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
