Can Astrology Predict One’s Future? Is it Psychic? Yes, it is! But there is always free will!

Predictive astrology is the name we use for a range of different ways of looking at the future and also finding meaning in the past. All astrologers do this in different ways, as part of astrology is about “fortune-telling” or just looking at what is going to happen in the future life of a person. In astrology, there are ways to plan for your future that an astrologer can look at using a variety of different methods such as transits, solar returns, progressions, and solar arc directions.

These various techniques work out in different ways. If we look at transits, then these are usually things that force us to make changes and adjust how we look at our life, which can be challenging. Transits can make us both happy and sad, and they can be confrontational if they make us look at the dark side of our nature (which is something that everyone has to a degree). If we look at secondary progressions, then these can show us repeating patterns in our lives that are linked to helping us to grow and learn, which in turn teaches us about who we really are as people. So, according to the technique used, we can focus on different things that are going to happen in our lives.

The Transits and Cycles:

Everyone has a natal chart. This is also called a birth chart and this is like a snapshot of the heavens at the moment when we were born, which is as unique as a thumbprint. Our birth chart continues to influence our lives as we grow older regardless of the fact that the planets move on and go through different cycles. As the planets move above us, they also then make relationships with the planets and sensitive points in our birth chart.

An example would be if someone had their Sun in their birth chart in 25 degrees Virgo and if Saturn was moving in 25 degrees Gemini then this would be called a transit which is Saturn square the Natal Sun. Another example would be if Saturn is in 25 degrees Gemini, a person could look at their natal chart to look for the position of Saturn in their houses. If Gemini was at that degree in something like the Third House then this would mean that Saturn would transit through the Third House. This is just a basic explanation of how the transits are calculated in astrology to explain how the interpretations of the transits work.

The key however is that transits are used to activate what is already in place, so they are best thought of as trigger points which are linked to our psychological state.

Outer Planets and Inner Planets:

When astrologers work with transits, we usually look at the outer planets first which are the slowest moving in the universe, and look at the transits and cycles of those planets to see an image of what is happening. This is the base context that we use when we make predictions and we then also add in information from the cycles of the progressed planets as well as they are very helpful in making predictions  (Hopefully you have an astrologer who practices in using your progressed planets when they preform a reading for you…if not…find one that does for the same price!)As a rule of thumb we use this information to work things out such as:

1. Where a person is at in their life. We do this by looking at the position of Saturn and which house this is located in. And a must is to also look at where their progressed moon is, as well as what sign the progressed moon is in & what orb their progressed ascendant is at! Trust me…this is a must know.

2. Look at the position of transiting planets like Pluto, Uranus and Neptune and see if they are making any key aspects with regards to other planets or sensitive points like the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Midheaven and the Ascendant.

3. Look at the cycles of Jupiter to see which house this is transiting in and what aspects it is making to the natal planets.

4. Look at the transits of Saturn in general.

This technique requires an astrologer to move from the outside to the inside of the universe so that we can first see how the overall context of the transits of the slower moving planets is working out.

The transits of the outer planets have an influence that lasts for a long time as they are activated before the actual aspect and there are also other things to take into consideration. Often an outer planet will transit our natal planet or sensitive point when it is direct and will then retrograde backwards before turning direct again and going back over the same natal planet or sensitive point for a second time as part of one cycle. This can happen three times also. That is where the term Karma came to be…it was coined from astrology….3 times.

As a general rule in astrology, what will come to pass as a result of the transit happens at the first part of the cycle as this is when the planet first touches or passes over the natal planet or sensitive point. If there is a conflict or a climax to the cycle then it usually happens in the middle as this is the time when the transiting planet moves back over the original natal planet or sensitive point, which is the retrograde period. The resolution of the issue will then happen when the planet goes direct again and moves over the natal planet or point for the last time in that cycle.

This is why you may often see a sense of relief or resolution when a planet that is in transit goes direct after it has been retrograde but before it passes back over the transited planet or sensitive point. If the transit has been a difficult one, then we could feel a sense of relief at this time. The reason for this is that in astrology a planet that is resuming forward motion after a retrograde period is linked to resolutions.

Inner Planets: Cycles and Transits:

When we have inner planets moving in cycles and making transits, these are usually shorter as the planets are moving faster, but their effect can still be significant. These include:

1. When the transiting Moon conjuncts your Natal Sun every month, this is usually known as a ‘power day’.

2. When there is a Mars Cycle and Energy Cycle which lasts for two years. This is when transiting Mars is close to the sign that your Natal Mars falls in and this boosts your energy. This energy however drops off again when Mars moves away from this sign and it drops again when Mars is transiting the opposite sign. An example of this would be if you had Mars in Sagittarius and transiting Mars was moving from the sign of Gemini through to Sagittarius as part of the transit. As it moves, your energy levels would increase and would climax when Mars was in Sagittarius. Then when Mars was transiting the signs after Sagittarius your energy would decrease and would be at their lowest point when Mars was in Gemini.

3. When the New Moon presses on one of your natal planets or points. This shines a light on some part of your life for around a month. An example of this would be if a New Moon was conjunct your Natal Venus. This would bring with it a sense of renewed vision with regards to love and money (both ruled by Venus).

Some other cycles that are important in astrology include Mercury Retrograde Cycles, Venus Retrograde and Mars Retrograde.

Secondary Progressions:

In astrology, one of the most common predictive astrology techniques is called ‘progressing’ a chart and we usually use ‘Secondary Progressions’. Some of the most important kinds of secondary progressions include:

1. A progressed Sun moving to a new sign: & a progressed moon moving into a sign.

This is dependent on the age of the person but usually a progressed Sun will change signs around three times over the course of our lives. The time when a progressed Sun is at the end of a sign and is about to move into a new one lasts for about a year and this is usually also a period when you will experience a lot of changes in your life. At the time when the progressed Sun changes signs, your life may feel as if it is changing direction in a significant way and this could manifest in some big milestones such as moving to a new area, changing career paths or another major change of that kind. This is a time when you will start something new and there is also a sense that you will leave some part of your old life behind at that point. This is also linked to an element of psychological transformation and a sense that you are changing your outlook forever. In the period before the Sun changes signs we can feel anxious and there is a sense of foreboding, as if we are being forced to abandon things that are familiar to us. This can lead us to make bad decisions as a result and we may feel as if we are constantly feeling rushed.

2. A progressed Moon moving through the houses of your natal chart:

This takes around 27 to 28 years. When the progressed Moon is in a house then the part of our life that this house is linked to will be pulled into sharp focus. We will tend to realize the areas of this house that we need to work on although we may not know how to do this effectively. An example of this would be the progressed Moon traveling through the Fourth House which would cause us to feel as if we want to get back to our roots and find the meaning of our life purpose. It is true that our natal Moon is the planet that governs our emotional needs but when the progressed Moon moves through the houses it can also take our attention to other parts of our emotional lives. The sign that your progressed Moon is traveling in also shows how you are likely to feel at this time and you will absorb the emotional energy of that sign. You can also look back in time and look at when the progressed Moon moved over the Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant and the Imum Coeli in your natal chart. This will show you some rites of passage in your life, and you can also look at the progressed Moon when it is in aspect to your natal planets or any sensitive points or critical degrees in your chart.

3. A progressed Lunation Cycle:

This cycle charts a course from one progressed New Moon to another one which takes between 27 and 28 years and is linked to the progressed Sun and progressed Moon phases. When you have a progressed New Moon, you will usually want to start a new chapter in your life and there are different phases within this. When you have the New Moon in the Crescent phase then this will usher in new opportunities for you but this is also a time of change so you may have to make some alterations that can be challenging for you. At this point, you may not have a very clear direction in your life. When you move into the First Quarter phase this is the time when you are building on the foundations of the phase before and then you move into the Gibbous phase when you will drill down to the details of any new plans or projects. This is then followed by the Full Moon phase which is the time when things come together and you will start to see the fruits of your labors. This is also the start of the waning stage of the progressed Moon and this is a time of shedding things that no longer sever you well. In turn this becomes the Disseminating phase which, as the name implies, is a time when you disseminate some of the lessons that you acquired in the previous phases. This is then followed by the Third Quarter Moon stage which can be a time when you can see some of the areas in your life that are not working and it can cause you inner turmoil or confusion. Finally you have the Balsamic phase which is the time to let go of the old ways of doing things and you may also be more introspective.

4. Progressed Planets Conjunct the Natal Chart and Progressed Angles Conjunct a Natal Planet or Sensitive Point: These are times when something is activated by a natal or a progressed angle such as the Ascendant and Midheaven and are a time of personal growth.

5. Transits to Progressed Planets and Sensitive Points: This is a very important time in astrology. An example would be if you have a planet like Saturn transiting in your natal chart, even if it is not making any aspects at the time. If however it is square to our progressed Sun then the influence will be extremely significant.

Solar Returns:

A Solar Return Chart is based on the time when the Sun goes back to the natal position within two days of your birthday. This is like a natal chart and it lasts from your birthday to the next birthday. This is a very detailed chart and you can get a lot of information from this such as:

1. The Ascendant of the Solar Return Chart: This is linked to how you will behave throughout the year. An example would be if you had Aries as the Ascendant in your Solar Return Chart. You would take on some of the characteristics of this sign which would mean that you have a renewed sense of energy but that you may also be a little impulsive and impatient. Your focus, drive, and overall attitude to life will be colored by the temperament of the Ascendant, its house position and aspect throughout the year.

2. Angles with the planets and sensitive points on the Solar Return Chart: When you look at a Solar Return Chart you need to look at which planets and sensitive points are brought to an angle. An example of this would be if you have a Solar Return Ascendant which was at 22 degrees Virgo and the natal position of Venus at 24 degrees Virgo. This would make the Natal Venus conjunct the Solar Return Ascendant and this means that the situation involving the Natal Venus will be in focus in the year of your Solar Return. This in turn influences the parts of our personality that will be in focus when we have our Solar Return. Another example would be if you had your Natal Sun which was squaring off with a planet like Mars, and this was also on the Solar Return Ascendant and Mars may also be on the Midheaven point. This would mean that there would be a tussle between the Sun and Mars in your life which could bring with it challenges that reflect both your personal life because of the Ascendant and your public life thanks to the Midheaven.

3. The position of the Solar Return planets: In particular if they are on or in aspect to any Solar Return Angles.

4. The placement of the Sun: You need to look at which house it is located in as this will have an influence over the coming year. You can also get more information if you look at the aspects of the Sun.

5. The placement of the Moon: If you look at the placement of the Moon according to the sign and house that it is located in then you will be able to find out more about your emotional life. An example of this would be if your Solar Return Moon is in the sign of Libra and is also in the Fifth House, which would mean that you are going to be focused on love and relationships. You will also be more willing to express how you feel now and there will be some emotional turmoil as you are more focused on your emotions than usual. You could also tend to make decisions now with your heart rather than your head. Other things can also come into play to influence this area of your life, such as if the Moon is also in a square to a planet like Pluto in your Solar Return Chart which will indicate major transformations in this area of your life.

6. You can read a Solar Return Chart like a Natal Chart: This means that it is not necessarily permanent in its interpretations. You can look at a part of it such as your financial sector and look at the Second and Eighth houses and the position of Venus and then see if the Solar Return Venus has a harsh transit such as an opposition to a planet such as Solar Return Neptune. If Venus is also the ruler of the Second House in the Solar Return Chart then this shows that you may have some ups and downs when it comes to your finances, or that you will be less materialistic.

7. Critical Degrees: On a Solar Return Chart the critical degrees are very important, particularly 0 and 29 degrees in a sign. If you have any of these degrees in your Solar Return Chart then they can have an important impact on planets, sensitive points and houses.

Combining Transits and Progressions to make predictions:

When we make predictions in astrology we usually look at triggers to work out themes in a person’s life. If there is only one activation like Venus square natal Mercury then this is usually not very important on its own, so we also need to look at other factors.

One way to do this is to make a chart which has three wheels on it and is called a ‘tri-wheel’. This has the natal chart in the middle of it and then another wheel on the outside of this which has the secondary progressions on it. There is then final wheel added which has the transits. This allows astrologers to look at the natal and progressed charts together and also look the relationships between the progressed planets and the natal chart, or the progressed planets in relation to each other. This will give us an overview of themes but if we just look at the transits to the natal chart then we may miss something. We need to also factor in the progressed planets and sensitive points which give us more details.

And finally:

In conclusion, there are other techniques that we can use in predictive astrology, but these are some of the best known and the most important ones. So, if you want to know about your future, then all of these predictive astrology techniques can help you learn more about the direction of your life and some of the major life events or themes that will be coming your way.

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Warm wishes, Bree

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