All 52 chapters
  1. Part 1 · The sky and the chart
  2. The sky above us
  3. Time and place of birth
  4. Two zodiacs
  5. How a chart is drawn
  6. Part 2 · The building blocks
  7. The 9 planets
  8. The 12 signs
  9. The 27 nakshatras
  10. The 12 houses
  11. The lagnas
  12. Part 3 · How planets work together
  13. How planets interact
  14. Friends, dispositors, exchanges
  15. House lords
  16. Reading one placement
  17. Part 4 · Strength and condition
  18. Dignity in depth
  19. A planet's mood
  20. Planetary strength
  21. Ashtakavarga in depth
  22. Part 5 · Patterns: yogas and doshas
  23. Yogas
  24. Doshas
  25. Part 6 · The nakshatras up close
  26. Reading a nakshatra
  27. Tara Bala
  28. Part 7 · Divisional charts
  29. Divisional charts
  30. Navamsa in depth
  31. Part 8 · Timing
  32. Dashas
  33. Transits
  34. The annual chart (Tajika)
  35. Part 9 · Relationships
  36. Compatibility
  37. Marriage in depth
  38. Part 10 · Advanced systems
  39. Special points
  40. Jaimini astrology
  41. Arudha padas
  42. KP astrology
  43. Nadi astrology
  44. Part 11 · Choosing the moment
  45. Panchanga
  46. Muhurta
  47. Prashna (horary)
  48. Part 12 · Life areas
  49. Career, money and business
  50. Travel, abroad, spirituality
  51. Health and longevity
  52. Karma and past lives
  53. Remedies
  54. Rectifying a birth time
  55. Part 13 · Western astrology
  56. Western astrology basics
  57. Aspects and chart shapes
  58. Western prediction
  59. Synastry
  60. Horary and electional
  61. Part 14 · The wider world
  62. Mundane astrology and eclipses
  63. Astrocartography and branches
  64. Part 15 · Putting it all together
  65. How it all fits
  66. How AstroMatch4u scores a chart
  67. Using astrology well
Part 13Western astrology
CHAPTER 45

Western prediction methods

If Western astrology has no dashas, how does it time things?

Western astrologers usually learn to read a birth chart first, then add these timing techniques.

TransitsToday's planets against the birth chart, as in Vedic astrology but with degree aspects.
Secondary progressions"A day for a year": the chart of the 30th day after birth describes the 30th year of life. The progressed Moon moves about a sign every 2½ years.
Solar arc directionsEvery point in the chart moves forward by the same amount the progressed Sun has moved, about 1° a year.
Solar returnA chart for the moment the Sun returns to its birth degree each year: the year ahead (like Varshaphala, but tropical).
Lunar returnThe same for the Moon, every 27–28 days: the month ahead.
Saturn and Jupiter returnsSaturn returns about every 29½ years (around 29 and 58): a coming-of-age. Jupiter returns every ~12 years: renewal and growth.
Annual profectionsAn ancient Greek method: the ascendant moves forward one sign per year of age, and that sign's ruler is "lord of the year".
Zodiacal releasingA Hellenistic method from Vettius Valens that times life chapters from the Lot of Fortune (body, health) or the Lot of Spirit (career, purpose).
Primary directionsThe oldest technique: the daily turning of the sky after birth, with roughly 1° equal to a year of life.
Synodic cyclesThe repeating cycle between two planets, from one conjunction to the next (Jupiter and Saturn every ~20 years).

All chapters