Horoscopic astrology uses astrological progressions as one of the primary tools for predicting future trends and events (the other means is transits, which are simply the ongoing movements of the planets across the sky). Astrological progression, as the name implies, is a means of advancing the Horoscope ahead from the time of the subject’s birth or commencement into the future, and is most commonly used for a person’s birth or natal chart.
Secondary progression, also known as ‘a-day-for-a-year’ progression, and Solar arc direction, often known as ‘a-degree-for-a-year’ progression, are the two basic types of progression. The planets, Ascendant, and Midheaven are all shown to have moved positions in the progressed chart in both systems, and these shifts are noted. Changes in zodiac signs and houses, as well as the angles or aspects formed by the progressed planets with the original natal chart, are given special emphasis.
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When it comes to transits and progressions, what’s the difference?
Did you know that astrologers use a kind of timetable to look at your entire life’s potential?
You’ve probably heard of astrological “transits,” but astrological “progressions” are another useful tool for astrologers.
Progressions are cycles that can be tracked from birth to death, similar to transits, which match the planets in the sky at any particular time to the planets in your birth chart, but they are calculated differently.
Transits are universal, whereas progressions are unique to each individual. While everyone feels the energy of Pluto transiting in the sky, only you will feel the effect of your advanced Sun creating an aspect to your natal chart.
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What do you mean by “progressed signs”?
“A progressed chart shows you what’s going on in terms of your personal development; the internal changes you’re going through.”
What are astrological progressions and how do they work?
Consider the day of her birth, November 9, 1984. Then, 26 days following her birth, take note of what planetary aspects and sign changes occurred. There was a conjunction between the Sun and Uranus at the time. This Sun/Uranus pairing’s combined energy, which encompasses freedom, restlessness, and breaking free from the past, accurately characterizes her life events 26 years later.
Any Sun-related predicted triggers might have a significant impact on your personality, soul, and life experiences.
Your Sun will change Zodiac signs once every 30 years, based on advanced movement. Your Sun’s first progression into a new sign will occur at a specific age for you. This age is calculated by subtracting the degree of your Sun at birth from 30 and multiplying by two. When you know your age, simply add 30 to find out when your Sun will change signs again.
In astrology, what are secondary progressions?
As astrologers, we have a variety of techniques at our disposal for interpreting past, present, and future planetary forces in relation to our birth chart.
Daily planetary transits are the most often utilized technique, followed by Secondary Progressions, or more popularly known as “Progressions,” however other forms of progressions are also used in astrology.
So, what are Secondary Progressions?
Secondary Progressions, like transits, must be compared to the natal chart in order to be understood. Secondary Progressions (1 before and after the aspect) use very tight orbs, but there is another basic difference between the two.
– Transiting planets in aspect with each other or with other planets in the birth chart usually manifest in a more visible, external manner in our lives because they are usually completely new pieces of energy that we must assimilate, and the external event is required so that we can observe and desensitize the energy before integrating it into our mind-set. Transits are visible “it’s on us
– Secondary Progressions reflect the deeper, more underlying currents or themes of a specific time in life that we have already encountered during our initial few months. Because they are recognizable to us in some manner, they develop first as a feeling and then (though not always) as a bodily movement. Secondary Progressions are visible “by means of us
The progressed planets move around the chart in a similar manner to the transits, although at a considerably slower pace. The transiting Moon, for example, goes around the chart in 27 1/2 days, whereas the advanced Moon travels around the wheel in 27 1/2 years.
When an advanced planet travels into another sign or house in our natal chart, or crosses an angle, these events are likely to cause significant changes in the way that planet is manifested in our life, as it absorbs the energy of the sign or the concerns of the house it enters.
When retrograde in the natal chart, progressed planets can also go retrograde or turn direct. These can also appear as significant events in our life. For example, my daughter was born the year my natal retrograde Neptune turned direct by Secondary Progression; Neptune rules my 5th house, which governs all forms of creation, including children, of course!
Let’s take a short look at what the various planets in Secondary Progressions could mean.
The Progressed Sun
Some traits of your natal Sun sign will remain throughout your life as the Sun passes through the next sign, but as the Sun progresses through the next sign, it takes on some of the features of that sign as well as the modality of the sign it enters. For example, if your Sun is in Gemini, a mutable sign, your Secondary Progressed Sun will move into Cancer, a Cardinal sign, and then into Leo, a Fixed sign, sooner or later. The year in which your Progressed Sun changes signs or forms an aspect to a natal or progressed planet or angle will almost certainly be a pivotal year for personal growth and expression.
The Progressed Moon
Moon is associated with moods and sentiments, as well as protection and nurturing, as well as behavioral patterns and habit. It takes around 2 1/2 years to move through the signs and takes on the flavor of the sign it enters. As the Progressed Moon conjoins the natal or progressed Sun in your horoscope every 28-29 years, a new emotional cycle begins. The Progressed New Moon occurs at this time. Because the Moon advances swiftly and each degree of orb is active for around two months, transits from and to the Progressed Moon are quite important. In the Secondary Progressions, this is one of the most essential planets to pay attention to.
The Progressed Mercury
Mercury is the element that represents how our minds work, how we think, and how we learn and communicate. It takes on the colors of the sign it is passing through as it moves around the chart. Difficult aspects to and from this advanced planet could imply unrest or continual activity. When Mercury, Venus, or Mars are progressed, the orb of activity lasts about two years, or longer if the planet is stationary direct or retrograde.
The Progressed Venus
Venus represents how we socialize and interact with others; it also represents love (including self-love) and values in general (including finances). Increased social interactions, a concentration on relationships, creative expression, and all that we enjoy could result from contacts with advanced Venus. Difficulties in these areas may be indicated by tough elements.
The Progressed Mars
Mars represents our physical vitality and how we deal with life’s obstacles, as well as our aggressive traits and sexual drive. Progressed Mars aspects frequently represent times of increasing physical activity, fresh beginnings, being more assertive or reckless and impulsive, and so forth.
Progressed Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
By progression, these slower moving planets will rarely form new aspects to natal planets. When they add a new aspect to the natal chart (especially if they’re on a house or sign cusp), the effect is generational.
Progressed Ascendant and Progressed Mid-heaven
In progressions, the Ascendant and Mid-heaven signs are extremely important, and the year in which they change sign or house should signal big shifts in attitude. Planets in the 1st and 10th houses, as well as the ruling planets of the Ascendant and Mid-Heaven, should all be taken into account.
1. Brady, B. (1999), “Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and The Lark, Chapter 3 Secondary Progressions, pages 99-163, Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, San Francisco, CA, USA,” Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, San Francisco, CA, USA
What does it mean to have an advanced ascendant?
So, when looking at an advanced chart, which planets and angles should we pay attention to?
The simple answer is that the fast-moving planets, such as the Sun and Moon, and to a lesser extent Mercury, Venus, and Mars, will undergo significant movement throughout our lifetime. Examining your Ascendent as it has progressed might also be quite beneficial.
Progressed SunEvolved Journey & Focus
Because the Sun moves roughly 1 degree every year during your life, it could take up to 30 years for your advanced chart to change signs, depending on the degree at birth.
During your lifetime, it will most likely only affect 2-3 houses and signage (at the most 4).
The advanced sun represents your changing identity, or how you mature, change, and grow as a person.
In his book The Changing Sky, Steven Forrest describes it as follows:
” A slow, piercing laser of self-awareness illuminates that part of the birthchart, increasing it and requiring that it evolve quickly to meet the needs of the matured personality.”
The advanced sun does not replace your natal sun’s voyage, but it does give an additional layer to your identity that lasts for about 30 years.
When your Progressed Sun shifts signs or houses, it will most likely be a pivotal time for personal growth and expression.
The Progressed MoonEvolved Emotional Needs
As previously indicated, the progressed moon moves 12-14 degrees per day, therefore it would move 12-14 degrees from its natal position for each year of our existence in a progressed chart.
This means it switches signs and residences every 2-3 years, making it an ideal moment to tune in to, harness, and utilise its energy.
As a result, the progressed Moon is my favorite progressed location to work with because it doesn’t take long to move into another house or sign, and the influence on your life is immediate and emotional.
The advanced moon does not take the place of your natal moon’s demands, but it does add a short-term layer to your emotional needs that lasts for about 2-3 years.
It begins a new emotional cycle every 28-29 years when it conjuncts your natal moon, which is known as the advanced new moon.
The Progressed AscendantEvolved Identity
During your lifetime, your progressive ascendant will most likely only pass through 3-4 houses (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and potentially 4th) and signs.
It is more important to look at the zodiac sign it is in because it will contact the same 3-4 houses for everyone.
The advanced Ascendant does not replace how you appear to others; rather, it adds another layer to how others perceive you and shows your changing style.
The year in which your progressive ascendant switches signs signifies substantial changes in your identity and how others perceive you.
What is a Moon that has progressed?
In my consultations, I use progressions. They’re an important aspect of any chart study that involves changes in the past, present, or future. The story will be told in part via transits, but it will be incomplete without an understanding of progressions.
The planets in your natal chart are progressed (moved) through the signs by a set amount of degrees per month or year. The Progressed Moon is the planet that moves the fastest, traveling through each sign in around two and a half years. At least twice in their lives, most people will have the opportunity to witness all of the signs (via their Progressed Moon).
Your developing requirements are represented by the Progressed Moon. You no longer have the same needs as you did when you were five years old (hopefully). When your Progressed Moon changes signs, you can feel it. When your Moon goes from Pisces to Aries, you’ll notice a transition from passive/confused/sensitive to active/aggressive/impatient. When your Moon shifts from Aries to Taurus, you’ll go from restless to settled (or at least content).
But it has an effect on more than just your moods. Marriage, divorce, and professional changes can all be triggered by the Progressed Moon. You may be drawn to persons who share your Progressed Moon sign’s Sun sign (take notice if this happens…they’re in your life to help you work with that energy). It’s likely that your partner’s Progressed Moon has shifted to the next sign, causing them to abruptly change their tune (either wanting to end things or wanting to deepen the relationship).
People react to these changes in different ways. I’ve seen the Progressed Moon in Taurus help to strengthen a relationship, but it’s also been known to trap someone in an infatuation that they couldn’t shake until their Moon moved into Gemini. Some signals are more supportive of particular initiatives than others. When the progressed Moon is in Aries, it’s a great time to start something that requires effort and ambition (like a new business or employment). If you need to focus, get serious, or grow up, the progressed Moon in Capricorn is ideal. This isn’t to say that you should wait till your Moon enters a specific sign before taking action. When you’re ready, you’re ready. However, pay attention to how you’re feeling (calm, withdrawn, adventurous) and allow for it.
Of course, you must also consider the house in which your Progressed Moon is transiting, as well as the aspects it forms to your natal planets.
What does it mean to have a progressed planet?
Progressed planets are most important when they create aspects with planets in the natal chart. In most cases, progressed aspects are confined to a one-degree sphere on either side of the natal planet. The following is a basic overview of how progressed aspects have an effect:
- Progressed Sun: This is a critical time in your life. Psychologically, and as a result of correlative circumstances, the moment will be ripe for major modifications, organization, and integration of one’s entire life pattern, as directed by the planet in aspect with the sun.
- A progressed Moon is a one-month period during which the planet’s affairs and psychological characteristics are emphasized and stimulated. The progressed moon frequently works as a ‘trigger,’ causing other progressed planets’ patterns to be activated.
- Progressed Mercury: Changes and necessary readjustments, greater mental activity, travel, and literary issues of above-average importance are all signs of progressed Mercury.
- Progressed Venus: This is a critical time in terms of emotional, personal, and creative pursuits. Marriage, falling in – or out of – love, inspired creative work, the birth of a child, or a focus on money matters are all possibilities.
- Mars has progressed, which indicates a period of greater activity, strife, and enterprise. Impulsive activity must be avoided and energy must be managed. The subject is more prone to mishaps. It’s a good moment to take charge or catch up on stuff that’s been piling up.