Could Saturn Be Making You Miserable?

My heartwarming advice to a reader who feels like everything's hopeless

Hi, I'm Juliana, a full-time Vedic astrologer. Subscribe for free to receive my monthly astrology forecasts, calendars, numerous additional articles, and to access Substack Notes, a social feed where I regularly post short-form content and share ideas with my readers and other writers.

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Welcome to the fifth installment of my Astral Asks column! Here, I answer questions that I regularly receive in my work as a professional astrologer. It's a chance to share the softer, more personal part of my job with you. In these articles, we tackle personal concerns, relationship drama, family problems, money issues, and much more!

Today, I'm answering a tough question about the transit of Saturn which I received from a follower (shared with permission and edited to be anonymous).

Dear Juliana,

My friend is an amateur astrologer, and he told me that Saturn is transiting in the zodiac sign that is immediately before the sign of my Moon. He said that I'm starting what he called "Saturn's Seven-and-a-Half-Year Period of Bad Luck."

Unfortunately, his analysis seems accurate. I'm in a very bad place right now. On paper everything in my life looks okay. I'm married to a woman whom I love. I have a fairly well-paid job in tech, and I don't have any major health problems.

But lately, I've been struggling to get through every day. I'm in my mid-forties, and I keep thinking that this is as good as life is going to get, and it's not even that great. Nothing is exciting, or fun, or even interesting anymore.

Based on what my friend said about Saturn, I just know that things are going to get worse from here: my parents are elderly, and sooner or later one of them will have a major health crisis. I'm getting older too, and I'll probably develop a health issue during the next couple of years, or my wife will, or one of us will be pushed out of our jobs. So, basically, I have to sit around for the next seven-and-a-half years waiting for something bad to happen.

Compared to 99% of people in the world, I'm so incredibly lucky. I'm healthy now, and financially comfortable, and I'm with someone I love. But even though I know this on an intellectual level, it doesn't sink in emotionally. So, on top of feeling depressed and lost, I feel guilty for feeling ungrateful.

Every night after work, I know that I should spend time with my wife, or exercise, or do something productive. But then I think about how I'm doomed to seven-and-a-half years of bad luck, and I can't bring myself to do anything good or uplifting. I can't even focus enough to watch a television show! Instead, I get on my phone, and scroll through stupid social media videos for hours. When I look up, it's suddenly one o'clock in the morning, and I go to bed feeling sad and disgusted with myself.

I need to know: am I doomed to seven-and-a-half-years of sadness? Is there anything I can do to make this better?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Stuck in a Seven-and-a-Half-Year Saturn Slump

Dear Stuck in a Seven-and-a-Half-Year Saturn Slump,

I'm so glad that you were able to contact me. When you feel depressed, even taking the first step to ask for help can be really hard. You should feel proud of yourself for mustering the courage and energy to reach out.

I don't have any easy answers that can immediately fix your dilemma, but hopefully I can offer some astrological advice that might make you feel better in the long run.

First, let's talk about what's going on with your birth chart. When your friend said that you were going to have seven-and-a-half years of bad luck, I assume he was referring to a concept called Sade Sati. This is an astrological period that occurs when Saturn moves over the house immediately before your natal Moon, the house that contains your natal Moon, and the house immediately after your natal Moon.

In simpler terms, this means that Saturn is moving near the area of the cosmos where the Moon was located when you were born. Since Saturn appears to move slowly in comparison to Earth, this period lasts for about seven-and-a-half years.

In astrology, Saturn represents fear, hardship, obstacles, and struggle. It is the “great malefic” often associated with difficulties and misfortune. The Moon represents the mind and our emotions. Thus, as you might expect, when Saturn moves close to or over your Moon, you may feel unhappy, low, and sad. You might also become stuck, frustrated, and unable to move forward. From your letter, it seems clear that you've been experiencing some of these challenges.

However, Sade Sati is not a period of unmitigated misery and suffering. In addition to being associated with hardship, Saturn is also the planet of perseverance, work, focus, and labor. If you put in effort and worked hard during the previous part of your life, sometimes these efforts will deliver large rewards during your Sade Sati period. These rewards may be intensified if Saturn is in a strong position in your birth chart.

Since I don't have your chart, I can't tell how your Saturn is placed. But, from your writing, I can see that you are a focused, dedicated person who cares deeply about your marriage, career, and family. It's clear to me that you've put great effort into all of these aspects of your life.

This hard work could begin to pay off during the next seven-and-a-half years. You might get a promotion or new opportunity at your job. Or maybe your parents will continue to be active and healthy as they age. Perhaps you and your wife will reach a new level of closeness and happiness. Hopefully, knowing that you might experience favorable changes during your Sade Sati period will increase your optimism about the future.

In addition to reevaluating your outlook on Sade Sati, I would encourage you to make some small changes to your daily routine. When you're depressed, doing anything productive can be really difficult. But, as the planet of hard work, Saturn appreciates and rewards effort and perseverance. If you change your habits during your Sade Sati period, you could see large benefits.

Similarly, since you're worried about the future of your work, you could put part of your salary into a special fund to keep you afloat for a while if you ever lose your job. You might also work on your health and general well-being by going on a short walk with your spouse in the evenings.

Because you're really struggling right now, you could begin with very small changes: a 15-minute walk, a call to your parents, or a decision to save $20 per week. After a few weeks, you could gradually ramp up these adjustments.

I don't imagine that these changes will immediately fix your problems or completely get rid of your worries and sadness. But some of your malaise seems to stem from your perceived lack of control and inability to address your fears. If you take small steps to change that, I think that you might feel stronger and happier during your Sade Sati period.

Finally, I'd urge you to be kinder to yourself! From your letter, I can tell that you have very high standards. This can be a good thing, but right now, you're putting too much pressure on yourself.

You mentioned that you feel guilty for feeling sad when you're very fortunate compared to many people in the world. But all of us, even the wealthiest and most fortunate people in the world, have problems and difficult times. You don't owe your family, spouse, or the world constant happiness. It’s okay to recognize the good fortune in your life while also acknowledging aspects of your situation that aren't ideal.

Overall, I want to thank you again for reaching out. I know that everything feels hopeless right now, but you will make it through this difficult period. If you are willing to put in the work, these seven-and-a-half years of your life could be a fruitful period of growth, change, and happiness!

I am also available to consult with you in a Vedic Astrology reading if you want to go deeper into the specifics of your astrological chart, and to receive some suggestions for individualized karmic remedies that might help improve your life and this Sade Sati experience.

Warmly,

Juliana

Summing It All Up!

Thanks so much for reading my Astral Asks column! As a professional astrologer, I have seen so many clients and students become upset when misunderstanding the true purpose of Vedic astrology. This purpose is not meant to emphasize fate, but to help us learn to overcome our karmic limitations, enhance our positive fortune, and fulfill our soul’s highest destiny.

I enjoy writing this column, and I am hopeful that my advice resonates with anyone who's ever looked into their astrological chart and felt worried, helpless, or dis-empowered.

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