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Planets in Solar Return Report for:

January 29, 2020

7:50 PM

Jackson, Mississippi

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Solar Return calculated for:

January 30, 2020

12:00:47 AM

Chicago, Illinois

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A solar return chart is a chart erected for the time that the transiting Sun returns to the position of the natal Sun. Approximately once every year the transiting Sun goes through the entire zodiac, every degree, minute, and second of each sign. When you are born, the Sun in your natal chart has a specific position in the zodiac. This position can be measured exactly. At some point in time during each subsequent year, the transiting Sun returns to this natal position, conjuncting your natal Sun. The date and time when the conjunction occurs down to the exact second of arc is the time of the solar return chart. A chart is then calculated for that date, using the time (of the transiting Sun's return to your natal Sun's position), and your location (longitude and latitude) at the time of the conjunction.

There are many different types of solar return charts: tropical, sidereal, precessed, and nonprecessed. This report is based on research using tropical, Placidus or Koch, nonprecessed solar return charts. Interpretations are very similar to natal interpretations and this should make the material more understandable to both the professional and amateur astrologer.

The solar return chart is generally calculated for your location at the time of the Sun's return. This may occur on your birthday, or the day before or after. During leap years, it sometimes occurs two days before your birthday. If you are going to be away or traveling near your birthday, calculate the time of the Sun's return before you leave so you can note your position the exact moment of the solar return.

You can also calculate the chart for your natal birth location even if you no longer live there. The natal location solar return chart is not as definitive as the relocation solar return, but it can give you good information. The natal location solar return is like a progressed or solar arc chart; you are born with it. Therefore, a natal solar return cannot and will not reflect any free will choices you might have made regarding where you live or where you are when the sun returns. It is a good chart, but it does not mirror the whole picture, especially if you have moved a great distance.

Some individuals prefer the chart calculated for their place of residence regardless of where they are located at the time of the Sun's return. This chart can be useful also, but again, it tends to be secondary to the chart of your actual location at the time of the Sun's return to its natal zodiacal position.

Some individuals relocate for a short period of time, usually about 24 hours, to adjust the house placements of the planets in the solar return. Those who calculate the chart for where they are at the time of the transiting Sun's conjunction to the natal position sometimes travel to other locations to change the yearly interpretation. The relocation adjusts the angles and cusps, orienting the planets into different houses. The zodiacal degrees and aspects of the planets remain the same, but because of the different planetary placements different areas of life are emphasized. The free will choice to make this adjustment seems to bring this chart closest to the truth.

The significance of the solar return runs birthday to birthday with a three month overlap at the beginning and end of each year. The symbolism of the new solar return can be felt as much as three months before the birthday by very intuitive people. Usually, at this time, one becomes aware of new directions, opportunities, and problems. Many times there is even an event exactly three months before the birthday which triggers awareness and signals the beginning of the new solar return. This event is usually very much related to the new solar return and very much out of context with the old one. If you have plans to travel overseas during the three months before your birthday, do not look for the event in the old solar return even if you have been planning to take the trip all year. The old solar return will probably indicate the planning stage, but the new solar return will indicate the trip. The trip itself illustrates change, and since it occurs in the three months before your birthday, it will most likely be indicative of the new solar return chart.

On the other hand, the significance of the old solar return may not feel passé until three months after your birthday. The old themes and issues which you have worked with for the year should begin to lose their importance just as the new solar return starts to manifest itself. As your attention naturally shifts to new themes and issues, previous concerns are phased out. This is especially true if you experience a sense of completion relevant to the old tasks. However, there are times when the old solar return drags on. If you are working on a major project for the year, it may be impossible to complete it within the one year time span. If you normally procrastinate and avoid making decisions, tasks associated with the old solar return can easily last past your birthday and into the first three months of the new solar return year. Unresolved issues carried over from year to year become stumbling blocks to further advancement and development. Individuals who consistently avoid facing the real issues in their lives accumulate major problems which are very difficult to handle.

The important thing to remember about solar returns, and life experiences in general, is that they are part of a cumulative process. The more attentive and productive you are this year, the greater your options next year. The less you accomplish now, the more limited you will feel as time goes by. Unlike transits which can seem disconnected and singular, solar returns are closely aligned and can easily be viewed as building blocks, one upon the other, year after year. For this reason, each year becomes important and each task has a history and a future. The rhythmic pattern of the solar return helps us to see this.

The main transitional month for the change from the old solar return to the new solar return is the month directly preceding the birthday. Issues related to the old solar return are resolved at this time unless they drag on (as explained above), or they are part of the new solar return as well. Issues related to the new solar return become more pressing during this transitional month and are certainly full blown by the birthdate. Sometimes the new solar return simply gains strength during the three months before your birthday and sometimes it comes in with a bang on or near your birthday. Rarely does it happen that a solar return chart starts to change manifestation later in the year. Themes in the chart usually persist for the entire year, but once in a great while one new theme will appear later than expected. In every case, the new theme can be seen in the solar return chart, yet it lay there inactive for some unknown reason. An external event is the triggering mechanism used to activate this inert awareness, and the event generally occurs within the three months following the birthday. It can be hypothesized that unconscious factors help to avoid full involvement with this new issue until such time as it is associated with an external event of importance and thereafter becomes very obvious.

Planets conjunct a house cusp within a few degrees may be read in both houses. It is especially important to read outer planets in both houses since they eventually transit or retrograde into the other house, indicating dual or shifting concerns during the year. The more planets that are in a solar return house, the more emphasized that area of life will be during the coming year, especially if the Sun is one of the planets present. Four or more planets in any one house indicate a strong need to be involved with those themes and issues. But the individual may become so focused on this one area of life that perception is distorted and these themes are overemphasized. He or she may not want to think about anything else or accomplish tasks in other areas. The overloaded house becomes a symbol for obsessive preoccupation or emotional overload.

*** Astrological Data of Birth ***

The birth chart is a map of the positions of the planets at the time and place of birth. For the benefit of students of astrology, these positions and other technical information is listed below:

Sun 9 Aqu 39 Neptune 26 Lib 04

Moon 12 Sag 32 Pluto 24 Leo 08

Mercury 20 Aqu 16 Asc. 9 Vir 36

Venus 9 Aqu 39 MC 7 Gem 51

Mars 23 Sco 57 2nd cusp 9 Lib 20

Jupiter 16 Gem 38 3rd cusp 8 Sco 47

Saturn 9 Sco 04 5th cusp 11 Cap 00

Uranus 20 Can 17 6th cusp 10 Aqu 23

Tropical Koch Standard Time observed

January 29, 2020 7:50 PM

GMT: 01:50:00 Time Zone: 6 hours West

Lat. and Long. of birth place: 32 N 17 55 90 W 11 05

Astrological Data of Solar Return:

Sun 9 Aqu 39 Neptune 4 Aqu 16

Moon 0 Sag 51 Pluto 12 Sag 20

Mercury 19 Aqu 30 Asc. 2 Sco 18

Venus 6 Cap 40 MC 8 Leo 55

Mars 20 Pis 12 2nd cusp 29 Sco 59

Jupiter 27 Ari 43 3rd cusp 29 Sag 49

Saturn 10 Tau 36 5th cusp 6 Pis 33

Uranus 16 Aqu 23 6th cusp 4 Ari 28

January 30, 2020 GMT: 06:00:47

Chicago, Illinois 41 N 51 87 W 39

Aspects and orbs:

Conjunction : 7 Deg. 0 Min.

Opposition : 6 Deg. 0 Min.

Square : 6 Deg. 0 Min.

Trine : 6 Deg. 0 Min.

Sextile : 4 Deg. 0 Min.

Charts with nine or all of the planets below the horizon indicate a period of internalization rather than a push for outward achievement. It is the internal integration which is most important at this time. This is true even of 5th house placements, wherein the inner personality must be made external through some creative or artistic mode of self-expression. It is also true of the 6th house, where health and work changes result from inner processes moving toward outer manifestation. Emotional satisfaction and fulfillment are the primary goals and motivating forces, therefore a lot of attention is given to feelings and subjective thoughts. What others think has little influence if the personal perspective is strong. Some will be withdrawn or somewhat reclusive during the year, using this time for quiet reflection and the fostering of inner strength. You might appreciate evenings at home with family and friends rather than social or business evenings out on the town. Use this time to become more rooted and in touch with yourself and others. Allow intuitive processes to grow so you will be better able to sense your true future direction.

The difficulty associated with the northern emphasis is that you may get so involved with your feelings that they overwhelm you and prevent you from living a normal life. You can neglect your responsibilities and lose all motivation toward success. It may become more important to express your negative feelings about your boss than to correct detrimental situations. If you cannot achieve a sense of fulfillment, you will grow bitter and sever relationships with little or no negotiation or warning. Nursing a wound is an inadequate substitute for emotional gratification.

This time can be used to get in touch with your sense of fulfillment and past achievement. You cannot understand where you are going if you don't understand where you have been. You cannot set goals for the future if you have not assimilated your past successes, and you can't branch out if you have not created a good support system among those you love. This is a time for building the foundation necessary for a new cycle of external achievement. Although you may actually be very successful during this period, you will still be laying the groundwork for a new round of activity.

When there are five or more fixed planets in the solar return chart, this is an indication that change or the lack of change is a major issue during the year. Changes are frequently viewed as all or nothing routines which can intimidate individuals into fostering approach-avoidance issues. One train of thought will emphasize stability and conservative action, while another stresses the fear of being rut-bound. Situations often appear to be either/or combinations with no options in between. Security becomes equated with familiarity even when what is familiar is difficult. A lack of stability is associated with making dramatic changes. In this sense, there is a tendency to accept things as they are and not look for alternatives. Fear of making decisions that would greatly alter your life could keep you immobilized and stuck in stalemated conditions. If you are faced with impending major changes, but refuse to act on pressures and issues that are plaguing you, changes may be forced on you by external circumstances and these changes may be very dramatic.

Commonly, a fixed preponderance indicates you are stuck in the same old situation again, particularly if you are involved in what seems to be a never-ending conflict or a deja vu relationship. The inability to look for alternative solutions to problems manifests as the inability to find new patterns of behavior. Stubbornness and a refusal to compromise are negative personality traits which can be particularly obstructive this year, especially if you refuse to see your own contribution to difficult situations. How easy it becomes to blame others! If only they would give in, give up or make changes for us, clearing the way for our own wants, needs, and ways of doing things. This is an unrealistic expectation. Positively, this is a time to draw on the creative insights associated with the fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, to develop new alternatives which optimize corrective action and change while minimizing instability. There are alternatives to either/or, uncompromising situations for those who are willing to be creative.

If your life is already stabilized, then this is a time for building and maintaining resources. Further acquisitions can be had through creative use of what is already owned or known. It is an excellent time for finishing major projects that require plodding and sustained effort. But if major changes are occurring, this is also a good time to maintain a sense of stability and peace in the midst of disruption.

The Sun is the most significant planet in the solar return chart. Its position by house shows the most emphasized area of life during the coming year, how and where you expend the greatest amount of energy. The house placement of the Sun is reflected in the interpretation of the other planets, and may be the motivating force behind their symbolism.

The Sun in the 4th house is basically concerned with finding a physical, emotional, and spiritual home or niche. There is a special place for everyone in the Universe, a place that reflects their spiritual purpose and fulfills their emotional/physical needs, a niche that defines, directs, and supports. It is the place where you function at your best while feeling protected and encouraged by your environment. On a physical level, this niche is a warm and comfortable home. On the emotional level, it is a supportive relationship, and spiritually, it is a fulfilling purpose or goal. With the Sun in the solar return 4th house, you need to find that niche on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. This is a time for grounding your existence with purpose and establishing the roots that will support you in the years ahead.

Finding the physical niche means finding or constructing a home that is a comfortable place of revitalization. Your pleasures are simple and center around whatever you call home, but it is not uncommon for "home" to become unsuitable during the solar return year. Your needs have changed and you must now make some adjustments in your surroundings. With only the Sun in the 4th house, you probably only want to redecorate or reorganize your home situation. Those individuals with Uranus or Pluto also in the 4th house may want to make sweeping changes that tend to involve greater disruption.

The search for a home on the physical level leads many people to purchase new homes or fix up their old ones. They need to have a physical place of retreat in order to replenish their energy. The physical niche is crucial since it is the beginning base of operation which goes on to support both the emotional and spiritual levels. The external emphasis on purchasing or repairing a home reflects the internal emotional need for a supportive environment. If you examine your living or working environment now, you will discover that there is something which physically impairs your future goals. In most instances, there is a need for a private place for thinking, working or studying. This need for space is important and must be satisfied if you are to build a multilevel supportive environment which will augment your future abilities. Work begins with the physical home. Watch the symbolism of what you are doing to the physical home. As you are satisfying physical external needs, correlations can be drawn to improvements occurring on the emotional and spiritual levels.

The Sun in the 4th house is also focused on the emotional level. This is a very strong position for individuals seeking emotional satisfaction and fulfillment. For this reason, you will tend to be more vocal about your feelings of loneliness and lack of emotional support from friends, family, co-workers, and bosses. You will also be more appreciative of the support these people give you. Loneliness may be the result of delayed grief. You may grieve for those who have died or left even though the separation occurred several years before. The Sun in the 4th is meant to be a time of emotional healing; it may not be a year for personal achievement, independence or assertiveness if you are more concerned about emotional fulfillment and interconnections with others. Gains can be made internally rather than externally.

Family involvement grows and this is a good time to improve or renew relationships with estranged family members. Resolve old resentments which clog up the emotional nature, making it more difficult to express positive feelings. This process of emotional housecleaning may involve reevaluating your childhood and your relationship with your mother and father. Your memories during this time may not be especially pleasant; working to give yourself the emotional support you will need in the future can involve reconciling past conflicts. If you still cannot get what you need emotionally from your relatives, then you will seek comfort elsewhere and grow apart.

Dependency issues are common. An increased need for physical or emotional support can evolve into an obvious dependency. You may be physically or emotionally dependent on someone else as a result of real or imagined limitations. Those individuals who are already emotionally unstable can regress and exhibit childlike characteristics. This is a very negative and, fortunately, very rare manifestation.

You may feel physically and emotionally abandoned by your parents, and their lack of support becomes an issue. They would feel that your demands are too great; you would say their help is nonexistent. On the other hand, you might be asked to give your support to others. Sometimes grown children or elderly parents turn to you for assistance if they are emotionally drained or physically weakened themselves and greatly in need of help. It is good to remember that we all have different needs at different times. They wax and wane according to our spiritual, emotional, and physical diet.

Usually the Sun in the 4th moves to the 1st house in the following solar return year, so now is a good time to practice using your emotional and intuitive processes in a positive way. They are important sources of information, essential to your growth. If you get in touch with your emotional-intuitive nature, you will learn to trust the information you receive. Gradually, as the year moves on, you will become aware of factual or physical evidence supporting your intuitive impressions. You need to break through emotional fears and begin to work positively with your insights so that your intuitive feelings will flow easily. Next year when your Sun moves to the 1st house, you will have a good information base for independent action and personal assertiveness.

And finally, you must find a spiritual niche in this world. Everyone is here for a purpose. Your spiritual purpose may be renewed, clarified, or changed at this time. You need to redefine what your higher purpose will be in the coming years, and how you can best serve the needs of the Universe. You will be guided in your search by what makes you feel fulfilled. This is why emotions are so important this year-they put you in touch with your spiritual purpose. Next year (when the Sun will probably be in the 1st house), and the following year (when the Sun will most likely be in the 10th house), you will be involved with expressing yourself more assertively to the world. With a clear sense of spiritual direction, a strong intuitive nature, and a supportive environment, confidence will be maintained and growth will occur easily. You will use the supportive physical environment, emotional connections and spiritual goals you establish this year to back up your efforts in those years to come.

The nature of a planet aspecting the Sun in the solar return chart and the aspect between them color the interpretation of both planets. Pluto aspects to the Sun (which usually last for a number of consecutive years) indicate an increased awareness of power. Awareness can come through conflicts and struggle with yourself or others, but it is the awareness that is most significant. How people get, maintain and use power for personal goals or for the control of others is more important than the struggle itself. It is the awareness which gives you a greater ability to control your own life. Power usage in confrontations and everyday situations will become more obvious, but even subtle shifts in power will be evident to you as you learn to recognize psychological motivations and manipulations. For some individuals this is a time to study psychology; however, many will notice examples of obsessive, compulsive, phobic, or manipulative behaviors in themselves or others regardless of their educational background. Unconscious needs are intensified and life becomes more complicated. Ambition and self-control are the more positive manifestations. Learning to deal with life on a deeper level is the hallmark of the Plutonian consciousness.

Neptunian aspects to the Sun indicate that the native is growing more intuitive and more sensitive. This sensitivity will eventually lead to a greater compassion for other human beings and a better understanding of relationships. Individuals become less egotistical and more vulnerable during these years, since they are likely to be confronted with their own human frailty or that of someone close. Involvement with alcoholism, drug abuse, martyrdom, dependency situations, and savior-victim type relationships is the more negative manifestation of this aspect. For some individuals, being less egotistical results in an unstructured personality which lacks control, certainty, and direction. More positive manifestations include helping those in need, becoming more intuitive, and growing less concerned with selfish interests.

Uranus aspecting the Sun suggests that the individual desires to make changes, possibly in rapid succession. Generally, any solar return year that has a major Uranus-Sun aspect also has a corresponding significant life change or development such as a pregnancy or birth, career or job transfer, relocation, illness, etc. Changes tend to be more disruptive and less controllable when they involve a conjunction, square or opposition aspect, but all aspects can ultimately indicate beneficial changes. Issues involving boredom versus originality, or creativity and freedom versus restriction, are common.

Sun-Saturn aspects in the solar return chart tend to imply a sense of structure. Whether this structure becomes supportive or restrictive is up to the individual's ability to handle Saturnian issues in a positive manner. This is not meant to be a depressing time, but it does entail stark realism. Accurate perceptions of existing situations are essential to either accepting or changing future expectations. The refusal to accept responsibility for one's own life situation or to work within obvious limitations can lead to frustration, isolation, and loneliness. Limitations are not an essential characteristic of Saturnian aspects, but denote a need to be more realistic and patient. Changes are slow and involve careful planning, hard work, and discipline. Many times a major project is being worked on for most of the year.

The solar return Moon seems to have two consistent themes throughout all of the houses. First and most simply, the Moon is associated with change and fluctuation according to its house position. Secondly, and probably more importantly, the Moon reflects the individual's emotional nature during the solar return year.

While we speak of the Moon as simply an indication of one's emotional nature, the actual interpretation of the Moon is more complex than simple. The Moon is not just an indicator of feelings; one's emotional nature is a multidimensional conglomeration of feelings, temperament, needs, and unconscious responses. We cannot look at the Moon as one-sided; we must study its interpretation from a number of perspectives.

The Moon represents the individual's feelings regardless of whether or not they are expressed openly. The type of feelings you have during the year can be demonstrated by the Moon's sign, position, and aspects. The Moon's sign can be important even though the Moon has essentially only nineteen placements, because it is indicative of what the individual feels during the year and how he or she is most likely to exhibit those feelings.

The major difference between an individual's feelings and basic temperament is that feelings tend to make up one's basic temperament. The word temperament implies one's overall pattern of emotional response; it is an emotional factor that remains constant regardless of the circumstances. On the other hand, feelings imply a specific emotion in response to a particular event or situation. For example, moody people have emotional swings. Their feelings change depending whether or not they are experiencing happy or sad events; however, their proclivity toward emotional highs and lows remains constant regardless of their particular mood at any point in time. Despite feelings of joy or depression, they still have a moody disposition. The solar return Moon's sign is generally very descriptive of your emotional temperament. It can suggest an array of emotional characteristics including moodiness, sensitivity, coldness, or enthusiasm.

Emotional needs play a crucial role in the Moon's cycle of change and emotional maturation. As explained above, the Moon moves in an understandable pattern through the solar return. During each year, the individual knows certain emotional needs must be met in order to feel secure and fulfilled. These needs, which fluctuate from year to year, cause the individual to create the variety of situations necessary for emotional maturity.

The Moon also signifies the unconscious experience. While Mercury's placement will suggest what the person is consciously thinking, the Moon's placement will suggest what the individual is experiencing on an unconscious level. Together, the Moon and Mercury (and sometimes also the Sun) symbolize the balance between conscious and the unconscious processes. We like to think that our decisions are based on the integration of rational and emotional information, but during any given solar return year, one process more than the other can influence our decisions, perceptions, and motivations. The focus of attention shifts to accommodate fluctuations in individual patterns of growth. There will be years when you lean more heavily on your emotional responses, tending to trust your instincts and follow your intuition. But there will be other years when you depend more on a logical assessment of your situation.

The emphasis on the unconscious usually indicates a year in which the native will be interested in fostering emotional connections and unconscious insights. Logic and factual information may not be meaningful within the context of present situations, which will tend to be emotional. Example situations include (but are not limited to): involvement in counseling, therapy or self-help discussion groups; intense family situations (related to birth, child-rearing, sickness or death); and very nurturing social situations (e.g., communal living, helping the disabled, underprivileged or homeless). Emotional interactions and perceptions will naturally be more important if they are more likely to provide vital information needed to handle experiences during the coming year. An emphasis on the unconscious nature is conducive to emotional growth.

All forms of mental activity are associated with an emphasis on the conscious mind, including educational and informational activities. Teaching, learning, lecturing, and writing are several examples. An emphasis on the conscious mind is conducive to intellectual growth.

The Moon in the 2nd house shows an emotional need for financial security. In order to feel comfortable during the next year, it is important for you to review your financial situation and formulate plans which will increase or insure economic stability. This financial plan should be capable of meeting your immediate and future material needs by addressing three major issues.

First, how dependent are you on others for your financial security? You may have been financially dependent on someone else in the past and at this point in your life, you could view your financial dependency as immature, unstable or undesirable.

Second, how stable is your present salary and what can you do to increase future earning power? Although a steady income would be reassuring at this time, it is more common to have a vacillating income. This is not the time to expect a straight, dependable salary. Most likely your income will fluctuate, but this could happen for several reasons. You might be self-employed or only work part-time when the need arises. Your schedule could be erratic or your earnings could be based on commissions or incentives. For some individuals, the Moon in the 2nd indicates a break in income, though usually this is not the case. Your overall income can actually change either positively or negatively, but it is more likely to increase if you actively focus on money-making ideas. The Moon in the 2nd house is generally a sign that materialistic attitudes are very strong and making more money is part of this trend. Even so, the need for money is usually more closely associated with an emotional need for financial security than greed or avarice.

Third, are you handling your present funds effectively in regard to spending practices, savings accounts and investments? Spending practices are changing and expenditures will go up or down depending on what you are purchasing and who is spending the money. If you are spending your own money, you are less likely to make frivolous purchases and more apt to budget, save or invest. You will tend to be more cautious and less speculative; with economic possibilities so varied, you would be wise to conserve money for rainy days and major purchases. Outside of investments, the one major purchase commonly associated with the Moon in the 2nd house is a home, particularly the initial house. This house is generally seen as an investment as well as a home, and a major step towards financial stability.

Since the interpretation of this planet in this house has centered so much on money, it is important to reiterate that the focus is not generally money needed to fund materialism, but money needed for financial security.

Moon in aspect to Neptune can show increased sensitivity to life's subtleties. While Pluto-Moon contacts show a greater insight into psychological influences, manipulative games, and a need for self-control, Neptune-Moon contacts indicate a greater sensitivity to feelings and needs that are not expressed openly yet bind us all. There are both positive and negative manifestations suggested by Neptune aspects to the Moon.

Negatively, you can be misinformed or even lied to, especially if someone is actively trying to deceive you. However, it is more likely that you will deceive yourself when there is someone important in your life whom you do not truly want to understand. This other person may be a family member or someone you are emotionally involved with. Neptune's house position will give you a clue. If someone's actions mystify you, making you feel the relationship is insecure, it's very likely that you do not have a realistic perception of this person, and possibly do not want to know the truth. The definitive truth might be more threatening than the mystery, so you allow the situation to remain clouded and do not challenge misconceptions. Since much is left unsaid and asssumed, you try to fill in the gaps with your expectations rather than realistic assessments. Disillusionment is always built on dreams rather than the truth. You may not see things as they really are, but only as you hope they would be. This continuing lack of accurate information leads to further confusion and fantasy, and is compounded by emotional estrangement. You, yourself, may not be in touch with what you really feel. Anxiety and excessive worry can be signals that your perceptions are not an accurate reflection of reality. It is perhaps fair to say that intuitive insights were never meant to augment expectations. This may represent a misuse of this newfound sensitivity.

Moon-Neptune aspects are meant to symbolize intuitive insights, spiritual ideals, and one's greater sensitivity to the commonalities we share. We all suffer from human frailty; Neptune symbolizes our ability to identify with others, and see their failings as well as our own. True understanding supersedes any judgmental attitudes and paves the way for a meaningful exchange. Idealism and putting others on a pedestal diminish realistic achievements which might have been accomplished in spite of human weakness. Idealism and unrealistic expectations are defenses used to avoid facing frailties and humanness we do not wish to see.

Positively, Moon-Neptune aspects imply connections; connections to each other and to the Universe as a whole. We can foster and improve these connections by understanding, accepting, and helping each other to progress as a whole toward a better existence. This is a good time to accept people as they really are, weaknesses and all. You will probably be involved in situations which give you the opportunity to increase your understanding or insight into others. As long as you do not make demands or have unrealistic expectations, you should be able to retain honest emotional contacts with those around you.

You may actually care for someone who is ill or disabled, or you could simply care for another person more than you care for yourself and your own welfare. Moon-Neptune aspects are a sign of self-sacrifice. It is common to see this aspect in the charts of new mothers. The demands of caring for an infant involve a certain amount of self-sacrifice. If you work full-time to put your spouse through school, you might also have this aspect.

Self-sacrifice does not necessarily mean martyrdom. Moon-Neptune aspects in the solar return indicate that you are able to help others because you truly understand their situation. You are also able to handle emotional uncertainty. You accept relationships which are not clearly defined, and you are able to give without a guarantee of return. Going with the flow means accepting insecurity as a natural by-product of your situation. With Moon-Neptune aspects in your solar return chart, you need to be able to function during times of uncertainty and handle the insecurities that go with them. You need to develop trust.

Mercury has two basic interpretations in the solar return chart: it symbolizes both your mental condition during the coming year and what you are thinking about. The first task involved in understanding Mercury's interpretation is to evaluate the indicators for mental conditioning and the possible sources of tension.

Mercury in the 4th house suggests that you should make long-range decisions regarding your future financial security and stability. You need to provide for your own retirement through a savings account or retirement plan. Reassess your present financial arrangements to see if they are adequate for your future needs. Mercury by itself does not indicate difficult problems in these areas, only a mental focus on a secure future.

You are also likely to make decisions about your home or present living conditions. Will you fix up your present home or will you move to another? Is your neighborhood run-down? Does your present home meet your immediate needs and will it also meet your future needs? This is a good time to make long-range plans and assessments which will affect your living conditions this year and in coming years as well. Decisions will be based on a rational reassessment of your present situation and a need for domestic contentment. If you do not presently own a home, you may conceive a plan that will make home ownership possible. Regardless of where you live, you will want to analyze your use of space or redecorate. Any type of redecoration or renovation usually involves great planning and will not be done on the spur of the moment.

You will reflect on your past, your childhood and your relations with your parents. You may learn new information which will give you a different perspective on past events, feelings, and relationships. If your parents are elderly, you may have to make decisions for them concerning their care and future security. Communication with family members may be important. You can coordinate or take part in a family project. If you are alienated from certain relatives, this may be a time when you wish to reopen lines of communication.

If you are a parent yourself, you should be concerned with your ability to parent effectively. This is a good time to gather information or join a discussion group that emphasizes the techniques and problems associated with raising children. Become aware of your assets and shortcomings as a mother or father. Realizations can lead to a search for new information and new ways to handle situations.

Mercury in the 4th house can also indicate an emphasis on the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind. You may be actively investigating and analyzing your emotions. As the year progresses, it becomes easier to discuss those feelings with others. Obviously this is an excellent time for therapy, especially for those who find it difficult to think clearly and logically. Psychological complexes may intrude on rational thought processes. For some individuals, conscious/unconscious communication will include obsessive thoughts, irrational feelings, and anxiety attacks. These conditions may be mild and involve a need to listen to suppressed information or emotions. Vocalizing your true feelings will help.

Uranus-Mercury aspects suggest that you are open to new ideas which may take the form of new information you are learning or new concepts you are developing yourself. These aspects can show great creativity since they imply that the individual is able to approach problems from many different angles and is not locked into one structured way of thinking. Use this time to be innovative and original. Brainstorm with others. But, because your mind is somewhat unstructured, your ability to think clearly may be interrupted by erratic impulses and an inability to concentrate over any length of time. New information may be more exciting than reorganizing what you already know. If you must work on a major project that requires sustained mental energy, take frequent breaks.

There is the possibility that you will subject yourself to psychologically stressful situations during the year. Increased nervousness, anxiety, and irrational thinking may be directly related to these stressful situations. Question the necessity for excessive tension in your life. If possible, withdraw from those situations that tax your mental and physical health. You may want to practice relaxation techniques and avoid stimulants. Work on calming and nurturing your nervous system.

Venus is the key to understanding your relationships and financial situation for the solar return year. Many times these two areas go hand in hand; financial security tends to be coupled with secure relationships while financial difficulties are more likely to occur when close relationships are strained. Although this correlation is common, it is not the rule, and interpretations for finances and relationships should always be viewed separately. When assessing Venus in the chart, evaluate Venus twice, first with respect to the other relationship factors in the solar return and then with respect to the other monetary indicators. In this way, you can develop a clear picture of each area of concern.

Venus also indicates a need for comfort and it is informative to note what has preceded Venus in its present house position. If, during this year, Venus resides in a house which last year represented an area of conflict, Venus would imply an improvement in the conditions associated with that house and may indicate a healing process. Benefits commonly follow after much hard work. A Venus placement in the solar return chart following a more difficult placement during the previous year can indicate great reward. Your awareness of this possibility may encourage you to work harder in more problematic areas since you can see the rewards in the following year.

Venus, by house, shows what relationships will be important during the coming year. For example, Venus in the 3rd house might indicate that relationships with neighbors or community involvement will be emphasized. With Venus in the 6th house, pleasant office conditions, and good co-worker relationships will be important. But the interpretation of relationships as they appear in the solar return chart involves more than an understanding of Venus' house placement. Look at the 5th and the 7th houses, especially if you are interested in a love relationship. The more planets in these houses, particularly the 7th house, the greater the need to relate on a one-to-one basis. Generally, the 5th house shows sexual affairs, while the 7th house indicates a greater commitment (though not necessarily marriage). Clandestine affairs or secret relationships are more likely to occur when Venus and/or the Moon appear in the 12th house.

One fact about marriage and the solar return chart is surprising. The solar return is not necessarily a good indicator of a marriage during the year. The beginning of a relationship might be easily seen, but the marriage itself is more likely to be reflected in other techniques. On the other hand, postponement of a marriage or the refusal to make a commitment can be easily seen with Saturn, Uranus or Neptune in the 7th house.

Venus also relates to money and finances, and can be used to evaluate these circumstances for the coming solar return year. The house placement for Venus may indicate how you are most likely to generate income. This is sometimes true, but not always. Venus in the 9th implies a teaching salary, but if you don't teach, the emphasis will be on your beliefs concerning relationships. Don't stretch your economic interpretation of Venus' house placement. If the house position applies, the situation will be obvious. If the house position does not seem to apply to finances in particular, Venus will be more consistent with relationship situations during the year.

For finances, it is perhaps more important to look at the planetary placements in the 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 11th houses, especially if you are interested in the amount of money you will be able to earn by employment. The 2nd house is the primary money house, but it also gives indications of spending practices. Any planets in the 2nd can reflect your salary and/or your spending practices (regardless of how much money you earn); it is always possible to spend more than you make or make more than you spend.

Venus in the 3rd house of the solar return emphasizes all forms of communication, both verbal and written. Your ability to express yourself coherently is important to the activities of the year. Others will listen and respond to what you have to say; therefore your communication patterns need to be clear and concise. For example, one individual organized and wrote a correspondence course during the year Venus was in the 3rd house of the solar return chart. This person's ability to write well was crucial to the success of the task at hand. But one does not have to be involved in a major project to need good communication skills. Effective negotiating techniques are useful in many everyday situations, both business and personal. The ability to make your point quickly, easily, and clearly can give you the edge when mediating a dispute or bargaining for what you want. At other times, being diplomatic may be more advantageous. If you feel the need for improvement, you may want to take a course in communicationskills, but for those who are experiencing problems of a personal nature, it is more common to attend counseling sessions, especially when the communication and negotiation of needs are the major topics of discussion.

A love of learning is also shown by Venus in the 3rd house. This is a good time to return to school or sign up for a course. If you have been apprehensive in the past about finishing your education or going on for a higher degree, this is a good time to start. It may be easier for you to adjust now since you look forward to learning new things. If you do your best work, academic honors are possible during the year.

Social contacts with neighbors are increasing and you may meet or socialize with a greater number of local people. Superficial familiarity with many neighbors is more common than in-depth relating to a few. The emphasis here is not necessarily on creating new and long-lasting friendships, but acquiring new acquaintances. In keeping with this trend, you may join the neighborhood coffee klatch or community association. My favorite example for a 3rd house solar return Venus is a teenaged girl who took her first job at a local neighborhood library. She not only met many of her neighbors, she also began to date a few. Your urge to meet and communicate with your neighbors can be motivated by a neighborhood problem. Socialization may be secondary to involvement in an organized community effort or public service.

Saturn aspecting Venus can have one of two different manifestations: the solidification of a relationship, or the inhibition of a relationship. Both processes involve the use of structure to define a relationship. Healthy relationships can strengthen and show a renewed sense of commitment to the future by both partners. The ability to accept more responsibility with or for each other is common. Marriage, raising children, and purchasing homes together are three common events that reflect this change. The relationship gains more stability because of a new definition of purpose and intent.

Partners who basically love each other and are committed to a relationship, but experiencing a period of change and adjustment, might do well to give each other a little space, understanding, and support. The distance needed can foster individual expression and achievement. For example, if you or your spouse wants to go back to school for a higher degree, time must be set aside for classes and study.

Relationship inhibition occurs when the structure and definition of the relationship is used to limit rather than give a sense of purpose. You may not be allowed to give and receive love in a relaxed manner since love is always controlled, defined, withheld, rejected or not accepted as it exists. You yourself may refuse to make a further commitment, or it can be your partner who backs off. Statements like, "We're just friends," or "This is only an affair and I could never leave my wife," are two examples of the kind of structuring associated with Saturn-Venus contacts. Very poor relationships may be defined by separation and divorce. One person may accept total responsibility for a second individual. The "parent" partner acts as the person in charge of the "irresponsible child" and the relationship loses all sense of balance and equality.

Financially, you will probably be working with less cash during the year. Your budget will be tight, either because you have limited funds or you choose to conserve money and build savings. If you are normally very free with your money, this is a time when you are more careful with spending practices. Even the very rich will want to know how much they have and where it all goes.

Some may experience a cutback in funds. These are the people who quit their jobs, cut back on hours or salary, become self-employed, or experience a dramatic change in their life-style which would naturally affect funds available.

The planet Mars represents an outward thrust of energy in a solar return chart. It is an active energy geared toward producing an external manifestation brought about through interchanges with the environment. The arrow on the symbol for Mars illustrates this outward thrust and movement. The interplay with the environment and the area of greatest energy expenditure are shown by the aspects to Mars and its house placement. There can be a number of ways in which the outward thrust of energy and activity manifests in the external environment. Positive manifestations implied by Mars include self-motivation, independent action, initiation of new projects, assertiveness, fulfilling sexual encounters, and original or pioneering creations. But anger, aggression, and sexual abuses represent negative and wasteful expenditures. Energy lost in negative exchanges cannot be used productively.

Mars, by its very nature, denotes the spark of initiation and self-motivation. Original pursuits, independent actions and new projects are fostered during the year and are typically associated with those areas of life denoted by the house placement of Mars. Because of the new endeavors and the enthusiasm generated, these areas then become the focus of energy use as the level of activity increases and you begin to feel driven to work, accomplish, and complete. Sometimes ambition and competitiveness augment the need to excel, but an energetic attitude can flow without these personality traits since self-motivation tends to spring naturally from an inner source.

During the year, activities may be specifically tied to your ability or inability to be assertive. In its most positive manifestation, the planet Mars denotes an active force. Except for a few of the more subtle interpretations for Mars, the implication is an external thrust which affects other people, places, things or circumstances. For example, if you install a home office, you make a change in your living situation. If you start your own business, you do, in effect, change the environment. If you insist on control over your own finances, you create a more independent relationship style. In each of these cases, you are the individual initiating the activity and asserting your own needs which are essential to the task at hand. The inability to be assertive can only lead to frustrated desires and anger. Your efforts will be thwarted until you make adjustments in your thinking. When extreme frustration occurs, more energy is expended toward being angry than working toward correcting the problem.

The house position of Mars and its aspects to the other solar return planets provide information about the circumstances which will trigger angry responses in you. Anger may arise from a number of different circumstances, including, but not limited to, frustration at the inability to fulfill your own needs, aggression from others, stressful surroundings or unconscious resentment that has not been resolved. Anger is a signal that your attitude and/or environment need to change. Energy lost to anger cannot be used creatively. Anger that stimulates creative action can be recouped. Your task for the year will be to learn to deal effectively with these anger-producing situations. Do not allow anger to be triggered when insight coupled with assertiveness, tact or corrective action would suit your purposes better. As you focus on negative situations and gain understanding, you can begin to funnel your energies into the most positive manifestations.

Aggression is a distortion of assertiveness. Assertion is the defense and maintenance of your own rights; aggression is the infringement or attack on the rights of others. Anger is most likely the motivation for the attack, although psychological idiosyncrasies may provide other motivations (of which fear is the main culprit). All acts of aggression, by their very nature, should produce anger in the person attacked, though some individuals, because of their own psychological nature, respond in other ways. Where you find Mars by house position indicates where you are most likely to meet the aggressor during the coming year. Either you will have to deal with a hostile person in the environment or you will be confronted with your own acts of aggression. If you are able to meet your own needs through assertion and you know your own rights while conscientiously defending them, you are less likely to be the aggressor or allow aggressive actions to arise in others. You should be able to strike a balance between your needs, and rights, and the needs and rights of others. In this way, you maintain your position relative to the environment. But regardless of how fair you are in your dealings with others, you may still have to defend your own rights.

Mars as an indicator of sexuality is not consistent with the interpretation for every house position. There is the possibility that sexual intrigue can apply to the situations denoted by any of the planet's placements, but the connection is not always obvious. Themes of initiation, high energy output, anger, and aggression appear more consistently. For example, Mars in the 10th may mean a sexual attraction between you and your boss, but it is more likely for you to be extremely active in career endeavors. Your boss can be a prime motivator toward career success or he could actually be very offensive and thwart your efforts. Note the aspects between Mars and your other personal planets for further information. The sexual implications of Mars seem more obvious in the relational houses, but then individual differences apply. Sexual fulfillment is directly related to the appropriateness of sexual activity given the particular situation and any restraints or inhibitions involved.

Mars in the 5th house indicates a more assertive style of self-expression. This may be most evident in creative projects, but it can also manifest in the personality. You are less likely to practice self-restraint and more likely to take risks. You are willing to go out on a limb with a new train of thought. You gain confidence by trying new things, although in the beginning your confidence tends to be fragile. This is a time when you can state what you want and go after what you need. You are direct and concise with a no-nonsense style that lets you be who you want to be. You refuse to surrender your right to freedom of self-expression, and if someone is attempting to suppress your ideas or restrict your movements (regardless of their motives), you will fight back. For example, an astrology student with this placement consistently refused to give up her studies when her fundamentalist parents objected. Despite their feelings, she could not be swayed. You are very aware of the personality's need for self-preservation and integrity. If someone is a threat, malicious or otherwise, you are ready to defend yourself. If you are involved in a continuing conflict, you will be willing to take the offensive if the situation warrants it. Some may think you are too pushy, and perhaps you are if you need to be reminded of the rights of others. Use this energy for creative endeavors and free self-expression. Do not focus on dominating or controlling others (especially children and lovers).

It is not especially common to start a love relationship during the year, but if you do, the relationship can be very exciting and based on a strong sexual attraction. Desire and passion are most likely evoked by the person you are seeing, and these feelings play an important role in the relationship choices you make. Romance may not be as important as the electrifying energy that passes between the two of you when you are together. But there is no guarantee that a relationship will be all passion and no conflict; in fact, the fire that heats up your passion can also heat up your temper. In addition to the strong attraction, there is also a need for self-defense and unrestricted self-expression as discussed above. How do you defend yourself against a strong passion which is essentially an invisible power difficult to control? How do you maintain unrestricted self-expression when you are strongly involved with another person? Conflicts in relationships are common since couples will feel both the pull of attraction and the push for expression, or the desire for merger balanced by the need for freedom. Learning to maintain some measure of self-control and self-expression while in a relationship is the key to this placement.

If you are a parent, your children may be pushing for new levels of independence, regardless of their age. One-year-olds go from crawling to running, toddlers enter the terrible twos, older children start school, teenagers learn to drive, get that first job, leave home to attend college, or start living on their own. The task they are working on is not as important as the reaction it causes in you. Basically, you are not ready for the changes and may disapprove of the choices they are making or the behavior they are exhibiting while out of your sight. Children appear more disruptive during this period of transition, but you are also less patient. They are probably coping with new situations, abilities, and problems. The newness builds stress and they are easily frustrated. You, in turn, wish they would return to their old pattern of behavior which seems more settled and less taxing.

If your children are younger, they may disobey you, but if they are older, they will not only disagree with you, they will argue with you. They are probably intelligent enough to point out all the flaws and discrepancies in your restrictions and disciplinary tactics. Don't be surprised when they confront you with a logical attack on these inconsistencies. This exchange forces you to further define your position on any one issue and enables the child to push for change and freedom consistent with his or her real or imagined level of maturity. You, however, may not see it that way and attribute most of the tension to simple parent-child confrontations. These minor conflicts tend to be aggravating, but easier to handle than the well-planned, persistently orchestrated debate put on by some teenagers.

For those more creative individuals, this is a time for original work in new areas of expertise. You should be willing to take artistic risks with your creations. If you are an artisan, experiment with new products or designs. If you are a writer, try a new style or genre. Innovations are important, and you can receive constructive criticism over your new approach. You should be ready to defend or explain your choices, but also use the information to refine your technique.

Jupiter has a number of possible interpretations in the solar return chart and any or all of the following meanings can manifest according to house position. First and foremost, Jupiter tends to imply a benefic event associated with its placement. How these benefits come about and the area of life affected are usually shown by the house position.

All opportunities will probably involve expansion into new areas of activity. The primary function of the Jupiter principle is to expand beyond the scope of previous experience. One is not to remain in a static condition; growth is not only implied, but expected. Jupiter's slow and consistent movement through the zodiac implies the steady growth needed to advance.

One of the most common activities associated with growth and expansion is the pursuit of an education. The impetus to learn is closely associated with any push to grow and our definition of learning in this case is not limited to a structured environment (school), but can include self-teaching and life-experience training. Although education is not always a consideration for every Jupiter house placement, it can be considered to have an impact on any of the houses.

Areas of expansion can easily become areas of excess and this is a problem with Jupiter. Growth can be uncontrolled and purposeless, dwarfing any push for real attainment or benefit. For example, overeating may supplant a desire for nutritious food when Jupiter is in the 6th house. The weight gain takes the place of education. Already existing situations associated with any house placement of Jupiter may boil over if extreme limitations were previously the norm. This is especially true when emotions overwhelm the individual after a long period of emotional suppression. Any Jupiter placement can signal a false god. One or more activities associated with Jupiter's house may be emphasized to such a degree that a distortion of perception results, creating the false god.

Perhaps excesses are directly and proportionately related to suppressed urges. We now zoom ahead where we previously lagged behind, making up for lost time. The overwhelming impetus enables us to grow and expand at a rapid pace. The task is to avoid restricting this growth, while staying in control. The best option is one of channeled and structured enthusiasm.

A question of ethics and morals is often associated with the house placement of Jupiter. Unlike Saturn, which is more representative of societal structures and expectations, Jupiter implies the need for a philosophical (or sometimes religious) consistency between what you are doing physically and what you believe you should be doing ethically or morally. The underlying belief is always at the center of any conflict, not the external expectation. Jupiter by house indicates a desire to review those beliefs commanding a strong influence over one's philosophy of life and code of behavior. Current beliefs may be limiting future growth or freedom. Within this perspective, hypocrisy and moral dilemmas are more commonly a problem than the frustration associated with Saturnian external laws.

Generally, your job tends to get both easier and more enjoyable while Jupiter is in the 6th house. How this comes about varies. Working conditions can improve and good co-worker relationships are possible. Friendly interchanges with clients, customers, fellow employees, and the cultivation of a helpful attitude could prove very beneficial to you personally and the general climate of the office. During the year, physical as well as attitudinal changes specific to the environment can enhance your surroundings, making them more pleasurable. For instance, your office might become smoke-free, you might move to a bigger or nicer location, or new procedures could streamline your workload.

You function at your best when you are given the freedom to handle tasks in your own way and at your own speed. Flexible schedules might be instituted, allowing you to set your own hours. This flexibility may arise because of your position, seniority, or changes in office policy. You may want to take time off or cut back on hours, which should not be a problem unless Jupiter is heavily aspected, implying a complicated situation. With this placement, the workload is often shared with co-workers who cover for you while you are gone. It is also possible that the job situation is such that you can easily take time off. You might need to do this to handle other pressing responsibilities.

Job benefits, incentives or awards are possible with this placement, and you can benefit directly or indirectly from your position as either boss or employee. Rewards can be monetary, as in a promotion or raise, or otherwise (e.g., travel). Opportunities arise for advancement or on-the-job training. Watch for these and take advantage of them.

The daily running of the office either competes with or contributes to career goals. The problem here is that you will not be pushed to complete long-term projects and daily short-term projects will interfere. Motivation is a problem when a laissez-faire attitude exists.

Health improves as long as you do not overindulge or make excessive demands on your body. The possibility of your health improving is most noticeable immediately following a difficult year punctuated by health problems. New or old difficulties arising during the year are generally directly associated with present or past overindulgences. Excesses of all kinds are a danger, even sudden and excessive exercising since you may push yourself to the point of injury. Included also are alcoholic and dietary excesses. Because of the tendency toward overeating, you can gain weight, but it is just as likely, and perhaps even more so initially, to try to eat a nutritious well-balanced diet. This is the time to pay more attention to what you are eating. Becoming mindful and better informed will make you an educated consumer. Since Jupiter rules higher education, you may be less likely to eat junk food and more likely to eat foods that are good for you.

Unfortunately, Jupiter's negative manifestation is the inability to exist for long in a state of moderation. Jupiter in the 6th is a perfect set-up for "yo-yo" dieting. You may lose a lot of weight, only to gain it all back if you have not assimilated the knowledge which originally created the loss. It is knowledge that supports your most positive actions and establishes a sense of balance and moderation leading to good health. Creating natural limits through educated responses to stimuli is the task of this placement.

Saturn rules reality and the reality of any given situation is that we are all ultimately responsible for creating our own lives. The responses and choices we make to any given situation, together with the fears we avoid, form the backbone for our pattern of living. Only when we accept the responsibility for creating our own fate can we be freed from the necessity of living it. Only when we face our fears can we live unafraid. Saturn is the key to this change in orientation. It is the ultimate reality, the ultimate fear, the karmic avenger, and ruler of the universal laws of nature. It is through Saturn's house placement that we come face to face with ourselves, the structures, and limitations of reality, and the laws we must live by.

Growth is a complex process, occurring in a variety of ways. Saturnian growth begins by recognizing the existing structures we have incorporated into our lives, and possibly, the frustration or limitation caused by this edifice. It seems strange to talk about growth in terms of limitation, but astrologically Saturn rules structures which are at one point protective and at other times restrictive. Like the lobster or crab which sheds an outgrown, protective, hard shell in order to grow, individuals must periodically shed old structures grown restrictive with time. As with the crustaceans, the shedding process may be slow and laborious, followed by a period of extreme vulnerability until the new shell has formed and hardened into a protective structure. We often complacently mistake familiarity for security. We assume we'll be safe as long as we stick with the same old routine and keep doing what we've been doing all along. But what was once protective and safe eventually ends up inhibiting our evolutionary cycle of growth. Sometimes, only our frustration with things as they are awakens us to the need for change.

The movement of Saturn through the solar return chart coincides with an awareness of structure. Sometimes this awareness is associated with frustration, and the accentuation of restrictions now blocking evolution. It is through this realization process and frustration that we first become aware of the need to grow beyond our present structures. Therefore, the first step in the Saturnian process toward growth is recognizing structures, frustrations, and limitations imposed by our present patterns of living, particularly in those areas of life signified by Saturn's house placement in the solar return.

The second step toward growth is reassessment of the situation. A review of the facts yields further information, options, and understanding. Only by defining the inhibitors to the evolutionary cycle can we move toward resolution and continued growth. Self-criticism and constructive feedback from others may be appropriate at this time.

It is during the reassessment process that the reality of our situation becomes more obvious, as well as the laws by which we are governed. To succeed, we must deal with life realistically. We cannot twist nature to our own liking, nor can we expect others to compensate for our deficiencies and fears by solving our problems. Saturn rules the naked truth devoid of magical thinking. We must live within the laws of nature to succeed and survive. If you hate your job, quit. Do not wait for an act of God to find a new job. If you want to complete a major project, work on it. It is the only way it will get done. If you want to lose weight, diet, and exercise. Hard work and facing the issues head on will get you where you want to go. Wishful thinking will not.

These issues are all totally within your range of control and you are free to act upon them, but other problems may not be yours to control. You cannot make your husband stop drinking; you can only change the way you handle the situation. You cannot change hypocrisy in others; you can only reassess your own beliefs. During the reassessment process, develop realistic options which could feasibly lead to a resolution of the problem or to a change in the way you handle the problem. Successful solutions are those which are practical and realistic -that is, they conform to the laws of nature.

Once you understand the problem and the options available, you must assume responsibility for the outcome. Each man or woman contributes to his or her own fate. As the partial creator of any problem, you also have some control over the solution. But assuming responsibility for your present situation can be more threatening than blaming others. Some prefer to buck the system (defy the laws of nature) and complain, rather than take action. Remember, familiarity breeds a false sense of security and many prefer to hang on to their restrictions rather than venture into the unknown. They learn to live with their frustration rather than grow beyond it. Consciously making a decision implies assuming responsibility for your success or failure.

Facing your fears concerning success or failure is ultimately what Saturn is all about. At this point, you are very aware of the reality of your situation, and you have a list of options for the future, not all of which may work. You understand your own contribution to the situation and what you must do in order to move toward a resolution. You have seen your own shortcomings and become aware of your darker side. You comprehend the laws of nature relative to your situation and know everything is earned in this case, nothing is given, and nothing is guaranteed by the Universe. You now realize that you must stick your nose out and take a calculated risk. In order to progress, you must face your fears, and move toward your nightmare rather than back away. It is only by passing through a period of vulnerability that one can break out of a protective, yet restrictive structure and progress into a more suitable environment. You give up the security of the familiar and step into the unknown.

The test of any solution is that it works. Even chronic problems need to be solved and not just cosmetically concealed. Success requires much hard work and the systematic testing of solutions until the correct combination is found. Consequently, success may not come easily. If the first solution does not work, you must go on to test another and another. Thus with each failure begins a new cycle of awareness and reassessment, ultimately leading to a well-deserved success. There is plenty of room for hard work, discipline, and perseverance in the area of life indicated by Saturn's house placement. Eventually, every area of life will be touched by the need for reassessment and resolution. Chances are the time for reevaluation coincides with Saturn's placement in a particular house of the solar return. In that area of life, you must go above and beyond what is normally expected.

Saturn in the 7th house indicates that close personal relationships are defined, limited or structured in order to establish a greater degree of safety and security. For those dating and not married, usually the relationship is defined as not ready for marriage during this solar return year. Although this can be a time of great commitment for those who are already married, there is generally a lack of commitment or a need for delay with those who have not yet tied the knot.

Relationship limitations can be either natural or artificial. Natural limitations are inherent in the situation while artificial restrictions are imposed by one partner or the other. Inherent limitations include living in different areas of the country, scheduling problems, and basic socio-economic or character differences. The time you spend together may be restricted by work, distance, parents or other circumstances. Aspects to the other houses may give you some clue as to the source of these restrictions. This is not the year of the free-flowing, easy-going relationship, since an important partnership will be reassessed and structured during this time.

The hallmark of this placement is realism. You must deal realistically with a relationship in order to develop a sense of security and safety. You must see your partner as a real person with human frailties and needs and then address those issues. Most significant relationships will have an issue which must be handled successfully if the relationship is to prosper and grow. For example, one extravagant young woman was dismayed at her boyfriend's present state of poverty. He had just graduated from law school, but had not yet become established in the world. She wanted to marry him, but did not want to be poor. (Those who are used to spending $200.00 on panty hose rarely have a sense of monetary restraint.) She began to see realistically what life would be like married to a young lawyer and she subsequently sought options and changes within herself that would resolve this issue rather than destroy the relationship. It also became obvious to her that the young lawyer would need to put in extra hours during his first few years with the law firm and the woman would need to occupy her time alone with her own pursuits until they could be together in the evenings.

The need to realistically structure a relationship so that certain tasks can be accomplished is common with this placement. The overall goal of future safety and security is a motivating force behind this process. During the AIDS crisis, a homosexual male with this placement curtailed his barhopping and also began to limit and structure his continuing involvements in the interest of safety and security.

Basic personality differences between partners seem stronger during this year, and depression or pessimism can be a problem. This is one of the more negative manifestations of Saturn in the 7th. Generally, those who are depressed are the butt of much criticism. But by far the most negative manifestation is a blatant refusal to love and share. Artificial limitations can be set by one partner or the other; usually this occurs only in the less viable relationships. The inability to build a trusting and safe relationship leads to a denial of commitment and severe restrictions; eventually the relationship may dissolve. Limitations are walls meant to insure the security of one of the individuals while compromising the partner's needs and relationship goals.

Usually the lack of commitment is a two-way street, but you may not see it that way. In the beginning, you may compensate for the lack of commitment by deliberately lowering your expectations and lessening your demands. You may limit your own behavior in an attempt to comply with your partner's restrictions, thinking that if you acted in a certain way (either by saying or not saying, doing or not doing), the relationship would survive. You accept the limitations imposed. If the relationship is basically a good one, you will outlast the difficulty. But if you continue to support an abusive partnership, you only fool yourself into thinking half a relationship is better than none. Relationships that severely restrict your expression are not in your best interest. Use this time to reassess your involvements. Recognize restrictions and evaluate their source and necessity. Ask yourself, "Is the relationship worth this, or is there another way to handle the situation?"

Saturn in the 7th house indicates your awareness of humanity and the difficulties inherent in associations with others. Relationships involve a certain amount of discipline, obligation, and responsibility. Much of this will fall within the normal give-and-take of relating, as long as you do not stay in partnerships which are excessively difficult or detrimental to your psychological health.

Uranus is commonly seen as an indicator of change, and this is true for the solar return placements also. Conditions associated with the house position of Uranus are likely to evolve significantly over the year. Major changes or incessant fluctuations emerge as the pattern of manifestation, depending on how the individual copes with his or her situation and needs. Transformations may occur quickly and require a long period of adjustment, or progress slowly, possibly occurring late in the year and only after a long period of anticipation or restlessness. As a rule, most changes are expected, predicted, and initiated by the native him or herself. Many are carefully planned and well executed, involving a minimum of tension and anxiety. When working positively with the Uranian principle, the key is in the restlessness. Those who are very attuned to their own need for growth will feel the restlessness arising in outgrown situations and respond accordingly. They will welcome the opportunity for adjustment, and make all the necessary preparations for the coming change. They will not lock themselves into one particular situation or pattern of growth, but will allow changes and insights to develop and evolve naturally along the way.

Generally, it is only when the individual thwarts his or her own desires or tightly controls situations that tensions manifest in the form of anxiety and nervousness. This anxiety results from ambivalent feelings which develop in those who resist needed changes. These people get caught between their own fear of change and a strong desire for the very change being thwarted. An ambivalent mind-set takes over, one built on an approach to, and also an avoidance of, a set goal or change. Remember, Uranus is associated with conscious and unconscious choices for change. Its appearance somewhere in the native's solar return chart implies the area of life in which the individual desires to progress through change. When one is unable to face or effect needed and desired changes, the mind splits between two mutually exclusive goals and anxiety results. Eventually, the mental ambivalence and erratic commitments to two very different paths are reflected in fluctuating external conditions. Long overdue, yet still avoided changes, tend to manifest in the environment as disruption caused by others, or by neglected areas of attention.

Adding to the anxiety is a perceived loss of control over external situations. Eventually, the restlessness and tension rise to a feverish pitch until one finally agrees to make changes, or can no longer prevent their occurrence. When conditions reach this intensity, individuals usually make reactive changes, without careful consideration or adequate preparation. Sudden upheavals occur rather than welcomed transitions. If we would truly be in control of our own destiny, we should listen to the need for change and respond to the earliest hints of restlessness. We should give ourselves the freedom to work toward a conscious transition before a crisis arises.

Consistent with the desire for change is the need for freedom. You cannot maneuver if you are locked into a restrictive environment. Sometimes the push for freedom is a prerequisite for change. At other times, the change itself becomes the motivating force behind the process. Occasionally, both mechanisms are operating. For example, you may have to convince your boss to give you the freedom to make needed changes in the daily office routine; at the same time, the changes you make could streamline procedures, creating more leeway in your work schedule.

Freedom allows the process of change to occur smoothly. When we are functioning at our best and working positively with the Uranian concept, we move easily through a series of attractions, detachments and independent actions. We learn and grow from each of these encounters. While in the process of attraction, we are drawn to certain situations, persons or concepts. It is important to observe what experiences we are drawn to because they indicate conscious or unconscious needs and patterns of growth. By accepting different situations, interacting with different individuals, or listening to new ideas, we take in new information and learn to value various facets of life. We see that no one person, place or idea is perfect. The same is true of our existing circumstances, which we hold onto so tightly.

With this insight begins the period of detachment from those situations, persons, or concepts which restrict our growth or no longer have anything to teach us. We are able to step back and intellectually reassess our involvement and commitment. We can either choose to separate physically from difficult situations, or take the corrective action needed to adjust present circumstances to our needs.

Uranus does not always imply a complete and total separation. We are capable of detaching from the original attraction while still maintaining the experience, relationship, or train of thought. It is the independent action we ultimately take which defines the degree of separation.

We learn as much from separation as we do from attraction when we define what we don't like as well as what we do like. The changing environment, the comparisons and contrasts, accentuate what is important and what is not. One should remember that this process of change through attachment, detachment and independent action is ongoing, occurring on many different levels simultaneously. The process can be either quick, occurring numerous times in one day, or drawn out, requiring a year's time span. For example, suppose you are building a new home. This is a year-long project and during this time you will be drawn to many different construction plans, ideas, and subcontractors. But as you begin to work with the possibilities, you will accept, reject, or change options to suit your needs. This process takes place over months, but also simultaneously many times in one day.

The exposure to various ideas, situations and people stimulates creative thought through sudden insight into changing situations. All planets represent a creative process. Venus is the planet of creativity experienced through beauty, while Uranus is the process experienced through change. Because of the changing panorama of people, ideas, and situations, one becomes accustomed to looking at life from different perspectives. The multifaceted approach encourages the mind to create still newer ideas. In this way the individual begins to participate in the process of attachment, detachment and independent action by creating his or her own original options, and change becomes a process of perception, integrated into the pattern of growth.

Uranus in the 4th house indicates that your domestic life is very unsettled and some disruptive change occurs in the home. There are several reasons possible for this disruption. Individuals often move (sometimes repeatedly) or try to move during the year. The actual move, if it occurs, may involve a major relocation. Preparations for the sale of the old house and renovations in the new house can drag on for months. Those who do not choose to move during the year may decide to rearrange the house or remodel part or all of the present residence. Some build on an addition. In general, major renovations (the kind where people switch the living room and the kitchen) are more likely than mild redecoration. Sudden repairs are possible and even freaky things can happen. In one case a chimney fell down, and in another situation the house literally moved on its foundation.

The actual house may remain the same but the number of occupants living with you could change as others come and go during the year. A child may return from college, or choose to live elsewhere. Adult sons and daughters, elderly parents, or roommates may move in or out, either temporarily or permanently. The coming and going seems to interrupt the tranquility and routine. At the very least, if nothing else changes, you will tend to be restless when at home and may not spend much time there. You may travel, or live with others and be in and out sporadically. Home may not really feel like home and you may feel uprooted much of the time.

Besides domestic disruptions, emotional disruptions are also possible. In fact, the greater the domestic change, the greater the transformation that will be occurring on an emotional level. If you do not understand the transition, you may be moody or detached. You may not trust others with your feelings, especially if they have a history of being emotionally unpredictable and undependable, leaving you to feel that your expectations will not be met if you approach these people for either support or comfort. If you cannot get what you need from others, vocalize your dissatisfaction, but concentrate on verbal communication to get your point across.

Realize that others may have grievances against you also. Friends, family and lovers may see you as emotionally unpredictable and undependable. You may not be aware that you are behaving in a way that conflicts with your own need for security and safety. Your ability to make a commitment will change back and forth and you cannot establish the kind of emotional security you want to have in a relationship until you decide what you are capable of contributing yourself. If you are unable to reach an understanding, seek support elsewhere or your discontent will settle into grouchiness, anger, and manipulation. In very negative situations, you can distance yourself from family members or those you live with. Fights, tensions and disagreements become more likely as negotiations break down, and can lead to separations and broken ties.

Less common possibilities with Uranus in the 4th house include changes in the health and/or independence of family members. Unexpected illnesses are rare, but do occur, especially in elderly parents or grandparents. When they do occur, illnesses tend to come on suddenly and exhibit an acute stage which is usually temporary. It is during this time that the sick person will need assistance and may actually move in with you. Moreover, parents or children may not be able to function independently at this time for reasons other than illness. Surprise pregnancies, motherhood, unemployment, job relocation, etc., also change one's ability to be independent. Learning to develop a sense of freedom in the home environment is associated with this placement.

Neptune is many things on many levels, but first and foremost it is the aspiration for a higher manifestation as opposed to a lower one. The distinctions between higher and lower influences are not limited to the spiritual plane alone, but can occur on the emotional, mental and physical levels also. At all times, it is up to the individual to steer his or her consciousness toward the highest manifestation possible. For example, Neptune on the spiritual level is associated with Universal Oneness, Karmic Laws, Ideals, God, and higher beliefs which form the backbone of spirituality. A strong sense of trust in God and the Universe supports the growth process on the spiritual level, but has ramifications on the other levels as well. Each level of experience supports and triggers the others. It is all the insights on all of the levels which eventually help us toward a more rewarding and fulfilling life-style. The lower manifestation of Neptune on the spiritual level is disillusionment with higher principles. Here the individual falls off the true path and becomes entangled in fanatical beliefs or outright fantasy. Spiritual despair rather than enlightenment is the result, and the support needed for growth on all levels is thwarted.

The same dichotomy of higher and lower is present on the emotional, mental and physical planes also. At the emotional level, the individual is capable of great compassion and sensitivity to others. This is a time when empathic understanding strengthens the bonds between loved ones. The lower manifestation of Neptune is a susceptibility to anxiety and worry. The sensitivity which is meant to foster true understanding instead heightens a sense of vulnerability to life, others and the future. There is no trust in God emanating from the spiritual level to support decisions. In negative situations, true understanding of others does not develop because the individual is too involved with personal feelings and issues to focus on others.

At the mental level, creativity and inspiration help to expand the individual's intellectual capacity. Neptune is more closely associated with the right brain than the left, and indicates the ability to let the mind float free to new and better insights. The lower manifestation is confusion and deception. What you are told is different from what you intuitively feel. Thoughts contradict insights and you are unable to comprehend the truth. There is no trust of the higher right brain inspirational or spiritual processes. Creativity is thwarted. Without an understanding of the big picture, mental energy is wasted through a lack of cohesiveness as one begins to focus on the insignificant, confusing details.

And finally, Neptune on the physical level is service to others. Principles which have filtered down from the various levels and have been understood in each of the higher manifestations begin to flow into daily practices on the mundane plane. There is a consistency; as above, so below. It is possible to physically manifest the spirituality to which you aspire. When only lower manifestations have filtered down to the physical level, confusion, disorganization and exhaustion are most apt to occur. You lack a total concept necessary to unify your actions and prioritize tasks according to their importance. Neptune at its highest level of manifestation on the physical plane is a direct reflection of the enlightened promise made at the spiritual level.

In all of the houses, either the higher or lower manifestations will be operating. The more the individual focuses on the higher energies, the more cohesive and insightful actions will become. The more the individual is sensitive to spiritual insight, the easier it will be to deal with issues on every plane. The unifying principles of the spiritual level and the higher manifestations combine to focus energy and understanding right on down the line.

The most positive manifestation for this placement is an ability to be open to new information and new ways of looking at life without prejudice or judgment. Saturn is equated with reality structures which help us to categorize information quickly. Our criteria are set. But sometimes structures are more limiting than helpful, and need to be broken down so new realizations can arise. If we continue to pattern information in the same way, we will never realize totally new forms of organization. The thought pattern associated with Neptune is very unstructured, general rather than specific, and for periods of time resembles no pattern at all. There are no lasting mundane criteria by which to assess individual pieces of information. The emphasis is more on the big picture and a total reorganization from the established structure. During the changeover, you may not be sure what is true. While Neptune is in the 3rd house, you are asked to acquire information without judgment, at least for the time being. Exploreconcepts without a preconceived notion of what you are looking for or what you will find. This openness is needed for major realizations to occur, and new ideas or perspectives can arise which you have not and would not have previously considered.

Neptune is also associated with higher forms of thought and profound questions that cannot be answered easily. There is the tendency to be very concerned with spiritual issues and the practical applications of higher concepts to the mundane level. A new sense of spiritual purpose could influence your daily activities. Intuitive insights are common, and often the shift in your understanding of reality is caused by the infusion of both emotional and spiritual information into conscious awareness. Do not box yourself in. Allow the mental transition to proceed at its own pace and time. You cannot force insights, nor can you hold them back. Flow with your feelings and realizations, not making concrete demands for the future. Some realizations may be beyond language and cannot be fully translated into words.

The negative side of this Neptune placement is the tendency to be easily confused and distracted. Your lack of emphasis on the "here and now" makes it more difficult to focus on practical matters. Your mind is becoming more aware of subtleties. You no longer have to be confronted with physical evidence to sense what is real and true. Intuition is strong and you are open to knowledge through the alternate channels of intuition and insight. While your mind is expanding rapidly on a spiritual level, it loses some of its desire to concentrate on maintaining daily patterns and physical order. This new sensitivity tends to overload your senses with subtle information, making it more difficult to deal with and remember mundane details. Right-brain insights predominate over left-brain concentration, and distractions can occur with or without any perceived trigger. Your thoughts will be pulled away repeatedly from the task at hand to contemplate some new and sometimes vague concept or fantasy. Remembering to pick up the clothes at the cleaner's does not seem so important when you are realizing your relationship to the Universal plan or fantasizing about some new love and the future. Forgetfulness is common, or to put it more definitively, you do not care to be unduly concerned with details in the mundane world. The shift also makes it more difficult to discern between real sensations and anxieties. Premonitions and fears appear the same and one has the tendency to worry. Misinterpretations of insights can occur until the powers of discrimination are enhanced. Because of the mental uncertainty caused by the new information and thought patterns developing, you might give mixed messages to others until your system adjusts. Therefore, verbal communications are subject to misunderstanding and you have to work consciously during this time to communicate more effectively.

Decisions are harder to make, especially when they involve major choices with limited information and no guarantees. Some individuals become immobilized by the decision-making process. They become very concerned with doing the right thing, wanting a guaranteed result when none can be given. A lack of conviction may cause you to expect others to make decisions for you. Numerous pieces of advice will only add to the confusion. Make tentative plans as you proceed and save room for adjustments as new information becomes available.

Your mind is very susceptible to alteration. This may be a time when you explore different mind-altering experiences from drugs to meditation. Be an educated consumer and know what you are getting into. If you are on any medication, learn the side effects of the drugs you are taking. A pattern of confusion and low vitality may relate to a prescription you are on. A very negative but rare manifestation is substance abuse. Metaphysical education is associated with the Neptune process and could help trigger the spiritual and intuitive insights needed for growth and awareness. Use this time to work with the finer experiences associated with life and perceptions.

In the solar return chart, the interpretation of Pluto includes an understanding of the issue of power and its various manifestations, which can be directed toward three different points of focus and through three different life processes. Complications are associated with all of these orientations and processes since each manifestation is multidimensional and complex, occurring not only on the physical level, but on the intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels as well. Within these complex situations, power can be focused on three different targets: the self, others, and/or circumstances. As a rule, the power to control oneself is mostly beneficial, the power to control others is mostly detrimental and the power to control situations varies according to the circumstances involved. By studying Pluto's house placement in the solar return chart, you can assess in which areas of life these control issues are most likely to arise. The scope and effects of the power issues are seen through the connections to other solar return planets.

Power also manifests through three different processes. One may choose sameness, elimination or transformation. When you choose to keep things the way they are, it is implied that there is some force urging you to change and you are resisting this force. A possible power struggle might ensue. When you choose elimination, you relinquish control over some facet of your life or refuse to have further contact. When you choose change, you may be either yielding to an outside power or actively seeking transformation of that which already exists. Let us explore the power orientations and processes further.

Generally, the focal point of self is beneficial. As long as you are using Plutonian insights and techniques to control yourself, to own your own power and to further your own growth, the process will be a positive learning experience, unless you overcontrol yourself, succumbing to hair-shirt asceticism, taking self-denial to absurd extremes. The greater your awareness of yourself and Universal principles, the more likely you are to make good decisions. You become the captain of your own destiny. Enlightenment leads to power and power leads to enlightenment as a rewarding cycle of manifestation is set in motion.

However, those who use psychological insights to control and block their own growth waste precious energy. They set up a negative pattern of stagnation wherein insights are not accepted as they are, but twisted to fit previously conceived notions about life and self. Rather than progressing through enlightenment, the individual uses insights as weapons against growth and understanding, opting for sameness despite new information. Contradictory realizations are not allowed to surface; instead they are either suppressed or misinterpreted. In very negative situations such as these, the power associated with increased Plutonian awareness and its creative potential is never realized.

The same thwarting of personal growth is evident when you shift your attention from self to the need to control others. By and large, this is not a good focal orientation. The symbolism of the planets exists in your consciousness so that you can grow and prosper from insight. Since growth begins at home, the main thrust of the focus should always be toward self, and it is generally unnecessary and also counterproductive to shift the emphasis to an external struggle. The most efficient use of power exists on the internal plane because it takes much less energy to control your own reactions than to seek power over someone else. Once power is removed from the inner self and used to control others, the effectiveness is reduced. Stalemated power struggles are particularly detrimental because they deplete resources. It is conceivable that there are life situations where it is essential to control another person. For example, children, disabled or elderly loved ones may not be able to make informed decisions. In these situations you might be asked or forced to wield power over another. You are meant to grow from all your experiences. Even in these instances, self-awareness and insight are crucial to the decisions you make. Start with yourself first, then work your way outward. Blaming others for your problems distorts the perception of self and the realization of your own personal involvement. Always be aware of the interactive process and the role you play in it. This internal perspective is of primary importance, much more so than the process of controlling someone else.

Trying to control life situations can lead to power struggles, but at some point in your life it may be essential to make a stand for the good of your own growth or that of world consciousness. Ultimately, it is much better for you to control yourself, but this is not always possible. Someone can be seeking to control you, your family or your livelihood. Certain injustices must be corrected for everyone to progress, and sometimes the only viable option is to work for change. Always be aware of the struggle you take on. It is usually easier to correct a situation than to convince your opponent he or she is wrong. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. Go for the simplest task that gets the job done. For example, your office routine might be very inefficient and next to impossible to accomplish in a day's time. Perhaps you see where improvements can be made, but your immediate boss disagrees with you or thwarts your efforts. As long as you continue to try and convince your immediate boss of the need for change, you will get nowhere. If you can easily go over his or her head to a higher boss, this could be an effective way to handle the stalemate. Seek the quickest solution to a problem if one is available. Do not get locked into long, drawn-out struggles if they are not necessary.

Ultimately, power struggles can have either beneficial or detrimental results, depending on your perspective. In the external environment, you may or may not win, assuming there can be a victor. More than likely, victory, if it comes, involves compromise for all involved. But the inner process of awakening one's own ability to effect a creative change in the environment is usually beneficial. You can make a difference. The creative potential associated with Pluto comes from a penetrating insight into the hidden worlds of the unconscious and an understanding of the Universal laws of Karma. Powerful insights should spring spontaneously from the situations associated with Pluto's placement in the solar return chart. Suddenly you can become aware of new forces, subtle and previously unnoticed, which seem to influence personal decisions and situations you are involved in. Once you have the insight, what you do with the information becomes crucial to the creative process.

The primary goal of the Plutonian process should be growth through awareness. Therefore it is essential, no matter what your focal orientation, to use information and insight gleaned from experiences to foster a new understanding of self and Universal principles. The main growth process begins and ends with the self.

Plutonian power is associated with three different processes: keeping things the way they are, usually by resisting an internal or external force; changing the form of what already exists, i.e., transformation; or eliminating what is no longer useful or essential, a form of death. Any of these powers can be either beneficial or detrimental to the user or others involved. It is the purpose and intent of the process that is important.

The power to keep things the way they are can sometimes be an awakening to personal power. Implied here is a resistance to a force seeking change, and sometimes the intent of change is negative. The pressure can come from an external or internal source, and the changes desired may be either external or internal also. For example, if you are a recovering alcoholic facing a difficult life situation, you might feel the pressure to start drinking again. The pressure could come from your own wish to avoid major decisions, or from a person you are associating with.

In actuality the internal and external sources are really one and the same, a reflection of each other since internal needs draw external situations. In the situation given above, the individual seeks to remain a recovering alcoholic despite internal and external pressure. This is a positive goal and if attained, implies personal power. It is also beneficial to remain the same when others seek to control your actions and thwart free will. Pluto represents the insight necessary to perceive manipulative efforts as they arise and avoid ploys whenever possible.

In some instances, the power to remain the same can be a negative manifestation, actually causing the stagnation of growth. If you resist all new internal and external insights which would enhance your growth or cause you to make changes, little progress will result. You will stall. When your purposes are not in keeping with Universal Good or personal benefit, you are more likely to be involved in a negative use of Plutonian power.

The process of elimination can be very cleansing, even though a symbolic death is involved. If you streamline your business or office procedures, letting go of compulsive and unnecessary activities, this is a death of sorts, but much to your benefit. So is a budgetary review which eliminates the fat from your spending practices and allows you to cut back on your work schedule. In more serious circumstances, perhaps all you can do is release a situation that is detrimental to your progress. Letting go can be a positive choice, but it might also be a negative one if you cut someone out of your life without resolving or releasing the conflict. If this is true in your case, avoiding persons or situations will consume your energy. Transformation is the process whereby a situation, thing or level of consciousness is changed into a new, and hopefully higher, manifestation. Careers, marriages and self-images can all be transformed for the better. Commonly, though, we think of the transformation process in terms of psychological insight and level of consciousness. Information from subtle sources or the unconscious is gradually or suddenly made available to either the rational mind or the Higher Self, and subsequently a change occurs on the mental, emotional or spiritual level. Information that was previously unavailable becomes understandable through the process of insight, and power is released through new awareness. This can be a very enlightening and beneficial transition, but naturally it is what you do with the information that is important. If intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth are triggered by the new awareness, the process continues to be positive; however, if instead you use your newfound insight to control others or block growth, you have used your knowledge in a negative way.

Misuse of the Plutonian process creates an inability to continue on the life path until issues are resolved and lessons are learned. Stagnation occurs as the individual fails to progress to the next level of comprehension or misinterprets the task at hand. Power struggles can be the cause of such stagnation, and should be taken on only after careful consideration of the issues and implications. Power struggles are expensive in terms of time and energy. Some are essential to growth, others are self-inflicted. Know the source. Ideally, if you avoid a conflict in Pluto's solar return house placement, you should have more resources available for higher awareness. Conflicts consume energy and sap the strength necessary for the ascent. Without opposition, one can move quickly when concentrating on insight and awareness. Barriers can be torn down and the connections among all things become apparent.

But a world without struggle is the ideal, and not necessarily the reality. Your situation may require that growth be attained through struggle. The resistance may stimulate your awareness and creativity. Real progress might only occur after the resolution of conflict or during respites in the battle. However, within a long-lasting, stalemated struggle, one is more likely to get caught in a circular argument going nowhere. Nonproductive battles can be avoided by those who work toward increased awareness.

Dramatic changes in financial situations are associated with Pluto in the 2nd house. Your income may increase or decrease during the year and it is not uncommon to either enter or exit the job market at this time. Income losses can be preplanned and may not indicate any difficulty. You may wish to quit your job or retire. Unexpected salary cutbacks or financial difficulties are possible, but generally changes in salary come from self-initiated decisions.

The task for the year is to work toward controlling your own finances, including both income and outflow (spending practices). In the more positive manifestation, you will want to manage your own money. You must be the person in control, the one who decides how much you will or will not earn, and how you will spend it. It's time to either draw up a budget or trim the fat off the old one. Perhaps you want your own checking and/or savings account if you do not already have these. Learn to handle money responsibly. The tendency with this placement can be to maintain tight control over expenses. All purchases can be well thought out in advance, with allocations for specific expenses.

The need for personal financial control might cause a problem for your spouse, parent or significant other. Financial struggles over debts and expenses are possible, especially if you have not maintained good control in the past or need to tighten your budget now. You may need to make some changes in order to meet your goals for the future. Changes generally involve spending less and saving a sum of money for a large expense further down the road. Some individuals realize that they must be free of financial concerns now in order to freely pursue goals which are not financially rewarding at this time. For this, you must stockpile funds now and learn to live on less money.

Financial control may be an all-or-nothing deal. It may be the total lack of control that rules your life. In this case impulse spending and large expenses will drain your capital. The inability to control spending results in serious financial disruption. In this negative case, disruption will last for the year.

Changes in self-worth are frequently associated with changes in income, since many measure their self-worth against a materialistic yardstick. For them, money equals self-value. Equations such as this reinforce psychological messages which define personal worth in the context of conditional love. Those with poor self-images will not be able to support their sagging self-esteem without external monetary confirmation. Once income stops or the flow of money tightens, one must face the issue of innate value separate from abilities and accomplishments. Grow to appreciate who you are regardless of what you are earning or doing.