Astrology Insights

Current Transits

As the planets of our solar system orbit around the Sun, they move into mathematical relationships with one another. These relationships are called "transits." Transits operate like a pen highlighting words on a page - they draw our attention to a particular area. By understanding the meaning behind a specific transit we can understand the deeper meaning of events - both on a global scale as well as within our own lives.

Some transits move very quickly and are in effect for only a few days while others are in effect over months or even years. Shorter transiting events should always be viewed against the larger picture.

Jump to this month's Current Transits

Important Transits for 2010 -

Incredibly powerful forces for change are at play with an on-going opposition between Saturn and Uranus and a continuing square between Saturn and Pluto. Jupiter, the principle of expansion - Horus, the young king, in the Egyptian pantheon - will come into relationship with all three of these powerful planets during 2010. Jupiter expands and intensifies planetary relationships. This is a year when the old king (Saturn - Sobek to the Egyptians) will be forced to yield to the expanding life force energy of Uranus (Wadjet) and the undeniable process of death and regeneration represented by Pluto (Osiris).

Saturn opposite Uranus. Aspects between these two planets, particularly oppositions and conjunctions, are historically associated with societal upheaval and change. These two were opposite from 1918 to 1920 and again from 1964 to 1966. They were conjunct from 1941 through 1942 and again from 1988 to 1989. Whenever they come into close relationship there are tremendous changes in the look, feel and customs of society.

A chick in an egg is a useful metaphor for understanding the effect of a Saturn / Uranus transit. Saturn represents the shell of an egg that has become too small for the growing chick. Uranus represents the instinctive force that leads the chick to peck at the inside of the egg until it shatters - revealing a huge new world. Sobek, the old king, is shattered by the vibrant life force energy of Wadjet. Our old world has outgrown its usefulness to us - it is too tight and no longer nurtures us. Instinctively we break out into a new environment. What awaits us is not yet known.

Saturn and Uranus first opposed each other on November 4, 2008 and moved into exact oppositions twice in 2009, on February 5 and September 15. They will oppose each other two more times in 2010 - on April 26 and again on July 26. Saturn is in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces for the first opposition of 2010. The second opposition, and the last of an unusual five exact oppositions, will take place in Libra / Aries.

Saturn square Pluto. Saturn (Sobek - the old king), the principle of consolidation challenges Pluto (Osiris - death and regeneration), the great force for transformation and change. This square represents a crossroads in the new era that began with September 11, 2001. That fateful day fell in the midst of a powerful Saturn / Pluto opposition that began the summer of 2001 and continued throughout 2002.

The first phase of the square between these two, during the winter of 2009 / 2010, has brought an intensification of the US involvement in Afghanistan. The question arises - are we doing things differently or is the old king Sobek still clinging to the reins of power? Saturn and Pluto moved into their first exact square on November 15, 2009 at Libra / Capricorn 2 degrees. They move into exact squares twice in 2010, first on January 31 at Libra / Capricorn 5 degrees and again on August 21 at Libra / Capricorn 3 degrees.

Jupiter enters Pisces and Aries. Jupiter stays in a sign of the zodiac for about a year. Jupiter enters Pisces on January 17 and will enter Aries on June 6. Jupiter will then retrograde back into Pisces on September 9 and will re-enter Aries on January 22, 2011.

Jupiter, the young king Horus, expands any sign or planet with which he comes into relationship. Pisces is a water sign, sensitive, compassionate and dedicated to planetary service. In the Egyptian pantheon, Pisces is aligned with the star Sothis, home to many of the neteru and a place of higher love, wisdom and the bodhisatva nature. Aries is a fire sign, impulsive, energetic and open to change. Aries is associated with Kephera, the neter associated with the morning sun and a reminder that every day is a new beginning. In 2010 Jupiter will come into relationship with both the opposition of Saturn / Uranus and the square of Saturn / Pluto, intensifying the effect of these already powerful transits.

Jupiter opposite Saturn. Jupiter (Horus), the principle of expansion, opposes Saturn (Sobek), the principle of consolidation. Exact oppositions take place on May 23 at Pisces / Virgo 28 degrees and on August 16 at Aries / Libra 3 degrees. A third exact opposition will take place on March 28, 2011 at Aries / Libra 15 degrees.

Jupiter conjuncts Uranus. Jupiter (Horus) conjuncts and expands the energy of Uranus (Wadjet). Jupiter and Uranus will be exactly conjunct on June 8 at Aries 1 degree, on September 18 at Pisces 29 degree and for a third and final time on January 4, 2011 at the 27th degree of Pisces.

Jupiter squares Pluto. Jupiter (Horus) squares Pluto (Osiris) with exact squares on July 24 and August 3 at Aries / Capricorn 4 degrees and on February 25, 2011 at Aries / Capricorn 8 degrees

It is worth noting that there will be a loose t-square (a powerful alignment of aspects involving three or more planets) between Jupiter conjunct to Uranus, square to Saturn, and opposite Pluto during June and July. In late July and continuing on for most of August, there will be a t-square between Jupiter opposite Saturn with both square to Pluto. The summer of 2010 brings a most intense relationship between four planetary giants.

Uranus transitions into Aries. Uranus, the planet of sudden and unpredictable change, enters the fire sign Aries. Uranus stays in a sign of a zodiac for approximately eight years. Uranus, Wadjet to the Egyptians, enters Aries (Kephera) on May 27 and retrogrades back into Pisces on August 13. Uranus will re-enter Aries on March 12, 2011. Uranus will remain in the fiery sign of Aries until 2019.

Mercury Retrograde. Mercury turns retrograde three times in 2010, for approximately three weeks at a time. Mercury is the planet of communication and governs transportation and communication systems. Mercury retrograde periods are times when we need to collectively retreat - to take stock of that which needs to be re-thought or re-done since the last Mercury retrograde period. It is difficult to move forward in the way society expects and wants. Transportation and communication systems sometimes literally break down during Mercury retrograde periods, forcing upon us a collective respite from forward motion.

2010 begins with Mercury retrograde in Capricorn, having turned retrograde on December 26 at Capricorn 22 degrees. Mercury will turn direct on January 15 at Capricorn 6 degrees. Mercury will be retrograde from April 18 through May 11 in Taurus; from August 20 through September 12 in Virgo; and from December 10 through December 20 in the signs Capricorn and Sagittarius.

Current Transits - Astrological Month of Virgo, 2010.

- August 22 - Sun enters Virgo -

- August 24 - Full Moon at Pisces 2 degrees -

- September 8 - New Moon at Virgo 16 degrees; Venus enters Scorpio -

- September 9 - Jupiter retrograde enters Pisces -

- September 12 - Mercury turns direct at Virgo 6 degrees -

- September 14 - Pluto turns direct at Capricorn 3 degrees; Mars enters Scorpio -

- September 22 - Sun enters Libra; Autumnal Equinox -

The month opens with Mercury retrograde in Virgo. Mercury, associated with communication and transportation, turns retrograde three times a year for approximately three weeks at a time. Transportation and communication systems often experience breakdowns and delays during Mercury retrograde periods, which can create frustration. While external processes can be disrupted during Mercury retrograde periods, it is an ideal time to get in touch with the inner guidance and inspiration represented by Mercury's assocation with his Egyptian ancestor, Thoth.

In Roman mythology Mercury, and his Greek cousin Hermes, was portrayed as a young man with wings on his helmet and his sandals. His primary mission was to carry the messages of the gods and, in modern psychological astrology, Mercury can be seen as the way we think, communicate, articulate ideas and remember. He also represents the messages of our ego as they are relayed into consciousness.

The Egyptian god Thoth, the great-grandfather of the Greek and Roman Hermes/Mercury, is the archetypal principle representing our ability to connect with divine source and to express that connection through enlightened understanding and inspired communication. Whenever we feel that we have received a "download" from source, when we feel that our communication is inspired by something larger than ourselves, we are experiencing the presence of Thoth in our lives. He is the channel through which true wisdom enters consciousness. Mercury retrograde periods provide us with the opportunity to open to divine inspiration.

There can be no better time than this for each of us to make contact with our inner guidance. We have finally completed our transit through a huge portal of transformation that has been held by the opposition of Saturn and Uranus over the last 22 months. Over the last six weeks, Pluto has moved through his final square to Saturn, and remains in a t-square with Saturn and Uranus. The last few weeks have been extremely intense and planetary events - the Gulf oil spill, the floods in Pakistan and other parts of Asia, the famine in Niger - all point to the difficulties we face on our planet. These catastrophes are so far-reaching, threatening and potentially long lasting that our traditional means of responding is hopelessly inadequate.

As of this writing, some 20 million people are affected by the floods in Pakistan. This is a figure beyond comprehension; 20 million people without a home, without easy access to food, clean water and sanitation. The threat of disease and a long term, out-of-control disaster looms over us, and over the next few months we will see if we as a planetary community can create an effective response to such a huge event.

Mercury retrograde periods invite us to go inward and to not be distracted by the external irritations of missed connections and unanswered phone calls. We must call upon Thoth to help us to connect to our inspiration and enlightened selves, and on the Egyptian counterpart to the sign Virgo, the crone goddess Nekhbet, to assist us in stepping into our wisdom. Mercury turned retrograde on August 20 and will turn direct on September 6, in the sign of Virgo.

Also this month, Jupiter will retrograde back Pisces, following Uranus back into the sign of the dying age. Uranus returned to Pisces on August 13 and will not return to Aries until March of next year. Jupiter expands and intensifies all that he comes in contact with. In this case, it is the forceful power of Uranus that is being intensified, as the dismantling of the old age continues.

All that no longer serves us must be removed from the planet. The worst of the age of Pisces is fragmentation and a tendency of the people of Earth to align themselves with one polarity and against the other. The best of the age of Pisces is the concept of forgiveness, gained through love and the resolution of an open heart. We must all open our heart to the boddhisatva energy of Pisces at its best and allow compassion to flow through us and to all upon our battered planet.

Pluto turns direct this month on September 14. The Roman god Pluto was known as the Lord of the Underworld - the god of death and the ruler of the land of the shadows. To the ancient Egyptians Osiris, the ancestor of Pluto, was the god of death but he was also the god of renewal. Out of his death the New King Horus (Jupiter) was born. Inherent in his symbolism is that new life always follows death. We must call upon the wisdom of Osiris in the days and weeks ahead as our planet continues to make its way through the death of an old way of being and the birth of new life.