“Bernadette Brady has a gift for expressing the mathematically complex in poetic terms that turn angles and orbits into a celestial ballet. Predictive Astrology covers all the basics–transits, progressions, and houses–while unlocking the bewildering secrets of eclipses. In a seamless dialogue of logic and intuition, Brady encourages us to look beyond the basic blueprint of the natal chart and peek into the future. Her view of fate doesn’t condemn a person to a set path in life, allowing the astrologer who carefully balances logic and intuition to better prepare her clients for the challenges fate has in store.”
Amazon Review By Brian Patterson
The Eagle and the Lark
Bernadette Brady’s, The Eagle and the Lark, A textbook of Predictive Astrology, was first published in 1992. In 1999 it was republished as Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and the Lark. Bernadette Brady dedicated her groundbreaking book to her parents saying:
“To my father who gave me the Eagle…
and my mother who gave me the Lark”
The book begins with a list of the 31 charts used in the book, then goes on to tell The Fable of the Eagle and the Lark.
The ABCs of Predictive Astrology
The Eagle and the Lark gives astrologers or serious astrological students a thorough introduction into the ancient art of prediction.
In the first chapters of “The Eagle and the Lark” Bernadette Brady 0ffers a new technique for interpreting transits called an transit grid. This grid organizes all the data concerning a transit, into an easy to read visual that describes the cause, action, and effect of the transit.
Transit Grid Example:
| Planet | Pluto | Square Mercury |
| Natal House Location | 4th | 5th |
| Transiting Location | 8th | |
| Houses Ruled | 5th | 1st |
- Natal House Occupied by planets: these are the causes of the event, the origin of the issue.
- Transit House: this is the actual event
- Houses Ruled: the consequences/results of the event
This invaluable book is full of predictive techniques. These include cycles, transits, returns, progressions, eclipses, as well as the best and clearest explanation of the Saros cycles ever!
Transit Grid and Time Maps
Brady describes how to set up transit grids and time maps, interpret progressed planets, waxing and waning orbs, and so much more.
She also discusses the meaning of the astrological symbols in a predictive context, and then shows you exactly how to read transits, secondary progressions, and a few other techniques.
If you practice astrology and are somewhat befuddled when it comes to prediction you’ll gain a great deal of understanding from reading this book. It’s a clear and well organized approach, in which Brady reminds the reader to never forget that astrology is an empirical art.
She’s also makes it clear that not all techniques work for every client; estimating that about 5% of clients do not have charts for which “dynamic” techniques – transits and progressions – seem to work. Interestingly, she also suggests that different clients seem to respond to different house systems.
Eclipses and Saros Cycles
I was fascinated by the transit grids, which deal with the cause, effect, and outcome of each transit. Still the most interesting and unexpected part of this book could be on eclipses and the Saros cycles.
Bernadette Brady delves in depth into these, revealing that each eclipse, solar or lunar, is like a link on a centuries-long chain that has a definite beginning, end, and meaning. In doing this she gives you a sophisticated way of understanding and working with eclipses in a predictive context.
Note: There is a pdf of Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and the Lark online. However, this truly is a text book on predictive astrology, so I’d suggest after reviewing the pdf of this fascinating book, you purchase it. But don’t simply read it; study it and slowly progress through the book, take notes on the key concepts, study and practice the techniques you learn, and keep it handy as a resource and guide.