On June 17th, 2023 at 1:43am ET, the structured and strict planet Saturn begins its backward dance through the heavens, commencing a prolonged 144 day retrograde period lasting until November 4th. As Saturn appears to move backwards from 29° Capricorn to 18° Capricorn over 19 weeks, its wise but cold light stimulates our karma, putting pressures on each area of life it touches. Yet for those willing to put in disciplined effort and reflect on lessons learned through challenges faced, the stern teacher Saturn can grant rewards.
Let‘s explore how this significant 2023 Saturn retrograde may impact your chart based on your Vedic sidereal ascendant and Moon sign. We‘ll cover the retrograde‘s effects on world events, collective moods, and personal development–plus tailored guidance for each rising sign.
Dates and Details on the 2023 Saturn Retrograde Period
First, let‘s set the astrological stage for when Saturn goes retrograde and what that means.
| Date | Astrological Event |
|---|---|
| June 17, 2023 1:43am ET | Saturn stations retrograde at 29° Capricorn |
| June 26, 2023 5:06am ET | Saturn enters Dhanishta nakshatra at 28° Capricorn |
| October 17, 2023 9:51pm ET | Saturn stations direct at 18° Capricorn |
| October 23, 2023 4:42am ET | Saturn leaves Jyeshtha nakshatra, re-enters Mula nakshatra at 17° Capricorn |
During its prolonged backwards march from June to November, transit Saturn slowly moves across the following nakshatras:
- Shatabhisha – Stimulating change (June 17 – June 26)
- Dhanishta – Improving circumstances (June 26 – October 23)
- Jyeshtha – Inducing competition (October 23 – November 4)
- Mula – Nurturing regeneration (November 4 Direct Station)
As the strict planet shifts between these lunar constellations in retrograde motion, our karma comes up for review, particularly in any life areas represented by natal houses Saturn touches in our individual charts.
Now let‘s explore exactly how this intense 2023 Saturn retrograde impacts world events as well as people based on rising sign.
Global Effects: Maximum Intensity from October 17th Onward
On a societal level, Saturn‘s prolonged backwards march can initiate equally serious reversals–especially once the retrograde station shifts into Mars-ruled nakshatras in October 2023.
"Business people will have to be very very careful during this period as Saturn is going through a reverse movement, affecting gains," advises astrologer Gopala Ranganathan.
I analyzed past world events correlating with previous Saturn retrogrades in Jyeshtha Nakshatra for precedent. The current geopolitical climate additionally suggests trouble spots regarding international relations and financial markets around October 2023 need close monitoring.
Leaders face tests of wisdom and integrity as shaky foundations crack. Saturn retrograde often spotlights corruption, hypocrisy, and outdated hierarchies to clear space for new societal structures once Saturn goes direct.
Collectively, the Mars-Saturn alignments between October 17th and November 4th 2023 deserve extra caution and consciousness. As lightworkers ground positive intentions for humanity, we must remain awake to where old bridges crumble. Then with humble courage, we can build renewed connections through compassion.
Personal Effects: Facing Karma, Cultivating Wisdom Through Challenge
For individuals seeking self-development along Saturn‘s stern path, its prolonged 2023 retrograde passage holds enormous promise despite requiring sincere effort to glean the full blessings. As annoying restrictions rise, we must lean in to fix bad habits, forgive others’ faults and improve health regimens. By working to relinquish ego and embrace responsibility at every opportunity Saturn provides, our wisdom crystallizes.
Hidden problems surface to be solved properly, nasty facts we avoided get confronted, and buried self-sabotaging tendencies manifest to finally get cleansed. It‘s never fun or comfortable! But as karma comes up for reckoning from June through November 2023, Saturn hands us many beautifully awful perfections for polishing our integrity into diamonds.
Stress does grind unrelentingly under Saturn’s gaze with work and duties endlessly piling up. Yet if properly directed, Saturn‘s harsh retrograde pressure can forge lasting positive improvements in character and structures. Nasty surprises breaking already weak links in your life need not be seen as punishments or disasters. Rather, acknowledge these tearings down of faulty foundations as necessary steps to clear space for new flowering growth.
Cultivate acceptance that it’s often during the long muddy middle—not the flashy beginnings or triumphant endings—of difficult Saturnian passages like this prolonged retrograde period that the real magic takes place deep below. The messy moments of getting gritty with the hard stuff, asking why and being brutally honest with oneself plant potent seeds even if on the surface storms rage and all looks stagnant or barren.
Have faith throughout each challenge faced and test passed that no effort made along Saturn’s path goes wasted, though rewards take time and patience to ripen. What’s built slowly with care and integrity lasts. What’s destroyed when faulty both liberates and instructs.
So stay focused in your spiritual practices, maintain health with sound self-care routines, forgive all debts to release their bindings, and keep putting one foot firmly in front of the next along Saturn‘s often rocky trail, knowing you grow stronger even carrying extra burdens. This too shall pass. And from the broken and finished, new worlds will eventually emerge.
Now let‘s explore specific guidance and impacts for each ascendant‘s experience journeying through Saturn‘s prolonged retrograde period.
Tailored Guidance For Each Ascendant during 2023 Saturn Retrograde
While Saturn puts every ascendant through tests in its backwards march from June to November 2023, our specific dasha periods and chart placements means no two experiences are identical. Use the general tips below as a starting point, but professional readings with a Vedic astrologer provide the most personalized recommendations.
Performing small Saturn-related spiritual practices can offer comfort without much effort. I suggest:
- Wear aNatural Blue Sapphire or substitute Lapis Lazuli to amplify Saturn’s helpful guidance.
- Donate black sesame, iron or blue flowers to the needy on Saturday mornings.
- Softly chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 108 times each Saturday.
- Closely reflect on Saturnian lessons regarding self-mastery, responsibility, integrity and shedding ego.
Aries Ascendant
Rahu joining Saturn in the 10th house of career and public status ensures dramatic ups and downs under the prolonged retrograde‘s gaze. Power struggles at work escalate by October, when cutthroat competition and jealousy from colleagues or authorities require political savvy to navigate conflicts. Don’t take bait. Keep temper in check despite provocations. Channel drive into steady structured efforts behind the scenes to build supportive alliances and achieve ultimate recognition.
Taurus Ascendant
With Saturn transiting your ninth house of good fortune and higher wisdom, its backwards march signals frustrating blocks and delays regarding academic pursuits, publishing projects or legal affairs from June through November 2023. Avoid long distance travel once Saturn stations direct October 17th, when vehicle accidents become likely. Study philosophical perspectives on accepting life’s difficulties for courage and renewed motivation to navigate present obstacles. This too shall pass and brighter days dawn.
Gemini Ascendant
Saturn cruises through Gemini‘s eighth house of transformations, upheavals and sudden events during its prolonged retrograde sojourn. The wise teacher planet pressures hidden matters tied to finances and partnerships previously left unfinished. Joint tax/debt obligations, insurance issues and even past relationship grief or trauma may resurface seeking resolution. Use Saturn’s stern prods towards honesty and responsibility to heal old hurts through forgiveness. Seek professional counseling if needed to productively process churned up emotions before directly communicating desired closure.
Cancer Ascendant
The 2023 Saturn retrograde journey spans Cancer ascendants‘ relationship house, casting an investigative gaze on all one-to-one bonds to assess their integrity and longevity. Existing partnerships feel pressure to either crumble or strengthen. Clarify expectations through forthright communication while maximizing patience as familiar ties get reworked. Singles may meet intriguing potentials by early November, so socialize despite wanting solitude. Overall, complex negotiations require compromising ego for cooperation. Nurture self-worth independently to negotiate from strength.
Leo Ascendant
Hard taskmaster Saturn creeps through Leo ascendants’ sixth house of health routines, job duties and service throughout its prolonged June to November backward crawl.. Expect muscle stiffness, bone/teeth issues or digestive complaints to signal neglected self-care needs addressing. Demanding work obligations also escalate, requiring quintessential Saturnian perseverance despite limited recognition. Maintain disciplined wellness regimens for bodily resilience. Adjust ambitions to focus on incremental daily progress. In relationships, tackle problems methodically rather than dramatizing. Then this trying transit passes smoothly.
Virgo Ascendant
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride regarding romantic relationships, children and creative passions while Saturn moves backwards through Virgo rising’s fifth house between June and November 2023! Children face new responsibilities and shouldered burdens potentially impacting education or pursuits. Creativity feels blocked despite disciplined efforts. Speculative ventures and fun trips face delays or restrictions. For singles, numerous dating pursuits prove fruitless until serious matches manifest by November. Leverage Saturn’s harsh but helpful retrograde tests surrounding play, pleasure and progeny to crystallize wisdom for where to invest true heart going forward.
Libra Ascendant
Brace for domestic upheavals as the structured Saturn retrograde period unsettles foundational fourth house matters for Libra rising signs like property, vehicles, parents and peace at home. Real estate transactions face delays. Renovation costs escalate unexpectedly. Cultural traditions may clang against personal growth with family elders. Maintain harmony through respectful detachment despite differences in perspective. Focus efforts on tidying regimes to enhance safety and workflow at home/work spaces for security improvements by November 4th when forward movement unsticks.
Scorpio Ascendant
Saturn’s retrospective gaze spotlights communication, sibling issues and local neighborhood matters while crawling through Scorpio ascendants third house realm from June to November 2023. Writers suffer blocks with progress stalling despite strong efforts. Sales contracts, merchant deals and advertising initiatives also meet with frustrations until Jupiter and Mars improve prospects by October. Stay persistent applying Saturn’s demanding work ethic for slow but steady results. Siblings and friends may vie fiercely for your time and support during this retrograde period. Set healthy boundaries to avoid depletion.
Sagittarius Ascendant
Economic and self worth sectors come under Saturn‘s prolonged retrograde pressure for Sagittarius rising individuals between June and November 2023. Reassess financial management approaches with conservative practicality. Review budgets to cut waste, maximize savings and attract extra income through Saturn’s lessons in frugality. Unexpected elder care costs or tuition fees may also arise. Meanwhile self-confidence suffers despite surface career successes. Balance material and spiritual efforts to nurture inner peace and self-acceptance regardless of praise or riches flowing outwardly. What we own never defines our worth. Let Saturn reveal true gold.
Capricorn Ascendant
Capricorn ascendants receive Saturn‘s backwards glance directly in their first house of identity and physical appearance during its prolonged 2023 retrograde march. Self-reflection becomes unavoidable while reassessing life direction. Feelings of inadequacy may plague despite external achievements. Skin problems, dental issues and musculoskeletal stiffness signal a need to lovingly care for bodily needs. Seek isolating quietude to crystallize wisdom gained through Saturnian setbacks and separations by releasing outdated self concepts while cultivating authenticity. Then you’ll feel renewed once the retrograde period completes.
Aquarius Ascendant
Get ready for internal upheavals and existential alterations while Saturn cruises through Aquarius rising natives‘ hidden twelfth house realm from June until November 2023. Past life karma or childhood traumas may resurface seeking resolution. Sleep troubles can signify taxed nervous systems requiring restorative retreat. Healing therapies prove useful when conventional medicine offers no diagnosis. Intensively journal to unearth revelations from dreams, synchronicities and moments of déjà vu. This introspective passage develops spiritual strength to master Saturnian life lessons and serve humanity.
Pisces Ascendant
Networking and society sectors suffer setbacks under Saturn‘s backwards gaze through Pisces ascendants‘ 11th house of community between June and November 2023. Group affiliations and friend circles face shakeups as outgrowing associations ends. Public gatherings feel draining. Social media efforts flop. Support Saturn’s wisdom by releasing energy draining people or activities from overbooked schedules until retaining only meaningful, uplifting connections offering genuine emotional replenishment or pragmatic benefit. Soon you‘ll restartfully restored enjoying community spaces both virtually and locally.
An Intense But Wise Passage of Growth
For all zodiac signs, Saturn‘s prolonged 2023 retrograde heralds a watershed developmental passage. We must honor Saturn‘s harsh but helpful role exposing flaws and weaknesses where correction and amendment is due. Through hardship, this cosmic teacher provokes us to review life priorities, shedding superficial pursuits in favor of building broad and deep foundations for achieving most cherished ambitions. Within relationships, Saturn reveals where self-mastery is lacking to become a stronger partner and parent by mastering anger, blame, and fears clouding our bonds. Hard work is expected and demanded. Perseverance gets tested through delays. Boredom or depression can arise noticeably between late June and early November 2023 signaling a need to commit to new disciplined wellness regimens.
Yet for those willing do Saturn‘s heavy lifting, the prolonged retrograde‘s passage promises liberation from past baggage, crystallized wisdom through obstacles overcome, a stronger sense of direction and renewed inner peace to fuel success after November 4th. The structures we reinforce now support dreams coming true in coming years. So stay positive through each challenge faced. Maintain health and focus as intensified energy demands extra self-care. Then write down intentions under November 2023‘s New Moon to proclaim fresh starts empowered by Saturn‘s tests triumphantly passed.