Astrology for Life Transitions: Using Your Birth Chart to Navigate Change
On March 23, 2023, I woke up knowing something had shifted. By the end of the day, I had a name for my astrology practice, The Conscious Astrologer, a stack of domain names purchased, and a mission statement written.
This wasn’t a whim or a fantasy — it was Pluto, the planet of transformation, sitting exactly on my Sun for the first time in my life. For me, it was the moment decades of deep interest in astrology went from something I loved to something I lived.
Sometimes astrology becomes a lens we use to navigate change.
The transit in plain language
If you’re new to astrology, here’s the short version: Pluto is the planet of transformation, deep excavation, and rebirth. It’s not about small tweaks — it’s about total renovation from the inside out. Always intense, it can be both sides of the same coin: destructive in what it dismantles, and deeply regenerative in what it makes possible.
In my chart, Pluto was conjunct (at the same sign and degree as) my Sun in Aquarius in the ninth house. Translation: My identity and purpose (Sun) were being reborn (Pluto) through a shift in my beliefs, worldview, and life direction (ninth house).
At the same time, this Pluto–Sun combination opposed my natal Saturn in Cancer in the third house, pushing me to face the tension between self-belief and old, ingrained ways of thinking. And it trined my Moon in Libra in the fifth house, offering emotional creativity and joy as fuel for the change.
For me, it was a clear wake-up call to live the philosophy I’d been cultivating my entire adult life — and to use it to help others live more consciously.
My backstory
I’ve been fascinated by astrology since I was 15. A friend’s mother gave me Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs, and I read it cover to cover. Then I got my hands on Parker’s Astrology — an encyclopedic guide to astrology that even taught me how to draw up my birth chart by hand (remember, this was before apps, smartphones, and instant chart calculators). I was hooked.
Fast forward a few decades, and Pluto’s arrival at my Sun became the catalyst for a seismic shift. On that March morning in 2023, I knew I was supposed to turn my lifelong passion into a professional calling.
Even my logo carries the symbolism: Pluto’s glyph combined with the circle of the Sun. It’s a visual reminder that transformation and purpose are inseparable for me.
Of course, Pluto didn’t just bring me a brand name and a logo. That was just an outer symbol for some deep inner work:
Letting go of fears (Saturn opposition).
Reclaiming joy and creative expression (Moon trine).
Trusting my calling (Sun in ninth).
How to work with big life transits
Here’s the practical part — how to use your own chart to navigate big changes:
Identify the transit
Use a free tool like Astro.com (see Quick Tip box below) to see if slow-moving planets — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto — are making strong connections to your personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) or chart angles (Ascendant, 4th, 7th, or 10th houses).Understand the themes
Blend the meaning of the transiting planet with the natal planet and the houses involved. This gives you the “storyline” of your transition.Track timing
Outer planet transits happen in waves. Pluto’s contact with my Sun unfolded slowly over nearly three years, with exact hits three times in 2024.Reflect on life events
Journal about what’s coming up, talk to trusted friends or a therapist, or make voice notes if writing isn’t your thing.Act consciously
Align your choices with the deeper invitation of the transit. For Pluto, that might mean getting real about something deeply personal and releasing what’s no longer aligned and committing to what feels essential.
For me, this meant diving in headfirst: writing, talking, and constantly revisiting my own chart to remind myself that timing is everything — and the universe knows what it’s doing.
“Your chart is your compass. The more you know about the terrain ahead, the better you can align your energy and choose your path through it.”
It’s important to feel empowered
Transits don’t dictate fate. They’re windows of opportunity — moments when the sky mirrors the growth you’re ready for. The more awareness you bring to these periods, the more intentional you can be in shaping what comes next.
If you approach change with curiosity instead of fear, it’s easier to see challenges as part of a bigger story — your story.
My invitation to you
If you’re in the middle of a big life change, your chart can be the compass you need. I’d love to help you see the patterns, timing, and opportunities in your own journey.
5 Planetary Transits That Signal Big Life Shifts
Jupiter — The Teacher of Opportunity
Embrace its gifts: Expanding your horizons, opening doors, and inspiring vision.
Watch out for: Overconfidence or passively wasting the moment.
Saturn — The Teacher of Self-Mastery
Embrace its gifts: Structure, discipline, and clarity.
Watch out for: Fear and rigidity stalling progress.
Uranus — The Teacher of Liberation
Embrace its gifts: Breakthroughs and independence.
Watch out for: Impulsiveness that can turn change into chaos.
Neptune — The Teacher of Spiritual Truth
Embrace its gifts: Creativity, compassion, and connection to the unseen.
Watch out for: Confusion or escapism clouding your path.
Pluto — The Teacher of Transformation
Embrace its gifts: Deep renewal and a sense of mission.
Watch out for: Control issues or cynicism that block growth.
How to find your birth chart and transits for free
Visit Astro.com.
Go to “Free Horoscopes” → “Extended Chart Selection.”
Enter your birth data and select “Transits” chart.
Look for slow-moving planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) contacting your natal planets or angles.
Recommended reading
If you’d like to explore planetary transits in more depth, I recommend The Changing Sky by Steven Forrest. This practical and insightful guide walks you through how to interpret transits, understand their timing, and work consciously with the changes they bring.
