{"id":3982,"date":"2016-05-15T11:22:42","date_gmt":"2016-05-15T11:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3982"},"modified":"2016-05-15T11:47:01","modified_gmt":"2016-05-15T11:47:01","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-15-may-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=3982","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 15 May 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Eurovision Song Contest 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What a dramatic contest we had last night!\u00a0 On the face of things, it was the same as usual: Ukraine and Sweden did well, and the United Kingdom came near the bottom of the scoreboard.\u00a0 But the scoring was a roller coaster not for the faint-hearted.<\/p>\n

We are an especially divided household on Eurovision night.\u00a0 I have watched Eurovision since it was first televised, and only missed 2010 when we were in Venice.\u00a0 Hubby avoids it like the plague, except for one year we were invited to a dinner party: he thought he was safe until the hosts asked us if we minded having it on in the background.<\/p>\n

Are any of the results reflected in the Astrological charts and transits of the countries?<\/p>\n

Toast to Terry Wogan<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Graham Norton does a good job.\u00a0 Nobody could purport to replace Terry Wogan, who was part of the fabric and the enjoyment of the song contest for so long.\u00a0 But Graham does the dry humour quite well.\u00a0 So at song number 9 he explained that Terry advised him never to start drinking before that point, and we all raised a glass to Terry.\u00a0 I had some slightly salted popcorn, and just nipped to the kitchen for some sparkling mineral water to go with that.\u00a0 Ah, dear Terry.\u00a0 His enthusiasm and patience started to wane when the Eastern European bloc kept trading their votes.\u00a0 Other sections of Europe had their alliances, but other than Ireland and Malta, we seemed alone and left out of the cold for years.\u00a0 Malta did award us 12 points last night.\u00a0 Ireland had been knocked out in the semi-finals.\u00a0 This was a shock, as it was deemed to be a decent song by Nicky Byrne of Westlife.\u00a0 On Thursday night, he had Uranus (upset) opposite his Mercury (mind), and Pluto squaring his Pluto, both difficult aspects, though Jupiter was trying to keep his fighting spirits up with a sextile to his natal Mars.\u00a0 Ireland itself, going through weightier problems politically at the moment, had a serious trine from Saturn to its natal Pluto.<\/p>\n

While on the subject of Irishmen, what does it take to produce a real Eurovision success?\u00a0 It may be a digression, but my favourite was Johnny Logan, who won Eurovision for Ireland twice, and wrote the songs.\u00a0 He was Taurean (a singing sign) with a loose double trine of Mercury\/Sun in late Taurus trine North Node\/Chiron in Capricorn.<\/p>\n

Half Time Conference<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My Eurovision buddies, Nita and Nina, and I managed a three way conference at half time, which filled that spot nicely.\u00a0 I had already phoned my 87-year old mother who said the Russian entry stood out for her.\u00a0 I told her it was the favourite, and she seemed pleased.\u00a0 Nita somehow managed to hook the three of us up in a phone conference.\u00a0 She had the technology – she always was a whizz in the office.<\/p>\n

We agreed the U.K. entry was the best we had had for ages, and the Russian entry and performance was the best.\u00a0 We marvelled at the fact that Australia was in the contest (though there are other countries involved which are patently not European). \u00a0Apparently if Australia had won, a real European country would have had to host next year. We also agreed that the Ukrainian entry was nothing to write home about.\u00a0 What do we know?<\/p>\n

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

They decided to spice up the voting this time.\u00a0 They announced that it was going to be more exciting, but little did we know it was going to be more harrowing too, especially for the United Kingdom.\u00a0 They went through the usual rigmarole of inviting each country to announce the votes of their jury.<\/p>\n

Our spirits rose!\u00a0 Our lovely boys Jake and Joe were doing nicely, respectably even.\u00a0 Nowhere near the top of the scoreboard, admittedly, but much better than usual.\u00a0 Australia looked like the clear winner – who would volunteer to host next year, I wondered.\u00a0 They must have been pleased.\u00a0 Then at the end they added the votes gained from the public on their phones.\u00a0 The scoreboard started to look very different.\u00a0 I think my mother was very confused, and judging by friends’ text messages, so were they.\u00a0 Hubby popped in to the room and asked “What’s going on?”\u00a0 “Shh!” I replied, “I’ll tell you later”.<\/p>\n

The countries at the bottom of the scoreboard received a few paltry crumbs, except for Poland which seemed destined to receive a larger share of the vote.\u00a0 The chunks of votes became larger and larger, until the top few were in the hundreds.\u00a0 This included Poland, which rose from the bottom of the leaderboard to nearly the top.\u00a0 This was a song which divided our Conference group, too:\u00a0 strange, but for some compelling.\u00a0 Poland must have been having the same level of euphoria, as the United Kingdom was in despair.\u00a0 Poor Graham struggled to make a quip.<\/p>\n

Ukraine, Crimea and Russia<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In the end, Russia and Ukraine were slugging it out for top place.\u00a0 If this truly was a political battle between the two countries and representing their dispute, it was fairly evenly matched.\u00a0 The Ukrainian singer had sung a heartfelt song about members of her family being killed in 1944 when Stalin was in power.\u00a0 She was from the Crimea, and though it is not permitted to sing of current political struggles, the metaphor was obvious.\u00a0 She triumphed.\u00a0 I cannot remember the tune, and would not be able to hum it, and I am probably not alone.<\/p>\n

Jupiter was trine Russia’s Uranus, but Neptune was square its Mercury (high expectations and a veiled outcome), and Neptune trumps Jupiter.\u00a0 Pluto (the ultimate power) sextiled the Ukrainian Pluto (self-empowerment), but crucially the karmic factor won: the North Node (karmic justice) was exactly sextile the Ukrainian Pluto.\u00a0 Some have said Russia would have been embarrassed to win and have to hold the contest in their country next year.<\/p>\n

Jamala’s Birth Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As luck would have it, the birth date of the winning singer Jamala from the Crimea is available.\u00a0 She has the mark of a singer in her Sun conjunct Venus.\u00a0 Though a modest Virgo Sun sign, she has 6 of her 10 planets in fire signs, so is more feisty than the textbook Virgoan.\u00a0 She has a complex T-square composed of Chiron opposite Jupiter\/Uranus (the Entrepreneur) squared by Sun\/Venus.\u00a0 She knew she was taking a risk with this type of song, but she has the chart of a risk-taker.\u00a0 The seriousness of the song is reflected in the Saturn\/Pluto conjunction in her chart.\u00a0 The song had to be serious to be meaningful, and worthwhile. \u00a0She has Venus exactly sextile her natal Saturn, which is at 0 degrees Scorpio. This proved a real contrast to the average Eurovision song with its reputation for superficiality.\u00a0 Just when you think a chirpy, catchy song will win it, the opposite happens.\u00a0 Europe took her and her cause to their hearts.\u00a0 She wore one of the colours of Pluto\/Scorpio, Indigo, and performed against a dark blue background.\u00a0 She writes her own material (Jupiter sextile exactly Mercury in her birth chart).\u00a0 For her win, she had transiting Saturn sextile her natal Jupiter, and Jupiter trine her natal Neptune (success through inspiration).<\/p>\n

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

One of the things we discussed in our Conference was the effect before and after of the European Referendum.\u00a0 Were Europeans put off by our threat to leave?\u00a0 Could people be persuaded to stay in Europe so that we could continue to participate in Eurovision (at that point the full horror of our placement was not even suspected). \u00a0More questions were brought up by the result. In doing so badly, would it drive more people to vote for Brexit?\u00a0 How do people now feel about being European, and how do Europeans feel about us?\u00a0 As a keen Europhile, I am very upset on many counts.<\/p>\n

Joe and Jake<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s hear it for our brave duo from the United Kingdom!\u00a0 It must get harder and harder to participate in the contest.\u00a0 Joe and Jake make a perfect partnership, with their Suns exactly opposite, in Sagittarius and Gemini.\u00a0 They should stick together. \u00a0Their harmonies were good, showing that deep connection. Karmically the cards were stacked against Joe, with the Nodal Axis squaring his natal Sun\/Mercury conjunction.\u00a0 Maybe they are not quite ready.\u00a0 For Jake, the confusion would have been particularly strong, with Neptune squaring his natal Mercury on the night.\u00a0 Chiron too was blocking his progress, sitting on his natal Saturn.\u00a0 They are young yet, and they are popular in the United Kingdom.\u00a0 I wish them every success in the future.<\/p>\n

As for the United Kingdom itself, Saturn is sitting on its Sun\/Mercury at the moment, and Pluto is square its Saturn.\u00a0 You could say we were a little down on the luck factor.\u00a0 Uranus also squares its Moon.\u00a0 The European question is dividing us, and our main two political parties have internal battles raging.\u00a0 I will look at the European question again next month, when the planets will have moved a little, and before the Referendum itself.<\/p>\n

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

Not a very busy week, as aspects go…<\/p>\n

Today, Venus in Taurus trines the North Node in Virgo.\u00a0 The karmic tone brings a loving approach, and an acknowledgement of what our nearest and dearest mean to us.\u00a0 It supports efforts in connection with the environment, or cultivating one’s own garden, too.\u00a0 The Sun is shining in the U.K., and beckoning us outside.\u00a0 The lilacs are in full bloom, giving out an intoxicating and powerful aroma.\u00a0 That’s a promising start to the week, and its comforting background atmosphere may sustain us until the next aspect on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Thursday (19th) brings another spiritually based aspect in the shape of Venus in Taurus sextile Chiron in Pisces.\u00a0 Here, homeopathy, herbs and herbal remedies are emphasized, so grow your own comfrey.\u00a0 This Venus in Taurus links harmoniously and constructively with the Inner Healer (Chiron) and healing initiatives, so enhancing the healing potential of herbs for instance, or flower essences.\u00a0 The Sun is aligned around this time with the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters cluster in Taurus, and those of your who are of an extra-terrestrial bent may get mileage from tuning in.<\/p>\n

The Sun enters Gemini on Friday (20th) so if you have had your fill of gardening and the plant world this week, there is a change to a more mental focus at the end of the week.\u00a0 With Mercury about to go direct, communications will again be a preoccupation, and you can at least get ready to make more progress on that front.\u00a0 If you don’t quite trust Mercury, you can wait a few more days, but at least have your papers ready and in order to present your case.<\/p>\n

Some tension may be around, for the Moon is going to be Full on Saturday (21st) evening (21.14 Hrs. in the U.K.).\u00a0 It is a Sagittarian Moon, opposing a Gemini Sun, so the battleground may be around communications, or some verbal sparring.\u00a0 Choose your words carefully.\u00a0 A phrase you often hear on a Full Moon is “things are coming to a head”, so try to stay cool until the confrontation has passed.\u00a0 Then assess whether the issue is important enough to pursue.\u00a0 Some do not experience any tension or conflict at the Full Moon, resolving the opposition within themselves, e.g. through meditation.\u00a0 If you are Sagittarian or Geminian (like Jake and Joe) you may be more involved than most.\u00a0 Learn to discern what is coming from your own emotions, and what is being exacerbated by the reactions of others.<\/p>\n

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