Mary Jo Wevers

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Becoming Your Own Adult

A significant astrological event during our life time is the Saturn return. The first Saturn return occurs around age 29, when transiting Saturn returns to the exact placement it was at our birth. Saturn has completed its journey around the zodiac, touching on all parts of our natal chart, thereby giving us opportunities to develop self-sufficiency and maturity in corresponding areas of life. It has provided difficulties, hardships, obstacles and challenges for us to hone our life skills and learn important lessons about the real world. It has given us opportunities to grow up.

Having completed its cycle, the first Saturn return is time for us to assess how prepared we are to go out into the world as a self-reliant individual. In order to move forward in life we need to become a fully fledged adult. It is time to let go of childish attitudes and dependencies on others, especially authority figures. How mature are we? Do we take responsibility for our life and exercise self-discipline? It is time to get real about our goals and ambitions, and what we need to do to achieve them. Have we created the necessary structure, organization and ability to work within the constraints of time to make success attainable? Are we willing to work hard and delay gratification?

The term “adulting” was coined by millennials to describe this process as they approached the first Saturn return. According to the Oxford Language dictionary “adulting” is the practice of behaving in a way characteristic of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks. While mastery of worldly tasks is an important part of becoming an adult, an internal shift in our attitude and relationship towards authority is also required.

One of the Divine Virtues found in various sacred texts and religions is self-referencing. Self-referencing can be described as tapping into your own inner source of wisdom, knowledge and personal experience, rather than looking outside yourself for answers or guidance. We internalize and cultivate our “inner adult” and regard it as our highest and best source of information and direction. 

How do we develop this “inner adult?” One step is to stop blaming others for who we have become and for our lot in life. We let go of spinning stories about their behaviors, their treatment of us as justification for our own attitudes, choices, and actions. Perhaps we did not have the mother/father/boss/spouse we wanted. We take responsibility by first releasing them from playing that part in our life. We then take on, practice and express the traits of the adult we always wanted someone else to be for us.

This takes commitment and diligence, with consistent, repeated effort. Over time we see results, which we then evaluate and make needed adjustments. Through testing our approaches and methods we learn through practical experience. We become our own authority through the real-world outcomes of our choices. 

We earn respect from others by taking responsibility, being disciplined, honorable and having integrity while we do the hard work. In time we gain a reputation for being a wise, pragmatic authority, someone people look up to. We feel more self-sufficient, stable, and confident in our abilities to navigate difficulties in the wider world. We become our own self-referencing authority in life.

“Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.”

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Pluto’s Transit of Capricorn: Transforming Patriarchal Systems

The planet Pluto entered the sign of Capricorn in January 2008. During its transit of Capricorn, Pluto functions through the element of earth. It turns its attention to the systems, structures, and organizations we have built that have provided us with material stability and security. It digs down into their foundations, searching the hidden places for that which is degenerating, out of integrity, dishonest, corrupt and decrepit. It strips away the false facade of inflexible, controlling authoritarian traditionalism to reveal the bare bones, the deeper essence and truth about the system in which we live.

Archetypal Pluto in Capricorn is represented in our world by the patriarchy, which wields ultimate power. We have been living within the confines of patriarchal systems for centuries. Its values reflect hierarchical race, gender, and class distinctions. Its institutional structures, and economic systems place white males in charge, who often subjugate others as they exercise their power and control over resources. Before we can fully manifest new foundations, personal and societal organizations and infrastructures that serve all members of society equally and are sustainable, Pluto must do its work to root out and deconstruct all that is toxic and decaying. During its transit of Capricorn Pluto will continue to be a powerfully disruptive and purging force in patriarchal systems until 2023.

Capricorn rules business and government and financial institutions. In recent years we have experienced eruptive revelations and chaotic fallout in the stock market, banking industry, real estate and the housing market, in large corporations, and in government and political institutions. The student loan crisis has been coming to a head, and a recession looms on the horizon. The coronavirus pandemic revealed inadequacies and corruption in health and social services. As we sift through the ashes of old economic, political, and societal systems that are currently crumbling, we have an opportunity to eliminate that which is not honest and in integrity, and develop practical plans for rebuilding.

The Me Too movement and Black Lives Matter challenge institutionalized sexual harassment and abuse of women, and racially motivated violence against people of color. The LBGTQ movement promotes equal rights for people traditionally discriminated against in the patriarchy. In the next few years we can expect more disruption and protests as additional members of society subjugated by patriarchal systems are unearthed by Pluto. As we sort through the debris ripe for elimination or transformation we are reminded that Capricorn discipline and responsibility is the balance to Plutonian power.

While we observe these events in the outer world, it is important to look within and recognize the parts of ourselves that are also degenerating and need to be eliminated or transformed. This is a time for us to transmute immature parts of ourselves so that we may be spiritually reborn as wiser, more responsible, self-reliant individuals. Rather than give away our power and authority to others and then resent them for it, it is time to reclaim our own Capricorn power and become a wise, compassionate Spiritual Authority to our self. Take time to assess your own attitudes around being “adult.” Revamp immature beliefs and approaches to life. Use self-discipline in exercising your power. Be honorable, self-respecting and respectful of others. Success in life occurs when we are fully grounded in mature, responsible wisdom.

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Taking Responsibility in Life

‘Response’ is the root of the words ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility.’ Responding is taking the initiative to act in a specific way in a situation. Responding is different from reacting to a situation. Reacting is an unconscious, automatic action that comes from ingrained patterns of behavior that are often based on unresolved emotions. Reaction often takes place before we take the time to engage our thinking processes and weigh options. Responding is a conscious act, using our cognitive faculties when engaging with a situation and deciding how best to take action.

Capricorn responds to a situation by autonomously taking action with grounded practicality and a sense of duty. It employs self-discipline to place the needs of a situation above its own wants and desires. Valuing honor and integrity, it is principled. It has a moral commitment to do the right thing, even when it is difficult. 

Capricorn exercises its will over its feelings. Using restraint, it places boundaries, or limits on emotionality. Having a serious nature, it is purposeful in its responses. It is sensible, levelheaded and mature when making decisions.

Enterprising Capricorn defines success as achieving excellence in some area or field. It knows that sometimes hard work and perseverance are needed in order to achieve an ambition. Being pragmatic, it defines goals, crystallizes objectives, develops strategies and sets priorities. Through its determination and grit it overcomes obstacles. In time it reaches its aspirations.

Capricorn has wisdom born of real-world experience. It respects natural laws, cause and effect, and karma. It understands dharma, working with the principles of cosmic order. It respects the limitations and constraints of the physical, material world, space and time. Dedicated to its life’s work, Capricorn is structured and organized, making efficient use of time and conserving resources as it lives its life with purpose.

Capricorn holds itself accountable for its actions. It demands personal integrity in all it does. A constant, reliable figure it procures the respect of others and receives its just rewards. It earns a position of authority in the world based on the skills and wisdom it gains through real-life experience.

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Capricorn: Becoming Your Own Authority


Capricorn is grounded in the material world. The key phrase for Capricorn is “I Use.” In order to manifest our visions we need to be prudent, pragmatic and realistic with our resources. We overcome obstacles through diligence, endurance, and careful economy.

Capricorn works within the constraints of time and matter to turn visions into reality. The contracting and crystallizing forces of Capricorn help us define our dreams in concrete ways. We must delineate our objectives, set goals, develop plans and schedules, and do the work. Like the sure footed mountain goat climbing upwards, Capricorn teaches us to use our stamina, drive and ambition carefully and methodically to be successful and reach our goals. In time we achieve our dreams.

Having practical wisdom gained from experience in the real world, Capricorn is a capable and competent business manager. It is focused and productive. It respects boundaries and knows limitations. Hierarchical, it delegates tasks to others in order to make wise use of time and resources. As a business executive Capricorn is principled and has integrity. It is dependable and reputable, accountable for its actions and achievements. Through enterprise and hard work Capricorn builds wealth and earns the respect of others.

Capricorn uses the resources of our material world to build foundations and infrastructures, and to create organizations that provide long-lasting security for society. It honors tradition and the past. Loyal and committed, it is dedicated to family and community, where it demonstrates social responsibility. The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers is a living example of the essence of Capricorn. A group of highly respected elders, leaders in their own communities, these women have come together to defend the land and protect, heal and teach its peoples and preserve ancestral cultures.

Being self-reliant, self-sufficient, and focused on working its way to the top, Capricorn often feels lonely. It can appear aloof, shy or awkward in social settings. It has difficulty with feelings and can be prone to depression, doubt and pessimism. Like the character Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s novel, Capricorn can become severe, insensitive, grudging and miserly. Serious, responsible and reserved, Capricorn finds it difficult to relax, have fun and experience joy in life.

The mighty oak, a tree of great strength and longevity, is another representation of Capricorn. Its humble beginning is a small acorn. Like the acorn, the seeds we plant in the depths of winter will rest in the earth, grow roots, and finally sprout and emerge in the spring. If we tend them regularly with our ambition, dedication, diligence and perseverance, they will one day become our achievements.

Archetypes for Capricorn include Wise Elders, the biblical King Solomon, Father Time, CEOs and executives, and all authority figures. Capricorn rules government and business institutions and organizations. Parts of the body ruled by Capricorn include the knees, the skeletal system, ligaments, teeth and skin. The gem for Capricorn is garnet. Lead and pewter are its metals. Oaks, pines and holly are Capricorn trees and plants. The color for Capricorn is brown. Calendars and clocks marking the passage of time are additional Capricorn symbols.

     “You are here to shine your light from every pore of your being. Glorify your own nature, taking your power back and standing in your own spiritual light, a quantum consciousness of awareness. How are you using your gifts? How will you serve the planet? Are you walking your talk?”

                       – Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim

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Saturn’s Ingress into Sagittarius

Planet_Saturn_ColorIn astrology we have planetary cycles within cycles marking the passage of time. This month just after the Winter Solstice, Saturn will exit the sign of Scorpio in the zodiac and begin its three year transit of Sagittarius. What can we expect during this period? What challenges will we face? In what areas of life will we be taken to task?

To comprehend what we have in store for us, we need to take a step back and view this cycle in the broader context of the Pluto in Capricorn cycle. In astrology Pluto represents the principles of death and rebirth, of destruction and regeneration. It wades into the deepest recesses of our psyche in order to bring up into conscious awareness our shadow material, so that we can eliminate or transform it. In this way we evolve.

Pluto has been moving through the sign of Capricorn since January 2008. It will continue to apply its disruptive and purging force in this sign until 2023. Pluto’s work is necessary before we can manifest new foundations, political and economic systems, societal organizations and infrastructures that will stand the test of time.

Adding intensity to Pluto’s powerful process is the relationship it has to another celestial player, Uranus, the planet of rebellion and progressive reform. Pluto and Uranus have been in a planetary configuration called a “square,” which represents two forces at cross purposes. The tension between these two planets creates conflict and explosive pressure. Because of the retrograde movement of planets, the square between Uranus and Pluto does not happen just once. Between June 2012 and March 2015 we are experiencing seven exact squares between the two planets. This has been an extraordinarily challenging, chaotic and emotionally trying time.

Against this backdrop we have a series of Saturn cycles taking place that each last about two and a half years. As the dispositor of Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn is the cosmic player that applies the deconstructive power of Pluto more specifically. Saturn is known as the Lord of Karma, who teaches us we reap what we sow. Through the Saturn principle we learn to take responsibility for what we have created in our life. It demands that we come down to earth and get real. We experience consequences for our decisions and actions and learn self-discipline. We gain wisdom over time, and mature.

Witnessing the changes in our material world wrought by Pluto generates feelings of fear, loss, and vulnerability. While Saturn has been in Scorpio we have been challenged to take responsibility for transforming our fears into courage to face our shadows. As we descend into the depths of our emotional abyss we came face to face with deprivation, trauma, anguish, termination, even death. We need to learn to contain the emotional intensity we feel with healthy boundaries and ground ourselves in the reality of the here and now. We need to assess our emotional, spiritual, and material resources and discover how to make wiser, more efficient use of them in order to move forward in life. We need to apply ourselves and do the necessary ground work.

While Saturn has been in Scorpio we very likely have felt weighed down by our heavy emotions. The chaos and suffering has been extreme, even brutal. It has been difficult for us to stay optimistic about the future. We will turn the corner this Winter Solstice as Saturn moves out of Scorpio and into Sagittarius. Being a fire sign, Sagittarius will bring more humor, lightness and buoyancy to our experience. It will help us be more hopeful, more uplifted as we work with Saturn’s principle.

Sagittarius raises us up and gives us a broader and higher perspective. It expands our horizons, broadens both our internal and external vistas. It helps us view our personal situation in the world in a greater context. When we do this we can understand our experience from different perspectives and gain new insights.

Sagittarius excites and inspires us with its spirit of adventure. It gives us the freedom to explore. It motivates us to venture out into the world and find our purpose and direction. It asks us to aim high when we set our goals. It wants us to find answers to our questions and greater meaning in life.

In Sagittarius, Saturn will turn its serious attention towards our beliefs, our philosophy of life. It will ask us to take responsibility for our view of the world. We will be taken to task to ground-truth our suppositions in reality. We will need to take responsibility for the ways our lack of connection to our inner Truth has blurred our vision, and take steps to correct them.

A belief is a fixation or attachment to one version of the truth. We need to examine what is it we choose to believe in. How have we structured our lives around these beliefs? Which beliefs, opinions and values do we need to eliminate, to let go of? The next few years will be a time for us make re-visions.

How can we reframe our worldly experiences so we can find value in them, no matter how challenging they can be? How can we envision our life in ways that changes our experience of reality? When we change our perspective, we change our experience. Sagittarius helps us feel gratitude, blessed for having opportunities to learn and expand ourselves, to connect to our own inner Truth. It gives us hope for the future as we transmute and evolve.

Saturn in Sagittarius wants us to find personal meaning and Truth that is grounded in the real world, that is practical and helps us be successful in achieving our goals. Picture an anchor dropping from a hot air balloon. That is the affect Saturn will have upon us through Sagittarius. It uses its contractive and gravitational force to condense our overly inflated ideals and bring them back to earth so they can manifest. It asks us to have integrity, to examine any unmet promises and honor our commitments. It curbs our over indulgences and wastefulness. It asks us to use self-discipline to check impatience, restlessness and procrastination.

Those of us who practice yoga are familiar with the phrase “root to rise.” This is very true for Saturn in Sagittarius. We cannot reach the heights without first being grounded in the tangible, physical world. We must establish a solid base before expanding out and up. We must mentally and emotionally ground ourselves before making decisions and moving forward toward our goals. Saturn helps us crystalize our visions with clarity and asks us to test them in reality. Being mindful of Saturn’s principles we can chart a course into the future with surety.

  “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.”
– Theodore Roosevelt