This was inspired by Elsa's post about Saturn in Virgo, which is just wrapping up at the end of the month. I have Saturn in Virgo in 6th. Much like many people who experienced Saturn Return, I lost my job. The last four months consisted of rest (because I don't usually get any), self-reflection, my active search for the right career (through assessments, counseling and coaching), and working towards my body regaining its strength and my mind, clarity.

I've heard of stories of people coming out into totally different careers after this Saturn Return. I am concerned that I may not have been making progress because the changes have been drastic. 

Now my career is a different story...  Basically,  after a lot of career assessments and soul-searching, I found out that the career I really want is not supported by the grant the government gives unemployed people (I live in Canada) so I have to finance the education myself. I could easily jump into the business, but I am not confident in doing this on a full time basis. So I decided that it's only practical to return to my current field of work (web design) to finance for my education (and future business) and to live a comfortable lifestyle. After all, I am really good at it, right? 

Unfortunately, a lot of guilt is attached to that. First, I am indirectly influenced by friends who have left their jobs in their Saturn Return to pursue studying what they really want on a full time basis. They had to make drastic lifestyle shifts (mainly they have a lot of money issues). Much unlike my friends however, I have no family in the city (or the country, even) so when all else fails, I have nothing to fall back on. A certain friend is lucky to have a brother he can borrow money from when times are tough for him. Also, I feel some guilt for wanting to own things: this lovely apartment (which has great energy - moved during the throes of my Saturn Return), having savings, having clothes and eating well (I have learned to become quite frugal during this return). I have Venus in Taurus in 2nd trined by Saturn and sextiled by Moon in Cancer in 4th so "owning things" is in my astrology. It conflicts with the ethereal parts of me (12th house Aries sun and Saturn/Neptune square)  and I'm often afraid to be seen as materialistic - even though the business I want to get into has more a psychological/creative component to it though using material things (fashion/beauty). 

So basically, there hasn't been much of a change except for my perspective of working - how I will work this day job to finance for an end goal: my education and ultimately, my own business. I am still pretty much doing what i used to do before I got laid off - except I learned that I learned that taking breaks is essential and caring for my health must come first and foremost... And honestly, if I am not pursuing my dream on the side, I think I would've gone nuts :(

Thoughts? 

Hi lunalie, I think today I might just as well wondering about concrete matters and how to keep my dream alive.

I am not here with an answer, but maybe there something about the transiting uranus saturn opposition that makes us wonder if things are going to keep on coming our way in the right moment.

I had the same thought about the carrer change possibility....but I bet any astrology student could say I belong to an art carreer path.

I do not know your chart, but if you are a good grafic designer you might as well be a creative person, wich sounds like what you want do by starting to study again.

As for how drastic can SR be, this is my guess:

if saturn has already played a big time rule in your life you might have already got some intuition by it,

therefore you might have already started something that during your sr will take a clearer shape...

Hey Lunalie, 

I don't think there is any true measure on how drastic the changes should be, but I will say that mine has definitely been drastic.  I chalk it up to a need for major change in my life, though.  A couple friends of mine are just coasting through their returns so far, so unfair.  ;-)

Not qualifying for a grant and seeing everyone around you able to go to school full time must be frustrating.  Especially when you know what you want.  It made me think of a couple things -

#1 You have an income, so you are actually in a very good spot!  You can go to school, even though it's not full time. You will still get to where you want to go.

#2  I'm wondering if it would be possible for you to work, and instead use the money to fund your own business without going back to school?  If so, maybe you could just go for it.

If more school is necessary, though, then your decision seems sound - get the education, move forward towards your business. And your situation is unique to you, so however you get there is through your own ingenuity!  If I remember right, you're an Aries, so blaze that trail!  If that means not going to school full time like everyone else, then that's okay.  Put on the blinders and do what you need to do / what is possible for you.

Also, enjoy the things you own or will own...you worked for them.  :-)

ram: I am being hit hard by the Saturn/Uranus opposition. I haven't been sleeping well for the last three weeks! And this is AFTER consuming melatonin! It's somewhat frustrating! 

Most people I know of (who have looked into my chart) say that I should be in a creative career - and rightfully so because that's the only thing that honestly feels "right" to me. However, it's hard when the life was sucked out of me by that particular creative career, although now I realize it's really my fault for doing that. I get worrisome and stressed out very easily and I often feel trapped (12th house sun issue) that this would be my career forever. I think that's why I've been feeling that way.

I've been mainly following Saturn on the health front. The career thing is a little tricky, I find, but it seems like the only way to go is to take advantage of my earth trine - my tendency to practicality. I guess I'm just scared that I cannot deliver/produce as much as I'd want. the problem with my old career is that I get creatively blocked so often - but I guess I shouldn't stress out too much.

dolce:

I'm not yet confident about my skills in the business I want to get into. I actually want to get educated first so yes - suggestion #2 is an excellent idea (and something I'm striving for) but since the gov't does not provide educational grants for this program, I'll have to work for the money myself. It's not that much of a problem, I'd say :)

I guess the guilt too comes from how much I respect my friends and how I feel "materialistic" in comparision to them. I don't need money and "stuff" all the time, but there's a certain "pride" I have in acquiring them through my hard work. I guess it's hard to explain to my intellectual friends what I mean by this... Hahah... Mercury in Pisces - they will probably never understand! (none of my friends have this aspect, though my sig. other has Mercury in Scorpio). 

Saturn rules my chart, and its first return was totally peaceful. At that time, I was settling into my long-term relationship (natal Sat in the 7th), starting my postgraduate studies and enjoying my job. Careerwise, it was very successful; no personal turmoils either. Just a lot of hard work to establish a sort "solid basis", on which I can draw now that we have two kids and my career has been temporarily put aside.

It's Pluto that's causing havoc to my life ... not Saturn

Alice T:

I think the reason why I'm struggling with Saturn is because I have the natal Saturn/Neptune square. I'm one paranoid mofo! I have these hologram fears! Elsa wrote about this aspect extensively in her blog and I'm just learning to deal with it right now.

I think in retrospect, Saturn is actually ok for me. Saturn just makes me work really hard for it. At this point where I am unemployed, I think Saturn actually cut me off from workaholism! If it wasn't for this return, I wouldn't have learned the value of, "Save yourself first, before you save another."

Pluto... Ahh yes... Pluto is a different story. :)