Saturn-Uranus
Saturn-Uranus joins the seemingly opposite energies of freedom (Uranus) with limitation (Saturn). The result includes surprising ways in which rules (Saturn) can lead to freedom (Uranus) and freedom (Uranus) can lead to limitations (Saturn).
Common traits we see with this combination include the freedom (Uranus) that comes from instituting structure and limitation (Saturn) in life. Other ways include the sudden unexpected (Uranus) reality checks (Saturn), and sudden unanticipated (Uranus) leaps of maturation (Saturn).
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-Uranus combination in the natal chart of yoga master Shri B.K.S. Iyengar, who revolutionized the practice of yogasana by making it accessible to all body types through the use of props, can be seen in the following quote, “I am an innovator within a tradition,” that combines innovation (Uranus) with time-tested tradition (Saturn).
The Saturn-Uranus combination in the chart of musician David Byrne can be seen in his role as the straight-laced (Saturn) rebel (Uranus) in the band the Talking Heads, particularly in the video for the song “Once in a Lifetime,” in which Byrne sings about being surprised (Uranus) by conformity (Saturn), and experiencing unexpected freedom (Uranus) from conformity (Saturn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IsSpAOD6K8
People born with this combination often thrive in situations in which constraints are placed on their productivity. Paradoxically, their productivity increases because the constraint gives them a box and a structure within which they can play.
Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss, born under a Saturn/Uranus alignment, demonstrated this well in his life. Green Eggs and Ham, one of his most famous children’s books, was inspired by a bet in which he was challenged to write an entire book using only 50 words. He limited himself to a first grade vocabulary when he wrote The Cat in the Hat. You can read more about how he used limits to encourage his creativity here.
Ludwig Van Beethoven provides another great example. He composed the 33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli after being asked to compose a variation limited to the theme of the original waltz. He had been asked to compose only one variation, yet, the limitation placed upon him by the waltz created such a frenzy of creativity within him that he wrote 33 variations.
Perhaps Beethoven’s most impressive feat of freedom (Uranus) within limitation (Saturn) comes from the fact that his most productive period as a composer happened after he had lost his hearing. The limitation (Saturn) of losing his hearing liberated (Uranus) his creative genius.
Brian Jones, founding member of the Rolling Stones, was born when Saturn and Uranus were conjoined in the sky. Saturn is associated with the burdens of life, conservative attitudes and judgment. Uranus is associated with rebellion and disruption. Saturn is by nature associated with a tendency toward humility while Uranus can be associated with an air of excitement. We can see both of these archetypes displaying themselves in the following quote by Jones’ band mate Bill Wyman, "There were at least two sides to Brian's personality. One Brian was introverted, shy, sensitive, deep-thinking. The other was a preening peacock, gregarious, artistic..."
The Saturn-Uranus combination in the natal chart of jazz trumpeter and vocalist, Chet Baker, can be seen reflected in his life and music. His musical training was Saturnian in nature, in that it involved membership in structured army bands and studying musical theory. Yet ultimately he became known as a Uranian innovator in the “cool jazz” subgenre of jazz. Themes of his music often combine the endings and goodbyes (Saturn) of romances with enticing thrills (Uranus). Examples include “Everytime We Say Goodbye,” and “I Don’t Stand a Ghost of Chance with You.” Saturn’s association with limitations, and Uranus’ association with freedoms, can be seen in the following quotes:
“You don't know what love is, until you've learned the meaning of the blues, until you've loved a love you've had to lose.”
“I soon became aware that there wasn't enough time or opportunity to kiss all the girls in the world. The best thing is to stay cool - just be choosy and wait for the right opportunity.”
“I like to play in the deep register. I was never a high-note specialist. My range goes from the bottom of the horn up to around C or D. High D is about it for me ... about two-and-a-half octaves, I think. But in these two-and-a-half octaves, I can say everything I have to say.”
The Saturn-Uranus combination in the birth chart of musician Sting can be seen in the following lyrics to his song, “Englishman in New York,” in which he portrays himself as a standout (Uranus) because of his traditional English ways (Saturn). He calls himself an “alien,” which can be seen as a reflection of Uranus, in that he is sees himself as going against the crowd. Then he clarifies that he is a “legal alien,” which adds a Saturnian inflection, in that the term “legal” connotes that he is an alien, yet one that has been sanctioned by the structures of society. Here is the link to the video, and the lyrics are as follows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d27gTrPPAyk
I don't take coffee, I take tea, my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
He's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
He's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say (oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien)
Be yourself no matter what they say (I'm an Englishman in New York)
Saturn and Uranus in combination often show up as a tension between structure (Saturn) and release (Uranus). The Saturn/Uranus combination in the birth chart of comedian Jimmy Fallon can be seen in the frequency in which he broke (Saturn) character to laugh (Uranus) while a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Here is a clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejxjJ3qwXK8
The Saturn-Uranus combination in the birth chart of actor James Dean can be seen in his famous movie “Rebel Without a Cause,” a movie in which reckless (Uranus) action leads to stark consequences (Saturn). Dean portrays the rebellious teenager (Uranus) who stands up for truth (Saturn). Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7014C_6ABAg. In real life Dean had to face similar archetypal dynamics, as he was attracted to the thrill (Uranus) of high speed car racing, yet met his end (Saturn) in an automobile accident.
The Saturn-Uranus combination in the birth chart of Basketball sensation Stephen Curry, can be seen in the following response to an interviewer, in which Curry highlights the importance of each player having the freedom (Uranus) to demonstrate their uniqueness (Uranus) while simultaneously emphasizing the necessity of regular and consistent (Saturn) disciplined (Saturn) practice:
“What to you is your most important component to outside shooting?”
“Consistency with your base and fundamentals. You look at the greatest shooters in basketball history. Not one person shoots like another person. They all have a unique form. They are the ones that can repeat that form over and over again with little change each time so they are more accurate shooters.”
The Saturn-Uranus combination in the birth chart of civil rights activist Rosa Parks can be seen in the following quote in which she conjoins her own desire for freedom (Uranus) with her own sense of responsibility (Saturn) to help others achieve freedom: "I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free."
Musician Bob Dylan, born with this combination in his birth chart, demonstrates the qualities of the combination through his song The Times They Are A Changing. In this example a revolution (Uranus) is coming, and with it come consequences (Saturn) which will lead to losses (Saturn). Lyrics such as “The present now will later be past…and the first one now will later be last,” exemplify this juxtaposition between revolutionary change (Uranus) and the heavy reality checks of Saturn. Saturn is also associated with structures, and Uranus with upending and reversing. We see how he points to the structures of society getting flipped. Even the name of the song captures this archetypal combination, in that Saturn is associated with time, and Uranus is associated with change.
A common theme with the Saturn-Uranus combination is that freedom and release (Uranus) and burdens and reality checks (Saturn) go hand in hand. Author Jack London, who was born with this combination in his natal chart, demonstrates this in his iconic short story To Build a Fire, in which a traveler on the Yukon Trail builds a fire and thus experiences release from the 75° below zero temperature, only to realize he built the fire underneath an overhanging branch that then drops snow on the fire, extinguishing it: https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/to-build-a-fire.pdf
Comedian Mike Myers, born with the Saturn-Uranus combination in his natal chart, deftly demonstrates this archetypal quality as Austin Powers “International Man of Mystery” while confronting himself as Dr. Evil, the culmination of which includes the following lines: “Right now we’ve got freedom AND responsibility; it’s a very groovy time:” https://youtu.be/XHCfLtAAEzM?t=74
Comedian Fred Armisen gives us a humorous demonstration of the Saturn-Uranus combination in his birth chart as “Babette” in the Saturday Night Live skit “Delinquent Girl Teen Gang,” in which Babette’s rebellious act (Uranus) of dancing in the street leads time and time again to the painful reality (Saturn) of being hit by cars. In the end Babette momentarily aligns with the Saturnian authority figure of the police officer before finally giving one last stubborn (Saturn) rebellious act (Uranus): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWm_H6xtgoM