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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 20^th 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 8^th 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 1^st 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 1^st 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

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/18/trumps-suit-against-the-new-york-times-is-nonsense-yet-it-poses-a-grave-threat

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 5^th house is unaspected which would tend to make him obsessive, single minded and overly self-contained. Plus Mars Neptune conjunct in Scorpio in his 6^th 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 6^th 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 6^th house Neptune over the next three or four years.

Venezuela is feeling the brunt of Trump’s unorthodox approach to unsanctioned military action as another boat from the deep south carrying drugs is sunk. There are murmurs that this is just the first target and Nicolas Maduro, the dictatorial president is the real prize. He is already hiding in one of his 63 underground bunkers lest he faced the same fate as Manuel Noriega in 1989. Maduro is in his third successive six-year term as president, after rigged elections, arrested and exiled opposition leaders. The USA now has a large naval task force in the Caribbean equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a US air force build up in Puerto Rico. And the US Department of Defense has rebranded itself the Department of War. A $50 million bounty has been put on Maduro for masterminding the drug networks endangering the US, twice that for Bin Laden.

One driving force on foreign policy inside the White House is Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants.  He said “The president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organisations.”  The USA has already leaked the co-ordinates on social media of his deepest bunker five storeys below Simón Bolívar airport? Beijing, a Maduro ally, has already issued a statement warning the US against the “unilateral and excessive use of force”.

  Venezuela, 5 July 1811 3pm Caracas, does have signs of upheaval and internal unrest in 2026 with the Solar Arc Uranus square the 4^th house Pluto – with the Pluto already feeling the effects of the recent Lunar Eclipse hinting at the need for a change of attitude.

  Maduro’s initial presidency chart, 19 April 2013 2.05pm does have tr Uranus conjunct the Midheaven now and into 2026 again pointing at a significant change of direction ahead. With the early 2026 Aquarius Solar Eclipse falling conjunct the Descendant and opposition the Leo Moon pointing to crisis relations with neighbours.

 Maduro’s personal chart 23 November 1962 9.03 pm Caracas,  has tr Uranus opposing his Sagittarius Sun Mercury now and through 2026 for a time of major disruption; plus a discouraging Solar Arc Sun conjunct his Saturn in 2026.

   Trump certainly dislikes Maduro with a composite Mars Pluto conjunction in their relationship chart. As does Rubio.

  Though there is nothing too specific pointing to a major escalation.

Pete Murray, a fixture on BBC pop music shows through the 1950s/60s and on is amazingly still going strong with his 100^th birthday this week. He hosted the rock and roll programme Six-Five Special, appeared as a regular panellist on Juke Box Jury and was a recurring presence in the BBC’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. He returned to broadcasting for a Boom Radio special recently over 70 years after his career began.

 He was born born 19 September 1925 at 1.30pm London, and has a hard-working, high-vitality Sun conjunct Mars in late Virgo opposition a maverick Uranus in his communicative 3^rd house. Mercury also in chatty Virgo is in a sensible sextile to Saturn in Scorpio and trine/sextile a super-confident Jupiter opposition Pluto. His Libra Moon is square the Jupiter opposition Pluto making him well-designed to interface with the public, having a knack for being in tune with the prevailing mood.   

 His 8^th house Pluto in Cancer will have given him a subtle but powerful influence.

  What is intriguing is his Pluto is conjunct Sirius = honour, renown, Jupiter  = as was the case with Jimmy Carter who died recently aged 100. Ditto Bob Dole who died at 98. Queen Elizabeth 11 died at 96. George H Bush died at 94 and Hugh Hefner at 91. That may be coincidence since Marilyn Monroe also had Pluto conjunct Sirius – but it clearly has a tendency to longevity.  

Robert Redford, one of Hollywood’s pre-eminent leading men, renowned for his performances in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting and All the President’s Men has died. He was also acclaimed for launching the Sundance Film Festival, aimed at shining a light on new film-makers. It has been credited with launching the careers of directors including Quentin Tarantino and Darren Aronofsky. In 1980, he made his directorial debut with Ordinary People, which won four Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.

 He was born 18 August 1936 8.02pm Santa Monica, California, with an accountant father and a Texan mother. He credited his environmentalism and love of nature to his childhood visits to Texas. Keen on art and sport, he muddled through college before settling to acting. He married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, with whom he had four children later divorcing and latterly marrying his long-term girlfriend Sibylle Szaggars in 2009. His eldest son, died when he was two months old and his other son a writer and producer, died of cancer at 58 five years ago.

  He retired from acting in 2018 although he later made a series of cameo appearances, including in White House Plumbers, a HBO television series about the team behind the Watergate break-ins that led to the collapse of Nixon’s presidency.

  He had a hard-working 6^th house Leo Sun conjunct Alphard, which can give artistic and musical talents as well as attract fame. His Sun was unaspected making him an independent spirit. His 6^th house also had a stellium in Virgo of Venus, Neptune, Mercury, Moon opposition Saturn in Pisces square Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 9^th. Highly Mutable, highly strung, fidgety, a multi-tasker and a perfectionist, keen on creating a better society (Saturn Neptune) and saved from the worst excesses of Virgo/6^th house by  his enthusiastic, expansive Jupiter in its own house the 9^th. Handled well, such a Jupiter makes for a talented teacher and enlightened spokesman, tolerant, wholehearted and community-minded.

  He also had Mars in flamboyant Leo conjunct Pluto in his entertaining 5^th house so he would pack quite a punch in his  performances; with his Mars square Uranus adding yet another dimension to his freedom loving and uncompromising approach.

 His Sun/Moon midpoint was conjunct his Venus for happy one-to-one partnerships in life.

  His late Pisces Ascendant square his final degree Sagittarius Midheaven were both being triggered by the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse and his Venus, Neptune by the recent Lunar Eclipse.

 Another huge talent gone – Neptune’s swansong in Pisces.

Mark Carney took the benefit of the anti-Trump mood when he won the Canada election and over- promised about what he could deliver. As parliament in Ottawa resumes there is chatter about how much he can actually make stick.

  Donald Trump has imposed punishing tariffs on some sectors of the economy, like steel and autos, but has granted a majority of Canadian goods a broad tariff exemption under the current US-Mexico-Canada free trade deal. Recent opinion polling suggests that voters are feeling less panicked by Trump but increasingly worried about the economy. A recent  poll indicated that Canadians felt Carney was too focused on the US president at the expense of other pressing concerns.

Mark Carney, 116 March 1965 7.56am Fort Smith, NT, Canada,  was sworn in on 14 March this year at 11.28 am Ottawa, which has a financially-blocked Pluto in the 8^th plus a tricky, swampy Saturn, Sun, North Node, Neptune and Scheat in the 10^th opposition a 4^th house Moon which suggests a less than robust approach and one at odds with the electorate’s wishes and security (Moon in 4^th).  The late Virgo Moon will be in line with the approaching Virgo Eclipse as it also opposes the Neptune – with tr Neptune Saturn in hard aspect as well all winter which points to an electorate worrying about security.

 One of Carney’s problems is that he has an over-hopeful, high-finance Jupiter opposition Neptune which sits on top of the Canada tough-frontiersman Saturn in Scorpio opposition Pluto. So whatever momentary uplift he offered to the voters, once the dust settled they would start to worry about his ability to deliver. On the Carney/Canada relationship chart by 2026 tr Pluto will continue to conjunct the composite Neptune and square the composite Venus as the early hopes start to fade with financial realities biting.

 The Bank of Canada chart, 11 March 1935 is showing the strain over the next two years plus with the Solar Arc Pluto conjunct Mars in 2026 and SA Mars opposition Pluto in 2027.

 The Canada country chart, 1 July 1867 12 am Ottawa, if the start time is accurate, is changing its future outlook and direction as well as its friends with Pluto moves this year into the 11^th house for years to come; and sensing a lessening of old ties and ambitions with an uncertain tr Saturn Neptune moving through the 12^th. Tr Uranus through the 2^nd will make for financial ups and downs for several years ahead, not necessarily disastrous but less steady than before. Tr Jupiter through the 4^th this year will make the country keen to find security within their own borders and will bounce out with more exuberance from July 2026 for a year with tr Jupiter through their 5^th.  

  Canada’s relationship with the USA, never amiable at the best of times is under strain exactly now with tr Pluto making the final square to the composite Saturn; with uncertainty in 2026 and a tussle for the upper hand in 2027.

Carney’s personal chart with its stellium in Virgo of Uranus, Moon, Pluto, Mars sitting across from his Pisces Sun, Venus and Saturn square a Gemini North Node is more impetuous and unpredictable than his image might suggest. Plus a Boris Johnson head-in-the-clouds Jupiter opposition Neptune. His Solar Arc Midheaven will oppose his Moon, Pluto, Mars over the coming year into 2027 which suggests slow progress if not absolute deadlock.  Whether or not he will last the course is not clear from his chart but he is certainly running into total catastrophe towards the end of this decade.

An unprecedented second state visit for Trump kicks off tomorrow. For him a vanity trip with photo ops galore amongst the Royals at Windsor. For the UK it is realpolitik with the hope of lower tariffs and a better bilateral relationship with the US than other countries.

 Though Epstein managing to send tremors from beyond the grave (or wherever) with the Mandelson scandale may put a minor damper on the forced jollity.

  Trump’s chart relocated to London puts his ‘influential’ Pluto and flamboyant Mars in Leo in the 10^th, though Pluto close to the MC can have its downside. Perhaps his natal keeping-secrets 12^th house Pluto is exposed when it relocates to the 10^th with possible career damage.

 Transiting Mars is exactly conjunct the relocated Ascendant hinting at a combative, pro-active approach though there should be less risk since almost all of the events will be out of the public view.

 Trump’s relationship with King Charles has a friendly composite Sun Venus conjunction and a chained-together Saturn Pluto with ripples of disagreement from Mars trine Uranus – but will almost certainly glide by without incident.

 Prince William has a superficially amiable composite Sun Venus trine Jupiter in his relationship chart with Trump but that hides a deep-dislike composite Mars Pluto conjunction beside Uranus Saturn.

  The UK regards Trump with a degree of irritation and the composite UK/DT Sun opposition Moon square Mars is being undermined at the moment and through 2026/27 by tr Saturn Neptune in hard aspect.

  More pointedly, Trump’s relationship with Keir Starmer is not in great shape despite all the greasing and grovelling. Their composite Sun Mars is being ground down by tr Pluto in opposition exactly now until early December this year.

   Trump’s personal chart looks a touch downbeat over this week with tr Saturn square the Mercury/Uranus midpoint; and pushing against headwinds until early December with tr Pluto opposition his Saturn/Pluto midpoint. In part one assumes due to Charlie Kirk being shot.

   On the Epstein front, DT’s relationship with his posthumous chart is nerve stretched now and through 2026; worse in 2027.   For some reason (which fascinates me) Trump’s entangled relationship chart with Ghislaine Maxwell is facing a crucial turning point exactly now and again till early 2026. There is a ‘fated’ composite yod tying their destinies together onto an apex composite Sun at 28 degrees Pisces. That Sun is catching the separating tr Saturn conjunct exactly now, with the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse adding its contribution of a crisis – and that effect runs on for several months.

   Just to mop up the Royals – with King Charles having had a meeting with Prince Harry for the first time since 2022, there is much excitable talk about a reconciliation and prodigal son return. Though Charles’ relationship chart with Harry has a sagging confidence tr Saturn Neptune square the composite Jupiter extending through 2026 – so not all moving ahead smoothly.

 More significantly Charles’ relationship with Meghan looks upset this month with the Solar Eclipse conjunct their composite Venus and an emotionally-dampening tr Saturn Neptune in opposition throughout the winter; with more disappointment through 2026 as tr Neptune Saturn oppose the composite Mars Sun. From which one might assume she is not delirious about a Harry UK return. 

  Meghan’s relationship with Harry with its final degree composite Mars in Virgo is also catching the Virgo Solar Eclipse and tr Neptune Saturn in opposition throughout the winter pointing the arguments and aggravations in Montecito. With hints of a major reset or rift come 2026 as tr Uranus squares their composite Sun and opposes the Uranus.