Aspects for the week beginning 14 September 2014

Scottish Referendum

The Scots go to the polls on Thursday 18/9/14 to determine whether they stay united with the rest of the British Isles, or go it alone. The polls currently are neck and neck.

Time to nail my colours to the mast: I am always in favour of Union, or Unity, (equally for instance in the case of the European Union) as I believe it to be the higher evolutionary path from the spiritual angle.

On a personal level too the thought of dis-union distresses me, and in addition I have never in this incarnation managed to visit Scotland, even though I know I have lived there before.  I would particularly like to visit the new age settlement of Findhorn.

My own fears chime with those of Will Hutton writing in the Observer:

“Absurdly, there will be two countries on the same small island that have so much in common. If Britain can’t find a way of sticking together, it is the death of the liberal enlightenment before the atavistic forces of nationalism and ethnicity – a dark omen for the 21st century. Britain will cease as an idea. We will all be diminished.”

Alex Salmond

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond’s  birthchart displays spectacularly his life path.  One of the great things about the Scots, which every Astrologer will appreciate, is that the birth times are stated on their birth certificates.  No need for any enquiries within the family, or any other subtle (e.g. dowsing) methods of eliciting that all important time of birth which leads to the holy grail of an Ascendant.

Alex is a Sun in Capricorn (ambition and politics) whose Sun is conjunct the North Node also in Capricorn (representing his karmic mission, which is also on side).  He has the fighting spirit of Moon conjunct Mars in Pisces, which sometimes obtains what is desired by subterfuge.  But his Ascendant is in Cancer, giving rise to the moon face and also the patriotism.  Rising within 6 degrees of his Ascendant is an exact conjunction between Jupiter and Uranus (the Inner and Outer Entrepreneur)  And we all know what his Enterprise is.  This suggests that this mission is what he came into this life to do (whether he succeeds or not).  This conjunction also trines his Moon (Ascendant ruler), and Venus completes a Grand Trine.  There is no doubt that he has been successful thus far in his political life and aims.

On the date of the Referendum, Saturn exactly trines his natal Mars and his Ascendant, forming a Grand Trine.  Neptune also exactly sextiles his natal North Node which represents his karmic mission, lending inspiration to his mission.

Nicola Sturgeon

Scottish Deputy Nicola Sturgeon has been prominent on our screens for several years, appearing regularly on Question Time.  She is a role model for the strong woman, and unflinching in her political aims, and in her solidarity with Alex Salmond.  She is a Cancerian to his Capricorn Sunsign, the perfect combination to complete a job.  She is comfortable with power, as her Sun is sextile Pluto, but the remarkable thing with respect to her alliance with Salmond, is that her natal Sun is exactly conjunct Alex Salmond’s Jupiter/Uranus exact conjunction, in other words she can directly help co-create his Enterprise.  Karmically, their North Nodes are exactly sextile, so a karmic contract will have been set up before birth for this aim.  And Nicola started young on her course: she was 16 when she entered politics!  There is a power alliance between their charts composed of Nicola’s Jupiter exactly sextile Alex Salmond’s Pluto.

On the day of the Referendum, Neptune is conjunct her North Node, a day on which her dreams could also come true, depending on how realistic they are!  What is not in question is the strength of her shared idealism with Alex Salmond.

Alistair Darling

Alistair Darling, leader of the No Campaign or “Better Together” campaign, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer under Gordon Brown, has as expected a very shrewd birthchart for financial affairs.  Strikingly, he has an exact conjunction of Pluto (high finance) and the Part of Fortune (Joy), which is sextile his natal Neptune, so he understands the complexities of Finance and is at home in all its subtleties.  He also has Venus (personal finance) very closely trine Uranus, a magical touch.  And with Venus exactly sextile his Midheaven (Careerpoint) a career in Finance would be obvious.  I am only perplexed by his dark bushy eyebrows, which I think are due in part to his Scorpio Ascndant.  On the Andrew Marr show today he was confidant and adamant that the No campaign would prevail.  He won the first debate with Alex Salmond, by asking difficult questions about currency, which Salmond never addressed.  Salmond mustered all his confidence for the second round, in which questions about currency were still not addressed (e.g. how he thought entitlement to the pound was a right), but Alistair Darling floundered and looked lacklustre.  After the second debate, Salmond’s Yes campaign gained ground, and it is possible that Darling feels that a show of confidence is what is needed.

The Astrology of the Referendum day for Darling shows him to be confused and a bit lost, so the show of confidence may just be a show.  Alistair has a strong chart generally, but a weak point is a square between his Sun and Moon (indecisiveness).  At this time, Neptune is creating a T-square by opposing his Moon and squaring his Sun.  The danger for this period is that he may feel disillusioned and shocked by realities at that time.  This may of course refer to his private life, but certainly he has thrown his all into this campaign and it must occupy a great deal of his heart, mind and soul at this time.  He knows what is right and true for him, but is bamboozled by the force and angle of the opposition and does not know how to respond effectively to the lack of response to his rational arguments.

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown has a key role in the No Campaign, and was chosen as the most diplomatic political figure to put forward reforms for the Scottish people in the event of a No vote.  I have in the past given much blog time to Gordon Brown, so do not need to analyze his birth chart.  But I must say, he has the best set of transits for the Referendum. This is intriguing because it flies in the face of all the rest of the astrological evidence.  It is possible that if the vote on Thursday were to result in a Yes vote, he would play a key role in bridging and negotiating the various political and financial parties.  It is by no means certain to what degree of significance the charts of events show up in a personal chart, and seemingly his main role in this lifetime has already been played out, but the transits are: Jupiter exactly conjunct his Moon (emotional buoyancy), Saturn trine exactly his North Node (a serious karmic recognition of his contribution), Uranus exactly conjunct his Ascendant (a sudden change in his lifestyle), Neptune exactly trine his Uranus (a complexity of new systems to master), and Neptune exactly sextile his Midheaven (new sensitive career roles, including a counseling role).   Maybe people will be patting him on the back for his efforts, and that constitutes a hope for the No campaign.

David Cameron

Is David Cameron likely to go down in history as the Prime Ministor who “lost” the Union between Scotland and England or the rest of the British Isles?  Certainly I pointed out at the beginning of the year that he has had Uranus opposite his Sun, and that it might prove a significant transit for September 18^th.  Uranus is a planet of schism and estrangement, and so there is a real danger for him in this respect.  It would require great efforts on the part of his Soul to mend this schism, and I felt as he did when he made an emotive speech this last week saying he would be heartbroken at the loss of Scotland.

National Charts

I have concentrated on  three out of a raft of charts which can be viewed to look at the national effect of the events of September 18^th :

1922 United Kingdom Chart

I wrote a few weeks ago: “The current chart for the U.K., based on 7^th December 1922, has as its astrological signatures Sun/Mercury in Sagittarius (an upbeat sign, and the Sun sign of Winston Churchill), Ascendant in Gemini (mentally lively) exactly square Uranus at the top of the chart (forward looking and humanitarian on the plus side) and Moon in Cancer (patriotic).  That may change if our Scottish brothers and sisters leave the equation.  The current turmoil shows in the transits as Pluto opposite the United Kingdom Pluto, and economic and social hardship is depicted by Saturn squaring the U.K. Neptune.  But there are some livelier transits showing openness to change:  Jupiter squaring the natal Jupiter (a sense of adventure) and Uranus trine the national Mercury (openness to new ideas), which may yield some favourable changes.”

1801 U.K. Union Chart

The transits to this national chart are unequivocal: Pluto exactly transiting its Sun (a death and a rebirth) and Mars exactly squaring its Pluto (intense conflict).

842 Chart for Scotland

This natal chart in itself carries hope (Jupiter on the Ascendant) and depth (Pluto conjunct the Sun) as an expression of the Scottish national character.  However, the transits are not so favourable to Scotland at the time of the referendum: Saturn square its Moon (continued subjugation) and Neptune conjunct its Venus (a sense of betrayal, but at its best spiritual love!).

It will be interesting to see which set of transits most describes actual events this week.

Owen Jones

Young political analyst Owen Jones rose to fame through his first book “Chavs – the demonization of the working class”  He is another favourite on Question Time, and talks a lot of sense.

In an article in the Guardian he says of the Tory policy and current line on the referendum:

“Rather than attempting to defeat a yes campaign championing hope with the politics of fear, it would have promised to build a socially just Scotland as part of a federal Britain.”

Owen Jones published his second book “The Establishment” on 4^th September (only 10 days ago) and I have only just begun reading it.  He rightly points out the role of the elite in the disillusionment of the lower classes, and not only this current  government: “Many Scots look at the Britain built by this political elite, they don’t like it and they want out.”

In an appeal to the sense of keeping the Union he says: “What appeals is the common traditions shared by Scottish, English and Welsh people as they confronted, fought and defeated the powerful…A new federal constitutional order – with sweeping devolution to the English regions and Wales, and to Scotland if it remains – must be built.”

He speaks for me.

Aspects

Today’s is the most powerful aspect of the week, with Venus trine Pluto.  This gives power to relationships, art, and financial affairs.  You may be able to take your pick which area you work on, or work on all three.

In relationships, the call is for depth and facing psychological issues.

In art, the brief is to create something meaningful and enduring.

In finance, there is a dare to dream large, and work on your abundance issues.

Tuesday (16^th) brings a conjunction between Mercury and the North Node.  This may feed you vital information about your karma, in this present or in past lives.  It may focus on what you have to learn and what you have to teach.  The Course in Miracles says: “We teach what we need to learn.”

Wednesday (17^th) tests out your lessons from today, with Venus opposing Chiron.  There may be a crisis of relationship, art or money, and you need to handle it with the wisdom with which you made progress on the trine of Venus with Pluto.

In  relationships, you may need to let go, and paradoxically you may find out the true power of the relationship.

In art, you may need to re-work something, based on reality.

In finance, you may need to release some of your hard won profits to charity!

On Thursday (18^th) whether you are a Yes or a No voter, at the Scottish polls, or in your heart, may the outcome be of benefit to everyone on these Islands, and may it enable us to perform our true role in the world.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – express your full power
• Tuesday – listen to the messages of the Universe
• Wednesday – healing crises and hopefully resolutions in relationships, art and finance
• Thursday – keep calm and carry on