the return of Saturn

Last Friday night (did anyone else just start singing Katy Perry's new single?) I met a new coworkers significant other during a fun company outing (dinner and bowling, woot!). While chatting about our lives I mentioned that Monday had been my 27th birthday. I was delighted to hear her response of "Oh! 27! Happy birthday, what a great age to turn, I'm totally excited for you."  She then began to explain that, astrologically, the 27th year marks the beginning of the first return of Saturn in its orbit occupied at the time of our birth and symbolizes the start of major changes in a person's life.

A more eloquently explained Wikipedia summary:

"The Saturn return is a phenomenon which is described as influencing a person's life development at 27 to 29 or 30-year intervals.....a person crosses over a major threshold and enters the next stage of life. With the first Saturn return, a person leaves youth behind and enters adulthood...

The first Saturn return is most significant because it represents the first test of character and the structures a person has built his/her life upon. According to traditions, should these structures be unsound, or if a person is living out of touch with her/his true values, the Saturn return will be a time of upheaval and limitations as Saturn forces him/her to jettison old concepts and worn out patterns of living. It is not uncommon for relationships and jobs to end during this time of life restructuring and revaluation.

But the Saturn return is not all about painful endings. During this time, astrologers note that goals are consolidated and people tend to gain a better vision of where they are going in life. There are added responsibilities and a person may reap the rewards from her/his hard work..."

Man, as if I wasn't already excited enough about my 27th year, this pushes the levels of stoked to new heights! I pretty much feel exactly like this theory describes; any part of my life that I've been living out of sync with my values (c'mon, how many times have you heard me talk about being true to "me"?) is certainly being forced into reevaluation and restructuring, I'm constantly creating and exploring new patterns of living and I feel like I'm working double overtime to gain a better vision of where my life is going.

It is a relief...a hokey one, perhaps....to be affirmed in the knowledge that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be right now; that any ending I face today is really just a fresh beginning for tomorrow. I am truly rejuvenated by this knowledge to continue de-cluttering my life, being a "yes" woman and trusting the process!

Welcome back, Saturn!

In Gratitude,

Trish