A statue to Mary Jane Seacole, voted in 2004 as the greatest black Briton, has been unveiled at St Thomas Hospital in London. Born to a Scottish soldier father and a free Jamaican mother who was a herbalist, she went to tend the sick during the Crimean War at her own expense. She became destitute on her return to the UK and was helped by service personnel who raised money for her. In her later years she returned to Jamaica and then to London where she moved on the periphery of royal circles.

Born 23 Nov 1805 in Kingston, Jamaica, she was a Sun Mercury Jupiter in Sagittarius square Pluto; with Jupiter conjunct Mars also in Sag. So not short of determination or a yen for travel, though not perhaps blessed with practical sense about money. She also had an innovative and courageous Saturn Uranus in Libra sextile Mars. After her death, she was forgotten for almost a century.

Florence Nightingale 12 May 1820 2pm Florence, Italy who also organised nurses during the Crimean War and became a social reformer has tended to get all the glory. She was a New Moon in Taurus in the travelling 9^th house sextile both Jupiter and Pluto in Pisces – so confident and determined. Her Mars in Leo was trine Saturn in self-reliant Aries, so brave, disciplined, suited to military associations.

Absolutely Fabulous, the movie, has just launched, a Brit comedy about fashionista desperation, with a pair of drunken ladies d’un certain age, embarrassing themselves on a spree across Europe. Written, like the original successful TV series by Jennifer Saunders, she co-stars with Joanna Lumley and the original cast plus Kate Moss and a zillion other celeb cameos. Reviews suggest it may be just what a battered UK needs to divert attention from existential meltdown.

Principal Photography and the Premiere were both launched on the Jupiter in Virgo trine Pluto, with the start of filming having an enthusiastic Venus Mars and Jupiter trine Pluto and a Libra new Moon, which had to give it head wind. Other less helpful aspects, of course, since nothing is simple these days.

The multi-talented, Jennifer Saunders, 6 July 1958, is a Sun Cancer square Mars in Aries opposition Jupiter, so not short of an adventurous spirit, with a Pisces Moon.

Joanna Lumley, 1 May 1946 7.30pm Srinagar, India, is a New Moon in Taurus square Mars Pluto in Leo, so not quite the flighty air-head she usually plays.

Both she and Saunders share Jupiter in Libra which in both cases is getting the tr Uranus opposition this year into early 2017 which is good news.  Both also have social-butterfly Venus in Gemini.

Their relationship chart has an energetic and argumentative composite Sun Mars Mercury Venus trine sensible Saturn and creative Neptune. It won’t all be sweetness and light since Saunders’ Sun square Mars hits on Lumley’s Saturn. But clearly there’s enough right to give them on-screen chemistry.

Apologies to non-Brits for the boring minutiae of internal elections.

Just to add to previous posts.  Boris’s Neptune clearly caught up with him as he exits the Tory leadership race. He has coming up a confident tr Pluto trine his Jupiter but also sextile Neptune. That Jupiter Neptune opposition tends to send him off into cloud cuckoo land and both ends are being triggered this year. What inflates can also deflate.

Michael Gove, 26 Aug 1967, no doubt propelled by his string-pulling wife, Sarah Vine, a Daily Mail columnist, has, against all his previous declarations of being unsuitable as PM, now says he’ll stand.

The adopted son of a Scottish fishmonger, he’s a keen social reformer, who believes in ‘creative destruction’. He was criticised by teachers’ leaders for the “climate of bullying, fear and intimidation” that occurred during his time as Minister for Education. He’s popular within Westminster but not so much outside. He has his Sun, Mercury Venus and Uranus Pluto in Virgo, a Taurus Moon and Mars Neptune in Scorpio square Jupiter in Leo.

Through the campaign for the leadership he does have tr Jupiter conjunct his Pluto Uranus in Virgo but that has gone by September 2^nd. Plus a sinking tr Saturn square tr Neptune on his Sun/Pluto midpoint till mid August. He has one mildly successful tr Uranus sextile his Jupiter/Node until Sept 3^rd but that’s all of note (without a birth time).

Theresa May, 1 Oct 1956, a quiet Remainer but keen to polish her Brexit credentials now that it is a done deal, is a Sun Libra, with Venus Pluto in Leo square Saturn in Scorpio, and Jupiter Mercury in Virgo so cool, hard working, utterly determined. Her Sun falls on the UK Ascendant which might be thought a good sign. She’s got a charm-offensive tr Pluto trine Sun/Venus until mid July; and a lucky tr Uranus opposition her Jupiter/Node running now till September 3^rd, which could stand her in good stead. Plus tr Jupiter having moved through its Jupiter Return in early July, will be conjunct her Mercury and Sun/Jupiter at the final in early September. No birth time so not much more info.

Outsider Angela Leadsom, 13 May 1963, a Leaver, has an enduring and utterly determined chart with a Taurus Sun (Mercury) opposition Neptune square Saturn in Aquarius opposition Mars in Leo. So not much budges her. She probably doesn’t expect to win. But she does have a useful tr Uranus sextile Jupiter/Pluto till Sept 3^rd as well as a career-boosting tr Pluto sextile Jupiter/Saturn.

Angela Eagle is expected to run an official challenge to Jeremy Corbyn, which is a protracted process involving party members as well as MPs. Born 17 Feb 1961, she’s a rebellious Sun Aquarius opposition Uranus, and is certainly in a mood for a risk with tr Uranus square her Jupiter in Capricorn running till early September; as well as a reasonably successful tr Pluto sextile Jupiter/Pluto and Jupiter/Node.

Please post below on whatever subject you like ————–

The Netherlands has always had a vociferous anti-EU lobby led by the right-wing Geert Wilders. The country was in the European project from the start so very invested in the ideal.

There are two possible charts for Netherlands.  26 July 1581 (astrodienst) and 16 March 1815 11.47am Hague ( Doris Doane).

The second of these showed up the invasion of Germany in May 1940 much more clearly, so might be more useful. It is certainly showing depression and aggravation, mounting through 2017 and extending through 2018. Tr Saturn will conjunct its Neptune and square the Pisces Pluto Mercury Sun till Nov 2017; and tr Pluto will conjunct the 7^th house Mars till late 2018.

The 1581 chart shows panic now with tr Neptune square tr Saturn in hard aspect to the Mars in Virgo now and through 2017; with a devastated, confused tr Pluto square Neptune in 2016/17; plus a road-blocked Solar Arc Pluto square Mars this year.

The 1581 chart shows more separation from the EU than the 1815 one. On this one there’s a tr Uranus opposition Mars at the moment; then reversing to square the composite Saturn early in 2017; and tr Uranus opposition the composite Sun in 2017. Plus plus plus others uneasy influences.

The 1815 chart on the other hand, while unsettled at the moment by tr Saturn square tr Neptune hitting on the Pluto and then in 2017 the financial Venus, is much less suggestive of any kind of split. Though tr Pluto is moving into the 7^th which usually throws up major tensions in partnerships.

If Geert Wilders is any kind of guide, 6 Sept 1963, he doesn’t look to be winning much with tr Saturn square his Pluto Sun Venus in Virgo this autumn; and then tr Neptune in opposition to these planets for several years ahead. He’ll be bullish through 2017/18 with tr Pluto square his Jupiter in Aries; though may over-estimate his reach as tr Uranus opposes his Mars from mid year.

The Central Bank of the Netherlands, 25 March 1814, is certainly jangled and conflicted with Solar Arc Uranus opposition its Neptune this year; and tr Pluto square Mercury in 2016/17. Tr Saturn squares the financial Venus this autumn; and tr Neptune is conjunct in 2017/18 so it will be feeling the economic pain.  It goes into a major upheaval in 2019 with Solar Arc Uranus square Pluto to good effect with a successful Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct Pluto at the same time; with a cheering tr Uranus in Taurus trine Jupiter as well.

The tragi-comedy of the UK political car crash continues with the Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn, having resoundingly lost a vote of confidence from the Parliamentary Labour Party, then refusing to go. Is he mad or is it just another facet of Pluto in Capricorn hauling down the old structures? The electorate are a million miles apart from the Westminster bubble, and their displeasure led to the wild-card vote for Brexit. Corbyn, a 33 year veteran of Westminster, though never a corporate loyalist (to put it mildly), says he represents the people not the insular MPs.  See: https://goo.gl/PI11mu.

The Labour Party chart of 27 Feb 1900 seems to work better than the 1906 chart. Tr Saturn square tr Neptune are hitting on the Uranus Jupiter in Sagittarius at the moment and Neptune trails on undermining enthusiasm till late 2017. Tr Saturn also opposes Pluto, which tr Neptune squares in 2017; and then tr Saturn opposes Neptune also in 2017.  So all muddle and uncertainty and discouragement. Plus a highly emotional, angst ridden tr Pluto square Venus in 2016/17. There are failure-writ-large Solar Arcs by 2018 – Mars conjunct Neptune; Sun opposition Saturn.

Corbyn’s relationship chart with the Labour Party  has an over-controlling, love/hate Mars square Pluto; plus an idealistic, unrealistic Neptune square Venus, trine Sun.  The composite Sun picks up the tr Uranus conjunction in February of next year, which could be a parting of the ways.

Corbyn’s own chart has Solar Arc Uranus square his Sun in 2017 which certainly looks like a major shift.

The bombing at Istanbul Airport in Turkey has claimed over 40 lives with 240 injured. It occurred around 10pm on June 28 which puts the retrograde, vengeful Mars in Scorpio exactly on the midheaven, still in a stressed Yod, quincunx Uranus Moon sextile Mercury. So explosive, angry, relentlessly determined and a brutal statement. There’s also a 6^th house (health) Venus (Sun) in Cancer opposition a hidden 12^th house Pluto square the 3^rd house Moon Uranus – causing major disruption to travel.

There have already been three bombings in Turkey this year, causing many deaths and the Ankara railway bombing last October which claimed 103 lives. The assumption is that it is ISIL behind what seems to have been a very professional atrocity.

The Turkey chart has tr Uranus exactly in opposition to the 4^th house Mercury Saturn, so a major jolt. And with tr Saturn moving to square the Pisces Uranus and MC late Oct/Nov this year there may be more high tension situations to come. The September Eclipse willoppose the Uranus. Then tr Neptune will conjunct Uranus in 2017 which will be nervy, high-wire and fanatical. Almost exact at the moment also is Solar Arc Neptune conjunct the 5^th house Jupiter which will undercut speculation and enjoyment, and presumably undermine the tourist trade.

Turkey is overwhelmed with crises at the moment with the Kurdish insurgency, the Syrian refugees, Russian planes flying overhead and ISIL on the rampage.

Hard-line President Recep Erdogan’s life isn’t going to get easier with his Term chart facing the September Eclipse conjunct the Sun and opposition Neptune; with next Feb’s Pisces Solar Eclipse reversing the order.  Plus tr Pluto sextile the Saturn Mars in Scorpio from 2016 to late 2018 which looks dangerous and ruthless.

A UK-exit will leave Germany carrying the lion’s share of the cost of propping up the ailing EU economies. They are much more tied into the EU than the UK was, given that it was largely set up to prevent another European war.

The relationship chart between Germany and the EU has a good-for-business Earth Grand Trine of Taurus Moon trine Capricorn Sun Mercury trine a Virgo North Node, formed into a Kite by Sun Mercury opposition a 10^th house Pluto – so certainly an influential pairing and very controlling. No surprises Germany ended up top dog.

That relationship will be speared at soul level by the September Solar Arc conjunct the composite, heavily aspected, 12^th house North Node. 2017 will be nervy and tense with tr Uranus square Neptune.  But the real problems won’t show until 2018/19 when tr Uranus moving into Taurus will hit the Fixed T Square of Uranus opposition Venus square Mars which will seriously upset the applecart.  Though may not lead to a De-exit.

The Germany country chart, with the same Libra Ascendant and axis as the UK chart is going through similar house transits – tr Pluto in the 4^th = mutinous domestic population; tr Uranus in 7^th = separations in close relationships; tr Saturn in 3^rd – difficulties communicating with neighbours; tr Neptune in 6^th – worries about employment and health costs.  But with Pluto natally in the 8^th trine Sun Venus in Capricorn, they are a much more reluctant changer than the UK.

What will shift them onto a different track will be tr Uranus square their 10^th house Uranus from late April 2017; backed up by a shocked and angry populace, spurred on by Solar Arc Moon conjunct Mars. Right through 2017/18 tr Pluto will square their 7^th house Neptune bringing confusion, uncertainty and serious questions about the commitment of a close relationship. That way be with the UK but it may also be with France.

The Franco-German bond was always the lynch pin of the EU and while it doesn’t look like splitting it will be under severe nervous strain through the next two or three years with tr Uranus square the composite Neptune and opposition Mars early 2017 into 2018.

For all the bluster and huff in Brussels – get thee hence and never darken our doorstep again – they are rather obscuring the fact that they are about to lose their second largest net contributor (Germany first). It will blow a considerable hole in EU finances (and banks) which are not in that great a shape to start with.

The European Central Bank (ECB) was agreed on 1 June 1998, got under way on 1 Jan 1999. Both charts look devastated in the time ahead. The 1998 chart with tr Saturn square tr Neptune hitting the 10 degree Gemini Sun this year into 2017; and early in 2017 as well tr Saturn in a deflating square to Jupiter.

The 1999 chart, probably the most relevant, has a cataclysmic tr Pluto square Mars in 2017/18; with significant tensions erupting as tr Uranus is conjunct Saturn, pitching the reformists against the status quo-ers; and square the financial Venus, jangling their Cardinal T Square.  Tr Saturn is wending its way in hard aspect round their other (Mutable) T Square of Moon opposition Mercury square Jupiter from early till late 2017 which will be discouraging as well.

The TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) was kicked off in negotiation on 7 July 2013 with the purpose of promoting trade between the US and the EU. Supposedly it would benefit the EU by 120 billion euros worth of trade; the US by 90 billion; and the rest of the world by 100 billion. The theory is to open up trade but it has been heavily criticised for the impact on labour, lowering of regulatory conditions and the secrecy under which talks have taken place.

The start chart certainly reeks of self-protectionism, secrecy and a drive for power and control –  with a Water Grand Trine of Jupiter in Cancer trine Saturn trine Neptune, formed into a Kite by a Jupiter (and Cancer Sun) opposition Pluto. There’s also an innovative quality to it with Pluto opposition Jupiter Moon Sun square Uranus.

It was intended to be all done and dusted by the end of 2014, but it is expected to take at least until 2019/2020.

2016 was always going to be a year when it received a severe shaking with the Solar Arc Pluto square Uranus exact as well as Solar Arc Uranus square Sun; plus tr Pluto continuing to drag its heels in opposition to the Sun till late this year. 2021 sees Solar Arc Pluto exactly opposition the Sun for another delay, presumably on the back of the tr Saturn Pluto which won’t make grandiose schemes easy.  It looks more upbeat come 2023 when Solar Arc Mars in conjunct Jupiter. It could be a long time coming if it happens at all. It does look very American with four planets in Cancer.