A. Clearly, you must be wondering, "Whose life am I living?" From your description, some of the most significant choices you've made have been anything but self-directed. Your potent 7th house stellium infers the powerful influence others have on you. Natal 1st house Piscean Saturn retrograde reveals the enormous challenge it has bee to set your own healthy boundaries and make choices based on what's best for you —up until now.

Currently, at 41 years old you're experiencing the classic "mid-life crisis" which occurs when transiting Uranus opposes itself.¹ The 84-year Uranus cycle equates to a long-lived life. Therefore, transiting Uranus's opposition to its natal position, which occurs between the age of 38 and 42 (depending on its speed), marks the archetypal halfway point of life, also known as the midlife crisis. This is a significant turning point for most of us, but for those of us who are part of the Uranus-Pluto generation,² Including 2° orbs, transiting Uranus opposes natal Uranus from 4/15/06-2/11/08 and natal Pluto from 5/8/06-2/26/08. The mid 1960s were politically turbulent times; baby boomers came of age in the midst of the civil rights movement and the Viet Nam war. Astrologers attribute the volatility of this period to the 145-year cycle of the Uranus-Pluto conjunction cycle (deep unrest leading to transformation of consciousness), with Saturn in opposition (existing structures resisting change). Including a 10° orb (used for natal conjunctions and transit-to-transit conjunctions of outer planets), the Uranus-Pluto conjunction began the first week of October 1961 and ended in the middle of October 1969. The exact conjunctions occurred 10/9/65, 4/4/66 and 6/30/66 at the 17th & 18th degrees of Virgo. Read more about the significance of this cycle in Chapter 3 of Dane Rudhyar's online book, Astrological Timing: The Transition to the New Age written in 1969. You can also use the Search Ask Astro-Coach box at the top of this page to find other examples of those born with a natal Uranus-Pluto conjunction. this is a wake up call of the highest magnitude. The impact is even more powerfully exaggerated for those, such as yourself, born at the Saturn opposition and/or with personal planets in strong aspect to the conjunction (such as the conjunction of your Sun to this intense natal configuration). Uranus also rules your Aquarius Ascendant, all of which indicates the urgency of your need to stake your claim for a life that is in alignment with your true nature!

First house Saturn retrograde in Pisces indicates one who naturally relies on externals for identity—such as an advanced degree, or one's role as wife or mom, or choosing a career to please a father whose approval is always elusive. Compounded by Saturn's opposition to the powerful 7th house stellium, you attract strong people into your life who think they know what's best for you (whether spoken or unspoken) and you naturally fall comfortably into a role of their choosing—comfortable until the entire opposition is shaken up—as transiting Uranus is doing now!

The current ongoing opposition between transiting Saturn and Neptune is also impacting your chart. You are experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime transit of Neptune over your Ascendant, which often produces an identity crisis, and which can ultimately lead to discovering ones true calling. Neptune breeds confusion which transforms into clarity as you give yourself over to that which inspires you, trusting that in the process, you will not lose anything or anyone that truly belongs with you. Your challenge now is to transform your doubts, both in your own process and in the Divine, into faith.

At the same time, transiting Saturn (reality check) is moving through your 7th house of marriage imploring you to be realistic and honest to yourself and your husband. How can you be pragmatic about the problems in your marriage and work to resolve them in a way that allows you to remain true to yourself? This will take time as Saturn slowly trundles through your natal 7th house planets over the next several years. Think of it as a process of unfolding.³ Including 2° orbs, transiting Neptune conjoins natal Ascendant from 2/21/06-12/10/08, and transiting Saturn conjoins natal Descendant 8/31/06-6/26/07, natal Mercury 7/26/07-8/27/07, natal Sun 9/5/08-6/23/09, natal Uranus 9/13/08-7/8/09, natal Pluto 9/20/08-7/18/09.

Currently, at the Last Quarter Square phase of the Progressed Lunation Cycle,⁴ You entered the First Quarter Square phase of the Progressed Lunation Cycle on 7/18/06, and you enter the next major phase, the Balsamic Phase on 12/4/09. Learn more about this important cycle in A Brief Overview of Dane Rudhyar's Approach to Cycles (TMA, Feb. 1998), by Nicki Michaels and The Lunation Cycle: A Key to the Understanding of Personality, by Dane Rudhyar. all of the described transits fall within the context of a "crisis in values," a time when you're naturally reconfiguring what's important to you, so that you can bring the reality of your life into alignment with that which holds meaning for you. No wonder you feel yourself at a critical turning point!

If you speak from your heart to your husband about your need to develop your worldly presence; your need to create a life separate from that of house mom, might he be able to hear you and support you? Your husband's Venus in Cancer may be traditional, but it's also extremely caring. And his Capricorn Moon is in the same sign as yours, showing a powerful resonance at a profound level. Don't underestimate his ability to transform; love is a powerful motivator. What do you need to shift within yourself in order to speak your truth to him—not from a place of fear, but out of anticipation of an exciting future for yourself and your family?

And what about you? Can you imagine creating a career that suits you while still honoring your role as wife and mom? Call upon your 9th house (philosophy and prophecy) Mars-Neptune conjunction (faith and mystical inclinations). This powerful and imaginative conjunction trines natal Saturn and sextiles your 7th house stellium, indicating the potential for integrating your natal opposition. Envision your new career, with your husband's acknowledgment, and your kids healthy and you busy and fulfilled. If you can imagine it, you have a much better chance of gaining your husband's support and manifesting that fulfilling life. Ask yourself, "What is fulfillment?" as you visualize your new life. The imagination inherent in this strong Neptune period will help this process greatly.

As for your career conundrum, it doesn't have to be either/or. Either therapy or coaching can be blended into an astrological career. Coaching is a valuable way to help healthy and productive individuals who want to change their lives. A coach enables a client to identify a new life direction, and then provides ongoing support through the process of change.

In California it is much more time efficient and less costly to become a certified life coach than a licensed therapist and in fact, a number of therapists are becoming coaches. I suggest that you conduct some informational interviews with therapist-astrologers and coach-astrologers to learn more about the pros and cons of each.⁵ Some therapists who have successfully melded astrology into their practice are Liz Greene and Greg Bogart. My specialty, as you probably realize, is melding an astrology practice with life coaching. At the same time, investigate the type of astrological education that will serve your career goals. Consider how you'd blend your astrological skills with either coaching or therapy.⁶ Check out Kepler College and the NCGR Professional Empowerment Program. I'm a Mentor in that program and in that capacity I coach new astrologer/coaches to develop successful practices.

This is potentially a dynamic and exciting time for you—the planets are propelling you onto your Path. If you can imagine the life you want to lead, there's a very good chance you can make it happen. Do all you can to create an ally out of your husband and become an amazing role model for your kids. Beyond that, begin to live the impressive potential shown in your birth chart, feel empowered for it and, above all, enjoy the ride.

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