{"id":4256,"date":"2016-12-31T08:35:39","date_gmt":"2016-12-31T08:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=4256"},"modified":"2016-12-31T08:45:27","modified_gmt":"2016-12-31T08:45:27","slug":"review-of-the-year-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=4256","title":{"rendered":"Review of the Year 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Review of 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn’t quite all Obituaries.\u00a0 Selections from the blog…<\/p>\n

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

17th:<\/p>\n

David Bowie (1947 – 2016)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Bowie\u2019s Ascendant was in whacky, individualistic, rebellious, innovative, revolutionary and androgynous Aquarius \u2013 just perfect for what he wanted to do with his life!<\/p>\n

So with his Sun and Ascendant, he was a mixture of calculating Capricorn and spontaneous Aquarius.\u00a0 With the energy and drive of Sun\/Mars, he got things done.\u00a0 His urge for creativity was strong until the end.<\/p>\n

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

28th:<\/p>\n

European Union Deal and Referendum<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

First Week<\/em><\/p>\n

A week is a long time in politics.\u00a0 And four months is a long time to contemplate and debate whether we should be in or out of the European Union, but the gloves are off in the Conservative Party, and the starting gun has been fired for the In-Out battle…<\/p>\n

Project Fear, or Scaremongering, seems to be the main tool of argument on both sides at the moment.\u00a0 In the country it looks as though the referendum will be close, though polls nearer the time may reveal or conceal more.\u00a0 Currently the Conservative Party are as much at odds about this issue, as the Labour Party are at odds over Trident.\u00a0 And there\u2019s a curious mix-and-match quality to politics at the moment, with David Cameron\u2019s hope for Europe being in line with the majority of Labour MPs.<\/p>\n

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

27th:<\/p>\n

Brussels Bombing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The European wave of terrorism from ISIS, which started with the two episodes in Paris last year, has shifted to Brussels, the centre of the European Union.\u00a0 This week Belgium was put under enormous stress with the attack in Brussels on Tuesday 22nd March, and there but for the grace of God go the rest of Europe (not forgetting terrorist attacks in other parts of the world).\u00a0 The continuing anxiety about these attacks has led some proponents of Brexit to claim that the U.K. would be safer out of Europe (not my view).<\/p>\n

31 lives were lost, and 340 people injured: a large scale disaster, and the worst in Belgium\u2019s history. 40 different nationalities were involved.<\/p>\n

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

24th:<\/p>\n

Prince (1958 – 2016)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The world is reeling from yet another high profile celebrity death, and Prince not even reaching his 60s…<\/p>\n

With Pluto as his Ascendant ruler, the Midheaven exactly conjunct Pluto in his 10th House of Career carries an extraordinary amount of weight and emphasis in his chart.\u00a0 He was deliberately enigmatic, and not so much in a Neptunian way, but in the sense of the Pluto journey, plumbing the depths of the psyche, on a journey that was sometimes dark.\u00a0 Pluto in that position also points to the theme of reinvention and rebirth on his life path.\u00a0 The Pluto\/Midheaven conjunction (his Persona) is at the very end of Leo, signifying a dramatic completion of a creative cycle: an ultimate performer.<\/p>\n

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

15th:<\/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

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

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

26th:<\/p>\n

Reading Guide:<\/em><\/p>\n

If you are of the 52% who voted for Brexit, you may want to skip this blog altogether<\/em><\/p>\n

If you are not interested in politics, you may want to skip the following section, and proceed to Aspects, or my Wimbledon blog…<\/em><\/p>\n

Jo Cox<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us\u201d~ Jo Cox<\/em><\/p>\n

Basically, Jo Cox died in vain.\u00a0 Despite all the protestations of how she was loved locally and nationally, her message was not listened to.<\/p>\n

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

3rd:<\/p>\n

Wimbledon 2016 \u2013 Week 2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That first week was quite rain-drenched at Wimbledon, and there is some catching up to do to remain on schedule.\u00a0 We have had the upset of top Seeds going out (Djokovic at No. 1 and Wawrinka, No. 4 men\u2019s Seeds and Muguruza No. 2 ladies Seed).\u00a0 Muguruza leaving makes it easier for Serena Williams to come out on top.<\/p>\n

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

21st:<\/p>\n

Laura Trott and Jason Kenny<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our Golden couple at the Olympics<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Olympics didn\u2019t completely pass me by, and among the snippets which managed to present themselves to me (while passing through the hubby\u2019s television room) was the triumph of Laura Trott (medal tally 4 golds) and Jason Kenny (medal tally 6 golds).<\/p>\n

Laura Trott<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Cycling as a sport is ruled by Mercury, and that planet is an important focus when looking at her chart, also because she suffered asthma as a child, and a collapsed lung when born prematurely (Mercury related health conditions)…<\/p>\n

Jason Kenny<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Her fiance broke the records on the same evening, after a third attempt at the Kierin race (the first two races were aborted because of overlapping).\u00a0 He displayed great patience (he has Sun square Saturn exactly) and calmness throughout the crisis.\u00a0 When interviewed and asked what was going through his mind he said \u201cNothing really\u201d \u2013 very chilled!<\/p>\n

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

4th:<\/p>\n

Strictly Come Dancing 2016 \u2013 Part 1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s back!\u00a0 The hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing returned yesterday for its launch night.\u00a0 It is the last year for head judge Len Goodman, who reportedly plans to spend his retirement on the golf course.\u00a0 This is borne out by his transit picture, which looks remarkably quiet going forward, partly because the structure of his chart shows half the zodiac occupied and the end of several years of excitement.<\/p>\n

Ed Balls<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I have mentioned Ed Balls a few times over the years, in the context of his political persona, notably just before the last election:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a Pisces, which can bamboozle the public perception of him.\u00a0 He also has Chiron conjunct Mercury, which can lead to an odd way of thinking, but also a penchant for problem-solving.\u00a0 Pluto also opposes his natal Mercury, which is challenging \u2013 he probably does advanced Sudoku in his sleepless hours!\u00a0 He is an affable enough type of chap, reaching out to George Osborne on Andrew Marr\u2019s sofa, though there are elements of shyness in his nature (Sun in Pisces, Venus conjunct Saturn).\u00a0 One of the best features of his chart is an exact trine between Jupiter and Neptune (endless faith) which forms a Grand Trine with Saturn, giving him the ability to translate pie in the sky into concrete reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enter the new persona: as competitive dance contestant.\u00a0 Never mind twinkle toes, I always find him to have twinkly eyes.\u00a0 He has written his political memoirs, but his recent interviews have brought out a different side of him. \u201cYou can do politics and be a human being\u201d he has asserted.\u00a0 He is born under Pisces, the dancing sign, but he claims his dance style is that of a \u201ccamp rugby player\u201d.<\/p>\n

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

16th:<\/p>\n

Bob Dylan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFlashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight<\/em>
\nFlashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight<\/em>
\nAn\u2019 for each an\u2019 ev\u2019ry underdog soldier in the night<\/em>
\nAn\u2019 we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

~ <\/em>Bob Dylan<\/p>\n

What took them so long to award Bob Dylan the Nobel prize for literature?\u00a0 It happened finally, this week on Thursday 13th October.\u00a0 The expanse of his work is so large, that I will have to look at it with a personal eye in order to confine it into the nutshell of a Sunday morning blog.\u00a0 His songs are poetic, and in turn political, philosophical and romantic.<\/p>\n

In the dime stores and bus stations<\/em>
\nPeople talk of situations<\/em>
\nRead books, repeat quotations<\/em>
\nDraw conclusions on the wall…<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

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

13th:<\/p>\n

Leonard Cohen (1934 \u2013 2016)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut let\u2019s not talk of love or chains and things we can\u2019t untie<\/em><\/p>\n

Your eyes are soft with sorrow<\/em>
\nHey, that\u2019s no way to say goodbye\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

Poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died this week, providing an emotional distraction from the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. Presidency.\u00a0 Though he died on Monday 7th November, his death was not announced until Thursday 10th, the day after the election results.<\/p>\n

Suzanne<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSuzanne\u201d was the song that really made his name, when recorded by Judy Collins.\u00a0 On his greatest hits album he wrote, \u201cEverything happened just as it was put down. She was the wife of a man I knew. Her hospitality was immaculate\u201d.\u00a0 She was the first of two Suzannes in his life, the second being the mother of his children (Suzanne Elrod).\u00a0 The earlier Suzanne was Suzanne Verdal, who was shocked when she discovered he had written a song about their relationship.\u00a0 Her own verdict was \u201cOurs was a soul connection as far as I was concerned\u201d<\/p>\n

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

11th:<\/p>\n

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

Yemen was in the news this week from more than one angle.\u00a0 On Tuesday night\u2019s BBC News it was headlined for reasons of the starvation and devastation of the country: Fergal Keane reported that babies were being born malnourished, medical systems were collapsing and aid was not getting through due to the war situation.\u00a0 There is a civil war between the Houthis and Al-Islah, and Saudi Arabia has intervened.\u00a0 This nation is reportedly the poorest in the Middle East…<\/p>\n

The Charts<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

There are three charts for Yemen (1962, 1967 and 1990).\u00a0 In terms of determining a national character from them, they all three have Sun trine Saturn (a cautious nature), but two of them have its opposite in Jupiter opposite Uranus (risk-taking).\u00a0 So that is contradictory, but then so is a civil war.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Review of 2016 It wasn’t quite all Obituaries.\u00a0 Selections from the blog… January 17th: David Bowie (1947 – 2016) Rebel Rebel Bowie\u2019s Ascendant was in whacky, individualistic, rebellious, innovative, revolutionary and androgynous Aquarius \u2013 just perfect for what he wanted to do with his life! So with his Sun and Ascendant, he was a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph9pin-16E","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4256"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4258,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4256\/revisions\/4258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}