A.  Yes, there is hope. Although it’s true that your chart shows romantic challenges, it also embodies the possibility of romantic fulfillment, and I sense that you’re further along the path than you realize.

Having recently crossed the threshold from youth into the wisdom years, as transiting Uranus opposed itself,¹ Including a 2° orb for all outer-planet transits, transiting Uranus opposed natal Uranus from April 21, 2002 to February 9, 2004. Uranus’s cycle around the Sun is 84 years. Depending on the speed it travels, Uranus opposes its natal position between the ages of 38 and 42 years. This marks the midlife crisis, the beginning of the second half of life (wisdom years). and with stimulating current planetary activity, you’re in the perfect position to turn your challenges into assets, as your years of internal work begin to pay off.

Here are some tips: Your 3rd-house Scorpio stellium, with Mars leading the pack and a close Neptune–Sun conjunction, implies the predisposition to fall in love with the potential you sense in a man, ignoring reality. By now, you surely realize that a kiss won’t turn a toad into a prince. Let wysiwyg² wysiwyg stands for "What You See Is What You Get." be your motto in matters of love, applying doubly to men in your age group (over 40) whose patterns are usually quite well established.

The Sun–Neptune conjunction may also produce the “shape-shifter” effect, where you (consciously or unconsciously) redesign yourself to fit your love interest’s ideal, losing yourself in the process and ultimately losing the relationship. when transformed, your 3rd-house Sun–Neptune conjunction (inspirational thinking) can manifest as the capacity for creative visualization. Ground your vision by actually writing down the qualities you want in a life partner. Keep revising your list until you find your true love. You can have the relationship you long for. The power of faith (Neptune) helps to attract it to you. Write affirmations to overcome doubt (also Neptune). Hold the intention that you will attract the right partner.³ Want more specific advice about how to attract love into your life? Read Calling in The One: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life, by Katherine Woodward Thomas, Three Rivers Press, 2004. Curious about the power of intention? See the film What the Bleep Do We Know? Harnessing your 3rd-house planets in this way is powerful.

The shape-shifter tendency is supported by your Libra stellium (including the Moon, Venus, and Mercury in the 2nd).⁴ A stellium is defined here as a cluster of three or more planets closely related by sign or house. Astrologers differ in their use of this term; some consider a stellium to be five or more planets (Nicholas deVore, Encyclopedia of Astrology, Littlefield, Adams & Co., 1976), although others define it more loosely, as I do (Fred Gettings, The Arkana Dictionary of Astrology, Arkana, 1990).You’re a really nice person who doesn’t like to disappoint anyone and a natural romantic who wants to believe that there’ll be a “happy ever after.” Even if your partner’s words and his deeds are not in alignment, you may excuse the discrepancies. But don’t allow others to take advantage of you.

Define your boundaries (5th-house Jupiter–Saturn square Venus–Mercury) and, most importantly, claim your power (Pluto rising). Overcome the "Ms. Congeniality" Libran tendency; let your Pluto Ascendant connect you to your inner strength. Risk being true to yourself above all else, and don’t be anyone’s pushover.

Live your values because, without them, life has no pizzazz. Your Libra Moon trine 5th-house Jupiter and the Part of Fortune in the 11th shows the benefits of connecting to those with whom you resonate, leading to friendship and even love.

With enigmatic Pluto in Virgo rising and the predominance of your planets beneath the horizon (an internalized rather than externalized personality), you may be more of a mystery to men than you realize. Show up fully and reveal your true feelings. This may scare some people away — but only the ones you don’t want anyway.

With transiting Uranus stimulating your angles (restructuring relationship and security patterns) and solar-arc Ascendant conjoining natal Venus (ready for love),⁵ Including 2° orbs, transiting Uranus squares the Midheaven–IC from March 9, 2005 to December 30, 2006 and conjoins the Descendant from May 11, 2005 to February 26, 2007; transiting Saturn sextiles natal Venus from September 23, 2006 to July 21, 2007. Including 2° orbs, the solar arc IC conjoins natal Saturn from April 22, 2004 to March 27, 2008, and the solar arc Ascendant conjoins natal Venus from November 13, 2005 to August 2, 2010. The progressed Moon conjoins the natal Midheaven on December 11, 2006. someone who rocks your world just might show up. Near the end of 2006, keep your eyes and heart open, as transiting Saturn sextiles natal Venus, the progressed Moon crosses the Midheaven, and the solar-arc IC conjoins your natal 5th-house Saturn, all indicating an inner readiness for deep and lasting connection. Meanwhile, reflect upon this: "What does it take to stand fully in my power?" Transform your relationship to the world while holding the intention of attracting your soul mate.