Saturn is known among astrologers as Superiorum Altissimus—the highest and outermost of the seven traditional planets. To the naked eye, he appears as a dim star, leaden in hue, with a pale or dusky glow. He moves slowly through the heavens, taking nearly thirty years to complete one full cycle of the zodiac. By nature, he is cold and dry, masculine, and belongs to the day. He is the bringer of melancholy, isolation, and sorrow—and is considered the Greater Malefic.
Saturn generally gives a body of medium height with a swarthy or muddy complexion, often pale. The eyes are small, the expression downcast or gloomy, and the eyebrows tend to hang low. The forehead is broad, the nose flat, and the lips thick. He often carries his head forward or walks with a stoop, shuffling his feet. The ears are large. His hair is usually black or very dark, and if there is any beard, it is thin. Altogether, he produces a heavy, awkward, and uninviting appearance.
When Saturn is well dignified in a nativity, he produces a person who is grave, serious, and thoughtful—one who carries out all actions with judgement and prudence. Such a native possesses a sharp mind, a vivid imagination, and a love for study and contemplation.
But when Saturn is poorly placed or afflicted, he shows the worst of his nature. Then the native is malicious, envious, greedy, jealous, fearful, false, bitter, and deceitful—full of mistrust, slow in movement and thought, and generally of a base and suspicious character.
Saturn rules over old men—especially grandfathers and fathers. He also governs the lower classes and laborers, including farmers, day-workers, beggars, and clowns. His domain includes brickmakers, plumbers, maltsters, coal carriers, gardeners, chandlers, sextons, curriers, miners, tanners, sectarians, monks, and Jesuits.
In a nativity, if Saturn rules the Ascendant and is connected with the significators of profession, the person will be drawn to a Saturnine occupation. If Saturn is well dignified, this calling may be respectable and honorable; if ill dignified, it will tend toward lowly or degrading work. And so it is in other areas of life.
The herbs and plants governed by Saturn include: barley, red beets, bifoil, birdsfoot, bistort, buckhorn plantain, cleavers (goosegrass), clowns alheal, comfrey, cudweed, sciatica cress, crosswort, darnel, dodder, epithymum, elm, fleawort, flaxweed, fumitory, gladdon (wild iris), goutwort, hawkweed, hemlock, hemp, henbane, horsetail, knapweed, knotgrass, medlar tree, moss, mullein, osmund royal (royal fern), nightshade, pilewort, polypody, poplar tree, quince tree, rupturewort, rushes, Solomon’s seal, Saracen’s confound, service tree, spleenwort, tamarisk, melancholy thistle, blackthorn, through-wax, tutsan, and woad.
These herbs are named for the benefit of the astrological physician, who—by examining the cause of disease through the nativity—may better discern which plants are suited for healing.
Saturn in Signs
Saturn in His Own Houses
When Saturn is the significator in a daytime nativity, and is well dignified—especially when placed in Capricorn, Aquarius, or Libra, and in the Ascendant—he brings great blessings to the native. The person will be honored by nobles, respected by the wealthy, and will enjoy soundness of body and mind. He will gather riches and possess substantial wealth—especially if Saturn is joined with the Part of Fortune and placed in the first, second, or another fortunate house of the chart.
However, if Saturn is poorly placed or afflicted, the outcome is the opposite: the native will suffer hardships of both body and mind, and all the good mentioned above will be reversed.
Saturn in the Houses of Jupiter (Sagittarius or Pisces)
If Saturn is in Sagittarius or Pisces, and the nativity is diurnal, it shows a person who is tall, fair in complexion, just in character, and who will acquire great wealth through honest means. If the nativity is nocturnal, the native will desire to associate with the noble, rich, and powerful. His father, however, will pass away before him.
Saturn in the Houses of Mars (Aries or Scorpio)
When Saturn is in Aries or Scorpio, the native will be physically strong but harsh in temperament—cold-hearted, merciless, and prone to intense anger. If this occurs in a night birth, these traits will be even more extreme.
Saturn in the House of the Sun (Leo)
When Saturn is in Leo during a daytime nativity, the native and his father will both be fortunate—unless the father’s own chart suggests otherwise. But in a night nativity, this placement indicates misfortune and decline for both.
Saturn in the Houses of Venus (Taurus or Libra)
If Saturn is in Taurus or Libra, whether by day or night, the native will be inclined toward sexual indulgence, particularly with immoral or base women, and will suffer greatly as a result. He will have a poor complexion, be frequently ill, and lack both faith and a clean conscience.
Saturn in the Houses of Mercury (Gemini or Virgo)
When Saturn is placed in Gemini or Virgo, in either a day or night chart, the native will be studious, deeply engaged in learning and reading many books. He will uncover hidden knowledge, but only through great effort and exhaustion. His own words may work against him, and his studies will often lead to trouble or disgrace. He will suffer betrayal and harm, especially from those he has served or helped. These people will not return his kindness, but instead spread lies and slander against him—accusing him of things he never even imagined—so that he will be seen by others as a man of evil mind and conscience.
Saturn in the House of the Moon (Cancer)
If Saturn is in Cancer, which is the sixth sign from Aquarius (his domicile), the native will be weighed down by illnesses and weakness. His mother will be endangered during childbirth, and in her lifetime he may waste her wealth—or squander his own. In extreme cases, this placement even suggests that the native could cause her death.
From the The Doctrine of Nativites and Horary Questions, JOHN GADBURY