Astrology Blog featuring transits and Sabian Symbols

Astrology: Study of Transits

20/5/2018

Scientists and other materialists disparage the validity of astrology because it does not conform to their methodology; yet esotericists awaken the part of mind that goes beyond limits of rationality – as of course does love, genius and imagination. The learning process is not especially esoteric at all; it conforms to normal learning practices. We need to apply ourselves to study what others think, then to find new interpretations and understandings and bring our own knowledge into some useful application. We trust that our point of view is valid, even if it contradicts accepted ideas – despite the danger of affirming a foolish understanding simply through lack of skills and insight. We address this point here, by offering a way to track the transit of slower moving planets through the individual degrees and keep a diary of the events and feelings we encounter. I suggest that at first we include only Saturn – which crosses a few degrees per month – and Uranus, Neptune and Pluto – which typically show in only one or two.

In order for this process to be instructive it is necessary to come to terms with each of the variables: a) The planets’ core meanings in our lives; b) The qualities of each stage of a transit; c) The significance of personal events; d) The mystery of the Sabian Symbol for each degree.

Stages of a transit

A planet appears to move both forward and backwards, and so typically crosses the same degree three times, although it can be once or five times. Here are the nine stages typical of a transit.
Stage 1   Approach Forewarning
Stage 2   First hit Shock
Stage 3   Moving away Assimilation
Stage 4   Retrograde approach Reminder
Stage 5   Second hit Echo
Stage 6   Going back Revision
Stage 7   Second approach Preparation
Stage 8   Third hit Realization
Stage 9   Moving on Application

5 Comments

Jena

22/5/2018 04:30:25 am

This may be too simple James.

Recently, when Uranus transited my natal Mars trhe "shock" came on the 3rd and final crossing and I'm still dealing (not well) with acceptance, realisation and moving on. The first transit was quite wonderful (so I was expecting more of the same) but no, the second was disturbing and then came the shock!

Of course, nothing acts in isolation and transiting Neptune was conjunct natal Mars at the same time.

Who wins when the "Big Boys" are both in the arena?

And how often, I wonder do we get to experience a pure planetry energy rather than a mix of flow & resistance, ease & confrontation?

James Burgess

22/5/2018 08:01:23 am

Hi Jena, I may need to see your chart for a clearer picture...you suggest Neptune is also transiting Mars and I'm not sure what that means since obviously it is not in conjunction with Uranus at this time. Is your Mars not in late Aries?

Anyway - this layout of phases of a transit is a model of the reasoned and reasonable expectation of how a transiting planet impacts upon a natal planet. Yet life is very complex and as you point out a planet has other influences always in play, so the model is best seen as a guideline for contemplation rather than a rule.

What I have done is create a diary, which goes back to 1980, of major life events so that when a transit occurs I can refer to its previous influence when it made other aspects. For example, Saturn is approaching my Ascendant. Looking back I notice that when it crossed my Midheaven in 1984 I actually unburdened myself of a position of considerable responsibility as a businessman, against all predictions. Later I came to see that simultaneously I took on another role, as a teacher but in an apparently insignificant way. However, as Saturn crossed my Ascendant in 1989, I came to take a more serious teaching role. From this I saw that Saturn relates to teaching more than business for me. Now I can look for evidence of increased responsibility in teaching rather than business.

Forewarned is forearmed. Perhaps in your case, the shock you refer to disguised a deeper issue and a more subtle event has also recently occurred? I suggest you go back to 1974 when Uranus opposed your Mars and see if you can find any correspondences. (For example, injury, accident, major risk, shocking sexual encounter, fight or flight, discovery...), then to look at the square in 1996 to see whether you can find a story unfolding. Let me know what you find,

Blessings!

James

22/5/2018 03:43:41 pm

sorry James - natal moon !!! Obviously still close!

22/5/2018 11:17:54 pm

Well James. The suggestion to look at life events and astrological transits is of course magnificent! I have a box (large) full of notes, diaries and bits & pieces with the intention of someday mapping my life and doing as you invite.
Meanwhile the one thing that has always caught my attention is those happenings when the ascendent is transited.
In 1970 when Neptune was on the ascendant my Dad had a heart attack and died - doesnt sound very Neptunian - and I started my first teaching post. You could also say I left home, although I did live away from home when I was at University for the previous 3 years.
In 1981 when Uranus transited the ascendant lots happened: mum was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, I suddenly applied for, and got, a new job and my partner and I bought a house together. All unexpected.
In 1994/5 with the Pluto transit again a lot happened: a bizarre 'political' situation at work found me in the 'wrong camp' and effectively ousted. That was effectively the end of my teaching career and working life and the purchase of a RTW ticket which fiirst brought me to New Zealand, now my home.
I wish I had kept more notes of dates and events to look back on the unravelling of a life and the influence of the planets. Maybe this New Zealand winter I will go through the box and see what can be put together and what insights emerge.
Thanks James for your encouragement. Jena

23/5/2018 06:14:44 pm

Each of these transits can be seen as apt. I find Neptune has a lot to do with loss. In your case you had to face the loss of home and father. Loss is the feeling we get when what we thought was real turns out to be illusion - such as the immortality of parents and certainty of a place to belong, both of which a baby needs and an adult clings to unconsciously. The Pluto one is so typical it hardly needs comment - power plays and what looks like bad news turning around in your favour. It's hard to say what the Uranus one meant - being unexpected is a necessary but not sufficient description of a Uranus event. Perhaps one of these issues was a requirement for you to find a deeper level of personal freedom, through unusual levels of insight?

Generally speaking it is a lot easier to line up Saturn transits with life events, especially transits to the angles (if the time of birth is accurate), since Saturn points to 'real life' things. Pluto and Neptune can both be very deceptive and it requires a greater degree of self awareness to penetrate their mysteries in terms of events, which might be hidden or disguised; it might be on the level of feelings.

Uranus is so often like either a slap in the face or a startling bit of good luck. Yet the deeper meaning of the moment may not be clear. For example the ingress of Uranus into Aries brought the Arab Spring (hurrah!) and therefore the Syrian war (oh dear!), which brought Russia back to power (boo! or hurrah! according to where you live), and precipitated Brexit (the jury is still out on this one, as it will be for another century).

It's still not clear to me whether Uranus has delivered its Taurus slap yet!

James

Astrology: Study of Transits

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