posted May 10, 2012 06:00 PM
TransitsTransits occur when current planets moving through the universe come into and leave certain angles with natal planets in one’s birth chart. The basic angles (0 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees and 180 degrees) all have different affects on the natal pattern, symbolized by the natal chart, setup in human beings at the moment they draw their first birth. These angles are usually referred to as “Aspects”.
These transits indicate the type of energies that are flowing through each of us in the everyday world. These energies may aid or restrain the natural natal energies. Most of these energies are subtle, but some can be quite strong. Understanding the energies that affecting one’s behavior allows us to better understand how to consciously handle them in our life.
Traditionally, only the outer planets are considered important in transits, because their aspect durations lasts much longer than the inner planets, months or years at a time. Some astrologers also take the transits of the Moon’s Nodes and Chiron into account.
For our purposes here we will define the “Outer” Planets as Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, Nodes and Chiron.
To truly understand the affects of transits on each of us, you must first understand the reality of what we call the human body. Many scientist and some astrologers believe that the human body ends at the skin of the body. The truth is that we are not solid objects anymore than a rock, but miniature universes within the larger universe. As such, we are affected by energies outside our bodies that we can’t see or touch, but which are as real as we are, and which can affect us in many ways.
I have heard it said that transits bring experiences into our life that we need in order to grow spiritually but can’t or won’t allow otherwise. This may be due to our religious upbringing or other ethical standards that we have grown up with or adopted for ourselves. Transits cause these experiences to be experienced without us actively pursuing them, and thus evading any guilt on our part. Transit astrology helps to understand and consciously take responsibility for our actions.
Traditionally there are two types of transits, good ones and bad ones. Bad ones cause things to go wrong and good ones cause things to go good. Besides being oversimplified that’s just plane wrong. For example, having things too easy is not always good for your growth, just as having to work through a tough situation isn’t always bad. Things are just what they are, neither good nor bad. It’s rather you can use the experience to grow and become more in tune with your spiritual self that counts in the end.
Transit Aspects are angular displacements between the transiting planet a natal plant, house axis or other power points in the natal chart. I use plus or minus 1 degree. Some people use larger aspects, and that’s fine, what ever works the best for them. I don’t use all of the possible angular aspects, but the ones I do use are as follows:
Conjunction – 0 degrees separating the transiting planets and the natal planet/point. The conjunction symbolizes energies creating union and perfect togetherness. Obviously, at birth all planets are in conjunction with your natal chart. At that point you are purely your birth potential. As each outer planet moves away from this perfect union, they begin to form aspects with other planet energies in your chart, and you begin to be affected by these different energies. One or more times in your life, most planets will complete a 360 degree transit and move into what is called a “Return”. Some will never complete 360 degrees, because of their slow moment through the sky.
Planets not only transit natal planets, but they move into and out of natal houses. As the transiting planet crosses the exact degree of a natal planet, house or point, it starts a process or series of developments into motion. The nature of this process is in accordance with the nature of the transiting planet and the natal planets and the houses being transited. For example, Jupiter transiting natal Venus indicates that Venus’s natural energy would be expressed with a more Jupiter energy during this period.
One way to visualize this process is to take a clock mechanism containing several gears of varying size. If you mark the gears at their starting point, and start the clock running, you will notice that some of the gears will complete a full cycle in short order, while others will move more slowly. This is symbolic of how the transiting planets move through your natal chart.
Sextile - 60 degrees separating the transiting planets and the natal planet/point. Sextiles are somewhat weaker than other aspect angles, but when occurring with other aspects can be very powerful. Sextiles require initiative on the part of the individual, unlike some other aspects. Energies at play here indicate opportunities for growth in the transiting planet’s house, but without the individual’s active participation, may have no affect at all. In other words, a Sextile says, “ hey here’s an opportunity for you to grow in this area of your life, take advantage of it if you want, or not.
Square – 90 degrees separating the transiting planets and the natal planet/point. This aspect indicates dynamic change and instability in one’s life. As such, it can be rather difficult to handle unless you are aware of it and it’s affects. Conflict occurs here because of rigid view of reality and one’s ego attachment to material rather than spritual concepts. This transit indicates that there is a struggle going on with the energies expressed by the house of the transiting planet.
Trine – 120 degrees separating the transiting planets and the natal planet/point. This aspect indicates a balanced and creative flow of the transiting planets positive energy to the areas of life indicated by the transiting planet’s house placement.
Opposition – 180 degrees separating the transiting planets and the natal planet/point. The energies of the transiting planet conflict with the natal planet/point energies creating conflict or difficulties in the natal planet’s house between the two.
In this series of articles I will try to lay out what I have come to understand about transits. I hope that these articles will serve to spear discussion on this subject, because I truly believe that this is important for self=growth and discovery.
Lanny
Lindaland
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