Ukraine

Events moved very quickly in Independence Square, Kiev, yesterday.  President  Viktor Yanukovych had been forced to declare an election for May 25^th (the balancing trine between Jupiter and Saturn), the previous President Yulia  Tymoshenko was released from prison and urged the rioters to carry on, and  Yanukovych  fled the scene, his whereabouts currently a mystery.  By the time I have written this blog, I will be out of date.

This morning’s Observer leader observed:

“Amid the drama of the last few days, and the whiff of revolution, it is worth voicing caution, however about what the future holds.  Ukraine has witnessed revolutionary scenes before that failed to bring much political stability.  The recent revolutions of the Arab Spring have shown that stormed palaces, packed squares, absent police and and an intoxicating sense of liberation from an old guard do not necessarily deliver better political systems, at least in the short term.”

Ukraine Chart

Ukraine was formed during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and is now the largest state in Europe.  It was certainly founded in hope, with the Part of Fortune on its South Node, and Mercury exactly conjunct its Mercury, a conjunction which excels in trade.

Viktor Yanukovych

Victor Yanukovych became President of Ukraine in February 2010, from his post as Prime Minister.    In his chart he has Venus trine Mars/Neptune (love of luxury, and the ability to manoevre mysteriously) bisected by Pluto, which adds force to his personality and actions.

The chart for his Presidency is important because it marks a new  phase for Ukraine.  Another new hope (Sun conjunct Jupiter) but  also the possibility of more corruption (Chiron conjunct Neptune. Mercury conjunct Neptune).

Viktor Yanukovych has a deep karmic bond with the Ukraine from past lives (his Sun conjunct  exactly the Ukraine South Node).  But there is corruption within the very fabric of this relationship, with his Neptune exactly square Ukraine’s Neptune,  and the potential for destructiveness (his Pluto exactly square Ukraine’s natal Pluto).  When he took over the Presidency, the Sun was exactly conjunct his Jupiter and exactly trine his Uranus.  Mars was exactly trine his North Node, granting a karmic favour of leadership and force.  But Pluto was exactly opposing his Uranus, so it would not have been an easy transition to power.

At this time (yesterday’s transits) Pluto was exactly squaring Yanukovych’s Mars (time for forcible ousting).

Yulia Tymoshenko

Yulia Tymoshenko was a previous Prime Minister of the Ukraine, also found to be corrupt, and had been imprisoned during the Presidency of Yanukovych.   During that time she went on hunger strike. Yanukovych’s Pluto squares her Mercury (keeping her incarcerated) but her Pluto opposes his Jupiter (she had the last laugh yesterday).  Yulia has a big power trine of Jupiter and Pluto, bisected by another outer planet, Neptune.  However, her influence may not be enough to play a part in the new (dis-) order, as she has many detractors in the opposition movement, from her days in power and corruption (she has a wide conjunction between Mercury and Npetune, and a difficult opposition between Mars and Saturn).

Still, release must be sweet for her, and was achieved under an exact trine between transitting Mars to her natal Chiron.  That  is the healing element of her liberation, but more classically in terms of luck and liberation transiting Jupiter trines exactly her natal Neptune (her faith restored in life) and Jupiter also sextiles exactly her natal North Node (a karmic reward).  Thus we see the power of her natal Jupiter-Neptune sextile at work in her life.

In her relationship with the Ukraine, there seems to be a thread of disruption: her Jupiter opposes exactly its Uranus, and her Uranus squares exactly its Uranus.  Thus she is appearing during the revolution, but may just be s symptom or symbol.

Vladimir Putin

It is interesting that just as he has the Sochi Winter Olympics under his belt, Putin’s influence in the Ukraine via Yanukovych has been disrupted.  Putin must be dismayed at the oment because Pluto is exactly squaring his Sun, which is an intensely difficult transit for him personally.  It is as though the power in the Universe is saying no to his personal hopes.  Transitting Saturn is also exactly squaring his natal Pluto, which is another no from the Universe.

European Union

The European has good trading links with Ukraine:  their Mercuries are exactly trine, Europe’s Mercury is exactly trine Ukraine’s Jupiter, and Europe’s Jupiter exactly sextiles Ukraine’s Venus (the potential for warm relations).

The leader in the Guardian last Thursday  stated that this crisis is deeply significant for Europe, stating: “Ukraine has gone from being a story of trouble in a distant place to being an issue which could profoundly affect all our futures.”   The transits to the European Union at the moment, are reasonably buoyant however, with Neptune trine its Neptune (spiritual alignment) and Uranus trine its Uranus (constructive changes), so maybe the effect will not be as damaging as described.

Barack Obama

The same Guardian leader explains why the current events are important for Barack Obama, and his difficult relationship with Vladimir Putin: “That has implications for arms control and for American diplomacy on Syria and Iran.  Co-operation between America and Russia has slipped badly, but what remains is still a requirement for an orderly world”.

Transits to Obama’s chart at the moment are mixed, but he does seem hamstrung karmically, with the Nodal Axis exactly squaring his natal Jupiter and Mercury

Aspects

The Sun conjuncts Neptune today, so there is a spiritual tone at one end of the spectrum, and a confused tone at the other, and in some cases there may be a fusion of the two.  There may be a focus on alleviating suffering. Water is again the focus, and not forgetting the victims of the UK flooding, and further back in time the Fukushima tsunami in Japan, and its subsequent widespread pollution of the waters.  It is a good time to meditate on water based issues, and to send out healing.

On Tuesday (25^th) around tea-time in the UK, Venus sextiles Saturn so love allies to loyalty.  You can support the potential of existing relationships at this time, such as the care of the elderly.

The same day we have the first of two major aspects: Pluto sextile Chiron.  If you are involved in healing, either as a practitioner or as one who is receiving, and whether physical or mental health is involved, it is a good day to bring everything together holistically.  There is a chance of a shift in understanding, practice and healing results.

Wednesday (26^th) brings the other major aspect, in the shape of Jupiter square Uranus, an aspect of big surprises or big shocks.  There may be more major developments in Independence Square, Kiev, for Jupiter square Uranus likes and fuels a revolution.

On Friday (28^th) Mercury turns direct, which will bring Hallelujas from some quarters.  Learn what you needed to learn from this last bout of retrograde action.  A friend of mine always says it brings an upgrade after glitches.  Certainly events in my life taught me to trust the process more.

Finally on Saturday (1^st March) Jupiter trines the Sun, so there may be another Halleluja, as you may feel luck and help are on their way.

The week ends later that day with Mars stationary prior to turning retrograde, so cars may stall and dogs may refuse to budge.  Then when Mars does turn round, there may be issues to resolve with dogs and cars between now and 20^th May, which is when Mars turns direct again.  Men of course also come from Mars, so we will all be working with integrating male energy, self-assertion, and warrior energy, as well as the car and dog issues for a few weeks to come.  No doubt there will be more to say on the subject, sometime soon.

P.S. There is also a New Moon at 10 degrees Pisces this morning (1st March), to encourage a new beginning for your dreams

The week in bullet points:

• Today – spirituality and confusion
• Tuesday – love and loyalty, physical and psychological healing
• Wednesday – high spirited revolution
• Friday – communication restored
• Saturday – New beginnings, luck, and stalled cars and dogs

George Clooney

I have never been swooney about Clooney, but something he said this week touched my heart…

From  his role as Dr Ross in ER  (the glamour of a Piscean Ascendant trine Neptune) to his role as an Astronaut in the film Gravity co-starring Sandra Bullock, he has captivated audiences.  His Aunt, Rosemary Clooney, also had a Pisces Ascendant, but she found fame as a singer  (Venus conjunct the Part of Fortune in Taurus).

His Chart

George Clooney does not have an easy chart (though hard working), and admits to having experienced financial  hardship in his youth.   He had a strict Roman Catholic upbringing),and was interested in social issues from a young age (Moon conjunct Saturn in 11^th House).  He has a serious karmic mission, which I think is gradually coming to light in the directing of films of a serious purpose (Pluto conjunct North Node in Virgo).  In this purpose, he is not afraid to be controversial (Mercury square Uranus – an aspect which also sometimes reveals dyslexia, which he learned to compensate for by charming his teachers, according to his mother).  His Mars is exactly opposite his Saturn, so everything he does is carefully measured and deliberate.   Uranus in showbiz Leo is closely trine his Midheaven (careerpoint) which has ensured sustained success in his career.

Films

I am not a filmgoer, but I did see George Clooney’s film “Good Night and Good Luck” (2005) actually in the cinema, with my mother.  That film was about the McCarthy witch hunts.  This characterized a trend towards political film making which has expanded. The film in which he stars as an Astronaut with Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”, is up for a BAFTA award tonight, and that is possibly one reason he has been in town giving interviews.  The other is to promote the new film he has directed “The Monuments Men” which is about a group of antiquarians and art experts who hunted for art treasures looted by the Nazis in World War II.

Elgin Marbles

And now to my pet subject, which I have mentioned in past blogs, but no one ever took seriously… This week he spoke out for the return of the Elgin Marbles.  Now I have an ally in George, who knows what could happen?  This is the reason he caught my attention this week.  I was smitten with the Elgin Marbles the first time I saw them in the British Museum, but equal to that passion is my conviction that we should return them to the Parthenon in Athens.  I possibly feel so strongly about this issue because I had lives in Ancient Greece, and have never been able to understand why there is not more of a public outcry about the matter.  I am so glad George sees it the same way.  From his chart, George Clooney has a seriousness of purpose, and in his transits he has Pluto squaring his Venus, which means he is currently addressing issues that matter, even more than usual.  Pluto squaring his Venus means that he is also re-assessing his love life, and there may be a gap there – ladies…?

Aspects

A brisk start to the week today with Mercury trine Mars.  Mind and body are co-ordinated purposefully in active pursuits, or intellectual gymnastics.

On Tuesday (18^th) the True North Node enters Libra, so that will be a good day to take karmic stock and record your impressions.  The Mean North Node (an average measurement) enters Libra on 23^rd March, and you will be able to compare the effects if you have recorded them now.  Usually, the True North Node has a more spiritual effect, and the Mean North Node a more practical effect, but both are karmic factors.  Paying attention can tell you something about your relationships and karma, and your relationship to karma, as well as the nature of karma, which could be fascinating.  I hope to write a blog about this transition in March.

The same day the Sun enters Pisces, and you may have trouble distinguishing the effects of the two reorientations of the day, which are both soft focused, subtle and spiritual.  Sun entering Pisces will be emotionally idealistic, as distinct from the intellectual idealism of the sign it will have left (Aquarius).  Our collective focus over the next month is Compassion.  In the UK we are currently weighed down by the terrible havoc wreaked by the flooding (Neptune in Pisces) and confusion over who is to blame (Neptune in Pisces also), whose responsibility it is and what should be done about it.  One thing that is clarifying is the role of Climate Change, so apology please from all the Climate Change deniers such as Nigel Lawson, who have contributed to inaction.

Wednesday (19^th) brings a dampener of a different sort: Mercury square Saturn (communication slowness).  It needn’t get you down, though.  You can use it to focus on what is needed at this time, whether it is the dredging of a river, the choosing of suitable Wellington boots, or chasing up documentation, or taking time out if you are a workaholic.  This aspect is pointing out something useful, for you to do, or not to do.  If a delay gives you pause for thought, pause and think.

Thank You

Thank you Joyce Mason for your enjoyable visit as guest blogger!  But I also want to say a big thank you to all of you who gave her such a warm welcome and provided the thought-provoking comments!  With a total of 21 comments at the last count, you also provided some worthwhile reading.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – getting things done
• Tuesday – spiritual focus
• Wednesday –taking time out

Universal Heart

Take Heart

Draw from the Universal Heart

When there is an Infinite Supply of Love

Nothing can shake you.

~ Lana

Written 15/7/96, New Moon in Cancer

Valentine Week

As it is Valentine’s week, I thought I would look at Love in its many shades.  Other planets can show Love, but I will focus on Venus in combination with the other planets.  This may have application if you have the combination in your own chart, or in Synastry (comparison and compatibility) with another’s chart.   I have include the 4 Greek versions of Love, Eros, Storge, Philia and Agape.

Ten Shades of Love

Here are 10 planetary shades of Love (seems a bit meagre) with several sub-categories under each which would increase the count to about 50 shades.  I have included types of relationship, and qualities in relating.  We meet all kinds of people throughout our lives: Maybe you have experienced many of these varieties of relationship.

 

Venus in aspect to the SUN:

Love for the Self

In your birthchart: Love for the Self, an essential requirement

Qualities: Warmth of Heart, Magnanimity, Generosity

In Synastry: Shared interest in the Arts and performance, centred on the Beloved; the love and admiration of a Fan

Problematic: Narcissism

 

Venus in aspect to the MOON:

Love of a Parent for a Child

In your birthchart: Love of a Parent for a Child

Qualities: Tenderness, Gentleness, The Divine Feminine, Love of the Goddess

In Synastry: Love of a Parent for a Child; tactile expression such as massage; the Greek Storge (familial love)

Personal: Love of a Grandparent for a Grandchild is another nuance, and I realized (mind-blowingly) while writing this blog that my three year old Grandson has his Venus exactly conjunct my Moon, so our relationship exactly fits the classic description.

 

Venus in aspect to MERCURY:

Brotherly Love / Sisterly Love

In your birthchart:  Communication with Love

In Synastry: Mental companionship; counselling and mentoring; Platonic Love

Special Category: Love for a Pet.  Love for a Pet can also come under Moon with Venus, as often there is a parental fondness as part of the relationship.

 

Venus in aspect to MARS:

The Lover

In your birthchart: Magnetism, Sensuality

Qualities: Balancing male and female sides; Combining Opposites

In Synastry: Flirtation; the Greek Eros (romantic love)

Problematic: Addiction to Love

Famous Example: Giacomo Casanova

 

Venus in aspect to JUPITER:

Unconditional Love

In your birthchart: Love for Humanity, Love of God; inclusive love, loving everybody.

Qualities:  forgiveness; overlooking any shortcomings

In Synastry: The Guru-Disciple relationship; boosting self-esteem and confidence

Colour: According to Linda Clark and Yvonne Martine in their book “Health, Youth and Beauty through Colour Breathing” Salmon Pink is the colour for Universal Love, if you would like to project that.  My poem, above, written in 1996, is on this theme.

 

Venus in aspect to SATURN:

Love of the Child to the Parent

In your birthchart: Commitment; Responsibility; Loyalty

Qualities: Respect; Caring for the Elderly; Loving the apparently unloveable (opposite of the Lookism in our society today)

In Synastry: Looking after each other in old age; Love for one older (or interchangeably for someone younger)

Problematic:  Isolation

 

Venus in aspect to CHIRON

Karmic Love

In your birthchart: The desire to Heal

Qualities: The Miracle of Reunion, e.g. for adoptees

In Synastry:  Past-Life links

Problematic:  The aches and pains of love

Famous Example:  Adele has Venus conjunct Chiron in her birthchart and was able to produce two best-selling albums from the creativity inspired by the pain of Love and a special relationship which touched her deeply.

 

Venus in aspect to URANUS

Friendship

In your birthchart: Friendliness, Networking; unusual or progressive ideas about relationship

Qualities: Magnetism; Charisma

In Synastry: Incredible Meetings; Acquaintanceship; ((( Group Hug )))

Collective bonding of a Group; Feeling the Love in the room; the Greek Philia (friendship)

Problematic: Detachment; aloofness; strangeness; estrangement

 

Venus in aspect to NEPTUNE:

Compassion

In your birthchart: Spiritual Love

Qualities: Transcendence; Charity; Idealism in Love; the Greek Agape (selfless love)

In Synastry: Merging; idealized love; Devotion

Problematic: Lack of boundaries; yearning; love put on a pedestal; co-dependency; secrecy; elusive or unrequited love

Famous Example  The Poet John Keats had the conjunction of Venus and Neptune in Scorpio and pursued an impossible, idealized love he was not able to realize in his lifetime.

 

Venus in aspect to PLUTO:

Eroticism

In your birthchart: Dramatic transformations in relationships

Qualities: Passion; in touch with our deepest Psychology

In Synastry: Soul-engaging; Cosmic Love (in common with Jupiter), which overflows earthly boundaries  (but further afield than Jupiter)

Problematic: Stress through destabilization; marks the intensity of the beginning and the Ending of love affairs; Obsession; Stalking.

Aspects

Mercury trines the North Node on Tuesday (11^th)  which brings some support to our collective karmic mission.  Mental strength  and useful information is available to understand dilemmas we face collectively, such as the current flooding in the U.K.  Individually, it is a good day to look into your past lives, e.g. through regression, or having someone read the Akashic Records.

On the same day, the Sun squares Saturn.  You may feel defeated or despondent and need to lift yourself out of victim mode if so.  Don’t beat yourself up; beat the blues by recognizing the causes of it, dust yourself down and find the courage to start all over again.  You may be feeling that progress is slow, but if you look back at your path you will see incremental steps have been taken.

On Thursday (13th) Mercury retrogrades back into Aquarius from Pisces, and you may be able to look coolly again at your current dilemmas.  It is important to both recognize your feelings, and to be able to see the issue from other angles.

For Friday (14th) Happy Valentine’s Day, with a Full Moon in Leo. It will be a highly charged emotional Valentine’s Day, with expectations rising all day, for the Full Moon occurs just before midnight. It’s the sort of Valentine’s where the teasing lover will organize a mystery tour or a treasure hunt lasting all day, and the end gift had better be worth it!

Well it may be worth it, because the early hours of Saturday in U.K. time (16th) has a passionate trine between the Sun and Mars. This is dynamic especially for men, and male bonding.  Girly females may have been astonished to find power tools and football match tickets as their Valentine gifts, though, so maybe not everybody will win.

Saturday will be active and energetically helpful whatever activities you pursue, so it may be a good idea to set your goals at the beginning of the week and arrange them for Saturday.

Saturday evening brings a conjunction between the Sun and Mercury at 27 degrees Aquarius. If you have been busily engaged during the day, you can capitalize on the results in the evening. By then you may have run out of physical steam, but your head will be crystal clear and firing on all cylinders. It’s a good evening for socializing and networking, but also for focussed concentration and creative writing such as Haiku.

Joyce Mason Guest Blog

If you have not yet read Joyce Mason’s marvellous guest blog about her Astrological crime novel “The Crystal Ball”, please find it below or click on the link in the top right hand side of this blog.  It is not too late to record your impressions in a comment, or ask Joyce a question.  I leave my comments box open, and it adds to the information in the archive.

All Love to my readers this week!

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – Karmic information; slight despond
• Thursday – comparing the emotional and rational sides of a situation
• Friday – emotional high tide
• Saturday – male bonding; stunning minds

We are honoured to have Astrologer and Author Joyce Mason treating us to a guest blog about her first novel.  As one who has had a novel on the go since university days I experienced a vicarious thrill on holding Joyce’s first novel in my hands. She’s an astrological Janet Evanovich!  The book transports you to the whacky world of Californian new age society, a world I would secretly like to inhabit or at least visit.  What Joyce has is a bubbly humour, and this book had me smiling on every page, so that was one continuous smile from ear to ear and cover to cover ~ Lana

 

Chiron Goes to a Party, Stumbles into a Crime Caper

© 2014 by Joyce Mason

All Rights Reserved

Imagine the mythical centaur Chiron, bigger than life and very tall because of his horse half. He’s dressed up for the costume party of the Millennium.  It’s the Silver Anniversary and New Year’s Eve celebration of the Immortalists on Planet Earth Association. Chiron could easily be a past president of this group, given his immortal nature that kept him stuck in a lingering wound. In this fantasy, he’s alive and well enough to party. The costume party theme is “come as you’ll be in the future.” What do you think he’d be wearing?

After you muse on that for a bit, I’ll confess, that’s not how Chiron comes to the party between the pages of my debut novel, The Crystal Ball: A Micki Michaels Mystery. Instead, Chiron has a starring role in an educational video that’s shown at the gala event, celebrating 25 years of accomplishments by IOPEA (pronounced eye-OH-pea-uh), the non-profit organization of longevity seekers and do-gooders throwing the party.

There’s much more going on. Astrologer Micki Michaels, current president of IOPEA, and her ex-FBI-agent boyfriend, Curt Stern, find themselves mixing their hot chemistry into a beaker of smoking crime-solving solutions. Curt and Micki have honed their creative problem-solving skills from being opposites that attracted each other, now trying to live together and make it work. The results are a laugh a minute.

She solves problems by taking or passing out flower essences. He carries a gun. The Battle of Guns and Roses has just begun, as Micki and Curt prepare to bust an extortionist who wants to steal the “secret” of longevity. The mystery man threatens, in numerous phone calls, to show up and wreak havoc at this heartfelt, milestone event. He has already threatened to kidnap Micki’s young niece—and has done other actual damage. He’s escalating, but who is he and where is he hiding in the masked crowd?

It doesn’t take long to see why Chiron is the informal patron saint of IOPEA and so beloved by its president. Like astrological Chiron, Micki is a bridge between Saturn and Uranus, old and new. She lives in an antique-décor Victorian home in San Francisco built in 1900, but it’s full of futuristic inventions, including the forward-thinking protagonist, invented by the author. Like most IOPEANs, Micki looks twenty years younger than her age of 50. She’s sure having an interesting Chiron Return.

According to astrologer Armand Diaz, The Crystal Ball is one example of an evolving new composite genre he calls Astro-detective fiction. I know you’ll enjoy his article, The Astrologer Did It: A New Kind of Mystery. Again, just as Chiron is a composite being—half-man and half-horse—The Crystal Ball is a composite genre, classified as both mystery and visionary/metaphysical fiction. With more composite themes than a collage—astrology, longevity, relationships, mystery, humor and evolution, to name a few—the next fact probably won’t surprise you, if you didn’t already know. Chiron has been my astrological specialty since I started my practice in 1988.

Mainstreaming Astrology

The Crystal Ball has been unusually long in the making, published in November 2013 more than 24 years after I completed the original manuscript. The Ball and I evolved together over the years. It became much more than the original story with its multiple purposes: sorting out a relationship and conveying information on astrology, metaphysics, and tools for health and happiness. As it finally neared publication, I realized The Crystal Ball and other Astro-detective novels have the potential to be a Chironic bridge once more, this time between people initiated into these more esoteric topics and those who aren’t.

I wasn’t focused, in the beginning, on being an “ambassador for astrology,” a catchphrase adopted by my local NCGR chapter as its abbreviated vision statement. This is a happy side-effect. My hope is that those who already enjoy astrology and “freelance spirituality” have so much fun at The Crystal Ball; they share it with others who have little or no experience on these topics. It stands alone as a fast-paced, humorous mystery, and as Armand Diaz points out in his article, mystery readers are used to books on highly technical topics where the authors educate them as they read. Often, they’re drawn into unique worlds they may have not previously known or thought would interest them till the mystery lured them.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if astrologers and more Uranian thinkers were better received in their communities? Without prejudice and assuming we’re weird, evil, or maybe a little crazy? Prejudice and misinformation are overcome by getting close to real people with the characteristics that aren’t understood from afar. It doesn’t matter whether the “real” people are living or fictional, as long as they are alive on paper, likable, and part of a good story.

I hope The Crystal Ball is both an enjoyable read and part of the divine domino effect of helping spread cosmic ideas that help so many of us understand and experience our relationships and lives better. In another article I read recently, PJ ­Swanwick says We Need to Promote Spiritual/Visionary Fiction as a genre. What a wonderful way to heal the world through the pleasure of reading.

I can’t help but believe Chiron is behind this. Not only is transiting Chiron separating from a long-standing conjunction with Neptune, but Chiron’s transit through Pisces has a large component of healing through the arts. I want to be part of it. I hope you do, too.

~~~

Joyce Mason is a writer and astrologer. Her trademark is blending humor with deep insights. Her popular blog is called The Radical Virgo. She’s past president of NCGR-Sacramento Area Astrologers. To learn more about her leap into fiction and all her books and purchase links, visit her website: www.joycemason.com.

 

Joyce will be happy to respond to your Comments on The Crystal Ball or your questions about Chiron, related to this post

Pete Seeger (1919-2014)

“Do you remember ‘if I had a hammer’ ?” asked hubby

“Waddya mean ‘do I remember if I had a hammer?!’ ” I replied,  dropping my usual dulcet tone “We belong to the same generation.”

.oO   thought bubble  Oo.    “where have I been all your life?”

Answer:  Pete Seeger was part of our childhood and early teen age, before we even met…

******************

What a life worthy of living, having worked with Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, and stood up for things worth standing up for!

Pete Seeger’s father Charles was a musician and a man of pacifist principles.  His mother was also a musician, a concert violinist and teacher.  Theirs was a musical family way of life.

Archetypes

It is easy to pick out the Archetypes in Pete Seeger’s birth chart.

Musician – Sun in Taurus

Singer – Sun in Taurus

Writer – Venus sextile Mercury

Warrior – Sun conjunct Mars

Activist – Sun conjunct Mars; Uranus trine Pluto

Spiritual Teacher – North Node trine Neptune

Healer – Chiron trine Neptune, forming a Grand Trine with the North Node

Wife

Pete Seeger’s wife Toshi Aline Seeger is credited with much of his success and stability.  Theirs was a strong bond, and she died six months before him.  They were married almost 70 years.  On the date of their marriage, Jupiter was exactly sextile Toshi’s North Node (a favourable karmic trajectory) while Pluto was conjunct Seeger’s  natal Neptune (a very profound union).

Woody Guthrie

There is a sense of musicians passing the baton to each other to create progressive movements in the music lineage, and Pete performed with Woody Guthrie early in his career.  Woody’s Jupiter was exactly trine Pete’s Neptune, denoting a spiritual harmony between them and faith in the same things.  Woody’s Jupiter therefore links in with Pete’s Grand Trine and his karmic mission (North Node).

McCarthyism

The exact square in his chart between Chiron and Pluto makes sense in terms of the dark episode of the McCarthy witch-hunts in the U.S.  Along with many others, he was accused of embracing communism, and it hampered his career for a while.  Chiron is the bridge between the inner and outer planets, but contacts between the outer planets often indicate where a person is caught up  in events of the world.  McCarthyism represents Plutonian power, and Chiron represents Seeger’s desire to heal  (the world) which was a principle he would not go back on.  The strength of his Pluto-Uranus trine was helpful to him in staying true to his principles

Bob Dylan

Another musician he is linked with is Bob Dylan.  Tension may have galvanized this partnership, the tension to get things moving in society: with Pete Seeger’s Mars square Dylan’s Moon, Seeger’s Pluto trine Dylan’s Mars and Dylan’s Mars square Seeger’s Nodal Axis.  This tension may have come to a head at the 1964 Newport Festival where Seeger expressed his anger and frustration at Dylan’s use of electric guitar.  Nevertheless, they both recognized each other as a kindred spirit on the road to music’s evolution.

Death

He died in New York at 9.30 pm on 27 January.  Pluto from his 5^th House was exactly trine his Sun in 9^th House: his creative and philosophical brief accomplished.

We Shall Overcome

There are now just as many things we need to overcome as in Pete Seeger’s heyday, and many ways in which we can be inspired by his words and example.  But on an astrological note, we can be inspired by his natal Pluto trine Uranus resilience and way of being to overcome the problems of this current Uranus square Pluto phase, which takes us through to 2015.  Just to hear the strength in his voice the other day when they played him singing “We Shall Overcome” reminded me of that need.

Aspect

The first half of the week we still have Mercury working normally, i.e. Direct.  Press on with your paperwork, especially if you are behind on your tax return.  Do all your running around now, especially sorting appointments and communications.

For on Thursday (6^th) we have the periodical spanner in our communication works of Mercury going Retrograde.  So the second half of the week we will be adjusting to this.  Mind you, I notice plenty of gum in the works when Mercury is not retrograde, e.g. problems on the trains seem to be increasing despite the higher rail fares.  I was travelling on the tube on Friday in the evening rush hour and a drunken group of lads were making merry on the escalator.  One of them slid down the banister and caused the escalator to stop.  As I boarded the next tube, I realized my legs had turned to jelly (Jupiter was opposing Pluto that day, which in my chart was across the travel Houses).

So midweek we have Mercury stationing (watch out for escalators stopping) and the deadline for your documentation is  21.43 Hrs on Thursday in the U.K., which is when Mercury actually goes retrograde.  Mercury going retrograde is not actually an aspect, but it is the only feature in this vacuum of a week.

Golden Rules

Mercury goes direct again on 28^th February, so in the meantime here are my 3 golden rules for surviving Mercury Retrograde:

1. Communicate clearly
2. Allow an extra hour when travelling
3. Have a trusted I.T. expert on tap

Animal Totems

Useful animal totems connected with Mercury, if you like to work with them:

Monkey  (mischievous)
Butterfly  (the roaming mind)
Coyote (the Trickster, also ruled by Uranus)

Purposes

During the retrograde of Mercury we can use the Virgoan trait or strategy of going over details to get them right.  This is one of the purposes of retrograde Mercury.

The challenges you face with Mercury in retrograde motion make you think on your feet and employ the best of the tenet “Necessity is the mother of invention”.

Blog Visit

I am hoping to post a guest blog from Joyce Mason this week.  She is a U.S. Astrologer, Novelist and Blogger (“The Radical Virgo”) who is promoting her book.  She is a specialist on Chiron (“The Wounded Healer”) and I am hoping that regular readers (and irregular readers) will sharpen their pencils for comments, as she has promised to reply to all questions or comments.  Tune in on Wednesday to read about her story.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday to Wednesday – get all your paperwork up to date
• Thursday to Saturday – employ strategies if communications go awry

Jupiter opposite Pluto

This week sees the second pass of Jupiter opposing Pluto (of three altogether), a major opposition which represents the struggle for power.

In an individual’s chart, it can represent a huge desire for power and the controversial use of it: Saddam Hussein had it, as did Margaret Thatcher.

In our lives, we may have a huge inner conflict going on at this time, characterized by the House positions across which this opposition plays. The House which Pluto currently occupies will hold the greatest sway, psychologically, and exert the most force.  But the House occupied by Jupiter will put up a good fight, optimistically and with a desire for expansion.

Syria

In the world today, nothing exemplifies this opposition as much as the conflict in Syria, each side equally adamant that there will be no let up in the conflict, whatever the cost.

An Opposition aspect is an attempt to achieve balance and Oneness, but with two such planets as Jupiter and Pluto, it can be a superhuman task.  In the case of the Syrian talks this week, the UN wanted to have everyone on board, but Iran had to be excluded because of its relationship with the  Syrian government.  The stated aim of the talks is to achieve an interim government in Syria.

In the human psyche, the Opposition represents an attempt at Individuation and wholeness.  Theoretically it would be easier for us individually to achieve this than for the whole planet with all its various interests.  If you are wholly at peace, then please let us have your secret.  You can achieve peace say in a meditation, but then as soon as you start to engage with the world you can be swayed from the centre. If you are able to maintain your centre, often you don’t make sense to others.  However, the energy of the centre, of Oneness, can sometimes make a difference beyond words, and can be healing.

When a situation is as dire, and has got out of control to such an extent as the conflict in Syria, it is difficult to see what would make a difference.  Apparently the U.K. is sending one of the highest contributions of aid to the area in practical terms. The Syrian conflict has now been going on for nearly three years, and for longstanding intransigeant situations it is easy to give up, despair, lose interest or energy.  But,  for our energy of good will that we need to send to the situation there should be no let up.

Aspects

After Saturday’s Mercury square Saturn you may feel you are starting out on a flat base this week.  But gradually excitement builds from today, towards Wednesday’s (29^th) Sun sextile Uranus.  This could be a dynamic day, good for brainstorming ideas, trying out new inventions, original creativity, and new work initiatives.  Some new energy arrives into a situation which could be tense, itself building towards Friday’s Opposition of Jupiter and Pluto.  In fact Wednesday’s excitement could be misinterpreted amongst all the angst, and needs to be separated out, recognized for what it is, and acted upon, for it is an active and positive force.  Wednesday can be a forward and progressive day.

From there, you can move confidently onwards and upwards to the New Moon at 10 degrees Aquarius on Thursday (30^th), when you can look forward to more of the same, but perhaps in more concrete or crystallized ways.  It is important to make the best use of the opportunities and gifts of these two days, to give you a foundation for working with the greater complexity of Friday’s offerings from the Universe.

Friday (31^st) is the big day this week, starting with the powerful opposition between Jupiter and Pluto.  Power struggles could be momentous, each side of the struggle magnifying and amplifying and escalating the conflict.  The opposition first occurred last August, at the time when Robert Mugabe took the electoral power in Zimbabwe.

In your own life, you will need to balance your energies, and own your own power.  The key to this may be your own authenticity, something you have been practicing for a long time.

Late lunchtime, Mercury moves into Pisces, bringing a softening of mental outlook.  It may seem a subtle or imperceptible change, against the dramatic scenery.  This detail may make a difference though.  Mercury flew like a whirlwind through Aquarius, but now we’ll be opening our hearts, simultaneously as we open our minds in the face of new information coming in.

Lastly, Venus is stationary, prior to turning direct, and there will be no closing or denial of the heart by the end of the day or week.

The week in bullet points:

• Wednesday – new ideas and initiatives
• Thursday – new beginnings
• Friday – power play, but compassion creeping in

Monsieur Francois Hollande

President Hollande of France has been trying to keep his private life from intruding on his public life, with the alleged revelation of an affair with a French actress going back 2 years.    The British media wonder whether the French are traditionally more relaxed about the private lives of their public figures.  He is a Leo Sunsign, with a Gemini Ascendant (the desire to keep more than one string to his bow).  He loves to be the centre of attention politically, but with Moon in Capricorn likes to keep his women private…He has a complex exact T-square between Uranus, Chiron and Neptune.   But his Mars square Venus shows perhaps some emotional immaturity and lack of sensitivity in relationships.  He has Mercury on the I.C. (Imum Coelum), suggesting that he finds security in the rational.  Apparently he likes to keep his mind compartmentalized.

In this current scenario the French people have shown slightly more interest than usual in their premier’s private life.  That the current revelations have not been entirely damaging to him is down to transiting Uranus trine his natal Mercury and transiting Neptune trine his natal Saturn, two protective trines.  However Pluto is approaching his natal North Node, and reality may bite when this transit peaks in late February, and when Uranus squares this point mid-April of this year.

Segolene Royal

He wasn’t always so fickle.  For 30 years his partner was fellow politician Segolene Royal, with whom he has four children.  Her Ascendant is conjunct with Hollande’s Midheaven, so they had a long and active political life together.  Her Jupiter in 5^th House of children reflects the large family they had.  She has Venus conjunct Pluto in her 7^th House of Marriage, which portrays a huge upheaval of a significant relationship.  In their synastry, they had a very practical working partnership based on  a double whammy of Segolene’s  Mars closely sextile Francois’ Saturn, and Francois’ Mars exactly sextile Segolene’s Saturn.

Valerie Trierweiler

Journalist Valerie Trierweiler was described by Francois Holland as the love of his life, and installed as First Lady when he was elected President.  She has in her chart a depressive exact opposition between the Moon and Saturn, which may have been triggered by recent events, which necessitated  a spell in hospital.  She also has Mercury square closely Neptune, which can bring mental overwhelm at times.  There is also some woundedness from past lives with her Chiron square her Nodal Axis.  The two of them are (or were) dynamic together, with her Mars sextile exactly his Uranus, her Jupiter exactly square his Sun, her Jupiter trine exactly his Moon (thank God the French have exact birth times), their Jupiters exactly sextile, and  her Uranus trine exactly his North Node.  They would have felt able to conquer the world together, in their initial connection.  Sadly though for Valerie, Julie Gayet may have been already in the wings even as she was installed as First Lady.  This current crisis has hit Valerie’s Mercury (mind) from a squared Saturn (depression). Jupiter is currently sextile her Pluto. So she will be receiving help.

Julie Gayet

Enter the picture second mistress, actress Julie Gayet.  She has a strong destiny, with Pluto exactly trine her North Node, and Uranus exactly trine her Midheaven (surprise changes of fortune and life direction).  She has Mars exactly square Uranus, so there is always a lot going on in her life.  And she has Mercury conjunct Saturn, so may also be no stranger to depression.  Her Venus trines Hollande’s Saturn, so there is some loyalty there, between them.  His Moon-Jupiter opposition favourably contacts her Ascendant, so living together may be successful.  Her Neptune trines exactly his Venus, so it would be easy for him to put her on a pedestal.  Would that pedestal be that of First Lady?  She has some favourable aspects at the time of the revelation, suggesting she may have been personally pleased or relieved that the knowledge became public.  Neptune, the planet of scandal, was squaring exactly her own Neptune, so confusion in her life was also happening.

February 11^th

What are the prospects for the date he has given for sorting out the status of First Lady, when he goes to Washington?  By then, Pluto will already be on his North Node (it’s a long transit), so it will be a momentous time for him, in terms of decision and destiny.  Uranus will be trine exactly Valerie Trierweiler’s Ascendant, so a time of change for her.  It occurs on her 9^th House cusp, so one could not rule out an exciting foreign trip for her.  Mars will be trine Julie Gayet’s Moon, so she may be putting a lot of energy into domestic affairs.  But Neptune will be trine her Venus, so idealized love will still be high on her agenda, inwardly at least.  It will be interesting to see what arrangement Hollande comes to.

France

What of the all important relationship between Hollande and France?  His Uranus trines exactly its Mars, so he may eventually stimulate the economy.  But his Saturn exactly conjuncts its Jupiter, so in other respects his policies may be demotivating.  Both the Jupiter and the Mars in the French chart are in the 10^th House of reputation, so he may have some impact in this way.  The time of the scandal, and therefore the impact of the scandal, on France is also mixed.   Saturn transiting the 10^th House of reputation creates an exact T-square with France’s own Uranus-Pluto opposition.   National characteristics are being analysed, and may be changing.

Aspects

The Sun enters Aquarius tomorrow, which coming after Friday’s Mercury sextile Uranus, may consolidate a fresh new outlook,  and regimes. Be guided by your intuition (as always) and honour any new ideas which have come to you in the last few days, for  they may be presentiments of the future.  You may be entering a new era or area of work.

On Wednesday (22nd) these ideas may be tested out, with Sun squaring the Nodal Axis. The questions are: how sound are they karmically? What power play is taking place? Is one person hogging the limelight?  You need to aim towards a karmic balance.

On Friday (24th) Mercury trines Mars, best aspect of the week, with an emphasis on activity and mobility. If you have been held back recently, here is a window for moving two steps forward. It’s a good day for travel, whether on your bike or in your car. Make the most of it.

Did you spot the subliminal messages there?  Saturday (25th) brings almost a reversal, with Mercury square Saturn. One step back. Trains may be delayed, communications blocked. Be patient. If your train is delayed by an hour, you are entitled to compensation. Bring your compensation form ready with you, so that you can spend that hour constructively. Otherwise it will remain unfilled until the next crisis, when you will remember…it”s all too easy to forget the lessons once the crisis has passed.  Saturday’s message is learning from experience.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – brave new outlook
• Wednesday – karmic power play
• Friday – best day for progress
• Saturday – temporary setback

 

Ariel Sharon, War and Peace

Ariel Sharon, a hawk in Israeli politics, died yesterday after being in a coma for 8 years.

This will inevitably be a very subjective account, because I was born in Israel, and the memories evoked by Sharon’s moments in history were always seen through the lens of a pacifist.

He started out, as many early Israeli politicians did, as a member of the Haganah, an underground paramilitary force associated with the early struggle  for Israel’s independence. Someone recently pointed out to me that in order to be a good peacemaker or diplomat it is advantageous to have been a warrior. This was in response to my denial of my own inner warrior.

His Sun Sign of Pisces has me baffled, until I look at his genius as a military strategist.   His Sun is situated in his 11^th House of group application, providing leadership as it exactly sextiles his Midheaven.  Mars in the 10^th House emphasized a military career.

He played an important part in all the early wars, including the Six Day War of 1967.

It was during the Lebanese War of 1982 that I took notice of him.  I was torn apart by the massacres at Sabra and Shatila in the Lebanon, and the separation of families, which he was understood to have responsibility for. Up to that time my heart had been with the CND movement, but I was looking for a reason for my head to also join CND. It came to me in a flash that I wouldn’t wish the bomb on my worst enemy. I then became a card carrying member of CND, collecting subscriptions in Watford.

At the time of the Sabra ad Shatila massacres, Mars was triggering his natal T-square of Neptune, Moon and Mercury.

Yitzhak Rabin –  now there was a peacemaker I could follow!  But he was assassinated by a fanatical Jew. The peace process, which had gathered hope in the days of Sadat, also assassinated, was knocked down… Henceforth hearts hardened on both sides of the divide: the Israeli and the Arab / Palestinian side .Henceforth, too, the Israelis would only choose the hawkish leaders, such as Sharon and Netanyahu.

At a very sensitive time in the history of the peace effort, Sharon inflamed tensions by going to the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, forbidden to Jews.  This was an inflammatory act for the Arabs and Palestinians.  At this time Mars was opposing his Sun (he was in warlike mode) but at the same time, Mars was trine his Midheaven (a deliberate political act).
He gained power through this act, going on to become Prime Minister.  Whilst in power, in May 2003 he endorsed the Road Map to Peace put forward by the U.S. after almost a lifetime as a hawk, there seemed to be a softening, a change of heart. Saturn was sextile his Neptune at the time.  He authorized the pulling out from Gaza.  He considered pulling back Israeli settlements on the West Bank (something Nethanyahu has never considered).  Symbolically, I think it significant that beyond Mars in his 10^th House is Venus, the potential for a more peaceful approach.

And then in December 2005 he suffered a stroke, and a change of fortune resulting from a transit of Uranus to his Sun which also sextiled his Midheaven.  A further stroke leading to a coma ensued on 4 January 2006.  I believe his soul was in conflict, and also that he was kept alive for political ends.

Louise L. Hay’s given probable cause for coma is:

“Fear.  Escaping something or someone.”

Aspects

As the week begins you may be flying in all directions, as a result of Saturday’s busy aspect line up.

Tuesday (14th) is a day to coolly and rationally assess your karma, with Mercury squaring the Nodal Axis. There will be a lot of communication in the ethers, and people will be pulling out  their Inner Teacher, giving you the benefit of their opinion. Everybody will be looking round for someone to teach, or be accosted by somebody else’s Inner Teacher. “I say, I say, I say!” Will be the refrain, in the hope that someone will be prepared to put up that inner listener. In the ensuing cacophony ideally we will each become our own guru and inner listener.

Coming up to Thursday (16th) we are working our way towards a Full Moon at 25 degrees Cancer, one of the most emotional Full Moons of the year. It may seem that everybody is very self-centred and wrapped up in their emotions, but it may be a good time to draw your emotional boundaries and just work on your own stuff.

Venus squares Mars in the afternoon so there may be some emotionally immature behaviour, such as a double entendre you’d rather not hear.

Finally on Friday (17th) some sanity! Mercury sextiles Uranus and there is a good rapport between the higher and lower mind, yours and everybody else’s. Future vision will be sound, telepathic networks working well, inventions and inventors blessed! A more sure footed path to end a mildly uncertain week.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – Inner Teachers rampant
• Thursday – high emotion, and emotional immaturity
• Friday – sanity, and good ideas

 

From my postbag:

“You reviewed the year last week – I presume you will be doing a forecast for next year in your next blog”

2014

Dates for your Diary:

January 31^st : Jupiter opposite Pluto – power play

February 26^th: Jupiter square Uranus – over-excitement

April 15^th: Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon in Libra) – relationship wobble

20^th: Jupiter square Uranus AND Jupiter opposite Pluto! – momentous change

21^st: Uranus Square Pluto No. 5 – enactment of changes

29^th: Solar Eclipse (New Moon in Taurus) – a turning point, especially for earth healing

May 24^th: Jupiter trine Saturn – a good day for balancing

July 16^th: Jupiter enters Leo – exuberance

September 25^th: Jupiter trine Uranus – happy surprises

October 8^th: Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon in Aries) – opposing interests

23^rd: Solar Eclipse (New Moon in Scorpio) – turning point in the things that matter

December 15^th: Uranus square Pluto No. 6 – penultimate tension spike in the series of 7

United Kingdom

January 31^st/1^st February – Uranus sextiles UK Ascendant on the csup of the 11^th House – A breakthrough in relations.  Favourable changes.

February 9^th: Pluto from Capricorn in 8^th House squares natal Chiron in Aries in 11^th House of the UK chart – Tough negotiations – possible difficulties regarding our membership of the E.U.

March 26^th:  Chiron from Pisces in 10^th House trines natal Sun in Sagittarius in 7^th House of the UK chart – Healing relations – harmony in negotiations, which may refer to internal relationships such as Unions.

April 3^rd/4^th: Chiron from Pisces in 10^th House trines natal Mercury in Sagittarius in7th House of the UK chart– treaties ratified.  There may be something helpful for the N.H.S. in this.

June 13^th: Jupiter in Cancer in David Cameron’s 10^th House transits his natal Part of Fortune = Some fortuitous twist for David Cameron which may raise his profile.

July 23^rd: Jupiter Return for David Cameron in his 11^th House – Social success for him, maybe reunion with an old club.

August 15/6^th: Jupiter transits David Cameron’s Moon in Leo in 7^th House – He would feel in epic mood.  Friends surround him.  Good family news.

September 18^th: Scottish Referendum: A solid day for Alex Salmond, with a shock for David Cameron.  Favourable change in some ways for the UK with Uranus trine its natal Sun/Mercury, but also schism and trauma in that Pluto opposes its natal Pluto.

October 1^st: Saturn transits David Cameron’s Neptune in Scorpio in his 2nd House.  Depressing financial news, which may be initially covered up.

November 25^th: Saturn in Scorpio transits natal Venus in 6^th House – Some sadness, such as the passing of a notable figure.  More stress over the N.H.S. and more cuts to the Arts.

The Price of Fish – a Domestic

Hubby has Moon in Aries, Ascendant in Scorpio and Mars square Uranus, so he does erupt from time to time. And erupt he did, right in the middle of the Grand Cross on New Year’s Eve.

“You are not even charging the minimum wage!” he accused.  “I am sorry, it is just not acceptable” he said crossly, but laughed as he tends to do when talking about something serious.  He is a Gemini.  It confuses my mother.

Further bad news: “I would rather you did the housework, for that rate.” (Note: this is the worst thing you can say to a Sagittarian).

“You can blame me if you like” (he winked).  So I am.

After a sleepless night, I decided the next morning I would put my prices up, for the first time in years.  All existing commissions will be honoured at the current rate, and the new prices don’t start until February 1^st, if you want to get your orders in.  After February 1^st, all prices for my services will go up by £10.  The quest for the true relationship between the material and the spiritual continues in my head.

Please note that my regression and future life progression prices are unchanged

Aspects

If you saw the funny side of things on Friday with the opposition between Mercury and Jupiter, you’ll appreciate the joke even more deeply today with Sun opposite Jupiter.  The Sun opposite Jupiter can give rise to a new positive philosophy of life.  Someone I know who has the opposition in their natal chart is a supreme optimist, even in the face of hardship.

Tomorrow Mercury is sextile Saturn, and this fosters a constructive relationship with the mental and the practical, helping to build on the optimism of the previous day.

Mercury conjuncts Venus on Tuesday (7^th), so that is a brilliant aspect for diplomacy, heart to hearts, writing and broadcasting with heart, or lounging in coffee bars trying out the new gingerbread cinnamon lattes with biscotti (if your teeth are not past them).  I do happen to have a Coffee Pod date in my diary then, but my teeth are not up to biscotti.

Mars squares Jupiter on Wednesday (8^th), and energy and enthusiasm abound and magnify each other.  Spiritually, this aspect can propel you into other realms and dimensions of light.

Saturday (11^th) is the busiest day aspectwise.   It merits a timetable (U.K. time):

10.44 am:  Venus sextiles Saturn – commitment is on the agenda in relationships.

12.24 pm: Sun conjuncts Venus – Lovey Dovey in relationships, and artistic and musical endeavours flourish.  Money matters also shine.  There may also be a prospect of lovely lunches.

13.39 Hrs:  Sun sextiles Saturn – Lovely desserts, or certainly just desserts.  After dinner coffee and mints provide the chance to establish sensible future plans.

21.35 Hrs: Mercury enters Aquarius –  A new vibe, new ideas, mental renewal and refreshment.

If you are out and about socializing in the evening, you might be trying out a new nightclub.  If you are staying  in, create a new Saturday night ritual now that the Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor season is over.  Try a new TV channel.

In the Forward  to Anne Jirsch’s new book (“Create Your Perfect Future”) Paul McKenna refers to the mind as your “genius biocomputer”.  Try substituting that term whenever you think of or talk about your mind (Mercury) for a week, and see if it makes a difference.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – think positive
• Tomorrow –consolidate
• Tuesday – literary
• Wednesday – overflowing your normal boundaries
• Saturday – busy day; commitment; love; planning; new thoughtforms

What did we learn from 2013?

January

13^th: (from the blog)

Andrew Marr

Andrew Marr needs to be appreciated this morning for his services to this blog.  Andrew, who suffered a stroke last Tuesday, is the presenter of “the Andrew Marr show” which has been broadcast on Sunday mornings since September 2005.

…Andrew has a high wire nervous system (Mercury exactly conjunct Uranus in Leo) and high stress workaholism  (Mars conjunct Pluto in Virgo).

He has the Interviewer Archetype in the Mercury-Uranus conjunction, as distinct from the Critic Archetype, which is Mercury conjunct Mars.

Stroke

At the time of his stroke Jupiter was exactly squaring his natal Mars, stoking up energy and activity in his system. However, in his favour Jupiter was sextile his Sun and trine his North Node. I am hoping this might mean that he will make a good recovery.

Hindsight from 18^th May:

 The tension rose to such a degree that Andrew Marr had a stroke, and he recently divulged that it took place when he had been exercising too vigorously on the rowing machine.  He was overdoing things in his life physically and mentally.  This is something to be observant about during the course of this square.

February

10^th: (from the blog)

Richard III

Now that we have stared into the reconstruction of Richard III’s face thanks to the finding of his skull, he has become a modern celebrity, and we feel that we know him.

Monday 4^th February was the day of unveiling the DNA results produced from unearthing his bones, and also the matching TV programme.

.…The day he was unearthed last September was a good day in relation to the aspects in his natal chart:  He had Jupiter exactly trine his Mercury, Saturn exactly trine his Jupiter, and the North Node (karma) exactly trine his Uranus (surprise).

…The next question on the agenda was where he should be laid to rest.  I am sure that this event is the beginning of the restoration of his karma, but it has taken centuries to unravel, and could take a while longer.

Hindsight from 18^th May:

Richard III managed to emerge after centuries under a car park in Leicester and initiate a continuation of the Wars of the Roses.  That is quite a feat.

Consequences

High Court proceedings have been adjourned until the New Year.  York lays a claim for a re-burial from the current Leicester location of the skeleton, and descendants of the relatives of  Richard III (under the Plantagenet Alliance) have got involved as interested parties. Unburying him was the easy part.  The current tussle could run on and on.

March

17^th: (from the blog)

Tony Blair

Many of my friends marched in London hoping to prevent the Iraq War, and I did write a letter to Tony Blair which he ignored.  I never bought into the Weapons of Mass Destruction idea!  I have to document the 10^th Anniversary which occurs on Wednesday 20^th, because I believe the Iraq War was a collective wound and we are still suffering collective post-traumatic stress syndrome from it.

The Legacy

Iraq was destroyed, with no planning having been given to its reconstruction.  The way of life, both good and bad, for the Iraqi citizen was destroyed.  The fine antiquities of ancient Mesopotamia were also destroyed.  That is on top of all the lives lost…Tony Blair certainly continued his interests in the Middle East, having a special peace envoy role, and many have wondered what he has done with that.  It is also the second anniversary this week of the Syrian uprising (15^th March), and the Middle East is still in turmoil, with the added threat of Iranian nuclear weapons and the lack of counterbalance to Iran which was formerly provided by Saddam Hussein.  Now of course we face the dilemmas over intervention in Syria, and further afield in Africa.

A Lesson not Learned

Involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan among other  causes, and the history of the involvement, seems to even recently be a cause for confusion in the mind of our PM David Cameron.

On 16 December he made a public statement saying that our troops in Afghanistan had accomplished their mission, assuring us that a “basic level of security” had been achieved.  Afghanistan seems as unstable as ever, and there are still frequent bombings in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

April

14^th: (from the blog)

Margaret Thatcher

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

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

British Politics still in turmoil

With Tony Blair (New Labour) having emulated her, and David Cameron (Conservative) admiring her style, Nick Clegg (Lib Dems) having kowtowed his party almost to oblivion as scapegoat for the current government, and Ed Milliband (Old Labour) still not finding his feet, or the way ahead, British politics is as much in turmoil as ever.

More Disillusionment later in the year

From 10 November blog:

“For the next blog can I request a focus on Russell Brand who in my opinion has articulated what many of us feel.”

Russell Brand is no stranger to controversy, and has recently upped his political profile by appearing on Question Time and then being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.  Our querent refers to the interview with Jeremy Paxman in which he ranted about the population being completely disillusioned with politicians.  He does seem to have touched a nerve.

…A few days later he [Jeremy Paxman] confessed that he didn’t vote in a recent election because he himself was a little disaffected.  By this time the transiting Neptune trine Uranus came more into focus, and allowed a response which overlapped with Russell’s views.  Neptune transiting would allow more sensitivity in relation to some of his entrenched (Uranian) views.

Paxman said:

“At the next election we shall have a choice between the people who’ve given us five years of austerity, the people who left us this mess, and the people who signed public pledges that they wouldn’t raise student fees, and then did so.”

June

9^th: (from the blog)

The Turkish Spring

Turkey, a country which holds a crucial position in the world, in relation to the EU and in relation to the Middle East, is at a crossroads now.  It has had the same leader at the helm for 10 years, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, democratically elected, but now a rebellion is under way, triggered by the proposed building of a mall on park land in Istanbul.

…What may mark out this Turkish Spring, starting as it does in the midst of the Uranus-Pluto square series, from the Syrian situation, may be Erdogan’s grasp of what is needed in the democratic process if he can turn round his thinking, as he has engaged with it already, and listen to his people.  He is in the unique position of being able to learn what not to do in the region, from previous examples.

…Celia Fenn, an Earth Healer has recently written about the situation in Turkey, saying: “It’s about a generation of Indigos standing up and saying “This doesn’t work for us!…This is the Indigo Revolution.  It is young people who have said ‘no…it is enough’ and who will stand calmly in the face of aggression because they are light warriors and systems busters.”

More Lessons Unlearned

Protests are still going on, amid calls for Erdogan’s resignation.  Only yesterday it was reported that he remained defiant, amid allegations of corruption which have resulted in three members of his government departing from office.  Erdogan does not seem to be able to think outside the box in relation to his own leadership, let alone learn from the lessons of other Arab spring revolts.

July

7^th: (from the blog)

Nigella Lawson

We were forced into the prurient act of seeing what seemed like a public near-strangling by Charles Saatchi, when pictures of Charles Saatchi at the throat of his wife Nigella Lawson outside a London restaurant  were displayed all over the media last month.  This morning it was announced that he is to divorce her, citing the damage to his reputation as one of the problems.  She has since been taken up, unwittingly and possibly reluctantly, as a poster girl for domestic violence.

Hindisght from 22^nd December:

Drugs

I had been pondering the true meaning of Neptune by transit squaring Nigella’s natal Venus at the time of the original story: there was a mystery which was enveloping the relationship.

What the trial revealed was an alleged culture of drug taking, and Nigella herself admitted to an occasional use of cocaine and cannabis, at odds with the Grillo sisters’ account of more extensive use.  This is the Neptunian secret which was behind the transiting square of Neptune to Nigella’s Venus, where Neptune = secrets and drugs and Venus = relationships and money.

Can she make a fresh start in the New Year?

At this point, Nigella needs to pick herself up and dust herself down, and her chance comes on 7 January 2014 at 9 pm (Channel 4) with the first screening of the British version of this show.[The Taste]/

August

25^th: (from the blog)

Martin Luther King

Yesterday Americans celebrated 50 years since the “I Have a Dream Speech” by Martin Luther King, which was actually spoken on 28^th August 1963.

Oratory is shown in Martin Luther King’s natal chart by Ascendant in Gemini, Mercury its ruler on the Midheaven, and Mars (warriorship) in Gemini (through oratory).

North Node close to the Ascendant often indicates one who is a leader, bringing a group of people into incarnation for a specific work.  His karmic leadership role is also emphasized by a trine of the Sun to his North Node.

Continued theme on 8 Decembre 2013

Icons

Growing up, my icons were Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King (see my blog under the category Icons), the Dalai Lama, and later I became aware of Nelson Mandela (who passed away this week).  If all politicians carried on according to their example, the problems of the world would be greatly lessened.

Conclusion

Political icons are as rare as comets.

September

15^th: (from the blog)

Obama and Putin

It is easy to be cynical about the current engagement of the U.S. and Russia over the Syrian dilemma, but I welcome it as a change of energy in the situation, a diplomatic effort rather than a military one.  So I thought I would just look at the current situation with regard to Obama, Putin and Syria to see if there is even the slightest hint that the current proposal to deal with Syria’s chemical weapons could be a helpful way through.  The deal, brokered in Geneva, is to give Syria one week to comply with conditions which would enable the accounting of its chemical weapons.  Bashar Al-Assad, allied to Russia,  has agreed to this plan.

29^th: (from the blog)

Hassan Rouhani of Iran

Is President Rouhani sincere or just extra clever?  A focal point of his chart is an exact conjunction of Venus and Neptune in Libra, the sign of diplomacy and sweet words.  He certainly knows the truth of what he is saying, and has many years of experience in Iranian politics making him a shrewd realist. In another life, with that conjunction, he could have been an inspirting musician.

Dilemma

To trust or not to trust, that is the question.

October

20^th: (from the blog)

On the Brink

U.S.A. Chart

This week’s U.S. crisis and deadline was averted in the nick of time.  Of course the crisis did not only belong to the U.S., it had implications for the world economy.  On Thursday, the day of the deadline and the day a temporary resolution was made Neptune from Pisces in 3^rd House of the U.S. chart (communicated uncertainty) was trine the US chart Venus  (finance) in Cancer in 7^th House, indicative of a place of rest in the situation.  It was the day before an eclipsed Full Moon in Aries (itself a threshold) positioned in the U.S. 5^th House, squaring its natal Pluto (high finance) in the 2^nd House and creating a T-square with its natal Mercury/Part of Fortune in 8^th House. in Cancer (financial House connected with other parties).

Ongoing Financial Crises and the Uranus-Pluto square

From Raymond Merriman 23 December:

“Still, within the context of the greater Cardinal Climax (2008-2015), we are nearing its end. It is simply amazing, in my humble opinion, that Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve Board, along with other central banks of the world,  have been able to steer the economy away from a Great Depression through their clever engineering of monetary policy over the past six years. Yes, the middle class – savings class – has been devastated. But it would have been worse had they not “put the pedal to the metal” in terms of their dramatic monetary easing policies.”

November

17^th: (from the blog)

Over the last week images of the devastation in Tacloban in the Philippines have dominated our screens.

Typhoon Haiyan

Some of the astrological signatures of this typhoon were Moon conjunct Pluto in Capricorn squaring Uranus (coming quite close to the exact square between Uranus and Pluto), and Sun conjunct Saturn.  Also of significance may be North Node conjunct Mercury (weather karma).

Climate Change

The aid effort has raised huge sums from the public and contribution from the  government in Britain, and it will of course take years for the area to recover.  Supplies are only just now getting through, over a week after the typhoon.  One of the questions raised is how much the phenomenon is due to climate change, and how responsible we are as a species if so.  I don’t think the general thrust of responsibility for the welfare of the planet is helped by climate change deniers such as Nigel Lawson, who waded into the argument again on Question Time this week, as Jupiter was plumping up his natal Pluto (power).  In his chart he has a loose conjunction between Mercury and the North Node, giving him a vested interest in the karma of weather.

December

1^st: (from the blog)

Mary Berry

What is her enduring appeal?  She has the resilience and energy of Sun in Aries, and its directness and simplicity, a real English rose (she was brought up in the quintessentially English city of Bath).  Aries is not traditionally associated with baking, but we do not have her birth time and Ascendant, which could sway her towards baking (a Taurus or Cancerian Ascendant would suit the profession).

…When the Great British Bake Off was launched on 17 August 2010, Mary was ripe for the opportunity, with Jupiter exactly transiting her Sun.  Her partnership with Paul Hollywood has been described by The Guardian as the best ever TV judging partnership.  A nice lady…

Moral of this Tale

Blogs on more light hearted topics do better.

Aspects

“There is no astrological event so baleful that creativity, intelligence, and honest self-appraisal cannot turn it to constructive uses – and there is no configuration so glorious that laziness cannot sour it” ~ Steven Forrest

At the moment, in the heavens, we have a Grand Cross.  The Mars-Uranus opposition of Christmas Day was our first intimation of it, and by and large the coming week is dominated by it, apart from a couple of oases.  The Grand Cross consists of Uranus in Aries opposing Mars in Libra, and Jupiter in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn.  These points are activated by Mercury and the Sun in Capricorn this week.

With the Sun conjunct Mercury in the planning sign of Capricorn today, it is a good time to take a cool look at the past year, and where your life is headed.  This analysis will be useful when it comes to deciding on the final line up of your New Year’s Resolutions.  What worked for you in 2014, and what did not work?  How will your best interests be served in 2014?

The energy changes towards the evening when Mercury squares Uranus.  The Universe will be urging a change in mental direction.  Your earlier deliberations may have highlighted perhaps an attitude that needs changing.  There may be disruptions.

In my case, I began a blog, then had to change direction completely.  Halfway through, I needed to go and order a new washine machine (our old one just gave up, after 21 glorious years of service).  Then as you can see it proved to be a long blog!  So a disruptive Sunday…and hence the unprecedented lateness of my blog.

The theme of change continues tomorrow with the Sun squaring Uranus.  That may force changes past the planning stage and through to action, or creative originality at best, or unexpected change which is not usually so welcome.

Mercury also sextiles Chiron tomorrow, which favours healing insight,  seeing the metaphysical cause of a problem and constructing a suitable affirmation, or strategy to overcome this.

If at this time you are implementing changes, be aware that your Inner Rebel may be making them too radical, trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Do try and tone him or her down.  This could become a critical issue on Tuesday (31^st) when we experience a square between Mars and Pluto.  It is the sort of aspect which may produce a political coup in an unstable regime, or even direct conflict or conflagration.  It is not an easy energy with which to enter the New Year.

Two young women asked me excitedly on Boxing Day: “Oooh what will the New Year be like?”  It was an unguarded moment, in which I could only gulp.  But difficult aspects at the New Year do not taint a whole year…We still have the Uranus-Pluto square to contend with through to 2015, but there will be other aspects we can work with more constructively.

Moving on swiftly, Mercury then conjuncts Pluto, entering the fray.  There is much information to be digested: news reporters may be kept busy and on the alert.

Mercury then goes on to square Mars, so more fractiousness and irritability into the mix.

Wednesday (1^st)  may be a Happier New Year’s Day.  With a great deal of conflict coming up to the New Year, the day itself holds the possibility of a fresh start in the shape of a New Moon in Capricorn (at 10 degrees).  You may be able to see a new plan, a New Vision, though the time will not yet be right for forging ahead, as the next aspect upon us that day is Sun conjunct Pluto, and ramifications of the pre-New Year period may have to be dealt with, or new considerations may insist on solutions.  The Sun also sextiles Chiron, enabling some healing to take place and some solutions to be found.

The Sun then squares Mars on Friday (3rd), producing more subjects and incidents of contention, though maybe not as deep seated as the previous batch.

Finally, Mercury opposes Jupiter that same day, so there may be some light relief – it may all end in laughter, not tears.  The horizon brightens, and the following week looks much easier.  It reminds me of the lines of “Hello Muddah Hello Faddah” by Alan Sherman: “Wait a minute, it stopped hailing, guys are swimming, guys are sailing, playing baseball, gee that’s better…”

HEARTFELT WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Concentration and then Disruption
• Tomorrow – More Change and then Healing
• Tuesday – Conflict, deep thought, and Irritability
• Wednesday – Happy New Year and a New Beginning, but also Realism and some healing
• Friday –  minor Skirmishes and Laughter