Why Saturn has as much to do with Luck as Jupiter

•  ©2009 by Donna Cunningham, MSW

Note: The following is an excerpt from my text for beginning to intermediate students, An Astrological guide to Self-Awareness, modernized for this millennium and in ebook form.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

 – Thomas A. Edison

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”

 – Thomas Jefferson

I’ve been a fairly lucky person all my life, and once, after a run of especially good luck, I set about analyzing it. I felt that perhaps by understanding my luck, I could not only increase it for myself, but perhaps also teach my heretofore un­conscious “methods” to others who haven’t been so for­tunate. Naturally, I thought a great deal about Jupiter, the planet traditionally associated with good luck, but I was quite surprised to discover Saturn has as much or more to do with luck as Jupiter. (People with Jupiter-Saturn aspects in their birth charts are often “lucky,” but it tends to be the type where people say, “you must be living right,” for they make their own luck by being diligent and responsible.)

Saturn? I know it’s called “the greater malefic” and “the grim reaper,” and it’s supposed to bring on all kinds of misfortune. If you really delve into it, though, Saturn doesn’t bring anything on you that you haven’t already brought on yourself… and if what you’ve done is lay the foundations for good luck, then Saturn will bring you better and longer lasting “luck” than you ever had under Jupiter.

Let me give you an example. Saturn once was square my Midheaven for six weeks from the twelfth house. Many traditional astrologers would say I was in for some real bad luck from “the old taskmaster.”  What happened was perhaps the luckiest break in my life up to that point–I was promoted to head social worker in the hospital where I worked. I happened to be the only person on the scene with most of the right qualifications when the position became vacant–and I had been working there for only four months!

In the normal course of events, I wouldn’t have been eligible for that kind of position for about five more years. I did have the needed abilities, but was also in the right place at the right time. So Saturn isn’t necessarily the bad influence people think it is. Actually, much of what other people label luck isn’t Jupiter at all, but very Saturnian in nature…not luck, but rather hard work, self-discipline, and preparation that finally paid off.

You may have sat up nights polishing your writing technique. Then when you are finally good enough to break into important magazines, less-disciplined writers say, “I wish I had your luck!” It reminds me of the state­ment by actor Bill Macey at the time he was involved in a hit television series. He said, “I put in 25 years of hard work to become an overnight success.” Isn’t Saturn as much responsible for that kind of luck as Jupiter?

Another Saturnian characteristic that contributes a great deal to luck is timing. You may have everything going for you-a great idea, good financial backing, and all the right people working on it-but unless the timing is right, you may fail. There is a saying that goes, “There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come.” This is as true in your career or personal life as in anything else. The “lucky” person knows instinctively the right time to ask for a raise, to launch that campaign, or to make that long-contemplated move. Life can be like a game of Slapjack. Unless you have that split-second timing, you can miss out on many great opportunities. Saturn, not Jupiter, is related to our sense of timing.

Other Saturnian traits that are important to luck and success include persistence, self-discipline and follow-through. Under a Jupiter transit, you may have the nicest stroke of luck, but miss out unless you are already prepared to take advantage of it; or you may actually be given the opportunity, but unless you have the self-discipline to follow up with hard work, the luck will evaporate. JUPITER ONLY WORKS IF YOU WORK IT–AND WORKING IT IS SATURN.  I rest my case: Jupiter and Saturn are the co-rulers of luck.

READERS: Reflecting on what you’ve read here, did you ever have good luck under a Saturn transit?  Tell us about it in the comment section.  And,  just this once, no Saturn hard luck stories, please!!

Note: This was an excerpt from Donna’s classic text for beginning to intermediate students, An Astrological Guide to Self-Awareness: This revised and updated 2014 edition of Donna’s classic text for beginning and intermediate students contains chapters on each of the planets, the houses, aspects, transits and more. It blends astrology and psychology in everyday language. $15.  Sampler–2014 AGSA.

It’s available at moonmavenpublications.com.

Posts about Jupiter:

• How Strong is your Jupiter? Here’s the Score!
•  Jupiter in the 12th—When Does Good Luck Turn Bad?
• Why Saturn has as much to do with Luck as Jupiter
• Hyperactive Jupiter Syndrome—The Down Side of an Upbeat Planet
• Jupiter and the Astrology of Self-Justification
• The Law of Progressive Annoyance—Mars or Jupiter? 
• Jumpin’ Jehosephat—Jupiterian Wisdom and Wisecracks

Posts about Saturn:

• How Strong is your Saturn? Here’s the Score!
• Saturn’s Delays and Why We Should Embrace Them
• Venus-Saturn Aspects—Waiting for Love
• Saturn Transits the 7th House—a Rare Interview with Father Time Himself
• Saturn Retrograde in Libra: Relationship Revision Time
• Saturn in Libra: How to Set Healthy Boundaries
• Astrology and Conscious Parenting: Saturn in Synastry

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