Saturn, the planet of boundaries and life lessons, is retrograde about thirty-six percent of the time. When it’s retrograde, Saturn shines its baleful, beautiful yellowish light on us all night long.

Saturn already has the reputation of being a downer. How could four-and-a-half months of Saturn Retrograde possibly be a positive thing? Well, easily. Instead of getting more serious, folks back off a little bit. It’s a time to take a little breather from the usual breakneck pace that most people keep these days.

Don’t worry, you’ll still get plenty of work done; it’s not like Saturn changes personality during this period. It’s just that the sense of urgency and anxiety relaxes somewhat. Doesn’t that sound like a relief?

Sometimes old tasks come back to haunt you during Saturn Retrograde. If so, you’ll have to reorganize your priorities and keep your perspective. What’s important to do now, and what can wait? Let others, especially those in authority, know about the changes. Reduce your expectations somewhat. Don’t cave in altogether, though; that won’t make Saturn happy!

This is not a good time to break away and start something new, but it’s a fine time to plan for the projects you’ll begin when this planet goes direct again. Take the time to do things right on the first attempt. Watch for authority issues -- another domain of Saturn. As always, Saturn wants us to develop patience. It’s good for the soul!

Saturn is thought of as the taskmaster planet because of its stern and sometimes guilt-inspiring influence in our lives. Whereas Venus and Jupiter make life easier and more fun, Saturn keeps you in check, reminding you that all play and no work would leave you both homeless and penniless!

If you relate to the feeling that you're not working hard enough in life, that's probably Saturn's influence in your chart. This planet operates kind of like a parental figure, one that can be a little too severe at times. After all, there is certainly a time and place to be carefree; to forget your responsibilities and just enjoy yourself.

But Saturn will look on disapprovingly until you return to your duties. Its influence can feel very restrictive, and you may feel rebellious in response to its limiting effects. But Saturn also serves an important purpose: keeping you on track in life, moving toward your karmic destiny.

Saturn is all about karma. It's the planet with a conscience, the one that reminds you, even when you don't want to hear it, that everything you do has a cumulative effect on your soul. What kind of mark do you want to make on the world, and how do you want to be remembered? Saturn urges you to take these questions seriously, buckle down and get to work.

Saturn rules the conscientious signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. Read about Capricorn and Aquarius to learn more about these signs and how Saturn influences them.

The planets are: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto

Saturn is a gaseous planet that happens to be very buoyant, because it is primarily composed of extremely light gases. Saturn could float in a galaxy-sized ocean, whereas all the other planets would either sink or disintegrate.

Saturn's interior is hot, and it radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun. Saturn has twenty-one moons, but it’s best known for its beautiful rings, which are clearly visible with a telescope. Saturn takes twenty-eight to twenty-nine years to orbit around the Sun, although a day on Saturn last only ten-and-a-half hours.

From Earth’s perspective, Saturn appears retrograde about 40% of the time -- almost half the year! During the retrograde period, internal discipline and structure are the focus. Restriction can mark the passing of Saturn’s retrograde motion over a sensitive spot on the natal chart -- areas that require concentrated effort to correct. When retrograde, Saturn is visible for much of the night, and is at its brightest.

Saturn is the outermost visible planet in our solar system, and has long been related to limits, boundaries, restrictions, time and reality.

Saturn’s return to its natal position every twenty-eight to twenty-nine years indicates the beginning of the cycle of adulthood as Saturn begins its journey around one’s chart for a second time.

The second Saturn Return occurs at ages fifty-six to fifty-eight, and is a time for reflection on the previous cycle of accomplishments and preparation for Saturn's third and final journey, the age of wisdom.