Astrological texts describe the effect of each planet in each sign and also in each Bhava house. So we have the factors Viz.

· Signs and their qualities.
· Bhavas and their relationships to all items of life.
· Nature of planets
· Effect of planets on each sign.
· The six fold strength of planets
· Position of planets in Vargas
· Aspect of planets on each other
· Planetary conjunctions and their effects
· Gochara or transit effects
· Retrogression, acceleration, combustion, exaltation, debilitation etc

The above factors can be judged in two ways:
Natal or the positions as at the time of birth and 2nd is Gochara which means transit positions at any given period. Go = Planet, Chara = Movement.

So factors such as sign effect, Bhava effect, aspects effect stagnation. Acceleration or retrogression effects, Cyclic effects for Jupiter and Saturn (Called Paryaya Effects), Effects of Vedha or badha (screen or otherwise) take place at all times which account for the day to day happenings in the life of an individual.

The so-called broad based planetary forecasts published in journals and newspapers are based on the gochara factors. In fact some of them base it on the movement of Moon alone. Since the forecast has to be based taking into account the natal set up the forecast made in their absence does not materialize. The fault lies with the astrologer and not with astrology.

It can be put this way for easy understanding.
A huge dress shop has dresses for both the sexes and of all ages. The salesman has to select only those that will fit the customer and not the other things. Another example: - Say

A person has Unblemished exalted moon receiving the benefic aspect of a powerful Jupiter. This will make him very wise intelligent at all times irrespective of Gochara. At the time of bad transit he may forget a thing for some time but will recall it the moment the gochara is over.

Similarly in a planetary set up indicating "Daridra" or Poverty, when the Gochara is bad the native has to go without food and when favorable he may get a few meals free.

So a Good astrologer has to evaluate the worth of the horoscope based on all the above said considerations and then assess the gochara effect before giving the forecast.