{"id":8153,"date":"2024-11-03T15:09:42","date_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8153"},"modified":"2024-11-06T08:38:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:38:38","slug":"aspect-for-the-week-beginning-3-november-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8153","title":{"rendered":"Aspect for the week beginning 3 November 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rachel Reeves<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“To every young woman and girl… to every young woman and girl watching this: let today show that there should be no ceilings on your ambitions, your hopes or your dreams.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Rachel Reeves, July 2024<\/p>\n

Two glass ceilings broken this week: the first female U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget, and the first black female leader of a U.K. political party Kemi Badenoch was elected, to the Conservatives.\u00a0 This morning (actually, now afternoon),\u00a0 I look at our Chancellor and her stamp on the country’s finances.\u00a0 Rachel Reeves is the first women to hold this office in the 800-year history of the chancellorship.<\/p>\n

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

Rachel has half her planets (5) in the Fixed signs, denoting an extremely strong will.\u00a0 Like her fellow cabinet minister Wes Streeting she has Sun in Aquarius.\u00a0 Her Sun is conjunct Mercury, and in an air sign that depicts focus and intelligence.\u00a0 Her Sun is also conjunct Mars in Aquarius, meaning that she is a steadfast Warrior.\u00a0 Uranus squares these three planets, showing that she doesn’t care what others think, and doesn’t mind standing out from the crowd (accentuating the Aquarian trait).\u00a0 Her Sun in a trine with Pluto indicates a powerful inner nature.\u00a0 Three features\u00a0 in Virgo (Moon, Saturn and the North Node) provide an eye for detail.\u00a0 Though we do not have a birth time, the Moon at Noon exactly trine her natal Venus, suggests the harmony she has with her sister Ellie (Chair of the Labour Party and Minister without Portfolio).\u00a0 Venus in Capricorn (political responsibility for finance) trine Chiron in Taurus (the desire to heal through financial distribution) well describes Rachel’s life path thus far.\u00a0 Mars exactly trine Pluto provides a powerhouse of energy at her disposal.\u00a0 Uranus sextile her North Node describes some measure of success, and a strong leadership karma.<\/p>\n

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

Rachel was born in Lewisham. Her parents were primary school teachers, who divorced when Rachel was seven years old.\u00a0 She was educated in Beckenham, and took part in an under-14 girls chess championship contest.\u00a0 She has recounted that at the age of eight her father pointed out Neil Kinnock on the television and “told us that was who we voted for”.\u00a0 Both sisters joined the Labour Party when they were sixteen. At A-Level Rachel achieved four As in the subjects of politics, economics, mathematics and further mathematics.\u00a0 She took Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, and subsequently gained an MSc from the London School of Economics.<\/p>\n

She worked at the Bank of England and moved to Leeds in 2006 to work for HBOS.\u00a0 In 2010 under an all-women shortlist of prospective Labour candidates, she was selected to contest the constituency of Leeds West.\u00a0 She had been advised on economic policy by Alistair Darling and was elected on 6th May 2010.\u00a0 At the time, Pluto was trine her natal Chiron in Taurus, the placement in her chart which describes fiscal healing (she was on the road to her later role).\u00a0 The seat was later re-organized, and its name changed to Leeds West and Pudsey, its current designation.<\/p>\n

In 2010 she backed Ed Milliband for Labour Leader and became Shadow Pensions Minister under his leadership, being promoted in 2013 to Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.\u00a0 She returned to the back benches when Jeremy Corbyn became leader in 2015.\u00a0 When Keir Starmer was elected Labour Party leader, she was given the job of Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which I mentioned in a blog at that time. On 9th May 2021 she was promoted to Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.\u00a0 At the time, her ruling planet Uranus trined her natal Saturn in Virgo, boosting her capacity for work.\u00a0 She advocated what she called “Securonomics”, which she described as \u201can economic idea focused on building a strong economy in a more unstable world through government putting security for family finances and for the national economy, first.\u201d\u00a0 She believed that it would replace the neoliberal economic consensus.\u00a0 From that time, she was being groomed, or grooming herself, for her future role.\u00a0 The New Statesman in 2023, dubbed her “the most influential person on the British left today”.\u00a0 She was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on 5th July 2024, in Keir Starmer’s newly appointed cabinet.\u00a0 Saturn was on her South Node (almost a karmic appointment) and Pluto opposed her natal Jupiter (her rise in power).<\/p>\n

On 29th July, Rachel Reeves announced that the previous Tory government had left a “\u00a322 billion black hole” unaccounted for in the nation’s finances, and that would result in further “tough decisions” come the October budget.\u00a0 This point in time is interesting, because the public were left dangling until the budget, and the Tories were protesting and denying that that was the case.\u00a0 Saturn was on her South Node, as at the time of her appointment, Uranus was square her natal Mercury (controversy) and Pluto opposing her natal Jupiter (the wielding of power, for better or worse).<\/p>\n

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

The day of the budget saw Uranus oppose Mercury, so it was always going to be divisive.\u00a0 I listened, rapt, to every word, and have never heard anything like it, she seemed<\/em> to leave no stone unturned.\u00a0 Afterwards, I heard a range of opinions all across the board, from a few cries of “she smashed it!” to “What about Social Care\/Hospices\/GPs?”. The business sector seems to have been most hit, though there was special provision for supporting the smallest businesses.\u00a0 She has focussed on growth, and on boosting our public services, most notably the NHS, rebuilding the infrastructure of our country which has been neglected for so long.<\/p>\n

The budget was bold, and needs to succeed.\u00a0 One factor which it does need, is for Kamala Harris to win the U.S. election on Tuesday 5th.\u00a0 Many of Rachel’s proposed policies and bills will not take effect until next April, which is a long time in politics…I will attempt to keep up to date on developments in my blog.<\/p>\n

“There is hope.\u00a0 The chancellor has dared to invest, tax and borrow on the scale necessary. She deserves applause, not brickbats…Good government can make a difference.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ Will Hutton, The Observer, 3rd November 2024<\/p>\n

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

A contentious opposition occurs today, between Mars and Pluto.\u00a0 You can’t get much more of a dynamic opposition.\u00a0 It very much reflects the struggle for the last votes in the U.S. between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.\u00a0 There are only two days to go, and we very much hope the best candidate wins!\u00a0 Tempers may flare, unexpectedly, and words may cause upset.\u00a0 Keep a low profile today if you wish to avoid conflict, and\u00a0 the watchword is tact.<\/p>\n

That’s not the whole story, though, today.\u00a0 There is a second opposition occurring between Venus and Jupiter. \u00a0This is a good counterpart to the first opposition, as it involves the “two benefics” of the planetary family.\u00a0 Even though this is an opposition, these two planets don’t tend to generate much harm. \u00a0There may be some extra socializing in the offing.\u00a0 This may include an awkward gaffe, but hopefully on the right side of humour.<\/p>\n

Finally today we may reap the rewards of these two balancing acts, as Venus will trine Chiron, which may aid healing and recovery.\u00a0 Try to keep the heart open; it is the antidote for many things.\u00a0 The healing power of love comes to the fore.\u00a0 There may be a real opportunity to re-group your healing energies and feel harmony within your being.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow (Monday 4th) Mars enters Leo, so a burst of fire in the early hours, maybe bringing passion to your dreams.\u00a0 This will boost the energy of your self-expression, or you may observe displays of power.\u00a0 The aspect favours and supports the performing arts, and the theatre industry.\u00a0 Mars represents football and Leo sporting interests, too, so there may be news from that quarter.\u00a0 You may kick off an active project of your own.<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, the Sun trines Saturn, which is a quieter and more constructive space, solid and productive.\u00a0 If you are engaged in creativity, it can help ensure that the creativity works on a practical level.\u00a0 Simplifying your plans, or making economies, may make them more workable. This is especially useful to bear in mind if you own a business, and are considering staffing and resources, especially planning in the light of last week’s budget.\u00a0 One solid step at a time, and one day at a time.<\/p>\n

The aspects skip the main body of the week, and end in a fairly uncertain square between Venus and Neptune on Saturday (9th). \u00a0So use the week to get your house in order, and secure loopholes before tackling the dilemma of Saturday if there is one.\u00a0 You may experience sensitivity around a relationship issue.\u00a0 Sift out any paranoia, iron out artistic flaws, and financial insecurities. That may assist a smoother passage…and tread softly on the day,\u00a0 lest you tread on your own dreams, or anyone else’s.\u00a0 Be alert to any scams or deceptions, or negative examples of A.I., of which there seem to be many these days.<\/p>\n

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