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.

Here's an example of what it looks like when an astrologer places a transiting chart against a birth chart for comparison: (click here) The transiting planets in the outer circle slowly move through time and space in a counterclockwise direction around the stationary birth planets in the inner circle.

• Foxfire users (and ONLY Foxfire users) can click here to see a fast loading Javascript DHTML animation depicting transiting Jupiter conjuncting the stationary birth position of Venus. From the vantage point of the Earth, transiting Jupiter is conjuncting the birth position of Venus. (When finished, click your browser Back Button.)
• Just for grins - here's another Javascript DHTML depicting the Earth revolving around the Sun and the Moon revolving around the Earth that only Explorer 4+ users can click here. (When finished, click your browser Back Button.)

Generally Speaking...
The "strongest" or most "significant" transits occur when one of the slower moving (transiting) planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) makes an aspect to ("hits") one of the faster moving (but stationary) birth chart planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars).

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.

Houses
I hate overloading you with information at this point, 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.

Going back to that example of what it looks like when an astrologer places the two charts together to be compared? See that symbol at the very top of the chart (with the red circle around it)? That's the transiting planet Saturn, and it's located in this person's 10th house.

With just a quick, cursory look - any astrologer consulting this person could have told them that from the Spring of 1995 to the Spring of 2000, they should watch for possibilities of experiencing limitations and learning hard lessons in the area of their public life and career aspirations. And the Spring of 2000, there might even be one final good-bye surprise from transiting Saturn before it finally moves on to the next house.

Here are a few of the Pitfalls we've all been guilty of falling into when first beginning to take a look at transits. (and still fall into on occasion)….

Pitfalls for version 4+ Netscape or Explorer Browsers. (When finished click your Browser Back Button)

And for those still using a boring, funky, old browser:

And for those still using a boring, funky, old browser:
Quick tips for funky old browsers

Now available at StarryMart: Steven Forrest's SkyLog Computer Generated Report
Yep! Once upon a time... Dr Z swore up one side and down the other that he would never, ever feel comfortable selling a canned forecasting report at this site. Dr Z finds himself in a position where he is now forced to eat his own words. The fact is that Dr Z feels rather comfortable and cozy selling the canned forecasting report, SkyLog, with interpretations written by Steven Forrest.

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)