A breakaway group of 7 MPs have abandoned the Labour Party because of concerns over Corbyn’s handling of Brexit, far-left bullying and anti-Semitism.  They have set themselves up as an independent group with Chuka Umunna saying that the old, tribal politics were broken and inviting others across party lines to join them.  He said ‘If you’re sick and tired of politics-as-usual, well, so are we.’ And so say most of the electorate who are wondering how to junk the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition both at the same time soonest.

The breakaway group was announced at 10.13am, which isn’t too inspiring a chart with two planets and the midheaven in the final anarectic degree and an Aquarius Sun with an identity problem. Umunna himself, 17 October 1978, doesn’t look overly confident until at least 2021/22.

The Labour Party 27 February 1900 chart is certainly in a downward slide of panicky failure at the moment with Solar Arc Mars conjunct the Neptune. The 12 February 1906 Labour Party chart is facing a nosedive and a series of jolts and jangles in 2020 but getting its mojo back in 2022/23.

Corbyn’s relationship with both Labour charts looks pressured and separated through this year.

Not that the Tories are getting away unscathed since the hard-line Brexiteers are pushing for deselection of MPs not deemed in line with their objectives.

The Conservative Party, 10 May 1912, is mired in confusion this year, continuing on from last with tr Pluto opposition the Neptune and tr Pluto also in a dreary and discouraging trine to Saturn this year and next; with even more intense and hostile debates than heretofore come this April onwards, on and off till late 2020.

Theresa May has an iron grip on this chart though with indications of considerable strain – from a composite Sun Pluto inconjunct Saturn. That has been creaking mightily recently with tr Uranus square the composite Sun Pluto. From early March tr Uranus opposes the composite Jupiter, followed in May by tr Uranus opposition the composite Uranus – which could be seen as great relief all round – so maybe she’ll exit after the March 29^th cut off date. Failing that tr Uranus reruns to oppose the Uranus late in the year and into early 2020.

Jussie Smollett, a US actor best known for Empire, claimed he was the subject of a hate crime last month when two white men hurled racial and homophobic insults as they punched him, poured a chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck. “This is Maga country,” he says they told him, referring to President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan.

It now transpires that Chicago police who are investigating believe two Nigerian brothers who worked as extras on Empire were paid to stage the attack. Smollett through lawyers vehemently denies any involvement.

It’s hardly a riveting story whichever it eventually falls out. But what’s interesting is that he was born (wiki) on the same day as Prince William 21 June 1982 in Santa Rosa, CA.

He’s a New Moon in Gemini/Cancer, born on the day of a Solar Eclipse, opposition Neptune and trine Pluto Jupiter – indicating a special kind of individual with high ambition, creative though also with a streak of evasiveness. He has the tough-minded Saturn Pluto conjunction in Libra, with a super-confident Pluto conjunct Jupiter – and a Yod of Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Venus in Taurus. Plus another inconjunct of Sun to Uranus – so a fairly strained temperament with a sense of never quite fitting in. Though he has a good deal to offer once he gets onto the right track.  His Yod has moved by Solar Arc at the moment to connect with his other inconjunct of Sun Uranus, suggesting a critical time in his life. But he’ll have a moment of relief in early March with tr Uranus trine his Sun/Jupiter and opposition his Jupiter so there may be more info emerging.

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Another glitz and glitter moment as Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom announce their engagement after an on-off romance since 2016. She’s a singer/songwriter, one of the best-selling music artists of all time and he’s a mega successful actor – Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, Pirates of the Caribbean. Her previous short-lived marriage to Russell Brand proved a disaster; and Bloom has also had a brief marriage.

Katy Perry,  25 October 1984 7.58 am Santa Barbara, CA (astrotheme) grew up in a peripatetic and fairly poverty-stricken obsessively religious family and started in gospel singing. She has a heavy chart with an intense Sun Pluto in Scorpio in her 12^th (time being accurate) and a downbeat Mercury, Saturn, Moon in Scorpio as well. She has a wedge or bundle chart with all planets within just over a sextile which makes for very concentrated energy and a strong sense of direction. What lifts the heavy feel of Saturn Pluto and Scorpio is an enthusiastic and lucky Mars Jupiter in Capricorn and a flirtatious Venus Uranus in fiery Sagittarius. But she’s a complicated mix which won’t make relationships easy.

Orlando Bloom, 13 January 1977 9.15 am Canterbury, England, only discovered in his teens that his real father wasn’t who he’d thought, so didn’t have an uncomplicated childhood either.

He has an ambitious Capricorn Sun in the creative 12^th trine a confident and lucky Jupiter in Taurus; with filmic Neptune on his midheaven. Birth time being accurate he’s got a private, intense collection of Pluto, Scorpio Moon and Uranus in his 8^th, which will give him the knack of projecting an aura, but won’t make close relationships easy.

His Jupiter falls in her 7^th which is positive; and his Scorpio Moon is conjunct her Sun Pluto which will make for a deep though possessive connection. His Uranus is on her Ascendant and conjunct her Saturn, so he’ll jolt her out of her down moods. Though they’ll often have differing agendas.  His Mercury Mars in Capricorn are conjunct her Jupiter Mars which is lively and good. But his Pluto is square her Mars which will create problems down the road as to who has the last word in discussions.

Their relationship chart has a positive composite Jupiter square the Sun and Mercury and trine Jupiter which will smooth round a good many rough edges and be mutually supportive. There’s also a passionate composite Venus square Pluto. Birth times being sound, the composite Pluto is in the 10^th which means together they could be influential as long as they don’t try to manipulate each other.

Both have fairly challenging charts and personalities so it won’t be a cakewalk. 2020 will be a testing phase for their togetherness.

Orlando Bloom Pic – Georges Biard

India has threatened to ensure “complete isolation” of Pakistan after a suicide bomber killed 46 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir. Politicians claim to have “incontrovertible evidence” of Pakistan’s involvement but have not provided it. Customs duty has now been raised to 200% on all goods from across the border, an effective ban. It will hit Pakistan badly which is struggling economically and is only this week welcoming Mohammed bin Salman from Saudi Arabia with the hopes of attracting investment.

There’s nothing too dramatic showing on the main charts though Pakistan does have tr Uranus moving into its 8^th house of joint finances exactly now, starting a seven year phase of economic ups and downs.  Though there are fractious and explosively angry Mars midpoints being elbowed by tr Pluto in opposition exactly now and on and off till the year end.

And if the elective start times are accurate then the composite midheaven (= joint direction) is under heavy challenges till the year end; and there’ll be a re-set of the relationship after some jolts from mid this year onwards.

Imran Khan’s Premiership chart, 18 August 2018 always looked volatile and crisis-ridden with Mars on the IC opposition Node square a 7^th house Uranus pointing to sudden separations in neighbouring relationships. Tr Uranus is exactly square the Mars now and moving to conjunct the Uranus in a few weeks’ time, repeating into 2020 – so the rift may not heal quickly.

I’m never popular when I point back to the old First Unification chart of India under Queen Victoria, of 1 January 1877, but it does seem to still hold validity. The major Gujarat earthquake some years back showed up more clearly on it than the modern India chart.  And that 1877 chart is highly stressed through this year and next.

Kashmir is the subject of territorial dispute between India, Pakistan and China.

Congress don’t want it, two thirds of voters in a poll are against it, the Republicans wish it would go away, illegal immigration has diminished over recent years and illegal drugs don’t come across the border but through ports. In the face of resistance and reality Trump sails full steam ahead, declaring a national emergency to railroad through his wall. It’ll run into myriad legal challenges and almost certainly won’t happen but then he’ll be able to blame the rest of the universe for him breaking his campaign promise.

Sean Hannity, the Talk Show host on Fox News, has been egging him on of late which given the endless non-working hours he sits glued to the channel, coke in one hand and burger in the other, has clearly had an impact.

Hannity, 30 December 1961 10.30 am New York is an aggressively ambitious Sun Mars in Capricorn in a determined and volatile trine to Pluto and Uranus in Virgo. His status-quo-upsetting Uranus sits exactly on Trump’s Ascendant so he will play on Trump’s defiant streak.  Hannity’s pie-in-the-sky Jupiter square Neptune is also in hard aspect to Trump’s Pluto so he’ll fill his head full of fantasy hopes. Hannity’s Libra Moon is conjunct Trump’s Jupiter which makes for an amiable connection.

Their relationship chart is fairly fraught and runs on a fair amount of anger which as long as it is channelled outwards will keep their joint ship afloat. Though the risk is if it turns inwards, it’ll get destructive. Their composite Saturn opposes Neptune and Mars and squares Uranus – and that will be rattled sharply from March 6^th as tr Uranus opposes the composite Mars for a few weeks; with heavier pressures and concerns in 2020/2021. Though Hannity’s personal chart looks on a lucky and successful roll for the next two or three years despite the odd blip.

The other rabble rouser about immigration in the White House is Stephen Miller, born 23 August 1985 4.53 pm Santa Monica, CA. His Virgo Sun is conjunct Trump’s Ascendant (and Hannity’s Uranus), so he’s a key POTUS adviser.  Like Trump he has Venus in Cancer (at the same degree), Mars in Leo and a Sagittarius Moon – Trump must think he’s found a mini-me. Miller’s Jupiter in Aquarius opposes Trump’s Pluto with his Pluto in square, so his pushy confidence will prompt Trump into behind-the-scenes power plays. But Miller is heading into a few sudden disruptive turnarounds this year from April onwards with tr Uranus opposing his Pluto and midheaven; and in general is into a less successful, lower profile few years as tr Saturn disappears below his Ascendant.

From January 6^th post on Donald Trump’s timeline. From 13 February to 30 March he picks up tr Pluto opposition his Mars/Uranus midpoint, which is a test of nerves, overly excitable, violent emotions, high insecurity, can be accident or operation. And following directly after that are three seriously challenging, bad tempered, trapped and discouraging Pluto transits in hard aspect to Mars/Node, Moon/Mars and his natal Saturn from March 31^st to May 20. These will repeat on and off till late 2020.

His Progressed Moon moving through his 12^th will conjunct his Mars at the start of April as well which is likely to provoke an explosion of rage.

His Solar Return from birthday June 2019 to June 2020 is formidably difficult with Saturn Pluto in the 10^th opposition a 4^th house Mars Mercury, which looks like a career dead-halt.

That’s his timeline for the next few months which does look like a gathering storm.

The poignant absence of Princess Diana from her sons’ lives as they marry and have children always brings questions about how she would have related to their spouses.

A Sun Cancer with an Aquarius Moon, she gave the impression of doting on her boys but could be fickle and emotionally unpredictable with friends. Her Moon opposition Uranus hinting at the loss of her own mother through divorce in her childhood would make her less trusting of women.

She’d almost certainly have found Kate easier since Kate’s Cancer Moon and Jupiter in Scorpio chimed with Diana’s Sun; and Kate’s Mercury Venus in Aquarius would have resonated with Diana’s Jupiter.

Meghan would have been more problematic with her Mars in Cancer clashing with Diana’s Sun with her Saturn Jupiter in square making for a competitive, argumentative and rather blocked chemistry.  Meghan’s Leo Sun squared Diana’s Neptune  so she would have found her mother-in-law evasive.

What would in all likelihood have caused problems is that both Kate and Meghan have their Pluto on Diana’s midheaven, hinting at potential struggles over power and position. It would be especially the case with Kate since she has her unyielding and duty bound Saturn conjunct Pluto, both on Diana’s midheaven – and Kate would naturally always take precedence since she’s in direct line.

It would have been an enormously tricky situation with a divorced Diana on the sidelines.

Ryan Adams, one of the US’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters has been accused of unpleasant and manipulative behaviour towards women. Seven women, including his ex-wife, have asserted he dangled career opportunities in exchange for sex and if they didn’t let him have his way he allegedly harassed them. His ex-wife, actress and singer Mandy Moore says his ‘controlling behaviour’ blocked her from growing in the music industry.

Born 5 November 1974 8.17 pm Jacksonville, North Carolina (astrotheme) he grew up in a dysfunctional family with his father abandoning ship early on and his grandparents stepping in to effectively raise him. He has an intensely emotional Scorpio Sun conjunct passionate Venus with Mars in ultra-determined and vengeful Scorpio close by. He has planets in all three Water signs with Jupiter in Pisces and Saturn and maybe Moon in Cancer – so he will live in his own creative bubble. He did have a heavy drug problem but was then diagnosed with Meuniere’s Disease (inner ear) and Tinnitus.

What strikes me as odd was why Mandy Moore ever married him in the first place – 10 April 1984 8.21 Nashua, NH. Her Aries Sun is square his Saturn; her Pluto in Scorpio is conjunct his Mars, her Saturn in Scorpio is conjunct his Sun Venus and his Pluto squares her Jupiter – that is blocked six ways to Sunday and on both sides. The only bright spark is his Jupiter falling in her 10^th which would give her the idea that he would raise her status and further her career.

The relationship chart has an explosive composite Mars Uranus conjunction sitting midway between a cool Venus trine Saturn; with a neurotic Saturn square Neptune. And the wedding chart, 10 March 2009, is horrific with the Sun conjunct Uranus opposition Saturn which is highly unstable; and an unsupportive Mars Neptune.

I’m wary of #metoo spilling over into very grey areas of relationship dysfunction. He sounds a mess but adult women have choices – walk away. Sometimes (most often) the breakdown of a relationship cuts both ways.

Neil McCormick who writes lucidly in the Telegraph about popular music says: “I don’t want to defend a jerk just because he is a talented jerk. But if having sleazy relationships with musical admirers is a career-wrecking crime, I suspect they are going to have to lock up half the rock and pop stars who ever stepped onto a stage.”

An astro-quickie on Olly Robbins, Theresa May’s favourite civil servant, who’s been spearheading the Brexit negotiations in Brussels. In an extraordinary lapse of judgement (or was it?) he gossiped about the UK government’s strategy over a late-night drink in a bar earlier this week and was overheard by the ITV journalist Angus Walker. He said the strategy was to force agreement of her unpopular and inadequate deal or face a long delay, since No Deal was effectively off the table. All since hotly denied.

Two things are interesting about his chart. One is his Sun, almost certainly an Anaretic = last degree Aries. Theresa May herself has three planets in the final degree of a sign. The characteristics are dithering endlessly, then leaping blindly to a decision that contradict most of what went before. The tr Uranus Mars conjunction in Aries was conjunct his Sun when he made his gaffe so ramping up his excitability.  Tr Uranus will be moving to oppose his Uranus from the first days of March, so he’s in a rock n’ roll phase when sudden decisions and changes are likely.

The second point of interest is that he, like Grayling, and T May has Mars in Pisces – on the focal point of a scattered Mutable T Square to Venus opposition Neptune; and inconjunct Pluto as well as trine Saturn and trine Uranus. So Mars in Pisces to the nth degree. Pisces is not a sign where Mars is happy.

If a pre-mid-day birth, then he’s got an inspirational and attention-seeking Fire Grand Trine of a Leo Moon trine Jupiter trine Neptune, formed into a Kite by a pushily confident Jupiter opposition Pluto. Making influential Pluto the driving planet which just happens to conjunct T May’s Sun – so a close relationship in which he almost certainly holds the reins.

Rumours have it he has been sounding out merchant banks as his post-Brexit escape route.

His relationship chart with T May is close, friendly, though with a hint of illusions about it and was always destined to live through tumultuous times and many changes. There’s an irritating setback at the moment and a slump come April onwards.

Michelle Obama’s mother – Marian Robinson – wasn’t about to let the former FLOTUS’ spotlight appearance at the Grammy’s go to her head with a distinctly off-hand series of texts suggesting the ‘real stars’ weren’t her daughter.

Born 30 July 1937 in Chicago, she’s a tough cookie with a formidable and unyielding Mars in Scorpio trine Pluto trine Saturn in forced-to-be-self-reliant Aries; and her Pluto in a confident opposition to Jupiter. Her Leo Sun squares a Taurus Moon and Uranus – making her independent-minded and stubborn.

It’s not the easiest relationship with Michelle since her Leo Sun opposes Michelle’s Mars; and her Pluto opposes Michelle’s Sun; with her Mars square Michelle’s Saturn in Aquarius. Lots of gritty edges in there and power struggles.

Mercifully their relationship chart does have a mutually supportive composite Sun Mercury trine Jupiter which will help to smooth out a few wrinkles. There’s a Grand Trine of Venus trine Mars trine Pluto which will mean when they co-operate they make fast progress, though again there’ll be moments of tension as well as affection.

Marian’s ultra-determined Mars in Scorpio is conjunct Barack’s midheaven which will have led either to competitive arguments or she’ll have breathed more ambition into him. She won’t always have taken kindly to his freedom-loving streak since her Mars square his 7^th house Uranus. Her Pluto opposition Jupiter connects with his Saturn in Capricorn Jupiter in Aquarius conjunction – so she arguably did further his idealistic vision. Not a lady to be overlooked.