The natal horoscope is a map of the planets' positions within the zodiac at the precise moment of your birth. It is believed that when you were born, the planetary energies, arising from their various locations within the zodiac, formed an imprint on your soul. This is believed to have happened at the moment when the top of your head (the location of the crown chakra ) was initially exposed to the atmosphere. These energies (the various vibrations of the celestial bodies) combined to form your basic personality and physical makeup.
After you are born, as the planets continue to move, they periodically make certain critical angles to the planetary positions within your natal chart. This happens in two major ways: First, astrologers have determined that the planets' positions for each day after your birth represent the themes for each succeeding year of your life. This is called the "progressed horoscope". It measures how your life progresses on a year by year basis. For example, if your were born on March 28, 1955, we would draw up a chart of the planetary positions on March 29th, 1955 to get the progressed horoscope for the year when you were one year old. The planetary positions on March 30, 1955 would represent your second year of life, the planetary positions on April 1, 1955 would represent your third year of life, etc. When a progressed planet forms a critical angle (or "aspect") to a planet in the natal chart, it is believed indicate a time when certain changes or events related to the aspect will occur within the person or within his or her environment. In addition to the progressed to natal aspects, astrologers also look at the progressed to progressed aspects. How do we predict the approximate time frame when this will occur? By looking at the next factor: "the transits".
The transits are the planetary positions as the appear today. As a transiting planet forms an aspect to a planet in the natal or progressed chart, events are triggered off. These are usually most pronounced when a transiting planet is stimulating an active progressed to natal aspect.
In review, the natal chart is a map of the heavens at the precise moment of your birth. This reflects your basic, personality patterns, your strengths, and your weaknesses. As your life unfolds, we can look at the basic yearly themes by interpreting the progressed chart and its relation to the natal chart in the form of the aspects that are made. Finally, we look at the transits which are where the planets are today, or on any given day of interest. Transiting aspects act as triggers which help astrologers predict when events are likely to unfold.
Does all of this mean that every facet of your life is molded and preset in a fateful way over which you have no control? The answer is a definate "No!" These influences form the 'basic' temperament of your personality and the 'general' trends you are likely to face as you complete your spiritual evolution. How these traits form throughout your life is determined through factors such as the choices you make and the type of environment you are raised in. Your reaction to the planetary energies, through the use of your 'free will' determines the kind of changes that will result.
The goal of natal astrology is to help you get in tune with your basic temperaments, your inner strengths and your limitations as revealed in the natal chart. The goal of predictive astrology, the progressions and transits, is to identify the factors that are most active within the natal chart at any given time in your life. This knowledge can then provide guidance, which can help you live a fuller, more productive life by providing an avenue through which you can reach a higher stage of development.