Month: April 2025

Hilma af Klint, the Swedish abstract painter and mystic whose paintings are considered among the first major abstract works in Western art history will have a selection of her botanical drawings on display at MOMA this May. She combined detailed renderings of plants with enigmatic abstract diagrams – a sunflower paired with concentric circles, a narcissus crowned by a pinwheel of primary colors, and tree blossoms accompanied by checkerboards of dots and strokes. She sought to reveal, in her words, “what stands behind the flowers,” reflecting her belief that studying nature uncovers truths about the human condition.

 Born 26 October 1862 Solna, Sweden, no birth time, she was admitted to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at twenty and gained recognition for her landscapes, botanical drawings, and portraits. Her conventional painting became the source of her income, but her ‘life’s work’ remained a separate practice. She belonged to a group called “The Five”, a circle of women inspired by Theosophy. Her paintings were a visual representation of complex spiritual ideas and a considerable body of her work predates the first purely abstract compositions by Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian.

  She had an intense Scorpio Sun and Mercury in a deep-thinking opposition to Pluto in Taurus. The spiritual dimension of her life began to develop in 1880 when her younger sister Hermina died and it was at this time that her  interest in abstraction, symbolism and spiritism developed. At that point tr Neptune in Taurus was conjunct her Pluto which has strong associations with the supernatural and paranormal.

  She also had an upfront Mars in Aries conjunct Neptune opposition Saturn – disciplined, hard-edged, creative. Her Sagittarius Moon may have been opposition Uranus.

Georgiana Houghton, 20 April 1814, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, who predates Klint, was another artist and spiritualist medium who produced her work at seances. She  developed a completely abstract style, at least 40 years before Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian.  She did not depict objects of the natural world but what she described as a spiritual experience. She described her paintings as a system of “sacred symbolism,” in which each formal element carried a unique meaning.

 She was an Aries/Taurus Sun, maybe New Moon, square Saturn in Aquarius. Her Pluto conjunct Venus in Pisces was amplified being the focal point of Mars opposition Neptune. Ultra-determined she would arouse resistance to her ideas which would be ahead of their time with such a Pluto.

 Pity there are no birth times. Both are likely to have had strong 8^th house placings given their interests in the world beyond.

Mark Zuckerburg is front and centre of the anti-trust trial which may force Meta to restructure or sell parts of its business, including Instagram and WhatsApp on the grounds that it is an illegal monopoly. And he is also in the firing line of disaffected former employees who were once devout fans of Meta’s stated social mission of making the world a better, more “open and connected”, place and have turned whistleblower.

  One has launched a launched a lawsuit, alleging she experienced a “toxic” workplace for women who raise concerns about products, including safety issues that she claimed put children at risk of exposure to hate speech, sexual harassment and bullying. Zuckerberg’s volte-face since Trump’s election, announcing the end of diversity and inclusion initiatives and content moderation, has also caused a storm of criticism.

  Tr Saturn squaring his Neptune (along with tr Neptune) will bring uncertainty and perhaps knock a hole in one of his dreams from late this May – and that runs into 2026.  May/June are also beset by calamitous midpoints. Then tr Uranus moving into Gemini in July this year will cause him alarm running through into 2026. He’ll be used to enough to relentless high-level stress so much of this may be swatted aside. Where he runs into major headaches will be 2027/28 with significant setbacks and upheavals.

 The Facebook chart, 4 February 2004, will be jolted with tr Uranus square Uranus come August this year but will face more problems in 2027 and 2028/29. And the IPO chart, 18 May 2012, will also be on high alert in 2028.

With his Taurus Sun sitting on Trump’s midheaven a convergence of interests might have been expected – for a while – but it is a relationship destined to constantly churn. The relationship chart (without birth times for MZ ) is not showing a radical split instantly but there will be significant sinking moments with a hint of outrage throughout the next few months and on into 2026.

See previous post 13 January 2025.

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Japan, one of the world’s most earthquake-prone zones, is awash with warnings about the likelihood of an imminent megaquake. Doom laden reports hint it and the ensuing tsunami could bring 300,000 deaths and cause Japan’s economy to lose as much as $1.81 trillion in such an event.

  A 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s eastern coastline on March 11, 2011, becoming the largest ever recorded in the country. It triggered a tsunami and caused the Fukushima nuclear accident, killing nearly 20,000 people.

 Traditionally earthquakes are associated with Uranus Neptune or Pluto Neptune influences.

 Japan’s Neptune in final degree Taurus will catch the tr Uranus conjunction from the middle of this June into early July, repeating early November to early December and again April 2026. Tr Uranus moves on to conjunct the Japan Neptune/Pluto midpoint which does look ominous through this August to early October, again May 2026 and again January to early March 2027. Tr Uranus then crosses the Japan Pluto for yet more upheaval from June 2026 on and off till April 2027.

 The Bank of Japan, 10 October 1882,  with its Pluto at 29 degrees Taurus conjunct the national Neptune will be sensitive to the tr Uranus conjunction, at the same time as above –  from the middle of this June into early July, repeating early November to early December and again April 2026. Plus a financially undermining tr Saturn Neptune square the Jupiter from now onwards into 2026; followed by a trapped, frustrating tr Pluto square its Mars in 2026/27 – which could be in part the global economic mayhem.

  What is not that obvious this year or next are the eclipses set for Japan which usually show up with major natural disasters.

 The March 2011 Fukushima quake was flagged up in the previous Lunar Eclipse with Mars Pluto on the Descendant and Uranus Jupiter on the Midheaven; as well as on the two 2011 eclipses and into 2012 as the aftermath rolled on.

  Where the eclipses look more ominous would be 2027/28.

  The Uranus on the Japan country chart at 21 Libra square the North Node South Node axis seems sensitive the quakes from precious experiences – and it will be disrupted by Solar Arc Pluto conjunct in 2029 and Solar Arc Neptune in 2031.

  Nothing ever happens exactly the same as before but the whole period looks very unsettled.

Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) are mounting a fight back against the Trump administration with a recent anti-oligarchy rally attracting 36,000 people in Los Angeles.

  AOC, 13 October 1989 11.50am New York, an upfront Sun Mars in Libra with a probably Aries Moon opposition Mercury square Uranus is having a rough few weeks ahead with tr Uranus in a calamitous opposition to her Mars/Saturn midpoint from the 27^th of this month followed by a panicky tr Uranus opposition her Mars/Neptune midpoint in May, repeating January to mid March 2026. Though with better news this June, December, March/April 2026 with a Jupiter midpoint bringing a lucky break.

 She also has the tr Saturn Neptune in Aries starting to square her Capricorn triple conjunction picking up from later this month on on until nearly the end of this decade – as do all of her generation. 2028/29 looks uncertain with tr Neptune square her Saturn. But she also has tr Jupiter crossing her midheaven and through her 10^th (birth time being sound) from October 2028 and across the Inauguration; with one upbeat midpoint giving her cheer as results come in.

 Bernie Sanders, 8 September 1941 New York, a Sun Virgo with a fiery Mars Moon in Aries, and Uranus conjunct Saturn, will plough ahead with vigour till the end of this year with tr Pluto opposition his Sun/Jupiter midpoint though will hit a slump in 2026/27 with tr Saturn Neptune square his Sun/Mars midpoint.  He will get a tremendous boost probably early in 2028 with his Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Sun. He also has an upbeat and successful tr Pluto opposition his Sun/Jupiter midpoint on and off through 2027 and 2028, including over the election. Though he will have a disastrous run in during September to mid October 2028.

  By and large there may be some reasons for cheer at the next election. Or at the very least it does not look like a total disaster for the Democrats.

ADD ON:  Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland, 15 October 1978, is being cheered on for 2028 by George Clooney. He is fairly new to the scene but is looking more than upbeat over the 2028 election with his Solar Arc Jupiter exactly conjunct his North Node and tr Jupiter exactly conjunct his Pluto at the election and tr Jupiter moving across the conjunction to his Libra Sun through the December. His birthday is only a day away from AOC. Whatever happens he is celebrating personal triumphs.  His 2029 looks a good deal less easy going with significant setbacks and upheavals.

Jean Marsh, Upstairs Downstairs co-creator and actress, has died aged 90. The hugely successful 1970s TV drama series she dreamt up with co-thespian Eileen Atkins, became a cultural landmark and inspired later period dramas like Downtown Abbey.

  She was born 1 July 1934 12.15 pm Stoke Newington with a 10th house Cancer Sun and Mars in Gemini conjunct her Midheaven from her 9^th – and an influential Pluto in her 10^th as well. Her Pisces Moon opposed Neptune in Virgo and squared Venus in Gemini. Ambitious and kind natured.

  It’s a Water Air chart, not aways easy to handle with a sometimes precarious balance between head and heart, detachment and emotional overload.

  When Upstairs Downstairs launched on 10 October 1971 tr Uranus was exactly conjunct her 1^st house Jupiter with tr Pluto just across her Ascendant.

  Eileen Atkins, 15 June 1934 11.55pm London, born within two weeks of Jean Marsh, has a Gemini Sun and Mars trine an 8^th house Jupiter. Her chart with three Earth, 4 Air, 2 Water and a Fire Leo Moon has a better balance across the elements.  Tr Jupiter was heading for her Midheaven over the launch of Upstairs Downstairs, with tr Uranus conjunct her Jupiter and tr Saturn moving her career up a notch as it headed across her IC.

Upstairs Downstairs launched 10 October 1971 with a Sun Uranus Mercury in Libra trine Mars North Node in Aquarius – so had the potential to be ground breaking. With Saturn opposition Neptune Jupiter – which can indicate an interest in the under-privileged.

 Downton Abbey, 26 September 2010, also had a Libra Sun opposition Uranus Jupiter in Pisces and conjunct Saturn and the Sun Saturn square Pluto – similar but with a tilt towards Saturnine themes (and war).  

Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel laureate and leading figure in  Latin American literature, has died aged 89. Over a 50 year career he charted power and corruption in a series of novels including The Time of the Hero, Conversation in the Cathedral and The Feast of the Goat. In a colourful life he also launched a failed bid for the Peruvian presidency and nursed a long-running feud with Gabriel García Márquez.

 He was born 28 March 1936 12.45 am Arequipa, Peru, with his parents splitting before his birth and he was told his father had died. After an unsettled childhood he started working as a crime reporter when he was just 15. Aged 19 he eloped with his 32-year-old aunt by marriage and was subsequently married twice.

 His Aries Sun was in his communication 3^rd house and he had the creative Saturn (Venus) in Pisces opposition Neptune of the mid 1930s which is his case squared onto a restless and thoughtful Gemini Moon opposition Jupiter.

   An intense Pluto in his 7^th house of close relationship square Mars in Aries in his 4th conjunct Uranus which would make for a heated domestic atmosphere and challenging relationships. Not an easy temperament to live with.

His creative harmonics were strong.

Actor Mickey Rourke’s troubled career with major highs and worse lows has added another paragraph of woe as he was kicked out of the Celebrity Big Brother show for inappropriate and aggressive behaviour. He won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA in his heyday, made a sideways move into boxing, returned to movies and caused mayhem on sets, was charged with spousal abuse etc etc

“I’ve made mistakes, many. I have nobody to blame for my ship sinking except myself.” He credited his comeback in the Noughties to years of intensive therapy. “I had to lose my house, my wife, my money, my career, everything, for me to fall all the way down to the bottom.”

  Redemption was clearly not meant to be.

 He was born 16 September 1952 New York, with a physically abusive stepfather from the age of six.

  He has a Virgo Sun with Mercury in Virgo in an irritable, argumentative square to Mars in Sagittarius. What drives his outrageous behaviour is almost certainly a pushily-confident Pluto (Moon) in Leo opposition North Node square Jupiter in Taurus. Rules don’t apply to him will be his essential approach.  He also has an autocratic Uranus square Saturn Venus Neptune in Libra – highly strung, does not practice what he preaches.

  Oddly enough tr Uranus was square the Solar Arc Mars when he went into the BB house for an edgy, insecure, short-fused mood.

 His wheel of fortune 10^th harmonic which hints at highs and lows has a yod of Uranus sextile Sun inconjunct Jupiter Saturn. No matter how hard he tries he always goes off track.

Rory McIlroy, the Northern Ireland golfer, whose win at Atlanta yesterday put him up with the greats like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods as the only men to have won all four majors, has sent golf commentators into ecstasies.  “He conjured golf from the gods.”  What made it all the more emotional was his ‘drought’ of the last decade when he did not win any majors.

  Born 4 May 1989 Holywood, Northern Ireland, he is part of the triple conjunction in Capricorn generation with his Uranus, Neptune, Saturn conjunct opposition Mars in Cancer. He has his Sun in earthy determined Taurus opposition Pluto with Venus also in Taurus. At the moment he is just through his Jupiter Return in Gemini; with tr Jupiter exactly conjunct his Solar Arc Sun.  

  Often on top level sports’ charts the actual victory does not show up clearly since what is more evident is the strain of the event. But in his case there are hints of confidence and luck.  The aftermath will be even more upbeat from mid May onwards with tr Uranus in aspect to two of his Jupiter midpoints; and they return on and off till early 2026.

  He will revel in the aftermath.

 The incredibly successful and prolific writer Michael Crichton is back in the news seventeen years after his death as his estate sues over the idea-copyright of new medical drama series The Pitt. His books sold over 200 million with over a dozen adapted into films. His genre was within the science fiction, techno-thriller, and medical fiction. Best known are The Great Train Robbery, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun,  The Andromeda Strain; and he was the creator of the television series ER (1994–2009).

 He was born October 23, 1942 11.55pm Chicago, Illinois, and grew to six feet 9 inches tall which made him self-conscious so he turned to psychics and then meditation to give him confidence.  He was a workaholic and married five times, all of them brief.  

  He had a 4^th house Scorpio Sun opposition a 10^th house Taurus Moon square Pluto on his Ascendant. The Full Moon would make him constantly unsure what he wanted, pulled between his head and his heart – and he’s also be intense and controlling as well as overly controlled. He also had Mars Venus in Libra also in his 4^th close to his Sun opposition his Moon, making for an excitable and argumentative mood in his domestic life. Jupiter in his 12^th would make him content with his own company. Saturn in his 11^th would limit his friendship circle to a few trusted companions.

 2^nd house North Node – secretive and constantly feeling like an outsider. In Virgo – needing to build his confidence.

   An interesting man, driven to an extent as all writers are by his inner demons. He died of cancer in 2008.

 Steven Spielberg on Michael Crichton’s death: “Michael’s talent outscaled even his own dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. He was the greatest at blending science with big theatrical concepts, which is what gave credibility to dinosaurs walking the earth again. In the early days, Michael had just sold The Andromeda Strain to Robert Wise at Universal and I had recently signed on as a contract TV director there. My first assignment was to show Michael Crichton around the Universal lot. We became friends and professionally Jurassic Park, ER, and Twister followed. Michael was a gentle soul who reserved his flamboyant side for his novels. There is no one in the wings that will ever take his place.”

 Stephen King: “As a pop novelist, he was divine. A Crichton book was a headlong experience driven by a man who was both a natural storyteller and fiendishly clever when it came to verisimilitude; he made you believe that cloning dinosaurs wasn’t just over the horizon but possible tomorrow. Maybe today.”

Add On:  ER launched on September 19, 1994 with a total of 331 episodes spanning 15 seasons. It won 128 industry awards from 442 nominations and had grossed over $3 billion in television revenue by 2014. It is considered one of the best medical dramas of all time, pioneering the field of medical fiction and setting a model for other contemporary medical dramas to follow.

  It launched fittingly enough with a Virgo Sun sitting as part of a Half Grand Sextile from Uranus Neptune in Capricorn opposition Mars in Cancer and Pluto in Scorpio A powerful chart with Jupiter and North Node also in Scorpio.

At the launch the tr Mars was conjunct Michael Crichton’s 12^th house Jupiter; with tr Jupiter just over the conjunction to his Sun.

Actor Noah Wyle, June 4, 1971 8.13 am Los Angeles, started his career as John Carter in ER, earning nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and five Primetime Emmy Awards. He is currently in the Max medical drama The Pitt.

  He has quite a challenging and volatile chart with an Air Grand Trine from a Gemini Sun trine an 8^th house Mars and North Node in Aquarius trine Uranus in Libra in his 4^th. His Libra Moon is also in his 4^th with Jupiter Neptune in Sagittarius in his performing 5^th house opposition Saturn Mercury (Venus) In Taurus in his 11^th. And an intense Pluto is in his communication 3^rd house trine Saturn.  

  He certainly has pent up energy to spare which – emphasized Aquarius North Node – he devotes to various good causes – the international non-profit organization Doctors of the World, the Human Rights Watch Council, the Cover the Uninsured campaign in 2004, the disability rights group ADAPT and was arrested in 2012 during a protest on Capitol Hill to fight against Medicaid cuts for the elderly and people with disabilities. He is also a  supporter of animal rights and a spokesman for the World Wildlife Fund. On top of all that he serves as the voluntary artistic producer of the Blank Theatre Company in Hollywood, which stages an annual young playwrights festival and has recently acquired Second Stage Theater (Los Angeles) in Hollywood.

  He looks a touch perplexed at the moment with tr Neptune Saturn heading for his midheaven this year and next; and tr Uranus conjunct his Solar Arc Midheaven for jolting changes. Plus a half lucky, half nerve-stretched Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Jupiter now and then his Neptune within months. That could go either way since Jup Nep can be over hopeful. Plus tr Uranus conjunct his Mercury and Saturn into early 2026.  Not a straightforward year.