The Saturn Cycle
A "Saturn Return" is merely a marking-point in a continuous cycle -- although it is a significant point in itself. Think of it as Saturn conjuncting Saturn! Natal Saturn has a meaning in your chart, a meaning shaped by its Sign, House, and especially its aspectual pattern. Consider these points:
1) Saturn has a specific meaning and focus within your chart by House, Sign and Aspect.
2) Saturn is continuously moving through your chart, expressing itself thru various signs, houses and contacts with both other planets that it has natal aspects to as well as with planets it has no natal affinity with.
3) You have been gathering experience based on Saturn and all of the other factors in your chart. Hopefully, these have been in balance with Saturn, and Saturn in balance with them.
THEN, you have the dreaded Saturn Return !!! Everyone say Ohhhhh.
There are "typical" experiences and awarenesses that many seem to recognize at this point: You sense a new phase in your life, you mature in your tastes and outlook, you take on new or different responsibilities, you have a sense of needing to set some goals, you feel dissatisfied with life in general but don't know why.
Behind all of this is the cyclic pressures for growth and awareness of the passing of time that Saturn seems to correlate with. You will have already experienced Saturn thru a full cycle and will now need to change or assimilate the lessons that you have been exposed to. Hopefully you learned things from that total 29 to 30 year cycle. If you haven't, then you will likely experience a "nose against the stone wall" effect. Life will find ways to bring you against tough lessons.
Prior to the actual Saturn Return you should have become aware of a sense of the past and future -- where you have been, where you might need to go. The actual "return" point in time may or may not be acutely experienced. If not, don't be fooled. Saturn's lessons don't slip by you, there is no free ride. You have a couple of years in which to realize the need for personal change and growth -- it can be experienced all at once, in big dramatic chunks, or in small and continuous irritating experiences. We will find our own way to wear this "hair shirt."
Remember, Saturn is a cyclic expression. At around 42 years of age, Saturn is opposite its natal and prior return point -- this is the time of the famous mid-life crises that many experience. Now, that "mid-life crises" can seem to be fun and exciting but it does require you to face yourself and to make hard choices -- the consequences of which you will have to live with. There are often other cyclic points such as the squares that can also be strongly felt. Further, we have the Saturn across the Ascendant cycle -- what a depressing time that can be. The Saturn-Ascendant cycle is easier to watch as Saturn moves through your houses and contacts your natal planets.
So, to sum it all up, in 500 words or less, Saturn actually works overtime on a cyclic basis. Its just easier to see him when he shows up a familiar points in your chart. But he is always there. Further, he can work with your other planets as well. The Saturn-Moon cycle can show how you grow through, or in spite off, your social/family conditioning and training. Saturn-Jupiter cycles can show how you manage your life and business through its cyclic activity. For some, Saturn and Uranus cycles can show how you manage your social "activism" goals. But, however you look at Saturn, you have to see him as a continuous "testing" force, an urge to grow and change. Dave.
Are things going to start getting rocky??!