So, my natal astrology I feel is pretty good - getting better over time, but now it's mostly a matter of seeing different charts from people that I know and don't know and developing the more intuitive side of interpretation.

I'd like to start looking into transits, and I am hoping there might be a few people here who can answer a few questions I have about determining these transitional aspects.

First of all, should I be using the first degree of Aries as degree 1, or the position of the ascendant? Or am i missing the first degree all together?

Secondly, should I list these transitions basically the same way I would list natal aspects? I.e., start with the sun and moon, then mercury, venus, etc., listing the aspects made with each, or is there a different consideration behind transitioning aspects?

I know there must be a couple of different schools of thought on the matter, what I would like to find out is some of the more basic common elements and then probably start working on mapping transits using different methods and comparing general accuracy.

Also, I wonder if anyone happens to have an opinion on the role of natal aspects in transitional aspecting? That is, if my sun and venus are, say, squared, and in the transitional aspect venus is, say, trined, do I look at an easing of that natal aspect, or is it something else all together?

peace