Saturn in Virgo

The planet of hard work enters the sign of order

Every planet moves through the zodiac at its own speed, and when a planet lands in a new house of the zodiac, it brings its specific personality to that sign. Saturn has been in Virgo since September 2007, bringing its heavy, taskmaster energy to a notoriously taskmaster sign. But Saturn in Virgo affects everyone a little differently.

Think of Saturn as the "old guard" planet. In mythology, Saturn was thought of as the old man, the patriarch. The planet has come to represent institutions, structure and tradition, and it brings a sense of caution to whatever sign it's in, warning us to hedge our bets and be conservative in our judgment.

In other words, Saturn is like the stern grandfather who is forever reminding you to keep your head down and your nose to the grindstone.

Saturn is also the karma planet. With Saturn, you reap what you sow, good or bad, in relation to what sign Saturn's inhabiting. With Saturn in Virgo, it's all work-related: if you've been slacking off in your duties, you may be demoted or fired; if you've worked hard toward a goal, you'll suddenly see results in the form of a promotion or corner office.

Virgo is the intellectual sign of the zodiac, but it's also service-oriented. If you're close with any Virgos, you might notice that so much of their identity is shaped by what they do for a living. If you want to see true misery, find an unemployed Virgo!

Together, Saturn and Virgo have complementary energies. This means that under their combined influence, you'll find that everyone is a bit more focused on streamlining their personal processes -- both on-the-clock and off -- and that everyone becomes more productive. This is a time to reconsider the systems and habits in our lives that no longer serve us -- and to cut them out with ruthless Virgo efficiency!

Because Saturn and Virgo are very concrete influences, you might find yourself making old ideas and goals a reality.

A Look at the Past
The last time Saturn was in Virgo was about 29 years ago, between July 1978 and September 1980. At the time, the excesses of the late-'70s and the disco era gave way to the workaholic 1980s. Counterculture also changed dramatically: instead of celebrating pleasure-seeking, the youth culture was much more about rebellion. Punk culture exploded, and it represented a loud rejection of politics and social systems that were no longer working on a collective level. The last Saturn in Virgo happened on the verge of a new era in economics and pop culture.

What to Expect
Consider the recession through the prism of Saturn in Virgo: we are seeing the harsh realities of systems that were faulty all along. We are suffering the brutal after-effects of a faulty mortgage and lending system, and financial institutions we once thought were indestructible are showing their weaknesses. In many ways, economic foundations are cracking, and we're forced to face this reality -- thank you, Saturn! -- and create a more workable system of doing business, which is where Virgo comes in.

On a personal (if wide-ranging) level, people are suddenly cutting back on spending and budgets are very much "in" again!

How to Prepare
As Virgo welcomes Saturn into its pristine lair, Saturn will find a place where its organization-oriented energy is appreciated. For us, it will be easier to work with Saturn instead of fighting against it. If you have planets in Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces or Gemini, you may feel Saturn's effects more strongly. The more you work, the more you will learn, but losses and troubles are likely to be a part of the lesson plan, too. Prepare yourself by identifying what elements of your life have outlived their usefulness, and be willing to let those go. Health-wise, a bone density or dental exam would also be advisable, as Saturn tends to wear on our bones and teeth.

Saturn in Virgo will show us that following the rules makes sense every once in awhile, but the one thing that could become a problem is perfectionism. If we let Saturn push us too hard, we might soon feel like we will never be good enough at anything. That's when we need to stand up for ourselves.

Even Saturn needs to be told when it's gone too far from time to time! The best advice during this time period might be to work hard and play fair -- but don't forget to congratulate yourself for a job well done.