{"id":7558,"date":"2023-08-20T11:14:49","date_gmt":"2023-08-20T11:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=7558"},"modified":"2023-08-20T12:25:54","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T12:25:54","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-20-august-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=7558","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 20 August 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Parkinson (1935 – 2023)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Michael Parkinson, whose chat show was a Saturday night staple across three decades, died peacefully this week aged 88, after a brief illness.\u00a0 He had interviewed 2000 celebrities in his career, and is regarded as the most successful chat show host.<\/p>\n

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

His Sun was in Aries, with the Moon in Capricorn, giving rise to the no-nonsense, down-to-earth Yorkshireman that was his persona.\u00a0 He was self-admittedly not given to introspection.\u00a0 The sole aspect to his Sun was a close sextile with Chiron, so he was very individualistic, a free spirit, with some desire to heal.\u00a0 Unlike some chat show hosts, he had quite a restrained mental function: Mercury in Pisces loosely conjunct Saturn and opposite Neptune.\u00a0 A contemporary, David Frost, for example, had Mercury square Mars, a more interrogational style (The Critic Archetype), whereas Parky had a more cosy, conversational style for the most part.\u00a0 He once explained:<\/p>\n

“The people I interview aren’t criminals, so why on earth should I act like an interrogator?\u00a0 I relax the guests, I am a great listener” <\/em>(the words of Mars in Libra)<\/p>\n

He did have some element of aggression in his make up, however, from Mars square Pluto, which perhaps he saved for the cricket pitch.\u00a0 The feature of his chart which I feel is most telling (without the luxury of a birth time) is Jupiter trine closely Pluto – this I think is the key to his success, being comfortable holding power.\u00a0 He met with the rich and famous from all eras, and revelled in it.\u00a0 It’s also worth mentioning his Nodal Axis squaring Uranus, a karmic mission around groups, i.e. the chat show genre.<\/p>\n

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

Michael was born in Cudworth, near Barnsley.\u00a0 His father was a miner, which may be seen in Pluto (mining) on his South Node in Cancer – depicting ancestry.\u00a0 After attending Barnsley Grammar School, he left school at 16 having passed two O’Levels (Art, and English Language).\u00a0 His parents were so determined he would not follow the family line, that his father escorted him down a mine in order to put him off.\u00a0 Instead, he went into journalism.\u00a0 He also took up cricket, which was a passion of his father’s.\u00a0 Michael went on to work for the Manchester Evening News and the Daily Express, and did two years of National Service.<\/p>\n

“Parkinson”, the Show<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He entered broadcasting via Granada, and in 1971 was invited to begin a chat show, a fairly new format.\u00a0 The show proved so successful that it ran until April 1982, and then again from January 1998 until December 2007.\u00a0 At the launch of the show, on 19th June 1971, Jupiter in late Scorpio was conjunct Neptune in early Sagittarius, an upbeat and mind-expanding influence.\u00a0 This chimed with his chart, in terms of transit, with that conjunction trine his natal North Node (karmic mission).\u00a0 His transits for the end of the show, on 22nd December 2007, include Jupiter trine his natal Uranus (the freedom of retirement) – it was the right time, for him, to wrap up.<\/p>\n

His Guests\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In a total of 2000 guests, it would be easier to name those he didn’t interview, Frank Sinatra being one.\u00a0 He interviewed many of the greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood, including Jimmy Stewart, Fred Astaire and Lauren Bacall.\u00a0 He was very honoured to interview Mohammed Ali (four times), and was responsible for launching the career of comedian Billy Connolly.\u00a0 In the world of music, he interviewed John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, George Michael and Madonna.\u00a0 His favourite interview was that with the mathematician Jacob Bronowski, who spoke about his visit to Auschwitz.\u00a0 Some of those he interviewed became genuine close personal friends.\u00a0 His cricket buddy, Dicky Bird, had known him since childhood, and spoke to him over the phone the day before he died.\u00a0 Parkinson told him “We’ve had a great life.”<\/p>\n

Achilles Heel<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“I came across as kind of pompous and I could have done better.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Aries men of a certain era can be prone to male Chauvinism, and Parkinson came to realize his failings in that respect.\u00a0 He admitted having been “pompous” with Meg Ryan and Helen Mirren, and “sexist” with the latter.\u00a0 He could also be snobbish, insulting Jade Goody in a blog for example (“barely educated, ignorant and puerile…a woman who came to represent all that’s paltry and wretched about Britain today”).<\/p>\n

His interview with Meg Ryan was in October 2003 when she was promoting her film “In the Cut”.\u00a0 Their synastry shows, surprisingly, some rapport.\u00a0 The stickiness though was her Mars square his Saturn.\u00a0 She refused to co-operate, and perhaps she was reacting to these traits. In amongst his transits, he had Jupiter opposite Mercury at the time (overreaching himself in interview).\u00a0 At the time, she had Neptune square her Venus (personal exposure being an issue, as it was in the film at the time).\u00a0 She was in an evasive mood, and feeling vulnerable. \u00a0Perhaps, karmically, they met in order for her to expose this weakness.<\/p>\n

His nemesis, however, was Rod Hull’s Emu, who wrestled him to the ground in an interview on 27th November 1976.\u00a0 Transiting Mars was square Michael’s Saturn (an attack) at the time and Uranus was on Rod’s Mars (seizing an opportunity to attack!)<\/p>\n

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

He had a solid marriage with Mary Parkinson, and they had three sons.\u00a0 His transits at the time of marriage on 22nd August 1959 point to a very solid foundation indeed, including a Jupiter Return, Jupiter trine his natal Pluto (reinforcing his natal strength and superpower) and Saturn trine his Uranus.\u00a0 Mary had Jupiter trine her Sun, exact to the day.<\/p>\n

Being interviewed himself at one time by Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne, Parkinson described his religious stance as “an agnostic atheist”, which given his personality is not surprising.\u00a0 I wonder what he would make of an afterlife.\u00a0 He would certainly have an impressive and illustrious “meet and greet”!<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe genius of Parky was that unlike most people \u2013 and most of his guests, me included, he was always 100 per cent himself. On camera and off. \u2018Authentic\u2019 is the word, I suppose.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Stephen Fry<\/p>\n

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

Our aspects begin on Tuesday (22nd) this week, with Jupiter square Venus around midday.\u00a0 This is a very social and sociable aspect, but can be gauche, awkward, or inappropriate.\u00a0 Social non-conformists won\u2019t care, but conformists may lament the lack of sticking to the rules.<\/p>\n

In the evening, Neptune opposes Mars, and the themes from this aspect may be vision, and illusion.\u00a0 If you are confused about the way ahead, your best option is literally to rest and reflect.<\/p>\n

Wednesday morning (23rd) brings an ingress: that of\u00a0 the Sun’s entry into Virgo.\u00a0 We will start to realize the Autumn term is almost upon us.\u00a0 The need for knuckling down conscientiously to work and study schedules is reinforced.\u00a0 The Sun in Virgo will underline the need for a sense of focus and purpose.\u00a0 Efficiency and Economy will be watchwords for how we organize the second half of our year.\u00a0 There may be a new resolve to institute health and fitness regimes, and work rotas and practices.\u00a0 You may be thinking ahead to September courses, and self-improvement.<\/p>\n

Do what you can during the day, for in the evening, Mercury is Stationary prior to turning Retrograde.\u00a0 You may be up against a deadline.\u00a0 Be clear in your communications for the next three weeks, in order to avoid misunderstandings and loopholes.\u00a0 Although technology can go awry, it can be a good period to upgrade such devices.\u00a0 You may have developed your own strategies, according to past experiences.<\/p>\n

A dynamic aspect on Friday (25th) still needs to be handled with care: that of\u00a0 Mars trine Pluto.\u00a0 It takes place in the early hours of the morning, so could make for a lively evening on Thursday, and some tossing and turning in the night.\u00a0 There may be some upheaval involved, as when you are decluttering in earnest, but you should have the energy to start afresh once you have cleared some old ground.\u00a0 This aspect speaks of self-empowerment, but you have to remember that everyone also has this force!\u00a0 This is a great aspect for tasks which need great energy, and should still be of benefit to you throughout the day.<\/p>\n

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