Our natal chart is like a snapshot of the sky at the moment of our birth which we will carry with us through the entire course of our lives.  However, the planets and luminaries above move on from that point in time, continuing in their cycles, and as they do they form special relationships to the planets and points in our natal charts. These relationships are known as planetary transits and are one of the main means used in astrology to forecast future trends.

 

Planetary cycles, like all life cycles, go through the same process: seeding, germinating, sprouting, flowering, ripening, harvesting, and dying back in preparation for the new. A particularly important transit is a planetary return, when a transiting planet returns to the same point in the sky that it occupied at the moment of your birth. It signifies the beginning of a new personal cycle as described by the planet or luminary involved.

 

The most regular return is that of the Moon every month, but more significant is our annual Solar return, our true ‘birthday’, the ‘many happen returns’ of the Sun.

 

Other major returns are those of the outer planets – Jupiter and Saturn. The Jupiter return occurs approximately every 12 years and heralds a new phase of growth and development. The Saturn return occurs approximately every 30 years and heralds a phase when new realities and responsibilities must be faced.

 

Transits act to stimulate what is latent in our psychological make-up, bringing often hidden parts of our nature to the fore, also stimulating our need to make things happen.

 

One of the advantages of this knowledge is the help it offers us in understanding when it is best to strive ahead, or slow down and take advantage of the prevailing time for planning, taking stock before launching into new experiences.