Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778)

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

In this fourth in my philosophy series, I look at a Cancerian philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Birth Chart

Traditionally, in a Cancerian chart, the mother’s influence is strong.  In the case of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, his mother’s influence is conspicuous by virtue of her absence, for she died nine days after his birth.  But Rousseau did concern himself a great deal with the phase of life associated with Cancer: childhood.  He wrote a treatise for the upbringing of a child, Emile. However, his perceptions were often skewed on the subject, and he did himself abandon his own children (which he later regretted).  Some of these paradoxes may be seen in the square to his Moon (Cancer’s ruler) from an opposition of Jupiter and Saturn, forming a T-square.  When Jupiter and Saturn are strongly connected by conjunction, square or opposition, there is a sense that the person is chasing their own tail, caught between two such different forces.  His Ascendant was in Virgo, and he was extremely concerned with health and hygiene, almost a hypochondriac, but in the end opted to avoid the conventional medicine of the day (which could often be quite brutal).  This worked for him largely, until he fell victim to the consequences of an accident.  He had all the creative brilliance, independence and originality of the Sun sextile Uranus, and with Sun trine Chiron, he had a healing intent.  He was a prolific writer, as you would expect from his natal conjunction of Mercury and Venus in Gemini.  He also had an acute critical faculty, with Mercury conjunct Mars.  Mercury occupied the top spot in his chart, square the Ascendant, on the 10th House cusp, marking him out as a Thinker.  Gemini is one of the signs associated with Philosophy, although my efforts to find a Sun Sign Gemini Philosopher were difficult (I settled on Blaise Pascal).  Mercury and Gemini rule the logic and mental processes involved, whereas Sagittarius is the sign actually associated with Philosophy and deeper levels of thought.  Mars trine Jupiter depicted great energy allied with enthusiasm (the “noble savage”), while at the same time Mars sextile Saturn produced very deliberate in action. Other “wild child” energy came from Mars square Uranus, and Uranus conjunct Pluto.  Mars conjunct closely the Midheaven in Gemini in 9th House shows the Philosopher-Warrior, at odds with the Encyclopedistes.

Life and Career

Much of what we know about his life comes from his Confessions, published after his death.  Rousseau was born in Geneva in 1712,  (he stated: “I was born almost dying, they had little hope of saving me”), and came from a family tradition of watchmaking (Ascendant in Virgo, Mercury at the top of his chart).  At the age of 10, he boarded with a Calvinist minister who lived just outside Geneva, where he learned mathematics and drawing. At the age of 13, he was apprenticed to a notary then an engraver, but ran away at 15 (on 14th March 1728).  That date shows a transit of Neptune trine his natal Jupiter, and it coincided with a new religious outlook (he was born with a square between those two planets).  He took shelter with a Roman Catholic priest, and met the love of his life Francoise-Louise de Warens, who was 14 years his senior.

Rousseau lived on and off in Paris, and later established a relationship with Therese Levasseur, who bore him several children.  In 1742 he met Philosopher Denis Diderot, who was to play an important role in his life.  They met at the Cafe de la Regence, watching chess and drinking coffee.  Initially friends, they became philosophical rivals. Rousseau contributed articles to Diderot and D’Alembert’s  Encyclopedie.

In 1750 he won a competition organized by the Academie de Dijon, in which he wrote an essay inspired by a revelation that he had about the arts and sciences being responsible for moral degeneration, being a reflection of man’s pride and vanity. Rousseau’s answer to these ills was the development of reason and being close to nature.

He met with controversy when he criticized the insincerity and shallowness of the Encyclopedistes, and that soured relations between him and his friend Diderot.  The two men had a close astrological connection, dynamic and profound, which included double whammy mutual sextiles between their Suns and Saturn.  There was great sensitivity (Diderot’s Neptune conjunct Rousseau’s Moon), but also the potential for conflict (Diderot’s Mars square Rousseau’s Uranus (sparks flying).  When he broke away from the Encyclopedistes, Rousseau found himself expressing more independent views, such as his more spiritual ideas in contrast to Diderot’s more materially based views.  He published Emile  and  The Social Contract in 1762.  At the age of 50, these will have carried the essence of his Chiron Return, the maturation of his Inner Healer.

In Emile the ideal education of the child, the process of which he advises from infancy, is not to be guided by the state, but by a chosen mentor, who would apply natural principles with as little intervention as possible (although Rousseau lays down so many rules and guidelines that it is difficult to see that as non-intervention).  His account of the ideal childhood in Emile is often naive and based on a narrow class of child in his own historical period.  I often found his assertions of what a child is capable at a certain age untrue, certainly in respect of the modern child, who is exposed to so much more stimulation and information from a young age.

In his work, he professed to be optimistic in his attitude towards human nature, believing that mankind was fundamentally good, and therefore should be allowed to thrive as naturally as possible – as distinct from Hobbes who believed that the people needed to be governed by an autocracy as they were fundamentally wicked.  In matters of religion, Rousseau did not believe in the doctrine of original sin.

He drew the attention of Scottish philosopher Edward Hume (the Taurean subject of my second philosophy blog), who later offered him some refuge from some of the criticisms of Parisian society (e.g. for contending that all religions are worthy, and religious tolerance was the right way forward).  On my Philosophy course [we have enrolled for a second year!] Hume is one of the most popular philosophers, and his reputation describes him as one of the nicest of their kind.  At that point in time, Voltaire was also sympathetically disposed towards Rousseau.  Rousseau also received support from Frederick the Great of Prussia, and travelled around to various places he thought might be safe from his accusations of blasphemy (including his native Switzerland).

In 1765 he met Hume in Paris, and made a very good impression, travelling at his invitation to England early in 1766.  Hume described his visitor as “gentle, modest, affectionate, disinterested, of extreme sensitivity.”  The astrological synastry between their charts is quite harmonious.  However, the relationship soured after inexplicably Hume was involved in a hoax letter being sent by Horace Walpole purporting to be from Frederick the Great.  Among other transits, Saturn was square Rousseau’s Pluto in Virgo in his 12th House (the House of Self-Undoing and Hidden Enemies).  Voltaire also wrote critically of Rousseau at this time.

On 21st June 1767 Rousseau moved to an estate outside Paris, recording feelings of anxiety and paranoia at this time. He married Therese on 30th August 1768.  He completed writing the account of his life Confessions the following year, with an eye to his future reputation.  Although not published until after his death, he read portions in group sittings in Paris.

After an accident in 1776, caught between a carriage and a Great Dane in the street, Rousseau suffered neurological damage and epileptic seizures.  Transits for the accident are stark: Uranus on his natal Mars (accident) and Uranus square his natal Chiron (difficult health challenges).  His natal Mars and Chiron were exactly square, so this was a weak point in his chart for his health and wellbeing in terms of transits.  He occupied time in these later years with the study of botany, refining his writings, and musical composition.  On 1st July 1778 he suffered a fatal stroke.

Influencer

His influence was widespread in his time, and subsequently.  His political ideas inspired the revolutionaries, and his educational ideas resonated with Pestalozzi and Montessori.  He also promoted romanticism, and influenced German writers such as Goethe and Schiller.

Rousseau ever had an inner eye trained on the Inner Child, the province of the sign of Cancer.  The principle of allowing a child’s spirit and talents to flourish is of great importance.  Children above all need to be allowed to be themselves, and express their true nature.

On Pg 29 of Emile, he wrote:

“We were meant to be men, laws and customs thrust us back into infancy. The rich and great, the very kings themselves are but children; they see that we are ready to relieve their misery; this makes them childishly vain, and they are quite proud of the care bestowed on them, a care which they would never get if they were grown men.”

Bibliography:

(1) Ed Patrick Riley – The Cambridge Companion to Rousseau, Cambridge University Press 2001

(2) Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Emile, Published by Pantianos Classics; first published in 1762

(3) Jean-Jacques Rousseau – The Social Contract; first published in 1762

Aspects

There’s a New Moon at 28 degrees Cancer tomorrow, a pure and simple chance to get back to basics with our home, family, roots, locality, emotions and ancestry.  Where it falls in your chart can give you extra clues about placing your intentionality, your hopes and wishes.  (Rousseau would have loved it!).  After two New Moon Eclipses in a row, this one may feel like a bit of a relief, with some sense of normality.

In the late evening, Saturn opposes the Sun, so there may be a touch of sadness, and coming down to earth.  Reality dawns before midnight, so cosset yourself with some Green & Black’s cocoa, and lavender on your pillow, and settle down to some healing sleep.  Programme your dreams to contain information which can help you with any blocks or frustrations going on in your life.

The Sun goes into Leo on Wednesday morning (22nd) and that is another bright new start.  Normally, that would signal the holiday season, both academically and astrologically, but some of the population will be more cautious than usual about venturing forth, even on staycations.  As long as you all make sure to socially distance on beaches, we’ll (the collective) be fine!  Certainly the spirit will be there, if not the geographical relocation for all of us.  I’ve had as an earworm all week, the following song by the Bee Gees:

” Ooh you’re a holiday , ev’ry day , such a holiday
Now it’s my turn to say , and I say you’re a holiday
It’s something I think’s worthwhile…”

…The rest of the lyrics don’t have anything to do with holidays, but it has started to get me in the mood, and getting into holiday mood is a start, even if you don’t know how you will achieve an actual holiday.  Something may follow from the mood itself.  For schoolchildren and homeschoolers, it will be a welcome break from homework.  What do you need a break from in terms of your routine?

In the evening, we have a repeat of an aspect which occurred twice in June, due to Mercury’s retrograde motion: Mercury sextile Uranus.  Well it’s a happy aspect to revisit, being helpful for mental endeavours and technology.  Telepathy, intuition and the power of surprise are also benefits of this aspect.  This aspect can amaze you and help you find that “wow” factor.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – new beginnings; confronting reality
• Wednesday – holiday mood; sparkling communications

 

Ennio Morricone (1928 – 2020)

The melodically-named composer Ennio Morricone died on Monday, at the age of 91.  His work encompassed many different genres, though he is still most widely known for writing the scores of Hollywood Western films.

Birth Chart

We are lucky enough to have a birth time, and Ascendant, and so can more easily put his character into the context of his life pattern.  Morricone had the Sun in Scorpio, a very enduring sign, and his work spanned the whole course of his life: he began composing at the age of six, and was working until the end of his life.  He also had Moon in Scorpio, though he was born a day or so earlier than an actual New Moon (when the Sun and Moon are conjunct).  His Ascendant is in the creative sign of Leo: he certainly was prolific, being credited with over 500 scores.  The only aspect to the Sun in his chart is an exact trine with Pluto (his Sun ruler), so this was a great focus of his creativity, and his work had a depth to it.  The Sun was situated in his 4th House of home and family, which were very important to him.  He always lived in his native Italy, and was not enticed to live in Hollywood, nor did he ever decide to learn English.  His Moon was conjunct Mercury, across the cusp of Libra and Scorpio in 3rd House: this gave him the ability to connect the imagination and the rational brain, and hints at musical rhythm.  He also had Mars in Cancer (rhythm) and his Sun ruler Pluto in Cancer (more rhythm).  Moon sextile exactly Neptune provided great emotional sensitivity, and the position of his Moon conjunct his I.C. meant that musical rhythm was one of the foundations of his life.  Mercury opposite Jupiter gave him a wide-ranging mind, and Mercury’s close sextile to Neptune meant that he was capable of receiving mental inspiration.  Venus conjunct Saturn in Sagittarius in his 5th House showed loyalty in relationship, but also depicts how seriously he took his music and creativity.  Venus in Sagittarius in 5th House trine Midheaven in Aries in 9th House points to an international career in music.  Jupiter trine Neptune indicates a level of religious/spiritual sensibility: politically he identified as a “Christian leftist”.  Jupiter in the 9th House side meant that he had strong foreign connections and interests, balanced out with his Sun in the 4th House attachment to home.  His Jupiter conjunct Chiron indicated a healing quality to his life and work.  There was a great deal of originality on his karmic path, with Uranus sextile his North Node, and this aspect expresses the experimental quality of his work.  Neptune was trine his Midheaven, giving him an association with film music, though with Neptune exactly square the Nodal Axis his nerves may have been frayed at times through excessive sensitivity.

Life and Work

Born in Rome, he studied at the National Academy of Saint Cecilia (the patron saint of musicians).  As a youth he sometimes earned a living playing the trumpet (the instrument his father played) in jazz bands, and wrote music for theatre and radio, but in the 1960s he began writing scores for film (having noted he could do better than what was currently available).

Of this period, he wrote:

“My first films were light comedies or costume movies that required simple musical scores that were easily created, a genre that I never completely abandoned even when I went on to much more important films with major directors”.

Sergio Leone

He first met Sergio Leone at primary school at the age of 8.  As a film director, Sergio Leone collaborated on several film scores with Ennio Morricone, although Ennio had already started writing scores for westerns.  The pivotal year for their collaborative success was 1964, with the film “A Fistful of Dollars”.  Saturn, the planet of reward for hard work, seems to have been influential in his life in that year.  At the time “A Fistful of Dollars” was released, Saturn was trine his natal Mercury in Libra in 3rd House, opposite his natal Neptune in Virgo in 1st House, and square his Nodal Axis.  In the same year, his third child Andrea (who has followed in his footsteps) was born, with Saturn trine Ennio’s Mercury.  The so-called Spaghetti Western genre continued with among others the success of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966).  The composition included some of his experimental innovation, such as the coyote howl.  The iconic actor Clint Eastwood appeared in and gave character to some of these westerns.  As a measure of his success, the score for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly sold over three million copies worldwide and earned him over 200 million dollars.  When in 1968 his original score was certified with a golden record for its sales in the U.S., Saturn was again honouring Ennio, with a transit to his Midheaven.  Saturn, lucky for some!  It was not until 2007, however, that Ennio’s work was honoured in Hollywood.  But in 2016 he won an Oscar for the best original score in “The Hateful Eight” by Quentin Tarantino.

The partnership with Sergio Leone has been considered outstanding in terms of a collaboration between a director and a composer.  The Synastry between the two schoolmates underlines and enhances Ennio’s own natal aspects:

Leone’s Mars sextiles Ennio’s Midheaven: though Ennio was self-motivating, Sergio here urges him in a particular direaction.  Leone’s Jupiter trines Ennio Neptune – they were spiritually in tune (Leone died in 1989).  Leone’s Neptune sextiles Ennio’s Moon – they were spiritually and emotionally in tune, combined imaginations.  Leone’s Neptune was square Ennio’s Nodal Axis, giving them a shared destiny in film.  In addition, Leone’s Pluto was trine Ennio’s Sun, adding intensity to their collaborative output.  The outer planets were to a large extent conjunct, as you would expect to find in schoolmates.

Wide-ranging Music

Writing over several decades, he wrote for a variety of artists: Early on he wrote for Paul Anka, Mireille Matthieu, and Francoise Hardy.  He later wrote for  Demis Roussos, K.D. Lang, Andrea Boccelli, and Sting;  he collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys; and he influenced Dire Straits and Metallica.

He notably collaborated with Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore, including writing the film score for the drama film Cinema Paradiso.  The soprano Katherine Jenkins has just released a recording of the haunting song of the same name, just released, on her new album of the same name (3rd July).

Marriage

Ennio’s marriage and family life was an integral part of who he was as a person.  He married lyricist Maria Travia on 13th Octobeer 1956, and they had three sons and one daughter.  Saturn was even influential on his marriage date, transiting his natal South Node (cementing his destiny).

He said:

“Meeting my wife Maria, and marrying her, are the most romantic moments of my life.  She was a friend of one of my sisters.  We have been married for 60 years.  When I was 40, I told her I would stop composing film music and dedicate my time to what I call my ‘absolute music’.  I said it again at 50, 60, 70 and 80.  Maybe when I get to 90, I will stop.”

Death

The age of ninety-one is a good innings, but Ennio recently suffered a fall, and died as a result of injuries he sustained during the fall.  He died at approximately 5 a.m. in Rome, when   Mars on his Uranus symbolized injuries; Saturn square his Mercury symbolized a fall.

“Everyone has to die.  I’m not particularly scared about it.  What really frightens me is that if I go before my wife, I will leave her alone, and vice versa.  The ideal would be to die together.”

~ Ennio Morricone

He is survived by his wife and children.

Aspects

Chiron has just gone retrograde (ephemerides vary as to the timing), so a healing issue may crop up today; perhaps you have gone as far as you can with a particular line of healing, and may need to revise or go over old ground for a while.  There may be more understanding to be achieved, for instance, about the emotional component of the healing issue.

But today Mercury is Stationary prior to going Direct, which may be a relief for those who have struggled to maintain good communications over the last three weeks.  Such glitches can be smoothed out today or in the next few days to come.  So if you have projects waiting to happen of a literary or technical nature, this may be a green light for you.

Tea-time today brings a sparkling trine between the Sun and Neptune, especially good for receiving creative inspiration (and writing film scores – or writing about them?).  Expand your consciousness, and allow your imagination to embellish your work, or project in hand.

The Sun opposes Jupiter on Tuesday (14th) when the general feeling could be optimistic, humorous and buoyant, but there is a balance to be observed, beyond which you could overreach yourself or overstretch your energy or someone else’s patience (for example, overdoing a joke).  Freedom beckons, but again, know your boundaries.

One of the pitfalls in expressing the exuberance of Sun opposite Jupiter is that slapstick may actually have its consequences, and another aspect occurring the same day may trigger that.  Mars conjoins Chiron, which can trigger physical or emotional wounds, and these may have a past-life pattern (either in this life or a past life).  You may walk away from an encounter feeling relief (Sun opposite Jupiter) or touched (Mars conjunct Chiron), while someone else may be nursing an unseen wound.  So the day’s aspects are a tricky combination, and you may not be able to do anything about how anybody else reacts to an event, but just make sure you are in integrity with yourself.

It’s important to get the energies and balance right on Tuesday, because on Wednesday there is the challenge of Pluto opposing the Sun, which may bring up a lot of emotion and drama for people to balance and process.  It could be a day for sober reflection and unearthing the deep psychological significance behind events.  Being an opposition, there is a requirement again (after Sun opposite Jupiter) to balance two opposing forces, and possibly blend them or transcend the polarity.  A good question to ask on this day is: what needs to be transformed, or transcended?

If you need a Fixed Star boost for the end of the week, our Sun is aligned with the star Procyon on Friday (17th).  It’s the Alpha star in the constellation of Canis Minor.  Traditional interpretations point to short-lived gains (as detailed in “The Fixed Stars” by Bernadette Brady).  Another interpretation is provided in “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld:

“Procyon provides a greater acuity of mental functioning that can enhance concentration.  This may result in an ability to strengthen the physical body.  There is some stimulation of the intuitive understanding of reflex points in the physical body.  Individuals involved in reflexology would do well to utilize the starlight elixir.  Procyon can also enhance the ability to absorb energy directly from plants, the Earth, and the Sun.  In a healing process, the person receiving the healing energy will find the reception of such energy enhanced.”

The week in bullet points:

• Today – healing reflections; communication improvements; sparkling creativity
• Tuesday – enjoy; know where to draw the line; more healing reflections
• Wednesday – balancing the light and darkness
• Friday – mental acuity

 

 

Mars in Aries

Energy Report for the next 6 months – Mars in the Houses

Last Sunday, Mars entered Aries, and is set to stay in his own sign the whole of the rest of this year.  There is a sense that life will be speeding up.  There will be an emphasis on energy and initiative, and you may have already been feeling this influx of energy.

It would be good to pay special attention to the effects of the new position of Mars, in order to better understand the workings of Mars in that House in your chart, as with an unusual 6-month stay there is more opportunity for that awareness.

You will need to know your Ascendant sign to make use of the following information.  If your Ascendant is at the end of a sign, read the next sign.  If your Ascendant is in the middle of a sign, read that sign and the sign after it. Mars will invigorate the affairs of the House in question. If you don’t know (or cannot find out) your Ascendant sign, then be aware of your energies and the energies of those around you during this 6-month period – you could learn a lot!  Those with a cluster of planets in either Leo or Sagittarius may be especially motivated in this 6-month “happening” period.

Your own Mars in your natal chart represents your physical energy (there are other types of energy, represented by other planets) but the transiting Mars, which we are talking of, represents forces that may trigger you from the outside, and make you incident-prone (especially if they transit one of your natal planets during this period).  It is the Universe trying to get you to react, and how you react is in accordance with your own will, habits or line of least resistance, so you need to be aware of your reactions.

Mars in the 1st House, Ascendant in Aries

You will be busy, busy, busy (!), and in the most active sense of the word.  Your adrenals could be on high alert at times, and you may be on overdrive, spinning various plates.  Therefore it is important to key in some regular relaxation time, and some regular spaces in  your diary in order to recoup.  You may have all sorts of ideas for projects over this period, and the dynamism to put them into action.  You’ll feel bolder, if that’s possible for an Aries Ascendant!  Look at safety issues too, as you may be a little clumsy.

­Your Journey: You may start out firing on all cylinders in more than one direction, with a crusading zeal.  Then you may find yourself narrowing your efforts down to one main project.  Aries is a sign renowned for starting things but not finishing, but with a 6-month stretch of Mars in your 1st House, there is the potential to finish a project.

Mars in the 2nd House, Ascendant in Pisces

There will be an emphasis on money matters at this time, inflow and outflow, and you may be tempted to spend, spend, spend.  You might feel you have to keep it moving in some way, whether that is re-arranging it between accounts, working hard to earn it, or giving it away!  You might feel as though money is slipping through your fingers, but on the other hand if you are working on  your abundance issues, you may be able to sense the right and balanced flow for you at this time.  Some may actually feel the energy of money.  If your car is important to you, you may spend more than usual on it, or upgrade your model.

Your Journey: Affirmations like “I always have more money coming in than going out” or “Every penny I spend comes back to me threefold” [from “Creating Money by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer] could be very useful, and enable you to focus on the quality of the outflow and the wisdom of any purchases and their creative investment in your life.

Mars in the 3rd House, Ascendant in Aquarius

You may find yourself prolifically writing and communicating, learning and travelling at this time (government guidelines permitting).  You’ll have a tremendous urge and energy to respond when spoken or written to, and won’t want to leave words unspoken!  You may feel a need to defend the underdog for various causes, such as vulnerable sections of society ignored during lockdown or the rebuilding of society after lockdown.  If you have a major writing project, such as a novel, on the go, you could have the stamina to see it through in this period.  You may need extra mental rest in this period interspersed with the activity.

Your Journey: You may start out working on more than mental project. Then you may find yourself narrowing your efforts down to one main effort in communications.  It may be difficult to contain, control and direct your energies at the beginning, but by the end of the year you may have achieved mastery in this respect.

Mars in the 4th House, Ascendant in Capricorn

Activity will be mainly focussed around the home, family, and locality.  Home repairs, improvements and projects may take up your time and energy more than usual.  You’ll be keen to get things done in this arena, including a lot of decluttering!  There may be an emphasis on mechanical objects, some needing replacement.  If you have issues within the family, you will be more willing to confront them and assert your case, or take the lead.

Your Journey: You may be more than usually irritable or restless at the beginning of this period, but should quickly be able to channel your energies constructively.  By the end of the period your energies should be much more balanced, and you may feel a great sense of achievement regarding home and family matters.

Mars in the 5th House, Ascendant in Sagittarius

This is a good period for building your true self-esteem and exploring your creativity.  Maybe you will have more leisure time than you have been used to in the last year or two, and are experiencing a fertile space where you can do the things you want to do.  Perhaps take up a new hobby (if so, you’ll plunge headlong into this enthusiasm!).  It may be a sport or a physical activity, something that burns the calories, and fires your passion!  If you have children or grandchildren, you may be more engaged in activities with them.

Your Journey: You’ll start out with renewed vigour, and discover the space and enthusiasm for what you really enjoy doing.  The six month period will give you the sustained opportunity to make great inroads into new pathways of interest.

Mars in the 6th House, Ascendant in Scorpio

Mars in your House of Working Conditions and Health could mean a period of great productivity, especially in health and safety areas.  It is a time when you can reorganize your workspace and relationships with working colleagues.  Mars will be stirring things up in these areas, so you may find yourself driving hard bargains at work, and with minor cuts, bruises or inflammations at the same time as you forge ahead with activities of a practical nature to make life more efficient for yourself and others.  Focus on looking after your mind, body and spirit.

Your Journey:  You will probably start out with a long “to do” list, some items of which may be longstanding.  Now is the time to get things going, seize the half-year!   You may come to look upon this period of 6 months as a time of achievement.  Just ease up towards the end, when you may be more than usually “incident-prone”: go in like a lion and go out like a lamb.

Mars in the 7th House, Ascendant in Libra

You will be more than usually assertive in your primary relationships during this period.  The good news is that any conflict will tend to come right at the beginning, when you are re-learning how to use the energy of Mars within your close relationships.  After that, you can become the “Peaceful Warrior” and make sure that your own needs are served, without trampling on others.  You will learn to negotiate (from a place of strength), and your relationships will be more intense and passionate generally.

Your Journey: You may start out this period with some conflict or disagreement, but gradually learn a deeper level of negotiation within your close relationships.  You will be forceful, but increasingly more fair.  You may inspire and motivate others in the process.

Mars in the 8th House, Ascendant in Virgo

This is a time of learning about the energies of the life cycle, and there may arise some poignant awarenesses about life.   Build increasing confidence in how you relate to life, financial arrangements with others, and spiritual links (e.g. with your guides).  One area of caution: Documentation may be important in relation to financial dealings with others or insurance: handle them with care.

Your Journey: Have confidence: you may start out fearful about an aspect of life, but can prove to yourself in this process that you have what it takes!  Going from risk-averse to risk ready!

Mars in the 9th House, Ascendant in Leo

You’ll be raring for a holiday around now, and a break of some sort will do you good, even if you can’t travel abroad in these restricted times.  However, links and communications with abroad may be as vigorous as ever.  Your Higher Mind will be stimulated, and there will be new learnings, though not necessarily through conventional channels.  If you are literary-minded, you may be pursuing publishers!  There is a sense of adventure about this placement.

Your Journey: You could begin this period with enhanced vitality, and a determination to forge your way in determining Truth or a renewal of your enthusiasm for this.  A rush of energy is very welcome, and you may have an upsurge of feeling about a cause or a study.  This period will indeed be a journey for you, whether of mind, geography or both.

Mars in the 10th House, Ascendant in Cancer

The focus of this placement is on your career goals and reputation, and asserting yourself in the world.  You may be pursuing recognition for what you do, and fine-tuning how you put yourself across, and how you define your persona.  You won’t be shy about showing what you can do, and the skills you have been building in your lifetime.  There may be minor skirmishes with authorities, especially if you feel strongly about their handling of issues which affect people.

Your Journey: You may start out in rebellious mode, determined to knock down unnecessary rules and regulations set down by authorities and governments.  If you can establish a sense of co-operation and negotiation, you could be successful in achieving your aims.  Your own will is strong in this, but there is a need to work with the will of others, too.

Mars in the 11th House, Ascendant in Gemini

Your energies in this period will be concentrated in friendships and groups, including large clubs, societies and associations.  So you may be doing more socializing, albeit at a distance.  This will involve a lot of communication, emailing, and social media.  You will be very much in with the in-crowd, if not at the centre of it, and getting a sense of the current zeitgeist.  It will put you in a position of being able to speak for the underdog, and addressing current inequalities.  Your finger’s “on the pulse” so to speak!  Telepathy, groupthink, and group consciousness will feel like real concepts.

Your Journey: You will start out in reforming zeal, determined to put right the wrongs in society.  For this you may need to galvanize others: You will feel like putting extra effort into friendships, and joining or starting a group, or a group within the larger group of which you are a part.  “Come on chaps, sign this petition!” could become your mantra in this period.

Mars in the 12th House, Ascendant in Taurus

Mars travelling through your area of the Unconscious will stir up your dreams and meditations and make you aware of its contents!  Some of this may involve past life awareness of scenarios and relationships relevant to this time in your current life.  Archetypes and Sub-Personalities may emerge: some of these will show where you have self-sabotaged, and others will show your strengths, talents, and abilities you might only have been vaguely aware of.  Hidden problems may come to light, such as hidden enemies, but equally hidden treasure will be enjoyed.

Your Journey:  Travelling through the rich landscape of your own unconscious in this period will uncover little used resources, which will result in a richer and fuller experience when early in the New Year Mars will reach your Ascendant, and reinvigorate your personality and outer life.

Have a good ride!

Aspects

You may have felt the build-up to this morning’s Full Moon and Eclipse in Capricorn, and this may have involved emotional tension or things coming to a head.  This Moon represents the pull between authority and individual needs.  If you feel that part of your frustration is coming from the power wielded by authorities, then this may be your Full Moon issue.  Many people are feeling angry and frustrated by the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, and some have reacted by abandoning all caution – hence the crowds in Soho last night celebrating Super Saturday.  Let’s hope that with a cool head (or a hangover) this morning, the majority of the population get the message that we are all in it together.  Eclipses can be turning points.

The Sun today, which opposes the Moon at the full, is aligned with the Fixed Star Sirius, our brightest visible star.  Traditionally, Sirius is associated with success and great deeds, but it is unusual to be linked with an eclipse. “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld provides an interpretation which is always useful, but especially pertinent to the time of an eclipse:

“The proximity of this star and the brightness of it are both symbolic to tell people that the transformation of the physical body is of great importance at this time.  The physical vehicle is the place to begin is the underlying message, and its brightness is then simply to remind you of this.  On the highest level of such work there is energy for the ability of the person to shift vibration – to change the vibration of the physical body to match better that of the spirit, to be able to change the vibration to higher dimensional levels.” 

Seen as an aspect, the Full Moon is an opposition between the Sun and the Moon.  The main aspect of the week occurs on Wednesday (8th) when Mars squares Mercury.  With Mars currently retrograde, it is an aspect we have seen recently (on May 11th, check your diary).  Mars square Mercury tends to bring minor irritations, minor cuts and bruises, and minor conflicts, so be aware of this when you are trying to achieve a smooth flow to the day – you may need to put in extra effort on health and safety measures (masks, gloves, visors, hand gel and the like) just to make sure all bases are covered.  And though you may feel you want to make progress quickly, slowly is more holy at this time.  Watch your words, too!

It is a sparse week for aspects, so I am including a Fixed Star for the end of the week: Saturday (11th).  At the end of the week, our Sun is aligned with the star Castor, the Alpha star in the constellation of Gemini, the star being the twin of Pollux.  Whereas Pollux represents the right brain, Castor represents the rational, left brain.

Turning to “Starlight Elixirs” again, we find:

“There is a tendency for Castor to influence the logical processes and the various aspects usually associated with the dominant left hemisphere of the brain and the corresponding opposite side of the physical body.  This awareness is one that leads to the enhancement of various biological functions within the brain structure itself. This works first to influence at a cellular or metabolic level the uptake of small amounts of minerals necessary for these processes.  Calcium, magnesium, chromium, and selenium are all essential for such brain function.  Manganese becomes very important at the higher levels of brain function.”

Maybe you have a mentally-focussed project you especially need high functioning for.  Consider whether you have or need any of those minerals (I have some in my bedside drawer!  But I am out of chromium…).  Or maybe it is sufficient to tune into the star Castor and see how well you can connect.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – emotional high tide; turning point; vibrational shift
• Wednesday – brisk, but need for caution
• Saturday – enhance your brain functioning

Coleen Rooney vs Rebekah Vardy

The Battle of the WAGs

Staying with the theme of football, this week, there was an escalation in the dispute between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy on Wednesday, when the latter began a court action suing Coleen for defamation of character.  The two wives of high profile footballers were formerly good friends, until Coleen revealed last October that her investigations showed that Rebekah had leaked stories about her to the press.  Rebekah was pregnant at the time, and went into a deep depression, having her baby in December, resurfacing in February to speak about that.  The matter might have ended there…

Coleen Rooney

Coleen has her Sun in Aries, making her both a warrior and an initiator.  Her Sun trines Saturn, making her capable of controlled action, at the same time as her Aries impulsiveness. She has  her Moon square Venus, suggesting disputes with women, although we do not know how close this square is because we do not have her birth time.  Her Moon (females) also squares Pluto and the Nodal Axis, so there are multiple difficulties with females according to her birth chart.  With Mercury square Uranus, she is also not afraid of controversy.  Though her Venus (the other female planet) is opposite Pluto, it also trines her Mars and Neptune and conjoins her North Node, and this describes her love of fashion.  Her Mars sextiles Pluto and trines her North Node, reinforcing the Warrior Archetype, and giving her a huge powerhouse of energy.  Jupiter trine Pluto gives her a love of power, and Pluto conjunct the South Node points to difficult past lives.

Allegation

In October 2019 Coleen alleged that Rebekah had been using information from her Instagram account to feed stories to a newspaper.  On suspecting that this was happening, she narrowed down an investigation by only feeding false stories to Rebekah Vardy’s account over a period of time.  This proved to her that she had caught the suspect, and she made this public on twitter.  The act earned her the nickname Wagatha Christie.  Rebekah Vardy was horrified, and claimed that someone else must have used or hacked her account.  At the time of the reveal, Coleen’s transits showed: Mars square her natal Mars and ruling planet – Action!  Jupiter square her Mercury – taking a risk; Saturn square her Sun, sadness and depression; and Uranus trine her natal Neptune, in the throes of a complicated matter.

Wayne Rooney

Top scoring footballer Wayne Rooney has Sun in Scorpio and was born in the same year group as Coleen, and they met at school at the age of 12.  They married in 2008 and have four boys. Their synastry shows his Sun opposite her Venus (which Jung showed in his research to be a common aspect between married couples); his Sun is conjunct her South Node (destined for each other); his Venus sextile her Saturn (they have stuck together despite his infidelities). But there are also three good trines involving Neptune and Venus.  Like Coleen, he has Pluto conjunct his South Node.

Rebekah Vardy

With 5 (half) of her 10 planets in Air, Rebekah Vardy can overthink things.  She has the Sun in late Aquarius, and like Coleen it is trine Saturn.  But at the same time her Sun squares Uranus, so normally she is independent and can be rebellious, but also has a controlled streak (the trine to Saturn). Her Mercury squares Jupiter, so that can mean scattered thinking.  But Mercury is also sextile exactly with Uranus (her ruling planet), adding mental ingenuity.   Like Coleen, disputes with women show up in her chart, but for her it is the other female planet Venus, which holds the difficulties, with three squares creating struggle.  Venus is also conjunct the South Node in Capricorn, showing past lives connected with the Arts, and in this lifetime she has earned a living through modelling.  Mars conjunct Saturn gives the capacity for deliberate action, and is situated in Libra, the sign of  close relationships (the marriage with Jamie Vardy being her third marriage).  She may have anger issues, with Mars loosely conjunct Pluto, but these may also stem from a difficult childhood, having been abused by her step-father.  Saturn conjunct Pluto in Libra  may show a latent tendency to depression, together with Saturn and Pluto squaring her Nodal Axis, difficult karma.  Her North Node sextiles Chiron, and maybe when this has all settled down, she may train in the healing arts.

Her transits in October showed: Mars trine her natal Mercury, some confrontation in communication; Chiron sextile her natal Mercury, a conundrum presented to her; Jupiter sextile her natal Mars, high energy; and Chiron trine her natal Uranus, an unexpected twist.  The main difficulty would probably show up if we had her birth time and Ascendant, as a planet on her angles, for instance.

Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy, with Mars in Aries, is a speedy player, and one of the heroes of Leicester City’s 2015 cup win, and he notably stayed with Leicester after their victory.  He has the Sun in Capricorn, and the Moon in Gemini.  He met Rebekah in 2014, and they married in 2016.  Leicester had won the Premier League on 2nd May 2016, and Jamie’s transits at the time were: Saturn trine his North Node, Saturn Return within one degree, and Saturn opposite his Chiron, so a reaching of maturity in many ways for him.  The Synastry for the couple includes his Pluto on her Jupiter, so they have the potential to be a power couple.  After she married Jamie, Rebekah took part in “I’m A Celebrity” and was third to be evicted from the jungle. Mars was trine her natal Sun, sextile her natal Neptune, and conjunct  her natal Pluto (she was putting herself out there…).

Court Case

Following the fall-out in October, Rebekah gave birth to baby Olivia in December, and also went through a difficult period of depression, being hospitalized three times.  She experienced a great deal of trolling on social media, and even death threats.  In February, she gave interviews about how the events had affected her.  At that time, Saturn squared her natal Pluto, a heavy number, Uranus squared her natal Mercury, a great deal of nervous anxiety, and Neptune was sextile her natal Chiron (taking steps towards her own recovery).

The culmination of her ruminations came this week, with the news that she is suing Coleen for defamation of character, with possible legal costs of £500,000 on both sides: veritably Hermes handbags at dawn.  Coleen’s legal team greeted the news with disappointment, stating that the “time and money could be put to better use”.  Coleen has offered to meet Rebekah in person.  The court case would mean that Coleen would be able to present her evidence in Court: she had saved and screenshotted all the original stories.

The Synastry between the two women shows: their Jupiters are exactly trine (they were best friends, and maybe there can be a win-win outcome).  Rebekah’s Saturn is sextile Coleen’s Uranus, which is a tense but strong connection.

Rebekah had originally tweeted: “I liked you a lot Coleen and I’m so upset that you have chosen to do this, especially when I’m heavily pregnant. I’m disgusted that I’m even having to deny this.”

Their transits this week, with Rebekah taking a counter-initiative:  Jupiter is on Rebekah’s Venus, a favourable upturn in her self-esteem (Coleen is overall a more popular figure, and has generally received more support); Uranus is opposite Rebekah Jupiter, taking a risk; Neptune trine Rebekah North Node (she will have consulted her inner guidance), and Pluto on Rebekah Venus exact to the day (24th June), counting on her power, and acting on her pain.  For Coleen: Saturn is square Coleen’s Venus, a disappointment; Saturn square Coleen’s Nodal Axis, a source of karmic sorrow, but also Uranus sextile Coleen’s Jupiter, meaning it could prove advantageous to her.  There is a possibility they may reach an agreement, avoiding the necessity of a messy case.

The principle karma here is between Coleen and Rebekah, but is there any karma between the husbands?  There is a little tension, but they also have their Mercuries exactly sextile (a good working relationship) and Wayne Rooney’s Uranus trines Jamie Vardy’s North Node, which points to some surprise karma between them.

So here is a mystery, and I confess that I do not know where the truth lies, but I do know there are two unhappy women, and wish them both the best in resolving their problem.

Aspects

Mars entered Aries at 1.45 a.m. today in the U.K., and is set to stay in his own sign the whole of the rest of this year.  Note that Jamie Vardy has Mars in Aries, making him a speedy player, so there is a sense that life will be speeding up.  There will be an emphasis on energy and initiative, and possibly an increase on football on our screens!  You may already be feeling this influx of energy.

Together with that ingress today, we have a sextile between Mars and Saturn, which will enable us to channel the energy constructively, and feel our way with the new energy.  If you feel that you have a handle on it, take notes (because at other times during the six-month period, you may be more at sea energetically).  There is a song lyric that comes to mind, having seen an old clip of Moloko performing at Glastonbury yesterday:

“Give up yourself unto the moment
The time is now
Give up yourself unto the moment
Let’s make this moment last”

It may not perfectly fit your experience, but it is very Aries energy.  Mars sextile Saturn is a useful aspect on a practical level, and you may feel you have achieved something by the end of the day.  It helps to stabilize and firm up any plans, foundations or active projects you are currently undertaking.

On Tuesday (30th) we revisit the groundbreaking conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto which we encountered in early April, and it occurs in the same position, 24 degrees Capricorn.  You might want to consult your diary at this point.  I wrote at the time:

“This conjunction would bring out extremes, e.g. of behaviour.  It mainly relates to power, and the expansion of ambitions.”

But I also see it as a symbol of hope. It presented itself to us this year at the beginning of the lockdown, when the coronavirus graph was climbing at an alarming rate.  At this time, we are waiting with bated breath to see if recent casual congregations, especially on beaches, are going to have an effect on the graphs, which had been plateauing.  There are spikes around the country, and the government are considering locking down a district in Leicester.  Jupiter with Pluto constitutes an explosion of energy, enthusiasm and power, which can be used for the good, but needs to be controlled.

The next aspect that day, Sun square Chiron, may throw up a problem, and health issues may be to the fore: look after yourselves that day, for if you don’t look after yourself you can’t look after anyone else!  The problem may literally be how to control the explosion of energy created by Jupiter with Pluto.  What needs healing will be uncovered, and the answer may lie in the problem, or deep in the soul.  Time for self-mastery.

Helpfully, the third aspect of the day, occurring late in the evening, is Mercury sextile Uranus, providing answers on the mental plane.  This encourages us to use all the new technology for our communications, and brings new ideas, heightening intuition and telepathy.  Answers to questions early in the day may suddenly flash into our minds.  There may be spectacular surprises.  With Mercury retrograde, you will still need to go carefully.

The new month, starting Wednesday 1st July, brings a crisp conjunction between the Sun and Mercury (at 9 degrees Cancer), and again mentally you may see things clearly. You can apply your mind according to where the House this conjunction falls in your chart, and if you don’t know which that is, then apply it to home and family affairs, emotions and women.

In order to support this and add a sparkle of ingenuity and inventiveness, Uranus sextiles the Sun also in the morning, so your efforts to get your writing, communication and documentation in order may be assisted with some telepathy and higher consciousness, or liaising with a constructive group.

Then there is another possible glitch during the day, with Mercury squaring Chiron, similar to the Sun square Chiron of the previous day, but more exacting mentally in terms of the need for problem-solving or attentiveness to health.  The answer lies in the question, therein lies a clue.

Just before midnight, Saturn re-enters Capricorn, retrograding from Aquarius.  This will set a more cautious tone, e.g. we may hear of further spikes, both geographically in connection with the virus, and in the daily graphs (which seem to have disappeared from our screens since the daily briefings stopped).  There is something in our own lives which we may have left undone, or need to do more properly, some loose ends to tie and firm up.  Saturn will go back to Aquarius in December, when we experience an exciting fresh start when it conjoins Jupiter at 0 degrees of that sign.  Something to look forward to…

But in the meantime, it may be back to the grindstone, and back to reality.  With such places as restaurants due to re-open on Saturday 4th, make that revived business work, it will be hard work, but it is doable.  Hopefully it is part of the plan for humanity, and part of your own individual karmic mission.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – new energy and constructiveness
• Tuesday – groundbreaking; problems; solutions
• Wednesday – crystal clear thought; originality and inventiveness; glitches; getting back to important issues which remain

Marcus Rashford

“This is not about politics; this is about humanity”

~ Marcus Rashford

Young footballer Marcus Rashford, aged only 22, procured a stunning U-turn from the government this week, on behalf of children living on the breadline.  The government had refused to extend lunch vouchers through the summer holiday for schoolchildren who needed them.  Marcus wrote an open letter to Parliament, and also opened up in an interview about his own dependence on lunch vouchers growing up, and how his mother struggled to make ends meet, bringing up several children.

His letter:

“On a week that would have opened Uefa Euro 2020, I wanted to reflect back to May 27th, 2016, when I stood in the middle of the Stadium of Light in Sunderland having just broken the record for the youngest player to score in his first Senior International match. I watched the crowds waving their flags and fist-pumping the three lions on their shirts and I was overwhelmed with pride not only for myself, but for all of those who had helped me reach this moment and achieve my dream of playing for the England national team.

Understand: without the kindness and generosity of the community I had around me, there wouldn’t be the Marcus Rashford you see today: a 22-year old Black man lucky enough to make a career playing a game I love.”

That date was an important milestone in his life, and that shows in his transits of the time: Saturn sextile his natal Jupiter – a formative moment in his life; Uranus trine his natal Mars – a life-changing moment in relation to his football career; Pluto trine his natal North Node in Virgo – A profound moment in his destiny.

Before this plea to Parliament, Rashford had been instrumental in raising £20 m for FareShare, a food distribution charity for the vulnerable.  He also recently received an award of special recognition in Greater Manchester for his work in the community.

The government had been sticking to its normal annual policy of withdrawing lunch vouchers in the school summer holidays, with a government minister in the daily briefing reiterating the policy, but such was Marcus’ standing and articulacy, that Boris Johnson had a change of heart, claiming he had “only just heard” about Marcus’s plea.  It was a feelgood moment in the country, in a time of frustration with our policymakers.

Birth Chart

Marcus has 5 out of his 10 planets in Fixed signs, so he does have stickability, both on and off the field.  The Sun in Scorpio is associated with integrity, and also describes his playing style (quick and intense).  He was born on a New Moon in Scorpio, with the Part of Fortune on his Ascendant: this means that he is able to start afresh regularly, and inject new energy into projects.

Like Vera Lynn (see mini-blog, below) he has the Sun conjunct Chiron and is a healer of sorts; in his chart this conjunction is exact.  His Moon too is conjunct Chiron, symbolic of his mother’s struggle in his early life; he feels that wound deeply on her behalf. With Mercury sextile the North Node he also has the Teacher Archetype, and you can see that coming through in the future in his aspiration to do more on behalf of the struggling masses.  Like Vera Lynn too, he has Venus closely conjunct Mars, but in the sign of Sagittarius (passion on the football field for the beautiful game!).  Plus a largesse of heart.

Astrology of the U-turn

We were informed of the U-turn by the government at 1.04 pm on 16/6/20.  The transits for Marcus were:  Mars exactly square his Mars, he was fighting the good fight!  And Uranus was exactly opposite his natal Chiron: his Inner Rebel (he has Sun square Uranus natally) was kickstarting his Inner Healer (Chiron), triggered by injustice.

The transits for the U.K. chart at the time were: Mars trine its Moon, power to the people! Jupiter sextile its Venus – a triumph. Uranus was opposite its Jupiter, and sextile its natal Uranus – a forced U-turn for its government.  Chiron was sextile its Ascendant, bringing about a healing.

Marcus’s synastry with Boris generally gives Marcus the upper hand: Boris’s Saturn is squared by Marcus Pluto, where Pluto trumps Saturn, and Pluto is Marcus’ ruling planet.  The transits for Boris on the U-turn (I think I need a separate file or blog now for Boris’s U-turns) were Saturn square his Moon (reluctance) and Saturn trine his Mars (being forced to act).

“I don’t even know what to say.  Just look at what we can do when we come together.  THIS is England in 2020”

~ Marcus Rashford

Aspects

Coming hard on the heels of last night’s Summer Solstice, we have a New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 0 degrees Cancer early this morning.  This is a conjunction of the Sun and Moon, and so qualifies as the only actual aspect of the week; the other astrological features are not actually aspects.  It is the second in a series of three eclipses, and its appearance at 0 degrees of a sign makes it extra impactful in terms of change and new beginnings.  Give it all the intention you’ve got!  If you know where it falls in  your chart, you can fine-tune your wishes, but otherwise the areas associated with Cancer are the human emotions, family, the home and security, women and mothers, plus roots and ancestry.  On a global scale, nationalism and patriotism (contain the coronavirus within all borders!), and working within the local community, sourcing your food within your country or locality, charity begins at home, etc.

On Tuesday (23rd) again early in the morning, Neptune will be stationary prior to turning Retrograde (joining Mercury Venus Jupiter Saturn and Pluto in a super-retrograde line-up).  What stone might you have not left unturned before one of these planets breaks up this nostalgic party later this week?  What have you left undone, what loopholes are you looking to fix?  What memories have you not yet worked through?  Now is the time to address those.  As far as Neptune itself is concerned,  where are you on your spiritual path? And are you ready to have a period of revision?  What spiritual insights have you gained during lockdown, which you can bank for the future?  Consolidate on what you have learned, put it into practice, and walk your talk.

I am inserting a Fixed Star into the paucity of aspect for this week.  On Wednesday (24th) our Sun is aligned with Tejat (Mu Geminorum), which in the heavens is the toe or front of the foot of the star Castor in Gemini (one of the heavenly twins).  It states in “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld”:

“This star can gently and easily increase the ability to bring spiritual ideas into clear and expressible form as mental concepts and direct ideas, to be shared with others.  There will also be a stimulation of the seventh and eighth chakras, so these ideas may come when least expected.  There may be greater patience with abilities that do not seem to form patterns in the usual sense.  Various cycles such as biorhythms and astrological rhythms will be easier for people.  They will be more patient with themselves having utilized this star or its elixir.  Individuals may also find that it is much easier to express what they have learned without judgement.  They can simply allow the ideas and what they symbolize to fall where they may so that others might absorb them and work with them.”

Last up, this week, is another change of planetary direction.  This time it is Venus which, again early in the morning, goes Direct on Thursday (25th).  Notice your energy first thing on waking this week, it may more than usually indicate how your day will flow.  You may have noticed the relationship testing taking place in her retrograde period since 13th May.  With lockdown especially, we have been confronted with the real nature of our nearest and dearest, and ourselves.  Some relationships have strengthened under this pressure, and some have been put under unbearable strain.  You may now find an easing of pressure, especially now that lockdown measures are easing.  You will be more able to stand back (2 metres, please) and assess the other coolly, and assess your part in the exchange.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – new beginnings and a turning point
• Tuesday – retracing of your spiritual path
• Wednesday – higher quality of thought
• Thursday – less pressure on relationships

 

Vera Lynn (1917 – 2020)

Dame Vera Lynn, a mainstay of the second world war died this week aged 103.  What a unique role she played, sustaining people through her voice!

Birth Chart

With 6 of her 10 planets of water, and Sun in Pisces, she conveyed emotion in her voice, an important resource for the nation in that time.  The Sun was conjunct Mars in her natal chart, reminding us of her connection with the Forces, and that in her own way she was a warrior, helping to sustain the morale of the nation.  Sun trine Saturn gave her a sense of duty and rightness, by all accounts a personality trait she possessed all her life.  But her Sun was also trine Neptune, providing her with great sensitivity at the same time.  With Sun square Pluto, she came to the fore in a time of crisis for the nation and the world.  She was a healer, too, with the Sun conjunct Chiron.  She had the Moon in Aquarius conjunct Uranus, describing a great humanitarian (among other things, she founded a charity “The Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy”).  She had Mercury conjunct exactly Venus, two planets associated with the voice, in Pisces, the sign of perfection, the perfect voice for the time.  But that conjunction also showed that she was a songwriter, too.  Venus was also conjunct Mars in her chart in Pisces, portraying the Archetype of the “Forces Sweetheart” in Pisces. Venus was trine Saturn, the strength of the message “We’ll Meet Again” and enduring love.  Venus sextile the North Node meant that it was part of her karmic mission, to be a pin up for the masses.  And last but not least:  Mars conjunct exactly Chiron – a healer for those on the battlefields.

“She was not a glamorous sex-bomb pandering to the lonesome soldiers’ lower instincts.  Instead she aroused a wistful yearning for the idealized fiancee.”

~ Dave Laing quoting Paul Du Noyer, in the Guardian Obituary

J.K. Rowling

A week ago, J.K. Rowling became embroiled in a controversy with the transgender community over remarks she had made.  A few days later, she defended her own comments with the revelation that she had experienced domestic violence in her first marriage, and also sexual abuse in her life.

Birth Chart

The Sun in Leo in 10th House at the top of her chart seems a key placement.  I would call this the “Film Director Archetype” as it involves overseeing large scale creative endeavours.  She is of course known for the vast book and film franchise of the world of Harry Potter, and has amassed great wealth in the process.  The Sun sextile North Node in Gemini marks her out as a lead writer.  She also has the Writer Archetype of Mercury conjunct Venus (in Virgo).  She has great emotional sensitivity with Moon sextile Neptune, complicated by Moon opposite Saturn (she experienced depression in the past), Moon conjunct Pluto (heavy emotionality) and Moon exactly opposite Chiron (emotional wounds).  Venus representing her relationships and ruling her 7th House of marriage is conjunct Uranus in her chart (disrupted relationships) and loosely conjunct Pluto (some volcanic relationships) as well as square to the Nodal Axis (an appreciation of the role of karma in relationships).  She has four squares to her Nodal Axis altogether.  Her prolific output may owe something to her Mars trine Jupiter (great energy allied with enthusiasm) and the drive to succeed (Mars sextile the Midheaven in Creative Leo).  Jupiter is in a helpful sextile to the Midheaven (success in career and publishing).  Saturn trines Neptune, showing an understanding of how the material balances with the spiritual; Neptune squares closely her natal Midheaven, representing an association with sorcery (through the subject matter of her books); Neptune trine Chiron gives her a talent for spiritual healing; Pluto opposite Chiron gives her a grasp of the “dark arts”; and last but not least the Part of Fortune in Sagittarius in 2nd House hints at her vast wealth and philanthropy.

Life and Career

Interestingly, in regard to the role of the Hogwart’s Express in the Harry Potter’s books, and the famous platform which is still a tourist attraction at King’s Cross, apparently her parents met on a train between King’s Cross and Arbroath.  Joanne was born in Gloucestershire, and her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis, and she is estranged from her father – note the difficult aspects to her Moon (mother) and lack of aspects to her Sun (father).  She took languages at A-Level and then at Exeter University.

She was on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990 when the plot for the 7-volume series of books came into her mind as a whole. She began to write immediately.  Shortly afterwards she moved to Portugal to teach English as a foreign language, and met Jorge Arantes, her first husband.  Her daughter Jessica was born in 1993, and she split up from her husband, moving to Edinburgh to be near her sister.  By then she had written 3 chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.  Her transits at that time were supportive: Jupiter sextile her natal Venus (more congenial),  Jupiter on her natal Ascendant (new horizons), and Uranus trine her natal Moon (beneficial home changes).  However, she was on benefits and on the breadline, famously writing her novel in cafes.  Meanwhile, she obtained an Order of Restraint against her husband and file for divorce.

After being rejected by 12 publishers, her typewritten manuscript was finally accepted by Bloomsbury.  “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was published on 26th June 1997, with suitable transit to Joanne’s chart:

Jupiter was exactly trine her natal Jupiter in Gemini in 8th House, indicating a huge success.

Saturn was trine exactly her natal Midheaven in Leo in 10th House, establishing her career.

Uranus was opposite exactly her natal Sun in Leo in 10th House, a life-changing moment.

Over the next ten years she continued to write, and finally finished the seventh book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” on 11th January 2007, with Jupiter on her South Node in Sagittarius in 2nd House, and Neptune on her I.C. in Aquarius in 4th House.  The books were responsible for a resurgence of reading among the young.  My young niece at the time read them 12 times!

Then came the films…  The first film of the first book was released on 16th November 2001, with Jupiter sextile Joanne’s natal Pluto in Virgo in 11th House, an expansion of her power.  There were other more challenging transits to her chart: Neptune square her Ascendant on the cusp of the 4th House (emphasizing the advent of film into her life) and Pluto square her natal Pluto (possible power struggles).  Rowling insisted on an all-British cast for her films, and that was a boost to the British film industry for the next ten years.  The final book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was filmed in two parts, the last one being released on 15th July 2011.  Rowling played a part in producing of the last two films.  At this milestone, Jupiter was trine her natal Venus and the South Node was on her natal Jupiter (a successful culmination).

She remarried on 26th December 2001, her new husband being Neil Murray, a doctor, and went on to have two more children.

Controversy

The tweet which got her into hot water was sent on 6th June.  She was questioning an article which referred to women as “people who menstruate”. The tweets were labelled “anti-trans”, and the young actors who played the lead roles in her films allied themselves with the objections.

Mars was on her natal Saturn and trine her natal Neptune, with Uranus square exactly her natal Sun in Leo in the 10th House of Reputation.  That was one depiction of the controversy in her transits, another was Neptune opposite exactly her Moon (confusion in relation to women).  In addition, Neptune on her Chiron showed the complexity of the issue raised.

In response, a few days later, Rowling published an article explaining her views in terms of the fact that she was a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault.  Her main worry about the transgender access to single sex spaces was the vulnerability of women.  The dispute is set to run further, but at this time Mars is inflaming her Moon, Jupiter and Chiron.  However, she is a warrior, and time may serve to clarify the issues, restore her reputation, and bring more clarity for the transgender community too.

The Observer has commented this morning: “Although the battle lines do appear largely age-related, those under Rowling’s banner are characterized by some as older and slow to recognise altered priorities”.

Please note I have used a birth time of 14.00 Hrs; however, there is an alternative birth time of 21.10 Hrs.  This may be the subject of a future study or comparison.

Aspects

The aspects are all piled up at the end of the week, so again you are aspect-free until Thursday.  If you found yesterday a little clumsy, then you can try to straighten out energies and circumstances in the meantime.

Thursday’s (18th) first astrological feature is not actually an aspect, it is that well-known phenomenon of Mercury Retrograde.  This of course, may herald difficulties in communication.  We may need to upgrade our technology during the next three weeks, and we will need to practice mindfulness and stay alert for misunderstandings.  Check, and re-check, the small print.  You know the drill.

Mercury goes stationary prior to turning retrograde very early on Thursday morning.  At the other end of the day, in the last hour of Thursday, Mars will be sextile Pluto.  This will give you extra physical and emotional energy, so you may find yourself spontaneously clearing clutter just before bedtime.  It may also take a while to settle to sleep, so some people might want to do some extra exercise before retiring.  It could be very constructive too, with vigorous discussion and perhaps some decisiveness.

The Sun conjoins with the North Node on Friday (19th).  This can bring power play, and creativity, with a karmic flavour. Listen to the subtle instructions of the Universe…

A jolly vibe awaits us on Saturday (20th), with a sextile between Mars and Jupiter in the morning.  This brings expansive activities, such as socially distancing with loved ones in bubbles in parks, or strenuous gardening, or the pursuit of any sport or leisure activity with gusto.  You’ll be able to find that extra drive, for what you are wanting to achieve, assisted by the lingering effect of Mars sextile Pluto from earlier in the week.

In the evening, the Sun enters Cancer, the Summer Solstice, traditionally a time for hanging out with the fairies in the garden.  Smell the roses, and celebrate the moment of maximum light.  Many people are enjoying the benefits of nature during this period of semi-lockdown, when pubs and bars are still closed.  That awareness will be super-sensory this year.

The week in bullet-points:

• Thursday – communication glitches; energetic movement
• Friday – karmic power play and creativity
• Saturday – make hay

George Floyd  (1973 – 2020)

Black Lives Matter

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

~ Langston Hughes (1902 – 1967)

On 25th May an African-American man named George Floyd was knelt on and his neck pinned down by a white policeman in Minneapolis.  The world watched him die.  There have been protests ever since, not just in America, but round the world.  [President Trump’s behaviour and sayings became even more outrageous in the wake of the event, if that were possible.]  This may be a seminal moment in the history of the oppression of black lives.

George Floyd’s birth chart

What do we know of George Floyd?  We know that he had five children, and was a caring provider for them, and lost his job due to the coronavirus crisis.  We know that he has lobbied for a change in the gun laws.  We know that at the time he was being apprehended, his crime was attempting to pass off a fake banknote.  We know he was not a violent or dangerous criminal, therefore not remotely deserving to lose his life.  The actions of the policemen were extremely disproportionate to the crime.  He tested positive for the virus, but had been recovering.

The first thing which leaps out to me in his natal chart is an exact Venus-Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius, conjuring up a phrase often used about him, that he was a “gentle giant” (at 6 foot 4 inches).  Another nuance of this conjunction is that of “global martyrdom”, where Sagittarius = global and Venus exactly conjunct Neptune = martyrdom.  Another aspect in his chart which is definitely problematic is Saturn exactly square Pluto.  Mars square Jupiter gave exuberance and Jupiter trine Pluto a more powerful side (playing basketball in his youth).  Saturn on his South Node in Cancer may have caused him to bring through some difficult past life karma, and Pluto square his Nodal Axis may show that his death has been used karmically to show humanity a profound lesson.

The Murder

In a visual epitome of man’s inhumanity to man, so graphically documented was his death that we know he was pinned down between 8.19 p.m. and 8.27 p.m.  Three other policemen watched without intervening as George Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.  They were long minutes, which were honoured at his memorial this week by a silence of equal length (8 minutes 45 seconds).  In his transits, Saturn was exactly on his Jupiter, unequivocally symbolic of being pinned down, the freedom of his life squashed from him.

Protests

Subsequent to the event, the policeman in charge has been charged with second-degree  murder, and the others who stood by and did nothing have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.  There have been constant protests since the event, starting with major cities in the U.S., then spreading around the world.  The aim has been to keep the protests peaceful, in the spirit of Martin Luther King, but on Friday a 75-year old white man in Buffalo was knocked unconscious by police and sustained injuries, when policemen were marching by, resulting in the suspension of two police officers.  There has been debate surrounding the validity of protest (what other weapon is there if only peaceful protest?), and outrage that current protests in the U.K. may lead to further spikes in the spread of coronavirus.

In Our Back Yard

“Peaceful protest alone has never brought progress, fairness or justice to black people in the United States. Some would even say that white American capitalist power prefers peaceful protest, since militant protest asks for more than what power is willing to offer at a negotiating table.”

~ black American poet, Jericho Brown, writing in the Guardian on Saturday

It is probably fair to say that there is only a fine line between the “white supremacy” attributed to American society, and the acknowledged “white privilege” in the U.K.  The former term is slightly stronger, and the consequences of the Republican upholding of the gun laws leads to a more violent society, but here in the U.K. we learned from the killing of Stephen Lawrence that our police system was institutionally racist.  (How can we forget the dignity of his parents?)  In more recent years, we have had the summary killing of Mark Duggan sparking the Tottenham riots, and we have had the lamentable Windrush scandal, dishonouring immigrants, compounded by Theresa May in her time at the Home Office.  Meanwhile, our BAME community have been double hit, with their casualties disproportionally hit by the level of fatalities from coronavirus.  The government has acknowledged that fact, but not yet ascertained the cause.

Conclusions

Searching myself, I know that I always cared: when I arrived at University in the Autumn of 1968, after the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King, and three years after the assassination of Malcolm X, one of the first things I did was enrol in a course on the history of black Americans.   I remember the feeling of rage of writers, such as the poet Langston Hughes.

At the time, I assumed things would get better.  I also know that in my life I have done nothing helpful to the cause.  We are being counselled that we now need to be not just non-racist, but actively anti-racist, for this long standing struggle and injustice to come to an end.

A start might be a donation to charities such as Black Lives Matter U.K.:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund

It seems to me that no less than the integrity of the human race is at stake.

Aspects

After the intensity of the aspects at the end of last week, we have a hiatus until Thursday, so you can either assimilate the impact of those aspects, prepare for Thursday’s aspect, or a bit of both (with a fourth option of ignoring the aspects altogether).

Thursday 11th brings us the challenge of a square between the Sun and Neptune.  So this week’s meditational practice could centre around the subject of Illusion.  A good friend introduced me to a poem on the subject last summer:

In Broken Images

He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I am slow, thinking in broken images.

He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images,

Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;
Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.

Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact,
Questioning their relevance, I question the fact.

When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;
When the fact fails me, I approve my senses.

He continues quick and dull in his clear images;
I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.

He in a new confusion of his understanding;
I in a new understanding of my confusion.

~ Robert Graves

So by Thursday morning you may be feeling a little confused, lost, or even  dizzy.  That is not difficult, given that our routines are being disrupted by the coronavirus, and our future seems uncertain.  If you have been preparing, by pondering the nature of illusion, and seeking clarity, you may fare better.  We have, of course, different levels of illusion: there is the worry that the government may be trying to pull the wool over our eyes, there is the insecurity of paranoia, and there is the existential long-standing task of seeing and experiencing ourselves for who we really are.  So, plenty to work on.

Fortunately, the same day, we have Venus sextile Chiron, so some help from loved ones acting as mirrors, and some healing in relationships going on.  So the day may end better than it started, if you can utilize the benefits of Venus sextile Chiron.  It is a good day to combine the Arts with Healing, such as creativity which involves and brings about healing.

There is more illusion on Saturday (13th), but with Mars conjunct Neptune at 20 degrees Pisces, there is a different emphasis.  Mars conjunct Neptune may empower the spirit, but for some it may serve to confuse further (especially if you were not able to fully resolve the issues around illusion from Thursday).  Meditational movement which is combined with spirituality is ideal under this conjunction, such as Tai Chi, Yoga and Qijong.  Some people may be subtly incident-prone under this conjunction, with the feet being particularly vulnerable.  So I would say that mindfulness covers it for Saturday: with mindfulness you can achieve inspired action, and keep yourself safe.

The week in bullet points:

• Thursday – sorting through illusion; healing with love
• Saturday – meditation and movement

Jacinda Ardern revisited

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, kept her cool this week when an earthquake struck.  She has also been praised recently for her exemplary handling of the pandemic in her country.  I last wrote about her in March of last year after the massacre in Christchurch, so it may be time to revisit the astrology around this amazing woman.

It has also been pointed out that female leaders (e.g. Angela Merkel) are prominent among the nations which have produced low casualties in the epidemic.  In India, K.K. Shailaja a female health minister and former teacher produced a remarkably proactive regime in her state of Kerala. Could this be a sign of things to come, the rise of the wisdom of the divine feminine, replacing the age old patriarchy?

Birth Chart

I wrote, last March: “Jacinda has an unaspected Sun in Leo, indicating a very  individualistic leader.  Her North Node in Leo also indicates leadership as a karmic path.  I pointed out last week that she has Neptune trine her North Node, like Greta Thunberg the subject of last week’s blog, showing spiritual leadership.  With Mercury trine Uranus she is also a very independent thinker.  Venus is closely sextile with the North Node in Leo, depicting her warmth.  Jupiter trine Chiron describes her positivity, the ability to see solutions.”

The Last Year

On March 15th 2019 a white supremacist opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Jacinda Ardern really showed the world what she was made of.  I wrote: ” Not only did she demonstrate empathy and compassion, but she exemplified what we all need at the head of our nations, that spiritual leadership and integrity so often lacking.”

She took active steps on gun law, and initiated reforms around social media excesses and problems.  She has also taken a lead on worldwide climate change:

“We’re small, and our contribution to the global emissions profile is even smaller, but we are surrounded by island nations who will feel the brunt of climate change acutely. I see ourselves as having a responsibility to demonstrate that we can and we will lead the charge.”

She stands firm on her nation’s nuclear free policy.

In September 2019 she was included as an inspirational woman in the issue of Vogue magazine which was guest edited by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

In December 2019 she had to deal with a volcanic eruption on White Island.  Saturn at the time was squaring her natal Pluto, an extremely heavy transit, which would have weighed on her mind considerably.  Uranus (the unexpected) was square her Sun, events out of her control.  Neptune was trine her natal Mercury, so she was able to show compassion through her communications at the time.  She was praised around the world for her response to this crisis.  Pluto was sextile her natal Uranus, so dealing with more change, and more growth and transformation required within herself.

Pandemic Response

On 14 March 2020, Jacinda acted promptly on the threat of the Pandemic, announcing the “widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world”.  Mars was square to her natal Pluto in Libra, indicating bold and courageous action. Transiting Jupiter was also sextile her natal Uranus in Scorpio, showing enterprise.  Uranus was squaring her natal Sun, meaning that she was taking the initiative on the element of the unexpected (which she was more able to do than during the volcanic eruption).  Her actions proved inspired, as the subsequent health records for New Zealand testify.  She closed all borders to all non-citizens and non-permanent residents at 11.59 p.m. on 20th March.  Her resolve at that time showed in a transit of Mars/Jupiter trine her natal Saturn in Virgo at that time.  The Washington Post has praised her use of social media and high level communication throughout the crisis.  By 11.59 p.m. on 25 March she had put the nation on full lockdown, which was at a similar time to lockdown in the U.K. (but with very different results).  Jupiter at that time was still trine her natal Saturn, and steady progress was being made. On the financial front, she took a 20% pay cut in solidarity with those suffering as a result of the economic results of the pandemic. Her practical response to this crisis has been hailed as a model.

Earthquake

On Monday (25th May) Jacinda was giving an interview for breakfast TV from the parliament building in Wellington.  As an earthquake struck, she calmly stated “We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here”.  I could be reading too much into it here, but perhaps this was a symbol from Gaia of how tuned in Jacinda has been, designed to show how strong she is.  At the time, Chiron was opposing her natal Mars.  That is a transit which can rock your world, Chiron representing crisis and Mars representing the response of her energies.  She was unshakeable, and cool, in the best manner of her Mars in equable Libra.  That is the Mars in Libra which tried to bring peace to communities in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.  She had been asked by Donald Trump how he could help, and she replied “Sympathy and love for all Muslim communities.”  That seems very poignant now, considering race relations have erupted in the United States this week over the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In other transits: Neptune is trine her natal Uranus, her open sensitivity combines with her intuition, and Neptune squares her natal Neptune, a transit which would find many feeling at sea in her situation.  It is a measure of her strength and evolvement that she is able to stand firm in these times.  Her current popularity rating would be the envy of any politician: she is riding high in her approval rating at 65% of the voting public.

Aspects

You have respite until Wednesday, so you can take the next few days off, or keep working on last Thursday’s ingress of Mercury into Cancer which integrates emotional understanding with mental processes.

On Wednesday (June 3rd) retrograde Venus squares Mars.  To recap, Venus is taking a rare retrospective and re-examining relationships and finance.  The square from Mars may trigger new challenges in this respect, and may bring inappropriate behaviour or misunderstandings in relationships.  This square can also re-ignite a battle of the sexes (e.g. do women make better Prime Ministers than men?).  The aspect occurs in the very early hours of the morning, so watch for its effects building the previous evening.

In the late afternoon of Wednesday, the Sun conjoins with Venus at 13 degrees Gemini, which brings more harmony to proceedings.  If you are an artist or a musician, it is a day when you may be able to produce your best creative output or performance.  If there was some awkwardness earlier in the day, Venus may be able to paper over the cracks seamlessly.

On Thursday (4th) the Mean North Node enters Gemini, which is a nuanced version of the True North Node’s entry to the same point on 5th May.  It is a different calculation of the same event, so the transition in a way has been happening throughout May.  You may notice slightly different spiritual or practical effects.  Have a look back at your diary for 5th May: I found that I completed Chapter 5 of my book “The Quiet Office”, on that day.  What you find in your diary may help you to make sense of the work to come for you under North Node in Gemini.

I wrote at the time of the True Nodal shift:

“The transiting North Node and Nodal Axis represents the collective karma, just as the North Node and Nodal Axis in our birth charts represents our personal karma.  Our North Node represents our karmic mission, and the transiting North Node represents our collective karmic mission, in the evolution of humanity.

The North Node will be leaving Cancer, where the last eighteen months have seen the rise in populism, Nationalism, Tribalism and Patriotism, as I mentioned when it was entering that sign…  But we are due for a change, not least because the world is now required to pull together, due to the coronavirus.  The South Node (part of the Nodal Axis, which is opposite the North Node) will be in Sagittarius, which represents a global outlook, and the North Node in Gemini represents friendlier relations with neighbours (whether on a national scale, or over the garden fence).  Gemini and Sagittarius also represent travel (short term and long distance respectively), something which is being affected (to a great extent karmically) at this time.  …Education is another area of Geminian interest, and our schoolchildren at present are learning new ways of being schooled, mainly at home and online….  As a mindset, the change of North Node in Cancer to North Node in Gemini may bring about a more communicative relating (out of necessity, karma) as distinct from a more emotional and subjective mindset (North Node in Cancer).”

It will be interesting to see how this plays out this week in the government’s new “back to school” initiative.  Remember, there is a karmic flavour to this placement; in other words every action has consequence.

Friday (5th) is the most important day of the week, astrologically.  First we have a sextile between Mercury and Uranus.  This encourages us to use all the new technology for our communications, and brings new ideas, heightening intuition and telepathy.

Then we encounter Mercury square Chiron, which may highlight teething troubles around new technology.  Although the general trend is onwards and upwards, with every new technical programme or gadget, there are new problems to be overcome and learnings to be absorbed.  Try to take them in your strides, technophobes (I am talking to myself, here) and trust that the answers will become available (even if you have to wait for hours on a helpline – sorry, that’s my inner technophobe intervening).  But it is also an aspect which encourages us to look after our health, and find alternative solutions if possible.  We are finding at this time where people would have turned to hospitals and GPs they are seeking health solutions closer to home, although of course no severe symptoms should go unheeded, and the health professionals are encouraging us to approach hospitals again.

Towards the evening, caution is again advised, as the Eclipsed Full Moon at 15 degrees Sagittarius brings an emotional high tide, and possible turning point.  Be clear in your direction of travel, both physically and metaphorically.  If you have natal planets at that degree, you may be more affected than most.  There is a global flavour to this Full Moon, and strong statements may be made for example by the World Health Organization regarding the progress of the response to the pandemic.

Part of the tension on Friday will be due to the approach of Mars to square the Sun, which takes place the following evening, Saturday (6th).  This introduces an element of conflict or aggression, which may not be helpful personally, and may inflame things internationally, e.g. in the ongoing conflict between Donald Trump and the World Health Organization.  So this square from Mars will have also exacerbated the effects of the Full Moon, and made it more difficult than usual for people to simmer down after it.  The energy, fire and enthusiasm which the Sun with Mars generates can be positively harnessed if you are especially mindful.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – social awkwardness then smoothing over
• Thursday – karmic communication
• Friday – a day of import; technology prominent; problem-solving needed; emotional tension heightened; turning point
• Saturday – hot-headedness

 

Dominic Cummings

“But then he had just appointed as a special adviser Dominic Cummings, the former Vote Leave campaign director, a man so toxically divisive he couldn’t even unite himself”

~ John Crace, July 2019

Dominic Cummings has been in the news this weekend because on Friday night it was revealed that he broke his own lockdown rules when he contracted coronavirus in approximately late March, by driving 260 miles to Durham to take his child to his parents.  It is rumoured that he makes the rules for Boris Johnson, who makes up the rules for the cabinet and the whole country.  Calls for his resignation inevitably abound, but at the moment it does not seem likely that he will relinquish his power willingly.

Birth Chart

I wrote a short sketch of his birth chart last July when he took up the post of Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister:

“Dominic Cummings was the chief architect of Vote Leave, and also assisted Boris’ recent campaign to be Prime Minister.  He is known as a slippery character, and remarkably 8 (out of 10) Mutable planets, and no Fixed planets, so slippery by astrological nature.  He has the Sun exactly opposite Saturn, so can be very strict in what he believes in.  His Sun is exactly conjunct Neptune, so he is very Piscean too.  His Sun sextile exactly Pluto makes him a very powerful character.  Jupiter sextile his Uranus makes him an Entrepreneur.  North Node sextile Chiron makes him a ‘Fixer’.”

I can expand on that a little now.  We Sun in Sagittarians have sometimes been accused of lawlessness, and with his ruling planet Jupiter sextile Uranus, he is someone who can be prone to take a chance (and is often lucky in the outcome).  His Mercury is in Sagittarius, and at University he was described as “fizzing with ideas”.  Mercury conjunct closely with Venus gives him a way with words (he invented the slogan “Take Back Control” for the Brexit campaign).  Mercury loosely square Pluto may produce a ruthless mentality (I could not possibly say).  The same professor at university is reported as saying he was “something like a Robespierre – someone determined to bring down things that don’t work.” He has great strength and is a good strategist, with Saturn closely trine Pluto.  But in terms of being a strategist and a problem-solver, it is his strong Chiron that stands out for me, with three trines and an exact sextile to the asteroid.  Apparently he runs a company that “tries to solve problems”.   [Hubby disputes this point, saying he causes problems]

Life and Career

Dominic was actually born in Durham (the site of the rule break), and his mother was a teacher and behavioural specialist.

From 2007 to 2014 he acted as Special Adviser to Michael Gove.  He doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and on the way, he labelled Iain Duncan Smith “incompetent” and David Davis “thick as mince” and “lazy as a toad”.

In October 2015 Cummings became campaign director for Vote Leave.  Saturn was at the time on his natal Sun, a tremendous responsibility, as it turned out pivotally in the nation’s fortunes.

I wrote about his transits at the time he was appointed Special Adviser to the Prime Minister:

“Mars trines his natal Jupiter, sparking up his energy and enthusiasm (he has Mars square Jupiter natally, making him super-energetic anyway).  He has a Jupiter Return, so this is a red-letter moment for him.”

Until coronavirus came along of course, we talked about nothing but Brexit.  In the current crisis, he is rumoured to have engineered the approach to dealing with the pandemic, and has been known to sit in on meetings with SAGE.  Controversially, he is reported to have taken the view early on that the strategy should be “herd immunity, protect the economy and if that means some pensioners die, too bad”.

Timeline – Tracking and Tracing

The government line just prior to lockdown on 23rd March was:

“You should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home.  The only exception is if they need help, such as having shopping or medication dropped off.”

Boris Johnson was reported to have tested positive for coronavirus on 27th March, and later the same day Dominic Cummings was seen running away from 10 Downing Street.

Transits: Mercury on his Mars, a minor transit entailing running!

28th/29th March Dominic Cummings was reported to have experienced symptoms of coronavirus by initial accounts.  However this has become a moveable feast to explain the fact that he was able to drive to his parents just before he got the symptoms but just after his wife had them.

Transits: The Sun transiting his natal Chiron (the wounded healer), a minor transit entailing contact with the virus, perhaps.

30th March he was at the time reported to be self-isolating.  By all accounts he had not yet driven to Durham.

31st March is the day he drove 260 miles to Durham.

Transits: Mercury squaring his Jupiter, a minor transit entailing long distance travel, possibly illicit or rule breaking!

31st March reportedly the family were apprehended by the police about breaching rules.

The next two weeks he and his wife were reportedly ill and self-isolating

According to his wife, he was extremely flattened by the illness.

5th April 2020 he was spotted outside the family home in Durham.

From the Guardian:

“The Guardian has also been told Cummings was spotted near the gate of his parents’ home with a young child, believed to be his son, at around 5.45pm on Sunday 5 April,” five days after a complaint was made to the police about breaching the rules.

Shortly after this point, Dominic was reportedly starting to feel better.

Transits: Saturn trine his natal Pluto, a major transit, feeling stronger

[Overnight it emerged that there have been other, unconfirmed sightings of Dominic Cummings breaching the rules on 12th and 19th April]

25th April Dominic Cumming’s wife broadcast an interview about the couple’s coronavirus experience, in which she included a comment that her husband was “extremely kind”.  She did not reveal where they had spent their time in isolation.

Transits: Saturn sextile his natal Sun, a major transit, life re-stabilizing

Friday evening 22/5/20 the story emerges about his rule break.  Opposition parties call for resignation (Labour Party: “Number 10 needs to provide a very swift explanation for his actions.”), but by yesterday (Saturday) it was clear that members of his own party are rallying round him.  He is refusing to resign (as I go to press).

[Note: I may need to start a new category, as this is the second coronavirus timeline I have tracked in recent blogs…]

Synastry with Boris

Within the power play between the two, Boris’ Mars opposes Dominic’s Sun and trines Dominic’s Pluto.  It is a dynamic and fiery relationship.

The question is not just will he stay (most likely) or will he go, but if he were to go would Boris be able to manage without him?  Will the absence of the chief puppeteer create a power vacuum, and what would fill it?

Aspect

Just one aspect this week, so make the most of it, and make it last (you may be able to draw upon it all week, if you want to!)

The aspect occurs tomorrow (Monday 25th), at 6.48 a.m., so you can seize the day at that time; or relax knowing you can focus on this aspect all week, and don’t need to make a special effort to get up for it.  If you do rise to greet the aspect, you may be able to crystallize a facet of its effect, which can inspire you to further action throughout the week.  If you decide to sleep on, ask for a dream clarification of its potential.

Mars sextiles Uranus, which promises dynamism for the day, if not the whole week.  Engineering especially benefits from this aspect, but that also includes social engineering.  Electricity and Astrology are other areas which can be stimulated by this combination.  Cars, mechanics, mechanical goods and household appliances may receive a boost or a renewal (James Dyson, the inventor, has this aspect in his natal chart).

This aspect can refresh your energies, if you have been feeling jaded.  It is helpful for both beginning new tasks, or completing long term projects.  It can be a day (or week) of breakthroughs.  The power of surprise may be constructive today, too.

So if this day is successful for you, remember to stretch it out…

On Thursday (28th), Mercury enters Cancer (which is not an aspect, but an ingress).  If you need an exact time to pin it on, 18.08 Hrs can be your working focus.

The collective mind will be more able to encompass emotion when considering an argument.  This could fudge the issue when considering, for instance, whether a politician driving his child to his grandparents conforms to the principles he asked the public to abide by, as the strings of sentiment may come into play, and some may be swayed.  Mercury will be staying in Cancer until early in August (including a retrograde period in that time), so we have plenty of time to wrestle with such conundrums, although many will see that particular issue as being more clear cut for other reasons.  In our philosophy class this term, we are studying the rights of children, and that is a subject which may be considered during this period.  For example, Gove, Gavin Williamson and others have argued that children have a right to return to schools and have the benefit of their education, whereas others might say they have more right to stay safe and healthy and to help keep society so.  This is a conundrum which promises to provide lively debate right through this period, with one option being to recommence schooling in August.  Family matters are under the mental microscope throughout Mercury in Cancer.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – Dynamic; can electrify the week
• Thursday – incorporating emotion into logical processes; incorporating logic into emotional processes