[Saturn returns]
Life's Major Tests
You are enrolled into the school of life the moment you are
born.
There are two or three major tests, depending on how long
you live. The first major test which is called "Being an Adult" takes
place when you are about 28 years old. The second one "Being a Matured
Adult" when you are about 56 years old and the last one at about 84 years
old.
Tested on Being Realistic and Responsible
There is a syllabus for the major tests. The syllabus is on
the different areas of your life and almost always include different aspects of
yourself (for those with astrological knowledge, you look at the house
containing Saturn, the houses ruled by Saturn and the aspects to Saturn to find
out about your personal syllabus). Everyone has a different syllabus. So your
syllabus for the major tests would be different from those of your parents, your
partner, your friends or your children.
Regardless of what syllabus you have, the overriding
objective of the tests is for you to be realistic and responsible in life. To
be realistic is to not to have any illusions or unreal perceptions and
expectations of the world and your life. Sometimes, we tend to project or
imagine things within us onto other people. For example, Alice is deeply in
love with Brad but it's one-sided. She may project her feelings onto Brad,
believing that Brad loves her too. You can see that Alice is having unreal
perception of her relationship with Brad in this example. To be responsible is
to take charge of a situation and be accountable for it and the outcome. Some
people avoid responsibility of themselves and their lives by relinquishing the
reins of their lives to something outside of them, e.g. their parents, their
marriage, the company they work for or the government.
How Am I Tested?
The major tests come in two versions: 1) possibly
uncomfortable feelings within you; and 2) other people, events and external
circumstances. The version that you get depends on whether you are someone who
lives consciously or if you are someone who thinks that the cause of problems
in your life are due to other people, events and external circumstances. If you
live life consciously, you may experience some kind of tension within you which
eventually gets transformed into realisation and growth within you. If you are
the latter, things may happen to you as part of the test.
Preparing for the Test
Thankfully, before the major test, you are given lessons and
term tests in the past 28 years to help you to prepare for it. Just like in
school, we can choose to pay attention in class, do our homework and study hard
for the tests.
Different things may happen to different areas of your life
which may require you to be realistic and responsible. For example, you met
your sweetheart in high school. Years passed and both are you are still
together. But you know in your deep heart that both of you know that the
relationship isn't working out and no one wants to say anything as you fear
change. Do you see the situation for what it is and do the responsible thing?
(the responsible thing to do in this case is to communicate your feelings with
your partner and perhaps give yourselves
time to work through the relationship. If it still doesn't improve after some
time, perhaps call it quit).
The thing is: in the school of life, even if you fail your
tests and don't hand in your assignments, you don't get kicked out of the
school. You have to continue in the school.
Here's Your Test Results
If, however, you haven't done enough in the past 28 years to
pass the test, you will most probably suffer the consequences of being
unrealistic and irresponsible towards your life. I know the word irresponsible
sounds very serious. To me, being irresponsible simply just means not taking
control of your life. Your parents, your partner, your boss, the company that
your work for, the government or the society aren't responsible for your life.
You are a grown up. You alone are responsible for how your life turns out.
A fail in the test can affect different areas of your life,
for example, your job, relationships,
family or bank account. You may feel horrible during this part of your
life. A big hug to you. Chin up. All is not lost. You are given another chance
7 years later, at about 35 years old (or about 63 years old), to retake the
test. It's a chance to demonstrate your mastery of the syllabus in this
supplementary test. Your last chance to get promoted to the next grade.
Otherwise, you remain stuck in the lower grades while seeing your classmates go
up to the next grade and even to college. It's time to wake up from your long
slumber, my friend.
