One of Hollywood’s darkest rumours from decades back has been given credence with a claim that Natalie Wood was, as suspected, sexually assaulted by Kirk Douglas in her teens. Her sister in a memoir says she was waiting outside in a car with her mother outside Douglas’s LA hotel suite into which the young Natalie had been despatched by her stage-mother-from-hell in the hope of gaining career advancement. She returned later dishevelled and upset and was told by her mother to “suck it up”. In later years Natalie discussed the assault with her sister.
Kirk Douglas, 9 December 1916 10.15 am New York, was renowned both as a womanizer and having a ferocious temper, courtesy of his Mars in Capricorn opposition Pluto in Cancer. His Sagittarius Sun was inconjunct Natalie’s 8th house Uranus and even more damagingly his Saturn in Cancer was conjunct her already over-stressed and frightened Sun, Pluto, Mars in Cancer. Her mother was already a monster with those planets in her 10th and she was delivered on a platter to another.
His Scorpio Midheaven was also exactly conjunct her North Node – so her karmic Scorpio journey with its overwhelming drive for success made her vulnerable to his career status.
When the assault occurred around 1955 when she was 17 or thereabouts her chart was labouring under a life-changing collection of explosive and disturbing influences – her Solar Arc Moon was conjunct her 8th house Uranus (8th house ruling sexuality) and her Solar Arc Midheaven was in a blocked conjunction to her powerless Pluto. Tr Uranus was conjunct her Mars Pluto Sun with tr Neptune square Sun, Mars, Pluto; and tr Saturn in Scorpio trine. It’s a miracle she survived the psychological damage from that period.
Sadly there’s no birth date for the mother.
So beautiful and so much grief and pain.
For previous post on Kirk Douglas see February 6 2020
Not a good week for the House of Commons as a different scandal tainted the other side of the aisle. Claudia Webbe, a Labour MP once a power figure on the far left, was given a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of a campaign of harassment, including threatening to “use acid” and distribute naked pictures of woman friend of her partner. She had the whip withdrawn when charges were laid and now sits as an independent. If her appeal fails her sentence will prompt an automatic recall petition in Leicester East.
That seat does not have a good record having been represented previously by Keith Vaz, who was infamous for a litany of offences (see wiki) for over thirty years – and mystifyingly survived them until unprotected sex with male prostitutes and cocaine did for him and he resigned some time after that exposure.
Webbe was part of the Momentum set and has been supported by Jeremy Corbyn, McConnell and Diane Abbott over this debacle.
Born 8 March 1965 she has four planets in Pisces including her Sun, Venus and Saturn and Mercury with a formidable and fearsome collection of Uranus, Pluto, Mars in Virgo across in opposition. That collection in Virgo is combustible, volatile and prone to aggravated outbursts. She’s also got a Boris Johnson type Jupiter (Moon) in Taurus opposition Neptune whose attributes run along a spectrum from visionary dreamers at one end to hypocrites and those who cause scandals through their own instability at the other.
Maybe an early warning signal from next year’s Scorpio/Taurus Eclipses which will be rattling up both ends of this opposition.
The new Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida, now governing with an enlarged majority replete with right-wingers, appears to be backing revisions to the country’s “peace constitution. This would be a historic step, overturning a post-world war 11 promise by the defeated Japanese never to resort to war. Some nationalists see it as an anachronistic source of shame. Opinion polls suggest that a “yes” vote would be uncertain and the move could provoke large scale demonstrations that have not been seen since the 1970s.
Kishida, 29 July 1957, has an innovative Sun Uranus in Leo in a can-be-fanatical square to Neptune. And a formidable Mars, Mercury, Pluto in Leo so he will be ruthlessly determined when necessary. He was first sworn in on 4th October, replacing his predecessor, at which point he promptly called for an election. There’s a hard edge to this chart with a combative Sun Mars trine Saturn. And its Venus in Scorpio conjunct Algol will catch the Lunar Eclipse late this month and again in May 2022.
He’ll be pushing ahead confidently from early 2022 with tr Pluto trine his Jupiter which continues into 2023 but by that time he’s got tr Pluto square his Neptune in 2023/24 which can be confusing not to say devastating. 2023/24 is also when he’s running into major problems with the insecure tr Uranus square his Mars, followed by tr Uranus square Mercury and Pluto in 2025.
The Japan chart itself will be moving through stormy seas with its Aquarius Sun square Neptune catching the jolting tr Uranus hard aspects from 2023 to 2025. And there is a panicky failure tr Neptune conjunct the Mars in 2022/23. And both the Japan/China 1912 and Japan/China 1949 relationship chart indicate the 2023 to 2025 years to be seriously stressed.
What an unholy mess. A Tory MP acted as a paid advocate for private interests while serving as an MP, was censured, whereupon Boris Johnson decides to retrospectively upend the decision, fire the official finger-pointer and shift the goalposts for the future. The opposition finally woke up, shrieking blue murder and even Tory backbenchers hung their heads in shame. Twas said part of the reason behind this bullrun by the prime minister was to subvert future investigations of who paid his interior decoration bill for No 10.
Sleaze has been piling up into towering mounds through the pandemic with dodgy deals for health-related contracts, all eliciting grumbles but not gaining much traction. But this one appears to be a step too far.
The Boris Government chart 13 December 2019 11 am, was always extremely questionable with a hidden 12th house Pluto Venus Saturn – which points to dirty dealings behind the scenes. With the Solar Arc Saturn closing the aspect to exact over the next six months it is finally meeting its comeuppance. The Sagittarius Midheaven is also in line for a conjunction from this December’s Solar Eclipse, rattling up a significant crisis. The economic think tanks are also ominously totting up and exposing what the Brexit damage is likely to be.
Worth keeping an eye on.
Owen Paterson, the MP found to have broken lobbying rules has now resigned saying he wanted a life “outside the cruel world of politics”. He had blamed his wife’s suicide in 2020 on the standards investigation. Born 24 June 1956, he is a Sun Cancer conjunct Venus in Gemini trine Neptune, sextile a pushily-confident Jupiter Pluto in Leo which in turn square Saturn. Quite a go-getter. He also has Mars in Pisces square Mercury in Gemini opposition North Node in Sagittarius – some hints of Boris in there.
Dr Aaron T Beck, a pioneer in the field of psychology and father of cognitive therapy, has died aged 100. His work revolutionised the diagnosis and treatment of depression and other psychological disorders by prompting patients to focus on distortions in their day-to-day thinking, rather than on conflicts buried in childhood. He touted the idea with an anti-Freudian maxim: “There’s more to the surface than meets the eye.”
Some psychologists called his method superficial and little more than a morale booster, but it became required training for psychiatry residents and has been used to treat bulimia, panic attacks, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and drug abuse. He engaged in public and private dialogues with the Dalai Lama and together they concluded that CBT and Buddhism have much in common.
Born 18 July 1921 Providence, Rhode Island, he was a pro-active and emotional Sun Mars in Cancer; with a penetrating Mercury Pluto also in Cancer in an innovative trine to Uranus. His Uranus was in an adventurous opposition to Jupiter (conjunct Saturn) and square a sociable Venus in Gemini. While his Mercury would dig deep his Venus in social butterfly Gemini would be happier on the surface.
His Harmonics are particularly marked in the ‘healer’ 12H; and leaving-a-legacy for history 17H; as well as the global-renown 22H. His spiritual-seeker 7H was also strong.
Brazen betrayal is the theme of “A Spy Among Friends” a new TV drama series about Kim Philby, who not only deceived and double-crossed his country as a soviet agent, but also his closest friend Nick Elliott as well as the service they both worked for. It takes a special kind of amoral and unscrupulous personality to live that kind of a lie for decades. Elliott served in MI6 with Philby, having come up through similar upper-class Cambridge-educated backgrounds and stood by him against all accusations after MacLean and Burgess defected in 1951.
Writer Ben Macintyre said Elliott could no more believe that Philby could be a Soviet spy than that he could fly to the moon. This was “the inner circle of Britain’s ruling class where mutual trust was so absolute and so unquestioned that there was no need for elaborate security precautions. They were all part of the same family.” Philby was ousted from the service and Elliott still supported him until 1963 when Philby confessed and fled to Moscow.
Philby was born in Ambala India on 1 January 1912 at 2.30pm (unverified bt) and became persuaded by communism when at Cambridge. He sold secrets to the Soviets for 26 years before defecting.
He had a Capricorn Sun, possibly in the secretive 8th, which makes sense; and an intense, also secretive Mercury in the 8th opposition Pluto. But more significantly he had his Mars in Taurus conjunct Algol and possibly his Moon as well opposition a charming Venus in Scorpio. The ultra-powerful and can-be-destructive Algol wreaking havoc behind the scenes. He also had the can-be-fanatical Uranus opposition Neptune of the time square a stand-alone North Node in Aries. The 25 years he spent in Moscow after his defection were unhappy and disillusioning.
Nick Elliott, born 15 November 1916, played in the drama by Damien Lewis, had his Scorpio Sun conjunct Philby’s Venus for a friendly connection and opposition Philby’s Mars (Moon) – he selected the charm and ignored the ruthlessness. Elliott’s Jupiter was conjunct Philby’s North Node so arguably providing a naïve cover for his illicit activities; and Philby’s Neptune was conjunct Elliott’s South Node for the most devastating of triple betrayals – of friendship, country and MI6.
Their relationship chart had an emotionally-loaded and risky composite Grand Trine of Pluto trine Venus trine Mars and North Node, which would in part be soaked up in the joint secret service work they shared. But was blown apart in the early 1960s by tr Uranus and Pluto in Virgo opposing the composite Mars.
When Elliott was finally forced to accept the truth, his chart showed clearly the extent to which he was shattered – Solar Arc Mars opposed his Neptune for panicky-failure. His Solar Arc Saturn squared his Mars for a major setback. His Solar Arc Mercury opposed his Pluto provoking the gloomiest of thoughts. And tr Saturn then in Aquarius was conjunct his Uranus and moving to square his Sun – jolting, discouraging and a sharp reality check.
The Nodal cross overs are interesting since they were at the heart of the most damaging events in the history of British espionage.
As a further thought, looking at Philby’s chart against the UK, it puts his Sun within less than a degree of the UK Sun for a strong connection but his duplicitous Neptune fell in the UK 10th; and his Saturn in Taurus was in a hostile conjunction to the UK 8th house Mars. Philby’s Mars Moon in Taurus was also in the UK 8th square the UK Saturn. He was certainly suited to work behind in the scenes in the realm of dirty secrets but his Algol square the UK Saturn, ruling the country’s legislature and his Neptune would put him at cross purposes to the UK’s interests.
Add on: Have added chart for St John Philby, his father. His wiki entry worth reading. Pro-Arabist, anti-semitic, thought to have handed over info to the Saudis – so had slightly the same leanings as his son, though how he squared his ‘socialist’ views with the House of Saud isn’t clear. Makes it all the more astonishing that Philby Jnr was welcomed into M16 with no questions asked.
Bosnia could be in imminent danger of breaking apart as Serb separatists carry out their threat to recreate their own army. The international representative warned that the country was facing “the greatest existential threat of the postwar period”. Recent Bosnian Serb police “counter-terrorist” exercises last month were, he said “tantamount to secession without proclaiming it.” There is a “very real” prospect of a return to conflict, he said. With Russia and Serbia supporting the breakaway factions.
The Dayton Agreement which brought an end to the bloody Bosnia War of the early 1990s has been criticized for creating an ineffective and unwieldy political structure, with the single sovereign state known as Bosnia and Herzegovina composed of two parts, a largely Serb-populated area and another mainly Croat-Bosniak-populated one.
The Bosnia independence chart, 3 March 1992, is exhibiting more than the usual degree of jitters with the tr Uranus square tr Saturn hitting on the Mars, Saturn, Venus in Aquarius this year and next. With the New Year to mid February 2022 especially disruptive and explosive as tr Uranus squares the Mars. The discouraging Solar Arc Saturn conjunct the Sun also hits exact in six months; with collisions and shocks in 2024 as the Solar Arc Mars is conjunct the Sun. In 2023 there is rebellious and turbulent tr Uranus opposition Pluto.
The treaty which ended the war, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 at 11.48am, shows disappointment writ large with tr Neptune square the Sun Jupiter over the next three years and tr Pluto in an upsetting conjunction to the Uranus through 2022/23. So the predictions may not be far off the mark.
With support for the ruling South Africa ANC party dropping as years of neglect come home to roost with potholed roads, uncollected rubbish, and water and electricity supplies shut off for hours, if not days on end, Monday’s municipal elections will serve as a litmus test of support for President Cyril Ramaphosa. He is likely to seek a second term as head of the ANC next year and then as the nation’s leader in 2024 but he is facing an uphill battle to revive the coronavirus-battered economy and end corruption that has devastated state finances. The country has been hit by a series of crippling power blackouts with the state-owned power utility Eskom, which provides about 90% of South Africa’s electricity, struggling to survive. For years it has been marred by allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
Ramaphosa’s chart, 17 November 1952, looks trapped and enraged through 2022 with tr Pluto conjunct his Mars; and in a state of complete disruption come 2023/24 with tr Uranus square his Pluto and opposition his Sun.
His 25 May 2019 11.30am Term chart is logjammed for the next few months into 2022 and not fulfilling his hopes for two years thereafter.
The modern South Africa, 27 April 1994 12 am Pretoria, chart has Uranus moving across the IC and through its domestic 4th house for seven years ahead indicating a restless electorate who want to pull away from the past. Tr Pluto conjunct the Uranus through 2022 could see demos and rebellions, certainly a push for radical change. Tr Saturn moving down through the lower profile First Quadrant from this year doesn’t suggest prosperity coming any time soon over the next few years. It may be almost the end of this decade as tr Pluto moves across the Ascendant that the country gets a grip.
The 31 May 1910 country chart is in a state of upheaval as well as completely stuck exactly now with tr Pluto conjunct the Uranus and the Solar Arc Sun square Pluto. 2022/23 look lacklustre and sagging years with tr Neptune square the Pluto and opposition the Solar Arc Sun. With deprivation and hardship in 2024/25 as tr Pluto squares the Saturn; but possibly shifting into more enthusiastic times come 2026/7/8.
A sarcastic post by a local blogger lets rip about the state of South Africa: ‘Democracy, if that is indeed a real word, has been hollowed out by over a decade of state-sponsored mega violence, self-imposed austerity, weapons-grade incompetence, craven corruption.’ ‘The elections of the future won’t matter at all – they’ll be show trials for lousy ideas crafted by an increasingly inept array of second-rate autocrats. This is, of course, not a polite observation in a country where thousands died for the right…’
A tragedy.
Add On: The African National Congress (ANC) which has been in power since Mandela’s election in 1994 was founded 8 January 1912. Oddly enough only a few days after Kim Philby was born – totally unconnected – except both charts have Mars conjunct Algol in Taurus so both were guaranteed to have a turbulent history. At the moment the tr Uranus square tr Saturn is causing ructions colliding with the ANC Saturn until early 2022; with severe stress till late this month from tr Pluto trine the Mars; and more obvious upheavals in 2022/23 from tr Pluto conjunct the ANC Uranus. 2023 to 2025 will undermine the party’s power and influence as tr Neptune squares the ANC Pluto.
When Mandela was elected the ANC was on its First Uranus Return for a high, though the transiting South Node conjunct the ANC Mars and Algol might have pointed to problems to come.
The Queen has been told by her doctors to rest and restrict herself to light desk duties. She will miss the Festival of Remembrance on November 13th though hopes to be at the National Service the next day. It’s hardly surprising given her recent busy schedule, Prince Philip’s passing only a few months ago and her 95 years. All things considered she’s doing exceptionally well.
But it does cast a chill as the public come to terms with the knowledge that she can’t be there forever.
The late November Taurus Lunar Eclipse will fall across her Midheaven, Saturn in Scorpio and Solar Arc Neptune as well as her IC – so it will be significant for her. Perhaps at least a hint that she needs to find a better balance in her lifestyle.
Charles equally is not having his best of years with his father’s death, the Fawcett financial scandal and his younger son Harry’s brickbats hurled across from California. He has his Solar Arc Pluto opposition his 10th house career-driven Taurus Moon; and his Solar Arc opposition his 2nd house Saturn – so love, money and career all being jolted; as well as a panicky, undermining tr Neptune square his Mars till mid January 2022. If his birth time is accurate to the minute then 2023 looks to be his year of major change with his Solar Arc MC conjunct his Uranus then. Though it could come earlier.
The Queen has been part of the fabric of the UK for so long its difficult to imagine life without her. It hasn’t always been an easy relationship but her conscientious 6th house Pluto is conjunct the UK’s Midheaven and her Cancerian North Node is conjunct the UK’s Cancer Moon, symbol of the country’s ruler – both of which suggest a crucial connection.
Her relationship chart with the UK has an affectionate composite Sun Venus conjunction and a power-couple Jupiter Pluto conjunction so she undoubtedly raised the UK’s status. There’s also a less easy Mars opposition Neptune Saturn square Uranus – so she wasn’t always as popular as now.
Charles is less good a fit with the UK though his Scorpio Sun does trine the 10th house Moon; and his Midheaven is conjunct the UK 7th house North Node in Aries which suggests he could be instrumental in leading the UK through its independence years away from the EU. The UK/Charles relationship chart has a friendly Sun Venus tied into Uranus Jupiter so he may be more popular than it seems as of the moment – though there’s also a bad-tempered, maybe hostile Mars Saturn Pluto Mercury so he will come in for criticism as well.
William has his Cancer North Node in the UK 10th conjunct the UK MC which would seem to align their destinies and his assertive/decisive Mars in Libra is conjunct the UK Ascendant and square both the UK Sun and MC, so he could be an invigorating force. His relationship chart with the UK also has a friendly composite Sun Venus – and a composite Jupiter Saturn, which merges idealism with practicality.
Although the Queen is unlikely to abdicate altogether she may continue to give up more duties and pay heed to the passing years. Her mother lived to be 101.
