Saturn-Neptune

Saturn-Neptune combines the boundaries of Saturn with the dissolution of Neptune, the burdens and responsibilities of Saturn with the selflessness of Neptune, the realities of Saturn with the dreams and illusions of Neptune, and the discipline of Saturn with the spirituality of Neptune.

As such, with this combination we often see episodes of spiritual demoralization pointing toward a process of spiritual maturity. When Neptune manifests purely as escapism into dreams, illusions, and/or intoxication, we see Saturn then follow as the very real consequences of such escapism. When Neptune shows up as compassion, empathy, and selflessness, we often see Saturn follow as a tendency to go where the reality of suffering is present to demonstrate that selfless compassion.

Below are examples of famous people born with this combination in their natal charts (natal chart is another word for astrological birth chart, or pictographic representation of the sky when they were born). When we witness how this combination shows up in the lives of others, we can become more self-aware of how this combination shows up in our own lives. The more we are conscious of the ways astrological alignments (otherwise known as “aspects”) show up in our lives, the more the archetypal tensions involved can become integrated in our lives, thus revealing their inherent strengths to us.

Please note that the tension of this archetypal combination, as illustrated in the lives and creations of the famous people in the examples below, may be demonstrated in ways that are more integrated or less integrated.

 

  • The Saturn-Neptune combination in the chart and life of author Ernest Cline can be seen in his literary works. His novel Ready Player One is an excellent example of this dynamic. The novel takes place in a dystopian future in which the world has fallen into a mire of pollution, corruption, and crime, and all traces of the enchantment (Neptune) of normal reality (Saturn) has been negated (Saturn). In order for people to get back in touch with enchantment (Neptune) a new virtual reality has been structured (Saturn). In a manner fitting Neptune’s association with water, the name of the new virtual reality is “OASIS.” As the novel unfolds the enchanting (Neptune) OASIS turns out to have its own shortcomings (Saturn), forcing the characters to rediscover enchantment (Neptune) in real reality (Saturn). This novel also idealizes (Neptune) the past (Saturn) by celebrating the culture of the United States in the 1980s.

  • The Saturn-Neptune combination can be seen in the chart of celebrated visionary Elon Musk. Elon Musk’s motivation to create technological advancements comes about by him envisioning (Neptune) how bleak (Saturn) the world would be if they don’t come to pass. “If the future does not include being out there among the stars, and being a multi-planet species, I find it incredibly depressing.” “I’m just trying to think about the future and not be sad.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIwLWfaAg-8

  • This combination in the birth chart of author W. Somerset Maugham can be seen embodied in the character of Mother Superior in his novel The Painted Veil. Mother Superior is a nun who emanates great authority (Saturn) while doing the selfless and spiritual (Neptune) work (Saturn) of caring for those dying (Saturn) from waters polluted (Saturn-Neptune) by Cholera in China.

  • This combination in the birth chart of Robbie Robertson, lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock and roll band “The Band,” can be seen in the lyrics he composes. Particularly emblematic are the lyrics to the song “The Weight.” In this song the narrator’s refrain suggests that he will selflessly (Neptune) bear the “weight” or burden (Saturn) of another.

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead

I just need some place where I can lay my head

Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?

He just grinned and shook my hand, "no, " was all he said

Take a load off, Fanny

Take a load for free

Take a load off,

Fanny And (and)

(and) you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide

When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side

I said, hey, Carmen, come on let's go downtown

She said, "I gotta go, but my friend can stick around"

Take a load off, Fanny

Take a load for free

Take a load off, Fanny

And (and) (and) you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say

It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day

Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee

He said, do me a favor, son, won't you stay and keep Anna Lee company?

Take a load off, Fanny

Take a load for free

Take a load off, Fanny

And (and) (and) you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog

He said, I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog

I said, wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man

He said, that's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can?

Yeah, take a load off, Fanny

Take a load for free

Take a load off, Fanny

And (and) (and) you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line

My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time

To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one

Who sent me here with her regards for everyone

Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free

Take a load off, Fanny

And (and) (and) you put the load right on me

(You put the load right on me)

  • Neptune is often associated with the unified watery ecosystem of the ocean. Saturn’s association with burdensome realities at times translates as the burdensome reality of pollution. Together they can reflect a heightened awareness of pollution in water-based ecosystems. Saturn can also reflect the finitude of the other archetypes it combines with. In combination with Neptune there can be an appreciation of the fragile finitude of Earth’s oceans. The Saturn-Neptune combination in the birth chart of Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, can be seen the following video clip in which he shares his appreciation for the limited resource known as the Earth’s oceans, as well as his awareness of the pollution of the oceans. In his rap he switches modes between the Saturnian mode which highlights the heaviness of reality, and the Neptunian mode which reflects the unity of life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJNFT8G_VP0. Saturn-Neptune can also at times reflect the heavy realities (Saturn) of addiction to intoxication (Neptune). One of the most defining events in Anthony Kiedis’ life was the death of his friend Hillel Slovak from a heroin overdose.

  • The Saturn-Neptune combination in the birth chart of musician Richard Ashcroft can be seen in his popular song with the band The Verve entitled Bittersweet Symphony. The lyrics of the song explore the hard Saturnian realities of life, such as isolation, loneliness, deprivation, and toil, such as in the following lyrics:

“'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Tryna make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die”

  • Yet the song also paints a picture that elicits a feeling of compassion by identifying with the struggles of being a human, via its Neptunian melody and spirit, and through lyrics such as the following:

“Well I've never prayed
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine,
Let it cleanse my mind,
I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now”

  • The Saturn-Neptune combination in the natal chart of lead vocalist and guitarist of Metallica, James Hetfield, can be seen in Metallica’s song “Enter Sandman,” in which dreams (Neptune) become a place of fear, heavy thoughts, and dark realities (Saturn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ixKdkMWzFA . One of the most poignant examples of the challenging aspect of Saturn-Neptune can be seen in Metallica’s song “One.” Dr. Stanislav Grof uncovered the association of Saturn-Neptune with the stage of birth trauma in which the fetus is rejected from the womb of the mother by birth contractions, yet the cervix is not yet open, so there is nowhere for the fetus to go. The song, which chronicles the return of a veteran from war, captures this gestalt. A landmine has taken away the veteran’s arms, legs, eyes, ears, and ability to speak. He is locked in a seeming darkness with no way out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OkUjnrfjC4

  • The Saturn-Neptune combination in the natal chart of actress Lily Collins can be seen in her role as “Emily” in the tv series Emily in Paris. In the show her character works as a marketing expert whose work (Saturn) entails created a fabricated image (Neptune) that will entice consumers to purchase the brand.