{"id":7581,"date":"2023-09-02T12:55:25","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T12:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=7581"},"modified":"2023-09-02T13:06:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-02T13:06:06","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-3-september-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=7581","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 3 September 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ministry of Defence<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“Just then, Sunak received a letter from Ben Wallace saying he was resigning as defence secretary.\u00a0 And that reminded him he was supposed to be doing a mini-reshuffle.\u00a0 Who to replace Wallace?\u00a0 There just wasn’t any talent left in the Tory ranks.\u00a0 So he supposed it would have to be Grant Shapps.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ John Crace<\/p>\n

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, possibly one of the safest pair of hands in the\u00a0 cabinet, resigned on Friday and was replaced by Grant Shapps, a minister loyal to Rishi Sunak, but who has been associated with past scandals.<\/p>\n

Outgoing Defence Secretary<\/u><\/p>\n

Ben Wallace<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Half his planets (5) in Earth signs makes Ben Wallace very grounded, and with 0 planets in Fire he is not likely to get carried away too easily.\u00a0 On top of that, his Sun is in Taurus, so hence his reputation for being trustworthy, sensible and dependable.\u00a0 His Sun is exactly trine Pluto, so he is able to look realities in the face, and as a military man, he would have had to.\u00a0 With Mercury closely conjunct Saturn, he had the ability to focus and apply himself.\u00a0 Mars square his Pluto marks him out as a warrior, or military man.\u00a0 He was immensely suited to the post of Defence Secretary.<\/p>\n

His time as Defence Secretary<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He was appointed<\/span> Defence Secretary when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, but had made his mark before then.\u00a0 In 2016, the year of the Referendum, he was strongly in favour of remaining in Europe.\u00a0 Theresa May made him Minister of State for Security in the Home Office, and in December 2017 his brief was extended to economic crime.\u00a0 In that capacity, it fell to him to deal with the episode of the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury.<\/p>\n

Johnson made him Secretary of State for Defence on 24th July 2019.\u00a0 His transits included three suitably Martian ones: Mars square his natal Mercury and Saturn, and Neptune square his natal Mars.\u00a0 In July 2021, he described Britain as being in a “very difficult position” when the United States decided to withdraw from Afghanistan, an event which took place at the end of August that year, and obliged the U.K. to act.\u00a0 The Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was sunning himself on a beach at the time, and that operation was not handled well.\u00a0 Wallace expressed an intention at the time to work with the Taliban.\u00a0 He was interviewed that month, and asked why he felt the withdrawal so personally.\u00a0 His reply was:<\/p>\n

“Because I’m a soldier\u00a0… because it’s sad, and the West has done what it’s done and we have to do our very best to get people out and stand by our obligations”<\/em><\/p>\n

He had strong feelings, too, on the subject of Ukraine, stating that Ukraine should offer more gratitude to the Western allies, and that its wishlist of military aid was very demanding.<\/p>\n

On 15 July 2023, Wallace announced that he was ready to resign from his post, but he remains the longest serving Tory Secretary of State for Defence.\u00a0 His main transit at the time was Pluto sextile Neptune, a deep urge to address the balance of sensitivities in his life: the demands of the job had taken its toll on his family life.<\/p>\n

He formally resigned on Friday this week, with Jupiter on his Mercury (mental freedom) and Pluto exactly square his natal Jupiter to the day (his relinquishment of power), plus the South Node on his Jupiter (he had fulfilled his karma) – that’s three Jupiterian influences at this time for him.<\/p>\n

Incoming Defence Secretary<\/u><\/p>\n

Grant Shapps<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Half his planets (5) in Mutable signs, which are adaptable and versatile, chime well with the fact that he has had five ministerial posts during the course of one year!\u00a0 He has an entrepreneurial chart, with the Sun in Virgo conjunct Jupiter and Uranus., but more importantly he has the Sun and Pluto exactly conjunct in that sign.\u00a0 Interestingly, the leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer also has the Sun and Pluto exactly conjunct in Virgo.\u00a0 Both can be inscrutable, but whereas Grant Shapps has a reputation for dodgy dealings, Keir has a more trustworthy reputation.\u00a0 Grant has Mercury conjunct Venus, and therefore can sweet talk his way in and out of situations.\u00a0 He is valued within the Conservative party as a communicator, and for being media-savvy.\u00a0 Mars trine closely Saturn, could indicate that he can get things done, but he does not so far have a lot to show for his responsible positions.\u00a0 Mars closely square Neptune can be slippery, and Jupiter conjunct Pluto may indicate a love of power.\u00a0 With Mercury ruling his Sun and his Moon Sign (Gemini), his would have found his stint at Transport congenial.<\/p>\n

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

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1999, but recovered well after treatment.\u00a0 At the time, his progressed Sun was semi-sextile his natal Pluto.\u00a0 It was after this time that he set up in business, but was later found to have set up fictitious names for testimonials in his business.\u00a0 Around that time, his progressed Sun was opposite his natal Saturn.\u00a0 In September 2012 many of his business websites were blacklisted on Google for violating copyright infringement rules.\u00a0 He marketed get-rich-quick schemes under a pseudonym.<\/p>\n

2015 was not a good year for him.\u00a0 He was discovered to have lied about having jobs while being an M.P., and he was accused of bullying within the Tory party.\u00a0 He was let go from the cabinet on 11th May 2015, with transiting Pluto square his natal Venus.<\/p>\n

His fortunes were on the rise by 2019, when Boris Johnson appointed him as Transport Secretary in his new cabinet.\u00a0 And this week, he has been entrusted with Defence – Uranus is trine his natal Pluto (enormous change and responsibility) and Pluto at the same time is trine his natal Uranus – same again, with bells on!<\/p>\n

Grant Shapps does not have any experience in the area of Defence.\u00a0 A former chief of the general staff of the British Army, Richard Dannatt, has said the post comes with a complex portfolio which would take time to learn, and according to the Guardian he wonders whether Grant Schapps “would put his loyalty to Sunak above pushing for the needs of the defence community”.<\/p>\n

“The United Kingdom is respected around the world for our Armed Forces and that respect has only grown more since the war in Ukraine. I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where Defence was viewed as a discretionary spend by Government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Ben Wallace<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Monday (4th) is a busy day, aspect-wise.\u00a0 First of all, in the early hours of the morning, Venus is Stationary prior to turning Direct.\u00a0 Phew!\u00a0 That’s one planet off the Retrograde list.\u00a0 Venus has been retrograde since 23rd July, and relationships may have been tested and put through their paces in that time.\u00a0 You may have realized the true worth of some of your relationships.\u00a0 You can pause, breathe and relax into that knowledge.\u00a0 That doesn’t mean relationships will suddenly be easy, but you will have learned something important for moving forward.<\/p>\n

A helpful aspect occurs later in the morning, when Mercury trines Jupiter, the veritable aspect of good news itself.\u00a0 This could bring productivity, and good conversation.\u00a0 .\u00a0 Mercury trine Jupiter expands our minds and philosophies.\u00a0 This is an upbeat vibe mentally, and can bring opportunities.\u00a0 It is also helpful for writing projects and studying.<\/p>\n

Just when you think you can rest on your laurels, another directional turn of a planet takes place, on the same day, late lunchtime.\u00a0 So while Venus has gone Direct, Jupiter is replacing her on the Retrograde list.\u00a0 This could find us feeling we are in a state of flux.\u00a0 You may have been working along a particular line and making steady progress, but now have to re-assess.\u00a0 There is a possibility of a U-turn by someone in power, or you may make a U-turn in\u00a0 your own life.<\/p>\n

The Sun conjoins with Mercury at 13 degrees Virgo on Wednesday (6th).\u00a0 This 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 working schedules and documentation or environmental projects.\u00a0 Mentally you may be able to see things clearly. \u00a0If you know which House Virgo occupies in your chart, you’ll find that area of your life to be exceptionally busy.<\/p>\n

We end on a high note this week, with a trine between the Sun and Jupiter on Friday (8th). This is one of the brightest aspects of the year.\u00a0 If you have been feeling stressed, you may experience a welcome distraction.\u00a0 It’s a happy-go-lucky aspect where circumstances allow.\u00a0 So whatever lights your candle today, grasp the opportunity.\u00a0 Good cheer, laughter, and adventure may characterize this time.<\/p>\n

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