{"id":3502,"date":"2015-06-07T10:21:18","date_gmt":"2015-06-07T10:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3502"},"modified":"2015-06-07T10:35:15","modified_gmt":"2015-06-07T10:35:15","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-7-june-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3502","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 7 June 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charles Kennedy (1959 \u2013 2015)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Several years ago, I attended a Lib Dem rally in Cambridge (2005 election campaign), while Charles Kennedy was still leader of the Party.\u00a0 Seemed like a nice chap\u2026And so say all of us, it seems.<\/p>\n

I wrote about him prior to the election, in March:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ashcroft poll this week identified Charles Kennedy\u2019s seat as one of those which was in danger of falling to the S.N.P.\u00a0 As former leader of the Lib Dem Party, he is a veteran politician.\u00a0 He is the M.P. for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.\u00a0 He\u2019s a Sagittarian, and arguably drink was his downfall, leading to him standing down as leader of his party\u2026\u00a0 He also has a very heavyweight exact trine between Saturn and Pluto, so if it were not for his addiction or frailty, he could have been an outstanding statesman.\u00a0 As it is, he seems much more comfortable these days in the less demanding role.\u00a0 On polling day, sadly, Saturn is transiting his natal Sun in Sagittarius, and it looks as though the pollsters may be right, he could well lose his seat.\u00a0 If he does not lose his seat, he may be heavy hearted at the state of his political party.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u00a0\u201cI am a fully paid-up member of the human race\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Charles Kennedy had his Ascendant conjunct his North Node in Libra, depicting his geniality, but also the North Node in that position making him a mover and shaker in life.\u00a0 Libra also very symbolic of Liberalism and the Middle Way of politics.\u00a0 To add even greater charm, he had Venus in Libra in his 1st<\/sup> House of personality.\u00a0 He was that rare breed, a cuddly politician, untouched by the prevailing public cynicism towards his profession.<\/p>\n

Political achievement<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nick Clegg has said he was always modest about his political achievements, modesty being an attribute of his Moon in Virgo.\u00a0\u00a0 He started very young, becoming the youngest Member of Parliament in 1983, aged 23.\u00a0 It has been commented that he went into his profession too early, which may have caused some of his personal problems.\u00a0 But he was following his karmic mission (North Node conjunct the Ascendant in Libra), his joy (Part of Fortune in the 10th<\/sup> House of Politics) and the foundation set for his life (Saturn exactly on his I.C.) \u2013 a path that was meant to be.<\/p>\n

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

He became leader of the Liberal Democrat Party on 9th<\/sup> August 1999, when <\/strong>Jupiter by transit was trine his natal Saturn (a responsibility undertaken joyfully).\u00a0 He was much in tune spiritually with his task, too, with <\/strong>Neptune at the time trine his natal Ascendant and sextile his Sun: a fulfillment of his true nature.\u00a0 In two elections, he led his Party to victory obtaining the highest number of Lib Dem seats.<\/p>\n

He Woz Right<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe point never to lose sight of is to be guided by the correct thing, as you see it.\u00a0 It\u2019s the only way to approach such profound matters and retain your integrity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He was vindicated on many issues, most notably:<\/p>\n

2003, \u00a0against Iraq War<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He was the most prominent British politician to take part in the anti-war march in London, in protest against the impending war against Iraq, and argued that the change of regime had not been thought through, which was very prescient.<\/p>\n

Vince Cable, writing in the Guardian, wrote this week: \u201cHe was bombarded with advice from outside and inside the party to support the Blair government; it was said in particular that a party leader\u00a0 would never be forgiven by the public for criticizing a military intervention in which British service personnel were being killed in action\u2026But he was unpersuaded and constantly said: \u2018the case has not been made\u2019. \u201c<\/p>\n

Could Tony Blair have listened to him\u2026?\u00a0\u00a0 Many things in the world would have turned out differently.<\/p>\n

2010, against going into Coalition with the Tories<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Charles was quite categoric about not joining the Tories in Coalition in 2010, and the current parlous state of the Lib Dem Party has proved his fears to be well-founded.\u00a0 Neither did he approve of the course that direction took over the five years of government.<\/p>\n

Vince Cable continued: \u201cCharles retained a set of beliefs which has enduring value but are no longer fashionable: a strong commitment to progressive taxation and redistribution of income and wealth and a belief that the country deserved good public serves and, unapologetically, should be asked to pay for them through taxation.\u00a0 It was clear for those reasons that he did not like the direction of travel that the coalition was taking, and in some respects I shared his concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

What if his instinctive opposition to the formation of the coalition had been heeded?<\/p>\n

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

\u201c<\/strong>If you were to describe me as teetotal, on behalf of my constituency I\u2019d have to sue; that would lose me every vote in the Highlands\u201d\u00a0<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sun in Sagittarius is the sign most often associated with alcoholism, as part of the excess of this sign and its ruler Jupiter, and its lifestyle as a bon viveur.\u00a0 Physically, he had the red hair often associated with the early degrees of Sagittarius (he was born on 25 November).\u00a0 In addition Jupiter (his ruling planet) was overbalanced by a square to Pluto.<\/p>\n

His most active period in politics, just after his second Election win for his party, ended in early 2006 when his drinking problem was about to be revealed by the media, and subsequently his fellow Lib Dems urged him to stand down.<\/p>\n

On 5\/1\/2006 he admitted that he had a problem, publicly.\u00a0 Neptune (drink) was exactly trine his natal Venus, and Uranus was exactly trine his natal Neptune, both aspects of revelation and indicative of a time of transparency and honesty.\u00a0 Subsequently 25 MPs signed a petition for him to resign, and he did so two days later.<\/p>\n

Locked away in his 12th<\/sup> House of Unconscious and Secrets is his Moon (emotions) in Virgo (a private sign), which no one had complete access to, least of all the public.\u00a0 Who knows the anguish which caused his alcoholism?<\/p>\n

Gaby Hinsliff, who had interviewed him a few times, wrote in the Guardian:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe voice was calm, the arguments fluent, the judgement sharp as a knife.\u00a0 Charles Kennedy was a more far-sighted politician, even in drink, than many will ever be sober\u201d<\/p>\n

Alistair Campbell, a close friend,\u00a0 has implied that highlighting the plight of alcoholism, seeing the waste of his potential, is a valuable lesson for our society.<\/p>\n

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

He married Sarah Gurling at the age of 43, the sister of a friend, at a time when his progressed Sun was square his natal Venus in the 1st<\/sup> House.\u00a0 Their son Donald was born three years later, in April 2005, but they were not able to work out the relationship, and in 2010 he separated from his wife and subsequently divorced.\u00a0 At the time of their separation, Saturn was transiting his Ascendant.<\/p>\n

His bond with his son was very strong, and his ex-wife brought him to Parliament this week to hear tributes from all sides of the House.<\/p>\n

European Referendum<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cImmigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without.\u00a0 They have contributed hugely to Britain\u2019s success\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It has been reported that Charles Kennedy was looking forward to taking a prominent role in the campaign to stay in Europe during the referendum debate.<\/p>\n

We could have done with his clarity, for that pitch.\u00a0 It would have been very helpful.<\/p>\n

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

He was found by his current partner, Carole MacDonald.\u00a0 His death has been found to be caused by haemorrhage, directly related to his alcoholism. Saturn was sextile his North Node\/Ascendant, and conjunct his natal Mercury.<\/p>\n

As a Soul, let alone as a human, it must have been so hard to leave behind the son to whom he was devoted.<\/p>\n

Quotations in italics by Charles Kennedy<\/em><\/p>\n

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

There\u2019s a brilliant start to the week tomorrow with a sextile between the Sun and Jupiter.\u00a0 You can forge ahead with confidence, as most of the week has a clear path of four sextiles \u2013 though there are a few stumbling blocks right at the end of the week on Friday.\u00a0 So trust your luck early in the week, and you can gain some ground.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday (9th<\/sup>) Mars is sextile Uranus, which can bring a great deal of excitement.\u00a0 Sparks can fly, but mostly positive ones.\u00a0 The approach of this Mars\/Uranus connection has brought some thunderstorms here in the U.K., but they were short and sharp and cleared the air, light summer storms.\u00a0 If heated words are exchanged, they may be surprisingly enlightening, and pave the way for new understanding.\u00a0 Engineering interests are favoured by this aspect.<\/p>\n

Mercury sextiles Venus at lunchtime on Wednesday (10th<\/sup>) favouring the caf\u00e9 culture, the writers, artists and philosophers ruminating the meaning of life in cafes or, at this time of year in a sunny spot outside.\u00a0 Apparently, Andrew Marr and Kate Moss were seen vying for such a spot last week.\u00a0 It\u2019s a fertile creative space for the birth of your next novel or painting.<\/p>\n

In the evening, the Sun sextiles Uranus, and brainstorming can produce some brilliant ideas, especially for inventors or futuristic artists.\u00a0 All in all, it could be a momentous and feelgood day.<\/p>\n

Some of you may have been patiently waiting for Thursday (11th<\/sup>), holding off important communications for Mercury to go direct. Thursday is the day if you don\u2019t like doing anything while Mercury is retrograde, but technically you may have to wait for Friday for results to bear fruit, as Mercury stations (stands still before turning) late on Thursday, and won\u2019t start moving until at least Friday.\u00a0 But, you can have your pen poised on Thursday, arrive at the station, be ready to start negotiations, have your foot ready on the accelerator, waiting for the go signal.\u00a0 You\u2019ll know when it arrives.<\/p>\n

However, don\u2019t confuse it with some of the complex influences which are occurring on Friday.\u00a0 Early Friday (12th<\/sup>) brings a square between Mars and Chiron, which could be incident-prone, and may distract you from the documentation you were holding in your hand ready for the Mercury turnaround.\u00a0 This will be a separate issue, and you need to recognize what is not healing in your environment, and may set you back.\u00a0 It is a good day to de-tox, for instance, and not an advisable day for botox.<\/p>\n

In the morning, too, another planet turns around, this time Neptune, and this time it is turning the other way, i.e. retrograde.\u00a0 Neptune can be a tricky planet even when sailing smoothly forward, but in retrograde you really have to look for the illusionary haze of glamour on your path before taking the next step, if you don\u2019t want to take a detour.\u00a0 At the same time, there is no sense in panicking because Neptune doesn\u2019t turn direct again until November 18th<\/sup>.\u00a0 It is going to be a long process of sifting the wheat from the chaff spiritually.\u00a0 Take a course in meditation if it is something you can\u2019t settle to on your own, as that will be perfect for taking a long look at what you need to stay true on your path.<\/p>\n

Later in the day the Sun squares Chiron, and an issue could come up for healing.\u00a0 It may be unrelated to the spiritual fog of Neptune retrograde, but the two together could be working to help bring something to light which you need to be dealing with.\u00a0 Healing modalities are present, but the right ones for the job may need trial and error to find.\u00a0 There may be an awkward fit initially, e.g. you may be feeling like a square peg in a round hole, but if you persevere you\u2019ll be guided to more comfortable outcomes.<\/p>\n

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