By Matthew Galea
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Every 27 to 30 years, Saturn Returns to our sign, bringing all kinds of chaos to test us and show us what we’re truly made of. Here’s how to survive the dreaded astrological period.
There are many astrological hurdles that the universe throws at us but I feel like the only one that we earthlings honour is Mercury Retrograde. Sure, it’s a huge pain in the ass, but misunderstanding someone’s text message and technology and travel going awry are mere inconveniences. There are bigger, more noteworthy moments in the cosmic calendar to look out for that play a bigger role in our lives. Think big picture, people.
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So what is a Saturn Return?
While Retrograde is a planet going backwards, a Return is a planet making its way through the sky and back to the exact position it was in when you were born, in effect closing the cycle you’ve been on your whole life and beginning another.
This occurs every 27 to 30 years because that’s how long it takes for Saturn to pass all 12 signs until it returns to yours.
Saturn isn’t the only planet that makes a Return, but it’s the most infamous one as it seems to wreak the most havoc of all the planets and therefore it’s absolutely something you should be in the know about.
What happens during your Saturn Return?
The Saturn Return marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It’s a time to slow down, reassess your goals, cut the bullshit out of your life and make choices that will lead you onto the right path.
Because Saturn is known as the teacher planet, when it enters back into your sign, you’ll learn all the important lessons you need to learn in order to move from adolescence to full-blown adulthood.
During this time, you’ll be faced with all kinds of challenges that will have you questioning the life you’re currently living to help you decide if it’s the life you want. If the answer is no, then this period will give you the opportunity to make changes based on what you see to help you transition into the next phase of your life.
So no, you shouldn’t look at this as some scary, evil curse that’s about to be bestowed on you. Saturn’s energy is a lot of things, but it’s certainly not malicious. Think of it as a firm leader who is testing you to see what you’re truly made of. These tests aren’t designed to watch you fail, but to help you grow stronger and learn important lessons.
That’s why many believe it to be the end of your youth. As dark as that sounds, the events that occur during your Saturn Return will make you adopt a newfound maturity and responsibility and with it, a greater sense of purpose.
“What once seemed to glisten will suddenly lose its shine.”
You’ll find that your priorities start to shift and what once seemed to glisten will suddenly lose its shine and you’ll wonder why you’ve been wasting your time on certain things, people, habits, etc. Saturn is also believed to be the ultimate bringer of karma, meaning your past actions can come back to haunt you. Were you unfaithful to a previous partner? You may soon find out that your current partner is being unfaithful to you. Did you cheat on an assignment in university? You may find your job might start to go awry. There are stern lessons to be learned in this time but they are valuable, none the less, and are an essential part of growing up and achieving a more enlightened state of being.
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Do we just go through the one Saturn Return?
Nope, most people will experience around three. There’s the first one that hits in your late 20s, then the second one, which occurs in your late 50s, and the third and final one, which usually lands in your mid to late 80s.
When will I go through my Saturn Return?
Glad you asked! While Retrogrades impact everyone at the same time, hence why your Instagram feed will be peppered with ‘Oh shit, it’s Mercury Retrograde’ posts all at once, Saturn Returns hit people at different times.
To calculate your Saturn Return, head on over to this handy and accurate Saturn Return calculator. You just need to pop in your birth date, place and time and it will tell you when all three of your Saturn Returns begin and end.
Any tips for surviving my Saturn Return?
There’s no cheat sheet or how-to guide for getting through your Saturn Return. It would be like asking how to avoid puberty. It’s a planetary rite of passage that we all must go through. But what you can do is be aware that you’re being tested and remember that the moves you make over the next year or so are crucial and character-building.
When confronted with certain situations, take a few moments to really think about your next moves. If your first instincts are to fire back, reassess why you feel the need to respond that way and decide if that’s the person you want to be, moving into the next phase of your life.
While it’s important to remain vigilant, I’d also encourage you not to overthink things or be afraid of what’s to come. As we know from the basic laws of manifestation, our thoughts can impact our reality so if you’re constantly worried and stressed, your life will be worrisome and stressful. Instead, direct your energy into acing your goals and focusing on where you’ve been and where you hope to go next.
It’s also important that you’re gentle on yourself and don’t b
lame yourself if you’re not where you had hoped you’d be before entering your 30s. Setting unrealistic goals and comparing yourself to other peoples’ success is toxic behaviour and will not help you transition. Instead, contemplate your successes and your failures, celebrate your wins and analyse what you can learn from your losses.
Focus on where you hope to be by the time Saturn has completed its next lap around all the signs and returned to yours. Here’s to the last 27(ish) years, and the next. You’ve got this.
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