Our emotional foundation and subconscious self-image based on early childhood experiences are established in the fourth house. The way we feel about ourselves is conditioned by our experience of our parents’ (or significant others’) acceptance or rejection of us as we were growing up. From these experiences we developed our sense of belonging and our capacity to receive—and/or a sense of alienation and a difficulty or frozenness in receiving.

The fourth house rules the home, our family as a child and as an adult, the nurturing parent and our early experience of being nurtured, our most personal and intimate life, real estate and property, and our heritage and ancestry. Here is where we send down roots and establish a base of operations, find our limits, and generally secure ourselves. It is the end of any searching we might have done in the Third house, and thus rules the latter part of life. A planet here indicates the need for a stable emotional base in order to fill the needs of the house it rules. The more planets in this house, the more one tends to be subjective, personal, private or introverted.

The fourth house is that one-twelfth sector of the local sky counter-clockwise from the nadir (see above picture) occupied by planets in the two hours before they reach the lowest point in the local sky.

The test with Saturn in the fourth house is one of fear that manifests as an emotional contraction that can appear to be selfishness. This can be overcome by shining light on the source from whence your fear came. This then in turn will result in your coming out of your shell and giving more freely of yourself. There's pride in one's heritage and family, and often responsibilities and duties where the family is concerned. You may be asked to carry on the family tradition. A tendency to live in the past and possibly a strong attachment to your mother make (made?) it difficult to leave home, but you'll be happier away from where you grew up. Problems with ulcers or indigestion may occur due to withheld feelings. You have simple needs regarding home and surroundings, yet it may be difficult for you to send down roots, build a home-base, and feel secure. Land and real estate, however, are good investments.

This Saturn in the Fourth House page and much of this 550-page resource website are excerpted from You and the Universe.