Warning: technical astro faffing about is below. Where the last 2 posts are intended for astro peeps/students, this one is even more technical & potentially confusing. You have been warned… I’ll be back to my usual irreverent self tomorrow.

Another traditional method of predictive astrology, profections is one of those techniques which is difficult to find information on. What follows is again how I was taught. I am aware that this technique can be used to “profect” other parts of the chart (eg Venus if you are looking at money or relationship issues), I use it for the Ascendant only…but then again I prefer to simplify my life as much as possible J.

Essentially, if you were born with your Ascendant in Pisces, as I was, from birth to age 1 you have a 1^st house or Pisces profected year. From your 1^st birthday to your 2^nd will be a 2^nd house or Aries profected year…and so on. See the table below.

Naturally, if you have an Aries Ascendant, your table would start with Aries and ruling planet Mars…and so on:

So this year, on my (gulp) 44^th birthday, I have moved into a 9^th house or Scorpio profected year. This means that Mars, as the ruler of Scorpio, is my “Time Lord” for the year. This planet will be sensitive to giving and receiving transits and progressions over the coming 12 months. The concerns of this planet will be important this year.

So, how to use it (again using my chart in illustration).

Examine the condition of the Time Lord in the natal chart

Condition of the Time Lord in the natal chart:

Mars at 3 Scorpio has dignity by rulership, triplicity, terms & face. Mars also has a natural affinity in the 8^th being a Scorpio house. Mars is, however, retrograde.

Examine the condition of the Time Lord in the Solar Return Chart

Now look at the Solar Return chart, but only at the Time Lord. Whatever natal story you have around that planet will be particularly relevant this year. Even if your Time Lord is the Moon, all transits to & from this planet will have extra oomph. If the Time Lord for the year is Mercury, the retrograde periods that year will be even more important. This goes also for Venus and Mars.

My Time Lord is Mars. In the SR chart it is at 12 Pisces in the 5^th house. It makes no close aspects to any other planet- other than a wide conjunction to the Sun…which is another story (see below).

• Which house in the natal chart does 12 Pisces fall? This is the natal 12^th house.
• Does the position of the Time Lord in the SR chart form an aspect to the natal position of the Time Lord? Eg if the Time Lord is natally at 10 Gemini and at 10 Sagittarius in the Solar Return chart, it is said to be in opposition. Aspect by sign is enough. Note: if the Time Lord is the Sun, it is assumed that it makes an exact conjunction to itself. Confused? Now you know why there isn’t a lot of information out there on this…

Look at the strength of the Time Lord in the SR chart.

The better the condition, the more ability the planet has to act on your side in the coming year- even if it is a malefic like Saturn.

• Is it in a sign where it has dignity through rulership or exaltation (see the table below)
• Does it have accidental dignity ie does it have more strength by being close to the angles or the cusps of the 1^st, 4^th, 7^th or 10^th houses?
• Is it retrograde? This is one of the biggest afflictions- closely followed by…
• Is it combust ie does it fall within 8.5 degrees of the Sun? There is no greater affliction as the planet is said to be blinded & unable to see clearly.
• Is it cazimi ie with 17’ from being exactly conjunct the Sun? This is, in contrast, as really good thing as the planet is considered to be in the heart of the king. Note, to be either combust or cazimi, it must be in the same sign as the Sun.
• Is the Time Lord aspected by either of the malefics (Mars or Saturn) or the benefics (Venus or Jupiter)? By sign is enough.

Table of Dignity