Transits & Timing

Transits are the current movements of planets as they travel through the sky and interact with the placements in your natal chart. Think of your birth chart as a map, and transits as the weather moving across that map. Your natal chart is fixed—it's the blueprint you were born with. But the planets keep moving, and when they form angles (aspects) to your natal planets, they activate different themes in your life. Sometimes the weather is sunny (a Jupiter transit bringing expansion), sometimes it's stormy (a Saturn transit bringing tests), and sometimes it's transformative (a Pluto transit burning down what no longer serves you). Transits explain why certain years feel heavy while others feel magical. They're why you might suddenly feel the urge to quit your job during a Uranus transit to your Midheaven, or why relationships become a focus when Venus is transiting your 7th house. Understanding transits helps you work *with* cosmic timing instead of fighting it.

The Saturn Return is astrology's most famous transit, and for good reason—it's a major life milestone that happens around ages 28-30, 57-59, and 86-88. This is when Saturn returns to the exact position it was in when you were born. Saturn is the planet of structure, responsibility, time, and hard-won wisdom. When it returns, it's basically asking: "Are you living in alignment with your true path, or are you faking it?" If you've been building your life on a shaky foundation—wrong career, wrong relationship, wrong city—Saturn Return will expose it and force you to rebuild. This transit gets a bad rep because it's often accompanied by breakups, career changes, moves, and quarter-life crises. But here's the thing: Saturn isn't punishing you. It's pruning away what isn't real so you can build something that actually lasts. **What to expect:** — Increased responsibility and "adulting" pressure — Endings of relationships/jobs that were never meant to be permanent — Clarity about what you actually want (vs. what you thought you wanted) — Feeling older, wiser, more serious about life — A push to commit—to a career, a person, a path **How to work with it:** — Take it seriously, but don't panic — Get clear on your long-term goals — Build systems and structures that support your growth — Let go of what's not working, even if it's scary — Seek mentorship and guidance from people who've been there Your Saturn Return is not a curse—it's an initiation into the next chapter of your life. The people who resist it suffer the most. The people who lean into it come out transformed.

Mercury retrograde happens 3-4 times a year for about three weeks each time. Mercury is the planet of communication, technology, travel, and contracts—so when it goes retrograde (appears to move backward from our perspective), all those areas get wonky. **What actually happens:** — Miscommunications, misunderstandings, and tech fails — Travel delays, lost emails, and scheduling conflicts — Exes and old friends reappear (the "re-" energy is strong) — Contracts fall through or require revision — You rethink decisions you made recently **What it's actually for:** Mercury retrograde isn't just chaos for chaos's sake. It's a built-in review period. The prefix "re-" is key: review, revise, redo, reconnect, reassess. It's a time to slow down, double-check your work, and revisit old ideas or relationships. **Survival tips:** — Back up your devices and files before it starts — Confirm appointments and travel plans — Read the fine print before signing anything — Expect delays and build in buffer time — Use it for editing, reflection, and tying up loose ends — Don't launch new projects if you can help it—wait until Mercury goes direct **The shadow periods:** Mercury retrograde has a "shadow period" before and after the retrograde itself. Two weeks before it goes retrograde, and two weeks after it goes direct, you're in the shadow zone. That's when the early glitches start and when the final cleanup happens. Mark your calendar for the full timeline, not just the retrograde weeks. Mercury retrograde isn't the villain—it's the editor. Let it do its job.

Eclipses are like cosmic plot twists. They happen in pairs (a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse) about every six months, and they bring sudden, fated changes that push you forward—whether you're ready or not. **Solar Eclipses** (New Moon eclipses) are about new beginnings. They plant seeds for the next 6-12 months. Something new enters your life—a job, a person, an opportunity, a realization. It might feel destined or out of your control. **Lunar Eclipses** (Full Moon eclipses) are about endings and revelations. They bring things to a head—truths come out, relationships culminate, patterns become impossible to ignore. Something needs to be released. **Why they're intense:** Eclipses compress time. What might normally take months or years to unfold happens in weeks. You can't slow them down or control them—you can only adapt. They often bring events that feel "meant to be," like the universe is intervening. **How to navigate eclipse season:** — Pay attention to which houses the eclipses are hitting in your chart — Don't make impulsive decisions in the immediate aftermath—let the dust settle — Trust that whatever leaves was blocking your path — Stay flexible and open to sudden changes — Journal through the process—eclipses reveal a lot about your growth Eclipses are not subtle. But they're also not random. If you can zoom out and see the bigger story, you'll notice that eclipse events usually make sense in retrospect—even if they felt chaotic in the moment.

Jupiter is the planet of growth, abundance, optimism, and luck. Wherever Jupiter transits in your chart, that area of life expands—for better or worse. Jupiter spends about a year in each sign, so everyone gets a Jupiter boost in different life areas at different times. **How Jupiter works:** — It opens doors and brings opportunities — It makes things feel easier and more abundant — It can also cause overindulgence, overconfidence, or excess — It amplifies whatever it touches (including problems, if you're not careful) **Jupiter through the houses:** — **1st house:** Confidence boost, weight gain, new identity — **2nd house:** Financial opportunities, increased self-worth — **3rd house:** Learning, travel, writing opportunities — **4th house:** Home expansion, family growth, emotional healing — **5th house:** Creative projects, romance, fertility — **6th house:** Health improvements, better job, daily routine glow-up — **7th house:** New relationships, partnership opportunities — **8th house:** Inheritance, sexual awakening, psychological depth — **9th house:** Travel, higher education, spiritual growth — **10th house:** Career advancement, public recognition — **11th house:** New friendships, community involvement, manifesting goals — **12th house:** Spiritual retreat, hidden blessings, healing **How to work with Jupiter:** — Say yes to opportunities (even if they feel big) — Take calculated risks—Jupiter rewards boldness — Don't get lazy or overconfident—Jupiter can make you complacent — Invest in yourself—courses, coaching, experiences — Be generous—Jupiter loves when you share the abundance Jupiter transits are some of the best times to level up. Don't waste them by playing small.

Pluto is the planet of transformation, power, obsession, and the underworld. Pluto transits are slow (they can last years), intense, and completely life-altering. When Pluto touches a planet or angle in your chart, that area of life will be dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up. **What Pluto does:** — Destroys what's not authentic or sustainable — Forces you to confront your shadow — Brings power struggles and control issues to the surface — Ends chapters permanently—there's no going back — Reveals what you're truly capable of **Common Pluto experiences:** — A relationship that transforms you completely (then ends) — A career implosion that leads to your true calling — A psychological crisis that forces you into therapy — Letting go of a version of yourself you outgrew — Confronting trauma, addiction, or family patterns **How to survive Pluto transits:** — Surrender control—you can't muscle through this — Let go of what's dying, even if it hurts — Do shadow work, therapy, or deep inner healing — Embrace your power instead of fearing it — Trust the transformation, even when it feels like destruction Pluto transits are not fun. But they're necessary. What emerges on the other side is a more authentic, powerful, unshakable version of you. You can't fake your way through Pluto—it demands truth.

Knowing about transits is one thing. Using them intentionally is another. Here's how to work with cosmic timing in your actual life. **Track your transits regularly:** Use an app like TimePassages, Astro.com, or Clairvoya to see what planets are currently transiting your chart. Set reminders for major transits (Saturn, Pluto, eclipses) so you're not blindsided. **Plan around major transits:** — Launching a business? Wait for Jupiter or a favorable New Moon in your 10th house. — Moving or buying a home? Check for supportive transits to your 4th house. — Starting a relationship? Look at Venus and 7th house transits. — Making a major decision? Avoid Mercury retrograde if possible. **Use retrograde periods intentionally:** Don't fear retrogrades—use them. Mercury retrograde is for editing and reviewing. Venus retrograde is for reevaluating relationships and values. Mars retrograde is for redirecting your energy and strategy. **Journal through transits:** Write down what happens during major transits. Over time, you'll see patterns. You'll notice that every time Jupiter hits your 5th house, you get creative opportunities. Every time Saturn aspects your Moon, you feel emotionally tested. This builds your astrological fluency. **Get support during hard transits:** You don't have to white-knuckle through Pluto or Saturn alone. Book a reading, talk to a therapist, join a support group. Knowing what's coming doesn't make it easy, but it makes it make sense. Transits aren't fate, but they're also not random. Think of them as the universe's curriculum. You can't skip the lessons, but you can show up prepared.