Dictionary category

Transits & Cycles

Retrogrades, stations, lunar phases, eclipses, returns, ingress points, and timing cycles used in personal almanac work.

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Retrogrades, stations, lunar phases, eclipses, returns, ingress points, and timing cycles used in personal almanac work. This category page gathers concise definitions, related terms, and safe spiritual interpretation in one place.

What this category covers

Transits & Cycles pages explain the everyday meaning of each term first, then add spiritual context, historical or traditional background, and The Great Almanac's interpretation limits. The goal is to help readers understand the symbol without turning it into fear, hype, or a forced prediction.

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How to use this dictionary category

Use this category as a reference layer, not as a substitute for a personal reading. A definition page can tell you what a term means, why it matters, and which related concepts to read next. A personalized Great Almanac reading checks whether that term actually applies to your birth chart, numerology, current timing, or saved personal context.

Transits & Cycles terms

Balsamic PhaseBalsamic Phase means the final waning Moon phase before the New Moon. Blood MoonBlood Moon is a total lunar eclipse with a reddish lunar appearance. Blue MoonBlue Moon is an extra Full Moon in a month or season, depending on the definition. CazimiCazimi is the rare condition of a planet held very close to the Sun. Chiron RetrogradeChiron Retrograde reviews wounds, healing, sensitivity, teaching, and repair. CombustCombust describes a planet hidden and overwhelmed by solar proximity. CombustionCombustion means a planet is too close to the Sun for comfortable expression in traditional astrology. Dark MoonDark Moon is the closing, nearly invisible phase before New Moon. Direct MotionDirect Motion means planetary movement forward through the zodiac after or outside retrograde. Eclipse PortalEclipse Portal means a popular term for the heightened period around eclipses. Eclipse SeasonEclipse Season is the window when eclipses become possible near the lunar nodes. Exact TransitExact Transit means the moment a transiting planet reaches exact aspect to a natal point. First PassFirst Pass means the first exact contact in a multi-pass transit sequence. First Quarter MoonFirst Quarter Moon is a growth checkpoint that asks for action and adjustment. Full MoonFull Moon is the lunar peak of illumination, culmination, visibility, and release. IngressIngress means a planet entry into a new zodiac sign or house. Ingress ChartIngress Chart means a chart cast for the moment a planet enters a sign. Inner Planet TransitInner Planet Transit means a faster transit from the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars. Jupiter CycleJupiter Cycle tracks growth, opportunity, faith, learning, and expansion. Jupiter RetrogradeJupiter Retrograde reviews growth, belief, opportunity, wisdom, travel, and expansion. Last Quarter MoonLast Quarter Moon is a waning checkpoint for release, correction, and integration. Lunar EclipseLunar Eclipse is a Full Moon near the nodes that moves through Earth shadow. Lunar MansionLunar Mansion means one of the traditional divisions of the Moon path used in several astrological systems. Lunar NodesLunar Nodes are the North and South Node axis where the Moon path crosses the ecliptic. Lunar PhaseLunar Phase means the visible relationship between Sun and Moon across the monthly cycle. Lunar Return WindowLunar Return Window means the monthly period when the Moon returns to its natal position. Lunar TriggerLunar Trigger means a Moon transit that briefly activates a larger chart or transit theme. Lunation CycleLunation Cycle means the cycle from New Moon to New Moon. Mansions of the MoonMansions of the Moon are lunar stations used for timing, symbolism, and historical astrology. Mars CycleMars Cycle tracks action, desire, anger, courage, conflict, and physical drive. Mars RetrogradeMars Retrograde reviews action, anger, drive, conflict, courage, and physical energy. Mercury CycleMercury Cycle tracks messages, thinking, learning, travel, trade, and decisions. Mercury RetrogradeMercury Retrograde is a review cycle for messages, plans, travel, timing, and decisions. Moon PhaseMoon Phase describes where the Moon is in its monthly light cycle. Neptune RetrogradeNeptune Retrograde reviews dreams, faith, imagination, compassion, confusion, and illusion. New MoonNew Moon begins the lunar cycle and symbolizes seed, darkness, reset, and intention. Nodal AxisNodal Axis links the North Node and South Node and marks eclipse territory. Out of BoundsOut of Bounds describes a planet beyond the normal solar declination range. Outer Planet TransitOuter Planet Transit means a slow transit from Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto to a natal point. Planetary CycleA Planetary Cycle is a repeating timing pattern for a planet. Planetary Cycle PhasePlanetary Cycle Phase means the stage of a planet or planet-pair cycle at a given time. Planetary DayA Planetary Day is a weekday assigned to a traditional planet, such as Sunday to the Sun or Monday to the Moon. Planetary HourA Planetary Hour is a traditional time division ruled by a planet. Planetary IngressA Planetary Ingress is the entry of a planet into a new zodiac sign. Planetary RetrogradePlanetary Retrograde means apparent backward motion and symbolic review. Planetary StationA Planetary Station is the apparent pause before a planet changes direction. Pluto RetrogradePluto Retrograde reviews power, control, fear, endings, secrets, and transformation. Post-Shadow PeriodPost-Shadow Period means the period after a retrograde when a planet crosses the same degrees again. Pre-Shadow PeriodPre-Shadow Period means the period before a retrograde when a planet crosses degrees it will revisit. Prenatal SyzygyPrenatal Syzygy is the New Moon or Full Moon immediately before birth. Progressed LunationProgressed Lunation means the progressed Moon phase relationship to the progressed Sun. Progressed Quarter MoonProgressed Quarter Moon means a turning point in the progressed lunation cycle. Retrograde MotionRetrograde Motion means the apparent backward motion of a planet from Earth perspective. Retrograde PassRetrograde Pass means a transit contact made while the transiting planet appears retrograde. Retrograde ShadowRetrograde Shadow means the full degree zone a retrograde covers before, during, and after reversal. Return ChartReturn Chart means a chart cast for a planet return to its natal position. Saros CycleSaros Cycle means an eclipse family cycle repeating over long periods. Saturn CycleSaturn Cycle tracks maturity, responsibility, limits, and long-term structure. Saturn RetrogradeSaturn Retrograde reviews responsibility, boundaries, discipline, authority, and structure. Second PassSecond Pass means the middle exact contact when retrograde motion repeats a transit. Solar Arc HitSolar Arc Hit means a solar arc direction contacting a natal planet or angle. Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse is a New Moon near the nodes that interrupts solar light. Solar TriggerSolar Trigger means a Sun transit that illuminates or times a larger chart theme. Station DirectStation Direct marks the turn from retrograde review back toward forward motion. Station RetrogradeStation Retrograde marks the turn from forward motion into review. SupermoonSupermoon means a lunar phase occurs near the Moon close approach to Earth. Synodic CycleSynodic Cycle means the cycle between repeated alignments of two bodies as seen from Earth. Synodic ReturnSynodic Return means the renewal of a relationship between two bodies in their shared cycle. Third PassThird Pass means the final exact contact in a three-pass transit sequence. Transit ActivationTransit Activation means the moment a natal placement or house topic becomes emphasized by current sky movement. Transit ClusterTransit Cluster means a group of related transit activations close together in time. Transit HitTransit Hit means a moment when a transiting planet closely activates a natal point. Transit OrbTransit Orb means the allowable degree range for a transit to be considered active. Transit PeakTransit Peak means the moment a transit is closest to exact. Transit StackTransit Stack means several transits active over the same period. Transit TriggerTransit Trigger means a fast-moving transit that activates a slower background transit. Transit WindowTransit Window means the period during which a transit is close enough to matter. Under the BeamsUnder the Beams is a traditional condition of solar obscuration near the Sun. Uranus RetrogradeUranus Retrograde reviews freedom, change, disruption, invention, and awakening. Venus CycleVenus Cycle tracks love, money, beauty, pleasure, art, desire, and value. Venus RetrogradeVenus Retrograde reviews relationships, money, values, pleasure, and attraction patterns. Void of Course MoonVoid of Course Moon describes a lunar pause after the last major aspect in a sign. Waning CrescentWaning Crescent means the late lunar phase before renewal. Waning MoonWaning Moon means the Moon is decreasing in light. Waxing CrescentWaxing Crescent means the early post-New-Moon phase of visible growth. Waxing MoonWaxing Moon means the Moon is growing in light.

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