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 this sign are known as "moonchildren," and their wildly fluctuating moods seem to coincide with the phases of the moon. As with all water signs, there is a tremendous depth of emotion with Cancer. In times of sadness or despair, you may retreat into solitude just as a crab retreats into its shell. At other times, you can display another trait of your namesake--crabbiness.

Cancer has a natural desire to understand its emotional make- up. You engage in self-directed psychoanalysis, striving to feel every detail of life. This is Cancer's purpose in life--to learn to love, trust and accept all that life offers. No sign feels so intensely as Cancer, although this may not be obvious to others. You may set up defenses against being hurt, such as shyness or reclusiveness.

You have a strong need for security, and a comfortable home environment is of utmost importance to you. The security you seek can be found in the knowledge that you are unconditionally loved. You also like to surround yourself with mementos and other reminders of your past. You use your resources wisely, knowing that to waste not is to want not. Like other water signs, Cancer can be manipulative. You never go directly for something (or someone) you want, but once you have it, you will never let it go. Cancer can exercise artful control of feelings--his or her own or those of others. The Moonchild truly needs to be needed, and can provide loads of nurturing and mothering in return.

The threat of becoming emotionally vulnerable in relationships can dissuade Cancers from falling in love. But once they make the big leap, they become very protective of their loved ones. But be careful not to become a "clinging vine" in relationships. Anyone who is strongly independent would feel smothered by your love and would try to break free.

You can be very secretive, and few people will ever witness an outpouring of your deepest, darkest feelings. Yet others will unload their secrets on you and seek your compassion and understanding. You may even have a talent for healing or a green thumb with plants.

Physically, Cancers are more vulnerable to injuries or illness in the chest region, the head and face, knees, and skin. Other trouble spots are the stomach, digestive system, kidneys, and bladder. A strong sense of optimism will do wonders for their health.

With your Moon in Aquarius you are highly imaginative and should direct this energy into creative channels. You are very open-minded about the changing trends in society and can adapt quite easily.

Most of all you love to shock others with your opinions, which often violate taboos. You can see the need for old arbitrary restrictions to be cast aside. Freedom is very important to you, but you must sometimes remember to extend the same freedom to your partner.

You are a mixture of radical thought and conservative action and are sometimes plagued by anxiety and tension. Often you take on others' problems or causes without getting anything in return.

In relationships you seek a person who is somewhat unusual. You look for a companion who can share many interests with you. In business you need a stable partner who can make good practical use of your creative imagination and keep you grounded. Metaphysics and occult sciences are also of interest to you.

The one drawback of this moon placement is a tendency to gossip and spread rumors. Although this may be done with the best of intentions, you may not enjoy dealing with the consequences when you are identified as the source. Physically, your areas of weakness are varicose veins, eye afflictions and ulcers on your legs.

You are very self-confident about your mental abilities, and you are an articulate and convincing speaker. You are highly creative and have your own distinctive style of expression. Since not everyone is as talented or confident as you are, you need to allow them to express themselves in their own way. One challenge of Mercury in Leo is to develop patience with others who seem slow or uncreative.

Although you are happiest when others are admiring and praising you, at times it is best to learn a little humility. Otherwise, you will encounter disturbing surprises in your interactions with others which will "shock" you and force your attention away from yourself. With Mercury in Leo there is a tendency to be arrogant and demanding. Remember that you are not the only player on the stage of life, and every role is as important as your own because without any one of them the play is incomplete.

Since you are often overly absorbed in yourself and your own view of life, it is difficult to get your attention long enough to make an impression on you. You take in only the information you feel will be useful to you and reject the rest. For this reason you are not very observant and need to develop a greater attention span and eye for detail. Your reactions are usually slow, not because you are stupid, but because of your lack of interest in things which are not about you.

With your strong sense of self-confidence, you are a natural public speaker or writer and can present your ideas clearly. In discussions with others you will attack any statements that seem irrational or contradictory. You love to travel and are enthusiastic about life. With your ability to inspire children, you could be a great teacher.

This is a rather difficult placement for Venus, since it indicates that you have some karmic lessons to learn around giving unconditional love and accepting loved ones as they are. The tendency with this placement is to become overly critical and to nit-pick at minor details. The more you learn to serve others selflessly, the quicker you will overcome this tendency.

Because you are so fastidious and pay close attention to detail, you would do well in a career which calls for thoroughness and organization. Your home is likely to be quite orderly, and you will expect others to respect your preference in this regard. You like to dress neatly and strive to make a good impression on those you meet.

You are a very careful and meticulous lover and need surroundings and atmosphere in love and sex that are comfortable. Although you are somewhat slow to arouse sexually, you go out of your way to please your lover. In your lover you appreciate superior technique, sensitivity and attention to detail.

Personal cleanliness is important to you, and you probably enjoy taking showers with your lover. 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.

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 good-natured and attempt to get along with everyone you encounter, and for this reason you make a good mediator. With Jupiter in Cancer, you have good financial judgment and may benefit through inheritances. Since you have a talent for accumulating money and possessions, you are often generous with those you love (unless Jupiter is afflicted, in which case you should avoid being stingy). This placement of Jupiter often indicates weight problems.

You are extremely well-organized and efficient, and you work hard to develop your creative abilities to the fullest. Avoid a tendency to become a perfectionist and to look down upon those who are less talented. Others probably see you as conservative and unfeeling, and in reaction to your own insecurities you may become a loner. You may become a workaholic in an attempt to gain respect and achieve recognition. One of your greatest sources of growth will be through putting the needs of others before your own. Learn to help others shine, while you stay in the background.

You have intense emotions and deep powers of concentration. One of your greatest challenges in life is to develop positive channels for your strong will. You are a natural reformer, but you should be sure changes are really needed before initiating them. You have a natural talent for doing research and solving mysteries. You also are interested in metaphysical and occult sciences and are curious about life after death.

You are philosophical and even prophetic about societal change. You have a strong love for freedom and a restless optimism about the future. Since you have clairvoyant abilities, you can gain knowledge from your dreams and visions. You will fight religious and moral fanaticism.

Your generation has seen massive changes in laws regarding such things as marriage, birth control and sexual behavior. You will also work to curb violence and sexism and to clean up the environment. Because of your strong desire to achieve harmony and balance, you will expose and eliminate corruption in society.

It is difficult for you to achieve balance between your emotions and your intellect, and you often feel confused in your relationships with others. You may "fly off the handle" rather easily, and at times you can be difficult to reason with. At other times you will react in a cold, distant manner. If this tendency gets out of control, you can alienate all but the best of friends. It's not that you are intending to do so; you have a talent for offending others without meaning to.

Before making any decisions involving your relationships, be sure you listen carefully to everyone else's side. Learn the fine art of compromise and you will find it easier to peacefully coexist with others. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions; remember to give others the benefit of a doubt. If you can consciously become more tactful and patient with others, you will feel better about yourself--and so will they.

You may have difficulties in your chosen career unless you can develop more skill at negotiation and compromise. Learn to accept your failures gracefully and admit when you are wrong. Making mistakes is the way we all learn; instant perfection is impossible. When others criticize your work or point out your mistakes, don't take it so personally. Welcome the feedback of those who would like to help you sharpen up your skills and become more professional.

You may encounter conflict in your domestic life, for you do not back down easily from an argument. Worry is one of your favorite pastimes, and you may cry on the shoulders of your friends rather frequently. Resist any temptation to spread gossip (even if it is founded in truth). This could backfire against you and alienate you from your neighbors. Also, resist any urge to lavishly spend money; getting in debt is easy for you--getting out is not.

You have difficulty in exercising self-control when expressing your feelings. Your tendency to misjudge others leads you to form binding relationships with others who will take advantage of you. Even while they abuse and misuse you, though, you will not raise a hand to protect yourself. You feel helpless to fight the demands others make on you and end up becoming bitter and disappointed. This can cause you to be cold and hardened toward others. You have a genuine desire to be helpful to others, but they seem to want you to solve all their problems.

This aspect gives you a great deal of occupational versatility. No matter what you choose for a career, be sure you don't end up doing all the work while someone else gets the credit. Also avoid situations in which you may be forced to take the blame for something you did not do.

Don't continually offer your help to others. Although you are extending a hand so others will like you, they may actually lose respect for you if you become a doormat. Take care of your own business and don't get involved in everyone else's problems. Try to develop more self-confidence and ignore those who would call you selfish when you won't devote yourself to serving their needs.

The major physical problems associated with this aspect are those problems caused by tension and stress. In your personal relationships you need to surround yourself with those who are easy-going and supportive rather than those who are demanding and critical.

You are highly creative and clever, and you have a talent for facing and dealing with challenges in your life. You are aware of the needs of others and are willing to compromise in order that everyone may be satisfied. Others find you sympathetic and understanding and will often bring their troubles to you.

Your circle of friends is very wide, and they treasure your sincerity and honesty. People do not find you threatening, but rather tend to trust you. You value your own freedom, but also respect that of others. You would do well in occupations involving children, especially teaching, or the performing arts. Because of the trust others place in you, you could also do well in politics.

In your love life, you enjoy warm, meaningful ties with your loved ones. You understand the need to "give" in your relationships in order to "receive." In sex, you are highly inventive and are often the initiator of sexual change and growth in your relationships. The partners you attract will be different in some way from the norm. Your love arrangements will allow for more freedom and openness than what society considers "normal."

You have tremendous personal resources with which to achieve your goals. Although the goals you set for yourself are likely to be somewhat ambitious, you are willing to work hard to see that they are achieved. Ever since you were a child and learned to invent indoor games to amuse yourself, you have steadily worked at developing your intellectual skills. This prepared you to deal well with competitive situations in your adult life.

Communication is important to you, and you could be an effective public speaker. Your dramatic delivery and flair for using the right words make you a formidable opponent in any debate. It is particularly difficult to win a debate with you because you only present information that is well documented and convincing. You also use this skill to come to the aid of others who cannot defend themselves intellectually.

You could excel in such fields as law, government work, teaching, writing, drama or the media. Although you wouldn't mind receiving recognition in your chosen career, it is not as important as the sense of satisfaction you experience when you have a chance to use your talents to their fullest potential.

Others admire your confidence and straightforwardness. Children are particularly drawn to you and may see you as a mentor. They appreciate your honesty and know that you will deal with them as equals. You respect others who stand firm on their convictions and have high ambitions. It is important that everyone who deals with you does so with honesty and integrity.

In your love life, you appreciate a partner who is intellectually strong. You have a strong sex drive, but without the mental component, no relationship will last very long. You also seek a partner with a spiritual consciousness.

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 are a serious thinker and are well aware of your responsibilities in life. Your childhood training instilled you with these qualities, and you can use them to make the most of your time and resources. You learn a great deal from your everyday activities and see a larger meaning behind the mundane occurrences in life. Your mind contains a wealth of information which you continually supplement as you mature.

Although you are a very patient and understanding listener, you are careful about stating your own opinion in life. You do not speak out unless you are sure of your information. It is quite likely that you will succeed in life because you are able to carefully plan every step. However, you must guard against a tendency to become pessimistic or even depressed.

In your career you would do well in education, politics, drafting, architecture, engineering, conservation, or mathematics. It is necessary that your chosen occupation present a challenge; otherwise you will eventually become bored with it. If you feel that you are appreciated, your contributions to your work are enormous. You work best on your own so that you are not distracted by others. Because you are honest and sincere, your supervisors will be able to rely on you to do your best. You are willing to work hard for what you want.

You need a close friend in whom you can confide. Since you tend to be shy, pick someone you know you can trust. You suffer physically from extreme pressure and tension and must be careful to unwind periodically--even though it may appear to you that you are wasting time. Learn to laugh at your own mistakes and shortcomings.

In your love life you need a partner who is trustworthy and whom you can respect. You hold traditional values regarding affairs of the heart and seek a lover who is sincere, honest, and responsible. You seek a relationship that is secure and, because you are traditional by nature, will resist change unless you are convinced it is for the better.

It is difficult for you to understand the meaning behind what happens in your life and for this reason you have trouble learning necessary lessons. Growth seems such a painful process to you and at times you may feel that the only meaning to life is emotional suffering.

You have a low opinion of your own worth and always feel that others are better at what they do than you are. Therefore you take on the role of second-class citizen, serving others without regard for your own needs. Others may take advantage of this element in your personality, especially since you have difficulty saying no to any request. Once you learn to establish priorities and to take care of your own needs, this will no longer be a problem.

Because of your low self-esteem, you constantly seek validation from others by gaining their approval. If someone comes to you with a plea for help and you turn them down, you torment yourself with feelings of guilt and feel even more unworthy. This is your own way of emotionally beating yourself and is not based on fact. Be kind to yourself before you consider giving to others.

You would do well in any occupation in which you can serve others as well as yourself. Such areas include physical therapy, public relations, and rehabilitation of the handicapped. You could also do well in the field of travel because of your great interest in foreign lands. You are willing to work harder than most and often may take on more than you can handle, again in an effort to please others. Don't allow others to pass their duties over to you; you have enough to handle on your own.

Developing a hobby is good therapy for you and will allow you to express your creativity in a positive way. This would also give you a chance to unwind and to disconnect yourself from the needs of others. Be sure that people prove their sincerity and reliability before you confide in them. Otherwise, you could set yourself up for hurt and disappointment.

You have tremendous creative abilities, and this is either a blessing or a curse in your life, depending on whether you find the appropriate creative outlet for this energy. One of your difficulties in doing this lies in the fact that you aren't comfortable in a highly competitive environment. If at all possible, it would be best for you to be self-employed and, preferably, work alone much of the time. You are highly sensitive to stressful situations. Tension and frustration are just plain unhealthy for you.

Another of your difficulties in life is that you insist on seeing people and situations through rose-colored glasses. You want so much for everything to be wonderful, that you refuse to see it any other way. Of course, this can cause continual problems in your personal relationships. With time and maturity, you will learn to be sure those offers are as incredible as they seem, and beware of those who would like to take advantage of you. You won't be casting aspersions on anyone's character simply by insisting that you know all the facts, or know them better, before making a solid commitment. And it will save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

You need to improve your judgment in the area of money and material possessions as well. Be careful to see your financial situation clearly, or you'll end up in debt over your head. Avoid buying on credit any more than necessary.

Your attempts to assert yourself often result in turmoil for you and/or for others. Therefore, you swing from one extreme to the other--asserting your needs powerfully at times and at others slipping into a state of total apathy.

It would be best if you could be self-employed or at least manage to work alone in your occupation. Because of your need to serve others, you would do well in the field of medicine and healing or social services. This way you can assert yourself and serve others at the same time. Also, if you work alone you will have no one but yourself to blame when things go wrong, which may be difficult for you since you tend to point fingers at others.

You lead a somewhat sexually repressed life although your sexual needs are significant. You suffer from anxieties regarding your sexuality (probably carried over from parental conditioning around sex) and therefore find it difficult to find satisfaction in this area.

Also, you may be attracted to persons who are unavailable, perhaps because they are already married. And then you languish in guilt over fulfilling your desires with someone who does not belong to you. Sometimes you find it more convenient to see your lover as you wish them to be rather than as they really are. You tend to lower your standards when choosing a lover and end up with someone who is interested in you primarily for sex. You may feel bitter when you are disappointed in love, but you really have only yourself to blame for setting it up that way.

You can be accident-prone at times, and you should avoid occupations which require the use of heavy machinery and other mechanical devices. You are also more subject than most to infections and disease, so you should be very careful with your health. Watch your diet and hygienic practices.

In your case, the heart rules the head. Your emotional drives are strong and you act primarily on the basis of your feelings. Whether your feelings are purely personal, interpersonal, or transpersonal is up to you, but generally you are a life-oriented person who feels keenly and who acts to support your family, friends, and community. You are happiest when you are in a caring relationship with a significant other. That person should be comfortable with the emotional closeness that you bring to relationships, while providing the structure or inspiration that you need. Some of your friends will not be as comfortable with emotional closeness as you are, and you will have to respect their boundaries. You have probably learned over the years how to keep your sensitive nature from being hurt. Don't permanently withdraw, but find the people with whom and the environment in which you can be yourself.

Because of your sensitivity, you easily pick up others' thoughts and feelings. You can anticipate others' needs before they have expressed them. You can usually rely on your intuition when it comes to forecasting the outcome of personal and career decisions. If you decide to use your psychic abilities for healing, learn to let go of the negative feelings that you process from others. Since you are so sensitive, find quiet moments for private introspection in which you can reconnect with what you feel instead of what others feel. You also find it revitalizing to be around large bodies of water.

You do have a need to stop and think things through before acting. Make the effort to communicate with others who may have a more objective viewpoint or who could see solutions that elude you. You can sometimes be criticized for acting from a purely personal perspective, which you could avoid by learning and respecting society's larger viewpoint. You can be very creative in finding paths to your personal goals. Keep the larger viewpoint in mind and later you will not have to try to rationalize to others why you chose those paths.

In your chart, the planets are distributed in a balanced manner between the Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable modalities. Ability to act and survive in the world is balanced with inner insight. You stick to your values and principles at the same time that you react quickly and adapt to changes. You have the ability to listen as well as to lead. You enjoy life, but also do not shrink from facing challenges.