The Ministry of Defence

“Just then, Sunak received a letter from Ben Wallace saying he was resigning as defence secretary.  And that reminded him he was supposed to be doing a mini-reshuffle.  Who to replace Wallace?  There just wasn’t any talent left in the Tory ranks.  So he supposed it would have to be Grant Shapps.”

~ John Crace

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, possibly one of the safest pair of hands in the  cabinet, resigned on Friday and was replaced by Grant Shapps, a minister loyal to Rishi Sunak, but who has been associated with past scandals.

Outgoing Defence Secretary

Ben Wallace

Birth Chart

Half his planets (5) in Earth signs makes Ben Wallace very grounded, and with 0 planets in Fire he is not likely to get carried away too easily.  On top of that, his Sun is in Taurus, so hence his reputation for being trustworthy, sensible and dependable.  His Sun is exactly trine Pluto, so he is able to look realities in the face, and as a military man, he would have had to.  With Mercury closely conjunct Saturn, he had the ability to focus and apply himself.  Mars square his Pluto marks him out as a warrior, or military man.  He was immensely suited to the post of Defence Secretary.

His time as Defence Secretary

He was appointed Defence Secretary when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, but had made his mark before then.  In 2016, the year of the Referendum, he was strongly in favour of remaining in Europe.  Theresa May made him Minister of State for Security in the Home Office, and in December 2017 his brief was extended to economic crime.  In that capacity, it fell to him to deal with the episode of the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury.

Johnson made him Secretary of State for Defence on 24th July 2019.  His transits included three suitably Martian ones: Mars square his natal Mercury and Saturn, and Neptune square his natal Mars.  In July 2021, he described Britain as being in a “very difficult position” when the United States decided to withdraw from Afghanistan, an event which took place at the end of August that year, and obliged the U.K. to act.  The Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was sunning himself on a beach at the time, and that operation was not handled well.  Wallace expressed an intention at the time to work with the Taliban.  He was interviewed that month, and asked why he felt the withdrawal so personally.  His reply was:

“Because I’m a soldier … because it’s sad, and the West has done what it’s done and we have to do our very best to get people out and stand by our obligations”

He had strong feelings, too, on the subject of Ukraine, stating that Ukraine should offer more gratitude to the Western allies, and that its wishlist of military aid was very demanding.

On 15 July 2023, Wallace announced that he was ready to resign from his post, but he remains the longest serving Tory Secretary of State for Defence.  His main transit at the time was Pluto sextile Neptune, a deep urge to address the balance of sensitivities in his life: the demands of the job had taken its toll on his family life.

He formally resigned on Friday this week, with Jupiter on his Mercury (mental freedom) and Pluto exactly square his natal Jupiter to the day (his relinquishment of power), plus the South Node on his Jupiter (he had fulfilled his karma) – that’s three Jupiterian influences at this time for him.

Incoming Defence Secretary

Grant Shapps

Birth Chart

Half his planets (5) in Mutable signs, which are adaptable and versatile, chime well with the fact that he has had five ministerial posts during the course of one year!  He has an entrepreneurial chart, with the Sun in Virgo conjunct Jupiter and Uranus., but more importantly he has the Sun and Pluto exactly conjunct in that sign.  Interestingly, the leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer also has the Sun and Pluto exactly conjunct in Virgo.  Both can be inscrutable, but whereas Grant Shapps has a reputation for dodgy dealings, Keir has a more trustworthy reputation.  Grant has Mercury conjunct Venus, and therefore can sweet talk his way in and out of situations.  He is valued within the Conservative party as a communicator, and for being media-savvy.  Mars trine closely Saturn, could indicate that he can get things done, but he does not so far have a lot to show for his responsible positions.  Mars closely square Neptune can be slippery, and Jupiter conjunct Pluto may indicate a love of power.  With Mercury ruling his Sun and his Moon Sign (Gemini), his would have found his stint at Transport congenial.

Life and Career

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1999, but recovered well after treatment.  At the time, his progressed Sun was semi-sextile his natal Pluto.  It was after this time that he set up in business, but was later found to have set up fictitious names for testimonials in his business.  Around that time, his progressed Sun was opposite his natal Saturn.  In September 2012 many of his business websites were blacklisted on Google for violating copyright infringement rules.  He marketed get-rich-quick schemes under a pseudonym.

2015 was not a good year for him.  He was discovered to have lied about having jobs while being an M.P., and he was accused of bullying within the Tory party.  He was let go from the cabinet on 11th May 2015, with transiting Pluto square his natal Venus.

His fortunes were on the rise by 2019, when Boris Johnson appointed him as Transport Secretary in his new cabinet.  And this week, he has been entrusted with Defence – Uranus is trine his natal Pluto (enormous change and responsibility) and Pluto at the same time is trine his natal Uranus – same again, with bells on!

Grant Shapps does not have any experience in the area of Defence.  A former chief of the general staff of the British Army, Richard Dannatt, has said the post comes with a complex portfolio which would take time to learn, and according to the Guardian he wonders whether Grant Schapps “would put his loyalty to Sunak above pushing for the needs of the defence community”.

“The United Kingdom is respected around the world for our Armed Forces and that respect has only grown more since the war in Ukraine. I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where Defence was viewed as a discretionary spend by Government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.”

~ Ben Wallace

Aspects

Monday (4th) is a busy day, aspect-wise.  First of all, in the early hours of the morning, Venus is Stationary prior to turning Direct.  Phew!  That’s one planet off the Retrograde list.  Venus has been retrograde since 23rd July, and relationships may have been tested and put through their paces in that time.  You may have realized the true worth of some of your relationships.  You can pause, breathe and relax into that knowledge.  That doesn’t mean relationships will suddenly be easy, but you will have learned something important for moving forward.

A helpful aspect occurs later in the morning, when Mercury trines Jupiter, the veritable aspect of good news itself.  This could bring productivity, and good conversation.  .  Mercury trine Jupiter expands our minds and philosophies.  This is an upbeat vibe mentally, and can bring opportunities.  It is also helpful for writing projects and studying.

Just when you think you can rest on your laurels, another directional turn of a planet takes place, on the same day, late lunchtime.  So while Venus has gone Direct, Jupiter is replacing her on the Retrograde list.  This could find us feeling we are in a state of flux.  You may have been working along a particular line and making steady progress, but now have to re-assess.  There is a possibility of a U-turn by someone in power, or you may make a U-turn in  your own life.

The Sun conjoins with Mercury at 13 degrees Virgo on Wednesday (6th).  This may therefore bring an opportunity to apply your mind with clarity,  concentrate and focus,  and make important statements.  The focus may be on working schedules and documentation or environmental projects.  Mentally you may be able to see things clearly.  If you know which House Virgo occupies in your chart, you’ll find that area of your life to be exceptionally busy.

We end on a high note this week, with a trine between the Sun and Jupiter on Friday (8th). This is one of the brightest aspects of the year.  If you have been feeling stressed, you may experience a welcome distraction.  It’s a happy-go-lucky aspect where circumstances allow.  So whatever lights your candle today, grasp the opportunity.  Good cheer, laughter, and adventure may characterize this time.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – Relationship ease; good news; U-turns
• Wednesday – clarity and diligence
• Friday – a high note

Nadine Dorries

Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, finally resigned yesterday after declaring she would do so on 9th June, having kept the nation dangling.  Opposition parties have already been polishing their strategies for an upcoming by-election.

Birth Chart

Nadine has half her planets (5) in Fixed signs – is that what gave her the sticking power to hang around for so long?  Only 1 of her planets comes under the Cardinal  quadruplicity – so she would not have leadership material (or aspirations).  She has remarkably few aspects in her chart.  This may mean that in her mind and personality she does not make as many connections and associations as the average person.  It’s quite unusual, and I haven’t studied many charts like that.  I am locking that into my research files.  In her chart too, the Moon squares the Sun, which is an indication that sometimes the conscious mind doesn’t know what the unconscious is doing, and that can make decision-making hard.  That too may have been a factor in her recent behaviour, although she has stuck to the idea that Rishi Sunak should have got her recommendation to enter the Lords across the line (that’s where her Fixity comes in).  We are possibly looking at a pattern of finding it hard to make decisions (which is a difficult trait to manage if you are a serving constituency MP) but sticking to an idea once a decision is made.  Sun sextiles Uranus in her chart, so there is a bit of a Rebel there, and the desire sometimes to be contrary – as when she decided to go into the Jungle, much to the consternation of parliament and her constituents: that was as long ago as 2012.  Sun squares Pluto in her chart, so there is a taste for drama, and she did have a poverty ridden childhood which produced day on day drama.  This sense of drama presumably is useful in her ability to write her novels.  Emotional drama is a special forte, because her Moon is opposite Pluto – she certainly kept everyone in suspense these last few months.  The Moon aspects are a bit vague because we have no birth time.  But in Mercury exactly sextile Mars we have a firm aspect, and that is a quick mind, with sometimes a caustic wit – remember her jibe about Cameron and Osborne being arrogant posh boys who didn’t know the price of milk, back in 2012?  She accused them of not knowing  “what it’s like to go to the supermarket and have to put things back on the shelves because they can’t afford it for their children’s lunch boxes”.  They were well on the road of imposing austerity at the time.  Going into the Jungle in 2012, she stated: “I won’t deliberately start an argument. But if anyone wants to take me on, I will be up for it.” That’s a manifesto for Mercury sextile Mars!  Mercury is also square Uranus in her chart, indicating some nervous tension and possible erratic thought – she certainly would not care about being controversial.  She has Venus opposite Saturn, and would understand heartache, and deprivation, which are good qualities for a novelist – she knows how to pull at the heartstrings.  Jupiter sextiles her North Node, giving her good opportunities in life to fulfill her karma.  Last but not least, Chiron squares her Nodal Axis, indicating an interest in healing and her original path as a nurse.

Life and Career

Nadine was born in Liverpool and brought up on a council estate in Runcorn.  She began training as a nurse in 1975, in Warrington.  Her Moon may be in Pisces, which is a sign associated with nursing, which would reinforce the healing aspect of Chiron square Nodal Axis.  Her parents divorced in her teens, which may be depicted by her natal Moon square Sun.

She married a mining engineer named Paul Dorries, and they lived for a year in Zambia, in connection with his work.  She first tried to become an M.P. in 2001, but was  unsuccessful, and subsequently supported Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin as a special adviser for three years.  She became an M.P. in 2005 in her safe seat of Mid Bedfordshire, when coming up to her Chiron Return.  She was proud to be elected, from her humble beginnings in life.  Her maiden speech took place on 25th May 2005, with very appropriate transits:

Jupiter trine her natal Venus (a victory celebration)

Uranus sextile her natal Mercury (a display of speech)

Uranus trine her natal Mars (a display of intention), this transit being exact to the day

Neptune on her Chiron (personal fulfilment)

She was re-elected in 2010, increasing her majority.

Her interests as a backbencher often included women’s issues, regarding abortion, counselling and sex education.  But in 2012, she took off to Australia to appear in the reality programme “I’m a Celebrity”.  She flew out there on 6th November 2012 – what was she thinking at the time?  She had some tough squares: Mars square her Jupiter (adventure or escape?), Saturn square her Uranus (something’s got to give) and Neptune square her Sun (uncertainty about her direction).  On the other hand, she had Uranus trine her Uranus (her Inner Rebel holding sway), and Neptune trine her Neptune (following her spirit).  She was first to be evicted from the Jungle (a barometer of public opinion), and she lost the party whip for a year.

Her profile was heightened when in July 2019 Boris appointed her as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health.  On 10th March 2020, she was the first MP to contract coronavirus (just ahead of Boris Johnson), with Uranus square her natal Uranus at the time (shock).  Then in September 2021 she became Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.  In that capacity, she took on the future of Channel 4 and seemed determined to privatize it.  When the flurry of MPs decided to get rid of Boris Johnson as PM in July 2017, she staunchly stood by him (together with Jacob Rees-Mogg).

Further controversy took place more recently, this year, when the nominations were announced for Boris Johnson’s honours list, and she had been left out.  She blamed Rishi Sunak and announced on 9th June 2023 that she would resign with immediate effect.  Mars was trine her Saturn at the time (contesting a decision).  A deeper transit, Pluto trine her natal Sun, required a longer period of reflection.  And transiting Pluto square her natal Neptune left her floundering psychologically.  On 14th June she decided she would wait for clarification from the House of Lords Appointments Commission about the reasons for her rejection.  By this time, Uranus had moved  to trine her Jupiter, so she sensed an entrepreneurial opportunity there.  It did not work out for her, however, and she received a lot of criticism.  Meanwhile three by-elections took place, and opposition parties poised themselves to compete for her constituency.  Between then and now, her constituents have become increasingly vocal about her lack of commitment in their locality.

Relationship with Boris Johnson

Both have Sun in Gemini  Her Sun conjunct his Mars, which is an intense tie.  Her Mars exactly squares his Ascendant, again quite invigorating.  Her Saturn squares his Pluto, which is a difficulty of some sort, possibly karmic, but her Saturn at the same time sextiles his Ascendant, which can support him.  Her Neptune is conjunct his Moon, which is an emotional tie and may be subject to illusion on her part.  Her Pluto sextiles his Sun and Venus, so she can invest deep emotion in the relationship.

Rishi Sunak

Nadine resigned yesterday with the transit of Mars trine her Sun (decisive action).  In her resignation speech, she did not hold back her feelings about Rishi Sunak, telling him that history would not judge him kindly, that  he had demeaned his office, that he was presiding over a zombie parliament, and that his recent criticism of her had whipped up a public frenzy.  How did her resignation affect him?  This has to bear in mind the criticism he is currently receiving from other quarters, e.g. John Crace wrote this week:

“Ever since he’d returned from holiday in Santa Monica Rishi Sunak had been overwhelmed with a sense of despair.  A futility no number of sessions on his Peloton could erase.  He was meant to be living his best life.  The tech-bro turned prime minister.  The man who fell to Earth to save the UK from Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.  Where was the gratitude for all he had done?  At best, the country was totally indifferent to his efforts.  At worst it was hostile.”

His transit show Mars was squaring his Venus yesterday (a personal wound), and he is currently experiencing his Uranus Opposition (mid-life crisis).  He may be feeling a desire to take a leaf out of her book, and head to the Jungle…

Aspects

Saturn opposed the Sun around breakfast time this morning.  This could produce frustration in the cold light of day, but on a more creative rather than specifically mental level.  Pushing projects further may be a struggle.  The skies may be a little overcast with some rainfall or showers…We need to assess all our exciting ideas in the cold light of day, whether they will work in practice, etc.  We need to digest the current state of progress, and discriminate about what is worthwhile, what may be pie in the sky or overly romanticized.  There may be feelings of deflation, or feeling unappreciated.

At lunchtime, Mars enters the sign of Libra: What is happening here is that Mars, the god of war, is entering the sign of Libra, the sign of peace.  There is a need for balance, especially between opposing factions, so the Warrior/Diplomats among us have work to do.  People may be putting more energy and effort into Libran pursuits, such as the understanding of art or practising a musical instrument (Mars demands some action!). Mars entering Libra gives fresh incentive to tackle such areas of our life and psyche where we are currently just gliding, biding our time, or complacent.  It energizes the issues of the area of our chart (the House) it currently moves through.  Mars stays in Libra until 24th November.

On Tuesday (29th) Uranus is Stationary prior to turning Retrograde, in the early hours of that morning.  Yes, we are truly in Retrograde Season, with Mercury, Chiron, Venus, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto, also in that reflective and revisionary mode.  Uranus of course is the trickster, so things may not necessarily go according to plan. Plan for the unexpected, if you can.  You may see some goalposts moving.

Unease may increase until the peak of the Full Moon at 7 degrees Pisces on Thursday (31st).  Pisces is one of the most sensitive and emotional Full Moons of the year, so treat yourself with tender loving care and you can then treat others with that sensitivity.  Issues which may come up may be flooding, the plastic in the sea, or the fishing industry.  The Pisces Full Moon reminds us that we are all One.

Friday (1st September) aligns us with a Fixed Star, Alioth in Ursa Major.  “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld advises us:

“The star can strengthen the ability to create enhanced loving states and to communicate love appropriately.  The use of this elixir is recommended for counsellors working with individuals with mental difficulties including schizophrenia, manic depression, and other very disturbing psychological states.  There will be no direct benefit to the patient; it is to assist the counsellor in the counselling process.”

The following day, Saturday (2nd September) aligns our Sun with the Fixed Star Zosma in the constellation of Leo.  From the same source, we learn:

“Those who understand leadership and charisma may reach a point of deep introspection where they may be in a position of more fame than they wished, more exposure to the public eye than they felt was appropriate, or an awareness of themselves in a leadership capacity that brings them to a place where they must reconsider who they are.”

The week in bullet points:

• Today – frustration; negotiation
• Tuesday – the unexpected factor
• Thursday – emotional high tide
• Friday – creating love
• Saturday – leadership issues

Michael Parkinson (1935 – 2023)

Michael Parkinson, whose chat show was a Saturday night staple across three decades, died peacefully this week aged 88, after a brief illness.  He had interviewed 2000 celebrities in his career, and is regarded as the most successful chat show host.

Birth Chart

His Sun was in Aries, with the Moon in Capricorn, giving rise to the no-nonsense, down-to-earth Yorkshireman that was his persona.  He was self-admittedly not given to introspection.  The sole aspect to his Sun was a close sextile with Chiron, so he was very individualistic, a free spirit, with some desire to heal.  Unlike some chat show hosts, he had quite a restrained mental function: Mercury in Pisces loosely conjunct Saturn and opposite Neptune.  A contemporary, David Frost, for example, had Mercury square Mars, a more interrogational style (The Critic Archetype), whereas Parky had a more cosy, conversational style for the most part.  He once explained:

“The people I interview aren’t criminals, so why on earth should I act like an interrogator?  I relax the guests, I am a great listener” (the words of Mars in Libra)

He did have some element of aggression in his make up, however, from Mars square Pluto, which perhaps he saved for the cricket pitch.  The feature of his chart which I feel is most telling (without the luxury of a birth time) is Jupiter trine closely Pluto – this I think is the key to his success, being comfortable holding power.  He met with the rich and famous from all eras, and revelled in it.  It’s also worth mentioning his Nodal Axis squaring Uranus, a karmic mission around groups, i.e. the chat show genre.

Life and Career

Michael was born in Cudworth, near Barnsley.  His father was a miner, which may be seen in Pluto (mining) on his South Node in Cancer – depicting ancestry.  After attending Barnsley Grammar School, he left school at 16 having passed two O’Levels (Art, and English Language).  His parents were so determined he would not follow the family line, that his father escorted him down a mine in order to put him off.  Instead, he went into journalism.  He also took up cricket, which was a passion of his father’s.  Michael went on to work for the Manchester Evening News and the Daily Express, and did two years of National Service.

“Parkinson”, the Show

He entered broadcasting via Granada, and in 1971 was invited to begin a chat show, a fairly new format.  The show proved so successful that it ran until April 1982, and then again from January 1998 until December 2007.  At the launch of the show, on 19th June 1971, Jupiter in late Scorpio was conjunct Neptune in early Sagittarius, an upbeat and mind-expanding influence.  This chimed with his chart, in terms of transit, with that conjunction trine his natal North Node (karmic mission).  His transits for the end of the show, on 22nd December 2007, include Jupiter trine his natal Uranus (the freedom of retirement) – it was the right time, for him, to wrap up.

His Guests      

In a total of 2000 guests, it would be easier to name those he didn’t interview, Frank Sinatra being one.  He interviewed many of the greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood, including Jimmy Stewart, Fred Astaire and Lauren Bacall.  He was very honoured to interview Mohammed Ali (four times), and was responsible for launching the career of comedian Billy Connolly.  In the world of music, he interviewed John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, George Michael and Madonna.  His favourite interview was that with the mathematician Jacob Bronowski, who spoke about his visit to Auschwitz.  Some of those he interviewed became genuine close personal friends.  His cricket buddy, Dicky Bird, had known him since childhood, and spoke to him over the phone the day before he died.  Parkinson told him “We’ve had a great life.”

Achilles Heel

“I came across as kind of pompous and I could have done better.”

Aries men of a certain era can be prone to male Chauvinism, and Parkinson came to realize his failings in that respect.  He admitted having been “pompous” with Meg Ryan and Helen Mirren, and “sexist” with the latter.  He could also be snobbish, insulting Jade Goody in a blog for example (“barely educated, ignorant and puerile…a woman who came to represent all that’s paltry and wretched about Britain today”).

His interview with Meg Ryan was in October 2003 when she was promoting her film “In the Cut”.  Their synastry shows, surprisingly, some rapport.  The stickiness though was her Mars square his Saturn.  She refused to co-operate, and perhaps she was reacting to these traits. In amongst his transits, he had Jupiter opposite Mercury at the time (overreaching himself in interview).  At the time, she had Neptune square her Venus (personal exposure being an issue, as it was in the film at the time).  She was in an evasive mood, and feeling vulnerable.  Perhaps, karmically, they met in order for her to expose this weakness.

His nemesis, however, was Rod Hull’s Emu, who wrestled him to the ground in an interview on 27th November 1976.  Transiting Mars was square Michael’s Saturn (an attack) at the time and Uranus was on Rod’s Mars (seizing an opportunity to attack!)

Marriage

He had a solid marriage with Mary Parkinson, and they had three sons.  His transits at the time of marriage on 22nd August 1959 point to a very solid foundation indeed, including a Jupiter Return, Jupiter trine his natal Pluto (reinforcing his natal strength and superpower) and Saturn trine his Uranus.  Mary had Jupiter trine her Sun, exact to the day.

Being interviewed himself at one time by Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne, Parkinson described his religious stance as “an agnostic atheist”, which given his personality is not surprising.  I wonder what he would make of an afterlife.  He would certainly have an impressive and illustrious “meet and greet”!

 “The genius of Parky was that unlike most people – and most of his guests, me included, he was always 100 per cent himself. On camera and off. ‘Authentic’ is the word, I suppose.”

~ Stephen Fry

Aspects

Our aspects begin on Tuesday (22nd) this week, with Jupiter square Venus around midday.  This is a very social and sociable aspect, but can be gauche, awkward, or inappropriate.  Social non-conformists won’t care, but conformists may lament the lack of sticking to the rules.

In the evening, Neptune opposes Mars, and the themes from this aspect may be vision, and illusion.  If you are confused about the way ahead, your best option is literally to rest and reflect.

Wednesday morning (23rd) brings an ingress: that of  the Sun’s entry into Virgo.  We will start to realize the Autumn term is almost upon us.  The need for knuckling down conscientiously to work and study schedules is reinforced.  The Sun in Virgo will underline the need for a sense of focus and purpose.  Efficiency and Economy will be watchwords for how we organize the second half of our year.  There may be a new resolve to institute health and fitness regimes, and work rotas and practices.  You may be thinking ahead to September courses, and self-improvement.

Do what you can during the day, for in the evening, Mercury is Stationary prior to turning Retrograde.  You may be up against a deadline.  Be clear in your communications for the next three weeks, in order to avoid misunderstandings and loopholes.  Although technology can go awry, it can be a good period to upgrade such devices.  You may have developed your own strategies, according to past experiences.

A dynamic aspect on Friday (25th) still needs to be handled with care: that of  Mars trine Pluto.  It takes place in the early hours of the morning, so could make for a lively evening on Thursday, and some tossing and turning in the night.  There may be some upheaval involved, as when you are decluttering in earnest, but you should have the energy to start afresh once you have cleared some old ground.  This aspect speaks of self-empowerment, but you have to remember that everyone also has this force!  This is a great aspect for tasks which need great energy, and should still be of benefit to you throughout the day.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – sociable but possibly awkward; confusion
• Wednesday – knuckling down; communication glitches
• Friday – onwards and upwards

Harry Kane

“Most of my family were Spurs fans and I grew up 15 minutes from the ground, so I was always going to be a Spurs fan”

~ Harry Kane

Tottenham’s star goalscorer Harry Kane has signed for the German team Bayern Munich this week.  Who knows his real reasons, but some say he regretted not winning any trophies with Spurs, despite his record breaking career (having scored over 350 goals).  The fans at Spurs must be deflated, to say the least, never mind England supporters.  Bayern Munich, in their glee, have released a video of him portraying James Bond.

Birth Chart

Harry has the Sun in Leo, a good placing for a star sportsman, with the limelight of being a striker.  His Sun sextiles Jupiter, a sporting planet which may at times have brought him luck.  He would certainly be regarded as a lucky mascot.  The Sun trines the North Node, which gives him a karmic mission of leadership.  He has Mercury sextile Mars, acute co-ordination and quick reflexes.  This is beginning to sound like a textbook sportsman!  The early 1990s conjunction of Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn, which gives a capacity to work with complexity, is exact in his chart, at 19 degrees.  This conjunction opposes his Mercury, so he would always have a lot going on mentally, and will have learned to process complex scenarios.  His Mercury also has a powerful trine with Pluto, making him a master psychologist and a deep thinker.  Venus trines Saturn in his chart, a sign of great loyalty – well he has stayed with Spurs for 14 years.  Venus also sextiles Chiron, which gives a special skill in handling people wounded physically or emotionally.  Mars is closely trine Uranus, showing an electrical quality to his energy.  Mars also closely trines Neptune (sensitive action) and sextiles Pluto (a powerhouse of energy).  Jupiter sextile his North Node is a favourable sign of karmic rewards.  If this sounds like the absolute perfect chart for a human, let alone a footballer, he does have a problematic Fixed T-square between Pluto and an opposition of Saturn and Chiron.  Negotiating that in his life, may have helped him negotiate the high pressure life of premier league football, but when the larger planets transit those points he may get caught up in wider controversies.

Life and Career

Harry was born in Waltham Forest, and began playing at Tottenham Hotspur’s club when he was very young, joining the premier team at 16, on his birthday (with transiting Jupiter and Neptune exactly trine his natal Venus, and three positive transits from Saturn).  It was not until 2015 that he began to be recognized as a top player, becoming Young Player of the Year.  He suffered a hamstring injury on 1st January 2020 (transiting Mars square his natal Saturn in Aquarius).  In the 2017-18 season he scored 41 goals, and won the golden boot.  He was top goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League by 2021.

He is married to Katie Goodland, who he has known since childhood, and they have three children, with one on the way.

The Transfer

Although loyal to his club, Harry has been wanting to leave for a few years, but the time has not been right.  The transfer this week included the following transits for Harry:  A Mars Return (Mars representing football), Mars trine his natal Uranus/Neptune (an injection of energy into his superpower) and Uranus opposite Pluto (a massive change in his life).  One guesses that it will be a huge adjustment for him and his family.

Tottenham Hotspur Club

Harry’s Synastry with his (now former) club is strong, which has much to say about their long connection:  Tottenham’s Jupiter trined Harry’s Saturn (a good placement for him), Tottenham’s Uranus sextiled Harry’s Mercury (stimulated his mental growth, Tottenham’s Uranus sextiled Harry Neptune/Uranus (brought out his brilliance), and last but not least their Neptunes were exactly sextile (spiritual attunement).

This week’s events for Tottenham’s chart are incredibly apt, as they show up:

Pluto square its natal Venus (major loss of a player!)

South Node on its Venus (a karmic loss or debt)

North Node exactly sextile its Jupiter to the day (they will get a tidy sum for him!)

Bayern Munich

Is it a match, for Harry?  It is certainly karmic:  Its Sun squares Harry’s Nodal Axis (a group karmic connection); Its Mercury trines Harry’s Pluto (reinforcing Harry’s mental powers); Its Mars conjuncts Harry’s Saturn (they will work him hard!); their Jupiters are exactly sextile (ensured success); Its Jupiter is conjunct Harry’s North Node (a happy and successful karmic link); Its Neptune is on his Venus (may be confusing emotionally, for his private life, and there will be nostalgia), and finally its Neptune sextiles his Chiron (so part of his spiritual and healing pathway).

How does his arrival impact the club?  Transiting Uranus sextiles the Bayern Munich Mercury exact to the day (a startling signing); and the North Node sextiles its Mars (a karmic football event).

The price of a footballer goes up every year, with the cost of living.  Kane is now the most expensive signing in the history of the Bundesliga.  The transfer fee is 110 million Euros.

“In our hearts, every fan knew this moment was coming…A player such as Kane deserves to end his career with a few winners’ medals and playing Champions League football.”

~ John Crace (in serious mode)

Aspects

As I write this morning, the Sun conjoins with Venus (Retrograde).  This may bring harmony to proceedings.  If you are an artist or a musician, it is a day you when you can produce your best creative output or performance.   As Venus is Retrograde, there may be an aspect of the past, in a relationship or creative project, which needs to be considered, included or revised.

Tomorrow (Monday 14th) Venus trines Chiron, which may aid healing and recovery.  Try to keep the heart open; it is the antidote for many things.  The healing power of love comes to the fore.  There may be a real opportunity to re-group your healing energies and feel harmony within your being.

Change is in the air on Wednesday (16th) with Uranus square to the Sun, and Wednesday is the most eventful day this week aspectwise.  There is bound to be an element of the unexpected.  The aspect occurs in the early hours of the morning, so you may suddenly wake, with an unusual thought!  And your dreams may be more bizarre than usual.  During the day, be aware of possible loopholes through which the element of the unexpected can enter.  Disruption can occur, but unexpected twists and turns may give you new ideas for future reference.

After breakfast, we have a New Moon in Leo at 23 degrees.  The New Moon in Leo is about the soul quality of Joy.  This emphasizes the holiday making, creative and performing qualities of the sign and the season. It is some kind of a new beginning, so if you have experienced some testing times recently, you can press the re-set button, but bear in mind the capricious influence of Uranus square the Sun (previous paragraph).

At lunchtime, you may be able to swing the element of the unexpected to work your way, as Mars trines Uranus.  Could make for an unusual lunch!  Excitement may describe proceedings.  In science, technology and mechanics there could be progress and advances.  Engineering and electrical themes also benefit, so sparks fly, but in a good way!  You may also notice some bold and controversial moves.

As there are no more aspects for the rest of the week, I present to you a Fixed Star for Saturday (19th), and that is Alphard in the constellation of Hydra.  Traditional interpretations can be difficult, so while bearing that in mind, also consider the interpretation from “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld:

“Alphard can enhance the ability to bring emotions to consciousness and to work with them with others, particularly in dealing with the emotion of anger.  The true source of anger may be felt more deeply and be easily released as a result.  Individuals in therapy where anger is an important issue will benefit in utilizing this elixir for more understanding of the purposes of the anger.  This elixir or meditation upon the star is often able to transform anger into enthusiasm more easily for people.”

They go on to say:

“This star can influence many other processes of transformation such as the transformation of fear into a deep love, compassion and oneness, and the transformation of pain into the awareness of healing and change.”

The week in bullet points:

• Today – love and harmony
• Tomorrow – the healing of relationship
• Wednesday – the spanner in the works (shock); new beginning; the element of the unexpected (surprise)
• Saturday – transforming anger into something constructive

Angela Rippon

Angela Rippon has been announced as a contestant for the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.  She is, apparently, at 78 the oldest contestant so far to compete.  They are announcing her as “Rip Off Britain” Angela, a reference to the current programme she presents.  But she has been known to the public for decades: as a newsreader, and as a participant in the Morecambe and Wise Show, going back a long way.

Birth Chart

Angela’s Sun Sign is that elegant and musical sign of Libra, so musicality won’t be a a problem in her performance.  And she has her Ascendant in twinkle-toed dancing Pisces, so again, she is perfect for her new venture.  She has intelligence a-plenty: Sun conjunct Mercury trine Uranus.  Her Moon is exactly sextile Mars, so she has quick emotional responses, and so I should think she will excel at portraying emotion in her various roles around the dance floor.  The Moon in her chart exactly trines her Midheaven, so she is a household name, with the public.  Mercury sextiles Pluto in her chart, which will have made her a newsreader capable of gravitas when it was required.  Venus is closely sextile Jupiter in her chart, which makes her very sociable.  Venus also trine her North Node makes the expression of her Venusian abilities (music and dance) part of her karmic mission.  Mars is exactly sextile her Midheaven, so she is able to assert herself in the world (ideal quality for the  programme Rip Off Britain).  Another quality which suits the programme she currently presents is Jupiter square Uranus (the Chancer), so she is alert to the way scammers work.  She’s a healer, too, from North Node sextile Chiron.

Life and Career

Angela was born in Plymouth.  Her father was a marine, and her mother was a seamstress.  She left school at 17, and worked in newspaper journalism before joining the world of broadcasting.  She was 22 when she began working for the BBC, and became a regular newsreader for BBC One’s Nine O’Clock News in 1975.  At the time she was regarded as the first female  newsreader, but it appears there were historically a couple before her.

It was not long after, although she was definitely an established figure on our screens by then, that at Christmas 1976, she appeared in an iconic sketch on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show.  Long before we looked forward to the Only Fools and Horses Christmas Shows, Morecambe and Wise kept us entertained in that slot, and I remember the hilarity of seeing her unfurl her legs from under a newsdesk to reveal the dancing “pins” and to perform her high kicks.  She was such a hit that she appeared on the next year’s show, too, as a cameo.

She has of course appeared in a lot more programmes between Morecambe and Wise and Rip Off Britain, having hardly been away from our screens.  She has presented Come Dancing, the Eurovision Song Contest (in 1977), among others.  She has also written fourteen books.

Prospects

Transits for this week’s announcement include transiting Uranus sextile her natal North Node, springing a surprise, something she likes to do with Uranus natally trine her Sun and square her Jupiter.  Pluto also squares her natal Mars, so she knows she is stretching herself physically.  But Pluto yesterday was exactly sextile her natal Ascendant to the day, on the cusp of her 11th House, so there is an important shift in her life.

We don’t have the start date of the contest.  If the end of the contest is the middle of December, she will have Mars square her Jupiter at the time, which is the overstretching of energies.  Neptune will be opposite her natal Chiron, so she may have some physical niggles through a prolonged period of dancing.  Pluto will still be square her Mars, so she may have to pull out before the end, and Pluto will still be sextile her Ascendant, so that may help her through.  But we all hope she endures and thrives in the competition, and there will be no shortage of fans cheering her on to win!

I will update the astrology later, when dates are announced.

Aspects

There are only 3 aspects this week!

Monday (7th) Jupiter squares the Sun, an aspect which exaggerates everything it comes into contact with.  There is also a joyful, humorous side of Sun square Jupiter, so some laughter-yoga from time to time during the day would not go amiss!  It could be a fun day, but be aware of carelessness or overreaching goals.

Another square, Uranus square to Venus, occurs on Wednesday (9th).  It may be an abrasive day for meetings.  The way through is to use your intuition, and stay one step ahead.  Relationships can be disrupted, and subject to misunderstandings.  On the other hand, on another level, it can open up telepathic communication between individuals  on a higher level.

The Universe has saved the best till last, this week.  On Thursday (10th), Mercury trines Jupiter.  This aspect will help business transactions, and expand our horizons, minds and philosophies.  This is an upbeat vibe mentally, one that takes in great wads of information, produces good ideas and may incline one to travel, strikes permitting of course.  There may be media opportunities, for those so inclined, and it could be a productive day.  A cause for optimism may be found.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – chancing luck
• Wednesday – chancing relationships
• Thursday – lucky communications

George Alagiah (1955 – 2023)

“My parents moved us first to Africa and then to Britain, always in search of something better for their children.”

~ George Alagiah

The much loved, admired and respected foreign correspondent and newsreader George Alagiah died this week aged 67.  His love of travel, humanity, the world and in turn the love and loyalty he inspired, is graphically seen in his conjunction of the North Node (karmic mission) conjunct Venus (Love) in the sign of Sagittarius (the World).

Birth Chart

George had over half his planets (six) in the strong willed Fixed signs, making him an indomitable character.  His Sun was at the end of Scorpio, an indomitable sign, part of a triple conjunction in that sign with Mercury and Saturn.  The Saturn addition showed his uprightness.  That he was able to maintain composure and optimism and encourage others at the same time, is due to the close square of the Sun to Jupiter.  He also had a sense of what was possible, shown in the trine between his Sun and Uranus.  His character was complex, because there was also a close sextile between his Sun and Chiron (healing qualities), but a willingness to look at the tragic scenarios of the countries he visited (Sun exactly square Pluto), with a proximity to the death and dying.  Mercury was square to Jupiter (almost too much travelling in his lifestyle, at least early in life).  He had attention to detail (Mercury closely conjunct Saturn) too.  Mars conjunct Neptune squaring Uranus gave him an electrical energy, which may have been part of his magnetism, an aura which also exuded a spirituality.  Mars sextile Pluto gave him a toughness, endurance and a plentiful energy supply.  But Jupiter conjunct Pluto gave him power.  We do not have his birth time, so do not know where these qualities were placed within his life.

Life and Career

George was born in Colombo, Ceylon.  At the age of 6, his family moved to Ghana, where he was brought up for his formative years, until moving to Britain aged 11.  He wrote of his experience trying to fit into British life:

“You are desperate to shed one skin and take on the skin of the place you are in, and subconsciously that is what I did.”

He studied politics at Durham University, and met his wife Frances there.  He became the Developing World correspondent for the BBC in 1989.  He is especially remembered for his reports on the famine in Somalia, and found the genocide in Rwanda the most challenging assignment that he had experienced.  He was almost killed in 1994 while covering the civil war in Afghanistan, but miraculously saved.  In 1999, at the age of 44, he gave up travelling, to concentrate on work in the studio.

In 2003, he began working with Sophie Raworth on the BBC 6 o’clock News.  She has posted a long tribute to her colleague, which includes the words:

George had a rich spirit. He radiated warmth with a wonderful smile and a velvety laugh.”

He has won numerous awards for his journalism and news presentation, and wrote a debut novel in 2020 entitled “The Burning Land”.

Health

He was diagnosed in April 2014 with having colorectal cancer, with Saturn on his natal Mercury when he announced the condition.  But he was well enough to return to work at the BBC on 10th November of that year, with Mars sextile his Sun (fresh energy), Jupiter square his Nodal Axis (karma willing) and Uranus trine his North Node (a new phase in his life and karma).  He became a regular on our screens again.

The cancer returned in 2018, and gradually spread over the next few years, during which he did work from time to time.  But he remained remarkably sanguine, and philosophical, according to friends, even seeing a gift in the cancer as having helped him to know himself at a deeper level.  This won him even more admiration.  He said:

“On being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014, I constructed a pros and cons list of how my life had gone so far.  The things that had gone well far outweighed the others, which brought me to a place of total contentment.”

He was a great family man, and had two sons.  He always regarded his relationship with his wife Frances as a great blessing.  He died peacefully, surrounded by those he loved.

“I have very strong views, but I keep them to myself; impartiality is important.  In the seat I regularly occupy on the BBC News at Six, I speak to millions of people.  If they all knew what I thought on every topic we report on, we’d lose some of them.  In my job one can’t decide that the view you subscribe to is the only one.”

~ George Alagiah

Aspects

Our aspects this week begin with a Full Moon at 9 degrees of Aquarius on Tuesday (1st August), early evening.  So we’ll be working up to that for the next couple of days!  We might be torn by looking at an issue emotionally, then from a detached perspective, then back and forth.  This may produce a stand off between the individual and the group.

The same day, slightly later in the evening, Mars trines Jupiter, so when the energy of the Full Moon has been released, you may feel a new lease of life, and an influx of new energy for whatever purpose.  This is a go ahead, spirited aspect which makes us feel we can achieve anything.  Enthusiasm and energy abound, and you may spring out of bed early full of the joys of the season.  Sinead O’Connor had Mars sextile Jupiter natally, as described in the blog below, which helped her express her fiery energy.

Wednesday (2nd) is a different energy, characterized by Saturn opposite Mercury, and occurring in the early hours.  There may be a setback to a plan, or you may suddenly feel fatigued.  Challenges or blockages may occur to the smooth flow of earlier in the day.  Travelling plans may be delayed that day, especially if there is another rail strike.

That concludes the aspects for the week, but we have two correlations with Fixed Stars, one for Thursday and one for Friday.  On Thursday (3rd) our Sun aligns with Kochab in Ursa Minor.  “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld offers the interpretation:

“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.”

On Friday (4th) our Sun aligns with Acubens in the constellation of Cancer.  Bernadette Brady reports that Rigor associates Acubens with a logical mind, strength, perseverance and good organization, that Resurrection “is the key concept” and that the star is associated with Scarab beetles.

From “Starlight Elixirs” we have:

“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.  Individuals studying feng shui may do well with this elixir.”

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – emotional high tide, release, then influx of new energy
• Wednesday – be patient with blockages or delays
• Thursday – good for working with past lives
• Friday – good for working with family issues

Sinead O’Connor (1966 – 2023)

“I think God saves everybody whether they want to be saved or not. So when we die, we’re all going home … I don’t think God judges anybody. He loves everybody equally.”

~  Sinead O’Connor

Singer, songwriter and activist Sinead O’Connor departed this world last week.  As a rebel, she attracted diverse opinions.  But everyone agreed that her voice on her rendition of Prince’s song was incomparable.

Birth Chart

Her Sun was in Sagittarius, and loosely conjunct Venus, giving rise to The Voice, and songwriting talent.  The Sun was loosely square to Saturn, not an easy path in life.  Sagittarius is all about truth telling and religious and spiritual seeking, and she more than fulfilled that, always insisting on being authentic, and trying out various religious paths. She was in fact a double Sagittarian, having her Ascendant also in that sign.  Emotional wounds are shown in the chart through Venus exactly square Saturn (relationship struggles) and Chiron.  She tried marriage four times.  The close conjunction of Chiron and Saturn, shows some considerable level of wounding, and sits in her 4th House (home background).  Like George Alagiah (see my later blog today) she had the Sun square Pluto, and was always living on the edge.  Her Moon was in musical Libra, exactly sextile the Galactic Centre, which may have given her emotions extra power.  There was an extraordinary contrast in her personality (and singing) between the softly spoken (Moon sextile Venus) and the firebrand (which came from the mid-1960s anarchic conjunction of Uranus and Pluto).  She had a double opposition of Chiron/Saturn to Uranus/Pluto, which with her Venus formed a Mutable T-Square.  But Mercury conjunct Neptune (the channeller’s conjunction) steadies her double opposition to some extent, and adds intelligence.  In the documentary “Nothing Compares” last night, she talked about channelling, and said it was just channelling her own self.  To my mind, she seemed to channel St. Joan of Arc!  Her Mercury in Scorpio tongue could be excoriating, when criticizing an institution, or person that did not live up to her vision of what the world or humankind needed to be.  In countless personal testimonies, the adjective “kind” is frequently used about her.  She had a very complex chart, and other attributes are Mercury closely sextile Uranus (telepathy) and Mercury trine Chiron (problem-solving).  Mars was closely sextile Jupiter – apart from having Sun and Ascendant in Fire, Mars sextile Jupiter gives her energies full expression of her Fire.  Jupiter closely trine the Ascendant, 8th House side, in Leo, also emphasizes Fire, as Jupiter is her Sun and Ascendant ruler. The position of Mars sextile her Ascendant gives rise to The Warrior Archetype, operating from her 10th House of Career and Reputation.  Mars was conjunct the MC – so The Warrior was part of her Career, and her Persona in the World.  She was described by musician Jah Wobble as “a Celtic Female Warrior”. Uranus (The Activist) is also in that sphere of her chart.  Saturn closely opposite Uranus, emphasizes tension between the old and the new, much of what her struggles were about, e.g. the reform of the institution of the Papacy.  She had Saturn exactly trine Neptune, spirituality made manifest somehow.

Life and Career

Sinead was born third of five siblings in a nursing home in Dublin.  Her parents split up when she was eight years old, and she at first lived with her mother, who abused her.  She left her mother to live with her father when she was 13.  She began shoplifting, and was sent to a Magdalene asylum run by the Order of Our Lady of Charity.  There were disturbing experiences, but someone there introduced her to the guitar and encouraged her to sing, which was crucial to her development.  She began to sing with the band In Tua Nua, and thus entered her path to the music industry.  The next band she joined, Ton Ton Macoute, led to her being signed to Ensign Records, and managed by Fachtna O Ceallaigh..

Her mother died in a car accident when she was 18.  The transits for that time show that Mars and Pluto were prominent influences: Mars was trine Sinead’s Ascendant, and transiting her natal I.C. (the foundations of her life), Neptune was square her natal Mars, and Pluto square her natal Jupiter.

She released her first album (the Lion and the Cobra) in 1987, with hit single “Mandinka” and “Troy”.  Her second album (I do not Want what I haven’t Got)  took her into a different league, and was ranked second best album of the year by the New Musical Express.  By then she was committed to the shaved head, a symbol of the fact that she would not be repressed.  The shaved head is also reminiscent of spirituality in some religions, on the grounds of taking a person closer to God.  She was in a strong relationship at the time, with John Reynolds, who has made a career as a music producer.  Their son Jake was born in that year.

Nothing Compares 2 U

Her life was about to change, radically.  Prince had written the song “Nothing Compares 2 U”, which he was fairly lukewarm about, and he produced a recording of it by The Family.  Sinead produced an iconic version of it on her second album.  The synastry between Sinead and Prince reveals why she was able to bring something special to it, but also reveals the clashing of personalities which later became evident:

Their Suns exactly opposite, he was not happy with his own rendition of the song and the Family’s rendition did not do well.  She provided the complementary qualities, her Sagittarian Sun to his Gemini Sun.

Her Jupiter trined his Mercury, a similar effect: she rounded out his mental skill in writing the song.

Their Marses were closely opposite, being another complement to each other.  Her Mars being in tuneful Libra, his in raunchy Aries.  This also describes their later “war”.

Her Venus on his Saturn, he brought a structure for her Voice.  She brought a softness.

Their Saturns were exactly square (just one of the incredible connections, they had).  They had different ways of structuring their experiences.  She brought something completely new to the song.

After he died, she revealed that they had clashed wildly when she had visited him.  In the making of the documentary “Nothing Compares”, which was made as recently as 2022, the estate of Prince refused permission to include the video for the song.  The visual impact of her exquisite features, set against a dark background and her shaven head, with the tears she shed, always come to mind when the song is played.  The song was released on 8th January 1990, a day when the Sun was exactly opposite Pluto, an aspect which has all the drama and ability to move people.  Jupiter was square her natal Libran Midheaven – her career took off, but her life was about to spin out of control.  For Prince, Pluto was transiting his Ascendant – emphasizing the huge Plutonic nature and impact of the song.

Activism

Sinead spoke out authentically on matters of religion, child abuse, mental health, mysogyny, abortion, feminism, sexuality, racism and politics, among other subjects.  She appeared to have no filter, and no regrets.

Her life took on a downward slide when she appeared on Saturday Night Live in the United States on 3rd October 1992.  She performed the song “War” by Bob Marley, and at its conclusion tore up a photograph of the Pope, as a protest about the cover up of abuse in the Catholic church.  This resulted in a huge backlash against her, especially from the Catholic population in the U.S.  In a later appearance on a birthday tribute to Bob Dylan, she was introduced as a courageous woman of integrity by Kris Kristofferson, but she was booed by the audience.  She then retreated from the music business for about ten years.

At the time of her shocking gesture, transiting Uranus was exactly trine her North Node in Virgo:  Her karmic mission was fuelled by rebellion.  Pluto was exactly sextile her natal Pluto, an act of self-empowerment.  And Pluto was trine her natal Chiron, a cathartic, freeing and healing act for her, too.  But sadly the cost was great.

Religion

In 1999, Sinead was ordained as a priest in the Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church, and in 2018 she converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, while retaining her birth name for her music career.  A fellow musician who converted to Islam, Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) tweeted in tribute:

“Sad to hear of the passing of sister Shuhada Sadaqat, also known as Sinéad O’Connor.  She was a tender soul, may God, Most Merciful, grant her everlasting peace.”

Sinead herself described her conversion as “the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey”.

Family

Sinead had four children: Jake, Brigidine Roisin, Shane and Yeshua.  She also had a grandson, from Jake Reynolds.

Her third husband Donal Lunny was awarded custody of their son Shane, and in 2022 Shane went missing while under psychiatric care and was later found to have committed suicide.  Sinead was unable to get over this latest blow in her life.  Among her transits at the time were Neptune on her natal Chiron in 4th, and Pluto square her natal Moon, both referring to a family wound.

Legacy

She had been in the middle of making a promising new album with David Holmes entitled “No Veteran Dies Alone”  Holmes said, about this album:

“I felt deep down in my heart that there was so much she had still yet to achieve…She had the perfect voice to heal and help people get through very difficult times…She’s got one of the purest voices we will ever hear in our lifetime.” [from Guardian article on 29/7/23 by Daniel Dylan Wray]

The cause of her death is as yet unknown, but declared not to be suspicious.  Rest in Peace, Sinead.  You helped a lot of people in the world to come out of oppression.

Oppenheimer

“If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky,
that would be like the splendour of the mighty one”.

~ Bhagavad Gita (XI,12), quoted by Robert Oppenheimer

The film “Oppenheimer” premiered on Friday (21st July), is being bizarrely pitted against the film “Barbie”, reflective of the aspect which occurred that day of Pluto (the bomb) opposite the Sun in Cancer (the female side of life).  J. Robert Oppenheimer was the scientist credited as “the father of the atomic bomb”, and the film features a glittering array of stars*, which include the lead role played by the charismatic Cillian Murphy, who is tipped for an Oscar, opposite Emily Blunt as his wife Kitty.  When I arrived at University in 1968, the big moral scientific dilemma was the creation of nuclear weapons, but since then we have had genetic engineering, man’s creation of climate change, and currently we are debating artificial intelligence and its implications.

Birth Chart

We are lucky enough to have a birth time for Robert Oppenheimer (not so for Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt).  Oppenheimer had the Sun in Taurus trine Uranus, marking him out straight away as an innovator.  The Sun is also exactly sextile the Midheaven in his chart, bringing that brilliance to a successful career.  But his Sun was also square his natal Chiron, showing starkly the Wounded Healer.  He became, in some ways, the victim of his own success.  He had the Moon closely sextile Mercury, a balance between imagination and intellect.  Mercury also squared Saturn, a thorough mind (he oversaw every detail of the Manhattan project, which created the atomic bomb).  Venus closely conjunct Jupiter was sociable, but squared Neptune, so he was often unfaithful in relationships.  This was borne out by Uranus conjunct the Descendant, in his 7th House.  His Mars in Taurus was unaspected, so he was very determined and able to go it alone.  One of the most powerful features of his chart was Saturn exactly trine Pluto, often seen in movers and shakers.  Neptune conjunct Ascendant, rising showed his keen interest in mysticism.  Where is the bomb, in his chart?  Pluto is loosely conjunct his Gemini scientific Ascendant, operating deep within his subconscious 12th House.

Life and Career

Oppenheimer was born in New York on 22nd April, 1904. His father had been born in Prussia, and was a textile importer who became wealthy enough to own a significant art collection whose works included Van Gogh and Picasso.  Robert Oppenheimer’s Sun sign of Taurus is associated with fine art, and he himself collected works by the art masters later in life.

Robert began his academic career with a degree in chemistry from Harvard, then a PhD in physics from the University of Gottingen.  He eventually became a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1924, Oppenheimer applied to work at the Cavendish Laboratory, Christ’s College, Cambridge, under Patrick Blackett (James D’Arcy*).  The relationship with Blackett proved inharmonious, and it is during this phase of his life, that the film begins, with Oppenheimer in a state of anxiety and homesickness.  An AstroCartography map may have picked up an incompatibility with Cambridge, but I digress.  There were two main squares in their Synastry:  Blackett’s Jupiter square Oppenheimer’s Neptune (which may have increased the latter’s paranoia) and Blackett’s Saturn square Oppenheimer’s Midheaven (a hitch in his career).  The film does weave in and out of different time periods of Oppenheimer’s life.

He left Cambridge in 1926 and went to study at the University of Gottingen.  There he befriended scientists who were to become eminent in their fields, such as Enrico Fermi (Danny Deferrari*), Edward Teller (Benny Safdie*) and Werner Heisenberg (Matthias Schwieghhofer*).

He was awarded a fellowship at Caltech (California Institute of Technology) in 1927, where he befriended Linus Pauling, with whom he had an interesting synastry: their Moons were conjunct, and their Ascendants trine.  Subsequently, he shared his time between Caltech and the University of California, Berkeley, which determinedly secured his services.  At Berkeley, he worked with the Nobel scientist Ernest O. Lawrence (Josh Hartnett*).

During the early years of his scientific research, Oppenheimer was not interested in the wider world, being solely focussed on his work.  He did not read newspapers, and only heard of the Wall Street crash six months after it happened.  From 1934 he began to take an interest in politics, and in 1936 (aged 32) cast his first electoral vote.  In the 1930s he began to espouse communist ideas, and support related projects with donations.  He never joined the Communist party, but left himself open to McCarthyism. In 1936 he became involved with a communist, Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh*), romantically, and they had an on-off relationship for some while.  He met his future wife, Kitty (Emily Blunt*) in 1939.  In their synastry, her Uranus trined his Mercury (a good mental rapport) and her Pluto sat on his Ascendant (a deep challenge).  In  1940 he attended a meeting at the home of Haakon Chevalier (Jefferson Hall*), a communist connection which later came under scrutiny.

The Manhattan Project

In 1942, Robert Oppenheimer was invited to work on the Manhattan Project by Major General Leslie Groves (Matt Damon*) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in order to develop the first nuclear weapons. Oppenheimer set up a Laboratory at Los Alamos in New Mexico.  Among others, he worked with scientists Edward Teller, Robert Serber (Michael Angarano*), and Hans Bethe (Gustaf Skarsgard).

The project was completed successfully, and on 16th July 1945, Oppenheimer was present at the firs testing of the atomic bomb, which he called Trinity. At that time, his transits were spectacular: Chiron was exactly trine his natal Chiron and square to his natal Uranus (healing but destructive); Jupiter was exactly trine his natal Mercury (the fulfilment of his intellectual work); and Neptune square his Neptune (an ethical dilemma, however much he was aware or not aware of it, at that moment).  Observers recalled an air of exultation in him at that point in time.

In August 1945, the reality of the work set in, at the use of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  At Hiroshima, Jupiter was square his Ascendant on 4th House cusp, and exactly conjunct his North Node in Virgo in 3rd House (a hugely blown up karmic mission); Neptune was still square his Neptune, emphasizing the ethical dilemma.

The implications of his role and his life’s work did not take long to dawn on Oppenheimer, and he set out to mitigate the wider implications.  In 1947, he chaired the General Advisory Committee of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.  He tried to bring about international control of nuclear power, and tried to block the development of the hydrogen bomb.

However, the FBI were “onto him”, and he was suspected to have put communist and pro-Russian interests before those of his country, something that was never proven.  Nevertheless, he was stripped of his security clearance, and that was the end of this phase of his working life.  At that time,  Neptune was square his natal Uranus (bizarre complication) and trine his natal Chiron (a merciful side to the release).

The Film

Christopher Nolan (Film Director) is a Leo, the bold and creative Sun sign I most associate with this profession, others being Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Sam Mendes, Roman Polanski, John Huston, Cecil B. de Mille, Wim Wenders, Peter Bogdanovich,  and Wes Craven.   Currently aged 52, this must have been his Chiron Return project, a huge one at that (with Chiron natally in Pisces = healing through film).

Cillian Murphy (Lead Role as Robert Oppenheimer) is the heart throb from Peaky Blinders (at one time, the most searched Netflix show), who has had a long association with Christopher Nolan’s work.  He has Sun conjunct Venus and Mercury in Gemini (we do not have a birthtime or Ascendant) and the Sun exactly sextile Mars – the Warrior Archetype, at least on screen!  Some of his power comes from the Sun trine Pluto.  He also has an electric energy (Mars square Uranus), and karmic opportunities (Jupiter conjunct the South Node).

In today’s Observer, Miranda Collinge writes that he has:

“a physical resemblance to Oppenheimer – the slight stature (made slighter, apparently, by a restricted diet), the high cheekbones, the arresting stare” and “the dark planes of his face; his otherworldly blue eyes, conveying glacial deadness in one frame and cosmic awe in another”.

Meanwhile in Film of the Week, Wendy Ide adds glowing references:

“For the most part,, the film is a towering achievement”

“Murphy’s far-seeing ice-chip eyes have never been put to better use”.

The synastry between Cillian Murphy and Robert Oppenheimer is very telling:

Cillian’s Uranus trines Oppenheimer’s Neptune and Oppenheimer’s Midheaven, creating a Grand Trine; and Cillian’s Neptune trines Oppenheimer’s Jupiter/Venus (Cillian is able to bring the vision).

In an article in the Guardian by Charlotte Edwardes on 8/7/23, Cillian says:

 “They put two actors in a room to see if there’s any spark, and have all the producers and director at a table watching. … sometimes you get a chemistry and nobody knows why.”

Emily Blunt (Kitty Oppenheimer)

Piscean Emily has been appearing in films since 2004, and her previous films include The Young Victoria,  Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and Girl on a Train.

She says of Christopher Nolan “I’ve never met anyone as authoritative.  When he walks in, the air changes in the room.”

Her synastry with Cillian Murphy holds many tensions, but her Mars sextile his Venus can provide chemistry.

Chracters/Stars not mentioned in my account, who appear in the film:

Albert Einstein (Tom Conti*)

Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branagh*)

Harry S. Truman (Gary Oldman*)

…to name but a few!

Later…

Oppenheimer and his wife made it a habit to spend portions of the year on the island of Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

He was nominated for a Nobel Prize three time, but did not win.

He died on 18th February 1987, having suffered ill health through smoking.  His Pluto was square to his Pluto.

A survey in this morning’s Observer showed more people queuing up for “Barbie” (mostly female, and pink-clad) than “Oppenheimer”, but I know which film I would rather see.

“For the most part,, the film is a towering achievement”

~ Wendy Ide, for the Observer

Aspects

It’s a busy day for aspects!  We started in the early hours of the morning with Venus Stationary, prior to turning retrograde at 28 degrees Leo.  This betokens a time of reviewing relationships and finance.  Although you may need to go over old ground, you can refer back to a time when a relationship was entirely harmonious, and what brought you together in the first place, when working towards improvements.

Soon afterwards, at 1.50 a.m. the Sun went into Leo.  My fitbit tells me I woke up at exactly that moment (and took off my fitbit, by some instinct, and I stayed awake for quite a while).  It’s a cause for celebration, but we haven’t had enough of the Sun, and Southern Europe and some other parts of the world have had too much for us to ignore climate change.  For those of you on holiday by the sea, you may be able to enjoy a dip, alternating with lazing on a deckchair under a parasol sipping a pina colada.  Sun in Leo is also about the expression of the human spirit, and that can be enjoyed whatever the weather.  For many schoolchildren and workers, it is the start of holiday season…Have a good time.

We have Pluto square the Nodal Axis today, and may already have grappled with Pluto this weekend, with Friday’s opposition between Pluto and the Sun.  For me, it was researching Oppenheimer, who worked with plutonium, and created the atomic bomb.  this brings up the karma around deep issues, such as the dilemma posed by Oppenheimer’s life and work.

Next, Chiron is Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde (two retrogrades in one day!).  This will see us start to retrace some steps on our healing pathway.  A particular healing issue may crop up today to highlight this; perhaps you have gone as far as you can with a particular line of healing, and may need to revise or go over old ground for a while.  There may be more understanding to be achieved, for instance, about the emotional component of the healing issue.

This evening, Uranus squares Mercury, which is a spanner-in-the-works aspect.  Back up your computer files before bedtime, and consider I.T. loopholes, as this is a time when you may experience glitches in this area.  Your Intuition is your guide to your way through these anomalies.  Set your antennae to a higher frequency! 

Fast forward to Thursday (27th) and we encounter a conjunction between Mercury and Venus.  It may enable a sunburst of ideas to be communicated, discussed, and start the ball rolling towards making practical use of what has come to you.  This conjunction is ideal for socializing, artistic or literary endeavours, or negotiations.  Your communications will have an artistic flair, so it’s a good time to get creative.  I associate this conjunction with Cafe culture, but it has come to my notice that some people prefer pubs, so a pint may be more suitable in that case.  Conversation will flow just as easily… 

Friday (28th) furnishes us with a trine between Mercury and the North Node.  This ensures that information and communication are accurate and karmically relevant.  If you have something important to say, do it.

We finish the survey of the week with Mercury’s entry into Virgo on Friday evening, which is quite early in the yearly round for Mercury.  This signals a more studious change in focus and presaging the next academic term.  We will be thinking ahead, planning for September schedules.  Students and teachers will be trying to plan for the term ahead.  Parents will be stocking up on essentials such as school uniforms and various kits (rumoured to cost more than ever).  Businesses will be hoping for an extra push in efficiency for after the holiday period.  Some services will still be planning strike action.  Parliamentarians will be setting out their policies, trying to balance out popularity with the right direction.  Mental application will be needed all round.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – reviewing relationships; the Sun comes out; psychological ssues in groups; healing revisions; the spanner in the works
• Thursday – Cafe or Pub culture (you choose…)
• Friday – helpful karmic information; knuckling down to work plans

Three By-Elections

With very little astrological data to go on, I will attempt to look at the picture for the three by-elections taking place in England on Thursday, to see how well Labour and the Lib Dems may fare.  The by-elections came about as a result of the resignation as an MP by Boris Johnson after the results of the Partygate enquiry, another over the resignation honours list, and another MP being investigated for taking cocaine (plus misconduct).  The newscasts this last week have not reported much about this story, preferring to focus on other things.

Chart for Thursday 20th July 2023

What does the chart for the day tell us, about its capacity to bring about change?

The Moon is conjunct Venus in Leo – this could favour women candidates.

Pluto squares the Nodal Axis – this indicates complete regime change, destruction of the prevailing order, for karmic reasons.  Makes it unlikely that the Conservatives will gain any of the three seats.

Pluto opposite the Sun – this also favours a rebirth in politics.

Aspects for the day

Taken from the blog below…

At lunchtime, i.e. in the middle of voting:

“Sun trines Neptune: A sparkling time, especially good for receiving creative inspiration.  Expand your consciousness, and allow your imagination to embellish your work, or project in hand.”

Hope springs eternal.

In the evening, when results start to trickle in:

“Mars opposes Saturn.  If you are not careful (but you will be, because you will have read this blog!) it could undo some of the subtler and delicate work of Sun trine Neptune.  It is as if you had fashioned a beautiful sand mandala on the shore, and someone has come along and stomped all over it with hobnail boots.  So you might be forgiven for installing protective measures as you work with the more refined energies earlier in the day.  In the evening, deliberately leave the cloud, and work on the grounding of your achievements, having thought about possible loopholes.  It is possible that you may be pleased with your outcomes, but then face criticism from another who does not understand what you have produced, or the processes you went through.  Your own feeling about your work is what is more important, so don’t be swayed.”

This conveys that there will be some conflict or difficulty, or may betoken delay in counting.  There is a sense of thinking all has gone smoothly during the day, then there is a fly in the ointment, a flaw has been discovered, or a hitch occurs.

Transits for the three main Parties

For Labour

Uranus sextile its natal Mercury (exciting news)

North Node sextile its natal Mars (upsurge of favourable karmic energy)

For Keir Starmer

Mars sextile his Mars (plenty of energy)

Saturn trine his natal Mars (also discipline)

These are reasonable transits, but he may feel a little disappointed or deflated, as though he could have done better.

For Lib Dems – 1988 Chart:

Pluto square its Jupiter (wild swings either way in different places) 6th House

North Node on its Jupiter (favourable karma) 6th House

Jupiter opposite its Pluto (wild swings either way in different places) 12th House

Uranus opp its Ascendant (could be a turning point) 7th House

Seems like wildly differing results all round.

Liberal Party Chart (may not be relevant):

The original Liberal chart is part of the current energy of the party, to some extent.

Pluto on its natal Moon (deep and fervent emotion)

Nodal Axis square its natal Moon (important for its relationship with the public, as represented by the Moon)

Chiron trine its natal Uranus (healing)

Mars trine its natal Neptune (spiritually passionate)

Saturn sextile its natal Neptune (practical results enhancing its spirit)

This set of transits is quite hopeful for the Lib Dems to do well.

For Ed Davey

Davey’s party have taken seats from the Tories in Chesham and Amersham, North Shropshire, and Tiverton and Honiton, since 2021.

Jupiter square his natal Venus (personal popularity)

Jupiter sextile his natal Saturn (may do better than he thinks)

This is a brighter set of transits than Keir’s.  So relative to expectations, they may do better, though in terms of power may still be behind.

For Conservatives

Jupiter sextile its Uranus (may do better than they think)

They probably are in immense fear of the results, at this time.

For Rishi Sunak

Has he impressed?  Will that performance be reflected in the result?

Uranus on his natal Sun (surprise or shock result)

North Node sextile his natal Venus (karma gentler on him than he might think)

Chiron opposite his natal Pluto (some heavy shock, possibly affecting health)

The By-Elections

These are taking place over three very different parts of the country, which is a good overall test for the future general election.

Selby and Ainsty

Labour Candidate: Keir Mather – birth date unavailable

[Note: if any birth charts become available before Thursday, I will write about them under comments]

Lib Dem Candidate: Matt Walker – birth date unavailable

Conservative Candidate: Claire Holmes – birth date unavailable

See what I mean about lack of data…?

The outgoing MP Nigel Adams:

His Resignation transits, over the resignation honours list:

Saturn square his natal Sun (Resignation, literally)

Uranus trine his natal Pluto (a new direction)

Uranus sextile his natal Chiron (sudden relief)

Neptune opposite his natal Mars (uncertainty)

These transits do not affect the outcome of the by-election, but give some background about the circumstances which led to this by-election.

Somerton and Frome

In the 2019 general election, the Liberal Democrats were well ahead of Labour, so they are expected to maintain that ascendancy.

Labour Candidate: Neil Guild – birth date unavailable

Lib Dem Candidate: Sarah Joanne Dyke – birth date unavailable

Conservative Candidate:  Faye Purbrick – birth date unavailable

The outgoing MP David Warburton:

His Resignation transits, due to cocaine and impropriety scandal:

Mars trine his natal Mars (triggered into taking action)

Uxbridge and South Ruislip

This will be a close contest due to the unpopularity of the London Congestion charge and introducing Ulez to improve air quality, brought about through the London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Labour Candidate:  Danny Beales – birth date unavailable (only available data, birth year of 1988)

Lib Dem Candidate:  Blaise Baquiche – birth date unavailable

Conservative Candidate:  Steve Tuckwell – birth date unavailable

The outgoing MP Boris Johnson, ex-PM

Transits For Resignation as MP, due to results of Partygate enquiry:

Neptune square his natal Sun (uncertainty of direction)

Chiron sextile his natal Mercury (a mental solution)

Jupiter sextile his natal Saturn (an opportunity)

Saturn opp his natal Uranus (putting an end to a tricky situation)

We do not yet have the pleasure of a mid-Bedfordshire by-election, as Nadine Dorries is holding out on her resignation.

Latest Polling

In the Guardian/Observer group last month, a poll showed that Labour had a clear lead over the Tories in more than 100 battleground seats.  The Party enjoyed a 10% swing from the Tories in 144 key constituences.  This effect is most enhanced in the Midlands.

On “Peston” recently Anushka Asthana showed a report which revealed that people are most concerned about the NHS and least about the small boats, of the top few issues.  This implies that Rishi Sunak and his government may not have a realistic impression of what matters to the voters.

One of the clues in the chart of the day, was that women candidates could do well (Moon conjunct Venus in Leo).  In Selby and Ainsty, the Tory candidate is a woman, but that is the best likely seat for Labour.

In Somerton and From, Lib Dems and Conservatives have a female candidate, and Lib Dems look likely to gain that seat.

In Uxbridge and Ruislip, the Lib Dems are putting up a female candidate, and that is a slim hope for Labour (the vote may be very split, there).

In all three cases, Lib Dems are  putting up female candidates, so that may enhance their chances.

It looks likeliest that Labour will have the best victory at Selby and Ainsty

Labour may scrape through in Uxbridge

The Lib Dems are likely to take Somerton

Could it be goodbye to the Tories? (excuse the pun)

Aspects

We start with a square between Mercury and Jupiter tomorrow (Monday 17th) around midday.  This will stimulate us mentally, almost to the point of too much information!  There may be travel involved or planned.  It would be a good day to be out in nature, taking a good stroll, and picking up information.  Mercury square Jupiter is a refreshing aspect, if not a little over-stretching to manage, so you may find yourself travelling a little bit further than your comfort zone.

At teatime, there is a New Moon at 24 degrees Cancer.  It’s a pure and simple chance to get back to basics with our home, family, roots, locality, emotions and ancestry.  Where it falls in your chart can give you extra clues about placing your intentionality, your hopes and wishes.

Later still, the True North Node moves from Taurus to Aries, retrograding as it does. When the North Node moved into Taurus, Russia was threatening Ukraine over territory (Taurus representing the land).  The North Node takes approximately 18 month to move through a sign and represents the collective karma.  Its entry into Aries is even more confrontational, if anything.  However, at the same time, it could be more decisive, and may achieve more.  In your personal life, all forms of personal development are emphasized, so physical progress will tie in with emotional, mental and spiritual progress.  The physical may be the trigger, e.g. you may need to keep fit for health reasons, and eat more healthily, and that may impact on your consciousness.

Thursday (20th) lunchtime bestows a trine between the Sun and Neptune.  This is a sparkling time, especially good for receiving creative inspiration.  Expand your consciousness, and allow your imagination to embellish your work, or project in hand.  Hope springs eternal.

In the evening, Mars opposes Saturn.  If you are not careful (but you will be, because you will have read this blog!) it could undo some of the subtler and delicate work of Sun trine Neptune.  It is as if you had created a beautiful sand mandala on the shore, and someone has come along and stomped all over it with hobnail boots.  So you might be forgiven for installing protective measures as you work with the more refined energies earlier in the day.  In the evening, deliberately leave the cloud, and work on the grounding of your achievements, having thought about possible loopholes.  It is possible that you may be pleased with your outcomes, but then face criticism from another who does not understand what you have produced, or the processes you went through.  Your own feeling about your work is what is more important, so don’t be swayed. There is a sense of thinking all has gone smoothly during the day, then there is a fly in the ointment, a flaw has been discovered, or a hitch occurs.

If you think you have read all this before…you have!

On Saturday (22nd) Pluto opposes the Sun in the early hours.  The day suits sober reflection and unearthing the deep psychological significance behind events.  Of course, there is a lot going on in our lives, both personally and globally, and our minds may go to issues which affect us more immediately.  Being an opposition, there is a requirement to balance two opposing forces, and possibly blend them or transcend the polarity.

That sets the tone of the day, but there are two more aspects bringing greater nuance.  The Sun squares the Nodal Axis, which may bring power issues within groups to the fore.  The positioning of the Nodal Axis will ensure karmic justice within the structure of projects and power balances, though there may be a few personality clashes.  You may need to glimpse a more multi-dimensional picture than just the here and now.

Then Mercury trines Chiron, which may bring some healing balm to close the week.  This aspect describes healing on a mental level (positive thinking, writing and affirmations), and helps to combine conventional and alternative or complementary healing approaches.  This is a problem-solving aspect.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – mental stimulation; long journeys; new beginning; karmic decisiveness
• Thursday – sparkling consciousness; blocks and hitches
• Saturday – psychological depth required; power issues in groups; subtle nuances; healing balm

Wimbledon 2023 – Week 2

What a roller coaster last week turned out to be at Wimbledon!  Rain stopped play, then the heat came on.  The British men’s contingent did well, then were wiped out on one day (Friday).  Katie Boulter lost in the women’s contest last night, to the No. 3 Seed.  As usual, I will carry on writing about the next four women’s and men’s Seeds, and hope to provide more information under comments as we watch in the week.

Women’s Seeds

As far as I know, the first four women’s Seeds are still in play.

Apology: when I started writing this piece, Caroline Garcia was still in play.  She was since beaten by Bouzkova.  How time flies, when you are blogging Wimbledon!

No. 5 – Caroline Garcia

I wrote in 2017:

“Interestingly, she has 0 Fire planets, and 0 Mutable planets,5 Fixed and 5 Cardinal.  Her Sun is in Libra and conjunct closely Jupiter, so she may have a lucky touch.  Her Sun is also exactly trine Saturn, with Saturn exactly trine Jupiter, so she has good and balanced judgement. Her Capricorn Uranus/Neptune conjunction is exact, and Mars is exactly sextile this conjunction, so she can use this understanding of complexity in her physical prowess.  Her chart is not without difficulties, as she has an exact square between the two difficult planets Saturn and Pluto.  So there is a lot of contrast in her chart and psyche.  She also has Chiron exactly square the Nodal Axis.”

I have now obtained a birth time for her, and she has an Ascendant in Libra conjunct Jupiter, a happy go lucky combination, and a cluster of planets in her 1st House of Personality, which stamps her character emphatically.

Transits for the beginning of this week

Saturn trine her Moon rising (a steady transit emotionally, but not setting fire to the tournament)

Finishing Transits

She still has Saturn trine her Moon (this would not be enough to propel her into the final)

No. 6 – Ons Jabeur

I wrote in 2021:

“Ons Jabeur has half her planets (5) in Earth signs, so they are both very grounded.  Ons has Sun in Virgo sextile Mars, so good energy for athleticism.  Sun opposite Saturn may see her struggle at certain times, e.g. during significant Saturn transits.  She has Mercury trine Uranus/Neptune, so an inventive mind, capable of outwitting an opponent and tackling complexity, also bringing in inspiration – she calls these “crazy shots”  Mercury exactly sextile her North Node suggest she will do very well as a trainer later in her career, and Mercury’s conjunction with Chiron is mentally tense, but capable of breathtaking problem-solving.  She has a Grand Trine in Water consisting of Mars/Saturn/Jupiter, which can give her a great deal of power and presence on court.  Neptune sextile her North Node may also make her a spiritual leader, so her growth in life will be very interesting.”

The Wimbledon pundits describe her as a popular and fun character on and off the court. She had a tense and evenly matched contest last night against Bianca Andreescu, which she did win.

Transits for the beginning of this week

Chiron opposite her natal Venus (tricky emotions at the moment)

Saturn trine her natal Mars (excellent control)

Uranus trine her natal Uranus (the power of surprise)

Chiron square her natal Uranus (possibility of injury)

A mixed bag

Finishing Transits

She will still have Uranus trine Uranus, and

Chiron will square her natal Neptune

Mediocre finishing transits, but could make it to the final.

No. 9 – Petra Kvitova

In 2011 I correctly predicted that she would win the title.

I wrote about Kvitova in 2015:

“She is an imaginative Pisces, and can access the level of genius in her play.  Her natal Mercury and Uranus are in exact sextile to each other, which amplifies the Piscean ability to use all parts of the brain and human capacity, and her Mercury closely trines her Chiron so she has great problem-solving ability.  Her natal Sun exactly trines her Pluto, so there is an oceanic depths to her nature, which enables her to access her soul qualities.”

She particularly enjoys playing on grass, and is playing well this year.

Transits for the beginning of this week

Neptune sextiles her natal Mars  (inspired play)

North Node sextile her natal Jupiter (excellent karmically)

Uranus trine her natal Saturn (innovative play)

A very good set of transits, indeed!

Finishing Transits

Neptune sextile her natal Mars (exact to the day – inspirational!)

Uranus still trine her natal Saturn (innovative play)

Still very strong transits.  Her karmic aspect waning, but these could be enough to get her to the final, and possibly we may be looking at the winner!

No. 13 – Beatriz Haddad Maia

I have not looked at her chart before.  She has had some knee problems recently.

Brazilian Beatriz has the Sun in Gemini, and a quickfire mind-body coordination in an exact conjunction of Mercury and Mars.  She has an emotionally focussed Moon in Scorpio, and a loose conjunction of Chiron with her North Node in Libra, so may be skilled in relationship counselling.

Transit for the beginning of this week

Neptune sextile her Neptune (Spiritually centred)

Finishing Transits

Will still have Neptune sextile her natal Neptune (will enjoy the fortnight)

A pleasant transit, but not a winning one.

I was not overly impressed with the transits for the top three Seeds last week, but out of these following four, I favour Petra Kvitova’s the most.

Men’s Seeds

Of the top four, No. 4 Casper Ruud has gone out, beaten by Brit Liam Broady.  His transit(s) looked the most promising.  While a fair few women’s Seeds have been decimated, we still have Seeds 5 – 8 for the men.

No. 5 – Stefanos Tsitsipas

Of course, Stefanos is fresh in our memory for despatching our Andy Murray from the tournament last week, a close contest.  His match with Thiem was very tight, ending on a tie breaker in the fifth set.  He played really strongly last night against Dere, winning in straight sets.

In 2021, I wrote:

“Tsitsipas is a young Greek Lion (Leo), born in 1998 ….  With four planets in the Fire Element, including Moon in Aries, he may have fiery traits!  He also has a fair deal of Water, with Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Chiron in that element.  Perhaps his water may put out his fire, sometimes.  Venus/Mars trine Jupiter makes him very sociable.”

Transits for the beginning of this week

Chiron trines his natal Sun (healing power)

Uranus squares his natal Mercury (mental tension)

Pluto opposes his Venus (Emotional difficulty)

Neptune on his Jupiter (inspiration on top of optimism)

Jupiter square his Uranus (inclined to take risks)

Pluto on his Neptune (complex psychology)

Nodal Axis square his Neptune (spiritual reckoning)

Phew! He has a lot going on…

Finishing Transits

Chiron still trine his natal Sun

Uranus still square his natal Mercury

Pluto still opposing his natal Venus

Nodal Axis square his natal Venus (relationship testing)

Neptune still on his natal Jupiter

Mars exactly trine his natal Saturn to the day (extra vigour)

Nodal Axis still square his Neptune

Still a lot going on.  He may do well under the pressure.

No. 6 – Holger Rune

I wrote last year:

“Holger Rune is a Taurean, with a touch of brilliance from his Sun sextile Uranus.  Mercury is trine his Chiron, so he is good at problem-solving.  His Sun squares Jupiter so his enthusiasm can sometimes be over the top!”

He played an amazing match last night against Fokina, winning at the last minute of a tie-break in the fifth set.

Transits for the beginning of this week

Jupiter close to his natal Sun (this benefit peaked just before Wimbledon)

Chiron trine his natal Pluto (strength and healing)

He may last another round or so.

Finishing Transits

The transits do not stand out.

I therefore feel that he won’t make the final.

No. 7 – Andrey Rublev

I wrote in 2020:

“ He has Sun in Libra (the tennis sign!) and Moon in Sagittarius (no birth time available).  The Sun is largely unaspected, except for a trine with Chiron, so he may be very independent, but with a soothing presence.  Mercury is sextile Venus in his chart, so he may have literary skills.  Mars squares Neptune, so he has sensitive energies, and could be drained sometimes.  But Mars is also closely square Pluto, so there may be days where he finds it hard to control his energies, and they may be aggressive.  Mars exactly sextile Chiron also inclines him to healing.  Jupiter squares Saturn, so again he could be hamstrung at times in his energies, not sure which way to go.  Saturn sextile Pluto gives strength and endurance (when Neptune square Mars is not being draining!)  Uranus sextile closely with the North Node gives the power of surprise, when he is karmically permitted.  I imagine his game would vary quite a lot.”

Transits for the beginning of this week

Neptune sextile his Neptune – same as Beatriz Haddad Maia and Matteo Berrettini (Spiritually centred)

Finishing Transits

Jupiter square his natal Jupiter (in high spirits, but liable to make errors)

Neptune still sextile his Neptune (likely to have enjoyed the tournament) but

Mars square his natal Pluto (injury prone)

Not likely to reach the final, but problematic if he did.

No. 8 – Jannik Sinner

I wrote last year:

“With Mars trine his Sun in Leo, Uranus opposing his Sun and Uranus sextile his Mars, he could be a bit of a maverick and is certainly a ball of energy who can surprise an opponent.  His Chiron also exactly trines his Sun and forms a conjunction with his Mars, so he is a problem-solver too.  Moon conjunct Venus in Cancer suggests he can also play those surprise soft strokes such as drop shots, which sometimes take other players by surprise.  Jupiter conjunct his North Node in Cancer brings him some luck and success down to good karma.”

Transits for the beginning of this week

Chiron trines his natal Mars (health and vigour)

Saturn trines his natal Jupiter (disciplined enthusiasm)

Uranus square his Uranus (unpredictability, some errors)

A mixed picture.

Finishing Transits

Mars on his Mercury (intense mental and physical activity)

Chiron still trine his natal Mars

Saturn still trine his natal Jupiter

Uranus still square his natal Uranus

Not a bad picture for him overall.  Could make at least the semi-final.

Of these four, I am most enthusiastic about Tsitsipas’ chances.

Note: for an analysis of Matteo Berrettini’s prospects see comments under last week’s blog.

I am looking forward to the coming week’s play.  I didn’t manage it last week, so must fit in the strawberries, plant-based cream and Pimms somewhere this week…

Aspects

Tonight, just before midnight, Mercury trines Neptune.  Things may fall into place spiritually, perhaps as you are dropping off to sleep, or in your dream experience. This may result in an increased readiness to talk about a sensitive subject.  This trine brings mental inspiration, transcendent wisdom, higher harmony, spiritual journeys, and insight.  A kind astrological note to start the week.

Tomorrow (Monday 10th) Mars enters the sign of Virgo, and energies pass from the hedonism of Mars in Leo through to a more purposeful,  nose to the grindstone shoulder to the wheel application.  At the same time, we find ways to be economical and resourceful with our energy.

The evening is more challenging, with an opposition between Mercury and Pluto, which can bring mental storm clouds as well as inclement weather.  Watch your mental processes carefully, and be mindful in conversation.  Travel too could be problematic.  Something could appear to be a minor snag on the surface, but may give you pause for deeper thought, leading to more psychological awareness.  Don’t skirt over it.  Examine the issue carefully, and the resulting insight could be a gift.

In the early hours of Tuesday (11th), Mercury enters Leo, so if it’s holiday atmosphere you want (lost the day before with Mars exiting Leo) spirits can be recovered.  This enlivens communication and debate and applying the mind to summer hedonism.  Enjoy this trend, which lasts until 28th July.

Mercury also squares the Nodal Axis that day.  Karmic information may come into your awareness, and communication in groups will be important.  Past life exploration may beckon, for some!  A good day for group reunions.

Then Mars trines the North Node, another karmic aspect.  We might be more galvanized to action, especially from a karmic standpoint.  You may feel there is something you must do, or right a wrong, put something straight.  Dogs, cars and men are ruled by Mars, and these may be involved in the karmic interaction or be triggers, hopefully in a constructive way.  The first karmic aspect (Nodal Axis square Mercury), highlighting discussion, is the theory.  This second karmic aspect (Mars trine North Node) is the practice.

The Sun squares Chiron on Wednesday (12th), which may pose a dilemma, a problem to be solved, or even a healing crisis to be soothed.  It is a time to hone your Inner Healer, both for your self-healing, and for anyone who comes into your orbit.

The best aspect of the week is saved for last: Sun sextile Uranus in the last hour of Friday (14th).  This aspect supports us and adds a sparkle of ingenuity and inventiveness. Make headway with your various projects, assisted with some telepathy and higher consciousness, or liaising with a constructive group.  The sparkle may spill over into Saturday.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – mental inspiration
• Monday – resourceful energy; mental storm clouds
• Tuesday – some high spirits; karmic information; karmic action
• Wednesday – healing challenge
• Friday – sparkle