Love
has a rosy glow at the start of a new romance.
Yet, all intimate relationships resulting in marriage or long-term
commitment eventually come to rely on the influence of the planet
Saturn,
which suggests that responsibility and discipline are necessary
for the growth and enduring success of the union. While it may
feel as though the obligations of Saturn can weigh down the
romance, Saturn also gives a sizable payback for the work invested
in the relationship.
Saturn
is a harbinger of slow, yet inevitable change.
It is also the principle source of our self-preservation and
sense of security. Ultimately, self-preservation takes precedence
over ego fulfillment, emotional gratification, personal development
and the pleasures of love and sex. If we have not met the requirements
that ensure our basic sense of self-preservation and security
prior to entering into lifelong intimate partnership, the relationship
will not hold any permanent satisfaction, and the responsibilities
involved in the partnership will weigh more heavily on us.
The
Tie That Binds
Often,
we blame our companion in a long-term relationship for restricting
our movements. Saturn, however, is the true tie that binds us,
through the desire to achieve permanence and stability amidst
change, and the instinctual perception that we are somehow wounded,
and therefore vulnerable. This underlying worry commonly gets
in the way of intimacy and the deepening of our original commitment
to love. When we are driven by free-floating fear and anxiety,
our focus may narrow, limiting our efforts to what we should,
could or would do, rather than allowing ourselves to concentrate
on the moment and just be.
This
is Saturn talking, and before we can turn our attention back
to more enjoyable matters, we must first come to know our self-imposed
limitations—the chinks in our proverbial armor. Otherwise, we
may undermine our best efforts to succeed in life, as well as
compromise the love our relationship has to offer by allowing
our affections to grow cold.
Self-Imposed
Limitations
The
rings that surround Saturn symbolize our boundaries—the mental
and/or emotional constructs that compel us to feel small, anonymous
or limited within our relationship. These boundaries constitute
Saturn's wound or mark,
the doubts and insecurities that follow us around like shadows,
mimicking our every move. Appearances can be deceiving, however.
Shadows are simply a play of light, which indicates that this
mark is also our strength—the raw, form-building, solidifying
power that gives us the ability to know who we are as we step
through the intricate movements of the dance of life, toe to
toe with our partner.
Recognizing
Saturn's Mark
Our
internal defense mechanisms instinctively go to work by setting
up emotional roadblocks when we interact with our partner in
a way that threatens to open the wound. This may impede our
ability to share our feelings openly. Another telltale sign
of its presence may be the repetitious re-evaluation of our
companion with an eye to critical analysis of his or her shortcomings,
rather than looking within ourselves for the answer.
Restoring
the Balance
Maintaining
an intimate, long-term partnership is a delicate balancing act,
and an art very much like dancing; it requires poise, harmony,
synchronized rhythm, grace and concentrated effort, if we are
to be any good at it. Being in relationship means sharing true
relatedness—a mutual give and take. It is helpful to develop
honesty, integrity, faithfulness, reliability, patience, perseverance
and a dauntless sense of humor in order to achieve your relationship
comfort zone along with lasting happiness. These virtues will
go a long way toward establishing a one-to-one balanced exchange
of energy between you and your partner.
Keeping
love alive is hard work. Healing a wounded relationship requires
that you heal yourself of the anxiety, doubt, insecurity and
fear of rejection associated with your own sense of being wounded.
No matter where Saturn is placed in your astrological chart,
the following steps can help you to achieve your relationship
comfort zone:
- Concentrate
on paying more attention to your mate. Acquire what you need toward
your future security, yet remember that you have a lover with whom to
share the wealth.
- Try to
let go of the illusion of safety long enough for your companion to see
the real you. Emotional revelation may ease the depth of your insecurity.
- Remember
the freedom of expression that childlike joy has to offer. Be creative,
flirt with your lover, and strive to have some fun, both in and out
of the bedroom.
- Critical
attention to detail can be murder on your love life. Choose to apply
your consciousness toward devotion to love instead.
- Own the
fact that you are entitled to be happily in love. Give in to both wanting
and needing your partner, and let them know it.
- Develop
a sense of humor regarding the incongruous, seemingly irresolvable aspects
of your relationship.
The
Rewards of Saturn
Finally,
while it is important to preserve the ideal of romance, keep
in mind that Saturn rewards our efforts to have a love that
stands the test of time. If we work well with Saturn in our
relationships, we can learn patience, self-reliance, discipline,
cooperation, integrity, honor and humility. By maintaining a
stable and balanced relationship, we can also gain financial
and emotional security, approval and protection, outer calm,
inner peace, loyalty and emotional understanding.
Author’s
Notes
Romantic
bliss, along with love affairs, is associated with the Fifth
House.
Saturn
is associated with marriage and/or life mates through its exaltation
in Libra and the Seventh House of partnerships. An exalted planet
is said to operate at its strongest level of energy, and has
the ability to reach its highest potential. Venus, the planet
of love and affection, is the natural ruler of the Seventh House.
Libra represents balance and harmony.
Change
is associated with Saturn through its mythological guise of
Father Time. Father Time is also known as Chronos, the Greek
equivalent of the Roman god, Saturn, and the Greek word for
"time.” Chronos carries an hourglass on his back, symbolizing
the sands of time. Sometimes he carries a scythe, indicating
time devouring life and all its forms.
Saturn
represents the "mark"
or wound in the natal chart. However, ancient esoteric traditions correlate
Saturn with the Hebrew letter, Tav, meaning signature or mark, symbolized
by an equal-armed cross, which indicates salvation.
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