The “Good,” the “Bad,” and the Waffling

March 2023

Copyright © by Judith Hill, 2023

A recent student question makes the perfect subject of a short, instructive article.

Although her question related to fertility per se, her problem, and my answer is useful for all manner of similar questions confronting the consultant. Here is the question, paraphrased:

“How do I judge a situation where I have good and bad fertility aspects at the same time?”

Astrologers are frequently confronted with this exact planetary conundrum. The problem of opposite planetary ‘testimonies’ can afflict all manner of questions, e.g.: “should I adopt this dog now, or later?”, “should I travel to Spain in June?”, “what are the chances I will marry this year?”, or perhaps “should I take this job offer?” What is an astrologer to do?

Life is rarely perfect. Albeit sometimes we have perfect astrological weather, we usually experience an interesting mixture of influences. Planets can indeed signal hard times, but so often an ice cream sundae appears to smooth out that bad day.

Clients are influenced by our statements.  When confused by opposite aspects impacting a client’s question on your plate, it’s a waste of everyone’s time (and money), to offer weak platitudes or attempt to please with avoidant treacle. The astute astrologer assesses all positive and negative potentials, considers how these might interact; weighs out the stronger of the two trends; and ‘groks’ the entire picture. Our job is not to choose, but to provide clear information. Here is a useful guide presented in eight points.

1) First, discern if the negative and positive transits are truly influencing the same issue. This is imperative! To do this you must know your significations- those planets, signs and houses that represent the specific issue (our example here: fertility).  Technically, the word “significator” applies only to planets, although signs and houses do also govern specific things, themes, and people. You must also know the difference between a natal (birth chart) significator (of your item in question), as well as the transit (planet-in-the-sky-right-now) significator! This is so essential!

In our student’s example question, female fertility would physically be a natal Moon-Venus issue, whereas Jupiter brings children, as does the North Node. The 5th house and its ruler govern children, although the 7th and its ruler can easily represent a second child, or even the first - if it is to be a close partner.

Now, read carefully. If transit ‘good’ and ‘bad’ aspects are simultaneously made to these natal significators of fertility and offspring, then yes, we have a conundrum. In that case, the numbered points following are instructional.

If not, then consider first only the transit that is factually relative to “fertility”. The opposite natured aspect you noted to be simultaneously extant, will likely attend to a different issue. However, that does not mean the two opposite transits are not related!

For instance, one can have a fertility enhancing trine from transit Jupiter to the natal Moon! Traditionally, the lady will be more fertile at this time, yes.  Simultaneously, you notice that transit Saturn is conjunct her natal South Node in her 2nd house. This may not influence physical fertility but may indicate (amongst several possibilities) a severe financial blight impacting the overall scheme into which a baby might be born.

2) Should the natal significator of your client’s issue receive both a “positive” and a “negative” transit simultaneously, what then? First, decide which transit is strongest, and/or longer lasting. To do this, you will need to know what positions, planets, and conditions might increase the strength of the transiting planet - and what conditions reduce its potential clout. Good can be reduced or increased. Difficulty can be reduced or increased.

3) Third, assess if the suspected “bad” aspect is really all that bad! We tend to label all squares as difficult, but they are not always so. Some squares, for some people, bring energy, or even bounty! Also, planets of similar families work better in squares than others. For instance, transit-natal squares between our two “benefics” Jupiter and Venus may warn of a surfeit of pleasure!

Never expect transit squares of Venus and Mercury to hammer a natal Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars! However, the reverse scenario can produce a first-rate restriction to a natal Venus or Mercury. Heavy and long-term transit Saturn is well worth noting when he afflicts the natal lightweights! Yes, this requires knowing all this detail. However, this handy little guide helps you out of the muddle without years of struggling!

4) For client questions demanding urgent time related decisions, (as can the fertility queries of older women), discover first if the ‘good’ or ‘bad’ transit moves first off of the natal fertility significator. Please make sure that an offending planet is not going to retrograde for a second pass!

Next, ask the question “Is the current situation worth waiting out or is it going to be worse later?” Conversely, “Was the situation much better last year, and the client missed their boat?”

5) Ask yourself how the mutually occurring ‘negative’ and ‘positive’ transits might express themselves as an “interesting conflation”. Be inventive…dream up a few potential scenarios. See if any of your ideas fit potential realities for the client’s current circumstances. Ask questions! The client’s life circumstances can tip the scales to one side or another of your judgement. Transits create combinant energies that can and do take all manner of unique paths not previously recounted in literature.

It is also true that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ transits can block or neutralize each other, so that nothing much occurs either way! Typically, both the happy, and the offending planet work their agendas simultaneously, producing divergent influences related to their individual natures plus the natal house and sign their beams are “hurled” from.

6) It’s true. Sometimes you can’t figure it out. Be honest and explain why.

7) Background progressions can be used as tiebreakers. Most important are the aspects made by the Secondary Progressed Moon. The adage that “nothing bad can happen if the progressed Moon is making good aspects - and conversely, nothing good can happen if the progressed Moon is making bad aspects”,while not entirely true (!), is a useful rule of thumb for weighting the full impact of nice vs nasty transits.

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