Hello!

Saturn has moved into Libra and is making some very strong connections to other planets as it sits at the earliest degrees. Some of the people feeling it most strongly are those beginning their a Saturn Return. Saturn returns in the sky to the degree it was at the time of our birth every 30 years or so and it marks a change in the way we handle our responsibilities. Those born from late September through mid-November 1980 and from April through August 1981 are beginning their 1st Saturn Return. Those born from late November 1950 and early March 1951 and again from Mid August 1951 through the end of September are going through their 2nd Saturn Return - as everyone born during this time frame was born when Saturn was in it's first 5 degrees of Libra. If you birthday is near a change of season date, you will also be feeling Saturn in Libra very strongly.

This started last year. Saturn crossed into Libra on October 29, 2009 - he got to about 4 degrees and then turned retrograde, making the same conjunction on the way out. Now, Saturn is here to stay, and he's at 3 degrees Libra today (Aug. 26, 2010).

It is said that the 1st Saturn Return marks the time when we reach full maturity (the time when we become full fledged "grown-ups") and we often see dramatic changes in our lives at this time - like getting married, starting a family, beginning a career - while the 2nd Saturn Return coincides with general retiring age, and it also changes the way we work - do we retire or start a new career or business? Here's what my software says about Saturn Return:

Saturn conjunct Natal Saturn
This transit is known in astrology as the "Saturn Return" and occurs approximately every 29 years. The planet Saturn has done a full cycle of your chart and returned to its natal position. The first Saturn return, at approximately 29-years-old, is one of the most important times of your life. You are leaving behind childhood and reviewing your life through new, more mature eyes. During this time your past comes under close scrutiny. You are being forced, whether you like it or not, to face life with a new maturity.

This time marks a separation process, during which anything that no longer supports your life purpose is being broken down and remoulded, or discarded. This paves the way for new responsibilities to be shouldered as you move into the next cycle. The type of responsibility will be affected by the house placement and rulership of Saturn.

The second Saturn return, around the age of 58, also forces you to face up to your responsibilities. The effects of this second return will vary, depending on how successfully you handled your first return.

With Saturn now in Libra, you are at the leading edge for your generation, so to speak - a group focused on responsibility in relationships and justice (Libra's department). Saturn is a more personal planet and so 1st timers are coming of age, finishing their education and finding a productive place in the community, while 2nd timers are changing the way they handle the "work" part of their life - both are contributing in new ways to society. With Uranus opposing Saturn and your natal Saturn, you might feel the push and pull between freedom and structure a bit more than others right now. Remember, too, that Pluto in Capricorn is there squaring both Uranus and Saturn, urging for internal transformation in Saturn ruled Capricorn - that's right, changes in our structures. This kind of energy for change can be very helpful to you, if you remain open to it.

The key thing to remember with Saturn, at any time, is responsibility. Don't put off things you know you need to do and don't lament your new responsibilities. Saturn rewards those who handle their responsibilities joyfully - so if you can't enjoy your responsibilities, it might be a good time to change them to ones you can. I mean, if you hate your job, it's probably time to find a new one or to try a new line of work.

With Saturn in Libra, it is, of course, more than just about your job. Joyfully handling family obligations and social obligations are just as important at this time. Saturn Return can be a wonderful time when the world opens up and you get a great feeling of satisfaction from the work you do in any area of your life, if you embrace it. Resistance is futile at a time like this. Resisting your responsibilities or putting off responsible changes will only make things harder. When we stubbornly say "but I don't WANT to do that! It's too much work!" we don't eliminate the need for the work to be done, we just make a bigger chore of it.

Wishing you all the very best!

Carole