Although all of the planetary transits bear watching, I pay close attention to three biggies: the Jupiter return, Saturn return, and Chiron return. These three transits show potential for major expansion, lessons, and healing. This means you'll want to mark down these bad boys so that you can work with them in the best possible way.
A return happens when the transiting planet moves into the same sign as your natal chart. For example, if your natal Jupiter is in Taurus, you'll be experiencing your Jupiter return when Jupiter transits back into Taurus.
While solar, lunar, Mercury, Venus, and Mars returns are significant, the ones I'm talking about in this section are my faves. Here's what you need to know about each one.
When Jupiter touches down on your natal Jupiter, it sets off a year of opportunity. Everything seems possible now. Abundance flows, and you're luckier than usual. Life feels good, and expansion is possible. Even if you experience some hardship, it will seem as if lady luck comes just when you need it most. You'll also be more likely to find yourself in the right place at the right time.
Most importantly, you now have the opportunity to manifest the life you want. Set your intentions at the beginning of this cycle and trust that the Universe has your back. Because it does.
On election night 2016, Donald Trump was in the midst of his Jupiter return. That's why I was skeptical about Hillary Clinton winning, even though all the polls favored her. I mentioned that he had “lucky stars” that night and shouldn't be underestimated. Sure enough, he won. (If you're going to run for president, this is your best transit to get your politics on!)
This transit happens once every twelve years because it takes that long for Jupiter to circle back around.
When Saturn aligns with your natal Saturn, it's called the Saturn return. This transit arrives every twenty-seven years and can happen three times in your lifetime. Heck, if we start living longer, maybe some of us will experience a fourth Saturn return!
In a nutshell, the Saturn return marks a time in your life when you need to take stock and course-correct if you've gotten off track. In other words, this is your cosmic cue to straighten up and fly right. Although each Saturn return transit carries a similar lesson of taking personal responsibility, there are also some unique themes for each one.
The first Saturn return represents the official end of your childhood and the transition into adulthood. It's about taking full responsibility for your life, including mistakes. If you've gotten a bit lost, this is your official reboot. For many people, the first Saturn return is when they get serious about life. They choose a career, get married, have a child, go back to school, stop partying, etc. In other words, they grow up and start creating a responsible life. They get it together. This occurs around ages twenty-seven to thirty.
The second Saturn return happens around ages fifty-six to fifty-eight and indicates the transition to the role of the wise elder. This is the time to pass the torch. Mentor, teach, and share your experience in a meaningful way. Get cool with your age now. If you're hung up on being young, you'll be miserable. Instead, embrace where you are! Acknowledge how far you've come and how much you know. This transit also marks a pinnacle in your career. You may reach the top position or receive kudos for your contributions. Step into your power, take a bow, and celebrate your accomplishments. For some, this period can be rough. If you have not been living authentically, the second Saturn return is when divorce, illness, or job loss may happen. This could serve as a wake-up call of sorts, a reminder that there is still time to get it right.
The final Saturn return shows up between the ages of eight-six and ninety and signals the time when you can prepare for the “big journey.” During this transit, don't take life so seriously. Laugh as much as you can. Enjoy every moment. If health permits, do the final things on your bucket list. Spend time with the people you love the most. Document your stories. Learn new things. Forgive, forget, and let go. Above all, give thanks for the gift of life and don't give a rip about what anyone thinks. You've earned your place in the world and don't need to be anything more than yourself. (Psst . . . if you have a loved one celebrating their third Saturn return, create a video interview with them. I did that for my father, and he loved it. Now that he's gone, we've got a little piece of him with us forever.)
The Chiron return happens around ages forty-nine to fifty-one and hangs around for about two years. During this time, you have an opportunity to heal old wounds. Revisit the areas in your life that need healing. You can understand yourself and your issues on a deeper level. There may be some loneliness during this transit, so do reach out to others. As you work on your own healing, you begin to learn how to use your lessons to help others. This is a profoundly spiritual time for those who go within and do the work. The wounds of your past can be repaired, giving you the compassion to serve others.
Although you'll experience other returns, the Jupiter, Saturn, and Chiron ones offer chances to grow, learn, heal, and expand. For beginning astrologers, this is the perfect place to begin.
Open your ephemeris. Look up today. Are you currently in the middle of one of these transits? How are you working with it . . . or not? What might be the best way to lean into the return and find the benefits?