Aspects for the week beginning 6 September 2015

Refugees

 The focal point of this week was a photograph of a 3 year old Syrian boy drowned at sea, but there have also been dramatic scenes in Hungary of packed trains, a woman and baby on a railway line, and refugees marching to the Austrian border, some finally yesterday finding refuge in Germany.

Currently, Jupiter is exactly square Syria’s Mars/Uranus, possibly depicting the sudden mass emigration of its populace, who cannot take any more of ISIL or President Assad.

And Pluto is exactly square Syria’s Ascendant on the 4^th House cusp, maybe the lowest point at which it could sink.

Neptune (the sea, and photographs) in Pisces is exactly quincunx the Syrian natal North Node/Pluto conjunction (loss of life) in its 10^th House of Reputation.

David Cameron was forced, by the public outcry about the photograph, to put on a more humanitarian face after initially stating that we were not going to change our policy.  Now he intends to take a greater share of the refugee numbers.  A moment of karmic confrontation and  choice for him, shown by an exact transit of the North Node to his Ascendant, brought about by accusations of shame nationwide.

Karmic pressure was also on the Hungarian government, with the Nodal Axis squaring exactly Hungary’s natal Mars in 12^th House.  It was ironic to see people massing on trains trying to get into Germany, scenes of packed trains which invoked the holocaust from memory, but Germany’s open arms may also have been karmic.  That does not detract from the near saintliness of their contribution, contrasting the scenes of ordinary Germans welcoming their visitors with David Cameron’s jaw set to keep them out.

The North Node of karmic response was exactly transiting Germany’s Venus (unconditional love) at 1 degree Libra.  The dramatic influx of population is shown by a transit of Mars squaring exactly Germany’s natal Pluto in the 4^th House of Population.

Greece, where many of those fleeing inhumane regimes land, and where the little boy’s body was washed up, meanwhile continues to struggle in economic destitution. Their economic tormentor Germany extends a kind and open hand towards Syrians, even though Greece forgave German debt after the war.  Pluto is currently exactly opposite Greece’s Ascendant, representing dire challenges.  So the convolutions of karma continue…But, we are all in it together.

Strictly Come Dancing 2015 – Part 1

Another season is upon us, and I will catch up again with the series in a few weeks.  In the meantime, here is the first batch of contestants with their prospects:

Carol Kirkwood

Carol Kirkwood is the relentlessly cheerful weather girl, a favourite with my Hubby (and maybe yours, too).  She is also amazing for 53 – I would have put her at 20 years younger.  The upbeat qualities are shown in her chart by first and foremost Jupiter conjunct Chiron.  This conjunction is exactly trine Neptune, lending inspiration to her personality.  But her chart is not all plain sailing: she has Saturn square Neptune and Sun square Pluto, plus Saturn on the South Node, so some of that cheerfulness is pulling against some tough life experience in this life and former lives.  Venus sextiles Pluto, so she has some musicality, and Jupiter opposes Pluto so she has some desire for power.  She claims she cannot dance (Saturn square Neptune) but a breakfast TV colleague claims she can, and Chiron/Jupiter trine her Neptune testifies to some prowess on the dance floor.

At the beginning, Uranus sextiles her natal Mercury but Chiron squares her Mercury – lots of nervous tension!  When it finishes, Neptune will be square her Sun, and opposite her Pluto but trine her Venus.  The whole experience will leave her bedazzled!

I was delighted to find that Carol was partnered with the lovely Pasha Kovalev last night, and she was over the moon.  He has an intelligent Sun/Mercury conjunction in late Capricorn, which can be calculating and cool, but balanced by a warm and energetic conjunction of Mars with Jupiter.  The competition starts quietly for him with Saturn sextile his natal Sun, but finishes more explosively with Mars on his Pluto.  I suspect that Carol will not make it through to the final, but we will enjoy her participation, and the pair have good astrological connections.

Peter Andre

A veteran of reality TV, Peter Andre made his name as a singer in the early 1990s, and still graces the magazine covers to this day!  Along the way his career had a few years of struggle, until in 2004 he took part in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here where he met the entrepreneurial Katie Price (aka Jordan) who he later married.  His original image was quite macho, and that fits with his North Node/Mars conjunction sextile his Mars which brings up the Inner Warrior archetype.  While in the jungle he penned the song “Insania” which was not an impressive tune, but full marks for his ease in writing it, inspired by falling for Katie Price and the situation of being in the jungle.  He made a series of reality shows with Katie, and since splitting up with Katie, he continued on his own, under the steam of his own power (natally Jupiter trine Pluto, and Saturn exactly sextile Chiron).

At the beginning, Peter will have Neptune on his Sun (he’ll fall in love with the experience), and at the end the South Node will be on his Mercury, Mars will be on his Uranus and Neptune square his Neptune.  He will really feel he’s learned something valuable and exciting, and like Carol will be dazzled.

Peter is partnered with Janette Manrara, who is engaged to one of the other professional dancers Aljaz Skorjanec.  Peter himself has recently re-married.  Janette was very excited (his Uranus sextiles her natal Venus) to be partnered with Peter Andre.  She is a sultry Scorpio, with enthusiastic planets in Sagittarius.  She is a bit confused right now, with Neptune squaring her natal Uranus.  It is likely that the dynamics with Peter over the next few months will affect her consciousness, and she may find it difficult to centre herself.  However there is a transit of Jupiter sextile her natal Sun close to the final, so this partnership could find itself there.  There are fireworks though in their relationship, with her Uranus square his Sun and her power planet Pluto square his natal Jupiter.  She may try to manipulate him under the legitimate guise of being his teacher, but he is his own man now, and further along from the comparative youth who fell for Katie in the jungle.

Jeremy Vine

News presenter Jeremy has an extraordinary versatility (7 of his 10 planets in Mutable signs) and energy (a triple conjunction of Uranus/Mars/Pluto).  He is going to be very nimble and fluid on the dance floor! He is a former punk (often associated with the Uranus/Pluto anarchic energy). He has 0 Cardinal planets, so might prefer to follow!  His partner will have to work hard to bring out his leadership.  Venus conjuncts exactly Jupiter in his chart, so he is immensely sociable, and likable.  There is a slight tension and strain, in an opposition between Mars and Saturn.  Some situations might provoke a stand off, where he might say “I can’t (or won’t) do this.”  This stand off is involved with his karmic path, as it squares his Nodal Axis, so there may be karmic reasons why he won’t or can’t.  But Saturn trines his natal Neptune, so he has a good balance between the practical and the spiritual in his make up.

At the beginning of the contest, Jupiter squares his Jupiter (High Hopes!).  At the end of the contest, the North Node trines his Sun (he will get his karmic just desserts).

Jeremy was cock-a-hoop at landing the experienced Karen Clifton as his partner.  She has a dreamy Moon/Venus conjunction in Pisces, gliding with a trine to her North Node, so she will always do well in ballroom dancing!  With three planets in Libra, she also connects well in partnership, and is related to another professional, Kevin Clifton.  With Mars sextile her natal Saturn at the beginning of this tournament, she starts reasonably well, and would be reasonably pleased with her partner.  At the end of the competition, Pluto sextiles her natal Venus, so this partnership could be a serious contender for the ultimate glitter ball. As they get to know each other, there could be tensions from his Pluto opposing her natal Venus, and with his Saturn on her Moon she may find him emotionally exacting: he could stretch her more than most partners.

Ainsley Harriot

Ainsley has 7 of his 10 planets in the Fixed Signs, so he may find old habits hard to break.  But his Sun is in the dance sign of Pisces, which should stand him in good stead on the dance floor, and comes from a musical family.  There is a gentlemanliness from Moon conjunct Venus, which should be enchanting in the slow dances, and he knows how to work it with Mercury also in that mix.  In the Arts, he has a love of the dramatic, shown by Venus exactly opposite Pluto.  And he can get overwhelmed in some situations, with Neptune square exactly Uranus, when he is out of the kitchen or comfort zone.  Mercury is exactly square his Nodal Axis, so he is more accustomed to the teaching role in life, and despite his prominent sense of humour, he does have a serious side (Saturn exactly sextile Chiron).

The beginning of Strictly Come Dancing sees Ainsley’s confidence in ambivalent form:  Saturn sextiles his Jupiter exactly, but squares his natal Pluto.  He will sense he is starting a challenging journey psychologically.  At the end of the series, Saturn will be square his Sun, so his confidence will be a little dented.

Ainsley has been paired with Natalie Lowe, who has Sun, North Node and Mercury in Leo which makes her a natural performer.  She has Moon, Mars and Pluto in Libra, which makes her very intense in relationship.  Uranus trines her natal Neptune at the beginning of the competition, so she will engage with the process on a deep level.  At the end, Neptune trines her Venus and Pluto trines her natal Jupiter, so if the couple survive to the end their dancing could have a real wow factor.  Their chemistry is fairly low key.

Aspects

Today, Venus goes direct after a period of retrograde motion.  Perhaps you have had to iron out some relationship issues during that time, and there is a turning point now where you feel you are not treading on so many egg shells.  Relax into a more harmonious and loving phase…

On Tuesday (8^th) Mars trines Uranus, which may see you taking more action, organizing and preparing for September’s heavy schedule.  Synchronicities may abound, and the Universe may be seen to co-operate with your plans.  An exciting day.

On Wednesday (9^th) Mercury squares Pluto, and we may be forced to re-think a course of action, or turn our consciousness round at least 90 degrees.  What we thought reasonable yesterday may come up against a glitch, or be opposed by authorities.  Perhaps you had an idea about improving community relations, and it proves unworkable due to government cuts.  Some deep thinking about causes and effects may bring about a breakthrough in how to proceed.  In the meantime, if the stand-off brings about a headache, lying in a darkened room may allow more inspiration to arise.

Chiron opposes the Sun on Saturday (12^th), and healing is trying to happen.  It is the day that the new Labour leader will be announced (at 11.45 a.m.) and it is also the Last Night of the Proms.  There is an air of finalizing or completion around this, solving a problem, or trying to bring a group of people to an experience of connectivity.  This is made more poignant by the eclipse which occurs the next day.  Saturday is about fully embracing the experience of life, the pleasure and the poignancy.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – Relationships full steam ahead
• Tuesday – Action stations!
• Wednesday – Houston, there is a problem…
• Saturday – we are all in it together