The Saturn Return is a significant astrological event that occurs when Saturn completes its orbit around the sun and returns to the same position it was in at the time of your birth. This happens approximately every 29-30 years and is a time of potent transformation as it represents what you are here to learn and master the energy of in this lifetime.
The 2.5-3 year period of your Saturn Return (which takes place when you're first in the ages of 28-30, then when you're 58-60, and again when you're 88-90 years old) brings important lessons to the forefront of your life. So, it's crucially important to understand the exact 'curriculum' your soul has signed up for. If you're currently in the middle of your Saturn Return, be sure to check out some tips for mastering your Saturn Return to make it through as seamlessly - and graciously - as possible!
If you're unsure what sign Saturn falls in your natal birth chart, you can look it up by creating a free birth chart. Once you've found the sign and house where Saturn falls in your natal chart, here's a brief overview of what you can expect during your Saturn Return:
Understanding the 7th House in Astrology
The 7th house represents partnerships, marriage, relationships, and open enemies. It's the house of balance, harmony, and diplomacy and governs how we relate to others. With Saturn in the 7th house or Libra, you may have a strong sense of responsibility towards your relationships and partnerships. You may also have high standards and expectations for yourself and others in these areas.
Saturn Return in the 7th House / Libra
During your Saturn Return in the 7th house or Libra, you may feel pressured to take your relationships and partnerships more seriously. You may also feel a sense of responsibility to create more balance and harmony. You may also feel pressure to be more diplomatic and fair in your relationships. This may involve working on your communication skills, developing better conflict resolution skills, or working to create an equal partnership dynamic.
Read also: Saturn in Taurus: A Guide
The thing about Saturn in the seventh house is that it will take relationships super seriously. I’m serious. You know those lesbians who proudly announce that they’re going through a “fuck boy” phase but then immediately get in a seven year long live in relationship? You have to remember that Saturn is the world’s slowest moving planet. In fact, it is the slowest moving planet that is always visible to the nude eye. Uranus is only sometimes perceptive to a naked eye (there’s a sex joke in there somewhere, I know). What happens if you go really slow? Yeah, you last really long. Saturn in the seventh house appreciates long term relationships.
Lessons of Saturn Return in 7th House
- Fear of Commitment
- Using discernment in the people you surround yourself with
- Trusting yourself in decision making
Tips for Navigating Saturn Return in the 7th House
When you find yourself stressed or stuck, take your mind off the problem by engaging in art or music - take a painting class, visit an art gallery, or go to a concert. You may find your mental knots working themselves out in the face of artistic beauty.
Most of us have had at least one young love that went terribly. Most of us have also had relationships where we didn’t behave the way that we wished we did. Saturn in the seventh house doesn’t forget those experiences, you see. They keep them around inside of their minds. Saturn is resolute like a judge. When it sits in the seventh house, you might think that other people judge you. You expect other people to expect accountability from you.
Saturn Return in 7th House (Libra): Soul Lesson Regarding Delayed Marriage and Relationships?
Experiences and Positive Aspects of Saturn in the 7th House
Saturn in the 7th will just make you take partnerships seriously. Often there will be an age difference. Sometimes the partner's attitude will reflect Saturnine themes - i.e., they're mature, or even youthful. I've known people who got married very early with this placement - or very late. Responsibility seems to be a major theme though. Relationships aren't usually toyed with when Saturn is in the 7th.
Saturn is exalted in the 7th house, because it is exalted in Libra. Saturn and relationships might not sound like an attractive combination but he does an important job and he has a positive side. He isn't just obstacles and restriction. He is foundations and serious bonds. Saturn is the father, and if you are lucky like me, that image is someone who gives good advice and can be relied upon.
Read also: Saturn: Justice & Karma
Relationships can be seen as purely duty or responsibility, even if this fear is unfounded and not true in their current relationship. Saturn in the seventh thinks when pondering about investing in a relationship "I want love/companionship....but at what cost?" An older partner, someone who adds structure to their life, or someone successful could be seen as ideal for Saturn in the seventh. This placement does not mean you will never marry or marriage will not be successful, only adds to the chance that you will find your true soulmate later in life than most.
The return of Saturn to my 7th house was very positive for me - at this time I had my first child. This was after having had several miscarriages in a row. I also have saturn in 7th, and i got married right after my saturn return. we moved in together ON my saturn return....and though that marriage did fail around HIS saturn return, i don't consider it negative at all. i would say if you marry the wrong person someone's saturn will create a split...but i agree with BM that saturn is exalted in the 7thsaturn takes possibilities and gives them structure.
Saturn in the 7th House: A Deeper Look
The seventh house is the only place where the first house, the self, becomes known. Why? Because the seventh house is the house of other people. We only get to know ourselves through our promises to, our conversation with, and our choices made by other people. If we think of the seventh house as what we look for when we’re around other people, then Saturn in the seventh house looks for slowness, accountability, and solitude.
The reason why Saturn in the seventh house people think that they have more relationship challenges than other people isn’t because they actually do but because they’re much harder than themselves than they need to be. Most of us have had at least one young love that went terribly. Most of us have also had relationships where we didn’t behave the way that we wished we did. Saturn in the seventh house doesn’t forget those experiences, you see. They keep them around inside of their minds.
These are people who will schedule very serious apologies for being too flippant the other day or create a research group about relationship accountability because they had a crush. Some people get spooked with stuff like that because they think it’s too much pressure.
Read also: Astrology of Saturn in the 3rd House
There’s another trait of Saturn in the seventh house that I haven’t shared, a dirty little secret of theirs that I find utterly hilarious. You see, Saturn in the seventh people are strict with themselves when in company. They study the art of setting impeccable boundaries. They work on their relationships and they do things for other people that only mothers do for their children-cleaning a friend’s apartment, feeding them, wiping their snot away. And they rarely complain.
But when they’re not around people? Freedom! No more Saturn! These people do all of the socially unacceptable things that they don’t like to be seen doing when they’re all by themselves.
The Maturation Process
Saturn is one of those planets that goes through a long maturation process that takes a lot of endurance. When Saturn in the seventh house people mature, it’s not that they have to become even more accountable or rise up to become community leaders or anything like that. They might and a lot of them do. But Saturn’s maturation process in the seventh house is more about letting people see you fart.
Most people feel shame about being socially inappropriate. But you know what? Shame is the emotion that you feel when you think that other people can’t or won’t match your playfulness. Feeling shame is actually a sign that you want to be more playful than you think your environment will allow.
The best thing that you can do for your Saturn in the seventh house is to let your friends see you fart, to let your partners see you shit, and to let your lovers see you squirt. You’re messy because you’re a human being just like everyone else. If you sleep on dirty sheets sometimes, it’s because you sweat. If you leave a mess in the kitchen, it’s because you cook. If you leave a lover in a mess, it’s because you loved.
As you navigate this period, lean into courage, self-trust, and discipline. Know that every step you take toward owning your power and purpose is a step toward a future that is authentically yours.