Transits and Progressions with Astrology

 Transits and Progressions

Transits

Transits refer to the ongoing movement of planets through the zodiac and how these movements interact with the positions of planets in an individual’s natal chart.

Key Aspects of Transits

1. Planetary Movements: When a planet moves through a sign or makes an aspect (angle) to a planet in your natal chart, it creates a transit. For example, if transiting Saturn forms a square aspect to your natal Sun, it’s considered a Saturn transit.

2. Aspects: Transits can make various aspects to natal planets, including:

   • Conjunction: When the transiting planet is aligned with a natal planet (0 degrees apart).
   • Square: When the transiting planet is 90 degrees from the natal planet, creating tension.
   • Opposition: When the transiting planet is 180 degrees from the natal planet, often bringing challenges or awareness.
   • Trine: When the transiting planet is 120 degrees from the natal planet, creating harmony.
   • Sextile: When the transiting planet is 60 degrees from the natal planet, offering opportunities.

3. Effects: Transits reflect the temporary influence of planets and can signal periods of change, challenges, or growth. For instance:

   • Saturn Transits: Often bring lessons, responsibilities, and sometimes restrictions, but they also offer opportunities for long-term achievements.
   • Jupiter Transits: Tend to bring expansion, optimism, and growth opportunities.
   • Uranus Transits: Can bring sudden changes, surprises, and innovations.
   • Neptune Transits: Might lead to periods of confusion, idealism, or spiritual growth.
   • Pluto Transits: Typically involve deep transformations, power struggles, or major life changes.

Using Transits

• Timing: Transits can be used to time significant life events or to understand the underlying themes of current experiences.
• Personal Growth: By examining how transits impact your natal planets, you can gain insights into areas of potential growth or challenges.

Progressions

Progressions (or Secondary Progressions) are a method of forecasting and understanding personal development by advancing the positions of planets in the natal chart forward in time. This technique provides insights into the inner changes and evolution of the individual.

Key Aspects of Progressions

1. Secondary Progressions: This technique moves the planets forward one day for each year of life. For example, if you are 30 years old, you would look at the positions of the planets as if it were 30 days after your birth.

2. Progressed Chart: This is a chart calculated using the progressed positions of the planets. Key features include:

   • Progressed Moon: Changes signs approximately every 2.5 years and reflects emotional development and shifts in focus.
   • Progressed Sun: Moves through the signs slowly, indicating significant phases of personal growth and identity development.
   • Progressed Ascendant: Changes signs over many years, showing shifts in how you present yourself and how you approach life.

3. Aspects: Just like in transits, progressed planets can form aspects to natal planets, indicating important internal shifts or periods of development.

Using Progressions

• Personal Development: Progressions are more about inner changes and personal growth rather than external events. They reflect how your inner life evolves and how you grow emotionally and psychologically.
• Life Phases: Progressions help to understand different phases of life and personal development, often correlating with significant changes or realizations.

Combining Transits and Progressions

By examining both transits and progressions together, astrologers can provide a more comprehensive view of how external events and internal growth interact. For example, a major external transit might coincide with a significant internal progression, highlighting a period of profound transformation.

Practical Tips

• Chart Comparison: Use both your natal chart and progressed chart to gain a deeper understanding of current influences and future trends.
• Timing Events: Look at how transits interact with progressed positions to time important decisions or understand ongoing changes.
• Reflection: Pay attention to how you feel during significant transits and progressions, as they often correlate with personal growth and shifts.

Understanding both transits and progressions can offer valuable insights into your life’s timing, challenges, and opportunities for growth.