{"id":8949,"date":"2026-10-04T13:04:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T13:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8949"},"modified":"2026-10-04T13:09:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T13:09:10","slug":"aspects-for-the-week-beginning-4-october-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lanawooster.co.uk\/?p=8949","title":{"rendered":"Aspects for the week beginning 4 October 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Esther Rantzen (1940 \u2013 2026)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dynamic television presenter and campaigner Esther Rantzen died this week at the age of 86.\u00a0 She made a huge impact on our world in her lifetime, tackling serious issues with compassion, while also cheering us with her good humour.\u00a0 Her passing was not a surprise, as she let us know of her illness a few years ago, and campaigned on behalf of assisted dying.<\/p>\n

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

The compassion stands out immediately you look at her birth chart, as Neptune is rising in Virgo in the 1st<\/sup> House within 3 degrees of her Ascendant.\u00a0 Its placement in Virgo demands that the compassion is put to practical service.\u00a0 As soon as she recognized a need, she would swing into action accordingly.\u00a0 With half her planets (5) in the Fixed Signs, she had an indomitable will to follow through.<\/p>\n

Her Sun was in the sign of Cancer, so the maternal instinct was strong in her.\u00a0 She had three children with Desmond Wilcox.\u00a0 Her Moon was at the very beginning of Aquarius, so her \u201cmaternal instincts\u201d were directed towards humanitarian causes.<\/p>\n

Her upbeat side shows up as Jupiter squaring her natal Moon, and combined with a trine from Uranus to her Moon, she liked to surprise people.\u00a0 No one received a greater surprise that kindertransport facilitator Nicholas Winton, when she filled the studio with grown ups whom he had saved from the Nazis as children.\u00a0 But on a lighter side, she was playful in her series \u201cThat\u2019s Life\u201d in her street interviews, and with misshapen vegetables.<\/p>\n

Not only was she indomitable, but she was also indefatigable, with a conjunction of Mars and Pluto.\u00a0 Earlier on in her career, some accused her of having a bullying attitude.\u00a0 Looking back as we are now on her whole life, we are grateful that she was able to follow through some groundbreaking work for our society.\u00a0 Her power, to some extent, came from a square between Jupiter and Pluto.\u00a0 Her ability to tackle large scale innovations of a complex nature is hinted at by Uranus closely trine Neptune in her chart, backed up by Neptune sextile Chiron.<\/p>\n

Her conventional career was exactly in tune with her karmic mission, with her Midheaven (career) in Gemini exactly trine her North Node (karmic mission) in Libra.<\/p>\n

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

Dame Esther was born in Berkhamstead, and after education in New York and North London, read English at Somerville College, Oxford.\u00a0 She subsequently obtained secretarial skills, before starting her working life at BBC Radio.\u00a0 Her profession in the media and as a presenter may be seen in her Midheaven in Gemini, one of the Geminian career paths. She moved to television, working at Braden\u2019s Week (1968).\u00a0 It was there that she first met Desmond Wilcox, who was married at the time.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s Life<\/u><\/p>\n

1973 \u2013 1994: When Braden returned to Canada, That\u2019s Life replaced Braden\u2019s Week, with Esther at the helm.\u00a0 The programme ran from 1973 to 1994, and was a hotch-potch of news, consumer exposes, humour (e.g. the dog who could say \u201csausages\u201d, and social issues, gradually becoming a greater vehicle for Esther\u2019s talents and life purposes.\u00a0 Esther, surrounded by her henchmen, made it her own!\u00a0 We all watched it (those of us who are of a certain age!)<\/p>\n

Childline<\/u><\/p>\n

30 October 1986: The flagship introduction of Childline would be a classic Cancerian act of the heart, and expressed Esther\u2019s Sun conjunct Venus in Cancer (mother-love).\u00a0 Cancer and the Moon rule maternal instincts, childhood and protectiveness.\u00a0 It began as a special programme about child abuse, and then immediately provided an easily remembered phone number 0800 111 for children to call.\u00a0 We can\u2019t imagine being without it now, and it is needed as much as ever.\u00a0 No one else had heard of it before.\u00a0 Her Progressed Sun had moved to a reinforcing sextile with her natal Midheaven (Careerpoint).\u00a0 Uranus was square her Ascendant on her 4th<\/sup> House cusp (family innovations); Pluto was trine her natal Venus in Cancer in her 10th House (doing something profound with her love for children); and Pluto was opposite her natal Jupiter (using power to good effect).<\/p>\n

Transplants<\/u><\/p>\n

Esther was moved by the plight of Ben Hardwich, a two year old who desperately needed a transplant, and launched a countrywide plea on That\u2019s Life for a donor.\u00a0 A donor for a liver transplant for a two-year old had not yet been tried in the U.K. though had successfully been carried out in the U.S.\u00a0 A suitable donor was found, and organ donation became more widely practised arising out of this campaign.\u00a0 Sadly, Ben did not survive beyond the age of three, but the result of Esther\u2019s campaign started a necessary conversation.\u00a0 Only very recently there has been a renewed policy for a new organ donation card: it is unthinkable how uninformed we were in those days.<\/p>\n

In 1985, in Ben\u2019s honour, Marti Webb released a cover version of Michael Jackson\u2019s song \u201cBen\u201d.\u00a0 Remember that?\u00a0 (Again, those of a certain age!)<\/p>\n

Silver Line<\/u><\/p>\n

November 2012: Esther lost her husband Desmond in 2000.\u00a0 By 2012 it became clear to her that was now needed in our society was help for the lonely and isolated, so naturally she came up with \u201cThe Silver Line\u201d.\u00a0 Again, why hadn\u2019t anyone thought of that, or implemented it?\u00a0 She recruited some famous faces to help man the phone lines, and also took calls herself.\u00a0 This proved so successful, that it was taken up by AgeUK. The chart of mid-November shows an exact trine from Chiron (healing) to Saturn (old age). Pluto was exactly opposite her natal Venus at the time (she turned her own profound pain to something to help others); Pluto was also sextile her natal Venus (deep feelings); Neptune was exactly trine her natal Sun (an act of pure compassion); the North Node was exactly trine her natal Mercury (karmic use of her mind).<\/p>\n

Assisted Dying<\/u><\/p>\n

January 2023: \u00a0Esther announced at the beginning of 2023 that she was dealing with lung cancer, which by May of that year had reached stage IV. In December of that year, she let us know that she had registered with Dignitas in Switzerland for assisted dying. Thus began her last great campaign, supported by her daughter Rebecca who continues to campaign.\u00a0 Her statement led directly to parliamentary party leaders making way for a bill on the subject.\u00a0 Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, sister of Jo Cox, introduced the bill in October 2024, which was passed in 2025 then stalled in the House of Lords.\u00a0 In September 2026 the vote was reintroduced, and failed by a small margin.\u00a0 We heard Esther\u2019s disappointed reaction on the phone with her daughter.\u00a0 You can almost hear Esther now reflecting: \u201cWell, at least, I tried!\u201d\u00a0 It is a complex moral dilemma, but an issue she was passionate about.<\/p>\n

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

As mentioned, she met Desmond Wilcox while working on Braden\u2019s Week in 1968, when he was still married to Esther\u2019s friend Patsy.\u00a0 Esther and Desmond moved in together after a few years, and eventually Patsy granted Desmond a divorce when Esther fell pregnant.\u00a0 They married in December 1977, and had two daughters and one son.\u00a0 Their astrological compatibility showed a close union:<\/p>\n

His Venus was sextile her natal Sun; his Moon was trine her Sun (two important markers for marriage charts).\u00a0 The karmic factor was his Uranus conjunct her South Node.<\/p>\n

Nicolas Winton<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One of Esther\u2019s most extraordinary acts, and one which has subsequently been played on our screens over and over again, was her organization of a reunion between Nicholas Winton (who rescued so many children on the kindertransport) with his rescues.\u00a0 She invited him in to the front row of her That\u2019s Life studio, and asked if there was anyone in the audience whose life he had saved.\u00a0 The whole audience stood up, much to his surprise, embarrassment, and according to his son interviewed this week, also annoyance!\u00a0 He was too humble.\u00a0 The event was featured in the film \u201cOne Life\u201d in which Anthony Hopkins played Winton.\u00a0 We went to see the, very well-made, film in January 2024.\u00a0 The karmic link between Esther and Nicholas was a fortuitous trine between their North Nodes: she was able to bring his good karma to the attention of the public.<\/p>\n

Interview Responses<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(from The Guardian, February 2024)<\/em><\/p>\n

What is your most treasured possession?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My photo albums, Cancerian sentimentality<\/p>\n

Who would play you in the film of your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Samantha Spiro already has [In One Life; Spiro\u2019 birthday is close to Esther\u2019s]<\/p>\n

If you could edit your past, what would you change?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe I should have agreed to take the job of controller of BBC One when Bill Cotton offered it to me.\u00a0 I do feel a wimp; I would have been the first woman in the job.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That\u2019s a remarkable Life!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

This lunchtime Saturn opposed the Sun, metaphorically casting a cloud overhead.\u00a0 The Sun is actually shining here in Norfolk at the moment, so it can only be metaphorically.\u00a0 Something may have come up today to chew over.\u00a0 Not the easiest start to the week, for this may bring be a touch of sadness to work through, a coming down to earth, a dose of reality (which could turn out to be a good thing or have a silver lining).<\/p>\n

Skipping to Wednesday (7th<\/sup>), first we have a conjunction of Mercury and Venus, just past midnight in the morning, at 8 degrees Scorpio (so you may catch this effect before retiring for the night on Tuesday).\u00a0 This may spark a sunburst of ideas to be communicated, discussed, and start the ball rolling towards making practical use of what comes to you.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let it keep you awake, plough the energy into dreamwork initially.\u00a0 This conjunction is ideal for socializing, conversation, artistic (get yourself a box of watercolours) or literary endeavours, or negotiations (would be wise to wait for daybreak!).\u00a0 Your communications will have an artistic flair, so it’s a good time to get creative.\u00a0 I associate this conjunction with Cafe culture thrives and conversation flowing ~~~<\/p>\n

There is more to benefit us mid-morning, with a sextile between Mars and Uranus.\u00a0 This is more dynamic, as though you have started a re-centring process and are ready for action.\u00a0 This aspect especially favours engineering related activities, but that also includes social engineering.\u00a0\u00a0 Cars, mechanics, mechanical goods and household appliances may receive a boost or a renewal.\u00a0 It is very much well worth pointing out that this sextile natally is part of Esther Rantzen\u2019s Activist Archetype, so campaigns close to our hearts may be flagged up on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Another skip\u2026this time to Saturday (10th<\/sup>), which brings a New Moon in Libra at 17 degrees of that sign: a renewal of relationships.\u00a0 A reminding nudge that we are in a Venus Retrograde period of reflection on our nearest and dearest.\u00a0 Artistic, musical and relationship issues may receive a boost, so any seeds sown in those areas may bear fruit.\u00a0 Balance and harmony can emerge from your efforts.<\/p>\n

The evening brings an intensity of emotion arising from a square between Venus and Mars. You may find that you feel inclined to let your hair down a little, inhibitions loosened.\u00a0 This square may also have a bearing on the battle of the sexes (within, or interpersonal).\u00a0 If you are creative on an artistic or musical vibe, you may introduce a little cheekiness into your work. Maybe, zealously, you have been working too<\/em> hard on your relationships, and got into a bit of a stew!\u00a0 Remember to fall back into that Libran balance.\u00a0 Not unrelatedly, hubby and I went to see the new film version of Sense and Sensibility this week.\u00a0 There were things I liked about it (superb acting by Daisy Edgar Jones) and things that jarred (some things the film tried too <\/em>hard to portray, such as people flinging themselves about in the dances of the time), but overall we enjoyed the experience.<\/p>\n

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