Ed Milliband

Just a short preamble this morning on this week’s leader of the political party Conference (I have used up some of my blogging juice on the challenge of writing about Saturn’s entry into Scorpio).  Having watched Ed Milliband (whose position in the polls is on the rise) this morning on the Andrew Marr show, he scrubbed up very well morale-wise in comparison to poor Nick Clegg last week on the Andrew Marr show prior to his Lib Dem conference.  Last week on the couch Nick Clegg’s forehead worry lines were in themselves very worrying.  The political pundits viewed his conference speeches as lack lustre.  In contrast, Ed Milliband suddenly seems to know who he is (we’ll find out more this week at the Labour Party Conference).  As someone (one of my blog commenters) texted me this morning “He’s got Andrew over a barrel in the debate”.  Ed Milliband’s closest transit at this time is Neptune (spirituality) trine his Jupiter (philosophy), so he is coming into his stride in terms of being sure of his ground philosophically.  I think when he first took over as leader of the Labour Party he had some successful but heavy duty and demanding transits (Pluto transiting his Sun, and transiting Uranus trine his Neptune).  He was wondering how he got from promising politician and beloved brother to the post of leader of the Opposition and flailing Labour Party.  Now he feels ready to lead the Labour Party, and I would watch the Conference with interest, but I will be travelling.  So I will look out for some interesting soundbites on my i Phone app.  Interestingly, a statement of intent he has made this weekend, a threat to break up and reform the banks if they do not mend their ways, is right in the spirit of the era of Saturn in Pluto, so that could be a visionary aim (stemming from the inspiration of transiting Neptune trine his Jupiter).

 

Aspects

Mars dominates the beginning and the end of this week.  On Tuesday (2^nd) Mars conjuncts the North Node – re-introducing the Inner Warrior who is in no mood for messin’, with this conjunction now taking place in Scorpio (remember we are now karmically evolving more courageously with the North Node newly placed in this sign).

Caroline Myss says of this Archetype:

“The spiritual Warrior pioneered by Dan Millman, Chogyam Trungpa, and others directs you to use the classic Warrior virtues of heroism, stoicism, and self-sacrifice for conquering the ego and gaining control of the inner realm.”

Wednesday (3^rd)  may be a notable but perplexing day for Venusians (Taureans, Librans and those with Venus rising). It begins with Venus sextile Saturn. They are both in the 29th degree of their signs (Leo and Libra respectively) and as Libra’s ruler Venus may assist Saturn in leave a parting gift with you from his time in Libra: the gift may be in the realm of relationships, art or music, if you have been consciously working on such a related issue over the last two and a half years.  See my October 2009 blog Saturn in Libra – Karmic Dilemmas

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2009/10/saturn-in-libra-karmic-dilemmas/

which may help you to a clearer idea of what it might be. Globally there may be a diplomatic breakthrough, mid-week, for instance.  You may have resolution or closure in a relationship, on the personal front.

Venus then enters Virgo and changes her tune from magnanimous (Leo) to choosy (Virgo). This will happen literally overnight. Make sure you register for and claim the free gift before she does so, even if it in the form of a dream. If you work in the Arts sector it’s now time to get to work on the design or planning stage for the next season.

Venus linking with exacting Saturn and then changing signs may be all too much for some, and by the evening there may be confusion or meltdown. What may have seemed set earlier on will feel like an overwhelming state of flux by the evening, e.g. Opening your creative channels may have unleashed a torrent of ideas from which you can’t make sense or order . Welcome to the phantasmagorical world of Venus opposite Neptune.

Jupiter goes Stationary on Thursday (4th) prior to turning retrograde at 16 degrees Gemini. Sagittarians especially may be forced into U-turns. Whilst Margaret Thatcher wasn’t for turning, David Cameron has undertaken more U-turns than he has eaten West Cornish pasties. Educational changes are a feature of Jupiter’s current passage through Gemini, and Education Minister Michael Gove seems determined to make his mark by recreating the schooling of his childhood. The retrograde Jupiter in Gemini may help him achieve this retrograde step. I have been amazed the policy has got this far. That is not to say sense may not prevail when Jupiter next goes forwards next year – there is still a chance that it can.

On Friday (5th) Mercury conjuncts Saturn and there may be further depressing news, e.g. about education plans. If Education is not an interest or concern of yours, then it is a day to try to focus on work or studies, though that may not be easy. Try to lighten up occasionally by taking coffee breaks in unusual ways or locations, e.g.  If you work near a zoo, go and watch the monkeys. Otherwise, under leaden skies and the new yet-to-be named cloud formation (let us hope for no more floods this week), you may find it harder to locate yourself at the end of the working day.

Friday is as much Mercury’s day as Wednesday was Venusian. Therefore, Geminis and Virgos may go through as many quick changes as Venusians did then. The next change up is Mercury leaving calm and collected Libra and entering incisive and smouldering Scorpio. No longer content with surface niceties we will be impatient to get to the deeper truths. You may register the moment of this switch around 10.35 a.m. in the U.K…

Saturn in Scorpio

…But this will be nothing in comparison to the shift you might feel later in the day when Saturn himself moves into Scorpio (20.34 Hrs in the U.K.).  Pause to consider the gliding of Saturn through Libra since October 2009…then deepen that, for Saturn now enters more challenging waters. If you managed to produce balance in your relationships or art, you will now be challenged to bring in deeper truth, honesty and integrity. What was good enough for Libra won’t reach the benchmark for Scorpio.

As I say in this morning’s “Saturn in Scorpio” blog,

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2012/09/saturn-in-scorpio-in-the-deep/

be ready for life to hand you a challenge (or project), perhaps as early as the time of Saturn’s ingress (entrance) into Scorpio.

Onwards and Upwards

At 22.06 hrs Mercury trines Neptune. This is a helpful aspect for us to balance the entry of Saturn into Scorpio. The lower mind will be able to accept, receive and process inspiration from higher realms.  Problems of sensory overload from Wednesday may now be more easily digested and organized mentally.

Questions

Mars ends the week on Saturday (6th) in the last degree of Scorpio, preparing to leave that battleground and to put its energy into higher aspiration, or sports such as Quidditch. On its last days in Scorpio review the state of your inner warrior and its evolution over the last 6 weeks or so while Mars has been in that sign. Has it evolved into the peaceful warrior of idealism? Have you taken the opportunities to stand up for yourself or state your boundaries? Is your Inner Warrior fit for purpose for its next stage…?

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – the Karmic Inner Warrior re-engages
• Wednesday – A Parting but sensible Gift, a sign of progress, and a new work focus.

Later, confusion and overwhelmed feelings

• Thursday – A U-Turn
• Friday – a battle for the mind; issues shift into deeper psychological waters;

A new Challenge or Project; resolution of mental challenges incorporating the Spiritual perspective

• Saturday – review the Inner Warrior and its imminent shift or new evolvement

5 October 2012, 20.34 Hrs in the U.K.

“He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.”

~ John Bunyan

My choice of quotation for Saturn in Scorpio may seem a bit stark, retro and religious for this day and age, but it sets the psychological tone and has persisted in my mind these last few days.  It is about not giving up, and standing firm in your integrity.

Review of Saturn in Libra

In October 2009, when Saturn went into Libra, I wrote a blog entitled “Saturn in Libra – Karmic Dilemmas” about what it might mean for us personally and globally.  This has proved a very popular and much-read blog, and you may want to review it at this point, to see if it has been relevant at all to your experience of the last three years.

Here’s the link:

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2009/10/saturn-in-libra-karmic-dilemmas/

On the subject of international affairs I wrote:

“Internationally, there is bullying going on, and peace will become a more insistent need for humanity as a whole during Saturn in Libra, possibly because of the existence of the nuclear capacity within nations who may have tenuous diplomatic links with leading “parental” nations.  But there may be other factors that emerge and make this even more of a necessity.  Such proceedings during Saturn in Libra need the utmost patience from diplomats, and the strength and resolve to keep going.”

This seems very relevant in the ensuing period, with the diplomatic efforts of Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi in Syria, and the perceived threat of Iran’s nuclear capability, both issues we are going to take with us into the Saturn in Scorpio era.

Psychological Blocks

“The purpose of Saturn is to highlight our blocks, so that we can work on liberating ourselves from them” I wrote in the blithe old days of 2009.

This process becomes a deepening one during the era of Saturn’s sojourn in Scorpio.  In Libra we may have dealt with these blocks on an intellectual or emotional basis, but we now experience them at a deeper psychological level, and at the cellular level which implicates the physical.

Past-life regression has a role to play when accessing and releasing cellular level material and memories, and noted U.S. Psychiatrist Brian Weiss (himself a Scorpio) has brought out a new book on the subject this year entitled “Miracles Happen”, and subtitled “The Transformational Healing Power of Past Life Memories”, co-written by his daughter Amy Weiss.

What Saturn signifies in our Charts

As well as its role in highlighting blocks, I think of the Saturn placement in our charts as indicating how we get through life, e.g. if it is in Sagittarius, that is through humour.  Some of my family have Saturn in Scorpio, but most notably my 86-year old mother-in-law, who displays the Saturn in Scorpio traits in Spades (as in the card suit, which is very Saturn in Scorpio).  Courage and emotional self-discipline are among the traits which have seen her successfully reach this ripe-old age.  Saturn in Scorpio, both in transit as now (a collective experience) and personally in our natal charts, requires us to dig deep, and results in character-building (whether we like it or not).

Challenges

Be ready for life to hand you a challenge (or project), perhaps as early as the time of Saturn’s entrance into Scorpio.

My own philosophy towards challenge in life may be relevant for you.  I am a scaredy-cat, but Sun in Sagittarius gives me an enormous amount of faith.  So my philosophy of life has always been that if life hands me a challenge, providing it does not look impossible and providing my instincts do not say “No way, Jose”, I accept that challenge and assume that I can do whatever it is, and if it is difficult, that I will receive help, earthly or spiritual.

Financial Cuts

In 2009 when Saturn entered Libra, the credit crunch had happened the previous year, but we were still debating how serious it was.  Cuts were in the air, but not yet biting.  Now they are biting, and the jaws of the Scorpion will ensure that we have to deal with them.

The sign of Scorpio and its House (the Eighth) rule money, and in particular other people’s resources in traditional Astrology.  So money is extremely relevant, and becoming more so.  Rather than rising above money spiritually, we need to become immersed in understanding how we manifest, and our own individual relationship with money.  Many spiritual people won’t have anything to do with money (I put my hands up to doing so to some extent), and that is probably avoiding really important spiritual issues.  It is partly why we have such confusion in the world about money and in our personal lives, and why we haven’t yet found the answer to the role of money in society.

This requires us to develop the resourcefulness of  Saturn in Scorpio, developing recycling to an even finer art, for instance.  The whole issue of financial self-sustenance also relates to the unfolding of our talents or inner riches (the true province of Scorpio’s opposite sign Taurus and opposite House, the Second – connecting us with the balance and power of the polarity).

Casting around for examples of people with Saturn in Scorpio and their inner resources of character, Angela Merkel stands out.  Her Saturn in Scorpio is in the 11^th House of large associations, in this case the European Union!  She is known for her strength, and I believe that is down to the qualities of her Saturn in Scorpio.

Bill Gates is another resourceful holder of Saturn in Scorpio, and one who has mastered the substance of money, and the power that it represents.  So if you are working on your money issues during the next two or three years (it first enters Sagittarius in December 2014) look at these examples, or people you know who have Saturn in Scorpio in order to realize the depth of resourcefulness and connection to money.  Of course it is entirely possible that during this period we may evolve a replacement for the monetary system, if the current system becomes untenable.

Art

I am shortly to see the Pre-Raphaelite exhibition at Tate Britain in London, whose fluffy romanticism (I love it) is about as far away as you can get from Saturn in Scorpio.  Two artists who have Saturn in Scorpio, and therefore have something of its style in their work, are Caravaggio (master of the light and shade which is chiaroscuro), and New York painter Alex Grey (whose Scorpio X-Ray eyes paint the spiritual realities behind the form).

Final Word

May the force of Saturn in Scorpio be with you, whatever should unfold.

Uranus square Pluto – Phase 2 – Aftermath

It was a testing week for many, and hopefully you were one of those that passed the test.  Taking a casual survey, it seemed to me that for most people the crisis day was Wednesday, the day of the actual square between Uranus and Pluto, with reverberations on Thursday, and calmer waters on Friday.

The square is still with us until 2015, but the next exact square is not until next year, so there is time to calm down, take a deep breath and release fear.

For those of you who are ahead of the game, and wish to prepare for the next one, go over their lessons and make a plan, the next square will take place on 20^th May 2013.

Muslim Video

By far and away the most important development globally around this square has been the Muslim riots about the American video.  As a commenter put it in relation to my research up to the event:

“The only thing you have left out is the continuing violence supposedly triggered by the American video.”

I realized this as soon as I had posted it, and it was almost a Freudian slip to omit it, because I found it so perplexing, and still do.

Our first awareness that there was a problem, was the killing of Chris Stevens the U.S. Ambassador for Libya, which happened on 11^th September, a clear 8 days before the square, but in the period of rising tension caused by the square.

Chris Stevens was a diplomat and a lawyer, with a powerful  Jupiter exactly trine his Pluto in his natal chart.  He had been highly skilled and successful in his career.  As fate would have it, his death marked the beginning of this whole phenomenon.  We do not have his birth time, and he was born in Grass Valley, California, but there is a strong case for the accuracy of  the noon GMT chart.  In this chart, his Moon is conjunct the U.S. Pluto which is a dramatic link.  Transiting Saturn would have been squaring his natal Moon in 6^th House of working quarters, and transiting Saturn was squaring the U.S. natal Pluto at the time of the event.  This chart would give him a Leo Ascendant, and Venus (diplomacy) at the Midheaven (his Careerpoint).

The chart for the time and place of his death in Benghazi and the eruption of the violence shows Mars quincunx the Ascendant on the 6^th House cusp.  If this chart is active and the situation rumbles on, Mars will transit the North Node of the chart on 6^th October, and the descendant of the chart on 24^th/25^th October, and the Pluto of the chart on 25/26^th November, when there may be further flare ups or repercussions.  There is no way of knowing how long this crisis will last. The chart of the making of the film may show a Neptunian (manipulation) nature and timing, but that is at the moment an unknown quantity.  The initial video clips were uploaded to You Tube in July, the first being on 1^st July, a week after the first Uranus-Pluto square!

An interesting feature which caught my attention is that it was reported that some of the protests around the world about this video were peaceful.  I feel that says something profound.  It has been reported this morning that in Benghazi itself the moderates have driven out the extremists, by peaceful means.  And I hope that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will be able to convince the protesters of their good will and lack of involvement in this film.

Personal Lives

I personally felt the tension of the square last Wednesday as a knot of tension in the stomach, and my digestive system protested that it would only eat Miso soup (I later found out that the Fixed Star aligned with the event, Cor Caroli, works well with miso soup in etheric cleansing and detoxification, from “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld).  Others found that events were taking them to the limits of their endurance.  Some reported this to me, without knowing about the Uranus-Pluto square (not everyone I know takes an interest in Astrology!).  We heard of the death of a friend, but we also heard in the news of the birth of a celebrity baby on the afternoon of the 18^th: Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field brought into the world a baby girl Theodora.  I am not going to analyse her chart now, but just to welcome her into this world and a safe passage throughout her life.

Aspects

The aspects for this week begin on Wednesday (26^th), a day which should prove optimistic and mind-expanding due to a trine between Mercury and Jupiter.  This will be beneficial for education, information (without necessarily the technology), communication and sales and a tonic for those in recovery from the big square: it will give us something positive to focus on, e.g. there may be good news from the world of celebrity as well as in our own circle.

On Thursday (27^th) Venus squares Mars, which may produce intrigue and social awkwardness, e.g. inappropriate pictures of celebrities may crop up again in elements of the media which think they are appropriate.  In your own life, someone might cross the red line, or invade a boundary you thought was understood.

Saturday (29^th) has a T-square between the Sun, and you-know-who (Uranus and Pluto).  We are tested again, and need to hold our centre, be aware of who we are, and strengthen our individuality.  If necessary, we may need to speak our truth.  The earlier square in the day is the Sun with Uranus, so we may face a rebellion or we may be doing the rebelling.  Later the Sun squares Pluto, and we may face stark choices, or choices that involve a search deep into our Soul.

The undercurrents of this aspect are heightened by the Full Moon in Aries which takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning, so we will need to deal with personal emotional issues in addition to wider issues in society.  Saturday night is not a night to drown your sorrows, as you could be storing up further complications.  Deal with what is presented as honestly as you can, and you will move through any problems more quickly.  You may find that life has been trying to reward you, but that you have been blocking its attempts to do so.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – the only way is up
• Thursday – mild irritations or dubious pleasures
• Saturday – an echo of the Uranus-Pluto square rumbling in the background

By the third week of going back to work, Sharon was becoming well and truly absorbed back into the rat race, in the nicest possible way.

She walked into the waiting room at the Station on the day of the T-square, and Marjorie (an 80 year old who every day swam, then commuted to London to do half a day’s work) said “Have you noticed how everybody is rushing?”

Sharon had known Marjorie for years before she retired, and always marveled at her regime.

“Yes I have” Sharon replied.

Marjorie elaborated: “I have been forcefully brushed past by commuters and nearly knocked over by schoolchildren in their rush to get to work and school”

Sharon sympathized “Mmm…hmm”

“Only I have noticed you don’t rush” Marjorie went on.

Sharon laughed, “I am the slowest person I know”.

“Really?!” said Marjorie

“Oh yes, people have been known to cross the road to avoid walking with me, and my hubby William always walks 10 paces ahead!”

It seems that in the real world everything needs to be done immediately, mused Sharon.  This anxiety had manifested for her as a knot in the stomach consisting of this collective angst.  With her Taurean Ascendant, it was even difficult for the Uranus-Pluto square to shift the immovable object, and she was looking forward to three days of returning to her own pace.

The Uranus-Pluto square

The tone of this week will be dominated by our efforts to get to grips with the second phase of the Uranus-Pluto square (which lasts until 2015).  This square re-occurs on Wednesday, having initially become exact on 24 June this year.  I have written a separate blog about this:

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2012/09/uranus-square-pluto-phase-2/

 

Hillsborough

An event this week which bears examination as an example of a Uranus-Pluto type cataclysm, and which is now entering its own phase 2 with deeper complexity, is this week’s clearing of the Hillsborough victim karma.  As we approached Leicester in the car on the day of the report, there was another story of unearthing vying for attention on the radio: the unburying of Richard III (possibly) under a Leicester car park.  This story almost made a complete blog, but that is another story…

So we heard each victim of the Hillsborough disaster named in turn last Wednesday, each one with a story to tell, each one linked to other lives impacted by the event.  The chart of the human crush which took place on 15 April 1989 in the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield contains the same aspect (Saturn conjunct Neptune) which depicted the fall of the Berlin Wall, in November of the same year, but with the negative side of the conjunction operating.

On Wednesday (12^th September) last week the findings in the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel were made known to the public, absolving the Liverpool fans who had been blamed for their behaviour, and re-directing the blame to “lack of police control”.  In revealing a huge cover-up by the police authorities, there might be a huge switch in public conscience, though I am sure public sympathy will have largely failed to buy the prevailing official story of the previous 23 years.

This event has paved the way for the public who suffered in this tragedy to seek compensation and full justice for the loss of their loved ones, and although the event took place under a Saturn-Neptune pairing, this next long-drawn phase is going to be under the aegis of the Uranus-Pluto square.  Pluto’s position at this moment of time is exactly trine the Mercury (information) of the chart of the Hillsborough disaster, so the uncovering of information is suitably honoured astrologically.  Uranus is also sextile the Jupiter of the original chart, bringing about a success of sorts.  Neptune now conjuncts the North Node (karma) of the original chart, releasing greater compassion, and complexity.

 

Aspects

Without further ado let us zip through the 9 astrological features of this week, lest you lose the will to read, all against the backdrop of the midweek recurrence of the Uranus-Pluto square.  Kicking off the week we had early this morning a New Moon at 23 degrees Virgo, so a productive day can be expected in studies, practical crafts, and health issues.

At the other end of the day we have Mercury moving into Libra from Virgo, so the focus of our minds will change from study to relationships and intra-relationship communication.  There will probably be a huge viewing audience for the new series of Downton Abbey starting on our screens this evening, and with the additional star attraction of Shirley Maclaine (who has been on her third Saturn Return this year, redefining her life).  This programme will air while Mercury is still at 29 degrees Virgo and sextile exactly the North Node at 29 degrees Scorpio, so there will be a huge cathartic mass reaction in the emotional field of the viewers just afterwards.  Sense the mental shift if you can at 11.32 pm an hour after it finishes, when Mercury goes into Libra…ah, the furrowed brows will turn to romantic dreams.  However, in our house hubby will be watching sport, if he can find it.

On Tuesday (18^th) Pluto stands still preparing to turn forwards again.  It will be easier to plough that furrow of your inner landscape, if you have felt difficulty in that respect while Pluto has been retrograde (since 11^th April).  You may be able to look at your own psychology afresh.

Wednesday (19^th) brings the second Uranus Pluto square, the first having occurred on 24^th June.  Centre yourself, while being aware of the structure of events and where they need to be supported, or where something has to go.  It is an important time for individual responsibility, and to see each person’s role in the collective experience. (For further information go to the blog devoted to this).

On the evening of Thursday (20^th) two aspects to Mercury are further destabilizing:  Mercury links into the Uranus Pluto square to create a T-square.  It is what Craig Revel Horwood of Strictly Come Dancing would call “a disaster, darling!”  The mind could be prone to all sorts of paranoia (usually a province of Neptune, but Uranus Pluto can produce its own brand).  It is likely that at rehearsals Jerry Hall will decide that she cannot possibly cope with Anton du Beke’s dance style.  Look at his record in terms of the celebrity ladies…she will feel that it is just not working…despite her own graceful attributes, she cannot overcome his history on the dance competition.  His usual charm will not win her over.  There will be a Dallas-style cliffhanger.

You will have to cut your losses at bedtime and wait until next Saturday’s episode.  Maybe everything will look different in the morning.

For lo and behold! The early hours of Friday (21^st) brings a sextile between Venus and Jupiter.  That is not powerful enough to combat the midweek energies, but it could bring a smile or two, the beginnings of a pick-me-up.  The human spirit survives, and human relations in particular on Friday will be harmonizing and uplifting.

That brings us to Saturday (22^nd), the end of an exhausting array of aspects, with the Autumn Equinox, which means that the Sun will enter Libra, and not only our thoughts (Mercury) but our hearts and souls (Sun) will turn to a renewal of our personal relationships and Soul Contracts.

Best day to relax: Monday

The week in bullet points:

• Today – renewal of effort on your pet projects; mental shift to relationships
• Tuesday – a shift in psychological experience
• Wednesday – an expansion of consciousness
• Thursday – incomprehensible
• Friday – sweetness and light
• Saturday – even more emphasis on relationships

19 September 2012, 05.57 Hrs in the U.K.

This week we face the second square between Uranus and Pluto square, on Wednesday. The good news is that we have already negotiated the first square, on 24 June this year, and have more idea of how it impacts us and how we respond to it.  Uranus was at 8 degrees 24 minutes of Capricorn and Aries respectively in June, but now both planets have moved backwards and the impact is on 6 degrees 57 minutes of the same two signs.  There was a definitely increased impact where people had natal planets at 8 degrees last time, and so it is to be expected that the same will hold true of people with 6 degree natal planets on this occasion (I have transiting Pluto sitting on my Mercury).  This is the second pass of the square, which will recur several times between now and March 2015.

If you are new to Astrology, or new to awareness of this square, or simply want to refresh your memory, then please read my original piece “Uranus square Pluto – A Guide”:

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2012/06/uranus-square-pluto-a-guide/

Take the Test:

The first of these squares took place on June 24^th 2012.

Did you notice a heightening of stress?

Were you able to discern the issues and effects in your life?

Did you know which planet was in which area of your life?

Are you aware of any lessons learned?

Have you no idea what happened?

Can I refresh your memory?

The Global Picture

U.S.

The race for the Presidency is neck and neck, and that is not a happy position for most people.  When we had a similar neck and neck position coming up to our U.K. election in 2010 it was hoped that a coalition would bring fairness and co-operation.  Instead, we have had a government whose misguided forays into ridiculous policies have resulted in U-turns, and any failures have been used to scapegoat the Lib Dem coalition partners.  Not a fair governing for the common good.

U.K.

Fear surrounded the operation of the Olympics and Paralympics this summer – was security tight enough, were the plans sound, would the underground be able to carry all the extra traffic, etc…This operation came under the aegis of the Uranus-Pluto square, and was a resounding success which surprised many people.  There were challenges, but the nation pulled together.  Apart from considerations about whether it was worth the financial strain and spending, there is a new climate and regard for the disabled which is nothing short of a miracle.  This proves that the Uranus-Pluto square isn’t all bad!

USSR

The political situation in the USSR reflects the dictatorship (Pluto in Capricorn) side of the Uranus-Pluto square.  I don’t get the prankster side of Putin’s psyche, but certainly the rebels are coming out (Uranus in Aries).  As in the Arab Spring, the ordinary people are rising up and marching to protest at dictatorship, as thousands took to the streets in Moscow yesterday.

Three Key Areas

In my original analysis, I identified three key areas where the complexity of the Uranus-Pluto square was reaching fever pitch.  It’s time to look at these again.

Finance

Just after the last square, the European Union were cornered into making an agreement on finance, but largely the same issues have rumbled on in the last three months.  The European Summit of June 29^th declared: “Strong, smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, based on sound public finances, structural reforms and investment to boost competitiveness, remains our key priority.”

Astrological financial guru Raymond Merriman wrote in the aftermath of the first Uranus-Pluto square:

‘Where is the right answer?

‘If government spending and credit expansion stops, there will be a Depression on the lines of what happened the last time Uranus squared Plut (1931-1934).  If government debt and the escalation of credit is ramped up again via the creation of more fiat money by the Fed to support more spending by the government, then the day of reckoning will be even worse when it does come due later on (called “kicking the can down the road”).’

I consulted my own financial guru, who observed that only in this last week, with the pressure building to the next Uranus-Pluto square, have some significant events occurred:

On 6^th September provision for unlimited Bond buying was announced by the European Central Bank.

On 12^th September Apple iPhone 5 was unveiled, to be shipped on 21^st September: its estimated launch could add 0.5% to the U.S. GDP.

On 13^th September the Federal Reserve announced it would launch a major new round of bond buying (QE3), as reported in the Guardian.

Some of the background to this has been the downturn in the Chinese economy, as well as the ongoing Euro crisis and the sluggishness of the U.S. economy.

So what will the next phase bring?  If there were more marked links between events around 24 June and the intervening time, I would say that we would have an intensification of the financial crisis this week, but looking at the evidence, there may not be.

Syria

This situation is still intractable, with the killing at an unimaginable high, one peace maker (Kofi Annan) having given up defeated by the Uranus-Pluto square, and a new one (also with excellent credentials) now installed and beginning his mission, and tackling this huge challenge.  Lakhdar Brahimi, who has the karmic mission of a peace envoy in his natal chart (North Node conjunct Venus) met President Al-Assad yesterday, describing his task as “nearly impossible”. He reported back afterwards that the deteriorating crisis was a “threat to the world”.

The Middle East is a series of interconnected problems.  The Iran question may be the next urgent thing.  The nuclear capability of that country has been described as “imminent”, but it has also been reported that a deep breath is being taken to last until the U.S. Presidential election, which may change the focus on any action taken by the U.S. and Israel on this matter.  There may be some brinkmanship around the time of the second phase of the square.  It is a confrontational enough issue.

Climate

Since the first Uranus-Pluto square, we have had a stark reminder that climate change is very real: the level of sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk to an alarming level, depicting accelerated climate change.

There have been unprecedented droughts in America, and in other parts of the world, such as Yemen.  Storms, tornadoes and twisters have caused havoc in New York and parts of the U.K., some at the time of the last square and throughout this period.

Eighteen months after the Fukushima disaster, Japan has just announced that they will close down all their nuclear reactors by 2040 (well beyond the brief of the Uranus-Pluto square!), but it is a climb down from their long-held support for atomic energy.

Personal Stories

Stress Management

The increased stress of this period has either resulted in overwhelm, or found people working at a higher level, with more inventive ways of managing their stress and the complexity of their tasks.  Their inner resources have come up with the goods for working with the extra energy.  Life has presented more challenges, but in many cases the tools have been found to meet those challenges.  Building more space into your life is one such strategy.

Analysis

In some cases in this period circumstances have brought people into a state of shutdown, or meltdown, with the structure of problems increasing in complexity.  Some people moved out of our lives, through the passage of death, both famous and personal.  Some of these transitions were sudden, and some drawn out.  There have been wounds of the heart, and wounds caused by financial hardship.  There have been many such tragedies reported in the news, for example. Such tragedies are always being reported, but the numbers of incidents seem to have escalated e.g. adults and children drowning at home and abroad.

I have canvassed a number of people about their experiences and conclusions, and all reported heightened stress both through specific events at the time of the square and during this ensuing period.

People have reacted to this stress in various ways, often according to their nature, sometimes successfully and sometimes not (but everybody’s personal journey is valid), and here are some of the patterns I have found:-

1.  A feeling of being blocked has in some cases resulted in a sense of defeat, lying low, staying still, not growing, or refusal to face facts.  That is not to say they will not reach a point where they will start to move again.
2. Some people have reacted to such challenges by putting fight into their situations, giving it all they have got, in some cases putting themselves into a position of danger.  Often, though, this has proved a positive experience for them.
3. Some, particularly those who have a poor memory, have just surrendered to the situation, whether or not buoyed up by the feeling of connection with a higher power.  These people have relied (consciously or unconsciously) in the power of being in the Now. They have simply put down their baggage, and moved on.
4. The Venusian way to negotiate the square is to keep the heart open, ever expanding (which can be painful!) and to practice compassion.  The healing power of forgiveness comes into this sphere.
5. Some have worked in higher ways, particularly on their inner relationship with themselves through psychological (Pluto) or spiritual means.  They have managed to achieve transformation.  Insight produces change which in turn can produce more insight.

 

Success Stories

Some have been able to turn their circumstances around entirely within the space of this first phase of the Uranus-Pluto square.  An elderly lady I know, who had been facing confrontation in many areas of her life and with authorities, met her challenges by centring herself and allowing the higher energies to reveal the truth and arrange for injustice to be seen for what it was.  All areas of her life subsequently rearranged themselves to a healed pattern, but she had been in a very difficult place.

Olympic athletes gave it their all, and inspired others.

In the world of celebrity, Katie Holmes challenged her difficult circumstances at the time of the last square, and emerged with a settlement with Tom Cruise over their daughter and the psychological domination of Scientology.

Andy Murray began this period at the start of Wimbledon (25 June) with another defeat, at the culmination in the final (in July).  This was a turning point in his relationship with himself and with the public.  He then went on to win the Olympic gold medal in tennis, and then the Grand Slam tournament in the U.S.  Prior to this, he needed to accept help from another brilliant tennis player, Ivan Lendl.  Lendl’s brilliance is shown in his chart in his conjunction of Uranus to his Midheaven (Careerpoint), and in their synastry (chart comparison) Lendl’s Uranus/Midheaven conjunction is exactly trine Andy Murray’s Jupiter (success).

Further Reading

Sinhagupta, Director of the East West Sanctuary, is presenting a paper at the  conference of the European Association for Body Psychotherapy taking place now (14^th-17^th September) in Cambridge. She started writing this paper under the Pluto Uranus square, and therefore it is very topical and relevant. The paper tackles the existing power structures in our society and relates them to science and philosophical thought.   If you miss this conference, catch up with her world view on her website (see my Contact page).  Here’s the link for the paper itself:
http://www.eastwestinterconnect.co.uk/editorial-forum/evolutionary-science-and-holonomic-healing/evolutionary-inquiry-and-its-implications-for-psychotherapy.html

Last Thoughts

Embracing life has been a key for many people, and the moral of this story is that if you haven’t turned your life around (if you need to) within this first phase, you can still achieve it.  Change, which is often surprising and unexpected (Uranus) demands constant work, openness and flexibility.  Insights can be fed back into the psyche to produce more insight, e.g. how to meet power in others, and honour your own power (also Pluto issues), and unearthing one’s own freedom (the Uranus part of the equation).

A book which loomed large and helpfully in this period is Anita Moorjani’s book “Dying to be Me” which hands over the key to authenticity and the desperate need for that in one’s life at this time.

On a personal note, I have found it helpful to make karmic peace with each person in my life.  This has come about through cues sent by the Universe, which have encouraged me to let go of my own agendas and see what needs to be cleared between us.  This process may also be partly a function of the recent entry of the North Node into Scorpio.

The Green Party

With David Cameron sidelining Justine Greening and paving the way for a third runway at Heathrow, with the Lib Dems being almost a spent force, and the Labour Party not yet having their act together, eyes may now rest upon the Green Party and particularly focus upon their new leader Natalie Bennett.  In London, the Green Party is now the third largest party, and they are attracting more youth than the Lib Dems.

Caroline Lucas, who has done much to raise the profile of the Green party and green issues, recently decided to step down as the chairperson of the party, concentrate on her role as M.P. in Brighton, and allow new blood to step forward.  Her replacement Natalie Bennett, Australian born with a scientific background, has a very strong chart, and not an entirely easy one, but presumably that has made her stronger.  Her easier path comes from two good trines:  Sun exactly trine Jupiter (immense good will) and Venus in Capricorn (lover of the Earth) trine her North Node (karmic mission).  She has notable squares too, but the other dominating feature of her chart is a double opposition between Pluto/Uranus (exact conjunction) in Virgo (the Rebel on behalf of the Earth) and Saturn/Chiron in Pisces (a sensitivity to suffering).  This double opposition, composed itself of challenging planets, will have forged her character under difficult circumstances.  Her political coming of age may be due to a recent Nodal reversal by transit, highlighting her South Node in Sagittarius (esoterically ruled by the Earth).

Zoe Williams, writing in the Guardian, says: “One [criticism] is that she is too emollient, doesn’t focus enough on attacking the coalition, concentrates instead on talking about her own policies”.  That sounds to me like a virtue.  She has a distinctly non-aggressive Mars (in Pisces, and unaspected save for a loose conjunction with Saturn which tempers it even further).  Could that be a new vision of politics, not attacking your opponents…?

Aspects

Today’s aspect, Mercury square Jupiter, is perfect for long distance travel, and reinforces the slightly daring aspects of the last few days, he who dares (without necessarily the winning).  It’s a mental exercise in risk-taking, seeing how far you can push yourself in terms of faith and positive thinking.  It is also good for thinking outside the box, in terms of pushing the boundaries of your ideas, not necessarily realistic ones, but connecting with your wider imagination so as to allow a greater vision to come in.  So if you have some crazy vision at this time, that you know could not possibly work, it may be paving the way for the right vision to come in through breaking the mould of your outworn paths.  For example, dare to dream that sustainability and climate change might be higher on the agenda in politics.

Tomorrow the Sun is conjunct Mercury at 18 degrees Virgo.  That favours concentration of the mind, especially in practical and earthy matters.  Communication and the written word receive a boost, so publishing and broadcasting ventures are assisted by this conjunction.  If you have done your research, you will do well in getting it across. In the workplace, you will be getting into your stride, for this work-orientated season, and may see how your work links with service and a sense of greater purpose, especially if you have a birthday around now.  In gains made now, you’ll be in a position to appreciate that attending to the minutiae eventually pays off, just as when recycling or conserving energy every little bit helps.

Venus trines Uranus in the fire signs of Leo and Aries on Thursday 13^th.  This has all the dynamic social benefits of Venus sextile Uranus (see my blog on this aspect under the Aspect category) but on a larger scale.  It is more powerful and group-orientated, while Venus sextile Uranus is concentrated on a more personal scale.  With Venus in Leo, everything is bigger and bolder, and possibly competitive, though the accent is on the greater humanitarian good (the higher side of Uranus).  In the world of fashion, there may be originality and inventiveness, and it is a good day to launch initiatives in the Arts in general, as well as social community schemes.  Whatever is born or done at this time will have love at its heart, whether it be love for one’s subject or creation, love of an ideal, or love for humanity.  If you are contemplating a big purchase now’s the time, as intuition and monetary sense can combine.  This fire trine steps out of the comfort zone of the Virgoan prevailing climate, to add a dash of panache among the practicalities of the day.  Like sprinkling a little chilli on a pea soup…

The week in bullet points:

• Today – mind-broadening but be mindful
• Tomorrow – mental focus and quiet progress
• Thursday – a bright splash on the canvas

Neil Armstrong

I admit to feeling a sense of loss when I heard of the passing of Neil Armstrong.  I think the Universe registered this seismically, the passing of a man of the Universe.  A man more of the Universe than most of us, at least to the Moon and back.  In his chart, his own Moon holds the distinction of being at the power point of the Galactic Centre.

His achievements were great, but so also was his character.  He eschewed the status of fame, and remained true to the humility of Neptune at the base of his chart.  Armstrong’s Neptune is exactly square to his Ascendant, on the cusp of his 4^th House of Home.  This accounted for the fluidity of his roots: his family moved several times in his early years.  This may have been part of the making of a man who could let go and travel out into space.  Maybe it was part of the training which his life provided.  Although Neptune is more usually associated with the ocean, it is also connected with the ethers.  He had a highly sensitive finely tuned nervous system, with Neptune conjunct exactly his Mercury and the conjunction square to his Ascendant.

The high vitality of his chart is shown by Mars in his 1^st House trine exactly the Part of Fortune in his 5^th House, then backed up by the Sun in between sextiling both, and Uranus sextile his Mars and trine his Sun in Leo, also providing the scientific abilities needed by an Astronaut.

His career path is represented by his Midheaven, which is placed in the air sign of Aquarius, and from the age of 6 he was interested in flight.  Aquarius is also the sign of technology, and futuristic endeavours.

Prior to taking part in the first manned mission to the Moon, he took part in the Gemini 8 space shot.  Interestingly, this exploit took place while Jupiter (exploration) was in the sign of Gemini, and in Armstrong’s 1^st House (he had Gemini rising).  He then went on to take part in the monumental achievement of the Apollo landing (Apollo = the Sun, ruler of his Sun sign Leo).

The chart for the Moon landing of Apollo 11 itself in 1969 is fascinating.  It depicts a high risk venture (Jupiter exactly conjunct Uranus) with dramatic and historic import (Pluto exactly conjunct the South Node).  The venture itself was a team effort with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.  As in any good team each individual contributed something different.  Buzz Aldrin was an Aquarian, and his Chiron was conjunct his North Node in his 11^th House at birth, signifying a healing role within the team.  Michael Collins, like the other two, was born in 1930, the year that Pluto was discovered, and Pluto plays more of  a key role in his chart, conjunct exactly Jupiter and squaring his North Node.  Michael Collins had the force with him!  The experience affected them all differently too, so in terms of their private and spiritual journeys there were different purposes: Armstrong retreating into Neptune, Aldrin discovering mental health challenges (possibly the down side of Chiron conjunct the North Node, as well as other factors in his chart) and Collins surviving strongly perhaps down to his Plutonian strength.

With Jupiter and Pluto in his 2^nd House of earnings, Armstrong’s own finances should have been sound.  But Saturn in his 8^th House (of other people’s money) opposed his Jupiter, and he was frustrated by the battles for funding of space exploration.

Neil Armstrong underwent surgery on 7 August 2012.  The problem seems to have been blocked coronary arteries (a Leo/Aquarius issue in medical astrology).  At this time, Mars squared his Pluto (surgery) and Neptune (hospitalization) opposed his Mercury/Neptune and opposed his Ascendant.

I looked for a Moon link for his funeral, and was not disappointed.  For not only was the Moon at the full, but it was a blue Moon too.  Nice touch from the Universe.

Aspects

Tomorrow, it’s back to work and back to school, with Venus squaring Saturn.  Some of us love work and school, but for those that don’t they may feel their personal wings clipped and may need to work harder on the relationships with co-workers or fellow pupils.  There may also be a tinge of sadness at the passing of summer pursuits or holiday romances.

As for me, I am back to work for a month filling in, with one member of staff  leaving a month early and another coming back a month late. It’s nice to be with the commuters again.  One reported some astrological prediction which had come true, and another said she may have to start driving because of the hike in rail fares because she couldn’t continue to take the train solely for the camaraderie.  Going back to work fits in with the Virgo seasonal ethos, and some part of me has been tricked into believing it is part of the annual cycle.  Maybe by the end of the next week my lack of condition may betray me, as I have been retired two and a half years.

While the female side of life (Venus) is feeling flat, the male side of life (Mars) is going strong tomorrow.  Mars sextiles Pluto and trines Chiron, so you may have the energy to override other disappointments, and get on with other things, like new office regimes and practices.  It certainly favours paralympic performances, so it may be a Super Monday in that respect. There may be some superhuman achievements, and some miracle tales of healing or overcoming the odds.

Mercury trines Pluto on Tuesday (4^th) which is an excellent day for in-depth consultation, and analyzing the human psyche.  On the other hand, someone may give out too much information, and cause mental overwhelm, with Mercury also opposing Chiron.  If you are giving out the information, or just listening, please be sensitive to the other’s cues.

On Wednesday (5^th) Mercury sextiles Mars, so that is another satisfyingly active day, with the brain and the body engaging well with each other.  An excellent day to put into practical action those new office practices that you only just got your head round early in the week.  If you are a student, in a new class, it’s a day you can knuckle down and your brain will be razor sharp (as long as you didn’t give yourself a late night).  It also favours buying new stationary, including equipment such as precision mathematical instruments.

Thursday (6^th) brings a sextile between Pluto and Chiron, a deep undercurrent of healing energy, especially for mental health challenges.  There may be insights, for those who are working for them, on your psychological roots, and radical ways of solving problems along those lines.

Venus also enters Leo that day, and you may put aside your tears, and adopt a brighter attitude to life, with some hedonistic ideas thrown in – a regime set to last nearly a month, until Venus changes sign again.

The week ends with a square between Jupiter and the Sun on Friday (7^th).  While the square at the start of the week is flattening, the square at the end of the week could see us toppling to the other extreme: a bit devil-may-care, swashbuckling to the top of the castle.  This may be more of a problem for some signs than others: Capricorns may remain sober, while Sagittarians and Leos could embarrass themselves.  Virgos could stray from their own rules, and Geminis could bask in well-deserved success.  It could be fun, or infuriating.  And the aspects early next week could prolong these conditions…

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – flattened feelings but rising to challenges
• Tuesday – mentally intense
• Wednesday – precision and healing
• Thursday – starting to come out of the closet
• Friday – well and truly out of the closet

Parkinson’s Disease

Louise L Hay: (Probable Cause) – “Fear and an intense desire to control everything and everyone”

I have not specialized in medical astrology in my 42 years of following the stars, but as health is crucial to the quality of our life, I have paid attention.  And now that I am retired, even though I am busier than ever, I have more research strands than hours in the day. One of those research strands, among the other neurological and related conditions, is Parkinson’s disease.  Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed as suffering from it in 1991, has recently announced a new television series he is making devoted to the subject.  The actor Bob Hoskins recently announced his retirement due to the progress of the disease.  So this exploratory blog is the first I am writing under the category “Medical Astrology”.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.  The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord and all the nerves involved that come off it.  I have always worked on the premise that the nervous system is represented in the birth chart by the planet Mercury, while the more subtle sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are ruled by the more highly-strung planet Uranus.  Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of brain cells which contain dopamine, in a specific area of the mid brain.  Initial symptoms include tremors, and later symptoms can include dementia.  But we have two long lived celebrities in Michael J. Fox and Muhammed Ali, who have done much to advertise the cause and its progress.

What I would look for in trying to find an astrological signature for the disease is problematic placements or aspects to Mercury or possibly Uranus, plus extreme agitation from Mars in the chart which over-activates the nerves.  Mars might also be involved as the ruler of Aries, which represents the head and the brain.  Also relevant are the transits at the time of the onset of symptoms or diagnosis, i.e. what outer planets may have been exerting pressure or stress on key points in the birth chart of the sufferer.

Muhammed Ali

For Muhammed Ali, one of the most relevant features in his birthchart might be Uranus exactly trine with his Sun.  Although this is a favourable aspect, and accounts for his brilliance, there may have been a degree of strain to his nervous system involved.  His Uranus in turn is stressed by a conjunction with Saturn.  Mars squares his natal Pluto by 1 degree, which describes the violence of his profession, but also the strain on the physical body.  It has been thought that his Parkinson’s was caused by repeated trauma to the head during his boxing career.  He also has Pluto conjunct Chiron (extreme suffering) in the 12^th House of chronic conditions.  Also causing difficulty would be Saturn exactly square his Venus.  For the planet I associate with the nervous system, Mercury, there is a trine with Jupiter (he has a way with words) but a close opposition with Chiron (the wounded healer).  A connection between Mercury and Chiron often disrupts the nervous system.

At the time of his diagnosis in 1984 he was undergoing his Uranus Opposition, and Uranus may be a key planet in relation to this disease.  Also in that year Neptune was squaring his natal Neptune, an aspect which may bring confusion and illness.

Michael J. Fox

Like Ali, Michael J. Fox has North Node in Virgo, but he also has it conjunct Pluto, which indicates a strong challenge in the area of health which galvanizes him for his karmic mission.  He also has Mars exactly opposite the Ascendant, putting his physical vehicle constantly under stress (flight or fight) and Mars is conjunct Uranus, which is a very tense and potentially explosive aspect.

He was diagnosed in 1991, around the time of his Saturn Return in 12^th House of chronic conditions.  Also at the time his Progressed Sun was entering his 6^th House of general health. Transiting Pluto was squaring his Mars in that year.  This transit can be a catalyst for many things, but in this case may have been a factor in triggering the disease.

Bob Hoskins

Popular actor Bob Hoskins has Moon conjunct Uranus and trine Neptune, giving him the subtle emotional range to be a good actor, but also putting his emotions under stress.  Like Muhammed Ali and Michael J. Fox he has North Node in Virgo (indicating the importance of health in fulfilling his karmic mission).  Chiron (the wounded healer) conjuncts this North Node and this conjunction squares the Moon/Uranus conjunction.  That is an intense set of demands on the body, mind and soul.

When he recently announced the diagnosis and the change to his lifestyle, Saturn was squaring his Jupiter, curtailing some of his liberties.  But Neptune was trine his Sun, and spiritually he may be more at peace with himself than at other times in his life when he was in the thick of the gangster roles that made him famous.

This is a tentative look at the subject, and if you have any of the astrological symptoms, do not panic, as there is no definitive interpretation here.  If you have North Node in Virgo (which cropped up in all three birth charts) I know of other sufferers who do not have North Node in Virgo so again rest easy, and again I know of many people with North Node in Virgo who do not have Parkinson’s.

Louise L. Hay: (Affirmation) “I relax knowing that I am safe.  Life is for me and I trust the process of life.”

For more information:

http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/default.aspx

Aspects

At the beginning of the week, on Sunday 26^th August, Mars trines Neptune, which is conducive to looking at sensitive physical conditions (such as Parkinson’s), and favours action which takes into account psychology, feeling and spirituality, not just action (or sport) for action’s sake.  Sensitive issues can be explored in a vigorous way.

The in-depth approach is supported again on Thursday (30^th), when the Sun trines Pluto and psychological issues are very much on the agenda, bringing deep insights and the ability to work at a level which produces real change and transformation.  Any creative work will hold a meaningful quality and energy, again not just art for art’s sake.

Mercury also sextiles Saturn on that day, and the mind will be able to consolidate plans and you will be able to carry them out constructively, or at least think about doing so.  So if you had profound ideas earlier in the week, you can start to apply them to practical reality.  If you have realizations of what needs to be done, the planets are supportive to this today.

The Sun also opposes Chiron on Thursday, so there may be some health or healing issues or crises occurring.  Chiron reveals the problem, but like the dock leaf for the nettle, the solution may be close at hand.

A Full Moon in Pisces late lunchtime on Friday (31^st)  may plaice something fishy on your plate to contemplate.  The left brain (Sun in Virgo) may have been profitably engaged at the work desk, but something is nagging at you from the subconscious or from the wider world, of possibly equal importance (opposition from Moon in Pisces).

On Saturday (1st) Mercury enters its own sign of Virgo, and all Virgoan interests benefit: paperwork, health, working conditions and community.  I am returning to the Office for a few weeks, so the emphasis in the blog may revert to paperclips and commuting, rather than the more domestic  retirement perspectives.

However, Mercury then opposes Neptune on Saturday, and what might have seemed straightforward from an intellectual point of view is clouded by all sorts of complicated emotional and psychological issues, or even spiritual ones.  Environmental toxins or even every day drugs (such as paracetomol) may be affecting our consciousness in ways we are unaware of or think we have acclimatized to, accumulating in our systems.  So it is a good time to stop using various cleaning products or unnecessary medications and see whether that space makes us feel clearer mentally and spiritually.  It will be the second weekend in a row that we will be beset by Neptunian issues, so learn what you can from last weekend and that will help you to get a grip on the ungrippable.

North Node in Scorpio

Saturday is also important for a change of sign for the Mean North Node (which changes approximately every 18 months).  The switch on that day is from Sagittarius (fairly upbeat in theory, but collectively it has not been an easy 18 months) to the more challenging sign of Scorpio, but again we might start to get the answers and the meaning we need to move forward.  Blind or superficial responses or knee jerk reactions to society’s problems may give way to more informed choices and understandings.  In your own personal life too, there may be more realistic and brave solutions: it is an interesting synchronicity that the Paralympics are now in the air, and the issues around disability will hopefully be helped by this event.  This is an important aspect, and the start of an earnest karmic tone.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – sensitive action
• Thursday – tackle in-depth issues, practical plans and attend to health
• Friday – an emotional Full Moon
• Saturday – start work early; emotions may disrupt work later; profound work and insights achievable even later

The Strange Case of Julian Assange, International Man of Mystery

Originally from Australia, they seek him in the U.S., they seek him in Sweden, while he is holed up in the U.K. and Ecuador hopes to rescue him.  Currently a man of Neptunian mystery transits, with the North Node transiting his Neptune and Neptune squaring his Saturn.

He has friends in high places, and many followers who believe in his ideology of freedom of information, an extreme stance which in some cases reveals information which has been withheld in order to protect.  It is difficult to judge the rights and wrongs of the matter, but he is an intriguing character.

He is a Sunsign Cancerian, and physically you can see that in the characteristic sensitive skin.  The relationship with his mother has been important in his life and work, another Cancerian characteristic.

He started as a hacker-activist, then founded Wikileaks in 2006.  The timing of his undercover (Sun in 8^th House, Ascendant and Moon in Scorpio) operation, the expose of U.S. military files, was under the global and dramatic aspect of Jupiter square Pluto in July 2010.  I wrote: “ Jupiter in Aries (the individual, Julian Assange, WikiLeaks) square (versus) Pluto ( the Institution: United States, Defence) with Pluto also representing the uncovering of information.” Whatever has driven Assange, it is something bigger than himself, and the consequences seem set to rumble on.

For the world, the Jupiter/Pluto link seems key to his activities.  By the Jupiter-Pluto trine in March this year, it was observed on the blog that, by then facing the extradition to Sweden: “At the first leak (Jupiter square Pluto) Uranus was trine Julian’s natal Neptune supportive to his surprise move.  As Jupiter trine Pluto Assange faces two hard squares: Neptune square his natal Saturn, and Pluto squares his natal Uranus, compounding the effect of the prevailing Uranus/Pluto square which all of us are now dealing with.”

There is no doubt he is an intelligent man (good in Chess, I expect), and one of the intriguing questions is why he picked Ecuador, and it happens that they are willing to help.  Today, he is expected to give a speech from the doorstep or balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy about the current diplomatic row between the U.K. and Ecuador.  If he steps actually outside, the British may seize him.

He has North Node conjunct Mars in Aquarius (karmic mission as Internet Warrior). A rebel by nature anyway (Sun square Uranus) he is working his way towards his Uranus Opposition, which comes exact next April, and soon after that Uranus squares his natal Sun.  We can expect more of the unexpected.

His relationship with the charts of the U.K. and Ecuador both show power struggles with Pluto involved (the U.K. started as a cosy option, and if he did manage to get to Ecuador it may not be as cosy as he thought).  His chart comparison with Sweden does show struggle and complexity.  Strangely, if the stars are to be believed, he would be most at home in the U.S., the country he probably most wants to avoid.  I don’t have a programme for Astrocartography, but that might reveal more about the international man of mystery and his connection with various parts of the globe.

Aspects

What a scorcher!  Both the record high temperatures here and the aspect point to intense heat: Sun sextile Mars.  Temperatures yesterday reached 32 degrees C, and may be rising, but are likely to return to normal August levels in the middle of the week.  It’s a macho aspect too, and sport is still high on the agenda (especially football, which is ruled by Mars).  The Sun actually sextiles Mars tomorrow (Monday 20^th) so it is likely to be an active day, but some people will be wilting and lolling about unable to process the energy.

Late last night there was a trine between Mercury and Uranus, which may be still hovering around today, bringing unusual conversations and debates, and innovative discoveries and announcements.  If you have been stuck on documentation lately, you may be able to zip through it today.

The Sun enters Virgo on Wednesday (22^nd), so make the most of any remaining Leo sunshine on Tuesday.  There will be an end of holiday feeling about it.  Or the end of an era.  Wednesday is a mini-rebirth, with heads down workwise from the Sun’s entry to Virgo (a good day to plan your working schedules for at least the next year), and then Mercury sextile Jupiter (favouring business and sales, and communication and philosophical thought).

On Thursday (23^rd) the Sun squares the Mean Nodal Axis, and you may need to co-ordinate your working diaries and schedules with others: there needs to be a group co-operation to prevent karmic snarl-up.  Teachers for instance could get hot under the collar about next term’s timetable.

Mars also enters Scorpio that day, so some may be spoiling for a fight.  Others will be in spotless integrity, but may still be fighting their corner or standing up for themselves.  The person who compiled the school timetable would be advised to take a late summer holiday break in the Maldives or some such far away destination.

On Friday (24^th) confusion reigns with the Sun opposing Neptune.  Where is the timetabler when you need him, and the alterations made in his or her absence have made things even more chaotic.  Does anyone have a copy of the original draft, or even last year’s easier model? (it gets more complicated every year).  You can’t get the staff…

…Oh dear, there we have the end of the week, on a cliffhanger.  I will have to look ahead to see if things resolve by next Sunday….Thank goodness! Mars will be trine Neptune, helping to sort out some of the mess, very encouraging.  Seems like you will get hold of the staff eventually, and there may even be a scramble for jobs.  Saturday won’t be an easy time for decision making. See how the week pans out before interviewing.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – scorching
• Wednesday – more focused, plus brisk sales
• Thursday – karmic co-operation, followed by a new determination
• Friday – confusion and mystery