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There’s lots of planetary action happening lately (we’re in the midst of Venus retrograde and a Uranus/Pluto square). It can get confusing. What does it mean if transiting Pluto is opposing your Moon but transiting Uranus is squaring it? What if an eclipse conjuncts your Venus? Here’s a quick cheat sheet to guide you through general interpretations.
Note: “angles” refer to the cusps of the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th Houses and “Nodes” refer to the North and South Nodes.
- The house in your chart with the transiting planet is the area of your life where the change will be coming from
- The house in your chart that contains the planet, angle or Node is the area of your life receiving the change
- The aspect between your natal planet, angle or Node and the transiting planet(s) will describe the quality of the change
- A conjunction blends the energy of the transiting planet and the natal planet, angle or Node. Sometimes the blend goes nicely (like cake batter) and other times it’s oil and vinegar.
- A square causes tension that demands action. This is the “cattle prod” aspect.
- An opposition presents a choice or conflict. You versus them, home versus work, dreams versus reality.
- An inconjunct presents a difficult adjustment between you and the changes triggered by the transit. Sometimes the balancing act required can mimic an opposition but there’s no middle ground with this one. No compromise, just make the changes.
- A trine promotes an enabling flow of energy from the transiting planet to you. The energy of the transit is woven into the fabric of your life rather than dumped on you.
- For transiting outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) and eclipses, use a maximum orb of 3-4 degrees (roughly) for influence. For example, if your Sun is at 12 degrees Cancer, you’ll be starting to feel the effects of transiting Uranus at 8 degrees Aries. The outers (and eclipses) are bigger stones tossed into the pond so their ripples go further than the inner planets.
- For transiting inner planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) use a maximum orb of 2 -3 degrees (roughly) for influence.
Always keep the quality of the transiting planet in mind. A conjunction from Uranus, while unifying, is going to feel much more abrupt than a conjunction from Venus.
Such a timely post for me. I have Jupiter transit conjuct my ASC (24 Taurus) and Moon (27 Taurus). The malefic fixed star Algol is at 26 Taurus, will transiting Jupiter magnify the fixed star’s maleficence, or will Jupiter cast its bounty on my ASC and Moon and annihilate the star’s effect? Also the eclipse in Gemini conjunct ASC and Moon and yesterday I got some bad news about not having been selected for a job I wanted.
Thank you.
Algol gets a bad rap, for sure. But it’s not all ugly…it’s associated with intense female passion that, like all things intense, can go either way. Depending on how it’s used it can create powerful things (many artists and inventors have this star prominent in their charts) or it can consume you. “Raw female power and anger” is the phrase I would keep in mind and this is what Jupiter will magnify. Conjunct your Moon (feelings) you could become fixated on something that you “need” and go to great lengths to get it. But it’s just energy and energy can be channeled in any direction you choose.
I need (financial and not only) stability in the form of an academic job, and yes I am going to great lengths to get it; hopefully results will start showing up soon.
Thank you for the insights, greatly appreciated.
You haven’t given me any of your chart information so I can’t help you…
This is such a great article. One I will have to archive because it explains very well how to interpret the energies of transits.
When Jupiter transits, what are ways to interpret the energy it brings? Its seen as a positive planet, but I know that it can also bring excess.
Presently, my Venus (7 degrees) is conjunct Pluto and square Uranus. How do you interpret which (if any) has the greater influence? Also, when the orb is approaching exactness (of 3-4 degrees), is this when it is the strongest? Leaving it, do the effects weaken? And, what happens when the transiting planet retrogrades and runs right over your natal planet more than once?
Many questions, I know! I really like how you clarify. Thanks in advance.
Jupiter transits: magnifies whatever it touches. So look at the natal potential and double it.
Greater influence: Uranus and Pluto are both strong but you’ll probably feel the one that resonates with your natal chart more intensely. If you have stronger natal Pluto influences, the Pluto transit will have a stronger impact on you. An applying orb is stronger than a separating orb.
Retrograde transits: repeat of the same issue but if you can manage to deal with it (learn and incorporate the lesson of the transit)during the first go ’round the sucessive passes are much easier to deal with.
Thanks for the gems of wisdom.
this was very helpful, been asking myself those same questions!
concerning Uranus & Pluto: how do I know which planet resonates more with my chart? the one that makes more and/or the harder aspects to the other planets in my chart? for example if one is opposing another planet, but the other one is involved in a natal T-square, the one in the T-square is the planet that resonates more??
Thank you!
Generally, you have a “Plutonian” chart if you have lots of planets in Scorpio, in the 8th House or natal Pluto making major aspects to your personal planets. You have a “Uranian” chart if you have lots of planets in Aquarius, in the 11th House or if you have natal Uranus making major aspects to your personal planets. A Plutonian chart will resonate more with Pluto transits, A Uranian chart will resonate with Uranus transits.
The solar eclipse was opposite my ascendant and transit north node. Transit uranus is in the 4th house semisextile the ascendant. Transit pluto is in the 2nd house semisextile the north node. I was forced to move unexpectantly(after 6yrs) which will be happening in about 5 weeks, and it came out of the blue! I’ve been in the same job for more than 3yrs now and am really hoping for a change. Astrologically speaking, does it look like this may happen soon? The eclipse was in my 6th house. After looking at my current aspects above could this be happening in the near future???
Thanks~
A solar eclipse in the 6th can mean a new beginning in your work environment. But I can’t say without analyzing your chart, which requires a consultation.
This is so helpful, thanks. Very clear and concise. What about the area the transiting planet rules in your natal chart? Or the house it occupies in the natal chart? Do you look at those in the interpretations of transits, and if so, how do they affect the interpretation?
See my reply to Jacy…these factors will only be important if you have a chart that resonates with one of the transiting planets. OR, if the area of your chart the transiting planet rules is an angle (cusp of the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th Houses). If that’s the case, look at the nature of the house the natal planet is in.
Super helpful, thanks.
Wonderful words on transit interpretations. Question for you. If the transits make aspects to secondary progressions are they read in the Natal chart houses or the Progressed Chart houses? For example, I have the transiting Pluto Opposing my Progressed Sun/Uranus conjunction in my natal 10th house but in my progressed chart the Sun/Uranus conjunction is in my 8th house. Which do I read?
I would start with interpreting it in the natal house first (your 10th House). That’s the base influence. Once you’ve got that straight you can add in the impact of the progressed House (the 8th) but it won’t have as much impact. The natal chart and houses are always the starting point. The progressed chart is a layer of influence (like a translucent coat of paint) over top. It can get very confusing so I find that for most people, looking at progressions in the natal houses presents enough depth to the interpretation. Having said that…when a natal house cusp changes signs or aspects a planet by progression, that is significant for the affairs of the natal house (especially if it’s an angular house).
Excellent timing of this information and actually thanks to some of the questions asked by others too
I have a solar return coming up and having had just about every area in my life demolished I am committed to building a new life on good strong foundations, thanks to saturns trek through my 12th house libra over my moon several time and my asc at 25, so seeing I will have jup sextile MC by 2′ orb in the solar return and was hoping it may relieve a bit of pressure and add a little hope thanks to having the uranus pluto square in my SR chart, especially as pluto is now opposing natal merc after getting off my 0′ sun along with the cardinal square stuff hammering it home. Also my progressed asc is at 14 sag, the same as the recent lunar eclipse, so I am doing my best to focus on the positive attributes of the chart. So yep, thank you, knowing the orb for jupiter, I am at ease a bit…
You’re welcome!
Transiting Pluto is conjunct my natal Saturn(3rd house), opposing my Mars(9th house) and squaring my Mercury(6th) and Uranus by transit. Any input? Thanks!
A focusing of power for your future goals. Are they viable? You’ll find out now. You may feel the need to force your views onto someone else or someone else may force their agenda onto you. Energy can go both ways but it will involve a challenge to how you communicate. Pay attention to the tension between what you think “should” be happening and what actually occurs.