Saturn is the ruling planet of Capricorn and, traditionally, Aquarius. Saturn is the 6th planet from the sun and it takes 29.5 years to orbit the sun, spending about 2.46 years in each sign of the zodiac.
The planet is encircled by a magnificent system of rings made of up of smaller particles in a constant orbit. These particles range in size from microscopic to a few meters across. They are made up mostly of water / ice with trace amounts of metal and rock.
In Roman lore, Saturn was the god of agriculture founder of civilizations and of social order, natural laws and cycles and conformity. The famous rings of the planet Saturn that enclose and surround it, reflect this principle of man’s limitations.
Astrologically Saturn is associated with the principles of limitation, restrictions, boundaries, practicality and reality, crystallizing, and structures. Saturn governs ambition, career, authority and hierarchy, and conforming social structures.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, is known in astrology as the taskmaster of the zodiac, symbolizing discipline, responsibility, and structure in one’s life.
Correspondences associated with Saturn include the color black, the element of earth, and the astrological signs of Capricorn and Aquarius.
When working with Saturn in magick, incorporating herbs like comfrey and myrrh can enhance spells related to grounding, protection, and banishing negative energies.
Saturn’s mineral correspondences encompass onyx, obsidian, and lead, making them potent materials for amulets and talismans aimed at providing protection and warding off negativity.
Other correspondences linked to Saturn include Saturday as its ruling day, the number 8 as its numeric association, and the god Saturnus from Roman mythology, offering valuable insights for practitioners seeking to harness its energy for personal growth and transformation.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| Scythe | Represents the harvesting of karma and lessons |
| Hourglass | Symbolizes the passage of time and Saturn’s influence |
| Saturn’s Rings | Signifies boundaries, limitations, and structure |
| Triangle | Represents the stable foundation and discipline |
| Hexagon | Symbolizes Saturn’s hexagonal storm on its north pole |
| Goat or Ram | Represents Capricorn, the zodiac sign ruled by Saturn |
| The Grim Reaper | Represents the transformative power of Saturn |
| Anvil | Symbolizes hard work, responsibility, and craftsmanship |
It concerns a person’s sense of duty, discipline and responsibility, and their physical and emotional endurance during hardships. Saturn is also considered to represent the part of a person concerned with long-term planning.
The Return of Saturn marks significant events in each person’s life. According to the first-century poet Manilius, Saturn is sad, morose, and cold and is the greater malefic.
Saturn presides over the skeletal system, skin, teeth, gall bladder, spleen, and vagus nerve in medicine. Saturn symbolized processes and things that were dry and extremely cold and was therefore inimical to life. It governed the melancholic humor.
Before the discovery of Uranus, Saturn was universally regarded as the ruling planet of Aquarius. Many astrologers still use Saturn as the planetary ruler of both Capricorn and Aquarius; in modern astrology, it is accordingly the ruler of the 10th and 11th houses.
Traditionally, however, Saturn was associated with the 1st and 8th houses (1st house = incarnation, 8th house = death. Saturn was also said to ‘joy’ in the 12th house of self-undoing.
| Aspect | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Saturn encourages self-discipline and responsibility |
| Authority | Represents the archetype of authority and leadership |
| Lessons | Saturn teaches lessons through challenges and tests |
| Structure | Brings structure, stability, and order to life |
| Career | Influences career, ambition, and long-term goals |
| Karmic | Saturn represents karmic influences and lessons |
| Time | Saturn emphasizes the importance of time management |
| Wisdom | Associated with wisdom, maturity, and life experience |
| Achievement | Saturn rewards hard work and perseverance |
In Chinese astrology, Saturn is ruled by the element earth, which is patient, hard-working, and reliable. In Indian astrology, Saturn is called Shani or “Sani”, and represents career and longevity. It is also the bringer of bad luck and hardship.
Saturn is represented by a glyph known as the “crescent below the cross” (compare Jupiter‘s glyph, the “crescent above the cross”).
Saturn Correspondences
Saturn is the highest planet in the hierarchy of planets that were known to the ancients; closest to the Gods and thus associated with immortality and longevity.
Saturn’s energy is that of the ruler, the one in charge. Saturn energy is that of law and order, rules, boundaries, and all things inevitable: death, taxes, fate, evolution.
Saturn is associated with Saturday. Some associate the planet Saturn with the Crone Goddess archetype.
Saturn Herbs
Herbs that correspond to the planetary energy of Saturn tend to be those that thrive in places where other herbs would struggle to survive – dry, barren soil, or areas that receive little sun.
Saturn plants thrive in adversity and may grow where we don’t expect or want them. They are often dark in color with blue or purple flowers, though many Saturn plants are somewhat unattractive in appearance and odor.
Many plants traditionally associated with witchcraft are Saturn plants.
Here’s a list:
Saturn Minerals
Saturn Minerals are heavy and dark.
English 
Spanish
Hello do not understand why mullein is a saturnian plant, it is yellow and grows everywhere… it is very resistant.
Because mullein can grow anywhere, including in dry, barren soil, including between garden rows and along hedgerows and roadsides (liminal areas), it grows slowly, the seeds remain viable for decades and it has historically been used magickally to protect against hexes and disease. It produces flowers in the second year, so the first half of its life cycle there is no yellow and it is a rather drab, unattractive rosette on the ground. Mullein also comes in purple and white- though color is not always a primary signifier anyway. As noted in the Mullein article, Agrippa believed Mullien was a Mercury plant, as it affects the mind and the breath. These designations are arbitrary based on which features the scholar doing the classification feels are important and plants are complicated beings and you will often find they have multiple planetary and/or elemental correspondences.