Book excerpt: Do you know the Bowl from the Basket shape in a natal chart? Did you realise just how much information you can gain from examining the actual pattern of the planets in the chart?No matter how knowledgeable we are about astrology, natal chart analysis can still present a challenge - however, understanding chart shapes could make all the difference. In this fascinating study, Wanda Sellar pinpoints an effective route into the astrological labyrinth using a concept which was pioneered by Marc Edmund Jones and then followed by Robert Jansky in the last century. Each chart shape has its own central theme: a Locomotive shape has its starting point with the leading planet which may be in any house or sign, a See-Saw shape begins with the core opposition, a Wedge with the confining trine.Not all charts fit neatly into one of the idealised patterns, and those that take a little coaxing are still a revelation in interpretation. Sometimes it is the planet that stands outside the idealised shape that reveals the core of the personality. This treasure trove includes a multitude of worked case histories, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mata Hari, George Blake, Bobby Fischer, Harrison Ford and Agatha Christie. This fascinating and accessible book is suitable for all levels.