Introduction

I. AstroChild

How wondrous is the moment when you first look into the eyes of your newborn child! How miraculous is creation! What deep mysteries bring families together for a cycle of time!

In writing AstroChild, the author, a Montessori teacher, has brought you the best of 23 years of astrological study in addition to the fruit of 10 years' experience in the classroom. You'll find in AstroChild a first-hand understanding of the trials and joys of parenthood.

Being a parent is challenging. A job description for a parent would include something of almost every other job. When we study the child's astrological chart, we can instantly attune to how we can best guide him. Strengths, weaknesses, aptitude and potentials jump off the page. We can see how to turn around negative momentum and maximize talents that otherwise may not have been readily apparent. Understanding leads to greater patience, a virtue of immeasurable worth in child-rearing!

Many parents intuitively take a reading at the moment of birth and even before through dreams or visions, and receive a prescient knowing of the child soon to be born. The child comes to us with his own birth chart, his particular life plan, which many believe is determined prior to birth.

Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that environmental factors, decisions made by parents, education, and free will can change, alter, or mitigate the prophecy foreseen in the chart for better or for worse. A seed containing the blueprint of the most magnificent rose will not flower if denied sunshine, water, and good soil. And many have cultivated beautiful flowers in rocky soils through love and care.

How can we challenge the child to bring out the positive Sun sign potential, but, at the same time, teach him to know clearly when he crosses the line into negatives that could cause him much grief and sorrow later, if not corrected now? This is the challenge before us as educators and parents to our children, even to the child within ourselves. So we search the chart with an eye for potential problem areas that could disrupt, hinder or block the child's best expression. We devise how to turn them around. We take note of the positive potential and see how, like a good seed, it can be nurtured to bring forth the ripest fruit on time.

II. Assumptions

In creating this report, certain assumptions have been made:

1. Every child is unique. While most concepts will hit the nail on the head, not all you read will necessarily "fit."
Throughout the report, you'll come across words and phrases like "tends to," "often will," "probably," "might." This is because there is a spectrum of possibility on any given point. At times, these phrases have been omitted, but the concept remains true throughout the report.

2. It is assumed that you are concerned and loving parents who are dedicated to helping your child realize his highest potential.

3. It is assumed that you're willing to look at yourself (as you may find Mom and Dad depicted in the pages of this report) and see where greater self-awareness and self-improvement can help you better raise your child.

4. It is assumed that you're using this report as a key to better understand your child, and as a key to unlock his potential, but that at no time will you use this report (and its recommendations) to replace common sense and your own good judgment. You are his parents, no one can know him as you do.

Remember: Astrology is meant to CONFIRM, NOT REPLACE, the inner guide!

5. To get the most value out of AstroChild, the author recommends holding "all these things in your heart" and observing the child as he grows. Maria Montessori proved that, by observing the child, you discover the laws of his being. The chart unfolds as she grows.

However, the report may highlight potential talent and skill you may wish to test out by providing your child with opportunities to develop them. For instance, if an aspect (and especially if several aspects) indicates musical talent, you may want to sign your child up for song and dance lessons or teach him how to play a musical instrument.

If playing an instrument doesn't seem to be his forte, try music appreciation. Remember, there's a spectrum of possibility, and it's up to you to discover what motivates your child.

In reading about your child, emphasize the positive. Negative patterns can be changed; indeed, sometimes only a shade of gray separates our Achilles' Heel from becoming our most valuable asset. Conversely, our natural talents can stagnate and, if we fail to develop them, become the open door to self-indulgence.

III. Keywords & Concepts

Keywords and concepts that will help you get the most out of AstroChild:

1. Throughout the report, reference is made to planets receiving harmonious or challenging aspects. In astrology, trines and sextiles are considered aspects that indicate energy flowing in harmony. Squares point to challenges, blocks, internal frustrations and also pronounced talents. Oppositions indicate potential conflicts we resolve in the Tai-Chi of our interactions with others. We call squares and oppositions "dynamic aspects." Here is where your child may meet her greatest challenges, but also where he may demonstrate his greatest strengths! In expressing and mastering the dynamic aspects, we grow and can realize our greatest achievements. Remember:

Wherever you find dynamic aspects is where your child may need the most guidance, consistency, and patience on your part.

2. CROSS-REFERENCES: To gather a more complete picture on any given aspect of your child's chart, you may be referred to another related section. For example, every sign is said to be ruled by a particular planet. Aries is ruled by Mars, and the child with Aries Rising is learning how to direct energy constructively. But how will he do it? The report may refer you to another section on Mars.

Another type of cross-reference is necessary when a planet receives more than one kind of aspect. For example, a child with Mars square Saturn can feel blocked, and AstroChild instructs you to see if Mars and Saturn receive positive aspects from other planets-which will mitigate the difficulty and allow the aspect to manifest in a more dynamic and purposeful way. The positive aspects can also indicate to you how to work out the difficulty successfully.

3. RESOLVING CONTRADICTIONS: What to do when you come across information that is contradictory? None of us is black and white. For example, a child might be extroverted in sports, but shy in academics, or vice-versa. Some children, however, will need help in working out such structural conflicts.

4. Sometimes we come across strengths or talents in the child that may not be our forte. A child with a grand trine in earth signs, but whose parents have little or no earth emphasis in their own charts, may need other, more practical and businesslike people coming into his life to bring out the inherent qualities of efficiency, order, and organization typical of this positive configuration.

5. Astrological knowledge must never be used to demean, criticize, or put anyone down. Take note of areas of great sensitivity, vulnerability, or pain in the child's chart. Find ways to help him master these. Be kind to your child. His star has appeared and it may be different in magnitude and brilliance than your own! Love him and teach him, and learn from her, but don't expect her to be who you are. While the child is still in the process of turning her weaknesses into strengths, we can often fill in the gap!

IV. Conclusion

In studying the child's chart-as a representation of the book of his life with many pages left to write on-we seek to understand him better in order to guide, help, and instruct him in bringing out his special uniqueness, his calling in life, his special star. In understanding our children, we also come to better understand ourselves, our own inner child.

This report is intended as a stepping stone in your astrological journey-a fascinating adventure. For those who hold newborns, AstroChild will offer many insights that will prove their worth for years to come. For those of you with older children, this report will shed much light that will help you better understand your child and where he is headed. Some will walk through their childhood again through the pages of this report-finding, healing, and attuning with the child within.

On the next page you will find a list of the zodiac positions of your child's natal planets, along with the house cusps, for his moment of birth. These have been calculated using sophisticated astronomical formulae to ensure high accuracy.