{"id":7403,"date":"2023-04-29T12:45:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T12:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=7403"},"modified":"2023-04-29T12:51:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T12:51:28","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-30-april-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=7403","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 30 April 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Len Goodman (1944 – 2023)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“Seven!”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Len Goodman<\/p>\n

The top judge on the top show – it doesn’t get much better than that…the much loved Len Goodman passed away last week, at the age of 78.\u00a0 His life seems to have been mapped out for a trajectory of dancing success in the ballroom.<\/p>\n

Birth Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Len had the Sun in Taurus, the same sign as Fred Astaire, a musical sign.\u00a0 It is also the sign of the programme Strictly Come Dancing, a supremely successful format which no one would have predicted, and which was copied worldwide, including in the U.S. as Dancing with the Stars (for which Len Goodman was also Head Judge).\u00a0 Looking at the events of his life, they do look choreographed (if you’ll excuse the pun), and that makes sense of his square between the Sun in his chart and the karmic Nodal Axis, and also the conjunction of his North Node with Pluto.\u00a0 The “Inner Healer” asteroid Chiron seems to have been a key feature of his life, judging (if you’ll excuse the pun) by the transits of key events in his life.\u00a0 These become even important to look at when there is no precious birth time to focus the chart.\u00a0 So, he had the Sun trine Chiron in Virgo, which enabled him to be a healer of sorts.\u00a0 From accounts of his humour, it is likely his mode of healing was through bringing cheer.\u00a0 His upbeat wit may have come from his conjunction of the Moon and Uranus in Gemini, though without a birth time we do not know exactly how close that was.\u00a0 The Moon at Noon on the day of his birth was trine Neptune, the planet of Dance, and that is likely to have been a strong factor in his career path.\u00a0 Mercury closely sextile Mars gave him quick physical and mental reactions, and Mercury square Jupiter accounts for his transatlantic lifestyle for many years.\u00a0 In addition, Mercury trine Chiron provided a problem-solving, “can do” mentality.\u00a0 His Venus in Aries squaring Mars may account for some colourful language, such as about “pickling walnuts” and the like.\u00a0 Venus closely trine Jupiter spelled social success and charm, and\u00a0 Neptune exactly sextile North Node added more than a dusting of ballroom excellence as part of his karmic mission.<\/p>\n

Life and Career<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Len Goodman was born in Farnborough, but his distinctively cheeky chappy East End persona and accent came from his upbringing in Bethnal Green.\u00a0 He left school at 15 (his headmaster had told him he would be a failure), and began working as a welder in Woolwich.\u00a0 The first twist of fate came at the age of 19, when after a foot injury a doctor (strangely?) recommended dancing as therapy.<\/p>\n

Enter the next twist of fate.\u00a0 He started learning dance at Henry Kingston’s Erith Studio, and dancing was to be his path in life.\u00a0 There he met Henry Kingston’s daughter Cherry, who became his dance partner.\u00a0 Together with Cherry, he won a Pontins dance competition, proceeding to win the final at the Royal Albert Hall.\u00a0 They went professional and became Kent professional champions in 1969.\u00a0 They married in 1972, and Len took over the studio when Henry Kingston died, opening his own Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford in 1973.\u00a0 In his late 20s (around the time of his Saturn Return in Gemini) he won the British Championships at Blackpool, and announced his retirement from competition.<\/p>\n

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

He and Cherry divorced in 1987, and Len developed a long-term relationship with a woman called Lesley Pine, which resulted in the birth of a son James on 26th January 1981.\u00a0 When that relationship came to an end, James went to live with his mother in the Isle of Wight.\u00a0 The distance in the relationship between father and son is shown in their synastry through Len’s Pluto opposite James’ Sun, and Len’s Uranus trine James’ Sun, both heavyweight outer planets in difficult aspect having a disruptive effect.\u00a0 But they must have resumed a closeness later in life, as in 2012 James went to Len’s school to learn dance.\u00a0 His second marriage, to dance teacher at his school Sue Barrett, took place on 30th December 2012.<\/p>\n

In 2011, he took part in “Who Do You Think You Are?”.\u00a0 On finding out he had Polish ancestry, he commented:<\/p>\n

“I feel no different, I look no different, I am no different and yet I’m not what I thought I was. I thought that I was truly an Anglo-Saxon, English through and through.”<\/p>\n

Strictly Come Dancing<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A later twist of fate occurred when he was 60, and out of the blue he was asked to complete the original panel for a new show, Strictly Come Dancing.\u00a0 He was invited to take part because the other three panellists (Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli) did not have expertise in ballroom dance, and was made Head Judge.\u00a0 The programme was a risky venture at the time, but he described the effect of the show thus:<\/p>\n

“It’s dispelled the preconception about what dance classes or schools are like.\u00a0 The programme has changed things in dancing schools like\u00a0 you can’t imagine.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The date was 15th May 2004, airing on a dynamic close trine between Mars and Uranus.\u00a0 The following year Len was invited to be Head Judge on the U.S. edition, Dancing with the Stars.\u00a0 He became known for various catchphrases, such as “It’s a ten from Len!” and some quite fruity language, never mincing his words, and was from the beginning highly popular with the viewers.\u00a0 It seemed inconceivable that he would ever leave, but leave he did, although he carried on with the U.S. version for a few more years.\u00a0 On 9th May 2017 it was announced that Shirley Ballas would take his place, someone he had known for years: in fact she had known him since she was 9 years old.\u00a0 His final appearance on the show was on the Christmas Day Special that year.\u00a0 He did not finally hang up his hat in the U.S. version until 14th November 2022 – with Uranus on his natal Mercury in Taurus, Uranus square his natal Jupiter in Leo and Neptune square his natal Saturn in Gemini, this represented a break with the past.\u00a0 He said he wanted to spend more time with his family.\u00a0 Poignantly, he had about five months of his life to do that.<\/p>\n

Len Goodman was well loved by the public, and especially by the world of dance.\u00a0 The tributes to him are full of affection.\u00a0 A life not only well lived, but seeming to fulfil his destiny to the letter.<\/p>\n

“A kind and brilliant man. Full of twinkle, warmth and wit. Sending so much love to his family and friends. We love you Len<\/em> xx.”<\/p>\n

~ Claudia Winkleman<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been like this all day, a disaster. My old pal, Lord Len Goodman. We love you, Len.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Anton Du Beke<\/p>\n

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

A mixed picture this week, starting on Monday (1st May) with Pluto Stationary prior to turning Retrograde, in the afternoon.\u00a0 This may give you a fresh set of preoccupations, or remind you of earlier ones.\u00a0 You may recognize a psychological theme where you have been making headway, but now need to revise your steps, perhaps look further into the past.\u00a0 If you’ve been knitting, you may need to unravel a few rows, for instance.\u00a0 Eventually, you will recoup your ground and be stronger, richer and truer for it.<\/p>\n

In the late evening, there will be a conjunction of the Sun and Mercury at 11 degrees Taurus.\u00a0 The evening may therefore bring an opportunity to apply your mind with clarity,\u00a0 concentrate and focus,\u00a0 and make important statements.\u00a0 The focus may be on Taurean occupations such as cooking, gardening, painting or making money.\u00a0 Mentally you may be able to see things clearly in terms of your values, and how they determine your choices.<\/p>\n

Thursday May 4th, also known as council election day, \u00a0presents us with a square between Venus and Neptune, which could be socially confusing.\u00a0 You may get paranoid about how other people are voting, for instance!\u00a0 There may be a a sense of intrigue, involving relationship or money.\u00a0 Maybe another political scandal…You need to look behind the illusion.\u00a0 There could be uncertainty in the Arts or the world of Music.\u00a0 You could experience frustrating flaws in creative works. Tread softly.<\/p>\n

The early hours of Friday (5th) morning sees one of the brightest aspects of the year, Venus sextile Jupiter.\u00a0 This bodes well for the pre-party atmosphere and anticipation on the eve of Coronation day.\u00a0 It’s one of the highlights in a year, conducive to socializing, celebrating partying, and romancing.\u00a0 This sextile combines luck and love.\u00a0 Enjoy!<\/p>\n

The atmosphere may become feverish as we approach the Full Moon and Eclipse at 14 degrees Scorpio in the afternoon.\u00a0 This is the most emotionally intense Full Moon of the year.\u00a0 A conversation could set you on a profound journey.\u00a0 You will need to be in touch with your deepest emotions and be constructively authentic.\u00a0 There may be a focus on shared finances and an attempt to balance material resources and needs between two people.\u00a0 With the Moon opposite the Sun in Taurus, values and shared values may be the current issue on your mind.<\/p>\n

Enjoy Coronation Saturday itself (6th May)!\u00a0 I have already had a try out at making the Coronation quiche (not bad).\u00a0 I’ll be back on Sunday 7th…<\/p>\n

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