My True Saturn Return Story

Image by Teo Viedma from Pixabay

So, today marked the day my first Saturn Return was exact. Yes I’m old now.

But I think this also provides an example of how the Saturn return can be something to look forward to, to stare in its face instead of delaying the inevitable or fearing its approach.

Now, I must preface this by saying I am extraordinarily lucky, with Sun trine Jupiter, Jupiter in the twelfth (signifying a guardian angel’s protection), and Moon sextile to Jupiter. Aside from an opposition to Saturn, which isn’t too nefarious, my Jupiter is fairly clean.

In addition, my Saturn return only hits once this time around, meaning I don’t have to relearn or go through any repetitive processes for this occasion. Pretty badass if you ask me.

Now let’s get into it.

The Initial Worry (Imagining Incoming Peril)

Many people in the know of astrology get anxious when talks comes of Saturn and Saturn returns. This planet is the ultimate marker of karma in the chart. Saturn is the most realistic, serious, grave planet in the zodiac. He demonstrates the principle of cause and effect, reap what you sow, you get out what you put in, etc.

A little about me: my natal Saturn is in Aquarius in the sixth/seventh house, depending on which house system you use. I consider both house placements. For me, Saturn always seems to delay relationships and work for me. It was pretty tough to date and get a job I enjoyed when I was younger. (Look at me talking like I’m in my 40s already.) I was pretty meticulous about who I communicated with, and I could not stand working in an environment I truthfully did not support.

I want to say it was beyond my control, but a more accurate way of putting it is I seriously did not want to. Working hard wasn’t difficult for me; rather it was the type of work and my compensation. It would rip me apart inside to think about working somewhere for a measly, hourly paycheck while my “superior” made grands, with benefits to boot. I’m doing all the work, under the guise of some company name, and I don’t even get any credit, recognition, or real pay!

But back in the real world, pride doesn’t pay the bills. No time was this more evident than when my mother passed away mid 2020 (thankfully not due to C-word). I suddenly inherited a whole NYC apartment and had to decide whether to keep it or sell it and migrate. So far, I’ve managed to maintain payments, but how long can I do so if I’m finding it difficult to work with people here? I do part time writing on the side, in addition to tutoring math, but how am I really going to sustain myself long term?

This imagined peril that many people go through on their Saturn Return typically pushes them to make decisions based out of fear, instead of reading their personal situation and making an informed, practical decision. Fortunately, that Moon trine Saturn aspect gives me a stable emotional center, where I can see things for what they actually are rather than what I feel they are.

The What (The Treasure Within My Natal Saturn)

My working situation made me really consider where I would like to work, doing what, and for whom. Saturn in Aquarius is about working with the right people, organizations, and social groups. It’s about finding your tribe and adding your own flavor into that pot. Saturn is the traditional ruler of Aquarius after all, so this energy actually works very well. But the native, in this case me, truly needs to find where they belong in the world. Otherwise this placement manifests as hardships in social circles and organizations.

And trust me, it has for the first 29 years of my life.

That translates into work and business, as well as relationships, with my natal Saturn in the sixth/seventh houses. My dating life, public status, and my finances can drastically improve if I can find out where I work the best. (Hint: NYC doesn’t need more astrologers.) My clients would need to appreciate my work because it’s original and inventive (Aquarius), not because some franchise name carries my worth. I want to earn my way to the top and be there because I deserved it.

Just so happens that I got into astrology not too long ago, and saw how powerful this science can be for people. I love astrology! This made me consider how I can use it to help more people learn about it for themselves. Then I thought… I also love writing too. And entertaining. What if I can combine the these with astrology into something useful?

Boom – a website, a book, a script… Ideas just kept flowing. Although this site’s been up for a few years, only recently have I decided to purchase the domain so it looks neat. Plus, it’s only the beginning of the chapter. Buying the domain is me physically taking action to reap the benefits later (Saturn). Of course, I trust it will! Since we’re talking about Saturn here, I expect some delays but dedication and hard work pay off eventually. It’s about setting the foundation first.

The Reality (Playing it Out in Real Time)

So back to today, the point of this post. For the past few months I’ve really been trying to take the Level 1 exam for the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR), a well-known society (Aquarius) for astrology. It’s a step towards getting officially certified and adding some letters to my name that actually matter to me (Saturn). It’s also proof of my skills and capabilities (sixth house), which will be necessary when I go out to interact with people as an astrologer and spiritual worker (seventh house).

See how this is all tying together?

Unfortunately, as always with Saturn, the test took much longer than I anticipated to get ready. After all, it was the first time the NCGR had considered doing tests entirely online. There was much preparation (Saturn) that had to be done, on their end and mine. I studied very hard with a wonderful tutor for the test.

Fast forward to the beginning of January 2021: I’m still annoying these NCGR people about the test, the test, the test. Turns out, it’s not done yet; still giving it the finishing touches. As I waited, I noticed that my Saturn return was coming up, and since it was only passing once, I was very unsure about what would occur. Most people typically have Saturn pass three times (once direct, twice retrograde, thrice going direct again), so their lessons are truly cemented in. For me, I seemed to only be getting a one-off experience.

I didn’t even see that it could be this exam, until earlier this week, when I had to schedule the test myself. It seemed obvious, like “Duh Garrett, set it up on your Saturn return.” Trust me, there’s nothing else I would rather be doing than a test to prove my mettle in the one thing I actually care about.

So of course I did some brush up practice, studied what was loose in my mind, and finally today came, the day of the test. I set it up so that the hour that my Saturn return was exact, I’d start the test. A 1-for-1 experience here.

And guess what… I ACED THAT BITCH!

I must say that I am happy with the results. It’s the first time in my life where I actually feel recognized for my TRUE potential, not what society, parents, friends, or anyone else expects out of me. It is physical proof that I have something to offer, and yes, it is only the first step.

And this is what I mean by “karma free”: its deciding how your placements play out instead of letting them decide for you. It takes intention and willpower to make your life your own, and it is actually much easier than it sounds. That is why I love astrology: you can make any transit or aspect your own and ride on top of it like a space-surfing badass.

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Anyway enough of my rambling. This is why I haven’t posted too many articles in the past few weeks. But we’ll get back to making some pretty soon! If you are enjoying the content on the blog, consider subscribing so you never miss a post. We’re gonna start getting into the nitty-gritty of things now, flushing out the foundation of the site so we can move on to deeper topics.

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Til next time guys!

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