Transits
Predicting with Transits
Learning About Transits: An Exercise
The Transits of the Planets
• Sun
• Moon
• Mercury
• Venus
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune
• Pluto

Predicting with Transits
The natal (birth chart) positions of planets will always be sensitive points for an individual. As life goes on and the planets move ahead in their orbits, they occupy (or make aspects to) these sensitive points in the birth chart. "Transits" are the connections that form between the present-day planetary positions and those that occurred at the time and place of birth. The "transiting" planet essentially reactivates a "natal" planet.

The transiting planet brings its qualities to the natal planet that it contacts in the birth chart Often, just being in the same or opposite sign as the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant is enough for the trend symbolized by the transiting planet to become readily apparent. This is particularly true of the transits made by the slower-moving planets.

The mechanism for exactly how the transits are able to affect us is unclear at present. It appears that transits release the contents of the natal chart in certain ways. They seem to trigger the "printed circuits" of our birth charts in some strange way that steers our experiences in a direction specified by the symbolism involved. The time lag between the transit and the experience can vary. Some people seem to respond immediately to a transit, others respond after a delay. It is possible that transits activate brain circuits that move us to register more vividly the things that are symbolized by the transiting and transited planets. In other words, transits create highlights in our consciousness that cause us to move towards or away from specific stimuli.

Back to Top

Learning About Transits: an Exercise
Because we can calculate the positions of all the transiting planets well into the future, we can predict trends in a person's life experience. Such information can help give structure to the otherwise seemingly arbitrary changes in a person's life. Below is a set of guidelines for working with a birth chart and the exact positions of the transiting planets. It is quite easy to learn this approach to understanding the future (as well as the past and present). Readers who have a facility for geometry will be able to do the exercise completely in their heads.

The basic rules are as follows:

1. Have an accurate birth chart calculated from Astro-To-Go.

2. Use the ATG chart, or buy an ephemeris (book of planetary tables). This will allow you to determine the position (zodiacal longitude) of any planet on any day. Recommended: The American Ephemeris (midnight version), by Astro Communications Services.

3. Buy a book that delineates the various transits. Recommended: Planets in Transit by Robert Hand.

4. Construct a sensitive point catalog for your own birth chart This is a list of the degree and minute of every aspect to every point in the birth-chart, organized in zodiacal order. With this list, you can easily determine transits to planetary positions in the natal chart. You may want to begin with only the five basic Ptolemaic aspects (the conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition) and then later add others.

Here is an example of how to start a sensitive point catalog. Suppose that the natal Moon is located at 15 degrees and 30 minutes Aries. This sensitive point will be transited by the following aspects:
conjunction at 15 degrees 30 minutes of Aries (15^30);
opposition (180 degrees away) in Libra at 15d30;
square (90 degrees away) in Cancer - Capricorn at 15a30 or 15g30. trine (120 degrees away) at 15b30 or 15f30, and the sextile (60 degrees away) at 15`30 or 15h30.

After you calculate all the aspect positions for all the natal planets, plus the Ascendant and Midheaven, arrange them in the order of the zodiac signs, starting with Aries. Then, if you were to look in the ephemeris one day and find that Mars is passing through the sign of Leo, you could turn to your section of Leo listings and determine what connections transiting Mars would be making to your birth chart You could also determine the days on which these transits would happen.

5. Do some basic personal research. First, make a list of major events in your life and then correlate them with the positions of the transiting planets at those times. Second, determine when transiting planets were aspecting your birth chart, and then correlate this information with what was actually happening in your life at that time. Use an orb of one degree for the slower-moving outer planets. Only by working carefully with your own chart will you begin to understand clearly the kind of response you have to each planet. Don't be surprised if you seem to experience the effects of a transit a few days before or after it is exact. Every person will respond somewhat differently to a given transit. A professional astrologer uses his or her experience and takes this into account. You can become very competent at interpreting your own birth chart if you follow these suggestions.

6. In a calendar or datebook, write down the transits to your chart on the appropriate days. While the faster-moving planets may register trends and events on the day they make an exact aspect, give the slower-moving planets a week or two to make their presence felt. Do this for a month or two in advance. As time passes, make notes of what happened. Read about the transits as you live through them. Do not attempt to predict for yourself or to alter your plans radically until you have mastered these basics of calculation and observation. Keep your eyes open and you will enter the world of astrological symbolism.

Back to Top

The Transits of the Planets
As the planets move through their orbits, they make aspects to the degree-positions that they were in at birth. Each transiting planet has a general effect described below. The specific effects of a given transit are shown by the natal planet it aspects, the nature of the aspect being made, the natal planet's house and sign position, and any other aspects that natal planet receives. Another variable to consider is that all transits will be technically exact at some point, but not all will produce effects right at that time. In general, the slower a planet moves, the more power it has on the birth chart. When planets are about to turn retrograde or direct, their motions are particularly slow and their effects become very strong. These nearly motionless points where the planets turn around are called stations. The effects of a transit of fast-moving Mercury will normally amount to very little, but when it stations it has the power of Jupiter or Saturn.

Back to Top

Sun
The Sun livens up whatever planet it is transiting, and it will emphasize the function of the transited planet for a day or two near the time the transit is exact. Often, authority and leadership issues are raised by the Sun's transit.

Back to Top

Moon
Lunar transits are quick, often lasting only a few hours. In some cases, clearly discernible events occur within just a few minutes of the Moon's exact aspect to a natal planet. Most Moon transits are subtle, but they do effect people on subconscious levels and will generally stimulate feelings, needs, or desires that lead them to change what they are doing at the time.

New and Full Moons
At the new Moon the Sun and the Moon occupy the same degree for about an hour. If this degree is the same as that of a natal planet, Ascendant, or Midheaven, the new Moon is then a double transit and its effects can be quite noticeable. A new Moon exactly conjunct a point in the birth chart will activate that point strongly, forcing attention to the issues symbolized for several days. The same is true for the full Moon, though in this case two opposite points become simultaneous transits. Eclipses are precisely focused new and full Moons which pack even more power. Their effects can last for months.

Back to Top

Mercury
Mercury brings out the need to use our minds, to communicate and to negotiate the world around us. Mercury transits are quick, lasting only a day or two. When Mercury stations during its retrograde movement, however, its effects become far more powerful. Mercury transits emphasize communications and transportation. Calls, talks, messages, paperwork, writing, and information processing become emphasized and tend to require more attention. Also, transportation matters including driving, riding, walking, and mobility in general, become prominent themes or pressing issues.

Back to Top

Venus
Venus brings out the need to meet, join, harmonize with, and generally relate to others. Social interactions are increased or emphasized when this planet is transiting over important parts of a birth-chart. Venus transits coincide with meetings, gatherings, parties, consultations, and any partner-related events. People also feel a need to get involved with others when under a Venus transit and will make efforts to do so in one form or another. Persons with artistic, decorative or fashion interests will be active in these areas during a Venus transit. Although a typical Venus transit may last only a day or two, Venus in retrograde motion will emphasize the part of the birth chart it passes through for several months.

Back to Top

Mars
The need to move personal agendas forward and get thing done is stimulated under Mars transits. Common themes during a Mars transit are energetic activity, quick reactions, and conflicts. People experiencing a Mars transit will become busier, more energetic, more self-directed, more determined, and more assertive. They will be moved to take the initiative and not wait for others to do things first. Mars transits will coincide with construction projects, competitions, sports and athletic events. Mars transits can be challenging and some people will struggle with self-control issues. Impulsive actions and obviousness to the existence of other people sometimes results in arguments, conflicts, and even accidents. Mars transits generally last for at least several days.

Back to Top

Jupiter
This planet brings increases and growth. Positively, a Jupiter transit stimulates confidence and optimism, bringing opportunities and abundance. Jupiter transits stimulate positive thinking on the "big-picture" level and can move people to do things based on what they believe to be right. Negatively, Jupiter transits coincide with excesses, too much of a good thing, and a tendency to blur the distinction between opinions and truth. Travel, learning, educational matters, philosophy, religion, and law may be a part of a Jupiter transit. Jupiter transits have an influence that generally lasts for a week or two, but in some cases for several months.

Back to Top

Saturn
Saturn transits bring pressures, responsibilities, and awareness of limits. During Saturn transits, people generally find that they have less freedom and more responsibility. Authority figures or high standards will normally figure into the transit's influence in some way. Saturn transits don't allow for sloppiness or avoidance, they demand quality, practicality, and solidity. People who have a hard time accepting delays, obstacles, and reality may become frustrated and depressed under a long Saturn transit. Others, more in touch with consensus reality, will "chop wood and carry water" during the duration of the transit and emerge from it with something substantial accomplished. Nothing moves fast during Saturn transits; these are times when patience and endurance become valuable assets. Saturn transits last for several months to a year.

Back to Top

Uranus
Disruptions and instability are the recognizable features of a Uranus transit. Uranus brings the need to change things and it is the process of change itself that creates disturbances and instability. Typical Uranus transits bring completely new experiences, temporary and unique conditions that can't be repeated, unusual events, reforms, revolutions, and rebellions. People often respond to Uranus by first being rigid, then suddenly making a change that surprises their friends and family. A Uranus transit will bring out a person's need for freedom of self-expression. If this is not acceptable to the people around them, they will either rebel or make an attempt to change things. Uranus transits work suddenly and sometimes quite unexpectedly. The actual events of a transit may last for about a week, the repercussions may last for several months or longer.

Back to Top

Neptune
Positively, Neptune transits make people more sensitive to the arts and music, more compassionate and spiritual. Negatively, they will make people feel confused and overwhelmed by life, and the response may be escapist behaviors, denial, or isolation. Complex and unclear circumstances are usually part of a Neptune transit. The challenge here is to move intuitively with the changes, to feel one's way through the complexities. Making sacrifices is part of the Neptunium theme. Neptune transits are good for volunteer work, spiritual matters, the arts, and the exploration of states of consciousness. The effects of major Neptune transits can be felt for months and even years.

Back to Top

Pluto
Pluto transits are very powerful and typically coincide with lifestyle changes and psychological crises. Pluto moves people to let go of situations in their life that are blocking personal evolution. On a deeper level Pluto challenges people to change their thinking and their internal programing (the psychological mechanism that attracts them to troublesome situations or people in the first place). Pluto transits mark periods of time when people are forced into accepting transformations. They coincide with births, marriages, deaths, divorces, financial crises both positive and negative, psychological growth or challenges, investigations, eliminations, and renewals. Since Pluto moves so slowly, its transits last for a year, sometimes several years.

Back to Top