Darren Criss – making the most of resourceful chart

 

Darren Criss, an American actor, singer, songwriter is a high-energy bundle of multi-talents, best known for Glee and has also co-founded a Chicago Musical Theater company, been lead vocalist on best-selling albums, played on Broadway and is now acting in films.

Born 5 February 1987 12.37pm San Francisco, his father was a banker and patron of the arts and his mother from the Philippines. He studied classical violin from age 5, plays a handful of other instruments, studied the performing arts and first appeared on stage aged 10.

He has an Aquarius Sun conjunct the MC from the 9th square Pluto in the 6th so clearly driven, ambitious and a force to be reckoned with in his working life. His Sun is on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine of Mars in high-octane Aries in the team-oriented 11th trine Saturn in Sagittarius, so quite ego-centric and loves excitement, but has discipline has well.

He has Mercury in musical Pisces in his 10th  is sextile Neptune Venus in Capricorn and trine Pluto, so not short of persuasive powers or vocal ability. And talented, lucky Jupiter also in his 10th is square Uranus Saturn in his 7th, so he likes taking risks and they usually come off. Plus a 12th house Taurus Moon.

He does have Neptune in the 8th which is often found in movie stars who have the (probably unconscious) ability to project an aura.

His 7th house is packed with Saturn Uranus Venus, so relationships won’t be as easy as outer ambitions and success.

He looks set for a super-triumph in four years from now when his Solar Arc MC is conjunct his Jupiter, and clearly has a good deal ahead of him.

His creative 5th Harmonic is exceptionally strong with a Half Grand Sextile, a Grand Trine formed into two Kites, and a T Square. His creative 7h which is possibly more musical ability is strong as is his actor’s 15H. So lots going for him.

Jared Kushner – highs and lows

 

The Kushner family are in the news for the wrong reasons as Jared’s sister, Nicole Meyer is accused of using the presidential connection to sell real-estate in China.

Jared himself has supposedly set up blind trusts to distance himself from the family businesses, though no doubt will hope to step back into them once the White House days are over.

He will face considerable pressures in 2018/19 with tr Pluto conjunct his Capricorn Sun; and before then he has tr Saturn conjunct his Neptune and later this year his Venus (romance & money). In 2018 as well he has a high-insecurity tr Uranus square his Sun/Mars; and a stomach-sinking tr Neptune square his Mars/Pluto extending through 2019 as well.

He doesn’t look quite as exuberant as Ivanka is in 2020/21 with tr Pluto square her Jupiter Pluto. Indeed he looks fairly jammed in through a chunks of the 2020s.

Sally Yates – into the Trump Twit firing line

   

 

Sally Yates, the former deputy attorney general, is reportedly being labelled by Donald Trump as a ‘Democratic operative’ and a possible leaker of classified info as she steps up to give evidence before a Senate subcommittee on his presidential campaign’s ties to Russia. She will give evidence about alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. She was fired as acting attorney general after refusing to defend an executive travel ban order by Trump in January. Part of her testimony will be about Michael T Flynn, who had to resign after just 24 days as national security adviser after he misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with Russia’s ambassador to the US.

Born 20 August 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia, she comes from a respected legal family, and while in the U.S. Attorney’s office has held leadership positions under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

Sher is a Sun Uranus Mercury (and Moon) in Leo; with Saturn in Capricorn trine Pluto Venus, sextile Neptune – so a mix of flamboyant and tough. Her Sun is conjunct Trump’s Mars Ascendant so they have an inflammatory interface; with her Pluto conjunct his Ascendant as well – so she has the potential to transform/damage his public image.

Their relationship chart couldn’t be worse with a volcanic composite Mars Uranus Sun square a distrustful Saturn Neptune (Moon); with a power-struggling Jupiter square Pluto as well. It’s under acute pressure at the moment with tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars Uranus, and that runs on and off till late 2018. With a disruptive tr Uranus square the composite Sun; and tr Pluto returning to square the composite Saturn soon, which also extends up to late 2018. And in 2018/19 tr Pluto makes a devastating square to the composite Neptune. Their chemistry would be toxic at the best of times and this is the worst.

There is a very tentative birth date for Michael Flynn of 1 Dec 1958 Rhode Island but I can’t confirm it. This would make him a Sun Venus in Sagittarius, with Mercury Saturn also in Sag; and all trine Uranus in Leo; which in turn is on the focal point of a Fixed T Square to Mars in Taurus opposition Jupiter in Scorpio. The Mars Jupiter is an adventurer/opportunist, so it could fit. And that birth date makes for a bitterly hostile relationship chart with Sally Yates, so could be.

Her own personal chart looks highly stressed and trapped at the moment with tr Pluto opposition the Sun/Mars midpoint, on and off till late 2018. That’s been running for a couple of months in the run up to this; but she’s also picked up the lucky break tr Uranus opposition her Sun/Jupiter right now so something is going her way. September/October look exceptionally fraught for her, which is just after the late Leo Solar Eclipse of August is conjunct her Sun – and Trump’s Mars and Ascendant. So she won’t retreat into peace and quiet after this hearing.

Emmanuel Macron – from poetry to prose, can his charm work in realpolitik?

 

 

Emmanuel Macron has won the French Presidential election with two-thirds of a low turnout, spurred to an unexpected victory by the embezzlement scandal of Francois Fillon and the anyone-but-Le-Pen vote. He has promised fresh faces from outside politics, an overhaul of the established political system and a new kind morality in political life. He faces two key questions ahead. 1. Can he govern and reform France with a likely politically diverse cabinet – and probably a divided parliament as well after the June parliamentary elections? 2. Can he back up his campaign promise to reform the EU? He said recently: ‘the dysfunction of the EU is no more sustainable. I do consider that my mandate, the day after, will be at the same time to reform in depth the European Union and our European project.’ If he were to allow the EU to continue to function as it was, it would be a “betrayal” which would lead to the prospect of a “Frexit”.

He’s a Sun Sagittarius trine Saturn in Virgo, with Venus Mercury and Neptune also in Sagittarius; and a Fixed T square onto a focal point Mars in Leo – so certainly enthusiastic, with a dogged, single-minded persistence and headstrong from that Mars.

France is notoriously resistant to reform so no surprises that he’s running into deadlocks and frustrations in 2018/2019, though he won’t give up easy and will push bullishly ahead nonetheless. With some explosive moments in 2018; and success in 2019. What will help him is his Solar Arc Jupiter which brought him to prominence this year (with an added dollop of luck) as it was conjunct his Mars and moves in the next three years to aspect his Moon Uranus in his Fixed T Square.

What’s more interesting to a non-French audience, are his relations with the EU. His Jupiter is conjunct the EU’s MC, which, according to Sakoian & Acker, can suggest he will influence the EU to acquire a more ethical approach. His Taurus Moon is conjunct the EU’s Taurus Moon, and his Mars square Uranus bounces off the rest of the EU’s Fixed Grand Cross, so he will make an impact – his bulldozer tactics meets the EU deep-rooted intransigence head on. His Saturn is conjunct the EU’s Pluto and square the EU Mars, so there will be mighty clashes along the way in a competition for the upper hand.

More importantly even than the EU, is his relationship with Germany, who effectively holds the purse strings. Macron’s Pluto is conjunct Merkel’s MC and conjunct Germany’s Ascendant, so he will definitely try to remake attitudes. But German’s 8th house Pluto is conjunct his Moon and Germany’s Saturn is conjunct his Sun, so he’ll be pretty firmly stockaded by German’s power and interests. His relationship chart with Germany has a composite Moon opposition Saturn square an 8th house Pluto, so pretty hard to budge on either side. He certainly dislikes Jean Claude Juncker but he won’t be around for much longer; and his relationship with Merkel will be logjammed and infuriated till late 2018, but again she may not stay the course till his presidency ends.

The France/Germany relationship chart will run into stormy weather in 2018 with tr Uranus opposition the composite Mars; and tr Saturn square Pluto; and be in a state of confusion in 2019/2020.

He certainly dislikes the UK with a composite Mars opposition Pluto, trine/sextile Saturn and Uranus – all of which is being upended over the next two or three years. His relationship with Theresa May has a composite Mars opposition Neptune – if one side wins the other loses, so an ego-clash. With a hostile and uncompromising composite Mars trine Pluto Uranus.

He does have a strong 17th Harmonic, so despite his political inexperience and vague campaign promises he could make his mark.

Roger Cruikshank – Libra rising to the challenge, again and again

 

Another Libran toughie, Roger Cruikshank, 18 October 1982, a Scottish RAF pilot, who has overcome two potentially life changing accidents and bounced back, has been awarded a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his actions while serving in Iraq.

When he was 22 he smashed his left leg in a fall while racing as a member of the British Olympic Ski team in Germany. “I put my femur through my tibia,” he said. “I have now got nine pins and a plate in my left leg.” 10 months later he qualified for the 2006 Winter Olympics and competed in the men’s downhill and super-giant slalom, wearing a leg brace and dosed up on painkillers. Seven months after that during a holiday in America to celebrate passing basic pilot training, his mountain bike collapsed under him, throwing him over the handlebars. His face had to be reconstructed. His decoration was for an operation last May in which he saved the lives of Iraqi soldiers while running so low on fuel that his own life was in danger.

He has now published a book ‘Speed of Sound, Speed of Mind’, relating his comebacks with proceeds going to mental health charity SAMH and military charity Help for Heroes, in part inspired by his mother who committed suicide seven years ago with depression.

He is a charming Sun Venus in Libra, with a gritty and persevering Saturn Pluto also conjunct his Sun and those four Libra planets sextile Mars and Neptune in sporting Sagittarius. His accidents occurred when tr Pluto in Sagittarius was conjunct his Mars.

His get-it-together 5th Harmonic is strong, linking Uranus to Jupiter, Pluto and Mars – definitely attracted to high-adrenaline activities and also lucky.

His 8H is also marked, which can be an unlucky number though it gives an abundance of strength and stubbornness in the face of difficulties.

Just goes to show that tough aspects, while bringing a stressful life, do have a compensatory strength to overcome.

Steve Holcomb – running on fire

 

American bobsled champion, three-time Olympic medallist and five-time world champion, Steven Holcomb, has been found dead at 37. He put US bobsleighing on the map; and overcame health problems which nearly lost him his sight at point, causing a near suicidal depression and alcoholism, but he recovered almost perfect vision and always seemed cheerful.

He had an extraordinary chart. Born 14 April 1980 in Park City, Utah, he had an inspirational, super-confident Fire Grand Trine of an Aries Sun (and Moon) trine Mars North Node in Leo trine Neptune in Sagittarius, formed into an even more talented, driven and influential Kite by Sun opposition Pluto. His Sun was also on the focal point of a Yod to Saturn in Virgo sextile Uranus in Scorpio, so he would be troubled by feelings of low self-esteem, and wobble between pessimism about himself and high optimism.

Reports indicate that he died in his sleep. He was approaching his Nodal Return this August which would make the upcoming Leo Solar Eclipse conjunct his Mars and Node, so a critical year for him. With tr Uranus also rattling another leg of his Grand Trine conjunct his Sun, and earlier this year opposition his Pluto. So there would be considerable pressures on him and at the best of times he never kept himself in particularly good shape.

Venezuela – churning chaos with no quick end in sight

   

 

At least 36 people have died and hundreds have been injured in weeks of protests in Venezuela against President Nicolas Maduro’s economic mismanagement with inflation running at 700% (IMF), food and medicine shortages and his attempt to alter the constitution to give himself more power.

Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN has accused Maduro of “disregard for the fundamental rights of his own people”, which had “heightened the political and economic crisis in the country”. Trump’s national security advisor HR McMaster has met with the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly to discuss the release of political prisoners and pressing to hold free and democratic elections.

Given Venezuela’s history the question is when will the military step in? Though many senior players have been compromised by Maduro’s patronage.

Maduro was sworn in on 19 April 2013 at 2.05pm Caracas. It looks like a bumpy ride this year, but April/May 2018 is when it will really blow up with an explosive tr Uranus conjunct the Mars Sun of the Presidency chart; and a disappointing, financially undermining tr Neptune squares the 10th house Jupiter.

The Venezuela 24 June 1821 and 22 September 1830 both have undermining and chaotic Neptune transits to Mars midpoints this year and next. There’s a definite downturn come December this year on both.   The 1830 chart has devastation written all over 2018/19 (perhaps earlier since there is no start time); with a dead-halt in 2019, financially and otherwise; and worse in 2022/23. The 1821 chart which has a Saturn Jupiter conjunction in late Aries is being jolted and jangled this year into 2018; with 2012/2022 looking hugely challenging with tr Pluto opposing Saturn Jupiter.

Sun/Moon midpoint – inner balance or disharmony

 

The ‘spirit and the soul, the conscious and the unconscious, husband and wife’ is how Ebertin describes the Sun/Moon midpoint in a chart – the degree halfway between Sun and Moon. It’s the meeting point of the yin and the yang, the masculine and feminine sides of the individual personality, and to some degree involves the early role models in the father/mother relationship in childhood.

It’s a useful point to keep in mind if the birth time is known – for predictions about relationship strains/splits or periods of emotional challenge when the outer planets are in hard aspect to the Sun/Moon. For example, tr Pluto opposition the Sun/Moon midpoint can lead not only to an extended two year phase of considerable pressure on close relationships, but also an internal ‘dark night of the soul’.

Close relationships undergo major changes during outer planet transits to the Sun/Moon midpoint, and because it shifts the internal balance in the individual affected, the kind of relationship they want on the far side isn’t the same as before. Such transits can also sometimes point to upheavals in the parental marriage.

It’s worth looking at the individual natal chart to see how the Sun/Moon midpoint aspects other planetary positions. For example: Sun/Moon = Uranus will have the same effect as Uranus in the 7th, so the kind of partner needed will be unconventional and probably constantly changing with multiple partners. Jupiter or Venus in aspect to the Sun/Moon suggests the ability or luck to attract an affectionate and supportive partner. Saturn = Sun/Moon, relationships will be hard work, probably delayed till later in life and cool. Neptune = Sun/Moon, as Kirk Douglas has (see earlier post), indicates a lack of commitment to marital vows. Pluto = Sun/Moon, intense close relationships with jealousy causing problems.

Sometimes, though not always, it can be involved in cross-overs with a partner’s chart especially one person’s Sun/Moon conjunct the other’s Moon, or in their 7th. Queen Elizabeth’s Sun/Moon is conjunct Prince Philip’s Gemini Sun Mars; and his Sun/Moon is conjunct her Descendant. Catherine Zeta Jones’ Sun/Moon is conjunct Michael Douglas’s Moon. Joanne Woodward’s Sun/Moon was conjunct Paul Newman’s Moon. Princess Diana’s Sun/Moon was conjunct Prince Charles’ Moon; and Camilla’s Sun/Moon falls in Charles’ 7th. Jackie Kennedy’s Sun/Moon was conjunct JFK’s Venus. Zara Tindall’s Sun/Moon is conjunct her husband Mike’s Jupiter.   Jennifer Aniston’s Sun/Moon is conjunct Brad Pitt’s Moon Venus; while his Sun/Moon collides with Angelina Jolie’s Mars opposition Pluto.

But never fear, just because your Sun/Moon midpoint doesn’t aspect any of your planets or partner’s planets it doesn’t mean you won’t be happily settled in a long term commitment. It’s only one point in a chart; there will be other indicators.

What is undoubtedly true is that transits from Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto to the Sun/Moon midpoint will bring chills, disruptions, disappointments and challenges respectively. It doesn’t mean the relationship will inevitably split, though it can do.

Trumpcare – hash and crash could bite back ** updated

  

 

A rushed through vote in Congress to repeal/replace Obamacare was done without waiting for the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to submit its official estimate, which could take several more weeks to complete. That is likely to say how many millions will be left without insurance and medical support. It then has to make its way through the closely divided Senate, who are talking about tearing it up and writing another bill. If left as it is, which seems unlikely, it’ll hit Republicans in the midterms in 2018 as ordinary Americans won’t remotely appreciate being left high and dry – against all Trump campaign promises.

Obamacare was signed in on 23 March 2010 at 11.56am, Washington. Tr Neptune is trailing across the MC till January 2018 which is lacklustre and directionless, dissolving its forward trajectory. Into 2018/19 tr Neptune is conjunct the 10th house Jupiter which is again not supportive. With a tremendous upheaval and disruption in 16 to 18 months from now as the Solar Arc Uranus squares the Pluto and then Moon. But it will get a lucky break come 2020 as Solar Arc Jupiter is conjunct Uranus.

Trumpcare Mark 1 was gavelled at 2.18pm 4 May 2017 in Washington. This puts a Virgo Moon (North Node) conjunct the Ascendant opposition a 7th house Neptune square Mars; with Uranus Mercury opposition Jupiter square a grandstanding Pluto in the 5th; with a sombre Saturn in the 4th in an innovative trine to Mercury Uranus; and a Yod Of Sun sextile Neptune inconjunct Jupiter.

Taking the last first. A Jupiterian yod can be disorganized and impractical; and although it has the potential to have a strong impact out in society, it can also have fateful consequences because Jupiter’s tendency to narrow-minded self-righteousness and grandiosity.

In terms of the impact on the American public represented by the Moon tied into Mars and Neptune, there’s anger, disappointment, with a sense that commitments are not being lived up to. The Moon is also opposition the Sun/Saturn midpoint which brings emotional depression; and women especially will feel it is hard and uncaring. The Sun also aspects the Mars/Pluto midpoint, a hint of the ruthless pressure exerted to get it pushed through. Neptune is conjunct the Saturn/MC which is lacking in clarity and causing suffering.

It’s not a devastatingly bad chart, just lacking empathy. In any event the Act as it stands won’t make it through the Senate so will be considerably altered.

Brad Pitt – searing honesty Hollywood style

 

 

Brad Pitt has gone in for a full mea culpa, soul-baring interview plus fashion shots presumably in the hope of resurrecting …. ? his public image? relationships with his family? He described a heavy drinking, spliff-smoking adult life and said the shake-up of his impending divorce had sent him into therapy which was doing him the world of good.

He does have tr Saturn now moving through his first quadrant below his Sagittarius Ascendant which is often a less ambitious time and one where unresolved psychological issues tend to surface.

He does have Neptune in his 12th which is addiction-prone; plus a tough Mars trine Pluto Uranus, so quite heavy anger issues, which are often an underlying factor in alcohol consumption. He says: ‘I grew up with a Father-knows-best/war mentality—the father is all-powerful, super strong—instead of really knowing the man and his own self-doubt and struggles.’ His Sun/Moon midpoint which rules marriage and also how the body and soul are connected is conjunct Mars and square Jupiter – so he’d always go in for argumentative, high-octane relationships, which wouldn’t help. Indeed his Sun/Moon at 9 Capricorn is square Angelina Jolie’s Mars opposition Pluto, which certainly wouldn’t make for marital calm.

His creative 7th Harmonic (septiles) is very strong which as well as being artistic can also be prone to escapism through drink and drugs; and his pleasure-seeking 9th Harmonic is even more replete with aspects – 9H can also be humanitarian but it also has a tendency to indulge.

His career is still pretty much on a high with The Big Short being a critical and commercial success in 2015 and his production company winning a 3rd Oscar for Moonlight. But there’s no doubt that he’ll want to duck out for a while to get his act together.