Minisinoo Z

*Don't bother suggesting invection unless you're giving me the money to buy one. ;>

*I use the cooktop half again as much as the oven, so it matters more to me.

*Whirlpool has an "Accubake" option. I'm sure it's not the equivalent of convection, but would like to hear experiences of anybody who has one, vs. traditional ovens.

*Right now the Whirlpool WFC310S0ES 4.8 cu. 30" self-cleaning, 4-coil range with Accubake looks to be the best option. IF YOU HAVE THAT MODEL, do you like it?

*No, I can't have gas. I'd love it; it's not an option.

*Kenmore is the sole maker of a coil cooktop with convection, but it seems it's more aluminum than stainless steel and poorly made. (Boo)

*After having a few, I detest smooth-top ranges. There are several things they just don't do well. If I can't have gas, and can't afford invection, then coil is the next best thing.

I'm dealing with cat aggression issues that radiate out from litter boxes. Cat litter boxes come in a dizzying array, many of which are designed more for human sensibilities, not cat sensibilities, designed to hide the box. I need to RAISE the box, and by more than just a few feet. I need what amounts to a sturdy tower, 4-5 feet up, that would support a litter box, one that could be accessed by a HIGHER source, 5-6 feet (e.g., like a book shelf), so that a smaller, more nimble cat could reach the box ... but an aggressive, large, and HEAVY cat couldn't easily get up there. HEIGHT is, of course, dominance in cat language, as much as size. If he can't corner her *low*, and terrorize her, her dominance is helped. She's the eldest, and these problems developed 2 years after we brought in the kitten who turned into a giant. It's not bad integration, but a combination of sudden death of the "middle" cat and maturation of the younger cat. Young, now large cat made a bid for top cat ... and more or less succeeded. Nervy older cat never really gave in ... she just started spraying (high) furniture in order to mark her territory and avoid using the litter box where she could be cornered. (Otherwise, and now separated, she's actually quite neat, neater than the boys with her litter.)

I need to get her a litter box that's higher than anyone else's and higher than the now monster cat can reach. It would help her re-establish her Top Cat bonifides.

(It doesn't help that she is a small [7 lb] nervy Siamese female (spayed) and the challenger, now top cat is a very calm, unusually smart, fearless [16+ lb] neutered alley cat.)

I keep reading mixed things about the value of the so-called "easy" aspects in synastry. Some argue that having lots of sextiles and trines is wonderful ... others that only the hard aspects really generate romantic energy, and trines/sextiles may actually get in the way of it!

In particular, I'm curious about the Venus-Mars *trine*. I've seen this explained as an extremely easy sexual compatibility and natural attraction that will last for years ... but also as 'dead in the water and not going anywhere' without some other "fiery" aspect to set it off. Additionally, I've seen it described as as slow-starter, but lovely and long-term once it gets off the ground -- e.g., you wake up one day, finally see the other person and think, "How did I miss this right under my nose?"

Anybody who has this aspect with a partner (and lacks other "hard" Venus/Mars aspects, or Venus/Pluto or Venus/Uranus aspects) -- thoughts?

I share that aspect (I'm Mars, he's Venus), a double Sun-Venus sextile, a Sun (me)-Jupiter (him) trine, Moons conjunct, a Venus-Chiron trine, Mercury sextiles, and a Sun (me)-Pluto (him) conjunction reinforced by his Sun in my 8th house. But the only "hard" (fiery) aspect between us is a square between our Marses, (that Sun-Pluto conjunction, which is mixed), both our Venuses square the others' Asc, and one Mercury-Venus square. We have a TON of really good "easy" energy, relate absurdly well, but (mostly) lack hard aspects to kick-start it.

I suppose I need some feedback from those who HAVE a lot of "easy" aspects without the "pushy" hard aspects ... how do you experience them? Contradictory interpretations are giving me a headache.

I'm particularly interested in the Venus-Mars trine, Sun-Pluto conjunction, and Marses square (and Venus-Chiron trine, although that's a bit more esoteric, I know). To what degree do you experience these as sexual? How long did it take for your Venus-Mars trine to turn sexual? I've heard/read that Marses squaring can generate lots of sexual energy ... or simply sexual frustration/irritation ... almost the opposite of the Venus-Mars trine. (Both the Venus-Mars trine AND the squared Marses are close aspects, btw.)

If you have a Sun-Pluto conjunction without a lot of *other* "frictional" aspects suggesting sexual attraction, how do you experience the conjunction? Particularly how does the Pluto person experience it? As Pluto is an outer planet, again, I've read mixed things. First, I've read the Sun person is utterly fascinated by Pluto (er ... yup), but Pluto is oblivious. YET I've also read that the Pluto person is the one drawn to the Sun like a moth to flame, wants to "possess" the Sun person, and is the one obsessing. (I'm not in his head, and he's not talking, so I can't comment. I don't think he's obsessing ... but Pluto is also FAMOUSLY secretive, and if I've never caught him in a lie [ever!], even a "white" one -- he's honest to a fault -- I have no illusions that he says everything he's thinking.)

I'd like thoughts on the following synastric links. It looks really strong to me, but this relationship is going NOWHERE, and I'm not sure why. My interest in him is much stronger than his in me (to the point that he said to a mutual friend he'd never thought of me romantically, although we've been good friends almost 3 years). That's why I'm looking at synastry, not composite. I'm trying to see how my effect on him is so different. I should add, I don't accept anything over about 4 degrees, and focus on under 3 unless it involves a light (Sun/Moon) or cardinal point (Asc/IC/Des/MC).

Easy Aspects:

Mutual Sun/Venus sextiles of just over 2 degrees or 1.5 degrees

(my) Sun trine (his) Jupiter 1.5 degrees

(his) Venus trine (my) Mars 1.75 degrees

Mercury sextile Mercury 1.5 degrees

(his) Mercury sextile (my) Pluto 1.5 degrees

(his) Mercury sextile (my) Uranus 1.5 degrees

(my) Venus trine (his) Chiron 2 degrees

(my) Sun conjunct (his) Pluto 3+ degrees

(my) Eros conjunct (his) Pluto 2 degrees

(his) Asc conjunct (my) Neptune 3.5 degrees

Moons conjunct 3.5 degrees

(my) N.node conjunct (his) S.node 3 degrees [wide for nodes, I know, but mutual reception]

(my) Psyche conjunct (his) Jupiter by less than a degree

(my) Juno conjunct (his) Venus by 2 degrees

My ASC conjunct his IC at less than 1 degree (= My MC conjunct his Desc at same)

My Jupiter is in his 7th house conjunct his Part of Fortune

His Sun/Uranus conjunction (as is his Mercury) is in my 8th house

Fricative aspects:

Mars square Mars 2.5 degrees

Mars opposition Jupiter 3 degrees

Mutual Venus square Asc 2 or 3 degrees

(my) Sun square (his) Saturn 3+ degrees

Of dubious impact: (my) Saturn on his IC (but from/in his 3rd house) ... 1+ degree

(I can give more planetary placements in each other's houses, but tried to focus on key ones. His Vertex, btw, is in my 4th house, but mine is in his 9th house. Both our Venuses are in each other's 9th house. Both our Venuses are in Fire (mine Leo, his Sagi), and our Sun and Moon signs are the same (Libra and Aries, respectively). Our rising signs are both water (mine Pisces, his Scorpio).

Can anyone elaborate on why I am romantically drawn to him but he seems oblivious? I might point to his Sun in my 8th house and his Pluto conj. my Sun .... but I would still think, with all the other good aspects, he'd be feeling some pretty strong affective attraction (even if not romantic). There are just SO many positive aspects to relatively few really negative ones (the worst 2 are the Sun-Saturn square and the Mars-Mars square, although at least the latter can yield sexual energy ... but doesn't seem to here).

I'm baffled!

What size orbs do you use in synastry? I tend to use smaller orbs myself than in natal charts. Below are my general "rules of thumb," but I'd love thoughts from others.

6* for lights and angles, esp. if they involve a personal planet and a conj./opp

4* for other planets with conj./opp/square/trine

2-3* for the sextile (definitely 3, maybe 4 if the sextile involves a light)

2* for the quincunx, and 1-2* for any mid-point contact. Asteroids, 1-2* at most, and there, I don't even mess with anything that's not a conj or opposition. Nodes ... mostly 1-2*, but node-to-node, I might widen it, due to the possibly Karmic aspect there. So if 2 people have N.Node/S.Node in loose conjunction (up to 4*), I'm going to consider that relevant because it's SUCH a key contact.

Some additions ... if the orb is a little wide between two planets that otherwise form significant aspects in synastry, I accept them. E.g. if it's a trine between, say, Jupiter and Saturn and it's 4*22`, but Jupiter and Saturn form key aspects to lights or significant personal planets (Venus or Mars). Then I'd count that trine as valid. Part of "aspect pattern" stuff. Same with conjunctions ... center planet between two out of orb ... the outer two still resonate.

I was recently reading through Liz Greene's Saturn book, and she wants to allow larger orbs for Saturn. OTOH, I agree that one NEEDS strong Saturn contacts in a synastry chart for there to be staying power. BUT, OTOH, Saturn is a generational planet. It moves relatively slowly. So while I look at Saturn as important, I'm *not* inclined to widen orbs for it. Same with Jupiter, unless aspecting a light (or angle). So yes, Saturn is important, but I keep the *orbs* narrow.

Thoughts from y'all on orbs in synastry?

Starting next March/April, Neptune will make the first cross to my Pisces Ascendant. For reference, I happen to have Saturn conjunct my ascendant in the last (anaretic) degree of Aquarius, from the 12th house. Neptune has BEEN doing a number on that, and it hasn't been fun. Additionally, my natal Neptune is in Scorpio, right inside/on the cusp of my 9th house.

Advice on what I might want to guard against? I know that Neptune can bring enlightenment, artistic inspiration, spiritual interest, and greater empathy ... all those good things. And it will be in its ruling sign, bringing the more positive, stronger side.

But I also know Neptune can bring deception, betrayal, cloudy-headedness, and ill health. (I'm in pretty good health now, but at 47, I'm entering perimenopause.) So the "bad" sad of Neptune concerns me. I'm hoping that a Saturn Rising will help offset some of the possible "deception" of Neptune crossing it, but I don't know (meaning my being easily deceived), but that doesn't rule out betrayal by others, etc. Neptune conjunct my natal Saturn mostly made me EXTREMELY (as in clinically) depressed ... and I am not either moody or depressive by nature (rather the opposite). So even Saturn in it's ruling sign did not help much in offsetting the "dark night of the soul" when Neptune crosses Saturn. I'm really, REALLY glad to be rid of it.

Incidently, I am not married (I've been divorced 6 years now), so I don't anticipate that Neptune opposed my descendant is likely to cause a divorce. :-) Nor am I currently seeing anyone (although that would be *nice*, but I've been single since the divorce, not even a real "date").

Given that Neptune rules my 9th house right on the cusp and I am an academic, as well as a fiction-writer (and natal Neptune sextiles a Mecury/Pluto/Uranus stellum in my 7th in Virgo), I'm assuming academia and publishing/writing are areas more likely to be affected? I don't know if Neptune crossing the ascendant bodes well for that, or just promises really bad news.

Thoughts? Up-sides and down-sides of Neptune crossing the ascendant when it's Pisces?

I realize synastry is a complicated thing, but can't quite figure out why my relationship with a best friend of some years with several hallmarks of "soulmates" isn't going anywhere. In fact, he recently told a mutual friend he'd never thought of me romantically ... although she suggested he might want to! (I have no idea if he did/has; he may have "thought about it" just long enough to dismiss it.)

Birthdata for both: 9-23-64, Winter Haven, FL, 4:56pm (female); 10-12-73, Omaha, NE, 10:10am (male).

Among the better aspects (f=female/m=male):

--Very close Moon/Moon conj.

--Mutual Sun/Venus sextiles

--F-Mars trine M-Venus/Neptune conj.

--F-Sun trine M-Jupiter

--M-Sun square F-Sun/Moon midpoint

--F-Asc/Saturn conj. in near-exact conj. to M-IC

--N-Node conj. S-Node (for both, although a somewhat wide orb for nodes at 4 degrees)

--M-Chiron close trine F-Venus

--M-Vertex conj, F-N-Node

--F-Juno conj. M-Venus

--Mercuries sextile (F-Mercury is exactly conj. Pluto, so it's also M-Merc/F-Pluto sextile)

--F-Chiron close trine M-Mercury

--F-Sun conj. M-Pluto

Less good (or outright bad) aspects:

--M-Venus square F-Saturn (not tight, but there)

--M-Mars square F-Mars

--M-Saturn square F-Sun

--His Sun has only one aspect from my planets (the Sun-Venus sextile)

--His Moon has only one aspect from my planets (close Moon-Moon conj.)

--F-Lilith conj. M-N.Node

--mutual Venus square Asc

--M-Mercury square F-Venus

--M-Jupiter opposition F-Mars

--M-Jupiter square F-Moon

(I realize the last 3 are not all that bad, but they don't help)

I'm well aware Saturn can have a severe dampening effect, but at least with the Saturn-Venus square, my Saturn is in the last decan of Aquarius, putting it not only in the sign it ruled traditional (pre-Uranus), but also in the decan ruled by Venus (which helps). But given the amount of magnetism I see otherwise in synastry, I don't get the apparent blockage on his part. We're good friends (to his mind), but he doesn't seem to have considered more.

What am I missing?