2nd Saturn Return: An Astrologer's Journal

Molly Hall, About.com
2nd Saturn Return: An Astrologer's Journal

Wednesday December 8, 2010


The first Saturn return (around 30 years) is often something that we only understand in the rear-view mirror -- "dang, what happened?" But how about the second go-round of Saturn (nearing sixty)? How does the tool of astrology come together with the wisdom of the years -- does it soften the harsh realities that Saturn so often brings?

In this exclusive, regular About Astrology contributor Eileen Grimes begins a journal of her experience, here at her Second Coming of Saturn. She writes about her hopes for this life passage, and reflects on her first go-round. She describes so well the mix of loss and relief that comes with tough choices, and the maturity that comes with accepting the limits of time.

She's let her hair go gray -- not easy, she says, for a Leo rising. Salt n' pepper becomes a poignant outer sign of aging, and yet, in embracing time, she's told she's become more youthful. This reminds me of how Saturn-ruled Capricorn is said to age in reverse -- Eileen's insights speak to those paradoxical gifts that Saturn brings. Stay tuned for more installments, as time marches on for Eileen, and she shares with us how Saturn slowly works its magic.




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The Second Coming of Saturn
An Astrologer's Journal of the 2nd Saturn Return
From Eileen Grimes



Author Photo Eileen Grimes



What we call in astrology the Saturn return is when transiting Saturn meets our natal Saturn. Saturn's cycle is 29.5 years, making the first Saturn Return around 30 years, and the second in the late fifties.


From author Eileen Grimes:

Sobering event, yes. And yet, very illuminating and freeing. I am choosing to view this rite of passage as a blessing, not a burden. This is the second Saturn return. I’ve been awaiting this event for a while now, viewing its approach from afar with trepidation and concern. I’ve been in the habit of watching Saturn’s events unfold in my own life in the past 20 years or so, and have noted that the insights and change usually come with some serious hard knocks.

I want my second return to be notable with a lot of lessons completed and learned, and with new avenues of experience being rich and vital. The more willing I am to go through the eye of the hurricane, the more empowering it will be.

First, there seems to be a lot of reflecting, and a serious desire to travel back in time to when there was less stress and responsibility. I have been revisiting old memories, good and painful, over the last little while. However, there seems to be more of a contentment as to how things are now. The maturity that has come with this transit seems to be invaluable, and I’m seeing that sweating over the small stuff just isn’t worth it anymore. I feel secure in the abilities and gifts I have, and will, I am sure, have new ways of using them as this transit moves forward.

But before I could really move forward, I had to look back...

The first Saturn return coincided with my entering some new professional arenas. I had spent most of my 20s in a kind of extention of my college years; in fact I had gone back to school at an arts college to further my performing experience. When the first return came in 1981, I realised I had to get down to work, and left a lot of fantasies about my being a professional performer behind. I was married two years later after I had settled down in a profession.

I remember the feeling at that time of leaving behind a part of me that I could no longer maintain. The maturation process, for me during that time, was serious business, and a bit sad too. I had a romantic soul, and had lovely romantic experiences along the way, but at the age of 29, I felt like I had to get down to business.

The first Saturn return, the maturation process that prepares us for our upcoming working/professional life kicks in. At that time, the individual will discover their own work ethic. The real purpose of the first Saturn return, is finding out just what we’re good at, and how those gifts can be packaged and marketed as workable skills that will be of use to us and our employers. This certainly pertains to the work life, but in general, the individual is learning about their own work process, setting goals and achievements, ultimately leading to my favorite Saturnian term, mastery.

Mastery is a learned experience of confidence in our own competence: when one is faced in calling upon all levels of experience to handle a situation from its inception to completion, with impeccable, and unimpeachable, expertise.

The Second Coming. Since I am at the beginning of this particular life-event (the official time period of a Saturn return is about nine months - for me it will be from November 2010-August 2011), there have been some notably interesting experiences, both wonderful and very sad. I lost a best friend which was very difficult, but directly after I released a long-time situation that had me angry, off and on, for the last 14 years. With the loss of a friend, came a release of something else that I no longer wanted to carry around with me. Door closed, window opened.

I am also finding out that I changed my relationship with my hair. I made a conscious decision to “come out gray” as an homage to my Saturn return. I realize it seems a rather superficial thing to do, but given I have a rather obsessive/codependent view of my own hair (Leo rising) it became more significant. I am sensing that the lessons I am learning from this loss have to do with letting go of the unimportant things in life.

The interesting comments are that I seem younger to people than I did before. We always think of gray as something that ages us, but its not that way, really. It's just becoming who we are at this age - and with that, there is casting off a lot of pretense, so that it does actually feel like I am younger, because I don’t care about the small stuff anymore.

It is interesting that in the previous return, I was looking for myself, professionally, and now at the 2nd return, I’ve found myself professionally. Having stated that simply - there is a greater sense of who I am, and who I’m not, and what I do well, and don’t do well. That process has been illuminating and positive. I also see things, down the pike, that might be new avenues of professional exploration.

Right now, at the beginning of this transit, I’m considering them, but not am interested in rushing anything. The key to Saturn is don’t rush, take the time needed to look at everything from all angles, and determine if its feasible to make it work, professionally and personally.



Astrology About.com

Saturn Return
Molly Hall, About.com


What is the Saturn Return?:



This is when the planet Saturn comes back to meet your natal Saturn. It takes about 29.5 years for this slow-mover to return to where it was when you were born. The Saturn return hits in the late twenties, and its impact is felt into the early thirties. There's a second (and possibly a third for the long-lived among us) Saturn return that hits between age 57-60.


Time to Grow Up:

The Saturn Return is a wake-up call, and this is why so many fear it's sobering realities. If you've spent your twenties in a fog, coasting on your youthful charm, it becomes obvious that your foundation is too flimsy for the long haul. When you're young, there seems infinite time to decide what you want to be "when you grow up." Well, Father Time swoops down as you're nearing 30 to say, you're all grown up now, pick a path.


Time to Get Real:

Sometimes we make life choices before we really know who we are. At the Saturn return, some of these choices are revealed to be out of sinq with our true destiny. And it's a big deal, since there may be marriages and whole careers up for review. The U.S. Census reports a peak of divorces around age 30, when promises made in the blush of youth don't match the core of either person as they approach this turning point. On the other hand, Saturn may bring a fated relationship, that leads to a serious commitment with long-term potential.


The Dreams of Youth:

The Saturn return brings with it the pressure of time, and often the first awareness of your own mortality. You take stock of what it would take to achieve those big dreams, and often a sense of dread at ever getting there. But happily, it's a time when things like disciplne, focus and clear-sight come in to give you a kind of pragmatic hope. You'll figure out what's still possible, and make the changes necessary to get on track.

It's a crossroads period, when life-altering decisions are made . For example, at age 30, Vincent Van Gogh became a painter, instead of a minister.


Stripping Down:

The Saturn return often creates a crisis that puts you face-to-face with your fears. And many of these have deep roots in your psyche, but they're also about living up to societal expectations. Saturn causes a mini earthquake to the foundations, and this enables you to shake off what's not really You. Saturn's other alias is Lord of Karma, and here's the test of whether you can become your own authority. Can you discover an unshakable core self within you that will be the basis for a lifetime of growth?


Saturn and Depression:

Saturn has been known as the Great Malefic, whose transits are met with dread. But Saturn is simply the instigator of change, all meant to lead you toward healing and a real foundation of self. If you're in your Saturn return, and finding it hard to cope, get used to letting go of what's not working. When you hold on to things that Saturn is trying to break up, that's when the suffering is compounded.

Check out one of the Saturn return blogs, so you can share experiences, and not feel so alone. You'll soon see that most people feel confused, lost and even despairing or hopeless at this time.


Learning about your Saturn:

If you don't know your Saturn sign, look it up on the birth chart. Astrologers often say it's important to "Do Your Saturn," and this means taking tangible steps to master those qualities. Read about your Saturn sign, and look at how it aspects your other planets.

During my Saturn return, I found a journal with the Aries Ram in it (my Saturn sign) and this is where I worked out my thoughts. Seek out interpretations, and spend time figuring out for yourself what the Taskmaster is expecting. Read up on Saturn in each of the four elements, the qualities, houses and of course, the all-important Zodiac sign.


Rewards and Responsibilities:

The Saturn return makes it clear what you've been up to for the last 29 or so years. Some "old souls" that made wise choices from the get-go may find it to be a passage where things are solidified. Not all marriages fall apart, and some grow stronger when they make it through this maturation phase together.


Another Chance:

If you resist the changes that Saturn brings, there's always the second go-round. But that isn't advised, since it might be a farther fall to the bottom. The example of a Saturn resister would be someone devoted to a job that makes them miserable, or stuck in a relationship that's harmful to their spirit. Just like the I-Ching says, chaos is another name for opportunity. And listening to the pressures and doubts of your Saturn return brings on the breakdown before the breakthrough. Saturn is trying to lead you to yourself.


The Lowdown:

As Lord of Karma, Saturn brings you what you've earned through your disciplined pursuit of goals and experience. You'll find out during the Saturn return what you've manifested up to that point, how well you've used your talents. No wonder it's a feared transition -- this is like the mid-semester exam!


In myth, Saturn is also the God of the Harvest, and it's harvestime during your Saturn return. If nothing's been sown, and therefore, very little reaped, you'll realize it's time to get busy. The scythe of Saturn prunes, cuts away the useless bits, and that can feel like a death of the self. Saturn often brings a death to the old ways of doing things, but later on, you're likely to say, "Good riddance!" The death phase is never easy, but keep in mind that rebirth will come.


Saturn's realm is responsibility, and will show you how to grow through relationships, raising childing, pursuing a challenging career, finding discipine for an art, etc. If you've indulged in wishful thinking, Saturn finds a way to make this painfully obvious. It's not just designed to humiliate you, but to inspire you to stand on solid ground.


Saturn is like the wise old man who sees right through your excuses, and empty boasts. Try to make friends with Saturn through discipline and finding a step-by-step path to your goals. It's the simple, but not always easy task of making your dream a reality by doing it on a daily basis.


When serious Saturn overtakes your life during this hugely important initiation into adulthood, it's important to remember that 'This too shall pass.' The harshness of this period can make you feel washed up, parched, dishillusioned. But it can also be a time of taking stock, liberating yourself from all kinds of baggage, and starting anew with a clearer sense of purpose. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be. The Saturn return reminds you of what truly important, and makes sure you're on the path to claim your highest potential.



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