Saturn enters Aries, stop crossing your own boundaries
I used to live with a psychopath. A master at gaslighting, he could effortlessly get me so spun around in my thoughts that I didn’t know which way was up. Compulsively lying to me, I’d somehow end up apologizing for not trusting him. The truth was I didn’t trust myself. I didn’t believe in myself enough to establish my boundary and walk away. I was too insecure and frantic for any twisted version of love I could get.
I did leave eventually, after it got so unmistakably bad. I stooped so low that I finally hit bottom. I drew a permanent line in the snow and split — building trust in myself with each mile that rolled away in my rearview mirror.
Boundaries are often misunderstood. We judge them as harsh in one breath, then sigh as we long to have better ones in the next. We defiantly declare, “This is my boundary,” then get pissed off when people don’t honor it. We put the onus of our boundaries on them, like they’re in control.
Our boundaries are our responsibility, no one else’s — period.
If I don’t want a psychopath for a boyfriend, I have the choice to leave or stay. If I stay, I’m crossing my own boundary, not him.
Like boundaries, Saturn is also misjudged. Frequently, I hear clients say they’re afraid of an upcoming Saturn cycle, like it’s guaranteed hard stuff is coming their way. Traditional astrology doesn’t help by calling the ringed planet the “great malefic.” That just sounds alarming. But here’s the thing, boundaries and Saturn are neither good nor bad by default. They’re what we make of them.
Saturn, the planet associated with boundaries, pulls our personal borders in tighter. Think of the Death Star trash compactor scene from Star Wars, where Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca are frantically trying to keep the sides from crushing them. Scary, right? But really, when the walls start closing in, we get an opportunity to get real clear on what matters to us and what doesn’t — quickly. That’s the gift of Saturn’s contraction.
Jupiter, aka the “great benefic,” is associated with expansion and good. Saturn is maligned as bad. Contraction — boo!
They are really the two sides of one breath — the inhalation and exhalation. Is the inbreath good and the outbreath bad? Jupiter’s expansion can be fierce when it’s pouring steroids onto something intense, like illness or the passing of a loved one.
Contraction, like expelling air, cleanses and detoxes. It takes out the trash, clearing space to breathe in more of what we want. Saturn guides us to stop bleeding off our energy in areas that are dragging us down. Like boundaries, Saturn helps us see what works for us and what doesn’t — with crystal clarity.
That’s really all boundaries are, simply what’s ok and what’s not ok — for us.
Our boundaries are our own, no matter anyone else’s perspective. What works for them or not is their deal.
Saturn enters Aries on Friday. Three (of the four) outer planets will have landed in their new energetic homes for years to come. Only Uranus is left to switch come April. Finally, some serious cosmic dust can begin to settle. It’s been a stressful ride. Like a haboob in the desert, this is an enormous dust pile to settle. I’m not anticipating a massive, head-spinning change to come rushing in, but I do imagine we’ll begin feeling something settle over the months (and years) to come. Hopefully, it’s not just resignation to this “new normal” insanity.
Aries is also about boundaries, meaning layers of our edges are coming in hot and unmistakable.
How do we work with Saturn entering Aries to uphold our boundaries?
First, get honest and clear on what your boundaries are. Next, ask yourself, do I want to stay in this situation, or do I want to make a different choice and put my valuable energy elsewhere? Crossing our own boundaries wears us down and makes us feel bad about ourselves. It sabotages our inner trust and plummets our self-worth.
When something isn’t working for us, but we’re too scared to change it, we’re really telling ourselves that we don’t matter. That’s a serious internal blow. Boundaries, like Saturn cycles, are designed to make us feel better when we learn to prioritize ourselves. Saturn points out what isn’t working (our boundaries) so we can focus our efforts on what is. Both support us in aligning with ourselves and what we came here to be and do.
For more astrology insights, you can find my regular astrology coaching columns in The Aspen Times.
Sheridan Semple is an astrology coach who helps women break old patterns, make clear choices, and take real-life action using astrological insight. Explore her work at sheridansemple.com
🌙 Sheridan
Astrology Coach & Moon Sisters Circle Guide
I work with women to break old patterns, make clear decisions, and take real-life action using astrological insight