The symbolism of the planet Saturn
Introduction
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun
and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter.
It is a gas giant, composed predominantly of hydrogen and helium,
with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth.
The planet's most notable feature is its prominent ring system,
the most massive and conspicuous in the Solar System.
To give you some idea of Saturn’s size,
Titan, Saturn's largest moon [shown here],
is larger than the planet Mercury
There are different explanations of its symbolism.
"Salmasius and earlier attestations
show that the symbol for Saturn, ,
derives from the initial letters (Kappa, rho)
of its ancient Greek name (Kronos),
with a stroke to indicate an abbreviation."
On the other hand,
It later came to look like a lower-case Greek eta,
with the cross added at the top in the 16th century
to Christianize this pagan symbol.
Some however claim the symbol for Saturn
is based on an ancient scythe or sickle,
as Saturn was the god of seed-sowing.
There again they could all be wrong ...
The physical planet and the gods
The physical planet is named after the Roman god Saturnus
which is why we now know it by his name.
Meaning that all the myth and symbolism is actually that of a god,
not a physical gas giant.
Nevertheless, because the planet has been known
since prehistoric times,
it has accumulated a wealth of myths. For example
Babylonian astronomers called it Ninurta after their god
In Hindu astrology, the planet is named after the god Shani
The Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 156a) refers to Saturn
as Shabbetai, i.e., the star of Shabbat (Saturday)
In ancient Greek, the planet was known as Phainon.
Although in modern Greek, the planet is named
after the god Cronus - (Kronos).
But I hope you can see, that as with all the other physical planets,
they were actually named after existing gods.
The Romans named the seventh day of their week Sāturni diēs
("Saturn's Day"), for the god Saturn.
So the Symbolism of Saturn is actually the symbolism of a god,
[although actually more than one god.]
At which point we can forget the astronomical connection
and concentrate on the god.
Traditional associations
Saturn is the traditional "ruling planet" of Capricorn
[see our video on Capricorn].
Using the tropical zodiac Capricorn runs
from about December 21 to January 21 the following year
This is thus a time when the old year "dies" symbolically
and a new year is "born".
We can see this in this drawing from The Seven Planets
with the Signs of the Zodiac (1539) by Hans Sebald Beham.
Saturn, is shown with Capricorn at his feet
and the New Year in his arms.
He is also shown with a sickle, because he must harvest
the old crop in order to plant the new crop.
But why is he shown lame? His left leg is "hobbled".
As the left leg is supposed to connect to the "right brain",
this is a symbol that he relies on his "left brain"
- he is an intellectual.
His wings are tied -
so he is spiritually handicapped by all this study
- giving him the appearance of a hunchback,
he relies on book learning and study.
In effect Saturn and the Hermit in the Tarot correspond
[see our video the symbolism of the Hermit in the Tarot].
In the Tarot and astrology, you will find him associated
with anything that involves social order, conformity and intellect.
Saturn is all that we associate with civilisation,
and conservatism with a small "c".
You will hear words like duty, dedication, structure, logic
and reason, authority and stability.
But nothing that implies emotion, inventiveness, intuition,
imagination, or any form of rebellion and dramatic change.
But as we saw with the Hermit,
Saturn transforms all that has been received via inspiration,
invention, imagination and emotion,
into a form that can be understood or used by others.
He may be humourless, rigid and rather "prickly",
given to preferring his own company,
but without him nothing those with spiritual "connection"
produce, would ever see the light of day.
And this need for order - the opposite as it were from anarchy
- is also captured in the Enneagram.
The Enneagram
Saturn's hieroglyph looks a wee bit like the number 5.
And coincidentally number 5 in the Enneagram
is called "The Investigator".
No 5s value "rationality and reason,
calm deliberation and unbiased observation",
as such it may be less of a coincidence than we may think.
The characteristics of a "number 5" personality
are that they can be:
Withdrawn and extremely independent, often reclusive
Rational - someone who uses logic and reasoning,
and is unemotional in response
A bookworm - an almost obsessive investigator and observer
as well as Abrupt and concise -
Carefully judged writing and a person of few words
Reserved - appearing cold and detached
At best wise, but at worst simply "clever"
or even worse cunning and scheming
Often celibate or nearly so.
And the perfect pairing, according to the Enneagram, is number 4
Also the Hanged Man in the tarot,
whose legs coincidentally create the number 4
Saturn and the Hanged Man
The Hanged Man is the key to the spiritual world.
see our video on the Symbolism of the Hanged Man in the Tarot
Far more than the Fool who is more advanced spiritually
but usually unintelligible
see our video on the Symbolism of the Fool in the Tarot
Through revelation Hanged Men [and Women]
may rain little gifts of spiritual gold on those below.
But every Hanged Man, again in an ideal scenario,
finds on his left hand a wise old Hermit - a sort of Merlin, -
who will take him under his wing and refine his ideas,
shelter him from derision, and turn
what may look like utter nonsense into a working theory,
and the head meets the heart.
In one of those strange quirks of fate,
the key to heaven is the very one you might least expect -
the meekest, the quietest, the simplest of folk,
the child-like person
the loopy artist and melancholic poet.
Teams with a Hermit of outstanding and dedicated abilities
and a match has been found in heaven.
Saturn and the Emperor
But, an even more ideal scenario occurs
when "the Emperor" in his redemptive state
[number 4 in the Tarot]
realises he has a saintly artistic creative soul on his left hand,
and helps that person to distribute his gifts.
The Tarot Emperor is the god Zeus/Jupiter [shown left]
and both Jupiter and Saturn [right] thus help this Prophet [centre].
Saturn by organising his ideas
and Jupiter by providing power and financial support.
Coincidentally, the signs for Jupiter and Saturn are similar.
Both involve a cross [see our video on the Cross].
But in Jupiter's symbol the lunar crescent or curved line
suggests a counter-clockwise motion.
The Romantic Individualist supported by the Performer Achiever
[using the "wings" as opposed to numbers]
Whereas in Saturn's symbol the curved line suggests
a clockwise action.
The Romantic Individualist supported by the Observer Thinker
[again using the "wings" as opposed to numbers]
Finally
As every power in the universe is twofold, positive and negative,
both Jupiter and Saturn can have very negative influences
on our potential Messiah.
The unredeemed Emperor [Jupiter] may end up using his power
and money to stop the message from ever being broadcast.
And an unredeemed Saturn may be a sorcerer
"the dark adept, masterful in the way of destruction,
utterly rigid in his superlative ego".
And because the "Hanged Man"/Messiah is innocent,
child-like, trusting and pure.
None of these traits will be obvious to them,
all they’ll be interested in is giving away the fruits of their labour.
But if Jupiter proves himself a benevolent benefactor
who supports the task of getting this "baby on the road"
and protects the person doing it.
And if Saturn is an Adept, and "a law unto himself",
capable of withstanding the buffeting winds of adversity,
who stands in the light of the God within him
- the "I am that I am."
Both the project being nurtured by the Messiah
and the one whose Light helped them.
Are destined for immortality.