We are particularly proud of these report choosing tips. They will definitely help you cut through the jungle of reports. We tell you what to look for and provide comparison tables for each report type. We gathered the same delineation for each program – e.g. Mars Square Pluto – and put them all in a table for easy comparison. We feel it will assist you in choosing a report whose writing style fits you best. Use the links below to navigate to the type of Report Writer you are considering.
Choosing a Natal Report Writer
Finding a natal report writer that suits you best can be a daunting task. If you were to read every word of every sample natal report, you would have to wade through over 150 pages of text. But let me give you a few guidelines that could help you quickly narrow your search.
There are four main factors that you should consider in choosing a natal report:
- What level of detail do you want to provide clients in written reports?
- Which writing style best fits your style of chart reading?
- Which report family is compatible with the charting program you already use?
- Are the reports for personal use or resale?
What Level of Detail do you want to Provide?
Half of our recommended natal report writers strive to give a complete and detailed reading; the other half work just as hard to provide an integrated and flowing narrative, keeping astrological jargon in the background.
| Detailed |
Narrative |
| Astro*Talk |
Merlin |
| Indra |
Solar Writer |
| Professional Natal Report |
The Sky Within |
| TimePassages |
|
The detailed report writers systematically review all the major (and many minor) factors in a chart. They review hemisphere, element and modal balance, hard aspects (difficulties to be overcome), soft aspects (assets to rely on), planets in signs (motivations) and planets in houses (areas of life focus). They generally list each chart factor followed by the delineation.
These detailed reports are best for clients who are interested in learning more about astrology. The report gives more detail than you could ever cover in a session and make a great study aid for reviewing points made in your session. Some of the delineations in these reports are so detailed that clients will be blown away that a computerized report can capture them so precisely.
On the other hand, the increased detail also increases the likelihood of paragraphs containing contradictory readings. Customers find this confusing if they don't have access to an astrologer who can show how the readings can be integrated. These reports may also intimidate people who are new to astrology because of their astrological jargon and the sheer amount of detail they contain. The detailed report writers have summary sections to help guide the reader to the most important items.
The narrative report writers work hard to achieve a flowing, integrated story. It is a tough task considering that at bottom they are also working with only one chart factor at a time. They achieve this by writing expansively about fewer details, putting more variation in the writing style, and cleverly adding 'glue' paragraphs that refer back to other parts of the report. They also keep astrological jargon to a minimum by not mentioning any astrological terms outside of the names of planets and signs.
Narrative reports are best for people who have never been exposed to serious astrology before. They have a more integrated feel and do not distract readers with astrological terminology. Some people feel that narrative reports mimic the Chinese food syndrome – 'tastes great going down but doesn't fill you up.' But on the whole, most people are very pleased with these reports and these reports certainly go way beyond anything they have read in the newspaper.
Which Writing Style Best Fits your Style?
After you decide on whether you want a detailed or narrative report writer, the next step is to examine the writing style of each. We have provided samples of each report using the same person so you can more easily compare the writing styles. Look at Robin Williams' chart and think about what you would say to him as a client. Then scan each of the sample texts to see which one most closely fits your style.
Do you prefer a down-to-earth practical reading or a poetical, mythical approach? Do you soft peddle difficult aspects, or focus on them? Do you like an upbeat or more neutral voice? Do you find the delineations accurate, off base, or too fuzzy? If you like the overall tone of the report, but disagree on particular readings (like how they delineate Chiron), look to see if the report writer allows user edits of the text – most of them do.
Before you dive into the reports, take a moment to review some of these links to on-line biographies of Robin Williams' life so you can check up on the accuracy of the reports (and your own delineations). You'll want to also check to see which report you feel best captures the essence and details of Robin's life.
To help you fine-tune your understanding of the different styles, I have pulled out five chart factors from each report so you can more easily compare how each author delineates these chart factors. My article on comparing natal delineations has the full list, or click on the links below to compare the delineation of a specific chart factor:Click on any of the links below to examine these reports:
Which Report Family is Compatible with your Charting software?
If you already own and love one of the full-featured charting programs from Astrolabe, Cosmic Patterns, Matrix, TimePassages or Io, you will be happy to know that the report writers from these companies can read the file formats of their charting programs. Thus you can print the charts just the way you like and then print the reports for the client without retyping the birth data.
After you select a natal report writer, you may wish to consider adding a compatibility or forecast report from the same report family. Once you have entered the birth data for the natal report it takes just a few clicks to add compatibility and forecast reports to the mix. All of the programs are designed for 'batch processing' so you can line up a series of reports for different people and then walk away while they are all printed in one batch.
We sell five primary report families:
- Astrolabe Report system - Solar Fire compatible
- Professional Natal Report
- Professional Relationship Report
- Professional Forecast Report
- Solar Writer - Solar Fire compatible
- Natal - Solar Writer Modern
- Solar Writer Classical
- Compatibility - Solar Writer Synastry
- Specialty - Solar Writer Zodiac Child
- Solar Writer Medicus
- Solar Writer Solar Maps
- Cosmic Patterns/Pegasus - Kepler compatible
- Natal - Indra
- Natal - Merlin
- Compatibility - Kepler Compatibility
- Forecast - Destiny and Decisions
There are over forty Kepler reports in multiple languages as well.
- Win*Writer - Win*Star compatible
- Natal - Astro*Talk
- Natal - The Sky Within
- Compatibility - Friends and Lovers
- Compatibility - Simpáticos
- Forecast - Time*Line
- Forecast - Sky Log
There are over fifteen Win*Star reports in multiple languages as well.
TimePassages Reports
- Natal Report
- Relationship Insights
- Compatibility Report: bi-wheel or synastry method (romantic or non-romantic)
- Composite Report: composite chart method (romantic or non-romantic)
- Forecasts
- 3 Month Transit Report
- 6 Month Transit Report
All the report writers are fairly simple to use so there isn't a big learning curve involved if you choose to buy report writers from two different families. You'll just have to enter the birth data more than once.
Are the reports for personal use or resale?
If you don't intend to sell the reports, all the Win*Writer reports come in a Win*Writer Express version. Win*Writer Express versions are only $99. They have 'Not for resale' at the bottom of every page and are not editable, but the text is the same. Win*Writer Professional reports are more customizable and come with an advertising kit with templates and graphics for making business cards, report covers, and web sites. The Professional Win*Writer reports can be resold.
TimePassages Advanced and Standard editions include the natal and forecast report writers. You can also purchase the Relationship module add-on to run synastry and composite reports. The purchase of their Commercial License enables you to sell reports and charts.
Saving money
Cosmic Patterns has the least expensive professional grade reports, especially if you already own Kepler. If you buy any combination of four Matrix products programs – Win*Star, Win*Writer professional reports, or Win*Writer Express Reports – you get the least expensive one free. TimePassages bundles its excellent natal and transit reports in with both the Standard and Advanced Edition, and offers a discount if you buy the two relationship reports together, and a further discount if you buy them all at the same time.
Summary
The bottom line is that the reports that you sell or give away are a representation of you. It is important that you choose a report type and writing style that resonates with you. Please look over the sample reports and comparison delineations to find which one fits you best. Buying reports from the same family makes data entry easier and can save you money. If you still can't decide you may order a personalized copy of the report and apply the cost of the report to the eventual purchase of the report writer.
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Choosing a Compatibility Report Writer
There are several astrological techniques for assessing compatibility. In this section, we explain each technique, point out the questions they answer, and include a table to show which compatibility report writers use which techniques.
Sun and Moon Sign compatibility
How compatible are you from your core identities?
A Sun sign to Sun sign comparison will tell. Since there are 12 signs, that means the report author has to write 144 (12 x 12) unique paragraphs to describe each sun sign combination.
How compatible are you in the way you seek comfort?
A Moon-Moon sign compatibility will tell.
Natal 7th house sign and planets
What type of person are you looking for to compliment your basic approach to life?
The sign on the 7th house tells you. Your ascendant shows your basic approach to life. The sign on the 7th house (a.k.a. Descendant) is the opposite of the sign on your ascendant. Since opposites attract, we look to the sign on the 7th house to describe what we are looking for in a mate.
Planets in the 7th house are an even more powerful indicator of what we look for in a mate than the sign in the 7th house. We often 'give away' to our mate the functions represented by 7th house planets. It is also our task to take these planets back into our identity.
Natal Venus sign, house, and aspects
What expectations do we bring into relationships?
Looking at the condition of Venus in the natal chart tells us what expectations we bring to relationships. If there is a hard aspect to Saturn we expect love to be hard work but reliable. If there are soft aspects to Neptune we expect romance and magic. Looking at the baggage (and ease) that each person brings to relationships before anyone shows up in their life is an essential factor in understanding compatibility. We have to get along with the other person's love issues.
Synastry - Inter-aspects
What kind of chemistry gets created when the two of you are together?
Looking at the inter-aspects (trines - 120 degrees, squares - 90 degrees, etc.) between two people's planets will tell you where the challenges lie to provide the grist for growth and connection and where the energy flows freely to provide the stability to get through the tough spots. Each planet describes a motivating force so the type of planet and type of interaction tells us a great deal about the relationship. For example, if your partner's Saturn (Discipline) squares (challenges) your Moon (Needs), you could alternately feel taken care of or emotionally restrained by the dutiful Saturn person.
Synastry - Planets in houses
How does each of your partner's planets affect each area of your life?
Looking at how each of your partner's planets lines up with the houses in your natal chart will tell you how each area is affected. Each planet shines a particular type of energy and each house describes a department of your life.
For example, wherever your partner's Jupiter lands in your chart you will feel extra energy and enthusiasm. His or her Jupiter in your second house may give you material support - or promises that can't be kept. Alternately, you may feel channeled or restrained in the area of your life where your partner's Saturn lands.
Composite chart - Aspects, Signs and Houses
What needs does the relationship itself have?
The composite chart tells us about the relationship as an entity on its own.
In a longstanding relationship there are three entities - you, me and us. The 'us' has its own needs, conflicts, comfortable patterns and aspirations. It also has a chart like a natal chart to describe all this. The composite chart is constructed from the midpoints of the planets in each person's birth chart. It sounds rather abstract, but it works. The longer the relationship exists the more it assumes the characteristics described in the composite chart.
It is fascinating to read about the relationship as an entity and compare its motivations and style to that of each of the individuals in the relationship. Sometimes the composite relationship works well for the individuals and sometimes it does not.
Techniques Contained in Each Compatibility Report
| |
Complete
Relationship |
Cosmic
Compatibility |
Friends
and Lovers |
Solar Writer
Modern |
Simpáticos |
TimePassages
synastry (S)
composite(C) |
| Sun and Moon Sign Compatibility |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
| Natal 7th house |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
|
| Natal Venus or Moon |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
| Inter-aspects |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X (S) |
| Planets in houses |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
X (C) |
| Comp - Aspects |
X |
X |
|
|
X |
X (C) |
| Comp - Sign and house |
X |
|
|
|
X |
X (C) |
Sample Reports
The next thing to examine is the text of the reports. We have provided a full report on John Lennon and Yoko Ono produced by each compatibility report. Remember 'The Ballad of John and Yoko' - the song that described their weeklong 'bed-in' for peace? Check out all the Uranus and Neptune linkages in their charts. Remember how Yoko got tagged with breaking up the Beatles? Check out the delineation of Yoko's Saturn in John's 11th house.
To help you choose an author whose writing style resonates with you, we have taken seven chart factors and pulled the corresponding paragraphs from each of the reports. I think you'll be amazed at how different the delineations are and yet still clearly speaking about the same subject. Click here to see the delineations:
After you have compared the delineation styles, please read the full sample for the reports that most interest you.
Saving Money
Cosmic Patterns has the least expensive professional grade reports, especially if you already own Kepler. If you buy any combination of four Matrix products programs – Win*Star, Win*Writer professional reports, or Win*Writer Express Reports – you get the least expensive one free. TimePassages bundles its excellent natal and transit reports in with both the Standard and Advanced Edition, and offers a discount if you buy the two relationship reports together, and a further discount if you buy them all at the same time.
Summary
Just about everyone would like more insight into his or her primary relationships. Selling or giving away a compatibility report with an in-person natal reading is a great way to increase your business.
There is so much detail in these reports that many people will want to come back for a more in-depth understanding of the issues presented in the report. I also suggest using a highlighter to point out the inter-aspects with the tightest orbs and possibly writing a few notes in the margins. This makes the reports more personal and creates further customer loyalty.
Relationships are difficult. The more information we have on what each person brings to the relationship and how our needs and expectations interact, the greater our chance of success. It is a tremendous service to be able to give clients objective feedback on how they enter relationships and the particular dynamics of their relationship with their spouse, boyfriend, parent, child or sibling. It is such a relief to see that the difficulties are somewhat fated by the stars and that the relationship can be made much more satisfying with insight and compassion.
Providing clients with a report and a reading will give them something to study after the session is over. A study aid will improve the overall effectiveness of your consultation and thus encourage both repeat and referral business.
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Choosing a Forecast Report Writer
The Biggest Challenge: Separating the Forest from the Trees!
The biggest challenge in writing a forecast report is finding a way to give the client an understanding of which events are the most important. It is rather daunting to be presented with a 16-100 page report consisting mostly of one-paragraph-long descriptions of upcoming astrological events.
There are three basic approaches that forecast report writers use to help clients 'separate the forest from the trees':
1. Writing longer descriptions for more significant events.
Destiny and Decisions and Sky Log do the best job of writing longer descriptions for the more important events. When the description is twice as long as the one next to it you get the idea that this is a notable astrological event. The extra text is there to give the client advice on how to deal with the major events. The bigger events deserve more advice and these reports do the best job of giving it. Yet one also longs for a more direct method of communicating the relative importance of each event.
2. Giving each event a numeric rating of importance.
TimeLine and Professional Forecaster put one to five asterisks (*) next to each event to indicate how important it is. I really like the clarity of having stars show you how the author rates the importance of each event.
3. Putting the most important events up front.
Professional Forecaster prints out the interpretations chronologically and then prints a short list of the events by magnitude at the bottom of the report. If you want, you can reverse it and print the interpretations by magnitude and list the event chronologically at the end of the report. The problem with this approach is that one ends up having to cross check two lists.
TimeLine has a highlights section at the top of the report that lists all the 3-5 star events in chronological order with interpretations. This a true “best of both worlds” approach.
Sky Log does the best job of any forecast report in “separating the forest from the trees.” (Isn’t it just too funny that the author of this report is named Steve Forrest?) The Sky Log report comes in three sections: Invitation, Means, and Details. There first two sections list just the major events in chronological order. Each of the interpretations in the Invitation and Means sections takes up almost a full page. In the Details section one gets about one line for each event and reminders of the big events that peak during each month.
Options
Forecast reports are long. There are three ways to keep them to a more manageable length:
- Decreasing the time period covered by the report
- Decreasing the number of transiting and progressing planets covered by the report
- Choosing fewer options like progressions and house ingresses.
Taking the transiting Sun, Mercury, and Venus out of the report cuts the report size to one half or one third. Astrologers charge more for the longer reports and many people buy them so they have something to look at every day. It's certainly more informative and thorough than the horoscope in the newspaper.
Here's how time period and selection of transiting planets affect the page-length of a forecast report:
|
12 months
Sun-Pluto |
6 months
Sun-Pluto |
12 months
Mars-Pluto |
| Destiny and Decisions |
100 |
56 |
16 |
| Professional Forecaster |
236 |
195 |
127 |
| Sky Log |
61 |
39 |
32 |
| Starlight Solutions |
116 |
66 |
40 |
| TimeLine |
81 |
46 |
34 |
|
Professional
Forecaster |
TimeLine |
Sky Log |
Destiny
& Decisions |
Starlight Solutions |
| Transits to natals |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Progressed to natals |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
| Progressed to progressed |
X |
X |
|
|
|
| House ingress |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
| Sign ingress |
X |
X |
|
|
|
| Transits to transits |
X |
|
|
|
|
| Transits to progressed |
X |
|
|
|
|
| Directions to natals |
X |
|
|
|
|
But having the most features does not automatically make it the best forecast report. The question to ask is, 'Which one gives the best advice?'
How Well Do they Work?
To test how well these forecast reports work, I decided take a look into 1986 - the most difficult year in Robin Williams' life. It was a bad time in his career with two movie flops (Club Paradise and The Best of Times) but a much worst time in his personal life. According to Andy Dougan's biography Robin Williams published in 1998, 'This was a period where Williams would later refer to himself as 'walking through his personal life with all the certainty of a hemophiliac in a razor factory'' p. 104
Williams began a three-year period of deep soul searching. He started therapy for the first time in his life and begin divorce proceedings. The divorce proceedings took three years and he married Marsha Graces the same month his divorce was finalized. We expected to find important loneliness (Saturn) and death and rebirth (Pluto) transits during this time. We were not disappointed. Saturn squared Williams' Moon and Venus that year. Pluto was trine his Moon and later conjoined his Ascendant in 1987 and 1988.
The big changes in life are often a long time in coming. Sometimes a big event occurs that summarizes a whole period; other times it is a series of smaller events. Similarly, the big astrological events (transits from outer planets plus progression) can take a year or more to take their full effect, but when Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto comes to call it will change your life. Click on the following aspects from 1986 to see what the three report writers would have told Robin Williams about that very difficult year:
On August 9th and 10th, 1986, Robin Williams hit a career high when he performed at the Metropolitan Opera house in New York. According to his biographer, 'The concert at the Met was and remains a high point in Robin Williams' career. This was before Good Morning Vietnam and all the success that follows that, but it is a landmark in Williams' career in that it marks the first time that he was able to put it all together... [It] finally presents the sharpest comic mind of his generation functioning at the peak of its ability... This was Williams clean and sober and, thanks to Marsha Garces, who was a vitally important part of his life at this stage, this was Williams able to confront his life through art. He strides around the stage at the Met with confidence and poise and delivers a routine which is almost a meditation on his life thus far.' pp. 157-158
In astrological theory major events are like bullets from a gun. The outer planets build up pressure over a long period of time and transits of the inner planets act like triggers to release the energy. Check out what each of the report writers had to say about this high period that catalyzes all the learning:
Saving Money
Cosmic Patterns has the least expensive professional grade reports, especially if you already own Kepler. If you buy any combination of four Matrix products programs – Win*Star, Win*Writer professional reports, or Win*Writer Express Reports – you get the least expensive one free. TimePassages bundles its excellent natal and transit reports in with both the Standard and Advanced Edition, and offers a discount if you buy the two relationship reports together, and a further discount if you buy them all at the same time.
Summary
All of these reports contain little astrological jargon and are thus easily digested by the astrologically naïve client. Yet for the astrologically naïve, I believe that Steve Forest's Sky Log report provides the best organization and most advice. For the astrologically literate, Sky Log can seem repetitive and verbose. For these people, I recommend the Professional Forecaster.
Professional Forecaster is the best choice of the astrologically literate because it has the most options and its summary lists are only useful if you know a little astrology. Their list of events by magnitude and graphical display of aspects coming into orb will make little sense if you don’t know some astrology, but if you do they are a wonderfully compact way of presenting the information.
For ease of use, one would like to stay within the same software family. If you stay in the same software family, you don't have to reenter the birth data.
Kepler users will want to take a very close look at Destiny and Decisions. Though it only handles transits, it gives excellent advise especially for the big items. Win*Star users will want to focus on Sky Log and TimeLine. Solar Fire users should lean towards Astrolabe’s Professional Forecaster.
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