Yevgeny Prigozhin

Russian Yevgeny Prigozhin created turmoil this week, not just in his native land, but around the world, challenging the status quo.  In the UK, he occasioned a COBRA meeting.  Rishi Sunak was in touch with allies, and urged all parties to protect civilians.  The implications of Prigozhin’s mutiny, as head of the fighting force Wagner, were unclear, and remain so.  The events of Friday and Saturday took everyone by surprise, and the outcome was bizarre.  It leaves the Russian government appearing unstable, and may (temporarily at least) affect the invasion of Ukraine.

Birth Chart

Prigozhin has the Sun in Gemini, which is sextile with Mars, giving him the mark of a warrior.  With the Sun also square to Pluto and Chiron in a Mutable T-square, he is no stranger to drama and crisis. He also has a Fixed T-square in the shape of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars (which may be delusional). The strengths in his chart include Sun trine Jupiter (trusts to luck) and Mercury trine Chiron (making him a problem-solver), and three other trines.  He also has a talent for engineering (Mars conjunct Uranus).  He also has a keen mind, with his ruling planet Mercury very well-aspected.  But his sense of feeling may be blunted by a square between Venus and Saturn.

Life and Career

He was born in Leningrad, and his father died when he was young.  In his school years, he trained as a cross-country skier.  In his late teens, he was caught stealing, and eventually imprisoned, serving nine years.  He then became a hot dog salesman, and found success in that venture.  From there he capitalized on his entrepreneurial spirit, and went into the grocery business.  Salesmanship is one of the talents of Gemini.  He moved into the restaurant trade in 1995, and hosted foreign heads of state such as George W. Bush and Jacques Chirac.  He earned the nickname “Putin’s Chef”.  Meanwhile, he was building his fortune in various other ways, and built the mercenary force “Wagner”, also interfering in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election (as he later confessed).  His force fought on behalf of Putin in Syria and in other conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.  By 2012 he and his family were living in a compound in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) which included a basketball court and a helicopter pad.  He also owned a private jet and a yacht.

Recent developments

He had for many years denied his links to Wagner, but finally confirmed that he had been its founder on 26th September 2022, after it had been playing a major role on behalf of Putin in his invasion of Ukraine.  At the time, Jupiter was square his natal Mercury, depicting the giving out of information.  He explained that he had founded it in May 2014 to support the war in Donbas.  At that time, Uranus had been trine with his natal Mars, prompting dynamic action, and boosting his “inner warrior”.  For the purposes of fighting in the war against Ukraine, Prigozhin recruited convicts, to boost the numbers, promising them freedom.

This Week

Prigozhin had been criticizing the way the war against Ukraine had been run, particularly by the Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu (another Gemini), but had denied in May that he was intending to stage a coup.  According to the Guardian yesterday:

“Prigozhin …said Russia’s leadership could have avoided the war by negotiating.. ‘When [Volodymyr] Zelensky became president, he was ready for agreements.  All that needed to be done was to get off Mount Olympus and negotiate with him’ “.

He chose his moment, and on Friday took over the town of Rostov-on-Don, the centre of military command.  Significantly, the transiting North Node (karma) was exactly trine his natal North Node.  Transiting Uranus was also squaring his natal Uranus (the ultimate rebellion).  His forces began to move towards Moscow.  He was particularly angry as he believed his troops had been attacked by Shoigu’s forces, resulting in heavy losses.

He was careful not to criticize Putin directly, instead putting it out that Shoigu had tried to “deceive society and the president and tell us how there was crazy aggression from Ukraine and that they were planning to attack us with the whole of NATO.”

Vladimir Putin responded in the strongest possible terms, vowing to punish those behind the mutiny or coup.  Putin and Prigozhin have been strong allies in the past.  Their Suns are trine, and Prigozhin’s Uranus sextiles Putin’s Mercury, very supportive for strategic planning.  But Putin’s Pluto sits on Prigozhin’s Uranus, giving Putin the edge in power.

The Consequence

Russian dynamics are an enigma at the best of times, but overnight on Friday through to Saturday morning, the world was kept guessing as to Prigozhin’s intentions and Putin’s prospective actions.  It was revealed yesterday, that a deal had been brokered, with the help of the leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.  Prigozhin would move to Belarus, and face no sanction, and the fighters of Wagner would also face no sanction.  Both Putin and Prigozhin announced they wanted to avoid further bloodshed (which is ironic, given their history).  The repercussions of this whole episode are still unclear, and unpredictable, though there has been much conjecture in the media, from various pundits.

What is clear, is that Prigozhin did not have enough political support for a full scale coup, even if he intended one.  It is said that he would be even more ruthless than Putin.  The transits for Ukraine at this time show a double-edged sword:  the North Node trine its Sun (supporting its karma), but also squaring its Saturn (still a tough path). On the Laura Kuenssberg show this morning Marina Litvinenko (the widow of Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned at the orders of Putin with polonium) whose story was televised this week on ITV, asserted that the whole episode shows that Putin is not in control of anything, and that the regime is unstable.

Aspects

A full schedule of aspects this week!

This evening Neptune squares Mercury.  A week ago the Sun was squared by Neptune (representing the sea, and mysteries).  At that time, the submersible Titan went missing with a crew of five hoping to view the wreck of the Titanic.  The news was dominated in the week with attempts to find the wreckage, and eventually it was concluded that the submersible imploded shortly after it began its journey.  With Mercury squared by Neptune this evening, the emphasis is shifted to the investigation (Mercury) of why the event occurred.  Many more migrants lost their lives at sea this week.  And a swimmer went missing trying to cross the English Channel for charity. There are of course new mysteries preoccupying us too this week: such as what on earth is going on in Russia?  Perhaps you are grappling with a mystery in your own life, too.  Some undefinable snag may be nagging at you.  If so, allow your subconscious to bring it up in its own time, but don’t shut up shop until you have identified the rum note.  Then you can deal with it, move on and let it go.

Tomorrow (Monday, 26th) Uranus squares Mars shortly after breakfast time.  This is a jolting energy or mood.  Something may need to be dealt with urgently, whether it be a mechanical fault or a human fault.  Electrical appliances may be especially tricky.

Mercury enters the sign of Cancer in the very early hours of Tuesday (27th).  Consequently, you may need to attend to family matters in detail, such as documentation related to that area of your life.  The collective mind will be more able to encompass emotion when considering an argument.  For example, if you have set your mind on a belief because it seems logical, you may be presented with a situation which helps you see the need for compassion for the other side of the argument.  The rights and welfare of children, for instance, may be put under the microscope.  Mercury will be moving very quickly and leaves the sign of Cancer on 11th July, so make the most of this particular opportunity.

Mercury immediately connects in a sextile with the North Node the same day, bringing karmic information to light.  Communication is highly significant and imbued with meaning, though subject to differing interpretations according to belief.  It is a good day for writing, teaching, tutoring and revising for forthcoming tests, and possibly for health checks.

Two trines arrive on Thursday (29th), the first of which is the Sun trine Saturn in the early hours of the morning.  This enables the re-establishment of a foothold on reality, if that is what you might need.  It is a solid and productive aspect.  If you are engaged in creativity, it can help ensure that it works on a practical level.  It is also a good aspect for making plans and laying foundations, and counting your chickens.

The second trine may bring healing to the heart: Venus trine Chiron.  The healing power of love may come to the fore.  Try to keep the heart open, and keep the faith.  There may be a real opportunity to re-group your healing energies and feel harmony within your being.

Friday (30th) needs you to be bright and early with productivity from the word go, with Mercury trine Saturn at breakfast time.  Be clear and practical.  Apply your mind to exacting tasks and documentation which may be outstanding.  It favours list-making, planning, and practical productivity.  Constructive serious conversations can also take place under this aspect.

Don’t procrastinate or even leave things till later in the day, for in the evening Neptune is Stationary prior to turning Retrograde, representing some retracing of steps on our spiritual path.  It has been direct since December last year, so you may have been inspired at that time by a new spiritual area opening up. Now is the time to consolidate on what you have learned, put it into practice, and walk your talk.  Neptune goes direct again this December.  This retrograde turn may re-emphasize issues related to the ocean, and ongoing mysteries.

A full day awaits at the end of the week, on Saturday (1st July), starting with a conjunction of the Sun and Mercury at 9 degrees of Cancer at dawn.  Mentally, this may help you see more clearly through the fog of Neptune’s illusion, although as the conjunction takes place in a water sign, you do need to take account of emotions and feelings. You can apply your mind according to the House this conjunction falls in within your chart, and if you don’t know which that is, then apply it to home and family affairs, emotions and women.

By breakfast time, Mercury will be sextile Jupiter, indicating a lovely start to the new month.  It’s a high note!  Some good news may be possible. This aspect favours communication, sales and travel.  Some worries about business may be alleviated.  Higher learning is also a benefit –  this may be encouraging to students anticipating upcoming exam results.  It’s a good time to practice any new language skills, too.

Last but not least, Jupiter graces us with another sextile mid-morning, this time with the Sun.  This is one of the brightest aspects of the year.  Time to embrace hope, or even celebration.  It will certainly be lucky for some.  Focus on what makes you happy, and make more of that.

The week in bullet points:

  • Today – underwater or other mysteries
  • Tomorrow – tricky electrical energy
  • Tuesday – family matters; karmic information
  • Thursday – steadying of the ship; heart healing
  • Friday – focus on paperwork; revision on spiritual path
  • Saturday – emotional focus and clarity; travel and business upbeat; luck and hope
Date: Jun 25th, 2023 · Comments RSS · Tags: News