There are two major methods for prediction in astrology - one by observing the planetary movements in the sky, the other by analyzing a specific horoscope. In the first case, what are being described astrologically are general tendencies and events affecting the whole world. In the latter case, it's the individual perspective only.
     World event predictions belong to mundane ast­rology. Of course, if a horoscope chart is made on a country or an institution of some kind, that would also be mundane astrology.
     Personal astrology is done by the birth chart, also called nativity, erected for the moment of a person's birth. Much can be said about that person's future, just by looking at the horoscope chart. In addition to it, the astrologer can use transits, ie. planetary movements in the sky forming aspects to planetary positions in the horoscope.

Velocity
In whatever kind of astrological prediction, it must be remembered that the planets move with very different speed around the Zodiac. Therefore, they also differ in how long it takes for them to complete their orb and return to any given position. So, some planetary events are frequent, while others are very rare. That decides the level of their importance.
     Here are the orbit speeds of the planets, the time it takes for them to make one rotation around the Zodiac, in round numbers - from a geocentric perspective, ie. as seen from the earth. From earth, the inner planets are seen not to make more than one full rotation per year, whereas the outer planets differ little in speed along the Zodiac from a heliocentric perspective (as seen from the sun). Note that in astrology some other celestial bodies and points are regarded the same way as actual planets.

   Sun   1 year
   Moon   1 month
   Mercury   1 year
   Venus   1 year
   Mars   2 years
   Jupiter   12 years
   Saturn   29 years
   Uranus   84 years
   Neptune   164 years
   Pluto   248 years
   Ascendant, AC   1 day
   Medium Coeli, MC   1 day

     As you can see, the difference is tremendous - from one day to 248 years. The three slowest planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, are called generation planets, because their position in the horoscope is shared by a whole generation. The quickest points in the horoscope are the AC and MC, making one rotation each day. Therefore, they are the most personal points in the horoscope.



Keywords
In astrology and the horoscope, each planet represents an acting force, either internally in a person or externally in the world. These forces can be de­scribed with the following keywords:

   Sun   basic drive
   Moon   longing
   Mercury   curiosity
   Venus   affection
   Mars   aggression
   Jupiter   luck
   Saturn   duty
   Uranus   contemplation
   Neptune   fantasy
   Pluto   catharsis
   Ascendant, AC   attitude
   Medium Coeli, MC   self-image

     These planetary forces are affected by their position in the Zodiac, where each sign represents a different quality or tendency that the planet there will express, while in that sign. The Zodiac sign qualities are:

   Aries   challenging, impulsive
   Taurus   conservative, concrete
   Gemini   communicative, playful
   Cancer   caring, sensitive
   Leo   dominant, proud
   Virgo   careful, minute
   Libra   negotiating, ethical
   Scorpio   hidden, passionate
   Sagittarius   impatient, independent
   Capricorn   ambitious, decisive
   Aquarius   profound, original
   Pisces   searching, submissive

     Furthermore, the horoscope is also divided into 12 astrological Houses. They represent different settings, specific fields of life where the action takes place. Generally speaking, and in a mainly personal per­spective, they are:

1. Identity
2. Resources, economy
3. Communication, education
4. Home, family
5. Pastime, pleasures
6. Work
7. Partners
8. The unknown
9. Travel
10. Social status
11. Ideals
12. Shortcomings

     Finally, there are interactive links between the planets and the action they represent, when they are at certain distances to each other. These specific distances are called aspects, and traditionally the most important of them are:

   conjunction, 0°   fusion
   opposition, 180°   separation
   trine, 120°   harmony
   square, 90°   conflict
   sextile, 60°   cooperation

     For more information about the components above, see the links in the left menu.
     In astrology, these components are interpreted in a combined way. A planet, its Zodiac sign, House and aspects - it's all brought together in the search for the specific meaning in the horoscope.
     Below are links to closer looks at the roles of Neptune and Pluto in mundane astrology prediction. These two generation planets say a lot about trends and events in the world. Since their orbs can be calculated far into the future, they can easily be used in prediction about tendencies in social development.

Mundane Neptune
Mundane Pluto
© Stefan Stenudd, February 20, 2006