Interpreting s.p. Saturn to r. Mars

[Mike V]

Hi all,

I have a very close friend who has s.p. Saturn semisquare natal Mars in orb as of last year. It looks as though this will be in 1* orb for about 16 more years. She's 28 now, with her Saturn Return looming on the horizon as well.

How would one go about interpreting such a long-term progression?
I have read up on transiting Saturn to natal Mars, as well as the catch-all aspect summary. Does this really portend a solid decade and a half of notably intense struggle, hardship, and tough odds? Or is there more nuance than that?
Certainly the last year has been very rough for her, but she also has had 2 solar returns in a row now with prominent Saturn, so it's hard to discern how severe this progression is.

[DDonovanKinsolving]

Mr. E. has an interesting observation that would read this set-up as being similar to a transit of Mars to natal Saturn. Read that interpretation; can you see that sort of situation setting up yet?

-Derek

[Mike V]

My goodness you guys are fast.
Reading that one again... it's hard to say. It's not wrong, but I'm not sure that that alone describes it.
The tone of her life definitely seems to be more "hardship and tough times" than "breakup of specific patterns." Then again, could be the active solar return.