Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 – 2022)

One of the great statesmen of the 20th Century Mikhail Gorbachev of Russia died this week at the age of 91. He envisaged peaceful global relations, but against his wishes his domestic policies resulted in the break-up of the Soviet Union.  Thus it is that he is more fondly remembered in the West than in his own country.

Birth Chart

With the Sun in Pisces, Mikhail Gorbachev was a visionary and an idealist.  His Ascendant in Libra was peace loving and diplomatic.  The combination of these traits in his personality contributed to him gaining the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, for his work in ending the Cold War.  He had a very optimistic and upbeat outlook (unusual among Russian leaders), and that was shown in his chart by the Sun exactly trine Jupiter.  His Jupiter was at the top of his chart, square his Ascendant, and at the end of his 9th House of Foreign Relations, something he excelled in.  He did apparently have a need for attention and admiration, and that was a display of his Moon sign, Leo.  His Venus conjunct Saturn showed up a quality of loyalty in his character.  The Reformer Archetype was very much a part of his style of leadership, and that was shown by the North Node conjunct Uranus, and Chiron exactly sextile his Midheaven (careerpoint).

Life and Career

His family were poor (the I.C. in his chart conjunct Saturn in Capricorn in his 4th House of Home and Family).  This configuration is also an indication of motivation in politics, and he joined the Communist party at the age of 19, rising up the ranks (the Capricorn goat politically climbing).  He was born when Russia was under the declining years of Lenin’s  leadership, but the period of his childhood was dominated by the rule of Stalin.  As a youth, he worked on a farm operating combine harvesters, harvesting grain with his father.

He met his future wife Raisa at Moscow State University while studying his first degree in law, where he worked hard and was known as a mediator.  Raisa was studying Philosophy. He graduated in 1955, having written his final paper on the advantages of social democracy over bourgeois democracy. The couple had a daughter Irina in 1957.  Later he took a second degree in agricultural production.

Within the Communist Party, he took part in implementing de-Stalinization reforms after Khrushchev succeeded Stalin.  Gorbachev had identified as a Marxist-Leninist, but now became more of a reformist. In his political role within the region of Stavropol at this stage of his life, he began to travel out of Russia, to Bulgaria, East Germany and Czechoslovakia, which enabled him to gain wider political perspectives. He also travelled to Italy, being surprised by the poverty and inequality he saw.  But travel in Europe began to open his eyes and change his political focus – he was particularly struck by the way in which Europeans were able to openly criticize their governments, and began to see the merits of bourgeois democracy.

In 1978 he was appointed a Secretary of the Central Committee, then in 1980 he joined the Politburo, and was elected its leader and General Secretary in 1985, despite his relative youth.  Saturn was trine his natal Mars in Cancer in 10th House (career advancement),  Neptune trine his Neptune in Virgo in 11th House (spiritually, he was on track) and Pluto was sextile his natal Neptune (a profound change in his life, allowing him to fulfill his purpose).  He became the eighth leader of the Soviet Union.

Even at that age, he could see that substantial reform was necessary, and this conviction grew after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.  He made it a priority to withdraw from Russia’s war with Afghanistan, and began to reach out to the wider world, including President Reagan in the U.S., Mitterand in France, and Margaret Thatcher in the U.K. (who famously declared she could do business with him).  Gorbachev wanted to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons and end the Cold War.  Reagan was at first mistrustful of Gorbachev’s overtures, but eventually came to an amicable relationship with him. We in the western world learned about Glasnost and Perestroika, terms he used in his process of transformation.

Glossary:

Uskoreniye – An early policy of a path of controlled reform, aimed at accelerating domestic development by Gorbachev in Russia.

Perestroika – It soon became clear that restructuring was necessary, and so Perestroika replaced the policy of Uskoreniye. This involved decentralizing economic decision-making. Restructuring indirectly led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Glasnost – A policy of greater openness, transparency and honesty instigated by Gorbachev, allowing for more freedom of speech.

Gospriyomka – In domestic policy, this required quality assurance to improve output and production, marking a standard of state acceptance.

Yeltsin

As a political rival, the role of Boris Yeltsin proved to be influential in the demise of Mikhail Gorbachev. Yeltsin felt that Gorbachev did not go far enough in his reforms, and was a long-term critic of his policies. The two were destined to work alongside each other as contemporaries, being born within a month and a day of each other in the same year.  Yeltsin came to head the opposition to his government, and after he ousted Gorbachev in some ways finished off what Gorbachev had left undone, but with a destructiveness which Gorbachev was not happy with.  Gorbachev had allowed the Eastern European states to develop their own nationality and socialist policies, expecting them to want to stay in the Union.  The Berlin Wall came down in 1989, an event hailed in the west, and credited to Gorbachev, together with the reunification of Germany.  At the time Saturn (wall) was exactly conjunct Neptune (dissolution) at 10 degrees Capricorn (on Gorbachev’s 4th House cusp). Under Gorbachev’s successor Yeltsin, the Soviet Union came to an end, the states each went their own way, and we are seeing a backlash now, in Putin’s desire to grab back Crimea and Ukraine, in his bitterness about the break up of the Soviet Union.  He declined to attend Gorbachev’s funeral yesterday, but there was support in evidence among the population.

Final Years

In his final years, Gorbachev devoted himself to research (into Russian and international problems, according to the Guardian obituary).  Raisa died of a stroke, after having suffered with leukaemia in 1999, having worked for children’s charities.  She had proved an elegant first lady.  At her death, Saturn was square to his Moon (his female counterpart).  Their daughter Irina had two children.  Gorbachev was reportedly traumatized by the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, feeling that Putin had undone his life’s work.  To my mind, Gorbachev was a man who put the welfare of the world above nationalism and patriotism.

Words from mourners at his funeral, reported by the BBC:

“Gorbachev gave us hope, helped us dream of liberty. I hope our society is not saying goodbye to liberty.”

~ Stanislav

“This is a farewell to the person who has done his utmost to save the country from authoritarianism, from backwardness,”

~ Olga

Aspects

We have slim pickings this week, aspect-wise!

We begin tomorrow (Monday 5th), with Venus entering Virgo (which is not even an aspect, it’s an ingress).  This makes us tend to be more selective and discriminating in our tastes.  We become more aware of the issues around the environment.  Venus stays in Virgo until 23td September, so less than a three week window of time to refine our tastes and perfect our contribution to the ecosystem, e.g. recycling procedures.  We may also be specializing in our work and studies.  Be prepared for the announcement of our new Prime Minister.

The pickings are so slim, mid-week, that I have selected a Fixed Star to work with for Wednesday (7th).  On that day, our Sun is aligned with Mizar from Ursa Major, and the enlightenment from “Starlight Elixirs” by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld offers:

“Use of this star system can enhance states of multiple awareness, ability to channel, and the ability to organize various components of one’s personality.  There is an ability to better understand the physical, emotional, and spiritual phases of one’s life…

and

Mental transference of ideas and concepts in whole form is enhanced by use of this star.  As a result, the deeper understanding of complex issues – economic, political, and social can be found with this elixir.  Diplomacy, ability to interrelate in times of national crisis, ability to transfer between countries diverse aspects of culture will be enhanced.  Some artists struggling with large concepts and visions will also be assisted.”

Moving to the end of the week, on Saturday (10th) we have Mercury Stationary, prior to turning Retrograde, in Libra (also not actually a bona fide aspect).  Sorry to disappoint those who are not fans.  It will not go direct until 2nd October.  Be clear in your communications between these two dates, in order to avoid misunderstandings and loopholes.  Although technology can go awry, it can be a good period to upgrade such devices.  You may have developed your own strategies, according to past experiences.

But there’s a cheery note from Yasmin Boland and Kim Farnell in their book “The Mercury Retrograde Book”:

“The plus side of Mercury retrograde is definitely that old loves can come back into your life, if that’s what you’re pining for.  This can be for reconciliation…or for closure.  By the same token, if you really want to revive an old love affair, don’t wait for a chance meeting.  If Mercury is retrograde in Libra, the skies totally support you in getting back in touch.  That said, there are no guarantees!”

The Full Moon also occurring on that day, at 17 degrees Pisces, can be called an aspect as it represents an opposition between the Sun and the Moon.  This is an especially tender, sensitive and emotional Full Moon, so tears may flow.  Issues which may come up may be the plastic in the sea, or the fishing industry.  We hope here in the U.K. for some rain, which the Full Moon might grant us…The Pisces Full Moon reminds us that we are all One.

The week in bullet points:

  • Tomorrow – selectivity and refinement
  • Wednesday – channelling, and negotiating complexity
  • Saturday – emotional high tide
Date: Sep 4th, 2022 · Comments RSS · Tags: News · Obituary