Saturn in Cancer
Saturn in Cancer
By Anton Grigoryev
On 4 June 2003, Saturn enters into Cancer. He will be in this sign until 16 July 2005, i.e. two years, one month, and twelve days. This article is dedicated to that passage. The content of the article is not predictive, but rather some considerations of potential, realisation of which will depend on particular annual revolutions and syzygies etc. in particular places on Earth.
Testimonies in mundane astrology mostly have three kind of interpretation:
- natural phenomena;
- conditions of people, their health;
- social phenomena in states and international relations.
Concerning natural phenomena, the position of Saturn in Cancer indicates abudance of water, overflow of rivers, moist and cold, stormy weather, fogs, showers and snowfalls etc., especially when Saturn is occidental. When Saturn is oriental the indications are moderated. At the Solar ingress into Cancer on 21 June 2003, and at the next New Moon on 29 June, Saturn is combust. It can bring strong storms and typhoons in some places. The same is likely at the Full Moon of 2 July 2004; even more so, because there are openings of the great gates in these cases - the Moon transfers virtue between the Sun and Saturn.
Concerning conditions of people, because Saturn in Cancer is in his own detriment and is peregrin, except the last three degrees, people who are signified by Saturn, e.g. the old, monks, the poor, peasants, masons, miners, are in bad condition. Saturn in Cancer brings diseases from moisture and coldness, such as chills, coryza, coughs, pneumonia, and also diseases from contaminated water and food, Cancer is a watery sign, cold and moist; it corresponds to phlegm, cold and moist humour, and therefore Saturn in Cancer brings diseases in connection with corruption of phlegm. To understand better what it means we should consider the process of formation of humours in the human body. When food reaches the stomach and liver it is transformed by natural body heat into four humours. During this process of warming, cold and moist food turns into phlegm and hot and moist food turns into blood. Then yellow bile is generated by increasing heat, followed by the black bile. The blood (or sanguine) humour is thought of as the best, and is temperate. Phlegm is called half-prepared humour (humor semicoctus), because it is generated by moist and cold nature with a shortage of heat. In its natural condition phlegm is cold and moist, colourless and tasteless. One of its main functions is to be present in the blood to prevent blood from overheating and being transformed into bile, i.e. to maintain the temperate condition of the blood.
When the natural heat is scanty, phlegm is not transformed into blood, but accumulates in the body and provokes diseases such as dropsy. In this case the phlegm can pass into one of its unnatural pathogenic conditions - phlegma vitreum (glassy phlegm), a very thick, cold and gross humour.
Saturn has cold and dry nature, therefore it has dominion over melancholic humour or black bile. When the phlegm is corrupted by black bile, it passes into phlegma acetosum (acetous phlegm), sour and caustic humour.
Plato says that the liver (ruled by Cancer) plays a very important part in human perception and thinking; it reflects images as a mirror does. He says that the liver consists of sweet and bitter. When sweetness prevails, the liver becomes smooth and can reflect images without distortion. But caustic humours, i.e. yellow and black bile, make the liver frown, bringing nightmares, inadequate reactions, and provoking fears and aggression. And that is another thing that Saturn in Cancer can bring. By the way, when the natural heat is sufficient, phlegm that is ready to be transformed into blood is called phlegma dulce (sweet phlegm). Now we can understand what Lilly meant when he included weak digestion and cold stomach among the diseases of Cancer. To resist this influence of Saturn in Cancer we should use medicines that warm the liver and improve the digestion. Perhaps, one of the best simples in this case is a lemon-balm.
On 25 May 2004 Saturn conjoins Mars in Cancer. The conjunctions of Saturn and Mars are always signs of mischief, but the conjunction in Cancer is especially notable. Cancer is the domicile of the Moon (general significatrix of common people) and the exaltation of Jupiter (general significator of power); it is also the detriment and fall of Saturn and Mars respectively - two malefactors. This conjuncton of 25 May 2004 will be on the Ascendant in a large part of Europe, including Germany, Austria and the Balkans. It could signify disasters in this region. On the other hand, this conjunction will be on the Medium Coeli in both Koreas, the Philippines etc. It is especially interesting in the Philippines. Besides the conjunction being on the Medium Coeli, it is right on the Sun of the chart of the Philipines’ independence (4 July 1946, 9:15 a.m. CCT, Manila, 121E00 14N35). It is a threatening sign for Philippine leaders.
Another important matter is the relation of Saturn with Jupiter. This is more so as in this case Saturn is in Jupiter’s exaltation. Of the various essential dignities, exaltation is the most important in terms of world power. Traditionally, Saturn’s transit through Cancer is a favourable period for those who have Jupiter in Scorpio in their natal charts, but only if Jupiter is good and signifies rising.
Looking at the current fraught condition of international policy, we could expect that Jupiter, being lord of exaltation in Cancer, could exert a benefical influence on Saturn, and thereby on the international climate. First, Jupiter beholds Saturn by sextile in October/November of 2003; but Jupiter is in Virgo, in his detriment, and Saturn turns retrograde, so we can’t take this aspect as the hopeful one. Then at the time of the Saturn-Mars conjunction on 25 May 2004, Jupiter beholds the conjunction by sextile. But Jupiter is still in Virgo and is peregrine, so it is a very weak help, if any. The exact sextile of Jupiter and Saturn is in August 2004. Saturn is in the exaltation of Jupiter, and Jupiter is in terms of Saturn. But they both are in their detriments and are peregrine, so we can’t expect much from that reception either.
Interestingly enough, it is up to about this time that the US is under the influence of the partial Solar eclipse of 25 December 2000. In Washington, DC this eclipse lasted from 16:04 UT to 19:16 UT. The duration was 3 hours 12 minutes, i.e. 3 years 2 months and 11 days. The middle of eclipse was at 17:40 UT, so the crhat of the eclipse is 25 December 2000 17:40 GMT, Washington, DC.
Because the eclipse is in the ninth house, the beginning of its effects is in the seventh month after the eclipse, i.e. from about 25 June 2001. And these effects will last until 6 September 2004. However, the most powerful effects will be felt in the second third of this period, i.e. from 19 July 2002 to 12 August 2003. Now the US is under the strongest influence of this eclipse, and this shows in the US problems in foreign affairs. The conjunction of Saturn and Mars in May 2004 is right on the IC of the chart of this eclipse. It could be a dangerous omen for US territory; fortunately, the period of maximum effect is over before this.
The next aspect between Saturn and Jupiter is a square. Application will begin at the end of December 2004. Jupiter is in its own terms, while Saturn leaves his own terms and becomes peregrine. Saturn is retrograde, so the application is mutual. Saturn is in Jupiter’s exaltation, Jupiter is in the exaltation and face of Saturn. In spite of the asperities of the square, Jupiter couls through this reception substantially moderate Saturn’s malice, and the international climate could become calmer. But before the perfection of this aspect, Jupiter turns retrograde on 2 February 2005; this refrenation wrecks our hope. And such an application will not be repeated before Saturn enters Leo in July 2005.
25 February 2003
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
