RELATIONSHIP REPORT: COMPOSITE SAMPLE COMPOSITE CHART INTERPRETATION For: Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward INTRODUCING THE PLAYERS When analyzing this composite chart, you will be looking at four different levels of understanding which represent four different sections or layers of the relationship. They are Planets, Signs, Houses and Aspects. Planets (10) include the eight known planets (besides Earth, Sun and Moon) are the driving wheels of the chart. They are the energy sources that interact to make up the dynamics of the relationship from which everything derives or modifies their natures and influence. Each planet has its own contribution to the whole: Sun gives life force, Mars gives physical energy, Saturn creates limits, and so on. If beneficially interacting or modified, their overall effect will be positive and in concert. If positioned poorly, they may conflict and detract from each other, causing problem areas in the relationship. SIGNS (12) may be seen as filters through which the energies and influences of the planets pass, giving them a particular stylistic twist and coloring the overall picture in characteristic hues. The Sun?s rays and inner light, for instance, are consistent throughout the signs of the Zodiac; but as they pass through Gemini, they have a special lightness and clarity, through Scorpio, a darker and deeper coloration, and so on, each sign selectively letting more of certain characteristics than others pass through. HOUSES (12) are the personal landscapes onto which these influences are brought to earth. Whereas the planets and signs have more to do with energy and style, the houses are, by and large, quite physical and behavioral in nature. They cover physical areas like property, children, partners and behavioral areas like sex, travel, or recreation. Where the effects of the planets fall by house will be where you see them manifested in your immediate lives and surroundings. ASPECTS (5) are the angles at which the planetary impulses reach earth and either combine, conflict, or pass each other by entirely. These largely determine the kind of action, or lack of it, you will experience in the relationship, because they are the motivating forces in interaction. Mars (energy) blending nicely with Saturn (limitation) can mean well-controlled and focused energy. The same two at odds with one another can mean a debilitating energy drain or limits that are broken when they should not be. Add the signs and houses to these, and you?ll find where it happens in life and with what kind of style and coloration. Combine 10 planets with 12 signs, 12 houses, and 5 aspects and the number of possible blends becomes, appropriately, astronomical ? a broad palette, indeed. Add further the Ascendant and the Moon?s nodes, each having their own special place in the picture, and the possibilities are numerous and the knowledge you gain becomes exceedingly fruitful. In such an in-depth study many other factors that defy computer analysis come into play: integration of signature planetary patterns, interdependent midpoint structures, symbolic degree areas, elemental and proximity weighting, progressions, transits, cycle phases, and a host of other technologies that add enormously to the detail and background and in some cases may even contradict what a simpler readout might suggest. There is no substitute for human expertise. The greater use you can derive from this kind of presentation, therefore, is an introduction to a host of intricacies of your relationship that you likely did not know were there. Once these intricacies are spotted, you have the opportunity to take better advantage of what is already going for you and more effectively grapple with problems that were hidden or only partially-revealed before. Perhaps the greatest benefit of all may be an expanded awareness of the structure of relationships and the realization that you have a great deal more power over how they proceed than you might previously have thought. Herewith are some of the most elementary tools for exercising that power; use them well and they will lead you on to higher planes of human interaction and personal empowerment. The Composite Chart Although most successful astrological techniques have long histories of usage which may go back as far as the ancient Greeks and Babylonians, the composite chart is by these standards brand- new. It probably has its origins in Germany in the 1920?s, but it only came into use when John Townley introduced it in America in the early 1970?s. Unlike the plethora of other new and often doubtful techniques which were being tried out during this period, the composite chart turned out to be so consistently and often brilliantly revealing that it was taken up by virtually every astrologer and a generation later has become a standard technique for analyzing personal relationships. The concept is so simple it?s a wonder no one thought of it earlier. A composite chart is simply a horoscope made up of the mutual midpoints between the natal charts of two different persons ? the composite Sun is located at the midpoint between the two natal Suns, the composite Moon is at the midpoint between the two natal Moons, and so on. What results is a new, artificially-produced horoscope that literally describes the interface between the two personalities: the shoreline where one leaves off and the other begins. Like any coastline, it may be even and easygoing at one point and convoluted and forbidding at another. And, like any shore, it is subject to fair and stormy weather. This astrological ?weather? is the repeating transits of the planets and Lights which, as in the case of physical coastlines, have literally created the shape of the coastline to begin with. It is a mathematical phenomenon, described by the numbers themselves that are used to construct the composite chart to combine the two personalities. For instance, we know each person experiences regular daily, monthly, and yearly transits to his/her natal sun, giving that point a rising and falling rhythm. The composite sun is precisely that point where any of these rhythms shift over from one person to the other, shift from relative increase to decrease and vice-versa, one to another. It is really a critical, phase-shift, handshake point where one person (usually without knowing it) hands the ball to the other with a mutual shift of energy and responsibility. It is a point of mutual empowerment, the swing point where one gives over to the other at the most primal level. As the transits roll by, the individual solar rhythms continually recreate this transfer point establishing a separate, mutual rhythm unique to the relationship. This happens not only to the two individual?s natal Suns, but to all their other natal bodies as well; and when you connect the points, you begin to describe this composite shoreline. Like any natal chart, this physical/mathematical combo takes on a life of its own which may be quite different from that of the two individuals from which it has sprung. Two persons who both have easy aspects between the Lights may find they have a composite Sun/Moon square which may be quite difficult to deal with ? difficult in ways with which the two are natally quite unfamiliar which makes them wonder just what is going on. Conversely, persons who may have quite a struggle by themselves in certain areas, may find that the relationship all by itself seems to magically free them to function better than either could alone. It is here that the relationship does indeed become revealed as more than the sum of its parts. Since the composite chart (and by extension the relationship itself) is created by the combination of repetitive individual cycles and their mutual exchange, the longer two people are together, the stronger the effect of the composite chart as it ingrains itself and achieves a momentum of its own. This makes good aspects more reliable and makes bad habits repeat themselves and very much contributes to the long-term strengths and weaknesses of a relationship. Since both strengths and problems in most relationships tend to sustain themselves at an unconscious level and are thus often difficult to control or change, the composite chart becomes a matchless tool for throwing light on the workings of the relationship and opening it to conscious development and growth. It is probably the first thing both partners should look at when establishing a relationship. They should continually refer to it as time goes by during which they will become much more in control of how the relationship develops and will be less likely to be carried away by circumstances outside of their understanding. It may be said that some marriages or partnerships were meant to be and others not meant to be. Composite charts most certainly indicate this immediately, but using them to begin with gives both partners a kind of control they previously would not have had and enables them to fix to some extent that which should otherwise have been avoided and to maximize benefits that might otherwise have been taken for granted. It enables both partners, if they are willing to take the individual responsibility, not to be controlled by this strange third party, that a relationship itself becomes, but to step in and out of it to their mutual advantage. This is actually quite a modern, revolutionary idea, particularly where marriages are concerned. In the past, both partners have been considered to be slaves to the marriage which must by agreement dominate their lives, however well it is working out. The Reformation?s message was: if it doesn?t work out, divorce. This new view of relationships, in recognizing that any two persons are dealing with a powerful but manipulatable third party made up by the interaction of the two of them, allows both to slip out and become individuals when it is better to do so and to ride the power of the relationship when both will benefit. Just as the composite chart itself describes the subtleties of mutual empowerment, the use of the technique further empowers those involved and allows them further control over their lives which otherwise would have been unwittingly denied them. In astrology, as elsewhere, knowledge is power: blind fate is the child of ignorance, and destiny is an afterthought of what you should have considered (and acted upon) in the first place. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DSAS, Inc. Deep Skies Astrological Services http://www.enteract.com/~deepsky/ deepskies@hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMPOSITE CHART INTERPRETATION For: Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward THE SUN The composite Sun, like the Sun in a natal chart, is the heart of the relationship and its primary drive and focus. The sign in which it falls will color the entire relationship, as many of the important events in the relationship will occur when transiting bodies are in this sign. If it is strong in its house position and supported by good aspects from other bodies, the relationship will have a solid center and will tend to sustain itself despite the buffets of adversity. If it is poorly aspected or in a difficult house position, the relationship will be easily damaged and difficult to repair as the natural cyclical transits will tend to reinforce negative qualities of the relationship rather than positive. The Sun?s primary quality is restorative drive, the general impetus toward life and its sustenance, rather than any specific traits or areas of endeavor such as are represented by the planets. Therefore its placement will tell the overall thrust and style of the relationship and how well it bears up under fire, rather than give the details of just how it will do so. A badly placed Sun can mean a relationship that is almost certain to fail, because wounds to the partnership won?t heal themselves. A very well-placed Sun can mean a relationship that sustains and resuscitates itself so well that it may even be difficult to get out of should either partner choose to do so (as might be the case if the planetary aspects were very difficult or if the two natal charts themselves were in great conflict). It is the driving engine of the relationship and everything else orbits around it and derives life from its energy. SUN in AQUARIUS This relationship is likely to broaden the perspectives of both of you, allowing you to see sides of each other and the world around you. It will also fill you with the realization that it is your responsibility to do something about it. Realization of the world is an impossible task to accomplish immediately. Rather, you need to take one situation at a time and button it down before moving to the next. The temptation is strong to analyze and reform everything you see and it is a major talent and challenge of the relationship. But only patience will see the job through. That is something you may both be short of, but tolerance is the best road to understanding, both inside and out. Therefore collecting information for your task will be a major direction for you. Analysis will be your major strong point, bringing both of your talents to bear on professional and emotional conflicts into accord with a happy ending for all concerned. When you have a really good grip on the whole picture, you will be able to take decisive action that will construct a single entity out of disparate forces and inputs. E pluribus unum may be considered your motto, whether dealing with exterior or interior issues, in business or in love. The Composite Moon The symbolism of the composite Moon in a relationship is that of reflection ? not in the sense of intellectual deliberation or thoughtful rumination but much more literally, reflective like a mirror. Whereas the Sun represents the primal, outgoing energy in the relationship, the Moon shows how the relationship reacts to situations once they have been presented to it. When someone approaches you with an idea, do you react to it, criticize it, laugh at it or with it? Steal it? Ignore it? Expand upon it? Extending this logic, it, of course means how you feel about a situation, the process and style in which your emotions are stirred. The things to which you react include each other, so the position of the composite Moon will be critical to the emotional well-being and functionality of the relationship, independent of your individual natures. Thus, a well- placed and well-supported composite Moon can lend clarity and cooperation to the most confused and befuddled people who might never expect to get along; whereas an afflicted composite Moon can throw dissension and conflict into the lives of the most well- adjusted and easy-going persons who normally get along with everybody. This is, of course, because this reflective, emotional effect is largely subconscious, and because it does not emanate from either of you in the usual way, you are unfamiliar with its style and rhythms. This accounts for a lot of the ?magic? - both good and bad - that is associated with relationships. On the positive side, it can mean a relationship that seems to heal one or both of you and just makes everything go right that didn?t before. This is a marvelous feeling but one that can lead to a mistaken dependency on your partner as the source of the improvement when it is actually the relationship itself that should get the credit. On the opposite side it can lead to mutual blame for making things worse when the fault lies with neither of you but in the structure of the situation itself. The great advantage of having the details of the composite chart available to you is that you can better differentiate the strengths and weaknesses of the situation from those which may lie within yourselves. The former you will have to work around on the exterior, the latter you will have to work from within. In tandem with the Sun, the Moon and its position will make or break most relationships. If the Sun and Moon are well-placed and well- aspected, the relationship is anything from a good bet to a sure thing, regardless of the other positions and problems that need to be worked out. If the Sun and Moon are badly positioned or afflicted, it will be an uphill fight all the way, and one that either or both of you may choose to set aside unless you feel compelled to spend a great deal of time, energy, and emotion rising to the challenge. Life is about choices, and here especially the composite chart can help supply the data you need to aid you in your selection. MOON in AQUARIUS You have a very broad-based emotional potential which allows you to sample anything you choose before deciding in exactly what manner you wish to respond to each other or to a given situation. You are likely to be very conscious of what is fair which can be an ultimate blessing but may keep you at odds in the short run until you have decided exactly which path to take. Taken together, you will have considerable inclination and possibly the ability to negotiate and come to a fair conclusion, both for yourselves and on behalf of others, though it may take some prompting to overcome an initial reserve born of respect for another?s position. Because of an innate inclination to be all things to all people, however, you may spread yourselves too thinly or be seen as taking all sides on a matter without real conviction of your own. Although this is not really the case, you can use your individual feelings and reactions separate from the relationship to dispel any such illusion that you do not really care when, in fact, you do. However, anything you can do to combat creeping emotional conservatism, which you are heir to, will be of help in keeping your hearts open to new emotions and to the needs of each of you individually. If you just shoot from the hip every now and then, you might be surprised at the new territory you discover. THE COMPOSITE MERCURY Mercury in the composite chart represents the mutual meeting of minds, or lack of it, between you. It also represents your ability to communicate to others as a couple or as individuals. In the first instance, in which the position symbolizes the shore between two intellects, it will be important to know what kind of communication goes on: by style, substance, and action (sign, house, and aspect). A well-placed Mercury will mean that you can put clearly into words what you mean to say to each other, and such a position can be of great help in alleviating emotional problems that may not easily come to the surface. If you can both say how you feel, you?ve gone a long way towards being able to change. On the other hand, a badly placed Mercury can have the opposite effect, stirring up emotional problems where there were none by simply getting communications wires crossed. In a professional relationship this can mean all sorts of pointless starts and stops because of faulty information, particularly in an increasingly information-oriented society. The position of Mercury therefore becomes increasingly critical in relationships in general. Its placement also describes how you communicate as a duo with the public at large, so herein lies further opportunities for good or ill. Well-placed, it will mean that you may be able to get yourself across to the world at large through the relationship rather than on your own. Where there are difficulties here, it may be better to speak your own piece and not let the relationship represent you. Nevertheless, knowing the situation in advance can help enormously, as you won?t have to learn the communications value of the relationship by trial and error or blame each other for problems that arise from what is essentially a third party with its own horoscope, the relationship itself. Rather, you can take advantage of the best that it offers and avoid what looks like trouble by one or both of you pulling back on your own to handle problems the relationship does not cope with well. MERCURY in CAPRICORN A very concise and no-frills style of communication will characterize this relationship, even though one or both of you might be quite voluble individually. Ideas seem to congeal and simplify down to basics when you get together. If brevity is the soul of wit, you?ve got it. Making things shorter and sweeter when you?re trying to get things across will also add power and forcefulness, as a few chosen words are usually more powerful than a outpouring of verbiage, however sincere. It may also cause you to be misunderstood as if someone else doesn?t catch onto what you are saying; you?re more inclined to repeat yourself rather than rephrase in a manner more suitable to your audience?s level of communication. Here, one or both of you stepping out of the relationship and restating it differently can easily solve the problem. Just be aware that it may be necessary and keep an eye out for it. The ability to distill ideas into a few clear phrases is a rarity, however, so value it and hone it down to its finest edge. Once an idea is established for too long a time, it may get rusty therefore, make sure you go back and revise your opinions as time and change dictate. Nothing is permanent, only the moment, so take careful account of it. . . THE COMPOSITE VENUS The planet Venus represents desire, attraction, what you physically and emotionally desire and as a composite position describes where your desires meet and either blend or conflict, or a bit of both. This is too often applied to love interests alone, although it covers them as well. It means everything you desire - money, position, beautiful things, property, friends, lovers, anything that you want and believe if you get it, will make you happy. It also has another side which is your ability to appear to provide just such fulfillment for others, thus symbolizing personal charm, beauty, attractiveness, wealth, and so on. It?s the two-way wish fulfillment point where dreams are born. When this is viewed between two people as a composite point, it means how and whether you make each other?s dreams, on a very basic level, come true. If badly placed, it can mean continual desire and constant disappointment. If strong by position, it will be a buttress to the relationship, as you know you will always get what you want when you come back to it. It is, of course, critical in telling how a sexual relationship will unfold and can spell repeated ecstasy or constant frustration, especially taken in tandem with composite Mars. It also represents how well the relationship as a whole will be able to realize its goals and desires, which will of course be directly connected with its ability to make itself desirable, both of which are described by this composite point. Thus, an afflicted composite Venus is a double indemnity, because it usually prevents either of you from getting what you want out of each other, and it means the relationship will not get what it wants, either. Conversely, a well- aspected composite Venus is like a gift from above, as it means mutual success and satisfaction all around. In judging the overall success of a relationship, this is indeed a very important position. VENUS in AQUARIUS A broad spectrum of taste will characterize this relationship, and you will find a variety of roads to realize your goals and ambitions and the patience to pick and choose the best ones as they manifest themselves. The real skill here is choice, as there will always be a number of different ways of getting what you want and it will be up to you to choose the best, although more than one might suffice. Your eclectic vision of satisfaction, however, requires that you do not focus on just one set of pleasures or situations in order to make the two of you happy, but rather spread out and provide yourselves with a wide variety from which to pick and choose, depending upon the moment. Noted for your ability to keep satisfactory control of many operations, you can manifest on three levels: physical, sexual or business. You want them all and with a little skill and practice you can have them. The nature of this chase often will be that you spend a lot of time on a variety of pursuits which take a while to manifest but then all come home to you at the same time. This can result in too big a meal when it finally manifests, so it is a good idea to start things up in succession, handling them all at their different stages of development simultaneously, and then enjoying them as they come to fruition one at a time. THE COMPOSITE MARS Mars represents physical and emotional energy, and as such the ability and inclination to get things done, to fulfill desire by taking action. By itself it is really just raw energy, and its placement, particularly in relation to the other bodies in the chart, describes where and how well this energy will be directed. As a composite point, it describes how your two energy directions mesh and whether they will reinforce each other or simply get in each other?s way. It will tell whether sparks will fly, igniting random and destructive brush fires, or whether a controlled fire will blossom that will become the engine to power and fulfill your desires under your own direction. Its relationship to Venus, particularly in sexual relationships, is critical, as it will describe whether it will fulfill or deny your sexual needs. In both male and female it describes sexual drive as well as assertiveness and ultimately, aggression. Thus, a well positioned composite Mars allows the two of you to unite your energies naturally toward whatever goal you choose, while a difficult placing will put your efforts constantly at odds, wasting your efforts in mutual conflict or confusion when you should be utilizing them otherwise. As with Venus, this can be the greatest natural blessing or a terrible stumbling block. A strong composite Mars can energize and focus two people who are otherwise at sixes and sevens with themselves, and a troublesome one can throw the most balanced performers into disarray as they wonder what hit them to throw them so off balance. Thus, it will be wise to understand this position well so as to know whether to ride it or back off. It will also portray the power potential of the relationship as it exists in the outside world. A strong Mars has the energy to carry others along with it, whereas a disabled one will tend to break down already functioning operations in the relationships? social surroundings. None of this suggests that a difficult Mars means you should forget about the relationship, however, as if one of you is simply put in charge in certain areas, mutually compartmentalizing the energy flow; the ill effect can be largely disenabled, albeit at the price of local inequality. It is something to be considered with care and attention, however, as herein lies much of your self-empowerment and control over your lives. MARS in PISCES This is a very delicate and sometimes problematical position for Mars, as it represents physical strength and action. Pisces, however, is mostly concerned with the intuitive and non-physical. Put together, it means that you will have to take everyday energy and impetus and transform it until it manifests on a more spiritual plane. Badly handled, it will mean weakness and ambivalence in the relationship, but properly channeled it will be turned into spiritual strength and leadership that allow the two of you to tackle problems and chart successes of a type not ordinarily experienced by others. It will often mean not taking the first action that comes into your head, but waiting for the small voice within for guidance before making your move. Similarly, the type of actions you take will need to be not physical, but emotional and spiritual, building edifices which may not be seen or appreciated by others. If you are willing to seek understanding and credit primarily from your partner, you have the greatest possible potential. If you seek outside praise, you will likely be disappointed and your energies wasted in futile efforts to manifest your efforts where they do not belong. You have an interior journey to take, so find that path and follow it fearlessly, wherever it leads. THE COMPOSITE JUPITER Jupiter in any chart represents the capacity for growth and expansion in relation to whatever it is connected. It means bigger, better, newer, faster, higher, and more developed. It is usually looked at only in the positive aspect, but it also has the potential to get out of hand if not checked and directed. The composite chart is the area that your mutual aspiration and inventiveness meet, a point where creativity is strong but which may or may not bring its potentials to fruition, depending upon its placement and how you handle it. Well-aspected it allows you to view realistically and act effectively upon what you determine together to make the relationship a spawning ground of limitless opportunity, more than either of you could manage separately. Debilitated, it can mean overblown expectations that come to nothing, biting off more than you can chew, situations that spiral out of control, and projects that perish under their own weight. But these ills aside, Jupiter usually does more good than harm and under most conditions it is the place to look for blessings. A solid composite Jupiter will mean that you can always look to the relationship to pull each of you up another step when you are stagnating and it will mean that others can look to the two of you for inspiration and new ideas. Where it is difficult, you will have to take the opportunity to restrain yourself now and again and develop only that which you think you can use at the time to avoid wasting your energies on unrealizable goals. It will show you where the big picture is and provide the kind of life overview which the relationship teaches that you might not have discovered on your own. It can be the force that carries you both away with each other and raises you to heights you didn?t know you had. Its only danger is allowing the relationship to take over you as individuals. Use it as a resource for each of you to draw on, not the other way round, and it will always pay off for you. JUPITER in PISCES The way in which this relationship tends to grow is rather special: it takes some loving tending, but can grow much more powerfully than you might suspect. It is rather like a vine, which starts off meekly, without even the potential of becoming such as a mighty oak; but as it modestly branches and spreads its tendrils, it can soon cover an entire church with green beauty or, if it is so inclined, strangle the life out of the largest tree. Thus, you may see your attachment to each other start small, without much expectation, but as the result of intuitive communication it can grow unnoticed until you are quite astonished at its presence. It will do better if tended, however. You want it to resemble ivy more than kudzu! That is done by recognizing, validating, and participating in the smallest of your connections, with the clear understanding that the meek will inherit the earth and the small becomes large in time if loved and nurtured. Outside projects proceed the same way, start small, perhaps on a mutual hunch, and finger their way through hidden or unlikely channels until your overall grip on the surroundings is unbreakable. It is a case where exterior development very much mirrors interior progress, so keep your inner eye open and it will be the key to everything outer as well. Feed it with love and water it with patience. The rest will take care of itself. THE COMPOSITE SATURN Saturn is usually considered the bugbear among planets and has an evil reputation that it only partially deserves. It is associated with restriction, contraction, dearth, debilitation, and a host of other adjectives that add up to not getting what you want. That is, however, only partly true. It might be better to say that it describes extreme delineation, concreteness, and finality ? reality in the most concrete sense. Much of our lives are comprised of hopes, plans, desires, dreams, wishes, and expectation, and Saturn describes what actually becomes of them. So in such a goal-oriented, future-driven society as ours, what actually happens is all too often a disappointment, the result of failed unrealistic expectations. Thus, Saturn in the composite chart is where you both get down to brass tacks and determine (or have determined for you) what actually is to be. If this point is well-situated, it means that you can rely on each other and the relationship as something that delivers every time. It will lend solidity to the relationship and make it something you can lean on when either of you need to be backed up. It will also make the two of you a haven for others in distress. In a difficult position, it will mean that you tend to fail each other, to bring each other down, and to sap each other?s energies physically or emotionally. In this situation it can highlight the insecurities of the relationship and mark for failure what might otherwise have succeeded. But in either situation, like any other planet, it will not touch every aspect of the relationship and so you are free to be selective if you know what areas it is either supporting or restricting. You want to know what the bottom line is everywhere, however; and that is what Saturn will tell you. But you don?t have to invest in stocks you think are going to depreciate, either. If you recognize early what the downsides and the support pillars of the relationship are, you can use one to stand on while you either avoid or make repairs upon the other at your leisure. If you do not, ignorance is the ally of the dark side and it will have much greater power to pull you in and cripple you. Find your foundation stones early, so your house will not be built upon sand; and, in time, your temple will rise to the skies. SATURN in SAGITTARIUS This is an odd position for Saturn, since it is Jupiter?s sign and has a very different kind of feeling than one would expect. In a way, you will find that what sustains the relationship may be a kind of conundrum, a series of contradictions which are not at all unpleasant but may be difficult to figure out. You will likely discover that you will feel most secure when you are taking risks and facing new and perhaps problematic challenges. Where others would retreat into a defensive posture, you will be better off with an attack, bringing the conflict to the adversary rather than waiting for something to happen to you. Conversely, when the expected thing to do would be to make a new move and develop original avenues of approach, you may well do better just moseying along enjoying and profiting from the same old thing that will pay off for you when everyone else thought it was useless old hat. The only way you will not fare well is that if you follow the crowd and do what they expect of you, that will almost always be the least secure posture you can take. If life were politics, you would be radical conservatives ? or conservative radicals ? only on solid ground when you?re marking your own path. Where that means following the road least taken, do so with a will and enjoy the trip. THE COMPOSITE URANUS Uranus is one of the three relatively recently-discovered outer planets, and all three are marked with a reality common to new experience and endeavor. They are not fully explored and thus not very much under our control. Uranus has been known the longest, (since 1786), and is a bit more familiar. It is associated with sudden events, shocks, realizations, discoveries, and other highly delineated events that sheer off quickly and completely from their previous states or surroundings. For creatures of habit, such as most of us are, this is usually upsetting and generally bad news. But it does not have to be. Your ability to use Uranus instead of letting it abuse you, is directly related to how flexible and quick on your feet you are. It also is linked to how willing you are to accept and welcome change as part of the nature of things. If you accept it grudgingly, then Uranus will always be a symbol of malice; if you welcome it with open arms, it will be a deliverance and an inspiration. In the composite chart, Uranus is where the two of you are repeatedly forced to rise to this occasion, and its contacts will tell in what areas of life it usually manifests. Well situated, it is a mutual window onto the future, flooding you both with light and clueing you into what is coming next. In such a position, it will make the relationship an eye- opener, which you come back to time and again for more. It will also tend to put you both ahead of the game emotionally and socially placing you in a leadership position among others where future thinking is concerned. In a difficult place, it will mean that you bring to each other incidents and accidents in areas where you are the most entrenched and you force each other to come to grips with ideas with which you refuse to deal. This can be a source of great mutual blame: ?You made me get into this. If it weren?t for you, this never would have happened. . . ? and so on. This is particularly the case in sexual affairs in a society that is at heart so sexually conservative (even backward) and yet ruthlessly courts danger by flaunting it everywhere as if it were an everyday affair. Perhaps the only way to deal with this planet is to expect the unexpected, thus robbing it of harm and providing it with a welcome. If you are ready to harness it - like a wild horse - you can ride it far. If you turn your back, it will surely trample you. Where this occurs in the composite chart, keep your eyes wide open, your stance wide, and your tolerance level on maximum. URANUS in PISCES Getting a fix on the specifics of reality and bringing clarity into your relationship may be difficult, especially if you demand hard and fast results which do not waver. Uranus looks for delineated events and clear resolutions, while Pisces tends to cleanse things and to blend them. Thus, to be successful, you need to be willing to accept tentative results and opinions and avoid seeking or imposing too specific a version of reality on each other or the world at large. Above all, you will need to recognize that things change, inside and outside, and the joy in life is being in contact and flowing with the continual transformation to reality that you feel going on around you. That means being tolerant not only of each other?s foibles, but letting it be OK if he or she suddenly changes and the person you knew yesterday seems different from the one you knew the day before. If the bond between you is intuitive and emotional, instead of based on demonstrated physical facts and behavior, you will be in control of the process. With such an approach, you will be able to apply it to the outside world as well and be able to judge not only where things are (which may be uncertain at times) but where they are going (which will actually be easier to judge). Be willing to float free in the present and you will be able to propel yourself into the future. THE COMPOSITE NEPTUNE The effects of Neptune, another outer planet and a recent discovery, are often largely out of our control both by our unfamiliarity with its effects and the apparent nature of the planet which represents the uncertain, dreams, illusions, ideals, mystery, and the higher unexplored (and perhaps unexplorable entirely) plane of the spiritual world. Its nature is so uncertain, it?s not even known exactly when it was discovered; various claims exist from 1810 all the way up to 1846, and we may never know for sure. It may be viewed from afar with a certain amount of analysis, however. When we find an area of mystery, it is our natural instinct to provide something to fill that void. Nature abhors a vacuum and our minds rush in to fill it with every kind of speculation and fantasy, if only to have something to act on in the area. Whatever is actually there will turn up eventually. In the meantime we provide ourselves with an image which may be close enough to the truth to better help us function or may be off in fantasyland and fail us utterly if we are unwise enough to lean on it. We know only in hindsight. Thus, in a composite chart, this point becomes the place where dreams, fantasies, hopes and ideals meet or clash, and inspire us or drag us down in confusion and conflict. Too many wars and personal battles have been fought over it needlessly, because none of these things actually existed until later. That?s the crux of it: don?t fight over what isn?t there, at least not yet. Well placed, this planet will help you aspire to higher, more selfless goals but even they can make you take them more seriously than they are. Badly positioned, it can lead to lies, deceit, and mistrust based on mutual misreading of the unknown and the foolish action taken upon it. In the end, it is a gentle, diaphanous planet that can never be forced. Dreams and fantasies belong to each of you individually; and when they are similar enough to share, whether emotionally, sexually, spiritually, or even financially, they can be the greatest of joys. If one of you tries to enforce any of it on the other, however, everything will turn distasteful and there will be no dreams left; the mist will be blown away and only a charred landscape will remain. Where this point occurs, go gently, expect nothing, and everything will be returned to you. NEPTUNE in LEO Your inner fires have been fueled by a broad spectrum of hopes and ideals of the most positive nature, and it is very important to keep them refueled and refreshed in the face of the changes and disappointments that life brings. Essentially, the higher your hopes, the greater the letdowns you are subject to when things don?t work out as you planned. Therefore it is imperative that you realize that you elevate reality directly in proportion to how much you want to get out of it. Let down your expectations, and results will drop accordingly, so keep ?em up and flying! To quote Rogers and Hammerstein, ?You got to have a dream, if you don?t have a dream, then how you goin? to have a dream come true?? So do not let circumstances control your ideals, but rather the other way around. Although you may have less external control than you would like, what you do inside is entirely up to you. And what you feel inside does impact positively (if your feelings are positive) on the external world. It might be an overstatement to say that it is your responsibility to yourself and others to proceed in this fashion, but it certainly wouldn?t be far off the mark. Your ability to share your dreams and so inspire each other and those around you is a gift that will always bring you reward. THE COMPOSITE PLUTO Of the three outer planets, Pluto is the most recently discovered (1930) and least subject to our control. As such, it is even considered the planet of power and control, ultimately because it so controls us in our attempt to overcome it. It is, of course, appropriately named after the ancient god of death, the thing which in the last analysis we cannot control; and at the most basic instinctual level, all the control we try to exercise in life is simply a ploy to cheat death a little longer. It is called the survival instinct. The point at which Pluto occurs in the composite chart is thus, at a deep level, where we meet in our ability to face death. But it doesn?t manifest itself that way on the surface. Instead, it shows up as the methods we use to keep control in order to avoid the certainty of personal annihilation. Well placed, it will mean a partnership that simply doesn?t worry about keeping in control of the situation, secure in the faith that things will take care of themselves and when it?s time to go, you?re in God?s hands. In a bad place or aspect, it will mean continuous attempts to gain power over each other and the environment (according to aspect, sign, and house) and a penchant for compulsive behavior that easily gets out of control. Or, rather, it was never in control to begin with. In some instances, particularly sexual, this can be heightened to mystic proportions, and though it can be playing with fire it can also be very revelatory. Where prominently placed, for well or ill, it will give the relationship an aura of inescapability and predestination, something that sweeps over you both (like sex or death) and takes you out of yourselves. Similarly, you may find the relationship itself has something of this effect on others, giving you a greater power (a power which you must be careful not to abuse) over those around you. In the end, however, it is the willingness to relinquish control as well as take it that resolves problematic issues. In the meantime, the ability to step away from the relationship and out of its sway, at least in Pluto- affected areas, can be an important safety measure. PLUTO in CANCER The bottom-line issues of this relationship, those that will most strongly unite or divide you, will be those concerning how to handle the structure and behavior of the family unit, religion, personal and sexual morality, and other affairs of private life. These will often seem to be life or death matters, upon which you will risk your own integrity and that of the relationship. When you agree in these matters, you have an unbreakable bond that can carry you through a lot of adversity, but when you disagree you can be put at odds in the most intractable fashion. The greatest problem, where there is one, will be the difficulty in airing differences because of a disinclination to express them accurately and respect the other person?s position. They are grounded not in intellect, but emotion, and as such are more difficult to localize, examine, and adapt where necessary. Because they are major groundworks of personal control and defense, you can recognize them when you find yourself using such words as ?must, ? ?always, ? ?never, ? and other absolutes to which fallible mortals are not entitled to use, particularly in emotional affairs. If there is a way of understanding and circumventing the conflicts which these might bring, it may be to realize that you each have your own individual relationship with your Maker (or the Universe, or however you want to express it), which is not that of the other, or any other. You live with it, and you will die with it, and to force that special relationship on another is to directly fly in the face of the Creator. Make your own peace, and let others make theirs; that is ultimately all that is given to you. If you can do it together, ideally in unity, then you have achieved something special; but to do so you must tend your own garden first, because that is what you are ultimately responsible for. CAPRICORN ASCENDANT In many ways this relationship may be considered a test of both your abilities to have a relationship to begin with ? to hone and fine tune what it takes to get along with another human being. As such, it is both a joy and a challenge, but sometimes easy to take too seriously or to become discouraged about. Others will tend to see you as exclusive to each other, so it may be wise to make extra efforts to include them in your activities (if you really do care to have them around, that is) or they may just wander off and leave you to yourselves, thinking that is what you want. Although you may not be forthcoming with advice out of natural reticence, when you put forward your joint opinion it will be taken very seriously by those around you, so be careful to say what you really mean. If you have to be influential, make sure they clearly understand. Your inclination to omit needless words may interfere with communication, so rephrase when necessary. Just because you said something with preciseness and clarity doesn?t mean it was understood. Since the focus of the relationship is internal, this may be cumbersome or annoying, but sometimes a well-chosen Clint Eastwood-ism isn?t enough, as beautiful and laconic as it may be! In the end, the relationship will be its own greatest reward, something you felt from the beginning, anyway. MERCURY in FIRST HOUSE With this position your relationship should be very good at communication, with each other and in dealings with others. It should also mean that you will get the first word in and may often lead with your head rather than your heart. Overall, this is a good position, as it will allow you to get things across to each other in words that may be getting confused emotionally and thus defuse potential problems before they become too serious. You may even serve to put others? problems into words when they have difficulty. Having the first (and often the last) word is good in business in some situations, although it can cause you to overlook valuable things other people have to say because you were too busy expressing your own ideas. In the same vein, it can also make for bantering competition between the two of you which can actually prevent communication of a meaningful nature. So watch that you don?t become too embroiled with words and forget the inner thoughts you had really meant to express. Nevertheless, the relationship will tend to emphasize what is bright, witty, and expressive in each of you. So whatever blind alleys you may occasionally be led down, your ability to get it clear and get it out will be a major benefit for you, the relationship, and those you are involved with. MERCURY sextile URANUS Original thinking produces spark in this relationship, and you will find yourselves quite inventive ? not in a radical, revolutionary fashion, but in a quite practical, day-to-day manner. Problems will be seen as happy challenges to your intellectual prowess rather than burdens you need to get around or shove off onto somebody else. Similarly, conversation will sparkle, because you will avoid the usual, repetitive topics and continually find new areas to open up and explore together. This will always make it fun to be together, at least as long as you are engaged in active communication, and will make you and those around you feel more alive because of being faced with the new and the challenging on a daily basis. Any career efforts that are involved with evolving technology, new approaches to old processes, and dealing with fringe areas of development will be especially blest by this position, and together you will do well in them. The crux of the talent here is to go just far enough over the edge to come up with something new, but not so far as you go off the deep end and propose wild or impractical solutions. By approaching problems in small, but original increments, big mysteries can be unraveled one clue at a time until the whole solution comes into view after a patient investigation. VENUS in FIRST HOUSE The appearance of grace and affection will favor your relationship as seen from within and without. Upon first glance you will seem to others as just the folks they would like to be around, partially because that is what you see in each other. An up-front Venus will tend to make you more aware of what it is you want out of a situation and more open about expressing it ? which, of course, is the most important first step in getting it. Therefore, you will be more likely to get the most out of your involvements, as you will be the first to claim your piece. Conversely, you will be seen by others as the most profitable persons to be around, which can feed a circle of good fortune and good times if you let it. Everyone likes a winner. This is not just a surface, opportunistic quality, as it goes hand in hand with a genuine sense of love and good feelings about the relationship. You can both get what you want here, and the sign and aspects of Venus and Mars will tell you in greater detail how. You can only go astray in pursuing and perhaps disagreeing upon the specifics, but let the basic good feelings about the situation rule and they will carry you through. VENUS sextile SATURN There is a certain air of reticence and restraint when it comes to fulfilling your desires which may, at least at first, have a distinct damping effect on your emotional expression together. It is almost like an overlay of formality upon your affections, like you should express them only so far and only in certain prescribed ways. It is not that you will feel bad or guilty about what you want from each other, just that you will not rush to mine all there is but will take your time and let the joys and pleasures be sipped and not gulped. The trouble is, at the outset it may seem that there isn?t much there, so you might abandon the effort before you recognize your style together and adopt a mutually acceptable pace at which to proceed. Once you do, it is entirely possible this can become a long-range relationship with a very solid basis, where affection is not so openly expressed, where privacy and exterior respectability have a high priority ? like an old-fashioned marriage, if you will. In a professional relationship, it will take the form of banked ambition where you expect definite things out of each other, but aren?t looking to conquer the world with it. In either case, it would probably be a good idea to make a special effort to open up and communicate with each other as to what you really want (not what you expect), as inhibited desire has a way of seeping into other aspects of a relationship and poisoning them without anyone knowing why. SUN in FIRST HOUSE This relationship is likely to be a forceful one in which the inner drive of both of you is brought to the surface. It will require a certain amount of compromise to make sure that one or the other of you does not get dominated or swept away either by the other partner or by the relationship itself, which will tend to have a fairly high profile, especially in face-to-face situations. In business, this means the two of you working together can sell anybody anything with a minimum of effort, an inclination you may have to refrain from applying to each other. It will always mean that you tend to put your best (or at least, strongest) foot forward as a unit and will tend to be quite indomitable because of this. If there is any caveat here, it is that you may forget to allow the input of others in your eagerness to make your mark, which can engender resentment and also cause you to miss valuable contributions from other sources that could help you achieve what you set out to accomplish. In personal life, this position makes for the two of you acting very much in concert, but also can make the relationship itself seem more important than those involved, because it provides such an energy boost. Remember where all that came from ? the whole may be greater than the sum of its parts, as here, but the parts are the bottom line. SUN conjunct MOON There is a certain feeling of having all your eggs in one basket with this relationship, because in a way you do. Your inner fires and fundamental personality power (the Sun) and your emotional ability to respond to events (the Moon) are in the same place, which means when you go for it, you go all the way. This will give you a unity of action and consistency of purpose that can cause the relationship to become a center for both of you. If you want to know what?s going on, you consult each other. Together you will have a dedication of commitment and surety of decision that will exceed what you normally achieve on your own. That means this relationship can become addictive, which is of course good and bad, depending upon how you use it and how dependent you become upon it. It will be difficult to maintain your individuality because it will always be easier to consult each other in a crisis than deal with things by yourselves. That means that you will do especially well together, but when things do go wrong, it will be very difficult to get it under control because the relationship has such momentum that it will keep going even when both of you say no. It may be a good idea to set aside and maintain parts of your lives separate from each other so you will each have a functioning reference point from which to stand back and view each other and the relationship. When you have something this good, give it support from the sidelines, despite the urge to always be in the game. SUN conjunct VENUS You have a natural level of affection for one another that will make whatever you do together easier and more enjoyable. Whether it?s love or business, there will always be a certain charm present, brought on by the fact that at some basic level, whatever else may be happening to the contrary, you just like being together. This will always help you get along in some fashion even in the worst of times. When things are good they will be really good. Because of this fundamentally right situation on the inside, people will find something about you that is easygoing and you will be able to get what you want out of social situations effectively. Partially that is because you have a pleasing approach, and partially it is because you instinctively know what you want and are in a much better position to recognize it and take advantage of it when it comes along. The only possible problem with such an aspect is that you might identify too closely with your desires and thus become excessively disappointed when you don?t get what you want. It may also lead you to be nice to those you shouldn?t be, thus opening yourselves up to exploitation or just simple time-wasting. All in all, however, this is a fine indicator for good friendship professionally and in a marriage, deep and abiding love. SUN opposition NEPTUNE This is a really slippery aspect as it makes it difficult to focus or aim your most fundamental energies, so it will be all too easy for them to simply diffuse and have nothing come of it. There can be great confusion trying to pin down where you are really at, and it will be twice as frustrating because every now and then you?ll see your way clearly, and then suddenly the fog rolls in and your lost before you can get your bearing. Lies, deceits, and confusion about the way you really feel creep in without you knowing it and it will be too easy and tempting for one of you to get into a co-dependent relationship with the other. All this is exacerbated by the fact that you have very high expectations of the relationship and the purest motives at the start ? it?s just that you keep getting lost along the way. Honesty, even though that may elude you, too, is the best policy and if you always say what you feel, you?ll be at least that one step closer to reality. But above all, be willing to drift until the fog lifts, then take your sightings. This has a cyclic nature, so you?ll always have another lucid moment for a reality check from time to time. MOON in SECOND HOUSE You may find that this relationship causes you to develop a considerable value and dependence on the physical trappings of life. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping may have more than an ephemeral meaning to you. It will certainly heighten romance through its trappings, and not just if you have a gold credit card; for the simple gift of a rose or a box of candy can be colored for you with much greater meaning than it might have to others. Conversely, when it?s no longer the thought that counts but the gift, you know you?ve gone too far! Where this inclination is well- balanced, it can give you a very fine-tuned sense of what things are worth aesthetically and financially, but if gotten out of hand it can make you too dependent on the physical side of things and slaves to your possessions instead of masters of them. On a brighter note, this moon position makes you draw deeply on your inner value systems, the sets of rights and wrongs which you have learned from an early age. To the extent that you are fairly self-aware of what they are and where they come from, will add great reliability and trust to the relationship. Where you have not questioned and tested your values earlier, however, can become a stockpile of prejudice as well, so be discerning. This relationship seeks solid ground at all times and works best when there is something to hang on to. MOON opposition NEPTUNE Confusion can be a major problem in this relationship, and when you aren?t sure how each other feels, you can?t communicate. The problem is not lack of communication in itself ? that is just the unfortunate result. Neptune?s ability to fog things out means that either you are not sure of your own feelings together, or you invent feelings that aren?t there and project them on each other. In a love relationship this is precisely the ?crystallization? of an image mentioned by Stendahl where lovers build onto each other until they are each remade in the other?s fantasy image. That is the danger here. Your greatest effort should be to put feelings into words, even writing down how you feel until it?s clear. This may allow you to avoid the snares of Neptune. In the business world, this may not be as difficult an aspect, as long as you are in an area where relatively predictable actions are the order of the day and emotional communication doesn?t figure highly in achieving success. The other problem to watch out for is intentional deceit, not necessarily between you but coming from others who spot your inability to feel them out accurately. When you are seen to be in disarray, you are at your weakest. Where confusion reigns, thieves may break in and steal with impunity. Keep your eyes open. MARS in SECOND HOUSE There will be a special focus on using what you?ve got in this relationship and not letting physical resources stand idle. When kept under careful control this can be great for business, as you will make the most of financial assets and because you will not let them sit still and gather dust. On the down side, you can become too spontaneous and buy and sell just for the sake of something to do, in which case assets can be wasted and opportunities missed for lack of the time and patience required to exploit them. Fundamentally, the desire is to take action, at least as far as the physical world around you is concerned. Emotionally, this means you will want tangible proof of affection and in a love affair sex will have high priority and intense expression. Although you will find great reward here, it will also be difficult to give up instant gratification for the sake of longer-term goals, both professionally and personally. Sitting around waiting for things to develop can be very frustrating indeed. Since what is important is that something tangible be getting done, not that it be critical or earth-shaking, make sure you always have a physical outlet for your energy, even if it means just spinning your wheels to keep yourselves in shape. Keep extra projects available that take up time but not resources, so you?ll have outlets available to keep you busy without draining you of what you will need for truly important missions when they arise. MARS conjunct JUPITER There is an ever-flowing, ever-expanding fountain of energy within this relationship which can deliver the greatest of success and more, as long as you are willing to see what you?ve got and ride it, rather than letting it ride you. The temptation, in whatever you get yourselves into, will be to pump it up, make it bigger, make it perform better, and push it farther. Unbridled, this has all the potential of the sorcerer?s apprentice and you could easily let your enthusiasm and energy get you in way over your head before you even noticed it. Therefore it will be important to take this feeling of power and action you get when together and impose on it a plan, a set of goals, and a set of restraints for when it diverges from its assigned path. You wouldn?t put a rocket engine on a car and then neglect to install a steering wheel and brakes. The same applies here, when you have got such a gift it deserves the best care and use. In a love relationship, there will likely be a high sex drive and perhaps some difficulty in keeping up with it and the rest of life at the same time. Alternately, depending on the rest of the chart, the opposite may be true, and boundless enthusiasm for mutual projects outside of the home may leave too little time or energy on the inside. Careful steering and thinking will be what determines if you get the best out of the bundle of power and energy that lie within your relationship. MARS trine PLUTO There is a quality of inevitability in what you do that gives you a mysterious advantage to those around you who do not have the same confidence in the certainty of their actions. It is like you know the outcome of what you are going to do before you do it, so you don?t have to take backup measures in case it doesn?t work out. You don?t hesitate when you deliver your stroke which puts you way ahead of the game. This may be because of self-confidence and self- fulfilling prophecies of success or it may be just dumb luck, but if you depend on it you will have a juggernaut going for you that few will care to oppose. At a very personal level, it can make for powerful sexual expression, and even in a platonic relationship you will feel that when you act together there is something going on that transcends the simple energies of the two of you alone. In a professional situation, others may find you quietly fearsome, able to get a job done unflinchingly but without having to stir up obvious confrontation which stirs up difficulty. You will simply make the offer that cannot be refused and cruise on through. Make sure that you are doing it for yourselves and are not being used as the tools for others, as the ultimate responsibility here will come down on you, so you had best get the profits as well as the blame. JUPITER in SECOND HOUSE You are likely to find much opportunity for growth and development in the most elemental, physical aspects of life. You are blessed by an inspired sense of where to make, develop, and spend money, and your abilities to achieve here will only be limited by the initial resources you start with. You will think big, not small so the more you have to work with the better things will go for you, as you do not like to piddle around. Given time, you will go from the greater to the smaller. Although there is the possibility for excessive materialism here, there is also the potential for greater spiritual understanding of the proper handling of material things ? after all, you can?t learn to use it right until you?ve got it. Generosity will likely come naturally, but you do need to keep it focused and give in ways that will cause others to utilize it and not just waste it away. Primarily, the one thing to be careful of, as always with eager and ebullient Jupiter, is to keep things under control and not let your financial situations snowball beyond your ability to keep on top of them. Although this will be a fun personal relationship, one where the physical passions can run very high, it is ideal for doing business together, particularly in a bull market, where the sky will be the limit as one good investment leads to another. JUPITER conjunct URANUS This relationship will be a voyage of discovery and self-discovery in the most positive fashion as long as you are willing to let it be so. In order to accomplish this you will need to give each other plenty of space and be willing to allow any direction or expression of growth, (however strange or off the wall) a chance to develop and prove itself. This is important, because often the wave of the future when it first appears is unrecognized or even seems distasteful or wrong, and if you try to smother it right off, you?re just blocking progress and stand a good chance of having it roll over you farther on down the line. Fortunately, you are likely to sense this naturally and follow your instincts to favor the new and sometimes unusual places this relationship takes you. The place this will be most difficult to accomplish is in your personal life if this is a sexual relationship, as you will have to be tolerant of quirks that might be necessary for one person?s satisfactory expression but can get in the way of the other?s. Different strokes for different folks, but that can be hard advice to live by when you are both trying to row the same boat. Here you may have to stretch your tolerance and where you can agree to something together, leave the space to express it separately and come together in the spaces where you are both comfortable. URANUS in SECOND HOUSE It is likely that your approach to your sources of income will be unconventional or that your resources in general will be sporadic or irregular in their output. This may come from circumstances beyond your control, but more likely will be the result of approaching income production in new ways. Whatever the case, if either or both of you depend on income you produce together it will be a good idea to buffer it with a layer of savings or other independent income-producing investments to tide you over the sudden ups and downs. Where you fail to do so and this is your economic life blood, money can become a real source of argument and unrest between you. It is one thing to see things in a different light, another to suffer as a result. This may not be as easy to solve as suggested, as the problem may be a fundamental way of viewing how it all ought to be accomplished and such surface remedies could be against your principle. Nevertheless, you can see and develop possibilities for sustenance that would bypass others and thus have access to resources others do not. In addition, you will see the good and original in physical possessions that ordinarily go unused, so other people?s junk can be your gold mine. NORTH NODE in SIXTH HOUSE Because the sixth house is concerned with duties and responsibilities and the Moon?s north node is also associated with the commitments and obligations your relationship takes on, it may be said that much of the purpose of your getting together is to learn lessons about just these matters. At times you may feel your relationship is something of a burden because it does not leave you as untrammeled as you might be with other situations, but you get what you pay for in life, and a free ride often doesn?t really take you anywhere. As with most commitments, the payoff comes later rather than sooner, and it may be in a different form than you might expect. Here it will be a greater breadth of human understanding which comes from the experience of serving a higher goal than just individual profit or benefit and it will be more valuable to you than anything you can acquire with cash or a credit card. Because the south node is also in the twelfth house of hidden and subconscious matters, a lot of the payoff will be involved in the surfacing of emotions and problems that have been previously immune to conscious knowledge or solutions, though their initial appearance on the scene may not seem as beneficial as they will have been once they have passed. No pain, no gain, and if you persevere and live up to what you have agreed to, you will be glad indeed that you met. PLUTO in SEVENTH HOUSE Competition and the elimination of it may be the key factor in whatever struggles arise between you. Attaining and maintaining equality will likely be a major issue, and to disempower one will be to disempower both. That would seem like a strange thing to get in a fight over, but it?s entirely within the range of possibility that disagreements may arise over how equal your opportunities are. In fact, there can be a good deal of one-upsmanship here, and very often neither will benefit from the other?s well-wishing because it is actually a power play in disguise. The trick is to just let it be and understand that what supports you is not one or the other but the interplay, which needs to be left alone in order to work. Neither false aid nor mutual subjugation will be of any help in making it work, though both may be the first routes taken. Instead, it is the relinquishment of power that brings joint authority and the willingness to bow not to each other but to circumstances that allows you to be in charge of your environment. This approach is more than critical, as this position of Pluto can make for confrontations that are quite intractable, even though seen from an outside point of view they needn?t be. If you are willing to cooperate, not just technically, you?ve got it made. PLUTO opposite ASCENDANT You are bound to have powerful feelings about your relationship and however it turns out, it will not be lightweight. You are together to transform yourselves in some special fashion, to make basic inner changes which will require the destruction and rebuilding of how you have structured your personalities. This has a compulsive, must- do feeling about it that can draw you like moths to a flame, and it can come replete with the fear of what will happen when you are consumed by it. Although this is, in the end, a natural inner process, it can have all kinds of external manifestations as both fear and extreme attraction do. In a sexual relationship, sex can become all- consuming and may be pushed to the limits by one or both of you. In a professional relationship, there can be cutthroat competition, even when it is on a friendly basis, with the fear of losing making the game far less enjoyable to play. Love or hate, win or lose, if you stay with this you will not be the same when you look back at yourselves from down the road, and it will have been a very intense ride along the way. What you offer each other here is the life and death experience reflected in just living together, a reflection of the heights and depths of human experience. When the going gets too heavy, however, remember that it is just a reflection, and that this, too, will pass. NEPTUNE in EIGHTH HOUSE Because the eighth house is associated with outside resources belonging to others, you will find that you have a difficult time pinning them down and making them behave in a clear and predictable way. Thus it will be a good idea to strive for economic self-sufficiency and avoid getting tangled up in others? business affairs wherever possible. When that cannot be done, do not try to be too rational and reasonable when dealing with such affairs, as that is the very attitude that normally would sustain you but here will be sure to fail. Rather follow your instincts instead of your reason. On quite another front, you will probably have a special reverence for what is old and venerable, whether it be people, things or institutions, your physical and spiritual forebears. To the extent that this encourages you to dig up the past in order to better understand the present, this is a wonderful inclination and can greatly enrich your lives. There may, however, be an inclination to place what is old and proven above your own ideas and thereby undercut the possibilities of making your own mark in the world. After all, down the line you?ll also be a piece of history, so why not make it a proud chapter? You may be able to do better than what has gone before ? indeed, you should as you have the extra information to do it right this time, despite the fact that you will be bound to make mistakes. Be forgiving of yourselves and don?t ask too much, and you?ll likely deliver more than you had expected. SATURN in ELEVENTH HOUSE You may find that a certain reticence in sharing yourselves with others will tend to keep your circle of friends small, and exclusive. You will want to be sure about someone before entrusting your feelings and your special vulnerabilities which they open up. This can be a double-edged sword, depending on your real motives, which may be mixed. To the extent that you fear intimacy, you will have trouble expressing your own feelings for each other and subsequently any you may want to develop for others. To the extent that you want to make it special and not dilute it, you will find that it binds you closer together and makes your friendships stronger. Whichever your motive, you will want to be aware that you may be viewed as somewhat distant and difficult to get to know, which may put you further from the very people you would most like to befriend. Here you may take advantage of your individual styles which may be more outgoing to keep an eye open for those special friends you want to help build and reinforce your inner circle. This will also allow you outlet for those aspects of friendship which you do not share in style or substance and allow you to focus on what you share rather than what you do not. Sarolta G. DeFaltay www.planetaryalchemy.com DSAS, Inc.