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Secondary Progressions: Symbolic Forecasting Technique

Secondary Progressions: Symbolic Forecasting Technique

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Author: Alison Price   –   Published: May 2026

Secondary Progressions

Symbolic Forecasting

Symbolic forecasting is different to direct forecasting.

It has to do with movement where one day equals one year (secondary) or one day equals one month (tertiary) another non-direct planetary movement.

The planets have moved symbolically that is by some predetermined movements and these can be varied.

Podcast Episode

Listen to Arwynne and I (Alison) in our recent podcast episode on Secondary Progressions.

Progressions

To progress a chart is to move it forward (usually forwards but sometimes backwards) a predetermined number of degrees and minutes which depends on the method being used.

All progressions whatever the type refer to the daily ephemeris positions of the planets but look at different dates for insights.

Progressions are Different to Transits

Progressions are different to transits as they come from the slow development of your own natal chart. They are the inexorable unfolding of all the potentials within the natal chart and as such they are specific to you.

For example, take an acorn. We will say the acorn is the natal chart. An acorn is really the seed of an oak tree. Within the acorn is the potential for a tree to grow which will be one of the biggest trees on Earth.

This does not mean that all acorns will grow to maturity or will reach their full height, but that they may. When the acorn is planted it will probably germinate and start to grow. Depending on the weather conditions of sunlight and water and warmth the tree will grow.

In our analogy, the weather, sunlight and warmth are the transits. Transits affect us and transits are the same for everyone at the same time. Such as Saturn in Aries is so placed for everyone and we have to deal with its meaning. How well we enjoy Saturn in the sign of the Ram depends on how it connects to our natal chart at the time.

As an oak tree may not enjoy a cold and wet winter other plants may and can thrive on the very conditions that Saturnhas brought such as holly. An oak tree with all it needs will grow to its full potential. An oak tree without all it needs may be thwarted, struggle to grow and only attain half its size.

Potential Still to Come

That the acorn will grow into an oak tree is the natal chart. It will not grow into an apple tree or a giraffe. The progressions (and other symbolic forecasting tools) show how it could develop as an oak tree.

Progressions are sourced in the natal chart. They are not at the whim of the transits.

Progressions move steadily forward throughout life. They are based on the potentials inherent in the natal chart.

It can be like the unfolding of a rose petals where the natal chart is the bud and the progressed chart the unfolding petals.

Secondary Progressed Chart

Day-for-a-Year

Secondary progressions are a symbolic forecasting technique.

Day-for-a-year movement is the basis for secondary progressions.

All the planets and points (Ascendant. Midheaven and nodes etc.) will progress forward in time.

The Progressed Date

A progressed chart moves the forward in the calendar as many years as the age of person today.

This will be a specific date and that date is known as the progressed date. It is the date for the calculation of the progressed chart.

Example

Example: A person who was born in 1986 and is now 29 years old in 2015, we count forward in the ephemeris 29 days (one day for each year) and find the planets positions 29 days later.

A birthdate of July1,1986, will return a progressed date of July 30,1986. That is the birthdate (1st) plus 29 days.

We select the planets positions for July 28, 1986, and construct the progressed chart. The progressed chart includes the planets positions and aspects.

Where the computers come in is in calculating the angles and house cusps.

Ephemeris extract (c) The American Ephemeris for the 20th Century, Neil F. Michelson.

Progressed Chart Stand Alone Interpretations

Personal Planets

With secondary progressions we generally focus on the five personal planets which are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venusand Mars.

This is because the slower moving planets will only travel several degrees by progression during the course of a lifetime.

Outer Planets

The outer planets are considered more in the transits. The outer planets are not usually noted in progressed chart interpretations.

Because they move so slowly by progression, in some cases they may never break away from their natal aspect.

However, if a progressed outer planet changes house or sign that is significant.

For example: an individual who is 80 years old can expect:

  • The Sun, Mercury and Venus to have moved about 80 degrees around the zodiac.
  • The Moon will have made two and a half revolutions around the chart.
  • Mars may have moved 50-60 degrees (perhaps two signs).
  • The social planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will move slightly (8-10 degrees).
  • The outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, may move (2-3 degrees).

Progressed Retrograde

A planet which is retrograde in the natal chart will continue in its retrograde motion by progression, then station direct by progression, and perhaps finally move direct by progression.

Note: If the birth time is inaccurate, it may be fruitless to work with the house cusps in secondary progression work.

Progressed Moon’s Movement

Progressed Moon

The progressed Moon can travel up to three times around the chart in one lifetime, and in doing so will make all the possible aspects to all the planets and points in a chart.

This lunar speed creates endless considerations for an astrologer.

As the progressed Moon takes twenty-nine years to make one orbit of the chart, it will therefore be progressing through each sign for about two years and eight months.

All things being equal, it will spend a similar amount of time in each house.

Progressed Moon Changing Sign

  • Instinctively relates to the new sign’s attributes.
  • The moods reflect the sign element changes.
  • They will take comfort in the new sign’s meanings.

Progressed Moon Changing House

  • Emotional towards the affairs of the house.
  • Feels at home in the new house.
  • Habits move towards alignment with the house.

Progressed Moon Phase

Progressed Moon to Progressed Sun

When the progressed Moon conjoins the progressed Sun a new progressed Moon cycle begins. It is the progressed new moon. The cycle is called the progressed lunar phase.

As the progressed Moon moves forward it will make all the lunar phases (new moon, crescent, first quarter, gibbous, full moon, disseminating, last quarter, balsamic) to the progressed Sun.

Each phase lasts about two and a half years. Much has been written about this and you are urged to read some more.

Progressed Lunar Returns

Progressed Moon to Natal Moon

The progressed Moon’s relationship to the natal Moon’s position is also considered.

The progressed Moon will return to its natal position every twenty-nine years.

The natal Moon remains in its position in the sign and house and receives aspects from the progressed Moon.

The progressed Moon will reinforce the natal Moon for better or for worse depending on the actual aspect being formed.

Progressed Personal Planets

Progressed Planets

The progressed personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) move relatively quickly through the chart and so will change sign and house by progression.

The Sun, Mercury and Venus move together closely and often maintain a focus in sign and house by progression.

What to look for:

  • Planets changing signs.
  • Planets changing houses.
  • Planets stationing.
  • Natal aspects fading away (separating from an orb of one degree) as the progressed planets separate.
  • New aspects to the natal planets and angles slowly forming (applying) from progressed planets.

Converse Secondary Progressions

Backwards in Time

Converse secondary progressions are calculated backwards day-for-a-year, in time, from the birth date.

If you are forty-two, you will count backwards forty-two days to find a progressed date before you were born and cast the chart for that date.

Converse secondary progressions are used as a forecasting tool by some astrologers.

Converse secondary progressions is a technique which you can explore later.

The Progressed Dispositor Tree

Forecasting with the Progressed Dispositor Tree

The natal dispositor tree will offer clues for natal interpretations. The progressed dispositor tree does the same for forecasting.

As the progressed planets change signs the progressed chart will have a new dispositor tree.

Drawing your progressed dispositor tree can be very enlightening and is a valuable component of your forecasting technique.

What to look for in a progressed dispositor tree:

  • Watch out for a new final dispositor as that is the strongest planetary placement.
  • Also note any progressed mutual receptions forming in the progressed chart.
  • Note the tree structure (final dispositor tree, single planet in rulership tree, planet in rulership tree, mutual reception tree or committee tree)
  • Look out for new main body gateway planets with a planet above and at least three planets below.

Progressed Sun Movement

Progressed Sun

The progressed Sun takes thirty years to travel thirty degrees or one sign.

You can expect to have the progressed Sun pass through three signs and three houses over the course of a lifetime.

The progressed Sun is always direct.

Progressed Sun Changing Signs

  • Identity is affected.
  • Polarity will change from positive to negative or vice versa.
  • Element
  • Mode
  • Age adds maturity.
  • Individual personality layers are built from one sign to the next.

Progressed Sun Changing House

  • The individual identifies with other areas of life.
  • The spotlight shifts to different interests.
  • Experience again benefits the individual.
  • The life-force is refocused.

Extend Yourself

Progressed Sun

Referring to your natal chart or a chart you are working on:

  • When you are eighty years old, list in which house the personal progressed planets are likely to be.

Referring to your birth chart, progressed chart and an ephemeris:

  • Find your progressed date (birthdate + age in years = progressed date) Note any shift in your progressed angular elements from your natal. State which planet is your current progressed chart ruler.
  • Note any progressed house emphasis shift from the natal.
  • Note any progressed sign emphasis shift from the natal.

Progressed Moon

  • Find the date of your last progressed New Moon.
  • Note in which house and position your last progressed New Moon occurred.
  • State your current progressed Moon phase.
  • Write the date of your next progressed Moon phase change.
  • List the Ptolemaic aspects to your birth chart by the current progressed Moon (orb 1).
  • Write a short interpretation for your current progressed Moon by phase, sign, house and aspects (50 words).
  • Write a twelve-month progressed Moon forecast and note all new aspects forming from the progressed Moon to the natal chart in the next twelve months (300 words).

Progressed Sun

  • Interpret your progressed Sun by sign, house and aspects (100 words).
  • Interpret your progressed Sun for the next twelve months and mention any upcoming aspects made from your progressed Sun to your natal chart (orb 1) (300 words).

Progressed Dispositor Tree

  • Draw your progressed dispositor tree and interpret it.
  • State the tree structure, final dispositor, any gateway planets and note the exact date when it will change next.

 

More On Forecasting

Here are some more forecasting articles. I’ll add more as I write them.

 

General Forecasting

Transits

Graphic Ephemeris

Solar Returns

Solar Arc Directions

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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Astrological Forecasting Techniques

Astrological Forecasting Techniques

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Astrological Forecasting: Overview

Astrological forecasting is a popular use for astrology and many people come to astrology exactly for the predictions you can get.

But not all forecasting techniques are created equal. Some are easy to understand and some are more complex.

Forecasting is in two broad sectors, the direct forecasting methods and the indirect forecasting techniques.

Direct Forecasting

Direct forecasting techniques use the current positions of the planets in the sky as we speak. You need an ephemeris for transit work.

Examples of direct forecasting techniques are:

Indirect Forecasting

The indirect forecasting techniques are often those that equate one day’s planetary movement to one year of life. They are also known as symbolic forecasting techniques.

Examples of indirect forecasting techniques are:

  • Secondary progressions
  • Solar arc directions (Venus arc directions etc.)

Forecasting Techniques You Need to Know

Most astrology students learn the forecasting techniques in the following order:

  1. Transits
  2. Secondary progressions
  3. Eclipses
  4. Solar returns
  5. Graphic ephemeris
  6. Solar arc directions
  7. Other (primary directions, firdaria etc.)

Learn to Love Transits

It is common to learn transits first.

Many astrologers only use transits as they are easier to learn. Every Sun sign horoscope column relies on transits only and this makes transits the most popular forecasting method in any astrologer’s repertoire.

 

“Transits are the most popular forecasting method.”

 

If you work on several charts and need to do the forecasting then if you know that Uranus will change signs into Taurus in May 2018 it will do so for everyone.

Once you know a transit movement you can use that knowledge for every single chart you every look at. This makes transits the go to astrological forecasting technique.

Everyone needs to know transits.

Secondary Progressions

The second most popular forecasting technique is conveniently called secondary progressions.

In this case, the movement of a planet for each day of life from birth is symbolised as the corresponding yearly movement.

If you are thirty-three then you will cast a secondary progressed chart for the thirty-third day after your birthday and use the planet’s positions that day to cast the secondary progressed chart.

Each person’s secondary progressed chart is different. No two are the same unless you were born at the same time, date and place.

This means it is more work for the astrologer because it is almost as another chart to read. Professional astrologers will probably use secondary progressions for your full forecasting picture.

Solar Returns

In a solar return chart you cast a chart each year for the exact time the Sun returns to its natal position.

If your birth Sun is at 15 degrees 45 minutes of Virgo then each year when the Sun returns to the precise position you cast another chart.

Each year you will have a new solar return chart.

People with the same birth date (but not the same year) will have similar solar return charts but not exactly the same.

So, everyone born on September 15th will have the Moon here and Venus there in their solar return chart but the ascendant will be different.

This makes solar return charts popular as they are based on the transits of the day and astrologers know where the Sun and Moon are and the other planets.

Graphic Ephemeris

The graphic ephemeris is a special diagram that has to be read by the astrologer and it typically shows the superior planets and their cycles over a year or two. See image.

This is probably the most useful tool I personally use in my astrological forecasting.

Eclipses

Solar and lunar eclipses are transits and are special due to the close alignment of the Sun, Moon and the Earth on the eclipse day.

Eclipses can be further broken down into:

  • General eclipse forecasts
  • Personal eclipse forecasts
  • Collective eclipse forecasts

Solar Arc Directions

In solar arc directed charts you take the progressed movement of the Sun (as found in the secondary progressed chart) and add the longitudinal measurement to all the planets positions at birth. From this you will create a new chart called the solar arc directed chart.

From this you will create a new chart called the solar arc directed chart.

If your natal sun is at 15 Virgo and you are 33 years old you add 33 to 15 Virgo and the result is 18 Libra. This is the position of your solar arc directed Sun.

You do the same for the other planets. Add the Sun’s movement to every planet in your chart and find the new placement which will be 33 degrees further in the zodiac.

In a solar arc directed chart the aspects between the planets remain the same but the planets change house and sign.

The solar arc directed chart changes slightly every day as you get older.

How Much to Learn in Forecasting

How much you have to learn about astrological forecasting depends on who you are now and who you want to be later. There are 5 levels of astrologer and you can see where you fit in.

Hobbyist Astrologer

If you are simply trying to learn some more about astrology to make your life easier and more understandable then stick to transits.

Student Astrologer

If you are a student astrologer and plan to be a professional astrologer one day then learn transits first and the work down the list, (secondary progressions, solar returns, solar arc directions, eclipses and other).

Professional Astrologer

To be a professional astrologer you really do need to know at least four forecasting techniques.

They will compliment each other and underline the trends in the clients forecasting picture.

You are a Client

If you are a member of the public and you are looking for a professional consulting astrologer then do yourself a favour and find one who does advanced forecasting techniques.

Ask your prospective astrologer, “Which forecasting techniques will you use when you do my predictions?” and see what their answer is.

 

“Which forecasting techniques will you use when you do my predictions?”

 

If they only use transits be wary as they may not be fully trained in the more complicated astrological forecasting techniques. This may imply they do not have a broad astrological education.

Creative Growth

If you have got this far then you will likely want to grow your astrological forecasting techniques and begin to understand the differences in each one. To be a better astrologer you need to know these things. Forecasting often separates the “men from the boys” in the astrology world.