If you’re into astrology, chances are you’ve come across the concept of transits—those celestial moments when the planets align and interact with your natal chart. But not all transits are created equal. Some strike with the force of a lightning bolt, jolting you into awareness, while others unfold gradually, like a quiet fog settling over a serene landscape. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that the timing and intensity of how we experience these transits depend heavily on the planet involved. Let me walk you through what I’ve learned, drawing from my own journey and observations.
Fast Movers: Instant Impact
Let’s kick things off with the fast movers of the astrological world: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus (yes, Uranus is technically an outer planet, but it still packs a punch when it comes to timing). These planets don’t waste any time making their presence known. When they form an exact aspect to a point in your chart, you’ll feel it—almost instantly.
Mercury: Mercury is known as the messenger of the sky, but here’s the thing: when transit Mercury makes an aspect to your natal chart, it doesn’t cause events—it absorbs energy. My astrologer friend likes to describe Mercury as a sponge. It soaks up the vibes of whatever it touches, amplifying communication, ideas, and movement. For example, if Mercury is conjunct your Sun, you might feel extra chatty or mentally sharp, but it’s not Mercury itself creating the situation—it’s just reflecting and enhancing the energy already present.
Venus: Venus transits can also be felt almost immediately, especially if she’s moving over your luminaries (Sun or Moon), personal planets, or key angles like the Ascendant (ASC) or Midheaven (MC). Venus usually brings a sense of harmony, beauty, and optimism—unless she’s making a challenging aspect, in which case she might stir up relationship drama or financial hiccups.
For instance, when Venus transited my 7th house of partnerships, I felt an immediate shift in my relationships—things either became smoother or more complicated, depending on the aspect. Venus doesn’t wait around to make her presence known!
Mars: Mars is the planet of action, energy, and drive. When Mars transits a sensitive point in your chart, you’ll feel a surge of motivation, irritation, or restlessness. It’s like someone flipped a switch, and suddenly, you’re ready to tackle that project—or pick a fight (Mars can be feisty like that).
Here’s a personal example: Last year, Mars conjoined my Mercury and made an exact square to my natal Mars. Both the 3rd house (communication, short trips, vehicles) and 6th house (health, pets, daily routines) were activated. On the exact day of the transit, my cat was hit by a car (3rd house = vehicles, 6th house = pets). It was a stark reminder of how quickly and intensely Mars can manifest.
Jupiter: Jupiter is the planet of expansion, luck, and opportunity. When Jupiter makes an exact aspect, it’s like the universe hands you a golden ticket. You might feel a sudden wave of optimism, or you might stumble upon a lucky break that feels almost too good to be true.
For example, when Jupiter conjuncted my natal Venus, I took a spontaneous trip to Switzerland—on the exact day of the conjunction. Jupiter’s energy is generous and immediate, so when it hits, you’ll know it.
Here’s something I need to share, even if it might stir up a bit of controversy: Jupiter is often hailed as the planet of luck and expansion, but its effects aren’t one-size-fits-all. It really depends on your entire chart. For me, as a Pisces rising (with Jupiter as the traditional ruler), I’ve noticed that even during Jupiter’s so-called “positive” transits, I’ve sometimes felt deeply depressed or sad. It’s the planet of expansion, but that doesn’t always mean it’s expanding the good stuff. Jupiter magnifies whatever it touches—whether that’s opportunities, joy, or even problems. Got a challenge in your life? Jupiter can make it feel bigger, louder, and harder to ignore.
Uranus: Uranus is the wildcard of the zodiac. Its transits are unpredictable and often bring sudden changes or breakthroughs. When Uranus hits, it’s like a bolt of lightning—you’ll know something big is happening, even if you’re not sure what it is yet.
I like to think of Uranus as electricity—it’s fast, unexpected, and impossible to ignore. When Uranus squared my natal Moon, I lost everything I had built over the years—literally overnight. It was jarring, but it also cleared the way for something new and better. Uranus doesn’t do subtle.
These planets don’t mess around. Their energy is immediate, and you’ll feel the effects as soon as the aspect is exact.
Saturn: A Slight Delay, But Not Much
Saturn is a bit of a slow burn compared to the fiery immediacy of Mars or the expansive optimism of Jupiter, but don’t mistake its subtlety for weakness. Saturn is the planet of structure, discipline, and reality checks. When it transits a point in your chart, you might not feel its impact right away, but trust me, it won’t take long for its influence to make itself known.
During a Saturn transit, you’ll start noticing little signs of restriction or responsibility creeping into your life. Maybe you feel a bit more serious or grounded, or perhaps you’re suddenly faced with a challenge that pushes you to grow. Saturn’s energy builds gradually, like a steady drumbeat, but once it’s in full swing, you’ll definitely feel its weight. It’s not always easy, but it’s always purposeful.
Here’s a personal example: Last year, Saturn transited my Ascendant (ASC). At first, I didn’t feel much—it was like background noise. But about two months later, I suddenly found myself hitting the gym regularly, organizing my life, and taking better care of my health. It wasn’t an overnight change; it was a slow, steady shift that crept up on me.
The same thing happened when Saturn transited my Midheaven (MC) and my Moon. I didn’t feel the effects immediately, but over time, the transit brought a sense of maturity and responsibility to my career and emotional life. Saturn doesn’t rush—it takes its time to ensure the lessons sink in.
Pluto: Slow And Transformative
Pluto is the planet of transformation, and its transits are anything but superficial. Pluto operates in the shadows, working quietly but relentlessly to dig deep into your psyche and bring buried truths to the surface. When Pluto transits a point in your chart, you might not feel its effects right away. Instead, it’s more like a slow, steady process of change that unfolds over time—we’re not talking days or weeks here, but months or even years.
During a Pluto transit, you might start noticing subtle but profound shifts in your relationships, career, or even your sense of self. These changes can feel intense, even overwhelming at times, but they’re ultimately about helping you transform and evolve. Pluto doesn’t rush; it takes its time to ensure the transformation is thorough and complete. It’s not here to give you a quick fix—it’s here to rebuild you from the ground up.
While I don’t have personal experience with Pluto transits (yet!), I’ve seen their impact on my clients. For example, when Pluto conjoined one of my client’s Mercury (the planet of communication and thought), she began a profound process of letting go. Over the span of 1-2 years, she gradually removed almost everyone from her life—friends, colleagues, even some family members. It wasn’t a sudden purge, but a slow, deliberate shedding of relationships that no longer aligned with who she was becoming. By the end of the transit, she had surrounded herself with entirely new people who reflected her transformed self.
Pluto’s energy is relentless, but it’s also purposeful. It strips away what no longer serves you, even if it’s painful, to make room for something deeper and more authentic. So, if you’re in the midst of a Pluto transit, remember: it’s not about destruction—it’s about rebirth. Trust the process, even when it feels uncomfortable. Pluto’s transformations are always worth it in the end.
Neptune: The Foggy Delayed Effect
This planet is like a fog—elusive, mysterious, and hard to pin down. Its effects are rarely immediate; instead, they tend to be subtle, delayed, and often work on a subconscious level. Neptune is the planet of dreams, illusions, and spirituality, and when it transits a point in your chart, you might not feel its influence right away. It’s more like a slow, creeping sensation that gradually becomes clearer over time.
During a Neptune transit, you might start noticing shifts in your intuition, creativity, or even your sense of reality. But here’s the thing: it could take weeks, months, or even years for you to fully realize what’s happening. Neptune’s energy is soft and elusive, like a whisper in the back of your mind. It’s not until later, when you look back, that you see how deeply it’s influenced you.
Here’s my personal experience with Neptune: For quite some time, Neptune has been moving through my 1st house (the house of self and identity) while simultaneously squaring my natal Sun. During this transit, I slowly began to lose my sense of self. It was a strange, disorienting experience—when I looked in the mirror, it felt like I wasn’t really seeing me. It was as if someone had placed dark glasses over my eyes, blurring my perception of who I was.
Once the aspect began to separate, things started to shift. Gradually, I began to reconnect with myself and, surprisingly, started to love who I was again. It was like the fog lifted, and I could finally see myself clearly. Neptune’s energy had been working in the background, dissolving old layers of identity so I could rediscover myself in a deeper, more authentic way.
Neptune’s transits can feel confusing and even unsettling, but they’re ultimately about helping you connect with something greater than yourself—whether that’s your spirituality, creativity, or a deeper understanding of who you are. It’s not always easy to navigate, but it’s always transformative. So, if you’re in the midst of a Neptune transit, try to embrace the fog.
Sun, Moon, ASC, IC, DSC, MC
In my experience, the transits that hit the hardest are the ones involving personal planets—your Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Ascendant (ASC), Midheaven (MC), and so on. These planets are deeply tied to your individuality, emotions, and day-to-day life, so when they’re activated by a transit, you’re almost guaranteed to feel it.
On the other hand, transits involving generational planets—like Neptune, Pluto, or Uranus—tend to be more subtle, especially if they’re aspecting each other. For example, if Neptune is trining your Pluto, you might not feel much personally because it’s a generational transit. Your whole age group will experience it in some way, but it’s more of a background energy than something that directly impacts your daily life.
To give you a clearer picture: when Mars conjuncts your Sun, Moon, Venus, or Mercury, you’ll feel it almost instantly. It’s like a burst of energy or a sudden shift in your mood, motivation, or relationships. But when Mars aspects your Neptune or Pluto? Well, let’s just say it’s unlikely to stir up much drama. Those outer planets operate on a slower, more collective level, so their transits rarely pack the same personal punch.
For instance, I’ve had Mars conjunct my Mercury (a personal planet), and on the exact day, my cat was hit by a car—a very immediate and personal event tied to the 3rd house (Mercury) and 6th house (pets). But when Mars squared my Neptune? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. It just didn’t have the same personal impact.
Applying vs. Separating
From my own experience, I’ve found that applying aspects tend to carry a much stronger impact than separating ones. Applying aspects occur when a planet is moving toward an exact alignment with a point in your chart—like Saturn at 18 degrees approaching your Sun at 20 degrees Pisces. In this case, Saturn is just 2 degrees away from forming an exact aspect, and the energy of that impending connection is often palpable.
On the other hand, separating aspects—like Saturn at 25 degrees while your Sun remains at 20 degrees—feel more like the aftermath of a storm, with their intensity gradually fading. It’s as if the universe is building momentum as the aspect approaches, making the applying phase far more noticeable and potent.
My Final Observations
(Example) Uranus Square Natal Moon in Aquarius: When Uranus forms a square to your natal Moon in Aquarius, the impact is particularly intense. This is because Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, amplifying the energy and creating a stronger resonance in your emotional and intuitive realms.
Transits Activating Natal Aspects: If transits activate your natal aspects, the effects can be especially potent. For example, if you were born with Jupiter opposite Mars, and transit Jupiter opposes your natal Mars, this reactivates the natal aspect, intensifying its influence in your life. Such activations often bring significant events.
Transiting Planets Entering Houses: While tracking transiting planets making aspects to natal planets is essential, don’t overlook the importance of transiting planets entering new houses in your chart. The themes of the house being activated will come into focus, influencing the areas of life associated with that house.
Cusps of Houses: Pay close attention to the cusps of your houses, as they are just as significant as the houses themselves. The cusp represents the threshold of a house, and when a transiting planet crosses or activates a cusp, it can mark the beginning of a new cycle or shift in the area of life governed by that house.
