sadness

[hermetic]

I think this is an appropriate forum to post this.
Not discussing any particular chart, just wanted to hear others' opinions on the subject - sadness.
Mind you, not being sad with a reason for it, that we all have occasionally. But more along the lines of being sad by default. Am not taking depression either. More like melancholy, feeling a void between one and the world around him, opposed to being joyfull, cheerfull, happy.
I know earth signs could be linked to melancholic temperament in general, but astrologicaly speaking - what planet/aspect/house placement would be responsible for this kind of 'being born sad'?
Because I know several persons with little or no earth sign planets, nor planets in earth houses, yes still fitting this sadness description perfectly. What else could be potential explanation?
Thanks:)

[astro.teacher]

Sadness is usually a result of Saturn and to a lesser degree the earth signs (as you mentioned) although the earth signs tend to give a more soberness rather than sadness. You may also want to take into consideration the 12th house which rules over sorrow and his Lord. Joyful planets like Jupiter and Venus being placed (or Lord of this House) in the 12th or being joined in aspect with Saturn (or Lord of the 12th) can definately incite sadness and melancholy. Finally check out the state of Saturn, is he essentially dignified or debilitated? If he is debilitated it can increase his negative influence in a chart and then bring on strong melancholy. Oh and his placement in the 1st house/Ascendant can also be a factor to take into consideration, espcially if he is debilitated. I think I have listed most of the possibilities I hope that helps!

[waybread]

In addition to astro.teacher's really great response, I would just suggest a couple of things. Mainly, how well are the "sad" people fully living the potential of their charts? Mighten't it be a "starving sun", a "missing moon", or a "maladapted midheaven?" Or something about the person's North Node that s/he's not activating? Sometimes in life we are told to do certain things, to be certain socially acceptable ways, to follow the predictable well-traveled paths. Sometimes the "I gotta be me" instinct gets so ridiculed by others that it shuts down...except that somewhere, that Aries still keeps an old motorcycle in the garage; that Taurus wistfully longs for that acreage in the countryside; that Gemini tries to fulfill her mental acuity with endless crossword puzzles. Meanwhile, there is a missing person. Oh, and maybe some vitamin/mineral deficiencies!

[jamesmb]

Hi - I'm a newbie here, but this is the first post that caught my eye.

I strongly recommend "The Anatomy of Melancholy" by Robert Burton. He was an Anglican minister and Astrologer who lived around the time of Shakespeare.

His purpose was to write about sadness - to avoid sadness.

Personally, I have Saturn, Venus, Sun and N. Node in the 12th house. Depending on the house system, Mercury is also in there as well.

Hope that helps.

James

(You'll have to google it. I'm not up to 3 posts yet, and can't link to the text)

[vash24]

I can attest to astro.teacher's post, I have Saturn in my 12th conjunct my Ascendant in Scorpio, and I find that I'm often meloncholy and somber for no particular reason. Saturn also conjuncts Pluto in the 12th. The odd thing is that I have a lot of fire in my chart, including a fire grand trine. I even have Jupiter in the 1st, and I've read from so many sites and books that this is supposed to give a really jovial and sunny disposition. I guess my Saturn conjunct Ascendant overshadows this aspect.

Oh, and maybe some vitamin/mineral deficiencies!

Lol, but I take a lot of vitamins and minerals so I know it can't be that! :D But I totally hear you here:

Mighten't it be a "starving sun", a "missing moon", or a "maladapted midheaven?" Or something about the person's North Node that s/he's not activating? Sometimes in life we are told to do certain things, to be certain socially acceptable ways, to follow the predictable well-traveled paths. Sometimes the "I gotta be me" instinct gets so ridiculed by others that it shuts down...

[littlewoodyallen]

i know someone with saturn/venus conjunct in the 12th... his saturn is also conjunct his ascendant -- he pretty much calls himself "the saddest boy in the world".

i would consider myself sad by default, but i do wonder if it might have anything to do with my progressions/transits, hm.

i have a very airy chart (one planet in earth), most of my personal planets are in the 8th house though.. i do have saturn oppose chiron in the 12th, however if that says anything?

[starlink]

Hello you all! Very interesting thread!

I have the Moon and Jupiter in the 12th, well balanced chart, equal earth, fire and water, least of all Air. 4 above (also Moon) 6 below ( Venus, Mars in the 5th in Aries and Sun in 6).

I have always felt different, not really belonging. Probably because I had to relocate so often in my life. Every 2 to 5 years my parents, and later my husband and I, moved from one country to another, and within a country from one house to another (Aquarius on 4th). I could never really bond with anyone or anyplace because of that. Finally about 20 years ago I stayed in one country but still moved about 5 times inside that country.

I bought my own house so I dont expect to move soon again, I certainly hope not.
But I always feel like "not belonging" and that does give me at times unexplicable sad feelings and sadness, but not perpetually thank God. There are just periods I go through, think back, miss things that I really dont know what it is I am missing. Maybe it is more missing out on certain things that make me sad. It could also very much have to do with certain transits and progressions I believe. Or my natal planets? Moon in fall, Sun Peregrine, Venus , ruler of the Sun, in detriment. Mercury in term of falling Venus. Moon in term of falling Venus and Saturn also in detriment in Leo! Oh boy, if I look at all this I just cannot believe I am where I am now! Maybe my Mars (trad.ruler of Ascendant in 5 in Aries and trine MC, trine Pluto, exactly sextile Uranus, BQ Ascendant and Jupiter is my big savior!!
I have had a great life so far, really nothing devasting happened to me. How can that be explained with so many badly placed planets? Astro Teacher, I am really wondering how this is possible? Any idea?

Cheers, Starlink

[mojito]

Hello...

I have same number of planets in earth signs (Sun, Moon, Mer in Cap), fire and air. Water is weak as only Saturn is in Scorpio and in 10th.

My 12th H cusp is Scorpio, with Jupiter conjunct Uranus in there, both in Sagittarius. Also, Sag rising....

I have my sad moments, sometimes for no apparent reason, but I couldn't describe myself as a sad person, even though I have Jup in 12th...

Maybe it is my Asc that cheers me up, I don't know, but I' ve also read somewhere (cannot remember where :( ) that Jup in 12th could also have a protective effect and give optimism when needed...But not sure if this is partly for Sag Jup in 12th...
But I believe that this placement for my Jup, works somehow like that for me...

[Miss Saturn]

For sadness I would look at Neptune/12th house/Pisces.

[smilingsteph]

There could also be a lot of "airy" influences in a chart that can lead to sadness. Airy influences (in my own personal experience) can make one feel nervous, tense and anxious if these energies are not placed towards something constructive it can lead to feeling imbalanced which overtime can lead to depression.

[Amit89]

I was sad before, main reasons were lack of love from family, speech problem and education. I've always felt I've had to do something amazing to get the love of others. I did poorly in my education in my early teens, because of my sadness, I could not concentrate well and nobody really cared about how good I did. I've had speech disorder nearly throughout my life, I've always felt that this blocked me from something and I underachieved.

I've got saturn in caprincorn in 4th house, ruling with along with uranus and neptune, opposing sun, ruler of 12th. And a t-sqaure involving moon, mars and pluto in houses 8,11 and 3.