In astrology, Saturn is classically the tough love planet, ruling over limitations and rules and known for encouraging us to learn things the hard way. (Saturn return, anyone?) As of March 7, it’s been chugging through dreamy Pisces, applying its signature dose of reality and responsibility to Piscean matters, like dreams, spirituality, and intuition. But beginning on June 17, Saturn slows to an apparent halt and reverses course, heading retrograde in Pisces until November 4—a period during which we’ll all be pushed to reconsider what we’ve learned since March and how we can integrate those lessons.
Experts in This Article
astrologer, Organization of Professional Astrology board member, and host of the Celestial Insights podcast.
astrologer, tarot reader, and intuitive
Just as retrogrades reflect times of cosmic slowdown and reversal, so, too, are their energetic effects on us: When planets appear to move backward from our perspective, we’re also encouraged to look to the past, and review, reassess, and reconsider. As a result, retrogrades tend to slow our forward progress—but that’s most apparent when they happen for personal planets (aka the ones whose orbs are closer to our own, like Mercury and Venus). With outer planets, like Saturn, the effects are often less personal and immediate; rather than feeling like you’re likely to, say, miss a flight or miscommunicate, you’re more likely to sense that your (or your community’s) broader goals are being impeded.
Given Saturn and Pisces are pretty much polar opposites in terms of vibes—the former being the structure-oriented taskmaster of the zodiac and the latter, associated with the boundless abyss of our feelings and dreams—Saturn moving through Pisces has been a jarring transit thus far. It’s been imposing order in areas of life where you might’ve otherwise run wild, bringing people with strong Pisces placements, in particular, out of the clouds and back down to reality.
But as the planet heads into retrograde motion, we’ll all be forced to slow down or even press pause for a moment to get a better understanding of the harsh realities or difficult lessons that Saturn in Pisces aims to impart.
Overall vibes of Saturn retrograde in Pisces
Since Saturn’s shift into Pisces in March, the planet’s vibe has infused Piscean topics—emotions, thoughts, dreams, goals, and hopes—with a more rigid sense of structure and limitations, according to astrologer Celeste Brooks. For many, this shift has meant addressing hard but necessary truths.
“Saturn can be a wet blanket in some ways, but it also brings reality right into your face, so that means some people are going to come up against some boundaries, restrictions, and reversals,” says Brooks. If you’re used to letting your imagination and escapist tendencies run free, you may feel as if you’ve been brought back down to Earth lately or have faced more challenges, especially in the realm of life over which Saturn rules for you, based on your zodiac sign.
Because Pisces themes are of a deeply personal and internal nature, Saturn’s signature rigidity can really hit hard, says astrologer Maria Sofia Marmanides. “Pisces is a dreamer, so when Saturn comes in there [with its rules and restrictions], there can be a little bit of hopelessness and melancholy,” she says. (If you’ve been all up in your feelings—and not in a good-feeling way—Saturn’s Pisces transit may be to blame.)
“Saturn always gives a lesson, so it’s like you were in class, and now you have to do the homework.”—Maria Sofia Marmanides, astrologer
As the planet grinds to an apparent halt for its upcoming retrograde cycle, we may actually get a bit of a reprieve. After all, retrogrades are a time to pause and take stock—and in this case, that could mean we get a break from Saturn’s lessons and an opportunity to digest whatever we’ve been confronting internally over the past couple months, says Marmanides. “Saturn always gives a lesson, so it’s like you were in class, and now you have to do the homework.”
Chances are, that work is in figuring out how to apply some Saturnian structure to your otherwise nebulous or untethered dreams or visions. “Having dreams is great, but Saturn’s reality check pushes you to ask yourself, ‘How am I going to make them real?'” says Marmanides.
Exactly how you sense this energy will depend on your zodiac sign, given that Saturn falls in a different astrological house (aka realm of life) for each one. Read on for your sun, moon, and rising signs to learn where you can expect to get a reality check as Saturn retrogrades in Pisces, and pick up star-sanctioned advice for weathering this transit.
How Saturn retrograde in Pisces will affect every zodiac sign
Aries
Because Saturn falls in your twelfth house of the subconscious, you could feel these transit in a deep way, Aries. This is a time to think about whether you’re caring for and nurturing yourself in a manner that supports your bigger goals, says Brooks. In that realm, it’s also helpful to “get real about your fears and any escapist tendencies,” she adds. For example, if you’re prone to self-sabotage, Saturn’s retrograde in Pisces is a great time to take steps to address those behaviors.
Taurus
This transit hits on your 11th house of groups and friends, Taurus. Perhaps you realize you’ve outgrown a friendship or that absorbing all your social circle’s activities via Instagram isn’t serving you, and it’s time for a social media fast.
In any case, you can use Saturn’s no-nonsense energy to assess whether your relationships—and methods of growing and maintaining them—are replenishing or draining you.“It’s an opportunity to review and reevaluate where you’re investing your energy wherever you’re connecting with people, whether it’s in real life or online,” says Marmanides.
Gemini
Work stressing you out, Gemini? Your 10th house of career and reputation is affected by this Saturn retrograde in Pisces, leaving you to grapple with changes at work. “A Saturnian figure could show up in the form of an overbearing boss, or maybe you’ve felt like, in the last couple of months, your workload has increased or things have just been feeling really overbearing or oppressive,” say Marmanides.
Saturn’s retrograde provides an opportunity to examine your relationship to your career amidst this onslaught, and to do some internal searching to “find new headway with those challenges,” adds Marmanides. Perhaps you’ve uncovered something new that you enjoy doing among a new set tasks, and you’d like to pursue that direction or maybe you realize that it’s about time to set new work-life boundaries.
Cancer
Given this retrograde touches your ninth house of beliefs, thoughts, and learning, you may feel encouraged to think critically about your perspective of the world, Cancer. “If you’re feeling rather dogmatic and not open-minded about things, almost like you’re entrenched or digging into your beliefs, this is an opportunity to give yourself and other people a little bit of a break and allow a different perspective to emerge,” says Marmanides.
Separately, the ninth house also encompasses long-distance travel, so this retrograde could be a great time to ideate and research a trip or two that’ll help expand your belief system and open your mind.
Leo
It’s time to settle those debts, Leo. Saturn will head backward through your eighth house of possessions and karma, which could surface new monetary expenses—Brooks says to be on the lookout for unexpected money happenings, like a hefty bill or loan—but is also associated more generally with what you owe to and exchange with others on a deeper level. Consider how much you let others in, and how much of yourself you allow others to see and know.
According to Marmanides, Saturn’s presence in this house is typically a signal to examine issues related to trust. “For Leos, this [retrograde] is really about vulnerability and how comfortable we are allowing others to see us,” she says.
Virgo
Prepare for relational shakeups, Virgo. Saturn’s retrograde in Pisces hits your seventh house of partnerships—and because Saturn is associated with long-term commitment, this retrograde is a chance to think about whether you want to stick with the people to whom you’re committed, romantic or otherwise… or choose to part ways.
If you’re in a romantic relationship, set aside solo time to assess how it’s going and consider whether it feels reciprocal and mutually beneficial—and if it doesn’t, whether the imbalance might be temporary. You may find that “you have to pick up more slack in a relationship around now because your partner is overwhelmed in some way,” says Brooks. Open communication is key to figure out whether you can work out a fairer balance down the line.
Libra
As Saturn retrogrades, it moves through your sixth house of routines, Libra. This house corresponds to your daily functioning, says Marmanides, which touches on things like self care, work, and your general wellbeing. As a result, your Saturnian reality check could come in the form of realizing that your daily rituals aren’t serving you—or perhaps, that you need to implement a few routines to complete your to-do list more effectively and feet better overall.
That might look like setting and sticking to a bedtime routine to ensure more restful shut-eye, or setting a goal of taking a daily walk to incorporate more movement and an opportunity for a mental rest into each day. In any case, it’s about making an active decision to take better care of your well-being, says Brooks.
Scorpio
Are your leisure pursuits actually a good time for you, Scorpio? With task-oriented Saturn in your fifth house of pleasure, enjoyment, and love, you could find yourself reevaluating or critiquing the things you say that you do for fun. Consider whether “you feel like you’re in a productive phase in terms of creative ideas and adding more joy into your life,” says Marmanides. If the answer is a resounding “no,” plot a way to change that.
Sagittarius
Changes could await you on the home front, Sagittarius. Saturn moves through your fourth house of family and foundations, potentially surfacing issues with your physical home, like a renovation, or with your actual family members. Something might need to be mended in this realm, or you may find that you need to take on additional responsibilities.
Spend this retrograde considering how you’ll address these needs to bolster your home foundations—including those of the mental and emotional kind. “Perhaps there’s certain generational trauma that you could work through with a trusted friend or therapist, or maybe it’s about exploring how you can better relate to family members,” says Marmanides.
Capricorn
Saturn is your planetary ruler, Capricorn, so you’re likely to feel this retrograde especially deeply. In particular, it’s moving through your third house of communication, calling you to examine how you relate to others and express yourself, says Marmanides. This is a time to figure out how to “better articulate your hopes, dreams, and the things that really matter to you,” she adds, suggesting that it may be helpful to put your thoughts to paper by journaling.
Aquarius
Money could be on your mind this retrograde, Aquarius. Saturn will move through your second house of finances, pushing you to consider how money can help you structure the life you want to live. “This could be a good time to put a plan together in terms of where you are spending money and how you could better allocate your resources,” says Marmanides You can take control of your finances by setting realistic savings goals and developing a plan for paying down debts, suggests Brooks.
Pisces
If you’ve been having a tough time as of late, Saturn may be to blame, Pisces. After all, the taskmaster has been moving through your sign—aka your first house self and identity—since March, applying its rules and rigidity to your free-flowing persona. This is a time to get real about how you want to move through and be perceived in the world, says Marmanides.
Your task during this retrograde is to take steps to figure out “what is important to you as you create the next version of yourself,” says Marmanides. Because the first house is also associated with the physical self, adds Brooks, it’s an auspicious time to prioritize your image and vitality, too.
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