PSA: Notes by Thalia is not going spiritual.
In last week’s blog post, I said I prefer mental wellness rituals over spiritual ones because I’m a practical person.
Although Saturn Return is rooted in astrology and cosmic influences, I think it’s still an essential topic to cover because that feeling we get during our late twenties to early thirties is all too real.
We can’t help but think we are:
- Behind in life
- On the wrong path
- Missing out on life beyond work
- Not living up to expectations
- Lost and confused
I know this because I’ve been there.
When I was 27, I had a huge awakening.
The thought of working in an office job for the next forty or so years scared me. I began to question whether that was really the life I wanted for myself.
Even after I travelled solo for 5 months around Southeast Asia to “Get it out of my system,” I still felt restless.
A feeling lingered in my gut that there was more to life than work, eat, sleep, repeat. I also felt as though I was escaping reality by continuing to travel, as I was avoiding setting goals and the uncomfortable question of “What’s next?”
This feeling stayed with me for the next 2 or so years until I found my real purpose.
I now feel completely and utterly at peace in myself, knowing that I’m right where I need to be. I now realise everything I went through in the years prior was essential in creating the dream life I have now.
Here’s how to confidently navigate your Saturn Return based on my own life-changing experience.
P.S. If you’re new here, hey! I’m Thalia. I help burnt-out girlies like you build a life that’s aligned, magnetic, and unapologetically yours. Every week(ish), I share content on burnout recovery, self-development, finding joy, and career growth. Subscribe here so you never miss a debrief.
What’s the deal with Saturn returning?
I’m not a pro on celestial events, so I’m going to explain this as best as I can…
Saturn takes 29.5 years to orbit the sun.
When Saturn returns after those 29.5 years to the same position in the sky it was when you were born, this creates a significant cosmic shift.
It’s not a coincidence then, that we experience the biggest shifts in life at ages 30 and 60.
If Saturn takes 29.5 years to orbit the sun then it’s likely you’ll come across two life-changing periods — one in your late twenties and the other in your late fifties.
According to Astrology, Saturn reflects wisdom, discipline, responsibility and karma.
It’s also considered the “taskmaster” of the zodiac and can bring with it lessons in adulting, challenging tests and a lot of self-reflection and realisation.
So during this period, it is totally normal to experience significant moments of self-discovery, discomfort, growth and transformation.
Signs you’re in your Saturn Return
Your Saturn Return can land anywhere between your 27th and 31st birthday depending on when Saturn (the planet) aligns with Saturn in your birth chart.
I’m not entirely clear on how this works but I have read that both Saturns need to occupy the same zodiac sign.
Your Saturn return can last up to 2 and a half years which makes total sense as mine definitely started before my 29th birthday and ended sometime after I turned 31.
It’s important to note that your Saturn Return is individual and its specific impact will be unique to you. So I can’t speak for everyone but these are a few of the signs I experienced during my late twenties:
- Frustrated and lost with where my life was going
- Mentally and physically stuck
- Unfulfilled in my career
- Lacked purpose
- Unsatisfied
- Felt constantly anxious
- Worried about the future
- Felt as though I’d outgrown the person I was
- Held back by fear to be my true, authentic self
Although I was single at the time of my Saturn Return, it’s not uncommon to experience break-ups in romantic relationships and even friendships.
If you are currently experiencing any of these signs just know that you are not alone. They are completely normal.
Instead of feeling frustrated and blaming the universe, use this as an opportunity to overhaul certain aspects of your life and give your life goals a glow-up.
5 practical tips for your Saturn Return
Has there ever been a better time to glow up your life both mentally and physically?
Use your Saturn Return as a permission slip to reassess your career, purpose, friendships and goals, so you can enter your thirties feeling confident and excited about the future.
I encourage you to bookmark this page so you can refer back to these practical tips whenever you need to.
1 | Align with your core values
The biggest reason why you might currently feel restless is because you’re not clear on what you value most in life.
You’ve followed a path that is expected of you or have even been influenced by others and you’re now beginning to realise that it’s not what you actually want.
So use this time to realign your path with what is most important to you.
Your core values are your fundamental beliefs. They are what guide your behaviours, decisions, actions and your goals.
Think of them like a compass. When you know what your personal values are, you can give more meaning to your life.
To map out your core values you first need to figure out what matters most to you.
P.S. If you haven’t done this exercise with me yet, I 100% suggest doing it now and following along with this step-by-step breakdown.
Action steps:
- Reflect on your most rewarding, satisfying and fulfilling moments
- Identify the values that were present within these moments and write them down
- Continue to add to your list until you have 10-15 values that all resonate with you
- Narrow down your master list to just 5 core values
- Use this workbook to help you apply your values IRL to bridge any gaps
2 | Find your Ikigai
Ikigai, meaning ‘reason for being’ is an ancient Japanese philosophy that encourages individuals to discover their life’s purpose.
Iki’ in Japanese means ‘life’ and ‘gai’ describes value or worth. (BetterUp, 2021)
It involves identifying the intersection between four parts:
- What you love — your passion and mission
- What you’re good at — your passion and profession
- What the world needs — your mission and vocation
- What you can be paid for — your profession and vocation
When you find your Ikigai, you have essentially found your “bliss” leading to a life of deep satisfaction and fulfilment.
You are inspired to get out of bed every day as you are pursuing activities that truly resonate with your inner self.
So when you reach a period of unrest and discomfort (a.k.a your Saturn Return), you may find comfort in exploring your Ikigai and finding out what your true purpose is.
Action steps:
- Brainstorm the things you love and what brings you joy
- Identify your natural strengths, skills and talents
- Explore how your skills can meet the needs of the world
- Look into job or work opportunities that align with your passions and skills
- Find the sweet spot (Ikigai) between your passion, profession, mission and vocation
3 | Set value-driven goals
Hands up if you constantly compare yourself to travel influencers and people living their “best” lives.
Or you regularly question why you haven’t got your shit together yet, especially after reading Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
The truth is, you’re not the problem. Your life goals are.
You’ve fallen into the trap of setting goals you think you “should” achieve and wonder why you still feel empty inside rather than going after goals that will make you feel worthy.
Instead of creating the life you truly want, you’re building a life that is expected of you.
So if you’re currently feeling unsatisfied in life, use your Saturn Return as an opportunity to press pause and set new, meaningful goals that will actually set your soul on fire.
I like to call this part, creating a roadmap for the next phase of your life.
Action steps
- Grab your 5 core values from the list above
- Set 1-2 goals that support each of your core values
- Use this question; “What is the positive impact on each of my values if I achieve this goal?”
- If you can’t think of anything then adjust your goal until it aligns with your core values
- Once you’ve set your goals, break them down into manageable chunks
4 | Explore new hobbies and interests
POV: Your Saturn Return is the best time to nurture self-discovery and personal development. And there is no better way to do this than through trying new hobbies.
Having a set of enjoyable hobbies not only gives more meaning to your life but also adds to your sense of identity and provides you with a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
During my twenties, I had zero hobbies — unless you count dancing in clubs and drinking until I was blackout a hobby, lol. At the weekends, all I did was doom-scroll and binge-watch Netflix which led to a whole lot of self-pity and an emptiness which was hard to shake.
In short, I had lost who I was as a person.
It was only when I went travelling across the world did I learn the importance of hobbies. They can boost daily joy and well-being, creativity and overall life satisfaction — 3 essential ingredients you need when navigating your Saturn Return.
Action steps:
- Set a 3-minute timer
- Write a bucket list of hobbies you’ve always wanted to try
- Rank your activities from 1 – 10 depending on how much they will push you out of your comfort zone (1 being the least and 10 being the most)
- Take the 10th (or very last) activity on your list and schedule it into your calendar for this week
- Continue this every week until you’ve completed all the hobbies on your list
5 | Enjoy the process
Life isn’t just for sitting still and feeling content.
It’s about self-discovery and cultivating a life of meaning and deep fulfilment in a way that feels good for you.
This means your Saturn Return is not a bad or negative thing. It serves as a reminder that growth and transformation are essential elements for becoming your best self and creating your dream life.
So lean into this transitional period and embrace the wisdom it gives you no matter how uncomfortable it might seem.
If you loosen that grip, you might also thoroughly enjoy the process.
Action steps:
- Buy a new blank journal
- Build a daily journaling habit
- Reflect on the highs and lows of your Saturn Return
- Make note of the most important things you’ve learnt about yourself
- Regularly refer back to your journal when you need a motivation boost
Bonus | Work with a coach
During the second half of my Saturn Return, I had a coach.
This was when me and John decided to go into business together. His heart was set on building a digital web agency and I struggled to connect with his dream for obvious reasons.
I had just started posting on Instagram as Notes by Thalia but was feeling lost with my vision.
I knew I wanted to start a blog but lacked the self-belief and confidence I needed to make it happen. Fear, judgment, and doubt were all holding me back from what I truly wanted.
But working with someone who understood my feelings was a game-changer. They helped me shift my mindset and overcome self-sabotage so I could finally move forward.
I began to look at people who were ahead of me as mentors rather than as competitors.
In short, working with a coach or mentor during your Saturn Return can make the entire process smoother and empower you to confidently go after your dreams.
So if you’re currently experiencing unrest during your Saturn Return and crave a more supportive approach, then book a 90-minute blueprint call with me.
We’ll dive deep into what’s burning you out, what you actually want from your career (and life), and map out your EXACT next steps, whether that looks like quitting your job or staying and reshaping your role to better align with your goals and values.
You’ll walk away with an INSANE amount of clarity, an action plan that feels doable, and peace of mind that you can’t get from panic-asking ChatGPT at 2 am, “Should I quit my job?”
Action steps:
- Book your session now, as spots are limited
- Add the date and time to your calendar
- Write down your top 3 goals and bring them to our call
- Start thinking about your BIG dreams in life
- Come prepared with a stable wifi connection, a notebook and a pen
Final thoughts
I first learnt about Saturn Return while listening to the popular podcast of the same name by Caggie Dunlop.
I had just turned 30 and was using lockdown as an excuse for personal development.
It was while I was listening to the second episode that it suddenly hit me.
My journey from quitting the 9 to 5 and travelling the world to building a business and finding true purpose was my Saturn Return.
I sighed a sigh of relief — I finally had a term to call my transformative shift.
It wasn’t from lack of ambition or direction.
It was completely normal. And I wasn’t alone, either. Other women had also gone through their own Saturn Return or similar and continue to do so.
So, take from this blog post what you need.
The last thing I want you to do is to blame Saturn or the universe for your current quarter-life crisis (like people love to do with Mercury).
I’ve written this blog post in the hopes that it will inspire you in some way. Whether that is to take back control of your future, gain awareness surrounding Saturn Return, or at least know that you’re not alone.
Regardless of whether you believe in Saturn Return or not, I think we can all agree that the years leading up to your thirties can be an anxious time. The good news — it’s a completely normal season of life as you’re essentially moving into adulthood.
So, if you’re currently going through an existential crisis, I encourage you to take control.
Don’t just sit there and do nothing.
Instead, use this time as an opportunity to overhaul certain aspects of your life and give your goals a glow-up.
You’ve got this,
Thalia xx
P.S. I want you to know that it will get better. You will experience better things, meet better people and step into a job (and life) that feels better. You will become better, stronger, and more aligned with who you’re meant to be. Trust the process, because the best is yet to come.
