The Saturn Push Toward Authenticity

All that glitters isn’t gold. The path toward authenticity is no different. For every bad ass person you see living their truth and shining brightly, there’s likely a backstory. A hard row they had to hoe. A dark night of the soul or heroine’s journey. One universal trial by fire we all have to go through is the Saturn return. Every 27 to 29.5 years, Saturn makes a return to the same degree and sign it was when you were born. Saturn is known as the gruff and sometimes grumpy taskmaster of the zodiac. It gets a bad rap but Saturn energy is really about discipline, structure, wisdom and karma. The ultimate parenting energy.

Currently, Saturn is retrograde through October 23, making it a good time for everyone to reflect on the medicine of Saturn. The individual Saturn return is about crossing a threshold between one phase of life to the next. The first one marks the end of the 20s and the sometimes rocky transition into the early 30s. It can be earth-shattering, unsettling and illuminating depending on personal astrological placements and one’s ability to work with the lessons that come vs. against them.

During my first Saturn return, I left my hometown and moved across the country. This was about 8 months before my 27th birthday. Just under two years later, I was laid off. I trusted the path thanks to my faith and my support circle and landed an even better job three months later. One of the best jobs I’ve ever had. But I knew there was something more. During this time I discovered dance/movement therapy existed and knew that was my next calling. So two years after my layoff, I was headed back across the country to graduate school. By 30, I was living a completely new life, and it set up the foundation for the work I’m doing now. It wasn’t always easy, but it was a necessary shift pushing me toward a more authentic expression of myself and my purpose in the world. I'm curious what my second return will look like in my late 50s/early 60s.

For my fellow elder millennials/xennials or my Gen Xers and Boomers, what was your Saturn return like? That period between 27 and 30 years old. Or maybe you’re going through your Saturn return now? How are you faring? Saturn energy can be challenging but it ultimately nourishes us for the long haul. It's like broccoli. And as your palate matures, broccoli can taste pretty good.