In late 2020, as Jupiter and Saturn came into a conjunction, I visited a local shop where I noticed a couple of books left in the bargain bin, one on top of the other. One was The Power of Positive Thinking, the other was The Power of Negative Thinking. Only those aware that Jupiter (positive) and Saturn (negative) were conjunct would have seen the significance. Of course, I picked up both and walked off with a smirk on my face.
Now that Jupiter has reached its 'opening square' to Saturn, it's a good time to revisit these seemingly contrasting philosophies. But before we get to that, we must acknowledge Saturn's conjunction with Neptune.
With Saturn and Neptune so closely bound in 2025 and 2026, we must hold space for both the dream and the reality, as Jupiter in Gemini (sidereal) attempts to discern what is true while grappling with more and more information, before it moves into Cancer and offers something altogether more hopeful. But, as is always the case, there is no hope without fear.
Saturn is a realist, while Neptune is a romantic. Romantics talk the talk, but they don't always walk the walk. They may be too busy with their dreams to follow through. They may not be the most reliable bunch when problems arise. Realists, on the other hand, are more committed to making something happen, whatever is presented. Romantics are more likely to tell you to stop bringing down the mood!
Jupiter in a square to both Saturn and Neptune is asking us to hold our dreams, illusions, and potentials in tension and see where cracks appear. These indicate areas where we may be lacking clarity on the 'how to' part of the dream. It's an important guide to help us fill in the gaps.
Religion, for example, can fill in the many gaping holes that can form in our limited thinking. It offers a structure (Saturn) that comforts (Jupiter). This has its upsides and downsides. It's great for those who need support when they lack faith in themselves, but it's not so great when those same beliefs hold them back from achieving something real.
Saturn doesn't just hold you back; it can hold you down. Yet, that can be a good thing if you're about to do something you may later regret. Saturn reflects the part of you that has an eye on the bigger picture, which knows what you should or shouldn't do now. Jupiter, on the other hand, reflects what you believe is possible, whether it is true or not, from a practical standpoint. Jupiter's square to Saturn places tension around such beliefs, testing them in the cold light of day. You need a more balanced Jupiter and Saturn, and an equal dose of both for a more balanced perspective.
Jupiter and Saturn are the two big players in the planetary line-up, the two outermost visible gaseous giants that can inflate and deflate things in more extreme ways when left unchecked. The best of both, combined with Neptune, is faith, where your beliefs meet with reality, combined with perseverance. Your big ideas need somewhere to land.
When combined in other, more challenging ways, however, your fantastical thinking may lead to disappointment. Yet, this could also lead to being more intentional and more focused on what is possible. Once you've hit rock bottom, you at least know where to start from!
Sometimes, however, doubts can weigh too heavily, leading to a lack of self-belief. Saturn can certainly show self-doubt, which has a place to a degree, even a power, as The Power of Negative Thinking suggests. The book explores how acknowledging and understanding your negative thoughts and emotions can lead to genuine personal growth, rather than suppressing or denying them in the pursuit of false positivity.
On the other hand, Jupiter can fuel an unrealistic positivity that can lead you down routes that go nowhere. While it may feel good to think positive thoughts, you may be so out of touch with reality that it prevents you from achieving anything real. If what is possible is not what you envisioned, you may give up at the first hurdle. You may trip out on a fantasy and squander an opportunity.
If Jupiter has an association with Saturn and Neptune, either in your natal chart or by transit, and especially both, you may either feel depressed because you don't see a way to achieve your dreams, or waste time on a fantasy to cope with the harsh reality.
You do need weights for your balloon, whether the weights are constructive criticisms or realistic appraisals, but too many weights are not going to get you anywhere.
When combined in equal portions, Saturn and Jupiter can help you achieve a great deal. This is why their drishti or 'sight' is emphasised in Vedic astrology. The concept of dristhi differs from that of aspects, as sight suggests a desire the planet has to influence a particular area of life. Aspects show the relationship between planets, planets which may or may not be interested in what the other wants.
Jupiter and Saturn currently both have a sight on Sagittarius, with Saturn having sight on the 10th sign from its placement in Pisces (sidereal), reflecting Saturn's ambitions to get to the truth. Jupiter has sight on the 7th sign from its placement in Gemini, reflecting its desire to build stronger connections to what is true, whatever 'facts' are presented.
When combined, working towards what is real can lead to many possibilities. However, as they also hold a square aspect at this time, tension forms between your ability to see your long-held ambitions through while also being mindful of what is true.
Saturn wants you to work hard and detach yourself from the outcome, to work for work's sake, while Jupiter asks you why you're doing what you're doing in the first place.
Once Jupiter moves into Cancer (sidereal) later this year, it will have its sights set on Saturn in Pisces, a sign that highlights deeper truths. Jupiter's entry into Cancer brings these two great giants into a more cooperative relationship. As Saturn transits Pisces, there is more potential for Piscean themes to evolve, but only after an initial challenge and some hard work, asking you to let go of what no longer serves a purpose.
With Jupiter moving towards its exaltation and Saturn moving towards its debilitation, hope springs forth from potentially dire circumstances, but it is hope nonetheless. Yet, where there is hope, there is fear.
Jupiter's exalted and fallen positions, in Cancer and Capricorn, square Saturn's exalted and fallen positions, in Libra and Aries. Jupiter inflates or deflates one's balloon. But it works both ways: Saturn is exalted and fallen in a square to Jupiter's exalted and fallen places, which means the amount of weight you carry has the final say in how far you reach. In other words, Saturn gives your big ideas some gravitas.
Yet if you've already started with little or no hope in achieving a goal, adding more and more weight, i.e., self-doubt, is unlikely to get you anywhere. If, however, you've inflated your expectations and have little or no doubts, you may need to question if it's possible. You may indeed reach some great heights, but these may remain in the realms of your imagination.
On the other extreme, it's far too easy to become despondent when things don't go your way, when Saturn has more of an impact. Yet you may also overcompensate if Jupiter impacts in a big way, biting off more than you can chew, or dreaming up some fantasy that will never happen. You may even do so to avoid achieving what you could. You may be afraid of real success.
Perhaps you've been unsuccessful before and fallen flat on your face? Saturn is a humbling experience. It takes a little more work to pick yourself up after a failure. And when you do, you're unlikely to go as high or as far next time. But you do want to take off again, and as soon as you can realistically do so. You don't want to get bogged down in your failures, preventing you from starting over. Just as Norman Vincent Peale writes in The Power of Positive Thinking, it's important to believe in yourself. Belief is often more powerful than external circumstances, at least if the Jupiterian impulse has a bigger say.
Yet, often we see those who are in the most challenging situations rise to the top, precisely because of the challenge. Saturn can be the motivating factor for many. Those who experience the most intense challenges no longer fear the worst. The worst has happened, and they survived it. Those who have failed know that when they hit rock bottom, there's only one way to go. It's the fear of failure that keeps you from trying many times. But when you do fail, at least you don't have to worry about that anymore!
The problem with Saturn is when you've failed and you convince yourself it's not worth trying again. You may need Jupiter to come along to lift your spirits once more. This may come in the form of an opportunity or a signal you're on the right track.
Once you make peace with where you are, you are more in a position to change course. And even if you don't change a thing, making peace with what is means you don't struggle as much.
Make sure to balance your weight. If you feel the heaviness of Saturn, look for ways to uplift yourself. Without ignoring some unresolved issues that need your attention, decide what you can and cannot cope with. Do so while building a more solid self-belief. You may be struggling, but you are alive to tell the tale. Find someone who will listen.
If you feel the upliftment of Jupiter, watch yourself drift off into the clouds, but bring yourself back down to earth with some realistic appraisals. You can find others who will do this for you if you're unable to yourself. There are always plenty of people to offer a reality check if you're getting too carried away. Just make sure to surround yourself with those who do so kindly and constructively.
If you have too much weight, you'll never get off the ground; if you don't have anything to check your fantastical thinking, you're ideas will float off and never land. Find your balance without overly stressing about whether you aim too high or fall too low. Oftentimes, it's the constant measuring that can put you off trying in the first place.
Life will throw its curveballs, but it will also bring you pleasant surprises. The highs and lows are all part of the journey. If you never ventured higher than where you are now, you cannot bring those big ideas down to Earth. Just make sure you don't venture off too far, so as not to fall back down wth a thud.
Use the current tension between Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter, between what is real and potential, to test your theories. Make friends with the ground of reality while catching the next gust of wind to bring you someplace else.
Aum Tat Sat
References
Peale, N. V. (2005). The Power of Positive Thinking. New York: Fireside/Simon & Schuster.
Humphreys, T. (2004). The Power of Negative Thinking. Dublin: Newleaf.
Now that Jupiter has reached its 'opening square' to Saturn, it's a good time to revisit these seemingly contrasting philosophies. But before we get to that, we must acknowledge Saturn's conjunction with Neptune.
With Saturn and Neptune so closely bound in 2025 and 2026, we must hold space for both the dream and the reality, as Jupiter in Gemini (sidereal) attempts to discern what is true while grappling with more and more information, before it moves into Cancer and offers something altogether more hopeful. But, as is always the case, there is no hope without fear.
Saturn is a realist, while Neptune is a romantic. Romantics talk the talk, but they don't always walk the walk. They may be too busy with their dreams to follow through. They may not be the most reliable bunch when problems arise. Realists, on the other hand, are more committed to making something happen, whatever is presented. Romantics are more likely to tell you to stop bringing down the mood!
Jupiter in a square to both Saturn and Neptune is asking us to hold our dreams, illusions, and potentials in tension and see where cracks appear. These indicate areas where we may be lacking clarity on the 'how to' part of the dream. It's an important guide to help us fill in the gaps.
Religion, for example, can fill in the many gaping holes that can form in our limited thinking. It offers a structure (Saturn) that comforts (Jupiter). This has its upsides and downsides. It's great for those who need support when they lack faith in themselves, but it's not so great when those same beliefs hold them back from achieving something real.
Saturn doesn't just hold you back; it can hold you down. Yet, that can be a good thing if you're about to do something you may later regret. Saturn reflects the part of you that has an eye on the bigger picture, which knows what you should or shouldn't do now. Jupiter, on the other hand, reflects what you believe is possible, whether it is true or not, from a practical standpoint. Jupiter's square to Saturn places tension around such beliefs, testing them in the cold light of day. You need a more balanced Jupiter and Saturn, and an equal dose of both for a more balanced perspective.
Jupiter and Saturn are the two big players in the planetary line-up, the two outermost visible gaseous giants that can inflate and deflate things in more extreme ways when left unchecked. The best of both, combined with Neptune, is faith, where your beliefs meet with reality, combined with perseverance. Your big ideas need somewhere to land.
When combined in other, more challenging ways, however, your fantastical thinking may lead to disappointment. Yet, this could also lead to being more intentional and more focused on what is possible. Once you've hit rock bottom, you at least know where to start from!
Sometimes, however, doubts can weigh too heavily, leading to a lack of self-belief. Saturn can certainly show self-doubt, which has a place to a degree, even a power, as The Power of Negative Thinking suggests. The book explores how acknowledging and understanding your negative thoughts and emotions can lead to genuine personal growth, rather than suppressing or denying them in the pursuit of false positivity.
On the other hand, Jupiter can fuel an unrealistic positivity that can lead you down routes that go nowhere. While it may feel good to think positive thoughts, you may be so out of touch with reality that it prevents you from achieving anything real. If what is possible is not what you envisioned, you may give up at the first hurdle. You may trip out on a fantasy and squander an opportunity.
If Jupiter has an association with Saturn and Neptune, either in your natal chart or by transit, and especially both, you may either feel depressed because you don't see a way to achieve your dreams, or waste time on a fantasy to cope with the harsh reality.
You do need weights for your balloon, whether the weights are constructive criticisms or realistic appraisals, but too many weights are not going to get you anywhere.
When combined in equal portions, Saturn and Jupiter can help you achieve a great deal. This is why their drishti or 'sight' is emphasised in Vedic astrology. The concept of dristhi differs from that of aspects, as sight suggests a desire the planet has to influence a particular area of life. Aspects show the relationship between planets, planets which may or may not be interested in what the other wants.
Jupiter and Saturn currently both have a sight on Sagittarius, with Saturn having sight on the 10th sign from its placement in Pisces (sidereal), reflecting Saturn's ambitions to get to the truth. Jupiter has sight on the 7th sign from its placement in Gemini, reflecting its desire to build stronger connections to what is true, whatever 'facts' are presented.
When combined, working towards what is real can lead to many possibilities. However, as they also hold a square aspect at this time, tension forms between your ability to see your long-held ambitions through while also being mindful of what is true.
Saturn wants you to work hard and detach yourself from the outcome, to work for work's sake, while Jupiter asks you why you're doing what you're doing in the first place.
Once Jupiter moves into Cancer (sidereal) later this year, it will have its sights set on Saturn in Pisces, a sign that highlights deeper truths. Jupiter's entry into Cancer brings these two great giants into a more cooperative relationship. As Saturn transits Pisces, there is more potential for Piscean themes to evolve, but only after an initial challenge and some hard work, asking you to let go of what no longer serves a purpose.
With Jupiter moving towards its exaltation and Saturn moving towards its debilitation, hope springs forth from potentially dire circumstances, but it is hope nonetheless. Yet, where there is hope, there is fear.
Jupiter's exalted and fallen positions, in Cancer and Capricorn, square Saturn's exalted and fallen positions, in Libra and Aries. Jupiter inflates or deflates one's balloon. But it works both ways: Saturn is exalted and fallen in a square to Jupiter's exalted and fallen places, which means the amount of weight you carry has the final say in how far you reach. In other words, Saturn gives your big ideas some gravitas.
Yet if you've already started with little or no hope in achieving a goal, adding more and more weight, i.e., self-doubt, is unlikely to get you anywhere. If, however, you've inflated your expectations and have little or no doubts, you may need to question if it's possible. You may indeed reach some great heights, but these may remain in the realms of your imagination.
On the other extreme, it's far too easy to become despondent when things don't go your way, when Saturn has more of an impact. Yet you may also overcompensate if Jupiter impacts in a big way, biting off more than you can chew, or dreaming up some fantasy that will never happen. You may even do so to avoid achieving what you could. You may be afraid of real success.
Perhaps you've been unsuccessful before and fallen flat on your face? Saturn is a humbling experience. It takes a little more work to pick yourself up after a failure. And when you do, you're unlikely to go as high or as far next time. But you do want to take off again, and as soon as you can realistically do so. You don't want to get bogged down in your failures, preventing you from starting over. Just as Norman Vincent Peale writes in The Power of Positive Thinking, it's important to believe in yourself. Belief is often more powerful than external circumstances, at least if the Jupiterian impulse has a bigger say.
Yet, often we see those who are in the most challenging situations rise to the top, precisely because of the challenge. Saturn can be the motivating factor for many. Those who experience the most intense challenges no longer fear the worst. The worst has happened, and they survived it. Those who have failed know that when they hit rock bottom, there's only one way to go. It's the fear of failure that keeps you from trying many times. But when you do fail, at least you don't have to worry about that anymore!
The problem with Saturn is when you've failed and you convince yourself it's not worth trying again. You may need Jupiter to come along to lift your spirits once more. This may come in the form of an opportunity or a signal you're on the right track.
Once you make peace with where you are, you are more in a position to change course. And even if you don't change a thing, making peace with what is means you don't struggle as much.
Make sure to balance your weight. If you feel the heaviness of Saturn, look for ways to uplift yourself. Without ignoring some unresolved issues that need your attention, decide what you can and cannot cope with. Do so while building a more solid self-belief. You may be struggling, but you are alive to tell the tale. Find someone who will listen.
If you feel the upliftment of Jupiter, watch yourself drift off into the clouds, but bring yourself back down to earth with some realistic appraisals. You can find others who will do this for you if you're unable to yourself. There are always plenty of people to offer a reality check if you're getting too carried away. Just make sure to surround yourself with those who do so kindly and constructively.
If you have too much weight, you'll never get off the ground; if you don't have anything to check your fantastical thinking, you're ideas will float off and never land. Find your balance without overly stressing about whether you aim too high or fall too low. Oftentimes, it's the constant measuring that can put you off trying in the first place.
Life will throw its curveballs, but it will also bring you pleasant surprises. The highs and lows are all part of the journey. If you never ventured higher than where you are now, you cannot bring those big ideas down to Earth. Just make sure you don't venture off too far, so as not to fall back down wth a thud.
Use the current tension between Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter, between what is real and potential, to test your theories. Make friends with the ground of reality while catching the next gust of wind to bring you someplace else.
Aum Tat Sat
References
Peale, N. V. (2005). The Power of Positive Thinking. New York: Fireside/Simon & Schuster.
Humphreys, T. (2004). The Power of Negative Thinking. Dublin: Newleaf.