Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign chairman and campaign official Rick Gates have been indicted by a federal grand jury as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. They were indicted on 12 counts, according to court documents, including conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, being an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

Manafort, 1 April 1949 is a go-getting Sun, Mars, Venus, Mercury in Aries trine Pluto, so no slouch when it comes to heading for what he wants. He looks shattered at the moment with tr Neptune square his Mars/Pluto midpoint into Jan 2018, with more Neptune to follow and a downbeat tr Saturn in Capricorn square his Aries planets in 2018. Though he’ll get one boost from tr Uranus square his Jupiter through 2018 – the theory being he’ll be offered a deal if he rolls over on information against others in the Russia investigation.

His relationship chart with Trump looks pressured this month; devastated at the point where Manafort gets a lucky break in April 2018 and December 2018/January 2019; and hits its nadir in 2019 with tr Neptune square the composite Mars.

Manafort’s Uranus is conjunct Trump’s Sun and his Saturn sits on Trump’s Ascendant so he could be a catalyst for a major disruption in DT’s life and career trajectory; plus put a damper on his image. Manafort’s Aries planets are all in Trump’s hidden and secretive 8^th house of joint finances. [See posts: August 15 2016 and August 11 2017]

Tr Uranus is square Trump’s Venus from mid this week which will bring an emotional shock of sorts; with tr Pluto squaring his Jupiter this month and November putting him into pushy overdrive, with little regard for social niceties or rules and regulations – it also carries the association of conflict with governmental authorities. [See post October 19 2017.]

Kevin Spacey has apologised for a drunken sexual encounter with a 14 year old boy thirty years ago which he says he doesn’t remember. He says he has been bi-sexual in the past but is now gay.

Born 27 July 1959 5.51am (questionable time) South Orange, New Jersey, he had a Nazi-obsessed father who abused his brother, and with whom he had no contact in adulthood. He is a Sun and Uranus Mercury in Leo with a challenging and driven Earth Grand Trine of a 10^th house (public career) Taurus Moon trine Saturn trine Pluto Mars (and Venus) in Virgo. The domineering, ruthless father certainly comes across loud and clear.

If his birth time is right, he’s running into heavy weather career-wise with House of Cards now cancelled and there’s probably more allegations and stories to come out. Tr Pluto is about to square his midheaven around now which often accompanies damage to reputation; and tr Neptune from mid 2018 is square his Solar Arc MC, undermining his career as well. He’s running into his Second Saturn Return over this New Year, which is a grow-up-and-reassess time. There may be financial disappointments with tr Neptune opposition his Venus in January 2018. From mid 2018 as well tr Uranus will conjunct his 10^th house Moon and trine his Pluto thereafter, which will jolt his career considerably. 2019 if anything is more worrisome for him with his Solar Arc Neptune conjunct his Saturn and tr Uranus in an insecure trine to his Mars. Showbusiness can be very forgiving viz Woody Allen, but he’s not improved his chances by upsetting the gay community as well as everyone else. He’ll probably bounce back after 2019.

Mars Pluto is described by Ebertin as the tendency to proceed in a brutal manner or the misfortune of having to suffer violent assaults, attainment of success through excessive effort. It’s a dominate or submit influence, victim or perpetrator – which brings up great inner frustration, fear and angst. Mars Pluto is courageous and resourceful in crisis and often occurs in the charts of individuals who work in high-risk jobs where their lives are in danger – viz soldiers or war correspondents. And it is a recurring theme through several of the headline names in the latest round of allegations.

Harvey Weinstein has Mars in Scorpio square Pluto. Mark Halperin, 11 January 1965, US TV political analyst under investigation, has Uranus Pluto and Mars in Virgo, though only widely conjunct. His Pluto Uranus is trine Jupiter in Taurus trine a Capricorn Sun, with maybe a Taurus Moon. So again very earthy, grounded in the body, with the Mars Pluto drive and Jupiter Pluto also tends to give an extra layer of pushiness. And an emphasised Venus square Mars suggests a lack of sensitivity to others’ needs.

Robert Scoble, 18 January 1965, a US tech blogger also accused of harassment, has virtually the same as Halperin – a very Earthy chart with a Capricorn Sun, Uranus Pluto and Mars in Virgo and Jupiter in Taurus.

John Leslie, a UK TV presenter, accused on several occasions of sexual assault, though never charged and hotly denied, 22 Feb 1965, is a Sun Saturn in Pisces, but with the Uranus Pluto Mars conjunction in Virgo trine Jupiter in Taurus.

Bill Cosby, has Mars in Scorpio trine a Cancer Sun Pluto; with an Earth Grand Trine of Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus. Roger Ailes is lacking a Mars Pluto, but does have an Earthy chart with four Taurus planets.

Jimmy Savile, the UK paedophile predator, had Mars in Taurus opposition a Scorpio Sun Venus, trine Pluto with a predominantly Fixed chart.

There’ll be no one signature that defines such behaviour. Though both Earth and Fixed planets in abundance can focus energy on physical outcomes – which needn’t mean sexual assault – but they will tend to be more body-oriented. That plus Mars Pluto – seeking power over another to negate early feelings of being suppressed – is obviously a factor. But there are always choices about how to live out a chart and all of the above can be turned to constructive ends.

Freddie Highmore, the lead in the new TV hospital series The Good Doctor, following on from his success in Bates Hotel, has packed a great deal into his 25 years. Born 14 February 1992 with a talent agent mother, who manages Daniel Radcliffe, and an actor father, he made his film debut at 7, appeared in Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory amongst others, before moving into an award winning five seasons in Bates playing a mentally ill teenager. In The Good Doctor he plays a high functioning autistic savant surgeon to good viewing figures and reasonably good reviews. And he still looks about 16.

He has an Aquarius Sun Mercury in a determined square to Pluto; with a highly-strung Uranus Neptune conjunction and Venus and Mars all in Capricorn; his tinged-with-genius Uranus Neptune trines Jupiter in Virgo, bringing him confidence and luck. He has a singleton Moon in Gemini/Cancer, which would point to a public career. He’s got quite a chart and had quite a career – I’m not sure where he managed to find time for school, but he went on to Cambridge and got a double first in Spanish and Arabic (acc to wiki). So certainly high-functioning.

Tr Uranus has been bouncing across his Capricorn planets with more to come early in 2018; and tr Pluto is now conjunct his Uranus Neptune, moving on in 2020 and beyond to cross his Venus and Mars. Interesting that his Jupiter natally is retrograde which obviously hasn’t stopped him.

Trump and Brexit – the two great shocks of 2016 – are being seen as linked to a spider’s web of alliances between the Trump campaign, Steve Bannon, Wikileaks’ Julian Assange, Robert Mercer’s UK-based Cambridge Analytics of which Bannon was vice-president and Brexiteer Nigel Farage – with Russia hovering in the background. One treads warily in these litigious and murky waters so for further details and complications see the Guardian URL below, which will have been heavily lawyer-ed.

Nigel Farage, ex-UKIP leader, is regarded by the media and public at large as more clown than arch-strategist. Then his side won the Leave vote and he appeared last November as a close Trump buddy much to everyone’s surprise. He appears regularly on RT, the Kremlin-funded media outlet.

Born 3 April 1964, he’s an impulsive, pro-active and very intense Mars Sun Aries; with an upset-the-status quo Uranus Pluto on his Virgo Ascendant opposing Saturn squaring onto his Gemini midheaven. He’s in for a few successes and one major shock within seven months with his Solar Arc Sun moving to square his Uranus. Tr Saturn square his Mars early in 2018; and then his Sun and Jupiter in 2019, will dent his enthusiasm.

Arron Banks, a former financial backer of UKIP and co-founder of the Leave campaign, has his wealth largely stashed in opaque offshore jurisdictions. Born 22 March 1966, Northwich, Eng, he’s another assertive and aggressive Sun Mars in Aries; with the mid 1960s rebellious Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn squaring a lucky, expansive though can-be-irresponsible Jupiter in Gemini. His Jupiter is square Saturn and inconjunct Neptune making him fearful of failure, very up and down in mood, and prone to over-inflated schemes. Like Farage he’s in for a few setbacks from the New Year with tr Saturn square his Sun, Mars; and a tough, confusing slog from tr Pluto sextile his Saturn and Neptune in 2018/19.

The Mueller investigation in Washington may bring more details to light about the US end; in the UK the Electoral Commission are looking into potential offences in the Leave EU’s campaign spending and for taking ‘impermissible’ donations. It was substantially funded by five of the UK’s wealthiest business men.

Pots, kettles and whose swamp is the deepest and darkest?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/28/trump-assange-bannon-farage-bound-together-in-unholy-alliance

Madrid’s enforcer sent in to oversee the day-to-day running of Catalonia’s affairs after the regional government and police chief were fired, is Spain’s deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. Born 10 June 1971 she’s  a former lawyer, seen as competent, though charisma-free and untainted by corruption. An election will be held on December 21^st, as tr Saturn moves into Capricorn and crosses the Sun, so downbeat.

She’s a Sun Gemini trine Mars in Aquarius trine Uranus in Libra; with Saturn Venus in Taurus trine Pluto and opposition Jupiter in Scorpio and Neptune in Sagittarius – a thinker and communicator with a practical and very stubborn streak.

Her Saturn Venus opposition Jupiter Neptune sits exactly on top of the Catalonia (11 May 1258 JC) Taurus Sun opposition Pluto – which makes sense of a Saturnine overseer, up against the implacable determination of the Catalonia Pluto.

She already knows the main players having been in charge of territorial affairs, and her interface with Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is heavily stressed with her Uranus square his Capricorn Sun; her Sun square his Pluto; and her Mars conjunct his Saturn (Moon) in Aquarius – differing agendas, a power-play and outright dislike.

Their relationship chart has a composite Sun (conjunct Saturn) opposition Uranus Pluto and trine Mars Neptune. With Mars Neptune square the composite Venus – rebellious and power-struggling, an ego-clash where only one can win so not much hope of a compromise.

She looks over-stretched and over-taxed through November with tr Pluto square her Sun/Mars which also carries the risk of violence; and less than cheerful into early 2018; worse in 2019. Though it’s not clear whether she’ll stay after the December election.

I lived for a decade just over the border in Catalan France, two hours north of Barcelona, and it was an eye-opener just how visceral was the Catalans’ dislike of Castilian Madrid, including the Castilian (Spanish) language.  They are enormously proud of their cultural and artistic heritage (Gaudi, Dali etc), teach Catalan as a first language in schools, are resourceful in business and commerce; and memories of the Spanish Civil War are ever present. The opening shots of the war in 1936 were fired in Barcelona and the city’s anarchist revolutionary fervour attracted volunteers from all over Europe, until it fell to a crushing defeat in 1939 by the fascist dictator Franco’s forces. They may not have an army and Puigdemont is called for peaceful resistance but their determination will not be easily swayed.

The regional Catalonia parliament voted for independence at 3.26pm today as the Madrid government prepares to impose direct rule. The Spanish PM Rajoy has the constitution on his side but the Catalan push for more control over their affairs has been catastrophically mishandled. Sending in heavy-handed authorities, police and others, will only inflame the situation, stirring up old wounds from the past and memories of Franco’s fascist dictatorship. The Catalans are a passionate, proud, resourceful and very stubborn people with their own language and culture; and while many would not wish a split, their backs will be well and truly up now.

The Independence Declaration vote has Sun Jupiter Mercury in Scorpio in the 9^th, so intended to send a clear message, not just to Madrid but to the wider world. Though with the Fire Grand Trine in place focussed onto the 9^th house Jupiter Sun, there’s an unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky feel about it. High ideals, lacking in common sense. The Node in the 7^th points to lack of co-operation, sliding back into a 1^st house South Node, demanding freedom from ties. Saturn in the 11^th, perhaps lacking friends and clear plans ahead. A hidden 12^th house Pluto and Aquarius Moon in aspect to an 8^th house Venus and Mars, points to a bubbling cauldron of anger and resentment, but they may find difficulty in translating their vision into real consequences.

The Catalans will need more than this impetus to get the autonomy they want. Both Spain charts, 1479 and 1975 are facing setbacks and challenges over the next three years, so this is only the beginning of a collision that could have been averted with some sensible negotiation which is what Carles Puigdemont requested but wasn’t forthcoming. [See posts Oct 1 and 14 2017.]

Another deeply depressing sexual abuse story trying to break in the media is from former child star Corey Feldman. In 2008 he and his fellow child actor Corey Haim openly described the abuse they suffered at the hands of rich and powerful men in Hollywood in the 1980s, to zero response. Haim then died in 2010, a consequence of two decades of drug use. In 2014 Feldman repeated his story on Barbara Walters’ chat show and was accused of shaming an entire industry. He says he will not name names since he’s at risk but the murmurs in LA are that one of the offender’s name is known and likely to be revealed.

Feldman born 16 July 1971 7.59am Encino, California; Corey Haim 23 December 1971.

Feldman has a 12^th house Sun Cancer sextile Pluto in Virgo and trine Jupiter in Scorpio in his 4th, so he’s fairly private at one level. Though with a Taurus Moon on his MC he was always designed for a public career. He has Mars in Aquarius conjunct his Descendant and North Node opposition Mercury on a Leo Ascendant – good at delivering a blunt and angry message. He’s on his Jupiter Return in 2018 with tr Jupiter moving through his 4^th, so with luck he might get some peace. Though his career, which is music at the moment, looks stop-start.

Corey Haim had a truly difficult chart with Pluto in Libra opposition Mars in late Pisces squaring onto a Capricorn Sun – huge anger issues, frustration, internal angst, at risk of being dominated. He also had a bleak Air Grand Trine of Venus in Aquarius trine Saturn trine Pluto, formed into a Kite by the Pluto opposition Mars, exacerbating his rage. He finally succumbed in 2010 when tr Pluto was wending its way round his stressed T Square of Mars, Sun, Pluto, with tr Uranus also in hard aspect.

Hollywood, 1 February 1867, is certainly getting a shake up. On its Jupiter and Nodal Return this year, it also has its Aquarius Sun rattled by this year and next February’s Lunar Eclipses; and its T Square of Venus in Aquarius opposition a late Leo Node square Neptune was buffeted by the August Solar Eclipse and by the uncertain, panicky Solar Arc Saturn opposition Neptune this year. The Hollywood chart has a ruthless/cruel Mars square Pluto. The Nodal Return is usually a significant turning point on the road, when a radical reassessment is needed. Tr Jupiter on its return in Scorpio, will help women speak out and also shines a light on the cesspit underneath all the glitter and glamour.

The fashion business have belatedly started to take action against the photographer Terry Richardson over allegations of sexual abuse of models, some very young, which appears to have been an open secret for years. Naturally he denies everything though his personal website evidently contains hardcore images.

Born 14 August 1965 in New York (two weeks after JK Rowling) he is a Leo Sun Mercury square filmic Neptune and on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine to Mars in Libra trine Jupiter in Gemini – creative and confident to the point of exuberance. But what dominates his chart is Uranus Pluto (and Venus) in Virgo opposition Saturn (Moon) in Pisces squaring onto Jupiter – emotionally all over the place with a sex-addict Venus Saturn; an intense Venus Pluto; and if his Moon is mid Pisces then it is hugely muddled, conjunct Saturn opposition Uranus Pluto Venus and trine Neptune. His father was schizophrenic and a drug-addict and his mother had been an actress.

His accentuated Jupiter certainly brought him fame but its negative side is irresponsibility with all of Jupiter’s over-the-topness. JK Rowling has usefully channelled her Jupiter into a prolific output; and houses will make a difference as to how the energies play out.

Looking at the harmonics. Richardson’s can-be-dominating 5H is brutal and unpleasant linking together Mars Saturn Pluto. With Harvey Weinstein it is his obsessive 11H which ties the same planets together. The line between sex and aggression is always less defined than we imagine.

Steve Bannon, the Breitbart voice of populist, nationalist and racist US, is waging war on the Republican Party. A strategist said “He’s funded by billionaires, he has a shallow, catchy message that appeals to marginally-educated fanatics, and his skill at asymmetric warfare seems formidable.”

It may be that he is channelling the tr Uranus square the USA Mercury opposition Pluto, running till spring 2018, which on past form has spewed up right-wing fanatics like McCarthy and caused deep unease about government. On that theory he may well implode, despite the fear he is creating at the moment. His Uranus is conjunct the USA Mercury and his North Node is conjunct the US Pluto – so he hooks into the uglier side of the country.

He does look upbeat this December/January 2018 with tr Uranus square his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint. But it’s all downhill thereafter with tr Pluto square his Mars/Neptune from February 2018 onwards till late 2019 which usually turns hopes into ashes; plus an enthusiasm and ambition-denting tr Neptune opposition his Sun/Jupiter midpoint from March onwards into early 2019. Thereafter it’s very mixed for him with wild over-confidence running into a brick wall as his Solar Arc Mars opposes his Jupiter and then Solar Arc Pluto is conjunct his Saturn. With similar in 2020 to 2023 as tr Pluto is in a gung ho opposition to his Jupiter/Pluto and then moves onto a catastrophic-disaster square to his Mars/Saturn. His past career is littered with failures and arguments and the leopard doesn’t change his spots.

He’s even falling out with his patron and financier Robert Mercer from late this November with tr Saturn square the composite Mercury, Sun, Mars and in 2018 the composite Venus and Uranus; plus a disappointing and suspicious tr Neptune opposition the composite Saturn. Ditto his relationship with Trump which is heading south from March next year with tr Neptune opposition the composite Sun Saturn.

My handful of 12^th house planets makes me the worst person on the planet for personal marketing. My narcissistic streak is deeply buried, though my communicative 9^th house Moon Uranus does like to be heard. Pulling the contradictions of the chart together into a manageable whole isn’t a quick n’ easy process.

Still my first crime novel is out there, so needs must. There are, naturally, several finished and half-finished novels sitting on ancient hard drives, which petered out as life got in the way or I got lost in the plot maze and in one case when the darkness of the anti-hero swallowed me up. To be honest I’d love to have had a play performed – not to sit through rehearsals and have it shredded line by line by director and actors – just moved seamlessly onto the stage, while I hid away at home.

Why did I write By the Light of a Lie? I’ve always been fascinated by the gap between public image – the glittering façade – and the private reality. In small doses, it’s there in everyone. Who they are out at work or on the social scene aren’t who they are in intimate emotional space. But for some, their entire lives are a lie, a carefully crafted false persona. They know who they are, they just choose to be someone different. For others whose memory has been wiped blank, they have the opposite problem – not two identities, none at all. Which is why astrology is sooo valuable. It nails down the whole person, including the hidden away parts. Not 100% because there is always an unknowable core. But 90% is better than the sliver of a mask you meet at parties.

So truth, lies and memory are the over-arching themes and since I’m addicted to crime novels, police procedurals and spy thrillers, the twists and turns, clues and the chase, that provided the genre. Characters? My first review (thankfully positive) flagged up how nice it was to have a strong female lead with a man in a supporting role. And why not? Fits with Jupiter in Scorpio’s surprising inclination to push women forward.

There’s a smidgeon of astrology in, more astro-profiling and geopolitical with an eye to the mainstream audience, for whom astrology has to be kept ludicrously simple. I first put finger to keyboard when there was a Sun Jupiter in Leo on the MC square Mars on a late Libra Ascendant; with a Water Grand Trine, focussed kite-wise onto Pluto. And there it is with a Sun Jupiter in Scorpio transiting the 1^st, so cross fingers.

Anyway, the point and purpose of this puff is to say that if you do decide to have a look – amazon kindle or paperback – then I would be eternally grateful, assuming you like it, if would stretch yourself to put a review on amazon, since it all helps. Or even on goodreads. www.marjorieorr.com @ByLightofLie  Blessings.