On 7 March 2023, Saturn will transit the sign of Pisces through 13 February 2026 (Saturn has a short stint in Aries during 2025). Saturn will make order from the ethers of technology, culture, pharmacology, and spirituality, and the withdrawals will be rough. What can Saturn’s last tour in Pisces, in the mid-’90s, reveal about this go around? Here’s how Saturn in Pisces will shape a new future.
Saturn is the planet concerned with discipline and being task-oriented. Saturn teaches us our limits, helping us assume form so that we can meet our destinies in fighting shape. Saturn can manifest as a wise mentor instructing you in techniques of mastery; but can just be a patriarchal terror which forces you to stand up for yourself, and use your powers for a purpose.
He requires us to focus and stay on track to avoid hard-learned lessons that usually result in problems. Saturn is most notable for keeping law and order. This planet places limitations or restrictions on us, usually in the form of obstacles, setbacks, and suffering. He requires us to work hard to achieve our goals. Without Saturn, we would never realise our potential, take responsibility for our actions, and learn how to cope with the hard realities of life. Whatever area that Saturn occupies in your chart will typically require more effort, hard work, and discipline for you to achieve or overcome.
Saturn takes a full 28–30 years to make a full revolution through the zodiac. When it returns to its start position from when you were born, you are in for something of a cosmic catch-up, or training montage, meant to eject you from childhood complacency and into a new world of possibility. The first return, at the end of your twenties, is meant to kickstart your adulthood; round two, in your mid-fifties, helps give your life and work a higher meaning; and the final round, in your eighties, focuses on what you wish to leave the world with when you go.
On a global level, Saturn’s transits deal with structures and monoliths: some which must fall so that new ones may be built. Saturn often stands for the traditional, patriarchal, and capitalist, which must be reckoned with: either by rebellion, assimilation, or reinvention. Saturn’s arrival in Pisces culminates a cycle begun in 1996. What led us here, and what shape will this finale take?
SATURN IN PISCES: THE LAST TIME
Every 30 years, Saturn returns to the same place in the zodiac. When he does, he brings a renewal of the themes seen during his previous transit of the sign. The cultural revolution of the 1960s — in all its sexual, musical and anti-war glory — was renewed in the 1990s when many of the free-love children of that generation were faced with Saturn's cold, hard reality.
Saturn last toured Pisces between May 1993 and April 1996, (with some retrogrades). This transit began with a senate commission on the effect of violent video games on young minds, set off by the breakaway hit Mortal Kombat. Saturn would depart Pisces a few years later, just before the debut of Scream, which satirised the notion that young people could be corrupted by the media — even to the point of homicide. The cultural current was overwhelming, deafening, and soul-annihilating. The Pisces Kurt Cobain would become the ultimate messiah figure of the age, embodying a revolutionary artistic sensitivity that could not endure in a savage, cannibalistic industry. The heroes of Trainspotting coped through dissociation and addiction. Of course, the final girl of this new age, Scream’s Sidney Prescott, would beat her way to the end through iron-hard, Saturnian, sobriety, never drinking the Kool-Aid of nihilism and fame addiction. “This is life,” she says to her would-be-slayer. “This isn’t a movie.”
Take, for instance, anti-Vietnam War, draft-dodging Clinton. Bill Clinton was two years into a presidency that would be rocked by the Monica Lewinsky scandal. In June 1993, just as Saturn entered Pisces for the first time during this period, Clinton ordered attacks on Iraq meant to retaliate for an Iraqi plot to assassinate George H.W. Bush. This was 30 years since Saturn transited Pisces during the Vietnam War, which Clinton opposed as a young adult. Military aggression throughout this period is now largely seen as the backdrop for the eventual attacks on the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. But Clinton's shift is not unique. This type of ideological turnaround is typical for a Saturn in Pisces return.
Culture had perhaps never reached a more bombastic, overwhelming deluge than at this point. But those who could safely cruise the current, and preserve their individual points of view, returned with artistic grails which synthesised and revitalised all that had come before: Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Toy Story, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone revived old themes through new technologies and sensibilities. Meanwhile, The X-Files and Grant Morrisson’s The Invisibles brought conspiracy culture and queer radicalism into the domain of pop fiction. Whitney Houston reached the height of her musical power, winning seven American Music Awards and four Grammys for "I Will Always Love You."
By the time Saturn had entered Aries in 1996, a new consciousness had emerged, fed on the amniotic nutrients of pop culture and the world wide web. The century to come would bring fast evolution and bitter backlash; its symbols would have to be armed with the wit and wherewithal to endure the deluge. And so arrived the new warriors: among them, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Destiny’s Child, and the Spice Girls. These immortal archetypes could be picked off, but never corrupted.In the 1960s, as Saturn transited Pisces, researchers at MIT dreamed of global interconnectedness through computing devices. Dreams, visions, and imagination are all Pisces keywords. They dreamt of a world without boundaries, also a Piscean vision. By the 1990s, during another Pisces Saturn, personal computers had become a reality. Not only that, in 1996, just as Saturn prepared to leave the sign, some 45 million people across the globe were using a little thing called the Internet.
As Saturn prepares to once again make a Piscean journey, we can't imagine what the world was like without constant connection to one another through our devices. Our interpersonal connection, for good or ill, rarely occurs now without a screen as an intermediary. Whole personas are now based in the digital realm. What does any of this have to do with Saturn's entrance into Pisces? Everything. Over the past 30 years, digital natives have created whole personas based entirely on what gets them clicks, likes, and follows. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and OnlyFans offer everyone a platform to mould themselves into their audience's desires and imaginations. All you need is increasingly outlandish behaviour and a myriad of filters to alter your real appearance, and you too can be a star. But no action is without consequence. Thirty years of building false personas online has to crash up against reality eventually. As Saturn enters Pisces next year, the way we think about our relationship with social platforms may begin to shift. Like Clinton's ideological turnaround, today's digital natives may decide they've had enough of illusion, inauthenticity, and deception. Already we're seeing the opening salvo of this. In recent polling, some 35% of Gen Z say they have permanently quit social media altogether, while 64% say they occasionally take breaks from it. A plethora of dead accounts riddles Twitter following the tumultuous takeover by Elon Musk. Facebook, now Meta, just laid off 11,000 staff members as that platform struggles to stay relevant among increasingly younger users.
SATURN IN PISCES: THIS TIME ON GLOBAL SCALE
Saturn will cruise through Pisces from 7 March 2023 through 24 May 2025, then from 31 August 2025 until 13 February 2026. This ends a full cycle of hyper-pop late capitalism which began in 1996. The boom of ’90s culture seems quaint now; Everything Everywhere All At Once sums up the Piscean whirlpool of influence, stimulus, and noise all around us, both dazzling and destroying. Every aspect of life is digitised, surveilled, and branded for advertisement. Experience has been meme-ified. Impending climate doomsayers has encouraged nihilism, despair and depression. We need direction, as only Saturn can provide.
Globally, Saturn will introduce ethics to levee the floods. Look for increased accountability over the adult film industry, calls to raise the minimum age for social media target advertisement (which is currently 13 years old), and regulation over Silicon Valley. The opioid crisis, a preventable scourge wrought by the pharmaceutical industry, will be reckoned with, along with the Western over-reliance on psychopharmacology. Efforts to repeal cannabis punishments will gain more mainstream traction. Those controlling the streams of consumption will have to face accountability — however minimal they may take form.
There may be a decline in general fascination with materialism (which is already underway) and more into conscious consumerism. Any form of over-stimulation and extreme escapism may be viewed as repulsive (the other way around can be true as well but reaching its peak and crashing back down again to realistic views on consumerism). There may be a huge shift in the trends of social media for example, being more conscious of how much time is spent online, etc. Social media platforms can undergo many reforms especially with the general public to see changes in the type of contents they are more interested in. There may be many new discussions about how ads, streams, contents, etc. are being regulated and by whom. Streaming services and platforms may have to evolve from targeted advertising and other such tactics to hold onto their viewers but rather find more authentic means of appealing to their customers. Several new restrictions may come and go especially in the social media realm.
There may be huge developments in the film, art and creative fields from major breakthroughs to criticism for inauthentic inclusivity, etc. Old yet relatable ideas may get mainstream attention once again and be adapted in unique and creative ways. Similarly, conspiracy theories, curated misinformation, and other extreme forms of fantasies like apocalyptic ideas may gain traction. But, simultaneously, mass delusions, misguidance, etc. that are either cultural or institutional will start to crumble. Many organisations and governments may face crises and come under scrutiny.
Narcissism and other identity/personality related issues will reach a peak, with several controversial downfalls of famous names (which too is underway, further intensified with Neptune & Pluto transits) being revealed, so there may be an upward surge of celebrities, influencers, etc. that will have to face their true selves much like how the majority of the world will be able to see through them, where PR curated falsehood may be exposed (the same trend can also be seen in our personal lives as well). There may be public outrage towards many scandals & crimes (either previously exposed or newly discovered) that are notorious (may be even hidden and pervasive). There may also be identity (gender & sexuality) related topics that will see oppression (logic isn’t Pisces strong arm), as a result positive breakthroughs from activism & mass public support. There may be many such concerning social issues that see major revolution.
Because Pisces and Neptune also rule the entertainment industry, there may be major studios and record labels that will start to shut down, or better yet, many artists who’ve been attached to those studios and labels will decide to go rogue and create their own instead. We’re already seeing this with the North Node in Taurus, but the shift will be more obvious once Saturn takes its first steps into Pisces. If you’re an artist, you’re going to be more interested in using your work in a way that’s beneficial, rather than letting people on top get the profit instead. There’s also going to be less interest toward special effects and a bigger focus on independent films, and stories that mirror everyday reality. One of the great things about this, is we’re also going to become a lot more appreciative of the beauty around us, and less interested in filters and glamour.
More people may turn to realistic ways of escapism where developing hobbies, skills, etc. to utilise free time constructively will become a prime focus creating a trend of its own. Simultaneously there may also be an extreme turn towards excessive escapism with dangerous outcomes that will become a big debate about growing rates in depression, mental health issues, crimes, etc. Speaking of which, medicines, healthcare industries, and wellness institutes will undergo major reforms. More progress & breakthroughs may come up in the mental/physical health treatments, medicines, cures, etc. (on the positive side). A collective shift towards community healing, generational health, support and aid may become a focus.
There may be crises in religious & spiritual doctrines, where corruption or other oppressive/regressive issues may come to the forefront. Notorious cult-like activities, practices, or even extremist fandoms may see major downfalls & even investigations. Spirituality (even celebrity worship culture) as a whole can become a polarised topic. Through all that there will be a big shift in consciousness towards spirituality, either through religion or personal revelations, focus will be in finding one’s purpose, spiritual calling, true sense of peace & tranquillity. Many may experience the harshness of the ego death and delve into the depths of shadow work while others may complete their previous healing journeys and come out of this transit with a renewed sense of self, soul, and purpose.
This period can be a particularly tumultuous time since collectively there will be a lot of polarising yet contrasting issues surfacing and fading away simultaneously. This Saturn transit can prove to be an emotionally & mentally taxing one, since we will be preparing to enter into a brand-new astrological cycle after all. So, it's only natural to expect that Saturn will provoke us to take our true purpose and soul journey here more seriously rather than getting lost in the nebulous clouds of Pisces so easily. Expect change, restructuring, reforms, downfalls & upsurges, oppressions & liberations, and such themes cycling in and out throughout this transit.
A return of individualism is already afoot. Throughout the Saturn in Aquarius period, a certain collective mindset ruled supreme with Cancel Culture punishing and silencing voices that expressed offensive opinions or ideas heterodox to the current zeitgeist. A subtle shift has begun, with many public figures calling for more nuanced debates. How will cancel culture end?
Saturn in Pisces will require all of us to confront the boundaries of what is acceptable and unacceptable. More to the point, the self-focused and sentimental Piscean vision may give way to more plasticity around individual expression. As Saturn makes his transition, watch for a shift from the collective to the personal.
"How does it feel to be without a home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone?" sang Bob Dylan during Saturn's 1965 Piscean transit. This sentiment echoed forward when Whitney Houston sang, "I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow." Keep listening for the defining lyrics of Saturn in Pisces 2023.
SATURN IN PISCES AND REFORM IN RELIGION
Saturn always brings trials and tests, but reform is always the result. Long overdue improvements. Why do we associate religion with Pisces? The Age of Pisces according to many astrologers, began c. AD 1 and will end c. AD 2150. Jesus Christ was born then and the astrological symbol for Pisces, the fishes, tallies with the twelve apostles as the “fishers of men,” and of course early Christians called themselves “little fishes,”with the code word for Jesus also being the Greek word for fish, “ΙΧΘΥΣ.” This stained glass window in Chartres Cathedral, below, shows the symbolism of a zodiac sign, above the heads of Christians in France. Drive behind any line of traffic in America and you will probably see the Christian fish (not the astrological fish) in stickers on the rear window.
The Crisis for Christianity
Every time Saturn (difficult days, long life lessons) passes through Pisces (Christianity) we always see a crisis for the Christian church. This is coming back in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Here are the dates, below. This is not just about the Anglican or Roman Catholic church, though. Pisces rules all faiths. So we are very much talking about religion in India, and these cycles starting in 2023 clearly show that we are still in a massive global health risk zone.
Religion is a deeply personal thing. So is spirituality. You are either a believer, or unsure, or firmly against. Pisces has always ruled the soul. We can talk about non-mainstream beliefs, which we find in the New Age – but history shows us, Saturn in Pisces is always about the billion-strong congregations.
The Vatican and Saturn in Pisces
The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) was a massive period of reform for the Roman Catholic religion, opened on 11th October 1962 and closed on 8th December 1965, during Saturn in Pisces. Interfaith dialogue with other religions resulted, among other changes called under Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI.
Women Priests and Saturn in Pisces
The Church of England ordained its first women priests in March 1994 during the last Saturn in Pisces cycle. Thirty-two deaconesses were ordained at Bristol Cathedral in a service led by Bishop Barry Rogerson. The Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, appealed for church unity, during protests.
The previous cycles of Saturn in Pisces have delivered extremely heavy tests of faith and belief for the big, organised religions as well as churches with smaller numbers. If we begin by looking at the 20th century, and the arrival of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, the questions begin immediately – for the Jews. Saturn in Pisces was not just a late 1930’s threat for the Vatican (the Roman Catholic church had serious questions about its own soul) but also the Jewish people. So although the two fish of Pisces are linked to Christianity, it’s actually about all religion and its tests, under Saturn in Pisces.
Special Periods During Saturn in Pisces
The biggest aspect Saturn in Pisces makes is a sextile (beneficial aspect) to Uranus in Taurus, and this occurs twice on April 4 2025 and again on January 19 2026.
What's interesting about this is that while Saturn was in Aquarius, Saturn squared Uranus for almost all of 2021, which is a challenging aspect. The script gets flipped now, and we get these two working well together, which is nice!
Saturn is practical, disciplined, and traditional, while Uranus is change, unpredictable, and unconventional. At odds, we're ripping things apart; working well together, and we're mindfully making changes that help us achieve our goals, and disciplined about unconventional pursuits that prove beneficial for the long haul.
On a personal level
This will be a great time for healing, self-care, and resting all while maintaining the balance of productivity and consistency. Those in the fields of spirituality, healing and higher learning may find this transit to be a rewarding time with more awareness of your gifts & abilities being heightened. Following routines like meditation, qigong, yoga, or even just walking in nature can be a refreshing (or even a necessary) get-away. Indulging in creative pursuits, music, art, and making time for relaxation will be extremely rewarding. Taking care of your physical & mental health will become an important part of this transit, since otherwise Saturn here can bring rude awakenings in the form of health issues. Emotionally/psychologically abusive or manipulative people in and around your life may be exposed (this can be true about your own or leaned toxic traits) whose behaviours cannot be tolerable anymore. Detaching or severing ties with such relationships/environments can be a way of healing by choosing your wellbeing & realising your self-worth.
Rose-coloured glasses will be shattered during this transit (with Neptune still transiting Pisces). There may be possibilities of identity crises and mental breakdowns that will lead to introspection and rediscovery of your true self. Any form of victimhood or extreme escapist lifestyle, attitude and/or mindset will no longer serve the new version of yourself that you will be creating thanks to this transit. So, you can use this time to re-program your thought-patterns and mindsets which will further allow you to manifest your deepest desires, since this transit can help you actualize your dreams using your inner resourcefulness and practicality. You may experience creative impulses that lead to major breakthroughs, similarly, there may be spiritual epiphanies and insights that can change your entire perspective on life as a whole. Artistic, spiritual and altruistic endeavours may be challenging yet immensely rewarding during this transit.
You may notice many cycles ending and beginning simultaneously, sometimes even overwhelming your subconscious. There may be major karmic cycles/patterns that see their end, marking your achievement in self-discovery and healing. You might feel burdened to work on your inner healing, but you will also realise how rewarding the journey is with the extra help of this transit. Saturn will always push us towards our true potential, so you might slowly start to feel satisfied with the results of your efforts as the transit progresses. Losses and sacrifices will be major themes with this transit. You might experience unforeseen events that are out of your control which come with their own set of grievances. But you might also find acceptance in those losses and painful experiences since in a way Saturn and Pisces work together to clear out things/people/patterns that don’t serve your highest good.
This can be a great time for releasing addictions, patterns, relationships, etc. that may be emotionally/psychologically draining you & restricting you from reaching your true potential. This way you can enter Saturn in Aries transit with an open-heart space and lesser mental/emotional baggage, creating room to rebuild yourself and your life goals with a refreshed enthusiasm. There may be a lot of introspection (or events that force it) during this transit that can be painful and triggering yet essential for your soul-evolution. You can expect to come out of this transit with a fresh perspective on life, developing a conscious & productive lifestyle, focus on general wellbeing, acceptance, and taking responsibility for your healing.
ALSO: SATURN | The Teacher of Hardship and Growth
Saturn in Pisces 2023-2026 societal effects
Saturn regulates (and limits) wherever it goes, and this time, all of the areas represented by Pisces will be under the influence. What are some of the industries that will feel the harsh but firm force of Saturn?
The medical industry. Anything to do with vaccines and the aftermath of these will come under the microscope. And stricter rules will be applied to different variations of it. Problems in society through illnesses or medicine. These can be the after-effects of the v-s or some other diseases that spread. And then Saturn comes in and tries to regulate and restrict it.
The foreign travel industry. I see these companies struggle after Saturn enters Pisces. Especially ocean or water travel, cruises for example. Saturn will limit their business. Accidents and problems on the sea and with vehicles that operate on sea and oceans. We can even see large ships sinking.
The alternative drug industry. Cannabis, psychedelic mushrooms, etc. I see an increase in supervision within that industry as well. The eye of the law cracking down on companies in those fields. Attempt to punish criminals more harshly, a new war on drugs.
Unfortunately, Saturn will influence Astrology and all kinds of spiritual services. This can mean bans on social media or some sort of regulatory effort for the industry. Anything related to spirituality, healing, energy healing, etc. – there will be an attempt to discredit, distance, or regulate.
Attempt to regulate or stop the scammers (Pisces). I’m also curious about how this will look but with the increase from Jupiter and Neptune conjunction in Pisces, scammers have been running rampant. From 2023 – Saturn comes in to regulate and punish them.
SATURN’s INFLUENCE ON PISCES 2023-2026
In 2023, Saturn will heavily influence those born under the sign of Pisces. As such, those who will be impacted most will be tasked with placing restrictions on their sense of empathy and generosity. Sometimes Pisces can be overly empathetic and sympathetic and too gregarious. They often overextend themselves to help others. They can be quite self-sacrificing and can often play the martyr’s role. As such, Saturn will place challenges in their path, requiring them to set healthy boundaries with themselves and others.
Likewise, these individuals will be forced to come out of la-la land and face reality on many fronts. Pisces can be subject to strong delusions – they often see the world as idyllic and to their liking. In this case, Saturn will teach them hard lessons so that they wake up and smell the coffee. Many will come to an understanding of how gritty and not-so-nice the world can be, causing them to develop thick skin.
Pisces can also be overly emotional because of these traits and more. Individuals born under the influence of this sign tend to experience extremes of emotion in any regard. They can experience sadness and anger or even joy and happiness at the drop of a hat. And they wear their emotions on their sleeves, as the saying goes. Saturn will show them how to better manage their emotional ups and downs in productive and beneficial ways.
Pisces’ energy can also be extremely fearful and distrustful, yet loyal to a fault. Individuals with a heavy influence of this constellation are typically quite averse to high-level authority. They tend to be conspiracy theorists, which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. But it can become a toxic trait when these individuals isolate themselves or refuse to participate in society on a functional level. This transit will balance out some of these dynamics helping such individuals find a middle ground.
The fearful nature of Pisces can also lead to addictive behaviours as a coping mechanism. As such, individuals with heavy Pisces influence can easily become alcoholics, drug addicts, shopaholics, sex addicts, and the like. Saturn will show up to help them regulate such behaviours.
THE LESSONS OF SATURN
Saturn’s lessons are rarely easy and without challenges. Thus, Pisces will most likely experience many emotional upheavals during this Saturn transit. In fact, these lessons will probably be much harder on Pisces because of its emotional nature. A number of individuals who will be influenced by this energy may suffer greater bouts of depression or anxiety during this period. Though this energy may feel negative and uncomfortable, it is all designed to serve a very useful purpose.
These challenges will force individuals under the influence of Pisces to remove people who take advantage of them from their path. It will also show them ways in which they are being taken advantage of. And it will compel them to stop these and other coping behaviours to prevent similar situations in the future. Likewise, Saturn will teach many lessons about loyalty, fear, shame, addiction, emotionalism, and other traits that Pisces needs to master.
But many of these lessons could be painful. It may cause them to lose friendships or turn their backs on others. Likewise, gaining a deeper knowledge of themselves can be traumatising. This is especially the case for Pisces, who can easily drift between worlds. The most important way for Pisces to protect themselves is to be aware. Understanding what’s going on will give them a greater sense of purpose as they master this transit.
It will also be important for these individuals to work with their spiritual team to get the help and answers they need. An ancestral veneration practice is always helpful in this regard. Ifa, tarot, or other forms of divination can be useful tools for discerning spiritual communication. Likewise, those impacted by this transit should get additional help if necessary. This could be in the form of a coach, counsellor, or trusted friend. Either way, protect yourself and your energy as you experience the many lessons and blessings that Saturn in Pisces will bring in 2023 and beyond.
Generation Virgo and Saturn in Pisces
Each Saturn in Pisces cycle triggers the generation born with the slow-moving outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) in particular zodiac signs. It is always about a religious crisis and necessary progress, improvements and reform. However, the particular kind of crisis is shown by the people alive at the time, and their mass shared horoscope.
In 2023-2026 the Virgo Generation born in the 1960s with Pluto and Uranus in Virgo (health) will all collectively go through the opposition of Saturn in Pisces to their natal planets.
Saturn in Pisces Conjunct the Outer Planets in Your Natal Chart
Most current teenagers have Uranus in Pisces (born 2003 - 2011, so currently ages 8 to 19), and Saturn in Pisces will come to conjunct Uranus in Pisces. Teens and pre-teens now likely start to feel more pressure, and may give much more focus to their creativity, to their spiritual sides, and to exploring deeper parts of themselves. They'll likely be more reflective, and probably quieter (rare for that age group, I know!).
Kids born currently have Neptune at home in Pisces (Alphas, as their generation is called; they definitely have the best generation name), so if you have babies, toddlers, and young children (born 2011 and later), Saturn will conjunct their natal Neptune.
Saturn conjunct Neptune usually prompts you to turn fantasies into reality, so your little ones may be more practical with their creativity, and perhaps talk more about what they want to do when they grow up, and may start now to make things happen (early birds!).
