In the Stars with Kathryn Silverton
Author of "In the Stars" for United Airlines' in-flight magazine Hemispheres

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Looking at the Future

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The Natal Chart:  An Analogy to a Dramatic Play

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Looking at the Future

How does an astrologer look at the future?

Astrologers use several techniques to look at upcoming trends in a person's life. There are three different techniques that are most commonly applied.

The first is what we call the transits. The transits involve looking at where the planets are now in relation to their natal position. If a significant angle is created by one or more of the transiting planets to one of the natal positions, this suggests some sort of activity will be triggered. The nature of the activity depends upon which planets are doing the activating, the houses occupied by the transiting and natal planets, and the type of aspect created from the transiting planet(s) to the natal planet(s). For example, if Saturn is moving over where the moon was sitting when you were born (natal moon), this could suggest something critical is happening in your emotional or domestic life. The transits suggest external forces that influence you over the time they are in effect.

Another tool used by astrologers is the progressions. In various sacred writings there appears a suggestion that we count each day after the day of our birth as symbolic of a year of our life. This method is called the secondary progressions. For example, if you are 40 years old this year we would count down to the 40th day after the day of your birth and plot the planets accordingly on your chart. Since the inner planets (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) move rather quickly, these are the progressed planets to which we pay the most attention. The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) move so slowly that over a period of 40 days (equivalent to 40 years of your life) their progress is negligible. One possible exception here is Jupiter. Although it is an outer planet it does move a bit faster than the other outer planets, so its progressed position may also be of some significance.

The progressions seem to influence us more from an internal perspective and suggest the growth or progress we are making as an individual.

Another tool utilized by some astrologers is that of the planetary returns, the most common being the solar return. A solar return is cast by plotting a chart for the exact moment that the sun returns to it's precise natal position by degree, minute and second. This is done annually. Generally your solar return occurs on your birthday. However, since the sun does not move exactly a degree a day, your solar return could feasibly occur the day preceding or following your actual birthday. The solar return is read as a chart that will influence you for the coming fiscal year from birth date to birth date.

Other planetary returns can also be plotted, such as lunar returns, which occur once every 28 days. However, the solar return is the most common.

Kathryn L. Silverton
Lilburn, Georgia
770-931-2577