Immigration – tensions and no answers

Immigration is inflaming tensions in the UK, Europe and the USA, headlined as an unsolvable problem and scaremongered as a threat to national identity. Looking back in history it is clear that ‘invasions’ by foreigners – in the case of Britain – Roman, Anglo-Saxon (Germanic), Viking (Scandanavian) and in the case of Spain the Moorish take-over from the 8^th to 15th Century all left their mark on language, cultural and social practices, were absorbed and in some cases later expelled though leaving behind traces of their presence.  The Christian Crusaders who settled in the Middle East brought back with them knowledge of architecture, astronomy, alchemy and much else when they were finally repelled in the early 14^th Century. So cultural appropriation has always been a valuable part of human history.  

  In the 20^th Century displacement of people after World War 11, the fall of the old USSR in 1990 and the Middle East collapse into chaos in the early part of this century, plus drought and unrest in Africa have hastened the influx – with risk and poverty in South America sending many fleeing north to the USA.

  There are no specific markers astrologically for immigration bar a thought about 9^th house (long distance travel) – and some have suggested Jupiter Neptune. It appears strongly in the UN Refugee Convention of 28 July 1951 set up after World War 11 to protect displaced people. Though it was also around for Brexit in 2015 which was partly motivated by a wish to curb immigration. 2015/2016 was also when Denmark dramatically tightened its rules on immigration.

 The UN Refugee Convention chart is under severe pressure at the moment with the Solar Arc Mars conjunct the Saturn and SA Sun conjunct Neptune – undermining its ethos.

 George H Bush’s US Immigration Act of 29 November 1990 which helped permit the entry of 20 million people over the next two decades, the largest number recorded in any 20 year period since the nation’s founding, came about during Saturn Neptune in Virgo; and is mired in confusion around now with SA Neptune square the Pluto.  But this Saturn Neptune has seen Trump repelling immigrants with chilling fervour – and in the UK, outrage about illegal immigrants being housed in hotels in residential areas has led to public demonstrations.

  One key difference in modern times in contrast to the past is the welfare system and social housing. In the UK especially with the health service, housing provision and national finances all creaking badly, there is understandable anger about immigrants soaking up limited resources. And bringing in immigrants from backward regions with differing cultural practices especially with regard to women is guaranteed to cause trouble; as is making little effort to integrate newcomers into the broader community, allowing ghettos to be set up.

   Yvette Cooper, the UK Home Secretary, has been landed with the unenviable task of sorting out the immigration problem (and Palestine Action). Born 20 March 1969 in Inverness, Scotland. She has a last degree Pisces Sun conjunct Scheat and North Node in Aries opposition Jupiter Uranus in Libra which feels erratic; with a tough yod of Neptune sextile Pluto inconjunct Saturn Venus in Aries. Her chart has only one Earth sign so lacking in practicality?

  Tr Saturn Neptune are opposition her Jupiter at the moment denting her confidence and moving to a high-tension opposition to her Uranus in 2026. Over the winter tr Saturn Neptune will conjunct and undermine her Sun. With a nerve-stretched tr Uranus opposition her Neptune also over the winter and an even more worrisome her Solar Arc Uranus conjunct her Neptune in 2026.

For extra thoughts and some stats see previous post:

Immigration – social cohesion not differences ++ the case against multiculturalism 3rd March 2024