Customer Reviews

Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having recently re-discovered this early Liz Greene work, I still consider it as one of the best books, if not the best, on Saturn over the last 25 years. Any relative newcomer to astrology would do well to check out the deep psychological perspectives offered here, subtleties that are lost by more simplistic interpretations of Saturn in the chart.

Perhaps in contrast to some of her work, the depth and complexity of Liz Greene remains more accessible throughout this book. The layout is straightforward, a consideration of Saturn in each of the four elements (houses and signs) that combines intelligent astrology with fascinating and practical psychological perspectives. Aspects in the chart and synastry are also covered in separate chapters.

One of the main themes is the Jungian idea of embracing the dark and sinister side of Saturn as necessary for healthy, holistic self-development. "It is only when the Beast is loved for his own sake that he can be freed from the spell and become the Prince". Saturn asks that we take responsibility through accepting limitations, learning to use our painful experiences for growth. The approach is balanced, highly insightful with many psychological and esoteric angles covered throughout. As someone with a strong Saturn myself, I highly recommend this book! Read together with "Saturn In Transit" by Erin Sullivan, and you have just about everything you need to know about Saturn in modern astrology.

This book has the most insightful interpretations of Saturn in the natal chart that I have ever seen in the 18 years that I have studied astrology. The section on Saturn in synastry alone is worthy of the price you'd pay for this book. I have read relevant sections of this to a friend and this person's relationship was transformed almost overnight, and she thanked me for the clarity that she gained from the information. Saturn is not so intimidating after reading this book!

Having been a professional astrologer for over 35 years I didn't think I would find much new insight regarding Saturn - BOY WAS I EVER WRONG. This book is fabulous!

Reading this book I found everything I needed to understand deep meanings of Saturn in natal chart. As other reviewers I should also admit: it is one of the best books on Saturn so far! Good for every astrologer, it can be especially useful for those who have critical mind and eager to improve themselves. It is just brilliant how Liz Greene explains Saturn character and twists positive and negative sides showing it as a whole and at the same time as a part of our ego.
After reading this book I reconsidered the role of the strong and dark planet in my chart. And I think most of the astrologers with Saturn hard aspects in their chart would do the same. It is also would be interesting for people who have their chart done or someone in their family so they could analyze some of the behavior patterns in their family.

Liz Greene has done a wonderful job of dealing with the Great Malefic of ancient times, Saturn. Her book is one of the first to challenge the older ways of reading planets in natal interpretation. Greene's background as a Jungian analyst AND an astrologer gives her books depth, insight and credibility. You will learn, for example, that Saturn contacts in synastry guaranty a successful marriage because Saturn is required to provide the long term staying power!
This book is a must in your astrological library. It can be well understand by an intermediate astrology student and it is an excellent building block for later interpretation skills, Saturn being the important planet it is, the timer, the teacher, and so forth.

This book has some serious weeknesses:
1. The author seems to be confused about the nature of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and thus she keeps on mislabeling the energies of these planets. She keeps on pointing out how misunderstood these planets are, and I think that notion applies to her first and foremost.
2. The book attempts to assimilate the occult perspective on outer planets, as it has been done by Alice Bailey, and the author seems to have bought wholesale into the Bailey's theories instead of developing her own understanding based on her own experience. Granted, that is hard to do with Saturn because of lengthy time-span involved into such a study, but the book would be a lot better had she done so. Unfortunately now it has a ton of hints and poetic allusions to the occult nature of Saturn and its myth, but severely lacks solid psychological perspective. A good book on Saturn, considering the natural Saturn-Moon opposition, would be an in-depth study of emotion and it's affect on how we function and build our lives. The author touches on it, but superficially. She talks about the pain of Saturn, but never explains why it is painful. She also talks about the rewards of Saturn, but doesn't give clues on how to turn Saturn into being rewarding. Where does it stop being painful and becomes rewarding? As a result, you find a lot of correlations to your life in this book, but absolutely no info on how to transform it. Thus Saturn will remain for you after reading this book what he has always been --"The Devil" and "The Great Malefic", something that will come and hit you on the head during the transit.
3. The writing style is nausating with "pie in the sky" metaphore. Saturn would appreciate a little more matter-of-factness and insight.

Liz Greene is a great writer. She writes about astrology with the comfort and ease of a novelist. She is warm, intelligent and insightful and that comes through on every page. Her more or less psychological views of astrology may not be for everyone, but her explanation of this planet is brilliant and cohesive. Liz Greene goes away from the basic dualities of "benefic and malefic" to shine a more adult light on Saturn. There is much more to the planet than "bad or good" and Ms. Greene gives the details in a manner that is a joy to read.

Liz Greene is extremely adept at holding the information surrounding planetary influence. This book is actually, I think, one of her better books. She is able to get to the point in a manner that is not especially true in all of her books. If you are a serious student or a professional... you definitely want this book in your collection. If you are dabbling... go dabble somewhere else. Liz Greene, although really quite brilliant... is not an effortless read. And it is not the complexity of the subject matter. She just is not a very dynamic writer and her books tend to be very dry and not very reader friendly. If that one HUGE thing was different it would be a 5 star all the way!

Liz Greene explodes the caricature of Saturn as the gloomy cynical taskmaster who only joy is making people miserable. Please remember that Liz Greene does not write for the casual dilletante. Read the book deeply or do not read it at all.

Liz Greene serves as an insightful, sympathetic guide through this intensive tour of the various manifestations of Saturn. As a tool for self discovery, or as a source of detailed information to assist in work with others, this book is invaluable. Read it slowly, read it several times, use it as a reference.