The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once wrote that nothing is certain except change. In the last two decades we have been forced to acknowledge this ancient truth, for many of our time- honoured and reliable religious, economic and social structures and definitions of reality have undergone major upheavals. Because human beings instinctively fear change, we imagine global disasters as we move into the future, or global redemption through the miracles of technology or some extraordinary new spiritual or political revolution. We are filled with both anxiety and hope. Is this really a time of great opportunity, spiritually and materially? Or does it seem so merely because we believe it to be so?

Astrological cycles do not take account of human calendars, and the movements of the planets have their own logic and timing. If we were to take any six-year period in history, we might find any number of possible planetary configurations which give a particular flavour and meaning to that time. But the fact that we place such importance on our recent entry into the 21st century means that we will perceive the flavour and meaning of this time through specially orientated vision. We expect a great deal from the next decades, for either good or ill; and therefore, from a psychological perspective, we are particularly attuned to the currents of the time and perhaps able to respond more acutely, with greater hopes and increased creativity. What is the special flavour of this time? What can astrology tell us as we move further into the 21st century? First of all, this time is extraordinary because it happens to coincide with the changing of the astrological ages. Most people have heard about the Age of Aquarius, but what does it really mean?

The advent of the Aquarian Age

The changing of the ages is governed by the movement of the spring equinoctial point (the first degree of the zodiac) into a new constellation. This happens roughly every two thousand years. It is presently shifting from the constellation of Pisces to the constellation of Aquarius. At the dawn of the Christian era it shifted from Aries to Pisces. Such huge cosmic movements are reflected in human affairs first and foremost through the ways in which we perceive God, and the world-view which we deem to be "true". If we look back through history, it is obvious that at the dawn of the Age of Pisces the perception of reality shifted in a radical way, reflected in the birth of new religions (not only Christianity, but also Islam) and a profoundly different vision of life's essential meaning and purpose. Vast changes such as these do not occur on Thursday at 3.00 PM, but stretch over a period of a couple of centuries, and the transition time is often one of chaos during which old values and old gods begin to lose their value and meaning, and new ways are sought by an increasingly anxious and disorientated human family.

What, then, might this shift from Pisces into Aquarius mean for us all? Aquarius is a sign belonging to the astrological element of air, and this signifies that mind, rather than heart, is likely to begin to assume the highest value. Human ingenuity and human inventiveness, reflected in technology and a greater understanding of how the cosmos works, are important dimensions of the Aquarian ethos. Human brotherhood is also immensely important. The values which propel nations into recognising not only each other's rights but also each other's similarities is likely to be reflected in an increasing sense of globalism, of being "citizens of the world". Aquarius is also the sign of the mass, and this means a levelling of extremes and a seeking of common denominators in education, money, fashion, the arts, and all other spheres in which human creativity and effort can make their mark. Is this then a "good" or "bad" age? That depends on what we make of it. Each of us, in this exciting, challenging and sometimes frightening time, has the individual challenge of responding to and working with the new energy which is presently causing such profound changes in science, religion, communications, and social and political structures.

Chapter II

The planetary configurations

Each of us has an individual horoscope which will be affected by the shifting planetary pictures which occur over any six-year period of time. These planetary configurations, although not directly linked with the changing of the astrological ages, need nevertheless to be seen in that context. And they do indeed seem to support the vast shift in human consciousness which is presently occurring. The three outer planets -Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto - are, for the next few years, all in what are called the "dynamic" signs, meaning the elements of fire and air. For many years they were in the "receptive" earth and water signs, and not since the late 1940's have all three been in fire and air. What does this mean for us all? After the last World War, a new spirit was abroad, fuelled in part by the darkness and suffering with which so many people were afflicted, but fuelled also by a fiery spirit of hope and innovation, and an airy dream of harmony and peace in the world. There is a similar spirit abroad now. These three outer planets, all concerned with collective movements and trends, seem to be offering us a vision of a reformed and brighter world.

This does not mean that we will all sail into the future full of joy and free of problems. In many areas of the world there is a great deal of suffering, and individuals may still have to cope with challenges which may prove painful and frustrating. Also, the kind of vision which is presently infecting so many people is not necessarily congenial to everyone. Idealism and vision may also be accompanied by a lack of recognition of individual rights and feelings, and the elements of fire and air, while strong on vision, may occasionally lack an appreciation of time and human frailty. Some people may feel pressured and overloaded by the qualities of the time, as though they are expected to learn everything all at once and give up hard-won values and security because the collective demands it. To understand and get the best from this unusual grouping of outer planets coinciding with the changing of the ages, we need first to understand ourselves, and how these planets will affect us individually.

Pluto in Sagittarius

Pluto is the great bass drumbeat of the planetary pantheon, taking a leisurely 249 years to travel around the zodiac. It entered the sign of Sagittarius in 1995 and leaves it to enter Capricorn in 2008. Thus most of the first decade of the 21st century is dominated by this important movement of Pluto through the sign of Sagittarius the Centaur, concerned with religious, spiritual, philosophical and moral questions. Pluto symbolises those deep underground forces in the collective psyche which break down and renew that which is old, outworn and past its time. It works like a machine dredging the bottom of a pond, bringing to the surface everything which is rotten and ready for the compost heap, so that new life can emerge cleaner, brighter and stronger than before. While it moved through Scorpio in the second half of the 1980's and the first half of the 1990's, we experienced a darkening of our vision of life. Now we have reached a point where we are seeking a new vision of God, a new way of defining right and wrong, and new ways in which to understand and communicate with each other. On the global level, we may expect many conflicts and transformations in the sphere of orthodox religion, with a heady mixture of sectarianism and impassioned truth-seeking, fanaticism and a greater tolerance of the many ways through which we may approach the divine. We may also expect new attitudes toward law and the legal systems in every nation, as well as changes in our attitudes toward knowledge and education. And in the sphere of communication the internet has already made its mark.

The profound moral and spiritual dilemmas which Pluto raises as it travels through Sagittarius may be seen on many levels in the outer world. They may also challenge you in very personal ways, and you may not initially realise that the issues you are confronting are not only your own, but also shared by many people struggling in their own individual ways to redefine what they understand as truth. Even if Pluto's movement affects very personal spheres of your life, it may be worth ultimately asking the question, "What is the deeper meaning of what I am going through? What am I meant to be learning? How can I use this time to redefine what I believe to be right and wrong, truth and falsehood? And what is the nature of the God in which I believe?"

Unlocking the inner child

As Pluto makes its long transit through Sagittarius, one question is likely to resonate over and over again in your life: Who are you, really? What makes you a special individual? The transformative nature of Pluto is most likely to express itself in the sphere of your expression as an individual, and this includes those ways in which you are able to be creative and find suitable vehicles for giving form to what you feel matters most deeply to your heart. This time may reflect a new creative birth, when you discover a talent you didn't know you had, or find new artistic ways of expressing what is within you. New business enterprises, new creative projects, and new confidence in your right to be yourself may be some of the finest fruits of this process. Whether the children which are born of this time are physical or imaginative, it is, on the most profound level, a time of birth, and although the gestation may be a long one, you are likely to emerge with a profound sense of your unique value as an individual.

No birth can take place without some struggle, however, and it may be that certain patterns in your life need to come to an end. Matters of love, even if they are happy rather than distressing (and happiness is just as likely as crisis during this time) may require you attend to old psychological attitudes inherited from your family background -- attitudes which you might do better without. You may also need to think long and deeply about what kind of parent you are or would like to be, and what kind of child you once were, and what you expect and need from your own children. It is really the child within you which is being activated and brought to the surface by the processes reflected by Pluto's movement, and you may need to face all those issues concerned with the blocking of childhood needs and the stifling of childlike dreams and inspirations. Your ability to express the child within is a measure of your ability to be creative and joyful in life. Do you know how to play? Can you experience the joy of a child, the sense of wonder at life, and the confidence to express your vision in creative forms? Or are you hemmed in by worrying about what others think, or by unrealistic expectations and standards which paralyse your self- expression? This ability to express yourself without material gain or ideological justification reveals who you most truly are, and it is this which you are likely to discover over the next few years. Every human being has some sphere where he or she can be creative, and you may need to discover this on new levels.

A quiet but thorough cleansing process is taking place within you, and many old emotional patterns and habits from the past are passing from your life. You may see the surface effects of this in ordinary everyday spheres where you have been trying to "kick" old habits - or an old relationship - and suddenly find it is easy to do so. But this is only the surface of a deeper change. You are reconnecting with your real emotional and instinctual nature, and moving away from those responses which you learned in childhood either as a result of family pressure or as a means of emotional survival. This is likely to make you a much more authentic person in terms of your feeling needs and expression. There may be important repercussions in your relationship life, although there may well be no external crisis or drama which you can link with the changes occurring inside. But your increased self-confidence and emotional self- knowledge could allow you to find greater fulfilment in relationships. It may come as a surprise to you just how many responses which you thought were natural and "you" have been, in fact, the products of your upbringing. Now you have a chance to leave these behind. This inner process could prove enormously healing and strengthening, and the positive repercussions may reverberate for many years to come.

Greater energy and an increased capacity to concentrate that energy may be some of the gifts of this valuable time. You may discover that you have more strength and tenacity than you thought, and this could allow you to make that bit of extra effort which could help you to achieve goals you might have thought impossible in the past. Somehow life is likely to seem deeper and richer, and your instinctual responses are likely to be stronger and your passions more emphasised. You may also feel you want to commit yourself more intensely to some project or goal which requires a great deal of endurance, patience and hard work. If so, then go for it; for you have the necessary combination of intensity and stamina which could indeed take you where you want to go. And you probably won't have to push others out of the way to get what you want, either; there is no inherent conflict in the energy which is available to you now, and you may find that others wish to follow you or support whatever plans you have in mind. Important opportunities may come your way, and it is up to you to take advantage of them and put in the necessary hard work and commitment.

Changing attitudes and perceptions may deepen your thinking and lead you to seeing things in much greater complexity and profundity. All things psychological may interest you, even if this also involves financial concerns; for you are very open right now to the deeper levels of life, and could make good use of the insights you gain. Certain old attitudes from the past may quietly drop away, and you may feel rather intolerant of others' insincerity. For a while you may need plenty of time for quiet reflection, and this could make you wish to withdraw a little from social contacts which are too superficial. Trust your instincts, and follow the path of your interests right now. They could lead you to a radically transformed view of life, which may indirectly lead to important external changes later. Most importantly, your need to see and understand the truth, about others and about yourself, may alter in a very positive way not only your perceptions but your way of communicating to others.

Neptune in Aquarius

Neptune takes 165 years to make its cycle around the zodiac, and it is now in Aquarius for the first time since 1834, having entered the sign in February 1998. It leaves Aquarius and enters Pisces in the spring of 2011. This planet reflects the constantly changing and constantly repeating cycles of collective dreams and aspirations, and we can see its subtle emotional effects in those things which seem to promise redemption, peace, perfection, and freedom from suffering. Neptune reflects our longing to merge with a greater whole and lose the painful sense of isolation which accompanies any individual journey in incarnation. Thus the sign through which Neptune passes describes, on many different levels, those qualities, objects and people which we believe will lift us out of pain and loneliness and lead us into the Paradise Garden which we lost once upon a time long, long ago. What we perceive as fashionable is also reflected by Neptune's current zodiacal sign, and music, art, and interpretation of beauty all change and shift like Neptune's waters as we alter our vision of what will satisfy our eternal longing.

When Neptune moved through Aquarius in the last century, it was the first time the phrase "United Europe" was used in a political sense. During that earlier transit, dreams of an end to global conflict were accompanied by a heightened feeling of brotherhood and spiritual unity among men and women of every different race and nation. At the same time, a passionate spirit of nationalism swept Europe and America, putting an end to the dreams of global unity. As Neptune moves through Aquarius once again, we are once again dreaming dreams of a worldwide unity which will end all conflict. Sadly, not all of Neptune's dreams come true, and sometimes there is bitter disappointment as our heightened perceptions of what could be possible collide with the reality of the world and the limitations of human nature. For the first time in over a century and a half we are filled once again with a vision of human unity which could yield many immensely creative results. But such a vision could also make us blind to recognising our limits. What we see as beautiful, fashionable and desirable is also changing. As a collective we are losing our sentimentality about the past and focusing on that which is new, innovative, technologically advanced, and able to create a more efficient and interconnected society.

Idealising others

The subtle mixture of magic, mystery, and occasional confusion and disappointment in others which Neptune symbolises as it moves through Aquarius is most likely to affect you in the sphere of your relationships. This means not only personal bonds, but also the contacts you make in work and with the public in general. In all spheres where you are involved with others, you may find an increased sense of connection, an empathy and emotional understanding which makes you feel linked with humanity in general and perhaps even with the natural world. Your ideals about human potential are also likely to be especially high during this time, and it is here that both your greatest rewards and greatest disappointments may lie. You may feel as though you want to be involved with others' welfare in a new and more committed way, and spiritual ideals may inspire you as they never have before. But you may also expect too much from others, especially those close to you, and this could lead to a sense of disillusionment when you discover that other people are mere humans like yourself, and cannot offer you a path to redemption. However much you feel "tuned in", you will still need to retain a firm sense of boundaries and a realism about what is possible.

Neptune's movement through this sphere of your life is slow and subtle, and you may not experience any great crises or confrontations which force you to alter your perception of other people. But it is likely that a gradual change will occur which is ultimately of a deeply positive and healing kind - even if you go through one or two experiences which make you feel disappointed or let down. Your receptivity to others is increasing and so is your capacity to feel compassion. You may also learn how to let go and recognise the importance of sacrificing your own will and wishes in order to help others to find greater fulfilment. All this is really another way of saying that over this important time, with Neptune moving through a sign connected with humanity and human welfare, your heart is opening and your sense of relationship with the human family is deepening. But do try to keep your eyes open and your mind clear in all your dealings with others. Don't throw away common sense. No human being is able to provide perfect love; we are all flawed and able only to be what we are. And no disappointment can justify deliberate deception, so if you are feeling disillusioned with someone, let them know what the problem is, rather than seeking a solution through evasion or dishonesty. If you can keep these few basic factors clear, you will discover that the increasing sense of responsibility and interaction occurring on a global level is also occurring within you, allowing you to feel part of a larger life in a way you probably never have before.

Learning to let go

During this important time you are most likely to experience the magical and mysterious qualities of Neptune in your intimate relationship life. Gently and subtly, the emotional barriers between you and others are changing and becoming more fluid, and this opens the possibility for deeper emotional and sexual exchange as well as an increasing awareness of the unity of all life. Neptune is not an altogether easy influence, however, and sometimes emotions may rise to the surface which concern the past, especially any losses you may have suffered when you were much younger. A sense of life being cyclical, and of having to let go, may sometimes make you a little melancholic. But this is more than compensated for by a deepening awareness of life's mysteries and a profound sense of what supports you invisibly from within. You may sometimes feel as though you are no longer properly rooted in life, and your thoughts and fantasies may move into more boundless terrain. Such feelings can be very powerful and disturbing if you are used to being a matter-of-fact, prosaic sort of person. But this kind of emotional opening could transform your relationships and your view of what life is really about.

Another keynote of this transit of Neptune is, for you, the issue of sharing. This means not only emotions, but also resources, and issues may arise which concern joint financial matters and areas where you need to learn to be more fluid and open in your dealings with others. Some confusion is probably inevitable as you grapple with what you really want, what you have outgrown, and what you need to let go of in order to progress in your life. Letting go of the past - whether in the form of people you have been holding on to, emotional attitudes which you are reluctant to relinquish, or an old pattern involving money and security -may be part of the subtle effects of Neptune. Try not to fight the direction in which your heart and imagination are leading you. The kind of deep emotional renewal which could be yours over this time can only come if you make room for the changes which need to take place; and making room may mean being willing to be less rigid in many of your interactions with others. This does not mean being gullible or passive; but if you are willing to recognise and contain the kinds of deep feelings and inner experiences which may come your way, you are likely to connect with a deep and abiding sense of faith in life's meaning.

Heightened idealism is likely to make you feel unusually restless and discontented about the course your life has taken so far. You may feel you have somehow not fulfilled creative potentials, or that you need to be more involved with human welfare on the broader level. You may also have many questions about the role you have been playing, and may feel confused about where you are going. This could eventually result in a new direction, and one of the most positive implications of this time is the dissolving of rigid expectations and the opening up of the imagination. You might indeed find more meaningful work, and a greater sense of connection with the larger cosmos. But because there is a breaking down of old, rigid structures and attitudes within you, you might be wise to refrain from major decisions or impulsive actions at the moment. Feelings of vulnerability could make you want to make changes which are premature, and anxiety could impel you to try to force things at a faster pace than they need to go. Take your time, avoid ambiguous entanglements of a financial or emotional kind, don't be afraid of occasional feelings of lostness or confusion, and keep your focus on the inner spiritual and imaginative potentials which are wanting inclusion in your outer life. This could be an enormously creative and transformative time during which your entire sense of who you are and what you wish to make of your life are gently but irrevocably changed. Just remember to keep your eyes open and your feet on the ground.

Feelings of compassion toward others, and a willingness to let go of past hurts and resentments, could make this time one in which you experience a gentle inner healing and a new sense of belonging. Your heart is open and others are likely to respond to you, too, with an open heart. This could mean a time of deep tranquillity and emotional closeness. Even if the usual external problems interfere, you are likely to feel somehow supported by something higher or deeper in your life. New friendships and a deepening of family bonds could increase your sense of being surrounded by a benign and loving humanity, and this could heal many old hurts and feelings of isolation which might have plagued you in the past.

A craving for harmony and peace is likely to make you seek kinder, less stressful ways of pursuing your goals and interacting with others, and the spirit of unity which is presently at work in the collective is likely to affect you personally by bringing out all that is gentlest and most peace-loving in your nature. Goals of a more altruistic kind may affect your future aspirations, and you may wish to become more involved in human welfare in direct and practical ways. You may also want to spend a lot of time dreaming, and this might not be a bad thing, since your intuition and creative capacities are likely to be heightened. All artistic projects could benefit from the imaginative stimulation which you are presently experiencing. Although it might not be too good idea to be too passive or indolent - after all, you still live in the world! - the ability to flow with the time can help you to deal with any necessary changes and challenges in a serene and tactful way.

Inspiration and openness to the inner realm could make this time enormously productive in terms of any creative work you might undertake. You are also likely to be unusually receptive to the feelings of others, perhaps almost telepathically so, and your response to the atmospheres and hidden levels of any human interaction is likely to be acute. This could also be a time when your interest in the inner world deepens, perhaps through studies such as psychology or astrology, or practices such as meditation. Your grasp of practical matters may need some attention, as your mind may be inclined to wander on higher planes and details may bore you. Make sure you don't ignore important matters which need attention. But that caution having been given, try to make as much use as you can of the inner resources which are now at your disposal. Your rational faculties are blending with a heightened intuition, and this could opens many doors to knowledge normally not accessible to the intellect alone.

Uranus in Aquarius

Uranus spends seven years in each sign of the zodiac. It entered Aquarius in 1995, and remains there until 2003 Then it moves into Pisces, where it remains until 2010. Its passage through Aquarius is coincident not only with the advent of a new century and a new Millennium, but also with the great movement of the vernal equinoctial point into the constellation of Aquarius. Thus this planet, carrying its Promethean vision of a brave new world, is particularly important as a herald of things to come. Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to human beings, and Uranus symbolises the human capacity for vision and foresight which, coupled with innovative thinking and a global perspective, heralds breakthroughs in science, technology, social and political structures, and the arts. Although sometimes revolutionary in an erratic and even violent sense, Uranus is at home in Aquarius. The electric and inspiring energy which it reflects moving through this sign is generating major discoveries and important social changes which will improve the quality of our lives and transform social interaction through fairer laws and greater equality of opportunities for everyone.

Uranus in Pisces

Uranus spends seven years in Pisces, and the sense of excitement, tension, immanent change, and greater freedom that occurred as the new century dawned gradually gives way to a subtler, deeper shift in collective thinking. Because Pisces is concerned with the realm of the spirit and those levels of reality which lie beyond the mundane world, we may find that religious and spiritual concerns become a priority on a global level. We may also experience major new artistic movements, for Pisces is the sign of the creative imagination. Changes in the structures of orthodox religions are likely as the collective psyche is awakened to a quest for more inclusive spiritual values. There is some anxiety reflected by this seven-year transit of Uranus, because its disruptive, innovative energy, moving through Pisces, affects us on emotional rather than intellectual levels. This means not only shifts in the ways in which we perceive God, but also a potential time of artistic flowering as the human imagination seeks new forms and vehicles through which to express itself.

New insights

The technological, artistic and spiritual awakening which Uranus in Aquarius and Pisces heralds may show itself in subtle ways in your life -especially in the sphere of your emotions and your relationship to your deeper passions and hidden motives. It is possible that you may sometimes find this a little uncomfortable, especially if you have little psychological experience. You are likely to experience strong feelings and shifts in emotional attitudes which are unfamiliar and which leave you wondering whether you have as much control of your life as you thought. But try not to become anxious or alarmed if you begin to discover depths in yourself which you didn't realise you had. Because the energy of Uranus is concerned with expanding vision and developing broader perspectives on life, the experiences you have on the emotional level will probably lead to a deeper and more inclusive understanding of yourself and other human beings. And this could open the door to a genuine interest in and desire to study the realm of the human psyche and the mysteries of life. Anything which rises up to awaken you from within has always been there; it is not as if something new from "outside" is invading your life. You are becoming more conscious, and this is the most positive and dynamic dimension of this planetary movement in your life.

You may also find that certain patterns change in your relationship life. You may achieve a greater detachment and recognition of the necessity of endings and new beginnings, and you may also learn a great deal about when and how to let go when it is time to move on - both materially and emotionally. This could result in greater emotional freedom and a growing capacity to objectify your feelings rather than being swamped by them. You may also find it easier to define your boundaries within close relationships, with less fear of loneliness and a greater ability to experience your separateness without a sense of loss or threat. These are all changes which may occur in your basic emotional attitudes, and it could free you from old family patterns that might have imprisoned you in the past and restricted your emotional expression. Most important for you during this critical time is a willingness to be open to change, especially in the ways in which you deal with others and the attitudes you take toward deep relationships. Any changes which occur in your personal life during this time are likely to be necessary and ultimately enlightening and freeing.

A new world-view

During this exciting time you may experience a profound awakening on intellectual and spiritual levels. Your world- view is likely to change quite radically, and you may find yourself open to many new ideas which, in the past, you might have dismissed as "cranky" or irrational. The deeper nature of this change is connected with a more holistic vision of life, where the connections between different spheres of knowledge begin to become apparent and your understanding is more inclusive. Included in this expanding and holistic world-view may be incidental side-benefits such as an interest in languages and a deepening appreciation of the customs and attitudes of different nations and peoples. Subjects such as psychology, astrology, metaphysics, and philosophy may draw you strongly, and you may even feel you have been the recipient of a real revelation about the nature of life and the universe.

Education may also become increasingly important - either because you have realised that you need a very different and more inclusive kind of intellectual training, or because you have realised you did not go far enough in your mental development in the past. Changes in your attitudes may be reflected in starting, or finishing, a particular approach to knowledge. On a deeper level, your moral and ethical attitudes may also undergo change, and you may find that you have outgrown previous religious or spiritual convictions because they were not inclusive enough. This time is likely to prove enlightening and rewarding, especially in the sphere of your attitudes toward life and your philosophical overview. Try to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way to expand your reservoir of knowledge, whether this is through study, travel, or exposure to other cultures. It could prove one of the most stimulating and mind-expanding periods of your life.

Unusual new ideas and creative inspirations are likely to make your outlook much broader and more inclusive, and you may be especially open to subjects such as astrology, psychology, or exciting new research in scientific or technological spheres. Your usual common sense is beautifully combined with inspiration and intuition at the moment, and this could be an excellent time to engage on new projects, especially those involving communication skills. The subjects you are interested in may prove to be catalysts for transforming your world-view, and you may also discover new talents which are worth developing for the future. Take advantage of this potentially enormously productive time by applying your mind to new things and taking seriously the expanded vision which you are likely to experience.

Your expectations of others are undergoing some deep changes, and this may affect how you feel about the people close to you. Your values are shifting and you are freeing yourself of certain restrictions and unrealistic expectations which may have interfered with relationships in the past. For a while you may feel quite restless or irritated with the status quo, especially if you are in a long-standing relationship which needs a bit of renovation and a new way of interacting. Try not to act too impulsively on such restless feelings, since it is really you yourself, rather than those around you, who are in need of change. You have a wonderful opportunity to be clearer and more honest about what you feel and need, and this could vastly improve any close bonds in your life as well as opening up new creative possibilities. It may also be necessary for certain relationships to change or pass from your life, if they have been based largely on security needs or if your heart is not really there. And exciting new contacts may also come your way at this time - not necessarily built to last, but deeply important as catalysts for your growth. Any changes which come your way right now are probably right and necessary, even if at first you don't see it that way. Let go of what needs to be let go of, and face the future with confidence; your sense of self-worth will be greater and your ability to express yourself to those you love will be greatly enhanced.

A need to break free of old restrictions may necessitate some important changes in your life - not least in the area of situations which have made you feel secure in the past. Things which previously provided a sense of safety may now seem constrictive, because you are changing and have more inner confidence and therefore the need to explore new potentials. You may face some external challenges which require you to make important decisions, and this could leave you feeling a little anxious. But don't be afraid of the future. A fresh wind is blowing through your life, and anxiety is a perfectly natural response which reflects the resistance all human beings feel when faced with change. You might also discover some insights into why and how you have blocked yourself in the past through fear or inhibitions which spring from much earlier in your life. Try to let go of what you have outgrown, and let yourself benefit from a more detached and broader vision of the future which can allow you to utilise previously unlived potentials and talents. New possibilities and potentials are likely to make this time exciting and rewarding, especially because you can take advantage of opportunities without having to make any wrenching changes in your life. Your goals and life direction may change, and all kinds of new ideas may make you want to develop an entirely new path. The likelihood is that the right people and situations will appear which can help you to pursue these new goals in a hopeful and confident spirit, because you yourself are ready to receive them. Don't let this very creative and valuable time go by without trying at least one new thing - especially if it involves learning something new or trying out a new creative project which involves you in group or humanitarian projects and requires resources you didn't realise you had. Your image of yourself and of life is changing and becoming bigger and brighter and freer. You are probably more aware than ever before of how large and diverse the world is, and how interconnected people are regardless of their national or racial background. If you can find the courage to try out new things, you will truly change the shape of your future for many years to come.

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Chapter III

Inner Changes

Not everything happening within and around you is linked with the great cycles occurring in the heavens over the next few years. You also have your own highly individual pattern of development, and certain challenges and changes are likely to occur because it is the right time for them to do so. This profound inner pattern of growth is unique to you, and although there is likely to be some overlap with the changes going on in the world, in this sphere you may find that your experiences are entirely your own and the creative possibilities inherent in them depend almost wholly on your understanding and willingness to work with who you are and what you are becoming.

The Years 2000 and 2001

The themes reflected by the planetary movements in your birth chart during the next six years are given below in chronological order. Some are themes with which you have already become familiar in the last year or two, and they may last for many more years; we will begin with these. Some themes are new, entering your life only now, and are of shorter duration � although they may seem very intense at the time.

Happiness at home

This could prove an extremely rewarding time in your personal life. Although you may have to make certain choices between personal values and professional goals, nevertheless this is a period when you could experience a great deal of happiness in your relationships as well as a harmonious and pleasing environment. Your energy is probably moving away from worldly goals at the moment, and the emphasis is shifting from playing a particular role in the world to establishing your own individual values and personal tastes. The more you move with your own natural rhythms, the happier and more fulfilling the time is likely to be. But if you try to cling to an image or a role which is now changing, you may create problems and conflicts with those close to you, and may experience quite a lot of emotional disappointment before you realise how important your personal ideals are to you.

You have always needed to find creative outlets and hobbies which make life fun and pleasurable, and right now you may have an excellent opportunity to develop your creative talents. You might also be thinking of beginning a love affair, or having a child - both being potential expressions of your deep need for love, beauty and magic in your life. If you should encounter conflict or disruption right now, it may well be because you need to alter or break free of certain patterns which have been blocking your happiness. You may form a new relationship at this time, or wish to settle down and create a new home life; or you may leave or lose an old relationship where you have been unhappy for a long time. If you do not experience any particular personal dramas, your relationships are still likely to be the focus of your life right now. Even if you have been a 'workaholic' in the past, you are probably not inclined to pursue this course in the present. Take your emotional needs seriously, and put your heart and your energy into those people and things which make you happy. After all, you deserve it.

A time of testing

This is a critical period which represents a testing and challenging of your identity and goals. It also concerns your sense of self-sufficiency and inner authenticity, and will reveal just how capable you are of defining who you are and what you want. You are in the midst of what is euphemistically known as 'mid-life crisis', and you may be challenged not only by external pressures (work, finances, social position) but also by fears arising from within (growing older, dealing with disillusionment or boredom in close relationships, facing difficult issues connected with children who no longer need you as much as they once did). These challenges and pressures may make you feel old, inadequate or unprepared for the next phase of your life, and you may be inclined to cling too tightly to the past because you are afraid you won't be able to cope with the future. You may be called upon to stand firmly by your own values in the face of life's limits, and the degree to which you are able to sustain your faith in what you are and have is a measure of how true you have been to yourself.

If the creative endeavours you have undertaken really reflect your deepest ideals, vision and values, then you have nothing to fear from this time of life. In fact you may experience great satisfaction in having created a truly individual path which reflects your own identity. But if you have been false to yourself, or have built on shaky or borrowed foundations, you may find that your security, inwardly and outwardly, is buffeted or undermined by events, people, or your own emotions; and you may have to relinquish certain elements of your lifestyle and certain attitudes which you are better off without. You may also have to relinquish relationships which are based not on real affinity but on a blind need for security and safety. This may be a painful process, and you may not feel very self-confident or hopeful of the future as a result.

The meaning of this time is not simply external hardship or challenge, although you may have to carry extra responsibilities or fight for what you believe you are entitled to. This period in your life reflects how mature you are, how honest you have been with yourself, and how able you are to make decisions based on trust in your own heart and soul. To the extent that you have identified with the collective around you in order to feel safe and 'normal', you may have a hard time right now. But if this is the case, try to be honest with yourself, for you have the opportunity to rectify your past mistakes and build more solidly for the future. The worst thing you are likely to discover is that, in some sphere of your life, you have been a fake. That may be a painful realisation, but it can provide the impetus to deeper and lasting self-respect. To the extent that you have remained loyal to your own individuality, even in the face of loneliness or the disapproval of others, you will probably be rewarded by a renewed sense of inner strength and confidence. Most likely you will experience both things, as no person gets it wholly 'right'. This is an extremely important and potentially very constructive time, and any difficulties you encounter may be seen as a testing ground and a source of profound learning and maturing.

Childhood's end

This period could prove a challenging one, with increased responsibilities and a feeling that you are struggling on your own with little support. Although it is a constructive time of inner consolidation, it may not always be enjoyable. Your goals and aspirations may be in conflict with an element of fear and defensiveness in your nature which is pulling against further growth and change. This could cause you to feel particularly insecure and uncertain about where you are going. It could also make you unconsciously set up situations where you are hemmed in by circumstances or relationships of your own choosing, which somehow seem to be blocking your progress. You may encounter obstructions at work as well as in your personal life, but any external friction will probably reflect the conflict you are experiencing internally. This is not a good time try to push ahead at work, or make major decisions or expansions in business or speculative ventures. Your energy is not flowing out into the world right now; it is turning inward, and your focus really needs to be those hidden elements within yourself which have never really trusted people or life.

You have probably always had a certain difficulty in expressing yourself spontaneously, both in creative endeavours and in matters of love. This may be due to early experiences where your pride was hurt or your emotional needs rejected, and you may have learned to exercise a rather stringent control over your feelings. At the moment your insecurity is being triggered, and you may feel ignored, rejected or overlooked by others. However, despite the rather gloomy emotional atmosphere, this is a time when inner reflection could prove extremely constructive and helpful. You may not be able to change or prevent certain events from occurring in your external life which force you to face your own separateness as an individual. But you can examine your responses to any situations which make you aware of your own limits in a painful way. You could learn a great deal about your defence mechanisms, and the ways in which you might have tried to protect yourself from hurt with too rigid or controlling an attitude toward life and people. Try to let go and move with the changes occurring in your life. The more you face yourself, the better able you will be to grow beyond your fears and leave the painful experiences of the past behind.

Limits on love

Emotionally you may be passing through a somewhat stressful time, because your ideals of love are being refined, shaped, and better adapted to reality. This may require some careful reviewing of old attitudes, and it is likely that you will experience some sense of hurt or disappointment - either through the agency of another person, or through the criticism and denigration you inflict on yourself. At the moment your ideals and aspirations in love, and your definitions of happiness, are in conflict with the reality of the world around you and with the limitations of human nature. The result is that you are likely to feel let down, disillusioned and defeated, especially in your love-life and your efforts to experience fun and pleasure. You may feel insecure and unsure of yourself, or you may believe you will never feel really happy again. You may interpret ageing as the end of all possibilities for happiness, and may feel there is little left to look forward to. These are entirely subjective states, and probably have no basis in actuality; but they may seem very real to you at the moment, and your negativity about yourself may exacerbate any external situations of stress or conflict you are experiencing. Another person's withdrawal or rejection does not mean you are not worth loving; but at the moment you may see it that way. Because you expect others to hurt or betray you, you may be approaching them with suspicion, mistrust or resentment - even if they have done nothing to merit this. You may not realise you are doing it, and you may not recognise the effect unconscious defensiveness and mistrust can have on another person. In this way you might be helping to create the loneliness you fear.

Before you unleash destructive criticism at loved ones, try to recognise whether you might be finding fault due to your own feelings of discontent, and not because others have truly let you down. At the moment you could be inclined to feel rather sorry for yourself, and may imagine that you have done all the giving while others are selfish and self-absorbed. You have probably tended in the past to fall into such aggrieved, self-pitying moods, and may alienate loved ones because whatever they do they cannot seem to get it right. This tendency to demand perfection in love may be an instinctive attempt to redress experiences of neglect, rejection or conditional love in your early life. A perception of others' insensitivity during this time may be a deeply subjective and somewhat distorted interpretation. If you experience separation or loss because a partner, lover or child makes the decision to leave you, you might need to look very carefully at the events and emotional interaction of the last year. You yourself may have been contributing to the difficulties. You may also try to alleviate feelings of unhappiness through finding a new partner who can provide the kind of superhuman devotion which, deep down, you are probably seeking at the moment. Be very careful in any new relationship you form at this time. Loneliness and desperation may distort your judgement, and you may wind up jumping out of the proverbial frying pan into the fire. It might be better to endure a period of aloneness, until you know more about yourself. You may need to face the fact that certain long- standing relationships may no longer be viable - for you as well as for the other person. Be careful not to blame others for all your feelings of depression, isolation and unhappiness, or punish them by transferring your love elsewhere. Your own expectations may need some careful reevaluating, for it is possible that you have secretly carried an ideal of perfection that no relationship could satisfy.

You could be given an opportunity to review relationship patterns that go back to your childhood, so that you can heal old hurts and change destructive ways of interacting. Deep down, you may secretly feel that you are not worthy as a person, and that you must 'do things' to earn another's appreciation. This deep mistrust of love, and of yourself, may be rooted in a difficult emotional atmosphere in your early family life. You may be perpetuating this pattern by trying to obtain guarantees of love; and at the moment you might be recognising that such guarantees cannot be provided, either by you or your loved ones. This is a marvellous chance to break free of rigid or outworn patterns, so that you can be freer to give and receive love with a real person instead of a fantasy paragon of perfection. This time may be painful, but it could prove the making of you. Try to avoid bitterness, cynicism and self-pity, and keep your pride at bay. The more willing you are to change within yourself, the happier your future will be.

Peaks and troughs

Swings from extreme optimism to extreme pessimism may characterise this period, and you may alternate between feeling you must break free and expand your life, and feeling you must resign yourself to obstructions and responsibilities which you cannot escape. There is a conflict within you which could ultimately prove extremely productive, but which at first may appear in external life as a sense that all movement is blocked - especially when you try to improve your financial situation and enjoy life's material pleasures. Just at the moment when you probably want to claim greater freedom and pursue future plans and dreams, things may seem to happen which curtail your movement. You may also find yourself feeling depressed and lacking in trust, both in yourself and in life. Your intuition may not seem to be working properly and you may feel beset by ill-luck. In the past you have probably experienced several of these bouts of pessimism, when all the negative things are exaggerated and you fail to appreciate the positive aspects of your life. This propensity for exaggerating external situations and reading more into them than they actually contain is something you may need to understand better on a psychological level, so that you don't react impulsively and make rash decisions. Try not to take feelings of depression and foreboding as indications that some doom is upon you. It isn't. But at the same time that you are discovering that you want a bigger and better life, you are probably being challenged to adapt your plans to the limits of reality. You may also have to learn to wait and build, rather than expecting life to simply produce what you desire like a rabbit out of a hat. Your pessimism may make you fail to appreciate the good things happening around you, and may also make you feel constricted by your close relationships. But it is not likely that anyone is really doing anything different; it is just that you may want more, and are discovering you cannot have it all by three o'clock this afternoon.

This is not a good time to gamble with resources you cannot afford to lose. Beware of the get-rich-quick or something-for- nothing impulse, whether in relation to money or in relation to your emotional life. Right now, nothing is for free, and you would be wise not to turn to this kind of activity as a means of alleviating your frustration. Try to consolidate what you have, but avoid risks if you can; your judgement is probably not at its best right now because it is being distorted by both your fears and your dreams. You may feel a little desperate, but desperation is no state in which to make major decisions, especially regarding your material and emotional security. Your vision of the future may be very gloomy because your intuitive faculties are not working freely; and you may seek to escape the doom-and-gloom atmosphere by overestimating what is possible. Expansion at the moment may meet with frustration, or may bring more problems than it offers solutions. Although you are probably anything but patient right now, patience may be what you need most.

Certain elements of your life may be challenged and proven to be too fragile or unreal to sustain themselves. This could apply to both your professional and personal life. If you have been in a relationship built on unreal expectations, or one which is uncongenial but helps you avoid loneliness or financial instability, it may fall apart under the pressures now placed on it. If you have been trying to sustain a business which is unhealthy at the roots, it may collapse. You will lose nothing which is built on solid ground. But factors in your life which are 10 per cent solid and 90 percent dreams may prove untenable, and you may have to let them go. You may also feel so restless that you wish to leave your present environment, and you may want to make a move to a different home, community or even country. This may be necessary and right, but try to remember that wherever you go you will take yourself with you. The conflict you are experiencing is not solely due to pressures in the environment. It is a collision between your future hopes and your human limits; and if you can work to achieve a balance between the two during this time, you can build solid foundations for all your future endeavours.

A new cycle begins

You are beginning a new chapter in your life, not only emotionally but also in your development as an individual. In the last few months you may have experienced a sense of expectancy combined with feelings of restlessness and dissatisfaction. Although no specific event may mark this new beginning, your life during the next cycle - a cycle likely to take around fourteen years to reach fruition - is likely to be coloured by new goals and ways of relating to others, and, most importantly, a new emotional perspective. The area of your development in which new seeds are being sown is your ability to express your creative ideas in fulfilling and original ways. In the past your capacity to trust your creative abilities may have been somewhat dependent on the approval of those around you - even to the point where you might have chosen creative partners, or put time and energy into your children's abilities, rather than discovering and developing your own talents. The cycle now beginning may be marked by a greater capacity to express your imaginative gifts, and by a deeper sense of trust in yourself as a unique individual.

The Years 2002 and 2003

The planets do not stand still, but continue to reflect new themes entering your life. Some planetary movements began in the preceding year and are still relevant and merit further mention; others are fresh and will bring you many new experiences during this period.

Visions of a bright future

This is likely to be a time of mental expansion and restless energy, when you can broaden your understanding of life and open your thinking to an inclusive and universal perception of life. Your thinking is likely to be particularly creative during this period, because you are able to understand facts as well as perceiving the connections between them. This can allow you to develop a deeper and more complex world-view, based on a recognition of interlinked meanings and concepts. Although travel and learning new languages might be attractive and constructive ways of utilise the energy of the time, an exploration of new ideas is also important - especially ideas which in some way relate to a religious, spiritual, or philosophical overview of life. You may also feel it is the right time to expand or enhance your financial resources, especially if this involves following hunches and trusting your intuition about new opportunities. During this time you may be able to synthesise apparently diverse spheres of knowledge, in order to get a wider picture of the world as well as of your own life.

You are likely to feel very optimistic, because your ideas as well as the emotional tone behind your thinking is receiving an injection of positive and forward-looking energy. You may tend to view long-term difficulties and problems with an unusually hopeful and confident attitude, because you can see beyond the immediate situation to the potential learning experience inherent in it. Even if you are having to face uncomfortable issues in your emotional life, your mental attitude is likely to be strong and positive. This can allow you to turn even painful confrontations to positive advantage. Because you probably believe everything will turn out for the best, you may be inclined to be tolerant and receptive to others' points of view. Since such an attitude is likely to win support from them, things in the main will probably turn out well right now because your own attitude is likely to have an enormous effect on the choices you make. On the deepest level, this is not merely an enjoyable time. It can also teach you the very real power of positive thinking, which can break through even the stubbornest of life's impasses.

The reality of the psyche

You may gain considerable insight into the deeper levels of life right now, and you may find that you can see through the superficial levels of human speech and behaviour to the motives and patterns hidden beneath. Your thinking is probably trenchant and penetrating right now, and you are not likely to be fooled by sentiment, deception, or idealisation. This could be an excellent time to pursue psychological knowledge, both of yourself - through some kind of counselling or therapeutic work - and of others. Your attitudes and world-view are changing radically, although gently and subtly. Your perceptions may be highly complex and you may see subtleties which you might previously have missed. And you may also experience profound realisations about your attitudes toward money and security, and the real nature of your resources and talents.

The only difficulty which this deep change in mental attitudes might provoke is an intense feeling of loneliness, because others cannot see what you see. For a while you may feel impatient with superficiality and annoyed by hypocrisy, and you may find it increasingly hard to communicate with those who, not long ago, were perfectly satisfactory intellectual companions. Truth isolates, especially truth of a psychological kind; and you may find that certain people close to you are threatened or disturbed by the fact that you can see through their masks and smokescreens. This could leave you feeling a little defensive and rather mistrustful, and you may be inclined to keep your thoughts to yourself. Although you might need to be careful not to become too closed and suspicious, at the same time you may also learn how to communicate in subtle ways which do not reveal everything. Although knowing how to keep secrets can be utilised for deceptive and dishonest purposes, it is also essential in terms of preserving the integrity of relationships and respecting the privacy of others. And this positive aspect of self- containment could prove one of the most creative potentials of this time.

Pleasure in companionship

This may be a time of deep emotional contentment. You have reached a period of your life when you are able to value who you are and what you have achieved; and this increased sense of self-worth can help you to relate to others in a more open and generous way. This in turn is likely to attract the spontaneous support and affection of those around you, and you may be able to lay many old conflicts to rest and repair relationships which have been damaged in the past. You may also make new relationships which bring harmony, pleasure and companionship into your life, and this is likely to be a happy time for socialising, enjoying the company of friends and family, and taking pleasure in the beauty of the natural environment.

You may experience a time of creative productivity. Such inner serenity and confidence could heal many old insecurities and doubts, and could renew your faith in life and in yourself. Whatever difficulties you may have experienced in your emotional life in the past, over the next months you have the chance to make peace with your own and others' mistakes and shortcomings, and to establish a new level of trust and openness in all your future encounters.

Feeling raw

On the emotional level you may be experiencing a deep sense of unease. Although no external events may occur which cause such feelings, you may sense that on some profound level you have matured and reached a greater understanding of your own needs and nature; and you may find yourself in conflict with older emotional patterns which you have now outgrown, and with people with whom you have interacted according to those patterns. This is a time for some deep reflection about how you have dealt with your emotional needs in the past, and how you might need to make changes in the future. You may be particularly aware of how you might have played 'safe' in terms of worldly goals, and perhaps have focused your ambitions on those areas where you have known you would be accepted and validated by those around you. Now you may feel more confident and willing to formulate new goals which reflect your own individual skills, talents and interests. You may also be conscious of the need to make changes in your personal life, particularly in the ways in which you ask for emotional support from others and in the ways you respond to their needs. Although no dramatic events are likely to occur which shake the stability of your environment, nevertheless your increasing sense of individual boundaries may put you into conflict with those close to you. You are probably discovering that your feelings are somehow being overlooked or ignored; but initially you may not be able to express this realisation gracefully.

This period of your emotional development reflects greater emotional maturity. Every important stage of growth is generally accompanied by a conflict, great or small, with what has gone before; and this time is no exception. You are becoming more real as an individual, especially in your everyday life. For this reason the close relationships on which you have depended may be a source of friction, especially with female friends and partners, some of whom may seem to oppose the changes which you deeply need. At the moment you are in contact with your deepest capacity for self-nurturing and self-mothering. Old patterns of dependency and need, acquired in your childhood, may feel constricting because you no longer need them, but efforts to free yourself could result in anxiety or even guilt. You probably don't wish to feel dependent on others to provide the emotional validation you require. This could trigger a need to prove your independence to yourself through fighting others. You may be psychologically 'leaving home', even if you left your actual parental home a long time ago; and you are preparing to begin a new emotional life cycle, with new experiences, new contacts, and a much stronger sense of your independent identity.

Learning self-sufficiency

During this period you are likely to discover a new sense of strength, self-containment and serenity. But this process may challenge old habit patterns. You may feel as though you are carrying burdens in your personal life from which you cannot see any escape. You may also feel lonely and unappreciated, and others may seem to be insensitive, unresponsive or indifferent. However, before you descend into a trough of self- pity and resentment, you may need to recognise the nature and meaning of the process which is taking place within you. You are experiencing a period of emotional maturing which could leave you with much greater self-sufficiency, and at the moment you probably need to learn how to nourish and nurture yourself. The more you demand that others do something to make you feel better, the less likely you are to get what you want, for you are likely to be as closed to them as you accuse them of being to you. And if you try to hold on to relationships which are passing or proving unviable, you may be doing so not because you truly want and need them, but because you are afraid of being alone.

In the past, you may have depended too much on the good opinion of others to provide you with a sense of safety and security. You may also have expected too much from others, secretly hoping that they would provide a kind of parenting which could keep you protected and sheltered from loneliness and change. Now you may have to accept the fact that others cannot provide unconditional love all the time, and you may need to be able to take them as they are without becoming bitter or cynical, or blaming yourself for being unlovable. You may also need to accept your own limits, and understand that you cannot be available to everyone all the time. Learn to value yourself and look after your own well-being, for at the moment it is likely that no one is going to do it for you to the extent you might wish. If you feel burdened with the responsibility to look after someone else right now, you may need to learn to say no; or, if you cannot, then you may need to learn to delegate responsibility or find a balance which honours your own needs as well as those of loved ones.

You are probably feeling very restricted and trapped. There may be objective reasons for this; but equally, you may be trapping yourself because you find it so difficult to express what you want and don't want. You may be too frightened of being separate and causing disharmony in your emotional life. Yet if you are not honest with yourself and others right now, unexpressed anger could place too much stress on your body, or you might inadvertently alienate the very people you are so fearful of losing because your resentment may show itself in covert if not overt ways. In some ways, you cannot win right now: Your choices are between self-affirmation and the risk of loneliness, or self-suppression and the risk of long-term resentment. Whatever you do, you will pay a price; inner strength of the lasting kind does not come cheap. But ultimately honesty about who you are will reap rewards in the future, while dishonesty now will result in the same problem reappearing even more powerfully in a few years' time. If you learn to define your own needs, you may upset one or two people. You may even have to say goodbye to one or two people, or put up with a period of coolness or friction. But you will also discover that you have loyal and loving support from those who truly understand you. And if you can stand on your own feet, you will be able to enjoy relationships much more in the future because you can grant greater freedom both to your loved ones and yourself.

The Years 2004 and 2005

You are continuing to change and grow, and the ongoing cycles of the planets continue to weave their unique tapestry, not as a statement of "fate", but always highlighting those dimensions of your life which are ripe for development and expression.

Sobering up

This is likely to be a rather sober period, for you are in the process of consolidating who you are and what you want, and may not feel especially expansive or fun-loving. A deep reflective process is taking place within you, and your personality is crystallising and taking on a much more solid and defined form. Even if you have spent a lot of time in the past trying to adapt to others, now you may find that you cannot do so, for your own values, needs and personal identity may now be too real and definite to allow such compromise. In fact you are likely to benefit greatly from this process, even if you don't feel especially spontaneous or contented, because you are becoming a much more authentic person. The process itself is positive, constructive and will leave lasting benefits. The feelings, however, may not be quite so pleasant, and you may feel restricted or deeply dissatisfied in close relationships in which your increasing sense of authenticity challenges previous patterns of too much placation and self-sacrifice. You may also feel anxious that those close to you will reject you if you establish strong boundaries, and this could make you act in overly compromising ways when you are actually feeling the reverse.

You may discover great sensitivity and a need for close emotional involvement with others, and you will probably not be able to mask these qualities or hide them from those close to you, no matter how hard you try. If your loved ones can accept and accomodate these important facets of your personality, which are now crystallising and requiring more scope for expression, you will be able to enjoy a deeper sense of commitment and stability. But if you are involved in relationships in which you have maintained harmony by stifling these dimensions of your nature, you may find that certain bonds are no longer viable in your life. You may feel restricted, hurt or simply misunderstood by those around you, and may feel you have to choose between loyalty to self and dependency on others. In this sense the present time may prove difficult and challenging, for in becoming truer to yourself you may have to let go of people and situations which are not right for you. Yet if such difficulties occur, try to remember that you cannothide what you are indefinitely. The qualities you are integrating more firmly in your personality are deeply important to you, and need to be part of any relationship you enter or maintain in the future.

The importance of relationship

You may feel a powerful longing to experience closer emotional contact with others during this time, and relationships may now assume enormous importance in your life. Your usual fluidity and responsiveness may give way to a greater need for discipline and self-sufficiency, and you are likely to seek - and perhaps find - someone who seems to provide these qualities and can help you to develop them within yourself. You may have marriage on your mind; or, on a less personal level, you may feel you want to share who you are and what you can create with a wider audience. You are probably increasingly aware of the importance of others, and of the need to adjust your own attitudes and ideas in order to interact with them more deeply. On the inner level you are becoming more whole, through recognising that you are incomplete without others' intellectual and emotional input.

Your increasing awareness of the emotional reality of others could open up and enrich your personal life; but on a more profound level it could also connect you with the larger world of which you are a part. Social issues may begin to concern you more right now, and you may be conscious of your need to contribute something individual to the rest of life - not through practical efforts alone, but through a deepening empathy with other human beings. The English poet John Donne once wrote that no man or woman is an island, and you may be very aware of this great truth at the moment. You cannot develop as an individual without emotional interaction with others, for otherwise nothing you believe in or aspire to has any application to real life. You have reached the beginning of a new and promising emotional cycle, in which your inner development is deeply and inextricably bound up with the lives of others.

Conflict and tension

You are likely to be in a somewhat turbulent state. You may be acutely aware of yourself as a separate individual, but these feelings are likely to conflict with your need for harmony and closeness. Thus you may find yourself inclined to assert your ideas, feelings and desires in a forceful or even aggressive manner, while at the same time trying too hard to accomodate the needs of others. Right now, however much you may wish to please others, your primary need is to affirm yourself - not in a destructively egocentric way, but as a statement of the person you feel you have become at this stage of your life, and as a reflection of the talents and abilities you have developed. Your sense of self is deeply connected with your family background and your roots, although you may not have been fully conscious of the power of the past. At this time you may be more aware than ever of the nature of the psychological as well as material inheritance, both positive and negative, which you must integrate into your future goals and aspirations.

You may meet others who in some way epitomise a strong spirit of self-affirmation, but your attraction toward them is liable to be ambivalent and composed of a curious mixture of fascination and annoyance. This does not mean that such relationships are inauthentic or 'bad'. But you probably need to live out your own special gifts and talents, rather than turning yourself into the devoted accolyte of a charismatic or gifted personality. This is a time when you could, despite some tension and emotional unease, experience a renewed sense of confidence in who you are and what you have to offer. Try to take advantage of such feelings by developing your creative abilities as much as possible. You may discover new creative avenues which you didn't think existed, or which you were afraid to pursue because others needed your emotional time and energy. This period may not be especially pleasant on the emotional level, because you may experience internal conflict. But it is an important time because you could recognise on an emotional, not merely intellectual, level, the outlines of your unique individuality and the deeper sense of purpose which can allow that individuality its fullest expression in life.

Struggling against limits

You may be struggling hard at the moment to handle burdens which are making you feel trapped. The outer world may seem to be conspiring to keep you confined, and you may feel frustrated or depleted. Yet at the same time you are probably discovering new reserves of strength and tenacity, and may feel determined not only to prove that you can manage your load, but that you can also turn it into something constructive. You are undergoing a process rather like steel being tempered. You may be taking a bit of a pounding, but it will leave you much tougher, more realistic and better able to make your own way in life. And you could also discover a much greater sense of self- confidence if you reflect on the paradox of your situation. You are probably finding out just what you really want through having it denied you. This is often a more effective way of discovering values and objectives than any amount of idle speculation or dreaming when things are going well.

You may be intensely aware of yourself as a separate individual responsible for your own life, and this awareness could prove extremely important in helping you to use this time to lay groundwork for the future. Things are not likely to go smoothly or easily, but every inch of ground you gain, you will keep. You may experience a powerful need to affirm your identity through creating a domestic and family environment which reflects your deepest values and needs and helps you to move beyond the constrictions of your childhood and family background. At the moment something may always seem to obstruct your path when you pursue these aspirations. You may sometimes get the feeling that mysterious roadblocks are ensuring that you keep to a route not of your own choosing, but preordained by forces within or outside yourself about which you know little. And it may be that something wiser inside you is guiding you, even though the guidance may appear to come in the form of what you can't do rather than what you can. You probably do need to stand your ground at the moment, and it may be right for you to struggle to achieve a cherished goal; but this does not mean fighting against your deeper needs and nature. You may need to reflect long and deeply on what you are trying to achieve and why, so that you be sure you are fighting for something which truly matters, rather than attempting to prove that you can beat the opposition. Then you can place your strength and determination in the service of who you really are rather than on whom, in the past, others expected you to be.

This may not be a particularly good time to begin new creative ventures, because your energy and self-confidence are likely to be low. But refining skills, and finishing projects which require a period of hard and perhaps boring work, may be appropriate right now. This is also not likely to be the best time to begin a new relationship, as the people to whom you are attracted at the moment may reflect your own sense of heaviness and cynicism. If you believe that life should be hard, you may choose companions who make it hard for you, rather than those who can help you to find happiness and contentment. But working at ongoing relationships, and establishing new and more flexible roles, may prove very rewarding right now, because you are able to define yourself more clearly as an individual and can therefore be more honest with your partner. You may need to consolidate what matters to you, but you may also need to relinquish situations or relationships which are proving to be wrong for you. This is a period of weeding out, battling on, and coming to know yourself and your strengths and limits on much deeper levels. Try to have patience. Any feelings of weariness and hopelessness you experience are subjective, and the time of stress will pass. You are really fighting to discover who you are and what you want from life. Try to be clearer about this before you make major decisions. The more patient and calm you are inside, the better you will feel, physically and emotionally, and the sounder the groundwork will be that you build for the future.

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Chapter IV

Your Generation Group

You are an individual, unique and special, yet you are also part of a vast human family which shares the same hopes, aspirations, and needs. Between these two extremes - the individual and the collective - you also belong to a particular age group which differs from others. The three outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, define different "generations" in terms of progressive vision, spiritual and imaginative longings, and survival instincts. The well-known "generation gap" is not caused merely by differences in age, but also by the placement of these important planets in the individual's birth chart. Your Uranus generation consists of people born within a seven-year period when Uranus moved through a particular sign. Your Neptune generation consists of people born within a fourteen- year period when Neptune moved through a particular sign. And your Pluto generation consists of people born within anything between an eighteen-year and a thirty-year period (Pluto's orbit is irregular) when this outermost planet moved through a particular sign.

The generation with Uranus in Leo

Because Leo is a sign concerned with self-expression and the importance of individual creativity, the innovative quality of Uranus marks you and those of your age group with a strongly autocratic and self-assertive attitude toward all matters which touch on your personal self-expression. You may find it hard to join with the crowd, especially if this means compromising your ideals, and you may have experienced a certain amount of conflict with family members, educational authorities, or anyone, for that matter, who expects you to conform and stifle your independent outlook in favour of the group. Even if this deeply inspired and self-determined quality is at odds with other, more adaptable qualities in your personality, nevertheless there will be times when you simply cannot deny the inspired vision which makes the world seem a potentially brighter, more dramatic and more exciting place than collective opinions might tell you it is. Don't be afraid to be loyal to your inner dreams when it's really important, and don't neglect your creative potentials, however much pressure the material world places on you; for you can draw great rewards from this quality of romantic vision and inspiration which you share with your Uranus age group.

Certain cherished ideals about how life "ought" to be may now be challenged, and you have the opportunity to look carefully at your beliefs and find a way to weed out those which are unrealistic, impossible, or simply the product of personal rebelliousness or self-will. At the moment your entire Uranus generation is being challenged in this way, and this could help you to understand your connection with the age group into which you have been born, and the ideals which you share with them. Yours is a fiery and self-willed generation, and you may now need to learn more about how deeply interconnected you are with others. Some disillusionment with others or with the world in general may trigger a certain amount of soul-searching, and you may feel you need to let go of attitudes which are no longer tenable or which do not stand the test of experience. This is an essentially positive process, although you might feel a certain amount of inner resistance against accepting the ordinary limits of human nature and human emotions. It is an excellent time to re- evaluate all your beliefs - spiritual, political, and social - and to look at where you may need to combine idealism with a greater compassion for human fallibility. The result could be a much stronger commitment to those ideals which stand the test, and a deeper feeling of belonging which links you with those who share your vision.

... with Neptune in Libra

Neptune moved through Libra between 1942 and 1957, and you, in common with those born during these years, are one of the world's dyed-in-the-wool romantics. Because Neptune symbolises the dreams and redemptive longings of an entire generation, you, in common with your age group, look to a dream of perfect love, perfect beauty, and a perfect society as the vision which gives your life meaning and communicates to you the reality of a transcendent dimension of life. Sadly, all dreams of perfection are doomed to some compromise in this weary old world, and it is likely that you have had your share of disappointments and disillusionment as you have pursued your ideal loves and your ideal political or spiritual philosophy. No doubt you have found the individual resources to cope with these disappointments, which are due more to your high expectations than to your or other people's personal failings or mistakes. Consciously or unconsciously, you share the hope of a perfect world with all those born during the 14-year transit of Neptune through Libra, the most idealistic and perfectionist of all the zodiacal signs. This transit began toward the end of the Second World War, and in part reflects the dream of peace which arose out of the suffering and sorrow of that conflagration. But even if there is a deep core within you which sometimes gets bruised when life, and people, turn out to be less civilised than you had hoped, your dream of beauty and harmony will never die, and you will go on seeking it wherever you can catch glimpses of it. This profound idealism gives you a gentle, refined spirit and a recognition of all that is beautiful in life. More than any other generation, yours is capable of recognising the beauty hidden within even the most difficult and unprepossessing of situations. Such a gentle and enlightened spirit is worth whatever disillusionment you may encounter along the way.

Your imagination and openness to the realm of the spirit may be strongly activated right now, and important inner experiences may give you a profound sense of connection with something higher and deeper that infuses your life with meaning. You may be unusually inspired in creative pursuits, and if you are an artist you may find this time particularly rewarding because you are able to touch a very deep level in others as well as yourself. This is in part because you are particularly receptive to the dreams and aspirations of your Neptune generation group, and the longings which stir your soul are also stirring many others of your age group. Spiritual pursuits may hold a strong appeal, and you may feel deeply connected with all those who share your ideals and long for your particular vision of perfection and peace. These subtle changes are not likely to herald or be precipitated by big, dramatic events. But they are important nonetheless, and to get the most from them, it might be helpful to listen to the inner voice which draws you into creative or mystical pathways. You are also likely to meet like-minded souls with whom you can share your dreams as well as your vulnerability, and this could offer you a deeply healing sense of belonging to a greater whole.

... and with Pluto in Leo

Pluto moved through Leo from 1937 to 1958, and you are one of the group of people born with the planet placed in this fiercely independent, self-expressive sign. Although you are a unique individual with an individual birth chart, this placement of Pluto means that on the basic survival level you share certain responses to life with others of your generation group. And what intense responses they are! Whatever might be happening in the world, those born with Pluto in Leo are determined to be individuals, whatever the cost. This might not be something you are especially concerned about when times are quiet. But when crisis strikes, or when your life is in upheaval, there is a fiery core within you which insists that your vision, your values, your dreams and your unique identity matter. You are not prepared to lie down and sacrifice your life potentials just because others think you should. The Pluto in Leo generation has been called "the ME generation" by those who either cannot or will not give such value to self-expression and the importance of becoming a unique individual. Yet despite the envy of those born in earlier generations, this does not mean you are "selfish". The impetus of Pluto in Leo toward self-expression is not really concerned with pleasing yourself or being insensitive to others' feelings. It is a profound unconscious knowledge that each person has a special destiny and purpose in life, and unless you can discover this, nothing can ever be really rewarding. It is a paradox that an entire generation shares this collective sense of being unique - but that is what characterises you and your age group.

Some upheaval is likely in your life right now, but it is undoubtedly necessary change which is long overdue and which could free you to pursue a much more interesting and inspiring future. You are entering a new chapter of life, when you need to let go of certain attitudes from the past and try out new possibilities and potentials which you would not have thought feasible in the past. You are also likely to discover new inner resources of strength and resilience which allow you to take chances on things you might always have wanted but never before had the courage to try. These resources are not yours alone; they are part of the inner gifts of your Pluto generation, and many others are being challenged, like you, to affirm their deepest emotional loyalties. Don't cling to the past. You have outgrown certain situations or attitudes and although no human being likes to face the unknown without guarantees, you may well discover that the only real guarantee is your own inner toughness and survival instincts. This period could help you to build a deep and enduring self-confidence which arises not from dependency on external structures, but on a profound inner knowledge of your gifts and strengths, which you should have many new opportunities to discover and utilise.

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Chapter V

What is happening in your environment

The changes which are occurring around and within are likely to have specific repercussions in the country in which you are currently residing, and while you may not be directly involved in these changes, nevertheless they may affect you in subtle ways.

(Note: If you wish to read the text for another country than chosen above, please read the hint at the end of the Appendix).

The national chart of Switzerland

In the horoscope for Switzerland, Pluto, as it moves through Sagittarius, will reflect extremely important shifts in the nature of the structure of government and the role the country plays in the world. This may be reflected in an increased involvement with the European Union, which, if it occurred, would inevitably involve major changes in many areas of Swiss life. Whether or not you favour these changes personally, they are a reflection of a larger global trend toward broader horizons and increased communication and interaction between nations as well as between individuals. The ultimate results are likely to be extremely positive, although some conflict and resistance are probably inevitable. Switzerland's Sun is placed in the versatile, shrewd, orderly, and cautious earth sign Virgo. The dynamic energies of Neptune and Uranus moving through socially innovative Aquarius and Pluto through visionary Sagittarius are likely to be met initially with some anxiety and mistrust. Yet although some of the changes may seem to fly in the face of tradition and the values of the past - for Pluto also affects that aspect of the Swiss chart concerned with security and stability rooted in the structures of the past - it may be that the time has arrived for renewal and a moving toward the future with optimism rather than a sense of victimisation or oppression. And as Uranus moves through Pisces the immensely imaginative and creative qualities of the Swiss may be expressed through new artistic channels which are increasingly made available to a world community.
(Data used: 12 September 1848, 11.12 am LMT, Bern)

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CONCLUSION

"No man is an island," wrote the English poet John Donne, and the planetary configurations over the next few years bear witness to this profound truth. We are living in an epoch when our relations with each other as part of a human family are changing our definitions of reality and providing the basis for the coming generations to perceive life in a more global and inclusive way than ever before. All births involve some struggle and suffering, and only the very naive could assume that such major changes in spiritual, social, technological and scientific spheres as we are experiencing now can flow smoothly and without pain or sacrifice. However, we are not "pawns on the chessboard of the gods". It is up to each individual to take the astrological configurations of the new century and work with what they symbolise in as conscious and constructive a way as possible. No planetary aspect is intrinsically "bad", and even those which reflect a time of personal questioning and conflict can yield positive results that enhance life.

The juxtaposition of the changing of an Astrological Age with the changing of the human calendar into a new Millennium provided, and continues to provide each one of us, with enormous challenges. At worst, we may do what human beings have always done - seek our redemption through external political and spiritual authorities, blame our difficulties on others, and refuse to take responsibility for our own individual choices and dilemmas. At best, we may take advantage of the placements of the slow-moving planets in dynamic fiery and airy signs to expand our vision, recognise the larger whole of which each of us is a part, and make the best individual contribution possible to that larger human unity. There is an old saying that charity begins at home - that is to say, within. Change, too, begins within, and living the dynamic spirit of these times in a creative way means, first of all, living it in one's own life in one's own way, according to one's own highest values. If each of us were able to do even a little of this, then we might truly see that giant's step in human progress of which the planetary placements now stand as a symbol and a goal.

APPENDIX

Suggested further reading

On planetary cycles and movements:
�The Gods of Change� by Howard Sasportas (transits of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto)
�Transits: The Time of Your Life� by Betty Lundsted
�Planets in Transit� by Robert Hand

On individual planets and their meaning:
�The Astrological Moon� by Darby Costello
�Venus and Jupiter� by Erin Sullivan
�The Inner Planets� by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas
�The Luminaries� by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas
�Exploring Jupiter� by Stephen Arroyo
�The Outer Planets� by Liz Greene
�Saturn� by Liz Greene
�Neptune� by Liz Greene
�Chiron and the Healing Journey� by Melanie Reinhart

On the subject of fate:
�Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principl� by C. G. Jung
�The Astrology of Fate� by Liz Greene

Other Astro*Intelligence reports written by Liz Greene can enhance the value of this report, because the greater your understanding of yourself, the more intelligently you can work with the meaning of the time. For an in-depth analysis of your birth horoscope, you can order the Psychological Horoscope Analysis. The Horoscope Career and Vocation will be very helpful to plan and develop your professional career. For deeper insight into your relationships, the Relationship Horoscope can offer a new perspective. And for a greater appreciation of the unique personality of your child or of your own childhood, you can order the Child's Horoscope.

A more detailed analysis of your personal perspectives and inner soul themes for a period of 12 months is offered by the Yearly Horoscope Analysis. This report contains some of the same text material as you find in chapter III of the Long-Term Horoscope, but because it focuses on only one year, it is much more detailed.

You can order these reports at the same sales point from which you received the report you are reading or from one of many other licensed distributors in many countries of the world.

On the Internet, you will find more information about these reports and other valuable astrological services at the web address given on the front page of this report or by searching for the keywords "astro*intelligence" or "Liz Greene".

Technical Information

In order to create your Long-Term Horoscope, the following astrological factors have been examined:
- the transits of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto through signs and houses and their most important aspects to the natal chart,
- major progressed aspects of the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, MC, Mercury, Venus, and Mars to natal planets and angles.
- the Saturn transits which are important for inner development,
- the transits of outer planets over typical generation placements.

The report which results from these considerations is assembled from selected interpretation text sections. As the Long-Term Horoscope covers a period of six years, only the most important constellations are included in the printed report, only those selected by Liz Greene's model of interpretation. Otherwise - with a more detailed coverage as for example in the Yearly Horoscope Analysis - the report would be 200 pages long and result rather in confusion than clarification. As in all works by Liz Greene, the Placidus house system is used. In chapter III, some of the same text as in the Yearly Horoscope Analysis appears, while all other text is unique for the Long-Term Horoscope.

The transit graphics
The timing of the transits and progressions within the focus period of this report is visually represented by 'transit bars'. They are printed in the graphical overview on page 4 and on the bottom of each page where the interpretation of a transit or progression is given.

A transit bar begins at the moment when a moving planet enters for the first time into the orb of a natal planet, and it ends when the moving planet finally leaves the orb and does not return into it (until the next full cycle). When the planet is in orb, the bar is represented by a full line. A planet can leave the orb and return later into the orb. During this time, the bar is represented by a dotted line. A planet can change its direction of movement; when it becomes retrograde, this time is marked with 'sr' for 'stationary retrograde'. When it becomes direct again, the time is marked with 'sd' for 'stationary direct'. The moment when a transit (or progression) becomes exact is market with a little ' on top of the transit bar.

Other Country Charts

Chapter IV discusses the horoscope of the country into which this report is delivered. This may not be the country where you live or in which you are most interested. The country charts are not written individually for your horoscope, they are the same for all inhabitants of a particular country.
Currently available are the charts for about twenty countries, which cover about 99% of places where our customers live. You can request a copy of all available country charts at the same sales point from where you received this horoscope. You can also access the text in the Internet at http://www.chescat.com/services/reports.htm.
All data for national horoscopes comes from The Book of World Horoscopes by Nicholas Campion, Cinnabar Books, Bristol, 1995. Further information about the basis of these horoscopes may be found in the book.

All Reports

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