One of the most straight forward, common, and basic techniques used in predictive astrology is that of "transiting" planets. If you've previously done any cursory investigating of astrology on the Internet - then you've probably already been exposed to and heard the term "transits" being casually bantered about.

Snapshot
Your birth chart is a snapshot of where the planets were located on the Western Tropical Zodiac at the exact moment when you were born. However, your life (and time) refuses to stand still - and the planets continue on with their individual journeys through the sky, forever circling the Zodiac….

Here's what a "transit" is: the positions of the moving (transiting) planets are compared with the stationary planetary positions in one's birth chart.

Planetary Playhouse
Transiting planets are continually acting out their grand theatrical performances with your birth chart (planetary positions and houses) as their chosen stage, scenery, and backdrop.

The astrological concept of transiting planets is generally analogous to the Jungian psychological concept of an archetype being "constellated" (i.e. energy produced through friction) in the human psyche.

Whether or not depth psychologist Carl Jung purposely chose the language "the constellating of an archetype" in deference to astrology (i.e. the term Constellations), I'm clueless. However, early in his professional life, Jung became a devotee of astrological principles and symbols.

The idea is that the "transiting" (moving) planets reflect inner archetypal "time clock" and cycles of energies. These cycles reflect the natural patterns of growth, development, and maturity occurring within each one of us. These inner energies are "constellated" as the transiting planets pass over the stationary birth planets.

Why do these inner energies often become linked with external "time and space" events in your life?

As Carl Jung stated: "when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside as fate."

These inner energies are often unconsciously "projected" (by you) out onto your external "time and space" reality. So - from the personal, subjective standpoint of the "ego" (or the "I") - transits are oft times experienced as external events that "appear" to be happening "to us."

The rationale for primarily looking to the slower moving (transiting) planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto - is: the longer a slower moving (transiting) planet hangs around in one place in the chart - the longer its archetypal, life changing energies are hanging around one place in your psyche and projected out into external, "time and space" reality in the form of external "time and space" events.

The Houses
I hate overloading you with information, but I'm going to do it anyway.

It's also very important to take note of which natal (birth) houses the slower moving (transiting) planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto - are passing through.

It's especially important to take note of when the moving planets pass over:

the Ascendant (1^st house cusp)
the IC (4^th house cusp)
the Descendant (7^th house cusp)
and the Midheaven (10^th house cusp).

(The "cusp" being the very beginning point of the house.)

The Ascendant, IC, Descendant, and Midheaven "angles" of the chart act like filters. They act as entry points through which the particular energy of the passerby planet is able to flow freely into and "color" the chart. Therefore transits over these angles very often correspond with the happening of significant external life events.

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List of Suggested Reading:

Predictive Astrology for Novices:
The Changing Sky by Steven Forrest (buy it now at Amazon.com)

Predictive Astrology for whatever the next level is called:

• Planets in Transit by Rob Hand (Buy it Now at Amazon.com)
• Roadmap To Your Future by Bernie Ashman
• The Changing Sky by Steven Forrest (it's not just for novices)
• The Eagle and the Lark by Bernadette Brady (Buy it Now at Amazon.com)

Uranian and/or Cosmobiological Astrology (if you have to ask, then you don't need to know)

• Dial Detective by Maria Kay Simms
• The Combination of Stellar Influences by Reinhold Ebertin (Buy it Now at Amazon.com)