Through studying astrology, we have a whole calendar of events to pay attention to, but apart from the major seasonal changes, equinoxes, solstices, and eclipses, today I want to remind you of the personal astrological ages that occur for all of us, like clockwork, at specific times based on collective planetary transits.
Planetary transits refer to actual planetary movements in the sky. When we examine these movements against our natal charts, we see exactly when (and where) strong aspects occur. Aspects are geometrical angles between planets that show heightened energy and stimulate us to act.
For example, if you have Saturn conjunct Saturn (aka Saturn return) in the seventh house of marriage, we know you have lessons to learn in that domain. Yet, for someone else, this transit could be happening in their 10th house of career. This is why I don’t give specific astrological details without seeing someone’s chart. When you only know what’s happening with the planets in the sky, you only have half the story.
In this blog, you will learn at what ages you want to be paying extra attention to your astrological chart – particularly, your planetary transit chart – in order to make conscious choices, instead of reactive, fear-based decisions.
The problem with making a decision without the awareness of astrological transits is that you have a higher probability of repeating old karmic patterns. Everything that is triggering you emotionally or psychologically during a significant period of life (and planetary transit) is trying to help you evolve spiritually. So, the more you understand this concept, the easier any life transition will be.
Below is a list of important astrological ages followed by full descriptions for each transit.
All the important astrological ages:
7 - First Saturn square
9 - First Nodal opposition/reversal
12 – First Jupiter Return
14 – First Saturn opposition
18.5 – First Nodal return
21/22 - Second Saturn square
24 - Second Jupiter Return
27 – Second Nodal opposition/reversal
29/30 - Saturn return
36 - Third Saturn square
36 -Third Jupiter return
37 - Second Nodal return
42 - Neptune square Neptune
41-44 - Uranus opposition (this has a larger age range and needs a birth date to be exact)
44/45 - Second Saturn opposition
46 - Third Nodal opposition/reversal
48 - Fourth Jupiter return
50 - Chiron return
51/52 - Fourth Saturn square
55 - Third Nodal Return
58-60 - Second Saturn return
60 - Fifth Jupiter return
64 - Fourth Nodal opposition/reversal
72 - Sixth Jupiter return
74 - Fourth Nodal Return
74/75 - Third Saturn opposition
83 - Fifth Nodal opposition/reversal
84 - Uranus Return
*Before we dive into the descriptions, I want to note that I have grouped together all the transits that are the same, but which occur repeatedly throughout your lifetime. Example: Saturn square – whether it’s the first (age 7) or second (age 21/22) third, fourth, etc. you will experience similar challenges – only at different junctures in life. The same goes for the Nodal return, Nodal opposition (aka reversal), Jupiter return, Saturn opposition, and Saturn return.
The Saturn Square (Ages: 7, 21/22, 36, 51/52)
At the early age of seven, we experience our first Saturn square which means that the planet Saturn has moved 90 degrees from its original place in our natal chart. This is a significant developmental stage because it brings us our earliest challenges via the nature of Saturn, so we may feel restricted, limited, or forced to “grow up too early.” Saturn is a planet that asks us to take on responsibilities, mature, and face the realities of our lives. Depending on what houses are involved with this aspect, we will have more specific information on the types of changes required for each individual.
However, whether you're seven or 52, this is a call to action. It is a time when challenges may surface, pushing you to act so that you can grow. It’s better to make a choice – even if it’s the wrong one – so you learn, versus not making any choice, becoming stagnant, and then depressed.
The Nodal Opposition/Reversal (Ages 9, 27, 46, 64, 83)
The Nodal opposition (aka reversal) occurs when the transiting lunar axis moves 180 degrees, making the transiting South Node align with the natal North Node and the transiting North Node align to the natal South Node. These transits are of particular importance to Evolutionary Astrologers because they point to a pivotal spot on our evolutionary timeline where we are called to reexamine our original purpose.
Thus, it’s a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. The question for the North Node conjunct the natal South Node is: What can I use from my past to help propel me into my future? The question for the South Node conjunct the natal North Node is: What old dreams do I need to release so I can commit to the path I’ve decided on?
Jupiter Return (Ages 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72)
Jupiter return happens every 12 years and it marks the beginning of a new cycle of growth and progress. Though Jupiter is often referred to as the “lucky” planet, as with any transit, it’s up to you to bring out the best out of it. Everything in astrology is a reflection of your state of consciousness. Jupiter return is a time when you can ask more of the world, so you are encouraged to “dream bigger” but it’s also a time when you should be giving more to the world. This is the moment to expect opportunities that come through people, higher education, or chances to travel (all representations of Jupiter’s zest for knowledge) which can occur through any of these means. So the best advice is to stay open and optimistic while being generous with yourself and others.
The Saturn Opposition (Ages 14, 44/45, 74/75)
At age 14, we experience our first Saturn opposition, and this change comes during our middle school years when we are also entering puberty. This time, Saturn is 180 degrees away from its original position at birth so it’s triggering our original “Saturn imprint.” This suggests, depending upon your exact Saturn placement, that you will experience tension between your peers, authority figures, or others whom you have romantic feelings for. There are numerous possible explanations, but above all, you experience conflicting ideas that cause internal stress.
No matter your age with this aspect, you want to remember that any Saturn transit is about “doing what you don’t feel like doing” as Evolutionary Astrologer, Steven Forrest, put it. It’s about making the hard choices and not taking any shortcuts. It’s about proving to yourself that you are accountable and dependable. So, no matter what obstacles Saturn puts in your path, your job is not to give up.
When Saturn places restrictions on your freedom, remember the concept of opportunity costs; you can’t have everything, so you must make choices about what’s most important and be willing to give up the rest. The silver lining with this transit is that it forces you to direct your attention to the most pressing tasks for your highest evolution. If doors are closing around you, those are not the doors you were meant to walk through. Accept that and move on.
The good news with this transit is that if you have been working hard and living responsibly, this could be a period of material success and reward.
The Nodal Return (Ages 18.5, 37, 55, 74)
Every 18.5 years the nodal axis returns to its original spot in your chart. This is significant because we know that the lunar nodes represent our dharma and karma. So, whenever the North Node (dharma) comes back around to its original placement, it’s a call for you to get back on track with your life purpose. This means that whatever events are occurring (good or bad) are “destined” for you to experience. What’s quite magical about this time is that the Universe aligns us with perfect synchronicities through opportunities in our outer world, that when we’re paying attention, can guide us to what’s ultimately our highest best to pursue. (On a personal note, I met my husband at my second nodal return.)
Saturn Return (29/30, 58-60)
The first Saturn return is one of the most influential transits of your entire life. This is because the choices you make now reverberate their effects for the next 30 years. Do you get pregnant? Do you get married? Do you take your dream job? Or do you take no action and end up living in your parent’s basement? Saturn is the planet that acts like an old, wise grandparent checking in on us now and then, asking, “What are you doing with your life?” “How are you making a difference in the world and contributing to society?” Thus, when Saturn comes 360 degrees around the chart to meet with your Natal Saturn, the pressure’s on! It’s time to get a job! Or at least, get working on some project that will be your legacy.
The second Saturn return comes around age 60 after we've lived most of our lives. So, this is a “reality check” moment where we get to look back and see, hmmm… did my efforts pay off? Do I get to retire early? Buy that second home? Or do I have to continue working because I didn’t make the best decisions early on in my life? (Of course, sometimes we experience different life circumstances that force us to keep working), but my point here is, if you are paying attention to Saturn at age 30, age 60 will be much more rewarding.
Uranus Opposition (Age 41-44)
The Uranus opposition occurs when Uranus comes to 180 degrees past your natal Uranus. Some people may feel this as early as 40, whereas others not until 44 or 45. This is why the age range is so large. It depends on when you were born and Uranus’ retrograde cycles. Nonetheless, with any major outer planetary transit, you are likely to feel the effects a year before and a year after the “exact conjunction.”
So, this can be experienced as a prolonged period of your life where you undergo radical changes in thinking. This transit often correlates to the “mid-life crises” or in my view, a mid-life course correction where you reexamine your life and align your behaviors to what you really want. Friends and family may see your behavior as selfish, but in reality, you are just redirecting your life down a path that matches who you have become at this point in your evolution.
Some people buy a sports car, some people get a divorce, some people change careers. Again, wherever you have your natal Uranus and wherever your transiting Uranus is triggering your natal Uranus from, gives us more information on where, specifically, you are determined to make radical changes in your life. This is one of the most important times for astrological council because so much is on the line, and you may not need to abandon your family or career to appease this strong need for freedom and independence (you may just need a prolonged solo vacation).
With Uranus transits, we often experience sudden changes in our external worlds as well. This could mean that it isn’t you leaving a relationship, but it is your partner who walks out without warning. Or your friend suddenly wins the lotto and takes you on a free trip to Paris! So many things can occur under a Uranus transit that we can’t even begin to imagine, so the best we can do is learn to “expect the unexpected.”
Neptune Square Neptune (Age 42)
Neptune is an important planet to pay attention to because it tells us how we are evolving spiritually. Neptune’s sign illustrates how we approach our spiritual life (our life that's dedicated to principles of faith, surrender, and trust). Neptune’s placement shows us where we experience heightened intuition, synchronicity, and access to our psychic senses. If we deny Neptune’s teachings, we drown our spiritual gifts through addiction and escapist behaviors. But if we take the high road during any Neptune transit, we listen, we get still, we learn and grow from divine intervention, and we embrace every synchronicity as God’s instructions.
Since Neptune is such a slow-moving planet (taking 165 years to make it through all the houses in our birth chart), when it makes a square aspect to itself around age 42, it’s kind of like a spiritual wake-up call. It’s our Soul knocking on the door saying, “How have you been paying attention to ME these past 42 years?” And just like the Uranus opposition where “freedom reigns” and individuality matters, here, with Neptune square Neptune, it’s your Soul that matters. It’s your Soul that’s crying out to be heard and wants your attention.
Thus, you want to ask yourself, “How do I cultivate a spiritual life? Do I even have a spiritual life?” This is a time when you need rest, you need reflection, you need meditation time, alone time, dream time, and anything that activates your imagination and gets your creative juices flowing. You need some connection with God/Angels/Spirit Guides/Your Higher Self, etc. to ensure your life has more meaning than just acquiring material things and climbing a corporate ladder.
Chiron Return (Age 50)
Chiron is an asteroid, and it represents the wounded healer archetype in us all. Where we have Chiron points to where we get triggered most by our wounds. Thus, understanding this placement can bring exponential awareness as to why you feel the way you do (or act so out of character when your wounds get triggered). I have written several blogs on Chiron if you would like more clarity on this archetype, and three of them are linked here:
When Chiron comes around to meet your natal Chiron, it’s an opportunity to remember that you have the power to heal from within. You can reclaim your health by willingly releasing the emotional pain you’ve carried around for years. Spontaneous, miraculous healings can occur, but it helps if you believe they can.
Your mind is a powerful instrument in the healing process. And luckily, this transit can bring a shift in perspective that allows your attitude to change. Then when new resources flood in, you’re suddenly open to experiment with them – when previously, you wouldn’t even have considered them. So, it's highly beneficial to be open to unexpected sources of healing now – especially if they are of a mind-body-spirit approach.
Chiron relates very much to a holistic healthcare model, and this includes creative visualization and the power of belief. If you have been doing your inner work for years, attempting to understand yourself and taking responsibility for healing emotional wounds, you may find that some solution suddenly appears “out of the blue” that sets you free from past traumas that have plagued you for years. It’s like a window opens in the attic and all the stale air escapes.
Chiron healing often results in emotions being released that have been stored in the body – so Emotion Code may be highly beneficial now. It is likely if you have been oblivious to your pain, or repressing your pain, that this may be a difficult period where you have to be reminded of your wounds so you can heal them. Old memories may surface that you’d rather not face or dramas in your outer world can manifest as projections of the repressed feelings you’ve stuffed down. Another probability is that illness can surface stemming from early emotional traumas that were never addressed and integrated.
In any event, if you are open to healing and ready to do whatever that takes, this transit can be life-changing and restore your vitality. If it doesn’t heal you physically, it can bring you greater acceptance of your condition, restoring your emotional sanity and allowing you to empathize better with others. Your reward for doing your healing work is that your spiritual gifts are revealed to you, and this revelation empowers you to become a healer for others.
Uranus Return (Age 84)
Uranus return occurs when transiting Uranus comes back to meet your natal Uranus. For those of us who make it to this age, it can be a time of reflection and peace. Hopefully, we are happy with the lives we have lived and can say, that by this age, we have expressed our own unique spark somehow in some way. If not, it’s never too late to become who you’ve always wanted to be! Even if that’s only expressed through the privacy of your journal pages. Uranus triggers that part of you that needs to express its authenticity and stay true to its own nature. If you have done this well, now is your time to be a role model for others.
In Conclusion…
This blog was meant to introduce you to pivotal astrological ages, but it doesn't cover every moment when you might be influenced by planetary alignments. If you're experiencing major changes outside of these ages, it may be helpful to work with an astrologer to examine your planetary transit chart for more personalized insights. If you're interested in scheduling a consultation with me, click here.
I hope that by reading this blog, you’ve gained a deeper awareness of just how often major life transitions correlate with planetary transits. As we evolve in consciousness, we become more attuned to the planetary helpers we have available, guiding us from afar, and reflecting our inner states through every challenge and change we face. As you continue your journey, I encourage you to keep researching these significant astrological periods to understand more thoroughly the specific lessons your Soul is ready to learn.
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