Di,
I'll begin with AquariusT's quote:
I believe illness/disease and conditions are in our charts of course, but arthritis according to Louise Hay is a condition that manifests when people harbr feelings they cannot let out and express. People living in conditions where they cannot be free, cannot speak up, or cannot change causes it she says. She has affirmations you can repeat to let it out and be gone with it, and of course meditation and self heal. I wish you well.
I had already seen this in your chart, and when I went back and re-read the posts by others, this seemed to confirm it strongly.
You've described all sorts of things you've done to heal your body, but I've not heard much described from the mind-body connection.
I looked at your natal,progressed, and transits together.
Transiting Neptune was conjunct your Progressed Moon. This can have a very spiritual meaning, and has much to do with women's equality. It can also point towards "spaciness" and being disassociated - possibly PTSD.
It is trine your Chiron in Libra in the 9th. Transiting Lilith was sitting on Chiron. 9th house has much to do with our experiences, as our beliefs shape our experiences. Libra often has problems with repressed anger and right assertiveness. Chiron points to a lesson in that. Lilith suggest the repressed anger is against men.
Ruler of 9th, Venus in Aquarius is in the 1st, conjunct Sun. It makes an exact t-square out of the MC/IC. This sounds like someone who has to be free and equal.
Nessus, which often comes up concerning abuse, is exact conjunct the IC at 5'55" Taurus. So, the abuse had to do with Taurean sort of things - money/physical pleasure/possibly even something to do with the throat area. Eris, goddess of discord, is exact conjunct the 3rd house cusp. Were you afraid to "cause a scene"? Eris at 5*Aries, is exact semisextile Nessus. Semi-sextiles often can be described as " a blind spot", or what is obvious, but we are overlooking.
Psyche is also at 5* - of Gemini in the 5th. This can refer to a need to "converse" with your inner child. Being in Gemini, it can refer to "double-mindedness"(read: lots of inner conflicting beliefs) regarding 5th house issues - children, romance, creativity, etc. It can also refer to a need for bold self-expression, and maybe creativity needing loosed.
Saturn(r) in Cancer rules your Ascendant. This can point to feelings of rejection, not feeling safe, and boundary issues in general. It is retrograde, so these issues will need some tweaking in your lifetime. Boundary issues are a biggie, and a need to protect oneself from feeling "enmeshed" in others. This is further pointed out by Scorpio being on the MC. Non-career-wise, the MC has alot to do with your destiny, and the major lesson that you need to learn to "turn your life around". It's a Scorpionic one, and one of Scorpio's lessons is emotional bonding/oneness/ But true bonding can't occur without proper personal boundaries. Perhaps someone in your life ( or lots of people) have been very disrespectful of your personal boundaries ( space ). Cancer on the ASC can also make someone an emotional sponge, soaking up other's energies at random. This is compounded to the nth degree without good boundaries.
Mars rules your MC and your 3rd house, and is Cancer. Did you have trouble speaking up to your mother? ( even though you adore her and she is your world). Mars in Cancer can also point to a battle of wills ( Mars) with the mother or family of origin - or even a feeling that you are "here to serve your mother" ( but not live life according to your own Divine plan) Mars in Cancer can also represent the type of men you attract into your life, especially with it being on the Descendant. Mars in Cancer type of men have a tendency to have a lot of "mother" issues, and can carry a lot of anger. Mars (ruler of 10th and 3rd) and Saturn (r) (ruler of Asc) are conjunct in the 7th. It certainly sounds like either mother issues or some kind of authority issues with Mars in Cancer type of men.
Mars and Saturn conjunct in Cancer in the 7th can also refer to depending on a husband to support you ( or one that wants you to support him). Issues of financial security can be overriding much in your life. You were having a Mars return at the time of the arthritis appearing. Mars rules inflammations. Mars conjunct Saturn (r) can also suggest that you need to have proper emotional boundaries with the men in your life. Also, Progressed Pallas in Capricorn was conjunct your Asc. Again pointing to "father, authority, and material support" issues - also rules, regulations, and having too much work put upon your by men. Cancer/Cap axis rules boundaries and authority. Pallas in Cap can refer to men who are controlling, emotionally cold, etc. It can also refer to the way you see God.
Moon in Sag in 11th, could point to religious conditioning being a factor, as well. Moon sextiles your Venus/Sun conjunction in the 1st - speaking to freedom issues. It sextiles Quaoar(r) in Libra in the 9th. Quaoar is closely associated with the idea of liberation -possibly referring to religious beliefs about marriage ( must obey the husband,not allowed to divorce, etc). Moon also trines Eris and opposes Psyche, so these issues may tie in with the Eris and Psyche issues mentioned earlier.
Also, there are several indicators in your chart that the abuse may have been sexual, but I don't want to go there without you going there, if you know what I mean.
It's also odd that Mercury in Cap is in your 1st. You should be a very confident, authoritative speaker. But on the flip-side of that, be sure to check yourself for over-controlling tendencies in your communication style. If you don't have a problem with speaking up, then check yourself for coming across too controlling( especially since that will set off a Mars in Cancer man faster than about anything.) There's definitely something "off" in the area of communication. Mercury is also conjunct Vesta, which is concerned with issues of security and protection.
To answer your question about Saturn in Libra. If my theory is right that much of what is making you sick has to do with boundaries and relationships with men. Yes, I think it could bring some great breakthrough if you apply yourself to healing psychologically/belief system-wise. ( if you dont' get some before then. I wouldn't think you'd have to wait till then) I would think the time that Saturn transits your Chiron may be an especially conducive time for healing - especially if the issues are karmic.
I hope this is of some help to you. I know this has been long, but your situation is serious, and I wanted to try to cover all the bases, if I could. (probably still left out somethings.) This should be good for starters. And please forgive me for the delay in getting back to you. I, too, have chronic pain and lots of brain fog. I've got to wait till I'm having a "clear" spell to be able to do this.
Much love and healing to you,
Freedomlover