In Retrospect
Reflecting on 2024, Saturn's work, and looking towards a new cycle.
Friends,
Since 2023, the planet Saturn has been transiting (moving) through my 8th House, where both the Sun and Mercury reside in my birth chart. I have Saturn in my 4th House, which means that my natal Saturn (the position Saturn was in at the time of my birth) is making an aspect (a way to describe how planets relate to each other) with where Saturn is currently transiting through the sky. This particular aspect is called a trine, which brings harmony, ease, and flow between planets. While the past few years have felt like a supportive rebirth, it’s also been a deep dive into the understory of my life and the lives of my ancestors, which all concern 4th House topics. Saturn has a way of reacquainting us with the fabric and structure of reality. I’ve certainly felt the warp and weft. And, at times, the unraveling.
If you’re unfamiliar with astrology, a natal chart (or birth chart) is essentially a map of the sky from the moment you take your first breath. Your chart is unique to you, and it traces the position of the planets, the Sun and Moon, asteroids, and other points, at the time of your birth. It also connects you physically and spiritually to the place you were born. A chart is organized into 12 houses, and each of the houses represents specific life topics. Houses in astrology are also akin to places or phases where life happens: from the womb to the tomb, if you will.
As an example, the 8th House is the place that represents both the material and spiritual manifestation of joint resources and intimate connections. This includes a myriad of possibilities such as inheritances, dowries, and loans, as well as esoteric and occult knowledge, transformation, regeneration, and sexual energy. As mentioned, the 4th House represents matters of the home, family, and ancestors.
Staying connected to the people and places that come before and shape our lives is a 4th House theme. I notice a resonance between the 8th and 4th Houses, and the principle of Sankofa, a word that comes from the Akan people of Ghana, and means “to retrieve.” Sankofa, rooted in African philosophy, proposes, “It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot.” I also find a connection between Sankofa and retrogrades. In astrology, a retrograde is a period of time when a planet appears to be moving backward in the sky from our position on Earth. During this time, there is an opportunity to reflect and retrieve insight from the past around themes related to the planet, or planets, in retrograde. When I was born, Saturn was retrograde. And it is retrograde now, in the sign of Pisces.
The relationship between the current movement of Saturn and my natal Saturn placement has been… interesting and insightful to live through. I’ve noticed a lot of rhyming between this transit and when I went through my Saturn return in 2012. At the time, I was in a liminal space: still grieving the death of my beloved grandmother, and awaiting to hear if I would be accepted into a graduate program for Chinese Medicine. There was palpable discomfort and sadness in my bones. Without my grandmother, I felt lost.
One of the last times I saw my grandmother, she offered me a slice of apple pie. Apples, in the Rose family, are associated with Venus, the planet of love and connection. What a precious thing, to be given the gift of sweetness from the matriarch of my family. The flavors of cinnamon and vanilla, warm and sensual, are still alive on my tongue. I recall the taste and it brings a deep comfort, which is especially helpful in this season of life I am in, which is ruled by the Taskmaster Saturn. I’ve got another year to navigate while this planetary ancestor works their way through my chart, as it works through me.
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I’m honing in on 2025—the year of the Snake—as the year wherein I unabashedly delve into what is cyclical, rhymic, and circular. The next few months will be wild, challenging, and transformative, and the year ahead will usher in a very different energy. We’ve had a taste of this shift with the eclipse in Pisces in September, and we will continue to feel it through next year’s eclipse season. Per my usual ritual, I consider the time between the Lunar New Year and the Spring Equinox as the beginning of a new annual cycle. I’m interested to see how things will unfold, getting attuned to the change, and feeling into how I need to show up for what’s on the horizon.
As I look ahead to what’s in store for next year, I’m excited for the opportunity to hold space for gatherings and refocus on creative pursuits, like writing the newsletter on a more regular basis! It is a joy to connect with everyone, and I sincerely appreciate the grace this community has given when I’ve needed to scale back this past year. I know that so many feel the gravity of perpetual heartbreak while the world as we know it breaks open and transforms. Amid all of this, I’m thankful to return here, again and again.
Updates
In the New Year, the rate for paid subscriptions will be changing from $6 per month, or $36/year, to $5/month, or $30/year. The Pay-It-Forward tier (what Substack calls the “Friend” or “Founding member” tier) will shift from $84 to $100/year. If you supporting at this level, everything should remain as is until the renewal date. I’ve been thinking about making this change for a while, to create more access, and this will be an experiment toward that goal. We’ll see how it goes!
Starting Friday, October 25th, I’m offering a 25% discount if you’d like to take advantage of the current subscription rate. The sale will run until the end of 2024. I will send a few gentle reminders about the discount and rate change in the weeks to come.
Watching
I finally made my way through every episode of Reservation Dogs. It was on my bucket list for years! It had to be done. I am still in awe of what the show accomplished in just three seasons. Each episode felt like a ritual leading into the series finale of a ceremony. I could go on…
Connect
If you’d like to work with me 1:1, I still have a few openings in October for natal chart readings. You can read more here, or schedule and time to chat.