Astrology for Life Phases: What to Do During Your Building Season

Are You Stuck in “Should Energy”? - Astrology for Feeling Stuck

In the past I've written about spending too much time in "should energy".

You’ve been there. The constant hum of I should be doing this… I should have done that. It’s exhausting, isn’t it? When life feels out of alignment, it’s easy to spiral into frustration and self-doubt.

Astrology offers a different perspective: a way to identify what you actually should be doing—not based on societal norms or external pressure, but rooted in your birth chart’s wisdom.

Let’s dive into how you can use astrology to figure out what you’re meant to focus on right now.

So how do you know? Is there astrology for feeling stuck? What you should be doing?

A woman has a look of relief on her face standing in front of a old door with clouds reflecting in the window.

Why Should You Read This Post? - Understanding What Actions to Take with Astrology

By understanding your astrology cycles and embracing your building season, you can:

Recognize where your energy is best spent so you can focus on meaningful growth instead of spinning your wheels.
Work with planetary timing so you can stop feeling stuck and start making progress with clarity and confidence.
Clarify your non-negotiables so you can align your goals with what actually matters to you—not what others expect.
Break free from waiting for the 'perfect time' so you can take action even in longer, slower planetary cycles.
Trust your own timeline so you can build your future with intention instead of feeling behind.

A Personal Example

Notable transits from 2018 for me:

Jupiter conjunct Natal Pluto (having followed in 2017 conjunct Moon/MC) in the 11th house and enters Sagittarius 12 th house
Pluto opposite Natal 7H Chiron
Transiting N.Node in 8H - so eclipses on the 8th house/2nd house axis
Transit Saturn ingress in to Capricorn in the 1st house conjoining AC, Natal Uranus and approaching Neptune and North Node and activating a T-Square with Mars/Chiron and Mercury)

I was genuinely living portions of my actual dream life for a minute there -- up until this point or so. I was growing independent and felt ambitious and free, and I believed in myself. I was really feeling like I had survived my childhood. I had a husband and a family, a productive and growing social circle - a business that I actually did well at and I liked mostly.

Leading up to 2018, I was enjoying such transits as:

Saturn transiting the 9th and 10th houses, he started offering me a more stable community after I felt like friends kept falling away.
Jupiter conjoining a personal planet every year for 4 years -- this is expansion in a very personal fashion-- having to do with communication, individuality, partnership, and motivation as well as conflict resolution.
Transiting node conjunct MC and then 10th house, and then 9th house bringing many changes to my work and home locations, environments as well as the balance between the two.

I really latched onto this version of me - meaning the one that was growing in a more outwardly direction. Fortunately, there were correlations between what I was doing, what felt aligned, and what was important for my growth. That was a fertile time for me, and I can see why.

I can see the impermanence of what was - it was only a mere 4 short years that we're talking about right now. But, because I can see the longer processes that are unfolding, I know now that this was a preview, not merely an impermanent group of memories.

The general timeline for more introspective priorities (especially far from 9-11th) house activation: about a decade. /crying emoji! A WHOLE DECADE OF BUILDING?

From 2030-2040 will see me having:

nearly a full Jupiter cycle - from Scorpio 11H - Libra 10H
Saturn moving from Taurus 5H through to Libra 10H
Uranus from Taurus 5H - Leo 8H
1/2 cycle of the Transiting Nodes from Sagittarius 12H - Gemini 6H

Around July of 2037 looks like a totally different lifestyle. Because it is.

But -- I can't live my life waiting for 2037. So what "should" I be doing?

Step 1: Understand Where You Are in Your Planetary Cycles - What To Do When Growth Feels Slow

Every moment of your life is part of a larger planetary process. Transits—how planets in the sky interact with your natal chart—create a rhythm of challenges, opportunities, and growth.

Key Questions to Ask

What house transits are happening for you now?
1. Are the planets moving through the foundations of your chart (1st-6th houses), encouraging introspection?
2. Or are they in the upper half (7th-11th houses), pushing you outward into relationships and reputation?
3. The 12th house is neither of these broader categories. The 12th house often focuses on closure, rest, or spiritual renewal, which sets it apart from the introspection of the lower houses or the external focus of the upper houses.
4. If you’re new to this or need a refresher, start with these first: The Astrology Houses Explained, as well as this guide to Astrology Transits for Beginners.
What major planets are making aspects to your natal placements?
1. Slower moving planets like Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto often bring long-term changes.
2. Faster planets like Mercury, Venus, and Mars show where short-term focus is needed.
3. The Sun can illuminate things, making things clear that weren't before.
4. The Moon moves very quickly, meaning that it's influences are typically shorter. However Lunations (The New Moon, The Full Moon, and Eclipses) are not typically short term - they often represent 6 months of processes unfolding.
  1. If a lunation is happening close to your natal planets, they are usually more impactful.
What phase of life are you in?
1. Saturn governs structure, discipline, and long-term growth, often presenting challenges that build resilience over time. The maturation process takes 30 years culminating with your Saturn return (late 20s).
2. Other planets have similar cycles, for example Uranus. Uranus, which governs freedom and sudden change, often brings themes of innovation or disruption during its major cycles. The Uranus opposition (early 40s) is often called "The Midlife Crisis". We can typically see defined themes of personal evolution with Uranus.

Step 2: You’ve Found Your Transits… Now What?

Now that you know where major planetary movements are happening in your chart, it’s time to get clear on what this means for your personal growth. These questions will help you bridge the gap between understanding your transits and actually applying them to your life.

What do you feel most confused about in your life right now?
1. This will help you articulate your biggest internal struggle instead of vaguely saying, “I feel stuck."
  1. Why, what, or who is making you feel that way? If it feels nebulous drill down and figure out where the blockade is happening. If you knew that you'd end up where you're supposed to be, what would you spend today doing?
  2. Another great example can be to use the astrology houses as journaling prompts. What ARE you sure of when it comes to your identity (1st house)? What ARE you sure of when it comes to your finances (2nd house)? What ARE you sure of when it comes to your communication style and education (3rd house)? etc
What’s one area of your life where you’re craving momentum?
1. This helps you recognize where you most want clarity or change.
If you knew this phase of your life was necessary for long-term success, how would you treat it differently?
1. This helps you reframe stuckness as part of the process, not a failure and helps to unveil the process you're taking part in.
What small, consistent action could you take—even if you don’t have all the answers yet?
1. This prevents you from staying in analysis paralysis and encourages forward movement.
If this transit lasts a long time (e.g., Neptune in the X house for 12 years, Pluto in the X house for 20 years), how can you build a sustainable approach rather than seeking quick fixes?
1. This keeps you from feeling like you need immediate resolution for long-term transits. They are a part of your story, you will inevitably navigate them better when you know that you're starting something long term instead of expecting a short term solution or strategy to work!

Step 3: Reflect on Your Priorities in Alignment with Your Chart - Astrology to Find Focus

Astrology helps you tune in to what feels authentic and rewarding for you. The planet indicate a certain theme, which are listed below. The sign that your planet resides in typically references the priority, or strategy of that planet.

For example, Mercury is how we communicate and process information. If Mercury is in Virgo, it's more likely to be successful with a meticulous and detailed approach - tutorials and tried and true wisdom is valuable to them. If Mercury is in Aries it's more likely to be successful with a bold and direct approach, experiencing things are worth 20 people telling you when you have Mercury in Aries.

You should be meeting your non-negotiables that you have decided on for yourself.

Here’s how to know what your non-negotiables are:

Your Mercury: How do you communicate and process information naturally? Are you speaking your truth or staying quiet to fit in?
Your Sun: Where do you need to shine and feel seen? What gives you energy and purpose?
Your Moon: How do you create emotional safety and stability for yourself?
Your Venus: Are you cultivating love, beauty, and pleasure in a way that feels aligned? Do you spend your free time doing things that are in alignment with your dreams of the future?
Your Mars: Where is your drive and energy needed most? What fuels you to take action?

Your natal chart shows where these priorities show up in your life—and what needs your attention right now.

You should also reflect on what signs are ruling your houses an what houses have planets in them. Check out the Astrology Houses Explained post for more on this. This will give you a lot more context as to what your priorities are for the different areas of your life.

The WAY or strategy these priorities are met may change. Ex: you may feel uncomfortable communicating in one way, then more comfortable, but then bored with a certain way of communicating your message - this is normal. It is your job to seek the next way that makes your Mercury feel natural and comfortable.

This is living life, and when you can see what planets are activated you can place your focus on the most effective life areas to cultivate growth, exciting opportunities, and manage challenges with less stress and greater ease.

Step 4: Recognize Growth Cycles and Seasons - Astrology for Building Phases vs Astrology for Peak Phases

Transits don’t care about your comfort zone. They bring their own themes and challenges based on archetypes (for more info on that check out this post about Astrology Archetypes), pushing growth whether you feel ready for it or not, and whether or not it's in alignment with what your natal placements resonate with.

Sometimes, you’re in a season of rest. Other times, you’re in a season of action, learning, or rebuilding. When you understand the quality of time you’re living in, you can work with the flow instead of resisting it.

Growth isn’t linear: If you’re feeling “stuck,” it may be because a planet is encouraging you to slow down, reflect, and refine - this often happens during retrogrades! Check out this post for working with retrogrades.
Cycles repeat: Transits you experience now often echo earlier life themes. Reflect on past times when similar planets were activated—what lessons did you learn?

What might be going on around these times?

In my personal example, how I am "waiting" for the 2030s to experience more outward growth -- I'm not simply just "waiting"!

The time frame I'm in now shows a focus primarily on internal and private processes and priorities because I must have the foundation and capability to create a sustainable outer experience when I get to the type of life I'll be able and willing to live...closer to the 2030s.

I am now seeing this time period in my life as it more accurately is -- a time frame fertile for preparing myself for success with foundations - not for touring stages and rubbing elbows. This process will range anywhere from kinda boring to treacherously triggering.

You're Not Here to Live Someone Else’s “Should”

Some people navigate life effortlessly—trusting their instincts, taking action on a whim, and watching things fall into place.

If that doesn’t feel like you, you’re not alone. Maybe you’ve been told you’re “overthinking” or “too cautious.” Maybe you’re tired of reading endless astrology blog posts and still not finding answers that feel aligned or actionable.

This is where astrology helps. It gives you the confidence to define your priorities on your terms:

Meeting your non-negotiables – What do you truly value? What can’t you compromise on?
Expressing your true self – Show up in ways that make your Mercury, Sun, and Moon feel fulfilled and aligned.
Creating a solid foundation – If transits are focusing on internal growth, use this time to build the structures that will support your future success.

Even with a solid plan, sometimes the hardest part is trusting the process. Astrology can show you where to focus, but ultimately, progress happens when you take action—even if it’s small steps forward. If you’re still unsure how to apply this to your situation, sometimes an outside perspective can help bring clarity.

Need help applying this to your real-life situation?

Feeling like you’re makings strides but not seeing results yet? The building phase can be frustrating, but astrology can help you understand where to focus your energy. My 5-Day Mini Course: Setting Aligned Goals That Work for You teaches you how to work with your chart’s natural cycles so you can stay aligned and move forward with confidence.

Need insight on what’s holding you back? A one-on-one astrology consultation can help you pinpoint the deeper patterns in your chart and give you a clear strategy for breaking through.

➡️ Check out the Mini Course Here

➡️ Book a Consultation Here

Just because you can’t see the results yet doesn’t mean they’re not on their way. Trust your process.

Key Takeaways

Not all astrology cycles are fast-moving—some require patience. Your “building phase” is about steady progress, not instant transformation.
Understanding your transits helps you work smarter. By identifying active houses and planetary cycles, you can align your focus with where momentum is naturally unfolding.
You don’t have to wait for the perfect transit to take action. Learning how to navigate long-term influences like Saturn and Pluto helps you stay proactive rather than feeling stuck.
Your non-negotiables define your priorities. Astrology helps clarify what truly matters to you, so you can structure your goals around what aligns with your values.
If you still feel unclear, outside guidance can help. Sometimes, the next step is working with a professional astrologer to break down what’s happening in your chart and find the most aligned path forward.

Astrology for Life Phases: What to Do During Your Building Season - Astrology for Feeling Stuck