This is a topic I’ve thought long and hard about. On one hand, there is nothing more magical then someone telling you what will happen and then having it happen as described. On the other hand, nothing is more disappointing then having if not occur too. Prediction is the main reason why so many people go to astrologers in the first place. I’ve studied techniques in both Western and Vedic Astrology, and there are similarities to both and some guidelines. First, the key seems to be in the slower planets, which does not include the Sun or Mercury, meaning the Mercury Retrograde or Astrology Sun Signs in the back of your magazine will not get you this information. The second important guideline is that the future is based on your potential which can only be found in your natal chart. Transits, progressions, or dashas in Vedic to the natal chart describe how external circumstances bring out potential. Finally, there is timing in your life. You may have the potential to be a concert pianist and all the transits bring this out, but at age 105, so no dice.
Then there are the events to be predicted such as things we want, love or money (pink or green). They can be our fears , will I be hit by lightning? Lose everything? Desire or fear tend to cloud intuition and judgement. How much is fated and how much is up to my efforts? Usually it’s a mix of both. What Astrology is very good at is cyclical changes that happen to us all, such as age or maturity (Saturn return at 30),both physically and mentally. When you think tracking the planetary cycles were originally used to predict the seasons and manage the agricultural cycle to feed communities, you appreciate that we too develop, grow, harvest, and decline and our chart can show us this well. This is usually not the questions astrologers are asked to answer. Some people avoid astrologers because they are afraid to know the future while others want the control of knowing. Neither is the best way to apply astrology. What works well is to manage the patterns in your chart. Every chart has ebbs and flows and once you understand this you can use them with timing to make life a bit easier.
For example, my chart has Mars , a malefic planet, in a spot that causes me lots of trouble. When I see a transit over this position , I lay low. I know from car accidents and arguments on these dates in the past when the planets line up in a certain way, that this is a time to avoid risk. I can look back on events and chart them and see the triggers. Some events are once in a lifetime and others may be annual. When I do make predictions for myself, and it happens, I am still surprised because it is live and I am reacting to it. No matter how well I describe and time it , I am still surprised because knowing it is never quite the same as experiencing it.
Next topic.. does moving to a new location impact your chart? Does Astro-cartography work?