{"id":3387,"date":"2015-03-22T10:46:38","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T10:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3387"},"modified":"2015-03-22T10:49:33","modified_gmt":"2015-03-22T10:49:33","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-22-march-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3387","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 22 March 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liberal Democrat Party<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the fourth in my political series in the run up to the UK General Election, and I will look at a few of their leading politicians and their prospects on the day.\u00a0 Currently, the Lib Dems are running neck and neck with the Green Party in the opinion polls.<\/p>\n

Nick Clegg<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nick Clegg grasped the nettle, or maybe the poisoned chalice, to enter his party into a coalition with the Conservative Party in the aftermath of the last election 5 years ago.<\/p>\n

As Caroline Lucas observed in her new book \u201cHonourable Friends?\u201d:<\/p>\n

“So with Labour contaminated by its own time in government, and the Lib Dems muzzled by the coalition agreement, the scene was set for David Cameron to begin an ideological assault on the welfare state”.<\/p>\n

Did Nick Clegg have any idea how far he would be used as a scapegoat (Sun in Capricorn) for unpopular Tory policies, starting with the issue of student loans, which hugely dented Lib Dem popularity while the Tories emerged relatively unscathed?<\/p>\n

There were many dilemmas for the Lib Dems; they had power, but their hands were tied.\u00a0 Caroline Lucas picks up on one of those:<\/p>\n

“But it [nuclear power] also discomforted the liberal democrats, who as a party were opposed to nuclear, but were now in a coalition with the Tories, who were very much in favour.”<\/p>\n

In the Guardian interview yesterday he was quoted as saying:<\/p>\n

“Asked how he feels about the swing from net positive to net negative ratings over the past five years, the deputy prime minister said: “it is what it is. I don’t spend too much time…I’m quite a practical person”<\/p>\n

His personal planets are not connected in with his outer planets, so there is a sense in which he finds it difficult to connect the personal with the wider social arena.<\/p>\n

The Capricorn nature would be black and white, practical and boundaried, but his Piscean side (Chiron\/Saturn) would erode those boundaries and bring him to compassion.\u00a0 The Chiron\/Saturn conjunction occurs in his 4th<\/sup> House of home and family, and he said this week that his family means more to him than politics – is it possible to give both equal weight?\u00a0 I think this conjunction shows a deep idealism, and desire for the betterment of society.\u00a0 His Uranus\/Pluto conjunction in Virgo in 10th<\/sup> House is rebellious and has a strong desire for reform.<\/p>\n

He has an optimistic Moon and Ascendant in Sagittarius, and Mars in Libra in 11th House which speaks of taking part in a Coalition with Libran Cameron.\u00a0 But his Mars exactly squares his Sun, which means he is no stranger to conflict.<\/p>\n

His wife Miriam is Spanish, and a lawyer (a Jupiterian profession) and he has the Moon (women in his life) in Sagittarius (from abroad) trine exactly Jupiter (law and foreign lands).\u00a0 He himself has Russian ancestry (Ascendant in Sagittarius).<\/p>\n

In my New Year review of Lib Dem prospects for polling day I noted:<\/p>\n

\u201cNick Clegg (LibDems): <\/em>[Mixed]\u00a0 Saturn conjunct his Moon (emotionally dispiriting) but Neptune sextile his natal Mercury [the opportunity for some sensitive communication]\u201d<\/p>\n

Vince Cable<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vince Cable is another Lib Dem politician whose reputation has taken a slide since the beginning of the coalition.\u00a0 He was flavour of the year in 2009 after he had predicted the credit crunch, and lauded for his integrity.\u00a0 But integrity has been very hard to keep in relation to working in a coalition.<\/p>\n

In 2009 I wrote:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a money-savvy Taurean who states that life has taught him that \u201cAll things come to those who wait\u201d.\u00a0 Perhaps it was his Taurean Sun sign, which swayed him in his decision not to run for leader of the Liberal Democrats, as Taureans tend to prefer the supporting role.\u00a0 He has a breadth of mental vision which is down to his Mercury sandwiched between Saturn (the old style of thought) and Uranus (the new style of thought), a perfect equilibrium or balance for a prominent member of the LibDem party.\u201d<\/p>\n

On polling day, Saturn opposes his natal Uranus, which could make grim processing.\u00a0 He may retain his seat, but will be disheartened by the overall performance of his party, even though he is a realist (Mercury exactly sextile his Pluto natally) and possesses great strength and resilience (Sun in Taurus sextile Mars and Jupiter).<\/p>\n

Danny Alexander<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has been ridiculed this week for his gesture of holding up a yellow briefcase with an alternative budget after the Chancellor unveiled his budget this week. The week before, there was a \u201cdodgy donations\u201d scandal, which was also ridiculed in the press. Another money-savvy Taurean, I feel he has a strong artistic side which is unexpressed, and some aggression from Mars square Pluto which needs to have a constructive outlet.\u00a0 Pluto trines his North Node exactly, and I think when he is able to express all sides of his nature, he will have a profound contribution to make, and will be less open to ridicule.<\/p>\n

At the time we go to the polls, the North Node exactly trines his natal Saturn, and while he may have a sobering result, at the same time the Universe allows him some dignity.<\/p>\n

Shirley Williams<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

National treasure Shirley Williams struggled to express the fine party line on Question Time this week.\u00a0 Coming close to the election, she was trying to uphold the achievements of the coalition while re-defining the individual goals of her party.<\/p>\n

Shirley has Pluto on the Ascendant, hence she changed her political afflilations a few times in her life, but never in a shallow way, always in a deeply considered fashion.<\/p>\n

The mother figure is important in her chart, with a dominant Moon in Leo and a Cancerian Ascendant.\u00a0 Her mother Vera Brittain wrote, and lived, the wonderful \u201cTestament of Youth\u201d account of a woman\u2019s life in the 1st<\/sup> World War, which was subsequently made into a TV series and now a film.\u00a0 Vera had the extremely challenging conjunction of Pluto and Neptune, one which many of her generation will have had \u2013 a generation which had to pull together.\u00a0 She had no personal aspects to her Sun (except perhaps her Moon, if her birth time were known), and this comes out in her life and work as a deeply held sense of service, or surrender to the needs of her time.\u00a0 Loyalty was also a theme, with Venus closely trine Saturn.<\/p>\n

So Shirley had a rich heritage, and in her later years married an American academic.\u00a0 Like her mother she has no aspects to her natal Sun, and a strong social conscience and sense of service.\u00a0 She has a brilliant mind (Mercury exactly trine Uranus) but is hampered by an exact opposition between Jupiter and Saturn, which means she is sometimes hamstrung in decision making.\u00a0 Her only cabinet post, as an Education minister under Labour, much earlier in her career, did not live up to her potential and promise.\u00a0 And yet she was born to put herself into a meaningful relationship with society, with Pluto closely trine her Midheaven, and Chiron exactly sextile her Midheaven: she aches to make a difference.<\/p>\n

The ebbing Uranus-Pluto square affects her chart at the election: Pluto exactly squares her natal Uranus, and Uranus exactly squares her Ascendant.\u00a0 At 85, she is no longer an active member of parliament, but is a Baroness and life peer, and publicly supports her party.\u00a0 This may be a time of a change of direction for her, with the North Node trine her natal Mars.\u00a0 She may feel the need to nurture her health more or attend to personal activities and family relationships.<\/p>\n

Simon Hughes<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Simon Hughes put up a valiant resistance to joining the Conservatives in coalition (he has the Warrior Archetype in the shape of Sun conjunct Mars) and is another Taurean.\u00a0 Eventually he did line up with the party when they came to power.\u00a0 His chart is very steadfast in some ways (Sun\/Mars in Taurus trine exactly Saturn), but rebellious or contrary in others (Venus exactly conjunct Uranus). He doesn\u2019t necessarily care what others think (Venus\/Uranus square Jupiter).\u00a0 If he had the opportunity to advance his career further, he would be valuable as a problem-solver (Chiron exactly trine his Mercury).<\/p>\n

He has a Mars Return on polling day, so will be very much in battle mode.<\/p>\n

Lib Dem Party Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The transits on polling day make very weak aspects to the Lib Dem chart, confirming the general opinion (without astrological consideration) that they will have a poor showing, and that this last participation in government has damaged their party.\u00a0 They may find themselves spiritually after this point, however, as Neptune is travelling towards a sextile with the natal Lib Dem Neptune, which occurs at the end of May and the beginning of June. \u00a0Venus sextiles their Jupiter on polling day, which is a minor transit, but it will help them pull together personally, and a new sense of spirit may emerge afterwards \u2013 there is a possibility that may be in the shape of a new leader, but it may be a new spirit under the leadership of Nick Clegg.<\/p>\n

The Observer this morning is highlighting disquiet within the Liberal Democrat party about the possibility of a second Tory\/Lib Dem coalition, around the subject of the EU referendum. Political Editor Toby Helm writes: \u201cBecause Cameron has said the in\/out referendum will be a \u201dred line\u201d for the Conservatives in any negotiations, a Lib Dem refusal to come in behind the idea would spell the end of hopes for a second Con-Lib coalition deal.\u201d\u00a0 The Lib Dems face some difficult decisions, as do the electorate.<\/p>\n

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

Mercury sextile Pluto today is helpful for evaluating and reflecting on the outcomes and meaning of last week.\u00a0 It favours the teaching and communication of profound concepts.<\/p>\n

Tuesday (24th<\/sup>) starts with another sextile, between Venus and Neptune, harmony for the Arts, spiritual unity in relationships, fine balance in finance.\u00a0 Inspiration early on may see you through the day.<\/p>\n

There is also a conjunction of Mercury and Chiron on Tuesday, which suggests the coming together of conventional and alternative medicine.\u00a0 I know two people who are scheduled to have surgery that day, and for that reason, I am going to digress and write about Chiron before continuing with the week\u2019s aspects.<\/p>\n

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

A couple of conversations on the subject of Chiron lately have prompted me to devote a section here to the subject.<\/p>\n

I have been working with Chiron since 1987, ten years after it was discovered.\u00a0 Chiron was a Centaur in the Greek mythological panoply, who had the gift of immortality and healing, but was not able to heal his own wound(s).\u00a0 I was asked recently: \u201cIs it true that we all have a wound that can never be healed?\u201d<\/p>\n

It is true that in astrology, and sometimes in alternative healing, there is more emphasis on the wound than on the healing.\u00a0 Caroline Myss in \u201cWhy People Don\u2019t Heal\u201d writes about the attachment that many people have to their wound(s).<\/p>\n

If there was no hope of healing a wound, we might as well give up, and stay in a rut.\u00a0 We have many lives, and sometimes carry a wound for several lifetimes before we heal it.\u00a0 But I have found many times, that when we heal our wound, we are able to help others who have the same wound.<\/p>\n

Mythology, like Archetypes, can have a strong hold (and a stronghold) on the psyche.\u00a0 They can be viewed as immutable Gods, rather than principles that can be worked with, like planets themselves.<\/p>\n

There is not just one Chiron, we all have an Inner Healer, and if we cannot heal our own wound, we may travel for a time with one who has healed our issue and can point the way.<\/p>\n

In the early years of working with Chiron, I began a path of working with Past Lives.\u00a0 This is one path to healing, and can resolve issues which have been intractable in relation to other healing modalities.<\/p>\n

There comes a time in most lives, even those dedicated to natural pathways of healing, when conventional medical intervention (Mercury) has to combine with the alternative methods of healing (Chiron).\u00a0 Surgery is sometimes a necessity, for instance.<\/p>\n

Mercury conjunct Chiron describes the mental crisis which surrounds a health issue, such as when the point comes that conventional medical intervention is needed.\u00a0 It can also describe the healing that can come when the psychological issue which gave rise to the health problem is suddenly resolved by a new thought pattern, or by a revelation such as the nature of the pattern from past lives.<\/p>\n

[End of digression]<\/p>\n

So good luck to all those facing mental conundrums or surgical interventions on Tuesday (you know who you are!).<\/p>\n

Wednesday (25th<\/sup>) has a much more stable and stabilizing vibe about it, with Sun trine Saturn.\u00a0 Steady recuperation from any medical procedures are likely.\u00a0 Any flights of fancy, such as over-the-top artistic embellishments, may be changed to more practical forms.\u00a0 For example, if you finished a painting on Tuesday, you may decide to tone it down slightly.\u00a0 Healing outcomes are likely to hold, and prospects brighten, as the Saturn trine brings confidence and reassurance.<\/p>\n

Finally, on Saturday (28th<\/sup>) \u00a0Venus squares Jupiter, and it\u2019s a day to let your hair down, after a mainly constructive week when you may feel much has been achieved, and you subsequently deserve a treat.\u00a0 On my diabetic regime, gone are the days of cream teas, but I am allowed a cheese scone now and then!\u00a0 It\u2019s a good day for a party, or a dinner date, though with the two planets being in square, watch out for social gaffes (gaffe-prone Jeremy Clarkson, currently suspended from the BBC, has this square natally).\u00a0 Just a celebratory attitude to life will honour this aspect, which fosters gratitude and good news.\u00a0 I am most grateful for the cataract surgery last week, which has resulted in one eye restored to a level of sight I cannot even remember.\u00a0 It is so many times easier to see my computer screen, and to cross the road.<\/p>\n

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