The Planets: Saturn | Father Time, God of the Harvest

In ancient astrology, Saturn, or Kronos, is synonymous with time since he maintains the course and cycles of seasons and periods of time. He is Father Time. Kronos is depicted with a scythe or a sickle. He is God of the Harvest.

In the celestial sphere of planets, Saturn is above (superior) the Sun in the Chaldean Order, is the most distant and slowest of the visible planets, and is called the greater malefic. He is the boundary between the planetary sphere and the sphere of the firmament, between what is known and unknown. This distance makes it a symbol of austerity and coldness, and representative of distance, isolation, limitation, and responsibility. Because of this distance from the Sun, its pale brilliance in the night sky symbolizes darkness, evil, fear, obscurity, and the occult, and is associated with the destructive life force because of its excessively cold, moderately dry, and constricting qualities. Because of his slow motion, he represents decline, death, maturity, old age, and time. Saturn’s nature is to endure and is a symbol of memory, reflection, and strategy.

Saturn represents containment, duty, frugality, hard work, order, and structure. It is a planet of both the wise, respected sage or the decrepit, senile old man. It’s associated with widowhood, childlessness, orphanhood, and outcasts. It represents matters that are chronic, long-lasting, and that take time to develop. He’s seen as a source of captivity, grief, misery, mishaps, and sorrow.

When in good condition, Saturn has authority over fields, waterways, property of others, inheritances, and the power to subordinate or suppress others. He produces a great reputation and notable rank and the fathers of others’ children. When in poor condition, Saturn brings debt, false accusations, banishment, imprisonment, and misfortune.

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