{"id":8270,"date":"2025-02-16T14:42:19","date_gmt":"2025-02-16T14:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8270"},"modified":"2025-02-18T08:55:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T08:55:26","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-16-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8270","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 16 February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Celebrating its 40th<\/sup> Anniversary<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The long-running soap opera EastEnders celebrates its 40th<\/sup> anniversary this week, by setting fire to its local pub, The Queen Vic.\u00a0 Funny how soaps like to celebrate with disasters\u2026I will try and keep this blog short, as I don\u2019t know many people who still watch EastEnders.<\/p>\n

The show first aired at 7 p.m. on 19th<\/sup> February 1985, later moving to the 7.30 p.m. slot to avoid clashing with Emmerdale Farm.\u00a0 That first episode was viewed by 17 million people. The marital disharmony between Angie (actor Anita Dobson) and Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) were prominent in the early days, culminating in the Christmas Day 1986 episode where divorce papers were presented.\u00a0 However, Den\u2019s daughter Sharon (played by Letitia Dean) still appears in the show, as done (apparently the longest serving character\/actor) Ian Beale\/Adam Woodyat.<\/p>\n

EastEnders is set in the fictional borough of Walford, with the fictional postcode of E20.\u00a0 With Coronation Street, Brookside and Emmerdale Farm already established as northern soaps, London was chosen as the location.<\/p>\n

My personal journey<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I used to watch EastEnders in those early years\u2026In between, there was about a decade (1995 \u2013 2005, at the risk of falsifying my C.V.) when I didn\u2019t watch it.\u00a0 I was working full time, in offices, and used to declare that \u201cwatching soaps is a waste of my emotional energy\u201d.\u00a0 Then two things happened simultaneously: I used to visit my mother once a month, and was forced to watch it on those occasions; and I made a new friend who waxed lyrical about it.\u00a0 So gradually, I came to watch it at home\u2026Mum has now passed, but the friend has become the couch potato text buddy for EastEnders, especially when the \u201cdouf douf doufs\u201d are sounded at the cliffhangers. [I have come across various spellings for the douf doufs, and this is my personal choice].<\/p>\n

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

EastEnders was launched exactly (to the hour) on a New Moon in Pisces.\u00a0 One might suspect the makers took advice from an Astrologer. The Sun in its chart was exactly conjunct the Moon at 1 degree Pisces in the 6th<\/sup> House of Local Community in an exact triple conjunction with Mercury, too.\u00a0 The Part of Fortune consequently was exactly on the Ascendant, an auspicious corollary.<\/p>\n

The triple conjunction was square to Saturn and Chiron (forming a T-square) \u2013 indicating the everyday struggles and pains of the local inhabitants. But the triple conjunction was closely sextile Neptune \u2013 and therefore oiled with intrigue.\u00a0 Venus closely conjunct Mars gave it a spicy sensuality, with a trine to that conjunction of Uranus providing extra social intrigue.\u00a0 In an early criticism from a poll\u00a0 in the Sunday People complained about “coarse” and “bawdy” dialogue.<\/p>\n

Jupiter closely square Pluto displayed power play, and manipulation by the powers-that-be in the final douf douf douf \u00a0moments, declaring \u201cYou\u2019ve gotta watch the next episode\u201d. Jupiter exactly trine Chiron suggested there was healing in it for some \u2013 as an escape from their own problems, perhaps?\u00a0 EastEnders were pioneering in many ways subsequently in tackling challenging subject matter and health and social issues of the day.<\/p>\n

Uranus closely square Ascendant and closely conjunct the I.C. \u2013 keeping you, if you were a viewer, on your toes, always unsettling.<\/p>\n

40th<\/sup> Anniversary Week<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Apparently, during the show and its aftermath next week, at least one character will lose their life.\u00a0 Since several actors have been reported to be leaving imminently, it could be anyone.<\/p>\n

However, one current storyline may ensure that three characters will remain, and offers a unique opportunity for the viewers to get involved.\u00a0 The love triangle between Denise, Jack and Ravi is set to be decided on the day of a live episode (Thursday 20th<\/sup> February) with the viewers empowered to cast their vote on who Denise chooses.\u00a0 Apparently two separate sets of ensuing storylines have been filmed for the follow-up.<\/p>\n

Actor Diane Parish<\/u> plays Denise Fox, the centre of the love triangle.\u00a0 Diane herself is a sultry Scorpio.\u00a0 She joined EastEnders as Denise on 11th<\/sup> May 2006, which would form the natal chart for the character\u2019s creation, though the casting was announced the day after Diane\u2019s birthday the previous November.\u00a0 Denise was apparently to be portrayed as a \u201csassy, strong\u201d character would be \u201ca force to be reckoned with\u201d.\u00a0 That was the original intention: regular viewers can judge whether that is an accurate description\u2026characters often mutate, and also amalgamate features and qualities possessed by the actor.\u00a0 Denise is in fact the opposite Sun sign from Diane, i.e. a Taurean, still a sensuous sign.\u00a0 But Denise\u2019s current deliberations are more indecisive Libran than \u201ca force to be reckoned with\u201d.\u00a0 Other features of \u201cDenise\u2019s chart\u201d are the Sun square Neptune (confusion), and Pluto at the Galactic Centre square her Nodal Axis (she nearly killed Nish the Christmas before last!).\u00a0 But she\u2019s a likeable and sympathetic character, with a Grand Trine of Mercury-Jupiter-Uranus in the Water signs (emotional).<\/p>\n

Actor Scott Maslen<\/u> plays her first suitor, Jack Branning, who has a long established relationship with Denise.\u00a0 Scott was a former model, and a marine (he is Cancerian), and joined EastEnders creating the character Jack on 29th<\/sup> October 2007.\u00a0 Jack is therefore a Scorpio, and is a Policeman by trade (Scorpio\u2019s ruler Pluto represents the police force).\u00a0 Furthermore, Jack\u2019s Pluto is at the Galactic Centre (like Denise who joined the year before), so they could make a power couple, if only they could make their relationship work (they\u2019ve had plenty of chances)!\u00a0 The character has been described as \u201ca morally ambiguous character\u201d, and Jack\u2019s conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto is a power trip open to misuse, and he has been labelled a \u201cbent copper\u201d.<\/p>\n

The relationship between Denise and Jack has been a chequered one, and with two personal squares (her Saturn squares his Sun, and her Venus squares his Mars) it is not an easy pathway.\u00a0 As for the two actors, Scott\u2019s Jupiter is conjunct Diane\u2019s Neptune, which is a harmonious working relationship.\u00a0 They are born two years apart.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Aaron Thiara<\/u> is cast as toyboy Ravi Gulati to Denise\u2019s cougar role. There is a 23 year gap between the two actors, so he is virtually of the next generation.\u00a0 Aaron has played Shakespearean roles (who would have thought he could morph into a dodgy EastEnder bad boy?) and is a Taurean.\u00a0 He worked as a fight director on Bridgerton (having Mars square his Mercury).\u00a0 Aaron took on the role of Ravi on 4th<\/sup> July 2022, and won Villain of the Year in 2023.\u00a0 Early on in his storyboard, he ruthlessly disposed of a dead body.\u00a0 Ravi\u2019s chart shows the potentially violent square between Mars and Pluto, so he showed up as quite a menacing character.\u00a0 Mercury squares Neptune in his chart, suggesting mental deception.\u00a0 He also has an unpredictable karmic path in North Node conjunct Uranus (as far as a character can have a karmic path).\u00a0 With the Sun in Cancer, his character is bound up with his (dysfunctional) family.\u00a0 However, as so often happens in soaps, he is in the process of transforming and reforming, to what extent we still don\u2019t know, but it is enough to attract Denise, who had rejected him at an earlier cycle of their relationship.<\/p>\n

The relationship between Denise and Ravi has been a stormy one, but the entanglement is shown by her Sun conjunct his North Node, and his Jupiter conjunct her natal Venus. Her Neptune squares his Nodal Axis, so is he destined for disappointment?\u00a0 As for the two actors, Aaron\u2019s Jupiter is conjunct Diane\u2019s Uranus, a bright spark of a working relationship.\u00a0 Interesting that both actors bring Jupiter to Diane\u2019s table\u2026<\/p>\n

For the live episode on Thursday, Mercury squares Jupiter, so it may stretch our credulity.\u00a0 The logistics alone of producing a live episode are quite mind-stretching.\u00a0 There is also a North Node\/Neptune in Pisces conjunction going on – highlighting intrigue and sensationality.\u00a0 These astrological factors will form part of the personality of Sonia\u2019s baby, as she is apparently due to give birth on the day!<\/p>\n

Actors talk of some nervousness approaching taking part, but the actors\u2019 transits look as cool as a cucumber.\u00a0 Maybe they have been assured of the continuity of their contracts.\u00a0 Of the characters, Denise has transiting Pluto sextile her North Node (a deep karmic choice) while Ravi\u2019s transits seem unperturbed\u2026maybe transits to characters do not work (LOL).\u00a0 But Jack\u2019s transits are more active: Saturn opposes Jack\u2019s Venus (Love prospects) and squares his Jupiter (he could be tied up), but Jupiter trines his natal Chiron (his Inner Healer in Aquarius \u2013 he is always on hand to heal the community).\u00a0 It has been teased that Jack leads a mission to rescue friends and neighbours from the fire.<\/p>\n

However unrealistic it may seem, Denise\u2019s relationship with Ravi looks better than her relationship with good old dependable Jack.\u00a0 But, far be it from me to choose.\u00a0 The karma is in the hands of the viewers\u2026!<\/p>\n

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

We start with the Sun in Pisces, which occurs on Tuesday 18th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The Sun leaves Aquarius and enters Pisces, and the general tone of life will become more soft focus.\u00a0 We become more introspective and aware of our deeper emotions with the Sun in Pisces.\u00a0 We also become more aware of the sentience and oneness of all life, especially the plight of the creatures of the ocean and the state of the waters.\u00a0 This is the last stage of our winter introspection before the coming of the spring.<\/p>\n

Our second aspect occurs on Thursday 20th<\/sup>, right in the middle of the live episode of EastEnders\u2019 40th<\/sup> anniversary offering: Mercury square Jupiter.\u00a0 The outcome of this mindstretching square may be within your control, through your response.\u00a0 Certainly you may make a choice regarding Albert Square\u2026even if it is to switch off your set.\u00a0 You may have far to travel, or a lot to learn, and feel overstretched, but could enjoy the ride nevertheless.<\/p>\n

These are the only two straight astrological features of the week, but if you wish to go further with your cosmic interactions, I have two Fixed Stars for you which align with the end of the week.\u00a0 The first one on Friday (21st<\/sup>) will be challengingly woo woo for some \u2013 it\u2019s the message of Nashira from the constellation of Capricorn, as told by Michael Smulkis and Fred Rubenfeld in \u201cStarlight Elixirs\u201d:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the effects from this star are a bit subtle and muted because the civilization there has had some direct influence over Earth in the past and of late has pulled back and reduced some of this influence.\u00a0 At the present time this star is good to utilize when you wish to have the ability to see the whole picture of what is happening on Earth: politically, economically, and geophysically.\u00a0 This is very difficult to create with only the mental body.\u00a0 The emotional body alone is also insufficient.\u00a0 This star will encourage\u00a0 in a gentle way the combination of faculties needed for this larger perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second alignment of our Sun is to Sadalsud in the constellation of Aquarius, taking place on Saturday (22nd<\/sup>).\u00a0 \u201cStarlight Elixirs\u201d tells us:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis star can create peacefulness in the interaction amongst all women and men by increasing the female part of their understanding.\u00a0 The male mind can open to its female aspects and in this way relate better to women.\u00a0 Women are able to better express and share the very nature of what it means to be a woman.\u00a0 This star may eventually be able to work with these energies in large groups; for now it is simply in small groups or in one to one relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

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