Predictable Ages of Challenge,Crisis and Renewal

Article by Lorna Bevan

PREDICTABLE AGES OF CHALLENGE,CRISIS AND RENEWAL

The interesting thing is, that although we each have a unique birth chart which is the imprint of the exact time and place we were born, at specific predictable ages we all encounter the same type of challenges. The reason for this is that no matter where in your chart, say, Saturn is with its aspects to other planets, when you’re 28-30 Saturn completes its first tour of your entire chart through all the signs of the zodiac. The same applies to all the other planets but since their motion around the Sun varies, the time of the return also varies.The predictable ages are below: 18 1st Nodal return 28-30 1st Saturn Return; Progressed Moon returns to natal position*39-41 Pluto square Pluto;Uranus opposition; Neptune Square 46 4th Nodal Return*50-51 Chiron Return 57 2nd Progressed Moon Return*58-59 2nd Saturn Return 60 Uranus square Uranus; Progressed planets sextile natal planets 84 Uranus Return

Since they involve Outer planets, these particular transits present us with problems and events outside our control. They are a developmental challenge to our ego to let go and grow in the service of our psyche. They are impossible to refuse. We have to engage with the challenge, sometimes breaking down,then eventually find within ourselves the inner resources to move through it. We have learnt something new about ourselves and about who we are.Obviously, although the transit of for example, Pluto square Pluto, raises the same fears and changes, each individual responds in their own unique way. This depends on their history, their natal charts and aspects and in which area of life the transit occurs(i.e. in a specific astrological House).Each of these turning points builds on the earlier ones in a sort of developmental spiral.Key Words for each transit are shown below:18 1st Nodal Return independence; the need to break free from the family of origins; the search for a peer group community; first glimmerings of a purpose28-30 1st Saturn Return;Progressed Moon Returnchallenged to step into the responsibility of being an adult;building one’s own family; developing a career.39-41 Pluto square Pluto; Uranus Opposition;Neptune SquareOf all the many challenges we face throughout our lives, this particular period turns our lives upside down. Whoever we thought we were, completely changes. Uranus gives us an overwhelming need for freedom. Pluto ensures that things won’t go on as before. Neptune clouds our judgment. We have the first inklings of ageing and mourn the loss of youth. Marriages break up, jobs disappear, illnesses occur. This all sounds horribly depressing and yet, when we’ve finally negotiated the rapids, the most common response is “I’m glad it happened.I wouldn’t have had the guts to do it myself. It was long overdue”.As Carl Jung so wisely said,we step into the second half of life expecting it to be much like the first half. However, what worked for us in the morning of our life,will not work in the afternoon.Some people(usually the Puer Aeternus /Puella Aeterna types, known as the Peter Pans) get stuck in this stage. These are the ones having cosmetic surgery, buying sports cars, throwing over a long term partner for someone much younger in a desperate attempt to stave off an image of themselves as mature.46 4th Nodal ReturnSometime after the rollercoaster of the early forties, the North Node returns to its natal position for the 4th time. The North Node by sign,House and aspect points to our life purpose. By the time it’s repeated 4 tours of the zodiac, if we aren’t on track with our deepest values, we get a reminder. At this time,a surprising number of people make the break into a brand new career.50-51 The Chiron ReturnChiron in our chart reveals our Achilles heel, our deepest wound. (read my article)By the time Chiron has contacted every other planet in our birth chart, at age 51,we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to finally heal old destructive patterns. Chiron’s wounding becomes his medicine. Often, the way through is to channel your experiences into working with other people. The actual return period can be one of the most painful transits of all for both sexes.In outer life, children are leaving home taking with them our role as a parent; our parents are old or dying; we are feeling and seeing signs of age;there is a deep feeling of being adrift. Chiron’s return literally digs into our wound to clean it out and release the toxins that have been poisoning our system. So if your wound is in the relationship area, you are likely to face it once and for all by losing someone important. If it is in your financial and resources area, you could lose many of your material assets. Diseases start to appear such as cancer, ME, sclerosis or dementia and we see friends becoming ill or even dying.if you are not aware of this transit, it can be a very frightening time. With foreknowledge, it is far easier to recognise old, destructive behaviour patterns and change them.

58-59 2nd Saturn ReturnSince Saturn rules old age (the Senex) at 58/59 he reminds us that we are approaching the threshold of old age. This can be a remarkably freeing period, if we understand what Saturn is demanding from us. Nothing less than a stripping back of the persona we have been presenting to the world. The focus is to invest our precious time and energy in the important things in life. To be a model and mentor to younger people by being who we truly are.Some people become depressed at the approach of this passage wrongly believing that it’s all downhill from now on. Youth and mid-life have gone.In fact, the following decade or so can be one of the most rewarding times of most people’s lives. It is a time to almost literally reap the harvest you have sown in all those long years of working, parenting and putting your needs last.60 The Waxing Uranus SquareUranus is known as the Great Awakener for its potential to disrupt whatever it touches. We experienced it aged 40 turning our lives upside down as the urge to break free from whatever we thought was holding us back overtook us. Now,we are more experienced at navigating the cross currents of life. Having sorted out our priorities at 58,at 60 new horizons suddenly beckon. Possibilities appear where there were none before.Retirement or travelling or study or adventure or romance could be on our agenda. We suddenly up sticks and move somewhere completely different. The main thing is to respond to this transit in ways that are uniquely our own. If we refuse its call, the danger is to turn into an embittered, critical older person, endlessly moaning about what’s wrong with the world.84 Uranus ReturnUranus is the only one of the outer planets to return to its natal position in our lifetime, as long as we live until 84.By this time, death has become a central feature of existence -a reference point for all our decisions. If we can allow ourselves to open up to a spiritual belief or a philosophy, our fear is diminished. Death starts to feel attractive after all the efforts of a long lived life.

Remember that knowing about these transits and preparing for them, gives you power. You won’t be ambushed by them. To find out exactly which parts of your life will be affected plus exact start and finish dates, book an astrological consultation.www.hareinthemoonastrology.co.uk

About the Author

Lorna is a highly qualified Psychological Astrologer,Career Coach and Psychotherapist.She specialises in Transition Coaching,working with people experiencing relationship breakdowns, bereavement,redundancy,retirement or career shifts.Visit her astrology Website at : http://www.hareinthemoonastrology.co.uk