Nigel Farage and the conundrum of UKiP

The face of British politics is said to have changed dramatically this week, with one in four voters plumping for UKIP.  David Cameron has been forced to retract his earlier impression of the party as “fruitcakes and closet racists” modifying his tune to “We need to show respect for people who have taken the choice to support this party”.

What is the demographic of the voting section?  A few 80 year old women I know have found themselves voting for or sympathetic to what the party stands for, and some women find Nigel Farage personally fascinating.  There is no doubt in my mind that UKIP inherits some strands of the National Front, British National Party and EDL philosophies, and targets immigrants as being the source of our society’s ills.

The Observer leader this morning describes its voters:

“The Ukip surge is a warning.  Immediate analysis indicates that two groups, in the main, have been swayed by Farage.  They are the less qualified, working-class, older male and the lower middle class”.

So I will look at the charts of Nigel Farage, UKIP, and the UK to try to assess the astrological factors involved.

As a Sun sign Aries, Nigel Farage cuts an individualistic and almost self-sufficient figure.  On the Andrew Marr show this morning, he was very confident, straight speaking and focussed.  He has leadership qualities through that sign, but also from an exact sextile from Uranus to his North Node (karmic mission).  He has the capacity to surprise.  We do not have his birthtime, but I suspect Pluto is prominent on the angles of his chart, because of the way he rose from the ashes of the plane crash on the day of the last election declaring that he was lucky to be alive.  On that day Pluto squared his Mars (the near death experience), trined his Natal Uranus (surprise survival), and conjuncted his South Node in Capricorn  (karmically facing death).

He has lived to fight another day, and plague Cameron, whose Sun opposes his Sun natally.  The Conservative party have lost a huge proportion of their votes to UKIP, and are under pressure to hold a referendum on our membership of the EU as soon as possible.

On Thursday, the day of the election, Pluto was exactly trine the Sun in the UKIP Party chart, a sign of ultimate power.  It may mean though that this is the height of the power that they reach. Especially if it is subsequently revealed that there is no substance behind their policies, and as has been claimed, that they are a one issue party.

The same holds true astrologically for Nigel Farage, that it may prove to be his finest hour.  For Pluto is exactly trine his natal Pluto now, the Universe giving him a point of empowerment, perhaps as a karmic balancing from the air crash, where Pluto was also prominent by transit.  This reinforces the possibility that Pluto is prominent in the angularity of his natal chart. Pluto seems to pulling the strings in his life, picking him up and putting him down in a stark way.

I have just (almost finishing my blog) located a possible birthtime, attributed to Christina Rose through Marjorie Orr.  This does in fact give Pluto exactly on a Virgo Ascendant, confirming my train of thought, though I am not sure how accurate the source is.

The United Kingdom chart has some difficulties at this time, and notably the current Uranus-Pluto square links in with our natal Pluto.  Pluto currently opposes our natal Pluto, and Uranus squares our natal Pluto.  That may register as a sea-change in our politics, as has been claimed.

One thing is for certain,  many of those who voted UKIP have just had enough of present party politics and disempowerment from the EU and feeling like strangers in their own country.  Not me though, I count myself as an immigrant, having come to England as a 4-year old from Israel, my family having fled the persecution of the Jews in Baghdad.  You might then conclude I was bound to think as I do.  I would like to think one out of four comments to this blog would be from UKIP supporters, educating me about their point of view, that is if the comment count reaches four!

Aspects

This morning Mercury opposes Saturn which puts a block on springing up early as you’d planned, foregoing your Sunday morning lie-in in order to catch up with your paperwork.  Your computer may be on a go-slow, your digestive system may be delicate, and the lie-in may be more healing, in order to pen an Ode to Indolence.  Keats wrote one in the 19^th Century:

…O, for an age so shelter’d from annoy,

    That I may never know how change the moons,

Or hear the voice of busy common-sense!…

I wonder what he would make of the age we live in.  The news may be uninviting – you might switch on the radio, then switch it off again.  But things are likely to improve after Noon.

In the evening, Mars trines Pluto and there’s an opportunity to engage in some energetic enterprise.  Have some constructive structure in mind for the occasion, so that excess energy does not turn wild!

Tuesday (7^th) morning brings a conjunction of the Sun and the South Node.  A karmic issue may be highlighted – a consequence from a past life or earlier in this lifetime.  You may recognize this from an invitation or opportunity handed to you.

Then Mercury trines Pluto – now’s the time to deal with the paperwork!  You’ll find you are extra inspired to fill in the huge box on the form entitled “Any other information that can help your cause”.  If you meet someone for a coffee you’ll be able to express what matters to you.

Wednesday (8^th) brings more interesting possibilities for the mind, starting with Mercury conjunct Mars in the early hours: your dreams may be driven by the Inner Critic and may reveal anxieties.  The characters within the dream may exhibit agitation, but of course as in Jungian dream interpretation may reflect aspects of yourself.  If you wake up rattled with negative chatter, turn the phrases round to create a positive affirmation, unless you feel the dream has a deeper meaning (Mars conjunct Mercury can represent superficial chatter and concerns).

Next Mercury sextile Chiron provides some welcome information about health and healing in combining conventional and alternative medicine harmoniously.  It’s also a good aspect for problem-solving in general.  If there’s a crisis don’t panic, the solution is at hand.

This is followed and reinforced by a sextile between Mars and Chiron.  Healing energy will flow, as in hands-on healing, or healing solutions involving energy or problems connected with energy.  Awkward places can be made smooth, and square pegs may be able to fit in round holes.

On Thursday (9^th) Venus goes into Gemini, which livens up the social life.  You might trust the weather enough to have an early summer barbecue, or a picnic.

Mercury conjunct the South Node could be dictating the karmic scenario however: perhaps karma with brothers, sisters, neighbours or teachers (all represented by Mercury) may be involved.

The eclipsed New Moon at 19 degrees Taurus on Friday (10^th) favours gardening and gardeners, artists and musicians, and turning points in Arts projects.

Finally Saturday (11^th) holds a conjunction between Mercury and the Sun at 20 degrees Taurus, reinforcing what you are trying to achieve in these areas.  19/20 degrees Taurus is a sensitive point around the end of the week, so if you have planets in this degree they may be bolstered by this influence: supportively so if you are willing to work with change, but not so supportive if you are resistant to change.

Contact Email

Earlier editions of this blog contained a message about my email changing.

The email link on my Contact page has now been changed and will work as normal.

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – a slow start, and a quick finish
• Tuesday – karmic opportunity, and significant work
• Wednesday – a brisk start (apply caution); then healing ways
• Thursday – lighter relationships, and karmic business
• Friday – change in the air and in the earth
• Saturday – focussed and enlivened thought

“Oh I come from Pittsburgh to study Astrology

She said as she stepped on my instep…

Come back to my place I will show you the stars and the signs.”

From “Love Chronicles” by Al Stewart, 1969

40^th Wedding Anniversary

Early in our acquaintance, at University, I found Mike snorting at the astrological poems on my door in halls.  I suppose I should have been grateful he wasn’t snorting anything else.

It is our 40^th Wedding Anniversary today.  We are often asked incredulously how that has happened.  Each relationship is unique, and our model probably wouldn’t work for others.

Synastry

Synastry is the compatibility between charts. You often see a recurring interaspect between two charts: some may be based on the quincunx (tense) or the semi-sextile (a teaching aspect), but ours is an opposition (a balancing and complementary relationship) with Suns, Moons and Ascendants in opposite signs.  Each of the 6 zodiac polarities have a connecting principle, and Communication is the connecting principle for Gemini and Sagittarius.

Bullet Point Presentation:

• As a Sagittarian (me) and a Gemini (Mike) we are opposite signs, and polarized in so many ways.
• He is a Scientist, and I am on the Arts side.
• He favours conventional medicine, and I favour alternative medicine.
• He likes conventional religion, and I like Universal religion.
• We have to have separate televisions, because he likes Sport and I like Reality TV.
• He has a lot of energy, and I don’t (he’s chief hooverer).
• He’s an omnivore, and I’m a vegetarian
• He walks fast; I walk exceptionally slowly, 10 paces behind

Unity

You’d think never the twain shall meet…The working out of an Opposite relationship depends on blending on a higher level, and I was told by Lita de Alberdi’s guide Ortan that Mike and I are from the same Soul group.  When we were first married, it was easy to divide tasks according to our obvious skills and lack of skills.  I think we made some decisions on a Soul level, because there were areas of silent Unity:

1. Bringing up the children – Unity
2. Politics – Unity, with one exception: we differ on the Falklands.
3. Books – we are both overfond of these and the house is well and truly cluttered with them.  So much so that our children were anti-reading until they were studying for A-levels.
4. No arguments – notably we do not argue (unhealthy perhaps?).  I refuse to do so, with my Moon in Libra opposed to Mike’s argumentative Moon in Aries.  The only notable argument we had was before we were married, and it was over the choice of wallpaper!
5. Space – there are no power plays in our relationship, and we each respect and support the other’s ability to be themselves.  We have both been very tolerant!  I would like to thank Mike for his tolerance.
6. University Challenge – we both watched it before we went to University, and it is the one programme we watch together.  I am not competitive, but it is the one spot in the week where I challenge Mike (and I almost always lose!).

Electional Astrology

One of the few times I have chosen a date for myself astrologically was the Wedding Day.  I tend to be non-interventionist usually.  The Wedding Day was chosen mainly on the basis that Jupiter (Success) was transiting my Venus (Love).  Since then I have chosen Wedding Days for other people, and I believe they have all been successful.

Children

We are of the transitional generation between those who stuck together at all costs, and the break-up of the institution of marriage.  Some couples choose not to have children, and put their energy into the relationship itself, but having children (two daughters) has given us a positive focus, and a grandson is the icing on the cake.  We have many shared memories, but tend to remember different things!

The Celebration

We are having a few celebrations around the country, but yesterday we met three sets of old friends who were married around the same time, including three you may have met in the Zodiac Masterclass Series: June – “A Cancerian Experience of Motherhood”, Jeanne – “The Scorpio Guide to Accentuating the Positive” and Georgie “The Taurean Guide to the Inner Artist”, and their respective spouses.  They toasted us in sparkling mineral water.

Another outlook on a long-term pair bond:

“The Libran Guide to Relationship” by Sue Hudson

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2012/10/zodiac-masterclass-series-a-libran-guide-to-relationships/

Right to Reply

Mike says:

As a person with an interest in science but several other things, I tend to be sceptical about astrology but respectful towards it.  Being a Scorpio/ Gemini I have inherited all the unhealthy aspects of both and would have perhaps preferred being Aquarian where a dodgy ankle is something I could more easily have coped with. When I am unsure of our anniversary date, i google Bobby Charlton’s last match, because it was at Chelsea, about a quarter of a mile from the registry office. And yes, I would recommend separate TV rooms.

Aspects

If you suffered the emotional sadness of last Monday’s Venus-Saturn opposition you may be sensitive to today’s Sun opposite Saturn, a sense of flatness in relation to your day’s purposes. There may be a dissonance between your reality and your ideology. You need to ascertain whether there is a psychological block, whether it is a spur to perseverance or an invitation to let go!  That may be a fine decision.

On top of that, there is a need to balance karma in relationships today, with Venus at the South Node.

On Wednesday (1^st May) Mars opposes Saturn, and someone could be giving you the cold shoulder, or providing a tussle in the form of a battle of wills.  Certainly there will seem to be a clash of needs.  After this point, the week could become more comfortable, as though your fears have been spent for the time being.

In the afternoon, Mercury enters Taurus, and there’s a change of mind (no better, or worse), logic gives way to aesthetics and you may look at life a little differently.   For instance, you may have bought a new vase intending to display flowers in the hearth, but then discover that the colours of the vase go perfectly in the dining room.

In the late afternoon, the Sun trines Pluto and the week takes an upturn (unless you are not on very friendly terms with Pluto these days), albeit a serious mood: life demands something from you, but also gives back in kind.

On Friday (3^rd) the Sun sextiles Chiron and you may feel you are taking a step towards healing your life.  Perhaps it’s a total left field approach that presents itself to you, but it may give you a new perspective, take you out of yourself, and be the change that is as good as a rest.

Saturday (4^th) brings you on a step further with Mercury sextile Neptune, subtle understanding arrives which is needed for healing.  Words or images may come to you out of the blue, providing higher ways of looking at the detail of your life.  If you are a medium or channel, you may be introduced to a new guide.  The week ends with intriguing new possibilities, glimpsed or captured.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Anti-climax, and karmic dues revisited
• Wednesday – Frustration, followed by a new outlook
• Friday – Healing through creative avenues
• Saturday – Subtle new cognizance

Global Security

When I embarked on having 10 sessions of Rebirthing in the late 1980s, the very first affirmation I was given went something like:

“I am safe on this planet now and always”

Since then of course safety on this planet has become more complicated and precarious.  It may be time to upgrade the affirmation.

Within ourselves, safety I believe is a 1^st chakra issue, a question of feeling grounded and sensing our environment.  So maybe we need to look at this chakra, and work on getting clearer about it.

Cindi Dale in “New Chakra Healing” describes no less than 32 chakras.  She quotes Gerber’s “Vibrational Medicine” describing the first chakra:

‘Psychologically speaking, the root chakra is linked to the basic survival instincts.  It is connected with primal feelings…and is the prime mover behind the so called fight-or-flight response.’

In Astrology, minor accidents tend to be shown by Mars transits, more serious accidents by Uranus, and larger scale violence by Pluto, especially bombs (both of the smaller variety and the nuclear scale).  Personal security can be a function of the natal Imum Coelum or I.C. and divine protection is related to Jupiter.

With two unstable regimes holding nuclear capability, North Korea and Iran, and threatening to use them, we cannot ignore these threats to countries and states on our planet.  All countries who have the means to use nuclear weapons think they have the right to do so, but are often suspicious of the rights and intentions of others.

I would like to have unilateral disarmament (and was for several years a card-carrying member of CND), but also have always felt that we (especially as a small island nation like Japan) should not entertain nuclear power on our shores.

With the third phase of the Uranus (unexpected)-Pluto (destruction) square due on 20^th May, I felt it was time to look at this issue in relation to North Korea and Iran.  You may have issues closer to home which are more preoccupying.  Do you have a stand off, or an issue of brinkmanship in a group you belong to?  In the U.K. we have the breakdown of benefits to the disabled, and the changes to the NHS which are destructive, and may reach a peak around then.

Last week, the Boston Bombing came out of the blue, a tremendous level of violence, echoing 9/11 in the U.S. and 7/7/ in London.  Thoughts turned to the London Marathon, which is happening today, and safety procedures in place for that.  The Boston events have had an extra psychological effect on the London Marathon. Competitors are wondering whether or not to have their families cheering them on.  The explosion at the Texas fertilizer factory also in the week just gone, took place exactly on the Sun/Mars conjunction.

Boston Bombing

Notably Mars was conjunct the Sun on the day of the bombing, and Saturn is conjunct President Obama’s Neptune, and the Nodal Axis squaring his Ascendant/Descendant axis, affecting him personally.  The Nodal Axis is also exactly square the natal chart of Boston. But this event is surely a part of the overall Uranus square Pluto climate.

North Korea

I have resisted looking too closely up to now, as there is no firm birthdate let alone time for the ruler of North Korea.  The nation chart is a little firmer.  We have a warrior nation chart here, with Pluto (the bomb) on the descendant in the 7th house of relationships also occupied by Saturn, and Mars (the warrior) on the South (karmic) Node in the 9th House of foreign lands.  The chart of Kim Jong Un’s coming to power has the Sun exactly conjunct Pluto.  Uranus was exactly square the North Korean Uranus, an indication that matters were out of control.  At the time of the third Uranus-Pluto square the Nodal Axis will be exactly square to China’s Pluto, China being a key neighbour.  There seem to be several exact squares to aspects of countries prominent in this issue around the time of the third Uranus-Pluto square, suggesting a huge karmic theme being played out.

Iran

The nuclear threat from Iran is being taken seriously by the U.S., and its ally Israel.  In the comparison between the chart of Iran and the U.S. chart, Iran has its Neptune opposing the U.S. Mars, so that it can have a psychological hold of fear and paranoia held over the U.S. decision to act or not.  Iran has this week suffered a very severe earthquake, with Pluto exactly squaring its Sun.  At the time of the third Uranus-Pluto square, the Nodal Axis will be square to Israel’s Saturn, which is conjunct Iran’s Ascendant.  They will both be feeling pressure.  At this time, the onus is with Barack Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry to conduct the delicate negotiating with North Korea and Iran, but if the United Nations were to be more involved around the time of the forthcoming Uranus-Pluto square, there could be some favourable balance set up, as Pluto will be trine the Uranus of the United Nations chart.

Feeling Safe

With all that is going on, being reported all around the world, there is a sense of sympathy, caring and support being transmitted from people who cannot understand this inhumanity.  Each person needs to stand in their own authenticity, maintain the light in their own area, and ask for divine protection for all.  When you, as a human, feel aligned with your own purpose in being here, you are able to send healing to the planet more strongly, and we have all chosen to be here at this time.  In your relationship with the planet, use all the chakras you have at your disposal.

I would like to conclude this report with a quotation from “Companions in Spirit” by Leah Maggie Garfield:

“We evolve globally as well as individually and regionally. At this point in our global evolution, we are learning magnanimity and absorbing compassion. (Compassion is the emotional component, magnanimity the intellectual component.) Insofar as we’re able to be compassionate and magnanimous, we are all potential magi.”

Aspects

Today we start the week on a note of dissonance with Pluto squaring Mercury. You might perhaps feel that this blog strikes a dissonant tone.  You will be challenged to articulate your ideas clearly and logically, so be prepared to be tested to the limits in this respect. For example, your family may ask you to validate any beliefs which come from your inner black sheep!

Tomorrow Venus opposes Saturn so some emotional flattening may take place. Your inner black sheep may not have done a good job, and unless backed up by your Inner Rebel who does not care, may slope off to the corner of the field to mope!

Wednesday (24th) has three aspects, starting in the early hours of the morning in the U.K. with Mercury sextile Jupiter. You may have worked out for yourself what you needed to re-align in your thinking on Sunday, and are now in a position to sell your ideas. It’s a buoyant day in the market place and for small companies, e.g. struggling astrological businesses. It may be a defining time where local business expands to global.

The other two aspects on Wednesday are equally buoyant, so you can follow through on early gains. In the afternoon Venus trines Pluto. This is healing for any heartache experienced on Monday. Any partings in relationships could be fairly amicable, so it’s a good day for mediation in separations. For existing solid relationships there could be deeper understanding, such as when one party has worked on their growth and communicates it successfully to the other, enabling a joint shift.

The evening brings a sextile between the Sun and Neptune, bringing about a spiritual integration of the day’s gains, possibly through creative activity. Perhaps the day’s events would make a good starting point for a novel or screenplay.

Thursday (25th) starts with Venus sextile Chiron so there is some prospect for balancing and healing of the week’s downs and ups.

Once that is settled you have the space to deal with the emerging tension from the eclipsed Scorpio Full Moon of the early evening. This is likely to highlight a thorny emotional issue, possibly re-awakening the inner black sheep of early week. You may be re-assessing your role in the family, or examining how you are treating someone, shining a light into your own subconscious motives.

The finale of the week on Saturday (27th) is Mars sextile Neptune, a chance to balance action with sensitivity. It is a suitable one to integrate all the ranges of emotion of this week, and to bring together the personal will and divine will in concert.

Take good care of yourselves, and good luck to all of you taking part in the London Marathon and raising money for good causes.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a little nerve-wracking
• Tomorrow – some sadness
• Wednesday – dynamic
• Thursday – early healing, then another issue builds up
• Saturday – two or more levels of your life balance out

Margaret Thatcher – Personal Life (1925 – 2013)

This is the second of two blogs about Margaret Thatcher, with a more personal slant.  Speaking to people this week, it seems that whatever they thought during the Thatcher years, they still think about her.  Twenty years since we were under her rule we have had a chance to reflect, but we tend still to hold the same opinion.  When she became the leader of the Conservative party, I immediately felt that she was cold hearted.  And nothing she did subsequently changed my view.  I expect to lose half my readership now, on the basis that there is a lot of discord around the subject of her life, character and work.

Looking at her chart, you would expect to see the Warrior Archetype featuring strongly.  This is not what I see (other Astrologers may).  What I see is the strength of the woman: She had Saturn (Discipline) almost exactly conjunct her Ascendant in Scorpio (she meant business), with the power hungry opposition of Jupiter and Pluto almost strategically placed on the 3^rd/9th House cusps supporting the Ascendant/Saturn.  She was therefore a towering figure, with great Vision and conviction, and the ability to follow through.  Saturn exactly trines Pluto and exactly sextiles Jupiter, providing a formidable structure to the life and personality.  Iron Lady indeed.

Other astrological features of note in her birthchart were the Sun/Mercury in 12^th House (living out her inner vision) and the North Node at the first degree of Leo (karmic mission of Leadership).

Her Sun sign and Ascendant reflect her earlier careers before politics claimed her: She was originally a Chemist, specializing at University in X-ray crystallography as a student of Dorothy Hodgkin (Ascendant in Scorpio).  She subsequently became a barrister (Sun in Libra).  In her Libran Sun sign we also see the elegant lady, with a love of fashion and good bone structure.

Family

In 1951 she married Dennis Thatcher, a Sun Sign Taurean, the sign of loyal support, both in morale and money.  There is no doubting that she could not have achieved what she did without his constant presence, and she acknowledged his immense contribution in her life.  At their wedding, Pluto was conjunct Dennis’ South Node and Neptune was trine his North Node, an indication of cosmic responsibility.

Their twins Carol and Mark were born in 1953, and Carol has won a lot of public support in her struggles with her relationship with her mother.  Her astrological compatibility is virtually the same as Mark’s, but Margaret was always closer to her son.  Margaret has Moon square Venus natally, which indicates an uneasy relationship with women, and may explain the unease with her daughter.  Dennis may well have been the mainstay of the family, the glue holding it together – certainly astrology would indicated that he had a beneficial role to play, with his Jupiter trine the twins’ Uranus.  At the same time though his Jupiter squared the twins’ Jupiter and he may have been an idealized figure, and he may not have been as available as they would have wished, with his South Node conjunct their Sun and Pluto.  His North Node was trine their Saturn/Neptune, providing some stability, and his Neptune was trine their Ascendant but square their Moon, one minute there and the next minute vanishing.

Airey Neave

Airey Neave was an early ally, who unfortunately was removed by the Irish National Liberation Army in a car bomb attack, just before she took on the mantle of Prime Minister.  He had led the campaign which had brought her to power as leader of the Conservative Party.  He was a true Soul brother to her, and it is believed that she felt his loss very deeply.  Of all the chart comparisons encountered while researching her life, this one stands out:

His Mercury exactly trined her Sun, his Sun exactly sextiled her Venus, his Neptune exactly trined her Venus, his North Noded exactly trined her Mars, and his Uranus exactly squared her Ascendant.  It may be that his death occurring just before she came to power steeled her heart; often spiritually these losses are meant to open the heart, but sometimes the effect is the opposite.  She had a job to do, and did not have time to grieve for Neave, perhaps.

Her Cabinet Men

She was a woman in a man’s world, rarely seen alongside female leaders or politicians.  She started out with a cabinet of what she called “wets” and then polished her cabinet more to her liking, resulting in a group of “drys”.  Some of the cabinet men from those years are still loyal (e.g. Cecil Parkinson), but some of them are more sheepish about their involvement.  It is surprising that they do not have more pride in their achievements, although some genuinely now see the flaws in the vision and the cracks and loopholes through which sections of society dropped.

Norman Tebbit was one of the most loyal this week, in his tribute hinting regret that he did not support her at her time of need, having left office after the Brighton Bombing, when his wife was very bady injured.  She famously said at the Conference the next day: “This was a day I was not meant to see.”  At the time the Nodal Axis was square her Moon, and Mars was transiting her Jupiter, but she was also experiencing her Second Saturn Return in Scorpio on her Ascendant.  The interaspects between her chart and Norman’s are not easy, however, and most notably in terms of the karma around the bombing, her Pluto was exactly square his Nodal Axis (karma).

There are those too, who were involved in the final removal of Margaret Thatcher, and do not attempt to disguise their role, Kenneth Clarke for example.  Michael Heseltine was prominently waiting to take over at the time, but never did.

Ronald Reagan

Away from home, she forged a memorable alliance with Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, immortalized in the famous poster depicting a clinch from Gone with the Wind.  Ronald was another Soul Mate, but it was not that easy a combination.  Their Suns were in trine, and they had mutually supporting interaspects, but also some challenging ones.

Her Passing

At her death, Uranus was opposing her Mars (the divine will having its say), Neptune was opposing her Midheaven and conjunct her I.C. (a final rest and peace).  The death chart has Uranus exactly conjunct the Midheaven in Aries, announcing a notable passing of a leader.  This is reinforced by the Ascendant of the death chart at 11.28 a.m. being at 2 degrees Leo, conjunct exactly her North Node, which seems to have played a strong role in the astrology of her life.

David Cameron

David Cameron is making the most of this remembrance of a remarkable Tory.  Watch for signs that she might influence him from the next dimension, or that he might be emboldened to further fashion himself in her image.

Aspects

This week four planets change signs, so if like me you have significant placements at 0 degrees, you could be busy and have several changes of focus.

Today Mercury goes into Aries so there is a mental change of focus from woolly-headedness to greater logic.  It is a day for getting down to business.

Tomorrow Venus enters Taurus and art and music can be promoted more easily, in this age of austerity.

On Thursday (18th) Mars conjuncts the Sun at 28 deg Aries. That is a lot of intense energy to process. Try not to be driven, or overdo things. Sometimes high energy can actually make you feel tired, because your bodily systems are trying hard to integrate the energies.

On Friday (19th) Venus sextiles Neptune and inspiration is added to the artistic and musical projects initiated on Monday.

Spring may eventually spring into evidence with the Sun entering Taurus later on Friday. Flowers and blossoms may find they can bloom after the harsh conditions lately in the U.K.

Saturday (20th) brings flashes of mental brilliance added to the new mental focus of Sunday at the beginning of the week.

With Mars also entering Taurus there is a change of physical focus. Energy may become more earthy, practical and determined to follow through.

Uranus square Pluto 3

Advance warning of the third phase of Uranus squaring Pluto coming to planet Earth next May on 20th (in the U.K.) and 21st (in the  U.S.).  Another blog will be due next month on the subject.  We previously saw this square last June and September, if you want to pick up the relevant blogs, and re-assess its role in your current struggles.  It’s a good time now to look at your progress.

Link:

The Thatcher Years (1979-1990) – An Astrological History

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/04/the-thatcher-years-1979-1990-astrological-history/

The week in bullet points:

• Today – stride forth mentally
• Tomorrow – mellow creativity
• Thursday – activity and heat
• Friday – inspiration added to art; flowers blooming
• Saturday – mental brilliance; earthy energy

The Thatcher Years (1979-1990)

This is the first of two blogs concentrating on Margaret Thatcher who died this week.  Broadly, here I focus on her political career, while the second will focus more on her personal life.

She entered politics as M.P. for Finchley in 1959, and was brought in to Edward Heath’s cabinet in 1970 as Secretary of State for Education and Science, from which position she earned the reputation of “milk snatcher”.  If it had not been for the failures of Edward Heath’s administration, she may not have risen to prominence as she did.  Edward Heath was a shy and introverted Cancerian, and in the same way as Gordon Brown, a shy and introverted Piscean, was not suited to the extrovert role of Prime Minister.  That does not mean all introverted signs are not suited to the highest office, but that these two were particularly introverted and that was part of their problem.  His Saturn (sense of failure) was square to her Sun, and he never rose above the fact that she had usurped him.

She became Leader of the Opposition on  11^th February 1975, to the surprise of many, with Jupiter (success) transiting her Uranus (surprise) in her 5^th House of Self-Expression.  Pluto was conjunct her Mars in 11^th House (taking power in the party).

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.

In the style of Neptune, she famously began her prime ministry by saying:

“Where there is discord, may we bring harmony,

Where there is error, may we bring truth.

Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.

And where there is despair, may we bring hope.”

~ St. Francis of Assisi

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.

More memorable words were heard at the Conservative Party Conference of 1980, confirming the Iron Lady title she had been given by the Soviet Union:

“To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the ‘U-turn’, I have only one thing to say: ‘You turn (U-turn) if you want to.  The lady’s not for turning.”

She was proud of the badge, and her reputation was magnified and solidified in the public imagination, becoming the archetype of a strong woman.

In her early years of office, she was still struggling to turn around the unrest she had inherited, but a turning point was offered in the Falkland conflict of 1982.  Here was a conflict which could be said astrologically to bring out her Inner Warrior.  The conflict has been echoed recently with Argentina, and I wrote in my blog of 12^th February 2012:

“The original conflict in 1982 was a vehicle for Margaret Thatcher’s Inner Warrior because she was experiencing a Mars Return at the time!  This Mars Return was exactly trine the U.K. Ascendant.”

The success of the war enabled her re-election in 1983 (then going on to win a third term in 1987), and she was able to press on with her economic mission, based on monetarist thinking.  Her policy was to privatize national services and resources, to show a healthier economy, but stopped short of privatizing the NHS and the railways, which would have had even more severely adverse effects.  She encouraged the buying of council houses by council tenants, which many are still grateful for, but did not provide housing to replace them, thus contributing to the current housing shortage.

Miners’ Strike

Where she did clash violently with society and communities, many of which to this day have not recovered or forgotten, were in the mining dispute, and over the community charge tax (later re-named the Poll Tax).  Here we saw at first hand the violent clashes and the result of extreme feelings by those affected, on our television screens.

The fall guy (and some declared foolish) in the  conflict of the Miner’s Strike (1984/5) was Arthur Scargill, leader of the National Union of Mineworkers.  Margaret’s Pluto opposed exactly Scargill’s Venus, but her Jupiter was exactly conjunct his Venus, so her Jupiter-Pluto assertion of power was exercised in this battle of wills.

Many argue that the political stranglehold of the Unions needed to be broken, and it certainly was a success for Margaret, but these days they might do with being a little stronger in order to be able to stand up for the “little man” – perhaps this balance went too far the other way.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Perhaps her greatest achievement, and one worthy of the Libran Sun sign, was to end the Cold War.  She first cemented an alliance and friendship with the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, then brokered an entente between him and the newly emerging President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev.  She famously said that Gorbachev was a “man she could do business with”.  His Neptune was conjunct her Midheaven, which could be what drew her to him, but his Pluto and Saturn were square to her Sun.  Her intervention really did transform the relationship between the West and the East, but when Gorbachev was removed some of the benefits of the achievement started to slide.

Another overseas ally was Augusto Pinochet of Chile, whose chart comparison reaveals a double whammy of her Venus trine his Neptune and his Neptune trine his Venus.

Resignation

When she was forced to resign, after a first ballot for the leadership election, followed by disappointing interviews with her cabinet colleagues, Jupiter was square to her natal Saturn/Ascendant.  At the time of Geoffrey Howe’s devastating resignation speech a couple of weeks earlier, Pluto was trine his Pluto, a moment of his empowerment for which he had waited a long time.

Legacy

She once humorously declared that Tony Blair, or New Labour, was her legacy.  And she certainly did transform society, but that can be good or bad depending on who you are or what you believe in.  Owen Jones in his book “Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class” (2011) states:

“At the root of the demonization of working-class people is the legacy of a very British class war. Margaret Thatcher’s assumption of power  in 1979 marked the beginning of an all-out assault on the pillars of  working-class Britain.  Its institutions, like trade unions and  council housing, were dismantled;  its industries, from manufacturing  to mining, were trashed; its communities were, in some cases, shattered, never to recover; and its values, like solidarity and collective aspiration, were swept away in favour of rugged individualism.”

But that is no reason to dance on her grave, or anyone’s.  It is a sad reflection when society is ruled by hatred.  I hope we do better in the future, now that we can see her “reign” in black and white.

Further Reading:

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/04/aspects-for-the-week-beginning-14-april-2013/

The Aspect for today, and for the tone of the week, is Venus conjunct Mars.  Thus various forces represented by Venus and Mars seek to combine, such as peace and war, love and sex, money and spending.

Conjunctions

Some conjunctions are easier to combine, blend and work together than others.  There are planets who naturally team up, such as the Sun and Moon (who also team up this week for a New Moon), Venus and Mars (easier to unite than some), Jupiter and Saturn (opposites, but they have a lot to give each other in terms of balance), and other planets who do not harmonize so well (Mars and Saturn, Uranus and Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, for instance).

Venus conjunct Mars

Venus (sensuality) meets Mars (sexuality) and there is a natural magnetism between these two.  The thrill of the chase may be for the young:

“Bold Lover, neveer canst thou kiss,

Though winning near the goal – Yet, do not grieve;

She cannot fade, though thou has not thy bliss,

For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!”

~ John Keats

Some chase all their lives; some choose to sublimate, or develop other passions.  Venusian pleasures are vast: food, money, gardening, painting – to name but a few.  So it is a week to develop your passion, wherever it may lie.

Balancing Sexuality

In past life regression, people are often surprised to find themselves in a body of the opposite sex.  In these times, in this incarnation, there are more possibilities and permutations of expression, from androgyny, through heterosexuality and homosexuality to bisexuality.  In previous eras, there were fewer options, and more suppression.  Some people coming into incarnation are in a transitional period, e.g. male after a series of female lifetimes, or vice versa, and this can result in gender dysphoria.  Everyone needs to find their level for this phase of their Soul evolution.  But everyone needs to balance their inner female and inner male, and this is what Venus conjunct Mars is about.  A helpful book in this respect is “Feminine Fusion” by Chris Griscom.

Archetype – “The Lover”

For this Archetype, Caroline Myss gives the following:

“May manifest in anyone who  exhibits great passion and devotion to another, but also to art, music, gardening, nature, or needlepoint…

Shadow lover manifests as an exaggerated or obsessive passion that has a destructive effect on your physical or mental health and self-esteem”

People with Venus conjunct Mars in the birthchart

Miranda Hart – Much of her comedy is centred around her own sexual image

Giacomo Casanova – Who has become himself an Archetype of “The Lover”

Amy Winehouse – Having this conjunction in Leo, she used it in her creativity

Michael Douglas – Back in 1990, Michael Douglas was the first to be “reported” to be a sex addict (long before he met Catherine Zeta Jones).

Bill Clinton – An eye for the ladies could be said to be his downfall…

Emily Bronte – Arguably the most sensual and passionate of the Bronte clan.

Aspects

Today, Venus is conjunct Mars, so follow your passion today, and try to be in balance.  For instance if you are shopping, you may be attracted to items which in the long term may not be very useful to you.  Observe which chakra the desire to spend is coming from.  This aspect may hold sway throughout the week, and  you may hear of a new liaison in the world of celebrity.  The conjunction takes place at 20 degrees of Aries, so if you have a natal planet in that degree you will be able to capitalize on this.

On Wednesday (10^th) there is a New Moon in Aries, enabling a new beginning in self-development, and additional outlets for energy and passion.  What do you feel is the next step for you in your growth, or the next active or physical project?  Wednesday’s New Moon is an opportunity to make a truly fresh start, being the first New Moon of the astrological year.  The New Moon is, like Venus conjoining Mars, a marriage of the male principle (in this case the Sun) and the female principle (Moon).  So there is extra male-female balancing, and it also takes place at 20 degrees of Aries, so if it is your birthday or you have a natal planet at 20 degrees Aries, you will certainly be the centre of attention and at the centre of the action.

Finally, on Friday (12th) Pluto is Stationary, prior to turning retrograde.  All the planets involved in this week’s story (Venus, Mars, Moon, Sun) are very personal to us, but in comparison to Pluto, they are skimming the surface.  So we may have had a pleasant and pleasurable week, we may have made some short term gains, but by Friday we may realize that we have deeper work yet to do.  We shall return to the navel gazing and the deeper study of ourselves (coming from reading  “Bridget Jones’ Diary” early in the week,  to “Pluto” by Jeff Green later in the week). So, summing up, capturing your joie de vivre today and midweek, and then rejoining the journey towards a deeper experience and appreciation of life on Friday.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – amoureuse
• Wednesday – carpe diem
• Friday – back to the psychological grindstone

The Miliband Brothers

This week on the Mars-Pluto square, David Miliband announced that he is taking up a position in New York to work for a charity, the International Rescue Committee.  This is the latest twist in the sibling rivalry saga with his brother Ed.  I thought I would have a look at the family history.

Ralph Miliband

The story begins with their father, Ralph Miliband, whose chart we have (without a birth time); we do not have a chart for their mother Marion Kozak.  The family of Ralph Miliband originally came from the Jewish quarter of Warsaw, but moved to Belgium, where Ralph was born in 1924.  He came to England with his father in 1940 to avoid persecution by the Nazis.

He studied at the London School of Economics, and became a devotee of the philosophy of Karl Marx, and visited his grave in Highgate Cemetery.  At his death in 1994 he was buried there, close to Karl Marx.  In the 1960s he was involved with the movement of the New Left, and published the book Parliamentary Socialism in 1961.

Ralph Miliband had Sun in Capricorn, and Moon conjunct Mercury in Capricorn, the sign associated with politics, and indeed both his sons followed those interests and became politicians, possibly fulfilling some of his aspirations.

David Miliband

David Miliband is the older of the two brothers (born in 1965), Cancerian to Ed’s opposite sign of Capricorn.

In an Observer Profile of the brothers 1/7/07 by Andrew Anthony, at the outset of their Cabinet careers, but long before the leadership contest between them, we are treated to an interesting picture of their upbringing.

“The Miliband house in Primrose Hill in north London was a meeting place of the ‘new left’, the group of intellectuals that formed around the New Left Review, as well as more traditionalist Labourites and communists.  Tariq Ali and Tony Benn, for example, were regular visitors…

“Benn (also) writes in his diaries that Miliband senior, who was a close friend, confided that his sons complained to him about his idealism: ‘Oh, Dad, how would you do that? Would it work? What are your positive proposals?’ “

Both brothers studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford.  Around the time of his Saturn Return, David Miliband became Head of Policy for Tony Blair in 1994, and thus became associated with the development of New Labour leading up to Tony’s election and in this period the father died.  New Labour was going in a completely different direction from Ralph Miliband’s ideals, and Ralph Miliband bowed out of incarnation.  At that point, David Miliband’s Nodal Axis (the direction of his destiny) was squaring his father’s Saturn, and their politics were diverging.  It would be Ed who would carry some semblance of a torch for socialism and Old Labour.

In his new appointment at this time, David is following his destiny.  Natally, he has Jupiter conjunct his North Node in Gemini (a sign often associated with the U.S., and sometimes used as its rising sign), and Jupiter is now conjunct with his North Node, hence the beckoning horizons across the pond.

Hillary and Bill Clinton

When Tony Blair left the office of Prime Minister, and New Labour was beginning to die, the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed David as Foreign Secretary.  His period in the office was not as distinguished as possibly expected in comparison to the potential and hope invested in him, neither was it disastrous.  There were controversies, but no more than average for a Foreign Secretary.

He notably formed a warm friendship with Hillary Clinton, and it is interesting that David’s Neptune is conjunct her Venus.  This is the opposite way round from her conjunction with Bill Clinton: Bill’s Venus being conjunct with Hillary’s Neptune.  It is a conjunction in synastry which can produce fascination, or at least dazzlement in the early stages of a relationship.

Bill Clinton’s comment on David Miliband’s new appointment is “I congratulate the IBC on the appointment of David Miliband as its president.  I have known David almost 20 years.  He is one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time.”

Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband was born in 1969, and in his relationship comparison with David includes a combustible Uranus-Mars conjunction (Ed’s Uranus conjunct David’s Mars).

When Ed pulled a surprise win in the Labour leadership contest in September 2010, Pluto was conjunct Ed’s natal Sun, and Mars was square to David’s Sun.  It may therefore have been as much of a shock to Ed as it was to David.  It was one of those moments that their mother “couldn’t look”.  Many saw it as a betrayal, that Ed had snatched David’s birthright (not even for a mess of potage), and those who thought New Labour would go forward were disappointed in the direction of the party.

But there is an interesting legacy from father Ralph.  Both Ed Miliband and his father have Sun in Capricorn (politics) square exactly Chiron (their wound) in Aries, so Ed Miliband is carrying an exact astrological gene from his father.

There is a small possibility that Ed could fulfil the true socialist ideals of his father, but with his charisma only marginally appealing to the British population and only incrementally increasing, it remains largely improbable.  Those who hanker after Old Labour know that you cannot bring it back now, any more than you can rehabilitate the beloved NHS in the current political and economic climate, but with Ed’s karmic mission (North Node) conjunct his father’s Uranus (Vision) a glimmer of his father’s light remains in the political domain.

Aspects

Today, Easter Sunday, Venus makes two aspects, a death and a resurrection.  The first is a square with Pluto, the sweeping away of old attachments.  The second is a sextile with Jupiter in the early afternoon: a taking up of enthusiastic new attachments.  So there is the possibility of hearts broken and hearts made today, and they may or may not be the same hearts.

Tomorrow, April Fool’s Day, follows a similar pattern, but substituting the Sun for Venus.  First, in the early hours, the Sun squares Pluto.  The theme of the cycle of birth/death/rebirth is revisited, on a more creative level than the emotional focus of Sunday.

At lunchtime, we have the Sun sextile Jupiter, bringing new enthusiastic energy, life and vitality.  Thus you may have themes of creation/construction/destruction/recycling, with perhaps more to show for it than Sunday which can act as a rehearsal in some respects.  It will be like a twice baked soufflé for this week, or twice baked chips (I have been watching too much of the current series of Masterchef).

On Thursday, Pluto will be sextile Chiron.  This will bring through more healing, and more understanding of the cycle of regeneration.  Pluto (psychological health) will balance with Chiron (spiritual health), and you may be able to produce a much more wholesome Excel spreadsheet  of your physical health, psychological well being, and future goals (or centring in the Now if that is preferred).  The lessons and rollercoaster of the early week will come to fruition in this planetary combination.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – emotional roller coaster
• Tomorrow – creative balancing and understanding
• Thursday – bringing it all together

A Tale of Two Borises

It has not been a good week for those named Boris…whether you are a Russian exile, or Mayor of London.

Boris Berezovsky

This Boris was a wealthy Russian businessman, who had taken part in the history of his country (assisting Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin in coming to power).  This intervention may be shown in his Uranus squaring Russia’s Jupiter.

In 2000 he joined the opposition and then moved to Britain, befriending other Russians and forming a circle of exiles, which included Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned with Polonium and subsequently died.

Boris was found dead on 23^rd March in his bathroom, in circumstances which police say were not suspicious.  The family think it may be otherwise, as he had received threats of assassination.  Current reports mention that he may have been hanged, or strangled, but what is clear is that he was depressed, having had many setbacks in recent years, such as losing a lawsuit against Roman Abramovich, and a draining legal settlement with his ex-wife Galina.

He had a hard-nosed mental make-up, composed of Mercury exactly opposite Saturn, Saturn exactly conjunct Mars, and the opposition square very tightly to Chiron.  The prominent involvement of Saturn in his mind (Mercury) and action (Mars) and woundedness (Chiron) will have meant that he always had a tendency to look at life bleakly or cynically, which would have turned to depression in tough times.  Suicide may have been in his mind recently, with the Mars/Uranus conjunction opposing and putting pressure on his Neptune, and Saturn squaring his Pluto.

Boris Johnson

Our Mayor of London has had a better fate.  Those who have faithfully followed the Andrewless Marr show (we are assured Andrew will return when he has recovered from his stroke) will have seen a Scorpionic grilling from Eddie Mair on Sunday morning.  I think it is true to say that both fans of Boris and even those not so sympathetic were shocked by the hatchet job.

Boris is a highly popular politician (Sun exactly conjunct Venus indicating the lovable component of lovable rogue), and riding high on the success of the Olympics last summer. His chaotic, anarchic side is his Uranus conjunct Pluto.  Sun in Gemini is associated with cycling, and he has promoted a cycling hire scheme in the capital among other accomplishments.

The interview came prior to the screening of a documentary about Boris (who incidentally does have Russian in his mix of ancestry) which aired last night.  We learned a lot: that he was two years above David Cameron at Eton, and that he is very competitive (a Leo ascendant would be consistent with his tousled “mane” and sunny disposition).

In the interview on Sunday morning, Eddie Mair asked some pertinent and relevant questions, but in such a manner that Boris was totally taken aback.  Mair had prepared his attack very carefully and stealthily, if you look at the course of the interview.  Boris was trying to sidestep each awkward question, and in the documentary he sidesteps the issue of whether he would like to be Prime Minister with analogies to rock stardom, sport and art.

Eddie Mair of course is a Scorpio (hint dropped earlier…).  He also has stealth, as evinced by his Sun exactly conjunct Neptune, and is an experienced radio interviewer.  This was an important choice for him karmically, as the North Node was exactly transiting his Sun/Neptune in Scorpio.  Definitely an eagle going for his prey, while the Marr’s away.

Boris (whom his Mayoral predecessor Ken Livingstone portrayed in the documentary as needing to be liked) has been gracious about the savaging by Mair, saying that his inquisitor did a “splendid job”.  That is more than fair, and commendable in my pacifist book.

Aspects

At 10.26 a.m. in the U.K. this morning (Tuesday 26th) Mars will be sextile Jupiter, enthusiasm allying with action.  This is dynamic for doing, rather than just being, and if you have been stuck lately on a project, it’s all systems go.  There is a pioneering quality to this aspect, if you are feeling gung-ho.  Much can be achieved.  Do what you can do today, for…

…tomorrow, Wednesday (27^th) is another story.  It starts with Mars square Pluto…conflict, and action without thought.  Much meditation needed today, for those of you who meditate (I know a lot of lapsed meditators).  If you find that the day starts with a skirmish, go back to bed and get out of the right side, or just meditate to bring about a modulated energy for yourself and your affairs.  This is part of the bigger picture of the Uranus-Pluto square – we have met it before, and we shall meet it again.

The next aspect which comes up is Jupiter square Chiron.  It is a square, but maybe having Jupiter (luck) and Chiron (healing) in combination, it may prove beneficial, e.g. you might stumble upon a wondrous new natural remedy for a long-standing health irritation.  The new book by Louise L. Hay (“All is Well”, with Mona Lisa Schulz) may be good to settle your body, mind and spirit.  This aspect may overstretch your healing resources, but may equally help you settle after the Mars-Pluto scuffle.

Have another meditation at that point, because you are working your way up to a Full Moon in Libra, and it’s only 9.27 a.m. (alternatively, have a lie-in).  This Full Moon takes place at 6 degrees Libra, one of the most common positions for the Ascendant (the rarer Ascendants are in Pisces).  Unlike Sunsigns and Moonsigns, Ascendants are not spread evenly throughout the population.  Focus on linking your emotions with the spiritual plane or lightbody while in meditation, but f you find the tension of a Full Moon too intense to settle to meditation, then be assured that the tension will naturally ebb away during the course of the day after the Full Moon.  Don’t hold on to it, breathe deeply, relax, and let go!

You’ll be relieved to get to Thursday (28^th), ready to shape some serious communication or educational work, such as drawing up documentation, thanks to a trine between Mercury and Saturn.

We also have two components of a triple conjunction on Thursday, the triple conjunction consisting of Venus, the Sun, and Uranus.

The Sun and Venus warm the atmosphere first: this favours all arts projects, including musical interests and drama or theatre, plus all aspects of creativity.

Late in the evening, Venus conjuncts Uranus and a touch of originality and invention are added to art, music and drama. Artistry is added to invention.  Social meetings are lively and stunning.

The next day, Friday (29^th) brings the last component of the triple conjunction: Uranus teaming up with the Sun.  This is even more lively than the other two facets, and could be a little risky.  But if you are tuned into new ideas, or even instigate them, you probably wouldn’t be fazed by the changes inherent in this combination.  Be on your toes, though.

Get ready for three more aspects later the same day, all involving Mercury.  Polish up your mental equipment, to process them all.

First, Mercury conjuncts Chiron: combining conventional medicine and alternative medicine.  Actually, the “All is Well” book by Louise L. Hay and Mona Lisa Schulz fulfils the brief here, as the subtitle is “Heal your Body with Medicine, Affirmations and Intuition.”  The book goes through the various systems of the body and provides healing modalities, with stories of how the two forms of healing have been combined in specific cases.  It is an informative and useful overview of healing.

In the afternoon, Mercury squares Jupiter, that wide-ranging aspect from a couple of weeks ago (Mercury turned direct in the meantime), which can be summed up as “too much information”, and in a chart gives rise to the Explorer Archetype and restlessness.

Finally, the week’s aspects end late afternoon/early evening with Mercury sextile Pluto, a respectable way to end the week, taking stock mentally and linking your insights with your deeper psychology.

Suggestions for ending the week: another meditation (do I hear groans?), tea and cake…

If these do not appeal, the gym might beckon for you hardier souls, or a session with your favourite psychotherapist…

Still no good?  How about curling up with the latest Hilary Mantel novel for a few hours, or decluttering the stubborn corners of your home…

I am sure you will find the right outlet for relaxing at the end of this strenuous week of aspects.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – Good energy
• Wednesday – Clashes and tension, with the possibility of some healing
• Thursday – Planning and creativity
• Friday – Originality, healing, and mind-stretching (both horizontal and vertical)

Unlike the last two weeks, where we have had only one aspect, the coming week is choc-a-bloc with aspects, so you may find more situations than usual to deal with, or more internal wrangling, depending on your focus in life.  The first aspect is not until Tuesday, at 10.26 a.m. in the U.K.

Until then, the Mars conjunct Uranus of Friday may still hold sway, though ebbing away in influence.

I will be away on Sunday, and will post again Monday night or Tuesday.  If you enjoy looking at the week with me, make a note to tune in for a slightly later start to the week.

Mars conjunct Uranus

Again we have a week where there is only one main aspect, that is Mars conjunct Uranus, an aspect which occurs once a year.  It’s a conjunction which yields several Archetypes, and I have selected three which describe a range of its attributes.  It is a dynamic aspect, and you will find its possibilities under the description of the week ahead, in order to make the most of it.

Engineer Archetype

Caroline Myss describes the Engineer Archetype thus:

“Grounded, orderly, strategic qualities give creative energy a practical expression; Talent for engineering everyday situations or designing solutions to common dilemmas”

When I see this conjunction in a chart, I expect to find a market talent in the area of problem-solving and invention.  Uranus/Aquarius on its own is invention, but together with Mars it provides a more practical expression than just the theoretical ideas.  Skills often combine mechanics (Mars) with electricity (Uranus), such as in Electrical Engineering.

Henry Bessemer, an Engineer and Inventor of the 19^th Century was particularly known for the advancement of the manufacture of steel.  His Mars-Uranus was in Scorpio.  As an Inventor, he held 129 patents.

The Occultist

Mars conjunct Uranus can also arise in the charts of those who practice active (Mars) Occultism (Uranus), as distinct from Mysticism (Neptune).  It is a particular esoteric path, and one trodden by the late Douglas Baker, a qualified doctor who served and sustained injuries in the second World War, then became a prolific writer and teacher and interpreter of the work of Alice Bailey.  His own Mars-Uranus conjunction was placed in the sign of Pisces, and his work is characterized by a great deal of visualization and symbolism; his books are heavily illustrated, an expression of the desire to express the deep spirituality of Pisces in more than just words.  The Coronation Street actor William Roache was associated with his metaphysical school for many years, and actually also has this conjunction!  Douglas Baker’s powers are expanded by the fact that the conjunction works through a Kite formation in his chart.

The Freedom Fighter

The exuberant ex-Canon Chancellor of St. Paul’s Cathedral,  Giles Fraser is not a freedom fighter as such; he just happened to be at St. Paul’s Cathedral at the time of the Occupy occupancy there, and forced by circumstances to nail his colours to the mast.  He sanctioned the presence of the protesters there, and would not countenance their removal, resigned from his position and moved on.  That seemed to be his destiny, and he is almost a household name now, writing regularly in the Guardian, and this week appearing on This Week.  So he is associated with an edgy social bent, and the Occupy movement which itself was inspired by the Arab Spring.  Freedom fighting is definitely a province of Mars (fighting) conjunct Uranus (freedom), and particularly expressive while Uranus in Aries and we are still working out the effects of the Arab Spring and the impulse to stand up against tyranny.  This current conjunction of Mars-Uranus takes place in Aries.  Giles has the conjunction in Virgo, which gives a more grounded and community expression to it.  His forced resignation was due to the transit of the Nodal Axis squaring his Pluto, thus it became a matter of integrity.

Aspects

At 20.03 Hrs this evening in U.K. time Mercury is stationary prior to turning direct.  This will be good news for those having difficulty with their communications, or who want to delay their blogs so as not to be contentious.

On Wednesday (20^th) it is the Spring Equinox and the Sun enters Aries at 11.02 a.m.  This is the true beginning of Spring, a chance to begin anew at the start of the Astrological new year.  It is a chance to lay aside all the psychological convolutions of our inner reflection during the period of the Sun in Pisces, to lay aside any failures or disappointments from the struggles of winter, and step forward in a more physical and purposeful way in our daily lives.  Hopefully we have done enough integration in the past few months.

Friday (22^nd)  is the main menu this week, with Venus also entering Aries and supporting the freshness of the Sun in Aries, adding perhaps new love, new heart and assisting creativity.  Venus will have to lay aside some of the idealism and romanticism of its recent experience in Pisces, and be more realistic and practical about her feelings and where to place her affections.  This event takes place in the early hours of the morning.

The early evening aspect is that of Mars conjunct Uranus, which could be capricious or explosive, or could be trained into more constructive pursuits such as aspects of science, sport or socially beneficial projects.  There may be a desire to surprise, so make sure that this has a constructive outcome.  Sparks may fly, both human and electrical.  If you are combining art and science, the art will have a highly original quality.  Independence and willfulness may also be a feature in your dealings with others and yourself, e.g. if you are looking after toddlers there is sure to be a tantrum.

Other Blogs Today:

Other historic events this week have found me blogging overtime…

Please read the following which I posted earlier if they are of interest to you:

Tony Blair and the 10^th Anniversary of the Iraq War

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/03/tony-blair-and-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-iraq-war-an-astrological-look/

Pope Francis I

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/03/pope-francis-i-astrological-first-impressions/

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a constructive evening for communication
• Wednesday – a spring in your step
• Friday – more heart in art; harmony or disharmony through conflict