Saturn Retrograde Meaning & More

In astrology, Saturn is the great malefic. Known for its serious, cold, and sometimes harsh influence, it is the planet that rules time, karma, responsibility, and wisdom. As the traditional ruler of Capricorn and Aquarius, Saturn is the master architect of the zodiac by representing the way we respond to authority, status, and discipline in our lives.

2024 Saturn Retrograde Dates

  • June 29, 2024 - November 15, 2024

Saturn Retrograde Meaning

Sometimes, Saturn appears to move backward in the sky; this visual backward motion is known as Saturn retrograde. Saturn stations retrograde once every year, spending around one-third of the year retrograde—these retrogrades normally last four and a half months. Overall, Saturn spends about thirty-six percent of its time in retrograde....

Saturn Retrograde Effects

Saturn naturally rules boundaries, limits, responsibilities, discipline, and authority. During any Saturn retrograde transit, we may revisit or review those topics associated with Saturn or feel as if we are given a momentary reprieve from the typical effects of Saturn transits, which may include pressure and a sensation of burden, fear, or frustration. Similar to all retrograde transits, Saturn's retrograde periods are excellent for reviewing what we have learned thus far from Saturn's transits with a view to continuous improvement. Saturn retrograde periods are also ideal for revisiting form or structure and understanding how something may best be built to stand the test of time.

Because Saturn is a slow-moving planet, transits from Saturn to a natal planet normally last two and a half months; if any of our natal planets fall within the degrees of Saturn's retrograde transit, however, the resulting transits may add up to eleven months overall. This is one key reason that Saturn retrograde transits are important: very easily, Saturn transits can dominate an entire year of our lives.

Saturn Retrograde in the Natal Chart

Since Saturn spends roughly one-third of the year in retrograde, there's a good chance you may have Saturn retrograde in your birth chart.

Retrograde planets in the birth chart are sometimes described as being unable to fully express themselves or having oddball, round-about ways of manifesting their influence. Just as common is the idea that retrograde planets in the natal chart only begin to emerge successfully later in life after much introspection and adjustment....

Saturn retrograde calendar dates

Dates based on Pacific Standard Time (PST)

  • Stations retrograde: April 17, 2018, at 9°08' Capricorn
  • Stations direct: September 6, 2018, at 2°32' Capricorn
  • Stations retrograde: April 29, 2019, at 20°31' Capricorn
  • Stations direct: September 6, 2019, at 13°54' Capricorn
  • Stations retrograde: May 10, 2020, at 1°57' Aquarius
  • Stations direct: September 28, 2020, at 25°20' Capricorn
  • Stations retrograde: May 23, 2021, at 13°30' Aquarius
  • Stations direct: October 10, 2021, at 6°52' Aquarius
  • Stations retrograde: June 4, 2022, at 25°15' Aquarius
  • Stations direct: October 22, 2022, at 18°35' Aquarius
  • Stations retrograde: June 17, 2023, at 7°12' Pisces
  • Stations direct: November 4, 2023, at 0°30' Aquarius
  • Stations retrograde: June 29, 2024, at 19°25' Pisces
  • Stations direct: November 15, 2024, at 12°41' Pisces
  • Stations retrograde: July 12, 2025, at 1°56' Aries
  • Stations direct: November 27, 2025, at 25°09' Aries