One of the chart forms that I find most useful in client consultation is the Three-Ring Chart.

Whether I'm meeting with a client for the first time or as a follow-up session, I always incorporate the Three-Ring Chart format into my preparation.  I use the scheduled appointment time for the Solar Arcs, Transits, and Progressed Moon calculations.

You can set up this multi-ring chart in many different ways, but I choose to put the natal chart in the center (at the bulls-eye), with the second (middle) ring showing the current Solar Arc placements, and the outer ring representing the current Transits.  If you choose to use the Progressed Moon's position it can be calculates separately and then manually written on the chart.  While Four-Ring chart formats are available, I find them to be a little over-cluttered.

As with a Three-Ring Circus, the Three Ring Chart provides us with three distinct "venues".  While our brains cannot possibly assimilate all the information simultaneously, we can sequentially shift our focus to the parts that we are drawn to. 

As you can see in the following example, the information for the middle and outer charts is oriented to be consistent with the natal house cusps, providing a visual relationship of the TR and SA planets to the natal planets and points.

An Example of Matrix' Win*Star^®  Three-Ring Chart Format
(Tri Small Wheel)

In the Three-Ring analysis, the natal chart always remains the central emphasis, appropriately positioned in the center of our Three-Ring chart.  We can then evaluate additional factors as they relate to the natal chart. (While some astrologers use TR to SA or PR planets, I restrict the analysis to relationships with the natal chart).

The usual sequence of analysis that I follow is:

This format displays a wealth of information and an indispensable "snapshot" view of the appointment time.  Certainly this is not the only way to use the Three-Wheel chart format, but this type analysis can provide a valuable adjunct to our client evaluation and interaction.