Who’d have thought that Wi-Fi, cordless phones and Bluetooth might never have been developed had it not been for the inventive partnership between a Hollywood star and an avant-garde composer? It’s a wondrous tale about Hedy Lamarr, darling of the silver screen in the 1940s. Born 9 November 1914 7.35pm Vienna, Austria, she had an inquiring mind fostered by her wealthy banker father. When she married a fascist arms dealer at 18, she listened to all his conversations about jamming torpedoes and after baling on the marriage and heading to the USA, she tried to give her ideas to the US navy, who weren’t interested. Yet her Secret Communication System, involving the technology behind synchronised music, would go on to define modern life.

Her ideas were picked up after the patent expired in the 1960s and radio communication based on Lamarr’s theory was deployed during the Cuba Missile Crisis. She did receive some scientific credit in her 80s and there’s now a documentary ‘Bombshell’ about her extraordinary contribution.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/11/23/sex-symbol-day-scientific-trailblazer-night-hedy-lamarr-changed/

She had a Sun, Mercury and Mars in Scorpio in her 5^th house of entertainment, so was undoubtedly a larger-than-life personality and a touch vengeful. Her Uranus Jupiter in scientific Aquarius in the ‘eureka’ 8^th house squared onto her Mercury, which would give her a sharp mind (and tongue) and inspired insights. Her Uranus opposed Neptune which is also an ‘inventive’ aspect as well as her Leo Moon. She did not have a restful emotional life, careering through six husbands and multiple lawsuits along the way. Saturn Pluto in Cancer in her 12^th would make her depressive, though Pluto in the 12^th also has depth of understanding. Her Pluto Saturn were in a creative Water Grand Trine to her Pisces Midheaven trine her Mercury, which would make her emotionally self-protective. After her sixth marriage failed she remained single for her remaining 35 years.

Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic athlete, has had his jail sentence for killing his girlfriend extended to the minimum 15 years prescribed for murder in South Africa, less time already served. Prosecutors had argued that the six-year term for murdering Reeva Steenkamp was “shockingly light”.

Born 22 November 1986 10.30am (from memory) Johannesburg, South Africa, he does have a charming but highly controlling and very intense Pluto Venus Mercury conjunct his Scorpio midheaven, with his Scorpio Sun also in his ambitious 10^th square Mars in Aquarius in his 1^st. Utterly driven with a never-say-die mentality which took him to the heights to overcome his disability, but ultimately proved to be his undoing. His Leo Moon squares Venus Pluto adding another dose of relentless obstinacy and possessiveness to his determined and volatile temperament.

His get-it-together but also can-be-dominating 5^th Harmonic is strong, as is his pleasure-seeking 9H, and his can-be-self-destructive 16H. His genius, breakthrough 13H is notable; and his explosive 18H.

Tr Pluto is now moving through his 12^th house, from 2014 right through till 2031, which is classic for imprisonment. Though most often it doesn’t bring such a stark outcome. Certainly a time for deep introspection.

At the moment his Solar Arc MC is conjunct his Saturn which suggests his birth time may be about right. His Saturn is conjunct the Fixed Star Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius (The Scorpion). It is associated with rashness and violence.

His Progressed Moon is moving through purgatory in his 8^th for another nearly two years; and a depressed Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Saturn will weigh heavily on him around early 2019. There’ll be some bullish moments in 2018/19 for him and others of complete despair; with some risky situations over 2020/21 with tr Pluto conjunct his Mars/Uranus. Whatever happens, the turn of the next decade around 2030, when he’ll be in his mid forties, is a time of major change as all the outer planets move into new houses in his chart. Pluto moves out of his 12^th across his Ascendant giving him back control of his life. Tr Uranus moves into his 5^th bringing more social fun and freedom. Tr Neptune into his 3^rd, which will be muddled as far as everyday living is concerned. And tr Saturn into his 4^th moving him out of a low profile period of his life.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s former ally and spymaster, known as the ‘Crocodile’, has been sworn in as President of Zimbabwe at 11.42pm this morning. This puts an early Sagittarius Sun exactly conjunct the midheaven conjunct the Mars/Pluto midpoint. Ebertin describes this as ‘violent measures.’ It is a control freaky and explosive chart with an 8^th house (hidden financial dealings) in a self-willed opposition to Uranus squaring onto a domineering Pluto. Vague, or evasive Neptune is in the 1^st house with the Ascendant on the exact Pisces degree of Mugabe’s Sun, so a fair amount of smoke and mirrors, but most likely to be more of the same. Mars today is also exactly conjunct the Zimbabwe 1980 Pluto for rage and frustration. A hidden 12^th house Moon suggests the population’s needs may not be a priority.

The entrepreneurial and egotistical Fire Grand Trine also today is focussed into a Kite by Uranus opposition Mars – making Mars in the 8^th the driving planet. This points to international trade and finance being a primary ambition, with a good deal of charm being directed abroad with Venus and Jupiter in Scorpio in the 9^th. But that brutal Mars Pluto Uranus T Square is hardly likely to attract the global community.

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The omnipresent Gwyneth Paltrow, actress, singer, health blogger and red carpet regular, appears to be heading for yet another attempt at romantic commitment. She had two early three years liaisons with Brad Pitt and then Ben Affleck, before marrying Chris Martin and producing two children in their fifteen years together. Since their split she’s been dating Brad Falchuk, a television writer/producer (Glee, American Horror Story, Scream Queens, Nip/Tuck).

She doesn’t have the easiest chart for harmonious relationships with an intense, controlling and defensive Libra Sun conjunct Pluto Mars in her 7^th house of marriage. She’ll tend to attract difficult rather dominating partners and bring out the worst in them. She’s also got a changeable Uranus in the 8^th trine a restless Gemini Moon which is also in a vague, evasive opposition to Neptune. Plus Saturn in her 4^th house which rules her domestic life which will tend to mean too little time to relax and indulge even at home. And her Saturn is square Mars, so she’ll be passive-aggressive, overly pliable at times and irritable at others.

Her partner Brad Falchuk, 1 March 1971, is a Sun, Mercury in Pisces in an upbeat square to Jupiter Venus in Sagittarius with Venus in Capricorn and Moon Saturn in Taurus. They are a mix of opposites though Pisces and Libra do often match together. She’s got an Air Sun and Moon, so quite detached emotionally, while he has a Water Sun and Earth Moon, so will be emotionally sensitive and also sensible. His Sun Mercury are conjunct her Ascendant which is a good relationship placing, his Mars in her 10^th will spur her ambitions on and his Venus in her 11^th will make for a friendly connection and a wide social circle.

Their relationship chart has a composite Sun Jupiter Mercury which is definitely good news, making them mutually supportive; with a mega-ton of passion from a composite Venus Mars in Scorpio. Though there’ll always be an undercurrent of doubt and concern from Saturn opposition Neptune.

She’s no doubt mellowed through her middle years but it won’t ever be straightforward for her. It does look a touch bumpy over the next year with tr Saturn square her 7^th house Mars in December and then squaring all the rest of her 7^th house planets in 2018. Looks like work, work, work, which will always be her escape route. And with Jupiter in her 10^th she’s destined to become more successful the older she gets.

The ‘Butcher of Bosnia’, former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic has been jailed for life for genocide and crimes against humanity in the 1990s Bosnian war by The Hague War Crimes tribunal. He led forces during the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 and siege of Sarajevo during which nearly 20,000 died. He was ferocious in pursuit of what he saw as the destiny of the Serb nation and saw the war as an opportunity to avenge five centuries of occupation by Muslim Turks. After the war he went into hiding until captured in 2012.

Born 12 March 1943, maybe 4.30am Backi Petrovazc (astrotheme), he is a Sun Pisces (like Mugabe) with his Sun in a confident trine to Jupiter in patriotic Cancer. What marks his chart out as brutal is an Air Grand Trine of Mars in contrary, uncompromising Aquarius trine Neptune trine Saturn Uranus (Moon) in Gemini, formed into a Kite by a ruthless Mars opposition Pluto.

The old historical blood feuds roll on.

Zimbabwe is in joyous mood after Robert Mugabe’s resignation. Though why the return of the former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa whose ousting led to the coup, to take over the presidency should be taken as an encouraging sign isn’t remotely clear. Nicknamed the Crocodile, he has been a Mugabe’s ally for many years, so is hardly untainted. He has been accused of leading brutal waves of repression against political opponents. One veteran of Zimbabwe’s war of independence, who worked with him for many years, said: “He’s a very cruel man, very cruel.” Another official asked: “You think Mugabe is bad, but have you thought that whoever comes after him could be even worse?”

There’s doubt over his birth year, given as 15 September 1942 or 1946. He received military training in China and Egypt, was tortured by Rhodesian forces after his “crocodile gang” staged attacks; became the country’s spymaster during the 1980s civil conflict, in which thousands of civilians were killed, is close to the army and is accused of masterminding attacks on opposition supporters after 2008 election.

The Zimbabwe independence chart, 18 April 1980 12 am Harare, does indicate a fair few challenges and upsets moving ahead. Tr Uranus is moving into the Zim 4^th house from April 2018, criss crossing in conjunction to the Zim Sun and IC and square the Ascendant, so next year into 2019 will see upheavals, disruptions and radical changes to the country’s image in the world. With unrest in the years following as tr Uranus moves through the Zim 4^th.  Around 2020 tr Pluto will sextile the 10^th house Uranus which is revolutionary-prone and could be violent since it will trigger the Zim Uranus square Mars. And the pressures won’t ease as tr Pluto moves in square to the Zim Sun opposition Pluto up to 2023.

As ever part of the problem – apart from kleptocratic, corrupt rulers who live obscenely indulgent lives while the people starve – is that Zimbabwe is composed of two tribes. The largely agrarian Mashona are seen to be favoured by the Mugabe government and the more (historically) warlike Matabeles who suffered systemic massacres in the 1980s by armed militia and many fled to South Africa.

Mnangagwa, 15 September 1942, would make him a Sun Virgo sextile Jupiter in Cancer with his Sun conjunct Mars Neptune in Virgo. 15 September 1946 would make him a Sun Virgo, with Mars Jupiter in Libra trine Uranus and a Taurus Moon square Saturn Pluto in Leo. It’s hopeless making any sense out of these until a definite birth year is established. Though the 1946 birth date (which the BBC has settled on) does look the harder chart and would put his Mars Jupiter on Zimbabwe’s midheaven, which might suggest an exuberant ruler, who might do some good for the country. Though in both cases his Sun is conjunct the Zim 8^th house Saturn and square the Zim Neptune, so he’d always be distrusted.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the Opposition leader whose MDC party could have won the past two elections had the votes been counted fairly, said he was not holding his breath about the change being a new direction for the country. He said: “This is an internal Zanu-PF conflict or implosion. It is a factional war of succession.”

Born 10 March 1952, he’s a Sun Pisces on the focal point of a Yod to Pluto sextile Neptune; with Jupiter in Aries opposition Neptune Saturn; and Mars in Scorpio square Pluto so a complicated, determined individual. Seven out of the 9 planetary aspects he has over the next three years are negative with only two constructive ones, this December and Sept/Oct 2018 with a lucky break opening new opportunities from mid 2018 onwards till early 2020. But on the whole he looks disillusioned and not making much headway.

The clean-cut teenybop idol of the 1970s, David Cassidy, has died suffering from alcoholism and dementia. He found fame as a child actor in The Partridge Family before going on to sell more than 30 million records, from which he earned very little having signed away the rights. Off screen and stage, he was a voracious consumer of women, drink, drugs and fast cars, an echo of his father, a philandering sex addict, manic depressive and alcoholic, who routinely beat him as a child. He hated the pressures of fame and really wanted a career as a serious actor – which never happened.

The gap between the public celebrity image and the private reality, as ever, being a Grand Canyon wide.

David Cassidy, born 12 April 1950 at 9.55am New York, was a Sun Aries in the public-career 10^th house opposition Neptune in the 4^th, which often occurs with individuals who sacrifice their own identity for their family; with the Sun in a trine to a compulsive-spending Pluto in the 2^nd – he spent his life largely mired in debt. It’s a very untogether chart, not overly descriptive, so it’s tricky to see why he hit such heights, only to sizzle out in a wasted life. Mars in the 4^th certainly suggests an angry father; and a 10^th house Sun type often feels they don’t deserve their success. His Aquarius Moon conjunct Jupiter and Venus in Pisces would give him a sugary sweet appeal for women; but with his Venus opposition Saturn he’d never feel loved.

His Venus was opposition his Mars/Pluto midpoint, giving him considerable emotional turmoil; and his Moon (Jupiter) were opposition his bleak, deprived Saturn/Pluto midpoint. Neither of which would make for a happy, harmonious relationship life.

His can-be-humanitarian or can-be-super-indulgent 9th harmonic was very strong; as was his victim 12H.

His father also died in tragically ironic circumstances being burned alive after falling asleep drunk with a cigarette in his hand. What a depressing family.

Michael Hutchence, the hugely successful Australian singer/musician, frontman for INXS frontman, died 20 years ago tomorrow in lurid circumstances in a hotel bedroom. He was found hanged which could have been suicide or an auto-asphyxiation sex game gone wrong. Caught up in an escalating tabloid drama over his relationship with Paula Yates, he was sinking in a sea of drink, drugs and depression. The autopsy found alcohol, cocaine, Prozac and prescription drugs in his system,

He was born 22 January 1960 at 5am Sydney, Australia and had a maverick, exuberant Aquarius Sun conjunct his Capricorn Ascendant squaring onto a musical Neptune and intensely emotional Moon in Scorpio in his 10^th house. According to a rock-music historian “he was the archetypal rock showman. He exuded an overtly sexual, macho cool with his flowing locks, and lithe and exuberant stage movements.” He also had Uranus in his 7^th house suggesting he was not cut out for long-term committed relationships.

What struck me as odd at the time about his chart, was his 8^th house Pluto trine a 12^th house Mars Saturn in Capricorn. Kevin Spacey has similar with Saturn trine Mars Pluto trine Moon; as does Mel Gibson with Saturn Mars square Pluto. Both Spacey and Gibson have hair-raising fathers which is what you’d expect from these aspects. Yet nothing much is ever spoken about Hutchence upbringing apart from the bare details of years spent in Hong Kong with his businessman father and a separation of his parents at one point in his teens.

The blame for his downward spiral in the last year of his life is always pointed at Paula Yates, who was certainly chaotic, an addict herself and obsessed with publicity, and Bob Geldof who sensibly refused to allow his two children to accompany Yates out of the country. But I would hazard a guess that the reasons behind his depression and escapist addictions were bound up in his difficult relationship with his father and family.

Kelland Hutchence, 20 July 1924, a Sun Cancer square Saturn in Libra, was not an easy mix with his son. K’s Saturn squared Michael’s Sun, Ascendant, Mercury making M feel inadequate. Worse K’s Pluto opposed M’s Saturn Mars in Capricorn, so there would be a deep reservoir of anger issues. The relationship chart has a hostile composite Mars opposition Pluto square Mercury opposition Sun with an evasive, disappointed composite Sun square Neptune. The Mars Pluto opposition was being triggered when Hutchence died with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Mars.

The relationship between the Hutchence parents would have been very volatile. His mother, Patricia, 6 July 1926, was a Sun Pluto in Cancer square Mars in Aries, so had a dominating, angry father herself and seems to have married the same. The Kelland/Patricia relationship chart had an extremely volatile composite Mars Uranus square Venus and trine the Sun; with a power-struggling Jupiter opposition Pluto.

Michael’s Pluto in his 8^th points both to the unconscious ability to project a powerful image, like many superstars, onto the public; but it also points to an all-powerful grandparent. His Mars Saturn in the 12^th points to a difficult pregnancy for his mother when she was carrying him, leaving him with a residue of fear and anger.

The pressures from the Yates/Geldof involvement may have been a symptom but not the cause. What drive him to a tragic end was probably two generations in the making.

Justice League, the super-super hero movie is making feeble headway at the box office. With an assembled team of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg, it is one of the most expensive movies every made and will have to retrieve $600 million to break even. Starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill it has been trashed by many critics, getting only two out of five stars from Rotten Tomatoes and being described as “an embarrassment.” Even the fans have stayed away. Part of the problem appears to have been a chaotic production with frantic rewrites and re-shoots along the way and the loss of the director Zack Snyder after his 20-year-old daughter committed suicide in March.

Principal Photography started on 11 April 2016 when there was a usually successful Jupiter trine Pluto. But clearly it couldn’t outweigh the muddle, guddle and setbacks of a Mutable T Square (windmill in a storm) of Mars Saturn opposition Moon square Jupiter opposition Neptune. Plus an over-revved, crisis-prone  Sun Uranus in Aries square Pluto – which hinted at disruptions and upheavals ahead.

Ben Affleck, 15 August 1972 2.53 am Berkeley, CA, is a confident Sun Leo trine Jupiter in Sagittarius. But his Jupiter opposes Saturn making him hate failure and that Jupiter is being damped down by tr Saturn at the moment. So not a happy camper. What’s ahead for him in the immediate future looks awash with questions marks, domestic woes, and a couple of years of career inertia in 2019/20 with tr Neptune conjunct his midheaven. But he’s got a sterling career behind him in acting and directing as well as his charity work so the odd blip won’t derail him.

Henry Cavill, 5 May 1983, is a determined Sun Mars in Taurus with a hard-edged Pluto Saturn conjunction. His starry Venus opposition Neptune in Sagittarius is getting rained on at the moment again by tr Saturn; and he’s also facing a tough slog in 2018/19 with tr Pluto trine his Mars and tr Uranus opposing his Pluto Saturn, which will shake him up and stick him at the same time. By 2020 he’ll be wreathed in smiles again.