The Endurance, the lost vessel of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of the great undiscovered shipwrecks, has been located 107 years later in 3 kms (10,000 feet) of water. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition set out to make the first land crossing of Antarctica. But the ship was crushed by sea-ice and sank in 1915, forcing Shackleton and his men to make an astonishing escape on foot and in small boats.

  Built in Norway and launched on 17 December 1912 it was thought to be one of the strongest wooden ships ever built, and had 27 crew plus a stowaway, 69 dogs and one cat. Within a few weeks a gale pushed the ice floes hard against one another and the ship was stuck – “frozen like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar”, according to a crew member. After nine months of being stuck, they abandoned ship, planning to march across the ice to land but that became impossible so they camped on the ice flo and the following April, with the ice broken, they took to the lifeboats, rowing to Elephant Island, a remote and uninhabited outcrop. The men were exhausted, some afflicted by sea sickness, others convulsed with dysentery. “At least half the party were insane,” wrote Frank Wild, Shackleton’s second in command.

  It was the first time the men had stood on solid ground in almost 500 days. After nine days of recuperation, Shackleton and a few others took one of the boats another 800 miles (1,300km) across rough seas and in biting winds to South Georgia. It took 16 days to reach their destination. They then had to cross peaks and glaciers to reach a whaling station on the other side of the island. In August, after several failed attempts, a rescue party set out for Elephant Island, where the remaining 22 crewmen were waiting. All survived.

   Less than five years later Shackleton launched a new expedition but died of a heart attack in South Georgia, aged 47.

  What is intriguing astrologically about the Endurance launch on 17 December 1912 is a markedly super-confident Sun Jupiter in Sagittarius opposition Pluto and on the focal point of a Yod inconjunct Saturn sextile Neptune. It does reek of overwheening pride and self-assurance as if it possessed an almost magical power to overcome the elements and be invincible. Jupiter Pluto on its own brooks no restrictions on its ambitions, plus an apex Sun which can find difficulty balancing pride and common sense. Too much ego not enough humility. And the planet opposition a Yod focal point is particularly sensitive which in this case is Pluto. When it sank the transiting North Node was exactly square the Pluto; with the transiting Sun in Scorpio opposition Saturn on one leg of the Yod.

   Which isn’t to diminish the astonishing courage and endurance of Shackleton and his men. He was born 15 February 1874 5am Kildare, Ireland. He had his Sun conjunct Venus as well as Moon Saturn in Aquarius, making him curious as well as stubborn. His Pluto square his Sun Venus would double up on his immoveable streak. He wouldn’t give up easy. His Mars in upfront Aries was in an adventurous opposition to Jupiter and a risk-taking trine to Uranus. His Moon Saturn opposed his 8^th house Uranus squaring onto a Taurus North Node.

   His two ‘master number’ harmonics the 11^th and 22^nd are both strong as befits his tenacity and staying power – and his world wide reputation.

More background: Sir Raymond Priestley, the scientist who served on Antarctic expeditions with both Scott and Shackleton, once wrote: “For scientific leadership, give me Scott. For swift and efficient travel, Amundsen. But when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”

 On an earlier expedition in 1907-09 Shackleton’s four-man party  endured incredible hardship to march within 97 miles of the South Pole, which paved the way for Scott and Amundsen to reach the goal only two years later. While he had enough food to stagger to the Pole, he did not have enough to get back and took the decision to turn back in sight of his objective because he was not prepared to risk the lives of his three colleagues. When fame and glory beckoned, he put their safety first.

  He understood the importance of teamwork and all his men were treated equally and he took care of anyone struggling to cope. Scientists shared the same chores with sailors and sailors helped take scientific readings. When the winter clothing was distributed, he ensured the crew were supplied before the officers and during one horrendous boat journey he gave his mittens to a desperate colleague.

  The better side of Aquarius.

Add on:  His wife, Emily, 15 May 1868, was an important part of her husband’s work and used her social connections to generate the practical and financial support required for his expeditions. In her husband’s absence, Emily raised their family alone and lived on her independent income. After his death she worked to preserve and enhance his memory as well as becoming involved with the Girl Guides. He left her with debts, approximately £1.5 million in modern terms and she relied heavily on philanthropic support. During her latter years she lived in a grace-and-favour apartment in Hampton Court, granted to her by King George V.

 She was a stalwart Sun, Mercury and Pluto in Taurus with a freedom-loving Venus Uranus square Jupiter.  Her Jupiter was conjunct his Mars so she’d be a great morale booster and encourager for him. Her Aquarius/Pisces Moon may have been conjunct his Sun for a strong joint purpose. The relationship chart had a turbo-charged and argumentative composite Sun Mars with Sun square a supportive Jupiter and square a dutiful Saturn.

  She was 36 when they married and with an independent income so a semi-detached relationship may well have suited her. It was certainly one-sided and hard work but for a woman of that era may well not have been the worst choice.

 He was certainly not gifted with interpersonal skills when it came to emotional or domestic relationships with his Aquarius Moon conjunct Saturn opposition Uranus and Pluto in the 4^th.

She once remarked of him: “One must not chain down an eagle in a barnyard.”

International Women’s Day this year was marked by the bombing of a maternity hospital in Ukraine, which hardly bears thinking about. The goddess Hera, protector of pregnant women and childbirth, usually associated with the lunar sign Cancer, must be ready to throw down thunderbolts.

  Looking back to warrior women of the past who fought to give women more power and freedom in the suffragette and early feminist movements, they come in all shapes and sizes.

 Emmeline Pankhurst, 15 July 1856 9.30pm Manchester, England, was a militant activist leading the charge to get women the vote. She was a Sun Cancer in a talented and healing Water Grand Trine to Mars in ultra-determined Scorpio trine Neptune, formed into a wide Kite by Neptune opposition a Virgo Moon – making the Virgo Moon her leading planet. She also had an unyielding Pluto square Saturn.

Emily Davison, 11 October 1872 12.30am London, another militant activist, was arrested on nine occasions, went on hunger strike seven times and was force-fed. Her tactics included breaking windows, throwing stones, setting fire to postboxes, planting bombs. She died after being hit by King George V’s horse Anmer at the 1913 Derby when she walked onto the track during the race. She was a Sun Libra opposition an idealistic Neptune; with her Pluto in a rules-don’t-apply, super-confident square to Jupiter and a wide opposition to Venus in Scorpio; and a rebellious Moon in Aquarius opposition Uranus. Not always sensible but she made her mark.

 Another Sun Libra opposition Neptune was Edith Rigby, 18 October 1872 5.30am, an arsonist, much imprisoned as she fought for her suffragette beliefs, a Rudolph Steiner advocate as well. She also had a passionate Venus in Scorpio opposition Pluto Moon in Taurus in a confident and showy square to Jupiter in Leo.

 Helen Crawfurd, 9 November 1877 4pm Glasgow, a Scottish suffragette and communist activist, had a determined Scorpio Sun opposition Pluto and trine a hard-edged Mars Saturn in Pisces. She also had an Earth/Fire Grand Trine of Neptune trine Venus Jupiter in Capricorn trine Uranus in late Leo. Her Uranus was in a revolutionary’s square to Pluto. Her upbringing looks tough which would make her fight for the underdog. 

  Susan Anthony, 15 February 1820, an American suffragette and anti-slavery campaigner, had a Sun Jupiter in Aquarius sextile Uranus Neptune conjunction which is turn squared a passionate Venus Pluto in Pisces.

  What isn’t surprising across the charts are strong Plutos, especially in aspect to Venus; and high confidence from Jupiter. Less expected is a Neptunian theme across most – many of these women were not only idealistic but had strong religious beliefs.

  If there is a difference between the suffragettes and the later feminists Like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Germaine Greer, it’s a sense that the later generation were less emotional (Water signs) and more cerebral (Air signs). The feminists relied on words and communication, not actions to get their message across. Steinem has an assertive, go-ahead Sun Mars in Aries with a revolutionary T square of Pluto square Uranus and in a confident square to Jupiter; plus Venus Saturn in Aquarius.

  Friedan had an Aquarius Sun opposition Neptune with an emotionally intense Moon opposition Pluto square Venus. Greer has an Aquarius Sun opposition Pluto square Moon Uranus in Taurus.  

  Overall what is needed for an activist is a burning sense of injustice for the underdog, confidence, courage and undentable determination.

Pluto sign changeovers are spotlighted in Russian history again and again, and regrettably in significant wars elsewhere as well.

 Catherine the Great took over the Russian throne in 1762 when Pluto was in final degree Sagittarius and ruled to powerful effect through Pluto in Capricorn and Aquarius, dying as Pluto was poised to moved into Pisces in 1797.

 In 1853 as Pluto moved into Taurus the Crimea War broke out between Russia and a coalition of UK, France and the Ottoman Empire. In 1881 Alexander 11 of Russia (liberator of serfs) was killed by a bomb as Pluto prepared to exit Taurus for Gemini the following year.  

1914 as Pluto moved into Cancer was the start of World War 1 which saw Austria-Hungary invade Russia. The next shift in 1938 of Pluto into Leo saw the build up to World War 11. In 1956 the Pluto move into Virgo coincided with the Soviet invasion of Hungary to quell the revolution there. Krushchev denounced Stalin.

  There’s not much obvious for Pluto into Libra in 1971 and into Scorpio in 1983. But Pluto into Sagittarius in 1995 saw the First Chechen War, starting the year before. Wiki: ‘Despite Russia’s overwhelming advantages in firepower, manpower, weaponry, artillery, combat vehicles, airstrikes and air support, the resulting widespread demoralization of federal forces and the almost universal opposition of the Russian public to the conflict led Boris Yeltsin’s government to declare a ceasefire with the Chechens in 1996.’

 In 2008 as Pluto entered Capricorn, the Russian-Georgia War erupted over South Ossettia, regarded as the first European war of the 21st century.

Looking back over two centuries of Pluto changeovers is a blitzing experience since the world appears to be in constant conflict somewhere with wars, disasters and mayhem on a monthly basis. Extrapolating a pattern and not drowning in noise isn’t easy. But I’m not sure how we were lulled into a sense of false security in thinking that wars were in the past, never to be repeated.

Pluto into Aquarius 1778. The American War of Independence (1775 – 1783). The Anglo-French War (1778 to 1783), European super powers squabbling over  colonial territories, aided the US, brought an end to the First British Empire.

Pluto into Pisces  1797. The 1790s were anti-imperialist as new American and French democracies flourished. Napoleon Bonaparte was on military campaigns aiming for First Consul of France from 1799.

Pluto into Aries 1823. Napoleon dies in 1821 – what rises on one often falls on the next or the one after that in the case of Catherine. 1823 also saw the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.

Pluto into Taurus 1853. The 2^nd French Empire, with Napoleon 111 becoming French Emperor. Rebellions in China. The Crimea War (1854 to 1856.)

Pluto into Gemini 1882. The Anglo-Egyptian War with Britain seizing the Suez Canal and Egypt becoming a Brit protectorate

Pluto into Gemini 1881. Alexander 11 of Russia killed by bomb.

Pluto into Cancer 1914. World War 1. Austria-Hungary invades Russia.

Pluto into Leo 1938. Spanish Civil War running since 1936, build up to World War 11. Sino-Japanese War 1937 to 45.

Pluto into Virgo 1956.  Suez Crisis – UK and France bomb Egypt and have to withdraw in humiliation after international outrage. Israel invades Sinai. Soviet Red Army troops invade Hungary. Vietnam War starts. The EEC founded 1957.

Pluto into Libra 1971. India-Pakistan War. Northern Ireland Troubles – 1972 Bloody Sunday. Vietnam winding down. Watergate

Pluto into Scorpio 1983 Beginning of the internet.

Falklands War 1982. Lebanon War, Israel invades.

Pluto into Sagittarius 1995. First Chechen War.  The Srebrenica massacre in the Bosnian War (1992 to 1995)led to the NATO bombing campaign against Bosnian Serb artillery positions. The Dayton Agreement brings it to an end in December 1995.

Pluto into Capricorn 2008. The financial crash. Gaza War. The Russo-Georgian War over South Ossettia.

  The final degrees of Pluto in a sign, far from overseeing stagnation appear to trigger major conflicts – with some countries more susceptible than others. After a rapid skim through, in addition to Russia – Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and France as well as the UK appear to be more prone than most to be involved in scraps.

See also post on how Pluto highlights the flavour of each sign with additional events connected, November 22 2021.

And post September 11 2021 for previous Pluto in Aquarius.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine gets bogged down in logistical failures with the military convoy heading for Kyiv stuck and Ukrainian resistance proving more effective than Putin expected, the question is what comes next? Longer range missiles are being hauled in with destructive potential but even Putin must see he doesn’t have the manpower for a post-attack occupation force able to suppress a hostile population. Will he be toppled? 70% of Russians evidently (unbelievably) support the Ukraine War, though that might change as body bags come home and sanctions bite – which won’t happen quickly. His security coterie and oligarchs are unlikely to rise up and he has unpicked the old system of balances, becoming a solo autocrat.

  William Hague suggests today in The Times that Xi Jinping is the only one with any leverage and it would be in to China’s benefit to do so. “A long war is going to rejuvenate the West, strengthen Taiwan and cause Russia to implode. China’s interests lie in shortening it dramatically.”

   Xi Jinping’s 2^nd Term chart, 24 October 2017 12.30pm Beijing, is generally lucky with a Sun Jupiter conjunction – but is in a year of considerable unrest as the Uranus opposition to the Sun closes to exact this year; tr Pluto is in a destabilizing square to the Uranus and tr Neptune is in a confused, uncertain square to the Saturn from March 19^th (this month) onwards, on and off till early 2023. March 13th to April 2^nd, and again in January 2023, there’s a car-crash setback, maybe involving military decisions. 2024 will be successful as well as littered with calamities, considerable mishaps and road blocks. Nothing too clear about any of that except it will be a time of churning change.

  Putin’s 4^th Term chart, 7 May 2018 11.05 am Moscow, has the same irksome mix of some undeserved luck alongside disappointments and losses. Mid this month to early April looks jittered, uncertain, not coping; and later in the year, as mentioned previously, from August the frustrating, trapped tr Pluto conjunct Mars followed by a maybe topple-off-perch tr Pluto square Uranus in 2023/2024.

 What is eye-catching is tr Uranus conjunct the Putin Term 16 degree Taurus Sun May 28^th to June 17, and again November and March 2023 – that suggests a sharp change of direction, perhaps forced. But it also coincides with tr Uranus square the 10^th house NATO Pluto, pointing to a turnaround in policy and disruption. There may even be military skirmish late April into May with tr Uranus square the NATO Mars/Saturn midpoint, with hints of minor losses following.

  A good many of the charts of countries and entities in the area also have key Fixed planets around 15 to 17 degrees which are all being rattled from now onwards by tr Uranus in hard aspect into 2023, suggesting an escalation rather than a decrease in tension and reactions.

 Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Russia all look on high alert in varying stages at the moment or in the weeks ahead. As does the Ukraine 1991 chart.

 Some of his inner circle are also in the line of fire of Uranus in mid Taurus – Lavrov, Patrushev, Shoigu, Gerasimov and clearly Zelensky.  

  As well as the EU with Venus at 15 Aquarius, Germany with Pluto at 17 Taurus and the UK with Venus at 16 Aquarius and Neptune at 18 Scorpio (part of that will be the financial knock on.) The China 1912 and 1949 charts equally are being knocked around by tr Uranus conjunct Saturn on one and square the Mars Pluto on the other from now through into early 2023.

   None of which gives much clarity or any definitive answers except the unrest will drag on.

   Of minor astrological interest is Putin’s initial Presidency chart, 31 December 1999, which kicked off his reign of terror on a Saturn in Taurus square Uranus in Aquarius. He’s being jolted into fulfilling his earlier authoritarian zeal. If one assume this chart represents his presidential reign – then this year is jangled and sagging, with a few triumphs, and the dissolution comes in 16 months with two Neptunian Solar Arcs. Though that could trigger earlier. But best guesses is he won’t go until 2023.

  Why is the world in such turmoil with not only Eastern Europe on the edge but a global food shortage looming as well as a global energy and financial crisis?  Saturn square Uranus can’t be all of it since it rattles round every so often. Gearing up for a Pluto shift into a new sign must be a major part of it as it heads for Aquarius in 2023? A momentous event, only occurring every fifteen to twenty years.

The change-of-sign years do tend to be turbulent as they pull down the old established order and oversee significant changes of political alignment, sometimes war. The tectonic plates shift. Previous Pluto changes were in 2008, 1984, 1971/72, 1957, and 1939, 1914 as well as the Crimea War of 1853.  

What can be said to keep anxiety levels down? Anything sounds trite in the face of the danger and deprivation the Ukrainians are facing. But Britain survived the blitz and the IRA, and Europe survived the nazis. Though the poor Iraqis hardly survived the US/UK assault, ditto Palestinians, Tibetans, Uighurs, Rohingyans etc etc, never mind the Syrians or Yemenis. The world and humankind never seems to learn.  

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State said yesterday that NATO members have the go-ahead to send fighter jets to Ukraine. “That gets a green-light,” he said in an interview with “Face the Nation” when asked whether the Polish government, a member of NATO, could send fighter planes to Ukraine. And the US is in discussions to “backfill the planes that are handed over” if Poland decides on such a transfer.

  Blinken, born 16 April 1962 with an unverified time of 2.56 am New York, has an extensive background in National Security and State Department having held senior positions over the past two decades under Bush, Clinton and Obama and he worked on Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. He supported the Iraq invasion, supported military intervention in Libya and weapons to Syrian rebels, and voiced support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.

   He has a go-ahead Aries Sun Mercury in an innovative trine to Uranus; with a confident Jupiter in Pisces opposition Pluto  (and Moon) in Virgo. And has a charming, diplomatic Venus in Taurus (maybe in the 3^rd house) opposition Neptune square Saturn in Aquarius – he’s enduring, good executive material, doesn’t give way easily, doesn’t like sharing the driving seat, can be a tower of strength for others, though irritatingly stubborn at times. His Mars in Pisces is sparsely aspected being only quincunx Uranus. An unaspected Mars  tends to be uncompromising and has a non-stop-go approach to life. Though it will be mellowed being in Pisces with his Saturn square Neptune also adding a softening layer.

  He’s not that easy a mix with Joe Biden since his Saturn in Aquarius square Neptune clashes with and at times undercuts Biden’s Mars in Scorpio square Pluto. His Mars also opposes Biden’s 10^th house Neptune and his Pluto squares Biden’s Saturn Uranus. But his Moon may be conjunct Biden’s midheaven and his Sun is close to Biden’s Moon – both of which will help.

  Their relationship chart has a lucky, supportive composite Sun square Jupiter which will smooth a few rough edges; and a close-friendship Venus opposition Pluto. But there’s also a volatile, argumentative composite Mars opposition Uranus in a not-entirely in-agreement square to Neptune and a high-tension square to Saturn on the other side. There will be an underlying ego-clash where one winning will feel like the other losing.  So while it has its good points, it’s a fraught connection. Where it starts to get rocky is after mid 2023 when the Biden Admin chart indicates major trouble brewing.

  If Blinken’s birth time is accurate (and it is only on one Astro-site), then one of his assertive/aggressive Mars lines runs through Ukraine, another through Moscow and a third through Beijing.

  He’s not surprisingly on edge this year with his Fixed T Square of Neptune, Venus and Saturn being jangled by tr Uranus at the moment and into early 2023; and from May 2023 tr Neptune is conjunct his Mars for a sinking sense of failure running into 2024. Though 2023/24 will also bring luck and success – so mixed blessings. That need not necessarily reflect global events. He could, for instance, not stay through the Biden term and disappear into a lucrative private sector job. There are many possible scenarios. And with his Solar Arc Uranus opposing his Sun by late 2023; and the Venus Pluto on his relationship chart with Biden also being turned upside down by tr Uranus in square he could be facing a significant life change.

Shane Warne, the Australian cricketer considered as one of the greatest bowlers in the sport’s history, who lived in the fast lane, has died at the young age of 52 of a heart attack.

 His friend Piers Morgan described him as a “hyperactive Labrador” and a “complete one-off, a blond-haired blokey bundle of restless, mischievous, ferociously competitive, massive-hearted, cigar-chomping, pizza-loving, larrikin fun.” Warne himself admitted he never really grew up, always aiming for fun, drinking vodka Red Bulls, smoking, partying endlessly, while running a multi-million business as an international commentator, entrepreneur and professional poker player – and collector of property and a fleet of expensive cars.

 He retired from international cricket in 2007 after a starry sporting career which was also marked by scandals off field – testing positive for a prohibited substance, accepting money from bookmakers and sexual indiscretions. For all his flaws he appeared to be a loving father to his three children, a caring son to his parents, and a loyal generous friend.

 He died after going on a 14 day ‘extreme’ liquid-only diet in an attempt to crash diet. A friend said he was  ‘a bit all or nothing. It was either white buns with butter and lasagne stuffed in the middle, or he would be having black and green juices.,’ His family reportedly told authorities he was suffering health problems before travelling, including troubles with his asthma and chest pains.

  He was born 13 September 1969 Sydney, Australia (no birth time) and had a super-intense and driven Sun Pluto conjunction in Virgo conjunct the South Node square Mars in sporting Sagittarius. A turbo-charged Mars in a Mutable sign makes for a high-wire temperament, extreme restlessness, and a risk of burnout if rest and recharge periods aren’t scheduled in. He also had an adventurous and lucky Uranus Jupiter in Libra probably conjunct a Libra Moon with a flamboyant Venus in Leo.

  If his birth time was around 11 pm, it would put Jupiter on his Midheaven at the moment, oddly common when public figures die. It would put Jupiter in his sporting 5^th and house of children; an uncommitted Neptune on his Descendant and his revved-up Mars in his financial 8^th. It’s feasible.

  He had been slumping under tr Neptune opposition his Sun last year, now opposing the Sun/Pluto midpoint and moving rapidly next month to oppose his Pluto – under-cutting the demons which drove him to keep up an all-or-nothing, frantic lifestyle.

  He hooked up with Liz Hurley, 10 June 1965, for two years before splitting in 2013. She is also hyper-active with her Sun, Mercury, North Node, Jupiter in Gemini square Uranus, Pluto, Mars in Virgo so it was too much to expect that two jitterbugs would survive together long term. His Sun Pluto square Mars collides with her Gemini/Virgo planets for an initially heady mix that would rapidly turn to aggravation. His Venus was square her Neptune and her Venus square his Uranus – so emotional needs would be mismatched as well.

   However their relationship chart does have an affectionate and mutually supportive composite Sun conjunct Venus and Sun conjunct Jupiter, so it survived in later years as a strong friendship.   

Kenneth Branagh, the multi-talented actor and filmmaker is basking in the warmth of the reception for his semi-autobiographical film Belfast which dominated the awards scene last year, earning eight Oscar nominations amongst others. From unlikely beginnings he has had a richly diverse career, being hailed as the “new Laurence Olivier”, ranging from Shakespeare, behind and in front of camera, to Agatha Christie, with a few failures along the way – “Henry V”, “Dead Again”, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein”, “Hamlet”, “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, “Warm Springs”, “Wallander”, “Thor”, “Cinderella” , “Murder on the Orient Express”.

 His obsessively workaholic tendencies did not improve the chances of his first marriage to Emma Thompson but he seems settled now with a film art director.

 He was born 10 December 1960 4.50pm (biography) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, into a working class Protestant family, which moved to England when he was 10 to avoid the Troubles. He acquired a received pronunciation non-accent to avoid being bullied at school and started acting young.  

  The film Belfast was inspired by his early childhood during the Troubles which is reflected in his chart with an unsettled Uranus on his IC just into his 4^th house of home and childhood roots with a high-tension, scary Pluto Moon North Node also in his 4^th. He has a Sagittarius Sun in the workaholic 6^th house which is in an innovative trine to Uranus. His creative and filmic Neptune sits in his performing 5^th house on the focal point of a mini Grand Trine of Pluto in a confident trine to a 7th house Jupiter in Capricorn – he’s practical as well as imaginative. His Jupiter is conjunct Saturn in Capricorn in is 7^th in a hard-edged opposition Mars in Cancer which will make him a hard taskmaster of himself as well as others. 

  He’s also got an intense Venus in Aquarius in the 8^th which isn’t heavily aspected, which will accentuate his obsessive, single-minded streak. It’s his only Air planet which is surprising in a way for someone who has worked in a fairly intellectual arena.

  His get-it-together 5^th harmonic is strong as is his creative 7H. His enduring and influential 11^th and 22^nd harmonic are marked as is his leaving-a-legacy 17H.

  He is a formidable talent who has cut swathes through a chaotic business and coped with the lows as well as the highs.

   He picked up the highly successful tr Jupiter through his 10^th from April 2021 which showered him with awards and it continues on till May 2023. Tr Saturn is also hovering above his Midheaven exactly now starting a decade of a peak as it moves through his upper quadrant. He’ll be working extra hard, consolidating his reputation and not disappearing into retirement any time soon.

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The unintended consequence of Putin’s ill-judged and barbaric attack on Ukraine has been to unify the EU and strengthen NATO. Finland and Sweden, both EU members, are now inclining towards NATO membership in the face of naked aggression from the east. Both are in the EU and already Enhanced Opportunity Partners in NATO. Because of the sophistication of their militaries, the stability of their democratic political systems, they would easily be accepted as full members. Their critical geography is likely to raise red flags with Russia if they were to reverse their non-alignment status.

  Though if Russia was to invade either at the moment, it would also trigger the EU’s mutual defence clause for members who are a “victim of armed aggression on its territory”. The other 27 member states would step in to defend them and engage Russian forces directly. This also extends to other EU eastern countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, who are in addition NATO members.

  Finland’s independence chart of 6 December 1917 3pm Helsinki has a Sagittarius Sun which caught last December’s Solar Eclipse challenging them to make key crises decisions and to institute significant changes. Their Saturn at 14 Leo will catch the tr Uranus square from late this April into early May, returning in January 2023, which will bring a series of considerable jolts and tensions into the open  – and tr Uranus then moves on to conjunct the Saturn/Uranus midpoint at 17 degrees from mid June with the same result. These are degrees showing up as critical on several of the related charts so it will be a turbulent time ahead. Into 2023 tr Pluto will conjunct the Finland Venus, on and off till late 2024, bringing an emotionally and financially challenging time.

  The last time there was a Finnish-Russian War, 30 November 1939, Uranus was at 19 Taurus, but there was also Pluto just into Leo about to be squared by Saturn – so not entirely similar.

  The Sweden 7 December 1865 3.30pm Stockholm chart, also has a Sagittarius Sun and Mars, both rattled by the last December Solar Eclipse, covering these months up to May. Their Pluto at 12 Taurus square the Leo Moon at 17 degrees will be rattled and jolted by tr Uranus in hard aspect, starting in a few days with tr Uranus conjunct the Sweden Pluto and in June square the Moon – repeating on into early 2023. The Swedish population are likely to be upset and reactive since the Moon is 4th house. If anything mid 2023 onwards for a year looks even riskier and more violence- or accident-prone.

  Finnish President Sauli Ninisto’s 2^nd Term chart, 1 February 2018, with an Aquarius Sun Venus at 12/18 degrees and North Node at 14 Leo will be shaken up – and in an all-systems-change phase from the middle of this month onwards.

  Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson’s Admin chart, 30 November 2021, has a Sagittarius Sun conjunct Mercury, again in the line of fire from the recent Solar Eclipse; and has a stalwart Mars in Scorpio trine Neptune, sextile Pluto Venus in Capricorn.  That chart picks up a worrisome, high-risk and calamitous tr Neptune square the Mars/Pluto midpoint from March 19^th (now); and another swampy, not-progressive Neptune conjunction to the Saturn/Uranus midpoint from late May onwards. Plus plus – and these less than helpful influences roll on into 2023. She looks in a meltdown panic.

  It isn’t possible to extrapolate exactly what these influences relate to – pandemic recovery, Russia’s psychopath, economic pressures, domestic crime or whatever.  But the likelihood is that the Ukraine situation is likely to drag on.  

There will be clues in the 2022 eclipses about which countries are likely to be in the spotlight of global events. Last November’s Lunar Eclipse, in effect for the six months after, had an explosive, vindictive, military Mars in Scorpio opposition Uranus square Saturn. Mars fell across the Midheaven located to Ukraine; the Full Moon sat conjunct the IC/MC for Moscow.

  Lunar Eclipses are often stronger in effect than the Solars and places where planets sit close to the axis are generally most affected. That Eclipse had a sobering, cautious Saturn in the Midheaven for Beijing and a trapped, paralysed Pluto in the IC for Washington.

 The upcoming 30 April 2022 Solar Eclipse is at 10 Taurus conjunct Uranus; with a Pluto trine Taurus North Node sextile Jupiter Venus in Pisces; and the North Node opposition South Node square Saturn in Aquarius.  Its geographical signatures aren’t that interesting. Although the Uranus at 14 degrees Taurus is pointed up as a disruptive degree on various of the eastern European and other associated charts. It will create sudden crises in Russia as it hits key planets on the 1990 (Pluto Venus) and Russia 1917 (Scorpio Sun) charts. See post below Russia feeling the cold wind.

 The 16 May 2022 Total Lunar Eclipse looks a good deal more powerful. It has a 25 degree Scorpio Moon opposition Taurus Sun and North Node square Saturn and the Full Moon is in a Half Grand Sextile to Pluto sextile Mars Neptune – cold, unpleasant, forceful and duplicitous. Located to Kyiv, Ukraine puts Saturn exactly (to the minute of a degree) conjunct the  Midheaven, which suggest adjusting to a hard reality under the can-be-domineering Saturn in Aquarius. Beijing has the Sun in the Midheaven suggesting it may enter the fray more visibly. Iran has has the aggressive Mars on the Midheaven.

  The 25 October 2022 Solar Eclipse at 2 Scorpio conjunct Venus is riddled with strained quincunxes of Pluto inconjunct Mars; Mercury to Neptune and Jupiter to New Moon – nothing will fit together easily. Ukraine has an unsettled Uranus on the IC with Pluto just below the Ascendant; Washington, DC for both the late Eclipses like last year has Pluto Saturn in the IC suggesting an inability to make progress or get a grip.

  The 8 November 2022 Lunar Eclipse at 16 Taurus conjunct Uranus squares onto Saturn which is the final hit of the irritable, high-tension theme of 2021/22 which Andre Barbault related (amongst other things) to authoritarian power.  It puts the assertive/aggressive Mars on the Ascendant for Beijing, and a resolute, unyielding Pluto Saturn on the Ascendant for Moscow; and Pluto Ascendant for Ukraine.  

  To summarise from a blizzard of charts and figures – it doesn’t look to be easing up for eastern Europe and eastwards; with China stepping more into centre frame.