The Double Transit Phenomenon

of Jupiter and Saturn

By Vaughn Paul Manley, M.A.

When learning Vedic astrology, as with any discipline, it's

important to apply the principles you learn with many practical
examples. This article presents a very useful and reliable chart
interpretation method, involving the transits of Jupiter and
Saturn, which you can immediately apply to any chart you're
studying. By so doing, you will see its efficacy first hand.

Following the Transits of Jupiter and Saturn

Since Jupiter and Saturn are the slowest moving planets in Vedic
astrology, their transits will tend to have the most significance for
predictive purposes. Jupiter transits through a sign approximately
once per year, while Saturn takes approximately 2 years.
We generally think of Jupiters transits as positive and beneficial,
causing expansion, growth, new opportunities and increasing the
significations of any house that it transits or aspects. Likewise, we
generally think of Saturns transits as negative and detrimental,
causing limitation, obstacles, challenges and the denial of the
significations of any house that it transits or aspects. However,
while Saturns transit can give negative outcomes under certain
circumstances, this is certainly not always the case.
My jyotish guru, K.N. Rao, says in his book, Ups and Downs in
Career, When anything significant is happening to any man,
Jupiter and Saturn in transit play a pivotal role. How can this be
true, if Saturns transits are not also, somehow, beneficial?
Jupiter can be said to give the inspiration behind an endeavor,
while Saturn gives it its structure and form. Without Saturns
influence nothing of lasting value could ever be actualized. Jupiter
gives new, expansive ideas but not necessarily the ability to
manifest them. Therefore, we need both for an idea to come into
full manifestation.
The best way that I've found to illustrate this principle is to think

of a tree. Saturn is the roots and trunk of the tree, while Jupiter
is it's leaves and branches. Jupiter aspires to the heavens with
new growth while Saturn establishes a firm foundation. Both are
obviously dependent on one another for any significant and
sustained growth to happen.

The Double Transit Phenomenon

With this understanding, it becomes possible to see that when
Jupiter and Saturn both aspect a sign by transit it becomes a
significant event. That sign becomes strongly activated by both
the expansive influence of Jupiter and the actualizing influence of
Saturn. The otherwise potentially limiting and challenging
qualities of Saturns transit become wise and more beneficial
under Jupiters influence. While the potentially unrealistic and
ungrounded qualities of Jupiters transit become more practical
and focused under Saturns influence. Together they can indicate
achievement, breakthroughs, and progress regarding the areas of
life that are signified by the house(s) that theyre both aspecting
by transit.
Its very helpful to get into the habit of looking for which house(s)
Saturn and Jupiter are both aspecting by transits at any given
time. Oddly, many astrologers overlook this simple method and
can miss valuable insights into where the individual needs to
focus his or her energy during that time period.
It must be noted that while this can sound reliable and promising,
in Vedic astrology the yogas (combinations of planets) and dashas
(predictive systems) need to be considered. If we rely only on
transits to produce results, even the double transit, we may be
disappointed. If the progress and achievements that the double
transit indicates don't have the support of the yogas and dashas
they will not come to full fruition. It may, however, indicate an
area of focus in a person's life. For this reason, it's helpful to
follow the double transits even without knowledge of the yogas
and dashas.

The Special Aspects of Jupiter and Saturn

How do we know where Jupiter and Saturn are aspecting by their
transits? The aspects are very different in Vedic astrology than
Western astrology. Every planet aspects both the house its
located in and the 7th house from itself 1st and 7th aspects. In
addition, there are special aspects for Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.
Jupiter also aspects the 5th and 9th; Saturn also aspects the 3rd
and 10th; and Mars also aspects the 4th and the 8th houses. So
both Jupiter and Saturn will aspect a total of 4 houses including
the one theyre placed in. The overlapping house(s) represents

the double transit.

Examples of the Double Transit

In the following example we see the double transit in the sign of
Pisces, which occurred between July 24th, 2002 and July 30th,
2003. Saturn was transiting Gemini and aspecting Leo,
Sagittarius, and Pisces. Jupiter was transiting Cancer and
aspecting Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. Therefore, the only sign
that received the aspect of both planets was Pisces. (However,
between January 9th and April 8th, 2003 Saturn went retrograde
back into Taurus, thereby shifting the double transit to the signs
of Cancer and Scorpio.)
Whatever house Pisces represents for each rising sign will
determine how the double transit will affect the chart. For
instance, for Gemini Ascendant Pisces is the 10th house. The
double transit will, therefore, indicate potential expansion and
actualization of career achievements.

The double transit in Pisces

What youll see in the following illustrations is how the sign(s)
that gets the double transit will shift, generally from year to year.
In fact, there are only two positions of Jupiter and Saturn that will
not have the double transit phenomenon when Jupiter is in the
8th or 12th house from Saturn. This means that 10 out of the 12
possible positions, or more than 80% of the time, there will be
the double transit phenomenon happening in at least one sign,

possibly two.
In the next example the double transit shifts from Pisces into Leo
and Sagittarius, which occurred between July 30th 2003 and
August 28th 2004. I saw a client with Gemini rising on July 17th,
2003 and he was talking about how his focus was beginning to
shift away from his career and into his 5-year relationship that
had serious issues that needed to be resolved. He also expressed
an interest in learning web design, which relates to the 3rd house
of communication and the media. With Gemini rising, the double
transit was shifting out of his 10th house of career (Pisces), and
into his 7th house of relationship (Sagittarius) and 3rd house of
communications (Leo).
The dashas also indicated this shift for him as he was moving into
a Ketu period and Ketu was placed in his 7th house of
relationship. Ketu as a natural malefic represents possible
separation during its dasha especially if it has an influence on the
7th house, 7th lord or Venus. Ketu also represents introversion,
detachment and is less career focused by nature.
I had another client on August 12, 2003 with Cancer rising who
had traveled to Thailand while the double transit was in his 9th
house of long distance travel in Pisces. He was talking about his
financial and health concerns since returning from the trip. The
double transit had just shifted from his 9th house to his 6th house
of health and disease as well as the 2nd house of money. He also
was in the process of changing employment (6th house), and
finding new ways to earn money (2nd house).

The double transit in Leo and Sagittarius

In the last example the double transit shifts into Virgo and
Capricorn with the transits of Jupiter into Virgo and Saturn into
Cancer. This occurs between September 6th, 2004 and
September 27th, 2005. (However, on January 14th, 2005 Saturn
retrogrades back into Gemini for 4 months until May 27th
during which time the double transit will be in Pisces.)

The double transit in Virgo and Capricorn

Applying the Double Transit

Besides considering the dashas and yogas as previously
mentioned, it's also important to see the relative strengths of
Jupiter and Saturn in your natal chart. This can be done by seeing
their sign and house placement, their house rulership, as well as
the planets that aspect them. This will modify the relative
strength of their transits.
Also, look to see which house(s), if any, are also doubly aspected
by Jupiter and Saturn in the natal chart. This house will gain
prominence throughout their life. Also, when the double transit
aspects to this house expect intensified results. Lastly, if you
know the ashtakavarga point system examine how many points
Jupiter and Saturns points are both in the natal chart and in their
transiting sign. If they are higher than 5 points then their results
will be more beneficial. If they are less than 2 points then their
results will be less beneficial. All these factors will modify the

relative strength of the double transit.

The following is a brief list of house indications so that you can
begin to examine the double transit shifts in the charts you
examine. You will find that major events often occur at the time
of the double transit. For instance, childbirth, marriage,
inheritance, career expansion, will occur when the double transit
is in the 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th house etc. If this is not the case then
it can often be traced to the fact that the yogas and dashas do
not support the event.
1st house Body, ones identity, self-confidence, overall success.
2nd house Earned income, acquisitions, food/diet, speech.
3rd house Communication, advertising, hobbies, writing,
siblings, short journeys, short-term goals.
4th house Home/residence, real estate, mother, vehicles,
general happiness.
5th house Creativity, children, romance/dating, investments,
education.
6th house Health, disease, acute illness, daily work, litigation,
debts.
7th house Relationship, marriage, partnerships business or
romantic, foreign places.
8th house Others money loans, inheritance; litigation,
chronic illness, sexuality, transformation, occult knowledge.
9th house Long distance travel, spiritual teaching and
teachers, good fortune, father.
10th house Career, employer, work/action, outer
achievements.
11th house Monetary gains, side incomes, major long-term
goals, groups, friends.
12th house Distant places, introspection, debts and
expenditures, isolation.