How To Interpret A Transit

How to Interpret a Transit

So, when it comes to transits, I recommend you start with the outer planets. In particular, if you want to know what’s going on in your life right now, check Saturn. Then Jupiter, then Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. You can look to the inner planets for info on your mood, or fleeting effects that don’t make a fundamental impact on your life. Mars is sort of in-betweener that it is worth paying attention to just in case it’s up to something.

Step one: The moving planet. I’ve talked a bit about each planet’s transiting effect here so I won’t repeat it in this post. In general, you know when you have a Pluto transit that something transformative will happen. You know with a Jupiter transit that something expansive will happen. This is the nature of the action that will take place. 

Step two: The natal point. This is the point that the transiting planet will share its energy with. It is your natural proclivity that will be challenged or lend its aid to the transit. This is the part of your inner world that is resonating with the transiting planet.

Step three: The natal houses. Where are the planets involved in your natal chart? If the transiting planet is Pluto, for example, in what house is your natal Pluto? In what house is the natal point being transited, as well? Things are not necessarily happening in these houses, but they generally hold the cause or the foundations of the action that will take place. Circumstances in these houses usually lead to the action of the transit.

Step four: The transited house. Here is where the action takes place. The transiting planet will cause a thing to happen in the area of life ruled by this house. The thing that happens, will have the energy of the transiting planet and the natal point. Tough to get more specific than that in a general post, but for example may you have Pluto transiting your Venus. Pluto will cause a transformation to the things ruled by this house, which will be closely related to your loving and aesthetic energy.

Step five: The ruled houses. This is a commonly misunderstood concept. For ruling planets, check the sign of each house. The planet associated with that sign, is the ruling planet of that house. For example, my 2nd house cusp is in Gemini. Mercury rules my second house, though it does not sit there in my chart. Anyway, these houses are where you will see the effects of the transit. When the action is completed in the transiting house, you will see the results in these houses.

Step six: The aspect. Took me long enough to get to this one, huh? In short, a conjunction indicated a change that is personal, that deeply concerns your identity. It also represents both the culmination and the beginning of a cycle. A sextile represents an opportunity that it is up to you to take advantage of. A square represents a challenge that will force you to take initiative, or prove yourself. It may show that your previous course of action was incorrect, or show you areas in which you require change and adaptation. A trine represents the removal of obstacles, a time when things move quickly because the energies involved are so in tune. An opposition represents a confrontation between you and the transiting energy, often in the form of a person. During an opposition, you will be forced to make a decision.

Step seven: Timing. I just wanted to do some quick notes on this that I may expand on later. First of all, with Uranus through Pluto especially, transits will be marked by a direct motion over the point, then a retrograde back, then one last direct motion over it before it moves on. The first direct motion will set up the issue, the retrograde back will be when it becomes most personal to you, then the last direct motion over will be the wrapping up of the issue, the introduction of the conclusions.

Times of contact with the same natal point involving both an outer planet and an inner planet may also be flashpoints for the overall lesson of the transit. Definitely keep your eye out for these, as they may indicate very significant moments in your life.

Well there you have it! As always, feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Remember not to worry about your transits. They just represent life experiences that help us to grow!