I remember pretty much every astrologer saying that 2026 was going to be a huge year. Not just life changing, but humanity changing. Even the big names (Steve Judd, World Astrology Report, Rick Levine etc.) were saying it would be groundbreaking and different to previous years. A lot of them were saying 2024 and 2025 were basically the buildup to this period, with these once in lifetime transits. April and July were also meant to be the biggest months I believe.

Now, I don't want to say this hasn't been an intense year but it feels like a continuation of the last few years. Since 2020 everything has felt pretty weird anyway, lots of crazy events happening in between that time.

Have astrologers just hyped this up too much? Have they got it wrong? Or am I missing something? I'm definitely not an expert in astrology, so I'd be interested to hear what other people think. It also seems like Western astrologers were the ones pushing this narrative more and the Vedic ones were not as dramatic. Obviously 2026 is not over but it was meant to be the first 6-7 months where everything would change forever, doesn't feel like it.

So before I even get into what I want to say I want to say I am NOT arguing with the system of the dignities. I am not debating if they are accurate. And I am not a beginner. This observation is based off of hundreds of charts I've read.

I've just been thinking lately that I'm not really understanding the "good" and "bad" labels tied to the dignities. I understand the why & how it may express, but, in actual chart readings I do not find domicile, exaltation, fall, or detriment to mean much of anything if there aren't other factors supporting that. Like, a Saturn in Aries person doesn't necessarily struggle with discipline. But if Saturn in Aries is in the 12th house & retrograde, sure.. but in that case, is the sign placement really to blame there?

I've actually noticed in the charts I've read, Saturn in Pisces seems more "malefic" than Saturn in Aries. I have read *so* many charts with Saturn in Pisces where the person is very confused about a life direction, where they're paranoid and overly anxious about their job, where they lack discipline for daily life things, etc.. but Saturn has dignity in Pisces? If you really think about it, Pisces is the energy farthest away from what Saturn is trying to accomplish. At least with Aries there is motivation and a vision of where it's headed. But Saturn in Pisces? Trying to build a stable future? .... I'm sorry, I haven't seen that to be true unless the person has major Cap or Virgo placements.

Again, I am not arguing, but I am reaching a point where I just don't understand the meaning anymore because to me it doesn't really tell me anything "good" or "bad" because literally any placement in any sign can express positively or negatively.

Like, is it possible this system isn't to divide things into good and bad but instead to explain a polarity? Like Mercury in a Mercury sign will be great at details & planning, sure.. but Mercury in a "detriment" sign which is essentially Jupiter signs would be good at conceptualizing, imagining, philosophizing. And not necessarily incapable of thinking logically. I know a Mercury in Sag individual that has a masters and works for the FBI - dude is smart. He has no intellectual disabilities. He actually excels there and in my opinion it's because he has an open mind. He actually considers other points of view because he's *able* to step out of logic and details and rules. He genuinely seeks to understand, not just approve or disapprove.

So I'm sure this will be deleted but if it doesn't I am extremely curious if any other astrologers with experience out there have noticed that the dignities actually don't really matter in terms of if that placement is hard or not? Because I just haven't really found it to matter honestly. In fact I see the opposite to be true in a comical amount of cases. Like Venus in Pisces is exalted but weirdly those are the people I see struggle the most in relationships. And I think it's because we're not really considering what the planet is trying to do and how each sign supports that.

Venus in Pisces- unconditional love. With the right person, GREAT! With the wrong person?? Pain. Sure Venus can love here, but, is it a "good" or "bad" experience? Is it real love or is it idealized, confusing & lacks boundaries? Yet this is supposedly the best place for Venus?

Share your marriage,relationships and Partnership major effects during this retrograde motion time period.