​​Saturn has been plowing through the final degrees of Aquarius since going direct in November 2024. He is powerful in his sign, but it is the direction and speed in which he travels that reveal his true power. Astrology is an observational phenomenon, and it is through the observation of the world around us that the true meaning and effects of such a powerful transit are revealed. Even a layman, unaware of the meaning and symbology of it all, bears witness and attributes his own meaning based on what he believes and understands. Whether it is God, the governor, or karma from past actions, we as humans seek out a reason for why things happen the way they do and place blame on a person or thing to come to terms with extreme change.

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Saturn, the karaka of discipline, hard work, and structure, teaches us through delay, challenge, and perseverance, forcing us to confront our limitations and develop resilience. As the great taskmaster of the zodiac, Saturn's energy shapes our lives by demanding accountability and maturity, often leading to long-term growth and wisdom when his lessons are embraced.

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Aquarius is the sign of innovation, collective progress, and humanitarian ideals. It challenges traditional structures and promotes forward-thinking solutions for the greater good. Ruled by Saturn in Vedic astrology, Aquarius merges the disciplined focus of Saturn with an innate desire for change, inclusivity, and revolution. It reminds us to think beyond ourselves and contribute to the evolution of society.

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The 11th house represents gains, social networks, and aspirations. It is the house of fulfillment, where the seeds of effort planted in the 10th house begin to bear fruit. This house speaks of achievements, alliances, and the communities we align with to pursue shared goals. However, when impacted by malefics or delays, it can also reveal struggles with unfulfilled desires or the isolation that arises from unmet expectations.

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Over the past few months, I have been observing Saturn in my own life. His journey through Aquarius is my 12th house of isolation, solitude, and expenses. When he first entered the sign on April 28, 2022, it was just a preview of what would come. Personally, I went through a restructuring of how I face adversity and approach solutions to some everyday challenges. This tracks with the themes of the 6th and 12th house axes. I looked inward because the outward story carried the same old character arc that wasn't working anymore. Saturn's pressurizing force cracked open my perspective on the last 40 years of my life, and from there, I could see new pathways. Pathways were ready to take me on a contrasting journey of self-discovery, one that was rooted in my values that had previously been sidelined for the sake of climbing some proverbial ladder because that had been what I perceived to be 'the way.' Until this point, my entire life had been scripted by the events around me. But then everything changed, and with it, my perspective on the role I have to play narrating my own story. ​

 

On a universal level, Saturn's transit into Aquarius would catalyze the systemic restructuring of society and humanity as we knew it. Every year, Saturn turns retrograde for several months, and this time, he dipped back into Capricorn, where he spent two years unraveling our views on power and authority. We all remember the pandemic and global upheaval of Saturn in Capricorn.​

 

Between April 28, 2022, and January 17, 2023, the world witnessed impactful events shaping global discourse. Russia's invasion of Ukraine escalated tensions and sparked humanitarian crises. The death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, marked the end of an era, with global attention on her funeral and the transition to King Charles III. Extreme weather events, such as Europe's heatwaves and Pakistan's devastating floods, underscored growing climate challenges. Rising tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, fears of a global recession fueled by inflation and food crises, and Europe's energy struggles due to reduced Russian gas supplies highlighted geopolitical and economic instability.

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Meanwhile, protests erupted in Iran after Mahsa Amini's death, spotlighting women's rights and government policies. The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade reignited global debates on abortion rights, and geopolitical moves, including Algeria's BRICS ambitions and Nancy Pelosi's visit to Asia, further strained U.S.-China relations. These events reflected a year defined by conflict, environmental crises, political transitions, and social upheavals.

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​On January 17, 2023, Saturn was again in direct motion and reentered Aquarius for the long haul. ​He would turn retrograde that summer, June 18, 2023, and direct again on November 4, 2023. However, Saturn remained in Aquarius during this five-month period, gaining strength with each passing day as his speed increased.

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Between June 30 and November 16, 2024, during Saturn's final retrograde in Aquarius, global events highlighted significant challenges across environmental, humanitarian, and social domains. Preparations for the 2025 UN Climate Conference emphasized addressing plastic pollution and funding a sustainable economy, while humanitarian crises in Gaza, Chad, and Mozambique underscored ongoing struggles with health, displacement, and natural disasters. The UN advanced initiatives like the Pact of the Future, but conflicts, environmental pressures, and social issues, like spreading misinformation, raised concern. These events reflected Saturn's influence, pressing humanity to confront structural flaws and work toward collective solutions. ​Saturn's speed and direction, now direct in Aquarius and headed towards Pisces, will be his most powerful resource. 

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When Saturn travels through a house, he restructures everything on his path. Not only is Aquarius impacted, but so is the sign and house in opposition - Leo. ​Leo represents individuality, creativity, and the desire to shine. As the regal sign ruled by the Sun, Leo embodies self-expression, leadership, and a need for recognition. It thrives in the spotlight, encouraging us to embrace our passions and confidently share our talents. Through this astrological lens, I attribute the world of Hollywood to the sign of Leo.​

 

In the natal charts of many famous celebrities and public figures, planets occupy the sign of Leo, such as Sean' P Diddy' Combs, Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively, Kamala Harris, and Beyonce, just to name a few. ​

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The 5th house represents creativity, children, romance, and self-expression. It's where joy and inspiration are cultivated, reflecting how we create and share love through art, ideas, or nurturing relationships. It is also the house of intelligence and speculative gains, representing how we take risks and seek rewards in life. Saturn's aspect of Leo, the natural 5th house, applies pressure to these themes.

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The 5/11 axis in astrology represents many forces working together—expression and reception, creation and gain, personal desires, and collective goals. This dynamic interplay highlights the balance between pursuing individual passions (5th house) and contributing to broader networks and aspirations (11th house). It teaches us how personal creativity fuels collective success and vice versa.

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The 5/11 axis is also a dynamic force of suppression, where unique, creative expressions are held accountable to society's expectations and demands. A person's actions are both consciously and subconsciously steered by what is deemed acceptable by the masses. Cultural norms are the ultimate boundary to which creative expression is contained. 

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By observing the events taking place during Saturn's final direct push through Aquarius, opposite Leo, I noticed an increase in Saturn's power and strength. As if his approach towards the end of Aquarius is some looming deadline, Saturn has cranked up the production of his restructuring project. ​

 

Intrigued by the cultural events around me, I understood Saturn's role in Aquarius more clearly. The Hollywood stories of debauchery and sin surfaced, and the pressure of Saturn's opposition to Leo became increasingly apparent. Stories of celebrities participating in hedonistic activities involving drugs, manipulation, sex, and abuse of minors were dominating the headlines. As someone who grew up watching these people on the screen live lives of luxury and fame, I felt a sense of betrayal when the truth began to come out. Although celebrities had nothing to do with the day-to-day of my personal life, the idea of their success and glory had already been programmed into my subconscious. So when their demise came rushing into existence,  the shock of it all was truly disheartening. ​

 

Everywhere you looked, another lie about a celebrity was being exposed. This is when I started to piece together the correlation between this exposure to the elite, vain, and narcissistic society and the intensity of Saturn in Aquarius. Vedic astrology has the power to predict. This is what differentiates it from Western astrology. As  I was planning out some articles to write, I drafted up the title of this article and generated an image using some prompts on December 11, 2024. Little did I know, this was just weeks before the most devastating fires ever seen in California, specifically the hills of Hollywood. ​

 

As I type, the Palisade fires in California are still ablaze. For the last week, entire neighborhoods in the hills of Hollywood have been completely burned to the ground. This is not just the power of Saturn's opposition because events like this take a confluence of planetary energies and alignments. Mars, retrograde in Cancer, where he is debilitated and opposite Pluto, has also played a significant role, along with Uranus and Jupiter in Taurus, the second house of speech and values.​

 

Living on the other side of the country, I watched live, from morning to night, the coverage of this unprecedented fire event with a lingering and pervasive thought: Saturn is reckoning with Hollywood. My heart sank as I watched the fires unapologetically consume the mountainside, homes, and precious lives of its innocent residents. Mars is the karaka of destructive fire, but I knew this was Saturn's plan. Watching the power of astrology play out before my eyes in such an extreme way has been hard to fully grasp. Hollywood and Los Angeles are not just comprised of celebrities but regular citizens, just like in my hometown and neighborhoods worldwide. This was, however, a powerful example of how a country's karma takes precedence over an individual's karma.

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Below is the chart of the United States of America. The current transit of Saturn over the natal Moon in the 4th house indicates that the USA is at its peak in the Sadi Sati period, a 7-year transit of Saturn that influences the natal Moon. It is also a Pluto return that occurs about every 248 years or so, and a Uranus return. Jupiter is in transit over the natal Uranus, too. The debilitated Mars in Cancer transits over the natal Mercury and Rahu. On January 12, the Moon will enter Gemini, and a full moon will occur over the natal 8th house of transformation, where four planets, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and the Sun, are placed.

Meanwhile, Ketu, the South node of the Moon, has been moving over USA's natal Saturn in Virgo. This alignment of planets is truly a once-in-a-lifetime celestial and astrological event. There is no doubt about it; this is a wild time to be alive in the United States of America.