What Does Saturn Mean in Astrology?

Learn about the role of this planet and your Saturn return.

Saturn is the over-protective “dad” of the zodiac. Its placement exposes our restrictions, limitations, and fears.

Saturn goes retrograde each year for about 140 days and, as an outer planet, takes approximately two and a half years to transit each sign.

Saturn teaches us tough lessons, so it can be a little intimidating to think about its retrograde motion. Does that mean it’s more difficult than other retrogrades? Not exactly.

When Saturn glides backward, it revisits your recent experiences to make sure you’ve addressed all issues properly. If you’ve confronted your problems responsibly, Saturn will reward your hard work. But if you’re in brutal denial, Saturn will agitate those old wounds.

We experience three Saturn returns in our lifetime, moving us through significant phases: your first Saturn return (in your late 20s) encourages you to move into adulthood and may cause you to question your career, relationships, and how you define yourself. Later in life, Saturn returns to usher us into middle age (in your late 50s) and old age (in your late 80s).

Within the natal chart, Saturn represents the area of life in which we’re hardest on ourselves. It also reveals where — through hard work, patience, and practice — we can reap the most emotionally gratifying rewards. Curious about the placement of Saturn in your chart? Download the Sanctuary app to chat with a Sanctuary astrologer!