Signs and degrees measure returns in astrology. 

So if transiting Saturn hasn’t arrived at the sign of Saturn in your birth chart, your Saturn return hasn’t started. 

However, your Saturn return can “come early” if you have Saturn in the first decan of a zodiac sign. The first decan goes from degree 0 to degree 9. 

But even if Saturn is in the later degrees of a sign, you can begin preparing for your return.

In this post, I explain when you should do it and how. 

This is the table of contents: 

1. When Does the Saturn Return Come Early?
2. Why Can the Saturn Return Come Early?
3. When Can I Start Preparing for My Saturn Return?
4. How Can I Prepare for My Saturn Return?
5. How Can I Prepare for My Saturn Return SPECIFICALLY?

Let’s go.  

When Does the Saturn Return Come Early?

Not everyone will experience their Saturn return early. 

This situation varies from birth chart to birth chart. 

Besides, saying that it can “come early” is not exactly accurate.

As I already mentioned, signs and degrees measure returns in astrology. 

So, if you have Saturn in Aries, your Saturn return will begin when Saturn ingresses Aries. 

Related: The Sign of Your Natal Saturn and Your Saturn Return

Not before when Saturn is in Pisces. Not later when Saturn is in Taurus. 

But depending on your birth chart, you can start receiving clues about your Saturn return before the actual Saturn return. 

Your Saturn return can “come early” if you have Saturn in the first decan of a sign. The first decan goes from degree 0 to degree 9. 

I have already covered this topic in a previous post. I mention some of its core topics again because they relate to preparing for the Saturn return. 

If you want to read the other text first, here’s a handy link: Can the Saturn Return Come Early? 

Why Can the Saturn Return Come Early?

The Saturn return can come early for those with Saturn in the early degrees of a zodiac sign. The reason behind this is an astrological aspect. The name of this aspect is conjunction. 

Aspects in astrology are the conversations that planets and other birth chart points have with one another. 

Some of these conversations are harmonious, while others are challenging. 

Interpreting aspects in specific houses and signs is one of the most complex tasks for an astrologer. 

But it’s worthwhile doing it. 

Aspects provide information about the energetic disposition of a whole natal chart.   

Related: Aspects to Saturn: A Beginner’s Guide

In Hellenistic astrology, two planets or angles are in conjunction if they are in the same sign. Degrees are not considered. 

You could have Saturn at 20 degrees of Aquarius and the Sun at 01 degrees of Aquarius. They are in conjunction for Hellenistic astrologers.  

Conversely, psychological astrology uses a different measurement for conjunctions. The planets or points of the birth chart involved in the aspect must be a maximum of 10 degrees apart. 

Some astrologers even consider that conjunctions only occur if the planets and points are at 8 degrees maximum distance.   

Someone with Saturn at 20 degrees of Aquarius and the Sun at 01 degrees will not have a conjunction in psychological astrology.

Conjunctions in the birth chart are not the only manifestation of this aspect. You can also experience conjunctions by transit. 

When a transiting planet conjuncts a planet in your birth chart, this is called a “return” in astrology. 

The transiting Sun conjuncts your natal Sun once a year. This is your solar return, popularly known as your birthday. 

Transiting Saturn exactly conjuncts your natal Saturn every 29 years. This is your Saturn return.  

Your Saturn return will last for about 2.5 years. This is the amount of time Saturn will spend on the zodiac sign of your natal Saturn. 

Related: How to Calculate Your Saturn Return

But Saturn can provide clues BEFORE it enters the sign of your natal Saturn. 

Your Saturn return can come early if you have Saturn in the first 10 degrees of a sign. The first 10 degrees of a sign go from 0 to 9. 

Every zodiac sign occupies 30 degrees. The 0 is counted, but not the degree 30. The 30 degrees go from 0 to 29, and then a new zodiac sign starts.   

As I already mentioned, the Saturn return doesn’t actually come “early.” But you can start perceiving manifestations earlier. 

Hints. Clues. Whispers. Subtle manifestations. 

These subtle manifestations emerge once Saturn arrives at the 10 degrees before the degree of your natal Saturn. 

I wrote that an “early” Saturn return only applies if you have Saturn in the first 10 degrees of a sign.

If you have Saturn beyond degree 9, you’ll feel your Saturn return when this planet arrives at the sign where it is in your chart. 

But those 10 prior degrees are an excellent time to prepare for the actual Saturn return. 

And you can do that no matter in what degree your natal Saturn is located in your birth chart. 

When Can I Start Preparing for My Saturn Return?

You can prepare for your Saturn return when Saturn by transit is 10 degrees before the sign of your Saturn. 

This means the degree 20 of the sign before the sign of your natal Saturn in the zodiac wheel. 

A current example will clarify this idea. 

You have Saturn in Aries. In this cycle, Saturn will ingress Aries on the 24th of May, 2025, at 23:37 EST. 

But Saturn will be in 20 degrees of Pisces on the 23rd of February 2025, starting at 02:58 EST. 

Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and Aries is the first. Since astrology moves cyclically, once a planet finishes its journey through Pisces, it moves to Aries. 

This is what is happening right now. 

Saturn will wrap up its 30-year trip through the zodiac soon and start a new journey once it enters Aries. 

So, basically, you can start preparing for your Saturn return BEFORE Saturn ingresses the sign of your natal Saturn. It doesn’t matter in what degree you have Saturn in your birth chart. 

If you have Saturn in Aries, your preparation starts on Sunday, the 23rd of February, 2025.  

But what does this “preparation” entail? Keep reading to find the answer. 

How Can I Prepare for My Saturn Return?

It’s impossible to predict exactly what will happen during your Saturn return. 

However, Saturn wants you to become responsible for your actions and take care of your material world. 

Related: Saturn’s Themes and Their Activation During The Saturn Return

With this in mind, here are some ideas of what you can start doing to prepare for your Saturn return:   

1. Spend more time by yourself
2. Work smart, not hard
3. Fix unresolved issues
4. Focus on the long-term
5. Be mindful of your schedule
6. Prioritize quality over quantity
7. Learn from your mistakes
8. Respect your word
9. Commit to being more disciplined 
10. Motivate yourself 

This list is vague on purpose. I wanted to cover some philosophical ground before giving you more specific ideas. 

Besides, many of the activities mentioned in this list are impossible to complete in just a couple of months. But that’s not an issue. 

This is just preparation. The Saturn return will give you 2.5 years of opportunities to integrate your lessons. 

How Can I Prepare for My Saturn Return SPECIFICALLY?

You can prepare for your Saturn return up to a point.

But some specific things you can do to prepare include: 

1. Organize your finances by paying debts, saving, and not overspending 
2. Take care of your health (teeth and bones specifically!)
3. Get a planner and become mindful of time management
4. Make decisions thinking about the long-term and not just instant gratification
5. Charge fair prices for your work and/or ask for a raise
6. Say “no” more often to commitments that don’t bring you joy
7. Be impeccable with your words, and take a deep breath before saying something hurtful 
8. Take responsibility for the issues you have to solve (yes, the elephant in the room)
9. Stop procrastinating to avoid moments of discomfort 
10. Journal about your values and the authentic path you want to follow

Furthermore, you should focus on regulating your nervous system. This will prepare you to handle whatever problems may arise in your life. 

In this text, you have some ideas about nervous system regulation. 

Don’t worry if this feels too much and you don’t know where to start. I offer weekly guidance in the FREE newsletter. There, we take it step by step. Subscribe now! 

Thanks for reading, and until next time!