A deep dive into the complexities of mediaeval astrology and its relevance to present day predictions comes in a revised edition of Alexey Borealis’ two volumes of the “Mysteries of Medieval Astrology” merged into one comprehensive Predictive Astrology Textbook. For anyone keen to expand their understanding of horary as well as natal astrology, it is a rewarding read.
The author’s dedicated aim is to resurrect astrology as a predictive discipline in the face of what he sees as its modern role as a ’pseudo-psychological science.’
Alexey Borealis with a background in mathematics, physics and astrophysics, understandably has a focus on precision and claims to make horary predictions with near-perfect accuracy and to consistently time the occurrence of predicted events within days, and sometimes within hours. In the course of his studies he found the writings of the 17th century French astrologer, J.B. Morin de Villefranche his guiding star when answering two fundamental questions: What can the native expect during the life the chart represents? And when will events occur?
‘Morinus wrote that a person can principally influence any aspect of their life, except for choosing parents and siblings. However, it’s challenging for a person to resist their inner nature.’
Borealis: ‘My assumption is the stars, to some extent, imprint a person’s destiny in the brain’s neural network. Psychologists would agree that a person can change many aspects of their stereotypical behavior, but not everything. Some deep configurations of neurons are so stable that it is nearly impossible to alter them in adulthood.’
Horary astrology is not my area but one reviewer writes:
“The book – a methodical, well-structured guide to horary astrology. Each chapter is thoughtfully designed to build upon the last, progressively deepening the reader’s understanding and practical skill. What helps sets this work apart from others is the inclusion of exercises and “homework” at the end of each chapter—complete with answers and chart analysis — which transforms passive reading into active learning.”
This is a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to the knotty problem of prediction which for those who wish to expand their technical knowledge will be an invaluable addition to their astro-library.
[Both Morin and Alexey Borealis have their Moon at mid Pisces which serendipitously was triggered by the recent Lunar Eclipse.]
John Stapleton, renowned as the personable UK TV presenter, who for five decades worked across the board on diverse programmes exposing fraudsters, reporting from war zones, interviewing prime ministers and fronting breakfast shows, has died aged 79 of Parkinsons. In a long career he worked on Newsnight, Panorama, Nationwide, TV-AM, GMTV’s News Hour and Watchdog for the BBC with his wife the late Lynn Faulds Wood.
Born 24 February 1946 11pm Oldham, England, he had a charming Venus Mercury in Pisces in his performing 5th house with his Pisces Sun close by in his domestic 4th house. His Venus was on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Neptune sextile an influential Pluto on his Midheaven. He would compensate for slight social awkwardness by entertaining an audience – and Pluto on his midheaven used correctly would make him a legend in his lifetime.
His Venus was further emphasised being on the focal point of a Mutable T square to an upbeat Sagittarius Moon opposition Uranus giving him a diplomatic streak and an amiable approach in his public relations.
His Venus Mercury were also trine his Mars Saturn in Cancer giving him the ability to maintain gravitas in high-risk war scenarios, with serious subjects while being able at the same time to fall back on lighter-hearted subjects. His 9th house Mars was conjunct Sirius, giving him courage and an authoritative air when reporting on international crises.
His Progressed Mars has been moving across his Pluto recently which would be challenging and highly pressured.
Sarah, Duchess of York’s unwelcome publicity emerging as more emails are disclosed about her support for Epstein after his initial conviction is hardly earth shattering. But it continues a pattern which is intriguing, hinting that Ghislaine Maxwell is more of a central player in present events than might be supposed given her incarceration.
Given that Sarah’s connection with Epstein was apparently mainly financial, one would have expected to see that in the synastry. But it is not – and yet is startlingly obvious in her synastry with Ghislaine Maxwell. GM has her controlling Pluto on Sarah’s Midheaven and her Venus, Mars, Sun, Mercury conjunct Sarah’s Saturn in Capricorn in her 2nd house of personal finances. 15 October 1959 9.03 am London.
Sarah’s relationship Ghislaine is showing considerable upheaval across the winter with tr Uranus opposition the Sun Mars (square Uranus) – with more disappointment in 2027/28. And admittedly her relationship chart with Epstein is also showing a distinct disruption across this winter.
Relationship charts between Prince Andrew and Epstein hint at more turbulence across this winter. Ditto Ghislaine and Bill Gates.
In one sense, while tawdry, none of this is hugely important. In another sense there is a resonance of much that is still unexplained – and some of which may well tumble out fairly soon.
Maxwell herself, 25 December 1961 3.30pm Maisons Lafitte, France, looks surprisingly downcast at the moment given her move to a cushier prison, with her Solar Arc Saturn square her Sun exactly now and tr Neptune Saturn square her Sun and Sun/Mars midpoint through 2026; with a blocked SA Sun opposition Pluto in 2027.
See previous post: The Epstein ghost continues to haunt the USA 13th July 2025
ADD ON: Embarrassing parents come at a whole new level for poor Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie as they face yet more toe-curling revelations.
Beatrice, 8 August 1988 8.18pm London, had the recent Lunar Eclipse conjunct her Pisces North Node – for a time of inner revisioning of her path ahead (if she is so minded). Tr Saturn Neptune will square her Venus Moon in Cancer continuing on from recently and through 2026 into 2027 which hints at disappointments and downward adjustments in her relationship to her mother. Beatrice anyway has tr Saturn moving through the lowest point of her 1st quadrant until 2028 which is often when unresolved psychological problems emerge – i.e. facing difficult realities.
Her relationship chart to her mother is also undergoing continued pressure with the recent Lunar Eclipse opposition the composite Sun; upsets over the winter and emotional aggravation through 2026/27. Her relationship with her father, edgy at the best of times though covered over by a superficial niceness – is also showing signs of upset due to the Lunar Eclipse with yet more angst from mid 2026 for several years. It won’t get easier.
Princess Eugenie was probably more resigned to the excesses of her parents since she arrived as their marriage was splitting. If anything I would suspect her relationship with her father is the one occupying her mind moving forward with tr Neptune Saturn conjunct her Aries Sun in 2026.
Her relationship chart with her mother hints at inherent irritations due to differing agendas and needs and again was rattled by the recent Lunar Eclipse. Her relationship chart with her father is downbeat at the moment and in coming months with tr Neptune Saturn opposition the composite Jupiter; and worse in 2026 with a frustrated, enraging tr Pluto conjunct the composite Mars – and on thereafter as well. That relationship chart also was keyed up by the Lunar Eclipse.
The eclipses this month certainly seem to have knocked them sideways – which with Andrew’s 8th house Mercury in mid Pisces on one leg of a yod is maybe not surprising.
Actor Matthew McConaughey has followed his memoir Greenlights – a collection of life lessons, bullet-point anecdotes and bumper-sticker musings with a book of poetry called Poems & Prayers. It is a portrait of his faith in the broadest sense and its impact on his everyday life. He advocates a world of relentless positivity that rejects the concepts of hate or “can’t”; a world of conservative discipline and traditional family values. Which in no way reflects his background with his god-fearing parents’ tumultuous and often violent marriage and his subsequent drug habit.
He was born 4 November 1969 7.34 pm Uvalde, Texas, and initially assumed acting would be a fun hobby, believing his real calling was to become a monk. But a Benedictine friend said he needed to communicate and not live as a hermit. He says at the heart of his personal battle is learning to distinguish between himself as the nice guy who is liked by everyone and is conflict-averse and the good man who is values-driven and bound to disagree with some.
His first success as a leading man came in the legal drama A Time to Kill (1996) and in the 2000s, he made a series of romantic comedies, before moving onto more dramatic roles, like The Lincoln Lawyer, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf of Wall Street and a starring role in the first season of HBO’s crime anthology series True Detective with Woody Harrelson. In 2023, he said they could potentially be brothers since his mother had been close to Harrelson’s convict father at one point.
He has an oddly disjointed chart with a 6th house Scorpio Sun and Neptune (not conjunct). He does have a ‘nice guy’ Venus Jupiter conjunction in Libra in his performing 5th house, along with a maverick Uranus. His Virgo Moon and Pluto (not conjunct) are in his 4th house of home and family making him crave security in his personal life but also being hyper-sensitive about threatening undercurrents, a legacy of his parents’ troublesome marriage. With his Pluto trine Mars in Aquarius, sextile Neptune carrying a good deal of fear. His Mercury in Scorpio opposes Saturn in Taurus squaring onto his Mars which will also carry a fair amount of anger and depression which he clearly fights against.
The Virgo Eclipse is conjunct his Pluto this week with his Progressed Moon conjunct as well so a significant time for him. His next two years will be sunk deep in thought with tr Pluto continuing to move round his Fixed T square of Mercury, Saturn and Mars. Though Jupiter moving through his 2nd and 3rd houses will help to lighten his mood.
Russian warplanes flying over the Gulf of Finland violated Estonia’s airspace yesterday. Italy, Finland and Sweden scrambled jets under Nato’s mission to bolster its eastern flank. Russia issued a denial but tensions have been escalating recently, after Poland and Romania – both Nato members – said Russian drones breached their airspace recently.
Following on from a previous post: Poland drones – Russia testing the temperature 10th September 2025 – with the Virgo Solar Eclipse this weekend triggering the composite Mars in the NATO/Russia 1991 relationship chart pointing to a heated few months ahead with a nerve stretching tr Uranus opposition the composite Neptune through the winter into next spring. In addition tr Saturn Neptune will be tugging on the composite Pluto opposition Uranus from 2026 almost to the end of the decade, hinting at a testing few years ahead of pushing, pulling, deadlock and subterfuge.
Looking at the countries closest to Russia. 2027/28 stand out as high stress years. Estonia, 20 August 1991 7.04pm has Solar Arc Pluto square Mars in late 2027 which looks high risk and trapped.
Latvia, 21 August 1991 11.25pm, has the same.
Finland, 6 December 1917 3pm Helsinki, had the high-risk SA Mars opposition its Pluto over the Ukraine invasion so have been on danger alert since then. Tr Neptune Saturn will be in hard aspect to its Mercury North Node opposition Pluto for a worrisome two years ahead. With a blocked SA Sun square Pluto by late 2027.
Norway, 7 June 1905, by 2028 has tr Pluto square its Mars.
Both Sweden charts point to considerable unrest at the same time. The 6 June 1523 JC has Solar Arc Pluto conjunct its Uranus in 2028 with tr Uranus in a high-anxiety square to its Neptune Saturn in Pisces just before. The Sweden 7 December 1865 3.30pm chart has Solar Arc Uranus upending its Sun in 2028 for a considerable upheaval; with tr Neptune Saturn in hard aspect to Uranus Jupiter Mercury running up from 2026 onwards. Plus tr Pluto conjunct the Midheaven in 2027/28.
By mid 2028 there is a war-associated Saturn in Taurus square Pluto in Aquarius at around 8 degrees; with Neptune around 6 Aries and Uranus at 10/11 Gemini.
Nothing is certain in astrology and the above may have in some instances internal outcomes rather than the prospect of an external enemy. But the pressures do appear to be merging in an uncomfortable way across the sector of Russia’s neighbours.
By 2027/28 the Russia 8 November 1917 chart has tr Pluto opposition the Neptune for confusion and devastation; with a bumpy rise before then with tr Uranus in an explosive and insecure square to the Mars in 2026/27; and tr Neptune weakening its grip on power Pluto in 2027/28. The Russia 1991 chart is labouring against major obstacles and hardship through 2026/27 with tr Pluto conjunct the Saturn. With a substantial and unnerving jolt late 2026 with SA Mars conjunct Uranus; further knocks to shake nerves with tr Uranus opposition the Mars in 2027/28 – and a devastating SA Neptune square Pluto by 2027.
Putin’s initial presidency chart from 31 December 1999 will be mired in a swamp through 2026 with tr Pluto conjunct the Neptune. With a blocked Solar Arc Pluto conjunct the Sun in 18 months from now – and if he survives that long a discouraging uphill battle in 2029/30 with tr Pluto square the Saturn.
It may be that the Saturn Neptune conjunction does its stuff continuing the pattern from the Revolution of 1917 and Stalin’s death in 1953 of bringing a significant shift in Russian history. But that whole region looks very unsettled for whatever reason in the years ahead, peaking in 2027/28.
ADD ON: The earlier independence charts for Latvia of 18 November 1918 and Estonia 24 February 1918 are both showing panic, confusion in coming years.
Latvia has a highly uncertain Solar Arc Neptune square Saturn now; and tr Neptun Saturn in hard aspect to the Mars in Capricorn opposition Pluto from 2026 peaking in 2027/28; with a devastating tr Pluto opposition Neptune in 2029.
The Estonia 1918 chart is showing signs of high anxiety this year and into 2026 with tr Neptune Saturn opposition Mars and square Pluto; with more panic in 2026/27 from tr Pluto opposition the Neptune, then the Neptune/Saturn midpoint and then opposing the Saturn by 2029. So a long drawn out and stressful phase.
The Partial Solar Eclipse on Sunday 21 September at 29 degrees Virgo will reinforce the prevailing edgy, uncertain and uneasy mood.
Falling in the final degree of Virgo the New Moon is in a Grand Trine to Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus in Gemini, formed into a Kite by the New Moon opposition Neptune and Saturn, tying the eclipse into the recent celestial shifts – and highlighting the Neptune Saturn conjunction which can at best have a wish for a better society, and at worst be neurotic. Adding to the level of strain are two yods of Pluto sextile Neptune (Saturn) inconjunct Venus – and Neptune Saturn sextile Uranus inconjunct Mars; with Mars square Pluto. And that is piling complication on complication.
Venus on the focal point of a yod can be anti-social and emotionally out of sorts. Mars on the apex point can be argumentative, headstrong and self-willed.
Jupiter may in a minor way help to soften the effect as it trines Saturn and squares the Mars.
This Saros series of this eclipse at 9 New South is associated with worries about loved ones, health and paperwork. Bernadette Brady remarks: “Any news will have a sense of destiny or fatedness about it.” It was around previously in this series in 2007, 1989, 1971, 1953, 1935, 1917.
MCarthyism was an oddity of 20th Century American history which was a pointer to a panicky and gullible streak within the national temperament, allowing public and politicians to be caught up for a time by strident and often dishonest attacks. Mcarthy insisted that communists had infiltrated the United States federal government, universities, film industry, the armed forces. “In the ’50s, institution after institution bowed down to the Red Scare, whether it was school districts, universities, libraries, law firms, Hollywood movie studios — the elite organisations all bent the knee to the red-baiters.” He caused havoc from 1950 to 1954 until he was censured and retreated into alcoholism.
The difference to the present situation is that MCarthy was a junior Senator and not a White House administration. But the pattern is relatively similar given the recent co-ordinated push to intimidate and stifle critical voices and Trump’s campaigns against leading universities, media companies and law firms.
One commentator said: “What makes the Republican and conservative hypocrisy so depressing is that, at a time when free speech in the west needs thoughtful defenders, its self-proclaimed champions have revealed themselves as posturing partisans. But perhaps the only surprise is their lack of pretence.”
McCarthy, born 14 November 1908 3pm Grand Chute, Wisconsin, left school early though returned later to college for a law degree and served in the Marine Corps though saw little active service. ‘Some of his claims of heroism were later shown to be exaggerated or falsified.’
He had an intense, obsessive 8th house Scorpio Sun. And more significantly had the Uranus opposition Neptune of the time on his MC/IC axis. There is an irrationally fanatical side to Uranus Neptune which he clearly lived out; which can be inspired but also obdurately stubborn even when faced with incontrovertible evidence he was wrong. This opposition squared onto Mars Venus in Libra, making him verbally combative and emotionally erratic. Plus his Mars was in an enraged, can-be-ruthless trine to Pluto.
When he started his high-profile campaign to root out reds-under-the-bed in early 1950, Uranus was just into Cancer about to move with considerable disruption across the USA Venus, Jupiter, Sun in Cancer in the following years. In 1950 the USA Solar Arc North Node was exactly conjunct the USA Pluto (opposition Mercury) – which is the indicator on the USA chart of an attraction for demagogues ( = a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.)
McCarthy’s relationship chart with the USA had a hyper-emotional, publicity-attracting composite Mars Neptune Venus conjunction. Tr Pluto was in a trapped, enraging conjunction to the composite Mars when he departed the scene in 1954.
There are not many similarities between McCarthy and Trump astrologically = apart from a North Node in Gemini which can produce a tendency to be wild and wayout. But Trump’s first term did have tr Uranus square the USA Mercury opposition Pluto, as he set about following his mentor and McCarthy acolyte Roy Cohn’s playbook of ‘attack, attack and never apologise.’
Trump’s relationship chart with the USA is also different from McCarthy’s though it has a similar chained-together Saturn Pluto aspect. The DT/USA composite Neptune is catching the upcoming Virgo Solar Eclipse this month for muddle and indecision and the uncertain tr Saturn Neptune opposition the composite Neptune continues throughout this winter. Where it shows further signs of sagging public support is from late April 2026 onwards with tr Neptune undermining the composite Sun by square; with more rising tensions from July 2026 into 2027 as tr Uranus squares the composite Saturn. During this time tr Neptune Saturn will have early in 2026 squared the USA financial Venus moving on to lower national confidence further in 2027 as tr Neptune squares the USA Jupiter. Again not like McCarthy but a definite slide downhill.
At the time of McCarthy, former president Harry Truman lamented “the rise to power of the demagogue who lives on untruth; it is the spread of fear and the destruction of faith in every level of our society.” A Post reporter described “a period of national turmoil. It was the closest we ever came to a real totalitarian atmosphere.” It wasn’t the media who brought McCarthy down since they’d been exposing his lies in the preceding years. In rural and low-income areas, he was deemed to have been unfairly vilified and gained support. Ultimately it was when the politicians turned against him and there was sufficient of an upswell of public opinion that his platform was demolished.
One point in the USA chart is noteworthy which is the Saturn in Libra which at best is fair-minded, promotes social responsibility, balance, justice and cooperation. Cohn’s Pluto in Cancer was square it; and McCarthy’s Uranus (opposition Neptune) was also exactly square. Trump’s financial Jupiter is conjunct the USA Saturn which could be positive but in the circumstances appears to be leaning more towards allowing financial considerations to trump fairness.
The USA’s much revered 1st amendment is in shock after Trump announced he is suing the New York Times for $15bn saying it had become a “mouthpiece for the Radical Left Democrat Party”. “It has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!” he posted on his social media platform.
The wording of the First Amendment, ratified on 15 December 1791, states that “Congress shall make no law – – abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
A spokesperson for the newspaper said the suit was “an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting”, adding it “has no merit. The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics.” NYT founded 18 September 1851.
Political discomfort is rising still further after late night host Jimmy Kimmel, one of the USA’s best known television personalities, has been suspended indefinitely after he erroneously suggest that the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk was aligned with the Maga movement. Kimmel is the longest-serving late-night talk show host on the air and was paid an estimated $16 million a year.
What he said is not defensible but in the context of US right wing media’s excesses since 2016 – Fox etc – and extremely lax USA libel laws, which have been bulwarked by the 1st Amendment, often to a ludicrous degree (in comparison with the UK), the whole situation is Monty Pythonesque (beyond bizarre).
The USA Bill of Rights, 15 December 1791, with a Sagittarius Sun square Mars and a revolutionary Pluto opposition Uranus has a combative feel. The disruptive Uranus opposition Pluto has moved by Solar Arc to put pressure on the (fair minded, balanced) Libra North Node now and through 2026 so the challenges will continue.
Trump’s relationship with the Bill of Rights was rattled by the recent Lunar Eclipse opposing the composite Venus for an emotional upset; and will continue to spasm through 2026/27 with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Saturn.
The New York Times relationship chart with Trump has an aggravated, trapped, enraged tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars through 2026/27.
Jimmy Kimmel, 13 November 1967, New York, a Sun Neptune in Scorpio has the upcoming Virgo Eclipse next week conjunct his Uranus as his life is turned upside down. His relationship with Trump will intensify over the coming three years with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Saturn and square Pluto, then Mercury and Sun. With serious aggravation mounting in 2027/28.
Democracy dies in Darkness – reads the Washington Post banner – owner Jeff Bezos notwithstanding.
See also: “Trump’s suit against the New York Times is nonsense. Yet it poses a grave threat.” Robert Reich
Actor Charlie Sheen has launched an image rebrand with a memoir and a Netflix documentary with all the exuberance he used to devote to drugs, drink and tumultuous relationships. He says it is not an apology tour though his father Martin Sheen evidently wishes he would own up to his mistakes and “grow up and get serious for once in his life.”
His early career was award-strewn with numerous hits to his credit including Platoon (1986), Wall Street (1987), Young Guns (1988), Major League (1989), The Arrival (1996). In the 2000s, he replaced Michael J. Fox as the star of ABC’s Spin City and by 2010, was the highest-paid actor on television, earning US $1.8 million per episode of Two and a Half Men. But was eventually fired over drug issues.
He has been married three times, had innumerable relationships and liaisons with hookers; has five children and one grandchild. He was diagnosed with HIV in 2011 and in his autobiography The Book of Sheen he revealed he has had in the past sexual encounters with several men, as well.
He was born 3 September 1965 10.48 pm New York, and is part of the rebellious, chaotic Uranus Pluto in Virgo generation with his Virgo Sun close by opposition Saturn in Pisces and square a Gemini North Node. His emphasised North Node in negative mode can be irresponsible, scattered, has a ’bull in a china shop’ approach and difficulty understanding why others don’t see his point of view. His fiery Sagittarius Moon opposes Jupiter pointing to an indulgent mother. His Venus in sociable Libra in his performing and party-loving 5th house is unaspected which would tend to make him obsessive, single minded and overly self-contained. Plus Mars Neptune conjunct in Scorpio in his 6th house which could point to drug (Neptune) and other health issues.
His father Martin Sheen, 3 August 1940 8.03pm Dayton, Ohio, – Apocalypse Now, The West Wing, is a very different temperament having seven planets in Fixed signs as opposed to Charlie’s six in Mutable signs. Father is steady and stubborn where son is excitable, highly-strung and uber-restless.
Martin Sheen has a flamboyant New Moon in Leo conjunct Mars with Pluto also in Leo though mainly in the 6th house which would calm the Leonine showiness a touch; and Jupiter Saturn and Uranus in Taurus.
His relationship chart chart with Charlie has a controlling composite Sun, Venus, Pluto conjunction and an erratic, high-tension, anxiety-provoking composite Saturn opposition Neptune Moon square Uranus – a tricky combination of closeness and rebellious acting out. The composite Mars is catching the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse which hints at an argumentative mood between them for a few months ahead.
Charlie’s chart does indicate a new cycle beginning with tr Uranus crossing his Ascendant as he steps out hoping to put a new slant on his image. But he will have to look after his health with his Solar Arc Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn impacting on his 6th house Neptune over the next three or four years.
