EYE ON THE SKY: SATURN IN TRANSITION PART 1: DEC. 27-JAN. 27TH UN-TYING KARMIC KNOTS
Saturn, representing hard work, responsibility, old age, enlightenment through isolation, adversity (and prosperity)  will be transiting into the end of Scorpio after Christmas and this is known as the stinger’s tail. It is particularly vulnerable Jan. 18-26th toward the final degree and this can churn up great fear. This section of the zodiac  at Scorpio 26.40-29.59 is know as the Gandanta area which literally means drowning. This area is linked to karmic strain and spiritual awakening and often after the material gains from the transit through Jyestha nakshatra (Scorpio 16.40-29.59),  there is an emotional churning for spiritual awakening.  Sometimes this is a result of material fragmentation and loss but it does not have to be that way and will depend more on the rising sign.  If we have not moved onto the spiritual path, this transit can create disruption and upheaval around the material to point you toward the Divine. It is a time of karmic endings and anytime a slow planet like Saturn changes signs, it is a time of  new beginnings.
Saturn moves into Sagittarius on Jan. 26th for 2.5 years but it will retrograde back into Scorpio June 20th so any unfinished business will get readdressed and reexamined. Â Gandanta literally means knots to spiritual growth and if you were born at the end of Scorpio or are Capricorn or Aquarius rising or have a sidereal Vedic Sun or Moon in Sagittarius or Capricorn, 
than this transit is particularly potent. Â The soul is wanting to unravel deep and difficult psychological karma so that it can free itself and become liberated so it can be a very intense time but ultimately rewarding.
For some people, if you have natal planets placed at 26.40-29.59 Scorpio, this transit may bring up a danger of indulgence in fantasy, sexual intrigue, intoxication as a result of excessive emotional churning. Â For some, Saturn’s sense of over-responsibility may be triggered leading to extreme protectiveness. Donald Trump has his natal moon in this section of the zodiac and we wonder if this transit with trigger his innate fears around homeland security which seem to be core issues he was born with.
When Mars leaves Aquarius on Jan. 19th, at least Saturn will be less afflicted but until then it can lead to excessive complaining about one’s suffering and woes and troubles. Â To turn the energy around, one needs to devote more energy toward humanity and the common people and sacrifice rather than complaint. Â Take interest in defending the rights of others by donating time.
This is a wonderful time for exploring new directions in your spiritual journey as Saturn may create material adversity but it should spur you to create new spiritual discipline and direction.  If you refuse the call as Joseph Campbell might say,  it can lead to too much self-pity and self-destruction so stay away from your bad habits and addictive patterns.  Instead of complaining, practice praising others and focus on gratitude to replace grumbling.
As Saturn moves into Mula/Sagittarius Jan. 26-March 16th and the first 3 degrees of Sagittarius, a lot more fear is up.  This transit inspires us and beckons us to move to higher spiritual knowledge and cast off our attachment to the material.  If you are running a Saturn period on a 1st or 2nd level, this may seem like a difficult time unless you can heed the call of Saturn to awaken for liberation.
Hence like all things in the stars, the Divine has a plan and if we resist we suffer and complain, but if we transform we open up to new realms of Divinity. Â This can bring up more fear or more freedom–it will be a choice around change. Â (Special thanks to Prash Trivedi and Komilla Sutton for their insights about the gandata).
We need to write a series of articles around all of this but this is our first sneak preview. Â There is so much to say about Saturn in Sagittarius but then again it is not there for another 5 weeks so best to be in the present with the current ending cycle.
For the world, it will also create a lot of transition. We will have to address this in another article.  The US is a Sagittarius Rising country and Saturn will move into its 1st house but while it may bring up new fears and insecurities, it should eventully lead to more moral responsibility and more power for the people.  That may take until 2018 to come into full fruition because most of the year it is in transition.  The last time we had this transit was Nov. 15, 1987-Jan. 15, 1988 and that was after the stock market had crashed in the US and people were a bit out of whack materially.  We do not see a stock market crash now but something may happen to disrupt material stability.  The bond market is more likely to continue to unravel and at publication, Italy is nationalizing their 3rd largest bank.
If you need help understanding your chart, view our services at https://www.appliedvedicastrology.com/category/services/ or take our new class starting Jan 14th on understanding and timing your personal chart. https://www.appliedvedicastrology.com/products-2/timing-your-life/.  Learn some of the secrets and simple techniques for understanding how to time your life to be a master rather than a victim of the planets.
Note: Peoples charts and transits are very individual and we write general articles that maybe useful to all our readers. In reality, Vedic astrology is very much like reading very specific strands of DNA.
Wishing you a warm and joyous holiday. Have a great week!
