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Salutations to Lord Shanidev

Saturn's 7.5 Year Cycle - A Comprehensive Look at Sade Sati

"Pray as though nothing else will work and work as if no prayer will help!"

German proverb

Life is a journey...  clichéd as it sounds; this is the only starting point to understand or even make any attempt towards venturing on this journey, this big mystery. It's great while the going is good, but even a hint of pain or suffering and the most difficult questions rise to the surface - "why",  "what is the meaning/ purpose of it", "what am I actually seeking" and suchlike with typically no satisfactory answer.

One of the most intriguing and even dreaded part of the journey in astrological terms is the Saturn's seven and half year cycle or Sade Sati.

It's like the visitation from the tough teacher who can and will turn a blind eye to one's tears, pain and misery until the lesson has been learnt well and the test passed!

It is a very karmic cycle this one... and the rhythm is followed without fail after every 28 years for an individual, lasting 7.5 years again.

Sade Sati complete Info

A Comprehensive Look at Sade Sati-Why What and How of the Saturn Cycle of Lord Shani

 Sessions with a Tough Teacher-The Cycle of Life

The Hindu philosophy explains life as a continuum of birth and deaths involving many lifetimes and the cycle would go on until the soul finds supreme salvation after completing its karmic debts completely.

And who else, but Saturn, being the grand master of Karmic retribution to oversee that all the books are balanced! And specifically that is the reason why the 7.5 year periods of categorical hardships - at mental emotional physical and spiritual levels occur, to expedite evolution.

Consider this: If all were hunky-dory and sailing quite smoothly on the material plane, would human beings ever consider the spiritual path or walk the path of evolution - that is the real purpose of being born at all!

It is a lament heard often from people who have suffered or have had different and difficult experiences - "I do not recognise myself any longer" "I am no longer the same person"...

Well, one wasn't meant to remain the same in the first place! Look at nature for straight answers. Everything is born, grows, withers and falls away. Just as seasons in a year life has seasons too. However, what creates difficulty is the innate human tendency leaning towards maximising pleasure and minimising pain and also offering resistance to change. Barely has homoeostasis been achieved new adjustments must be made!

Self-discovery

Saturn's 7.5 year cycle or the Sade Sati begins with its transit over the sign, 12th to one's natal Moon.

It may seem like this - while walking on the journey, one comes to the edge where sunshine is still visible, but now stares at the dark jungle that lies ahead. It is a path that must be walked and where Demons of the past lie in waiting.

It is a difficult question - would one be vanquished by them or slay them and discover one's own secret strengths and powers? This tough part of the journey is all about self-realisation.

It is a long period, this 7.5 year long walk to the dark jungle. Sade Sati is often the leveller for any human being and brings relative difficulty and pain related to the three areas of health, wealth and relationships - these three areas involving several subset of events that pummel and knead one into a very pliable dough.

Sade Sati runs while Saturn remains in transit 12th to the natal Moon 2.5 years; conjunct/ over the Natal Moon another 2.5 years; and 2nd to the Natal Moon for the last 2.5 years.

One could go into very technical details, but it seemingly is a better approach to look at the specific 3 periods of Shani transit (of 2.5 years each) and what they could signify and what potential remedies can be opted for.

However before venturing into that exposition it is important to review a few notes here:

Although the 7.5 your transit is the time for intense churning by various means, it must be regarded as a course in self-reliance and self-growth. It is a time where dependence on others must be discarded - whether it is for emotional security and nurturance, financial safety or for social validation! One has to somehow thrust one's hand into one's own core and pull out internal strength, resources and light to find the way forward. In other words, the higher self or soul intelligence must be accessed to move forward. One must shun the false props and started marching towards true growth and evolution.

Relief Bringing Exceptions:

However, in the same breath it must also be understood that there is no one size fits all predictability about this period. While it is a challenging period for sure, there is no way that the entire 7.5 years will be a dreary monochromatic picture bearing down upon an individual incessantly. Please note that the Sade Sati results can be quiet watered down or even good for a person if:

• The individual is running the vimshottari dasha of a benefic planet
• The individual is running vimshottari dasha of a benefic and a yogakaraka planet
• If Saturn is well posited or has good strength in one's horoscope and is a yogakaraka (if Saturn happens to be a naturally challenging planet for an individual, but is exalted or well posited, it makes tremendous sense to opt for trial of natural blue sapphire for ascertaining suitability)
• If points for the three Saturn transits of Sade Sati in Saturn's Bhinnashtaka/ Astakavarga analysis are 4 or more.

There may be other horoscope-specific conditions that greatly determine the outcome, but some pain is a given and it is usually done by means of making an individual confront all manner of things, one is afraid of! It is in overcoming fear that one discovers oneself and become teachable, and accepting a larger and grander concept of the world and humankind.

Sade Sati Calculator

Average of 3 Cycles in a Lifetime:

Usually a person experiences Saturn's 7.5 years run three times in life:

- The first Sade Sati of the maybe experienced well before the age of 28 years. More of these results concentrate around family circumstances, emotional support or nurturing and life chances regarding education & opportunities.

- The second Sade Sati of the maybe experienced before 56 years of age and issues related to health and well-being, relationship/ marriage, social approbation, financial instability and professional life are ones that see disturbance. Then maybe loss of a parent figure during this time.

- Third Sade Sati cycle is experienced before the age of 84 and usually the individuals’ faces threat to life during this cycle - physical body affliction, pain and discomfort, troubles related to children and loved ones become the reason for one suffering.

In some rare and exceptional cases, some individuals may witness the fourth Sade Sati after having lived along virtuous life.

Effects

In general this is the description given to various phases and results that accrue during Saturn's 7.5 year run :

Results likely to happen during 12th transit of Saturn.

12th is the house of wasting away/ losses, of expenditures and anxiety. It is also the house that indicates international travel. It is also the house of incarceration- of confinement, of prisons asylum and isolated places.

From its position in the 12th house Saturn aspects second, fifth, eight house in horoscope. It will definitely give challenging in matters related to the houses occupied by Capricorn and Aquarius in the horoscope, which are signs ruled by Saturn.

What could happen?

• Delays and obstructions in ongoing tasks
• Loss of hope
• Excess expenditure - expenses specially on medical reasons
• Physical discomfort
• Mental anxiety - lack of rest and sleep
• Pessimistic thinking - resurfacing of old morbid fears, tension
• Depression
• Lack of support from one's family of origin
• Financial pressure
• Loss or harm of one's own interest due to bad communication, lack of communication or harsh speech
• Anxiety related to children, in-laws
• Family inheritance disputes - not getting a fair share in family fortunes
• Delays and obstructions in Higher education
• Running pillar to post to get clearances and required documentation
• Transfer to alien territory, a different department, or a foreign land where emotional support maybe missing completely
• Work away from home scenarios
• Uncomfortable and unproductive travels
• Unnecessary anger and frustration with little reasonable outlet
• Prisoner of circumstances
• Physical imprisonment in extreme cases or getting committed to asylum care

Results likely to happen during next 2.5 years with Saturn transiting over the natal Moon i.e. in the 1^st house of the horoscope.

Saturn conjunct moon is very difficult combination itself and when it, with its harsh cold energy comes to stay with soft planet like Moon 2.5 years in the ascendant or overhead, it can create extreme pressure for an individual.

From its position in the first house several aspects third, seventh and tenth houses of the horoscope. It continues to give difficulty in matters related to the house ruled by its own sign that is Capricorn and Aquarius:

What could happen?

• Health related complications - aggravation of the existing physical/ mental discomfort or disease
• Bitter thoughts, especially stemming from the past
• Resistance to change, fearfulness of change and negative actions stemming there from
• Feelings of antagonism, hopelessness, pessimism
• Being unsupported and as if life were a heavy millstone tied around one is neck
• This period can bring in life-threatening situations or those that test ones to tenacity to the very farthest stretch
• Strained relations with siblings
• Self-doubt
• Little gain after repeated efforts
• Fear about reputation
• Enemies harming oneself
• Thoughts of revenge or renunciation
• State of unfeelingness, nervousness or extreme indifference
• Healthy issues related to nervous system
• Metabolism affected adversely
• Problems of bones
• Chronic diseases, chronic pain
• Spine issues
• Pressure on interpersonal relationships
• Desire to run away
• Fear of abandonment
• Third person interference in marriage
• Heartache and disappointments due to unrealised or unfulfilled wishes
• Divorce or separation, physical distancing of spouse
• Theft or loss unexpectedly,
• Loss of loved one especially the parent figure -  a nurturer or a nourisher of emotions
• Financial pressure, accumulation of debt
• Relative isolation at work, misunderstanding or having to shoulder more responsibility than ones fair share for Little or no appreciation
• Loss of job or slowing down of business
• Punitive action by state machinery
• Ire from superiors

The results likely to happen with transiting over second house

Second house in the horoscope represents the right eye, speech, wealth, income, family, childhood, expression, and also causes of injury and harm to oneself. From its position in the second house it aspects fourth, eighth, eleventh house.

As is to be expected one may need to expend much more effort in dealing with matters related to houses ruled by Capricorn and Aquarius - the signs owned by Saturn.

What could happen?

• 
  There is a lot of focus on finances and it is possibly the area where one of the greatest pinch happens
• Slow development as avenues of growth in financial matters slows down or faces  a roadblock
• False documentation or lack of documentation may hamper financial progress
• Difficulty in paying off debt
• Additional responsibility for taking care of relatives or elderly people problem
• Little access to nutritious, fresh food irrespective of being rich or poor (kindly note that fast food , quick snacks do not count as nutritious food)
• Hesitation in expressing oneself or inadequate communication impedes growth
• Stammering stuttering or withdrawing in social situations,
• Distancing away from one's family or establishing extremely formal boundaries in interactions with them
• Expenditures related to house /home /property and repair or renovation
• Expenditure on automobile or breakdown
• Discovery of secret affairs affecting marriage or partnership of any kind
• Discovery of incompatibility in relationships
• Being defrauded in matters of inheritance
• Being suspected of malpractices unfairly
• Lack of support from friends or misunderstanding with friends
• Isolation and withdrawal from social milieu and extended family
• Money getting stuck in bad loans or deals

Fine Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring from the Gemstoneuniverse collection of Fine Jyotish Gemstones

Astrologial measures for Saturn’s 7 and half year cycle/ Remedies for Sade Sathi:

One can do quite a number of things to find balance and peace during this time:

At a mental level:

- Acceptance of issues including one's own shortcomings, determination to work hard and trying of different solutions (not just one or two that a person is familiar with)

- Embrace change - effort at the level of gross body and effortlessness at the level of mind

-  Meditation practices on a regular basis to maintain balance and gain mental strength

- Respect Time and deadlines - procrastination will bring in punitive action as Saturn is Chronos/ Kaal - time itself

Astrologial measures for Saturn’s 7 and half year cycle/ Remedies for Sade Sathi:

­- Wear a natural Blue sapphire, in case Saturn is a yogakaraka

-Wear Horse shoe iron ring in middle finger and a jyotish quality Yellow sapphire or an organic natural red Coral, in case Saturn is a challenge planet

- Chanting of Mahamrityunjaya mantra

- Chanting of Shani Beej mantra daily

- Recitation of Hanuman Chalisa

- Pilgrimage to Thirunallar in Tamil nadu

- Observe sattvic practices and also offer charity/ volunteer work on Saturdays. Halping widows, handicapped people and elderly in some form. Being respectful.

- Offer water in the dusk hours to peepal/ ashwath tree

- Offer Raw, uncooked milk to Shivalinga

Saturn is a hard task master, but the best students emerge from the toughest teacher's class. It takes, what it takes to bring out the best in men. Saturn is an energy of discipline and hard work...one must continue plodding at whatever task has been chosen for an individual, with least expectations. This period is an exercise in character building, so shirking will being more pain. Staying strong with a belief in the highest personal good at the core of cosmic design can help a person; make enviable strides in life, exceeding all expectations. May the highest and best happen for all beings!

Abhijita Kulshrestha is Senior Director, Astrologer and Planetary Gemologist at Gemstoneuniverse. She is a certified Planetary Gem Advisor from thePlanetary Gemologists Association and Accredited Jewelry Professional from the GIA.

Abhijita is essentially a communication professional and holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She brings in a unique insight and perspective to Astrology and Planetary Gemology as she is also an NLP master practitioner certified by NFNLP, Florida. Besides her involvement with Gemstoneuniverse Abhijita is also a blogger for top international publications like Huffingtonpost.

Prior to her soul-level engagement with the world of Vedic astrology, gemstones and association with Gemstoneuniverse, she had a long stint in ‘word smithy’ ! She’s had professional stints at Mudra institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA); RK Swamy BBDO, Bangalore and Times of India.

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Clicking on Underlined Links will give more information about a topic. You can always come back to this page

What Problems Can Astrology & Jyotish Gemstones Solve? Can they solve My Unique problems

Which is the Best Gemstone Choosing Method | Which Gemstone Should I wear

 Do Gems Work- No They Don’t for 90% of the People-Why?.

What results Can I expect from Jyotish Gemstones?

In Quest of India’s Best Gemstone Astrologer.

Tell me My Best Life Changing Gemstone