London is calling

Brisbane-born influencer, model, and all-round beauty guru, Cartia Mallan, who co-hosts popular podcast Common Chaos, recently relocated to lively London and shares her top tips for this tourist hotspot.

By PENELOPE PELECAS

Brunch spot?

Granger & Co (Aussie café). Sorry, but we just know how to do brekky the best!!!

Favourite restaurant and why?

I think my favourite is The Maine Mayfair, the food is delicious, and it feels like a little jazz club. Best date night vibes

You’re heading out for cocktails, where to?

Chiltern Firehouse, always. What’s your go-to coffee order and where from?

I’m a matcha girl! My favourite spot is Cafe Kitsuné in Knightsbridge.

Fashion and beauty, where are you shopping?

Selfridges of course! Or for vintage clothing, nothing can beat Brick Lane in Shoreditch.

Favourite London designer?

House of Sunny.

Best place for people-watching?

Soho!

Favourite place to escape to outside of the city?

Soho Farmhouse is my favourite little weekend escape.

It’s a perfect Sunday morning in London, what are you up to?

Walk in Hyde Park with a matcha in hand.

What the heck is a RETURN?

If you’re in your late 20s or have been thinking about your late 20s and reflecting on the existential crisis you experienced as you approached your 30th birthday, you may be wondering if it was written in the stars. Well, it was, and it was written by Saturn — more specifically, your Saturn return. Saturn returns have a reputation for being extremely difficult, so to help you navigate and understand yours, here’s everything you need to know.

What is it?

In astrology, every planet moves through the 12 zodiac signs. Astrologers use a person’s birth chart — a snapshot of the sky at the exact date, location, and time you were born — to discover where Saturn was located when they were born and when it will return to that exact location. It takes Saturn roughly 29.5 years to return to the position it was in when you were born, therefore your Saturn return usually begins around your 29th birthday. Saturn is the planet of boundaries, time, and responsibility. It’ll show you the areas of life where you’ll need to practise patience, and when you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and work a bit harder. It’s these traits that have built Saturn’s infamous reputation, as patience and persistence don’t come easy to everyone — but this is where your Saturn return comes in! Your Saturn return is all about teaching you how to navigate the tricky areas of life so you can move forward more confidently.

What happens?

Saturn returns tend to trigger a lot of life changes. The type of changes, however, will depend on where Saturn is in your birth chart. You could get engaged, get married, have a baby, change career paths, start a business, or move overseas — the possibilities are endless! You may also go through a breakup or lose your job, but any negative changes you experience only happen so you can make room for the better things that follow. It takes about three years for Saturn to move through each zodiac sign, so you may not experience any major life changes as soon as your Saturn return begins. Instead, you may find yourself feeling nostalgic and reflecting on significant changes you’ve already experienced in life and how they impacted you.

How to prepare

The best way to prep for your Saturn return is by generating your birth chart and discovering your Saturn’s specific location. The house Saturn is in will tell you what changes you may experience during your Saturn return, and the sign Saturn is in will explain how these changes may happen. For example, if Saturn was in your 10th house and in the sign of Gemini when you were born, during your Saturn return, you may experience changes to your career and public image through conversations and information you share with other people. You can generate your birth chart online using your birth date, location, and time — the more exact your birth time is, the more exact your chart will be.

So, when it comes to Saturn returns, there’s nothing to worry about. By checking your birth chart and noting the sign and house your Saturn is in, you’ll feel more prepared for the changes this astrological transit will bring. It’ll be difficult at times, and you may feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, but by learning more about your birth chart, you’ll be ready to take on any changes Saturn throws your way.