Karmageddon: Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn 2019

On Monday, April 29th, Saturn will station retrograde at 20’31 degrees of its home sign of Capricorn. Here’s what you can expect.

What does it mean for Saturn to be in Retrograde?

A retrograde planet is a planet that appears to be moving backwards. All planets go retrograde at some point, save for the Sun and the Moon. From an astrological perspective, this means that the energies the planet represents are directed backward or inward.

Retrograde periods are known to be riddled with delays and disruption, but they don't necessarily have to be. These periods are not so much a time for action as they are for reflection. These periods are often loaded with synchronicity and karma. So, they can also be periods of magic and manifestation if you just focus on within rather than without. Things from the past will return to us. This could be people from our past, including from our past lives, situations or memories that we thought we had forgotten about, or maybe just lessons that we're getting a second chance at learning after having failed the first time around.

You may have heard of Mercury in Retrograde which causes communication to go haywire, and maybe you've even heard of Venus in Retrograde, when our relationships are put into question, but what does it mean for Saturn to go retrograde?

Saturn, like Jupiter, is a slower moving planet. While Mercury's Retrograde only lasts for a couple weeks, Saturn's Retrograde lasts for periods of about four and a half months every year, causing it's effects to go unnoticed by some. However, that doesn't mean it's effects are any less strong.

Ruled by Capricorn (and traditionally, Aquarius) and exalted by Libra, Saturn is the planet of time, matter, and karma. It rules over governments, corporations, organized religions, and institutions of any kind. It also represents the father figure and authority figures in general. One of two social planets (the other being Jupiter), Saturn is the planet of rules and regulations.

Saturn is Jupiter’s counterpart. While Jupiter is known as the “Great Benefic,” Saturn is traditionally known as the “Great Malefic.” While Jupiter is expansive, Saturn is limiting and constricting. While Jupiter is free and open, Saturn is oppressive and closed off. While Jupiter is associated with faith, Saturn is associated with doubt. While Jupiter is associated with philosophy and ideals, Saturn is associated with realism and worldly ambition. While Jupiter is associated with the spiritual world, Saturn is associated with the material world. So on and so on.

That doesn't mean Saturn is all bad, however. Saturn brings structure and organization to our lives. Without Saturn's influence, nothing would be concrete. No commitments would ever be made. There are certain times when limits and boundaries are needed and in those cases, Saturn's influence can actually be beneficial. Saturn is also associated with responsibility and self-control.

We may find ourselves overburdened with responsibilities, when Saturn goes retrograde. We could also find ourselves depressed or lacking in motivation.

When Saturn goes retrograde, we have a greater awareness of our limitations. We become more aware of our own mortality. We may feel like we're trapped in an hourglass, like time is running out. Life is short: are we using our time on Earth wisely?

Karma could come to kick us in the face when Saturn goes Retrograde. If we haven't been using our time wisely, past sins and failures could come back to haunt us. It's a time for reaping what you have sewn. If you've been good and lived up to what was expected of you, you may just reap your rewards. Whatever the case may be, you will become more aware of the consequences of your actions at this time. People often act impulsively, blinded by the here and now, without regard as to how the present will affect the future or how the past has affected the present. Saturn won't let us get away with this kind of behavior. We could find ourselves on the other side of bad situations we've caused. It's time to face our own shadow. It's time to develop an awareness of any negative patterns of behavior we may hold. It's time to take these lessons in and use them to become better people.

Saturn Retrograde Capricorn 2019

Just as with Jupiter, which is currently retrograde in Sagittarius, Saturn in its home sign makes this retrograde period particularly strong.

Saturn has associations with Satan and with Saturn in Capricorn, the sign of the goat (an animal that many people identify with the devil) it’s malefic influence could be felt even stronger. Many of us could feel overburdened and depressed at this time. Collectively, we may all feel a sense of impending doom as we become more aware of our own limitations, and feel powerless to change.

These limitations are likely brought on by larger social structures, the powers that be, forces beyond our control. What can we do to change the system? What can we do to save the planet? Saturn is the Grim Reaper, as well as Father Time. When he goes retrograde, we become more aware of how little time we actually have left. We need change and we need it now.

There could be karmic events related to work and business as the pressure of the rat race becomes even more defined. Institutions and governments concerned more with money and power than mankind and the future of the planet will receive their karma as well.

The aspects Saturn makes on the day it stations retrograde will also affect how things play out.

The most telling aspect is an exact conjunct to the South Node at 20 degrees Capricorn. The South Node is about karma. While the North Node (which is now in Cancer) symbolizes our destiny, what we’re moving towards, the South Node symbolizes our past lives and what we are moving away from. If Saturn is already the lord of karma, and retrograde periods are karmic in general, we can get ourselves ready for a triple dose of karma in action. This could bring fated events, things we’ve done or people we’ve hurt in the past coming back to haunt us. No longer can we hide from our shadows, the demons within. No longer can we hide our flaws and wrongdoings and pretend they don’t exist. Saturn stationing retrograde conjunct the South Node will be sure to hold us accountable for whatever we’ve done wrong in the past.

I do believe these karmic events will have an effect on the powers that be, an area that Capricorn rules, especially with Saturn and the South Node also conjunct Pluto by 3 degrees, but I believe it will be sure to hold us accountable on an individual level as well. Pluto rules secrets and Pluto conjunct Saturn and the South Node will bring our secrets to the surface, making us deal with things we’d rather not. Government secrets may also be leaked; I see a lot of scandal in the news.

But more on an individual level, Pluto is also the planet of transformation, so it’s best we learn from whatever happens to us, no matter how difficult, and use it to make ourselves better people. It’s best not to get defensive or fight whatever happens, because it will only just making things worse. Because a lot of these events are not really “happening TO us,” but we’ve caused them to happen to ourselves, through the law of cause and effect. We are really just receiving a taste of our own medicine and the quicker we realize it, the better.

A lot of these themes are actually similar to the ones I wrote here regarding the Full Moon in Libra last week.

Saturn square Mercury in Aries could also be problematic. Mercury rules the mind, so we could find that our cognition becomes limited as this time or slower than usual. More likely, however, we’ll experience dark thoughts and anxiety that prevent us from taking any action, particularly in regards to communication. We may experience anxiety regarding communication and social situations. We could find that the things we want to say... just don’t come out. We may have trouble finding the right words and become so afraid of whatever people may think of us that we don’t say anything at all. We become quiet, hermit-like. This is especially true if in the past, you’ve said cruel things out of anger or used your words to deliberately hurt others.

Saturn sextile Neptune in Pisces provides us a silver lining. An awareness of spiritual principles will help us through these dark times, especially if applied consciously. A broader understanding of humanity, why people do the things they do, and why we experience the things we experience, forgiveness, and an awareness of what’s happening detached from our ego, these are the keys to survival.

Horoscopes

Now it's time to see how it will affect your sign. I suggest reading the horoscope for your ascendant or rising sign, in addition to or instead of your sun. I find the rising sign horoscope to be more accurate than the sun, as these horoscopes are based on the houses. If you don't know your rising sign, click here to generate a birth chart. Yes, you will need your birth time for this. If you don't have your birth time, Sun sign horoscopes are fine.

People with angles or personal planets between 13 and 20 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will especially be affected by this transit.

Aries

With Saturn Retrograde in your 10th house, you can expect karmic events related to career and your public life. Have you been living up to your responsibilities in the workplace? Or have you been slacking? If yes, you may be tested with more responsibilities, pressured to work harder, before you receive your promotion or reap your rewards. If not, your career could take a blow. This doesn't necessarily have to mean you'll get fired or anything big like that, but it's likely something will happen to make you become more aware of the ways that you failed. Now is the time to change. If you've failed to perform ethically in the workplace, or any other area of life for that matter, your social status could take an even bigger blow. Things we do in secret, bad things, don't stay secret for long. Things that we thought we've buried usually come up to the surface, eventually, especially now in the age of the internet. Instead of getting defensive, learn from it. Use it as an opportunity for growth.

Taurus

Have you been living a life consistent with your political, moral, and spiritual beliefs? Saturn is in your 9th house, a house associated with philosophy and ethics. You may question whether you've been ideologically consistent. If not, you may be called out on it or receive some sort of consequence. It's also possible that you could experience doubts as to whether your beliefs are really realistic. This is a time for refining your beliefs, and keeping your behavior in line with them. The 9th house also rules higher education and travel, so those areas of life could also be affected. For example, if you're in college and cheated on tests or plagiarized papers, you may receive consequences around that. If you've behaved in ways that were xenophobic or if you've been lacking in cultural competency, especially when traveling, you could also receive consequences around that.

Gemini

Saturn is retrograde in your 8th house, traditionally known as the house of death, causing you to become more aware of your own mortality. Have you been living a meaningful life? Have you been using your time on Earth wisely? There could also be karma related to matters of intimacy and sex, as well as how you handle other people's resources. There may be a change in how you handle these areas of your life, preferring only to share yourself with people you have a genuine connection with. Trauma or deep psychological wounds you've thought were long buried could still be affecting how you handle these matters and now is the time to heal from that.

Cancer

Have you been treating people how you want to be treated? Are your partnerships fair and equal? These are the questions you'll be asking yourself when Saturn transits Retrograde in your 7th house. You'll likely find people are treating you the way you've treated them. If you have a tendency to be domineering towards your partner, you could find yourself being placed in the opposite role... or losing them altogether. If you're overly submissive in your partnerships, to the point of never asserting your needs or telling your partner how you truly feel, you may just find your partner doing that to you. Whatever your pattern is in relationships—if you're a cheater, a ghoster who's afraid of intimacy, or someone really co-dependent and needy—you'll likely find yourself on the other side of whatever situation you're used to, learning just how it feels, and developing a better understanding of other people's perspectives as a result.

Leo

Remember, karma isn't so much about rewards and punishments as it is about cause and effect. Saturn in the 6th house puts an emphasis on health: if you haven't been taking care of yourself, no one will punish you, but getting sick is the natural consequence. But we can change that. Karma is an action and we can change our karma by intending to take care of ourselves from here and out. Most likely, your health is fine, but this transit could still have you re-examining your diet, how often you exercise, and your whole daily routine, realizing that both mind and body are connected and that every action you take is connected to your overall health in some fashion.

Virgo

With Saturn Retrograde in your 5th house, you could reexamining the way you express yourself, your art, both your creative and romantic lives. What do you do for fun? Is it healthy? Is it really providing you joy? Do you express yourself in a healthy way? Now is the time to find what brings you joy. Your true calling and purpose in life.

Libra

Saturn Retrograde in your 4th house will have you examining your family life, how you treat your family members, but also how they've treated you. If you feel like you haven't been spending enough time with your family or showing them the appreciation they deserve, now would be a good time to change that. On the other hand, it's also possible that there are still some deep wounds relating to the past, especially with regards to your parents and family in general, that are affecting your present. You could still be holding onto grudges, giving you a negative outlook on life today. You might subconsciously be holding onto resentments that you didn't think were there. Now is the time to release them and heal.

Scorpio

If you’ve been verbally abusive or overly-harsh in your words towards someone, expect to be bitten back now that Saturn is Retrograde in your 3rd house. If you've been behaving in a manner that's deceitful or dishonest, manipulative or not forthcoming, expect also to be bitten back. This transit will help you to improve your communication skills, saying only what you mean and meaning what you say. Using your speech to lift others up rather than down, and only saying hurtful things when it's absolutely necessary. Sometimes, the truth hurts but there is a difference between being brutally honest and intentionally saying things for the sake of being brutal.

Sagittarius

Have you been using your money wisely? Saturn Retrograde in your 2nd house will have you taking another look at your budget. Being ruled by the expansive planet Jupiter, you may be prone to overdoing it sometimes, Sagittarius. This is especially the case when Jupiter is traveling backwards through your own sign. You could be overspending and overindulging in luxuries you can't afford. Saturn in Retrograde could help you cultivate some more discipline. Pay attention to your spending habits so you don't have to reap any negative consequences from here on out.

Capricorn

With your chart ruler in your first house, now's the time for reaping rewards for your hard work but there might be a few extra tests first to see if you're really ready for it. On the other hand, if you've been selfish, now is the time to change that aspect of yourself. It's time to let go of any negative traits such as your control nature or ambition that gets in the way of what's important. It's time to give yourself a make-over and become the best version of yourself.

Aquarius

Saturn Retrograde in your 12th house deals with matters related to spirituality and the subconscious. Repressed memories could resurface and suppressed emotions could burst out to the surface when you least expect it. As an Aquarius, you might be uncomfortable dealing with heavy emotions, preferring a more detached and light-hearted approach to life. But emotions have to be dealt with at some point. If you don't deal with your emotions now, they could come up in unexpected ways. You could find yourself being triggered by little things and freaking out at the wrong times, potentially putting a strain on your relationships. No, suppressing emotions only makes things worse. Deal with your emotions now. Pay close attention to your dreams as well, for they may contain clues. Prayer and meditation are also favored activities as this time.

Pisces

With Saturn Retrograde in your 11th house, you could find yourself lonely at this time, Pisces. Friendship is important, and if you haven't been putting the necessary effort into your friendships, people are going to get tired of it and leave. If you haven't been kind or honest or loyal to your friends, it could come back to haunt you. If that hasn't been the case, and people are being cruel and abandoning you for seemingly no reason, think of it as a blessing. Even if it doesn't feel like it. You're reexamining who you make time for. Are they worth it? If your friends are not putting in the same effort that you are them, it may be time to let them go. Your shortening your social circle to include only those connections which are truly genuine and meaningful. Your limiting your connections to the people who matter.

Conclusion

Overall, Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn is a time to take responsibility for our own actions. All too often, we just do things based on our feelings in the moment, without considering the long-term consequences of our actions or the harm we could be causing to others. This transit won't let us do that. Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn will force us to take a deeper look at the way behave, what we do and what we say. Is it in line with who we want to be? Is it bringing us long-term rewards, or in the long-run, is it just bringing us more trouble? Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn is a time for learning hard-learned lessons so that we can become better people. These hardships won't last forever. When Saturn goes direct on Wednesday, September 18th, we can put what we've learned into practice and reap our potential rewards.