Report Sample

Sky Log

Astrological Report for

Annie

Aug 01, 2008 – Aug 01, 2009

by Steven Forrest

 

This report prepared by:

Cafe Astrology

https://www.cafeastrology.com

Sky Log Steven Forest

Traditional astrologers “make predictions.” Often they are correct. But right or wrong, “predictions” turn you into a marionette, with the planets holding your strings. And in my opinion, that is not a very inspiring description of the way the cosmos works, nor a very accurate one. You are vastly more powerful than that. You can, to a great extent, shape your own life. That at least is my belief. The future isn’t crystallized. It’s a wavering, quivering web of possibilities. How will they manifest? Much depends upon how you wield the magical wild card we call your freedom.

So, what’s the use of astrology? In a nutshell, it can help you make better choices. The planets never give a definitive answer to the question “What will happen to me?” Instead, they ask the question. But they ask the question in a very specific way: “Given everything you are, all the bridges you’ve crossed, all the contracts you’ve signed, there are several possibilities for what you might do next…” In other words, “Here’s the menu. What are you having?”

Question mark.

And the question mark is the most important part of the whole inquiry, because that’s where the uncertainty — and your freedom — lies. But the planets do even more. They offer advice. In a sense, they recommend certain choices over others. They seem biased toward your evolution. They often suggest that you take the less familiar path, the one that moves you into richer fields of your own potentiality. The planets express this rather philosophical bias in a very concrete way. Typically, when you make a less energetic response to a planetary question, the results, while initially comfortable, rapidly turn painful. Sometimes the pain is immediate and dramatic, as in the collapse of an important relationship. Other times, it’s more subtle, as in the degeneration of life into deadening boredom and ritual. Either way, sooner or later we know you made a wrong turn somewhere.

In the pages that follow, we will be exploring the coming months of your life from this planetary perspective. There are three parts to the report, and any or all of them may be included here, depending on which have been requested. First, the big questions. In the part of the report called THE INVITATION, we try to get that “mountain-top” perspective that enables us to make sense of the details. In THE MEANS, we turn our attention to some secondary factors that offer suggestions, help, and support in responding to those big questions. And finally, we’ll look at the report period month-by-month, day-by-day, to get some ground-level insight into THE DETAILS. Your report may be for three, six, nine, or twelve months and may include any or all three sections just described. For this reason, and because some years in your life are astrologically more active than others, report length can vary quite a bit.

Throughout the following text, I’ll be endeavoring to write in plain English, but if you’re unfamiliar with the jargon of astrology, you’ll encounter a few words that may require definition. A “transiting” planet, for example, refers to the actual, current position of that planet in the sky. Sometimes the transiting planets form critical geometric angles with the “natal” planets in the birthchart, triggering developmental questions in your life. These critical angles are called “aspects.”

The “progressed” planets function in much the same way as the transiting planets, but we approach them a little differently. They’re like a script that’s been built into your birthchart. Just as we know that an oak tree will emerge from an acorn and bring forth its leaves in season, similarly each person’s birthchart contains within it the seeds of certain predictable developmental stages. Progressions spell out those stages.

So sit back, open your mind, and engage your heart. It’s time to consider…

The Invitation

Some years loom large in our memories decades down the road; others are blurry, easily forgotten. That universal human reality is reflected in the movements of the planets — astrologically speaking, one year is often far more significant than another, just as in life. Most of the really important celestial factors move rather slowly; thus, it’s not unusual to experience a time in which none of them have gone critical, when we can calmly keep on putting one foot after the other, on “cruise control.”

Well, for you this is definitely not that kind of year. Something truly pivotal is occurring…

Tr. Uranus is Opposite Uranus In effect: Apr 4, 2009 – May 17, 2009
Peak date(s): Apr 23, 2009

You’ve reached an extraordinary crossroads. Technically, it bears a simple enough name: the Uranian Opposition. Existentially, it will rock you. The planet Uranus takes eighty-four years to get around the Sun, which corresponds symbolically to the length of human life. In average terms, people die a little younger than that, but emotionally there’s something “just right” about living through exactly one Uranian cycle. At the Uranian Opposition, the planet has completed precisely half its journey. (The orbit is a bit irregular, which accounts for this event not always occurring at age forty-two.) Thus, the Uranian Opposition is the archetypal midpoint of life. In a nutshell: Welcome to midlife!

Deep inside you, behind all the social programming you learned from your family, your community, and the television set, there is a core of unique selfhood. Every time you’ve made a good, lasting decision in your life, it’s been the result of tuning into that core Self and taking its advice. But, unless you glow in the dark, not all your decisions have been that unerring. We all make choices, imagining them to be “our own,” but in fact we are living out someone else’s expectations of us — mom’s, dad’s, those of our peer group, maybe those of some culture-hero who’s made an impression on us. Thus, the storyline of your life so far reflects a battle: with your real self on one side — and on the other, the unauthentic, “normal” person you’ve sometimes erroneously imagined yourself to be.

What is happening in your life now is that your True Self is getting extremely assertive. Decisions and commitments which you’ve made based on bad information about yourself are coming unglued. Two master teachers are arising for you now. One is Enthusiasm. The other is the “Blahs.” You need to listen to both. The “Blahs” come up when you persist in some action not rooted in your authentic Self, which will simply refuse to release the energy you’ll need to continue. This can be quite scary when, for example, the Uranian message is that you’re in the wrong career…and you find yourself unable to concentrate at work. But there’s another teacher: enthusiasm — when you’ll find yourself filled with strange, new curiosities and interests. Indulge them! They’re rooted in your newly-energized core. They are the voice of your long-lost essence.

There’s a phrase which rattles around almost everyone’s mind at this crossroads: “It’s about time I do something for myself for a change!” And it’s good advice…just put a capital “S” in the word “myself” and you’ll see the larger picture. You were born to follow a particular path through life. Like everyone else, you’ve gotten a bit off target over the years. And now this year you’re going through a kind of “mid-course correction.” Trust your impulses. The reward is a vastly more meaningful and interesting pattern of experience as you move into life’s long second act.

A footnote: in a classic “situation-comedy” midlife crisis, the person undergoing the experience often makes an ass of himself or herself through reverting to inappropriately youthful behavior. He or she buys a ratty sports car, starts dressing like a pop star, worries overmuch about the wear and tear of gravity upon the physical form. Succumbing to those impulses is a waste of time, but often they can be decoded and reveal useful information. If you find yourself sexually attracted to a much younger person, for example, reason like this: How young would I have to be for this relationship to appear conventionally appropriate? Then think back to that time in your life. What were you doing? What choices did you make then? What bridges did you burn? Probably you’ll soon zero in on a place in your biography where you got off course. Maybe it was an unwise career compromise. Or a poorly-timed pregnancy. Or a marriage that should have been three dates. Whatever you learn, the aim of the Uranian Opposition is to help you get back into harmony with the real inner agenda of your life, and knowing where the mistakes were made long ago can often help you know what’s missing from the picture today.

Your Uranian Opposition affects the entire period covered by this report, but its impact peaks Apr 23, 2009.

Tr. Pluto is Square Moon In effect: in progress – Nov 8, 2008
Peak Date(s): sometime before the report period.

The planet Pluto is shading the spirit of your life nowadays, and in a nutshell that means that you are being challenged to heal. Pluto, as you probably know, is the lord of the underworld…or to put it more succinctly, the God of Hell. And it is disquieting, to say the least, to imagine that this deity is currently dining at your table. But take heart! The “hell” inside you needs airing out, and that is essentially what this transit is about. You’ve been hurt. You’ve been used, abused, rejected, exploited, lied to…the whole sad litany. And, like the rest of us, you’ve sometimes had to keep the proverbial stiff upper lip and simply get on with your life. But where does all that hurt go? Down deep into the unconscious mind, where it stays until you’re clear enough and strong enough to handle resurrecting it and really going beyond it. Pluto’s action is to bring up buried emotions. Its tone is intense. It often feels moody and confrontative. It can destabilize and disrupt the areas of your life that it’s touching. The best course is to resolve to go deeper and deeper, truth above kindness and resolution over comfort. It’s not easy, but in the end the energizing and empowering of the psyche make the process worthwhile. What is Pluto actually doing? Currently it is square your natal Moon. Although Pluto is a slow-moving planet and usually unfolds its story over a period of two or three years, during the period of this report the action peaks sometime before the report period..

Let’s begin deciphering this configuration with the understanding that the action driving these existential developments is showing up in the part of your life we call the Ninth House. That’s where Pluto is currently making its influence felt, thus bringing events to bear upon you. Typically, when the “House of Long Journeys” is stimulated, life is eventful and expansive in tone. You are challenged to stretch out toward new experiential horizons through travel and educational efforts — to toss hand grenades into the well-oiled machinery of your life. Why? Because deep down inside, you are starting to get bored with yourself! The key question with which you must wrestle is this: which adventure is the right one? Astrology cannot answer precisely, but here’s one helpful hint — to travel the right new road and thus refresh your spirit, you will need every ounce of the energy of Pluto that you can muster. It’s that kind of adventure, that kind of stretching, that is appropriate for you now. But what’s the core issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that, we turn our attention to the Moon, which is being invited into development by the invigorating, exhilarating impact of these new perceptions.

Astrology is the basic “programming language” of human consciousness. That may seem like a bold claim, but it’s easily tested and proven. Pick someone who imagines he or she knows nothing at all about astrology. Ask them what the Moon means. After an initially dumbfounded look, you’ll probably get an answer such as, “I dunno…feelings?” Which is quite correct. The mind naturally associates the Moon with darkness, with moonlight…and therefore with ghosts and romance, magic and tears, vulnerability and exhilaration: emotions. Deep inside us all is a subjective realm. Love and hate, joy and sorrow, dwell there. So do our daydreams and our creativity. If we could “average” a person’s mood over a lifetime, we’d have an excellent profile of his or her Moon. When the Moon is triggered into development by a passing transit or progression, your inner life is stimulated. You feel stirred up. Powerful currents of emotional energy, for weal or woe, are released into your psyche. The very basis of happiness for you is evolving.

The Twelfth House is where the Moon lies in your natal chart, and it is currently undergoing a lot of evolutionary emphasis. It is critical that you make an effort to get in touch with the energies of the Moon in yourself at this point. You need them, and you actually do have them available to you, but they’ve got a pattern of slipping away from your conscious control. Don’t let it happen! Meditate on the Moon! Draw pictures of it and tape them to the refrigerator! Do what it takes to avoid shooting yourself in the foot, which is what will happen if you let circumstances bamboozle you out of these healing, balancing energies.

The aspect connected with the astrological process we’re investigating here is the square, as we have seen. The square, traditionally characterized as an unfortunate aspect, describes a geometric angle of 90 degrees between the natal planet and the moving trigger. To call squares “bad” is misleading. More accurately, they are compelling. In the area of your life we’re considering, a terrific friction has arisen. It’s not comfortable, but it is an extremely effective motivator. The trick in using the energy creatively lies in moving decisively — determining precisely what you want, claiming it, and letting the rest go. A season of tough choices is upon you. Regarding the process we described in the previous paragraphs, there are costs involved in all the courses available to you…the most costly, for all concerned, being the course of indecision.

Tr. Pluto is Square Ascendant In effect: Feb 3, 2009 – Jun 7, 2009
Peak Date(s): sometime after the report period.

Pluto made an appearance earlier in this report, but now it has another message for you. Always this planet signals the existence of some emotional baggage to be released, some hurtful or humiliating piece of your personal history that needs to be remembered or reconsidered. The alternative is typically to re-enact some old wounding drama. Pluto currently is square your natal Ascendant. The action peaks sometime after the report period..

Currently Pluto is steering a course through your Tenth House. That’s the traditional “House of Career,” and any planet passing through that part of your natal chart suggests that external developmental pressures are now arising which have the effect of modifying your place in the world. Something is brewing in your profession or vocation, or in your social status — the way you look to people who don’t really know you very well. What is it? We can’t say exactly, but to respond optimally to the potentials and challenges built into this event, you’ll need to act according to the spirit of Pluto, as we just described it. But what’s the core issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that, we turn our attention to the Ascendant, which is being invited into development by these professional or social openings.

Like the rest of us, you are a complicated, paradoxical individual, full of contradictions and undercurrents. That’s human. But another part of being human is that, like the rest of us, you need to get out of bed in the morning and put on a streamlined, simplified social mask that allows you to function in the social beehive. There’s no way that you can have a truly intimate relationship with every face you see in your daily life, nor would you likely want such connections. So we all keep much of what we really are behind our astrological Ascendant, which symbolizes that mask. Physically, it is simply the sign that was dawning in the east at the instant of your birth…and symbolically it represents how you “dawn” on people who don’t know you very well. When triggered by a passing transit or progression, the Ascendant signals the need to make some adjustments in the way you present yourself in the social world, so that your outer appearance remains reasonably aligned with who you have become inwardly. The work is superficial; which is not to say unimportant. Often it has to do with changing how you hold your body, the way you speak, and the clothes you wear.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a square — traditionally seen as a “bad” aspect, but more accurately seen as simply frictional. Squares generally suggest tough choices, external pressures, and at least some stress.

Tr. Uranus is Opposite Sun In effect: Apr 13, 2009 – Jun 5, 2009
Peak Date(s): May 4, 2009

The planet Uranus is presently stirring the pot of your life, and that always promises a tumultuous passage, peppered with unexpected developments and encounters. Outwardly, Uranus is the wild card, bringing unpredictable and unforeseen events into the picture. Inwardly, it signals a time of accelerated individuation…that is, a time in which who you really are and what you truly want are rapidly emerging and defining themselves. A portion of what you imagined to be your identity has, in fact, little to do with you; it is a side-effect of your social training, nothing more. And, like training wheels on a kid’s bike, you are now ready to dump it. This has an unsettling effect upon not only yourself, but also those around you. Often during Uranian periods there is a distinct “changing of the guard” in our social circles; old relationships end, new ones appear. Claim your right to be yourself — that’s the essence of the transiting Uranus. Whatever it touches, changes. Trust the changes! Like a hard wind blowing the sand off a buried city, they are revealing who you actually have been all along. That’s Uranus in general. Specifically, Uranus is opposite your natal Sun: May 4, 2009.

Currently Uranus is maneuvering through your Twelfth House, which is the last house of the cycle and often suggests endings and dissolutions. Your key to success here lies in sorting out what parts of your life and circumstances have truly run their course and are therefore ready to be released. That’s hard, sometimes, since like the rest of us you’re in part a creature of habit and are therefore subject to getting too attached to the familiar. Of what should you be letting go? Part of the answer lies with Uranus, as we just described it: the part of you that’s ready to “die and be reborn” is tangled up with that kind of energy and attitude. But we can go further. There is also some ending and releasing going in connection with the Sun, which is being invited into development by these essential and apt conclusions — some of which, by the way, may be forced upon you by outside events if you’re slow to recognize their necessity.

The Sun, as astronomers tell us, is the center of the solar system. Everything spins around it. With its enormous gravity, the Sun holds the entire system together. In a parallel way, the astrological Sun represents the gravitational center of your personality. Your ego. Your identity. The part of you that gets up in the morning and, without even a single sip of coffee, knows its name, rank, and serial number. Those same astronomers inform us that without the Sun’s radiant energy, life as we understand it would cease to exist. Again, astrological meaning follows astronomical fact: the Sun symbolizes that spark of life inside you, your elemental vitality. Enthusiasm, energy, recuperative powers — all these are solar themes. Thus, when the natal Sun is triggered in an important way, two critical questions come up for review: who are you, and what really makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?

Sustaining steady contact with the energy of the Sun, always good for you, now figures especially prominently in one critical dimension of your life: the Sixth House, which is where the Sun lies in your birthchart. What themes or issues come to the fore here? Responsibilities, duties, and the fulfillment of your commitments. But before we start sounding too much like the Boy Scout Handbook, let’s remember that the pivotal issue of the Sixth House lies in recognizing the exact nature of your proper obligations, and not letting yourself be cowed into signing up for boring, self-sacrificial martyrdoms that are none of your business anyway. Clarifying the exact location of the thin line between humility and humiliation is on the front burner for you now. One rule of thumb: when your duties have the flavor of the Sun, you’re on the right track.

The geometric angle or “aspect” involved in the process we are studying is, as we said, the opposition. Not surprisingly, this suggests that the natal planet and the moving one are 180 degrees apart. Tension is thus woven into the spirit of this period of your life. The two forces we described are polarized, which often translates emotionally into a feeling of being damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. How can you break the logjam? Recognize that any impossibilities you are experiencing in this area probably arise from an incomplete or biased perspective. The opposition aspect always calls for a leap into a new, more accepting level of consciousness. Something is missing in your view of the problem — and that missing link (here’s the corker…) lies in the wisdom embodied by those people or situations that are now antagonizing you. It’s not that they’re right and you’re wrong; only that the truth that can carry you beyond this impasse lies somewhere between the two positions.

What we’ve considered above is the underpinning of this phase of your life. It’s truly elemental material — the stuff of which milestones are made. There’s no guarantee that astrological forces of such magnitude will be activated for everyone all the time. What follows is an analysis of some slightly less portentous dimensions of your astrological picture…less portentous, but still powerful enough to qualify as part of this year’s “Invitation.”

Try to see what follows in the light of all that’s gone before…

Tr. Neptune is Square Neptune In effect: Aug 4, 2008 – Jan 22, 2009
Peak Date(s): Sep 11, 2008; Dec 21, 2008

The planet Neptune is presently tinting and shading your biography, adding its dreamlike quality to the existential stew. Close your eyes; there’s a world in there. That’s Neptune, the planet of consciousness itself. Now open your eyes. There’s a world out there too, and it’s hard to ignore it. In fact, the outer world has become so pressing in its demands that you’ve partly lost contact with the inner one. But Neptune, transiting through sensitive territories for you now, is fixing that. Your inner world is so full it’s brimming over, overflowing its banks into your daily life. If you resist the process, you’ll find a host of Neptune problems plaguing you: losing the car keys, forgetting to pay the electric bill, having the attention span of a three-year-old on a sugar jag. But there’s an alternative: trust the process. Slow down. Meditate. Let the images come. Moult opinions. Breathe in, breathe out. Why? Because your unconscious mind has a message for you. It has to do with the possibility of happiness for you over the next few years, about how old sources of joy are drying up and — critically — about new ones you must learn to recognize. How do you receive the message? You stop resisting. You simply let it in. That’s Neptune in the broad sense. How is it effecting you specifically? Neptune is square your natal Neptune: Sep 11, 2008; Dec 21, 2008.

Currently Neptune is maneuvering through your Twelfth House. As we said earlier in the report, this is the final house of the cycle and often suggests endings and dissolutions. A meditative, accepting attitude is best now, letting go lightly of the things that are taken from you, knowing that despite appearances what is lost now has no place in the journey to come. What is to be released? A hint lies with Neptune, as we just described it — that part of you has completed a major phase of its work and must now “graduate” to a new level. But we can go further. There is also a need for some release in connection with Neptune, which is being invited into development by these vital resolutions and these necessary deaths — some of which, by the way, may be forced upon you by circumstance if you’re overdue in appreciating their necessity.

Close your eyes. Don’t think of anything at all. Just be aware of all that infinite, dark space. Welcome to Neptune. In your natal chart, it represents the part of you that knows how to enter trance, to meditate, or to “space out.” Everybody’s got one, and everybody experiences that part of their consciousness from time to time. When triggered by transits or progressions, Neptune asks you to let go, to allow material to enter your mind uncensored and unstructured. It’s more akin to feeling than thinking, but neither word captures it perfectly. Dreaming is the closest analogy…a sort of free-associative state in which your own mind works like an unpredictable movie theater. Why bother? Because such an astrological event signals that your unconscious mind or, if you prefer, your soul has an important message and is trying to get in touch with you.

Bolstering the energies of Neptune, never a bad idea, is particularly essential now, for Neptune lies in your Eighth House, the traditional “House of Death.” Mortality itself is usually not the issue; more accurately, the question here lies with all the fears with which you live and all the hurts and distortions the past has visited upon you. All of us sit on emotional volcanos. You, too. Now the time has come to look more closely at some uncomfortable memories…perhaps to share them with someone you trust implicitly. Take the spirit and attitude of Neptune, as we just described it. That mood will carry you most deeply and efficiently into the unsettling material at hand.

When Neptune forms an aspect with own natal position in your chart, a season of spiritual renewal is unfolding. “Man,” as the Bible tells us, “shall not live by bread alone.” And that of course applies to the ladies as well. Each person’s path is different, but for all of us it is equally essential that we follow it. Whether you go on a Lakota vision quest, a yogic fast, a Presbyterian retreat, or off for a quiet weekend of contemplative fishing is your own business. But whatever your inclinations along those lines, now is the time to follow them. You need an emotional lift, and that’s how to get it.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a square — traditionally seen as a “bad” aspect, but more accurately seen as simply frictional. Squares generally suggest tough choices, external pressures, and at least some stress.

Tr. Uranus is Opposite Pluto In effect: Aug 18, 2008 – Feb 23, 2009
Peak Date(s): Sep 14, 2008; Feb 4, 2009

Uranus came up earlier in this report. Now we encounter it again. As you may recall, this planet represents the “wild card” in life, and often correlates with unexpected events. Behind the roller-coaster ride, the real issue is your ability to claim your true individuality, even if that involves destabilizing certain aspects of your existing circumstances. Uranus currently is opposite your natal Pluto. The action peaks Sep 14, 2008; Feb 4, 2009.

Currently Uranus is maneuvering through your Twelfth House. As we said earlier in the report, this is the final house of the cycle and often suggests endings and dissolutions. A meditative, accepting attitude is best now, letting go lightly of the things that are taken from you, knowing that despite appearances what is lost now has no place in the journey to come. What is to be released? A hint lies with Uranus, as we just described it — that part of you has completed a major phase of its work and must now “graduate” to a new level. But we can go further. There is also a need for some release in connection with Pluto, which is being invited into development by these vital resolutions and these necessary deaths — some of which, by the way, may be forced upon you by circumstance if you’re overdue in appreciating their necessity.

Everyone has fears. Everyone has shames and wounded places. In you and me and everyone else, there are marks left by the times we’ve been lied to, abandoned, used, or exploited. It’s not the world’s cheeriest subject, but turning away only empowers those Plutonian hurts, gives them more latitude to influence your life. When your natal Pluto is triggered by a passing transit or progression, dark shadows are stirred within you. It’s a signal that forgotten, unprocessed, or repressed elements of your personal history are asking to be investigated. The procedure requires intensity, honesty, and emotional courage. The results are worth the effort. If you work well with these energies, you emerge stronger, clearer, and often with renewed inspiration. If you hesitate, it’s not unusual for the old wounding dramas to be re-enacted in your life.

Your Sixth House held our attention for a while earlier in these pages; now we see it making itself felt again. You have an inherent desire to be helpful and competent, and you express it best when you find ways to give people around you “gifts” of the nature of Pluto, as we just described it. That part of your nature is currently in the spotlight, so offer yourself and your gifts to those who need them. You’ll grow wiser, and they’ll be happier.

When explosive Uranus collides with unsettling Pluto, secrets long-concealed are brought to light, while unexpected, irresistible forces enter your circumstances. What one might call the “Hand of Fate” makes itself felt, sweeping away, often with frightening speed, situations which have outlived their evolutionary usefulness. The challenge to you here lies in adapting to a radically new perspective on your life.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by an opposition, which suggests some kind of tension or tug-of-war between them. You are asked to adjust your position, to adapt to the demands of the world around you, and to find a middle-ground between the various opposing needs and values.

Pr. Venus is Conjunct Pluto In effect: Aug 21, 2008 – continuing
Peak Date(s): sometime after the report period.

“Love.” What a word. Eskimos, it is said, distinguish two hundred different kinds of snow, each with its own name. Perhaps we should take a cue from them and cash in our word “love,” replacing it with dozens of more specific concepts. It would still baffle us, inspire us, give us sleepless nights — but at least we might then be able to communicate with each other more clearly. The love an infant feels for his or her mother…the consuming, volatile love of our teen years…the affection between old friends…the quiet affinity between those who have been well-married for decades: why do we put them all under the dominion of the same syllable? They’re certainly different human experiences. Love evolves. Our capacity to feel that emotion takes on new resonances as we mature, and it drops old resonances.

Astrologers measure that evolution through the motions of the Progressed Venus. When it comes to a sensitive zone in your birthchart, you are invited to open yourself to new dimensions of human relationships. Typically, the passage of progressed Venus over a critical point coincides with visible alterations in our sphere of intimacy: friendships, business or creative partnerships, romantic bonds…all come to crossroads. Sometimes they come to endings. Other times they slough off deadening rituals and experience renewal, even renaissance.  Many times such Venusian events mark the arrival of new people in our lives, people whose destinies are entwined with our own. Always, though, behind the outward relationship events, there is a deeper layer of meaning in these progressions: you are now asked to deepen the way you love, to love with yet another dimension of your being, to call still another part of your soul into the service of love. And, as always, it’s possible to miss the point, squandering the Venusian force in wheel-spinning romances or soap-opera related interpersonal dramas.

Our first step is to realize that the action and the developmental invitation are manifesting in the Sixth House, for that’s the region of your birthchart through which Venus is now passing. This tells us that duties and responsibilities are currently being emphasized in your life, and that their mood is the same as that of Venus, which we just described. The effect of these external, often somewhat self-sacrificial requirements is to pull your attention away from yourself and place it on the needs of others. But what’s the core issue? What part of your own life is being stimulated into development by these services you’re offering others? To answer that, we turn our attention to Pluto, which is being triggered by this period of hard work, giving, and supporting.

How is the progressed Venus currently touching you? It is conjunct your natal Pluto: sometime after the report period.. In thinking about this, remember that progressions are slow-moving events and that the action simply peaks then; it will be in effect throughout the period of this report.

The natal Pluto — that, as we have seen, symbolizes your own native capacity to probe into yourself and heal yourself. It always deals with the hurts associated with the humiliations and defeats that life has offered us, and the process of going beyond them.

Your Sixth House held our attention for a while earlier in these pages; now we see it making itself felt again. You have an inherent desire to be helpful and competent, and you express it best when you find ways to give people around you “gifts” of the nature of Pluto, as we just described it. That part of your nature is currently in the spotlight, so offer yourself and your gifts to those who need them. You’ll grow wiser, and they’ll be happier.

When Venus gets hooked up with Pluto, the progress of love (Venus) depends utterly upon the profundity of your psychological understanding (Pluto). A season of secrets revealed is upon you, and not all of them are pleasant. At a time such as this, your optimal path lies in the direction of facing squarely the lacerations and abrasions of your own personal history and those of one about whom you care very much. Most challengingly, you need to make a mammoth effort to keep the two clearly separated.

As we mentioned, the aspect involved in the event we just described is the conjunction, which refers to a precise alignment between the natal planet and the moving trigger. Thus, the process emphasizes fusion, integration, and synthesis. Of all the possible aspects, the conjunction is the most intense. The explosion rattles your outward circumstances; but it originates inside you, and puts you in the driver’s seat. It is appropriate for you to claim some new level of power, of self-expression, and of autonomy. If you don’t, no one will do it for you; and the opportunity will evaporate.

Tr. Saturn is Conjunct Pluto In effect: Nov 12, 2008 – Feb 20, 2009
Peak Date(s): Nov 25, 2008; Feb 5, 2009

The planet Saturn is currently casting a gray light on your circumstances — but is it the bleak gray of sorrow or the clear, comforting gray of wisdom and digested experience? That’s the choice. Saturn is classically viewed as the “bad” planet, the “Greater Malefic.” Don’t believe it! Used correctly, its transits can bring dignity and self-respect. Essentially, Saturn is about maturity. The part of your life that’s being touched by the Saturnian energies needs to grow up…which, despite the lies we’re all told, is not a process one mysteriously completes on one’s twenty-first birthday. There is an area of your life where you have simply outgrown yourself, at least inwardly. The task now is to adjust your outward circumstances to reflect the maturity you’ve already attained psychically and invisibly. It is a material problem, not fundamentally a psychological one. To succeed, there is first a need to face reality squarely, even if it’s unsavory. Then to make a hard choice…that is, to reach an emotional bottom line and not be crippled by your awareness of the ambiguities in your situation. And finally, in a spirit of commitment, persistence, and self-discipline, to claim those circumstances in your life which reflect the hard inner work you’ve been doing over the last few years. That’s Saturn in general. Specifically, Saturn is conjunct your natal Pluto: Nov 25, 2008; Feb 5, 2009.

Our first step is to realize that the action and the developmental invitation are manifesting in the Sixth House, for that’s the region of your birthchart through which Saturn is now passing. This tells us that duties and responsibilities are currently being emphasized in your life, and that their mood is the same as that of Saturn, which we just described. The effect of these external, often somewhat self-sacrificial requirements is to pull your attention away from yourself and place it on the needs of others. But what’s the core issue? What part of your own life is being stimulated into development by these services you’re offering others? To answer that, we turn our attention to Pluto, which is being triggered by this period of hard work, giving, and supporting.

The natal Pluto — that, as we have seen, symbolizes your own native capacity to probe into yourself and heal yourself. It always deals with the hurts associated with the humiliations and defeats that life has offered us, and the process of going beyond them.

Your Sixth House held our attention for a while earlier in these pages; now we see it making itself felt again. You have an inherent desire to be helpful and competent, and you express it best when you find ways to give people around you “gifts” of the nature of Pluto, as we just described it. That part of your nature is currently in the spotlight, so offer yourself and your gifts to those who need them. You’ll grow wiser, and they’ll be happier.

When sober-minded Saturn gets involved with dark-hearted Pluto, you’ll have little patience for fluffy, frilly superficiality. This is a serious moment, something of a day of reckoning. Truths must be recognized and told. Lies must be illuminated, and demons named. You are ready. The situation is pressing. It will not go away or improve of its own accord. Take responsibility, move decisively, and do what must be done.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a conjunction — the most powerful of the geometric aspects and one that suggests convergence, intensification, and often a new beginning.

Tr. Jupiter aligns with the Eleventh House cusp Date: Dec 3, 2008 – Continuing

The planet Jupiter is currently coloring your circumstances. Before we say exactly how, let’s attempt to understand the more general significance of any Jupiter event. Essentially, this is a call to recognize an opportunity. Traditional astrologers view it more starkly — to them, it is simply the planet of luck. And that is often the case: the toast does tend to land butter-side up when Jupiter is crossing sensitive territories. But the real, evolutionary meaning lies deeper. One key is that Jupiter is future-oriented…it is concerned with bright, unexplored possibilities. Stripped to its bones, Jupiter always asks one primary question: how have you been underestimating yourself? Its transits signal a time when new opportunities come into existence, but to seize them you must recognize that you deserve them, that you are capable of rising to them, and that old deals and compromises are finished. Trust yourself, have faith in life, and go for it: that’s the spirit of Jupiter. How is it affecting you? Jupiter is conjunct your natal Eleventh House cusp: Dec 3, 2008.

Setting priorities — that’s the core of the Eleventh House process. Where do you go from here? What do you really want? A paradox lies at the heart of this phase of your journey. You’ve accomplished a lot…in many ways you’re in an enviable position, harvesting the fruits of long effort. But there’s a sense of anticlimax woven into your accomplishments. The truth of it is that your dreams are coming true — but they are old, burned-out dreams from long ago. You are running on momentum from the past, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. However, with Jupiter entering this part of the chart, you are now invited to host a strategy-session with yourself.

Behind the well-oiled machinery of your life, behind the web of social relationships and responsibilities you’ve woven, there is a basic sense of directionlessness, rendered invisible to others by the successful, energetic appearance of your life. Outwardly, the old answers still work fine, but the truth is they don’t satisfy you any more. You’ve outgrown them. Can you seize the chance to make a quantum leap? Can you take the initiative and claim a new level of creativity, of public respect, of visionary inspiration and leadership?

Those are the questions woven into the foundation of your current circumstances. To answer them in a positive, sustainable, life-enhancing way you need to figure out exactly what you want…and the answer lies right in the crosshairs of Jupiter, as we just described it. Tremendous physical and creative energies are available to you, along with a wide array of resources and useful alliances…if only you’ll tap into the main line of conscious, self-aware choice in the spirit of Jupiter. It boils down to one eternal truth: to get what you want, you must know what you want.

Tr. Pluto is Conjunct Midheaven In effect: Dec 15, 2008 – Feb 14, 2009
Peak Date(s): Jan 12, 2009; Jul 5, 2009

Pluto made an appearance earlier in this report, but now it has another message for you. Always this planet signals the existence of some emotional baggage to be released, some hurtful or humiliating piece of your personal history that needs to be remembered or reconsidered. The alternative is typically to re-enact some old wounding drama. Pluto currently is conjunct your natal Midheaven. The action peaks Jan 12, 2009; Jul 5, 2009.

Let’s begin deciphering this configuration by recognizing that the action driving these existential developments is showing up in the part of your life we call the Ninth House, which we encountered earlier in the report, for that is where Pluto is currently making its influence felt. This suggests that events and opportunities involving travel, education, and a general expanding of your horizons are now occurring, and that you could definitely use the breath of fresh air they’ll create if you go ahead and, in the spirit of Pluto, take the leap of faith for which they’re calling. But what’s being triggered inside you? What part of you will benefit most deeply from such exploration and expansion? The answer lies with the Midheaven, which is being invited into development during this time of questing adventure.

Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief — we all play some kind of role in our community. Sometimes you’re paid for it; sometimes you do it for the principle of the matter. The public “hat” you wear is symbolized by the natal midheaven. Physically, it’s the highest point in your birthchart, and it corresponds to the most outward, obvious dimensions of your life: your profession, your status, your social role. When it is stimulated by a transit or a progression, you are advised of some impending evolution or revolution in your style of hat, so to speak. Much depends on the nature of the progressed or transiting planet, but certainly some adjustments must be made in your outward life to reflect more adequately those inner developments which have already taken place.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a conjunction — the most powerful of the geometric aspects and one that suggests convergence, intensification, and often a new beginning.

Tr. Pluto aligns with the Tenth House cusp Date: Jan 12, 2009; Jul 5, 2009 – Continuing

Pluto made an appearance earlier in this report, but now it has another message for you. Always this planet signals the existence of some emotional baggage to be released, some hurtful or humiliating piece of your personal history that needs to be remembered or reconsidered. The alternative is typically to re-enact some old wounding drama. Pluto currently is conjunct your natal Tenth House cusp. The action peaks Jan 12, 2009; Jul 5, 2009.

The Tenth House — we ruminated on this piece of astrological symbolism earlier in the report. It’s up again, for Pluto has now entered it. Traditionally the “House of Career,” the Tenth House actually signals any kind of change in your social status, although typically one’s job is the centerpiece of the action. When stimulated, there is always a need to make some adjustments in the way you are interfacing with your larger community…in this case, to embody more of the spirit and tone of Pluto, as we just portrayed it.

Tr. Neptune is Opposite Jupiter In effect: Jan 27, 2009 – Mar 23, 2009
Peak Date(s): Feb 23, 2009

Neptune played a part earlier in this report, but it has another trick or two up its sleeve. You may remember that this planet refers to letting down barriers and allowing the creative unconscious to speak. When handled well, it triggers a “seed time” in which new inspirations arise. If handled poorly, one tends to go off half-cocked while enamored of unrealistic ideas. So sit tight, enter trance, pay attention to your dreams and, if you’re so inclined, pray or meditate. Neptune currently is opposite your natal Jupiter. The inner opening process peaks Feb 23, 2009.

Currently Neptune is maneuvering through your Twelfth House. As we said earlier in the report, this is the final house of the cycle and often suggests endings and dissolutions. A meditative, accepting attitude is best now, letting go lightly of the things that are taken from you, knowing that despite appearances what is lost now has no place in the journey to come. What is to be released? A hint lies with Neptune, as we just described it — that part of you has completed a major phase of its work and must now “graduate” to a new level. But we can go further. There is also a need for some release in connection with Jupiter, which is being invited into development by these vital resolutions and these necessary deaths — some of which, by the way, may be forced upon you by circumstance if you’re overdue in appreciating their necessity.

Hope and faith are essential to sanity. Without at least a few bright dreams and expansive goals, a person grows flat and dull…becomes a time-server. The same can be said for self-confidence: we need it. And even if such assurance sometimes crosses the line into a sprinkle of arrogance, that’s less troubling and limiting than sitting around afraid to take any risks at all. There is a gambler’s circuit in your psyche that understands these notions perfectly well. Astrologers call it Jupiter. When stimulated by a passing transit or progression, it encourages you to extend yourself further into your world, to bet on yourself, and to recognize emerging opportunities. Be wary at the same time that you don’t settle for glitter when gold may be just around the corner.

Your Sixth House held our attention for a while earlier in these pages; now we see it making itself felt again. You have an inherent desire to be helpful and competent, and you express it best when you find ways to give people around you “gifts” of the nature of Jupiter, as we just described it. That part of your nature is currently in the spotlight, so offer yourself and your gifts to those who need them. You’ll grow wiser, and they’ll be happier.

When Jupiter consorts with Neptune, there’s a cliche that should never be too far from your mind: all that glitters is not gold. Don’t be tempted by “extraordinary possibilities” now, at least not without a careful look at the fine print, a consultation with a sober friend, and a painstaking effort to consider worst-case scenarios. What is really going on here is that a bright new vision is slowly forming inside you. It’s real — or more accurately, it’s going to be real. Don’t mistake its glowing emotional aura for something that is actually, physically, available in the present context.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by an opposition, which suggests some kind of tension or tug-of-war between them. You are asked to adjust your position, to adapt to the demands of the world around you, and to find a middle-ground between the various opposing needs and values.

Tr. Jupiter aligns with the Twelfth House cusp Date: Apr 3, 2009 – Continuing

Jupiter figured earlier in this analysis. Now we meet it again. As you may recall, this is the planet of possibilities and the seizing of opportunities. Jupiter currently is conjunct your natal Twelfth House cusp. The action peaks Apr 3, 2009.

The Twelfth House — we got acquainted with this piece of astrological symbolism earlier in the report. Now we meet it again, for Jupiter has just crossed its boundaries. Being the last house in the cycle, the Twelfth House refers to endings. Always, during Twelfth House stimulation, you are asked to release the past, to let go. A new vision, of the nature and spirit of Jupiter, is bubbling up from deep inside you…but it’s way, way down in the depths of your psyche and will take a while to surface. Be patient. Be reflective, and meditative. And trust the process, even though you can’t really understand it or predict where the tides will carry you. You’ve entered a season of trust, but not so much in the sense of trusting other people…more like trusting life.

Pr. Moon enters Libra Date: May 18, 2009 – Continuing

You don’t need to be an astrologer to know what the Moon means. Just engage your imagination. Immediately, the mind free-associates. Moon: night…feelings…falling in love…seeing a ghost… And that’s pretty much what astrologers throughout history have said: the Moon represents your interior life, your “heart.” Like all astrological factors, the Moon progresses, taking a little over a quarter of a century to make one circuit around the chart. It typically spends a couple of years in each sign or house, and eventually forms aspects with all the planets. How do we read it? Simple: at any given moment the progressed Moon tells us where your heart is. Or, to be a little less schmaltzy about it, the Moon says where your attention is. What is concerning you. Where your growth experiences are unfolding — which is often to say where you’re experiencing challenges, upsets, or opportunities to regroup and express yourself in new ways. Being an emotional factor, the progressed Moon always refers to areas of heightened sensitivity. Intuition comes to the forefront. Instincts must be followed. Somehow the unconscious mind has gotten ahead of conscious awareness, and now conscious awareness is catching up, following the trail of intuitive clues and impulses laid down by the wise, dark interior of your spirit.

How is the progressed Moon currently impacting on you? It enters the sign Libra: May 18, 2009.

Libra represents paradox, and your ability to live gracefully with it. During Libran chapters in your life, you are asked to balance conflicting needs and ideals, to be the architect of compromise between opposing personalities or principles. Typically, the emphasis here is on relationships; your path is tied to the strengths and foibles of others. To succeed, you often must develop considerable empathy and diplomacy, learning to bend (for better or worse) with the winds of another person’s nature. Simultaneously, you are asked to assert your own individuality and not simply become an embodiment of another’s requirements. During Libra-dominated phases of our life, we commonly find ourselves stuck at an existential crossroads of some sort. A decision and a commitment must be made. But the choice is not clear. Much hangs in the balance, and yet there are persuasive arguments on each side of the question. Archetypally, these dilemmas are familiar: love versus freedom, home versus career, art versus commerce. The “right” choice may be obscure — but the wrong one is quite clear: to make no decision at all. The temptation arises to hem and haw…to halt between courses, crippled with irresolution. The heart is full of shades of gray — yet life demands a hard choice: black or white. But which? I can’t tell you the answer, but I can tell you how to determine it. Built into the logic of Libra is the necessity for wise counsel. However independent you may be, seek that counsel during this period. If you’ve presented yourself authentically, the people with whom you share your life will hold the mirror before you now. Listen to them! Make your choice, commit to it, and don’t look back.

The Means

If you happen to have a cold on the day you win the lottery, will that taint your memory of the big event? Probably not. Ten years later, you will have forgotten your runny nose. Ten minutes later, more likely.

Life and memory work that way. We prioritize certain kinds of events, experiencing them more vividly and remembering them far longer than the trivial and the predictable. The details of a typical Monday morning aren’t going to last as long in the memory banks as images of your moment of glory or your darkest hour.

In exactly the same way, not all astrological events have the same impact. What we have considered so far are all first-string milestones in your life. The rest of what we’ll be considering is less central — but that’s not to say unimportant. What follows is a set of supplementary transits and progressions, presented chronologically. They’re not quite as profound in their implications as what we’ve seen, but they’re not without emotional and existential consequences. If what we have explored in the previous pages can be viewed as an evolutionary invitation, then, to that lofty end, what follows is….

“The Means”

As you’ll see, each of these events stands as significant in its own right. But their deepest meanings lie in the way they interact with what we’ve considered in the pages above, enhancing and sometimes complicating the broader developmental patterns.

Cards on the table: you can skim the next several pages and, I think, learn some things about the coming months that will prove prophetic…and more importantly, helpful. But the real magic lies in putting all the pieces together, synthesizing them in your heart into an emotional whole — just like you’ve done with, say, memories of a special summer long ago. No computer can do that for you.

Your own creativity, your own reflections on the material we’re covering, your own translations, additions, corrections, amendments, and meditations — these are what make the difference.

Let’s continue.

Tr. Jupiter is Square Mercury In effect: in progress – Oct 23, 2008
Peak Date(s): Aug 1, 2008; Oct 14, 2008

Jupiter figured earlier in this analysis. Now we meet it again. As you may recall, this is the planet of possibilities and the seizing of opportunities. Jupiter currently is square your natal Mercury. The action peaks Aug 1, 2008; Oct 14, 2008.

Currently Jupiter is navigating your Tenth House. That’s the traditional “House of Career,” as we’ve already discovered, and it tells us that something of the nature of Jupiter is brewing in your profession or vocation, or in your social status. To respond optimally to the potentials and challenges built into this event, you’ll need to act according to the spirit of Jupiter, as we just described it. Being true to yourself is the challenge, as is generally the case in life. But your public life, with all its superficialities and practical pressures, is perhaps the hardest place in which to live up to that ideal. To succeed here, pay special attention to Mercury, which is being invited into development during this time of professional or public reorientation.

Your quickness, your alertness, your curiosity — those are the dimensions of your life dominated by the planet Mercury. To say that Mercury represents your intelligence is quite accurate, but it’s more connected to the natural style of your intelligence: not so much how smart you are as what interests you, and how your intelligence can be employed most pleasurably and efficiently. Intimately linked to such cerebral concerns is the question of your ability to communicate, since ideally there is some relationship between speech and forethought. Thus Mercury, the traditional Messenger of the Gods, is associated with both thought and conversation. When stimulated by a passing transit or progression, Mercury tends to speed up the flow of data in your life. You learn. You listen. You speak. Often events move at a hasty pace, and there’s a feeling of excitement mixed with over-extension.

Maintaining a healthy flow of the energies of Mercury, always good for you, is especially crucial to your closest human relationships: marriage, profound friendship, long-term sexual bonds. Why? Because in Toronto, CAN at the moment of your birth Mercury occupied your Seventh House, the traditional “House of Marriage.” Two lines of reasoning emerge here. The first is that by bringing the flavor of Mercury into your intimate bonds, you shape love in a lasting, more meaningful way for yourself. The second is that your natural partners are themselves people with the spirit of Mercury. Relating deeply to those whose natures are too far removed from that tone and style is simply not your path. However we look at your situation, intimate connections are clearly a front-burner issue right now.

When Mercury hobnobs with Jupiter, an attitude of expansiveness (Jupiter) pervades the mind (Mercury). You are challenged now, like an optimistic Sherlock Holmes, to be alert to possibilities. Think inventively, think positively, and think big: that’s the spirit. In some way, you have been underestimating your intelligence, verbal skills, or general competence. Recognize that, and change it.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a square — traditionally seen as a “bad” aspect, but more accurately seen as simply frictional. Squares generally suggest tough choices, external pressures, and at least some stress.

Tr. Uranus is Trine Neptune In effect: in progress – Mar 22, 2009
Peak Date(s): Aug 2, 2008; Mar 4, 2009

Uranus came up earlier in this report. Now we encounter it again. As you may recall, this planet represents the “wild card” in life, and often correlates with unexpected events. Behind the roller-coaster ride, the real issue is your ability to claim your true individuality, even if that involves destabilizing certain aspects of your existing circumstances. Uranus currently is trine your natal Neptune. The action peaks Aug 2, 2008; Mar 4, 2009.

Currently Uranus is maneuvering through your Twelfth House. As we said earlier in the report, this is the final house of the cycle and often suggests endings and dissolutions. A meditative, accepting attitude is best now, letting go lightly of the things that are taken from you, knowing that despite appearances what is lost now has no place in the journey to come. What is to be released? A hint lies with Uranus, as we just described it — that part of you has completed a major phase of its work and must now “graduate” to a new level. But we can go further. There is also a need for some release in connection with Neptune, which is being invited into development by these vital resolutions and these necessary deaths — some of which, by the way, may be forced upon you by circumstance if you’re overdue in appreciating their necessity.

The natal Neptune — that, as we have seen, symbolizes pure consciousness. It is the mystical planet, the part of your being that receives inspiration and, depending on your metaphysical tastes, either inner guidance or divine direction.

Your Eighth House engaged us previously in the report. Now we see it provoked again, indicating that your attitude toward the circumstances we’re considering reflects a fundamental distortion. It has to do with your own psychological scar-tissue, and it biases your thinking in the direction of Neptune, as we just described it.  Follow your moods down into the labyrinths of your psyche; pay attention to your dreams, your fantasies, and your unspoken hungers. And speak nakedly and truly with someone of the nature of Neptune, who will help you clarify your own real needs.

When Uranus dances with Neptune, prepare for a quantum leap in consciousness. Like the rest of us, you’ve got a pattern of neuron pathways in your head which you imagine to be the world. It’s all based on assumptions and attitudes…but a few of them are completely wrong, and that disconcerting truth is doing its best to become evident to you now. Doubt everything, and go forward naked, alert, and alive.

As we said, the aspect involved in the event we just described is the trine, which refers to a 120 degree angle between the natal planet and the moving one. Trines are traditionally viewed as positive aspects, and in fact they generally do correlate with opportunities. Additionally, their existence implies that support is available to you, if you are willing to move to claim it. And therein lies the rub with the so-called “good” aspects. They’re not very dynamic. Just as pain is a more powerful motivator than contentment, the trick with trines lies in taking advantage of them before the wheel turns and their potential vanishes. With regard to the developments we described in the previous few paragraphs: a door is now open, a red carpet rolled out…but don’t count on everything remaining that way forever.

Tr. Pluto is Trine Venus In effect: Aug 13, 2008 – Oct 5, 2008
Peak Date(s): sometime after the report period.

Pluto made an appearance earlier in this report, but now it has another message for you. Always this planet signals the existence of some emotional baggage to be released, some hurtful or humiliating piece of your personal history that needs to be remembered or reconsidered. The alternative is typically to re-enact some old wounding drama. Pluto currently is trine your natal Venus. The action peaks sometime after the report period..

Let’s begin deciphering this configuration by recognizing that the action driving these existential developments is showing up in the part of your life we call the Ninth House, which we encountered earlier in the report, for that is where Pluto is currently making its influence felt. This suggests that events and opportunities involving travel, education, and a general expanding of your horizons are now occurring, and that you could definitely use the breath of fresh air they’ll create if you go ahead and, in the spirit of Pluto, take the leap of faith for which they’re calling. But what’s being triggered inside you? What part of you will benefit most deeply from such exploration and expansion? The answer lies with Venus, which is being invited into development during this time of questing adventure.

Venus is the goddess of love, of peace, and of the arts. In each domain, balance is the ideal. Deep in your psyche, there is a place that seeks the comfort of balance and equilibrium, whether through shared fondness with another human being, an hour’s peace in the garden, or the rapture that sometimes arises as we immerse our hearts and minds in something beautiful. That inner circuit is your natal Venus. When it is stimulated, we often see experiences arising which prophesy a change in your relationships, in what gives you serenity, or in your aesthetic experiences.

Your Sixth House held our attention for a while earlier in these pages; now we see it making itself felt again. You have an inherent desire to be helpful and competent, and you express it best when you find ways to give people around you “gifts” of the nature of Venus, as we just described it. That part of your nature is currently in the spotlight, so offer yourself and your gifts to those who need them. You’ll grow wiser, and they’ll be happier.

When Venus gets hooked up with Pluto, the progress of love (Venus) depends utterly upon the profundity of your psychological understanding (Pluto). A season of secrets revealed is upon you, and not all of them are pleasant. At a time such as this, your optimal path lies in the direction of facing squarely the lacerations and abrasions of your own personal history and those of one about whom you care very much. Most challengingly, you need to make a mammoth effort to keep the two clearly separated.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a trine — traditionally seen as a “good” aspect, but more accurately seen as simply enhancing or supportive. Generally speaking, with trines there is an opportunity…but to seize it, you must supply the initiative.

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