“Not a government patsy” is one description of Sir Tim Barrow, shoehorned in at speed to the post of UK Ambassador to the EU. He’s a career Foreign Office diplomat, a “seasoned and tough negotiator” according to Downing Street; a “pragmatic problem solver” who is prepared to give the “unvarnished truth” but also to offer solutions, according to another commentator. He has considerable experience working in the EU and was ambassador to Russia, “hard-headedly” facing down Vladimir Putin through a time of high stress.
All of which background is helpful in considering his chart, 15 February 1964, a mere three days after the blessed Sarah Palin. So he has that same fearsomely tough-nut Sun Mars Saturn in Aquarius conjunction widely square Neptune in Scorpio – and clearly more brains. Different houses will make a considerable difference in the way the energy plays out and is focussed. In his case with less grandstanding and more self-control.
Whether or not Theresa May will appreciate either his personality or his truth-telling is questionable. Her unbendable Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto Venus in Leo collides uncomfortably with his Aquarius planets; especially his Mars, Saturn, Sun opposition her Pluto.
Their relationship chart is problematic to put it mildly with a composite Pluto opposition Mars square Mercury, which suggests simmering hostility and vicious arguments. There is a streak of friendliness in a composite Sun opposition Venus, though that opposition is being undermined by tr Neptune squares till 2020; and won’t anyway outweigh the negatives. There is a three-quarter Grand Sextile of Jupiter sextile Pluto sextile Neptune sextile Saturn sextile Mars, which could be put to good use negotiating the largest and most significant settlement since World War 11. But it is still fraught with tensions – Saturn Pluto is stuck together force majeure with some resentment therefrom; Saturn Jupiter will wobble from pessimism to optimism. Saturn Mars is scratchy and irritable.
He’ll have a jousting relationship with David Davis (Secy of Exit) with a composite Jupiter opposition Pluto square Saturn in their relationship chart. Some strain with Boris Johnson, Foreign Minister, with a composite Yod of Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Mars and a differing-agendas composite Saturn opposition Uranus.
2018 looks to be the year when these last two relationships split asunder.
His relationship chart with the EU has an argumentative composite Sun Mars, under considerable strain from tr Pluto conjunction in 2017; as well as a disruptive tr Uranus square the composite Jupiter Saturn. That worsens in 2019 with tremendous highs and lows from tr Pluto conjunct the Jupiter Saturn.
His own personal chart looks bullish through 2017 with tr Pluto square Jupiter; though is under poleaxing pressure and frustrations from tr Pluto square his Solar Arc Saturn Sun Mars in 2017/18/19/20.
Tim Barrow will need all his diplomatic skills and iron discipline to cope not just with the mare’s nest in Brussels but the one back home as well.
DIPLOMACY:
“Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.” Winston Churchill
“If you’ve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Diplomacy is the art of letting somebody else have your way.” David Frost.
“Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice Doggie’ until you can find a rock.” Will Rogers
Another well-thought-out post, Marjorie!