What Is Saturn Return? Saturn in Capricorn Until December 2020

Saturn has a bit of a reputation. In astrology, the cosmic gas giant has historically been associated with death, misery, and even the Devil himself. Fortunately, we’ve more recently made peace with this powerful planet. In modern astrology, Saturn represents tradition and structure as symbolized by a paternal figure. But this figure is strict and values hard work and responsible choices. It adheres to a “tough love” approach, propelling us into life’s most difficult challenges so that we gain strength and wisdom. Saturn is definitely cruel to be kind.

It takes Saturn between 28 and 30 years to move across all twelve signs of the zodiac, and it dwells in each sign for approximately three years. Since 2014, Saturn has been cruising through Sagittarius, the constellation associated with discovery, philosophy, and spirituality. Over the past three years, we've seen a rise in industry-transforming technology (think of services such as Uber and Lyft), radical shifts in the media industry, and renewed interest in astrology and occultism (my personal favorite consequence of Saturn in Sagittarius). But Saturn has a more nefarious side, as well (in astrospeak, the planet is titled “The Great Malefic”). Controversies surrounding national borders and immigration have been ongoing during Saturn’s transit, as the planet of restriction fought hard against Sagittarius’ free-spirited ideologies.

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On December 19, Saturn said au revoir to Sagittarius and moved into the Capricorn constellation, where it will coast for three years. (Saturn will briefly shift into Aquarius from March to July 2020, but will officially complete its Capricorn cycle on December 17, 2020.) Saturn is the natural ruler of Capricorn, so its return to this constellation serves a cosmic homecoming. Though the stoic planet prefers not to show its excitement, Saturn is actually happy in its like-minded Capricorn domicile. Both Saturn and Capricorn govern the patriarchy, economy, government, and big business, so over the next three years, we can expect massive transformations to occur within our institutional structures.

Saturn last cruised through Capricorn from February 13 to June 9, 1988, and then from November 11, 1988 to February 6, 1991. For those born on or between those last two dates, Saturn’s movement into Capricorn begins their notorious "Saturn return." This is a powerful period guaranteed to change their lives forever.

If this sounds dramatic, it is — but don’t panic, cosmic warriors! We’ll get through this together. Read on for my answers to some of the most crucial questions about your Saturn return, including how to harness its energies to inspire positive growth.

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Okay, so what exactly is your Saturn return?

Simply put, your Saturn return occurs when this taskmaster planet moves back into the constellation it occupied at the time of your birth. It takes Saturn approximately 29.5 years to complete its orbit, so we experience our Saturn returns in our late 20s, late 50s, and late 80s. Your first Saturn return serves as your cosmic coming-of-age: It's the push you need to get to the next phase of adulthood.

Before our Saturn return, we are a construction of outside influences: We are living the lives imposed on us by our parents, teachers, peers, and general society. When Saturn returns to its home base, the tough love planet reviews every aspect of our lives to ensure that we’re fulfilling our greatest personal potential. Generally speaking, this three-year period — which includes some intense moments as Saturn gets closer to its precise degree in your birth chart — is defined by the growing pains of radical transformation. Once our Saturn return is complete, we are finally free to live our best lives as we define them.

Is there anything special about a Saturn return in Capricorn?

Punctual Saturn thrives on rules and regulations, so the rigid planet imposes structure on whichever constellation it tours. When Saturn returns to Capricorn, however, the planet feels right at home: Capricorn — the ambitious earth sign associated with hard work — is ruled by Saturn, so this transit is actually very complementary.

If your Saturn return is kicking off, you can be sure to expect massive changes to occur in your career and public image. Saturn will perform thorough due diligence, assessing our previous choices to ensure we’re on the right path and showing us forcefully the ways in which we aren't. Though Saturn’s redirection can sometimes feel harsh, just remember that the planet has your best interests in mind.

On a macro level, Saturn in Capricorn will directly impact institutional systems. There will be abundant shifts pertaining to authority, government, and large-scale corporations. In past years, Saturn in Capricorn has correlated with the Great Depression and the fall of the Berlin Wall. And with Pluto — the planet of rebirth — also cruising through Capricorn, transformations will be inescapable.

How can I survive Saturn return? Is there anything good about this period?

Saturn return is a big deal, and it may be painful. But it’s not all doom and gloom. If you’ve been cruising through your 20s in a youthful haze, your Saturn return may serve as a timely wake-up call, encouraging you to step up your game and confront your responsibilities. Alternatively, if your experience thus far has been plagued by challenges, hardships, and difficult choices, Saturn will reward your resilience. That’s right, cosmic warriors, Saturn return is actually a prosperous time for those who have already been hard at work tackling life’s obstacles. Finally, a cosmic payout on your karmic investments!

The most important pro tip: Befriend the taskmaster planet. Resisting Saturn’s counsel is never a good idea. Saturn can always see through your excuses, so it’s best to cut the bullshit and embrace Saturn’s transformative guidance. Are you on the path to realizing your best self, making your own decisions, and following through — or are you facing dead ends in areas of your life, from your career to your personal relationships? You're about to find out, and when you do, don't shy away from big decisions and fresh starts. So buckle up, cosmic warriors. By the end of these three years, virtually everything in your life will be different, so why not enjoy the ride? You're about to learn a lot about yourself, and that is worth celebrating.

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Astrologer Aliza Faragher has the scoop on which sign your sign should date:

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