Wimbledon – Week 2

Some stars have fallen in the first week, sad to see them go…but we have another week of action to look forward to.  So here is the next phase of my analysis:

Women

No. 7 Seed – Coco Gauff

I wrote last year about Coco Gauff (she plays Belinda Bencic today at 15.50 Hrs).:

“Coco is Sun Pisces, sextile dynamic Mars (the Warrior Archetype). Sun in Pisces is the sign traditionally associated with genius or prodigy, and she made her mark when very young.  She also has a dramatic streak (Sun exactly square Pluto).  Her karma is complex, or variable, with Jupiter trine closely North Node (favourable karma) and Neptune exactly square the Nodal Axis (confused karma).”

Her transits for the beginning of the second week:

Uranus square her Uranus (the possibility of a sudden upset)

Saturn sextile her Neptune (bringing realism to her ideals)

Jupiter trine her Mercury (a winning factor)

Her transits at the time of the final are exactly the same.  She stands a good chance of getting to the final, especially if she is able to negotiate the unexpected.

No. 11 Seed – Belinda Bencic

I have not written about Belinda’s chart before, though I have commented about her transits since 2015!  She is one of the older players, and was born in 1997.  Here goes…!:

Belinda is decidedly Piscean, with the Sun, Venus and Mercury in that sign, and is therefore inspirational and instinctive in her approach.  She is blessed with the entrepreneurial conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, and as such can grasp opportunities when they are presented to her.  She has great strength, through a trine between Saturn and Pluto.  Above all, she is a Warrior, with Mars exactly conjunct her North Node, describing her karmic mission.

Her transits at the beginning of Week 2 (She plays Coco Gauff today at 15.50 Hrs):

Pluto sextiles her natal Pluto (self-empowerment)

Chiron opposes her natal Chiron (a health or injury challenge)

Jupiter squares her natal Chiron (positive thinking in the face of challenge)

Mars opposes her natal Pluto (a moment of danger)

North Node trines her natal Chiron (the Universe encouraging the development of her Inner Healer)

Her transits at the time of the final:

Pluto still sextiles her natal Pluto

Chiron still opposes her natal Chiron

Mars trines her natal Jupiter (if she gets through the initial dangers of the week, Mars lends energy and strength to her natural enthusiasm)

North Node still trines her natal Chiron

An interesting set of transits, indicating that she is dealing with a lot, and may overcome her challenges.  A possible contender for the final.

No. 12 Seed – Marta Kostyuk

I have watched a couple of her matches this year, and been very impressed.  Unusually, she has worn a frilly costume (feminine Sun sign), putting me in mind of Maria Bueno (fashionista Libra) in the 1960s!  This is the first time I have looked at her chart:

Marta has the Sun in Cancer, one of the two signs highlighted in this year’s Wimbledon chart (the other being Leo).  When I first started watching tennis in the 1960s two signs were prominent: Libra and Cancer.  Then in the 1970s, power became the watchword, and different signs started to prevail, also adding more analytical approaches (from Geminis and Virgoans).  Cancer then is one of the traditional signs for tennis, a sport which depends on response.  The year that I went to Wimbledon (1975) was the year that the changeover started to come in, with the more gentile and graceful art giving way to the power serve of those such as Rosco Tanner.  The mid-75s still belonged to Virginia Wade and Arthur Ashe (who meditated between changeovers): they were both Cancerians, both born on 10^th July.

Marta doesn’t have it easy, for her Sun is exactly opposite Chiron.  She may have had health issues, even stemming from childhood, to overcome.  She has a conjunction of Mars and Jupiter in Cancer: energy powered by enthusiasm, and expressed emotionally.  Other challenges in her chart include Saturn opposite Pluto, Saturn conjunct the North Node and Pluto on the South Node.

Her transits at the start of the second week:

She has Saturn sextile her Mercury (focus and concentration)

Saturn trine her natal Pluto (power and strength)

Her transits at the time of the final:

She has Saturn still sextile her Mercury

Saturn still trine her natal Pluto

Mars trine her natal Neptune in Aquarius (adding fire and energy to her spirituality and vision)

Much as I would love her to go all the way, her transits are strong but not especially distinguished.  Therefore, I think she will fall short of the final.

No. 14 Seed – Naomi Osaka

I wrote in 2019 (she will be playing Sabalenka today at 15.10 Hrs):

“Being born on a Full Moon (the Sun opposite the Moon), she may arouse strong emotions in others.  She says of herself “I fight myself a lot”.  She has the Sun conjunct closely Mercury in Libra, but has a difficult set of aspects in her natal chart: the Sun opposite Saturn and square Neptune. Mars sextile exactly Jupiter in her chart, bringing excellent energy and enthusiasm – she has an aggressive playing style and a powerful serve.  Jupiter conjunct Uranus loosely in Aquarius (The Entrepreneur) may be a factor in her success.”

She has a planet at 4 degrees, in her case Uranus.  There is currently a 4 degree matrix of outer planets, which this month forms the co-ordinated “Barbault basket”.

Her transits at the beginning of Week 2:

Pluto is exactly on her Uranus – stimulating at a deep level

Pluto squares her natal Chiron – health or injury challenges

Neptune sextiles her Uranus – the ability to take on complexity

Uranus opposes her Pluto – facing Change

Uranus trines her natal Uranus – the Power of Surprise!

Mars trines her Uranus – electrical energy

Her transits at the time of the final:

Pluto is still exactly on her Uranus

Pluto still squares her natal Chiron

Neptune still sextiles her natal Uranus

Uranus still opposes her Pluto

Uranus still trines her natal Uranus

Mars opposes her natal Venus, peaking Saturday 11^th (women’s finals day)

She could start the week well, but has enormous challenges so may not last the week.  However, if she reaches the final, she is not likely to win it, but may be happy anyway.

Of these four, Coco Gauff has the best chance.

Alexandra Eala

I wrote under Comments yesterday:

Alexandra Eala has just beaten my “pick” Swiatek.

On brief inspection, I see that Pluto is on her natal Chiron in Aquarius, Uranus is trine her natal Chiron, Neptune is sextile her natal Chiron – a strong set of transits.

If she advances further this week, I will take a longer look.

Men

No. 5 Seed – Alex de Minaur 

Alex de Minaur won through to the next round yesterday.  In 2020, I wrote:

“De Minaur is an Aquarian, with the speed and agility of a close trine between Mercury and Mars, and the unpredictability of Mars square Uranus.  He has no Earth planets, which may make him ungrounded at times.”

His transits at the beginning of week 2:

Uranus opposes his Chiron – the element of the unexpected could affect his wellbeing

Pluto sextiles his Chiron – transformational help available

Neptune trines his Chiron – spiritual uplift

(Those three transits lock into the Barbault’s basket referred to earlier)

Saturn sextiles his Uranus – strength and flexibility of mind

Jupiter trines his Jupiter – some luck

His transits at the time of the final:

All of the above still valid, plus

Mars square his natal Mercury – mentally fractious and irritable, which might cost him some points

His greatest astrological foe at this time is Uranus opposite his Chiron, but he may be able to pull it into line with “Barbault’s basket”.  If he reaches the final, he could be liable to some unforced errors, so I would say he wouldn’t actually win, but may reach the final.

No. 6 Seed – Taylor Fritz

Fritz also won through, yesterday.

In 2022, I wrote:

“Taylor Fritz is another maverick, like Jannik Sinner, with Uranus exactly square his Sun in  Scorpio.  His Sun is also conjunct Chiron, so he is a problem-solver, too.  He has a wide-ranging mind, with Jupiter square Mercury, and enjoys foreign travel.  Mars trine Saturn is good for precision shots, and Jupiter sextile Saturn helps balanced judgements and decision making.  There is also an entrepreneurial conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in his chart, in the sparky sign of Aquarius, so he may be a whizz with technology.”

His transits at the beginning of Week 2:

Fritz has two natal planets at 4 degrees: Uranus and Pluto, with his Sun close in early 5 degrees…

So, Pluto sextiles his Pluto – self-empowerment

Pluto is on his Uranus – explosive

Pluto squares his natal Sun – personally, hard

Neptune sextiles his Uranus – able to take in complexity

Neptune trines his Pluto – operating at a high level psychologically

Uranus trines his Uranus – the power of Surpise

Uranus opposes his Pluto – need to recognize and act on Change

Mars trines his Uranus – electrical energy

Mars opposes his Pluto – a moment of danger

His transits at the time of the final:

Exactly the same, minus that added texture of Martian energy.

Still very strong, therefore.  He could be a contender for the final.

Seed No. 7 – Novak Djokovic

I wrote last week, under Comments:

“Djokovic? He seemed to beat Tsitsipas easily yesterday…Chiron is currently sextile his Mars, a strong position physically and healingwise. Mars on his Sun yesterday gave him extra strength, but will move away from that position quickly.

At the final, Pluto will be sextile his natal Moon, which will strengthen him enormously on an emotional level. Chiron will still be sextile his natal Mars, supporting him. Mars will be sextile his North Node, supporting him karmically. He should do well, and could reach the final.”

Seed No. 9 – Flavio Cobolli

Another high flying seed who got through yesterday…I have not looked at his chart before (so cannot quote myself, lol).

Cobolli may have the Sun in Taurus, but he is very Geminian, with Mercury, and Venus, Saturn, Mars and the North Node in the sign of the Twins.  That alone could make him a tricky opponent, his partner on the other side of the net wondering who he is facing from point to point!  He also has a bamboozling slice of Pisces in his chart, with the Sun square Neptune and the Moon in Pisces, which could leave his opponent floundering (see what I did, there?)  He has a lot going for him, what with his Neptune (ruler of Pisces) also and inspirationally trining his Mercury/Venus/Mars/Saturn in Gemini.  As well as that giving him a huge versatility and adaptability through a preponderance of Mutable signs, it also adds weight to his karmic mission as those three planets also conjunct his North Node.

Mental note, to quote myself in future…

Joking apart, his transits at the beginning of Week 2:

Saturn sextiles his natal Saturn – great self-discipline

Mars is on his natal Mercury – supercharged mental energy

His transits at the time of the final:

Saturn still sextiles his natal Saturn

Mars trines his natal Neptune – energy and physicality added to his spirit

The lack of transits, and lack of connection with “Barbault’s basket” leads me to (possibly) conclude that Cobolli is here in Week 2 by force of sheer character.  The planets are not particularly supportive, and therefore I am not seeing him in the final.

So, of the next four men’s seeds, de Minaur, Fritz and Djokovic could make the final: I can’t put one above the others.  Last week’s “pick”, Zverev, is still going strong, so I will hold fast for him as winner.

Unless…

Our Brit Arthur Fery played a blinder (excuse my French) yesterday.  He is a wild card and won the decider at the eleventh hour of the fifth set.  A brief look at his chart, tells me:

He is Cancerian (one of the two signs highlighted in the inception chart of Wimbledon).  A good Cancerian can read their responses to their opponents well.  Neptune squares his Chiron at the moment, a challenge he has risen to (he was two sets down yesterday, and looked likely to fail).  Chiron is trine his Venus (a beautiful healing for him at this time – he gets into the world top 100 and qualifies to enter Grand Slams).  The South Node is on his Venus, so he is reaping past karmic rewards.  If he advances further, I will take a longer look.

To sum up, my current pick for the winners are Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev.  But I will be looking at other options during the week, including the newcomers Eala and Fery.  Happy viewing!

Aspects

Mars was sextile Neptune during sleep time last night…did you sleep a little more deeply, or dream a little more vividly?  This combination can be a soothing influence on Mars types (Ariens), or enlivening on Neptune types (Pisceans).  For the rest of us, it is conducive to refined and spiritual actions, meditations and exercises.  Yoga and Tai Chi are recommended under this influence.

 

At lunchtime, Mars trines Pluto, which speaks of self-empowerment, but you have to remember that everyone also has this force!  This is a great aspect for tasks which need great energy.  There may be some upheaval involved, as when you are decluttering in earnest, but you should have the energy to start afresh once you have cleared some old ground.

This should ensure an England-Mexico match full of energy overnight (currently scheduled for 1 a.m. in the U.K., with the beleaguered pub culture hopefully set to profit).  Notice that there was a wobble about the time because of thunderstorms – that was the Mars-Uranus conjunction – often you’ll find that in the charts of babies born during a thunderstorm.

Anyway, sad to admit that England look like the underdog, with the altitude against them and a formidable sabotage machine reported from Mexico (keeping the team awake at night with deliberate revelry).  It is not the easiest of tasks.  The aspect tomorrow (Monday 6^th) morning is Saturn squaring the Sun.  That can be a downer (but who is to say it might not be the Mexico team with the downer?)  One team will have a downer, I can confidently say…(!)

There may be disappointing or deflating news, delay or frustration, such as criticisms about hasty actions. The Sun-Saturn square is an opportunity to think through what you are doing, and your strategies.  If you are making economies, are they the right ones, based on your optimum values?

Neptune is Stationary, prior to going Retrograde on Tuesday (7^th).  This represents some retracing of steps on our spiritual path.  It has been Direct since December last year, so you may have been inspired at that time by a new spiritual area opening up. Now is the time to consolidate on what you have learned, put it into practice, and walk your talk.  Neptune goes direct again this December.  This retrograde turn may re-emphasize issues related to the ocean, and ongoing mysteries.

Our last astrological feature occurs on Thursday (9^th), with the entry of Venus into Virgo.  This aspect makes us tend to be more selective and discriminating in our tastes.  We may get extra picky about our diet, for instance: choosing or rejecting salad, for instance. Our tastes for fashion and people may also temporarily change.  We become more aware of the issues around the environment.  Venus stays in Virgo until 6th August, so for this month refining our tastes and perfecting our contribution to the ecosystem, e.g. recycling procedures.  We may also be specializing in our work and studies, and maybe bringing artistry to a work project.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – fuelled dreams; energetic activity
• Tomorrow – deflation
• Tuesday – spiritual reflection and revision
• Thursday – extra picky

 

 

Wimbledon 2026

Welcome, Wimbledon-Watchers!  I have had some successful years predicting Wimbledon, but last year was not one of those!  Undaunted, I now present the first four seeds from the Women’s and Men’s tournaments.

Women’s

No. 1 Seed – Aryna Sabalenka

My original write-up, in 2021, was:

“Six foot tall, and born in Belarus, she has Sun/Mars in Taurus, which could provide stamina, drive and strong will (apparently… she has an aggressive style of play).  The high powered conjunction is square to Uranus, an erratic and electrical energy which could catch out her opponents in its unpredictability, and interrupt their flow.  With Venus exactly sextile Neptune she may be very artistic or musical.  Mars sextile Jupiter brings energy allied with enthusiasm.  Mars exactly opposite Chiron forming a square with Uranus may make her prone to injury.  Pluto exactly square the Nodal Axis could bring drama in her life from time to time.  She has chosen the Tiger as her animal totem, sporting a tattoo of the animal on her left arm.”

The Guardian Weekend provided a long article about her on Saturday, reminding us that she had threatened to give up tennis after her defeat in the French Open.  They wrote: “We have learned to expect the unexpected with Aryna Sabalenka.  Implosions, explosions…”, which exactly reflects her Sun/Mars square to Uranus.

Sabalenka’s main transit at the beginning of Wimbledon is:- Mars sextile her natal Venus, so she will be playing with passion!  Her recent defeat in the French Open may be down to a lack of planetary support…In the tournament, she will need to dig deep into her own soul and rely totally on her own efforts and self-responsibility (even more than usual).

Sabalenka’s prospects at the time of the final look more promising if she gets there:-

Jupiter will be trine her natal Venus (personal happiness), and

Jupiter will be opposing her natal Neptune (emotion will be high, and maybe bizarre)

I have seen instances where a lack of transits has been freeing, rather than showing a lack of support.

No. 2 Seed – Iga Swiatek

Again, I wrote in 2021:

“Swiatek hails from Poland, and has an unusual Element pattern in her chart: 7 planets in Air (Intellect), 0 in Earth and 0 in Water.  With Sun in the adaptable sign of Gemini, she also has 6 planets in Mutable (adaptable) signs – and by all accounts she likes to bring variety into her game.  Her Sun is conjunct Saturn, and so she also has an element of caution and planning in her game; apparently she “constructs points carefully”.

Since I wrote that, her birth time has come to light.  This reveals: an Ascendant of Gemini clothed by a conjunction of the Sun and Saturn.  This means her personality is focussed by her carefully constructed planning.

Swiatek’s transits at the beginning of Wimbledon:-

Pluto trine her natal Saturn in Gemini in her 12^th House – inner strength

Neptune sextile her natal Saturn in Gemini in her 12^th House – greater sensitivity

Uranus sextile her natal Midheaven (Careerpoint) in Aquarius in her 8^th House – sudden breakthroughs

Saturn trine her natal Pluto in Sagittarius in her 7^th House – able to outplay her opponents psychologically

Swiatek’s transits at the time of the final:

Pluto still trine her natal Saturn –

Neptune still sextile her natal Saturn –

Uranus transiting her natal Saturn – Could bring an upset, unless she is totally in control

Saturn still trine her natal Pluto –

Jupiter on her I.C. in Leo in her 2^nd House – a fundamental sense of success

Mars on her natal Sun rising in Gemini – highly energetic, perhaps incident-prone.

Swiatek’s transits are dynamic throughout, so she is a definite contender for the title.  However, the Observer report this morning highlights a decline over the last year since she won.

No. 3 Seed – Coco Gauff

I wrote last year:

“Coco is Sun Pisces, sextile dynamic Mars (the Warrior Archetype). Sun in Pisces is the sign traditionally associated with genius or prodigy, and she made her mark when very young.  She also has a dramatic streak (Sun exactly square Pluto).  Her karma is complex, or variable, with Jupiter trine closely North Node (favourable karma) and Neptune exactly square the Nodal Axis (confused karma).”

Coco’s transits at the beginning of Wimbledon:

Pluto trine her Uranus – ability to flow with change

Uranus square her natal Uranus – shock exit possible

Saturn sextile her Neptune – the need to be practical

Coco’s transits at the time of the final:

Pluto still trine her Uranus

Uranus still square her natal Uranus

Saturn still sextile her Neptune

Jupiter trine her Mercury (a mental triumph)

That Uranus transit operating throughout risks a shock exit at some point from the tournament.  But she’ll be upbeat at the end of the tournament, maybe for personal reasons.

No. 4 Seed – Elena Rybakina

Again, I wrote in 2021:

“Rybakina, along with … Aryna Sabalenka, is a 6-footer.  She has 5 planets in the Fixed signs, showing strong will.  Her Sun is exactly trine Mars, making her a Warrior (she is an “aggressive baseliner”).  With Sun sextile Jupiter she is sporting and positive, and her energy and enthusiasm are sometimes over the top due to Mars opposing Jupiter.  She has the Moon/North Node/Venus in competitive Leo and has enormous self-belief.  This triple conjunction opposes Uranus, so she can be emotionally unpredictable.”

Her transits at the beginning of Wimbledon:

Pluto is on her Neptune – psychologically complex

Neptune is sextile with her Neptune – spiritually aligned

Uranus is trine her Neptune – able to deal with complexity

Jupiter is trine her Chiron – an added touch of luck and healing

Her transits at the time of the final:

Pluto will still be on her Neptune

Neptune will still be sextile with her Neptune

Uranus will still be trine her Neptune

This is a fairly strong set of transits, which may see her go a long way.  However, at some point she looses that protective trine of Jupiter to her Chiron, so she may not make the final.

All in all, from these sets of transits, I would pick Swiatek as a winner.

Men’s

No. 1 Seed – Jannik Sinner

Like Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner lost out at the French Open, but in his case he was unwell at the time.  The Observer this morning has written about his struggles with the heat.  I wrote in 2023:

“With Mars trine his Sun in Leo, Uranus opposing his Sun and Uranus sextile his Mars, he could be a bit of a maverick and is certainly a ball of energy who can surprise an opponent.  His Chiron also exactly trines his Sun and forms a conjunction with his Mars, so he is a problem-solver too.  Moon conjunct Venus in Cancer suggests he can also play those surprise soft strokes such as drop shots, which sometimes take other players by surprise.  Jupiter conjunct his North Node in Cancer brings him some luck and success down to good karma.”

His transits at the beginning of Wimbledon:

Neptune in Aries squares his Nodal Axis – highlighting the challenges of his sensitivities, e.g. the heat

Uranus squares his natal Mercury in Virgo in his 3^rd House – mental strain

North Node trine his North Node in Cancer rising – karma generally supporting him

His transits at the time of the final:

Neptune still squaring his Nodal Axis

Uranus still squaring his natal Mercury

Saturn sextile his natal Saturn in Gemini in his 12^th House – some extra grit

Somehow, I don’t think this set of transits will get him over the final line.  He could go far, but may not make the final.  He has a lot, personally, to sort out.

No. 2 Seed – Alexander Zverev

I wrote about his debut, way back in 2017 – he is now a comparatively “older” player, with longevity:

“His Sun is right at the beginning of Taurus, and he has 0 Water planets (so may not be so emotional) and half his planets in Earth so is practical.  He is sensitive, though, with Neptune exactly square his Sun, and Chiron exactly opposite his Sun.  He has Mercury conjunct Venus, which may give him writing or diplomatic abilities.  With Mercury exactly square Uranus, he is not afraid to be controversial.  Mars appears unaspected in a chart without a birth time, so his energies may be as wild and free as his hair.  Neptune trines his North Node, so he has a spiritual side.  With Neptune square his Chiron he may be impossibly idealistic (as well as practical).  An intriguing young man.”

His transits at the beginning of Wimbledon:

I have high hopes for Zverev at this time, because Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are coming into an exact alignment, he has planets which will be affected by this pattern, and may be able to make something of it in his personal life, as well as on the court.

Pluto sextiles his natal Pluto rising in Scorpio – self-empowerment

Pluto squares his Venus/Part of Fortune in Taurus in his 6^th House – personal challenges

Neptune trines his natal Pluto – good psychological frame of mind

Chiron transits his natal Sun in Taurus in his 6^th House – an opportunity for healing: may be dealing with health issues

Jupiter square his natal Sun – optimism

Jupiter opposing his natal Neptune – faith

Mars trine his Neptune in Capricorn in his 3^rd House – action combined with spiritual force

He has just passed his Saturn Return, a major milestone in development

His transits at the time of the final:

Pluto still sextiles his natal Pluto

Pluto still squares his Venus/Part of Fortune

Neptune still trines his natal Pluto

Uranus opposes his natal Pluto rising in Scorpio – this could be hazardous, but in the midst of some strength from other forces, he may rise to challenges, changes and disruptions, e.g. opponents playing up

Chiron still transits his natal Sun

Mars just passed a trine with his natal Moon in Libra in his 11^th House – if he reaches the final, he may have pulled off some stunning victories in the semi-finals and quarter finals, through sheer emotional force

The  Mean North Node about to sextile his natal Sun – he should be pleased with where he is with his karma immediately after Wimbledon

The True North Node sextiled the Sun on 1^st July early in the tournament – in  the first rounds of the tournament, karma may be smiling upon him

This is an amazing set of cosmic connections, but some of them quite challenging.  I see this as an opportunity to overcome weaknesses and circumstances, and therefore feel he could win the tournament.

No. 3 Seed – Felix Auger-Aliassime

I first looked at Felix Auger-Aliassime’s chart in 2020:

“Felix has 5 Fire planets, 0 Water, 6 Fixed and 0 Cardinal.  He has Sun in Leo opposite Uranus (the Rebel Archetype and the Showman).  His Moon is in Sagittarius or Scorpio (no birth time available).  Mercury is conjunct Mars, so he could get easily rattled, and in Leo he is highly competitive.  He can get distracted (Mercury opposite Neptune), but he has plenty of enthusiasm (Mars sextile Jupiter) and energy (Mars trine Pluto).  With Mars opposite Neptune, he may have periods where his play is patchy and he is not entirely “present”.  Not a straightforward chart for a tennis champ.”

His transits for the beginning of Wimbledon:

Pluto on his Neptune – a complex time psychologically

Pluto opposes his natal Mars – there could be a danger of injury

Neptune trines his natal Mars – he may deal with events on a spiritual level

Jupiter sextile his natal Saturn – some optimism

Mars on his natal Saturn – he may break some of his own rules, traditions etc.

South Node on his Venus – he feels a sense of it being an important time for him karmically, e.g. settling old scores.  He’s not one of the younger players, but he’s not as old as Zverev.  He wants to make his mark at this time.

His transits at the time of the final:

Pluto still on his Neptune

Pluto still opposes his natal Mars – possibility of injury throughout

Neptune still trine his natal Mars

Uranus sextile his natal Mars – if he should reach the final, this transit would assist him in surprising his opponent, and giving his performance extra spark

Jupiter now on his natal Mercury in Leo – that is a winning transit

Mars opposing his natal Pluto – more danger!  He may be appearing to skate on thin ice at times…

South Node still on his Venus

Felix’ birth chart and this set of transits are dominated by Mars.  There seems to be an ever-present danger of injury in this period, but he will have plenty of energy and combativeness.  The other quality which comes out strongly is Courage – he may be praised as far as he goes in the competition for that quality.  Despite all the dangers, I would not rule out a place in the final.

No. 4 Seed – Ben Shelton

Ben, born in 2002, was new to me in 2025.  I wrote last year, rather sketchily:

“Ben is a Libran, with a focussed and perfectionistic conjunction of Mercury and Mars in Virgo.”

I may add that his Mercury/Mars conjunction gives him brisk action and acute co-ordination.  The Sun sextile Jupiter gives him an upbeat attitude, but at the same time Mercury squaring Saturn can also make him depressed at times – a see-saw of emotions, as well as the balancing of the Libran scales.  Mars squaring Saturn means his strokes may not always be as elegant as his Libran Sun would aspire to.  Saturn trine Uranus gives him strength, and the ability to adapt when old and new ways of doing things are presented in times of transition.

His transits at the beginning of Wimbledon:

Jupiter trines his natal Mercury – he may make a promising start

North Node sextile his natal Chiron – he may become aware of his Inner Healer

Both transits are leaving their positions, leaving me to suspect that getting to Wimbledon was the high point.

His transits at the time of the final:

Saturn sextiles his natal Jupiter – he will be realistic

Saturn trines his Pluto – he will have inner strength

Mars trines his natal Neptune, peaks on 10^th July – around that time, if he is still in the tournament, he may make one or two inspiring shots, which would be memorable

This Wimbledon doesn’t look memorable for Ben Shelton, sadly.  His transits are as blank as Sabalenka, but as I said before, I have known a lack of transits giving a sense of freedom.

Summing up, then, Zverev has the best astrological profile of the top four men’s seeds.

Swiatek has the best astrological profile of the top four women’s seeds.

As always, I will be watching who comes up in the ranks, and assessing whether they have better transits.

Happy watching!  Let me know if you will be putting your jam on your cream or cream on your jam, when constructing your scones.

Next Week: Wimbledon Week 2

Aspects

Did you rise with the lark this morning?  With a positive attitude?  If so, you will have been responding to a sextile between Mars and Jupiter. [A perfect run-up to Wimbledon fortnight!].

Mars sextile Jupiter is a straightforward combination of energy and enthusiasm, so a good way to employ excess feeling in an absorbing leisure activity of your choice.  You’ll be able to find that extra drive, for what you are wanting to achieve, or go that extra mile.

While I have been blogging, hubby has reported that it is fresher out than it has been for some days.

This evening, Mars will enter Gemini.  We go from the more sluggish energy of Mars in Taurus (it has been difficult to do anything in this present heat) to a brighter, more expressive energy.  It’s a high action placing, with a spike in mental and physical energy, and the urge to get things done.  Certain sports, such as running and cycling, are highlighted.

Tomorrow, Monday (29^th), Mercury in Cancer is Stationary, prior to going Retrograde.  Yasmin Bolland and Kim Farnell observe in “The Mercury Retrograde Book” that this placing in Cancer implies:

“You need to follow your instincts when Mercury is retrograde in a Water sign. This is a time to listen to that small voice within – especially if it starts shouting.”

Depending on how you are normally affected, be clear in your communications for the next three weeks, in order to avoid misunderstandings and loopholes.  Although technology can go awry, it can be a good period to upgrade such devices.  You may have developed your own strategies, according to past experiences.

The day may also be tense on an emotional level, building up to the Capricorn Full Moon just before midnight in the evening.  This may be marked for you by a benchmark of achievement or an emotional peak (or trough!).  Full Moons can be a revelation.  Even if you were making an important start on your plans for the day, you may still be feeling some tension.  This Moon represents the pull between authority and individual needs.  There are questions about society, such as how far can authority be accountable for an individual’s fate, and how much can the individual expect from authorities – where does the balance of responsibility lie?  On the wider picture, I have noticed resignations associated with Full Moon in Capricorn.

Some storminess could be afoot on Tuesday (30^th), with a challenging square between Mars and the Nodal Axis.  It is a day for preparing your lines of action.  Karma may dictate that you cannot sit and lounge around, you’ll be prompted to action, whether willingly or unwillingly!  There may be old scores and battles to settle.  This aspect occurs in the U.K. in the middle of dreamtime, so you could be in for some fiery dreams.

The most important astrological feature of the week occurs before waking, also on that day, with the entry or ingress of Jupiter into the sign of Leo.

Jupiter in Cancer has seen the rise in populism, patriotism and nationalism.  The preserving and restoration of antiquity also came under the Jupiter in Cancer, as old treasures were unearthed in the archaeological world.

Jupiter in Leo is altogether more playful, and hedonistic.  It will operate for approximately a year.  If you catch yourself in unguarded moments of sheer joy during that period of time, you will be catching that vibe.  The royal family may be more than usually in the limelight during that time, and there may be a new royal child born.  Sun worshippers will enjoy the extra warmth from climate change and may not need to go abroad to experience it.  Yet it is still a reminder that we have to keep on track with reaching Net Zero.  On a personal level, there may be new causes for celebrations, such as more weddings than usual.  And if you are a Leo Sun Sign, this is your year!

The last feature of the week, a conjunction between Mars and Uranus, occurs on Saturday (4^th July).  It is important to check health and safety practicalities.  Mars conjunct Uranus is very focussed action, sometimes conducted at lightning speed.  It favours engineering, mechanics and science, and could be explosive if the energy is not harnessed with some sense of control.  The energies could be very galvanizing. If you are engaged in a creative venture, your mind could be over-active, with original ideas.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – energy plus enthusiasm; increased mental energy
• Tomorrow – communication glitches; emotional high tide
• Tuesday – battle lines; a more joyful approach
• Saturday – explosive or galvanizing

A Zodiac of Painters

Following on from last week’s art theme, I am looking at various artists representing their Sun signs.  The next two weeks will be taken up with Wimbledon blog season!  Does the painter depicted under your Sun sign resonate with you, or do they push your buttons, I wonder…?

Aries – Vincent van Gogh 

Vincent van Gogh produced work of such vibrancy and energy that they expressed his Sun sign of Aries.  He had the red hair of Aries, but his favourite colour was yellow.

His sense of confusion and delicate nature speak of the neighbouring sign of Pisces, which in his chart contains Neptune, the Midheaven (career path), Mars (his ruling planet from his Sun sign) and Venus (his art).

I was fortunate enough, in my third year at University, to study under Europe’s foremost Van Gogh expert, Ronald Pickvance.  I studied 19^th Century art, which encompassed Van Gogh, but at the time did not know Van Gogh was his specialism.

Taurus – JMW Turner

Turner is one of Britain’s best loved artists, and his Sun sign is that most usually associated with art (together with Libra, as they are both ruled by Venus).

The style he adopted and is famous and most successful for is more whispy and whimsical in terms of his skies and atmospheres than you would expect from a solid Taurean.  His level of success and karmic fulfilment may be due to a close trine of his Sun to his North Node in Virgo (another earth sign).  His Venus (art) is also in Taurus.  It is to his Air signs that we need to look to for his “special effects”: his Air planets are the Moon in Aquarius (innovative) trine Uranus in Gemini (innovative in Air), and Saturn in Libra (dedicated to his work).

Gemini – Albrecht Durer

Albrecht is a true Gemini, with Saturn, the Sun, Venus and the Moon, in that sign.  You can see the mental approach to his work in the precision and starkness of lines, the absence of emotion from colour.  Though he did sometimes work with colour, his skill lay in detailed drawing, characteristic of the ruling planet Mercury, though more usually associated with the other Mercury-ruled sign of Virgo.  His specialism was woodcuts and engravings. The self-discipline shown in his work is exemplified in his chart by a conjunction of the Sun with Saturn, and Saturn being exactly square the Ascendant, at the top of the chart.  That also gives him Capricornian qualities.

Cancer – David Hockney

Cancerian themes he painted included home interiors and splashing in pools…

From last week’s blog:

Venus in sextile to the Moon and Saturn, in between their trine, gives a feel for beauty, and this makes his paintings easier to relate to than the majority of British art arising in the last century…

His colour, and childlike clarity appeal to the Inner Child within us.  And as a Cancerian, he was easily able to inhabit that joyful space.

“He taught us about the joy of looking, seeing things the rest of us failed to notice – his witty and sharp observations a constant presence within his work and in person”

~ Alex Farquharson

Leo – Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, the father of pop art, is a good example of the Leonine temperament, with Mercury, the Sun conjunct the Ascendant (a “double” Leo), Venus and Neptune all in Leo.  Leo is the sign of Creativity, and his work was certainly eye-catching in the best tradition of seeking the limelight so characteristic of this sign.  With three trines and a conjunction (with the Moon) to his Uranus, there is a strong desire to be innovative and original, and to stand out from the crowd.  These qualities associate him with the sign of Aquarius.  With the Moon exactly trine with the Sun, he certainly knew what he was doing.  He was assured of success with Jupiter on his Midheaven (Careerpoint).  And the simplicity of his images may be down to his Moon in Aries.

Virgo – Beryl Cook

Historically, female painters are like gold dust compared to the male of the species.  However, I have managed to include three women in my survey!  On the surface of things, Beryl Cook’s artwork does not look very Virgoan, and the evaluation is not helped by the fact that we do not have a birth time for her (as we did for all the previous male painters!  “Equal rights!” I hear you cry…) – apparently, Beryl was never accepted by the art establishment.  So we are entirely reliant on her day of birth to understand what made her paint the voluptuous females she did.  Is it, for instance, the association with the Virgin Mary with this sign? Maybe it is her Venus(Art)/Neptune conjunction in Leo (voluptuousness) which is at play?  There is also sense of karmic drama in her Pluto/North Node conjunction in Cancer (the sign of femininity).  She has Mercury and the Sun in Virgo, which is only two planets, but one of them, Mercury, is in its home sign.  Her theme of “everyday life” is a Virgoan theme.

So she is a bit of a mystery (unless we find a birth time for her).  A painter I would have expected to find under Virgo is the pointillist Seurat, but you’ll find him under Sagittarius, with hopefully some lucid explanation…

Libra – Michelangelo Caravaggio

Again, we are without a birth time.  Caravaggio is famously known for his “chiaroscuro”, the dramatic use of light and shade.  This might suggest the sign of Scorpio, which he does have through Mercury conjunct Saturn in that sign.  But Libra does hint at the duality of life, for which an eternal striving for balance and unity is attempted.  He has only the Sun in the sign of Libra.  His “art” planet, Venus, is in Virgo, so he will have been very painstaking.  Personality-wise he was known to be tempestuous, irascible, and this may be shown in a quincunx between his Mars and Pluto.  His strong desire to express the Inner Rebel is shown by a sextile to his Mercury/Saturn from Uranus.  Though we do not know his birth time, at Noon on the day he was born the Moon was exactly conjunct Chiron, showing a deep woundedness, especially around females in his life.

Scorpio – Georgia O’Keeffe

The second of our female painters, Georgia O’Keefe does display the sensuous nature of Scorpio in her beautiful flower images.  Mercifully, we do have a birth time for her, and that establishes her firmly in the territory of Scorpio: with Jupiter, the Ascendant (“double” Scorpio), the Sun, the Moon (“triple” Scorpio, in terms of the most prominent three factors in a chart being in the same sign), and Mercury in that sign.  The best feature in her chart is her exact sextile between Mars and Jupiter (energy allied with enthusiasm).  But her planets clustered around her Ascendant show a tremendous force of personality.  Her photographic portrait shows an angularity of Scorpio in her mein.  She did not only paint flowers, she painted a whole range of other things, but the flowers are more well known: they are exquisitely beautiful, and though they are intensely sensual, there is also a softness about them.  This may be due to her Moon rising, two degrees away from her Sun, immediately after a New Moon.

As mentioned previously, both in art and personality, Caravaggio may be seen as Scorpionic.

Sagittarius – Georges Seurat

As mentioned under Virgo, one would expect the minutely detailed pointillist technique to belong to that sign, rather than the expansionist seeing-the-wood-for-the-trees sign of Sagittarius.  And to answer my own question at the beginning of this blog, yes he is one of my favourite painters.  Was it an attempt at inner balance that Seurat was trying to achieve?  The answer is simpler, courtesy of a birth time, for Virgo was indeed his rising sign, or Ascendant.  He had an amazingly co-ordinated chart in many ways, for his Ascendant was 26 degrees, Venus (art) was at 25 degrees and at his I.C. (his security point), Neptune was at 24 degrees at the Descendant, the Midheaven was at 25 degrees, Jupiter was at 24 degrees (exactly trine inspirational Neptune) and last but not least Saturn was at 26 degrees.  All these planets formed tight aspects to each other.

Capricorn – Berthe Morisot

The third of our women artists, Berthe Morisot was outstanding as a French painter in the Impressionist movement.  Though she was born under the ambitious and career-orientated sign of Capricorn, she often painted domestic and maternal scenes more characteristic of her Ascendant sign Cancer.  Chiron (the wounded healer) was also in Cancer, in her 1^st House, so there is a desire to heal in her work and personality.  The Cancerian theme is carried through in her karmic mission, as the Moon trines her North Node.  Femininity is also highlighted for her career, with Venus closely conjunct her Midheaven in Pisces.  There is also a desire for emancipation, with the Moon conjunct Mars in artistic Libra – it was a very difficult time for a woman to be recognized in the art world.  She was married to the brother of Edouard Manet, who appears under Aquarius.  Her work was known for its elegance and lightness.

“I don’t think there has ever been a man who treated a woman as an equal and that’s all I would have asked for, for I know I’m worth as much as they.”

~ Berthe Morisot

Aquarius – Edouard Manet

Manet was one of the foremost of the Impressionists, was born in Paris, and as mentioned he was the brother-in-law of Berthe Morisot.  His work is characterized by his use of the colour black, the harshness of which for instance does not predominate in the work of Claude Monet.  His work takes on a Capricornian/Saturnian feel, therefore.  At the time he was born, Aquarius was still ruled jointly by Saturn and Uranus, as the latter had only been discovered in 1781. Astrologers had only begun to ascribe Uranus to Aquarius in the 1820s, and it takes a while for a planetary principle to work its way into the collective unconscious.   Manet had three planets in Aquarius: the sun, Uranus and Jupiter.  Some of the harsh outlining can be attributed to his Mercury trine Saturn, and Mercury square Pluto.  Apparently, it was Berthe Morisot, a friend to famous painters of the time, who drew Manet into that artistic circle, and she encouraged him in his work. He painted many plein air pieces, as befitting of an Air sign!

Pisces – Piet Mondrian

20^th Century artist Piet Mondrian, influenced by Cubism, has again a very distinctive style of painting, in slabs and blocks of colour.  He is another example of a painter whose work is not typical of his Sun sign, and needs decoding astrologically.  He does have the Sun conjunct Mercury in Pisces in the 1^st House, but with an Ascendant of Aquarius.  The Moon is gentle, in a conjunction with Venus in his 12^th House.  That conjunction is in Aquarius, and his paintings boldly go more in that direction than in the whispy, blended colours you would expect from Pisces.  His confident tones are described in his trine between Sun/Mercury and Jupiter.  There is some significant wounding in his life, shown by Mars conjunct Chiron (also indicative of the fear of eye injuries he suffered from), and maybe the bold use of colour is an attempt to heal this.   As a pioneer of abstract art, he influenced Bauhaus, modern architecture, and industrial design.  A deep personality, philosophically he was drawn to Theosophy and Anthroposophy.

As mentioned, I see Turner’s skyscapes as being sensitively Piscean in nature.

“Art is higher than reality and has no direct relation to reality. To approach the spiritual in art, one will make as little use as possible of reality, because reality is opposed to the spiritual. We find ourselves in the presence of an abstract art. Art should be above reality, otherwise it would have no value for man.”

~ Piet Mondrian

Next Week: Wimbledon

Aspects

This morning ushered in the Summer Solstice, the Sun’s entry into the sign of Cancer.  Smell the roses if you have some, and celebrate the moment of maximum light.  Many people will enjoy the benefits of nature, and the weather in the U.K. is conducive to making the most of it.  A holiday mood is possible, at least theoretically.  You may also be taking stock of your life.  They say that sunrise was spectacular at Stonehenge this morning…!

Today holds another gift: that of a sextile between the Sun and Chiron.  This may have a stabilizing effect, especially if parties desire to work on healing.  This is a useful aspect for balancing, and receiving beneficial input from other worlds and planes.  It’s helpful for problem-solving, too.  What do you yearn to solve?  There will be an attempt to bring everything to a wholeness.

Tuesday (23^rd) brings a trine between the Sun and the North Node.  Karmic developments (North Node) are likely to be about power and creativity.  At this time, the Universe bears a karmic gift.  This can help your actions and creations to fall in line with, and be in sync with, your own karma and the collective karma.  I have a dental check-up that day, and am hoping that my dental karma holds…!

We have two contrasting aspects on Thursday (25^th), the first of which arrives at Noon, in the shape of Venus trine Saturn.  This may bring encouragement, of people coming together with more commitment and loyalty, in this period of social division.  Venus can provide a softening role to a hard line stance.  It is conciliatory, which may be just what is needed.  Relationships may need serious resolving, and this aspect can help, whether on a personal level, or between nations (for any bidders for the Nobel Peace Prize).

Late on the same day, Neptune will square the Sun, which may find you confused by opposing ideas and thoughts, as Neptune squares the Sun.  This is a smoke and mirrors type of aspect. There may be new considerations and issues arising, more sensitivity to consider, in your own life.  How much energy can you give to the consideration of events abroad, while attending to your own healing and those of other around you? You may be feeling a little lost, or even dizzy, your awareness in a state of transition.  It’s a good moment to surrender to the divine, and ask what you are supposed to be learning from the experience, seeking out where the illusion lies.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – summery mood; healing
• Tuesday – karmic rewards
• Thursday – loyalty; confusion

David Hockney (1937 – 2026)

“Art is not just a luxury or a self-contained activity.  It has a profound influence on other aspects of our lives…”

~ David Hockney

David Hockney is our national treasure artist.  His work is something everyone can enjoy.  He passed away last Thursday, but will be forever in our hearts.

He came to the fore during the swinging sixties, a friend of the pop artist Andy Warhol.  Though he was born in Yorkshire, he spent many years of his life in California, where he painted several artworks based around swimming pools, employing the medium of acrylics, and assisted by photography.

But in 2010, he felt an emptiness inside and decided to return to his home terrain of Yorkshire, and we have benefited from the work he subsequently did there, now working in watercolours.  By 2012 he was in a position to launch a great exhibition of his work on the seasonal changes at the Royal Academy, in works such as ”The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire”.  Here is the blog I wrote on 29^th January 2012 after a visit to this exhibition:

‘The Observer reported “Everybody is coming out with a smile on their face” from the David Hockney exhibition.  Accordingly, we took photos of ourselves before and after, and indeed there was a look of great exhilaration after seeing the grand and colourful landscapes, stunningly portrayed.  Of all British artists of the last century, I would venture to say his works are easiest on the eye, and I have always held the thought that I would be comfortable with Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy on my wall! [His portraits have the same clarity as his landscapes].  David Hockney has Sun conjunct Mercury in Cancer, so he very much processes through his emotions: even his mind processes through his emotions. The colour in his artworks is an attempt to express the emotion he feels.  In the current exhibition, his landscapes and love for his native Yorkshire are on display.  Rosie Bramley, Head of Art at local school Driffields has said: “He’s an incredibly talented observer but when he introduces colour he’s clearly capturing his feeling about a place – and I think that does relate to how we view the Wolds.”  His ruler the Moon, also governing emotion, is trine Saturn, so he is a shrewd operator, and is able to turn his emotion into practical use.  This aspect would also give him proficiency in drawing, and his artworks are very clearly delineated, sometimes almost cartoon-like.  Martin Kettle wrote in the Guardian: “It is a statement about the primacy of skilled drawing and painting in the visual arts and about the challenge of doing them with originality in the 21^st Century.” Venus in sextile to the Moon and Saturn, in between their trine, gives a feel for beauty, and this makes his paintings easier to relate to than the majority of British art arising in the last century …Added to this, his Sun exactly sextiles Neptune giving him a precise and intense degree of inspiration.  The trine of Mars to his Sun/Mercury conjunction accounts for his prolific output.  So overall, he has the constructive chart of someone who has been a mainstay of British art…I would urge everybody to try to see it!’

He had embraced modern technology for that exhibition, employing for instance drawing on I-Pads.  But a few years later (November 2015) he went to live in Normandy and produced a new body of work based on that region, such as springtime scenes, and most notably the monumental frieze “A Year in Normandie” (2020–2021).  He returned to London in 2023.

Watching him paint on the programme “Imagine”, which was broadcast again on Friday night, he made it look so easy, that it made me want to paint.  And yet, if it was so easy, everyone would be able to achieve his simple and beautiful style.

His colour, and childlike clarity appeal to the Inner Child within us.  And as a Cancerian, he was easily able to inhabit that joyful space.  I still have and use the mug I bought in the shop attached to the exhibition.  It is wrapped around with the signature leafy woodland painting so characteristic of that display.  So I can enjoy David Hockney, daily!

“A great artist and a wonderful man, who with the power of art changed the perception of Britishness. A proud chain-smoking homosexual, who flew the flag higher than any other British artist.”

~ Tracey Emin

“He taught us about the joy of looking, seeing things the rest of us failed to notice – his witty and sharp observations a constant presence within his work and in person,”

~ Alex Farquharson

Aspects

Tomorrow (Monday 15^th) brings the fresh start of a New Moon at 24 degrees Gemini.  Make the most of this new beginning.  Clear your mind in order to make your New Moon intentions along the lines of the Geminian qualities and occupations: communication, writing, and travel.  If you know the House this falls in, you can further refine its application.  The teaching profession may be one such focus.  A conversation may lead to new ideas.

We then face three Venusian aspects in a row, so if you are Taurean or Libran this could be an important week for you especially.  Experiences of relationship and connectedness will be to the fore.  So on Monday evening, Venus begins her time in the limelight with a sextile to Uranus.  There may be a social sparkle somewhere in your evening, even if only on social media.  It’s a good day, for the most part, for socializing and meeting new people.  Meetings are significant with the combination of Venus and Uranus, and sometimes they can be strange and spooky with an air of serendipity.

The next two Venusian aspects occur on Wednesday (17^th), beginning with a trine between Venus and Neptune, which is a beautiful aspect from a social point of view, enabling spiritual links with people.  Artistically or musically, you can achieve inspirational heights.  Whatever your art form, it can be enhanced today (especially dance

So far so good, Venus…The evening, however, brings more of a challenge, for Venus then comes into opposition with Pluto.  This may be responsible for ending the day on a more dramatic note, especially in terms of relationships, and possibly in relation to money and the Arts.   In negotiations, people may be using negative tactics such as projecting fear. If your struggles are in the realms of art or music, you may have to go back to the drawing board on a creative project, or fundamentally change the values behind what you are creating, taking them to a higher level or a deeper level psychologically.

Thursday (18^th) does not have an aspect all to itself, but may still hold the lingering uncertainty and tension of the previous evening’s opposition.  In the U.K. there is the crucial by-election in Makerfield.  We do not have a birth date for the Reform candidate, or any of the other candidates (14 in all) running that day.  But we can look at Andy Burnham’s transits.

Andy Burnham’s transits for the day portray some swings and roundabouts:

Uranus sexile his natal Chiron in Aries – Represents a chance to smooth out a kink in his life and personality

A couple of squares:

Chiron square his natal Mercury in Capricorn – Represents trying to solve a problem in connection with political communication

Saturn square his natal Venus – If he wins, it may represent a wrench from people and work that he loves.

Jupiter sextile his natal Pluto – *Probably the most powerful transit.  It represents a major stepping forward into power in his life.  If he wins, it would be this transit above all which swings it (sounds perfectly fitted to the aim and occasion).

North Node trine his natal Jupiter in Scorpio – The next best thing: His Karma, and possibly also that of the nation, is supporting his optimism and positivity. (another transit perfectly fitted to the aim and occasion).

I find the aptness of these last two transits heartening, but however misogynistic his main rival is, Andy cannot count his chickens.

Chiron in Taurus

The most important astrological feature of the week comes on Friday (19^th), with the entry of Chiron into Taurus.

Chiron in Taurus represents the transition from a totally self-centred perspective on healing, to one using natural resources and gentler ways of being.

Chiron in the latter stages of Aries has brought us riots in the streets, in an expression of anger which has done nothing to solve things.  Similarly, it brought wars in Ukraine and Iran, teaching the U.S. and Israel that war is not the path to peace, violence solves nothing.

It may take a while for things to simmer down and a gentler way of collective being to come, but if you see signs of that happening, you’ll know it is Chiron’s presence in Taurus.

Coming on the day that we have the result of the Makerfield Bye-Election, it may indicate that a complete and significant change will occur, hopefully for the better.

In relationships, there may be more chance of resolution, for example through compromise and give and take rather than mere self-interest.

There can be a boost in the healing arts, healing through art, and indeed art through healing.  Be inspired by David Hockney’s life and work!

Chiron was last in Taurus between 1976 and 1984.  Standout personalities born early in that phase who have the best qualities of Chiron in Taurus include: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his perseverance being a key quality of his success); and Nazanin Zhagari-Ratcliffe (who survived 6 years of imprisonment in Iran, eventually being freed).

For the world economy, Taurus rules economics, and Chiron is “the wounded healer”, so there is more understanding and focus on the current wound.  Chiron is also “the problem solver” (after the wound is uncovered), and so as Chiron goes deeper into Taurus in the coming years, focus will turn to solutions and economic growth.  Chiron has until 2034 to get it right.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – new beginning; special meetings
• Wednesday – artistic and spiritual inspiration; dramatic confrontation
• Friday – a new perspective on healing

Anthony Head (1954 – 2026)

“Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world which was an incredible skill because he was the best person”

~ Brett Goldstein

Actor Anthony Head, has died at the age of 72, from complications due to pneumonia.  He played a range of characters, from the good and wise mentor of Buffy the Vampire slayer, to the ultimate villain in Ted Lasso.

Birth Chart

Anthony Head had his Sun in Pisces.  His description from Sharon Maughan, his coffee neighbour in the Gold Blend advert sounds like an exemplary Piscean: kind and sweet (almost every tribute brings up the word “kind”).  The roles for which he is primarily known are varied, adaptability being another Piscean trait.  Sun conjunct Venus doesn’t always convey good looks, but in his case it did. It also expresses his talent as a singer – his brother Murray Head is also a singer. The conjunction occurring in Pisces can also add glamour, and with the Sun trine Neptune (ruler of Pisces) he had his fair share of glamour and mystique.  He may have had a Libran Ascendant, his face being so classically Libran.  The Sun represents the father in a chart, and his father was a film maker, a Piscean profession.

His Mercury was exactly square his natal Jupiter, so that added to the adaptability and versatility of his Piscean nature and his ability to take on very varied roles.  The adjective “erudite” has been attributed to him, often a result of the combination of Mercury and Jupiter.  He had a loose Grand Water Trine composed of Mercury, Saturn and Uranus, which may have helped him get lucky breaks in his career.  According to Sharon Maughan, it was when he worked on the coffee advert storyline that he decided acting was for him.  But he himself (he should know) claims to have caught the acting bug from an early age.

Venus was exactly square Mars in his birth chart, which lent sensuality to his aura.  Venus in trine with Saturn disposed him to loyalty in his relationships.  Uranus was on his South Node in Cancer, an intriguing picture of his past lives as an Atlantean or a pirate perhaps.  A Cardinal T-square composed of Neptune with Chiron opposite Uranus, may have caused him problems from time to time, especially when triggered by transits.  He may also have carried a healing role in some way to others in his life, with a karmic mission of North Node conjunct Chiron.

Early Life

Anthony was born in Camden Town, to a film maker father and an actress mother.  He was educated at Sunbury Grammar School in Surrey, then at LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art).

Gold Blend

We couldn’t have failed to notice him (those who are old enough!) in the late 1980s, when he played the neighbour of Sharon Maughan in the Nescafe Gold Blend series of advertisements.  (I still drink Gold Blend, to this day!  In fact, I am drinking it as I type…I haven’t moved on!).  The series ran from 1987 to 1993.

The on screen romance and off screen friendship between the two is reflected in their charts strongly by an exact conjunction of his Venus (love) with her Jupiter (happiness) – a vibe which will be evident in this week’s aspects (below).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a series which is often cited as one of the greatest television series of all time.  He played Rupert Giles, the mentor of Buffy (the vampire slayer).  The programme first aired on 10^th March 1997, with Mars conjunct the North Node trining Neptune, amazingly symbolic of the spiritual fight which is its theme.

Transits for Anthony Head at that time included Pluto on his Mars in Sagittarius (a profound expression of his wisdom and warriorship), and Chiron (the wounded healer) exactly trine his natal Sun in Pisces, giving expression to the nature of profound healing.  Given the kindness which has often been attributed to him, maybe on some level the part was written for him.

The part involved a personal sacrifice (Sun in Pisces) on his part, in having to be in America much of the time, away from his family.  In later episodes he was able to take a lesser role and spend more time with his family.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy, had this to say: “Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world.”

I called on hubby to assess his viewing of this series, which he did watch.  He said Anthony’s was the only mature role, as it was about teenagers, and he was impressed with his acting.

Ted Lasso

In more recent years, he found an even greater following in the role of former Richmond F.C. owner Rupert Mannion, in Ted Lasso, a role which was possibly the antithesis of Ruper Giles.  Ted Lasso is a U.S. sports comedy-drama.  This series aired on 14^th August 2020.

That Anthony was playing such a dark character is shown by Pluto from Capricorn exactly quincunx his natal Pluto in Leo.  Uranus was also opposing his natal Saturn in Scorpio, maybe forcing him out of his comfort zone.  Among other interesting transits, Mars was exactly trine his natal Pluto, giving him the strength and energy to portray such a part.

This is one of the series I wish I had watched!  The mesmerizing Hannah Waddingham plays a lead role, and Anthony played Hannah’s (Rebecca’s) vindictive, philandering ex-husband, the former owner of AFC Richmond, and later the owner of West Ham United.  The comedic premise of the programme is that Rebecca initially hires Ted Lasso to sabotage the AFC Richmond, but his folksy optimism and inexperience with the sport wins people over, however he tries to fail.

The theme of sportsmanship in that programme is shown by Mars exactly trine the Sun in Leo in the chart of the programme.  The extreme competitiveness is shown by Mars exactly square Pluto, while a comedic thread is shown by Mercury exactly quincunx Jupiter.

Death

Anthony lost his long term partner (since 1982) Sarah in December last year, with whom he had two daughters (the aforementioned Daisy and Emily), both actresses.  The short period between their deaths makes you wonder whether this is another show of broken-hearted syndrome where one passing can precede another for this reason.  His transits for this sad passing include Uranus square his natal Sun, which suggests that it was sudden and unexpected.

Anthony has been described as a staple of British television, and as such we may have taken him for granted, losing him so early: I will certainly watch more closely and pay more attention to him whenever his shows are re-played.

“How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.”

~ his daughters

Aspects

This week’s aspects start on Tuesday (9^th), which is a highlight of the year, due to a conjunction between Venus and Jupiter (alluded to above).  This takes place at 25 degrees Cancer, which may be significant for your own birth chart.  In terms of beneficence, this is as good as it gets!  It is an aspect of celebration, social pleasure, and romance (see the Gold Blend section, above!).  There may be announcements of engagements, for example.  Look out for some good news, and crack your best jokes.  If a great joke comes your way on that day, mark it down in your own personal joke book, so that you can dine out on it.

More soberly, a square between Mercury and Saturn occurs the next day, on Wednesday (10^th).  If there are obstacles or delays in communication, you’ll know why!  Patience may be the key here (e.g. you may have to repeat yourself), and “more haste less speed” may be a useful mantra to follow.  There may be more to be learned.

Saturday (13^th) brings a rebellious and controversial square between Uranus and the Nodal Axis. This may bring out your Inner Activist (more demonstrations and marches on the streets of London, perhaps?), but bear in mind that with the Nodal Axis involved there are karmic consequences.  Be really clear about your actions and motives, but even then, Uranus can bring about the unexpected, or the spanner in the works.  If you are risk-averse, lie low.  If you want to portray an enlightened philosophical approach to risk, read “Anti-fragile” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a book which helped earn me my best mark on my Philosophy Diploma.  I thought at the time it would change my life, but I am just too risk averse by nature…

Another square on Saturday will be that between Venus and Chiron, which doesn’t make things any easier.  It is sensitive for healing and relationship.  If there is an emotional crisis, then healing could be near at hand.  Equally, natural remedies may be readily found for minor physical ailments.  An aspect for care of the self and others.

Moving on that day, Venus enters Leo), which is a summery vibe (it may be that the heatwave returns to the U.K).   You could afford to be bold in seeking entertainment, e.g. in a summer leisure activity hopefully outdoors.  Alternatively express some rich creativity, dine out, or polish up your performance skills…just a few suggestions!  Just pay a nod to Elf and Safety, with Uranus present and Chiron not entirely happy.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – joyful
• Wednesday – sober
• Saturday – complex: rebellious; healing-orientated; hedonistic

Jeff Bezos

“Most unfortunate.  Rockets are hard.”

~ Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos, the third richest man in the world, suffered a setback this week, when the first static fire test for a New Glenn rocket from his Blue Origin company suffered a huge explosion during a test in Florida.  This has implications for NASA’s Artemis I lunar exploration plans which the work of Blue Origin is contributing to.

Bezos’ main company Amazon is controversial.  Some boycott it for its undue influence.  In our household we are reliant on its services, and even my book publishing is linked with it.  His success as a businessman makes the study of his birth chart intriguing.

I will also look at the chart of Blue Origin, and the transits at the time of the explosion.

Birth Chart

We sadly do not have a birth time for Jeff Bezos, but the first feature of note for his chart is that he has half (5) of his planets in the Earth signs, which implies a concentration on materiality: his Sun, plus Mercury and Mars, are in the sign of Capricorn, and Uranus and Pluto are in Virgo.

The Sun in material Capricorn is given spiritual inspiration from a sextile with Neptune, and psychological depth from a loose trine with Pluto.  His Moon is in Sagittarius, giving a more cheerful and optimistic outlook than the Sun and Mercury in Capricorn would provide.  His Moon sextiles Venus, suggesting he would be harmonious with women.

Mercury squares Jupiter, giving a desire to expand mentally, and also symbolizing the work of his company Amazon, distributing goods and particularly books.  An original and inventive mind is conferred by a trine between Mercury and Uranus.  That Mercury is conjunct his South Node implies he learned his craft as a businessman and salesman in past lives.  Jupiter closely square to the Nodal Axis shows a willingness to challenge his life and karma, adventurously.  Born in the mid 1960’s (1964) he has the volatile, slightly anarchic energy of the Uranus conjunction with Pluto.  This conjunction is sextile with the North Node in Cancer, providing a powerful karmic mission.

Blue Origin

Some of Bezos’ drive into space exploration and rockets may be put down, at least symbolically, to a wide conjunction of his Sun with Mars at 29 degrees Capricorn!  However, I know many people with Sun conjunct Mars who do not have that obsession.  The chart of Blue Origin itself (8^th September 2000) shows adventurousness (Sun square Jupiter) and Jupiter opposite Pluto (a show of power) forming a T-square, not an easy enterprise.  Two positive trines play a role: Venus trine Jupiter (backed by money) and Mercury trine Saturn (attention to detail, though nothing is infallible).  Mercury, Saturn and Neptune form a Grand Trine, in the all-important element of Air.

In terms of its significance to Bezos himself, there are many strong connections, so it will have and will have had a great impact on his life and sense of identity.  Its Jupiter sextiles his Jupiter (a successful new enterprise, especially at the outset), and Pluto trine his Jupiter (power to his dreams of expansion).  The relationship is not all plain-sailing however, containing counterbalances of Pluto squaring his Chiron (immense need for problem-solving), to give one example.

The Explosion

The explosion took place in a week predisposed to such an event, with the Sun conjunct unpredictable and explosive Uranus, and Mars square to volatile Pluto.  Also of note is Venus square Saturn (a significant loss) and the square of the Uranus/Sun conjunction to the Nodal Axis (a karmic blow).

Transits to Bezos’ chart include: Chiron squaring his Mars (a significant wound), Saturn transiting his Jupiter (a setback).  Transits to the Blue Origin project include Uranus transiting its Saturn (a blowing up of reliability).  There are, for both sets of transits, some positive indications, showing the need for ongoing testing and proving and problem-solving before progress can be made.

Entrepreneurs into Space

In July 2021, I wrote a piece titled “Entrepreneurs into Space”, about the rivalry between Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson:

“Although the enterprise of the three billionaires is being described in the media as a Space Race, the relationship between Bezos, founder of Amazon, and Branson is more of a rivalry than that of Musk and Branson.  Bezos was hoping to be first into space of the three.

He also has his Sun virtually unaspected (widely trine Pluto, and square to the Ascendant).  With Mercury trine Uranus in addition, he possesses an inventive and original mind.  Jupiter is exactly square his Midheaven in Capricorn (ambition knowing no bounds).

The Synastry between Bezos and Branson shows Branson’s Pluto square Bezos’ Neptune (a deep rift). Bezos’ Sun/Mars conjunction in Capricorn opposes Branson’s Sun in Cancer, and his Mercury in Capricorn is opposite Branson’s Uranus in Cancer (poles apart).  Bezos’ Pluto is conjunct Branson’s Saturn (heaviness in their relationship).”

Many people resent the use of billionnaires’ funds for use in this way, and it can seem a curious expenditure for those struggling to make ends meet, but seems to be an ambition for the ambitious.

“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”

~ Jeff Bezos

Aspects

We started the aspects at breakfast time this morning with a more upbeat than usual Full Moon at 9 degrees Sagittarius.  This particular emotional high tide concerns the expansive bigger picture (Sagittarius) in your life, your psyche, or the world.  If you are feeling such a maelstrom in your life, then you may need to start by going within to that still small spiritual centre, find peace, then make your responses from that place.

Also occurring today is a sextile between Mercury and Chiron: Alternative healing works well with conventional medicine – it needn’t be either/or.  So you may be thinking about or setting up appointments with the medical profession, therapists or alternative practitioners.  It is a positive and constructive aspect. This aspect can also bring a satisfactory outcome in the arena of communication.  For example, something you might have been told was impossible finds a way through, and a problem may turn up with a solution.

Tomorrow is the 1^st of June, already…Mercury then enters the sign of Cancer, and the collective mind will be more able to encompass emotion when considering an argument.  Mercury will be staying in Cancer until 9^th August (it’s a long stay due to its retrograde motion within that time), so there is plenty of time to indulge in rationalizing and harmonizing with emotion family matters and home improvement, putting them under the mental microscope, and examining our emotions about our roots

Tuesday (2^nd) brings a sextile between the Sun and Saturn.  This is a steadying influence, practical and serious minded.  Duties and commitments are to the fore.  It makes for a good day with regard to laying foundations and establishing rules.  Creativity is firmed up, and decision-making may be easier.  If it is your birthday, this may be a stabilizing year ahead for you.

The aspect for Wednesday (3^rd) is a trine between Mercury and the North Node, a karmic aspect.  This ensures that information and communication are accurate and karmically relevant.  If you have something important to say, do it.

Our last aspect of the week is on Thursday (4^th), which is a square between Mercury and Neptune.  This could be a challenging aspect to deal with. Perhaps you are grappling with a mystery in your life, such as why you have a leak somewhere.  Some undefinable snag may be nagging at you.  If so, allow your subconscious to bring it up in its own time, but don’t shut up shop until you have identified the rum note.  Then you can deal with it, move on and let it go.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – emotional high tide; healing information
• Tomorrow – harmonize rationality with emotion
• Tuesday – stabilizing
• Wednesday – valuable karmic information
• Thursday – mental confusion

The battle for Labour

After Labour’s damaging losses in the Council Elections, the newshounds waited with bated breath to see if Keir Starmer would resign.  He vowed to resolutely carry on.  Then they waited to see if there would be a leadership challenge.  Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary, but did not launch a leadership challenge at the time.  However, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, was waiting in the wings and found a local MP who would be willing to stand down so that he could contest a seat in order to try to become an MP again.  That’s where we are now, or when I am going to press!  As for Keir, transiting Pluto was on his natal Saturn during the council elections, which represents a nadir in fortunes.  So for today’s blog I am looking at the three possible contenders, their current state of mind, and how their fortunes might look in September when the Labour Party Conference takes place.

Wes Streeting

I wrote a blog about Wes Streeting before the 2024 election, which I based on my reading of his autobiography.  He has been a reasonably good Health Secretary, but on the very day of announcing he had brought down waiting lists and other triumphs, he resigned.  Some say he did not have enough backing to launch a leadership challenge; he said he wanted a broader conversation of ideas, hinting at a slightly longer term process of changing leader.

Birth Chart, from 2024 blog:

Wes’ book is an astrologer’s dream, because he gives all the birth dates of his family, and intimates one or two birth times as well.  On his birth, he wrote:

“Just before lunchtime, the nurses came in en masse like an SAS squad mounting a rescue with the same bedside manner.”

From that, I have given him a Gemini Ascendant to his Aquarian Sun and Aries Moon.

Wes has the Sun square Saturn/Pluto, which can indicate a difficult childhood.  It would certainly indicate significant struggles in life, of which he has had plenty.  People may wonder why he has written an autobiography so early in life, but he was persuaded to by Tom Perrin, an Editor at Hodder & Stoughton, and encouraged by Jess Phillips (one of my favourite politicians) and it seems he did have much to relate.

His Moon in Aries has emotional directness, but is trine Neptune, adding sensitivity.  Looking at his childhood experiences, this sensitivity laid him open to suffering but at the same time helped him understand and accommodate some of his harsh experiences.

Venus conjunct his Midheaven in Aquarius in 8th House means that he puts a lot of love into his career choices, but a square between Venus and Chiron may be the source of his kidney health weakness, as Venus represents the kidneys.  He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2021, a story he begins with in his book.

Mars closely square Jupiter/Uranus gives a keen enthusiasm allied with electrical energy, which he is able to direct through his trine between Mars and Saturn.  Mars trine Pluto provides a powerhouse of energy.  Two Archetypes pop up: The Warrior (Mars trine the North Node), which goes well with the Sun in Aquarius rabble-rouser; and Jupiter conjunct Uranus, The Entrepreneur.  His exceptionally difficult childhood (on a par with Alan Johnson’s in his book “This Boy”) can be seen in the conjunction of Saturn and Pluto, as alluded to earlier.

His Transits:

For the recent council elections:

Transiting Pluto was sextile his natal Jupiter – he holds the power of his fate in his own hands at this time

Transiting Jupiter opposing his natal Mercury – overstretched mentally, and maybe over-optimistic

Transiting Jupiter squaring his Nodal Axis – Willing to take a gamble at this point in his life

Transiting Uranus trine his natal Sun – itching for change, both in his personal and political life

For the Labour Party Conference in September:

Transiting Neptune square his Nodal Axis – a more uncertain time

Transiting Uranus opposing his natal Jupiter – the element of the unexpected may work against him

Transiting Chiron opposite his natal Pluto – difficult times for him, maybe even some health issues

Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner, formerly Deputy Prime Minister, has been out in the cold for several months due to an anomaly around her tax affairs.  But on the same day Wes Streeting resigned, she declared that she had been exonerated, and is on her way back into the fold.  She has indicated she wants the party to work together, and will not say at this stage if she is a contender for the leadership.

Birth Chart

I wrote a few years ago:

“She has a strong individuality, with her Sun unaspected, or untramelled if you look at it from another angle.  Mercury only has an exact sextile to Chiron, which gives a problem-solving mind.  She has good values, with Venus closely trine Saturn.  Mars conjunct Jupiter produces super energy allied with enthusiasm, and a can do attitude.  Mars closely square Uranus gives a sparky energy, and Mars trine Neptune sensitivity in action.  Mars exactly conjunct the North Node in Leo and trine the Galactic Centre produces a powerful Inner Warrior, especially combined with Sun in Aries.  Jupiter square Uranus is entrepreneurial.  All that Mars gives her the red-headed image, too!”

When she became Deputy Leader, she had Jupiter sextile her natal Uranus in Scorpio – (Success)

Her transits at the time of resignation showed Uranus square natal Jupiter in Virgo – the element of the unexpected working against her.

Her Transits:

For the recent council elections:

Uranus squared her natal Jupiter – a sense of shock at the results, perhaps

Chiron trine her natal North Node – a sense that there was about to be some healing in her life, personal and political

Transiting Jupiter square her natal Pluto – itching to regain power

Transiting Mars opposite natal Pluto – some sense of peril, perhaps about the council election results as they affect her Party.

For the Labour Party Conference in September:

She has a Nodal Reversal.  Karmically, this is an important time.  It could be an advantageous re-set, if she has played her cards right.

She also has a golden window between November 2026 and November 2027, when Jupiter transits 5 features of her natal chart in Leo and Virgo, when the world may open up to her again.

Andy Burnham

I sometimes wonder if Andy Burnham has too much hope, expectation and responsibility heaped upon him.  However, there is no denying he has done a stellar job as Mayor of Greater Manchester, and he is the most popular Labour politician currently, and has been for some time.

He was denied entry into the by-election for Gorton and Denton, but apparently No. 10 has allowed him to take the step of becoming an M.P. in order to contest a by-election in Makerfield occasioned by the resignation and sacrifice of a friend Josh Simons.  That would represent a first step towards eventually (if he succeeds) launching a campaign for the top job to rival Keir Starmer.

His Birth Chart

I originally wrote about Andy Burnham in 2015 when he ran for the leadership of the party against Jeremy Corbyn:

“He comes across as a competent and sincere man…  He was born on a New Moon (Sun conjunct Moon) in the prosaic sign of Capricorn, which is strongly politically motivated.  He is a decent chap, with Venus conjunct this combination, and his heart is no doubt in a good place.  He also has his Mercury in Capricorn: a methodical, practical, systematic type of thinker.  6 of his 10 planets are in Earth signs, so he is grounded and realistic.

He does have an imaginative side, with North Node conjunct Mars in Pisces, normally the Warrior Archetype conjunction but softened by its appearance in Pisces.  He is a Warrior, but does not like to confront directly…  His Mars also sextiles his Sun exactly, and he has 5 of his 10 planets in Cardinal signs, so he has energy and would see himself as a leader.

The Piscean sensitivity also extends to his mental faculties, as his Capricorn mind (Mercury) sextiles closely Neptune, the planet of imagination.  So this is a balance in his make up, between the practical and the imaginative.  His Mercury also trines closely his natal Pluto, giving him depth of thought as well.”

I added in 2020: “To that I would add that his 6 Earth planets give him a deep connection with his Northern roots (he was born in Liverpool), and Moon conjunct Venus lends a quality of gentleness to his character… I was intrigued when Andy Burnham made a bid for the Mayoralty of Manchester – I felt that he was making a choice from the heart.  And he has shown heart in his role.”

Andy Burnham was elected Mayor on 5th May 2017, with 65% of the vote.

His Transits:

For the recent council elections:

Transiting Neptune conjunct his natal Mars in Pisces – a complex strategic action to ponder

Transiting Uranus opposite his natal Neptune – more confusion and complexity to deal with

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.

My thoughts on these three?  I feel Wes Streeting is not yet at the right stage of maturity to take such a prominent role, though he has shown clear competence in the role he has played the last few years.  His transits don’t look too hopeful in the Autumn.

I do feel Angela Rayner has a lot to give.  She can be controversial at times.  Her transits following the September conference are very good.  It would be good for a woman to succeed as party leader.  I was dismayed to find Jess Phillips had resigned – she’s outspoken, but puts so much heart into her work with vulnerable families.  Another female who has retreated into the background in recent years, but whose chart stood out to me for leadership, is Lisa Nandy.  Hopefully her time will come, too.

Andy Burnham holds the hopes of many, and has better transits in the Autumn than Wes Streeting, possibly on a par with those of Angela.  But 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.  Wes Streeting himself has endorsed Andy’s chances of succeeding in the Makerfield by-election, and has now put his hat in the ring to stand for a contest: “We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I will be standing.”

May the best candidate win!

Aspects

There are rather a lot of aspects to get through for this week, so let’s get straight to it!

Today, Sunday 17^th May sees Mercury enter its own sign of Gemini.  Mercury, representing our communication, is at home in chatty Gemini, and free to express verbally or in writing whatever comes to mind.  The communication will come thick and fast, but the consequences of the communication is another matter entirely.  You may find yourself gabbling…!  Mercury will be moving quickly, and will only be in this position until 1st June, when it will move into Cancer.

Venus sextiles Chiron on the same day: a congenial and healing influence, especially for relationships.  It is a good day to combine the Arts with Healing, such as creativity which involves and brings about healing.

Tomorrow, Monday 18^th, presents us with a conjunction between Mercury and Uranus just after midnight (in the early hours).  Communications are spiced up by this conjunction.  We will certainly see speedier communication, though with a possible touch of unpredictability.  It’s likely to keep you on your toes, on a mental level.  It could be exciting mentally, and unusual phenomena may happen, such as startling coincidences or undeniable telepathic experiences.  You’ll be thinking inventively and out of the box.  People will realize their connectedness in non-physical ways.  There may be unusual mental and physical voyages.

At the other end of the day, in the last few hours, Mars enters Taurus.  Mars/Ariens had their way in their own sign, but may have to slow down and smell the roses while in Taurus.  Taureans, however, will be upping their game.  If you have a Taurus Ascendant, you may begin several new projects between now and 28^th June, while Mars is in Taurus.  Although Mars is not so happy in the earthbound sign of Taurus, the testing quality of this energy has its reasons and worth.  You may find yourself querying more often why you are doing something, and how to do it, e.g. working more resourcefully and more in alignment with planetary requirements.  Any enterprise on Monday needs to take account of the new energy and attitude.  As Taurus rules the Arts, an aesthetic angle or a musical rhythm may need to come into the equation, for instance.

Another ingress occurs on Tuesday (19^th), that of Venus into Cancer, in the very early hours. The aspects are prolific that day, so you may be beset with a complex array of influences! With Venus in Cancer, we place our love on the home and family, and appreciate our locality.  We need to be conscious about our emotional boundaries during this period (to 13^th June).  Find novel ways of cherishing the home and family.

Also in the middle of your sleep time, but a little later, Mercury sextiles Neptune.  It could spell a productive day, bringing a chance to refine your plans, and perhaps shift them to another level.  Inspiration can be added to your thought processes, and any mental or physical voyaging.  This is a time of intense imagination, so it is helpful for creative dreaming in the night, and creative visualization in the day.  This aspect will assist you in refining your mindset and remaining mental clutter.  Our minds will be able to receive higher guidance more easily.  Delicate conversations and channelling will also be made easier.  If giving or receiving gifts, be open to non-material gifts.

Before waking, we have another sextile (dreams may be very vivid and active that night!).  Venus sextiles Mars, an aspect given over to pleasure and  indulgence, and maybe romance is also on the cards.  Art will have vigour, and movement will have artistry or elegance under this influence.  Social plans should flourish. This is an altogether relaxing and indulgent prospect.

The next aspect is a square between the Nodal Axis and Mercury: this puts communication and voyaging under the karmic spotlight, and you may encounter past (and past-life) relationships which provide karmic information.  This is an opportunity to tackle, or honour, your karma!  We can give more thought and exercise more mindfulness in our processes and actions.  Whether it is personal relationship karma or environmental karma, we can put our minds to what needs to change for the future.  Put into practice what we can do now.

Finally on Tuesday we are able to resolve mental issues on a deeper level, with a late night trine between Mercury and Pluto.  You are being called to do more soul-searching.  There could be positive outcomes to deep issues.  Mercury trine Pluto brings deep thought and psychological reflection, and earnest conversations.  Conversations could be life changing: the right word at the right time, striking home in the right place.  Mental and physical voyages prove meaningful.

Phew!  Tuesday was a blog all on its own!

We then arrive at Thursday (21^st) with the Sun’s ingress into Gemini, again just after midnight (in the early hours).  Dreams this week may be monumental!  With the Sun leaving Taurus, earthy preoccupations may give way to a need for Communication and lightness of heart.  In the month of Sun in Gemini any kind of communication goes, writing your book [I am up to Chapter 8 of 12 of the third volume of my trilogy], dealing with your documentation, ensuring that you are walking and cycling to work instead of taking public transport.  It all aids the general connectivity, which society needs.  It is the month for mental and physical voyaging…;-}

A more complex day awaits us on Friday (22^nd) with an early breakfast square between Venus and Neptune (over your Shreddies or Golden Cinnamon Grahams).  [According to my continuous glucose monitor, I can no longer eat cereals!]  This square could be socially confusing.  You could experience some mild paranoia, which could be soothed or alleviated by listening to old songs from a simpler time (music has become more complex over the years, to catch our interest).  Remember when life was simpler?  There may be a a sense of intrigue, involving relationship or money; or a sense of overwhelm or being out of your depth.  Maybe another political scandal…You need to look behind the illusion.  There could be uncertainty in the Arts or the world of Music.  You could experience frustrating flaws in creative works. Tread softly.

Early afternoon brings the element of the unexpected (which could go either way, or any which way!) from a conjunction between the Sun and Uranus in early Gemini.  It could add more confusion to the day.  Expectations can be overthrown, or be wildly inaccurate.  It may on the other hand be a good day to demonstrate your originality and inventiveness (as long as you cater for the Neptunian over-sensitivity and the Uranian loopholes), and in your leisure time begin a project which is highly creative or benefits society.   If you are operating from your Intuition, you could have a very successful day, but if you are lagging behind backfootedly, you may have a struggle to keep up.  Some tuning in early on may help with this.

Tea-time on the same day brings another sextile: that between Mercury and Saturn.  That could bring some stabilization, after the flurry of sensitivity and unexpectedness of the day.  Thoughts and feelings can be channelled and harnessed into constructive plans and ideas.  Mental foundations can be laid.  You may have taken in all the facts for dealing with an issue or project, and are ready to put in serious and solid plans based on sober thinking. The aspect favours documentation and knuckling down to form-filling etc.  Geminis and Virgos have the chance to regain their balance, if they need to.  Progress can be made, including possibly for health related checks.

The last aspect, and the last sextile, comes on Saturday (23^rd), a connection between Mercury and Pluto.  Power is possible whenever Pluto lends a helpful hand.  This aspect brings a profound touch to your communications.  It is a harmonious aspect which can produce profound honouring of the gravity of a situation if necessary, and enabling meaningful debate to occur.  It is a good space for reading something profound.  If you are on a journey, pick something of that nature to take with you!  Maybe there is something in your pile of pending books you have been putting off, if so, now’s the time to tackle it.

Next week: Please note there will not be a blog, as I will be away.  That’s not a bad blip for nineteen years of blogging, if I may say so! 

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Communications a-go-go!; healing relationships and art
• Tomorrow – Spicy communications; more considered energy
• Tuesday – family orientation; sensitive communication; sensuality; karmic communication; resolving mental issues on a deeper level
• Thursday – doubling down on the theme of communication and travel
• Friday – confusion in relationship; the element of the unexpected; mental stabilization
• Saturday – profound communication and travel

David Attenborough

“If we save the sea, we save our world.”

~ David Attenborough, 2025

David Attenborough’s 100^th birthday was celebrated this week, allegedly against his wish to spend it quietly at home. He certainly doesn’t look his age! I have written two blogs (2020 and 2025) about him over the years, and so will draw upon those, while updating from his more recent history as well as having the luxury of looking a little more deeply at some areas of his life and thought.  He probably is the greatest national treasure we have, possibly even an international treasure.  All the animals in the world would probably vote for him…!  It was a special delight this week to see a replay of his original up-close-and-personal encounter with gorillas at the beginning of his broadcasting career, in 1970.

Birth Chart

Here was my description of his birth chart in 2020:

“His Sun is in Earth sign Taurus [The Conservationist Archetype], and he has done more to illuminate Life on Earth than anyone.  At the age of 94, he has made a huge contribution to its study, which is impossible to exaggerate.  Taurus also gives him a great deal of grounding.  His Sun is opposed by Saturn, so he feels a huge weight of responsibility, which he carries and conveys admirably.  His Sun is also square Neptune, showing great sensitivity… emphasizing the role of the oceans in his life and work.  With the Sun sextile Pluto, what he has to say is always profound, and this is given extra karmic weight with a conjunction between Pluto and the North Node, and a sextile between the North Node and the Sun.  His has been an extraordinary destiny.  His Moon conjuncts Venus, giving him great tenderness, and you can see that through some of his animal commentaries.  His Moon conjunct Uranus gives him imagination and the power to surprise through the expression of emotion, which, placed in Pisces, contains a great deal of compassion too.  Mercury is sextile Jupiter in his chart, showing breadth of mind and vastness of travel… Jupiter shows the scale of his life plan and contribution, and placed in Aquarius it hints at the extent of his futuristic vision, where he has always had his finger on the pulse of what would happen to our planet.  Mercury exactly trine Neptune gives him acute mental sensitivity, and the ability to channel higher frequencies of thought.  With Mercury conjunct Chiron, he’s a problem-solver…  With Saturn closely square Neptune he is very sensitive to the interface and relationship between the Earth and her Waters.”

Life and Career

Up to my 2025 blog:

David Attenborough was born in Isleworth on 8^th May 1926.  His father was principal on the campus of Leicester University, which is where he grew up.  His older brother Richard (Attenborough) pursued the path of acting and directing in film.  As a child, David collected fossils, stones and natural specimens.  At the age of 10, the brothers attended a lecture at De Montfort Hall, Leicester, about conservation, and according to Richard, his brother was smitten with the subject, and the need for action to maintain ecological balance.  David won a scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge, in 1945 and studied geology and zoology.  After obtaining a degree in natural sciences, two years later he was called up for national service and served in the Royal Navy for two years.

He then undertook a three-month training course with the BBC, and was taken on in the Talks department.  In 1954 he fronted a programme called “Zoo Quest”, around the time of his Saturn Return, a time when life patterns can be cemented.  In 1965 he became Controller of BBC 2.  He began to make occasional films abroad, and in 1971, he found himself in a first expedition to a remote part of New Guinea seeking out a lost tribe – a classic hallmark David Attenborough production.  This reflected his North Node in Cancer (karmic mission centring around indigenous populations). He was promoted in 1969 to be responsible as director for both BBC channels, but resigned in 1972 because that role was taking him away from what he really wanted to do, make natural history programmes: his progressed Sun at the time was trine his natal Mars (asserting his will in the direction of what he really wanted to do).  He began to work on “Life on Earth”, a project which came to fruition in 1979.

His transits at the time were very karmic: Pluto was square his natal Nodal Axis (a hard fought karmic fulfilment); Saturn was sextile his natal Pluto (a serious life work); and the North Node was sextile his natal North Node, very karmic (the world karma aligned with his own personal karma).

Documentaries

I enumerated some of his work in 2020, and have now brought it up to date:

“He has made legions of documentaries for the BBC over the decades.  Here is a timeline of a few of those, which you may remember fondly depending on your generation:

1979 – Life on Earth

1984 – The Living Planet

1995 – The Private Life of Plants

2001 – The Blue Planet

2017 – Blue Planet II

2020 – Extinction

2025 – Ocean

2026 – Secret Garden

2026 – Gorilla Story

Jupiter opposite Neptune

From my 2025 blog:

Jupiter opposite Neptune in his birth chart merits a close look, if only to look at where this legend is coming from spiritually.  Jupiter in a chart represents religion, and Neptune represents spirituality.  An opposition in the birth chart often represents an ambiguity, a not-knowing, or in David Attenborough’s case, an avowed agnosticism.  In some it can create confusion, but he exhibits the higher or highest manifestation of this combination: an ability to balance and possibly merge the two.

He has said:

“My view is: I don’t know one way or the other but I don’t think that evolution is against a belief in God.”

and

“It never really occurred to me to believe in God”.

plus

“If there is a supreme being then he chose organic evolution as a way of bringing into existence the natural world”.

In addition, I wrote in 2016: “He describes himself as agnostic, and maybe he doesn’t need religion as he is well and truly ‘doing his bit’ for the planet.”

He believes that evolution is the best way of explaining the diversity of life.  He firmly believes in the Darwinian way of thinking, and is opposed to Creationism and its offshoot Intelligent Design.

Politics

In 1998 David Attenborough described himself as a “standard, boring left-wing liberal”.

In 2014 he declared himself opposed to the break away referendum in Scotland.

In 2015 he was enthusiastic about the election of Caroline Lucas of the Green Party as M.P.

In 2020 he spoke about excess capitalism holding back efforts towards ecological balance.

In 2021 he emphasized that tackling climate change was a primary challenge.

The Last Year

Sir David has continued to work at his normal pace, with no signs of slowing down.  Two new documentaries mark this special year: Secret Garden, and Gorilla Story.

A special gala concert was held in his honour on Friday night at the Albert Hall, centred around the music of his many television series, where he was seated beside Prince William, and received a birthday card from King Charles.

Other legends in his field such as Jane Goodall were more specialized, but David’s work took him all over the globe, and to creatures great (such as whales) and small (such as insects).  Those interviewed on couches this week testified to how delightful he is as a person for those lucky enough to work with him.  He is a great human on a personal level, not just a warrior for the natural world.

“People write to me that evolution is only a theory. Well, it is not a theory. Evolution is as solid a historical fact as you could conceive.”

~ David Attenborough

Aspects

Tomorrow (May 11^th) the Sun will be sextile with Jupiter, a pleasant prospect!  It can bring new hope and joy.  It is one of the brightest  aspects of the year.  Focus on what makes you happy, and make more of that.  It may bring the return of an enjoyable leisure pursuit.  Just an observation, that it can correlate with a peaceful protest or backlash in the population.  It may be helpful in legal matters.

Another Jolly Jupiterian sextile on Wednesday (13^th): that between Mercury and Jupiter, occurring in the early hours of the morning.  Sextiles ensure more ease and harmony and this one encourages mental development and learning (if you are on a course of study, for instance), and is helpful to businesses in need of a lift.  If you are learning a new language, you may experience a shift and take off with it!  It will also be favourable for the teaching profession.  If you are travelling, remember St. Christopher is with you.  This aspect will especially benefit Geminians and Virgos.

Thursday (14^th) brings us some mental clarity from a conjunction of Mercury and the Sun at 23 degrees Taurus. This may bring an opportunity to apply your mind with concentration and focus,  and make important statements.  The focus may be on Taurean occupations such as cooking, gardening, painting or making money.  Mentally you may be able to see things clearly in terms of your values, and how they determine your choices.

There are two aspects on Saturday (16^th), the first of which is a conjunction between Mars and Chiron at 28 degrees Aries.  This conjunction can bring up old emotional wounds for attention, and release. These may have a past-life pattern (either in this life or a past life).  You may walk away from an encounter feeling touched (Mars conjunct Chiron), while someone else may be nursing an unseen wound. Make sure you are in integrity with yourself.

Healing during the day may pay dividends in the evening, when there is a New Moon at 25 degrees Taurus.  A fresh start is possible.  The fresh start may be in the Taurean realm of cooking, gardening, art, music or money.  Make the most of this wishing Moon, as it could be a turning point.  Make good your intentions, and make your intentions good.  Astrologer Adam Elenbaas emphasizes the potential of this New Moon to practise receiving.  What is it you would like to receive?  If it is your birthday, it is a particularly special occasion.  There is also an alignment with the fixed star Algol, which some astrologers deem to be difficult, in tradition thought.  A more upbeat interpretation comes from Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld in “Starlight Elixirs”, stating:

“Algol’s ability to prepare individuals for understanding their destiny, their life purpose, and the ability to manifest this purpose more easily in the world, this is at once spiritual and practical.  For most people what will usually result is an ability to understand their profession and accept it more easily.

Algol can attune individuals to harmonies deep within their being.  These are partly genetic in nature, partly past-life in nature, but more importantly are in attunement to the shared soul of the lifestream of humanity.  When this occurs there is a natural re-emergence of awareness of life purpose, direction,  and choices that individuals have made for their own development.”

What new perceptions may be in store?  You never know, there may even be a re-branding of the star Algol, itself.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – a pleasant prospect
• Wednesday – more jollity
• Thursday – clarity
• Saturday – release emotional wounds: a new beginning

Simone de Beauvoir (1908 – 1986)

It’s been a few months since my last Philosophy blog, which was about the Sagittarian Philosopher Spinoza.  In reviewing the series, I was astonished to find that I started it in January 2020, in the first year of my philosophical studies, with Rene Descartes for Aries.  For those of you who find the subject tedious, you’ll be glad to know I only have two more on the agenda (Aquarius and Pisces).  But this one belongs to the Existentialist Simone de Beauvoir.

Birth Chart

Simone was born under a Sun in Capricorn.  We have her birth time, and therefore we know she had Moon in Pisces and Ascendant in Sagittarius.  Her Ascendant is at the first degree of that sign, which is the Philosopher’s sign.  The Sun conjunct Mercury in her chart conveys an ability for strong mental focus.  This conjunction is part of a triple conjunction with Uranus, indicating the development of the Higher Mind.  More complexity is added to her mental functioning by an opposition of Neptune to this triple conjunction.  Another factor in the mix is the Sun’s conjunction with the South Node in Capricorn, suggesting she may have had a political career in a previous life.  The Sun in her chart trines the Midheaven, emphasizing a creative career.  The Sun closely trines her Ascendant, from the 4^th House side, echoes of the title of her memoir titled Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter.

Going on to the Moon, she closely conjuncts Mars, giving Simone quick emotional reactions.  But at the same time, paradoxically, it forms a conjunction with Saturn, which I call the Ivory Tower Archetype.  Mercury closely conjunct Uranus of itself indicates a brilliant mind, and Mercury’s exact opposition with Neptune indicates a vulnerable mind prone to exhaustion at times.  Mercury’s appearance at the South Node brings up the Teacher Archetype from past lives.

Venus is in Aquarius, an avant garde approach to relationships, and with an opposition from Jupiter accentuates the tendency that she does not always conform to social norms.  Furthermore, an exact conjunction of Chiron with her Venus accentuates the wounds of love.  This was compounded by Pluto in her 7^th House of Close Relationships.  She had very specific views on close relationships, and was capable of wounding as much as being wounded.  However in her directness she might have argued that she was healing and being healed.  Truth can hurt, but also ultimately heal.

Her Mars was in Pisces and conjunct Saturn, which shows some restraint but also great deliberateness in relation to her use of energy.  Mars was in her 4^th House of Home and Family, and in her memoir she describes how she deliberately set out in early life to attract and garner attention from her father in particular.  Mars was conjunct the South Node in the 4^th House, a great driving force coming from home background, and closely conjunct the Moon, very much focussed on the parents.

The pain in her life is shown by Saturn exactly square Pluto, and Saturn’s close conjunction with the I.C. (Security Point) points to constraints as a child  (echoes of the title of “Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter”).  Uranus exactly conjunct South Node invites the possibility that she may have been a Scientist in Atlantis.  Neptune exactly conjunct the North Node portrays someone who would become an influential spiritual leader, as a main function of her karmic mission.  She certainly led the feminist movement.  Pluto closely squaring the Midheaven describes a stormy path in career – she certainly had her fair share of controversy.

Life and Career

Simone de Beauvoir was born into a bourgeois Parisian family.  Her father was a lawyer, and her mother was a wealthy banker’s daughter.  She was largely raised by a nanny called Louise.  Her father was very proud of her emerging intellect.  He used to say: “Simone has a man’s brain; she thinks like a man; she is a man.”  Remarkably, this is the first female philosopher in my series – the profession has been such a man’s world.  She was redressing the balance.

She wrote of the influence of her parents:

“…my father’s individualism and pagan ethical standards were in complete contrast to the rigidly moral conventionalism  of my mother’s teaching. This disequilibrium, which made my life a kind of endless disputation, is the main reason why I became an intellectual”

When Simone was 14 she began to question the faith in which she had been brought up (Catholicism), with her Progressed Sun entering Aquarius (going from convention to non-convention).  She became an atheist:

“Faith allows an evasion of those difficulties which the atheist confronts honestly. And to crown all, the believer derives a sense of great superiority from this very cowardice itself.”

She passed her baccalaureate exams in mathematics and philosophy at the age of 17, and then studied mathematics and languages at Institutes in Paris.  In her postgraduate phase, she studied for a prestigious examination called the Aggregation, and it was during that time that she met Jean-Paul Sartre, a soul mate and founder of the philosophical movement of Existentialism.  He won first place in the exam, and she won second place.  In studying at the Sorbonne, her thesis was on the philosopher Leibniz. Simone came second in “General Philosophy and Logic” to Simone Weil.  [I have just had an “Oh my gosh!” moment: Simone Weil, who I did study in my philosophy course, is Aquarian, which means I know who will be the next in this series, and we will have another woman philosopher!]

The groundbreaking work that defined her came in 1949, “The Second Sex”.  In it she discussed the condition and oppression of womanhood historically and in the society of her day.   It became influential in the feminist movement, but was banned by the Vatican.  Astrologically, it was published in the year of her Uranus Opposition (the mid-life rebellion).  Her Progressed Sun at this point was trine her natal Sun, indicating a creative triumph.

In 1958 she published her “Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée “ – Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter.  This is an extremely well-written memoir.  I was especially struck, in her recollections of early childhood, how self-aware she was and articulate and honest about her own processes.  Astrologically, it was written in the year of her Chiron Return, an homage to her psychological wound and healing.

Jean-Paul Sartre

The pair differed in their view at the outset of what their relationship should be.  He saw it as a romantic relationship (his possessive Venus in Taurus). With her Venus in Aquarius, she felt that marriage was too confining, favouring more of an open relationship. She wrote on the subject of marriage:

“I think marriage is a very alienating institution, for men as well as for women. I think it’s a very dangerous institution—dangerous for men, who find themselves trapped, saddled with a wife and children to support; dangerous for women, who aren’t financially independent and end up by depending on men”

They acknowledged that theirs was unique bond, and their lives and (philosophical) thoughts were bound throughout their lives.

Their synastry included:

Her Moon square his Sun (her femininity pitted against his masculinity in some ways)

Her Mercury trine his Venus (amazing intellectual relationship and rapport)

Their Venuses in square to each other (as described above, but directly interacting, not just by sign, possibly explaining the preclusion of romance)

Her North Node sextile his Venus (a karmic relationship; incarnated together and destined to meet and interact closely)

She chose not to have children, saying:

“Motherhood should be a choice, and not a result of conditioning”.

Simone’s writings were unquestionably influenced by Sartre’s thought and existential framework, but she did also rate Hegel as well as Leibniz as influential.  She also became active politically (one way in which her Capricorn Archetype was dominant), especially in relation to the women’s liberation movement.  She helped, for instance, the legalization of abortion in France, which took place in 1974.

Jean-Paul, like Simone, had the philosopher’s sign Sagittarius rising, another affinity between them.  They were both low in Fire signs: she had only 1 planet in that element, and he had none.  I don’t know if maybe that made them more intellectually dispassionate.

Existentialism

Existentialism, of which Simone de Beauvoir’s philosophy formed a part, was primarily created by Jean-Paul Sartre, whose Sun was at the very end of Gemini (a supremely logical and intellectual sign).  As mentioned, they both had Sagittarius rising.  As a Capricorn, Simone would have contributed an extra layer of realism.

According to the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, existentialism was a product of the horrors of the Second World War, the atomic bomb and the holocaust.  It was a raw attempt to confront the human condition, and the perceived meaningless of life and randomness of suffering.  Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are cited as its leading lights, but Albert Camus (subject of the Gemini piece in this series) also contributed, plus other writers such as Andre Gide.

Freedom is one of the watchwords for existentialism. As Stanford puts it: “what distinguishes our existence from that of other beings is that we are self-conscious and exist for ourselves, which means we are free and responsible for who we are and what we do.”

On a personal note, on our first trip to Paris together hubby and I specifically searched out the café that the pair of them used to hang out in, the Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Pres!  It was all rather underwhelming, with a packed 21^st Century clientele, a rude waiter, and an inability on our part to tune in to the vibrations of the iconic venue, the existential ambience and the legendary pair of philosophers!

Aspects

In the early hours of this morning, Mercury entered Taurus.  This can make the quality of the mental energy become steadier and calmer than the fieriness of Mercury in Aries.  This placing is better for negotiation, which is something much needed at the moment in this climate of war.  The U.S. and Iran have got to “want it badly” (a lasting peace), in the wording style of Donald Trump. It’s a very short stay, a short window, though, until 17^th May,  Practical ideas will be the order of the day.  This could be a productive day and period, mentally.

Moving on to Tuesday (5^th), Mars will be square Jupiter, again in the early hours of the morning in the U.K.  This is high energy, and could keep you awake, for whatever reason (for me these days it is often mentally writing the third volume of my trilogy).  It is sheer over-the-top enthusiasm allied with energy. This aspect can bring spirited exchanges or sporting achievements, but there is a possible hint of damage through lack of control.  The Astrologer Adam Elenbaas equates it with a passion for moral justice.

Late in the evening of the same day, Mercury squares Pluto, and that may pick up in consequences some of the excesses of the early morning aspect.  Mentally you need to be on top of your game.  It is a square which requires you, among other things, to rise above negative thinking, or to get to the root of it.  There may be a setback or a reversal (even if a fragile ceasefire is still under way), so make sure your actions in the morning are solid if you have a conflict to resolve in your own life – despite the efforts of Mercury’s placement in Taurus.  Perhaps there is a twist in the plot.  You may encounter awkward communications or travel.  You may need extra ‘me time’ in order to separate yourself from worried pronouncements about the state of the world.  If you do engage in chatter, choose a worthwhile subject.

Wednesday (6^th) holds the last two of the week’s astrological features, the first being a karmic sextile between Mercury and the North Node, which can help to establish a good start to the second half of the week.  Mercury sextile the North Node brings karmic information to light.  Communication is highly significant and imbued with meaning, though subject to differing interpretations according to belief.  It is a good day for writing, teaching, tutoring and revising for forthcoming exams if you are a student, and possibly for health checks.

Lastly, mid-afternoon on Wednesday Pluto will be Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde.  This could be tricky, and pull back to a little extent the benefits of the previous sextile.  Put your psychological house in order, e.g. with a spot of re-aligning meditation, ready for the challenges of this retrograde period.  There may be practical inconveniences, or contentious subjects arising.  The challenges may be more wearying than acute, but you need to keep up your vitality and reserves.  Alternatively, if you find yourself in overwhelm, surrender is equally effective as a spiritual strategy towards a sense of peace and acceptance, and new insight to inform your next steps.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – mentally calm
• Tuesday – high jinks; later negative thinking
• Wednesday – useful karmic information; psychological reflection

Desmond Morris (1928 – 2026)

“It was only one thing that drove me on – insatiable curiosity.  Quite simply, I wanted to know everything there was to know about every mammal in the world.”

~ Desmond Morris

Desmond Morris may not mean much to younger generations, but he was a household word when I was growing up.  In the 1950’s Zoo Time was a stand-out television programme, and Desmond Morris an early titleholder of the word “celebrity”.

Birth Chart

Desmond Morris had both the Sun and the Moon in Aquarius, and in many ways was ahead of his time.  We do not have his birth time/Ascendant sign, but he was triply Aquarian by virtue of the fact that his Sun was sextile with Uranus, the ruling planet of Aquarius. In addition, he had Mercury (his mental capacity and antennae) in that sign, so he was futuristically orientated.

He admitted to having a great sense of curiosity, “insatiable” he described it.  This is one of the qualities of Aquarius, but also of his North Node sign, Gemini the Monkey.  He was linked with a few animals, but of course principally with chimpanzees.  His North Node was trine with his Mercury (again, the Monkey), re-emphasizing the point.  So the legacy of his main karmic mission (North Node) was fulfilled.  Mercury sextile Saturn meant that he could apply himself mentally.

Another feature of Aquarius is the Inner Rebel, and Desmond Morris railed at the fact that his father sustained lung damage in World War I:

“…a lifelong hatred of the establishment. The church, the government and the military were all on my hate list and have remained there ever since.” ~ Desmond Morris

The other main preoccupation of his life was Art, and his Venus (Art) is well connected in his chart:  she squares Jupiter (sociable, sometimes inappropriately so),  Venus squared Uranus (eschewing norms of society), Venus trine Neptune (a highly refined aesthetic sense), and finally Venus trine Chiron (healing art as therapy).

Desmond was nothing if not sensual – he was intensely observant of the mating rituals of the animal world, and the combination of a strong Venus and a strong Mars gives testimony to this: Mars squared Jupiter in his chart (over-the-top enthusiasm), he also squared Uranus (electric energy), Mars trined Neptune (a sensuous sensitivity) and also trined Chiron (healing energy).  Mars, Chiron and Neptune formed a Grand Trine, providing a powerful and charismatic force in his personality.  Neptune trine Chiron also elevated his healing energy.

Other points of interest in his chart: Jupiter was exactly conjunct Uranus – an intense expression of the Entrepreneur Archetype.  He wrote about 50 books, and that was just one area of his success.  Saturn exactly conjunct his South Node in Sagittarius, possibly indicated work with animals in past lives (through Sagittarius).

Life and Career

Desmond was born in Purton, Wiltshire, which is near Swindon.  His great grandfather was the socialist and artist William Morris.  He was educated at a boarding school in Wiltshire.  After two years of national service, he then studied Biology at Birmingham University.  The early years of his career were based in the Art world: he taught fine arts, and held a surrealist art exhibition with Joan Miro.  He was, himself, an accomplished artist, in the manner of Salvador Dali.  If you are not familiar with the quality of his work, look it up and see for yourself – he could have made it his main career, but instead, the chimps came a-calling…

He wanted to deepen his work as a naturalist, and to this end he undertook a doctorate in Zoology at Oxford University, on the subject of animal behaviour.  His thesis was on the reproductive behaviour of the ten-spined stickleback.

As a teenager in Swindon, he had a relationship with the blonde bombshell Diana Dors (who he painted in 1964), but while at Oxford he met his future wife, Ramona Baulch.  They married in 1952.

1956 proved an important year for Morris, as he moved to London and took up the post of Head of the Granada Television and Film Unit for the Zoological Society of London.  At that time, his progressed Sun was sextile his natal Chiron in Taurus, and he was undergoing his first Saturn Return on his South Node (continuing intense work begun in previous lives).  At the same time, his television programme Zoo Time began to be shown, and had children and adults enthralled for many years.  He generally focussed on apes, and linking his original career, encouraged chimpanzees (one in particular, named Congo) to paint.

The interest in apes in that period was becoming celebrated, with Jane Goodall travelling to Kenya in 1957, and beginning her life work with them.  I wrote in her astro-obituary:

“She discovered many ways in which chimpanzees were like humans, from their emotional range, to their capacity for toolmaking and warriorship, as well as community life.  She established that they were meat eaters, contrary to the established thinking that they were vegetarian.”

Charles Darwin would have been looking down, smiling, at the pair of them!  It happens often that pioneers incarnate as pairs, helping each other to get the job done…

Desmond Morris’s seminal book “The Naked Ape” was published in 1967.  We all read it!  A description of the book, which became a gargantuan success, reads:

“Meet man as he really is: relative to the apes, stripped of his veneer as we see him courting, making love, sleeping, socializing, grooming, playing. The Naked Ape takes its place alongside Darwin’s Origin of the Species.”

Body Language

In the 1970s and 1980s, Desmond Morris introduced us to a new phrase, “Body Language”.  It was not an unknown concept, but the phrase did not become mainstream until he published “Manwatching” in 1977 (more precisely 1^st January 1978).  The first we (hubby and I) heard of it, was when an Aquarian colleague bought the book and trumpeted its contents.  We perked up at this new type of study.  We are all people watchers, but body language is an Aquarian province: a dispassionate observation of humans in society.  It was an exciting concept to get our teeth into, and it seems absurd now to think the term was not used before that time.  Living well into our 70s gives us a unique chronology into etymology! – I remember that demarcation so clearly, interested as I always was in related subjects.  The book “Bodywatching” by Morris appeared subsequently in 1985, followed by many others on that theme.

What was it about that moment in time, which was so significant as a watershed?  Personally, for Desmond Morris, it was his exact Chiron Return (the emergence of the Inner Healer) at 1 degree Taurus, the fulfilment of his healing mission.  For the collective, a new insight (Chiron’s ingress into Taurus) into the earthly human condition.  Pre-publication would have also coincided (1^st November 1977) with the new discovery of Chiron the “wounded healer” asteroid itself.  Fascinating, or what?!

He died at the ripe old age of 98, with Neptune sextile his natal Sun, indicating a sense of serenity and satisfaction.

Aspects

Early morning started with an explosion – did you hear it – of Uranus entering Gemini, the most important astrological feature of the week.  I originally wrote about it in early July last year:

“It’s a new era…bringing innovation in thought, which can be initially perplexing.  Uranus spends 7 years in one sign.  Science and technology are going to advance exponentially…we are of course seeing it in the explosion of Artificial Intelligence.  If you have planets at the beginning of Gemini you will be especially affected over the course of the next year, but it can bring some surprise revelations and talents to the fore in your life and personality.  You’ll need to be on your mettle if you are a cautious type, but roll with the punches if you embrace change.”

In-between times, it turned Retrograde and spent time in Taurus, but has finally said goodbye to that sign.  The current entry into Gemini is a potent moment for registering the new vibration and possibilities of the Inner Rebel (Uranus) entering the sign of Communication (Gemini).  All insights, gratefully received!

On a personal level, although Uranus represents the upredictable, its sojourn these last seven years in my 1^st House (my Ascendant is 0 degrees Taurus) has been most welcome, bringing new experiences and new consciousness unexpectedly.  For those wary of its energy, roll with the punches and feel the cosmic wisdom behind the changes.  I wish I could be so upbeat about the world situation, which seems to have ever-deteriorated since last July, dominated by Donald Trump’s whims, and Jeffrey Epstein’s legacy, among other people and things.  But we have to hope that there is a method in the madness of raking up these undesirable elements, for clearing and finally healing.  Some Astrologers have tracked previous eras of Uranus in Gemini with world wars, but again it is important to see the current climate of war as solvable.

Late afternoon brings a sextile between Venus and Neptune, which can bring soothing waves of serenity, which hopefully may balance out some of the over-excitement of Uranus entering Gemini.  There’s an element of people becoming more into tune with each other (especially added to Uranian manifestations of telepathy).  New artistic avenues may flourish, too.  You may be inspired to paint, like Desmond Morris who had Venus trine Neptune in his natal chart – surrealist style, or not.

Early evening adds a square between Mercury and Jupiter, making it a full-on type of day. This aspect will stimulate us mentally, almost to the point of too much information!  There may be travel involved or planned.  It would be a good day to be out in nature, taking a good stroll, and picking up information.  Mercury square Jupiter is a refreshing aspect, if not a little over-stretching to manage, so you may find yourself travelling a little bit further than your comfort zone.  I associate this square with the Explorer Archetype, so if the cap fits, you may choose to wear it!

Tomorrow (Monday, 27^th) features a sextile between the Sun and the North Node, which favours right action and expression on a karmic level.  It is a good day to look at your life path as a whole, your creativity and self-expression and where you would like it to go.  Visualize your best possible path.

We have a trine between Venus and Pluto on Tuesday (28^th).  It is a profound, powerful and likely successful vibe.  This aspect can settle your deepest feelings into a more comfortable psychological context.  It helps us through changes and transformations on a human level.  Venus in harmony with Pluto benefits both love and money.

The next day, Wednesday (29^th) challenges us a little more, with a square between Venus and the North Node/Nodal Axis.  This aspect challenges us to take note of the karma of personal relationships, and group dynamics.  You may work with past life patterns, or present life practicalities.

Towards the end of the week, and at the beginning of a new month, Friday (st May) begins with a Full Moon at 11 degrees Scorpio in the late afternoon (U.K. time).  You may feel the emotional intensity build throughout the day: the Scorpio Full Moon is one of the most heightened of its kind.  It’s a time to look within and examine your emotional health.  Another area demanding attention is that of shared finances and an attempt to balance material resources and needs between two people.  For some there may be a temptation to lash out; some may be prickly about the conditions they find themselves in, and may be angry.  If so, forgiveness can be a key.

Early evening the tension may dissipate, and we have a more mellow sextile: that between Venus and Saturn.  Things may look much more in proportion.  This is a constructive aspect, a re-affirmation of where you are going, especially in terms of relationship, or art (particularly drawing or sketching).  In the realm of human relations, it is about steadiness and loyalty: cementing commitment.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a new new era; highly refined aesthetic sense; too much information!
• Tomorrow – karmic right action
• Tuesday – constructive deep feelings
• Wednesday – dealing with relationship karma
• Friday – emotional high tide; commitment and loyalty