By Cathy Gnatek — Last Updated: September 4, 2025

The longer you live, the more you get a feel for life’s ebbs and flows, the natural rhythm of cycles of growth, sustenance, and decay. The psychologist Carl Jung wrote that at midlife the Soul calls us to “individuate,” to throw off all the “shoulds” imposed on us by others and explore the unknown parts of who we are.

Like all of life’s major transitions, this awakening coincides with an astrological transit, the “Uranus Opposition” when Uranus in the sky opposes Uranus in our birth chart. Uranus is the planet of revolution, freedom, and the soul’s demand that we devote ourselves to the deepest part of who we are. And, when this transit hits at age 39–44, life can explode for us.

Our birth charts are unique and complex, a fingerprint of our soul. So, the explosion differs depending on what house Uranus is transiting. If it is in the 10th House, you may feel an urge to pursue that dream career that you ignored because it did not fit the world’s expectations for you. If it is in your 4th House, you could be seized by a desire to move, to learn about your roots, or to reshape family relationships.

What blows my mind is that every life transition can be seen in the movement of the planets. From our “First Saturn Return” at 29, when we are called to face life’s limitations and stand on our own, to our Uranus Return at 84, when we gain a freedom to express ourselves without concern for what the world thinks.

And everything in between; our Pluto square Pluto and Neptune square Neptune in our 30s, opening us and working us over in preparation for the big moment of the Uranus opposition. Our Chiron Return at 50 when we reconcile ourselves with our own suffering, a moment when we often reach peace around our own wounded nature. From there, we continue our maturation process with the 2nd Progressed Lunar Return at 54 when we come home to our capacity to mother ourselves, and our Second Saturn Return at 58–59 and Uranus Square at 63–65, which prepare us for retirement and the joy of stepping into the “third act” of our life.

Astrology can guide us through these moments of change, offering clues from your birth chart of how you might experience the moment and how to work with the energy. And, if you are struggling with a transition, it can offer the comfort that “this too shall pass,” by letting you know when the transit will end.

As in childhood, each stage of growth brings trials and pains. Yet, when we open to our soul’s rhythm of expansion and growth, much like a butterfly that sheds its chrysalis, we can find ourselves forever changed in the process.

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Cathy is a certified Hellenistic Astrologer whose expertise spans Greek Mythology, Jungian Psychology, Tarot, I Ching, and nondual spiritual traditions. With a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a former career as a trial lawyer, she brings a uniquely grounded perspective to her work.

She teaches Hellenistic Astrology at the University of Minnesota’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and serves on the board of the Organization for Professional Astrology. A prolific writer and presenter, Cathy shares her insights through blogs, meet-ups, workshops, and her YouTube channel. Passionate about weaving astrology, psychology, and spirituality, she guides individuals and groups toward deeper clarity and transformation, including “Midlife” and “Third Act” reading designed to help clients navigate life transitions. You can find her at cathygnatekastrologer.com.

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