The Changing Sky: Learning Predictive Astrology

I have been interested in understanding astrology for a long time, but my experience in finding books that don't overload me with too much often-contradictory information has been difficult. This is often because too many books about astrology are nothing more than "cookbooks" that list large amounts of information in lengthy lists intended to help the reader interpret the meanings of when particular planets appear in specific signs or houses in an individual's birthchart. Sometimes, they will include similar interpretations about aspects between planets in the birthchart. Less often, they might include interpretations about transiting planets, but usually nothing about progressing planets. What results too often from these astrology "cookbooks" is confusion for readers because few of these "cookbooks" describe how to identify what the important significant parts of a birthchart are or how to synthesize the information into a meaningful whole. Without such an understanding, it becomes impossible to tackle the more difficult concepts of predictive astrology.Recently I read Steven Forrest's 1983 book "The Inner Sky: How To Make Wiser Choices for a More Fulfilling Life". In this book, Mr. Forrest provided an elegant set of guidelines that enable novice students of astrology to grasp what the most important features in a birthchart are so that a concise synthesis of the lengthy amount of information contained within it can be effectively navigated and understood without falling prey to information overload. Being greatly inspired by this book, I decided to read Mr. Forrest's next book, "The Changing Sky: A Practical Guide to Predictive Astrology", which was first published in 1986. As in the "The Inner Sky", Mr. Forrest provides a definitive set of guidelines in "The Changing Sky" that are highly beneficial. In order to gain any meaningful information from predictive astrology, both transiting and progressing planets must be compared to an individual's birthchart. As the birthchart is a snapshot of the sky when a person is born, transits are the actual locations of the planets at a time later in the individual's life. Hence, transiting planets make aspects with the locations that the planets were in at the time of an individual's birth. These transiting aspects can mark significant events that most people experience (such as the first Saturn return at about the age of 30 or a transmitting outer planet making a conjunction with a natal Ascendant, Midheaven, Sun or Moon, for example). Understanding progressions is a bit more difficult than transits because (1) there are multiple progression techniques used by astrologers and (2) progressions don't necessarily relate directly to actual locations of planets. Progressions are created by astrologers using a symbolic time frame of reference. The most common progression technique that astrologers use (and is what Mr. Forrest explains very well in "The Changing Sky") is called "secondary progressions". In secondary progressions, the movements that the planets experience in one day relate to one year's life for an individual based upon that individual's birth time. In this way, as the slow-moving outer planets can influence people for years at a time, in progressions, the fast-moving inner planets slow down and have similar influences that can affect people for years at a time. This is actually one of the key factors used in predictive astrology: the longer a transiting or progressing planet can aspect with a significant natal planet, Ascendant or Midheaven in an individual's birthchart, the greater the impact that a transiting or progressing planet can have. This concept helps to form the basis for the four "nets" that Mr. Forrest describes in the eleventh chapter of "The Changing Sky". By understanding how long a particular planet can transit or progress through an aspect with the birthchart (as well as knowing which transmitting/progressing planets are the most important), particular transits and progressions can be divided into different nets that represent different levels of importance, either over long periods of time or shorter periods. A progressing planet changing signs and/or houses may also be significant. Fast-moving transiting inner planets may act as triggers within the larger scheme of the longer-lasting transits and progressions.Mr. Forrest separated the 13 chapters contained within "The Changing Sky" into five parts. The first part (two chapters) focuses on the "root prediction", which is the birthchart. The second part (four chapters) focuses on transmits and includes discussions of the teacher & trickster sides of the outer planets, as well as the meanings of the transiting inner planets. The third part (three chapters) is an overview of progressions and includes the teacher & trickster sides of the inner planets, except the Moon, which still moves too quickly when progressed. Instead, an entire chapter (Chapter 9) is used to describe the progressed moon's meaning in signs and houses in a "cookbook" style. The fourth part (one chapter) is a "cookbook"-style description of all the possible aspects that the progressed inner planets (except the Moon), Midheaven and Ascendant make with all of the natal planets, natal Midheaven and natal Ascendant. Mr. Forrest's inclusion of this "cookbook"-style information is highly beneficial since I have never seen any other "cookbook"-style book ever include any progressed planet information. The fifth and final part (three chapters) is a synthesis of all of the information in the previous four parts and includes an interesting astrological analysis of the life of Vincent Van Gogh.Overall, I rate Steven Forrest's book "The Changing Sky: A Practical Guide to Predictive Astrology" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone interested in understanding a methodological approach to predictive astrology. In my opinion, this book and Mr. Forrest's earlier book, "The Inner Sky: How To Make Wiser Choices for a More Fulfilling Life", are probably the best first books to read to begin a study of astrology. I also recommend that you read "The Inner Sky" before reading "The Changing Sky" to gain the most benefit from both books.

Honestly, this book is way more than I expected it to be. At some points I felt overwhelmed, but at the very end he brings everything together so beautifully. I have to say, Steven Forrest is the greatest teacher I have ever encountered. Wise, humble, and really knows how to explain the way things work. His approach helps you understand the underlying logic, which is something I really need whenever I learn anything.I have to admit, this is the only book I've ever read on predictive astrology. And to be completely honest, it may be the only one I need, at least for now. It has already given me so much to work with, and so I will probably be working with it for God knows how long.In short, I highly recommend this book. If you haven't read The Inner Sky, then you probably should read that first (unless you are already familiar with astrology). That book is more an introduction to natal work. Once you have those basics, this book is the next logical step. I love it, and I can't recommend it enough!

This is the best , most beautiful book for understanding transits. I'm a beginner/ intermediate student of astrology, and this book is very helpful. His style is delightful! Yes he is telling stories, but these stories are full of wisdom and one learns from them. I think we learn better from stories, than from reading lists! Thank you Steven Forrest!

I admit, when I saw celebrity endorsements I ran away for quite awhile. I kept coming back because of what I saw in the sneak preview. The table of contents and first pages were obviously a cut above the usual 'popular' astrology books, but these books are even better than I'd hoped. Clear, accurate, easy to understand without being 'dumbed down', and they make you excited to learn more. You do have to think while you're reading, and be willing to do some work on your own to remember everything he's saying, but hey... no book can just pour the knowledge into your head! Overall, Forrest's are the best books on astrology I've ever read.

This astrology book is probably best for those who have some previous knowledge of astrology or who have at least read Steven Forrest’s previous book- “ The Inner Sky”

great...can only add more knowledge about astrology for beginners and more advanced astrologers

I went and bought inner sky by Steven Forest After reading this, I read the whole thing so it must’ve been good

I absolutely loved this book- I have been studying astrology, mostly independently, for a few years now and this helped me funnel the immense information into a workable collection meaningful info. It helped me move from overwhelmed and directionless to directed and confident in how I approach looking at my chart, or others, in relation to transits, progressions, and solar arcs. Thank you!