Astrology is the art of cycles, understanding time and patterns is the basis of all of this. If you learn the cycles of the planets, you can make a lot of inferences about your life and projects just based on that.
The most basic of cycles is that of the Sun, every year returning (sorta of) to the exact position of our birth. We all understand birthdays, but what about other planets and their cycles?
- Mars: takes about 2 years to cycle back into his exact position
- Jupiter: takes about 12 years to cycle back.
- Saturn: takes about 30 years, the dreaded Saturn Return.
- Saturn spends about 2.5 years in each sign, creating some interesting half cycles too.
- Rahu/Ketu: take about 18.5 years to return.
Jupiter
Taking Jupiter, every 12 years we cycle back. This can mean going back to the same situation, learning an important lesson, or getting over some old problem/trauma from around that time. For instance, now we could be dealing with something that we experienced around 2014 (12 years ago). Those 12 years also show mastery over a subject, gaining great knowledge about that subject.
Similarly, every 6 years we have an Opposition, or half cycle of Jupiter. This is usually where our projects and dreams are challenged in some form. We learn that things aren’t as easy.
Jupiter is my favorite tool for self-analysis, in this regard. The patterns are usually clear. Every 12 years a similar theme, or situation will arise. For instance, maybe in 2014 you were dealing with some kind of relationship drama, and now a similar one can appear. Maybe you were dealing with a project being leaked, and yet again you face similar backstage issues.
The 6 year Jupiter pattern has more of a reality check to it. Look at decisions (specially those enthusiastic ones) you made about 6 years ago. What did you get wrong? What did you get right? What could be better?
Again, a great tool for self-analysis.
Mars
The cycle of Mars is all about excitement, passion and force. The thing about Mars is the problem with passion, it always dies down. You can’t live on passion alone, you need something more solid to sustain you long term. Whether a relationship or a project, the passion will die down. The existence or lack of a more solid base will determine whether or not you keep going.
On that note, I take Mars as more of gauge. Anything 2 years or shorter is a Mars affair, or simply a passion. Anything longer than 2 years has proved to be more than just a passion.
When you are just getting started, everything is shiny and new. The novelty alone can keep you going. But once you get used to it, things will get harder and less appealing. You will have to connect with deeper qualities, or face the fact that all you had was excitement.
In a relationship, it can be the make or break point, where you either end it or take it to the next level.
Saturn
Saturn has quite a few cycles, the most important one being the Saturn Return. But I’d like to highlight a different one, easier to understand, which is an 8 year cycle. 8 is a number strongly related to Saturn, so symbolically, it fits well.
Math wise, Saturn takes about 2.5 years in each sign, so 8 years would put Saturn sitting square from the starting position. For instance, January 10th 2026 had Saturn at 2° Pisces, while January 10th 2018 had Saturn at 8° Sagittarius.
Squares represent conflict, movement and resolution. With Saturn being the planet of karma and hardship, this usually deals with a crooked solution of sorts coming up.
Mundane wise, this can be frequently seen. In 2018, the US withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran. 8 years later, we are seeing yet again conflict related to this subject.
On a personal level, this can deal with people from the past coming back, sore subjects being brought up and conflict resolution with what happened 8 years ago. The most productive output of this transit deals with understanding a problem from the past, and making amends with it.
Rahu and Ketu
I’ve already discussed Nodal Returns and Inversions, so I’m not going to say too much here. To recap, the cycle of the nodes is about 18,5 years (Return), with a half cycle of about 9 years (Inversion). The Nodes deal with the Eclipses, which themselves tend to trigger mass events that change public consciousness and discourse.
For instance, I write this as Rahu transits at 9° Aquarius. About 9 years ago, at February 2017, Rahu was transiting at 9° Leo.
Rahu represents obsessions, so this half cycle shows opposing obsessions. Which can mean a disenchantment of sorts, getting tired of something. Mundane, many times, this deals with reversals of fortune.
Cycles, what to do?
I know all of this above can sound overwhelming, as I throw around so many dates. 2 years ago, 8 years ago, 12 years ago, 9 years ago, etc. In a way, there is no escaping this. It is a bit complicated, it requires a fair share of thinking and weighting multiple variables. It is what makes astrology hard, you are looking and judging multiple factors.
It is also why I detest anyone that, purposely, overcomplicates things with random buzzwords or fake exclusive concepts just meant to sell courses. Things are complicated enough on their own, there is no need to make your own complications.
To simplify this, I’d say just focus on Mars and Jupiter. Mars is energy and movement, as well as excitement. With a 2 year cycle, anything that loses your interest after about 2 years (or less) was a passion. Anything longer than this; 4 years, 8 years; becomes bigger than a passion. This is a great tool for judging the importance, or lack thereof, of something.
With Jupiter, I see the 12 year cycle as a birthday. Every 12 months, we have a birthday. With Jupiter, every 12 years we have a return, acting as the “birthday” of sorts for something. It is a time where we gain wisdom and knowledge. We can reevaluate things and have more clarity.
For instance, you might look back on a decision, a relationship or a path you chose. You now have more clarity of what was right, what was wrong and what was behind the superficial ideas you had at the time.