Transits and The Three Act Play

   What follows is an important interpretive principle when it comes to transitting astrology.  The transits of Saturn, almost always come in three separate waves.  Saturn will move past a degree on the ecliptic, making contact with a sensitive natal point, before stationing retrograde, move back over the sensitive point, and then stationing direct and moving on for good.  Some Saturn transits whizz by in one lurching movement, but most do not.  All Uranus transits will make this same series, other than the odd case where Uranus (or Saturn) will have one of its station points directly on (or square or opposite whatever the case may be) your natal target.  Mars and the other inner planets can all make this same pattern when in their retrograde phase.   Pluto and Neptune both grind out their issues relentlessly for years moving back and forth across a degree.   The luminaries of course only ever move forward as the relentless shining lights they are.  
   It is my contention that the traditional convention of the Three Act story structure is, if not a conscious reference to this very common transit pattern, an unconscious logical display of the structure we humans are so used to having our crises in life play out through.

   By understanding the nature of the Three Act Play, we can gain extremely useful insight into how to watch and prepare for a difficult transit.  In the first Act the author will setup the characters, introduce the premise, and provide significant foreshadowing of the crises to come.  It is at this point, in the first direct hit of a transit, we should pay special attention to the themes coming up in our lives as relate to the significations of the two planets in question, and any clues the universe may be giving us about what is around the corner.  Paying attention to the affairs of the house the transitted planet is in, what houses in our natal chart this planet rules, as well ast he house the transiting planet is coming from will all give insight into what is being communicated to us in this time.  If the transiting  planet is Saturn, then attention to duties we are letting slip, and concerted responsibilities we are letting slack should be addressed in this phase, as we will have a few months to prepare for the second act.  If the transiting planet is Uranus, look to what major changes in life need to be made.  Consider doing something shocking and new to satisfy the eccentric urges of Uranus, before big Grandaddy Sky comes in and makes those changes for you, in a typically unpleasant way.
    In the Second Act, the Author will place his characters in the worst possible situation.  Now the message will be delivered fully and unavoidably during the second Act.   As the planet is now retrograde, it will take on a more nasty disposition and start to really stire things up for you.  If you did nothing to mitigate the clues inherent in the first act, this will typically be the worst part of this three-hit transit.  It's worth noting that while retrograde, a planet is on the same side of the Sun as the Earth, and so its energy is in fact closer, and more felt in a disruptive way.   You can now no longer ignore the messages of the sky, and must make the required changes to you rlife to satiate the energies hitting your chart.  With Saturn, this will mean stronger barriers, more pre-planning and organization in life.  With Uranus, the bonds have been loosed, and likely the change has already been made for you at this point, time to go with the flow and not fight the ravishing tides of the ocean.  
    In the Third Act, we see our heroes surmount their difficulties, and triumph against the forces of chaos, hopefully.  In the intervening time between the second and third hits of a major transit, the message should have been recieved, and you can begin to reap the rewards of the changes made.  While the third hit can often be a climactic battle which must be fought, it often is followed by a great sense of relief.  If the issues have been resolved satisfactorily before this point, the third hit can even be a time of great rewards.  The Dragon has been slain, the treasures are yours!  
   It's a simple concept, but one which provides immense insight into what may be coming to your chart, when to watch for clues, and how to respond to them in time.  After all, it's your story, make it a good one.