What Makes the First Saturn Return So Challenging

What makes a Saturn Return interesting? When you have your first Saturn return, you’re also having your nodal reversal, which means that the north node is on your natal south node and your south node is on your natal north node.  Though astrologers don’t talk about it a lot, most people during their Saturn return have the hardest time with it during the beginning. 

Why the Beginning of Your Saturn Return Is the Hardest Part

And during the beginning of your Saturn return, when transiting Saturn is applying to your natal Saturn, which means it’s on its way to become conjunct to your natal Saturn, your nodal reversal is already finishing up. 

So why is this the hardest time? Perhaps it’s your nodal reversal dragging you into regression as opposed to your actual Saturn return that’s causing the issues. And by the way, a Saturn return is active so long as Saturn is in the same sign as your natal Saturn. 

Similarly, your nodal return is active too, so long as the transiting south node is in the same sign as your north node, and vice versa. FYI this is just my opinion (though validated by other astrologers). Just to be clear, the opinion I’m speaking about is your Saturn Return being active so long as transiting Saturn is in the same sign as your natal Saturn. 

I just feel like Saturn Return ends up taking the heat when nodal reversals do a number on you as well. Oh my god, they do a lot. They force you into regression and then you have Saturn begging you to just get your shit together.  If anything, I think Saturn is helping you. But the issue is that when you are forced into regression and then you bite, you take the bait, Saturn has to whoop your ass because that’s what Saturn does. 

The Second Saturn Return: Why It’s Actually Easier

And what about the second Saturn return, the one that happens in your late 50s. Why isn’t it such a big deal? Because your nodal reversal doesn’t happen during your second Saturn return. The second Saturn return is actually known to be a pretty great time. It’s when a lot of people are divorced and they end up getting married to the people that they spend the rest of their lives with. It’s when people retire and, have a new understanding of life. They then reach the self-actualization part of the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 

Don’t get me wrong, the second Saddam Return is also a more prevalent time for these adults to lose their parents. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a part of life. Just remember that your first Saturn return is just your first integration into adulthood.  It’s nothing more than that. Saturn just wants you to grow the fuck up. And that nodal reversal happening during your first Saturn Return? It is the cherry on top that people never look at, but you have to consider it. 

It’s like a push-pull between trifling and being responsible. That’s what makes the first sign of return so challenging.

Understanding Your Saturn Return Timeline: A Weather Metaphor

Here’s a good metaphor that you can use to apply to your Saturn Return. So, for example, if my Saturn is at the smack dab middle, basically, of Aries at 14 degrees, 39 minutes, so round up to 15, there’s 30 degrees in each zodiac sign. 

The moment that Saturn enters the zodiac sign where my natal Saturn is placed, that is when my stage one of my Saturn return begins. The metaphor for that is the thunderclouds begin to form above my head. 

When Saturn moves within seven degrees of my natal Saturn, so that would be at seven degrees in Aries. That’s when the thunderclouds start to produce lightning. And then when Saturn is conjunct my Saturn at 14 degrees, 39 minutes in Aries, that is when it starts to pour. 

Then as Saturn moves away from my natal Saturn to 15, 16, 17, 18, the clouds start to dissipate and a rainbow starts to form. And then when it leaves Aries completely, it’s just back to the way it was before it entered Aries. 

What Your Saturn Return Really Means: Integration Into Adulthood

But the whole message behind those thunderclouds and the rain has nothing to do with crazy shit happening to you. It has more so to do with the fact that you are experiencing your first real integration into adulthood. 

That’s all a Saturn Return is. It’s nothing more than mere nuisances that happen to occur in your day to day life that you need to tackle immediately. Like, don’t put off that headache you’ve been having, go to the doctor. 

If your toilet broke, get it fixed immediately. You have to pay a speeding ticket? Pay it immediately. The whole theme behind Saturn returning to its natal point is the fact that you need to be a little bit more on top of your shit. 

You’re gonna go and get your passport renewed on your own. Mommy’s not gonna come with you. You’re gonna pay your own bills, perhaps. You’re gonna move into your own apartment. You might even get married. 

You’re growing up. It’s not necessarily a disaster like people paint it out to be. Some people’s saddened returns are the best years of their lives. This is because they’ve been on their best behavior and now they are yielding the fruits of their labor. 

How to Navigate Your Saturn Return Successfully

Be a good human. Be there for your friends. Go and be there for your family or whoever you consider family. Blood is not always thicker than water. Pay your bills on time. Go to the gym, exercise, take vitamins, make your bed, go for walks, enjoy life, be responsible. Ninety percent of the time you come out of it just fine, as if nothing had ever even happened.