Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was again in the news this week as it was her 16^th birthday and a week which saw her address the U.N, and in which she received two awards: one for International Development for her work for female rights, and an Ethical award for campaigning.  She has been nominated for the Children’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Birthchart

Malala is a Cancerian, and though many Cancerians shun the limelight, others become ambassadors for women’s rights, deliberately or unwittingly.

She has the Part of Fortune in 3^rd House of communication (a passion for Education), and wrote a blog for the BBC under a pseudonym, about female life under the Taliban with a focus on education for females (3^rd House), from age 11.

We do not have a birth time, but it is likely that she has Moon conjunct Mars, warriorship for the female cause, in Libra the sign of Peace.  Mars also trines Uranus, showing immense bravery, in shocking circumstances.

The Sun sextiles the North Node in her chart, giving a karmic mission of the theme of Leadership.  Mercury trines Pluto, making her a deep thinker who looks the truth in the face. Mercury also opposes Uranus exactly, which is controversy in communication, not being afraid to tell the truth no matter what it costs.  With these two aspects to Mercury, she is very strong-minded indeed.  Pluto sextiles Uranus, giving a strong matrix for working in the world.  Jupiter also sextiles Saturn exactly – good balanced judgement: the combination of optimism and realism.

The Sun squares Saturn exactly – which can produce martyrs or victims for a cause.  But strength also comes through – the greater the obstacle, the greater the achievement with this aspect.  She has turned this square into its most positive manifestation.

The Moon sextiles Venus – underneath it all, a very loving and gentle person.  At heart, she is working for Peace.  She has been recognized within her own country as holder of the first Youth Peace Prize.  By the time of her attack, she already was a high profile activist for her cause.

Attack

On 9^th October 2012 she was shot in head and neck by the Taliban, sustaining life-threatening injuries, and transported to hospital in Birmingham.  The North Node sextile her Neptune at the end of Capricorn at the time, highlighting the refined political idealism in her chart.

She holds a crucial role for the transformation of her native Pakistan.  Mars in the Pakistan chart squares her natal Moon (highlighting violence against women).  Pakistan’s Saturn conjuncts her Pluto, symbolizing the repression she has worked to reveal.  Pakistan’s Uranus opposes her Neptune, stimulating her spirituality through the necessity for change.  Its Neptune squares her Neptune, a condition of being spiritually uneasy within its society.  Her Pluto trines its Sun for its transformation.

Gordon Brown has been a special supporter, together with his wife Sarah (whose Venus sextiles Malala’s North Node).  This karmic connection and involvement is shown by the Synastry between Gordon Brown and Malala having a Nodal reversal, i.e. Her North Node is at his South Node and vice versa.  His Mars is also conjunct her South Node (past life warriors together).

She told the U.N. that the attack had only made her more resolute. “Strength, power and courage was born” she says of the attack by the Taliban.  Having come through such a trauma, the world will continue to be watching this remarkable young woman and her quest for justice (Mars, Moon and Chiron in Libra).

Aspects

A week of trines – isn’t that what you dream of? Let’s see how that works out in reality…there are 5 trines in all and 2 changes of direction from planets associated with our mental functioning. Prepare early this week to ride the surf of this rare Grand Water Trine from mid-week.

On Wednesday (17th) in the afternoon you could be forgiven for wondering if in fact this is a week of trines. Uranus turns retrograde and everything may seem as though it has all gone tipsy turvy. You may experience dizziness in relation to a turnaround in your higher mental functioning. Or you may experience revisions in relation to earlier phases of mental functioning. The planet of the unexpected is particularly unpredictable now.

Once you have re-established your equilibrium, you are free to enjoy and bask in the unalloyed trines of the week or go surfing if that’s more your style. The first trine occurs only 11 minutes after Uranus’ revolution, at 17.31 hrs. If you are adept at Uranus revolutions you can take them both on at the same time. Otherwise meditate during those 11 minutes to steady yourself, then enjoy Jupiter trine Saturn, a major component of the grand trine, and an excellent aspect with which to begin the rebalancing or new order. Jupiter represents optimism, Saturn represents realism, Jupiter propels forward, while Saturn stands steadfast. You might at this time see clearly the relation between your movement and progress, blocks that have held you back, their timing, their dance and their purpose.

By the early hours of Thursday (18th) Jupiter trines Neptune (the second component of the grand trine) which is perfect for higher vision and dreams, so whether still awake at 00.41 a.m. Or dreaming, you’ll feel the richness, perfection and vision of this trine and its role in the complete Grand Trine/divine plan. Jupiter and Neptune are about inspiration and idealism. They make up the dream and enable living the dream. There’ll be a sense of euphoria, part of you feeling you’ve already achieved the dream on some level, but there is further work to do to fit the piece in the jigsaw.

This is Friday’s (19th) objective, with Saturn trine Neptune completing the triangle, balancing the material and the spiritual.

Further progress is made on Saturday (20th) with Mercury turning direct (party on). You might start to feel the words are coming out of your mouth in perfect sequence, your message getting across as intended.

As a final push in the new birth, on Saturday Mars makes a more minor grand trine with Saturn and Neptune. Early evening Mars trines Neptune (sensitive action can be performed) while mid evening mars trines Saturn (laying plans) making it swift and easy to implement new ideas, inspirations and plans.

Make use of these rare alignments, but if you feel life is too stressful at the moment to enjoy these astrological bounties, then try to find time for yourself to relax or meditate and connect in some way with this healing vibe.  I suspect I shall have at least one ding dong at the customer service desk pointing out that life is not all roses this rosiest of astrological times.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – The element of the unexpected; revolution and rebalancing
• Thursday – Religion and Spirituality harmonize
• Friday – Practicality and Spirituality harmonize; communications unclog; Action and spirituality harmonize; Action and practicality harmonize

Saatchi vs Lawson

We were forced into the prurient act of seeing what seemed like a public near-strangling by Charles Saatchi, when pictures of Charles Saatchi at the throat of his wife Nigella Lawson outside a London restaurant  were displayed all over the media last month.  This morning it was announced that he is to divorce her, citing the damage to his reputation as one of the problems.  She has since been taken up, unwittingly and possibly reluctantly, as a poster girl for domestic violence.

Nigella

Nigella was born into a political family: indeed her father Nigel Lawson is graphically portrayed in her chart as Sun in Capricorn (politician father) conjunct Saturn (accentuating the politics).  She did not have a good relationship with her mother, who did not treat her well.  She describes her as depressed, but as she is depicted in Nigella’s chart she comes over as fiery and volatile (Sun in Aries trine Mars and Jupiter).

She was first married to a high profile journalist John Diamond, who wrote about his experience of having cancer (he had a difficult close natal square between the Sun and Pluto), and died while their children were quite young.  His Pluto was conjunct her Uranus, and his Uranus was opposite her Sun, and they were separated by death.  She was praised at the time for her caring approach to her husband’s illness, and her steadfastness.

Though her father and husband were gifted, she forged a name for herself in a different field, as self-styled Domestic Goddess.  She has a highly entrepreneurial exact trine between Jupiter and Uranus.  I am not a fan of her quantities of sugar and butter (natal Venus square Pluto tendency to excess), which may be hypocritical as I have a sweet tooth, but I do like the girl, and she does have a popular following.

Quite apart from the central issue of possible violence (Saatchi asserts that it was playfulness) it will have been destructive to her desire to keep an image of domestic bliss through her TV chef career.  However, her popularity is such that I think she could successful rebrand herself without the marriage.

She and Charles Saatchi married in September 2003.

Charles Saatchi

Charles Saatchi first made his name as an advertising executive teamed up with his brother Maurice.   Theirs is a twinlike relationship, as they are both Geminis (the sign of advertising) and will have made natural business partners.

Charles and Nigella both have the Sun conjunct Saturn, which represents a desire to keep control of their image.  We do not have birth times for them, so cannot see in which astrological Houses these are played out.

Further along his career, Charles became a patron of the Arts, collecting modern and Brit Art and establishing a gallery.  Charles has Venus (Arts) in Leo conjunct Pluto and trine Mars.  He would be passionate and intense about Art and its promotion and display (Leo).  Mars trine Pluto can harbor violence, though more usually intense energy, and is not as violent as the square between these two planets.  Violence, presumably, is the inability to manage one’s energies and emotions so that they may become directed outwards, and we know that many women too are capable of domestic violence.

Pluto was opposing Saatchi’s Sun when he married Nigella, so there may have been known issues regarding the explosiveness of his feelings even at that time.

In early 2012 he published a book expounding a controversial philosophical outlook entitled “Be the Worst you can Be”.  In a statement he made today, he says the couple have been experiencing a deterioration in their relationship for about a year.  Could it be that her trust was eroded from that time?  Pluto was square to his Mars at the time, so his feelings may have been destructive then.

Synastry and Transits

They have some difficult interaspects (including his Mars square her Saturn, and his Uranus opposite her Venus) but also clearly have had a deep bond.  His Mercury is trine exactly her North Node, a karmic connection.  Another karmic connection is his Neptune conjunct exactly her North Node (confused karma).  His Pluto also trines her Venus, a deep love originally.  At the time of the public strangling Neptune was exactly squaring Nigella’s Venus, bringing confusion and illusion to her emotional life.  Saturn was exactly squaring Saatchi’s natal Pluto, divorcing him from his feelings to an extent.  She left the family home shortly afterwards.  Nigella continues to stay silent about the event, and currently Pluto is transitting her Saturn, not encouraging her to speak out on her suffering.

Past Lives

Most of us do not have famous past lives, and some of us have perhaps one famous past life in order to taste the experience or hone a talent to the hilt.  Some groups of souls who travel together over millennia do seek public office in order to achieve certain outcomes.  For instance, the Kennedy clan have been likened to the  Medicis.  I have sometimes wondered whether Nigella and Charles were bit players in a group who may have been the Medicis.  Nigella lived for some time in Florence, and named her daughter Cosima.  Saatchi has been a patron of the Arts.  Saatchi and Nigella may also have lived in ancient Mesopotamia, the site of the Saatchi brothers’ Iraqi origins, where Nigella may have been cooking up a storm in one of the latest clay pots!

Aspects

Tomorrow Venus trines Uranus making it a good day to set up social meetings, which can be most helpful, convivial, constructive, visionary and exciting. If you don’t plan such a meeting, you could happen on one spontaneously, such as a chance encounter on a train, or even a brief encounter in a railway station…

On the same day, Saturn turns direct, and you might feel that you are not having to push uphill quite so much. Plans could right themselves after a period of stagnation.

Finally, the same day brings a New Moon at 16 degrees Cancer: a day for new beginnings and consolidation of home and family affairs. If you know where this House falls in your natal chart, you’ll know more precisely where in your life this may apply. For example, it falls in my 3rd house of blogging and trips within the British Isles, and I will be visiting my grandson, so could find myself writing about family.

It can be a day of progress, altogether.

On Tuesday (9th) the Sun conjuncts Mercury at 17 degrees Cancer, close to the point of the New Moon, so if that was significant for you, the focus may be carried on the mental plane i.e. you may follow through a line of thought you started the day before. Imaginative writing thrives under Sun conjunct Mercury in Cancer.

We are well into the Cancerian season this week, as on Saturday (13th) Mars enters Cancer and you’ll pursue the Cancerian themes of home and family more energetically, and feel protective of young ones.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – sparkling society, progress and new family initiatives
• Tuesday – intense focus of the mind on emotional themes
• Saturday – new energy injected into home and family

In this most unpredictable Wimbledon, here is my last throw of the dice…

Men’s Semi Finals

Novak Djokovic,No. 1 Men’s Seed

Djokovic, continues to  look unbeatable.  Nothing we have seen has challenged that notion.

I have been looking further into his chart, and spotted a 1 degree conjunction between Mercury and the Part of Fortune in Gemini in his 10^th House.  Could that be the secret of his intense mental focus channeled into his career?  He has Mercury by 1 degree sextile his Jupiter, and that combination with the Part of Fortune would make him very upbeat mentally by nature. He is born a week apart from Andy Murray and has similar transits.   He is still most likely to meet up with Murray in the final.  Today he has Venus exactly trine his North Node, which is a minor transit, but may ensure the crowd are with him.

In the semi-final today, he plays:

Juan Martin Del Potro, No. 8 Men’s Seed

We do not have a birth time for Del Potro, but he has some wonderful exact aspects in his natal chart,such as Mars exactly sextile Jupiter (boundless energy, and a recurring combination in the athletic world of tennis), Mercury sextile Saturn (realism) and Mercury sextile Uranus by 1 degree (mental acuity and the ability to link his left brain and right brain).   The transit I was worried would block him was Mars opposing his Saturn, which was graphically illustrated in the last match where he took a fall (Saturn) on his knee (Saturn) which was already injured (Mars).  This peaks in the next few days, so playing on it could be very injurious.  By the end of the tournament Mars opposes his Uranus, compounding the need for treatment.  It did not stop him from winning the last match, so there is a chance he can carry on, but even though there is a lot they can do with sports injuries, I don’t know if it would be wise.  He has the transitting North Node exactly trine his natal North Node today, so whatever is possible karmically will be so.

Del Potro and Djokovic would make good friends outside the court, according to their synastry (astrological compatibility).  Their Suns, for instance, are exactly trine with each other in Air.

Andy Murray, No. 2 Men’s Seed

I still feel there is little in it between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, born a week apart, though I may be swayed, as much of the nation want him to win but hide behind a cushion when he is playing.

My recurring reverie:

The final has gone to 5 sets, they are 10 games all in the final set…

Then I can’t see what happens next, but I know that Djokovic has won.

My only consolation is that astrologically at this time Andy Murray has a slight edge with a Mars Return.

Andy plays Jerzy Janowicz today in the semi-finals:

Jerzy Janowicz, No 24 Men’s Seed

New star Janowicz has Mars sextile his natal Jupiter, like Del Potro. At the end of Wimbledon Uranus exactly squares his natal Neptune, which is challenging his ability to take in experiences. Uranus still trines his Jupiter which is a transit I think which supported his success in the tournament, but this aspect is on the wane.  Maybe he has done all he can for this tournament, but it is certain that he will be filling our screens again next year.  His synastry with Andy Murray shows an exact opposition between their Mercuries – so a good mental battle is on the cards.

Ladies Finals

Sabine Lisicki

Looking further into Lizicki’s chart I counted no less than 14 squares!  The aspect pattern is almost one of a triple T-square, a rarity.  She has not had an easy ride in life, and injured her ankle badly in 2010, could not walk on it for a long time, but has come back to enjoy Wimbledon as the commentators say with a perpetual smile on her face.  With the squares, it may be a smile burnished from adversity.

At this point in time Pluto is still on Lizicki’s Neptune, and Jupiter squares her Mars (which may galvanize her), but as we have seen she thrives on adversity, and may even beat the planets.  It is time for plumping, and I am going to plump for Sabine.  Her comeback from the match with Radwanska shows that she is currently in the flow of problem-solving.

She plays:

Marion Bartoli

Marion Bartoli, who won easily yesterday, has Mars exactly conjunct her Neptune, and combines her physicality and her spirituality well.   This exact conjunction is taken to another level by Jupiter close by.  Marion laughed as she explained in the after match interview that she had had a 20 minute naps literally just before the match, in order to renew herself.  With Sun exactly sextile Uranus and  conjunct Mercury she is intelligent, and rumoured to have an I.Q. of Mensa level.

Marion and Sabine could also be close off the court from their Synastry, with some personal connections.  Though they could confuse each other with a double whammy of their Neptunes exactly square the other’s Sun.

Well I may be back Wimbledon blogging next year, depending on the results of these efforts!

Mini-Blog

It’s a mini-blog for all sorts of reasons today, but mainly because I have given my all for the Wimbledon blogging (wisely or unwisely).  I feel I have done 10 rounds myself!  Hope to resume normal service next week.

The Rolling Stones play Glastonbury

Who could resist seeing what the Stones had to offer last night at Glastonbury?  Was it value for money, say for the TV viewer’s licence?  It didn’t seem so a few numbers in, when Mick Jagger rudely left the stage, without a by or leave.  But that’s his prerogative as showman, with Sun, Jupiter, Pluto, Mercury, North Node and Chiron in Leo.  The beginning was lack-lustre, and their act was just starting to warm up…

In the event, after rubbishing the initial numbers then recanting, the presenter was told by Jo Whiley his co-presenter, that there would be more.  Indeed, the encore was more lively and engaging.  It was all very nostalgic and symbolic to this older generation.  I don’t know what it was like for the younger generation.

How was it for Michael Eavis, the proprietor of the Glastonbury Festival, a Libran with the musical ideals and attention to detail and ecology of Venus conjunct Neptune in Virgo?  Pluto was almost trine his Venus, perhaps the run up to the event was more exciting than the event itself for him.  There may also be more significant things going on in his life.  In the year Michael Eavis founded the festival, 1970, Pluto (a powerful enterprise) was sextile his Jupiter (a successful initiative).

Aspects

Tomorrow Venus squares Saturn.  There could be a let down feeling emotionally, and you may need to be a good listener to a sob story.  Try to be present to the other’s dilemma, for we are all in it together, and there may be a perspective which enables your understanding.    Venus square Saturn may seem tedious, but is necessary.  Of course if it is your own sob story, then even more need for inner listening.

On Tuesday (2^nd July) the Sun opposes Pluto, and you know what that means, don’t you?  We are having to re-engage with the Uranus-Pluto square.  And last week seemed to be going so swimmingly…indeed there is still a lot of swimming going on, because the Grand Water Trine is still going on in the background, providing a welter of emotional understanding.  But there are some deep and difficult issues to be looking at, which we cannot avoid.  You may find that you are developing an extra sense to deal with all the extra stress, and that life is providing compensations or distractions coming from the Grand Water Trine to keep you buoyant.  This is (another) chance to put you in touch with the core meaning of the ongoing square, and confront your deepest challenges in its second year.

On Thursday (4^th) the Sun squares Uranus (the other element we are dealing with in the square) and it befits Independence Day.  Indeed there may be a lot of activity along the lines of the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement that day.  You may have a sense of wanting to break free.  It is a day you will be in the mood to challenge the status quo.  As in the whistleblowing dilemmas though, consider the consequences.  Adopt the approaches of Nelson Mandela, negotiation and forgiveness.

Friday (5^th) brings a refreshing trine of the Sun to Chiron, which can bring healing initiatives, or healing through the Sun.  Sunbathing if appropriate (but not in temperatures of parts of the western U.S. at present), soaking up some Vitamin D by the poolside.  Not a Sun worshipper?  Explore the other side of the equation, the Inner Healer, and follow its lead.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow –Allow some emotional reflection
• Tuesday – get to the core of issues
• Thursday – high excitement, but don’t de-rail
• Friday – Healing or Sun Worshipping – you choose (maybe you can have both)

I am pleased to say that last week’s Wimbledon blogging bore fruit, so I am featuring 8 players again for the second week.  Some of the content will be reproduced from last week’s blog, commentary and updates.  Serena seems likely to win the Ladies’ trophy, and I am undecided about the men’s, but hope to have a conclusion by the end of writing.

Serena Williams, No. 1 Women’s Seed

Serena looks unbeatable this year, and finishes Wimbledon with Jupiter sextile her Ascendant (in supreme physical shape).  She will play Sabine Lisicki in the next round

Sabine Lizicki

I wrote in 2011:

“Lizicki has a deeply emotional chart, with Venus conjunct Pluto in Scorpio, and  Jupiter with Chiron in Cancer possibly joined by the Moon there.  This will be the source of much of her energy.  Uranus, Saturn and Neptune sit in stoical Capricorn in her chart.  Her Sun is in Virgo, a sign which figures heavily in this generation of tennis players, both as Sun and Ascendant.  Mercury (her nervous system) and Mars (her physical energy, as distinct from her emotional energies) are in the traditional tennis sign of Libra.   Without knowing her Ascendant (from her birth time) Mars and Mercury represent important elements of her physicality and there is a gracefulness and elegance there, but not as much robustness as some other signs.”

Midway through Wimbledon 2013 Pluto is on Lizicki’s Neptune, the North Node is on her Pluto and Jupiter opposes her Uranus, heavy numbers for a heavy meeting with Serena.

Novak Djokovic,No. 1 Men’s Seed

Djokovic, like Serena, looks unbeatable at the moment.  He seems incredibly fit, in the exercise use of the term. He is born a week apart from Andy Murray and some of their transits are similar.   Most likely to meet up with Murray in the final.

In the next round, he plays

Tommy Haas

Haas injury prone career is shown by Sun in Aries, Chiron conjunct his Venus,  and Mercury square Mars . His physical stoicism is shown by Mercury closely trine Saturn .  He has a difficult Sun opposition with Pluto.  He remains upbeat due to his Mercury sextile Jupiter, which provides a balanced outlook with the Saturn aspect to Mercury: he is able to be realistic and positive.  Jupiter currently sextiles his Venus, so he is enjoying the tournament so far…Mars sextiles his Mercury at the end of Wimbledon, so he may end Wimbledon in good physical shape and with fewer injuries than most.  It seems to have been the most injury prone Wimbledon I can remember.

Laura Robson

Laura Robson could meet Serena Williams in the quarter-finals  Our very own Laura has a very focussed chart, with Sun early in Aquarius sextile a conjunction of North Node/Pluto. She has the capacity to pull off some dramatic effects on the court, and is literally a game-changer.  She provided illustration of Sun sextile North Node/Pluto in her astronishing comeback in yesterday’s match. Midway through Wimbledon Uranus is sextile Laura’s Mercury, enabling flashes of genius to sparkle through her game.

She will play Kaia Kanepi tomorrow:

Natally, Kanepi has a lucky Jupiter, being trine her Sun and sextile her Uranus, and a dynamic sextile between her Jupiter and Uranus.  Though curiously her natal Jupiter squares her Nodal Axis exactly, so it is as though she can only be lucky as long as her karma allows.  Midway through Wimbledon Jupiter is on her Mars and Mars is on her Sun, so there will be fire in her performance, and she is likely to have some lucky shots.  By the end of Wimbledon Jupiter will be trine her natal Pluto (a powerful assistance from the Universe) but Jupiter will also be opposite her Neptune (confusion).  I couldn’t rule out her going another round or so.

Andy Murray, No. 2 Men’s Seed

Born a week apart from Djokovic, he has slightly more interesting transits.  At the end of Wimbledon, Murray will have Mars opposite his Uranus (like Djokovic), but he will also have a Mars Return, so may be iron-fisted!

I see Murray and Djokovic almost as twins astrologically. Indeed my mother-in-law kept saying they look alike yesterday evening (I don’t think they do).  If they meet in the final, I don’t think there will be much in it, they’ll be like two sides of a coin.  My heart says Murray to win, but my head says Djokovic (I am rarely split).  Murray has his Mars Return so he will be really true in his own energy, which astrologically would give him the edge.

He is playing Youzhny tomorrow:

Pluto squares Youzhny’s Mars in the middle of the tournament, which could indicate a knock out.  Uranus sextiles his Mercury which favours his mental acuity, and Jupiter trines his Jupiter, the force of which has brought him this far, but then this transit starts to wane.

Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 4 Women’s Seed

Neptune does sextile her Uranus and conjuncts her North Node at the start of Wimbledon, so she will be opening up spiritually now, and that may distract her physical performance this Wimbledon.  If she can get through the challenges of the early tournament rounds (which she has), she is likely to be rewarded by her experience towards the end.  The tournament is likely to be a test of character.  At the end of the two weeks, Saturn trines her North Node (perhaps reward for hard work) and initial aspects are still around.  This could take her as far as the semi-finals.  I don’t think she would be able to beat Serena Williams, however.

She plays Pironkova in the next round:

Midway through the tournament Pironkova has Neptune sextile her Neptune, so is balanced spiritually, but Mars squares her Sun, so overexertion or injury may prove overwhelming.  The North Node sextiles her Mars at the end of Wimbledon, so she will be pleased with her performance overall and be very at peace with herself karmically.

David Ferrer, No. 4 Men’s Seed

At the end of the Wimbledon round Jupiter squares his Mercury (high hopes) and Mars trines his Pluto (extra power to his elbow) so he may make the final, though Murray is most likely to.

He plays Dodic in the next round:

Dodic has a quick witted conjunction natally of Mercury and Uranus, so this is his brilliance.  Currently Uranus squares his Sun (a sudden fall perhaps), and Saturn transits his Pluto, so not easy aspects to support a the route to the top, plus Mars opposing his Mercury (also incident-prone).

Petra Kvitova, No. 8 Women’s Seed

Petra Kvitova seems to fall on the right side of the draw to meet Serena in the final. She is a player I have looked at (successfully) in past years in this blog. Imaginative Piscean Petra Kvitova has some solid planets in Capricorn which help her focus This year she has a Jupiter Return, so could be a real contender, at least for facing Serena in the final. By the final, the Jupiter Return will have peaked, so probably not the outright winner.

Plays Carla Navarro (Seed 19) in the next round:

Natally, Navarro has the asset of Jupiter exactly trine her Mercury, excellent physical co-ordination for a sporting career.  Her natal Pluto sextiles her natal Sun, providing great strength.  Neptune squares her Jupiter currently, which could be a hurdle for her against Kvitova.  But Pluto sextiles Navarro’s Pluto at the end of Wimbledon, so she is playing solidly, and it trines her natal Sun so she is secure in herself. She’ll have no regrets.

Jerzy Janowicz, No 24 Men’s Seed

A bright new star emerged on the firmament on Friday, praised by all the television commentators.  Janowicz  is a deep Scorpio Sun conjunct Pluto, with Chiron close to the South Node and trine his Venus/Sun conjunction,.  Psychological healing is part of his karmic mission, and there may be an instinctive quality to his play which shows this.  His power (Plutonian)and big serve, as well as his height, have caught attention this year.

Midway through the tournament Uranus squares his natal Neptune. Uranus trines his Jupiter (which is waning towards the end of Wimbledon)

He will play Jurgen Melzer before he can meet Murray:

Meltzer natally Sun in Gemini trine exactly Jupiter in Libra, a very upbeat combination.  But he has Mercury opp exactly Neptune – which means hecould sometimes get distracted.  Midway through Wimbledon Saturn squares his Nodal Axis, which may work against him karmically.  Jupiter squares his Jupiter and he could make some forced errors.  At the end of the tournament, Jupiter squares his Saturn and Saturn still squares his Nodal Axis prominently.   So it looks as though he would be beaten by Joanowicz.

I hope to be back midweek with commentaries, and hopefully produce a blog or two towards the final.

Jupiter in Cancer

This week Jupiter enters Cancer, and the forthcoming year will favour Cancerians generally or anyone who has a preponderance of planets in that sign.  It is preparing to hook up with the Saturn-Neptune trine to form a Grand Water Trine in the middle of July, which is a real astrological highlight!

Jupiter in Gemini in the U.K. hasn’t lived up to its promise in terms of educational changes.  It has come under the governance of Michael Gove, Education Secretary, who has not evolved his thinking towards the future, but rather tried to propel us back to the 1950s.  Another U-turn was announced yesterday, in connection with the teaching of History.

Jupiter in Cancer will turn us towards family life, or a sense of belonging in Soul groups.  It will enable us to express our emotions more joyously, and may bring out some rich literary tomes (such as the third in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy).  The preserving and restoration of antiquity also comes under the sign of Cancer, so some old treasures may be unearthed in the archaeological world.

If there is one book I would recommend for this summer, it’s “The Dolphin Within” by Olivia de Bergerac.  She divides us naturally into four aquatic Archetypes: Dolphins, Turtles, Seahorses and Sharks.  Great fun!

If I would recommend another book for the summer it would be “Ecstasy is a New Frequency” by Chris Griscom.  Her work has inspired my past-life therapy since 1988. This summer will be a grand opportunity to clear the astral pollution from the planet. This is because the Grand Trine enabled by Jupiter’s entry into Cancer will bring a great sense of global connection and empathy, and much of that operates on the astral level. If you are working with spiritual awareness you may make headway in clearing your emotional body, and that has benefits for all. Chris Griscom’s work is about clearing the emotional body, which she defines as “the emotional vehicle of consciousness which is an entity and vibrates at a low frequency”.  Her thesis is that it tends to dominate the mind and body, and that it can only raise its level in contact with the Spiritual Body, when it is given a better diet of experience.

Aspects

We start with a Full Moon in Capricorn today, an extra large Supermoon at that.  Moon lovers will be able to revel in its beams.  The Moon is at its closest point in relation to the Earth, and so its effects will be heightened.  Its placing in Capricorn makes it a good focus for career or life direction, or meditating on the structures of society and how they need to be aligned

Busy Day Wednesday

On Wednesday (26^th), Jupiter enters Cancer, and you may notice a sea change in how you are thinking and feeling.  You will be engaging more with your emotions, having done what you can with opening up your thinking apparatus while Jupiter was in Gemini.  New hope there is for Cancerians, and all water signs for the year ahead which is the natural passage of time for Jupiter’s transit through a sign.  Jupiter enters Leo in mid-July 2014.

Wednesday is a busy day aspect-wise, for Saturn then trines the Sun, and if you are engaged in water sports you will be in your element this summer.  It is the sort of aspect which favours signing up at your local Water Sports centre, or beginning a coastal holiday.  For those of us without much water in our charts, we can occupy ourselves by getting into our deepest emotional territory (Saturn in Scorpio trine Sun in Cancer).  We will find a rich inner world of totemic creatures such as our Inner Crab and Inner Seagull (Cancerian animals), interacting with the darker creatures of Saturn in Scorpio such as Water Snakes, Water Rats and Sharks, and emerge with insights about our inner waterscape which can continue to reveal themselves over the summer.  With the three planets Saturn/Neptune/Jupiter swishing about in the Grand Water Trine this summer, it is a good time to initiate some good old psychological delving, ducking and diving.  If like me you have only one water planet, drowned in a past life, and can’t properly swim, it is time to make friends with the water.  Here is Olivia de Bergerac’s definition of the Inner Shark Archetype:

HUMAN SHARKS – “People who primarily live in beta brainwaves, whose main reaction is to fight.  A shark is one of the two characters of the personal stage, the one which demonstrate a lot of will.”

Also on Wednesday, Mercury turns retrograde, and so it is that intermittent test of your communications coming round again.  Hopefully if you have been following this phenomenon for some time (and it has almost become mainstream – why it’s almost the acceptable face of astrology to blame Mercury retrograde for travel woes and such like) you may have built a set of strategies, such as learning to speak clearly and succinctly, which will ease things.  Our local railway ticket office is threatened with closure, and so I am a little more anxious than usual about this one, though I don’t normally find Mercury retrograde too troublesome (oops except for the time I put a pencil in the button of my computer and it went right through, but I won’t do that again).

The fourth feature on Wednesday is a trine between the Sun and Neptune (thus forming a Grand Trine on the day).  This elevates any foundations you laid earlier that day, to the realms of inspiration, and an openness to higher mystical vision.  Much can be achieved today, despite possible problems in communication.  The Inner Dolphins may now arrive on the inner seascape, and here is Olivia de Bergerac’s description of the Inner Dolphin Archetype:

HUMAN DOLPHINS – “People who can self-regulate their brains and easily access beta, alpha and theta brainwaves at will, to reach peak performance.  They can also access the awakened mind pattern.  People who are in touch with their higher self, their full potential.  They have explored their turtle, shark and seahorse characters.  They know their purpose and do not react, but flow with life.”

On my contact page is a link to Theresa Wagner’s website about animal communication and her work with dolphins and whales, and under the Interview category you’ll find an interview with O’Douce and a video of her underwater work.

On Thursday (27^th) Venus enters Leo, leaving the dreaminess of Cancer (wafting on a Venetian gondola) and entering a more showy and glittery phase.  It is time to show your wares, stop hiding your talents under a bushel, and enjoy the delights of summer picnics and other indulgences, weather permitting.

We are working towards the Grand Trine of Jupiter/Saturn/Neptune now (17^th/18^th July) so have faith in some aspect of your collective endeavours, and start colouring in your dreams.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon starts tomorrow, and I have put down some initial thoughts, but no clear predictions of winners yet in an earlier blog today.  But I will update my thoughts and add other favourite players such as Nadal as we go along.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – heightened tension
• Wednesday – water activities and deep feelings; travel and communication may be tricky
• Thursday – bring out your best points

After predicting the winners these last two years, I will attempt to make it third time lucky.  Though it did not win me popularity last year: some felt I should have predicted Andy Murray to win, and resented that I didn’t.  Here as starters are the first four seeds from the women’s and men’s players, and I will be adding updates and forecasts in blogs and comments throughout Wimbledon, as I have in previous years.

Serena Williams, No. 1 Women’s Seed

Serena Williams is now regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of our time.  What features of her chart stand out?  A competitive Mars in Leo closely sextiles Jupiter (enthusiasm and luck) and Saturn (precision).  She has the brilliance of Uranus trine North Node.  Her sister Venus of course is also a great player, and Serena has Mercury in Libra square her Nodal Axis, which may indicate sibling rivalry on the tennis court.  But what they both have is Venus square Mars, and Serena has it exact.  Maybe this is a key to her success.

She begins Wimbledon with Jupiter trine her Venus, and has the afterglow of recently winning the French Open.  Mars also trines her Jupiter (energy added to her enthusiasm) and enhances her own natal Mars-Jupiter sextile.  Should have a splendid start to Wimbledon.  In the first round she plays Mandy Minella who has some good aspects, but nothing I feel strong enough to upset the status quo.  Serena finishes Wimbledon with Jupiter sextile her Ascendant (in supreme physical shape).

Novak Djokovic,No. 1 Men’s Seed

I was working without a birth time last year, but now find he has a competitive Leo Ascendant in a Grand Trine with Jupiter and Saturn, which is a powerful configuration.  His Moon in Pisces in 8^th House is very instinctive and sextiles his Sun in Gemini (he’s a great mimic) in 10^th House (he knows his own mind).  Having the Sun sextile Moon and Jupiter trine Saturn gives him a great deal of balance and measure and the ability to centre himself.  He has the odd temper tantrum (Moon square Mars).  He is proud of his Serbian roots and they go deep (Pluto on his I.C.).

He begins Wimbledon with Mars on his Mercury – sharp, but possibly accident-prone.  Neptune also sextiles his natal Venus so his mind may be on his personal life, or he may display added grace on the tennis court.  In the first round he plays Florian Mayer who has some interesting transits, and could give him a good match.  Djokovic ends Wimbledon with Mars opposite Uranus, so could be plagued with something like a dodgy ankle throughout.  He is born a week apart from Andy Murray and some of their transits are similar.  I will be watching for any parallels.

Victoria Azarenka, No. 2 Women’s Seed

Azarenka is a Sun Leo with a fiery Mars in the same sign.  She has the exuberant Mars sextile Jupiter like Serena Williams, but 2 degrees apart as distinct from Serena’s 1 degree apart (which may often give Serena the edge!).  Azarenka’s Moon is in Cancer, suitable to the ebb and flow of tennis action (many tennis champions are Cancerians or Librans).  She has Venus trine Saturn/Neptune which gives her dedication and inspiration in combination, and Mars on the South Node (the past life warrior archetupe).  Great inner strength is shown in her chart by Chiron closely trine Pluto.

She begins Wimbledon with a Jupiter Return in Gemini!  That would ensure a lot of hope, luck and buoyancy at the start.  Pluto also transits her Neptune, so she may feel very excitable.  In her first round she plays Maria Joao Koehler, and is not likely to encounter any problems.  At the end of Wimbledon, the Jupiter Return will have passed, but Pluto will still be conjunct her natal Neptune, so she will be working out complex issues.  Jupiter opposes her Uranus too at that time, so she may make an unforced error.  Sadly, after a good start, she may not make the final.

Andy Murray, No. 2 Men’s Seed

The Olympics last year were a turning point for Andy Murray, and though he did not win Wimbledon there was a psychological shift within himself and in relation to his public.  In August, with the empowerment of  transitting Pluto sextile his natal Pluto, he won the gold.  As mentioned in previous years, he does have a gifted chart, and we look forward to more successes from him in the future.  He has a unique style said to resemble an earlier tennis player Miloslav Mecif:  they are both Taureans, and while Andy Murray has Moon/Saturn/Uranus conjunct, Miloslav had Moon/Uranus opposite Saturn, which is an interesting parallel.

Born a week apart from Djokovic, he has slightly more interesting transits.  At the beginning, Mars sextiles his Jupiter, so he’ll be fired up and hopeful, with an injection of adrenalin.  The North Node is on his 3ed House cusp and sextile his Ascendant, so he is at peace with his karma at this time.  He plays Benjamin Becker in the first round, who has a couple of favourable transits, so could needle Murray a little.  At the end of Wimbledon, Murray will have Mars opposite his Uranus (like Djokovic), but he will also have a Mars Return, so may be iron-fisted!  He seems a little more engaged than Djokovic, maybe a little more focused and a little less distracted, but there may be parallels.

Maria Sharapova, No. 3 Women’s Seed

Maria has several planets in the energetic sign of Aries, including an exact conjunction between her Mercury and North Node, indicating that to achieve athletic prowess is part of her karmic mission.  This conjunction is 2 degrees away from Jupiter (success) and sextile Mars (extra speed).  Venus (her love life) squares her Uranus (disruption) and though she is currently dating Grigor Dimitrov, she was previously engaged to a basketball player Sasha Vujacic with whom she was very compatible astrologically, but maybe the karma wasn’t helpful.

At the start of Wimbledon she has Pluto squaring her Mercury, so a lot of nervous tension at this time.  Uranus will be conjunct her Jupiter, so there will be an element of surprise keeping her on her toes.  Jupiter sextile her Sun will provide some uplift, which will be helpful in the early rounds.  She plays Kristina Mladenovic of France in the first round, but she may be on edge throughout the tournament.  The final aspects for Sharapova are Mars opposite her Uranus (like Djokovic and Murray – she is born the previous month) and may also be plagued with the equivalent of a dodgy ankles (they can’t all have a dodgy ankle, can they?). Again, I am not sure she would make the final.  I think that if Serena is in the final (very likely) she may face someone from outside the first four seeds.  That may become clearer later.

Roger Federer, No. 3 Men’s Seed

I have written a lot about Roger Federer over the years, and we are fortunate to have his birth time.  Like Murray, he has a Virgo Ascendant and the Moon conjunct Uranus, but without the added encumbrance of Saturn.  He has the Sun and North Node in competitive Leo (very motivated), and Venus rising in fine-featured Virgo.  I correctly predicted he would win last year, but don’t feel so sure this year.  He has a strong personal bond with his twins, who were born with the Moon sextile his Ascendant and Venus exactly trine his Venus.

At the outset of Wimbledon, the North Node trines his Mars, and his sense of purpose is strong.  Pluto also trines his Ascendant on his 5^th House cusp, which gives him strength but there is a sense of him finishing a phase of life and starting a new one.  He plays Victor Hanescu in the first round, and with Hanescu’s Pluto opposing his own natal Mercury, it is likely to be a washout for Hanescu.  The same transits apply for Federer at the end as at the start, but the addition of the Nodal Axis squaring his Mercury (Ascendant ruler) brings the winds of karmic change.

Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 4 Women’s Seed

Like Roger Federer she has the highly motivating Sun and North Node in the same sign, though hers are in Pisces (her style has been called “subtle).  She also has Mars in Taurus (stamina) conjunct Jupiter (high energy enthusiasm).  Uranus sextiles her North Node exactly (North Node/Uranus connections being often found in brilliant tennis players).  Plus she has a powerful exact trine between her Sun and Pluto.  She has not done so well recently this year, and may not do so well at Wimbledon, but has a strong potential and likelihood of future success.

She could have mixed early performances, with Saturn sextile her Uranus, but Uranus squaring her Saturn/Neptune.  Neptune does sextile her Uranus and conjuncts her North Node, so she will be opening up spiritually now, and that may distract her physical performance this Wimbledon.  She plays Y. M’burger initially, and if she can get through the challenges of the early tournament rounds, she is likely to be rewarded by her experience towards the end.  The tournament is likely to be a test of character.  At the end of the two weeks, Saturn trines her North Node (perhaps reward for hard work) and initial aspects are still around.  This could take her as far as the semi-finals.

David Ferrer, No. 4 Men’s Seed

He’s an energetic Sun in Aries, with Chiron closely sextile his North Node in Cancer so he would be good at problem-solving.  His Venus trines Pluto exactly (with Neptune sextile in the middle), so he has deep feelings which run true in relationships.  Saturn squares closely the Nodal Axis, which may indicate an Indian Summer in his career, certainly earlier delays in success.  He has a strong and inventive mind, too, with Mercury trine Uranus, with quick reflexes  He  is doing well this year..

Uranus is on his Sun at the start of Wimbledon, which is likely to work in his favour and may produce some stunning intuitive play.  Neptune squares his Uranus making him oversensitive and a little overwrought.  Pluto is squaring his Mars, which is dramatic, but this aspectdoes not become exact until after Wimbledon, so should not affect his performance.  He plays Martin Alund in the first round, whose chart shows mixed fortunes at present.  At the end of the Wimbledon round Jupiter squares his Mercury (high hopes) and Mars trines his Pluto (extra power to his elbow) so he may make the final.

Whistleblowers

Whistleblowing seems to come at great personal cost, and the conviction needs to be great to even contemplate it.  Are today’s big-time whistleblowers born, and not made?  Do they knowingly sacrifice their personal lives for a bigger cause?

Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee, who has blown the lid on the PRISM surveillance system, has primarily a warrior’s chart, with Sun/North Node/Mars in conjunction in late Gemini.  His sense of conviction comes to some extent from having the Sun (his sense of self) and his North Node (karmic mission) united in the action of his warrior Mars.  The Sun, the North Node, and Mars are key planets of motivation in a chart.  His sense of responsibility comes from a trine between his Sun and Saturn/Pluto. His tendency to secrecy is shown by Neptune opposite his Sun.  At the time of his disclosures Jupiter was exactly trine his Pluto, bringing success to his hidden motivations and sense of internal power.  Neptune, the planet of secrecy, was exactly squaring his Uranus (I.T. activity and capacity to surprise), meaning that he was involved in complex operations.

Bradley Manning

Bradley Manning is a U.S. soldier who is said to have given classified information to Wikileaks about war activities, especially in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Here his destiny as a whistleblower came into confluence with that of Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks.  Like Snowden, their personal lives have been on hold ever since.  The Wikileaks exposure of sensitive material exploded at the time of the Jupiter-Pluto square in 2010.

Manning has the warrior archetype (Mars conjunct Pluto, a military man) but more telling is his Rebel Archetype (Sun conjunct Uranus).  His Uranus is further highlighted, and in a karmic sense, by its square to his Nodal Axis  At the time of the Wikileaks explosion, Mars was square Manning’s Uranus (incitement to rebellion) and on his South Node (karmic action).  This T-square also shows an event which would put him in personal danger.

Julian Assange

 I have already written several times about Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks.  What is interesting here is how his destiny brought him together with Bradley Manning’s at the time of the Jupiter-Pluto square to create such an explosive event.  It seems likely to have been a pre-birth contract, if you are looking at it from the perspective of a past-life therapist.

Like Manning, he has the Inner Rebel in his natal chart, in the form of Sun square Uranus.  Like Snowden, he has the Karmic Warrior, in the form of North Node conjunct Mars.  His Pluto is exactly conjunct Manning’s South Node, indicating a past-life connection of a gunpowder plot variety.  At the time of the Wikileaks explosion, Mars was transiting the point of their karmic bond, i.e. Assange’s Pluto and Manning’s South Node.  The karmic astrology strongly suggests that they had been co-conspirators in earlier lifetimes, and their commitment to the theme of exposure of injustice brought them to a new contract for this lifetime.

Aspects

The week kicks off tomorrow with a dynamic sextile between Mars and Uranus. This will encourage revolutionaries and protesters in their cry of “Freedom!”.  If you’re not a revolutionary, say you’re just a peaceful meditator, you may experience extra energy and “oomph!”  The energy of group work will be especially strong, and your sense of purpose will be focussed in the moment.

On Wednesday (19th) the Sun conjuncts Jupiter at 28 degrees Gemini, and if you have an event that day where you require a little luck, it could be forthcoming. Meetings will be full of good will.

Later that day, Mars squares Chiron, so don’t be overconfident in the aftermath, or in the celebratory period, as you may be incident-prone.

On Friday (21st) the sun enters Cancer, and it’s the Summer Solstice! We’re still waiting for summer proper to start and it will at least be there in spirit that day.

You may experience that sense of a lift, as a new Grand Trine is starting to form. But as so often recently there is a counterbalancing sense of tension, due to an impending Full Moon. If you are having mixed feelings at the end of the week, that’ll be why.

Next week: Wimbledon

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – Constructive rebellion
• Wednesday – Luck then tricky adjustments
• Friday – Celebration of Summer

The Turkish Spring

Turkey, a country which holds a crucial position in the world, in relation to the EU and in relation to the Middle East, is at a crossroads now.  It has had the same leader at the helm for 10 years, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, democratically elected, but now a rebellion is under way, triggered by the proposed building of a mall on park land in Istanbul.

The people have just initiated an Arab Spring style rebellion.  It differs from other such revolts, partly due to its timing, coming 2-3 years after the first ones.  Astrologically, the spirit of the Arab Springs were a product of Uranus (rebellion) entering Aries (self-will).  Several  of these are at the next stage, of wrangling for a new order, e.g. Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, which is proving as much of a struggle as the initial uprising.  The pure spirit of the Uranus in Aries has now, over the last year, become entangled, with Pluto in Capricorn, and the deadlock with the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Islamists in Iraq are being replicated where the new orders are attempting to establish themselves.  Syria, which began its “Spring” later than some, got caught up with the Uranus-Pluto square before a clear win could be established for the rebels, and the situation there is a no-win situation at the moment, with the ordinary population definitely the losers, and refugees spilling into Turkey and Jordan.

Erdogan is possibly surprised to find this opposition, as he has successfully governed Turkey since 2003, to all intents and purposes under a democratic regime.  But he himself has changed, and moved towards Islamism.  He has Sun, Mercury and Venus in Pisces so can encompass a range of political ideas, and has a basically flexible nature (with 3 other planets also in flexible signs).  This flexibility will have helped him stay in power for so long.  His current reaction in trying to quell the rebellion may not seem flexible, but it is the standard reaction of a government.  He had reached a high point in his self-confidence, and sanctioned the building project as an expansion of this, with Jupiter (expansion) exactly sextile his natal Pluto (power) at the time of the rebellion.  His own faith in his power will have made such a reaction from the public unthinkable. His recent adoption of authoritarianism may be the effects of the corruption of power, a desire to hold on to that power.

Turkey’s own chart is hugely affected by the current Uranus-Pluto square, as Uranus is exactly square to Turkey’s Pluto and Pluto is opposite Turkey’s Pluto, so the  severe and sudden spotlight of Uranus-Pluto change has come to alight on Turkey now.  However, Neptune trines Turkey’s Sun, so there is a subtle and spiritual side to this change too, an evolution of consciousness.

In an article on May 9^th, Professor Alon Ben-Meir lends weight to Turkey’s position in the Middle East:

“Turkey can and in fact should play a constructive role, provided that the Erdogan government takes a hard look at what the opportunities are to contribute to building a structure of peace and stability. The Erdogan government, however, should also consider the risks entailed should it remain stuck in grandiose old thinking.”

He concludes in saying: “I believe that Turkey is a country that has the potential of becoming a significant global player, but, like any other power, it must also learn its limits.”  He was writing pre-Turkish Spring.

What may mark out this Turkish Spring, starting as it does in the midst of the Uranus-Pluto square series, from the Syrian situation, may be Erdogan’s grasp of what is needed in the democratic process if he can turn round his thinking, as he has engaged with it already, and listen to his people.  He is in the unique position of being able to learn what not to do in the region, from previous examples.  Bashar Assad of Syria, who has treated his people with great brutality,has no history and possibly no prospect of doing what is needed.  He does have an opposition of flexible planets in his chart, but crucially his Mars (will) is in the fixed sign of Scorpio, while Erdogan’s is in another flexible sign, Sagittarius.

Celia Fenn, an Earth Healer has recently written about the situation in Turkey, saying: “It’s about a generation of Indigos standing up and saying “This doesn’t work for us!…This is the Indigo Revolution.  It is young people who have said ‘no…it is enough’ and who will stand calmly in the face of aggression because they are light warriors and systems busters.”

To read her whole article go to:

http://spiritlibrary.com/starchild-global/the-indigo-revolution-and-turkey?utm_source=Spirit+Library+Updates&utm_campaign=031f75e53d-Daily_Update&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ef6a5211f4-031f75e53d-120809382

Aspects

The aspects this week are contrasting (the tail end of a Grand Trine and a T-Square) and intense, centring around the middle of the week.

You may still be processing the Grand Trines and T-square of last week now, and the first aspect to greet us this week is an opposition of Venus and Pluto on Tuesday (11^th).  This is part of the T-square, and centres around facing deep or difficult issues in our relationships.  There may be a temptation to give up and walk away, but the real deal would be in sharing deep feelings.  Venus and Pluto also rule money, and economic crises could also be on our mind, both personal and global.  This aspect occurs late in the evening.

Even later in the evening, the climax of the Grand Trine occurs, with Saturn exactly trining Neptune in water signs.  This will assist the sharing and stabilizing of emotions, such as in relationships.  There will also be wider applications, such as the watery issue of international fishing.  This week Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall announced that cod stocks were on the rise again in the North Sea.  This is a strong partnership, Saturn and Neptune, and should sustain you this week if the going gets tough.  It is a marriage of spirituality and practicality.

The next day, Wednesday (12^th) Venus squaring Uranus brings the T-square back into focus with more relationship and financial challenges, but the vibrations of Saturn-Neptune trine will still be available for assisting with balancing and mixing reality with hope.

After Wednesday, the intensity should lessen and you will be able to take stock of what you have achieved and what you have yet to master.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – problems and solutions
• Wednesday – more relationship disruption, but looking at the larger picture will help

Liberace and the Making of the “Behind the Candelabra” Film

With anti-gay riots in Paris this last week, and the first gay marriage in France at Montpellier, the TV film “Behind the Candelabra” aired on 26^th May in U.S. and to be aired on U.K. television on 7^th June is a timely reminder of how things have changed since Liberace lived under the pressures of secrecy with his partner Scott Thorson in the late 1970s/Early 1980s.  I always find it fascinating how films come to be made, and the relation of the actors’ charts to their roles as shown in their birth charts, and the real-life people they portray.

Liberace

Liberace, who was a stand out celebrity in the 1950s and 1960s (when I was growing up), began to play piano from a very early age.  He had Sun conjunct Mars in Taurus, representing his energetic music and lifestyle.  His Ascendant was opposite exactly a conjunction of Venus and Pluto, indicating a difficult romantic life .This difficult emotional tone was reinforced by a T-square with the Ascendant opposing Venus/Pluto exactly squaring Chiron on the cusp of the 4^th House.  But he also had a Grand Trine between Uranus exactly trine natal Midheaven (Career) and the Venus/Pluto conjunction (a glittering musical career).

Scott Thorson

Scott Thorson, the partner at the heart of the story, who wrote his autobiography which sparked the project, had Venus exactly conjunct Chiron (again, emotional pain) in Aquarius forming a T-square with a Mars-Jupiter opposition.  He also had the Sun square Neptune, which manifested as a lifelong problem with drugs and history of imprisonment.

He and Liberace had  their Marses exactly conjunct at 23 degree Taurus, a conjunction which can bring sexual compatibility, and passion, but also (often later) conflict, which is what eventually happened in their relationship.

Liberace leaned heavily on Scott to have plastic surgery (Scott’s Sun square Neptune) in order to look like him, and this is portrayed in the film.  Eventually Scott sued Liberace for palimony, around the time of Scott’s Saturn Return in Capricorn, when he was aged 29.

His Neptune in Scorpio was square exactly Liberace’s Neptune in Leo in 8th House (his fondness for luxury and extravagance), a basic spiritual unease in their relationship which may have been one of the causes of their split. Neptune being an issue between them, and “Behind the Candelabra” being the title of Scott Thorson’s autobiography about their life, leads me to wonder if the candelabra is a symbol for Neptune.

Steven Soderbergh

The film Director Steven Soderbergh, who directed the powerful Erin Brockovich, has Jupiter conjunct Chiron (an overwhelming desire to promote healing) and Jupiter trine Neptune (success in film directing).  Like Scott Thorson he has Venus exactly square Chiron (a need for healing through relationship) and therefore understands perfectly a fundamental part of Scott’s woundedness.

He has significanct interaspects with Liberace: these include Liberace’s Mars trine Soderbergh’s Sun, Liberace’s Neptune trine Soderbergh’s Venus and Liberace’s Nodal Axis square exactly Soderbergh’s Uranus (a karmic and group connection).  These are aspects which will have continued to get under Soderbergh’s skin until he made the picture!

As Liberace had Mars conjunct Scott Thorson’s Mars, Scott’s Mars is also trine Soderbergh’s Sun.  But Soderbergh’s Mars is square to Scott’s Mars.  There is sympathy (sextiled Moons) but also the possibility of conflict through the squared Marses.

Steven Soderbergh  is aged 50 now, so it is his Chiron Return movie, so the development of his Inner Healer is involved.  He is retiring or taking a break in order to paint (Chiron squaring his natal Venus).

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas, who plays Liberace himself in the TV film, has his Moon one degree away from Liberace’s Ascendant, and is able to access his personality through his own emotion.  It is not a typical role for him (his style usually being represented by his Scorpio Ascendant), but his Midheaven is in Leo (expressing a career in show business, and also the flamboyance of Liberace, who had Neptune and Saturn in Leo).

Michael Douglas’ North Node (karmic mission) is in Cancer (his profession handed down in the family) and sextile exactly Chiron, the planet of healing. Early in his career he produced the film “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, Chiron representing mental health issues.

His natal Sun is conjunct Neptune by 1 degree, reinforcing the direction of  the acting profession and the role of film in his life.

Michael’s Neptune (film representation) sextiles exactly Liberace’s North Node, so it may be a karmic contract that has been played out.

On August 16^th 2010 Michael Douglas announced that he was suffering from a type of throat cancer, with Pluto then squaring exactly his Sun in Libra (and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones’ Sun)  and Pluto conjunct exactly Michael’s Moon.  He was facing his own mortality.  Saturn, a hard taskmaster, was also transitting his Sun.  However Neptune was trine his Venus (throat) and by 11^th January 2011 he was able to announce that the tumour was gone.

The timing of the film was affected.  He had been asked to do the film, and Steven Soderbergh waited for his recovery, so the project was very significant for Douglas.  Steven Soderbergh’s Neptune is conjunct Michael Douglas Ascendant in Scorpio – he could envisage Douglas in the role of Liberace.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon, whose Midheaven at 28 degrees Scorpio is exactly conjunct Neptune (charisma), was also marked out at birth for a film career.  With three planets and Midheaven in 10^th House in Scorpio, this encapsulates his role of agent in the Bourne Trilogy.

His Moon at 22 deg Capricorn is trine exactly his own Mars in Virgo and trine Liberace’s Mars in Taurus, their Marses being in trine.  Matt Damon’s Moon is conjunct Michael Douglas’ South Node.  Another indication of a karmic role.

Film launched 26/5/13

At the TV launch of this film in the U.S., Neptune trined Liberace’s Venus/Pluto conjunction – charts are often very relevant posthumously, and Liberace may have influenced the project from spirit! Neptune was square his Nodal Axis – portraying karmic pain, but ultimately balancing and possibly healing.

Saturn was conjunct Scott Thorson’s Neptune – this may have been for him a stark portrayal of his drug addiction.

Pluto was trine Steven Soderbergh’s Pluto (his announcement that it would be his last film, but also his own empowerment through this production) and sextile his Jupiter – the satisfying end of a cycle, and also triumph.

In Conclusion

Notably Mars is prominent in the exact interaspects between all these men, emphasizing the theme of male sexuality. It may imply that the right men at the right time were chosen to be involved in a project of this nature.

The relationship betweeb Liberace and Thorson didn’t last, and the secrecy and social climate undoubtedly put some strain on their relationship, but they had different issues to work out in this lifetime and reached a parting of the ways.  The current climate would probably have seemed impossible, if not inconceivable, to Liberace starting out on his emotional life.

Aspects

On Sunday (2^nd June) morning the week dawns brightly with a sextile between the Sun and Uranus. It’s a good day to bring a group of friends together, or indulge in some original creativity, or if you’re a scientist to perfect your invention ready for patenting!

On Monday (3^rd) Venus enters Cancer, and any creation you are engaged in will complete its design phase and work with the heart, on the feeling and emotional aspects of its purpose.  Part of Grand Trine no. 1 occurs in the evening, with Mercury trine Neptune. This too has application for your creative purposes, in bringing down inspiration from the spiritual plane to the rational mind.  The Universe does not waste energy, and this part of the Grand Trine may find you engaged in a group project.

The Grand Trine completes in the early hours of Tuesday (4^th) morning, and you may see the grander purpose or plan, with your particular role in it.  Mercury now trines Saturn, so after the spiritual downloading comes a practical phase which is the next step.

The Sun also squares Chiron on Tuesday, so there may be health challenges or awkward situations.  Know that there are solutions, possibly close at hand.

Friday (7^th) is the busiest day aspect-wise, from 8.24 a.m. (in the U.K.) TO 23.57 Hrs.

Here is your timetable:

8.24 a.m.: Neptune stationary, prior to turning retrograde – starting a re-evaluation of your spiritual path.

11.46 a.m.: Venus trines Neptune, and initiates the second Grand Trine of the week – this is about embodying more inspiration into your creativity, art or music, more compassion and unconditional love in your relationships, and more understanding of the relationship between the spiritual and the material, providing information about abundance.

15.23 Hrs: Venus trines Saturn, completing the Grand Trine and grounding the work you have done.  Again you may be involved in a group application.

You may prefer to view the two trines as one big trine, from Monday to Friday, possibly reflecting  a work project you are engaged in. So Mercury and Venus in conjunction (arts and writing projects) are enabled by their trine with Neptune (spirit) and Saturn (matter). A wide range of successes can come under this banner.

22.03 Hrs: Mercury opposes Pluto, initiating a T-square patterning which slightly combats but does not wipe out the benefits of the Grand Trine(s). There may be a challenge in implementing plans or a fault in the thinking which needs to be ironed out. The cause may be a deep psychological issue.

23.57 Hrs: Lastly on this day, Mars squares Neptune and there may be confusion in action, confusion about men, or about the performance of your car. Again have faith in the power of the overall plan presented to you this week, and take steps to remedy any problems so that the project is not derailed. If this is a group situation for you, encourage each person to take responsibility for their own part.

The week ends with  a New Moon on Saturday (8th) plus another square.  The New Moon is at 18 degrees Gemini, favouring communication, education, science and travel within your own country.

Mercury squaring Uranus then puts the cat among the pigeons or the spanner in the works in relation to communication and technology. This is part of the T-square, and requires clarity of thought and possibly swift communication.

The T-square continues over to next week, but is balanced and counteracted by a powerful trine which supports the efforts you have made this week. It is not a case of the wave dissolving your sandcastle, but a little reconstruction may be needed next week.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – brilliance
• Monday – soft feelings and spiritual input
• Tuesday – laying foundations; healing crisis
• Friday – complexity; rigorous aspect timetable
• Saturday – new beginning; be alert mentally