Dionne Quintuplets – forced into a freak show

 

A grim story with a grim chart to go with it. Five quintuplets born in 1934 were removed a few months after their birth from their family by the Canadian government and placed in a heavily guarded compound, where they were raised by nurses and exhibited to the general public like zoological specimens in a tourist attraction named Quintland. Six thousand people came each day to gawp at them through one-way glass as they played indoors or round the paddling pool. The proceeds were supposed to go into a trust fund to provide for them when they were adults, but the money was mismanaged and little of it remained. One died of a seizure at 20, another in her early thirties. A third sister died in 2001. Two are still alive.

The Canadian author Pierre Berton, who wrote about the quintuplets in the 1970s, thought their birth may have saved a nearly bankrupt province, bringing in some C$500 million — roughly C$9 billion (£5.4 billion) in today’s money. It certainly brought wealth to North Bay; a new highway was built, electricity and phone lines were laid, and some three million visitors made the pilgrimage to Quintland.

They weren’t given back to their parents until they were nine, who by that time were strangers. The three sisters surviving were compensated by the government in 1998.

They were born 28 May 1934 3.56am Callander, Ontario, with Mars conjunct the destructive Algol on their Taurus Ascendant opposition a Scorpio Moon square Saturn in Aquarius; with Pluto square Venus Uranus in Aries; and a wide Yod of Uranus Venus sextile Pluto inconjunct Moon – and an Air Grand Trine of Sun trine North Node trine Jupiter. That latter might just have been their saving grace with an optimistic Jupiter highlighted and a propensity for standing back and now drowning in their feelings.

But that is one tough chart especially where nurturing is concerned with the Moon tied into the cruel Mars Saturn and Pluto.

They left home at 18 and had little contact with their parents afterwards. They wrote an open letter to the parents of septuplets in 1997 warning against too much exposure, saying: ‘Our lives have been ruined by the exploitation we suffered.’ Unbelievable.

Bill O’Reilly – a Sun Saturn Virgo with a telling 9th Harmonic

    

 

Fox News, part of the Murdoch media empire, already reeling from the ousting of their chairman Roger Ailes over sexual harassment charges, is now embroiled in more allegations that they paid off multi-million dollar harassment and inappropriate behaviour suits against their top presenter Bill O’Reilly. Two major advertisers have now pulled their ads from O’Reilly’s prime time show. His show attracts almost four million viewers a night, and from 2014 through 2016 it generated more than $446 million in advertising revenue.

Fox across the board is drawing record ratings with programming supportive of President Trump. The NY Times: ‘Despite Mr. O’Reilly’s history of settlements and the series of allegations against him, the company has extended his contract, which was set to expire this year, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. O’Reilly makes about $18 million per year. When the company extended the contract, it knew of multiple settlements that had been reached with women who had complained about his behavior.’ O’Reilly denies all charges.

Born 10 September 1949 (no time sadly) O’Reilly is a workaholic, rigid Sun Saturn in Virgo with his Sun trine Jupiter; with both Mars and Pluto in Leo ( not conjunct), and Pluto sextile Mercury in Libra; his Venus in Libra probably opposes an Aries Moon and squares Jupiter in Capricorn, so superficially charming and likes money. Without a time there’s not much pass remarkable about his chart. Although a focal point Cardinal Jupiter can lead to self-aggrandizement, lack of common sense and a tendency to crusade in a self-righteous way.

At the moment his Solar Arc Saturn is square his Pluto, so stuck; with tr Neptune opposing his Sun/Saturn midpoint this year for a time of uncertainty and paranoia. Tr Uranus will also oppose his Venus late April into May and on and off till 2018, which is an emotional shock, and possibly tr Uranus will also conjunct his Moon. It’s a very different chart to Roger Ailes who has Sun and three other planets in Taurus and a pushy Pluto square Jupiter.

There’s not even much in his midpoints to explain his alleged behaviour. It’s the house positions of O’Reilly’s chart that will tell the story, which we don’t know.

Though looking at his 9th Harmonic (= what brings him pleasure) there’s a controlling and megalomaniac 9H Sun square Pluto, trine Neptune; and a Fixed T Square focal point Venus in Taurus. Bil Tierney says of such a Venus: ‘Determined to have his way in unions, and sometimes forces issues that only stir up conflict and resentment from others due to his lack of compromise of a focal Fixed sign Venus. The individual can enforce too tight a grip upon those he concentrates his steady attention upon in a manner that makes them feel trapped.‘ O’Reilly had an extraordinarily messy divorce in 2011 with legal battles and counter-suits still ongoing. He certainly doesn’t like to let go. His 9H has also got Mars in upfront Aries square Jupiter in Cancer, which Sakoian & Acker describes as ‘one of the most destructive aspects because the natives are likely to use collective power and even social sanction for self-aggrandizement and gratification of the passions.’ At the moment tr Pluto is square his 9H Mars which will make him feel trapped and enraged.

His relationship with Fox, 7 Oct 1996, has a Cardinal Grand Cross with a successful Jupiter opposition North Node square Pluto opposition Uranus; plus a showbizzy and ruthless Mars trine Neptune, sextile Sun Mercury Pluto. It was always going to be a relationship that involved rolling crises and indeed being news is well-suited to a high-adrenaline, none-to-sensitive approach. But for all that the inherent instability in it from Uranus Pluto is being unsettled by tr Pluto square Uranus throughout this year; with an escalation in Sept/Oct and a definite rift, if the relationship survives that long, across New Year into 2018 as tr Saturn squares the composite Sun.

O’Reilly’s relationship with Rupert Murdoch while friendly, isn’t without potential disappoint with a composite Sun opposition Venus square Neptune, which tr Saturn is throwing cold water on from late this June to Oct; with a tussle in Sept/Oct; and a significant upset in 2018 with tr Uranus square the composite Mars Pluto.

 

Trump & al-Sisi – the odd couple

     

 

Trump does love his dictators and military hard men, especially ones with atrocious human rights records. Today he welcomes President al-Sisi of Egypt, whom Obama barred from the White House because of the brutal repression that followed the coup that brought him to power in 2013. His regime is holding between 40,000 and 60,000 political prisoners, including thousands of secular liberal democrats. His security forces have been responsible for extrajudicial killings and 912 disappearances. Eighty-five civil society activists have been banned from leaving the country and dozens of journalists are being held without trial.

Trump’s theory is that al-Sisi is a major ally in the fight against terrorism yet his regime has made Egypt a mass-production facility for violent extremism. Terrorist incidents have increased dramatically, since he took power. He supports al-Assad in Syria, and has offered unqualified endorsement of Russia’s increasing military presence throughout the Middle East. He gets $1 billion a year from the USA and yet his state-controlled media is filled with anti-Western diatribes; and Americans working in Egypt, and Egyptians who work with Western organizations, have faced trumped-up charges under harsh laws criminalizing contacts between Egyptians and foreigners.

Trump has two Egyptian registered property companies, perhaps why it was left off the selective travel ban despite having high levels of violence. Ditto Turkey.

Al-Sisi, born 19 Nov 1954, has a fearsome chart with Pluto in Leo opposition Mars in Aquarius square a Scorpio Sun Venus; with Saturn Mercury also in Scorpio, so his chart certainly matches his words and deeds. His Pluto is conjunct Trump’s Mars and Ascendant which doers suggest the possibility of a major clash at some point. Admittedly their relationship chart has an enthusiastic, supportive composite Sun Jupiter Mercury conjunction; but there’s also a composite Mars square Pluto.

It’ll cool in the July to October period this year with tr Saturn square the composite Venus; with a deal of confusion from tr Pluto square the composite Neptune at the same time.

The USA/Egypt relationship chart is on a winding path this year, with more warmth from tr Pluto trine the composite Venus Sun; but also aggravation in Sept/Oct from tr Pluto trine Mars; and relations are very disrupted from 2018 to 2021.

Al-Sisi’s Presidency chart, 8 June 2014 11.18am is less than stable at the moment with the Solar Arc Pluto square Uranus. Though like Zuma’s Presidency chart in South Africa, it does have Jupiter tied into a wide Cardinal Grand Cross, so will survive close scrapes better than it deserves. Where it starts to sag badly is in 2019/2020 with tr Neptune square the Gemini Sun.

Doris Day – a Hollywood fantasy

 

 

Doris Day, the bubbly blonde with the girl-next-door image who became the top ranking female star of the 1950s/60s in musicals with Gordon MacRae and rom-coms with Clark Gable and Rock Hudson has reached the ripe old age of 95.

She was born 3 April 1922 at 4.30 pm Cincinnati, Ohio, USA into a family of German immigrants. The reality of her life belied her eternal-optimist, virginal screen persona. Her unfaithful father split from her mother; she had a car crash in her teens which ruined her dancing ambitions, had atrocious taste in violent and cheating men, multiple affairs and four bad marriages. Latterly she’s been indulging her interest in animal welfare.

She has a 7th house wants-a-partner Aries Sun in a confident, demanding, inspirational Fire Grand Trine to Mars in Sagittarius trine Neptune in Leo, so definitely suited to showbiz. Her Sun is also in an expansive, confident opposition to Jupiter North Node (and Saturn) in Libra square a controlling 10th house Pluto in Cancer. Her mother was obviously pushy and controlling with a 10th house Pluto and a 10th house Moon conjunct MC is in an emotionally volatile opposition Mars. It left her with a legacy of troubled relationships; and she was evidently prone to tantrums in her working life which is not surprising. Her Venus in Aries is deeply buried in her 8th so she clearly was attracted to intense relationships and certainly had an action-packed life.

Her strongest Harmonic is the ‘super-star’ 22nd; next the ‘victim’ 12th; and she had a reaching-for-the-heights 5H which combined Neptune Pluto with Venus and Mars – so destined for great things though not always happiness.

USA – Neptune trine the Cancer Sun

 

Within days tr Neptune will trine the USA Cancer Sun, running on and off till late 2018. It’s a soft aspect but sometimes even they have more event-filled consequences on a country chart than would be expected from an individual.

The last time there was a trine to the USA Sun was when Neptune was in Scorpio from Jan 1962 to June 1963. JFK was in the White House and trouble started brewing with Cuba ending in the Missile Crisis in October 1962 which was as close as the west got to a world war with Russia. Anxiety levels ran high.

John Glenn was in space; Marilyn Monroe died. There was a 114 day strike by NY newspapers.

JFK was assassinated in November 1963 when tr Neptune had moved on two degrees from the exact trine.

Though there were other influences running then which are not the same this time round. 1962/63 had the Uranus Pluto conjunction in Virgo and Saturn in Aquarius square Neptune – both of which were hugely unsettled and uncertain.  This time round, the chaos of the Trump admin might well soak it up – and  potential foreign relations debacles.

 

South Africa – a calamitous government

1994 sa  1910 sa  jz pres  jz

 

Feelings are running high in South Africa after President Jacob Zuma fired a respected finance minister without bothering to inform him ahead of time in person, in a major midnight cabinet reshuffle. Commentators write: “It’s not hyperbolic to suggest that what happens next – in the coming hours and days – will determine whether South Africa’s hard-won democracy will survive or whether it will join the club of post-colonial calamities that have scarred the continent’s past. The stakes couldn’t be higher.”

“Zuma’s ruthless display of power could prompt an economic crisis that could easily send South Africa into a downward spiral  whose consequences are impossible to predict.” “The rand has already plunged  on news of his removal. Market sentiment will collapse. And there’s a high likelihood that perhaps as early as next week, rating agency Moody’s will downgrade South Africa to junk status.

“Zuma’s career has been marked by a bullish disregard for convention and a rugged tenacity in the face of adversity.” “It’s as several senior ANC insiders have described in recent days as being about “the corrupt versus the non-corrupt”. “Is South Africa sleepwalking towards the door marked “dictatorship”? Repeatedly, the analyst community has underestimated Zuma. Repeatedly, he’s fought back ruthlessly. He doesn’t conform to the “usual rules” or the same political calculations. He cares only about his interests and those of his sponsors and of a band of ‘comprador’ nationalists.”

The South Africa 27 April 1994 chart has tr Uranus square the Neptune Uranus in Capricorn conjunction through this year, into 2018 – so high tension, with fanatical outbursts, a country on the edge. The February Pisces Eclipse was conjunct the 2nd house Saturn suggesting a sharp reality check where money is concerned over the coming months. The Solar Arc MC is conjunct the 10th house Pluto exactly now, which is a fair description of the trapped country whose destiny is in the hands of a control freak. There might be some hope from tr Pluto sextile the 10th house Moon in 2018/19; but tr Pluto will oppose the Neptune Uranus through from 2019 to 2022 which will be devastating and difficult.

The South Africa 31 May 1910 chart is in no better shape; with tr Pluto opposition the Neptune Mars in Cancer this year for confusion, fear and deadlock; jolting with tr Uranus square Uranus and conjunct Venus; more so in 2018 with tr Uranus conjunct Saturn; and again living through disruption and rebellion from tr Pluto opposition Uranus through till the early 2020s.

Unfortunately Jacob Zuma’s Presidency chart, 24 May 2014 11.35am has a strongly aspected Jupiter, which would certainly back up his devil-may-care attitude to rules and decency but also gives him undeserved luck. Plus an MC conjunct the destructive Algol, not known for its moral standing. That chart looks bullishly confident through till late 2018.

His own personal chart, is equally gung ho till late 2018; though he does get a tr Pluto square his Aries Sun in 2018/19; and he does start to slide by 2019 with tr Neptune square his Jupiter.

What a sad legacy for Nelson Mandela.

Two Hollywood duos of the moment – meeting their match

jl da syn  jl da comp  ak mf syn  ak mf comp

 

Actress Jennifer Lawrence appears to be stepping out with director Darren Aronofsky, who is 21 years older than her. It’s quite a heavyweight and stubborn mix with his Aquarius Sun square Mars Neptune in Scorpio entangled with her equally Fixed Leo Sun square Mars in Taurus opposition Pluto.

The relationship chart has a volatile, changeable composite Sun opposition Uranus square Mars; and an up-and-down Jupiter opposition Saturn square Venus. There’s definitely a deep connection there with his Jupiter Uranus and Pluto falling in her 8th; but it looks too overloaded to last a lifetime.

Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender also appear to be still together, which isn’t the easiest of matches either. He’s a Sun Aries opposition Pluto MC in Libra, so quite controlling and her Libra Sun opposition Mars in Aries sits on top of his main opposition, so plenty of openings for a tug of war. Her Pluto is conjunct his Uranus and trine his Mars in Pisces so definitely a relationship that will change both of them, but again maybe not a forever twosome.

Their relationship chart has an idealistic (ends in disappointment) composite Venus opposition Neptune square Mars – egos and career pressures won’t help with Mars square Neptune. Plus an adventurous Jupiter opposition Uranus, often found in seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time bonds. Plus a too-much-work composite Sun square Saturn.

Mike & Karen Pence – a no-space marriage

mike kar syn  mike kar comp

 

Vice President Mike Pence – “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order” – said in 2002 he would never dine or drink alone with a woman who was not his wife, in order to protect his marriage. Sounds positively Muslim or Orthodox Jewish and relegates female colleagues to a special category of – dangerous/predatory? And discounts the possibility of male male dinners ever being sexually motivated or misunderstood for outsiders. So back to the old Adam and temptress Eve; women defined by their sexuality. One of these days someone will explain to me why religious zealots are incapable of regarding people as human beings, whose gender is irrelevant the bulk of the time, especially in the professions.

His marriage does appear to be a tight working relationship. A Trump adviser said “You can’t get a dime between them.” He evidently calls his wife ‘Mother’.

Pence, 7 June 1959, is a Sun, maybe New Moon, in Gemini (or Moon in Cancer) with his Moon in whichever sign certainly square Pluto – so a possessive wife/mother would fit his pattern. He’s got a passionately enthusiastic and flamboyant Venus Mars in Leo square Neptune with Mars widely conjunct Uranus, so enjoys attention and a high adrenaline lifestyle.

Karen, his wife, 18 Nov 1958 (wiki), Kansas, is Sun Venus and Jupiter in Scorpio (similar to Laura Bush with Sun Jupiter Mars in Scorpio) with her Sun Venus opposing Mars in Taurus possibly squaring onto a late Aquarius/early Pisces Moon. So not short on determination or sticking power, can turn on the charm and probably the anger when it suits her. Definitely not a lady for being pushed around. Her Saturn in Sagittarius opposes his Sun Mercury (maybe Moon) so she’ll instil discipline, a work ethic and possibly has a need to be right at all times being in Sag. Her Moon may oppose her own Pluto and his – so again a possessive mother/home mindset.

Their relationship chart has a tightly controlling composite Sun Pluto conjunction; with the composite Venus on the point of a T Square to an awkward Saturn opposition Mars, which suggests a very one-sided relationship, where the needs of one are suppressed and it can at times feel unkind to the point of emotional cruelty.

Both of them find Trump hard going, Karen especially. There was a spoof news story doing the rounds that Pence himself had gay conversion therapy in his younger years, but it appears to be fake.

England & Scotland – ancient charts work well

927  973  scot

 

Back in the mists of time, the sceptered isle off the European continental shelf, originally known as Albion, was renamed Britannia by the Romans who conquered the southern parts. Where England first started to pull together as a unified kingdom was on 12 July 927 JC, and later on 11 May 973 JC (Nick Campion).

Both charts will have a validity and the 927 one appears to work best with the Brexit referendum. It has a Cancer Sun, Mercury, Neptune conjunct in Cancer square Uranus in Aries – so visionary, patriotic and rebellious. When the June 2016 Referendum occurred tr Uranus was square the Cancer Sun, as it does at the moment as the Brexit negotiations are kicked off; with the Uranus Return also hanging over the decisive moment in time. Tr Pluto opposes Neptune in 2017 giving rise to high anxiety; then tr Pluto moves to square Uranus for a mighty upheaval in 2019 and opposes the Sun Mercury through till late 2020 – for an extended period of challenge with old structures being pulled down. By 2020 tr Uranus will oppose the Jupiter in Scorpio for a feeling of relief and excitement, followed in 2021 by an insecure tr Uranus opposition Mars. The triple conjunction of Pluto, Saturn Jupiter in Capricorn will at various times oppose the Cancer Sun through 2019/2020 – so a defining moment of historical change. Mind you the triple conjunction of Saturn Uranus Neptune in Capricorn of the early 1990s did the same, so maybe that’s when the seeds were sewn.

Relations with the EU were never easy with a hostile composite Mars trine Pluto; and a suspicious Saturn opposition Neptune square Uranus. The latter is being further undermined by tr Neptune in hard aspect for the next three years. And the composite Pluto is being turned upside down in 2018; with major aggravation in 2020/2021 as tr Pluto is sextile the composite Mars.

Relations with Scotland 842 were also always uneasy with a composite Mars trine Pluto Venus Mercury. Tr Neptune is dissolving the foundations at the moment with tr Neptune opposition Mars in 2017; and then moving into full rupture mode in 2020 with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Pluto. Through 2017/18 as well tr Pluto squares the composite Uranus. However to be noted, these influences will have recurred several times over the long union of England and Scotland and it has held together this far with periodic phases of conflict and disagreement along the way.

The England 973 chart has a fearsome and confident Sun Mars in Taurus square Pluto and trine Jupiter in Virgo – which would certainly fit with a ruthless and successful trading and military superpower. Relations on this chart with the EU are disappointed in 2017/18/19; and tipping into outright hostility in 2018/19; with a long drawn out aftermath to Brexit in 2020/1/2/3 with tr Pluto trine the composite Saturn Uranus. Relations with Scotland 842 are on a Neptunian downhill slide till 2019 and tr Uranus will add its tuppence worth of mischief in 2018/19 as it hard aspects the composite Sun square Uranus. Tr Pluto will square the composite Sun and conjunct Uranus in 2022/23 – so post Brexit will be even more unsettled.

The Scotland 16 March 842 JC chart has an Aries New Moon, with Sun conjunct Pluto in late Pisces; and a gritty Saturn Neptune in Capricorn opposition Mars in Cancer square Uranus in Aries opposition North Node in Libra. Certainly a restless, aggressive (military) country, spilling over with initiative, for whom close neighbourly relations were always testing.

That Cardinal Grand Cross was under extreme pressure from the tr Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn during the 2014 independence referendum – which was a Uranus Return (happens every 84 years. The previous Uranus return in the early 1930s was when the Scottish National Party was formed.

2016/17 looks downbeat with tr Pluto conjunct the Saturn; and in a state of shock with Solar Arc Mars opposition the Sun. And the Solar Arc Saturn Neptune has been moving across the Aries Sun (2015 to 2021) so a period of discouragement and some disappointment. With some relief and a positive shift come 2020 as tr Uranus trines the Jupiter. But nothing that looks like a game-changing moment in the years ahead.