Understanding Saturn's Transit of Scorpio

30-year Cycle
SATURN does his rounds of the twelve Rashis of the Zodiac once in about 30 years. In the process, he is supposed
to stay for about 2 years, in each sign of the Zodiac, before moving into the next. Saturn was in Libra for nearly 2
years and ten months from 2nd November 2011 to 21st October 2014 except for a short foray into Scorpio between
3rd February and 1st April 2014. Saturn leaves Libra, and also its exaltation status, finally to move into Scorpio on
21st

October

2014.

Retrograde

and

Direct

Motion

Saturn moves into Scorpio on 21st October 2014 and becomes retrograde on 15th March 2015 turning direct on 2nd
August. During 2016 Saturn is retrograde from 26th March to 13th August entering Sagittarius on 12th January
2017.Turning retrograde once again in Sagittarius on 7th April 2017, Saturn re-enters Scorpio on 12th July 2017 for
another spell in Scorpio for about three months from 12th July to 8th October 2017. Becoming direct on 25th August
2017, Saturn leaves Scorpio to enter Sagittarius on 8th October 2017.
In short, the actual stay of Saturn in Scorpio will be from 21st October 2014 to 12th January 2017 and between 12th
July 2017 and 8th October 2017. The total period of stay of Saturn in Scorpio, this time, will be twelve days short of 2

years.

For our present effort of assessment of the results of Saturn transiting Scorpio, the temporary straying of the planet
into Sagittarius from 12th January 2017 to 12 July 2017 is ignored. Saturn's sojourn from 12th July to 8th October
2017 in Scorpio, for about three months, is taken into account and taken to enter Sagittarius, finally only on 8th
October 2017. In short, the result for the present transit of Saturn in Scorpio is the period from 21st October 2014 to
8th

October

Effect

2017.

on

Individuals

Scorpio is an inimical sign to Saturn as it is ruled by Mars. So this transit cannot generally be expected to give good
results. Saturn is expected to give good results only when he transits the 3rd, 6th, and 11th places from one's natal
Moon-sign or Janma Rasi. In other words, it would tantamount to mean that in one transit cycle of 30 years, nothing
good can be expected for 22 years. This is a mistaken impression and there is no need to dread it as there many
redeeming factors. More importantly much will depend upon the strength, and how and to what extent favorably or
unfavorably
Tough

Saturn

is

inclined

and

posited

in

the

nativities

of

individuals.
Transits

Saturn is expected to cause troubles and turmoil when he transits the 12th, 1st and 2nd from the Janma Rasi. This
period of 7 years, is known as Sade Sati. Everyone will have to experience this period once in 30 years. Of these
periods, the middle 2 years when Saturn transits the first or the Janma Rasi is called Janmasani. The other two
ominous places for Saturn are the 4th called Ardhashtama sani and the 8th called Ashtama Sani. The Sade Sati cycle
can normally occur thrice, or even four times, though rarely, in one's lifetime. Those born with the Sade Sati at birth
will have it recurring for the second time after 30 years; then for the third time after 60 years; and thereafter after 90
years, provided one is destined to live that long. Most of those, for whom the Sade Sati occurs for the first time many
years after birth, may not have to undergo the fourth cycle, unless they are destined to live over ninety years.
It is generally believed that only the first and the third cycles of the Sade Sati can be troublesome. The second one,
as it is called Pongusani is normally expected to bestow some elevation of status. There is a view that Sade Sati

Saturn can cause bad results only for the first moveable Rasi reckoned from Cancer in the Apasavya Veethi or anticlockwise direction and for the first fixed Rasi from Leo in the Savya or clockwise direction. According to this view,
only the moveable signs Aries, Cancer and the fixed ones Leo and Scorpio may have to bear the adverse effects of
Sade

Sati.

Sade

Sati

Effects

Selective

In North India, there is a belief that the adverse effects of Sade Sati are effective only for chosen fixed periods for
selected Janma Rasis. The scheme is like this: Taurus, Leo, Virgo, Capricorn - the first 2 years; Aries and Cancer the middle 2 years; Gemini, Libra and Aquarius - the last 2 years; Scorpio and Pisces - the last 5 years and
Sagittarius-

the

first

years.

During the present transit of Saturn in Scorpio, only Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius will be coming under the influence
of Sade Sati effects. Those born in Virgo Rasi can get fully rid of their Sade Sati effects, of which they were under the
spell, so far. As only the last 2 years are crucial for Librans, and the last 5 years for Scorpios, and the first 5 years
for Sagittarians, all of them will be in a disadvantageous position. However, it will not cause much harm to Sagittarius
natives as it is only an Ubhayarasi or common sign. As the Libra Rasi natives have already undergone the Janmasani
period and Sagittarians are yet to get it, the present transit of Saturn, in Scorpio, will not affect them very adversely.
Therefore striking a balance, Librans and Sagittarians can heave a sigh of relief that the present transit will not be too
harsh

on

any

of

them.

For Leos, the impending transit of Saturn will cause Ardhashtamasani or Kantakasani which can bring bad effects like
loss of spouse or wealth. For Arians, it will be Ashtamasani, with Saturn in the 8th that can cause, according to
Varahamihira,

neglect

by

spouse

or

children,

forced

menial

duties,

and

depravation

of

character.

Conventionally, this transit is good only for Virgos, Gcminis and Capricornians as Saturn is transiting their 3rd, 6th,
and 11th places respectively. Though it is bad for Aquarians, the transit may not affect them much, as Saturn
becomes the Rasi lord. The above scenario will change if the Moorthi Nirnaya scheme is taken into account. Saturn,
as the Rajatha Moorthi can score fully, and for Tambara Moorthi, Loha Moorthi, and Swarna Moorthi, the score will be
3/4,

l/2,

and

l/4,

respectively.

Phaladeepika explains how a planet in transit can affect the Bhava from which it happens to be in the 8th. According
to this, Saturn in Scorpio can give the following results to those born under different Ascendants:-.
Aries

Taurus

Fruitless

Health
travels

Gemini-Afflictions
-

Affliction

to

Trouble

father,

from

paternal

emaciation
grandfather

master

or

afflictions

employer;
to

of

body;

maternal

grandmother;

or

aunt;

from
Virgo

Affliction
enemies,

or

uncle

Troubles

or
to

paternal

Libra
Scorpio

afflictions

to

Cancer
Leo

hazards
and

authorities;
General

health

to
maternal

aunt

,uncle

problems;
spouse;

or

maternal

relations;

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Affliction
-

children

Affliction

Aquarius
Pisces

to

Decline

of

problems

to

or

parents

possessions,

by

or

Affliction

wealth,

caused

conveyances;

to

income

and

strained

them;

father-in-law;

relations

with

family

Moorthi

members.
Nirnaya

The conventional quality of the planet with reference to the transit positions can get modified with its scoring
according to the Moorthi Nirnaya rules. Accordingly, Taurcans, Leos and Capricornians will be the most benefitted by
the transit of Saturn into Scorpio. Canccrians, Sagittarians and Pisccans come next. Next in order will be Geminis,
Libras and Aquarians who can just survive the ordeals. Arians, Virgos and Scorpios come last and as the least
benefitted

by

this

transit.

However, these observations get modified when we take the combined effects of both the conventional and Moorthi
Nirnaya assessments when Capricornians can reap the full benefits of this transit followed by Gcminis and Virgos.
Taurcans, Leos and Aquarians will have only moderate benefits, while Cancerians, Sagittarians and Pisccans may
have to suffer. Librans more so as the worst affected while the maximum thrashing will be for Arians and Scorpios.
Taraguna can influence the results based on the Nakshatra the planet transits with reference to Janma Nakshatra.
Saturn

will

be

Visakha
Anuradha
Jyeshta

transiting

21st
18th

the

Nakshatras

October
November

in

2014

Scorpio

to

2014

18th

to

16th

as

follows:-

November

2014

December

2015

16th December 2015 to 12th January 2017 and 12th July 2017 to 8th October 2017 in retrogression.

Moola

12th

January

2017

to

12th

July

2017

Transit of Saturn in Janma (1) and Vadha (7) Nakshatras from Janma Nakshatra (natal nakshatra) will be very bad
for it. The transits in Vipat (3) and Pratyak (5), though also bad, will cause only lesser harm. Saturn transiting the
paramamitra tara (9) can bring very good results. The transit in sampat (2), sanchana (6), Mitra (8), and Kshema (4)
Nakshatras give good results. The general results given must be evaluated only after suitably modifying them to suit
the
Jupiter

above

mentioned

grading
to

for

the
the

Janma

Nakshatra.
Rescue

Even this assessment cannot be final. Between 21st October 2014 and 8th October 2017, Jupiter transits four signs
from Cancer to Libra. Jupiter remains in Cancer till 7th July 2015, then in Leo till 5th August 2016, in Virgo till 5th
September 2017 and thereafter in Libra. For our present overall assessment, all the short back and forth transits of
Jupiter in each of these signs are being ignored. Rahu and Ketu change signs from Virgo-Pisces to Leo-Aquarius on

27th February 2016 and from Leo-Aquarius to Cancer-Capricorn on 15th September 2017. These movements can tilt
the fortunes of each Rasi as assessed for the transit of Saturn one way or the other and can thereby modify or even
nullify

the

results

on

Courtesy: MODERN ASTROLOGY (Author : Bhattotpala)

an

overall

estimation.