If you're in your late 20s, and have recently found yourself questioning your career, relationships, or a little bit of everything, you're not alone. Welcome to your Saturn return, one of astrology’s most talked-about (and often misunderstood) rites of passage.

For those a little less fluent in astrological phenomena, and who have heard the phrase thrown around a lot of late, we're here to explain. In broad strokes, your Saturn Return describes a significant turning point that happens around the ages of 27 to 30, when the planet Saturn returns to the exact position it occupied at the time of your birth. And as mercury in retrograde has so kindly demonstrated to us over the years, the positions of certain planets can have a very significant influence on life here on Earth. Want to know what it all means for you? We're breaking down your Saturn return, below.

So, what exactly is your Saturn return?

In astrological terms, your Saturn return marks the moment when Saturn completes its roughly 29.5-year orbit and returns to the exact degree it occupied in your natal chart at the time of your birth. This is significant, because Saturn is the planet associated with structure, discipline, responsibility and long-term growth. So, when it comes back around, it activates these themes in a big way.

Susan Miller, published author and creator of Astrologyzone.com previously told RUSSH: “Think of your Saturn Return as a rite of passage. During this time, you will walk over the threshold into a completely new phase of life where you will have much to learn and many adjustments to make. In the process you will be changed forever.”

A person typically goes through at least two Saturn returns in their life time, but the first one (which usually takes place between ages 27–30) is often the most transformative. It's a time when astrologers say you're being called to step into 'full' adulthood, often through events or internal shifts that require accountability, maturity, and a re-evaluation of your life’s direction. That could mean leaving behind relationships that are no longer serving you, taking your career in a new direction, or finally making the leap to move overseas. Naturally, decisions like these (and Saturn's influence more generally) can feel heavy, but it's ultimately constructive, and sets the wheels in motion to build a solid future.

How long does your Saturn return last?

Saturn takes approximately 29.5 years to complete a full orbit of the zodiac, and then return to the same sign and degree it occupied at the time of your birth. So, your Saturn return begins when Saturn re-enters your natal Saturn sign, but the entire return unfolds over about a 2.5 to 3 year period. The most intense period is usually around the exact return (or the peak), which can happen over several months.

How to calculate your Saturn return

To find out when your Saturn return is (or was), you’ll need your natal chart—which is based on your exact time, date, and place of birth. Once you have it, look for the sign and degree that Saturn was in at the time you were born. Your Saturn return begins when transiting Saturn re-enters that same sign, and peaks when it reaches the exact same degree.

You can generate your chart for free using online tools like Astro.com or Co–Star, and work out the placement of Saturn at the time of your birth from there. Or, if you'd prefer a tool that does all the heavy lifting, there are online platforms that will tell you when your Saturn return is, like this one.

Image by NASA via Unsplash.