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Saturn return: when it comes and what it means
A Saturn return is the time when Saturn comes back to the place in the zodiac where it stood on the day of birth. Saturn orbits the Sun in 29.46 years, so the returns come at about 29, 59 and 88 years of age. For those born on 15 March 1990 the first one is on 17 January 2020.
The ages
The three Saturn returns
Around 29 years of age
The tradition links the first return with the end of youth: a person weighs whether their choices of work, relationship and home are really their own.
Around 59 years of age
The second is a reckoning of what has been achieved and a time to pass the experience on.
Around 88 years of age
The tradition reads the third as a look back over the whole path.
Saturn does not always pass over its place once. When the return falls in the time when Saturn, seen from the Earth, seems to move backwards, it passes three times: forward, back and forward again.
For those born on 15 March 1990, Saturn passes once in 2020, and three times in 2049: on 21 February, 26 July and 20 November 2049.
The age is a guide: the exact date comes from the calculation for the date of birth.
The sign of Saturn
The Saturn return by zodiac sign
According to the astrological tradition, the theme of the return depends on the sign Saturn was in at birth. It is often a different sign from the Sun sign; the field above shows it.
Aries
action and patience
You learn to wait before you react, and your anger turns into a plan.
Taurus
security and standstill
The test is to let go of the things and habits that keep you in one place.
Gemini
knowledge and scattering
Instead of talking about everything, you choose one subject and reach its depth.
Cancer
home and dependence
You find support beyond your family too and carry your own feelings.
Leo
recognition and pride
Confidence comes from within, without the need for anyone’s applause.
Virgo
order and perfection
You stop correcting everything and start finishing.
Libra
partnership and boundaries
The test is to say “no” and to keep your own boundaries.
Scorpio
depth and control
You learn to let go of control and to trust others.
Sagittarius
freedom and direction
Instead of always looking for something new, you choose one thing and build it.
Capricorn
responsibility and fatigue
Saturn rules Capricorn, so the tradition reads this return as a strict test of responsibility.
Aquarius
ideals and reality
Ideas meet circumstances, and you look for a way to put them into practice.
Pisces
dreams and reality
The test is to stand on firm ground and turn the dream into a plan.
The tradition
How to navigate your Saturn return
Do not make impulsive decisions
When everything seems uncertain, the tradition advises waiting until the decision has ripened.
Finish your old projects
Postponed tasks and open questions are best closed before something new begins.
Re-evaluate your values
Compare what mattered to you at 18 with what matters to you now.
Find a mentor
People who have been through the same years can spare you some mistakes.
Keep a journal
What is written down helps you see which decisions repeat.
Saturn
Frequently asked questions
Exactly how old are you during the Saturn return?
About 29, 59 and 88 years old. The exact date depends on the date of birth and is calculated in the field above.
How long does the Saturn return last?
The pass over the degree itself is one moment or, when Saturn moves backwards, three moments within a few months. In astrology people speak of the period around them.
Is the Saturn return the same as a quarter-life crisis?
No. The quarter-life crisis is a notion of psychology; the Saturn return is a position of Saturn. Astrology links them because the first return comes at about 29 years of age.
When exactly is your Saturn return?
Enter your date of birth in the field above. Which sign and which house Saturn is in for you is shown by the natal chart.
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Saturn in your chart
Yearly horoscope
The yearly horoscope by natal chart describes the year month by month: a forecast for each of the 12 months, the eclipses and the retrograde periods.
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Related topics
Lunar return
The Moon comes back to its place every month: the forecast from that day.Saturn in astrology
What Saturn means in the natal chart.Kinds of horoscopes
Daily, weekly, yearly, personal: which one is for what.The phases of the Moon
The eight phases, the new moon and the full moon.
The interpretations follow the astrological tradition, for education and entertainment. They are not medical, financial or legal advice.