Earlier this morning I was working with a student covering the 3 main types of market cycles in FOREX and I figured I would share it. Using USD/JPY 4hr as an example, you can see three differently colored zones. Green/Red reference bullish and bearish price action. The blue zones represent consolidation.
Price action is defined as, "basic movements of the price, to generate signals of entry and exit in trades and that stands out for its reliability and for not requiring the use of indicators". Price action is simply how prices change - the action of price. It mostly relates to the pure psychological intention of the majority of traders (Bulls vs. Bears).
Consolidation zones (blue) occur simply because buyers and sellers within the market are in agreement. You will see much less volatility and liquidity during times of consolidation. We use this to our advantage with the strategy we have developed, by looking for secondary retests at the bottom or top of areas where consolidation has previously occurred to predict price action before it happens.
I suggest that you pull up a 4hr chart and begin to back test by drawing the three types of zones to get more aquatinted with being able to spot these out. This will help you always maintain awareness of which current state the pair you are trading or analyzing is in.