Astrologically, Saturn is a planet that we have maligned for millennia. Why? And what in our charts does it indicate that is so frightening? My new book, Secrets of Saturn, is no ordinary book about the planet. This is not the usual "take up arms and fight your enemy" book about Saturn. This is not one of those books that tell you how much stronger you'll be if you confront your fears and overcome them. Oh no, this is a completely new insight and theory into a planet we have wrongfully maligned for millennia.

Here, I present two reasons we shouldn't fear Saturn's placement in our chart.

Fact One: Turns Out That Saturn Is Actually a "Good Guy," After All
I'll leave that hanging there for a while for you to digest this completely revolutionary idea, that Saturn is a good guy. But how? Why?

Okay, let's start at the beginning. Bear with me while I give you a few pertinent facts about Saturn, because before we explore why he is the good guy we have to find out why people think he isn't.

To understand how we view Saturn's energies today, remember that it rules Capricorn. And we all know that Capricorn is one of the hardest working astrological signs, as well as one of the most persistent. Capricorns have staying power. They value tradition, and family is the reason for all this striving. Of course they also want money and status and the best house in town, but mainly they want to leave a lasting legacy to their children. Plus, they also have unlimited patience and are willing to wait until forever to get those gains, as long as they come eventually, even in old age.

It being ruled by Saturn is what creates this never-ending cycle of work and striving. Which is odd...

Why is it odd? Because Saturn rules the season of Christmas, and in Roman times Saturn meant freedom from restriction and work—exactly the opposite of how we view it today.

The Romans revered Saturn as the god of abundance. They believed that in a mythical age before man appeared, Saturn ruled over a wonderful land of plenty. The story goes that when founding Rome, Saturn's temple was the first thing they built, at the foot of the first hill (Rome is built on seven hills). The ruins are still there today on Capitoline Hill at the western end of the Roman Forum. His temple housed the treasury, which is why they associated him with wealth and abundance.

So why he is viewed entirely differently today? That's a very good question. Somewhere between those ancient Roman myths and the 17th century, Saturn metamorphized from the god of farming, harvest, abundance, and freedom from labor into a feared and disliked planet. In 1666, in London, William Lilley (a renowned astrologer of the time) had nothing good whatsoever to say about people ruled by Saturn. (Quite frankly, in today's world his descriptions would be considered downright rude, if not inflammatory!)

How did this happen? I've no idea. But by 1963 when the renowned psychoanalyst Carl Jung had his book Memories, Dreams, Reflections translated into English, Saturn was described as, "the most maligned and feared god…whose gifts come rather like curses, leaden with the weight of suffering and guilt."

Maybe there had to be a bad guy lurking somewhere, because there always is, isn't there? So that good can triumph over it (which it always does in the end, though it may take longer than any of us would like). Or maybe an astrologer, whose life is lost to the mists of time, described him thus, and it stuck, as bad stuff always does. It's about time, isn't it, to right these wrongs? I think so.

So, in what way is Saturn a good guy?

Well, that would be telling when there is a whole book full of eye-opening revelations and insights just waiting to be seen! It would be unfair to even start unravelling it all when this article has to be fairly brief. Suffice to say, he is the good guy.

Saturn's position in your own birth chart tells you all sorts of things about your life: about your past, your present, and your future.

We are all floundering and lost, aren't we? Spiritually, that is. What's it all about, what's it all for, what's the point? We must think this a million times as we slog away at our lives. Especially during the middle years, those times when we carry the most responsibility. When we have partners, children, demanding jobs, weighty bills to pay, and maybe elderly parents; when we are trying to be all things to all people.

It may also help to keep remembering, too, that this world is man-made, this crazily busy and stressful existence, and we've inflicted it on ourselves, the human race! I can't sort out the mundane stuff for you, but at least I can guide you to your true spiritual path, which is there in your birth chart, plain as day.

Fact Two: Saturn Shows You Your True Purpose.
No more banging your head on brick walls, of heading optimistically down blind alleys, no more hammering at doors that are never going to open. It's not your fault things don't work out how you'd like; it's because they are not part of the spiritual plan for you. So stop blaming yourself and check out Secrets of Saturn to see what he is saying about you and your life.

Turns out Saturn is the supreme spiritual guide, with his position in your birth chart showing the direction to go, or, more importantly, the direction not to go. Saturn's position reveals a hitherto unknown path you took in the last life. In doing so, it also advises the path not to take this time, along with the correct way to find out your purpose this time. And the information is not full of wishy-washy, intangible concepts. These are real, concrete revelations, with real, concrete advice.

Once you've read the book and worked out your own Saturn message, I think you'll agree with me that it's about time we started worshipping him again!