What is the Saturn Return?

The Saturn return is a significant event that occurs roughly every 29.5 years when Saturn returns to the position it was in at the time of our birth. It is a period commonly associated with entering a new stage of adult maturity and facing the realities of life’s responsibilities. During our twenties, many of us build foundations in our lives—such as deep friendships, jobs, and familial bonds—that provide a sense of security and support. Often they feel like anchors, and we rely on them to get us though life. We also hold the comforting illusion that there is ample time to shape our reality without immediate pressure. However, when Saturn returns, it can feel like the universe has suddenly rung an alarm clock. Suddenly, we realize we’re not as young as we once were, and there isn’t as much time as we thought to get our lives together.

Why Is the Saturn Return So Hard?

It typically brings a heightened awareness of time and mortality, challenging our sense of infinite possibilities. It can feel like we suddenly have a burden to meet specific expectations from others or personal milestones. We might start freaking out about hitting our goals: career, relationships, achievements. The whole “I have all the time in the world?” illusion starts to crumble.

The Saturn return is thus a period of reevaluation and realignment. It compels us to critically assess the path we are on, the choices we have made, and the foundations we have built. It’s a confrontation with reality, pushing us to secure or redefine our place in the world based on a matured perspective of what is truly valuable and meaningful in our lives.

Should I Fear My Saturn Return?

It is a significant cycle in life that everyone experiences; for some, only minor adjustments are needed, but for others, it can trigger a full-blown existential crisis. For many of us, it acts as a checkpoint that urges deep reflection on what we’ve accomplished so far. It can feel like a time of reckoning where we weigh our life decisions and success against what we expect from ourselves.

Some people might suddenly feel the urge to get married, as if they’ve been handed a checklist they need to complete. Others might be looking at their early marriages and thinking, “What was I thinking?” Often, it involves dramatic re-evaluations of life and some significant changes. The house, the kids, the picket fence—all those traditional markers of adulthood start to feel like the world’s scorecards. If we’ve got them, we might start questioning if that’s really what we want. If we don’t, we might feel like we’re playing catch-up.

The pressure to conform to traditional milestones like having children and buying a home can intensify. We might rush to achieve these goals to “fit in” with our peers, or we feel anxiety or a sense of inadequacy if we haven’t yet reached them, which are often culturally esteemed as markers of being a successful adult. Professional life is not immune to the upheavals of the Saturn return. Doubts about career choice, direction, and satisfaction might emerge. For some, it can mean a dramatic shift in career paths or a serious reconsideration of what they want to achieve professionally. It could lead to starting over in a new field or retraining, which might feel like being taken back to square one.

At its core, the Saturn return can also trigger a crisis of identity. It’s a time when individuals confront their values, beliefs, and the authenticity of their life path. It can lead to significant changes in how one sees oneself and their place in the world. We face our realities, take action, and potentially redefine our lives. How one makes it through this period can vary greatly, but it is often a defining moment that sets the course for the next phase of life.

Are All Saturn Returns Bad?

While for some it may pass with minimal disruption, for others, it can be a time of major upheaval and change. The infamous 27 Club used to denote famous musicians and artists who tragically died at the age of 27, it was heralded as a time of turmoil and existential crisis. For some, it highlights struggles with personal demons and life choices, which often intensify during this period.

A common theme during the Saturn return revolves around separation from existing structures or relationships that no longer serve one’s evolving needs. We may leave a long-standing social group, move away from home, end a relationship, or even change career paths. Such steps, while aimed at achieving greater self-sufficiency, can be full of self-doubt as they often require us to step out of our comfort zone and dismantle the very support systems we have relied on. As old structures fall away, the necessity to build new ones becomes necessary. We may feel we are building new scaffolding in our life—establishing new relationships, forming new habits, and creating a new sense of self. The process is often not smooth and can be fraught with fear and uncertainty as we feel our way around this newfound independence.

Interestingly, not everyone immediately recognizes the impact of their Saturn return while it’s happening. Some may feel that nothing significant occurred during that time, only to look back later and realize that critical changes or decisions were made that led to substantial shifts in their life trajectory.

The Saturn return serves as a rite of passage—an astrological milestone that marks the transition from the phase of youth to the more settled and responsible phase of adulthood. It challenges us to reassess our lives so they align more closely with our matured desires and goals. Whether it’s a turbulent or a quiet period, it holds the potential to significantly reshape our life path.

Saturn transits are often associated with a time of increased responsibility, hard decisions, and a lot of effort. Known as the taskmaster of the planets, Saturn demands discipline, structure, and commitment. Generally, we might feel burdened with more duties. Whether it’s in our career, personal life, or both, the demand for our time and energy increases. It can lead to feeling overwhelmed but also pushes us to become more organized and efficient. Saturn’s influence is synonymous with the pressure to “grow up.” It’s often transiting in our charts when we reassess our life’s direction and make significant changes. Tests our endurance and commitment, urging us to leave behind frivolous pursuits in favor of more substantial and meaningful endeavors.

For those who may have lived a carefree or less wholesome lifestyle, a Saturn return might signal the time to “clean up.” This could involve reducing unnecessary excesses, focusing on financial stability, or even detoxifying physically and emotionally from past habits. Saturn pushes for stability and permanence, so decisions made during this time are usually aimed at establishing a solid foundation for the future.

Saturn transits aren’t easy—they test our mettle and often come with hard lessons. However, they are also periods of great personal growth and development. The period of a Saturn return, though often feared for its challenges and the pressure it brings, can mark a shift towards true adulthood. Even for those who might have reached significant life milestones earlier—like marriage or parenthood—the Saturn return can still feel like a foundational solidifying of one’s life path.

Is Life Better After a Saturn Return?

The Saturn return has a way of making all the pieces of our life fit together into a more cohesive whole. It’s about laying down a foundation that feels solid and secure. The decisions and changes made during this time are often geared towards long-term stability and satisfaction, rather than short-term gains.

Many people report feeling more connected to their own life and more committed to their future during and after the time. It isn’t only about external commitments like relationships or career paths, but also about a deeper internal commitment to one’s own values and goals. While it may not seem monumental at the time, the impact of a Saturn return can be far-reaching.

It’s often only in hindsight, years later, that one can fully appreciate the significance of the changes and growth that occurred during this period. What might have felt like subtle shifts or even minor disturbances at the time can be recognized as pivotal moments that formed the backbone of one’s life.

For those currently experiencing or about to enter their Saturn return, or for those reflecting on this period in hindsight, it’s valuable to recognize this time as a significant chapter in the journey of life—one that lays the groundwork for future achievements and personal fulfillment. Learning the lessons and challenges of this phase can lead to greater personal development and a strong sense of purpose moving forward.