Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by astrologerbydefault

Saturn is the most feared of all the grahas, with a dark forbidding and brooding image. In fact, Shani himself is the agent of fear, we are deeply scared of all the things he is connected to in our horoscopes. And it is a very specific kind of fear, it is payback coupled with responsibility and service! Our own actions from some past life are back demanding balancing. If you can identify these areas influenced by Saturn, you are one step ahead in removing your karmic fears. eg, if your Saturn is in the 12th house, you are likely to be rather uncomfortable with receiving guidance from the subconscious, ancestral spirits, your sleep will be affected etc. But if in some way you are able to affirm and convince yourself that there is nothing frightening about all these things and you trust your Saturn, you will be better able to access what is yours from this 12th house.

I have written a post on his true nature, a strict school-teacher he takes down your illusions related to each of the 12 houses one by one systematically, over his transit time of 30years. He grants maturity and also opportunities to work your way through your karmic backlog and balance your karmic account. And he rewards your efforts and gifts you your due, luck and money and a chance to make your name in the society. As the natural ruler of the 10th sign Capricorn and the 11th sign Aquarius, Saturn makes your work for your successes and these achievements are permanent. Whatever we see and perceive, Saturn puts his ‘legal lens’ on it, Is it as per the Law?, It is as per the Right?, and finally, is It as per your own conscience?.

Now you may wonder Mars is the ‘First Born’, Sun is also the ‘Center stage’, both give power and prestige, so whats so special about Saturn’s gifts?

So how does Saturn compare with Mars? Mars is that fiery energy which is, more often than not, unregulated over-kill! Mars is the ultimate competitor, the warrior and always desires to be first. He is the expression of the vitality of the Self-ego, the energies of the ego in motion. He has huge energy stores for any fight, but lacks the maturity and patience to work and wait for the results. Even if he wins he cannot sit down and consolidate his victories, he will be off on another conquest. He does not have the skill to administer to his victories. He will win a piece of land or a nation but then will be at a loss as to what to do with it next! This is not a long term stable success, it is the Thrill of Conquest!

Saturnine energies and the Solar fire are an interesting comparison too. Saturn is the son of the Sun. The Sun is all about entitlement, he wants it because he feels that he has the right to it. He is the King because he is! He has not worked for it and never will. The Sun dazzles his subjects with his radiance and magnificence. He has a large ego, sense of self importance and is self-righteous. Surya is the self ego and voluntary expression of the will power in action. He is uncomfortable with ideas of equality, service and fairness, and will never mingle with or think of the ‘commoner’. His placement in the chart indicates personal self-authority and self-determination. He is defined by only himself. Even if he works for someone, his attitude will be like he has done the other a favour by working for him. He works only for his self-promotion. If he ever gives it will be an attitude of a king distributing largesse among his subjects. He is, in all ways, the Radiant Ruler!

Saturn and Capricorn

Now, Saturn is obligatory or karmic action. He as the natural lord of the 10th Capricorn thus he is social prestige, class structure, responsibilities of the leader, governance, contribution to the society, recognition by the public and the rule maker. He is also the highly professional and career driven man labouring under a heavy-work load. He is the driven, determined common man who has worked hard to reach the top of the social structure by being patient, persevering and consolidating his position and power. He may not get much of an income from public service. He derives his position from the masses he serves, he has no other entitlement to his throne. He may be born into a family already recognised for its social service thus get a step-up. Saturn works in the 10th and the Mars the 1st  (4th from 10th), enjoys his self-ego, position in society etc, the intangible assets of the personality.

And Saturn being the lord of constraints and restrictions, will give out only that much resources as can be effectively used to the last drop. Only then will he release more resources. He is respected because of the quality of his work and his focus on giving back to the society. This is a very responsible position and is affected by presence of benefic and malefic influences of other planets. The exact opposite house to the 10th is the 4th, residences and comforts and in the dasha periods when the 10th is active, the family-time suffers. This is his House of Labour.

But the gift from Saturn is this, you will feel that inner satisfaction of having worked not for personal glory but for sustaining and improving the society structure. These are intangible assets. And the honor that the society bestows on you for being the efficient administrator will be genuine and permanent. Saturn here is the Servant who becomes a Popular King!

Saturn and Aquarius

Now the second sign that Saturn owns, the 11th Aquarius. Here, he regulates linkages and networked systems, the government, large corporations and even the friend-circle. Shani is into all sorts of gatherings, even fan-clubs! The achievements, gain, material goals and luck in the market ecology and the economy are his domain. The 11th ruled groups are intensely social and established on a complex and regular network of human relationships. Saturn sets up the physical structure of the network, the people and also the regulations to operate it. Everyone irrespective of class and creed is welcome here, just the interests should be common. And naturally here too, it is essential to work if something is to be Gained. Thus the 11th is Saturn’s House of Profits.

In this house of Shani, all the grahas do a good job. From the Negotiator Venus, to the Chatty Mercury, the Regal Sun, to the Pedantic Jupiter, the Comfort-seeking Moon and the Competitor Mars all have something for them in these networks. Even the nebulous Ketu is welcome here and the Rahu, the foreigner the rule breaker the opportunist, is welcome to do business here. However the mode and object of gain for each is different as per his nature. Rahu in the 11th works exceptionally well, this is because these networks have controlled components of risk and foreign-ness and selfish-ness which is the domain of Rahu. So, if you understand the Rules/Shani you can take a Risk/Rahu!

In the 11th, Laabh/Gain, Shani gives the ambitious, the right to aspire, to achieve and to create tangible gains! In the 11th, Saturn earns income thorough every source possible and in the (4th from the 11th) 2nd house Venus stores his treasury as a resource!

Shani is the agent of ethics, the rules that a society lives by and thrives. Shani is the force which makes you work off your karmic debts, helps set you set up your social position, helps set up the society, helps set up the markets, assures gains, and also grants you maturity in the process. What more can you ask for!

So you see, Shani does give you your Luck and your Money, but only after making you work hard for it, so that you appreciate it all the more! A deeply-felt Namaskar of gratitude to Shani for his blessings!