The challenges and opportunities for each of us are revealed with the aspects of the transiting planets to the planets in our natal charts. The more significant aspects are those made by the ‘outer’, or slower moving planets as their effects are felt over a longer period of time.

For instance, it takes the Moon only 29 days or so to complete a circuit through all the signs. The Sun has a cycle of one year, and Mercury, Venus and Mars also move relatively swiftly around all the signs ( a year to one and a half years). These aspects will occur again and again with more regularity through the year – to year and a half.

The slower moving planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto have cycles of many years – hence their significance for deeper changes and focus. Their aspects take time to develop and affect us for longer periods of time.

Steven Forrest discusses which planets are involved in the cycles of the slower moving planets, and the timing of these aspects and how they relate to other sensitive aspects of the individual chart.

Usually, there are these significant aspects going on in the charts of most of us, although which houses and planets are being affected differs for each of us.

The cycles of these outer planets are fairly regular, and happen generally within a similar range of years. For instance – the aspect of the ‘Saturn Return’ will occur for everyone at about ages 27 1/2 – 30 years. An ‘Uranus Opposition’ will occur in the early 40s. The planet Pluto moves so slowly that it will traverse only a little more than half the zodiac in our lifetimes. And so on…

Steven Forrest does a fantastic job in explaining some of these aspects and their affects. Often, you need to re-read his reports a few times to get the most understanding.

Hopes this helps. Also, quite often people order these reports when significant changes are occurring!

Presently persons with planets in the signs of Libra, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces – are experiencing the conjunction of these outer planets to their planets in these signs. Others with planets in the signs of Aries, Cancer, Leo and Virgo – are experiencing the opposition of these outer planets. (January 2010).

Some of the changes we are all feeling also relate to the cycles of the Moon, especially the full moons – and how we experience these events individually, and as a nation.