Saturn in Scorpio and Alchemy

I was recently thinking about my favorite quote "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly" and it got me thinking about alchemy (keeping in line with my Scorpio Moon). When the caterpillar is transformed into the butterfly within the chrysalis, it goes thru a sort of alchemy. In short, alchemy is the process of turning base metal into gold. The caterpillar is a worm-like creature that crawls on the ground, which could represent the lower or more base aspects of things. The butterfly on the other hand, rises above ground soaring freely in the air, which could represent the higher more exalted nature of things. To get from the base aspects to the higher form of the butterfly, the caterpillar is essentially transfigured. Its body and immune system breaks down into mush. It is wiped out, becomes no-thing...basically unidentifiable, only to emerge into the beauty of the butterfly. This can be likened to the Blackening phase in alchemy, which is like a death or a "dying-off" of the old (habits, behaviors, structures, thoughts, ego). The emergence of the butterfly can be compared to the White phase in alchemy, like an upliftment of the soul. This all sounds very "Scorpionic", wouldn't you say.

Isn't this what we are all going thru right now with Saturn transiting Scorpio?  Are we not all being transfigured or "alchemized" in one way or another? Whether we are conscious of this or not, the fact is IT'S HAPPENING, slowly but surely. Saturn/Scorpio is the catalyst of our transformation, the deepest and most soulful kind.  We are all being turned inside out in some way, some much more than others (folks with planets early in the fixed signs). And its hard, because fixed signs don't want to budge, so its like we're doing it kicking and screaming all the way.... but "doing it" we are!  Surrendering to YOUR higher will and going with the flow is they way to ride the current wave of transformational energies.  Let go of what is no longer serving your highest good, or Saturn will rip it away. This planet traveling in Scorpio doesn't care about your comfort zone and attachments (created from a wounded past), it cares about setting your life on the highest and healthiest path. Its house cleaning time via Saturn in Scorpio in order to make room for the NEW that wants to be birthed from the Uranus/Pluto Square.  So,  in order to proceed with new beginnings, we have to clean house first and get rid of the old garbage (Saturn in Scorpio),  one step in the alchemical process.

This all feels like a massive personal and collective existential crises. I think that is undeniable at this time in our history. We are a "soul-sick nation", as astrologer Jessica Murray puts it, in need of much soul searching in order to heal our collective madness. To heal, we have to purge the old, become transfigured like the caterpillar, and emerge in our newness, rising above the lower aspects of ourselves, personally and collectively. This is alchemy, and our time of transformation is at hand, via Saturn in Scorpio, along with Uranus square Pluto.  Its the "Great Work" and we are the "Great Ones" chosen to do it.  So when you're down and out, and feel like you've had enough, take a deep breath, give yourself a hug and remember:

 "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly".