Theresa May alliance with the D.U.P

This has been a long week in politics, and few have foreseen the karmic drama resulting from this election: the ringing endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn, and a hung parliament being managed by a diminished Theresa May, self-sabotaged, allying with a regressive Irish party.  I would have loved to change the subject this week, but the soap opera continues…

A Review of her transits

How do her transits stand today, in the middle of trying to achieve a very unpopular and precarious alliance?

Saturn is trine her Venus, set to peak in the next few days.  Who knows how long she can stay as leader of the Conservative Party?  The next couple of days are crucial.  As I mentioned last week, Saturn trine natal Venus is the transit which took Ed Balls out of politics.  But this transit could nevertheless be constructive in finding herself a perch for continuing in her role.

Neptune is conjunct her Mars.  In calling the election, she was following her gut instincts, and this transit represents that.  But, as we have seen, this has also carried a massive miscalculation or delusion about how the public see her.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

D.U.P.

The Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland were projected to receive 8 seats in the exit polls on Thursday night.  If they had received fewer seats, the course of history may have been different.  As it is, they obtained 10 seats, 2 more than projected, and have now become the kingmakers for the Conservative Party.  However, their outlook and values are looked upon in horror by many: opposition to gay marriage, anti-abortion stance, and climate denial. Therefore there is a groundswell of opinion which sees the very existence of this alliance as amoral.  And who knows what cost will be extracted by the D.U.P. in return for this life-saving act?

Their current leader, Arlene Foster, was recently implicated in an overspending scandal in connection with the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.  But for the moment she is the woman Theresa May is dealing with.  She is a Cancerian, born on a New Moon in Cancer, so very patriotic.  Additionally, she has Mercury and Mars in that sign.  She has half her planets in Water, so is very emotional.  She has a worryingly difficult Uranus, making her unpredictable and rebellious: Uranus square to the Sun, Moon and Mercury, and opposite Chiron.  This would make her very unreliable as one to do business with.  Pluto trine Saturn gives her strength and power.

The Synastry with Theresa May, however much Theresa wants to portray them as a natural friendship, is not carefree.  Theresa May’s Saturn is conjunct Arlene Foster’s Neptune, so there could be much unspoken distrust and paranoia between them.  Arlene’s Neptune sextiles Theresa’s Mercury, so Theresa’s practical mental issues may sometimes coincide with Arlene’s ideals.  They both want to press ahead with Brexit, for instance.

What transits have propelled Arlene into this situation? Pluto is trine her natal Saturn at the moment, strengthening that powerful natal Pluto-Saturn trine.  Mars is square to her natal Uranus, so the turn of events may have taken her as much by surprise as anyone.  The Nodal Axis is square her Neptune, putting a karmic focus on her spiritual values.  Chiron trines her natal Neptune, challenging her to bring out some refinement in her outlook.  Saturn squares her Pluto, bringing some serious responsibilities and decisions.

Brexit

Theresa cannot afford to drop the ball and lose the momentum of Brexit, having triggered Article 50 in March.  She means Brexit.  The talks were due to start 11 days after the election.

Theresa’s transits on 20th June reveal the approach of retrograde Pluto to her natal Jupiter, which peaks on 17th July.  If she can overcome her current hurdles, she may revisit some of her former power around that time (17th July), and her Brexit plans may come more into focus.  However, this retrograde revisiting may not necessarily work in her favour, and she may even have left office by then.

However, if we look upon the triggering of Brexit as the Brexit chart, the transits to that chart around 20th June are favourable to some momentum: Uranus on its Mercury, North Node trine its Mercury, Neptune sextile its Mars, Uranus trine its Saturn, North Node trine its Saturn, and Saturn trine its Uranus.  A power tussle is revealed though, in the shape of Pluto square its Jupiter.

The transits to the 1922 U.K. chart on 20th June are not particularly encouraging: Neptune square its Sun (Uncertainty), the South Node on its Mars (karmic conflict), and Pluto square its Saturn (more struggle).  But there is some dynamism: Uranus sextile its Mars (movement) and Mars trine its Uranus (more movement).

Is Boris waiting to take over?

George Osborne said on the Andrew Marr couch this morning that Boris was always rumoured to be wanting to prepare a coup, and no more now than usual.  The rumours will persist.  His current transits show Uranus sextile his Sun (definitely a taking-over mentality!), Chiron square his Venus (going through personal changes), and Mars trine Saturn (readiness for action).  But this may remain all on the mental plane.  Many consider him too undiplomatic (despite remaining as Foreign Secretary) to head a government responsible for processing Brexit.

A review of Jeremy’s transits

I was hoping for a hung parliament, and though Jeremy Corbyn’s transits did not indicate a win, he has done well, and won over some of his detractors.  Chiron is currently square his Uranus, and Jupiter is on his Neptune.  I wrote on 23rd April:

“Going forward to the big Election day, Pluto is still trine Corbyn’s Mars (he will give his all), but Chiron will be square his Uranus (ultimate solutions may be lacking), though Jupiter will be on his Neptune (he will feel he has been true to himself).”

Looking at this with the benefit of hindsight, the Pluto trine to his Mars showed up in his strength and stamina, and Jupiter on his Neptune gave him that extra faith and optimism.  I have never seen him as chipper as in the Andrew Marr hotseat this morning!

The Pluto trine to his Mars comes back in full force on 22nd January (could there be another election at that time?).  The troublesome Chiron square to his Neptune comes into full force at the beginning of April 2018 – will he be trying to steer Brexit by then?

Aspects

The first aspect occurs on Tuesday (13th), and a bright and breezy one it is: Mercury trine Jupiter.  It enables an expansive mental outlook, a broadening of philosophy and enjoyable journeys.  You can afford to let your mind roam to the possibilities of summer holidays, university courses, and hopes for the future.

The following day, Wednesday 14th, may reveal loopholes or illusions in your thinking, with Mercury square Neptune.  It is still important to dream big on Tuesday, so that you have more to work with on Wednesday, and don’t get too bogged down on what doesn’t seem possible.  Journeys could be complicated, however.

Thursday (15th) could bring a sense of defeatism however, with Sun opposite Saturn.  Again, I emphasize the importance of dreaming big on Tuesday, so that you can still see the higher picture if you encounter obstacles on Thursday.  Always look on the bright side of life.

There may be more complications on Friday (16th), when Neptune is stationary prior to turning retrograde.  You may think that a spiritual path is settled, when something shows you the merits of another philosophy, which may be equal and opposite.  You may need to incorporate more angles of the truth into your view of life.  Perhaps you need to look more compassionately towards those you have been criticizing.

The Sun also sextiles the North Node on Friday, which is a happier prospect, and enough to lift the end of the week.  You can give expression to your creativity in your newly balanced spiritual outlook, having dealt with some illusions.  Power will be more balanced, too.  Perhaps there may be some resolution for the government in their search for allies who will help them endure a little longer.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – very buoyant
• Wednesday – woolly-headed
• Thursday – slow
• Friday – spiritual challenges, but karmic progress

London Bridge Terrorism Attack

It is another heavy hearted day for the U.K. and our capital London.  At 10.08 pm last night, a white van drove over London Bridge, killing and maiming pedestrians.  Then three men from the van made their way to nearby Borough Market, and wove their way in and out of coffee bars and pubs, stabbing innocent people on a night out in London.  In all so far, 7 people have been killed and 48 injured.  It is so heartbreaking and unfathomable: no matter how many times politicians make speeches about the “cowards” who do these things, and their aims of creating division and hatred, we still do not really understand the psychology of the perpetrators.  What we do understand, as we learned again only just recently in the Manchester bombing, is the capacity for people to come together and help each other in these circumstances, and the bravery and efficiency and selflessness of the emergency services that respond.  Awesomely, we are told that within 8 minutes of this latest attack being reported, not only had the emergency services begun their work in earnest, but the three terrorists had been shot dead.

On a personal note, I was unfamiliar with this part of London, but a year and a half ago we took a trip there with some dear friends, had a meal in the Shard, then wandered around Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral.  It was so beautiful there, and we had such a lovely day, it seems unbelievable to contemplate what has happened there.

This election week (see earlier blog) is sobering enough, without this catastrophe, and I will only take a very brief look at its astrological picture.  With the uncovering of this new network of individuals, hard on the heels of that of the Manchester incident and its arrests, more astrological information may emerge.

At the time of the attack, we were just emerging from a birthday celebration in Norfolk, and looked up at the sky to see the beautiful conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter.  Minutes later, the tragedy was reported on the news.  It seems so unlikely that something like that would happen under such a touching celestial picture.

But Saturn was on an Ascendant in Sagittarius at the Galactic Centre, which did indicate the serious nature of that event.  Mars was opposing the Ascendant and Saturn.  Venus was conjunct Uranus in 5th House, depicting the people socializing in their cafes and pubs.  Could it be, I wonder that the proximity of this conjunction to the destructive asteroid Eris was the deciding astrological factor?  Also, Friday’s exact square of Mars and Chiron was on the angles of this chart, highlighting pain and crisis.

I’m just looking at the transits to the charts of the UK and London, and I have three charts for each.  For London (1824) Saturn squares its Sun (sorrow), and Pluto trines its Saturn (a sobering event).  For London (1965) Neptune opposes its Pluto (chaos), Pluto sextiles its Neptune (deep sensitivity) and Pluto sextiles its Chiron (potential for healing).  For London (1215) Mars squares its Uranus (violence) and Pluto trines its Sun (soul searching).

For the UK Chart (1922) Jupiter opposes its Chiron (a healing crisis and challenge), Saturn square its Nodal Axis (a very karmic indication), Uranus sextiles its Mars (the unexpected) and Neptune squares its Sun (confusion). For UK Chart (1801) Jupiter on its South Node highlights past karma, and Pluto sextiles its Neptune (deep sensitivity).  There is no discernible effect on the 1066 chart.

The response to the Manchester tragedy depended a great deal on its cohesion and identity as a City, and that was quite a responsibility for the leadership of the newly elected Mayor Andy Burnham.  His main transit for the Manchester Arena bombing was Neptune on his South Node (past karma and compassion) requiring great sensitivity from him.  Manchester have pulled together magnificently, and tonight are holding a charity concert to honour the victims.  Ariana Grande herself is taking part.  Some have criticized her, saying it is too soon, but I think it is a courageous way to fight back after such a tragedy.  She visited young victims in hospital yesterday.

London is a vaster entity, and the Mayor Sadiq Khan has had two similar incidents within a few months, the Westminster Bridge attack having occurred in March.  Again, I feel he has been a great Mayor, much more hands on than his predecessors, and inclusive of all races and religions in his approach.  He is made of the statesmanlike material so many politicians are lacking these days.  At the time of the Westminster attack Mars was opposite his Jupiter (a threat), Saturn was square his Pluto (responsibility in a tragedy).  Last night Chiron was trine his natal Neptune (a crisis in healing and sensitivity), and he was in evidence straightaway appealing for calm and vigilance.

Aspects

This afternoon, Mars enters Cancer, which represents an energetic shift from a mental and analytical mode, to that of feeling and protectiveness.  Mars stays in Cancer until 20th July, so it is a good time to nurture those you love and foster family feeling.

Tomorrow Mercury squares the Nodal Axis, and you’ll be questioning the laws of karma, why things happen, the roles of fate and free will, and the like.  It is an important day for dialogue, but that may include some quarrelling, as people get to grips with the issues of the day.  You may re-visit old friends, in order to understand the past.

Mercury also sextiles Chiron, and this can balance conventional medicine and alternative methods; co-operation may be needed.  Healing solutions will be sought, and to some extent found.

On Tuesday (6th) Uranus trines the North Node, and this can bring unusual karma and ingenious solutions to long standing patterns.  It is a good aspect for group activity, especially where there is a karmic element to the proceedings.

Two more planets change signs that day: Venus enters Taurus, and Mercury enters Gemini.  There may be a sense of ease due to the fact that Venus is entering its own sign, and Mercury is also entering its own sign.  Venus in its home sign allows a slower, more placid pace of life, and cultivates gardening, art, music and financial interests.  Mercury in its home sign allows the intellect to flourish freely, allows a spirit of enquiry, teaching and learning.  It may help students to clear their minds during exams, for instance.

There is a Full Moon in Sagittarius on Friday (9th), around lunchtime.  This may put the emphasis on travel or education, but with some emotional fullness.  Michael Portillo on some exotic train somewhere may be wearing florid colours…Some President somewhere may be doing something outrageous…The challenge with this Full Moon is to think globally, expand your consciousness, and to maintain a positive attitude.

It is of course the day of the results of the UK General Election, and though for some that may be a parochial matter, the Sagittarian Full Moon is about how it affects our international position.

Soon after that, before lunch has been digested, Jupiter is Stationary, prior to turning direct at 13 degrees Libra.  There may be a change of mood, and an attitude of getting on with things.  Progress has to be made, one way or another, regardless on which side of the political divide you stand.  It is a time when we will be taking a deep breath, and moving forward with our lives.

In the afternoon, Venus sextiles Mars, and having campaigned diligently you may turn to the pleasures in life and of the season.  Your heart energy may be renewed in some way, be it in friendship, or in the enjoyment of nature.  It could also be lucky for some lovers.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – feeling and protectiveness
• Tomorrow – questioning the laws of karma, finding healing solutions
• Tuesday – unusual karmic patterns, comfortable in heart and mind
• Friday – high emotion, moving forward, smelling the flowers

“At 21.59 and 59 seconds on 7 May 2015, anything seemed possible.  Outside of opening exam results, or waiting on news from a doctor, there aren’t too many moments in life where your whole future hangs on what you’re about to see or hear… I thought there was a chance I’d be delivering Britain’s next budget. A second later, my political career was over”

~ Ed Balls

Lives will be changed overnight on the 8th and 9th June this year.  Although I wrote about the astrological prospects on 23rd April, the astrological picture has not changed.  But the relative positions of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have shifted.  At the time of the council elections, Labour and Jeremy Corbyn’s lack of popularity justified Theresa May’s calling of an election.  But since then, his position has strengthened, the hollowness of Theresa May’s policies and promises have become more transparent, and the heart and conscience of Jeremy Corbyn’s idealism has begun to appeal to more people, especially the younger generation.  Much may depend on their turnout.

The media, newspapers and broadcasters, have continued to play games, and broadly exhibited their right wing bias.  Even the reporting of narrowing polls made more of by the right wing press may be a ploy to frighten people into toeing the line.

Much of what I write as we stand on the brink of our future reality, be it more of the same, worse, or an improvement, is a re-hash of my earlier blog plus an attempt to fine tune the picture of that moment of change.  With 52% of the population having voted for Brexit, and the Conservatives having taken their brief from UKIP, it still seems most likely that the majority will stay with the Tory government.  The most we Remoaners, and those who wish for a fairer society, can hope for is a hung parliament, realistically.  Apologies to those readers who see things from the other side of the fence.

“They say it’s the hope that kills you.  And for a long time before the 2015 election campaign, I’d almost deliberately stayed pessimistic about whether it was really possible for Labour to win.”

The moment the result is read out, or sometimes a little before, optimism can give way to despair, or pessimism can give way to elation (sometimes the candidates are given the result just before they go on stage, giving them time to compose themselves).  But there is little variation in the astrological picture, especially in relation to the outer planets.  The movement of the Moon and Mercury may give a slight nuance.  The Moon can represent the mood of the electorate.

In fine-tuning the astrological transit picture, I looked at three readings:

The first one, which I call the Hope picture, is 7.30 a.m. on the morning of the election.  Every candidate, and every voter, will be at their maximum state of optimism, unless they are naturally pessimistic.

“Although it was obvious from the exit poll that it was going to be a terrible result for Labour, I hadn’t really computed the local implications.  I was worried for the party, but not yet for myself.”

My second reading is of Midnight between the two days.  Everything is in a state of flux, some results have come in, but all is still to play for, except for in the most extreme of elections.  Most results are not in by then, so there is still some hope, if you are on the side that looks to be losing.

“When the exit poll emerged, it felt like falling into a big black hole.  It wasn’t just that our hopes were dashed, it was that dreadful feeling that everything we thought we knew was wrong.”

My third reading is broadly the Results as far as they have come in at 7.30 a.m. on the day after the election.  This shows pretty much what the result is.

“We went onstage.  I was conscious of not wanting to give the cameras their picture by looking ashen-faced or annoyed.”

Moments when fortunes change drastically, such as that of Ed Balls in 2015 and memorably Michael Portillo in 1997 (I can still see his face now) traditionally would be thought of as the action of Uranus or possibly Pluto (though Pluto can be slow acting sometimes). At the time of Ed Balls’ enforced retirement from politics, Saturn was trine his Venus, and Neptune was sextile his North Node (a more spiritual change of direction). For Michael Portillo, Pluto was the transition: it was exactly opposite his Sun/Jupiter, bringing about the death of his political career, but as we know it was the start of a whole new career travelling the world on the railways (the fulfilment of his natal Mercury conjunct Sun and Jupiter in Gemini).  Of course, many M.Ps will retain their status quo.

Theresa May

Theresa and the Conservative Party did well in the council elections in May.  She was still regarded as a strong hand on the tiller, in her own words “Strong and Stable” government.

from the 23rd April blog:

“Moving forward to the big Election itself, the following day of results shows a Full Moon (polarizing emotions again), but Jupiter turning direct, showing a new intake of breath and more momentum.

Theresa will have Saturn trine her Venus, which could bring her new commitment, and Neptune still on her Mars (so she will still be drawing on her inner inspiration for her action).

The Conservative Party has Jupiter square its Uranus and opposite its Neptune, so there may be new divisions and battle lines drawn.  Saturn will square its Chiron (new headaches), but Neptune sextiles its Pluto (so there will also be new sources of inspiration).  Pluto will still be sextile its Sun (stronger power, perhaps).  For the U.K. (1922 chart) Jupiter opposes its Chiron, so division will still be rife (the Brexiteer versus Remoaner feelings may still be running high), Saturn will be square its Nodal Axis (a grim task ahead and hard work for the prime minister), Uranus sextile its Mars (momentum) and Neptune square the U.K. Sun (more uncertainty).  As much as the election will solve things for some, there will be more frustration it seems.”

I would add that Saturn trine Venus in Ed Balls’ case was the effective ending of his political career!  But transits can vary a great deal in the way they manifest, and a lot can depend on the person’s relationship with the planet Saturn. This transit peaks a couple of days later, around 11th-12th June. Chiron opposes Theresa’s natal Mercury (literally, a headache) around 15th June: if she is elected, it may be the headache of Brexit, the headache of a hung parliament, or the headache of re-arranging her cabinet.

Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn did worse than expected in the council elections, and his transits for the general election are not better, but his polling is becoming much higher, as mentioned.

From the 23rd April blog:

“Going forward to the big Election day, Pluto is still trine Corbyn’s Mars (he will give his all), but Chiron will be square his Uranus (ultimate solutions may be lacking), though Jupiter will be on his Neptune (he will feel he has been true to himself). For the Labour Party (mark 1) Mars opposes its Saturn (stuckness and abrasiveness), but Uranus sextiles its Jupiter (maybe there will be surprising gains in Scotland), disappointment from Saturn opposing its Neptune, and more confusion with Neptune square its Pluto.  The Nodal Axis squares the Jupiter of the second chart, which could be buoyant, but not enough to ensure the success they need, I feel.   It could be that the Brexit issue will completely dominate the result.”

I would add that he’ll feel bright and breezy on the day of the election, with the Sun on his Mercury (which is his ruling planet), and Mercury trine his natal Jupiter.  That trine from Pluto to his Mars, which has given him great strength, is starting to ebb away, unfortunately.  If he loses the election, this does not necessarily mean he will stand down as leader.  Indeed, there were encouraging signs of his “electability” coming through latterly in the campaign.  Pluto is currently retrograde, and forms the exact trine to his Mars next January 22nd (2018).  This could mean a resurgence of purpose for him at that time, and effectiveness in opposition if appropriate. The Chiron squaring his Uranus becomes more problematic next April.

Tim Farron

The results for Tim Farron and the LibDems were reasonable in the council elections, when you consider how bad they were at the last general election; they at least gained some ground.  He will be popular with Remoaners who still cling on to the hope of avoiding Brexit, with his policy of giving the nation another chance to fine tune their decision.

from the 23rd April blog:

“For the main event on 8th June, Neptune will be sextile Tim Farron’s Mercury, so he will be more focussed than in the local elections, his antennae will be sensitive.  Uranus opposes his Jupiter on that day, which can bring shock or upset, but the North Node sextiles his Jupiter, so in some areas he will have the credit due to him.  Chiron will be trine his Neptune, and so he will be able to rise above the smaller picture in some ways, and may even bring about some healing, e.g. to the reputation of the LibDems.  More disappointment shows up in Saturn squaring his Pluto, which sounds overall as though it bears defeat.  But that of course depends on expectation.”

I would add that the Neptune to Mercury transit, though exact, peaked late May, then with Neptune retrograde and moving again forward returns to the exactness at the beginning of July.  This may refer to a sensitive recalibration of his relationship with his party.  His transits (4 major ones) are remarkably similar to those of Nicola Sturgeon, born two months after him in the same year.  Interestingly, for the special Question Time with David Dimbleby today (Sunday 4th June) the Uranus opposition to Jupiter is exact: an opportunity to showcase his wares, and Nicola Sturgeon/SNP coincidentally appears on the same programme showcasing her wares. The Mean North Node gives him a karmic blessing to his Jupiter on 21st/22nd June, though the True North Node transit peaks just before the election (6/7th June).  Something may boost his morale just before the election. Something triggers excitement around the midnight time frame with Mercury trine his Uranus.  But reality or depression sinks in 12-13th June with Saturn exactly square his Pluto, but Chiron trines his Neptune exactly next April.

[See and compare transits for Nicola Sturgeon]

Paul Nuttall

UKIP fared very badly in the local elections.  With their many changes of leadership, their loss of Nigel Farage, and their main aim fulfilled in the Brexit decision, they have little raison d’etre, but still they try.  They have allowed some negative emotional undercurrents to surface in our society. As with the European referendum, there may be many closet UKIP voters who do not want to admit their leanings, for fear of being seen as racist.  This would apply to a few Tory voters as well, and it means that they are below the radar of the opinion polls.

from 23rd April blog:

“For the main election, Pluto conjuncts his Venus, which could be personally damaging, Neptune squares his Neptune (disillusioning), but on the plus side Jupiter (his ruling planet) sextile his Neptune (keeping his faith) and conjuncts his Pluto (he may get a seat if he chooses his location well – he says he will be selecting a location this week).  The performance of UKIP in the election may be quite complex, with Pluto on its Uranus and Neptune.”

I would add that Paul will start election day in stoical mood, with the Sun sextile his natal Saturn.  Some of his transits peaked during the election campaign, so there may be a feeling of anti-climax, or going off the boil.

Caroline Lucas

from 23rd April blog:

“That stalwart for the environment Caroline Lucas, joint leader of the Green Party, wrote a brilliant account of her first five years in parliament (“Honorable Friends?”) and continues to uphold the need to consider the environment, policies which seem to be low down in the priorities of other parties.

The transits for the General Election are not enormously encouraging for  Sagittarian Caroline, though a friendly sextile from Chiron to her Venus ensures that she is able to uphold her central message about the Earth.”

I would add that on the day of the election, she starts out with the Sun opposite her Sun (and on her Earth), and Mercury opposite her Mercury.  As I believe she is an evolved Soul, she will start out balanced and grounded with these transits.  The sextile of Chiron to her Venus is pretty close right now, but will soon retrograde and return to be in exact aspect late March of next year, when she may make headway on an environmental issue.  Hopefully she will retain her seat in Brighton.

from 23rd April blog:

“For her Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley the North Node will sextile his Mercury, so he will be prominent in campaigning and the public will get to know him better.  But there are no stand out transits for him.”

I would add that the main transit for Jonathan Bartley,  North Node sextile his Mercury, will have just passed (both for the True Node and Mean Node reading), so his main purpose will have been to strengthen the profile of the Green Party during electioneering, in this period.  On 27th June, Uranus opposes his natal Mercury, so he may be prompted to speak out and even be controversial in getting the Green message out.

Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party did reasonably well in the council elections, at least there were no major upsets recorded.

from 23rd April blog:

“Uranus squares her Sun at Election time, which could bring a huge upset, e.g. she may well lose some ground.  Uranus also opposes her Jupiter, so her hopes may also be bruised.  The Nodal Axis squares her Neptune, which is disillusioning, and Saturn squares her Pluto, which is disappointing.  She is a plucky lady, so may pick herself up and dust herself down, but certainly the planets are not very supportive at the crucial time, and she may have a lot of thinking to do.”

As mentioned earlier, her transits are remarkably similar to Tim Farron’s (who was born a couple of months before her in the same year), with slight time variations.  Of course their political positions are different, and the state of their parties.  But Tim was not leader of his party at the last election, so this is a new scenario for him.  By the time of the election, the Uranus square to Nicola’s Sun is starting to ease, so although she will have found campaigning a bit of a strain, the shock value of Uranus may not sting so much at election time.  The Uranus opposition to her Jupiter is also easing, as it occurred two days ago.  The North Node sextile to her Jupiter is approaching more closely (22nd-23rd June, a good time for re-organizations within her party).  Mercury trines her natal Uranus on results day, so there may be some excitement, and some of the surprise results may actually be in her favour.  Mercury will also be squaring her Nodal Axis, so she may have some karmic reckoning to do, such as balancing out input into policies such as education which may have suffered from a concentration on electioneering and the issue of Independence.  The very difficult transit of Saturn squaring her Pluto peaks right before the election, on the evening of 6th.  She may even feel some relief this phase is over, whereas Tim faces this difficult square a few days after the election.

Brexit Leaders

I will briefly look at the fortunes of the Brexit leaders from the Conservative Party (David Davis) and the Labour Party (Keir Starmer):

At the outset of Election Day, David Davis will feel engaged with the issues and the public.  He’ll be in warrior mode with Mars sextile his North Node.  The major transits do not look lifechanging for him, so it could well be business as usual for him.  At the end of June Chiron squares his Uranus, so he may face tough Brexit negotiations.

For rising star Keir Starmer, Labour Brexit spokesman, Saturn sextiles his natal Venus.  He is a steady hand on the tiller, and will approach the election sensibly.  Neither do his transits look lifechanging, so he will probably just continue serving and supporting the causes he believes in, and taking the government to task on the Brexit process.

There is a weird conspiracy theory out there that Theresa May is trying to sabotage her own campaign because Brexit is a poisoned chalice.  But it may be that because this is Conservative karma (Cameron’s fear of UKIP), the Conservatives have to see Brexit through.

Quotations from “Speaking Out” by Ed Balls, 2016

Caitlyn Jenner

 “Secrets of My Life”, written with Buzz Bissinger

 Caitlyn Jenner has written an autobiography, based around her lifelong gender dysphoria, and how she felt she was living a lie for most of her life.  She does not worry about the use of pronouns in referring to her, so I will generally be referring to Bruce Jenner as “he” and Caitlyn as “she”.  Bruce Jenner broke world records in athletics at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, as ironically the epitome of masculine strength.  But even as a young child, he felt himself to be a female in his core, and that led to inner conflict and secretive behaviours throughout his life.  However, he married three times and each marriage produced two children.  In later years, he helped to bring up the four children which Kris Kardashian brought to his third marriage, and took part in the long running television series Keeping up with the Kardashians.  But since 2015 he has finally addressed his gender issues, and transitioned from male to female.  Now writing about her life, Caitlyn emphasizes the role that her parenting has played in her life, and her work in supporting the LGBTQ community.  In past life therapy, gender dysphoria is often a result of a preferred sex, or a run of lifetimes in the opposite sex, though we tend to round out the soul balancing sexual roles.  The sex of the next life is known pre-birth, though it may not be an ideal choice, and other factors may be more important for the soul’s mission.  Or the change of sex may be the main theme of the life, especially in these times when it is becoming much more common.  Neptune exactly conjunct the South Node in the 12th House of secrets describes a major conundrum brought through from a past life.

Birth Chart

The most striking thing about Bruce’s chart at birth is the Sun on the Ascendant in Scorpio, an emphasis on the sexual nature, and also The Sportsman, and the one who loves the limelight.  You can see the deep set of the eyes from Scorpio rising.  The Sun square Moon may indicate a split in the psyche, or a conflict between the male and female sides.  The Sun sextile Mars is clearly The Athlete, and also shows up the love of fast cars.  The Sun trines exactly Uranus, so there is also The Rebel Archetype, one who embraces change.

There was also a lifelong struggle with dyslexia, probably shown in the chart by Mercury conjunct Neptune and the South Node, and square Jupiter.  Thus the book had to be co-written.  Dyslexia too was not well known in the mid-20th Century.  The actress Susan Hampshire was diagnosed in 1967 and was one of the first to publicize the condition.

Though his sexual challenges often drove him to despair (he came close to transitioning in the 1980s, even taking hormone therapy), he describes a basic cheerfulness (“I am optimistic because I am always optimistic”), and this is clearly seen in a triple conjunction of Moon/Jupiter/Part of Fortune in 3rd House of mental attitude.

Biography

The autobiography starts with detailing an early obsession in childhood with his mother’s wardrobe, and goes on to describe a lifetime of cross dressing in secret, usually in hotel rooms.

In 1976 as Bruce he won the Olympic decathlon event at Montreal.  Chiron, the Wounded Healer, was trine exactly his Mars (physical prowess) but square exactly his natal Moon (feelings of femininity), and Uranus (sudden success) was exactly on his Ascendant (physical body).  But his inner conflict was acute almost immediately afterwards, at the irony of his outward success as a man in contrast with his inner feelings as a woman.  The term “gender dysphoria” was a phrase still in its infancy, and he did not feel he could talk to anyone about his condition.  He married his first two wives without giving any hint of his inner conflict.  His father, proud of his Olympic achievement, died long before Bruce officially transitioned to being Caitlyn.

His first wife Chrystie supported him through the Olympic training years and the successful Olympic bid.  On 1st May 1979 he met his second wife, Linda Thompson. She had been the last girlfriend of Elvis Presley.  With Pluto on his South Node and sextile his natal Pluto, he was all set for a new phase of his emotional life.  With some classically compatible interaspects between their charts, such as her Sun trine his Moon and Venuses exactly trine, and her Pluto trine his North Node, he began a new relationship and started to build his second family.  The second marriage also eventually floundered because of his secret cross dressing, but also during this period he began to transition and took hormone therapy, before stopping at the brink of going all the way.

Kris Kardashian

Enter Kris Kardashian, wife number three, an extremely strong character, previously married to the attorney Robert Kardashian, and bringing four children to the marriage.  Theirs was an acrimonious divorce, and Robert’s Saturn was conjunct Kris’ South Node (difficult past karma).  Kris Kardashian, matriarch of the Kardashian empire, has an amazing exact conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto in Leo in 10th House conjunct her Midheaven (Careerpoint).  It is no wonder she carved out such a successful long running television slot.

Her previous husband Robert Kardashian was a friend of O.J. Simpson, and successfully represented him at the murder trial.  Bruce had known O.J. from the sports circuit, and tended to try and avoid him (“I have tried to erase O.J. from my mind”) but they socialized with him and his wife Nicole.  This has the hallmark of a karmic relationship, or part of a soul group situation.

O.J. has the North Node conjunct Mars (Warrior and Athlete karma) and Saturn conjunct Pluto (depressive energy).  Bruce’s planets are certainly entangled with O.J’s: Bruce’s Sun/Ascendant conjuncts O.J’s Chiron, and his Mars squares O.J’s Nodal Axis (awkward karma).  Bruce’s Neptune also squares O.J’s Sun.  Needless to say, Nicole’s death in 1994 and the subsequent trial of O.J. Simpson was a stressful time for Bruce and Kris.

Bruce and Kris

Kris came up with the idea of the reality TV show featuring her family, while watching the Osbornes.  The set up does to some extent remind me of Peter Andre and Katie Price who met while in the Australian jungle for “I’m a Celebrity”, then proceeded to broadcast their life together in a series of reality T.V. shows.  With Midheaven in Leo in 10th House, Bruce himself has exhibitionist tendencies, and after transitioning Caitlyn commanded her own show, “I am Cait”, recording her journey of transition.  In their synastry, Bruce’s Mercury sextile Kris’ North Node, reminiscent of a karmic business arrangement.  They would rock each other’s world, with his Pluto square her Ascendant and her Uranus square his Ascendant.  Again, the enduring meaning for Caitlyn of this partnership is the parental role not only for their own two children, but for the step-children from Kris’s previous marriage.  This is notwithstanding the acknowledgement that his younger children were neglected by him for long periods early in their lives.

Transition

Caitlyn regards her “facial feminization surgery” on 15th March 2015 as a major event of her transition, “Caitlyn steps on to the stage”.  It took 10 hours.  Mars (surgery) was trine natal Pluto, Uranus was conjunct natal North Node (Change with a big C), and Pluto was exactly square the natal Nodal Axis (an ultimate karmic transformation).

The photoshoot for the iconic cover of Vanity Fair was taken on 6th May 2015.  Chiron was square her Venus, an attempt to heal through an image of beauty.  Uranus was trine her Pluto (again, the theme of  extreme transformation).

This memoir was published on 25th April 2017, with the North Node (karma) on his Mars in Virgo in 10th House, setting the record straight for her, and with Jupiter on natal Neptune in Libra in 12th House (revealing the secrets).  She was finally able, after a lifetime living a lie, to be honest, and that was a catharsis and the basis of a happier life.  It’s a story worth reading, a detailed study of an experience which many others currently undergo but is still groundbreaking.

Next Week: Last minute thoughts about the UK Election

Aspects

Mercury sextiles Neptune today, and we can afford to contemplate sensitive issues with our mind, more so than usual.  Perhaps the pace of a Sunday facilitates this process.  Sometimes we are getting on and doing, and at other times we are allowing ourselves to just be.  At such times, inner guidance can seep into our consciousness more easily.  Allow yourself an easy regime today, and make use of the gifts of this aspect.

Tomorrow, Mars opposes Saturn, which is not as easy, or not easy at all.  Two forces may be pushing against each other, and this could prove uncomfortable.  This can mean a conflict in the outer world, or the inner world.  There may be an impasse, such as when an interviewer asks an impossible question over and over again.  A psychological or physical block may be revealed.  Not a good day to push the envelope.

Wednesday (31st) is more dynamic, with a sextile between Mars and Uranus.  This favours engineering projects, and spontaneous action.  Sporting interests can prosper, or mental gymnastics if that is more your sphere.  A definite moving forward.

At lunchtime, Mercury trines Pluto, which deepens mental thought and discussion.  If you had already made headway on the physical plane in the morning, then it may be especially satisfying to add dimension to the mental plane, giving rise to some holistically satisfying engagements.

To add a third boost to the day, Mars then sextiles the North Node, bringing out the positive side of physical and practical actions.  There may be a karmic reward for some, e.g. on account of bravery.  If you need to assert yourself, and know for certain that you have the moral high ground, you can be confident in your course of action.

Thursday (1st June) is altogether gentler, but sound and secure in its vibe, with Venus trine Saturn.  It reaffirms loyalties, and restraint where it is needed.  There may be quiet commitments in relationships, such as the understanding of an engagement of the heart, perhaps unspoken.

Friday (2nd) is a little more awkward.  Mars squares Chiron, which is like the square peg in the round hole.  What may be required is the acknowledgement and acceptance of two different outlooks, and the agreement to co-exist.  Even better, an encouragement of the other’s right to exist.  However, one party may not be able to elevate their outlook, and a minor skirmish may occur. This would be a healing crisis, showing what needs to be healed.  Some things are better revealed than kept hidden, and a coming to terms can begin.

Saturday (3rd) may be exciting socially, and vibrant meetings may occur, some planned but those unplanned more evident.  You may run across an old friend while shopping in the High Street, dip into the nearest coffee shop and discover some amazing coincidences which have taken place since you last connected.  It is a good day for networking, but there may also be a bizarre element, which hopefully you can take in your stride.

Mid-afternoon, the Sun trines Jupiter, one of the happiest aspects of the year.  The Sun may be shining, to match your mood.  The aspect favours broadening your mind, planning foreign travel, expanding your plans, publishing initiatives, having a flutter on the lottery, and much, much more!  Leos and Sagittarians especially will benefit from this aspect.

Last but not least, Venus trines the North Node, bringing some smooth karma.  Relationships, money and the Arts may be the focus of this.  Play your cards right, and a little dose of charm can win the day!

The week in bullet points:

• Today – contemplating sensitive issues successfully
• Tomorrow – uncomfortable
• Wednesday – dynamic; mentally profound; karmic action
• Thursday – gentle commitment
• Friday – awkward
• Saturday – socially exciting; lucky; smooth karma

Ian Brady (1938 – 2017)

Ian Brady, one of the most notorious murderers of 20th Century Britain, died this week.  Together with his accomplice, Myra Hindley, they tortured and killed at least 5 children and buried them on Saddleworth Moor.  The body of one of them, Keith Bennett, has never been found, due to his silence.

As I look at his chart, I wonder if the normal rules of Astrology apply to such a person.  Good aspects can become so perverted, if the soul so chooses the wrong path, that the most negative manifestation can come from a chart seemingly normal.  Describing such a chart might cause the reader to wonder about their own aspects, so I hastily reassure the reader that if your own chart features appear here, I am not casting aspersions on their character.  There are however features of his chart which might have a bearing on the course he took in life.

Birth Chart

First of all, he has 6 (over half) of his 10 planets in Earth signs.  According to the Guardian Obituary (by Peter Stanford) “Brady had been obsessed with bleak, open spaces since his first trip outside Glasgow, aged 9, to Loch Lomond”.  Saddleworth Moor itself, in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District National Park, crossed by the M62, was a special place for him (where he buried the bodies), and he had wanted his ashes scattered there, but this has been denied him.

On the surface of things, his Sun in Capricorn has favourable aspects: a loose conjunction with Mercury/Venus, a sextile with Mars (The Warrior), a trine with Uranus (Independence) and his Ascendant, and a conjunction with his Midheaven.  His individuality held great power.  When turned to negativity, the sign of Capricorn can exhibit coldness.  But, again, I stress that normal human considerations may not apply here: it seems to me that his heart was permanently closed, or unopened.  There should have been a sensitivity to others, as his Moon was closely trine Neptune, but there was not.  Instead, he had a fascination (Neptune) towards children (Moon).  The Moon in Capricorn was conjunct his Midheaven (Career and standing in the world), and he became notorious.  His feelings were further dampened by a square from Saturn to his Venus.  The Sun, Mercury and Venus were in his 8th House, which may have shown a preoccupation with death.

There was no doubting his intelligence, and he had Mercury conjunct exactly Venus in Capricorn (the Writer Archetype) making him well read, and incidentally with neat handwriting.  From a letter presented by Lord Longford, author A.L. Rowse declared that he had a brilliant mind.

Mars squaring his Nodal Axis may imply Warrior Karma stemming from past lives, and Jupiter opposing Pluto can bring misuse of power.  Again, I hasten to detach this interpretation from anyone else with these aspects, as extremes of behaviour don’t necessarily follow.  These are aspects however which could have contributed to his path.  He had also Jupiter square Uranus (The Opportunist).

He had Jupiter sextile closely the North Node – luck, until it ran out, as well as Saturn trine exactly Pluto, great strength (which in his case translates to brutality).  I am intrigued that his Chiron (Wounded Healer) was exactly opposite the Galactic Centre.  That may point to someone out of kilter with universal values.  Chiron was involved in a T-square with Saturn and Neptune.  Perhaps his Pluto trine the North Node was turned from a potential for a valuable contribution, to a karmic path as a murderer.

Biography

Ian Brady’s mother was an unmarried waitress, who gave him away at three months.  His father was a reporter on a Glasgow newspaper, by her account.  He was brought up by the Sloans, a couple with an already established family life, but he did not integrate, and kept himself to himself.  His 4th House of Home is empty, providing few clues to this period of his life.

During his teenage years, he led a solitary existence, and became interested in Nazi literature and artefacts.  He read widely, but left school without qualifications. He was arrested by the police occasionally for petty crimes, and at some point was sent back to live with his mother.

Myra Hindley

He met Myra Hindley in the factory where they worked, in 1961.  The Guardian Obituary tells us: “With his cold grey eyes, bony face and aloofness, he quickly had her enthralled.  She was later to describe him as her ‘god’.”  He introduced her to his literary interests.  Myra was a double Cancerian (Sun and Ascendant in that sign), with Jupiter and Mercury also in Cancer.  Although she is generally painted as under his influence, she herself admitted that it was she who enticed the children into the car.  Cancerians of course have an affinity with children, so this is a gross perversion, and again no insult intended for anyone with any planet in Cancer.  She also had the Sun conjunct Pluto, which can mean an obsession with death.  Myra herself came from a brutal home background, depicted in her chart by Mars and Chiron conjunct her I.C.  Malcolm MacCulloch, professor of forensic psychiatry at Cardiff University wrote: ” The relationship with her father brutalised her … She was not only used to violence in the home but rewarded for it outside. When this happens at a young age it can distort a person’s reaction to such situations for life”.

Her Synastry (astrological comparison) with Ian Brady tends to suggest that he had the upper hand in the power struggle between them.  His Saturn was trine her Sun, and his Pluto was on her Sun, his Saturn was square her Venus, for instance.  The most karmically direct aspect was his South Node on her Uranus in her 12th House, bringing out her perversions.  She kept a diary, and for the time of their meeting, Pluto was conjunct her North Node, an invitation to the dark path that proved to be her karmic path.

Ian Brady seems not to have encouraged human connection in his life, but theirs was some sort of relationship, or power trip on his part.  Whether the human heart was involved, is anybody’s guess.  They corresponded for a few years after imprisonment until 1971.

The Murders

The first murder took place on 12 July 1963, their first victim being Pauline Reade, aged 16, a girl known to Myra Hindley.  Mars was conjunct Brady’s Neptune, Uranus trine his Mercury/Venus in the 8th House, and Pluto trine his Uranus in 12th House.  Myra had Saturn on her Midheaven, Uranus square her Uranus (out of control) and Pluto sextile her Jupiter.

His Psychology

Ian Brady’s psychology will probably never be fathomed, though he is broadly seen as a “psychopath”.  He has never shown any remorse for his murders, and has even described his crimes as “petty” when compared to those of politicians and soldiers.

Strangely, he has described what he did as “existential exercises, personal philosophy and interpretation”, and this philosophy is reminiscent of one of his favourite authors Dostoevsky, especially pertinent to the plot of Crime and Punishment.  He wanted to be treated as an ordinary prisoner, but after a trial which examined his mental health, he was kept at Ashworth secure hospital at Maghull on Merseyside.  Psychiatrists attested to him being psychotic, paranoid, and hallucinatory, with a severe narcissistic personality disorder.

In her diary, Myra Hindley had written: “Within months he [Brady] had convinced me that there was no God at all”

Lord Longford

The pair were held in society as the archetype of evil, and apart from threats to kill by one of the mothers of the child victims, Ann West, they were untouchable. However, one eccentric politician, Lord Longford, not only took an interest in them but tried to take steps for Myra Hindley’s release.  Lord Longford was a Sagittarian, with a controversial conjunction of Mercury and Uranus.  He made a career of championing unpopular causes, and Tony Blair said of him: “He was a great man of passionate integrity and humanity and a great reformer committed to modernising the law while also caring deeply for individuals.”

His astrological connections with both the Moors Murderers were close:  with Myra, his Jupiter (his ruling planet) was sextile her Sun, his Neptune conjunct her Jupiter (much of his bond centred around religion – his Christian path and her desire for forgiveness), and his Pluto was trine her Midheaven.  He also had many connections with Brady, including his Jupiter sextile Brady’s Saturn and Pluto and trine Brady’s Chiron.  His controversial Mercury/Uranus was conjunct Brady’s Mercury/Venus.

Deaths

Myra Hindley died in 2002, never having been paroled.  She died after suffering a brain aneurysm, at a time when Uranus was opposite her Mars.  Mars was square Brady’s Moon (female) at the time.

Brady died from restrictive pulmonary disease in Ashworth Hospital on 15th May 2017.  His desire for his ashes to be scattered on Saddleworth Moor has, as has been mentioned, been denied, but at the time of writing he has also been denied Glasgow for his final venue too.

Child Victims

The known victims were Pauline Reade, Keith Bennett, John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans.

Keith Bennett’s body was never found, despite numerous appeals to Ian Brady for its whereabouts.  His mother Winnie Johnson received a letter at the end of 2005 from Brady claiming he could take police to within 20 yards of her son’s body but claiming the authorities would not allow it.  She died in 2012.  Ian Brady, perpetrator of the unspeakable, has now taken his secret to the grave.

Final words go to her, appealing in a letter to Myra Hindley in 1986:

“I am a simple woman, I work in the kitchens of Christie’s Hospital. It has taken me five weeks labour to write this letter because it is so important to me that it is understood by you for what it is, a plea for help. Please, Miss Hindley, help me.”

Aspects

It is a strange week for aspects!  Unusually, all the action takes place on one day: Thursday (25th).  If you need to work with any aspect in the meantime, Saturn trine Uranus from Friday (19th) still applies:

“…a trine between two of the big guns, Saturn and Uranus.  This can be an immensely constructive time, perhaps testing out a big project or structure which you have been building in your life.  This trine is good for combining the old and the new, the innovative and the well-worn, moving forward without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.  It is especially good for engineering projects, as well as social projects.  It is about testing the elements of strength in what you have put into place, and hopefully finding that they hold.”

It is an aspect which favours both tying up loose ends and laying foundations for new projects.

On Thursday (25th),  Venus squares Pluto, which is a time of deep searching in relationships, and perhaps the requirement for release and letting go too.  What is needed is the understanding of one’s relationship, and one’s relationship to oneself being at the core of that.  For many of us, this is an ongoing issue, and one to be worked at especially on that day.  For this time, understand as far as is possible, the nature of relationship in general, the nature of any relationship with a significant other, and most of all your relationship with yourself.  Go easy with your loved ones, and be tender with those around you, for people could be feeling vulnerable.  Stay true to your heart. 

A later feature of that day may take advantage of any clearing that you are able to accomplish from Venus squaring Pluto, for a New Moon at 4 degrees Gemini takes place in the early evening.  To the extent that you have been able to work through Venus square Pluto, your intentions and creative visualizations for the New Moon can bear fruit.  Its presence in Gemini bodes well for communications, and inspires thought and ideas.  Travel is favoured generally, unless in your own chart the issue is entangled with Venus or Pluto, or the residue of events earlier in the day.  May it be a happy new beginning for you and yours.

The week in bullet points:

• Thursday – stormy relationships, followed by the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

 

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.

Writing in The Telegraph, Alice Vincent explains the evocative appeal of the singer and song:

“…his whispery, mouth-of-marbles vocals tugged on heartstrings despite the language barrier. Amar Pelos Dois pays tribute to Portugal’s folk traditions, borrowing from the Fado style, an entire genre that mines mournfulness, and Sobral’s vocals were nearly overshadowed by swooning strings and twinkling keys.”

The transits for his win highlight his physical struggle: Uranus square his Mercury (health interference) and Jupiter square his Saturn (overcoming obstacles).  He seemed to take it all in his stride casually, perhaps as a man who has more important things on his mind, for not only did he have the health struggle, but he is a campaigner on behalf of refugees in the European migrant crisis.

The triumph for Portugal itself is registered in the transits by Pluto exactly sextile its Venus (Song), and Uranus opposite its Uranus (a rebellious, no frills performance).  Salvador’s Jupiter is exactly sextile Portugal’s Moon, and he really brought them luck and success.

The song was called “Amar Pelos Dois” (“To love for the both of us”, in English), and was written by his sister Luisa, who performed it with him after the win had been announced.  She also performed it in the early heat when he was indisposed.  Amazingly, it stood out as one of the few songs which were not performed in English.  The subject of the song is about lost love, and was described by Salvador Sobral as “a sad song”.

The win was as much a triumph for Luisa and their partnership as for Salvador and Portugal.  She is a Virgo, which works very well with Capricorn.  She has Mercury sextile exactly Saturn in her chart, amplifying the Virgo precision and application in her work.  She has Venus exactly conjunct the South Node in musical Libra, and was very likely in her past life or lives a singer and songwriter, as an ingrained way of life; they may have been troubadours in the middle ages.  The poignancy of her love song is seen in her Venus square Neptune, Venus square Chiron, and Mars square Saturn, reminding me of the old line of a song “chagrin d’amour dure toute la vie“.  She has Jupiter trine Uranus (The Entrepreneur) which is even more able to make the most of an opportunity as her brother’s Jupiter opposite Uranus.  Their relationship sparks a lot of energy, with  his Pluto sextile exactly her Mars. As to her transits at the win, the North Node trined exactly her Jupiter, producing a karmic reward!

Lucie Jones

Our United Kingdom entry “Never give up on You”, by Lucie Jones, was not expected to do well, because recently we have been at the bottom of the leaderboard, and it was thought that Brexit would severely affect the result.  The song was not brilliant, but Lucie sang it to the best of her ability and with heartfelt emotion,  it gained 111 points, and came in just under halfway at No. 15, much better than we (or Graham Norton presenting) had imagined.  It was our best result since 2011, despite the fact that our usual stalwart allies Ireland and Malta did not vote for us in the Jury section of the voting.  We seemed to draw support from all over Europe, and gained the top 12 points from Australia.

Lucy has a confident Sun in Aries trine Jupiter (quite lucky), with the Sun also loosely square Mars.  She came to fame in the X-Factor contest in 2009, where she lost out to Jedward in week 5.  At the time of this opportunity, she had Jupiter square her Pluto, Uranus square her Mars and Neptune trine her Mars.  She is of the same generation as Salvador Sobral: he was born in 1989 and she was born in 1991.  They both have the complex Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn of that time.  At the time of her performance in Eurovision, she had Pluto sextile her Pluto, empowering her to sing from her deepest emotion.

17 year olds

Curiously, three 17-year olds took part in this year’s contest, they all performed well and scored well.  Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov came second in the entire contest.  He has Venus exactly conjunct Mercury in Pisces, a mellow voice for someone so young.  For the result, Kristian had Neptune sextile his natal Saturn.  Ellie Delvaux for Belgium and  Isaiah Firebrace for Australia both had Saturn trine their natal Jupiter.  Hopefully, it is a good indication of the talent rising up the ranks for future Eurovisions (do I hear groans?).

Aspects

Today Mercury is trine the North Node, and you may hear some karmic information to your advantage.  Hopefully, the results of the cyber attacks worldwide are gradually being dealt with, ready at least for the NHS to re-open its doors tomorrow.  I wrote under comments for last week:

“You might be wondering about yesterday’s cyber hacking of the NHS computers and other systems round the world. Because of Mercury retrograde then direct around the planet Uranus in Aries, the conjunction with all its glories and hazards has been lingering for an unusually long time. Coupled with that, experts on the asteroids assure us that this conjunction is also conjunct asteroid Eris, which represents chaos. I was not 100% convinced about the latter, but this event has made me think.”

So today is about recalibrating mentally, and re-aligning with your original plans and purposes.

On Tuesday (16th) Mercury re-enters Taurus, from Aries, which favours following through on artistic, financial, cookery (perfecting your ice cream quenelles technique) and gardening projects.  Mercury is in Taurus, assisting the mental application to such matters, until 6th June.  If it is your birthday on 16th, you may receive a special influx of mental energy.

Thursday (18th) brings us the gift of a sextile between the Sun in Taurus and Chiron in Pisces.  Any creativity we have fostered during the time that the Sun has been in Taurus, is touched by a healing quality and application.  Not only can you bring healing to your creativity, but healing can benefit from creativity.  Your creations truly heal you, coming from your Soul.

Friday (19th) is the most important day of the week, aspect-wise, bringing as it does a trine between two of the big guns, Saturn and Uranus.  This can be an immensely constructive time, perhaps testing out a big project or structure which you have been building in your life.  This trine is good for combining the old and the new, the innovative and the well-worn, moving forward without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.  It is especially good for engineering projects, as well as social projects.  It is about testing the elements of strength in what you have put into place, and hopefully finding that they hold.

Also on Friday, the Sun squares the Nodal Axis, and power issues within groups could be evident.  The fair distribution of power may come up for you in a situation, or may in some way be implied in issues which come up in the U.K. election campaigns.  This is something not easily achieved, but you may be in a position where you have to tackle its complexity.

In the afternoon, Venus opposes Jupiter, and there may be some light relief in the form of humour, intended or unintended.  It is always good to have a laugh that comes out of the blue, and reminds you of its therapeutic value.  As often though, someone may be the butt of the joke, and if so bear in mind that one man’s joke may be another’s misfortune.  Keep it clean.

The Sun enters Gemini on Saturday (20th), and what we lose in Taurean patience and productiveness, we gain in sparkling mental communication and the enlivening of debate.  In the coming month, the emphasis will be on chat: chatting over the neighbour’s fence, exchanging points of interest on social media, developing mental interests etc.  There may also be initiatives regarding Transport and Education, no doubt promoted by one or other of the political parties promising improvements.  Talk is cheap; look at their record, and where their real interests lie, I would think.  There is communication, and there is communication, and some of what we hear in the course of the day is superficial and passed on undigested.  It is an opportunity to be a mindful, clear channel of information!

The week in bullet points:

• Today – useful information
• Tuesday – mental application in practical tasks
• Thursday – creativity and healing combined
• Friday – strength and progress, power issues, and some laughter
• Saturday – moving onto the mental plane

 

“The Pre-Raphaelites – Lizzie Siddal”

This is the fourth in my series about the Pre-Raphaelites.  In no particular order, the others are:-

^{11/9/2009: “The Pre-Raphaelites – A Soul Group”}

^{14/10/2012: “The Pre-Raphaelites – John Ruskin”}

^{12/1/2013: “The Pre-Raphaelites – Dante Gabriel Rossetti”}

^{As you can see, the last one was four years ago!  But I still intend to write about them all.}

“A most beautiful creature with an air between dignity and sweetness with something that exceeded modest self-respect and partook of disdainful reserve; tall, finely-formed with a lofty neck and regular yet somewhat uncommon features, greenish-blue unsparkling eyes, large perfect eyelids, brilliant complexion and a lavish heavy wealth of coppery golden hair.”

^{~ William Michael Rossetti}

Birth Chart

Lizzie was the foremost model for the Pre-Raphaelites, and in particular Dante Gabriel Rossetti.  She had a very creative chart, with Sun/Saturn/Mars and Venus in Leo, but was disposed to depression (Sun conjunct Saturn) and ill health, so although she drew, painted and wrote poetry herself she was not able to fulfil her potential.  With 6 Fire planets and 5 Fixed planets (out of 10), she was fiery and strongwilled.  Her will danced with that of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Sun in Taurus) in what was a stormy relationship.  With the Sun conjunct Saturn in Leo and loosely trine Pluto, her Leo creativity was on the dramatic side.

Her North Node (karmic mission) was at 1 degree (the essence of) Libra, the sign of beauty, and she was the muse for Dante Gabriel Rossetti as well as others in their group.  Lucinda Hawksley’s biography of Lizzie is subtitled: “The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel”.  She also had great charm.

Curiously, Venus (planet of beauty) is largely unaspected in her chart, perhaps leaving her some freedom in this respect, but as we do not have a birth time, it may be prominent on one of her angles in a full chart.

She had Jupiter sextile Uranus, The Entrepreneur Archetype, together with Uranus trine her North Node, and did have two major opportunities in her life: that of becoming the artists’ model, and the opportunity of patronage by Ruskin.  Jupiter was also trine closely Pluto in her chart, giving her great personal power.

Ophelia

She was linked with several of the artists of this group, but was initially introduced to them through Libran Walter Deverell who began to use her as a model.  However, it was sitting (or lying) for the painting “Ophelia” by John Everett Millais which made her famous, and launched him as the most successful of the Pre-Raphaelite painters.

The main events of Lizzie’s life are well-known, but fascinating when looked at in detail.  For the famous scene from Hamlet, Lizzie was required to lie in a bath.  Apparently, Millais’ mother devised a way of heating the bath from underneath using lamps.  Unfortunately, John Millais became so absorbed in his work that he did not notice the lamps going out.  Lizzie subsequently caught a severe cold.  According to Millais’s son (in a biography) she soon recovered, but Lucinda Hawksley notes that it was not long after that when sources reported on her ill health.  The consequence may have led to much of the tragedy of her life: the laudanum addiction, for example.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

In relationship, and in art, Lizzie is primarily linked with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the founder of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.  His sister Christina Rossetti wrote a poem about her eternal role as his sitter:

“In an Artist’s Studio”:

One face looks out from all his canvases,

One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans:

We found her hidden just behind those screens,

That mirror gave back all her loveliness.

A queen in opal or in ruby dress,

A nameless girl in freshest summer-greens,

A saint, an angel — every canvas means

The same one meaning, neither more nor less.

He feeds upon her face by day and night,

And she with true kind eyes looks back on him,

Fair as the moon and joyful as the light:

Not wan with waiting, not with sorrow dim;

Not as she is, but was when hope shone bright;

Not as she is, but as she fills his dream.

~ Christina Rossetti

The ubiquitous image we have throughout his paintings is of this swan-necked red-headed icon of Pre-Raphaelite beauty.  He was devoted to her, but not faithful to her, and was constantly travelling to be by her side through her numerous health crises.  In their synastry, her Sun was opposite Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Uranus, showing his need for freedom.  Her Mercury was opposite his Mars, depicting their constant arguments (they couldn’t live with or without each other, there was so much nervous tension between them).  Her Pluto was trine his Saturn – she had a hold on him, and he recognized at some level a need for commitment.  This may have been karmic.  Her Pluto squares his Venus – a heartwrenching element of their relationship.

He did not want to marry her (partly due to the disapproval of his family), though constantly dangled the possibility before her.  Therefore their close relationship needed some sort of respectability, and he took her on ostensibly as a pupil.  She showed promise, and he was able to secure patronage for her from the art critic and philanthropist John Ruskin, champion of the Pre-Raphaelites.  From 1855 he began to provide a regular allowance for her, which he did for several years until her health broke down to the extent that she could not work, and in all honesty could not continue to take his money.  Ruskin was very fond of her, and his mother too was a champion of her art, and keen that Rossetti should marry her.  Lizzie’s work was included in many exhibitions of the time, usually the only woman included.

Eventually, after the severest of her health crises, Rossetti did marry Lizzie, on 23rd May 1860.  Psychologically, this was a big deal for him, with Pluto on his Mercury at the time and opposite his Jupiter.  Saturn was exactly conjunct Lizzie’s Venus at the time, indicating a major relationship commitment.

Her health did settle for a while after marriage, and their relationship did improve.  However, on 2nd May 1861, Elizabeth suffered a stillbirth, well into her pregnancy.  The pregnancy had progressed reasonably well despite her innate delicacy.  Chiron was square to her Jupiter at the time.  Pluto was still on Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Mercury, indicating intense worry.

Laudanum

For many years, Lizzie had relied on laudanum to help her sleep and ease the pain of her many episodes of ill health.  It was a widespread remedy, the cannabis of its time.  The mental and physical pain of the loss of the baby increased her dependence on it.  That she may have had a predisposition to addiction may be linked with Mercury opposite Neptune (drugs) in her natal chart.

One night, they dined out with the poet Swinburne (a great pal of Lizzie’s).  Like Lizzie, he had red hair (their Marses were exactly conjunct in Leo), and they had the same sense of humour.  Their karmic connection was shown by his Nodal Axis exactly square her Sun (ruling planet). The next morning 11th February 1862, however, she was found dead of an overdose of laudanum, which was probably accidental. Neptune (drugs) was transiting her natal South Node (karma) at the time.

Exhumation of Poems

Rossetti never really recovered from the tragedy of Lizzie’s death.  Grief was mixed with guilt over his infidelity throughout most of their relationship.  In his grief, Rossetti buried a volume of his poetry with Lizzie in her casket.  A few years later in 1869, however, he realized that this poetry ought to be published, and he sought and (amazingly) obtained permission to exhume the casket, and retrieve the book of poetry.  This permission was obtained through a connection with the Home Secretary.  Rossetti’s friend Howell performed the exhumation overnight, and reported (in a possible exaggeration) that Lizzie still looked perfect and her hair had grown voluptuously.

“Severed Selves”

Two separate divided silences,
Which, brought together, would find loving voice;
Two glances which together would rejoice
In love, now lost like stars beyond dark trees;
Two hands apart whose touch alone gives ease;
Two bosoms which, heart-shrined with mutual flame,
Would, meeting in one clasp, be made the same;
Two souls, the shores wave-mocked of sundering seas:—
Such are we now. Ah! may our hope forecast
Indeed one hour again, when on this stream
Of darkened love once more the light shall gleam?—
An hour how slow to come, how quickly past,—
Which blooms and fades, and only leaves at last,
Faint as shed flowers, the attenuated dream.

~ Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Bibliography:

“Lizzie Siddal” by Lucinda Hawksley

“Desperate Romantics” by Franny Moyle

 

Aspects

Tuesday (9th) brings us a trine between the Sun and Pluto, good for settling deep psychological issues.  Creativity thrives through an injection of meaning.

On the same day, the True Node enters Leo, which you may register with a similar effect as on Friday 28th April:

“You may be called to a new creative project, or a leadership role, under this influence.  In international relations, power will be even more of an issue. ”

The North Node will remain in Leo for approximately eighteen months, so plenty of time to practise power issues.

Wednesday (10th) brings again that recent chestnut Mercury conjunct Uranus, by virtue of the fact that Mercury has just turned direct.  Communications should be stunningly clear and crisp.

In the evening, there is a Full Moon in Scorpio, one of the most intense Full Moons of the year.  If you want to avoid entanglements and the glare of emotional intensity, it would be a good time to practise meditation.  Set out your calmest environment for meditation, and apply its soothing qualities to your mindset and if successful to the issues of the wider world.  Don’t overextend yourself, inside or outside meditation, if you feel that you cannot handle the energies.

You may need more meditation on Thursday (11th) when Mars squares Neptune, as you may feel split over the application of your actions and physical energy in relation to your spiritual life and energies.  It may take work for them to come together, and again, meditation could help.

By the evening, you may have more mental clarity to assist you, in the shape of Mercury trine Saturn, and may be able to apply yourself to more demanding mental tasks, such as sorting out documentation.

The week ends on a high, for we have a trine between Mars and Jupiter on Friday (12th) a green light for action and enthusiasm.  Hope and optimism abound!

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – profound creativity, satisfying for the soul; possible power issues
• Wednesday – mental innovation, intense emotion
• Thursday – confused energies; later application of mental energy
• Friday – the green light

A Compatibility Guide for Taurus

Are you Taurean, or do you have a friend, relative or partner born under that sign? People usually value the Taurean as the rock in their lives!  Is that true for you?  In this, the last in the Compatibility series, you have a chance to examine the nuances of Taurean relationships.

 Taurean Sun with Aries Sun

As neighbouring signs, they may share planets in each other’s signs, and understand each other well.  This partnership tends to work very well if the Taurean allows the Aries to lead, and enjoys supporting the Aries. Traditionally, Aries is ruled by Mars and Taurus by Venus, so John Gray’s book: “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” would have much to say to these two, whichever way round the sexes may be, or indeed whether homosexual, bi-sexual, transgender, pan-sexual or any other combination.

Famous Example: Victoria Beckham and David Beckham

Taurean Sun with Taurus Sun

These two can create a fortress of strength together, or keep each other in a rut!  As same signs, they could well share all the varied interests and talents of this sign: art, music, finance,  and gardening.  They would make good business partners.  And in a strong relationship, they can be very supportive to others.

Famous Example: Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley (T.V. co-presenters)

Taurean Sun with Gemini Sun

People of neighbouring signs often have planets in each other’s sign.  Gemini can be too cerebral for Taurus, and Taurus can be too practical for Gemini, but if they have planets in each other’s sign, they can blend energies well.

Famous Example: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Taurean Sun with Cancerian Sun

These two both enjoy domestic activities, so the combination can make for domestic bliss, or a great team in the kitchen.  A harmonious pair, who can create a nurturing and supportive environment for others.

Famous Example: Anita Dobson and Brian May

Taurean Sun with Leo Sun

Taurus’ natural style is to support, and Leo’s is to lead, so this relationship can work so long as Taurus doesn’t harbour a desire to lead.  There may be some friction, as these two signs are squared, but at a certain level of relationship the two Souls can unite in harmony, and achieve much together.  They may share cultural interests, and practical forms of creativity.

Famous Example: Dante Gabriel Rossetti (founder of the Pre-Raphaelites) and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Siddall (his muse)

Taurean Sun with Virgo Sun****

This can be an ideal combination, and full of mutual admiration.  Virgo can admire Taurus’ artistry, while Taurus can admire Virgo’s craftsmanship, so a good working partnership.  There can be a great deal of harmony between them, but it is possible for them both to get in a rut without outside interests.

Famous Example: Rebecca Miller (film maker, daughter of Arthur Miller) and Daniel Day Lewis, married 21 years

Taurean Sun with Libra Sun

Both these signs are ruled by Venus, so they both enjoy the Arts, including music, and harmony.  When collaborating on an artistic or musical venture, they each contribute to their strengths: Taurus contributes form, such as in pottery and sculpture, and Libra contributes composition and design.  Therefore they can start an art gallery together, or a singing choir.

Famous Example: Dennis Thatcher (the ultimate Taurean support) and Margaret Thatcher

Taurean  Sun with Scorpio Sun

You often find these two together, opposites as they are, and complementary.  The Taurean is more laid back, but has the stamina for Scorpio emotions and schemes.  There may be a tension between them, but this can also be a strong bond.

Famous Example: Caroline Flack and Olly Murs, a great friendship, with its ups and downs!

Taurean Sun with Sagittarius Sun

Not a natural blend, but there should be plenty of good will with Sagittarius ruled by jolly Jupiter, and Taurus ruled by Venus planet of love.  A positive vibe.

Famous Example: Ernie Wise and Eric Morecambe, comedy duo

Taurean Sun with Capricorn Sun****

This can be a relationship of great mutual support.  Taurus has a tendency to take the supportive role in a relationship, and Capricorn can have a great moral rectitude which provides stability.  They may share an interest in the earth and earth’s treasures, from gardening to pottery to archaeology.  They can also be a very successful partnership on a material level.

Famous Example: Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King

Taurean Sun with Aquarius Sun

There could be some dissonance, especially speedwise, with these two.  Aquarians like quick results, and Taureans don’t like to be pushed.  They are both strong willed, so may run into problems if their wills are not flowing in the same direction.  But, as with all squared signs, they can rise above their differences and create something quite progressive and talented between them.

Famous Example: Amal Alamuddin and George Clooney

Taurean Sun with Pisces Sun

This is a  harmonious pairing, and both may  be gentle souls.  Together, they could achieve a quiet life, if that’s what they want!  They may also both be talented in the Arts, and could set up a cottage industry along those lines.  The Piscean will be very inspirational in such an enterprise, and the Taurean more hands on.

Famous Example: Liza Minnelli and David Gest (separated after a year of marriage!)

 

A full compatibility analysis details every component of the two birthcharts in relation to each other, not just the Sun sign.  As there is a lot of work involved, it is my most expensive service, at £45.

Aspects

Today sees the Saturn-Chiron square at a peak, with Saturn being at the Galactic Centre.  This may be crunch time in terms of having to solve a problem which has been plaguing you lately.  It is also important to take good care of yourself both physically and mentally, and protect the young and vulnerable.

Better news on Wednesday (3rd May), which sees the end of Mercury retrograde, Mercury being stationary and preparing to go direct.  Hopefully, that means all systems go once again: rail, telephone, etc.  If you have had problems on these lines in the last three weeks, then you may feel a sense of relief.

Best aspect of the week comes on Thursday (4th) with Neptune sextile the Sun, though its benefits could start to be felt the previous evening.  If you are planning the perfect artistic or spiritual expression, then late Wednesday/early Thursday is the best time to pull off your piece de resistance.  This especially applies to creative, artistic or musical endeavours, and the world of dance, and even more so if there is a spiritual element.  Put the icing on the cake.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – solve that problem!
• Wednesday – move on with your communications
• Thursday – achieve perfection (or nearest equivalent)

UK General Election 2017

“Not that she wanted to be seen as a prime minister who didn’t keep her word.  The problem was the opposition.  They were doing the wrong thing by opposing her.  Never mind that they weren’t being very effective, the problem was that they existed at all.”

 ~ John Crace, The Guardian

Theresa May

Theresa May caught everyone on the hop this week when, after walking in Dolgellau Wales with hubby Philip, she decided to call a general election after several times over the last months protesting she didn’t need one.  She is hoping for a stronger mandate for her Brexit mission, and although she must be feeling very confident, and notwithstanding that the Labour Party are very weak at this time, it is still quite a gamble on her part.

At the time of her calling an election, there was a plethora of transits to her chart, so the Universe was really activating her!  But the majority of transits were minor ones, so she may have been feeling a bit hyperactive without any deep seated cause.  Indeed, many have pointed  out the contradictions in her thinking, mainly around how much support she has for her Brexiteering.  Uranus was trine her Venus, she felt ripe for a change.  Neptune was on her Mars, she felt a spiritual stirring for action.

As to her relationship with the Conservative Party, when she came to power, I wrote of this relationship: “Theresa May’s own relationship with the Conservative Party reveals her North Node conjunct the Party Venus (a close personal tie, and karmic), her Saturn square its Jupiter (she will keep it in line!), and her Jupiter trine its Ascendant (very favourable).”

I also looked into her relationship with the U.K. chart: “In her relationship with the U.K., her closest interaspects with the 1922 chart are Venus square Venus (needs some work to achieve harmony) and her Uranus on its I.C. (stirring and fairly uneasy, perhaps indicative of her decisive cabinet changes).”  With the U.K. Union chart of 1801, its Jupiter trines her North Node, fortuitous for her, and Uranus sextile her North Node (symbolic of her sudden and unexpected acquisition of power), plus its Neptune sextile her Jupiter (there may be something about the national character which chimes with her religious outlook).  There does not seem to be a strong tie with the 1066 chart, going back further in time, however.

The May 4th local elections may prove crucial as the results may sway public opinion one way or another.  Theresa has Mars trine her Sun, she’ll be going in all guns blazing; Uranus still trine her Venus, so she’ll still be confident on a personal level, and Neptune still on her Mars, inner conviction and drive intact.

Jupiter will be sextile the U.K 1922 Mercury, there will be seen to be some good news depending on the eye of the beholder.  Saturn will be sextile the U.K. Mars, solidifying opinions.  Mars will be square the U.K. Uranus (some level of upset, presumably for those who don’t like the good news), and Mars on the Ascendant, stirrings of emotion and action.  For the 1801 chart, Pluto sextiles the U.K. Neptune, showing a deep sea change going on psychologically.  For the Conservative Party, Pluto sextiles its Sun, which could be important for accumulating power.

Moving forward to the big Election itself, the following day of results shows a Full Moon (polarizing emotions again), but Jupiter turning direct, showing a new intake of breath and more momentum.  Theresa will have Saturn trine her Venus, which could bring her new commitment, and Neptune still on her Mars (so she will still be drawing on her inner inspiration for her action).  The Conservative Party has Jupiter square its Uranus and opposite its Neptune, so there may be new divisions and battle lines drawn.  Saturn will square its Chiron (new headaches), but Neptune sextiles its Pluto (so there will also be new sources of inspiration).  Pluto will still be sextile its Sun (stronger power, perhaps).  For the U.K. (1922 chart) Jupiter opposes its Chiron, so division will still be rife (the Brexiteer versus Remoaner feelings may still be running high), Saturn will be square its Nodal Axis (a grim task ahead and hard work for the prime minister), Uranus sextile its Mars (momentum) and Neptune square the U.K. Sun (more uncertainty).  As much as the election will solve things for some, there will be more frustration it seems.

Jeremy Corbyn

Well, it seems that for Jeremy Corbyn leader of a very much divided Labour Party, life has been one long campaign to prove himself these last two years.  Two leadership campaigns, and now the test of all tests – is he electable?  He seems up for the fight, and was in good fettle on the Andrew Marr couch this morning.  Labour is the largest of the anti-austerity parties, opposed to the bashing of the poor these last 7 years of Conservative rule, and their destruction of the N.H.S.  Alan Johnson (once tipped for the top) was quoted as saying in the Guardian on Saturday “Labour should be saying we are willing to work with other parties – through a coalition if necessary.”  The Greens certainly favour this option, and it could defeat the Conservatives.  However, in the Observer this morning Tim Farron of the LibDems has quashed the idea, no doubt stung by the coalition his party made in the first five years of Conservative power.

The Labour Party has two charts, one for 1900 and one for 1906, and seems so split now that not many people rate its chances against the Conservative machine.  The split may cause a formal division in the future, if the Corbyn and anti-Corbyn divide is not resolved. Jeremy’s relationship with the first chart finds a friendly intellectual sextile between his Mercury and its Venus.  This Labour Party Pluto sits on his Venus, indicating a long but arduous path for him, but his Mercury/Venus on its South Node shows a karmic dedication.  His Uranus trines its Mars, so he is able to breathe life into it from one angle, and he has revived the true socialist ideal.  His Neptune sextiles its Uranus, again bringing a great deal of idealism.  His Pluto sextiles its Pluto, so he is able to string together the deep principles of one generation to another (e.g. through his old friendship with Tony Benn).  The second chart also shows affinity (e.g. Mercury trine its Mercury) and difficulties (its Saturn square his Sun).  His Pluto brings a trine to the 1922 United Kingdom chart, which is profound, and his Pluto brings a trine to the 1801 North Node, but again makes little connection with the 1066 chart.

For the local elections in May, which will be crucial to Labour morale and determination to fight,  Jeremy has Jupiter trine his Venus, Pluto trine his Mars, the North Node sextile his Uranus, and Jupiter sextile his Pluto.  Therefore he may do better than people expect, but that in itself may bring a backlash in those who see him as lacking in leadership material for the top job.  The first Labour Party chart transits show Mars square its Sun (highlighting conflict), South Node conjunct its Mars (ditto), Mars opposite its Jupiter (fighting spirit), Jupiter trine its Pluto (some heart) and Neptune square its Pluto (also some disappointment).  There are a lack of transits to the second chart, but one bring point in Chiron sextile its Jupiter, some healing experienced.

Going forward to the big Election day, Pluto is still trine Corbyn’s Mars (he will give his all), but Chiron will be square his Uranus (ultimate solutions may be lacking), though Jupiter will be on his Neptune (he will feel he has been true to himself). For the Labour Party (mark 1) Mars opposes its Saturn (stuckness and abrasiveness), but Uranus sextiles its Jupiter (maybe there will be surprising gains in Scotland), disappointment from Saturn opposing its Neptune, and more confusion with Neptune square its Pluto.  The Nodal Axis squares the Jupiter of the second chart, which could be buoyant, but not enough to ensure the success they need, I feel.   It could be that the Brexit issue will completely dominate the result.

Tim Farron

Tim Farron, leader of the LibDems, has a chart which is strong on Air signs (5 planets in total), and in his upbeat way is striving for a revival of fortunes for his party.  He has an exact trine between his Sun and Uranus, so tries to think outside the box, but his Sun squares closely the Nodal Axis so he may have a difficult karmic relationship with power.  His Mars trines exactly Jupiter, so you can’t fault him for enthusiasm.  The Sunday Observer seems to have taken him under its wing this morning.

His relationship with his party has a sextile between its Mars and his North Node, so he is destined to play a part in trying to revive its energies, but his Chiron squares its Neptune, so his approach may not be quite exactly what it needs.  He does not look like the leader who will take it on to victory.  In his relationship with the 1922 U.K. chart his Mars squares its Nodal Axis, so harmony may be difficult to achieve, but Jupiter trines its Mars so if sincere effort counts he would win points.  His Pluto conjuncts its North Node, which is difficult karmically.

For the local elections, Uranus will be sextile his Mars, so again he will display a lot of energy and enthusiasm for his task.  Saturn will be sextile his Jupiter, so he will be steady and display good leadership qualities.  The Nodal Axis will be squaring his Neptune, so he may not have a true grasp of what is needed, however.  The fortunes of the LibDem party on that day may be complex, e.g. unexpected wins in some places, but disappointments in others.  Neptune will be on the Sun of the party chart, creating confusion.  Saturn will be trine its Venus, so there will be loyalty displayed in some ways.

For the main event on 8th June, Neptune will be sextile Tim Farron’s Mercury, so he will be more focussed than in the local elections, his antennae will be sensitive.  Uranus opposes his Jupiter on that day, which can bring shock or upset, but the North Node sextiles his Jupiter, so in some areas he will have the credit due to him.  Chiron will be trine his Neptune, and so he will be able to rise about the smaller picture in some ways, and may even bring about some healing, e.g. to the reputation of the LibDems.  More disappointment shows up in Saturn squaring his Pluto, which sounds overall as though it bears defeat.  But that of course depends on expectation.

Paul Nuttall

Sagittarian Scouser Paul Nuttall heads up the motley crew of the UKIP party.  This weekend it was reported that their former leader Nigel Farage had been visiting Julian Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy, at a time when the U.S. and Donald Trump had re-asserted their intention to prosecute Assange.  But in ebullient Sagittarian style, Paul Nuttall was interviewed by Andrew Marr this morning and appeared upbeat about his prospects, and his policy of banning the burka.  With four planets in Sagittarius, Paul has the Warrior (Sun conjunct Mars) and the Trickster (Sun conjunct Neptune) combined in his chart, and he has been caught out on the subject of whether or whether he was ever at Hillsborough on the day of its disaster.  He has a very fiery chart (6 of his 10 planets in the Fire element) and  could be hot headed.  He has fairly favourable ties with the UKIP party chart, and some surprisingly dynamic and engaged aspects with the 1922 U.K. chart.

For the main election, Pluto conjuncts his Venus, which could be personally damaging, Neptune squares his Neptune (disillusioning), but on the plus side Jupiter (his ruling planet) sextile his Neptune (keeping his faith) and conjuncts his Pluto (he may get a seat if he chooses his location well – he says he will be selecting a location this week).  The performance of UKIP in the election may be quite complex, with Pluto on its Uranus and Neptune.  There is clearly still a lot of support for the party, and tied in with the support for Brexit.

Caroline Lucas

That stalwart for the environment Caroline Lucas, joint leader of the Green Party, wrote a brilliant account of her first five years in parliament (“Honorable Friends?”) and continues to uphold the need to consider the environment, policies which seem to be low down in the priorities of other parties.  The transits for the General Election are not enormously encouraging for  Sagittarian Caroline, though a friendly sextile from Chiron to her Venus ensures that she is able to uphold her central message about the Earth.  For her Co-Leader Jonathan Bartley the North Node will sextile his Mercury, so he will be prominent in campaigning and the public will get to know him better.  But there are no stand out transits for him.

Nicola Sturgeon

This is a crucial election for Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party, who was riding high at the last election, with the collapse of the Labour vote in Scotland, and the Scottish Referendum being a close run thing.  However, she may have recently lost ground as there has been some disillusionment on the home policies, such as the state of education in Scotland under her guard.  Also, the Brexit vote has hugely complicated her brief as she and a large number of Scots want to stay in the European Union, so tough negotiations lie ahead, and there has been little co-operation from Theresa May on their dilemmas.

Uranus squares her Sun at Election time, which could bring a huge upset, e.g. she may well lose some ground.  Uranus also opposes her Jupiter, so her hopes may also be bruised.  The Nodal Axis squares her Neptune, which is disillusioning, and Saturn squares her Pluto, which is disappointing.  She is a plucky lady, so may pick herself up and dust herself down, but certainly the planets are not very supportive at the crucial time, and she may have a lot of thinking to do.

I may return to the subject before the election!

Aspects

Today Mars squares the Nodal Axis, so it is the day for preparing your lines of action.  Karma may dictate that you cannot sit and lounge around this Sunday, you’ll be prompted to action, whether willingly or unwillingly!

Tomorrow morning Mercury trines Saturn, which is good for concentration and knuckling down to the tasks of the week.  In the office, it will be a case of keeping your nose to the grindstone, and your shoulder to the wheel.

On Wednesday (26th) there  is a New Moon at 6 degrees Taurus, honouring the Earth and all things related to it.  Maybe Theresa May will renounce the policy of fracking, or Caroline Lucas will gain a practical victory in the Commons.  If you have a project in relation to the Earth, your practical intentions will be supported by this New Moon.  It’s a good day for gardening, or sitting out in the garden enjoying the fruits of your (or someone else’s) labours.

Friday (28th) sees Venus re-entering Aries after its period of retrograde motion.  You may feel that you can make progress with personal desires, if you have recently felt held back.  There is a change from subtlety to warmth and dynamism in the energies of your relationships.  Venus first went into Aries in February, so you may feel that you recover some lost ground from that time.

A little later, Mercury conjuncts Uranus at 25 degrees Aries, an aspect which last occurred on Mother’s Day if you can relate back to that time of ” surprises and inventive ideas..Meetings could bring some lightning flashes of wit”.  Mercury is retrograde this time, however, so messages could get more garbled than you intend, so be clear.

Later still, the Mean North Node changes sign, from Virgo to Leo.  The North Node stays 18 months in a sign, and moves in retrograde motion.  The North Node represents collective karma as it moves along the evolutionary path, so it will be moving from mental application (Virgo) to more creativity and expression (Leo).  You may be called to a new creative project, or a leadership role, under this influence.  In international relations, power will be even more of an issue.  You may register this new influence in two stages, the first at the end of this week, and the second time when the True North Node enters Leo in the second week of May.  The North Node and the Nodal Axis are subtle influences, and you may perceive the two ingresses differently, or one more than the other.  The important thing to bear in mind is how your own karmic mission dovetails into the collective evolutionary path.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – karmic action
• Tomorrow – application
• Wednesday – new beginning
• Friday – warmth and selfishness, bright ideas, and a karmic sea-change

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.  Mercury trines exactly Chiron, making him a good problem solver (codebreaker Alan Turing had this).  He has plenty of electrical energy, with Mars square Uranus, and Mars is exactly sextile the North Node, strengthening the leadership and warriorship within his karmic mission. Jupiter sextile exactly Saturn, gives him the capacity for good balanced judgement, and together with the North Node/Pluto in the sign of Libra, characterizes his tone of centrism or “the third way”.  There is a constructive exact trine between Saturn and Chiron, with Jupiter at its centre point, adding the potential for healing to that balance of hope and realism.  Not that his chart doesn’t contain challenges: Saturn from 8th House squares exactly the Midheaven/I.C. Axis, and Pluto conjuncts the North Node, so there are constraints in his life and the inner drive for what he does to be meaningful.  He is standing for his own party “En Marche!”  He was endorsed this week by Barack Obama.

His transits for the first round today are:-

Mars square his natal Saturn in Virgo in 8th House, Jupiter sextile his natal Neptune in Sagittarius in 11th House and Jupiter on his Pluto in Libra in 9th House, which is promising.  His transits for the second round on 7th May are not so striking, with Mars sextile his Mars (mildly strengthening) and Mars trine his North Node (a renewal of karmic purpose), plus the more weighty Neptune sextile his Moon (spiritual and emotional satisfaction).

Marine Le Pen

For a more in-depth analysis of the Le Pen dynasty and Marine Le Pen’s chart, please read my full blog of 9th April: “it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the far right could take over the government of France.  This would be a huge game-changer, cementing the populist attitude on immigration in the world, and sounding a death knell to the E.U… The Sun strengthens her Ascendant and personality with a sextile, and the Sun also sextiles her North Node exactly, so leadership is part of her karmic mission and she has a strong sense of destiny as being born to lead.”

“… On 23rd April Mars is sextile Marine’s Mars and Chiron, giving her plenty of fighting spirit.  Jupiter will be on her Ascendant, giving her a good share of luck.  Saturn squares her Uranus and Uranus conjuncts her Saturn, so there may be some shock too.  Uranus trines her Venus, bringing an upbeat personal confidence.  However, Pluto shakes her foundations with a transit to her I.C., so while influences are mixed that may be the deciding factor.  If she wins, there may be public riots.”

Her hand may have been strengthened this week by the killing of a policeman in Paris, and her subsequent denouncement of the lack of border controls which she links with terrorist attacks.  In the second round, Mars sextiles her natal Mercury (she’ll be buzzing!), Uranus trine her natal Venus (on a personal high), but Uranus will still be on her Saturn (still the capacity for a shock), Saturn still square her Uranus (not all going the way of her will), but Jupiter on her Ascendant may provide the luck she needs.

Francois Fillon

Right wing (or more accurately centre right) candidate Francois Fillon had a setback in January, a scandal relating to using public finances within the family, but has experienced a very recent upsurge in popularity.  In his chart, he has 6 Water planets, suggesting great emotionality, 0 Earth planets (possibly ungrounded), and 6 Mutable planets (highly adaptable).  He was born on a New Moon in Pisces, so is able to start afresh from time to time.  The Sun square Mars gives him some warriorship, and highly charged energy in a T-square with Jupiter, and Mercury square Mars could make him quite irritable and quick to react verbally.  His Mars in 3rd House reinforces this.  He may have a predisposition to scandal, with Neptune square his Nodal Axis.  He does have considerable political experience, having acted as prime minister under Nicolas Sarkozy’s premiership.

As a complete aside, there is a fascinating symbolism in his chart in relation to his birth place, Le Mans, and his brother.  The 3rd House in a chart represents short distance travel and Mars represents cars, and he has Mars in 3rd House representing the location of Le Mans as a sportscar racing venue.  The 3rd House also represents siblings, and he has a brother (Mars in 3rd House).  The brother himself, Pierre, is represented well in the chart in the 3rd House, for he is an Opthalmologist (Mars also represents the eyes) and is President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in Le Mans (where Mars = cars).  Coincidence, or divine symbolism, you decide!

Sorry about the digression…getting back on track, in the first round his transit are:- Neptune on his Sun in Pisces in 6th House (confusion), Jupiter trine his Jupiter in Gemini in 9th House (some success) and Pluto opposite his Uranus in Cancer in 10th House (some chaos in his affairs).  In the second round, should he reach it which seems unlikely: Neptune still on his Sun in Pisces in 6th House, Pluto still opposite his Uranus in Cancer in 10th House (a possible reversal of fortune), Uranus opposite his natal Neptune in the1st House in Libra (more uncertainty), and Mars trine his Ascendant on cusp of 9th House (he may need to put his energies into a holiday).

Jean-Luc Melenchon

The left wing candidate, under the platform “Unsubmissive France”, who has also come up in the rankings in the last fortnight, is Jean-Luc Melenchon.  With Sun conjunct Pluto in Leo in 11th House, he wants power but he also wants some form of revolution.  His is not a wishy washy agenda.  With the Moon in Pisces at the end of the 6th House, close to the Descendant, he is all for the people and the workers in a highly idealistic way.  He has an original and keen mind (Mercury sextile Uranus), and a strong Teacher Archetype from past lives (Mercury conjunct South Node).  Leadership potential is shown in his chart by the Sun trine Midheaven, Uranus trine North Node, and Mars sextile the Ascendant.  He is also an opportunist, with Jupiter square Uranus.  He also has some difficult squares in his chart, including Chiron square his Ascendant and conjunct his I.C. so he would be used to battling his way through life.  He is a strong supporter of the underdog, and critic of socio-economic inequalities.  Like Le Pen, he is also a critic of the European Union.

His transits for the first round of elections shows Uranus trine his Sun, surprising support, Mars sextile his Mars (encouragement), Mars trine his Saturn (again mildly supportive), but Saturn square his Ascendant (personal difficulties) and Chiron opposite his Ascendant (more headaches, like where to go from here).  Transits for the 2nd round, in the unlikely event he would reach that, are: Uranus still trine his Sun (favours a regrouping of his life and aims), and Saturn still square his Ascendant (more struggle).

France Chart

With the chart of the French Republic (1792), its Venus conjuncts Emmanuel Macron’s North Node, indicating a karmic tie.  His Jupiter sextiles its Saturn, which is a good balancing act; their Saturns trine, again bringing stability.  There are other very positive aspects, plus a more difficult conjunction between Macron’s Chiron (the problem solver) and France’s Saturn (its blocks) which provide scope for resolution.

Marine Le Pen has Mars sextile France’s Sun, and would act as a warrior queen in putting barriers against the rest of the world.  Her Pluto conjuncts the French Mercury, so she could also bring new headaches to the nation.  Her South Node conjuncts its Venus, so there is a past life tie, but perhaps not entirely comfortable.  Her Moon sextiles its Jupiter, so she has a genuine love for the country.

Francois Fillon has an exact tie between his Ascendant and France’s Venus, and indeed he has already served in a top capacity; whether or not he has already fulfilled his karmic brief is a moot point.  His North Node trines the French Mercury, another sign of his service.  His Chiron trines its Mars, so he had a useful role, but that does not necessarily mean he can make a comeback.

Jean-Luc Melenchon has a more fraught relationship with his country, and indeed was born in Tangier so may not be as in tune as the others.  His Uranus squares its Venus, which is not such a comfortable match.  His Sun squares its Mars, which points to some conflict, e.g. he may have faced some opposition.  His Mars squares its Saturn, again some abrasiveness.  The most positive interaspect is his Moon trine its Mars, indicating a genuine caring.

Election Dates

How are the imminent changes reflected in the chart transits for France?  For the first round, today,  the North Node trines its Saturn, indicating this is an important turning point for France.  Saturn sextiles its Neptune, so this period may usher in more realism, and the letting go of illusions.  For the second round, Chiron sextiles its Ascendant from the 2nd/3rd House cusp, which could bring some healing and a totally new change of direction, the end of one economic direction and a new mindset.