(This is part of the “Ask An Astrologer” series, where I occasionally try to demonstrate how getting a consultation can genuinely help and provide real guidance, using real-life examples. Want to find out for yourself? There’s a link to my e-mail at the bottom of this blog entry.)
MK writes:
“I have a question for you, as an astrologer. As I’ve learned thus far in my studies and human experience, we are all unique, by nativity. We perceive, project and receive energy differently as a result. Therefore as an astrologer, how does one stick to the basics and a one size fits all per se as we are perceiving, receiving and projecting our uniqueness via planetary transits to our natal chart?”
Thank you for asking a question so good that, although I’ve pondered it for a couple of decades now, you still managed to phrase in an interesting and useful way to think about.
The “smart guy” answer is to simply invoke what is called “The Butterfly Effect.” That is to say: initial minor variations among situations (or people) can result in significantly different situations over time. I have two regular clients who are sisters born four minutes apart, yet lead significantly different lives, for example.
That may explain the differences between two or more people born on the same day and year, sure. But what about transit interpretations? I think the answer to that part of the question boils down to two principles, which I call “YMMV” and “AEBE.”
1) YMMV
YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY
There are certain very cut-and-dried stock interpretations of how a transit should play out in someone’s life. Suppose you have four clients all experiencing transiting Saturn in their Seventh House. The stock interpretation would something like “looks like you’re going to have a lot of trouble with your marriage and/or committed partnerships.” To some extent, that is reasonably likely to be true. However, let’s say one of your clients is in no relationship or partnership at all — and doesn’t even intend to get into one. The truth is this transit is going to either not manifest in that way, or manifest in a way that makes sense for the astrology, but is not the first “off the shelf interpretation” you’d normally see. And the others aren’t guaranteed to have an ugly break-up either, of course.
2) AEBE
ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL
For example, your single client may make a living breeding dogs. The Seventh House is not just about partnerships. It is the “Second House of the Sixth House,” and the Sixth House rules “animals smaller than a goat.” So although this particular transit may be difficult for marriages in some cases, it could also mean “reduced income for a professional dog breeder.” And using derivative Houses, it could also mean “unexpected difficulties with a loan application” or “your freeloading brother keeps using you as a free babysitter.”
Thus, YMMV and AEBE are prime principles one needs to bear in mind when taking a standard interpretation and trying to shoehorn a complicated human into it. Astrology is complicated — but Real Live is complicated too. Really complicated.
Wait, did I actually answer your question with all that, MK? Man… writing about astrology (in theory and application) is complicated…
Want to know how to work with the current and future energy to get maximum benefit? Feel free to write me about it!
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