Some astrological transits are more well-known than others. Some are even known by those who know little or nothing about astrology. And some don’t have the best reputation.
Well, Saturn Return can surely tick all the abovementioned boxes.
So, what a heck am I talking about? Let me explain!
As the name suggests, Saturn Return is a significant astrological transit that occurs when Saturn returns to the same house and sign position in your natal chart (also called birth chart) where it was when you were born. Because Saturn spends roughly 2.5 years in each zodiac sign, the first Saturn Return happens between ages 27 and 30. That means no matter when or where you were born, or what star sign (Sun sign) you have, or anything else, at some point in your late twenties, you will experience your first Saturn Return. That’s a given. Then, later in your fifties, you will have your second one, and if you live long enough, you might even experience your third one in your mid or late eighties.
Regardless of which one we are talking about first, second, or third, Saturn Return has a bit of a bad rep.
But Saturn isn’t a bad guy. Indeed, none of the planets are. It’s just because different planets embody different themes in astrology, and the way they manifest in our lives is strongly tied to what they represent.
So, what does Saturn symbolize?
This giant ancient planet is all about discipline, structure, and responsibility. It also represents delays, restrictions, limitations, and the sense of reality. Saturn rules time and is also strongly tied to our karma.
Can you see it?
These aren’t the most light-hearted topics, which explains his lack of popularity. The truth is, Saturn in the birth chart isn’t about fun or pleasure. (That would be more Jupiter and Venus.) Saturn is about growing up and maturing. He is about solid foundations and structures. He is about getting real about what we want in life and the practical steps we need to take to achieve them. Saturn is about patience, endurance, and keep going even when we would instead give up.
Saturn is about grown-ups’ stuff. Clearly.
Its position in our birth chart shows an area where we need to work harder to achieve what we want. Even if we do our diligence, we might feel slightly behind or restricted. Again, it is just the very nature of Saturn. He does not give results easily.
So, what kind of experiences can we have during a Saturn Return transit?
Our personal experience largely depends on how much work we did before the transit and how well we fulfilled our natal Saturnian promises. We all experience the transit differently; obviously, not all are bad. Essentially, this transit is about growing up and taking responsibility for our own lives and actions, and the more we worked on ourselves in the past, the easier the transit feels.
So, why do so many of us have negative experiences with it
The reality is that this transit hits us earlier in life and requires maturity and a fair amount of self-awareness, and many of us just aren’t ready. And that is when we get the Saturnian message. Saturn has a remarkable ability to communicate what he wants to say. The message often manifests in a crisis or unforeseen situation that requires us at least to pivot and adjust and, at worst, completely restructure certain parts of our lives.
Saturn is often described as the Great Teacher or Taskmaster, and he can certainly teach us a lesson or two through his transit. Although it usually feels overwhelming while it’s happening, that’s for our good.
During my first Saturn Return, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and was on prescription medication for about a year and a half.
It was not fun, yet it was precisely the experience I needed to overcome my self-undoing. Leading up to the transit, I was chasing the wrong things and focusing on anything but the important stuff. Yet, I wasn’t ready to change.
Until I was. Thanks to Saturn.
If I hadn’t had this breakdown in my late twenties, I likely would have never started to practice meditation, which, I genuinely believe, saved my life, or decided to become a yoga teacher later on. Although they both stemmed from the same negative experience, I’m forever grateful for all of it, as they completely altered my life’s trajectory.
For the better.
So what can we do to have a smoother experience?
One of the best things we can do to have a less intense transit is to look honestly at our lives to see what works and what doesn’t, what feels right and what doesn’t, and make the necessary adjustments accordingly. Because if we don’t do it, the Great Taskmaster certainly will.
That’s the tough love of Saturn.