The Festival Before Christmas: A Beginner’s Guide to Celebrating Saturnalia
The Nightmare Before Christmas never lied because Halloween to New Year’s is the most festive (and spooky) time of the year. And while many people look forward to Hannukah or the week of Christmas to New Year, my favorite week happens right before Christmas Eve because it is the official beginning of Saturnalia! Saturnalia is a Roman holiday that celebrates the Harvest season and the god Saturn and spans the entire week from December 17th to 24th.
Within Western and Vedic astrology and spiritual traditions, Saturn has been called many names, including Cronus and Lord Karma. It is often seen as a bringer of doom and gloom or a harbinger of challenges in life and the passage of time. However, as someone born with a Capricorn Super Stellium, including Saturn in Capricorn, I have a special connection to the deified planet I call Daddy Saturn. During my Saturn return, when the planet returns to the astrological sign it was in when you were born, I began to see Saturn as a helpful guide rather than a malefic presence.
Most people will experience a “Saturn Return” period at least once in their life, if not two or three times, making it all the more important to understand and embody this astrological energy. The position of Saturn in your astrological chart can also indicate the area of your life that may require more patience or effort. But instead of seeing Saturn as a fearsome god, working with Saturn can help you reach your highest potential and achieve soul growth by talking about it and embodying the astrological archetype.
As we move closer to the peak of Saturn’s season (December 17th — 24th) and the Winter solstice, it is a great opportunity to start working with this planet and learning its lessons. To help you develop a Saturn Practice, which can be beneficial in understanding this Malefic planet, I have put together five steps I used during my Saturn Return. This will aid you in celebrating the week of Saturnalia and reaping the rewards of devoted study to Saturn.
Step 1 Identify your Saturn Placement
The first step to starting your Saturn Practice is knowing where Saturn is currently and where Saturn is in your astrological birth chart. You can find your Saturn placement at Chani Nicholas or Cafe Astrology. By learning what astrological house and what sign you have Saturn in, you can determine where you might struggle or what areas of your life need the most assistance. Learning your Saturn placement can also help you predict if you have an upcoming Saturn Return or give you the information needed to reflect on the challenges that you faced during your last one.
Step 2. Clean it Up!
Daddy doesn’t like a dirty house, literally or astrologically, and I always prepare for the week of Saturnalia on Saturn’s Day (aka Saturday) with a complete clean-up of myself and my home. Home cleaning for ritual work is very intense, and I believe that Saturn truly appreciates it when you clean your space with military precision (as well as doing the work throughout the week to keep everything neat and orderly). After the physical house is clean, it is time to clean the home of the body, which for me includes a variety of self-care rituals that focus on my mental and physical wellness.
To prepare for ritual work with Saturn or his festival season, getting dressed up for the ceremony is helpful. While weekends can feel more casual to some, Saturn is not a casual planet, and it helps set the mood to dress up in your Saturday best before you do your Saturn work. Costumes are also a fun part of participating in Saturnalia, so this could be a nice time to change your style or wear something more festive for the season. Once your home and body are prepared, it is time to turn to your astrological house and move on to the next step.
Step 3. Create Your Ritual
There are a variety of rituals and magic that you can do to work with Saturn, and I recommend working with Saturn on Saturday and doing things that are directly related to your planetary configuration or Saturn himself. In thinking about what Saturn represents spiritually and astrologically, more general Saturn rituals can focus on work, family, responsibility, planning, organization, and management.
Some examples of work that you can do with Saturn are as follows: Working with the elements of Earth and Nature, Money Manifestation Magic, Protection Rituals, Financial or Career Planning, Personal Goals and Action Steps, etc. An introductory Saturn Ritual might include listening to a Saturn-themed meditation where you ask Saturn what it is that you need to work on, writing out a plan to work towards goals in that area, and doing some intention setting by lighting candles and writing a petition to Saturn to help you manifest those goals. Then, end this practice with gratitude for Saturn’s assistance in teaching you what you need to know and giving you the knowledge and discipline to accomplish your short and long-term goals.
In my own practice, I enjoy listening to Saturn-themed music (i.e. music of the spheres, mountain themes, etc) while combining the rituals of Saturnalia with doing Saturn’s work. For example, during my Saturn Return, I began investing my time in weekend wax-working to make candles and artwork for Saturn while listening to Labrinth. This resulted in an art installation called “Candle Magic” that featured a batik technique, where I would drip wax from my candles onto canvas. In this sense, the artwork combined Saturn’s love of hard work and disciplined practice and the love of light and candles are important during Saturnalia.
Step 4. Express Your Gratitude
Beginning or ending your ritual with a moment to express gratitude is always helpful in any spiritual practice or work. Especially with the opposing view that we tend to have about Saturn, I believe in prioritizing your gratitude and appreciation for the stern old goat. Below, I have listed some of the ways that I have done gratitude work with and for Saturn:
Written/Spoken Gratitude — Words of affirmation are one of the easiest ways to express our gratitude to the cosmos, so writing out or speaking the many reasons why you appreciate Saturn and what he is teaching you is a clear and concise way to express your gratitude for this planet.
Altarwork and Offerings — Creating an altar or having specific items on your altar that represent Saturn is another way to work with this planet. Whether buying or creating Saturn-themed candles or making artwork with the Saturn Glyph to hang in your home, creating a space for offerings is another way to honor Saturn. Also, as Saturn’s primary holiday, Saturnalia, comes up, this is a great time to honor Saturn by offering him food, beverages, and holiday gifts.
Music and Dance — Many people forget that Capricorn, a sign ruled and represented by Saturn, is closely aligned with the god Pan. So, while Saturn likes to work hard, he also believes in playing hard once your work is done. One way to end your Saturn day is by celebrating your accomplishments with Saturn-inspired music (there are many playlists that you can find online for this) and imagine yourself dancing and engaging in merry-making with Saturn (or have a little bacchanalia with your Saturnalia this year . . . just don’t tell Bacchus).
Saturnalia Celebration — Building on music and dance, Saturnalia is an excellent way to spend time with Saturn. Like any holiday or festival, celebrating Saturn during the week before December 25th is a time to decorate your home, give gifts, and enjoy yourself. Therefore, this is an excellent time to buy a wreath or greenery for your home, lighting candles, singing songs, and celebrating the sun. Additionally, Saturnalia is a time of role reversal regarding social hierarchy, so this could also be a great time to upend traditional structures in your household or community.
Education — Reading books and learning more about Saturn is another way that you can express your gratitude. By learning more about this planet, you can also demonstrate your devotion by sharing what you know with others. A favorite text of mine is “Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil” by Liz Green, which gives more information about the role that Saturn plays in our lives, relationships, and culture.
Step 5. Stay Disciplined!
Finally, I want to state that Saturn is not a “get rich quick” planet. When you begin to work with the Lord of Karma, you must stay disciplined with your practice before and after receiving any rewards. This is because, while Saturn respects and favors those disciplined in their practice, he will not give the same light to those less devoted to working with him and towards their goals.
So, remember to be dedicated to your Saturn practice, if not for a lifetime, at least during specific periods that you can fit into your lifestyle. How much or little you may want to work with Saturn depends on your beliefs and how prominent or afflicted your Saturn is in the astrological chart. But if you have never worked with Saturn, celebrating Saturnalia is a great start!
