Looking ahead to the US Midterm elections on 6 Nov 2018 which would be the Democratic hope for a shift in the balance of power, it looks more hopeful for the senior Republicans. What follows is mainly without birth times and some like Nancy Pelosi, now 76, may bow out.

There is certainly a shift in the planetary signs with tr Uranus just into Taurus, Saturn in early Capricorn and Jupiter poised to enter Sagittarius. That could suggest change but Saturn heading to conjunct Pluto in the highly conservative sign of Capricorn would suggest otherwise.  Around the election it’ll be high tension, fanatical, perhaps even violent with an ugly mood around according to the midpoints.

Mitch McConnell, Majority Senate leader (R-KY), 20 Feb 1942, hasn’t much over the election itself but is in a gung ho, revitalised mood from mid Jan 2019 onwards with tr Pluto square his Sun/Jupiter for two years

Paul Ryan, the Speaker, 29 Jan 1970 2.37 am Janesville, WI, has a brilliantly successful tr Pluto conjunct his Mars/Jupiter midpoint in Nov 2018, plus a couple of more minor tr Saturn downers, so not everything he hoped for, but he’ll be on a high. With tr Jupiter about to cross his Ascendant.

Chuck Schumer, 23 Nov 1950, Senate Minority leader, looks seriously jangled with tr Uranus opposition his discouraged Sun/Saturn midpoint; feeling restricted also from tr Pluto trine his Sun/Uranus.

Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of House of Representatives, 26 March 1940, has an agitated, unsettling tr Uranus conjunct her Sun/Mars; a depressed tr Pluto square Sun/Saturn immediately before; and a tr Pluto conjunct her Jupiter/Node – so really down, with one up.

Barack Obama, no doubt watching anxiously from the sidelines, does have a lucky/relief tr Uranus square his Jupiter at the election; but also a devastating and catastrophic feeling through Jan 2019.

Given the present state of play a good deal of water will have flowed under the bridge by that time and the situation out in the world, never mind in the White House, could be radically different. If there are major economic pressures or a war-situation, then voters tend to opt for continuity.

 

Trump may be incapable of controlling his temper or curbing his pathological vengeful streak but there is some method in his madness. As one commentator remarked he is practising a pinball version of government – ‘multiple metal balls ricocheting in all directions, unleashed by an intemperate and gleeful player-in-chief, all accompanied by a non-stop cacophony of bells, klaxons and flashing lights.’ To him, all that matters is the racket and more importantly the distraction it causes.

His most significant mentor early on, whose playbook he clearly still follows, was Roy Cohn, a New York lawyer, whose ‘creed was to always be on the attack, to counterpunch whenever punched and to never apologize. Never, ever, ever apologize – even if you’re in the wrong, because your opponents will take a mile.’

They first came together in the early 1970s when Trump and his father were under a Justice Department investigation after allegations that their company had systematically discriminated against black people seeking housing.  Cohn’s advice was to tell Justice Department to go to hell and fight back in court. So Donald and Fred countersued the federal government for $100 million. Ultimately, the Trumps settled without admitting guilt, which allowed them to declare victory.

Cohn was McCarthy’s chief counsel during the anti-Communist hearings, though he resigned in disgrace and went into private practice where he represented several mafia bosses and the Trumps, for whom he brokered the gargantuan tax abatements and the mob-tied concrete work that made the Grand Hyatt hotel and Trump Tower projects. He was charged three times in Federal investigations in the 1970s and 1980s with professional misconduct, including perjury and witness tampering, and was accused in New York of financial improprieties related to city contracts and private investments. He was acquitted of all charges. Eventually in 1986 he was disbarred for unethical and unprofessional conduct, including misappropriation of clients’ funds, lying on a bar application, and pressuring a client to amend his will. He died of AIDs, contracted it is thought through gay sex, despite having used homosexual allegations as a weapon to destroy careers during the McCarthy era.

And he survived as a mover and shaker in a highly dubious 40 year career before being nailed by the authorities. Outrageous brass neck gets you a long way. A technique his young pupil clearly took on board.

What is interesting is that Cohn, 20 Feb 1927, a slippery Sun Jupiter in Pisces had his heavyweight Mars in Taurus conjunct Trump’s MC – so his unyielding and combative determination (and greediness) would stiffen the young Trump’s backbone.

Trump’s MC at 24 Taurus is only one degree away from Algol, the planet of destruction, violence and mischief. The 17th century English astrologer William Lilly believed any planet to be afflicted when within five degrees of conjunction. One view is that Algol has a tendency to lie, and is less than honest in dealings with others. Algol is most associated with the myth of the snake-locked Medusa – one of whose habits was to (metaphorically) spit poison at anyone who faced her head on and paralyse them.

Evidently the right-wing conspiracy nutjobs who fed Trump the line about Obama wiretapping Trump Tower, have now ramped up their rhetoric to make Obama the chief bogeyman. On this logic, Trump now becomes the victim, his presidency under attack by a Machiavellian ‘deep state’ conspiracy. There’s always been a strand of paranoia more marked in the US than in most other western countries, encouraging such things as the growth of the anti-government militias. This present seriously scary mood does fit the pattern of the tr Uranus square the US Mercury opposition Pluto which kicks off in April, which historically has been associated with rabid right-wing hysteria. Mercury opposition Pluto in itself which is part of the US temperament is prone to fanaticism, and seeing dark intent, secrets and danger everywhere around. It has a tendency to paranoia and obsessiveness.

Trump’s 12^th house Pluto undoubtedly taps into this.  Scary and very disorientating when reality gets twisted.

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Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. Everywhere.

The White House is going off like a firework factory hit by a scud missile. Europe is teetering on several brinks. Theresa May, wrestling with the multi-headed hydra of Brexit, is also facing a looming Tory campaign funds crisis which may see several constituencies have to rerun the vote. And there is a possibility of Northern Ireland, after Sinn Fein wins in the recent election, ultimately going the way of Scotland and demanding independence. Is that her tr Neptune conjunct her singleton Mars in Pisces picking up in April?

Now the fissures in the tempest tossed Vatican are widening at an alarming rate as Pope Francis’s reforms have run into the intransigence of the old guard. His efforts to reform the governance of the Vatican, financial and otherwise, tackle the problem of bishops who have covered up child abuse, and modernise attitudes to divorce and homosexuality have aroused such internal hostility there is now talk from some quarters of asking him to go. Last week the final remaining abuse survivor in his commission of child abuse resigned because of “shameful lack of cooperation.” So he’s being stalled at every turn.

His Election chart, 13 March 2013 7.06pm Rome, has just been through the very rocky Solar Arc Uranus square Pluto a couple of months back. There is the final hit of an emotionally intense and conflicted tr Pluto square Moon this September/October; with a downbeat tr Saturn square Sun on and off till the autumn. There will be heavier challenges in 2018 with tr Pluto conjunct the catastrophic Mars/Saturn midpoint; and it only gets worse with a blocked Solar Arc MC opposition Pluto in 2019, as well as sudden-shock Solar Arc Mars conjunct Uranus. It was always going to be a divisive Papacy with an argumentative, self-willed and uncompromising Mars Uranus on the Descendant.

There have been concerns about his health in recent months as he passed his 80^th birthday. His own personal chart, 17 Dec 1936 9pm Buenos Aires, is certainly under immense and frustrating challenges in 2017/18 with tr Pluto square his Mars; and then in 2018 his Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct his Pluto and tr Uranus is square Pluto, which in older people can suggest health issues, certainly a life-changing series of events.

The Vatican chart, 7 June 1929 11am, is facing disappointment and unpopularity this year with tr Neptune square the Sun/Moon midpoint; with a pressured Saturn Return; and more of an undermining slide in morale in 2018 with tr Neptune square the Gemini Sun; plus a high tension tr Uranus trine Neptune. So it won’t be coping well in an atmosphere of suspicion, delusion and strain.

Pluto in Capricorn grinding its way relentlessly on with the herculean task of dismantling old style governing practices against heavy resistance from the status-quoers. Razing to ashes before the phoenix can arise.

   

 

North Korea will be the urgent headache were President Obama’s words to Donald Trump as he exited the White House. With Kim Jong-Un now proudly proclaiming that their nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles are almost ready and fears in the USA that their defences against such an attack isn’t robust enough, tensions are mounting. And since the missile sites are widely dispersed and mobile, destroying them on the ground in advance isn’t an option.

The upcoming Leo Solar Eclipse in late August this year could be a crisis-point. The relationship chart between the USA and North Korea has the composite Mars at 27 Leo, close to the Eclipse – which will also set a fuse under Donald Trump’s Mars Ascendant in Leo. The North Korea 9 Sept 1948 chart has Saturn at 28 Leo; and Kim Jong-Un’s leadership chart has Neptune on the Eclipse. So the country may be bearing the brunt as he gets more delusional even than usual.

Kim Jong may be destabilised altogether by 2018 with the Solar Arc Uranus square the Sun Pluto on his leadership chart, 29 Dec 2011 11.57am. And the country looks even more bedraggled and impoverished than ever in 2018 with tr Neptune opposition the Virgo Sun.

James Mattis, Secy of Defense, does looked shocked with a crisis around the August Eclipse with his Venus at 28 Leo; and is certainly facing a major jolt as his Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct his Sun, either later this year or into early 2018.

This may be joining too many dots together and whatever transpires could be entirely unconnected with several different scenarios running simultaneously.

If anything the USA/N Korea relationship chart points up 2017 as high tension; and 2018 as more likely for an engagement with tr Pluto sextile the composite Mars, tr Uranus square Uranus and trine Pluto.

Donald Trump’s astrocartography does have his Mars Desc running through western North Korea and China; with his Pluto Desc through eastern China – so it is a hot spot for him. And now that I look the China/USA relationship chart has a composite 25 Leo Sun which will also catch the Eclipse. In any action against North Korea, China will inevitably be drawn in.

 

 

George Clooney and wife Amal Alamuddin are having twins in June according to reports. It was always expected with his social activism and her human rights career, that together they would venture at some point into either politics or other significant humanitarian work.

He’s got tr Saturn moving across his midheaven now and through his upper quadrant for the next seven years so he’ll be keen to take on heavier responsibilities and should be consolidating the more serious side of his reputation.

But he’ll have some bumps along the road for the next several years. 2018 will be emotionally tricky with tr Uranus square his Moon Saturn in Capricorn; and frustratingly stuck with Solar Arc Pluto square his Mars, exact this time next year. 2019 will be successful with tr Jupiter across his 10^th. Then in 2020/2021 tr Neptune squares his Midheaven (birth time being accurate) which is usually not progressive career-wise. Though he does have tr Uranus square his Jupiter at the election which will give him a high of relief so he should be pleased at whatever is going on then.

How well a settled marriage with children will suit him, since he forswore both for so many years, is a question; and it will at least briefly put a stop to their separated and peripatetic lifestyle. Their newly renovated Berkshire mansion in England is now complete so they may spend more time there.

They’re not an intuitively good match with his earthy, indulgent Taurus Sun and Capricorn Moon; and her more cerebral Aquarius Sun and Sagittarius Moon – so polar opposites in temperament. Their relationship chart has a tight, possessive composite Sun opposition Pluto but that aspects the composite Mars, so there will be tussles for the upper hand. It looks fairly downbeat between them through this year at times with tr Saturn square the Pluto and later the composite Sun; and challenging and argumentative in 2018.

Amal looks edgy this May with tr Uranus square her Mars which is understandable enough pre-birth, and that repeats on and off into 2018, so she’ll be in a competitive mood.

       

 

Vladimir Putin is on a definite high and pushily confident over the next couple of years. His Presidency chart, 7 May 2012 12.10pm Moscow, has the Solar Arc Sun conjunct the 10^th house Jupiter, exact over Trump’s inauguration, but still in effect for months ahead; with a stronger-control tr Pluto trine Sun this year, and successful trine Jupiter in 2018/19. Though there will be a few jangles when tr Uranus opposes the Saturn in April and Dec to Feb 2018; and a popularity sag with tr Saturn opposition Venus in July and October.

His own chart also has tr Pluto trine Jupiter from this month till late 2018 which again will give him an expansionist urge. Though tr Pluto is also opposition his Uranus (2018/19) and square his Saturn later in the year which will be disruptive and discouraging; and tr Pluto squares his Neptune in 2018/19 which will be high-tension. Plus he has a panicky-failure Solar Arc Neptune conjunct his Mars, probably exact in 9 months. So he may take a step too far and come to regret it.

His relationship chart with Donald Trump has a composite Sun Pluto conjunction, of which Robert Hand says – “this relationship will have deep and long-lasting effects on you” and “will have a very powerful effect on other people. You may find that together you can control and manipulate others in ways that would never be possible individually. The effects of Pluto are always powerful. Use that power carefully, because if it is misused, others will respond violently and even join together to put you down.” And like all Plutonic relationships there will be a struggle for the upper hand with underlying resentment.

There will be the possibility of a rupture come this May when tr Uranus opposes the composite Mars with a competitive edge coming into play as both fight to express themselves in a challenging way – which won’t sit well with their joint Pluto. That influence repeats in October and March 2018.

On the synastry, Putin’s Jupiter is conjunct Trump’s MC, so DT clearly thinks Putin is his route to success. But that apart, it’s a tricky cross over with Putin’s power-hungry Pluto conjunct DT’s Mars; and Putin’s Mars is conjunct DT’s Moon and opposition his Sun. So the latitude for arguments and ego-clashes as well as subversive tactics is considerable.

The USA relationships chart with Russia 1917 looks uncertain and fearful with tr Neptune opposition the composite Sun Saturn at 14 Virgo mid May to late July 2017, March, Sept/Oct 2018, January 2019. 2018 will certainly be on edge with tr Uranus square the composite Mars and trine Neptune.

The relationship chart between the USA and Russia 8 Dec 1991, also has a panicky-failure tr Neptune opposition Mars at 14 Virgo over the same dates as above. With a generally depressed and separated mood as tr Saturn moves round a conjunction to Pluto, square Uranus and square Sun – on and off throughout this year.

Despite all the noise around Trump’s nefarious or otherwise connection with Russia, a détente with Russia is not necessarily a bad thing. Though the danger would be that Putin thinks an amiably disposed Trump would give him carte blanche to move further into Ukraine and other ex-satellite Soviet countries.

   

 

George W Bush, having been largely invisible through the Obama years, is having a resurgence in popularity as he publicises his latest book on veterans; and managing to laugh at himself in television interviews, which has been met with appreciation. One woman said: “A few years ago I would have rolled my eyes at the sight of this man, but 6 weeks of Trump makes W look like a pretty decent guy.” Another said: “You know things are bad when George W. Bush starts sounding like a member of the Resistance.”

He’s got tr Pluto starting a two-year square to his 3^rd house Jupiter which will lift his confidence, with his Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Jupiter this year which is a morale boost; and tr Jupiter is also going through his 3^rd at the moment which will help his communication skills.

Photographs of his warm relationship with Michelle Obama have sparked comments. It’s hardly a match made in heaven with her Uranus Pluto conjunct his Mars; and his Saturn opposition her Capricorn Sun. But her Aquarius Moon (and Saturn) probably oppose his Venus. And their relationship chart does have an easy-going composite Sun square Jupiter, a hint of warmth from composite Venus opposition Mars square Pluto; plus an inspirational Fire Grand Trine of Sun trine Pluto trine Moon, formed into a Kite by Sun opposition Neptune. They could possibly co-operate on some idealistic, humanitarian project. Though it’s a relationship with heavy undertones which could go sour if they were together too much.

   

 

The USA went into shock when Jackie Kennedy, the grieving widow and epitome of elegance, married Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate, then one of the wealthiest men in the world. He was a notorious womaniser who had reputedly bedded Marilyn Monroe amongst many others including Jackie’s sister Lee Radziwill; and he was passionately involved with opera singer Maria Callas. The marriage in 1968 came five months after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated and Jackie’s fears for the security of her children and need for privacy won out. For Onassis it was a business opportunity to ingratiate himself with the US and boost his image. Within five months Onassis had picked up again with Maria Callas, his humiliated mistress, and the marriage headed into a bitter divorce that dragged on up to his death in 1975.

Since her death in 1994, Jackie Kennedy’s ice-queen reputation has been stripped away as multiple affairs have been revealed (or alleged) including with two other Kennedy brothers, Bobby and Teddy, and high-profile Hollywood celebrities like Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando, William Holden.

The international jet set, like the Brit aristos, live by different rules.

Jackie Kennedy’s chart does have a deeply-buried, intensely emotional and fickle Venus in Gemini in the 8^th opposition Saturn. Venus Saturn oddly can have a propensity for rampant sexuality; and she did have Uranus in her romantic 5^th which is equally given to flash attractions that switch on and switch off.

Onassis’s Pluto was conjunct her Venus in the 8^th; and her Pluto was opposition his Venus in Capricorn – so there would be a good deal of passion at initially, but like most Plutonic relationships when it went sour it got nasty. Her Saturn was on his MC, bringing him, he hoped, status; and her Leo Sun was in his entertaining 5^th, so a good party companion.

The relationship chart has a composite Sun (in Scorpio) square Neptune and square Saturn, so delusional and disappointing as well as chilly or for material/practical reasons. The composite Venus does square Pluto, so close for a while, but not a partnership designed to last.

Whereas her relationship chart with JFK was extraordinarily intertwined. Not easy but destined to be a soul match where together they made each other more whole. There was a composite New Moon Pluto in the 8^th, with Pluto conjunct Mars – so a powerful connection with a good deal of buried rage. Like her, JFK had Venus in Gemini; and his Sun in Gemini was conjunct her Jupiter, so he would bring a sense of support, despite his wanderings. His Neptune admittedly was conjunct her Sun, so she would find him tricky to pin down.

She’d have been genuinely fond of Edward Kennedy with a composite Sun Venus, whereas her relationship with Bobby was more hot fun for a passing moment.

Her final relationship was with diamond merchant Maurice Tempelsman, who supported her through her final decade according to a friend with “understanding, stability and serenity. She was at peace with him.” He was a month younger than her with a Sun Neptune in Virgo and his Venus Pluto in Cancer squared her Aries Moon. Not a riotous relationship but one that offered security. His Taurus Moon may have been conjunct her Taurus Node and Descendant.

Her Taurus North Node is interesting since it often brings a life of turmoil over sex and money, but ultimately contentment. She was on her Nodal Return when Onassis died in 1975 so perhaps that was the end of her battle to act out her Scorpio South Node, allowing her to move towards Taurus’s stability and peace.

 

 

Just as I thought the astrology was off track (with another volcano predicted to erupt) as Trump gave an emollient (comparatively speaking) and disciplined address – and hey presto another Russia scandale has catapulted into the headlines. Jeff Sessions, the Attorney General, is being beset by demands that he at least recuse himself from the FBI investigation of the Trump election/Moscow connection and other demands that he resign forthwith. He appears to have been ‘economical with the verite’ at his confirmation hearings by saying he had not held campaign discussions with any Russians, when in fact he had met the Russian Ambassador twice.

Sessions, 24 Dec 1946, never did look to be having an amiable honeymoon in his unexpected elevation. He’s got tr Uranus opposition his Sun/Pluto from end of Feb running till March 19^th which is a sudden reversal, a high risk situation, which will upset his ambition for power. And it’s not going to get easier. From March 9^th tr Neptune squares his Mars/Jupiter which is failure, feelings of inferiority; with tr Saturn ratcheting up the pressure and bad temper from March 7^th to early May as it squares his Mars/Uranus. And by April he picks up tr Uranus opposition his Mars/Pluto which is disastrous. Most of these influences repeat later in the year into 2018; and if anything 2018/19 are even more devastating for him with tr Pluto square his Sun/Saturn and Mars/Saturn. Woe is him.

His relationship chart with Trump looks separated and frosty from March 7^th onwards so not inconceivable that he goes.

I’ve lost track of how many investigations are going on officially into Trump/Russia connections, business and otherwise, let alone lawsuits, but the US heavyweight newspapers are going to town today. As one senior politician remarked it’s always a bad idea to pick a fight with the media – “like getting into a pissing match with a skunk.” Somewhat derogatory about the esteemed fourth estate, but at least for once they seem to be doing their job.

[See Trump Feb 21^st post for details of astro-influences ahead in immediate future.]