Tracking the staging posts in life through the cycles of the outer planets in square, opposition and for some Returns to their natal position on a birth chart is an interesting exercise. In a long lifespan there will be three Saturn Returns at 29, 58 and 87; a Uranus Return at 84 and before that two Uranus squares at around 21 and 63 and one mid-life Uranus opposition around 42; as well as a Pluto square and a Neptune square in the early forties, and Pluto and Neptune opposition their natal position in the 80s. Plus a North Node Half Return around 47 and full Return in the late 70s.
Although they individually have the same general meaning, their impact to some extent will depend on the make-up of the chart. A throw-life-in-the-air-and-be-reckless tr Uranus opposition Uranus at the midlife crisis in late 30s/40 will have a more extreme reaction in a highly Uranian temperament that has been itching to kick over the traces and equally will be resisted by those of more stolid temperament.
Saturn Returns will have a stronger effect when there are lessons to be learnt and shirked responsibilities faced.
It will also depend on what other natal planets aspect the outer planet at a critical point in its cycle and indeed whether there are additional transits in the celestial sphere impeding or exaggerating its effect. Nothing happens in isolation.
What has always struck me is transiting Pluto which in a lifetime will only make half a cycle and thus only cast its transformational influence over six houses in a natal chart.
For example, anyone born with a 10th house Pluto will feel its effect through their 11th, 12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th houses (depending slightly on the chart’s make up). They therefore never have Pluto through the 5th to 9th house. In this instance their challenges will be more directed towards changes within themselves as an individual.
Where someone born with a 4th house Pluto will feel its effects through their 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th houses – which being western hemisphere will bring adjustments in relating to others.
These are obvious examples but a natal Pluto in any house will only effect its influence on the following six houses. The same goes for Neptune.
The Saturn Returns are unsurprisingly about growing up, getting real, taking on responsibilities in the first return; and in the latter two being pragmatic about the limitations of age. Making sensible plans.
The first Uranus square at 20/21 is youthful rebellion time, expressing individual needs not always sensibly, reacting against authority and restrictions. The Uranus mid-life opposition late 30s/40 comes when lives have settled into a rut, youthful dreams have not been fulfilled and regrets surface. It is a wake-up call and can lead to reckless decisions – in extremis leave marriage/job and take off on a Jack Kerouac road trip. The next Uranus square in the early 60s is a nudge not to settle into zimmer frame and hearing aids mindset, but keep a youthful outlook.
The mid-life crisis so beloved of Carl Jung from late 30s to early forties encompasses Uranus opposition Uranus, Pluto square Pluto and Neptune square Neptune. The Pluto square Pluto is a challenge to let go the past and whatever is outmoded, and can coincide with a tug-of-war as AnOther in life decides to hold firm to the old ways and the individual needs to fight to clear away what is no longer necessary for the future.
The midlife crisis is a refresher, upending what has become stagnant and could stay that way if not given a revitalizing jolt.
The North Nodal square, opposition and Return are inner staging posts when there needs to be a review of what progress has been made in the life’s journey from the familiar (lazy option) South Node to the challenging development of the unfamiliar North Node.
Naturally none of these occurs in isolation since the outer planets moving into new houses or quadrants in a chart will also have a considerable effect.
Pondering on my own chart – my first Saturn Return (and I have a very Saturnine chart with it on my Midheaven) – I was ill with an indefinable slump for several months, which forced a change in my unhealthy lifestyle, after which my career took off like a rocket. My Second Saturn Return was also a jolt, this time financially as someone I trusted screwed up, leaving me to cope with a mess. NB (nota bene) from Saturn = do it yourself! Which I have done thereafter.
Uranus is trickier since my Moon and Sun are in close hard aspect to my natal Uranus so the Uranus aspects tend to rattle everything in my chart up – which I don’t object to since I like constant movement. During my first Uranus square I was sitting my finals at University in a very heavy degree. It was a tr Uranus Pluto conjunction that was around hitting my Sun, Mercury, Moon, Uranus and I thought Armageddon was coming. It didn’t, I passed – if not with flying colours at least adequately – and I tumbled out of academia swearing never to sit another exam ever again.
My midlife Uranus opposition oversaw a crazy relationship; with a home move and marriage (to someone else) through the Pluto square Pluto etc. The Second Uranus square – not much.
My Nodal Half Return saw me upsticks and relocate home/country. But that was alongside tr Pluto opposition tr Saturn in Gemini upending my Moon Uranus, Sun etc.
Looking back at my list the Saturn Returns stand out and the Nodal squares, oppositions and Return. The major landmarks in my life – moving house, job etc – are not always obvious from the cycles themselves and I would track them through transits to my chart axis, houses and planets. But everyone’s chart is different and certain transits will have more impact depending on individual placings.
“There is beauty to be found in the changing of the earth’s seasons, and an inner grace in honouring the cycles of life.” Jack Kornfield
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein
“It’s not true that life is one damn thing after another; it is one damn thing over and over.” Edna St. Vincent Millay
“Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” Charles M. Schulz
“Unconscious of your story, you are in its grasp; but with consciousness, an alchemical process begins: The solidity of the complex dissolves and you can open up to the arrival of a new archetype, the birth of a new cycle of life. In the shadow, then, lies our myth and our fate.” Connie Zweig
“I see that the greatest thing about getting older is how your judgment changes and how you come to understand the cycles of life. And you keep having these amazing flashes of understanding.” Erica Jong
The Pluto transits are fascinating due to its irregular orbit. The info presented is correct for most of us – my Pluto square Pluto took place when I had just turned 36 and was one of the worst experiences of my life – I felt dead inside for 2-3mths. If I live to be 100 then Pluto will start to transit an 8th house of my chart – big if though
The children born today with Pluto at the start of Aquarius will be getting their Pluto square Pluto (when it enters Taurus) just before the turn of the 22nd century! Queen Victoria born 1819 with Pluto at 27 Pisces, died in 1901 at age 82 and never reached her Pluto square Pluto which would have taken place in her 90s.
Very interesting. I can relate to much of this. Both Saturn returns have been very difficult but ultimately quite positive. Uranus and Pluto transits have had major effects because both planets are prominent in my chart. Jupiter transits are also prominent because it rules my chart. I am 70 and hope to live to 84 for my Uranus return conjunct Jupiter in Cancer but it will square transiting Neptune in late Aries. Uranus in Gemini will oppose natal Venus and Ascendant next year, while Saturn and Neptune cross my IC.