Aspects for the week beginning 17 November 2019

James Le Mesurier

“To save one life is to save all of humanity” ~

motto of the White Helmets

James Le Mesurier, the British Co-Founder of the White Helmets, has died at the age of 48 tragically from an apparent suicide.

White Helmets

The organization known as the White Helmets was founded in 2014, emerging from a charity known as Mayday Rescue, and trains Syrian volunteers to respond in emergencies such as the aftermath of bombing.  The Guardian Obituary reported: “Le Mesurier became convinced that the conventional models of stabilisation run by big-budget contractors in the region were dysfunctional, and that the only viable path to recovery was through empowering local communities.”  The White Helmets have been nominated for the Nobel peace prize every year since their inception, and have been reported to have saved over 110,000 lives during the Syrian Civil War.  They have about 3000 volunteers.  Prior to his work in Syria, Le Mesurier had worked in (among other places) Bosnia and Kosovo, Baghdad, Turkey  and the United Arab Emirates.

Birth Chart

Such courage and character must surely show up in a birth chart.  Looking into his chart, there are special signs, which put together made up such an extraordinary man.  Le Mesurier (who was related to the John Le Mesurier who starred in Dad’s Army) had 0 Water planets in his chart, and that may have enabled him to control his emotions.  Mars was conjunct his North Node, and the Sun in his chart was trine Mars, a sure sign of the Warrior Archetype (he retired from the military in 2000, after which he used his skills in a variety of roles in war-torn trouble spots).  Jupiter opposed Saturn in his chart, setting up a balance between an optimistic mindset and a realistic one.  He had an  inventive Grand Trine in the Air element, composed of his Sun, Uranus and Mars. Sun opposite closely Neptune, sensitive.  His Sun was also trine Pluto, enabling him to look harsh realities in the face.  Mercury was also conjunct exactly Venus – the Diplomat or Negotiator Archetype.  Mercury (his Sun ruler, as a Geminian) was square exactly his Mars – giving him very quick physical and mental reactions.  He also had healing energy, with Mars sextile closely Chiron.  What also gave him great strength and fortitude was Saturn exactly trine Pluto, and with Jupiter exactly conjunct Neptune he also had great vision and compassion.

Last Days

Sadly, for all his good work, as the head of the White Helmets organization, Le Mesurier was personally targeted and smeared by the Russians and the Syrian regime.  The stress eventually wore him down.  His wife reported that two weeks before he died he had become suicidal.  A week before he died, he was accused by the Russians of being a former M16 agent. He was found on the morning of 11th November having fallen from a balcony in Istanbul.

“Whatever we can, whenever we can, for as long as we can” ~

James Le Mesurier

Aspects

We haven’t got an actual Aspect, as such, this week.  We’ve got two sign changes (ingresses) and a planetary change from retrograde to direct (no prizes for guessing which planet…).

The first feature of the week is on Tuesday (19th), when Mars enters Scorpio.  The time for patient negotiation has passed (Mars in Libra), battle lines are now drawn; prepare to defend the underdog, or provide strength and support.  Energies in our society are being concentrated now and focussed towards the General Election on December 12th, getting Brexit done or not done, and of course preparations for Christmas.  There is a sense of urgency.  The “fight the good fight” drive in terms of Christmas is about ecological awareness; making sure there is not a shred of tinsel on any card, wrapping paper, or – er – decoration?  Have a veggie Christmas too, and ensure that you will be guilt-free.  Mars is determinedly hanging round in Scorpio, not just for the pre-election duration, but up to Christmas, and beyond.  Right through the New Year (determined New Year resolutions!) up until January 3rd.

If communication is your priority, you’ll be pleased to know that Mercury is Stationary prior to turning Direct on Wednesday (20th).  You can start your Christmas cards in the sure knowledge they will arrive in time.  Forge ahead with your paperwork and documentation, and in transport pray that there are no leaves or the wrong type of snow on the line, and hopefully you too will arrive on time.  I am hoping that this turnaround of Mercury will enable me to continue polishing my novel (which I have been writing for 13 years) and write my two philosophy essay assignments for Descartes and Hume.  So if you have projects waiting to happen of a literary or technical nature, this may be a green light for you.

Thirdly, and lastly, the Sun enters Sagittarius on Friday (22nd), and some of that Scorpio intensity will be lightened by the general festive pre-Christmas season of Sagittarius. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, at least in the preparation of Christmas (it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive..).  Christmas itself comes under the sobriety of Sun in Capricorn.  Your enthusiasm and preparations now can help create and inject warmth into the big day, in advance.  Sagittarius also represents philosophy (not necessarily the Descartes and Hume kind), but working out your ethics and how you feel about the meaning of life, and religion.  It’s nice to have settled your take on these, before settling down to your nut roast on the day.  But as people are growing increasingly allergic to nuts, then your plant-based best effort, under a new government which has promised you the earth.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – new drive
• Wednesday – better communications
• Friday – in the festive mood