Astro-To-Go: Astrology That Delivers

for
Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck

Astrological Data Used for Jennifer Lopez:

Sun Sign : Leo
Rising Sign : Aries
Moon Sign : Aries

Astrological Data Used for Ben Affleck:

Sun Sign : Leo
Rising Sign : Cancer
Moon Sign : Scorpio

A Comparison of Your Charts

A loving relationship between two people is a precious gift, but it can be extremely fragile. To make it work, both people involved need to understand one another and become conscious of how each of them views their partnership. Then, when the time comes to compromise or find some other way to resolve the conflicts they face in day to day life, the couple can work together to make their relationship thrive.

This astrology report will help you and your partner (or potential partner) understand your personality traits and how they affect the way each of you handles relationships. We all have different needs and expectations when it comes to dating, love affairs and long-term partnerships. Becoming conscious of what you and your partner are looking for from one another will help you articulate what parts of your relationship will be easy and what parts will need a little work. By learning about your strengths and being alert to possible problems, you have the best chance possible of keeping the precious gift of your relationship as fresh and exciting as the day you first met.

In this report, you'll also learn how you and your partner interact. By looking at this, you can get clues about the different kinds of dynamics that can come into play between the two of you. To do this, we'll look at links between your chart and your partner's chart to see how they add up to create the good points and the bad points about your relationship.

If you're dating, you can use this report to help you learn more about each other and discover how you can make one another happy. If you're already in a relationship, you can gain insight about one another that will help you understand how you can maintain clear communication about your needs. As you go through this information together, you can use it to help you build an even stronger and more satisfying union.

The report is divided into sections that cover all these aspects of your relationship:

Your Romantic Nature. First we'll look at each of you as individuals. Starting with your basic personality types, we'll take a close-up look at your needs and attitudes regarding romance, commitment and partnership. This will help you understand your overall approach to life and the way each of you goes about relating to people.

The Dynamics between You. We'll look in detail for clues that tell us what kinds of interpersonal dramas the two of you are most likely to get into. You'll celebrate the good ways that you connect and have the opportunity to learn from the more difficult ones. Now you'll know the areas you need to work on your relationship.

If you read about problems in this chart, there's no need to worry. Almost everybody's astrology chart shows both positive and negative possibilities, and so do just about everyone's relationships. The important thing is to be aware of these issues. You'll find by reading this report that when you have difficulties between you (as all of us do), you always have a choice about how to handle them. This report will help you see where some of these problems might come from, and suggest constructive actions you can take to help you work through them. It will also alert you to the strengths you can build on. With all this knowledge, you'll be able to cherish the gift of your relationship for a long time to come.

I. Jennifer's Romantic Nature

Jennifer, to find someone who's right for you and then form a happy and lasting relationship, you first need to have a sense of who you really are and what you need and want. A look at your own birth chart will show where your strengths are and what you look for. It can give you perspective on your own nature, helping you to enhance your interactions with others. It can also give clues about what sort of partner would make you feel most happy and complete.

Front and Center

Your Sun in Leo reinforces the idea that you probably aren't the shy and retiring type. Whether or not you're literally on stage, you're a natural actor, and all you need is an audience of one. If you're performing before those who applaud and sing your praises, you'll tend to be warm and outgoing. If you feel ignored or disapproved of, you may seek attention by becoming louder and louder, and may shout your own praises in hopes that others will realize that you're worth liking. Your partner can always bring out your best side by telling you and others how wonderful you are.

You have a natural warmth, and tend to be generous. You enjoy bestowing gifts on others and can be so proud of what you're doing that you announce it to the world. This could be embarrassing for the recipient. Refusing to accept gifts from you might be too subtle for you to understand, however. The person involved would be wiser just to say thank you, and tell everyone what you've done. This way, you won't have to brag about it, and the other person will get to keep the gift.

Also, you're likely to prefer fun to work. Menial tasks are for peasants. You'd rather have a good time than work hard. But you'll perform even the most arduous task if your partner makes a game out of it. For example, your partner might say, "I wonder how long it will take to wash all the windows on the first floor." Hearing that challenge, you'll get out your stopwatch and squeegee, and, before you know it, all the windows will be washed. Whereas, if you had been asked to wash the windows, you might never have done it.

If your relationship needs improving, you have a capacity to introduce fun and joy. When you're planning to do something that's fun, take your partner along. Though you tend to resist change, there are things you can do without doing anything drastic. One is simply to treat your partner as you'd like to be treated. Instead of always being concerned with what others think of you, pay compliments about what your partner does well. This shows that you've noticed and are appreciative, and it could lead to some of the same for you.

Direct and Honest

The way you express your feelings is usually direct, honest and simple. You can tell others how you feel about them, and your sincere manner of displaying your feelings lets the world know that they are genuine. You find it easy to explain your reasons, because they're usually formulated without deep and weighty analysis.

Since you ordinarily don't analyze your emotions deeply, they may sometimes spontaneously erupt. Basically, you react to the behavior of others. If people are nice to you, you like them. If they aren't, you don't, and it's usually the most recent encounter that determines the way you feel. This may make you seem inconsistent, and your behavior may be difficult for a partner to understand. Once your mode of operating is understood, however, your partner can not only grasp the meaning of your moods but also learn to deal with them.

One of the positive sides of your Moon is that you don't mind if your partner understands your feelings. You aren't concerned with dark secrets being unearthed, because there probably are none. However, your emotional simplicity can also be a point of vulnerability. Anyone who wants to hurt you can do so easily by pointing out your faults. Your immediate reaction may be to lash out in anger. The anger will probably be gone as soon as you express it. You don't harbor grudges for long, nor do you look for the hidden meanings in people's actions. However, the impact on your feelings of self-worth may be long-lasting. You may not show it, but the wound will still be there.

While you may keep your hurt feelings to yourself, it's more likely that you'll simply return each insult that's thrown at you. This can make for a tumultuous relationship. This in itself may not be bad, because you may like to express your feelings and you may need stimulation to do this. Nevertheless, if your self-esteem is attacked, the damage that occurs may far outweigh the excitement.

If you often have hurt feelings in your relationship, discuss this with your partner. Because your feelings are clear and simple, it should be easy to convey them. If your partner can do the same, you can begin to make changes quickly. If probing is necessary, you may not have the attention span for long conversations, so have short ones often until you can determine what should be done. And while you're doing this, try, try to be more patient.

Jennifer's Relationship Compatibility

The horizontal line that separates the upper half of your chart from the lower half represents the horizon. It suggests two arms reaching out, and it is in fact your "axis of relationship." On the left-hand or eastern side of your chart there is the Ascendant (or rising sign), which signifies you and the way that you present yourself to others. On the right-hand or western side there is the Descendant, which signifies the sort of partner you'll be drawn to and who will make you feel more complete. Any discussion of your rising sign (you) implies your setting sign (the partner who will complement you).

Sustaining the Fire

Although you're self-motivated, you're not necessarily self-sustaining. You may not consciously be aware of it, but you'll be drawn to partners who can fulfill your need for encouragement. Two fireballs in the same relationship could be overwhelming not only to others, but also to the two of you. You want a partner who thinks of you first and who can quietly encourage you. You don't ask for support, but find that it is important. You'd rather not have to reciprocate, however, because you have your hands quite full enough keeping your own enthusiasm high.

Because it's natural for you to take charge, it may take some effort to learn to share. Nevertheless, sharing is something you must learn in your close one-to-one relationships. You don't want a partner who will dominate you, nor are you interested in one whom you must always lead around. Your chart says that you want someone who's your equal.

In any intimate relationship, you find harmony and balance essential. When things are getting out of balance, you'll feel a lack of harmony. The first symptom, vague dissatisfaction, may escalate into anger. This imbalance could be caused by one of you feeling that the other is trying to take charge or be the boss. In case stirrings of dissatisfaction should arise, it's good to have a planned course of action that you can institute quickly. In order to head off problems before they start, you could build in time for some planned sharing as well as for independent action. You might select to share either a physical activity or an artistic endeavor.

Don't expect perfection. It takes time to break old patterns. If, in spite of your efforts, hostility erupts between you, don't presume that the situation is hopeless. Discuss your difficulties, preferably while walking. Using part of your energy in a physical activity will tend to dissipate the anger and it will yield fitness benefits as well.

Jennifer's Idea of Romance

To take a look at your specific approach to romance we're going to look at the position of the planets in your chart. We'll look at how you wine and dine each other in the dating stage as well what you do to keep the spark alive. Once you know yourself and your basic needs, you have the elements to commit.

For you, courtship requires drama and romance, and you love the extravagant gesture. You need at least one of you (and maybe even both of you) to be up on a pedestal being adored. A date or a romantic involvement is an occasion when you like really to express yourself, put on your special finery, and celebrate. For you more than for most, dating is likely to involve dining and dancing, taking in a sporting event, movie, or other spectacle, playing with children, or acting like children yourselves. In fact, you may find that being playful and creative is one of the most delightful and satisfying ways you get to know each other.

At some point, however, it feels good to get down-to-earth and practical. When you're in a romantic relationship, you can make even the most mundane tasks seem like play. At a certain stage you also realize that having fun is actually good for you, so that the sheer enjoyment of moving your body turns into an interest in fitness, or you start realizing that pleasure benefits your mental and physical health. At this stage of your romance you may start to do things together for fun and profit, or you may turn doing practical tasks for each other or someone else into an occasion for enjoyment.

If you've put each other on too high a pedestal, your adoration could eventually turn critical. It may be that some realism about each other will eventually help your relationship. If, instead, it just seems as if all the fun has gone away, it should be fairly easy for you to lighten up and go back to your usual attitude toward romances, in which nothing can be taken too seriously because it's all basically a game. Turning criticism into playful banter can do much to keep things in proportion.

The planet that's traditionally associated with the sign on the Fifth-House cusp brings in additional considerations. Placed in the Fourth House, it means that in romance, you want a partner who can be protective and nurturing and with whom you're comfortable. You may also be drawn to homebodies, or may conduct the ritual of courtship in the home. This might include either of you feeding the other. Indeed, dining together could be an important part of your romance. Thoughts of what it would be like to share a home might enter your mind early in the relationship, so you're not interested in brief encounters. You want someone you can rely on.

If you feel unloved by your romantic partner, you could compensate by overeating. If you begin to gain unnecessary weight, you should face the issue. If you cannot feel more secure in your relationship, it may be time to move on to someone who appreciates you more.

Having planets placed within your the Fifth House emphasizes the importance of pleasure and play in your life, and adds yet other requirements for you in the area of romance.

In courtship, you want a partner with whom you can easily communicate. This means someone who is adept at small talk rather than deep philosophical conversation. Sociability generally will also be high on your list of requirements. In fact, the way in which your partner interacts with others may be more important than how the two of you get along together. You may be drawn to those who are clever and witty when socializing, but if that becomes your only criterion for selecting a romantic partner, you might find that you have little to say when you're alone together. Then you could feel that there's something missing in your relationship. If this occurs, simply look for topics that you find mutually interesting, or just keep going to parties together.

Venus in the Fifth means that you may quite possibly be in love with love. Love is a recreation and an exhilarating risk, and through it you can express yourself more fully. When you get involved in a romance, you do it with creativity and grace.

When you begin a relationship, you take special pleasure in your partner's appearance and superficially attractive qualities. If you're just dating, this can be fine. At this stage all you need to do is enjoy each other and have a good time. If and when a more permanent relationship becomes a possibility, you want might want to look more deeply into your potential spouse's underlying character.

When you're already committed to each other, you may look to this placement again for its ability to bring a little pleasant, uncomplicated romance back into your life. Whenever you're having a good time, peace, harmony pleasure and each other's attractiveness are qualities that you may especially want to share.

Jennifer's Approach to Commitment

You want a partner who's your equal, and with whom you can totally share your life. Most likely this person will be charming and attractive. You also need peace and harmony in your partnerships, and so you'll probably bend over backwards to please. But no matter how much you crave equality, and no matter how much you share and give, you cannot create a partner who is your clone. Nor are you capable of duplicating all of your partner's behavior and attitudes. Differences of opinion, therefore, are apt to arise. These can lead to disagreements that you'll find unpleasant. In order to re-establish serenity, you might employ the subtle art of manipulation, but you probably can both be diplomatic in a close one-to-one relationship. Therefore, you might find it ultimately more satisfying if you openly negotiate.

Your intimate relationships also require a certain degree of depth and intensity. Chances are, the partner you choose will not be shallow. You find it intriguing to get involved with those who have an air of mystery about them, so that you can probe and ferret out the truth about them. If you can't pry information out of your partner, or if you yourself keep secrets in the relationship, this may arouse suspicion in the other and lead to jealousy and possessiveness. To instill the positive Scorpio traits of security and trust, discuss your problems with each other as you would with a therapist. Or better yet, when problems arise between you, clear the air by seeking the help of a professional or some other objective third party.

Additionally, you want a partner who can help you to develop as an individual. Therefore, you're drawn to those who are intelligent and have information to impart. You would also like to help your partner to grow. If you spend too much time with your partner, however, you could become bored with each other. In order for you each to have something to give to the other, you have to work on your personal development outside of the relationship. Then you can get together to share.

In your chart the planet that is traditionally associated with the sign on your Seventh-House cusp is placed in the Fifth House. This suggests that you want the romance of courtship to continue into your married life, and that you want a lifelong partner with whom you can always have fun. Typically, people with this placement have marriages that center around children. Even if there aren't children, you need your relationship to bring out each other's child-like, playful, outrageously self-expressive and fun-loving sides. Possibly your partnership is based on art or creativity, or you value a much younger partner for the youthful joie de vivre that he or she brings into your relationship. You may also enjoy doing daredevil things together, or throwing caution to the winds and keeping your marriage lively by taking big risks together. On a more mundane level, you may find it satisfying to pool your mutual energies in speculation or in making investments.

Having planets in your Seventh House adds to your requirements and underlines the importance of committed relationships in your life.

This placement is sometimes said to indicate that no matter how good an intimate relationship is, at some point it can become boring, so that the grass may begin to look greener on the other side of the fence. If this is accurate, you could have a series of partners, but there are other ways to play this. You might select a partner who is intelligent and can help you to develop as an individual, or possibly someone from a foreign country or culture who can teach you about customs different from your own.

It's unlikely that you'll ever want constant togetherness, however. You need your own personal interests. Nevertheless, you and your partner should share at least one interest through which you can jointly grow. Sharing everything in a relationship can become dull, but if you share nothing, there's no reason to be together.

You are looking for the perfect partner, and it may be hard to accept the fact that there is no such person. You could create a myth about your significant other, or place your partner on a pedestal. All is well as long as you can sustain the fantasy, but once you begin to see the flaws, you could become critical of your partner or put yourself in a position where your partner criticizes you.

However, there is an alternative that works very well. First, you must acknowledge (at least intellectually) that perfection does not come naturally. You have to work at perfection; your fairy godmother does not automatically wave her magic wand. Once you accept this, take action. Initiate a romantic interlude. Go off together and forget about all your troubles for a short while. When you return home, daily living conditions will seem more tolerable, and you'll have stored up wonderful memories that can be with you forever.

What Jennifer Looks for in a Soulmate

You don't want to be tied down to a specific routine in sexual activities. Instead, you want to be free to explore and have new experiences. You will probably be attracted to someone who has either physical prowess or a good mind, or preferably both. But most appealing is a sexual partner who can in some way broaden your knowledge or be adventurous enough to explore and learn with you. If your sex life becomes too predictable, your attention may wander. Instilling new excitement into your present relationship can bring back the spark and help you to avoid the complications of outside affairs.

The placement of your Eighth-House ruler in your house of marriage suggests that you tend to look upon sex less in terms of your own gratification than as a pleasure to be shared. Also, you don't enter sexual relationships casually. For you, one-night stands are far less satisfying than an ongoing relationship, and you prefer that sex be based on some kind of commitment. In return, you expect commitment and fidelity from your sexual partner. If mutual trust is disturbed, you will need to work on re-establishing it, or your sex life will suffer.

Because you have no planets in your Eighth House, your requirements for sex and deep emotional bonding are simpler than they might be. If one or more of your partner's planets falls into your Eighth, however, it can add some different themes as well as additional energy to your sex life.

II. Ben's Romantic Nature

To figure out your own personal relationship needs, Ben, we're first going to look at your basic personality type with both its strengths and its weak points. This can show you what you have to contribute, and what you need from someone else. The better you know your own nature, the more successful you're likely to be in your relationships. You can more easily make allowances for your own blind spots, and you can more consciously select a partner who will bring you happiness.

Front and Center

Emotionally Intense

Whether you're involved in a cause or with a person, you're deep-feeling and passionate. Your emotions run so deeply that it may be difficult to express them verbally, but others can usually sense your emotions through your demeanor. One of the things that betrays your intensity is the unrelenting way you pursue a goal or a person. When you run up against resistance or difficulties, instead of giving up, you just tend to become more intense and may even start to get obsessive. Should this occur, you might want to relieve the tension with meditation, yoga, or some sort of diversion. The best release for you, however, is achieving your goal.

People with whom you are closely involved will never doubt your interest in them. One way that you let them know this can be by nurturing them, particularly by seeing that their emotional needs are met. You may not ask what these needs are, but your intuition is strong, and you'll use it to guide you. If they disagree with what you feel they need, you'll probably assume that that's their problem, because you know what's best for them.

While people might enjoy the attention that you bestow and feel very secure with you, if they don't want what you're giving, they could see you as controlling or possessive. If you keep on doing what you've been doing no matter what the indications, you might wear someone down through sheer persistence. But don't count on it. The situation could also worsen, especially if the other person is as stubborn as you.

You might do well to back off a bit. This doesn't necessarily mean that you'd have to change your mind or give up. You'd just be switching to a more subtle approach, something that your Moon in Scorpio can be very good at. Instead of direct confrontation or emotional blackmail, you'd be using subtle suggestions. In doing so, you may be able influence the other person while leaving him or her more freedom in the matter. In this way you can secure a more willing compliance with your wishes.

Another thing you like to do is to get to the bottom of a problem through a psychological discussion with someone. You like to delve into people's motivations, not only those of others, but also your own. You also enjoy probing to the real cause of a situation or problem. Because this sort of communication comes naturally to you, it may be the best way to get you to consider a change. You tend to resist people telling you what to do or say, and the more you're pressured, the more you may insist on behaving the way you want to behave. But sometimes by delving deeply into a situation you can come to see it differently, and then perhaps eventually you will make some changes.

Ben's Relationship Compatibility

And now we get to your "axis of relationship," which is formed by the Ascendant (or rising sign) and the Descendant, which is always directly opposite. While the zodiacal sign that was rising when you were born describes the way that you present yourself to others, the opposite sign signifies the sort of partner you'll be drawn to and who will make you feel more complete. Any discussion of your rising sign (you) implies your setting sign (the partner who will complement you).

The following description assumes that you've given your actual time of birth quite precisely. If you haven't, and the degree that your chart shows on the Ascendant is near the beginning or end of the sign (0 or 29 degrees), it's possible that the adjacent sign would describe you better.

Tough Facade

Most likely, you have Cancer rising. This means that while you're deep-feeling, sensitive, and may easily be hurt, you tend to hide this from the outer world by retreating behind the safety of a tougher facade.

Indeed, when relating to others, you feel more secure and confident if you have a home base or some other protected place into which you can retreat from time to time. Therefore, having, or yourself creating, a secure and comfortable haven is essential for you to function in the world and relate to others. This desire for shelter and security could come out as a strong inclination to own a home or a piece of land, or to cling to one that you already have, particularly if it came from your family.

Not only does having a secure home space give you a feeling of safety, it also figures in the way you present yourself to others. While you yourself probably very much enjoy being in a comfortable, "homey" environment, you may also create this in order to draw others to you. For you, a home is, like your face and manner, part of your personal equipment for interfacing with others. This means that you tend to surround yourself with a welcoming atmosphere, not necessarily a grand or chic one, but simply a place where people can relax and feel nurtured and taken care of.

Indeed, nurturing is the other thing that characterizes your approach to others. No matter what your sex is, there's something motherly in the way you deal with the world. Your nurturing could take the form of words of wisdom or an affectionate pat or a strong desire to have and rear progeny, but it could also come out as an urge to care for animals or to help plants to grow.

One of the most common ways people nurture, however, is through food. You probably like to cook, or at least take some sort of special interest in the preparation and taste of food. Also, when you want to give someone something, food may be the present that usually comes into your mind. (It was probably a Cancer rising person who first thought up the idea that the way to a person's heart is through his stomach!)

You're so prone to equating food with affection and emotional support, that not only do you show your love by encouraging others to eat, you tend to overeat when you yourself are feeling hurt or unloved. This is because, for you, food is a way of bestowing love upon yourself. Your partner should watch for this tendency, and if you start to eat too much or too often, he or she should select such times to give you a hug. This will not only make you feel cared for, it may also keep you from overeating.

While food and shelter are the tangible ways through which you provide security, what you're essentially built to give others is emotional security and a sense of rootedness in family and tradition. In contrast, the partner who completes you would tend to provide material security - not only a financial base, but a secure relationship to society and the outside world. Your partner might also take care of many practical outer-world responsibilities, and offer some rules and structure to complement your emotional warmth and your tendency to be lenient and always to forgive human foibles.

Still, you'll probably shoulder many responsibilities around the home, and one of the ways you do your share might be by economizing on what you buy. Also, Cancerians are sometimes great savers. You may consider it your responsibility to hang on to items that you can re-use, or be inclined to store up food and other things in case there's a shortage some day. This is part of your Cancerian approach to life. Being surrounded by accumulations of almost any kind can add to the protective insulation around you and make you feel safer. While it can be useful up to a point, with some people this tendency to save goes beyond practicality. As with overeating, a tendency to over-accumulate can come from a feeling of being insecure and unloved, and help could come in the form of an extra measure of affection and protection from your mate.

In your urge to nurture and mother other people, you run the danger of doing too much for them, with the result that they become dependent on you. For example, the more you do, the more responsibilities a partner may leave to you. To avoid this, you need clearly to define the duties that each of you is supposed to perform. You may share certain duties, but establish the shared ones formally as well. Make these decisions together. It shouldn't be difficult, because a partner of yours is likely to naturally take to having some structure in the relationship.

Because of your strong attachment to the home, you may have a hard time leaving it. This could present a problem if your partner likes to travel. When traveling, you may feel better if, besides the necessities, you bring some of your dearest possessions and place them around the room you'll be sleeping in. This can help you to feel at home wherever you may be.

Ben Romantic Outlook

Your romantic relationships are neither frivolous nor superficial. In fact, when you think of romance, it is most likely in terms of a grand passion. Even from the outset, you want to connect on a deeply emotional level. To you, a satisfying romance means sharing your innermost feelings, either verbally or otherwise. If you find this difficult to do, your romantic life suffers. Sex may provide such an emotional connection, but it must be deeply involving. Sex that is merely recreational won't do. It's also possible that you'll achieve this deep rapport with your beloved by going through dramatic life experiences together.

You tend to make a heavy emotional investment in an area that is meant to be a playful try-out for the real thing. Some kinds of partner may take your relationship more lightly than you do. You may find yourself analyzing the other's deepest motives, and becoming possessive or maybe even obsessive about your romantic connection. The more secure you feel in the relationship, however, the less likely you're to hold on so tightly. You may be able to live this house on a less emotionally demanding level by delving into some subject deeply together, or making a game of pooling some of your financial or other resources.

After you have begun to feel sufficiently secure in a romance (or have become exhausted by its emotional intensity) you'll probably relax your grip and begin to lighten up. Heavy emotional encounters may give way to learning things together, or to planning a big trip. Or, if your romantic partner wanted a bit more freedom, now you become more inclined to give it, because you yourself may be a bit restless and in search of more fun or intellectual stimulation in the world at large.

Having planets placed within your the Fifth House emphasizes the importance of pleasure and play in your life, and adds yet other requirements for you in the area of romance.

This is one of the "in love with love" indicators. You want perfection in romance, and you have the ability to pretend that it's there. In fact, because of your vivid imagination, you may not be able to evaluate a romantic partner realistically. You're more likely to see what you want to see.

If you spend a lot of time with any romantic partner, there will probably be periods when the flaws become glaring, and you won't always be able to rationalize them away. You might then tend to become overly critical and get disenchanted with the relationship. It's good to remind yourself that there's no such thing as a perfect relationship. If they're not too numerous, try to accept the imperfections, and focus on the lovelier things that you have together. If, however, the romantic haze lifts only to reveal that the assets are few, you might want to consider changing or dissolving the relationship and endeavor to start over with a more realistic approach.

Ben's Approach to Commitment

You want a partner who is reliable and possibly already established in the world. Therefore, your partner could be older than you. Or you might play the responsible role in the relationship, which could mean that you're drawn to a partner who is younger and/or needs to be taken care of. It is not absolutely necessary, however, that there be an age differential in your partnership. The matter of responsibility is more important. Actually, what you need is a partner who will share in the responsibility and the commitment. If either of you tries to do it all alone, the responsible partner could feel burdened, and the irresponsible one could feel restricted. You'll be far happier if you shoulder the responsibility together.

Besides responsibility, you also need a degree of freedom within your intimate relationships, so 24-hour-a-day togetherness is not for you. Remember that both of you need to have some personal space, and that you should be allowed to maintain your individuality within the relationship. There's also a strong possibility that your partner will be from a different background than your own, or will be non-conforming in some other way, either in appearance or ideas. If you support each other's uniqueness instead of fighting or ignoring it, and each allow your partner some freedom, you could have a satisfying and stimulating partnership.

In your chart the planet that's traditionally associated with the sign on your Seventh-House cusp is placed in the Twelfth House of confinement and secrets. This suggests that despite any conventional ideas you have about what marriage is supposed to be, you may find yourself fearing that a close, committed relationship might confine and restrict you. If this is so, accept that this is part of your makeup. If you really do want to keep a long-term relationship going, there are ways to give yourself the space you need. One of you can have a job that involves travel, or you can maintain separate residences, or you can agree to have an open relationship. This feeling of restriction may come from a fear of revealing yourself fully to your partner. Becoming comfortable with yourself and eventually daring to share your secrets can allow you to be more open and genuine with your partner and will deepen your intimacy.

Your marriage may have an element of secrecy in other ways: either the marriage is secret, or the two of you maintain your own secret world together. You may like to fantasize together, or by yourself you may fantasize what you'd like marriage to be. Some couples with this placement both deepen and uplift their relationship by teaming up to help others.

Having planets in your Seventh House adds to your requirements and underlines the importance of committed relationships in your life.

What Ben Looks for in a Soulmate

To you, sex can mean expressing your individuality. You may feel free and uninhibited in sex, or you could declare your independence by assuring yourself that you're no one's sex object. You want to be the partner who determines when and where sex happens. You could also combine the two possibilities, feeling liberated and unrestrained in sex, but only when you yourself are in the mood for it.

The placement of your Eighth-House ruler in the Twelfth House suggests that you may need a certain degree of fantasy in your sex life. You could yearn for the kind of sex described in novels, and if the actual circumstances fall short of your expectations, you might find yourself involved in a clandestine relationship. A secret sexual relationship can be exciting, but it can certainly complicate the rest of your life. Before going this route, try rekindling the flame of the partnership that drove you in that direction. To get a different perspective on your sexual relationship, you could go to an exotic place with your partner, or try candlelight, soft music and a bit of fantasy at home to create an atmosphere conducive to romance.

III. The Dynamics between the Two of You

Now we're ready to look at the some of the dramas that are likely to play out between the two of you. These are suggested by the way the planets in one person's chart relate to those in the other. The information pertains to both of you in this section, except for the "Tips" which are addressed to each of you individually.

You can think of your planets as various little characters who are interacting with each other inside your psyche, and who also interact with the same little characters inside other people. For example, Mars, the little warrior inside you, could be having a hot and heavy affair with your partner's sultry, come-hither Venus. This could take the form either of cozying up in bed together, or fighting most of the time. Or these two little characters could be constantly on each other's mind, but somehow at cross purposes or never quite on each other's wavelength. The basic quality of each planet, plus the aspect, or kind of angle, that is formed between them, determines how well those parts of the psyche will get along with each other, and what the nature of their alliance or conflict will be.

Take special note whenever you see aspects involving the same pairs of planets next to each other in the list. If you see, for example, not only your Venus conjunct your partner's Mars, but also your partner's Venus square YOUR Mars, you can be sure that Venus-Mars themes such as sex, or some other sort of very creative, productive activity, will be of overriding importance in your life together.

What You Mean to Each Other

There's a magnetic attraction between you, and when you want to go after life goals, you find it natural to join forces. When Ben wants to consolidate his power or make important changes, he finds Jennifer to be a great asset. And he is all too happy to use his power to help Jennifer reach her own goals. Because you both tend to help the other without being asked, one partner might sometimes momentarily question the other's motivation. However, with this aspect you not only help each other automatically, you also analyze situations without effort. So, if you feel the least bit bothered, talk about it with your partner. You will discover that your partner is really on your side.

You're drawn to each other, but because of the nebulous quality of Neptune, you may not understand exactly why. In the same way, the world will probably be drawn to you as a couple. Because of your being together, there's a magic veil drawn over you that renders you glamorous, either physically or in a less tangible way. Jennifer's life force and direction works in such harmony with Ben's spiritual yearnings that together you can easily achieve goals that combine these two themes.

Because these energies flow with so little effort on your part, you might not consciously determine your direction. If you find yourselves going off course, veering at times too heavily toward ego and at other times too much toward self-sacrifice, you can rely on your intuition (especially Ben's intuition) to get you back on your path.

This combination could create some tension between the two of you. Ben might feel neglected because Jennifer seems self-centered and oblivious to Ben's emotional needs. In turn, Jennifer could feel that Ben smothers or manipulates her. Instead of wasting your time blaming each other, work on improving your relationship. For example, if Jennifer made an effort to acknowledge Ben's nurturing talents, Ben would receive the emotional gratification that would make the hovering unnecessary. And if Ben allowed Jennifer to be on stage and then simply applauded, Jennifer would feel more appreciated.

This combination gives a potential for providing each other with security instead of just limitations, but you may have to work to achieve this. What could happen is that while Jennifer concentrates on being organized and setting guidelines, Ben focuses on self-satisfaction. Whenever Jennifer tries to set the rules, Ben feels restricted. Ben may then find it hard to shine without great effort, and as a consequence feel inhibited or insecure. Also, Jennifer may herself want security, and feel that Ben is ignoring her basic needs. If you find yourselves playing out all or parts of this scenario, remember that giving each other a bit of added attention can lessen the friction between you. Ideally, Ben can learn to give Jennifer vitality and energy, and Jennifer will be able to provide a secure framework in which Ben can shine.

In your relationship you might feel a conflict between ego and self-satisfaction on the one hand, and spirituality and self-abnegation on the other. For example, Jennifer could experience Ben as self-centered or materialistic, and Ben could be unclear about Jennifer's motivations and see her as martyred, overly generous or manipulative, or vague and hard to pin down. This can engender mistrust, and it may sometimes cause you grate on each other or feel that your energy is sapped. Rather than stew about it, Ben should make an effort to be a little more altruistic. And instead of feeling martyred, Jennifer should allow others to reciprocate and show their appreciation for what she's bestowed on them. Then together you may start to enjoy the visionary and spiritual communion that this aspect can bestow.

Tip for Jennifer

If you have children together, you might see Ben as being warm and generous with them and possibly taking pride in what they do. However, if he feels unappreciated, what you may see is someone who's bossy and overbearing. If this is the case, try a little romance or stroking. Then you may see his warm and generous side in regard to the kids. Since the Fifth House is also the area of creativity, you may see Ben as very creative, whether or not the issue of children is relevant. If you think that he overshadows you in terms of creativity, you may feel that you lack talent and never try to do anything creative. If this is true, try some artistic endeavor together. If you cooperate with each other, Ben's ability may stimulate you to view yourself as being creative.

Tip for Ben

With Jennifer's Sun lighting up your First House you may find that her ego or underlying life direction has a direct impact on the way that you interact with the world. It could be what initially attracted you to her, and it will most likely continue to be appealing as long as your relationship continues. Also, having Jennifer's visible support may give you the energy to pursue your personal goals.

If you get into a conflict of interests, however, you could find that Jennifer's ego becomes a hindrance rather than an asset. If this happens, let her know how important her support is to you. Say things like "I couldn't do it without you." This should make her feel more needed and less threatened by your success. In addition, you might look for ways to help her feel good about herself. In this way, you can support rather than hinder each other.

Dealing with Each Other's Emotions

Although there's a strong sexual attraction between you, you might find that you're more apt to experience friction than gratification. You could feel that anger is a prelude to passion, but if instead it just interferes with your sex life, try looking for new ways to show the attraction that you feel. Work on making love not war, and the gratification that you attain will make the effort worth while. The confrontations may not totally cease, but as you experience the positive side of this combination they might either become more fun or happen less often.

This combination creates a connection between emotions (the Moon) and individuality (Uranus). If you try to blend these qualities too closely, Ben could become prone to emotional outbursts, and Jennifer could behave erratically. Instead, you should take turns supporting and adjusting to each other's needs. At times Ben should lend emotional support to Jennifer's need for expressing individuality without thinking about what hehimself needs emotionally. And at other times Jennifer should encourage Ben to show his feelings freely without considering her own personal independence. Then bizarre behavior and emotional outbursts will not occur as frequently, and you'll be more likely to share the excitement and air of electricity that is the desirable part of this combination.

You and your partner help each other to express feelings and deal with the material world. The nurturing and emotional "juice" that Jennifer provides makes Ben better able to handle the practical details of life, and the material security that Ben provides gives Jennifer a safe haven for emotional expression. Even so, Moon-Saturn combinations can sometimes restrict emotional expression. This can work in your favor when the situation calls for emotional self-control, but it can also create a distance and formality in a relationship that you want to be close. If either of you occasionally feels inhibited or frustrated by your partner, it may help to concentrate on making your partner feel more secure. A feeling of emotional or material security can often provide a safe space for the free expression of emotion, and this in turn can keep your partnership close and emotionally alive.

You and your partner should have no difficulty sharing your emotions, and it's wonderful to be able to express your feelings openly. While this combination indicates that emotions flow easily between you, however, these emotions may not always be favorable for your relationship. Anger could flow as easily as love, and so after you've emoted you could sometimes regret your behavior. Or you could embarrass others by being too demonstrative in public. Since this combination doesn't make for a lot of control, it may be simpler to find an acceptable outlet for your joint feelings. One possibility is that you and your partner get involved in a venture in which your emotional expression is acceptable or even useful. You'll still have enough emotion left over to share the great love you have for each other in private.

Although there's a strong sexual attraction between you and your partner, you might more often tend to bring out anger rather than passion in each other. You might just consider anger a stimulating prelude to lovemaking, but if it gets in the way of your sex life it's time to start looking for new ways to show the attraction you feel. Work on making love not war, and the gratification that you attain will make the effort worth while. The confrontations may not totally cease, but as you experience the more positive side of this combination, the confrontations may either become more fun or happen less often.

This aspect connects emotions (the Moon) and individuality (Uranus), but if you try to blend these qualities too closely, Jennifer could become prone to emotional outbursts, and Ben could behave erratically. Instead, you should be there to balance and support each other. When appropriate, Jennifer should emotionally support Ben's need for expressing individuality, so that bizarre behavior will not be necessary. And Ben should encourage Jennifer to show feelings freely, so that emotional outbursts will not occur. Then, instead of inconsistency, you can experience the excitement and air of electricity that this aspect promises.

Emotional Tip for Jennifer

One of the qualities you were probably attracted to in Ben was nurturing. You may share an emotional closeness, and enjoy the tender, loving care that he is capable of bestowing upon you. Sometimes, though, this placement gives either emotional inconsistency or more attentiveness than you bargained for, so that you feel smothered instead of mothered. This could happen because your partner feels insecure. Give him more mothering, and, in return, he could become less smothering and more emotionally stable.

Emotional Tip for Ben

You might find that Jennifer is emotionally supportive of your career, or of your role in the world in general. If this is the case, you know that you can find comfort in talking to her about your problems at work, or any other difficulties that you have interacting in the outer world. If you're nurtured when you arrive home, coping with the world at large can be easy to tolerate.

However, if your partner envies or feels competitive with your professional life, you could feel undermined rather than supported, and there may be emotional outbursts. To turn this form of behavior into tenderness, try giving her some extra nurturing. When she knows that you care, she might not feel so threatened by you or your role in the world.

Attraction and Having Fun

While you and your partner both want security in love, you could find that you more often try to define and structure affection than just sit back and enjoy it. And so the feeling you have may be restriction rather than security. If either of you feels inhibited in expressing affection or insecure in your love for the other, sit down together to clarify the situation and look for a practical solution. When you bring these issues into the open and face them in an objective manner, you'll each feel less threatened. When you start to work on your situation, you begin to feel less restricted and more secure.

Although the love that you and your partner share can be very exciting, there could also be an inconsistency about it, especially if you try to get the other person to conform totally to your needs. If Jennifer tries to pressure Ben into being more reliable, it could just push him into behaving more erratically. If Ben tries to force Jennifer to be less sociable, she might respond by just being more so. Instead of dwelling on what you consider to be the shortcomings of your partner, it's better to take turns supporting each other. For example, Jennifer can be sociable, with Ben lending his individuality and creativity to make your socializing even more fun. In turn, Ben can express his individuality and creativity with the support of Jennifer's charm and tact. As long as you both have your needs met, the love and excitement that you share will continue to flourish.

You and your partner have the potential of sharing security in love, but could find that you often try to define and structure your affection rather than sit back and enjoy it. So what you experience is sometimes restriction instead of security. If either of you feels inhibited in expressing affection or insecure about your love relationship, you should clarify the situation and look for a practical solution. It may take effort, but once you bring these issues into the open you can begin to work on them. When you face problems together, you'll each feel less threatened, and you can begin to replace the feelings of limitation with a sense of security.

When it comes to love, you and your partner could feel that your contact is either exciting or erratic, or possibly a bit of both. Jennifer may not be totally consistent or dependable, which could sometimes cause Ben to look for pleasure elsewhere. And if Ben becomes flirtatious, it might trigger Jennifer's unreliability. You may not be sure who is the instigator, but it doesn't really matter. Instead of dwelling on the shortcomings of your partner, get involved in new and exciting activities together. The problems will tend to fade into the background when the two of you are having a really good time.

If you share children, it may seem to you that Jennifer ignores them, inspires them, or simply doesn't understand them - or possibly does all of the above. This means that where children are involved, probably the one thing you can count on with Jennifer is inconsistency.

However, this is also the area of creativity and romance. Your most enjoyable amusements together could include spinning entertaining fantasies, dancing, listening to music, or creating works of art. The pictures might not always be perfect, and the romance may not be constant, but taking part in such activities can be enriching, soul-feeding and a great deal of fun.

Romantic Tip for Ben

You'll probably like to talk about your sweetie and all her charms, and her social skills and pleasant manner could enhance your social life. She's especially likely to turn on the charm with your siblings, relatives and neighbors, and her popularity with them will probably enhance your relations with them as well. You'll probably also enjoy conversing with each other, especially about the arts or anything that's connected with love or pleasure. All this light conversation can serve as a welcome and pleasant break from life's harder realities.

Romantic Tip for Jennifer

You'll probably like to talk about your sweetie and all his charms, and his social skills and pleasant manner could enhance your social life. He's especially likely to turn on the charm with your siblings, relatives and neighbors, and his popularity with them will probably enhance your relations with them as well. You'll probably also enjoy conversing with each other, especially about the arts or anything that's connected with love or pleasure. All this light conversation can serve as a welcome and pleasant break from life's harder realities.

How the Two of You Communicate

With this combination, Ben may help Jennifer to organize ideas better, and Jennifer may help Ben by verbalizing Ben's need for structure and order. It's true that Jennifer may sometimes feel a lack of spontaneity in communicating, and Ben may feel that rules and regulations should be implicit in the relationship and wonder why it's necessary to explain them. And you may both sometimes think it would be nice to have more freedom of speech. However, this combination brings honesty, a desire to help each other, and a sense of security. Also, because of your interaction, you both are better organized and clearer in your thinking.

When you combine the energies of Mercury and Uranus, appropriate keywords are "exciting communications," and this is probably what you experience together. Ben wants to help Jennifer to think and communicate more creatively, and Jennifer can assist Ben by explaining Ben's uniqueness in words that ordinary people can understand. This all occurs very easily, and the end result is that together you communicate faster and more creatively than either of you do individually. However, the energies flow so easily that you might take action without considering its feasibility, and if you fail to make things materialize, you could be viewed as impractical visionaries. But the help you give each other and the excitement and the successes that you experience together should far outweigh the occasional failures.

In your relationship, communications are connected with power. You could have a deep impact on each other when you talk together, and as a couple, you may have a profound influence on the outer world. However, you may find that instead of cooperating it's easier to argue or irritate each other. Jennifer might tend to out-shout and/or verbally overpower Ben. And Ben could sometimes outtalk and/or overload Jennifer with trivia. If this happens often, you might consider that if you join forces instead of battling each other, your joint communications could have a powerful impact on the world. Instead of waging war, try to analyze your situation together. It may take effort but it can be done, and then you may see that it's much more gratifying and effective for the two of you to unite in communicating.

This combination can indicate that communications between you and your partner are creative and pleasurable. However, with this particular aspect, Jennifer might find Ben too talkative, and Ben might feel that Jennifer is self-centered and only wishes to discuss herself. Things will improve if you take turns doing the talking, while your partner listens and lends you support. For example, sometimes Jennifer could allow Ben to talk about any subject at all, and only employ her tact or personal charm if the conversation starts to bore people. And then for a while Ben could permit Jennifer to discuss herself and only occasionally add general information to broaden the appeal of his partner's favorite topic. In this way, you'll both satisfy your personal needs in terms of communications, and you'll come across to the outer world as a very charming and sociable couple.

Communications that you share with your partner are likely to be made with a great of deal of energy. You should seldom be at a loss for words, and your conversations will probably be stimulating. You'll probably talk too much rather than too little, but if you do run out of topics, you'll usually be able to start things up again with talk about ego gratification or life direction. If you have a problem it could be about who is dominating the conversation. Jennifer may feel that Ben talks too much about himself or herself, and Ben may think that Jennifer just talks too much, period. But at least you can talk to each other! As long as you do, you have a good chance of solving any problems that arise.

Communication Tip for Jennifer

You may find it easiest to talk with Ben at home, or about matters concerning the home, real estate, your parents and family background, or the past. If you find that Ben communicates best in your home, you might enjoy entertaining there. This is a particularly good idea if he seems to be shy in the outer world.

Communication Tip for Ben

Jennifer may enjoy talking about finances, especially yours. If the advice about spending or investing your money is good, you'll probably listen attentively. But if don't like the advice you're getting, or she only criticizes you for the way you deal with your money, you'll probably want to change the subject. You could instead turn the conversation toward a discussion of values. You may not agree on this subject either, but at least it will not cost you any money. Another possibility with this placement is to find a way to incorporate your partner's communication skills into the way you earn a living.

The Expression of Your Partnership

While you and your partner are attracted to each other, you don't just sit back and enjoy the relationship --you want to help your partner enjoy life even more. One way you make your partner happier is by showing your appreciation through generosity and indulgence, and your partner likes to do the same. If this mutual indulgence were to get out of hand, you could conceivably overdo having fun and start to ignore your duties. This is not likely to be a serious problem, however, because you're almost certain to have other factors in your charts that give some seriousness and control. The important things are the good feelings and closeness that this aspect engenders. These can help you to avoid or overcome any problems that may arise in your relationship.

Even if you're shy and retiring as individuals, as a couple you feel more forceful and energetic. Therefore you'll probably be looked upon as leaders, and people will expect you to take charge. This should not be difficult for you to do when you're together -- in fact, sometimes you might even get a little too forceful or aggressive. If you're not assertive as an individual, be careful of taking on a leadership role by yourself, because you could become overwhelmed. Remember that your joint personality is what is forceful, and make sure that your partner is around to share the leadership role.

You and your partner naturally encourage each other to grow and develop. You stimulate one another to learn more, and may enjoy broadening your horizons through travel as well as education. You also have the ability to increase each other's self-esteem. Because you naturally drive each other toward pleasure and expansion, you may sometimes enjoy yourselves so much that you get really extravagant or otherwise overindulge yourselves. Remember this, so that you can apply the brakes if you get too carried away. And then go on enjoying your happy and stimulating adventures.

Jennifer's sense of responsibility and commitment has an influence on Ben's appearance, manner, and way of dealing with others. Jennifer may make Ben feel very secure, but she may also make him feel confined or restricted. And this might work both ways. If either of you feels hemmed in by your partner, let your feelings be known and try to work out a solution together. If you do this, you'll be better able to enjoy the sense of security that is the upside of this aspect.

Ben's power is connected to Jennifer's personality, and there's a need for some kind of adjustment. If either of you frequently tries to control or direct the other, Ben could begin to feel ineffectual, and Jennifer could develop low self-esteem. Instead of trying to force your ways on each other, try taking turns being in the foreground while your partner supports you. Jennifer should sometimes be allowed to express his personality, with Ben adding power to facilitate the process. And Ben should sometimes satisfy his need for personal power, with Jennifer throwing the force of her personality behind the effort. If you respect each other in this manner, you'll become stronger both as individuals and as a couple.

Although you and your partner have a strong personal tie and are definitely attracted to each other, you might find that there's often friction between you. Ben's personality may sometimes grate on Jennifer, and Jennifer's nurturing may sometimes feel smothering to Ben. As you irritate each other, Ben may become more obnoxious and Jennifer more emotional.

Nevertheless, your tie is so strong that you both keep coming back for more. This might actually be a behavioral pattern that you enjoy. If it isn't, there are different ways of interacting that still combine Jennifer's emotions and nurturing side with Ben's personality. For example, Ben might stimulate Jennifer to become more emotionally expressive in her dealings with others, and she, in turn, might provide an emotional outlet for her partner's feelings. Or Ben's nurturing might take the form of caring for Jennifer's physical appearance or grooming her to interact more effectively with others. With this very energetic aspect, finding the right approach may take effort, but you know that the attraction is there, so it's possible to discover a way to capitalize on it rather than mask it.

Together you generate a lot of creative energy and excitement, but there's also a danger that you could each forget the other's needs and desires. Then, what started out as exhilarating could turn upsetting and make you feel very insecure. While you may never know exactly what's going to happen next in your life together, you can become a bit less likely to shock each other if you divert this energy into finding new things to do together, or new ventures or causes in which you can get involved. You may quickly move from project to project, but if you do this together, your surprises will take place in your interaction with others rather than between you. Then you'll be less likely to upset each other with strange or inconsiderate behavior, and you can enjoy the zest and constant sense of freshness that this aspect implies.

There's a strong personal tie and attraction between you, but there's also a possibility that Ben could overwhelm Jennifer with emotion, or the face that Jennifer puts on for the world could interfere with Ben's emotional satisfaction.

To deal with these problems, you each need to find a way to take care of your own personal needs while balancing them with the needs of your partner. For example, Ben shouldn't always depend on Jennifer to meet his needs for closeness and nurturing. Sometimes he should give Jennifer a bit of emotional support, especially if she's having problems with her appearance, health or relations with others.

On her part, Jennifer should find a few arenas in addition to this relationship where she can relate to people and express her personality. At the same time, she should always be ready to support Ben's emotional needs when needed.

If you do things like this to nurture both yourself and your partner, you'll help each other to become stronger and more confident individuals. This can only benefit your relationship.

This combination places emphasis on the way you as a couple interact with the outer world, either through your careers or through other roles that you perform in public. Your ideas and direction complement each other, and since you want to assist each other to succeed, you present a united front. If you share a career, you are probably easily able to divide the labor between you and focus on helping your partner succeed. If you don't share a career, you may still each use the force of your public persona to benefit your partner. Since your views and ways of dealing with the public are so compatible, even if society at large disagrees with you or responds unfavorably to you, you may be able to win over those who disapprove. If not, try to find others who have a world-view similar to your own.

Communications and career are closely connected in your relationship, but your goals regarding these matters may be quite different. Jennifer's communications might sometimes interfere with Ben's career goals, either because she talks too much, or because she tries to impose her own views about his career direction. Or Ben may concentrate so hard on his career that Jennifer feels that her ideas are ignored. You can improve the situation if you take turns totally adjusting to each other's needs. For example, Jennifer could at times add verbal support to Ben's career goals, and then Ben could at other times provide an arena within which Jennifer can freely communicate. When you support your partner in this way, it'll be evident that you're on the same side, and your relationship will grow stronger.

In your relationship, fun and games (Venus) may conflict with the hard work of attaining worldly success (the Midheaven). The two of you may find it difficult to blend your goals and direction, because they seem to be exact opposites. To achieve a balance between you, Jennifer might take the lead in seeking pleasure and sociability, while Ben provides the venue or supports your joint enjoyments in other ways. And Jennifer could employ her charm and sociability to support Ben pursuit of worldly success. When you balance each other in this manner, Jennifer can have fun, Ben can experience success, and you'll each have helped the other achieve goals without forfeiting your own.

As a couple, you and your partner can project tremendous energy into the world. But you can also get in each other's way. Ben could think that Jennifer nags or tries to push him into action, and Jennifer could feel frustrated and ineffectual because Ben uses his career or public image to keep her from taking the initiative. So you might annoy each other and just waste energy. What you should do is to undertake a project together with each of you having an assigned task. While Jennifer directs the project, Ben could be the liaison with the outer world. This might keep you so busy that you don't have time to interfere with each other. And if you also succeed in the world, that will be a bonus.

As a couple, you and your partner can project tremendous energy into the world. But you can also get in each other's way. Jennifer could think that Ben nags or tries to push her into action, and Ben could feel frustrated and ineffectual because Jennifer uses her career or public image to keep him from taking the initiative. So you might annoy each other and just waste energy. What you should do is to undertake a project together with each of you having an assigned task. While Ben directs the project, Jennifer could be the liaison with the outer world. This might keep you so busy that you don't have time to interfere with each other. And if you also succeed in the world, that will be a bonus.

Ben's career or public image blends quite well with Jennifer's concept of life structure, and this should provide a strong foundation for your relationship in material terms. In addition, you want to help each other to attain tangible success. Jennifer may organize and take care of details so that Ben can move ahead professionally, and Ben can use his public image or career to provide the material security that Jennifer is seeking. Because you believe that you have to work hard to get what you want, you may not take the easiest route to attain your goals. Fortunately you have the ability to work hard together, so though you may not advance quickly, your persistence will allow you to move steadily forward so that you ultimately get your rewards.

Ben's individuality or revolutionary tendencies might not always fit well with the public image that Jennifer wants to project, or Jennifer's career or public image might make Ben feel inhibited or stifled. So Jennifer could be embarrassed by Ben, and Ben might feel restricted by Jennifer. There's a potential for excitement here, however, so if you're unhappy with your situation, try a little spontaneity. Do something new and different together. Just a little relief from your daily circumstances may be all that's needed to add a welcome sparkle to your relationship.

With this combination, Ben might sometimes be irritated by the way Jennifer deals with the material world, and Jennifer could be annoyed by Ben's impractical attitude. Or Jennifer could feel confused by Ben's nebulous quality, while Ben feels limited by Jennifer's conformity to society or her focus on career. There will be less friction between you if you accept that your ways of dealing with the world are different, and grant Ben permission to develop spirituality and Jennifer permission to concentrate on career. You may each still sometimes get upset with the other, and this could lead to critical remarks. You would not want this type of interaction on a daily basis, but perhaps an occasional suggestion might help you each to improve your approach to life.

Getting Things Done

Taking action to expand your horizons as a couple is something that you and your partner do well together, and in such matters you each want to help the other. Ben will take the initiative to help Jennifer grow and develop. And Jennifer will use her resources to help Ben initiate more effectively. You may occasionally wish that you could do what you want without so much assistance. But there will probably be little disagreement with, or resistance to, your goals. Even if the support and information you receive are not always what you think you need, you can at least see that your partner is interested in your goals. And who knows, maybe if you listen, you could learn something.

You and your partner are likely to be more powerful when you're together than either of you is individually. Jennifer may prod Ben to assume more power, and Ben can use this power to make her more effective in taking the initiative. When you're together, the two of you are therefore more likely to be leaders than followers. Through your relationship, both of you have energy, the potential to lead, and a desire to help your partner to attain greater and greater heights. The worst problem that could arise is that you would be so intent on helping each other that you forget to consider the thoughts or wishes of others. If people complain or refuse to cooperate, you could flex your muscles to make them conform, but you might produce better results and get more cooperation if you play the benevolent dictators and help others as much as you help each other.

With this combination Jennifer could bring out Ben's spirituality or artistry, and Ben could inspire Jennifer to take action. As a couple, you might utilize these energies by undertaking an artistic project together, or involving yourselves in a spiritual venture. There's a nebulous quality about this connection, and if you try to explain it in practical terms you'll probably only become confused. It works, so just accept it, and have faith that it'll continue to work.

You could feel limited by each other because when Jennifer wants to keep moving, she may feel that Ben slows her down. This may be because Ben wants to understand and organize his partner's activity. And Ben could be uncomfortable when Jennifer tries to press him into action. The result could be a stalemate, with neither of you able to move forward, and both of you feeling frustrated. It may help to try working separately first, and then combine your efforts. It would be natural for Jennifer to initiate the plan, and Ben to work out the details of what to do. Once the initial plan is in place and Jennifer can just act without thinking, the two of you can gain momentum together. Then there will be fewer disagreements and more accomplishments.

The two of you can generate a great deal of energy together, but in order to use that energy most effectively, you need to take turns adjusting to each other's needs. For example, when Jennifer wants self-satisfaction, Ben should take the initiative to support Jennifer's goals. When Ben wants to be assertive and take the lead, Jennifer should throw the force of her personality behind this effort.

Remember that if Jennifer is always the one on stage, Ben could either become angry or feel ineffectual. And if Ben always takes the lead, Jennifer could feel ignored and lose self-confidence. If you take turns being in the foreground, you'll be using the energy wisely and you'll both be happier as well.

You may feel a strong urge to join Ben's talents for initiating things with Jennifer's spiritual goals or artistic ability, but when you actually try to do this Ben becomes exhausted and Jennifer becomes confused. One way to live with this combination work is to pursue your goals separately. Ben can find something other than Jennifer's spirituality to direct, and Jennifer can look for spiritual gratification without trying to involve Ben. Another creative use for this combination is to escape periodically from the real world. You can enjoy the fantasy you create and, in the process, Ben can become re-energized and Jennifer can make use of her imagination. When you return to your everyday life, not only will you both be refreshed, you'll also have shared memories that can make your relationship stronger.

You could have a perfect sex life with Ben, a union truly made in heaven. If so, count your blessings and enjoy. However, this placement could also mean dissatisfaction or disappointment in sex. This could be because Neptune tends to de-emphasize the physical in favor of fantasies. Fantasies that are not fulfilled in real life, or a desire for an impossible perfection, could create problems in your intimate dealings with each other. It's good to remind yourself that there's no such thing on earth as perfection for prolonged periods of time, and to enjoy the feelings of bliss and unity when they do arise. To improve your sex life, you might also consciously cultivate your fantasies and work on creating a romantic atmosphere that will help to produce a perfect and sublime sexual experience.

Power Tip for Ben

When it comes to your personal resources, it's possible that Jennifer may spur you to take the initiative rather than sit back and wait for the money to come in. You could thereby make more money. It's also possible that she could just urge you to spend. Either way, there may be a certain recklessness in the financial advice that she's giving you, because it will tend to emphasize action rather than analysis. You may have to place what she says in perspective. It is, after all, your resources that we're discussing. Don't let your partner badger you. You should have the ultimate say as to what you'll do with what belongs to you.

Power Tip for Jennifer

Especially at the beginning of your relationship Ben is likely to take the lead, initiating the calls and making the plans for the two of you. And even after you've established a firm bond, he may well be the one who propels the two of you into enjoyable pursuits. He might get you into athletic activities, ranging from sports to bedroom gymnastics, and his ardor may greatly add to the fun. He may also be the one who most actively wants to have children.

It could be that Ben 's idea of fun is a bit too rough-and-tumble for you, or that his creativity seems to be eclipsing your own. And, if he always seems to be the first to suggest something to do, your own romantic or recreational preferences might get pushed into the background. If this is so, try to do a little initiating yourself. You might get into conflicts if both of you try to make plans, but working these things out in an open and fair manner will eventually benefit your relationship. Anyway, after doing some of the initiating in this area, you might find that you've gotten it out of your system and that you actually prefer that he directs activities. And, after seeing what you proposed, he'll have a better idea of what makes you happy.

Bringing out the Best in One Another

You and your partner can easily help each other to broaden yourselves and obtain self-satisfaction. You'd typically do this through travel, education and/or spiritual development. Your interaction enables each of you to improve. The only dangers are forgetting the goals that you were trying to achieve, or getting so caught up in helping your partner that you don't consider the cost of your ventures in terms of cash and energy. If you find yourselves physically or financially overextended, or feel that the two of you waste a lot of time or talent, stop what you're doing, re-focus on your original goals, and re-think how you can help each other attain them.

Both you and your partner have a strong desire to help each other grow and develop. You could enjoy creating plans together that will help you grow as a couple. You might also like to travel to broaden yourselves, get involved in politics or religion, or attend cultural events that can extend your minds. The two of you can have an abundance of ideas and stimulate each other to do more and more. But because you're focused on helping each other to develop, you may consider neither the cost nor the energy expended in such activities. Even though you may sometimes overextend yourselves mentally, physically or financially, however, the potential to achieve your goals is so strong that the end result will probably far outweigh the occasional excesses and extravagances.

Philosophy (Jupiter) and spirituality (Neptune) are strongly connected in your relationship, but if Ben tries to force his philosophy too strongly on Jennifer, she could feel overwhelmed or believe that his spiritual needs are being ignored. And if Jennifer tries to prod Ben to accept her spirituality unconditionally, Ben could become confused. Things will work better between you if you take turns being active while your partner supports you. When Ben expresses a philosophy of life, Jennifer just lends spiritual support, and when Jennifer pursues spiritual goals, Ben may just contribute some philosophical ideas to expand her belief system. In this way you can ultimately create a shared philosophy of life that encompasses the best of both partners' ideas.

As long as the two of you can join forces, you can generate great power together. However, with this aspect, instead of controlling the world you might just battle each other. Then neither of you will win, and each person's energy will get drained so that you both feel personally disempowered. Then you will also lose power as a couple. Instead of fighting each other, find a project or situation on which you can agree, and then assert a bit of power together, without worrying about who's in charge. You might then see yourselves gaining momentum as a couple, and starting to become a force to be reckoned with in the world.

Using This Comparison of Your Charts

We've taken a brief look at both of your birth charts and a closer look at how your individual charts relate to each other. Perhaps now you have a little more clarity about what you personally need in a relationship, how you see each other, and how your partner's needs relate to yours. And perhaps you better understand some of the main themes and dynamics that you've been given to deal with in your life together.

Hopefully, your relationship has many islands of bliss and comfort where you can relax and just be yourselves. But hopefully there are also enough challenges to keep your life together dynamic and ever-evolving.

Remember that it's not realistic to expect perfection in each other. It's true that it may be easier to be happy and to function well with some partners than it would be with others. However, we tend to attract partners that provoke the crises we need to grow. When there's an unresolved issue that we need to work on, the relevant partner magically appears. A partner's foibles can teach us much, for they are mirrors of what we have within ourselves and may not otherwise be able to see. When we solve a problem and learn what it has to teach us, we are then permitted to move on - in most cases to a more fulfilling relationship with the same person, although sometimes we may need to strike out on our own. Usually, it's better to work with what we're given. But either way, when we step up to any challenge with open eyes, we grow in wisdom and power.

The important thing is to own up to our own responsibility in a situation, and to refrain from hiding behind a protective wall of blame. When we open ourselves to the truth, we see that both we and our partner are human and lovably imperfect. Then our hearts become free, and we have space in which to expand. We're no longer confined within our own being. When you let down your boundaries and merge with another, the two of you become one larger being with more than double the wisdom and humanity.