The birth chart is a map of the positions of the planets at the time and place of birth. For the benefit of students of astrology, these positions and other technical information is listed below:

Sun      6 Vir 19                Neptune   2 Sco 35
Moon    17 Pis 06                Pluto     2 Vir 10
Mercury 25 Leo 20                Asc.     16 Gem 49
Venus   17 Leo 18                MC       21 Aqu 24
Mars    22 Tau 07                2nd cusp  7 Can 59
Jupiter 28 Lib 34                3rd cusp 28 Can 09
Saturn  19 Sag 08                5th cusp 22 Vir 14
Uranus  13 Leo 31                6th cusp  3 Sco 46

Tropical  Placidus   Daylight Time observed
August 29, 1958   11:53 PM
GMT: 04:53:00   Time Zone: 6 hours West
Lat. and Long. of birth place: 41 N 35 36 87 W 20 47


Astrological Data of Solar Return:

Sun      6 Vir 19                Neptune  13 Aqu 23
Moon    26 Aqu 05                Pluto    19 Sag 33
Mercury 26 Leo 55                Asc.     27 Gem 11
Venus   20 Can 58                MC        8 Pis 15
Mars    12 Vir 01                2nd cusp 18 Can 57
Jupiter 24 Vir 15                3rd cusp 11 Leo 30
Saturn  23 Can 08                5th cusp 11 Lib 55
Uranus   4 Pis 45                6th cusp 20 Sco 46

August 29, 2004   GMT: 08:01:43
Beverly Hills, California 34 N 04 25 118 W 23 58


Aspects and orbs:
        Sun and Moon only      All other planets
Conj.  :  8 Deg. 00 Min.       7 Deg. 00 Min.
Oppos. :  6 Deg. 00 Min.       6 Deg. 00
Square :  6 Deg. 00 Min.       6 Deg. 00 Min.
Trine  :  6 Deg. 00 Min.       6 Deg. 00 Min.
Sextile:  5 Deg. 00 Min.       4 Deg. 00 Min.

Five or More Mutable Planets

        The more planets you have in the mutable signs, the more likely you are to be involved in changing circumstances. This is a year when you are better able to recognize subtle fluctuations in your situation as they occur. You are also aware of major changes as they occur little by little. Major transitions are anticipated long before they occur; consequently, you are able to adapt and prepare. Think of this as ad-libbing life. New developments and information necessitate constant reassessments and adjustments to your situation; therefore, this may not be the best time to come up with a master plan of how things should proceed. It will be much easier to handle daily issues as they arise, keeping a future goal or direction in mind. The key to handling changes at this time may be learning to ride the waves and make the adjustments necessary to stay on top of the situation.

        There is a greater tendency to accept and adapt to changes as they occur than to initiate new changes yourself. Many times changes that other people are making or have made in the recent past directly affect your life. In some situations, you may feel that you have little freedom of choice and must adapt to surroundings that are different from those you have been used to in the past. At times, changes may be severe enough to cause anxiety, nervous upsets, and stress, and you should remember to take time for relaxation techniques.

Mercury is retrograde

        Mercury is usually retrograde in the solar return chart every six years. When Mercury is retrograde, it is time to be introspective, especially about those things related to Mercury's house placement. You should be doing a lot of your own thinking and learning rather than depending on others. Integrate previously acquired information into your own individualized mind-set. Think of your mind as an overloaded cabinet or closet seriously in need of filing and organization. It is time to process. You probably already know everything you need to know to handle a certain life situation. If you continue to depend on others for advice, you will find conversations meaningless within the context of your own intellectual needs and experience. Be aware that your mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time. Your mind is like a cup that is filled to the brim. Any additional knowledge spills over and is lost. Work toward integrating what you already know.

        You can experience this retrogradation as a certainty that you know you are right and only you can make the best decisions concerning your own future. What others tell you might clash with what you already know and you could tend to disregard their comments. You may be right, but the danger is that you may be wrong. You can be so in tune with your own thoughts that you are totally on the mark; then again, you might be totally off the beam. Take the time to reorganize information by focusing inward. You might find that your own opinions, thoughts, and decisions truly work best for you. But be aware of the feedback others give you, which may be particularly valuable if you have missed the mark.

        Secretiveness is also associated with Mercury retrograde. There is a tendency to withhold information and sometimes lie. Generally, there are two major reasons for doing this: one is that you really do have secrets which need to be kept; the other is that expressing your opinions or thoughts openly causes tension in your relationships. Retrograde Mercury is associated with biting your tongue and swallowing your own words in order to keep peace. Your true opinions may not emerge until the start of the next solar return.

        This time is excellent for putting your thoughts down on paper and writing original material. You will be able to see things differently when your thoughts are written down and this is a good way to get organized. Old opinions and beliefs may be outdated so you need to reassess your thinking, reformulate ideas, and shed new light on a subject area.

Sun in 3rd house (within 3 degree orb of 4th house)

        The Sun in the 3rd house of the solar return emphasizes your intellectual abilities and mental stability or the lack thereof. Intellectually, this is a time to gather information. Your mind is very active and you will want to read everything, know everything, and think about everything. Ideas abound and you are open to looking at life from a new perspective. But organizing your mind may be difficult, which is why this is a good time to study, write down your thoughts, or purchase a computer.

        One way or another, your mind plays a crucial role in the events of this solar return year. The mental processes are key to the activities you are involved in, or central to the major problems you encounter. Your mind can work for or against you, and make or break the year. Acquiring knowledge may be the main focus of your attention and it is certainly advantageous to learn as much as you can during this time by attending school or taking a course. But you can feel intellectually inferior or frustrated by your educational attempts if you allow nervousness, indecision, and impulsiveness to affect your ability to think clearly and logically.

        Mental instability is a possibility with the Sun in the 3rd house of the solar return. The Sun here is an even stronger indication of depression than Saturn. Depression, anxiety, irrational thinking, confusion and neurosis are possible extremes. Your mind is working overtime, and if you do not direct your thinking toward meaningful or educational pursuits, mental difficulties can arise.

        You are probably more interested in thoughts than feelings this year (depending on the position and strength of the Moon and Pluto in the solar return chart). The Sun in the 3rd signals an emphasis on the thinking processes, so you will spend more time thinking about feelings than actually feeling them. Feelings will be analyzed and dissected rather than felt as you try to understand them from an intellectual perspective. This is not to say that you are cold this year, but you will have a greater tendency to screen your feelings and make logical decisions rather than emotional ones. You may find it difficult to integrate what you feel with what you think. If this is the case, unconscious material may compete with rational thoughts for control of your thinking processes.

        The Sun in the 3rd can also show community involvement or activism. It becomes important who your neighbors are and what your neighborhood is like. You can expect to be more involved with those around you. This can be on an individualized level (one neighbor needs your help or one neighbor creates a problem) or this can be on a community level.

        All means of communication are stressed, and you might want to work on your communication skills to increase your effectiveness with the spoken or written word. Some individuals will even take a course in communication-related topics such as effective listening, resume writing, advertising, etc. This is a time when you are more likely to use the telephone or the mail system regularly to communicate with people.

Sun within 3 degree orb of 4th house

        The Sun in the 4th house is basically concerned with finding a physical, emotional, and spiritual home or niche. There is a special place for everyone in the Universe, a place that reflects their spiritual purpose and fulfills their emotional/physical needs, a niche that defines, directs, and supports. It is the place where you function at your best while feeling protected and encouraged by your environment. On a physical level, this niche is a warm and comfortable home. On the emotional level, it is a supportive relationship, and spiritually, it is a fulfilling purpose or goal. With the Sun in the solar return 4th house, you need to find that niche on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. This is a time for grounding your existence with purpose and establishing the roots that will support you in the years ahead.

        Finding the physical niche means finding or constructing a home that is a comfortable place of revitalization. Your pleasures are simple and center around whatever you call home, but it is not uncommon for "home" to become unsuitable during the solar return year. Your needs have changed and you must now make some adjustments in your surroundings. With only the Sun in the 4th house, you probably only want to redecorate or reorganize your home situation. Those individuals with Uranus or Pluto also in the 4th house may want to make sweeping changes that tend to involve greater disruption.

        The search for a home on the physical level leads many people to purchase new homes or fix up their old ones. They need to have a physical place of retreat in order to replenish their energy. The physical niche is crucial since it is the beginning base of operation which goes on to support both the emotional and spiritual levels. The external emphasis on purchasing or repairing a home reflects the internal emotional need for a supportive environment. If you examine your living or working environment now, you will discover that there is something which physically impairs your future goals. In most instances, there is a need for a private place for thinking, working or studying. This need for space is important and must be satisfied if you are to build a multilevel supportive environment which will augment your future abilities. Work begins with the physical home. Watch the symbolism of what you are doing to the physical home. As you are satisfying physical external needs, correlations can be drawn to improvements occurring on the emotional and spiritual levels.

        The Sun in the 4th house is also focused on the emotional level. This is a very strong position for individuals seeking emotional satisfaction and fulfillment. For this reason, you will tend to be more vocal about your feelings of loneliness and lack of emotional support from friends, family, co-workers, and bosses. You will also be more appreciative of the support these people give you. Loneliness may be the result of delayed grief. You may grieve for those who have died or left even though the separation occurred several years before. The Sun in the 4th is meant to be a time of emotional healing; it may not be a year for personal achievement, independence or assertiveness if you are more concerned about emotional fulfillment and interconnections with others. Gains can be made internally rather than externally.

        Family involvement grows and this is a good time to improve or renew relationships with estranged family members. Resolve old resentments which clog up the emotional nature, making it more difficult to express positive feelings. This process of emotional housecleaning may involve reevaluating your childhood and your relationship with your mother and father. Your memories during this time may not be especially pleasant; working to give yourself the emotional support you will need in the future can involve reconciling past conflicts. If you still cannot get what you need emotionally from your relatives, then you will seek comfort elsewhere and grow apart.

        Dependency issues are common. An increased need for physical or emotional support can evolve into an obvious dependency. You may be physically or emotionally dependent on someone else as a result of real or imagined limitations. Those individuals who are already emotionally unstable can regress and exhibit childlike characteristics. This is a very negative and, fortunately, very rare manifestation.

        You may feel physically and emotionally abandoned by your parents, and their lack of support becomes an issue. They would feel that your demands are too great; you would say their help is nonexistent. On the other hand, you might be asked to give your support to others. Sometimes grown children or elderly parents turn to you for assistance if they are emotionally drained or physically weakened themselves and greatly in need of help. It is good to remember that we all have different needs at different times. They wax and wane according to our spiritual, emotional, and physical diet.

        Usually the Sun in the 4th moves to the 1st house in the following solar return year, so now is a good time to practice using your emotional and intuitive processes in a positive way. They are important sources of information, essential to your growth. If you get in touch with your emotional-intuitive nature, you will learn to trust the information you receive. Gradually, as the year moves on, you will become aware of factual or physical evidence supporting your intuitive impressions. You need to break through emotional fears and begin to work positively with your insights so that your intuitive feelings will flow easily. Next year when your Sun moves to the 1st house, you will have a good information base for independent action and personal assertiveness.

        And finally, you must find a spiritual niche in this world. Everyone is here for a purpose. Your spiritual purpose may be renewed, clarified, or changed at this time. You need to redefine what your higher purpose will be in the coming years, and how you can best serve the needs of the Universe. You will be guided in your search by what makes you feel fulfilled. This is why emotions are so important this year-they put you in touch with your spiritual purpose. Next year (when the Sun will probably be in the 1st house), and the following year (when the Sun will most likely be in the 10th house), you will be involved with expressing yourself more assertively to the world. With a clear sense of spiritual direction, a strong intuitive nature, and a supportive environment, confidence will be maintained and growth will occur easily. You will use the supportive physical environment, emotional connections and spiritual goals you establish this year to back up your efforts in those years to come.

Sun Aspects Uranus

        Uranus aspecting the Sun suggests that the individual desires to make changes, possibly in rapid succession. Generally, any solar return year that has a major Uranus-Sun aspect also has a corresponding significant life change or development such as a pregnancy or birth, career or job transfer, relocation, illness, etc. Changes tend to be more disruptive and less controllable when they involve a conjunction, square or opposition aspect, but all aspects can ultimately indicate beneficial changes. Issues involving boredom versus originality, or creativity and freedom versus restriction, are common.

Sun Aspects Mars

        Mars symbolizes the energy necessary for successful accomplishments. When Mars aspects the Sun, it is a good time to work on a project that requires a great deal of energy to complete. Success can come in the form of personal or professional achievement, or with defense. Relationships tend to be competitive, and you need to balance self-centered drives with the needs of others. Learning to deal with aggression, conflict, and anger in an effective rather than detrimental way can enable the individual to handle negative situations positively. Less spiritual themes involve destructive or self-destructive urges. Prolonged anger creates blockages which waste energy in a cycle of negative emotions that have no real purpose or goal. It is better to direct efforts into positive endeavors.

Solar Return Moon in 9th house:

        The 9th house is the house of beliefs: religious, philosophical and mundane. The Moon placed in this house suggests a good time to reevaluate all beliefs in light of practical applications to daily situations. We think of the Moon as representative of common everyday experiences and domestic influences; therefore, your beliefs must now pass the test of useful application. Personal philosophy should help you cope with everyday situations and issues facing you. Higher knowledge and beliefs must be consistent with what is most practical and efficient on a mundane level. There might be times during the year when you feel you cannot reconcile higher knowledge with practical experience. What you believe does not help you with the decisions you must make. Discrepancies like these point out useless beliefs and the need for review. Emotional feedback from everyday situations and interactions with others will help you to find out which beliefs are working on a mundane level, and which ones leave you feeling vulnerable to life's pressures.

        Your old beliefs may be outdated. Beliefs can grow stagnant from a lack of review, and you must keep your philosophy current and consistent with your pattern of personal growth. Beliefs are sometimes carried over from someone else's system. Don't accept higher knowledge, religious or philosophical, blindly; what others espouse may or may not fit your needs. You will find that some enlightened thoughts are not helpful when it comes to functioning on the mundane, everyday level. They do not translate into practical rules to live by. Your philosophy must apply to your everyday circumstances. Review beliefs and personalize those which have meaning within the context of your own life.

        You could be asked to explain your beliefs in public, or teach, or write a book. In some way, you might be called upon to explain your beliefs. This is a good time to practice what you preach or make adjustments in the sermon. This is the key to utilizing the review process. Practice helps you formulate a philosophy that fits your everyday life. You retain what works and discard what does not. Through this testing process, you can develop a philosophy that works for you spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

        Because the Moon is in the 9th house, what you give and get out of relationships will be very important. Our beliefs set the tone for our interactions with others, and our responses to daily situations. For example, a common Christian belief is that one should turn the other cheek if offended, assaulted, etc. While this might be good advice for some situations, it may not be helpful all the time or in your particular situation. If you are being repeatedly abused, verbally or physically, without resistance, it might be time to develop a new tactic. A religion/philosophy which encourages you to remain in an abusive situation is questionable and should be reevaluated.

        Your beliefs about relationships regulate the demands and expectations you have in a relationship. Your life is at least partially structured by your beliefs. If you think that all men are users, then you will tend to draw individuals who confirm your expectations. This is a good time to review your beliefs about others and relationships. It is likely that some beliefs will be changed and modified as you begin to work towards a more successful philosophy.

        You may be involved in a legal matter during the year, and consequently become more familiar with the legal system and the judiciary process. You may consult a lawyer or you might be involved in a court case as a plaintiff, defendant, witness or jury member. You may be interested enough to follow a particularly fascinating court case. Legal matters are not necessarily strongly emphasized. The most common manifestation is seeing a lawyer during the year.

        You may return to school or take a course during the coming year. Topics may be academic, recreational or artistic. On the other hand, you could be teaching rather than studying. Teaching may help you ground your spiritual thoughts. Certain topics require examples and applications from real life to be understood.

        Travel is also a possibility with the Moon in the 9th house. Usually the more planets in the 9th house, the more likely you are to travel. Travel can be to a foreign country but you may only do extensive traveling within this country. It is also possible that you commute regularly and over a fair distance for your job or for other reasons. Increased travel time may occur without foreign travel per se.

Moon Aspects Mercury

        Moon-Mercury aspects emphasize the need for integration of unconscious feelings with conscious thoughts. If these two avenues for information and analysis are working together, they form a great combination; the integrated psyche is a powerful tool for intellectual and creative endeavors. You will be able to understand the total picture from your rational assessment combined with intuitive insight. When the conscious and unconscious are working together, you are more likely to make good decisions which satisfy your emotional needs. The conscious mind can be used to channel unconscious feelings into creative projects. Channeling can also be very therapeutic.

        You can actively seek out more information about your feelings and motivations through discussions. But when the conscious and the unconscious function separately, the native experiences two distinct and contradictory pieces of information. It is often difficult to make decisions since you arrive at two mutually exclusive conclusions. You could consciously override or suppress your feelings and emotional needs. On the other hand, you may react without thinking. The key to using this aspect positively is to balance and integrate conscious and unconscious input and work toward a complete sense of self.

Solar Return Mercury in 3rd house:

        Mercury in the 3rd house suggests a strong inquisitive mind with a thirst for knowledge. You could spend a lot of time reading, writing, studying, or communicating. You want an influx of new ideas. Information that you gather during this year may relate to a project or particular field of interest. But it is also possible that your interests are scattered and the information is superficial. If you are attending school, learning may tend to be tedious and involve the memorization of numerous details. Interpreting Mercury's aspects and assessing the mental conditioning reflected in the chart can give you a better idea about what type of information is important and its purpose during the coming year.

        All types of information can be important. Significance is not limited to educational material. This can be a time for major disclosures and realizations. Some individuals remember childhood sexual abuse while having Mercury in the 3rd house. Realizations and resurfacing memories can have major ramifications. It is possible that the information you receive at this time or have received in the past is false. You may be misinformed or even lied to. Mercury in the 3rd does not guarantee that the information you gather will be correct. There may be inconsistencies between what you are told and what you intuitively feel. It will be your task to assess what is truth and what is fiction.

        Mercury in the 3rd house can suggest that the rational thinking processes are stronger than feelings. This is most likely to be so if the Moon is not particularly strong by house, sign, or aspect, and the chart is not watery. If the greater emphasis is on Mercury, decisions will be based on rational considerations rather than emotional needs. But if the Moon is very prominent in the chart, rational thoughts may be overwhelmed by emotional considerations. Emotions and rational thoughts may seem to contradict one another. You may be torn between what you know or hear and what you feel in your heart or sense intuitively. If you are very stressed, unconscious needs may surface. Negative feelings, obsessions, compulsions, phobias, and extreme anger may defy rational control.

        Your mental attitude during the year is very important. You need to think clearly in order to function at an optimal level. Influences that either hinder or promote logical thinking. Among the more detrimental influences are abusive substances such as alcohol and drugs. Mental illnesses (especially depression and anxiety) are also negative influences which can affect one's ability to think clearly. These very negative manifestations correspond more closely to an individual's negative behavioral pattern than to any one specific astrological pattern in the solar return chart. Although stress may be suggested by the solar return chart, disease is not. Those who are intimately and enthusiastically involved in life experience few problems. For them, great excitement rather than stress fuels their thinking processes.

Solar Return Venus in 2nd house:

        One might think that Venus in the 2nd house of the solar return would be associated with increased money and materialism. Certainly you pay more attention to finances with this placement. But rather than increased money, Venus in the 2nd house is more likely to indicate easy money, the kind that requires no extra work on your part. The epitome of this interpretation is money that comes to you through welfare or unemployment checks. This is a possibility, although usually not the case. The most common manifestation is that money comes more easily because you cut back on your hours at work or refuse overtime. You may earn a little less, but the quality of your life seems more important than the extra income.

        Venus in the 2nd normally indicates you are comfortable with the money you have or earn, so it is most likely that you anticipated this cutback in salary and either paid off your debts or made adjustments in your budget so the financial loss would not be noticeable.

        Another common manifestation for this Venus placement is an increase in salary or funds available. As a rule, pay raises will not involve a great increase in time or effort on your part. If you work as a salesperson, you may land a huge account, thereby raising your commission without increasing your work load. If you are employed at a steady salary, you may be given a raise or bonus.

        Another alternative is changing jobs and getting paid more for doing the same work. Your salary may remain the same, but funds become available through other means. Suppose you sell your home at a great profit and decide not to buy another home, or purchase one at a lower price. This leaves more money available without any extra work. Even if you do not get a raise, or do not work, small checks may come in the mail from unexpected sources (dividends, refunds, interest, etc.). Probably none of the checks will be large, but you will find them helpful. During the year, you should feel comfortable with the amount of money you have available to spend. You are unlikely to feel impoverished.

        You are in the process of reassessing your value system. Priorities may be changed or even reversed. What may have been important before is no longer crucial; what you once took for granted is now cherished. Usually the shift is toward an appreciation of inner beauty and the quality of life, but some people experience Venus in the 2nd house as a surge in materialism. You may not want to do extra work to increase your cash flow, so you will try to think of less taxing ways to get more money.

        You might also experience a moral or ethical conflict at this time, especially if Venus is heavily emphasized. Venus in the 2nd shows that moral issues will be reassessed, especially the issue of monogamy or loyalty to one person. Contrary to what one might think, traditional concepts are not always stressed. The interpretation of Venus in this house seems to be most closely related to proclivities shown in the natal chart and the rest of the solar return. Ethical issues focus on monetary practices such as accurate expense account reporting, appropriate fees for services rendered, and the disposition of funds. Several aspects to Venus in the 2nd can indicate mixed feelings with regard to these moral or ethical issues.

Venus Aspects Saturn

        Saturn aspecting Venus can have one of two different manifestations: the solidification of a relationship, or the inhibition of a relationship. Both processes involve the use of structure to define a relationship. Healthy relationships can strengthen and show a renewed sense of commitment to the future by both partners. The ability to accept more responsibility with or for each other is common. Marriage, raising children, and purchasing homes together are three common events that reflect this change. The relationship gains more stability because of a new definition of purpose and intent.

        Partners who basically love each other and are committed to a relationship, but experiencing a period of change and adjustment, might do well to give each other a little space, understanding, and support. The distance needed can foster individual expression and achievement. For example, if you or your spouse wants to go back to school for a higher degree, time must be set aside for classes and study.

        Relationship inhibition occurs when the structure and definition of the relationship is used to limit rather than give a sense of purpose. You may not be allowed to give and receive love in a relaxed manner since love is always controlled, defined, withheld, rejected or not accepted as it exists. You yourself may refuse to make a further commitment, or it can be your partner who backs off. Statements like, "We're just friends," or "This is only an affair and I could never leave my wife," are two examples of the kind of structuring associated with Saturn-Venus contacts. Very poor relationships may be defined by separation and divorce. One person may accept total responsibility for a second individual. The "parent" partner acts as the person in charge of the "irresponsible child" and the relationship loses all sense of balance and equality.

        Financially, you will probably be working with less cash during the year. Your budget will be tight, either because you have limited funds or you choose to conserve money and build savings. If you are normally very free with your money, this is a time when you are more careful with spending practices. Even the very rich will want to know how much they have and where it all goes.

        Some may experience a cutback in funds. These are the people who quit their jobs, cut back on hours or salary, become self-employed, or experience a dramatic change in their life-style which would naturally affect funds available.

Venus Aspects Jupiter

        Aspects from Jupiter to Venus have several possible interpretations. You can benefit, either directly or indirectly, through the influence or assistance of others. Relationships can be very rewarding and you reap what you have sown. If you have been helpful and understanding to others in the past, you can expect the same treatment now. Your lover, business partner, or spouse may be actively supportive of your goals, either financially or emotionally.

        Indirect benefits can also come to you through your partnerships. For example, your spouse accepts a job transfer to Colorado and you always wanted to live in ski country. You may buy a house or expensive ski equipment when you get there since large purchases and expenses are commonly seen with Jupiter-Venus solar return aspects. Possibly you spend more than you can afford.

        What you believe to be true about most relationships can either be consistent with your experience, or in conflict with the reality of your situation. As would be expected of anyone, it is more common to notice the conflicts than the periods of consistency. Issues concerning morals, ethics, and monogamy are important and you may discuss whether your relationship is an open or closed one. Either one of you can be involved in a second relationship which causes this issue to be raised. Defining the ethics of relating becomes a goal during the year.

Solar Return Mars in 4th house:

        You are more likely to expend energy working around the house. You can redecorate or renovate your living quarters, but projects you decide to tackle will probably involve lots of do-it-yourself elbow grease. Renovations are not necessarily beautiful, but do tend to involve a lot of hard work or at least more work than would normally be required. Repairs and renovations tend to be "first time" projects. For example, a newly married couple may inherit a lot of used furniture from relatives which they decide to refinish before placing in their apartment or home. Consequently, the decorating project becomes more difficult than simply purchasing furniture. Minor repairs tend to grow into major hassles that require a lot of work once you get into them. Simply re-tiling a bathroom is hard enough, but when you discover you must replace the rotten walls underneath the tile, the job becomes much more demanding.

        It is common to have a conflict occurring between family members or within the domestic environment. If you live alone, the conflict will probably be with your parents or family members, but if you live with anyone, even a roommate, your conflict is more likely to be in the home. Sometimes the confrontations can encompass both sets of individuals and situations. It does not matter whether you are angry about events as they occur or situations in the past; the anger is just as real in either case. The reality of the situation is probably that past and present perspectives are connected. Circumstances similar to the past are probably occurring in the present and triggering old feelings of resentment and hurt.

        This is a time to air old resentments and release hurt feelings so that circumstances in the future can be different. Unless you understand the past hurts, you will not be able to correct present-day detrimental situations. It is possible that those closest to you are hurting you regardless of their intention. They may not see your pain, but you can explain it to them logically if you understand the mechanism yourself. Perhaps you are being taken advantage of or staying in a situation which is not emotionally healthy for you, but allows your conflicting emotions to surface.

        For example, a teenager from a wealthy family expected to go on to college, but his parents were divorced and fighting over who should pay for his education. Neither one offered to help and it looked like both would refuse to lend any assistance. This caused great tension between the teenager and his parents and there were many fights in the home. The teenager honestly felt that he had raised himself to begin with, and had allowed his parents to take advantage of his willingness to accept responsibility for himself even at a very young age. It was during this Mars placement that he realized he had allowed an emotionally unhealthy situation to persist. All during his childhood he had managed alone and never had the luxury of being able to depend on his parents. He also never confronted his parents or his anger with them. He was now very upset that his emotional needs were never met either in the past nor in the present. He became very vocal about this specific pattern of relating, but less argumentative over little things. He zeroed in on the root of the problem and subsequently sought out a family counselor.

        This is a time when unconscious anger surfaces and individuals begin to see behavioral patterns reminiscent of the past and most particularly childhood. Seeing these patterns creates great stress, but the goal is not to live with the conflict, but to break the pattern. The need for emotional self-protection is implied by this placement, and you should want to protect yourself from future uncomfortable situations. It is up to every individual to seek new ways of interacting which fulfill rather than compromise emotional needs. Try to understand the "why" of anger as well as the "when" and "how." Repetitive conflicts which lack any insight allow you to spin your wheels without growth.

        It is particularly important to understand family interactions since they are the key to all relationship dynamics. Conflicts may be built on misunderstandings and you should investigate. Once a divorcee with small children chose to live far away from her parents. She honestly thought that they would not want her around since they never offered to help her during the divorce proceedings. But her parents were very upset that she moved away and never sought their help. They assumed she knew she was always welcome in their home and they were ready to lend a hand. They held back, not wanting to interfere, while she left, not wanting to ask for help. This is a good time to take the initiative in handling emotional conflicts. If misunderstandings are occurring, open up the lines of communication. Seek counseling for very difficult and detrimental situations, and protect yourself from further stress. Use assertiveness rather than anger to dismantle unconscious complexes which lead to painful interactions.

        A few may decide to set up a home office and work totally or partially out of their residence during the year. Mars can be indicative of a sideline business you start or enter into with other family members. If you retain your regular job, it may ease your workload if you can bring more work home with you in the evening. Adjustments or conflicts in the balance of work and homelife can be an issue. This is true both for those who work out of the home and those who bring work home. It is also true for individuals or couples sharing household chores and repairs. The division of labor within the home can be a topic of discussion or conflict. Renegotiating responsibilities for family chores commonly occurs when life situations are changing and one individual is now home more or less than previously.

Solar Return Jupiter in 4th house:

        Jupiter in the 4th house indicates the need for increased peace and security in your home. It is important to feel rooted and protected physically, emotionally, and  spiritually by the home environment. Many individuals choose to begin a beautification program to make their living quarters more comfortable. Although projects may be expensive, there is usually a minimum of disruption. Improvements are not necessitated by a need to make repairs, or the need to make major changes in the structure of the house. Projects tend to be minor, and generally the domestic situation is not disrupted by the improvements. Renovations or additions are not as likely as changing the decor with paint, wallpaper, and  new furniture. The object here is to enhance the surroundings both inside and outside of the home, not to redo the entire house from scratch. Outside improvements include landscaping the grounds or creating a small garden for meditation. Individuals having this placement wish to create an environment which not only suits the physical needs and comforts the soul, but pleases the eye.

        Security is also important; depending on the individual's age, issues can relate to present or future needs. Domestic security is the immediate issue, and you may be striving to purchase a home or secure your position in the present one. Other influences which might support or threaten your homelife. For example, after one man's parents died, he inherited the family home and for the first time owned a piece of property. As he settled into his new home and began to redecorate the interior, his future bride informed him that she did not care for the house and wished to live elsewhere. This man felt the need to balance his commitment to his fiancée with his desire for a sense of rootedness. The home had become very important to him, since for the first time in his life he was working steadily toward completing a major project without abandoning his goal prematurely. He needed to work during the year to balance his needs and the needs of his fiancée with the desire for rootedness. Married individuals with this placement who are in the process of separating need to find and secure a home for the future. This may be a complicated task.

        For older individuals, issues concerning retirement and pension plans are important. The emphasis is on IRAs, mutual funds and retirement packages, but usually security issues do not apply to funds alone since included also is a concern for the home. You may pay off your mortgage, refinance your loan at a lower rate or purchase an insurance policy which will cover your payments should you become disabled or unemployed. This is the time to make changes in your home and in your financial planning which will insure the stability of your domestic situation both now and in the future.

        Occasionally Jupiter in the 4th house indicates an increase in the number of people living in your home during the year. You expand your home by taking in another person, either a boarder, roommate, foreign exchange student or relative. Generally, the addition does not indicate an increase in responsibility. The other person is able to meet his or her own needs and contribute to household chores and expenses. It is likely you will enjoy his or her presence although it can cost you extra money to have this person around.

        Domestic responsibilities tend to lessen as individuals gain independence from other family members. Children may enter school or go away to college. If you were saddled with a lot of responsibility during the previous year because either of your parents or some other family member was ill, it is likely that his or her health or situation will improve at this time and your duties will decrease. Parents who are very elderly could be placed in a nursing home, or outside assistance may be brought in to help. In cases where the death of a disabled person is imminent and could be considered a blessing, this is the reason why responsibilities lessen at this time. For one reason or another, the difficulty or demand for extra attention is no longer evident.

        Feelings run high and emotional swings are likely. Excessive responses are the norm and both highs and lows are evident. You could seek to suppress emotional responses, fearing the strength of your feelings and the loss of control. Many times there is a situation during the year which heightens the emotional nature and forces you to deal with the adequacy or inadequacy of your responses and those of others. If you are not in a fulfilling life-style, emotions will tend to be negative as well as overwhelming. But if you are actively working toward a fulfilling life-style, emotions can be very pleasurable and the support you receive from others is reassuring.

Solar Return Saturn in 2nd house:

        Saturn placed in the 2nd house is generally not a sign of financial success and monetary abundance. It usually means learning to live with less either because you have to or because you want to. Individuals have experienced this transit differently. Some have experienced financial hardship because they have overspent in the past, but others have planned inadequately for the future and are now faced with a pending major expense. In either case, the reality of the financial situation becomes very evident and these individuals must suddenly take fiscal responsibility for their past and future actions and curb their material appetites.

        Other individuals with this placement in their solar return charts are not so hindered by budgetary limitations because they have priorities stronger than money. To them, money is seen as only a means to an end and not an end in itself. Fiscal control is necessary for goal fulfillment, and there are priorities more important than money. Those individuals considering major changes in life-styles will have this placement if the change involves a decrease in salary. Goals of returning to school, having a child, starting a business, working on a long-term project with little financial reward, retiring, or moving to another part of the country are consistent with Saturn in this house. Its placement here signals your ability to cope with financial belt-tightening.

        Use this time to reassess your value system and establish priorities consistent with your future goals and present earning power. Do not allow your options to be limited by inadequate funding. You may have to budget your income, save for a rainy day and cut your living expenses in order to realize your dream, but the adjustments can be made and you can live on less. This time can be used to save for a major expense (such as purchasing a house or car). It is also possible that this is the first year after a major purchase when finances are generally very tight.

        The 2nd house is the house of self-worth, and during the year you can place yourself in a situation where you are either underpaid or not fully appreciated. If you have a poor self-image, you may need to experience deprivation to get in touch with your own real value. The fact that your situation is not healthy encourages indignation and reassessment.

        Those individuals with strong feelings of self-worth might stay in a low-paying job or difficult situation for different reasons. Morals, values, and ethics are extremely important and you may deliberately stay in a difficult or low-paying position because of your ethical priorities. A man working for a non-profit organization stuck with his job despite the financial hardship placed on him and his family. His belief in what he was doing was so strong that he could not in good conscience leave until his task was completed one year later.

        The process of reassessing your value system and living by the financial priorities you set yourself is consistent with Saturn in the 2nd house. Money and material possessions should not matter, only your priorities for the present and your goals for the future. During this year, long-term goals, and satisfaction are more important than short-term compensation.

        Saturn in the 2nd denotes a desire to limit all excesses and overindulgences. If you are a smoker, heavy drinker or drug addict, you will be very aware of the connection between your behavior now and the possibility of present or future health problems. The urge to limit these indulgences will be especially strong early in the year and it is to your benefit to take action at that time. (The desire to quit smoking is especially strong with this placement.) You will begin to see the negative consequences commonly associated with your behavior. These negative reactions will manifest both in your own body and in the health of others. The issue of control will surface again and again. You can go cold turkey with this placement, simply consider this option, or seek professional assistance.

Solar Return Uranus in 9th house:

        Uranus in the 9th house is a sign of radical changes in beliefs, either because you recognize discrepancies in your own thoughts or because you are directly challenged by others and situations you are involved in. You may have recently received new information which specifically contradicts your former beliefs, making them obsolete. Sometimes there is a rude awakening followed by a sharp transition; at other times, a slow transition may result from a constant series of small challenges. You can no longer depend on old axioms.

        Mundane as well as religious, spiritual and philosophical beliefs are now in a state of evolution or turmoil. The 9th house is not only the house of all higher thoughts, but also the house of beliefs about yourself, your abilities and other people. You must reassess your position on a number of issues and be ready to make adjustments accordingly. You must also be ready to defend your position against the challenges of others. Disputes over philosophical differences are possible and one person in particular may be an agitator.

        Consistent with philosophical differences are cultural distinctions. An awareness of practices in other cultures may be necessary if you plan to deal regularly with foreigners during the coming year. (Examples: a businessman dependent on foreign exchange, support or commodities; a foreign exchange student; or one who plans to marry someone of a different ethnic background.) Ignorance is not bliss in this case and can lead to conflict if you do not make the effort to accommodate the beliefs and customs of others. In very negative manifestations, you may not be able to weather the cultural distinctions easily. Ignoring the differences in customs may make it difficult for you to establish trust and understanding. Practices and beliefs in your own culture or religion will not be accepted readily by others and need to be explained or defended.

        Quick trips and hectic travel are more likely than leisure pleasure cruises. If you have dealings in foreign countries, you generally travel for business reasons. The trips are more commonly stressful, especially if you are having problems with your foreign counterparts. If you travel for pleasure, chances are you try to pack too much into one trip, in which case travel can become more nerve-wracking than fun.

        Legal problems or dealings with lawyers are possible during the year, but this interpretation is not the norm and occurs only occasionally. Understanding the legal system is like dealing with a foreign culture and generally involves learning to cope with the peculiarities of justice in America.

        If you are in school, it is likely that your education will be disrupted by distractions or unexpected events. The college or university you are attending may not be offering the course you want or need to graduate. Your time may be split between two different campuses, or between employment and school. Your study hours may be repeatedly interrupted and your concentration broken by situations in the classroom or at home. It is difficult to think in a stressful environment. What you are learning may make you anxious if it contradicts your existing beliefs. If you are teaching others, your schedule may be changed or broken up. Changes (e.g., renovations) occurring in the classroom or home force you to shift from one place to another or suspend teaching for a period of time. This is a good time to be self-taught. Independent study may prove more rewarding than a structured learning environment. You may elect to study on your own or take a correspondence course during the year.

Solar Return Neptune in 9th house:

        This is traditionally known as the house of religious and philosophical beliefs. For those who are seeking to raise their consciousness through meditation, spiritual studies, prayer, or alternate realities, this can be a time of great enlightenment. A realization of God and the Christ-consciousness is possible. Mystical experiences occurring during the year could significantly change your understanding of yourself, the Universal Oneness and your purpose here on the earth plane. Strong realizations of this nature cannot be translated into words, and therefore may not be understood by others lacking the experience. This is a time when you move toward your own inner comprehension of God and the spirit of the law, while realizing that religion and the letter of the law are inferior attempts at definition and comprehension.

        The danger with this placement is a tendency to be misguided. Because there is a movement from external standards (religion) to an internal realization (enlightenment), confusion and uncertainty may accompany the transition. You can be off track for a period of time and find it difficult to cope with philosophical and practical decisions. Mundane events and issues can test your new and old beliefs, pushing you toward further definition and understanding. Do not put your faith in a belief system which is totally unrealistic or impractical. Acute idealization is a problem, and unattainable expectations will inhibit your ability to function in the real world. If you push too hard for enlightenment, you will fall into the trap of focusing on the letter of the law while missing the spirit behind it; contradictions will arise. Others may be forcing you to pursue religious or philosophical systems which do not fit your needs or are inconsistent with your purpose. You are capable of being swayed by others.

        The distinguishing criterion here seems to be one of understanding. If you can express a principle in words, but do not understand what you are saying, this principle is probably incorrect for you and your needs at this time. However, if you have captured the spirit of the principle within your understanding and know that it conforms to the Universal need for goodness, do not be alarmed by your inability to translate these insights into words. True understanding is, many times, beyond words. At the same time, principles and experiences which come through true enlightenment cannot be passed on to others who have not had the experience. Common ground for understanding will not exist. Grow to trust the inner process.

        Others might be intolerant of your beliefs, or you of theirs. You must deal with your own misconceptions or with those of others. Occasionally you come in contact with fanatical beliefs, and in extreme cases victimization can occur. Harassment because of racial differences, sexual orientation, or ethnic and religious prejudice can occur. In extreme cases, the harassment leads to legal problems. Legal questions are likely to remain undecided for much of the year. If you are involved with foreigners, or if you are a foreigner in another land, cultural differences may lead to difficulties or intolerance. Misunderstandings are possible, especially if you do not understand each other's customs.

        You may be thinking of attending school. If so, your course of study might be undecided. Perhaps the exact curriculum you need does not exist as a standard major, so you mix and match. You may be attending school only on a trial or probationary basis since you lack a clear understanding of your motives and goals. Financing for your education might be uncertain, leaving your continuing attendance up in the air. Another alternative is that you do not matriculate at all, but only consider the possibility all year long. But this is a good time to study religion, philosophy, or holistic concepts. This field of study can be particularly helpful.

Solar Return Pluto in 6th house:

        Pluto in the 6th house of the solar return implies changes in both the daily work situation and personal health practices. Changes in physical health are also possible, but generally not as likely. In regard to employment, your work environment could change dramatically. The most common manifestation involves an office which either totally reorganizes (e.g., computerization), or moves to another location. This causes a great upheaval in the daily routine until everyone learns the new procedures, or figures out where everything is located. Preparation, implementation and resolution time may take almost a year. In lieu of this, you alone may change bosses, or departments, or be given a new assignment or job description. Daily working conditions are likely to become more complicated until the period of transition ends.

        This is a good time to eliminate unnecessary daily tasks. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies may have you doing more work than is necessary. You can get hung up on details, or feel pressured to stay on the job longer than your normally scheduled hours. In these situations, work begins to have power over you, and you are no longer in control. You can become a workaholic this year if you are not mindful of the need to balance your workload. If you analyze your productivity, you may discover that your time is not efficiently organized. Learn to streamline your day by creating more efficient daily routines. It is possible that tasks can be completed in less time and with less effort. Take corrective action in those problem areas. If you are self-employed, hire someone to help you with the clerical work so you can be free to work on other projects. If you are working for a company, develop a plan of action and present it to your employer or manager. This is a time when even the lowliest employee will seek some power within the work environment. Positive use of this desire can lead to improvements on the job.

        Power in the workplace becomes an issue, and you can use personal power as a lever for success. For example, one employee with a wealth of valuable information negotiated a higher salary and a position of authority. He was then able to use his position and abilities to transform a failing business into a successful enterprise. On the more negative side, power struggles with co-workers or lower level managers are possible. Someone may have a lot of power over you, watching what you do, when, and how. You may feel like you must be on your guard. Backbiting, gossip, and underhanded manipulative tactics can be the norm if you choose to participate. Undercurrents and back-room maneuvers dictate policy. Sources of contention are difficult to discern or confront since nothing is ever truly out in the open. Power over your own schedule or working habits might be totally out of your control as you are forced to conform to inane rules. If you wish to quit, you are likely to do so. Differences of opinion, conflicts with authorities and disputes over the implementation of new ideas can make it impossible for you to continue in the same position. If, however, you choose to remain on a job you sincerely hate, be forewarned that health problems will most likely arise.

        You are capable of having a lot of control over both your physical and psychological health; however, early in the year it may not seem so. Instead, you may be struck by how compulsive your habits have become. A few of you may be locked into serious addictions to alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes, but most will only experience the need to control a craving for a particular junk food, or a resistance to an exercise routine. During the year, poor health habits can be a problem, and usually these habits do not arise suddenly; rather, they are long-standing patterns which only now demand corrective attention. The push for control is indicated by Pluto's presence in the 6th house. This is a good time to make conscious, rather than unconscious, choices about health practices. You can break addictions or bad habits, especially if you also treat the underlying psychological issues.

        It is important to understand that your state of health or disease is directly related to your psychological diet. The more you are in tune with your inner self, the better you will feel; the more you are in touch with your environment and the people around you, the more likely you are to feel emotionally nourished. A healthy emotional climate breeds a healthy mind and body. On the other hand, the greater the stress in the environment and the more you are suppressed or manipulated by others, the greater the chance of health problems arising. Emotional upsets can directly affect your health, especially if you are caught in "damned if you do and damned if you don't," no-win situations. The emotional diet is as important as the nutritional diet, and even though you take care of yourself physically, mental-emotional stress or abuse can make you ill. If you are in a difficult situation, consider these three options. You can walk away from unending conflicts or spiritually unhealthy environments. Secondly, recognize psychological games and refuse to be manipulated. Protect your unconscious from damage. Thirdly, use relaxation techniques and spiritual insight to alleviate stress. Realize your power to grow healthy, both inside and out.