One of the symbols related to Saturn is divestment. Putting this value into practice is important if we are to achieve our goals. Properly establishing priorities and ridding ourselves of everything useless is indeed essential. Otherwise, it is quite difficult to achieve our goals when pursuing too many at once. In the first part of this article, we propose reflections on some aspects of this concept. In the second part, some influences of Saturn on divestment are illustrated. These influences are based on the position of the planet in each sign of the Zodiac. Saturn is one of the planets that cross the Zodiac; therefore, divestment is an integral part of our lives whether we want it or not. Our time and energy resources, as well as our financial means, are limited: we must make choices. We can hardly achieve all the projects that we plan. Hence, less interesting projects neither pressing nor having priority should be abandoned or set aside until later. We should focus on real priorities. To do so, in-depth analysis and serious reflection are essential. But such a process is not necessarily without strain. For instance, it is harder to say “No” than “Yes” to all the requests or projects that come our way. We may also have to give up some of our old habits before undertaking a new project. In other words, we must “make some space” for new projects. Projects require financial resources and a substantial amount of time and energy to carry them through. The time that we spend on a particular project cannot be invested in other projects. In short, we must make choices and rid ourselves of all that is useless. That is the price to pay for success when embarking on ventures! It is easier to free ourselves from everything unnecessary when we are somewhat detached from projects that are less of a priority. In fact, we should be less interested in all that is less important in our lives. More precisely, it is good to stop minding all that is superfluous in our existence. Throughout our lives, we forge bonds with people, but more often with things or objects that become burdens over time. We should not forget that our homes are not museums; they often contain too many souvenirs! We should free ourselves from these objects and keep only the most important and meaningful. In any situation such as this one, we should “do some housekeeping” and dispose of what is most likely superfluous; in short, get rid of all that is useless. Attachment to useless things is not unlike mooring a ship. Moorings keep the ship at dock and prevent it from heading out to the open seas. So when we do not divest ourselves of all that is useless, we remain attached to our past. Our lives become so cluttered that we move forward in new projects with great difficulty. There comes a time when we reach a limit and are so tied down that we become stuck and are no longer able to undertake any new project. School dropout is a very good example in this regard. This situation is often caused by the fact that many students are more concerned about trivialities than focusing on completing their schooling. Parents have an important role to play in this matter by reminding their children as often as possible that graduating from high school is an essential goal to achieve. Youths should get rid of everything that prevents them from achieving their goals, even if it implies making certain sacrifices on the short term. In any situation such as this one, divestment helps them to get through schooling and expend the effort needed to achieve their goals. On this earth, we often reap benefits of our efforts on the medium or long term. Patience and perseverance are indeed needed to succeed. This process requires a change of mind. Everything that we see and hear in advertising incites us to enjoy life fully on the short term. In other respects, divestment enables us to undertake rewarding and interesting projects that involve a great deal of effort, often with results achieved on the medium term. Naturally, there should always be a valid reason to practise divestment in a particular area. We must avoid divestment in a masochistic manner. Without any doubt, the pursuit of a meaningful goal or a viable, gratifying project is a pre-requisite to any form of divestment. Divestment involves the ability to live alone up to a certain extent, at least at times. For instance, no one is exempt from the loss of a life partner or from separation. At certain times in our lives, we experience events over which we have no control. However, we must be able to face such events. The key to success here lies in self-sufficiency, more easily achieved through divestment; the less we depend on others, the more we enjoy our freedom! Self-confidence enables us to make significant plans and project ourselves into the future through meaningful complicity with our inner self. Divestment requires practically no physical strength, only sound judgment, wisdom and willpower. With these abilities in hand, we can create inner harmony and realize that our life is not meaningless. We may become convinced that our existence is valued through the achievement of well structured, well planned projects. In short, divestment helps us to achieve self-fulfillment and fosters the full development of self-esteem. The key to success is to always avoid comparing ourselves to others. People lead their own lives and establish their own goals, which may be entirely different from ours! Divestment first requires a sound thought process to establish the foundations of who we are, what we really need, and the projects and goals that we want to achieve. We must do it on our own, but we can also get help. It is up to each of us to undertake this effort which, in fact, should continue throughout our entire existence. It is a lifetime mission! This being said, divestment is synonymous with simplicity. What is simple makes understanding easier. In any situation, we should “stick to the essential” by ridding our thoughts of all that is useless or irrelevant. In this regard, we should express our thoughts simply, clearly and freely, by getting to the “bottom of things”. Divestment also involves setting realistic, relatively concrete or modest goals to increase the likelihood of success in the projects we undertake. Sincerity as such is associated with divestment. Expressing ourselves sincerely means using simple, modest, and heartfelt words. To live the present moment to the fullest, to know what is important and essential in life, we must absolutely practise some form of “inner divestment”. Genuine wealth is simple. We can find it inside ourselves with some reflection. Genuine wealth brings us happiness. By settling for less, for the essential, we increase our inner wealth and feel no privation. This is easy to understand: there should actually be no problem depriving ourselves of what is useless. In this regard, advertising is aimed at eliciting in us all kinds of relatively irrelevant needs. Often, advertising leads us to seek all kinds of immediate, often futile gratification. We must resist the temptation and think at length about what we really need. We often have to resist the latest trends. We must discover within ourselves what is essential to us. Eventually, spending money on countless futile goods causes us to work harder and longer, even pointlessly, instead of putting this time to better use. We are often left with little time to truly achieve self-fulfilment. In short, we have to work hard to earn each dollar spent. We must match each expense with equivalent income if we are to maintain a balanced budget. Every amount of income gained requires a certain amount of work, sometimes difficult and non-gratifying. Therefore, it is necessary to show a great deal of restraint in the management of expenses. In similar situations, we should use discernment. By seeking self-control and control over our lives, we can achieve happiness more easily. Naturally, this involves ridding ourselves of all that is superfluous, irrelevant, pointless and unnecessary. Through divestment, we can discover who we really are: in other words, discover our true personality. By making efforts to achieve inner and mind divestment in order to rediscover ourselves, we can enjoy the present moment to the fullest. We pay more attention to ourselves and listen more to our inner voices. We become able to sense our “deep inner self”. We may even come to appreciate our own breathing to the utmost, enjoying these moments fully and joyfully. We can then invest all our energy in the right places. We should certainly control a minimum number of situations in life, but above all, we should avoid over-planning and over-controlling things all the time. In this regard, divestment helps us to better identify the areas or situations requiring only minimum control. By focusing on these minimum control areas, we have more time, energy and financial resources to enjoy the present moment and develop interesting, structured projects. We then feel really liberated, and our minds become more available to undertake such projects and express our creativity. SATURN IN THE SIGNS In the second part of this article, we will analyze the influence of Saturn based on the signs of the Zodiac. More precisely, we will analyze the lessons of the Zodiac related to the symbols specific to this planet in each sign. Naturally, this analysis of Saturn in the signs of the Zodiac is beneficial to everyone, regardless of their Zodiac sign. Saturn in Aries Among other things, Saturn is the symbol of order, method, rigour, perseverance, courage and tenacity. To embody these values, we must strive to distinguish what is simply accessory from what is really important. The Zodiac lesson highlighted in this section is quite simple: we must get to the bottom of things and examine situations in depth and in minute detail when it comes to conveying our views or comments. In other words, it means ridding ourselves of all that is superfluous or not really relevant. Then, we can see the real aspect of things and make sound judgments that carry weight. All this can be done relatively easily in a calm, peaceful and quiet setting. Do not hesitate to isolate yourself and remove yourself from any noisy or inappropriate ambiance. Indeed, solitude or tranquillity is needed to reflect properly. It is under these conditions that you will exercise the most appropriate judgment. In short, efforts to concentrate require a certain calm, quiet ambiance. It is a prerequisite to any sound thinking process. Saturn in Taurus Decisions made in the past can carry a lot of weight in the present. Saturn actually represents what is heavy or weighty. For instance, the decision to take out a mortgage or loan involving high periodical payments can weigh heavily on the short, medium and long term. In this regard, fundamental wisdom invites us to analyze our budget, assets and cash flow closely to determine whether we have the financial means to reimburse such loans. In any given situation, “divestment and moderation make life so much sweeter!” Therefore, caution is in order when it comes time to sign such contracts. Indeed, there is no need to become overly indebted; we should always make sure that it is relatively easy to pay back our debts. By analogy, we should avoid making commitments that, over the weeks, months or years, are likely to become real burdens, even nightmares! In short, we should know how to make sound financial management decisions based on an impact assessment. Saturn in Gemini The sign of Gemini is associated with the intellect. Saturn represents judgment. In this regard, we can exercise informed judgment by getting to the bottom of things. People in your entourage will then see you as a serious individual. You will be entrusted with more responsibilities and people will have faith in you. In fact, one thing will lead to another, like a wheel in motion. As previously mentioned, we must focus on the essential; in other words, getting rid of problems by keeping in mind only what is really relevant and important. This approach helps to analyze situations with much more rigour; ensuing judgments are generally efficient in achieving their targets and are well received by everyone. Problems are then settled definitely. Saturn in Gemini invites us to build on our academic training, work experience and skills in particular areas. When we believe it is the right time to share our knowledge with others, we must fulfill our destiny by providing relevant, useful advice that helps to solve a large number of problems efficiently. In short, there is nothing like listening to our inner voices that invite us at the appropriate time to share our knowledge and life experience. We can then discuss essential elements in an approach founded on generosity, modesty and divestment. Saturn in Cancer Saturn is the symbol of conservatism, caution and reflection. When deciding to have a family and raise children, we should keep in mind these noteworthy values. Bringing children into the world, raising and educating them properly, and meeting their expectations all require a great deal of energy and attention. This is an area of human life fraught with great joy and sorrow. One may come close to reaching total happiness through the joy of having a family and raising children, but there are risks of experiencing great difficulties during this noble project. In other words, we tend to internalize a great deal of frustration, restriction and sorrow, whether passing or permanent, to ensure the happiness of family members. That is why good communication is essential to identify problems and attempt to solve them. Like any similar situation, competent specialists should be consulted if responsibilities become too heavy to bear. If you experience times of isolation or sadness as part of this family project, you should seek help from your friends and entourage. Advice from different individuals is often worth its weight in gold. In fact, the simple fact of expressing who we are, what we feel and what is happening to us, or simply describing precisely and fully our personal or family situation are already great steps in the right direction to finding relevant solutions! By communicating our ideas and feelings to others, we can receive new, original solutions we may have overlooked. This is a great way to get rid of our problems. Take advantage of it! Saturn in Leo In a natal chart, Saturn tends to tidy up the area where it is located. Saturn puts order in that area, “cleans up the place”, and settles problems rationally. In love, we should certainly put some order in our relationship with our partner. The goals pursued by a couple should be simple, clear, easily understood and known by the individuals concerned. In similar situations, we should focus on the essential and avoid criticizing details of secondary importance. Otherwise, we might end up criticizing all the time, a very unpleasant habit! Patience, self-control and respect for others are advisable… This is the price of success in love! Focusing on the essential in love means keeping things simple. In other words, people in love focus heir energy, time and resources on activities of real importance to them. In addition, showing some leadership in a love relationship is usually enjoyable. However, it is also important to allow the loved one to show some leadership too. Saturn invites us to yield part of our leadership to our partner, particularly in activities shared by the couple. Leadership in love should be shared equally between the two partners and should even be shared with the children! Saturn represents some of the components of leadership, including the path to follow and rules to observe. In situations such as this one, we should not be overly strict, nor go to extremes or judge too harshly. On the contrary, we should create an enjoyable, friendly atmosphere free of annoyances. Otherwise, we are no longer leaders, but rulers! Saturn in Virgo Saturn is the symbol of caution, whereas the sign of Virgo is the symbol of meticulousness and attention to detail. These two combined influences complement each other very well and go hand in hand. From an intellectual perspective, analyzing a given situation requires a great deal of rigour, caution, precision and attention to detail. Such effort involves focusing on the essential by preventing the mind from wandering in every direction and avoiding trivial thoughts whenever possible! We should refrain from being judgmental and appreciate salient facts only. Analyzing a given situation should lead to orderly conclusions beyond reasonable doubt. Overall, this process involves divestment and a rational, sharp mind! In situations such as this one, we should aim for excellence; in short, we should produce flawless analyses that are free from error and present results simply and modesty. Obviously, we should adapt our methods of analysis to a given circumstance or situation. In fact, we must be willing to adapt and undertake a thorough process. Conclusions drawn from such analyses must be presented in a simple, streamlined style, where the emphasis is placed on the facts and important elements of a given situation. To do so, a great deal of persistence, discipline and rigour is required, as well as the relevant pursuit of accuracy and perfection. Such an adequate frame of mind is conducive to high-quality analyses. To obtain relevant results, we must invest the time needed while progressing at our own pace. Throughout this process, surround yourself with clever contributors and experts in the matter at hand. Saturn in Libra The sign of Libra represents harmony and the right balance in a relationship, among other things. In this regard, “it is not good that Man should be alone”, as the Bible rightly says. Humans need partners. Humans prefer to live harmoniously, surrounded by their loved ones. To maintain harmony in our relationship, we should always behave in a level-headed, thoughtful and balanced manner. These values are adequately represented by Saturn. In situations such as this one, each partner should be accepted with his or her own expectations and needs. Moreover, expectations should be limited and free of pointless, insignificant or unimportant elements. In fact, partners should define themselves in terms of each other, identify their expectations and needs, and discuss them at length. Such efforts to communicate are vital and absolutely necessary. We should not be shy about speaking out. Above all, we should not keep our expectations to ourselves; on the contrary, we should discuss them with our partner at length, clearly, precisely and entirely. These are the conditions to ensure harmony at its best in a relationship. In a nutshell, the list of our expectations should be relatively short. Expectations should be reasonable, realistic, sensible, not overstated and justified, wherever possible. Otherwise, communication may turn out to be difficult, tiresome and endless. Saturn in Scorpio Saturn is often considered the leader of discipline in the Zodiac. In general, a leader of discipline inspires consideration and respect, particularly during sexual activity. This is one of the lessons of the Zodiac regarding the position of Saturn in the sign of Scorpio. During sexual activities, we often discover our own preferences. We should talk about our preferences with our partner. Sexual preferences are often beneficial, quite enjoyable, harmless and at times even amusing when not exaggerated. The secret to happiness in this area is to avoid going too far, always respecting the limits tolerated by each partner and discussing preferences simply and freely. It is certainly in the interest of each partner to keep an open mind and be tolerant as well as cooperative with respect to the expectations and sexual needs of the loved one. We should rid ourselves of preconceived ideas and unfounded fears to fully enjoy lovemaking. Meaningful conversations with the partner usually allow better understanding, appreciation, knowledge of each other and improvement in the quality of lovemaking. In situations such as this one, we must state real things sincerely, simply and without restraint. Communication can then be very effective and rewarding. Saturn in Sagittarius Among other things, the sign of Sagittarius is the symbol of philosophy, theology, religious sciences and spirituality. However, the quest to go beyond the upper limits of the mind should be pursued with great sensitivity, sound judgment, objectivity and realism. The message conveyed by the Zodiac can be summed up in these words: “We should not lose ourselves in all our ideas.” In fact, spirituality covers an almost infinite, limitless horizon. Its field of study is quite vast, to the extent that we may lose ourselves in all kinds of wild ideas if not careful. We may come up with ideas established on a very fragile basis. At the slightest gust of wind or the slightest objection or question, the house of cards we have built with trivial ideas may very well collapse. Therefore, we must abandon or rid ourselves of such wild imaginings. Saturn advises us to undertake any form of planning, provided that it is really useful, relevant, valuable and necessary. Otherwise, we may lose ourselves in too many details, particularly when it comes to developing other options or alternative scenarios. Saturn also encourages us to believe in our own views and values, particularly if they are based on our life experience. An individual’s past is certainly important to consider, because it often explains his or her present state. Saturn is the symbol of time passing by. Saturn invites us to draw the best possible lessons and worthwhile conclusions from our past in order to avoid making the same mistakes again. In particular, wisdom teaches us that it is quite productive to do so and take advantage of the experience of others. This is an excellent way to determine how to behave in the present moment. In addition, introspection allows us to get to know ourselves better and optimize our human potential. Saturn in Capricorn Saturn is effectively positioned in the sign of Capricorn. In fact, Capricorn is the home of Saturn. Individuals who are influenced by this planetary position are often concerned about their work and career. To achieve success in life in this area, one must be ambitious and persistent, and have sound organizational skills. All these qualities are specific to Saturn. Individuals are also encouraged to consider long-term projects, aim high and far, and outdo themselves. In short, Saturn in the sign of Capricorn invites us to excel and go beyond our limits in order to achieve large-scale projects. Saturn in Capricorn brings about frugality in day-to-day life; we are encouraged to get rid of everything that is unconstructive and unnecessary in achieving our goals. To some extent, Saturn in Capricorn values introspection, reflection, and even solitude to better understand ourselves and identify our goals. Simplicity, as well as concentration and meditation are also appropriate. An individual with this frame of mind may look serious or austere. In fact, to achieve great projects, we often have to commit ourselves to hard work and tasks: nothing comes easily... This is the price of success! Saturn in Aquarius Having friends and business relations is certainly enjoyable. This being said, it is important to cultivate and maintain these relationships to strengthen them over time. In this regard, long-time friends are a sure value and good, reliable guides. They have been close to us in the past, and they are willing to move forward with us and help and support us now and in the future. Naturally, there is a beginning to everything, including friendships. From the start, we must choose our friends carefully. An excellent criterion to find good friends is the way people judge and their ability to analyze and reflect. Better to have a few but reliable friends than to have many frivolous relations. We should get rid of pointless, often overwhelming relationships by “separating the wheat from the chaff.” Friends are great for sharing ideas and concepts, discussing our every interest and, where appropriate, coming up with relevant solutions to problems we face. From such an exchange of ideas come sustainable, permanent solutions that speak for themselves. There is nothing better than building our future on solid ground! Saturn in Pisces Calm, peaceful, reclusive places are conducive to meditation. In fact, the best way to meditate and reflect is to isolate ourselves from our surroundings. Saturn in Pisces invites us meditate on our past, who we are, and what we have to do in the coming weeks, months or years. Most of the time, such a reflection process is rewarding and we benefit from it significantly. To achieve results, we must be patient and consider the reflection process very seriously. As the proverb goes, “Rome was not built in a day.” Time is needed, and we must be persistent. We must believe that “one day there will be light at the end of the tunnel.” Efforts of reflection require good receptivity and a great deal of compassion for others and ourselves. We must not feel guilty about past mistakes. We must make peace with ourselves and forgive our faults by acknowledging and admitting our imperfections. We learn a lot on our own when alone. Sometimes, we must seek solitude; being face to face with ourselves allows great discoveries, and we can find unequalled treasures within us! Meditation allows us to behave as if we were the masters of our fate. Hence, we give our life its entire meaning and good direction. This is very fulfilling! Introspection requires some divestment; we must isolate ourselves from our surroundings to reach deep within to find out who we really are and our own way. As a result, we obtain a high level of self-knowledge. Conclusion In this article, one of the major symbols of Saturn was explored: divestment. Undoubtedly, it is preferable to rid our lives of everything useless. If we do not do so by ourselves, then life itself will clearly force us to do it. This is one of the laws of the Zodiac. The concept of divestment, symbolized by Saturn, is indeed very prevalent in the Zodiac. It influences us every day; it should also guide us every day. The authors of this article would like to thank Réjean Déziel and Delphine Elie for their invaluable advice. Acknowledgements: * Benedict Elie (author) benedict600@hotmail.com * Aimée LeBreton (translator) acdaimee@hotmail.com * Published by COSMIC PATTERNS SOFTWARE kepler@astrosoftware.com