SATURN/CRONUS - THE BAD GUY
In traditional astrology, Saturn was the “bad guy” of the planets. And everything that Saturn touched was sure to be soured. In mythology, Cronus (known to the Romans as Saturn) was the nasty, ruthless father of the 12 Olympian gods. Ultimately, one of his sons that would become Zeus.
Fast forward, and Satan ... I mean Saturn ... underwent a “face-lift” but strikes fear in the hearts of many people. You see, Saturn still symbolizes esoterically, the growth process and lessons learned through painful or difficult experiences. Saturn is much more concerned with the growth of our soul, than it/he is with our personal comfort or ease.
Archetypal Saturn points to all the open sores and cherished old wounds where we feel the most vulnerable to attack in our unconscious Mind. And when other people step (accidentally or purposely) on our “sore spots” - we instinctively react like the proverbial “wounded animal caught in a trap.”
Even if someone nice were to come along, wanting to release us from our trap - then, purely out of blind instinct, pain (panic) and fear, we'd end up biting and attacking our compassionate and well-meaning Samaritan. (Remember, these are "cherished" old wounds.) And all the while, we thought we were simply defending ourselves.
You may have heard the term the “Shadow of the Psyche.” In Jungian psychology, the shadow (also known as id, shadow aspect, or shadow archetype) is either an unconscious aspect of the personality that the conscious ego does not identify in itself; or the entirety of the unconscious Mind. Everything of which a person is not fully conscious. In short, the “shadow” is the unknown side.
And just so we're clear on things - all of the planets and zodiac signs have their own “shadow” sides. Over the years, Saturn (and Pluto) has been used to being treated as '”scapegoats” and as “uninvited gods.”
When we attempt to sweep Saturn under the rug, then (as is true with all the planets), Saturn shows us his harsher face. Saturn, then, reflects a Shadow aspect of the Psyche that loves to point out our many, manifold weaknesses, fears, and sins. Saturn becomes our angry internal (infernal) father intent on eating up all of our potential and our creativity. We experience Saturn as an angry, judgmental parent thats likely to point out and remind us of all our many flaws and shortcomings.
Saturn also easily qualifies as the nastier side of Santa Claus that only rewards those good children that can display flawless and perfect behavior - and so he leaves the rest of us a “lump of coal” in our Christmas stocking, because we've been very, very bad this year.
You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better not pout
and I'm telling you why!
'Saturn' Claus is coming to town!
I realize this image of Santa is a bit tough to digest, since our society's image of Jolly Saint Nick has been seriously “Jupiterized” over the years ... but nonetheless ... study it a bit and you will see the correlation.
We've all heard our internal Saturn's angry, condemning voice - reminding us of just how “whatever” we are (or they are). It's never nice, always demeaning. This is our personal Satan/Saturn - the ego. This is in direct opposition to the Higher-Self (Divine) that still small voice of love and compassionate support and insight. Our Divine Self, is our intuition. We should pay more attention to it as we recognize the Saturn of our ego base-nature self.
Just a thought ...
Justin Taylor, ORDM.
