Thursday, December 18, 2008

Saturn: The Teacher - Symbol and Myth


Saturn is the most distant planet from Earth that can be seen
with the naked-eye. It is one of the seven "Wanderers", or
"Wandering Stars", that were observed and charted by the
Astronomers and Astrologers of Antiquity. The other six being:
the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

The Roman Saturn is the same Divine Principle that the Greeks
earlier referred to as Cronos (Kronos). Cronos is the origin of the
word Chronometer which refers to a timepiece. Saturn, like Cronos,
is depicted holding an hour-glass and is referred to as "Father Time".

As the most distant visible planet, Saturn takes the longest time
to orbit the Sun. It's long, slow orbit, just like a lazy River, represents
the passing of Time.

Mythologically, Saturn is the patient Teacher. His Lessons can either
be easy or difficult. The choice is entirely ours.

Astrologically, a Saturn Return is often referred to as a Re-Teaching
of Hard Lessons. A Saturn Return occurs when Saturn re-appears
on our current Astrological chart in the same position that it
occupied in our Natal (Birth) Chart.

Many people fear a Saturn Return on their Astrological Chart
because it means that Saturn, the Teacher, will now force them to
learn the Lessons they refused to learn their first time around.
However, when we take a closer look at the myth, metaphor, and
Symbolism associated with Saturn, we find a much kinder
interpretation.

Saturn represents two things: the Teacher, and the Flow of Time.
Our lives are filled with Lessons, and to learn anything worthwhile
takes Time. We can either invest the Time required to learn the
Lessons that Life puts before us, or we can Choose to ignore our
Lessons and squander our Time.

When we take the necessary Time to learn a Lesson, we acquire the
knowledge that that particular Lesson teaches us. Each Lesson we
learn provides us with the Insight, Good Fortune, and Common Sense
that is so valuable to us as we journey through Life.

When we are too lazy to learn our Lessons, Choosing instead to
squander our Time, we continue making the same mistakes. This,
in turn, causes us to grumble about the same misfortunes that befall
us Time after Time.

Lessons only become "Hard Lessons" if we do not learn them the
first Time they are presented to us. By taking the Time to learn
our Lessons the first Time, Saturn becomes our Teacher. By
Choosing to ignore our Lessons, thereby repeating our mistakes,
Saturn becomes our Taskmaster...our Teacher of Hard Lessons.

In the end, as always, the Choice is always ours. We can either
cower from Saturn the Taskmaster, or we can welcome, and
embrace, Saturn the Teacher.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2008, 2009, 2010
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