Saturn is exalted in Libra; this suggests a sweet, almost secret affinity between the hard-nosed, no-nonsense Saturn surface presentation and the touchy-feely, appearance-is-All, relationship orientation of Libra. So how do they connect? The link may exist through the concept of judgment; not discernment (that’s Virgoan), but a deep and serious assessment, the kind that brings pronouncements of one kind or another: this is good, that’s bad, you’re right, I’m wrong. This dynamic inherent to Saturn in Libra creates immediate tension, as the inclination to partner up and co-operate leads to a desire to make rules and set boundaries in the most nicey-nice way–and everybody wants to be their own authority. When Saturn re-entered Libra we saw the Saturnian urge for order trying to express through relationship, attempting to nail down particulars by considering the viewpoint of others (“What do you think?” “Oh no, what do you think?”) and initially we experienced what may be the unproductive theme of Saturn in Libra: frustration.

So what about that exaltation of Saturn when it’s in the Cardinal Air of Libra? Frustration is only the result while Saturn continues to try to be diplomatic, concerned with others, treating the aesthetic as if it’s as important to the Old Man as is the bottom line–as long as Saturn tries to bend itself to stereotypical positive Libran expression, none of which comes naturally, there will be friction. The nature of Saturn’s exaltation in Libra is expressed when the two allow the inherent qualities of Saturn to express through the most compatible expressions of the sign, without the pressure to steer them in the direction of artificially ‘correct’ attitudes; and those attitudes that are most compatible may bring forward some of the less flattering Libra facets, which is why Saturn works so hard initially to avoid them.

What does this mean? It means that Saturn, when it embraces the totality of the Libran experience, will manifest like this: when the effort to be uniformly, rigidly beautiful is abandoned, Saturn in Libra will become The Judge, the natural and appropriate arbiter of situational assessment and, ultimately, balance. The question of what is fair, right, equitable will take center stage, as will the implications of the status quo, boundaries and rules, repression/suppression, and constructive effort for the individual within relationship. This will manifest for each person in the matters of the House where Saturn transits while in Libra; contact to natal planets, especially hard contact, will bring this to the issues and expression of the natal energy.

There will be struggles over what is allowed and allowable in relationship  and there will be questions of what is fair in terms of rules, structures, authority, responsibility. It all seems a bit dour, but what it can bring is a renewed license to enjoy and experience both interaction and aesthetics; when we know where we stand, we’re free to be ourselves in relationship, to create Art that’s Soul-inspired, and to make life choices that are informed as to what actually supports us, and what is suppressive. The beauty of Saturn in Libra is in the capacity to judge with authority, and to structure our world to reflect the beauty within.

This is a re-print of the original article, modified, which first appeared in 2009.

Nobody says it better; get the common sense, accurate assessment of 2012 (and how it really might be 2010!) here http://www.cosmicchronicle.com/2010/10/2012-solstice-event-comes-early-in-2010.html