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Optimum Child Example Report

Childhood is a time filled with promise. A new life, fresh beginnings and — for parents and teachers — it’s the ultimate challenge. How many times have parents wondered why kids don’t come with instruction manuals? There’s a secret: they do!

Each person is born on a certain day at a special time and a certain spot on the surface of the globe. Astrologers use this information to chart the positions of the planets at the date, time and place of birth. At the birth moment, and when viewed from the birthplace, the pattern of the Sun, Moon and planets is something that will never be repeated in quite the same way. This unique pattern forms a person’s natal chart or horoscope.

The natal chart is a symbolic map of a person’s unique potentials, drives and needs. A sort of "cosmic guidebook," it can give someone perspective on his or her own being, and it can also help others better to understand that person. The report that you are reading now is specially designed to help anyone who is raising or teaching a child. Unlike a regular horoscope interpretation, it shows how the symbolism of the chart is likely to work out during the earlier stages of human development, from babyhood to adolescence. Children change rapidly, and, in the process of becoming themselves, they need special love and guidance. Hopefully this report will give you a few hints and insights that will help you to appreciate this child’s unique qualities and help them to blossom as the child grows.

Basic Underlying Personality Traits
Just as there are layers of personality, there are several layers in an astrological chart. The building blocks of the chart are the planets, signs and houses. You’ll see these terms scattered throughout this report. In a nutshell, the planets (plus the Sun and Moon) represent specific energies and drives. These drives each have a different purpose in the developing personality. The twelve signs of the zodiac represent qualities, characteristics and traits. The houses (the twelve divisions of the chart wheel or circle) symbolize the facets of a person’s life. In the drama of life, the planets represent the actors, the signs show the roles the actors play, (including their mannerisms, costumes and props), and the houses show the setting and scene of the play.

Diana’s Balance of Elements and Modes
There’s another layer, too. Each sign represents the energies of one of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air or Water, and the way these elements are balanced in a birth chart reveals a great deal about the person’s basic personality. To find the balance of elements, we tally up the zodiacal signs of the Sun, Moon and other important points in the chart.

Doing this for Diana’s chart, we see a rather even balance of Fire, Earth, Air and Water. This suggests that she may have a well-rounded approach to life and the people in it. There can be an ease in relating to all sorts of situations, and a general comfort in changing circumstances. This balance of elements can also indicate that Diana has the capacity to be especially tolerant and accepting.

Also, besides being one of four elements, each sign is also Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable. These astrological modes (or action models) determine how a sign manifests its energy. In the case of Diana’s chart, there is a healthy, rather even balance between Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable signs. This means that Diana is likely to get along with all sorts of people. This balance can be especially helpful when she has to deal with difficult situations, changes or unfamiliar circumstances.

The Moon Sign and Early Personality Development
Although most people are more familiar with the concept of the Sun sign, during the earliest years a child expresses the qualities of the Moon sign more. That’s because the Moon tells the story of feelings and pure emotion. So, during Diana’s early childhood you might see more qualities that relate to her Moon sign. Expressing the Sun requires more self-awareness, and that develops later.

Diana’s Moon in Aquarius can be seen in her love of sociable and mentally stimulating circumstances. She can have an especially profound mental and intuitive tie with Mother. Also, friendships will be important, even at an early age. Diana needs room to develop self-reliance and independence, and probably has an intuitive sense of how to get help if needed.

Keep in mind that Diana is not a blank slate! Though these drives are basic ingredients in her developing personality, it is up to family and teachers to nourish and support these drives. In this way, they can help Diana to make the most of the special gifts that have been given to her.

The Sun Sign and Ego Development
The sign of Diana’s Sun will show how she might like to be perceived, what she needs in order to feel motivated toward achievement, and what makes her feel significant and special in the world. This aspect of a child’s personality tends to become more apparent after the earliest years, as the full expression of the ego takes some time to develop. However, even early on, Diana is likely to show at least some of the qualities of her Sun sign.

In Diana’s case, childhood years may be long-remembered, since her Cancerian Sun stimulates a special fondness for family and the associated experiences that identify family ties. As a baby, Diana prefers close physical contact. Finding the familiar comforts of Mom, Dad and siblings particularly soothing, she may be fussy in the presence of strangers. Even as a toddler, she may dislike being separated from family or home, and may be especially clingy when Mom needs to leave for work or errands. If there’s a safe, comfortable substitute, however, Diana can just as readily seek shelter in that familiarity. (Mother doesn’t always know this as she walks away to the sound of sad whimpers.)

During elementary-school years, attachments to teachers are the norm. Nevertheless, working with parents on school projects can be the stuff that makes lifetime memories for this child. When friendships grow strong, Diana will also want to invite playmates to share family gatherings. During preteen years as hormonal changes flood her with unfamiliar emotions, Diana can be especially moody. More than for most children, it’s important during these years to be especially accepting and understanding, and to maintain open lines of communication.

How Diana Deals with the Outer World
Another prevailing quality that’s likely to emerge in Diana’s early years is shown by the astrological sign on her Ascendant, also known as the rising sign. The Ascendant and the First House will signify Diana’s physical appearance and how other people view her. Most of us have our self-image shaped by what other people tell us about ourselves. The Ascendant represents Diana herself, her basic attitudes, and how she presents herself to the world. It also shows what kind of environmental conditioning will shape her developing personality.

With Sagittarius rising, Diana’s enthusiasm and free-spiritedness will shape the view that others have of her. Diana may love to travel and may seem always to be in a hurry ("Are we there yet?"). Grandparents instill a sense of adventure, and are likely to be seen as early mentors.

Nurturing Intellectual and Physical Development
Parents naturally watch for the signals that indicate a child’s intellectual and physical progress. From baby’s first words to performance in school, most parents note their child’s development and keep records. Not only parents, but also teachers and other mentors need to provide the stimuli that will strengthen the mental and physical development of a child. This will help the child to master the experience of learning.

There are many factors involved in intellectual development. These include memory, judicial thinking, decision-making, speculative thought, and creativity. They also include the ability to conceptualize and communicate, and to apply rational thought to real-world situations.

In order to be whole, a child must achieve a balance between the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual parts of the self. Only then can the power of the intellect be used to its utmost. Otherwise, the mental capacities are likely to be overemphasized or misdirected in order to compensate for underdevelopment in another area.

Diana’s Style of Absorbing Information
An important factor to consider in developing Diana’s intellect is the individual nature of her thought patterns. The Moon in Diana’s birth chart reveals the way that she will store her unique experiences in the vaults of her subconscious mind. Besides being the emotional storage-house, the Moon will also show the manner in which Diana absorbs information.

With the Moon in an Air sign, Diana is likely to think in a more abstract manner and to be at home with concepts like logic, mathematics and music. Also, for her, social interaction is likely to be a key to learning. Thus, reading can be enjoyable, especially if it’s shared.

The Moon, which can move from less than 12 to more than 15 degrees per day, was zipping along at faster-than-average speed when Diana was born. This could indicate that it’s easy for Diana to grasp new ideas quickly and to retain them extremely well. You may even observe that she seems to have a steel-trap mind.

It’s important to help Diana to find a comfortable learning pace and environment, one that encourages her to make the best use of her mind. If a learning situation allows Diana to get bogged down — for example, if she has to slow her pace to wait for others to catch up — then she may become very frustrated. Give her a chance to take the lead and help others learn. It will occupy her time and energy, and it can also help build greater tolerance for those who are slower on the uptake.

How Diana Senses and Communicates
As a baby, Diana will start to explore and learn about her personal environment through her five senses. The senses are symbolized by Mercury. Over time, Diana will use these senses in an increasingly refined manner. As her mind gains the ability to integrate more and more information, her learning will increase. Diana’s Mercury shows how she communicates her thought patterns — how she frames concepts and expresses them to others.

The years of Mercury’s heightened developmental cycle are from ages seven to thirteen, when the connections between Diana and her world will be powerfully shaped. This is when a child masters language and refines communication skills. During these years Diana is likely to project the qualities of Mercurial energy with especial strength.

Since Diana has a Cancerian Mercury, she may very well have a photographic memory. It’s easy, however, for her to confuse "what I feel" with "what I think." Also, Diana can be mentally protective, and is likely to hold back information until she‘s certain that it’s safe to speak. It therefore may be more comfortable for her to be indirect in communication.

Diana’s pioneering attitude toward learning is shown by Mercury sextile to Mars. There can be an increased enthusiasm for material that is personally interesting. While this connection can suggest a bright intellect, there can be a lazy attitude toward study. Diana may feel that since she seems to grasp ideas quickly, study isn’t necessary. This can work well in early schooling, but can be problematic in later school years if she isn’t motivated to achieve through concentrated efforts.

Creative imagination can be a gift for Diana, since Mercury in trine aspect to Neptune indicates an easy flow between the logical and the fanciful thought processes. The left and right brain hemispheres work well together, and there is little resistance to either the experiential or the rational levels of learning and expression.

The only downside to this aspect could be a lack of motivation. Diana may prefer the easiest possible route to learning, and may do best in situations where she can simply follow a pattern set by others. Given proper motivation and the development of good study skills, however, this connection can greatly enhance learning and ingenuity.

Mercury’s sextile to Pluto in Diana’s chart indicates a need to think things through very thoroughly, and it may show a strong intellectual capacity. Parents and teachers can aid this child immensely by giving plenty of room to question, probe and carefully consider ideas, while at the same time encouraging her to trust her intuition. There is a slight tendency toward compulsive thinking — something you see in early childhood as incessant questioning. Be prepared!

Mercury’s location in the Seventh House can indicate an interest in learning to communicate effectively. Also, rather than tackling material independently, Diana will probably enjoy learning in the company of others. The social aspects of education may interest her more than learning what Teacher assigns. When she’s assigned working partners at school, it’s important that she develop an ability to understand the nature of the project and of each person’s responsibilities. If she’s coupled with someone who doesn’t do his or her part or who takes over too much, Diana will lose confidence in agreements. Diana may be adept at public speaking and debate, and if at all possible should be encouraged to develop these interests.

Building Diana’s Confidence and Skills
The planet Jupiter supplies additional information about Diana’s learning styles and needs. At first, she’ll experience Jupiterian qualities through the encouragement of teachers and guides. Later, Jupiter will show how she expresses confidence, and what types of stimulation will build her learning skills.

With Jupiter in Aquarius, Diana can be especially enthusiastic about developing independence as quickly as possible. If education seems to be the way to do this, she may throw tremendous energy into accelerating her learning. Alternative or open schooling may work best, as long as some reasonable and logical steps are taken to help her maintain a sense of priorities and progress.

Whenever you’re dealing with intellectual development, it’s helpful to keep in mind that encouragement and testing are two different things. Small children don’t like to be tested — life is enough of a test for them! They do enjoy learning, but need to be encouraged to learn at their own pace. Finding that pace is one of the primary tasks of parents and teachers. Watch for signs that tell you when Diana is comfortable with a situation, and ready to push beyond it. Then stimulate that expression by setting fresh goals and opportunities to learn and to develop her mind.

Finding Fun and Encouraging Physical Development
There are many factors in an astrological chart that can indicate needs in regard to physical health. However, I feel that specific health strengths and weaknesses and their care are best dealt with using refined astrological techniques beyond the scope of this report.

One feature of childhood that we can explore here is where to find play and recreational activities that Diana would benefit from and enjoy. The planet Mars represents physical energy — the fuel that’s needed to keep the physical engine running. The placement of Mars in Diana’s chart gives helpful clues about her preferences for play and activity, including sports and achieving physical fitness.

With Mars in the Eighth House, Diana may have unusually ample energy reserves. She will enjoy activities that help build strength, skill and a sense of control over her body. Endurance sports and activities that require focus can be especially appealing.

Diana’s favorite forms of recreation and sports could include racquetball, handball, table tennis, tennis, scuba diving, aerobic dancing, yoga, gymnastics, English-saddle riding, figure skating or baseball.

Since Diana has Mars in aspect to Pluto, she may want to take physical abilities into a different realm, drawing on a deeper strength to build energy reserves. It’s important to help her to learn how to challenge others without provoking a strong or defensive response. Learning the limits of personal power can be difficult, especially if a child has been faced with any kind of abuse. When properly directed, sports can be a plus, particularly when they teach Diana to respect herself and others.

Embracing Emotional Drives and Needs
At different stages and ages, Diana will be developing different parts of herself. One reason why childhood astrology is different from adult astrology is that a child is in the process of becoming. Anyone who’s been around children knows that at some stages of development a child is especially susceptible or emotionally vulnerable, and that these needs and sensibilities change as a child matures. A baby struggles each day to deal with a difficult-to-control body, but a child in elementary school is struggling to master social relationships. Each of the planets represents a different emotional need and expression, and at certain stages of development some planetary symbols become more emotionally charged than others.

Diana’s chart illustrates her own potential emotional strengths and weaknesses, and the areas in her life where she may feel more vulnerable. It is important to explore these concepts through a lens of objectivity, since when dealing with our children’s psychological and emotional issues we’re likely to run into our own issues as well.

Diana’s Basic Emotional Makeup
Diana’s most powerful emotional needs are symbolized by the Moon. While the Moon is the primary indicator of early psychological development, its emotional needs remain with a person throughout life, continually growing and evolving.

The Moon symbolizes the reflective nature of humanity, the absorbing, subconscious mind, that reflects the needs of the soul. Even as a baby, Diana will have had a strong inner awareness of what is happening. As she grows, she’ll absorb more information and store it in her subconscious mind. Deeper awareness of her feelings will also grow.

The Moon is also the matrix from which habit patterns emerge, and so it indicates basic patterns of conditioning. These patterns are drawn from life experiences and filtered through the qualities of the Moon. Additionally, the Moon symbolizes Mother, or whoever provides nurture, comfort and security. Mother is the model for a child’s developing sense of how she will nurture and care for others, and, most importantly, of how she will nurture herself.

With her Moon in Aquarius, Diana prefers to stay away from emotional expression, and may seem rather detached. Nevertheless, she is likely to develop strong ties to friends. It is important forDiana to find a way to feel unique and special. If that uniqueness isn’t appreciated, she may become even more emotionally detached from those in her personal environment. Diana’s inventiveness should be channeled into constructive directions, though a life that is too severely structured may engender a rebellious streak. Diana may actually feel a need to travel in space, using airplanes or other spacecraft.

The position of Diana’s Moon in the Second house creates a kind of vulnerability in her feelings of personal worth. As she grows, she may be especially sensitive as she develops self-esteem. Also, it’s easy for Diana to become possessive about both people and objects. Material things can become especially important to her. Early on, she needs to learn that there is a difference between the value of a person and the value of things.

With the Moon in a square aspect to Venus, Diana may display an increased emotional vulnerability. While she can be very affectionate and caring, she may be afraid to risk leaving one situation and going on to another. This is the "having my cake and eating it too" aspect. To assure that she will be safe, no matter what, such a child can become emotionally manipulative. A need for immediate gratification can become a substitute for developing truly close bonds and fulfilling her needs in a more healthy manner. Learning to be honest about feelings can be difficult, but it is a lesson well worth learning.

Since the Moon and Mars are in opposition in Diana’s chart, she may have a tendency to feel at war with herself. Since frustration levels can reach a peak very quickly, her toddler years may be filled with outbursts of temper. Patience will be a trying lesson. As Diana grows into early social relationships, she may stir up trouble between friends if she has been hurt or feels insecure. Diana needs to be provided with healthy and positive outlets for her feelings, and as she matures will benefit from learning good sportsmanship.

Watch out: Diana may have a powerful rebellious streak. With the Moon in opposition to Uranus, she won’t respond well to unnecessary restraint and may seem a bit untamed. It’s that wildness, however, that is part of this child’s special genius.

To feel satisfied, Diana may need situations that seem risky. Some of these needs may be satisfied at an early age by physical activities such as gymnastics classes. When properly nurtured, she can learn to take risks and create changes that lead not to destruction but instead to positive transformations.

If family situations are chronically unsettled, Diana could come to feel that the only constant is change. Trying to remain independent, she might keep nurturance at bay and fail to learn trust. If this scenario plays out, emotional scars could result, making it difficult for her to get close to anyone as she matures.

Diana’s Developing Sense of Self
The development of individuality and a sense of identity is tied to the energy of the Sun, which is a major factor in determining "Who am I?" This radiance of Self will begin to emerge once Diana has developed enough mastery over basic bodily functions to start paying more attention to the outside world. It will really become focused once she‘s relating to others on a more frequent basis, especially during her school years.

Diana has the Sun in Cancer, which is described under "The Sun Sign and Ego Development" in Chapter One of this report. However, there are additional factors that color Diana’s expression and development of her Sun energies.

Diana has the Sun and Mercury conjunct, creating an intimate connection between the ego or sense of Self on the one hand, and the communication of thoughts and ideas on the other. It may be difficult for Diana to separate the two realms, with the result that she may be especially sensitive if someone criticizes or challenges her ideas. This child needs and wants to be thought of as intelligent, because in her mind, she is what she says and thinks! In classroom situations, this could create a problem when Diana makes a mistake. Feeling that the intellectual error reflects badly upon her, Diana may have diminished self-esteem.

Once Diana learns to distinguish between her ideas and her identity, she can enjoy using the abundant mental energy that this aspect can give. Encouraging expressions like story-telling, public speaking, debate and creative writing will channel her need to have her ideas recognized and will contribute greatly to her sense of self.

The Sun in trine aspect to Neptune can indicate positive uses of imagination and creativity during childhood and throughout life. There’s also a natural affinity for peace. However, this aspect is notorious for indicating laziness and lack of motivation. Diana may find it so comfortable to escape or to allow others to take the lead that she sees no reason to engage in growth-oriented risks. To become motivated, she may need positive, enthusiastic feedback from parents and teachers.

The Sun in sextile to Pluto indicates a personality that invites affirmative changes. Diana can be excited about growing through the different periods of maturation and development, and may move gracefully from one stage to the next. She is likely to see parents and authorities in a positive light, and will seek role models who project an air of control and creativity. Goals are important, but she may need assistance in developing workable goal-setting techniques.

How Diana Expresses Her Inner Feelings
Most of us are more comfortable if we can talk about our emotional experiences to someone special. A child needs to feel that it’s okay to share feelings and ideas, and that she can talk with her parents about anything. Children who aren’t given opportunities to communicate their emotional needs can develop problems communicating almost everything else.

The planet Mercury represents how we communicate. Though it isn’t traditionally linked with the emotions, its role in the expression of feelings is highly important. Mercury’s function in our lives is to link internal processes to the external world, and one of the most important links is sharing emotions.

With Mercury and Mars in contact, Diana tends to be assertive when expressing ideas, and may speak before considering the consequences. When angered, Diana is likely to use words as a weapon. Besides signifying impetuosity, however, this connection adds courage to Diana’s desire to communicate, and the tendency toward vigorous communication can be very useful in public speaking.

Early on, parents and teachers may observe a natural bent for arguing. During teen years, Diana might enjoy developing this talent through formal lessons in debating. For this child, arguments are a form of entertainment, so it’s good to encourage healthy banter.

Diana’s connection between Mercury and Neptune stimulates a need to reach into imaginative realms. For her, imaginative stories and ideas are never lacking. While magical thinking is part of childhood and should be encouraged, Diana may not like it when fantasy and reality collide! Parents can appreciate Diana’s imaginings and listen attentively to the tall tales, but they need to encourage her to tell the truth when relating actual events. If left uncorrected, those cute little "stories" told at age five can give Diana the impression that she can lie without being caught. This could lead to socially unacceptable behavior later on. Parents and family may need gently to eradicate certain childhood myths, but it’s also important that they teach Diana that imagination can be a very good thing.

With Mercury and Pluto connected in her chart, Diana may feel a compelling urgency about expressing her thoughts. This is helpful when solving mysteries or doing scientific research, but it can make honest emotional communication difficult. When there is communication, it can be irritatingly manipulative. There is also the possibility of complete silence if Diana doesn’t want to communicate. One reason could be that Diana may sometimes feel that keeping a secret is important. This could come from a fear that telling all would undermine her power.

Parents can help Diana understand that sharing ideas and feelings can actually enhance her command of the situation. But be careful: this child may have an intellectually ruthless attitude toward herself, and may feel assaulted if her ideas or thoughts are harshly criticized.

Also, it’s important for Diana to learn to accept changes in attitudes and ideas. Learning to allow others to have different ideas will go a long way toward assuring that she will be have a positive influence as an adult.

Loving and Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is another part of Diana’s psychological makeup. This is described by Venus, which also rules areas such as value systems, love, and artistic expression (which is itself an important emotional outlet). Throughout life, a person needs the Venusian energy of love from others to encourage growth on every level, including the growth of self-esteem.

Selfish behavior can be Venusian, too. In earliest years, Venus may show up mainly as Diana’s particular expression of selfishness. As Venus energy evolves, she will develop her capacity to share. After about age four, you’ll see Venus expressing in a more outgoing manner, when she may finally want to give something to another person. The full involvement of Venusian development comes during the teen years, when falling in love becomes a reality.

Diana’s Venus in Taurus bestows a strong desire to experience the beautiful side of life. She may particularly love music (especially singing), tactile activities such as working with modeling clay, and getting into nature. Encourage Diana to grow something! When it comes to expressing affection, hugs and closeness mean a lot to her. She is likely to develop close attachments to people and situations.

Diana's self-esteem is bolstered by a supportive connection between Venus and Saturn. Realistic evaluations and choices may be easy for her make, especially if parents model responsibility in their own choices and values. Diana can be comfortable expressing tender emotions, and enjoys reaching out to show affection to others. Interacting with others isn’t likely to feel threatening, even during teen years, and so she is likely to find social situations appealing. Diana can radiate a quiet sense of personal security that draws others to her. Like all children, however, she will from time to time need positive affirmation of her self-worth.

Diana’s desire and ability to include a wide range of friends in her life arises from a connection between Venus and Uranus. Diana may especially enjoy team activities and group associations, but she also has a need to stand out from the crowd. She may be the one who sets trends or begins a fashion revolution. Her need is to be different, and to let others know that being different is fantastic! Also, Diana may champion the underdog. If you’re wondering why Diana brings home the weirdest kids in the school, it’s because she can relate to them!

Spontaneous emotion is a definite possibility with a Venus-Uranus connection, and so Diana may have a powerful urge for free emotional expression. Diana’s show of love is definitely an expression of a need for unconditional acceptance.

Assertiveness and Anger
We’ve already looked at Diana’s Mars as an indicator of her level of physical energy and its best avenues for expression. Mars will also play a major part in describing her basic emotional nature.

The assertive, active, and fiery qualities of Mars show up early in a child’s development, making themselves really obvious during the period called "the terrible twos." Sometimes, when Diana is upset or hurt, her Mars will surface as anger. At other times, her Mars will show up as an attempt to test limits. Testing limits is a natural part of development, and every parent hopes that the child will be safe during those times. In adolescence, a child’s Mars may also show up as the assertive side of sexuality.

Parents face a tremendous challenge in helping a child to understand, accept and deal with this raw energy. Mars’ energy needs to be released in healthy ways, or it will surface as aggression and hostility. Parents need to teach a child that anger is a normal feeling. The important thing for a healthy adjustment in life is the way that the anger is channeled and expressed. If misdirected, the expression of Mars can be destructive and hurtful. However, as Diana learns to direct her need to be assertive and strong, she will begin to feel an increasing sense of confidence, courage and personal power.

With Mars in Virgo, Diana needs to keep those hands busy. As a baby, she may be fidgety and fussy if she‘s the least bit uncomfortable. Toddler years may find her fascinated with dexterity-building toys, puzzles, and gadgets. As she grows, art, music, dance and sports like gymnastics may help her to further her capacity for dexterity and attention to detail. Since Mars in Virgo can be excessively critical of self and others, however, Diana may need to develop patience with the process of becoming skillful. Don’t expect Diana to be neat. Keeping all those tools and toys organized may not be nearly as much fun as pulling them off the shelf and putting them to use!

The fascination with power that Diana feels is symbolized by a dynamic connection between Mars and Pluto. On the one hand, she may have a strong need to express personal power, and even in younger years she may possess a sense of omnipotence. Alternatively, she may feel powerless. It’s important to determine if this is true, especially if this child is in a situation with adults (such as a powerful father) who are especially strong.

Since Diana has a special ability to heal and regenerate, she has the potential to overcome early traumas and difficulties. In doing so, she can find positive directions for her own power, and learn to prevent others from absorbing or stealing it.

This aspect can also indicate a fear of anger, so that a child represses these feelings. Make sure that Diana has permission to express anger. She needs to learn that dealing with angry feelings when they surface is better than letting them build up and then explode like a volcano.

It’s also possible that Diana may be drawn to early sexual experimentation. Learning about the balance of power that exists in sexual situations is a difficult but necessary lesson.

It’s also important that Diana be given permission to express her own power. In order to enable that power to find positive expression, support this child’s innate need to influence or bring change into the lives of others. Teach her to find ways to help: for example, by aiding an ailing friend or relative, or nursing an injured animal back to health and freedom. Diana needs to see transformation in action. This happens around us all the time, especially when a person becomes whole following an illness. If guided, Diana’s need to change things can be harnessed to bring about positive change in the world.

Developing Diana’s Uniqueness
To find out how the qualities of ingenuity, rebellion and personal uniqueness are likely to surface in Diana’s personality, we’ll look at the planet Uranus. While these traits may be evident in a very young child, they often don’t come out until teenage years, when young people most tend to rebel against the status quo.

With Uranus in the Eighth House, Diana is likely to have a powerful connection to the inner realms. She may have strong intuitive abilities, especially involving others who are close to her. She’s also bound to be curious about what makes things work, and she‘ll probably enjoy studying nature. Expect lots of questions about birth, death and sexuality!

Because Uranus spends about seven years in each sign, its sign is likely to be the same for all or most of the children in Diana’s age group. While the signs of the slow-moving planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto don’t give much information about individual children, they do give valuable insights into the generation into which the child was born. Looking at earlier generations can be instructive, because themes that crop up in one generation tend to reappear in succeeding generations when a planet returns to the same sign. In the case of Uranus, the next entry into the same sign takes place about 84 years later.

Diana’s age group has Uranus in Leo. During the 20th century, Uranus was in this sign from around 1955 to 1962. This was a generation that stressed the importance of individuality. There was a strong tendency toward self-indulgence, and a fascination with status symbols. When carried to its extreme, this fascination created a potential for exposing the frailty of egocentric actions.

Hidden Emotional Currents
The energies of the planet Pluto may also be significant in Diana’s emotional life. Because Pluto represents our deepest reservoirs of emotional energy, its qualities are not usually openly expressed in childhood. However, when Pluto connects to a major astrological point like the Sun, Moon, Ascendant or Midheaven, Pluto’s profound level of emotional and transformational energy will be easier to see, even in a child’s early years.

It’s virtually impossible, however, for a child to direct an awareness of this energy. This is because the personal self must be well-developed before knowledge of this esoteric plane of consciousness can awaken. In fact, most adults have difficulty with this part of themselves! Although generally the energy of Pluto isn’t consciously expressed during the childhood years, it may be unconsciously felt. Pluto can represent deep-seated anxieties or fears that are, for lack of a better description, absorbed into the psyche.

The house that Pluto is in signifies the area of life where you can help Diana get in touch with a need for healing and transformational change. With Pluto in the Eighth House, Diana needs to understand why things happen as they do. She may be naturally insightful about what motivates others, and because of this awareness of what’s happening beneath the surface may be mistrustful until situations prove otherwise. Provide ample opportunities for her to explore nature or ideas. Encourage her interest in mysteries. Be available to talk about deeper feelings, and encourage Diana to trust those feelings.

Pluto takes nearly 250 years to make a complete circuit of the zodiac, and so its sign tells more about the transformational influence that Pluto will have on Diana’s whole generation. Her generation was born when Pluto was in Virgo, which occurred in recent centuries from the years 1957 to 1971. This group was saddled with the task of repairing the trauma created by previous generations. Whether the trauma was to the Earth or to the individual, there was a strong need to see the whole picture. This generation’s interests ranged from integrating holistic and alternative health techniques to simplifying lifestyles. It also arrived in time to deal with the questions posed by genetic engineering.

Expressing Emotions in the World
We’ve already talked about the Ascendant as the window-dressing or mask of the personality. At a more fundamental level, the Ascendant is the interface through which the inner person meets the outer world. Therefore, to learn more about how Diana expresses her emotional self, we should also look at whatever planets connect with her Ascendant.

Diana needs to be different, since Uranus in a supportive trine to the Ascendant stimulates individuality and ingenuity as part of self-expression. Because her mask is influenced by the desire to be unique, Diana may well be a trendsetter.

The Direction of Emotional Flow
Yet another factor that influences the emotional expression of a planet is whether it was traveling forward through the zodiac as it usually does, or appearing to move backward, as planets sometimes appear to do when they are viewed from the earth. When a planet is traveling backward, or "retrograde," it usually takes on a more inward expression.

Diana was born during one of the three periods each year when Mercury appears to move backward for a few weeks. This means that Diana’s reasoning and thinking processes are likely to be more sensitive, and that she may put more deliberation into decision-making and communicating.

Parents and teachers may feel that Diana takes too long to answer questions. It may take extra patience on their part to encourage her to communicate more openly. In fact, Diana may find it easier to write than talk. Rather than impeding the ability to communicate, a retrograde Mercury can enhance the ability to express ideas through the written word. Many notable writers have been born with Mercury retrograde, including Norman Mailer, Anne Frank, Isak Dinesen, and Henry Miller.

Diana needs to learn to trust her ability to express thoughts and ideas, and should be given plenty of opportunities to communicate. Letter writing may be a favorite pastime, and diaries can be helpful in objectifying thoughts. Mercury retrograde often leads to ingenious ideas and concepts.

When Jupiter is retrograde, its expansive energy works even better, because then the Jupiterian search for truth turns inward. Diana’s retrograde Jupiter can strengthen her personal faith, since ideals and philosophical beliefs are best developed within. Because she’s likely to work them out by herself, however, Diana’s ideals and morals may run counter to those of society at large. Writers William Butler Yeats (who wrote extensively about mystical philosophical concepts) and Upton Sinclair are among the famous people who were both born with Jupiter retrograde.

Trusting inner security is a primary lesson for any child who, like Diana, was born with a retrograde Saturn. Questions about her personal safety could cause her excessive anxiety, worry or fear when she faces new situations.

Also, having Saturn retrograde may at first make it difficult for a child to learn Saturn’s lessons of structure, direction, discipline, and the setting of priorities. Diana may innately mistrust authority, or have problems relating to the parent who provides this structure in the early years. That parent might be inaccessible to Diana, perhaps because he or she is absent, constantly working, or emotionally distant. In such a case, Diana would need to learn to go within to achieve her own sense of structure, direction and personal discipline.

Affirmations that confer a sense of confidence, achievement and personal strength can be powerful tools for this child. Once her sense of self-doubt is overcome, Diana has the potential to become remarkably self-disciplined and focused. Pianist Van Cliburn, actor Sean Connery, dancer/actress Leslie Caron and singer Dionne Warwick were all born with Saturn retrograde.

Neptune’s energy ordinarily draws us into the inner self where we dream, visualize, imagine and escape. Since Diana has Neptune retrograde, this energy becomes even more introspective. Diana’s desire to escape the ordinary world and its pressures is intensified. She may have to struggle to distinguish between physical-plane reality (what we usually think of as "real") and the world of imagination or illusion. It’s absolutely necessary that she learn the positive uses of creative imagination. Imagination should certainly be encouraged, but in ways that are constructive to Diana’s growth. Neptune’s house placement will indicate the area in which Diana needs a creative escape and how she can be effective in using her imagination. Farrah Fawcett, Yoko Ono, and Ralph Waldo Emerson are some of the well- known people who were born with Neptune retrograde.

Fostering Creativity and Spirituality
Children seem to be inherently connected to spiritual awareness and expression. Their joy in the daily discoveries of life can be infectious, and a child’s sense of wonder can bring light into everyone’s life.

A child needs very little encouragement to seek truth and embrace a sense of the divine. But it’s necessary to support this natural connection, because this can make all the difference in the child’s ability to trust herself. One of the most significant ways to help Diana awaken and touch Spirit is to foster her creativity. It’s not necessary for her to be a consummate artist, but she needs room to experiment with her creative self. The astrological factors that will particularly support her expression of spirituality and creativity include Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Neptune.

The Link from the Inner Self
In addition to being associated with education and development of the intellect, the planet Mercury plays an important role in self-expression. This is because Mercury links ideas and concepts from the inner self to the outside world. Mercury’s position in the zodiac can suggest the creative outlets and mediums that are most suitable for a given child.

To develop Diana’s Mercury-in-Cancer style of creativity in early years, you might encourage artistic play with yarn and fabrics. Early on, you could try simple projects like making potholders, and later introduce more complicated activities like weaving, knitting or embroidering. And don’t forget about incorporating play with dolls and stuffed animals, and their necessary outfits! Diana may also enjoy painting with watercolors.

Creative Expression and Artistry
Venus, which is traditionally connected with art, is of course another important part of Diana’s creativity. Venus represents beauty, an inner quality that every child needs to feel, identify and express. Venus also represents a means by which Diana can experience and express her feelings. While the Moon represents feelings, Venus can give voice and material expression to them.

Since Diana has Venus in Taurus, she may have a wide range of talents and creative interests in music. Her favorite form of musical expression may be singing. A love of nature’s beauty could inspire creativity with flowers, as in gardening or flower arranging. The earthy, sensual qualities of Venus in Taurus can stimulate expressions like making pottery or using clay in other ways. Painting and drawing might also be enjoyable, and there may be talent in jewelry design. Diana could also become a first-class cook, perhaps specializing in confection-making. Whatever expressions are considered, the important thing is to encourage Diana to explore those that feel good to her heart.

In addition, Diana’s Venus is in the Fifth House, which means that Diana has a powerful need to dramatize her talents. For her, artistry needs to be fun, and should give her a chance to show off, at least a little! Play- acting can be especially enjoyable, so that she might truly enjoy school or community performances as a way to express herself. If music is a particular leaning, then musical performance, either solo or with a group, might be the best avenue.

Fortunately for Diana, an easy trine connection between Venus and Saturn shows an ability to appreciate and use discipline and structure as part of her creative or artistic development. Whatever her particular interest, a loving, supportive teacher or guide can be just what is needed to confer the confidence and strength she needs while developing skills and techniques.

Diana’s sense of structure and value can help her to determine when it’s appropriate to perform or express creative ideas. It may also lead to an appreciation of classical art forms. There is also a strong sense of the business end of the arts, and an early understanding that things that are done well are more worthwhile.

With Venus square Uranus, Diana will definitely have a unique quality that shows in her creativity. Her tastes are bound to be a bit unusual, futuristic, and sometimes even strange. Fascinated with whatever is relatively untried, she may be drawn to technologically innovative media like synthesized music, computer games, electronic art or desktop publishing.

Though Diana can be creatively innovative, when it comes to art or music classes, she may not fall into line. Also, she could have trouble concentrating, as when the form of expression doesn’t seem "quite right," or some spontaneous inspiration distracts her from completing the project at hand.

Inspiration and Enthusiasm
The expansive energy of Jupiter takes Diana beyond purely self-centered awareness and encourages her to reach out and expand her personal universe. Jupiter brings a desire to grow, to broaden one’s horizons, to feel adventure and joy. Through Jupiter, she can begin to exercise her sense of hope and vision, and her generosity and enthusiasm. Most important, when Diana is in touch with Jupiter, she’s inspired.

The earliest awareness of Jupiter deals primarily with the concepts of sharing, positive thinking, enthusiasm and hope for reward. It’s generally not until elementary school and preteen years that a child develops enough cognitive skill to manifest Jupiter’s philosophical side. Moral questions flow through the realm of Jupiter, and learning higher principles from inspiring teachers and mentors is another way that this energy can take form in later childhood. While Jupiter gives the potential for exploring religious teachings and developing a personal philosophy, this may take a lifetime to develop. Jupiter is a function of the higher mind, the part of our consciousness that can connect with the Divine. During childhood, Diana is likely to express Jupiter mainly through endless questions and by feeling a natural wonder about universal principles and a Higher Power.

Jupiter’s placement in Diana’s Second House indicates that she will have a need to understand the real nature of value systems. Jupiter in the Second can also show a strong sense of self-worth, but during childhood this is still just a potential. Diana may need to develop that sense, and be taught the importance of a confident attitude about her own value.

Jupiter in the Second can also give a tendency to take for granted the things that are necessary for a truly abundant life. Learning to appreciate the origins of personal and environmental resources can be a powerful lesson for Diana. Practical lessons may work best — like recycling trash, or reusing containers. Diana may also need to learn the value of time.

Dreams and Imagination
Then, there’s the world of imagination, which is largely ruled by Neptune. What child isn’t a master of make-believe? Diana should be encouraged to use her imagination and to trust her dreams, since these, too, are an important part of reality. It’s important, though, to teach her to identify the difference between real and imaginary worlds. This can be quite a job, but it’s an important lesson for a child to learn.

The sensitivity that Neptune bestows also allows Diana to connect with parts of the spiritual, nonphysical realm. Neptune can be an expression of divine compassion, something that needs special support and nourishment during childhood. Diana can be taught to express this through charity. A child taught to give to others less fortunate is definitely a blessed child.

For clues about the best ways to engage Diana’s imagination, what she likes to dream about, and the areas of life where she’s most likely to exercise compassion toward others, we look to the house where Neptune is placed in her chart. Diana’s Neptune in the Tenth House suggests that, more than most children, she will need to dream about what she‘ll be when she grows up. Start (and continue!) a collection of costume materials, because play-acting about jobs such as teacher, firefighter or nurse could be among Diana’s favorite imaginative activities.

Diana was born into the age group that has Neptune in Scorpio. In the 20th century this occurred from 1957 to 1970 and produced a generation focused on erasing old prejudices and uncovering the mysteries of human psychology. Neptune’s spirituality came out as a deep need to understand profound emotional issues, including ones dealing with birth, healing and death. Human sexuality and its many forms of expression was another significant element for this generation, which saw powerful links between sexuality, spirituality and creative expression.

How Diana Will See Her Parents
Guess what? You can tell how Diana is likely to see her parents or other primary caregivers by looking at her own chart. Understanding how Diana perceives Mom and Dad can be especially helpful, since what Diana hopes to see and needs to experience from her parents forms the basis of her own sense of self. In this chapter we’ll look at Diana’s own personal view of mother and father figures, as well as of authority figures in general.

Projection is a key factor in human psychology. To better understand this concept, think of a movie projector, which shows the image against a screen. In human psychology, the process of projection works much the same way. When Diana feels happy, the world looks bright, too. But if Diana is physically or emotionally low, her view of the world changes accordingly. In their relationships with others, too, children and adults alike will project their feelings and perceptions onto other people. The undeveloped aspects of the self are projected onto others usually as a means of "seeing" one’s own feelings or needs. In other words, by projecting her needs onto the people in her personal environment, Diana is actually experiencing herself.

Sometimes the other people are reasonable targets for those projections. This is especially true if the connections are tied up with emotional or other commitments. For example, Mother represents the inner feminine self for boys and girls alike. A child looks to Mother as the person who will reflect his or her own nurturing, feminine needs.

Diana may, however, see things in Mother that Mother doesn’t recognize in herself. It makes no difference whether Mother sees herself in this light. Diana holds these particular perceptions of Mother because Mother is a projection screen for Diana’s inner needs for security. As Diana matures into adulthood, the way she views her mother will determine how she‘ll play a nurturing and mothering role toward others.

How Diana Will See Mother
The way that Diana will perceive the mother figures in her life is shown by the placement of Diana’s Moon. A Moon in Aquarius suggests that Diana will see her mother as independent and very unusual, if not unique. To this child, Mom will seem free-spirited, innovative, and highly mental or intellectual, with strong ties to the community and outside world.

With the Moon in a tense connection to Venus, Diana may not be entirely comfortable with Mother. Part of the problem can be a feeling that Mom is difficult to please. (Remember, this is Diana’s projection.) Diana’s self-esteem will nevertheless need extra support, so be sure to encourage her and offer appropriate praise when she excels. Just as important, be aware of how any criticism is presented, since Diana may feel it very deeply.

A difficult connection between Moon and Mars brings a possibility that Diana’s feelings of anger often may be projected upon Mother. If Mother has difficulty expressing anger, then Diana will feel a strong inner frustration with her own angry feelings. Especially if Diana has a basically angry temperament, she will need Mother’s example in order to find positive ways to direct that anger.

Sometimes a Moon-Mars aspect such as this means that Mother seems to be attempting to live her artistic fantasies vicariously through her child. If that is the case, Diana could feel bound by the expectations and preferences of her mother, and hence feel very frustrated in her attempts to express her own creativity.

With the Moon in dynamic contact with Uranus, Diana will definitely see Mother as unique. This uniqueness could be experienced as a plus, or Diana may think, "My mom is weird." As Diana reaches school age, Mother may seem to be radically different from the other moms. If Mother is secure in her sense of individuality, Diana won’t find this to be a problem. If Mom has been bizarre in her actions and disrespectful of herself, however, Diana may have difficulty dealing with her feelings about her mother.

A key factor in Uranian aspects from the Moon is what Diana learns about emotional distancing. If Mom seems "out there" then Diana can develop a kind of emotional bubble that serves to maintain that distance. Eventually, this can have an effect on the way that Diana relates to others, setting up a pattern in which she seeks out relationships with people who are either unreachable or inappropriate for fulfilling her needs.

Alternatively, Diana may feel that Mother’s nurturing, protection or support is inconsistent. One day, this child may feel that Mom is balanced and approachable; while the next day she is unreachable. It’s also possible that this child gets inconsistent messages from Mom about developing herown independence.

On the plus side, this child may view her Mom as being intuitive. The way in which the mother uses this intuitive flow will have a great effect upon Diana’s trust of her own intuitive perceptions as she matures.

How She Will See Father
Perceptions of her father and other male nurturing figures are mainly symbolized by the placement of the Sun in Diana’s chart. The Sun, the primary masculine energy in astrology, is also described as a person’s sense of self. A true sense of self is very limited in a young child, who is unlikely to "own" these qualities until the preteen years or later. Nevertheless, the development of self may be strongly tied to the initial relationship with the father and, later, to interactions with other significant male figures. If these important people in her early life are supportive and consistent, Diana will come to feel that her own individuality is reliable and strong.

With her Sun in Cancer, Diana tends to project tender qualities onto Dad and to see him as a nurturing caretaker. Also, Diana will probably emulate the way Father handles family tradition. "Passing of the torch" experiences in the family are apt to hold special meaning for this child.

Diana’s Sun in the Seventh House makes Father the pattern to emulate, especially in the context of community and social settings. The way Daddy handles marriage and other relationships can have a greater than usual impact on Diana’s ideas about how relationships are supposed to be.

A Sun-Neptune contact such as Diana’s often indicates problems in perceiving the father, or a father who is in some sense not there. A child can over-idealize Dad or other male figures, and see only the illusion. For example, Diana could expect Dad to be saintly, and be disappointed when he turns out to be all too human.

Viewing a primary role model through rose-colored glasses can produce problems in a child’s own perception of Self later on. It’s therefore crucial that Diana have a realistic and close contact with Dad or other male figures early in her life. With this aspect, Father’s sharing of his spirituality and creativity could be an especially enriching influence, but Father also needs to show his humanity.

It could be helpful if Diana has a male mentor, perhaps someone who is easier for this child to identify with than Dad is. This doesn’t necessarily mean someone who takes a fatherly role, but rather a male figure who provides a complementary influence in the child’s development. More than most, Diana needs to have a male to idealize, and while that may be quite a tall order for Father, another man could be up to the task.

The influence of the Sun in connection with Pluto can add a perception of Father as all-knowing, all-powerful and omniscient. Despite the fact that Dad may think that he’s just a regular guy, Diana may see Dad as a superhero. This can block Diana’s ability to assert her own personal power. After all, how could she ever match up to something like that?

It’s also possible that Diana could perceive Father as ruthless, or feel that Dad doesn’t want her to exist. Sometimes these images are not even projected by the father himself. They can come about through the child’s fantasies and the impressions that she‘s gleaned from observing life. However the child arrives at these conclusions, Father will need to remind her continually that she is genuinely loved and appreciated.

If, for any reason, Diana experiences separation from her Father, she‘s likely to feel especially wounded. The resentment arising from this could be projected onto other men — such as stepfathers, teachers, or authority figures — and could reinforce Diana’s sense that she is somehow unworthy. It’s therefore crucial that Dad and other male figures in Diana’s life understand the surprisingly deep impact that their actions and attitudes can have upon this child’s perceptions.

Authority Figures and Stabilizing Influences
Another important need that children have is for solidity, structure and safety — and most children look to their parents to establish this for them. Though Diana will learn about these eventually, as a small child she won’t be capable of understanding the ways of the world, nor will she understand the need for limits. It’s up to parents and teachers to set these limits and expose her to the rules of life. These rules, tests and structures are shown in her chart by Saturn.

Many children are anything but delighted at the prospect of being "responsible" — that’s what adults are supposed to be, not kids! Therefore, especially in childhood, Saturn energy may much of the time feel judgmental and limiting. Nevertheless, Saturn brings the discipline, structure, stability and relationship to tradition that every child needs.

Saturn will show how Diana needs to be stabilized and what she requires in terms of a sense of safety and security. Male and female parents, as well as teachers, can provide this stabilizing function in her life. The placement of Diana’s Saturn will also show how she will relate to other authority figures and to authority in general.

With her Saturn in Capricorn, Diana is likely to respond best to a parental situation in which there are consistent and well-defined roles. This doesn’t, however, mean that traditional concepts are the only ones that will make sense to this child. As long as parental messages are consistent and family structure remains intact, Diana will feel that she is standing on solid ground.

Her Saturn being in the First House adds a desire for confirmation of the self. Diana therefore has a strong need for positive acknowledgment from parents and teachers. Also, since she will look especially to her parents to understand how to handle responsibility, it’s important that her parents show consistency.

As Diana moves through the various stages of childhood, she will be able to take all the qualities and expressions that she once saw through others, and incorporate them into herself. The examples that Diana observes may become the pattern for her own self-expression. In some instances, however, she may see something that isn’t worth emulating. That, too, can be a part of her learning process. During her childhood, Diana will have a grand opportunity to experiment and learn — hopefully while under the protective guidance of a loving family.

Conclusion
Here we’ve looked at the building blocks for the person who will become Diana as an adult. Childhood is a critical time because its vestiges remain throughout a person’s life. To some degree, these fragments will play a role in her personal creativity, career choices and life path for many years to come.

I hope that this look at Diana’s astrological chart has enlarged your understanding of the unique gifts, needs, problems and potentialities that she’s brought with her into this lifetime. Perhaps by reading it you will have gained some insights that will enable you to further her chances of having a happy and fulfilling life, and of growing into the person she was meant to be.

May you savor the wonder of this precious new person, and enjoy every moment of your journey together!

An Afterword from Gloria Star
Whether you’re looking into the life of a child dear to your heart, or recalling your own childhood through the lens of this report, it’s always interesting to explore what astrology illuminates.

I’ve been a professional astrologer since 1975. My first book, Optimum Child (Llewellyn, 1987), came from a desire to show parents that exploring their child’s astrological chart could be tremendously helpful during the challenges they would face. This book was based on observation of hundreds of children and many years of feedback. Since I wrote those first notes, I’ve had a chance to continue my research in this area, resulting in an expanded and revised book titled Astrology & Your Child (Llewellyn, 2000). That book gave rise to the observations in this report.

I’ve written other books, too. Among them, Astrology: Woman to Woman (Llewellyn, 1999) is especially for and about women. Instead of insisting that my readers try to figure out how astrology might apply to their lives, I prefer to write about real-life experience, and then bring astrology into this realm.

I love to travel, and teaching astrology in lectures and workshops both at home and abroad has provided a marvelous opportunity for me. Thousands of astrological charts later, I realize that I’m still learning! That’s one reason I love this subject — there’s no end to what you can discover.

If you’re inclined to offer feedback about this report, I would greatly appreciate it. You can contact me at Glostar@aol.com, or phone me at (860) 664-3590.

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