Predictive Astrology - Techniques for Predicting the Future
On this Page:
Overview of Secondary Progressions
Significant Secondary Progressions
Personal Notes & Tips
General:
There are many ways
that astrologers "progress" a chart. One of the most
popular techniques is called "Secondary Progressions". With
this system, astrologers equate one day after birth to one year of
life (the day-for-a-year method). Secondary progressions offer
insight into the unfolding of our unique personalities over time.
Another way to
progress a chart is by using solar arc directions, which is an extremely
valuable tool as well. With this method, the chart is progressed by
finding the "arc" (distance in degrees) between the progressed Sun
and the natal Sun, and adding this distance in degrees to the rest
of the planets and points. Because the Sun moves at a rate of almost
one degree a day, this method makes it rather easy to estimate positions
of progressed planets and points (the degrees of progression are
roughly equivalent to the age of the individual).
Some of the most
significant secondary progressions:
When the
Progressed Sun Changes Sign: Depending on how long a person
lives, the progressed Sun changes sign perhaps 3 times in the
entire life span. The period when the progressed Sun is very late in
a sign and is about to change to a new sign (this occurs for
about a year) is often a rather critical year in which many
changes occur. When the progressed Sun changes signs, there is usually
a very clear change in a person's general orientation and
responses to his/her environment. Plenty of real-life events are
possible (such as relocation, a new job in a new field, etc.),
but the common theme is starting fresh—"out with the old
and in with the new"—and a marked change in the outlook
and attitudes of an individual. Before the progressed Sun changes
signs, there can be some fear and dread—even a feeling that
things are being "taken" from us. Hasty and poor
decisions and a sense of urgency can be characteristic of this
period. (Read more about the
Critical
Degrees and their impact in progressions
here).
The Progressed
Moon — Cycle of Maturity: The progressed Moon moves through
the houses of our natal chart, coming full circle in about 27-28
years. The house it is moving through represents areas of our
life that come into focus. We recognize our needs in these areas
more intensely, although not necessarily clearly. For example,
the progressed Moon moving through the 4th house often brings with it a
strong need and search for "roots" and basic life definition. Even though our natal Moon sign "reigns"
over our emotional needs in a general sense, our focus shifts as
the progressed Moon passes through our houses. In fact, our emotional
needs seem to change or shift as the house position changes.
Read more about The Progressed Moon Through the Houses (coming
soon). The sign of your Progressed Moon indicates the prevailing
emotional attitude of that period of time. Read more
about The Progressed Moon Through the Signs. Also note that if you look into your past and determine
when the progressed Moon passed over any one of the four angles
in your chart (that is, the Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant,
and IC) you will see that these progressions/passages often mark
rather significant times in your life. Also significant is
the progression of the Moon to
critical
degrees, as well as
Progressed Moon in Aspect to Natal Planets and Points.
The Progressed
Lunation Cycle: This is the cycle from one progressed New
Moon to the next (every 27-28 years). Look to the phase of the
progressed Sun and progressed Moon. During the progressed New
Moon phase, individuals instinctively start a new phase or
chapter in their lives. The Crescent phase brings about new
challenges and opportunities, as well as adjustments, that don't
always feel pleasant, to the new cycle as a purpose is not
entirely clear at this point in the cycle. The First Quarter
phase represents a particularly active, building stage, while
the Gibbous stage presents a time of refining and fine-tuning.
This makes way for the Full Moon phase, which is a time of
fruition and accomplishment. This marks the beginning of the
progressed waning moon phase, when some things dissolve and one
begins to recognize the need to let go. The Disseminating phase
is a time of sharing and literally "disseminating"
that which has been learned in the waxing phase of the moon. The
next phase, the Third Quarter Moon phase, marks a time of one's
life when there lies some discontent and dissatisfaction with
the way one has been approaching life. This can be a somewhat
confusing time, as one instinctively prepares for the final
stage of the waning Moon: the Balsamic phase. During this phase,
old systems begin to phase out, and there may be a desire for
withdrawal and reflection.
Progressed
Planets Conjuncting an Angle of the Natal Chart or Progressed
Angles Conjuncting a Natal Planet or Point. These
activations involving natal and progressed angles (the Ascendant
and Midheaven) generally point to significant personal changes
in the native's life.
Progressed Planet Aspects: Aspects that progressed
planets form to natal planets and points, as well as to other
progressed planets and points.
Transits to the
Progressed Planets and Points: Transits to progressed
planets and angles are extremely significant, and should never
be overlooked. For example, transiting Saturn may not be making
any significant aspects to our natal chart, but if it is
squaring our progressed Sun, we will feel its influence in our
lives.
Personal Notes & Tips:
I personally find the Secondary Progressed Moon
cycles through the signs and houses very important in predictive
work. I use these general themes as a "backdrop" for
understanding the transits.
In my experience, more
than one major progression happening at approximately the same time
is more likely to point to an outer event. For example, in my own life, some significant events happened as
follows:
Secondary progressed Vertex conjunct my natal South
Node when I met a significant other. At the same time, my Solar Arc
Directed Venus conjuncted my natal Descendant.
Another significant relationship began when my Solar
Arc Directed Venus came conjunct to my natal Vertex. At the same
time, my progressed Sun conjuncted my South Node.
Secondary progressions are symbolic. Remember that we are
equating one day of life (and planetary movement) after birth to one year of the
life.
For years in my astrological studies, secondary progressions did
not impress me. I wanted to find meaning in them, but I simply couldn't find a
correlation between significant events and changes in my life and the secondary
progressed aspects. It was not until I learned of two important "rules" before I
learned their significance:
Charles E. O. Carter wrote the following: "It is a cardinal
rule that no direction can bring to pass what is not shown in the nativity.
Exceptions to this are virtually non-existent." Progressions to progressions
and progressions to natal positions are most significant when the planets
involved form a significant interrelationship in the natal chart itself.
The potential shown in the natal chart, therefore, rules.
Transits to secondary progressed planets are critical. With
predictive work, students of astrology are encouraged to create a tri-wheel with the natal chart in the
center, secondary progressions in the second wheel, and transits in
the outer (third) wheel. This way, it is easy to see transits to both
the natal chart and the progressed chart, progressed planets in
relationship to the natal chart, and progressed planets in relation
to other progressed planets. Adding transits to progressed planets and
points to our study opens up much more detail.
So, for example, if my secondary progressed Mars is currently
forming a square to my natal Venus, this may not correlate with a significant or
obvious event (or series of events/changes) in my life if my natal Venus and
Mars do not form an aspect. If, however, my natal Venus and Mars are in trine,
it is more likely to indicate an event. If either planet receives a transit
(especially from Venus or Mars themselves), it is even more likely.
Transits to progressions, therefore, act as triggers. Lunations
and eclipses to progressed planets and points also act as triggers.
In Predictive
Astrology: The Eagle and the Lark by Bernadette Brady, an
illuminating chapter dedicated to progressions offers students of
astrology tools to help understand the meaning of progressions
in individual lives. Excellent!
In The Art
of Predictive Astrology, Carol Rushman shares with readers
some very valuable predictive techniques, culled from over 30
years of experience. This is a fascinating read for
intermediate students of Astrology. The book contains quite a
bit of information about progressions in addition to other
techniques.
by Robert Blaschke 
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