SkyLog

The Cosmic Yearbook

Astrological Report for

Sylvia Koscina

Oct 01, 2002 - Oct 01, 2003

Astro Energetics

P.O. Box 1157

Oregon House

CA 95962

USA

www.AstroEnergetics.com

Your Chart Data

      Name:        Sylvia Koscina
      Date:          Mar 10, 1977
      Time:          12:00:00 PM CST +06:00
      Place:         Dallas,TX
                        096W48'00" 32N47'00"

Planet	Sign	Position	House	House Cusps
Sun	Pisces	20°Pi03'	10th	01 27°Ge53'
Moon	Scorpio	27°Sc12'	06th	02 19°Ca54'
Mercury	Pisces	15°Pi02'	10th	03 12°Le48'
Venus	Aries	24°Ar00'	11th	04 09°Vi57'
Mars	Aquarius	22°Aq42'	09th	05 13°Li46'
Jupiter	Taurus	25°Ta46'	12th	06 22°Sc06'
Saturn	Leo	10°Le49' R	02nd	07 27°Sg53'
Uranus	Scorpio	11°Sc32' R	05th	08 19°Cp54'
Neptune	Sagittarius	16°Sg08'	06th	09 12°Aq48'
Pluto	Libra	13°Li26' R	04th	10 09°Pi57'
Midheaven	Pisces	09°Pi57'		11 13°Ar46'
Ascendant	Gemini	27°Ge53'		12 22°Ta06'

Software by Matrix

The Cosmic Yearbook
(SkyLog)
By 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 subtler, 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. 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 birth chart, 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 birth chart. Just as we know that an oak tree will emerge from an acorn and bring forth its leaves in season, similarly each person's birth chart 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. Saturn is Conjunct Ascendant
In effect: Oct 26, 2002 - May 25, 2003
Peak Date(s): Nov 17, 2002; May 17, 2003

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 Ascendant: Nov 17, 2002; May 17, 2003.

Let's first understand that the action is in the First House, for that's where Saturn is currently located in your chart. And what does that tell you? That the circumstances driving your development, at least in terms of this particular configuration, have to do with the choices you make and how you present yourself. Be assertive; take responsibility. You have considerable power in this situation. To use it well, act in the spirit of Saturn, as we just described it. But what's the issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that question, we turn our attention to the Ascendant, which is being invited into development during this new beginning in your life.

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.

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. Uranus is Square Moon
In effect: Dec 30, 2002 - Feb 7, 2003
Peak Date(s): Jan 19, 2003

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 square your natal Moon: Jan 19, 2003.

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 Uranus 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 Uranus 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.

Sustaining steady contact with the energy of the Moon, always good for you, now figures especially prominently in one critical dimension of your life: the Sixth House, which is where the Moon lies in your birth chart. 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 Moon, you're on the right track.

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. Uranus is Trine Ascendant
In effect: Jan 13, 2003 - Feb 19, 2003
Peak Date(s): Feb 1, 2003

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 Ascendant. The action peaks Feb 1, 2003.

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 Uranus 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 Uranus, 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 Ascendant, which is being invited into development during this time of questing adventure.

The natal Ascendant -- that, as we have seen, represents your style, how you go about translating your inner worlds into the two-dimensional framework of daily social interactions.

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 Square Sun
In effect: Jan 24, 2003 - May 23, 2003
Peak Date(s): sometime after 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 confrontational. 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 Sun. 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 after the report period.

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 birth chart through which Pluto 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 Pluto, 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 the Sun, which is being triggered by this period of hard work, giving, and supporting.

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?

In what way do those notions connect with your present circumstances? Understand that the Sun occupies the Tenth House of your natal chart, an area which refers to issues of career, status, and your public role...concerns which are currently undergoing considerable developmental pressure and change. All positive steps in terms of profession or your place in the community hold one point in common: they move you further and further in the direction of the Sun, as we just described it. Any work that will prove enduringly satisfying invokes the considerable energies of the Sun in you; any work that does not embody them will turn out to be transitory or deadening.

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.

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. Jupiter aligns with the Third House cusp
Date: Oct 4, 2002; Feb 4, 2003; May 31, 2003 - 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 Third House cusp: Oct 4, 2002; Feb 4, 2003; May 31, 2003.

Serendipity -- that's the heart of the Third House. Bumping into the unexpected. Learning something utterly new. Traditionally seen as the "House of Communication," this phase of one's life is often characterized by an emphasis upon language. Writing, reading, teaching, learning, speaking, listening...all these are certainly Third House activities. But the essence of the house lies in the experience of surprise.

Jupiter is currently entering your Third House; and under that kind of stimulation, boring routine is your worst enemy, even if those routines are laudably responsible, moral, and productive. The mind hungers for the unexpected...and often gets it. There is a tendency during such phases for the "wild card" elements of human life to occupy center stage. The unpredictable occurs; the proverbial monkey wrench is hurled into your carefully-laid plans. You are pressured to adapt, to change, to open your mind in the direction of Jupiter. People of the nature of Jupiter come into your circle now who are message-bearers; they offer ideas, books, excursions into exotic neighborhoods. Underlying the apparent randomness of this phase of your life is one unifying principle: slowly, methodically, your attachment to certain familiar ways of thinking is being undermined.

Ultimately, the Third House represents a time of preparation...and it feels that way, although you are not sure exactly for what you are being prepared. Trust the process; a seed grows best in broken soil.

Tr. Pluto is Square Mercury
In effect: in progress - Oct 31, 2002
Peak Date(s): sometime before 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 Mercury. The action peaks sometime before the report period..

Our initial step is to realize that the motion and the developmental invitation are manifesting in the Sixth House. We've met that house before, and it figures in our analysis again, for that is the house through which Pluto is currently passing. Obligations and responsibilities are emphasized now in your life, and the mood they create is the same as that of Pluto, which we just described. But what are the core questions? What part of you is being called into the service of others? The answer lies with Mercury, which is being triggered during this season of giving, of supporting others, and of plain hard work.

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.

Your Tenth House came up earlier; now we see it in the spotlight again, once more informing us that the deepest, most essential factors in the situation we're considering all revolve around your role in the world -- your profession or job, your political (or metapolitical!) activities...in general, the image that strangers have of you. And what do right choices look like here? A large part of the answer lies with Mercury, a planet we described above, whose basic nature and values underlie what we might call your "Cosmic Job Description."

When keen-eyed Mercury merges with penetrating Pluto, the ensuing release of analytic force leaves few secrets undiscovered. You have within you an inner figure, somewhere between a "private eye" and a psychoanalyst -- as if Sam Spade and Sigmund Freud had surprised the world with a miraculous infant. Always inclined to suspect people and analyze their motives, that inner figure is charged with energy now, looking for clues and tending toward the rough language and tough perspectives of the street.

Tr. Pluto is Conjunct Neptune
In effect: in progress - Dec 1, 2002
Peak Date(s): Nov 3, 2002

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 Neptune. The action peaks Nov 3, 2002.

Our initial step is to realize that the motion and the developmental invitation are manifesting in the Sixth House. We've met that house before, and it figures in our analysis again, for that is the house through which Pluto is currently passing. Obligations and responsibilities are emphasized now in your life, and the mood they create is the same as that of Pluto, which we just described. But what are the core questions? What part of you is being called into the service of others? The answer lies with Neptune, which is being triggered during this season of giving, of supporting others, and of plain hard work.

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.

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 Neptune, 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 wide-open Neptune merges with the piercing perspectives of Pluto, you enter a long period of philosophical rumination. That may sound rather pale, but in fact the nature of your belief-system is probably the greatest single determinant of the shape of your life. And yours is up for review. The aim lies in establishing a balance between hard psychological honesty on one hand and the human need for inspiration and faith on the other.

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. Saturn aligns with the First House cusp
Date: Nov 17, 2002; May 17, 2003 - Continuing

Saturn played a role earlier in this account. Now it emerges again, in a new way. To refresh your memory, Saturn is ultimately the planet of maturity. It always places a strong emphasis upon hard work, decisive choices, and persistence. Saturn currently is conjunct your natal First House cusp. The energies crest Nov 17, 2002; May 17, 2003.

The First House -- we encountered it earlier in the report. Now we see it stimulated again, this time through the entry of Saturn into it. Briefly, this house refers to new beginnings. To pass through it wisely, you must be ready to make choices and commitments, and to practice enlightened selfishness, all in the spirit of Saturn -- even if that elicits squawks of protest from those around you.

Tr. Uranus is Square Jupiter
In effect: in progress - Jan 11, 2003
Peak Date(s): Dec 19, 2002

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 square your natal Jupiter. The action peaks Dec 19, 2002.

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 Uranus 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 Uranus, 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 Jupiter, which is being invited into development during this time of questing adventure.

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.

The Twelfth House is where Jupiter 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 Jupiter 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 Jupiter! 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.

When Jupiter interacts with Uranus, unanticipated opportunities arise. It's as though the Cosmos manifests as Santa Claus; gifts are given to you, often completely "out of the blue." Accept them. The psycho-spiritual theme here lies in loving yourself enough to embrace abundance, and many times the test comes and passes so quickly that success depends more upon reflexive self-confidence than upon any philosophical "position papers" about self-esteem.

Tr. Neptune is Opposite Saturn
In effect: Jan 8, 2003 - Mar 3, 2003
Peak Date(s): Feb 3, 2003; Sep 12, 2003

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 affecting you specifically? Neptune is opposite your natal Saturn: Feb 3, 2003; Sep 12, 2003.

Let's start unraveling the symbolism by recognizing that the action and developmental invitation are most evident in that part of your life we call the Eighth House, for that's the region of your birth chart through which Neptune is currently passing. Typically, such an astrological event suggests a period of moody intensity as old hurt feelings come up for healing and regeneration. It is probable that you have someone in your life now, be it a bed partner or a dear friend, with whom you can speak frankly about difficult emotional topics...and can do so in the spirit of Neptune, as we just described it. Often the person is himself or herself of that same planetary nature, or is at least going through a time in which that kind of force is making itself felt. What is less certain is whether you will cast politeness aside and actually broach the sensitive subjects. But what's the core issue? What part of your own life is being affected by these unconscious biases? To answer that, we turn our attention to Saturn, which is being invited into development as these inner pressures mount.

Getting kicked out of the nest, one way or another, is an elemental part of life. Faced with the stark, unyielding actualities of the "real world," you either die then and there or get on with the cunning, calculating business of staying alive. To accomplish either of those ends, you activate the energies of your natal Saturn: your self-discipline, your patience, and your practicality...if you choose survival. And if you choose to give up, you withdraw into fear and probably get into a mood of despair and defeat. When Saturn is triggered by passing transits or progressions, it signals a time in which hard work is appropriate, necessary, and the best insurance for happiness. Often it suggests that the circumstances or even people who have been a significant part of your past must now be left behind, making way for a more mature expression of your identity.

Good things in general come your way when you make a positive response to Saturn. But one area has always been prominent in that regard -- the Second House, where Saturn lies in your birth chart. There, in the area of providing yourself with a real basis for self-confidence, the optimal use of that energy is most critical. Sometimes it comes down to seeing to it that you have enough money. Other times, provisions, proper tools, or even skills are the focus. Always the key here is to recognize the intimate link between personal resources and personal assurance.

When hardheaded Saturn is stirred into the same pot with visionary Neptune, a season of brainstorming has arrived. A happy confluence now exists between creative imagination and shrewd practicality. Keeping them in balance is the art. You'll have some great ideas -- but not as great as they may at first seem. And you'll also see some formidable obstacles -- but not as insurmountable as you may fear. There is a middle course between optimism and pessimism. It's called visionary realism. Practice it!

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.

Tr. Neptune is Square Uranus
In effect: Jan 27, 2003 - Sep 30, 2003
Peak Date(s): Feb 23, 2003; Aug 13, 2003

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 square your natal Uranus. The inner opening process peaks Feb 23, 2003; Aug 13, 2003.

Let's start unraveling the symbolism by first understanding that the action and the developmental invitation are most evident in the part of your life we call the Eighth House -- a familiar territory, since it figured earlier in our analysis. Again it demands our attention, for Neptune is currently passing through it. Moody intensity dominates as old emotional injuries come up for review and rehabilitation -- processes inseparable from an intimate dialog with a certain person with whom you can speak frankly about difficult topics, and can do so in the spirit of Neptune, which we just described. But what's being triggered most deeply inside you? The answer lies with Uranus, which is being invited into development during this season of probing psychological exploration and shared emotional risk.

There's a wild card in everyone, a rebellious, independent, free-spirited force that hates neckties and phony courtesies and all the slick moves that keep corporations and families from splitting apart. Astrologers call it Uranus. Stripped to its essence, this part of your astrological psyche is concerned primarily with the process of individuation, which boils down to whittling away all the parts of yourself which have arisen almost accidentally as side effects of your social background. When stimulated by transits or progressions, Uranus triggers your rebellions. It asks you to shed something unauthentic, unreal, or limiting in your life. Often it brings lightning-quick developments and unexpected circumstances. Almost always, there is a confrontation between you and some figure of authority, past or present.

Preserving a sound alliance with Uranus plays a leading role in one key area of your life: the Fifth House, which is where Uranus lies in your birth chart. And what are the concerns here? Pleasant ones, generally: playfulness, creativity, and self-expression. Life is hard work -- human beings, yourself included, require periodic doses of renewal, peak experience, and simple joy. You can meet those needs in yourself in a variety of ways, but the ones that work best and most efficiently come from experiences connected with Uranus, as we just portrayed them. And, in your current astrological circumstances, the need for that kind of re-charging is definitely up right now.

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.

Tr. Neptune aligns with the Ninth House cusp
Date: Apr 8, 2003; Jun 23, 2003 - Continuing

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 conjunct your natal Ninth House cusp. The inner opening process peaks Apr 8, 2003; Jun 23, 2003.

The Ninth House -- we ruminated on this piece of astrological symbolism earlier in the report, and now we need to do it again since Neptune is entering it. Traditionally the "House of Travel," it actually embraces all experiences that carry you beyond the realm of the familiar: adventures, educational endeavors, quests of all descriptions. The bottom-line principle here is the need, periodically, to blow out the cobwebs and break up your routines. To do that happily and successfully during this period of your life, it takes an attitude characteristic of Neptune, as we just outlined it.

Pr. Sun is Trine Neptune
In effect: in progress - continuing
Peak Date(s): Jun 30, 2003

Ever so slowly, at the pace of a glacier, life changes us. You're not the same person you were five years ago. Your interests have evolved, your tastes are more refined. And, of course, your circumstances are different. This snail-paced journey -- the Evolution of the Self -- is reflected in astrology's most elemental symbol: the progressed Sun. When it comes to a sensitive zone of the birth chart, momentous changes nearly always occur...but they mirror even more rudimentary transfigurations in the deepest levels of your identity.

Needless to say, we wouldn't be mentioning all this to you if the progressed Sun were passing through calm waters in your birth chart now. But it's not, and in a minute we'll look at exactly where it is and what it's doing. Before we consider the specifics, though, one more point for the sake of perspective: the progressed Sun is a very slow-moving factor. It covers approximately one degree each year. Thus, even in a long life, it swings through only about a quarter of the birth chart. It follows that often many years go by in which, despite its overwhelming importance, the progressed Sun is basically not doing very much and can safely be ignored. The other side of the coin is that when the Sun does come to sensitive territories, a person has reached one of life's definitive turning points. Decisions are made, well or poorly. Bridges are crossed, and often burned behind us. Life takes off in a new direction.

You've arrived at such a juncture; your core is being transfigured. It's stressful, of course; change always is. But your ability to hear the new message that's coming up from inside you will determine to a great extent the level of happiness, creativity, and prosperity you will experience for the rest of your life. Let's get specific. How is the progressed Sun currently impacting on you? It is trine your natal Neptune: Jun 30, 2003. In thinking about this, remember that progressions are slow-motion events, and that this aspect simply peaks then; it will be in effect throughout the period of this report.

Currently the Sun is navigating your Eleventh House, suggesting that your own circumstances and possibilities are currently tied into larger developments involving organizations, committees, or your "crowd." This inevitably involves the use of a certain political adroitness on your part and the capacity to forge and nurture coalitions and alliances, even if they're just among three or four people. But behind the group dynamics, there's a deeper layer. What are your priorities? What do you really want? Certainly, those desires are currently evolving and their motion is in the direction of the Sun, as we just described it. In a nutshell: know what you want and choose your allies accordingly. But what's the core issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that, we turn our attention to Neptune, which is being invited into development by these strategic alliances.

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.

When the Sun interacts with Neptune, your solar ego grows fuzzy, out of focus. And that is fine and natural, because under Neptune's influence a new inspiration is coming up from the deep, creative unconscious and seeping into your conscious mind. What should you do? In a nutshell: nothing. Do "nothing" exactly like the cat is doing "nothing" outside the mouse hole. An attitude of alert waiting is appropriate now. Watch for signs and omens; they abound. Pay attention to your dreams. And if you've forgotten where you put the car keys, which is typical under this kind of energy, don't worry...it will pass. The trick lies in remembering that this is a time of realization, not of action.

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.

Tr. Saturn is Square Pluto
In effect: Sep 26, 2003 - continuing
Peak Date(s): sometime after the report period.

Saturn played a role earlier in this account. Now it emerges again, in a new way. To refresh your memory, Saturn is ultimately the planet of maturity. It always places a strong emphasis upon hard work, decisive choices, and persistence. Saturn currently is square your natal Pluto. The energies crest sometime after the report period.

Let's first understand that the action is in the First House, for that's where Saturn is currently located in your chart. We've met this house before. As you may remember, it has to do with the assertive choices you make and the confidence with which you present yourself. Something is now occurring in which your own action -- or inaction -- is the pivotal variable. But what's the point? What are the real questions? The answer lies with Pluto, which is being invited into development during this new beginning in your life.

Everyone has fears. Everyone has shames and wounded places. In you, 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.

Maintaining a healthy relationship with the force of Pluto is particularly central to your well-being in one key area: the Fourth House, which is where Pluto happened to be located when you took your first breath in Dallas,TX. There, in the domain of home and hearth and also of emotional and psychological processes, a strong response to this planet forges in you a clear sense of who you are and what you want. Happiness has different sources for different people. For you, much of it comes from experiences connected to Pluto, as we just portrayed it. Claim them! Always sound advice -- but how you go about claiming them is currently evolving, partly as a result of changing external circumstances.

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 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 Sextile Pluto
In effect: Oct 2, 2002 - Jun 11, 2003
Peak Date(s): Oct 9, 2002; Jan 30, 2003; Jun 5, 2003

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 sextile your natal Pluto. The action peaks Oct 9, 2002; Jan 30, 2003; Jun 5, 2003.

Let's first understand that the action is in the Second House, for that's where Jupiter is currently passing through your chart. And what does that signify? That the circumstances driving your development, at least in terms of this particular configuration, have to do with self-confidence...but not simply in the conventional psychological way. Here the self-confidence -- or lack of it -- is rooted in the quality and appropriateness of your resource-base. To use this time well, act in the spirit of Jupiter, as we just described it, and claim what you need for your journey, whether this be money, connections, equipment, or skills. But what's the deeper issue? What part of your own life now hinges on your gathering the right tools, funds, and skills? To answer that, we turn our attention to Pluto, which is being invited into development by this quickening of your dignity, self-reliance, and aplomb.

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 Fourth House figured previously in this report. Now we see it triggered again -- a clue that in your present circumstances, one of the most active factors is the need for a radical clarification, in your own mind, of your personal needs and wishes. There is something inside you, something of the nature of Pluto, to which you must be true if you are to be happy. And it is now under accelerating developmental pressure. Some of this process may even involve some re-definition of your role in your family, broadly defined.

When Jupiter gets hooked up with Pluto, think big and claim a victory. One is available, if you move decisively and know exactly what you really want. And therein lies the rub. All of us experience humiliating losses, insults, and defeats in the course of life. As you adapt to living with them, an attitude of disempowerment or futility can creep in. Conquering that mind-set is the real aim here. The truth is that psychologically you need a triumph now -- and synchronistically, the universe is ready to cooperate.

The aspect pervading the event we've just considered is, as we observed, a sextile. Technically, that refers to a geometric angle of 60 degrees between the natal planet and the moving one. Sextiles are traditionally viewed as "good" aspects. Certainly, they're exciting. There is a mood of eagerness regarding the process we're exploring here -- and that's glorious, provided you're wary of the excessive impulsiveness that sextiles sometimes breed. In any case, the spinning wheel of circumstances can be counted on to provide some fortuitous, unexpected opportunities for you during this period. You'll have to be quick to seize them, though. They're real, but they're short-lived.

Tr. Jupiter is Square Uranus
In effect: in progress - May 30, 2003
Peak Date(s): Feb 14, 2003; May 22, 2003

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 Uranus. The action peaks Feb 14, 2003; May 22, 2003.

Let's first understand that the action is in the Second House, for that's where Jupiter is currently located in your chart. We've met this house before. As you may recall, it has to do with self-confidence, especially when that confidence is rooted in your personal resources -- and that means more than just money. The time has come to act in the spirit of Jupiter, as we just described it, and to claim the skills and material you need. But what's the point? What are the real questions? The answer lies with Uranus, which is being invited into development during this time of solidification and consolidation in your life.

The natal Uranus -- that, as we have seen, represents your natural, uncensored individuality and your ability to claim and defend it.

Your Fifth House held our attention for a while earlier in these pages; now we see it making itself felt again. You have an inherent capacity for playful, recreational, or creative self-renewal, and it operates best when those self-renewing activities emphasize the spirit of Uranus, as we just described it. That part of your psyche is under some pressure now. Take advantage of the energy and enjoy yourself!

Tr. Uranus is Sextile Venus
In effect: Oct 20, 2002 - Nov 18, 2002
Peak Date(s): sometime after the report period.

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 sextile 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 Uranus 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 Uranus, 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.

While the energies of Venus that we just described are obviously positive qualities for everyone, they play an especially personal part in your own well-being, looming larger and larger in your life as you mature. That's because Venus lies in your natal Eleventh House, which pertains to your future, to your healthiest priorities, and to your most sustainable long-term strategies, all of which are well-described by that planet. Under the current stimulation of Venus, an evolution in your goals is occurring, rendering some old dreams obsolete or complete as new, sometimes unexpected desires and values begin to make themselves felt. It is a season of re-orientation.

When Venusian energies unite with Uranian ones, the unexpected (Uranus) makes itself felt in the intimate sphere (Venus). Improbable encounters occur. Warp-speed evolutions unfold in love, friendship, and working relationships. Behind the fireworks, what is happening is that you are rapidly disentangling your real essence from your polite, conventional, socially programmed "personality." When that happens, inevitably all interpersonal contracts come up for review.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a sextile -- traditionally seen as a "harmonious" or "mutually enhancing" aspect, often full of fast-paced events and emotional stimulation.

Tr. Jupiter is Trine Neptune
In effect: Oct 21, 2002 - Jun 26, 2003
Peak Date(s): Oct 29, 2002; Jan 8, 2003; Jun 21, 2003

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 trine your natal Neptune. The action peaks Oct 29, 2002; Jan 8, 2003; Jun 21, 2003.

Let's first consider that the action is in the Third House, for that's where Jupiter is currently located in your chart. This is familiar territory. New information is coming your way. It may be somewhat startling or unanticipated, and it will most likely come to you through a messenger whose nature or mood is in accord with the tone of Jupiter, as we just described it. But what are the core questions? What part of you is most profoundly impacted by this new knowledge? The answer lies with Neptune, which is being invited into development during this information-intensive period in your life.

The natal Neptune -- that, as we have seen, symbolizes pure consciousness. It is the mystical planet, the part of your being that receives