Major Young Adult Transits
In honor of my transiting Uranus square natal Uranus going exact in a few days, let’s have a chat! Most of us on this website are young’ns, so I thought we might go through the major transits that hit everyone in their 20s. I present to you: anatomy of a quarter life crisis
Saturn square Saturn (age 22): Before we hit the Saturn return, we get the waning square. Then past that, around age 25 we get the waning trine. The Saturn cycle is probably the most famous ways to look at phases of an individual’s life. The waning square is the beginning of the conclusion of the Saturn cycle. Waning transits bring with them release, and as a social planet, Saturn deals with our direct interactions with others. In contrast to the waxing square at age 7, where we build up Saturnian energy within ourselves, attending school and focusing Saturn’s hard work and discipline inward, the waning square sees us directing that Saturnian energy outward. Many of us enter the workforce at this age. Most of us pick up new responsibilities here, the cost of living in a society. We begin to reap the benefits of the earlier phases of the Saturn cycle, and we are called upon to apply what we have learned to new challenges. This is the test: did you learn the lessons you were meant to from the rest of the Saturn cycle? What happens during this period sets us up for our Saturn Return, and the next phase of our lives.
Uranus square Uranus (early 20′s): In modern times, you are reasonably likely to live to your Uranus return around age 84. But first, the waxing square! To me, this is the quintessential quarter life crisis transit. Uranus rules the parts of ourselves than are rebellious, innovative, drawn to change for the sake of change. It’s also a society-minded planet, and its natives are interested in making their mark on the world. People going through this waxing square are feeling extra restless and directionless. We’re struggling with the need to break free of traditions that don’t make sense to us, but we aren’t sure what to replace them with. Since this transit is waxing, this energy is building up in the individual. We feel such an intense pull to be different and to find our truth, but we don’t know how to direct that energy. This is usually a time of big changes in a person’s life, and we come out the other side with a better understanding of ourselves and our direction in life.
2nd Jupiter Return (age 24): This transit happens around every 12 years, so it won’t be the first time Jupiter’s completed a cycle in your life. During our first Jupiter Return, we become teenagers, and our lives explode outwards into new experiences, new emotions, new changes. Jupiter transits are often associated with luck and ease, but I think it’s important to remember that Jupiter is indiscriminate in its growth. At this return, we close the book on the previous period of expansion - for most of us, this has been middle school through college (if we attended) and entering the workforce. During the Return, we accept what our investments have brought us. This is when everything comes back around. It’s also when we begin a new cycle of growth. Maybe during this cycle we will start families, travel the world, move up in our careers, buy houses, and create new relationships.
Neptune sextile Neptune (late 20′s): Barring radical developments in medicine, none of us are going to reach a Neptune return. At most, we might make it to the opposition at age 82 but probably nothing major past that. I sort of hesitate to include this one because I tend to associate sextile transits with conscious effort, so we probably won’t see any major life changes related to this transit unless we consciously take advantage of it. This transit functions in the background, making things subtly easier for the native in the realm of understanding and faith. We feel like we are able to tap into our subconscious and confront our dreams and beliefs. We come out of this transit with a stronger harmony between our reality and our perceptions, and with a bit more inner peace.
Saturn Return (age 29): This is the most famous one! Famous for being everyone’s least favorite transit :/ With an orbital period of 29 ½ years, Saturn returns to its position in our natal charts right before we turn 30. The stunning conclusion to our 20′s! This return brings a conclusion to our first cycle of responsibility. We have been shaped and molded and carved by the entire Saturn cycle prior, and we receive the fruits of our labor. The quality of the energy you have put in the entire Saturn cycle thus far determines what you will get out of this Return. Regardless, this is often a difficult time in our lives because we are experiencing a large shift. We are wrapping up one chapter in our lives and opening another. New tasks will appear to us, new trials begin to form, there are new lessons to learn. Many of us will feel overwhelmed at this time, but it’s okay. Saturn knows when it’s doing.
Feeling mired in one or more of these transits? You’re not alone! These transits are rites of passage that everyone must face. Would anyone be interested in more in depth posts on these, with notes on what they mean for each of the houses?
