Returning client, new question. He’s got job offers in two cities: the one where he lives now, and another an ocean plus a continent away. But the way he carefully phrased his question revealed the true issue on his mind. He asked, “Which represents the best future for my son?”

(Chart data: 21 April 2008, 3:54pm EDT, Boston, MA USA. ASC 20 Virgo 23, Moon 17 Scorpio 29. Regiomontanus houses.)

(Click the chart to enlarge it.)

I’m taking the 1st house and its ruler to stand for “stay here.” I’m taking the 7th house and its ruler to stand for “move there.” The added twist of “Which is better for my son?” means we’ll take the ruler of the 5th house into account. The 5th is the house of the querent’s children.

With Virgo rising, “here” is represented by Mercury and by the state of the 1st house. How are things here? Mercury is in mixed condition, but improving. By essential dignity, it has strength by term and face. Term and face are minor pluses, suggesting this current city isn’t the querent’s ideal, but has some good things going for it.

By accidental dignity, Mercury is seriously suffering. Less than 6 degrees away from the Sun, Mercury is combust: burned up by the Sun’s heat. Ouch! Count that as a major affliction to “here.” The good news is that Mercury is separating from conjunction and quickly outdistancing the Sun, so there’s the sense that the worst problems are behind it.

Any benefits or afflictions to the first house? Yes, three serious afflictions. One, the ascendant is trine Jupiter in its fall. Two, it is sextile Mars in triplicity and fall. Three, it’s sextile Moon in its fall. These are Not Nice. But the same planets afflict the descendant as well (Jupiter sextiles, Mars trines, Moon trines). Since both “here” and “there” are similarly afflicted, these factors – though all really ugly – don’t tip the balance for or against either place.

So “here” has some natural advantages. At the moment, it seems to be in dire straits but, on the plus side, it seems to be escaping them. Tomorrow, we’ll look at the 7th house and see whether it promises a better future – or a worse one.