?Saturn is one of the social planets in astrology, along with Jupiter, and these two planets can show how we're alike our peers. While Jupiter is the planet of expansion, Saturn is the planet of restriction, and is one of the hard planets in astrology.

There are ten planets in a standard astrology chart (I personally also add Ceres, and there are others, but we start with the ten). Each planet links to a different part of your personality and life. Your natal chart is a snapshot of the locations of the planets, other bodies, and houses in the Zodiac at the moment you're born and from the location you're born at.

Saturn is the natural ruling planet for earth sign Capricorn, sign of goals, and naturally connects to the tenth house, the house of goals, life path, and direction.

lessons
limitations
responsibility
maturity
authority
ethics
discipline

In your natal chart, Saturn is the planet of lessons. These are the biggest life lessons you have to learn, and you absolutely have to learn them. If you don't, Saturn will punish you, and Saturn's punishments can be absolutely brutal (only Pluto compares). Your Saturn lessons are found in the sign and house location of your natal Saturn, and these are the areas where you must learn.

Transit (moving) Saturn conjuncts (aligns with) your natal Saturn for the first time in your late 20's or early 30's, and this is known as the first Saturn Return. Usually, this is when we're forced to confront our Saturn lessons. If we do learn them, we can grow, mature, and life gets easier as a reward. If we keep avoiding them, we can keep getting punished by Saturn, pushed down and down, and continue to struggle in life.

Saturn's base energy in astrology is restriction. Saturn limits our options. This gets us to get focused, and to learn to work with what we have instead of lamenting what we don't. Saturn is always trying to get us to learn (as annoying as it can be sometimes).

Saturn in astrology rules responsibility. What we have to take responsibility for, how we manage responsibilities, and where these responsibilities can come from can be found with your natal Saturn. Those with a strong natal Saturn are often forced to deal with a lot of responsibility at a young age, and this likely has to be unlearned in adulthood; fewer will run away though, and Saturn just punishes them for it.

Saturn wants us to be mature grownups. Adult like an adult. Saturn is the adult in the room, and doesn't care one iota for childish games. Where and how we mature and show maturity can be found with natal Saturn.

Saturn in astrology is ruler of authority figures. This can include leaders and bosses, as well as parents. Broadly, this includes governments, institutions, and the military. This makes Saturn a leader, along with Mars, but Mars is a leader because it's a pioneer and goes forth enthusiastically, while Saturn is a leader because it's responsible and takes on the hard jobs with maturity.

Saturn in astrology also rules ethics. Saturn wants us to do the right thing in the right way and for the right reasons. This is the crux with our Saturn lessons, since it's not enough to simply learn them. No, we must learn them correctly. We must be smart with what we're focused on, we must go about it in the right way for all involved, and we may be motivated for good reasons. 

Saturn in astrology rules discipline, and is a planet that wants us to be totally focused. Saturn gets annoyed when we lose focus, when we get lazy, and when we goof off. This isn't what Saturn wants. Saturn demands we be disciplined with our energy, our time, our resources, our goals, and our connections.

For everyone, look to the Zodiac sign and natal house your Saturn falls in. The energy of the Saturn sign and the areas of life ruled by the house your Saturn falls in are where you have major life lessons, can be restricted, and need to be disciplined. Also look to the natural planetary ruler of your Saturn sign (the natural planetary ruler of the Zodiac sign your Saturn falls in) as this can also connect to the Saturn energy.

Planets that are conjunct (aligned with) your natal Saturn can be restricted by Saturn, and can directly tie into the lessons you have to learn with your Saturn. You may have a hard time accessing the energy of those planets or bodies that are conjunct your natal Saturn until after you learn the lessons.

Transit (moving) planets aspecting your natal Saturn can bring some temporary energy for Saturn matters. This can impact you with your goals and discipline with Saturn but can also impact the areas of life ruled by the house your Saturn falls in, as well as the areas of life ruled by the house your Saturn rules (so the house that falls in Capricorn). 

The most challenging aspects to your natal Saturn can be hard transit Pluto (since Pluto fights for power, and you may struggle with controlling the passionate side of Pluto which can put you at risk), hard transit Uranus (since Uranus is unpredictable and unconventional, this comes at odds to Saturn), and hard transit Chiron (since Chiron rules your wounds, this can open up old wounds tied to your life lessons).

Make sure to sign up for the free monthly worksheet to keep track of the transit planets impacting your natal Saturn and aspects by transit Saturn every month!

Some may have a more important natal Mercury. This can be the case for you if you have:
- a stellium (3+ planets) including your natal Saturn
- your natal Saturn conjunct an angle
- your North or South Node in your Saturn sign
- your 1st house ruler conjunct the natal Saturn
- your natal Saturn anaretic (at 29 degrees)
- natal Saturn as a singleton (only planet in an element, modality, or house type)

If your natal Saturn is in a stellium, this can restrict the stellium energy, and while stelliums are normally points of strength and talents in a natal chart, this may not be accessible to you until after you learn your Saturn lessons. This may come later in life, and may not be something you're even comfortable with when young. 

If your natal Saturn is conjunct an angle, this can bring highly restrictive energy to whatever that angle rules. You may not have full access to that angle until later in life. If Saturn is conjunct your Ascendant or your 1st house ruler, you may seem like a Capricorn, and come across as serious, mature, and responsible, but you may hide your true self quite a bit. If your natal Saturn is in your North Node sign, it can take time for you to access your potential and realize your purpose in life, and you may struggle quite a bit when young, but can be a powerhouse in your golden years if you learn your lessons; if your natal Saturn is in your South Node sign, you may carry a great deal of weight into this life, lots of past life and early life baggage, and this has t=o be shed to free you in this life, and your lessons might be ones that go across lifetimes.

If your natal Saturn is anaretic or a singleton, this greatly amplifies your natal Saturn energy. You can either restrict yourself too much, holding yourself back with everything and taking on too many responsibilities that aren't your own, or you can completely avoid responsibility, run away from what's right, and refuse to grow up. Middle ground is needed, managing your responsibilities but not letting others off the hook while giving yourself some breathing room. It's also extra important for you to learn your Saturn lessons, and not doing so can result in major drama and catastrophes in life. 

Suggested Reading: Natal Saturn and Transit Saturn pages for general interpretations