Your Saturn Return has the reputation of being tough and unforgiving. Yes, it can be challenging, but they also leave behind wonderful life-changing events which propel you along your evolutionary path – after all, what's the point of it all if not to better ourselves?
Saturn works in cycles throughout your life, and the major one occurs every 29 and a half years. Your first Saturn Return spans from around age 28-31, which even muggles accept as a challenging time known as Turning 30. This is a hugely significant event in your life, occurring after the frenzy of activity in your 20's, when you are brought down to earth again as Saturn returns to it's natal position.
The second Saturn Return spans from approximately age 58-62 and the way you have conducted your life since 30 will come into review. Maybe time for another shake up to keep you on your authentic path.
I love the way that author Mark Levine puts it on the cover of his book Saturn Return, which he calls a novel about "Who you are. Where you're going. Who you're meant to be with." And if you're stuck in a serious rut in the wrong profession or with the wrong person by the time you reach your late 20's, Saturn will make sure you come back to yourself and climb onto your true path again.
The distractions and diversions tend to fall away, and you make serious changes in your life such as moving far, far away, changing careers to something more suited and not wasting your precious time anymore on all the wrong friends and lovers.
Your sense of time becomes more weighted and refined, you notice a significant change in how old you feel and you might start to worry that you haven't accomplished as much as you thought you would by 30, and therefore want to make urgent changes that are more aligned with where you want to be in the following years.
Your sense of responsibility deepens and I like to think of this as the time where you are distilled down to your essence and most likely to act authentically according to who you really are. You can achieve great things during this time or lay the seeds for future self-mastery if you work with what Saturn requires of you. After the rollercoaster of changes, reality starkly accompanies you wherever you go.
When I was in the eye of the storm of my Saturn Return, I felt confused and shocked by all the deep structural changes and craved guidance and also felt the huge need to share my experiences. So after things settled down, I thought others might feel the same way too and would need a space to tell their stories.
All the Saturn in Virgo themes absolutely related to me, and when I discovered this I realized how just how deeply helpful becoming acquainted with the astrological themes related to your Saturn sign can help you.
I found that so many people had stories which went something like this: "And then this happened, and then this happened, and then…can you believe on top of all that, THIS happened" and so on. Yes! That is your Saturn Return! And it's better to know all about it and to share your stories with others, because it makes you feel SO much better and NO you are not going mad!
Tell us your Saturn Return Story in the comments section…
What sign is your Saturn in? What house is your Saturn in?
What are your unique Saturn Return themes?
You can find out exactly what sign and house your Saturn is in by entering your birth details on Astro.com and keyword guidelines for that sign are provided below.
SATURN RETURN IN VIRGO THEMES
Perfectionism, not feeling good enough, discipline to make a dream real, going back to nature, humbling, removing toxins, purification, mental and physical health – are you neglecting your body?, workaholism and your relationship to work – are you working yourself to death?, alternative healthcare – will you treat yourself or trust the old school doctors?, psychosomatic illness (for example physical illness related to perfectionism), being of service, breaking free from "slavery", chronic digestive disorders (IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcers), anorexia and bulimia, anxiety and sensitivity, compulsions, focus, seeing the woods for the trees and not feeling well trained enough.
Here is a guide to Saturn in Virgo through the houses
SATURN RETURN IN LIBRA THEMES
Equal relationships, lessons in relationships, creating mature relationship dynamics, justice, make or break time, marriage, fairness, compromise vs. authenticity, ability to commit, playing by the rules, relationship reality checks, self in relation to the 'other', a balance between giving and receiving, assertion, cosmetics, sugar trade, sugar in your diet, balance and blood sugar levels.
Saturn Return through the Signs
Saturn Return expert, Nancy R. Fenn, has a wonderful list of articles on the Saturn Return themes throughout the signs. Of course it depends on what house your Saturn is in too, but here is a taste:
Saturn Return in Aries – Relationships with men, aggression issues, competition and ego
Saturn Return in Taurus – Issues regarding self worth, the body, instincts, money and morality
Saturn Return in Gemini – Siblings, mental illness, indecision, restlessness and insomnia
Saturn Return in Cancer – Issues with your mother, being a mother, nurture, rejection, home and security
Saturn Return in Leo – Being "chosen", being "special", children, creativity, love and melodrama
Saturn Return in Virgo - see above
Saturn Return in Libra – see above
Saturn Return in Scorpio – Trust and betrayal, sexuality, intensity, financial assets, death, loss, manipulation, revenge, power
Saturn Return in Sagittarius – Mobility, personal freedom, travel, teaching, higher education, culture or religion, the outdoors
Saturn Return in Capricorn – Making your way in the world, success, responsibility, status, joint and bone problems and being a provider
Saturn Return in Aquarius – Individuality and uniqueness, finding your mission in life, being different, networking, friendships
Saturn Return in Pisces – Doubts and fears, mental illness and depression, sacrifice and surrender, helplessness, music
SATURN RETURN STORIES
"I am 29 turning 30 this coming January and have only just discovered today why it feels like I have been falling apart, then ok, questioning EVERYTHING, then ok, falling apart again, then ok and so on for the past few years. To the day, 29.5 years, which was just a few weeks ago for me, I started questioning my life and all the recent changes I had made, moved country to be with my boyfriend, had retrained earlier in the year as a Life Coach, so setting up my new business here, in a place I don't know anyone. Almost 2 years ago to the day, I had the most amazing and most awful summer of my life, had a neurotic breakdown, moved back home which was hugely traumatic and lived like a zombie for 6 months with my parents, who I've only ever wanted to be away from. As you can probably sense, I am just thrilled to know that I AM NOT ALONE and this actually makes total and utter sense. My boyfriend has been calling me the LOST SOUL! And I was beginning to think I was just that. But, nothing is lost in the mind of God!!! I momentarily forgot that! I am an Aquarius, who has been trying to live an incredibly conservative, traditional, standard life all this time, because that's what my parents want! And apparently, the guilt I feel about doing what I really want, prevents me everytime. I did often think, why do I do the complete opposite to what I actually want to do? What in God's name is wrong with me. Such relief I feel now though to just know that. To know that's why I could never stick with anything, because it just so wasn't me I couldn't bear it past a few months and I mean jobs, boyfriends, hobbies, friends, university courses, you name it! Just by being able to name it and read other's stories like yourselves, I feel much happier. Thank you all, you've really made a difference in my day, my week and probably my life!"
Tell us your story in the comments section…
Links on the Saturn Return
Cafeastrology – Saturn in Libra ⋅ Saturn in Libra and Relationships ⋅ Turning 30 and the Saturn Return ⋅ About.com – Molly Hall on Saturn Return ⋅ Saturn Return in Libra – About.com ⋅ Elsa's Advice Blog – Saturn Return Forum ⋅ Horoscopic Astrology – The Saturn Return ⋅ Introduction to the Saturn Return ⋅ Linda Goodman Forums – Saturn Return I ⋅ Linda Goodman Forums – Saturn Return II ⋅ Nancy Fenn – The Saturn Return Expert ⋅ The Beauty of Ageing ⋅ Wikipedia.org – The Saturn Return ⋅ Astrogrrl – The Saturn Return ⋅ Rob Tillett on the Saturn Return ⋅ Saturn Sisters Stefanie and Sherene ⋅ Jon Layton on Turning 30 ⋅ Articles on Saturn in Libra ⋅ Aquarius Papers – Saturn Return
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Surviving Saturn's Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life by "Saturn Sisters" Stefanie Iris Weiss and Sherene Schostak
Saturn Return by Mark Levine
Saturn In Transit by Erin Sullivan
Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia and Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage
by Elizabeth Gilbert
Veronika Decides To Die: A Novel Of Redemption by Paulo Coelho
Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil by Liz Greene
Saturn, Chiron and the Centaurs by Melanie Reinhart
Hello!
I have Saturn in SC on my ascendant opposite my Sun, (square my Moon on IC), and of course square my Midheaven too. My first Saturn return was a breeze! And here I am approximately one year + before my 2nd Saturn Return and whoa has the rug been pulled out from underneath me. I used to be in professional theatre full time-earning my living and I quit the theatre because the 80 hour work week and lack of fulfillment: I wanted to connect one-on-one with people and not be so far removed propped up on a stage. I worked for seven years or more as an actress, director, producer and children’s playwright. In order to take a risk and divorce myself from theatre : I moved in 1996 to a town where professional theatre was non-existent. I loved having weekends free and not having to deal with the petty competitions that ensue in show business. Now, after having spent 5 years full time in college pursuing a counseling degree- (with a cumulative GPA of 3.2), I was forced to leave my program as well as my internship due to outrageously nasty politics in the “halfway house” where I was placed. (transiting Pluto conjunct natal Mars which in my relocated chart is on my IC). I am piecing my life together, rather shattered and trying to survive financially and still continue with my education. My present plan is to use my creative talents WITHOUT going back to the grind of touring, competing and memorizing lines totalling an 80 hour work week. I remain terrified of majoring in the Arts and graduating without ANY practical qualifications for today’s VERY PRAGMATIC marketplace where the Arts are drastically being cut. Health and Happiness to ALL!
[...] your own story here) "My Saturn in the 5th House played out in the fact that I had my first child late in life [...]
HANNAH,
Where sign is you saturn located and what house? Im very sorry of what you have been going through and wish you the best now and in the future. Just be strong during this time and you will find your way.
I am 27 and will turn 28 next yr in April. My saturn is in Scorpio in the 7th house.
I am not looking forward to my SR. :(
My saturn is in Libra and I think it might be in the first house… must check that again. Update: I now have my own place to live that is wonderful and affordable. I am seeing an amazing councellor who is transforming my patterns of behaviour and giving me greater confidence and self esteem. I am seeing an acupunturist who has cured my anxiety and given me my life back. I have regained my faith in God and pray a lot and meditate. I quit smoking two days ago. I have been ditching toxic friendships. I feel stronger than I did before this journey.
There is no use being afraid- many people go through this period of their lives without much drama… it all seems to depend on how ‘on course’ you are and how ‘true to yourself’ you have been living. As long as you are living by your own standards and being authentic and in touch with your potential, you may coast through without a glitch. It is a personal growth experience. I had a LOT of growing to do- still do. Just live your life as best you can regardless of Saturn returns -at least that way you will get the most benefit from it and if anything tough does happen, you can take comfort in knowing that it’s healthy in the long run and you’ll come out the other side a stronger happier person ;-)
Update… the guy who was helping me threw me out onto the street at 2.20am because I wanted to go to bed and he wanted to keep shouting a drunken argument at me. I went abroad to see my boyfriend. He was depressed and penniless and mean- we din’t celebrate my birthday at all- no cards, no presents, no drinks, no party. He started putting me down. I saw the guy who tried to rape/murder me last october and threw water at him… my boyfriend beat the s**t out of me for throwing water. Seven men including my attacker watched as I was beaten up, doing nothing until he started kicking me in the head (then they shouted something) and he carried on beating me with his fists. Then I was abducted and dumped by the road side in the middle of the night. I ran for my life 2 days later. I am now homeless, but have been helped by a homeless shelter and some nuns.
I’m 27, 28 next month. It’s only from just starting to read everything about Saturn returning that it finally makes sense! And it actually feels somewhat comforting to know there is a possible reason for this constant anxious feeling…
I think my Saturn ripples must be massive because I started feeling them a long time ago. Since I left school, I had always landed on my feet without even trying – great jobs, did great in my degree and other courses, always had great opportunities thrown my way. I decided to move out just after my 26th birthday, and it all seemed to fall downhill from there…. Having just got some swanky new job, I decided to leave it way too early, without anything else to go to (still in “I live with my parents, I always land on my feet” mode… and then the rubbish jobs rolled in, one after the other, and I felt crushed. Things weren’t brilliant with my partner either, and I knew we had a lot of work to do. I severley regretted leaving the new job, because of the mess I’d left myself in, and I felt completely deflated as I’d grown so used to falling on my feet. This notion stayed with me for a long time – and still does – two years on, I still desperately regret making that decision… I need to work on this.
I completed a teaching qualification last year and am now working in a job I don’t particularity like whatsover – teaching jobs are amazingly hard to come by these days. So I’m still in ripples, but they are getting more ‘wave’ like now…
Thankfully, me and my partner did LOTS of sorting out and things are just fantastic now, and we hope to get married and have kids a few years down the line.
This isn’t just a career thing for me (though it is mainly) – it’s realising I am not invincible, and I do have to work hard – and I should probably just appreciate how bloody lucky I have been all these years. I’m sick of this anxious feeling in my chest nearly all the time – anything can set me off over the edge into real depression… I spent a long time last summer very depressed, and had to take time off work.
So, I’m just hoping that as the waves and the ripples fade I find myself in a sorted out career, able to get a mortgage and think about those kiddies.. I guess I’m on the way, but it doesn’t feel like it – I had such a set back I’ve lost the confidence I once had, life can feel hard to enjoy now… but I need to shake off the regrets I guess and let go of the things I really can’t change.
I am 28 and I’m going to turn 29 this coming July. I have been having a really rough time this last year. I suddenly decided to go travelling alone to a country I’d never visited before and knew little about, least of all the language. While I was there I had the most amazingly happy and at the same time traumatic experience. I was stalked by a man, so moved house to somewhere more discrete. I kept getting sacked from my menial jobs. I got beaten with a stick which resulted in the largest and deepest bruise of my life. I was then stalked by yet another man lurking around my new apartment building (where I had moved to to avoid the other stalker). I got a lift home from a work collegue thinking this would keep me safer than walking. He grabbed my arm when I tried to exit the car (he wanted a kiss) and left bruises where each of his fingers had been. I was offered a job in a ‘cafe’… there was no cafe, there was a bed… I had to talk my way out of that situation. I fell in love in a clandestine situation. I was the victim of ostracization from jealous girls in our group. I fell off my scooter. I was attacked by a rapist who broke into my apartment in the middle of the night and had to save my own life and protect my chastity. I had to fly home. I was met at the airport by my mother who wasted no time hugging me and marched me to the car. I had to stay with my parents in the middle of nowhere as I had nowhere else to live. I had to leave my lover behind. My mother ignored me when I burst out crying next to her (she claims not to have noticed). I saw a councellor for a couple of sessions to get over the trauma of being attacked. I threw myself into the mission of self help to get over the immense fear and sense of vulnerability I felt. My parents did not help or understand and were very judgemental and critical and even called me names. I tried to find work. I had no money and nowhere to live. My mother kicked me out of the house during an immensely unfair arguement. The one friend who offered me a place to stay ended up being abusive towards me and bitching about me and putting me down behind my back and to my face, all the while I couldn’t say anything as I had no place to go and she had the power to chuck me out. It culminated in her and three of her cronies ganging up on me and me feeling so threatened by it, that I realised that ‘the street’ was a better option. I was then rescued at last minute by a work collegue who has genuinely been helping me get back on my feet. I have now come up with a solid plan about what I will be doing, which is moving abroad. I have taken steps to carry this plan out and things are really coming together for me. My boyfriend said he thought I was cursed and that I should see a priest. Reading the above has given me a lot of solidarity as I feel better knowing that others can relate to what I am going through. In fact it was a friend who told me about the Saturn Returns when I told her about everything that’s been happening. Some good has started to come out of this testing process!