Initially, people are thrilled to have an opportunity to modify these crucial components of their hypothetical birth chart, even if it is just pretend.  It seems that everyone wishes they had more, or less, of a particular influence at work in the natal arrangement.

But without fail, when the time came to make their decisions, at least one person would pick what they already had natally.  When I remind them of the one rule and they would respond, "But I really like my Moon in Taurus" (or whatever).  Still, that wasn't permitted by the rule.  So they would reluctantly choose another placement.

Some would choose very subtle differences from their natal chart.  For example, they might use the same signs represented by their Sun, Moon, and rising sign and just switch them around.  Really, this is a pretty clever (sneaky?) approach.  While still playing by the rules, they make relatively subtle changes in the overall chart when compared with more dramatic sign changes.

Most avoided an elemental triumvirate of exclusively Fire, Earth, Air, or Water.

It really got interesting when the students would report on how pleased or displeased they were with their past week's choices.  Without fail, there was a feeling that they didn't like the changes at all or somehow didn't feel comfortable with their synthesized chart.  So, once again they were given a chance to revise their choices, subject to the lone rule.

After 3 weeks of this tinkering, it was possible to reach some conclusions.  First, what we think we want often proves to be much less fulfilling that we had anticipated.  Secondly, and most importantly, people feel most at home with their actual natal placements.

This bears some further discussion.  While none of the participants would ever claim to have a perfect life, without exception they've become largely familiar with their own inborn characteristics.  Challenges, traits, and talents become inseparable, interwoven into the very fiber of our individuality.   To modify any of the three prime indicators would start an unraveling, resulting in a disorienting disruption of the entire concept of self.

Obviously, it isn't actually possible to surgically modify our charts.  And it's a good thing that we can't.  If we were to start tinkering with the details of our birth charts, we'd likely end up with a real mess very quickly.  Each of us was born with all the tools we need.  Our mission is to learn what tools we have in our inventory and how to best use them as we work toward our highest potential.  

Our lives will never be perfect.  But we can strive to continually re-balance the inherent influences at work in our charts to best suit our current situations and needs.  We can't just do things the way we've always done them and expect things to improve.  Life is change.  And change brings with it a unique new set of challenges and opportunities. 

Rather than idly wishing that we had a different chart we can emphasize parts of our Horoscope that have lain dormant too long, or haven't been used very efficiently.  And unlike our fantasy exercise, real changes and improvements are always within our reach.

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