by Maria Shaw

A major astrological shift occurs this summer, as karmic taskmaster Saturn bids farewell to our Leo friends and moves in with Virgo for the next 2.2 years. A Saturn transit to your zodiac sign happens about every 30 years. It is a major event when the universe is asking and sometimes forcing you to get your life shored up. (Our New Orleans house is being “shored” up this summer so that seemed like the perfect word to use in relation to Saturn!) Saturn helps you with the “structure” of your life; often firming it up and straightening it out. All of you Leo readers are well aware of what Saturn can bring. You have experienced Saturn’s transit from July 2005. No doubt our Leo friends have had life changing experiences.

Saturn challenges and tests us. It brings us these tests to make us stronger. Things and situations in your life will change during a Saturn transit that may not seem comfortable at first but the end result will be a better life. Although you may not see it or feel it at the time, Saturn will reward you for your hard work. Let me give you an example: our friend Michelle took over a family business that was not doing well when she was going through her big Saturn transit. She worked very hard at getting this business off the ground. She made changes, worked long hours, her marriage suffered and eventually ended in divorce. She had lots of personal issues to deal with, she miscarried. She had money issues. Her car broke down. She moved three times. She often felt like crying and she felt alone. I kept telling her not to give up. She wanted to. Saturn pressured her so much, that she wanted to chuck everything and say forget it.

But I told her that if she worked hard and worked through everything Saturn was challenging her with, she would get a huge reward. Thank goodness, she trusted me. The Saturn cycle never seemed to end. It was always something with Michelle. Then about 2.6 years later (after Saturn left her sign) Michelle got a huge offer for her business. Someone wanted to buy it for an outrageous amount. I spoke with her the other day and she brought a new car, moved into a lovely home that she got at a very good price, is dating a wonderful guy and basically has no problems. Saturn forced her to work hard; to push herself and because she worked through the hard times and learned great lessons, now the universe is rewarding her.

But you see, Saturn doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I really didn’t have a bad Saturn visit when it was in the sign of Cancer. But I think it was because I knew Saturn was coming and I was prepared for his visit. I got rid of things I didn’t need and every time a trying issue came up, I was able to look at it from a spiritual perspective, deal with it and let it go. I was prepared. Plus, I had something to blame the problems on. I lost a huge position on the career front and my dear pet passed on. I remember being a little depressed but overall, Saturn gave me discipline, determination, willpower and new stricture in my life. I walked away from structure I no longer needed and was able to firm up some things in my life that needed attention. I also lost 40 pounds in a matter of months because Saturn is great for weight loss.

Whatever is not working in your life, is what Saturn will bring to your attention and force you to do something about. So, in this regard you should consider Saturn your friend; a strict teacher who has your best interest at heart. Let me give you an example: You could be in a dead end job and just hanging onto the job because it gives you a paycheck but you actually hate it. It depresses you. If you can no longer grow as a soul or as a person on this job, Saturn will make things even more uncomfortable on the job front to get you to move and look for something else. It will keep the pressure on you so it becomes a constant hassle or problem until you take action and move forward. Saturn really is about helping you make your life better.

But seldom do we people like change. We often hang onto worn out relationships, jobs, dreams, situations, goals and the like because even if they are uncomfortable, they are still comfortable because they are what we know. But Saturn challenges us to break free and often will “hit” three times over the course of its transit. For example, if your sun sign is 2 degrees Virgo, Saturn will hit this fall and present the issue it wants you to learn, change, grow from, etc. You will come face to face with the problem and it will be uncomfortable. When Saturn retrogrades back to 2 degrees Virgo a few months after this, you will be pushed by the universe to take action. If you do not and only fight Saturn’s wishes, things will become unbearable. By the third time Saturn hits in the summer of 2008 at 2 degrees Virgo, the problem should have been worked out. Either you will work it out or Saturn will work it out for you. Just a note: it’s easier if you choose to work it out rather than allowing Saturn to take charge.

The good thing is that Saturn only comes around every 30 years to visit your sign. So everyone will go through a Saturn transit to their sun. But they are few and far between. Saturn’s transit in Virgo will affect all of us. Wherever Virgo falls in your chart (and it falls somewhere), is where you will be asked to “shore up” your life. Lately, I have been doing many readings for people who seem very scattered with their energies and most of these folks have a heavy concentration of Leo or Virgo in their charts. A few nights ago, I did a reading for my Leo editor at the National Enquirer.

Last night I did one for a Virgo client. Both of them drew the tarot card that had to do with weeding their garden. This symbolism seems to have come up quite a bit in the last week. I think it is because we are getting closer and closer to this shift in Saturn from Leo to Virgo. Many of you reading this may also agree that you are too scattered in your thoughts, goals and actions. You have too much on your plate. Many of you are “weeding your garden” right now. You are getting rid of what you don’t need. Now, that could be friendship, relationships and work partners that have run their course, people and situations that are taking up “space” in your garden in your life and not allowing room for new growth. As you get rid of these things you no longer need (the weeds), you make room for new growth and new things to sprout from your garden. It helps us get rid and weed out of our lives what we no longer need and those things holding us back from growth. When we release them, we have opportunity for many new and exciting possibilities. For some of you this Saturn cycle may signal the end of one relationship to bring in another one. Many may change jobs. Some will move. Saturn will help you lay new foundations in your life.

In summary, you should be prepared but also welcome Saturn into your life. Find out where Virgo falls in your chart as that is the area you will need to pay the most attention to, no matter what sign you are.

Maria Shaw is the “National Enquirer” astrologer and author of nine books published in six languages. She hosts a radio talk show Sunday nights in WIOG 102.5FM and and is also Detroit WYCD's astrologer. Visit www.MariaShaw.com for information on personal consultations and her Cosmic Connections Convention coming up the end of September, open to all who want to grow spiritually.