Brexit – grinding towards a gridlock

The Brexit negotiations are following the standard EU script of doom, disaster, never-going-to-agree. So it’s tempting to see this week’s impasse ‘as the usual diplomatic dancing in the darkness before dawn breaks on a deal’, in the words of Tim Shipman of The Times. Yet the Tory true-believer insiders appear to be sanguine about the prospect of a no-deal, with Michael Gove evidently spending the bulk of his time preparing for just such.

Michel Barnier, the EU negotiator, 9 January 1951 4.40 pm La Tronche, France, looks a touch overwrought now through to late September with tr Uranus opposition his Venus/Pluto midpoint; and if birth time is exactly accurate, then has a disappointing/failure tr Neptune conjunct his Midheaven from early October to late January 2021.

But he’s not remotely in as bad a shape as David Frost, the UK negotiator, who has a catastrophic tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Pluto midpoint from late August to early October, followed by tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Uranus midpoint from early October to late January 2021 which Ebertin with his usual dramatic exaggeration describes as: ‘A fainting fit when overtaxing one’s strength, raving madness, rage, cunning and deceitful.’ Even toning that down to moderate levels it won’t be progressive whether he wants a no-deal or some-deal Brexit.  He’s also got a failed-plans tr Pluto square his Mars/Neptune midpoint from now to late November. He looks frustrated and irritated over the exit at the New Year with tr Pluto trine his Mars – and somewhere along the way of 2020 or 2021 he has a panicky-failure Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Neptune.

His relationship chart with Barnier, who has an unbudgeable 8th house Mars Moon in Aquarius opposition Pluto is into plate-throwing territory with tr Uranus square the composite Sun and Uranus until late September.

Frost’s relationship with Gove is extremely fraught as well with a frustrated, trapped, impatient tr Pluto square the composite Mars from now till late November; and downbeat across the New Year. None of which sounds like a resounding joint success whichever outcome they were aiming.

Gove’s personal chart is similarly afflicted with tr Pluto square his Mars/Uranus and Uranus/Neptune midpoints now to late November this year, suggesting acute stress, losses and catastrophes; and his troubles won’t lift in 2021 with a nasty sinking feeling from tr Neptune square his Sun/Saturn and Mercury/Saturn midpoints picking up in April and running on and off till late 2022. As he no doubt surveys the proof of the pudding with the Brexit consequences becoming clear.

This would fit with the Boris Government chart indicators – see previous post August 3 2020 – which has a panicky dip from this October onwards. And many pointers on Boris, the Government and Cummings’ charts that suggest 2021 is not going to be a celebratory feste to the joys of UK freedom.

Sorry if that all sounds gloomy but they don’t look like happy campers any of them.

Nick Faldo – addicted to the walk up the golden staircase

 

Nick Faldo, the former No 1 pro golfer now a television sports presenter, with a chequered romantic life including three marriages, none of them long-lived, is about to embark on his fourth sprint up the aisle. His bride-to-be Lindsay DeMarco is a former topless dancer, a veteran of the marital stakes with six weddings behind her (one husband twice).

Faldo was born 18 July 1957 3pm Welwyn Garden City, England, and has a much-travelled 9th house Cancer Sun square an elusive Neptune in the 12th – Neptune being surprisingly common amongst sportspersons. His Sun is in a lucky sextile to Jupiter in Virgo in the friendly 11th house. More significantly he has a passionately enthusiastic Venus Mars conjunction in his case in Leo which is a recurring theme of Epstein buddies. Not that there’s any suggestion of under-age, more a revved-up interest in pleasure. His Venus is also conjunct Pluto which is seductive. His Pluto conjunct his Midheaven will make him influential though also controlling.

And last but not least his go-getting Aries Moon in the performing 5th is in an unpredictable, emotionally changeable trine to Uranus and Saturn, forming an entrepreneurial and attention-demanding Grand Trine.

His fiancée Lindsay DeMarco may – but to be treated with caution since it was only one net source – be born 31 August 1962. This would make her a controlling and chaotic Sun, Pluto and Uranus in Virgo in a confident opposition to Jupiter. According to one ex-husband she is like Trump – ‘everything revolves around her.’  That should be fun with his Pluto on the Midheaven and Leo planets.

Her Venus in Libra is conjunct his Neptune and square his Sun which will brew up a beautiful smokescreen.  The relationship chart has an adventurous (seemed like a great idea at the time) Uranus trine Jupiter though with the composite Uranus close to the Sun they won’t sit comfortably together in a 24/7 box. Both will need space. There’s a superficially sugary-sweet composite Venus trine Jupiter; and a spark of attraction from composite Venus sextile Mars.

Difficult in this day and age to see what the point of walking up the aisle is. Those who don’t learn from the past and all that …….

Tenet – looks good but not feeling the love

Director Christopher Nolan’s latest extravaganza blockbuster, Tenet, a sci-fi spy epic, on a mission to save cinemas from extinction by virus or streaming competition has had wildly polarised reviews. A love it or hate it movie. Five stars in odd places and two stars in others. ‘A dud – a humourless disappointment –  easy to admire, impossible to love.’ “A concrete cornucopia of global chaos and threat, in which humanity’s survival depends on the minor matter of reshaping time and space.“

Nolan has a billion dollar career behind him with a plethora of awards – most notably for The Dark Knight Trilogy and Dunkirk. This one cost it is reckoned over $200 million and will have to stretch to recoup that in crowd-adverse times.

He was born 30 July 1970 in London (no birth time) and is a dynamic Sun Mars in Leo with a creative and stubborn Neptune in Scorpio opposition a money-minded Saturn in Taurus which is sextile/trine Venus Pluto in Virgo.

He’s looking edgy this year with tr Uranus in an excitable and insecure square to his Sun, Mars repeating at the year end; with a loss-making tr Uranus square his Jupiter/Saturn midpoint in September and spring 2021; plus a disappointing tr Neptune opposition his Venus at the moment and again into 2021.

Principal Photography started in various locations in May 2019 when the over hopeful Jupiter square Neptune was in place; as well as the tough Saturn Pluto in Capricorn.

The star John David Washington, born 28 July 1984 in Los Angeles, known for his role in the TV comedy Ballers and for his award-winning performance in BlacKkKlansmen, is the son of actor Denzel Washington.  He is also a Sun Leo, in his case conjunct Moon and Venus also in Leo square a conscientious Saturn in Scorpio. He’s also looking less than ecstatic with tr Uranus opposition his Saturn next month as well as his disaster-prone Mars/Pluto and stuck through late autumn.

The other co-star Robert Pattinson, 13 May 1986 5 am London, of Harry Potter and Twilight fame is a Sun Taurus trine a go-ahead Mars in Capricorn. He has a disappointing tr Neptune square his Venus at the moment and on into 2021.

Not the easiest times for the entertainment business and this hardly sounds like a feel-good attraction.

Steve Bannon and friends – making America groan

 

Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist and best-buddy until his publicity seeking fell foul of the boss’s ego, has been arrested and charged with fraud over a fundraising campaign to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Despite claiming “We Build the Wall” was a volunteer organisation and promising all the $25 million raised would be used for construction, some went sideways to the four in charge to fund their personal lifestyle. They issued “sham invoices and accounts to launder donations and cover up their crimes, showing no regard for the law or the truth” according to the SDNY prosecutor. If found guilty Bannon, US veteran Brian Kolfage and two others could face decades in prison. Trump denies all knowledge and recent contact with Bannon though the fund appeal had a stamp saying ‘Trump Approved’ and Don Trump Jr. visited one section in New Mexico in a year ago.

Bannon, born 27 November 1953, no birth time, is a Sun Sagittarius with a publicity-attracting, showbizzy Mars Neptune in Libra sextile a controlling Pluto, in a can-be-fanatical square to Uranus, and a confident trine to Jupiter in Gemini.

He has a sharp-shock from tr Uranus opposition his Sun/Mars midpoint exactly now alongside the radical-upheaval tr Uranus opposition his Pluto/Node midpoint running till late September, repeating on and off till January 2022; and worse a catastrophic tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Pluto midpoint now until late this month and again repeating through next year till January 2022. 2021 from late January has the car-crash tr Pluto square his Mars/Saturn midpoint as the same time as the devastating tr Pluto square his Neptune, both running till late 2022. He will muster up some of his standard bullish bravado with tr Pluto opposition his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint for the next year but it won’t outweigh the others. With a deep gloom Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Saturn by 2022.

His partner Brian Kolfage, 21 September 1982, is a late Sun Virgo square a slippery Neptune, with an adventurous Mars Uranus in early Sagittarius conjunct Bannon’s Sun. He’s also got Saturn Pluto in Libra which is under stress from tr Pluto in square for the next two years; plus some calamitous transits to two Mars midpoints in 2021.

Audrey Strauss, the Acting US Attorney for SDNY, who replaced Geoffrey Berman bounced by Trump, has been spearheading this investigation as she did the Ghislaine Maxwell one. See previous post: May 7 2019

Alexei Navalny – the risks of baiting the Russian bear

 

Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most prominent political opponent is in a coma in Siberia having fallen ill on a plane, caused it is thought from drinking a poisoned cup of tea at the airport. He claims he was poisoned last year, and three years ago a chemical attack left him partially blind in one eye. His brother is in prison, he says on trumped up charges. And three other activists close to him have also been poisoned by unknown toxic substances which in one case removed the ability to speak and see, and in another left them near death.

Born 4 June 1976 1.30 pm (from memory) Moscow, Russia, he is an idealistic Sun Venus in Gemini opposition Neptune forming a talented Half Grand Sextile with his Sun Venus trine Pluto and sextile Mars in Leo.

Tr Uranus is square his Mars exactly now which can be explosive, risky and bring great insecurity – and given it is part of his Half Grand Sextile configuration it will have a stronger effect even than usual. It repeats on and off through 2021.  Though if he survives this attack, his most dangerous, game-changing moments will come in three years’ time when his Half Grand Sextile moves by Solar Arc to connect with his Saturn by hard aspect for a very challenging three years thereafter.

Putin’s 4th Term chart does have a ruthless Pluto Mars in Capricorn square Uranus Mercury in Aries. He is already in trouble with protests mounting in various regions; with more violence erupting after the middle of 2021 and complete deadlock by 2023. The Russia 1917 chart also looks highly stressed in 2023.

Navalny is important to Russia with his Sun Venus conjunct the Russia 1917 10th house Jupiter; and his Jupiter sitting in the Russia 1991 10th house.

PS. It is reassuring, if astonishing, to see the Senate Report on Russian interference in the 2016 election went a good deal further than Mueller in pointing out Trump campaign’s Russia links. Not that anyone is paying much attention.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/18/donald-trump-us-senate-report-russia-campaign

Arctic Wildlife Refuge under threat – greed versus Gaia

 

Another Trump rumpus as his plan to expand USA fossil fuel production into the Arctic moves ahead, despite crashing oil prices and a general shift away from damaging energy sources. He has overturned six decades of protections for the largest remaining stretch of wilderness in the US though it’s likely to run into fierce legal battles from environmentalists and Alaskan Native groups over the fate of polar bears, migrating herds of caribou and birds, never mind the effect on climate change.

Leases could be sold by the year end though any oil production would be a decade away. It’s unclear how much interest there will be from energy companies at a time when many countries are trying to wean themselves from fossil fuels. Exploring and drilling in harsh Arctic conditions remains difficult and costly.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was set up on 6 December 1960, with a Sagittarius Sun Square Pluto Node in Virgo; with a tough Saturn and Jupiter in Capricorn opposition Mars in Cancer.

Where it looked most at risk was three years ago as the Solar Arc Mars opposition Saturn squared the Sun – so maybe the shock of a Trump/Republican victory made the dangers clear from early on. There’s a nerve-stretched, panicky, paralysed tr Uranus opposition Neptune exactly now and repeating on and off through 2021. The recent Lunar Eclipse also shook up the Mars in Cancer opposition Saturn for a setback scenario in coming months.

There’s more cheer through this October and over the election with a sigh of relief from tr Uranus opposition Jupiter/Node midpoint and then the Jupiter/Pluto midpoint, which repeat in spring 2021.  But 2021 still looks like a tricky year though that could be other factors with climate change moving ahead or natural disasters.

Boris’s bodgers – heading for the rocks

 

‘The stench of incompetence’ is the accusation being levelled at the UK government by even the right-wing media as yet another fiasco piles on top of several previous. First overseeing one of the highest Covid fatality rates in the world, wasting vast sums on PPE that doesn’t work and trumpeting a “world beating” track and trace system that …. doesn’t. A minor hiccup as they failed to shoehorn their candidate onto the Intelligence Committee to divert an embarrassing Russia report spotlighting Tory donors; and a glossed-over planning scandal involving yet another non-resigning minister. Now the exam fiasco which every other European country has managed to handle without causing outrage.  And we haven’t even got to Brexit or how the economic fallout will be finessed after throwing money around with abandon. The scenario has been likened to Plato’s ‘ship of fools’ – ‘ignorant fools elect persuasive fools and are then led to ruin.’

Boris’s government hasn’t even got to its riskiest banana skin which turns up from October 2nd as tr Neptune squares the Mars/Pluto and Venus/Mars midpoints which suggest catastrophes and no will or wit to overcome them. It runs across the supposed Brexit New Year exit until late January 2021. With the December Sagittarius Solar Eclipse conjunct the Government Sun for a crisis or many in the months thereafter. And a lacklustre, sagging tr Neptune squaring the Sun from late March onwards, on and off for a year.

Boris’s personal chart has a Midheaven directly in the line of fire from the most recent Lunar Eclipse suggesting this was always going to be a career critical few months for him – and the pressure won’t lift with the December Solar Eclipse hitting his Gemini Sun, Venus and Mercury; plus his Solar Arc MC being exactly conjunct his Uranus now (birth time being accurate to the minute). All in all the heavens are descending on his head.

Gavin Williamson, 25 June 1976, the hapless Education Minister, now foisting the blame sideways onto regulators, is a Sun Venus in Cancer square Pluto, trine Uranus; with Mercury (Moon) in Gemini opposition a slippery Neptune; and a flashy Mars in Leo in an opportunistic square to Jupiter. The June Solar Eclipse rattled his Sun Venus so he wasn’t going to miss a nerve-stretching challenge or two.

A new health initiative has been set up, as Public Health England (PHE) was landed with the blame for the pandemic mishandling and deleted.  The National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) was launched yesterday morning with immediate effect.

PHE was an excitable Sun, Venus, Mars, Uranus in Aries square Pluto; with a head-in the-clouds Jupiter square Neptune; an over-grandiose Yod of Saturn sextile Pluto inconjunct Jupiter and another Yod of Sun sextile Jupiter inconjunct Saturn. Stressed, chaotic and none too practical.

The new NIHP circa 12 noon 18 August 2020 is not that dissimilar with Mars in Aries square Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter; with a Yod of Pluto Saturn sextile Neptune inconjunct the Leo New Moon – an apex Moon is certainly keen on nurturing but can be disorganized, not adaptable and tends to act in a self-defeating way. An apex Sun tends to throw its weight around and either be too full-on or not enough. There will be mountains to climb in 2021/22 with tr Pluto square the Mars and conjunct Saturn which doesn’t give much hope of its chances of overcoming the problem.

Baroness Dido Harding, 9 November 1967, has been hoiked in to lead it who appears to be part of the chumocracy, married to a Tory MP, and recently in charge of the less than useful Track and Trace programme. From failure to failure up the ladder.

She’s a Sun Scorpio with Uranus, Pluto, Venus in Virgo and a Yod of Jupiter sextile Mercury inconjunct Saturn in Aries with her Saturn square Mars in ambitious Capricorn. Tough certainly, but facing the same uphill struggle as NIHP with a failure-ridden and career-losses next month as tr Neptune squares her Jupiter/Saturn midpoint, which repeats next February; more slipping and slithering from this October through January 2021 and then a discouraging and panicky run from late January through 2021 into 2022.

Just to check the astrology – the PHE chart, 1 April 2013 – has exactly this year Solar Arc Uranus conjunct its Mars, Solar Arc Saturn conjunct its North Node and Solar Arc Neptune square Jupiter – for a disruptive crisis brining high insecurity, a moment of truth and delusions exposed. The replacement may not fare much better.

See previous Boris posts: Brexit August 3 and  July 16 and June 4 2020.

Joe Biden campaign – hurdles to overcome

 

Joe Biden’s campaign manager Jennifer O’Malley Dillon is credited with revitalising a flagging and messy operation into a well-funded machine which has achieved a substantial polling lead. Her chart should be a barometer of his progress in the challenging weeks running into November.

Born 28 September 1976, she’s a veteran of two Obama campaigns and a seasoned operator, with a determined Sun Pluto in Libra sextile Neptune (Moon) Sagittarius and trine Jupiter in Gemini. Her Mars in Libra has the frustrating and trapped tr Pluto square Mars at the moment until August 17th, returning November 20th to late December. That may just be the momentous pressures of a gruelling campaign but she also has from late September to late October tr Uranus opposition her Sun/Neptune midpoint which is discouraging, low energy and brings disappointments. What is more unsettling from her and Biden’s point of view is tr Neptune opposition her Mars/Saturn midpoint which runs from 2 October to late January 2021, which tends to be associated with the inability to overcome obstacles, losses and low energy. Although she will get a lift from a more successful/lucky break tr Uranus square her Jupiter/Pluto midpoint from late December into February 2021. Some of the above may be personal or health issues since she is mother to three young children.

But her downhearted influences coincide with fairly similar ones on Biden’s chart – tr Pluto square his Mars/Neptune midpoint from now till late November which tends to bring failed-plans. And a confidence denting tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Jupiter midpoint 2 October to late January 2021.  He will get some mild cheer late November to late December but really does not pick up success influences until late January 2021 onwards. In fact 2021 looks an upbeat vibrant year for him – it’s what precedes it that is mystifying.

Jill Biden looks more optimistic now and across the election with upbeat transits to several of her Jupiter midpoints; though is facing a seriously difficult, worrisome and high risk 2021/22.

To be remembered – what the astrology shows isn’t a clairvoyant vision of winning or losing and it’s easy to misinterpret the influences. Michelle Obama looked devastated over the first Obama Inauguration as the full reality of life in a dangerous, trapped goldfish bowl sank in, which could have been interpreted in advance as an election loss. I’ve seen charts with individuals delirious with joy at losing since they could escape off to peace and quiet. It’s also weeks to the election and there’s many a slip or at least a swampy patch to plough through before the day itself with perhaps a delayed result.

Robert Trump – an understated Virgo

 

Robert Trump, the youngest of the five children of Fred and Mary Trump and brother of the president, has died, according to reports from bleeding on the brain.

He was born 26 August 1948, worked initially in finance before becoming an executive with the Trump Foundation. Known as the ‘nice’ Trump, he would intervene to solve problems, was supportive of his brother’s White House bid and recently spearheaded the legal attempt to silence their niece Mary’s book about the family.

He was an understated Virgo Sun conjunct Saturn in late Leo with a steady Taurus Moon either square Pluto or Saturn or both – so battened down by both parents. He did have a spark of fire from Jupiter in Sagittarius trine Saturn sextile Mars but his strongly placed Saturn probably kept him squelched down; as did his well-intentioned Venus in Cancer square Neptune.

Donald did admit he bullied his brother as when they were children which comes across loud and clear in the synastry. With Donald’s bombastic Mars in Leo conjunct his brother’s Saturn; and Donald’s Saturn square Robert’s Mars. Mars Saturn interfaces give rise to aggravation and unfair behaviour verging on cruelty.

Their relationship chart has a hint of affection from a composite Sun Venus conjunction, part of which would be superficial with Venus trine Jupiter; with a chained-together by circumstance Saturn, Pluto, Mercury; and an explosive composite Mars square Uranus.  It’s a relationship that would simmer uncomfortably with unspoken resentments.

Robert’s relationship with his father Fred was much worse with a composite Saturn Mars conjunction sextile Sun and trine Pluto – domineering and scary.