5 Ways to Make the Most of Saturn Retrograde

Here’s how to make Saturn retrograde work for you.

When Saturn is retrograde, it appears to go backwards in the sky. (Planets don’t really go backwards, but when they appear to do so, there are astrological effects.)

What does it mean when Saturn is retrograde?

Saturn is a serious planet: it’s the planet of structure, boundaries, and discipline. If you think back to Monday, it’s highly possible that since then you’ve been closely considering your actions: past, present, and future. There’s a very good chance you have been looking at your habits, lifestyle choices, and plans and weighing the pros and cons, so you can make decisions that will benefit you in the long term.

Saturn retrograde periods offer the opportunity to gain clarity on your choices so you can become more efficient in manifesting your goals and building the life you desire. In some cases, you will change your vision, strategy, or direction. In others, you will feel clearer and more confident about your choices and your reasons for making them in the first place.

Saturn doesn’t go direct until September 18th, so you have plenty of time to reap the unique advantages of this Saturn retrograde period. Here are 5 ways to do just that.

1. Revise Your Goals and Plan to Reach Them

Even if you just wrote out your life goals last week, grab a notebook and do it again. Saturn Retrograde will beautifully illuminate what really matters to you and will also make it clear what actually doesn’t. Remember: when writing your goals, it’s always best to write them in the present tense, as if already true. This simple verb tense change works magic in your consciousness by bringing your goals out of the unforeseeable future and into present moment time.

Once you’ve written your goals – and revised your list as many times as necessary – take some time with each one. Ask yourself: what actions am I taking in order to reach this goal? What actions can I take? You will find it natural and easy to see what’s working and what’s not, and to craft a solid plan for reaching each goal.

2. Clearly Define What Success Means to You

No two people have the same definition of success. When Saturn is retrograde, it’s a good time to ask yourself: what does success mean to me? When I say I want to succeed, what exactly do I mean? Your answer could be freedom, or happiness, or making a certain amount of money, or excelling in a certain arena, or all of the above. There are no wrong answers! As long as your heart of hearts resonates with your definition, it’s the right definition for you.

Once you’ve defined success for yourself, notice all the many ways you are embodying and moving toward this success already. What you focus on expands, so the more attention you place on what’s already working, the more success you will naturally attract.

Then, carefully consider actions you can take or inner shifts you can initiate in order to invite even more success into your life experience.

3. Heal Your Relationship with Money

Saturn retrograde helps us look clearly and honestly at our finances and our habits around money. It helps minimize money’s emotional charge so you can make sane choices about where your money is going and how you’re managing it. This is makes Saturn retrograde the perfect time to make a budget or revise an existing one. Even taking an hour or so at the end of each month to look closely at your credit card and bank statements can have a vastly positive effect.

Saturn retrograde reminds us that a healthy and respectful relationship with the energy of money includes both saving money and allowing yourself budget-friendly luxuries that help you feel abundant.

4. Let Go of Non-Resonant Relationships and Responsibilities

Saturn is known as “the planet of limitation,” and limitation is not always a bad thing. For instance, placing limits on how you spend your time allows you more time for the people, animals, and activities you care about. This is a time when we will have greater clarity about what relationships and responsibilities resonate with us, and which ones don’t. Saturn retrograde’s message is actually pretty simple: let go of the stuff that doesn’t resonate so you can spend time on the stuff that does.

5. Make or Strengthen Commitments

On the other hand, Saturn loves commitments: commitments to people, goals, projects, and dreams. Saturn retrograde helps us get clear on who and what we will benefit from committing to, and inspires us to make those commitments. It’s a time to look deeply at romantic relationships, business partnerships, long term goals, and personal disciplines (such as dance, yoga, or meditation) in order to choose and define the commitments that will best serve your soul’s unfolding.

Clearly, Saturn retrograde brings many benefits and blessings! So make the most of the unique opportunities of this magical time.

Can you already feel the effects of Saturn retrograde? How have they manifested for you? Please share in the comments below!