Jacinda Ardern stands down

“I know what this job takes.  And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice.”

~ Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern suddenly announced she was stepping down from the role this week.  How many people keep going in a role long past the time they should have left?  Her popularity rate had plummeted recently, with issues in that country similar to worldwide problems, but there is no doubting her successes over the last few years (she led her party from 2017, and became Prime Minister later that year), and the strong feminine style of leadership admired by many.

Birth Chart

I wrote in 2019:

“Jacinda has an unaspected Sun in Leo, indicating a very individualistic leader.  Her North Node in Leo also indicates leadership as a karmic path.  I pointed out last week that she has Neptune trine her North Node, like Greta Thunberg the subject of last week’s blog, showing spiritual leadership.  With Mercury trine Uranus she is also a very independent thinker.  Venus is closely sextile with the North Node in Leo, depicting her warmth.  Jupiter trine Chiron describes her positivity, the ability to see solutions.”

Life and Career

Jacinda is still only 42 years old.  She studied Politics and Public Relations at the University of Waikato, and became a researcher in the government of Helen Clark, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand.  She also had experience as a policy advisor under Tony Blair’s government.  Shortly before becoming Prime Minister, she was elected leader of the Labour Party – Saturn (responsibililty) was trine her natal North Node in Leo (Leadership) at the time, a karmic duty was calling.  The win earned her the nickname “Jacindamania”.  She had a resounding win in the election of September 2017 which resulted in her taking the role of Prime Minister of New Zealand.  She was experiencing a Nodal Return, fulfilling her karma. At the time, she was the world’s youngest female head of government.  Her stated aim would be that her government would be “focused, empathetic and strong”.  In the U.S., Donald Trump had begun his term as President at the beginning of the year, and their styles and policies of leadership were markedly different in many areas.  She promised various reforms, including for housing, in domestic affairs.  In international affairs, she raised the mistreatment of the Uyghurs with China, and the mistreatment of the Rohingyas with Myanmar’ leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Motherhood

Jacinda was a trailblazer in having a child during the high office when she gave birth to her daughter Neve on 21st June 2018 (second world leader to give birth while in office).  We have a birth time for Neve, giving her a Sagittarian Ascendant, and a rectified chart is available for Jacinda, which would give her a Sagittarian Ascendant as well.  In Neve’s chart, her Moon (signifying her mother) appears in the 10th House of high office.  Neve is an important factor, I believe, in Jacinda’s resignation, as she has stated she wants to be able to do the upcoming “school run” for her.  Jacinda’s partner Clarke Gayford has been looking after Neve, and Jacinda hopes that they will have the leisure time to get married.

Christchurch Shootings

In March 2019, I wrote:

“We are One”

~ Jacinda Ardern

“On Friday 15th March in Christchurch New Zealand, a white supremacist opened fire in two mosques, killing 50 worshippers.  The 38 year old Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern immediately stepped up to the plate in this crisis.  Her words were exactly on point, and reminded you of the admirable values of her nation.  Images of her comforting the Moslem community this week are iconic: wearing a black headscarf she demonstrated her unity with those grieving, while at the same time bringing to mind the Madonna archetype.

… She has taken active steps on gun law, and she has professed a desire to initiate reform worldwide around social media excesses and problems (because the gunman live streamed his actions).”

On Climate Change

“We’re small, and our contribution to the global emissions profile is even smaller, but we are surrounded by island nations who will feel the brunt of climate change acutely. I see ourselves as having a responsibility to demonstrate that we can and we will lead the charge.”

~ Jacinda Ardern

Pandemic Response

Again from my archives:

“On 14 March 2020, Jacinda acted promptly on the threat of the Pandemic, announcing the “widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world”.  Mars was square to her natal Pluto in Libra, indicating bold and courageous action. Transiting Jupiter was also sextile her natal Uranus in Scorpio, showing enterprise.  Uranus was squaring her natal Sun, meaning that she was taking the initiative on the element of the unexpected (which she was more able to do than during the volcanic eruption).  Her actions proved inspired, as the subsequent health records for New Zealand testify.  She closed all borders to all non-citizens and non-permanent residents at 11.59 p.m. on 20th March.  Her resolve at that time showed in a transit of Mars/Jupiter trine her natal Saturn in Virgo at that time.  The Washington Post has praised her use of social media and high level communication throughout the crisis.  By 11.59 p.m. on 25 March she had put the nation on full lockdown, which was at a similar time to lockdown in the U.K. (but with very different results).  Jupiter at that time was still trine her natal Saturn, and steady progress was being made. On the financial front, she took a 20% pay cut in solidarity with those suffering as a result of the economic results of the pandemic. Her practical response to this crisis has been hailed as a model.”

Her success rate in keeping the covid rates down became the envy of the world, with very low rates of illness and death.

Earthquake

In May 2020, an earthquake struck while Jacinda was live on TV.  Notably, she kept her cool!  I wrote at the time:

“As an earthquake struck, she calmly stated “We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here”.  I could be reading too much into it here, but perhaps this was a symbol from Gaia of how tuned in Jacinda has been, designed to show how strong she is.  At the time, Chiron was opposing her natal Mars.  That is a transit which can rock your world, Chiron representing crisis and Mars representing the response of her energies.  She was unshakeable, and cool, in the best manner of her Mars in equable Libra.

…  It is a measure of her strength and evolvement that she is able to stand firm in these times.  Her current popularity rating would be the envy of any politician: she is riding high in her approval rating at 65% of the voting public.”

Retirement announced

Astrologically, she could not have picked a better moment to announce her resignation.  Her transits this week showed:

Jupiter trine her natal Sun, that’s the way to do it

Uranus sextile her natal Mercury, the right time to break away

Neptune square her natal Venus, nothing left in the tank

Mars trine her natal Mars, decisive moment of action

Neptune opposite her natal Saturn, nothing left in the tank

Jacinda’s popularity ratings have slumped recently, and with elections coming up, in order to give her party time to stabilize, she has probably chosen the right time for her announcement.  Issues in common with other countries round the globe, such as cost of living and inflation, dented her reputation.  It clearly was the right time for her personally, in her private life, and possibly also healthwise (transiting Neptune opposite her natal Saturn).  She has stated she will leave at the latest by 7th February.  She has raised the issue of political stress, and in particular, the stress of females in office with young families.  She gave birth in office, and didn’t have time for the baby blues – she needs catch-up time.

U.K. labour MP Jess Phillips, writing in the Guardian wrote yesterday:

“I believe the answer is being honest about the fact that politics is an emotional, not a bureaucratic fame.

…We must create support structures female politicians and activists can lean on without being seen negatively or as weak.”

With her undeniable emotional intellligence, Jacinda has been an example to other politicians around the world, perhaps the model for a new kind of politician.  She has earned the right to step down.

“I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader – one who knows when it’s time to go”

 ~ Jacinda Ardern

Aspects

We have three astrological features occurring today, with two of them late in the evening.  Operating in the early part of the day, we have Mercury trine the North Node.  This can help ensure that information and communication are accurate and karmically relevant.  You should be able to experience that on a mental or spiritual level.  It will contribute to progress generally, especially when preparing your week’s work, studies and communicative ventures.

In the late evening, Venus conjoins with Saturn at 24 degrees Aquarius.  This may give rise to sobering reflections about relationship or money.  Feel your feelings (e.g. the nostalgia, or injustice), or deal with them philosophically, and let them go if you can.  The care of the elderly may be a particular preoccupation.  The optimum condition for this conjunction would be loyalty and commitment, and perhaps some songwriting incorporating a touch of melancholy.

An hour before midnight, Uranus will be Stationary, prior to turning Direct.  It is a good time to receive ideas about alleviating any collective, tribal, or social difficulties which you can see.  Closer to home, you may see what could be done in the family setting, or in the community.   Intuition will flow better, and future vision come into view.  However, the trickster element of Uranus may still be in evidence.  Then let go, and let yourself sleep!

Mid-week, on Wednesday (25th), in the early hours of the morning, an upbeat sextile between the Sun and Jupiter is to be savoured.  This may bring joyful dreams.  It can bring new hope!  It is one of the brightest  aspects of the year.  Focus on what makes you happy, and make more of that.  It may bring the return of an enjoyable leisure pursuit.

Our last feature of the week occurs on Friday (27th), and it is the ingress of Venus into the sign of Pisces.  It is timely to recall the gentleness and sensitivity of Pisces, as soon we will need to harness its resources when Saturn enters that sign for a two and a half year sojourn.  We will begin to lose that evangelical focus of Aquarius, and begin to appreciate a soft-focus approach which takes into account the emotion and feeling of every sentient creature.  Though in other ways, when Pluto imminently enters Aquarius, we will experience Aquarius in a new way, precipitated into a new type of future.  But Venus in Pisces is unashamedly emotional and easily prone to tears, so don’t be surprised to release the tears which have been stoically been held back from the recent past.  This placing will enable charities to be more easily heard, and the Arts to acquire inspiration.  We may be sentimentally reminded of the past.

Happy New Chinese Year of the Water Rabbit!

The week in bullet points:

  • Today – good karmic communications; letting go; intuition brightening
  • Wednesday – joy and hope
  • Friday – gentleness and sensitivity
Date: Jan 22nd, 2023 · Comments RSS · Tags: News