{"id":2696,"date":"2013-12-29T17:47:27","date_gmt":"2013-12-29T17:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=2696"},"modified":"2013-12-30T14:24:49","modified_gmt":"2013-12-30T14:24:49","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-29-december-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=2696","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 29 December 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

What did we learn from 2013?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

January<\/strong><\/p>\n

13th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Andrew Marr<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Marr needs to be appreciated this morning for his services to this blog. \u00a0Andrew, who suffered a stroke last Tuesday, is the presenter of \u201cthe Andrew Marr show\u201d which has been broadcast on Sunday mornings since September 2005.<\/p>\n

\u2026Andrew has a high wire nervous system (Mercury exactly conjunct Uranus in Leo) and high stress workaholism\u00a0 (Mars conjunct Pluto in Virgo).<\/p>\n

He has the Interviewer Archetype in the Mercury-Uranus conjunction, as distinct from the Critic Archetype, which is Mercury conjunct Mars.<\/p>\n

Stroke<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\n<\/strong>
\nAt the time of his stroke Jupiter was exactly squaring his natal Mars, stoking up energy and activity in his system. However, in his favour Jupiter was sextile his Sun and trine his North Node. I am hoping this might mean that he will make a good recovery.<\/p>\n

Hindsight from 18th<\/sup> May:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0The tension rose to such a degree that Andrew Marr had a stroke, and he recently divulged that it took place when he had been exercising too vigorously on the rowing machine.\u00a0 He was overdoing things in his life physically and mentally.\u00a0 This is something to be observant about during the course of this square.<\/em><\/p>\n

February<\/strong><\/p>\n

10th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Richard III<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Now that we have stared into the reconstruction of Richard III\u2019s face thanks to the finding of his skull, he has become a modern celebrity, and we feel that we know him.<\/p>\n

Monday 4th<\/sup> February was the day of unveiling the DNA results produced from unearthing his bones, and also the matching TV programme.<\/p>\n

.\u2026The day he was unearthed last September was a good day in relation to the aspects in his natal chart:\u00a0 He had Jupiter exactly trine his Mercury, Saturn exactly trine his Jupiter, and the North Node (karma) exactly trine his Uranus (surprise).<\/p>\n

\u2026The next question on the agenda was where he should be laid to rest.\u00a0 I am sure that this event is the beginning of the restoration of his karma, but it has taken centuries to unravel, and could take a while longer.<\/p>\n

Hindsight from 18th<\/sup> May:<\/em><\/p>\n

Richard III managed to emerge after centuries under a car park in Leicester and initiate a continuation of the Wars of the Roses.\u00a0 That is quite a feat.<\/p>\n

Consequences<\/em><\/p>\n

High Court proceedings have been adjourned until the New Year.\u00a0 York lays a claim for a re-burial from the current Leicester location of the skeleton, and descendants of the relatives of\u00a0 Richard III (under the Plantagenet Alliance) have got involved as interested parties. Unburying him was the easy part.\u00a0 The current tussle could run on and on.<\/p>\n

March<\/strong><\/p>\n

17th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Tony Blair<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Many of my friends marched in London hoping to prevent the Iraq War, and I did write a letter to Tony Blair which he ignored.\u00a0 I never bought into the Weapons of Mass Destruction idea!\u00a0 I have to document the 10th<\/sup> Anniversary which occurs on Wednesday 20th<\/sup>, because I believe the Iraq War was a collective wound and we are still suffering collective post-traumatic stress syndrome from it.<\/p>\n

The Legacy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Iraq was destroyed, with no planning having been given to its reconstruction.\u00a0 The way of life, both good and bad, for the Iraqi citizen was destroyed.\u00a0 The fine antiquities of ancient Mesopotamia were also destroyed.\u00a0 That is on top of all the lives lost\u2026Tony Blair certainly continued his interests in the Middle East, having a special peace envoy role, and many have wondered what he has done with that.\u00a0 It is also the second anniversary this week of the Syrian uprising (15th<\/sup> March), and the Middle East is still in turmoil, with the added threat of Iranian nuclear weapons and the lack of counterbalance to Iran which was formerly provided by Saddam Hussein.\u00a0 Now of course we face the dilemmas over intervention in Syria, and further afield in Africa.<\/p>\n

A Lesson not Learned<\/em><\/p>\n

Involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan among other\u00a0 causes, and the history of the involvement, seems to even recently be a cause for confusion in the mind of our PM David Cameron.<\/p>\n

On 16 December he made a public statement saying that our troops in Afghanistan had accomplished their mission, assuring us that a “basic level of security” had been achieved.\u00a0 Afghanistan seems as unstable as ever, and there are still frequent bombings in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.<\/p>\n

April<\/strong><\/p>\n

14th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Margaret Thatcher<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She became the first female Prime Minister on 4th<\/sup> May 1979, which is still a remarkable achievement even seen from the hindsight of the 21st<\/sup> Century, though she was always surrounded with men in her cabinet.\u00a0 This was a validation and expression of her karmic mission, as transiting Jupiter was exactly conjunct her North Node in Leo, fulfilling her destiny of Leadership.\u00a0 She would re-define leadership, and Tony Blair styled his leadership after her model.\u00a0 Other supporting aspects at the time were Jupiter trine her natal Venus and Sun ruler, and Neptune sextile her natal Sun.<\/p>\n

\u2026Unfortunately, our society is still debating what she did do.\u00a0 She ignored the poorest strata of society, declaring there was no such thing as society, and encouraged self-serving.\u00a0 But there were many changes whereby she wrought transformation, and some of those might be seen less negatively, or be more easily debated.<\/p>\n

British Politics still in turmoil<\/em><\/p>\n

With Tony Blair (New Labour) having emulated her, and David Cameron (Conservative) admiring her style, Nick Clegg (Lib Dems) having kowtowed his party almost to oblivion as scapegoat for the current government, and Ed Milliband (Old Labour) still not finding his feet, or the way ahead, British politics is as much in turmoil as ever.<\/p>\n

More Disillusionment later in the year<\/em><\/p>\n

From 10 November blog:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the next blog can I request a focus on Russell Brand who in my opinion has articulated what many of us feel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Russell Brand is no stranger to controversy, and has recently upped his political profile by appearing on Question Time and then being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.\u00a0 Our querent refers to the interview with Jeremy Paxman in which he ranted about the population being completely disillusioned with politicians.\u00a0 He does seem to have touched a nerve.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/em>A few days later he [Jeremy Paxman] confessed that he didn\u2019t vote in a recent election because he himself was a little disaffected.\u00a0 By this time the transiting Neptune trine Uranus came more into focus, and allowed a response which overlapped with Russell\u2019s views.\u00a0 Neptune transiting would allow more sensitivity in relation to some of his entrenched (Uranian) views.<\/p>\n

Paxman said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the next election we shall have a choice between the people who\u2019ve given us five years of austerity, the people who left us this mess, and the people who signed public pledges that they wouldn\u2019t raise student fees, and then did so.\u201d<\/p>\n

June<\/strong><\/p>\n

9th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Turkish Spring<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Turkey, a country which holds a crucial position in the world, in relation to the EU and in relation to the Middle East, is at a crossroads now.\u00a0 It has had the same leader at the helm for 10 years, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, democratically elected, but now a rebellion is under way, triggered by the proposed building of a mall on park land in Istanbul.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/strong>What may mark out this Turkish Spring, starting as it does in the midst of the Uranus-Pluto square series, from the Syrian situation, may be Erdogan\u2019s grasp of what is needed in the democratic process if he can turn round his thinking, as he has engaged with it already, and listen to his people.\u00a0 He is in the unique position of being able to learn what not to do in the region, from previous examples.<\/p>\n

\u2026Celia Fenn, an Earth Healer has recently written about the situation in Turkey, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s about a generation of Indigos standing up and saying \u201cThis doesn\u2019t work for us!\u2026This is the Indigo Revolution.\u00a0 It is young people who have said \u2018no\u2026it is enough\u2019 and who will stand calmly in the face of aggression because they are light warriors and systems busters.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Lessons Unlearned<\/em><\/p>\n

Protests are still going on, amid calls for Erdogan\u2019s resignation.\u00a0 Only yesterday it was reported that he remained defiant, amid allegations of corruption which have resulted in three members of his government departing from office.\u00a0 Erdogan does not seem to be able to think outside the box in relation to his own leadership, let alone learn from the lessons of other Arab spring revolts.<\/p>\n

July<\/strong><\/p>\n

7th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Nigella Lawson<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We were forced into the prurient act of seeing what seemed like a public near-strangling by Charles Saatchi, when pictures of Charles Saatchi at the throat of his wife Nigella Lawson outside a London restaurant\u00a0 were displayed all over the media last month.\u00a0 This morning it was announced that he is to divorce her, citing the damage to his reputation as one of the problems.\u00a0 She has since been taken up, unwittingly and possibly reluctantly, as a poster girl for domestic violence.<\/p>\n

Hindisght from 22nd<\/sup> December:<\/em><\/p>\n

Drugs<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I had been pondering the true meaning of Neptune by transit squaring Nigella\u2019s natal Venus at the time of the original story: there was a mystery which was enveloping the relationship.<\/em><\/p>\n

What the trial revealed was an alleged culture of drug taking, and Nigella herself admitted to an occasional use of cocaine and cannabis, at odds with the Grillo sisters\u2019 account of more extensive use.\u00a0 This is the Neptunian secret which was behind the transiting square of Neptune to Nigella\u2019s Venus, where Neptune = secrets and drugs and Venus = relationships and money.<\/em><\/p>\n

Can she make a fresh start in the New Year?<\/em><\/p>\n

At this point, Nigella needs to pick herself up and dust herself down, and her chance comes on 7 January 2014 at 9 pm (Channel 4) with the first screening of the British version of this show.[The Taste]\/<\/p>\n

August<\/strong><\/p>\n

25th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Martin Luther King<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday Americans celebrated 50 years since the \u201cI Have a Dream Speech\u201d by Martin Luther King, which was actually spoken on 28th<\/sup> August 1963.<\/p>\n

Oratory is shown in Martin Luther King\u2019s natal chart by Ascendant in Gemini, Mercury its ruler on the Midheaven, and Mars (warriorship) in Gemini (through oratory).<\/p>\n

North Node close to the Ascendant often indicates one who is a leader, bringing a group of people into incarnation for a specific work.\u00a0 His karmic leadership role is also emphasized by a trine of the Sun to his North Node.<\/p>\n

Continued theme on 8 Decembre 2013<\/em><\/p>\n

Icons<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up, my icons were Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King (see my blog under the category Icons), the Dalai Lama, and later I became aware of Nelson Mandela (who passed away this week).\u00a0 If all politicians carried on according to their example, the problems of the world would be greatly lessened.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/em><\/p>\n

Political icons are as rare as comets.<\/p>\n

September<\/strong><\/p>\n

15th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Obama and Putin<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is easy to be cynical about the current engagement of the U.S. and Russia over the Syrian dilemma, but I welcome it as a change of energy in the situation, a diplomatic effort rather than a military one.\u00a0 So I thought I would just look at the current situation with regard to Obama, Putin and Syria to see if there is even the slightest hint that the current proposal to deal with Syria\u2019s chemical weapons could be a helpful way through.\u00a0 The deal, brokered in Geneva, is to give Syria one week to comply with conditions which would enable the accounting of its chemical weapons.\u00a0 Bashar Al-Assad, allied to Russia,\u00a0 has agreed to this plan.<\/p>\n

29th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Hassan Rouhani of Iran<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Is President Rouhani sincere or just extra clever?\u00a0 A focal point of his chart is an exact conjunction of Venus and Neptune in Libra, the sign of diplomacy and sweet words.\u00a0 He certainly knows the truth of what he is saying, and has many years of experience in Iranian politics making him a shrewd realist. In another life, with that conjunction, he could have been an inspirting musician.<\/p>\n

Dilemma<\/em><\/p>\n

To trust or not to trust, that is the question.<\/p>\n

October<\/strong><\/p>\n

20th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

On the Brink<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

U.S.A. Chart <\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This week\u2019s U.S. crisis and deadline was averted in the nick of time.\u00a0 Of course the crisis did not only belong to the U.S., it had implications for the world economy.\u00a0 On Thursday, the day of the deadline and the day a temporary resolution was made Neptune from Pisces in 3rd<\/sup> House of the U.S. chart (communicated uncertainty) was trine the US chart Venus \u00a0(finance) in Cancer in 7th<\/sup> House, indicative of a place of rest in the situation.\u00a0 It was the day before an eclipsed Full Moon in Aries (itself a threshold) positioned in the U.S. 5th<\/sup> House, squaring its natal Pluto (high finance) in the 2nd<\/sup> House and creating a T-square with its natal Mercury\/Part of Fortune in 8th<\/sup> House. in Cancer (financial House connected with other parties).<\/p>\n

Ongoing Financial Crises and the Uranus-Pluto square<\/em><\/p>\n

From Raymond Merriman 23 December:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStill, within the context of the greater Cardinal Climax (2008-2015), we are nearing its end. It is simply amazing, in my humble opinion, that Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve Board, along with other central banks of the world,\u00a0 have been able to steer the economy away from a Great Depression through their clever engineering of monetary policy over the past six years. Yes, the middle class \u2013 savings class – has been devastated. But it would have been worse had they not \u201cput the pedal to the metal\u201d in terms of their dramatic monetary easing policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

November<\/strong><\/p>\n

17th<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Over the last week images of the devastation in Tacloban in the Philippines have dominated our screens.<\/p>\n

Typhoon Haiyan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the astrological signatures of this typhoon were Moon conjunct Pluto in Capricorn squaring Uranus (coming quite close to the exact square between Uranus and Pluto), and Sun conjunct Saturn.\u00a0 Also of significance may be North Node conjunct Mercury (weather karma).<\/p>\n

Climate Change<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The aid effort has raised huge sums from the public and contribution from the \u00a0government in Britain, and it will of course take years for the area to recover.\u00a0 Supplies are only just now getting through, over a week after the typhoon.\u00a0 One of the questions raised is how much the phenomenon is due to climate change, and how responsible we are as a species if so.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think the general thrust of responsibility for the welfare of the planet is helped by climate change deniers such as Nigel Lawson, who waded into the argument again on Question Time this week, as Jupiter was plumping up his natal Pluto (power).\u00a0 In his chart he has a loose conjunction between Mercury and the North Node, giving him a vested interest in the karma of weather.<\/p>\n

December <\/strong><\/p>\n

1st<\/sup>: (from the blog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Mary Berry<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What is her enduring appeal?\u00a0 She has the resilience and energy of Sun in Aries, and its directness and simplicity, a real English rose (she was brought up in the quintessentially English city of Bath).\u00a0 Aries is not traditionally associated with baking, but we do not have her birth time and Ascendant, which could sway her towards baking (a Taurus or Cancerian Ascendant would suit the profession).<\/p>\n

\u2026When the Great British Bake Off was launched on 17 August 2010, Mary was ripe for the opportunity, with Jupiter exactly transiting her Sun.\u00a0 Her partnership with Paul Hollywood has been described by The Guardian as the best ever TV judging partnership.\u00a0 A nice lady\u2026<\/p>\n

Moral of this Tale<\/em><\/p>\n

Blogs on more light hearted topics do better.<\/p>\n

Aspects<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no astrological event so baleful that creativity, intelligence, and honest self-appraisal cannot turn it to constructive uses \u2013 and there is no configuration so glorious that laziness cannot sour it\u201d ~ Steven Forrest<\/em><\/p>\n

At the moment, in the heavens, we have a Grand Cross.\u00a0 The Mars-Uranus opposition of Christmas Day was our first intimation of it, and by and large the coming week is dominated by it, apart from a couple of oases.\u00a0 The Grand Cross consists of Uranus in Aries opposing Mars in Libra, and Jupiter in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn.\u00a0 These points are activated by Mercury and the Sun in Capricorn this week.<\/p>\n

With the Sun conjunct Mercury in the planning sign of Capricorn today, it is a good time to take a cool look at the past year, and where your life is headed.\u00a0 This analysis will be useful when it comes to deciding on the final line up of your New Year\u2019s Resolutions.\u00a0 What worked for you in 2014, and what did not work?\u00a0 How will your best interests be served in 2014?<\/p>\n

The energy changes towards the evening when Mercury squares Uranus.\u00a0 The Universe will be urging a change in mental direction.\u00a0 Your earlier deliberations may have highlighted perhaps an attitude that needs changing.\u00a0 There may be disruptions.<\/p>\n

In my case, I began a blog, then had to change direction completely.\u00a0 Halfway through, I needed to go and order a new washine machine (our old one just gave up, after 21 glorious years of service).\u00a0 Then as you can see it proved to be a long blog!\u00a0 So a disruptive Sunday\u2026and hence the unprecedented lateness of my blog.<\/p>\n

The theme of change continues tomorrow with the Sun squaring Uranus.\u00a0 That may force changes past the planning stage and through to action, or creative originality at best, or unexpected change which is not usually so welcome.<\/p>\n

Mercury also sextiles Chiron tomorrow, which favours healing insight,\u00a0 seeing the metaphysical cause of a problem and constructing a suitable affirmation, or strategy to overcome this.<\/p>\n

If at this time you are implementing changes, be aware that your Inner Rebel may be making them too radical, trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater.\u00a0 Do try and tone him or her down.\u00a0 This could become a critical issue on Tuesday (31st<\/sup>) when we experience a square between Mars and Pluto.\u00a0 It is the sort of aspect which may produce a political coup in an unstable regime, or even direct conflict or conflagration.\u00a0 It is not an easy energy with which to enter the New Year.<\/p>\n

Two young women asked me excitedly on Boxing Day: \u201cOooh what will the New Year be like?\u201d\u00a0 It was an unguarded moment, in which I could only gulp.\u00a0 But difficult aspects at the New Year do not taint a whole year\u2026We still have the Uranus-Pluto square to contend with through to 2015, but there will be other aspects we can work with more constructively.<\/p>\n

Moving on swiftly, Mercury then conjuncts Pluto, entering the fray.\u00a0 There is much information to be digested: news reporters may be kept busy and on the alert.<\/p>\n

Mercury then goes on to square Mars, so more fractiousness and irritability into the mix.<\/p>\n

Wednesday (1st<\/sup>)\u00a0 may be a Happier New Year\u2019s Day.\u00a0 With a great deal of conflict coming up to the New Year, the day itself holds the possibility of a fresh start in the shape of a New Moon in Capricorn (at 10 degrees).\u00a0 You may be able to see a new plan, a New Vision, though the time will not yet be right for forging ahead, as the next aspect upon us that day is Sun conjunct Pluto, and ramifications of the pre-New Year period may have to be dealt with, or new considerations may insist on solutions.\u00a0 The Sun also sextiles Chiron, enabling some healing to take place and some solutions to be found.<\/p>\n

The Sun then squares Mars on Friday (3rd), producing more subjects and incidents of contention, though maybe not as deep seated as the previous batch.<\/p>\n

Finally, Mercury opposes Jupiter that same day, so there may be some light relief \u2013 it may all end in laughter, not tears.\u00a0 The horizon brightens, and the following week looks much easier.\u00a0 It reminds me of the lines of \u201cHello Muddah Hello Faddah\u201d by Alan Sherman: \u201cWait a minute, it stopped hailing, guys are swimming, guys are sailing, playing baseball, gee that\u2019s better\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

HEARTFELT WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!<\/span><\/p>\n

The week in bullet points:<\/p>\n