Transit Guide for Beginners (5 Steps)

1. There’s two kinds of Transits you can look at:

a) by ASPECT: the planets in their current position in the sky (= “transit planets”) making
aspects to the planets’ position from the time when you were born (= “natal planets”). They can
aspect one or more planets in your natal Chart. The nature of the Transit will be shown by the
basic energies of all planets involved, as well as the nature of the aspect. Generally
harmonious aspects feel smooth, empowering and rather pleasant while disharmonious
aspects may feel frustrating, threatening and generally unsettling. Remember though: transits
show the kind energy that is currently in your life - they never show the outcome and the way
you deal with it is up to you always. By showing you what is going on in your life, astrology can
guide you to work with these energies instead of against them.

“Harmonious” = trine, sextile, (sometimes conjunction, depending on the planets involved)

“Disharmonious”= opposition, square, inconjunction, (sometimes conjunction)

PS. You can also look at minor aspects (above I only listed the major aspects). As a beginner, I’d
suggest starting with the major aspects, though)

b) by HOUSE: as the planets are constantly moving they will basically transit counter-clockwise
through your natal Chart over the years. Due to their difference in speed, this will take them a
different amount of time. Thus, the Moon (fastest moving planet) moves through your whole
Chart every 28 days while Pluto (slowest) takes around 250 years (in 2. I will explain why this is
important). The current House the planets are transiting through will show you the area of life
where that planet’s energy will be showing up, asking to be integrated. Usually the transit feels
stronger at the beginning of the House and the effects lessen once the planet has traveled
towards the end of the House, about to enter the new one. During its stay in each House you
have the opportunity to individually learn about and integrate the themes of the planet + the
House (i.e. Pluto in 1st House = Transformation (Pluto) of the Self (1H) or Jupiter (expansion) in
the area of 4H (family, roots).

1H = (AC) the self, identity, physical constitution, birth, conditioning, beginnings

2H = money, income, values, self worth, your belongings, resources, real estate, living
conditions, shelter, food, the body

3H = communication, learning, siblings, peers, neighbourhoods

4H = (IC) childhood, family, home, the mother. private life, the private persona, roots,
ancestors, emotions, the soul

5H = fun/play, children, romance/ affairs, young adulthood, hobbies, self-expression, (the

father)
6H = work, routine, health, servitude, animals, daily life, the mundane

7H = relationships, love, commitment, close friendships, connection to other people

8H = the hidden, sexuality, intimacy, death (and rebirth), occult/taboo stuff, “dark” themes,
supernaturalism, psychological resources, other people’s money (inheritances etc)

9H = world views, travel, spirituality, higher learning (like university)

10H = (MC) career, society, the public persona, (the father)

11H = groups, friends, the collective, societal causes, humanitarianism, the internet

12H = the subconscious, dreams, solitude, spirituality, out of world experiences, psychedelic
substances (drugs), endings

2. When looking at transiting planets, always look at the outer planets (Pluto, Neptune,
Uranus, (Chiron), Saturn) first. Their Transits are of greater significance in comparison to the
Transits of quicker moving planets such as the Moon, Venus, Mercury or the Sun. They set the
underlying tone of your life’s phase, they take longer than Moon/Venus/Mercury (...) Transits
and they often are once-in-a-lifetime, marking character developments, challenges and
turning points in your life. As a general rule, I look at Transits of: Pluto, Neptune, Uranus,
Chiron, Saturn and Jupiter and at a few instances at Mars and Venus (but only if I’ve been
feeling Mars-y or Venus-y and want to find out why :)

Pluto = (inner) change, transformation, authenticity, purging, buried/hidden/dark parts of the

psyche, trauma, resilience, strength, core

Neptune = dissolution, release, universal love, dreams, creativity, spirituality, confusion, loss,
dependency, lack of boundaries, addiction

Uranus = (outer) change, independence, freedom, breaking free, disruption, upheaval, shock

Chiron = pain, (old) wounds, sensitivity, healing

Saturn = maturity, accountability, structure, law and order, cause and effect, restriction,
Karma, blocks/ obstacles, growth, patience, fruit of labour

Jupiter = expansion, opportunity, luck, happiness, fortune, overdoing things

3. As for the natal planets that are being aspected, the personal planets (Sun, Moon, Venus,
Mercury, Mars) matter a tad more than the generational planets (Pluto etc). Your personal
planets are “very personal” as someone only born a few days before or after you might have
them at completely different positions (esp. the Moon, which represents our feelings). They
make up the “basic 5” of our personality. Transits to our personal planets are felt more directly
as they mark changes to our very core (which doesn’t mean that Transits to the other planets
don’t matter though but to keep it simple I will not go into detail about them here)

Sun = self, identity, action, wants, males ([Link] father)

Moon = feelings, needs, sensitivity, females (esp. the mother)

Venus = relating, showing love and affection, sensuality, beauty, money, the (inner) female

Mercury = thinking, communicating, expressing one’s self, moving, siblings and family
members, neighbors and people from your immediate surroundings (class mates, room mates
etc)

Mars = energy, acting, assertion, aggression, fighting, sexuality, the (inner) male, lovers

4. Keep in mind: The Transit isn’t “making” you feel or experience something. The analogy I use
would be more of how you Chart and it’s Transits are like a clock - they work after the principle
of synchronicity (“as above, so below”) which means what happens with you can be seen in
your personal Transits but it’s more of a mirror of what’s happening with(in) you - and not the
other way around. So basically saying things like, Mars’ energy is making me angry, isn’t quite
accurate. The anger that is manifesting in your life right now is shown/ signified by Mars in
your Transit Chart

5. I swear to God : Google is your friend :) With this guide you have a small tool-kit to roughly
have an idea how to find out what’s going on in your Chart transit-wise. However, once you’ve
seen (for example) that Pluto is transiting your AC or Neptune is squaring your Sun, I’d just
advice you to simply google the Transit - there’s many great sites out there, explaining them
brilliantly. I still do this all the time and it’s always an eye-opener 😊

Aries—the need to be independent and develop self-awareness

Taurus—the need to be resourceful and get productive results
Gemini—the need to communicate and make mental contact with others
Cancer—the need to give and receive emotional warmth and security

Leo—the need for creative expression and appreciation by others

Virgo—the need to analyze, discriminate, and function efficiently
Libra—the need to relate to others and create harmony and balance
Scorpio—the need for deep involvement and intense transformations
Sagittarius—the need to explore and expand mental and actual horizons
Capricorn—the need for structure, organization, and discipline
Aquarius—the need to innovate, be original, and create social change
Pisces—the need to commit to a dream or ideal

First house—body, appearance, character

Second house—personal money, possessions, livelihood
Third house—siblings, relatives, short-distance travel, communications
Fourth house—parents, home, land
Fifth house—children, romance and pleasurable pursuits, creative arts
Sixth house—health, injuries, job, daily routine and regimen, servants
Seventh house—marriage and business partnerships
Eighth house—death and benefits gained from death (inheritances), money received from
others
Ninth house—long-distance travel, higher education, religion, belief system
Tenth house—profession, reputation, actions
Eleventh house—friends, associates, group affiliations
Twelfth house—sorrows, afflictions, enemies, karma, what is hidden, transcendence

Sun—basic identity, will, and conscious purpose

Moon—emotions, feelings, habitual responses
Mercury—the capacity to think, speak, learn, and reason
Venus—the capacity to attract what is loved and valued

Mars—the capacity to act and be assertive based on a desire

Jupiter—search for meaning, truth, and ethical values
Saturn—the capacity to create order, form, and discipline
Uranus—unique individuality and urge for liberation
Neptune—the capacity to transcend the finite self through union with a larger whole
Pluto—the capacity to transform and renew

Conjunctions occur when planets occupy the same sign or are in close proximity to adjacent
signs. The conjunction represents an intermingling of the natures of the two planets.

Sextiles occur when planets are approximately 60 degrees apart. The sextile indicates that
there is a mildly harmonious and sympathetic relationship between the planets involved.

Squares occur when planets are approximately 90 degrees apart. The square points to a tense
or challenging interaction between the planets involved.

Trines occur when planets are approximately 120 degrees apart. The trine indicates that there
is an extremely harmonious and sympathetic relationship between the planets involved.

Oppositions occur when planets are approximately 180 degrees apart. The opposition
suggests that there is an adversarial and antagonistic relationship between the planets
involved.
Transit Interpretation:

Cause: the top row (natal positions of planets involved in the transit) can generally be seen as
the area in life where the transit starts to happen.

Action: the middle row (house through which the transiting planet is moving) is the arena
where the main event occurs.

Effect: the bottom row (the houses ruled in the natal chart by the planets involved in the
transit) are the areas of life which are affected by the consequences of the transit, that is the
outcome.

Planets = “What” = energies; what you like to do

Signs = “How” = the way you do it

Houses = “Where” = areas of your life

Planet - Sign - House

Sun - Cancer - 12

Moon - Taurus - 10

Mercury - Leo - 1

Venus - Gemini - 11

Mars - Cancer - 12

Jupiter - Acquarius - 7

Saturn - Scorpio - 4

Uranus - Sagittarius - 5

Neptune - Capricorn - 6

Pluto - Scorpio - 4

North Node - Taurus - 10

South Node - Scorpio - 4

Lilith - Taurus - 10

Chiron - Gemini - 11
Fortune - Taurus - 10

Vertex - Scorpio - 5

The three keys are

1. Sun—your life’s purpose
2. Moon—your physical and emotional needs
3. Ascendant and Its Ruler—your motivation for living and the direction your life is steered in

THE WHO: PLANETS

The traditional planets and their roles are:

Mercury—The Messenger
Venus—The Lover
Mars—The Warrior
Jupiter—The Sage
Saturn—The Taskmaster

The modern planets and their roles are:

Uranus—The Revolutionary
Neptune—The Dreamer
Pluto—The Transformer

THE HOW: SIGNS

The signs and their styles are

Aries—independent, action-oriented
Taurus—stabilizing, grounded
Gemini—communicative, curious
Cancer—sensitive, caring
Leo—self-expressive, creative
Virgo—discerning, thoughtful
Libra—social, likable
Scorpio—intense, penetrating
Sagittarius—adventurous, positive
Capricorn—enduring, reserved
Aquarius—intellectual, insightful
Pisces—intuitive, creative

MODALITIES

THE CARDINAL S IGNS

Aries initiates action
Cancer initiates emotional ties, bonds, and feelings
Libra initiates relationships
Capricorn initiates the long-term plan

THE FIXED S IGNS

Taurus harnesses the power of the material world
Leo harnesses the power of the persona
Scorpio harnesses the power of its emotional intensity
Aquarius harnesses the power of its intellect

THE MUTABLE SIGNS

Gemini disperses information
Virgo disperses skills
Sagittarius disperses enthusiasm
Pisces disperses dreams and visions

ELEMENTS

FIRE

Qualities: Spontaneous. Enthusiastic. Inspired. Self-Expressive. Intuitive.

Aries takes initiative (cardinal) that demonstrates its personal courage and ability to act on its
own inspiration (fire).
Leo stabilizes (fixed) a warm and entertaining persona in hopes of gaining attention and
having its creative self-expression (fire) witnessed.
Sagittarius seeks unrestricted movement (mutable), and freedom, to find meaning that
illuminates (fire) its purpose in a buoyant and positive manner.
EARTH

Qualities: Grounding. Stabilizing. Manifesting. Generative. Hardworking.

Taurus develops security through stabilizing (fixed) its resources and developing them into
fertile (earth) fields from which it can provide much abundance.
Virgo wants a diversity (mutable) of skills (earth) to serve life with. Through perfecting its craft,
Virgo creates meaning for itself.
Capricorn initiates (cardinal) disciplined action in order to accomplish great feats. Through its
ability to utilize the tools (earth) it has access to, Capricorn develops the self-restraint
necessary to climb any mountain.

AIR

Qualities: Intellectual. Focused on ideas and facts. Strong communicator.

Gemini disperses (mutable) information (air), connecting to many through intellectually

stimulating exchanges that generate new ideas and relationships.
Libra initiates (cardinal) relationships (air), seeking balance, harmony, and justice.
Aquarius articulates (air) its well-developed ideas in a self-assured (fixed) way.

WATER

Qualities: Intuitive. Emotive. Impressionistic. Sensitive. Responsive.

Cancer initiates (cardinal) familial bonds through demonstrating care (water).

Scorpio penetrates (fixed) the secret and mysterious (water) aspects of life.
Pisces connects to a vast array of experiences through being open and impressionable
(mutable) to its surroundings and offering compassion (water) to many.

Homes, Thrones, and Hostile Environments

Domicile—Sign where a planet feels at home—here it has access to all its resources, can fire
on all cylinders, and is as comfortable as it can be.
Detriment—Sign where a planet feels uncomfortable—here it will have to work twice as hard
to do its job, pushing us to stretch and grow in ways we wouldn’t otherwise.

Exaltation—Sign where a planet gains recognition—here it will offer us gifts and blessings with
little effort.
Fall—Sign where a planet feels disrespected—here it will struggle to get on a level playing
field, but in that struggle will help us to honor the experience of the outcast.
THE WHERE: HOUSES

The 12 houses are:

• 1st House—self, body, appearance, and vitality

• 2nd House—assets, resources, and livelihood
• 3rd House—communication, daily life, siblings, and extended family
• 4th House—parents, home, and foundations
• 5th House—children, creative projects, sex, and pleasure
• 6th House—work and health
• 7th House—committed partnerships
• 8th House—death, mental health, and other people’s resources
• 9th House—travel, education, publishing, religion, astrology, and philosophy
• 10th House—career and public roles

• 11th House—friends, community, patrons, and good fortune

• 12th House—hidden life, secrets, sorrow, and loss

RELATIONSHIPS: ASPECTS
The Gifts
There are two kinds of aspects (relationships) that fall under gifts: sextiles and trines. Both
sextiles and trines are aspects that bestow gifts, blessings, and protections upon whatever
planets they connect. A sextile from Venus is the strongest sextile that can be made (the sextile
is Venus’s signature aspect), and a trine from Jupiter is the strongest trine that can be made
(the trine is Jupiter’s signature aspect).

The Challenges
There are two kinds of aspects that fall under challenges: squares and oppositions. Both are
challenging in their own way and require us to make extra effort. Squares are points of friction
that encourage us to take some kind of action, but sometimes that friction only feels like a
harmful abrasion. Oppositions act like tugs-of-war in which we are asked to balance opposites,
integrate polarity, and come to some deeper understanding of what we project onto the world
and what we must be able to reclaim for ourselves. There are exceptions to these rules,
however. Squares and oppositions from Venus and Jupiter aren’t “bad,” as those planets can’t
do harm, but they may exacerbate something specific to their nature. A square from Mars is
considered the most difficult square to have (the square is Mars’s aspect), and an opposition
from Saturn is considered the most challenging opposition to have (the opposition is Saturn’s
aspect).

The Mergers
Conjunctions (mergers) occur when any planet is in the same sign as another planet.
Conjunctions are a merging or blending of energies. The closer in degree they are to each
other, the greater the impact.
Conjunctions with Venus and Jupiter will be helpful for connecting to others with ease (Venus)
and attracting abundance (Jupiter) into our lives. Conjunctions with Mars and Saturn will be
challenging, demanding that we develop the rigorous discipline (Saturn) needed to accomplish
our goals or find ways in which to channel our anger into appropriate and beneficial action
(Mars).

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: THE RULES

• Planets are the characters in our chart.

• Signs denote the style and flair of the planets in our chart.
• Houses tell you where the planets are living out their drama and telling their stories.
• Aspects tell you which planets are challenging you, which are gifting you, and which are
acting as a unit (harmoniously or not).
• Each planet is in a sign and house.
• Everyone has every planet, sign, and house in their chart. However, you may not have every
type of aspect in your chart, and some of your planets might not be in relationship with any
other planet in your chart.

Read your Chart: First Steps for Newbies

1. Look at your Sun / Moon / Ascendant Sign - look at the separate descriptions but also
ALWAYS look at them in combination and try to imagine how they would interact (Sun =
self, ego, wants; Moon = feelings, inner self, needs; AC way you approach / see the
world/ react to new situations, how you come off to others at first glance, conditioning)
2. Look at your other 3 personal planets (Mercury (thinking, communicating, expressing),
Venus (relating, liking, loving) and Mars (activity, assertion, aggression). See how they
alter the expression of your Sun and Moon (especially look at how Venus and Mercury
influence your Sun sign - an Aries Sun with Pisces Mercury/Venus is totally different
from an Aries Sun with personal planets in Aries or Gemini, for example)
3. Don‘t look at the Signs only - check out the House positions (1-12H) and important
aspects made to / between your personal Planets (and think like this - an aspect made
from another planet alters the expression of that planet, usually similar to the sign the
Planet rules (Uranus = Aquarius, Pluto = Scorpio etc), the same goes for Houses (1H =
Aries energy etc) although it can not be seen as a direct equivalent because the Houses
are basically areas of life (1H = self, personality, body, appearance; 2H = values,
belongings, money, self worth etc) but they still alter the expression of a planet in it in a
way similar to their House ruler (again, 1H = Aries, 2H = Taurus etc)

EDIT: When looking at aspects, don’t forget to consider that there are so-called soft
(harmonious), hard (challenging) as well as neutral (depending on the planets touching each
other) aspects. They determine whether the contact between the aspecting planets is
beneficial (easy flowing) or possibly conflicting - if you think about what I just said about the
planet‘s rulers again, Uranus in positive contact (sextile, trine) with the Sun would bring about
the more positive traits of Aquarius / Uranus (innovation, originality, open mindness) while a
disharmonious contact (square, opposition, in this case, also conjunction) would bring out the
more negative sides (inconsistency, nervousness, fear of commitment etc) .: