Leo Archetypes

I am writing about the Leo Archetypes today, before the month of Leo is out!  This is the sixth of my new series specifically on astrological Archetypes.  It is time to embrace the potential of this sign, turning the spotlight on its Archetypes.  It’s still light in the evenings, and we have had another heatwave, and more record-breaking temperatures!  An affirmation of global warming.

A few words about Leos: Ruled by the Sun, they are associated with the patriarchy, power, pleasure-loving, sun-seeking, and hedonism; all qualities to enjoy about this holiday time of year. The object of the Leo personality is ultimately to bring sunshine into other people’s lives.

So, following, are some thoughts I highlighted back in my 2015 blog, and then some examples of Leo and their Archetypes, including from history:

“King

The King represents temporal power, and is related to the Tyrant archetype.

One example of the King Archetype is the Film Director, who controls all aspects of the making of a film.  Many Film Directors are born under Leo, and embody that total creative vision.

Examples: Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Sam Mendes, Christopher Nolan, Roman Polanski, John Huston, Cecil B. de Mille, Wim Wenders, Peter Bogdanovich

Queen

Strong Leo in a chart can indicate royal connections in past lives.  Tina Turner, who thinks she was an Egyptian Queen in a past life, has a Leo Ascendant.

Specifically South Node in Leo can indicate royal past lives in Egypt.

Leo actress Helen Mirren has played the Queen on film and in theatre.  Cate Blanchett, who has played Elizabeth I, has the Sun (ruler of Leo) rising.

The Queen/Executive

In 2013  Caroline Myss published a new book on Archetypes for the modern age.  One of these is the Queen/Executive:

“Elizabeth’s [I] archetypal successor in the modern world is the Queen/Executive.  A new archetype, this is a partnering of a noble force, the Queen, with a contemporary concept of power associated with business and finance, the Executive.”  I know a Leo woman who very much fits this description.

Inner Child

Play is a natural function of Leo, and Moon in Leo brings up the Playful Child, and also the Performing Child.  We all have the Inner Child Archetype, and it is usually described accurately by our Moon Sign.

“Star Healing” by David Lawson describes this quality of Leo well: “Leos are inspired by the magical qualities of children and many Leos express their creativity through the raising, teaching or guidance of children.”

Examples of the Performer: Mick Jagger (Sun, Jupiter, Pluto, I.C., Mercury, North Node and Chiron all in Leo!) and Madonna (Sun, Uranus and Venus in Leo).  Madonna blends Leo with Virgo (Moon and Ascendant among other features) for her “Like a Virgin” image.  Performers can of course also be grown-ups.

The Father/Patriarch

Shared with the sign of Capricorn, this Archetype in its Leo manifestation brings up a feeling of Protectiveness and Guidance.  The Capricorn manifestation is more authoritarian and disciplined in nature. [Related to The Patriarch, which is more authoritarian and antiquated].

Leo Mick Jagger, is detailed below under the Performer Archetype. A Capricorn example is Rod Stewart, who has eight children, like Mick.

The Hedonist

The Hedonist is one of the primary Archetypes for Leo.  It deals with the pursuit of pleasure and leisure.  Note that whereas there are not many animal totems for Leo, there are plenty of Archetypes.

The Hero

The Hero overcomes all odds, sometimes over and over again in their lives. You can spot a Hero Archetype by their stories, which can be long and complicated with a thread of how they came through.

Shadow Side

The Tyrant or Bully can be a negative Archetype, for whatever reason, and that includes psychological bullying. Napoleon, an Archetype himself, was a Leo.  It is interesting that the Arab Spring movement, that of the Inner Rebel (Aquarius/Uranus) confronted the various Tyrants (Leo) of the Middle Eastern Countries, and Aquarius opposes Leo in the Zodiac circle.  It is one of the astrological balancing acts, Leo vs Aquarius.”

To which I would add:

The Sportsman

Leos are supremely competitive, and tend to enjoy different sports.  There isn’t one associated primarily with Leo.  But the venerated Roger Federer in the world of tennis is regarded as a king.

The Performer

Madonna is an example of a hybrid Performer/Virgin, with Sun/Venus/Uranus in Leo (the Performer) and Pluto/Mercury/Ascendant/Moon in Virgo (the Virgin; the Madonna).

The Hedonist

Mae West, who had Sun/Chiron in Leo, was quoted as saying: ““Too much of a good thing is wonderful”.

The Hero

I have previously written about Lord Arbuthnot, in regard to his role in championing the Post Office scandal victims:

Lord Arbuthnot – a Hero

Lord Arbuthnot was born under the sign of the Hero Archetype, Leo, with four planets in that sign.  He was a staunch supporter of the stricken postmasters for many years – I would say he acted as a rock, highlighting their case continually in parliament.  He took the fight first to the House of Commons, and then to the House of Lords.  His synastry with the Post Office shows his Mercury sextile the Post Office Chiron (an interest in its wound and healing); and his Pluto conjunct exactly with its Sun, showing his role in bringing it down.

Historical/more in-depth Examples:

The Performer

Mick Jagger (b. 26/7/43)

Still prancing at 82, Mick Jagger is the Archetypal Leo, with Sun/Jupiter/Pluto/Mercury/North Node and Chiron all crammed into Leo (most of them in his 2^nd House of Money).  As well as the Performer, he exemplifies another Archetype of Leo, namely The Lover (through Leo’s association with the 5^th House): he has been married several times, and has had multiple partners, among them Chrissie Shrimpton, Marianne Faithful, Marsha Hunt, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, L-Wren Scott, and Melanie Hamrick.  With 8 children, five children and three great-grandchildren, he also fulfils The Patriarch Archetype (where Leo’s ruler the Sun represents the father, and Cancer’s ruler the Moon represents the mother).  A definition of a Patriarch is “the male head of a family or tribe.”

The Film Director

Alfred Hitchcock  (13/8/1899 – 29/4/1980)

With the Sun, Ascendant and Venus all in Leo, he has the credentials of the all-controlling classic Film Director Archetype.  Leo’s ruler the Sun was trine his North Node (karmic mission).  His macabre side comes from his Saturn exactly opposite Pluto.  And he had Uranus, Chiron, Saturn and the North Node in the 5^th House of Creativity and Drama, the natural province of Leo.

His North Node (karmic mission) was exactly conjunct the Galactic Centre in 5^th House – conferring extraordinary Power.  Leo anyway is a sign that represents Power, and power is represented by the 3^rd Chakra (the midriff section of the body).  In her book “Companions in Spirit” psychic Laeh Maggie Garfield offers a possible insight into Alfred Hitchcock’s notorious silhouette.  She says:

“Some people have an excess of third-chakra energy which they abuse by trying to control others.  The ‘bay windows’ of Alfred Hitchcock and Aristotle Onassis were bodily demonstrations of what happens when third-chakra power is projected in a coercive or manipulative way.”

Every sign or Archetype can have a shadow side.  Power can be mis-used, and in Alfred Hitchcock’s case it may have been, as testified by the actress Tippi Hedren, who starred in Hitchcock’s film “The Birds”.  She said:

“We are dealing with a brain here that is genius and evil. Deviant almost to the point of dangerous because of the effect that he can have on people that are totally unsuspecting.”

Hopefully, in his next life, he will learn to balance his power.

The Actress

Sandra Bullock (b. 26/7/64)

One of my favourite actresses, Sandra Bullock, has the Sun (and Mercury) in Leo.  Her films include The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, and Gravity.  Leo is the sign associated with the thespian profession, and drama.  The other sign associated with drama and acting, the more interior experience of sensitively conveying emotion, is Pisces.  Note that Sandra Bullock has the same birthday as Mick Jagger (26^th July); so often when I am picking these Archetypes there seem to be significant dates, which may be potent conveyors of the essence of the sign and archetypes.  It has happened too often to be mere coincidence.

An interesting feature of Sandra’s chart is that her Sun (Leo’s Ruler) is unaspected: hence it may indicate a more free-spirited expression of this expressive planet/star.  There is an echo of this in her Human Design Chart.  As detailed in the book “Human Design” by Chetan Parkyn:

“She…happens to be one of those rare beings whose Human Design is that of a Reflector, with no defined centres.”  The centres in her Human Design chart are empty.  He goes on to say: “She is naturally empathetic…and no doubt finds that she’s able to pick up everything about people: their habits, mannerisms, attitudes and moods.  This gift means that she is able to play out, reflect and perfect any role that a playwright or director asks of her.” This implies that she has the Neptunian component of the acting gene, too, and in her chart Neptune is the planet that occupies her 5^th House of acting.

With Venus/Mars on her Ascendant (opposite the Galactic Centre incidentally), she has been dubbed “the most beautiful woman” by People magazine (in 2015).  Her Midheaven (Careerpoint) is trine with her North Node (karmic mission), which makes it easier for her to fulfil her life purpose.

The Playwright

George Bernard Shaw (26/7/1856 – 2/11/1950)

Close to the thespian profession, playwrights also come under Leo Archetypes and careers.  George Bernard Shaw is regarded as one of Britain’s most prominent playwrights of the modern era.  His prominent works included Man and Superman, Pygmalion, and St. Joan.  Mars was trine his Ascendant, on the 5^th House cusp – prolific in creativity, in his case as a playwright.  He had the Sun closely conjunct Venus, and was also gifted artistically and musically.

Incredibly, this is the third, out of four examples, having the birthday of 26^th July.  It keeps happening, and I am sure there is a rhyme and reason to it.  Just realized that I wrote for Cancerian Archetypes last month:

“Notice that three of my specific examples were born around 6^th/7^th July, which gives them a connection of the very special Fixed Star Sirius, sacred to the ancient Egyptians, and our brightest nearest star.”

Perhaps it is the Fixed Star connection which makes certain dates stand out.  The nearest Fixed Star to the Sun’s position at 26^th July is Praesape (the M44 cluster in Cancer), which according to Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld in “Starlight Elixirs” represents:

“At a deeper level, most people will discover that a sense of what is needed created in them, as well as a sense of what is not needed.  Priorities can shift to spiritual levels, so the true God-nature of the priorities emerge.”

Looking back at the Archetype series of blogs, famous people just picked for their archetypes, I found 5 athletes born on 23^rd March.  Their Fixed Star is Diphda, in the constellation of Cetus, associated with 2^nd chakra energy.  I had two the same under Pisces (2^nd March): aligned with Scat in Aquarius (Rosa Parks was one, and the principle is about moving through red tape). And there were also two the same under Aquarius (4^th February): corresponding with Dorsum in Capricorn (one of whom was Mikhail Gorbachev), which may be politically linked.

 So, in summary, in contemplating your own link to the sign of Leo and for those you know, you can explore for the next month, this segment of the zodiac, while the Sun is still in Leo (until 22nd August).  You may notice that with your Leo family, friends and acquaintances, some of them have more than one of these Archetypes, and you may look up to them and admire them for it!  Notice too that some families have a particular sign as their theme, so perhaps they may be working on that theme in a common purpose in this incarnation as a soul group.

Aspects

Slim pickings this week…!

Monday 18^th brings a sextile between Mercury and Mars.  Physical and mental energies can co-ordinate well.  If you are cycling a great deal to keep fit, you may find the wind behind your sails.  You may be able to cycle just that bit faster or longer, and your fitbit may register record stats (if it is working properly).  You may also find shortcuts to your usual way of doing things.  Travel and active tasks can be brisk.

The Sun goes into Virgo on Friday (22^nd).  We may be starting to look at Autumn schedules, which are almost upon us.  The need for knuckling down conscientiously to look at work and study programmes 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.

The week ends on a new beginning, that of a New Moon at 0 degrees Virgo, on Saturday (23^rd).  You may come to the end of a line of enquiry or a work project during the course of the week, ready for this New Moon, when new experiences can take place.  Aspirations around this New Moon in Virgo could be very work-orientated.  Ecology and the environment are also provinces of Virgo, so benefits could accrue for the planet if enough minds are concentrated on this aspect of life.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – brisk action
• Friday – looking at working schedules
• Saturday – new beginning

Stella Rimington (1935 – 2025)

“I still thought the essence of the cold war and spies and stuff was fun.  You know, going around listening to people’s telephones and opening their mail.”

~ Stella Rimington

Stella Rimington, a former Director of MI5, and prolific crime novelist, died last Sunday, at the age of 90.  The security service was quite a distinguished glass ceiling for her to break.

Birth Chart

Stella had the Sun in Taurus, which straight away suggests a staunch individual acting as a rock in their sphere.  The Sun was trine her natal Moon in Virgo, also in Earth, adding an eye for detail.  She had 0 Fire planets in her chart, which may have given her the ability to be dispassionate, and even to keep a cool head.  There is clear evidence of the “Spy Archetype” with Pluto closely conjunct South Node in Cancer (likely carried over from past lives), and the Sun sextile Pluto shows a successful co-operation with the Police (= Pluto) as Director of MI5.  Leadership is shown by the Sun’s trine with the North Node, and is linked with her karmic mission.  The Moon also links with Pluto, by sextile.  Mercury trine Mars gave her quick mental reactions, but the most crucial aspect with mindset Mercury is an exact conjunction with Chiron, a conjunction I think of as the “Problem-Solver Archetype”.  This ideal conjunction for a Head of MI5 (and spy writer) is put under extreme pressure and stress by an exact square with Saturn, a measure of her strength and load of responsibility.  A further highly suitable aspect in her chart came in the shape of Jupiter trine Pluto, which indicates wise use of power.

Life and Career

Stella was born in South London, but her family moved to Essex during the Second World War as life had become very stressful:

“My childhood was disturbed and frightening. I was four when we left London as the Second World War broke out.  We lived in Barrow-in-Furness as the Barrow Blitz commenced: hiding under the stairs, windows were blown out and ceilings fell down.”

The family moved to Cumbria, before settling in Derbyshire, where Stella attended Nottingham High School for Girls.  She studied English at Edinburgh University, where she was fated to re-meet a friend from schooldays John Rimington, and they later married.  She went on to study Archive Administration at Liverpool University.

She married John in 1963, and in his career he was appointed as First Secretary for the British High Commission in New Delhi, so she travelled with him to India in September 1965.  Her transits for this transition were particularly interesting: Neptune on her natal Jupiter (foreign travel), and the North Node on her exact Chiron/Mercury conjunction in 10^th House – Wow! A karmically originated move if there was one.  It was directly to lead to her true career path.

While undertaking typing work in India, she was asked to assist one of the First Secretaries at the High Commission there, and he was revealed to be the representative in India of MI5.  She commented, in retrospect: “I was grateful for an end to the boredom.” When she returned to England she applied for permanent work in the institution.  From 1969, she went on to work in all three of its branches: counter espionage, counter subversion and counter terrorism.  She undertook a trip to Moscow in December 1991, making contact with the KGB.  Pluto was opposite her natal Sun at the time (a covert operation), and Uranus was trine her natal Neptune (an unusual step related to her undercover work).

In 1992, just after her return, she was appointed Director General of MI5, a position she held until 1996, the appointment being approved by John Major.  Aged 57, it may have been a representation of her second Saturn Return.

She was the first Director General to be openly named, and the first female to take the post.  As expressed in her later memoir, much to the consternation of their ranks, she described a great measure of sexism.  She also partook of some controversial recommendations during her time as head, for example speaking out against I.D. cards.

Relationships

Her elevated career position took its toll on her relationships.  The astrological pattern shows Venus loosely trine Saturn (loyal, committed, responsible in relationships) and Venus exactly sextile Uranus – (reunions, chance meetings, a search for excitement in relationships and some detachment).

One of her motives for writing her memoir according to the Guardian Obituary by Richard Norton Taylor was:

“She decided to write her memoir to explain to her daughters, Sophie and Harriet, why she was never around as a mother.  She separated from her husband when the children were young.”

In her marriage, there was a plot twist:

“Divorcing my husband seemed a faff.  We separated when our children were young, but the paperwork felt like an effort.  Now, I’m rather glad we didn’t.  We’ve become friendly again in old age, living together during lockdown.  Yes, we argued, but we’ve mellowed.  It’s a good recipe for marriage: split up, live separately, and return to it later.”

And on her relationship with her mother:

“I’ll always regret not being with my mother when she died.  I was away and failed to leave a contact number.  She died in hospital having fallen down the stairs: but I didn’t know until later.  We’d always been close.”

As a grandparent:

“My children would say I was quite detached as a mum.  We managed with au pairs, grannies and kind neighbours.  Still, I always tried to be caring and encouraging, and now – with my five grandchildren – I’m far more present.”

The Author

Her first literary venture was the Memoir “Open Secret”, which was considered a travesty by some, shedding light on that covert institution.  It is said that the character “M” in the Bond films, portrayed by Judi Dench, was based on Stella Rimington.

After the memoir, Stella then began a series of crime novels, based on two different intelligence officers Liz Carlyle (8 books) and Manon Tyler, a CIA agent (2 books), both alter egos of herself.

Her first novel was “At Risk”, with Liz Carlyle hunting down a terrorist cell.  A review in the Telegraph stated:

“At Risk is breezily told, seldom pompous, and the plot, though every bit as hokey as you’d expect, winds its threads together very entertainingly ”

My hubby has read several of her books, generously donated by Janet (a regular commenter here).  He tells me:

“The female character in her books is sympathetic to the plight of her ‘assets’ [fellow agents], suggesting this was how she interacted as the actual Head of MI5.  The stories involve you from the very start, you’re into the story very quickly. They are are well-written, similar to Ken Follett’s page turners [which include spy novels].  She’s a good descriptive writer.

Death

She apparently died on Sunday night surrounded by her family and dogs and it is reported that she “determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath”.

With a transit of Jupiter sextile her natal Neptune, she will have passed peacefully to her spiritual state.  A remarkable woman, whose life was clearly mapped out for greatness, with the resilience that was needed for her mission.

“I’ve never been one to retreat at the first whiff of gunshot.”

~ Stella Rimington

Aspects

Today’s aspect is Mars trine Pluto, a dynamic aspect which nevertheless needs to be handled with care.  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 be of benefit to you throughout the day.

Good news for Mercury-Retrogradophobes, for tomorrow (Monday 11^th) Mercury is Stationary prior to going Direct! I have heard several complaints these last three weeks, and I currently have a tech issue going on myself.  There can be some alleviation of recent communication glitches.  There may also be a turning point in your travel plans. Hopefully, if you have projects waiting to happen of a literary or technical nature, this may also be a go-ahead for you.  If you have been holding back on communication, you may feel the push to move forward again with it.

Tuesday (12^th) is a progressive day.  The early hours of the morning bring a sextile between two heavyweights: Saturn and Uranus.  You may have contemplated the changes of the early days of Neptune in Aries, and have a chance now to balance (sextile) the old (Saturn in Aries) with the new (Uranus in Gemini).  It’s a major aspect and enables stabilization.  This is a time when you can do something for yourself which is constructive.  You may have a joint venture with someone which is new and innovative, but need a steadying force.  Make no mistake, this is the most important aspect of the week.

And make no mistake either, this is the best day of the week, for Venus is conjunct Jupiter (at 14 degrees Cancer).  At the same time, it is one of the best days of the year, socially and romantically.  It is a great conjunction for getting out and socializing, but also for practising Unconditional Love.  This conjunction is aligned with the Fixed Star Sirius, giving the day an extra boost.

“Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld tells us:

“Sirius can enhance communication between the subtle bodies. This is that which normally goes on under healthy conditions for most people and is generally cut off between certain of the subtle bodies when there is disease or difficulty.   Communication will be enhanced between the physical and aetheric bodies, and to a lesser extent between the aetheric and emotional bodies.  This will be of great benefit for anyone who is working with healing.”

From Tuesday we skip to Friday (15^th) for the next aspect, which is Mercury sextile Mars.  This may bring about brisk action.  You may receive ideas to implement into your day.  Your mental reactions may be heightened, and this can lead to enhanced productivity.  Stella Rimington had Mercury trine Mars, conferring mental vigour, you may avail yourself of a little of that, with this aspect.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a powerhouse of energy
• Tomorrow – straightening communications
• Tuesday – *best day of the week: successfully combining or balancing the old and the new; socializing to the max
• Friday – mental vigour; brisk action

Sarina Wiegman

“The success of Sarina: she is always herself”

~ Hans Verheij

Last Sunday afternoon, a nation watched as the Lionesses, our Women’s football team, triumphed in the final of the UEFA champions league.  The match was nailbitingly close, involved a penalty shoot out, and represented a second such triumph for the team’s manager, Sarina Wiegman.  This week saw a homecoming parade and celebration in London for the team, with Sarina dancing and singing with her favourite music artist, Burna Boy.  What makes the magic of a successful manager, and team?  We came to know and love the characters playing over the period of the tournament, and I will look at a few.

Birth Chart

We do not have a birth time for Sarina, but she has the Sun in Scorpio: so she’s intense, passionate, and driven.  Scorpio is a persevering sign, and with having Moon in Taurus, she is doubly so (both signs are part of the Fixed Quadruplicity).  She has the Sun opposite Saturn, experience born of hardship, which hints that as a player, she specialized in defence.  She has four planets bunched up in Libra (Uranus/Venus, Mercury/Jupiter), indicating that the chart belongs to a Specialist.  Planets mainly occupying Libra means that she is good with one-to-one relationships (she is married with two daughters), though some have found her tough (Sun in Scorpio), but perhaps necessarily so in her role.  Mercury square Mars produces a critical mind, and Mercury exactly conjunct Jupiter a wide-ranging mind and love of travel.  Venus conjunct Uranus bestows personal magnetism.  Her Mars is square to Jupiter (over the top enthusiasm, which she  has made good use of!), and Mars is also trine Pluto (a powerhouse of energy).

Life and Career

Sarina was born in The Hague in 1969, and played football from a young age.  To make ends meet while training, she worked as a P.E. teacher. In 1986 she began playing for the Dutch national team.  From 1994, she played for North Carolina’s soccer team, and won the Dutch championship.  She represented the Netherlands between 1987 and 2001.  She retired from playing in 2003, and began coaching. She coached the Dutch national team to victory at the UEFA Women’s Euro of 2017.  It was announced in August 2020 that she would manage the England women’s team from September 2021.

The transits for that moment were auspicious:

Pluto (her ruler) on her Mars, all power to her elbow! Saturn was trine her natal Pluto, a supreme challenge, but one that she was up to. Jupiter was sextile her North Node, a major high-profile career advancement and karmic reward.  And her Nodal Axis was square her natal Pluto (ruling planet) – again, a supreme challenge, but one that she was up to.

The rest is history: she led the English team to victory, on home soil, at the UEFA Women’s Euro in 2022.  Not since our men’s team in 1966 at the FIFA World Cup had we had achieved anything comparable.

Her transits at the time of this victory included transiting North Node exactly conjunct her natal Uranus = A surprise!;  Pluto trine her natal Pluto, Empowerment!; Uranus and the North Node sextile her natal North Node – Karmic Success and Progress!  It was an astonishing feat.

Then, astoundingly, on 27^th July, just those few days ago, it happened again!  This has cemented the record-breaking nature of Sarina’s career.  On this occasion, Pluto was sextile her natal Chiron (a deep experience), Pluto (her ruling planet) was square her natal Sun (she had passed the ultimate test of a Scorpio!) and Mars was trine her natal Mars.

It was especially noted that she was inspired in her choice and timing of substitutes.

Some of the Stars of the Tournament

A study of some of the women stars throws up some interesting astrological facts.  Though I don’t have the time on a Sunday morning, nor the technical ability, to amass statistics and spreadsheets on all the players, what I have found is intriguing.

Leah Williamson

Captain Leah Williamson has the Sun in Aries, a sign of Leadership, but again (as with all these players, we have no birth time).  She has 4 planets bunched up in Aries, and so is also a Specialist in her own way.  She has the Sun conjunct closely Saturn, indicating the ability to take on responsibility, and possibly pointing to her role  in central defence and midfield.  Outstanding talent is suggested by the Sun exactly sextile Uranus and trine Pluto.  She has a well-co-ordinated chart, which may contribute to making her a good captain.  She has the Entrepreneur Archetype, in the shape of Jupiter conjunct Uranus.  She also has the Strategist Archetype, in the shape of Saturn trine Pluto.  She has Uranus sextile Pluto, the ability to work well with the complexity of a team.  And Neptune trine closely with the North Node, a spiritual leader as well as one on the field!

Leah led the team for Sarina’s first triumph in 2022, and for that final, Leah’s transits included:  Saturn trine her North Node (responsibility earning her a karmic reward); and Jupiter on her Sun (an unequivocal Win!).

For the second win, she had Jupiter squaring her natal Saturn (all about overcoming the odds); a Mars Return 24/25^th July, just after the semi-final.  She may have had a particularly fine moment during that match.

Choe Kelly

Chloe Kelly was also involved in both triumphs, and memorably scored the final penalty at the end of this year’s match.  She is a Capricornian, and has 6 planets bunched up in Capricorn and Aquarius, and so is another Specialist (especially in penalties!). She has Neptune conjunct her Sun, with Venus exactly conjunct the Sun, and, like Leah Williamson has Uranus sextile Pluto(the ability to work well with the complexity of a team).

She is the youngest of seven in her family, an early lifestyle which may have prepared her for working in a team.  Scoring the winning goal in the final of 2022, Pluto was on her natal Venus, Saturn (her ruling planet, and signifier of control) on her natal Mars, and Mars was opposite her natal Chiron.  She rose to astrological challenges, as well as the occasion.

In this year’s tournament, she came on at the end of the match, as a final flourish, and sealed the deal.  Transiting Chiron was square to her Venus earlier than the tournament and during the match.  Venus is an important planet for her, being exactly conjunct her Sun, and she had various wrangles to sort out professionally with the clubs she played for, coming up to the tournament.  Transiting Mars also formed a minor transit, a quincunx, to her natal Mars.

Michelle Agyemang

Another player who created a sensation was Agyemang, who was only a ball girl at the time of the first triumph in 2022, and who this year received a special award as “youngest player” of the tournament.  She replaced Alessia Russo in an earlier round against Sweden and scored immediately, equalizing and saving the day late in the match, paving the way for what proved a penalty shoot-out win.  Against Italy in the semi-final, she again scored a late equalizer which helped save the match.  Michelle is an Aquarian, ahead of her time (and old for her years!).  She has Sun conjunct Neptune (in Aquarius), like Chloe Kelly has (but in Capricorn), due to the eight years difference in their age.  She also has Mercury square Mars, like Sarina (a  sharp mind).  Her Saturn is exactly trine her North Node in Aries.

Her recent transits at the final were:

Jupiter trine her natal Uranus (luck plus surprise!) occurring exactly on 20^th July (between the time of the equalizing goals on 17^th and 22^nd July).  In addition, Mars was trine her natal Mars

Hannah Hampton

Hannah has less of a specialist’s chart, but has a different role to play, as goalkeeper.  A goalkeeper needs a strong Saturn.  Accordingly, she has the Moon (at Noon, no birth time available) closely sextile Saturn.  Her Sun is opposite Saturn, like Sarina Wiegman.  She had me amazed, every time she saved a goal.

Like Sarina she is a Scorpio (intense, passionate, and driven).  She has overcome health issues to get where she is, including an eye condition which affects the sensing of depth perception.

Transits include Chiron on her natal Pluto (she lost her grandfather just prior to the tournament, a grandfather who had encouraged her progress); and Mars was sextile her natal Sun.

Teamwork is the Dreamwork

It is notable that the transits for the individual Lionesses are not as remarkable as Sarina’s.  I believe that is because their successes were a team effort.  However, there is an important clue to their team work, bearing in mind that Mars rules football and that Mars interaspects indicate work together.

Here is the clue:

Mars positions

Sarina = 23 degrees Capricorn, Earth

Leah Williamson = 22 degrees 09’ Virgo, Earth

Chloe Kelly = Mars 22 degrees 11’ Aquarius, Air

Michelle Agyemang = 23 degrees 09’ Taurus, Earth

Transiting position of Mars at the final win = 23 degrees 38’ Virgo, Earth

All their Marses work together!  And the transiting Mars at the recent final works with them!  Only Hannah Hampson, who works from a different viewpoint, has a differing Mars.

That’s enough researching for one Sunday morning!  But they provided what the nation needs right now, a good news story.

Aspects

Our aspects this week start on Wednesday (6^th), technically with an ingress, not an aspect.  The ingress in question is Mars entering Libra, at 23.23 Hrs (for those who like repeating numbers).  Admittedly you have to wait most of the day for it…

That will a bring a change of energy, with Mars (the planet of war) entering Libra (the sign of peace).  It means that Peace and War have to interact, and negotiate, and can no longer ignore each other.  Either one can prevail, but they do have to try and acknowledge each other and if possible make progress.  Whether you have an ongoing tussle in your circle, or are interested in the wider world picture, this movement of Mars could be crucial, especially if you have experienced an impasse.  Brave and hard headed negotiations internationally with this sojourn, which lasts until 22^nd September.  Put on your diplomat’s hat during that time, as when Mars goes into the next sign, Scorpio, battles may recommence.  This period could make all the difference, say in mitigation.  The Sun will enter Libra that day, which could help the transition (from war to peace or less war).

On Friday (8^th) we have the *best aspect of the week*, Mars trine Uranus.  You may be able to swing the element of the unexpected to work your way, with this aspect.  It could, for instance, 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.

The week ends, on Saturday (9^th), with a trio of oppositions.  You may be struggling to keep various elements in balance.

The first of these is Mars opposite Saturn, in the early hours.  In dreams, you may be tackling a conundrum, for example.  This aspect is no picnic, and indeed if you are trying to picnic you may have all sorts of obstructions: rain, wind or wasps to name three possibilities.  Two forces may be pushing against each other, and this could prove uncomfortable.  This can mean a conflict in the outer world, or the inner world.  A day which spells the need for caution.

Around breakfast-time there is a Full Moon at 17 degrees Aquarius, effectively an opposition between the Sun and the Moon.  It will add heightened emotion to the Mars-Saturn opposition.  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.

In the evening, we are faced with an opposition between Mars and Neptune.  Again, there is a theme of war and peace, and smoke and mirrors, about this opposition, so don’t try and be too clever, just try and stay away from unsavoury entanglements.  There can also be a sense of illusion (Neptune) with this opposition.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – the need for negotiation
• Friday – sparks fly, in a good way!
• Saturday – balancing oppositions: obstructions, emotional high tide, illusions

Ozzy Osbourne (1948 – 2025)

“It’s crazy that anyone would think I’d be in league with the devil, because I’m terrified of all sorts of shit.  I’m very superstitious.  I have to try not to be, otherwise I wouldn’t leave the house.”

~ Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal, frontman of Black Sabbath, died last Tuesday, at the age of 76.  Birmingham was in mourning, but grateful to have had the group’s farewell gig on 5^th July.

Birth Chart

We are fortunate to have a birth time for Ozzy, and can clearly see the shape of his chart.  His nickname, “The Prince of Darkness” is starkly shown by his Ascendant in Scorpio, with its ruling planet Pluto (the Prince of Darkness) at the top of the chart.  There is no mistaking his persona.  He has the Sun in Sagittarius, a sign which also has a strong showing in his chart, with Chiron/Mercury/Sun in Sagittarius in his 1^st House.  This contributes the humour which so many who knew him valued, the slapstick clumsiness, and the tendency to excess (both Scorpio and Sagittarius have a tendency to excess).  His Mercury was exactly square to his Saturn, a common sign of dyslexia.  A musical career is highlighted by Venus being exactly sextile his Midheaven in 10^th House.  Mars was closely conjunct Jupiter in his chart, depicting the high energy allied with enthusiasm which characterized his performance.  The conjunction was made more electric by virtue of being in an opposition with Uranus, and Jupiter opposite Uranus spells out the Chancer Archetype.  Success was aided by a Grand Trine between Mars/Jupiter, Midheaven/Saturn and the North Node.

Life and Career

Ozzy was born in Aston, Birmingham, and is one of their greatest exports, and famously sports the accent.  He came from a large family, and enjoyed taking part in Gilbert and Sullivan productions at school.  Growing up in the 1960s, he greatly admired the Beatles, his passion for them aroused by the song “She Loves You” in 1963.  He left school at 15 and took a string of blue collar jobs.  At 19, he briefly joined a band called “Rare Breed” as a vocalist.  He then belonged to a group named Earth, which included guitarist Tony Iommi.

Band member Geezer Butler was influenced by the occult, and the group changed its name to “Black Sabbath” in August 1969, based on the 1963 film of that name with Boris Karloff.  They noticed that their audience enjoyed being scared, and with Osbourne’s “eerie vocals”, they found their unique selling point.  Their first album was a success.

Karmic Connections

The band was managed by Don Arden, a Sun in Capricorn, described as “unsentimental”. Don’s Mars was conjunct Ozzy’s Mercury, so in some ways they rubbed each other up the wrong way. And Ozzy proved to be an unruly member of an unruly band.  He was fired from Black Sabbath on 27^th April 1979.  Transits for the event included:

Mars trine his natal Pluto, forceful ejection; Jupiter trine his natal Chiron (opportunity for new healing for him); Uranus on his Ascendant (a break away, change in the air); and Pluto sextile his natal Pluto  (an empowerment and ending of sorts, a chance to embellish his “Prince of Darkness” persona.

This was the cue for Don’s daughter, Sharon, to take over the running of Ozzy’s solo career, but also contributed to an estrangement with her father.  In involving Sharon, Don hoped she would bring Ozzy back to Black Sabbath.  Her synastry with her father included her Mercury square Don’s Nodal Axis (mental disagreements) and her Venus trine Don’s Pluto (Pluto is often involved when one person replaces the role of another).  Sharon and Ozzy worked alongside each other when Don was managing the group, but their chemistry was evident:

Her Sun was closely conjunct his Neptune (she indulged his fantasy); her Sun was exactly sextile his Pluto (Prince of Darkness) – she really got him!; her Jupiter was closely opposite his Ascendant (indicating a successful partnership);

Guardian writer Ben Beaumont-Thomas stated: “Her business acumen paired with his enduring popularity led to huge wealth”.  This was shown in his chart by his Jupiter/Mars/Moon (woman) in his 2^nd House of Wealth.  Sharon’s business acumen is shown by the Entrepreneur Archetype (Jupiter closely sextile Uranus).

Sharon and Ozzy married on 4^th July 1982.  They made it Independence Day so that Ozzy wouldn’t forget the date!  At the time, Uranus transiting Ozzy’s natal Chiron in 1^st House (stimulating his Inner Healer), and Mars was on his Neptune in 11^th House (spiritual fire).  Theirs was a tempestuous relationship, history would prove.  For Sharon, Saturn was on her Sun – (taking on a responsibility?), and the North Node was trine her Venus, a love match for her.

1982 was also the year he bit off the head of a live bat on stage, thinking it was a stage prop.  The incident involved a trip to hospital, to treat for a possible contact with rabies.

Ozzy continued the drink and drugs rock ‘n roll lifestyle, and the married couple had their ups and downs, characterized by constant bickering.  In 1989, he was arrested for trying to strangle Sharon while drunk.  In the early 1990s he announced his retirement.

2002 brought a new departure, a new enterprise from Sharon, that of an MTV reality TV show, a fly-on-the-wall documentary, rare for those days, though daughter Aimee declined to take part.  Beaumont-Thomas describes it as:

“complete with dog therapists and an endless stream of imaginative bad language from everyone”

More drama ensued on 8^th December 2003, when Ozzy came off his quad bike in the grounds of their home in Buckinghamshire.  He broke his collar bone, eight ribs, and a neck vertebra.  Transits for the accident included Saturn opposite his natal Moon in Capricorn in 2nd House (a message to slow down); and Uranus (the planet of accidents) exactly trine his own natal Uranus to the day (a negative manifestation of what should have been positive; always unexpected in nature, though).

Soon after, he and his daughter Kelly made a number one hit “Changes”, a song previously recorded by Black Sabbath, with the transformative Plutonian lyrics of “we’re going through changes…”.  But other positive transits were operational: Jupiter sextile his Ascendant, and Neptune sextile his natal Sun in Sagittarius in the 1^st House.  The Osbourne family are a tight-knit group, and his daughter Kelly and son Jack are both Scorpios, inheriting his love of the macabre.  His synastry with his daughter Kelly (one of several children, one of three with Sharon) included:

His Sun conjunct her Venus/Uranus (an affectionate complexion); her Saturn is on his Ascendant (loyalty and commitment); his Venus sextiles her Jupiter (good for relationship); his Mars sextiles her Sun (he is able to represent her animus); his South Node conjoins her natal Pluto (past-life experiences in relation to the Prince of Darkness persona – she can take that forward if she should choose to do so).

Completing the foursome, son Jack has overcome addiction and found a path as a fitness and travel reporter.  There’s mental companionship between him and his father, with his Mercury conjunct Ozzy’s Sun.  Ozzy’s Venus is conjunct Jack’s South Node, pointing to a personal relationship from past lives. Jack’s Venus trines Ozzy’s Uranus (affection).

Final Days

The band has had reunions, most notable the farewell gig in Birmingham this summer.  Ozzy was noticeably frail, with various health issues such as Parkinsons diagnosed in 2020, but he rallied to the occasion, and fans were over the moon.  Pluto was square his Nodal Axis, an air of finality; Jupiter was sextile his natal Saturn in 10^th House (temporarily overcoming his disabilities, to cement his place in the world); and Mars squaring his natal Sun in Sag in 1^st House (pushing his energy, health and vitality to its limit).

Ozzy Osbourne was a phenomenon, and his wife a driving force.  His family were taken to the hearts of the public, through the reality TV series.  His band created a new genre of music, heavy metal.  That is quite a legacy.  All done by just being himself, and wearing his heart on his sleeve.  Thoughts go out to Sharon.

“Sabbath and Ozzy were a lesson in being yourself, at all costs.”

~ Lizzy Hale

“He was very clever at being the caricature of himself that the media wanted when they wanted it, but when it came down to music, he was a bright boy.”

~ Rick Wakeman

Aspects

Tomorrow, Monday (28^th), Venus will be sextile Chiron, a congenial and healing influence, especially for relationships.  It is a good day to combine the Arts with Healing, such as creativity which involves and brings about healing.

Chiron is Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde at 27 degrees Aries, on Wednesday (30^th), so a healing issue may crop up that day; 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.  If you know where you have Chiron Retrograde in your natal chart, you may be able to assess its greater significance.

There are two features to consider on Thursday (31^st), the first being Venus entering Cancer, which boosts family life and feelings, and applies more love and care towards other members of the family.  There could be memorable and sentimental occasions arising (Venus stays in Cancer until 25th August) such as family get togethers.  We need to be conscious about our emotional boundaries during this period.

Late on the same day, the Sun conjoins with Mercury at 9 degrees Leo.  That would be a good day generally to apply your mind with clarity, concentration and focus, and make important statements.  The focus may be on your own growth and potential and physical wellbeing.  Mentally you may see things clearly, if egocentrically.  Creatively, this is a very helpful conjunction: If you are writing a play, for instance, the perfect line could come to you.

In comes August, and we have two squares on the first of the month (a pinch and a punch…).  First up on Friday 1^st August, at lunchtime, Saturn squares Venus.  Maybe you are wrestling with a conundrum…Maybe you have felt let down by someone or you disappointed yourself in some way.  Forgiveness could be a solution, in that case.  Perhaps the way the changes are taking shape are not quite to your liking, but it is not too late to change them.  It may be about the way something looks, or the way something makes you feel, but some warmth of heart can make a difference.  Relationships need work, plus economies may need to be made.

This is followed in the evening by Neptune squaring Venus.  It could be socially confusing.  You could experience some mild paranoia, which could be soothed or alleviated by listening to old songs from a simpler time (music has become more complex over the years, to catch our interest).  Remember when life was simpler?  There may be a a sense of intrigue, involving relationship or money.  Maybe another political scandal…You need to look behind the illusion.  There could be uncertainty in the Arts or the world of Music.  You could experience frustrating flaws in creative works. Tread softly.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – congenial healing
• Wednesday – go over old healing ground
• Thursday – loving boost to family life; sparkling focus on creativity
• Friday – forgiveness a solution; social confusion

Fauja Singh (1911 – 2025)

“The first 20 miles are not difficult. As for last six miles, I run while talking to God.”

~ Fauja Singh

Fauja Singh, a British Indian marathon runner, died last Monday aged 114.  I was interested to investigate his birth chart.  The problem is, he did not have a birth certificate, though he claimed to have been born on 1^st April 1911.  So it was a challenge to authenticate this birth date, using important events in his life.  He was assumed to be the ninth oldest person on Earth.

I had an aunt who did not have a birth certificate.  She ended up choosing a birth date (strangely enough, mine), but knew her year of birth.  So all her life I had to work on the chosen date…I wonder if there is a resonance in a chosen birth date, even if it is not exact.

And what clues to longevity can we draw from Fauja’s life?  There is another Indian long lived runner (still alive) who also does not have a birth certificate.  I will take a brief look at his chart, too.  It’s a subject that caught my attention this week.

Birth Chart

With the Sun in Aries, straight away we have a high energy, high vitality chart.  On top of this, the chart has the Sun sextile Mars, bringing even more high energy.  If we have the exact day, Moon in Taurus provides stamina, then the Moon squaring Mars provides quick emotional reactions, also high energy.  All that may have been enough to show the record making marathon runs he undertook.

The Moon opposite Jupiter (if the day is exact) would have provided a positive emotional outlook:

“I go to bed early taking the name of my Rabba (God) as I don’t want all those negative thoughts crossing my mind.”

This chart has Mars exactly square Jupiter – over-the-top energy combined with enthusiasm (if so, it did him proud).  Mars was also square the Nodal Axis – a tremendous karmic drive, in this case for running.  Jupiter trine Neptune provided tremendous faith (in his case, Sikhism).  Jupiter was conjunct the South Node in this natal chart – good karma brought forward from past lives.  Saturn was sextile Chiron – strong for healing, e.g. for bones.

In terms of character and lifestyle, the chart is quite compelling for a long lived marathon runner.

Life

Fauja was born at Beas Pind, in Jalandhar, Punjab, at a time when birth certificates were not issued.  He did not walk until he was five years old, and his legs were thin and weak.  But as a young man he took up running.  This came to an end at the time of the Partition of India, in August 1947.

The character and talent of a marathon runner is consistent with his birth chart, but now through the events in his life, we can see if the transits and progressions match up as well.  The main transit to the chart in question at the time of Partition, was very telling:

Pluto, the life-changing (dwarf!) planet exactly opposed his natal ruling planet Mars (representing his energy) and squared his optimistic Jupiter, forming a T-square.  Pluto can also can point to a nationwide cause for the trauma.  So this event passes the test.

The next event that we know of that shaped his life was the death of his fifth son, Kuldip, in a construction accident in August 1994.  At the time, Uranus was square to his natal Mercury, if we are using the April 1911 chart: this would comprise a tremendous mental shock.  It apparently led to him taking up running again the following year, 1995, at the age of 84, which is extraordinary.  His progressed Sun would have trined his natal Chiron in Pisces at the time.

Other tragedies that fuelled his determination in that period were the deaths of his wife and his eldest daughter.  He came to live in England in the 1990s, living with one of his sons in Ilford.

He began to take up running seriously, and turned up for training at Redbridge dressed in a three-piece suit.  He ran his first marathon on 16^th April 2000, to very high energy transits.  Jupiter was sextile his natal Jupiter (great enthusiasm), Mars (his ruling planet) was sextile his natal Neptune (spiritual fire), and the South Node was on his Uranus (an unexpected development, karmically driven).  It seemed that this is what he was meant to do.

2003 was his personal best year, in two world events, the London Marathon and the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In 2004 he appeared in an Adidas advertisement with David Beckham and Muhammed Ali.  He broke many established records, especially in UK events, and especially for his age group.

His biography “Turbaned Tornado” was published on 7^th July 2011, to several positive transits, including Jupiter sextile his natal Chiron in Pisces, and the North Node (karmic reward) trine his natal Mercury (publication).

He was a torch bearer of the Olympic flame at the 2012 London Olympics, with Jupiter sextile his natal Sun (an honour).

He formally announced his retirement on 24^th February 2013, an event you would expect definitive transits.  The transits were amazingly fitting: Pluto trine his North Node, very consistent with the event; Uranus trine his Saturn, seeking a new direction; and Saturn exactly conjunct his South Node, very much consistent with the event.  Very much a sense of an ending.  He did, however, occasionally take part in events after this retirement, as people so often do!

He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2015 New Year Honours list for services to sport and charity.  Again, the transits come up trumps: Pluto sextile his natal Jupiter (a profound award); Neptune on his natal Chiron in Pisces (service to charity); Chiron trine his natal Jupiter (a healing award); Jupiter trine his natal Mercury (a recognition for running); and the North Node (karmic reward) trine his natal Mars (his ruling planet, representing the use of his energy).

I am very convinced that his birth date is accurate, or very close to being so, from the evidence.

His recipe for health and longevity:

“I am very careful about different foods. My diet is simple phulka, dal, green vegetables, yogurt and milk. I do not touch parathas, pakoras, rice or any other fried food. I take lots of water and tea with ginger….”

Dharampal Gudha

Dharampal Gudha is another Indian runner who claims to be the world’s oldest marathon runner at the age of 120. His claim to have been born on 6 October 1897 is disputed (more controversially than Fauja’s.  His chart doesn’t seem as “authentic” as Fauja’s for character and energy.  He ran his first marathon in 1970, and routinely rises at 4 a.m. and runs 4 kilometres daily.  He’s been the subject of a National Geographic documentary about his extraordinary running career.  That is not under dispute, but his birth date is, and I do not have any evidence that it is correct from the description of his lifestyle from his chart, and events in his life are not available to test the other set of evidence.  The only similarity between his chart and Fauja’s is that they both have Mars square to the Nodal Axis, their karmic mission being related to the expenditure of energy.

We can learn something from both men, from their recipes for health and longevity.  Apparently, he controls his diet, and has had a strict healthy lifestyle since childhood.  He credits his self-prepared chutney, mineral water and lemon juice.

“I eat a strict and balanced diet and have no illness. I stopped eating ghee and other fatty items almost 40 years ago, neither do I drink or smoke,” he has stated.  He has been a strict vegetarian since birth.

Death of Fauja Singh

Sadly Fauja Singh lost his life when visiting his birth place of Beas Pind, whilst crossing the road.  He was the victim of a hit and run by an SUV driver.  Strangely, of all the transits for his lifetime events, this was the least convincing.  My conclusion is that it would show up with a birth time, as a significant transit to one of the angles to the chart, or to the exact position of the Moon.  I do hope you found his life as enthralling as I have (as someone who only took up running at the age of 71)!

Longevity checklist derived from these two gentlemen:

[Especially for lovers of Indian food]

Do’s

Early bedtime

Connect with God

Think positively

Eat vegetarian!

Phulka [Phulkas also known as Roti or Chapati in some regions are a whole wheat soft and thin puffed flat bread]

Dal

Green vegetables

Yoghurt

Milk

Water

Mineral water with lemon juice

Ginger tea

Self-prepared chutney!

Don’ts

No alcohol

No smoking

Parathas

Pakoras

Rice

Fried food

Ghee

Fatty items

Aspects

Today, Mars conjuncts the South Node, a symbol of old karmic battles being fought.  Review the state of your Inner Warrior: it depends where you are with your own Inner Warrior…you may be in denial that you have one at all, you may be working on being a peaceful warrior or a warrior on behalf of women’s rights.    This may highlight one of the wars being fought on the globe, focussing on the karmic origins.  In personal lives, try to take the heat out of events, and choose the more peaceful option, I would say.

Tomorrow (Monday 21^st) it’s the turn of Venus to interact with the Moon’s Nodes, squaring them.  This aspect challenges us to take note of the karma of personal relationships, and group dynamics.  You may work with past life patterns, or present life practicalities.

The Sun bursts into its own sign of Leo on Tuesday (22^nd).  For many schoolchildren and workers, it is the start of holiday season, so have a good time.  Sun in Leo is about the expression of the human spirit, and that can be enjoyed whatever the weather.   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, if the weather is fine (the spate of heatwaves has left us for the time being). For those staying at home, it is about enjoying aspects of life and being, generally.  The weather forecast for the coming week is mixed:  possible thunderstorms, a lot of cloud, but Sun on Friday.  A lot of people complained about the heatwaves (time to press on with Net Zero), but even if you did, there may be some aspect you enjoyed and can keep within your heart, such as an outdoor activity or sunlit photographs.

The Sun sextiles Uranus on Wednesday (23^rd).  You can make this day count, in a spectacular way.  Spontaneity and innovation characterize the proceedings of the day.  Telepathy and higher consciousness, or liaising with a constructive group, are also favoured.  Mindblowing conversations can take place, and it’s a good day for reading out-of-this-world literature.

There is also a square, on that day, between Venus and Mars.  You may find that you feel inclined to let your hair down a little, inhibitions loosened.  This square may also have a bearing on the battle of the sexes (within, or interpersonal).  If you are creative on an artistic or musical vibe, you may introduce a little cheekiness into your work.

A stabilizing note is provided on Thursday (24^th) with a trine between the Sun and Saturn.  This enables the re-establishment of a foothold on reality, if that is what you might need.  It is a solid and productive aspect.  If you are engaged in creativity, it can help ensure that it works on a practical level.  It is also a good aspect for making plans and laying foundations, and counting your chickens.

Another trine occurring on the same day is that between the Sun and Neptune.  This is a more sparkling time, especially good for receiving creative inspiration, providing the champagne bubbles to the practicality of the previous trine.  Expand your consciousness, and allow your imagination to embellish your work, or project in hand.  Hope springs eternal.

This combination of trines highlights the current Saturn-Neptune conjunction, which for some people are constituting a bring-down a lot of the time.  Today’s combination provides the possibility of deriving something of benefit from the current Saturn-Neptune conjunction, and inspiration for how to handle it.  The conjunction becomes exact early next February.  People born under this conjunction (e.g. those born in 1953) have a heads-up, both for its more debilitating influences, and for knowing how to handle it.  Make the most of this opportunity.

A New Moon at 2 degrees Leo also greets us on that day, enabling us to make a fresh start.  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.

It’s important that you make the most of the tremendous resources of Thursday (24^th), because Friday (25^th) holds a profound challenge, in the shape of an opposition between Pluto and the Sun.  Something to grapple with, and put your new-found wisdom into practice with.  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.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – old battles
• Tomorrow – karmic relationships
• Tuesday – holiday mood
• Wednesday – mindblowing conversations; battle of the sexes
• Thursday – *Best day of the week: establishing foundations, incorporating inspiration, and new beginning(s)
• Friday – psychological challenges

Norman Tebbit (1931 – 2025)

“I grew up in the 1930s with an unemployed father.  He didn’t riot.  He got on his bike and looked for work and he kept looking until he found it.”

~ Norman Tebbit

Norman Tebbit, the often unpopular right hand man of Margaret Thatcher died this week, aged 94.  He was possibly headed for the top job, until the bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton changed the course of his life.

Birth Chart

Tebbit had the Sun in Aries, a sign which has no difficulty in promoting the “me first” political policies of his Prime Minister. Every sign has its strengths and weaknesses, and its negative and positive poles. But Aries doesn’t let anything stand in the way of getting things done.  Thatcher’s Britain came to embody selfishness and greed (for example, selling off council homes, a policy which still has repercussions to this day).  Margaret herself, however, was the opposite sign, Libra, which presents a conundrum.

I wrote about her in 2013:

“Looking at her chart, you would expect to see the Warrior Archetype featuring strongly.  This is not what I see (other Astrologers may).  What I see is the strength of the woman: She had Saturn (Discipline) almost exactly conjunct her Ascendant in Scorpio (she meant business), with the power hungry opposition of Jupiter and Pluto almost strategically placed on the 3^rd/9th House cusps supporting the Ascendant/Saturn.”

She was surrounded, however, by Aries henchmen, and that may have been a strong influence and source of strength.   But this blog is about Norman…

Norman’s Sun in Aries was part of a triple conjunction with Uranus and the North Node.  This denotes a powerful karmic mission.  His Warrior Archetype is reinforced in a big way with a close conjunction between his Moon and Mars – he was an Emotional Warrior!  That was the vehicle and tool for his rage.  His Moon was in Leo, emphasizing a love of power.  His Ascendant was in Capricorn (yes, we have his birth time), denoting a strong political ambition, squared by his Sun.  He also had Jupiter square Uranus (the Chancer Archetype), and Jupiter loosely conjunct Pluto (power hungry).  The trine between Jupiter and his Midheaven (Careerpoint) ensured a successful career. Uranus square Pluto, gave him the ability to absorb change and shock.  He also had Neptune closely trine his Ascendant, on the 9^th House cusp – showing that on the religious spectrum he was an agnostic.  When asked if God existed, he replied “I’m not sure. He ought to.  Things would work better.”

Life and Career

Tebbit was born in Ponder’s End, Middlesex into a working class family.  He attended Edmonton County Grammar School, then left school early and, hoping to become a journalist, found a job at 16 with the Financial Times.  He had joined the Young Conservatives at the age of 15.

In 1949 he embarked on national service with the Royal Air Force. In 1954 at Waterbeach he had to escape from a burning Meteor 8 which had crashed off the end of a runway.  The drama in his life may be connected with a square between Pluto and his Nodal Axis, in his natal chart.  Many years later it was discovered he had had long term cardiac arrhythmia, and he associated it with that incident: “The suspicion I had a heart problem caused me to puzzle over earlier incidents in my life…I suspect that, that morning, stressed from the previous day and having had little sleep, I lost consciousness on that take-off run.”  The cardiac arrhythmia may be a feature of his Sun squaring his Ascendant in his natal chart, or some of the aspects to his Sun.

He continued to work within publishing and advertising, and sought a career in politics, eventually being elected as MP for Epping in 1970, and then to Chingford in February 1974, where he remained until 1992.

He became involved with various disputes about unions, and clashed a great deal with Michael Foot.

Back to Thatcher: She became Leader of the Opposition on 11^th February 1975, to the surprise of many, with Jupiter (success) transiting her Uranus (surprise) in her 5^th House of Self-Expression, and she became the first female Prime Minister on 4^th May 1979.

Norman Tebbit served in her Cabinet from 1981 to 1987, initially at Employment, then Trade and Industry.  Later (1987), he became Chairman of the Conservative Party.

What of their synastry?  His Moon and Mars were exactly conjunct her North Node, a very karmic relationship, speaking of two from the same soul group, coming into incarnation with an agenda.  Her Venus was also exactly trine his Moon: an affectionate bond.

The Brighton Bombing

There were two Margarets in Norman Tebbit’s life.  His 7^th House of Marriage and Close Relationships was one of two heavily populated areas of his birth chart.  In this 7^th House he had Jupiter, Pluto, and Mars in Cancer, and the Moon in Leo, so he was both powerful in relationship, but also in the company of strong women (Moon conjunct Mars).  Mars and Pluto were 11 degrees apart in the same sign, which is not strictly a conjunction, but clearly shows strong arm tactics.

The synastry between himself and the long, strong and loyal bond with his wife included: her Pluto opposite his Saturn (life-changing); her Mercury exactly sextile his North Node/Uranus (a bright mental companionship); her Venus exactly conjunct his Mercury (good communication); her North Node exactly sextile his natal Uranus (the ability to surprise each other); and her Uranus square his natal Mars (a considerable spark).  They had three children together.

On 12^th October 1984 the Conservative Party Conference was being held in Brighton, and at 2.54 a.m. the IRA detonated a bomb at the Grand Hotel where the delegates were staying.  Norman himself fell through four floors.

His transits at the time included: Pluto squared his natal Moon in 7^th House (his wife being seriously injured), Chiron sextiled his natal Sun in Aries (he was saved from a crisis), Saturn was opposite his natal Chiron (a serious crisis), and the North Node sextile his natal Mars (bravery).  When asked if he was allergic to anything as he was being rescued, he replied “Only bombs”.

For his wife Margaret, who sustained life-changing injuries, Uranus was square to her natal Neptune, and Chiron was also square to her Neptune, forming a T-square.

For PM Margaret, the Nodal Axis was square to her natal Moon (a crisis of wider implications), and Neptune was trine her natal Moon – being saved caused her to exclaim the next day “…It just occurred to me that this was the day I was not meant to see!”.

Later years

Although he stayed in government for a few years after the bombing, when it became clear that Margaret Thatcher was about to leave the top job, he had to make a decision, whether or not to enter the competition for that position.  With strong Cardinal signs (Aries and Capricorn) and a strongly aspected Sun, he certainly had a strong chart for leadership. But he had promised his wife Margaret he would look after her, and needed to earn money to pay for his wife’s long-term care, and curtailed his ambition for these reasons.  This he was able to do by accepting directorships, but it remained a long term regret that he did not fulfil his potential in the political domain.  It is worth noting that although he had made her a promise, she too gave him the freedom to change his mind.  However, in making the choice he did, he was probably fulfilling his karmic obligations and possibly also softening his character, and I suspect he was honouring a pre-birth contract.

“Tough, articulate and trustworthy”

~ Margaret Thatcher

Aspects

Were you awake at 4 o’clock this morning?  I was.  Perhaps you were reacting to Stationary Saturn prior to turning Retrograde.  I just had to go downstairs and have a cup of tea to re-set.  Turning inward for contemplation is one of the requirements of a retrograde period.  That entails going through a period of revision: often with Saturn, it is a lesson all about patience and timing, and one of those lessons is that you can’t rush things.

There is space for two Fixed Stars in the middle of the week:

For Tuesday 15^th, Pollux (one of the Gemini twins).  According to “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld:

“When we refer to thought, it is very difficult to define these terms in ways in which individuals can separate this from what you would call mind chatter or even thought addiction.  We are referring to the energies that precede the actual process of electrical activity.  These are often energies of magnificent and beautiful inspiration.  These are generally lost to most individuals.  Pollux can enhance the process of absorbing a little more of this, making it a little more practical, and accepting that this is all right for yourself.”

Bernadette Brady, in “Fixed Stars” writes:

“Castor and Pollux are probably not about writing itself, or the urge to write, but, rather, successful storytelling by one who has a knowledge of mixing good and evil, overlapping them until both are changed and whole.  Writers who can do this will be successful.”

On, to Thursday 17^th, when our Sun is aligned with the star Procyon in Canis Minoris.  Again from “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld:

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

Mercury goes Retrograde on Friday 18^th, in the early hours of the morning (should you wake, you’ll know why!).  Most people will see this as an alert to take good care of their communications for the three-week period.  A cheerier picture is provided by Yasmin Boland and Kim Farnell in “The Mercury Retrograde Book” for Mercury Retrograde in Leo:

“This is a time for playful creativity; let your ideas take their course, wherever they lead you.  You can’t control what’s going on around you, so there’s no point trying.  This time can be quite restful and will allow you to fully focus on your creativity (instead of the applause!).  For this reason, the retrograde can also be a very good time to go back to a creative project you worked on a while back but abandoned.”

But in the early afternoon, we have a very pleasurable sextile between Mercury and Venus, to round off the week’s aspects.  It is a harmonious and social vibe; a moment to savour, in the now, a combination that aims to please.  This favours conversation, and creative forms which combine art and writing.  There is potential for negotiation in diplomatic efforts (hopefully helping peace efforts, though it is not a major aspect, so baby steps), and affinity and agreement between kindred spirits.  Ideal for cafe or soiree (extending to the evening) culture.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – turning inward for contemplation
• Tuesday – aligning thought
• Thursday – absorbing healing energy
• Friday – communication glitches; social harmony

Wimbledon 2025 – Week 2

Well we lost a lot of top seeds last week: …Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev among them!  The top seeds, Alyna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner look unassailable. Aryna got through the hostility of the crowd towards her by imagining they were cheering for her instead of Emma Raducanu.  Sinner has not dropped a set.

Here are the next four Women’s and Men’s Seeds:

Women’s Seeds

No. 7 – Mirra Andreeva

Russian, born in 2007, she is one of the youngest players.  She has the Sun in Taurus and the Moon in Libra, so is very Venusian. We do not have her birth time, and it seems her Moon may possibly be unaspected, which could mean she can detach her emotions.  But her Mercury trine Pluto indicates a deep thinker.  Her ruling planet Venus is heavily aspected and accented, and exactly trines Neptune, which means she is artistically gifted and could make for some artistic tennis shots.  She has Mars closely square Jupiter (energy allied with enthusiasm), Mars exactly conjunct Uranus (electrical energy with the power of surprise) and Mars conjunct the North Node (Warrior karmic mission, with Uranus – showing up the Activist Archetype).  In addition, she has Jupiter exactly trine Saturn – excellent judgement: her cup is neither too full nor empty – a sense of realism, good for decision-making and weighing things up.  Jupiter closely square Uranus equals The Chancer Archetype, so she doesn’t mind taking a risk.

Her transits Mid-Wimbledon are lacklustre, but something has got her through to here.  If she manages to slip through the radar, her transits for the end of Wimbledon show Jupiter in sextile with her natal Sun, an excellent sign.

No. 8 – Iga Swiatek

I wrote in 2021:

“Swiatek hails from Poland, and has an unusual Element pattern in her chart: 7 planets in Air (Intellect), 0 in Earth and 0 in Water.  With Sun in the adaptable sign of Gemini, she also has 6 planets in Mutable (adaptable) signs – and by all accounts she likes to bring variety into her game.  Her Sun is conjunct Saturn, and so she also has an element of caution and planning in her game; apparently she “constructs points carefully”.

Since I wrote that, her birth time has come to light.  This reveals: an Ascendant of Gemini clothed by a conjunction of the Sun and Saturn.  This means her personality is focussed by her carefully constructed planning.

She says “the ball listens to her”, which is an intriguing phrase.  She also revealed in her interview after the last match that she “has a busy mind”: plenty of evidence for that in her chart with double Gemini (Sun and Ascendant), Mercury in Gemini (monkey mind) plus Saturn and Jupiter also in Gemini.

Her transits Mid- Wimbledon show:

Pluto is on her Midheaven in Aquarius in her 8^th House and has been in the first week.  Pluto is powerful, if it is on your side, or if you have mastery of it.  Chiron trines her exact natal Chiron/Mars conjunction in her 7^th House, so she has her healing act together, for her own personal wounds.  Jupiter is close to her North Node in 1^st House.  Remarkable transits!

End of Wimbledon transits for her:

She still has Chiron trine her exact natal Chiron/Mars conjunction in her 7^th House; Pluto is still on her Midheaven in Aquarius in her 8^th House, though on the wane as it is Retrograde; Jupiter extremely close to exactly conjunct her North Node in 1^st House; but Mars squares her Pluto: a danger point around 11/12^th  (the Friday/Saturday) July mark, around the semi-finals perhaps, or even at the final itself.  Maybe that means getting to the final but not quite achieving the win.  But she has the best transits so far, that I have seen.  Maybe she can beat Sabalenko, if anyone can.

No. 9 – Emma Navarro

Emma was born 13 days before Iga Swiatek in the same year, but we have no birth time.

Like Swiatek, she has the Sun conjunct Saturn (caution and planning).  Like Swiatek, she has Mars conjunct Chiron (a core wound that needs to be healed).  With the Sun square Uranus, she’s a bit of a rebel.  She has Mercury conjunct Jupiter, a fine wide-ranging mind which may be an asset in evaluating the geography of the court.  She has Mercury trine Uranus, a brilliant mind at times, with the ability to think outside the box.  Venus exactly trine Pluto means that she is not shallow in relationship.  And Jupiter opposing Pluto indicates she has a “thing” with power.

Middle of Wimbledon Transits:

Pluto is trine her natal Saturn (good, steady, powerful work); and Chiron trine her natal Chiron (like Swiatek, she has her healing act together).  Although born only nearly two weeks apart from Swiatek, her transits at the moment, while good, are not as spectacular as Swiatek’s.

End of Wimbledon Transits:

Chiron will still be trine her natal Chiron, and Jupiter will be close to her natal North Node, but not as close as for Swiatek.

All in all, a reasonable set of transits, but not as compelling as Swiatek’s.

No.13 – Amanda Anisimova

Amanda is scheduled to play this afternoon, against Noskova at 16.20 Hrs.

I wrote in 2022:

“Amanda Anisimova is a Virgo Sun sign, an unusual sign for a tennis player, but of course a sign which pays attention to detail and has perfectionistic standards.  Her focus is widened by having Jupiter closely sextile her Sun.  Mercury squares Mars, so she can get quite tense at times.  Mars sextile Uranus in her chart can produce some enthralling shots.”

For Mid-Wimbledon her transits are: 

Neptune and Saturn squaring her Nodal Axis (difficulty; but something she played through in the last week); Chiron trine her natal Mars (again, this has seen her through from the beginning of Wimbledon, but this is a supportive influence); Mars dangerously squaring her natal Pluto, which peaks on Wednesday 9^th, so may get knocked out around then; Uranus trine her natal Mercury, operable from the beginning of Wimbledon, has got her thus far, gifting her an exceptionally bright mind.

At the end of Wimbledon:

Neptune and Saturn will still be square her Nodal Axis; Uranus still trines her natal Mercury; Mars squares her natal Saturn, becoming exact on 11/12^th, which may indicate being knocked out at the semi-finals, or getting to the final and losing.

On the other hand, she has Jupiter approaching 2 Planets: it Sextiles her Sun on 15 July, just after Wimbledon, and she has a Jupiter Return on 23^rd July, so there is personal happiness or good times following Wimbledon for her to look forward to.

So I am not putting her forward as the eventual winner: my money is on Swiatek, in the event that Sabalenka falters.

Men’s Seeds

The men’s seeds have not been decimated as badly as the women’s!

No.5 – Taylor Fritz

I wrote in 2022:

“Taylor Fritz is another maverick, like Jannik Sinner, with Uranus exactly square his Sun in  Scorpio.  His Sun is also conjunct Chiron, so he is a problem-solver, too.  He has a wide-ranging mind, with Jupiter square Mercury, and enjoys foreign travel.  Mars trine Saturn is good for precision shots, and Jupiter sextile Saturn helps balanced judgements and decision making.  There is also an entrepreneurial conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in his chart, in the sparky sign of Aquarius, so he may be a whizz with technology.”

His Mid Wimbledon Transits show:

Taylor has Chiron square his natal Neptune (a confusing time); the Nodal Axis is square his natal conjunction of Mars and Venus, a condition earlier in the tournament which doesn’t seem to have done him any harm); Jupiter will be trine his natal Chiron around 11^th July (semi-finals), so that may be his peak.

At the End of Wimbledon:

Chiron will still be squaring his Neptune; the Nodal Axis will be exactly squaring his natal Mars (possibility of injury).

I would rule Taylor out of the final, but he might make the semi-final.

No.6 – Novak Djokovic

“…For all that his tennis can seem brilliantly mechanical and his words can sound scripted, he is a genuinely emotional man.  He loves what he does, and he wants to be loved.”

~ Kevin Mitchell, in the Guardian

I wrote last week under comments:

“It is true that Djokovic has a great deal going for him transitwise. Here are his starting transits:-

Neptune sextile his natal Sun (feeling quite spiritual)
Saturn sextile his natal Sun (feeling quite controlled)
Saturn square his natal Mars (a bit hazardous, injurywise)
Jupiter square his natal Moon (emotionally quite upbeat)
Mars sextile his natal Pluto (supercharged energy)
Mars trine his natal Venus (enjoying what he is doing)
Uranus on his Sun (capable of stunning success)

I don’t think he needs much more!

At the end of Wimbledon:

Neptune still sextile his Sun
Uranus still on his Sun, but closer (bodes well)
Saturn still sextile Sun
Saturn still square his Mars
Jupiter trine his natal Pluto (successful and powerful)
Nodal Axis square his natal Chiron (the outcome depends on his karma and on healing any physical issues)

So, yes, he is a real contender! At least for reaching the final.”

No.10 – Ben Shelton

In January 2025 I wrote:

“Ben is a Libran, with a focussed and perfectionistic conjunction of Mercury and Mars in Virgo.  Jupiter is currently on his natal North Node, bringing him karmic reward for past efforts.”

Mid Wimbledon he has:

Mars squaring his Nodal Axis (possibility of injury)

At the End of Wimbledon:

Mars square his natal Venus (a comparatively minor transit, but supportive of elegant moves);

And Mars square his natal Pluto (dangerous!), becoming exact at the final, if he gets there.

That’s a very meagre set of transits, so I don’t think he is going to nail it.

No.11 – Alex de Minaur

For Alex, I first wrote in 2020:

“De Minaur is an Aquarian, with the speed and agility of a close trine between Mercury and Mars, and the unpredictability of Mars square Uranus.  He has no Earth planets, which may make him ungrounded at times”.

He is engaged to Katie Boulter.  As Aquarius and Leo, they are opposite signs and can complement each other.  They both have Moon in Pisces, a common sympathy. His Mercury is sextile with her Jupiter, so they have good communication.  His Pluto is trine her Sun, so not a superficial relationship.  Good luck to them!

Meanwhile…at Mid-Wimbledon Alex has:

Pluto sextile his natal Chiron (a deep sense of certainty)

Uranus is sextile his natal Jupiter (a sign of Success)

Saturn/Neptune sextile his natal Neptune; Saturn/Neptune trine his natal Chiron – it’s looking good!  The current Saturn/Neptune conjunction is giving some people grief, but is actually benefitting  Alex de Minaur.

In addition, Jupiter is applying to a trine to his natal Mars, which perfects on Finals Day!

Mars was square his natal Pluto yesterday, a point of danger, but he got through.

At the End of Wimbledon:

Pluto will still be sextile his natal Chiron; Saturn/Neptune will still be sextile his natal Neptune and trine his natal Chiron; Uranus will still be sextile his natal Jupiter; and as mentioned, Jupiter will be trine his natal Mars, to the day.

You couldn’t wish for better transits, but does the astrology tell you everything you need to know…?

Therefore, my two tips from these eight are Swiantek and De Minaur.  Not necessarily the most obvious choices, but what is the point of going for the obvious?

There are still some exciting players left in the draw that I haven’t yet looked at, and I may get the chance to do so during the course of the week.  Keep the comments coming!

Aspects

At breakfast-time this morning Venus was sextile Saturn, which is a constructive aspect, a re-affirmation of where you are going, especially in terms of relationship, or art.  In the realm of human relations, it is about steadiness and loyalty: cementing commitment.

That is followed this afternoon by Venus sextile Neptune, which can bring soothing waves of serenity, which hopefully you may build on from the earlier aspect.  People may become more into tune with each other.  New artistic avenues may flourish.

Tomorrow (Monday 7^th) is the main event of the week: the entry of Uranus into Gemini.  It’s a new era (step 5 in this year’s changes), bringing innovation in thought, which can be initially perplexing.  Uranus spends 7 years in one sign.  Science and technology are going to advance exponentially…we are of course seeing it in the explosion of Artificial Intelligence.  If you have planets at the beginning of Gemini you will be especially affected over the course of the next year, but it can bring some surprise revelations and talents to the fore in your life and personality.  You’ll need to be on your mettle if you are a cautious type, but roll with the punches if you are a person that embraces change.

There is a trine between Venus and Pluto as well on that day. It is a profound but likely successful trine between Venus and Pluto.  This aspect can settle your deepest feelings into a more comfortable psychological context.  It helps us through changes and transformations on a human level.  Venus in harmony with Pluto benefits both love and money.

Thursday (10^th) brings a Full Moon at 18 degrees Capricorn.  This Moon represents the pull between authority and individual needs.  If you feel that part of your frustration is coming from the power wielded by authorities, then this may be your Full Moon issue.  Many people are feeling angry and frustrated by the current political climate, and may need to focus on what they can do for themselves at this point in time.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – loyalty and serenity
• Monday – a new era, very sparky! And deep feelings
• Thursday – emotional high tide

Wimbledon 2025 – Week 1

Here we are again, favourite season for some!  Last year was my best ever for Wimbledon predictions, I surprised myself.  At the same time, I have to own the fact that my results for predicting other tournaments are average – I think that’s down to involvement.

I’ve always loved tennis, and this season reminds me so much of our one and only jaunt to the place (that’s Hubby and me).  We went in 1975 and saw many of the greats of that time.  It was a heatwave, like it is now, and as we recall we consumed several ice lollies!  It must be very different nowadays, and people have already been queuing overnight for tickets to Centre Court.  We were content with our No. 2 Court at the time!  Then there were the many years I worked in offices, unable to watch Wimbledon…until retirement.

As usual, I will start by analysing the first four women’s and men’s seeds, and be commentating as we go along the first week depending on what I manage to watch.

Women’s Seeds

No. 1 – Aryna Sabalenka

We do not have a birth time for her.  I wrote in 2021:

“Six foot tall, and born in Belarus, she has Sun/Mars in Taurus, which could provide stamina, drive and strong will (apparently she has an aggressive style of play).  The high powered conjunction is square to Uranus, an erratic and electrical energy which could catch out her opponents in its unpredictability, and interrupt their flow.  With Venus exactly sextile Neptune she may be very artistic or musical.  Mars sextile Jupiter brings energy allied with enthusiasm.  Mars exactly opposite Chiron forming a square with Uranus may make her prone to injury.  Pluto exactly square the Nodal Axis could bring drama in her life from time to time.  She has chosen the Tiger as her animal totem, sporting a tattoo of the animal on her left arm.”

At the start of Wimbledon, her transits are:-

Neptune sextile her natal Neptune (spiritually in tune); Chiron on her natal Saturn (a health challenge); Mars on her natal North Node (in fighting spirit)

At the end of Wimbledon, her transits will be:-

Pluto on her natal Neptune (a psychological challenge); Neptune still sextile her Neptune, but exact to the day (tip top spiritually); Saturn on her natal Venus, her ruling planet (perhaps some disappointment); Jupiter sextile her North Node (often a winning transit, especially if a karmic reward; Mars trine her natal Sun/Mars conjunction (energy and warrior spirit).

From this I gather she could be in the final.  However, I feel she has some hairy moments along the way, some personal difficulties to surmount.

No. 2 – Coco Gauff

“I definitely had to tell myself to stay calm, I had to remind myself that the lines are the same lines, the courts are the same size and after every point I told myself ‘stay calm’.”

~ Coco Gauff

We also do not have a birth time for this American player.  She won the French Open this year, and seeks to maintain a strong presence for Wimbledon.

Coco is Sun Pisces, sextile dynamic Mars (the Warrior Archetype). Sun in Pisces is the sign traditionally associated with genius or progidy, and she made her mark when very young.  She also has a dramatic streak (Sun exactly square Pluto).  Her karma is complex, or variable, with Jupiter trine closely North Node (favourable karma) and Neptune exactly square the Nodal Axis (confused karma).

At the start of Wimbledon, her transits are:-

Neptune on her Mercury (mentally confused); Jupiter sextile her natal Uranus (success but with the transit on the wane); Nodal Axis squaring her Pluto

At the end of Wimbledon, her transits will be:-

Retrograde Pluto sextile her Mercury (mental resilience); Neptune still on her Mercury (mentally confused plus the resilience); Saturn on her natal Mercury (mentally focussed and/or downcast); Jupiter on her natal Saturn (some encouragement)

This doesn’t look like an overall encouraging picture for Coco.  At the end of Wimbledon especially she is likely to have too much on her mind.  Monday 7^th with Jupiter actually transiting her natal Saturn looks like her best day, if she makes it until then, that may be the peak of her performance or thereabouts.

No. 3 – Jessica Pegula

We also do not have a birth time for this player, who, like Coco Gauff the No. 2, is American.

In 2022, I wrote:

“The emphasis in Jessica’s chart is on the signs Aquarius and Pisces, so she could appear otherworldly.  She would be fiercely competitive, with the Moon in Leo in an emotional way (with half her planets in Water signs, too).  She has a serious nature, with the Sun conjunct Saturn.  She is strong willed and stubborn, with half her planets in Fixed Signs.  With the Sun exactly opposite Chiron, she may at times have healing crises, but may also be good at problem-solving.  Mercury conjunct Mars gives her very quick mental reactions.  She can handle complexity, with Uranus conjunct Neptune (a feature of her birth year, 1994).  And last but not least, she has a profound karmic mission, with Pluto exactly conjunct her North Node in Scorpio.”

At the start of Wimbledon, her transits are:-

Chiron sextile her natal Mercury (could pull off some stunning problem-solving)

At the end of Wimbledon, her transits will be:-

Chiron still sextiles her natal Mercury (could still pull off some stunning problem-solving).  This transit peaks 9/10^th July (Chiron ephemerides vary) so she will be super-focussed at that time;

Jupiter will be sextile her natal Chiron, but on the wane.  That healing benefit will peak on 6/7^th July.  So 6^th to 10^th July may see her at her peak in the tournament.  12/13^th July (around the time of the women’s final) Mars opposes her natal Venus, so she may not be doing so well if she is still playing at that stage.

Overall, I don’t see Jessica’s transits as being a winning bunch (actually, they are quite thin on the ground).  But she could last until the later stages.

No. 4 – Jasmine Paolini

At last, a player with a birth time!  Jessica was born in Italy, and has a Libran Ascendant (a fitting sign for a tennis player).  She also has the Moon conjunct her Midheaven in Cancer at the top of her chart, also very fitting for a tennis player.  Libra and Cancer are both sensitive in response.

I wrote last year:

“She is a real Capricorn, ambitious and persevering, with Jupiter, the Sun, Neptune/Mars and Uranus all in that sign.”

At the start of Wimbledon, her transits are:-

Uranus trine her natal Uranus in 4^th (sudden success; Jupiter on her natal Moon in 10^th House (of Career), but just leaving;

So far so good, but then we have Pluto on her Mercury in her 5^th House (of Sport) – a testing; Chiron square her natal Mars in 4^th House (the danger of injury); and Saturn square her natal Midheaven in 10^th House (a career struggle).

A mixed bag, and it depends if she can play on if she does have an injury of sorts.

At the end of Wimbledon, her transits will be:-

Pluto still on her Mercury, which will be exact on 5^th July, possibly her most intense time; Neptune square her Moon/Midheaven, creating uncertainty; Neptune sextile her natal Mercury in 5^th House, some creativity and inspiration; Chiron still square her natal Mars, but turning retrograde before it becomes exact.

These are not winning transits, but even if she does incur an injury it may still allow her to play – just not to shine at her best, I feel.

Of these four, I think Aryna has the best chance of reaching the final, and Jessica may reach the semi-final.  I will be looking at other players as we go along.

Men’s Seeds

No. 1 – Jannik Sinner

We do have a birth time for Italian Sinner, giving him a Gemini Ascendant.

I wrote in 2022:

“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.”

He has, of course, been the subject of scandal and censure this year.  On 20 August 2024, he tested positive for the banned substance clostebol.  Chiron was trine his natal Sun in 3^rd House at the time; a correction.  Saturn was also trine his natal Venus; a serious personal note. Jupiter was trine his Midheaven (Careerpoint), usually also favourable.  He had Mars opposite his natal Mars (conflict), however.  And the Nodal Axis (karma) squared his natal Moon in 1^st House.  Eventually, he was cleared, so perhaps the event was not so damaging, but it did not boost his popularity.

At the start of Wimbledon, his transits are:-

Jupiter just leaving his natal North Node and a sextile with his Mercury (a recent boost);

Mars sextile his natal Jupiter in 1^st House (he’ll be enthusiastic); and the Nodal Axis will be square to his Chiron (there may be an area of discomfort, or strange karma, perhaps the residue of his sanctions).

At the end of Wimbledon, his transits will be:-

Jupiter just leaving its Return.  This is spot on around 10^th/11^th July, which may be his highest point (the semi-finals?).

He may be tipped to win, but astrologically there is not a lot of evidence for that.

No. 2 – Carlos Alcaraz

We are also blessed with Spaniard Alcaraz’ birth time, giving him an Ascendant of Aquarius.  Like Sinner, I first wrote about him in 2022:

“He has half his planets in the Fixed signs, and is therefore strong willed and stubborn.  He is a Taurean (a sign of great stamina), with his Sun caught in a T-square with an opposition between Mars and Jupiter.  He has plenty of energy and enthusiasm, but may struggle to balance them sometimes.  Saturn trine Uranus gives him strength and some adaptablity to counteract the Fixity.”

They have both done extremely well in the last three years, and Alcaraz has just won the French Open (beating Sinner in the final) and Queens.  He is definitely on a winning streak! Carlos will be playing with Emma Raducanu in the mixed doubles – a delightful prospect!

At the start of Wimbledon, his transits are:-

Uranus will be heading for his North Node, building excitement towards surprise and success.

Chiron will be sextile his natal Saturn (great resilience); the Nodal Axis will be square his natal Moon in 5^th House (of Sport) – he may feel slightly out of sorts, maybe with the heat.

At the end of Wimbledon, his transits will be:-

Uranus will be on his North Node.  Nodal ephemeris positions vary, but this is exact around 17/18^th July, which is just after Wimbledon.

These are hardly convincing transits, so looking at his triumphs at Roland Garros and Queens:

For Roland Garros, he had Uranus on his I.C. in the 4^th House (he pulled out a massive surprise at the end); Saturn was sextile his natal North Node (he was karmically on point), Chiron was already sextile his natal Saturn; and the Nodal Axis was square his Moon (a popular win).

For his success at Queens:

Transits as for the beginning of Wimbledon

So Carlos’ transits are not marginally better for Wimbledon than they were for his recent two wins, nor worse.  We cannot count him out, and certainly he will have the crowd rooting for him, which counts for something.

No. 3 – Alexander Zverev

German Alexander Zverev also has a birth time provided, although I wrote back in 2017 before I had a birthtime for him:

“His Sun is right at the beginning of Taurus, and he has 0 Water planets (so may not be so emotional) and half his planets in Earth so is practical.  He is sensitive, though, with Neptune exactly square his Sun, and Chiron exactly opposite his Sun.  He has Mercury conjunct Venus, which may give him writing or diplomatic abilities.  With Mercury exactly square Uranus, he is not afraid to be controversial…. Neptune trines his North Node, so he has a spiritual side.  With Neptune square his Chiron he may be impossibly idealistic (as well as practical).  An intriguing young man.”

His birth time reveals a Scorpio Ascendant with Pluto rising (a formidable combination!).  Though older than the other three top seeds, he obviously has staying power.  Mars is conjunct his Midheaven, giving him a great deal of drive when it comes to his career, too.

At the start of Wimbledon, his transits are:-

Uranus trine his natal Neptune (skill at handling complexity); and Mars trine his natal Mercury (quickness of reflexes).

Chiron also squares his Nodal Axis (health and safety need to be looked at).  Jupiter will be sextile his Part of Fortune, giving him extra zest.

At the end of Wimbledon, his transits will be:-

Jupiter sextile his natal Mercury (a mental success).  This comes on 14/15^th July, the immediate two days after Wimbledon.  Could he be basking in a recent win?  Or a sense of freedom?

He is also close to a Mars Return (a little later, the 16/17^th July).  Could he just be enjoying the break?  Or would that Return have given him extra oomph?

Chiron will be on his 6^th House cusp; again he will be needing to attend to health matters.

Generally, providing health concerns are minor, the Jupiter transit could spell success, surprisingly as he is the “oldie” among the four (though the Women’s 3^rd and 4^th Seeds are both older than him).

No. 4 – Jack Draper

Our very own…[pause for a warm sigh].  It’s been a while since we had a British player in the top four.

I am tempted to just say “the home crowd will see him through to the end”!  But I mustn’t let my hear overrule the astrological picture…

I first wrote about him in March this year:

“His Sun is in the first degree of Capricorn, so he is quite dogged and persevering.  His Sun is exactly conjunct Chiron, so he has healing capacity and problem-solving ability.  Both his parents are tennis players.”

To which I would add his exact sextile between Mercury and Mars would be useful in conferring excellent speed and co-ordination in any sport.  Also, he has extraordinary energy, which he has had to learn to harness, from Mars square Pluto.  Casper Ruud has said of him:

“You’re scared of his forehand because he rips it cross, rips it down the line.  You’re also, in a way, scared of his backhand because he can rip and counter from that side as well.  So there aren’t many holes in his game that I see or that I feel.”

He has never got past the second round at Wimbledon, possibly through nerves.  But he did well at Queens, and was beaten in the semi-finals, after which he revealed he had been battling tonsillitis the last few days.

What was going on in his chart at that time?  Chiron was trine his natal Venus (throat), but it also may explain why he was able to perform well despite the tonsillitis.  We do not have a birth time for Jack, so can’t put it into the context of his life area.  But natally Chiron is an important asteroid for him, being exactly conjunct his natal Sun, so by transit it also counts highly.  Neptune was squaring his natal Chiron, too, which may have been the infection itself.

At the start of Wimbledon, his transits are:-

Chiron sextile his natal North Node in Gemini (supportive/supported).  This, favourable, transit will probably peak around 4^th July.  It is difficult to pinpoint because Chiron ephemerides vary.

Saturn square his natal Chiron, but this is waning (it was strongly affecting, adversely, during Roland Garros, which may explain why he didn’t do so well there)

At the end of Wimbledon, his transits will be:-

Chiron will still be sextile his North Node, but waning.

Mars will be squaring his natal Pluto, which is explosive!  It peaks the day after Wimbledon, which, as for Zverev in his transit line-up, is close enough to the final to speak of.  Normally, I would caution against injury for Mars squaring natal Pluto, but considering he has Mars square Pluto natally, and it is part of his toolkit (hard-earned) – see the above quote from Casper Ruud – it may be that it is the making of him at the final, rather than the breaking of him.  It’s an intriguing thought.  If so, he will have us on the edge of our seats.

So, surprisingly, at this stage, I would favour Zverev and Draper for the final, though that may be a risky choice on my part!

Look out for more updates under comments, and next week I will comment specifically on the next four Women’s and Men’s Seeds, from whoever are left!

Aspects 

At breakfast-time this morning, Pluto opposed Mercury, which can bring mental storm clouds.  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.  It would probably describe Keir Starmer’s state of mind this morning, with the papers full of his three U-turns and hostility from all quarters (even Glastonbury).

We can slip in a Fixed Star for Tuesday (1^st July), as the aspects don’t re-appear until Friday.

The Fixed Star Alhena at 8 degrees Cancer will be aligned with our Sun on that day.

Taking a reading from “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld:

“This star appears to offer individuals the ability to rapidly change modes of thought and to shift context.  This will give them the ability to see things in a whole new way and to utilize the information from a new perspective or to change their minds in a way that is appropriate for their own development.  This may mean seeing several sides of an issue in a genuinely touching way that really brings consciousness to the situation, which makes it helpful in the decision-making process.  Use of this star …will stimulate the chakras in the feet.”

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

And on to Friday (4^th July), we have a timetable:

12.45 Hrs – Venus conjunct Uranus

It is a vibrant social aspect, which may carry an element of serendipity.  People may question your sanity, however, or you theirs.  And it is not a good time for taking financial risks.  It occurs at 29 degrees Taurus, and also aligns with the Pleiades, if you inclined to work with the Seven Sisters out there.

15.31 Hrs – Venus enters Gemini

While Venus may have loved being in the comfort zone of her own sign, she is being required to take on the role of social butterfly while in Gemini.  Keeping communication going, and adding the warmth of companionship, will be her job here.  Venus in Gemini can do the small talk, any chit chat will do, it doesn’t have to be profound.

21.35 Hrs – Neptune Stationary prior to turning Retrograde

Don’t procrastinate or even leave things till later in the day, for in the evening Neptune is Stationary prior to turning Retrograde, representing some retracing of steps on our spiritual path.  It has been direct since December last year, so you may have been inspired at that time by a new spiritual area opening up. Now is the time to consolidate on what you have learned, put it into practice, and walk your talk.  Neptune goes direct again this December.  This retrograde turn may re-emphasize issues related to the ocean, and ongoing mysteries.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – tricky communications
• Tuesday – shifting context
• Friday – social vibrancy; social butterflies; spiritual re-evaluation

Cancerian Archetypes

I am writing about the Cancerian Archetypes today, even though we have only just experienced the crossing of the Sun into Cancer in the Summer Solstice, because the next two weeks will be taken up by writing about Wimbledon.  This is the sixth of my new series specifically on astrological Archetypes.  It is time to embrace the potential of this sign, turning the spotlight on its Archetypes.  It’s the peak of the light and we have had a heatwave these last few days, record-breaking temperatures!  A reminder that we need to work on net zero, on behalf of Mother Earth.

A few words about Cancerians: they are associated with tides and rhythms, together with their ruler the Moon.  That also links them with nocturnal life and creatures.  Above all, they resonate with the divine feminine.

So, following, are some thoughts I highlighted back in my 2015 blog, and then some examples of Cancerians and their Archetypes, including from history:

“Inner Child

According to Caroline Myss, she sees four core Archetypes which are with each person, and one of these four is the Inner Child.  The Inner Child is a force which is very much a part of new age work, witness the popularity of the books by John Bradshaw on the subject.

Another new age leader who makes the Inner Child central to her work and vision is Chris Griscom of the Light Institute in Galisteo, New Mexico.  I could quote her all day, and frequently do, but will make do with one quote for now:

“A child is naturally a being of wonderment, a being that experiences lightness, who does not hold pain.  The child’s frequency is too high to hold those darker, heavier emotions, even when the external world begins to impinge upon the child with adult imprints that the child records as anxiety, fear, anger.  The natural state is to let go, to constantly let go, because the child lives in the brain patterning of the hologram.  The child does not have that left-brain imprint in glue.”

Caroline Myss details several varieties of Inner Child:

The Eternal Child

The Orphan

The Wounded Child

The Divine Child

The Nature Child

The Magical Child

She hints of many more, but says that “you can only have one in your support team”!

I have also spotted one, and that is the “Performing Child”, as encouraged by pushy parents, and that is a combination of a Cancerian and Leo Archetype.

Whatever your own Inner Child Archetype, it is essential to stay in touch with it.

The Mother

The Mother Goddess is central to the sign of Cancer.  Of all the Goddesses, Mother Mary is the most intrinsic.  But in her virginal side, she has joint rulership with the sign of Virgo.

The Caregiver

In her 2013 book, Caroline Myss presents 10 new Archetypes for the modern age (look what you started, Carl Jung!).  One of these, the Caregiver, is related to the Mother, strongly associated with the sign of Cancer, but also has associations with the sign of Virgo.  Cancerians and Virgoans practically prop up the caring professions.

Myss advises that if this is one of your Archetypes, and you are compulsive about helping others, then your task is to learn self-care:

“Your challenge as a caregiver is to care enough about yourself to find out who you really are – to be willing to look closely and experience the deeper level of your inherent need and desire to care for others.”

Vishnu the Preserver

Caroline Myss points out that “Although the caregiver Archetype seems to be more prevalent in women…Many men who become teachers or coaches, or who enter rescuing professions such as firefighting and emergency medicine, have a genuine need to serve and care for others through their career choices.”

Cancerians have a special talent for cherishing the artifacts of antiquity, re-upholstering and upcycling, important in this throw-away age.  The male Hindu God, Vishnu the Preserver expresses this cherishing quality very well…In an early incarnation apparently, he appeared as a Turtle. [one of the animal totems of Cancer]”

The Parent

The signs/planetary associations of Cancer and Leo correspond to The Mother (the Moon) and The Father (the Sun).  Capricorn also has resonance with The Father, with its ruler Saturn.

However, parenting in general comes under the sign of Cancer, and particularly for a Cancerian male fatherhood is a key human experience.

The Antiquarian

Cancerians are often to be found restoring and preserving antiquities, in a cherishing manner.  Think “The Repair Shop” – a Cancerian institution if there was one, but also with Chironic associations.  So, antiques experts, furniture restorers, come under this sign.

The Genealogist

The ancestors are of enormous importance to the Cancerian, and those who look into their family tree are responding to the Moon and its sign.  The new advances in DNA research enable new professions to explore the benefits of “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Long Lost Relatives”, let along “Born Without Trace” and “DNA Journey” – all current television programmes benefitting from this study and expertise.

The Paediatrician

Specialisms within medicine include The Paediatrician, the Obstetrician, and The Midwife.

The Wise Woman

The sign of Cancer does not have a monopoly on wisdom, but relates strongly to this Archetype through its main animal totem The Owl.  The Crone is also a related archetype.  It has the depth of the divine feminine, and wisdom obtained through maturity.

Historical/more in-depth Examples:

The Feminist

Malalai Yusafzai (b 12/7/97)

Even before she was shot, she was standing up for the right of girls to attend school in her native Pakistan.  But On 9 October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Yousafzai as she rode home on a bus.

I wrote in 2013:

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

At that time, I did not have her birth time, but now I have the transits are revealed to be even more significant: Mars square to her Ascendant, close to her Pluto, Neptune opposite her Ascendant, Saturn on the cusp of her 3^rd House of short-distance travel (a bus journey).

My blog was written around her 16^th birthday, when she addressed the U.N. and received two awards, including one for International Development for her work for female rights.  At the age of 17 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

On her birthchart I wrote:

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

The Sun sextiles the North Node in her chart, giving a karmic mission of the theme of Leadership.  Mercury trines Pluto, making her a deep thinker who looks the truth in the face. Mercury also opposes Uranus exactly, which is controversy in communication, not being afraid to tell the truth no matter what it costs …  Jupiter also sextiles Saturn exactly – good balanced judgement: the combination of optimism and realism.”

To which I would add that her ruler the Moon is exactly conjunct her Mars with her available birth time, depicting her wounding but also her fighting spirit, the Warrior Archetype, the female warrior (not a specific archetype for Cancer).  Neptune closely trine her Midheaven indicates her role in the world as a spiritual leader of inspiration.  It is worth noting that she achieved this status while still a child, the portion of life attributed to the sign of Cancer, though through traumatic means.

The Novelist

Hilary Mantel (6/7/52 – 22/9/22)

Rich in imagination, Cancerians are often drawn to writing, specifically the novel form.  I often find that for people with its ruler, the Moon, rising, a person has a talent for writing novels (whatever their rising sign or Sun sign).

Hilary Mantel is probably one of our greatest novelists, and a rare double-Booker-prizewinner (for “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up The Bodies”.  She therefore wins my prize for Cancerian Novelist Archetype!  I have, of course, written about her before.

I wrote, back in 2013:

“What has interested me about Hilary Mantel since I first set eyes on her is her astrology, and her past lives!  As soon as I saw her on television, I was hooked.  With her round face and big blue eyes, she looked like the textbook Cancerian which she is.  Moreover, she had Cancerian health issues, centring around the female reproductive system (endemetriosis)…

…From the beginning, I had thought her level of interest and the detail plus the imagination of her original book “Wolf Hall” must have been written with some level of past-life recall, with an interplay between her conscious and unconscious mind. She may well have observed the material she writes about at close quarters, at the time it was played out.  And that is how I feel about several writers of the historical genre (fiction or non-fiction) who tend to write about and specialize in a particular era.

Hilary Mantel and Regression

Hilary wrote about her “brush” with regression in a Guardian article of January 2010.  She was not comfortable with her practitioner (you do need to choose a practitioner you are comfortable with), but did experience enough to grasp the issues involved and own her feelings about it.  She writes about being aware of her own current life at the same time as experiencing the past life (which is what I aim for when working).

In her own words:

“…I was aware of everything around me…yet I was on board ship, I was in a railway car, I was in an alien land.  I was still inside Sara, or she inside me, when she reached her 70s and her heart failed”.

Hilary had three planets in Cancer, Uranus exactly conjunct with the Sun, plus Venus.  Her Mercury exactly sextile Saturn illustrates her intensive historical research and application.  Her Jupiter exactly sextile Uranus gives her the Entrepreneur Archetype (not a specific province of Cancer).  And with Pluto conjunct the South Node, she was able to somehow project far into her memory banks and that of the collective history to produce her outstanding work.

The Patriots

Nelson Mandela (18/7/1918 – 5/12/2013

Dalai Lama (b 6/7/1935)

The sign of Cancer is intensely loyal to its ancestors, family, tribe and country, and in this respect The Patriot is a fitting Archetype for the sign.  Both these two men have represented their country and their race in a profound sense.

A few years ago, I wrote:

“…The first analogy that comes to mind astrologically is that Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama are both inextricably linked in their work and lives with their love of their own country.  They are both Cancerians, and have the common touch which the sign of Cancer often has (witness another kind of Icon, Lady Diana).  The Dalai Lama’s link with his homeland of Tibet is made more poignant of course by virtue of the fact that he left it while still a boy king.  Nelson Mandela had to leave his in a different way, through incarceration on an island, but lived to see his beloved South Africa again and triumph in its healing.”

Nelson Mandela had Jupiter, Pluto and the Sun in Cancer.  Here’s a very Cancerian description from his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”:

“I enjoyed domesticity, even though I had little time for it.  I delighted in playing with Thembi, bathing him and feeding him, and putting him to bed with a little story. In fact, I love playing with children and chatting with them; it has always been one of the things that make me feel most at peace. I enjoyed relaxing at home, reading quietly, taking in the sweet and savoury smells emanating from pots boiling in the kitchen.”

The Dalai Lama has his Ascendant and Sun (double Cancer), South Node, Pluto in Cancer.  Like Hilary Mantel, he has the South Node conjunct Pluto: his appointment as the 14^th Dalai Lama depended upon an age old tradition of tuning into a child that remembered certain objects relating to that office from past lives.

He has the Moon conjunct Neptune, a sign of extreme sensitivity, and with the Moon being his ruling planet, Neptune brings the Piscean element of Compassion, a key tenet of his Buddhist faith.  His Sun is exactly trine Jupiter, a planet taking him into the realm of Religion, and the exactitude of the trine elevating his status and power of achievement.  It also depicts his joyfulness (by Jove!).  Where the exquisiteness of his current incarnation is also highlighted is a close sextile between Jupiter (Religion) and Neptune (Spirituality), giving him the ability to combine and balance the two wisely.  He also has the wisdom, balance and judgement of Jupiter trine Saturn.  His Saturn, on the cusp of the 9^th House of Foreign Lands may be symbolic of his exile from his homeland, Tibet.  Both he and Nelson Mandela have favourable links between Pluto and the Midheaven (Persona in the World) – the Dalai Lama has the trine, while Mandela has the sextile.  I think that speaks volumes about the nature of their profound service to mankind.

The Drummer

Ringo Starr (b 7/7/1940)

Mick Fleetwood (b 24/6/1942)

The drummer is the establisher of rhythm, say within a group, just as the Moon and the tides establish a rhythm in the background of our lives.  Ringo Starr of course was the drummer for the iconic Beatles, while Mick Fleetwood as drummer, held his “family” Fleetwood Mac through many changes.

Ringo has the Sun conjunct Chiron in Cancer.  His Sun is exactly square his Nodal Axis, often seen as a group based aspect: in this case as the most low key Beatle, he ceded his power (the Sun) to the group karmically.  His Mercury conjunct Mars meant that he had quick mental reactions and delivery, essential in drumming..  Mars in his chart is also exactly conjunct Pluto, a huge powerhouse of energy.  Venus on his I.C. in his 4^th House indicated a life based on music and with a profound love for his home city of Liverpool.

Mick Fleetwood

Like Ringo, Mick has a vigorous connection between his Mercury and Mars, in this case a sextile.  That may be a useful adjunct to the Sun in Cancer for a drummer.  In his autobiography “Play On”, he gives a good description of this dyslexia, his sideways (the crab) Cancerian mindset (showing his Mercury in Cancer) and its route to drumming:

“I’m quite convinced that the brain I have comes from my mum’s side, because my mother and her kin have a very different, very wonderful way if thinking – one that’s not suited to stereotypical ‘straight thought. My sister Susan had the same issue that I do, and like me, she found a way to turn it into something positive and creative. She became an actress and made it a part of her art .

…What I didn’t know was that my dyslexia would later serve me well once I turned to playing drums. It wasn’t clear to me until years later, when I really began to think (I) about drumming, which was something I found myself doing quite naturally. After I’d become known for drumming, and had a ‘style’ that people talked about, I began to ponder, wonder what exactly that style was. By nature what we drummers do is manage a series of spinning plates, but I realised quite quickly when I found myself talking shop with other plate-spinners that my methods of keeping my plates spinning are entirely my own. When I tried to explain it, they thought I was having a laugh at their expense or entirely mad.

That made it all crystal clear to me – my drumming was an extension of the blackboard syndrome. I really had no idea, nor the ability to explain in musical terms, what I was ever doing in a particular song. Upon further reflection, I’ve realised that all of this stems from my learning disability, and now that I’ve made something out of my irregular way of processing information, I’m damn glad. Dyslexia has absolutely tempered the way I think about rhythm and the way I’ve played my instrument, or any other for that matter, and that’s the long and short of it”

In the context of the “Drummer Archetype”, it was worth quoting at length!

Notice that three of my specific examples were born around 6^th/7^th July, which gives them a connection of the very special Fixed Star Sirius, sacred to the ancient Egyptians, and our brightest nearest star.

So, in summary, in contemplating your own link to the sign of Cancer and for those you know, you can explore for the next month, this segment of the zodiac, while the Sun is in Cancer (until 22nd July).  You may notice that with your Cancerian family, friends and acquaintances, some of them have more than one of these Archetypes.

“As we touch the child inside ourselves, we begin to access that bridge.  Maybe it shut down in you when you were two; maybe it shut down in you when you were seven.  It’s not dead. It’s just disconnected from you.  It’s just encased in a butterfly within a cocoon, and as all the great teachers have said, ‘Become the child, and you will know God.’ “

~ Chris Griscom

Next Week: Wimbledon – Week 1

Aspects

There are 11 Aspects this week, so let’s crack on!

This morning Mars was sextile Jupiter, a gung-ho aspect, which may have inspired Donald Trump to bomb nuclear sites in Iran, and then wax lyrical about it.  I hasten to say this is normally a positive aspect, not an incitement to war and aggression.

This aspect brings expansive activities, such as running in the park, or strenuous gardening, or the pursuit of any sport or leisure activity with gusto.  Hubby is tidying up the garden, with the edge slightly taken off the heatwave.  You’ll be able to find that extra drive, for what you are wanting to achieve.  Pursue your enthusiasms!  But whatever you do, think carefully, before pursuing a trigger for uncontrolled repercussions.  Normally I would not need to add that, but even a positive aspect can be put to mis-use.

You’ll be slowing down in the evening, with a square between the Sun and Saturn.  Even the international rhetoric may be more subdued, as the realization of the repercussions sink in.  There may be disappointing or deflating news, delay or frustration, such as criticisms about hasty actions. The Sun-Saturn square is an opportunity to think through what you are doing, and your strategies.  If you are making economies, are they the right ones, based on your optimum values?  A more reflective evening.

Tomorrow (Monday 23^rd), you may feel confused by opposing ideas and thoughts, as Neptune squares the Sun.  The issue of taking out Iran’s nuclear capacity for instance, may be a polarising one.  You might be becoming wise to the smoke and mirrors of this type of aspect. There may be new considerations and issues arising, more sensitivity to consider, in your own life.  How much energy can you give to the consideration of events abroad, while attending to your own healing and those of other around you? You may be feeling a little confused, lost, or even  dizzy.  If you are on a journey, take a moment to stop and reflect, over coffee at a service station on the motorway for instance.  It’s a good moment to surrender to the divine, and ask what you are supposed to be learning from the experience, seeking out where the illusion lies.

More conundrums for Tuesday (24^th) with a square between Chiron and Mercury.  Mini-crises may feature in the earlier part of the day, needing problem-solving skills, and solutions which may be to hand, like dock leaves near nettles, or may require soul consultation, digging deep.  Cut yourself some slack, and do what you can.

Fortunately, things may pick up and perk up in the afternoon, with the Sun conjunct Jupiter, one of the most favourable aspects of the year.  It takes place at 3 degrees Cancer.  It is an aspect of hope, or even celebration.  It will certainly be lucky for some.  Focus on what makes you happy, and make more of that.  It coincides with Mick Fleetwood’s birthday: play your “Rumours” vinyl!

Midweek, on Wednesday (25^th), we have a New Moon at 4 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. Develop any Cancerian Archetypes you find worthwhile, from the list above!  A good day to bake a cake.

Mercury sextiles Uranus on Thursday (26^th), a bright aspect for the mind.  Connect your lower, logical, mind favourably, with your higher, intuitive, mind.  This is a is a sparky way of thinking, and  may feel like a breath of fresh air, if it is not your default position. Telepathy, intuition and the power of surprise are benefits of this aspect.  This aspect can amaze you and help you find that “wow” factor, or unusual ways of articulating your message.

By early afternoon, you may benefit from another sextile, that of the Sun with Mars.  You may feel you can get things moving physically, if they had been slow or stalled.  The energy and fuel is in supply, and the will is there.  This aspect favours the masculine elements of life, e.g. men, cars and dogs.  There may also be an aspect of competitiveness about it.  However, a word of warning to warmongers: don’t.

In the evening, Mercury enters Leo.  This placement favours applying the mind to ways of finding leisure and enjoyment in this summery, holiday season.   Find novel ways to do so. For example, take up a new hobby!

Last but not least, Saturday (28^th) brings a constructive trine between Mercury and Saturn.  A government leader somewhere may consider their actions carefully…(!).  This aspect combines mental work with practicality, and brings focus and realism to the activities of the  mental plane.  So, it is a good day for making plans.  Serious conversations can also safely take place under this aspect.

Mercury also trines Neptune on that day, and things may fall into place spiritually, with some higher insight. This may result in an increased readiness to talk about a sensitive subject.  This trine brings mental inspiration, transcendent wisdom, higher harmony, spiritual journeys.  It’s a kind astrological note to end on.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – gung-ho, then slowing down
• Tomorrow – confusion
• Tuesday – conundrums; later, luck
• Wednesday – new beginning
• Thursday – bright minds; bushy tails;
• Saturday – practical thought; spiritual insight

Brian Wilson (1942 – 2025)

“There were times when [mental illness] was unbearable but with doctors and medications I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life.”

~ Brian Wilson, 2019

A universally acknowledged musical genius, Brian Wilson, died this week aged 83.  Together with his band, The Beach Boys, they formed a glorious soundtrack to the sixties.  From a difficult relationship with his father, and lifelong struggles with mental health and drugs, his life was not easy, and much of his vast creative output remains unpublished or unrecorded.  But those he did bring to the world went straight to our hearts.

Birth Chart

Fortunately, we do have a birth time for Brian, which reveals the basic specifications of Sun in Gemini, Ascendant in Taurus, and Moon in Virgo.  Yet, as you will probably have guessed, the picture is far more complex.

He was almost an astrological twin of Paul McCartney, born two days later in the same year.  They have admired each other, but also rivalled each other.

In 2022 I wrote:

“Sir Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson were born two days apart in 1942 on 18^th and 20^th June respectively, and are both regarded as having musical genius.  Paul has Venus in Taurus (Music) in 8^th House trine Neptune in Virgo rising within 1 degree of his Ascendant.  His Moon is in showbiz Leo in the 11^th House of bands.

Born two days later, Brian Wilson, formerly of the Beach Boys, has Venus in Taurus in 12^th House of Unconscious inspiration (and sometimes mental confusion) trine Neptune on the cusp of his Creative 5^th House in Virgo (trine exactly his natal Ascendant).  His was a greater struggle for self-expression, with most of his planets below the horizon and the Moon in shy retiring Virgo, and he did in fact retire for many years.”  Paul McCartney described “God Only Knows” as one of the greatest songs ever written”.

Brian had the Sun conjunct Jupiter (cue “Good Vibrations”), but inevitably for one who was diagnosed with mild manic depression (as well as other diagnoses), he also had contrasting conjunctions which tore him apart: notably Mars conjunct Pluto (a combination of energy difficult to control), and Saturn conjunct Uranus (restraint with rebellion).  A Pluto/Chiron conjunction was positioned on his I.C., his roots and sense of (in this case in-)security – with a controlling and abusive father, a perennial wound.

The Ascendant represents the physical body, and he had Uranus rising, five degrees in to his 1^st House.  This indicates a highly strung nature, with Aquarian features, for example his height, which was over 6 feet.

He had Venus (the planet of music) in Taurus (one of the two musical signs) in his 12^th House trine Neptune (Venus + Neptune = Perfection).

But it is the close square to his Sun from Neptune which I consider the to be the crux of his character and dominant in his life, the source of his delicate psyche.

Neptune closely square the Sun

The close connection between his Sun and Neptune gave him strong Piscean traits, i.e. the genius title often attributed to this sign.  But with Neptune adversely aspecting his Sun, many of the pitfalls of Neptune affected his life negatively.  It tips his Neptune relationship into the Genius/Madness Archetype.  He fell prey to drugs, was afraid of the sea (Neptune) and did not like film (Neptune).

On the sea: “Fear of the ocean meant that Brian was no surfer, but he loved cars and girls”

~ Richard Williams, Guardian Obituary

On film:

2011 interview:

Q: “Is there an art form you don’t relate to?”

A: “Movies.  There’s just never been any I liked; I find them cold, somehow.”

Where he was able to use Neptune in its divine dimension (and he attributed his work to God) was its position at the beginning of his 5^th House of Creativity trine his music-making Venus, and exactly trine his Ascendant.

Life and Career

Brian Wilson was born in Inglewood, California. In the 2011 Guardian interview, he was asked:

Q:“What one song would work as the soundtrack to your life?”

A: “Rhapsody in Blue [by George Gershwin].  My mother played it for me as I was being born.”

His father Murry was an aspiring songwriter, and acted as manager for the Beach Boys in their early years.  Brian exhibited precocious musical ability from an early age, and was noted by a choirmaster to have perfect pitch.  He taught himself to play the piano at the age of twelve.  At the age of 17 he wrote an essay titled “My Philosophy”, in which he stated his aim in life as being to “make a name for myself […] in music.”

He had a complex attitude to fame, spending much of his life as a recluse, but asked in 2011:

Q: “Is fame important to you?” he replied:

A: “Yes it is; I’m very proud of it. I earned my famous name.”

In high school he formed a band with his brothers Dennis and Carl, and cousin Mike Love, which took various names before it settled on “The Beach Boys”.  Their first recording “Surfin”(1961) reached no. 75 on the national billboard.  The surfing theme of their early works (Surfin Safari 1962; Surfin USA and Surfer Girl 1963) was inspired by one of his brother – as has been mentioned, he himself was not an enthusiast.

He painstakingly taught them harmonies, and the hits came thick and fast: In my Room and Little Deuce Coup 1963; Don’t Worry Baby and I Get Around 1964; Help me Rhonda 1965).

It was around this time that Brian Wilson strove to be like Phil Spector.  I wrote in a blog in 1922 when Ronnie Spector died:

“The Beatles and the Rolling Stones were close to Ronnie when their careers were building.  And notably, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys greatly admired Phil Spector at the outset of his career.  Apparently, he nearly crashed his car when he first heard “Be My Baby”.  He later declared it “the greatest record ever produced. No one will ever top that one.” He attempted to write a version from the male point of view: the result was Don’t Worry Baby, a hauntingly beautiful song, with a similar structure.  He intended it to be sung by Ronnie, whom he also admired.  However, Phil did not allow that to happen, because he had not written it.  Ronnie sings it on one of the excerpts in the programme “Ronnie Spector at the BBC”, which is still available on I Player…The Beach Boys subsequently recorded it themselves, and Brian declared it “Probably the best record we’ve done”.  Brian Wilson and Ronnie Spector remained lifelong friends.  Their synastry included her Mars exactly conjunct his Venus (Love and Music).”

But by 1964 the strain of performing, producing, creating and life in general began to affect Brian’s mental health, and he started to withdraw into himself, while still to some extent participating in the work of the group.  He had his first nervous breakdown on December 23, 1964.  Hits at this stage included: Barbara Ann and California Girls 1965; Wouldn’t it be Nice, God Only Knows and Sloop John B in 1966; and Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains in 1967.  He started to take a more background role.

In 1965 he took LSD for the first time, and later described the experience: “It just tore my head off. […] You just come to grips with what you are, what you can do [and] can’t do, and learn to face it.”

All this time he was still fervently creative.  In 1966 he produced the album Pet Sounds, which did well in the U.K. but its lack of initial success in the U.S. discouraged Brian, and nudged him further into paranoia.  It included the song “Caroline No”, which at one time he declared was his favourite composition.

The opening up of his psyche, however dangerously, through drugs, was taking him in a spiritual direction.  He began working with Van Dyke Parks on a new album Smile, a proposed “teenage symphony to God”, but was so discouraged that he abandoned the project.  He later commented:

“We pulled out […] because I was about ready to die. I was trying so hard. So, all of a sudden I decided not to try any more.”  He officially pulled out in May 1997, with transiting Pluto squaring his natal Mercury (severe mental strain), and Chiron squaring his natal Sun (the registering of a wound).  In addition, Saturn was sextile his natal Midheaven in Aquarius in the 9^th House, a transit which often sees people cut something from their career path.  He did not take up the project again for 35 years.

His life took a bizarre turn, and in the 1970s he seemed to live a half-life of drink and drugs, turning up in pyjamas in public, and overeating.  His band and his family took pains in trying to manage the situation, but there was no breakthrough for a long time.  His relationship with his wife singer Marylin Rovell came under increasing strain.  They had married in 1964 and divorced in 1979, and although their charts had many connections, the liaison was only to last 15 years.  They had two children together.  Their Nodal Axes were locked in a Grand Cross, karmically fated to be together for a while.

Eugene Landy

The band continued to work on their own brand of music, with Brian making an occasional contribution.

A turning point was when the psychologist Eugene Landy came into his life.  He began to treat Brian Wilson in 1975, and began to stabilize him to some extent, later becoming controlling and was even accused of corruption by Wilson’s family.

Wilson’s Pluto was conjunct Landy’s South Node, a clear indication of a karmic relationship.  It suggests that Landy may have been involved with Brian Wilson’s psychology (Pluto) in a previous life.

We do not have a birth time for Landy, but his natal Moon looks to be conjunct Wilson’s Pluto (his psychology), too.  Landy’s Sun was trine Wilson’s Mars and opposite Wilson’s Uranus rising; and Landy’s Venus was opposite Wilson’s Saturn in the 1st House (his depression)

Brian briefly resumed performing with the band on 2^nd July 1976 with Pluto (a resurrection) exactly trine his Midheaven (career path), and Neptune trine his natal Chiron (healing) in performing Leo in 3^rd House.  But the healing did not go deep enough.

Melinda Ledbetter

Brian first met Melinda Ledbetter  in 1986, but the relationship was discouraged by Eugene Landy.  Wilson later said that Melinda “was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closer to my heart”.  After Landy left his services, his creative output returned.

They met when he was visiting a Cadillac showroom where she was a saleswoman.  He loved cars.  They married on 6^th February 1995, and she became his manager.

They had Venuses opposite each other (which can be complementary); her Saturn/Pluto conjunction was conjunct Brian’s North Node/Moon conjunction (a serious involvement); and her Neptune trine his Midheaven

He was helped by the love of a good woman (!), and their marriage lasted until her death in January 2024.

Resurgence

He took up the reigns of the Smile album again, completing it in 2004, and reunited with cousin Mike Love and the band in 2011, to engage with recording.

He played his final concert on 26^th July 2022, by which time he was in a wheelchair.  So it was a triumph just to appear on stage.  He was reported to have “sat rigid and expressionless” throughout the performance.”

Transiting Pluto was trine his Ascendant, from the 9^th House cusp: an air of finality.  Pluto was also trine his natal Neptune at the beginning of his 5^th House of performance.  Jupiter was sextile his natal Midheaven (Careerpoint) – a permission of grace from the Universe.  It was quite clear from then on that he could no longer perform, his health was severely compromised by COVID, and his second wife Melinda died on 30^th January 2024.  Shortly afterwards it was announced that he was suffering from dementia.

Brian Wilson, thank you for the music.

“The beauty of Brian’s songwriting is the simplicity of the complexity.  A song can sound like a nursery rhyme, and when you start to actually play it on a guitar, it becomes a symphony from God.”

~ Simon Neil

“Not many people influenced me as much as he did.  I feel very lucky that I was able to meet him and spend some time with him.  He was always very kind and generous.  He was our American Mozart.”

~ Sean Lennon

Aspects

It’s a big day astrologically, and certainly writing this blog has been a marathon!

This morning Mars was square Uranus, an electrical and often destructive aspect.  We woke to hear more of the warfare between Israel and Iran which started on Friday evening, and is causing worldwide concern.  Mars square Uranus is a jolting energy or mood.  Something may need to be dealt with urgently, whether it be a mechanical fault or a human fault.  Electrical appliances may be especially tricky.

That was followed by another, more weighty, square, this afternoon: that of Jupiter with Saturn.  This is a major astrological event.  It doesn’t come round very often, and represents an important dilemma, e.g. what response should countries make to war breaking out in the Middle East.  It represents difficult decisions, such as fiscal ones, both personal and public.  If it is not about your own internal wrangling, you and others need to bring good will to the table of negotiation.

Tuesday (17^th) brings a possibly stabilizing sextile between the Sun and Chiron, but only if parties desire to work on healing.  This is a useful aspect for balancing, and receiving beneficial input from other worlds and planes.  It’s helpful for problem-solving, too.  What do you yearn to solve?  There will be an attempt to bring everything to a wholeness.

On the same day, we also have the entry of Mars into Virgo, a conscientious statement of intent if there ever was one.  Mars has been making hay in Leo, encouraging us to play, but also encouraging pride and posturing among some nations.  Entering Virgo, it starts to clean and clear the working space in preparation for some real work to be done.  Mars in Virgo spells efficiency, but it also represents economy of effort and energy, organizing ourselves to best effect.  Any ardent de-clutterers out there, should be in their element.  Some aggressive country leaders may recognize the need to lay aside the pride of Leo the Lion, and assume the humility of Virgo the Virgin.

There’s another big square on Thursday (19^th), with Neptune squaring Jupiter.  It’s a major aspect of confusion, between spirituality and religion. The effects of A.I. likely to be prominent in questioning our reality, too.  This could add to any confusion you are experiencing, and the urge for greater processing.  It can pull us back to confusion (which is a high state according to The Course in Miracles) and force us to look at the bigger picture.  There is a sort of polarization too about this square.  If you are unsure of where you stand on religion, you would really feel it now.  The answer to everything must be to expand the mind, I would think…or, as Douglas Adams would have it “The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is 42.”

Arriving at the end of the week, on Saturday (21^st), the Sun enters Cancer, AKA the Summer Solstice.  Wring every ounce of enjoyment out of your daylight hours!  A holiday mood is possible, at least theoretically.  You may also be taking stock of your life.  The season just gone was about sowing seeds, and the coming season for watching projects grow and blossom, and keeping them “watered”.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – extreme tension
• Tuesday – healing; application
• Thursday – balancing spirituality and religion
• Saturday – the peak of the light