John McCain has died – a former bomber pilot and war hero, a six term Republican Senator and a maverick politician who garnered respect even from those who didn’t agree with his views.

He was born 29 August 1936 6.25pm Colon, Panama to a father and grandfather who were both 4 star admirals in the US Navy and had the usual constantly-moving forces childhood. He became a naval bomber pilot and two years after his first marriage he was injured during an onboard ship attack and then shot down and captured by the Vietcong, who held him prisoner for five years and tortured him. During his time in captivity which he nearly didn’t survive, he spent two years in solitary and when offered repatriation because his father was an admiral, he refused unless all men taken prisoner before him were also released. After his return he stayed in the navy for another decade though his physical injuries from his time in captivity meant he’d never make admiral.  He divorced, remarried and embarked on his political career, making two failed attempts to become president.

He had a 7^th house Virgo Sun, Neptune, Venus and Mercury in Libra – so would have a winning way of putting himself across. He had a lucky, respect-attracting and talented 10^th house Jupiter which was square his Sun, Neptune, Venus and Saturn as well as being trine Mars in Leo. A strong Jupiter would help him survive his brutal experience since it keeps optimism high though he did contemplate suicide at one point. His Saturn opposition Neptune would make him keen on working towards a better society and he did come across as a compassionate conservative. His Mars in Leo in his 6^th would make him argumentative and flamboyant in his comments, especially since it made an explosive square to an outspoken Uranus in his communication 3^rd. His Pluto in the 5^th would give him a yearning to be taken as a person of substance and opposing a maverick Aquarius Moon would make him intensely emotional.

He wasn’t a saint and made missteps along the way, of which Sarah Palin was the most notable in recent times, but he died with a reputation as a Washington titan.  His get-it-together 5^th harmonic was strong; as well as his spiritual, seeking-soul 7H; his determined 11H. And his leaving-a-legacy-for-history was most powerfully aspected.

His Mars in Leo was conjunct Trump’s 12^th house Pluto for bitter hostility; with his fair-minded Saturn opposition Neptune sitting at cross purposes with Trump’s Sun and Moon.  Their relationship chart was formidably stressed with a power-struggling composite Sun Pluto; and a stressed and aggravated composite Mars Mercury Venus square Saturn Uranus.

USA politics will be poorer without him.

Allen Weisselberg, deeply involved in Trump’s business and personal finances for decades since his father’s time, is the latest ally to cooperate with investigators in exchange for leniency for himself in the Michael Cohen probe. He will know where all the skeletons are buried though it’s not clear how much he knew of the detail of the two payoffs which are the focus of the Cohen case. The fact there was reason to subpoena him and make him cut an immunity deal means he personally had potential criminal liability, and he had to give something of real value to get out of that.

Born 15 August 1947 in New York, he is a Sun, Venus, Saturn, Pluto, Moon and Mercury in Leo with Jupiter in Scorpio square the first four of those planets –  money is what floats his boat, very enduring and stubborn. The Eclipses this year have been rattling his Leo planets with more to come next year. He looks aggravated and under attack at the moment with tr Pluto opposition his Mercury/Mars and his Saturn/Uranus; panicked through the fall and if anything more stressed in 2019/2020.

His Leo planets all fall in Trump’s 12^th house though its not that easy a mix with Weisselberg’s Sun conjunct Trump’s Mars and his Uranus conjunct Trump’s Sun opposition Moon.

Their relationship chart is argumentative with a composite Sun, Mercury, Mars and fairly up-and-down with a Jupiter square Saturn. It’s under disappointing and very edgy influences, especially through this fall and early in 2019, and those influences run till late 2019. With major tensions building from next February as tr Pluto starts to oppose the composite Sun and then Mercury. It will be exceptionally fraught, stretched to the limit and beyond, and running into a minefield from April onwards.

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Alex Salmond has reacted angrily to allegations that he was guilty of sexual assault during his time as Scotland’s First Minister and is threatening to sue the Scottish government for its handling of the investigation to date which has given him no chance to defend himself.

Born 31 December 1954 4.30 pm Linlithgow, Scotland,  he has a creative, healing and self-protective Water Grand Trine of an ambitious 10^th house Mars Moon in Pisces trine a lucky, risk-taking Uranus Jupiter in his 1^st trine a passionate Venus in Scorpio in his sociable 5^th. His Venus is also in an intense square to Pluto.

He has a Yod of Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct his Moon. A 10^th house Moon is a classic placing for a politicians or someone in public service; but as an apex planet it can be overly defensive, emotionally disorganized and at times self-defeating.

He’s already been on the receiving end of criticism this year for hosting a chat show on RT, the Kremlin-funded TV channel.

He’s got bullishly confident influences through till mid this December but running concurrently are some Neptunian sinkers – conjunct his Mars/MC now right and others through the next eighteen months. Plus a serious setback this September and October with tr Pluto conjunct his Mars/Saturn along with major aggravation; and panicky uncertainty this November and December. Some uplift in 2019/2020; though by 2020 he’s got tr Neptune conjunct his Mars which is usually a career-downer along with an emotional and very intense Solar Arc Mars opposition his Venus in 2019 and in a dead-halt square to his Pluto in 2020.

An Australian political coup that backfired has seen a new prime minister take over, the sixth in 11 years. Malcolm Turnbull was forced out and his closest ally Scott Morrison, an evangelical Christian, more socially conservative, an enforcer on immigration and less popular than Turnbull, has been put in his place. Not quite what the conspirators and plotters had in mind.

Turnbull was ousted when tr Pluto was exactly square his Term Uranus and MC, 15 September 2015 1.35pm, which seems pretty much on cue.

Morrison was sworn in at 6.15pm (I think, any more info gratefully received) which puts a deceptively soft Neptune on the Pisces Ascendant. There is a solidly sensible, good-for-commerce Earth Grand Trine of a Virgo Sun trine a well-organised 10^th house Saturn in an innovative trine to Uranus – so it might produce results. Though the Neptune trine Jupiter might suggest over optimism. The 11^th house of the legislature looks fairly brutal with Pluto and Mars both there, so it won’t all be sweetness and light. Plus the explosive, disruptive Mars opposition Node square Uranus is still in place.

Morrison, 13 May 1968, is a Sun Taurus  opposition Neptune in Scorpio square Jupiter in Leo – so not short of confidence, obstinacy or sticking power. Well handled such a Jupiter can have social impact, but tends to be intolerant even bigoted. He’s also got a Yod with an apex focal point Saturn in hard-edged, none-too-sympathetic Aries and North Node inconjunct Pluto Uranus sextile Neptune. This requires real maturity for it not to backfire – and is under pressure for the rest of this year with tr Pluto square Saturn for a really tough slog. With the Yod up to its usual trick of producing a fated change of direction through unusual circumstances.

Australia is still muddling through a longish phase of tr Neptune in the 11^th, the house of the legislature, square the Pluto opposition Uranus square Mars T Square till late 2019, but it hasn’t affected the economy which is robust. And with Jupiter through the 8^th for the next year business should be fine. Though there will be a setback in six months’ time from Solar Arc Mars conjunct the 9^th house Sun, which could be connected to foreign relations, travel or even education.

Time of 1.35 pm being sound, tr Uranus will conjunct the Aries Ascendant twice more later this year and into early 2019, which does suggest a re-imaging of the country with a more independent thrust in years to come.

Ben Affleck, the multi-talented actor and director, has gone back into rehab for drinking, an addiction which has plagued him, his father, his grandmother and his brother Casey.

Born 15 August 1972 2.53 am Berkeley, California, he has an expansive Sun Leo trine an indulgent Jupiter in Sagittarius in his 6^th house. He has a ‘missing male model’ Saturn in the 12^th; and an unsettled and erratic 4^th house of Pluto and Uranus, which points to his experience of his childhood and father. His charming Venus on his Ascendant also squares Uranus and trines an intensely emotional Scorpio Moon. And only one Earth planet which won’t be enough to keep him grounded.

His father left the home when he was 12 and lived homeless for a while before getting sober.

He’s moving through a really tricky two years ahead with an insecure tr Uranus trine his Mars this year and into early 2019; his Solar Arc Mars conjunct his 4^th house Uranus within six months which will be edgy and disruptive; tr Neptune in a confused and uncertain square to his Saturn in 2019/2020; and his Progressed Mars conjunct his Pluto over the next eighteen months which is heavy duty. All his childhood demons will be stirred up.

He has quintiles and septiles linking his self-destructive planets – 5^th and 7^th and actors’ 15^th Harmonics – so he’ll create out of a deep well of pain. His victim 12^th is also heavily aspected and tormented.

His humanitarian interests have been focussed on the Congo with his Sun MC and Mercury MC running through central Africa – drawn to a brutalised country to do good work.

All that talent but it comes at a price.

Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire and the 2012 London Olympic spectacle, has pulled out of the next James Bond movie after ‘creative differences.’ Initially it was said over script differences but it appears casting disagreements may also have been a problem between himself and the producers, Barbra Broccoli, Daniel Craig and Michael J Wilson.

Born 20 October 1956, Boyle is a Sun Libra with an enthusiastic Mars in creative Pisces opposition Venus Jupiter in Virgo; a tough-minded Pluto square Saturn; and an equally determined and innovative Uranus square Neptune and trine Saturn. Tr Neptune is conjunct his Mars this year, running on until late December which isn’t usually successful and he’s facing a seriously stuck 2019/2020, only picking up his mojo again by 2021.

He was a tricky fit with all three producers.  His Mars is conjunct Craig’s Pisces Sun and his Mercury opposition Craig’s unyielding Mars Saturn in Aries; with both their Pluto and Jupiters sitting on top of each other – multiple arguments and struggles for the upper hand.

Boyle’s Libra Sun opposes Barbara Broccoli’s Mars for another competitive clash. And Michael J Wilson’s ultra-determined Sun opposition Pluto square Mars in Taurus collides with Boyle’s Uranus square Neptune. It was always going to be a bubbling cauldron even by film industry standards.

Barbara Broccoli 18 June 1960 9.55 am Santa Monica, CA. Wilson 21 January 1942 NY.

Even progressive, social-minded Sweden is seeing a political swing to the extremes with a September 9 election coming up which may see the Social Democrats for the first time since World War One not maintain top position. The economy came out of the financial crisis quickly and unemployment is low but the major worries are crime and immigration. The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, and the ex-Communists of the Left party are expected to do well.

Gun and grenade violence and torching of cars is on the rise with the blame being landed on gangs, mainly first- and second-generation immigrants.

The Sweden chart, 7 December 1865 3.30 pm Stockholm, is moving through discouraging and unsettling times with their Sagittarius Sun undermined in 2018/2019 by tr Neptune square; as well as tr Saturn in hard-aspect to their idealistic T Square of Uranus opposition Jupiter Mercury square Neptune this year.

And it’s not getting easier ahead with an explosive, violent and insecure Solar Arc Uranus conjunct the Sweden Mars in 2020 as well as a brutal Solar Arc Mars conjunct Pluto; plus tr Uranus starts a three year upending of their solidly Fixed Saturn in Scorpio opposition Pluto.

This election will see tr Uranus sextile the Uranus and tr Saturn in opposition to Uranus, so there will be jolts and tensions.

Japan has been making strides forward in the past five years since Shinzo Abe took over as PM, almost entirely making up the ground it lost during the long 1990s slump. That started on a crash which wiped out more wealth as a share of its economy than the United States did in 1929.

What interesting about Shinzo Abe’s Term chart, 26 December 2012 is that it has – in addition to an innovative and controlling Sun Pluto square Uranus – an expansive Yod of Pluto sextile Saturn in Scorpio inconjunct Jupiter with Jupiter opposition a financial Venus. Well handled, an apex Jupiter can effect great social change.

His own personal chart, 21 September 1954, has a lucky Uranus Jupiter conjunction which trines the Japan Mars and his Virgo Sun opposes the Mars so he’ll be a great motivator for the country. Plus his Pluto opposes the Japan Sun for extra push and transformation.

It won’t be plain sailing ahead for him with a major setback coming in 2019 from Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his Mars. In many ways he’s through his lucky phase when his Solar Arc Uranus Jupiter crossed his Sun, so maybe into more troubled times ahead personally or politically.

The Japan 11 February 1889 chart is being rattled by the Leo Eclipses this year and next; and has a Solar Arc Uranus square the Neptune for high anxiety in 2019. And a fair amount of upheaval from tr Pluto square the Uranus in 2018/2019. Followed by a considerable setback with Solar Arc Saturn square Mars in 2020. There is a rectified time of 10.44 am though how useful it is I’m not sure.

Disaster day for the Don –  or business as usual with the lock-her-up mantra ramping up the faithful to deflect attention from the guilt of Trump lawyer/fixer Cohen and Trump campaign manager Manafort. Never mind the two earliest congressional supporters of Trump now up on charges of insider trading and misuse of campaign funds respectively. Swampier and swampier.

When does middle America finally fall out of love with their errant President? The cracks are widening this year with tr Saturn opposition the composite Sun on the USA/Trump relationship chart, returning for the finally time this October; the bond fading into deeper confusion late this October to late December. Where the sh** really hits the fan is the last day of March 2019 across April and May, on and off for two years thereafter, as tr Pluto opposes the composite Mars which will bring enraged frustration and a bitter struggle. That composite USA/Trump Mars has already been elbowed by the recent July Cancer Eclipse, bringing an upsurge of anger.

The GOP as to be expected, protecting their own backs, are keeping their heads down and refusing to comment on the Manafort/Cohen backlash.  Where both Republican charts in relationship to Trump are showing more obvious strain is mid September to mid October this year (repeating April 2019) with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Sun and trine Mars for signs of a split and aggravation on one. The other shows up serious strains mid October across the Mid Terms, and December/January 2019 and March 2019. So the ties that bind, and they are strong, will start to be yanked apart or at least seriously disrupted by a series of jolts (chart data being sound).

Trump’s own chart had the July Cancer Eclipse, in effect for a few months thereafter, conjunct his Saturn which usually means chickens are coming home to roost. The most recent Leo Eclipse hit his 12^th house Mars/Pluto midpoint, which is both threatening and likely to evoke strong counter-attacks.

His Progressed Moon, moving through his 12^th house for two years plus which tends to be discouraging, will conjunct his Mars by next April for a major explosion and yet another shock.

He is seriously bad-tempered at the moment with tr Uranus square his Mercury/Mars midpoint which runs to mid September; he has the uncertain, neurotic tr Saturn square his Neptune across the Mid Terms in November; along with the loss-making and enthusiasm-denting tr Neptune opposition his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint from late this October till late December.

Where his real aggro kicks in is from mid February 2019 with a catastrophe-prone tr Pluto opposition his Mars/Uranus, which Ebertin describes as ‘force, violent interventions.’ Though he also has tr Pluto trine his Mars/Jupiter at the same time so will no doubt respond bullishly. That confidence will run out from the last day of March till after mid May when he hits tr Pluto opposition his Saturn and his Mars/Node midpoint, which latter Ebertin describes as a ‘forced separation.’ Not that anything usually gets resolved on the first hit of aspects. These repeat on and off till late 2020; with more trapped, aggravated midpoints joining in by 2020. And his Solar Return from June 2018 to June 2019 isn’t that bad; where it hits the skids is from June 2019 onwards.

From March 2019 as well tr Neptune will square his 10^th house Uranus on and off till early 2020, which will mire his administration and career in even more confusion than usual.

To be remembered – his Term chart does have a strongly placed Jupiter opposition Uranus square Pluto, which will bring undeserved luck.  And outside events could always swoop in and save his bacon. Tr Pluto is square the Uranus in 2018/19 for a major upheaval and ditto tr Uranus square the Sun; but tr Pluto also squares Jupiter in 2019/2020 for a confident push. This chart does have a focal point Pluto in the 9^th as well as Mercury and I recollect someone remarking at the time it could indicate an administration plagued with legal problems so the astrology was spot on for that.