{"id":8559,"date":"2025-09-14T14:16:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T14:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8559"},"modified":"2025-09-14T14:27:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T14:27:15","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-14-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8559","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 14 September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Deputy Labour Leadership Contest<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Among the drama-laden political stories of the week (which included the sacking of Peter Mandelson, and the shooting of Charlie Kirk), the search began for the successor to Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister.\u00a0 Her strength in her role was shown in her chart by an exact conjunction of Mars and the North Node in Leo (a Karmic Warrior).\u00a0 She was once touted as a future Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

Bridget Phillipson\u2019s Birth Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“Our state schools need teachers more than private schools need embossed stationery. Our children need mental health support more than private schools need new pools. Our students need careers advice more than private schools need AstroTurf pitches.”<\/em><\/p>\n

~ <\/em>Bridget Phillipson<\/p>\n

Bridget Phillipson, currently Education Secretary, has the Sun in Sagittarius, an unusual sign for a politician as it happens.\u00a0 She has a satellitium of 4 planets in that sign, making her a specialist, which includes a triple conjunction of Jupiter\/Sun\/Neptune.\u00a0 This triple conjunction suggests that she is deeply motivated by her faith, which in her case is Roman Catholicism.\u00a0 She is born close to a Full Moon in Gemini, and, with strong emotions, full mooners can ruffle a few feathers sometimes. \u00a0She has the positive benefits of the Sun closely conjunct Jupiter, which provides a certain amount of optimism.\u00a0 Neptune adds some sensitivity.\u00a0 We do not have a birth time for her, so cannot properly assess her Moon aspects, but a noon chart would show the Moon closely trine Mars \u2013 she has appeared to vehemently stand her ground on episodes of Question Time.\u00a0 Venus in Scorpio conjunct Saturn can result in harsh feelings at times, especially when criticized about Education policies.\u00a0 But she has Mars trine the North Node, so a positive warrior position karmically, and Mars is in Libra which is capable of conciliation.\u00a0 It must be noted that in her chart she has relatively few aspects, though the interpretation of that may be up for grabs: one possible interpretation is that of a lack of self-knowledge.<\/p>\n

Bridget \u2013 Life and Career<\/u><\/p>\n

Bridget Maeve Phillipson\u00a0was born in Gateshead.\u00a0To her credit, she is a local MP still serving in her area (Houghton and Sunderland South) \u2013 a rarity, these days!\u00a0 Good Northern Stock \u2013 and it was pointed out by a few notables when Angela Rayner left office that we need a Northern female replacement.\u00a0 There is still a lot of levelling up to do!<\/p>\n

She attended a Catholic School, joined the Labour Party at 15, and studied modern history and modern languages at Oxford University.\u00a0 She worked in local government, and for Women in Need (following in her mother\u2019s footsteps).\u00a0 At the 2010 General Election she was elected MP.\u00a0 She campaigned to Remain at the time of the 2016 Brexit referendum.\u00a0 She was a supporter of Keir Starmer in the 2020 Labour leadership election, and became Shadow Education Secretary in 2021.\u00a0 With Moon in Gemini, Education is a natural interest.\u00a0 She progressed to Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities when Keir Starmer formed a government in July 2024.\u00a0 This was an elevation for her (with Neptune sextile her natal Chiron, the North Node trine her natal Uranus, and Chiron trine her natal Jupiter), but she had some more severe transits (Pluto square her natal Pluto, and Neptune square her natal Neptune), which may show the scale of the task and the bumpiness of the road ahead.<\/p>\n

What has she achieved?\u00a0 She has clearly impressed her fellow MPs, having gained more votes than any other contenders thus far in the contest. When in opposition, she stressed her aims of catering for the care of children at all stages of education. Among her achievements are bringing breakfast clubs to schools.\u00a0 Another development in the school system in this period is VAT on private education, though that may be laid at the door of Rachel Reeves.<\/p>\n

Bridget\u2019s Transits for the Contest<\/u><\/p>\n

Bridget put her name forward on 9th<\/sup> September, and quickly established a lead among the six candidates.\u00a0 Her transits were Chiron trine her natal Sun (helpful) and Saturn square her natal Neptune (stressful).\u00a0 She led with nominations from 175 Labour MPs, so has clearly earned their respect.\u00a0 She is also the favoured candidate from Keir Starmer\u2019s point of view, the one most likely to support him without conflict.<\/p>\n

The results are due on 25th<\/sup> October, by which time her transits will have changed:-<\/p>\n

Pluto will be square her natal Pluto (psychological challenge), Neptune Retrograde almost square her natal Neptune; these two transits operating at the time she began her role as Education Minister.\u00a0 Chiron will be almost trine her natal Jupiter (another transit which was operating at that time, because of planets in retrograde \u2013 could it mean she will be staying as Secretary of State for Education?).\u00a0 Saturn will square her natal Sun (responsibility, or disappointment? and the Nodal Axis will be square her natal Nodal Axis, forming a Grand Cross: a karmic time, to be sure.\u00a0 Finally, the North Node will be almost trine her natal Venus, implying that whatever happens, she will be comfortable with it on a personal level.<\/p>\n

Lucy Powell\u2019s Birth Chart<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really want this government to succeed, but I\u2019m not afraid to speak truth where that truth needs to be spoken\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

~<\/em> Lucy Powell<\/p>\n

Lucy Powell, until Keir Starmer\u2019s recent cabinet re-shuffle Leader of the House of Commons, has the Sun in Libra, with a satellitium of 5 planets in that sign, also making her a specialist.\u00a0 Would that indicate that they should both stay put?\u00a0 Except for the fact that Lucy has just lost her role, so it may be that fate has freed up her energies for a different role.\u00a0 Intensifying the diplomatic skills of Libra, Lucy has the Sun conjunct Venus.\u00a0 But she too has warriorship, with the Sun closely conjunct Mars, in Libra, the sign of peace.\u00a0 Though born 9 years apart, Bridget and Lucy\u2019s Marses are exactly conjunct, at 17 degrees Libra \u2013 they belong in the same cabinet, working together.\u00a0 Astrologically, Lucy does not have an easy chart, with some awkward squares (including a T-square), suggesting she may not have had as easy a life as it seems on the surface.\u00a0 Again, we do not have her birth time, but in a Noon chart, the Moon is exactly trine Neptune, indicating emotional sensitivity, and the qualities of a good listener (a quality some MPs, such as Emily Thornberry) have pinpointed as being the need of the hour for the government.\u00a0 In another interesting link with Bridget, their Nodal Axes are opposite each other, so could balance out each other, if they overcome any differences they might have.\u00a0 Mercury trine Jupiter in Lucy\u2019s chart shows a good, wide-ranging mind.<\/p>\n

Lucy \u2013 Life and Career<\/u><\/p>\n

Lucy Powell was born in Moss Side, Manchester, so is another \u201cNorthern lass\u201d, fulfilling that particular requirement.\u00a0 Her position on the politican spectrum has been described as \u201csoft left\u201d of the Labour party.\u00a0 She also studied at Oxford University, taking Chemistry as her subject, and she too is MP for her local area (Manchester Central), having been elected in 2012.\u00a0 She too campaigned for Remain in the Brexit referendum in 2016.\u00a0 The two must have a sense of shared values.\u00a0 Lucy gained much political experience, first in Ed Milliband\u2019s shadow cabinet, but also under Jeremy Corbyn (as Shadow Education minister).\u00a0 However she resigned, with others, from Corbyn\u2019s shadow government, on 26th<\/sup> June 2016\u00a0 The aspects for that day of mass resignations was Pluto trine Jupiter\/North Node (potent karma).\u00a0 In her own personal chart, Neptune was square her Nodal Axis (karmic confusion over her path).<\/p>\n

She was appointed Leader of the Commons when Keir Starmer formed his government on 5th<\/sup> July 2024.\u00a0 This was her Chiron Return in Aries, and Jupiter was trine her ruling planet Venus.<\/p>\n

What has she achieved?\u00a0 In her wider and more general role, she has helped to bring about several parliamentary reforms, including supporting improved accessibility for disabled MPs.<\/p>\n

In Keir\u2019s re-shuffle on 5th<\/sup> September, she was axed in her role and replaced by Alan Campbell.\u00a0 Her transits when axed were Chiron opposite her natal Uranus (shock), and Jupiter square her natal Mars, plus a Mars return in Libra.\u00a0 As I have mentioned, it may have been a freeing up for a possible new phase in her life.<\/p>\n

In a Guardian Article, Peter Walker tells us that Lucy Powell was shocked and received no explanation. Do we know why he removed her and appointed Alan Campbell?\u00a0 A possible clue is \u201cShe said she believed it could be because she sometimes passed on MPs\u2019 concerns to Downing Street\u201d. She has called for a \u201cchange of culture\u201d inside the government and says if elected she would take \u201cdifficult truths\u201d to Keir.\u00a0 Of course, Bridget would be his preferred candidate, but that may not be the best thing.\u00a0 Lucy\u2019s transits at the time of the announcement of the new deputy are lacklustre, but that doesn\u2019t count her out altogether astrologically.\u00a0 In her favour, the North Node (karma) was trine her natal Saturn in Cancer at the time she threw her name into the hat, which shows she is up for more responsibility.<\/p>\n

Bridget is patently a strong woman, and would be a good support for Keir Starmer.\u00a0 Lucy has a vast amount of political experience, and she could make a good counterpoise to Keir Starmer, where Bridget would likely just promote more of the same.<\/p>\n

Andy Burnham<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Guardian declared this week that \u201cMPs have shared data showing Andy Burnham is Labour\u2019s only politician with a net positive public rating the equivalent of a rave review”.\u00a0 I know there is a lot of support for him out there, but I don\u2019t know the logistics of him being able to lead, with his currently entrenched role as Mayor of Manchester.\u00a0 <\/strong>He certainly has proved himself worthy of the position.<\/p>\n

His chart, too, looks qualified, with Leadership and Warriorship packed into aspects of:-<\/p>\n

The Sun exactly sextile Mars, the Sun closely sextile the North Node, and Mars conjunct the North Node (the Sun sextile Mars\/North Node).\u00a0 Note he has the same conjunction as Angela Rayner (Mars conjunct North Node) but two degrees apart, where hers was exact.\u00a0 He was born on a New Moon, a positive lunar phase.\u00a0 And he has Mercury closely trine Pluto (depth of thought).\u00a0 He\u2019s a Capricorn, the sign born for Politics.<\/p>\n

So I thought I would check his transits around the time of the choice being revealed, which are interesting:-<\/p>\n

He will have Pluto almost sextile his natal Neptune in Sagittarius; Neptune sextile his natal Mercury in Capricorn; Uranus opposite his natal Neptune in Sagittarius; and a Nodal Return, with the North Node sextile his natal Sun in Capricorn.<\/p>\n

With such a concentration of Neptunian influences, it suggests a period of flux, of re-considering his position.\u00a0 Perhaps he is working towards leadership, but I understand he would have to become an MP first.<\/p>\n

Of the two protagonists, I personally would prefer Lucy Powell (and, yes, I still have a membership vote!), and there is support for her in my area too.\u00a0 But Andy Burnham in the long term seems a bright prospect.\u00a0 With the divisions in the world at the moment, we need people who can somehow<\/em> bridge the polarities, which seems an impossible task right now.\u00a0 And Socialism needs to be able to fulfil its promise to look after the welfare of the poor, vulnerable and disabled.<\/p>\n

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

We are awash with aspects this week, though they don\u2019t begin until Tuesday, and then three come along.<\/p>\n

In the early hours of Tuesday (16th<\/sup>) Venus sextiles Mars, a largely enjoyable entanglement.\u00a0 This aspect is given over to pleasure and indulgence, and maybe romance is also on the cards.\u00a0 Art will have vigour, and movement will have artistry or elegance under this influence.\u00a0 Social plans should flourish. As experienced specifically in the early hours, this aspect may give rise to sensuous dreams!<\/p>\n

The other two aspects involve Chiron, and accordingly have healing themes:<\/p>\n

Venus trines Chiron, and the healing power of Love may come to the fore.\u00a0 Try to keep the heart open, and keep the faith.\u00a0 There may be a real opportunity to re-group your healing energies and feel harmony within your being.\u00a0 This is something especially relevant now, with society being torn apart with negative emotions, on both sides of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

Finally, Chiron will oppose Mars, which is more challenging.\u00a0 This can highlight wounds, mainly of the psychological kind.\u00a0 Something may be flagged up for you to heal.\u00a0 Perhaps a longstanding misunderstanding in the family, especially concerning the male of the species.\u00a0 We may be surprised to hear how deeply someone feels about an issue, which might hitherto have been hidden.\u00a0 We can only start to address something which has emerged in consciousness and awareness, so can thank Chiron for that process.<\/p>\n

Wednesday (17th<\/sup>) brings another opposition, that between Saturn and Mercury.\u00a0 There may be a setback to a plan, or you may suddenly feel fatigued.\u00a0 Challenges or blockages may occur to the smooth flow of earlier in the day.\u00a0 Travelling plans may be delayed that day, for example the wrong Autumn leaves on the rail line.<\/p>\n

An ingress occurs on the morning of Thursday (18th<\/sup>), that of Mercury entering Libra.\u00a0 This can bring a new mental focus on cultural themes, which could bring more pure enjoyment: art and music being fundamental areas for Libra, and decision-making. Mercury in Libra is slightly more relaxed than Mercury in Virgo, but having laid plans and attended to essential detail under the previous placement Mercury in Virgo, we can embellish, beautify and smooth things over.<\/p>\n

In the evening, Neptune opposes Mercury, in the third opposition of the week.\u00a0 This can spark mental confusion.\u00a0 There may be for instance a mental dilemma, or a demand for clarification.\u00a0 It may be difficult to focus, if you are engaged in documentation work.\u00a0 Journeys may be long and complicated.\u00a0 You may need to take care near water.<\/p>\n

Three more astrological features to come for Friday (19th<\/sup>).\u00a0 In the early hours, Mercury trines Uranus, which can inspire high functioning minds, intuition and good ideas (especially for Geminians).\u00a0 \u00a0Uranus will add extra spice to your plans, and documentation.\u00a0 Computers and technology should be on sparkling form and assist your expression.\u00a0 You may spring pleasant surprises.\u00a0 Writing projects may also flow.<\/p>\n

Then at breakfast time, Mercury trines Pluto, also benefitting Geminians, as well as our mental make-up generally.\u00a0 It challenges us to dig deeper.\u00a0 This aspect is conducive to psychological reflection, and earnest conversations between friends or colleagues.\u00a0 It is good for in-depth consultations and negotiations, and researching past lives.\u00a0Something to chew on over the muesli.<\/p>\n

These two trines enhance the atmosphere of the day, forming a Grand Trine in Air, between Mercury, Uranus and Pluto.\u00a0 It is especially conducive to changing minds.<\/p>\n

The third astrological feature of the day is the ingress of Venus into Virgo, which occurs around lunchtime, making you more discerning in your tastes.\u00a0 We may also be discriminating about the company we keep (if we subscribe to such a philosophy), and be exercising caution.\u00a0 We choose the catering (in a healthful, Virgoan or Vegan way), and we tailor our practices to ecological ways under this placement.\u00a0 This will be a general influence until 13th<\/sup> October.<\/p>\n

A tricky transit right at the end of the week, so try and smooth the path in advance, e.g. deal with possible loopholes.\u00a0 On Saturday (20th<\/sup>) Uranus squares Venus, which might bring twists and turn in relationships. There may be a quirky end to a relationship or money saga, slightly out of your comfort zone (especially for Taureans and Librans).\u00a0 Your plans may have to be modified at the last minute.\u00a0 The way through is to use your intuition, and stay one step ahead.<\/p>\n

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