CARTER'S NATIVITY RULE

from Astrology: A Language of Life Volume I - Progressions (ISBN 0-96689780-3)

Copyright 1998 by Robert P Blaschke.
(Extracted with author's permission)

"Several years ago, I started to seriously consider the interrelationship

between the natal chart and the progressed chart when I first read the
prominent British astrologer of earlier this century, Charles E.O. Carter.
I found his "Nativity Rule" in The Principles of Astrology:

"It is a cardinal rule that no direction can bring to pass what is not shown in
the nativity. Exceptions to this are virtually non-existent."

Carter clarifies a "direction" as the progressed to progressed, or progressed

to natal aspects. In essence, he's saying that unless planets are in aspect to
each other natally, progressed to progressed aspects or progressed to natal
aspect between these same planets will have no significant effect. Exceptions
to this are virtually non-existent.

In other words, activity in the progressions that produces life change is

derived from the natal horoscope and is only an extension of the existing
natal aspects. This means that not all of the potential progressed to natal, or
progressed to progressed aspects will equally impact one's life. Carter
believed that the natal chart limits the operation of progressions inexorably;
the natal chart shows what is likely to happen and the progressions, when.
CARTER'S LAW OF EXCITATION

Pondering the interrelationship between transits and progressions, I found

Carter's "Law of Excitation," again in The Principles of Astrology:

"If at the time that a progressed body is in aspect to another by direction,

either of these bodies forms an aspect by transit with either of the two
directional bodies, then this transit will excite the direction into immediate
operation."

In other words, when one progressed planet is in aspect to another by

progression, and either of these planets form an aspect to the progressed
planets by transit, the transiting planet will trigger the progressed aspect. So,
within this astrological law, the "exciting" body, or transiting planet, must be
one of the two directional (or progressed) bodies. Carter's Law of Excitation
works in progressions at every level-secondary, tertiary, and minor and
explains why one transit can act with great force while another transit does
not.