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What To Know About Saturn in Aries

Astrologically, Saturn is traditionally known as the Greater Malefic. As the last of the classical visible Planets, it represents the outer limit of reality, the wall, the boundary. As such, it can bring the hard lessons we learn in life, setbacks, delays, challenge, hardship, and distance. It can also help us to lay strong foundations, work with honour, discipline, and integrity, and understand the importance of dedication and time. This is ancient wisdom and that of elders.

It spends roughly 2.5 years in each of the Zodiac Signs, completing a cycle in 29 years. Therefore we get about three Saturn Returns a life time, with significant chapters (or wakeup calls) every 7 years.

It will enter Aries for the first time from 24th March 2025 - September 1st 2025, retrograde back into Pisces, then into Aries again from February 13th 2026 - April 12th 2028 for the rest of it.

Aries is a Diurnal, Cardinal Fire Sign. Diurnal Signs (Fire + Air) are more active and outward-facing. Cardinal Signs come at the beginning of the seasons, thus are seen as the leaders and initiators of change. Fire Signs are generative with a lot of passion to spare!

Archetypal Aries is bold and self-assured, confident in its right to take up space— just like the baby. Aries embodies this youthful energy, never seeming to age, always holding onto a childike spirit, its fire comes from a bottomless pit. It can also be impatient, it wants what it wants yesterday! There’s no time for waiting, things must get done fast.

Combined, Saturn in Aries can look like a struggle with leadership or patience. Traditionally it is considered to be in its “fall” in Aries, which can make delayed gratification a challenge! It will be interesting to see how we relate to both youth (Aries) and age (Saturn) during this period. Saturn in Aries can throw caution to the wind, this impetuous impulsiveness failing to think through the consequences.

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Saturn Characteristics

Saturn can bring both separation and commitment. For example, someone with Saturn Natally in the 7th House may appreciate long-term, committed, serious, traditional relationships (and institutions such as marriage); or may be single until much later in life or struggle with high standards in relationships.

This is the Grandfather of the Zodiac, the wisdom that comes with age. It is the sacred no (to Jupiter’s yes). I believe it was the brilliant Diana Harper Rose who referenced Saturn as the necessary cleanup after the (Jupiter) party. It may not be fun but it is essential!

Saturn is cold, distant, and minimalist, an ascetic. But it also has a strong sense of moral duty and responsibility, it is mature and understands the weight of consequence. Basically this is the Grownup of the celestial sphere. A firm but fair—depending on the circumstances— teacher.

Mythologically, it is attributed to both Cronus, God of Harvest, and Chronos, Father Time. Saturn represents the toil of the farmer, the patient, diligent hard work that goes into it. He was the Titan son of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranus (Uranus— Sky), who he overthrew by castration (from which famously emerged Venus/Aphrodite). He was eventually usurped by his own son, Olympian Jupiter/Zeus, after he tried to eat all his children.

So Saturn represents strife and striving, the mastery that only comes through effort and patience. I like to think of Saturn exalted in Libra as a good representation of this. Saturn in Libra reminds us that good relationships require commitment, dedication, and boundaries (and that the bond deepens with time). Ballet is also a good reflection of Saturn in Libra, the discipline and hard work necessary to create something beautiful and elegant.

Saturn Transits

Where Saturn transits collectively can speak to governments and general zeitgeist. In Aries this may be warrior-like. Themes of leadership, speed, youth, dynamism, action, energy, pioneering, fire, ego, independence, and selfhood may be relevant.

Personally, when Saturn transits an area of our Natal Chart (the Houses), can represent an area of life which may feel burdensome, heavy, or stalled. While the themes here may feel challenging, by putting in the hard work you can lay the groundwork of strong foundations for many years to come!

If you have personal placements (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, AC, AC traditional ruler) in Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), they will get contacted by Saturn at some point during this transit. It can be especially useful to lighten the load in this area and make sure realism doesn’t turn into pessimism (especially Aries Risings)— don’t let Saturn bully you!

It can also be useful to play by Saturn’s rules and schedule in time for rest and play, knowing that it is constructive. Lowering standards and expectations can also help, as well as making sure not to push yourself to hard! Sometimes, we just need to soften where Saturn gets too rigid.

[It is important to bear in mind this is not the only transit you are going through! Currently Neptune is also in Aries which significantly alters the flavour, as well as Uranus moving into Gemini, Pluto in Aquarius, and the Nodes in Virgo/Pisces. For a complete picture, you can book in a personalised 1:1 Year Ahead Reading with me here].

Characteristics of Aries

Archetypal Aries is the pioneer and warrior of the Zodiac, kicking off the whole Astrological year, it’s quick out the gate. This is the energy of birth, of life in motion, of impulsive instinct— act first, think later. Both leader and fighter, this is the type of person you would want in an emergency.

Its traditional ruling Planet is fiery Mars, the hot malefic Planet of competition, severance, and defence. Mars is scolding and protecting, it aggravates and also brings energy to persevere and achieve its goals. This duo gets sh*t done.

Its ruling body part is the head, seat of the ego and identity (also “head of state” aka the leader). Aries is The Self. Its symbol is the ram, literally ramming ahead head first. Themes of speed, individuality, independence, war, and even redheads may become more prominent over the next 14 years.

During this transit, as its ruler, wherever Mars is will also dictate the flavour of Saturn in Aries. This will make it more mutable and varied than the previous Saturn transits (up to a decade ago!) as Mars moves through a Sign every couple of months. Jupiter (the ruler while it was in Pisces from March 2023) spends a year in a Sign, whereas Capricorn and Aquarius (where it was in the two Sign before that) are its domicile, and the Sign before that, Sagittarius, is again ruled by Jupiter.

It will also be interesting to see the Greater Malefic not only in its fall but also ruled by the Lesser Malefic (as opposed to ruled by the Greater Benefic, Jupiter, when in Pisces and Sagittarius, or itself when in Capricorn and Aquarius, lending it strength)…

Saturn Return in Aries

Every 29 years we experience our Saturn Return (when Saturn returns to our Natal Sign). Traditionally this was considered the whole time Saturn was in a Sign, with the peak at the exact conjunction. This usually happens when we are between 27-32 years old, and when approaching 60.

The first Saturn Return can sometimes be a jarring experience and is considered a profound coming-of-age rite of passage. This is when we truly mature into ourselves and who we are as Adults. It can be a time of redefining what we stand for and what we want out of life. This may come as a rude awakening depending on the structure of your life beforehand!

Either way, let anything that needs to crumble to fall, if it was not built on a sturdy framework you can rebuild something more durable. This is the ultimate stress-test, it allows us to see the cracks.

Depending on your Natal Chart, your Saturn Return may feel more or less challenging. Sometimes, those with Night Charts may find it heavier as it is “out-of-sect”, being considered a Day Planet.

This can be a really pivotal time in our lives in which we lay our future trajectory, it may be more or less eventful, but you’ll likely come out feeling older and wiser on the other side (which age is not always an indicator of) and with a whole lot of growth!

You are going through your 1st Saturn Return if you were born between:

April 7th 1996 - June 9th 1998
October 25th 1998 - February 28th 1999

The second Saturn Return can be more constructive as many things are easier to deal with the second time round— we’ve been here before. Themes from your first Saturn Return 30 years ago may be echoed now. Either way, it is also often an important transitionary period, perhaps moving into retirement or a mentorship role, passing on your elder experience, or simply coming to terms with the concept of mortality in a finite way.

It can be a useful time to integrate all the lessons you’ve learnt thus far and take stock of what you’ve built since your first Saturn Return.

You are going through your 2nd Saturn Return if you were born between:

March 3rd 1967 - April 29th 1969

-> Apart from looking at the House this is in for you (more on that below), you can also look to your Capricorn and Aquarius Houses for other relevant themes, as well as your Natal Saturn and Mars. If you would like to explore it with me, book in a 1:1 Saturn Return Reading here.

Saturn in the Astrological Houses

In each of our Natal Charts, Aries occupies a House (regardless of whether you have placements in Aries or not), bringing its signature boldness, ambition, and energy to this area of life for us.

When Saturn enters Aries, it is transiting this House for us, bringing its energy/action to this area of life (this is also how all horoscopes are written, regardless of whether they specify it’s based on your Rising Sign or not)!

Saturn in the 1st House - Aries Rising

When Saturn enters your 1st House you may find yourself being harder on yourself, and others, than necessary. It is really important with this transit to keep your spirits up and not push yourself too hard! It can also come with a sense of maturity and capacity to put in dedicated, hard work (as well as act as a potential welcome sobering influence to Neptune here)!

-> To learn more about what the Planets have in store for you, get your Aries 2025 Forecast!

Saturn in the 2nd House - Pisces Rising

With Saturn transiting your 2nd House it can be useful to get your finances in order at look at them from a rational, impartial perspective (especially as Neptune is also here now). Grow up around money is essentially what Saturn wants. Get clear on your values, skills, how you want to earn an income (and how much), and what you want to spend it on— and get serious about saving too!

Saturn in the 3rd House - Aquarius Rising

Saturn transiting here can bring a sobering influence to your mindset or communication style. It can be a useful transit to commit to learning something new, social media, or self-expression. Relationships with neighbours, siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins may feel strained but any hard work put in can be solid for many years to come.

Saturn in the 4th House - Capricorn Rising

Saturn in the 4th House can help you get serious about your living situation! This could look like investing in property, or downsizing your home. It can represent challenges in your home or family (especially father figure), but again can be useful to lay strong foundations for the years to come. Digging into your upbringing, lineage, and ancestry can also be beneficial. At some point during this transit it will also square your AC/DC sector so lightening your load and not being too hard on yourself or others, or pushing yourself to hard, can also feature!

Saturn in the 5th House - Sagittarius Rising

Saturn transiting the 5th House can represent both challenge with creativity, children, fun, and sexuality, as well as the capacity to build a masterpiece that stands the test of time! Things may feel burdensome or slow, but childbearing is an excellent example for me— what’s both more rewarding and challenging than raising children!

Saturn in the 6th House - Scorpio Rising

Saturn moving through your 6th House can be a good time to sort out any chronic health conditions you’ve been putting aside, as well as getting serious about your work-life schedule. It can be important not to overload your plate or push yourself too hard! It may also represent challenges with co-workers or employees, the keyword with Saturn is soften.

Saturn in the 7th House - Libra Rising

This is an important transit for you dear Libra, it can represent both commitment and struggles within relationships, again Saturn here can be seen as both marriage and divorce! They key is put in the dedicated hard work, while lightening up. It may feel isolating, distant, or separate at times, but it offers the potential for really strong bonds to be laid!

Saturn in the 8th House - Virgo Rising

With Saturn transiting your 8th House, your investments and collaborations may feel strained but it can be a good time to get serious about them! Saturn here can also bring up themes of life, death, and rebirth, including inheritance (literal or figurative), as well as shared resources such as your partner’s money, joint finances, debt, and grants— get your taxes in order!

Saturn in the 9th House - Leo Rising

Saturn transiting Aries can look like either a skepticism in spirituality or struggle with faith, or a doubling down in rigid dogma. It can also represent going back to school and pursuing higher education, teaching, publishing, institutions, or travel abroad and foreigners. Either way, it can be a useful time to cement your personal philosophy and worldview.

Saturn in the 10th House - Cancer Rising

Saturn transiting your 10th House is an important career chapter, one that can make your life path feel challenging and roadblocked, but also come with significant recognition and accolades! Your mastery and public image may be in focus. It can also look like a downsizing in career, or getting more serious about it. At some point it will also square your AC/DC sector so lightening your load in general and not being too hard on yourself or others also becomes key!

Saturn in the 11th House - Gemini Rising

Saturn transiting Aries can bring challenges to your friendships but also the potential for dedicated, long-term commitments here. It can be useful to lower your expectations and seek maturity. You may find yourself either struggling to find your place in the collective or viewed as a wise elder among it. Seeking to build community, even if it feels challenging, can be worthwhile.

Saturn in the 12th House - Taurus Rising

Saturn is in its joy in the 12th House and can be useful for placing boundaries around your mental health and exploring your dreams or subconscious. Being mature about where you may be the cause of your own self-undoing can also be beneficial. This may feel isolating at times but revelling in your solitude and going within can be healing (as well as related places such as retreats).

So that’s an overview of what Saturn entering Aries can signify, I hope it’s insightful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add or any questions.

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