CHAPTER XXVII.

TRANSITS

THE progressed positions of planets are the prin-
cipal significators of events, but the transitory po-
sitions of the planets in space at the actual time of
events strengthen or weaken effects of aspects in the
progressed horoscope, according to whether they are
akin in nature or not. The New Moons are particu-
larly potent. These co-called Transits are seen in the
ephemeris for the actual year of events.

The Increasing or Decreasing Moon

Among the points in Astrology which bother
the new beginner, is when the Moon is increasing in
light or decreasing. Astrological works frequently
use these expressions when tabulating the effects of
various configurations. Biit so far as we know, no
explanation has been given elsewhere, and we trust
the following may make the subject clear to students.

Each month the Moon comes into conjunction
with the Sun, and this conjunction of the luminaries
is called a lunation or new Moon. .After the conjunc-
tion or new Moon, she may be seen in the western sky
close to the horizon as a tiny crescent, day by day
the lighted surface grows larger, at the time of the
521

522 THE MESSAGE OF THE STARS

opposition to the Sun she has increased her light to
the fullest capacity, and at that time we speak of her
as a full Moon ; she then rises in the eastern sky at the
same time as the Sun sets in the west. From that
time for another fortnight it will be observed that she
rises later and later in the night ; at the same time
the illuminated part of her disc decreases until just
bofore the next conjunction or new Moon, early risers
may observe her in the eastern sky just before sunrise
as a tiny crescent upon the vault of heaven. Thus
the Moon is increasing in light from the time of its
conjunction or new Moon to the opposition, or full
Moon, and from the full Moon to the next new Moon
it is decreasing in light. The times of the New Moon,
Full Moon and eclipses are given each month in our
Simplified Scientific Ephemeris, which see.

In the lady's horoscope which we used to show
the method of progression, the powerful effect of
lunations when operating with other influences of a
similar nature is also vividly illustrated. In her horo-
scope the New Moon, April 1, 1909, was in 11 de-
grees of Aries exactly square to Saturn's place at
birth, and Uranus was conjunct the progressed Sat-
urn and square the progressed Moon. Thus all stel-
lar influences bearing upon this lady united to ter-
minate life in the body.

Transits of Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jup-
iter are important,and when the student has become
familiar with the mysteries of the progressed horo-

TRANSITS 523

scope but not before, he may profitably write the
ephemeral position of these planets outside the pro-
gressed horoscope and watch their effect, also the as-
pects of the New Moons. But be sure, at first, to keep
the progressed horoscope down to first principles, for
fancy aspects are 'the stuff dreams are made of,' the
the warp and woof of astrological romances which
fade away into moonshine and leave the astrologer
discomfitted. It is comparatively easy to wield the
shuttle of imagination with natal, progressed and
transiting planets, each set with its corresponding
houses, arid a multitude of aspects to choose from, but
simple judgment based upon the prime essentials of
a horoscope is almost invariably justified by events.

If the student has ephemerides for 1908 and
1909, he may see that in July, 1908, when the lady
was taken ill Saturn was in Aries 10, within 1 degree
of a conjunction of the progresed Moon and also
within 1 degree of a square to his place at birth in
this chart. Thus he aggravated conditions.

*? 6 O D 9 U Saturn transiting the radical Sun,
Moon, Venus and Jupiter.

These transits lower the vitality and act as
a damper on the spirits of the person, there is a
tendency to colds, gloom and melancholy, delays
and disappointments, and if Saturn should turn
retrograde passing and repassing these points,
quite a long time of trouble and anxiety results.

524 THE MESSAGE OF THE STARS

T? D <? O D 9 U Saturn transiting square or oppo-
sition radical Sun, Moon, Venus and Jupiter.

These aspects will produce similar effect to
the conjunction but more intense, and falls,
bruises, or broken bones are often additional
results.

^ *Ao D $ 24 Saturn transiting sextile or trine the
radical Sun, Moon, Venus and Jupiter.

These aspects do not produce any benefit so
far as has been observed.

T? * A $T Saturn transiting sextile or trine the rad-
ical Mercury.

These aspects steady the mind and make it
more capable of concentration when he is direct,
but when he is retrograde or aspecting Mercury
by square or opposition fear, worry, melancholy,
gloom and trouble result, then it is also danger-
ous to travel.

^ 6 $ # tp Saturn transiting radical Mars, Uranus
or Neptune.

These transits always mark a time of trou-
ble, no matter what the aspect, but the nature of
the trouble is best determined by the house and
sign where the afflicted planet is located.

T? 6 M. C. Saturn transiting the radical Midheaven.
This aspect always produces slander, dis-
credit and loss of prestige.

TRANSITS 525

T? 6-12 Saturn transiting the Sixth or Twelfth
Houses and the Ascendant.

These positions have an inimical effect on
the health, according to the signs which are on
the cusps of these houses.

U * A O 9 S D Jupiter transiting sextile or trine
the radical Sun, Venus, Mercury or Moon.

These aspects bring health, happiness and
financial benefit in accordance with the radical
indications. If he retrogrades he is not so active
but the period of good is protracted by his re-
peated direct passage over the good aspects.

O 9 $ D Jupiter transiting square or oppo-
sition radical Sun, Venus, Mercury or Moon.

These aspects are not very evil because evil
is out of harmony with the basic nature of Ju-
piter.

6 ^ $ V W Jupiter transiting or aspecting rad-
ical Saturn, Mars, Uranus and Neptune.

These aspects produce no appreciable re-
sults because the basic natures of these planets
are entirely different. This is on the same prin-
ciple that tuning forks of different pitch do not
respond to one another.

6 O 9 Uranus transiting radical Sun or Venus.
These transits produce romantic attach-
ments, Bohemian pleasures, unconventional ex-
periences ; when he ' is retrograde this may last

526 THE MESSAGE OF THE STARS

for a long time, but when he is in evil aspect
immorality, scandal and divorce may result.

# 6 $ D £ Uranus transiting radical Mars, Moon
and Mercury.

These aspects of Uranus to the radical Mars.
Moon and Mercury have a tendency to make the
person rash, reckless, foolhardy and erratic,
sometimes to the point of insanity if other test-
imonies in the horoscope concur, the phase of
the mental disturbance varying from violence
when induced by Mars, to mild idiocy when pro-
duced by the Moon.

¥ 6 ^? 3 W Uranus transiting or in evil aspect to
radical Saturn, Mars and Neptune.

These transits cause trouble according to
the house and sign where Saturn is located.
Good aspects produce no benefit as far as we
have observed.

W 6 $ D Neptune transiting radical Mercury and
Moon.

These aspects bring a spiritual awakening
accompanied by dreams and visions of an eleva-
ting nature. These aspects are also good for
travel, but the bad aspects make the mind un-
clean, polluted and criminal if the radical horo-
scope allows, so that the person may commit a
crime and suffer imprisonment. Mediumship is
also often the result of these transits.