Lanny Logan
Lanny Logan is a fellow astrologer specialised in studying outer planet transits. He has a club of his own where he posts articles about outer planet transits from time to time.
Logan's Club
Jupiter's Transits
Saturn's Transits
Uranus' Transits
Neptune's Transits
Pluto's Transits
Transiting Planets
Now that I have discussed the major outer transiting planets by house location, the next obvious subject to cover are the aspects that the transiting planets make to natal planets as they move through the natal chart. When two planets form an angular aspect, are separated by a specific number of degrees, the Transiting planet�s energies combine and blend with the natal planet�s energy to provide the energy source for the changes that need to take place in the house area being transited. Some transiting planet energies aid the natal planet�s energy, while others oppose the natal planet�s energy, depending upon the type of aspects involved.
Primarily, the transiting planet acts as triggers to whatever pattern is set in the natal chart. They not only trigger the action, they color the way that it will be manifested. Let�s say that the natal chart has a square between natal Moon and natal Mercury. This natal aspect generally indicates a conflict between the person�s intellect and the emotions as they relate to the house areas involved. When triggered by a square from transiting Uranus, sudden events will occur to make us question our current view of the world. Our minds and emotions will erupt in surges of energy that won�t allow us to continue operating at our normal prodding pace. How this effects our life depends upon the houses involved, of all three planets, and the type of square being made by the transiting planet. Keep in mind that the natal transiting aspect can be either a square to natal Moon - oppose natal Mercury, or a square to natal Mercury - oppose natal Moon. While the results of these aspects are similar, each has a slightly different effect.
The purpose of the outer transiting planets, particularly Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, according to Howard Sasportas in his book The Gods of Change is �to disrupt our existing ego-identity or sense of self so that we can put ourselves back together again�. We all, as we grow and become civilized or culturalized, lose or give up parts of ourselves in the process. We are often forced to give up our individuality for group conformity, which while it makes it easier for us to get along and function within our communities, drives us father and farther away from our true selves and the purpose of this cycle of life. The outer transiting planets work to bring us back into touch with our original selves, and to get us back on our paths.
I sincerely believe that we all pick our birth dates, locations, birth environments, and parents prior to our birth, in order to set up a scenario where we can make progress in some aspect of our spiritual growth. Since we all are at different places on our spiritual path, the lessons to learn for one soul aren�t necessary the lessons for other souls. Therefore, walking in lockstep may not be in our long-term spiritual best interest.
Our natal charts illustrate our potential strengths and weaknesses, and the chosen quest for this particular incarnation. As we grow, we tend to stray from our spiritual paths for many reasons, the transiting planets through house location and aspects provide us with the needed nudges to get back on track.
Some of these nudges may be stressful or often painful for us in the short term, but in the long term, its all part of the plan for our spiritual growth.
In general, Uranus�s transits cause disruptions, sometimes suddenly in our everyday life, by nurturing our need to be different and unique, of going our own way. Neptune adds to this by increasing our awareness and sensitivity to things outside our normal everyday existence. And Pluto follows through by transforming those parts of our life or psyche that need changing in order for us to continue to grow.
Orbs of influence
Transiting planets are in aspect to natal planets when they fall within a + or � 1 degree orb of the natal planet�s location. For example, if Transiting Pluto is 89 to 91 degrees separated from the Natal Sun, it is forming a square to the sun. In natal charts, orbs may be as much as + or � 10 degrees with some planets, but not in transit interpretation. While its true that the effects of a transiting planet may be felt, to some extent, long before crossing a house border, for example, giving them a larger orb causes the aspect to occur over to long a period of time, in my opinion. Some astrologers even weight the orb of influence so that a greater orb is allowed for applying aspects than for separating ones, but I prefer to use equal orbs.
Applying and Separating Aspects
Aspects are considered to be applying or separating depending on whether the planets involved are moving closer (-1) to or further away from (+1) forming the exact aspect. Applying aspects are generally felt to have more impact than separating ones. In this I have no particular feeling, one way or the other.
Retrograde Planets
If the natal or transiting planet appears to being moving backward in the natal chart, it is said to be retrograde. When a planet is retrograde in a chart, its energies are slowed down, and the individual has more time to consider, and deal with the effects. Generally unresolved business relating to the planets energy must be dealt with at this time.
The effect on transiting planets is the most important here. When a planet goes retrograde, it may make a second aspect to a natal planet, and when it goes direct, it may make a third aspect to the same planet. During the time that it is changing direction, on station, it has the most effect. For example, if Saturn is aspecting a natal planet, it may focus its energies on making the person think about a failed relationship. When it goes retrograde, and makes the same aspect again, it applies even more energy to make you reflect on what the relationship truly means to you. And finally, when it goes direct and makes the aspect one last time, it triggers energies that force you to deal with the relationship by either ending it or changing it so that it better meets your needs.
Its important to realize that the planets are not causing the relationship to face a crisis, possibly even break up, but that their energies are compelling you to deal with what you have been avoiding in the relationship in order to grow and move on.
Planet�s Energies
To understand transits, you must first have a good grasp of the individual planet�s energies. The effect of any transit is the result of the energy of the two planets involved, blending together and producing a resulting energy synergy.
Sun
The Sun�s energy has to do with the self, willpower, ego, and conscious side of the personality. It is also the expression of creative energy that drives one towards achieving their full potential. It is the most important planet in the natal chart. However, I don�t pay attention to it in transits, because it only spends a month in the houses (equal system) and very little time aspected to natal planets. When it is aspected by a transiting planet, the transiting planet�s energy is channeled through the natal sun�s conscious expression of self. How easily this is done is determined by the type of aspect.
Moon
The Moon�s energy has to do with the unconscious side of the personality, habits, and emotions. The moon spends even a shorter period transiting the natal chart than the sun, and as such is not considered in a transit reading. However, when the natal Moon is aspected by transiting planets, it triggers unconscious behaviors in line with the transiting planet�s energies. Like the sun, the moon provides a channel for the transiting planet�s energy, but unlike the sun, it does this through the unconscious part of the person�s personality. The type of aspect determines how it easily it does this.
Mercury
Mercury is the planet of the mind, intellect and communication. It is neutral in a natal chart, taking on instead the energies of any aspecting natal planets. If Mercury is retrograde, moving backward, in the natal chart, its effects are heighten. When it is aspected by a transiting planet, the energy it provides reflects to some degree depending upon the type of aspect, the mental component of its natal aspects, direction, and position.
Venus
Venus is the planet of love, higher emotions and artistic sensibility. Its energy has to do with the individual�s ability to attract relationships, one�s sexuality and social interaction, as well as their capacity for creating and appreciating beauty. When Venus is aspected by a transiting planet it channels its sexual and creative expression in the manner of the transiting planet, and type of aspect.
Mars
Mars is the planet of direct action and expresses its energy through willpower and activity. This energy is always based on some desire for the preservation of the psychological self, as well as the physical self. Its innate energy is one of aggressive force, and when it is transited by a planet, it expresses the transiting planet�s energy is an aggressive and forceful manner determined by the type of aspect.
Jupiter
Jupiter�s energy has to do with expansion, spiritual growth, self-exploration, and cooperation. Its energy contributes to the unfoldment of self, producing awareness of morals, ethical, cultural, and social values, and their meaning to the individual. It is the first of the planets that is considered in a transit reading.
Saturn
Saturn�s energy has to do with the development of the self through structure, limitation, experience and self-discipline in the development of one�s personal worth. It�s energies compel the individual to clean out the dust filled closet of the past, accept responsibility for their own growth, and prepare for the future in an organized and structured way.
Uranus
Uranus�s energy has to do with originality of self-expression, nonconformity, higher intuition and inspiration. It energy works to disrupt conformity and rigidity by introducing new and sudden experiences into the person�s life. Its energy can be used to breakdown inhibitions, kindle unusual thought processes, and increase idealism.
Neptune
Neptune energy has to do with transcendence, higher faculties and psychic abilities. It�s energy acts like a fog to distort reality in order to force the individual to question their assumptions and beliefs. It enhances sensitivity to experiences beyond material form and structure.
Pluto
Pluto�s energy has to do with deep, impersonal, and transforming forces. Its energy brings one�s unconscious disturbances to the surface where they can be dealt with and eliminated or transformed. Its energy leads to the development of a cohesive one through the integration of self.
Aspects
The type of aspect that a transiting planet makes to a natal planet controls, to some extent, the easy and manner in which the two planet�s energies combine into a synergy. Sextiles, and trines allow the energies to combine more easily, resulting in a easier expression of them, while Squares, and oppositions tend to make it more difficult and stressful to express the energy. Conjunctions signal the ending and fresh start of a process, represented by the natal planet�s meaning. In transits, I don�t consider the minor aspects.
Before I say much more about aspects, I would like to make my view clear about positive and negative aspects. I don�t believe in them. By that I mean, the words positive and negative depend upon one's� perspective. A square is generally considered a negative aspect in traditional astrology. And at the time of the aspect, may indeed seem negative as one goes through some kind of crisis. But, and a very important but, when viewed from a distance of time and self-growth, the experience may be perceived as the best possible thing that could have occurred for the growth of the individual at that time.
Humans, by nature, resist change. Status quo is always preferred over the unknown by most of us in our life, because it gives the illusion of control and stability. However, self-growth requires change in order to move forward, toward the goals that we set for ourselves prior to birth. Transiting planets provide the mechanism that forces us to deal with the need to change and grow. Therefore, a so-called negative aspect may create stress and pain, but in the overall cycle of our soul�s existence, it is exactly what is needed to move us out of our comfortable niche toward the goal that we set for ourselves during this incarnation.
On the same hand, a so-called positive aspect, may allow us to continue or even reinforce an existence that does not contribute to our growth. They may make things to easy for us. Just as in working out with weights, no pain no gain. Only by increasing the weights can we continue to develop muscle. If we stay at a comfortable weight, before long we will be getting little or no benefit from our workouts.
The intensity of the effect of the aspects we experience is directly related to our willingness to be honest with others and ourselves, and to change when it would benefit our growth. Someone who is particularly reluctant to deal with a childhood trauma for example, and continues to bury their experiences deep within their psyche, will have a much more difficult time with their transits, than someone who honestly tries to learn as much about themselves as they can, and is willing to take chances and make changes in their life when called for.
Why I am at it, let me make one other thing clear. Everything that we experience, good bad and indifferent, we bring into our life ourselves. If we are in a bad relationship that is not serving our growth well, and we can not bring ourselves to deal with it openly, we will bring situations into existence that will cause us to have to deal with the relationship anyway, even if it means creating a situation where are partner leaves us or has an affair. We constantly create the universe of experiences that we need to grow. I know some people don�t want to take the responsibility for creating their own experience, its far easier to blame the others involved, but that in my opinion is how it works.
You might ask, if we create the experiences that we encounter, where do the transiting planets come into play. The transiting planets provide the timing and the area of our life where the events will occur. In other words, the when and where. When Pluto transits through the seventh house, for example, any relationships we have will undergo severe testing, and those that do not provide us opportunities for growth will end, one way or another. We may have been involved for a long time in the bad relationship, aware of it, but simply unwilling to do anything about it. Once Pluto moves into the seventh house, we have no choice but to face our problems. We always have free choice, of course, but if we refuse to make the hard decisions ourselves, the transiting planet�s energy will cause us to create the circumstances consciously or subconsciously that will force us to deal with them anyhow. If we deal with them ourselves, ahead of time, we may be able to bring about a change in the relationship that will allow it to withstand the 7th house transit. At any rate, at the end of the transit, all of our relationships will have been transformed into ones that promoted self-growth or ended.
The result of the two aspecting planet�s energies being combined depends on the type of aspect. They may blend together and work as one, or they may fight each other for control. The following explanations provide a framework for understanding the effects of the aspects. However, the two planets involved have a great deal to do with the resulting mix, and thus make it difficult to give a specific definition. In other words, the Sun and Moon squared result in an entirely different result that Uranus and Mercury squared. Also, as already stated, the transiting planet triggers whatever patterns that are set up in the natal chart. The two planets don�t act in isolation.
Conjuctions
Two planets are in conjunction when they are approximately 0 degrees apart relative to the earth. It is a very potent aspect because it represents the ending of some component of the individual�s experience and the beginning of a new level of growth and understanding. The two energies act together to bring closure in some area, while opening up a new area.
Sextile
Two planets are in sextile aspect when they are approximately 60 degrees apart relative to the earth. This is generally considered a positive aspect, presenting opportunities, productivity and inspiration. The sextile allows the two planet�s energies to blend together in a positive manner.
Square
Two planets are in square aspect when they are approximately 90 degrees apart relative to the earth. This has traditionally been considered a negative aspect. I personally don�t think of it in those terms. It causes tension in some area of life depending upon the planets involved and their location, making us aware of problem areas and weaknesses that have to be dealt with. An analogy might be pain. Pain indicates that there is some problem in our body. It forces us to deal with it, until we take care of the problem. Pain itself is not the problem, just as the crisis in our life that forces us to deal with some problem, it only indicates that there is a problem.
Trine
Two planets are in trine aspect when they are approximately 120 degrees apart relative to the earth. This is a very positive aspect, bringing inventiveness, confidence, harmony and increase. Under this aspect, the individual can utilize both planet�s energies in a positive way in his or her life.
Opposition
Two planets are in opposition when they are approximately 180 degrees apart. This aspect can be one of the most difficult aspects because the two planet�s energies are, as the name implies, opposing each other. This usually results in a conflict between the two diverse energies. Growth occurs when the individual learns to balance the two in their life.