Navigating Your Saturn Return

Discover what it is, what it means and how to survive and thrive

By Emily Trinkaus

If you're in or approaching your late twenties, you're likely to hear murmurs about the ominous Saturn Return. If you're brave enough to inquire, you'll get the message that you should be afraid, very afraid. But the purveyors of fear probably won't give you any helpful information about what to expect -- or, more importantly, what you can do.

So let's look at what's actually happening. Saturn takes approximately 29 years to orbit the Sun. Therefore, when you are about 29 years old, Saturn returns to the part of the sky where it was when you were born -- your Saturn Return.

Astrologically, Saturn is the Cosmic Taskmaster -- the demanding teacher who presents you with obstacles and challenges so you can gain strength and wisdom. Saturn's position in your birth chart reveals your major life lessons, as well as the fears you have to overcome to achieve success.

Saturn also represents what's important to you, and shows the goals you are here to pursue, based on your values. When your actions -- especially your work in the world -- are aligned with your inner Saturn, you experience a sense of integrity and satisfaction. When you're out of alignment, you feel Saturn's shadow -- restriction, lack and fear.

Committing to Your Calling
Your Saturn Return -- which typically kicks in around age 27 or 28 -- is a time of coming into alignment with your life's true path. Work tends to be a major theme, and many make significant career changes during this time.

Don't think that you're "too old" to take your work in a new direction, or even go back to school for training in an entirely different field. Saturn rules longevity and old age and wants you to imagine yourself at age 80, looking back on your life. What do you want to have accomplished? What will you regret not doing because you were afraid to take a risk?

Saturn will give you very clear signals if you're not aligned with your calling and pursuing your passions. Feeling stuck, depressed, frustrated and/or jealous of other people's careers are signs that it's time for a change. Those who ignore the signs and resist change could be forced by circumstances into a new line of work. Saturn is the "tough love" planet, whose lessons can feel harsh. However, whatever losses you experience during your Saturn Return are really helping you in the long run, compelling you to come into integrity with your truth.

Because your Saturn Return is typically a time when you have to "make your own luck," don't expect work opportunities to come falling out of the sky. Be willing to be humble and start small. If you're interested in pursuing a new path and don't yet have the experience to land a paying job, then volunteer your time. If you can't afford to go back to school full-time, start by taking a class at a community college.

When you demonstrate your commitment to your goal by taking one concrete step in that direction, Saturn will reward your effort. If you're willing to work hard, take responsibility, face your fears and let go of the past, your Saturn Return can be a time of major achievement.

Navigating Your Saturn Return | Tarot.com -- Continued »