posted February 02, 2008 05:01 AM              

What sign is on the ASC? What is with the chartruler? Where are the planets placed`?
Is there a certain area that is "crowded" with planets?
Which planets in the progressed are in conjunction or opposition?

This will give you a hint to where the focus will be on this year.

If you have a certain "hot spot", then I would look if it connects to your natal chart.
For example: My progressed chart contains an exact MErcury-Venus-Antivertex-conjunction in Aquarius.
And this conjunction falls exactly onto my natal (unaspected) Moon.

The progressed ASC (which is ALWAYS a hot spot) falls onto my natal Venus.

That gives me some hints, that this time I may be confronted with my emotions, my selfperception as a woman and with my needs in relationships (Moon and Venus also rule the 5th and 8th house).

After that I would take the other aspects into account, especially if they form a T-square, Grand Trine, Yod or Mystical REctangle, some form of planetary geometry.

AFter doing that I would have a look at the transits; because I am of the opinion that you need some strong transits to really trigger the potential grow, that is pictured in your progressed charts.

Also, doing progressed synastry can be VERY enlightening.

EDIT: Oh and don`t forget about the progressed Moon; she is quite important as a timer, since she moves so quickly.

posted February 02, 2008 07:14 AM            

Start by looking at the Natal chart and sussing out what it is all about.

Note down each of the progressions by planet comparing it to the natal positions. There may be nothing in the way of aspects next to one planet, but it can be easy to miss things if you just scan over a chart.

Do the same with transits, checking out with an ephemeris how the planets are moving about in the years before and after.

Maybe make notes, do drawings of any formations the planets make, e.g progressed Venus makes a T-Square with Pluto and the Moon (made that up but it sounds exciting).

posted February 03, 2008 10:55 AM            

Here is the info that I used from Cafe Astro. It provides links to the progressed moon in different signs: http://www.cafeastrology.com/progressedmoonsigns.html ...as well as the progressed moon in aspect to other planets: http://www.cafeastrology.com/progressedmoonaspects.html

"Secondary Progressions
There are many ways that astrologers "progress" a chart. One of the most popular techniques is called "Secondary Progressions".

Some of the most significant secondary progressions:

When the Progressed Sun Changes Sign: Depending on how long a person lives, the progressed Sun changes sign perhaps 3 times in the entire life span. The period when the progressed Sun is very late in a sign and is about to change to a new sign (this occurs for about a year) is often a rather critical year in which many changes occur. When the progressed Sun changes signs, there is usually a very clear change in a person's general orientation and responses to his or her environment. Plenty of real-life events are possible (such as relocation, a new job in a new field, etc.), but the common theme is starting fresh—"out with the old and in with the new"—and a marked change in the outlook and attitudes of an individual. Before the progressed Sun changes signs, there can be some fear and dread—even a feeling that things are being "taken" from us. Hasty and poor decisions and a sense of urgency can be characteristic of this period. (Read more about the Critical Degrees and their impact in progressions here).

The Progressed Moon — Cycle of Maturity: The progressed Moon moves through the houses of our natal chart, coming full circle in about 27-28 years. The house it is moving through represents areas of our life that come into focus. We recognize our needs in these areas more intensely, although not necessarily clearly. For example, the progressed Moon moving through the 4th house often brings with it a strong need and search for "roots" and basic life definition. Even though our natal Moon sign "reigns" over our emotional needs in a general sense, our focus shifts as the progressed Moon passes through our houses. In fact, our emotional needs seem to change or shift as the house position changes. Read more about The Progressed Moon Through the Houses (coming soon). The sign of your Progressed Moon indicates the prevailing emotional attitude of that period of time. Read more about The Progressed Moon Through the Signs. Also note that if you look into your past and determine when the progressed Moon passed over any one of the four angles in your chart (that is, the Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant, and IC) you will see that these progressions/passages often mark rather significant times in your life. Also significant is the progression of the Moon to critical degrees, as well as Progressed Moon in Aspect to Natal Planets and Points.

The Progressed Lunation Cycle: This is the cycle from one progressed New Moon to the next (every 27-28 years). Look to the phase of the progressed Sun and progressed Moon. During the progressed New Moon phase, individuals instinctively start a new phase or chapter in their lives. The Crescent phase brings about new challenges and opportunities, as well as adjustments, that don't always feel pleasant, to the new cycle as a purpose is not entirely clear at this point in the cycle. The First Quarter phase represents a particularly active, building stage, while the Gibbous stage presents a time of refining and fine-tuning. This makes way for the Full Moon phase, which is a time of fruition and accomplishment. This marks the beginning of the progressed waning moon phase, when some things dissolve and one begins to recognize the need to let go. The Disseminating phase is a time of sharing and literally "disseminating" that which has been learned in the waxing phase of the moon. The next phase, the Third Quarter Moon phase, marks a time of one's life when there lies some discontent and dissatisfaction with the way one has been approaching life. This can be a somewhat confusing time, as one instinctively prepares for the final stage of the waning Moon: the Balsamic phase. During this phase, old systems begin to phase out, and there may be a desire for withdrawal and reflection.

Progressed Planets Conjuncting an Angle of the Natal Chart or Progressed Angles Conjuncting a Natal Planet or Point. These activations involving natal and progressed angles (the Ascendant and Midheaven) generally point to significant personal changes in the native's life.

Transits to the Progressed Planets and Points: Transits to progressed planets and angles are extremely significant, and should never be overlooked. For example, transiting Saturn may not be making any significant aspects to our natal chart, but if it is squaring our progressed Sun, we will feel its influence in our lives."
http://www.cafeastrology.com/predictiveastrology.html

There's also some good info on reading transits on the same page.