Saturn Is Entering Aquarius for the First Time in 26 YEARS—Here’s What That Means for You

Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

From Cosmopolitan

Big news—Saturn is moving into Aquarius on March 21st, the first time it’s been in the sign of the Water-Bearer in 26 years. Saturn rules limitations (makes sense, since it’s the farthest planet from Earth still visible to the naked eye), constrictions (interesting, since everyone knows Saturn for its rings), and structure. Saturn is the zodiac’s taskmaster—it brings about different challenges and encourages you to push through obstacles so you can undergo meaningful growth. Accountability and “tough love” are the name of Saturn’s game, and the hard lessons it encourages you to learn correlate to the themes of whatever sign it’s traveling through.

Since Saturn spends over two years in a sign at a time (and takes almost three decades to go through all twelve signs), Saturn entering Aquarius is kiiiiind of a big deal. The last time it was in the fixed air sign was in 1994, and this major shift is the start of a new two-and-a-half year cycle. Read ahead to learn all about Saturn in Aquarius (and make sure to check out your sign’s horoscope, too)!

Saturn’s been in Capricorn for a couple of years now, the sign of its domicile—aka, one of its fav signs. Capricorn represents governments, corporations, the status quo, and capitalism. Saturn’s journey through this Earth sign has highlighted issues related to oppressive world leaders, problems in the global economy, and societal inequalities like classism, racism, homophobia, sexism… you get the point.

Now, Saturn in Aquarius is determined to shake sh*t up, rewrite the rules, and change the world for the better. Aquarius is the zodiac’s revolutionary—it’s known for its friendly, social, humanitarian traits—so the vibe is going from “let’s focus on these problems” to “let’s TALK about these problems, brainstorm ways to fix them, then go out and actually do something about them.” As Saturn travels through Aquarius, you can expect world leaders to be held accountable for taking care of the “common folk.” New laws, international treaties, and global changes are going to happen soon. Humanitarian Aquarius is also eager to bring equality to all members of society, so progressive changes that allow for LGBTQ+ folks to have more rights and representation in the world are defs on the way, too.

Aquarius is also the sign of technology, and Saturn’s trek through this Air sign will crystalize advancements in the field, allowing for new, advanced tech to become incorporated into day-to-day life. (Fun fact, the last time Saturn was in Aquarius, a little something called the internet became part of our day-to-day lives.) A.I., space travel, and advances in medical technology are thematic of Saturn in Aquarius, too.

Basically, inequalities and other worldwide issues have been brought to everyone’s attention in the past couple of years. Now, Saturn in Aquarius is your golden opportunity to make progressive, inclusive changes to the world around you—but Saturn isn’t doing all the work for you! Remember, Saturn is the zodiac’s taskmaster—it’s all about accountability. That means that this is a period of time where you can change the world through hard work.

Aside from its worldwide impact, Saturn in Aquarius is bringing personal changes to your life, too. If you hold yourself accountable for handling your sh*t, Saturn can help bring immense structure and lasting value to your life, but if you’re lazy and avoid obligations, it can cause difficulties and block your progress. The next couple of years can bring remarkable changes to your life, if you work for them. It defs isn’t going to just happen like *that*, but does anything worth having ever come easy?

Read your Sun/Rising sign horoscope below to see where Saturn in Aquarius’ tough love is hitting you the hardest for the next couple of years:

Aries

What kinds of people do you surround yourself with? What associations or groups do you identify most with? You may realize that you no longer click with people who were your besties a couple of years ago, or you may decide that your professional network or political affiliations just aren’t very you anymore—and that’s okay! You’ll probably lose a few (or more) friends, but it’s time to find a new, better crew. Likewise, your hopes and dreams for the future may dramatically change. Honor yourself, your goals, and your beliefs, and hold yourself accountable for surrounding yourself with people who want to support you as much as you support them. By the time Saturn’s done with its time in Aquarius, your life will have undergone a major upgrade.

Taurus

This is your time to shine, Taurus—but it ain’t gonna be easy. Saturn’s giving your sign a challenge, NGL, because Saturn in Aquarius represents the peak of two decades in your life, especially when it comes to your career. You’re all about staying in your own lane and doing your own thing, but now’s the time to work harder than ever, take on as many leadership roles as you can, and stand out in the professional realm. The stars are right for you to accomplish big things, but it’ll take a lot of hard work. The next few years may contain strenuous labor, but the rewards for your hard work will be more than worth the effort you put forth.

Gemini

Saturn’s transit through Aquarius is actually not going to be that hard for you, Gemini! Since Aquarius is a like-minded Air sign, Saturn’s doing a great job of harmonizing with your Gemmy vibes. This transit is helping you to do your favorite thing—learn! First and foremost, if you’re a student (or thinking about going back to school) this is a spectacular time to slay the game in the academic world. And even if you’re not going to school, this is a period where your mind is expanding in big ways. You’re notoriously a lil flaky and rarely commit to one belief/opinion/worldview for long, but Saturn’s all about stability and is crystalizing your philosophy on life. One thing to watch out for: Saturn in Aquarius can make any long-distance traveling a b*tch and a half to handle, so make sure you triple-check your schedule, flights, everything if you’re going on any trips in the next couple of years.

Cancer

You (and especially your love life) had a rough time when Saturn was in Capricorn. Good news: Even though Saturn in Aquarius won’t be a spectacular time by any means, you can expect the immense pressure on your relationships from the past few years to become waaaay lighter now. Other people’s cash that influences your life in a significant way—think taxes, bills, inheritances, shared assets with your partner, splitting rent with your roomies, that sort of thing—are the parts of your life Saturn is influencing the most now. Surprise expenses might come out of nowhere or people you’re depending on for cashflow might hit challenges of their own, and your job is to responsibly handle these issues. This gives you a clearer idea of how others have an impact on your life, and, NGL, it can be pretty stressful. The big idea is to become more self-sufficient, and by the end of Saturn’s transit of Aquarius, you’ll have gone through a complete metamorphosis and emerge a more productive, independent person.

Leo

When restrictive Saturn is in your opposite sign, it marks a period of imbalance in your life–especially regarding your relationships, both romantic and otherwise. For the past 14 years (since it was in your sign), Saturn’s been holding you accountable for having more self-discipline, becoming familiar with who you are deep down, and crystalizing the “you” that you want to be. Now, it’s urging you to honor and express your genuine self, which unfortunately might cause drama with others. Your boo, bestie, and (especially) people you’re beefing with simply don’t know how to deal with the ~real you~. Relationship conflicts are a trademark of Saturn in Aquarius for your sign. Any outdated or toxic relationships are getting worse now, and it’s up to you to take out the garbage. Even your strongest, most reliable relationships are being put under pressure, but by practicing patience and caution, the bonds that matter most will be stronger than ever when Saturn leaves Aquarius.

Virgo

As a Virgo rising myself, it really pains me to say that Saturn in Aquarius is not treating Virgos very kindly for the next couple of years. Oof. I’ll keep it real: Saturn’s transit through Aquarius is rough, tough, and extremely hard to handle—but if anyone can handle it, it’s you, Virgo! You’re one of (if not the) the hardest-working signs, and the next couple of years marks a period where your obligations are reeeaaally piling up. This means your job (and the rest of your life) is busier than ever, so it’s your mission to stay focused, productive, and make sure you’re getting all your sh*t done in a timely fashion. Your health is also a focus right now. It’s not like Saturn’s going to magically make you sick out of nowhere, but if you’re not taking care of your physical and mental health in practical ways, you’ll start to feel it. How can you survive this transit? It’s simple! Eat well, exercise, take care of your mental health, and set a productive day-to-day routine. Make healthy lifestyle changes and commit to them. You got this.

Libra

Saturn in Aquarius is activating your chart’s fifth house, which rules romance, sex, and fun, for the next couple of years. Sounds great, right? Well… it’s not, sry. Despite the fifth house’s association with all things exciting, Saturn is a real hardass of a planet, so it’s actually making it tough to find pleasure in these realms of life. It’s not depleting your life of fun or romance by any means, but it’s urging you find out who or what can bring you genuine, worthwhile pleasure—and you’re being pushed to work for that pleasure. Flings aren’t really happening, partying just doesn’t seem fun, and any kind of gambling is sure to get you in trouble. Your challenge is to get to know yourself, discover your passion, flex your creative muscles, and move beyond superficial pleasure so you can find love—for others, yourself, and life in general—that has lasting value.

Scorpio

This is your official warning, Scorpio: Saturn in Aquarius is gonna be intense. Issues at home and with your family are being highlighted to a degree that you simply can’t ignore them—it’s time to take care of business. You’re addressing issues with your parents, stabilizing your living situation, and most importantly, you’re going back to your roots. This is one looong trip down memory lane, and the issues that coming out now are symptomatic of past problems that you never took care of. You’re finally clearing out past trauma and getting rid of emotional baggage. Once you relinquish these burdens, you can dedicate yourself to establishing a more stable living situation and find inner peace and stability that will keep you supported for years to come.

Sagittarius

You’ve probs been described as a loose cannon once or twice (or a billion times) in your life–you say whatever’s on your mind, do whatever you want to do, and you don’t take sh*t from anyone. Saturn in Aquarius is pushing you to reel it in and reconsider the way you take on the world, especially in terms of communication. For once in your life, you’re starting to notice that you’re doing way less speaking and way more listening, because now you’re seeing that your typical “can’t be tamed” way of talking gets you way more pushback from others than you’re used to. This is a period of mental discipline—you’re restructuring your mind and adjusting the way you interact with those around you, which allows you to better comprehend the world around you and interact with others in a more considerate, sensible way.

Capricorn

If you’re reading this, congratulations! You survived Saturn’s transit through your sign, which is always a wild time, and now you don’t have to worry about the ringed planet’s wrath for another three decades! You’ve undergone a massive personal transformation, and now Saturn’s influence is shifting from your first house, which rules your sense of self, to your second house, which governs your values and your valuables. What I mean by that is your morals, self-worth, and material possessions are all being highlighted for the next couple of years, and you’re being pushed to develop a more realistic attitude towards them. You’re an Earth sign, so you tend to be on the more materialistic side. Right now, you’re learning that you rely on your financial situation or possessions to determine how you feel about yourself as a person. Financial hardships are likely coming your way, so do what you can to save up money ASAP and organize your finances before sh*t hits the fan. You’re not gonna go broke out of nowhere, but you are going to learn that there’s more to the world than the stuff you own. This is a period to be frugal, work hard, and build up your self-esteem through your actions and inner values, not how much money is in your bank account.

Aquarius

This is a major, major period of your life, Aquarius. Saturn will likely only be in your sign two or three times in your entire life, and this is the start of a new, nearly thirty-year-long cycle. You’re an outgoing, extroverted Air sign, but Saturn is urging you to put the outside world on the back burner and really get to know yourself on a deeper, more significant level. That means instead of focusing on how your friends, lovers, coworkers, etc. treat you, you need to consider your inner traits and qualities. Get in touch with youyour wishes, your desires, your values, your talents, and your physical/spiritual/emotional needs. It’s difficult to connect with others now, because this is a period where putting yourself first is a must. You’re minding your own business, taking care of your own personal agenda, and over the next few years, you’re creating a more solid, structured persona that’s true to who you are, deep down.

Pisces

When there’s any planetary action happening in the sign before yours, it’s said to be “in aversion” to you—it’s almost like Saturn’s drama is going down just outside your line of sight. That being said, just because Saturn’s hiding in your peripheral vision does not mean that you’re safe from this transit. The influence of Saturn just isn’t directly focused on your personal life. This is the end of a nearly thirty-year-long cycle, so you’re cleaning out all the areas of life, from your job, to your relationships, to your home life. That means it’s time to focus on getting rid of outdated relationships, distancing yourself from activities and settings that aren’t healthy, ending unnecessary beef with others, cutting your losses, and not dwelling on the past. Basically, you’re going through a factory reset so you can start from scratch and totally reinvent yourself when Saturn is in your sign in 2022.

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