Aspects for the week beginning 5 March 2023

Betty Boothroyd (1929 – 2023)

“The passion, wit and sense of fairness she brought to politics will not be forgotten.”

~ Rishi Sunak 

Betty Boothroyd, the first female Speaker of the House of Commons, died this week at the  age of 93.  An affable personality, and capable politician, she stood out as a straight talking supporter of the working class and for her all round popularity.

Birth Chart

Betty was a good advert for her Sun sign of Libra, having a good proportion of the sign’s attributes: popularity, charm, fairness, beauty (she won a contest) and musicality.  This was concentrated in quality by virtue of an exact conjunction of her Sun with Mercury in that sign.  So she had the sign’s spiritual and mental qualities.  The Sun/Mercury conjunction was trine Jupiter, giving her an expansiveness which drew people to her.  Mercury trine Jupiter is by nature a Speaker.  The office of Speaker in the Commons is the head of parliament, and this trine befits the office.  She proved to be successful and popular in the role.  Her Part of Fortune was in the 3rd House of speaking, too.  With the Moon also in the Jupiter-ruled sign of Sagittarius, she had a cheery smile and was known for her humour. The opposition of Sun/Mercury to Uranus meant that she was not afraid of being controversial, and there are some good examples of this in her life, such as a controversial maiden speech.  She ignored advice from Bob Mellish to “Keep your trap shut, girl, and you will get on”.  A journalist described her as having the “lip of a barmaid.”  Chiron exactly conjunct the North Node in Taurus gave her a very specific karmic mission, as a healer of sorts in her profession, and a steady hand on the tiller.  Mars in Scorpio gave her some toughness to counterbalance Sun/Mercury in Libra.

Life and Career

Betty was born in Dewsbury, and was an only child of textile workers.  She was brought up with political awareness, with her father being a trade unionist.  At the age of 12 she won a scholarship to Dewsbury Technical College.  She loved dancing (Mars closely sextile Neptune) and worked as a dancer from 1946 to 1952, which included a stint as a Tiller girl at the London Palladium.  That showed a performing side, which may be linked with Sun in Libra, but  a birth time would possibly  emphasize this.  When she recorded “Desert Island Discs” in 1993, she chose Ethel Merman’s “There’s no Business like Show Business” as one of her tunes.  A turning point in her life came though when she suffered from a foot infection, and sought a different life direction.

She had already shown an interest in politics, with her mother’s encouragement. She had became a member of the Labour League of Youth when she was 16, at the time when her progressed Sun moved from Libra to Scorpio.  The following year, with her progressed Sun conjunct her natal Mars in Scorpio, she was the winner in a speaking competition which took place for young socialists.  In the 1950s she worked as a secretary to the Labour politician Barbara Castle, a foot in the door of the political world.  She also held such a supportive post in politics in Washington for a while.  She was not academic in her school life (and had failed the 11-plus), so it may have taken her a while to build confidence: some of her humour has a distinctly self-deprecatory flavour.  Her first foray into direct political responsibility came in 1965, when she won a seat on Hammersmith Borough Council.  Eventually, after four unsuccessful attempts, she became an M.P. in 1973 (for West Bromwich).  Her star was rising, and she gradually built a good reputation among her fellow M.Ps, and a growing popularity.  She became a Deputy Speaker in 1987, and finally in 1992 she “smashed the glass ceiling” and became the first female Speaker.

Her Speakership

Before Betty took up this office, speakers were addressed as “Mr Speaker”, but when asked what she would like to be called, she said “Madam Speaker”.  Another tradition which she changed was the wearing of wigs.  She declined to wear the wig, and after her speakership the tradition was not resumed.  She had a signature catchphrase, and that was “Time’s up!”  She announced her resignation, after eight years, on 12th July 2000.  Transiting Jupiter was square her natal Neptune in Virgo: she was restless on her inner journey.

Awards

She collected an enormous amount of awards and honorary degrees during her life.  Naming just a few: In 1993 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Civil Law from City University London; in 1999 she became an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh’s College Oxford; She gained a life peerage in 2001 (with Pluto sextile her natal Sun/Mercury), and an Order of Merit in 2005.

Personal Life

For a Libran, it was unusual for Betty Beecroft not to have married or had children.  But she would have liked children, and said that she had at least three offers of marriage, which never arrived at a convenient time.  Her Venus in Virgo may have made her very discerning in relationships.

Leisure

She took up paragliding in her 60s, a hobby which  would suit an Air sign such as Libra, and described it as “lovely and peaceful”, a phrase which is distinctly Libran in nature.

House of Lords

She took up her peerage, and campaigned against Brexit.  The future of the House of Lords is currently under question by the Labour party, as the entry of members has been used inappropriately over the last few years by the Tory government.  Keir Starmer would like to see an elected House.  However, Betty had clear views to the contrary, saying:  “It is wantonly destructive. It is destruction that hasn’t been thought through properly.”  She was worried about power struggles and constitutional disarray.

Though she had a colourful personality, she was not a radical politically, coming from the right of the Labour Party, and honouring most protocols and traditions, while dispensing with some.  Like the Libran scales, a curious balance or mixture, but one that endeared her to a wide range of people.

“You never know what people are capable of until you give them the opportunity to show it.”

~ Barbara Castle

Aspects

Today Mercury from Pisces sextiles the North Node in Taurus, setting up a productive element to the day: the karmic wind will be beneath your wings.  Communication will be highly significant and imbued with meaning, though subject to differing interpretations according to belief.  Solutions can be found: today after ten years of negotiations The High Seas Treaty has been agreed to protect marine life.  We have something to show for Mercury (contracts and agreements) in the water sign of Pisces harmonizing with the North Node (karmic necessity).

Tomorrow (Monday 6th) we have another sextile, that between the Sun and Uranus.  You can make this day count, in a spectacular way.  Spontaneity and innovation characterize the proceedings of the day.  Telepathy and higher consciousness, or liaising with a constructive group, are also favoured.

Tuesday lunchtime brings a Full Moon at 16 degrees Virgo, which is likely to bring some emotional tension and a desire towards perfectionism and practicality, at the same time as honouring spiritual ideals represented by the opposing Sun in Pisces.  Work and service are also principles of this polarity of signs.

Not long after the Full Moon and its tension, we have a major shift, in the shape of Saturn entering Pisces.  This is a big deal, and may be a relief for Aquarians (who will have their big deal arriving soon in the shape of Pluto’s entry into that sign).  Pluto will enter Aquarius on 23rd March, so enjoy the hiatus, Aquarians!  As you can see (if you don’t already know), March is going to be an important month, especially for people who have their Sun or any other planet at 0 degrees of a sign.  There will be changes, some expected, and some not so.  Saturn has a slow application, so you may see these changes coming, and some of them may arise from your own cuts and economies.  Simplifying your life may be an option.  Saturn stays in a sign for two and a half years, so you have time to work with it.  One important consideration for Saturn in Pisces is to work charitably for those struggling in society, e.g. in poverty.  By the end of the period, the government of the day may be able to put into place something to help, possibly after a huge public outcry.  Compassion is always a watchword for Pisces, but excruciatingly so for Saturn in Pisces.

There are two more sextiles on Saturday (11th), the first being Venus sextile Mars, which takes place in the afternoon.  This aspect is given over to pleasure and  indulgence, and maybe romance is also on the cards.  Art will have vigour, and movement will have artistry or elegance under this influence.  Social plans should flourish.

In the evening, Mercury will be sextile Uranus, giving rise to spectacular and unusual communications.  This encourages us to use all the new technology for our communications, and brings new ideas, heightening intuition and telepathy.   This aspect can amaze you and help you find that “wow” factor.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – the wind beneath your wings
• Tomorrow – spontaneity and innovation
• Tuesday – emotional high tide; deepening compassion
• Saturday – sensuality; sparkling technology