This Astrology Chart Shows You Your Soul Purpose — And It's So Easy To Calculate

The standard type of astrology chart used to learn about a person's personality and their planned path in life (aka their "karma") is called a natal, or birth, chart. A progressed chart is a type of predictive chart, derived from the natal chart, that shows a person's evolution over time.

Progressed charts are calculated by a formula that progresses or moves the natal chart forward. In a progressed chart, each day after birth equals one year of life. A progressed astrology chart for someone who's 25 years old, for example, would be equivalent to the chart (or condition of the sky) 25 days after that person's birth.

The progressed chart is useful for showing slow changes over the course of life. It can very accurately describe personality shifts, emotional development, areas of current karmic focus, and notable achievements a soul has been working toward in this life.

Because progressed charts are used to show gradual changes and evolution, they hold their meaning longer than a standard "transit chart," another important predictive astrology chart.

The moon is the fastest-moving planetary body in the progressed chart (and one of the most useful). It moves approximately one (1.09) degree(s) per month. It takes approximately 2.3 (often rounded to 2.5) years for the progressed moon to change signs and around 27.5 years for it to go through all the signs. In contrast, it takes 30 years for the progressed sun to change signs. It moves one degree per year and only goes through two to three signs in most people's lives.

The distant planets (Neptune and Pluto) move very little in a progressed chart. Nearby planets (Venus and Mercury) move at a similar rate to the sun, though their movement is less consistent due to retrograde periods. Mars moves half a degree per year.

Each of these planets can spend years of a person's life in retrograde motion (in the progressed chart) if they were retrograde at birth or in the days or weeks following birth. Because of these long time frames, aspects within progressed charts and from progressed charts to natal charts can be active for months (for progressed moon) and years (for sun, Venus, Mars, Mercury).

Jupiter and Saturn are "middle planets." They move at middle speeds in both transit and progressed charts. Unless you are born with one of these planets in the last degrees of a sign, they may not change signs in the progressed chart during your lifetime. Saturn moves about one degree in 18 years in a progressed chart, and Jupiter moves one degree in 12 years.

Thus, when Jupiter or Saturn do change sign or direction (going retrograde to direct or vice versa) in the progressed chart, it is an indicator of a notable shift or new phase in life.

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In modern times, most people rely on astrology software to calculate progressed charts. This can be done for free at astro.com.

You can either look at a fully progressed chart (which shows the progressed rising sign on the ascendant), or you can look at the progressed chart on the outer wheel of the birth chart (a "biwheel" chart).

The biwheel is the chart I use more commonly to make predictions. The stand-alone progressed chart is interesting, though, providing a useful way to clearly visualize what's important for a soul now (how they are progressing on the goals of their birth chart). 

1.

I pay attention to the sign and house of the progressed moon.

2.

I look at the relationship between the progressed moon and progressed sun.

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3.

I consider sun sign shifts.

One of the other key things I consider in a progressed chart is the "sun sign shift" (when the sun changes sign). This very rare occurrence marks a prominent personality change. It only happens once every 30 years, except for the first change, which varies depending on the degree of your original natal sun placement. If your natal sun is at 20 degrees Leo, for example, you will become a progressed Virgo around age 10, and your parents would definitely note a personality change (infusion of seriousness).

When the progressed sun changes houses (in a biwheel chart), especially when it crosses the first, fourth, seventh, and 10th (the "angular houses") house cusps, significant shifts in personality and focus occur. Important milestones often accompany these crossings. When the progressed sun makes notable aspects (geometric connections) to birth or transiting planets (such as progressed sun conjunct birth Venus or Neptune), significant life events are common.

4.

I check out the progressed rising sign.

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