you’ve neglected your health due to indulgence or a sedentary modern lifestyle, it’s time to put clean eating and regular exercise into the program, or to get some “good help” on Team Cancer. This might not be easy—you may need to build new routines and systems from the ground up, or even to fire a few service providers who are beloved but not up to par. Change isn’t easy, especially not for your sentimental sign, and you may need to let go of what’s comfortable to do what works. The silver lining? Saturn has been in your romance house for the last two years, slowing down the excitement in your love life. With weighty Saturn gone, the passion perks up again. Date night, anyone?

Leo: Curb the drama.

Saturn in the 5th house

Players begone! Saturn will spend the next three years in your fifth house or romance, passion and self-expression. With structured Saturn here, you’re taking a more serious approach to dating, love and creativity. If you have an artistic talent, mature Saturn can take your talents to new professional heights. Dial the agent and prep your portfolio/headshot/demo reel! The fifth house rules fertility, so a pregnancy is possible—but since Saturn rules restriction, it may take a few extra attempts to conceive. This next Saturn cycle is far less intense than the one that’s just ended, because Saturn was at a tense square (90-degree angle) to your Sun for the last two years, touching your home and family sector. Issues with a parent or female relative (mothers in particular) could have been especially challenging, or perhaps your living situation felt limiting in some way. Now, this energy lightens up and it’s time to get serious about…having fun! Now that’s more like it, Leo.

Virgo: Home & family first.

Saturn in the 4th house

The two-year Saturn in Scorpio cycle that’s just ended was relatively easy for you, Virgo. The taskmaster planet was forming a relaxed sextile (60-degree angle) to your Sun, which didn’t feel like much pressure. Saturn was in your communication house, honing your chops as a writer, teacher or just making you better at self-expression overall. The next three years could have some tough moments, as Saturn forms a cramped square (90-degree angle) to your Sun, demanding change and compromise. Saturn is touring your home and family sector until December 2017, so your biggest growth areas will be in your personal life. A female relative, possibly your mother, could be the cause for some growing pains. Or, perhaps you’ll become a parent or homeowner, and the adjustment process will demand a certain level of attention and evolution. Balancing your personal life with your career and individual needs will also require more structure. Make a dedicated effort to book self-care time and a space to process your emotions.

Libra: Perfect your pitch.

Saturn in the 3rd house

Sweet relief! Saturn exits your work and money house after a challenging couple of years that pushed you to hone your work habits, daily routines and financial management. There may have been a job loss, a career change or a few money shortages since October 2012. Luckily, necessity is the mother of invention under Saturn’s reign, so if you rose to the challenge and rolled up your sleeves, you could be back on solid ground—perhaps even more solvent than ever before. Even better? For the next three years, you’ll catch a break, as Saturn forms an easy sextile (60-degree) angle to your sign. Saturn is now in your communication house, boosting your prowess as a writer, speaker, teacher or thinker. Is it time to publish that Great American Novel or scintillating memoir? Look for leadership opportunities in your community or synergistic connections you can form with like-minded people. Dynamic duos and prosperous new friendships await.

Scorpio: Focus on the bottom line.

Saturn in the 2nd house

Freedom! Weighty Saturn leaves your sign after a two-year reinvention tour. Saturn was in Scorpio from October 2012 until December 2014, pushing you to take a long, hard look at yourself. If this led to an identity crisis or two, no surprise—Saturn in your sign tested your limits and forced you to step into levels of personal responsibility heretofore unknown. (Saturn’s last tour of Scorpio was from 1983-85, so if you’re old enough to remember that era, you may have seen some similar themes recur.) Now, it’s time to fashion your hard-won self-discovery into something tangible and profitable. Saturn will spend the next three years in Sagittarius, your career and finance zone. You’ve done the hard work of figuring out who you are—now, how will you share that with the world, and make a living doing so? Saturn pushes you to get organized, perhaps streamlining your daily routines, work habits and priorities—and to align your principles with your paycheck. No more wasting time on jobs, clients and contracts that don’t reflect your most cherished values. Paying dues is fine—under-earning or underselling yourself is decidedly NOT!

Sagittarius: Reinvention time.

Saturn in the 1st house

Gear up, Sagittarius: taskmaster Saturn has come to town, paying a three-year visit to Sagittarius. This is the first time Saturn is here since 1985-88, so talk about a retro throwback! It’s time to strip away all that no longer serves you and embark on a total life reinvention. You’ve already been in this sorting process for the last couple years, while Saturn toured Scorpio, your solar twelfth house of endings, surrender and healing. Saying goodbye to a phase of life or mourning an outmoded situation—well, you’ve done a good bit of that. Now, it’s time to rip a clean page out of the playbook and get busy building Sagittarius 2.0. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so roll up your shirtsleeves and prepare to construct your new life, brick by brick and possibly from the ground up. You may need to spend a little more time alone or working independently with Saturn in this solo-focused realm. On the upside: you could really “come into your own” and be seen as a master, expert or leader in your field. Saturn rules aging and now that it’s in your solar first house of appearances, you may embrace some of time’s passages—or take formal measures to erase them. Still, go easy on the youth juice, Sag. Forever 21 might be your eternal “spirit age,” but it’s definitely not where you should shop for clothing after a certain era. Perhaps it’s time to update your style to reflect a more sophisticated and mature version of your signature funky flair. Just beware of going TOO severe. Not every head looks quite so adorable in a J.-Law pixie or a Brad Pitt buzz.

Capricorn: Heal, forgive, reflect.

Saturn in the 12th house

Slow down, Capricorn. For the next three years, you’re going through a reflective phase, as your ruling planet Saturn decamps to Sagittarius and your twelfth house of rest, healing and forgiveness. Consider yourself on a three-year retreat of sorts, when you formally carve out more time for solitude or to work on a creative pursuit. Your imagination could be the key to success now, so put dedicated energy into a latent artistic talent, and perhaps even get formal representation. You may need to cut off a few “energy vampires,” since the twelfth house rules sacrifice, and Saturn rules boundaries. If you’re stuck in a codependent trap playing the role of savior or enabler, it’s time to empower rather than enable. If you’ve had a loss in your life, you may seek therapy or formal healing to deal with it. Closure and forgiveness work aren’t easy, but you don’t want to pay the price for holding onto pain. This three-year Saturn tour could also inspire a serious meditation or spiritual practice.

Aquarius: It’s who you know.

Saturn in the 11th house

Prepare for liftoff! For the past two years, Saturn has been in your tenth house of career and professional success, marking a slow and steady ascent—perhaps with a few setbacks along the way. Saturn was sitting at a tough square (90-degree angle) to your Sun, sparking issues with authority or delaying your ability to see a clear future plan. Your company may have restructured or perhaps you lost an important client—in some way, you were forced to rebuild your professional path, to pay dues or follow protocol. Now, that era has ended and Saturn sails into your eleventh house of groups and networking. Aquarius is the natural ruler of the eleventh house, so you’re truly “in the zone.” Get ready to join an elite new group of thinkers, or to do some power networking. The eleventh house rules technology and humanitarian issues. A digital venture or a social cause could find your rubbing shoulders with the movers and shakers—or put you on the “who’s who” map for your forward-thinking views.

Pisces: Hello, world domination.

Saturn in the 10th house

Structure time! Ready those bootstraps, Pisces, because for the next three years, you’re going to be pulling yourself up by yours. Taskmaster Saturn is in your tenth house of long-term plans, success and professional endeavors. This is a major turning point for your career, Pisces, and it will take slow and steady building on your behalf. There will be no charming your way into opportunities unless you can back up the allure with hard work and tangible results. Saturn will be at a challenging square (90-degree angle) to your sign, so we won’t promise you an easy process. However, if you rise to the challenge, Saturn will help you grow by leaps and bounds into leadership, self-sufficiency and mastery. You could end this cycle with serious chops as an expert in your field, and you might even take a more traditional job with a large corporation or organization during this Saturn cycle. Your father or an important males could figure prominently into your evolution, as the tenth house is associated with men. You might also tap a mentor, a coach or some other seasoned expert to help take your endeavors to new heights.

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Photographs by Cory Verellen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The AstroTwins

Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut, known as The AstroTwins, are the founders of Astrostyle.com and the authors of multiple bestselling astrology books. Their horoscopes reach millions here and through their resident astrologer column at ELLE Magazine.

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