Aretha Franklin (1942 – 2018)

“Her voice could scald or soothe, singing with equal intimacy and intensity to her God or a faithless lover”

~ Richard Williams, The Guardian

Aretha Franklin died on Thursday this week, two days before Kofi Annan (see earlier blog).  She has, with the golden strength of her voice, been described as the Queen of Soul, and her music has been meaningful to many lives.  Glowing tributes have been pouring in from Presidents (Obama, Clinton) and musicians (Tom Jones, Carole King), and it is clear that she holds a prominent place in the hearts of many.  In her politics, she was a Democrat, and she performed at Barack Obama’s inauguration.  She performed with many other artists in musical collaborations, and her last appearance was last November (2017) at a benefit concert on behalf of  the Elton John AIDS Foundation.  She was born in Memphis, but is most closely associated with Detroit.

Birth Chart

Aretha has three conjunctions in her birth chart.  The first, Mars conjunct Jupiter, combines energy and enthusiasm in spades.  This, together with her Scorpio Ascendant, breathes so much life into her singing.

Her other two conjunctions are not so easy.  Second up, is Chiron conjunct Pluto, which can bring dark and challenging experiences in life, though it is a conjunction common to those born in her year of 1942, in the middle of World War II.

Thirdly her Saturn was conjunct Uranus, another of those difficult conjunctions in those war years.  This can bring personal earthquakes.  Her mother died when she was only  9 years old, when Pluto was opposing her natal Venus in 4th House.  When barely into her teens, she had two sons.   She certainly had a turbulent and stormy love life, with her marriage to Ted White in particular subjecting her to abuse.

Like Kofi Annan, she had the Sun in Aries.  As we know her birth time, we can see that it is placed in the 5th House of Performance.  It is also powerfully trined with her Chiron/Pluto conjunction, adding a transformative quality to her performance.

She had a great deal of mental energy, with her Mercury in Pisces closely square to the Mars/Jupiter conjunction.

Family Connections

Both Aretha’s parents were musical.  Her father Clarence (“the man with the million dollar voice”) was an itinerant preacher and singer, and her mother was a piano player and singer.  She came through a background of gospel and church music, which she infused later into her pop ballads.

Her father was a friend of Martin Luther King, and she herself was close to him.  The chart connections between the three are close and karmic, suggesting perhaps that they may have been from the same soul group.  Aretha’s own influence, channelling her soul into songs which influenced millions, demanding respect for women’s rights, and supporting the cause of human rights and freedom for black people, created a considerable impact and legacy in a different way from Martin Luther King.

Father and daughter had a spiritual link, with their Neptunes exactly sextile, and his Uranus was trine her Mars, offering telepathy and electricity to her energies in their relationship.  Her father had a dynamic mental interaction with Martin Luther King, with his Uranus on King’s Mercury.  Even more profoundly, his Pluto sextiled Martin Luther King’s Jupiter/Neptune trine (which represented the essence of his spirituality).  Aretha went on tour with Martin Luther King when she was 16.  Her Moon was conjunct his Pluto, and her Sun was conjunct his Uranus (both very dynamic connections).  Her Uranus was exactly conjunct with King’s North Node, and his Venus closely conjunct her South Node, which were karmic.  She sang at his funeral.

Success

She found success in her singing career when she changed her label to Atlantic Records.  In January 1967 she recorded the poignant “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).  In April of the same year, she made a revolutionary recording of RESPECT by Otis Redding, which is possibly her most popular song, and certainly meaningful in the civil rights and feminism movements.  My own favourite is “Say a Little Prayer”, which I bought just before starting University in 1968, and so has special emotional associations for me.

Death

She seems to have had a long running battle with pancreatic cancer, which considering when it was first rumoured (2011) she seems to have managed to cope with very well, continuing to perform until recently.  Pancreatic cancer was given as the cause of her final illness.  At the end, she was surrounded by those she loved, and had been visited by Stevie Wonder and Jesse Jackson. Another outstanding life, well lived.

Aspects

Mercury went Direct this morning.  Can you tell?  I am hoping that this is a turning point, because we’ve had an extremely difficult week on our local railway line, between Norfolk and London.  So, good communications to you, until the next time Mercury goes retrograde.

More good news: Jupiter trines Neptune today, a magical unicorn type of energy, for those who like that.  It is a great aspect, and a rare one, for aligning spirituality with religion and for the good of all.  Martin Luther King had this trine in his birth chart, as has been mentioned earlier.  Make the most of the sacredness of this aspect today, and if you miss it today it will still be around to some extent, gradually fading over the week.

On Thursday (23rd) the Sun enters Virgo, which marks a new sense of purpose, after the enjoyment of the holiday season.  There is a renewed work ethic, new ideas for improving health and working conditions.  A new resolve to institute health and fitness regimes, and work rotas and practices.

The Sun trines Uranus on Saturday (25th), so if you missed out on the bounty of Jupiter trine Neptune at the beginning of the week, latecomers to the blog may be able to capitalize on  the inventiveness and creativity that is the potential of Sun trine Uranus.  Social projects and science initiatives benefit from this trine.  There could be an electrical excitement in the air.

Late in the evening, the Sun trines Saturn, so we have on the day an Earth Grand Trine, which is most constructive.  The Sun brings together the solid qualities and achievements of Saturn, and the innovative achievements of Uranus.  So you may be able to combine the old and the new in ways that are satisfying to all on that day.

I will be away on Sunday (26th) and will post the week’s aspects the following Monday (27th).  Therefore, I will just mention Sunday’s main events, beginning with a Full Moon in Pisces.  This is the most emotional of the Full Moons of the year, but also the most spiritual, in that we come to the end of a spiritual cycle.  It is also the most compassionate, and ecological disasters are still evoking are emotions.  At the Pisces Full Moon last year, we had just heard about floods in Texas and India.  This year we have recently had the Genoa bridge collapse, and floods in Kerala (India again). Rescues are ongoing for both at this time.  The Pisces Full Moon reminds us that we are all One.

Also on Sunday, Venus will be square Pluto, a difficult aspect psychologically and emotionally.  Soul-searching, letting go and forgiveness work under this challenge.  Heart to hearts also work.  In a relationship, you may feel that you want to stop communicating altogether.  If so, the communication will go underground, or wait for a more suitable time to tackle difficult issues.  Just as we are all One, so are relationships Eternal.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – communications a go go; the spiritual harmonizes with the religious
• Thursday – a refreshing of work themes
• Saturday – sparkling newness and reverence for the old
• Sunday (26th) – the deepest compassion, and deep relationship issues

 

Kofi Annan

“Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy”

~ The Kofi Annan Foundation

Kofi Annan, an icon of diplomacy, departed this world this week, almost universally loved and respected, someone who did his best to make the world a better place.

Birth Chart

Annan had  the Sun in Aries, unaspected – making for a very independent soul.  We do not have a birth time for him.  His Moon may have been in Cancer (if born in the morning) or Leo (if born after noon).

There are several signatures in his chart which speak of peacemaking and negotiation.  Firstly, Mercury conjunct Venus in the strong, calm and stable sign of Taurus. Interestingly, he died on the day of a Mercury/Venus conjunction, a classic conjunction for diplomacy.

Another indication of his outstanding skill is his Mars (his ruling planet) trine exactly Neptune, which depicts the Peacemaker Archetype in that it can elevate the human energies above aggressive tendencies.

The third aspect I would pick out was his Jupiter in humanitarian Aquarius closely trine his natal Chiron, providing the vision and confidence to want to heal the world and improve its condition.

In his tribute, Putin himself pointed out “his wisdom and courage, his ability to make informed decisions even in the most complex, critical situations.”  This partly derives from his Uranus trine Neptune.

There was also his tireless energy, in Mars square Jupiter.

With Pluto trine closely his North Node, Kofi Annan made a very profound karmic contribution to the world.

Career

Kofi Annan was born in Ghana, and originally studied Economics and Management.  But one of his first jobs was at the World Health Organization in Geneva in 1962, where he realized there were bigger issues to be dealt with in the world.  From there he went to work in various departments at the U.N., including that of Peacekeeping Operations.  When his predecessor at the top position Boutros Boutros-Ghali was away in August 1995, he stepped in and proved his mettle at decision making during a crisis.  His transits at the time were very telling: Mars was trine his Jupiter, and Pluto trine his Pluto (empowerment).

He became Secretary General of the U.N. in January 1997, and served two terms, until December 2006. On taking up office, Mars was sextile his North Node in Scorpio, boosting his karmic mission. He set about reforming the institution, seeing where its inefficiencies lay, expanding for example the Security Council.  As is usually the case, his period in office was marked by turbulence on the world stage.

Regrets, he had a few

He berated himself over events related to the genocide in Rwanda, and in Bosnia (Srebrenica).  He tried, and failed, to persuade Messrs. Bush and Blair to desist from the war in Iraq (declaring it to be illegal).  But any failures acted for him as a spur in his life to do better, and continue his efforts, even after he had left office.

Nobel Peace Prize

In 2001 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with the U.N. (Antonio Guterres said “In many ways [he] was the U.N.”).  Kofi’s Sun in Aries is within two degrees of the Ascendant of the U.N. chart, and the U.N. Uranus was closely sextile Annan’s Sun.  At the time of the award, Mars completed a Grand Trine with his natal Mars trine Neptune (which highlighted his talent for peacekeeping).  His achievements were cited as revitalizing the U.N., giving priority to human rights, commitment to containing the spread of HIV in Africa, and opposition to international terrorism.

Efforts after leaving Office

In 2007 he founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, working on international development for a fairer world, and promoting conflict resolution.  In 2012, with hopeful Jupiter on his Mercury, he took up the post of special envoy to Syria, where the civil war was raging, and still rages.  After 6 months, he withdrew (with Uranus on his Saturn), citing frustration with the lack of progress by the U.N. in conflict resolution.  He also led a commission in 2016 to investigate the Rohingya crisis.

Death

At his death, Pluto (the planet of transition) formed a Grand Trine with his natal Mars/Neptune trine, as if to emphasize the description that his was a life well lived.  When interviewed in the Guardian in 2012 about his approach to diplomacy, he described it thus:

“You have to understand what drives them, appeal to their pride and vanity, and offer them a way out that saves face.”

Richard III – A Reprise

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

I last wrote about Richard III in February 2013 when the findings from his unearthing in the Leicester car park were televised.  So I think an update now would not be too self-indulgent.

I wrote at the time:

“The television programme was fascinating, especially the role of his advocate, Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society.  She became intensely involved after reading a biography of Richard III 15 years ago, and while standing in a car park in Leicester identified the spot where he had been buried.  Thus began a chain of events leading up to first his unearthing, and then the confirmation of his identification. I was very moved by her faith in him, and her own faith in her intuition.  She must have a very special karmic link with him.”

Last weekend, hubby and I travelled up to York, to watch a performance of Shakespeare’s Richard III at their new pop-up theatre (open until 2nd September).  In June, we both saw a breakfast TV report about the theatre, and both had a very strong urge to go to it.  On the train bound for Peterborough (the second leg of a three part journey) we met a chatty fellow traveller.  It emerged that he was a Richard III enthusiast, and declared that he had been to Bosworth Field in Leicestershire, the scene of Richard’s demise, and found it to be “most eerie”.

I had printed out my original blog for reference, which commented on the event:

“The chart of his death at Bosworth Field takes on a huge significance as being the turning point of the continuation of the royal line (not his).  It is a real what-might-have-been moment.  Fittingly, Pluto at his death was exactly sextile the U.K. Sun, indicating a complete change of course for the royal line (Sun).”

It all added to the anticipation of our visit and the main theatrical event.  Two days before we set off, we watched the Laurence Olivier film of Richard III, and were both captivated.  Despite some friends of ours feeling that he was a “ham actor”, we were both amazed at the portrayal and even subtleties of his expression.  We were both looking forward to going.  I was reminded of how vast a soul Shakespeare was to write all those plays, and the imagination of the histories especially.  I wondered whether he tuned into the akashic records.  But it is generally accepted that he distorted Richard III’s character and Machiavellian deeds to please the Tudors.

Why does the story still interest us, I wonder?  The Leicester car park story has added great intrigue, but I remember back to one History Department Christmas party at Nottingham University, back in 1969.  My Medieval English History lecturer invited us all for a hot toddy, dimmed the lights, and in front of a coal fire whispered “Who killed the Princes in the tower?”  My memory blanks out after that, because I just wasn’t interested.  Oh how I now wish I had listened more carefully…

There were to be more hors d’oeuvres to the main course, as my friend Janet popped back to York from the middle of her holiday to take us round some old haunts of Richard III.  This was most informative, factually and atmospherically, and reminded us of the strength of feeling there still is in York for the king.  For this reason I am including a guest blog by Janet about one of the reasons his burial at Leicester continues to rankle.

I took time to study one of the well known portraits of Richard III which I had seen many times before but particularly struck me forcibly, and I feel there is much more to tune into in that portrait.  The face has gentleness and sensitivity, which you don’t associate with the accepted accounts of Richard III’s character, and particularly the one as portrayed by Shakespeare.  This most famous of his portraits I feel conveys a compassion which it would have been difficult for an artist to manufacture.  Yes, artists often enhanced the beauty of a subject, but the delicacy and subtlety of this portrait I felt to be genuine.

I had written: “Another issue arising was his effeminacy.   Rather than having an effeminate chart, I see him as graceful with four planets in the sign of Libra.  The bone expert on the programme actually used the term ‘gracilis’ as an alternative to feminine.”

In our wanderings, I photographed some blurb, and was later pleased to find the birth date of Anne Neville, his wife.  That set me wondering if I should write a sequel to my original blog about Richard III, based on our current visit.

In Shakespeare’s play, Richard III seduces Anne Neville (played by Clare Bloom in the film) having killed her husband, and then goes on to marry her.  In their synastry, I found her Mercury to be trine his Neptune (being beguiled by him!), her Saturn trine his Uranus (his persuasiveness to an alternative lifestyle), her Neptune conjunct his Sun (she enraptured him), and her Neptune sextile his Pluto (a deep interaction).  They had a child, Edward of Middleham, who sadly died aged 10.

So, the main event of our trip was a long production of Richard III.  The actor portraying Richard III was young, and did not have quite the gravitas or menace of an Laurence Olivier, but nevertheless it was a very good production.    We marvelled, knowing the strength of feeling in York about Shakespeare’s hatchet job on Richard, that the play was even being shown.  Would the performance show more sympathy towards him in deference to that?  No it didn’t.

My original blog was written before they had settled on where to bury Richard:

“The next question on the agenda was where he should be laid to rest.  Should he go to York Minster, Leicester Cathedral, or Middleham Castle where he lived peaceably early in life ?  Or even Fotheringay Castle, where he started out that life. There is evidence to suggest that he wished to be buried at York Minster, according to the historian A.J. Pollard. The Soul that was or is Richard may have incarnated in between that lifetime and this, but it is clear that he has literally moved heaven and earth to rescue that portion of his soul which was trapped and restless under the Leicester car park.”

I concluded:

“For me the process of choosing his final resting place should go to Philippa Langley, who found him.  She clearly has a special connection with  him, and the capacity to find out his true wishes.”

Over to Janet, who can provide the York perspective:

Guest Blog, by Janet

Earlier this year there was an item in the York Press that a very senior York figure was moving on to an even more senior position elsewhere.

Here are two of the comments that appeared under the article – giving you a flavour of local feeling

redexile15th May 12:07 pm

Good riddance.

YorkNewcastle15th May 6:51 pm

Thank God. Thank you Lord for delivering us from the plague on our houses.

So who could it be?

It was in fact, The Very Reverend  Vivienne Faull  – Dean of York Minster .

Yes, she, who announced very firmly that York Minster didn’t want Richard III , made it very clear that reburial in York was not an option.

At this you could hear a sharp intake of breath all over York, for Vivienne Faull had been inaugurated only on December 1 2012 just a few months after Richard’s discovery in August. And her previous job? She had in fact spent the last twelve years at Leicester Cathedral as Provost and subsequently as Dean  during which time she had been involved in the negotiations over the proposed archaeological excavations in the search for Richard. Her insistence that Richard should be reburied in Leicester appeared in the agreements made with the University of Leicester.

Vivienne Faull clearly had little idea of the antagonism she would face in York.  Richard III is one of us! He’s ours! After his death and humiliation in Leicester, the townspeople of York continued to show their loyalty to him, to the extent that an emissary of Henry VII was afraid to enter the city in  the aftermath of Bosworth Field.

‘Forsomuch as the forsaid Sir Roger Cotam durst not for fere of deth come thrugh the citie to speake with the maire and his brethre, it was thought that they shuld goo unto him, wherupn the maireand his brethre went unto the sign of the boore and ther they speak with the said knight, which shewed unto them that the king named and proclaimed Henry the vii grete them well, and wold be unto them and this citie as good and gratiouse soveraign lord as any of his noble progenitors was before. 

To publicly display loyalty to a Plantagenet when a Tudor had taken the throne was a brave move.

There is very strong feeling pro Richard in York to this day – something Vivienne Faull underestimated.

Legal opposition to Leicester as burial place began.  The laws on exhumation and reburial state that human remains should be reinterred in the closest consecrated ground. As a quickly dug hole was hardly likely to be Richard’s chosen burial place so I’m not sure why this law was applied. Richard himself had planned to found and fund a large chantry chapel and college of one hundred priests to say masses for his soul and the souls of his family. His death occurred before the plan could be put into action.

In addition, in 1483 Richard crowned his son, Edward, as Prince of Wales in York Minster in 1483. Although we can’t be absolutely sure he wanted to be buried in York we do have these events as clues to his thinking   and the wishes of the deceased are supposed to be taken into account when reburial occurs.

So there we are. I was going to sign off as “Mrs Angry of York”  but instead I’ll finish with a few more words from the York Press comments section.

Emperor Palpatine15th May 8:24 pm
“Richard III is now at rest in Leicester and he should stay there because the argument between Leicester and York is finished. Personally I believe he should have come to York but it’s a debate that is closed.

That said, at the time she behaved disgracefully. She said York Minster didn’t want him and where did she used to work? Leicester. An honourable person would have declared a previous interest and stayed out of it. But not her, she stabbed York in the back and in my view disregarded Richard’s clear wishes.

She gave Leicester a eulogy during a homily at the Minster and incensed one man so much he was arrested! She even boasted about “being the enemy in York’s midst” – her words!

She doesn’t appear to have behaved very well in the bell ringing saga either. I think York is well rid of this woman.“

Oh, and by the way Vivienne Faull will be the new Bishop of Bristol. Watch out Bristol!

*****

A last word, from Lana:  There was a feeling that Leicester’s later lucky year in football was brought by Richard III.  I feel that the karmic pendulum is going to swing backwards and forwards through time.  My Moon in Libra would like to think there was a win-win situation for the ongoing War of the Roses.  But so often there are situations which are difficult to bring to unity.  If anyone from Leicester would like to have right to reply, I would be happy to put their case.

Aspects

Today the North Node sextiles Venus, ideal for smoothing over karmic issues, resolving relationship karma and easing connections. It is more about forgiveness and laying aside grievances than exacting karmic balance.  The law of karma works automatically – you don’t need to engineer it.  Your own knowledge is not complete enough.

Tomorrow (Monday 13th) Mars in retrograde motion leaves Aquarius and re-enters Capricorn.  This may have the effect of slowing down action, but action taken will be firmed up, based on realism, more authoritative, and less idealistic.  It may be that you have some unfinished business, need to polish up a project you started in the spring, or you need to attend to the finer detail.  Perhaps an element of the work needs to be corrected.

Between Monday and Saturday there are four days without major aspects.  Normally, I might fill in with some Fixed Stars, but there aren’t any.  Or I might go to minor aspects, but there aren’t any.  This could be a creative space, or a space to hone some of the themes of the week.

We end the week with a beautiful sextile between Mercury and Venus on Saturday 18th.  It’s a day for congenial communications, intelligent artwork, or enjoying nature.  Discussion and negotiation are satisfying under this aspect.

Appropriately, we are having a full reunion of the Quiet Office members on that day, it being the only day we could all manage, and that is something which hasn’t happened for a few years (November 2015 to be exact).  We are meeting at the Botanical Gardens in Cambridge, which is also very fitting.  I don’t try and shoehorn events into the aspects, but it is lovely when they dovetail perfectly.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – smooth karma
• Monday – raking over old ground
• Saturday – cafe culture

Fleetwood Mac – A Soul Group – Part 3:  Christine Perfect/McVie

“If you wake up and don’t want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You’ll see things in a different way”

from “Don’t Stop” by Christine McVie

Christine McVie

Time to introduce the first female member of the band, but before Christine’s arrival, they had to deal with the loss of founder member Peter Green.  The band were doing well, releasing two albums in 1968, “Fleetwood Mac” and “Mr. Wonderful”.  They continued to increase their fan base.

Although he had founded the group, Peter Green, was becoming increasingly unhappy with the way of life.  Belonging to the band gradually became dissonant with his developing philosophy of life.  He told Mick:

“Mick I don’t want to waste my life.  That’s what I’m doing.  I’m wasting my life.”

He was becoming increasingly sensitive to the suffering in the world, and wanted to give all his money to the poor.  He was obsessed with his search for God.  Mick described the reaction of the rest of the group: “We agreed with the beauty of his idealism, but we were practical.”

During their European tour of February 1970, he took LSD with some German hippies, and effectively left the band.  The effect on the band, according to Mick, was “like taking the rudder out of a sailing boat”.  Mick stepped into the role of leader, but there was a huge void: “Luckily we knew the finest blues-woman and piano player in all of England, Christine Perfect.“

Christine was a member of the group Chicken Shack, who had married John McVie in August 1968.

Her Birth Chart

She fitted right into the band, astrologically.  As we saw in Part 1, three of the original members of the band were Cancerian (Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning).

The soul characteristic of the group was about expressing human emotion.  So of the 6 members introduced thus far, four were Cancerian, though one had left (Bob Brunning).  When I come to write my future blog on Music band Sun signs, Fleetwood Mac will represent that sign!  From Part 2 in the series, we saw that John McVie’s North Node in Cancer gave him a karmic key into the group.

As well as being a vocalist and keyboard player, Christine was a major force in terms of songwriting for the group, and this is shown by her conjunction of Venus and Chiron (across the cusp of Leo/Virgo).  Adele also has this conjunction, which has the ability to express the poignancy of love.  Christine’s hits would later form the core of the great album Rumours, which included Don’t Stop, Little Lies, Everywhere, and You Make Loving Fun.

Relationships

In her synastry with John McVie, there was much tension (which may have been creative).  Her Sun squared his Jupiter, her Venus squared his Sun, and their Marses were squared.  On the plus side, her Jupiter was conjunct his Mars, and her Uranus trine his Neptune.

Their transits on their marriage (after a two week romance) were Mars sextile her Uranus (whirlwind relationship) and conjunct her Pluto (a force of nature); and for John the transits were more involved but positive (three trines), giving him more personal stability.

For her personal and working relationship with Mick Fleetwood: Mick’s Jupiter was trine exactly Christine’s Sun (success).  His Saturn was supportive of her Uranus in a sextile, balancing discipline and innovation.  His Saturn was also conjunct her Pluto, which was more difficult, and his Chiron aspects were a little antagonistic, so again there may have been some creative tension between these two.

As for her relationship with Peter Green, who had been best man at their wedding: harmoniously, her Jupiter trined his Venus.  And as so often when someone replaces someone else in a role or line up, there is an exact, powerful Pluto interaspect (as I have mentioned before) – in this case, her Pluto was exactly square his Sun.

Her synastry with the chart of the band (see Part 1) was largely harmonious: her Saturn sextile its Sun, her Mercury trine its Mars, her North Node conjunct its Jupiter (a beneficial karmic link), and her Sun sextile its Pluto.  Her Mercury squared its Saturn, so she may have brought some challenging thought to bear.

Progress

Christine joined Fleetwood Mac on tour at the start of 1970, and Mick Fleetwood describes the state of affairs at that time:

“The band’s new formula remained true to our roots, showcasing Jeremy’s skills, whilst allowing Danny to do more melodic rock…Christine became the glue…”

On a personal note, we went to see them at Nottingham University (before hubby and I were married) in early 1971.  We were a little disappointed by their performance at the time, Christine had already joined them, but it was before some of their dizzier heights as a group.  I do seem to recall they played Albatross, Black Magic Woman and Man of the World.  We always remember different things.  Hubby recalls some hiccups, such as a lack of co-ordination between the drummer and the bassist, while trying to get the rhythm right.  They were about to lose Jeremy Spencer (departing in February 1971) and Danny Kirwan, but about to gain Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks (subjects of Part 4).

Bibliography:

“Play On” by Mick Fleetwood

 

Aspects

On Monday (6th) the Sun squares Jupiter, and we’ll be making hay in the sunshine, but things could get a little out of hand, a bit like when you overdo a joke.  However, you may laugh till you cry, and that can be a rare thing.

At exactly the same moment (23.37 Hrs) Venus enters Libra, another good-time astrological feature, but with a cooler style.  Social charm wins the day.  Harmony in the Arts, sartorial elegance, peace and fairness, are all keynotes of Venus in Libra.

Between them, these two could get the party started.  Trouble is, it’s almost bedtime for some folks, so it may be cocoa or camomile tea all round, over some upbeat late night discussion.

Breakfast on Tuesday (7th) may be a continuation of the same, with coffee (decaffeinated or otherwise), blueberries and bananas, and more amiable discussion based on stimulation from the night before and dream interpretations.

Uranus is stationary prior to turning retrograde mid-afternoon, which could stop the mood in its tracks.  There may be a diversion to attend to.  Much has been made of the current plethora of retrograde planets (including everyone’s favourite, Mercury), so this adds to the season of inward reflection and revisioning.  In the case of Uranus, the element of the unexpected comes to the fore, so you may see some goalposts moving.

The early hours of Wednesday (8th) brings a trine between Venus and Mars, and the interplay between the sexes is warm, or that between your own inner male and female sides.  This aspect favours sensual activities, such as aromatherapy massages.  Book an appointment with your favourite practitioner.  I treated myself to a facial just before my daughter’s wedding.  I was surprised to find that it included the neck, shoulders, arms hands and feet (“for extra relaxation”).  I am not given to advertising, but the appointment was at Clarins, attached to John Lewis, in Cambridge, so that is a firm and hearty recommendation.  Feel free to advertise your favourite practitioner around, under comments.

Venus also opposes Chiron on Wednesday, so that may bring up issues which need healing, even though Venus trine Mars is very much of a balancing aspect.  It may be a case of “Now I am nice and settled, what is next for me to deal with?”.  The issues may be connected with one’s inner female, or one’s relationships.  It may be an artistic conundrum.

The next two aspects occur in the early hours.  There may be a rhythm of early morning waking, for instance, in response.  The Sun conjuncts Mercury at 16 degrees Leo in the early hours of Thursday (9th) and there could be an important message for you in dreams, or on waking.  You could try posing a question before you nod off, and may find the solution appearing on waking.  It is an aspect which brings clarity of thought and illumination.  If you are writing a play, for instance, the perfect line could come to you.

In the early hours of Friday (10th) Venus squares Saturn, which may be deflating in relationships and the Arts, or costly to the purse.  Saturn has a lesson for us in economy, whether in connection with effort or resources, and may require us to move towards greater simplicity.  In a relationship, you may need to move from 20 texts a day to the discipline of say twice a day.  Somebody may be getting drained.

Mercury squares Jupiter on Saturday morning (11th) and we have another full on day, with this aspect overstretching and overloading us mentally, but that could be enjoyably so.  Travel could be an important feature of the day, such as a holiday or leisure outing, or a guided tour.  It’s a good day to practise speaking foreign languages, which could become useful post-Brexit (I don’ t think I’ve mentioned Brexit for at least two weeks).

The big aspect of the day is the third eclipse of the season, a New Moon at 18 degrees Leo.  Leo can bring drama, but if you are writing a theatre script or preparing one for the Christmas pantomime, then the vividness of this eclipse could be useful.  It is helpful to know what House the eclipse fall in within your chart, so that you can apply the energies with more consciousness.  But otherwise, treat it as an enhanced new moon with new intentions, and creativity as a keyword or power, an opportunity to create a fresh start in your life.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – jolly and elegant
• Tuesday – emphasis on the element of the unexpected
• Wednesday – sensuous, but in need of relationship healing
• Thursday – the clarity of the higher mind
• Friday – pause for thought in relationships
• Saturday – mentally interesting, and a turning point

Imran Khan

Imran Khan emerged this week as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, after twenty two years of striving for that aim.  His early incarnations had included cricketer and playboy, and he was one half of a celebrity couple with Jemima Khan (nee Goldsmith).  He was also a philanthropist, and founded a cancer hospital after the death of his mother.

Birth Chart

I am using the accepted date of 5th October 1952 for his birthchart.  At one time, the Pakistan Cricket Board gave out his birthdate as 25th November in that year, but this proved to be erroneous.

Many features of his life and personality can be seen to be derived from his Sun sign, Libra.  He was, for example, known for his good looks in his playboy days.  He has a political bent, in Sun conjunct Saturn, but at the same time a rebellious streak, in Sun/Saturn square Uranus.  This brings a conflict between the old and the new.  There are traits of leadership: he has half his planets (5) in Cardinal signs, and his Sun trines the North Node (a karmic mission which includes leadership).  His Moon in Taurus (the exact position of which is vague as we do not have a birth time) trines his Chiron (Inner Healer) in Capricorn, which symbolizes the hospital built in memory of his mother.  Venus also sextiles his Chiron, encouraging healing ways.  He is not afraid to be controversial, with Mercury square Uranus. He does have a complex mind, with Mercury also conjunct Saturn/Neptune, sextile Pluto and trine his North Node.  Mercury trine closely the North Node found expression in his founding a technical college (in 2008).  His mind would be continually on the go, in all different directions.  He has Jupiter sextile closely Uranus (The Entrepreneur and Philanthropist), and Jupiter square Pluto (a love of power).  But a standout aspect in his chart is Mars trine Pluto, a powerhouse of energy, helpful in sport. Pluto on his South Node in Leo suggests power in past lives, perhaps in Egypt.

Playboy

Khan was educated at University in England, graduating with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Keble College, Oxford.  In the early years of the 1970s he also began his cricketing career, and cultivated his playboy image, reported to have been “non-stop partying” at nightclubs, though he was teetotal.  He was quoted as saying: “I never claim to have led an angelic life”.

The Cricketer

Imran was active as a very good all round cricketer for two decades, from 1971 to 1992.  He made his name especially as a fast bowler (Mars trine Pluto).  He reached his peak in 1982, becoming captain of his country’s team, and led Pakistan to victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

Husband

In 1995, Khan married Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of James Goldsmith and Lady Annabel Goldsmith.  A golden couple, and a union between Islam (Khan) and Judaism (the Goldsmith clan).  Their synastry was not unproblematic: His Venus was square her Sun, and his Saturn opposed her Chiron, but his Mars was sextile her Mercury (a lively communication) and his Neptune trine her Jupiter (much good will between them).  Jupiter was sextile his Sun when they married, and Jemima’s Venus received strong aspects from the outer planets, so there was great hope at that time.  Lady Diana became a close friend and visited them in Lahore.  The couple had two sons, Sulaiman Isa and Kasim, and Jemima moved to Pakistan, but though she converted to Islam she could not settle there, and was under attack for her ethnicity, especially when Imran’s political ambitions attracted enemies.

They divorced, amicably, in 2004, and Jemima returned to the U.K.  She was reported to be delighted at his victory this week.

Politician

Imran Khan founded his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in 1996, motivated by a sense of justice and appalled by the political corruption in politics and poverty in society.  It was to be a long and slow battle, to attain political power (natal Jupiter square Pluto), with many viscissitudes.  He was offered some positions of power, such as that of Prime Minister to Musharraf in 1999, but turned them down, not wishing to be associated with corruption. In 2007 he was placed under house arrest, with Neptune (incarceration) conjunct his North Node and square his Jupiter, and Mars square his Sun (personal danger).  In 2011 he addressed huge rallies, and became thought of as a real political threat to the ruling parties.  Just before the elections of 2013, with Pluto square his Sun, he fell headfirst from a stage and was hospitalized, but his party emerged as the second largest party at that point in time, forming the opposition.

Victory

This week’s victory sees the fulfilment of his natal desire for power (Jupiter square Pluto) in that Pluto has moved to trine his natal Jupiter.

The course of true politics, of course, never does run smoothly.  There have been accusations of vote rigging, and of cosying up to the powerful military.  He did, in his victory speech, try to strike a unifying tone (very Libran).

Simon Tisdall writing in the Guardian and Observer describes Pakistan as “a divided nation that is  also one of the world’s most impoverished and unstable states”.  Undeniably, however well-motivated Khan might be, he may be hamstrung in all sorts of ways and by all sorts of warring factions in trying to accomplish his aims. Tisdall feels that his premiership may enable a shift in international relations.  The chart of Pakistan shows a conjunction between its Jupiter (its aspirations) and Imran’s Pluto (his desire for power), which is a significant combination with potential, but not always easy to achieve with the “honesty and integrity” which Imran professes. But it is worth a try.

Aspects

Aspects this week centre around Thursday and Friday.  Therefore I am providing some input from the Fixed Stars, for those of you who like to work with them.

Tomorrow (Monday 30th) our Sun aligns with the Fixed Star South Asellus in the constellation of Cancer.  “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld  provides the following seed thoughts for this star:

“Some way of relating to teenagers through animals has been discovered as a powerful means of creating better bonds and a better sense of self….Communication with the animal kingdoms and to a lesser extent the plant kingdom will be enhanced for most people.  This will especially apply to mammals and their ability to share their needs with people.  This will work best with animals in the wild or animals who are nom-domesticated…  The closer to the wild state, the more the influence.  People may become aware in a very personal way how the family of humanity can combine with the family of animals.  They may recognize their own ability to communicate with animals and trust it a little bit more.”

Thursday’s (2nd August) aspect is Mars square Uranus, a disruptive, electric type of energy.  Wilful types may try and railroad proceedings for more diplomatic or gentler types.  The latter would do well to disengage until the energy is more to their liking, or more workable for them.  Mechanical items can go wrong, or tempers could get frayed. This aspect can often bring literal thunderstorms, weatherwise.

Friday (3rd) could bring some rebalancing of that state of affairs, with a sextile between Mars and Chiron.  The wilful types may see that their way of doing things is not working in a group situation (it may work for them on their own), and invite some healing input from others.  Healing actions and efforts can thrive under this aspect.

Two Fixed Stars are operational on Saturday (4th): Acubens in Cancer, and Kochab in Ursa Minor.

Bernadette Brady, in her book on the Fixed Stars, cites Rigor as attributing Acubens with “a logical mind, strength, perseverance and good organization”.  She also states that the star is linked with “the energy of giving life, the gateway of life”.

“Starlight Elixirs” offers the following:

“In this star you see some of the more generalized tendencies of Cancer that have a symbolic effect on people such as a willingness to express and work out family issues, to understand the nature of the home, and to create this more clearly. There is some general influence here with better understanding of the subtle forces involved in creating a home, such as through the Chinese art of geomancy known a feng shui.”

For the other star of the day, Kochab (again from “Starlight Elixirs):

“This star can assist people in grounding information from their past lives.  This is a way in which one becomes more comfortable with one’s past lives, as if these lives are running concurrently or parallel to one’s present life and can affect the person in positive ways.  The ability to accept this easily, feel good about the information, and take it in by actually owning it and really knowing it, this is far beyond a verbal or intellectual process.  This can generate a deeper sense of power within the individual.”

Anyone for a regression?

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – animal communication
• Thursday – disrupted energies
• Friday – healing energies
• Saturday – home and family issues; past lives

Fleetwood Mac – A Soul Group – Part 2:  John McVie

“Once we had John McVie we were a tight musical juggernaut, off and running.”

– Mick Fleetwood

John McVie

By rights John McVie should have been more prominent in Part 2 of this story, but he stayed loyal to John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers just long enough to miss the very inception of Fleetwood Mac, to which he gives his name.  The founder members of Fleetwood Mac, in 1967, were Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning.  This band debuted on 13th August 1967 at Windsor, playing at a festival.

John McVie is a Sagittarian, with an energetic and fiery trine from Mars to his Sun.  His North Node, representing his karmic mission, is in the sign of Cancer, cementing the theme of Cancerian belonging which runs through the group, with other key members born under that sign (Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning).  North Node in Cancer gives John a karmic link with the others, and a key into the soul and  rhythm of the band.

In his relationships, he had a mixture of loyalty (Venus trine Saturn), and explosiveness (Venus square Pluto), and in his mental outlook he had expansiveness (Mercury sextile Jupiter) and quirkiness (Mercury opposite Uranus).  Jupiter conjunct Chiron in Libra, implies healing through music, and Neptune square the Nodal Axis represents the karmic complications of his group interactions.

John McVie joined the band as the bassist in December 1967 (replacing Bob Brunning), and Fleetwood Mac released their first album (“Fleetwood Mac”) early in 1968.  Mick Fleetwood said of him: “I came to know a man who has never left my side since – my best friend, the other side of my brain, and the fellow without whom musically I’m only a fraction of what I can be. That would be Mr John McVie.”  Of his musical prowess, he said: “John possesses a tone and rhythm and a progressive sense unlike anyone I’ve ever heard.” John was a heavy drinker, and had a penchant for the sea and boats.  He finally stopped drinking in 1987, after an alcohol-induced seizure.

His relationship with Mick Fleetwood:

Straightaway you notice they have the closest karmic tie: Mick Fleetwood’s Sun is exactly conjunct John McVie’s North Node.  So the Cancerian North Node which attuned McVie to the vibe of the band connects him directly with Mick personally.  In their synastry, there is some mental friction, but there is a notably happy interpersonal aspect in Mick’s Jupiter being exactly conjunct John McVie’s Venus.

John McVie’s compatibility with Peter Green was also very favourable, with his Mars/Saturn exactly trine Peter Green’s Venus/Mars.

His relationship with the chart of the band is very compatible:

The Sun in the band’s chart is exactly trine John McVie’s Jupiter, a sign of success

The Mercury in the band’s chart is sextile John McVie’s Neptune, so he brings sensitivity

The Jupiter in the band’s chart is at the midpoint of John McVie’s Chiron/Uranus trine, which is constructive and healing

The Saturn in the band’s chart is trine John McVie’s Pluto, an enduring relationship

Soul Groups

What is a soul group? The late Michael Newton was a past life therapist who specialized and developed work exploring the in-between life state.  His major volume of written work “Destiny of Souls” details many clients’ reports of the procedures of life between life, and in preparing for incarnation.  Part of that experience is re-joining the soul group, a primary group of which can consist of a cluster of between three and twenty five souls.

He writes: “About half of all my clients see large groups of souls upon their return.  The other half report that after their arrival they see just their own cluster.  The visual images of either large or small gatherings of souls can vary with the same soul after different lives.”

Often, but not always, members of our family appear in our soul group.  Some people, however, feel they are a cuckoo in the next of their birth family.  We all belong to many different groups in the course of our lives, such as work related groups and groups connected with our interests or for the purposes of our karma, and often these are not connected with our soul group.  Sometimes we may meet and bond with someone in one of those groups who is, however.  And we ourselves are the links to several groups.  But often, if you meet a member of your soul group there is a sense of recognition from the outset.

Jenny Boyd

You might be questioning why I am including Jenny Boyd, Mick Fleetwood’s wife, as she was not a member of the band.  But this series is also about Soul Groups, and as the wife of the most prominent member of the band, she was most definitely a member of the soul group.  She was also a link with another soul group, that of the Beatles, which I wrote about under my Cilla blog.  For Jenny was the sister of Patti Boyd, who was in a famous love triangle with George Harrison and Eric Clapton (the subject of a future blog, I am sure).  The Love Triangle is a sub group of the Soul Group, but can also be a link between two soul groups.  Furthermore, Eric Clapton was early in his career a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and in fact was replaced by Peter Green.  Jenny and Mick stayed together for many years, and in fact at one point they divorced and re-married.  Jenny inspired Donovan’s song “Jennifer Juniper”.

Jenny has the Sun conjunct Chiron in Scorpio, so she is deep-thinking, took up transcendental meditation early on, and eventually developed a career in psychology, which fits her chart very well.  She also has a very sociable exact conjunction between Venus and Jupiter, in the ultra-sociable sign of Sagittarius.  There is also a powerhouse of energy in Mars conjunct Pluto in Leo.  To say she has a fiery chart would be an understatement, for not only does she have half (5) of her planets in the fire element, but she also has the Sun square Mars.

It was a difficult and sometimes lonely lifestyle being married to Mick while having family life disrupted by the band touring etc.  The two originally met when she was aged 15.  Like her sister Patti, Jenny was a model, and Mick Fleetwood writes, in his autobiography:

“I’d been obsessed with and was utterly in love with Jenny from the first moment I laid eyes on her.”  Very likely there was some soul recognition going on there.  Mick was mesmerized by a trine between his Venus (love) and Jenny’s Neptune (mystique).  They also have conjunctions between his Mars and her North Node, and His Jupiter and her Sun.

They married on 20th June 1970, and had two daughters. The transits at their wedding included Jupiter trine Jenny’s Uranus (an exciting even), and Pluto trine Mick’s Mars (an energizing union), though there were some difficult transits too (such as a disruptive Pluto square to Jenny’s Uranus, and the commitment of Saturn opposite Mick’s Jupiter.

Progress

The band were engaged with their first American tour in 1968.  They established a reputation for irreverence, and this was partly due to the personality of Jeremy Spencer.  He and his girlfriend, though still teenagers, already had a child.  He was bible-carrying, but had a wild personality, which encouraged the wildness in Mick Fleetwood.  The band were to go through many more transformations, twists and turns, and were soon to be joined by Christine Perfect, who became Christine McVie.  But that story is for the next blog in the series.

Bibliography:

“Play On” by Mick Fleetwood

“Destiny of Souls” by Michael Newton

 

Aspects

There’s a lovely warm sociable vibe on Sunday (22nd), with Venus sextile Jupiter, with the potential for romance.  So it’s a time to gather ye rosebuds, and make merry.

In the evening, the Sun enters Leo, so more fun to be had.  The summer is well and truly under way.  Of course, we have had summery weather for some time here in the U.K., but schools break up around now, and the holiday season is official both academically and astrologically.  If you’ve been too busy to plan your summer, then it is time to down tools, let your hair down and relax.  Everyone deserves a break.

Tuesday (24th) is a little more complicated.  Venus opposite Neptune is confusing on all sorts of fronts: relationships, money and the Arts.  It could be that you need to incorporate more sensitivity or spirituality into your creations.  In a relationship, more compassion may be needed, and in finance more clarity.

The Sun trines Chiron on Wednesday (25th), which is a superb aspect enabling healing, both physical and psychological.  If you are seeking to pick up the pieces on some trauma, your Inner Healer may be working well and receiving guidance from the Universe.  Healing through creativity is especially successful.

There is also a counter aspect running, which occurs late morning, which is the Sun square Uranus.  This aspect represents alienation of some kind, e.g. some reluctance on one party to join in the healing, maybe through defensiveness.  Or they may join in the healing initially, and refuse to go beyond a certain point.  There may be little you can do except accept that the time for full healing may not quite have arrived, but knowing that you also have the power and resource of Chiron working for you in the situation may sustain the faith that eventually things will come together.

Other things may preoccupy you on Thursday (26th), because Mercury is stationary prior to turning Retrograde.  People vary in their sensitivity to this, and so you may want to look back on your own history with it, and build your strategy accordingly.  It also does depend to some extent on whether you are Mercury ruled, in which case you may have more susceptibility.  Also, if you have a regular commuting lifestyle, you may have noticed more problems when Mercury goes retrograde.  There are some heavy rail stories ongoing, such as certain rail franchises facing sanctions or risking losing their franchise altogether, for example Govia Thameslink following the new timetable.  The Southern Rail line has also failed to solve its problems.  These kind of problems may be exacerbated under Mercury retrograde.  On the other extreme, you may have a heightened expertise in Communication (like a degree in it!) and be untouchable.  Certainly the more consciousness you have around it, the less you tend to be affected by it.  Mercury Retrograde is always an opportunity to practise your skills in this area.

Things may hot up on Friday (27th) with an opposition from Mars to the Sun.  People may be hot under the collar for reasons other than the soaring temperatures.  Energy will be high, so it is a good time to arrange activities which channel this energy constructively.  Also avoid confrontations, especially with cars, men and dogs.  So that means no road rage, male rage or canine rage.

This is especially a time of caution, as we are building up to a Full Moon in the evening, which takes place at 4 degrees Aquarius, and is an Eclipse, to boot.  There will be enough emotional, psychological or group processing in the evening without having buttons pressed in the morning with the opposition.  Try to meditate in between, to come to a place of peace.  On the world stage, there may be more hair-raising stories about blond bombshells Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.  For the equivalent August Full Moon in Aquarius last year, I wrote:

“Several issues are coming to a crescendo on the world stage, but at the same time Theresa May has been in Italy, Jeremy Corbyn was in Dubrovnik, and Donald Trump is to take a 17 day golfing holiday.  Aquarius is the sign of freedom, but it may not be wholly possible to escape their responsibilities under a Full Moon.”

Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose, eh?!

What were you doing around 7th August last year, when we had that same Full Moon?  Have you made progress since then?  How would you like to go forward with making progress on the issues of friendship, groups and society?  If you can’t remember specifics, maybe you can remember your mindset and measure progress in that light, bearing in mind that the eclipse carries extra potency and consequence.

Venus trines Pluto in the early hours of Saturday morning (28th).  This is especially helpful for psychological healing, uncovering the depth of human feelings with compassion.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – romance and hedonism
• Tuesday – complications
• Wednesday – healing and detachment
• Thursday – communications awry
• Friday – hotheadedness, emotional tension and turning point
• Saturday – deep relationships

 

The NHS and its Ministers

This week Boris Johnson resigned as Foreign Secretary over Theresa May’s Brexit plan, Jeremy Hunt was moved from the Ministry of Health and Social Care to Foreign Secretary, and Matt Hancock became the new custodian of the nation’s health.

I have written previously about the chart of the N.H.S.: “The NHS is a caring Cancerian Institution, with a cluster of planets (satellitium) in Gemini squared by Mars in Virgo.  This highlights the need for communication, and high standards (Virgo) and the constant stress of its working environment.”

Since the Conservatives came to power in 2010, at a time when the waiting lists had been brought to a manageable length, the National Health Service has been gradually dismantled, privatized, starved of funds and staff, and allowed to crumble.  The prospect of Brexit further endangers  the staffing levels which are propped up by medical staff from over the world, while not enough doctors and nurses are being trained up to fill the gap.

The first calamity that befell the National Health Service under David Cameron’s government was the top down reorganization by Andrew Lansley, who was Secretary of State for Health from 2010 to 2012.  Thus a dismantling was begun, with no future plan to safeguard the NHS, build something better in its place, or protect it from the changes.

Every time there is a new Minister for Health I hope that the N.H.S. will fare better.  And in September 2012, Jeremy Hunt took over from Andrew Lansley, albeit he was coming from under a cloud from the Ministry of Culture.  But it is always interesting to look at the charts of who is replacing who, whether it is in the media (e.g. Dr. Who), or in politics.  You often find a Plutonic aspect between the two people in this karmic interaction.  In this case, Hunt’s Pluto (his ruling planet) was exactly square Lansley’s Sun.

Jeremy Hunt has Venus/Sun and Neptune in Scorpio, with his Neptune sextile a Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo, giving him a steely strength.  His healing asteroid Chiron is subdued by an exact conjunction with Saturn.  In 2015, he entered into a long running battle with the Junior Doctors, which ran into strike action.  He remained adamant in his position, and I found his obdurate stare very unnerving, especially as my daughter was a Junior Doctor at the time, engaged in strike action, and I always hoped for a softening in his attitude.  Was he trying to uphold Conservative policy to the bitter end, did he even care about the N.H.S.?  During his time there were some promises of extra funding for the N.H.S. which were not delivered, and mostly set in some nebulous future time period.  When Theresa May took over from David Cameron, I hoped she would replace Jeremy Hunt but she kept him in place (it was rumoured at the time that no one else wanted the challenge).

Will his strength of will be an asset in the foreign sector, in his new role?  Or will it be too much of a resistance to the spirit of negotiation?  Certainly it will be a different style from Boris Johnson’s.  I wonder whether Hunt is motivated by power, or what his ideals might be in taking up the new position.  Already there has been a casualty in the switchover.  According to a BBC News report, the prisoner being held in the Iranian jail, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, has been put back to the bottom of the list now that Boris has moved on.  Boris had taken an interest in the case, but the family are concerned that Jeremy Hunt’s attention will be elsewhere.

And so to the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock.  Is he the Tory Party’s present for the 70th birthday of the N.H.S.?  Or will he be another nail in its coffin?  His background suggests more of a talent for economics than an interest in health.  And his birthchart shows three of his four aspects to his Chiron to be adverse, so he does not have a natural aptitude for the subject.  He was born under a New Moon in Libra, with a keen, forensic type of mind (Mercury conjunct Pluto in Libra).  Will he be able to boost the state of social care, which would assist the National Health Service and alleviate the problem of bed blocking?  He has not yet set out his stall on his policies, so we don’t yet know.  But, according to the Independent, he received £32,000 from the chair of a think tank which wants the N.H.S. abolished, and is in favour of privatization, so this does not look good.

The 70th birthday of the N.H.S. was celebrated earlier this month, with Jupiter trine its Sun (a celebration), Jupiter square its Pluto (a deep state of  flux), Neptune square its Moon (uncertainty), and Pluto sextile its Chiron (transformation combined with healing).  There is some hope in that picture.  The strength of the NHS is in the hearts and minds of the people who work there who by and large are in their work for good reasons and would do their best not to let it down, and the faith, gratitude and pride that the general public have in it.  Some say that a cross party approach would further its interests best, but in the meantime I do wish that Theresa and her cabinet would make it their priority, over Brexit.

Aspect

There is only one aspect this week, and it occurs on Friday.  Therefore I am providing a couple of hors d’oevres from the array of Fixed Stars, for those who like to work with them.

Today our Sun is aligned with the Fixed Star Pollux, the beta star in the constellation of Gemini, which is twinned with Castor.  “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld portrays Pollux as linked with the right brain, while its twin represents the left brain:

“Pollux works with the intuitive, non-dominant side of the brain…creativity is enhanced, the ability to work with various new ideas can be strengthened, and the ability to take in information and bring it into a new form may be more available.  People may simply feel more in tune with their past, their future, and their relationships as if it is the feeling and the sense of it that is strengthened more than the concrete logical thought processes.”

On Tuesday (17th) our Sun is aligned with the Fixed Star Procyon (Alpha Canis Minoris).  This too assists our mental functioning, but also directly brings in healing:

“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.”

So on to our main menu this week, Mars Retrograde conjunct the South Node in Aquarius on Friday (20th).  This is about addressing past conflicts, particularly in a group setting.  We have all had contact with warriorship in past lives, however peaceful our present lives may be.  If we have Mars conjunct the South Node in our birth chart, this has been a major path for us.  But even if we are very peaceful, we may have been caught up in wars in our past lives, conscription, and the like.  Some of us may have trained in various cultures, such as the Samurai in Japan.  In this lifetime, we may be training to be a peaceful warrior, or we may be pacifist.  We may hold the ideals of Ghandi and Martin Luther King as our ideal.  But in some way we have some relation to conflict, just by participating in society.  And our societies are so divided, e.g. Remainers and Brexiters, Democrats and Republicans.  We can’t hide from conflict, and unless we isolate ourselves we cannot rise above it totally.  So the highest manifestation of this aspect is to demonstrate the true Sisterhood and Brotherhood of Woman/Man, as in the Aquarian ideal.  Mars in Aquarius protects and sustains the underdog, works as a collective to improve society, and puts differences aside.  As an example, I know of an Aquarian teacher who has Mars conjunct the South Node, who early on in his teaching career got every first year pupil involved in some capacity in a school orchestra.  That is the potential of this aspect.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – using the resource of our right brain
• Tuesday – combining mental abilities with healing
• Friday – collective effort

Wimbledon 2018 – Week 2

The women’s Seeds came tumbling down last week, with none of the top four left in the tournament.  In the women’s tennis, either Serena Williams will have an uninterrupted pass, or at the other extreme we could have an outsider take the trophy, so I will be keeping an eye on who comes up in the ranks.  In the men’s tennis, Federer and Nadal do indeed seem to have held sway, as predicted, and predictably.  Their transits were strongest in the top four.

As usual, I will take a look at the next 4 Seeds from the women’s and men’s listings, but will have to look at Serena’s transits, though she does tend to defy the astrology anyway.

Women’s

Karolina Pliskova – No. 7 Seed

The highest women’s seed left in the running, Karolina Pliskova has a largely unaspected Sun in Aries with few personal aspects, so she is independent and free-spirited.  Her transits are very lack-lustre at this time, almost imperceptible.  Though this might possibly mean she has a free hand in life, it doesn’t paint a strong or definite picture.

She will play No. 20 Seed Kiki Bertens in the next round, an enthusiastic Sun in Sagittarius with the Sun square Jupiter natally.  Kiki knocked out Venus Williams, and has most excellent transits (four sextiles): Saturn sextile her Venus, Mars sextile her Mars, Jupiter sextile her Jupiter, and Chiron sextile her Saturn.  By the end of the tournament, she only loses the Mars sextile, which still leaves a good picture.  So she may beat Pliskova, and may even reach the final.

Angelique Kerber – No. 11 Seed

Angelique Kerber is a steadfast Sun and Moon Capricorn.  Her transits at the moment are not bad, but not particularly distinguished either.  She has Jupiter square her Mercury, so she will be upbeat, but possibly subject to some unforced errors.  The North Node trines her natal Mars, encouraging her to be the best athlete she can be.  By the end of Wimbledon, she retains these two transits, and has an added sextile of Mars to her natal Mars, which gives her a little extra oomph.  I doubt she will get to the final, but if she does, she will be playing at her best and displaying great athleticism.

She plays the unseeded Bencic in the next round.  Belinda has Mars sextile her natal Saturn, Jupiter trine her natal Venus, and Pluto sextile her natal Sun, but disruptive Uranus opposite her Chiron.  At the end of Wimbledon, Mars is on Belinda’s Uranus (tricky), Jupiter still trines her natal Venus (she’s having a good time), but that Uranus still opposes her Chiron.  Curiously, Pluto exactly to the minute sextiles her Sun on the finals day, so it will be an important time for her.  I would go for Kerber for tomorrow’s match, but if Bencic gets through she could cause further disruption and upset in the tournament, and who knows might go all the way.

Jelena Ostapenko – No. 12 Seed

With Sun exactly sextile Saturn, Jelena can be very precise.  Mercury trine Mars gives her good co-ordination, and quick reflexes.  Mars trine her Neptune means she is capable of inspired strokes.  She also has a very spiritual mind, with Mercury exactly trine Neptune.  The Neptune aspects  portray an earlier skill in dancing, and indeed she credits her co-ordination and footwork to the dancing years.  She is also a Warrior, with Mars exactly conjunct her North Node.  She is actually known for highly aggressive play.  And unaspected Venus and Uranus make her a free spirit indeed.  A fascinating birth chart!

Her current transits include a difficult personal opposition of Saturn to her natal Venus, and Mars on her Uranus (which could bring excitement, shock,  upset or even injury).  Her current strength comes from Chiron trine her Pluto, bringing out deep resources.  If she comes through the Mars/Uranus transit, she still has the other two influences by the end.  I don’t think these transits would get her to the final.

She will play the unseeded Sasnovich in the next round, who is playing strongly at the moment with Uranus sextile her Saturn.  But her subsequent transits do not add anything significant, so I assume that Jelena will go through.

Julia Goerges – No. 13 Seed

Julia Goerges has a very Scorpionic chart with great depth of character, with Sun conjunct Pluto in Scorpio sextile Neptune and trine her North Node, completing a Grand Water Trine with Chiron.  Apparently her parents worked in Insurance (a Scorpio province) and when her half-sister also began to work and talk insurance, Julia sought distraction in tennis!  She also has a challenging Grand Cross in her chart, but a socially skilled exact trine of Venus and Jupiter.  Electrical energy (Mars square Uranus) and enthusiasm (Mars sextile Jupiter) abound, and personal earthquakes (Saturn exactly conjunct Uranus) fill in the picture of a strong and capable, possibly formidable character.

At this stage of the tournament, Julia has Saturn square her Venus (personal difficulties, like Ostapenko), but Chiron sextiles her Jupiter (bringing out her best) and Jupiter conjuncts her Pluto (all power to her elbow).  She should get through the next round, but by the end she loses the Jupiterian impetus which may see her out before the end.

She plays Donna Vekic, and I wrote on the first day of Wimbledon:

Donna Vekic

We have a new girl on the radar. Donna Vekic, the No. 55 Seed, has beaten Sloane Stephens in the opening round at Wimbledon. She declares that grass is her favourite competing ground. She has a challenging Cardinal Grand Cross in her chart composed of the Sun opposing Jupiter and Chiron/North Node opposing Saturn. But as so often happens, she has the other extreme, a Grand Trine (in Air) composed of Mars trine Uranus and Chiron. Her life may be a series of ups and downs.

She is the girlfriend of Stan Wawrinka, as of three years. Their Suns are exactly square, and Donna’s Saturn is exactly conjunct his Sun (which keys into her Grand Cross). Her Mars is trine his Jupiter, which is good energetically. Her Chiron trines his Jupiter too, so his Jupiter keys into her Grand Trine as well, which is quite an involvement.

Her winning transits today were Jupiter sextile exactly her Jupiter (winning transits indeed, which I might have predicted…), North Node trine Saturn, and Chiron sextile her Uranus. Looking at the picture at the end of Wimbledon (though she has not yet progressed further than the third round of a Grand Slam), Mars sextiles her Saturn (perseverance), and Jupiter still sextiles her Jupiter (though beginning to wane). She definitely has a chance of progressing further than the third round, and I would not rule out getting to the final. But she herself is cautious about her prospects. Interviewed after today’s match about having a clear draw in front of her, she said she would take one match at a time.

Plus Serena Williams

Favourite to win, currently seeded No. 25 due to taking time out to have a baby, here are her transits:

Currently, Serena has Chiron opposing her Sun, a time of a healing challenge (whether she can win Wimbledon coming back so quickly from the physical demands of childbearing).  Mirroring that transit, Pluto trines her natal Moon, showing a rebirth after the dawn of motherhood.  Strong stuff, both in tennis and life!  Added to that, Neptune trines her Venus, producing her namesake quality, Serenity (amazing!)  And as if to further underline the point, Uranus is on her Ascendant –  A dynamic change in life.  How can she lose?  This is such a time of flowering in her life.  One commentator was saying that if anything motherhood has added an extra dimension to her play, and astrologically I would agree.

She plays unseeded Rodina in the next round, who has Chiron squaring her natal Uranus, a healing crisis, but maybe it is just a privilege to play such a great legend.

Men’s

Juan Martin del Potro – Seed No. 5

I said last year “Juan Martin del Potro is a charming Libran, with a very powerful conjunction of Saturn and Uranus at the Galactic Centre in Sagittarius, natally.”  I would like to add that his name is my favourite at the moment, rolls off the tongue…(irrelevant, I know, but do try it).

His current transits are the North Node trine his natal Mars and sextile his Jupiter (it is good to have the karmic backing of the Universe!).  At the end of Wimbledon the North Node trine to his Mars becomes exact to the minute, and he still has the North Node sextile his Jupiter.  His star is still shining, and the final looks a possibility.

He plays unseeded Gilles Simon tomorrow, who has difficult personal transits of Saturn on his Sun, and Pluto on his Jupiter.  On his side is Saturn sextile his Pluto, giving him some strength (he must have got here somehow!)  I don’t think he poses a threat to Juan Martin del Potro.

Kevin Anderson – Seed No. 8

I wrote back in 2015:

“Kevin Anderson is a Taurean from South Africa, with a persevering Mars in Capricorn closely trine his Taurus Mercury – quick mental and physical reactions, and a great deal of stamina.  He has 5 of his 10 planets in Earth signs.”

His transits tomorrow show Pluto on his Mars (powerful and strong but possibly dangerous and injury prone), North Node trine his Saturn (his karma holding up within exacting standards), Saturn sextile his Neptune (dampening circumstances) and Saturn sextile his Pluto (some more strength).  That is a confusing picture, but not all that upbeat.  He may have some dramas going on in his personal life.

By the end of the tournament, Pluto is still on his Mars, Mars sextiles his Saturn giving him extra strength, and Saturn is still very active in his chart.  He has lost the karmic support from the North Node.  I think he could leave the tournament soon.

His opponent tomorrow will be the hugely popular Gael Monfils, a colourful character who in his last match went off court with an injury only to come back and win the match.  He’s a Sun in Virgo perfectionist with a flamboyant Ascendant in Leo.  He’s also a bit of a chancer, with Jupiter square Uranus.  His current transits include Pluto sextile his Jupiter (he is in his power), Uranus trine his Neptune (is able to grasp hold of complexity) and Saturn sextile his Pluto (he has plenty of strength).  The groin injury he suffered on Friday may have been a minor passing transit of the Sun opposing his natal Mars in 6th House.  At the end of this tournament Saturn trines his Mercury (he is able to knuckle down and concentrate if he is there at the final), Jupiter sextiles his Mars (he’ll have the enthusiasm), Pluto will still sextile his Jupiter, Chiron will trine his Saturn but square his Neptune, and Saturn will still sextile his Pluto).  The planets are not letting him down, but I am not sure he can carry through.  He may, however, beat Kevin Anderson tomorrow.

John Isner – Seed No. 9

I have written about John Isner:

“John Isner has the Sun in determined Taurus, and Mars conjunct Gemini in fleet footed Gemini.  That proved to be a recipe for taking part in the longest ever match at Wimbledon, agains Mahut in 2010.  Taurus is an unusual sign for a tennis player, but it does have endurance.”

At this time he has the Nodal Axis square his Sun, which is not easy karmically (a test of his power), but North Node trine his Venus (his personal karma going well).  But Chiron squares his Neptune, which is messy from a healing and spiritual point of view.

At the end of Wimbledon he still has these transits, plus Uranus opposite his Pluto, which could be upsetting.  I don’ think he will go much further in the tournament.

He will play No. 31 Stefanos Tsitsipas tomorrow, a young Greek Lion, whose transits are not very distinguished at the moment.  The end of Wimbledon brings him a trine from Saturn to his natal Saturn, which will give him a quiet sense of satisfaction about the tournament as a whole, but Isner will probably beat him tomorrow.

Novak Djokovic – Seed No. 12

And last but not least, Novak Djokovic, who has been relatively out in the wilderness for a couple of years, but seems to be returning to form.  He was very determined against our Kyle Edmund yesterday.  He seemed a little out of sorts at the beginning of the match, dropping the first set, but then rallied round.  Neptune was square his Mercury, which would account for some mental vagueness.

Tomorrow Mars squares his Pluto, which may be a danger point.  He may not find it easy to control his emotions. Mars also sextiles his North Node, which will give him some self-belief.  Saturn trines his Venus, which may benefit his private life.

He plays unseeded Karen Khachanov tomorrow, who has Pluto trine his Mercury (a strong mental fitness) but Saturn square his Saturn (will reach the limits soon of his expectations).  At the end of Wimbledon, Khachanov has Neptune sextile his Jupiter (he will have enjoyed the experience) but Saturn will still be square his natal Saturn.

So, at the end, will Novak be up there with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?  There isn’t enough room for three on Centre Court!  Djokovic will have mixed emotions, with Venus trine his Venus (harmony) but Mars square Midheaven (anger).  The Nodal Axis will be square his Venus, so he may be feeling that something was not quite fair for him.  Mars will still be square his Pluto, but on the wane.  I don’t think he will make the final, but I think he will get through the next round.

Djokovic was born a week apart from Andy Murray, who has also been in the doldrums, and has not been able to play at Wimbledon this year.

That leaves the question of who has the best transits on the men’s side.  Of the four I have just discussed, Del Potro stands out and may face Federer or Nadal in the final.  But I think Federer has the edge, if meeting Nadal in the final.

To rewind to their culminating transits:

For Roger: “By the end of Wimbledon, Mars will be trine his Jupiter, again, keeping his energy levels buoyant.  The red planet will also be trine his Saturn, so he will have more control, and it trines his Midheaven, so he will be confident and assertive.  Jupiter will still be trine his Mars and square his Mercury (see above), and Pluto will still be sextile his Moon (see above).  As well as being trine his Jupiter, the North Node will also trine his Saturn, so his karma will be steady.  Not a bad set of aspects at all.”

For Nadal: ” His transits for the end of Wimbledon show again Neptune trine his Venus, Pluto sextile his Jupiter, Saturn on his Neptune and sextile his Pluto, Pluto still sextile his Ascendant, but newly in the picture the North Node trine his Saturn (a stabilizing transit, one which Roger Federer also has).”

I think that does give Roger the edge.

Aspects

Chiron went Retrograde last week, joining Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto (we might feel we are pushing against the grain in some respects).  But Jupiter will go Direct this week.  Mercury will not go Retrograde until 26th.  Chiron’s retrograde passage will see us retrace some steps on our healing pathway.

Today, there is a beautiful trine between the Sun and Neptune, so take advantage of this to make progress on your spiritual path.  The intense heat this week was reported to be globe wide, and cited as evidence of global warming. Some feel drained by the intensity of the Sun at the moment, but the work of “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld reminds  us of its life giving qualities: “Has the ability to assist individuals with past-life recall in a more clear and direct sense, particularly along lines of emotional understanding.  Ability to present great amounts of vigour and strength to all parts of the body, to align all 12 chakras, to increase food absorption, and to more easily draw a greater balance of minerals into most cells of the body”.  Many people these days are taking Vitamin D for depression, but spending a little time out in the Sun each day, if you can, may save you some of your supplement allowance at the moment.  I am trying to get a tan on my lily white legs for my daughter’s wedding, but if I don’t make it in time, my neighbour has promised to lend me her fake tan.

Tomorrow (9th) Mercury squares Jupiter, which will be mind-broadening, but perhaps a little overstretching.  You might be complaining of information overload, or may deliberately decide to extend a journey to take in more experiences.  It could be an important day for exam results or testing, or for education in general.  There may be some careless mistakes in the execution though.  In spite of this, the general mental tone is quite upbeat.  Sometimes long-term resolutions can take place under this transit.

On Tuesday (10th) Venus enters Virgo in the early hours of the morning, and we may become more fastidious in our tastes, be they in food, fashion or friendships.  Under Venus in Leo we have been large-hearted and magnanimous, and may have let more people into our lives.  Now we need to focus and specialize in our artistic, music and relational endeavours, as well as being more discerning about the food we are selecting for our nourishment and ecological sensibilities.

Some measure of relief from the retrograde planet vibe of “beating your head against a brick wall” in the late afternoon, when Jupiter is Stationary, prior to going Direct.  Something may signal to you that you are on the right track, and not wading in water (sorry to mix my metaphors).  In one of your recent endeavours, you see that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and can comfortably walk towards it.

On Thursday (12th) we get to experience the benefits of Venus in Virgo as it trines Uranus in early Taurus.  Projects can suddenly come together under this aspect, and socially sublime meetings can occur.  The right people can appear out of the blue (and of course with Venus in Virgo we’ll be able to vet their suitability effectively).  It is a good day to step out of context, especially in matters of beauty, art and music.  But it is a day when the early bird catches the worm, and you need to seize the day (which will become clear).

We have, the same day, an opposition between the Sun and Pluto, so something or someone will be challenging us, or we will be putting up our own challenges.  There is a deep need for transformation, and you may identify where that need is, and how it needs to be fulfilled.

The next day, Friday (13th) we don’t only have Donald Trump visiting the U.K, we have an Eclipse!  In the early hours of the morning here (which will be late night on 12th in the U.S.), there is a Solar Eclipse, a New Moon at 20 degrees Cancer).  That tell us, however way we look at it, the visit is a Big Deal, and may affect our national fortunes for at least up to 6 months to come.  In our personal lives, we would be especially affected if we have planets or angles in our chart very close to that degree.  Otherwise, it may be as a New Moon in Cancer usually presents, that is a good time to signal your intentions in home and family matters.  Donald Trump may find himself more emotionally affected than he would expect (especially reuniting with his beloved golf course).  For Theresa May, desperate for future special trade deals, she will be desperate not to show her desperation, and not to look like the Libran people pleaser of her original visit to the U.S.

Saturday (14th) gives us a trine between Venus and Saturn, which is helpful of itself, but completes a Grand Trine in Earth with Thursday’s trine between Venus and Uranus.  That, together with the direct motion of Jupiter, gives us a good holding core in the week for making progress with our plans.  They say that life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.  Well you may be able to turn that on its head (despite Sun opposite Pluto and the Eclipse, or maybe in tandem with their power), and can feel that you have had a direct hand in manifesting or accomplishing something you set out to do.  Relationships should show loyalty at this time.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – spiritual
• Tomorrow – busy
• Tuesday – discerning and progressive
• Thursday – socially dynamic, but some drama
• Friday – turning point in home and family affairs
• Saturday – solidifying gains, and loyalty

 

Wimbledon 2018 – Week 1

Here we go again!  It’s the height of summer, and the tennis season here in the U.K.  We can manage without the carbonated drinks in this time of shortage, but it looks like we’ll have the vitamin D from all the sunshine of the next fortnight, while enjoying the tennis.

As usual, I will set off by outlining the top 4 women’s and men’s seeds, and then comment here and there as the tournament progresses.  For the first round, I will not look at the opponents for the top seeds, as they should be expected to go through.  I will, as usual, endeavour to answer any questions about your favourite players as we go along.

Women’s

Simona Halep – No. 1 Seed

Earlier in June, Simona won her first grand slam at the French Open, against Sloane Stephens.  She had lost the first set (Mars was opposite her Chiron) but Jupiter was sextile her Neptune (a dream come true) and Jupiter was sextile her North Node (her time had come).

How do her transits fall during Wimbledon fortnight?  At the beginning of Wimbledon, she still has Jupiter sextile her Neptune, so she still has dreams, but not the karmic back up of the previous line up of transits.

At the end of Wimbledon Mars (having retrograded) is again opposite her natal Chiron (causing some nerves), Jupiter is till sextile natal Neptune (keeping alive the dream), but Saturn squares her natal Sun (some self-doubt perhaps creeping in), and Uranus is trine her natal Jupiter (she can still pull the rabbit out of the hat if she gets there).

Caroline Wozniacki – No. 2 Seed

Caroline Wozniacki won her first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, on 27th January 2018.  Her winning transits were Pluto opposing her natal Sun (she rose to a supreme challenge), Jupiter trine her natal Jupiter (with some luck), Neptune was sextile her natal Neptune (spiritually in tune with her Higher Self) and Nodal Axis squaring her Pluto (despite a difficult karmic transit).  So one should not underestimate her ability to play and win under difficult Plutonian transits.

Yesterday, she beat Sabalenka to win at the final in Eastbourne: Venus was sextile her Venus (a harmonious day), and Jupiter sextile her Neptune.

At the beginning of Wimbledon this year, she has Jupiter sextile her natal Neptune (living the dream, similar to Simona Halep), and this stays in the same position in relation to her chart at the end.  Simona Halep has a little more going on, but Wozniacki does not have the Plutonian challenges she won under (she may thrive under pressure).  At the end of Wimbledon, she still has Jupiter sextile her Neptune, so the picture is the same right through Wimbledon.  That is helpful.

Caroline got engaged for the second time on 2nd November 2017.  Her first engagement in 2014 to golfer Rory McIlroy was broken off when he realized he wasn’t ready for all it entailed.  He had three “end of an era” transits at the time: Pluto trine his Sun, Pluto on his Saturn and Pluto sextile his Pluto.  Both men are Taureans to her Cancerian Sun.  Let’s hope her plans for happiness with retired American basketball player David Lee come to fruition.  Their Venuses are exactly conjunct, which is a romantic plus.

Garbiñe Muguruza – No. 3 Seed

Muguruza reached the semi-finals at the French Open, where she lost to Simona Halep, who went on to win the tournament. She was the winner of the women’s final at Wimbledon last year.  With Venus and Chiron in Virgo, she has been called a perfectionist.

Her general style is explosive, and she has some fiery transits beginning and culminating at Wimbledon.  That should make for some colourful play.  At the start of Wimbledon, Mars squares her Mercury (irritability), Pluto trines her Venus (depth of play), and the Nodal Axis squares her Mars (karmically she needs to bring her energies under control).  At the end of Wimbledon Mars squares her natal Mars: that does not favour her reaching the end of the tournament, but she could end with a flourish however far she goes.

Sloane Stephens – Seed No. 4

American Sloane Stephens distinguished herself at the French Open, taking the first set in the final against Simona Halep, though conceding the match after three sets.  Her transits at the time were Jupiter trine her Mars (which propelled her into the final), and Pluto on her Uranus/Neptune conjunction in Capricorn (a bit more of a challenge).

Sloane Stephens has her Sun cusping Pisces and Aries, trine Pluto (a powerful personal natal aspect).  We do not have her birth time, so her Moon could also be in one of two signs: Aquarius or Pisces.  Her Mercury is trine Mars, giving her good co-ordination, and quick mental reactions.  She does have a loose Grand Cross in her chart, which is quite a challenging feature: Venus in Aries opposes Jupiter, and Mars opposes the Uranus/Neptune conjunction forming the Grand Cross.  The difficulties of her chart are mitigated to some extent by Uranus sextile Pluto, and North Node trine closely Chiron.

Her transits for the beginning of Wimbledon still include Jupiter trine her Mars, but on the wane, plus Neptune squaring her Nodal Axis (some issue may be draining her concentration) and Pluto still on her Neptune (complex inner issues to deal with).  By the end of the tournament, she has lost the Jupiter trine Mars uplift, the square of Neptune to her Nodal Axis will be absolutely exact (she may be quite exhausted) and Pluto is moving away from her Neptune.  Again, not promising aspects for a prospective win.

Out of the four top seeds, I feel Caroline Wozniacki has the smoother set of transits.

Men’s

Roger Federer – Seed No. 1

The last couple of years have seen an outstanding resurgence of Roger Federer’s form, after a few years when it looked as though he was beginning to struggle. At the age of 36 (going on 37) he is still a force to be reckoned with, still as popular as ever, and breaking numerous records.  He beat Marin Cilic (winner of Queens this year) in the final of the Australian Open in January, but decided not to compete at the French Open.  He skipped the French Open last year, and went on to win at Wimbledon.

At the beginning of Wimbledon this year, Jupiter will be square his Mercury: mentally, he will be enthusiastic, though his form may be slightly off beam, exaggerated, overstretched.  Jupiter will be trine his Mars, so he will have plenty of energy, enthusiasm and vitality.  Saturn will still be square his natal Saturn, so there will still be some frustration.  Pluto will still be sextile his Moon, so he will have plenty of emotional drive.  The North Node will be sextile his Jupiter, so he will have self-belief.

By the end of Wimbledon, Mars will be trine his Jupiter, again, keeping his energy levels buoyant.  The red planet will also be trine his Saturn, so he will have more control, and it trines his Midheaven, so he will be confident and assertive.  Jupiter will still be trine his Mars and square his Mercury (see above), and Pluto will still be sextile his Moon (see above).  As well as being trine his Jupiter, the North Node will also trine his Saturn, so his karma will be steady.  Not a bad set of aspects at all.

Rafael Nadal – Seed No. 2

Nadal won comfortably at the French Open in early June (with the power to surprise from Uranian transits, and added strength from Neptune and Pluto), but is more comfortable on clay, and has not done so well in recent years at Wimbledon.

At the beginning of Wimbledon, he retains Neptune trine his Venus from the French win, Pluto sextile his Jupiter and Ascendant (a great strength), Saturn is sextile his Pluto (more strength), but Saturn is on his Neptune (some sort of a dampener, but not enough I think to make too much of a dent in his initial performances).

His transits for the end of Wimbledon show again Neptune trine his Venus, Pluto sextile his Jupiter, Saturn on his Neptune and sextile his Pluto, Pluto still sextile his Ascendant, but newly in the picture the North Node trine his Saturn (a stabilizing transit, one which Roger Federer also has).

Marin Cilic – Seed No. 3

Marin Cilic won at Queens, just prior to Wimbledon, so he is on good form.  He beat Novak Djokovic, who is on the up after a low key year or two.  His winning transits at Queens were Saturn square his Sun and opposite his Chiron (so is mastering those difficult aspects).

Novak lost despite having Mars sextile his North Node (fighting spirit), and Saturn trine his Venus (personal strength).  Neptune was square his Mercury which may have unsettled his mind.  Novak is now seeded No. 12.

At the beginning of Wimbledon Marin Cilic has Saturn still square his Sun (absolutely exact), plus Saturn square his Mars.  He may be experiencing problems right now, and they may be on a personal front.  He no longer has Saturn opposite his Chiron, however, or it is at least on the wane.

At the end of Wimbledon, Saturn has moved away from the square to his Sun, but squares his natal Mars, sapping his energy.  A compensating transit is the North Node sextile his Jupiter, so he may have a little luck along the way, though I am not sure whether that will be enough to get him to the final stages.

Alexander Zverev – Seed No. 4

Alexander Zverev, seeded No. 10 last year at Wimbledon, has moved up the ranks and had some success in the intervening year.

I wrote last year: “His Sun is right at the beginning of Taurus, and he has 0 Water planets (so may not be so emotional) and half his planets in Earth so is practical.  He is sensitive, though, with Neptune exactly square his Sun, and Chiron exactly opposite his Sun.  He has Mercury conjunct Venus, which may give him writing or diplomatic abilities.  With Mercury exactly square Uranus, he is not afraid to be controversial.”  Since then, I have obtained a birth time for him, which reveals a very driven Scorpio Ascendant to add to the picture.

At the French Open he demonstrated his Scorpio endurance, winning some five set matches from two sets down, eventually succumbing to Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals.  Neptune was opposing his Mars, and continues to do so throughout Wimbledon, as Neptune is slow-moving.

Starting out at Wimbledon he also has Mars trine his natal Moon, energy combined with emotion; Mars on his Uranus (excitement), Saturn trine his Venus (some containment and steadiness in his feelings).  That’s a promising start, but he finishes Wimbledon with that Neptune opposition to his Mars still lurking, and only a trine from Venus to his Venus as back up.  I don’t think that would take him to the final.

Of the top four men’s seeds, Federer and Nadal have the best transits for the final, which sounds predictable…but I will have a look at the prospects for other players along the way.

Aspects

The planetary aspects are concentrated on one day this week: Thursday.  Therefore I am sprinkling a few Fixed Star seed thoughts around, for those who like to work with them.

Today our Sun is aligned with the Fixed Star Alhena in Gemini.  “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld provides the following information:

“This star appears to offer individuals the ability to rapidly change modes of thought and to shift context  …  Use of this star elixir will stimulate the chakras in the feet.

This message has a certain level of underlying strength, a certain perseverance and ability to push and continue when the going gets rough.  This is done by shifting perspective, seeing new ideas,  and bringing in another way of doing something so that you can make progress.  The perseverance of this energy affects the Sun, which then transmits this to the Earth to stimulate the feet.”

As I was typing this, I suddenly found that the new shoes I am breaking in for my daughter’s forthcoming wedding, suddenly and unexpectedly became more comfortable!

Eric Morse in “The Living Stars” writes: “This star should show up our artistic skills, especially with the written or spoken word, and our ability to negotiate a peaceful solution to disputes among people”.

Now to Thursday (5th) itself, starting with a trine between the Sun in Cancer and Jupiter in Scorpio, one of the best aspects of the year.  This brings out the principle of expansion, especially applied to creativity and self-expression.  Emotion is heightened, as this trine takes place in the element of Water.  A touch of luck could prove very welcome for your endeavours.

Not only are the two aspects this week concentrated on one day, but they also take place in the same hour.  Sun trines Jupiter at 11.04 a.m. in the U.K. and at 11.48  a.m. Mercury opposes Mars.  The combination could produce a heat spike, weatherwise.  Heated debates could be another feature of this aspect.  Irritability is another possibility.  It brings to mind the Noel Coward song: “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”.  From a practical point of view, keep cool, and avoid verbal confrontations.

As these two aspects occur on the same day and same hour, somehow you may need to bring them together, to enhance the best angles of the Sun/Jupiter trine (optimism and positivity) and minimize the difficulties of the Mars/Mercury opposition (minor accidents).  You can be bold in your ambitions, up to a point.  Check health and safety loopholes, before the abseiling or sky diving.

Friday’s (6th) Fixed Star link up is one of the most important in the year, Sirius in Canis Major.  This star was important in the ancient Egyptian culture, and forms an important ritual for the Dogon tribe of Africa.  I have found in doing star meditations with people that this star, the nearest and brightest to Earth, is an ingrained part of the collective unconscious.  It comes up for people in meditation even if they do not have conscious knowledge of it.

“Starlight Elixirs” says of this star:

“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.

…

An excellent time to utilize this star elixir is just before falling asleep.  During sleep the healing capacities of the body are increased and the ability to absorb healing energies is also increased.  There may be a dream with insight, understanding, and deeper awareness of the life’s lessons involved.”

M.C. Cooke writes in “Tapestry”: “This star is excellent for anyone actually suffering some physical affliction, for its curative vibrations are able to penetrate all of the various bodies of the human being”.

The Fixed Star to work with on Saturday (7th) is Canopus in the constellation of Argo Navis.  “Starlight Elixirs” offers:

“Canopus is a powerful radiator of the light of generosity.  This light can encourage the interchange of loving acceptance and service between beings…Individuals who are seeking to create communities based on service would benefit by using this star.  There is also a sense of gentleness and power combined that can be the roots of healing for those individuals who have been given too much responsibility or too much power and have used it to make mistakes in which others were harmed.”

Take note, Theresa May and cabinet.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – shifting perspective, looking after the feet
• Thursday – luck, and minor confrontation, possibly at the same time
• Friday – looking after the physical body
• Saturday – generosity and gentleness

 

Fleetwood Mac – A Soul Group – Part 1: Origins

“And if, you don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain”

~ Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood , Christine Mcvie, John Mcvie, Stevie Nicks, 1977

This may be a subject of niche interest, as either you think Rumours is one of the best music albums ever made, or you don’t.  The history of the band Fleetwood Mac is rife with karma, especially when the females Christine Perfect (later McVie) and Stevie Nicks entered the scene and introduced romantic complexity.  One of the members of the group, Danny Kirwan, died earlier this month.  But this is a long term project, and I am beginning with the origins of the group.  The founder members of Fleetwood Mac, in 1967, were Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning.

Origins

Peter Green originally made a name for himself in the blues band John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.  He introduced Mick Fleetwood, who he had previously worked with, to the Bluesbreakers.  Peter and Mick, together with John McVie of the Bluesbreakers, recorded some songs together, and later Peter and Mick formed a new band.  They named the band Fleetwood Mac, being a combination of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, but the latter declined to follow them at this stage.  They did find a slide guitarist, Jeremy Spencer, and a temporary bassist Bob Brunning who would fill in for John McVie.  This band debuted on 13th August 1967 at Windsor, playing at a festival.  This date may be considered as the “birth” of the group.

This chart shows Sun in Leo, conjunct Jupiter, which betokens performing success.  The Sun is also closely square Neptune, indicating the confusion and complication which was to come, plus Jupiter squared Neptune, showing spiritual confusion, excess and the addictions of the group.  Venus conjunct Pluto showed the intensity of the relationships, and Mars squaring Jupiter the over-the-top energies which sometimes characterized their interactions.

Peter Green

Peter Green’s chart echoes in some fundamental ways that of the group’s chart.  Like that of the group, his chart has over half (6) of his planets in Fixed signs, showing strength of will.  As with the group chart, his Sun is conjunct Jupiter, which betokens success.  His Sun/Jupiter conjunction however is in Scorpio, showing an intense and deep emotional nature.  His performing zeal lies in his Leo Ascendant.  Mercury conjunct Venus shows songwriting talent.  Green was behind early hits such as “Albatross” and “Black Magic Woman”.

Mick Fleetwood: :”I can say without hesitation that Peter Green was the most brilliant musician I have ever played with. When he was well,  he was on a par with a genius like Miles Davis .”

Mick Fleetwood

Mick Fleetwood has the Sun in Cancer, which has a compelling desire to belong.  He writes in his autobiography “This period of transition taught me what it means to be a band. A true band is a family and, like any family in crisis, a band must gather together privately, devoid of outside influence when under duress. It is the only way to re-establish the bonds that exist, for that family to remember who they are, and to decide their next steps together”.  He has a keen mind, with Mercury sextile exactly Mars and trine Jupiter. He has the musically sensitive and inspired trine of Venus with Neptune, deepened with an exact sextile of Pluto to Venus.  Mars conjunct the North Node gives him the Warrior Archetype.  Jupiter square Pluto gives a love of power.

Jeremy Spencer

Mick Fleetwood described Spencer thus: “Jeremy was something to see, a tiny chap, pretty quiet off-stage, who became a whirlwind of raw power once he plugged in”. Spencer had Sun in Cancer square Neptune, like Mick Fleetwood.  The chart for the group also had Sun square Neptune (“The Sun is also closely square Neptune, indicating the confusion and complication which was to come”).  So there is a lot of affinity there.  Mercury was closely conjunct Venus in his chart, indicating a talent for  songwriting.  He also later in life has been a book illustrator and story writer.  He was a gifted mimic: Moon, Uranus, Venus and Mercury were all in Gemini, the sign of Mimicry.  Apparently,  his behaviour on stage was sometimes suggestive or inappropriate, expressing his T-square of Venus conjunct Uranus, square Mars and opposite Jupiter.

Bob Brunning

It was made clear at the outset to Bob Brunning that he would be replaced as soon as possible by John McVie.  Nevertheless, Brunning did play at the band’s first gig in Windsor, and historically is part of the first line up.  He is the third member of the original quartet to have Sun in Cancer, giving the band a distinctively introspective flavour.  The prominent zodiac signs for music are Taurus and Libra, but Cancer is especially connected with rhythm in musicality.  He also had the Sun loosely square Neptune.  His true calling, however, lay elsewhere, as is clear from his birth chart.  After he left Fleetwood Mac he underwent teacher training at Chelsea, and taught for 30 years: natally Mercury sextile exactly North Node (Teacher Archetype and karmic mission), with Uranus and Mercury/Saturn in Gemini, sign of the teacher. He died in 2011.

Synastries

The chemistry within the original line up…

Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood

The interconnections between these two core founder members are very strong, and I would especially pick out Mick’s Venus exactly conjunct Peter’s North Node (a shared musical karmic link), and Mick’s Saturn trine Peter’s  Midheaven (Mick giving shape to Peter’s career).

Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer

This was another strong link, with Jeremy’s Pluto exactly sextile Peter Green’s North Node (another profound karmic link).

Peter Green and Bob Brunning

These two had Suns exactly trine, with Brunning’s  Sun also exactly trine Peter Green’s Jupiter.  A more challenging interaspect was Brunning’s Pluto exactly square Peter Green’s Sun, perhaps reflecting the fact that from the outset Peter Green intended to replace Brunning.

Mick Fleetwood and Jeremy Spencer

There certainly was a spark there, with Spencer’s Mars exactly square Fleetwood’s  Uranus.  Spencer’s Pluto was also exactly sextile Fleetwood’s Venus, a deep musical interaction.

Mick Fleetwood and Bob Brunning

Brunning’s Venus was sextile exactly Fleetwood’s Uranus (he lent his music to Fleetwood’s new group), and Brunning’s Uranus was sextile exactly Fleetwood’s Saturn – not quite such a strong link as Fleetwood had with the others.

Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning

Brunning’s Venus trined exactly Spencer’s Jupiter, a fine social and musical link, but again not so many links between them, perhaps indicating the fleeting nature of Brunning’s involvement.

Transits at the First Gig

These show the impact of the event on each member…

Transits for Peter Green

Mars squared Peter Green’s natal Pluto in Leo in 1st House, which would have made quite an explosive impact on Green.

Transits for Mick Fleetwood

Saturn sextiled his natal Venus in Gemini and trined his natal Pluto in Leo, laying foundations for what was to be his life’s work.  Uranus also squared his natal Uranus in Gemini – radical excitement and change in his life.

Transits for Jeremy Spencer

Mars was trine his natal Sun and Uranus transiting exactly conjunct his natal Mars, firing him up, and Mars square his natal Pluto, as with Peter Green.

Transits for Bob Brunning

These were a difficult set of aspects for Bob Brunning: Neptune exactly square his natal Venus, Pluto exactly square his natal Saturn and Chiron exactly opposite his natal Neptune.  He knew this was a temporary phase of his life, and was yet to find his true calling.

In Part 2, the next few members of the group will be introduced, and I will move the story on a little.

Bibliography:

“Play On” by Mick Fleetwood

 

Aspects

Monday (25th) brings us a square between Venus and Jupiter, which is not an ideal relationship between them, but nevertheless convivial.  In the office, you might have your mind more on the weekend’s social implications than on the task in hand, so it might be difficult to settle.  Some “inappropriate”, or indulgent, behaviour may ensue or threaten to erupt.  Someone may bring cream cakes into the office.

Mars is stationary prior to going retrograde on Tuesday (26th) and energy, movement and activity could experience some stuckness.  Mars is currently having a long stay in Aquarius, where it is flighty and unpredictable, but team minded and active on behalf of the underdog.  Quite a fitting placement for the duration of the World Cup.  Don’t be surprised if it’s stop-go on some of your active projects.  You may be required to hop from one activity to another, taking a step here and a step there, wherever you can.  Spinning plates come to mind…

Delay or frustration could also be a theme for Wednesday (27th), with Saturn opposing the Sun.  “Be patient” could be your mantra for the day, in between sighs…  That doesn’t mean you can’t try though, or try, try again.  With every attempt you may understand the underlying blocks or reasons for delay, and perceive steps to remedy the situation.

Some of the tension on Wednesday could be the build up to the Full Moon at 6 degrees Capricorn which occurs in the early hours of Thursday (28th).  If you feel that part of your frustration is coming from the power wielded by authorities, then this may be your Full Moon issue.  Work out your own relation and feelings towards authority, institutions or those in power, and then you may see the higher picture and higher philosophy needed to proceed in the right way.  Then find a way to make your voice heard, feel less helpless, or cast a vote.

There’s a change of mental focus on Friday (29th) with the entry of Mercury into Leo.  During the period of Mercury in Cancer our emotions have coloured our thinking, but Mercury in Leo brings a much bolder mental outlook, one which loves to compete, debate and have fun, revel in the summer holiday season.  Mercury will be in Leo until September 6th, because there is a Mercury Retrograde interval which prolongs its stay in that sign (for those who like to be prepared, that happens between 26th July and 19th August).  There you have it, too much information perhaps.

Communications do suffer a disruption, despite Mercury still moving direct, on Saturday (30th), as Mercury squares Uranus.  This bears a resemblance to the effects of Mercury Retrograde:  travel and communications may not run smoothly.  Words and actions may be controversial.  Protest marches may occur. Technology may fail, and snail mail prevail.  Nervous systems could be frazzled.  But we may be open to new vistas – the Universe may be trying to introduce new learnings to us.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday (25th) – convivial
• Tuesday (26th) – a red light
• Wednesday (27th) – delay
• Thursday (28th) – emotional tension
• Friday (29th) – party time
• Saturday (30th) – disruptive