All of the 7 planets, not only Saturn, travel through the zodiacal belt and along the ecliptic at their own individual speed. Depending on the speed of the individual planet, it will regularly return to the same degree and minute as it is in the birth chart – this aspect is known as a conjunction as the two planets are then joined together as one. The other two of the five Ptolemaic aspects to be aware of while the planet traverses along its path, are the opposition (180 degrees from the place of that planet in the birth chart) and the square (90 degrees away). When the planet in question connects with itself (and even any of the other 6 planets) in the birth chart during the course of its travels, this can be significant.

Saturn is slow is motion and is the slowest of the 7 traditional planets, finishing his course through the signs of the zodiac in 29 years 157 days; this means that every 29 years or so, Saturn in the sky at the time will conjunct Saturn in the birth chart – and in astrological jargon this is known as the Saturn return. Although great significance is placed on this Saturn return, it is important to remember that it is not the only defining astrological moment and that any planet making these aspects – conjunctions, squares and oppositions – to itself in the birth chart, is significant. The reason why Saturn is afforded so much interest though is due to his rulerships.

Known as the Great malefic (the big bad guy), his effects can be most unpleasant. The severity of this unpleasantness however is subjective – one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Saturn rules death, restriction, boundaries, discipline and hard work and he is the author of grave mischief. He denotes the life-lessons that bring us to our knees as we realise that we are unable to traverse along our path without assistance – he humbles us and makes us aware of our mortality and frailty. It is not uncommon to find that when reaching the ages of 28 to 30, people experience events of great magnitude. Examples of events that would be triggered (although this is very largely dependent on what houses Saturn rules in the birth chart itself) are marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a death of a person or a business, immigration and so forth. It is apparent that any of these events would result in one thing – a rite of passage into adulthood as the consequences of any of the above highlight the maturity and sense of responsibility of the person.

Saturn rules old age, wisdom, prudence, caution and temperance – all qualities of the mature individual – and it is these very things that the events triggered by Saturn should teach us. To state it simply, Saturn is the planet that forces us to grow up, to leave behind the parts of ourselves that are no longer desirable and to face the reality of our individual potential in all its magnitude, but also to acknowledge our limitations. Lessons presented to us which result in pain, suffering and hardship, are to be embraced and should be viewed as an opportunity to progress spiritually. It is not the event in question that causes the problem; it is our response and attitude to it. If we cannot see Saturn for what he is – the great teacher – then the lessons he presents are wasted at that time. We will not be let off the hook however and these lessons will not disappear into the ether. Saturn does not stop moving after the first Saturn conjunction – he continues along his path only to return to that same place in the birth chart 29 years later when the person is approximately age 58. Until he reaches that point again, he nudges us gently (and sometimes not so gently) when he reaches his squares and opposition to remind us that he is coming ‘home’; to help us prepare for the lessons he will be bringing with him. I do not know about you but I prefer to listen to him as he moves along aspecting my birth chart; I have no desire to experience the grim period of age 29 again when aged 58 – that would mean I never heeded him at all, which would plainly have been foolish!