Lessons from Saturn

 

Saturn has a connection to karma and kala (time), which are interconnected due to the fact that karma can only exist within the limits of material time. In the spiritual realm, there is no time (or not the time that we, as conditioned beings, experience). In the spiritual dimension, time is always present (time is the present), and spiritual time works as a servant of Bhagavan to facilitate His pastimes. In the material dimension, the conditioned living entities are servants of time, and time acts as an unforgiving master. Karma and kala work together, keeping us chained to this material realm which is itself in constant decay/renewal due to the influence of time. In due course of time, we will all reap the fruits of our previous karma. “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap”. So like the other planets, Saturn is indispensable in our lives just as a strict figure is sometimes necessary in order to shape us and make us stronger; and Saturn will manifest through such people, and it will push us to our limits. Saturn is square, it's rigid, like the Emperor which is the fourth card of the tarot (4 = square) and which represents an authority figure (Saturn is authoritative), order and discipline.

Saturn is most particularly associated with papas (bad, sinful karmas). However with Saturn everything is a lesson. It puts us in difficult situations that come about as a result of our bad karma, but that give us the opportunity to learn something and gain some strength in a particular area, because Saturn is linked to restrictions, limitations, hard work and discipline. The limitations that Saturn imposes allow us to focus on other more important areas of our lives, and restriction and discipline is also necessary for spiritual an material success. But few people will accept this because we don't want to accept that maybe Saturn wants the best for us. We would much prefer running into Rahu's arms promising that we can succeed without much effort or discipline, but that can only be true materially if our karma allows it and Paramatma gives the green light. And to think that we can become spiritually successful without the help of the Saturnian energy of discipline and regulation puts us in denial. One of the reasons why I've always respected Saturn despite it being a malefic is that Saturn will show you the hard truth, the truth that many of us try to run away from because it defies our idea of freedom being the power to do as we want. Saturn, however, presents us with the possibility for a more stable and permanent freedom that can only be achieved through discipline (“regulative principles of freedom”).

The fact that Saturn is associated with time and old age is also because time takes away something which most of us consider vital to the full expression of our freedom: youth and beauty. When the body is no longer attractive and functioning properly, we are forced to look within and if we are lucky, to come to the realisation that freedom goes beyond just doing what we want. The limitations that come with old age are no longer a choice but an imposition. We will also note that conservative thinking (which is more rigid, with more rules and regulations) is associated with the older generations; yet as time goes by we see how new generations are becoming more and more enslaved by the very things they think make them free. And a lot of the youth is anti-conservative for the same reason that most people dislike Saturn (which I mentioned before).

A good or exalted Saturn will not necessarily reduce the amount or difficulty of the obstacles one faces, rather it will ensure that the best, long-term results come out of it. Saturnian people will have the ability to persevere and work harder to overcome the challenges that result from bad karma. This explains why Saturn-ruled Anuradha and Pushya nakshatras represent success (Anuradha is also called 'the star of success') and are symbolised by the lotus flower (the lotus flowers, the most auspicious flower which grows from mud, represents the ability to blossom in any life situations). Therefore Saturn can give us great opportunities to achieve great heights as a result of our hard work and patience.