Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law was to be the boy wonder of the new administration fixing a Middle East peace that had defeated multiple presidents, sorting the opioid crisis, reorganising government IT and another ten impossible things before breakfast. Vanity Fair acidly remarked “Given his track record, it’s unclear whether Kushner is even qualified to work as a White House intern — his only two professional achievements of note have been buying and running a newspaper into the ground and running his family’s real-estate business while his father was in prison, striking a deal that a decade later is still haunting his family.” The 5^th Avenue building he bought for $1.8 billion on the eve of the financial crisis, has a 30 percent vacancy rate, an expected loss of $24 million this year, and a $1.2 billion mortgage that is due in February 2019. Despite scouring the world for foreign financiers to fend off his gigantic problem he’s come up empty handed so far. And he’s hovering on the periphery of the Mueller investigation, which could prove an unwelcome distraction from saving the world and refinancing his family empire.

Born 10 January 1981, he’s a Sun Capricorn square Pluto, a chip off daddy’s block; with a stubborn Mars in Aquarius trine Jupiter Saturn in Libra, and a Pisces Moon. This December/January 2018 tr Uranus will oppose his Pluto for some radical changes in his life, and tr Pluto will conjunct his Capricorn Sun from February 2018 to late 2019 which will see him facing a punishing series of challenges. He’s also due an almighty jolt from Solar Arc Sun square Uranus anywhere from mid 2018 into 2019.

His relationship with Donald Trump has a friendly, overly confident composite Sun opposition Venus Jupiter; but also an ego-clashing Mars Neptune conjunction; and more significantly an exact Yod of Pluto sextile Mars (Neptune) inconjunct Mercury. That Yod suggests a relationship that will bring extreme alterations in both of their lives. For Kushner that has already been the case. Though there may be other consequences to come. As if they were fated to be together and fate will dictate what comes next. There’s a fair amount of strain this month with tr Pluto square the composite focal point Mercury; and more of a rift from early 2018 as tr Saturn squares the composite Sun.

There are also indications of a disruption in the relationship chart between Jared and Ivanka this Dec/Jan 2018 with tr Uranus opposing the composite Pluto with a continuing strand of disappointment and failure in 2017and 2018 as tr Neptune squares their composite Sun. Tr Uranus will oppose her Jupiter/Pluto at that point which could suggest some positive outcomes, but she’s on edge through next spring; and generally feeling she’s not on the winning side in 2018/19. With a major shift in their relationship with her father from April 2018 onwards.

The Tweedledum and tweedledee of UK politics, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, appear to be over their knife-in-the-back mid-2016 spat when Gove wrecked Boris’s chances of running for the Tory leadership, only to run himself and lose. They are back together and have evidently sent Theresa May a secret letter dictating how the cabinet should sharpen up over the Brexit negotiations, i.e. toe their line. A source described it as a “soft coup” against Theresa May and said she was now “their Downing Street hostage”.

To make matters worse, Gove this morning on television muddied the waters over the imprisonment in Iran of Nazanin Zagari-Ratcliffe, by suggesting the government had no idea why she was in Iran, rather than insisting she was on holiday to visit her parents.

Gove, born 26 August 1967 in London, is a Sun Mercury in Virgo, with Uranus Pluto also in Virgo; and a determined and vengeful Mars Neptune in Scorpio. He was born two weeks before Louis CK the US comedian who has admitted to the sexual harassment allegations made against him, with the same Virgo Sun and Mars in Scorpio. Two years earlier in 1965 when Mars was also in Scorpio conjunct Neptune, another two Virgos are also catching the headlines – Kim Davis and Bashar Assad. It makes for an unpleasant combination with alternative outcomes, many of them deeply negative.

Gove looks seriously stuck from early 2018 to late 2019 with tr Pluto square his Mars/Pluto; with a long run of undermining Neptune transits to midpoints from now onwards, the most damaging of which picks up from April next year through 2019.Plus in 2019/2020 tr Pluto squares his Mars/Uranus for a series of disasters.

His relationship chart with Theresa May is fraught and hostile at the best of times with a composite Mars trine Pluto, Mercury, Sun – so an ongoing tussle for the upper hand. It’s at daggers drawn this month, jangling through 2018; with worse in 2019.

His superficially friendly relationship chart with Boris Johnson, with a composite Sun Venus also has an ego-clash Mars square Neptune (one wins, the other feels damaged). Their bubble will burst a touch over the New Year; and a major rift will widen the cracks mid 2018 onwards.

Theresa May’s relationship with Boris, definitely a marriage of inconvenience, is in the mire this month with tr Pluto conjunct the composite Saturn; at odds in March 2018 and spitting teeth by 2019/2020 with tr Pluto square the composite Mars. They were never destined to occupy the same space with comfort with a differing-agendas composite Sun Uranus and an outright-dislike Mars square Saturn.

A bunch of fifth-rate creeps, crawlers and losers intent on NOT governing the country while they fight their petty rivalries for the Tory leadership. What happened to the national interest?

Photos: Suleiman, the Magnificent. Peter the Great of Russia.

History doesn’t repeat itself exactly but it does dance in tune to the recurring cycles of the planets. Both Pluto in Capricorn (every 250 years) and Neptune in Pisces (every 165 years), have on past form been associated with significant Muslim or Middle Eastern rulers and territorial domination often on an astonishing scale by a charismatic leader, who fostered justice, art, learning and culture. Both are in place now till the mid 2020s.

The 16^th century Pluto in Capricorn with Neptune in Pisces also in place saw the rise of one of the greatest Ottoman Sultans – Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey, who conquered Arabia, defeated Hungary, laid siege to Vienna, ravaged Croatia and conquered Iraq which prospered economically and culturally as does did the rest of his empire.

The largest land empire in history was created by the 12^th Century Mongol Genghis Khan, the Great Khan, during Neptune in Pisces, later expanded by Kublai Khan, his grandson, whose rule culminated in the 13^th century Pluto in Capricorn with dominions stretching from the Arctic to the straits of Malacca, Korea to Asia Minor to Hungary and China. He was renowned for the splendour of his court, Buddhism and learning.

During the 8^th Century Pluto in Capricorn, with the Arab Empire at its political and cultural peak, Haroun Al Rashid (the Upright) becomes the most famous of the Middle Eastern Caliphs with a fabulous court immortalized in the Book of 1001 Nights. He invaded Asia Minor, ruled the Arabs and Persians, defeated the Eastern Roman Empire. Bagdhad, founded as the capital for the Caliphate and flourished into the most splendid city of the period.

Under Neptune in Pisces in 878 the hidden Imam of the Shi’ites disappeared and his followers still await his return.

In the 6^th century, with both Pluto in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces in place, Chosroes became the greatest of the Persian (Iranian) Kings, promoting agriculture, commerce and science.

Russia also rose to great power, prosperity and culture under Neptune in Pisces with Peter the Great; and under Pluto in Capricorn with Catherine the Great.

The rest of the world didn’t disappear during these periods, since Charlemagne united much of Europe under Pluto in Capricorn at the same time as Haroun Al Rashid. The European Renaissance started as Gengis Khan’s empire spread to the east. And the USA was born as Catherine the Great exerted her will over Russia. Neptune in Pisces also figures strongly in Christian and Buddhist history. But there was a definite upsurge in Middle Eastern confidence, power, prosperity and culture.

Nothing about the past experience of Pluto in Capricorn’s tendency to promote culture, learning and justice has been much in evidence since 2008, though the disruptive Uranus square Pluto, now waning, may have blocked out its finer tendencies. But it does put a different perspective on the rise of Putin in Russia and perhaps of Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.

History is always seen more clearly in hindsight – once rulers have succeeded in making their mark. And there’s no guarantee of an exact reprise, but intriguing to think we could see history in the making.

The indomitable franchise of Star War movies about to see The Last Jedi (number eight) launched this December, followed by SW number nine in 2019; and it is now announced there will be a further trilogy thereafter. Rian Johnson, who directed the Last Jedi has been picked to drive the juggernaut of the as-yet-unnamed new films – which will feature completely new characters in “a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored”.

The first Star Wars premiered on 25 May 1977 with a Gemini Sun opposition a filmic Neptune and trine an influential and lucky Pluto. The combo of Pluto and Neptune usually indicate stratospheric reach and tied into Jupiter and the Sun would make it a sure-fire hit that spread and spread. Plus there were planets in all three Fire signs, making it entrepreneurial as well as inspirational.

The phenomenon was the brain child of George Lucas, 14 May 1944 5.50am Modesto, California, who has seen it through its extraordinarily long run in a series of roles, though he is now in semi-retirement. He’s a stalwart Sun Taurus in a square to flamboyant Jupiter in Leo; with a singleton Aquarius Moon in his 10^th (designed for a public career) opposing Pluto (Jupiter) square Venus Mercury in Taurus. It’s a very Fixed chart, giving him endurance, the ability to last over time. His filmic Neptune is in his 5^th house which rules entertainment; and it is trine Uranus, sextiling on to a doubly influential Pluto. A strong and creative chart.

Rian Johnson, 17 December 1973, is a Sun North Node in Sagittarius trine Mars in Aries, which in turn opposes Uranus – so colourful, dynamic, risk-taking, enjoys excitement. His Pluto (Moon) in Libra is in a powerfully lucky trine to a charming Jupiter Venus in Aquarius, sextiling onto Neptune Mercury in Sagittarius. Plus he has a rock-solid T square of Saturn opposition North Node square Pluto – so he’s good for the long haul and copes well rolling crises. His chart is not dissimilar to Taiki Waititi’s, the Thor Ragnorok director. Directing a blockbuster movie is a mammoth task.

The Last Jedi, started Principal Photography on 15 Nov 2015 at Pinewood, Eng, which had a Jupiter trine Pluto, always an encouraging aspect. Though the release date of 15 December 2017 may not quite live up to expectation, or it may be damped down by outside circumstances a week after it opens, since the Sun then is conjunct Saturn as both move into Capricorn, making for a downbeat run into Christmas. But tr Jupiter will move to firm up a sextile to Pluto, and there is a Fire Grand Trine in place, which will help to keep it on track.

The Middle East is on tenterhooks, anticipating what comes next after a series of shock moves by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His sudden purge imprisoned high ranking Saudi princes and businessmen, and blew one out of the air while trying to escape by helicopter. He appears to have forced the Lebanon PM to resign on a specious excuse, it is thought as a way of moving against Lebanon-based Hezbollah who are funded by Iran. He is cosying up to Israel’s Netanyahu as an unlikely ally, possibly with an eye to getting Israel to fight a Lebanon war for him. Macron has shot across to Riyadh to argue support for Lebanon, since the French were formerly the colonial overlords.

His reckless and failed war in the Yemen, seen as a proxy dispute with Iran, has cost Saudi Arabia many billions and is not only unwinnable it has been inhumanely destructive, resulting in the worst outbreak of cholera in modern history, with a million cases expected by the end of the year and at least 600,000 children likely to be affected. Now he has blocked access to airports, seaports and land crossings into Yemen, which could bring millions of people closer to “starvation and death.” At the moment about two-thirds of Yemen’s population relies on imported supplies. 20 million people need humanitarian assistance, including seven million facing “famine-like” conditions.

And Bin Salman is best buddies with Jared Kushner with Trump as his cheer leader, who supported his earlier moves against Qatar and Al Jazeera.

Both Iran country charts, 1906 and 1979 look in for an uncertain, undermining two to three years ahead. With 2019 showing up for them, and on many of the regional relationship charts, as the key stress point, when the warlike tr Saturn Pluto conjunction is in place.

The détente between MbS and Netanyahu may not survive 2018, but that could be because of political changes in Israel. Israel and Saudi Arabia are not natural allies with a composite Sun opposition Uranus and a power-playing Pluto opposition Jupiter in their relationship chart. That link will be undergoing radical changes through 2018/19; with later 2018 and 2019 especially looking hugely unsettled and less than enamoured as time wears on.

Add on: Hezbollah has strengthened in recent years through the Syria War, backed by Iran, and improved its weaponry. Founded 16 February 1985, a few months before MbS, it has the same confidently-pushy Jupiter in Aquarius square Pluto in Scorpio, with Pluto trine a late Aquarius Sun, sextiling onto Neptune – a force to be reckoned with. The Sun Mercury are on the focal point of a Fixed T Square to Saturn in obsessive Scorpio opposition a Taurus North Node – strong self-belief and not inclined to give way. Plus a pro-active, excitable Venus Mars in Aries in a high-adrenaline trine to Uranus.

That chart will have an uptick at times through 2018, though moments of deep uncertainty at the start and finish of the year. But looks completely floored in 2019 with Solar Arc Saturn conjunct Neptune and Solar Arc Sun square Neptune; and a total-disruption tr Uranus opposition Pluto.

The relationship chart with Saudi Arabia look bumpy now and early 2018; with more obvious pressures and differences in 2019/2020.

The Hezbollah/MbS relationship chart gets more panicked from April 2018 onwards; with a sharp deterioration in 2019.

The Yemen is one proxy war; Syria was another with Russia pitching in its tuppence worth along with the Iranians for Bashar Assad. So the real risk is that the rest of the world will get drawn into yet another Middle East maelstrom which purports to be about the Sunni/Shia split but is in reality about territorial power plays.

Donald Trump’s penchant for dictator-chic is being well-nourished by a glitzy state welcome in China, though that’s likely to fall foul of North Korea and trade wars. This December/January look pretty explosive between Xi Jinping and DT; with a fast downhill slide through 2018.

Today’s FT, sadly behind a paywall, has an excoriating piece by Edward Luce pointing out how much of Trump’s foreign policy inclinations are dictated not just by his love of autocratic rulers but also by his family’s interests which are well-fed by these wily despots. Xi Jinping approved a flurry of trademarks for Ivanka before his visit to Mar-a-Lago; and the first donors to the Ivanka-inspired Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative were Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with a $100m grant.

Trump’s praise for the thrusting young Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, close buddy so we are told of Jared Kushner, is causing concern, since it allies the US firmly with the Sunni side of the Islamic religious split with the Shias. The mega-billion dollar arms deal which Trump trumpeted recently had been in the pipeline for a long time and in any event according to a former CIA official was as close to a ‘fake deal’ as it comes. Trump neither knows nor cares about Middle Eastern stability. All he cares about is trashing Obama’s legacy by wrecking the Iran deal.

Bin Salman may have all the chutzpah, muscle and gold that Trump likes, but it’s a relationship that could and probably will turn sour. Both have Mars in Leo, which could easily turn competitive and worse MBS’s utterly determined Saturn in Scorpio square is conjunct Trump’s Mars; and MbS’s very boosted-up Jupiter opposes Trump’s Pluto, so there will be a power-play going on. Their relationship chart does have a friendly composite Sun Venus Mercury, but that is getting upended by tr Uranus in square through next spring and onwards; with a disappointing tr Neptune square the composite Jupiter and opposing Uranus.

Jared’s relationship with MbS has a composite Sun Mars, which can be dynamic if pulling together or highly combative when agendas diverge. Again next April onwards sees that one coming apart at the seams.

Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples will run for re-election in 2018, facing voters for the first time since her protest against gay marriage launched a national uproar from rural Appalachia. At that point she switched from Democrat to Republican.

Born 17 September 1965, she’s a Sun Virgo square Jupiter in Gemini; with Uranus Mercury Pluto also in Virgo opposition Saturn in Pisces probably square a Gemini Moon. Excitable, opinionated, erratic in her views with Mercury Uranus Pluto – and very stubborn. A bleak Moon square Saturn Uranus Pluto -warping her emotional outlook. She also has an intense, hostile and unrelenting Mars Neptune in Scorpio conjunction, with Venus also in Scorpio. Not dissimilar to Bashar Assad of Syria, born a week earlier.

There’s nothing ahead for her that looks remotely cheerful. Tr Saturn is square her Sun now and opposing her Jupiter this December. Into 2018 tr Neptune is conjunct her Saturn in January, then opposes her Uranus Pluto Mercury from mid 2018 onwards; plus two devastating Pluto squares to her Sun/Mars and Sun/Neptune midpoints from early 2018 to late 2019. Wining or more likely losing an election may be the least of her worries.

Could we be about to see the dissolution of the Rupert Murdoch empire that took decades to assemble? Investors have been stunned to see him explore a break-up of 21st Century Fox and discuss the sale of prime film and television assets, Fox’s prized movie studio, cable channels and international investments such as Sky. One such deal has fallen but others are likely to be in the pipeline. He has even talked of closing down Sky News if UK regulators block a proposed takeover by Fox, which he is pushing for. All very byzantine but it is shaking the financial world.

Murdoch senior, 11 March 1931 11.55pm Melbourne, Australia is now 86 so will be wanting to slow down. Plus he has tr Saturn heading for his Capricorn Ascendant from this year-end which will accelerate the process as old ambitions lose their fire. Tr Pluto is also opposing his Pluto and in 2018/19 conjunct his Saturn which looks like an almighty struggle, with an overtone of financial shortages (all relative, of course). He’s largely in the legacy (old) media business which is under increasing pressure from the new internet media and streamers like Netflix. He’s getting a fair jolt financially in March 2018 with tr Uranus square his 8^th house Mars; and nothing good thereafter.

Son James, 13 December 1972, looks fairly flattened by the next three or four years with tr Neptune square his Saturn in Gemini from mid 2018 for eighteen months, and continuing on to conjunct his Sun/Saturn, then square his Sun; with a total upheaval in 2019/2020.

The relationship between them is being jolted, jangled and separated over the next three years.

Who’d have thought it? A 20th Century dinosaur about to shed its  mammoth coat.

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Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel Studio’s third blockbuster based on the comic superhero Thor (Norse god of thunder) has opened to record box office, rolling in $425 million worldwide in its first few days. Critics have praised it as the best so far.

A stellar cast is headed by Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, and includes Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Anthony Hopkins amongst others.

Chris Hemsworth, 11 Aug 1983, Melbourne, Australia, is a Sun Leo; with a fierce and fiery Mars in Cancer square Saturn Pluto and trine Jupiter Neptune. He spent chunks of his childhood out in the outback with buffalo and crocodiles, which would prepare him for action-man roles. He looks set for a mega-success after this in 2018 when his Solar Arc Pluto is conjunct his Jupiter, so another successful Thor under his belt will propel him even higher. Next year he stars in Marvel’s Avengers Infinity Wars with another planned for the following year.

Tom Hiddleston, 9 Feb 1981, is a Sun Venus in Aquarius, with a softer Mars in Pisces though it does sit in a high-octane square to Uranus. He has an idealistic Jupiter Saturn in Libra so will appreciate being able to intersperse his blockbusters with more serious roles. He looks on a high at the moment; though is facing a trickier 2018/19.

The director Taiki Waititi, 16 August 1975, who is credited with making this the best Thor so far, is a Sun Leo trine Jupiter in Aries – confident, lucky and flamboyant. Jupiter is opposition Uranus square Saturn so he’s adventurous, risk-taking and has executive ability. Plus a determined Mars in Gemini trine Pluto in a showbizzy opposition to Neptune. He’s well designed for the entertainment business and tough enough to handle stratospheric movies. He’s on a roll now with tr Uranus conjunct his Jupiter and even more so around 2020 when tr Pluto squares his Jupiter.

Principal Photography started on 4 July 2016 Gold Coast, Australia when there was a successful, confident and lucky Jupiter trine Pluto; with a charmingly influential Sun Venus in Cancer (for the family) opposition Pluto.