Brexit Update No. 4

“Shortly after eight in the morning came the first resignation.  Someone no one had ever heard of quitting a job no one knew he had.” – Jon Crace

This is at least my fourth piece about Brexit, which is not bad considering I studiously avoid the subject…

Theresa May

It was quite a week for the indomitable Theresa May, and no day was quite as lonely as Thursday, with her support dramatically eroding, after submitting her 500 page Brexit deal document.

Neither the right nor the left of the Conservative or Labour parties like it.

But what’s a girl to do?

In the words of Ricky Nelson:

“You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself”

The Brexit referendum vote went 52% to the Brexiteers and 48% to the Remainers.  So, in her logic, what she is delivering (neither here nor there) is delivering proportionally what the people asked for.

On that fateful Thursday, Mars was opposing her natal Pluto (indications of danger; well she did face a lot of hostility).

So at this moment in time, she is in a precarious position, with several resignations, a new Brexit secretary, Jacob Rees Mogg triggering a vote of no confidence in her with the 1922 committee, the possibility that 48 letters may begin a new leadership contest, and the remote possibility of a general election which may turn the tide against the Conservative Party.  We are nearly at the end of the two year Brexit process, but nowhere near to a  deal.  All other U.K. society concerns (such as poverty and the N.H.S.) have been sidelined in order to deal with Brexit, and the U.N. are flagging up the parlous state of the poor here.  Has there ever been such a dire moment in our history, since the second World War?

U.K.

The 1922 Chart for the United Kingdom is very sparse on transits, but the 1801 Chart shows Jupiter exactly trine its Jupiter at this time.  Jupiter also sextiles its Uranus, and Pluto sextiles its Neptune.  Those transits would suggest an opportunity of some sort – whether to embrace the flawed deal, or whether to adopt the third option (cancel Brexit).

What was the darkest hour of the second World War?  “The darkest hour” was a phrase itself coined by Winston Churchill for a phase beginning in June 1940 with the fall of France.  Saturn was sextile the UK Uranus and Pluto, for the 1922 chart.  For the 1801 chart, Saturn was trine our Sun, Uranus was square our Saturn, and Pluto was on our Jupiter and sextile our Uranus.  Mixed transits, but with the hope of a fight back. No resemblance, to the current climate. For Winston Churchill, Chiron was trine his Mercury (problem solving), Neptune was square his Venus, the North Node was transiting his North Node (bringing out the bulldog), and Saturn was square his Saturn.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party, so torn apart, has Pluto sextile its Sun (transformation), and Jupiter on its Venus (emphasis on relationships, but not the kind being displayed this week.  As I said in October: “Therefore the Party seems more resilient than one would think, especially if you are hoping for its imminent overthrow.”

Jacob Rees Mogg

Some of those who have resigned (e.g. Boris Johnson, who resigned earlier and whose star may be on the wane, and Dominic Raab) have been seen to have ambitions for the top job.  But Jacob Rees Mogg, who has played a part in this crisis, has stated that is not his intention. This week Pluto was square his Venus (a ruptured relationship, with arguably some ruthlessness on his part),  and North Node sextile his Uranus (karmic opportunism).

Michael Gove

Michael Gove kept everyone guessing for a day – “will he or won’t he resign?” after turning down the job of Brexit Secretary.  He has decided to fight from within, and with four other Brexiteers in the cabinet, is trying to find a way to amend the current deal which is on the table.  Jupiter is squaring his Sun, in upbeat mood for him.  And Pluto is trine his Pluto, bringing self-empowerment.  He certainly seems strongly poised at the moment, holding a balance of power.

Stephen Barclay

New Brexit Secretary on the block Stephen Barclay is a Taurean, so Theresa may expect more loyalty from him that the previous one who helped fashion a deal then declared it to be rubbish.  Dominic Raab served in the post from just 9th July to 15th November.  Stephen Barclay’s brief is to oversee withdrawal negotiations, and not to re-hash the negotiations.  His birth chart portrays him to be an upbeat chap, with Sun trine Jupiter, Mercury opposite Uranus (not afraid to be controversial) and Mercury conjunct Chiron (a problem-solving mind, which he needs to have in this context).  He also has Jupiter square Uranus, so may be a bit of a chancer (well he has been handed a poisoned chalice).  He has Pluto trine his North Node (his karmic mission is to be an agent of change), and his North Node is currently squared by Uranus (big change for him, personally – he has just risen up in the ranks).

Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn has been fairly enigmatic on the subject of Brexit, suggesting recently in a German magazine that there was no going back on Brexit, and then being contradicted by the Brexit shadow spokesperson Keir Starmer.  Labour MPs when asked about the current deal and the crisis in the Tory Party, always reply that Theresa May should stand down, and there should be a general election.  One wonders if anyone really wants to be in power at this time and sort out the current mess.  At least if the Tories were to see it through, they could be blamed for it.  If Labour took over now, it is difficult to know how they would solve it, and it is not clear what they would do, because their stated position (as on their website) is:

“We will scrap the Conservatives’ Brexit White Paper and replace it with fresh negotiating priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union”

This position will not satisfy the Brexiteers any more than that of the Conservatives.  Maybe they should have taken a more pro-Remain stance, or be supporting the Peoples Vote movement, for more clarity and success.  Certainly I do believe that a Socialist government would do their best to address the inequalities in our society, however, whatever they would or would not be able to do about Brexit.

Despite all that, Jeremy’s transits looked quite chipper this week: Pluto trine his Mars (strength) and Jupiter sextile his Jupiter (luck).  On the adverse side, Mars was opposite his Saturn, and Chiron was square his Uranus.  But Uranus was trine his Saturn.  It might have been a week of opportunity for him.  But he seems to have been increasingly at odds in the last few weeks with the shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, and doesn’t seem completely on the same page as Keir Starmer.

Labour Party

Uranus is currently sextile the Labour Party natal Mars, which could be a dynamic opportunity.

Keir Starmer

I wrote in September:

“Keir Starmer, sometimes tipped as a future leader of the Labour Party, is in charge of shadow policy on Brexit…  He seems to have a steady hand on the tiller.  He has … Uranus trine his Uranus, so he may surprise us at the beginning of this term.”  Well he has been more forthright and confident in recent weeks.  But his transits last week were more lacklustre (Saturn opposite his Mars and Jupiter square his Uranus), so I do not think his time has come quite yet.

Arlene Foster   

Arlene Foster and the DUP hold one of the fingers on the balance of power, in that they conferred a majority on Theresa May’s government in the 2017 election.  Whereas the Scottish National Party feel they have been left completely out in the cold in the Brexit process, Theresa was not able to ignore the Irish question.  Many people feel that the Irish question (of its border) has held up the process of Brexit too long, and some would happily ignore it.  But peace in Ireland was too hard won (as Tony Blair reminds us) not to attend to the matter with diligence.  Arlene herself was not happy this week, as it was felt that even the diligence which has been put into the document has not yielded a satisfactory outcome.  Arlene has Saturn opposite her Mercury (unhappiness with a document!)  She also has Pluto trine her Saturn (holding significant power), and Chiron trine her Neptune (some healing on a sensitive issue).

Brexit Chart

What of the current transit to the Brexit chart (for March 2017)?  Jupiter is trine its Venus (so it is quite congenial in terms of there being a current deal on the table), Neptune is sextile its Mars (sensitivity and constructiveness), Pluto square its Jupiter (big power struggles).  Pluto square its Jupiter reflects and goes back to the Pluto-Jupiter square in the original Brexit chart.  Divisive as ever.  Pluto seems to override the benefits of the other transits.  They should never have demoted him to a dwarf planet.

European Union

There is also a reflection of that Jupiter-Pluto dynamic in the transits to the European Union.  Of course, the European Union has a lot more on its mind than our conundrum, but Jupiter is currently squaring its Pluto, which is a power struggle which is not as difficult as the Pluto square to the Jupiter of our Brexit chart.  Do entities such as Brexit and the European Union have feelings…?

A Brief Handy Glossary

I don’t know about you, but I have spent the last fortnight trying to work out what “Backstop” means, in the context of Brexit.  We have a whole new dictionary….

Backstop

Definition from Sky News:

“A customs plan to avoid a ‘hard border between Ireland and N Ireland if a Brexit trade deal isn’t reached’ ”

Customs Union

Definition from Google dictionary:

“a group of states that have agreed to charge the same import duties as each other and usually to allow free trade between themselves.”

Frictionless Borders

(A favourite phrase of Theresa’s)

Definition from The Independent:

” ‘Trade as frictionless as possible’ is the formulation used by British minsters to mean the lowest level of customs controls, tariffs, quotas and restrictions as can be negotiated.”

Brexhaustion

Explanation from The Guardian, Friday 16/11/18: Gaby Hinsliff:

“Perhaps she is banking on what the academic Rob Ford calls “Brexhaustion”, or the fact that for every man or woman glued to every twist and turn there is probably one who barely cares now how this thing ends, just so long as it ends.”

The End of the Affair

From last week’s Blog:

What can we anticipate during the eighteen month stay of the North Node in Cancer?  …In just under six months’ time we are due to leave the European Union, and if we were to have a one year transition period, that would take us to the end of this karmic cycle.  …North Node in Cancer can make communities more insular, and less open to unity with other countries, and mutual global concerns.”

and

“For the first year of this eighteen month period, Jupiter will be in its own sign of Sagittarius, countering in some respects, perhaps within the House it falls in in your birth chart, the insularity of North Node in Cancer.”

“One way in which Jupiter in Sagittarius can work in contrast to the North Node in Cancer, is in reaching out and establishing wider trade links with faraway places for the U.K.”

Although I am a Remoaner, and I would love a People’s Vote, and there are Brexiters who regret their original vote, I think the Brexiteers would be protesting on the streets if the government did not try and deliver Brexit.  So I personally feel a bit defeatist about the whole thing.

We have two eclipses in January (on 6th and 21st), plus in the middle of January Jupiter is square Neptune (spiritual confusion), so January could be an important turning point in the process.

The day of the Brexit deadline (29th March 2019), Mercury is exactly conjunction Neptune (mental confusion) and the Moon is conjunct Pluto (emotional depth), so I expect it will take a while before we realize at the time what the effects actually are.  We’ll certainly be in the middle of a lot of soul searching, collectively.

Aspects

Tuesday (20th) brings dynamism to the week, with a square between Mars and Jupiter.  This creates a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm, and it is up to you how you use it.  You can’t legislate for those who may misuse it outlandishly, for people can easily go over the top with this wild, spare energy.   It is also a very spontaneous energy, so not easy to plan ahead for, but if you are logging in to the blog early in the week, you may work with it in your higher imagination or creative visualization, to more constructive effect.  In parliamentary proceedings, we may hear of fiery exchanges, produced by the fire of Mars and the fire of Jupiter set against each other!

On Thursday (22nd) the Sun enters Sagittarius, and from an intense collective mood, spirits may pick up.  For some, that might mean an increasing enthusiasm for the preparations for the Christmas season.  Holidays are coming… Cold weather is forecast for the U.K., but hearts may be warming up.  Sagittarius is sandwiched between two very serious signs, Scorpio and Capricorn, and the run up to Christmas often holds all the excitement and anticipation.  Christmas itself comes under the sign of Capricorn, and often has its serious aspects.  So your enthusiasm and preparations now can help create and inject warmth into the big day, in advance.  Your future self will thank you.

In the early hours of Friday (23rd) the Moon is Full at 0 degrees Gemini, with the Sun in opposition in Sagittarius. The principle of the polarity of Gemini/Sagittarius is Communication, whether in its more surface nature (Gemini) or on a deeper level (Sagittarius).  Issues concerning public transport, and social media, could come to a head.  Mark Zuckerberg seems to be in a quandary at the moment, and at the Full Moon he will have Uranus on his Mercury, the Nodal Axis square his Mercury, Uranus opposing his Pluto, and the Nodal Axis square his Pluto.  To paraphrase, the Nodal Axis squares his natal Mercury-Uranus opposition, with Uranus transiting the opposition.  He could make an important announcement around then, about his life, and the future of Facebook.  In your own life, you may want to review how you could better use transport and social media.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – high energy and enthusiasm
• Thursday – gathering enthusiasm
• Friday – emotional tension

North Node enters Cancer

Last week (on 6th November) the True North Node left Leo and entered Cancer.  So you may have seen the beginnings of this cycle.  This week (on Friday) the Mean North Node enters Cancer.  In terms of timing, we are currently (on this Armistice Day) between the two, and certainly within the orb of the essence of the influence and meaning of the North Node’s entry into Cancer.  Its sojourn in this sign will take eighteen months, a  karmic cycle.  The North Node takes 18 years to go round the zodiac, which represents another karmic cycle.  One often hears of something, e.g. a job, lasting 18 months, and that is often a sign that karma has influenced the timing of its beginning and ending.

Difference between True North Node and Mean North Node

There is a difference in the way these two positions are calculated.  The reading for the True North Node appears to oscillate to and fro, whereas for the Mean North Node an average is taken which produces a steady progression, say from 1 degree Leo to 29 degrees Cancer (the Nodal Axis moves backwards).  They are in fact the same thing.

What they represent

The transiting North Node represents collective karma.  In a birth chart, the North Node represents the individual karmic mission for the current lifetime moving towards the future and future lifetimes.  It can also represent karmic rewards.  There may be a slight difference in manifestation of the Mean and True Nodes in transit, e.g. the Mean Node may be more practical and the True Node more spiritual (I am still researching this idea).

North Node in Leo

What was the meaning of North Node in Leo?  Leo is one of the signs which represents the Will, and Power.  I would say that the last eighteen months has coincided with the rise of right wing regimes, particularly in Europe, but to some extent also around the world.  In your own life, you may have noticed a long standing battle of wills or power struggle, where two or more people have vied to have their needs met.  On the plus side, you may have come into your power to a greater degree, and built more confidence in asserting your needs.

North Node in Cancer

What can we anticipate during the eighteen month stay of the North Node in Cancer?  The political manifestation shifts significantly more towards Nationalism, Tribalism and Patriotism.  In just under six months’ time we are due to leave the European Union, and if we were to have a one year transition period, that would take us to the end of this karmic cycle.  On the Andrew Marr show this centenary Armistice Day Sir Harold Evans, veteran British-American journalist emphasized the prominent role of Nationalism in the causes of the First World War.  A close second to Religion, Nationalism has probably been the cause of most wars throughout history.  North Node in Cancer can make communities more insular, and less open to unity with other countries, and mutual global concerns.  The sign of Cancer reminds us that charity begins at home, for instance.  With poverty increasing in our society (in the U.K. at least), people may be more inclined to draw in their horns and look after their own.  Governments may be less inclined to support struggling nations such as in the Third World.  Nesting, and fostering family relationships, may be a karmic imperative for us in our personal lives during this period.  We may, however, drop the power play and posturing and clash of wills which characterized the period of North Node in Leo.  We may acknowledge that blood is thicker than water, that you can’t choose your family but you need them, and they need you.

Jupiter in Sagittarius

For the first year of this eighteen month period, Jupiter will be in its own sign of Sagittarius, countering in some respects, perhaps within the House it falls in in your birth chart, the insularity of North Node in Cancer.  Jupiter promotes expansion, openness and generosity, a sense of live and let live, and living in a global society.  So this may provide balance, in certain ways, in the next year.

Nodal Axis Polarity

The North Node is one end of a polarity with the South Node.  Collectively, the South Node represents our path of least resistance karmically, where we may have outmoded habits or even faults needing correction, or mistakes we have made in the past.  If manifesting positively, it can also represent good karma we have accrued in the past.  In our own personal lives, it represents our past life in this lifetime and how we started out, but also our habits and qualities carried over from past lives, such as the soul paths we have trodden in lineages such as warriorship, scholarship or the Arts.  It is where we are travelling from.  The South Node is now entering Capricorn, which represents structure, administration and politics, and harvesting the wisdom we have gained along those lines.  It is leaving Aquarius, which represented a clinical scientific approach, but also humanitarian ways (such as the way communities have pulled together in troubled times, like  in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower inferno).  Thus in our collective and personal lives, organizational skills may come into blossom during this eighteen month period.

Liver Rescue

You may remember I wrote about the first two books of Anthony William in January 2017 (“Medical Medium” and “Life Changing Foods”).  My enthusiasm for the work of this author has not diminished!  Last year, he published “Thyroid Healing”, and now his fourth book “Liver Rescue” has just been published, which I am in the middle of reading.  It is easy to read, but it is the heaviest book yet, I can hardly lift it!  But if you have any suspicion that your liver health needs upgrading, do read it.  According to Anthony William, we are all walking round with livers which need much more care.  They apparently do so much on our behalf.  But, to quote him:

“Luckily, the liver is very forgiving. It has great patience”

 The timing of this book is most interesting, astrologically.  For Jupiter has just gone into its own sign of Sagittarius, and Jupiter and Sagittarius in medical astrology represent the liver.  Therefore this book has arrived at the right time for us all to pay respects to and upgrade our liver health.

Aspects

On this very special Armistice Day, the anniversary of the ending of the First World War, we have the perfect aspect to meet it: Sun sextile Pluto.  Sun sextile Pluto honours those who have gone before us, assists us in looking at how we remember our ancestors and those who have passed, helps us reflect on the self-destructive traits in human nature which have led to wars, helps us look deeply into our collective and personal psychology.  If we do nothing else today, that is worthwhile.

On Thursday (15th) Mars is sextile Uranus, which represents a go ahead, dynamic energy with a surprise twist (usually positive).  It is a day you can get things done, especially if mechanics, electricity, household appliances, engineering or cars are involved.

In the evening, Mars enters Pisces, from the more strident sign of Aquarius where it has been on and off since may (a longer stay than usual in one sign).  While Aquarius is humanitarian, and looks after the underdog, Pisces is even more compassionate, and very empathetic.  Mars represents our use of energy, and so it may not be so direct, but it will be more in touch with emotional needs (ours, or others).  Pisces is also a very charitable sign, so with Mars in Pisces for the rest of this year, and for the run up to Christmas and Christmas itself, it is a good time to support our favourite charities, and put our money where our mouth is, so to speak.

On Friday (16th) Venus is Stationary, prior to going Direct.  Venus has been retrograde since 5th October, and relationships may have been tested and put through their paces in that time.  You may have realized the true worth of some of your relationships.  You can pause, breathe and relax into that knowledge.  That doesn’t mean relationships will suddenly be easy, but you will have learned something important for moving forward.

The same day, the Mean North Node enters Cancer (see above, for the general flavour of the event).  You may have begun to feel the influence of North Node in Cancer since last Tuesday (6th).  It may be a personal marker for you in some way, such as the anniversary of a passing, or the conclusion of one project, and the prospect of another.  It represents a switch in collective karma from Power, and Creative manifestation to Family and patriotism.  Within your own personal birth chart, it depends how it plays out according to the area of life (the House) it falls in.  For most people, it will fall in the middle of a House and alter the way you look at the issues of that House karmically, but if you have a 0 degree Ascendant (as I have) it will switch Houses (in my case, it switches from Family to Communication).  The transiting North Node especially represents how collective themes affect our lives.

Mercury is Stationary prior to going Retrograde on Saturday (17th) – do I hear a collective groan?  As if to anticipate this Southeastern rail have published a special timetable to accommodate the difficulty of navigating Autumn leaves on the line…Of course, all the usual rules apply: make your communications clear, upgrade your computer systems, send all your parcels by Special Delivery, and, above all, Don’t Panic.  Right brained processes, such as painting and inventing, can flourish when the left brain gets out of the way or is not dominant.  Sometimes it is easier to get in the flow of life when you are not overly focussed on schedules and controlling details.  New ideas and energies can enter in more easily, and not all of them of the disruptive variety! Some influences may be of a higher order.  Unusual solutions may be found, such as those residing outside the box, when necessity is the mother of invention.  You may think you may need to be in a certain place at a certain time, then find yourself truly in the right place at the right time, a place you may not have anticipated but equally interesting.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – remembrance and deep reflection
• Thursday – electric; emotional
• Friday – relationship harmony; family karma
• Saturday – possible communication glitches

 

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Profile of a Philanthropist

Week long funeral ceremonies are under way in Thailand for the owner of Leicester Football Club Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter accident while leaving a local match at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday 27th October.  He seems to have been a very special man, charitable and well loved, as well as an exemplary Football Club owner.  We arrived the next day in Leicester, for personal reasons, and so were able to chat to locals about it, and get a first hand sense of his importance to the City.  His contribution was immense, to local charities and especially the hospitals.  The people of Leicester remember him for his kindness and personability.  All his work was imbued with his religious conviction as a Buddhist and belief in karma, he brought monks to bless the football players, and we heard talk of processions of elephants too.  It was, of course, under his management that Leicester won the Premier League title in 2016.

Birth Charts

There are three dates of birth ascribed to him, which poses a problem for the Astrologer. 3rd or 4th April 1958, and 5 June 1958. The 4th April 1958 chart seems most convincing.

For the chart of 4th April 1958, the Sun is exactly sextile Mars, indicating a strong connection with football.  The Sun also trines Uranus, bringing originality and brilliance to his creativity and self-expression.  With Moon in Libra and Mercury sextile Venus he would have had good diplomatic skills.  Mercury opposite Jupiter gave him great global vision, and the ability to work with foreign cultures.  That date also shows up an exact trine between Mercury and Pluto, which can mean business acumen on a grand scale, which fits the profile of this billionaire businessman.  Mercury is closely conjunct the South Node, and this implies that a flair for business was built up in past lives.  Another treasure to be found in this birth chart is Venus exactly trine Jupiter, showing philanthropy and a love for humanity.  Venus trine Neptune/North Node represents compassion and charity, qualities for which he was an ambassador.  He had the balanced judgement of Jupiter sextile Saturn, while his Venus sextile Saturn shows his loyalty and commitment.  And, last but not least, he lived his philosophy of Religion/Karmic Awareness/Spirituality depicted so eloquently by a triple conjunction of Jupiter/North Node/Neptune.

Premier League Win

The transits for Vichai at the time his football team won the Premier League title were Mars trine his Uranus (excitement), Uranus sextile his Chiron (unexpected healing) and Venus on his South Node (harmonious karma).

Transits at the time of the accident

At the time of the helicopter accident, which proved fatal, transiting Uranus (accidents) was conjunct Vichai’s natal Mercury (helicopters), and  the Nodal Axis (karma) was square his natal Mercury.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha

Vichai’s son Aiyawatt, who has been Vice Chair of the football club, has expressed the desire to carry on his father’s work.  Does he have the qualities needed?  He certainly has been in training for some time, and presumably shares his father’s values and ways of working.  We only have the month of his birth (July 1985).  We can’t draw many conclusions from this, but Aiyawatt’s Jupiter may be sextile Vichai’s Sun (they worked successfully together) and Aiyawatt’s Pluto may be conjunct Vichai’s North Node (taking over from him after death, to help continue his karmic mission).

This Week

Leicester City played Cardiff yesterday, and due respects were paid by the people of Cardiff in welcoming the team.  They were playing for Vichai, and secured a 1-0 win, although they had stated the  score would not matter.  Immediately after the match, the team flew to Thailand for his funeral.

Footballers have been notably articulate, eloquent and heartfelt in their tributes to this kind man.  Last words go to striker Jamie Vardy from the Leicester team:

“It’ll be massively important we attend.  We are a close-knit group and one big family and one of the main reasons for that is Vichai, so it’s massively important.”

Jupiter in Sagittarius

Jupiter will be saying goodbye to Scorpio, and moving into jolly Sagittarius on Thursday this week, for its year long stay in that sign.  Can Jupiter make a real difference to our lives?  Well it certainly had impact over the last year.  It left Libra just as the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke, and that gave rise to the Me Too movement.  Often it is Saturn who, through struggle, yields the most enduring benefits and gifts.  Sometimes the benefits of Jupiter seem like pie in the sky, or frivolous gains.  The issues around the treatment of women, the balance of the sexes, and the discomfort of the casting couch have been around for a long time.  But this time the truthfulness around sexuality (Jupiter in Scorpio) was revealed and the consequences have had a lasting impact; a breakthrough came and a stronghold was achieved on this problem.  Many women have been able to speak about trauma they had been holding on to for decades.  There is still a way to go.  A few years ago, the Jimmy Savile scandal unleashed many such revelations, and prosecutions were made (one being Rolf Harris), but the problem was that some (one being Cliff Richard) were identified before being able to establish their innocence.  Just this week, just as Jupiter is leaving Scorpio, Paul Gambaccini successfully sued the CPS for that very issue.  So there are nuances we have to get right.

What can we look forward to during this once-in-twelve-year treat of Jupiter’s sojourn through Sagittarius?  Global issues are favoured, and that includes climate change.  We have been issued the starkest warnings about this, and about the proliferation of plastic in our seas, e.g. is the fish that we eat full of plastic?  This is an area in which Jupiter in Sagittarius could help mitigate or claw back some of our excesses (with our co-operation of course).

General quality of life is also something Jupiter in Sagittarius can help us with.  The pursuit of happiness, and right philosophies of life can be engendered under this configuration.  There may be improvements in the economy (however unlikely that may sound now).

If you know the House position Sagittarius falls in within  your chart, you will be able to consciously work with that area of life to bring optimum results.  Even if you don’t, the joy and luck may show you where you are experiencing the effect.

You may think back to the period of November 2006 to December 2007, and the benefits which Jupiter in Sagittarius brought to you then.  For me, as a Sagittarian, I started this blog during that period, early in 2007, when Jupiter in Sagittarius was sextile my natal Neptune in Libra..

Aspects

A positive week starts with Sun trine Neptune on Tuesday (6th).  It is good news week, and the first trine sets a spiritual focus.  It holds the possibility of aligning with your highest spiritual sources.  It would be a good time to meditate on setting the highest tone for the week, or practising your Tai Chi or Qijong moves to perfection.  If you are engaged in the Arts, you may be especially inspired.  If engaged in sciences, you may be able to access inspiration from your unconscious or from the collective unconscious.

The early evening sees Uranus retrograding back into Aries for a time, after its initial foray into Taurus.  Maybe you have some unfinished business, some personal goals or battles to see through.  Since the Spring, you may have had some new challenges present themselves based on groundbreaking changes brought on by Uranus in Taurus.  Before you can tackle them wholeheartedly, you need to squeeze out every ounce of the teachings of Uranus in Aries.  On a global scale Uranus in Aries coincided with the Arab Spring; we certainly would like to complete that process, with the ensuing wars of ISIS, and the lingering atrocities in Syria and the Yemen. So in your life there may be some loose ends you are longing to tie up, on a seven year old cycle.

Wednesday (7th) brings a New Moon (the first new beginning of the week) in the sign of Scorpio, which makes it more profound than most.  Scorpio is a sign which encourages clearing out of old outworn material, so continues the theme of Uranus’ re-entry into Aries.  You might find yourself being ruthless with your de-cluttering, in accordance with your recent re-evaluation of the past.  Sometimes a certain length of time has to go by before you are ready to let go of an object or a situation.  In the letting go, you can now move forward afresh.

The big movement this week is the entry of Jupiter into Sagittarius on Thursday 8th (see above).  The world is due for some good news.  The march of progress seems to have brought nothing of the sort in the last few years, with steady deterioration in the areas of climate change, pollution and politics.  In our U.K. society, the country has never been in such a mess (much of it Brexit-related).  I was out yesterday in my locality collecting signatures because 46 out of 53 Children’s Centres in Norfolk are due to close; we have lost our police station and other vital services.   All over the country the need for food banks has mushroomed (yes, this is a party political broadcast…!)

So, with Jupiter in Sagittarius for a year, the most benign placement for the benign planet, can superhero Jupiter save us?  Or at least claw back some of the damage?  Jupiter in Sagittarius is helpful to all zodiac signs, but especially uplifting for Sagittarians out there, with their ruling planet in its own sign.  That is a reason to be cheerful, and this year may see you regain some joie de vivre which may have been eroded of late.  It is an excellent year to find the formula for your happiness and your philosophy of life.  Success may come in all forms, e.g. a business boost for entrepreneurs (which goes against the grain of what we are expecting from the impending Brexit, and may mitigate problems).  The shift of Jupiter into Sagittarius takes place at 12.38 Hrs in the U.K.  Will you feel that shift?  If you don’t feel the impact immediately, you have a year to make it work for you.

Interestingly, the Moon goes into Sagittarius the same day, at 18.59 Hrs in the U.K.  If you are sensitive to the Moon, you may register this as an uplift or boost which alerts you to the possible benefits of Jupiter’s presence in Sagittarius.

And if you miss that cue, you have a third chance to register the event (3 is one of the numbers of Sagittarius and Jupiter).  For at 19.06 Hrs the Moon conjoins Jupiter in Sagittarius, further crystallizing our hopes and wishes for the possibilities held by this event.

In this fortuitous week, we end with a trine, for Friday (9th) sees Venus in such an engagement with Mars.  This adds to our enjoyment of life, and enhances the relationships between the sexes.  There may be an important success in relation to the Me Too movement, for instance.  It is quite a touchy feely aspect, but with some balance, so hopefully interactions will respect personal boundaries.  Body awareness, whether it be through yoga, or massage, will bring a sense of wellbeing.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – spiritual
• Wednesday – new beginning
• Thursday – good news
• Friday – sensuality

Fleetwood Mac – A Soul Group – Part 5:  Rumours

“The making of Rumours almost killed us”

~ Mick Fleetwood

Fleetwood Mac are in the news again, on two counts.  One, for their court case with Lindsey Buckingham.  And two, for their forthcoming tour.  They apparently fired Lindsey in January, and he has sued.  A band spokesperson said: “Fleetwood Mac looks forward to their day in court.”  They will be playing at Wembley in June 2019.  No doubt that will all be included in Part 25 of my ongoing series, if I carry on that far.

In Part 4, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac.  In this part of the story, I will look at the making of the phenomenal album Rumours, which you could say was the apotheosis of the group, but also reportedly their nadir in terms of drug dependency and relationship break-ups.  It is one of my favourite albums of all time.

Rumours

“Rumours” was Fleetwood Mac’s 11th album, and was released on 4th February 1977.  It was so named because John McVie thought it sounded like a bunch of rumours.  The success of the album was such that they dined out on it for many years, and in some respects they still do.

The making of the album was descriptively expressed by Chris Stone, one of the Record Plant’s owners: “The band would come in at 7 at night, have a big feast, party till 1 or 2 in the morning, and then when they were so whacked-out they couldn’t do anything, they’d start recording”.

Birth Chart

What’s in the astrological anatomy of a music album?

It has a Full Moon, expressing and eliciting strong emotions.  Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Leo.  That represents the group expression (Sun in Aquarius) opposite (clashing with) the individual egos (Moon in Leo) of the band members and their conflicts.  With Jupiter square the Moon and Saturn, and in a T square with the Sun, this represents both the exuberance (Jupiter) of this album, but also the underlying heartache (Saturn).  The Sun was exactly sextile Neptune, representing the inspirational perfection of this album creatively.  Mercury exactly trine Jupiter represents the commercial supersuccess which it received.  Venus was unaspected, so it represents a one off in terms of musical genius, a complete freedom of artistic and musical expression.  Mars closely square the Nodal Axis represents the group conflict which was going on at the time, as a backdrop to all the creativity.  As they say in the Alice Bailey esoteric tradition, it represents the 4th Psychological Ray of Art and Harmony through Conflict.  Saturn closely square Uranus represents the personal earthquakes they were going through.  Saturn exactly sextile Pluto represents the sheer strength of the album: such sustained brilliance.  Last but not least, Chiron was exactly on the South Node in Aries, representing personal past life karma seeking healing, and succeeding, for this album speaks much about emotional healing through the expression of heartache and description of various relationship dilemmas.

Mick Fleetwood

It was during this period that Mick Fleetwood’s marriage to Jenny Boyd broke down, as Uranus was squaring his natal Pluto.  He wrote, in “Play On”:

“By the time we set about writing for Rumours, we had all fallen to pieces; after seven years John and Christine called it quits, Lindsey and Stevie’s four year relationship was over, and my marriage to Jenny on its way to divorce”.

Tracks

Side One

1. “Second Hand News” by Lindsey Buckingham

Written about his break up with Stevie Nicks: “…One thing I think you should know I ain’t gonna miss you when you go”

2. “Dreams” by Stevie Nicks

Written about her break up with Lindsey Buckingham: “… It’s only right that you should Play it the way you feel it But listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness…”  It took her 10 minutes to write.

3. “Never Going Back Again” by Lindsey Buckingham

Written after a brief relationship with a New England woman: “… Been down one time
Been down two times I’m never going back again…”

4. “Don’t Stop” by Christine McVie with Lindsey Buckingham

Written about Christine McVie’s separation from John McVie “… Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here It’ll be, better than before Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone”

5. “Go Your Own Way” by Lindsey Buckingham

Written about his break up with Stevie Nicks “… You can go your own way
Go your own way You can call it Another lonely day”  Electrifying song inspired by “Street Fighting Man” by the Rolling Stones.  Stevie Nicks objected to some of the lyrics.

Mick Fleetwood: “I love playing this song. It’s one of my favourites because I get to kick the hell out of my drums, and it’s got that wonderfully primal part. It’s a great ‘let loose’ stage song, in which I can revert to my old animal ways and not be quite so polite.”

6. “Songbird” by Christine McVie

“… And the songbirds keep singing Like they know the score And I love you I love you I love you Like never before”  Written in half an hour.  A beautiful, melodic,  inspired song.  Eva Cassidy took this to new heights in 1998.

Side Two 7.  “The Chain” by Buckingham, Fleetwood, C. McVie, J. McVie and Nicks “…I can still hear you saying You would never break the chain”.  The collective song, written by all the group.  However, Stevie Nicks claims: “We split [the royalties] five ways but the fact is I wrote most of those words and most of that melody” 8.  “You Make Loving Fun” by Christine McVie Written about her relationship with a lighting director after she split up with John McVie. “Sweet wonderful you You make me happy with the things you do…” 9.  “I Don’t Want to Know” by Stevie Nicks with Lindsey Buckingham Written by the pair in 1974 before they joined Fleetwood Mac.  “I don’t want to know the reasons why Love keeps right on walking on down the line“.  The harmonies between them are superb, reminiscent of the Everly Brothers (according to Stevie herself).  Symbolizes their creative tension. 10.  “Oh Daddy” by Christine McVie Written allegedly about Mick Fleetwood and his wife Jenny who had just got back together, but it is also claimed that it was written for the lighting director who Christine McVie dated when she broke up with John. “…If I can make you see If there’s been a fool around It’s got to be me” 11.  “Gold Dust Woman” by Stevie Nicks Written about Los Angeles city life and her struggle with drugs. “Did she make you cry Make you break down Shatter your illusions of love And is it over now do you know how Pick up the pieces and go home.”  Every one a gem.  Bibliography: “Stevie Nicks” by Zoe Howe “Play On” by Mick Fleetwood   Aspects Today’s aspect is the Sun sextile Saturn, lending a serious, sensible, sober vibration to the day.  This may seem mundane, but is entirely constructive, and favours laying down long term plans and foundations, and taking responsibility in your life. If Sunday seems a bit pedestrian, then Monday (29th), as the best day of the week, looks to be spectacular, with a conjunction between Mercury and Jupiter.  It’s the day most likely to bring good news.  It is good for sales transactions, taking in study work, and travel.  It can bring out wit and humour, and increase optimism. The mental lightheartedness extends into Wednesday (31st), when Mercury leaves forensically minded Scorpio and enters fun-loving Sagittarius.  It will veritably be the time to practise your stand up comedy routine, and channel your inner Romesh Ranganathan.  Mercury will be in Sagittarius into the New Year, because it turns retrograde during that time, but it will briefly dip back into Scorpio at the beginning of December.  So it will be a season of mental and geographical exploration.  A Happy Halloween is on the cards. Another astrological influence occurring on Wednesday is Venus opposite Uranus, which could bring some tension or unpredictability in relationships.  You may need to deal with a contentious or disruptive issue.  There may be misunderstandings, so be clear from your heart. Venus is travelling in retrograde motion, and on the same day it returns to Libra, from Scorpio.  Although you may need to go over old ground, Venus is happier and more harmonious in its own sign of Libra, and that may assist you in finding the sweet words to overcome any tensions.  Refer back to a time when the relationship was entirely harmonious, and what brought you together in the first place.  Remember what that relationship has brought to you over time. The week in bullet points: ·         Today – serious progress ·         Tomorrow – high achieving ·         Wednesday – complex; some lightheartedness, relationship changes

Strictly Come Dancing 2018 – Part 3

Here is the last blog analysing the remaining contestants in this competition.  Maybe I have saved the best till last, as it happens.

Seann Walsh

Over the last two weeks, Seann and Katya have been the talk of Strictly, and to some extent have diverted attention from the main event, i.e. the dancing.  His outstanding dance with Katya on Saturday 6th October also coincided with the breaking of the story about their public kiss.  Then his ex-partner Rebecca Humphries described his controlling behaviour, calling her a “psycho” for suspecting something.  Then the public were left to arbitrate on the matter, and voted to keep them in last week.

Seann has the Sun in Sagittarius sextile Jupiter, which absolutely fits the Comedian Archetype.  He also has the Sun loosely conjunct Uranus, which adds the Rebel Archetype.  It’s a very freedom-loving combination.  His stand-up comedy style has been described as “impressively universal”, a quality of Sagittarius.  Mercury is conjunct exactly Saturn in his birthchart, which can sometimes make schooling difficult – he left school with one GCSE (in Drama). He has Venus conjunct Saturn too, which can make it difficult to access his feelings.  Jupiter squares Pluto in his chart, which can use power unwisely.  And Pluto is conjunct closely with the South Node – which can indicate some harsh past life karma.

At the time of their best dance (the paso doble), and the height of their controversy, Mars was square Seann’s Nodal Axis (in karmic hot water), and Saturn was conjunct his natal Neptune (perhaps contributing to an error of judgement).  Also, the North Node (karma) was trine his Mercury/Saturn conjunction, so he was very focussed during that dance.  At the end of the contest, Jupiter will be close to his natal Sun towards Christmas and into the New Year, so he may still be trusting to luck, but I don’t think he’ll be in the running for the Glitterball.

His dance partner, the immensely creative Katya Jones, won last year, with Joe McFadden.  Here was my verdict early in the tournament on Joe’s chances:

“At the end of the series, there is a distinct lack of transits, so despite his brilliant start, circumstances may see him out of the competition before the final…

…At the end of the competition, she [Katya] still has Neptune squaring her Jupiter, but Jupiter sextiles her Saturn (an uplifting and steadying factor), Mars sextile her Uranus (electrifying moments), Neptune still sextile her Neptune, but the added bonus of Jupiter conjunct Pluto, so if the planets don’t come forward for Joe maybe her planets might pull them both through.”

Katya’s genius may therefore have been a large factor in Joe’s success (but not to take away from Joe’s own brilliance).

So what is the sizzling, irresistable chemistry between the two of them?  Katya’s Venus opposes Seann’s Saturn/Venus, she warms that lack of feeling.  Her Mars sextiles his North Node, again she brings warmth, and they do make a spark.  Their Jupiters are exactly trine, so they make a successful partnership.  And her Jupiter is conjunct his Chiron, healing for them both.

Her transits at the time of the controversial kiss, and the inspired dance, were the North Node sextile her Venus (a karmic relationship), Neptune sextile her Saturn (letting go of inhibition) and Neptune trine her Pluto (a deep experience).  In the week leading up to that, Jupiter had been opposite her natal Sun (throwing caution to the wind, and being swept off her feet by a Sagittarian!).  At the end of the contest, she still has Neptune sextile her Saturn and Neptune trine her Pluto.  Pluto is moving to trine her natal Sun, which peaks in early February next year, signalling important changes in her life.  Perhaps it will be around that time that she hears whether she will be taking part in next year’s contest.  Interestingly, Seann Walsh will have Jupiter conjunct his Sun at that time, so it will be an important time for him, too.

But what of Katya’s husband, dancer and choreographer Neil Jones, and Seann’s ex-partner, actress Rebecca Humphries?  We do not have a birth date for Rebecca, but we do have a birth chart for Neil.  His transits at the time of the crisis were Neptune sextile his Sun, and Mars sextile his Uranus, which were not too damaging, though Neptune can still create scandal and illusion even when well aspected.  According to Katya, all was well between them at the time.

They don’t have an easy chemistry as a couple, with her Pluto opposite his Sun (a psychological challenge).  But they have two steady, stable and sober interaspects, in her Saturn trine his Sun, and her North Node trine his Saturn.  His transits for early February 2019 (which look like an important time for Seann and Katya) are Uranus trine his Neptune, and Pluto trine his Mars.  They are powerful transits, and also indicative of change.

Vick Hope

Vick is a radio broadcaster with Sun/Mercury in Libra square Uranus, so is very individualistic, and not afraid to be controversial.  Her Moon in Leo likes to put on a show.  She has a very challenging birth chart (I counted 13 squares), so may have overcome a good few hurdles in her life to arrive where she is now.  Her Mercury conjunct Mars gives her quick mental reactions, which is very useful when picking up moves and when a fast pace is required, such as in last week’s quickstep, when it became clear that from an unpromising first appearance she had made the greatest progress. Mercury/Mars also gives her the gift of the gab as a broadcaster, the ability to speak spontaneously (she can speak French, Spanish and Portuguese).  She is not risk averse (Jupiter opposite Uranus) and that may also help her process in the competition.  There is a really caring side to her (Jupiter conjunct Chiron in Cancer) and she is involved in humanitarian work, as a human rights activist and ambassador to Amnesty International.

Vick’s transits this weekend are Mars square her Venus (sensuality) and Saturn square her Mars (some inhibition), so she may dip slightly in parts of the dance.  But Uranus is trine her Uranus, so she is well capable of surprising us at this time – this aspect peaked at the beginning of October, when her game started to pick up.  Neptune trines her Pluto, so she is having a rich and deep experience.  At the end of the contest, Saturn will be opposite her Jupiter, and on her Neptune (not easy) but Neptune will still be trine Pluto.

Sizzling Sicilian new boy Graziano di Prima (he’s just 24) partners Vick, and from a disappointing first round the pair of them have impressed the judges with the progress they have made.  Graziano is a Taurean, so he should be quite supportive in nature.  He has a deep North Node/Pluto conjunction  in Scorpio sextile a conjunction of Neptune/Uranus in Capricorn, so can be complex in a constructive way.  He is very grounded, with half his planets in the Earth signs, and strong willed with half his planets in the Fixed Quadruplicity.  His talent for dance is shown by Neptune trine his Sun and sextile his North Node.

Chemistry-wise, they have their Jupiters exactly trine, so if they should get to the final it may be their chemistry which is the key to their success.  Strangely enough, Seann and Katya also have that interaspect.  This weekend, Graziano has Pluto trine his Sun, so will be capable of displaying his skill in a thorough way.  Chiron will be sextile his Mercury, so mentally he will be on tip top form too.  Pluto squaring his Mars may make him accident-prone though.

By the end of the contest, the North Node will be sextile his Mercury (his karma will be helpful), Chiron will still be sextile his Mercury, and Saturn will be sextile his Jupiter (sound judgement).  So his final transits are quite promising, and as we saw last year with Katya and Joe McFadden, that can tip the scales.

Joe Sugg

Born on a New Moon in Virgo, Joe is a real perfectionist, with an attention to detail (no sloppy Joe!).  He is also strong willed, with half his planets in the Fixed signs.  He likes to be quirky (Sun trine Uranus), and Bruno and Claudia have commented on this trait. He has definite ability when it comes to dance (Sun trine Neptune).  He also has a penchant for performing (Sun exactly trine North Node, and North Node closely conjunct Neptune), and electrical energy (Mars  square Uranus).  He could be the dark horse of the competition, currently riding at the middle of the road on the scoreboard.  With Mercury conjunct Venus he also has writing talent, being the author of graphic novels.  He is most known as a You Tuber.

Joe’s transits this weekend show Saturn squaring his Mars (some inhibition), Uranus square his Saturn (difficult energy), South Node on his Saturn (having to work on his weaknesses), but on the plus side Neptune sextile his Neptune (spiritual serenity) and Pluto sextile his Pluto (empowerment).  It may not be his best week, but the Neptune and Pluto transits may outweigh the other difficulties and keep him in the contest.  For the end of the contest, Saturn will be on his Uranus (a clashing energy, but may bring out extra discipline), Uranus will be trine his Jupiter (a wonderful surprise, there is another hint that he may be the dark horse), and Neptune will still be sextile his Neptune.

His partner, Dianne Buswell, appeared briefly last year partnered with the Rev. Richard Cole, but now has a better hold in the competition.  She is another supportive Taurean, with Chiron, Mars and the Moon in Cancer (the sign of musical rhythm).  Like Joe, she has Mercury conjunct Jupiter, so they will communicate well between them.  She has the North Node at 0 degrees Pisces (the sign associated with dance).

There may be an element of their relationship which is a huge challenge, especially to Dianne, as Joe’s Pluto opposes her Sun.  His Mars also squares her Uranus, so physically they may not always be in sync. Her transits for this weekend are Pluto trine her Sun (a moving performance), Neptune sextile her Saturn (capable of nuance), Saturn on her Uranus (some clashing energy) and Neptune trine her Pluto (a rich and deep experience), so she will enjoy the performance.  At the end of the contest Mars will be sextile her Sun (an injection of energy), Neptune will still be sextile her Saturn and trine her Pluto, so that’s looking good for her.  I wouldn’t rule out this pair getting to the semi-finals, or even the finals, but for Dianne particularly the whole season will likely to be transformative for her.

Danny John-Jules

I had never watched Red Dwarf (or Death in Paradise) and so was unfamiliar with Danny John Jules, but he won me over from his first steps.  There is something very charismatic about his energy and unique dancing style.  In his birth chart, he has fewer aspects than average, and maybe that makes for a free spirit.  He has the Sun in Virgo, so is another Virgoan  perfectionist.  The Sun is in a T-square with Mars and Jupiter, so he possesses high energy, not always controllable.  He has Mercury square Saturn, and Saturn in his chart, unusually, is exactly Stationary.  So mentally he is disciplined; Craig implied he was stuck in one style.  But he has got style.  His musicality comes from Mercury and Venus in Libra.  Darcy and Shirley have praised him for his “extraordinary posture” and “amazing vertical line”.

His partner Amy Dowden debuted last year with Brian Conley, but I have not been able to obtain a birth date for her.  His transits this weekend and for the end of the contest are quite low key.  Possibly because he has few natal aspects, he has fewer transits.  He has his Second Saturn Return early in the New Year, which will be an important time for restructuring his life.  So with Danny John-Jules having few natal aspects, and few transits, and no birth date for Amy Dowden, sadly I cannot properly evaluate this couple!

Lauren Steadman

Lauren, a Paralympian, is a sporty Sagittarian.  She has a huge portion of her chart unoccupied, a chart shaping known as “Locomotive”.  This is a shaping which lends energy and drive to the individual, for which Astrologer Margaret Hone gave the description: “The temperament reveals a self-driving individuality”.  She also has the chart of a leader, with half of her planets in the Cardinal signs, and the Sun being conjunct the North Node.  Apart from this conjunction, and a trine with Chiron, her Sun is unaspected, again making for a great deal of independence and individuality.  She loves people, with her Venus trine exactly Jupiter –  but at the same time has Venus conjunct Saturn which Seann Walsh has (which can make it difficult to access feelings).  Mars is trine exactly with Pluto giving her access to a powerhouse of energy – Darcy has described her as having a “strong core”.  She is, of course, superfit, for a Strictly contestant.

Her partner A.J. Pritchard did very well on Masterchef recently, I must say!  I described his chart in 2016: “He has Venus, Sun, North Node, Jupiter and Pluto in Scorpio.  He also has the sensitive and complex conjunction of Neptune and Uranus which occurred in the early 1990s.” There is some friction between their charts: His Mercury squares her Mars, and their Venuses are square.  But there is also some healing: His Mercury sextiles her Chiron.  It is not a remarkable synastry.  Her transits this weekend are Mars on her Saturn (fighting spirit), but she may not have the greatest of weeks.  If she gets through this week, at the end of the contest Jupiter is in her sign and on her Mercury, which could bring her a real high.  His transits at the moment also are low key, but more promising at the end if they make it: Neptune will be close to a trine with his Sun (inspiration), he will have a Venus Return around then (I don’t know the exact date of the end of the series), Saturn will be sextile his natal Venus (controlled artistry), and Pluto on his Neptune (a profound experience).

Having looked at all the contestants now, none of them really stand out for final transits!  My own favourites are Faye Tozer and Ashley Roberts.

Aspects

Monday (22nd) begins the week with a sextile between Mercury and Pluto, which is a helpful day for combining rational thought with deepest feelings.  They may not always coincide but together they may come together in a useful blend of mind, body and spirit.

The Sun enters Scorpio on Tuesday (23rd), so a happy birthday season to all Scorpios!  Under the Sun in Libra, we will have been exercising our diplomatic and peacemaking skills, but now we need to confront the deeper issues and find more lasting solutions which treat the causes and not just the symptoms of a situation.  For this we need more insight, resolve and conviction, qualities of this sign.

The next day (Wednesday 24th) the Sun immediately encounters an opposition from Uranus, and you will need your new insight, resolve and conviction.  The element of the unexpected will be testing those very qualities.  Be open and flexible, and use your intuition to the max.

At lunchtime, Venus sextiles Saturn, which may stabilize matters, at least matters of the heart, art or money.  Loyalties and alliances may help to reorganize the day and possibly minimize any disruption from the Sun-Uranus opposition.  The two issues however may be entirely separate.

The Full Moon  at 1 degree Taurus arrives at 16.45 Hrs in the U.K.  It should make some impact, as it conjoins Uranus while it opposes the Sun.  Altogether, this could be an emotionally demanding day, despite the stabilizing sextile between Venus and Saturn, so make sure you have some extra emotional resources handy, whether that be meditation, a friendly ear, or an artistic project.

A very congenial conjunction graces the end of the week, for the Sun conjoins Venus Retrograde at 3 degrees Scorpio on Friday (26th).  This restores emotional warmth if it was lacking earlier in the week, and may bring some financial ease or a minor windfall.  The Arts are favoured, as are cultural trips, or if spending a domestic day you may be inspired to a spot of cake baking.

The week in bullet points:

• Monday – profound thought
• Tuesday – profound being
• Wednesday – eventful
• Friday – love and light

 

Jamal Khashoggi

The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi seemingly within the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul remains a mystery.  It has been claimed that the Saudi Arabian journalist was killed inside the embassy, as he did not emerge.  Khashoggi was a long term critic of the Saudi regime, on issues such as women’s rights and the intervention against Yemen.  The U.K. government continues to profit from arms trade deals with Saudi Arabia.

Family

His surname was made famous by his uncle, Adnan Khashoggi, who was an arms dealer on behalf of the Saudi government, and who led a luxury lifestyle.  Dodi Al-Fayed was Jamal’s cousin, and their Marses are exactly conjunct.

Birth Chart

Khashoggi is, or was, a Sunsign Libran with Venus, the North Node, Mercury, and possibly the Moon also in that sign.  He was reported to have visited the Saudi Arabian Consulate in order to obtain documents to marry his Turkish fiancee, who waited for him outside, and who reported him missing after the consulate closed for the day.

Mercury is conjunct his North Node, so it is part of his karmic mission to be a journalist, and speak out.  Jupiter conjunct Neptune will have given him a strong conscience.

He has, or had, Mars square closely to Pluto, indicating that he could be a victim of violence.

Transits for disappearance

What did happen to him when he entered the Embassy on 2nd October 2018?  His transits for the time were Mars squaring his Jupiter, Saturn sextile his Neptune, and Saturn trine his Pluto.  But most tellingly of all, Pluto squaring his Sun: the possibility that he could have met his end.

The Turkish police claim that a 15-member team killed him and disposed of his body.  They claim there was no CCTV evidence for him leaving the building, and that there is video evidence of his killing.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is currently largely ruled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a controversial leader, who has made some reforms (e.g. allowing women to drive) but who seems to run as brutal a regime as ever, and has supervised the war which has caused so much suffering to the Yemeni people.

The Crown Prince himself has some difficult squares in his birth chart (difficult for others to cope with).  He has Mercury square Saturn, Venus square Pluto, Mars square Saturn, and Jupiter square Pluto, which constitute inner conflicts but also conflicts with others.  Some might say that some of the brutality of his actions lie among these aspects.

Jamal’s astrological relationship with the Crown Prince is mixed, but has a telling power issue in their Plutos being exactly sextile.  The relationship between Khashoggi and the Saudi Arabian chart is more shocking, with the Saudi Arabian Uranus conjunct Khashoggi’s South Node (surprise karma).

Sadly, although Khashoggi was set to marry a Turkish woman, his synastry with the chart of Turkey is not a happy one:  its Pluto squares his Venus, and its Saturn is on his Mercury (both heavy weather connections).  Not a place for effective refuge, for him.

The U.S. government has condemned the alleged killing of Khashoggi, even though they have been as enthusiastic about the arms trade as the U.K.  Khashoggi is legally a resident of the United States.  There has been no reaction from the Arab media, according to Al-Jazeera.

U.K.

The U.K. response has been more muted.  Emily Thornberry, writing in the Observer today, and interviewed on the Andrew Marr Show claims Britain must hold the Saudis to account for Jamal Khashoggi.  She claims Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt did not comment for a week after the event.  She criticizes the hosting of the Crown Prince by Theresa May earlier this year, describing him as “the architect of the war in Yemen, directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians as a result of airstrikes and humanitarian blockades.”

What, apart from oil, money and arms, keeps the U.K. so bonded with Saudi Arabia?  Astrologically, their Jupiters are exactly sextile, traditionally a sign of luck and success in a relationship.  It would take a strong conscience to rise about the feelgood nature of that connection!  Money still talks.

Aspects

We have a congenial conjunction tomorrow (Monday 15th) between Mercury and Venus at 8 degrees Scorpio, a chance to articulate fine words, and set them to music or accompany them with appropriate illustrations.  With the placement of this conjunction in Scorpio, they won’t just be fine words, they will have a deeper meaning too.  The verbal or written contribution may address negotiations, relationships, human rights, or cultural themes.  Aspects this week are thin on the ground, so you would do well to make this project your credo for the week.  If you know which House into which the conjunction falls in your chart, you can further train your focus for maximum effect and truth.

Another aspect on Friday morning (19th), Mercury trine Neptune, continues the theme of nice words.  So the middle of the week is cocooned by these two aspects.  Mercury trine Neptune spiritualizes and sensitizes communications, and can take them to a whole new level.  Therefore the responses to any communications you make on Monday should be positive ones, and take you smoothly through the week, peaking like soft meringues with Friday morning’s influence.  “Aah…” you may sigh, resting on your laurels at that point.

The interlude of your rest period, however, will be short lived, for late afternoon, early evening, Mars squares Mercury. “What just happened?!” you may exclaim, from your position on the chaise longue.   Just as you had established a new order of diplomacy and understanding, a new argumentative thread begins.  This may come from another quarter entirely, and not disrupt your earlier work this week.  But it may be a new battle, or war of words, to fight, react to, or ignore.  And of course, it is your choice how you do respond.  But your shared credo from early in the week may serve to help smooth things over, or clarify things.  If you are communicating with a new set of people, they will either buy your ideas for peace, or you will have to negotiate anew.  Or you may be arguing with yourself over a new issue.  Take care of simple health and safety measures, as carelessness may disrupt conditions.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – smooth communications
• Friday – sublime communications, followed by fractiousness

Charles Aznavour (1924 – 2018)

“He knew that the real France was a France of welcome.  This son of immigrants, who had not studied, knew that in France … the French language was a sanctuary more sacred than any other.”

~ Emmanuel Macron

Charles Aznavour, popularly known as the French Frank Sinatra, was born in Paris to Armenian immigrants.  The family sheltered Jews in the second world war, and Charles and his sister later received an award for their actions.  His career was assisted early on by his bond with Edith Piaf, herself a legendary songstress in French culture.

Birth Chart

Aznavour’s Sun was at 0 degrees Gemini in his 5th House of Creativity and Children (he wrote over 1000 songs, and had 6 children).  With Edith’s Moon conjunct this point at 0 degrees Gemini, she was the Moon to his Sun.

We have birth times for both Charles and Edith, and Aznavour’s Ascendant in Capricorn, with Moon in 12th House also in that sign, points to the slightly melancholy quality to his singing.  Venus exactly conjunct Pluto in his chart gave rise to a deep, sonorous voice, and profound feeling conveyed in his musical presentation.

His Mercury sextile exactly Venus gives rise to two Archetypes in his chart and life: the Songwriter, and the Diplomat.  His legacy of songs are more prominent, but he did act in the role of ambassador for Armenia (to Switzerland), and a delegate to the United Nations.

One of his most memorable hits was the song “She”,  a song that reflects the nostalgia of his Moon in 12th House.  It was released at the time of his Chiron return in 1974.  This means it would represent something of his Inner Healer, Chiron being placed at the base of his chart in Aries, early in 4th House:

 “She may be the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I’m alive
The one I’ll care for through the rough and ready years
Me, I’ll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I’ve got to be
The meaning of my life is she”

Edith Piaf

Early in his career, Edith Piaf invited Aznavour to open for her at the Moulin Rouge, and advised him on his singing style.  They were flatmates for a time, and also were involved in a car crash together in 1951.  They were definitely karmically linked, and with  her Mercury trine his North Node, they had a brother/sister relationship. Other highlights of their synastry which indicate her part in his career were her Jupiter on his Uranus (her role in his success) and her Ascendant conjunct his Midheaven or Careerpoint.

His last few months

On 12th May this year, just before his 94th birthday, he suffered a fall at his home breaking his arm, and though he vowed to keep performing sadly he had to cancel some shows, but he continued to give interviews even up to three days before his passing.  At the time of the fall, Pluto was on his Ascendant, a challenging transit for any time of life.  By the time of his passing on 1st October 2018 Neptune was sextile his Moon, a gentle transit for his journey.

“…Yesterday, when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day
And only now I see how the years ran away

Yesterday, when I was young
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung
So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all…”

~ Charles Aznavour

Aspects

We’re working our way towards a New Moon at 15 degrees Libra at the moment, which occurs at 3.47 a.m. on Tuesday (9th) in the U.K.   So the next two days it would be helpful to focus on your aspirations for relationship, diplomacy, justice, art and music – all provinces of the sign of Libra.  Crystallize your intent, shape your visualizations, and construct your affirmations on what is important to you.  Programme it into your subconscious before falling asleep on Monday night – and hey presto!  Either you have enlightenment during your sleep, or not…  But whether or not you are conscious of beneficial changes or shifts, they may still be running and bear fruit over the next month.

The next day, Wednesday (10th) sees Mercury’s entry into Scorpio.  You may be leaving behind some of the intellectual issues around relationship, diplomacy, justice, art and music and occupying your mind more forensically on deeper issues generally about life, or the deeper dimensions of those issues.  Mercury stays in Scorpio for the rest of this month, and so for that time frame the collective mindset will be trained to look deeper at various issues and beyond the superficial gloss of society’s values.  In your own personal life, too, you will have more courage to look at what really matters, and to worry less about how things appear to others.

In the late afternoon, or early evening we have an opposition between Mercury and Uranus.  So no sooner do we have a switch in mindset than we are confronted with a conundrum to test out our views.  Perhaps a controversial subject comes up, challenging us to think outside the box.  We may feel mentally overwhelmed, or be given too much information with a futuristic slant.  We may need to take a mental siesta, if frazzled.  Advance intuition, or meditation may help to attune ourselves to what is required, and keep us in the flow or in the zone.

Thursday (11th) brings a square between Venus and Mars to the table, an aspect we last met in September.  This is a passionate aspect, but one where there may signals may be confused or misread, as Venus represents love and Mars sexuality, and there are so many permutations in between.  You may need to be aware of issues around political correctness, and the “Me Too” movement may be a particular hot topic.  How to resolve the age old battle of the sexes now that Kavanaugh has been sworn in and Christine Ford’s testimony swept aside…?

Some of this angst will be relevant to the aspect on Friday (12th) which is the Sun square Pluto, so again the depth of experience of life is the issue, but in a more holistic sense than in the mental considerations of Wednesday.  But also there may be undertones of Thursday’s sexual tensions, with the deeper implications coming to the fore.  With Pluto squaring the Sun, there can be no hiding or sweeping under the carpet.  You have to look at the nitty gritty, whether it be a psychological issue facing you, or a challenge from outside yourself (say, from authority, or criticism from others).

A more helpful aspect on the same day, Mercury sextile Saturn, will enable you to attain some sense of proportion, and apply your mind sensibly.  If you are needing to attend to paperwork or documentation, this aspect could be useful.  It also enables straight talking, or plain speaking.  On what could be an emotional day, this may be a boon.  So there may be a highly charged atmosphere, but one person may be able to articulate or summarize in a logical and clear manner how the situation stands.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – new beginning
• Wednesday – deeper patterns of thought, but also disruption
• Thursday – social passions and wranglings
• Friday – drama, and sense

Brett Kavanaugh

In the confirmation process to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, nominated by Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh went head to head with Christine Blasey Ford in their testimonies this Thursday about her allegation of attempted rape in their youth.  The speculation about who was telling the truth split Republicans and Democrats across America, or entrenched them in their existing loyalties.  Kavanaugh was about to receive the nomination, but Senator Jeff Flake was accosted by survivors of sexual harassment in a lift, and agreed to recommend an extra week for the decision, while an FBI investigation is carried out.  His casting vote would have sealed Kavanaugh’s appointment.

Birth Chart of Kavanaugh

Half his planets are in the Fixed signs, making him very strong willed (literally sticking to his guns).  There are numerous examples of his steadfastness in supporting Republican policies in his legal career.  He has an opposition between Jupiter and Neptune, which can cause religious or moral confusion, and the opposition forms a T square with his Mercury, which represents his mental judgement.  He may have inner conflicts within his religion as a practising Catholic.  Mercury square Neptune on its own may represent a tendency for mendacity, but it is not always the aspect you have so much as what you do with it.  Someone can have an exemplary set of aspects, for instance, but misuse them.  But the cloud of emotion he expressed in his testimony is reminiscent of his Jupiter-Neptune opposition in its apparent self-righteousness.  The anger in his chart, which he expressed in volumes, comes from Mars squaring his Nodal Axis, which literally asks life “How dare you do this to me?”  He has a love of power, shown by Jupiter trine Pluto and Sun trine the North Node, which he has fulfilled through his professional life.

His transits this week show up Neptune opposite his Uranus (a challenge for the truth) and Pluto trine his Jupiter (his bid for power).

Christine Blasey Ford

Professor Ford has alleged sexual assault by Kavanaugh dating back to high school days, and despite not having spoken out about this before, felt it was her “civic duty” to do so now, to prevent Kavanaugh’s appointment to this powerful position.  She stated that one of the most traumatic aspects of the assault was being silenced when she tried to scream.  Notably a polygraph reading has established that she is telling the truth.  Two or three other women have also come forward with allegations but so far have not testified in the same way.

Donald Trump questioned why she had not spoken up before about this incident.  Jupiter’s entry into Scorpio in the wake of the tsunami of allegations against Harvey Weinstein last year coincided with the new “Me Too” movement, and this has enabled a culture of more openness.  This seems to have been a lasting benefit of Jupiter in Scorpio.

Birth Chart of Christine Blasey Ford

Dr. Ford works as a researcher in psychiatry at Stanford University and specifically designs statistical models for research projects.  Her birth chart is very suited to this type of work, with Mercury trine Saturn.  But she does not have an easy birth chart to contend with, with a tight double opposition between Uranus/Pluto in Virgo and Chiron/Saturn in Pisces.  Her difficulties in life can be excruciating.  Adding another layer of difficulty, Mars conjunct Uranus-Pluto and opposite Saturn can imply that someone is the victim of cruelty.  There may have been past-life patterns relevant to present-day circumstances, with the South Node conjunct Mercury in Scorpio sextile Pluto.

Her transits for this week show Mars sextile her natal Sun (she has been much praised for her bravery), Mars opposite her Jupiter (a passionate testimony) and Jupiter on her Neptune (an astrological endorsement of her faith in her “civic duty” to tell the truth).

Her astrological relationship with Kavanaugh is also very interesting: His Saturn squares her Sun (a crushing sort of relationship), his Mars is exactly conjunct her Mars (pointing to some shared sexual history), and her Pluto square his Nodal Axis (her bringing down his reputation, being karmically compelled to do so).

Mark Judge

Author Mark Judge was a fellow of Kavanaugh at Georgetown Preparatory School, a Catholic all boys high school, at the time of the party where the alleged event took place.  Christine Ford says that he was present in the room during the attack, but he denies this.

In one of his books, he details the climate of “alcoholism, binge drinking, and hookup culture” at the school.  In others, he explores aspects of Catholicism which relate to morality and Catholic education.  It is interesting that in his chart, Mercury conjoins Uranus/Pluto to give voice to the climate of his teenage years.

This week Chiron was opposite his Sun (forcing him to confront past wounding), Mars was opposite his Mars (flexing his will) and Neptune opposite his natal Pluto (a deep soul searching, and a challenge to express his integrity).

Donald Trump

Donald Trump has been a champion of Brett Kavanaugh, choosing him for the appointment (in the hope it will help him in his own travails) and expressing admiration for him.  Their friendship is very natural and personal, with their air sign Suns exactly in trine with each other, and Donald Trump’s Venus exactly sextile Kavanaugh’s Mars ~ a veritable mutual admiration society.

Senator Jeff Flake

The Senator played a crucial role in this week’s proceedings, influencing the course of events significantly.  A conservative Sun in Capricorn, he has significant planets in Pisces, and half his planets in water signs.  His transit this week is Neptune trine his Neptune, so he was in some ways a vehicle for the collective unconscious, and spiritually aligned in such a way that he felt the need to “do the right thing”.

What happens next week will be equally compelling, both in the United States and around the world.

Aspects

A major development takes place tomorrow (Monday 1st October) with Pluto Stationary prior to turning Direct.  This can begin a major sea change going forward psychologically.  You may have worked hard to understand your deeper psychological processes since the end of April when Pluto went retrograde, and now you get to observe just how much progress you have made (and what you may still need to work on).  Just remember that you cannot do everything, and certainly not all at once.

The only actual aspect this week takes place on Wednesday (3rd), and brace yourselves, it is a testing one!  Mercury squares Pluto, so communication will be psychologically challenge, and it is a chance to assess how much progress you made since Pluto went retrograde.  It will be a chance to put into practice any insights around constructive and non-violent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution, for instance.  Travel may not be straightforward, and some of the transport issues we currently face here in the U.K. may be highlighted.  You need to approach this aspect in a spirit of constructiveness, positive speech, and a desire for peace, in order to circumvent its harsher manifestations.

On Friday (5th) Venus will be Stationary prior to turning Retrograde.  This will herald a period of reflection specifically with regard to relationships (though for some it may be about money).  It will be a good period to assess whether any problems you have in a relationship are a form of mirroring your own condition, and looking at how much each person owes and contributes in the process or situation.  Taureans and Librans are likely to be most affected by the change of direction, but will also ultimately have most to gain in understanding.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – psychological progress
• Wednesday – communication challenges
• Friday – relationship scrutiny

Strictly Come Dancing 2018 – Part 2

We are being served our first opportunity to see the contestants compete this weekend, and so it is time to take a look at the next four with their eye on the glitterball.

Lee Ryan

Lee Ryan, member of the boy band Blue, has Sun in Gemini conjunct North Node exactly, and so is a born performer.  He also has Verbal Warrior energy, as Mars is added to make this a triple conjunction.  Many times his Verbal Warrior has landed him in hot water, not least when the 9/11 attacks took place and he stated: “What about whales? They are ignoring animals that are more important.”  With Mercury opposite Uranus, he is not afraid to be controversial.

Having Venus trine Uranus, he likes novelty and variety in his love life; with Mars in Gemini, he likes to have two strings to his bow; and with Sun opposite Neptune intrigue follows him.  He currently has a girlfriend but already much is being made of his closeness to his new dance partner Nadiya.  Although he has a powerhouse of energy (Mars trine Pluto), on the dance floor his Mercury opposite Jupiter may expose a difficulty in concentration.

His partner Nadiya Bychkova finished in 6th place in the competition last year.  She’s a very perfectionistic Sun, Mercury and Mars in Virgo, with all the brilliance of Sun exactly trine Uranus, and all the energy of Mars sextile Pluto.  Although they are already “close” their astrological compatibility is not remarkable, with her Mercury square his Neptune.

This weekend Lee has Mars sextile his Jupiter (he’ll throw himself into proceedings with enthusiasm).  Uranus trines Nadiya’s Sun, forming a Grand Trine with her Uranus-Sun natal trine, so she will be on sparkling form.  At the end of the contest Lee has Uranus opposite his Saturn (pushing him out of his comfort zone) and Uranus trine his Neptune, which may be inspirational for him.  She has Jupiter sextile her natal Venus at the end of the contest, so she will be enjoying life socially or romantically, and Neptune will be trine her Chiron (she will be in good shape and highly tuned physically), but Saturn will be on her natal Neptune, so there may be some inner conflict going on, and Neptune will be opposite her natal Mars, so her footwork may not be as sharp as usual.  Overall prospects of this duo? Not outstanding.

Faye Tozer

Excuse me while I do a little jig…for Faye Tozer has an available birth time!  This means we have her vital statistics, which are Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Pisces and Ascendant in Scorpio.  Like Lee Ryan, she has Sun conjunct exactly the North Node, marking her out as a born performer.  His conjunction is in Gemini, so he could be quite light on his feet, and hers is in Scorpio, so her performance may have more depth or emotion. Both have very striking charts, in different ways.  Though they can both sing and dance, her chart is more emphatically geared to dancing, and reached fame as a member of the band Steps.  Her Moon at 29 degrees Pisces shows a special aptitude and sensitivity to dance, with Neptune closely trine Midheaven ensuring a career in dance, and a vehicle for that talent.  Jupiter also trine her Midheaven, provided lucky career breaks, most crucially teaming up in a band which specialized in choreographed moves.  When Steps were formed, Neptune by transit was sextile exactly her natal Moon at 29 degrees Pisces in 5th House.  Venus conjunct Pluto in Libra provides musicality and depth of artistic performance.  I think she will earn some special praise from Craig Revell Horwood.  She has electrical energy, personality and good co-ordination  (Mars closely trine Uranus/Ascendant).  She may also have great inspiration from Jupiter trine Neptune.  She claims that she can get a bit distracted – if that is true, it would possibly be due to her Mercury being virtually unaspected.

Her partner Govanni Pernice is by now a veteran of Strictly Come Dancing.  Astrologically, they would communicate well, as his Neptune and Sun sextile her Mercury.  His Mars sextiles her Saturn and his Jupiter squares her Uranus, so he can coax her to overcome any lack of self-confidence.  This weekend, Faye has Jupiter conjunct her Sun, which is lucky, but she also has some blocks, in Saturn opposite her Mars and Mars opposite her Saturn.  Something is holding her back a little.  Uranus sextiles her Mars, so she’ll be extra electrical in her energy and performance.  However, Uranus opposite her Ascendant may make her prone to injury, especially in the ankle region early on in the contest.  My guess is that she will make a sparkling entrance to the competition.  Giovanni will be very focussed with Pluto trine his Mercury and Mars trine his Mars, plus the North Node sextile his Mars and conjoining his Jupiter.  The end of the contest does not look so spectacular for Faye, despite a trine from the North Node to her Moon which will make her feel generally mellow.  Giovanni too seems to lose momentum for some reason by the end of the contest, with only a mildly encouraging Mars trine to his Saturn.  They will start well, and on paper they seem a good partnership, but their finishing transits do not stand out.

Katie Piper

Katie Piper is well known for having survived an acid attack prompted by a former boyfriend (Danny Lynch), and emerged despite this trauma as a philanthropist and television presenter.  She has Sun in Libra, as befits her original profession as a beautician and model.  She has an original mind (Uranus exactly sextile her Mercury), her North Node (karmic mission) is in Gemini, and her Mercury is sextile Jupiter, which describe the media element of her career.  She has some disruptive energies in her natal chart, (Mars square Uranus, Venus square Uranus and Chiron, and Mars square Jupiter).  But the transit which occurred when she was attacked was Saturn square her natal Chiron.  She may have some strange past life karma, with Neptune conjunct the South Node in Sagittarius.

She is teamed with Gorka Marquez, and at the pairing described their “great chemistry”.  His Mercury squares her Nodal Axis, so they may have a strong brother/sister relationship.  His Mars is on her Chiron, bringing out her Inner Healer, but his Saturn squares her Sun which implies that he will be quite a disciplinarian in their relationship. This weekend Katie has Pluto square her natal Sun, so she will find the regime quite demanding and challenging, at least initially.  Perhaps she will have difficulty balancing her personal life with the rigours of dance practice.  Gorka has quite a mixture of light and shade transits: Mars trine his Mars and opposite his Jupiter, Neptune trine his Pluto, Pluto trine his Mercury (good concentration and focus) and Pluto on his Saturn (challenges for him, too).  At the end of the Strictly season, Katie will have Mars square her Nodal Axis, Jupiter square her Mars, Uranus opposite her Pluto (all challenging), but the blessing of a Jupiter Return, so she could be one of those players who  gradually improve and ease into the contest.  At the end, Gorka will have Mars opposite his Mercury (fractiousness), but to balance that out Mars sextile his Saturn (a fairly supportive transit).  Again, I don’t think this is a pairing that will continue to the finish.

Charles Venn

Playing the senior nurse Jacob Masters in Casualty since 2015, actor Charles Venn has a dramatic birth chart to match some of the dramatic storylines he has been given since he joined the programme.  He is very much an action man, with a tight T square between Mars, Pluto and the Sun.  So he’ll excel in the fast and furious dances!  He previously starred in two footballing dramas, early on in his career.  With Mercury trine Mars, he has good co-ordination and quick reflexes.  Helpful aspects for dance are Mercury loosely trine Neptune and Mars trine Neptune, which may help him get into character and master the footwork.  He’s impatient though, and with Mars opposite exactly Pluto may feel like giving up at some point.

He is partnered with Karen Clifton, and they have an interesting synastry, as she has aspects that bring out his explosiveness (her Mars squares exactly his Sun; their Marses are closely opposite each other; her Mars is closely conjunct his Pluto) and other aspects which may help to control and shape his fiery T square energies (her Saturn conjoins his Uranus; her Pluto trines his Saturn).  It looks like a stressful but energetic partnership.

This weekend he has Saturn opposite his natal Sun, so he may not enjoy the discipline of the dance, and Saturn squares his natal Mars, so his energies are challenged.  But Mars sextiles his Mars (strengthening his energy in other ways) and  the North Node trine his Mars (he needs the experience karmically!).  Other challenging transits include Pluto square his natal Uranus (a shock to his system) and Chiron opposite his natal Pluto (although he enjoys fitness, he may overdo things physically).  So not an easy start for him, overall.  Karen has Neptune on her Venus (so may be confused romantically), Mars trine her Mars (also energized), Saturn square her natal Mars (as has Charles, so they may have a similar block), the North Node sextile her Mars (again, she needs the experience, karmically!) and Pluto square her natal Saturn (hard work).  At the end of the contest, he has the North Node conjunct his Mercury – he will have learned a lot, and will take a keen interest in proceedings; and Chiron will be trine his natal Mercury, so he will be feeling balanced healthwise.   Karen will have Saturn trine her Mercury, so she will be feeling philosophical, or stoical.  I don’t see this pairing enduring to the end, either.

So an interesting mix of couples here, and some may do very well, but I don’t think the winning pair are in this batch.  I will be along with Part 3 in a few weeks’ time, when the contest is more embedded.

Aspects

The Sun swans into the beautiful sign of Libra on Sunday 23rd September at 1.54 a.m., in the annual event known as the Autumn Equinox.  We will be required to wave the summer goodbye and look for the colours of the new season, and the fall of leaves.  The leaves have been turning colour already, on trees which, like all of nature, are currently confused by global warming.  There is a theme of balance with Libra, not least in its inception with the night and day hours being equal.  So it is a good time to take stock, and ponder what is in balance in your life and what may be out of kilter and needing attention.

It’s an up and down week, and the afternoon may bring communication or travel difficulties, with the flattening effect of Saturn squaring Mercury.  Weather could also be disruptive, and patience may need to be your mantra.

Monday (24th) brings a brisker vibe, in the shape of Mars trine Mercury.  In contrast, communications may zip along, and the day could be very productive.  So what you lose in delays and obstructions on Sunday, you may recoup on Monday.

You may feel the sap rising, or the emotional temperature, on that day, because there is a Full Moon at 2 degrees Aries in the early hours of Tuesday (25th).  This Full Moon presents a tussle between self-interest (Moon in Aries) and catering for the needs of others (Sun in Libra).  Emotionally, you may connect with aspects of your Inner Child which demand the attention.  So the balance of Libra is still important, but there may be more personal considerations you may have ignored for a while which you have to take into account.

At the other end of the day, nearly midnight, the Sun squares Saturn, which may again bring a flattening of mood, and complicate the contemplations of the Full Moon (to be selfish or not to be selfish), because guilt or other negative emotions may creep in to test you further.  It is important to release negative emotions therefore, and see them for what they are.

Our energies will be revived again on Thursday (27th), when the Sun trines Mars.  The weather may turn warmer, too.  Sun trine Mars favours all energetic pursuits, such as keeping fit, sporting activities, training for marathons and dog walking.  It’s a rousing time to start an active project.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – equilibrium; communications delayed
• Monday – brisk business
• Tuesday – weighing up alternatives; a flattening of mood
• Thursday – energetic revival

Fenella Fielding (1927 – 2018)

“She reminds me of the great raconteur Quentin Crisp – the same love of language, mastery of its rhythms, perfectly formed sentences, and a joie de vivre even when relating her profound despair.”

–  The Guardian

Fenella Fielding may well have been before your time, dear reader.  But in my childhood and teenage years, she was a household name, and a captivating character.  She died this week, at the ripe old age of 90.

Birth Chart

With 6 of her 10 planets in water signs, Fenella had a very emotional chart.  Her Sun was of course in sultry Scorpio (it could not be otherwise, with her femme fatale image), and it was exactly trine Jupiter, which ensured many opportunities in life (some of which she chose not to take up).  She was said to be cheerful and optimistic, as befits a positive natal Jupiter.

Her Ascendant was in theatrical Leo, with Neptune rising, creating a personality of glamour, mystique and allure.  Marylin Monroe also had Neptune rising in Leo.

Saturn in 4th House depicts her difficult childhood, with difficult parents and a violent father who stood in her way initially when trying to make a name for herself in the acting profession.

Mercury in Scorpio produced the trademark husky voice, which was a gift to impressionists.  Mercury was also conjunct Mars, giving her an easy wit – she could be spontaneously funny.

She was an intellectual, keeping Plato by her bedside, interpreting Ibsen, Wilde and Chekhov  masterfully on stage, and taking part in intelligent activism.  That her mind was the foundation of her life and art is shown by a forensic Mercury conjunct the I.C. in Scorpio in 3rd House.

She also had a powerhouse of energy, with Mars closely trine Pluto and loosely trine Jupiter, in a loose Grand Water Trine.

Life and Relationships

Many felt that Fenella did not reach her full potential, and often attribute that to her having become typecast from the role of vampish Valeria in Carry on Screaming (1966).  The Times deemed her Hedda Gabler to be “one of the experiences of a lifetime”. She turned down some possible prestigious roles.  I do think that she had a fondness for comedy, despite her genius as a serious actor.

Her autobiography “Do you mind if I smoke?” revealed some of the harmonies and tensions between herself and some co-stars.

Ron Moody gave her her first big break.  The connections between their charts are extensive and include: Her Pluto opposite his Sun (life changing), her Mars square his Venus (magnetism), her Jupiter trine his Mars (mutually energizing), and her North Node sextile his Neptune (a karmic and spiritual link).

She found Kenneth Williams, who she worked with in several productions, very difficult.  In their synastry, his Moon square her Venus may hint at a personal antipathy.  There are some more harmonious links between them, but his Mercury square her Saturn hints at problematic communication.

Theatre critic Michael Coveney recalls she “dressed in clothes of a severe line, with white collars back and front, clasped with big jewellery, which gave her the appearance of an unlikely modern nun on the run.  No one ever had such a laughing drawl, or haughtier, naughtier intonations”.

He reveals in the Guardian Obituary that she never married, but “for 20 years she kept two lovers on the go, one of them married, without either knowing of the other’s existence”.

Death

Fenella had a strong urge to maintain her working life, even in recent years.  She suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and with a transiting Uranus conjunction to her natal Chiron she passed over.  But Saturn was also trine her natal Chiron (the Inner Healer) enabling a coming to terms with her transition.  She had a good innings, but, in common with many others, I would have liked to have seen more of her!

Aspects

Today, Mercury trines Pluto, which is an excellent aspect for talking about things that matter.  Make sure you wring every ounce of meaning out of your conversations, or in your writing.

As Alexander Pope said, “drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again.”  That’s a good description of Mercury trine Pluto.

We are fortunate to also have today a sextile between Mercury and Jupiter, so Geminis and Virgos could have some very constructive communication today.  Mercury sextile Jupiter favours broadening the mind, and boosts business ventures.  You may also experience new ways of looking at things.

Tuesday (18th) is more tricky, with Mars square Uranus.  This is a wild electrical energy, and caution should be your watchword, both in human interactions (with any volatile types) or in relation to the environment (such as freak storms).

Friday (21st) serves up a sparkling mental outlook, with the Sun conjunct Mercury at 28 degrees Virgo.  This aspect occurs early in the morning in the U.K. (the previous evening in the U.S.) and your dreams could reveal to you in a message an important way of managing or organizing your life.  On waking you might feel extra keen to be productive or push on with a project.

Mercury goes into Libra on Saturday (22nd) and you’ll be open to new relationships as you go about your business or social life.  Artistic and musical creativity will add special colour to your outlook, and be extra engaging.  You will have gathered facts while Mercury was in Virgo, and now you can add colour to those facts.  The contenders for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing will have been put through their paces, and will now be ready to show you what they can do.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – deep, satisfying and uplifting conversations
• Tuesday – tricky, or even explosive
• Friday – mental clarity
• Saturday – colouring in