The following pages contain a brief evaluation of key elements of your birth chart, although it is by no means complete. Astrology can reveal many things about a person's life and personality, and you could study your chart for a lifetime without knowing the answers to all of your questions. The descriptions that follow will give you a "thumbnail" introduction to yourself through astrology.

In interpreting your chart, this report considers the sign of the planets and the north node in your chart, as well as their house placements. It also describes the sign of the Ascendant and the strongest aspects between the planets.

You may note that some of the following descriptions appear to contradict each other--and indeed we are all walking bundles of contradiction. If you examine yourself carefully, you will probably realize that you do in fact possess the qualities of both conflicting descriptions. Even though some parts of the reading may seem to clash, you will see that certain themes are repeated throughout the following pages. These are the ones that will become major issues in your life.

The readings stress that you are the ultimate decider of your fate. The stars may indicate the hand you were dealt at birth, but it is up to you to play that hand well enough to achieve your goals. Also, bear in mind that every "bad" aspect of a chart also has a "good" side. How it is expressed is really up to you. We tend to work at expressing ourselves more positively most of the time and only lapse into the negative behavior described when depressed, angry or scared. Or it is possible that some aspects may better describe your personality or behavior earlier in life. They may seem alien now because you have already worked through them.

A "Strength" number precedes each aspect description; this number takes into account how exact the aspect is, whether the aspect is a major or minor one, and whether an aspecting planet is close to one of the four chart angles. The higher the Strength, the more you are likely to feel the aspect and to act it out in your life.

Natives of the sign Taurus are well known for their stubbornness. Like their symbol, the Bull, they are slow to anger but can be quite violent when aroused. Then after they've kicked up their heels and charged at you a few times, they go back to grazing peacefully in the pasture. Taurus jealously guards his or her tranquil environment and will brook no interference.

Since it is an earth sign, Taurus natives usually have their feet planted firmly on terra firma. They are practical and stable people, but they will not hesitate to spend money extravagantly on the finer things in life and will insist on the best of everything. They appreciate art objects, good music, fine wines and beautiful surroundings and are willing to pay for them. Since Taurus is ruled by Venus, it is also the sign of love. Taureans are romantic, affectionate and sensuous, and they are fiercely protective of their mates.

It is not easy for Taureans to undergo radical change in their lives because they usually resist. But once they decide to change directions, they adapt very well to their newfound goal and can apply themselves effectively. One of the major lessons that Taureans must learn is to cooperate with the changes taking place in their lives rather than fighting them.

Many Taureans go on to succeed in life, partly because this is the only way they can live the lifestyle they prefer. They are not likely to be impulsive gamblers in life but instead plan their endeavors well. Most Taureans are social animals and get along well with most others. Why not? They are naturally graceful, charming and interesting people.

Individual freedom and self-expression are important to you, and you are full of new ideas. However, although you may be good at working up enthusiasm in others to carry your ideas through, you often lack the patience and perseverance to carry through on a project alone. You are likely to promise a great deal and then not be able to deliver when the time arrives.

In your career you are attracted to positions of authority, and you often achieve them. Be sure you're not all talk and no action, or you will find yourself in a position that you are not qualified for. Pay close attention to details and learn to apply yourself to one specific path and not get distracted along the way. Otherwise you may find that you have to struggle to hold onto a high position in life once you have achieved it.

Moon in Aries people are also known for their fiery tempers, although you quickly get over it. Be careful that you don't become self-centered and conceited in your domestic life. If you are not able to succeed in your chosen career, you may substitute repeated sexual "conquests." Your love life is not likely to be very stable. Try to curb your impulsiveness and consider your partner's needs in love relationships.

You have many friends, and they find your enthusiasm for life contagious. You are usually the life of the party, and nothing seems to keep you down for very long. Although you may be short on patience and prudence, you have lots of pride and self-esteem.

Although it may take you longer than others to master a concept, once you have done so it becomes a permanent part of you. You have many interests and want to absorb every detail you can about them all. While you may read theories in books, you will learn best by actually applying them in material form. You appreciate good craftsmanship and have the patience to acquire such skills yourself. Although you appreciate beauty for its own sake, you always look for a practical application for everything.

With Mercury in Taurus you are highly intuitive, yet intellectually grounded. You appreciate art, romance and the finer things in life, and you will share your good fortune with loved ones. Being sight-oriented, you get more enjoyment from reading a book than listening to a lecture. You are not a good listener and have a talent for tuning out unwanted and intrusive sounds as if they didn't exist. It is difficult for you to learn to put the needs of others before your own. If this is the case, one of your greatest lessons in this life will be to overcome self-absorption.

With your shrewd business mind and common sense, you could be a good manager. Your mind is strong enough to endure challenges, and you are stubborn enough to insist that regulations be followed to the letter. Since you love to accumulate material possessions, you should resist the temptation to be greedy. You express affection for your partner in a touching and loving manner.

With Venus in Aries, you have a naive, impulsive approach to love. If you are not careful to take time to get to know someone, you may marry for pure physical attraction rather than for love and commitment. Since you tend to act impulsively in relationships, you can sometimes be inconsiderate of the feelings of others.

Your desire nature is very intense, and you desire a direct and impulsive lover. Although you are romantic, you are not necessarily subtle. You seek immediate gratification of your needs--in effect, move in for the kill. If a potential lover shows no interest, you will not wait around until they do. You approach each new love with enthusiasm and joy, enjoying every moment for itself.

Because you are harder to "tie down" than the average person, you would be better off with a lover who is more stable and patient than you. They would serve as an anchor to keep you still long enough to appreciate being grounded in a love relationship. They must be able to see that you are not really fickle, but rather childishly enthusiastic about life.

You are "in love with love" and are frequently disappointed when your torrid romances don't last. Instead of jumping into relationships head first, you should learn to be patient and really get to know your partner before giving your heart away. It would be best for you to choose a partner who is more cautious than you are and to let them set the pace of the relationship.

Your ability to assert yourself is often frustrated by your own incessant worrying and scrupulous attention to detail. While it is good to be organized and to have a plan of operation, you also need to learn to be a little more spontaneous and carefree.

In your career you are an energetic worker. Although you are ambitious, you find it hard to handle positions of high responsibility. You tend to take on everyone's problems and end up with stomach upsets or skin rashes. Although you are practical and diplomatic with others, you are not prone to taking risks or to participating in cutthroat competition.

You are a very careful and meticulous lover and will make sure that the surroundings and atmosphere are perfect for yourself and your partner. Although you are somewhat slow to arouse sexually, you go out of your way to please your lover, employing superior technique, sensitivity and attention to detail.

Personal cleanliness is important to you, and you probably enjoy taking showers with your lovers. You can be somewhat picky and critical of your partner, although it is sincerely done with the intention of helping them. Sexual tools can be fun for you if you will allow yourself to be so bold and spontaneous.

You are highly intuitive, sympathetic and compassionate. Because of your increased sensitivity, your emotional reactions to stressful situations can be very extreme. You would derive great satisfaction from working with others to bring about needed social reforms; you also have natural healing abilities. Be sure you make time to get away from the tension of day-to-day life to relax and heal your sensitive nature.

You are an industrious and efficient worker, and you have a sharp, analytical mind. With your keen attention to detail, you are excellent at making and carrying out intricate plans. Just be careful you don't get too involved in the minor details of life to see the larger picture clearly. You have a tendency to be shy and can be prone to moods of depression. Your greatest satisfaction in life will come from serving the needs of others.

Your home is a high priority, and you are very nurturing and protective of loved ones. You may have considered your mother to be an unacceptable role model, so that you feel the need to not repeat mistakes she made in raising you. Circumstances may force you to change residences more often than you would like. Your feelings are hurt quite easily, and you are careful not to trust just anyone.

You have a strong desire for peace, harmony and justice and will work to bring about humanitarian reforms. Your ideas about relationships are much different from your parents'. You must learn to compromise and to sacrifice what you want if necessary in order to achieve balance.

Your generation saw the birth of greater autonomy and self-rule among the world's nations, as well as the hippy movement. New labor-saving devices created more leisure time. Television entered our lives, and the entertainment industry mushroomed. You have a strong desire to creatively solve the world's problems.

You put a great deal of emphasis on being in an intimate relationship and can be overly concerned with pleasing others, thereby neglecting your own needs. Remember that you must truly know and love yourself before you can give of yourself to another. In past lives you have sacrificed a great deal for loved ones who did not appreciate your efforts. Now you may quickly become resentful if you suspect you are being used. Learn to be more decisive and to assert yourself in order to get your own needs met.

You are a deeply philosophical individual, and you hold firm to your beliefs (especially regarding religion and God). Visiting holy places is very uplifting for you, and you would enjoy traveling to foreign lands on spiritual pilgrimages. Although you are inspired to share your religious truths with others, you must remember to allow them to disagree with you without one of you having to be wrong.

Religion was a major influence in your early life (or a major lack). You were probably taught that those who did not share your family's beliefs were unenlightened or uneducated. As an adult, you may question your family's version of the truth and undertake a tireless quest to discover your own truth. You will search for personal meaning in everything you do in life.

You can be very impulsive emotionally. Your temper is easily sparked, and you can explode at those you love most. You must learn to control your temper, and face the fact that you cannot always have things your way. You may appear emotionally erratic to others.

You are quite talented and could be a good: teacher, politician, writer, or researcher. You are a believer in equal rights and may defy authority when it does not appear to be honoring someone's rights.

You must be willing to meet your partner halfway for marriage to work. You believe that marriage means one partner being dominant over the other. Yet you really need an egalitarian relationship. You must convince yourself that this is possible before you can achieve it.

You can be impatient and impulsive, and therefore may seem "accident prone." You may not have been allowed to assert your will as a child. So you tend to defy authority by rejecting the responsibility that it imposes. You are a rebel at heart.

You are highly creative and have the self-confidence and leadership ability to put it into practice. You are not afraid to take on the most difficult tasks and know that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. However, you are not willing to resort to deception and manipulation in order to do so. You are fair and honest in your dealings with others, and because of this you will win out over your competitors.

Though you may act impulsively at times, you generally plan your endeavors carefully and efficiently. This ensures that you will succeed where others would fail. You are proud of your ability to maintain integrity in the "dog-eat-dog" world and become angry when others question your motives. If you are wrongfully accused by foes, your friends and associates will rally to your support.

You get along well with others and relate to them in a way that is non-threatening. Although you are always willing to help others, you generally mind your own business and respect the privacy of others. Your abundant energy and self-confidence draw others to you, and they are inspired by your achievements.

In a career you would do well in law, management, acting, education or sports. Your creative abilities would also serve you well in any field requiring communication skills or counseling. Young people admire you and are inspired by your self-confidence and integrity. You relate easily to children because you let them be who they are instead of expecting them to behave like adults.

In your personal relationships you make adjustments to others quite easily--mostly because you accept them as they are. You need a partner who will extend the same courtesy to you rather than trying to shape you into their idea of perfection. You solve problems in your relationships easily because you are willing to face them head-on.

If you take full advantage of your creative talents, you can achieve whatever goals you set for yourself. You are quick to recognize opportunity when it knocks, and some people would consider you extremely "lucky."

You could do well in a career in education, politics, law, and religion. You are a good leader and are especially good with children. People will often come to you with their problems.

It is essential that you have personal freedom, and you will fight anyone who tries to restrict you. Travel would be very mind-expanding for you, and you should take advantage of any opportunity to visit new lands.

You are always sincere (even with your enemies) and are warm toward your friends. You are very optimistic and have a good deal of faith in your abilities. You can become impatient with others who never seem to try to succeed but instead expect to fail before they begin.

You need total honesty from your love partner and will offer him or her much spiritual encouragement. You are well known among your friends for being unselfish and giving.

You are highly creative and imaginative and have the enthusiasm to carry out the many projects you can dream up. Your chances for success are quite high since you easily recognize your own talents and limitations and can work within them to achieve your goals. You will succeed in your own way and in your own time and will not be distracted from your goals by anyone or anything.

Because of your good communication skills, you are well informed on many subjects and have an incredible ability to concentrate on any given task. You are a stimulating conversationalist and inspire others with your knowledge, wit and enthusiasm. You have an easy-going nature and are friendly to most everyone. As a friend you are trustworthy and reliable and would never divulge the secrets of another.

You could excel in such fields as law, politics, education, writing, the theater and government service. You are particularly good with children because you are patient enough to understand and help direct their unlimited energy. In whatever field you choose, you can rise to the top through your hard work and courage. You would also derive much satisfaction working with groups.

Because you can tolerate the flaws and hang-ups of others, others enjoy having you around. You do not feel compelled to interfere in the lives of loved ones and expect the same respect from others. You seek a mate who is as creative and inspired as you are and who shares a common life goal.

You have very strong opinions and don't hesitate to state them without being asked. This can be irritating to people, especially since you tend to dismiss their own opinions as unimportant. You usually have the first and last word in any discussion. In your haste to be first, you may make decisions prematurely. This means you may have to retract what you've said later, and this is not easy for you. You don't like to admit you were wrong and can be very self-centered.

You are creative and could be a good leader if you would take the time to make good decisions. You need to take others' needs into consideration and to learn a little humility. At times you can be something of a "know-it-all," which can be very annoying to others. Try to cultivate some objectivity.

Communication comes naturally for you, and you can express yourself articulately. You love to give orders but may become frustrated if they are not followed. You are not above intimidating others to get their support. Express this aspect more positively by inspiring rather than threatening others. Your enthusiasm can be infectious, and you can work well with the public. You are good at making and carrying out plans.

In your love life, be careful of your tendency to misinterpret your partner's signals. Try to see yourself through their eyes during times of misunderstanding. Your partner should be able to take your directness and lack of diplomacy. You speak straight from the heart.

This is the only aspect Neptune has made to Pluto during this century, and the planets will remain in sextile to each other for another hundred years, although the signs the planets occupy will continue to change as time passes.

For those born between 1942 and 1956, Neptune was in Libra and Pluto in Leo. These people were born at a time of global war. Governments rose and fell; kings were ousted from their castles. There were breakthroughs in air power (Neptune in Libra) which helped establish the balance of power between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This time was filled with meetings and peace conferences between global leaders. Those born during this time know that compromise is not enough to achieve peace; you are naturally suspicious of your leaders, and this will help to promote greater honesty and accountability on the part of political figures.

If you were born between 1957 and 1970, Neptune was in Scorpio and Pluto in Virgo. There were new advances in health and medicine, as well as rapid spread of illegal drugs. Our long- held conservative attitude about sex began to dissolve, and we began to realize that marriage was not essential to maintain a committed relationship. Those born during this time seek to serve and improve society. You are also angry about the current state of our environment and natural resources.

If you were born between 1971 and 1983, Neptune was in Sagittarius and Pluto in Libra. Your attitudes about religion, education and human interactions are most likely different from those of your parents. Your religious beliefs, or spiritual practices, are important to you, and you are deeply concerned for the fate of your planet and the race of man. You will insist that your leaders be straight with you and will not accept excuses or manipulation. You are also interested in occult sciences, and many advances in this area will be made by members of your generation.

If you were born between 1984 and 1998, Neptune was in Capricorn and Pluto in Scorpio. You are part of a generation which will make great progress in dealing with power responsibly, both in terms of interpersonal relationships and as protectors of our Mother Earth. You will seek to transform society and replace rampant injustice with compassionate guidance.

You have a very strong will that can lead to altercations in your life. People may find you a little hard to understand. You may vacillate between times of total control in times of crisis to times of freaking out over minor problems. This may confuse and alienate all but the best of friends.

You are afraid to form close friendships for fear of being hurt. This fear of failing could also extend to your career and prevent you from attempting anything other than what you know you are capable of.

One lesson for you with this aspect is to swallow your pride and take advice from those who can help you. Don't be defensive and cold toward others who appear to know more than you in some area. Learn to adopt an attitude of compromise. Sometimes others can see more clearly mentally what is cloudy to you emotionally.

Others may perceive you to have a lofty ego that should be toppled. They may feel they have to defend themselves against your power trips. This can bring out the worst in others around you.

A more positive side of this aspect is that it gives you incredible managerial skills. You are quite ambitious and seek a career that allows you to exercise a certain degree of power. Just don't forget the ones who helped you after you get to the top.

It's not easy for you to maintain a calm, stable love relationship. This is often due to your insistence that you be the dominant partner in the relationship (at some level). Just remember, some people do not like being dominated. If you are not careful to act out the energies of this aspect in more positive ways in your life (such as through your career), they will manifest as crises in the home or at work. No matter where these energies are directed, remember "everything in moderation."

Among other things, this aspect indicates that you must be careful to get enough rest. Natives often have a high level of nervous energy and can easily "run down their batteries" if not careful. This nervous energy carries over into your business as well as social life. Your tendency to react spontaneously and intensely to others makes you appear to be emotionally erratic and aggressive.

You make friends easily but do not make commitments casually. You are attracted to persons who seem mysterious and unusual, but you immediately lose interest when they become "serious." If you do form close relationships, they will definitely be unconventional. You are very much a free spirit and do not care for the idea of belonging to anyone. In order for you to find happiness in a love relationship, you must be willing to meet your partner half way, even if it means giving up a little freedom yourself.

You can be promiscuous and oftentimes delight in defying convention. Your sexual desires are quite strong, and you must be careful not to jeopardize other aspects of your life in your pursuit of satisfaction of your many sexual fantasies. You should not deny these desires, but you should control them, not let them control you.

Career-wise, you must slow down your pace long enough to accept and carry out responsibility on the job. Unless you can demonstrate an ability to focus on tasks and patiently follow them through to a successful conclusion, you will not find promotions on the job easy.

You are sincere in your relations with others. You make friends easily, and can make adjustments to new friends to allow them to feel comfortable with you. You are also quite sensitive, and your feelings are easily hurt by harshness or rudeness. You try to be civil to everyone, even those who are not civil to you. You can also be quite tactful and diplomatic. Your mood can be so "nice," that people may wonder whether you have ulterior motives, and they may distrust you for this reason.

You take great pride in your personal appearance. Your type of loving is gentle and sensitive, though passionate and intense. You are good at anticipating your lover's needs and satisfying them. This often results in a good marriage for natives with this aspect.

Your youth was a pleasant one, and you enjoy having a comfortable home of your own as an adult. You are generous with others less fortunate than you. This is not to ease your conscience, but because you genuinely are concerned about others.

Your one problem in relationships is that you will have a hard time adjusting to thinking in terms of a couple. You are used to having only yourself to please. You must also be careful not to bring your family into the relationship.

You are in touch with the real world. More than others, you know where the rubber meets the road; persistent study has shown you how to make things happen in a practical sort of way. Your nature is well-suited to the adult world of responsibilities, which you master at a young age. Not impulsive with your resources, you would only start a business after careful study, but you would manage it well. You enjoy the satisfaction that comes not just from starting projects, but from finishing them. Your steady, organized approach is actually more productive in the long-run than is that of the quick, flashy types. You know how to establish a pace and keep it.

Do not let your awareness of the material world make you unappreciative of the spiritual plane that underpins our life here -- to which others may be more sensitive than you. Practicality is fine, but try to understand that dreams, feelings, and enthusiasms are also important and should not be squelched. Others might surprise you with what their optimistic risk-taking is able to achieve. You can be so cautious and reserved that some people find you conservative and dull. If you yourself become bored or depressed, admit that security isn't everything and try to be more spontaneous. Open up to the new and follow your bliss (in a careful sort of way).

You are an active, future-oriented person who is not weighed down by past commitments. You take advantage of new opportunities better than most. Life for you can be a vibrant affair in which you passionately pursue causes, lovers, and experiences. You have the self-confidence to be a leader. Competitive and flamboyant, you have little patience for slow people or unexciting work. When an activity interests you, you can be very generous with your time, energy, and money. Find outlets for your gifts of creativity and intuition.

Watch out for a tendency to exaggerate or to be insensitive to others' feelings. More cautious types may envy and resent your free spirit and competitive nature. You get bored easily and may depend on others to finish the projects that you start. When your warmth is guided by love, wisdom, and positive goals you have the ability to heal and inspire others, but when you focus on your self or lack direction, your short-lived passions can affect others in destructive ways.

Expressing yourself does not come easily to you. You distrust people who are fast, smooth talkers. It may be easier for you to express yourself nonverbally or in writing than it is through speaking. If you also lack planets in the houses of Relationships, you will find the normal avenues of communication and social learning blocked. Your thinking will be personal instead of detached or rational. With the mind's normal communication channels blocked, you learn primarily from experience. Lacking in the ability to view yourself objectively, you gain self-understanding primarily through feedback from others.

Try to see life less personally, in a more objective way. Take classes and never stop educating yourself.

A lack of planets in Air signs can be offset by an Air sign ascendant or by abundant planets in the houses of Relationships.

For you the world of feelings may be terra incognita. Close interpersonal relations, which require the expression of feelings, and empathy for others' feelings, do not come naturally or easily for you. You have difficulty putting yourself in someone else's shoes in order to feel what they feel. You will learn how to deal with life in a tough, mental sort of way. People looking for someone to empathize with them should not come to you. Those people who are comfortable with you are not looking for emotional closeness. It's not that you don't have emotions and feelings, but they do not come out easily in your relationships. If you are an artist, they may come out in your art. You probably take refuge from the difficulty of forming emotional connections by concentrating on intellectual, practical, or inspired activity. Your best companions would be those who are able to inhabit these realms with you, but who are also in touch with their feelings. They can help you to contact your own feelings and teach you to respect and honor other people's feelings.

A lack of planets in Water signs can be offset by a Water sign ascendant or by abundant planets in the houses of Endings.

With an abundance of planets in the Cardinal signs, you find it easy to function on your own as an autonomous individual. You have a pretty good grasp of how the real world works, which you may have acquired through your willingness to try new things. An active person, you find challenges stimulating. Success comes through big ventures that others are too intimidated to attempt. You would make a good entrepreneur, but look for other indications in your chart to see if you have the qualities needed to stay with a project or grow a business. You're not really a team player. You are likely to encounter some problems in your life as a result of being so one-sidedly focused on your own goals and activities. But you are good at overcoming problems. Personal survival is important to you and you are capable of learning. You manifest your love through a lack of fear that makes the future happen.