The IS (Islamic State) flag on the truck which drove into a crowded New Orleans street at 3 am on January 1^st killing 15 revellers and injuring dozens more is an ominous sign. If it proves to be more than a disturbed perpetrator, then it will give Trump a serious headache from the start. He may yodel on about immigrants but incoming refugees from South America are a totally different problem from an IS (Middle East) threat on his home turf.

  The killings started around 3.15am in New Orleans unsurprisingly on the Mars opposition Pluto which often accompanies acts of brutality. It also gives a late Leo Midheaven conjunct Trump’s Mars. 

  The USA chart is on high alert at the moment anyway with the high-risk Solar Arc Saturn conjunct Mars still in effect and moving on to a worrisome SA Saturn square the Neptune through 2025.

  There is no exact date for the foundation of IS, a transnational Salafi jihadist group, but there was a declaration of intent made on 29 June 2014 5pm Baghdad, Iraq. IS gained global prominence in 2014 when its militants conquered large territories in Iraq and Syria and by 2015, its self-declared caliphate ruled an area with a population of about 12 million. After a grinding conflict with American, Iraqi, and Kurdish forces, IS lost control of all its Middle Eastern territories by 2019, reverting to insurgency from remote hideouts while continuing its propaganda efforts.

The IS Declaration chart does show a ‘lucky’ break Solar Arc Uranus square Jupiter at the moment as well as a forceful SA Sun square Mars – with indications of a more confident push  by 2028. The chart has a Cardinal Grand Cross so it is not short of initiative or the ability to reinvent itself.

  The Trump/IS relationship chart which flags up deep dislike and suspicion will be rattled in the early months of the new administration and will be undercut by tr Saturn Neptune square the composite Sun, Venus, Mercury from before mid 2025 into 2026. Not indicative of conflict but a confusing situation causing concern.

 The USA/IS relationship chart similarly does not look aggravated in terms of acts of violence but tr Saturn in Aries in 2026/27 will see a standoff with the tussle of the upper hand running into a stalemate.

 The Paris Bataclan shooting of 13 November 2015 with 130 dead and 350 wounded was claimed as an IS atrocity. It happened with the North Node conjunct Mars at zero degrees Libra. This New Orleans killing occurred exactly half a cycle later with the North Node at zero Aries, trine/sextile the Mars opposition Pluto.

 IS have not yet claimed responsibility and there are no neon lights flashing red on the charts but the undercurrents are concerning. Especially given the USA’s unwavering support in supplying arms to Israel. Not that IS will particularly care about the Palestinians but the Israeli carnage in Gaza can only inflame the mood in the Middle East and give hostages to fortune.   

ADD ON: Shamsud-Din Jabbar, named as the New Orleans perpetrator, was born 26 October 1982 in Beaumont, Texas (source: MSN). This made him a Sun Venus conjunct in Scorpio with Jupiter also in Scorpio with a determined and bleak Saturn Pluto in Libra sextile Mars Neptune in Sagittarius.  

  If accurate, he had been through a turbulent emotional patch with tr Pluto square his Venus and at the moment his Sun/Venus midpoint – plus an intense Progressed Mars square his Pluto bringing acute frustrations and turbulent dark feelings.

 The Vegas cybertruck bomber if it is Matthew Livelsberger, though his remains are yet to be identified, according to his passport was born 22 July 1987 in Colorado Springs, making him a final degree Sun Cancer with a determined, courageous (and desperate) Mars square Pluto. Tr Pluto was just finished two years of opposing his Sun which is a punishing process of forced change.

  I am reminded often with these murder-suicides of Ernest Becker’s thought that what many fear is not death itself but death with insignificance. The prospect of a failed marriage or other existential crisis bringing feelings of intense inner worthlessness spark a last desperate need to gain attention by going out with a bang.  The tragedy is that bystanders become the unwitting victim of a perverted howl for validation.  

Jocelyn Wildenstein whose extreme addiction to plastic surgery led to grotesque changes in her appearance has died in her sleep aged 84. As her marriage to a wealthy art collector billionaire started to crumble she hoped to win back his affections by ‘improving’ her appearance and since he had an interest in wild cats on his Kenya ranch she opted for the feline look. ‘By the end her skin was stretched so tightly over her face that she could barely blink and her lips so stuffed with collagen they looked like rubber. The first time Alec Wildenstein saw his newly-sculpted wife, he was said to have screamed in horror. “She seems to think that you fix a face the same way you fix a house”, he complained later.

 During their opulent marriage their spending was obscene – reputedly $1 million a month over twenty years. Despite her massive divorce settlement when the split came, she end up in recent years filing for bankruptcy.

 Born 5 August 1940 in Lausanne, Switzerland, she was not surprisingly a flamboyant Sun Leo conjunct Mars with Pluto also in Leo and her Sun sitting on her Mars/Pluto midpoint. She also had Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus and Algol in Taurus trine Neptune, and in varying squares to her Leo planets – staggeringly Fixed.

  Although Fixed planets dislike change they do incline when in quantity towards extremism and can lead to psychosomatic problems when intractable inner emotional problems are acted out through the body. She tried to change the outside because she couldn’t change the inside. I’m intrigued also by the afflicted Mars.

  Her Mars is conjunct her Sun and square her Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus – which is a volcanic reservoir of bubbling lava. Her Sun on her Mars/Pluto midpoint hints at a tendency to take violent measures. Her Venus/Neptune sits in the same place pointing to illusions and delusions about love and beauty.  Her Venus is also conjunct her Mars/Saturn midpoint suggesting a masochistic streak and again allying a self-destructive impulse and love. Attacking herself brutally all in pursuit of love and beauty.

 Her Solar Arc Mars is exactly square her Sun at the moment which can accompany a ‘shocking’ event.

 Her chart reminded me of Katie Price, an English media influencer, former glamour model, also addicted to cosmetic surgery whose life is in constant financial and emotional chaos.  Born 22 May 1978 she has a Gemini Sun conjunct Algol square Mars Saturn conjunct in Leo with Mercury in Taurus opposition Uranus in Scorpio and possibly a Scorpio Moon. Again hugely Fixed with an angry, afflicted and self-destructive Mars. She also has Venus in Cancer like Jocelyn Wildenstein.

  One motivation in the forcible control of outer appearance must be to bury an inner unworthiness. But part of it may also be a delusional attempt to stave off mortality by refusing to grow old, at least in looks. Beyond weird.

Magic and escapism with a touch of Disney schmaltz  throw sparkle and glitter over Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood. While there has always been an undercurrent of darkness in modern versions of fairytales, the reality of Grimms’ Children’s and Household Tales was a good deal bleaker. The original version of 1812 was not translated until recently making it clear how much the Grimm brothers had watered down their lurid tales for subsequent editions.

Rapunzel is impregnated by her prince and the evil queen in Snow White is the princess’s biological mother, plotting to murder her own child. Dropped altogether in later editions is How the Children Played at Slaughtering, where children playing at being a butcher and a pig. A boy cuts the throat of his little brother, only to be stabbed in the heart by his enraged mother. Unfortunately, the stabbing meant she left her other child alone in the bath, where he drowned. Unable to be cheered up by the neighbours, she hangs herself; when her husband gets home, “he became so despondent that he died soon thereafter”. The cruel stepmother who abandoned Hansel and Gretel was originally their mother.

  Jacob Grimm, 4 January 1785 19.30 pm Hanau, Germany and Wilhelm Grimm 24 February 1786 Hanau, Germany, were inseparable the whole of their lives, becoming university librarians and a professor. Their extraordinary work found international acclaim with later abridged stories translated into more than 170 languages.

 Their project was less about entertaining (and terrifying children) and more about the protection and promotion of Germanic culture. Their nationalistic fervour was troubling. “The popularity of the Grimms’ collection during the Nazi years later led Allied occupation forces to ban the Grimms’ fairy tales for a time after the war, believing that they had contributed to the Nazification of Germany”.

 What is intriguing is that both Grimm bothers were born during the last Pluto in Aquarius and it is an integral part of their charts.  Jacob has a 4^th house Capricorn Sun opposition Uranus square Neptune – certainly inventive, creative, though also veering to the fanatical. His Libra Moon was in a bleak square to Saturn and and affectionate trine to Venus. His attitude to his mother and women would be conflicted.

 His creative and attention-demanding 5^th house Pluto in Aquarius was trine Neptune, sextile Mars in Sagittarius in his 3^rd house – which would give him a cruel streak.

 His brother Wilhelm had a creative, attention-grabbing 5^th house Sun Venus in Pisces with a bleak, hard-edged 4^th house Saturn Pluto in Aquarius trine Neptune trine Mars in Gemini, formed into a Kite by Neptune opposition Jupiter which in turn was part of a Cardinal Grand Cross square Uranus opposition a Capricorn Moon.

  Both had strong, creative charts with a dark streak. Both had North Node in Aquarius which would focus their attention on a cause to which to devote their lives, in their case to promoting Germanic language and culture.

  The two brothers spent their entire lives close together. In their school days, they had one bed and one table in common; as students, they had two beds and two tables in the same room. They always lived under one roof and had their books and property in common, even after Wilhelm married. A visitor  observed, “they both live in the same house, and in such harmony and community that one might almost imagine the children were common property.”  

  Pluto in Aquarius has many facets – nationalism in their case being one, as well as misogyny plus a bloodthirsty streak evident in their tales and even more so in the French Revolution’s bloody Reign of Terror.

ADD ON: Wilhelm married Henriette and had four children.  His Sun/Moon midpoint, the marriage significator, was conjunct his 4^th house Saturn Pluto which makes it sound a bleak affair.  Jacob’s Sun/Moon midpoint (he never married) fell in his 3^rd house of siblings.

 Their relationship chart was not all sunshine and roses despite their apparently seamless partnership. There was a composite Sun, Saturn, Mercury, Pluto conjunction hinting at a chained-together bond with underlying resentment; and an irritable composite Moon square Mars.

 But the synastry had important positives with Jacob’s Capricorn Sun conjunct his brother’s Moon; and Jacob’s Jupiter conjunct Wilhelm’s Sun.

The Jupiter in Gemini square Saturn in Pisces hovering over the close of the old year and start of the new has produced an oddly disjointed mood to add to everything else. The square between high-hopes Jupiter and downbeat Saturn picked up in August 2024 and will run on to mid 2025 after which Jupiter in Cancer starts to pull away from Saturn in Aries.

  In addition to mood swings, Jupiter square Saturn usually accompanies a time of faulty planning and judgement where actions are initiated and responsibilities taken on board without preparation. Of which the previous occasion in 2016 when Brexit was promoted and voted through is a prime example. Though added Neptune would also play its part; which will also be the June 2025 experience with Neptune in Aries conjunct Saturn and square Jupiter.

   Timing can be bad since too much Jupiter brings over-optimism and too little discipline so makes charging ahead tempting. In contrast to an overdose of Saturn which induces a crisis of confidence and a reluctance to act.

  The mythological background is revealing with Jupiter/Zeus inspiring messianic and Olympian aspirations – there are no limits to what can be achieved. And Saturn, the pragmatist, being tediously realistic, pointing to the inevitable limitations of life. Jupiter’s tendency to attempt too much leads to crash-landings so disappointment follows heady new beginnings.

  Jupiter square Saturn will be obvious at a personal level as positive events and negative ones will come simultaneously. Good things and not such great things come side by side.

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New Zealand has been under enormous strain in recent years with Pluto bearing down on its Sun Mars in Capricorn square Pluto since early 2022 running till last month. The worst of that is over but it always takes time on the far side of Pluto to see the benefits of the forced changes.

 On the New Zealand chart, 17 January 1853 12 am Wellington, NZ, there is a stuck, slow-progress Solar Arc Saturn opposition Pluto now; as well as a mutinous-electorate SA Pluto opposition Moon, which may be a result of employment or health issues.

  Assuming the start time is sound tr Jupiter through the financial 8^th will bring improvements in coming months with hints of more success late in the year. But this longish phase of massive change for New Zealand will pick up again in 2026/27 when tr Pluto squares the NZ Uranus, upending conventional wisdom and shifting the status quo.

 The Bank of New Zealand, 1 August 1934, should get an upsurge of confidence at points in 2025, alongside significant upheavals.

 Christopher Luxon sworn in as PM on 27 November 2023 11.18 am Wellington, does not have a lucky Administration chart with a Sun Mars in Sagittarius square Saturn, all of which tr Uranus moving into Gemini in July will hard aspect, bringing significant setbacks, running into 2026.

But whatever happens New Zealand is doing well – scoring 99 out of 100 for political and civil liberties – the second highest after Finland. It is also doing well on the corruption-free front; and for safety and security with low domestic and international conflict.

Indications are that Australia faces cautious optimism ahead with an improving employment rate and interest rates tipped to drop. But the Bank of Australia chart, 14 January 1960, suggests there may be a hurdle or two to overcome on the economic front. Tr Neptune will square the Mars from March 2025 on and off till January 2026 which looks like panic and failure; with a totally logjammed Solar Arc Mars opposition Pluto later in 2025.

 The Australia country chart, 1 January 1901 1.35pm Sydney, has tr Pluto crossing the Midheaven through 2025 which does suggest a forced change of direction. Tr Saturn is also square the Jupiter opposition Neptune throughout 2025 which usually accompanies a come-down-to-earth-with-a-bump and face reality phase especially on the cash front.

 PM Anthony Albanese is also on tenterhooks in 2025 with his Administration chart, 23 May 2022 9am Canberra, edgy and in upheaval in April 2025 with tr Uranus square the Saturn; and moving through a turbulent patch as tr Uranus into Gemini will conjunct Mercury and the Sun just after mid year, into 2026. There is a disappointing, high-hopes-dent tr Neptune conjunct the Jupiter also after mid 2025; and a panicky-failure Solar Arc Neptune conjunct Mars in late 2025.

 It won’t all the plain sailing.

India remains the world’s fastest growing major economy, with an uptick of 8.2%  in 2023/24. Public investment in infrastructure and rising household investments in real estate plus a buoyant manufacturing sector were all given the credit.  Narendra Modi was sworn-in as Prime Minister for the third time on 9th June 2024 after a decisive victory. All would seem to be well and with tr Jupiter moving across the Ascendant and through the 1^st house until June 2025 the mood of public confidence will stay high.

  The one fly in the ointment is tr Neptune and Saturn in Aries moving to square the India 2^nd house Mars from this April onwards into 2026 which could put a few brakes on financially. 2026 will see tr Saturn opposition the 5^th house Neptune which could point to setbacks where speculative markets are concerned.

   Tr Uranus is also heading to cross the India Ascendant at zero degrees Gemini from July 2025 onwards which suggests a more rebellious or at least freedom-loving approach and image thereafter.   

 The Reserve Bank of India, 1 April 1935 9am Delhi, has its Aries Sun in line of the recent October Solar Eclipse and next late March’s Aries Eclipse, so a change of direction, perhaps forced, may be on the cards.

 Though where the key changes will come is likely to be in 2026 as tr Uranus in Gemini squares the Saturn. On Narendra Modi’s initial premiership chart, 26 May 2014 6.13pm, 2026 also looks to be a crucial turning point with tr Uranus conjunct the Modi Administration Sun. There is no election due but there are certainly winds of change buffeting the government.

Add On: 1 January 2025 the FT:

Has the ‘India trade’ run out of steam?
Slowing growth and high inflation are hitting household incomes and raising questions about economic fundamentals

Mars retrograde in Leo will oppose Pluto on January 3^rd which will put a damper on New Year high spirits until the blockage is passed.

 Mars goes retrograde every two years for about 10 weeks – in this instance from 7 December 2024 to 25 February 2025 – and once it goes direct it will meet another Pluto opposition in late April 2025.

  Retrograde tends to turn the energy inwards and with Mars it saps vitality and forward-drive as will-power and motivation are pushed down. When it goes direct, the stored-up energy surges into the open with extra vigour, bringing sometimes crises or conflicts.

  Looking back on previous Mars retrogrades:

2022 31 October  to January 13 2023. Mars in Gemini.

2020 10 September to 15 November. Mars in Aries square Saturn Pluto in Capricorn. Covid deaths rising fast.

2018 June to August. Mars in Aquarius/Capricorn.

2016 April 18 to 30 June. Mars in Sagittarius. Brexit 24 June 2016.

2014 2 March to 22 May – Mars in Libra square Pluto. Russia annexes Crimea 27 February. Airliner M370 vanishes 8 March.

2012 25 January 2012 to 15 April. Mars in Virgo

2009 22 December to 11 March 2010. Mars in Leo

2007  16 November to 31 January 2008. Mars in Cancer/Gemini opposition Pluto in Sagittarius (Exact opposition 1 January 2008). Stock markets plunge in anticipation of coming recession.

2003 July 30 to 29 September. Mars conjunct Uranus in Pisces square Jupiter. Iraq attack launched March 2003 so in full devastation mode.

2001  12 May to 20 July  Mars in Sagittarius opposition Pluto (not exact). Run up to 9/11

1990 21 October 1990 to 2 January 1991. Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins with air strikes against Iraq January 16 1991

1982 21 February to 12 May. Falklands War 1 April.

1941 September 7 to 10 November Mars in Aries.  Pearl Harbour 7 December 1941.

1939 23 June to 24 August 1939. Mars in Aquarius/Capricorn opposition Pluto in Leo/Cancer.  WW11 started 1^st September 1939.

1928 12 November 1928 to 28 January 1929.  Wall Street Crash 24 October 1929.

1913 November 28 to 12 February 1914. Mars in Cancer. WW1 start June 1914.

   There does seem to be some correlation between Mars retrograde in the period running into a conflict or crisis; and occasionally in the midst of one. But this is only a rough and ready survey so needs more investigation by those with the time. Otherwise it is a watch and wait exercise.

Jimmy Carter has died aged 100, who became renowned in his post-presidency years for the success of his initiatives on global health, democracy promotion and conflict resolution. Although deemed a lacklustre president he was the first since Jefferson under whom no blood was shed in war. At a farewell dinner as he left office, his vice-president, Walter F Mondale, gave a toast: “We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace.” Carter later added a fourth major accomplishment: “And we championed human rights.”

 He was born 1 October 1924 7am Plains, Georgia, into a well-to-do family though they had no electricity, running water or mechanized equipment on their farm. After a stint in the navy he took over the family peanut business and moved into politics, stepping into the White House on the back of Nixon’s Watergate scandal.

He had a 12^th house Libra Sun square a strong-minded Pluto in his opinionated and far-travelled 9^th; with an idealistic Neptune, leadership North Node and Venus in Leo in his career 10^th in a high-vitality opposition to Mars in determined Aquarius. He had an understated Saturn in Scorpio just below his Ascendant in his 1^st as well as an intense, secretive Scorpio Moon.  His 12^th house Sun and 10^th house Neptune would help in his humanitarian ventures though was perhaps less useful in the attention-grabbing, ego-clashing arena of politics.

 His Presidency chart, 20 January 1977 12pm had an afflicted Mars in the 9^th square Pluto and inconjunct Saturn, hinting at foreign policy failures; with an indecisive Neptune in the 8^th.  The Moon opposed Saturn and square Uranus on the Descendant for an administration that left the electorate less than pleased (Saturn) and proved divisive (Uranus Desc). There was an enthusiastic Jupiter on the Ascendant and a friendly 11^th house Venus but it was not enough to stave off criticism or a swingeing electoral defeat to Reagan next time round.

 From a previous post on his wife Rosalynn Carter, who died last year (Post 20 November 2023).

Rosalynn Carter wife of former president Jimmy Carter has left behind a solid legacy of good works as she dies aged 96. A biographer described her as  having achieved “one of the great political partnerships in American history”. She was up with Eleanor Roosevelt in her influence as first lady. And their four decades after the White House as global humanitarians advocating peace, democracy and the eradication of disease set a new standard for post-term presidents.

  She was born 18 August 1927 6am In Plains, Georgia, into poverty, becoming a carer for her siblings after her father died in her early teens. She married Jimmy when she was 18, was a devout Baptist and mother of four, but her soft smile and outward shyness masked her determination and passion for politics which had her dubbed the ‘Steel Magnolia in Washington.

  Her 12^th house Sun Neptune in Leo gave her idealism, flair, inspiration and the ability to work tirelessly behind the scenes on mental health and other issues. Her Venus Mars in Virgo in her First added passionate enthusiasm for practical causes and a far-travelled 9^th house Taurus Moon sent her round the world doing good.

  Oddly enough his Uranus fell in her 7^th house suggesting a bond that can only work where both gave each other freedom and she did travel and campaign a good deal on her own. His equally idealistic Venus Neptune North Node in Leo were conjunct her Sun Neptune for shared hopes and activism, with his Mars in Aquarius in opposition adding a spark of zest and no doubt a few arguments along the way.

  His Libra Sun was opposition her adventurous Jupiter Uranus in Aries for an adventurous streak; and his Uranus square Jupiter sparked off HER Mars Venus conjunction.

 Her Mercury and Sun Neptune in Leo fell in his 10^th for a helpful career mate and her Moon in his 7^th for support and nurturing.

 Their relationship chart had an affectionate and friendly composite Sun Venus conjunction and a domestically soothing Moon Jupiter conjunction. A 10^th house Pluto which made them influential as a couple was in an enduring trine to Saturn and sextile the composite Sun. Both were keen on a settled family and home life, she with a Taurus Moon and he with a Scorpio Moon – they could both be stubborn but obviously found a way to handle their differences.

  It was a relationship which could have gone wrong if either had been driven by ego but both with 12^th house Suns helped in that regard. Pluto in the composite 10^th can turn into a power struggle but only when aims for individual glory are pursued. Pulling together they had the capacity to make a difference.