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Sky Log
Astrological Report for
Robin Williams
Sep 01, 2006 - Dec 01, 2006
by Steven Forrest

Planet	Sign	Position	House	House Cusps
Sun	Cancer	28°Ca11'	09th	01 00°Sc55'
Moon	Pisces	08°Pi57'	04th	02 29°Sc07'
Mercury	Leo	22°Le04'	10th	03 01°Cp47'
Venus	Virgo	10°Vi11'	10th	04 07°Aq10'
Mars	Cancer	11°Ca54'	09th	05 10°Pi22'
Jupiter	Aries	13°Ar53'	06th	06 08°Ar17'
Saturn	Virgo	27°Vi51'	11th	07 00°Ta55'
Uranus	Cancer	10°Ca50'	09th	08 29°Ta07'
Neptune	Libra	16°Li54'	12th	09 01°Ca47'
Pluto	Leo	18°Le49'	10th	10 07°Le10'
Midheaven	Leo	07°Le10'		11 10°Vi22'
Ascendant	Scorpio	00°Sc55'		12 08°Li17'

Traditional astrologers 'make predictions.' Often they are correct. But right or wrong, 'predictions' turn you into a marionette, with the planets holding your strings. And in my opinion, that is not a very inspiring description of the way the cosmos works, nor a very accurate one. You are vastly more powerful than that. You can, to a great extent, shape your own life. That at least is my belief. The future isn't crystallized. It's a wavering, quivering web of possibilities. How will they manifest? Much depends upon how you wield the magical wild card we call your freedom.

So, what's the use of astrology? In a nutshell, it can help you make better choices. The planets never give a definitive answer to the question 'What will happen to me?' Instead, they ask the question. But they ask the question in a very specific way: 'Given everything you are, all the bridges you've crossed, all the contracts you've signed, there are several possibilities for what you might do next...' In other words, 'Here's the menu. What are you having?'

And the question mark is the most important part of the whole inquiry, because that's where the uncertainty -- and your freedom -- lies. But the planets do even more. They offer advice. In a sense, they recommend certain choices over others. They seem biased toward your evolution. They often suggest that you take the less familiar path, the one that moves you into richer fields of your own potentiality. The planets express this rather philosophical bias in a very concrete way. Typically, when you make a less energetic response to a planetary question, the results, while initially comfortable, rapidly turn painful. Sometimes the pain is immediate and dramatic, as in the collapse of an important relationship. Other times, it's more subtle, as in the degeneration of life into deadening boredom and ritual. Either way, sooner or later we know you made a wrong turn somewhere.

In the pages that follow, we will be exploring the coming months of your life from this planetary perspective. There are three parts to the report, and any or all of them may be included here, depending on which have been requested. First, the big questions. In the part of the report called THE INVITATION, we try to get that 'mountain-top' perspective that enables us to make sense of the details. In THE MEANS, we turn our attention to some secondary factors that offer suggestions, help, and support in responding to those big questions. And finally, we'll look at the report period month-by-month, day-by-day, to get some ground-level insight into THE DETAILS. Your report may be for three, six, nine, or twelve months and may include any or all three sections just described. For this reason, and because some years in your life are astrologically more active than others, report length can vary quite a bit.

Throughout the following text, I'll be endeavoring to write in plain English, but if you're unfamiliar with the jargon of astrology, you'll encounter a few words that may require definition. A 'transiting' planet, for example, refers to the actual, current position of that planet in the sky. Sometimes the transiting planets form critical geometric angles with the 'natal' planets in the birthchart, triggering developmental questions in your life. These critical angles are called 'aspects.'

The 'progressed' planets function in much the same way as the transiting planets, but we approach them a little differently. They're like a script that's been built into your birthchart. Just as we know that an oak tree will emerge from an acorn and bring forth its leaves in season, similarly each person's birthchart contains within it the seeds of certain predictable developmental stages. Progressions spell out those stages.

Some years loom large in our memories decades down the road; others are blurry, easily forgotten. That universal human reality is reflected in the movements of the planets -- astrologically speaking, one year is often far more significant than another, just as in life. Most of the really important celestial factors move rather slowly; thus, it's not unusual to experience a time in which none of them have gone critical, when we can calmly keep on putting one foot after the other, on 'cruise control.'

Well, for you this is definitely not that kind of year. Something truly pivotal is occurring...

What we've considered above is the underpinning of this phase of your life. It's truly elemental material -- the stuff of which milestones are made. There's no guarantee that astrological forces of such magnitude will be activated for everyone all the time. What follows is an analysis of some slightly less portentous dimensions of your astrological picture...less portentous, but still powerful enough to qualify as part of this year's 'Invitation.'

Tr. Neptune is Opposite Pluto
In effect: in progress - Sep 2, 2006
Peak Date(s): sometime before the report period.

The planet Neptune is presently tinting and shading your biography, adding its dreamlike quality to the existential stew. Close your eyes; there's a world in there. That's Neptune, the planet of consciousness itself. Now open your eyes. There's a world out there too, and it's hard to ignore it. In fact, the outer world has become so pressing in its demands that you've partly lost contact with the inner one. But Neptune, transiting through sensitive territories for you now, is fixing that. Your inner world is so full it's brimming over, overflowing its banks into your daily life. If you resist the process, you'll find a host of Neptune problems plaguing you: losing the car keys, forgetting to pay the electric bill, having the attention span of a three-year-old on a sugar jag. But there's an alternative: trust the process. Slow down. Meditate. Let the images come. Moult opinions. Breathe in, breathe out. Why? Because your unconscious mind has a message for you. It has to do with the possibility of happiness for you over the next few years, about how old sources of joy are drying up and -- critically -- about new ones you must learn to recognize. How do you receive the message? You stop resisting. You simply let it in. That's Neptune in the broad sense. How is it effecting you specifically? Neptune is opposite your natal Pluto: sometime before the report period..

First we must recognize that the action and the developmental pressures are rooted in the Fourth House, for that's the region of your birthchart through which Neptune is currently passing. Immediately that realization places our attention on two fundamental areas: The first is your home and family, which may well be making their needs felt now in the 'key' of Neptune. And the second, often confused by the first, is your own happiness and that deep soul-feeling inside yourself to which you must be true if your life is to stay on course. Under this kind of stimulation, a person often benefits from considering his or her deepest beliefs and attitudes from a conventional psycho-therapeutic perspective -- which in essence is to say, 'Figure out what mom and dad taught you,' and drop what is no longer consistent with your own course. But what's the issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that, we turn our attention to Pluto, which is being invited into development by these familial and emotional pressures.

Everyone has fears. Everyone has shames and wounded places. In you and me and everyone else, there are marks left by the times we've been lied to, abandoned, used, or exploited. It's not the world's cheeriest subject, but turning away only empowers those Plutonian hurts, gives them more latitude to influence your life. When your natal Pluto is triggered by a passing transit or progression, dark shadows are stirred within you. It's a signal that forgotten, unprocessed, or repressed elements of your personal history are asking to be investigated. The procedure requires intensity, honesty, and emotional courage. The results are worth the effort. If you work well with these energies, you emerge stronger, clearer, and often with renewed inspiration. If you hesitate, it's not unusual for the old wounding dramas to be re-enacted in your life.

In what way do those notions connect with your present circumstances? Understand that Pluto occupies the Tenth House of your natal chart, an area which refers to issues of career, status, and your public role...concerns which are currently undergoing considerable developmental pressure and change. All positive steps in terms of profession or your place in the community hold one point in common: they move you further and further in the direction of Pluto, as we just described it. Any work that will prove enduringly satisfying invokes the considerable energies of Pluto in you; any work that does not embody them will turn out to be transitory or deadening.

When wide-open Neptune merges with the piercing perspectives of Pluto, you enter a long period of philosophical rumination. That may sound rather pale, but in fact the nature of your belief-system is probably the greatest single determinant of the shape of your life. And yours is up for review. The aim lies in establishing a balance between hard psychological honesty on one hand and the human need for inspiration and faith on the other.

The geometric angle or 'aspect' involved in the process we are studying is, as we said, the opposition. Not surprisingly, this suggests that the natal planet and the moving one are 180 degrees apart. Tension is thus woven into the spirit of this period of your life. The two forces we described are polarized, which often translates emotionally into a feeling of being damned if you do, and damned if you don't. How can you break the logjam? Recognize that any impossibilities you are experiencing in this area probably arise from an incomplete or biased perspective. The opposition aspect always calls for a leap into a new, more accepting level of consciousness. Something is missing in your view of the problem -- and that missing link (here's the corker...) lies in the wisdom embodied by those people or situations that are now antagonizing you. It's not that they're right and you're wrong; only that the truth that can carry you beyond this impasse lies somewhere between the two positions.

Tr. Saturn is Conjunct Pluto
In effect: in progress - Sep 16, 2006
Peak Date(s): Sep 7, 2006

The planet Saturn is currently casting a gray light on your circumstances -- but is it the bleak gray of sorrow or the clear, comforting gray of wisdom and digested experience? That's the choice. Saturn is classically viewed as the 'bad' planet, the 'Greater Malefic.' Don't believe it! Used correctly, its transits can bring dignity and self-respect. Essentially, Saturn is about maturity. The part of your life that's being touched by the Saturnian energies needs to grow up...which, despite the lies we're all told, is not a process one mysteriously completes on one's twenty-first birthday. There is an area of your life where you have simply outgrown yourself, at least inwardly. The task now is to adjust your outward circumstances to reflect the maturity you've already attained psychically and invisibly. It is a material problem, not fundamentally a psychological one. To succeed, there is first a need to face reality squarely, even if it's unsavory. Then to make a hard choice...that is, to reach an emotional bottom line and not be crippled by your awareness of the ambiguities in your situation. And finally, in a spirit of commitment, persistence, and self-discipline, to claim those circumstances in your life which reflect the hard inner work you've been doing over the last few years. That's Saturn in general. Specifically, Saturn is conjunct your natal Pluto: Sep 7, 2006.

Currently Saturn is steering a course through your Tenth House. That's the traditional 'House of Career,' and any planet passing through that part of your natal chart suggests that external developmental pressures are now arising which have the effect of modifying your place in the world. Something is brewing in your profession or vocation, or in your social status -- the way you look to people who don't really know you very well. What is it? We can't say exactly, but to respond optimally to the potentials and challenges built into this event, you'll need to act according to the spirit of Saturn, as we just described it. But what's the core issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that, we turn our attention to Pluto, which is being invited into development by these professional or social openings.

The natal Pluto -- that, as we have seen, symbolizes your own native capacity to probe into yourself and heal yourself. It always deals with the hurts associated with the humiliations and defeats that life has offered us, and the process of going beyond them.

Your Tenth House came up earlier; now we see it in the spotlight again, once more informing us that the deepest, most essential factors in the situation we're considering all revolve around your role in the world -- your profession or job, your political (or metapolitical!) activities...in general, the image that strangers have of you. And what do right choices look like here? A large part of the answer lies with Pluto, a planet we described above, whose basic nature and values underlie what we might call your 'Cosmic Job Description.'

When sober-minded Saturn gets involved with dark-hearted Pluto, you'll have little patience for fluffy, frilly superficiality. This is a serious moment, something of a day of reckoning. Truths must be recognized and told. Lies must be illuminated, and demons named. You are ready. The situation is pressing. It will not go away or improve of its own accord. Take responsibility, move decisively, and do what must be done.

As we mentioned, the aspect involved in the event we just described is the conjunction, which refers to a precise alignment between the natal planet and the moving trigger. Thus, the process emphasizes fusion, integration, and synthesis. Of all the possible aspects, the conjunction is the most intense. The explosion rattles your outward circumstances; but it originates inside you, and puts you in the driver's seat. It is appropriate for you to claim some new level of power, of self-expression, and of autonomy. If you don't, no one will do it for you; and the opportunity will evaporate.

Tr. Saturn is Conjunct Mercury
In effect: Sep 27, 2006 - Oct 19, 2006
Peak Date(s): Oct 7, 2006

Saturn played a role earlier in this account. Now it emerges again, in a new way. To refresh your memory, Saturn is ultimately the planet of maturity. It always places a strong emphasis upon hard work, decisive choices, and persistence. Saturn currently is conjunct your natal Mercury. The energies crest Oct 7, 2006.

Currently Saturn is navigating your Tenth House. That's the traditional 'House of Career,' as we've already discovered, and it tells us that something of the nature of Saturn is brewing in your profession or vocation, or in your social status. To respond optimally to the potentials and challenges built into this event, you'll need to act according to the spirit of Saturn, as we just described it. Being true to yourself is the challenge, as is generally the case in life. But your public life, with all its superficialities and practical pressures, is perhaps the hardest place in which to live up to that ideal. To succeed here, pay special attention to Mercury, which is being invited into development during this time of professional or public reorientation.

Your quickness, your alertness, your curiosity -- those are the dimensions of your life dominated by the planet Mercury. To say that Mercury represents your intelligence is quite accurate, but it's more connected to the natural style of your intelligence: not so much how smart you are as what interests you, and how your intelligence can be employed most pleasurably and efficiently. Intimately linked to such cerebral concerns is the question of your ability to communicate, since ideally there is some relationship between speech and forethought. Thus Mercury, the traditional Messenger of the Gods, is associated with both thought and conversation. When stimulated by a passing transit or progression, Mercury tends to speed up the flow of data in your life. You learn. You listen. You speak. Often events move at a hasty pace, and there's a feeling of excitement mixed with over-extension.

Your Tenth House came up earlier; now we see it in the spotlight again, once more informing us that the deepest, most essential factors in the situation we're considering all revolve around your role in the world -- your profession or job, your political (or metapolitical!) activities...in general, the image that strangers have of you. And what do right choices look like here? A large part of the answer lies with Mercury, a planet we described above, whose basic nature and values underlie what we might call your 'Cosmic Job Description.'

When Mercury mingles with Saturn, a thoughtful, reflective perspective enters the mind. This is a season of earnest study, of necessary but often rather plodding kinds of work. A precise, careful, conservative approach generally produces the best results. And, present cultural mythology aside, the cultivation of a degree of calculated pessimism often helps one evade costly blunders as these two planets interact.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a conjunction -- the most powerful of the geometric aspects and one that suggests convergence, intensification, and often a new beginning.

Tr. Uranus is Opposite Venus
In effect: Oct 20, 2006 - continuing
Peak Date(s): sometime after the report period.

The planet Uranus is presently stirring the pot of your life, and that always promises a tumultuous passage, peppered with unexpected developments and encounters. Outwardly, Uranus is the wild card, bringing unpredictable and unforeseen events into the picture. Inwardly, it signals a time of accelerated individuation...that is, a time in which who you really are and what you truly want are rapidly emerging and defining themselves. A portion of what you imagined to be your identity has, in fact, little to do with you; it is a side-effect of your social training, nothing more. And, like training wheels on a kid's bike, you are now ready to dump it. This has an unsettling effect upon not only yourself, but also those around you. Often during Uranian periods there is a distinct 'changing of the guard' in our social circles; old relationships end, new ones appear. Claim your right to be yourself -- that's the essence of the transiting Uranus. Whatever it touches, changes. Trust the changes! Like a hard wind blowing the sand off a buried city, they are revealing who you actually have been all along. That's Uranus in general. Specifically, Uranus is opposite your natal Venus: sometime after the report period..

First, factor in that the action and the developmental invitation are unfolding in the Fifth House, for that's the region of your birthchart through which Uranus is now passing. Immediately, the focus on Fifth House energies suggests that you are currently entering an existential territory that requires creativity, unabashed self-expression, and experimental audacity. Your 'inner child' is a little cranky now, demanding some fun and some self-indulgence, all of which is entirely necessary and appropriate to your journey at the present time. Thus, life's pleasures -- games, vacations, sports, loving interactions -- deserve attention now. Whether you know it or not, you need a boost...and you'll get it in part from the 'playmates' and 'new toys' of the nature of Uranus that are now passingly, fleetingly available to you. Don't let them get away! But what's the core issue? What part of your own health hinges on this renewal? To answer that, we turn our attention to Venus, which is being invited into development by this period of playful, celebratory creativity.

Venus is the goddess of love, of peace, and of the arts. In each domain, balance is the ideal. Deep in your psyche, there is a place that seeks the comfort of balance and equilibrium, whether through shared fondness with another human being, an hour's peace in the garden, or the rapture that sometimes arises as we immerse our hearts and minds in something beautiful. That inner circuit is your natal Venus. When it is stimulated, we often see experiences arising which prophesy a change in your relationships, in what gives you serenity, or in your aesthetic experiences.

Your Tenth House came up earlier; now we see it in the spotlight again, once more informing us that the deepest, most essential factors in the situation we're considering all revolve around your role in the world -- your profession or job, your political (or metapolitical!) activities...in general, the image that strangers have of you. And what do right choices look like here? A large part of the answer lies with Venus, a planet we described above, whose basic nature and values underlie what we might call your 'Cosmic Job Description.'

When Venusian energies unite with Uranian ones, the unexpected (Uranus) makes itself felt in the intimate sphere (Venus). Improbable encounters occur. Warp-speed evolutions unfold in love, friendship, and working relationships. Behind the fireworks, what is happening is that you are rapidly disentangling your real essence from your polite, conventional, socially-programmed 'personality.' When that happens, inevitably all interpersonal contracts come up for review.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by an opposition, which suggests some kind of tension or tug-of-war between them. You are asked to adjust your position, to adapt to the demands of the world around you, and to find a middle-ground between the various opposing needs and values.

Tr. Jupiter aligns with the Second House cusp
Date: Nov 19, 2006 - Continuing

The planet Jupiter is currently coloring your circumstances. Before we say exactly how, let's attempt to understand the more general significance of any Jupiter event. Essentially, this is a call to recognize an opportunity. Traditional astrologers view it more starkly -- to them, it is simply the planet of luck. And that is often the case: the toast does tend to land butter-side up when Jupiter is crossing sensitive territories. But the real, evolutionary meaning lies deeper. One key is that Jupiter is future-oriented...it is concerned with bright, unexplored possibilities. Stripped to its bones, Jupiter always asks one primary question: how have you been underestimating yourself? Its transits signal a time when new opportunities come into existence, but to seize them you must recognize that you deserve them, that you are capable of rising to them, and that old deals and compromises are finished. Trust yourself, have faith in life, and go for it: that's the spirit of Jupiter. How is it affecting you? Jupiter is conjunct your natal Second House cusp: Nov 19, 2006.

Traditionally the 'House of Money,' the Second House actually represents a broader territory: resources. And money is just one example of that category. The friends to whom you turn, the skills upon which you rely...all that enables you to function competently in the world falls in the domain of the Second House. And if your resources are sufficient to meet the demands of your environment, you'll also feel the positive emotional dimension of this house: self-confidence. Of course, the other side of the coin is self-doubt, the sense of 'faking it' or being an 'imposter.'

When the Second House is stimulated, as it certainly is now through the entry of Jupiter into it, the initial feeling is often rather frightening, not unlike the sensation of suddenly realizing that the ice upon which you are standing is beginning to crack. But don't panic! The sense of insecurity that you're experiencing is not insurmountable. To address it, though, you must first take it seriously. You are, in fact, on thin ice...but you can thicken it. How? By acquiring the actual resources that are objectively required for survival in the environment you've recently created for yourself -- and those resources are of the nature of Jupiter, as we just described it. In doing so, however, it helps to be wary of two pitfalls. The first is a massive failure of nerve, in which you cash in your chips and attempt somehow to flee back into your own past. Such a retreat is simply unnecessary, an overreaction. You have some practical problems now, but they're solvable. The second pitfall lies in viewing the emotions of self-doubt you are experiencing as a psychological or attitudinal problem. They're not! They are simply your brain's way of registering its objective assessment of a certain vulnerability in your position.

Typically, when the Second House is under developmental stimulation, you are invited to embark upon a period of building, and of solidification and consolidation. You are proving yourself to yourself; and the proof, to be convincing, must be practical and concrete. You'll work hard and harvest the rewards of your effort. In short, you need a victory.

If you happen to have a cold on the day you win the lottery, will that taint your memory of the big event? Probably not. Ten years later, you will have forgotten your runny nose. Ten minutes later, more likely.

Life and memory work that way. We prioritize certain kinds of events, experiencing them more vividly and remembering them far longer than the trivial and the predictable. The details of a typical Monday morning aren't going to last as long in the memory banks as images of your moment of glory or your darkest hour.

In exactly the same way, not all astrological events have the same impact. What we have considered so far are all first-string milestones in your life. The rest of what we'll be considering is less central -- but that's not to say unimportant. What follows is a set of supplementary transits and progressions, presented chronologically. They're not quite as profound in their implications as what we've seen, but they're not without emotional and existential consequences. If what we have explored in the previous pages can be viewed as an evolutionary invitation, then, to that lofty end, what follows is....

As you'll see, each of these events stands as significant in its own right. But their deepest meanings lie in the way they interact with what we've considered in the pages above, enhancing and sometimes complicating the broader developmental patterns.

Cards on the table: you can skim the next several pages and, I think, learn some things about the coming months that will prove prophetic...and more importantly, helpful. But the real magic lies in putting all the pieces together, synthesizing them in your heart into an emotional whole -- just like you've done with, say, memories of a special summer long ago. No computer can do that for you.

Your own creativity, your own reflections on the material we're covering, your own translations, additions, corrections, amendments, and meditations -- these are what make the difference.

Tr. Uranus is Trine Mars
In effect: Sep 1, 2006 - Nov 5, 2006
Peak Date(s): Sep 27, 2006

Uranus came up earlier in this report. Now we encounter it again. As you may recall, this planet represents the 'wild card' in life, and often correlates with unexpected events. Behind the roller-coaster ride, the real issue is your ability to claim your true individuality, even if that involves destabilizing certain aspects of your existing circumstances. Uranus currently is trine your natal Mars. The action peaks Sep 27, 2006.

First, factor in that the movement and the evolutionary invitation are occurring in the Fifth House, for that's the region of your birthchart through which Uranus is currently passing. We've met the symbolism of this house before: creativity, unabashed self-expression, and sheer playfulness. You've reached a point in your journey where you need your batteries recharged, your 'inner child' re-invigorated. A general loosening up is required. Life's pleasures -- sports, games, vacations, new friends, loving interactions -- need to figure in your experience now. But what part of your being most requires this rejuvenation? The answer lies with Mars, which is being invited into development during this playful time of renewal and discovery.

Sheer animal vitality -- that's Mars. In your natal chart, it represents your boldness and your pluckiness: what gets your blood flowing. Or boiling. All passions are linked to Mars. Anger and your ability to defend your boundaries are part of the picture. So is your inner fire -- your enthusiasm, your intensity, your sexual desire. When triggered by a passing transit or progression, Mars often signals a 'go for it' situation developing in your life, but to make the best of it, you'll need to be brave and assertive. Such transits or progressions can also warn you of upcoming battles, and in general it's wiser to seize the initiative rather than surrender your power to the whimsies of circumstance.

How does all that relate to your present circumstances? Recognize that Mars occupies the Ninth House of your natal chart, an area which refers to the human need for adventure, variety, and escape from the ordinary. Periodically in your life it becomes necessary to 'throw a monkey wrench' into your daily routines, to flee the scene and thereby gain the kind of 'mountain-top' philosophical perspective necessary to keep your biography on a meaningful course. Under this current aspect, you have entered such a period. One final hint: those ventures, vacations, and journeys work best for you if they invoke the tone of Mars, as we just encountered it.

When Mars colludes with Uranus, a kind of personal revolution is in the air. Emotionally, an atmosphere of tension and annoyance often arises. Behind the smokescreen, a ragged but positive developmental process is unfolding: over the years, you have surrendered far too much of your autonomy and individuality. That's hurt you, and you're justifiably angry about it, even though it's at least partly your own 'fault.' So: don't just get mad...Get free! Express yourself. Claim what is yours. And let the chips fall where they may.

As we said, the aspect involved in the event we just described is the trine, which refers to a 120 degree angle between the natal planet and the moving one. Trines are traditionally viewed as positive aspects, and in fact they generally do correlate with opportunities. Additionally, their existence implies that support is available to you, if you are willing to move to claim it. And therein lies the rub with the so-called 'good' aspects. They're not very dynamic. Just as pain is a more powerful motivator than contentment, the trick with trines lies in taking advantage of them before the wheel turns and their potential vanishes. With regard to the developments we described in the previous few paragraphs: a door is now open, a red carpet rolled out...but don't count on everything remaining that way forever.

Tr. Jupiter is Square Pluto
In effect: Sep 27, 2006 - Oct 7, 2006
Peak Date(s): Oct 2, 2006

Jupiter figured earlier in this analysis. Now we meet it again. As you may recall, this is the planet of possibilities and the seizing of opportunities. Jupiter currently is square your natal Pluto. The action peaks Oct 2, 2006.

Let's first understand that the action is in the First House, for that's where Jupiter is currently located in your chart. And what does that tell you? That the circumstances driving your development, at least in terms of this particular configuration, have to do with the choices you make and how you present yourself. Be assertive; take responsibility. You have considerable power in this situation. To use it well, act in the spirit of Jupiter, as we just described it. But what's the issue? What part of your own life is at stake? To answer that question, we turn our attention to Pluto, which is being invited into development during this new beginning in your life.

When Jupiter gets hooked up with Pluto, think big and claim a victory. One is available, if you move decisively and know exactly what you really want. And therein lies the rub. All of us experience humiliating losses, insults, and defeats in the course of life. As you adapt to living with them, an attitude of disempowerment or futility can creep in. Conquering that mind-set is the real aim here. The truth is that psychologically you need a triumph now -- and synchronistically, the universe is ready to cooperate.

The aspect connected with the astrological process we're investigating here is the square, as we have seen. The square, traditionally characterized as an unfortunate aspect, describes a geometric angle of 90 degrees between the natal planet and the moving trigger. To call squares 'bad' is misleading. More accurately, they are compelling. In the area of your life we're considering, a terrific friction has arisen. It's not comfortable, but it is an extremely effective motivator. The trick in using the energy creatively lies in moving decisively -- determining precisely what you want, claiming it, and letting the rest go. A season of tough choices is upon you. Regarding the process we described in the previous paragraphs, there are costs involved in all the courses available to you...the most costly, for all concerned, being the course of indecision.

Tr. Uranus is Trine Uranus
In effect: Sep 28, 2006 - continuing
Peak Date(s): Nov 28, 2006

First, factor in that the movement and the evolutionary invitation are occurring in the Fifth House, for that's the region of your birthchart through which Uranus is currently passing. We've met the symbolism of this house before: creativity, unabashed self-expression, and sheer playfulness. You've reached a point in your journey where you need your batteries recharged, your 'inner child' re-invigorated. A general loosening up is required. Life's pleasures -- sports, games, vacations, new friends, loving interactions -- need to figure in your experience now. But what part of your being most requires this rejuvenation? The answer lies with Uranus, which is being invited into development during this playful time of renewal and discovery.

There's a wild card in everyone, a rebellious, independent, free-spirited force that hates neckties and phony courtesies and all the slick moves that keep corporations and families from splitting apart. Astrologers call it Uranus. Stripped to its essence, this part of your astrological psyche is concerned primarily with the process of individuation, which boils down to whittling away all the parts of yourself which have arisen almost accidentally as side effects of your social background. When stimulated by transits or progressions, Uranus triggers your rebellions. It asks you to shed something unauthentic, unreal, or limiting in your life. Often it brings lightning-quick developments and unexpected circumstances. Almost always, there is a confrontation between you and some figure of authority, past or present.

Your Ninth House engaged us previously in the report. Now we see it turned on again, indicating that your natural adventuresomeness and philosophical curiosity are at the heart of the present situation. Sometimes chances must be taken and leaps of faith made. This is such a time. Learn something new. Take a vacation to somewhere you've never been. In the spirit of Uranus, blow out the cobwebs.

When Uranus relates to its own natal position, an invitation to individuate arises. Listen, and you'll detect a voice inside you that's tired of trying to keep everybody else happy, a voice that wants to tell the truth and then sit back and watch everybody blush, bluster, and burn. Trust it, and enjoy the show.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a trine -- traditionally seen as a 'good' aspect, but more accurately seen as simply enhancing or supportive. Generally speaking, with trines there is an opportunity...but to seize it, you must supply the initiative.

Tr. Jupiter is Square Mercury
In effect: Oct 13, 2006 - Oct 23, 2006
Peak Date(s): Oct 18, 2006

Let's first understand that the action is in the First House, for that's where Jupiter is currently located in your chart. We've met this house before. As you may remember, it has to do with the assertive choices you make and the confidence with which you present yourself. Something is now occurring in which your own action -- or inaction -- is the pivotal variable. But what's the point? What are the real questions? The answer lies with Mercury, which is being invited into development during this new beginning in your life.

The natal Mercury -- that, as we have seen, symbolizes your intelligence, your capacity to communicate, and your fundamental curiosity.

Your Tenth House came up earlier; now we see it in the spotlight again, once more informing us that the deepest, most essential factors in the situation we're considering all revolve around your role in the world -- your profession or job, your political (or metapolitical!) activities...in general, the image that strangers have of you. And what do right choices look like here? A large part of the answer lies with Mercury, a planet we described above, whose basic nature and values underlie what we might call your 'Cosmic Job Description.'

When Mercury hobnobs with Jupiter, an attitude of expansiveness (Jupiter) pervades the mind (Mercury). You are challenged now, like an optimistic Sherlock Holmes, to be alert to possibilities. Think inventively, think positively, and think big: that's the spirit. In some way, you have been underestimating your intelligence, verbal skills, or general competence. Recognize that, and change it.

The two factors, as we mentioned, are linked by a square -- traditionally seen as a 'bad' aspect, but more accurately seen as simply frictional. Squares generally suggest tough choices, external pressures, and at least some stress.

Tr. Jupiter is Sextile Saturn
In effect: Nov 9, 2006 - Nov 18, 2006
Peak Date(s): Nov 14, 2006

Jupiter figured earlier in this analysis. Now we meet it again. As you may recall, this is the planet of possibilities and the seizing of opportunities. Jupiter currently is sextile your natal Saturn. The action peaks Nov 14, 2006.

Let's first understand that the action is in the First House, for that's where Jupiter is currently located in your chart. We've met this house before. As you may remember, it has to do with the assertive choices you make and the confidence with which you present yourself. Something is now occurring in which your own action -- or inaction -- is the pivotal variable. But what's the point? What are the real questions? The answer lies with Saturn, which is being invited into development during this new beginning in your life.

Getting kicked out of the nest, one way or another, is an elemental part of life. Faced with the stark, unyielding actualities of the 'real world,' you either die then and there or get on with the cunning, calculating business of staying alive. To accomplish either of those ends, you activate the energies of your natal Saturn: your self-discipline, your patience, and your practicality...if you choose survival. And if you choose to give up, you withdraw into fear and probably get into a mood of despair and defeat. When Saturn is triggered by passing transits or progressions, it signals a time in which hard work is appropriate, necessary, and the best insurance for happiness. Often it suggests that the circumstances or even people who have been a significant part of your past must now be left behind, making way for a more mature expression of your identity.

While the energies of Saturn that we just described are obviously positive qualities for everyone, they play an especially personal part in your own well-being, looming larger and larger in your life as you mature. That's because Saturn lies in your natal Eleventh House, which pertains to your future, to your healthiest priorities, and to your most sustainable long-term strategies, all of which are well-described by that planet. Under the current stimulation of Saturn, an evolution in your goals is occurring, rendering some old dreams obsolete or complete as new, sometimes unexpected desires and values begin to make themselves felt. It is a season of re-orientation.

When Jupiter interacts with Saturn, you experience an odd confluence of providential fortune (Jupiter) and daunting impediments (Saturn). Essentially, something very good is available to you now, but to attain it you must undertake a herculean effort. More profoundly, that effort itself will crystallize a very specific transformation in you: it will grant you the dignity of your advancing maturity.

The aspect pervading the event we've just considered is, as we observed, a sextile. Technically, that refers to a geometric angle of 60 degrees between the natal planet and the moving one. Sextiles are traditionally viewed as 'good' aspects. Certainly, they're exciting. There is a mood of eagerness regarding the process we're exploring here -- and that's glorious, provided you're wary of the excessive impulsiveness that sextiles sometimes breed. In any case, the spinning wheel of circumstances can be counted on to provide some fortuitous, unexpected opportunities for you during this period. You'll have to be quick to seize them, though. They're real, but they're short-lived.

Tr. Jupiter is Trine Sun
In effect: Nov 11, 2006 - Nov 20, 2006
Peak Date(s): Nov 15, 2006

Jupiter figured earlier in this analysis. Now we meet it again. As you may recall, this is the planet of possibilities and the seizing of opportunities. Jupiter currently is trine your natal Sun. The action peaks Nov 15, 2006.

Let's first understand that the action is in the First House, for that's where Jupiter is currently located in your chart. We've met this house before. As you may remember, it has to do with the assertive choices you make and the confidence with which you present yourself. Something is now occurring in which your own action -- or inaction -- is the pivotal variable. But what's the point? What are the real questions? The answer lies with the Sun, which is being invited into development during this new beginning in your life.

The Sun, as astronomers tell us, is the center of the solar system. Everything spins around it. With its enormous gravity, the Sun holds the entire system together. In a parallel way, the astrological Sun represents the gravitational center of your personality. Your ego. Your identity. The part of you that gets up in the morning and, without even a single sip of coffee, knows its name, rank, and serial number. Those same astronomers inform us that without the Sun's radiant energy, life as we understand it would cease to exist. Again, astrological meaning follows astronomical fact: the Sun symbolizes that spark of life inside you, your elemental vitality. Enthusiasm, energy, recuperative powers -- all these are solar themes. Thus, when the natal Sun is triggered in an important way, two critical questions come up for review: who are you, and what really makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?

When the Sun interacts with Jupiter, claim some applause for yourself. Healthy pride and dignity are at stake here, and they're hard to sustain without receiving some appreciation. It may just come to you; but if not, then don't be shy about asking for it...and one of the best ways to do that is to insist upon a victory, the more colorful the better. The good news is that under this kind of astrological configuration, such a victory is in fact quite available to you now.

In the mood for Mardi Gras? If you live in Chicago, it helps to know that New Orleans lies to the south. Head west or east and you'll never arrive . . .

What we've done in the previous pages is to show you the direction to New Orleans. We've looked at the big astrological themes that are affecting you this year . . .

As a reminder, at the beginning of our analysis of each month's events we'll make reference to any major configurations covered previously which happen to be reaching peaks of intensity then -- and please recall that some of them will have more than a single peak during the report period. There won't be any more analysis; just an allusion to the events so you can go back and review the earlier material, and see the patterns of the month in the light of the year's heavier transits and progressions.

Please remember that the fleeting, often forgettable influences we discuss in the following pages must always draw their real meaning from the far more monumental events we've already described. A 'discussion with the boss,' for example, is going to take on particular significance during a month when your whole career is up for grabs!

These minor transits unfold quickly. It's a rare week that doesn't contain at least a few. A report that discussed them all in the kind of microscopic detail we've applied to the major events would be several inches thick. In order to cover the daily astrological kaleidoscope within the practical limitations of the space available, we've resorted to producing capsulized one-sentence nuggets that compress a lot of information into a few words. So, slow down, shift gears, and let them wash over you. Think of these images more as daily meditations than as the kind of full-blown explanations to which you've gotten accustomed in the previous sections of SKYLOG.

One brief reminder: remember that many astrological events have not one but several peaks of intensity, so you may find a given 'Invitation' or 'Means' coming up several times in the pages that follow.

Even minor astrological events commonly have an impact over several days. In the following month-by-month analysis, configurations are listed chronologically according to the days they 'peak' -- but don't take that date narrowly. The most colorful events and profoundest realizations might easily occur a day or two later or earlier.

Sep 01, 2006 - Tr. Mercury opposes Moon
Keywords: vocational conversation is in tension with your inherent self-protective sensitivity.

Sep 01, 2006 - Tr. Sun opposes Moon
Keywords: vocational nature is in tension with your inherent self-protective sensitivity.

Sep 01, 2006 - Tr. Mercury conjuncts Venus
Keywords: work-oriented conversation combines with your characteristic career relating.

Sep 02, 2006 - Tr. Mercury sextiles Uranus
Keywords: priority-clarifying communication stimulates your normal routine-shattering originality.

Sep 02, 2006 - Tr. Sun conjuncts Venus
Keywords: employment-oriented identity combines with your characteristic vocational affection.

Sep 02, 2006 - Tr. Mercury sextiles Mars
Keywords: priority-clarifying dialog stimulates your normal adventuresome assertiveness.

Sep 03, 2006 - Tr. Sun sextiles Uranus
Keywords: goal-oriented personality excites your native adventuresome individuality.

Sep 04, 2006 - Tr. Sun sextiles Mars
Keywords: priority-clarifying identity excites your native expansive courage.

Sep 04, 2006 - Pluto goes Direct (at 24°Sg05' in your 02nd House)
Aspects: Trine Mercury, Square Saturn, Trine Pluto.

Sep 04, 2006 - Tr. Mars conjuncts Saturn
Keywords: strategic courage fuses with your natural goal-oriented composure.

Sep 05, 2006 - Tr. Mars sextiles Sun
Keywords: visionary swordsmanship excites your native expansive personality.

Sep 11, 2006 - Tr. Mercury conjuncts Saturn
Keywords: long-term conversation combines with your characteristic group-dynamical composure.

Sep 11, 2006 - Tr. Mercury sextiles Sun
Keywords: visionary communication excites your native questing personality.

Sep 13, 2006 - Tr. Venus opposes Moon
Keywords: employment-oriented relating opposes your inborn emotional attitude.

Sep 14, 2006 - Tr. Venus conjuncts Venus
Keywords: professional human connection combines with your characteristic career relating.

Sep 14, 2006 - Tr. Venus sextiles Uranus
Keywords: long-term human connection excites your native questing autonomy.

Sep 15, 2006 - Tr. Venus sextiles Mars
Keywords: goal-oriented relating stimulates your normal routine-shattering courage.

Sep 19, 2006 - Tr. Mercury squares Uranus
Keywords: spiritually open dialog clashes with your instinctive intellectually hungry originality.

Sep 19, 2006 - Tr. Mercury squares Mars
Keywords: private dialog clashes with your instinctive exploratory courage.

Sep 20, 2006 - Tr. Sun conjuncts Saturn
Keywords: long-term identity fuses with your natural priority-clarifying composure.

Sep 21, 2006 - Tr. Sun sextiles Sun
Keywords: visionary identity excites your native exploratory personality.

Sep 21, 2006 - Tr. Mercury opposes Jupiter
Keywords: reclusive conversation opposes your inborn dutiful exuberance.

The Moon in a month passes through all twelve houses of your chart. In so doing, it correlates with the passing whimsies of mood. One afternoon you're bright and cheery, the following morning you're blue...but energetic again after lunch. It doesn't amount to much, and it's not really very important in practical terms -- with one exception: the passage of the Moon through the Twelfth House. During that time you are going through a kind of emotional moulting, ending one cycle and preparing to begin another. Your attentions and energies are turned inward. Accept that, handle it well, and the period -- usually a couple of days -- is quiet and contemplative. It may even be rather pleasant. But if you try to keep up your normal level of activity, you'll find yourself confused, flat, and prone to dumb accidents. So when the Moon enters your Twelfth House, make sure that you have some unstructured time. Minimize distractions. Put off any significant new beginnings for a couple of days. And take a few unhurried breaths. This month, the transiting Moon crosses into your natal Twelfth House Sep 22, 2006 at 10:58 PM, and emerges Sep 24, 2006 at 08:45 PM, when a new emotional cycle begins.

Sep 22, 2006 - Tr. Mercury conjuncts Neptune
Keywords: withdrawn dialog fuses with your natural quiet imagination.

Sep 24, 2006 - Tr. Mercury sextiles Pluto
Keywords: spiritually open conversation stimulates your normal on-the-job honesty.

Sep 24, 2006 - Tr. Mars squares Uranus
Keywords: quiet swordsmanship clashes with your instinctive exploratory originality.

Sep 26, 2006 - Tr. Mars squares Mars
Keywords: spiritually open swordsmanship conflicts with your instinctive routine-shattering assertiveness.

Sep 26, 2006 - Tr. Mercury sextiles Mercury
Keywords: quiet conversation excites your native vocational dialog.

Sep 28, 2006 - Tr. Venus conjuncts Saturn
Keywords: group-dynamical affection fuses with your natural visionary solitude.

Sep 28, 2006 - Tr. Venus sextiles Sun
Keywords: group-dynamical human connection excites your native exploratory nature.

Sep 29, 2006 - Tr. Mars opposes Jupiter
Keywords: private swordsmanship opposes your inborn painstaking exuberance.

Sep 30, 2006 - Tr. Mercury squares Sun
Keywords: spiritually open dialog conflicts with your instinctive adventuresome identity.

Oct 02, 2006 - Tr. Jupiter squares Pluto
Oct 18, 2006 - Tr. Jupiter squares Mercury

The mythological Mercury is the 'Messenger of the Gods.' The same is true of the transiting Mercury, which speeds around your chart, prompting conversations, dialogs, and sermons, both outgoing and incoming. It triggers the arrival of letters, faxes, and phone calls, and provokes the weaving of new data into your viewpoint. When it arrives at a sensitive point, your task is to listen, to ask questions, and to share intelligence.

Mercury arrives at a conjunction with your Ascendant Oct 02, 2006, and that always suggests a colorful, active few days. A new cycle of experience is beginning for you. It's not earth-shaking in its implications, but you'll be happier if you act positively in the spirit of Mercury. The ball is in your court. Decisive action, imprudent action, or inaction on your part now will have long-term effects, just as the experiences of childhood leave their mark on the adult character. Don't be afraid of a little apparent selfishness now. There are seasons of giving and seasons of taking; this one is for taking.

Oct 03, 2006 - Tr. Mars conjuncts Neptune
Keywords: reclusive courage fuses with your natural withdrawn contemplation.

Oct 03, 2006 - Tr. Sun squares Uranus
Keywords: withdrawn nature conflicts with your instinctive routine-shattering individuality.

Oct 04, 2006 - Tr. Sun squares Mars
Keywords: quiet identity clashes with your instinctive questing swordsmanship.

Oct 06, 2006 - Tr. Mars sextiles Pluto
Keywords: quiet assertiveness excites your native professional investigation.

Oct 07, 2006 - Tr. Sun opposes Jupiter
Keywords: quiet personality opposes your inborn dutiful exuberance.

Oct 08, 2006 - Tr. Mercury trines Moon
Keywords: forceful communication supports your typical cautious attitude.

Oct 08, 2006 - Tr. Venus squares Uranus
Keywords: meditative human connection conflicts with your instinctive exploratory autonomy.

Oct 09, 2006 - Tr. Mercury sextiles Venus
Keywords: forceful dialog stimulates your normal vocational relating.

Oct 09, 2006 - Tr. Venus squares Mars
Keywords: withdrawn relating clashes with your instinctive exploratory swordsmanship.

Oct 10, 2006 - Tr. Sun conjuncts Neptune
Keywords: private nature combines with your characteristic reclusive inspiration.

Oct 10, 2006 - Tr. Mercury trines Uranus
Keywords: forceful conversation enhances your usual intellectually hungry autonomy.

Oct 11, 2006 - Tr. Mercury trines Mars
Keywords: forceful communication enhances your usual adventuresome courage.

Oct 11, 2006 - Tr. Venus opposes Jupiter
Keywords: reclusive relating is in tension with your inherent responsible opportunity.

Oct 11, 2006 - Tr. Mars sextiles Mercury
Keywords: spiritually open courage stimulates your normal career dialog.

Oct 12, 2006 - Tr. Sun sextiles Pluto
Keywords: quiet nature stimulates your normal work-oriented honesty.

Oct 13, 2006 - Tr. Venus conjuncts Neptune
Keywords: withdrawn human connection fuses with your natural reclusive inspiration.

Oct 15, 2006 - Tr. Venus sextiles Pluto
Keywords: meditative human connection stimulates your normal professional honesty.

Oct 15, 2006 - Tr. Sun sextiles Mercury
Keywords: private nature stimulates your normal employment-oriented communication.

Oct 17, 2006 - Tr. Mercury squares Pluto
Keywords: commanding conversation conflicts with your instinctive career honesty.

Oct 17, 2006 - Tr. Venus sextiles Mercury
Keywords: spiritually open relating stimulates your normal on-the-job conversation.

This month, the transiting Moon crosses into your natal Twelfth House again Oct 20, 2006 at 05:10 AM. It emerges and a new emotional cycle begins Oct 22, 2006 at 02:45 AM. As we discussed earlier, this represents a brief period in which you serve your own ultimate interests best by relaxing a bit, taking some extra precautions against physical mishaps, and most importantly, delaying any major new starts, insofar as that's possible.

Oct 20, 2006 - Tr. Mars squares Sun
Keywords: reclusive courage conflicts with your instinctive adventuresome nature.

Oct 21, 2006 - Tr. Mercury squares Mercury
Keywords: resolute conversation clashes with your instinctive vocational dialog.

Oct 21, 2006 - Tr. Sun squares Sun
Keywords: withdrawn identity clashes with your instinctive intellectually hungry personality.

Oct 22, 2006 - Tr. Venus squares Sun
Keywords: quiet human connection conflicts with your instinctive questing identity.

The transiting Sun is like a huge, dumb battery. Whatever it touches, it electrifies -- but never for very long or very deeply. That's simply because it's a fast-moving factor, never staying anywhere long enough to develop true depth or complexity of meaning. In a year, it circuits the chart once...which leaves it only a few days to spend in each of your chart's many sensitive zones. Whatever it touches, however, is temporarily pushed into action. And sometimes, if more serious astro-psychological energies have been building or brewing in that area of your life, the Sun's transit over that point might just be the trigger that sets big wheels turning. The critical point is that the Sun represents your ego, and when it collides with sensitive territories you need to act accordingly: not 'egocentrically,' but with an awareness of your rights, your needs, and your desires.

Sun arrives at a conjunction with your Ascendant Oct 24, 2006, and that always suggests a colorful, active few days. A new cycle of experience is beginning for you. It's not earth-shaking in its implications, but you'll be happier if you act positively in the spirit of Sun. The ball is in your court. Decisive action, imprudent action, or inaction on your part now will have long-term effects, just as the experiences of childhood leave their mark on the adult character. Don't be afraid of a little apparent selfishness now. There are seasons of giving and seasons of taking; this one is for taking.

Mars, the God of War, is transiting through sensitive territories for you, suggesting some turbulent waters to be navigated. Always the trick with the red planet lies in realizing that the time has come to overcome a fear or a resistance in yourself, and to take what is legitimately yours. Your blood is up, and that's not a bad thing, unless you 'chicken out' and misdirect the Martian energy toward some inappropriate target.

Mars arrives at a conjunction with your Ascendant Oct 24, 2006, and that always suggests a colorful, active few days. A new cycle of experience is beginning for you