Alchemy: Turning Lead into Gold

By David Tavalin

Initially the transit of Saturn in Leo does not seem to be a happy prospect: Saturn's bleakness seems antithetical to Leo's sunny and fiery warmth. Even Harry Potter (born July 31, according to the first book) is purported to face his darkest adventure yet as the sixth book is released on July 16, 2005, the date of Saturn's entry into Leo.

Of course the worry starts to build and one wonders: What will happen when it hits my chart? What will happen in the world? Most importantly, what will happen to Martha and Madonna?

However, astrology is not at its best when it forecasts doom and gloom, even though it may be fun to scare the be-Jesus out of the astrologically-challenged. Maybe it's my idealistic Mars in Sagittarius, but I encourage the activist school of dealing with transits: take charge and integrate the meaning of the transit consciously instead of being a victim.

Saturn in Leo signifies personal alchemy. In alchemy, the basest element (lead) is transmuted into the finest element (gold). In astrology, Saturn represents lead, and alchemy is seen as we move through the solar system. Jupiter represents tin, Mars iron, Venus copper, Mercury mercury, the Moon silver, and finally the Sun gold. So Saturn's transit will bring this alchemical process for individuals and the world at large.

When we look at Saturn in Leo, we are looking at limits on creativity. Ironically, a study in the New York Times found that limitations force creativity to flourish. Ask any kid who's got to fib his way out of why his homework wasn't done and you will see a remarkably imaginative excuse invented on the spot. In terms of creativity we can now see understand what is meant by the term "work of art" or "labor of love."

The last Saturn-in-Leo period from September 1975 through July 1978 shows that this was an enormously creative time. Movies and music in particular reflected the symbolism and the psyche of Leo and the issues that Saturn brought up.

During this time, young people started directing their energy outwards since the security needs of the previous Saturn-in-Cancer transit were met. This was just after the ignomious defeats of Watergate and Vietnam for the United States. You weren't going to be drafted, Nixon was out, and the oil crisis was over, so what else were you going to do with all that excess energy? People could venture out of the proverbial home and express themselves. Ironically, even Washington got into the groove in 1976 as Saturn, represented by the government, threw itself a Leonine celebration with an over-the-top Bicentennial celebration.

There was a similar theme during the prior Saturn-in-Leo transit, from August 1946 through September 1948, when World War II was just over. The creativity at that time was directed more towards making babies and the Baby Boom was created.

In the 70's, three seemingly dichotomous music movements gestated during Saturn in Cancer and emerged during Saturn in Leo: disco, punk and hip-hop. All three contrasted the big-hair rock gods of the day (representing Leo's grandiosity) and were Saturnian in their emphasis on the "beat." The beat is the structure (Saturn) on which the rest of the music relies. Disco referenced Leo's love of bigger-than-life glamour with strings, songs of romance and flashy lights. Early hip-hop touched on the rapper bragging of his prowess and Don Juanism. Punk referenced the adolescent angst screaming "hear ME."

Dancing was the essential element of all three, whether the hustle, break dancing or slam dancing; and the audience was a vital part of the experience. Instead of seeing five small people on a stage from bleacher seats, the individual was suddenly part of the entertainment. You were the Leonine star of the show (and Aquarius displayed its shadow of people collectively showing their individuality). These new music styles were reactions to the womblike stay-at-home, pass-the-bong, ain't-that-a-wicked-guitar-solo-dude Saturn-in-Cancer indulgences of groups like Yes, ELP, Genesis, and the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd.

Saturday Night Fever was released in 1977 and Studio 54 (about as flashy and Leonine a scene as possible) opened in New York. Also cocaine, the ultimate Leo drug with its emphasis on ego, moved into popular consciousness in movies like Annie Hall. Ever go to a party with tons of coke? The word "I" is heard more than anything else. It's expensiveness, gold spoons and $100 snorting bills exhibit Leonine self-indulgence and grandiosity. It is no wonder that the 70's were called the "Me Decade" with Saturn in Cancer first developing the emotional self and then Saturn in Leo developing the individual self.

In the previous Saturn-in-Leo transit during the late 1940's, people were also dancing up a storm. We can certainly expect to see dancing return as a popular pastime this time around (in fact, a new dance contest show is slated to start in July). One of the possible trends that has been gestating during this Saturn-in-Cancer transit has been the "mash-up" laying disco beats over pop and rock classics. Krumping is another dance form from LA just made visible with David LaChappelle's new movie.

We will also see overcompensating Leonine behavior in entertainment and fashion, especially referencing the late 70's. Turn off the Food Network and put on some rhinestones and gold chains! Baby Phat is already using rhinestones on its "cat with an attitude" T-shirts. How üüber Leo is that? Extreme hairstyles like mohawks, afros and long hair (or no hair) may also come back since Leo rules the hair.

In addition, this may be the golden age of the T-shirt -- and not with corporate logos this time but something more personal. These T-shirts are self-expression struggling against the "vision" of Neptune in Aquarius, in which we are all one, all of us indistinguishable with our iPods and Puma uniforms.

In the movies of the 70's, we saw the solar hero's struggle. With Star Wars (1977), Luke Skywalker exhibited the Leonine hero finding the strength within himself to regain his royalty. Rocky (1976) was another solar hero saga, which more accurately displayed the rigors of dealing with Saturn to achieve personal gold. Movies like Taxi Driver (1977) exhibited the Saturnian side of this dichotomy as the beaten-down anti-hero struggled to express himself in a much darker way. Woody Allen in Annie Hall (1977) was also a Saturnian creature, another struggling anti-hero with his self-indulgent (Leonine) neuroses.

<img id="img_lft" alt="Godsave.jpg" src="http://www.astrologynyc.org/mt_img/Godsave.jpg" width="313" height="218" />Over in England where the economy was turgid and unemployment rife, angry disaffected youth attacked the excessive and staid Leonine monarchy as the cover of the Sex Pistols first album so eloquently demonstrates with the picture of the Queen defaced. Punk was much more important in class-based England, and this was a serious expression of anger against the collective father. Bands like The Clash truly embodied this movement of questioning government and describing social ills due to an increasingly ineffective, isolated and self-centered monarchy. Even here, as punk developed at CBGB's on the Bowery, there was an explosion of creativity questioning the Cancerian, suburban stay-at-home mentality and reinventing music, stripping it of flourishes and going back to the basics of rock, though less overtly political.

On both sides of the Atlantic, leaders were seen as fallible and it became fashionable to question the king or queen. Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were regularly mocked on Saturday Night Live. This is all part of the Leo rebellion against the Saturn figure, a natural and healthy process for the future king to question the existing king.

This time in the arts we may again see a political focus beyond lone beacons like Michael Moore and Air America. Anger against the government starts to peak later this year when Saturn finishes the opposition to Chiron, which being in Capricorn and Aquarius, has exposed the wounds of leaders, both corporate and political. This time with Neptune in Aquarius and Uranus in Pisces, relevant art has become more ubiquitous. Creative and political graffiti may well make a comeback since art in this era is environmental due to the universality of Pisces and Aquarius. T-shirts mocking Bush (seen prominently during last summer's Republican convention) should be more ubiquitous. There are already extremely sarcastic stickers in subway stations mocking the regime.

Both previous Saturn-in-Leo transits were periods of economic restructuring after resources were freed up from wars. Carter helped the economy more than he is commonly given credit for, and after World War II the US was the only economic power around. Unfortunately there seems to be no returning of troops or cessation of war this time, so it may take a while to recover. Saturn will be leaving the US 8th house after it hits 13 Leo next year, and that commonly translates to a paying-off of debts and freeing-up of resources. But Jupiter in Scorpio will square Saturn during this transit which may mean foreign banks calling in US debts. There is also a grand cross in October/November 2005, with Neptune in Aquarius (high oil prices) and Mars Retrograde in Taurus, which does not bode well for the economy.

Restrictions on gambling and the stock market may also occur since Leo rules risk taking and speculation and Saturn will limit these areas. Hopefully there will be a breakthrough with solar energy (Leo) as a cost-effective alternative to vanishing oil supplies (Neptune in Aquarius). For New Yorkers, at least, housing prices should ease as Saturn leaves Cancer, allowing artists to focus on creativity instead of rent. Mike Bloomberg, an Aquarian, should face major challenges, as mayor.

"I fought the law and the law won" - The Clash, 1977

Since Saturn can repress, we may unfortunately see an increase in censorship in the entertainment field (Leo), especially projected onto Neptunian outlets like film, because of the nature of the Saturn/Neptune opposition.

Saturn in Leo eventually opposes the US natal Moon representing the public at 27 Aquarius.* Because this opposition is occurring from the 9th to the 3rd house we could see legislation (9th house) reducing communication and movement (3rd house). Saturn's prior opposition to the US Moon in Aug 1948 resulted in the Communist Party being outlawed, the beginning of the Alger Hiss case, and ultimately the Red Scare of the McCarthy era in the 1950's. Actors (Leo) were the first to get hit with Saturnian inquisitions during this period.

This is also a unique time with Pluto in the US first house, which seems to be exhibiting itself as governance via secret cabal, a Pluto specialty. The US is emerging as the Plutonian power in the world. Hopefully McCarthyism will not return, but Pluto is in charge and terrorism is the new Communism. Reread 1984, originally published in 1948. Some other 9th/3rd house situations could be: another terror attack resulting in travel restrictions; more animosity from foreign countries; religious teachings being imposed in schools.

Bush's future is going to be sorely tested during the final Saturn transit over: his Sun at 26 Cancer; his ascendant at 7 Leo; and his Mercury-Pluto conjunction at 9/10 Leo. Saturn is the planet of "just deserts," and crossing over the ascendant should bring up whatever was hidden in the 12th house.

For those with heavy Leo placements (Sun, Moon, Ascendant or stellium), this period represents an opportunity to resolve the split between the puer (divine child) as represented by the Sun, and the senex (wise old man) as represented by Saturn.

Even if you are not creative in the traditional sense, or don't have a Leo planet to take seriously, there is a house with Leo on the cusp. One client has a Leo Sun in the 4th house. Now with Saturn's influence, she wants to start renovating houses and reselling them; literally turning lead into gold. More importantly, on a psychological level, she wants to go into business for herself, representing a development of the self.

When counseling those who will be hit directly (Taurus, Scorpio and Aquarius), offer advice and insight to help them understand why they are going through certain situations. Give them a time frame too, since fixed signs can understand that time is part of the process. In general, heavily-fixed people process events on a deep, subconscious level and need to change from within; hence their famed stubbornness. Once they do change, it's permanent.

I would also look at some of the significant events in the fixed signs over the past few years. For instance, I have found that the August 1999 Solar Eclipse at 18 Leo is pretty significant for most fixed people. Saturn should now manifest or crystallize what was born then. Also, the May 2000 stellium in Taurus should be pretty important as Saturn squares each of those degrees. See if there is a link between what happened then with what is happening now.

One other thing I've noticed is that the effect of Saturn on a planet (or house) can be felt as soon as it gets into the new sign. The issues of the planet in that house will start simmering, but they will not really take effect until the transit nears the planet. Saturn's effects over the planet tend to be fully felt about a week after the exact hit due to Saturn's delaying nature.

Well since there are issues to work on, we might as well go to a party and have some laughs every once in a while over the next two years. Saturn did rule the festival of Saturnalia where the rules (Saturn) were relaxed for a 10-day party (Leo). And before you know it, it's back to work! We will have to clean up the mess when Saturn hits Virgo.

And don't worry about Martha, even when Saturn hits her Sun, Pluto and Midheaven, she'll be fine. She's a Scorpio rising.

using the Sibly chart which has 12 degrees Sagittarius rising. This unfortunately was verified during the 9/11 attacks during the Saturn/Pluto opposition at 12 Sagittarius/Gemini.

March 19, 2005