Chris Packham, the naturalist and BBC TV presenter of SpringWatch, has ended up with dead crows attached to his gate after he successfully campaigned for a change in the law which farmers and others fear will stop them keeping pests like pigeons and magpies under control.

He was born 4 May 1961 in Southampton, and has talked openly about his Aspergers and depression. He has a chart similar in some regards to David Attenborough with both having an earthy Taurus Sun in aspect to idealistic and filmic Neptune and expansive Jupiter in Aquarius. Though Packham is more of a revolutionary with his Sun Mercury square Uranus; and he has an angry, hard-edged Mars in Cancer opposition Saturn.

Attenborough has very marked ‘master number’ 11 and superstar 22^nd harmonics and a leaving-a-legacy-for-history 17H; which Packham doesn’t have.

Packham looks to be pleased this July onwards into 2020 with tr Uranus square his Jupiter but in general he looks deflated and confused ahead for several years with transiting Neptune hitting on half a dozen significant midpoints plus tr Uranus opposition his Neptune; and then he has a really tough tr Pluto conjunct his Saturn opposition his Mars in 2023/24.

I would have to confess I find him a touch extreme in his views at times. Keeping the ecosystems in balance means culling. Getting sentimental about furry and feathered creatures and letting them run rampant often causes them more harm in the long run.

Protests in Morocco over unemployment and corruption which have been running since 2016 have resulted in a “new social deal” with many workers promised a pay rise. Though police have been using water cannons against teachers’ protests.  It’s a country with glaring social and territorial inequalities, and high youth unemployment. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament though the King, Mohammed V1, holds vast executive and legislative powers.

It gained independence on 28 May 1956 11 am Rabat, which gives a 10^th house Sun Mercury in Gemini and an exceptionally tough-minded and stubbornly enduring Jupiter Pluto in Leo on the Ascendant opposition Mars square Saturn in Scorpio. So an image which is flamboyant and entertaining, an aggressive stance towards neighbours; and rigid as well as cold when it comes to domestic matters. With a can-be fanatical Neptune square Uranus.

Change won’t come easily with a chart as fixed as this but it’ll take a fair battering from tr Uranus before it exits Taurus around 2024/26; and there’ll be some considerable stresses and strains before then in 2021 and 22 from several undermining and disruptive Solar Arcs, one of which may point to a natural disaster of some magnitude in 2021.

King Mohammed’s Accession chart, 23 July 1999, is also very fixed with a Leo Sun Mercury opposition Neptune square Mars in Scorpio opposition Jupiter; with Uranus in Aquarius opposition North Node square Saturn in Taurus – so his rulership is equally resistant to change and finds adapting to new circumstances very tricky. The pressures on this chart picked up when tr Uranus moved into Taurus late last year squaring the Sun and it will continue to be unsettled and even insecure as tr Uranus moves its way round Mars, Saturn and Uranus for the next few years.

There’s disputed territory in the Western Sahara, a sparsely populated region with a semi-recognised government which controls one fifth of it. Relations between SADR and Morocco look increasingly stressed over the next few years till the mid 2020s. But there’s nothing indicating great success for a breakaway in the near future.

The Middle Eastern and North African countries will find it increasingly difficult to stick to the old ways as their young populations grow ever more restive.

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The much-delayed next James Bond film will start Principal Photography on April 28 and is due to premiere next April. It’ll be Daniel Craig’s last to his relief since he clearly wanted out; and Rami Malek of Bohemian Rhapsody will play the villain.

The kick-off date isn’t too inspiring with the tough Saturn Pluto opposition Node square Mercury which doesn’t sound like a light-hearted, fun shoot. There’s a disruptive Sun Uranus. And a heavily aspected Neptune which could be OK for film creativity but suggests the logistics may get confused and there’ll be a few panicky dips with tr Neptune square the Mars off and on this year and next.

Daniel Craig, 2 March 1968, a Sun Pisces with a hard-edged Mars Saturn in Aries will also have a few sinking moments through this year and next courtesy of Neptune in hard aspect to various of his midpoints. Though tr Jupiter will be trine his Uranus Pluto around April which will bring a smile of relief, if it runs to schedule.

Rami Malek, 12 May 1981 8.41 am Torrance, California, a lively Sun Taurus with a Virgo Moon is having mixed fortunes over the next year with some confident and successful highs and some edgy, accident-prone or irritable phases and tr Neptune conjunct his MC till late year which is always a touch swampy.

Barbara Broccoli, 18 June 1960 9.55am Santa Monica, CA, a Sun Venus in Gemini with a feisty Moon Mars in Aries doesn’t look ecstatic ahead but not deflated either. Where she runs into more of a mountain to climb will be the next Bond around 2022.

Joe Biden stepped up to the mark for his joust at the Democratic nomination 2020 with a twitter video announcement at 6am Washington, DC time. This put the heavy-duty Saturn Pluto in the 10^th conjunct a Capricorn Moon which doesn’t look too enticing for female voters and also suggests he’s got a mountain to climb requiring considerable effort.  Venus which is often a sign of popularity is hidden away in the 12^th; and there’s a divisive Uranus Sun on the Ascendant. Plus an afflicted Neptune in the 12^th square Jupiter opposition Mars – suggesting a flier that’s more hope than common sense. And tr Neptune will be square the Mars until late this year which is usually panicky-failure.

His own chart has tr Pluto square the Mars/Neptune midpoint, on and off till late 2020, which is dashed hopes, especially for elections; with another sinker from tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Jupiter midpoint again off and on till January 2021. Plus a downbeat Solar Arc Saturn square his Sun at the moment and square his Venus in spring 2020, which will make him feel unloved (unpopular).

He could be more energised from late January 2021 with tr Pluto opposition his Jupiter in 2021/22; as well as tr Uranus square his Pluto suggesting a radical lifestyle change picking up in 2020 running into 2021. That latter at his age could suggests some serious thinking about how he stretches his energy.

See post April 2 2019

The redoubtable and incredibly well preserved Joan Collins has been talking about the fire which destroyed her London apartment last week when she ended up on the pavement in her pyjamas and her husband Percy stayed inside to try to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher. She said they could have nearly been killed.

Born 23 May 1933 in London, time unverified, she’s a light hearted Sun Venus in Gemini square a showbizzy and enthusiastic Neptune Mars Jupiter in Virgo. Her Solar Arc Mars is exactly opposite her Sun now which usually accompanies a major shock and can be accident-prone. She’s also got a couple of fairly heavy Pluto transits this year, not exact at the moment, but their effect would be hanging around.

Her husband Percy Gibson, 14 October 1965 7.12pm Peru is a Sun Libra with a Gemini Moon and a passionately enthusiastic Venus Mars in Sagittarius so they fit well together.

Tr Neptune is opposing his Uranus Pluto which is tied into his Moon at the moment which would create domestic confusion; and his Progressed Mars is trine his Uranus Pluto for a danger that passes. He’s in for an accident-prone couple of years ahead with tr Pluto conjunct his Mars/Saturn midpoint, so will need to be cautious. Two years ago they had to flee their south of France house near St Tropez due to a raging forest fire.

At the moment they have tr Pluto square the composite Mars on their relationship chart which also indicates high tension, risk and frustration – and that runs on for another eighteen months.

Tiffany Trump, youngest daughter of Donald and only child of his middle wife Marla Maples, appeared with her latest boyfriend Michael Boulos at Mar-a-Lago for Easter. He’s a Nigerian born Lebanese heir to a multi-billion dollar Nigerian trading conglomerate.

She was born 13 October 1993 at 12.50 pm in West Palm Beach, Florida, was brought up by her mother after the parental split when she was very young, is studying law as well as being a socialite and part of an Instagram rich kids set.

She’s got a lucky, successful, ambitious Sun Jupiter in Libra in her 10^th square a highly-strung Uranus Neptune in her 1^st and trine Saturn in serious Aquarius. Her much-travelled 9^th house Moon Venus in Virgo are trine her Uranus Neptune and sextile Pluto – so she’s emotionally changeable and fairly intense.  And with a 9th house Venus Moon, she will most likely marry a foreigner and live abroad for chunks of her life. Her Mercury Mars are in Scorpio making her strong-minded with an argumentative streak. Plus an unyielding Pluto square Saturn. She’s by no means the frivolous air-head her social media image suggests.

He was born 4 August 1993 and his Venus in Cancer falls almost exactly on Tiffany’s Descendant which is ideal; with his Leo Sun in her 8^th for a deep connection.

Their relationship chart has an adventurous, morale-boosting composite Mars Jupiter in a sociable sextile to Venus. Venus is in a passionate square to Pluto and a workmanlike opposition to Saturn. And there is a fairly tied together composite Sun Mercury trine Uranus Neptune sextile Pluto. So there’s lots of pluses and a few minuses.

Tr Saturn is putting a damper on their enthusiasm through this year with tr Saturn square the Jupiter Mars and Uranus Neptune until this December with an undermining tr Neptune opposition the composite Sun also up to the New Year.

She’s got her Progressed Moon moving through her 8^th for another few months so she’ll be conflicted about what she really wants. But with tr Saturn moving down through her 1^st quadrant for the next several years she will be keen to put more emphasis on her personal life than on her career for a while.   Relocating her chart to Lagos, Nigeria puts her Sun Jupiter in the 7th house of relationships which would suit; but it also puts Mars Pluto in the 8th which would make her feel trapped.

Volodymyr Zelensky, a Ukrainian comedian whose only political experience comes from starring in a satirical television series Servant of the People, in which his character accidentally becomes Ukrainian president, has won the election by a landslide. He is a millionaire with 4.2 million Instagram followers. His campaigning was light on policy but he won on an anti-corruption, not-the-old-guard platform. Critics have expressed doubts that he will be able to take on the country’s influential oligarchs and stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin to date has refused to congratulate him on his victory.

Born 25 January 1978 he’s a Sun Venus in Aquarius opposition Mars in Leo, so lively, charming and energetic.  He’s an odd mix with Ukraine 24 August 1991 2.31pm  Kiev, since his Saturn in Leo is conjunct the Ukraine Venus Sun and the Ukraine Saturn is conjunct his Sun Venus and opposition his Mars – so it won’t turn out to be a dream partnership, although he is regarded with affection. He will go for radical reform with his Uranus conjunct the Ukraine 10^th house Pluto and his Pluto square the highly-strung Ukraine Uranus Neptune but it won’t be easy pushing change through in Ukraine with half its chart in Fixed signs.

At the moment his chart (without birth time) exhibits more panic than elation which is hardly surprising and that will run on till late 2020.

Nearly 300 are dead with 500 injured in the wave of bombings in Sri Lanka yesterday which were targeted at Easter Christian Church services and luxury hotels. A local Islamist terrorist group is being blamed but no one has claimed credit yet.

Sri Lanka is predominantly a Buddhist country which fought a 26 year civil war ending in 2009 with the predominantly Hindu Tamils. Both Muslims and Christians are minorities and have been subject to persecution by militant Buddhists. See URL below.

The bombings occurred when the bleak, war-like Saturn Pluto conjunction was close, though it doesn’t reach exact until early January 2020; and was opposition the Cancer North Node.  The disruptive, rebellious Sun Uranus in Taurus was also in place.

The January Total Lunar Eclipse at zero Aquarius had Mars on the Ascendant square Saturn on the midheaven, located to Sri Lanka, so it did highlight a destructive event.

The independence chart of 4 February 1948 12 am Colombo, has a similarly explosive Solar Arc Uranus conjunct Mars this year. This chart has a Saturn Pluto conjunction and Jupiter in Sagittarius so present influences are relatively similar.

The Republic of Sri Lanka was proclaimed on 22 May 1972 at 12.43pm, a time elected by Government astrologers as auspicious – for reasons unknown. Like Burma/Myanmar they must work off a different system of astrology. It puts Saturn in Gemini on the midheaven conjunct the Sun; with an excitable, volatile T Square of Mrs Venus in Cancer opposition Jupiter square Uranus.  That T square and the Solar Arc Sun Saturn are being rattled by this years’ Eclipses for rolling crises  and pressure for change.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/21/sri-lanka-christians-religious-minorities-persecution

Comedians are notoriously tortured souls and Mel Brooks – a brilliant and successful filmmaker, comedian, composer, actor – Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men in Tights etc – is no exception. A biography just out by Patrick McGilligan according to the Times review is “is a damning chronicle of narcissism, mental cruelty, prejudice, treachery, moral bankruptcy, financial impropriety and chronic shouting.”

Brooks harboured insecurities, especially self-loathing and fury at the world, partly due to his father dying when he was two and learned to survive by making people laugh. But without an audience he evidently became sullen, passive aggressive and worse. When his pregnant first wife, who bore him three children, attended the premiere of one of his musicals she was reportedly banned from the cast party and sent home so he could have sex with his new fling Eartha Kitt. He bragged about his liaisons with actresses and kept a little black book of hookers’ phone numbers. After the divorce he evaded child-support payments for years. And then he met actress Anne Bancroft (The Graduate) and miraculously stayed married to her for 40 years.

Born in New York on 28 June 1926 he has a stark Sun Pluto in Cancer square Mars in Aries, which would certainly explain his browbeating, bullying and rages; with an immensely stubborn and enduring Fixed Grand Cross of Jupiter in Aquarius opposition Neptune square Saturn in Scorpio opposition Venus in Taurus.

His Aquarius Moon was probably opposition Anne Bancroft’s Jupiter which would help to smooth a few of his rough edges; and her Sun Venus in Virgo was trine his Venus in Taurus which would give a resonance.

But it certainly wasn’t all singing and dancing with his Pluto square Mars hitting on her Saturn in Capricorn, which would evoke major irritation. But she was used to tough conditions with her Saturn opposition Pluto. His Uranus opposed her Sun Venus so he would exasperate her and they both needed their own space.

Their relationship chart does have a well-aspected composite Jupiter which would be essential for keeping morale high and lessening the strain – Jupiter squares the composite Sun Mercury and was conjunct the composite North Node. And the Sun Mercury was in a steady and long-lasting trine to Saturn. But there was also a power-struggling, dominating composite Mars opposition Pluto so there would be dark, difficult moments.  Her Virgo Sun arguably helped her put up with his tantrums.

She was born 17 September 1931 New York – her time is unverified and his is not known. She died in 2005.