My astrological reading with Jan Brink, co-owner and resident astrologist at Unicorn Books & Spiritual Resource Center in Arlington seemed like a trip to the doctor and the therapist. Jan used my computer-generated chart like a lab report - she was diagnostician and adviser. I wasn't surprised to learn that Jan holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Michigan and charges a sliding scale ($75-$150) for her sessions.

Never having had "my chart done" before, the results were about as understandable as an endocrinology report. (I also ordered astrological computer summaries and forecasts; they were not nearly as interesting as an in-person session.)

As we sat in a bare room face to face with a tape recorder running, Jan explained that the basic premise of astrology is that as planets align, we pass through different phases, which is why one's sun sign (Aries, Libra, etc.) is only a small piece of the puzzle. Charts are plotted using one's birthdate, time, and location. "There's no end to what you can learn by working with your chart," she said. "But if you think your chart is who you are, you're stuck." Like a therapist, she was saying, here's the groundwork, now the rest is up to you.

There was a lot of talk about houses and planets, ascendants and transits, and those pesky retrogrades. The exciting news is that Pluto will be going over my sun for several years, in a cycle that occurs only every 250 years. She said it has and will continue to "set off total transformation in your self-awareness."

"In terms of you really finding your power," she said, "you're just starting." She seemed genuinely excited for me. If someone tells you great things are in your future, you latch on to every word.

Unicorn Books & Spiritual Resource Center, 1210 Mass. Ave., Arlington. 781-646-3680 or www.unicornbooks.org. (Get directions).