Transits

The natal or birth chart plots the planets at the exact moment of birth but indeed the planets continue their movement through the heavens.  If we take the planets in the birth chart as fixed points and we allow the movement of the planets to continue onwards at certain times the onward moving planets will make a geometric relationship with the planets in the natal chart.  There are then three components to a transit – the natal position of the planets, the position of the onward moving planets and the relationship or aspect pattern they form. 

Transits are graded according to which planets are involved and what geometric aspect they make.  The strongest transits are the ones which involve the slower moving planets of our solar system ie Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (being the outer most planets and the ones taking the longest time to circle their way around the sun) to the faster moving planets ie Mercury, Venus, Mars (being the inner most planets and the ones that take the shortest time to circle their way around the sun). 

Sun and Moon although not in movement with the other planets also accept transits from the outer planets. Jupiter and Saturn come into a class of their own and their effect on transits can be both in that they can make a transiting aspect to inner planets and they can receive a transiting aspect from the outer planets.  Having said that, all planets can make transiting aspects but for the sake of this brief explanation we will talk only to the strongest transits of the outer planets.

As was explained in the aspects page, the six major aspects formed by the planets are the conjunction, the opposition, the square, the trine, the sextile and the quincunx.  These aspects are also used for transits.  The explanation of the aspects, as already noted on the previous page, also apply in the case of the transits but in the case of transits, the energies come and go for the transiting planet continues on its way.

Let’s look at the six major aspects in the light of transits using as an example using Pluto and Mercury.  Pluto being the outer most planet and a powerful, intense, deep, transformative energy and Mercury the inner most planet representing communication and thought patterns:

conjunct - when planets are conjunct the outer most planet will swamp the inner most planet with its essence.  In our Pluto Mercury example we may find that the method in which we express ourselves maybe more forceful and intense in nature then usual.

opposition - when two planets oppose each other we have that push/pull effect.  In the case of oppositions the outer planet often comes in the guise of a person or situation which forces us out of our complacency and ask us for a response.  If we continue with the transit of pluto to mercury then what we may see is the possibility of a person coming into our lives that pushes our buttons and irritates us to the point that we lose our temper and tell this person in no uncertain terms what we think of them.

square - this is when we have a situation that causes stress or frustration within the person.  Again following our pluto/mercury idea we may have the scenario wherein what we think or say may be at sixes and sevens with our normal way of thinking and this causes us stress. It can be a time when we suffer from “foot in mouth disease”.  But we are aware of the frustration and want to do something about it.

quincunx - when the outer planet and the inner planet have nothing in common and so act separately or independently causing a change or transformation of some description.  In our pluto/mercury example could see a situation where our powerful, forceful words maybe heard by the other in such a way that it may cause the death/separation within a relationship.

sextile - when planets are working fairly harmoniously so that when our two planets, pluto and mercury come together in this transit they aid each other.  We may use this situation wherein our powerful words are needed to force an issue or to a put across a point of view in an otherwise lax situation.

trine – again a harmonious coming together of two energies which bring blessings.  Our pluto/mercury example may read that what we have said or ideas we may have communicated in the heat of the moment may actually turn out to be just what the other needed to hear and will bring gains to both the person speaking out and the person hearing the words.