When you are evaluating which transits are most likely to impact you, you might
consider, in order of descending impact:
1. Transits by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto to the Ascendant, Sun,
Lord of the Ascendant, and the Moon (in that order). Hard aspects (conjunctions,
oppositions, and squares) will be very palpable and may be reflected in big
internal awarenesses, emotions, and changes, and possibly external events. The
soft aspects -- trines and sextiles -- by these planets open doors provided that
you supply the "grist for the mill". That means that to maximize the benefit of
these soft aspects, you need to voluntarily take on challenges that make you
stretch, grow, and learn.
2. Transits by the same planets to both focal planets and to any
planetary pairs or groups that are within one degree of each other (e.g. Mars at
8 degrees squared Uranus at 9 degrees).
3. Transits by the same planets to the personal planets (Mercury, Venus, and
Mars) if not already examined above, and conjunctions, oppositions, and squares
by Saturn to the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars, and the conjunctions of
Jupiter to the same points.
What Can Activate
Individual Planets?
When we look at a person's birth chart, we can assess which planets the person
is likely to identify with (those in the same element as the rising sign, for
example) and which planets are likely to dominate the chart (e.g. focal
planets).
But what we often fail to realize is that depending upon many environmental and
cyclic factors, some of the planets may be -- at the moment -- amplified beyond
their usual degree of expression.
Environmental factors include physical and emotional health, level of busy-ness,
major life events (births, deaths, etc.) and even the weather. A personal
illness or another's death, for example, can dampen the expression of Fire signs
in a chart severely, while bringing the dependency of the Water sign planets, or
the shocked detachment of the Air sign planets, to the fore.
Being very busy and stressed, on the other hand, can exaggerate the Earth signs
and Saturn in the chart, while going to a comedy show, a sports event, or
dancing might amplify one's Fire signs. Weddings and births are known to bring
out the romantic nature of the planets in Water signs, while a beautiful Spring
day may increase the expression of Venus and the Air and Fire signs.
Even the foods we eat can alter our planets relative expressions, e.g. hot,
spicy foods can bring out Fire and Mars. Long spells of overcast weather can
make one melancholy, i.e. intensified Earth signs and Saturn.
One of the reasons we gravitate towards certain people (friends) is that they
mesh with our primary and favored chart factors and don't "tweak" our most
sensitive chart areas. Other people "set us off" by triggering the most stressed
parts of our charts. In other words, even other people alter which planets (in
us) express themselves.
Therefore, we always need to take into account temporary and environmental
factors in our clients' lives, especially if they are intense ones.
The Early Saturn Transits
It is important to remember that one of the greatest strengths of Western
Astrology is also one of its greatest weaknesses.
And that is the tendency to explore a huge range of diverse factors.
There is so much richness in even the basics of astrology that one lifetime is
not enough to master them.
Remember that the word transit originally meant just the conjunction, not other
angles. For this purpose, I would avoid all other aspects (with perhaps the
exception, in some cases, of the opposition).
Look at the first 10 years of your life, and see what planets and angles Saturn
conjuncts, and when. Also examine which of these transited points are important
(e.g. the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, M.C. and any additional planets powerfully
connected to other planets by strong aspects of 2 degrees or less).
If there are not many conjunctions, and/or if Saturn opposes a particularly
important point in the chart, then include the opposition by Saturn for these
events.
Finally, begin the inner process of healing by looking back at each of those
times in your childhood and remembering what happened and how it felt -- take
the time to feel through whatever feelings arise to their complete release. You
may be able to use the significations of the transited planet to clarify what
the impact was upon you.
For example, a Saturn transit to Mars could represent intense anger or blame in
your environment, while a Saturn conjunction to the Moon could indicate
abandonment. Don't use any principle mechanically, let your memory be the final
authority.
