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

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

Liberace

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

Scott Thorson

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

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

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

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

Steven Soderbergh

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

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

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

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

Michael Douglas

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matt Damon

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

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

Film launched 26/5/13

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

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

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

In Conclusion

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

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

Aspects

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

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

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

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

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

Here is your timetable:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The week in bullet points:

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

Uranus-Pluto square – Phase 3

At the time of the Uranus-Pluto square last Monday, a tornado struck the town of Moore near Oklahoma City.  Extreme weather is one of the possibilities where the Uranus-Pluto square is at its most intense.  Someone asked me recently if I do weather astrology…I make notes, but I don’t research and monitor it as such as it is so complex – for instance, if there is going to be a tornado, where will it strike?  It is easier to research after the event, looking at the regional charts.  In this case, the Uranus-Pluto square directly contacted the chart of Oklahoma State, with Pluto exactly square to the Oklahoma State Moon and Uranus exactly conjunct the Oklahoma State Moon.  In 1999 there was a similar tornado in the same area, and Pluto was exactly conjunct the Oklahoma State Venus.  So the transits to the Oklahoma State chart are worth monitoring in this respect, as I am sure U.S. and Oklahoma Astrologers were doing.

Woolwich Murder

So we followed the story of the Oklahoma tragedy, rescue and aftermath, which continued to dominate our headlines here, until Wednesday afternoon.  It was halfway between the Uranus-Pluto square and the upcoming Full Moon eclipse of Friday.  At 2.20 p.m..on a London street, an English soldier, Drummer Lee Rigby, was decapitated by two Moslem extremists. This violence was transmitted on the 6 pm news – there is no shielding of children and grandchildren before the watershed any more it seems.  I have always been against violence in films, but feel we need to know what is going on in the world, and the content of our news broadcasts is becoming more and more shocking.  So much so, that many people have stopped watching the news.

There are so many strange questions around this attack, e.g. whether or not it can be labelled as a terrorist attack.  It seemed more spontaneous than the average terrorist attack, in that the perpetrators ran over the soldier, then got out of the car and attacked him.  He was wearing a “Help for Heroes” t shirt, and part of their motive was that the U.K. forces should leave Afghanistan.  But then they hung around until the Police came – a very unusual thing to do.  On top of possibly being influenced by the teachings of extreme Islamist leaders such as Anjem Choudary, they may have had drugs in their system, or have a form of mental illness.  We live in a society that is becoming increasingly violent, in a world that is becoming increasingly violent.  Is violence itself a form of mental illness?

In looking at this event astrologically, we have very little to work with.  We have no birth time for the victim, Lee Rigby.  We have a chart for one of the murderers, Michael Adebolajo.  We also have a chart for the time of the event.  There is the U.K. chart, and the chart of Home Secretary Theresa May who seems to be having to work very hard on such issues at the moment, almost being willing to ditch the Human Rights Act in order to get Abu Qatada out of the country for instance.

Michael Adebolajo has Sun conjunct Uranus in Sagittarius, unpredictable and likely to go overboard about ideas.  He also has Mercury conjunct Neptune, which could also make him mentally impressionable.  His Venus and Mars are in idealistic Aquarius too, adding to the unpredictablilty.  He is energetic, with Sun exactly sextile Mars, and that is his main Warrior signature.  At the time of the murder, Pluto was opposite his Moon (stirring emotion), but we do not know how close it was as we do not have his birth time. His Mars opposes the U.K. Neptune and his Nodal Axis squares the U.K. Mars, so not a good compatibility with this country.  The third Uranus-Pluto square hits the U,K. chart directly, with Pluto opposing exactly the natal Pluto and Uranus square exactly the natal Pluto. Saturn is squaring Theresa May’s Uranus, so she is having to develop her indomitable spirit, and deal with the role of the unexpected in her (and our) life.

One of the tragedies of this event is that it has set back the cause of peaceful relations in our society in relation to the Muslim community.  The main tragedy of course is for the poor family of Lee Rigby.

Aspects

Today the Sun squares Neptune, and sensitivities may be raw, or you may be confused about your initial direction for the week.  Especially if contemplating the events of the last week…

But the aspects for this forthcoming week are mild in comparison, so there may be a respite from fast and furious news headlines.

Tomorrow Mercury conjuncts Jupiter at 23 degrees Gemini, and you may actually hear some good news.  This aspect is good for sales and business, and for disseminating information on a wide scale.  It is good for education, and for broadening the horizons through travel.

On Tuesday (28^th) Venus conjuncts Jupiter at the same degree, and this is a happy clappy aspect, which we need right now, but some may not trust it!  Centre yourself, meditate if possible, and extend good will to all – don’t waste it wondering if it could be true that we have a good aspect.

On Friday (31^st) Mercury enters Cancer and we leave behind the logic of Mercury in Gemini, and become more soft-focussed mentally and able to incorporate feeling into our ideas. Hard factual thinking gives way to sidestepping and viewing from a different angle, in order to take a another angle on issues that may have been difficult to confront lately.

On the same day, Mars enters Gemini, so determined courses of action (Mars in Taurus) give way to a cooler more logical approach to the use of physical energies.  We are combining brain with brawn, so we have not lost our rational side completely.

What starts to emerge by the end of the week are a couple of Grand Trines for next week, which is more to look forward to.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Feeling your way to the truth
• Tomorrow – Good luck on the commercial front
• Tuesday – An Abundant day
• Friday – Changes in the way we think

Sir Alan Sugar, The Apprentice and Entrepreneurs

On the day when the new series of the Apprentice started, I found myself at a business breakfast club, with 60 seconds to pitch my business, and half expected Sir Alan to appear and tell me I was fired, so much a fan of the programme as I am.  I don’t have much of a business head, but I do like to get out and dust down my Inner Entrepreneur from time to time, as it can be fun.

I wrote last year (25^th March):

“Alan is just a textbook Aries, good with figures, straight talking, calling a spade a spade.  He has both the Sun and the Moon in Aries, and his engineering and electrical technology bias are shown in his chart by Mars (his ruling planet) square Uranus.  He is also from that aspect a risk taker, but he also has a cautious practical supportive trine of Saturn to his Sun, ensuring that money doesn’t run away from him.  It is quite clear from his autobiography that his approach to life, sales and invention is one of Aries simplicity and functionality.”

Unfortunately, I do not have any of the contestants’ birth dates to work with.  But has anyone noticed that current contestant Francesca MacDuff-Varley looks exactly like Stella English, winner of 2009 Apprentice, who recently lost a legal battle with Sir Alan?

Alan and Donald

The British version of The Apprentice arose from the success of the original U.S. version starring Donald Trump.  Trump created the programme during 2003, a year when Jupiter was at the midpoint of his natal Jupiter-Urarnus trine.  He and Alan Sugar were born within a year of each other.

In the UK the programme was first shown in 2005, though Alan Sugar was approached in 2004.  On 18 May 2004, Sir Alan Sugar was confirmed as the choice for the role. Pluto (power) was sextile his Venus (money), Jupiter (success) was opposite and stretching his Mercury (sales and business) and Uranus (surprise) was square his Nodal Axis (karma) bringing an unexpected opportunity.

Entrepreneurs

The entrepreneurship manifests differently in the charts of Sir Alan and Donald Trump.  The focus for Sir Alan is his bluntness and practicality (Sun in Aries exactly trine Saturn – making for literally a self-made man) and the Inner Critic (Mercury conjunct Mars, nothing gets past him), whereas in the case of Donald Trump he has the quickness and genius of North Node conjunct Uranus in Gemini (describing his karmic mission), and a talented set of planets in his house of money (Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune).

The conjunction I associate with the Entrepreneur Archetype is Jupiter conjunct Uranus, but Donald has the trine between these two planets which is perhaps more powerful (as does Richard Branson).

Sir Alan Sugar has some feeling of rivalry towards Donald Trump.  In Sir Alan’s autobiography entitled “What you See is what you Get” he describes his initial pitch on being invited to take the role:

“I’ve seen this programme in the USA and, quite frankly, I could carry off Trump’s role  with my eyes closed.  I know you don’t know me from Adam, but it’s a shame you weren’t a fly on the wall at some of my board meetings at Amstrad – if you had been, you’d know you need look no further for the right man.”

Will either of the two men relinquish the role before the format goes stale?

Aspects

The week begins with a square on Monday (20th) between Venus and Chiron, so there may emerge a health issue linked with self-image. Cosmetic surgeons may profit.

The Sun then enters Gemini from Taurus, favouring an intellectual approach to life. Towards midnight (UK time) is the third Uranus-Pluto square in the series  (I have written separately about this, posted 18/5/13)). You may have felt the tension building from last week. Maybe you are embroiled in a complex group problem which is difficult to extricate from, and need to work at your highest level of awareness.

Best aspect of the week occurs in the early hours of Tuesday (21st) morning which brings Mercury into a sextile with Uranus. This enables you to work with the mind (both lower and higher aspects of it) in finding ideas to promote freedom, a content of the Uranus-Pluto struggle. The difficulties of the previous day may have inspired you to seek such solutions, you may open a channel from your intuition or higher mind (Uranus) and bring through some high quality thought. If your karma does not demand that you stay and face the music, you can formulate a plan to escape your Colditz.

By Wednesday (22nd) there may be a crisis of mental confidence with a square to Mercury from Chiron. Some of the brilliant ideas of yesterday may seem awkward or unworkable, but it ain’t necessarily so. Think on it, and you may be able to implement the spirit if not the letter of your plan.

Then on Friday (24th) Mercury and Venus conjoin, and all the ideas and even the problematic elements can form part of your creative cauldron, in writing  (e.g. a whodunnit) or other forms of artistic communication. You may stay up till midnight formulating constructive dialogue.

Through all that there may be a sense of unease, because there’s yet another (pause for thought) eclipse, a Full Moon in Sagittarius. Some found the Full Moon eclipse in Scorpio a month ago quite tough, and the ramifications may continue. A positive focus would be to put what you have learned into philosophical terms (Sagittarius) as a new basis for life.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – a need to analyse problems
• Tuesday – brilliant solutions may be found
• Wednesday – nervous
• Friday – writing favoured, and adopt-a-philosophy

20 May 2013, 23.02 Hrs in the U.K.

This week we face the third square between Uranus and Pluto, on Monday. The first two phases occurred on 24 June and 19 September 2012.  The square will now occupy the 11^th degree of the signs Aries and Capricorn.  If you have planets or angles in this degree, the square will be more relevant to you, though it affects everyone. The square will recur between now and March 2015.

Globally, dangerous situations seem to be escalating without outside monitoring have much control over the situation, e.g. in North Korea and in Syria.  I focused on some of these issues in earlier blogs, and blogs about the Uranus-Pluto square.

In the U.K. we have the breakdown of benefits to the disabled, and the changes to the NHS which are destructive, and Britain and its political parties tearing itself apart over immigration.

Do you in your life have a stand-off, or an issue of brinkmanship in a group you belong to, or conflicts between different parts of your psyche?  You may be finding that you feel more under pressure than ever, or your fears still have the upper hand in ruling your thoughts and actions.

Transformation Game

Here are some stories of growth or progress in the news which have taken place since the last Uranus-Pluto square, not always obvious in nature, which are relevant to and illustrate the nature of the struggle, and were subjects of earlier blogs:

1.  President Obama managed to get re-elected despite a complex struggle with the Republicans, and the neck-and-neck polls near the election.  He still faces much opposition to his efforts, e.g. the gun laws which failed to materialize.
2.  The Hacked Off group were tired of waiting for the government, the newspapers and the Leveson Inquiry to come up with the goods, and have taken matters in their own hands.
3.  From the agonizing revelations about Jimmy Savile, many victims of sexual abuse who have struggled for decades trying to process their experiences, have found the courage to come forth and report what happened to them.
4.  The tension rose to such a degree that Andrew Marr had a stroke, and he recently divulged that it took place when he had been exercising too vigorously on the rowing machine.  He was overdoing things in his life physically and mentally.  This is something to be observant about during the course of this square.
5.  Richard III managed to emerge after centuries under a car park in Leicester and initiate a continuation of the Wars of the Roses.  That is quite a feat.
6.  The Pope in his 80s courageously solved his inner struggle to cope in his elderly condition with the demands of a centuries-old tradition that a Pope should die in the struggle to continue serving the Papacy.  He decided to try a new twist, and it worked.
7. David Milliband also tried a sidestep from a difficult situation in taking up a post in America, leaving his brother a free hand within the Labour party in the U.K.

Lessons that can be Drawn

1.  Take matters into your own hands, if you are disillusioned with the way authorities are dealing with things.  Combine to form a self-help group.
2. Take a sidestep if you feel that karma allows, or at least step out for a while to create a breathing space for all parties
3. Be strong and centred, if something is of great importance to you, and you feel that it is part of your life purpose.  Circumstances may adjust around you, if you are coming from your highest truth.  Have faith in your life.
4. Don’t buy into the frantic pace of life and the rat race if at all possible.  Try to find ways to connect with your inner rhythms, and listen to your body.
5. Question outmoded traditions, and if necessary be the change you want to see.  You may fear the reactions of others, but they may surprise you in their understanding.
6. If you cannot let go of your karma from past lives, you can use telepathy to communicate to others what you would like to happen, but need to examine your motives.
7. Truth will out eventually anyway.

To Play:

Match the possible lessons to the situations.

See if any of the solutions used might fit a current problem that you have.

Sir Alex Ferguson

About a year ago “bullet man” (a great influence on this blog) quipped that if I wrote about football, this blog would increase its readership.  Well with the announcement of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the time has come!

Sir Alex has broken all records in the world English football, including for the length of time (26 years) he has managed that citadel of English football clubs, Manchester United.

The Birthchart

His career path is clearly shown by Midheaven in Aquarius (the sign of teams) sextile Mars (the planet of football) in his 10^th House of Career in Aries, the sign of Football.  A supreme drive to win.

He has the Moon conjunct Jupiter in Gemini , and he is therefore able to be emotionally upbeat to motivate others especially through words.  This conjunction works through his 12^th House – he has inner faith, and the ability to inspire hope.  Jupiter can in some individuals tip the enthusiasm into anger.

Moon exactly trine Venus may be the aspect which shows protectiveness towards his players – he has been mentor to many protégés.

Saturn conjunct Uranus in Taurus constitutes a great deal of inner tension. This aspect represents his rugged, some might say harsh side, working in his 11^th House of teams.  He can cope with complex scenarios in this sphere.

His Sun conjuncts Mercury in Capricorn, which can be a rugged sign, and he was known from early in his career as a strict disciplinarian, determined and calculating.

Uranus squares by 1 degree his Midheaven, so he is a strategist in life, which does not always make things comfortable for others.

The Observer today describes his negative characteristics thus:

“He bullied and swaggered like Clough, glaring at referees, baiting rival managers”.

Manchester United

Alex Ferguson joined Manchester United from Aberdeen when Atkinson lost his job as Manager on 6 November 1986.  Pluto was trine his Ascendant on the cusp of his 5^th House of Sport.  This ensured a deep and meaningful enduring phase of his life in that sphere.

Mark Robins

No man is an island, and Alex Ferguson’s destiny was entwined with other players throughout his life.  Early in his managerial career, footballer Mark Robins scored a significant goal for Manchester United, sealing his success.  Alex Ferguson avoided being sacked before establishing himself.  Mark Robins’ Neptune sextile Ferguson Neptune, so this is a harmonious blending of their lives.  The Sun and Saturn were trine Ferguson North Node in 3^rd in Virgo, assisting his karma, a possible karmic reward. Pluto was also sextile Ferguson’s North Node reinforcing this.  At this stage of his life he did not perhaps need the tactics he came to employ.  Saturn was sextile Robin’s North Node, so he also was playing a karmic role.  Jupiter was exactly trine Robin’s Mars (goal-scoring).

Eric Cantona

Witty Geminian Eric Cantona was destined for a future career in acting.  He had a (football) warrior conjunction of North Node/Mars and a sparky link with Ferguson whose Uranus was conjunct Cantona’s warrior NN/Mars, each able to use each other’s genius.  Cantona also had the rebellious Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo.

David Beckham

David Beckham started out as one of Alex Ferguson’s protégés, making his UEFA Champions League debut on 7 December 1994, and there is no doubt that he was heavily influenced by his Manager.

The astrological chemistry between them includes Beckham’s Uranus trine Alex Ferguson Neptune, Beckham’s Pluto sextile his Neptune and his Moon trine Ferguson’s Neptune.  The difficult aspects include David Beckham’s Pluto squaring Ferguson’s Ascendant, so a challenge to Alex in keeping a lid on his anger.

The incident where Alex Ferguson kicked a boot which hit Beckham gashing his eyebrow throws an interesting light on Ferguson’s chart.  The incident took place on 15 February 2003, and is an example of Alex Ferguson being ingracious in defeat as it came during one such.

Mars was squaring Ferguson’s Nodal Axis – highlighting the Moon square the Nodes in his natal chart.  With Ferguson’s Ascendant in Cancer giving prominence to the Moon and his moods, Mars was triggering this weakness. A  negative Moon can hold grudges, and transitting Mars was also opposing his natal Moon.  This natal aspect (Moon squaring the Nodal Axis) can create or perpetuate karma.

Roy Keane

Roy Keane, another player who was close to but who also tangled with Ferguson, is a Warrior with North Node conjunct Mars (like Cantona).  Alex Ferguson tapped into this with his Moon sextile Roy Keane’s North Node/Mars conjunction.  The liaison was terminated when Keane left Manchester United on 18^th November 2005, with Neptune conjunct Keane’s North Node/Mars Warrior (which was softening due to the influence of Neptune) and sextile Alex Ferguson’s Neptune, thus bringing about a change of focus in both their lives.

His Retirement

I was in a shop on a Station platform buying bottled water at 8.05 am last Wednesday when the news broke.  The shopkeeper punched his hand in the air and said “I’ve been waiting 26 years for this!”  I don’t know what team he supported…

Astrologically, I would have expected Alex Ferguson to retire a year or so ago at the close of the Pluto cycle to his 6^th House.  Maybe he seriously considered it then.  However, he is retiring with Pluto at his Sun, the end of an era, perhaps sapping at his vitality.  His retirement is supported by Jupiter trine his natal Venus and Saturn trine his Ascendant.

David Moyes

His successor David Moyes has enjoyed a warm relationship with Ferguson (his Mars sextile’s Alex’ Jupiter), and was hand picked for the job.  At 50 this is Moyes Chiron Return, where he finds his Inner Healer plus Neptune is sextile his Sun, putting him on his true spiritual path, coming into his spiritual purpose.  I expect him to ease naturally into the role and to grow as a person.  David Moyes Sun squares Alex Ferguson’s Pluto – there is often a Sun/Pluto connection between two people where one takes over in a role from the other. His Pluto trines Fergusons Sun too, emphasizing that. Moyes’ Jupiter also trines  Ferguson’s Pluto, enabling them to work together successfully in the transition and transfer of power.  At Ferguson’s retirement Mars squared Moyes’ Mars, giving rise to somewhat of a wrench for Moyes and an emotional farewell to Everton.

Aspects

Mars conjuncts the South Node tomorrow, revisiting warrior or football karma for some.  Others may just want to avoid disputes.

With the best will in the world, there may be relationship confusion on Monday evening.  Perhaps you are getting to know someone and you find them unfathomable, realizing the more you get to know them the less you know…

On Wednesday (15^th)  in the evening practical thinking (Mercury’s sojourn in Taurus) gives way to more theoretical ideas with Mercury’s entry into Gemini: you may feel like writing an article or blog about the activities you have been involved in recently, summarizing what you have learned.

Saturday (18^th) could start with complicated journeys as Mercury squares Neptune, or ideas that are now confused (they seemed so clear on Wednesday, but extra information may force you to expand and reorganize your viewpoint).

Later in the day, the Arts could be scintillating, and socializing could be exciting, due to Venus sextile Uranus. Bonnie Tyler is representing us at the Eurovision Song Contest, trying her hand at this luckless task.  I shall be watching with my Eurovision Pod Group with whom I travelled to Dusseldorf two years ago for the event.

I love Bonnie Tyler.  Her power comes from a warrior Sun/Mars trine Neptune (so a spiritual warrior), the trine bisected by the powerful planet Pluto.  How come she’s not using her power in politics or football is a mystery to me…only joking!  Sadly I don’t think she will win, on the grounds that Jupiter is square her Pluto so there is a lot of hype around her at the moment, and I don’t think the song is sufficiently strong.  But I would love to be proved wrong.

Uranus-Pluto Square

You may be starting to feel the pinch of this third phase of the square which occurs on Monday next.  I will be revising this issue next week, before the big day.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – revisiting old arguments, then confused feelings
• Wednesday – revitalized wit
• Saturday – complicated communications, then razzle dazzle

Nigel Farage and the conundrum of UKiP

The face of British politics is said to have changed dramatically this week, with one in four voters plumping for UKIP.  David Cameron has been forced to retract his earlier impression of the party as “fruitcakes and closet racists” modifying his tune to “We need to show respect for people who have taken the choice to support this party”.

What is the demographic of the voting section?  A few 80 year old women I know have found themselves voting for or sympathetic to what the party stands for, and some women find Nigel Farage personally fascinating.  There is no doubt in my mind that UKIP inherits some strands of the National Front, British National Party and EDL philosophies, and targets immigrants as being the source of our society’s ills.

The Observer leader this morning describes its voters:

“The Ukip surge is a warning.  Immediate analysis indicates that two groups, in the main, have been swayed by Farage.  They are the less qualified, working-class, older male and the lower middle class”.

So I will look at the charts of Nigel Farage, UKIP, and the UK to try to assess the astrological factors involved.

As a Sun sign Aries, Nigel Farage cuts an individualistic and almost self-sufficient figure.  On the Andrew Marr show this morning, he was very confident, straight speaking and focussed.  He has leadership qualities through that sign, but also from an exact sextile from Uranus to his North Node (karmic mission).  He has the capacity to surprise.  We do not have his birthtime, but I suspect Pluto is prominent on the angles of his chart, because of the way he rose from the ashes of the plane crash on the day of the last election declaring that he was lucky to be alive.  On that day Pluto squared his Mars (the near death experience), trined his Natal Uranus (surprise survival), and conjuncted his South Node in Capricorn  (karmically facing death).

He has lived to fight another day, and plague Cameron, whose Sun opposes his Sun natally.  The Conservative party have lost a huge proportion of their votes to UKIP, and are under pressure to hold a referendum on our membership of the EU as soon as possible.

On Thursday, the day of the election, Pluto was exactly trine the Sun in the UKIP Party chart, a sign of ultimate power.  It may mean though that this is the height of the power that they reach. Especially if it is subsequently revealed that there is no substance behind their policies, and as has been claimed, that they are a one issue party.

The same holds true astrologically for Nigel Farage, that it may prove to be his finest hour.  For Pluto is exactly trine his natal Pluto now, the Universe giving him a point of empowerment, perhaps as a karmic balancing from the air crash, where Pluto was also prominent by transit.  This reinforces the possibility that Pluto is prominent in the angularity of his natal chart. Pluto seems to pulling the strings in his life, picking him up and putting him down in a stark way.

I have just (almost finishing my blog) located a possible birthtime, attributed to Christina Rose through Marjorie Orr.  This does in fact give Pluto exactly on a Virgo Ascendant, confirming my train of thought, though I am not sure how accurate the source is.

The United Kingdom chart has some difficulties at this time, and notably the current Uranus-Pluto square links in with our natal Pluto.  Pluto currently opposes our natal Pluto, and Uranus squares our natal Pluto.  That may register as a sea-change in our politics, as has been claimed.

One thing is for certain,  many of those who voted UKIP have just had enough of present party politics and disempowerment from the EU and feeling like strangers in their own country.  Not me though, I count myself as an immigrant, having come to England as a 4-year old from Israel, my family having fled the persecution of the Jews in Baghdad.  You might then conclude I was bound to think as I do.  I would like to think one out of four comments to this blog would be from UKIP supporters, educating me about their point of view, that is if the comment count reaches four!

Aspects

This morning Mercury opposes Saturn which puts a block on springing up early as you’d planned, foregoing your Sunday morning lie-in in order to catch up with your paperwork.  Your computer may be on a go-slow, your digestive system may be delicate, and the lie-in may be more healing, in order to pen an Ode to Indolence.  Keats wrote one in the 19^th Century:

…O, for an age so shelter’d from annoy,

    That I may never know how change the moons,

Or hear the voice of busy common-sense!…

I wonder what he would make of the age we live in.  The news may be uninviting – you might switch on the radio, then switch it off again.  But things are likely to improve after Noon.

In the evening, Mars trines Pluto and there’s an opportunity to engage in some energetic enterprise.  Have some constructive structure in mind for the occasion, so that excess energy does not turn wild!

Tuesday (7^th) morning brings a conjunction of the Sun and the South Node.  A karmic issue may be highlighted – a consequence from a past life or earlier in this lifetime.  You may recognize this from an invitation or opportunity handed to you.

Then Mercury trines Pluto – now’s the time to deal with the paperwork!  You’ll find you are extra inspired to fill in the huge box on the form entitled “Any other information that can help your cause”.  If you meet someone for a coffee you’ll be able to express what matters to you.

Wednesday (8^th) brings more interesting possibilities for the mind, starting with Mercury conjunct Mars in the early hours: your dreams may be driven by the Inner Critic and may reveal anxieties.  The characters within the dream may exhibit agitation, but of course as in Jungian dream interpretation may reflect aspects of yourself.  If you wake up rattled with negative chatter, turn the phrases round to create a positive affirmation, unless you feel the dream has a deeper meaning (Mars conjunct Mercury can represent superficial chatter and concerns).

Next Mercury sextile Chiron provides some welcome information about health and healing in combining conventional and alternative medicine harmoniously.  It’s also a good aspect for problem-solving in general.  If there’s a crisis don’t panic, the solution is at hand.

This is followed and reinforced by a sextile between Mars and Chiron.  Healing energy will flow, as in hands-on healing, or healing solutions involving energy or problems connected with energy.  Awkward places can be made smooth, and square pegs may be able to fit in round holes.

On Thursday (9^th) Venus goes into Gemini, which livens up the social life.  You might trust the weather enough to have an early summer barbecue, or a picnic.

Mercury conjunct the South Node could be dictating the karmic scenario however: perhaps karma with brothers, sisters, neighbours or teachers (all represented by Mercury) may be involved.

The eclipsed New Moon at 19 degrees Taurus on Friday (10^th) favours gardening and gardeners, artists and musicians, and turning points in Arts projects.

Finally Saturday (11^th) holds a conjunction between Mercury and the Sun at 20 degrees Taurus, reinforcing what you are trying to achieve in these areas.  19/20 degrees Taurus is a sensitive point around the end of the week, so if you have planets in this degree they may be bolstered by this influence: supportively so if you are willing to work with change, but not so supportive if you are resistant to change.

Contact Email

Earlier editions of this blog contained a message about my email changing.

The email link on my Contact page has now been changed and will work as normal.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – a slow start, and a quick finish
• Tuesday – karmic opportunity, and significant work
• Wednesday – a brisk start (apply caution); then healing ways
• Thursday – lighter relationships, and karmic business
• Friday – change in the air and in the earth
• Saturday – focussed and enlivened thought

“Oh I come from Pittsburgh to study Astrology

She said as she stepped on my instep…

Come back to my place I will show you the stars and the signs.”

From “Love Chronicles” by Al Stewart, 1969

40^th Wedding Anniversary

Early in our acquaintance, at University, I found Mike snorting at the astrological poems on my door in halls.  I suppose I should have been grateful he wasn’t snorting anything else.

It is our 40^th Wedding Anniversary today.  We are often asked incredulously how that has happened.  Each relationship is unique, and our model probably wouldn’t work for others.

Synastry

Synastry is the compatibility between charts. You often see a recurring interaspect between two charts: some may be based on the quincunx (tense) or the semi-sextile (a teaching aspect), but ours is an opposition (a balancing and complementary relationship) with Suns, Moons and Ascendants in opposite signs.  Each of the 6 zodiac polarities have a connecting principle, and Communication is the connecting principle for Gemini and Sagittarius.

Bullet Point Presentation:

• As a Sagittarian (me) and a Gemini (Mike) we are opposite signs, and polarized in so many ways.
• He is a Scientist, and I am on the Arts side.
• He favours conventional medicine, and I favour alternative medicine.
• He likes conventional religion, and I like Universal religion.
• We have to have separate televisions, because he likes Sport and I like Reality TV.
• He has a lot of energy, and I don’t (he’s chief hooverer).
• He’s an omnivore, and I’m a vegetarian
• He walks fast; I walk exceptionally slowly, 10 paces behind

Unity

You’d think never the twain shall meet…The working out of an Opposite relationship depends on blending on a higher level, and I was told by Lita de Alberdi’s guide Ortan that Mike and I are from the same Soul group.  When we were first married, it was easy to divide tasks according to our obvious skills and lack of skills.  I think we made some decisions on a Soul level, because there were areas of silent Unity:

1. Bringing up the children – Unity
2. Politics – Unity, with one exception: we differ on the Falklands.
3. Books – we are both overfond of these and the house is well and truly cluttered with them.  So much so that our children were anti-reading until they were studying for A-levels.
4. No arguments – notably we do not argue (unhealthy perhaps?).  I refuse to do so, with my Moon in Libra opposed to Mike’s argumentative Moon in Aries.  The only notable argument we had was before we were married, and it was over the choice of wallpaper!
5. Space – there are no power plays in our relationship, and we each respect and support the other’s ability to be themselves.  We have both been very tolerant!  I would like to thank Mike for his tolerance.
6. University Challenge – we both watched it before we went to University, and it is the one programme we watch together.  I am not competitive, but it is the one spot in the week where I challenge Mike (and I almost always lose!).

Electional Astrology

One of the few times I have chosen a date for myself astrologically was the Wedding Day.  I tend to be non-interventionist usually.  The Wedding Day was chosen mainly on the basis that Jupiter (Success) was transiting my Venus (Love).  Since then I have chosen Wedding Days for other people, and I believe they have all been successful.

Children

We are of the transitional generation between those who stuck together at all costs, and the break-up of the institution of marriage.  Some couples choose not to have children, and put their energy into the relationship itself, but having children (two daughters) has given us a positive focus, and a grandson is the icing on the cake.  We have many shared memories, but tend to remember different things!

The Celebration

We are having a few celebrations around the country, but yesterday we met three sets of old friends who were married around the same time, including three you may have met in the Zodiac Masterclass Series: June – “A Cancerian Experience of Motherhood”, Jeanne – “The Scorpio Guide to Accentuating the Positive” and Georgie “The Taurean Guide to the Inner Artist”, and their respective spouses.  They toasted us in sparkling mineral water.

Another outlook on a long-term pair bond:

“The Libran Guide to Relationship” by Sue Hudson

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2012/10/zodiac-masterclass-series-a-libran-guide-to-relationships/

Right to Reply

Mike says:

As a person with an interest in science but several other things, I tend to be sceptical about astrology but respectful towards it.  Being a Scorpio/ Gemini I have inherited all the unhealthy aspects of both and would have perhaps preferred being Aquarian where a dodgy ankle is something I could more easily have coped with. When I am unsure of our anniversary date, i google Bobby Charlton’s last match, because it was at Chelsea, about a quarter of a mile from the registry office. And yes, I would recommend separate TV rooms.

Aspects

If you suffered the emotional sadness of last Monday’s Venus-Saturn opposition you may be sensitive to today’s Sun opposite Saturn, a sense of flatness in relation to your day’s purposes. There may be a dissonance between your reality and your ideology. You need to ascertain whether there is a psychological block, whether it is a spur to perseverance or an invitation to let go!  That may be a fine decision.

On top of that, there is a need to balance karma in relationships today, with Venus at the South Node.

On Wednesday (1^st May) Mars opposes Saturn, and someone could be giving you the cold shoulder, or providing a tussle in the form of a battle of wills.  Certainly there will seem to be a clash of needs.  After this point, the week could become more comfortable, as though your fears have been spent for the time being.

In the afternoon, Mercury enters Taurus, and there’s a change of mind (no better, or worse), logic gives way to aesthetics and you may look at life a little differently.   For instance, you may have bought a new vase intending to display flowers in the hearth, but then discover that the colours of the vase go perfectly in the dining room.

In the late afternoon, the Sun trines Pluto and the week takes an upturn (unless you are not on very friendly terms with Pluto these days), albeit a serious mood: life demands something from you, but also gives back in kind.

On Friday (3^rd) the Sun sextiles Chiron and you may feel you are taking a step towards healing your life.  Perhaps it’s a total left field approach that presents itself to you, but it may give you a new perspective, take you out of yourself, and be the change that is as good as a rest.

Saturday (4^th) brings you on a step further with Mercury sextile Neptune, subtle understanding arrives which is needed for healing.  Words or images may come to you out of the blue, providing higher ways of looking at the detail of your life.  If you are a medium or channel, you may be introduced to a new guide.  The week ends with intriguing new possibilities, glimpsed or captured.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Anti-climax, and karmic dues revisited
• Wednesday – Frustration, followed by a new outlook
• Friday – Healing through creative avenues
• Saturday – Subtle new cognizance

Global Security

When I embarked on having 10 sessions of Rebirthing in the late 1980s, the very first affirmation I was given went something like:

“I am safe on this planet now and always”

Since then of course safety on this planet has become more complicated and precarious.  It may be time to upgrade the affirmation.

Within ourselves, safety I believe is a 1^st chakra issue, a question of feeling grounded and sensing our environment.  So maybe we need to look at this chakra, and work on getting clearer about it.

Cindi Dale in “New Chakra Healing” describes no less than 32 chakras.  She quotes Gerber’s “Vibrational Medicine” describing the first chakra:

‘Psychologically speaking, the root chakra is linked to the basic survival instincts.  It is connected with primal feelings…and is the prime mover behind the so called fight-or-flight response.’

In Astrology, minor accidents tend to be shown by Mars transits, more serious accidents by Uranus, and larger scale violence by Pluto, especially bombs (both of the smaller variety and the nuclear scale).  Personal security can be a function of the natal Imum Coelum or I.C. and divine protection is related to Jupiter.

With two unstable regimes holding nuclear capability, North Korea and Iran, and threatening to use them, we cannot ignore these threats to countries and states on our planet.  All countries who have the means to use nuclear weapons think they have the right to do so, but are often suspicious of the rights and intentions of others.

I would like to have unilateral disarmament (and was for several years a card-carrying member of CND), but also have always felt that we (especially as a small island nation like Japan) should not entertain nuclear power on our shores.

With the third phase of the Uranus (unexpected)-Pluto (destruction) square due on 20^th May, I felt it was time to look at this issue in relation to North Korea and Iran.  You may have issues closer to home which are more preoccupying.  Do you have a stand off, or an issue of brinkmanship in a group you belong to?  In the U.K. we have the breakdown of benefits to the disabled, and the changes to the NHS which are destructive, and may reach a peak around then.

Last week, the Boston Bombing came out of the blue, a tremendous level of violence, echoing 9/11 in the U.S. and 7/7/ in London.  Thoughts turned to the London Marathon, which is happening today, and safety procedures in place for that.  The Boston events have had an extra psychological effect on the London Marathon. Competitors are wondering whether or not to have their families cheering them on.  The explosion at the Texas fertilizer factory also in the week just gone, took place exactly on the Sun/Mars conjunction.

Boston Bombing

Notably Mars was conjunct the Sun on the day of the bombing, and Saturn is conjunct President Obama’s Neptune, and the Nodal Axis squaring his Ascendant/Descendant axis, affecting him personally.  The Nodal Axis is also exactly square the natal chart of Boston. But this event is surely a part of the overall Uranus square Pluto climate.

North Korea

I have resisted looking too closely up to now, as there is no firm birthdate let alone time for the ruler of North Korea.  The nation chart is a little firmer.  We have a warrior nation chart here, with Pluto (the bomb) on the descendant in the 7th house of relationships also occupied by Saturn, and Mars (the warrior) on the South (karmic) Node in the 9th House of foreign lands.  The chart of Kim Jong Un’s coming to power has the Sun exactly conjunct Pluto.  Uranus was exactly square the North Korean Uranus, an indication that matters were out of control.  At the time of the third Uranus-Pluto square the Nodal Axis will be exactly square to China’s Pluto, China being a key neighbour.  There seem to be several exact squares to aspects of countries prominent in this issue around the time of the third Uranus-Pluto square, suggesting a huge karmic theme being played out.

Iran

The nuclear threat from Iran is being taken seriously by the U.S., and its ally Israel.  In the comparison between the chart of Iran and the U.S. chart, Iran has its Neptune opposing the U.S. Mars, so that it can have a psychological hold of fear and paranoia held over the U.S. decision to act or not.  Iran has this week suffered a very severe earthquake, with Pluto exactly squaring its Sun.  At the time of the third Uranus-Pluto square, the Nodal Axis will be square to Israel’s Saturn, which is conjunct Iran’s Ascendant.  They will both be feeling pressure.  At this time, the onus is with Barack Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry to conduct the delicate negotiating with North Korea and Iran, but if the United Nations were to be more involved around the time of the forthcoming Uranus-Pluto square, there could be some favourable balance set up, as Pluto will be trine the Uranus of the United Nations chart.

Feeling Safe

With all that is going on, being reported all around the world, there is a sense of sympathy, caring and support being transmitted from people who cannot understand this inhumanity.  Each person needs to stand in their own authenticity, maintain the light in their own area, and ask for divine protection for all.  When you, as a human, feel aligned with your own purpose in being here, you are able to send healing to the planet more strongly, and we have all chosen to be here at this time.  In your relationship with the planet, use all the chakras you have at your disposal.

I would like to conclude this report with a quotation from “Companions in Spirit” by Leah Maggie Garfield:

“We evolve globally as well as individually and regionally. At this point in our global evolution, we are learning magnanimity and absorbing compassion. (Compassion is the emotional component, magnanimity the intellectual component.) Insofar as we’re able to be compassionate and magnanimous, we are all potential magi.”

Aspects

Today we start the week on a note of dissonance with Pluto squaring Mercury. You might perhaps feel that this blog strikes a dissonant tone.  You will be challenged to articulate your ideas clearly and logically, so be prepared to be tested to the limits in this respect. For example, your family may ask you to validate any beliefs which come from your inner black sheep!

Tomorrow Venus opposes Saturn so some emotional flattening may take place. Your inner black sheep may not have done a good job, and unless backed up by your Inner Rebel who does not care, may slope off to the corner of the field to mope!

Wednesday (24th) has three aspects, starting in the early hours of the morning in the U.K. with Mercury sextile Jupiter. You may have worked out for yourself what you needed to re-align in your thinking on Sunday, and are now in a position to sell your ideas. It’s a buoyant day in the market place and for small companies, e.g. struggling astrological businesses. It may be a defining time where local business expands to global.

The other two aspects on Wednesday are equally buoyant, so you can follow through on early gains. In the afternoon Venus trines Pluto. This is healing for any heartache experienced on Monday. Any partings in relationships could be fairly amicable, so it’s a good day for mediation in separations. For existing solid relationships there could be deeper understanding, such as when one party has worked on their growth and communicates it successfully to the other, enabling a joint shift.

The evening brings a sextile between the Sun and Neptune, bringing about a spiritual integration of the day’s gains, possibly through creative activity. Perhaps the day’s events would make a good starting point for a novel or screenplay.

Thursday (25th) starts with Venus sextile Chiron so there is some prospect for balancing and healing of the week’s downs and ups.

Once that is settled you have the space to deal with the emerging tension from the eclipsed Scorpio Full Moon of the early evening. This is likely to highlight a thorny emotional issue, possibly re-awakening the inner black sheep of early week. You may be re-assessing your role in the family, or examining how you are treating someone, shining a light into your own subconscious motives.

The finale of the week on Saturday (27th) is Mars sextile Neptune, a chance to balance action with sensitivity. It is a suitable one to integrate all the ranges of emotion of this week, and to bring together the personal will and divine will in concert.

Take good care of yourselves, and good luck to all of you taking part in the London Marathon and raising money for good causes.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a little nerve-wracking
• Tomorrow – some sadness
• Wednesday – dynamic
• Thursday – early healing, then another issue builds up
• Saturday – two or more levels of your life balance out

Margaret Thatcher – Personal Life (1925 – 2013)

This is the second of two blogs about Margaret Thatcher, with a more personal slant.  Speaking to people this week, it seems that whatever they thought during the Thatcher years, they still think about her.  Twenty years since we were under her rule we have had a chance to reflect, but we tend still to hold the same opinion.  When she became the leader of the Conservative party, I immediately felt that she was cold hearted.  And nothing she did subsequently changed my view.  I expect to lose half my readership now, on the basis that there is a lot of discord around the subject of her life, character and work.

Looking at her chart, you would expect to see the Warrior Archetype featuring strongly.  This is not what I see (other Astrologers may).  What I see is the strength of the woman: She had Saturn (Discipline) almost exactly conjunct her Ascendant in Scorpio (she meant business), with the power hungry opposition of Jupiter and Pluto almost strategically placed on the 3^rd/9th House cusps supporting the Ascendant/Saturn.  She was therefore a towering figure, with great Vision and conviction, and the ability to follow through.  Saturn exactly trines Pluto and exactly sextiles Jupiter, providing a formidable structure to the life and personality.  Iron Lady indeed.

Other astrological features of note in her birthchart were the Sun/Mercury in 12^th House (living out her inner vision) and the North Node at the first degree of Leo (karmic mission of Leadership).

Her Sun sign and Ascendant reflect her earlier careers before politics claimed her: She was originally a Chemist, specializing at University in X-ray crystallography as a student of Dorothy Hodgkin (Ascendant in Scorpio).  She subsequently became a barrister (Sun in Libra).  In her Libran Sun sign we also see the elegant lady, with a love of fashion and good bone structure.

Family

In 1951 she married Dennis Thatcher, a Sun Sign Taurean, the sign of loyal support, both in morale and money.  There is no doubting that she could not have achieved what she did without his constant presence, and she acknowledged his immense contribution in her life.  At their wedding, Pluto was conjunct Dennis’ South Node and Neptune was trine his North Node, an indication of cosmic responsibility.

Their twins Carol and Mark were born in 1953, and Carol has won a lot of public support in her struggles with her relationship with her mother.  Her astrological compatibility is virtually the same as Mark’s, but Margaret was always closer to her son.  Margaret has Moon square Venus natally, which indicates an uneasy relationship with women, and may explain the unease with her daughter.  Dennis may well have been the mainstay of the family, the glue holding it together – certainly astrology would indicated that he had a beneficial role to play, with his Jupiter trine the twins’ Uranus.  At the same time though his Jupiter squared the twins’ Jupiter and he may have been an idealized figure, and he may not have been as available as they would have wished, with his South Node conjunct their Sun and Pluto.  His North Node was trine their Saturn/Neptune, providing some stability, and his Neptune was trine their Ascendant but square their Moon, one minute there and the next minute vanishing.

Airey Neave

Airey Neave was an early ally, who unfortunately was removed by the Irish National Liberation Army in a car bomb attack, just before she took on the mantle of Prime Minister.  He had led the campaign which had brought her to power as leader of the Conservative Party.  He was a true Soul brother to her, and it is believed that she felt his loss very deeply.  Of all the chart comparisons encountered while researching her life, this one stands out:

His Mercury exactly trined her Sun, his Sun exactly sextiled her Venus, his Neptune exactly trined her Venus, his North Noded exactly trined her Mars, and his Uranus exactly squared her Ascendant.  It may be that his death occurring just before she came to power steeled her heart; often spiritually these losses are meant to open the heart, but sometimes the effect is the opposite.  She had a job to do, and did not have time to grieve for Neave, perhaps.

Her Cabinet Men

She was a woman in a man’s world, rarely seen alongside female leaders or politicians.  She started out with a cabinet of what she called “wets” and then polished her cabinet more to her liking, resulting in a group of “drys”.  Some of the cabinet men from those years are still loyal (e.g. Cecil Parkinson), but some of them are more sheepish about their involvement.  It is surprising that they do not have more pride in their achievements, although some genuinely now see the flaws in the vision and the cracks and loopholes through which sections of society dropped.

Norman Tebbit was one of the most loyal this week, in his tribute hinting regret that he did not support her at her time of need, having left office after the Brighton Bombing, when his wife was very bady injured.  She famously said at the Conference the next day: “This was a day I was not meant to see.”  At the time the Nodal Axis was square her Moon, and Mars was transiting her Jupiter, but she was also experiencing her Second Saturn Return in Scorpio on her Ascendant.  The interaspects between her chart and Norman’s are not easy, however, and most notably in terms of the karma around the bombing, her Pluto was exactly square his Nodal Axis (karma).

There are those too, who were involved in the final removal of Margaret Thatcher, and do not attempt to disguise their role, Kenneth Clarke for example.  Michael Heseltine was prominently waiting to take over at the time, but never did.

Ronald Reagan

Away from home, she forged a memorable alliance with Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, immortalized in the famous poster depicting a clinch from Gone with the Wind.  Ronald was another Soul Mate, but it was not that easy a combination.  Their Suns were in trine, and they had mutually supporting interaspects, but also some challenging ones.

Her Passing

At her death, Uranus was opposing her Mars (the divine will having its say), Neptune was opposing her Midheaven and conjunct her I.C. (a final rest and peace).  The death chart has Uranus exactly conjunct the Midheaven in Aries, announcing a notable passing of a leader.  This is reinforced by the Ascendant of the death chart at 11.28 a.m. being at 2 degrees Leo, conjunct exactly her North Node, which seems to have played a strong role in the astrology of her life.

David Cameron

David Cameron is making the most of this remembrance of a remarkable Tory.  Watch for signs that she might influence him from the next dimension, or that he might be emboldened to further fashion himself in her image.

Aspects

This week four planets change signs, so if like me you have significant placements at 0 degrees, you could be busy and have several changes of focus.

Today Mercury goes into Aries so there is a mental change of focus from woolly-headedness to greater logic.  It is a day for getting down to business.

Tomorrow Venus enters Taurus and art and music can be promoted more easily, in this age of austerity.

On Thursday (18th) Mars conjuncts the Sun at 28 deg Aries. That is a lot of intense energy to process. Try not to be driven, or overdo things. Sometimes high energy can actually make you feel tired, because your bodily systems are trying hard to integrate the energies.

On Friday (19th) Venus sextiles Neptune and inspiration is added to the artistic and musical projects initiated on Monday.

Spring may eventually spring into evidence with the Sun entering Taurus later on Friday. Flowers and blossoms may find they can bloom after the harsh conditions lately in the U.K.

Saturday (20th) brings flashes of mental brilliance added to the new mental focus of Sunday at the beginning of the week.

With Mars also entering Taurus there is a change of physical focus. Energy may become more earthy, practical and determined to follow through.

Uranus square Pluto 3

Advance warning of the third phase of Uranus squaring Pluto coming to planet Earth next May on 20th (in the U.K.) and 21st (in the  U.S.).  Another blog will be due next month on the subject.  We previously saw this square last June and September, if you want to pick up the relevant blogs, and re-assess its role in your current struggles.  It’s a good time now to look at your progress.

Link:

The Thatcher Years (1979-1990) – An Astrological History

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/04/the-thatcher-years-1979-1990-astrological-history/

The week in bullet points:

• Today – stride forth mentally
• Tomorrow – mellow creativity
• Thursday – activity and heat
• Friday – inspiration added to art; flowers blooming
• Saturday – mental brilliance; earthy energy

The Thatcher Years (1979-1990)

This is the first of two blogs concentrating on Margaret Thatcher who died this week.  Broadly, here I focus on her political career, while the second will focus more on her personal life.

She entered politics as M.P. for Finchley in 1959, and was brought in to Edward Heath’s cabinet in 1970 as Secretary of State for Education and Science, from which position she earned the reputation of “milk snatcher”.  If it had not been for the failures of Edward Heath’s administration, she may not have risen to prominence as she did.  Edward Heath was a shy and introverted Cancerian, and in the same way as Gordon Brown, a shy and introverted Piscean, was not suited to the extrovert role of Prime Minister.  That does not mean all introverted signs are not suited to the highest office, but that these two were particularly introverted and that was part of their problem.  His Saturn (sense of failure) was square to her Sun, and he never rose above the fact that she had usurped him.

She became Leader of the Opposition on  11^th February 1975, to the surprise of many, with Jupiter (success) transiting her Uranus (surprise) in her 5^th House of Self-Expression.  Pluto was conjunct her Mars in 11^th House (taking power in the party).

She became the first female Prime Minister on 4^th May 1979, which is still a remarkable achievement even seen from the hindsight of the 21^st Century, though she was always surrounded with men in her cabinet.  This was a validation and expression of her karmic mission, as transiting Jupiter was exactly conjunct her North Node in Leo, fulfilling her destiny of Leadership.  She would re-define leadership, and Tony Blair styled his leadership after her model.  Other supporting aspects at the time were Jupiter trine her natal Venus and Sun ruler, and Neptune sextile her natal Sun.

In the style of Neptune, she famously began her prime ministry by saying:

“Where there is discord, may we bring harmony,

Where there is error, may we bring truth.

Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.

And where there is despair, may we bring hope.”

~ St. Francis of Assisi

Unfortunately, our society is still debating what she did do.  She ignored the poorest strata of society, declaring there was no such thing as society, and encouraged self-serving.  But there were many changes whereby she wrought transformation, and some of those might be seen less negatively, or be more easily debated.

More memorable words were heard at the Conservative Party Conference of 1980, confirming the Iron Lady title she had been given by the Soviet Union:

“To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the ‘U-turn’, I have only one thing to say: ‘You turn (U-turn) if you want to.  The lady’s not for turning.”

She was proud of the badge, and her reputation was magnified and solidified in the public imagination, becoming the archetype of a strong woman.

In her early years of office, she was still struggling to turn around the unrest she had inherited, but a turning point was offered in the Falkland conflict of 1982.  Here was a conflict which could be said astrologically to bring out her Inner Warrior.  The conflict has been echoed recently with Argentina, and I wrote in my blog of 12^th February 2012:

“The original conflict in 1982 was a vehicle for Margaret Thatcher’s Inner Warrior because she was experiencing a Mars Return at the time!  This Mars Return was exactly trine the U.K. Ascendant.”

The success of the war enabled her re-election in 1983 (then going on to win a third term in 1987), and she was able to press on with her economic mission, based on monetarist thinking.  Her policy was to privatize national services and resources, to show a healthier economy, but stopped short of privatizing the NHS and the railways, which would have had even more severely adverse effects.  She encouraged the buying of council houses by council tenants, which many are still grateful for, but did not provide housing to replace them, thus contributing to the current housing shortage.

Miners’ Strike

Where she did clash violently with society and communities, many of which to this day have not recovered or forgotten, were in the mining dispute, and over the community charge tax (later re-named the Poll Tax).  Here we saw at first hand the violent clashes and the result of extreme feelings by those affected, on our television screens.

The fall guy (and some declared foolish) in the  conflict of the Miner’s Strike (1984/5) was Arthur Scargill, leader of the National Union of Mineworkers.  Margaret’s Pluto opposed exactly Scargill’s Venus, but her Jupiter was exactly conjunct his Venus, so her Jupiter-Pluto assertion of power was exercised in this battle of wills.

Many argue that the political stranglehold of the Unions needed to be broken, and it certainly was a success for Margaret, but these days they might do with being a little stronger in order to be able to stand up for the “little man” – perhaps this balance went too far the other way.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Perhaps her greatest achievement, and one worthy of the Libran Sun sign, was to end the Cold War.  She first cemented an alliance and friendship with the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, then brokered an entente between him and the newly emerging President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev.  She famously said that Gorbachev was a “man she could do business with”.  His Neptune was conjunct her Midheaven, which could be what drew her to him, but his Pluto and Saturn were square to her Sun.  Her intervention really did transform the relationship between the West and the East, but when Gorbachev was removed some of the benefits of the achievement started to slide.

Another overseas ally was Augusto Pinochet of Chile, whose chart comparison reaveals a double whammy of her Venus trine his Neptune and his Neptune trine his Venus.

Resignation

When she was forced to resign, after a first ballot for the leadership election, followed by disappointing interviews with her cabinet colleagues, Jupiter was square to her natal Saturn/Ascendant.  At the time of Geoffrey Howe’s devastating resignation speech a couple of weeks earlier, Pluto was trine his Pluto, a moment of his empowerment for which he had waited a long time.

Legacy

She once humorously declared that Tony Blair, or New Labour, was her legacy.  And she certainly did transform society, but that can be good or bad depending on who you are or what you believe in.  Owen Jones in his book “Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class” (2011) states:

“At the root of the demonization of working-class people is the legacy of a very British class war. Margaret Thatcher’s assumption of power  in 1979 marked the beginning of an all-out assault on the pillars of  working-class Britain.  Its institutions, like trade unions and  council housing, were dismantled;  its industries, from manufacturing  to mining, were trashed; its communities were, in some cases, shattered, never to recover; and its values, like solidarity and collective aspiration, were swept away in favour of rugged individualism.”

But that is no reason to dance on her grave, or anyone’s.  It is a sad reflection when society is ruled by hatred.  I hope we do better in the future, now that we can see her “reign” in black and white.

Further Reading:

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/04/aspects-for-the-week-beginning-14-april-2013/