Just a quickie on explorer adventurers. What is extraordinary looking at eight charts of the most famous modern and a couple of older ones is the absence of earth signs.

Ranulph Fiennes, the transglobe explorer, 7 March 1944, has none at all – he’s a Pisces Sun, Mercury with five Air and three Fire planets.  Neither has Ben Fogle, Sun Scorpio with no Earth, 4 Air, 3 Fire, 3 Water.

Aron Lee Ralston, is a Sun Uranus in Scorpio with only Venus in Virgo in Earth, 3 Water, 2 Air, 3 or 4 Fire.

Tom Avery, is a Sun Sagittarius with only Mercury in Capricorn in Earth, four Fire, three Air.

Bear Grylls, is a Sun Gemini with only Venus in Taurus and a Capricorn Moon in an Earth sign and four Water planets.

Edmund Hillary, the Everest mountaineer, a Sun Cancer with five Water planets, four Fire, no Air.

Ernest Shackleton, a Sun Aquarius with five Air, three Fire and only Pluto in Taurus in Earth.

Not surprisingly, most have high-adrenaline, danger-seeking Mars Uranus aspects. And several have Jupiter Neptune aspects – following a dream (delusional) – though sometimes dreams come true. And otherwise strongly aspected Jupiters for confidence and luck.

Perhaps too much earth which generally give practicality, common sense and a grounding in the body isn’t helpful for high endurance, madcap expeditions.

Mo Farah, the long-distance Olympic runner is similar being a Sun Aries, with four Fire signs and only Venus in Taurus.

Maybe being connected to the body would put the brakes on these sports which push beyond the limits, which is where Jupiter Neptune comes in as well. Endurance is a head and head-in-the-clouds sport.

Serena Williams married Alexis Ohanian, the American-Armenian co-founder of Reddit, father of her baby, yesterday in the early evening in New Orleans. Who’d get married on a Mars Pluto square? Doesn’t augur well for the road ahead. The wedding was glitzy enough, indeed seriously overdone, in the style of superstar hitches as befits a frivolously indulgent Moon Jupiter Venus in Scorpio. Though the Sun quincunx Uranus hints at a degree of strain. And Mars square Pluto? Oof, angst, power-struggles, hostility down the road, never mind during the preparations of the week before.

She’s a tennis superstar, 22 times Grand Slam winner, born 26 September 1981 8.28pm Saginaw, Michigan and he 24 April 1983 New York.

From an earlier post: She has her Sun and Saturn Jupiter Pluto Mercury in Libra with a Virgo Moon and Venus in Scorpio. While he is a Sun in Taurus opposition Saturn Pluto, with Mars also in Taurus; a Virgo/Libra Moon, Venus in Gemini and a lucky Uranus Jupiter in Sagittarius. It’s not intuitively that strong a mix. On the upside his Venus does trine her Libra Sun Saturn Jupiter which is affectionate; his Moon is around her Moon Sun which gives a shared resonance; his Sun is on her Ascendant which can be good though also competitive. Her Venus in Scorpio opposes his Mars in Taurus which is hot, passionate and sexy but not overly sensitive. And his Saturn Pluto is conjunct her Descendant which isn’t too emotional, better suited to a business relationship.

The relationship chart, which oddly enough or maybe not, often picks up the themes of the wedding chart, has a morale-boosting composite Sun trine Jupiter; but the Sun is also square a cold, overly hard-working Saturn and trapped Pluto; with Saturn Pluto trine Mars which will create aggro down the line. Plus an ego-clashing, mutually unsupportive composite Mars opposition Neptune squaring onto the composite Moon. Plus a needs-space composite Venus square Uranus. Possibly more minuses than pluses.

He’s got a very see-saw chart with his Sun opposition Saturn Pluto; Venus opposition Uranus Jupiter; and Neptune opposition Node – all planets separated in two groups on opposite sides of his chart, so he won’t find relationships easy to maintain. She on the other hand has a very bunched together chart with all planets within a trine, so will be fairly self-sufficient – and certainly very work-oriented.

The other wedding this week was in prison between the UK’s ‘most violent inmate’ Charles Bronson, an armed robber who has been behind bars for 41 years, 37 in solitary confinement after repeatedly attacking prison staff and has spent time in high-security psychiatric hospitals. His second marriage also occurred when he was inside, and this his third is to a small-time actress. They were married at 2pm on 14 November at 2pm in Wakefield, England. That wedding chart has fittingly a hidden 8^th house Scorpio Sun as well as Jupiter Venus in Scorpio; with the Moon conjunct Mars in the 7^th square Pluto; and Saturn conjunct the MC. The Mars Pluto square makes more sense of a criminal marriage.

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Explorer and adventurer Benedict Allen has been found in a remote part of Papua New Guinea after being reported missing by his wife. He was on a solo expedition without phone or GPS tracker to find an indigenous people who may be headhunters. The location is only accessible by air, after the road bridges were cut due to tribal fighting.

Born 1 March 1960, with a test pilot father, he has previously crossed the Amazon Basin on foot and in a dug-out canoe, been shot at by hitmen, caught malaria and participated in a six-week male initiation ceremony in which crocodile marks were carved onto his body. On one trip he had to eat his own dog to survive. He has made six TV documentary series for the BBC, is an author and motivational speaker.

He is a Sun Pisces – like Ranulph Fiennes, another intrepid, seemingly fearless and very lucky explorer, and several other famous explorers from the past; with his Sun opposition Pluto and sextile Saturn making him determined and tough, used to deprivation. His Pluto is also inconjunct a stubborn Mars in Aquarius which will draw him compulsively towards danger and make him argumentative and overly stubborn. His wife complained about him not taking any communication equipment with him and said it was hard on his three children. His Venus in Aquarius opposes Uranus and square Neptune, so he will be emotionally detached, needing freedom, quite fanatical at times with Uranus Neptune, and not always sensible.

Tr Pluto is conjunct his Mars/Jupiter midpoint at the moment which would give him protection and the ability to succeed. He’s certainly not short of guts or enthusiasm with his Mars conjunct his Sun/Jupiter midpoint; and his Pluto = Mars/Jupiter.

The Brexit bullet having been fired is due to hit its target on 29 March 2019 at 11pm London time, which may (or may not) see a divorce decree absolute, given the amount of foot-shuffling going on. But it’s what Theresa May is rigidly clinging onto, at least for today.

It would make sense astrologically since tr Saturn in Capricorn is exactly opposition the UK Moon then for a sense of mourning, and it returns on and off till December 2019. Tr Uranus is square the UK Jupiter for a monumental sigh of relief – jubilation from those who want out; and for those who didn’t, at least the boring haggling is over so we can get on with making the best of a bad deal. The Solar Arc Pluto is within 6 months of being exactly conjunct the UK Libra Ascendant, which is usually a time of taking control. The Solar Arc UK Moon is opposition the UK natal 11^th house Saturn bringing a sense of loss and perhaps popular displeasure with the legislature. The Secondary Progressed Moon is conjunct the UK natal Moon, so on a Progressed Return, which is a significant marker. (see below)

The Brexit chart itself for 2019 looks argumentative, stressed and fraught with a 7^th house Mars in Taurus trine Moon Pluto (Saturn) in Capricorn. It’s a very lower hemisphere chart so inward looking, concerned with self rather than others. The only upper hemisphere point if the Node in Cancer in the 9^th – so it’ll be a struggle to connect to the wider world, with pride getting in the way. The tendency will be to get entangled in complications – can’t see the wood for the trees.

The Jupiter trine Uranus suggests a leap of faith with costs attached; and Saturn also in the 2nd will require teeth-gritting decisions about money.

Add On: Looking back on the UK’s previous Progressed Moon Returns they have coincided with game-changing events, most often connected to the Royal Family. That isn’t surprising since the 10^th house where the Moon sits is associated in mundane astrology with the rulership of the country.

The previous one in late 1991 saw the UK in an economic depression, worsening in November 1991 and leading to the UK crashing out of the ERM in 1992 to great embarrassment and loss of money; described as the most significant event until Brexit 2016. The aftermath also saw the Queen’s Annis Horribilis with three of her children divorcing or separating in 1992 and Windsor Castle going on fire.

One back in November 1964, the Return foreshadowed Winston Churchill’s death in January 1965. During the three days of lying-in-state, 321,000 people file past the catafalque.

The Progressed Moon conjunct the UK Moon in mid 1937 coincided with the Coronation of George V1 in May. And on the previous occurrence in February 1910, King Edward V11’s health was worsening. He died in May 1910 with a state funeral, and was succeeded by George V.

Real Madrid footballer Cristian Ronaldo has had his fourth child on 12 November 2017 at 9.15pm in Madrid, this one with his girlfriend Georgina, the previous three being born to surrogates.

the new arrival, Alana Martina, has an intensely emotional and party-loving 5^th house Scorpio Sun and an equally powerful 7^th house Pluto, so she won’t go unnoticed. Her hard-working and hard-worrying Virgo Moon is in the 3^rd house of siblings, so she’ll be preoccupied with those around her growing up. Indeed siblings may provide more nurturing than her rather vague mother with Moon opposition Neptune. Her home life will be indulgent and noisy with both Mars and Venus Jupiter in her 4th house.

Although she’ll bring Ronaldo a real lift with her Venus Jupiter in his 10^th, it won’t be the easiest of relationships. Born 5 February 1985 5.25am Funchal, Portugal, he’s an Aquarius Sun with a Leo Moon with Venus in Aries which is the exact opposite of her highly emotional Scorpio Sun and Venus and earthy Virgo Moon. Different temperament types. He has a controlling 10^th house Pluto which is conjunct her Venus Jupiter and his Saturn is conjunct her Sun, so it will be a tussle for control at times. The relationship chart has an argumentative/competitive composite Sun Mars and a chained-together Saturn Pluto, so not always harmonious.

Prince Charles is celebrating his 69^th birthday today – along with Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, and politician and best-selling writer of the original House of Cards, Michael Dobbs.  All have an intense and determined Scorpio Sun and an adventurous Jupiter (Mars) in Sagittarius opposition Uranus but these energies will play out differently with different birth times and therefore house positions.

Charles has his Taurus Moon in the 10^th suiting him for a public career, with a full 4^th family house; and his dynamic Mars Jupiter is in the sporting and fun-loving 5^th house.

He looks in a dutiful Saturnine phase with tr Saturn moving through his 5^th house of enjoyment and children; and from 2019 into his 6^th house of health and work for two years thereafter. Plus tr Saturn will conjunct his Jupiter and oppose his Uranus this December for a few downbeat days. Also in December tr Pluto will square his Mars/Pluto midpoint over into the New Year which is trapped, frustrating and irritating. That returns late 2018. He looks aggravated, accident-prone in April 2018 and early 2019 with tr Uranus opposition his Mars/Saturn which can also indicate a loss; plus a career setback in 2019 from tr Saturn square his MC.

Tr Uranus is conjunct his Moon from mid May 2018, on and off till March 2019, which could be jolting changes in the family which also affect his career. There’s also a hint of a change of direction career-wise in the later stages of 2018  from tr Uranus square his Sun/MC midpoint; with a much heavier workload in 2019/2020 as tr Saturn moves through his 6^th, which might also give rise to a few health issues. And his Solar Arc Saturn squares his Pluto in late 2018/early 2019 which will be onerous and burdensome.

Where there is an indication of a radical change in his life with major pressures would be in five/six years’ time as his Solar Arc Saturn is conjunct his Sun, and his Solar Arc MC is conjunct his Uranus. The Queen will be in her late 90s then and I would imagine between now and then she’ll hand over more and more responsibilities to him.

His relationship with her looks very gritty, irritable and stuck through 2018/2019 with tr Pluto conjunct the composite Mars; with (all being well health-wise in both cases) more major upheavals come 2021/22.

The shift in the dynamic within the Royal family will be considerable as power is handed over, never mind the possibility of older family members dying.  Charles’s relationships with Andrew and daughters Beatrice and Eugenie look to be chilling from now onwards, but especially in 2019.

More than 400 have been killed with 8000 injured in the deadliest earthquake this year on the Iran Iraq border. The shocks were felt as far as Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

The first quake struck at 9pm near Halabjah, Iraq, which puts the destructive Mars square Pluto on the IC (base of chart) and Descendant – so sitting on the chart axis. With a disruptive Uranus in the 10^th. Although there were fewer victims on the Iraq side, the country 23 Aug 1921 chart does have a late Leo Sun which was directly aligned with this year’s August Solar Eclipse and opposing next February’s Solar Eclipse in Aquarius. And the Iran February 1979 country chart had its Sun Mars in Aquarius rattled by the August Lunar Eclipse and the approaching late January Lunar Eclipse.

Set for Halabjah, the August Solar Eclipse had Pluto on the MC opposition Venus IC square Uranus on the Ascendant opposition Jupiter – so very much a significant location for an Eclipse effect.

A bloodless coup in Zimbabwe has effectively corralled the ageing President Robert Mugabe and his profligate wife Grace, who was being lined up as successor. Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose firing as vice-president precipitated the army takeover, told Mugabe that the party was “not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please”. Nearly forty years of disastrous Mugabe rule has left the resource-rich country in economic ruin with money from diamond mines rolling into the pockets of many of his senior aides.

Grace Mugabe, 23 July 1964, is a Sun Leo with Jupiter in indulgent Taurus in a grandiose opposition to Neptune. She has bought homes in Dubai and South Africa, spent £3million of state funds on her daughter’s wedding, acquired a £300,000 Rolls-Royce and her three sons flaunt their wealth while seven in ten citizens are stuck in poverty.

Mugabe took over as president on 4 March 1980. This year tr Neptune has been conjunct the Presidency Pisces Sun, undermining his power. There’s also a Fire Grand Trine of Neptune trine Venus in Aries trine North Node, with Venus opposition Pluto – so controlling and entrepreneurial – though the only people benefitting were those close to the seat of power. Tr Uranus is at the moment hitting on both Pluto and Venus

Zimbabwe became independent at midnight on 18 April 1980 and this was always going to be its most unstable period with tr Uranus conjunct the Aries Sun, having been opposition Pluto in recent times, and about to oppose the MC from early 2018. It’ll be a long haul back to economic prosperity with tr Pluto trine the 8^th house Saturn in 2018/19; and a downbeat Solar Arc Saturn opposing the Zimbabwe Sun within months. The risk is that the replacement rulership will have its own flaws.

Mnangagwa appears to have been born in 1942 or 1946, so no help there. The army General Constantino Chiwenga, 25 Aug 1956, is a confident and tough Sun Jupiter in Virgo with Sun conjunct Pluto; and Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto and triune Mars. Grace Mugabe is popular with younger voters so there’s real danger of a civil conflict on the streets. And she does have tr Pluto trine her Jupiter in 2018/19 so she’ll be in a bullish mood.

Bryan Cranston is getting rave reviews for his performance at the National Theatre as an ageing news anchorman going nuts in Paddy Chayefsky’s prescient 1976 Oscar-winning satire on the state (and future) of American TV.  Told he is being given the sack Howard Beale blithely announces during the ensuing bulletin that he intends to kill himself on air. He becomes a ratings sensation with his catch phrase “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore”. It’s a tilt at the corporate power of the networks, whose only priority is – guess what? – money.

Cranston, 7 March 1956 10.52 am Los Angeles, was brought up mainly by grandparents, and he has described his actor parents as ‘broken people’ who should never have had children. He had a jobbing, low-key career until landing in his fifties the lead of Walter White, chemistry teacher turned meth manufacturer, in Breaking Bad which became a gargantuan hit

He has a 10^th house Pisces Sun, good for movies and a career that brings him public attention. His Moon aspects, not surprisingly with such a disrupted childhood, are stressed with an 8^th house (grandparent nurture) Capricorn Moon opposition Uranus square Neptune opposition Venus in late Aries. Luckily he also has a confident Jupiter Pluto in Leo opposition his MC Mercury in Aquarius squaring onto a 6^th house Saturn in Sagittarius. So very hard working, conscientious, suited to a career with a good deal of variety. A focal point Saturn also often brings success later in life.

When Breaking Bad launched in 2008 tr Uranus was moving through his 10^th house conjunct his Pisces Sun. Uranus is a wild card bringing jolting and unwanted changes of direction for some, and for others a game-changing role. His Solar Arc Mars was also opposition his Pluto which would be challenging with the pressure of work; but whose criminal intent he turned to good use in the role of good guy gone rogue.

He now writes, directs and produces – and is able to pick and choose his roles. He looks set for a long career ahead of him, though with a few emotional bumps and jolts now till the early 2020s with tr Uranus and tr Pluto bouncing off his Moon, Uranus and Venus; and a career dip or two as tr Neptune is conjunct his Moon in 2019.