Another gruesome judicial killing in the USA. Alabama has executed hitman Kenneth Smith with nitrogen gas, the first time this method has been used globally, having tried and failed to execute him in 2022 by lethal injection. A journalist who witnessed the execution described to the BBC how he thrashed violently on the gurney for around 25 minutes.

 In recent times the death penalty has been increasingly abolished globally. As of late 2022, 54 countries retain capital punishment, 111 countries have completely abolished it for all crimes, seven have abolished it for ordinary crimes (maintaining it for special circumstances such as war crimes), and 24 are abolitionist in practice. All EU countries ban it with Belarus being the exception in Europe. Although the majority of nations have abolished capital punishment, over 60% of the world’s population live in countries where the death penalty is retained, such as China, India, the United States, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Japan, and Taiwan.

  Over the millenia there have been grisly methods from crucifixion, to beheading, hanging and latterly the electric chair. By the late 18th century the English legal system – the ‘Bloody Code’ – handed out death sentences for cutting down a tree, stealing from a rabbit warren and being out at night with a blackened face, pickpocketing, forgery and rape. Public executions were banned in 1868, and the abolition of beheading and quartering in 1870.

 Cesare Beccaria, 15 March 1738, widely considered one of the greatest thinkers of the Age of Enlightenment, wrote a treatise On Crimes and Punishments (1764), which condemned torture and the death penalty. He is deemed the father of modern criminal law and the father of criminal justice. A man before his time as is often the case with a focal point Pluto. His works had a profound influence on the Founding Fathers of the United States though clearly not in this area.

 He had a Pisces Sun conjunct Jupiter with a fearsome Mars North Node in Capricorn opposition Saturn Chiron in Cancer square Pluto.

 In the UK, the abolition of capital punishment came in stages mainly through the vigorous campaigns since the late 1940s of MP Sydney Silverman, culminating in the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill of 8 November 1965. That suspended it for five years and more followed. The last executions were in 1964 though it was not until 1998 that it was finally abolished on the statute for all crimes.   The 1965 Act had a Sun Neptune in Scorpio trine Saturn Chiron in Pisces; with Saturn Chiron opposition Pluto Uranus square Mars.

  Public opinion had been swayed by miscarriages of justice such as Timothy Evans, hanged for killing his wife when Christie the serial killer was guilty. And Derek Bentley executed at 20, who was mentally retarded due to a childhood accident and under the thumb of a younger friend who was the actual shooter of a policeman while he was present. Born 30 June 1933 11.50pm Southwark, he had a Cancer Sun and more significantly an Aquarius North Node inconjunct Mars sextile Pluto. The Aquarius North Node comes into its own while crusading for a cause, which he was not capable of but the injustice of his death did ultimately make a difference. He was hanged on 28 January 1953 when there was a yod of Mars Venus in Pisces inconjunct Pluto sextile Saturn Neptune.  The transiting Pluto was conjunct the UK 11^th house Saturn, ruler of the legislature. A tragic martyr to a good cause.

  Sydney Silverman, 8 October 1895 was a Sun, Mars, Chiron in fair-minded Libra trine Neptune Pluto in Gemini with a determined Saturn, Mercury, Uranus in Scorpio.  His determination won through eventually.

Elizabeth Fry (prison reformer, born 1780):

“Does capital punishment tend to the security of the people? By no means. It hardens the hearts of men, and makes the loss of life appear light to them; and it renders life insecure, inasmuch as the law holds out that property is of greater value than life.”

“It is frequently said by the prisoners of Newgate that the crimes of which they have been guilty are as nothing when compared with the crimes of Government towards themselves: that they have only been thieves but that their governors have been murderers. (1818)

[Two things I don’t get. I don’t agree with the death penalty but if it is to be carried out why is it so difficult to get it right? Vets put down pets every day. People die from overdoses every day. Dignitas manage it. There must be sensible drugs on hand which will do the job painlessly.

  The other is the desire of relatives of the victim to be present at the execution, in some cases crowing over the death of the killer. Does that give them closure? I would doubt it – more likely it would give them nightmares for the rest of their lives.]   

ADD ON: Smith was executed on 25 January 2024 7.53pm, dead by 8.25pm. The execution chart – Alabama has two time zones just to be tricky.

 The Alabama state chart, 14 December 1819, is bleak, tough-minded, tending towards the fanatical and autocratic. There is an unyielding Saturn Chiron Pluto conjunction in Pisces square a Sagittarius Sun, Uranus, Neptune with a Scorpio Moon – not exactly sentimental, or warm and cuddly.

ADD ON: Elizabeth Fry was an English Quaker prison reformer, born 21 May 1780, who did not campaign directly for abolition of the death penalty but was a driving force behind new legislation to improve the treatment of prisoners, especially female inmates, and as such has been called the “Angel of Prisons”. She married at 20 and had eleven children, five sons and six daughters.

   She was certainly a thinker, designed for communicating her views with an Air Grand Trine of a Gemini Sun trine Neptune trine Pluto, formed into a Kite by a serious Sun opposition Saturn in Sagittarius. She also had a North Node in Taurus which she clearly put to good use.

All political careers end in failure, so goes the accepted wisdom, but none more so than Nicola Sturgeon. In her day hailed as a paragon by the press at large (mainly) and protected from criticism by phalanxes of her rabid Nat-trolls, she strode on, a shining example to other lesser leaders. Murmurs in the background about the shocking deterioration in educational standards, policing, NHS etc since the SNP took over were shot down in flames. Then came an investigation (still ongoing) into SNP finances and her husband, CEO of the party, her resignation and now the covid inquiry.

  The Times writes today: “The gulf between the Scottish government’s myth-making and the reality of the country’s Covid experience is so great that it cannot survive even a January-in-Scotland level of sunshine.”

   What is always a mystery when monumental lies are exposed is to what degree were they believed by those who spieled out the shining-white marketing guff. Has Trump always lived in never-never land where he creates his own road-runner fantasy of invulnerability? Did Tony Blair not look closely at the nonsense he was spouting about Saddam Hussein being capable of bombing Cyprus? Or do the slick-ass used-car salesman excuses just effortlessly flit into mind as a smokescreen? In which case did they ever face reality square on, with a prayer to their guardian daemon to fish them out of the mire as usual? A life not just walking on water but walking on thin ice and hoping it would hold up?

  Nicola Sturgeon, 19 July 1970 3.16pm Irvine, Scotland, has her Sun in patriotic Cancer conjunct Mars in flashy Leo in the 9^th square Jupiter and trine Neptune, sextile Pluto. An effective and opinionated communicator with a strong 9^th house with expansive dreams from Jupiter and stratospheric ambitions from Neptune Pluto Sun. Not a shrinking violet for sure. She also has a talented Half Grand Sextile from Neptune opposition Saturn sextile Sun and sextile Pluto.

  Two aspects catch my eye. One is the chart-dominating Saturn opposition Neptune which can be creative, working for a better society or neurotic or all three. Individuals with it tend to mistrust others and defensiveness (a Cancer trait anyway) will make them avoid confrontations and therefore go for underhand methods to achieve their aims. Can be cunning and deceitful.

 The other is the Mars square Jupiter. Sakoian & Acker are damning about this aspect – “one of the most destructive because the natives use collective power and even social sanction for self-aggrandizement.”  Can be fanatical about their beliefs, not necessarily honourable or reliable in their dealings, with a tendency to hypocrisy. They will whitewash their real motives and have a tendency to cosmeticize their actions as holier than thou. When in reality it comes down to ego or avarice. Clearly this is Mars Jupiter at its most negative and there will be other ways of living it out.

  The other chart key to significant existential questions is the North Node. Hers is in Pisces in the 4^th house giving at tendency towards pride and the assumption she is superior to others, stemming from a demanding parent, who left the impression that her destiny was to achieve great things. Whereas in truth her spiritual journey is to come off her high horse and solve her emotional problems. Organising for others is a displacement activity when in truth she needs to be putting her own house in order. Sliding back into putting on a performance for others is the pull of her South Node which is the ‘road to nowhere.’  The North Node in Pisces can be manipulative if there is insufficient development with the Virgo the South Node overly active.

  She does seem to operate at the negative, undeveloped end of her chart. What brought her to a grinding halt was tr Pluto opposition her Mars last year and through this year (and her Sun before that). And that Pluto transit would reverberate around all the planets tied into the Sun – Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, Jupiter.

  The harmonics which caught my eye – and are similarly marked for Trump and Tony Blair – are

5^th harmonic = capable, inventive, can be irresponsible, self-indulgent, deceitful.

10^th harmonic = the wheel of fortune, prosperity and abundance, it contains the seed of both rise and fall, of the good and the bad.

15^th harmonic = A magic number, rules magicians, alchemy, black magic, actors and eloquent speakers.

16th harmonic = warns against catastrophes, disappointments, humiliations, accidents. Life as you know it might change completely. Sometimes this is self-inflicted, sometimes it is not.

18^th Harmonic = strength, material success, but also conflicts and enemies, “war & revolution”, fire and explosions.

Blair has strong 5^th, 10th, and 15^th harmonics.

Trump has strong 5H, 10H, 15H, 16H.

  I would hypothesize she started out in life with a belief that she was destined for great things and her messianic mission was so ingrained she could not admit to any shortcomings, possibly even to herself.

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Donald Trump rampages on, giving by all accounts a confused and repetitive as well as bullying 100 minute oration to himself over his New Hampshire win.

 This is only a snippet since the tedium ahead never mind widespread panic and disbelief will keep him centre foreground for the next ten months.

 He is on a roll right now with tr Uranus square his Jupiter North Node midpoint till mid March and then square his Sun/Jupiter North Node until early April. Both of those are lucky and confident. He then has one more milder Jupiter late April to May 10^th. After that his Jupiter has fizzled out – except for tr Jupiter moving across his Midheaven and 10^th house from May this year onwards until June 2025, which is usually successful – though in itself is not anywhere near as strong as the influences he had in 2016.

 Tr Uranus will conjunct his Midheaven (birth time being accurate) in May for a sudden change of direction and that runs on and off into 2025.

His Progressed Moon is within days of shifting into Scorpio to stay for two and a half years which will intensify his mood and his words giving them a cutting edge with contempt on show. It can be a time of cutting losses, submitting to destiny, accepting limits and accepting endings.

 Mid April to late May, and February 2025 he will be argumentative, foul-tempered and wound up.

  His relationship chart with the Republican 12 October 1853 chart shows uncertainty and confusion through this March and through October till March 2025 – across the election and inauguration. That is when tr Neptune squares the composite Saturn.

  His relationship chart with the USA has a sinking feeling September through to late November with tr Pluto trine the composite Neptune. Though before that there is a tr Uranus square Jupiter through July which will bring relief – though whether because he goes or stays is not clear. That is when tr Uranus squares his Mars which will be explosive, can bring health issues in seniors or extraneous events since Middle East tensions could escalate then which could make a considerable difference.

ADD ON: Stats from Gerald Baker in The Times:

Trump won in both states by energising his committed supporters which gave him a slight majority in each state overall. Lukewarm Republicans and swing voters rejected him.

In New Hampshire, Trump won 74 per cent of registered Republicans to Haley’s 25 per cent. Among the independents who voted, Haley won 58 per cent to Trump’s 39 per cent. This difference is far greater than in the past.

The particular challenge for Trump is that he motivates his opponent’s supporters to go to the polls as much as he motivates his own people. “And in those circumstances the small but critical band of swing voters in the middle matters more than ever. The message of this short primary season for Trump is clear: at least for now, the persuadables are not persuaded.”

Aquarius rules the Monaco Royals may be stretching a point but Pluto will undoubtedly have a noticeable effect on this generation of Prince Albert, sisters, wife and the House of Grimaldi itself.  Albert’s former accountant continues to spill out embarrassing information about the royal finances, upkeep of mistresses, illegitimate children and even the sad Charlene’s overspend. Details continue to seep out into the media with Le Monde being the latest. According to The Times “Albert comes across as a feeble monarch being pushed around by the women in his life, including his two sisters, Princess Stéphanie, 58, and Princess Caroline, 67. Both are said by Palmero to use the crown jewels as personal fashion accessories.”

  See previous posts on Trouble in Paradise 31 July 2023 and 28 March 2022.

  Albert, 14 March 1958 10.47 am Monte Carlo, has a 10^th house Pisces Sun square Saturn in his 7^th with a secretive Mars in Capricorn in his financial 8^th house. Despite his playboy reputation his chart hints of low self esteem and a troubled life. What will catch transiting Pluto in his case is his Jupiter North Node Neptune in early Scorpio square Uranus opposition Venus in Aquarius. Jupiter Neptune certainly points to him being scandal-prone due to his instability and that T square will be under pressure for the rest of this decade.

 His sister Caroline, 23 January 1957 9.27am has a 12^th house Aquarius Sun opposition Uranus  square an 8^th house Neptune Moon in Scorpio. She likewise will be bearing the brunt of tr Pluto in Aquarius for several years ahead.

  Princess Stephanie, 1 February 1965 6.25pm Monte Carlo, has a New Moon in Aquarius square an indulgent Jupiter in Taurus on her midheaven opposition Neptune – like her brother (and Boris Johnson) a tendency to being careless, over hopeful and inclined to trip up through bad judgement. She won’t get the effects of Pluto for a few years but it will turn her life upside down when it comes.  

  The House of Grimaldi which took over rule of Monaco on 8 January 1297 JC has a late Capricorn Sun conjunct Venus in Aquarius with Pluto Mercury in Aquarius. It has been though the grinder over the past three years and will continue to be pounded right through till 2030.

 And Charlene, 25 January 1978 12.35 pm Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, has a Sun Venus in early Aquarius opposition Mars at zero Leo so she will catch the effects now and through till 2027.

  No great conclusions as to why Aquarius is headlined and it wasn’t true of the previous generation but be interesting to watch.

Two polar opposite faces of Aquarius share a birthday today giving a flavour of what might be to come.  One was Lord Byron, known as one of the greatest of English romantic poets and forever synonymous with sexual licence and depravity. In his 30s he joined the Greek War of Independence fighting the Ottoman Empire and died at 36 leading a campaign during that war.

  The other is the austere, intellectual Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci, imprisoned by Mussolini in his late 30s whose 3000 page Prison Notebooks are considered a highly original contribution to 20th-century political theory. He died 9 years after his incarceration.

 Byron, 22 January 1788 2pm London, had an 8^th house Aquarius Sun opposition Uranus Moon in Cancer so was drawn to revolutionary causes as well as to sexual liberty. He also had a 9^th house Pluto in Aquarius in an Air Grand Trine to Jupiter trine Neptune, with Saturn Venus also in Aquarius in his 9^th. And his Moon Uranus opposition Mercury square Neptune – creative, inspired, though none-too-sensible. In his own way he had a vision to communicate through his poetry and was drawn into the Aquarian need to find a worthy cause to devote his life to.

  Gramsci, 22 January 1891 11am Ales, Italy, had a 10^th house Aquarius Sun square Uranus and trine Neptune Pluto in Gemini. With his 8^th house Venus opposition North Node square a serious, workaholic Saturn in Virgo. His revolutionary Uranus  was not only square his Sun and trine his Cancer Moon but on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Mars sextile Neptune Pluto. So his Aquarius activism was amplified.

 Other 22 January types – Franz Alexander, one of the founders of psychosomatic medicine and psychoanalytic criminology.

August Strindberg, Swedish playwright, and author of works on cultural analysis and politics.

Martha Beatrice Webb, an English sociologist, economist, socialist, labour historian and social reformer; one of the founders of the London School of Economics and played a crucial role in forming the Fabian Society.

  This is just one Aquarius day with another 30/31 having similar examples – intellectual, activist and (is it just me) seemingly lacking a touch in humour?

BYRON QUOTES:

“Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven!”

“There is something pagan in me that I cannot shake off. In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything.”

“Though I love my country, I do not love my countrymen.”

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society, where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more”

“She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes…”

“Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.”

“The thorns which I have reap’d are of the tree

I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed.

I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed.”

“Tis strange – but true; for Truth is always strange, Stranger than Fiction”

ADD ON:

Ada Lovelace was the daughter and only legitimate child of  Byron from his short lived marriage. She showed an early gift in mathematics. After marrying and having three children, she met Charles Babbage “the father of computing”, became his assistant and for her work with him is often called “the first programmer.” She had health problems and mood swings which she treated with opium and brandy. Found to have uterine cancer, she died just before her 37th birthday.

 Born 10 December 1815 1pm London she had a Sun Neptune in Sagittarius in her 9^th house trine Mars in Aries and square Pluto in her 12^th. A prominent Neptune is often found in high level mathematicians’ charts. Her upfront Aries Moon on her Ascendant was trine an inventive/inspired 8^th house Uranus Mercury in Sagittarius. She also had a sociable and seductive Jupiter Venus in Scorpio in her 7^th which was blocked by a square to Saturn in Aquarius.

ADD ON: Lady Caroline Lamb with whom Byron had an infamous though surprisingly short affair was the wife of a politician who later became Viscount Melbourne and prime minister (Queen Victoria’s teenage crush). Caroline struggled with mental instability which was not improved by her use of alcohol and laudanum and she died aged 42.

  Born 13 November 1785 4.30 am she had a Sun Mercury in Scorpio trine Uranus – passionate and defiant. With an Air Grand Trine of an 8^th house Mars trine a 4^th house Pluto (Saturn) in Aquarius trine Neptune Venus in Libra, formed into a wide-ish Kite by Neptune opposition Moon Jupiter. A tragic life with equal parts emotional turbulence and good luck.

 Her synastry with Byron was not encouraging with his Aquarius Sun conjunct her Saturn and his Saturn square her Sun. But their relationship chart had an affectionate and sparky composite Sun Venus opposition Mars which would bring an instant (if not long lasting) attraction.

Blending western and Chinese astrology into a whole adds layer upon layer of insight into character and compatibilities in a new book by Jill Carr – Astrolations.  A monumental achievement which took ten years to compile it describes personality traits of each Sun sign with their Chinese counterpart – a blend of 144 combinations. A Leo born in a Pig year differs from a Leo Rat, with the Eastern sub-division into Water, Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth refining the interpretation further.

 An example in point is Princess Catherine and Meghan Markle – both born in a Metal Rooster year. Meghan as a Leo Rooster is a force to be reckoned with, flamboyant, perfectionist, a tad self-righteous and over judgemental, likes to rule the roost with spouse. Whereas Kate is a Capricorn Rooster, so not as flashy, steadfast, a tireless workers, who sees life as a serious business.

 King Charles a Scorpio Earth Rat is deep, intense, intuitive, a worrier. Camilla a Cancer Fire Pig is warm, generous, outgoing and emotional.

  Prince William is a Cancer Water Dog – sensitive to over sensitive at times, good spouse material.

Prince Harry, a Virgo Wood Rat, likes to be busy, light-hearted, amiable and sociable, can be neurotic and petty.

  There is a section on each Chinese sign as children as well.

   A truly comprehensive run down on individual characteristics and how they operate as life partners, family members, friends and workmates. You won’t need to look any further.   

Superman Christopher Reeve tragically paralysed in a riding accident is the subject of a powerful new documentary premiered at the recent Sundance film festival to tears and applause. He survived nine years after the fall that paralysed him from the neck down, becoming an advocate for the disabled. His three children found he engaged more with them on a personal level after the tragedy. “I needed to break my neck to learn some of this stuff,” he said.

 He was born 25 September 1952 3.30 or 3.12 am New York with his parents divorcing when he was four. He had a difficult relationship with his father who was achievement-focused and said of him: “It was difficult to breathe easy when he was around.”

  He had a stellium in Libra with a Sun conjunct Mercury,  Saturn, Neptune, Venus also in Libra. Two key factors marked his chart. Firstly a lucky, successful Jupiter in Taurus conjunct his Midheaven square Pluto opposition his North Node in crusading Aquarius, so he was not short of confidence. The other was a yod onto Mars in Sagittarius (conjunct Moon) inconjunct Uranus sextile Jupiter. That plus his Mars being trine Pluto on his Ascendant is suggestive of an overly assertive and scary father. Mars on the apex of a yod would give him anger issues and a tendency to be either overly assertive or under with difficulties modulating his forward drive.  Mars inconjunct Uranus is explosive, disruptive and accident prone.

  His accident on 27 May 1995 has a Mars Uranus signature writ large. His Progressed Mars was exactly opposition his Uranus.  Tr Uranus was exactly opposition his Solar Arc Mars and tr Mars was conjunct huis SA Uranus. There was also a yod of tr Neptune sextile tr Pluto at 29 Scorpio inconjunct his SA Midheaven as his life changed irrevocably.

  Tr Neptune was just on the cusp of his 6^th house of health at that point with tr Uranus having moved in a couple of years before.

  During his time in hospital, he was “unable to avoid thinking the darkest thoughts” with hallucinations clouding his mental state, unable to move beneath his neck. There was fighting within his family as his mother thought he should be taken off life support.

  There was always something ironic or spooky about the superhero being brought low. The Jupiterian who flew too high and was cut down. Not that he seemed filled with hubris before his accident but the Superman movie was one of the first blockbuster successes and he became a cultural icon.

  Now that I look he had another yod of Saturn Neptune sextile Mars inconjunct Jupiter. Jupiter Saturn has – for a few – associations with Icarus who flew too near the Sun melting his wings and he crashed to earth. Tr Pluto was conjunct his Solar Arc Saturn at the time of his accident. Which also makes sense.

He evidently disliked the trappings of playing of Superman. “I am not a hero, never have been, never will be” he said at the time.

 Later he added “ a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

  The astrology was tragically spot on for his life changing accident.

ADD ON: His wife Dana, an actress and singer, died a year after him of lung cancer. Born 17 March 1961 in New Jersey, she had a Pisces Sun and Moon in Aries which fell in Chris’s 8^th house – a deep connection. Her Saturn Jupiter conjunction fell in his 6^th house of health; and her Uranus was conjunct his Ascendant Pluto as she helped him turn his life around after his paralysis. Their relationship chart was riddled with yods. Pluto at 29 degrees sextile Neptune inconjunct Jupiter. Sun at 29 degrees sextile Neptune inconjunct South Node. Venus sextile South Node inconjunct Sun.

Fated to be together.

ADD ON: Will Reeve, their son. 7 June 1992 12.37pm North Adams, Massachusetts, now a tv anchor with ABC news, has a charming and chatty 10^th house Sun, Venus and Mercury in Gemini in his 10^th house trine a hard-working, emotionally detached Saturn in Aquarius; with a Virgo Moon on his Ascendant conjunct a 12^th house Jupiter.

 He has two yods of an 8^th house Mars in Aries sextile his Mercury Sun inconjunct Pluto in the communicative 3^rd house; and Pluto sextile a highly-strung Uranus Neptune in Capricorn inconjunct his Sun. Clearly he is in the right business, putting news and information across. Though his 8^th house Mars inconjunct Pluto would give him an uncomfortable sense of being at the mercy of forces he could not control. When his father died suddenly in 2004 tr Uranus was square his Solar Arc Pluto, pulling on one of his yods.  

Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on Israel retaining control over Gaza when the fighting ends to ensure there is no future threat, eroding any possibility of an independent Palestinian state as is being suggested by western and Arab leaders including Joe Biden. Netanyahu said “It clashes with the principle of sovereignty but what can you do.”   While his views sound extreme and chilling as well as counter-productive in the long run, they follow in a long line of Israeli leaders saying much the same. Understanding the Israeli mindset won’t solve the impossible problem but it might make their rigid, uncompromising views explainable if not excusable.

  The pervasive western view of Israel for decades was of a plucky country which gave protection to a persecuted people. Unquestioning US support over decades obscured the violent history of Jewish militants before and after Israel was created in 1948.

  Irgun a Zionist paramilitary organisation, founded in 1931, believed “every Jew had the right to enter Palestine; only active retaliation would deter the Arabs; only Jewish armed force would ensure the Jewish state”.   Two of the operations for which the Irgun is best known are the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 22 July 1946 and the Deir Yassin massacre that killed at least 107 Palestinian Arab villagers, including women and children, on 9 April 1948. They also kidnapped British soldiers and executed them and ultimately were the cause of the British finishing the mandate in Palestine and retreating in disarray.

 Menachem Begin was leader of Irgun who later became prime minister and he formed what became the Likud Party of which Netanyahu is leader at present.

  The fourth Israel prime minister Golda Meir, who did at one point consider an independent Palestinian state, though discarded it as posing a threat to Israel’s existence, left behind a series of quotes which epitomize previous and prevailing attitudes.

“We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs – We have no place to go.”

“It’s because Egypt and Syria and the other Arab countries refuse to acquiesce to our existence. Therefore there can be no compromise. They say we must be dead. And we say we want to be alive. Between life and death, I don’t know of a compromise. And that’s why we have no choice.”

“I guess we have no choice. Either we do everything that is possible, and may seem to others as impossible, and just give up. Or we do everything that is really impossible and we remain alive. There’s one more basic thing that I think that people outside of Israel must realize, and if they understand and accept that, maybe other things will fall into place.

“Above all, this country is our own. Nobody has to get up in the morning and worry what his neighbors think of him. Being a Jew is no problem here.”

  “We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us”

“It was not as if there was a Palestinian people in Palestine and we came and threw them out and took their country away from them. They did not exist.” [Which is plain inaccurate but feeds into the Israeli justifications for violence and occupation.]

  Looking through early leaders’ charts David Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin, Ariel Sharon what is striking is that in each case there is a strong 12^th harmonic as well as a notable 18H. The 12^th harmonic suggests a strong sense of victimhood and constantly being made a sacrifice which after 2000 years of persecution is hardly surprising. The 18^th harmonic points to a pattern of conflicts and enemies, “war & revolution”, fire and explosions; as well as strength and material success. And can appear frequently in the ranks of serial killers.

 An intergenerational experience of unfair treatment in this case goes hand in hand with violence. The sacrificial loser becomes a cornered tiger lashing out at any threats.

  David Ben-Gurion, one of the founders of Israel and the first PM, 18 October 1886 12.24pm Plonsk, Poland (unverified time) was a Libra Sun Jupiter square Saturn with a do-or-die determined Mars in Sagittarius opposition Pluto (Moon) in Gemini square North Node. His 18^th harmonic highlights an opportunistic Mars Jupiter and a stressed Saturn. On occasion Mars Jupiter goes on holy crusades, putting a veneer of morality over violent tendencies. His 12H also highlights Jupiter and Mars.

 Menachem Begin, 15 August 1913 11pm Brest, Belarus, had a Leo Sun with a pushily-confident Jupiter opposition Pluto and a militaristic Mars Saturn in Gemini. His 18^th harmonic is ruthless; his 12H hints at hardship promoting activism and a reassuring vision.

Ariel Sharon, ex-Army general and 11^th PM, 26 February 1928 7.49am Kafr Malal, Palestine, responsible for the 1982 Sabra Shatila Camp massacres, had a brutal 18^th harmonic, and a marked 12H as well.

 Benjamin Netanyahu, 21 October 1949 10.15 am Tel Aviv, Israel, has a violent, controlling and disruptive 18^th harmonic; as well as an amplified 12^th harmonic tied to his midheaven – his victimhood promoting his career.

  All of which reflects the Israel country chart with its utterly immoveable 8^th house Taurus Sun square Mars as well as Saturn Pluto; and Taurus North Node square Saturn Pluto. There is a potential for extreme hardship from Saturn Pluto; violence and turbulence from North Node in Taurus and Mars; and irretrievably stuck in the past with a beyond-obstinate 8^th house Sun.

  I can’t think of a suitable parallel example in the human kingdom of extreme abuse leading to instinctive aggression. Kill or be killed – it’s a primitive and understandable reaction, if not morally justifiable as a ruling ethos. None of which gets any closer to a peaceful solution.  

  The wealthy Arab countries won’t reconstruct Gaza without guarantees of stability ahead. The downtrodden Palestinians, some still in rundown refugees camps after the 1948 displacement, and others trying to exist in the wasteland of Gaza, will inevitably throw up disaffected troublemakers in future. And round it will go again. Israel will become an international pariah which will bring its own problems.

Back to James Cameron, post 10 October 2023. “The introduction of the Jewish State into the Arab heartland exalted many hearts and broke many more. More than anything in this century it was a triumph and a desolation. Full of high hopes it produced the most intractable conflict of our times.”  

  ‘The stage is now ready for the culmination of the story, of a sick and sorrowful conflict, not between right and wrong, but between two forms of right and, maybe two forms of wrong.’

‘And no one lived happily ever after.’

  The one small consolation from Golda Meir’s time is that the other Arab countries have now moved towards a possible rapprochement with Israel – or they had before this mayhem, which was no doubt the spoiler motive behind Hamas’s carnage.  Small progress but not for the poor Palestinians.

Add ON: I realise this is an impossibly difficult subject for those with first hand experience or knowledge of the persecution the Jewish people have suffered. But responders below  misunderstand what the post was arguing (maybe my fault) so I will rephrase.

 No one comes through 2000 years of persecution culminating in the Holocaust undamaged. That may sound unfair and uncaring but it doesn’t make it untrue. Such damage can promote incredible resilience, courage and an implacable desire to survive at all costs no matter what it takes. But it also creates blind spots in which a ferocious drive for self-protection tramples over the rights of others. One can sympathise deeply with the reasons/psychological mechanisms behind certain behaviours without turning a blind eye to the effects on others.

  I remember one analyst who worked with abuse survivors saying one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome was the client’s extreme defensiveness in admitting to any mistakes they made in adult life. As if having been so unfairly treated and damaged early on meant they could not cope with any criticism at all. Yet it is a crucial part of the healing process.

  Trashing the messenger has long been one of the escape routes from reality – wiki has it wrong, James Cameron is biased against Israel etc etc. The latter is certainly not true since like everyone else he was supportive of a young Israel.  As indeed was I, having read a good deal about the Holocaust and the early vision for Israel. Only slowly did I begin to understand that all was not quite what it appeared after Sabra Shatila and on and I researched further.

  Throwing accusations of anti-Semitism at any criticism of Israel government policies is a manipulative and bullying technique aimed at shutting down any discussion. I lived in London with Jewish neighbours, a Jewish analyst, a Jewish dentist, a Jewish divorce lawyer and in no instance did their Jewishness cross my mind as relevant.

  The “Israelism” documentary doing the rounds at the moment made by two young American Jews who had been raised to unconditionally love Israel until they started to explore the way Israel treats Palestinians is raising uncomfortable questions for the diaspora. Israelism argues that some American Jews are taught a narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that “almost entirely erases the existence of Palestinians”. Eilertsen, one of the film’s director says: “In the reform and conservative Jewish movement, Israel is sort of always introduced as almost like a Jewish Disneyland, this place where Jews can be fully Jews.” It was filmed before the Hamas attack.

  Hamas are vile, psychopaths and fanatics, careless of human life, their own people as well as their perceived enemies. They need erased no doubt and the Arab leaders are no supporters of theirs. But as so often in this murky conflict the way ahead is completely obscured by the past.

  The fact there is no obvious or even faintly feasible solution does not mean the dynamics of the conflict should not be examined and analysed. Some of the greatest psychoanalysts and pioneers in plumbing the intricacies of human behaviour were Jewish. Israeli analysts expanded the frontiers of knowledge about PTSD and inter-generational trauma.  One might wish some of their wisdom could be brought to bear on this unholy mess.

  The Palestinians made up 90% of the population in 1919. Three quarters of a million were displaced to other Arab countries in 1948 when Israel was founded. Their intergenerational trauma marks this dispute in much the same way as the Israelis.  

The UK Royals are feeling the effects of Pluto moving into Aquarius more than most with a double whammy of Mars Pluto conjunct in Aquarius on February 14^th and Venus Pluto conjunct on 17^th. Plus repeating hits on various charts through this year and the next two.  

  Pluto stays at zero degrees till late February, then moves onto one degree till mid April and then into two degrees till late May. After which it repeats that sequence backwards to 29 Capricorn in September and from November moves ahead again into early Aquarius.

  On the personal charts, King Charles is obvious getting the full Pluto experience as it squares his zero degrees 10^th house Moon facing him with career challenges as well as health, the Moon ruling the body.  Prince William also with his Jupiter at zero Scorpio conjunct his Midheaven at 2 degrees will be pushing confidently ahead in his new role for the next two years. The Duchess of Edinburgh has a zero degrees Aquarius Sun as she steps up her workload.

  Prince Harry has his Pluto at zero Scorpio. Tr Pluto in square to his natal Pluto is part of his midlife crisis, attempting to pull him away from the past (with difficulty) as part of his individuation transformation (which does not always work.) 

 Meghan Markle has tr Pluto conjunct her 1 degree South Node, which hints at pressure for a profound change,  letting go old patterns, habits, and unresolved issues from the past. The south node being seen as the comfort zone of what is familiar but getting stuck there is also the road to nowhere.

  On relationship charts: King Charles and Harry have a composite midheaven at zero Aquarius under considerable pressure to change (or a tug of war) last year and throughout 2024. With Meghan, KC is irritated and frustrated with tr Pluto trine the composite Mars Sun this year and next. His other two areas of stress look oddly enough to be Edward and Sophie –  confused this year and disruptive in 2025/26.  And Andrew’s children and ex-wife with discouraging influences.

  Of the others: the composite Suns in the Catherine/Meghan relationship chart and the Andrew/William – both at zero degrees Fixed signs catching the transiting Pluto hard aspect won’t be making for a rapprochement anytime soon.

  Camilla shares KC’s sense of strain with Edward/Sophie and Andrew’s family.

 Those themes repeat with other top Royals.

  The one who intrigues me – along with a few others – is Princess Anne. Her 3 degree Leo Midheaven and 2 degrees Mars in Scorpio are being pounded relentlessly, by Solar Arcs and transits from last year 2023 right though until 2026/27. She has tr Pluto square her Mars and crossing her IC opposition her Midheaven in 2025/26. She also has the even more pressured SA Sun Pluto crossing her Mars as well. Her husband Tim Laurence with his Mars at 2 Aquarius will also be feeling the strain.

  Part of the above will be the shifting dynamics of the new order with all the standard family jealousies and tensions multiplied, as hierarchical constraints are imposed. Plus the Andrew and Harry mayhem. Plus the King and Catherine under medical care which could be a real problem since the Princess of Wales is one of the key hopes for the future – and the present.     Quite a stormy transition.