In any conversation on astrology one of the most fascinating is the discussion on planetary cycles.
And when we talk about planetary cycles the Saturn Return is probably familiar to most people.
I have included my own personal experiences with both my First and Second Saturn Returns in my life. And I invite you to think back to those years in your own life and reflect on what was taking place, and what did you take away from it.

SATURN

The Great Teacher

Saturn is associated with limitations, time, evolution, structure, form, maturity and wisdom. The influence of Saturn is what drives us to reach our dreams and our goals. It is the taskmaster that compels us to stay up all night to complete that project, at the expense of a good night’s sleep.
Saturn draws us to the difficult path understanding that it will be worth it in the long run – there is no reward in taking the easy way out.

Saturn is what astrologers call an outer or generational planet because it is one of the planets that is furthest from the sun and its orbit around the sun takes 29.5 years. These generational planets have immense gravity and energy, thus their effect on our lives is more amplified – because they move slower through our lives. Saturn’s energy is directly linked to mastery of the profound lessons we learn throughout our lifetime.

Saturn in Your Natal Chart

In astrology, the Saturn Return refers to Saturn’s journey, which takes about 29 years to orbit our Sun, representing time and personal growth. We can also look at these cycles as markers of initiation into new phases of our lives. The First Saturn Return at the age of 30 is when we become an adult, the Second Saturn Return at the age of 60 is when we enter the years of the Elder, and the Third Saturn Return at the age of 90 is marked by Wisdom.

I have included an image of my own natal chart showing the conjunction of transiting Saturn and my natal Saturn. This was my first Saturn Return when I was 29 years old.

The First Saturn Return: Growing Up

At around the age of 29-30, we experience our first Saturn Return. This significant astrological event marks a profound turning point in our lives, as this is where the transiting Saturn returns to the same sign and house as your natal Saturn. Astrologer Steven Forrest describes this time as the clash between the dream and reality. Until now you have had a dream of who you want to be, what you want to do in your life. And now at the age of 30 reality – responsibilities, obstacles, LIFE gets in the way. You have to decide now if your dream is strong enough to pass the test of Saturn!

A Feeling of Dissolution

At about this time in your life, you might be feeling dissatisfied or unfulfilled and ready to try new things. It is a time where you are ready to take a risk if it means you will touch your dream. It won’t be easy – you are confronted by obstacles – and you can pass the test of Saturn with hard work and determination, or you can fail the test by letting the obstacles win – you take the easy way out.

Reaching Your Goals

Saturn challenges you to confront any unfulfilled aspirations and to embrace transformation, laying the groundwork for the next 30 years. We feel an urge to set new goals – perhaps we go back to school, change careers, buy a home. We are ready for more responsibility.

During my first Saturn Return at the age of 29, I decided to finish my high school and go on to college where I enrolled in the diploma nursing program.
I was a mother of a 7-year old child and living with my boyfriend who did not support me in my choice to go back to school or was mature enough to handle the responsibility of a family. In addition to going to school full-time I worked on the weekends to pay the bills. My determination to complete my studies had me getting up at 4 AM each day to study before heading off to class, and I maintained a B+ average grade.
It was also during this period in my life when I experienced the loss of my grandmother, whose loss would profoundly affect me for my entire life. It would be the first really heavy loss of a loved one for me.
All these obstacles seemed so insurmountable to me. I was tired and could not go on.
Sadly, in my last 4 months of college and my nursing program I succumbed to the stress I had put myself through and I dropped out of the program – even at my Instructor’s strong advice to stay. I really thought I could go back at another time, but LIFE always got in the way. I ended up changing my plans; I was now taking shorter courses in Office Administration which really took off for me!

The Second Saturn Return: Elder

By the time we turn 60 our Saturn once again returns its natal position in our chart. A new phase of life; maturity brings new experiences and feelings. By this time we are planning retirement from working, our children have left home and are adults themselves, and maybe we are becoming grandparents. We begin to think about what we want to be remembered for – our legacy. Maybe we begin to work on that family history book or photo album.

By my second Saturn Return at 59 I had already become a grandmother. I had such enormous feelings of following in the footsteps of my own mother, and even my grandmother – psychically feeling the emotions of joy that swept over them as they moved into this new stage of life. I don’t remember having this same level of emotion when I became a mother for the first time.

Also at this time I was thinking more about starting my own business so I could have more control over my time spent working, and I also experienced the profound losses of my sister to cancer and my mother to illness, marking a permanent shift in my life. Saturn, the planet symbolizing responsibility, maturity, growth, and mastery, elevated my understanding and experiences to new heights. This journey of growth instilled in me a deep compassion for others, a depth only reached through the fabric of caring, love, and loss that comes with life’s experiences. I founded my own business; a niche magazine and publishing company that I lovingly named after the birthstone, Opal, that my mother and I both shared.
This second Saturn Return changes us in another fundamental way; as we mature and age we experience more loss and transformation. We lose our parents, our siblings, our friends, our pets; and the transformation results in either sadness or compassion.

The Third Saturn Return: Wisdom

If we live to our 3rd Saturn Return, at the age of 90, we can expect to have yet deeper and more profound learning and wisdom that comes from this cycle of life, as this significant astrological event often marks a pivotal transformation in our personal journey. It is a time of reflection and looking back at our accomplishments, allowing us to reassess our choices and the lessons learned along the way, while celebrating our wisdom and the growth we have experienced over the years.

Referring back to Astrologer Steven Forrest, he adds a further insight to this Third Saturn Return that I resonate with. He offers that “Death is the true teacher here.” In the third Saturn Return we face the mystery of mortality. He explains how during this time we begin to realize that there is life beyond our physical body. The diseases that we call dementia and Alzheimer’s are a ‘drift between this dimension and the next one.’

I can’t relate any of my own experiences to this yet – but I can say that each year that goes by and as Saturn moves through the signs and houses of my chart I can understand a little bit more about my life. My own 3rd Saturn Return won’t happen until I am about 87 years old – in February 2045!
Until then, I can watch others who are celebrating this special time in their lives and I’ll be a witness to the process. My father is turning 90 this year. He is now beginning to show dementia. I am saddened by this but I also understand that he is transitioning between this life and the next. And I guess this will be a lesson for me as well – to prepare me for my own transition.

Where were you during your Saturn Return? I invite you to think back to those years in your own life and reflect on what was taking place, and what did you take away from it.