Of all the Planets in Astrology, Saturn is the one that causes most people to shutter, but having it Retrograde in the Natal Chart doesn't mean things will always be difficult.
In Astrology, Saturn is a social planet, so the people who were in your class during grades k to 12 have the same Saturnian Sign as you, which also means the likelihood of them experiencing this celestial body in Retro like yourself is high. Typically, this planet goes inverse on an annual basis for about 4 ½ months, so it's not as rare as a Venus or Mars Retrograde.
Saturn brings karma, so anything that needs to be resolved must be worked through regardless if this planet is Inverse or Direct. It just so happens that when you have Saturn Retrograde in the Horoscope, you just have a lot of internal work to do on yourself. Saturn retrogrades cause us to go inward with Saturnian themes like structure, boundaries, and discipline, so much of your focus goes here on a karmic level.
With a disciplinary planet like Saturn, it's crucial to cut yourself some slack because this kind of placement can cause you to feel guilt for not being where you need to be. And remember, it takes time to get where you want when there are difficult placements in your Natal Chart, but having planets in Retrograde does not mean you are doomed in any way.
Natal Saturn Retrograde Experiences
Retrogrades have a unique way of playing out in our charts, but it isn't a one-size-fits-all condition. Everyone experiences their Natal Retrogrades differently, so you could have 3 of these themes while someone else has 6. It all depends on how Saturn is situated in your chart.
One of the reasons Retrogrades in the Natal charts or in Transit are so intense is because they are on the other side of the Sun, and for this reason, we experience the full energetic field of whatever planet is going inverse. When they are behind the Sun, they are mitigated by solar energy, so the power this celestial body is emanating is toned down. Therefore, with nothing to filter the strength of the planet, we experience it at full velocity.
There are some things to consider when looking at your Retrograde because not all are created equal. Depending on what Sign Saturn and Aspects are in, the conditions could be a breeze or complex.
Is your Saturn in a Conjunction with the Sun? In other words, it could gain strength by being in something called a Cazimi, which is when these two planets are in exact conjunction by degree. Alternatively, if your Natal Saturn is within 17 degrees, it could feel burnt out by a situation called "under the Beams. "
Do you have any Conjunctions to other Planets because this could amplify your condition?
What kind of aspects is forming to Saturn; is there a lot of Trines and Sextiles or
Square plus Oppositions?
With regards to placement, which house is the planet in? The houses are crucial because it could be in one it enjoys or another place it would rather not hang out in. The same goes for Sign, element, and mode—for example, "Saturn in Pisces" Mutable Water or "Saturn in Taurus" Fixed Earth.
Natal Saturn Retrograde Themes
Here are some of the themes experienced with a Natal Saturn Retrograde:
People have a tendency towards disorganization rather than being structured in a Saturn way.
This causes a person to be more in touch with their rebellious side rather than coloring within the lines in society.
Some have issues regarding boundaries with others because they have to learn how to set limits.
Vulnerability can be difficult in terms of expressing feelings and letting others know you on an intimate level
Practicality can be something that comes hard; in other words, dealing with everyday reality can sometimes be a burden
Discipline can be an uphill battle when it comes to their habits and staying dedicated to goals
Imposter Syndrome tends to hold them back. In other words, it brings out their insecurities plus irrational fears regarding being an authority on subjects or the right person for a job
At times they slip into gloomy states easier than others
These natives have issues with dealing with limits and restrictions
Problems with commitment could cause them to be fleeting in relationships
Generally, there are some unresolved issues with parental figures, predominantly males or the dominant biological parent.
Some may feel like late bloomers when it comes to maturity
They are meant to break generational or inherited vibrations
There needs to be a balance with their competitive nature. At times they can be overly driven and others just don't have the energy to even compete with themselves
Boundaries need to be set because they can be prone to having them stepped on by others
With this planet in Retrograde, people could feel confined if others are encroaching on their space.
The person could feel like they are constantly dealing with karmic situations.
Some Uranian themes come up often due to accessing the Aquarian side of Saturn, so these individuals could seem more radical, unpredictable, and opposed to authority.
When feeling off-kilter, they go inward, which could cause them to be antisocial instead of putting themselves out there
These people tend to deal with fears, self-doubt, and guilt on a chronic level.
Learning that they need more substance instead of just outward security
The person eventually knows how to balance their relationship with authority.
They become masterful in the things that lack integrity in their lives.
These individuals eventually gain a one-pointed focus on creating their legacy and generational abundance
Individuals with Saturn RX become skillful in things like business, becoming an authority on a topic they've mastered, Social Media Experts, Marketers, Financial Planning, Building, being the head of a company, and building wealth that last generations.
A cool thing about this Retro is an advantage to develop your skills on a deeper level which puts those born with this retrograde in a position to be prosperous, whatever that might mean for them. Additionally, people with Retrogrades tend to do better when the planet isn't direct because this is the frequency they were born with; therefore, they can adapt better than others.
And not to diminish what a person is going through because I recognize that Natal Retros can be hardcore at times to live with. One thing to know about this is because you do have to work harder, you have a higher chance at succeeding because you don't rest on your laurels.
Will My Natal Saturn Ever Go Direct
Even though you are born with this Retrograde, it doesn't mean it won't go direct at some point in your life. This happens because our Natal planets go through their own growth period, which causes them to transition out of Retrogrades. We can look at this using a technique called Progressions.
In Progressions, it goes by a day equals a year. So, say you were born four days before Saturn goes direct; this would mean that your Natal RX went out of Retrograde when you were four years old. If Saturn went out of Retrograde 25 days after your birthday, then that means at Twenty Five, your Natal Inverse Cycle ended.
If your Saturn goes Direct by Progression, you could notice that things in this area of life open up for you. So if you felt blocked or stagnant, you could see that over the next few years, things are slowly falling into place.
Natal Saturn Retrograde In A Previous Life?
Retrogrades in your Natal chart could feel stifling, but they serve to help your growth on a spiritual, psychological, emotional level and help you evolve as a soul. Think about what lessons your soul needs to learn for progressive purposes, what you might not have understood in a past life, or even what you need to master in this current one.
Regardless of Saturn being Direct or not, we still have karma no matter where this planet is placed in our natal chart. So having it in Retrograde doesn't mean you have a bad karmic situation.
One of the conditions that could have occurred in a past life with Saturn Retrograde is you were a control freak. You could have needed to make sure you were perfect at all times, and those around you followed suit.
Another situation that could have caused you to have Retro Saturn is being overly concerned with outward security over your personal life. In the previous life, it was all about your image; you wanted to be flawless and led with your wealth. This could be a life where you have to learn how to balance both.
Liability could have been another issue from your former life. On the one hand, you could have had a lack of accountability. Or, you were overly responsible to the point of never living your life. Therefore, in this timeline, you are learning the art of balancing your responsibilities.
Personal Authority Is Found in Your Natal RX
Remember being born with Saturn Retro isn't a bad thing by any means; it is allowing you to become an authority in your life. Use this Retro to your advantage so you can live a stable existence.
Here are some celebrity examples with Retrograde
Troy Aikman, Jessica Alba, Morrisey, Daniel Bryan, Will Smith, Ian Mcshane, Janeane Garofalo, Christina Applegate, Jaleel White, Richard Pryor, Bett Midler, Jared Leto