Sturgeon vs Salmond

I last reported on Sturgeon and Salmond in 2014, just before the Scottish Referendum.  Film footage at the time shows them as best mates…so when and how did that turn to enmity, to the extent that Alex Salmond now shows a desire to bring down the Scottish government, and even to jeopardize the future prospects for Scottish Independence?

Nicola Sturgeon

I wrote in 2014:

“Scottish Deputy Nicola Sturgeon … is a role model for the strong woman, and unflinching in her political aims….  She is comfortable with power, as her Sun is sextile Pluto… Nicola started young on her course: she was 16 when she entered politics”.

I would add now:

She has the Sun conjunct Mars, the Inner Warrior Archetype.  Her strength comes from the Sun closely trine Neptune and closely sextile Pluto, and in addition the problem-solving exact trine between Mercury and Chiron.

Alex Salmond

I wrote in 2014:

“Alex is a Sun in Capricorn (ambition and politics) whose Sun is conjunct the North Node also in Capricorn (representing his karmic mission, which is also on side).  He has the fighting spirit of Moon conjunct Mars in Pisces, which sometimes obtains what is desired by subterfuge.  But his Ascendant is in Cancer, giving rise to the moon face and also the patriotism.  Rising within 6 degrees of his Ascendant is an exact conjunction between Jupiter and Uranus (the Inner and Outer Entrepreneur)  And we all know what his Enterprise is.”

I would add now:

He has a strong sensuality (Venus in Scorpio trine Mars) and a capacity for revenge (Venus square Pluto): traits I did not emphasize in my earlier account.

Their Synastry

I wrote in 2014:

“The remarkable thing with respect to her alliance with Salmond, is that her natal Sun is exactly conjunct Alex Salmond’s Jupiter/Uranus exact conjunction, in other words she can directly help co-create his Enterprise.  Karmically, their North Nodes are exactly sextile, so a karmic contract will have been set up before birth for this aim.”

I would add now:

Her Chiron exactly square his Sun shows the possibility of a wound being exacted.  The Synastry seemed favourable looking at it in 2014, and it has not changed.  But perhaps their karma has gone through another turn of the screw, yet to be unravelled in the future, and possibly even in a future lifetime.  Her Pluto also opposes his Moon, which is another in-depth emotional wrangle.

Timeline

Having left this story after the Scottish Referendum in 2014, there are some gaps to fill in.

2014:  Nicola’s transit picture for the Referendum  was described in my original blog:  “On the day of the Referendum, Neptune is conjunct her North Node, a day on which her dreams could also come true.”  The Scottish National Party lost the vote, and Alex Salmond resigned as First Minister of Scotland. Saturn was on his Venus at the time in his 5th House in Scorpio – personal sadness and loss.

At the time, Nicola said:

“The personal debt of gratitude I owe Alex is immeasurable. He has been my friend, mentor and colleague for more than 20 years. Quite simply, I would not have been able to do what I have in politics without his constant advice, guidance and support through all these years. […] I can think of no greater privilege than to seek to lead the party I joined when I was just 16. “

So there was not a trace of animosity in that speech, in that point in their relationship.  Resentment from Alex Salmond would come later.

Nicola’s transits at becoming First Minister for Scotland showed up Saturn sextile her natal Pluto in Virgo in 11th House (leading the party and country, a fulfilment of power) – with Saturn trine Pluto natally indicating this potential.

Her record of achievement as first minister has come into some criticism, particularly over her governments’s performance in Education.

2015: She was notably hailed for winning a 7-way TV debate in preparation for a general election.  In forceful combat, Mars was square her natal Mars at the time, showing that she had no fear of conflict.

2016:  In the Brexit Referendum, Scotland voted to stay in Europe, by 62% to 38%.  This of course contrasted with England, and the overall percentages for the U.K.  Nicola had a new fight on her hands, to uphold the interests of Scotland in the matter, and more ammunition for leaving the Union.

2018:  In August of that year, Alex Salmond was faced with charges of sexual misconduct, which he denied.  At that time, Pluto was sextile his natal Mars and Saturn  (at the midpoint of their trine) and opposed his Ascendant.  Pluto and Mars represent the area of sexuality.

2019:  In January of that year, Alex Salmond was arrested, with Uranus opposite his natal Neptune (a sudden even throwing him into confusion) and Uranus square his natal Chiron (a sudden event causing an emotional wound).

2020: A new challenge for Nicola Sturgeon: the pandemic. She is generally deemed to have handled this relatively efficiently, especially in comparison to the U.K. Prime Minister.  She showed up every day to speak to her countrymen in a briefing, for example.  Interestingly, she had had some prior experience, for in 2009 she had impressed with her handling of the flu epidemic, as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

On 23rd March of that year, the same day that England went into its first lockdown, Alex Salmond was cleared of all charges.  He had many favourable transits at the time, including: Uranus trine his natal North Node in Capricorn in the 6th House; Neptune trine his Ascendant on 9th House cusp; Pluto sextile his natal Moon and sextile his natal Venus.  He had admitted at the trial, however, that he should have been “more careful with people’s personal space”

Marriage and Meetings

Nicola Sturgeon’s marriage comes into this story, as Alex Salmond has accused her husband Peter Murrell, the  Chief Executive Officer of the SNP, of conspiring to have him imprisoned.  They may well have personal karma, for Alex Salmond’s Moon squares Peter Murell’s Nodal Axis.

Alex Salmond alleges that he had a meeting with Nicola Sturgeon a few days before the meeting where she acknowledges they discussed his charges, in 2018.  Here he claims she has broken the ministerial code by lying, where she claims she forgot about the first meeting. The meetings are said to have taken place on 29th March and 2nd April 2018, and the charts for these two meeting are interesting.  The issue is further complicated because in giving evidence, Murrell has contradicted himself and Nicola Sturgeon over whether he was present at one of these meetings and how long for.

An aspect for the first meeting is very telling – Venus exactly conjunct Uranus (strange meetings).  Transits for the first meeting show:  for Alex Salmond, Saturn on his Sun in Capricorn in his 6th House, a time of great difficulty; Uranus square his natal Jupiter in Cancer in 1st House; Uranus opposite his natal Neptune in Libra in 4th House, and Uranus square his natal Chiron in Capricorn in his 7th House (Uranian transits taking someone by surprise).

For Nicola Sturgeon, Uranus square her natal Sun (taken by surprise), Saturn trine her Venus ( a question of loyalty in friendship), and Uranus opp her natal Jupiter (more shock).

For Peter Murrell:, Neptune opposite Peter Mars, Neptune opposite Peter Uranus and Neptune transiting Peter Chiron (Neptune transits possibly suggesting being implied in a scandal or deception).

Transits for the second meeting show: for Alex Salmond, Mars exactly on Alex Salmond’s Sun (a feeling of being endangered), Saturn still exactly on his natal Sun, Mars conjunct Saturn in Capricorn in his  6th House (pain or difficulty), and the other transits as a few days earlier, though Uranus was moving away from a trine with Pluto, possibly leaving him more exposed.

For Nicola Sturgeon,  Saturn was still trine with her Venus, and the other transits still applied, but Uranus moving away from squaring her natal Sun, which may imply that the earlier date was significant for her.

For Peter Murrell, as before, but with Neptune starting to move away from Chiron, again a possible implication that the earlier date had significance for him. For him and for Nicola, the earlier date may have had a completely different application in their lives, however, and it is not clear which meeting Peter Murrell was supposed to have attended.

Current Transits

On Friday at a Holyrood inquiry, Alex Salmond had his say about the allegations of the mishandling of the enquiry by Nicola Sturgeon’s government:

“This inquiry is not about me…The failures of leadership are many and obvious.  And yet, convener, not a single person has taken responsibility.” he claimed. Pluto is sextile his Venus –  an impassioned expression of his feelings, and Pluto is opposite his Jupiter/Uranus conjunction – a challenge of power, bearing in mind his conjunction is conjunct Nicola Sturgeon’s own Sun.  Pluto has homed in on the crucial feature of their synastry.

Nicola Sturgeon is due to testify tomorrow, and she is undeniably stressed: Mars is opposite her natal Neptune – her version of the truth under examination; Uranus square her natal Moon in Aquarius in 3rd House – emotionally, she feels uncertain. Uranus is opposite her Ascendant, quite a shock to her system.  And then comes Pluto, opposing her natal Sun – a severe test for her, but Pluto trine her Pluto, she has some form of self-empowerment.

For Scotland itself, the cause of Independence has grown during Nicola Sturgeon’s period of leadership, though a recent poll suggests some levelling off.  The chart of Scotland itself highlights conflict and transformation at this time, with a preponderance of Mars and Pluto transits: Mars sextiles the Scottish Sun, Pluto sextiles the Scottish Sun, and Mars sextiles the Scottish Pluto.  The nature of sextiles may show that the damage may be less severe than feared; some voters even hope that the Scottish National Party will be damaged.

The chart for the SNP shows Neptune (confusion) closely square its Sun (its identity),  Saturn on its Venus – a sense of loss, Uranus square its Venus – some disruption and disharmony.  Also Chiron sextile its Venus – an ultimate healing purpose, though that seems a long way off at the moment, and Neptune sextile its Mars, confusion and sensitivity over its leadership.

This would seem to be a distressing mess at the heart of Scottish government and leadership, and the meltdown of a relationship once united in a cause.  Nicola Sturgeon is trying to salvage her position, and Alex Salmond is calling for an overhaul of the Scottish government and her resignation. I would hope for a satisfactory outcome, but that does not look easily achievable at the moment.  Truth needs to be established, before they can move on.  Meanwhile, opposition parties are making the most of the crisis.

Aspects

The notable aspects begin on Wednesday this week, with a sextile between Venus and Uranus on 3rd March.  It is good to see some Spring weather turning up these days, warming up the population and raising hopes, together with some prospects of some return to social interaction.  Though we are not quite there yet with the measures, Wednesday is a good day for socializing, as far as the rules and regulations permit.  Many of us are reliant on zoom, facetime and WhatsApp (what happened to Skype?) for contacting family and friends these days, but a chance meeting on a walk in the park is not out of the question.  As mentioned in the above blog, meetings are significant with the combination of Venus and Uranus, and sometimes they can be strange.  Venus sextile Uranus is on the pleasantly uplifting side of the equation, and can bring reunions.  There is also an impromptu or spontaneous element to such meetings.

On Thursday (4th) Mars enters Gemini, and we go from the more sluggish energy of Mars in Taurus to a brighter, more expressive energy.  It’s a high action placing, with a spike in mental and physical energy, and the urge to get things done.  Certain sports, such as running and cycling, are highlighted.

There’s a treat in store late in the week when Mercury conjoins with Jupiter on Friday (5th) at 17 degrees Aquarius (check whether that is an important degree in your chart).  This conjunction favours learning and education, communication and good news, sales and transport.  The enjoyment of mental expansion and philosophical awareness should bring about a major uplift.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – special meetings
• Thursday – physical and mental stimulus
• Friday – mental expansion and philosophical awareness

Latifa Maktoum

Last week, I looked at one daughter who was being controlled by a father; this week I am looking at another daughter, who has been held captive by a father.  The plight of Princess Latifa Maktoum, daughter of  Sheikh Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, is now being taken seriously by the U.N. who have formally requested evidence that she is alive.

Birth Chart

There is a great deal of symbolism in Latifa’s birth chart which can describe the events of her life.  Sun  in Sagittarius indicates a restless soul, one that could not tolerate the restrictions of such a life she was born to in Dubai.  The Sun exactly sextile Jupiter emphasizes that freedom loving nature and adventurousness (she is an experienced skydiver).  The Sun conjunct Uranus gives her the Rebel Archetype, another sign that she could not give in to his regime.  The Sun opposite Chiron indicates a wound connected with the father.  Mercury conjunct Saturn may indicate the fact that she has been silenced.  Jupiter square Pluto shows a life characterized by power struggle.  Furthermore, Pluto conjunct closely South Node denotes painful past lives, possibly with similar themes and struggles (and very likely to be with the same father).

Escapes and Captures

Latifa has several siblings, but one of her sisters, Shamsa, also tried to flee the family nest before her, and was found in Cambridge in the year 2000.  She was taken back to Dubai, but has not been seen in public for 20 years.  The investigation into her disappearance lapsed, but is now being renewed.

Latifa’s first attempt was in 2002, aged 16.  She was caught at the border of the United Arab Emirates, and then jailed for over three years.  Her transits on that occasion included Uranus square her natal Mercury (attempt to escape).

In 2011 she got to know a Frenchman, Herve Jaubert, who helped plan her 2018 escape.  They have a significantly strong synastry: his Mercury sextile her Neptune (a means of escape), his Jupiter sextile her Mars (optimism) and Saturns conjunct (making plans).

They enlisted the help of a friend, Norwegian Tiina Jauhianen, who accompanied her on the boat in 2018.  They left on 24th February 2018, with a suitable set of transits: Mars conjunct Latifa’s natal Uranus in Sagittarius (a bid for freedom), Saturn sextile her natal Pluto (a deliberate act on behalf of change), Saturn trine the North Node in Taurus (a deliberate act connected with karma) and Neptune exactly square her natal Sun (confused and at sea).

The boat was intercepted on the orders of her father eight days later on 4th March 2018.  Two of the transits were still operational, showing different aspects of the process: Saturn trine her natal North Node in Taurus (a blocking in her karmic path) and Neptune square her natal Sun (her hopes for subterfuge uncovered).

On 11th March 2018 a video was released which she had prepared before her trip in the event that her life would be endangered.  It described family life (“I’m not allowed to drive, I’m not allowed to travel or leave Dubai at all”), her reasons for fleeing, including an accusation that her father had committed a murder.

After she had returned to Dubai, speculation arose about the conditions she was kept in.  On 15th December 2018 the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson was sent to Dubai to meet her, to establish that she was alive and “free”.  They had dinner together and photos were taken.  Later it was revealed that it was all a ruse.  Latifa’s stepmother Haya (daughter of King Hussein of Jordan) says she was told Latifa had mental health problems, and the visit would be a good idea.  She had invited Mary Robinson, and Mary Robinson has now said she is horrified that she didn’t realize the true reason she was there.

The transits for this “fake meeting” were, for Latifa: Neptune still square her natal Sun, still confusion and subterfuge surrounding her.  For Mary Robinson: Pluto trine her natal Venus (a deeply significant meeting), Uranus square her natal Mars (a hidden danger), the North Node on her natal Mars (a karmic meeting), Jupiter opposite her natal Uranus (an opportunity), Neptune sextile her natal Moon (deception connected with a female), Neptune square her natal Midheaven (a high profile deception) and Chiron trine her natal Mars (an attempt at healing).

Haya, in her role as go-between, had the North Node (karma) trine her natal Venus (charm and connections), Chiron exactly on her Venus (attempt to heal a female), and Jupiter on her natal Neptune (A charitable, naive or deceptive act).  When Haya found out the truth, it set off her own desire to escape, and she fled to the U.K. on 15th April 2019.  The transits for her bid for freedom included: Jupiter sextile her natal Uranus (a bid for freedom), Saturn square her Chiron (discomfort leading to action taken for healing), and Uranus sextile her Saturn (a bid to free oneself from ones chains).  The Jupiter sextile to natal Uranus prevailed, as Haya currently resides in a home in Kensington Palace Gardens, but there have been wranglings over the custory of her children with Sheikh Maktoum.  She has diplomatic immunity under the Geneva Convention.

Captivity

In early 2019, Latifa established contact with some of her friends and supporters through a mobile phone smuggled into the villa in Dubai where she was held captive.  She made a series of videos detailing her conditions: “I’m doing this video from a bathroom, because this is the only room with a door I can lock. I’m a hostage. I am not free. I’m enslaved in this jail. My life is not in my hands.”  But one day the contact stopped, and, fearing for her fate, her friends have released the video recordings.  They have not given out the date the recordings stopped, but it appears likely to be in the second half of 2020.  A date would have been useful to track astrologically what was going on for her at the time.

The Father

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to give him his full name, the Prime Minister of Dubai, has built modern Dubai into the business magnet and global city it is today.  He has six wives and 30 children.  He has enjoyed friendly relations with our own royal family too.  As a Cancerian, family comes first, and ironically his statements about Latifa’s whereabouts and condition always state that she is in the safety of her family.  However, it is difficult for us to understand in the West such a callous treatment of a child.  Latifa has gone further, in describing him as capable of murder.  So in not knowing her fate, we cannot assume that she is safe.  He has the chart of a Leader (half his planets in Cardinal signs; Mars closely sextile his natal North Node in Aries.

The synastry between father and daughter shows: Her Mars closely square his Sun (her Inner Warrior stands up to him), their Marses are trine in Air (an engagement of their Warriors), his Uranus opposes her Neptune (his will opposes her attempts at escape), his Neptune sextiles her Sun (he is the architect of her captivity, though there should have been a potential for spiritual closeness) and his Neptune trines her natal Jupiter (again, a connection between him as jailer and her sense of freedom, but there should have been the potential for spiritual understanding).  At the time of her capture, Jupiter was trine his natal Sun (he won) and Pluto was square his Nodal Axis (he exercized his will, possibly creating more karma in the future).

The Position this Week

The issue erupted again into our consciousness around this week’s Saturn-Uranus square, which will have struck each of the charts in question differently.  We only have a birth time for Mary Robinson, whose regret was broadcast this week.  In her chart,  Tellingly, the Uranus falls exactly on her  7 degree natal Mercury in Taurus in 3rd House of Broadcasting, making her newsworthy.  The Saturn falls in her 12th House of Secret Sorrows.

The transits for Latifa this week were: Jupiter sextile her natal Sun in Sagittarius and a Jupiter Return in Aquarius (her plight and need for freedom being recognized again), Saturn square her natal Pluto (revealing the extent of the peril she is in), Saturn square her Nodal Axis (a fateful time, karmically) and Uranus transiting her natal North Node exact to the day (a very karmic revelation of the  truth of her captivity).

The transits for Sheikh Maktoum this week were: The North Node sextile his natal Venus (the Universe is watching his human relations), and the North Node sextile his natal Pluto (his psychology is laid bare).

The latest statement (issued on Friday) says she is “being cared for at home , supported by her family and medical professionals.

She continues to improve and we are hopeful she will return to public life at the appropriate time.”

The U.N. cannot afford to ignore the treatment of women in the U.A.E. as a human rights issue, as well as the U.A.E.  involvement in Yemen.  A heartbreaking news report from Orla Guerin emerged this very week about the children in the Yemen. There is also the question of arms sales to the U.E.A. and Saudi Arabia: new U.S. President Joe Biden has now taken the lead in freezing further sales, and it is to be hoped that the U.K. will follow.  And our royal family may think again about their friendship with the Sheikh (I know they have had family troubles too this week, but even so).  Saturn square Uranus has dictated that it is crunch time to deal with such matters.  I do hope that Latifa is safe, but even if she is, years of solitary confinement and lack of sunlight won’t have helped her wellbeing.

Aspects

Have you felt any difference this morning?  The difference that a Direct Mercury would make?  Is your I.T. working better?  Is your message getting across better?  Well, at any rate Mercury is now functioning fairly normally, you may be pleased to hear.  So if you have projects waiting to happen of a literary or technical nature, this may be a green light for you.  If you have been holding back on communication, you may feel the push to move forward again with it.

You don’t have an aspect for 3 days, and then three come along: So, on Thursday (25th), Mars trines Pluto, very early in the morning (you may feel its effect late Wednesday evening).  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.  If gyms were still open, it would be a  good day for the gym, so failing that you could make up your own gym at home.  Housework or decluttering could substitute for formal exercise, however.  A top scientist today is urging the government to lift the ban on outside sport.  We’ll find out the latest thinking tomorrow as Boris gives another briefing on his plans for easing lockdown.

At lunchtime on Thursday, Venus enters Pisces, so with the Sun already in that sign we are beginning to lose that evangelical focus on Aquarius, and beginning to appreciate a soft-focus approach which takes into account the emotion and feeling of every sentient creature.  Venus in Pisces is unashamedly emotional and easily prone to tears, so don’t be surprised to release the tears which have been stoically been held back coping with the long months of lockdown.  This placing will enable charities to be more easily heard, and the Arts to acquire inspiration.

In the evening, we have another constructive aspect: the Sun sextile Uranus.  Spontaneity and innovation characterize the evening’s proceedings.  Telepathy and higher consciousness, or liaising with a constructive group, are also favoured.

On Friday (26th), Jupiter trines the North Node, and this favours future vision, reaping karmic rewards,  and looking at life positively.  A good day to refresh your hopes, and to observe how everything is happening at the right time in divine right order.

Saturday (27th) brings a Full Moon at 8 degrees Virgo, which is likely to bring some emotional tension and a desire towards perfectionism and practicality, at the same time as honouring spiritual ideals represented by the opposing Sun in Pisces.  Work and service are also principles of this polarity of signs.  The Full Moon takes place at 8.17 a.m. in the U.K., so your dreams may help you work through the upcoming tensions, and early morning action may help to dissipate or fulfil the Full Moon by its peak.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – communications eased
• Thursday – powerfully galvanizing; emotionally compassionate; mentally brilliant
• Friday – karmically rewarding
• Saturday – emotional high tide

Britney Spears

Britney Spears has been in the news this week: firstly for a documentary “Framing Britney”, which is yet to be shown in the U.K., and secondly, for winning a court case against her father.  “Framing Britney” was initially released in the U.S. on 5th February and documents through interviews and film her years of “captivity” in her father’s guardianship, and the recent  #FreeBritney movement.  On Thursday (11th) her father was denied conservatorship rights over Britney’s estate, which he has held for 13 years, since her breakdowns.

Birth Chart

Britney has half her planets (5) in the mutable signs.  Could that mean that she is malleable to others in her life?  Her Sun is conjunct Mercury in Sagittarius in the 3rd House, so primarily she is a communicator, but she does so through song and dance.  Her Moon is in Aquarius in the creative 5th House, so her emotion is on display in her performance.  Mercury is conjunct Uranus, so she is mentally independent and innovative; it seems that it is in relationship that she compromises, and that is where her singer-songwriter Libran Ascendant comes in.  Relationship is all-important to her, so she may sacrifice much of herself.  The sensuality of her Venus closely trine Mars is evident in her provocative performance.  Romantic disappointments and harsh experiences in her life may be seen in Venus square Saturn/Pluto in Libra in the 1st House.  With Venus exactly conjunct her South Node it is very likely that musical talent developed from past lives, and she showed talent from an early age: “I found out what I’m supposed to do at an early age”.  She has Mars in Virgo, and some of her problems may stem from perfectionism.  She has remarked that motherhood has helped her anxiety:  “My boys don’t care if everything isn’t perfect. They don’t judge me.”  Her Mars (ability to assert herself) is complex: it squares Neptune exactly, sextiles the North Node, and is involved in a Grand Trine in Earth with Venus.  She has a powerful conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto, which is tempered by Saturn close by.  Jupiter closely trine closely her Midheaven in Cancer in the 10th House brought success at an early age.  Uranus in the 2nd House of Money has brought fluctuating financial fortunes, certainly in terms of who controls them.

Early Life

As a child star, no one can deny that some of her troubles may have stemmed from that period.  Accounts of her childhood tend to involve her mother’s influence and encouragement, e.g. starting dance lessons at the age of 3, and later being moved to New York to pursue performing opportunities.  Her mother Lynne has the Entrepreneur Archetype in her chart, Jupiter exactly conjunct Uranus.  Britney was aged 11 when she began to work on the Disney Mickey Mouse Club show, and obtained a recording contract with Jive Records at the age of 15, in 1997.

Justin Timberlake

She was already beginning to be known as an artist in her own right, through touring with the group ‘Nsync, and confirmed that she was dating the lead singer Justin Timberlake in 2000.  They were actually well matched in some ways astrologically, with their Venuses exactly conjunct, and his Mercury trine her Jupiter.  But his Venus was exactly square her Pluto, and the relationship lasted only three years.  He revealed they had slept together when she was asserting that she was saving herself, in accordance with her religious beliefs.  Timberlake subsequently released his hit “Cry Me a River” in December 2002.  And since viewing “Framing Britney”, he has apologized to her.

Success

On 12th January 1999 Britney released her first album, “Baby One More Time”, and achieved the fame she had desired.  The album was a best-seller.  Pluto was transiting her Sun at the time: her life was changed, out of all recognition.  The spring of 2000 saw another iconic hit, her second record “Oops!…I did it again”.  Both songs were written by a Swedish songwriter called Max Martin.

Oops

Britney has had a string of relationships in her life, and an overnight marriage in January 2004 illustrates an aspect of the Sagittarian character.  She married a childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander on 3rd January and the marriage was annulled on 5th January.  She labelled it as a “joke that went too far.”  Jupiter and Sagittarius are known for taking a joke too far, and at the time Jupiter was trine her natal Chiron in Taurus in 8th House, Uranus was trine her natal Jupiter in Scorpio in 1st House (an Opportunity), Uranus was square her natal Uranus (the Trickster Transit) and Neptune was on her natal Moon in Aquarius in 5th House  (confused emotions).

Knee Injury

On 8th June 2004 she sustained a knee injury, and subsequently put her career on hold.  Her transits at the time included:  Saturn (knees, and delays) sextile her natal Midheaven, and Uranus (accidents) opposite natal Mars in Virgo in 12th House.

Kevin Federline

The next relationship in line was with Kevin Federline, a backing dancer.  They married on 18th September 2004, under mixed transits for Britney.  This relationship was karmic (her South Node was conjunct his natal Mars) and they were destined to bring two children into the world.  Apart from a trine between her Uranus and his Sun, there was quite a lot of tension in their synastry (astrological compatibility).

Babies

Britney gave birth to her first boy, Sean, on 14th September 2005, by Caesarean section; and their second boy, Jaden James Federline, was born a year later on 12th September 2006 (note that they were both Virgo, and she has Mars – boys – in Virgo).  Having two children so close together must have been a strain on Britney, and before long she was in meltdown, partly through post-natal depression.  When Britney and Kevin divorced on 30th July 2007, they came to an agreement to share joint custody of their children.

Breakdown

On 16th February 2007, she entered a beauty salon and asked to have her hair shorn.  Her transits at the time were not particularly alarming: Mars was trine her natal Mars, and Neptune was trine her natal Saturn.  A few days later, she booked herself into a rehabilitation centre for alcohol and drug dependency.  She had also recently lost a beloved aunt.

Custody Battles

She lost a custody battle with Kevin Federline in October 2007.  Neptune was square her natal Chiron at the time in Taurus in her 8th House.  The following year, she refused to relinquish custody of her sons on one occasion (while under the influence of a substance), and this was when the court placed her under a conservatorship led by her father.  And so, now, thirteen years later, she is trying to regain control over her life.

She more recently made a statement about that time in her life:  “I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health. […] I wrote back then, that I was lost and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was trying to please everyone around me because that’s who I am deep inside. There are moments where I look back and think: ‘What the hell was I thinking?'”

Father

Enter the father, Jamie Spears, in her story (apparently he was largely an absent father until this time)…

Her mother describes Britney’s relationship with her father as “Toxic” (coincidentally the title of one of her successful tracks).  She has Mars exactly square Neptune in her chart, which can sometimes lead her to be a prey to toxicity.  In her synastry with her father, his Neptune (toxins) sits on her Saturn (her control over her life).  He has an exact conjunction in his chart between his Sun and Uranus in the sign of Cancer, which may be read as control over a child.

The control over Britney became more complicated when a relationship with Jason Trawick deepened, and he became a co-conservator with her father, in April 2012.  You can see the Ascendant in Libra at work, and the Neptune square her Mars, in her inability to say “no” to the men in her life.

Fast-forward to 4th January 2019, when her father Jamie had a ruptured colon, and she announced another break in her career.  Mars was transiting her Descendant, the point in the birth chart which indicates close relationships.  She was stressed by this, and in March, she again booked into a psychiatric facility.  But her father was dictating that she should take her medication, and at this point, the #FreeBritney movement was born.  Celebrities have joined the movement (such as Cher and Miley Cyrus), as has the American Civil Liberties Union.

An evaluation of the conservatorship was under way, and in September 2019 Kevin Federline obtained a restraining order against her father after an altercation between Jamie and one of his grandsons.  Britney formally requested that her conservatorship be changed to”reflect her current lifestyle and her stated wishes.”

Sam Asghari

Britney’s current relationship with Sam Asghari stems from March 2017, and he seems supportive enough.  He is a personal trainer.

In April 2019, he made the following statement regarding another of her stints in a mental health clinic:

“It isn’t weakness, It’s a sign of absolute strength, people should only be inspired by this, at least I am”.

They have good astrological chemistry, e.g. Venuses in sextile, and her Mars trine his Neptune (which helps to heal her Mars-Neptune square).

Current Transits

Britney’s response to the film “Framing Britney” was:

“Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person’s life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens”.

Her transits this week are:

Mars on her Chiron (a wound exposed); Jupiter on her Moon (some emotional uplift), Neptune sextile her Mars (some sensitivity), Pluto on her Venus (relationship soul-searching), Pluto square her natal Pluto (huge changes) and Pluto on her South Node (a time of karmic change).

With other issues to be settled, the next hearing of her case has been scheduled for 17 March.  Let us hope for the best for her future.

“The same quality that made her famous – her  inability to mask her true self – was perhaps also the thing that devoured her.”

~ Leah McLaren, The Observer (today)

Aspects

Happy Valentine’s Day!  The planets are indeed happy today.  Mars was sextile Neptune in the early hours of this morning.  This can be a soothing influence on Mars types (Ariens), or enlivening on Neptune types (Pisceans).  for the rest of us, it is conducive to refined and spiritual actions, meditations and exercises.  Yoga and Tai Chi are recommended under this influence.

In the evening, another congenial aspect occurs, this time a conjunction: Mars conjunct Jupiter at 13 degrees Aquarius.  This normally favours learning and education, communication and good news, sales and transport, though under present conditions some of these activities are a little subdued in their expression.  Aside from that, there should be plenty of enjoyment and philosophical awareness around.

Wednesday (17th) brings an important heavyweight aspect, Saturn square Uranus, at 7 degrees Aquarius and Taurus respectively.  If you have a planet in those positions or their opposite (7 degrees Leo or Scorpio), you may feel this more than most.  Saturn likes to preserve the age-old order (but is in a sign of progress) and Uranus likes to rock the boat (and is in a sign of entrenchment).  It may be difficult to come to an agreement over an important negotiation.  Climate-wise, it can bring earthquakes.  Whatever your current issues, try to look at the widest perspective you can muster, and if several people are involved, try to look at the issue from all angles.  Whatever the outcome, there is likely to be an element of progress.  The well-known phrase or saying “You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs” comes to mind – to which I always reply “But you can try!”

The Sun enters Pisces on Thursday (18th) morning:  Although healing issues will look clearer, the general tone of life will become more soft focus.  We become more introspective and aware of our deeper emotions with the Sun in Pisces.  We also become more aware of the sentience and oneness of all life, especially the plight of the creatures of the ocean and the state of the waters.  This is the last stage of our winter introspection before the coming of the spring, and hopefully some easing of lockdown.

Friday (19th) is more lively, with a square between Venus and Mars, literally the battle of the sexes!  This square loosens the inhibitions, but may result in unwanted or inappropriate overtures.  Cue #MeToo and #FreeBritney.  If you are creative on an artistic or musical vibe, you may introduce a little cheekiness into your work.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – A Happy Valentine’s Day
• Wednesday – Huge struggles
• Thursday – Introspection and Emotion
• Friday – lively and cheeky

 

Captain Sir Tom Moore (1920 – 2021)

“Tomorrow will be a good day”

“…the doctors and the nurses, they’re all on the front line, and all of us behind, we’ve got to supply them and keep them going with everything that they need, so that they can do their jobs even better than they’re doing now.”

~ Captain Sir Tom Moore

The pandemic which gave us Captain Tom, eventually was responsible for taking away the national treasure which he became.  Captain Sir Tom Moore died on Tuesday last week, 2nd February 2021.  He first came to our attention last April, in the middle of our first lockdown in the U.K.  Wanting to express his gratitude to the N.H.S. for his recent care after a fall, he set upon walking up and down his garden on his walking frame at the tender age of 99.  By the time of his birthday at the end of April, he had raised over £30 million.  It was an eventful year for him, and the nation took him to their hearts.  Many people (including a great number of children) were inspired to raise money through similar exploits, ensuring a positive dimension to our collective experience through this crisis.

Birth Chart

Sir Tom had half his planets (5) in Cardinal signs, which implies leadership.  His Sun sign was in Taurus, the sign of the indomitable spirit.  The Sun exactly squaring Jupiter and the Moon sextile Jupiter showed a character determined to look at life sunny side up.  But at the same time, Sun trine Saturn and sextile Pluto gave him a strong sense of responsibility, and awareness of the realities of life. Leadership may also have been a feature of his past lives, with the Sun on his South Node.  Inspirationally, Jupiter was exactly conjunct Neptune in Leo trine Chiron in Aries, about which I wrote last year:

“… a wonderful feature of his chart is Neptune conjunct exactly with Jupiter (extreme idealism) and together they trine Chiron (the healer and solution to problems).  Chiron exactly trines Neptune and closely trines Jupiter.  That is an amazing planetary line up!”

Mercury conjunct Venus meant that he was good with words – he was also uplifting in his delivery of those words.  Mercury trine Jupiter showed a well-travelled soul with wide interests.

You can see the career in the armed forces, with Chiron, Venus and Mercury in Aries, the sign of Army (through its ruler Mars).  His great hobby motorcycle racing also comes under the sign of Aries, as does the quality of courage.  Mars in Libra loosely trines Uranus, giving him the Engineer Archetype (early in life he took on an apprenticeship in civil engineering).  Great strength is shown by Saturn closely sextile Pluto, and the ability to deal with huge change by Uranus exactly trine Pluto.  He has 6 exact aspects in his chart, which make for a larger than life character.

Life and Career

Sir Tom was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire.  His father was a builder, and his mother a head teacher.  He served in the Burma campaign in the second World War, where he survived Dengue fever.  He became a Captain on 11 October 1944, with his transits at the time showing Saturn sextile his natal Sun (taking on more responsibility), Pluto squaring his natal Sun (deepening his role in the armed services),  the Nodal Axis squaring his Venus (engaging personally with his karma), and Pluto on his natal Jupiter in Leo (intensifying leadership and power).

The Walk

The walk last year started as a family joke.  Initially it was to be a few laps of the garden, the family offered him £1 per lap, then put it online for the NHS.  He had been challenged to do 100 laps by his birthday, but a lot happened in the intervening time.

At the time his walk began, I wrote about his transits:-

“Uranus was trine his natal Saturn; Uranus was sextile his natal Uranus (the power of surprise) and Uranus was sextile his natal Pluto – a big change in his life, suddenly bringing out his power.”  All these Uranian transits were exact.

He performed on a single released of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with Michael Ball.  I wrote at the time:

“Michael Ball, who has made the most of the opportunity by making a record of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with Tom taking part, also has the power of Uranus working for him at the moment, with Uranus exactly sextile his natal Sun.  Do they have a link, karmic or otherwise?  Yes, Tom’s Uranus trines Michael’s Sun exactly, Tom’s Mars sextiles Michael’s Uranus (they galvanize each other), and Tom’s Pluto is exactly conjunct Michael’s Sun (Tom makes a profound impact on Michael’s life and psyche).”

The single literally broke records!  It became the “biggest trending song”, and he became the oldest person to reach the number one slot in the U.K. music charts.  Uranus was sextile his natal Pluto at the time, making him a powerful force for change.  He also holds a Guinness record for the highest amount raised for an individual walk.

On his birthday he received 150,000 cards, the single was still number 1 in the charts, and the Queen arranged an RAF fly-past.  As well as the long transit of Uranus sextile natal Pluto, he had a Mercury Return on his birthday – the mental clarity to enjoy the proceedings!

Soon after, at the beginning of May, he received the coveted and rare honour of a gold Blue Peter badge!

But the highlight for him apparently was being knighted by the Queen on 17th July last year, at Windsor Castle.  It was the Queen’s first official engagement after lockdown (he was worth coming out for!), and he was the only person being knighted that day.  His lips were sealed as to the conversation that took place on the occasion.  The transits came out suitably for him: Jupiter squared his natal Venus in Aries (a social honour) and Uranus transiting his natal Sun in Taurus (a wonderful surprise in his life).  She has said she enjoyed meeting him.

Impact of his Fundraising

Other huge funds were raised through the inspiration he generated, including from children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida.  The money raised were spent among other things on well-being packs for N.H.S. staff, devices for patients in intensive care to communicate with loved ones (his daughter and family themselves had to use a video call with him in his last hours), and community after care for patients.

Family

In all the interviews with Captain Tom, we got to see the warmth of his immediate family circle (as well as that famous and well worn garden path!).  His wife suffered from dementia, and she died in 2006.  Subsequently he has lived with one of his daughters, Hannah in Bedfordshire.  He has four grandchildren.

The family took a holiday in Barbados in December 2020, where it is thought he may have contracted covid.  He died of pneumonia, a condition which caused him to be ineligible for the vaccination.  In his autobiography he tells how a promise from his grandmother to look after him when he went to war made him think that she probably did so, and that gave him an open-minded sense of curiosity about what happens in the afterlife.  The transits at his transition showed Jupiter prominent (Jupiter square his natal Sun), as well as Uranus still sextile his natal Pluto; in the elderly this can often mean release and liberation, but I feel that for Tom,  it is the start of a new adventure.

There will never be anyone quite like Captain Sir Tom Moore, but he will continue to inspire wannabes.

“Even to give someone a little smile can brighten their day and the smile you get back will brighten yours.”

“Never give up.  Try to build resilience through optimism.”

~ from his Autobiography, 2020

Aspects

A highly strung square between Venus and Uranus took place at 3.33 a.m. today, so your dreams may have been vivid and involved bizarre socializing.  Alternatively, you might have been socializing yesterday evening or early this morning!  It is not an easy day for meetings.  The way through is to use your intuition, and stay one step ahead.  Relationships can be disrupted.

Tomorrow (Monday 8th) is sparkling in terms of consciousness.  This week and this month are dominated by planets in Aquarius, in a line up not seen since February 1962.  Any babies born this month will have a very futuristic outlook. At lunchtime tomorrow the Sun conjoins Mercury at 20 degrees Aquarius.  As Mercury is currently retrograde, it is a replay of the aspect which occurred on 20th December 2020.  It is a good day to apply your mind with clarity,  concentrate and focus,  make important statements, and look to the future.

On Tuesday (9th) we have a useful stabilizing and healing aspect in the shape of Saturn sextile Chiron.  It is important to take stock right now, as we are in the midst of the winds of change brought to us by Aquarius and Uranus, so we need to evaluate what we need to keep, rather than throwing out the baby with the bathwater.  This aspect enables us to think in a balanced way about our needs and our healing, and our plans for the future.

Helpful karma arrives on Wednesday morning (10th) too, with Mercury trine the North Node.  This ensures that information and communication are accurate and karmically relevant.  If you have something important to say, do so as early in the day as possible.

The energy around communication may deteriorate just after Noon (in the U.K.) however, as Mars squares Mercury.  You may recall this replay from January, as it can bring irritations, wars of words, and minor cuts and bruises.  So, proceed with more caution in the afternoon.  If you are sufficiently centred, you may be quite productive, producing brisk work.

The brightest day of the week is Thursday (11th), for two reasons.  The first is one of the year’s highlights, Venus conjunct Jupiter, at 12 degrees Aquarius this year.  It is an aspect of celebration, social pleasure, and romance.  There may be announcements of engagements, for example.  Look out for some good news, and crack your best jokes.

This precedes a New Moon at 23 degrees Aquarius in the evening.  If you have natal planets in Aquarius, you may find they are stimulated at some point or points this month.  You may especially respond to this very special New Moon, when the Moon, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are promoting the Aquarian agenda, with the asteroid Pallas Athena also in Aquarius.  This is a significant push towards the values of the Age of Aquarius, the brother/sisterhood of man, an age working towards freedom and equality.  The New Moon is traditionally a time to focus on your wishes and intentions for a new beginning, and this one projects farther into the future than most.  Joe Biden may be setting out his stall on dealing with the pandemic, on poverty and climate change.  In the U.K. we may be presented with more hope for the elimination of the coronavirus.  It is time to imagine a better world, a time when we have overcome current obstacles and problems, the outlook having been so bleak in the last year.

Mercury conjoins Venus at 14 degrees Aquarius on Saturday (13th) which is a splendid literary and cultural aspect.  It is also a good day for negotiation (take note politicians and diplomats).  Your communications will have an artistic flair, so it’s a good time to get creative.   Captain Tom had Mercury conjunct Venus (good with words), so let us echo his catch phrase…”Tomorrow will be a good day!”

The week in bullet points:

• Today – strange relationships and conversations
• Tomorrow – sparkling consciousness
• Tuesday – stabilizing and healing
• Wednesday – helpful information karma; then irritation and incident-proneness
• Thursday – a welcome brightness; warmth of heart and new beginnings; futurism
• Saturday – good with words; companionable

 

Celeste

“Of all the things to be
I choose the kindness
And if you gave some to me

I think we’d find ourselves here dancing in the street
Everyone we meet would smile a little daydream
It could be amazing
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody gave a little love?”

~ Celeste, from the John Lewis Christmas advert 2020

Another youngster this week:  Singer and songwriter Celeste issued her first album on Friday (29th January), entitled “Not your Muse”, on the Polydor label.  She won the Rising Star Award at the Brit Awards on 6th December 2019.  The first time I heard her voice, I thought: “Where does that come from?” I still wonder that.

Birth Chart

Sun conjunct Mercury in Taurus straightaway places her as a singer-songwriter.  One of her foremost musical influences was Taurean: Ella Fitzgerald, whose Sun was exactly conjunct Venus in Taurus.  Her Mercury trines Uranus/Neptune, giving her a bright mental awareness and receptivity to inspiration.  Mercury in Taurus is also on her South Node, suggesting past lives as a singer and communicator.  Her Moon is in poetic Pisces.  She has Venus exactly square Saturn, and another of her musical influences has this aspect: Aretha Franklin.  Venus square Saturn can give a touch of melancholy, but also may give an element of voice control.  She has the complex Uranus/Neptune of those born in her year (1994). All three of her outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) aspect her North Node (karmic mission), so she may be destined to enter the collective consciousness with her talent.

Life and Career

Celeste was born Celeste Epiphany Waite (what an uplifting middle name!) in California, to an English mother (a make-up artist) and Jamaican father.  Her parents separated, and by the age of three she had moved to England with her mother.  Her father died when she was 16, and she wrote a song (“Sirens”) in tribute to him.  At sixth form, she studied Music Technology.  In 2016 she released her first single “Daydreaming”, a song which really showcases her voice.  She moved to London in 2017, and was signed with Polydor in 2018.

As mentioned, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald were early influences: “I’d almost be pitting myself against these singers from a different era to see if I could do some of the things they could do.”  Her voice has been compared to that of Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday.

When it was announced that she had won the Rising Star award, her transits included a favourable trio of trines composed of Mars trine her Saturn in Pisces, Uranus trine her Chiron in Virgo and Pluto trine her natal Mercury in Taurus.  She was all set for a sparkling 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic put paid to her plans for touring Europe.  Saturn and Pluto were transiting her natal Neptune/Uranus conjunction in Capricorn, but also sextile her natal North Node/Pluto conjunction in Scorpio (the latter conjunction possibly signifying a karmic mission as Soul Singer).

Meanwhile, she was also making a name for herself in fashion and style, appearing on the front cover of the Sunday Times Style magazine as “fashion’s new front-row star”, another province of her ruling planet Taurus.

Collaboration with John Lewis

John Lewis had hitherto relied for its Christmas advert on established records and covers, but for its 2020 campaign Celeste was commissioned to write and sing the accompaniment to their advertisement.  Her voice was amazing on this song, and the words of “A Little Love” might have been twee for the regular audience, but were perfect for the Christmas spirit:

“Happiness
Nothing better in this world to get than happiness
If I give this gift to you
Wouldn’t everybody get a little love?”

This song was launched on 12th November 2020, with a transit of Jupiter to her natal Neptune (reminiscent of her middle name, Epiphany).

Relationship

She is currently seeing poet Sonny Hall (how romantic).  He is four years younger than her, but himself an interesting young man. “Being with someone who’s an artist in their own right has led me further down a path of intrigue, towards the relationship between artist and muse”, she has said.  Sonny Hall issued his first volume of poetry in September 2019, and also models for Kate Moss’ agency.  He has Sun exactly conjunct Mercury in Gemini, which makes him the wordsmith type of poet (as distinct from the dreamy Piscean type of poet).  His synastry with Celeste includes a dynamic sextile between his Jupiter and her Uranus, which suggests they could be successful in collaborative work.

Duets

Celeste is an intriguing singer, a performer on her own terms, bound for a beautiful future.  There are some duets on YouTube well worth watching, between Celeste and other artists. One is a performance of  “You Do Something To Me”, with Paul Weller.

A must-watch is her performance on the New Year Hootenanny with Tom Jones, singing “Blue Moon”:

Here is a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=elcKR9G9tiA

Aspects

Mars squares the Sun tomorrow (Monday 1st February).  This is a hot-headed aspect which can result in minor cuts and bruises through slapdash inattention.  Aggro, irritation and conflict are all possible under this aspect, so set out to have a peaceful day starting with a spot of your best meditational efforts.  Then radiate that calm to all who cross your path, while self-distancing.  You might find people sounding off, in anger, about things that are going on in the world.  If so, some advance preparation may assist in defusing agitation.  The energy, fire and enthusiasm which the Sun with Mars generates can be positively harnessed if you are especially mindful.

Venus enters Aquarius late lunchtime, which may help to cool the vibe.  You may experience a slightly friendlier mood at that time, a shift in energy.  Venus will be in Aquarius until 25th February, so for most of the month the general tone will be more affable.  You will feel more connected to people, but not in a clingy way, more in the mode of a higher evolutionary consciousness.

Fast forward to Saturday (6th) – Tuesday to Friday you are aspect-free and fancy – and the morning brings a conjunction of Venus and Saturn.  The day may start with a sobering reflection about relationship or money.  Feel your feelings (e.g. the nostalgia, or injustice), or deal with them philosophically, and let them go if you can.  The care of the elderly may be a particular preoccupation.  The optimum condition for this conjunction would be loyalty and commitment, and perhaps some songwriting incorporating a touch of melancholy.

Saturday also holds its treasures…The first is Venus sextile Chiron, which again would be suitable for healing through songwriting.  There’s a hint that relationships can be rescued, too.  It is a good day to combine the Arts with Healing, such as creativity which involves and brings about healing.

The second bonus is the North Node trine the Sun:  this can help your actions and creations to fall in line with, and be in sync with, your own karma and the collective karma.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – hot, then cool
• Saturday – sadness, healing, then karmic reward

Amanda Gorman

“When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid.

The new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light.

If only we’re brave enough to see it.

If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Heroine of the week was 22-year old poet Amanda Gorman who gave a reading of her poem “The Hill we Climb” at the Inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States.  She quite literally stunned the world.

Birth Chart

Amanda was born under the poet’s sign of Pisces, with Mercury (mindset) and Jupiter (philosophy) also in that sign.  She has 0 planets in Earth signs, so there may be an extra celestial dimension to her awareness.  Her Sun is in harmony with her Moon in Cancer, though we do not know how close that aspect is, as we do not have her birth time.  Her Sun trines Chiron, an indication of a Healer.  She has Mercury sextile Venus, the Writer Archetype.  She also has Mercury conjunct Mars, indicating a sharpened pen and a critical eye.  Mercury sextile Neptune indicates a subtlety with words and the openness of the mind to spiritual inspiration.  Venus exactly conjunct Neptune brings the ability to create exquisite art forms.  Mars sextile Neptune allows the combination of activism with compassion.  Mars trine Pluto ensures a powerhouse of energy, which she uses in her creative processes.  Jupiter squares Pluto in her chart and she may struggle with using her power.  Jupiter conjunct the South Node brings in karmic merit from past lives.  Pluto square the Nodal Axis is her awareness of the “mountain we climb”.

Her Life and Work

She was born in California, and brought up with her two siblings by her single mother, who was an English teacher.  Growing up, she watched very little television.  She studied Sociology at Harvard College.  Her work has encompassed, already in such a young life, feminism, race, oppression, marginalization and the African diaspora.  She is the first National Youth Poet Laureate, and as such caught the attention of Jill Biden, now First Lady, in 2017.

She is hypersensitive to sound (Venus conjunct exactly Neptune), and had to overcome a speech impediment in order to perform as a poet.  She saw these as a gift, inspired by the words of Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”  Breaking through into her own power, she overcame the natal Jupiter/Pluto square.  She founded a youth writing programme in 2016, called One Pen One Page.

Others who have inspired her have been Malala Yousafzai and Maya Angelou.  She will be publishing two books of poetry in September 2021.  Needless to say, advance sales have gone through the roof.  Also, Penguin books have announced they will publish her poem in hardback in the spring.

Transits at the Inauguration

She had a spectacular set of transits for the event, as well as being beautifully turned out.  Guardian writer Liesl Schillinger described her:

“Erect as a statue, her skin gleaming as if burnished, her hair corncrowed, banded with gold and drawn tightly back into a red satin Prada headband, worn high like a tiara…”

Mars was exactly sextile her natal Jupiter in Pisces (heightening her poetic grandeur); Jupiter was exactly sextile her natal Pluto in Sagittarius (expanding the depth of her philosophy and power); and Uranus was exactly sextile her natal Jupiter (providing a golden opportunity).

She says she wants to run for president in 2036, and she means it.

There are some standout youths in the world today, some of whom we know about: Amanda Gorman is looking after our souls, Greta Thunberg is pricking our climate conscience, and Marcus Rashford is showing us the way to social care…That is a cause for optimism.

“The right words in the right order can change the world; and you proved that yesterday.  Keep changing the world, one word at a time.”

~ Manuel Miranda

“And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”

~ Amanda Gorman

Aspects

In the early hours of this morning, the Sun was conjunct Saturn at 4 degrees Capricorn.  This conjunction bears a serious message: the government reminding us that we are to keep to strict restrictions even if the R number is coming down, and even if we have been vaccinated.  We still have a long way to go.  Caution is Saturn’s name.  Saturn demands responsibility, commitment, and common sense.

Tomorrow (Monday 25th) may lift our spirits with a sextile between the Sun and Chiron.  It’s onwards and upwards on a healing vibration, and also helpful for problem-solving.  What do you yearn to solve?  There will be an attempt to bring everything to a wholeness.

There is some disruption on Tuesday (26th) as Uranus squares the Sun – be prepared for the element of the unexpected, or the Trickster Archetype.  For some, it may be exciting.  Don’t rest on your laurels, provide for loopholes, and don’t take unnecessary risks.

On the same day, Neptune squares the Nodal Axis.  There is a need to grasp the subtleties and intricacies of karma, especially on a group level.  Confusion may reign until you stop to consider this picture, like a blurry picture that gradually comes into focus.   The composer Ennio Morricone had this aspect exact in his natal chart, so why not play some of his soft flowing Neptunian music to establish the right ambience for tuning in to what is and what needs to be?

A deeper challenge, in relationship and money, arrives on Thursday (28th), when Venus conjoins Pluto.  You may feel under a lot of pressure.  What is important, is to try to get to the root of the matter in hand, and for that you may need to go back in time.  There is much to reflect on about the enormity of changes, and the impact on humanity.  You may need to do some soul-searching in order to have a handle on your feelings.

The day is supercharged emotionally, due to the tension leading up to the Full Moon at 9 degrees Leo in the early evening.   The Moon in Leo can be dramatic, and bring about power struggles, especially in groups, as it opposes the Sun in Aquarius.  But Leo is creative, and can write its own screenplay, so do your best to create your own reality your own way.

There is a major upturn on Friday (29th) when the Sun conjoins with Jupiter at 9 degrees Aquarius.  It is one of the most fortunate aspects of the year.  A virtual party may be in store, or a grand self-distanced nature walk.  Alternatively, a good day for an elevated meditation on what makes you happy, then putting your enthusiasms into practice.  Allow yourself the indulgences of hope and gratitude, if they are not already part of your everyday repertoire.

On Saturday (31st) we have to take in our stride the rigorous routine which Mercury Retrograde entails.  As usual this would be for a three week period, in this case until 21st February.  This of course, may herald difficulties in communication.  We may need to upgrade our technology during the next three weeks, and we will need to practice mindfulness and stay alert for misunderstandings.  I was given a new book on the subject around Christmas “The Mercury Retrograde Book” by Yasmin Boland and Kim Farnell (2019).  For Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius, I read the following: “This is a great time for intellectual growth.  You can throw out any outmoded ideas based on what you think is right and replace them with real facts by looking into matters more deeply and asking questions”.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – sober, strategic and sensible
• Tomorrow – a healing vibration
• Tuesday – disruption and confusion
• Thursday – a deeper challenge; emotional high tide
• Friday – the best day
• Saturday – communication difficulties

Legendary musician Phil Spector, famous for his “Wall of Sound”, and infamous for having killed Lana Clarkson, died on 16th January.

Birth Chart

Phil Spector had the Sun in Capricorn opposing the Sun in Cancer, therefore born on a Full Moon.  Full Mooners often arouse strong feelings in others, just as their own emotions are very powerful.  The opposition of the Sun and Moon was part of a T-square with the exaggerative planet Jupiter, which resulted in a grandiose style.  Mercury was opposite his Descendant, so he needed communication, while being lonely at heart.  Venus (music) is very prominent in his chart in terms of connectedness with other planets, both favourable and unfavourable: Venus closely sextile Jupiter spelled sociability, and success in the music industry; Venus trine Neptune brought sensitivity to sound and music.  However, Venus is loosely square Saturn in his chart (loneliness), and Venus was exactly opposite Pluto.   Could that aspect have been responsible for the rage and disappointment in love which led to his killing of Lana Clarkson?  Plenty of people have this aspect, and manage to control it, but it may well have been a factor.  In addition, Venus square the Nodal Axis indicates much karma with musicians and in the music world.  Mars conjunct Jupiter made him an intense ball of energy allied with enthusiasm, capable of going over the top.  While Mars in Pisces closely opposite Neptune contributed to a complex sexuality.  Worthy of mention too are Jupiter trine closely Pluto (a huge sense of power, or megalomania) and Saturn closely conjunct South Node, coming into this incarnation with a great deal of karmic baggage.  And Pluto square his natal Nodal Axis may have given rise to dark thoughts shaping his karmic path.

Early Life and Career

Phil Spector was born on Boxing Day in 1939, in the Bronx, New York.  In his late teens, he formed a band called the Teddy Bears, and their debut single “To Know Him is to Love Him” was number one in the U.S. charts (when Pluto was trine his natal Sun, a life-changing transit).  The title came from an inscription on his father’s grave – his father had committed suicide in 1949.  He formed his own record label at the age of 21, Philles Records, when his progressed Sun trined his natal Neptune in Virgo in his 4th House.  During the course of his musical career, he collaborated with many bands and artists.

Marriage

In the early 1960s, he worked with the Ronettes, and was responsible for their big romantic hits.  The Ronettes consisted of two sisters and a cousin, who wore distinctive beehive hairdos and well defined eyeliner (interestingly, Amy Winehouse, a fan of Phil Spector, adopted the beehive).  Their honeyed-toned hits included Be My Baby, Baby I Love You, (The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up and (my own personal favourite) Walking in the Rain.

Here he developed his famous “Wall of Sound”.  In “I’m Your Man”, a biography of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons, it is well described:

“His records were ‘Phil Spector’ records, the artists and musicians merely bricks in his celebrated ‘Wall of Sound’ – the name that was given to Spector’s epic production style.  It required battalions of musicians all playing at the same time – horns bleeding into drums bleeding into strings bleeding into guitars – magnified through tape echo.”

The lead singer of the Ronettes, Veronica Bennett, or Ronnie Spector as she came to be called, married Phil Spector in 1968. She became a captive in her own home, and eventually escaped barefoot with the help of her mother in 1972.  Her synastry with Phil Spector shows: Her Sun on his I.C. (for a time, he made her his emotional foundation), her Saturn square his natal Mars (an abrasive contact), Saturns exactly sextile (some conducive working together) and his Jupiter opposite her Neptune (triggering his delusional side).

Other Collaborations

With:

Jerry Lieber: he co-wrote Spanish Harlem

Ike and Tina Turner: he produced “River Deep Mountain High”

The Righteous Brothers: he produced “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling” and “Unchained Melody”

The Beatles: he produced “Let it Be”, “Imagine” with John Lennon, and “All Things Must Pass” with George Harrison.  George Harrison would recall it would take “eighteen cherry brandies before he could get [Spector] down to the studio”.

Leonard Cohen: he produced “Death of a Ladies’ Man”.  Leonard Cohen found the production of this album a bit of a nightmare, and Sylvie Simmons devotes the whole of Chapter 15 to Phil Spector (pub. 2012) in her biography of Cohen, “I’m Your Man”.  She wrote:

“Where Leonard’s darkness manifested as ‘withdrawal and melancholy’, with Spector it was ‘megalomania* and  insanity, and the kind of devotion to armaments that was really intolerable…There were guns everywhere.  Phil was beyond control.’ ”

*Jupiter trine Pluto, among other aspects in Phil Spector’s natal chart

Injury and Killing

Phil Spector was seriously injured in a car crash in 1974, and was hospitalized with head injuries which necessitated hours of surgery.  The accident shows up in his chart as a transit of Uranus to his North Node.  It is likely that this event further exacerbated his extreme personality traits.

On 3rd February 2003, Phil Spector shot actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion.  One trial was aborted, and the process was restarted, eventually resulting in a 19 year prison sentence in 2009.  During the proceedings, possible diagnoses of bi-polar syndrome and Parkinson’s were brought up in relation to his health.  On the day of the shooting, Mars was exactly opposite his natal Ascendant, a transit which can be a trigger point in a volatile or unstable personality.  The fated interaspects in their charts included his Pluto square to her Venus, and her Pluto sextile his Moon.  Her transits on the day were harsh: Chiron squared her natal Sun, Pluto squared her natal Mars (danger) and Jupiter square her natal Neptune.  On the day he was sentenced Saturn squared his natal Mercury, Uranus opposed his natal Neptune, and Neptune trined his natal North Node in Libra in 5th House.  Neptune rules incarceration, and his natal Uranus is in the 12th House of Prisons.  He died in Stockton Prison in California, having tested positive for Covid a few weeks earlier.

At some point in his trial, he stated:

“No sleep, depression, mood changes, mood swings, hard to live with, hard to concentrate, just hard—a hard time getting through life, I’ve been called a genius and I think a genius is not there all the time and has borderline insanity.”

Nancy Pelosi

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, presided over the second impeachment of Donald Trump this week, itself a record number of times a  U.S. President has been impeached.  That is quite an achievement for an 80-year old, in a lifetime of achievement.

Birth Chart

Nancy has the Sun in Aries, a sign of great self-belief.  Her Moon is in strong-willed Scorpio, and her Ascendant (yes, we have a birth time) is in Leadership Leo.  She is very grounded (5 Earth planets), works on instinct (0 Air planets) and is extremely strong-willed (6 Fixed planets).  Her strength is increased by a trine to her Sun from Pluto in the 8th House.  The Moon in Scorpio in the 3rd House exactly trines Mercury, so in her chart rationality and imagination are working perfectly together.  The Moon is conjunct her I.C., which means she has strong emotional family roots.  Mercury sextile Venus gives her a way with words, and Uranus sextile Mercury conveys a brilliant mind.  A trine from Chiron to Mercury adds problem-solving ability.  Venus is positioned exactly conjunct Uranus in Taurus, either side of the 10th House cusp, both exactly conjunct with it, with Uranus in 9th and Venus in 10th – a most interesting description of her unusual role in society for her times.  With Venus trine Neptune, she is capable of  the finer feelings, and with Mars conjunct Uranus she can be forceful.   She may have acquired merit in past lives, with Jupiter conjunct the South Node in Aries in 8th House.  The North Node in Libra (Law) in 3rd House, points possibly to her karmic mission.  Chiron in Cancer may convey great patriotism

Life and Career

Born the youngest child of an Italian-American family, both Nancy’s parents were involved in politics, and she became so at an early age: “Our lives were about campaigns”.

Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the House in 1987, at the age of 47.  She became a U.S. representative from California (her father before her had been U.S. representative from Maryland). She has worked on many issues, including healthcare, environmental issues, gun laws, human rights in China, and AIDS.  She also opposed the Iraq war.

She became Speaker of the House of Representatives on 4th January 2007, with Mars sextile her natal North Node in Libra (Law) in 3rd House; Uranus sextile her natal Midheaven in Taurus in 9th House (a significant breakthrough) and Neptune sextile her natal  Jupiter in Aries in 8th House (an opportunity to play out her ideals).

Her speech included the words:

“This is a historic moment—for the Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren’t just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and granddaughters, today, we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit, anything is possible for them.”

This was an extraordinary first, the highest rank for a woman in the history of Congress. Until Kamala Harris’ recent appointment as upcoming Vice President, this remained true.  When Kamala becomes Vice President next week, on Wednesday 20th January, Nancy will be ranked third in power, after President Biden and Kamala Harris, in terms of the presidential line of succession.

She worked relatively harmoniously during the Obama administration, but clashed openly with Donald Trump who overturned many of the policies of the preceding years.  Her synastry with Donald Trump reveals a very intense set of interaspects:

Her Neptune squares his Sun, while his Neptune opposes her Sun – a very tricky entanglement.  His Moon sextiles her North Node, so they could have a karmic link.  Most tellingly, their Marses are exactly squared – their energies work differently and lock horns. Her Mars is in stubborn Taurus, and his in stubborn Leo, so it gets very personal.  Their Jupiters too are exactly opposite, so they have a different view of what constitutes justice.

Marriage

Nancy married Paul Pelosi on 7th September 1963.  Their Synastry shows that Paul is also an Aries, born 3 weeks after her in the same year, so their generational planets are conjunct, which often gives shared values.  His Uranus is conjunct her Venus and squares her Ascendant.  Her transits on the day they married were significant: she had a Jupiter Return, in Aries in her 8th House; Saturn was sextile her natal Jupiter exact on the day (a good balance in life); Neptune was trine her natal Chiron in Cancer in 11th House (healing) and Pluto trine her natal Midheaven in Taurus in 9th House (a deep but constructive change in her life direction).  They have five children together and five grandchildren.

Impeachments

That Scorpio Moon (a long term determination) came into force through her actions in impeaching Donald Trump since she was re-elected as Speaker in January 2019.  The first impeachment took place on 18th December 2019, and the transits did not make much impression on Donald Trump.  It was more significant for Nancy astrologically: Saturn was trine her natal Venus; Mars was opposite her natal Uranus; Saturn was trine her natal Uranus.

The second impeachment, which took place this week on Wednesday 13th January 2021, looks to have more impact: Pluto was opposite his natal Saturn in Cancer in 11th House; the North Node on his Uranus in Gemini in his 10th House, calling him to account, and Chiron opposes his natal Neptune in Libra in 2nd House.  But it should be noted that he has a couple of trines, too (half the country willing to demonstrate on his behalf).  Nancy’s transits this time round are Jupiter exactly sextile her natal Sun in Aries in 8th House (feeling much more like a success), Neptune sextile her Uranus, and Pluto trine her natal Neptune (a deep satisfaction).  The impeachment was in direct response to the storming of Congress by Trump’s followers on 6th January, after his words of “incitement”.  The difference this time is that ten Republicans voted in favour of impeachment.

Inauguration

Joe Biden’s Inauguration as President is due to take place next Wednesday.  Some conspiracy theorists say that Donald will pop up at the Inauguration and declare himself re-elected.  But there is a conspiracy theory for every possible scenario these days.  I noted in 2020 for the time of the Inauguration:

“Pluto opposite his natal Venus (a shattering time for him personally), but with Pluto trine his Midheaven (a transformation in his Career, Life Direction and Reputation – which could go either way!)”

The transits for the U.S. chart for the day shows a strident Mars sextile its natal Jupiter, Jupiter on its South Node (some positive karma), Uranus sextile its Jupiter (an opportunity), Uranus square its Nodal Axis (big change), and Pluto opposite its Mercury (some upset, for some sections of society).

Widespread demonstration and violence have been predicted for the day, and there is a dicey Mars/Uranus conjunction on the astrological menu that very day.  Donald Trump and his “movement” will not go quietly.

Personally speaking, I don’t believe the conspiracy theories; I firmly believe that Joe Biden will take his place as President, and that he will try to restore sanity and order in his country.

“One of the best Speakers the House of Representatives has ever had.”

~ Barack Obama

Aspects

This evening brings a momentous aspect, that of Jupiter square Uranus.  In a natal chart it can denote someone who is a Chancer, or an Opportunist.  In terms of events it could bring change by surprise opportunity or loopholes.  The change may be desired or unwanted, but the opportunity exists in the spaces that have been created.  Look closely at your agenda and your landscape, and you may already see what is likely to transpire.

On Tuesday (19th) evening, re-affirming the trend towards change, the Sun enters Aquarius.  We are more open to embracing change,  as we emerge from the stiffness of winter, like snowdrops from the ground.  We still have a way to go before Spring, but are ready to look at different ways of being.

Wednesday (20th), Inauguration Day, has the conjunction of Mars and Uranus.  This occurs in the evening in the U.K., but will be in daylight in the U.S.  Pent-up energy, tension, anger and enthusiasm is likely to erupt, so the peacemakers will be much needed.  Engineering projects could benefit, but sparks are likely to fly both electronically and etherically.  Note that Nancy Pelosi has this conjunction natally, and it is part of the force of her personality.

Mercury trine the North Node on the same day may ensure that the right people get the right information at the right time, and that karmic justice is carried out.

On Saturday (23rd) Jupiter squares Mars in the morning, and enthusiasm and excitement may spill over into uncontrolled action.  This combination can produce high jinx, fun and games, or just sheer over the top enthusiasm allied with energy – that’s what I would normally expect.  But in a week where a difficult Inauguration is taking place, and Jupiter has squared Uranus, and Mars has conjoined Uranus, anything can happen.  Emotions will still be volatile.  If your life is far removed from a U.S. Inauguration, look for enthusiastic activity and fiery exchanges in your personal environment.

The evening brings balm…for Venus sextiles Neptune, in harmless and soothing waves of serenity, as far as it can interpenetrate the fieriness of the day.  People may come more into tune with each other, having expressed their fire.  New artistic avenues may flourish, having found ingenious ways for people to share art, music and performance over the internet with the closure of theatres etc.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Opportunity knocks
• Tuesday – Embracing change
• Wednesday – Explosive; karmic improvement
• Saturday – Energy allied with enthusiasm; soothing balm

Gerry Marsden (1942 – 2021)

“We went over [to Hamburg] with the Beatles and had a good laugh.  All they had over there were oompah bands…we took over this music, and they loved it.”

~ Gerry Marsden

Singer Gerry Marsden, frontman for Gerry and the Pacemakers, died last week.  He and his band were a fundamental part of the Merseybeat scene in the early 1960s, and his version of “You’ll never walk alone” was the soundtrack to many a Liverpool football match.

Birth Chart

Gerry had the Sun in the first degree of Libra, a singer’s sign.  He was born on a Full Moon (the Moon opposing the Sun), with the Moon either in Pisces or Aries.  With the Sun trine team-minded Uranus, he flourished in a band.  There’s a dreamlike quality about his chart, with Neptune winding its way through various features: his Sun is closely conjunct Neptune, his Moon may be in Pisces and opposes Neptune, and Mars is also conjunct Neptune.  We do not have his birth time, so we cannot see Neptune’s position in the context of the whole chart, but I think the dreamy Neptunian quality gives atmosphere to his iconic version of “You’ll never walk alone”, and the portrayal of “Ferry Cross the Mersey”.  The Moon is probably trine Jupiter in his chart, which would make him emotionally upbeat.  His vitality shows  up well, in respect of a strong Mars which is conjunct his Sun, trine Saturn and Uranus, and sextile Pluto.

Life and Career

Gerry, together with his older brother Freddie who was one of the Pacemakers, was born in Toxteth, Liverpool.  Freddie’s Sun in Sagittarius was exactly sextile Gerry’s Sun at the beginning of Libra, making for an excellent musical partnership.  Gerry joined a skiffle group at the age of 14, together with Freddie.  They went from being called the Red Mountain Boys to the Mars Bars (a short lived name).  In 1959 they were renamed The Pacemakers.  Having first signed up The Beatles, Brian Epstein signed up The Pacemakers in June 1962 – the Mersey sound was under way!  Then in December 1962 George Martin signed them up to the Columbia label.

Their first hit was “How do you do it?” In his memoir “All You Need is Ears”, George Martin writes about this reording debut:

“The next group he [Brian Epstein] brought me was Gerry and the Pacemakers.  For them, I dipped into my song-bag and once more produced ‘How Do You Do It?”, the song that t he Beatles hadn’t wanted to issue.  Gerry recorded it, and it went to number one… that was a little personal vindication of my faith in the song…”  

Hits that followed over the next few years were:-

I like it

You’ll never walk alone

Don’t let the sun catch  you crying

Ferry cross the Mersey

A film entitled “Ferry Cross the Mersey” was produced in 1965.

In 1966, the Pacemakers disbanded. Marsden subsequently appeared in musical theatre and television, occasionally re-recording collaborative versions of “You’ll never Walk Alone” and “Ferry Cross the Mersey” for charity.

In 1993, Marsden published his autobiography, also entitled “You’ll never Walk Alone”.

He was married, with two daughters.

The Football Song

“You’ll never Walk Alone” is a song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein film musical Carousel of 1945.  In the musical, it accompanies a poignant storyline about a widow.

The song is particularly associated with Liverpool Football Club, but is played at football matches all over the world, inspired by Gerry’s recording.

George Martin continues:

“…a more interesting recording Gerry made was of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, the old American standard.  He always got a great reaction from audiences when he performed it, and it was Brian’s idea to record it.  For the first time, I backed Gerry with a large string orchestra, which was a great departure for him.  He had been a very jolly rock-and-roll star, doing little two-beat songs, and suddenly here was this big ballad with which his voice could hardly cope.  All the same, I think it was largely that record which was responsible for the song becoming the universal football-crowd song it is today.”

The song proved to be an enduring thread in Gerry’s life, and even in 2020 he released a version of it in tribute to the NHS.

The Beatles, together with Gerry and the Pacemakers, were the musical accompaniment to my early teens.  It is hard to convey to the current musical consumers, listening to Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, and groups I have never heard of, how exciting it was to hear those simple love songs in the early 1960s.  The Beatles themselves moved on from that genre, and a lot has happened since in the music world!

Aspects

In the early hours of this morning Mercury conjoined Saturn at 2 degrees Aquarius, so you can forgive yourself a few gloomy thoughts (e.g. about the proliferation of the pandemic, or the violence at the Capitol in Washington last week), as the combination of Mercury and Saturn pins us down to reality.  Mercury conjunct Saturn brings communications of a serious nature.  You may have found yourself trying to come to terms with recent events or news.  The important thing about this conjunction is what conclusions you come to, and what constructive action you might decide to take, even if it is taking up the ever present demand of decluttering.

Tomorrow (Monday 11th), there could be better news, with Mercury conjunct Jupiter.  As Jupiter and Saturn are still conjunct, there may be a bittersweet edge to the news, but there should be some good news in there!  This conjunction takes place at 5 degrees Aquarius.  I had to re-check that: Mercury moving 3 degrees in a day?  But allowing for the fact that Sunday’s conjunction was very early in the morning, and Monday’s is late afternoon, and Mercury just is sometimes extra speedy, yes 5 degrees Aquarius is the position.  You can take special note if this is an important degree in  your chart.  This conjunction favours learning and education, communication and good news, sales and transport.  Education, business and transport have all taken a battering in these covid times, so maybe any glimmer of hope will be welcomed and grasped.

Mercury is also blessed with a sextile from Chiron the same day, so Geminis and Virgos may be especially happy.  This bodes well for health related issues, and problem-solving.  It is helpful for developing your Inner Healer, whatever your sign.

A more weighty benefit comes also that day from a sextile between Jupiter and Chiron.  That brings the possibility of some real healing, or more good news about health.  I do hope that this sextile can get past through the incompetent of governments, and the scale of the pandemic.  The U.K. hospitals are currently at their limit, so it would be good to hear that the figures are decreasing a little.  That would be my wish, but you can bring out your own wishes for Jupiter sextile Chiron on any issue in your life.  It is a really positive force.

Make the most of Monday!

Tuesday (12th) brings the spanner-in-the-works aspect of Uranus square Mercury.  Back up your computer files, and consider I.T. loopholes, as this is a time when you may experience glitches in this area.  Your Intuition is your guide to your way through these anomalies.  Set your antennae to a higher frequency!  On the covid scene, there may be more shocks recorded, and in Washington more headaches for Joe Biden as he prepares to take the reins of government.

Another square which could make Tuesday difficult is that of Chiron to Venus.  Self-nursing and relationship issues are highlighted by this square.  Healthwise, sore throats could be prevalent – leading to the question of whether or not to take a test or self-isolate.  But this is a fast-moving aspect, so the question would be resolved quickly.  If there is an emotional crisis, then healing could be nearby.

A New Moon arrives at 23 degrees Capricorn on Wednesday (13th) early in the morning, so you may wake refreshed, full of good new intentions. Plan a constructive month ahead.  New beginnings are possible in relation to the structures and organization of your life, relations with authority and the institutions of society.  Politicians may announce good new intentions.  It is a good time for Joe Biden to lay out new ideas and policies, and for Matt Hancock to take us through his latest strategies for dealing with the pandemic.

Work quickly, because things get more complicated around 11 a.m. when Saturn squares Mars.  I think of this aspect as a square peg in a round hole, and a square peg which  you shouldn’t try to push through the round hole.  Energies clash.  You may feel tired and a little discouraged, and unproductive.  Ride it out gently.  And observe others carefully, who may not be astrologically mindful.

Good news returns (you had good news earlier in the week, right?) on Thursday (14th) with a trine between Venus and Uranus.  This occurs in the first hour of the day, so may begin the previous night, or may take place during a bright dream.  The aspect may set you up with insights for the following week, or bring encounters of the illuminating kind.  In the field of the Arts, it can bring originality and surprise, e.g. to a performance of music.  Ideas for assisting the problems in our society may also crop up, such as community based solutions.

At  8.36 a.m.  Uranus Stations prior to turning Direct.  Intuition will flow better, and future vision come into view.  It will become easier to align with the new energies of Aquarius.

In the early afternoon, the Sun conjoins with Pluto, and that will be a profound wake-up call, both personally and collectively.  Practicing meditation and calming techniques would be a good way to proceed on the day as the deeper issues of life come up for assessment.  Any creativity will have depth to it, and you won’t be able to skim the surface of things. But you will emerge the richer for it.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – serious communications
• Tomorrow – better news; healing ways; a breakthrough
• Tuesday – spanner in the works; nursing
• Wednesday – new beginning; clumsiness
• Thursday – electrifying encounters; intuition flowing; a profound wake-up call

 

Pierre Cardin (1922 – 2020)

“I have always worked in my own style, which is different from all others. It was always my intention to be different, because that is the only way to last.”

~ Pierre Cardin

The fashion designer known for his space age designs, Pierre Cardin, died on 29 December at the age of 98.  He launched his space age look in 1964, at a time when Andre Courreges (he of the boots) and Paco Rabanne (chainmail dresses) were also promoting the style.  It was also in the mid-sixties that Mary Quant was designing ultra-short mini dresses in the U.K. and Terence Conran opened up his first Habitat in London.  In the whole of 1964 Saturn was in Aquarius (sign of the space age), as it also is in 2021.  So could this year be the year of the space age, or a return to space age fashion?

 “I was very influenced by the satellites, by the moon, by the entire cosmos, by astronauts.  My first designs were based on the moon.”

~ Pierre Cardin

Birth Chart

It is not difficult to find this space age theme in Cardin’s chart, as there are several factors which point to it.  Firstly, he has Uranus (the ruler of Aquarius) in Pisces in his 5th House, which describes inventive, futuristic and original creativity and creations.  Uranus and Aquarius also represents the unisex fashions that he created.  He had the Part of Fortune and his I.C. in his 4th House exactly conjunct in Aquarius, re-emphasizing this theme: the style was the foundation of his life; he was rooted in the future, always thinking outside the box.  With 0 planets in Earth (strengthening the space theme!), his clothes were not always practical.

With the Sun in the tenacious sign of Cancer, his calling was concerned with the life of women.  His father wanted him to be an architect, but from an early age he was passionate about dressmaking.  Some of his dress designs have been described as architectural.  His Sun (creativity) was exactly trine his natal Uranus (the avant-garde) in his 5th House of Creativity, again re-emphasizing the themes of originality and space age.  Moon trine Mercury in air signs meant that he was able to engage left brain with right brain, rational mind with imagination; and the Moon sextile Venus was congenial for relations with women and in the world of women.  His ruler the Moon was loosely conjunct Jupiter in Libra, spelling success (Jupiter) in designing (Libra) for women (Moon), and the Moon sextile Neptune added emotional sensitivity.  Ascendant in Libra lent the last word in elegance to a designer, and Midheaven in Leo gave him the Showman Archetype, the confidence to show his brand.  Venus exactly conjunct Neptune produced exquisitely refined artistry and this conjunction in the 10th House closely trined Chiron in Aries in the 6th House – a career healing through art and creativity.  Jupiter was conjunct the North Node in Libra in 12th House square exactly Pluto/Sun (exact) in 8th House – a love of power.  It pleased him to have his signature on numerous items of merchandise.  But his Midheaven was exactly sextile his North Node, so there was no conflict between his conventional career and karmic mission.  He enjoyed creating a dress design per day.

Relationships

Cardin defined himself as “mostly gay”.  We do not have a birth date for his long-term partner and fellow fashion designer Andre Oliver, who died in 1993.  But in the early 1960s he had a four year affair with the actress Jeanne Moreau, and we are able to look at the synastry between them:

Her exact Jupiter-Uranus conjunction (her Entrepreneur) in Aries was exactly opposite his natal Saturn in Libra, which was very enlivening for him and inspiring for his work in design.  This was a constructive partnership (for as long as it lasted), with his Saturn trine her Sun, his Jupiter trine her Moon, his Mars sextile her Mercury, his Venus trine her Saturn and his Ascendant sextile her Neptune.  His Nodal Axis squared her Mars, so she would have had to assert herself; and his Venus/Neptune conjunction squared her Ascendant, which meant that there may have been some ambivalence, deception and paranoia – possible reasons why the relationship did not last.  But overall, it would have been a relationship which enhanced his life.

Death

There was no cause of death given, but astrologically there is an air of psychological completion, with the transiting Jupiter/Saturn conjunction from his 4th House exactly trine his natal Saturn in Libra in 12th House.

“It is a day of great sadness for all our family. Pierre Cardin is no more. We are all proud of his tenacious ambition and the daring he has shown throughout his life.”

~ his family

Aspects

The first aspect of the week occurs within the first hour of Tuesday (5th) morning, with Mercury conjunct Pluto at 24 degrees Capricorn.  This to remind us that although we have stepped over a threshold into the Age of Aquarius, there are still serious matters to attend to from the deeply Capricornian year of 2020.  Truth needs to be told, and words will have a profound effect.  Deeper motives may be revealed.  Listening too is important, and conversations may become cathartic, if sincerely transacted.

A necessary slowing down may occur on Wednesday (6th) with Mars moving into Taurus in the late evening.  Mars has held sway in its own sign since early July, and that energy has been very galvanizing most of the time (except for the period in retrograde motion).  But activity for its own sake has its limitations, and though Mars is not so happy in the earthbound sign of Taurus, the testing quality of this energy has its reasons and worth.  You may find yourself querying more often why you are doing something, and how to do it, e.g. working more resourcefully and more in alignment with planetary requirements.  Greta Thunberg has just turned 18, and with four planets in Capricorn she may have more grease to her elbow while Mars is in Taurus (it stays until 4th March).  Any enterprise on Wednesday/Thursday needs to take account of the new energy and attitude.  As Taurus rules the Arts, an aesthetic angle or a musical rhythm may need to come into the equation, for instance.

Another ingress takes place at Noon on Friday (8th), that of Mercury entering Aquarius.  That increases the balance of planets in Aquarius to three, with Jupiter and Saturn already there.  The asteroid Pallas Athena is also currently in Aquarius.  The Aquarian energy is gathering…Reality based Mercury in Capricorn as a collective mindset gives way to the futuristic, the avant-garde, the original, the inventive: all the qualities used to describe Pierre Cardin’s fashions and creations!  Look out for a surge in space-age related news items and influences.  Technology, too will flourish (although, curiously, Pierre Cardin did not like computers).

Yet another ingress takes place the same day, mid-afternoon, with Venus entering Capricorn, taking the place Mercury has just vacated.  Carefree Venus in Sagittarius gives way to a more sedate portrayal of love and affection, and the Arts.  Loyalty and stamina are more in evidence, after the more adventurous period of her sojourn in Sagittarius.  This too will help the efforts of Greta Thunberg during her stay here (the whole of the rest of the month, until 1st February).  Recent Januaries have seen a successful drive called “Veganuary”, encouraging vegetarianism and veganism, and this would be set to continue.  Thoughts may turn to the care of the elderly within the family circle, and the protection programme by vaccination of the elderly.  Last night’s special covid episode of Casualty focussed on the problems in the early stages of the original lockdown of discharging elderly covid patients from hospital back into care homes without testing them, and the havoc that caused.

Some inspiration creeps in later in the day, with the Sun sextile Neptune.  The saying goes that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but the Sun sextile Neptune gives you the best chance of creating beauty and inspiration in your life.  If spiritual harmony and creativity are some of the goals and aspirations you have for the start of the year, you can safely cultivate them on Friday.

The early hours of Saturday (9th) bring a fractious square between Mercury and Mars into play, which means: minor irritations, minor cuts and bruises, and minor conflicts.  People may get out of the wrong side of the bed, and express their tiredness through mumbled expletives.  If this is so, might I suggest that a meditation can provide a re-set?  Though you may feel you want to make progress quickly, slowly is more holy at this time.  But paradoxically, after a refreshing meditation If you are centred, you may be quite productive, producing brisk work.

Some of the earlier irritation is smoothed over mid-afternoon, when Venus trines Mars.  The Venus effect is strengthened as Mars is in her sign of Taurus.  If there are other wars going on, the relations between the sexes will be harmonious, or the connectivity between your own inner male and female.  It would be a good opportunity for sharing and balancing roles, such as career and parenting.  And exercises of body awareness, such as qijong, may be helpful.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – serious communications
• Wednesday – more considered activity
• Friday – forward thinking; loyalty and resourcefulness; inspired creativity
• Saturday – minor skirmishes; more harmony later