Compromise candidates have been nominated for the top EU jobs, who will require ratification by the EU Parliament on July 15^th. None are from eastern Europe which may prove a problem.

Ursula von der Leyen, a staunch Merkel ally, stepped out of the shadows to be aimed for the Juncker role as Commission President. If agreed she would be the first woman to take on the role, with responsibilities for proposing new EU laws, enforcing the bloc’s rules and handling trade deals.

Born 8 October 1958, she studied economics and medicine, has seven children, has been German Minister for Defence recently and is a staunch integrationist, backing closer military co-operation in the EU. Her nomination has raised eyebrows in her home country. The FT writes: ‘ Mistrusted by her fellow Christian Democrats, pilloried by the opposition and disliked by many of the generals under her command, she cuts a lonely figure in Berlin. Few ministries have generated as many negative headlines as hers over the years.’

She is a Sun, Mercury and Venus in Libra with her Sun Mercury on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine to a can-be-constructive Uranus trine Saturn; plus a ferociously determined and ruthless Mars in Gemini square Pluto; and a head-in-the-clouds Jupiter Neptune.

Although she might seem a good fit with the EU since her Libra planets sit in the EU 1^st house and many of her planets are the same being born 9 months after it was founded, she’s probably an even worse match than Juncker. On the relationship chart there’s a control-freaky and hostility-inducing composite Mars opposition Pluto square Venus which is trine/sextile a slippery, ambitious and scandal-attracting Jupiter Neptune.

Her own chart looks upbeat at the moment till late this September with tr Uranus in a ‘surprise lucky break’ opposition to her Jupiter, and again in early 2020. But there’s also a build up of Neptune first in a highly-strung and confused opposition to her Sun/Uranus late this year; and more of the same tripled from tr Pluto square her Sun/Neptune in 2020/2021 at the same time as a highly uncertain tr Neptune square her dogmatic Saturn in Sagittarius. Sinkholes galore.

Christine Lagarde, 1 January 1956 1.40 pm Paris, France, the present head of the IMF, is proposed to replace Draghi at the European Central Bank (ECB). She’s an ambitious Capricorn with a formidably determined and tough Mars Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto Jupiter. She will have her sagging moments but is in better fettle with a confident tr Pluto square her Jupiter/Node midpoint in 2020/2021. And she also has the hard-driving and can-be-influential tr Saturn Pluto moving across her midheaven and her 10^th followed in late 2020 by tr Jupiter for a successful year.

Background on Lagarde isn’t overly cheerful (URL below) so maybe I might rethink that tr Saturn Pluto through her 10th, given that the EU chart itself has a seriously unstable three years 2020 to 2023 especially on the financial front with tr Uranus bouncing off the 8th house Moon, Uranus and Venus. She’s sailed through disasters before and emerged unscathed personally though leaving a trail of wreckage behind

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/07/03/putting-lagarde-charge-will-lead-eurozone-catastrophe/

Charles Michel, 21 December 1975, Belgian PM, is nominated as a replacement for European Council President Donald Tusk. Born 21 December 1975 he’s a late Sun Sagittarius in a lively and argumentative opposition to Mars in Gemini. He’s looking unnerved this year and paralysed in 2020/21 though will pick up thereafter.

His relationship with the EU is friendly but fractious with a composite Sun Mercury Venus trine Mars and square Saturn; and an enthusiastic though explosive Mars Uranus Pluto trine Jupiter. He’ll be living through a rolling series of changes in the EU fairly unhappily over the next several years.

The new President of the European Parliament (and no I haven’t the foggiest why there are so many presidents and distinctions without difference all tangled up in the Brussels bureaucracy) is Italian centre-left, former journalist David-Maria Sassoli, 30 May 1956. He’s a Sun Gemini with a megaton heavyweight Mars in Aquarius opposition Jupiter Pluto in Leo square Saturn in Scorpio – super-confident and very stubborn. It’ll be a white-knuckle ride until he gets to 2021 with his Solar Arc Mars and Saturn colliding with his Neptune and Uranus. He is a key figure for the EU with a composite New Moon in the relationship chart – so a complementary fit. But he’ll be increasingly disillusioned through 2022 to 2024 with the direction it is taking.

Facebook’s work-in-progress cryptocurrency due for launch next year may be called Libra, which may or may not symbolically be helpful given Libras propensity for chucking money around extravagantly. Or maybe that’s the hope.

It could unlock a new era of commerce offering low or no-fee payments between friends or remittance of earnings to families from migrant workers abroad who are often gouged by money transfer services. If it sidestepped credit card transaction fees it would be a cheaper way to pay merchants for traditional ecommerce, or facilitate microtransactions for a la carte news articles or tipping of content creators.

Not everyone is enamoured of the idea. US economist Joseph Stiglitz writing in the Guardian today says: “Only a fool would trust Facebook with their financial wellbeing.” And he says it could prove problematic over money laundering.

The Facebook IPO chart, 18 May 2012 11.31am New York, does look on buoyant form in 2020/2021 with tr Pluto trine the Jupiter, moving on to trine the Sun/Jupiter midpoint the two years after that. Though it won’t be an easy run-up with Neptune and Pluto in transit blocking progress on several fronts this year till late 2020.

The original Facebook chart, 4 February 2004, is in a curious phase – stuck at the moment with Solar Arc Pluto opposition the Saturn; in the start of a long run of Neptunian high-hopes not all of which will pay dividends as it moves round the T Square of Jupiter opposition Venus square Pluto from 2019 till late 2023. With a major upheaval in 2020 from Solar Arc Sun conjunct Uranus; and a disruptive, total turnaround Solar Arc Uranus square Pluto in 2023.

Mark Zuckerburg, 14 May 1984 (time unverified) is a stalwartly determined Sun Venus in Taurus opposition Mars (Moon) and Saturn in Scorpio. He’s also moving into an oddly unsettled phase with tr Neptune square his Mars/Jupiter midpoint and conjunct his Sun/Jupiter midpoint this year and next – both of which suggest dented enthusiasm and dashed hopes. With a catastrophic tr Uranus opposition his Mars/Pluto midpoint from mid 2020 into 2021 when he picks up a longish run of jangled tr Uranus hard aspects first in opposition to his Saturn, then conjunct his Venus, opposition Mars and finally conjunct his Sun all before Uranus moves into Gemini in late 2025. In 2022 as well he has his Solar Arc Sun opposition his Neptune which will make him untypically confused or distracted.

Charts as fixed as his don’t appreciate Uranian transits on the whole since they require adaptation to change, though they do favour IT and high technology.

Whatever happens Facebook and Zuckerburg look to be having their existence turned upside down in the first half of the 2020s.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jul/02/why-facebook-libra-currency-gets-the-thumbs-down

A virulent spat has blown up in the higher echelons of the pop music business with Taylor Swift erupting on social media about her back catalogue being bought over by pop power-broker Scooter Braun. She accused him of ‘incessant manipulative bullying’ over years. He is a publicity-loving Svengali who plucked Justin Bieber from YouTube obscurity, masterminded the rise of Ariana Grande and served as a confidante to Kanye West, all of whom are supporting him. Chart titans have been taking sides with Harry Styles, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and others all “unfollowing” Braun on Instagram. Quelle horreur.

She was born 13 December 1989 (birth times vary) and he 18 June 1981.

She’s a Sun Sagittarius with the unpredictable, can-be-chaotic triple conjunction of Uranus, Saturn, Neptune in Capricorn conjunct Mercury opposition Jupiter in Cancer; and both Pluto and Mars in unforgiving Scorpio.

Brain is a stratospherically ambitious Sun Gemini opposition a musical Neptune trine Pluto; with a hard edged and adventurous Mars in Gemini trine Saturn and Jupiter in Libra. His Saturn trines her Venus in Aquarius and his Venus in Cancer opposes her Saturn – both of which are fine for a working relationship. The major problem (without birth times) is her Mars in Scorpio exactly conjunct his Uranus which is a fairly volcanic trigger point.

Their relationship chart has two stressed Yods, suggesting a relationship that is transformative for both of them, for good or ill. There’s a simmering-rage Mars sextile Pluto inconjunct Mercury (Moon) and a chilly Sun sextile Saturn inconjunct Venus. There’s also an inspirational Fire Grand Trine of Jupiter trine Uranus trine Venus – which if it could be made to work might provide the basis for some co-operation. But there’s probably too much aggravation and strain from the Yods to make that possible.

Evidently it is standard in the music business for artists not to own their back catalogue.

Another set of nuptials this weekend with Big Little Lies star Zoe Kravitz marrying actor Karl Glusman at her father musician Lenny Kravitz’s Paris home.

She was born 1 December 1988 in California and is a fiery Sun Mercury in Sagittarius trine Mars in Aries; with an intensely passionate Venus Pluto in Scorpio and a Virgo Moon.

Karl, 3 January 1988, is a Sun Neptune and Mercury in Capricorn with a Cancer Moon and Venus in Aquarius square Pluto and an ultra-determined Mars in Scorpio.

His Venus squares her Venus Pluto and his Mars in Scorpio opposes her Jupiter in Taurus – so it’ll be a lively, emotionally high-pitched match. Her Mars squares his Sun which will be argumentative.

Their relationship chart has an affectionate composite Sun Venus conjunction but that’s also conjunct Uranus Saturn Mercury – so there will be too much work and barriers from that at times; and tensions which erupt into the open from Saturn Uranus. There’s also composite Jupiter opposition Pluto which initially brings great confidence and mutual support but can turn into a struggle for the upper hand.

This one will be a high-wire act.

Two Capricorns with diametrically different backgrounds got hitched in Vegas on Friday. Rachel Riley, an Oxford maths whizz with an interest in popularising the sciences, 11 January 1986, who’s also a television personality who co-presents the daytime puzzle show Countdown married Pasha Kovalev, 19 January 1980, a professional Russian dancer born in Siberia. They met when she competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

She’s a Sun Venus in Capricorn with (probably) an Aquarius Moon; while he’s a determined and controlling Sun Capricorn sextile Uranus and square Pluto with an Aquarius Moon and Venus in Pisces. His Pluto is trine her Jupiter for high enthusiasm; and square her Venus for passion; but his indulgent Venus opposition Jupiter squares her Saturn so she may criticise his extravagant habits. His Saturn in Virgo is trine her Sun which is good for practicalities but square her Uranus which will bring some rough edges.

Their relationship chart has possessive composite Sun square Pluto and an argumentative Sun Mercury square Mars, so it will get noisy at times. The composite Venus may be conjunct the Moon and is certainly sextile Uranus for fun. It won’t all be sweetness and light with Sun Pluto Mars but that will bring an intense closeness initially though I suspect problems later when it turns into a power struggle.

She is expecting a baby in December which may put a strain on them since tr Pluto will conjunct the composite Sun from early 2020 for two years.

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A headline-grabbing, stage-managed visit by Trump to the demilitarized border between North and South Korea has been written off by critics as political theatre. Lots of publicity but to what end? The stalled denuclearization talks will resume but there’s no indication that Kim Jong Un is serious about getting rid of his weapons programme.

The North Korea 9 September 1948 5.27pm chart looks no more cheerful ahead than it has been as it labours under near starvation with punitive sanctions in place. Tr Neptune will continue to oppose the Virgo Sun till late this year with high-tension insecurity through the autumn and early in 2020; and will hit a financial dashed-hopes square to the Jupiter in 2020/21; doubled up by a financially disappointing Solar Arc Venus conjunct Neptune in 2020 as well; followed by a discouraging setback in 2021 as the Solar Arc Sun squares Saturn.

Kim Jong Un’s leadership chart, 20 December 2011 11.57 am Pyonggang, North Korea, having got over what could have been a terminal series of blockages in the recent past has an evasive tr Neptune square Mercury till late this year and then is facing an undermining, panicky-failure tr Neptune opposition the Mars in 2020/21. Plus the Solar Arc Midheaven is conjunct the Pluto in less than a year’s time which is normally a blocked phase.

There’s nothing much that looks like progress from North Korea’s point of view. And the relationship chart between NK and the USA continues to look disappointing and high-tension for several years ahead.

Stormzy’s performance at Glastonbury has met with rapturous reviews – ‘a historic performance that tore down barriers and moved souls’; ‘from explosive opening to explosive finale, with all kind of personal, political and emotional epiphanies occurring throughout.’

The first male black artist and first British rapper to headline the music festival, he strode on stage in a stab-proof Union Jack vest, highlighting inequality in the justice system and the arts.

Born 26 July 1993 in London, he’s become successful very quickly with only one album to his name. In the past he’s spoken out about institutionalised racism and police brutality, called Theresa May a “criminal” for her response to the Grenfell disaster and has a pointed attack on Boris Johnson in one of his songs. He’s evidently one of Jeremy Corbyn’s favourite rappers.

His Sun is in entertaining Leo in a confident sextile to Jupiter in fair-minded Libra, with an intensely emotional Scorpio Moon. His Mercury in Cancer is opposition Neptune Uranus in Capricorn contributing to his outspoken streak. He has Mars in hard working Virgo trine Uranus Neptune, sextile Pluto – so he has the power to influence and is a powder-keg of pent-up, high-octane energy. Plus a tough-minded, unyielding Pluto square Saturn.

This is an upbeat year for him with his Solar Arc Jupiter square his Sun; and tr Uranus trine his Sun/Jupiter midpoint exactly at the moment.

Rumours are that Jeremy Corbyn’s health is deteriorating and that he is not up to the job. According to The Times, senior civil servants are warning he may be forced to stand down because he is “too frail and is losing his memory”. They say he is being “propped up” by his advisers and lacks a firm grasp of both foreign affairs and the domestic agenda. Labour figures talk of a culture of bullying and intimidation in his office; and a former cabinet minister told of a “moral malaise at the top”.

His term chart, 24 September 2016 12.51pm London always did look unstable from April this year onwards with tr Pluto square the Uranus which is often when leaders topple off their perch. That repeats off and on till late 2020, with the next exact aspect early in 2020 – but it could happen at any time.

The Cancer Moon opposition Pluto on this chart is also being rattled up by the upcoming early July Cancer Solar Eclipse and was even more triggered by this year’s January Solar Eclipse. So very much a crisis year.

His own chart, 26 May 1949, does have tr Neptune square the Mercury, since 2018 and around till this December – which would certainly induce a vagueness though it can happen at any age and isn’t necessarily indicative of mental deterioration. His Progressed Mars in Cancer will be affected by the July Solar Eclipse and his Solar Arc Mars in later Cancer by the mid July Lunar Eclipse – so it’s an insecure time for him.

His relationship charts with both the 1900 and 1906 Labour Party charts are both facing transiting Saturn discouragement and a sense of separation.

His inner circle of Karie Murray and Seumas Milne I can find no birth dates for – grateful if anyone has them.

John McDonnell, 8 September 1951, his Shadow Chancellor, has a revolutionary focal point Uranus in Cancer his chart which is directly in line of the July Cancer Solar Eclipse so his life is due for a serious shake up. His relationship with Corbyn is under worried and undermining Neptune transits all year.

Another is Andrew Murray, 3 July 1958, ex-Communist Party, hard, hard left, semi-aristo upbringing has his Cancer Sun within a degree of this July Cancer Solar Eclipse so it is also a time at the crossroads for him with setbacks through the autumn and major confusion and insecurity on his relationship chart with Corbyn.

The fifth Len McCluskey, 23 July 1950, has disappointing Neptune transits running in 2019/2020 on his personal chart; and red alerts flashing on his relationship chart with Corbyn.

The Labour Party charts themselves aren’t too illuminating.

Pic: Chris McAndrew

Kamala Harris was the front-runner from last night’s Democratic debate with the second batch of hopefuls.

Born 20 October 1964 9.28 pm Oakland, California, she’s a lively and entertaining 5^th house Sun Libra opposition an Aries Moon; with an outspoken 3^rd house Mars in Leo in a tough-minded opposition to Saturn; and a complicated sense of her roots with Uranus Pluto Venus in her 4^th – her mother is Indian and her father Jamaican.

She does have tr Pluto trine her Jupiter from early 2020 onwards for two years which is usually successful and good for confidence, and is exact on Inauguration Day. Though there’s nothing showing on her midheaven or Solar Arc midheaven; and she’ll have Saturn Pluto (and Jupiter) all in the 8^th then which feels more backroom than front of house. She does have her Solar Arc Full Moon sitting exactly on her North Node at the election which is fairly obscure but could land her in the middle of the zeitgeist. She’s certainly in with a shout.

Elizabeth Warren, 22 June 1949 1.51pm seems to have moderately impressed viewers but she’s sagging badly in 2020 with Neptunian sinkers plus a couple of collision Solar Arcs.

Joe Biden isn’t looking good this year or next with tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Jupiter midpoint which will erode his confidence.; plus a dashed-hopes tr Pluto square his Mars/Neptune midpoint in 2019/20 and across the election.

Peter Buttigieg see post March 19 2019.

Agree with Solaia – it’s hopeless with this number. The field needs to drastically slim down.