46 thoughts on “Astro-comments and Questions

  1. BBC reporting “Courts service ‘covered up’ IT bug that caused evidence to go missing” and making comparisons to the Post Office scandal.

    Both certainly fit the Pluto in Aquarius theme and while it’s hard to imagine it’ll still be uncovering bad systems in twenty years, the ultimate purpose of Pluto is to force change – and given we’re now headed into a technology-heavy era for everything – it might force decent coding/test etc.

    “https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwye2q00k51o”

    • I hope you’re right GD. So much talk of digital ID recently – does anyone look at the woeful state of the systems we already have? Uranus in Gemini has the potential to create further IT chaos I suspect, just for fun.

      • The US government IT systems are also so woefully outdated they’re all ripe for cyber attacks, according to my techie husband, after all the damage they suffered from the Musk DOGE intrusions.

        • Ha! Thanks Nicole. There are two techies amongst my relatives – what they say is, on the whole, hair-raising re maintenance, and other damage. One has seen it all up close. Wing and a prayer mode won’t cover it much longer.

  2. Fascinated by goings-on such as the U.S.–Switzerland shock troubles. Words such as blindsiding and events such as a perfunctory call suddenly turning dire really take your breath away in this instance. It’s like a supercharged The Tower card in tarot, with maybe a peppering of Death and Chariot. Maybe also quite a few from the Swords suit.

  3. A documentary on Pee Wee. Herman is set to release early Sept. The film blurb, below, makes me wonder how clear cut his chart is.

    Pee-wee as Himself: *comedian, subversive performer, devoted collector, beloved children’s entertainer- Pee-wee as Himself traces the roots of Reubens’ creative obsessions and the emergence of Pee-wee as both icon and mask. an intimate and complex portrait of an intensely private artist, who allowed someone else to tell his story at the end of his life. *)

    • I had forgotten his initial claim to fame was in the kiddie lane. His crossover to an adult fan base seems remarkable – the reverse of a brand name actor voicing animation characters.

      Paul Reubens on watching Warhol films down in Tampa (!!!) as a teen: “Those people in those movies, those characters I was so attracted to were really doing performance art, were living as conceptual people.”

      Brooklyn Academy of Music is running Ruebens’ favorite films along w the Pee-wee doc. For fun and inspo here’s the menu:
      Women In Revolt
      A Place In the Sun
      Desperate Living
      All About Eve
      The Misfits
      Some Like It Hot
      Nashville
      A Star is Born ( 1937 & 1954)
      A Face in the Crowd
      Playtime
      You Can’t Take It With You
      Pollyanna
      S.O.B.

  4. What next for Bosnia and Dodik?

    “The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina has unanimously stripped Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik of his mandate, following a final verdict by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which sentenced him to one year in prison for failing to comply with the High Representative’s decisions. Dodik has been banned from political activity for six years, and the possibility of replacing the prison sentence with a fine remains in the court’s hands. Although RS still has no clear successor, elections must be called within 90 days. Dodik says he does not recognize the decision, while even his long-time partner Dragan Čović is calling on him to respect the rule of law. He will appeal the decision.”

  5. I’m a little late to this particular party, but I thought I’d throw this in here. It’s more lighthearted than world-shaking, but I enjoyed your Pamela Anderson/Liam Neeson article, so here goes.
    Just saw James Gunn’s SUPERMAN and loved it. But I couldn’t help wondering, will the “Superman curse” affect it’s lead, David Corenswet (July 8, 1993, Philadelphia, PA). Henry Cavill (5 May 1983, St. Heller, Jersey) seems to be doing okay, but he did lose out on this SUPERMAN, and based on your earlier reading, is going through the down cycle of his Saturn.

    • To add to your Superman comments, I just read that former Superman Dean Cain is being sworn in as an ICE agent. Bizarre!

  6. I still wonder about this EU–USA trade deal – does it become effective when it was agreed or when it starts being implemented astrology-wise? Politico has an analysis, and says Europe really caved and America profiteered. Trump might have bluffed, as some comments say, and Europe fell for it.

    • There was nothing the EU could do to avoid the tariffs. I’m not a fan of Ursula von der Leyen, but people bashing her are being extremely unfair.

      The thing to understand is that this isn’t about trade, but about revenue raising via consumption taxes.

      There are three types of consumption taxes: VAT, sales tax and tariffs on imports. (Tariffs are a tax on your own people, not outsiders).

      The US has a vast budget deficit, but Trump doesn’t have the political capital to introduce a 15% VAT or 15% federal sales tax as that would affect domestic businesses, who’d scream blue murder. So he’s gone for a partial consumption tax in the form of tariffs on imports.

      It’s amazing the US has lasted this long without a consumption tax. You could argue Americans have been over-consuming because of their lack of consumption tax, while Europe has been under-consuming because 20% VAT is too high. It’s the reason the single market is not self-sustaining like the US internal market – consumption is depressed.

      As to the economic effects; every country that introduced VAT experienced a short-term surge in inflation and a recession. Then the economy rebalances with lower consumption, and govts get addicted to the revenue stream. That’s why Europe won’t cut VAT to 15% to stimulate consumption-led growth. It’ll be the same with Trump’s tariffs; a spurt of inflation, recession, then stable at lower consumption, and the next adminitration won’t get rid of it because they need the money.

      But you can see why there was nothing von der Leyen could do. She can’t control budgets and taxes in the US anymore than the US can control budgets and taxes in the EU.

      The “negotiations” were theatre for Trump’s domestic audience to get them to accept a big tax rise. Of course the collateral damage is lower consumption in the USA means lower sales for the rest of the world.

      • Will the impact on US consumers not be softened/negated by the quadrupling of the SALT deduction to $40K since consumer purchases are in state not at a federal level. After all a massive reduction on your local sales tax is a big boost.

  7. Just a thought … read this article in Guardian “https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/aug/02/the-end-of-the-road-what-the-salt-path-scandal-means-for-the-nature-memoir”

    The subheading is “It wasn’t the first hit memoir to tell a story of redemption inspired by the great outdoors – but could it become one of the last? Authors and publishers assess the damage”

    Noting it was published in 2018 when Uranus moved into Taurus (nature) and the fallout all came as it moved on into Gemini.

    • What a thought provoking thought GD! We’ve got a long tradition of books and thinkers who draw inspiration from nature here in the UK. The connections between the notion of a rural idyll/power of nature and the human spirit were so disrupted by the Industrial Revolution here, maybe that’s part of the reason? UK Mars in Taurus opposing Neptune in Scorpio? UK’s curious Mercury in Sagittarius sextile Venus in Aquarius?

      I also thought of Robert McFarlane (15 August 1976). When his ‘Mountains of the Mind’ was first published in 2003 we had Uranus in Aquarius, Neptune in Aquarius, Pluto in travelling Sagittarius, and Saturn in Gemini. Jupiter in Leo. So airy and fiery, as we’re moving towards now? Two more books followed:

      “The Old Ways: A Journey On Foot, the third in the “loose trilogy of books about landscape and the human heart”[citation needed] begun by Mountains of the Mind and The Wild Places, was published in June 2012. The book describes the years Macfarlane spent following “old ways” (pilgrimage paths, sea-roads, prehistoric trackways, ancient rights of way) in south-east England, north-west Scotland, Spain, Sichuan and Palestine” wiki

      The Old Ways (June 2012) was a massive bestseller, and probably encouraged publishers to jump on the bandwagon….something they enjoy doing. Kerching! By then we had Jupiter in Taurus, moving to Gemini, Saturn in Libra, Uranus in Aries, Neptune in early Pisces, Pluto in earlyish Capricorn.

      Mcfarlane’s books are deeper and more intellectual than The Salt Path, but the theme is there I think.

      • Amazing reply Jane – you seem to know so much about so many things. I have to say I’ve never even heard of McFarlane. Without looking at his chart in detail or the book, I would guess it all occurred when transiting Uranus was opposite his Sun which would be somewhere around 20Leo – that would fit a freeing up of the spirit. And August 1976 he’s probably got Saturn in mid-Leo so that might have been getting some of the Uranus or Neptune action? And of course writing/creativity is a Leo thing so perhaps they freed up that side of things for him.

        • Thanks GD, I’m just a magpie who reads a lot, I don’t think I know much really. The Old Ways is a favourite book of mine, and Mcfarlane is an interesting writer and thinker.

          • Oh I think you know lots more than you give yourself credit for.

            Just noting that Grand Kite you mentioned for Aug 6th is due tomorrow. But also with Moon just into Capricorn overnight there’s a Grand Cross with its opposition to Cancer Jupiter-Venus

          • We’ll see how the kite flies! All feels so fractured to me just now, more than usual – and more than just the usual suspects. Perhaps the changes and transitions ahead are making themselves felt ahead of time. Plus the September eclipses beginning to place pieces on the stage, ready for later. Definitely a time for walking in nature somewhere.

  8. I’m currently reading Professor Helen Castor’s book, “The Eagle and the Hart” about Richard II and Henry IV.

    Richard comes across so delusional and narcisistic, I looked at his chart to see if it was indicated, and it was.

    He had his asc at 22 Pis 14, conjunct Neptune at 20 Pisces 49 conjunct Moon at 28 Pisces 44. All trine Saturn at 24 Scorpio 55 trine Uranus at 18 Cancer 1. The Sun is at 24 Cap 15, making a kite with the above.

    If you looked at his chart when he was born, you’d think it was benign with all the trines and sextiles. It’s only with hindsight you see the over-emphasised Neptune. I can’t spot what aspect triggered him off – can you take a look?

    His cousin Henry Bolinbroke, who usurped him, was only 3 months younger, but a completely different character.

    A key event in both Richard and Henry’s life is the Peasants Revolt, which took place when they were both 14 (15th June 1381). Richard meets the peasants who clearly revere him. But Henry nearly gets killed.

    Uranus is at 22 Virgo 36, opposing Richard’s Asc. It’s quincunx Henry’s Sun at 21 Aries 11. Neptune is at 26 Aries 23. It’s semi-sextile Richard’s Asc and conjunct Henry’s Sun.

    I don’t understand why these aspects are helpful to Richard and not Henry, especially as their outer planets are quite close to each other.

    • Should have added Richard’s Moon is almost exactly conjunct the Moon in the 1066 chart. This is why the peasants think he will “save” them. (Tr Uranus opposing the England Moon is why the Revolt was happening).

      But despite the conjunction of the two Moons, Richard becomes unpopular enough to be deposed.

    • Richard 11 had his Capricorn Sun as the driving planet from the Kite opposition to Uranus on his Water Grand Trine – so that would give him an overblown ego – plus a leadership North Node in Leo.
      Henry IV has no birth time which does not help but has a difficult Sun Pluto in Taurus inconjunct Mars – making him ruthless as well as having a capacity to attract drama, accidents and disaster. At the Peasants Revolt tr Saturn Pluto was aspecting his Solar Arc Sun Pluto inconjunct Mars – both accident prone and pushing his ambitions ahead.
      I would not worry too much about trines and sextiles. They are often over ridden by stronger aspects.

  9. Hi Marjorie, would you mind doing a write up on Singapore who will be celebrating their 60 years of Independence on 9 Aug this year. What I am more curious about is the solar return chart for the country this year due to the possibility of a mini grand trine.
    From NASA website, this month August there would be a Jupiter Venus conjunction (1 degree apart) in the sky on 11&12 Aug and a Perseid Meteror Showers peaking on 12th and 13th which most prob will be washed out by the moon. So looks like 9 & 10,11 might be better time to watch Meteror Shower and see Jupiter & Venus in the sky.

    • To add some context, Singapore is facing the same issues as the countries around the world eg, harder to find jobs for new graduates, investments moving out to cheaper places, increasing wealth gaps, high property prices and rent, rising cost of living, immigration. It feels like the nation itself is repeating policies of old like expanding its train network, build highways, build houses (very similar to the 2004/5ish). My feel is different groups of people are going to get different experiences, some very good and some very bad and those in between, and that won’t be good in the long run.

  10. Low-key/priority, mostly for astrological insight.

    The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (founded on November 7, 1967), the US government agency that supports NPR & PBS stations, is being shut down after its funding was revoked by Congress and the Trump administration.

    I won’t be surprised if NPR (founded February 26, 1970) and PBS (founded November 3, 1969) will also be either shut down or severely limited in the next few years.

    All three of the above, the CPB, NPR and PBS, are headquartered in Washington DC. All dates from Wikipedia.

    Even though I live in the UK, I occasionally listen to NPR podcasts, which are of a high quality and relatively politically neutral and I would be sad to see them disappear.

    The image that comes to my mind of the Trump administration is that of a boa constrictor, squeezing to death all that it disapproves of.

    • @ Unmystic Mom,

      I was about to ask Marjorie about this too. It’s infuriating news. However, it’s unlikely that NPR and PBS will shut down completely. Even though they do relay on about 500 million in federal funds annually, they luckily still receive grants from private institutions and contributions from viewers. So, it’s a huge possibility that some stations may shut down in rural areas….but the large metropolitan areas will still manage to receive enough funding to continue.

      I love NPR and PBS. In fact, many of my favorite shows are on PBS. I plan to start making some donations to them again.

      If PBS does end up having to cut some of their stations and programming, then I hope they just cut the 24 hour children’s PBS network. I always thought it was a bit odd for them to have a 24 hour station that shows just kid shows (considering most children are not going to be up in the middle of the night to watch television anyway).

      I really hope PBS Create and PBS World don’t get cut though.

      Anyway, I too would love it if Marjorie would take a look at the near future for NPR and PBS.

      • The British end of PBS shuts down at midnight on Freeview. I am not aware of PBS even having a children’s channel over here. But the ones we do have tend to shut down early evening. But then we only have one timezone.

  11. Elon Musk made a comment recently basically saying women were made weak and destined to be traded off to warring tribes. Of course, in a world where women are reviled (think Vance’s “childless cat ladies comments”, the US’s refusal to elect a woman president over a convicted sexual predator, women getting beaten and killed if their hair is uncovered in Iran and elsewhere, etc.), is it any wonder that this is the new normal?
    I read from various websites that Pluto in Aquarius was suppose to usher in a period where women took control or at least share power, but given the current state of affairs, I don’t see it happening. Honestly, my blood boils where it is common for men to openly praise women subjugation and dominance over women’s freedom. Do the stars show if this change of attitude will ever change? Because I speak as a woman that I trust practically every group (gays, trans, immigrants, etc.) over rich men in power. At least these groups don’t call for my rape and gleefully say “your body, my choice.” If men keep this up, then expect marriage and childbirth rates to continue to fall.

      • ‘The Vindication of the Rights of Women’ by Mary Wollstonecraft was first published in 1792 when Pluto had just recently begun its journey through the 3rd decan of Aquarius. Also Marjorie had said that Saturn/Neptune conjunctions tend to be tied into progressive policies for women iirc. It was around for the Married Women’s Property Act in 1882 I think.

        • Two steps forward, three steps back seems to be the way with women’s history. I hope the new fire and air themes bring progress – and for all those women living in terrible, repressive societies most of all. Saturn and Neptune may flag up change, as Marjorie and VF note.

          One UK example might be the ‘Flapper Election’ of 1929, when all adult women were finally able to vote alongside all adult men for the first time. Age and property requirements were no longer barriers, as they had been before for most men and women.
          That General Election, 30 May 1929, had a high energy Grand Trine between Venus in active Aries, a Sagittarius Saturn, and Neptune in Leo. Mars in Leo trined Uranus in Aries, sextile a Gemini Sun. Uranus was square UK Capricorn Sun. Pluto was 16 Cancer then, approaching the UK Cancer Moon – the female population emphasised?

      • Caroline have a look at the ectolife presentation on you tube to see what role women will have ( if at all).all the tech bros are just that – bros.

  12. Marjorie,

    The other day I bumped onto a French documentary Turkmenistan: the World’s Strabgest Dictatorship? on TV.

    I was flabbergasted.

    Yes, I knew similar dictators with personality cult were many on this planet nowadays and in the days of yore, but this was just something else.

    If you could be interested, I would like to read about your take on astrological reasons behind the country’s leader behaviour.

    And maybe what his son might be like and the fate of the country – which is, if I remembered well, the world’s biggest emitter of methane into the atmosphere – if the country’s birth data are in Campion’s book. Or elsewhere.

    • @ El Aznar,

      What was the name of that documentary? Turkmenistan is a country I have long been fascinated with…as well as it’s political isolation.

      I would like to watch the documentary you said you saw.

      • The documentary is called Turkmenistan: The World’s Strangest Dictatorship?

        With a ? at the end.

        The psychology and genesis of this kind of behaviour from a person (leader) nd sociology of such society and how it creates conditions or is prone to this is beyond fascinating.

  13. If it interests, could you please look at Mr. Jamie Dimon’s astrology; because, he’ll soon be retiring as CEO of JPMorgan Chase, and it’s rumored he’s in the running to be the next Fed Chair, or may even run for US President? Thanks, Marjorie.

    • I don’t know about their astrology but we’ve got sequels to The Naked Gun, This Is Spinal Tap and Spaceballs coming out this summer. Return of spoof (Uranus) comedy (Gemini)?

  14. Hi Majorie
    How does the moon signs & rising signs affect the astrology signs? I realize this is difficult questions. Thank you anyway!

Leave a Comment