After initial consternation about the Middle Eastern conflagration and the closing of the Straits of Hormuz which control a fifth of the world’s oil and seaborne gas supply there are slivers of not exactly hope but possible ways out of the disaster without setting off World War 111.
There are still those who reckon there will be the ‘worst oil supply crisis of the modern age, outstripping even the Arab oil embargo of 1973 or the first Gulf War in 1990.’ Balanced against that is a view that since those days alternatives have been found, not the least in the US shale revolution. Oil prices in the US rose 6.3 percent on Monday, as opposed to a 57 percent rise during the 1979 Iranian Revolution and a doubling of the price of oil during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
The FT hints at a possible scenario ahead given that ‘Trump cares not a jot about democracy.’ If new “strongmen” emerge with roots in the Revolutionary Guards, a deal may be struck for them to stay in power if they stop blitzing their neighbours and let the US share in the oil. If such a deal is reached which is by no means certain, the Gulf could return to stability and it could reduce the most dangerous possibility of a state collapse.
“When considering this administration (Trump), the best bet is the most cynical.”
Not ideal but a good deal better than a total catastrophe.
Looking back at past Middle Eastern fracas starting with the Suez Canal Crisis of 29 October 1956. A British–French–Israeli invasion of Egypt sought to depose Egyptian president Nasser and regain control of the Suez Canal, which he had nationalised earlier in the year. After heavy political pressure from the USA and the Soviet Union, as well as the UN, they withdrew. At that point there was a war-mongering Saturn (in Sagittarius) square Pluto (in Virgo).
The Yom Kippur War, 6 October 1973 which caused another oil crisis as the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) implemented a total oil embargo against countries that had supported Israel during the war. Again there was a Saturn (in Cancer) square Pluto (in Libra).
The Gulf War of 1990/91 which caused another oil crisis happened on the triple conjunction in Capricorn with Saturn sextile Pluto in place at the start.
At present there is a Saturn sextile Pluto which is less harsh than a hard aspect so maybe just maybe a way out of this mess will be found which won’t answer everyone’s dreams but may be better than the alternative.
Another musical icon gone with the passing of Neil Sedaka at 86. He started as a teen idol in the 1950s and his hits are still played today – Stupid Cupid,(Is This The Way To) Amarillo, Oh! Carol, Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Solitaire,Love Will Keep Us Together. He blamed the success of the Beatles in the 1960s for pushing him off centre stage but he resurrected his career and was still performing into his 80s.
He was born 13 March 1939 in New York with a Turkish-Jewish New York taxi cab driver father. His Russian-Polish grandmother had been a concert pianist and he trained at New York’s Juilliard School but his attraction to pop music won over his classical talents.
He had a musical Pisces Sun conjunct an enthusiastic Jupiter opposition Neptune square Mars in Sagittarius – a wonderful mix of exuberance and sensitivity. He had a self-reliant Saturn in Aries, a friendly and open-hearted Venus in Aquarius square Uranus. With a steely streak from Pluto trine his Sun and inconjunct Mars.
His creative 5th Harmonic was strong linking Neptune to the Sun, Mercury and Pluto – with a light-hearted/frivolous Venus Jupiter North Node. His even more creative and musical 7th harmonic linked the Sun to Saturn Neptune and Venus and Mercury; with a lucky Jupiterian yod from a determined Mars sextile Pluto.
Shock and awe and the world holds its breath. One theory is that Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman leant on Trump to go ahead, since most of the Middle Eastern countries dislike the Islamic Republic and see it as a destabilising force. Will it pull the region minus Iran together? Or will it cause a cascading tsunami of vengeful counter attacks causing turbulence into the extended future? Trump’s laughable idea that the violently repressive IRGC (Iran’s Revolutionary Guard) will chum up with a new political opposition (which does not exist) won’t survive the unfolding of events.
A previous post outlined disturbances stretching ahead to the turn of the decade and beyond. See reprinted below at the foot.
In the immediate future, the Gulf countries look rattled now and more so after mid year. Dubai, 9 June 1833, has a trapped, risky, frustrated tr Pluto opposition Mars from later this month to late June and then on and off till late 2027. The August Leo Solar Eclipse will conjunct its Uranus for a significant jolt.
Kuwait, 19 June 1961, has tr Uranus square the North Node and Solar Arc Sun mid March into April for jolts and jangles; and the August Eclipse conjunct its Mars Uranus in Leo which will increase risk and conflict. Late this year or in 2027 the SA Pluto will conjunct the Neptune for confusion and devastation.
Bahrain, 14 August 1971, has an upsetting SA Venus conjunct Uranus this year; with a nervy, highly-strung and jolting tr Uranus opposition the Neptune and conjunct the (Moon) Saturn from this April onwards into 2027. The August Eclipse will exactly conjunct their Leo Sun for an existential crisis of direction.
Qatar, 1 September 1971, looks in nervous crisis this year, with even more stormy seas and forced change come 2027/28.
Saudi Arabia, 15 January 1902 has not much showing exactly now but looks jolted and jangled in 18 months with SA square their Capricorn Sun but since Jupiter is also involved there may be silver linings.
Mohammed bin Salman himself, 31 August 1985, will be on argumentative form come the August eclipse with it hitting his Mercury Mars in Leo and square his Saturn – which might suggest military involvement. His life is due for a major change in 2027/28 as his Solar Arc Pluto is conjunct his Uranus. A similar shift is indicated on his Crown Prince chart, 21 June 2017, with SA Pluto square the Uranus late this year into early 2027, which can sometimes point to instability though it could also be him moving from de facto to the established ruler.
His relationship with Trump has not a great deal showing apart from their composite Mars at 25 degrees Leo which will catch the early and later Solar Eclipses this year. There will be more resentment or negative outcomes in 2027/28, perhaps blowback for bad choices made now.
Marco Rubio, US Secy of State, 28 May 1971, has an Air Grand Trine of a Gemini Sun trine Mars in Aquarius trine Uranus, formed into a Kite by Sun opposition an overly hopeful Jupiter Neptune = up in his head and on a short fuse with judgement that often veers to the overly optimistic. Tr Uranus moving into Gemini this April may well upset his applecart as it starts to rattle his Jupiter Neptune (sometimes coincides with a scandal of own making or deflated hopes) with more forced change in 2027 as tr Uranus is conjunct his Sun.
His relationship chart with Trump isn’t great at the moment despite DT’s bombastic claims, with alarm in April, arguments in May. Worse in 2027.
Someone will have to take the blame when it goes pear shaped since it is never Trump’s fault.
Additional thought. Not only is the Solar Arc Sun square the Mars exactly now on the US country chart, this was always the time that the Trump Second term was going to be at peak bulldozer/intimidator with the Progressed Moon on the 2025 Inauguration chart exactly square Pluto which is another coming together of the initial bully-boy Sun Pluto opposition Mars square Moon – after this it may fade.
Previous post:
DECEMBER 29 2025
The endless turmoil of the Middle East rolls on as Iran escalates tensions with threats of nuclear responses and Israel maintains conflicts on several fronts with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, and Hamas in Gaza – and allows/promotes 19 new West Bank settlements. Netanyahu is in Mar-a-Lago for Trump talks as the US administration is becoming increasingly frustrated with slow progress towards Phase 11 of the Gaza peace fire which involves disarming Hamas and putting in an international stabilization force.
Keeping this simple since there are too many charts: Israel’s relationship with the Iran 1 February 1979 chart is under pressure across 2026, more fractious and explosive in 2027. Much the same for the relationship with the Iran 7 October 1906 chart with high tension at the moment, disappointment in 2026 and aggravation come 2027. Both Iran charts hints at a confident push in the near future but loss of confidence and outright failure by 2027/28.
Hamas, 14 December 1987, looks to be running into the buffers in 2026/27 so will, in its present form, not be operational after that for a few years – though as ever a hundred-headed-hydra it may reconstitute in later years. Relations with Israel are on a further downward slide in 2026 and further ruptured in 2027.
Hezbollah, 16 February 1985, is staying bullishly confident through 2026 but running into a calamitous setbacks in 2027/28. Relations with Israel will worsen towards the end of the decade.
Other Middle Eastern countries hints at ructions and turbulence in 2027/28/29 either in their own charts or in relation to Israel – Qatar, Turkey, UAE. Saudi Arabia looks in rolling turmoil from 2028 for several years thereafter, within itself but also in relation to Israel.
The shifting sands won’t settle anytime soon. Especially for Israel. Tr Pluto will start to oppose the Israel 10th house Moon from February 2026 for two years but that is followed by tr Pluto crossing the midpoints and then opposing the 10th house Pluto and Saturn in the early 2030s for years of hardship, perhaps way, certainly a monumental struggle. That worsens as tr Pluto continues on to hit the midpoints between Mars and Moon, Pluto and Saturn in the later 2030s to reach a calamitous peak in the early 2040s or rather a total dead halt. Along the way the Solar Arc Sun will conjunct the Pluto and Saturn at the turn of this decade into the early 2030s and after.
Netanyahu, 21 October 1949 10.15 am Tel Aviv, Israel, won’t be around for ever. He is facing a nerve stretched 2026 as an election on which everything hinges for him looms for him. There are hints of a change of direction with Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Midheaven; and an explosive Progressed Mars square his Uranus which will be in place between 2026 and 2028. His relationship with Israel is edgy at the moment and high tension through 2026. His 2022 Term chart is sagging this year from low confidence.
His relationship with Trump is fairly chained together at an underlying level and will have peaks and troughs this year, nothing too definitive.
The Middle Eastern volcano will continue to spew lava for the foreseeable future.
ADD ON:
Trump’s midpoints:
His Sun/Pluto midpoint which strives for power will be undermined by tr Neptune in opposition late March to late April. Again late September to early November 2026 – undermining of career and health. Ditto same period – his Mercury/Saturn which is depressed.
His bulldozing Mars/Pluto midpoint is under extreme strain and trapped February to 17 March, late June to early August – though giddy with excitement as well from his adventurous Jupiter/Uranus midpoint. Some upbeat moments through year as well as panic in first half of June.
Relations with Dan Caine agitated and highly unsettled late April with Trump to mid May. He looked scared and trapped through January to early February as this was brewing. And again August to New Year.
Susie Wiles relations with DT also look seriously stressed late April to late May indeed through till late September. Second half of May also exceptionally unsettled with DT and on different wavelengths. Again she looked more than edgy in the run up to this fiasco and may not survive the year as Chief of Staff.
Woke or stay awake has been in use since the late 19th century as an invocation to stand against racial prejudice and discrimination. Over time, woke came to be used to refer to a broader awareness of social inequalities such as sexism and denial of LGBTQ rights and became the shorthand for the US Left approach to identity politics and social justice, such as white privilege and reparations for slavery.
In the backlash the political right and some centrists use the term pejoratively to disparage leftist and progressive movements as superficial and insincere performative activism. The terms woke-washing and woke capitalism later emerged to criticize businesses and brands who use politically progressive messaging for financial gain.
‘The Trump administration’s “war on woke” has pushed a lot of large companies and institutes to retreat from the diversity, equity and inclusion policies they used to pretend to be proud of.’
There is not much astrology in this except that two early examples of the use of ‘woke’ fell on Saturn Pluto squares which are repressive in nature – Pluto = power and Saturn = social ruling classes. So ‘woke’ was a way of standing up and not submitting.
The recent Neptune in Pisces during both of Trump’s terms did not bring clarity, quite the opposite as it muddied the waters. And did it in both directions as the victim-culture emerged.
One problem with the identity politics of marginalized groups is that they assume the manifest unfairness of their situation should be prioritised by the wider population. The problem being that the ‘ordinary’ person does not have the bandwidth to cope with multiple groups demanding rightful attention, so they switch off.
There is an extension to this in the results of a psychological study done years ago which showed that where people can help another with problems they will. Where circumstances are too overwhelming and the situation is such that they can’t help, they treat the ‘victim’ with hostility, maybe since it arouses guilt or a sense of impotence.
On a personal note, it irritated me immensely in the 1990s when I ran a campaign about child abuse and could not understand why everyone was not as enraged as me about inaction to root out cruelty and worse. Or even interested. They just tuned out. Not their thing and what could they do anyway? Getting realistic is a hard lesson but it helps.
One other problem about social attitudes is the pendulum swing – victims of all shades used to be swept under the carpet and now they are everywhere. Neptune in Pisces may be part of the reason for the snowflake effect, with minor infractions to social niceties being blown out of all proportion.
Trevor Phillips also had an interesting set of observations recently in The Times: “Too much political time is spent trying to protect our youngsters, we could take a lot from immigrant family values. It has been apparent for some years that poor immigrants display a mental and emotional resilience that seems to be rapidly disappearing in the historically native population.”
In England, 15.9 per cent of white children needed Send (special educational needs) support last year. The equivalent for black Africans was 10.3 per cent, for Indians 6.7 per cent and for Chinese-heritage children 5.6 per cent. ‘Immigrant parents, themselves typically the products of hard, unforgiving circumstances, raise their children to expect the world to be unkind, holding that no amount of coddling by the state will ever protect them from its hard knocks.’
My own pet theory (being old) is that my UK generation were brought up by no nonsense parents who had lived through WW11 and their parents WW1 before that.
Saturn in Aries until 2028 (leaving Neptune out of the equation) may knock some of the more fragile over-reactions out of the picture. It tends to produce circumstances that demand self-reliance and will attempt to put a curb on an overly dependent mindset.
I realise none of the above is of much help to those who are discriminated against. Maybe (??) Pluto in Aquarius will bring a tolerance of difference and help to iron out some injustices. Saturn Neptune will also do its bit for women and workers.
