Israel’s miliary occupation of Gaza, intended to encourage a mass exodus of the local population, and to pressure Hamas to release the remaining 59 captives, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, has been pushed down the news agenda. Against the protests of hostage families, the ceasefire brokered by Trump’s emissary is fading into memory. The far-right factions in Netanyahu’s cabinet, on whom his political survival depends, oppose moving to the second phase of the ceasefire and the government has recently approved the expansion of more settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu faces wider domestic criticism and legal pressures so the continuing war provides a a distraction from the corruption within his office.
The Palestine Declaration of Independence of 15 November 1988 12.40 am Algiers, Algeria, flagged up the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 clearly – with tr Uranus opposition the Scorpio Sun; and the tr Pluto in Capricorn square Mars colliding with the Palestine Capricorn Moon.
There is nothing upbeat or progressive ahead for the Palestinians with tr Neptune Saturn square the Uranus and Saturn and conjunct the Mars exactly now and on and off into and through 2026 into early 2027 – that looks devastating. There may be a ray of sunshine when tr Uranus is conjunct the Jupiter in 2026 into early 2027 but nothing to offset the difficulties.
Israel will remain on high alert with tr Uranus moving to square the Mars in June, December and March 2026 which will be explosive and risky. Netanyahu’s relationship with Trump is being severely rattled from now through till mid May with tr Uranus square their composite Mercury, Sun and Mars. Either there will be explosive arguments between them or they will be facing an increasing violent and risk situation together.
Netanyahu’s government chart, 29 December 2022 4.30 pm Tel Aviv, which is martial with Mars on the focal point of a yod, won’t appreciate tr Neptune Saturn moving into Aries undermining the Jupiter and Moon from now into 2026. Disappointments and unhappy electorate. Though there is nothing specific pointing to an end point.
His relationship with Bezazel Smotrich, a key right-wing figure and West Bank settler, will be edgy in the extreme as tr Neptune undermines their composite Sun now into 2026 and tr Uranus elbows the composite Mars in July onwards. Smotrich looks upbeat ahead with tr Uranus square his Mars Jupiter conjunction in 2026/7 and his Solar Arc Mars Jupiter hitting his intense Venus opposition Pluto for a super-confident push in 2026/27 as well.
Into 2026 tr Pluto will start to square the Israel 10th house Moon in Leo putting intense pressure on the leading classes and the electorate.
Trump’s grandstanding ‘liberation day’ as he launched a trade war with tariffs for all the world like a gameshow host has fulfilled one of his aims, namely drawing the attention of the world to him.
He timed his bombshell announcement unwittingly with astrological precision at 4pm Washington, DC time. The destructive Fixed Star Algol was exactly conjunct the Midheaven; and the shipwreck Scheat plus unrealistic Neptune were on the cusp of the financial 8th. There was a confident Moon Jupiter in the 10th. With an exact mini Grand Trine of Mars in Cancer in the 11th trine Saturn in the friends-and-enemies 7th, sextile Uranus in the international 9th.
He also has tr Uranus on his personal birth chart conjunct his Midheaven exactly, suggesting his birth time of 10.54 am may well be accurate. Which would mean that tr Neptune Scheat are also moving into his 8th – an ominous sign for his financial acuity and progress ahead.
Scott Bessent, 21 August 1962, Treasury Secretary, is having a panicky-failure year ahead with tr Neptune square his Mars running till late January 2026; with jolts and jangles from this July onwards.
Peter Navarro, 15 July 1949, described as Trump’s ‘tariff czar’, is equally nervy from early this June with tr Neptune square his Uranus, extending through and worsening in 2026 when he also picks up a financial-bubble-bursting Solar Arc Jupiter opposition his Neptune and a high tension tr Urus square his Saturn.
Instant success will not be on the cards.
Since economics is not my area, some snippets below from informed economic journalists, all of whom are clear that no one really knows what the effects will be.
“It is hard not to feel, yet again, that part of what drove Trump’s decision was the sheer thrill he gets from his power. He glories in the way the world hangs on his every move, as the world must when its largest economy is controlled by a grudge-bearing man-child with guns who governs by decree.”
“Perilous and chaotic, Trump’s tariffs add up to an attempt to transform a badly broken economic model.”
“Trump’s announcement was awash with insult and rambling nonsense.”
“Things may not look so benign, however, when the rubber hits the road — when the inevitable price hikes are passed on to consumers, when inflation and the cost of mortgages begin to rise, when real wages remain flat, or when investment stalls and the US economy starts to experience a Trump slump.”
“It will be months, if not years, before many US companies or sectors have the confidence and the cash to invest in the way “fortress America” supporters hope.”
“Trump thinks tariffs have a magical ability to transform the US economy but they are more likely to boost inflation, inhibit investment and undermine growth.”
“Tariffs alone are not going to rebalance the entire world economy.”
“A central trade-off not just with tariffs but with any solution to the problem of gargantuan trade and currency distortions: someone, somewhere has to pay. If Trump lets the dollar appreciate, then American consumers don’t have to bear the cost. But then American factories won’t recover either.”
“A crucial question is whether Trump will be able to sustain these aggressive trade policies for an extended period or will eventually reverse them under the weight of economic, market, political and even legal pressure.”
“The instant effect of “liberation day” will be confusion and uncertainty, which for Trump is often intentional. The more chaos there is, the greater his sense of being in control. It is also rash to assume that voters will be immune to economic disinformation. Social media has taken the art of scapegoating to near scientific heights.”
“Irrespective of whether Trump’s trade war chaos is fleeting or gets worse, the diplomatic cost will be enduring. Countries will look to do the serious deals with each other and bypass America. In that sense Trump’s transactionalism is self-defeating. Falling trust means fewer deals.”
Add On: Howard Lutnick, the billionaire commerce secretary, 14 July 19561 New York, has been aggressively defending the tariffs, insisting there would be no postponement and said Trump intended to “reset global trade”.
He’s a Sun Cancer opposition Saturn in Capricorn with an ultra-determined and ruthless Mars Pluto in Virgo. He’ll be pushing ahead with sublime confidence till late 2026 with tr Pluto conjunct his Jupiter. But his Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Neptune also in 2026 will take the wind out of his sails in the midst of devastating confusion. Tr Neptune Saturn in Aries will also square his Mercury in early Cancer from this July through 2026 as well for muddles and evasions. 2027 will start a two or three years run of calamities as tr Uranus squares his Pluto Mars conjunction.
His relationship with Trump will start to slide within weeks as tr Neptune squares their composite Venus, worsening considerably in 2026 and on.
ADD ON April 9: The tariffs went into force at 12.01 am this morning 9th April. The Midheaven was at zero degrees Libra exactly opposition unrealistic Neptune. There was an out of element Grand Trine of Pluto trine MC trine Uranus and the destructive Fixed Star Algol, formed into a Kite by Pluto opposition Mars in Cancer in the 8th exactly conjunct Procyon – making Mars and Procyon the driving forces.
‘Procyon gives activity, violence, sudden and violent malevolence, sudden preferment by exertion, elevation ending in disaster and makes its natives petulant, saucy, giddy, weak-natured, timid, unfortunate, proud, easily angered, careless and violent. There will be sudden fame, sudden violence, a rise followed by a fall; this star gives its natives pride, makes them fortunate and unfortunate.’
The Sun conjunct Chiron is opposition BML. The North Node conjunct Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Neptune are conjunct Scheat. ‘This star imparts to its natives’ stubbornness, one who can be headstrong of a combative nature. The native gains and loses friends and acquaintances, may be unfortunate, of a changeable, almost unpredictable nature, has high enterprise, and may be subject to violence. May become of a controversial nature. Fantasizes.’
The Moon is unsuspected in Virgo in the international 9th house hinting at emotional disorganization.
Actor Val Kilmer, renowned for Top Gun and Batman Forever, has died after a long battle with throat cancer. He gained a reputation as “temperamental, intense, a perfectionist and sometimes egotistical.” Numerous spats with directors and co-stars, plus a series of flops, dented his later career.
Batman director Joel Schumacher called Kilmer “the most psychologically troubled human being I’ve ever worked with”.
And after the notoriously troubled production of 1996 The Island of Dr Moreau, which flopped, in which Kilmer clashed with Marlon Brando, the director John Frankenheimer said afterwards: “There are two things I would never do again in my life. I will never climb Mount Everest and I will never work with Val Kilmer again. There isn’t enough money in the world.”
Kilmer was also nominated multiple times for worst actor in the annual Razzie awards.
Born 31 December 1959 7.58am Los Angeles, he did have a difficult chart with a Sun conjunct Saturn in Capricorn in his 12th trine Pluto in his 8th, sextile Neptune conjunct his Midheaven from his 9th. Acting would be a saving grace for him, giving him an outlet for his inner disquiet and depression. He also luckily had an upbeat and highly adventurous Mars Jupiter Mercury in Sagittarius in his 11th trine Uranus in his 7th – not always sensible but a risk-taker.
His 1st house loves-to-shock Aquarius Moon was square Neptune and inconjunct Pluto. A charming and seductive Venus in Scorpio in his 10th square Uranus would help his career but make, along with his difficult Moon aspects and Uranus in his 7th, committed relationships hard to sustain.
Democrat Corey Booker has broken the record for the longest speech in US Senate history after speaking for more than 25 hours without a bathroom break to deliver a marathon protest of the policies of Trump. He said the threats to American democracy were “grave and urgent”.
Born 27 April 1969 1.10 am Washington, DC (from memory) he is a determined Taurus Sun conjunct Saturn in late Aries in his communication 3rd house. His Saturn is further emphasized being on the focal point of a yod inconjunct a 10th house Neptune sextile Uranus Jupiter Pluto in Virgo in his 3rd house. Plus his Mars in outspoken Sagittarius is square Pluto. A powerful, determined personality who clashes with Trump – with a power-struggling Pluto in their relationship composite 10th square Sun. On synastry, his Jupiter Pluto squares DT’s Sun opposition Moon.
He’s looking discouraged this year with tr Saturn Neptune opposition his Jupiter Pluto Uranus, rattled in 2027 and anxious in 2028. If his birth time is accurate he does have a Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Midheaven at some point soon but he is not at his most successful on the career front with tr Saturn moving through his low profile First Quadrant from some years ahead.
For the 2028 election/29 Inauguration the most hopeful is Pete Buttigieg with tr Pluto square his 10th house Jupiter and tr Jupiter conjunct his Pluto. Though he also has a tricky Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Neptune which could either make his dreams come true or dash his hopes. And on a second look, tr Saturn in Taurus opposition his Jupiter for a blockage – so pluses and minuses.
Alexandra Ocasio-Ortez is also looking upbeat in late 2028 with tr Jupiter moving through her 10th conjunct her Mars and Sun; though she may be personally disappointed with tr Neptune opposition her Jupiter/Uranus midpoint and hovering around the square to her Saturn. Though she looks upbeat in the July of 2028 when the convention will be held.
Gavin Newsom also has tr Jupiter conjunct his Sun over the election though tr Neptune conjunct his Saturn won’t help his confidence.
Peter Thiel, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist, net worth stood US$16.2 billion, a co-founder of PayPal, gave money to the Trump 2016 campaign but not this one. He is an elusive character, describing himself as a conservative libertarian. He has criticized economically-liberal attitudes towards free trade and big tech, is pro stricter border control, restrictive immigration policy, funds for veterans, and anti-interventionist foreign policy, among other things.
Born 11 October 1967 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, no birth time, he is Sun Libra opposition Saturn in Aries; with a fearsomely determined, innovative and unconventional Mars in Sagittarius square Uranus Pluto in Virgo. And a high-finance Jupiter in Leo square Neptune in Scorpio. His Moon is late Capricorn or early Aquarius.
In many ways he has good crossovers with Trump since his Jupiter is conjunct DT’s Mars in Leo and his Sun is conjunct DT’s 2nd house Jupiter. Fused together by a love of money and grandiose ventures.
But Thiel’s Uranus Pluto square Mars in Sagittarius crashes into DT’s Gemini Sun opposition Moon for an aggravated emotional interface. And Thiel’s Saturn opposes DT’s Neptune for a distrustful combination.
What will be interesting to watch in terms of the Trump/Thiel relationship is what will happen when tr Uranus squares the composite Pluto this July and then opposes the composite Saturn from August onwards, both repeating in 2026. They may appear locked together (composite Saturn square Pluto) by ideology and circumstances but there will be a high-tension eruption and a significant pulling apart. Essentially they are at odds on the ego front anyway with a composite Mars Neptune conjunction hinting that a win for one is a loss for the other.
Thiel is in for a lucky break this June, December and March 2026 when tr Uranus squares his Jupiter. Though will fare less well in 2028/9 when tr Neptune is conjunct his Saturn for losses and uncertainty; with a couple of debilitating Solar Arcs at the same time.
