Open Question: General Astrology And Timing Of Transits
Ask the collective…
Here’s Hiro again, this time with what she calls “logistical questions”.
I’m amused by this coming on the heels of her sex query.
Hiro writes:
1. What happens when a planet changes signs, but doesn’t change houses? Example: My ascendant is 11 Virgo. Saturn entered Virgo, but is only in the first degrees. So, Saturn is in my 12th house still. But Saturn is in the sign of my ascendant.
2. So, when do we feel a shift? When it enters the sign or when it transits over the actual degrees?
3. And how many degrees does an aspect last?
Hiro, I keep things very simple.
1. The planet is transiting the house it is transiting, period. So in the example you offer, Saturn is transiting your 12th house, I don’t care what sign is on the ascendant.
2. I feel a shift when a planet changes signs and see indications everywhere I look. I also notice when a planet changes houses, sort of like a progression or another brick in the wall. Life unfolds.
3. Depends on your sensitivity I guess. I think astrology acts as nature. The seasons come in one after another no matter what we do but there is a transition. If you are the type to see the first autumn leaf fall, then you see these changes early. If you are the type to wait until you’re up to your hips in snow before you break out your winter clothes, well that’s another way to be. Neither way is preferable that I can see.
Anyone else with an opinion?
4 Responses to “Open Question: General Astrology And Timing Of Transits”
I notice when planets change signs. As to orb for planets transiting my natal planets, from personal observation 10 degrees waxing is when I start noticing the effect & it increases up to the exact transit, then quickly fades. Betty Lunsted’s book on Transits is one I particularly find useful.
I also force myself not to obsess about the whole thing . . . so stay with looking at the larger picture usually and do my best to go about business as usual. Caveat here: Mercury Rx and making purchases or signing paperwork – avoid if at all possible. 
I’m just learning this as well, so I don’t know how much help this will be, but:
I don’t really notice when planets change houses, but I have noticed when one hits a natal planet. I think because it’s more personal, ya know? I ~feel~ (Cancer rising) it more! And, if it’s a major aspect (conjunct, opposed, square, trine), I tend to feel it very early, then lose it rapidly once the planets de-couple, like Neith said. Usually I don’t notice the other aspects too much, but I think that’s because I’m still nebulous on them in general, whereas I can spot the “big dogs” pretty easily.
So, yeah. I think it’s subjective depending on how much you know. But as a amateur, that’s my 2¢.
Signs I definitely notice in myself and in others: you can see them fidgeting and adjusting. But as far as houses are concerned the only ones I seem to notice/feel are the 12th and 7th.
I am very curious though, to see the affects of pluto moving into my 6th.
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1. transits for houses and for signs are felt independently.
3. planets are always aspecting each other. a few of the aspects have been given names and long tested for meaning (ie, conjunctions – 0 degrees, oppositions – 180 degrees, etc). that’s confusing multiple use terminology, but yeah.
it’s usually looked at like a process, where one major aspect is leading towards the next major aspect, and so on. so even if a transit isn’t near exact aspect, that’s inevitably what’s coming, and your life and/or thoughts evolve towards it.
what you (hiro) specifically asked about was orbs, though. orbs are the bit of space padding an exact transit where an aspect is said to still be felt. for major aspects it’s usually around 6-8 degrees on either side of exact. i think you’d have to see for yourself in order to say exactly how you would want to approach this, though. i don’t think transits are sudden or have numerical walls. things progress. but, closer to exact seems to be more intense.