Gloria Steinem (1934 – 2026)

“Thank you for understanding that sometimes we must put our bodies where our beliefs are. Sometimes pressing send is not enough. And this also unifies us with the many in this world who do not have computers or electricity or literacy, but do have the same hopes and the same dreams.”

~ Gloria Steinem

Leading feminist Gloria Steinem died this week, aged 92.  She was an activist and journalist, and called herself “an entrepreneur of social change”.  She campaigned for equality and civil rights, and opposed violence against women.  A glamorous figure, she was criticised for the supposed advantage this gave her.  Stylewise, she was an icon, her “look” described as follows:

“Her streaked blond hair, aviator glasses, with, soft-voiced calm and miniskirts”

by Yvonne Roberts, writing for the Guardian.

Birth Chart

Gloria Steinem had the Sun in Aries, assertive enough, but conjunct its ruler Mars, doubling up on assertion.  The fieriness was added to by the Moon in Leo.  With her Moon trine her Sun, her conscious and unconscious minds were in harmony: her right hand knew what the left hand was doing.  The “activist” energy was boosted and driven by an Ascendant in Scorpio.

Her Moon was closely trine Mars, giving her quick emotional reactions.  She was a person who couldn’t resist action, if she saw something wasn’t right.  The Moon is positioned at the top of the chart, and this may well signify the main role she was destined to play, that of the Feminist, although she started out identifying as a Humanist.

The Humanist comes from a triple conjunction in Aquarius of North Node/Venus/Saturn – the desire to work to defend the underdog.

With Jupiter trine Saturn, she had good balanced judgement.  But, at the same time, Jupiter square Pluto made her subject to and sensitive to power struggles in her life, including those which she herself chose.

Symbols of success in her chart included Jupiter trine North Node (a successful karmic mission) and Jupiter closely sextile Midheaven (a successful career).  She had three iconoclastic aspects in her birth chart: Saturn sextile Uranus (breaking the mould of current social mores); Uranus square Pluto (she was an absolute revolutionary for Change); and Uranus trine the Midheaven (a career delivering change).  Not forgetting the triple conjunction in Aquarius…

Life and Career

Gloria Steinem was born in Toledo, Ohio. Her father’s mother chaired a women’s suffrage association, and had rescued several members of their family from the Holocaust, arranging safe passage for them.  Her father was a travelling antiques dealer, and their life was itinerant.  But her mother had delicate mental health, and when Gloria was 10 her parents’ marriage broke down.  She was left to look after her mother.

Her mother’s situation affected her deeply, witnessing the difficulties of women working in the current climate, and also witnessing the neglect and apathy of the medical profession towards her mental problems.  Thus were the seeds sown for her later mission.

She had an abortion in 1957 at the age of 22, which further informed her social mission.  In those days, abortions were illegal, and a British doctor risked his reputation to help her.  She would never forget this, as well as the social message of shame given to the practice of abortion.  She dedicated her 2015 memoir to him (“My Life on the Road”).  He asked her: “You must promise me two things. First, you will not tell anyone my name. Second, you will do what you want to do with your life.”  At the time of the abortion, her Progressed Sun reached her natal Uranus in Aries in 6^th House of Health, Uranus being a shock to the system.

She went on to spend two years in India, and admiring Mahatma Gandhi, modelled her later campaign work after his independence movement.

In 1963 she was employed as a Playboy Bunny in New York, while undercover as a journalist.  She then revealed in an article how women were treated there, at the same time receiving a level of criticism for her action.

In 1968 millionaire Cay Felker launched “New York” magazine, and hired Gloria to write a column called “The City Politic.”

In 1969 she covered an abortion “speak-out” event for the magazine.  This was to be a seminal moment for her.  Because she herself had had an abortion, she connected deeply with the issue. She felt what she called a “big click” realizing that women were not to blame.  It was the system, misogynistic and sexist. She dates her feminist path from that moment.

“I wasn’t going to let things happen to me. I was going to direct my life, and therefore it felt positive.”

In 1971, she co-founded” Ms”, the first magazine which was owned and run by women.

On July 10 of that year, Steinem was one of more than three hundred women who founded the National Women’s Political Caucus with leading figures in the movement such as Betty Friedan.  She delivered a speech, which included the words:

“This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race because they are easy and visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labour on which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned. We are really talking about humanism.”

It was an astrologically fired speech, with Neptune at the time opposite her Chiron (her sensitivity about the need for healing to the fore, igniting compassion); Uranus was opposite her Mars (firebrand energy); Mars was on her Venus (spoken with passion) and in addition she had a Nodal Return in Aquarius (a karmic nudge towards fulfilling her mission).

In 2005 she co-founded the Women’s Media Center, together with Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan, with the aim of making women visible and powerful  in the media.

In 2013 she was a presenter at the “Chime for Change” concert at Twickenham.  Gucci was the founder of “Chime for Change”, which focussed on raising funds and awareness for women and girls.  “Chime for Change” was fulfilling the spirit of her natal exact Uranus-Pluto square.

In the 2008 and 2015 Presidential election campaigns, Gloria backed and voted for Hillary Clinton, though she was also supportive of Barak Obama and Bernie Sanders.

In 2017 she was honorary co-chair and speaker at the Women’s March on Washington the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated for his first period of office.

I wrote a blog about the march at the time, which included:

“The day after Donald Trump was elected [first period of office], organizers set to work planning a women’s march for the day after his inauguration.  The months of his campaigning had seen him insult women, gays, other races, the disabled and climate protection.  A show of strength was needed, on behalf of human decency.

The time and date for the march was set for 10 a.m. on 21st January 2017 in Washington D.C., and [the chart of the day] speaks volumes about the nature and intent of the Women’s March…

She added her voice to all those around the world prepared to stand up for women’s rights and the rights of all who are oppressed:

‘We’re standing up to the misogynists, the bullies and the haters who try to intimidate and silence people online, just as for years they tried to intimidate or silence women on the street…For the sake of our children and grandchildren…we are here because we will not let the clock be turned back.’ “

Marriage

She dismissed the idea of marriage to a great extent, though she did have relationships, but surprisingly, on 3^rd September 2000 at the age of 66 she married David Bale, the father of the actor Christian Bale.  Apparently, he was the love of her life, but what dramatic astrological transits were taking place at the time?  Quite a few, as it happens…:

Pluto was trine her natal Mars (dramatic event in relation to the men in her life!); Pluto squared her natal Neptune (a huge psychological shift); Uranus transiting her natal North Node (a karmic U-turn); Chiron square her natal Neptune (more psychological shifting and sensitivity);  Saturn was on her natal Chiron in Gemini in 7^th House (a commitment in connection with a lifelong wound in connection with close relationship and marriage); Jupiter sextile her natal Mars (a joyful vibe with the man in her life); Jupiter square her natal Neptune (an expansion of her ideals); Mars on her Midheaven (focussing her future direction on a man in her life); and finally the North Node on her natal Pluto (karma of a deep nature).

We owe a great deal to Gloria Steinem, and the zeal of her karmic mission.  I thoroughly recommend her 2015 memoir “A Life on the Road.”

“In truth, we don’t know which of our acts in the present will shape the future. But we have to behave as if everything we do matters. Because it might.”

“Our first problem is not to learn – but to unlearn…woman means submission, black means inferior…preconceptions embedded so deeply in our thinking we may not know they are there.”

~ Gloria Steinem 

Aspects

The aspects this week start on Wednesday (9^th) with a trine between Venus and the North Node.  Soul-searching on this day may culminate in some resolution and a mellow mood, and confidence in your right path.  This links karma with harmony and love, and reminds us that love is a force underlying a great deal of human interaction, e.g. protecting loved ones.  It also reminds us of the Hindu law of ahimsa, or harmlessness, required to neutralize and promote good karma.

Thursday (10^th) is a busy day aspect-wise, making up for the absence of aspects early in the week.  First, Venus enters Scorpio, so emotions and passions could be heightened.  This is a time when deep feelings can be experienced and expressed.  Her previous sojourn through Libra focussed on relationships, and on entering Scorpio the quality of relationship deepens.  You can take a relationship to the next level.

In the afternoon, Mercury enters Libra, taking Venus’ previous position.  This may be a breath of relief from all the soul-searching of the previous two features.  This brings a new mental focus on cultural themes, which could bring more pure enjoyment: art and music being fundamental areas for Libra, and decision-making. Mercury in Libra is slightly more relaxed than Mercury in Virgo (even though Virgo is Mercury’s home sign), and it stays only until 30^th September.

Then Chiron opposes Venus, which underlines the need for healing in relationships.  Minor health conditions may be caused by stress, and reducing stress may help to ease the conditions.  Music and meditation may be the way forward.  The issues may be connected with one’s inner female, or one’s relationships.  It may be an artistic conundrum.

Finally, in the early evening, Uranus is Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde. It’s time for a real re-think, re-evaluation, reflection and revision.  Uranus of course is also the planet of rebellion and revolution.  You need to review the way you do things, and the way you think about things, and find new types of solutions suited to future working.

We have a New Moon in Virgo on Friday (11^th).  You may come to the end of a line of enquiry or a work project during the course of the week, ready for this New Moon, when new experiences can take place.  Aspirations around this New Moon in Virgo could be very work-orientated.  Ecology and the environment are also provinces of Virgo, so benefits could accrue for the planet if enough minds are concentrated on this aspect of life.

The last day of the week gives us two further aspects.  The first is a constructive trine between Mercury and Pluto on Saturday (12^th).  This will be of great benefit to Geminians and Virgoans, as well as our mental make-up generally.  It challenges us to dig deeper (sorry, more soul-searching).  This aspect is conducive to psychological reflection, and earnest conversations between friends or colleagues.  It is good for in-depth consultations and negotiations, and researching past lives. Something to chew on.

Then Neptune opposes Mercury, so the Mercury-ruled Geminians and Virgoans may become confused by their own conjectures.  If the previous trine has been conducted well, then this may be a refinement of their ideas.  If not, they may feel they have been overthinking, and need a lie down!  For the rest of us, we too may be confused.  But bear in mind that “A Course in Miracles” teaches that confusion is a high state.  It may mean a transition to a higher perspective.  Try not to engage in long and complicated journeys, or deep waters.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – karmic harmony
• Thursday – passions heightened; cultural themes; need for healing in relationships; a reflective u-turn
• Friday – new beginning
• Saturday – mentally dig deeper; transitioning confusion

Dolly Parton (1946 – 2026)

“The joke’s on the public. I know exactly what I’m doing and I can change it at any time … I’m sure of myself. I’m sure of my talent.”

~ Dolly Parton, in riposte to Barbara Walters

I can’t remember a more celebrated singer-songwriter than Dolly Parton on her passing.  The BBC 10 o’clock news devoted half its coverage to her  on the night, which is unprecedented.  And there has been so much broadcast about her since, that there is little left for me to say, other than to add the astrological detail.  I guarantee everyone reading this has an earworm of one of her songs, right this minute!  She was universally loved, both for her singing, songwriting and philanthropy, and one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Birth Chart

Dolly had the Sun in Capricorn, and the ruling planet Saturn.  This is her internal grit and shrewdness; not the outward rhinestone-studded persona.  Her Sun was conjunct Venus, “the Singer”, in the 5^th House of Creativity and Performance: that’s more like the persona, what she projected.  With Sun square Jupiter, she was “larger than life”.

With the Moon sextile her North Node, she was “born to be in the public eye”, and had a karmic mission to work with “emotion”, as in country music. Mercury squaring Chiron meant that she was a “problem solver”, a huge achievement being her contribution to children’s literacy.  Mercury also exactly trine her Ascendant gave her a good nervous system.  The position of Mercury at the beginning of her 5^th House meant that she loved writing and was prolific in it.  And crucially, Mercury conjunct Venus (although wide) in Capricorn in her 5^th House of Creativity, gave her the “Songwriter Archetype”.  She wrote more than 3000 songs in her lifetime.  Venus opposite Saturn enabled her to write about heartache, romantic and otherwise.  Moreover, Jupiter conjunct Chiron added the ability to heal through expressing wounds (catharsis).  She spoke for many.

Jupiter closely trine North Node, karmic mission assisted by godliness, she was very religious, but not necessarily in the conventional sense. Her grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher. She did however believe in living out her ideals.

Uranus trine Neptune, Uranus sextile Pluto, and Neptune sextile Pluto represented harmony of the outer planets, almost a mini-Barbault Cradle.  A solid basis for the psyche.  Uranus at the top of the chart, exactly square the Ascendant, denoted a very individualistic career.

Uranus positioned exactly conjunct the Midheaven, emphasizing even more the very individualistic career and persona.  As Ben Beaumont-Thomas points out in the Guardian obituary “This was all done with considerable panache, rhinstoned glamour and towering hairdos”.

With the Ascendant square the Midheaven, there was a marked clash between her public and private life, she kept them separate, partly because her husband shied away from the limelight.

Please note this is not an exhaustive look at her chart. 

Life and Career

She was born in a cabin on the banks of Little Pigeon River in Tennessee.  Fourth out of twelve siblings, she described her upbringing as “dirt poor” but also full of love, and there was always food on the table.  She was delivered by a missionary, paid with a sack of cornmeal.  Her father was a sharecropper and tobacco farmer.  Her mother’s was the musical influence, and an uncle encouraged her to perform.

She wrote her first song at the age of six, played on a home made guitar at seven, and was given her first proper guitar at eight.  She turned professional aged sixteen, and began her success as a songwriter.

1967 was an important year for her, her age twenty-one.  She was invited to appear with country musician Porter Wagoner on his regular television show.

At the time, her progressed Sun was trine her natal Mars/Saturn conjunction, and forming a Grand Trine with her natal Chiron in musical Libra in her 2^nd House.

This proved to be a good showcase for her talent.  He gave her a five-year contract, during which time she became very popular.  After seven years, without a pay rise, it felt like a prison for her burgeoning talent and ambition.

Lesson: How best to free oneself from a karmic entanglement in the highest possible way? She eventually broke free by writing her most successful song of all time (on the same day as Jolene), a song which contained all the love in the world, no bitterness: “I Will Always Love You”.  She wrote it for Wagoner, as a goodbye song.  Love overcomes all (karma).  The song would prove to bring her unimaginable riches in the future, karmic reward.

This story would bear a whole blog study on its own, but we do not have available the date she wrote the two songs, and other vital astrological data which would make it complete.

Her career as singer-songwriter went from strength to strength.  She also acted in various films, such as 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.  Although she started out as a country singer, and always was, she diversified and entered the mainstream of the pop world.

Songs

I will Always Love You (1974)

“…I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love…

She wrote this song the same night as she wrote Jolene, and it was to be a watershed in her creative life.  As written above, it expressed only love for the musical partner she had worked with for seven years, who maybe kept her hostage through his own insecurity.  The song became the best-selling single by a woman, with an estimated 20 million sales, markedly as a result of the recording made by Whitney Houston for the film The Bodyguard.

Another testament to her integrity, and also her shrewdness, was that Colonel Parker wanted to buy the publishing rights for Elvis Presley, who loved the song.  She refused, and did not regret it.

She told that the first time she heard Whitney’s version she was driving along, and was so taken aback to hear what Whitney had done with it, that she had to pull over to the kerb.  She admired Whitney’s version.  Many say that Whitney’s version is better, but I like them both equally.

The song does have an amusing memory for me (they say everyone remembers where they were when it was first played).  It was released on 2^nd September 1992.  We had just moved  into our present house, and the next door neighbour had it on loud replay until Christmas.  She was very much in love.

Dolly, with her characteristic wit, quipped that it earned her enough “to buy Graceland”.

Islands in the Stream (1983)

“Islands in the stream
That is what we are

No one in be-tween how can we be wrong
Sail away with me to another world
And we re-ly on each other uh huh”

This duet with Kenny Rogers, is my own personal favourite.  It was written by the Bee Gees, and produced by Barry Gibb.

The story goes that it was earmarked for Kenny Rogers, and he was attempting to do it justice in the recording studio, but he just couldn’t get on with it.  It was written to be sung as a solo.  Dolly Parton happened to be down the road, and they decided to pull her in, to help.  And the rest is history!

I love their harmonies.  The song went two times platinum in sales. 

Jolene (1973)

 “…Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene…”

Jolene was written on the same night as “I Will Always Love You”.  We do not know the date of that huge event, but it was recorded on 22^nd May 1973.  On that date, Jupiter was  exactly trine Dolly’s Midheaven (a blessing on her career).  Her arguably two most popular songs written on one night, imagine that.  Jolene topped the country chart in February 1974.

Dolly was such a storyteller, and this story goes that Dolly had not long been married to Carl Dean, and a red-haired bank clerk had been flirting with him.

Coat of Many Colours (1971)

“…Mama sewed the rags together
Sewin’ every piece with love
She made my coat of many colours
That I was so proud of…”

Often said to be Dolly’s own favourite song, it was about the love with which her mother made her a coat from coloured scraps, when she was being bullied at school for her clothing, during the “dirt poor” childhood.  Like all Dolly’s songs, it was sung with pure heart.

9 to 5 (1980)

“…Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping
Out on the street, the traffic starts jumping
With folks like me on the job from 9 to 5…”

One of Dolly Parton’s most popular songs, it is indelibly linked in the mind’s eye to her performance in the film of that name, for which it was written.  She appeared in the film alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and people knew her now as not just a singer-songwriter but an accomplished actor. The song reached number one on the country chart  in February 1981.  The words resonated for many.  She spoke for the workers of the world.

Carl Dean

Carl was the love of her life.  She met him the day after graduating from school, when she took herself off to Nashville to make her name.  She met him outside a laundrette.  If that is not fate, destiny and karma, I don’t know what is.  It sounds extraordinary, and it is, but I do have a close friend the same thing happened to: relocating from Scotland to London and meeting her life partner the very day she arrived.  How these things are arranged, I do not know, it never fails to amaze me, but they happen.

Carl’s birthday was 20^th July 1942, and the immediate thing that strikes you in their synastry is that their Suns are opposite each other, in the Cancer-Capricorn polarity, making them a complement to each other.  Their chart interaspects are strong, and too long to enumerate here, but it is important to mention that they had a very strong karmic link: his Venus was conjunct her North Node (karmic love.

They married on 30^th May 1966, and were married until his death last year.  At the time of their marriage, she had important and beneficial contacts to her Venus (Love): transiting Venus was sextile her natal North Node; and transiting Chiron and Saturn were sextile her natal Venus.

As mentioned, and widely known, Carl shunned the limelight, and quietly got on with his own career running an asphalt road and driveway-paving business.  Their marriage was notably strong, despite her frequent absence due to her very public career.  An interesting romantic gesture was that he regularly wrote poems for her.

Carl died on 3^rd March 2025, and she put her career on hold to care for him, and she said recently she neglected her own health in that time.  During that period, Pluto was transiting her natal Sun, the confrontational nature of which is undeniable.  In his own chart, his death came as Neptune opposed its natal position in his chart, a time of spiritual balancing.

Dolly collaborated with many artists, and loved many.  There are some people I would like to highlight, for various reasons.

Whitney Houston

The song “I Will Always Love You” impacted both their lives, positively.  That sounds like a divine set-up…

Whitney’s Venus (her Singing) was exactly conjunct Dolly’s Pluto (depth).  The two brought something extraordinary out of each other, both in quality (of sound) and quantity (of money)!  Whitney’s Mars (energy) was also exactly conjunct Dolly’s Neptune (sensitivity) in Libra (the sign of music).

I would like to think that, once Dolly has got over her huge warm welcome on the other side, and settled into the heaven worlds, that she and Whitney will collaborate on the ultimate version of “I will Always Love You”!

Miley Cyrus

By all accounts, the young singer Miley Cyrus was very close to Dolly Parton.  Miley’s father Billy Ray Cyrus was a support act at one time for Dolly, and Dolly became Miley’s godmother.  Dolly also played Miley’s character’s aunt in Hannah Montana.  The two have performed together, and Dolly has mentored Miley in her career.  It is my feeling that Miley and Billy Ray are part of Dolly’s Soul Group.

Billy Ray’s synastry with Dolly Parton is exceptional, starting with his Sun conjunct her Moon (a close relationship), through exact opposite Venuses (complementary musical sensibilities), a karmic sextile of their North Nodes, opposite Moons (complementary emotional make-up), and other wonderful synastry notes.

Miley herself had Sun sextile Dolly’s Sun (a fundamental harmony of being), and a karmic healing interaspect of her North Node sextile Dolly’s Chiron. 

Kenny Rogers

It was amazing how Dolly somehow “stumbled” into rescuing and making Kenny’s song “Islands in the Stream”, one of the most iconic duets of all time.  They obviously had a special role in each other’s destiny.  I could watch and listen to that chemistry over and over.

The karmic factor in their synastry is his North Node trine Dolly’s Mars/Saturn conjunction (her action promoting his destiny).  Another important feature of their synastry was his Sun sextile her Jupiter in Libra (music), enabling each other’s success.

Books

Dolly was a philanthropist in every sense of the word: it was etched in her philosophy and faith.

Probably her most incredible contribution to the world was inspired by her father:

“My father could not read or write, and I saw how crippling that could be.”

As long ago as 1995 she began a project named the Imagination Library.  In this endeavour, she sent an age-appropriate book to every child in her country every month until they were five.

This was expanded internationally in 2006, and is still running to this day.  It provided millions of books for children.  Her single act has been life-changing for many worldwide.  It is one of the things for which the slogan “Be More Dolly” is oft-quoted.

Health

The reason that Dolly did not have children was that she was early on diagnosed with the painful condition endometriosis. She had a partial hysterectomy in her late 30s.  This was possibly symbolized in her chart by Moon at 0 degrees Virgo in her 12^th House.

A departing transit on her passing this week was Saturn transiting the cusp of her 8^th House of Transformation.  She transformed the world this week, uniting the disunited states of America, and uniting the disunited world at war with itself.  Dolly’s message was to love one another.

“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right.  But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.”

~ Taylor Swift

“Everyone talks about a divided America, but her superpower was to bring people together.  She transcended her role and became a universal figure, a bit like the queen, and similarly the reaction to her passing has been exceptional.”

~ Billy Bragg

Aspects

There is not so much to report on the week’s aspects, so its brevity will make up for Dolly’s long blog.

We start with a big Trine, that of Jupiter with Saturn.  In the days before the outer planets were discovered, this would have been the biggest thing since sliced bread (if it had been invented).

Jupiter trines Saturn in the late evening of tomorrow, Monday (31^st).  For me, in my experience and practice, it represents balance, and discerning decisions.  The optimism of Jupiter is tempered by the realism and wisdom of Saturn.  Sometimes you can feel torn by two ways of being, or of seeing things, but this aspect makes things easier to manage.  It can enable balanced judgements and when in a duo, trio or quartet can enable the small group to achieve balance and realism.

For the late great Astrologer Alan Oken in a birth chart it denoted:

“JUPITER trine Saturn EXPANSION FLOWS OR WORKS WELL WITH CONSOLIDATION.  These aspects are most fortunate, as they contribute to common sense and a good sense of timing.  Such people have an understanding of their limitations and the foresight to balance their efforts with the situation at hand.  Religious aspiration can be balanced with practical application of philosophical principles.  This aspect is frequently found in the horoscopes of individuals who are successful in the material sphere.  ‘The Banker’ “

He may be identifying an Archetype here, the Inner Banker.  Maybe you can find it in yourself, at this time, this Bank Holiday.

We now come into September (already), and on Tuesday morning (1^st) Saturn squares Mars, which is not a picnic. It is the most challenging aspect of the week.  This may involve conflict, for example brinkmanship between two countries.  I think of this aspect as a square peg in a round hole, and a square peg which you shouldn’t try to push through the round hole.  Energies clash, and there may be an impasse of some sort.  You may feel tired and a little discouraged, and unproductive.  Ride it out gently.  And observe others carefully, who may not be astrologically mindful.  If you are hoping to make headway immediately after the Bank Holiday, you may need to exercise more patience for a little longer.

At lunchtime on the same day, there may be some whole or part resolution with a positive sextile between Mercury and Mars, which can get things moving at least a little, though of the three planets involved that day Saturn usually has the last word.  This second aspect of the day may bring about brisk action.  But with Saturn still squaring Mars, you may still need to take a very measured and cautious step.  You may however receive ideas to implement in the future, if not into your day.  Your mental reactions may be heightened, and this can lead to enhanced productivity.

Here endeth the aspects for the week, but I can offer you a Fixed Star for Wednesday (2^nd September), that of Zosma.  Zosma is the delta star in the constellation of Leo.

Bernadett Brady lists it as “part of the triangle of victim, saviour or perpetrator”.  With the Sun in Virgo, these are very Virgoan positionalities. She reports that Robson equates it with an “alert mind”, and Rigor adds “a love of life”.

“Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld provides the following information:

“Those who understand leadership and charisma may reach a point of deep introspection where they may be in a position of more fame than they wished, more exposure to the public eye than they felt was appropriate, or an awareness of themselves in a leadership capacity that brings them to a place where they must reconsider who they are.”

With Zosma’s position in the constellation of Leo, leadership is highlighted.

The information goes on to say, in words which Dolly Parton would approve, a further instruction for leadership:

“They may be able to see more easily through other people’s eyes, the true love and sense of caring by which they are actually able to funnel or channel other people’s energies.”

This does not appear to be an easy star, but has some merits.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – Balance
• Tuesday – conflict; frustration; brisk action with caution
• Wednesday – clearing victim wounds; assuming ethical leadership

Prince Harry and Meghan

Harry and Meghan announced this week that they will be moving back to England from California before the end of the month, to live just outside London, and have enrolled their children in school for September.  This was unexpected, and we do not know their reasons, or how their security will be funded.  So I thought I would take a brief look to see what is going on for them astrologically.  The South Node currently conjunct the Fixed Star Regulus shines a spotlight on the royal family at this time karmically, as Regulus is associated with royalty.

First, their relationship, as described in a blog of 2017:

“The interaspect between them are not all smooth sailing, which is possibly why they both needed to build some maturity before meeting.  Her Neptune squares his Sun, so he is arrested by her glamour.  Her Chiron is exactly conjunct his Moon, helping him to deal with the wounds surrounding his mother.  Her Sun is exactly square his Saturn, so involvement with him brings the need for more discipline and commitment in her life.  Her Venus is sextile exactly his Saturn, which is an aspect of loyalty and commitment.  Her Nodal Axis is exactly square his Pluto, so their lives together will bring never a dull moment, and be demanding psychologically.  Her Mars is exactly opposite his Ascendant, so there is some fieriness between them, but it does also emphasize the passion.”

Written at the time of their engagement, there does seem to be some naivete on my part, but the potential mismatch does come out clearly.

Harry

Losing his court case

He lost the court case with the Daily Mail on 7^th July, leading a group of celebrities including Elton John, Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost.This event happened before Barbault’s Cradle came into sharp force, but his Mercury is in a feminine sign (Virgo) so was not in a position to profit easily from that, with Uranus directly squaring his Mercury (a mental shock).  Mars was also square his natal Mercury, adding to mental stress, stemming from a mental battle. Chiron was exactly opposite his natal Pluto, re-opening a long-held wound.  And Jupiter was squaring transiting Chiron and natal Pluto, creating a difficult to take T-square.

Ordered to pay

This week he and his fellow claimants were ordered to pay legal costs.  The stakes of this whole enterprise were very high.  £9.54m has to be paid by 4pm on 28 August.  Some of the transits from the original ruling were still in operation.

Uranus is still directly squaring his Mercury (a mental shock, or aftershock).  Chiron is still exactly opposite his natal Pluto, re-opening a long-held wound, again.  Jupiter is on the cusp of his 8^th House, a new phase in his financial dealings with others.  There may be better news on that score during the course of the year.

Relocation to England

At the end of the month, Jupiter entering his 8^th House heralds a hope for a better balance in finance with others, including with Meghan. Chiron is also still exactly opposite his natal Pluto, re-opening a long-held wound, again.  Maybe addressing it, in terms with relation with his father.  The relationship with his brother William seems unsalvageable for the moment.

Uranus is still directly squaring his Mercury (a mental shock, or aftershock).  Another shock to the system is inevitable when switching countries.

Meghan

Again, I wrote about Meghan in 2017:

“Meghan Markle has been an actor in a Canadian TV series Suits since 2011, showing commitment, skill and steadiness.  In addition she has undertaken responsible roles outside the acting profession, in raising awareness of various causes, such as feminism, and clean water in Rwanda.  Some have found her mixed race background controversial, but many see this as an asset, bringing diversity to the royal table.  Meghan has Sun in Leo, so she is at home with royalty, and has pursued the Leo profession of acting, having a degree in theatre studies.  She also has the Sun, Leo’s ruler, in the 1st House and trine exactly the Midheaven, reinforcing the Sun/Leo theme.  She has a complex triple conjunction of Sun/Jupiter/Saturn in Libra, so weighs things up very carefully, seeing both sides of an issue.  Mercury is conjunct the North Node in Leo, so the royal role may be part of her karmic mission, and teaching may also be a role in the future, or educating people in some way.  She has great enthusiasm, as evidenced by Mars square Jupiter, and has already taken up some passionate causes in her life, though she is to wind down her roles and take up new ones in Britain.  With Saturn also squaring her Mars, she combines these interests with a deep sense of responsibility.  Karmically, she is a mover and shaker, with Ascendant conjunct the North Node.”

Again, written at the time of their engagement, there does seem to be some naivete on my part, and hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Relocation to England

Regarding the synastry with Harry, natally her Mars opposite his Ascendant is a battle royal!  This may explains why they have had to relocate a few times.  Harry’s Ascendant is 11 degrees Capricorn and her Mars is at 11 degrees Cancer, but additionally she has her Sun at 11 degrees Leo, and her Midheaven at 11 degrees Aries.  The Sun in Leo exactly trine the Midheaven in her natal chart depicts an acting career plus association with royalty.  With Jupiter just passing 11 degrees on Harry’s 8^th House cusp, it also shows up her intention to revive her acting career.

The three outer planets involved in Barbault’s Cradle connect with Meghan’s Moon in Libra, so that affects her home and her emotions.  They also benefit her natal Mercury in Leo, and Jupiter will have transited that point during the peak of the Cradle.  Her Saturn, at 5 degrees Libra, will also have been involved.  With natal Moon exactly conjunct Saturn, she has the Ivory Tower Archetype emotionally.

Guy Ritchie

It has been rumoured that Meghan is in talks to take on a role in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama The Gentleman.  Apparently it depends on there being a third series.

If this has had any role in the couple’s decision, it is interesting to look at Guy Ritchie’s synastry and transits in relation to this issue.  We do not have a birthtime/Ascendant for him.

His synastry with Meghan is very mixed and contradictory: Her Chiron squares his Mars but his Mars sextiles her Pluto and his Pluto trines her natal Chiron; His Nodal Axis squares her natal Mars but his Chiron trines her North Node.

Not necessarily an easy combination if they should work together, nor spelling too much commitment.  There are probably more important reasons for the move to England.  His transits for the end of this month are fairly quiet.  He does not seem too involved, at the moment at least.  And one or two of this morning’s newspapers say the project or role may be shelved.

Archie

How will the move affect their children?

You could say that for their firstborn Archie he born to royalty, with the Sun rising within a degree of his Ascendant in Taurus!

His transits for the end of August show:  Pluto squares his natal Uranus in 12^th House – the whole thing will on some level take him unawares.  A big Change for him.

Neptune is on his Chiron in 11^th House – a confusing time for him, socially

Saturn will be entering his 12^th House – some inner sadness, maybe not acknowledged

Jupiter will be entering his 4^th House of Home and Family – the actual change of home will in some ways benefit him, and closeness to another branch of his family

Mars entering his 3^rd House of Communication will speed up his learning about a culture new to him.  This is reinforced by a positive contact to his natal Mercury by the Nodal Axis.

Lilibet

Gemini daughter Lilibet has Regulus (the royal fixed star) on the Ascendant (29 degrees Leo), so she too has indications of being born to royalty in her natal chart, and was even named after the late Queen.

There is therefore a great similarity between them, possibly based on strength of will (Leo and the Sun).  However, Lilibet has the Moon exactly conjunct Chiron in 8^th House, which indicates a wound on the female line, possibly going back to ancestors or past lives.

Lilibet currently has a transit of the South Node on her Regulus/Ascendant, which is very significant.  A powerful karmic shift in her life.

In addition, Neptune squares her natal Venus, leaving her potentially socially confused.  But Saturn will be exactly sextile her natal Saturn, which will help her stabilize. And Jupiter will be sextile her natal Sun – so she could see it initially as a holiday.

However, Jupiter will also square her natal Uranus in the 9^th House of Foreign Lands, so there will be surprises and shocks, too.  Uranus in the 9^th House natally can indicate changes of country.

This will undoubtedly be a time of challenge for the family, not least in terms of relations with Harry’s brother William and his wife Kate.  As we are unclear about the decision-making process, we are also unclear about how long their stay will be.  To look at the positives, from the transits of Jupiter in their Houses this coming year, while Harry could make financial gains (however counterintuitive that may sound), Meghan still has Jupiter in her 1^st House in Leo the sign of acting (if the Guy Ritchie role falls through, she may make a comeback in another role).  Some sofa pundits on the television have suggested Coronation Street, in jest.  The area of growth for Archie is in his 4^th House of Home, as has been mentioned.  And for Lilibet, Jupiter going through her 12^th House is largely an unconscious process, with hope on the horizon when Jupiter goes into Virgo in the second half of July 2027, when she should regain confidence.

Aspects

The Sun has been conjunct the South Node this weekend.  The upside of this aspect can bring light and insight into past actions and memories, and fostering existing talents.  It can bring forward the talents you developed in past lives, but also enable you to release habits you no longer need.

Coming so recently after the North Node entered Aquarius, it highlights karma around technology, and past life memory around Atlantis (Aquarius), and also the history, memories and mythology of Egypt (the South Node in Leo).  I have felt this in a big way this weekend.  You may need to look deep into your inner life, to mine the richness of this conjunction.

To provide an alternative point of view on this conjunction, I turn to the American Astrologer Adam Elenbaas, who says:

“What if disappointment isn’t a dead end but evidence that your heart is real? This weekend, the Sun meets the South Node in Leo—a moment to release old patterns and trust the path, even when it doesn’t make sense. In today’s episode [you can find this on YouTube], we explore what it means to stay curious when life deflates you, to find the middle way between attachment and avoidance, and to let the heart itself become the source of lasting fulfilment.”

You may find that helpful.

Also on the internet, a teacher who calls himself the “Abundant Alchemist” (who sometimes talks about Astrology) makes reference to this event, saying: “The contracts you made with struggle, with hiding, with carrying, with proving — they were written for the old world. And the old world is closing. You’re not falling apart right now. You’re being handed back your freedom, clause by clause.  The question is whether you’ll keep living by agreements that have already expired.”

I am including that because the experiences I have had over the weekend directly involve Soul Contracts.  So I don’t wish for you to miss out on the potential of this influence.

In the early hours of this morning, the Sun entered Virgo.  It may seem too early (and I don’t mean the early hours of the morning!) but the need for knuckling down conscientiously to work and study schedules is reinforced with this ingress   The Sun in Virgo will underline the need for a sense of focus and purpose, and bring people together in common objectives.  Efficiency and economy will be watchwords for how we organize the second half of our year.  There may be a new resolve to institute health and fitness regimes, and work rotas and practices.  Perhaps think about enrolling for training in new skills, in September courses.  It may also be helpful for decluttering attempts.

We have another aspect today, that of the Sun trine Chiron.  This aspect favours both physical and psychological healing, and a trip or leisure activity may be just the tonic you need.  You may put the world to rights, theoretically at least, over a coffee.

Tuesday (25^th) holds another karmic transit, that of Mercury conjunct the South Node.  The karma of consequence continues its theme.  This favours the exercise of the mind in relation to karma, intelligent wisdom.  Review the teachers and teachings of your life prior to this moment, and review how you receive and process information currently: that will help you evaluate karmic factors.  Also under scrutiny is where you may play the role of teacher and student in your life.  Information about past lives may be more specific.

Late morning, Mercury enters Virgo.  Mercury is at home in its one of its own signs here.  This signals a more studious change in focus and preparing for the next academic term.  We will be thinking ahead, planning for our imminent September schedules.  Students and teachers will be ready in their plans for the term ahead.  Businesses will be hoping for an extra push in efficiency for after the holiday period.  Parliamentarians will be setting out their policies, in their new roles, trying to balance out their difficult decisions, and oppositions to difficult decisions.  Mental application will be needed all round.

Following the path of the Sun, Mercury then trines Chiron, a problem-solving aspect with real healing potential.  This aspect is all about finding solutions, especially in health matters.  Mercury trine Chiron describes healing on a mental level (positive thinking, writing and affirmations), and helps to combine conventional and alternative or complementary healing approaches.

The Sun and Mercury catch up with each other and conjoin at 4 degrees Virgo on Thursday (27^th).  This may bring an opportunity to apply your mind with clarity, concentrate, focus, and make important statements.  The focus may be on working schedules and documentation or environmental projects.  Mentally you may be able to see things clearly. If you know which House Virgo occupies in your chart, you’ll find that area of your life to be exceptionally busy.

Emotion may be ramping up towards the end of the week, prior to a Full Moon and Eclipse at 4 degrees Pisces in the early hours of Friday morning (28^th). This is an especially tender, sensitive and emotional Full Moon, so tears may flow.  Issues which may come up may be plastic in the sea, the fishing industry, or flooding.  The Pisces Full Moon reminds us that we are all One.  Eclipses can be turning points, relating to a six month effect, and events may be triggered on the day but the consequences may not manifest immediately.

At breakfast time the same morning, Uranus will square Mercury.  People might feel overwrought, and needing to take a moment for mental health.  Be prepared for glitches as you open up your devices first thing.  Back up your computer files, and consider I.T. loopholes.  Speech may be controversial.  Use your intuition to be one step ahead – the Universe may be trying to show you new pathways, and possible new perspectives.  However, some new pathways may prove to be cul-de-sacs.  The day is likely to be especially impactful on Prince Harry, who currently additionally has a transit of Uranus square his natal Mercury (which is situated at 5 degrees and 12 minutes of Virgo).

That aspect is followed in the evening by a square to the Sun from Uranus.  That aspect may make you aware of possible loopholes through which the element of the unexpected can enter.  Disruption can occur, but unexpected twists and turns may give you new ideas for future reference.

If you want something doing this week, don’t leave it to the end of the week.  Unless you are very clear about completing something which began at the last eclipse at the New Moon on Wednesday (12^th).

The week in bullet points:

• Today – past life karma and soul contracts; knuckling down; healing ways
• Tuesday – karmic information; work scheduling; holistic healing
• Thursday – sparkling mental focus
• Friday – emotional high tide and turning point; I.T. glitches; the element of the unexpected

Nigel Farage

On Friday morning we learned the inevitably, that Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, had faced down Count Binface in the Clacton By-Election, to regain his seat.  That may be a non-event, because he is back to square one, being investigated about a £5 million donation by a cryptocurrency investor.  Which is deemed wholly or partly the reason he called the by-election by resigning, though not his stated aim.  There are, however, signs in the polls that his star may be on the wane – but his historic pattern seems to be that of a comeback kid.

Birth Chart

His birth chart seems to describe him very accurately.  He has the Sun in confident Aries which is unaspected, so a free spirit.  His Sun ruler Mars has a prominent part to play in his chart, his personality and his life: Mars in Aries makes him doubly Arien; Mars in the 7^th House means he is forceful in relationships; Mars square the Nodal Axis implies that he is combative, and an agent of karma. Mars closely sextile his natal Midheaven (Careerpoint) sees his ruling warrior planet taking a lead role in his career path and mode of working in the world.

His Moon in Sagittarius is at the Galactic Centre (a very powerful placement!) which may explain why emotionally (Moon) he has such an appeal to a large portion of the electorate.  His Venus is closely square to Saturn – is there an element of hard-heartedness there?

Uranus conjunct Pluto in Virgo is the anarchic conjunction of the mid-1960s (he was born in 1964).  At the same time, Uranus exactly sextile the North Node enables success in a karmic mission of being a maverick.  The North Node in Cancer indicates patriotism and populism.

And the key to his chart is Pluto exactly conjunct his Ascendant – he reinvents himself or his life from time to time; at its extreme this conjunction can be very destructive.

Life and Career

Nigel Farage was born in Farnborough.  His stockbroker father left the family when he was five years old (his absence shown in Nigel’s birth chart by his unaspected Sun, where the Sun represents the father).

With all that Mars in his chart, he did have a Warrior lineage: his paternal grandfather served as a private in the First World War.

He received an education between 1975 and 1982 at Dulwich College, a fee-paying private school.  Many of his school mates at the time had unhappy memories of his bullying and racist behaviour, and these were prominent in the media in December 2025.  He had written in his 2010 autobiography that there had been outrage from staff at his “spirited defence of Enoch Powell.”

He joined the Conservative Party in 1978.

On 25 November 1985 he was hit by a car after a night out, injuring to his head and left leg.  Pluto on the Ascendant natally, as in his chart, can indicate a pattern of near death experiences.

In 1999 he was elected as an MEP to the European Parliament, and subsequently re-elected in later years.

On Election Day 2010, May 6^th, he survived a near-fatal plane crash while campaigning for UKIP.  He sustained serious injuries at the time.  The accident was caused when an election banner became entangled in the tail fin of the plane.

In the run up to the European Brexit Referendum of 2016, Nigel Farage took a leading role in getting the result over the line on 23^rd June 2016, with 52% of the population voting to leave.  The consequences of Brexit are generally acknowledged to have “broken Britain.”  In his book “How they Broke Britain”, James O’Brian devotes a whole chapter to Nigel Farage, as well as to others such as David Cameron.  But Nigel Farage is generally seen as the architect of Brexit.  If I may quote from that chapter about his appeal:

“He effects the demeanour of a mildly sozzled City gent, dresses like a city-dwelling social misfit’s idea of a country squire and reassures people it is fine to be discomfited by the nationality of their new neighbours…”

After the result, he went to the European Parliament, and gloated:

“Isn’t it funny? When I came here 17 years ago and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign go get Britain out of the E.U., you all laughed at me…Well, I have to say, you’re not laughing now, are you?”

At that point in time, with Pluto a dominant planet in his chart, and Pluto transits being the most powerful type of transit, Pluto was exactly sextile his natal Neptune, one of the most powerful transits one can manifest.

In this period, he was a great supporter of Donald Trump, who was elected President in November 2016, for his first term of office.  He has continued to espouse policies very similar to those of the President.  They both have the Moon in Sagittarius.

In January 2019, he formed the Brexit Party.

In 2021, he took a hiatus from politics, which he announced on 6^th March.  This is interesting astrologically as it shows up in his transits as Jupiter square his natal Neptune in his 3^rd House (a possible spiritual crisis or crossroads), and the Nodal Axis square his natal Chiron/Descendant (a karmic crisis).

Approaching the 2024 Election, the Reform UK party (formerly the Brexit party) was struggling, under the leadership of Richard Tice.  [It is an interesting reflection on that Pluto/Ascendant in his chart, that not only did he re-invent himself, but the names of his parties, e.g. UKIP in an earlier incarnation].  When Nigel Farage took over as leader in June of that year, the party took off in the polls, and did well in the election. Farage first became an MP, for Clacton.

After that, his influence and poll rating grew steadily, as he hammered home his main policy, which was the influx of immigrants and how they would be stemmed.  The Conservatives had struggled to make headway on this issue, and Labour were making some headway, but not enough for those sections of society to whom it was the burning issue of the day.

In the Council Elections in May this year, the Reform UK party were very successful, in many parts of the country.  The lack of popularity of Prime Minister Keir Starmer led to a plan by Andy Burnham to renounce the leadership as Manchester Mayor and attempt to become MP for Makerfield, on the way to becoming Prime Minister.

However, in the meantime (April 202) it was revealed that Nigel Farage, before taking over the leadership of Reform UK, had accepted a gift of £5 million from a cryptocurrency investor, under ambiguous conditions regarding parliamentary rules on such matters.  He hid away from invitations to be interviewed on the matter, until he declared (on 7^th July) that he would hole a by-election in Clacton, on an anti-establishment platform, and “let the people decide.”  The main political parties decided not to give him the satisfaction of standing against him, and so it was that Count Binface was his main local opposition.

Transits for Thursday 13^th August 2026 Clacton By-Election

Nigel won the election by 22,239 votes, with 63.3%.  But at what cost? – £250,000 for his Council.

The main transits for this time show:

Pluto sextile his natal Mars in 7^th House – exerting his will; Neptune on his natal Mars – uncertainty or shadiness; Uranus on his Midheaven – Career and Political Success; and the North Node on his Saturn in Pisces in his 6^th House – some sober political karma going down.

Count Binface did very well, gaining 9,455 votes.  Sadly we do not have his birth data.

Nigel Farage announced his victory ahead  of the result, and did not turn up to the announcement, citing worry about security and the humiliation of standing next to the likes of Count Binface (there were 34 candidates in all).

He apparently lied [as I go to press] about Essex Police advising him his life was under threat.

Depending on the ongoing investigation result regarding that donation, another by-election may be triggered.

Was it all a storm in a teacup?  It probably hasn’t enhanced his reputation.

The Quiet Office

I have now completed writing the third novel of my trilogy “The Quiet Office – Volume III – Windows to the Future”.

Next stop will be the publishing process…!

I feel it is my best work so far, and if you have enjoyed Volumes I and II you will be able to further the experience.

It is a mixture of Astrology, Futurism, Climate Change and Humour!

There will also be a limited edition of cards to accompany this volume, as there were with the first two.

Aspects

On Monday (17^th) just after breakfast, as you swing into the routine of your week, Neptune squares Mars: Confusion may reign, so take that time for thinking things through. Meditation and activities which combine meditation and movement, can be helpful for centring, during the day, if you sense that this aspect is operating on your consciousness.  It would set you up for the week.

The afternoon brings an easier aspect, that of Mercury trine Saturn.  This combines mental work with practicality, and brings focus and realism to the mental activities.  So it is a good day for making plans.  Serious conversations can also safely take place under this aspect.  It favours book keeping after a day’s shopping and spending!

Even better, shortly after, Venus will be sextile Jupiter (at 16.16 Hrs in the U.K.).  That is one of the brightest aspects of the year.  This bodes well for any celebrations or parties.  It’s conducive to socializing, and romancing.  This sextile combines luck and love.  Enjoy your afternoon and evening!

With three aspects on Monday 17^th, it is the most important day of this week, astrologically.

The middle of the week is devoid of aspects.

There’s a bit of a slump on Friday (21^st) when Saturn opposes Venus.  This aspect would urge you to let go in relationships or to make economies in finance.  The message of the power of love may be more difficult to sustain in the face of testing under this aspect.  But the cure for the situation is even more love.  The message in finance is having to examine your values, needs and necessities.  Social media may make awkward reading.  “Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson would be a preferable read!

Saturday (22^nd) is the last day of the Sun’s journey through Leo.  The next day, it will move into Virgo, so make the most of this last burst of Sun-in-Leo energy at the weekend.  It went into Leo on 22^nd July, when I wrote:

“Enjoy the holiday season, and for parents, good luck as purveyors of kids’ entertainment.  Sun in Leo is about the expression of the human spirit, and that can be enjoyed whatever the weather (although some are tiring of the heat and worrying about the implications for climate change).   For those of you on holiday by the sea, you may be able to enjoy a dip, alternating with lazing on a deckchair under a parasol sipping a pina colada.  For those staying at home, it is about enjoying aspects of life and being, generally.”

Keep it up!  I will be back, next Sunday, to report on the Sun’s ingress into Virgo.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – lack of co-ordination; mental concentration; sparkling socializing
• Friday – letting go and economizing
• Saturday – be playful

 

Elon Musk – Part 2

Elon Musk has not especially been in the news this week, but his influence is all-pervading, and I haven’t devoted a blog to him since 2018.  A message in my postbag this week brought me back to looking at him.

Birth Chart

I wrote in 2018:

(without a birth time) “We find Elon Musk’s Sun unaspected (individualism) except for a square to Uranus (invention and futurism) – his main connection with reality.  He lacks personal aspects generally, and that may be linked with his huge aspiration for mankind (he worries about human extinction and wants us to be able to live on Mars).   His technological aspirations are reinforced by a conjunction of Mars and the North Node (karmic mission) in Aquarius, the sign of technology and futurism.  Mars/North Node/Aquarius represents engineering, and even specifically symbolizes his electric car company Tesla, which was named after the earlier passionate  inventor and futurist Nikola Tesla (though he co-founded the company but was not responsible for naming it).”

Elon Musk has revealed a lot about himself in the intervening years, so I can add some extra notes (this time with a birth time):

Sun conjunct Ascendant – personal power

Mercury square Uranus – not afraid to be controversial

Mercury exactly square Chiron – a problem-solver

Mars conjunct North Node in Aquarius – an aggressively technological karmic mission!

Jupiter exactly sextile Pluto – great Power

Saturn trine Pluto – The Strategist Archetype

Pluto square the Ascendant, from 3^rd House – Psychological Power his foundation

Cecil Rhodes

In my 2021 blog, I likened Elon Musk to Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943), stating a resonance between them, and I have wondered if Elon is a reincarnation of Tesla, though there is no particular physical resemblance (which is often the case in such matters).

However, I received the following in my postbag:

“I have been listening to a podcast which references the many parallels between Cecil Rhodes and Elon Musk. I think this is another possible case for your reincarnation file.”

Cecil Rhodes (1853 – 1902) looks far more like Elon Musk, than Nikola Tesla.

Astrologically, Elon and Cecil both have the Sun in Cancer, and Elon’s Sun is conjunct Cecil’s Moon.  Their Ascendants are opposed, to within three degrees of each other, and may be complementary in nature.  They both have Mercury closely square the Midheaven (Careerpoint) – use of the brain in the career, not always well handled.  Both had Mars conjunct the North Node, though Cecil’s was wide, and in the other scientific sign, Gemini (the aggressively technological karmic mission!)

Similarities in Life and Career

There is a South African connection:  Cecil Rhodes was a mining magnate and politician in Southern Africa, who came to dominate the world’s diamond market.  Elon Musk was born in South Africa, and is reported to be the wealthiest people in the world.

Both were reported to be unexceptional students at school.  Maybe their talents just went under the radar?

Both controlled and were ambitious for an important communications technology which the government relied on.  Rhodes aimed to continue the telegraph northwards, across the Zambesi, through Nyassaland, and along Lake Tanganika to Uganda.  For Elon Musk the aim has been “At some point, Starlink will deliver a majority of the world’s internet.”

Both used influence with the government for own commercial gain (Rhodes to start the Boer War).  In 1890 Cecil Rhodes became Prime Minister of the Cape.  By 2024 Elon was helping elect Donald Trump for his second Presidential term of office.  Within weeks of that second term, they both boosted their wealth immeasurably.

There is a racial element: Rhodes took back land from black Africans, and barred black people from voting in elections.  Elon apparently continually posts racist remarks (though I don’t see them, as I am not on X), and has given Nazi salutes and espoused far right opinions on such lines (e.g. “I am not far right, just pro-‘normal people’).  I should say, he denies being racist.

Rhodes thought he was saving humanity by white colonial expansion and was bitterly disappointed that he could not similarly colonise other planets.  He was particularly intent on expanding the British Empire as he believed the Anglo-Saxon race to be destined for greatness.  Elon of course, is a leading contender in the 21^st Century space race, with his programme SpaceX.

In 2018 I wrote, about Elon:

“He lacks personal aspects generally, and that may be linked with his huge aspiration for mankind (he worries about human extinction and wants us to be able to live on Mars).”

Clearly this has become a distortion in recent years, especially with his far right orientation and Nazi salutes.

Nikola Tesla

I wrote in 2018:

“Elon Musk has a resonance, and not just in name, to the earlier passionate and prolific engineer, entrepreneur, inventor and futurist Nikola Tesla.  Tesla was born on 10th July 1856, though under the Julian calendar he shares a birthday with Elon Musk (28th June).  In their appearance they differ greatly, as Tesla sported a dramatic and moustachioed look worthy of his Pluto on the Ascendant (we have his birth time).

Like Elon Musk, Nikola was a workaholic, with Moon conjunct Mars in his 6th House.  But Nikola only slept 2 hours per night, and worked 140 hours per week, compared to Elon Musk’s 80 hour a week schedule!  Tesla was a more solitary character, and never married.

Tesla had a remarkable mind, including an eidetic memory, experiencing flashes of light, and the capacity for 3 dimensional visualization.  I think his depth of vision is connected to the presence of Pluto on his Ascendant. He also spoke eight languages.  His Inner Healer (Chiron) was expressed through the sign of Aquarius, i.e. science, invention and futurism.  He never visited a doctor in adult life, though he had suffered cholera when young.  Curiously, he credited reading the works of Mark Twain as helpful in his healing, and in later life became a close friend of Mark Twain (whose Jupiter was exactly conjunct Tesla’s Venus)

He patented a huge number of inventions, and is mainly known for his contribution to the development of the Alternating Current.  But towards the end of his life, he was involved in pursuits such as a patent for a biplane, and a motor that would run on cosmic rays: interests which ran more along the lines of Elon Musk’s.  So it could be said that Elon Musk is continuing the work of Nikola Tesla.

An interesting set of transits to Nikola Tesla’s chart (posthumously) were evident when the company Tesla Inc. was formed:

Chiron was opposite Nikola’s Sun in the 3rd House, Jupiter and Pluto were sextile Nikola’s Mars (motor car).  Mars was trine his natal Saturn in Cancer in the 3rd House of Transport, and Mars was also sextile his natal Pluto rising in Taurus.”

Fascinating achievers, but chilling to think that we are in thrall to such a far reach of power, wealth and unfathomable intelligence.  Do they make us powerless?

Aspects

There are a record number  of astrological features to relate today, fourteen at the last count.  So without further ado…:

Today, Mercury enters Leo.  With Mercury in Cancer, our minds may have been focussing on our emotions.  Now they wake up and see the sunshine, proclaim joie de vivre, express powerful thoughts.  If you are wanting to revive or renew holiday atmosphere, spirits can be recovered.  Perhaps you have drawn up some autumn working schedules, and can reward yourself with another break.  This placing enlivens communication and debate and applies the mind to summer enjoyment.  Be quick to grasp this now, as it’s just a short window, until 25^th of this month.

Next up is Chiron square Mercury, tomorrow, Monday (10^th).  Mini-crises may form requiring problem-solving skills, and solutions which may be to hand, like dock leaves near nettles, or may require soul consultation, digging deep.  Cut yourself some slack, and do what you can.  Motto: “Necessity is the mother of invention”.  Elon Musk should know (see above) – he has it exact, in his natal chart.

Early evening tomorrow Venus trines Pluto: relationships can come on to a deeper but firmer footing.  It is an aspect which is helpful for money and love.  Pluto settles your deepest feelings into a more comfortable psychological context.  This aspect helps us through changes and transformations on a human level.  It is about deep love, deep awareness of your relationship with money, and profound artistry.

Late evening tomorrow Neptune opposes Venus: this may bring complications in love.  It may be uncomfortable in a way that you may not be able to put your finger on.  There may be some deception or illusion going on, especially in relationships or with money, so be cautious.  Don’t answer any cold calls or scam emails.  It is possible that you may be going to a social function in a context such that you don’t quite know where you stand.

Later still tomorrow, Mars trines the North Node: If there are karmic issues, such as internecine conflicts, they can be dealt with directly, with Mars trine the North Node.  Make your boundaries clear.  It is a good day for exercising bravery.  We might be more galvanized to action, especially from a karmic standpoint.  You may feel there is something you must do, or right a wrong, put something straight, in your own life or in the family circle.  Occurring during dream time for many (in the U.K.) the issue may be resolved through your dream life, e.g. a scene where you triumph on the battlefield gives you insight about who,what and why you have been fighting.

The second ingress of the week takes place on Tuesday (11^th).  This will be the entry of Mars into Cancer.  This represents an energetic shift from a mental and analytical mode, to that of feeling and protectiveness.  Mars stays in Cancer until 28^th September, so it is a good window to nurture those you love and foster family feeling.  Cancerians and emotional types may be super-sensitive or extra bristly during that time, but they carry the family mood and can be learned from.

Wednesday 12^th has several aspects, so it is good to master each one as they go along, so that there isn’t a congestion going on in your psyche!  It’s a big day, not least because there is an Eclipse…

It begins with an opposition between Pluto and Mercury in the early hours of the morning.  Geminis and Virgo especially could toss and turn, unable to clear the mind of clutter.  In the day there may be a real danger involved in travelling if you don’t have to.  Watch your mental processes carefully, and be mindful in conversation.  Something could appear to be a minor snag on the surface, but may give you pause for deeper thought, leading to more psychological awareness.  Don’t skirt over it.  Examine the issue carefully, and the resulting insight could be a gift.  It doesn’t help that Wednesday is predicted to be the hottest day of the week in the latest U.K. heatwave, with temperatures in the 30 degrees Centigrade.

You might describe this influence of the day as “hot and bothered”.  As there are better aspects to come during the day itself, it may just be the night which is hot and bothered.  You’ll probably know by the morning if you have thrown off the Mercury-Pluto opposition!

Also occurring in the early hours is a far more pleasant trine between Mercury and Neptune.  If you have been awake until 3.a.m. this aspect may enable you to get to sleep and even have some sweet dreaming.  Things may fall into place spiritually, with some higher insight. This may result in an increased readiness to talk about a sensitive subject (later in the day, or in dialogue with your dreams).  This trine brings mental inspiration, transcendent wisdom, higher harmony, spiritual journeys.  It’s a kind astrological note.

Another congenial trine appears only seven minutes after Mercury trines Neptune, and that is Venus trine Uranus.  As it is also in the early hours of the morning, it may affect your dreams, and this time in making them more vivid and emotionally florid, in a good way.  The combination of the two trines in fact could make for some memorable and elevated dreams.  Keep that dream diary handy!  During the day time you may find a fresh and sparkling energy. The aspect may set you up with exciting meetings, or bring encounters of the illuminating kind.  In the field of the Arts, it can bring originality and surprise, e.g. to a performance of music.  Ideas for assisting the problems in our society may also crop up, such as community-based solutions. Another contribution towards what promises to be a dynamic day.

More positivity follows on Wednesday with a sextile between Mars and Chiron.  Wilful types may see that their way of doing things is not working in a group situation (it may work for them on their own), and invite some healing input from others.  Healing actions and efforts can thrive under this aspect.  If it influenced your dreaming time, it may have rebalanced your system somewhat, between activity, rest and healing.

And if you are not already confused, bamboozled and bowled over by everything so far that day, now for the big one!  An Eclipse and New Moon at 20 degrees Leo!  If you happen to find yourself in Ibiza apparently it will appear total.  But apparently, in the U.K. it hasn’t been so dramatic as the memorable one in 1999.  Leo can bring drama, but the vividness of this eclipse could be self-empowering.  It is helpful to know what House the eclipse fall in within your chart, so that you can apply the energies with more consciousness.  But otherwise, treat it as an enhanced new moon with new intentions, and creativity as a keyword, an opportunity to create a fresh start in your life.  There is a real possibility of a shift on Wednesday, even taking into account the uncomfortable truths from the early opposition between Mercury and Pluto.

The eclipse takes place at 17.37 Hrs in the U.K.  Don’t forget to take steps not to view responsibly, for you and yours (e.g. using colanders, pin-hole cameras etc!)

But the aspects for Wednesday 12^th haven’t finished with us yet!  The sixth feature of the day is a sextile between Mercury and Uranus.  You can afford to forget about the Mercury-Pluto opposition by the end of the day, as this aspect can bring a total change of mind and perspective, and sudden insights.  Connect your lower, logical, mind favourably, with your higher, intuitive, mind.  This is a is a sparky way of thinking, and may feel like a breath of fresh air, if it is not your default position. Telepathy, intuition and the power of surprise are benefits of this aspect.  This aspect can amaze you and help you find that “wow” factor, or unusual ways of articulating your message.  Occurring in the evening, you may find your way to programming the next night’s sleep in a revolutionary new way.  For example, find an affirmation that will work for you to take you forward on your next step in this new beginning.

How are you feeling by Thursday (13^th)?  Is the aspect occurring this next day conducive to maintaining the onward and upward trajectory of Wednesday?  It is indeed conducive, as Mercury sextile Venus enables us to flourish and blossom and make the most of our new reality.  It is a harmonious and social vibe; a moment to savour, in the now, a combination that aims to please.  This favours conversation, and creative forms which combine art and writing.  There is potential for negotiation in diplomatic efforts (hopefully helping peace efforts, though it is not a major aspect, so baby steps), and affinity and agreement between kindred spirits.  Ideal for cafe or soiree culture.  You’ll notice that seven of the week’s astrological features involve Mercury: therefore it is an especially important week for Geminis and Virgos – they will certainly be kept busy.

Last but by no means least is a conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter at 10 degrees Leo on Saturday (15^th), which favours journalism, learning and education, communication, sales and transport.  Aside from that, there should be plenty of enjoyment and philosophical awareness around.  I have found, historically, that a lot of awards take place on this conjunction, so if you are in line for one…watch out!  We are attending a wedding that day, so I am hoping it means that all who travel a long distance have smooth journeys.  There are likely to be happy conversations, too.  The astrological cards indicate a good time is had by all.  A good news day.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – creative thinking
• Tomorrow – problem-solving; deepening relationships; uncovering secrets; rewards in karmic warriorship
• Tuesday – energetic shift;
• Wednesday – angst; sweeter dreams; dynamic relationships; healing work; spectacular turning point; higher mental functioning
• Thursday – café culture
• Saturday – good news day

Bill Oddie (1941 – 2026)

“He was utterly committed to his work; and in my view, was one of a handful of true geniuses to have graced our television screens.”

~ Stephen Moss (producer of Springwatch)

Comedian and wildlife advocate Bill has died at the age of 85.  He wore many hats, even beside the two main ones: a television presenter, a writer, performer, an artist and a musician among them.

Birth Chart

We do not have a birth time, and therefore are without the Ascendant, but within his noon chart, we can find his many attributes archetypes.  He had the Sun in Cancer, which usually brings a bond with the mother, but in his case, with the absence of his mother due to her mental health problems, the intense feeling brought about a negative – at one stage of his life he was on record as saying he hated her.

The Moon (his ruling planet) at Noon was exactly square to Neptune, so allowing for the distortion of his birth time we can safely say it represents the condition of his mother as having been diagnosed as schizophrenic.  Furthermore, the Moon was square to the Nodal Axis, suggesting the karmic conditions which might have led to an absent mother.

His Sun in Cancer was conjunct Mercury, and this lent the archetype as a communicator, in the shape of the television presenter.

Mercury squaring Mars depicts his temper: he had a reputation for being grouchy. “I’m known as a bit of a bad-tempered bugger” he once said.

Venus in Leo trine Mars conferred many talents; the performer, the artist and the musician among them.

Mars exactly trine Pluto gave him a powerhouse of energy, enabling a prolific output of song-writing, book writing and other activities.  He seemed constantly on the go.

Curiously, Jupiter, the planet which represents Comedy, was unaspected in his chart, but that may have made his comedy especially free-spirited.  Jupiter in Gemini may be a factor in his concentration on bird life within his general care of wildlife.

His Neptune conjunct the North Node (karmic mission) in Virgo accounts for his sensitivity to the environment and the creatures that live on the planet.  In this he was a beacon in his time.  He had a difficult conjunction between Saturn and Uranus [and additionally a difficult psychological conjunction between Pluto and Chiron], but Saturn/Uranus was trine his Neptune/North Node/karmic mission towards the planet, and was able to support and enable it, while registering the anguish (Saturn/Uranus) he felt: the Conservationist Archetype.  He was a member of the Green party.

Life and Career

He was born in Rochdale, but the family moved to Birmingham early in his life.  He was brought up by his father and his grandmother, because of his mother’s aforementioned absence, her hospitalization at the Barnsley Hall Hospital psychiatric facility [represented by the Moon square Neptune in his chart].  When talking about his grandmother later in life, he was not particularly complimentary, but did credit her with inspiring a birdwatching habit from a young age.

At school, he captained the school’s rugby team [the Mars exactly trine Pluto powerhouse of energy].

He went on to study English Literature (a subject associated with the sign of Cancer) at Cambridge, where he also joined Footlights and met fellow comedians he was destined to work with in his career.  At that time, he wrote scripts for “That Was The Week That Was” (remember that?).

After immersing himself in a burgeoning career within radio and television, from 1970 to 1982 he formed a trio with Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor for a comedy series “The Goodies” on television which he co-wrote.  It was madcap, slapstick, zany and quirky.  He co-wrote songs for it, the most memorable being “The Funky Gibbon”, one of their most prominent hit singles.  Astrologically, the period of inception of this trio coincided with his Saturn Return, an important cycle for the structures in life. Tim Brooke-Taylor was a fellow Cancerian, while Garden was an Aquarian.

Bill Oddie had been writing about birds ever since an early published work of 1962, but in 1985 he became the subject of a Nature Watch special, being interviewed by Julian Pettifer.  Taking place on 30th July 1985, Pluto was square his Chiron/Pluto (a challenge) and Mars was conjunct his Pluto/Venus (invigorating his passions) and more harmoniously from the point of view of his total expression the North Node (karma) was sextile his natal Sun in Cancer.  Some of his books were illustrated paintings and drawings of his own [his Venus in Leo trine Mars].

In 2005 to 2008 he hosted Springwatch, and then from 2006 to 2008 he hosted Autumnwatch, a programme he delighted in.

He was married twice, first to Jeanne Hart, with whom he had two daughters, and then to Laura Beaumont-Giles with whom he had another daughter.

Health

Bill Oddie made no secret of his lifelong depression, for which he was officially diagnosed in 2001.  His agent said: “Bill gets these bouts every two or three years where he gets down for about two weeks and recovers. He sometimes goes into hospital or takes a break or has a change of scenery to recharge his batteries.”  In 2010 he mentioned that bipolar disorder was part of the mix.  His illness meant that he spent periods of time unable to work.  During his appearance on “Who Do You Think You Are?” he expressed the view that his depression and bipolar disorder were linked with his relationship with his almost completely absent mother.

Something which brought him especial immense pain was being dropped from Springwatch due to his illness.

He was a self-declared atheist and humanist, and at his death Pluto opposed his natal Pluto (the finality of death).  Saturn also squared his natal Sun, symbolically extinguishing his vitality.  But he had on some occasions in his life attempted suicide, so there may have been an element of blessed relief: shown by Neptune (spirituality) trine his natal Venus/Pluto conjunction (anguish), Uranus trine that point (also part of the Barbault Cradle) and Jupiter on his Venus/Pluto (elevation to bliss…)

The presenter now fronting Springwatch, Chris Packham, left a wonderful tribute, which I feel bound to post in full here, capturing the real man:

“A renegade polymath with binoculars and a beard, Bill was invariably funny and occasionally furious. He loved birds and loathed those who harmed them. He was delightfully unpredictable, sparky, smart and at times a bit spiky. Critically he really knew his stuff, and his passion was true – he didn’t just pick up his binoculars on telly, he went birding whenever he could. So he was genuine and that’s why we loved him, he never needed a script, and took scant interest in any he was given. He didn’t like rules and often neglected to play by them. This may have frustrated the serious and the worthy but it always amused his audience – he was an utter joy to be with. I recall finding a Black Woodpecker in a damp Dutch park with him once, he gazed at it intently, sighed, put down his bins, turned to me and just smiled. A massive grin. No words, just a beautiful childlike bliss. That says all you need to know about Bill Oddie.”

There is often a sadness at the flip side of a comedian, and it certainly was so in Bill’s case.

He even got a mention in the first book of my trilogy, I am proud to say!

May he rest in Peace.

Quoting the annals of the White Rose magazine, May 2006:

“On the following Monday at 4.20 p.m. a new-born woodlouse appeared, hardly bigger than a speck.  Sharon imagined doing a report about it for Bill Oddie.”

~  ”The Quiet Office”, Volume I – The Mundane and the Mystical, by Lana Wooster

Aspects

I only have three featured events for you this week!  The first is Chiron Stationary prior to turning Retrograde tomorrow (Monday August 3^rd).  This will see us start to retrace some steps on our healing pathway.  A particular healing issue may crop up today to highlight this; perhaps you have gone as far as you can with a particular line of healing, and may need to revise or go over old ground for a while.  There may be more understanding to be achieved, for instance, about the emotional component of the healing issue.

We then skip to Thursday (6^th), when Venus enters Libra, making her graceful entrance with a sigh of satisfaction.  She is so at home here…You may be pondering relationships or money issues.  Venus is happy and harmonious in this sign, and that may assist you in finding the sweet words to overcome any tensions.  She will be there until 10^th September, giving you the chance to hone your design skills, whether it be in art, music, fashion or interior design.

Finally, and thirdly, on Friday (7^th) the Sun will be trine Saturn, occurring in the early hours of the morning, so you may find it in evidence the night before.  Dreaming may be constructive in nature, e.g. as in you might find yourself in a lego or Minecraft scenario!  It’s a stabilizing note.  This enables the re-establishment of a foothold on reality, if that is what you might need.  It is a solid and productive aspect.  If you are engaged in creativity, it can help ensure that it works on a practical level.  It is also a good aspect for making plans and laying foundations, and counting your chickens.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – re-tracing healing avenues
• Thursday – grace and beauty
• Saturday – constructive; laying foundations or even completing plans

Kevin Keegan (1951 – 2026)

“There was a time in my old neighbourhood when all the women in our street sported a Farrah Fawcett hairstyle (Moon rising in Cancer, the essence of femininity) and all their men had the Kevin Keegan haircut (we had the same hairdresser)…Aah! Those were the days…”

~ My blog, 28^th June, 2009

Football player and Manager Kevin Keegan passed away last week, at the age of 75.  He was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. In the 1970s he distinguished himself by being a star player for Liverpool.

Birth Chart

Kevin’s Sun was in Aquarius, giving prime importance in his life to team playing.  The purpose of Aquarius is to understand and take part in group consciousness.  His Sun was trine Neptune, so he did this with the utmost sensitivity.  However, there was also drama involved, from Pluto opposing the Sun.  The contact from the two outer planets to his Sun meant that higher purposes were involved, than only the fulfilment of his personal life.  His Mercury was also in Aquarius, giving him the ability to put the team first in his considerations and decision-making.  Mercury’s trine to Saturn ensured mental focus and attention to detail: he didn’t take his eye off the ball, if you’ll pardon the pun.

He had a beautiful triple conjunction in Pisces, which depicted the sweetness of nature he is known for: Venus conjunct Mars and Jupiter.  They were joined by the North Node, which meant that they were incorporated into his karmic mission, one of depth and complexity.  The Guardian obituary commented that he “wore his heart on his sleeve”, a phrase worthy of his conjunction of Venus with the North Node.

Mars, also conjunct the North Node, made football part of his karmic mission, The Warrior Archetype (he was an attacking midfielder and forward).  Mars conjunct Jupiter gave him a blast of enthusiasm combined with energy.  Jupiter conjunct the North Node assisted him in his success.

His main internal challenges came through a Cardinal T-square between the opposition of Chiron and Uranus squaring on to Saturn.  This may have produced health challenges, and brought about some of the abrupt endings to certain placements.  Saturn square Uranus is especially associated with “personal earthquakes”, and his ruling planet Uranus (the planet of sudden change and unpredictability) had a part to play in that dynamic.

Life and Career

The son of a Yorkshire coalminer, Kevin was born into a poor, but loving, family background, in Armthorpe, near Doncaster.  His father was a keen football fan, and Kevin began playing from an early age.

He left school at 15, with O’levels in History and Art.  He took jobs during the week (which included working in an office as a clerk, in a psychiatric hospital and at a steelworks) while playing football at weekends.

His first professional contract as a footballer was at Scunthorpe United in 1968, aged 17.

In 1971, he came to the attention of Bill Shankly at Liverpool.  At this time, Keegan’s Progressed Sun had reached his natal Jupiter, a stroke of luck and a rise in self-esteem after several attempts to be noticed.  Shankly soon realized that Keegan had potential as an attacker, and put him up front.  He immediately made an impression when in his first debut at Anfield against Nottingham Forest he scored after 12 minutes.  He formed a working partnership on the pitch with central forward John Toshack, and became known for being nimble, skilful, courageous and non-stop.  Keegan stayed at Liverpool for 7 years, and he and Shankly expressed great affection for each other in subsequent years.

“Liverpool made me, not just as a footballer but as a person.”

~ Kevin Keegan

He moved to Hamburg in 1977, and was named footballer of the year in 1978 and 1979..

Hair

It was during this period that he became known for a certain hairstyle, sometimes described as a “poodle perm”.  The hairstyle would set a trend in football, though it was not without its detractors.  Apparently, his wife found it hilarious, and his agent jokingly tried to disown him in public.  But other footballers followed suit and it became a trend.  But it also regularly appeared at the top of “worst hairstyles” surveys.

Career, contd.

In 1980 he was bound for another change, around the time of his Saturn Return (a planetary cycle of decision).  He announced he would leave in February, and on 11^th February Lawrie McMenemy announced that he would join the Saints at Southampton in the summer.

At the time, his ruling planet Uranus, the planet of revolutionary change, was exactly square his natal Sun.  Uranus square represents sudden departures, and as an Aquarian, short stays became a characteristic of his career from that time. The news of his leaving caused surprise throughout the world of football – the Uranian element of surprise at work.  He only stayed at Southampton for two seasons, and then he was off again.

He also played prolifically for England, and in 1980 Keegan captained England at  UEFA Euro in Italy.

1982 saw him transferred to Newcastle, where he was warmly welcomed, and helped the club secure promotion.  He stayed for two seasons, before announcing his retirement.

The Guardian obituary by Richard Williams, highlights his moment of leaving as his apotheosis: “17^th May 1984, at the end of a friendly against Liverpool, with whom he had achieved big early fame, a helicopter landed on the pitch at St. James’ ark and carried him away, still in his full kit, borne aloft by the cheering of 36,000 hoe fans, many of them moved to tears by his departure.”

His transits at that moment included Pluto sextile his Chiron ( a deep healing), Chiron trine his natal Saturn (a decision supporting his own health), and the North Node trine his natal Mercury in Aquarius (again, a wise decision for his own good).  Other transits at the time suggest that if he had not retired, his health and well-being would have been compromised.

Management

He moved into management thereafter.  First at Newcastle on 5^th February 1992; Uranus sextile his natal Jupiter in Pisces at the time indicating a fresh start.

On 8 January 1997, Keegan announced his resignation as manager, with Chiron sextile his Chiron in Capricorn (again, a healing for him) and Saturn opposite his natal Saturn in Libra (an air of finality).

He briefly joined Fulham later that year as chief operating officer.

In February 1999 he took over the reins as England Manager from Glen Hoddle.

Then, in 2001 he joined Manchester City as Manager.

He was back at Newcastle in January 2008.

As you can see, his career fluctuated and took him to many different clubs.  I have never been a follower of football, but I always liked that hairstyle!

“I heard a quote that he said and I stopped dead. ‘I’m the mongrel that made it to Crufts.@ He always underestimated himself yet achieved so much…He was always very sweet as a manager, never outstayed his welcome.  Always said if the terraces want me out I will with grace leave.  A very lovely enthusiastic man.”

~ a text from one of my nephews

“My hero. My manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss.”

~ Alan Shearer

“There was a lesson.  Maybe don’t fixate on the 10% of flops in a person’s life at the expense of the 90% creativity, excitement and joy?”

~ Paul Hayward, The Observer

 Aspects

 Two features to take note of today, the first being Saturn Stationary, prior to moving Retrograde.  Turning inward for contemplation is one of the requirements of a retrograde period.  That entails going through a period of revision: often with Saturn, it is a lesson all about patience and timing, and one of those lessons is that you can’t rush things.  Saturn is the Lord of Time, who reminds us that All Things Must Pass.

The second feature is a change of sign for the North Node (and therefore also the South Node), which happens every 18 months.  The North Node moves backwards, from Pisces to Aquarius today.  The North Node represents the Karmic Mission, in this case our collective karma.  North Node in Aquarius means that you accomplish your highest work when you are within a group (say, of workers, but it can be a group formed around a common interest).  Kevin Keegan as described above had the North Node in Pisces, but he embodied in his life and work a great deal of the essence of Aquarius.  Basically, we all help by helping each other.  Martin Schulman in “Karmic Astrology” describes the North Node in Aquarius as developing “the concept of Universal Brotherhood.  He/She must ultimately come to see himself as part of a larger cosmic sphere, in which his/her role is to share in the burden of human evolution.”

Astrologer Pam Gregory forecasts: “We will have even more focus on humanitarianism, egalitarianism, human and civil rights across the next 19 months…”

We face a rude awakening first thing tomorrow (Monday 27^th), with an opposition to the Sun from Pluto.  Perhaps you have a great deal of catching up to do, or some psychological processing you have put on the back burner.  There is an opportunity to look at deeper issues in your life, and re-assess what you need and don’t need.  It could be a day for sober reflection and unearthing the deep psychological significance behind events.  Being an opposition, there is a requirement to balance two opposing forces, and possibly blend them or transcend the polarity.  A good question to ask on this day is: what needs to be transformed, or transcended?

However, soon after, Neptune trines the Sun, so breakfast could be quite a complex affair.  Do you choose the sourdough, which is supposed to be better for you, or plain old wholemeal?  Or half and half?  This is a more sparkling aspect, especially good for receiving creative inspiration, providing the champagne bubbles to alleviate some of the heaviness of the Pluto-Sun opposition.  Expand your consciousness, and allow your imagination to embellish your work, or project in hand.  Hope springs eternal.

A third event tomorrow is a sextile between the Sun and Uranus, at the other end of the day, in the evening.  That could lead to a spectacular turn of events or change of mindset.  Spontaneity and innovation characterize the proceedings of the evening.  Telepathy and higher consciousness, or liaising with a constructive group, are also favoured.  Mindblowing conversations can take place, and it’s a good evening for reading out-of-this-world literature.

Wednesday (29^th) brings another full programme, after which there are no more aspects for the week, so make the most of them!  First, at breakfast-time, Mars squares Venus – that’s hot (whatever the weather or climatic condition).  You may find during the day that you feel inclined to let your hair down a little, inhibitions loosened.  This square may also have a bearing on the battle of the sexes (within, or interpersonal).  If you are creative on an artistic or musical vibe, you may introduce a little cheekiness into your work.

Then early lunchtime brings a welcome conjunction between the Sun and Jupiter.  This is one of the best aspects of the year, and occurs at 6 degrees Leo.  Where there has been dejection, it is time to let in hope, or even celebration.  It will certainly be lucky for some.  Focus on what makes you happy, and make more of that.

Last, but absolutely not least, occurring late lunchtime on Wednesday, we have a Full Moon at 6 degrees Aquarius (opposing the Sun and Jupiter).  If you have a planet or Ascendant at 6 degrees Leo or Aquarius, take especial note of these last two aspects.  You may find some tension building towards this Full Moon, not least from the complexity of the day.  We might be torn by looking at an issue emotionally, then from a detached perspective, then back and forth.  This may produce heightened tension, or a stand off between the individual and a group.  Be sure to breathe deeply, and relax completely, keep calm and carry on.  It’s an important day, and you don’t want to fluff your lines or dent your performance, especially if you have a great deal of Leo in your chart.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – reflection; change of karmic emphasis
• Tomorrow – rude awakening/inspiration; spectacular turn
• Wednesday – sensuality; luck; emotional high tide

Barbault’s Basket

We are now in the middle of “Barbault’s Basket”, which I wrote about last week.

So, this is by way of a current update.

I am liking the alternative name for it, which is “Barbault’s Cradle”, because I see it as a protective force.

For the beginning of its influence, last Wednesday (15^th) I wrote:

“Uranus will sextile Neptune.  It’s an aspect involving two big hitters.  This is a rare an unusual aspect, and I can’t speak highly enough about it.  It’s a major reorganization in order to incorporate more complexity and a deeper understanding.”

There were some encouraging signs straightaway.  I noticed:

An interesting law on the evening prior to the Barbault Cradle to stop those at the top lying and covering up.  It is called the Hillsborough law but is on behalf of all the cover ups that happen in institutions, as in the infected blood scandal, the Christmas Island veterans scandal, the post office swindle. Designed to ensure that doesn’t happen in the future. They devoted an episode of Newsnight to it.  Andy Burnham said it would be Keir Starmer’s legacy.  This could be groundbreaking.

Secondly, all newborn babies in England will be tested for the genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), as part of a major study.  This is as a result of former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson’s efforts to obtain routine screening after her twin babies were found to have the condition.  Time is of the essence in diagnosis to stem the deterioration from the disease.  She said “Today is a day of hope. Knowing that future families will have access to early diagnosis and the opportunity for the best possible outcomes is something I’m incredibly proud to have supported.”

The third was reported by a friend:

“The recent report in the Guardian that Mark Zuckerberg had lost an important legal case in which jurors convicted Meta of creating addiction machines – see https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jul/12/mark-lanier-the-lawyer-who-took-on-meta-and-google-and-won-interview

Another news item which could have considerable long-term impact.

At the same time, it cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that Donald Trump has escalated hostilities in the Middle East, against Iran.  That may be a feature of the Jupiter-Pluto opposition (Power Play) which is one of the elements of the Barbault Cradle this week, as Jupiter touches the sensitive points involved.

In looking for signs of the Barbault Cradle in operation, you may be sensing some damage being wrought, and wonder how that correlates with all the hype, and specifically here my own optimism as an Astrologer.

Two things at least are going on:

1. Some things have to be broken or tweaked for the best outcome to be achieved
2. Although Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are in harmony, and Jupiter will also be joining them this week, some squares at the same time are being formed, especially if your own 4 degree planets are in the so-called feminine signs (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces). The harmonious alignments are coming from some of the masculine signs (Aries, Gemini, Leo and Aquarius).  So some will experience challenges.

Why I still feel that overall this is a beneficent structure, is that the challenges take place against a protective backdrop, and may in the long run be for the greater good, or one’s best interests.  So in looking for signs, it’s a good time to look for the silver linings, or play “the glad game.”

The other encouraging “sign”, although there are naysayers, is the amazing arrival of Andy Burnham at the helm of our government, right in the middle of Barbault’s cradle, with a peaceful handover from Keir Starmer.  I am pretty sure he did not consult an Astrologer, but the fact that it is happening right now, and he promises a new beginning in politics reversing trends from the last 40 years, just seems tailor made to fit the brief of this astrological pattern.

On 17^th May, on the blog, I looked at his transits for September, before we had any idea of the timeline involved, and before the Makerfield by-election:

“For the Labour Party Conference in September:

Transiting Pluto sextile his natal Chiron – an emphatic move towards power, and healing

Transiting Neptune conjunct his natal Chiron – a complex journey towards healing

Transiting Mars opposite his natal Mercury – some strident communication, and possibly a war of words.

Andy Burnham … he seems to be most people’s choice, and the astrological indications do not disagree with that.  He has stated that he wants to “save” the Labour Party.”

You can see from the transits that the two outermost planets Pluto and Neptune are keyed into his chart.  It will indeed be an important time as he gets into the swing of his new role as Prime Minister, in the political Conference period.

It is time now to look at his transits for 17^th – 20^th July (now, as he takes over the reins from Keir Starmer):

Andy Burnham does not have a planet at 4 degrees, but he has one planet at 3 degrees, and that is Jupiter.  Jupiter, as it is about to join the Cradle, is at this point in time at 3 degrees Leo, therefore squaring his natal Jupiter.  Hence, his expression of Hope is sky high:

“Hope for every young person is what we are going to be about, and this is it. When you add all of that together, a plan to give people more power to bring back the hope we have all been missing too much, and people are looking for us to deliver, and we will.”

Those are the words of transiting Jupiter squaring natal Jupiter, if ever I heard them!

Hopefully, you will interact positively with this once-in-an-astrologer’s lifetime configuration, or recognize the potential within it.

Here, in case you missed last week’s blog, is how I described it:

“…the almost unheard of alignment of the outer planets, in a formation once foreseen by French Astrologer Andre Barbault (1921 – 2019).  This pattern has come to be known as “Barbault’s Basket”  Currently, as we speak, Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are all harmoniously aligned at 4 degrees of their signs.  If you have a planet at 4 degrees, you are well linked in.  Two of these exact alignments occur this week, and next week we shall have more because Jupiter is fast approaching 4 degrees.

As with the tremendously difficult Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, whose timing we could predict but not its exact nature (the Pandemic), we know that the Barbault’s Basket will have a tremendous effect, but this time beneficently.  We can focus on all the problems in the world, and hope for some practical solutions.  But in our own personal lives too, we may see the hand of Grace operating.  Picture her or him as you like, I picture an enormous Archangel bringing things into right relation.

Some Astrologers feel we may not experience the beneficence immediately, but it may herald a Renaissance of some sort.  Bring that into your own awareness of your own life.  Where can you see, or hope, for a Renaissance?  Right relations should be part of that new order.”

Aspects

We start the week with a more common-or-garden aspect, that being Mars sextile Saturn today.  This aspect enables us to harness energy constructively, and feel our way with any new energy that arises.  Mars sextile Saturn is a useful aspect on a practical level, and you may feel you have achieved something by the end of the day.  It helps to stabilize and firm up any plans, foundations or active projects you are currently undertaking.

Jupiter joins the basket/cradle

Although there is an important opposition involved, I see the advent of Jupiter into the mix of the cradle as completely positive (speaking as a Sagittarian).  I see it as a knight in shining armour come to cement the achievements of the battlefield, or a fairy godmother touching each point of the construction with her magic wand, or alternatively a master baker adding a layer of icing to the cakes.  If you see otherwise happening, it’s the tendency of Jupiter to overdo things, over-egg the pudding, aggrandise and exaggerate.  Some people have a struggle with the expansiveness of Jupiter transits.  If you know you are one of them, just be more aware of your process.  That said, the first two appearances, or events, occur on Monday (20^th):

At breakfast-time, Jupiter trines Neptune.  This is one of my favourite aspects.  It’s a magical unicorn type of energy, for those who like that.  It is a great aspect, and a rare one, for aligning spirituality with religion and for the good of all.  Martin Luther King had this trine in his birth chart.  Make the most of the sacredness of this aspect today, and if you miss it today it will still be around to some extent, gradually fading over the week.

At lunchtime the same day, Jupiter opposes Pluto in an almighty Power Play.  Donald Trump may threaten more than tariffs in more than one direction, for instance.  If I find this in a natal chart, I might say: “You like Power.  But you do need to learn to wield it safely and fairly.  You may not feel this advice applies at this time in your life, but at a point in your life when you feel yourself to attain power, remember to do this.”

Another perspective comes from my favourite astrologer Alan Oken:

“Expansion versus Regeneration. The opposition may bring those challenging circumstances through which individuals are forced to refine their philosophical concepts.  Once again the playing for power is in evidence.  The challenging aspects  of Jupiter and Pluto…can indicate some form of mass religious or philosophical persecution.”

Take note, America vs Iran.

A happier manifestation occurs on Tuesday (21^st) with a sextile between Jupiter and Uranus, the third “basket” aspect of the week.  It occurs at 11.11 a.m., for those of a numerological bent: that is a significant time of the day, and a master number.  It could be a red-letter day in terms of achievement, surprises and possibly even miracles. If you find it so, you’ll have Jupiter sextile Uranus to thank. You could find everything clicking into place in a powerful way.  Anthony Robbins, eat your heart out, it’s a self-motivating, entrepreneurial day! Carpe Diem…

Here is Alan Oken’s take for those who have the sextile natally:

“Expansion flows or works well with Intuition. This aspect introduces an element of genius into any horoscope.  The person’s judgement is keen, and he knows how to apply the wisdom he gains through his intuition…These individuals come across those fortunate experiences in life which can awaken their appreciation of and commitment to truth. ‘The Well-Travelled Soul’ “

The next aspect comes on Wednesday (22^nd), with the ingress of the Sun into the sign of Leo.  For many schoolchildren and workers, you may be starting to enjoy the holiday season, and for parents, good luck as purveyors of kids’ entertainment.  Sun in Leo is about the expression of the human spirit, and that can be enjoyed whatever the weather (although some are tiring of the heat and worrying about the implications for climate change).   For those of you on holiday by the sea, you may be able to enjoy a dip, alternating with lazing on a deckchair under a parasol sipping a pina colada.  For those staying at home, it is about enjoying aspects of life and being, generally.

On Thursday (23^rd) Mercury will be Stationary prior to turning Direct, late in the evening.  you may feel another tide turning in the right direction.  You may feel that you can catch up on chores which had been put on the back burner.  If you have been struggling with computers, I.T. and broadband connections, or delays in communications you may feel a sense of relief.  You can certainly pick up momentum on some projects which involve paperwork and documentation, and make some more essential journeys.

Another pleasant turn of astrological events occurs on Friday (24^th), with a sextile between Mercury and Venus.  It’s a sociable, equable sextile, a combination that aims to please.  This favours conversation, and creative forms which combine art and writing.  There is potential for negotiation in diplomatic efforts (hopefully helping peace efforts, though it is not a major aspect, so baby steps), and harmony and agreement between kindred spirits.  Ideal for cafe or soiree culture.

Some of you may remember the beautiful words written under comments on this blog by Yaz.  They were always full of wisdom, compassion and erudition.  She has passed away, and her celebration will be on Friday, an opportunity for those who knew her to express their appreciation of her life, and wish her well on her soul’s journey.

Finally, on Saturday (25^th) the fourth and final weave of the basket/cradle, in the shape of harmony between the two biggest hitters, Neptune and Pluto, in sextile.  This is a deep structural coalescence, both materially and psychologically.  Look at the big picture in the world, and in your own life, and society.  It has cropped up in many natal charts since the 1940s, so when encountered in a birth chart, I would point out:

“On the personal level, it gives you a basic understanding and harmony with the culture you are living in, perhaps only on an unconscious level.  But this is a sound psychological and in-depth basis for your psyche and those of your peer group.”

Alan Oken writes of this natal aspect in “Complete Astrology”: Illumination flows or works well with Regeneration. These aspects allow the person to respond to the more positive aspects of the invisible realms, which could lead, on the personal level, to an involvement with mystic or psychic schools of thought”.

I leave you in its tender care.  Look after yourselves, and hopefully all will flow from that.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – you can harness energy constructively
• Tomorrow – magical unicorns; power play
• Tuesday – success
• Wednesday – holiday mood
• Thursday – communications straightening out
• Friday – café culture, uplifting chats
• Saturday – a wider perspective on collective psychology

Ann Widdecombe (1947 -2026)

“If someone  wants to turn round and say, Widdecombe, you’re overweight and you’ve got crooked teeth, I say: you’re right, so what?”

~ Ann Widdecombe

I have been urged this week to produce two blogs: one for Ann Widdecombe and one for Bonnie Tyler, both of whom died this week in unusual circumstances.  So I am bowing to the pressure, but will write shortened blogs…

Ann was known for her strident right wing views, and sharp no-nonsense tongue.  But she had many friends and has been described as “intriguing”, and “a character”.  The manner of her death, currently being investigated as a murder, in her isolated home on Dartmoor, is not one that anyone would wish on their worst enemy.

Birth Chart

The crux of Ann’s chart is a Sun in Libra exactly conjunct Neptune – showing her deep faith in Christianity (Roman Catholicism), and a deep rooted idealism about close relationships (she had one reported three-year relationship while at Oxford, with Colin Maltby).  Inner journeys are very much a feature of Neptune and its sign Pisces, and she went from a protestand upbringing, through agnosticism, then to Roman Catholicism).

Her Moon was at the end of Taurus conjunct the Pleiades and sextile with Mars, giving her quick emotional reactions.  The Moon opposite Jupiter would give her florid emotions.  And the Moon’s conjunction with the North Node in Taurus reflects her closeness with her mother, with whom she lived until her mother died at the age of 95. At the time of her mother’s death, Chiron was opposite Ann’s Pluto, a painful wounding.  It also reflects the importance to her of her novel-writing, one of continued aims in retirement, as part of her karmic mission.

Maybe one of her most distinguishing feature was her assertive freedom of speech.  This comes from her close square between Mercury and Mars, the Inner Critic.  Mercury was also conjunct Chiron, an ability to wound through speech, but also with an ability for problem-solving.

We have a birth time for Ann, showing up a triple conjunction upon her Ascendant in Libra (Sun/Neptune/Venus).  Within that Venus conjunct Neptune portrays idealism in relationship, and “impossible love”, possibly also “secret love.”  Moreover, a close sextile of Venus to Saturn on her 11^th House cusp shows a great deal of personal loyalty.  Libra is associated with books (through the Latin name for books, Libri!) and she wrote 4 novels and 3 books of non-fiction.

Mars in Leo indicates a performing zeal, which the general public got to see when she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing partnering professional dancer Anton du Beke.  According to friend Gyles Brandreth (whose wife she met at Oxford), Anton du Beke was the “love of her life” said with a twinkle in the eye and possibly tongue in cheek!  According to the Guardian Obituary by Stephen Bates, she was “being hauled good-naturedly like a sack of potatoes around a dancefloor” and her appearance on Strictly “cemented her celebrity status”.

Mars trine Jupiter ensured great energy allied with enthusiasm, giving rise to a “conviction politician”.  At the same time, Mars in Leo conjunct Midheaven in Cancer meant that she was combative in politics, a Warrior in her 10^th House of Politics.

Coming to her Jupiter, we find Jupiter exactly on the South Node in Scorpio (a past life connection with religion, possibly in holy orders), and trine her Midheaven – a successful career.  Jupiter strongly aspected in her chart, highlighted the fact that she was known for her humour, and for being “game” for a laugh, even on herself.  Speaking about her reality TV debut on Strictly Come Dancing, she quipped: “People were terribly surprised that I had a sense of humour”.

Her “difficult” side came from Saturn conjunct Pluto in Leo, across her 10^th/11^th House cusp, and Pluto square Chiron.

Life and Career

She was born in Bath, studied Latin at the University of Birmingham, then read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford.  After years of trying she eventually became an MP for Maidstone in 1987, representing the Conservatives, Maidstone a few months before her 40^th birthday – that would have been her Uranus Opposition.  The Uranus Opposition is often a defining moment in a person’s life trajectory.

She served as a cabinet minister from 1994 to 1997, when Labour came to power.  She then served in the shadow cabinet under William Hague until 2001.

In May 2001, she made her famous remark about Michael Howard, that “there was something of the night about him.”  A classic example of her Mercury/Mars square in action.  In her 2013 Memoir, she added that he was “vindictive and gloating”.  It is thought that her assessment led to his defeat in the Conservative leadership contest.

Later, she took aim at David Cameron, calling him “big-headed, dismissive of everything that had gone before”.

She stood down from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election.  In 2016, she was an enthusiastic Brexiteer.  She was expelled from the Conservative Party in 2019, and then became affiliated to what was then the Brexit Party.  Some of her extreme views included opposition to the ordination of women in the church, climate change scepticism, supporting the reintroduction of the death penalty, opposition to abortion, and to liberalisation of LGBTQ+ rights.  In 2023 she joined the Reform UK Party as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.

She never married nor had any children.  We do not have Bonnie’s birth time, but Ann’s birthtime reveals an empty 5^th House of Children ruled by Uranus which is totally unaspected, very emblematic of that reality.

Murder

Ann retired to a sleepy village on the edge of Dartmoor, among other things to have the luxury of writing books, but she was still active politically.  Her cottage was named “Widdecombe’s Rest”, a poignant name in retrospect.

It is only a few days since Ann died, and the shocking news of her murder was revealed.  The police do not think it was politically motivated.  They are currently holding a 28-year old white British national (the first was released without charge).

Among her transits were Pluto square her Mercury in Scorpio in her 1^st House (mental shock – it doesn’t bear thinking about), Chiron square her natal Mars (wounding), but on the plus side (if there can be one), Saturn trine her natal Pluto in Leo in her 10^th House – great strength in the face of a high profile demise).  I like to think that shows she will have gone straight to the arms of Jesus, who was so much a part of her life.  If there was any karmic plan for her ending, it might be to show the divisiveness and violence in our society (though should not be exploited by those of that nature and intent).  My own take, for what it is worth, and time may tell, is that she may have expressed her sharpness towards someone who was unhinged, at the “wrong” moment.

Rest in Peace, Ann…

“I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing, she became a real friend, she was fun, she was upbeat, she was positive, she was supportive, she was game, wanted to enter into the spirit of the whole thing”

~ Anton du Beke

Aspects

In the early hours of tomorrow (Monday 13^th) we start with a conjunction of the Sun and Mercury at 20 degrees of Cancer: Mentally, this may help you see more clearly, although as the conjunction takes place in a water sign, you do need to take account of emotions and feelings. You can apply your mind according to the House this conjunction falls in within your chart, and if you don’t know which that is, then apply it to home and family affairs, emotions and women.

Late lunchtime, Uranus squares Venus, so get your thinking, feelings and emotions as straight as possible before then!  Try and smooth the path in advance, e.g. deal with possible loopholes.  This square might bring twists and turn in relationships. There may be a quirky end to a relationship or money saga, slightly out of your comfort zone (especially for Taureans and Librans).  Your plans may have to be modified at the last minute.  The way through is to use your intuition, and stay one step ahead.

Some restoration of calm may ensue on Tuesday (14^th), with a New Moon at 21 degrees of Cancer.  A new beginning is on the cards.  Do remember your New Moon intentions.  It’s a pure and simple chance to get back to basics with our home, family, roots, locality, emotions and ancestry.  Where it falls in your chart can give you extra clues about placing your intentionality, your hopes and wishes.  In the past, this New Moon in the feminine sign of Cancer has enabled the promotion of women’s rights.

The middle of the week begins a most exciting couple of weeks, heralding the almost unheard of alignment of the outer planets, in a formation once foreseen by French Astrologer Andre Barbault (1921 – 2019).  This pattern has come to be known as “Barbault’s Basket”  Currently, as we speak, Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are all harmoniously aligned at 4 degrees of their signs.  If you have a planet at 4 degrees, you are well linked in.  Two of these exact alignments occur this week, and next week we shall have more because Jupiter is fast approaching 4 degrees.

As with the tremendously difficult Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, whose timing we could predict but not its exact nature (the Pandemic), we know that the Barbault’s Basket will have a tremendous effect, but this time beneficently.  We can focus on all the problems in the world, and hope for some practical solutions.  But in our own personal lives too, we may see the hand of Grace operating.  Picture her or him as you like, I picture an enormous Archangel bringing things into right relation.

Some Astrologers feel we may not experience the beneficence immediately, but it may herald a Renaissance of some sort.  Bring that into your own awareness of your own life.  Where can you see, or hope, for a Renaissance?  Right relations should be part of that new order.  So without further ado, we come to the first element:

On Wednesday (15^th) Uranus will sextile Neptune.  It’s an aspect involving two big hitters.  This is a rare an unusual aspect, and I can’t speak highly enough about it.  It’s a major reorganization in order to incorporate more complexity and a deeper understanding.”  Uranus is coming from Gemini and Neptune is coming from Aries, both at 4 degrees of their signs, a truly reforming zeal.  This aspect is laying down terms for the future, whichever way you are looking at it, and from the personal to the universal.  In interpretating what this means for you in your life (and take into account the Houses it falls in, if you know), I would like to make immortal the words of my favourite Astrologer Alan Oken (who has now passed):

“Intuition flows or works well with Illumination.  On an individual level the result would give the ability to properly handle higher levels of consciousness and a profound interest in the occult and mystic.  On a mass level it contributes to a generalized expansion of consciousness and an awakening to new uses of heretofore untapped energy sources.”

Take what you can and weave it into your current reality, and vision of the future.

The second weave of the “basket” occurs on Saturday (18^th) with a trine between Uranus and Pluto.  These two planets are the major ushers of Change (with a big C).  It is a strong structure for the psyche, and for the collective.  It provides the ability to understand and flow with the forces of Change, and can be a positive agent for change.

Turning to other Astrologers to add dimension to my own offerings, I go first to Adam Elenbaas, who says:

“This is the kind of transit that reshapes what you believe is real, not with fanfare but with a quiet, persistent hum. How much change can the human psyche absorb before fragmentation occurs? What happens when information evolves faster than wisdom?”

Financial Astrologer Raymond Merriman says:

“We have an opportunity for another renaissance. Since invention (Uranus) is the mother of necessity, perhaps a recession is necessary to push the creative forces of human ingenuity that leads humanity into this renaissance. Usually, the renaissance is also a revolution in communications (perfect for Uranus in Gemini), according to the great Russian economist Nikolai Kondratieff. The revolution in thought that I am hoping for is a realization of the value of “diversity within unity,”

Alan Oken wrote in “Complete Astrology”:

“Intuition flows or works well with regeneration.  These aspects are definitely instrumental in bringing out more positive aspects mentioned under the heading of the conjunction… Tremendous elevation of consciousness,  to inventiveness,  to an exploration of untapped potentials of energy…”

If it is your birthday that day, it could be a humdinger of a birthday!

See you next week, in the middle of “Barbault’s Basket”!

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – sparkling minds; disrupted feelings
• Tuesday – new beginning
• Wednesday – the ability to wrap your mind around complexity
• Saturday – Beneficent Change

Bonnie Tyler (1951 – 2026)

I have been urged this week to produce two blogs: one for Bonnie Tyler and one for Ann Widdecombe, both of whom died this week in unusual circumstances.  So I am bowing to the pressure, but will write shortened blogs…

I loved Bonnie’s songs, and her voice, and the passion with which she sang.  She lived in Portugal, and underwent emergency surgery some time ago, being put into an induced coma in intensive care.  She recovered consciousness later, but failed to thrive.  Such a tragedy – she loved to sing right up until her surgery planning tours.  She was 75.

Birth Chart

Bonnie had the Sun in Gemini, conjunct Mars (singing with gusto!).  Her Sun was exactly trine Neptune, so she was also inspirational and spiritual as well as being very physical.  We do not have a birth time for her, to see the total balance of her chart, but the exact sextile of Pluto to her Sun gives away that touch of Scorpio which is heard in her voice.  Her Mercury  in Taurus (the sign of the Voice) was sextile with Venus, so she would have been good with words, but was not known for writing her own songs.  However, she did co-write a handful of tracks for her albums.

The distinctive, raspy huskiness in her voice grew after she had an operation in 1977 to remove vocal nodules from her throat.  Apparently, she did not rest her voice enough after the operation.  Her voice has branded her “the female Rod Stewart”.

Mars trine Neptune gave her extra sensuality, again marrying spirituality and physicality.

Life and Career

Bonnie left school in Neath, Wales, without qualifications at 16, and it was soon clear that she was destined for a singing career. In 1969, aged 17, she entered into a local talent competition, and came second, but emerged knowing that singing was what she wanted to do for a living.  Her favourite song growing up was “River Deep, Mountain High”.

Her debut album “The World Starts Tonight” came out in 1977, and she released the song “Lost in France” from that album.

I was lost in France
In the fields the birds were singing…

[a personal digression: I wrote a poem on the back of that, called “Lost in Tibet in Love”!]

In 1977 she also released “It’s a Heartache”

It’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down…

Are you singing along, yet?

On 11 February 1983, she released her biggest hit, “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, one of the best selling songs of all time, a result of working with songwriter Jim Steinman.

The chart of the song’s release has a sensuous conjunction of Venus and Mars, and an entrepreneurial conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, contributing to its huge success.  Saturn conjunct Pluto might suggest a total eclipse of something…and it bridges the cusp of Libra and Scorpio.

Pluto was sextile her natal Chiron – it was a profound healing and expression for her.  Her career had been flagging a little before that point.

Uranus was trine her natal Jupiter – Sudden Success!

The South Node was on her natal Chiron – emphasizing a cathartic healing

(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
When you’re never coming ’round…

That was followed by “Holding Out for a Hero” in 1984:

Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?

Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?

That contains all the warrior fire of her natal Sun conjunct Mars!

Bonnie married Robert Sullivan, a property developer in 1973.  She miscarried at 39 (her Uranus Opposition), and had no children.  They lived in Albufeira, Portugal.

Her last months

In early May of this year, she underwent emergency intestinal surgery.  Her transits at the time included Saturn on her natal Jupiter and squaring her natal Uranus.  Saturn squaring Uranus particularly can result in personal earthquakes.

She was placed in an induced coma, and on 12^th May was said to be seriously ill but stable.  She woke from the medically-induced coma on 15^th June, but died on 8^th July from complications.  Chiron was trine her natal Chiron at that moment in time, suggesting that to pass over was a merciful healing for her at the time.

Her death would bring heartbreak all over the world – she was a particularly successful artist in America.  But what a body of beautifully rendered songs she has left…

Tyler’s music represented “fighting and power and living life without apology”

~ Carol Vorderman

Stay tuned for my second blog of the day…