The Slow Dance of the Planet Shani or Saturn
2020 Astrological update…
Since, April 30, 2019, Shani or Saturn has been in backwards or retrograde motion in the sign of Sagittarius, which it entered back in Jan 27, 2017, since then it then went backward April 6 2017, on June 22 it backed up into Scorpio, on August 25, 2017 it went direct in Scorpio and on October 27, 2017 moved forward into Sagittarius again, on April 18, 2018, it again went into backward motion until September 6, 2018 when again it moved forward still in Sagittarius, until April 30 2019 when it again moved into backward motion, and on September 18, 2019 it again started forward motion still in the later degrees of Sagittarius and on January 25, 2020 it will finally leave Sagittarius to enter Capricorn, where it will mostly stay until January 18, 2023.
And how does this affect me you ask?
If you were born with your Moon in Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius or Capricorn in your Vedic birth chart, these changes have been and will be particularly life changing for you. Your big plans or material projects that appear to be moving forward may stop in their tracks, change speed or direction or even turn around for no apparent reason. The often-hidden reason for major changes in life, is the movement and placement of Saturn as it moves through your birth horoscope and particularly when it crosses the sign before during a after the sign of your Moon.
The planet Saturn is the slowest of all the visible planets in our solar system. For that reason, Shani is equated with time itself, because time is invisible but is slowly changing everything. There is an ancient Vedic saying: “Time is very subtle; it enters into everything within matter; it alone is awake while all others sleep”. Because Shani moves so slowly, most humans are too busy to notice the subtle but relentless changes that coincide with the slow movements of this dark and distant planet -- the planet of inevitability or destiny.
Like all planets (except for the Sun and Moon) Shani moves through the 12 signs of the Zodiac with two kinds of motion: forward, direct, and backward Rx (retrograde). But for this slow mover it takes 2½ years to go through one sign and almost 30 years to transit all 12 of the signs of the zodiac. For us this means Shani moves slowly forward in a sign for some time; then stops for a moment and goes into backward motion in that sign; then stops again and moves forward in the same sign. This may happen several times in the 2 ½ years it takes the planet to cross one sign.
Saturn’s crossing of one’s Moon is the most dramatic and life-altering transit in Astrological consideration. The changes of Saturn are significant for all but vastly more so when it crosses the signs before, during and after ones Moon sign. During the remainder of 2019 Shani will move forward in Sagittarius until January 25, 2020 when it enters Capricorn. Starting then it will greatly effect those with Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius Moons in their Vedic chart. When Shani changes direction or sign, you should assume that for three days, material circumstances will be destabilized and especially for those whose Moon it is crossing.
Remember the planets are both around us and within us. As above, so below. Thus, a wise human observes the planetary motions to understand the invisible effects of the many planetary hands of the Universal Clock.
If your Vedic Moon is in Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius or Capricorn, it is an excellent time to have your chart updated. And remember, the inevitable can be turned to our advantage if we see it coming.
