This is a post about sex. Hooray! But hang on, it’s also a post about Saturn. Can these two subjects even be combined? People with Saturn in the 8th House of their natal chart combine them every day.
First, let me clarify what the 8th House is really about. Yes, it’s associated with sex, but it involves much more than that. The natural ruler of this house is Scorpio, so it represents instinct and forces beyond our control (such as loss and merging). It’s known as the house of shared resources like taxes, debts, loans, inheritance and the partner’s finances. It is also the area of the chart that magnetizes certain people towards us. Everything about this house involves sharing control with another; it is a window into our deepest fears, desires and anxieties.
The Eighth is not a lightweight house to begin with. Throw Saturn in there and things can get really heavy. Saturn in the 8th can manifest as a fear of getting close to someone, fear of losing control or, conversely, the desire to control another. Like all the water houses, it has connections to the past. Saturn in the 8th can indicate ideas inherited from the family that sex is “wrong.”
The good news is that all this intensity is the key to transformation. People with Saturn in the 8th take intimacy very seriously. They can work to transform (Scorpio) their fears (Saturn). Because the 8th is the doorway to their deepest psychological secrets, once this transformation happens, the effect can be mind-blowing. Let’s look at a few examples.
Saturn in Pisces in the 8th: Transcendence
Pisces’ lack of ego mixed with Saturn’s lack of confidence can mean an avoidance of sex altogether. Pisces is not the most realistic sign, so this person can end up disguising her fear as celibacy. She may convince herself that she doesn’t need to be intimate with someone because she is above all that. She attracts others who are physically unavailable: someone who is ill or restricted in some way from having sex. The silver lining is Pisces’s healing capacity. When placed in the house of instinct, the potential for transformational healing is great. The benefits of therapy are most easily accessed with this combination; avoidance of reality is transformed into the transcendence of fears.
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Saturn in Leo in the 8th: Dominion
Here we have the planet of boundaries in the sign of autocracy. This person can develop a set of rules on how scenarios in the bedroom “must” proceed. The terror of losing control to another is magnified with this combination. She may attract domineering partners because being under someone else’s control still conforms to a set of rules. The key to moving beyond this is the inherent strength in the Saturn/Leo blend. Once this person sets her sights on something, she pushes through to the end, no matter what. If this ferocious drive is applied to conquering her fears, she can make a huge amount of progress.
Saturn in Taurus in the 8th: Self-Preservation
Saturn in Taurus can become concerned with the value of sex. What is the exchange between two people worth, exactly? An emotional exchange becomes practical, as the sensuousness of Taurus conflicts with Saturn, the Taskmaster. Fixations on quantity can develop, leading to the fear that there is not enough to go around. This can manifest as possessiveness on the part of the Saturn person, or she can attract needy, insecure partners. The key to moving beyond this is found in Taurus’ patience and persistence. Once this person is committed to moving past her fears (and this will take some doing) she will patiently work towards a solid goal. Laying out a step-by-step plan on how to proceed is the ticket. The path to self-preservation changes from possessiveness to the security of achieving intimacy with another.
Saturn in Gemini in the 8th: Criticism
Words can become weapons in this case. This person can attract others who use sarcasm and criticism of her sexual performance. This confirms the carping inner voice of the Saturn person which tells her she will never be good enough in bed. She can drain the joy and spontaneity out of sex by analyzing every detail. The plus side is that her magnified intellect can be used to rise above her morass of fears and insecurities. If her energy is directed in a constructive way, she can make some serious progress in plumbing the depths of her psyche. Logic can be used to get to the heart of the matter.
Saturn in the 8th can be a powerful barrier to intimacy, but this power is also the way past the barrier. When the fear is flipped over, the tools for healing will be found. Restrictions are transformed into the ability to open up to another person. This alchemy is what the 8th House is all about.
[Editor’s note: Although the feminine pronoun is used throughout for stylistic purposes, this essay is meant to be gender-neutral.][/show_to]
Capricorn in the 8th here. Should I read this as a lighter version of having Saturn there?
My Saturn is in Aries conjunct Chiron in the 11the house.
What a lovely interpretation of Saturn in Leo, and very positive! LOL! I’ve got Leonine Saturn and Moon in the 8th, and have been surprised by how often men seem to want to cast me in the role of dominatrix and how often I end up with the “baby” of the family who’s looking for a big sister/ mother figure. What I’ve read, observed and experienced is that wherever you find Saturn, you might find an area of strength and mastery if the native has purposely worked to build skill in that area of life. All too often, people avoid 8th house matters altogether as much as possible, and Saturn’s not a barrel of laughs anyway, so I can see how often that placement would lead to a deep-freeze below the belt. In my case, with the assist from my Moon (not conjunct Saturn– hallelujiah!), and the Sun in the 1st, I’ve had what I needed to work constructively in this area. I’m very private about my sex life and don’t discuss it with colleagues, classmates or 99% of my friends. It would violate the trust my partner had in me when making himself vulnerable. I want the bedroom to be a safe space, not unlike a therapist’s office or a confessional. I take my responsibility seriously in this area. I also treat the tarot readings I give in a similar way because I feel the client can’t have the full benefit of a reading without absolute security that our conversation is private. I can go long periods of time celibate and had a long distance relationship for 3+ years in my late teens- early 20’s. I have been experimentally impulsive in the past, but it was a short phase that ended suddenly when I met someone who fulfilled some of my deepest needs and didn’t resume even though that someone didn’t turn out to be a long-term relationship. For me, even if I act impulsively or go to bed with someone new early, there’s nothing casual about sex, and I feel like it wasn’t successful if it wasn’t a deep exchange, entirely regardless of whether it’s happening within a partnership or not. Hope these insights contribute something.
@gemster:
Yes, Capricorn in the 8th is similar to having Saturn in the 8th. Your Saturn conjunct Chiron in Aries in the 11th would involve insecurities about your sense of self in groups. Issues around forming friendships and independence. Think about what happens when you are out in public. How do you relate to groups?
Taking these issues back to the 8th, you might look at how fears about loss of independence or not belonging play out with one other person.
Chiron always adds another layer because it points to your greatest vulnerabilities.
@EcritureFemme:
Thank you. 🙂
Sounds like your Moon presents the emotional key needed to make your 8th House Saturn work. It’s fantastic to read about someone using this very challenging energy positively. Interesting about that Sun in the 1st….it’s right up front in your chart so it helps to pull all that hidden 8th House stuff out in the open (for you, psychologically).
Sagittarius Saturn in the 8th House here .. what does that mean?
@kari;
Sagittarius represents faith, ideals and teaching. Saturn represents limits so I would look at how those ideas combine.
Great article. Thanks. Saturn in Scorpio in 11th house, near 12th house cusp.
My saturn is ruled by aqaruis, it’s in my eighth house and my moon is in the 8th house too,(my moon sign is also aqurais) I also noticed that my sig. other and I have a composite scorpio in the 8th house
any thoughts?
I am have Saturn in 8th house in Libra as per vedic astrology. What could be the analysis for that , and its possible remedies ??
When Saturn transited my eighth house a few years ago, my sex life was non-existent. My libido was there, but like the article suggests, I wanted REAL sex, which was very difficult to find. Casual encounters just wouldn’t do.
What an interesting article. For is sure there is more to sex than just an act. I like how the article is well organized and presented well especially in the 8th house of Saturn.
True enough that both topics can be quite hard to talk about – Sex and 8th house. I love it how you combined the two to make a nice article. Good job!
Saturn in 8th house in Capricorn, is it too heavy?? Btw my ascendant is gemini
I have saturn in leo in the 8th. I’ve always been single most of my life. I crave independence like the air I breathe and never want to take the risk of someone controlling me. So I figure if I stay single that would never happen..LOL I guess I have 8th house saturn to thank for this..
I have Saturn in Scorpio in the 8th. I am wondering how that is supposed to play out. I had one controlling boyfriend for 7 years. I am in a much better relationship now but I enjoy being submissive in bed with him. These things could always be from other factors though. I am just curious on how it should be interpreted because it sounds super heavy with Scorpio being thrown in there.
I have 8th house Saturn in Gemini and what is written is very true. My sexual confidence was wrecked by an insensitive sh*t bag when I was 18 years of age, he was 10 years my senior. It was just a few words that made me feel I was basically crap in bed and I turned it into a lifetimes self fulfilling prophecy, I completely closed down and really struggle with intimacy. Thought I was getting a handle on it and getting more confident and then lo and behold partner of 10 years cheats on me, refer to above. Not a nice placement really. I’ve also got mars in Capricorn, so there’s probably no hope for me.
This is a pretty awesome analysis man!
so, I get that Saturn would only be in a few signs for people alive today. But Pisces? I think you goofed. Should be Saturn in Cancer.
Hey Nadia, I have Saturn in Libra, in the 8th house. and Pluto in the 8th house too. My 8th house ruler Venus is in my 12th house 🙁
Hey Nadia, I have Saturn in Libra, in the 8th house. and Pluto in the 8th house too. My 8th house ruler Venus is in my 12th house. Doesn’t sound like a very happy combination 🙁
what does it mean, Nadia?
Dear Nadia,
my saturn and ascendant and trye node is in virgo and my boyfriend’s 8th house!!
is it too bad?
? am very confused.
we have mars trine saturn in synastry and mars conj. venus.
there is a magnetic attraction but we know each other just for 2 weeks and we havent had sex yet.
? need yor advise.
thanxx a lot!
I mean my saturn ,my ascendat and my true node in virgo in his 8th house.
I have Saturn in cancer in 8 house and moon in 8 house too. No other planet in 8 house. I want yo know it’s implications on my sex life that has been pretty down in the dumps! how can it improve? Thanks.
I found this to be entirely accurate, sincey my long term relationships have been in these four signs…ironically, 1 in each. You are truly gifted. That’s all I have to say 🙂
Can someone tell me a little about myself. Born: 8th September 1987.
What about Saturn Gemini 20°14’01 in house 8 retrograde?
8th lord sani in the 8th house Aquarius how can money gain in which profetion pls tell me
Hi, Capricorn is in my 8th house cusp, and I have the planets Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus in 8th house how does that all add up? Thanks!