'Yes, but what exactly IS a horoscope?', or 'What does an astrologer actually do?'.  The two most commonly asked questions, or so I've found.  The first is easy - a horoscope is a two dimensional representation of the planets in the heavens and their relationship to planet Earth - and by extension, oneself - at any given time.  This pattern changes every instant, never repeated, which is what makes every individual unique.  The translation of that unique pattern is where the astrologer comes in.  Every astrologer is different, but in my twenty nine years of doing charts I've developed my own ideas on this.  An astrologer should be able to translate the horoscope into English, revealing the natal gifts and skills and talents, as well as the potential difficulties and occasional challenges inherent in the chart/individual.  S/he should then be able to explain times from one's past that are still echoing into the present, expand the potentials of the 'now' (one month either side of the current day), and explore the potentials for at least the coming six months, if not a full year.  And s/he should be able to do this concisely, In clear English with no pyschobabble or hippyspeak.  Having your chart done for the first time is one of those once in a lifetime experiences.  And to me as an astrologer, it doesn't mater whether I'm giving twleve or fifteen half hour readings from a client's house or local shop, or whether I'm spending half a day with an individual client in my office.  The more I see the uniqueness of each chart, the more I sense the mulitude of different pathways and options open to us all at any given time.