Tyger Tyger Burning Bright

Saturn the planetary form, structure and boundary maker turns into retrograde motion on 13th January at 15:56 Universal Time.

Saturn is currently in the sign of Libra - the sign over which love, justice and balance prevail.  Once again then, we are being asked to rework and of course in Libra, relationships are a likely target.  However, Saturn does not work in such a facile manner.  Libra is a sign of balance and Saturn is the ultimate scale tipper - if there is injustice and imbalance he will correct them.  This is actually a good thing - Saturn does not work with veils of illusion - his stance is strong and true, and rules by the measure of hard work - what you give you shall receive is his motto.  So, as such this period can be good for reaffirming commitment and bonds.

Saturn retrograde is a period of inner work, a time to get in touch with your own authority - a time to do things your own way.  This may be challenging of course and the trick is to stay strong and firm, hold onto sound principles in the face of slings and arrows.  We need to do ourselves justice if unfairness comes knocking at our doors.  Ultimately, if you find your own inner sanctum of strength within no foul wind will blow you over.

The retrograde means that Saturn will trip back into Virgo on 1st April, eventually going direct again in early June.  Themes from last October onwards could spring up again, particularly in the workplace or in other Virgo related areas - health, diet and routines - what we craft to make our way practically in this life.

I read recently that there are approximately 3,500 Tigers left in the wild.  What a tragedy it would be if this beautiful majestic iconic beast was gone from our lives.  In this Chinese year of the Tiger perhaps we need now more than ever to raise awareness of this.  I'll end this post with William Blake's The Tyger - a very Saturn in Libra poem if ever there was one.

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire in thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, and what art?
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand, and what dread feet?

What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb, make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Picture copyright Juliane Riedl