Although the temptation is to think that just because you are a woman you are in touch with your inner feminine self, this is a much more complicated task than it appears to be! First of all, the model for the true power of femininity has been lost over recent history and is now becoming re-energized. Recovering this power is a personal task for each woman, and learning to use feminine power constructively on a collective level is another challenge for today's woman. This process is the cradle of self-healing, and provides the essence of your personal security.

The primary energies associated with your inner feminine self are the Moon and Venus, but Neptune and Pluto are also significant in your experience and expression of this part of your psyche. The Moon is the energy which filters through your subconscious self, and tells the story of your connection to the part of you which provides nurturing, support, care and comfort. The person who projects the model for your Moon energy is your mother, and you see her through the lens of your own emotional matrix, signified by the Moon. As you mature, you learn to send this energy into the world, but to be truly effective, you must first own this energy and know how to use it to care for yourself!

Your Aries Moon stimulates a powerful drive to establish independence and autonomy. Your feminist attitudes result from your independent way of thinking and may forge new frontiers to advance your position as a woman in the world. Passion is your life fuel, and you need people, situations and opportunities to feel the rush of energy which arises when you are carried away by passionate desire. You can be quite headstrong when you want something, or someone, and definitely have your wiles. Even though you may have been taught to think of others and their needs first, your need to be in the lead and first on the list is there all the while, and it is definitely okay to feel that way, if you deal with that need honestly. Taking a back seat while a husband achieves his aims and you settle for just a "job" or staying home (when you don't want to) could lead to trouble if you really want to develop a strong career of your own. Yet your support of another can be quite powerful when you feel that you are also getting what you want out of the situation, and you must remember that the choice is yours. Some type of challenge keeps you alive. Whether you choose a competitive career, participate in your favorite sports or recreation, initiate all the family outings, get involved in politics or take the lead in community activities - your energy, effort and excitement can be inspirational and contagious. But if you feel penned in, ignored, abused or excessively limited - you may also be challenged internally by your own anger at not having a chance to prove yourself. This anger can undermine your strength if it is not channeled into something productive. Men may have difficulty dealing with your independence, and even though you may be tempted to prove yourself according to the masculine rules of the game, as a woman you have some attributes that a man simply cannot employ! Instead of feeling that the game of life is always about winning and losing, try to re-focus on the idea of creating or not creating. And look for some healthy outlets which allow you to win a few and lose a few. You'll always be playing, and may as well enjoy the game according to rules which allow everyone to benefit.

With your Moon in supportive trine aspect to Mercury in your chart, you are an exceptionally perceptive woman. Your desire to learn, communicate and accumulate knowledge are ever-present, helping you maintain an open mind and youthful spirit. Communicating your thoughts and feelings is easy, and your sincerity and sympathetic nature encourage others to be open with you, too. Whether you choose to pursue a career path or if you're focusing on family concerns, your problem-solving abilities always work to your advantage. Part of your strength arises from the fact that you may be able to trust your "sense" of things as much as you trust the data about them. When you say that you have a "feeling" about something, it is unlikely that anyone will accuse you of being silly, since your sensibilities are usually right on the mark!

The opposition between your Moon and Venus stimulates a need to become aware of your feelings of self-worth. All the things that go into creating self-esteem are important for you to understand, and foremost among them is an awareness of your true needs. Your wants and needs can definitely be in conflict with one another, and you can fall victim to feeling that someone else loving you, or having certain things or a particular station in life define your worth as a person. Finding the common ground between meeting your needs and satisfying your wants is not always an easy task, but you can do it if you practice the art of self-awareness. Then, your relationships will improve dramatically, too. Part of your conflict can arise from accepting the true nature of being a woman - and that includes the process of change. Allowing yourself to express who you are at any given time in your personal evolution enhances your self-acceptance. This allows you to embrace those you love more fully and freely while you feel a more profound opening of your own heart. Loving in a truly soulful manner is much easier than loving from a distance, and you do need to know how it feels to be fully immersed in the process of being, creating and sharing the essence of love.

With your Moon in a square aspect to Jupiter, you may feel restless, and may not be entirely at home with the idea of limitation - any type of limitation. You expect a lot from yourself. When you're feeling low, you can overindulge in spending, eating or playing just to get that feeling of fullness which seems to be lacking. To develop the strength of your femininity, you need to have ample outlets through which to express your generosity and caring. You must also learn that nurturing yourself does not always mean overdoing it. You also need ways to sustain your enthusiasm, which means learning to pace yourself so that you remain excited about a project (or relationship) long enough to complete it.

Your Moon is opposition to Neptune, indicating that you are profoundly sensitive at an emotional level. Your imagination, creativity and spirituality are important elements in your life, and you need ample outlets to develop them. Although it may be somewhat difficult for you to maintain your emotional boundaries, you do need to find a way to determine the difference between your real feelings and the feelings you have because of your association with others. Your sensitivity draws others into your life who may be in need of acceptance, support and rescue. In fact you feel that you are a magnet for people who need help, and may be drawn toward work which allows you to give of yourself to the world. You are a woman who feels everything, and your compassion can be immense. But in order to avoid drowning in the woes of the world or in the miseries of life, you need to develop an emotional filter. Part of that filter is structured through your creative expression, since when you're flowing with this energy, you can release and open your energies toward healing. Another element of your filter can be strengthened through meditation, or taking time to separate yourself from the demands of the world. In your intimate relationships you are a prime candidate for co-dependency, so be on the alert. You may always be working to keep your awareness levels clear, so that you know you real feelings. It is so tempting to rescue others. Before you dive into the turbulence, can you swim? Sacrificing yourself can be quite costly. If you are confused about what you need, you are likely to be too deeply immersed in something or someone, and can benefit from developing some outlets which provide objectivity. As a mother, you may be especially sensitive to your children and their needs. In fact, your psychic sensitivity to their feelings can be amazing. Your spirituality and compassion can be a wonderful comfort for them. You can also allow them to take advantage of you, since you are susceptible to their emotional blackmail - so be on the alert, especially when your children get older.

Your Moon is in the Disseminating Moon Phase of the Lunation Cycle. The idea behind this lunar phase is that of broadcasting seeds, and although there is a masculine quality implied, this phase is definitely one which requires yin, or feminine, levels of continuity. You may feel driven to teach others, to share what you know, and are quite comfortable in the role of mentor. In fact, your mentoring flows so naturally that others may not realize that you're passing on to them a truly powerful depth of knowledge and understanding. Your own understanding of yourself and life experience can be enhanced when you open yourself and release your power, creativity and understanding into the world. The archetypal quality associated with this moon phase is that of "The Companion," the essence of equality, trust and sharing. It is crucial that you maintain a strong connection with the core of your being, so that you remain aware and awake, instead of allowing your own direction to be shaped by beliefs, ideals or attitudes which seem more powerful than your personal focus. Instead of being driven by these beliefs and ideals, you grow more fully into yourself when you add your ingredients to the soup and alter the outcome. Your crusade can be quite exciting.

Through the energy of Venus you express your feminine wiles, and also locate the part of yourself that needs to be emotionally expressive. Your sense of inner beauty and feelings of personal worth are also functions of Venus. Venusian energy is part of your connection to other women, and the placement of Venus in your chart can tell you a lot about your openness and acceptance of your own femininity. Although your Moon may indicate your basic emotional nature, the manner by which you express your feelings is frequently through Venusian energy.

Through the energy of Venus in Libra you express a sense of refinement and grace in your mannerisms and demeanor. You can be quite at home in social situations, and may have an excellent manner of expression. You may feel very comfortable surrounded by blue tones, pinks and mauves, and probably look fabulous in tasteful color combinations. You're drawn to the beautiful, and enjoy opportunities to dress in your finest attire. Others may comment on your style, charm and attractiveness, and you need to realize that although you may be physically beautiful, what radiates most powerfully is your inner beauty. Music and the arts are an important part of your life, and you may enjoy artistically talented people. In addition to your own artistic sensibilities, your eye for color, form and style may be your trademark. You like to think of relationships as a 50 - 50 proposition, but may tend to give more than you receive - especially if you're trying to please someone. However, you will thrive best in a situation which is truly balanced and where both people can stand on their own. The idea of love may seem much easier than the experience you have in loving, especially if you're in the wrong situation. For you to love, you need a circumstance which is harmonious and non-threatening, and where you are not tempted to fall into judgmental attitudes.

There are no major aspects to Venus in your chart. To a large extent, this indicates that the energy of Venus is empowered, because it operates without undue influence from others energies in your chart. You may find it easier to develop a strong sense of self worth, but only if you are clear about your true values. Feeling loved is very important; the way you go about it centers in your ability to confirm that you deserve the love you need! The qualities of this energy may be an outstanding force in your life, and this is the energy which people frequently associate with your identity.

Although the planets Neptune and Pluto move very slowly and are generational in nature, they do have an influence upon your psyche. These energies define much about the collective experience which shapes your inner self. You're experiencing Neptunian energy when you're in the midst of reverie, when you're deep in dreams and when you're feeling compassionate. Neptune drives your imagination, the realm of illusion and your psychic sensibilities. Because Neptune is difficult to grasp on a physical level, there is a lot about this energy that can be problematic, and when you are caught in the negative grasp of Neptune, you can give in to addictive behaviors, escapism and deception manifesting. But you do have a way of channeling this energy. It is through Neptune that you find the heart of compassionate love and understanding. This is the doorway to your inner self.

With Neptune in Libra, you are part of the generation which has been fascinated with beauty, the idea of peace and the hope of a perfect world. Perfect relationships are part of the perfect world, but it is your very generation that has blasted through the illusion of dysfunctionality. Your role as a woman within a relationship is one you are creating, along with the other women of your generation, born from 1942 to 1956. By holding a collective image of truly egalitarian and fair-minded relationships, where each person can fully express themselves, you have been part of a global change. The effects of this change are still manifesting.

Pluto represents the primordial essence. It is from this level that all transformation occurs: birth, death, illness and healing. It is also here that the powerful kundalini force continually regenerates itself. This is the space of all creation and all power. It is the space of origin: the Great Mother.

With Pluto in Leo, you are part of a generation of women born 1938 - 1957 who have had to learn about manifesting power and breaking the illusion of the patriarchy. You are among the women who have reshaped society. If you've developed a career, you may have done so against an old system. Instead of destroying that power base, your task within the collective is to change the nature of power through love and creativity, and through honoring the sanctity of life.