Saturn: Cancer/Capricorn, 4th/10th, Moon

[This is a continuation of a previous post]. In the following post, I will address Saturn in Cancer and Capricorn, Saturn in 4th House and 10th House, and Saturn in aspect to the Moon (the planetary ruler of Cancer):

Saturn in Cancer:   

The structure of consciousness is formed around the notions of “security” and “familiarity”. If Saturn is functioning in a healthy manner, consciousness will be structured based on a tendency to nurture and maintain “familial bonds”, and to trust and protect one’s own “emotional” sphere of experience as well. Safeguarding and nurturing would be the “default” context through which conscious life is understood. The conscious mind would tend to organize the whole sphere of mundane experience in reference to the degree those experiences can make one feel “content” and “cherished”, as it seems that the evolutionary path of the individual would encourage a certain level of emotional honesty, and thus respect for the impulses of the heart, rather than prioritizing the dry logic of the mind.

Difficulties of Saturn in Cancer:

If Saturn is not functioning comfortably, the individual may become emotionally “rigid” or trapped in his or her own personal sentiments without ever exposing those sentiments to objective evaluation. As the archetype of Cancer is also connected with motherhood and protection, the individual with an uncomfortable Saturn here may mistrust his or her own capacity to nurture significant others, protect his or her own emotional boundaries, or simply start a family. In this case, the individual may be quite affectionate, yet somehow unconsciously feeling undeserving or “not good enough” as a lover or parental figure.

Alternatively, a tendency to over-protect or to over-nurture others may exist, which compensates for the deeper feelings of having been underfed (literally or emotionally) which may still exist in the psyche of the individual either as a karmic memory or as a childhood reminiscence. In this case, it is important to be aware of the possibility of undermining one’s own emotional fulfillment by periodically submitting oneself to situations that reinforce the unconscious belief that one “does not deserve” to be loved, nurtured, or protected. Such an awareness would help the individual stop blaming the outer circumstances and start taking “responsibility” (i.e. the polarity point of Capricorn) for his or her own emotional fulfillment.

Saturn in Fourth House:

An “objectivity” exists with regards to one’s sentiments, as well as a sense of “responsibility” (or at times “heaviness”) with regards to one’s family of origin, homeland, or parental figure.

If Saturn is comfortable in the Fourth House, one can develop a highly effective strategy to “build” and “maintain”, be it a home, a business, or a significant relationship. The notion of “home” may be particularly important for these individuals, as there may have existed some degree of hardship or strictness regarding one’s abode in the early stages of life.

The notions of preserving a “shelter”, providing a “roof overhead”, or keeping “bread on the table” for oneself or one’s family members may have occupied a significant space in the psyche of the individual. Alternatively, a comfortable Saturn in this position may indicate that a parental figure has demonstrated (and thus conveyed to the individual) a healthy degree of discipline and accountability.

Commitment to one’s blood ties and offering support to immediate and extended family members may feel quite natural for the individual as well. On a mundane level, some individuals with this configuration are excellent real estate agents or have a knack for renovating old buildings and then selling them for a good price. Restoration and preservation of anything old, geography, geology, or landscaping will be usually an interest that one can pursue, either as a hobby or as a profession.

Difficulties of Saturn in Fourth House:

If Saturn is not comfortable, one may feel “tied” to one’s early childhood circumstances, “burdened” by the demands of one’s family members, or “stuck” in sorting out land and property issues. In this case, one’s natural sense of “belonging” or being supported by one’s family or homeland may be marred by what one perceives as “too many demands” or “too much tradition”. It is also possible that the individual will actually leave the place of origin in search of a “lighter” or “less demanding” environment.

Alternatively, a parental figure may have displayed the less desirable side of Saturn, such as being stingy, conditional in dispensing love and care, or too strict in his or her approach to child-rearing.

Evolutionary Path of Saturn in Fourth House:

The evolutionary path for an individual with Saturn in the Fourth House seems to include developing a sense of “ease” with what has been handed down from the past, and yet not to be bound by it. In other words, one can respect tradition, appreciate having a family, or enjoy being born to certain parents, and yet not act traditionally or reenact the inherited conduct from a parental figure if one does not feel comfortable doing so.

Developing a degree of “objectivity” with regards to what is highly “subjective” will be the primary lesson here: one can love one’s family members, and still see “who” they are as individuals outside of this familial connection. One can feel a sense of belonging to one’s homeland and still see its imperfections or corruption.

Most importantly, with Saturn symbolically residing in such a profound corner of one’s “inner world”, one has to learn to trust oneself and build one’s own “safety nets” from the inside out. To be able to first and foremost lay a solid and secure foundation in one’s own heart and then operate from this platform in the external world seems to be the ultimate evolutionary purpose of this configuration.

Saturn in Aspect to Moon:

With the planet of “consciousness” in aspect to the planet of “Instinctual Reaction”, one’s “auto-pilot” reaction to life would tend to be “harnessed”, and at times, “deliberate”. As the concepts of “excellence” (Saturn) and “emotions” (Moon) are linked in the psyche of the individual, one may constantly strive to understand one’s own emotional nature or to “objectify” one’s own psychological landscape in order to feel safe by being able to foresee one’s possible emotional or instinctual reactions which may arise in an unforeseeable manner. Sentiments may be allowed to arise only after enough time has been dedicated to delineating them.

The individual with this configuration usually believes that “conditions” come before “compulsions” and one should “earn” emotional satisfaction by doing the hard work. There also exists a tendency in the individual to become conscious of the emotional mechanisms of others in order not to be shocked in case an emotional episode out of the ordinary takes place.

If Saturn is comfortable in this position, one may feel a constant conscious desire to improve oneself emotionally or to understand the logical reasons for the emotional reactions of self and others. One can manage to have a “logical” approach when dealing with emotionally taxing or psychologically difficult issues.

Saturn/Moon contacts usually create a degree of “emotional strength” which would enable one to tackle the hardships of life with the least amount of wasted time and energy possible. In other words, there is an unconscious tendency towards “efficiency” on the emotional level which usually makes an individual with this configuration less prone to dwelling too long on loss, hence such an individual tends to recover from heartbreak or grief relatively faster than average.

Difficulties of Saturn in aspect to Moon:

If Saturn and Moon are not comfortable, one may experience chronic “depression” or a lack of emotional openness. Trusting others and allowing nurturing energies to enter one’s heart may be quite a challenge, in this case, hence establishing an intimate bond that is emotionally satisfying may be difficult as well. One may dwell too long on personal suffering or may develop a “habit” of grieving. It may also be difficult to let go of early childhood conditioning or to overcome destructive habits with a psychological compensatory purpose, such as overeating or smoking.

At times, there may also exist a resistance towards whatever arises from sentiments or instincts rather than pure logic, which may make the individual “harsh” or “unforgiving” in the long run. Alternatively, the presence of Saturn in an uncomfortable association with the Moon may symbolize an unconscious feeling of restriction or lack carried over from early childhood circumstances or a family unit that used to function based on discipline rather than love.

On a mundane level, there may also exist an unconscious fear of not having enough food or a reliable shelter, hence a psychological fixation may exist with regards to not wasting and not overindulging as well. In this case, the individual can practice developing trust in the infinite abundance which the Cosmic Mother or Father provides for all of us, as beautifully expressed in the famous Lord’s Prayer recited by Christians: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

“Father Complex” of Saturn in Association with Cancer, 4^th House or Moon:

Saturn in Cancer, the Fourth House, or in association with Moon can also symbolize a father figure who has displayed a tendency to build, protect, limit, or maintain the primary life conditions of the individual. Alternatively, the father (or the “paternal line”) may have induced an expectation of “excellence” in the child, which the child never felt comfortable with. The child probably had to be “the best” in everything he or she would do, and somehow all his or her achievements were not quite enough.

This can be carried over to adult life as being “unforgiving” towards one’s own human shortcomings or expecting a close-to-perfection performance from others. Holding oneself and others to high standards may bear fruits in professional life, but can also obstruct the natural flow of love and light into one’s heart. With Saturn in this configuration, it is possible that one or both parental figures related to the child based on his or her “performance” rather than based on the simple fact of “belonging”.

Therefore, the individual may later reproduce this attitude by being unable to love without “terms and conditions”. A typical statement by a parent, in this case, would be, “I love you only if…” which can very well be reproduced as a statement said by the individual later in life to his or her partner or child. An awareness of such an inherited behavior is crucial in order to overcome the limits of one’s emotional existence and to open up one’s heart to the flow of cosmic love. Otherwise, many beautiful opportunities to give love and receive love may be lost as a result of the reinstatement of parental conditioning.

Saturn in Capricorn:

The structure of consciousness is formed around the notions of “organization” and “resourcefulness”. If Saturn is functioning in a healthy manner, consciousness will be structured based on a tendency to efficiently organize life experiences within a well-constructed hierarchy. Organization of Perception would be the “default” context through which conscious life is understood. The conscious mind would tend to “prioritize” concepts and produce “tiered configurations” which can then be practically used as guidelines to materialize one’s ambitions in life.

Difficulties of Saturn in Capricorn:

If Saturn is not functioning comfortably, one may become too reliant on his or her “consciousness” in general, and dismiss the less tangible spheres of existence, such as irrational love, unconscious impulses, or the dream world. In this case, “consciousness” may turn into a tyrannical king who banishes all that slips from his grasp. It is important, therefore, to be aware of the degree of distortion involved here: no matter how “cool, calm, and collected” one may be, one is never completely free from all the mysterious forces which can subvert one’s entire existence at any moment.

As beautifully illustrated by the Persian poet Attar of Nishapur in his celebrated story of Sheikh San’an and the Christian Maiden, one may achieve the highest degree of social respect or religious authority, and yet one’s world may turn upside down because of an “improper” moment of love which seems to strike one out of nowhere. A recognition of the limits of “consciousness”, therefore, and a respect for what it cannot delineate would help an individual with this configuration use the energy of Saturn in a more constructive manner.

Saturn in Tenth House:

There may exist a high degree of “class consciousness”, judgmental behavior, or simply a constant drive to push oneself towards the zenith of success. Likewise, one may experience an initial degree of reluctance towards mingling with those with a lower income or less desirable social status, those whose conduct is not approved by society, or those who are simply labeled as “unconventional”.

Alternatively, one may become an “authority figure” in one’s professional field, and command the full respect of one’s colleagues by virtue of consistency in one’s convictions and unwavering commitment to professional goals.

Difficulties of Saturn in Tenth House:

If Saturn is not comfortable, one may exhibit a strong attachment to the “outcome” rather than let the “process” naturally unfold. “End justifies the means” in this case, and the individual may become quite relentless in pursuing whatever he or she desires to gain. Family life may be overlooked in favor of professional achievement, social recognition, or political success. Alternatively, the individual may display an inability to compromise or find the middle ground in relation to others, thus jeopardizing his or her chance for establishing and maintaining an enduring relationship or meaningful emotional bonds.

Alternatively, the individual may display an inability to compromise or find the middle ground in relation to others, thus jeopardizing his or her chance for establishing and maintaining an enduring relationship or meaningful emotional bonds.

Evolutionary Path of Saturn in Tenth House:

The evolutionary path for an individual with Saturn in the Tenth House seems to include a re-prioritization of what is considered “important” in life: one’s main purpose should be living the life one has been blessed with wholly and unabashedly, without omitting certain parts in favor of others.

The innate desire for “excellence” in this case can be re-oriented towards being “excellent” in all life, and not just a part of it such as one’s career or social status. All life includes material, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, and each of these dimensions has to be duly taken care of for someone to pass as “successful” in life. With this modified attitude, one can achieve an all-encompassing “excellence” which will, in turn, satisfy the strong drive for “success” inherent in this configuration, and all this will take place in a healthier and more exciting manner.

“Father Complex” of Saturn in Association with Capricorn or 10^th House:

Saturn in Capricorn or in the Tenth House can also symbolize a father figure who may have had a strong desire to be “acknowledged” or “recognized” for what he inherited from his bloodline or earned by the merit of his own hard work. Alternatively, the father figure could simply have a profession that would reflect different aspects of the archetype of Capricorn, such as being an authority figure, builder, drillmaster, politician, nursing home or funeral worker, scientist or mathematician, or a respected or hard-working figure in any field.

Either case, it is highly possible that a large part of the individual’s attitude towards “success” or “status” (or lack thereof) was affected by the father (or “paternal line”), especially in the first thirty years of life (i.e. before the first Saturn Return).

As one grows older, however, one’s style of “judgment” of people and circumstances may change, and the individual may start discerning the “real” standard of success in life, based on his or her own gained wisdom, rather than based on the “familial” standards merely handed down to him or her. Also, it is not uncommon for individuals with Saturn in association with Capricorn or the Tenth House to be able to really leave a meaningful legacy that can serve as an inspiring example for the next generations to come.

In the next post, I will address Saturn in the Fifth House, in Leo, or in association with the Sun, as well as the opposite polarity of Saturn in the Eleventh House, in Aquarius, or in association with Uranus.

 *Please note that the above interpretations are oversimplified and can be modified by other factors present in each individual chart.

**For an introduction to Saturn, please read this article.

• For an edited and expanded version of this article and all other Saturn posts, or a Spanish edition, click here.
• If you are interested in understanding your birth chart or if you have specific questions, you can book a consultation or take a class.