A Look at 2018, the Year Ahead

First, the Year that Was (2017)

The overwhelming memory of 2017, to my mind, was of having Tweedledum and Tweedledee (aka Trump and Jong Un) hovering over our global destiny, accusing each other of being immature.  Boris Johnson, our very own Foreign Secretary, made some inflammatory gaffes home and abroad.  Vladimir Putin continued to wax in power, while a tyrant, Robert Mugabe, was miraculously and peacefully removed.  You may have your own highlights, lowlights and overviews.  If so, why not share them under Comments?

At the end of March, Theresa May triggered Brexit under the no-going-back square formation between Jupiter and Pluto.

In June, with Jupiter going Direct, she suffered a surprise defeat at a hastily called General Election, and Jeremy Corbyn’s stock rose.

What are their possibilities for 2018?  More uncertainty for Theresa, especially around 20th February, with Neptune still exerting an influence on her Mars. 22nd July may be karmic for her and bring sudden changes in her life, with the North Node transiting her natal Uranus.  November is also an important time for her, when she may recoup, or be relieved of her duties, with Jupiter transiting her natal Saturn (4th) and her North Node (15th).

For Jeremy, will this be the year that he can seize power? 8/9th December sees a transit of Jupiter to his Chiron, which could be a breakthrough, especially if Theresa gives up prior to this.

The August 21st New Moon and Eclipse last year was a turning point for many Leos, but for Donald Trump, whose Ascendant was close to the end of Leo where the eclipse fell, it wasn’t the change that many hoped for.  He survived his first year of office.  Is there any chance of unseating him this coming year?  On 10th May the North Node transits his Pluto in 12th House, which could indicate a possible unseating.  If not, he may still be around in October, when on 12th of that month Jupiter transits his I.C. in 3rd House: he could cause a twitter storm on that day.  On 8th November Jupiter squares his Ascendant, causing even more than usual exaggerated behaviour, then moves into his 4th House of Home – could there be home changes? 16th November sees the North Node on his 12th House cusp, and entering his 11th House, so he may be making new karmic alliances at that time, possibly away from the White House…Looking at the U.S. chart, on 4/5th July (2018) Uranus will be transiting its natal Chiron in the 5th House, which may be a sudden healing crisis.

As Jupiter neared the cusp of Libra/Scorpio around 10th October, there was a monumental occurrence in the nature of that point of the zodiac, which represents the point of meeting between relationship (Libra) and sexuality (Scorpio).  The unmasking, after decades, of Harvey Weinstein’s casting couch techniques.  This has come to be a watershed moment, and as Jupiter entered Scorpio, we saw the “me too”  movement, and the Westminster sexual scandals, as a direct knock on effect.

If you are interested in the retrospective blog experience, have a look at my previous post

2018 Dates for your Diary if planning ahead:

January

Tuesday 2nd: Uranus stationary turning Direct, at 24 deg Aries preparing to go into Taurus – change and progress

Tuesday 16th: Jupiter sextile Pluto – Wise balance of power

Wednesday 31st: Full Moon and Eclipse in Leo – Emotional power.  May be a turning point.

February

Thursday 15th: New Moon and Eclipse in Aquarius – Brave New World

March

Friday 9th: Jupiter stationary, prior to turning retrograde – The need to go back and look at the detail

Friday 23rd: Mercury stationary, prior to turning retrograde – Communication disrupted

April

Saturday 14th: Jupiter sextile Pluto (see 16th Jan) – Wise balance of power, incorporating lessons from 16 Jan.

Sunday 15th: Mercury goes Direct again – Communications restored

Tuesday 17th/Wednesday 18th: Chiron enters Aries – simplifying health matters

Wednesday 18th: Saturn stationary, prior to turning retrograde – The need to secure foundations, and go over previous ground.

Sunday 22nd: Pluto stationary, prior to turning retrograde – A deeper level of setback, necessitating psychological understanding and awareness of reality.

May

Tuesday 15th: Uranus leaves Aries and goes into Taurus – Changes in the economy, both personal and international.

Saturday 19th: Venus sextile Uranus – Perfect for excitement at a Royal Wedding, and Surprises in the Football Cup.

Monday 21st: Mean Node transits natal 3rd/2nd House cusp of UK chart – Karmic changes in the economy of the U.K.

Friday 25th: Jupiter trine Neptune (see my blog for Christmas 2016) – Religious and Spiritual harmony and flow, and Idealism.

June

Monday 18th: Neptune stationary, prior to turning retrograde – Some retrospection on the Spiritual path.

Tuesday 26th: Mars stationary, prior to turning retrograde – Pause for reflection on active projects.

July

Tuesday 10th: Jupiter stationary, prior to turning direct – Momentum and enthusiasm returning.

Friday 13th: New Moon and Eclipse in Cancer – New beginnings and re-births in family matters.

Thursday 26th: Mercury stationary, prior to turning retrograde – Communication disrupted.

Friday 27th: Full Moon and Eclipse in Aquarius – The rise of the Inner Rebel

August

Tuesday 7th: Uranus stationary, prior to turning retrograde – More rebellion, and bids for freedom.

Saturday 11th: Mean Node transits UK natal I.C. in Leo in 2nd House – Karmic economic developments for the U.K.

Also, on the same day, New Moon and Eclipse in Leo – Power changes

Sunday 19th: Mercury goes Direct again – Communications restored.

Also, on the same day, Jupiter trines Neptune again (see 25 May) – Religious and Spiritual harmony and flow, and Idealism.

Saturday 25th: Grand Earth Trine between Sun in Virgo, Uranus in Taurus and Saturn in Capricorn – Extremely constructive, in a practical sense.

Monday 27th: Mars stationary, prior to turning direct again – The go ahead for active projects.

September

Thursday 6th: Saturn stationary, prior to turning Direct – Movement where there has not be any for some time.

Wednesday 12th: Jupiter sextile Pluto (as 16 Jan and 14 Apr) – Greater wisdom in the balance of power.

Wednesday 26th/Thursday 27th: Chiron retrogrades back to Pisces – refinement of old healing

October

Monday 1st: Pluto stationary, prior to turning Direct – Psychological progress

Friday 5th: Venus stationary, prior to turning retrograde – Relationships need work.

Friday/Saturday19/20th: Jupiter to natal U.K. Venus in Scorpio in 6th House – Health and Environmental benefits for the U.K. Could that extend to the NHS?

November

Tuesday 6th: Uranus retrogrades into Aries – Some unfinished business

Thursday 8th: Jupiter enters Sagittarius – A new hopeful dawn

Friday 16th: Venus stationary, prior to turning Direct again – Relationships eased and enabled.

Saturday 17th: Mercury stationary, prior to turning retrograde – Communication disrupted.

Sunday 25th: Neptune stationary, prior to turning Direct again – Progress on the Spiritual path.

December

Thursday 6th: Mercury stationary, prior to turning Direct again – Communications restored.

Saturday 15th: Saturn transits the U.K. 8th House cusp (for a two and a half year sojourn) – Difficulties in economic relations with other countries, possibly linked to Brexit.

Thursday/Friday 20th/21st: Jupiter transits natal U.K. Desc in Sagittarius, opposing Ascendant and entering 7th House – This helps international relations, so enables some progress to counterbalance the previous transit.  This transit will be effective for about a year.

Aspects

Tuesday (2nd) brings us a Full Moon at 11 degrees Cancer.  Emotions are likely to flow freely!  Personal emotions will come to a peak, but also there may be a collective event which causes tears to flow.  Tears of joy are possible.

On the same day, the Sun sextiles Neptune, and the higher, finer emotions may also be in play, bringing the creativity and inspiration of the Soul.  You may be able to take all that emotion, both personal and collective, and make of it something in your particular art, craft or musical expression.  Embodying the emotion in that way may be a good use of excess emotional energy.

Uranus is stationary, prior to turning Direct on Tuesday, as well.  Uranus, which entered Aries in 2010 bringing the Arab Spring, is now in the final stages of its dynamic mission in Aries, and preparing to go into Taurus.  For the purposes of Tuesday, it re-ignites the more positive facets of the element of the unexpected.  There may be long term (7 year) projects (probably collective or communal) that you have been engaged in, which can receive the final push now.

Wednesday (3rd) offers us a sublime sextile between Venus and Neptune, and if you started work on a creative or spiritual project the day before, you can add more artistry, poetry and music to it.  Relationships could be in divine harmony.

A sparky aspect reoccurs on Saturday (6th), with Mercury again trine Uranus (an aspect we enjoyed in November and December).  This aspect can bring bold and futuristic ideas, stimulating conversation, and successful technological upgrades. Have a yabba dabba doo time!

Wishing you all a very happy and Progressive 2018!

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – a full day: emotion flowing, expressed and channelled
• Wednesday – inspired Arts
• Saturday – out of the ordinary

 

For those who like Retrospectives – Selections from the blogs…

January

29th:

John Hurt (1940 – 2017)

Actor John Hurt died on Friday, he of that beautiful, craggy, vulnerable face which never failed to move me. As an Aquarian, I always felt he had an aura of untouchability too.  His birth chart is very indicative of that exquisite combination of sensitivity and detachment.

Birth Chart

His Sun was at 1 degree Aquarius, the essence of the trailblazer and the groundbreaker, ahead of his time in the roles he undertook.  But Pluto was exactly opposite the Sun in his chart – not an easy life, and he didn’t take on easy roles either.  With Chiron and Pluto in the 12th House of Unconscious, he used the power of his unconscious as a resource to convey the subtlety of his roles.

February

26th:

Claudio Ranieri

“Yesterday my dream died.” ~ Claudio Ranieri

In this fast moving era of replacing football managers, the sacking of Claudio Ranieri this week as the Leicester City Football Club manager would seem a routine event.  But to someone like me, who tends to have little interest in football, it is the culmination of a touching story.

“…Lineker admitted he shed a tear when he heard the news, and that very human reaction will have been replicated all over the country, even by those with no Leicester affiliation.”

~ Paul Wilson, writing in the Sunday Observer today

Birth Chart

Claudio Ranieri has 5 Cardinal planets, a sign of leadership.  As a Libran, and known as a “nice guy”, he is not as colourful or tempestuous in his emotions as the stereotypical Italian.  Indeed, he has been described as having a modest English temperament.  As a past life therapist, it is tempting for me to imagine that he does indeed have positive past life links with Leicester itself, giving rise to this dream-like episode in his life.

March

26th:

Westminster Terror

On Wednesday, Westminster Bridge was the scene of a terrorist incident and Parliament and its surrounding buildings were in lockdown. A British born man, Khalid Masood, drove into passersby then tried to enter the gates of Parliament, and stabbed a policeman to death.  Five people died in total, including the perpetrator, and fifty people were injured.  Though many potential attacks have been foiled since, this was the first attack of its scale in London since 7/7/05.  There are many questions yet to be answered and issues raised, such as whether he was acting alone, what were his motives, and how far he was influenced by radicalization by ISIS, whether police in the City should be armed, and how far the police can keep tabs on all suspects. I will have a brief look at the charts of some of those involved, though crucially some important dates are currently missing, such as the birth date of the brave and heroic policeman who lost his life, Keith Palmer.

Khalid Masood

The birth date of the killer, Khalid Masood, was clearly announced on the evening news on Thursday as 25th December 1964.  His age of 52 was remarkable as being untypical of the usual young radicalized Moslem involved in incidents of this type.  So far they have not established that he was working with a team, and there may be a strong element of mental illness involved. These rogue factors make it difficult for the police to identify who constitutes a strong risk.  Over the last year or two, there has been a pattern of cars or lorries on the continent driving into pedestrians, a method of killing which does not require sophisticated planning.  There was a copycat such incident the next day in Antwerp.

April

23rd:

Emmanuel Macron

France goes to the polls today, in the first round of their national elections. Following on from my blog two weeks ago about Marine Le Pen, I would like to concentrate on the other front runner, centrist Emmanuel Macron.  Since that blog, the other two candidates have come up in the ratings, and now there is only 4% in the polls between the top four candidates.  However, there is a chance that Emmanuel Macron may be the next French President.

“A victory for Macron would be the best outcome for the French and the least worst option for us too.” – Martin Kettle, writing in the Guardian.

Emmanuel Macron is only 39 years of age, which is very young for a French candidate for the presidency.  He has had a meteoric rise in politics over the last few years, and while he worked within the socialist sphere (he was a former adviser to President Hollande) he now declares that what France needs is for someone to bring the country together in the centre.

Martin Kettle goes on to say:

“There is a Macron-shaped hole in the centre of British party politics.  Corbyn doesn’t want to fill it.  May probably can’t.  Tim Farron isn’t strong enough.  yes somehow, some time, someone will have to fill it.  At least a Macron victory would prove it can be done.”

Marine Le Pen, leader of the Front National is an extreme right politician, Francois Fillon is also to the right, and Jean-Luc Melenchon is to the far left (the Corbyn and Bernie Sanders territory).  Needless to say, the choice of French President will be crucial for the EU, the Brexit process and globally.

Birth Chart

Mercifully for the Astrologer, all four French candidates have available birth times, so you can see the full picture of their chart.  Emmanuel Macron has an extremely strongly integrated chart in my view, with 10 exact aspects between planets and with angles.  The Sun is conjunct exactly with Mercury, giving him the capacity for concentrated thought, at the end of Sagittarius in his 12th House of Inner Vision. He studied Philosophy (Sagittarius) at University, and in debate has a considerable mental agility.  The capacity for application and hard work is further accentuated by the Sun/Mercury trine Saturn.  His Ascendant is in Capricorn, the sign of Politics.

May

14th:

Eurovision Song Contest 2017

As you may know, there is a tradition of writing about the Eurovision Song Contest on this blog, and this year is no exception.  So look away now if you are not an enthusiast!

Salvador Sobral

The winner of this year’s contest last night was Salvador Sobral, from Portugal.  It was a sensational win for several reasons.  It was the first win ever for Portugal (in 53 years), he won by a mile (gaining 758 points), and he had been unable to perform the first rehearsals because of a serious heart condition, plus the performance and presentation was stripped down to the basics.

Salvador has 6 of his 10 planets in Capricorn (Uranus, Moon, Sun, Neptune, Saturn and Mercury), and certainly managed to convey the pathos of that sign in his performance.  He was born on a New Moon in that sign.  He has the Rebel Archetype (Sun closely conjunct Uranus), but also great sensitivity and vulnerability (Sun conjunct Neptune).  His heart condition (or at least strain on his heart) shows up in his chart through difficult aspects to his Sun (the heart): oppositions from Jupiter and Chiron, and the complex conjunction with Uranus and Neptune.  His emotional sensitivity, which comes through in his singing, comes from a conjunction of the Moon and Neptune.  His Mercury is unaspected, and I suspect that enables him to bypass the mind when he is singing.  He has Jupiter exactly opposite Uranus, the mark of the Opportunist, who knows when to promote himself.

June

18th:

Grenfell Tower – Emotional Responses

It has been an intense few weeks in the U.K. and we are recovering from the Manchester bombing, closely followed by the London Bridge terror attack, then an extraordinary election, and now this week the horrifying spectre of the Grenfell Tower, black against the London skyline.  There has been so much emotion around it all, and the emotional responses of public figures especially have been under scrutiny.

There are so many angles and layers to the Grenfell Tower disaster, which will go on being analyzed for a long time to come.  There are so many stories yet to be told, identities of bodies to be unearthed, and responsibilities and blame to be attached.  I was unable to obtain birth dates for the new Labour MP, for the talented upcoming artist who died, the date of the building, and other possible subjects, and so I thought I would look at the emotional responses of key figures.

Chart of the Fire

On the morning of the disaster, I wrote:

“A chart drawn up for 1 a.m. shows the Mercury-Neptune square on the Ascendant and 4th House cusp, and the Sun-Saturn opposition on the Midheaven-I.C. axis, so these two difficult aspects of the week are not to be underestimated. The 1824 chart for London has transiting Saturn square its Sun (loss).”

July

2nd:

Wimbledon 2017 – Week 1

It’s that season again!  May the sun shine on Wimbledon lawns this next fortnight.  I  hope to be on hand to catch every astrological nuance, starting here with the first four seeds in the ladies and men’s game.  Look out for extra information under comments as we go along, and possible extra blogs.

Roger Federer  – No. 3 Seed

By the end of Wimbledon, he has Jupiter sextile his Sun (an excellent prospect), he still has Pluto strengthening his Venus, Jupiter square his Mars has lifted, Neptune still trines his Mars (you could see some stunning work if he is in the final), the Nodal Axis still squares his Uranus, Saturn still sits on his Neptune, but in addition Saturn is sextile his Pluto.  That could be a winning combination!

August

27th:

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 – 1997)

The 20 year commemoration of her death

 Diana is probably the most photographed woman and style icon there has ever been in the world, and acres of material have been written about her.  Unprecedented tears were shed at her death, and this year at the 20th anniversary of her death on 31st August, it’s a chance for us to re-evaluate how we feel.

Birth Chart

Diana had all the textbook traits of  her Sun in Cancer: shyness, emotionality, maternal qualities, and a special fondness for children.  The Sun in her chart was placed in 7th House, emphasizing the importance of her marriage.  Great sensitivity, a mystical bent, plus a talent for dance, were added to this Sun by a trine from Neptune.  She had a special healing Grand Trine in the Water element, consisting of Sun/Mercury, Chiron and Neptune.  Shaking hands with AIDS patients at a time when it was unheard of comes to mind with this. In her own words: “HIV does not make people dangerous to know. You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it. What’s more, you can share their homes, their workplaces, and their playgrounds and toys.”

September

24th:

Strictly Come Dancing 2018 – Part 2

No apologies for another Strictly blog so hard on the heels of the last one!  Last night’s first display of dance was a feast of talent, with some outstanding performances which I think surprised the judges.

Joe McFadden

Now to my favourite programme Holby City, and we have two stars from Holby this series, not forgetting that Tom Chambers from Holby won the series in 2008 (the year Alexandra Burke won X Factor!)  Joe plays Scottish doctor Raf di Lucca in Holby, but he threw himself into the Jive in the first round on the Strictly dance floor last night, and inspired  a score of 8 from one of the Judges.  His character in Holby is described as “A dedicated, driven and passionate doctor” and Joe describes himself as “over-enthusiastic”.  But what does his birthchart tell us?  He has an exact conjunction of the Sun and Mercury in Libra, so he is musical and eager to please, with an intelligent way of going about things.  The extra enthusiasm, and the smile which won praise, may be a product of his Moon in Sagittarius and Jupiter opposite the Sun …  At the end of the series, there is a distinct lack of transits, so despite his brilliant start, circumstances may see him out of the competition before the final.

He is paired with Katya Jones, who was responsible for the sensational dance act of last year together with Ed Balls, so without looking at her chart I can say she has tremendous ingenuity and flair!  She is a solid dependable Taurean, with the nimbleness of a few planets sprinkled in Gemini.  She has a very positive mindset from Mercury conjunct Jupiter, which together with Joe’s positivity can move mountains…  At the end of the competition, she still has Neptune squaring her Jupiter, but Jupiter sextiles her Saturn (an uplifting and steadying factor), Mars sextile her Uranus (electrifying moments), Neptune still sextile her Neptune, but the added bonus of Jupiter conjunct Pluto, so if the planets don’t come forward for Joe maybe her planets might pull them both through.

October

8th:

Jupiter into Scorpio

Jupiter moves into Scorpio on Tuesday (10th) at 13.20 Hrs in the U.K., a giant leap for mankind.

Jupiter will uplift and support whichever House (sphere of life activity) it occupies in your chart, bringing luck and expansion to those affairs.  Collectively, it will support and enhance a deepening of relationships and a sharing of resources, in the nature of the sign of Scorpio.  If your birthday falls within the sign of Scorpio, then at some point or points you will reap some sort of bonanza, the like of which comes round once every twelve years.  If you have several planets in this sign (a satellitium), it could be the gift that keeps on giving.  If your Ascendant is in Scorpio, it will also be your year, beginning from when Jupiter transits the degree of your Ascendant.  For all of us it will be an intense ride, as Scorpio may bring out the best and the worst of this sign, and this sign is known for its excesses.

Jupiter last entered Scorpio in November 2005, and left the sign in November 2006.  How was that year for you?  You may expect some similar experiences, though you have grown and moved on, and the world has changed, so you will need to make a translation accordingly.

Jupiter in Scorpio

Scorpio among other things rules the world of finance, and various factions around the world, including our own Labour Party, are hoping to overturn the neo-liberal regime as promoted from the time of Margaret Thatcher, as an outdated system which does not work.  Jupiter in Scorpio may address this.

Scorpio also rules Psychiatry, and so there may be the long-awaited improvements in mental health services, the poor relation of the poor National Health Services.  Politicians in recent years have paid lip service to the need to put more resources into this area, so there is a possibility that they may put their money where their mouth is while Jupiter is in Scorpio.

November

19th:

Robert Mugabe Revisited

There were extraordinary scenes on the streets of Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe yesterday, as the hitherto repressed populace marched in favour of a new regime and in favour of replacing the long time dictator Robert Mugabe, watched on by a friendly militia who seem to have engineered a bloodless coup, the outcome of which is still uncertain.  Is this a new model for how to replace a tyrant peacefully, or will they be unable to sustain the peace?

Robert Mugabe Record

93 year old Robert Mugabe has been in power in Zimbabwe for 37 years, and began as a freedom fighter against white minority rule, winning the battle against Nkomo to found a government.  The initial years of Mugabe’s government was characterized by social and economic reforms.  After two years, Nkomo fled the country, when Mugabe denounced him as a “cobra in the house”.  Since then, Mugabe has had a reputation for unpredictability.  In recent years, and increasingly, Mugabe’s regime has come to be known as one of repression, poverty and economic failure. He and his wife have become embroiled in accusations of corruption and profligacy.  In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he has become “a cartoon figure of an archetypal African dictator”.

Birth Chart

I wrote about Robert Mugabe’s chart in August 2013:

” Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980 in Zimbabwe, unsurprisingly has power issues brought in from past lives, with his natal Sun conjunct the South Node (past lives), though maybe in other scenarios, such as Egypt.  His Sun exactly trines Saturn, making politics and ambition major themes of his personality and life…

Another interesting feature of his chart is his Mars conjunct Jupiter (indefatigable energy and enthusiasm combined) squaring his Uranus (changeable, unpredictable and incident-prone).  Note that he and Zimbabwe share the Mars square Uranus instability.”

December

3rd:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Royal Engagement

“All the stars were aligned…This beautiful woman just . . . tripped and fell into my life.”

~ Prince Harry

Prince Harry

Prince Harry has grown into one of the most beloved of the royal crew.  From a gawky young prince of the faux pas (e.g. wearing a Nazi uniform at a party), he has become a responsible supporter of worthwhile causes like his late mother, with a special fondness for Botswana.  Harry’s chart is quite grounded, with Mercury, Part of Fortune and the Sun in Virgo, the Moon in Taurus and Ascendant in Capricorn!  He is probably growing into his potential for serious purposes, shown in his Ascendant  and Jupiter in Capricorn, and Midheaven, Pluto and Saturn in Scorpio.  His Sun ruler Mercury is in the 8th House, which may be the emphasis on the death of his mother in his life.  He is creative, with Moon, North Node and Chiron in his 5th House.  The North Node loosely conjunct his Chiron could point ultimately to a healing karmic mission.  He is fond of foreign travel, with the Sun in 9th House, and could make a loving and profound contribution to the world with Venus and Pluto in the 10th House.  With Saturn in 11th House he may have few true close friends, but can co-operate in large group enterprises with Uranus later in that House.  Mars, Neptune and Jupiter in the 12th House of the Unconscious means he has a lot of inner drive, vision and dreams.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle has been an actor in a Canadian TV series Suits since 2011, showing commitment, skill and steadiness.  In addition she has undertaken responsible roles outside the acting profession, in raising awareness of various causes, such as feminism, and clean water in Rwanda.  Some have found her mixed race background controversial, but many see this as an asset, bringing diversity to the royal table.  Some have made comparisons between her, an American divorcee, and Wallace Simpson, but times have moved on and Meghan is a different proposition.  Meghan has Sun in Leo, so she is at home with royalty, and has pursued the Leo profession of acting, having a degree in theatre studies.  She also has the Sun, Leo’s ruler, in the 1st House and trine exactly the Midheaven, reinforcing the Sun/Leo theme.

Damian Green

Damian Green, Theresa May’s deputy (First Secretary of State), was sacked on Wednesday, the day Saturn went into Capricorn.  His transits were very telling, in that I had written that anyone with planets at 0 degrees of a sign would be very affected by that ingress.  What is remarkable about his chart is that he has Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn all at 0 degrees of signs!  So transiting Saturn at 0 degrees Capricorn was quincunx his natal Uranus, trine his natal Jupiter, sextile his natal Neptune and semi-sextile his natal Saturn. In addition, Saturn was exactly sextile his natal Venus at 29 deg 53 mins Aquarius, which is virtually 0 degrees Pisces.

Birth Chart

Damian Green was born under the politician’s sign, Capricorn, but his Sun is part of a complex T-square opposing Uranus and squaring Neptune.  His Moon (emotional make-up) is unaspected.  Mercury is closely sextile his natal North Node, making him a gifted communicator.  Venus squares Mars/Saturn in his chart, a tendency to sensation seeking, possibly linked with the issue causing his resignation (that of pornographic material being found on his computer dating back 9 years).  This square is part of another T-square formed by Venus opposing Pluto/Jupiter (a powerful conjunction) and squaring the Mars/Saturn conjunction.  He does have some good trines in his chart: Venus exactly trine Neptune, Mars closely trine Uranus and Saturn trine Uranus, giving him some notable capabilities.

Theresa May and her Cabinet in Turmoil

Three of Theresa May’s cabinet have had to be sacked in just a few weeks (Michael Fallon, Priti Patel and now Damian Green). With the climate of tolerance on sexual abuse being changed by the Harvey Weinstein scandal (followed by the Westminster sexual scandal), Michael Fallon and Damian Green had to leave, whereas a year ago that may not have been the case.  Journalists have marvelled at how resilient Theresa May has been in the face of adversity, as many expected her to be removed from power by Christmas, after the debacle of the hastily called General Election.  David Davis said he would resign if Damian Green left, though he shows no sign of following through.  Boris Johnson continues to embarrass Theresa May at home and notably abroad.  A diplomatic trip to Russia this week resulted in an open spat with his foreign counterpart.  It is possible he may have pulled back some of the original damage in Iran, as it is hoped Nazanin Zhagari-Ratcliffe may still be released.

Damian Green’s Synastry with Theresa May

Theresa May has known Damian Green for 40 years since university days, and he was a very close and trusted member of her cabinet.  His departure is another nail in her coffin.  Their compatibility is unusually strong, with a myriad of interaspects, although some of these are challenging.  She was born three and a half months before him. Their best interaspect is her Neptune trine his Venus and sextile his Jupiter, ensuring a personal and idealistic bond.

Current Transits for Theresa

Currently Theresa has Mars square her Uranus (shock), Mars square her Chiron (irritation), Saturn sextile her Neptune (resilience on a spiritual level), Saturn trine her Pluto (strength), Uranus trine her Venus (unusual relationship events), and Pluto trine her Jupiter (the luck of being able to hold on to power).

Transits for Damian

The sacking of Damian Green came about as a result of him having lied about the extent of his knowledge of police investigations in the past.  The allegation of possessing porn on his computer was not actually illegal. At the time of his original arrest in November 2008 Pluto was sextile his Venus, sextile his Neptune and trine his Jupiter (a shocking set of event but resolved for the time being without harm to him).  Current transits have already been described in my opening paragraph.

Kate Maltby

Journalist and family friend Kate Maltby claims that Damian Green once put a hand on her knee fleetingly at a pub in 2015, and in 2016 sent her a suggestive text message.  This information has not helped his case, but as there is no date of birth available for Kate I cannot investigate further astrologically.

Police Involvement

Bob Quick and Neil Lewis, former police officers who revealed the existence of the material on Damian Green’s computer from 2008, have faced criticism from Theresa May and other Conservative politicians, and may be themselves the subject of an investigation for making the revelations.

Bob Quick was a senior police officer from 2008 to 2009.  In October 2008 it came to light that there had been leaks of official documents from the Home Office, and Damian Green’s then parliamentary office was searched (he was in the Shadow Cabinet at the time).  Damian Green was arrested at the time and released.  Quick was forced to resign on 8 April 2009, having inadvertently exposed a secret document.

Bob Quick’s transits for his original resignation were Neptune on his Chiron (chaotic), Pluto trine his Sun and Pluto (results of his use of power).  This week Neptune was square his Venus (involvement in a scandal) and Mars sextile his Saturn (feeling some harshness).  Quick has said: “I bear no malice to Damian Green”.

I do not have a birth date for the other police officer, Neil Lewis, who is retired but analysed Damian Green’s computer in 2008.  He offered up his notebook from that time, has been criticized for breaching confidentiality, and some have hinted at a possible vendetta by the police against Damian Green.

Commissioner Cressida Dick has said: “If offences have been disclosed and that can be proved, there could be a prosecution.”

In Conclusion

Damian Green’s removal is a personal blow to Theresa May, reporter Laura Kuenssberg having described him as knowing her best: “To lose one of the few who understood her, who she trusts, leaves her a lonelier figure”.

Aspects

Sunday 24th (Christmas Eve) promises to be a lively day karmically, with Jupiter squaring the Nodal Axis.  This may be characterized by a great deal of interaction, and attempts at jollity.  For those spending Christmas Eve alone, there may be some vigorous introspection, and possible insight into past life interaction with groups.  There is a chance for groups to be upwardly mobile in their evolution.

One would hope for a buoyant aspect for Christmas Day itself (25th) but Venus enters Capricorn that day and then conjuncts Saturn, so emphasis may be on serious issues for at least parts of the day.  Venus leaving Sagittarius and entering Capricorn may have a sense of anti-climax, and Venus conjunct Saturn (at 0 degrees Capricorn) ensures that there will be at least one grumpy family member keeping the excitement low key.

On the other hand, the more serious messages of Christmas may be more easily seen and felt, e.g. the charitable feelings about those who are homeless and in crisis, and the material versus the spiritual issues may be more easily realized, understood and even acted upon.  There may be an emphasis on elderly relatives, too.  Christmas may seem quieter than usual, with some of the gathering insisting on having their daily meditation or keeping the volume turned down.  And of course, Venus conjunct Saturn also can turn the attention to departed loved ones and their place in our hearts.

A different mood arrives on Thursday (28th) with Mars trine Neptune.  There is a renewed spiritual energy, and sense of the sacred, with this trine.  Perhaps you have had a chance to reflect on the messages of the week, and are forming charitable, idealistic and even rosy conclusions, in retrospect.  It is the sort of aspect that brings about attitudes such as “there’s a meaning behind everything”, “everything is meant to be as it is”, and “everything has a purpose” and that meaning is often found in retrospect.  This is also a day when you may experience magic or inspiration, or achieve subtle interactions.  Activities which combine physicality and spirituality flourish and prove beneficial, such as Tai Chi, Qigong and Yoga.

Friday (29th) offers us a trine between Mercury and the North Node, so we can make more sense of our karmic interactions and information.  This favours teaching and learning, and exchanging information.  With Mercury having changed directions, we have had this aspect recently, and you may have noted its effect for you.

All that remains is for me to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

The week in bullet points:

• Sunday – lively karma
• Monday – restrained
• Thursday – inspired
• Friday – mentally stimulating

 

Keith Chegwin

Keith Chegwin, a household name in the 1970s and 1980s especially in children’s television, passed away this week from a rare condition called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Birth Chart

He had, as you’d expect from such a bouncy character, half his planets in the irrepressible fire element.  His Sun, though in the more restrained sign of Capricorn, was square to fiery Mars.  More upbeat traits come from the Sun trine Jupiter the joybringer.  We are all familiar with his story of descent into alcoholism – to my mind, that comes from a square to his Sun from Neptune.  More fire, and showmanship, come from Moon in Leo – he was born to entertain us.  That he sometimes took things too far, e.g. the nude showmanship, may come from the square between Venus and Jupiter (not always knowing where to draw the line, socially).  There was a great need to be a communicator at heart (Mercury conjunct Venus), useful in a profession in live television where improvisation is required.  Energy was his middle name, and that is provided by Mars trine Pluto.  He also had an entrepreneurial sextile between Jupiter and Uranus, knowing where to take the opportunities in life.

Maggie Philbin

He and his first wife Maggie Philbin made a sweet couple.  I remember them on the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, or some programme of that era, before they got together.  Maggie had been sent out to some oriental location where she consulted a soothsayer, just for fun.  The soothsayer directly predicted she would marry Keith, and so it came to pass!  Sadly, he was unfaithful and the marriage eventually broke up.  But she made a heartfelt tribute to him this week.

Maggie was his opposite number in the zodiac: Cancerian to his Capricorn.  Their Leo Moons were conjunct, brought together in showmanship.  Their Jupiters were exactly sextile, magnifying the enthusiasm and exuberance.  But the eventual separation may be shown by her Uranus opposite his Sun.

Alcoholism

Keith’s career went into a hiatus while he dealt with his alcoholism.  That natal Sun square Neptune showing the tendency to possible alcoholism by 1992 had become Progressed Sun trine Neptune, and he declared his condition to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan on This Morning.  Thus he had reached a turning point where he was ready to deal with it.  He managed to turn his life around, and later took part in Dancing on Ice in 2013.

 

Royal Wedding Date Announced

The royal wedding date has been announced as 19th May 2017: I promised an update on this.  On that day, Venus goes into Cancer, and sextiles Uranus which will have just entered Taurus.

Venus in Cancer is perfect for a sentimental occasion, and an excuse to buy a box of kleenex.  However, with the Football Cup Final being held the same day apparently there will be household battles for the remote control.

The main aspects are more descriptive of and suited to a royal wedding, though I would not go as far as to say that women will win the battle of the remote (and I would not wish to make such a sexist assumption)!  Venus sextile Uranus provides an air of romantic excitement: people may fall in love on that day, or realize they want to marry!  That aspect too is perfect for the occasion, in providing an extra special social atmosphere.

In my original blog on the engagement, I  reported general transits for May.  I can now refine these slightly:

The transits for Prince Harry that day show Pluto trine his natal Moon (complete transformation of his emotional life, and the way he experiences his inner female), Neptune square his natal Mars (confused energies), North Node trine his natal Uranus (karmic change) and Uranus opposite his natal Pluto (again change and drama).

The transits for Meghan Markle are mainly distilled into one huge astrological statement: Pluto square her natal Pluto (unfathomable change, and a huge undertaking on all levels).

The Football

Prince William was to have presented the trophy for the Football Cup Final, though it is difficult to see how he could hotfoot it from one event to the other.  As President of the F.A. he may be torn to an extent, but what do his transits show about his state of mind on the day?  He has more transits than the happy couple put together.   Venus will be on his Sun, so he will be totally devoted to the romance of the day and his affection for his younger brother.  Uranus will be sextile exactly his natal Sun, so he will enjoy and be surprised and delighted by the proceedings of the day (on and off the football pitch).  The North Node will be sextile his natal Mercury, so he will find it mentally stimulating, informative, and karmically engaging.  Saturn (restriction) will be square his natal Mars (football), so maybe therein lies the conflict.  The North Node will be sextile his natal Mars (so he will catch up and enjoy the match!).  Mars will be square his natal Jupiter (so there will be a lot of energy and enthusiasm for him that day).  Uranus opposes his natal Jupiter (surprises will keep him on his toes).  Mars sextiles his natal Uranus (and so the excitement is piled on…!)  Chiron trines his natal Uranus (there is healing too, and a feeling of being high on that quality).

As promised, I will also post this piece under Comments for the original posting about the royal engagement.

 

Aspects

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, there is a New Moon at 26 degrees Sagittarius (close to the Galactic Centre) to usher in the new working week.  Due to its position it may be more powerful than the average New Moon, and while a Sagittarian New Moon is normally global in reach, this one could be galactic!  Watch for the interweaving of several worlds, and levels of consciousness.

Very early on Wednesday (20th) Saturn is saying goodbye to Sagittarius and hello to Capricorn, its own home sign.  This is the most heavyweight astrological feature of the week, and likely to impact everyone in bringing reality home.  Whether it is the reality of Brexit, or the cost of living, or the impact of climate change, no one will be able to keep their head in the clouds while Saturn is in Capricorn.  Saturn enters the next sign Aquarius in March 2020, so that may cover the entire Brexit process if we get an extension.  Saturn and Capricorn are united in their stone cold sober message and philosophy about life, and perhaps our governments will finally get to grips with the realities of what has been created and what needs to happen.  The alternative would be unthinkable (extra austerity piled on).  Other qualities associated with Capricorn are a sense of responsibility (people taking charge of their own lives) and organization (making life work for you and those around you).  These are the best hopes for Saturn in Capricorn, which beginning at such a cold and bleak time of year, could easily seem daunting.  Wednesday itself may be good for laying foundations on realistic grounds.

Some much lighter and welcome relief at the other end of the day, on Wednesday evening may be offered, though it doesn’t counteract the sober tone of the day.  Venus trines Uranus, which is similar to, and even brighter than, the aspect which occurs on the royal wedding day next year:

“…provides an air of romantic excitement: people may fall in love on that day, or realize they want to marry!  That aspect too is perfect … in providing an extra special social atmosphere.”  It bodes well for the office Christmas party!

We have the Winter Solstice, the Sun’s entry into Capricorn, in the afternoon of Thursday (21st).  Though there is some relief in knowing that the light is starting to return, this will also reinforce the “getting real” message of Saturn’s entry into Capricorn the day before.  The Venus-Uranus trine of the night before may feel like a bit of escapism, but on the other hand its warmth may carry you through the frost.

Keep that spark going as long as possible, for there is another snow flurry arriving in the evening, in the shape of Sun conjunct Saturn (at 0 degrees Capricorn).  If you have any natal planets at 0 degrees of the signs, this could be an important week for you.  If you have been ignoring the messages of Saturn and Capricorn thus far this week (unlikely) then Thursday evening will make things loud and clear, directing you to change what you need to change or make the decisions you need to make, for instance.

Travel prospects improve on Saturday (23rd) for those wishing to relocate for the Christmas period, for Mercury is stationary prior to turning Direct.  It is too late, sadly, for the second or even the first class postings, but it may help your last Christmas shopping transactions to go with a swing.  If you are working right up until Christmas, you’ll be pleased at that last burst of work and a sense of having caught up and being up to date.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – good intentions
• Wednesday – big dose of reality; some partying
• Thursday – return of the light; another reality check
• Saturday – green light on travel

 

Christine Keeler (1942 – 2017)

1960s Model Christine Keeler, who died this week, was a link to, or influenced the destiny of, some notable figures of her era.  She occupied a central role in “The Profumo Affair”, which was unprecedented for its time in being the first major “sleaze” scandal involving politicians.  Such scandals became more and more commonplace as time went on, but this one brought down a government.  So here is a slice of early 1960s history, the main characters of which are now deceased.

Birth Chart

Christine’s Sun in Pisces with 0 Cardinal planets, and the Sun square to the Moon, suggests someone who drifts through life, rather than being calculated.  This may be one factor in her ultimately being seen as a victim, whereas her friend Mandy Rice-Davies (the blonde to her brunette) seemed to take charge of her life to a greater extent. One of the interesting facets of the whole story is not just that the lives in her circle were greatly affected by the scandal, but how they variously dealt with the notoriety. Christine seems to have fallen prey to the most negative sides of Neptune and Pisces: scandal, drifting, lack of clarity of thought (she changed her story a few times) and being imprisoned.

What stands out in her birthchart is a close quadruple conjunction, or satellitium, in the sign of Taurus, composed of Saturn/Mars/Moon/Uranus.  This may hold the key to why she was such a focus of the group.  Her emotional make-up, as represented by the Moon, holds an intense electro-magnetic charge surrounded by the other planets.  We do have her birth time (her Ascendant is Gemini), and find that this quadruple conjunction falls across the cusp of two Houses: the 11th and 12th.  Thus it partakes of the power of the group (11th) and her own subconscious forces (12th).  The Saturn conjunct Uranus component is capable of causing earthquakes.

There is another strand of her chart which can be described as detached: the Moon exactly conjunct Uranus, the Sun square Uranus, and the Moon conjunct Saturn (the Ivory Tower Archetype), plus Mercury, Venus and the Midheaven in the detached sign of Aquarius.

Pluto was conjunct Chiron situated in her 2nd House, a pocket of potentially dark energy, which in her financial area meant that money burned a hole in her pocket and she continued to write and communicate (Mercury conjunct Venus) about her life in order to replenish her purse.

Her Early Life

Neptune in her 4th House of Home and Family describes a neglected early life: the family were abandoned by her father, and she was reportedly abused by her step-father.  The 4th House also represents the final years of life, and these were secluded, in the manner of Neptune.  At the age of 17, she had a son, born prematurely, who only lived for six days.

Stephen Ward

Osteopath Stephen Ward met Christine Keeler in 1959, and was a lynchpin of the circle and events which would lead up to the scandal, and his role makes me wonder whether maybe there is a Soul Group phenomenon in this story.  He moved in aristocratic circles, but hosted parties where all levels of society would meet.  It was thus that the 19 year old Christine Keeler met the Russian Ivanov, without whom there would not have been a scandal of such proportions (adding the dimension of espionage).  She embarked on an affair with the Russian.  Stephen Ward’s Sun in Libra was close to Mandy’s Sun, but Ward had the Sun square exactly with Neptune in his natal chart, which predisposed him to scandal, and may have been eventually a factor in his suicide.  As a Libran, he liked to introduce people socially.

As well as osteopathy, Stephen was an aspiring artist (Sun in Libra) and attended art classes at the Slade School of Art.  Through his portraiture he met Lord Astor, and it was at Lord Astor’s country house that Ward introduced Profumo and Christine.

An interesting fact in his backstory is that when practising osteopathy in India in 1944, he treated Mahatma Gandhi.  He said of the encounter: “Although much of his policy was opposed to that of my own country. I knew that when I was with him I was in the presence of greatness, and my encounter with him was certainly the most important meeting of my life”.

As has been mentioned, he was one of the victims of this story, for during a trial in 1963 Ward was convicted of living off immoral earnings, and took his own life.

Mandy Rice-Davies

Mandy Rice-Davies, the model and showgirl friend of Christine Keeler, was part of the circle, but as has been mentioned, was much more resilient and carved herself a different role for her future.  An upbeat Moon in Sagittarius may have contributed to this.  She met Keeler at a Cabaret Club, and Christine introduced her to Stephen Ward.  Mandy is famous for a remark that she made when she heard that Lord Astor denied having met her: “Well he would, wouldn’t he?”  Her chart shows strong links with Christine’s, though not all easy ones, for example her Mars square to Christine’s Pluto.  A few years after the debacle, she married an Israeli businessman and opened businesses in Tel Aviv.

Mandy was also linked with another historic figure, Peter Rachman, the notorious unscrupulous landlord whose name gave rise to the term Rachmanism.

Yevgeny Ivanov

As mentioned, the Profumo scandal would not have been such a huge affair had it not been for the fact that Yevgeny was known as a Russian intelligence officer to MI5, and had it not been for the fact that Christine Keeler had an affair with both of them at the same time, with the possibility of transmitting information from one to another.  So here is another central character.  Christine Keeler’s interaspects with Ivanov were largely very positive, e.g. her Chiron trine his Mars, and more karmically her North Node sextile his Pluto.  But his transits at the time of their liaison were decidedly dicey: Uranus square his Saturn and Uranus on his Neptune, sowing the seeds for future trouble (for it was two years after their affair that the scandal broke).  Ward’s friendship with Ivanov was through the former’s interest in portraiture.  Their friendship, though a strong one, is beset by squares, including the karmic Ward Sun squaring Ivanov’s Nodal Axis, and Ward’s Neptune (scandal) conjunct exactly Ivanov’s North Node.

Ivanov was one who got away: he was recalled to Moscow in 1962 and continued his naval career.  He died in 1994.

John Profumo

John Profumo, appointed the Secretary of State for War in 1960, is of course the most central character in this affair.  He was an Aquarian, with his ruling planet Uranus exactly conjunct Christine Keeler’s Mercury (implying an exchange of information). His Venus in Sagittarius is exactly conjunct Keeler’s Descendant (Relationship Point), indicating that there may have been some real affection between them.  They were introduced on the weekend of 8th to 9th July 1961, a date when Mars when was exactly conjunct Pluto (perhaps indicating the inherent danger of their liaison).  Transiting Jupiter was opposite Christine’s Pluto (an exaggeration of power) and Uranus was exactly trine John Profumo’s Venus (an unusual, arresting meeting).  There was also a reversal of his Nodal Axis at the time, a point of choice karmically.  Their relationship lasted a few weeks or a few months, according to differing accounts, and apparently he did not pay her for sexual services (ironically there was little evidence to convict Stephen Ward of immoral earnings therefore).  In August 1961 he was warned by the Cabinet Secretary about mixing with Ward’s group – at the time Neptune (scandal) was squaring his natal Sun, but the affair was still hidden from the public.

The fate of John Profumo, or the life that he created for himself after the scandal, was an unusually positive one in terms of redemption.  He took menial jobs in the East End of London and quietly performed “good works”.

“Lucky”  Gordon

After splitting up with John Profumo, but before the scandal came to light publicly, Christine Keeler was involved with a musician called “Lucky” Gordon, who died in March this year.  He had met Keeler on 7th August 1961 selling marijuana in a Cafe in Notting Hill: Uranus was exactly sextile his Venus at the time (an unusual, arresting meeting, like Profumo’s own introduction).  At the same time as she was seeing Gordon, she was involved with a man named Johnny Edgecombe, and the two became rivals.  The liaison between Christine and Lucky ended when he allegedly assaulted her in the street.  He was a rough diamond in these years, but apparently mellowed in later years.  John Edgecombe was also an unsavoury character, once firing a gun at Mandy Rice-Davies’ door when Christine was visiting her.  It was during the trial of John Edgecombe that Christine came to public attention, giving out communication freely on the matter, and exposing her private life and connections.  Thus it was that her involvement with Profumo came to light in 1963. Profumo denied the connection at first, then had to resign.  Christine Keeler was later jailed, on 6th December 1963, with Uranus exactly square her Moon (emotional shock) for perjury (she had tried to get Lucky Gordon convicted of assault).  Lucky Gordon was a colourful character: he had prepared food for Bob Marley in his native Jamaica, and become a friend of Reggie Kray in prison.  He never forgot the stunning model Christine Keeler, declaring his love for her later in life.

Harold MacMillan

Another victim of the affair was the Prime Minister at the time.  The position of Harold MacMillan was put under severe strain by the Profumo scandal.  He used a prostate operation in October 1963 in order to bow out of office.  Uranus was square to his Pluto (considerable strain) at the time.  He was a victim, but arguably at the same time he freed himself, for Jupiter was transiting his North Node at the time.

Christine’s Later Life

She subsequently had two children, and took low paid jobs such as that of a dinner lady, a telesales agent, and worked in a dry cleaner’s shop.  She was divorced twice, and spent her later years reclusively.

Death

She died at the age of 75 on Monday 4th December at 11.30 p.m., having suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  Neptune was squaring her natal Jupiter, and the Ascendant at that moment was exactly conjunct her North Node.

“It’s been a misery for me, living with Christine Keeler”

~ Christine Keeler, 2001

Aspects

Retrograde Mercury is trine Uranus today, revisiting its position from 25th November.  This aspect favours telepathy, technology, scientific advances, and futuristic ideas.  This retrograde version may not be as ideal as the original, but I certainly benefited on that day from a member of the younger generation coming along and upgrading my i phone, bringing it into this decade.

Venus also squares Neptune, which is deceptive in terms of relationships, bringing a need to look at illusions.  The “sleaze” subject of today’s blog fits well with that, in its most extreme negative form.

In addition, Mercury squares Chiron, which may bring health issues into light in order for healing to begin.  You may find yourself exercising your mind with mental conundrums, either imposed on you, or through your own efforts to keep your mind nimble.

Wednesday (13th) brings an enlightening conjunction of the Sun and Mercury at 20 degrees of Sagittarius.  This is a wonderful aspect for having philosophical conversations, and putting the world to rights with friends.

Harmonious Karma is the tone of the day on Thursday (14th), with Venus trine the North Node.  You may catch up with old friends, and renew warm links.

Friday (15th) favours catching up with writing projects with Mercury conjunct Venus at 17 degrees Sagittarius (methinks I might resume my novel “The Quiet Office”).  It also favours convivial meetings in cafes, and such light social interactions.

There may also be an element of healing crisis in the air, with the Sun square Chiron.  This may be something which popped up as an issue on Sunday, or an entirely different matter, but either way not something which can be ignored.  It may demand immediate solutions.

We are blessed with two trines on Saturday (16th), the first being the Sun trine Uranus.  This is inventive, creative and original.  It would be a successful time to unveil your new portrait, or perform your latest poem or play.  If you are more scientifically inclined, your new scientific discovery may be unveiled, or your new invention.  It’s a dynamic, go-ahead vibe.

The second trine is between Mercury and the North Node, which I associate with the coming to light of karmic information, a useful aspect, and good for teaching and teachers, and the exchange of communication.  If you’re hesitant about sharing information, go ahead – it could make all the difference to someone.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – complex and varied
• Wednesday – enlightening
• Thursday – harmonious karma
• Friday – communicative, with health considerations
• Saturday – smooth sailing

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Royal Engagement

“All the stars were aligned…This beautiful woman just . . . tripped and fell into my life.”

~ Prince Harry

Prince Harry

Prince Harry has grown into one of the most beloved of the royal crew.  From a gawky young prince of the faux pas (e.g. wearing a Nazi uniform at a party), he has become a responsible supporter of worthwhile causes like his late mother, with a special fondness for Botswana.  Harry’s chart is quite grounded, with Mercury, Part of Fortune and the Sun in Virgo, the Moon in Taurus and Ascendant in Capricorn!  He is probably growing into his potential for serious purposes, shown in his Ascendant  and Jupiter in Capricorn, and Midheaven, Pluto and Saturn in Scorpio.  His Sun ruler Mercury is in the 8th House, which may be the emphasis on the death of his mother in his life.  He is creative, with Moon, North Node and Chiron in his 5th House.  The North Node loosely conjunct his Chiron could point ultimately to a healing karmic mission.  He is fond of foreign travel, with the Sun in 9th House, and could make a loving and profound contribution to the world with Venus and Pluto in the 10th House.  With Saturn in 11th House he may have few true close friends, but can co-operate in large group enterprises with Uranus later in that House.  Mars, Neptune and Jupiter in the 12th House of the Unconscious means he has a lot of inner drive, vision and dreams.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle has been an actor in a Canadian TV series Suits since 2011, showing commitment, skill and steadiness.  In addition she has undertaken responsible roles outside the acting profession, in raising awareness of various causes, such as feminism, and clean water in Rwanda.  Some have found her mixed race background controversial, but many see this as an asset, bringing diversity to the royal table.  Some have made comparisons between her, an American divorcee, and Wallace Simpson, but times have moved on and Meghan is a different proposition.  Meghan has Sun in Leo, so she is at home with royalty, and has pursued the Leo profession of acting, having a degree in theatre studies.  She also has the Sun, Leo’s ruler, in the 1st House and trine exactly the Midheaven, reinforcing the Sun/Leo theme.  She has a complex triple conjunction of Sun/Jupiter/Saturn in Libra, so weighs things up very carefully, seeing both sides of an issue.  Mercury is conjunct the North Node in Leo, so the royal role may be part of her karmic mission, and teaching may also be a role in the future, or educating people in some way.  She has great enthusiasm, as evidenced by Mars square Jupiter, and has already taken up some passionate causes in her life, though she is to wind down her roles and take up new ones in Britain.  With Saturn also squaring her Mars, she combines these interests with a deep sense of responsibility.  Karmically, she is a mover and shaker, with Ascendant conjunct the North Node.  There may also be a healing role for her later in life, with Chiron at the end of her 10th House sextile her Ascendant.

When Harry met Meghan

Were the stars aligned at their meeting?  They were reportedly introduced by a friend (name unknown) on a blind date (date unknown).  This may have been last June, but certainly by July they were seeing each other.  A chart for the beginning of July 2016 tells us that Mars was sextile Harry’s Sun, Jupiter was square his Mars, Jupiter was sextile his Midheaven, Neptune was trine his Saturn, Neptune was sextile his Ascendant, and Pluto was sextile his Midheaven: a mixture of passionate and inspirational influences for him.  Saturn was trine her natal Sun, Uranus was square her Ascendant, and Neptune was trine her Mars.  That is a mixture of seriousness, change and inspiration coming into her life in different ways.

Synastry

The interaspect between them are not all smooth sailing, which is possibly why they both needed to build some maturity before meeting.  Her Neptune squares his Sun, so he is arrested by her glamour.  Her Chiron is exactly conjunct his Moon, helping him to deal with the wounds surrounding his mother.  Her Sun is exactly square his Saturn, so involvement with him brings the need for more discipline and commitment in her life.  Her Venus is sextile exactly his Saturn, which is an aspect of loyalty and commitment.  Her Nodal Axis is exactly square his Pluto, so their lives together will bring never a dull moment, and be demanding psychologically.  Her Mars is exactly opposite his Ascendant, so there is some fieriness between them, but it does also emphasize the passion.

Engagement

The engagement reportedly took place privately over a chicken dinner at the beginning of November.  Transits for them at the beginning of November show Jupiter sextile his natal Jupiter and Mercury – a successful declaration, Neptune sextile his Ascendant (spiritual alignment), Pluto square his natal Venus (drama and transformation in his love life), and Pluto sextile his natal Midheaven (transformation of his direction in life).  For her, Mars was on her Jupiter (great enthusiasm – she told how she interrupted his spiel and said yes before he could finish!), Jupiter square her Mercury (happy communication), and Neptune trine her Mars (inspired passion).

But the engagement was not announced until around 10.30 a.m. on Monday 27th November.  Pluto was exactly square Harry’s Sun: a moment of dramatic and life changing importance.  Neptune was exactly sextile Harry’s Ascendant, so spiritually it felt right.  For Meghan, Mars was sextile her Neptune  (uncovering a secret), Mars was conjunct her Pluto (again drama and intensity), Uranus was square to her Ascendant (changing her status on Facebook!), and Neptune trine her Mars, spiritualizing her passion.

Wedding

They have announced that the wedding will take place in May at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.  When the actual date is announced, I will add a piece under the comments of this blog.  In the meantime, a chart for the middle of May reveals:

Mars will be square his Pluto (again, drama – security will be stepped up).  Jupiter will be on his Midheaven (a joyous stage in his life), Uranus opposite his Pluto (again change and drama), Neptune square his Mars (confused energies), Neptune trine his Midheaven (spiritual alignment in his life direction) and Pluto trine his Moon (complete transformation of his emotional life).  For Meghan, Pluto will be square her Pluto (a huge undertaking on all levels), and Pluto will be trine her Chiron (a depth of healing).

Family

At the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton in November 2010, I wrote:

“She and William also have shared Moon signs (Cancer) and that may be a resonance which brought his mother’s engagement ring to her, but possibly even more significantly her Moon is exactly conjunct with William’s North Node, which denotes a karmic connection of the mothering kind.  This may indicate that one of the primary purposes of the union is in order to bring in the next generation.”

Kate is now on her third pregnancy!

Although Prince Harry has a paternal Moon in 5th House, the synastry of this relationship is different, and building a family or dynasty may not be the central theme.

Higher Purpose

While the aspects between this couple are not easy, my own feeling is that it is one of those karmic relationships where people are brought together for a common purpose and a higher purpose.  Quite clearly they are both motivated to work in service in the world (Prince Harry is a Virgoan, a sign associated with Service), and they do have a great deal of energy and dynamism in their interaction, and in their potential.  I think that the relationship will last at least enough years for them to build a lasting and constructive legacy.  Their love and commitment are very evident and genuine, and healing for them both.

“Today, we need the hope that the forthcoming royal nuptials offer more than ever. Prince Harry and Meghan’s marriage could be a healing ritual for our ruined land, a joining of races that fascists would have us divide” ~ Stewart Lee, in this morning’s Observer

Aspects

In the early hours of this morning Jupiter trined Neptune, the most important aspect of this week.  If you felt a certain flow in your life’s purposes yesterday, coming up to this aspect, you can thank Jupiter and Neptune.  Although there are some more challenging aspects taking place during the day today, Jupiter trine Neptune is such a major influence that its effects may continue to be seen throughout today or even throughout the week.  Jupiter is about hope, luck and beneficence, while Neptune is about faith and wishes. Their current harmony urges us to dare to hope and dream.  Martin Luther King had this trine natally, and he did dare to dream.  This influence may also encourage us to look at wider philosophical and religious issues, such as how much compassion a heart can hold, and how deep is the ocean (if you are watching Blue Planet II) – it is an aspect which speaks of boundlessness.

Later this morning, Mercury was stationary prior to turning retrograde. I need say no more – the phrase has become part of mainstream parlance!  Any blip in communication or computer access has come to be blamed on Mercury retrograde, even when it is not retrograde!  And things go wrong with computers when Mercury is direct.  I would like to draw a distinction between Mercury and Uranus.  Mercury represents the traditional ways of communication, such as rail and snail mail.  Uranus represents technology, and to a great extent computers.  Of course, their functions are intertwined, so often the effects coincide.  But recently a friend had terrible trouble over a scam email, and it turned out that Uranus was square to her Uranus at the time.  That was a good illustration of the fact that Uranus represents the more futuristic ways in which we communicate.

In terms of dealing with the Mercury retrograde period, we can do much if we are mindful of our own personal communication and its effect in interacting with others.  Uranus, by contrast, is by its very nature unpredictable, and we can’t do much about it.  It is helpful to know about a Uranian transit in advance, and working with Uranus transits is about honing our intuition (a Uranus function) to anticipate loopholes and deal with them in advance.  But Mercury is more of a personal responsibility, representing the left brain and logical function, and one which we are more in control of.  Mercury is retrograde virtually throughout the run up to Christmas, until 23rd December (just in time to make Christmas travel a better prospect), so be mindful, and let us know if you have any insights to share on your retrograde journey.

Late morning, the Sun squares Neptune (as if Jupiter trine Neptune, and Mercury retrograde were not enough to occupy you today).  This is an aspect which causes fogginess and confused thought.  It is counteracted to some extent by Jupiter’s trine with Neptune, which is more powerful, but is likely to make itself felt, e.g. in a senior moment (at whatever age).  Together with Jupiter trine Neptune, it increases our engagement with the Collective Unconscious.  We may find ourselves pondering deeply on a news item, or about politicians trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

Did I hear you say enough already?  Well the aspects haven’t quite finished with us for the day.  In the afternoon, the Moon opposes the Sun in Sagittarius and is Full at 11 degrees Gemini.  You might be exhausted by then!  The theme of the Gemini/Sagittarius polarity is communication, both superficial (Gemini) and deeper (Sagittarius).  If you have had any ruminations as a result of listening to the media, you may be emotionally full by then, reflecting the Full Moon.  It is a good time to mentally sift through what is important and what is not worth wondering about, what is fake news and what is real, and focussing on dealing on one idea that engages your heart and mind.

Tuesday (5th) finds the asteroid Chiron stationary, prior to turning direct.  This is a helpful turning of the path on your healing journey.  If you are hospital visiting or having a health check up on that day, this development may help you see things in a new light, e.g. realizing the purpose behind the condition.  From Tuesday, you may be finding new healing avenues.

On Wednesday (6th) you’ll be well on your way to processing Sunday’s bonanza and complexity of aspects.  Wednesday finds us in a serious mindset with Mercury conjunct Saturn, at 28 degrees Sagittarius.  That may be a day when you do have to wrestle with the effects of Mercury retrograde, and slowed communications and travel lines.  As Mercury has only just turned retrograde, we start to revisit some recent aspects, and this one last appeared on Tuesday 28th November, if you still have your diary for that month to hand: “Its placement in Sagittarius, lifts it slightly in mood and also widens its consciousness.  So we may be able to see the detail and its context, the trees and the wood.”   Serious purposes and mental application may receive the rewards of hard work.

In the afternoon, communication may be actually heightened and speeded up, thanks to Mercury now in a sextile aspect with Mars, so there may well be alleviation of slowness from earlier in the day.  We also encountered this aspect recently, on 17th November. This should be a busy and productive day, but you could also get waylaid and sidetracked by trivialities!

In the evening, Mars sextiles Saturn, so some solid ground could be regained and more practical achievement is possible.

There’s a karmically toned aspect on Friday (8th) in the form of the Sun trine the North Node.  This can be very creative, if the space has been earned.  If power issues are involved, you may need “permission” from another, e.g. to modify some of their original material.  Draw up a contract if this seems likely to raise legal issues, e.g. of plagiarism, in the future.  You know what happened to Gary Kemp in Spandau Ballet!  Ownership of Creative Property may be the issue.

Mars enters Scorpio on Saturday (9th), and that puts some people automatically into battle mode.  If you are a pacifist, just observe.  If you are a warrior, your power may be heightened.  If you are a diplomat, be ready.  Mars will be in the battle zone until 26th January, so take your position, and may everyone do their best in the effort to express the best of this engagement.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – complex: a wider harmony, communications playing up, confusion, and mental and emotional tension
• Tuesday – the prospect of healing
• Wednesday – a serious mindset, some progress, some solid ground
• Friday – karmic creativity
• Saturday – may the force be with you

 

Charles Manson and Charles Bronson

I’m not a fan of crime, but I did work for four years in the Criminal Department of a law firm.  What I concluded from that was that many criminals, looking at their history, don’t stand much of a chance from their early life, whether from psychological or sociological reasons.  With the level of violence in society showing no signs of abating, I wonder if criminal tendencies could be spotted earlier and rehabilitation begun at an earlier age.  But then criminals are innocent until proven guilty.  This week (on Thursday 23rd November) Jon Venables, one of the killers of James Bulger, was sent back to prison (for unrelated offences).  It is possible from his chart (no birth time is available) that he had the Moon conjunct Chiron, indicative of early psychological wounds.  His main transit at the time of committing the murder was Saturn opposite his Sun.  He was responsible for the joint killing at the young age of 10 years, and been given anonymity after leaving prison.  His later conviction (possession of child abuse imagery) was of a lesser crime, but one wonders how far rehabilitation can be successful, and what more can be done in this area.

Charles Manson

American 83-year old Mass murderer Charles Manson died in prison on 19th November (last Sunday) of natural causes.  He was the head of the “Family” cult, and had the Moon (family) exactly conjunct his North Node (karma), symbolizing this. On 6th August 1969 Sharon Tate, the wife of film director Roman Polanski, and others were killed  in Los Angeles.  His transits on that day were Mars exactly opposite his natal Chiron, Jupiter was exactly trine his natal Moon/North Node (he may have been high as a kite) and Neptune was exactly trine his Pluto. In their synastry, Sharon Tate’s natal Sun/Mercury in Aquarius was exactly conjunct Charles/Manson’s Moon/North Node, which proved to be a fatalistic combination.  Her Pluto was exactly square his Ascendant, moreover.  Several other people were killed that night, and he was said to have ordered the killings, and not actually carried them out himself.

His birth chart has the Sun/Venus in the strong willed,  emotional and charismatic sign of Scorpio but squaring Saturn, showing a lack of feeling but also depicting his thwarted musical ambitions, which were a source of bitterness.  Mars was exactly conjunct Neptune in his chart, and he led a drug fuelled existence on cannabis and LSD in the late 1960s.  Nodal Axis exactly square Midheaven/I.C. Axis may say something about being at odds with his karma.

He was born to a 16-year old unmarried mother, and he never actually knew his father (Pluto conjunct the I.C. depicting his origins).  The first crime of which he was convicted was armed robbery, at the age of 13.

He once told a prison psychiatrist: “I’m special.  I’m not like the average inmate.  I have spent my life in prison. I have put five people in the grave. I am a very dangerous man.”  Among the labels given to him were that of schizophrenia and paranoid delusional disorder.

At his death, Uranus was exactly square his natal Pluto (ruling planet) in Cancer in 3rd House.

Charles Bronson

British prisoner Charles Bronson recently married an ex-soap actress from Emmerdale and Coronation Street (on 14th November).  Like Charles Manson, he has tried to draw strength from his alliances and admiration from women in his life.  He has been referred to as the “most violent prisoner in Britain” and has spent time in high-security psychiatric hospitals.

He was not born with the name Charles Bronson, but named himself after the American actor of the tough guy image (whose chart bears no resemblance to his, but there is a possible karmic link or glamour-inspired motive with the actor’s Neptune on the prisoner’s South Node).  His early life does not seem to have been blighted in the same way as Charles Manson, indeed he seems to have come from a respectable background, and an aunt offered a portrait of the young Bronson:

“As a boy, he was a lovely lad. He was obviously bright and always good with children. He was gentle and mild-mannered, never a bully; he would defend the weak”

Like Manson, he was caught stealing at the age of 13, and embarked thereafter on a life of crime.  He attempted to poison a fellow prisoner in 1976, and in December 1978 was sent to Broadmoor, where he counted Ronnie Kray among his friends.  He attempted to strangle another inmate, Gordon Robinson.  However, he has never been convicted for murder.

While in prison he has produced artworks and written books, and re-named his surname Salvador after Salvador Dali.

The birth date of this his third wife, Paula Williamson, is not available.  At the time of this marriage Mars (again playing a key role in his life) was exactly sextile his Sun.  Uranus squared his Venus (changing his relationship status!).  Neptune was sextile his natal Chiron (a healing) but Pluto was opposite his Uranus (signifying some extreme change going on, which seems to have more to it than a wedding). She says  “I’m madly in love with Charlie and he’s madly in love with me. But even I can’t believe I’m marrying Britain’s most notorious prisoner”.  She has this year done the rounds of daytime television talk shows, and there may be genuine feeling there with Venus conjunct Jupiter in the marriage chart.  But the marriage time of 2 p.m. on that day reveals Neptune closely conjunct the Ascendant in Pisces, hinting that some illusion is prominent.

Mercury in Sagittarius in Bronson’s chart is unaspected, which can denote lawlessness.  Venus squares Saturn (lacking feeling), like Charles Manson but exact, with Venus in Capricorn exacerbating the coldness.  Venus also squares Neptune (sensation-seeking), but Neptune closely conjunct Saturn shows a tendency to depression.  Depending on the position of the conjunction in his chart (we do not have a birth time), it may well show up the fact that his life has been mostly spent in incarceration.  Mars is strong in Bronson’s chart, with the Sun sextile Mars, and Mars in Aquarius conjuncting his North Node – as well as the emphasis on violence in his life, he has written fitness books: “I’m the king of the press-ups and the sit-ups”.

Psychiatrists have not settled on labels for Bronson, but have considered Psychopathy and Schizophrenia.  Another feature of his personality is narcissism, with the Moon opposite Mars and in the sign of attention-seeking Leo.

He says of himself: “I’m a nice guy, but sometimes I lose all my senses and become nasty. That doesn’t make me evil, just confused.”  A self-evaluation very different from Charles Manson’s, which could be seen as a product of his more upbeat Sunsign of Sagittarius as against Manson’s Sunsign Scorpio (which is often wrongly maligned).

Aspects

Venus trines Chiron today, which offers the opportunity for some healing, especially in the realm of relationships or money.  The healing power of love comes to the fore.  This aspect reminds us of the healing power of love.  Keep the heart open, and the results are always rewarding.

On Tuesday (28th) Mercury conjuncts Saturn at 27 degrees in Sagittarius (at the Galactic Centre).  This conjunction on its own assists us in our powers of concentration, although some might experience this as drudgery.  However, its placement in Sagittarius, lifts it slightly in mood and also widens its consciousness.  So we may be able to see the detail and its context, the trees and the wood.  Travel may still be delayed or difficult, though.

This mental focus dominates the middle of the week, and then on Friday (1st December) Venus enters Sagittarius.  This is the signal for more uplift, and anticipating the festive nature of the season and party atmosphere (the works do, for instance!).  Hearts under Venus in Scorpio are intense, but under Venus in Sagittarius more naturally expansive in contrast.  You may be more open to friending on Facebook, for instance, having deleted a few to prune and declutter while Venus was in Scorpio!

Another influence on Friday, that of Mars opposite Uranus, is more disruptive, and incident-prone.  Try to minimize health and safety risks under this aspect, especially in connection with cars, dogs, machinery and electrical appliances.  You may find people extra excitable (perhaps there may be another suspected terrorist incident in the news) and calmness may be a valuable commodity. Brush up your meditational skills, and be a port in the storm.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – healing relationships
• Tuesday – concentration, but also wider application of the mind
• Friday – social uplift, but unpredictability

Robert Mugabe Revisited There were extraordinary scenes on the streets of Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe yesterday, as the hitherto repressed populace marched in favour of a new regime and in favour of replacing the long time dictator Robert Mugabe, watched on by a friendly militia who seem to have engineered a bloodless coup, the outcome of which is still uncertain.  Is this a new model for how to replace a tyrant peacefully, or will they be unable to sustain the peace? Robert Mugabe Record 93 year old Robert Mugabe has been in power in Zimbabwe for 37 years, and began as a freedom fighter against white minority rule, winning the battle against Nkomo to found a government.  The initial years of Mugabe’s government was characterized by social and economic reforms.  After two years, Nkomo fled the country, when Mugabe denounced him as a “cobra in the house”.  Since then, Mugabe has had a reputation for unpredictability.  In recent years, and increasingly, Mugabe’s regime has come to be known as one of repression, poverty and economic failure. He and his wife have become embroiled in accusations of corruption and profligacy.  In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he has become “a cartoon figure of an archetypal African dictator”. Birth Chart I wrote about Robert Mugabe’s chart in August 2013: ” Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980 in Zimbabwe, unsurprisingly has power issues brought in from past lives, with his natal Sun conjunct the South Node (past lives), though maybe in other scenarios, such as Egypt.  His Sun exactly trines Saturn, making politics and ambition major themes of his personality and life… Another interesting feature of his chart is his Mars conjunct Jupiter (indefatigable energy and enthusiasm combined) squaring his Uranus (changeable, unpredictable and incident-prone).  Note that he and Zimbabwe share the Mars square Uranus instability.” Transits for Robert Mugabe today show forcefulness from Pluto in a sextile to his Uranus (Change) and Pluto square his Chiron (enforced healing). Zimbabwe I also wrote: ” The Zimbabwe nation chart has a striking exact conjunction between the North Node and Mars squaring Uranus, violence and instability being part of its karmic make-up and path.  The North Node/Mars conjunction is also trine the nation’s Sun, increasing the fieriness but heightening its self-expression and the will of its leadership… The chart of Zimbabwe is also the chart of Mugabe’s coming to power in 1980.  This is clearly shown by Pluto (Power) exactly sextile his natal Mars (Self-Will) signifying that it has been a vehicle for his drives and ambitions.” Today’s transits for Zimbabwe show Saturn trine its Mars (decisiveness), Saturn trine its North Node (karmic discipline) and Uranus trine its North Node (karmic change), with Neptune sextile its Chiron (spiritual healing). Emmerson Mnangagwa As I have been preparing this blog this morning, it has been announced that Robert Mugabe has been removed as the leader of the Zanu-PF party and Emmerson Mnangagwa has replaced him.  Whereas Mugabe denounced Nkomo as a cobra, Mnangagwa was known as “the crocodile”, and was fired by Mugabe on 6th November (an act which led to this crisis). Ex-vice president and former intelligence chief Mnangagwa is a Sun in Virgo (the opposite sign of Mugabe), with Mars conjunct Neptune exactly in that sign (which can be deceptive), and Moon in Scorpio.  He also has a disruptive square between Uranus and his Nodal Axis. Mnangagwa’s relationship with Zimbabwe is not an easy one, and indeed some fear that his rule might not be that different from Mugabe’s, but it is hoped that he will preside over a coalition with opposition leaders.  There is a lot of repression between his chart and that of Zimbabwe, which might characterize his rule (its Saturn is conjunct his Sun, its Venus is conjunct his Saturn, for example).  A struggle for power is shown by its Pluto square his Jupiter. On the day he was fired and fled,  Jupiter was square his Pluto (power struggle) but sextile his Venus (potential silver lining) and Neptune was square his Saturn (banishment). Grace Mugabe Grace Mugabe, the wife of Robert Mugabe and would-be president in her own right, comes across as a combination of Marie Antoinette (“let them eat cake”) and Imelda Marcos (“let me buy shoes”).  She is unpopular in the country generally, but had a following in some younger members of the population.  She is a strong-willed Leo, with a very individualistic unaspected Sun, and an extra hunger for power shown by Jupiter square Pluto.  She is also a warrior (Mars trine the North Node) and has disruptive features (Uranus square the Nodal Axis).  Her bid for power was one of the precipitating factors for this crisis.  She has been expelled from the party today.  Saturn is trine her Mercury, Pluto is sextile her Saturn, and Pluto is sextile her Neptune, sombre but not too damaging transits (maybe the Universe is protecting her from herself).

In a State of Flux

When I began writing this blog this morning, there was a great state of flux in events.  Something has since been resolved, though things are still in a state of flux for this nation.  Let us hope that the anticipation of change and joyfulness of the peaceful revolution  on the streets, and the exemplary conduct of the military so far bears fruit for a nation which has suffered for so long.

Aspects

Today’s Mars square Pluto speaks of coercion, and we have already had a graphic example of that in the enforcement of Robert Mugabe’s departure by the military in Zimbabwe today.  In this case it was peacefully executed, and for the common good.

In your own life, you may forced to act, and hopefully it will be a peaceful event and for the common good also, but bear in mind that under this aspect there are elements in our society which will continue to have unruly drives which don’t help anyone.  In today’s removal of a tyrant, there is hope that constructive forces can outweigh the destructive ones.

A happier prospect to contemplate occurs on Tuesday (21st) when Venus sextiles Pluto.  Love and money prosper under this  combination.  Both Venus and Pluto represent money in Astrology, so it may be a good time for investments or cashing in insurance policies.  Love is not frivolous under this aspect, so it is not flirtatiousness which flourishes, but deep understanding and feeling, and coming to a new psychological level between you.

On Wednesday (22nd) the Sun enters Sagittarius, one of the more joyful sojourns for the Sun, and including the pre-Christmas warm up and planning festivities, taking us up to the Winter Solstice.  For those of us who enjoy the Sun in Sagittarius, this period goes a long way to dispelling the seasonal affective disorder of the lessening of the light.  For those who find it a strain, e.g. finding the money to fund all the jollity, it can be a positive time for philosophical contemplation, one of the resources of the Sun in Sagittarius.

Wednesday has an additional gift for us, in the fact that Neptune is stationary prior to turning Direct.  Neptune has been retrograde since the middle of June 2017, the 16th of that month to be precise.  Perhaps that was the beginning of a spiritual process of self-examination for you, for example in relation to sensing the suffering in the world.  So Wednesday may give the gift of extra spiritual lightness and the ability to move forward in this respect.  For example, some insight into how you can help someone, or balance your feelings and responsibilities in such a way that you do not feel overburdened.

The last gift of the week comes on Saturday (25th) in the form of Mercury trine Uranus, a mental light bulb of an aspect.  Minds work quickly under this aspect, computers tend to work more efficiently (which is fortuitous, timely and welcome because Mercury goes retrograde on December 3rd), and ideas can come from the realm of genius and invention (even from the future). It is a good aspect for scientific discovery, and weird and wonderful tales.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – keep a cool head
• Tuesday – a deeper level of relationship
• Wednesday – seasonal uplift, and spiritual progress
• Saturday – mental light bulbs

Cabinet Changes

Following the week of Westminster sexual harassment scandals, this week’s domestic politics was dominated by two unrelated dramas: Boris Johnson’s gaffe in the affair of the Iranian detainee Nazanin Zhagari-Ratcliffe, and Priti Patel’s resignation over unauthorized meetings with Israeli officials.  Jeremy Corbyn has called for Boris Johnson to resign this morning, for “shaming the nation”.  Theresa May continues to preside as leader of the Conservative Party, but on shifting sands.

Michael Fallon

Rewinding back a week or two, the first major casualty of the sexual harassment crisis was Michael Fallon.  It seemed to me that for the period of his tenure as Secretary of State for Defence (2014 – 2017) he was always sitting opposite Andrew Marr in interviews stubbornly defending the indefensible.  His chart equipped him admirably for this, with 5 (half) of his planets in the Fixed signs, and the Sun, Venus and Jupiter in the tactile sign of Taurus.  He seemed like a dependable rock for Theresa May.

It was an allegation of persistent knee-touching by the journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer (a fellow Taurean) which began his undoing, although there were subsequent accusations by others.  Their charts are similar in many ways, but she has a much more flamboyant personality.  How she managed to trigger the scandal for him is a karmic matter:  In their synastry, her Neptune (in this case scandal-mongering) squares exactly his Nodal Axis (karma).

Timing-wise, at the end of October when the scandal surfaced, Jupiter was opposite Michael Fallon’s Jupiter (chickens coming home to roost) and Neptune (scandal) was making three exact aspects to his planets, albeit harmonious ones: he seemed almost relieved to resign.  Julia Hartley-Brewer’s transits were a little more challenging, e.g. Pluto squaring her Nodal Axis, and notably the transit of Opportunity (Uranus trine her Jupiter) enabled her to bring this allegation forward.

Gavin Williamson

The fresh faced Gavin Williamson (previously the Chief Whip) replaced Michael Fallon on 2nd November 2017 as Secretary of State for Defence.  In her up-to-the-minute satirical programme, Tracey Ullman (see last week’s blog) actually managed to include him in a sketch on Friday, making fun of his ignorance of the armed forces.  Williamson is a Cancerian, and keeps his tarantula totem (named Chronus) on his desk (the tarantula featured in the sketch).  I suspect some Scorpio in the mix of his chart on the grounds of his attachment to the creature, though I don’t have a birth time for him.  He is a bit of a maverick, with Sun exactly trine Uranus, which may account for his sudden rise.  Uranus in Scorpio is also conjunct his North Node, and this may be connected with his karmic mission.  He has a strong desire to change things, and enjoys taking people by surprise.  Rowena Mason, writing in the Guardian, said: “Gavin Williamson has often been likened to Francis Urquhart, the ruthless parliamentary enforcer in Westminster TV drama House of Cards”.  At the Conservative conference he stated: “I don’t very much believe in the stick, but it’s amazing what can be achieved with a sharpened carrot”.  He has a reputation for slipperiness, and that may be connected with his close natal Mercury-Neptune opposition.  He notably helped Theresa May in her campaign to become leader, and assisted the government’s deal with the DUP which enabled her to retain power after the election she called.  Interestingly, in his relationship with Theresa May, his Pluto (power) is exactly conjunct her Sun.  It is always interesting to look at the charts of replacements in relation to those they replace, and Williamson’s Pluto is also conjunct Michael Fallon’s Saturn, and his Mars square exactly Fallon’s Sun.  The power of his Pluto in those relationships also points to a heavy emphasis of Scorpio in his chart.

Priti Patel

Priti Patel is an individualistic, uncompromising Aries, who was the poster girl for the Brexit campaign.  For reasons which are as yet unknown, she met privately with Israeli officials over the last few months, without official endorsement, and Theresa May has had to lean on her to resign this week.  With 6 Cardinal planets, she likes to lead, but with 0 Water planets she can be unemotional.  She is a gambler by nature (Sun square Jupiter), but this was one gamble too many.  An interesting feature of her chart is Mercury exactly conjunct Chiron in Aries: a mind suited to problem-solving, but unusual in its processes.  Thus many this week regarded her jaw dropping actions with puzzlement: “What could she have been thinking?” was a question in many minds, as in the Brexit campaign when it was a question often in the minds of Remainers.  Nevertheless, she says she has received much support, and seems popular within her party, and has kept smiling.  Some have said she has ambitions for the top job.  Her chart has many aspects, and her Mercury also has a square to Jupiter (likes to travel) and an opposition with Uranus (not afraid to be controversial).

A transit which has dominated her chart over the last year, and which was exact when she took office as Secretary of State for International Development (14th July 2016) and again exact when she took her holiday in Israel in August, is Pluto square her Uranus, encouraging her Inner Rebel on a self-destructive path.  It was on this holiday that her most daring act occurred:  meeting Israeli armed forces at the Golan Heights (occupied territories) and offering them financial aid for their medical work with Syrian refugees.  In the relationship of her chart to Israel’s, we find a personal bond of her Venus conjunct its Sun.  Its Pluto trines exactly her Mercury/Chiron conjunction.  Though we can see an intensity of relationship here, we still do not know its motive or source.  This week Pluto was still exactly square her Uranus – it is a deep and lengthy process.  But Jupiter is also sextile her Jupiter, and shows that something is keeping her upbeat.

Penny Mordaunt

Her replacement, Penny Mordaunt, is a different kettle of fish, with Venus, the Sun, the Moon and Mercury in the sign of Pisces (having appeared in the TV programme Splash).  She also has a karmic mission as a political warrior, in her Mars exactly conjunct North Node in Capricorn.  This conjunction sextiles her Sun exactly, emphasizing its power and purpose.  There could be a great deal of subtlety and flexibility in the way she operates (6 planets in Mutable signs), but she can also be strident (with the strong Mars).  She certainly has a love of power (Pluto closely trine Jupiter).  Her Nodal Axis also squares her Chiron exactly, so is used to dealing with crisis.  She is definitely one to watch.  Like her predecessor, she is a Brexiteer.

Boris Johnson

In one of his most damaging and horrifying gaffes in a long history of gaffes, Boris Johnson has endangered the life of a British citizen Nazanin Zhagari-Ratcliffe, who is being held in Iran after visiting relatives there to introduce them to her child.  In a casual remark, he stated that the purpose of her visit was to train journalists, and this statement may double her sentence.  He then made a half-hearted retraction in parliament, which went nowhere near a restoration of the situation.  Her future currently hangs in the balance.  Is this the gaffe too far which will unseat Boris?  His erstwhile enemy Michael Gove appeared on the Andrew Marr sofa this morning defending him.  Neptune is opposing his Pluto at the moment, which is a chaotic mindset.  Jupiter was trine his natal Saturn when he made the gaffe (1st November), which would normally make a person more upbeat: in Boris’s case it made him more careless and arrogant.  At the time of the gaffe, Neptune was opposing Nazanin’s natal Mercury, entrenching her incarceration.  At the time she was originally detained in Iran, Jupiter was square her Neptune (idealogical confusion), Saturn was on her Neptune, and Neptune opposite her Mercury (incarceration).  When she was sentenced a few months later, Saturn squared her natal Mercury (depression) and Pluto was square her Pluto (disempowerment). In her synastry with Boris, his Pluto (drama) is on her Mercury (causing additional mental strain).  His Uranus is also conjunct her Saturn (shock, horror!).  They also have opposed Saturns.  There is also a lively energy between them, in her Mars trine his Sun and His Mars sextile her Jupiter, which might help.  Can this crisis be brought back from the brink, and can he save her and his career?  Boris is meeting her husband soon, and there is talk that they may travel to Iran together.

Aspects

There are two contrasting aspects tomorrow: One in the morning (Venus conjunct Jupiter) and one in the evening (Mercury square Neptune) in the U.K.

Venus conjunct Jupiter brings a jubilant atmosphere, and is one of the most celebratory aspects in the annual round.  Perhaps you are celebrating, or even just experiencing a feeling of well-being.

The evening’s Mercury-Neptune square brings less clarity and certainty.  You may feel you have lost your way, or come across someone who has lost their way.  It is a complicated aspect for travellers.  Confusion and fogginess may be the prevailing influence.  It is not a good aspect for making decisions, for instance.  Wait for a better moment, if a decision is pressing.

Wait, if possible, until Thursday (16th), for the aspects perk up greatly and the rest of the week seems much more plain sailing.  We have two trines on Thursday, and may be winning in more than one area of our lives.  First, Venus trines Neptune, so perfect love is the order of the day.  You can continue from the theme of unconditional love from Monday and add an even more spiritual dimension.  It is an inspired day for the Arts, and especially dance.

This is followed by a trine between the Sun and Chiron, excellent for healing initiatives.  Healing through creativity is especially favoured, as is Creativity through healing.  It is a good day to encourage your Inner Healer to show what it has to offer.  So often we are shy in allowing it to emerge and shine, unless we have an overzealous Inner Rescuer, in which case we may need to practise restraint and subtlety!

Friday (17th) continues the positive theme, with Mercury sextile Mars.  This is much more of a doing aspect than a being aspect.  You can get productive, increase your running and cycling speeds, sharpen your mind, and communicate with directness, under this aspect.  This aspect is busy, busy, busy!

We are working our way this week to a New Moon in Scorpio at 26 degrees of that sign on Saturday (18th).  Therefore we may be clearing out some clutter during the course of the week, to enable a clear space to honour our intentions and plans for the next month.  New Moon in Scorpio is one of the most intense New Moons of the year, and one of the most powerful, as the inner drive comes from the deepest emotions, sometimes those we are unaware of consciously. In cultivating our Inner Scorpion power, it is a good idea to ensure that in our thoughts and actions we are not harming anyone, including ourselves.  The Hindu concept of Ahimsa (harmlessness) is the bottom line for a karma carefree New Moon.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – a foundation of love, and mental confusion
• Thursday – artistic and musical inspiration, and healing initiatives
• Friday – productive and brisk
• Saturday – new beginning

Tracey Ullman

I watch the news as diligently as the next person, and only switch off from it as a last resort.  I feel the need to be informed, to a degree, and to know where to send healing thoughts.  This week, as the allegations of sexual harassment in Westminster piled up (and much as I applaud the outing of the perpetrators), I began to long for some good news, or even some laughter (I was on the verge of buying “Private Eye”).  This ability to laugh at the world of politics was provided on Friday evening by the outstandingly gifted Tracey Ullman whose impressions and inspired scripts had me nearly falling off the sofa.

The evening’s viewing (and I apologize for two television blogs in a row) started in a surreal way, watching Celebrity Gogglebox.  The actual Jeremy Corbyn, Liam Gallagher and Sharon and Ozzy Osborne were watching programmes I had seen this week (University Challenge and Strictly) or half seen (Nigella Lawson’s “At My Table”).  Then I turned over to watch Tracey impersonating Jeremy Corbyn on Gogglebox watching television.  Sheer genius.

I have been sold on her portrayals of Angela Merkel and Nicola Sturgeon in previous series, and can’t get enough of them.  This week Tracey’s Angela Merkel was beguiled into a trade treaty with Emmanuel Macron.  And Tracey is surrounded by talent, too: A John McDonnell watching television with Jeremy Corbyn was a convincing look and sound-a-like, as was the Mhairi Black she has as a sidekick to her Nicola Sturgeon.  Tracey’s super-capable Clare Balding was a revelation, completely out of the blue!

Birth Chart

What intimations of such comedy genius are shown in a birth chart?  Surely not Sun conjunct Saturn in Capricorn, with the Moon also in Capricorn?  But that is what she has in her chart.  It’s the ability to look grimly at political reality and extract the humour, presumably.  If she did not look at it so closely with such an eye for detail, she would not be able to create such exquisite observational humour.  Much more understandable in terms of what she does is her triple conjunction of Mercury, Jupiter and Mars in Sagittarius trine Uranus (quick humour and sharp wit with the capacity to surprise, topically produced in one week, in her programme titled “Tracey breaks the News”).  She says of her childhood “our defence against hardship was having a great sense of humour”.

History

I was heartbroken when she moved to America in 1985, having provided us with great entertainment with Lenny Henry and David Copperfield in “Three of a Kind” (and she had also found success in singing).  But the U.S.A. was where her destiny led her (her success there  was predicted by a clairvoyant when she was young).  She married producer Allan McKeown in 1983, and moved with him to the U.S. where she eventually created “The Tracey Ullman Show” which was highly successful. We did view it here in the U.K. for a while, and I remember the birth of The Simpsons, which started out as an interlude on that show. Neptune was on her Sun at the debut of that show and sextile her Neptune – among other things, Neptune represents impressions, which are one of her major talents.  Ruby Wax has said of her: “She’s just brilliant–a bloodsucker of personalities. You walk away, and she’s taken a little bit of your brain.”  Could it be that she channels (Neptune) live characters?

Marriage

Tracey found personal happiness with Allan in America, and they had two children together.  Her Mars and Jupiter were sextile his Jupiter, an upbeat combination.  They had married under a transit of excitement (Mars sextile her Uranus) and one of healing (Jupiter trine her Chiron).

Her father had died when she was 6 years old, and Allan too was to die at a relatively young age of 67. At Allan’s death Uranus was squaring Tracey’s conjunction of Sun and Saturn, and it proved to be a marked change (Uranus) in her life, as she moved back to the U.K.

Back to the U.K.

Her new show in the U.K. first aired on 9th January 2016, with Neptune sextile her natal Sun and trine her natal Neptune (again a triumph for Neptune and Impressions). We do not have her birth time, but in her natal chart her Sun/Saturn is exactly sextile Neptune.  So the inspirational planet Neptune is a key planet for her, and I wonder therefore if she has its sign Pisces rising. She has gone from strength to strength with the new format, and continues to delight, with regular impressions she has kept in the mix such as Camilla, and new ones she has created such as Clare Balding.

So thank you, Tracey, for being the answer to a prayer this week!

Aspects

It’s a sunny morning here in Norfolk, a fine start to the week, just as Mercury is preparing to leave Scorpio and enter Sagittarius this evening.  Mercury in Scorpio has provided a great deal of talk of sexual harassment since the exposure of Harvey Weinstein (no pun intended), which I wrote about on 15th October.  The mental focus from tonight and lasting until the second week in January will be wider, and where applied to sexual harassment will tend to look at the wider implications rather than just the initial revelations: impact on society, male-female relations going forward, philosophical considerations, and the law and lawsuits, all domains of Sagittarius.

In our own lives, we may be able to dream further, take the longer view, look forward more to a brighter future, despite the dire news.  It is a matter of hope that society will be much better off now that it has become easier to talk about the issues of sexual harassment, power abuse and male domination etc.  Mercury in Scorpio focuses on the secrets, and Mercury in Sagittarius makes it easier to talk more honestly and openly.  The Harvey Weinstein watershed came just as Jupiter was about to go into the sign of Scorpio (sexuality), when it was just at the end of working through Libra (relationships), so highlighted the need to heal a fundamental issue about relationships.  So Jupiter has only just started its work in Scorpio (it stays a year in one sign) and looks to have a healthy effect on our lives.  In November 2018 Jupiter will move into Sagittarius, and so in experiencing Mercury in Sagittarius at this time we will be having a foretaste of what Jupiter in Sagittarius will be able to do for us.  Mercury in Sagittarius is a good placing for our general morale.

There’s another change of planetary sign on Tuesday (7th) when Venus enters Scorpio. Whereas Mercury is about what we focus on mentally, Venus is about where our feelings are.  So in our feelings, and examination of relationships, we are going from Venus in Libra (which is about love and relationship) to a deeper examination, e.g. what experiences we have had in the realm of sexuality, psychology, and the more intimate aspects of relating.  What do we feel about it all, and where do we want to take our emotional lives now, especially now that there is an opportunity for change in our society?  Venus is only staying a short while in Scorpio, until 1st December, so this intensive investigation period of love and feelings is a window of opportunity, before Venus enters the more expansive sign of Sagittarius.

Thursday (9th) brings a meaty aspect we can really do something with, Sun sextile Pluto!  Important concerns can come to deep resolution around this time, especially if we have been consciously working on our psychology.  This is an important stepping stone towards Saturday’s major aspect.  Power is one of the issues we can work on profitably at this time, i.e. the correct use of power, and the correct balance of power in relation to others.  If you are in command of yourself, own your power and take responsibility, then all should flow well in relation to others.

The nub of the week comes right at the end, on Saturday (11th), with a trine between Saturn and Uranus, the co-operation between tradition and innovation.  This trine is as constructive as last week’s “big” aspect of Saturn square Chiron was difficult to negotiate.  It may not feel particularly joyful or carefree, but it may feel as though some hard work during the past few months has paid off.  The aspect last appeared in the middle of May this year, for your diary referencing.  Engineering and social projects are especially favoured.  This aspect could be especially significant for Capricorns and Aquarians.

On the same day the Nodal Axis squares the Sun, bringing power issues within groups to the fore.  This may be linked with the action of Saturn and Uranus which among other things represents wide scale initiatives in connection with administration and groups.  The positioning of the Nodal Axis will ensure karmic justice within the structure of projects and power balances, though there may be a few personality clashes (you can’t always please everyone).

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a wider view
• Tuesday – a deeper feeling
• Thursday – a more significant accomplishment
• Saturday – the most important day