By now we’ve all heard of Mercury Retrograde—the infamous period of time and planetary mischief-maker that’s blamed for electronic glitches and communication breakdowns, but did you know other planets also go retrograde? From May 11 to October 1 2024, Saturn is in retrograde. Here’s what you need to know about Saturn Retrograde 2024.
What Is Saturn Retrograde?
A retrograde is when a planet appears to move in reverse across the sky. This phenomenon is caused by the differing speeds at which planets orbit the sun. When Earth overtakes and passes a slower-moving outer planet like Saturn, it creates the illusion of the planet moving backward in the sky relative to the stars. This period is known as Saturn Retrograde.
Saturn usually retrogrades about once a year for an average of four and a half months. The exact timing and duration can vary slightly from year to year. This planetary retrograde is considerably longer than others. In fact, retrograde frequencies and durations can vary wildly. For example, Mercury retrogrades about three times a year for about three weeks at a time, while Venus retrogrades about once every 18 months for six weeks. And, each retrograde brings its unique energies and experiences.
When is Saturn Retrograde 2024?
While Saturn Retrograde 2024 began on May 11, its influence began as early as April 25 thanks to what’s known as its shadow period. Just as the name suggests, a shadow period is the time before and after the actual retrograde, where effects may be felt but with less intensity. Saturn Retrograde will conclude on October 1, with a shadow period that extends to October 14.
Saturn Retrograde 2025 will take place from June 4 to October 23, 2025, with the shadow period expected to start around May 12 and end around November 10.
What Does Saturn Retrograde Mean in Astrology?
Saturn is the planet of discipline, responsibility, and justice. The natural ruler of Capricorn and Aquarius, and transiting Pisces until May 2025, Saturn is seen as the taskmaster and teacher of the zodiac. Saturn Retrograde in astrology is a time for us all to accept and lean into the lessons and challenges of karma and growth. It’s a period for reflection, reassessment, and inner work, encouraging us to review our commitments, responsibilities, and structures in life.
Saturn Retrograde can highlight areas where we need to take more responsibility, set boundaries, or address issues from the past. It encourages us to slow down and pay attention to the lessons Saturn is trying to teach us. While it can be a challenging time, it offers an opportunity for deepened maturity, and the development of inner strength.
The Effects of Saturn Retrograde
Compared to its direct motion, Saturn in retrograde tends to bring a more internalized and reflective energy. During this period, people often feel a stronger sense of introspection, especially when it comes to commitments and goals.
One common effect of Saturn Retrograde is a heightened awareness of limitations or restrictions. This can manifest as a feeling of being blocked or delayed in certain areas of life—both spiritually and physically, with plans and projects. These roadblocks can be a test of patience and asking you to reflect on how you face and overcome obstacles.
And, while on the subject of reflecting, Saturn Retrograde may bring up past issues or unfinished business. This can resurface as old conflicts or consequences of previous actions. During this time, you may feel challenges in authority and increased responsibilities. Hold fast, these tests often lead to reevaluating priorities and making necessary changes to ensure long-term success and stability.
How Will Saturn Retrograde Affect Your 2024?
Everyone will be affected by Saturn Retrograde to some extent, but some signs and placements will be more impacted than others. If you have Capricorn and Aquarius in your chart—especially as your sun sign, Saturn Retrograde will have even deeper significance for you as the ruler of your sign. During Saturn Retrograde, Capricorn and Aquarius may experience a reevaluation of their career trajectories and long-term aspirations.
Capricorns, influenced by Saturn’s disciplined energy, may feel a heightened sense of responsibility and a need to reassess their professional goals. They could encounter delays or obstacles that force them to reconsider their approach to success and their definitions of achievement.
Aquarians—known for their innovative thinking, might find themselves reflecting on their social structures and networks. They may revisit past relationships or community involvements, seeking to redefine their role within these contexts. Both signs are likely to confront issues related to authority, rules, and boundaries, prompting them to establish firmer foundations for future growth.
For all the other zodiac signs, you can use Saturn Retrograde’s energy to reexamine your life under a more balanced and invigorated lens. Taking a step back to reflect on who you are and where you are going is a great way to harness the disciplinary energy of Saturn.
If you are ready to take significant steps forward but aren’t sure where to start, consider getting a personalized psychic reading of how you can utilize this time to empower your ambitions.
Saturn in Your Natal Chart
In your birth chart, the house your Saturn lives in may make both benefic (blessing) and malefic (challenging) aspects to your other houses and planets. This is how he will teach you patience, responsibility, maturity, authority, and discipline, but once you’ve learned these things, you will be well on your way toward attaining your most important life goals.
When Saturn Retrogrades
When Saturn retrogrades once a year, it means this fair and wise instructor has returned for exam time to see if you’ve learned whatever he wanted to teach you while he was direct. If you have, he may reward you with earned blessings. If you haven’t, he will present past experiences to help you learn his lessons once and for all, even if for a while you end up feeling a little like you’re in the movie “Groundhog Day.” Keep in mind that this too shall pass.
As Saturn retrogrades through each of your twelve house sectors
during transits, you will feel the effects of being asked to slow down, give
yourself some TLC, and undergo deep introspection in that area of your life
where you may feel some old challenges coming up again to be met. It can act as
a reality check. You are being guided to reassess what is important and make
changes if necessary. When it is just transiting a particular house, it can
come as a relief to know it is only temporary. If you were born with Saturn
retrograde in your natal chart, be glad, because it pretty much guarantees
success if you strive to meet its demands in that particular house.
Having to face overcoming weak spots, obstacles, and delays all over again doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but it’s nothing to fear. You’ll see that all you endure to get through these rough areas will prove worthwhile. Think of it as a valuable chance for a do-over, or a way to correct past mistakes and create greater karmic balance. Eventually, we master these difficult lessons so we can enjoy the well-earned rewards of learning them.
Saturn Retrograde in the 12 Houses
Here are some brief descriptions of Saturn retrograde and how
it may affect you in each of your houses:
First House
You’ll feel the need to go inward and do a sort of self-check
of your identity or appearance. You might feel compelled to improve something
physical or emotional that’s been bothering you.
Second House
Here you are required to look again at your values, both
moral and material. What do you treasure most now? What are your priorities? How
can you live a more authentic life?
Third House
Thoughts are things, and now you must reexamine how you are
thinking and communicating. Are you building yourself and others up or down
with what you think and say?
Fourth House
Your home is represented here, including your soul’s
innermost home. Are your life and family needs in balance? Do you need to
restructure your domestic obligations?
Fifth House
Are the romantic needs of you and your lover being met? Have
you been giving sufficient time and energy to your creativity or children? It
may be that you need a little playtime yourself.
Sixth House
Work, health, and pets are in focus now. Are you feeling
overwhelmed with draining exhaustion? See which daily habits can be improved
and give pets extra love and attention.
Seventh House
It’s time to rethink your significant relationships. How are
they affecting you? Are you growing together or are you pulling apart? This can
be a time of either separation or commitment.
Eighth House
How are you handling power, desire, sex, and other people’s money?
You need to redefine and restructure what you are doing with these things to
make life better.
Ninth House
You are being directed to look again at your faith and
beliefs, be they religious, political, or philosophical, and ask yourself in what
do you really believe? What do you truly stand for?
Tenth House
Now is the time to look closely to see if you are on track
with your career goals. If you are, you may well
see tangible rewards come your way. If not, you may feel the urge to change
course.
Eleventh House
What is it you most wish for? Which
personal goals do you need to achieve now? You are reviewing what you dearly
long for and how to best attain your heart’s desires.
Twelfth House
You’re being called to take a deep dive into your subconscious to observe any limiting beliefs that may be haunting you in order to cast out anything that’s been holding you back.
Astrology plays an important role in your day-to-day life. The planets are responsible for your moods, experiences and more, which is why you should get a Psychic Astrology Reading. Our Astrology Psychics can calculate your natal chart and tell you about the important dates in your life (past, present, and future) that will massively impact you. Learn more about our psychics from real testimonials and read through our Astrology & Numerology Blog. Want to read more about your personal birth chart first? Get a free birth chart report today! Find an Astrology Psychic or learn more about Astrology Readings.
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