The trial and conviction which became the byword for injustice was that of Alfred Dreyfus in France in the 1890s. Robert Harris has written a compelling novel about the military and state corruption and anti-semitism which brought about Dreyfus’s inhumane imprisonment on Devil’s Island for a treason he did not commit. What became known as The Affair, nearly tore France apart with novelist Emile Zola at one point exasperatedly writing his J’Accuse polemic, naming army chiefs and politicians who had lied and then lied further to cover up. Were it not for the efforts of an army intelligence chief Marie-Georges Picquart, who was sidelined for his whistleblowing and sent on a suicide mission to shut him up, Dreyfus would have died. It took 12 years to unravel the fiasco, which would not have happened but for newspaper and public pressure.

Dreyfus, 9 Oct 1859 3pm Mulhouse, France had an 8^th house Sun Mercury Venus in Libra square Jupiter in Cancer; and an 8^th house Mars in Virgo opposition Moon Neptune in Pisces – so very intense, quite fated, and designed to generate publicity with Mars Neptune. He also had Saturn in Leo opposition a North Node in Aquarius – so at odds with the conventional zeitgeist or at least the authoritarian custodians thereof.

The tr Neptune Pluto conjunction in Gemini, associated with scandal, deception and a tendency to megalomania amongst rulers, covered this period. It was going through Dreyfus’s 4^th house during his five year on the unhealthy South American penal colony.

Picquart,6 Sept 1854 7pm Strasbourg, France, had a meticulous, hard-working Sun Mercury in Virgo opposition Moon Neptune in Pisces squaring onto Saturn in Gemini in the 3^rd. So a worrier, fair-minded, keen on detail. Backing that up he had a relentlessly determined and courageous Mars in Scorpio opposition Pluto. The tr Neptune Pluto conjunction was moving through his 3^rd house conjunct his Saturn as he embarked on his risky whistleblowing exercise.

Picquart didn’t especially like Dreyfus, but felt dragging the truth into the open was the only honourable course, no matter what it cost him.

Novelist and playwright, Emile Zola, 2 April 1840 11pm Paris, was a New Moon in Aries; with Moon Pluto Mars Mercury in Aries in his 5^th – so intemperate, loved the spotlight and would be very go-ahead and impulsive. His J’Accuse earned him a libel suit.

Once the dust finally settled, after retrials, semi-apologies and obfuscations Dreyfus was pardoned, and fought in World War 1; Picquart became Minister for War.

Making a Murderer is a Netflix TV series which is garnering praise and attention. It features the wrongful imprisonment of a Wisconsin man, Steven Avery, for sexual assault for which he served 19 years; and his subsequent incarceration for murder, which latter conviction is now up for appeal. If he is innocent of the murder, he is one unlucky man.

Born 9 July 1962 he’s a Sun Cancer in a Water Grand Trine to Neptune in Scorpio and Jupiter in Pisces; with possibly an Air Grand Trine as well of Mars in Gemini trine Saturn in Aquarius maybe trine a Libra Moon. His Pluto opposes Jupiter and squares Mars.

A Water Air chart is a difficult balancing act between feelings and rational thinking. But what is significant is the Mars square Pluto which can bring intense frustrations in life. It can also bring a ruthless streak but it just as often operates on the submissive side, bringing situations where the individual feels totally powerless. His Saturn opposes a Leo North Node, which is the same aspect though reversed of Dreyfus (see D post).

His Sun oddly enough is the same degree of Cancer as Amanda Knox, accused and acquitted of the murder of Meredith Kercher who also has a Mars square Pluto.

Avery has a tough couple of years ahead with tr Pluto opposing his Sun; and some disappointments this year with tr Neptune conjunct and tr Saturn square his Jupiter.

Ted Cruz, the junior Republican senator for Texas, a former lawyer and Tea Party favourite, though not popular amongst mainstream party members, beat Trump and Rubio in the Iowa caucuses, the first Hispanic ever to win there.

Born 22 December 1970 in Calgary, Canada, he has a zero degree Capricorn Sun square Pluto in last degree Virgo. He’s also got Saturn in Taurus opposition Mars Venus conjunct in Scorpio and opposition Jupiter in Scorpio as well. So controlling, hard-edged, stubborn, has endurance. His Pluto is in a successful sextile to Jupiter.  His Mercury in practical Capricorn is trine Saturn and square Uranus – so although realistic, he can be intemperate and outspoken as well.

No birth time doesn’t help. At the moment he has a tough-slog tr Pluto trine his Saturn which clearly isn’t doing him any harm. Then from late March a seductive and possibly popular tr Pluto sextile his Venus on and off through the rest of the year. He’ll have some downers, only to be expected in a marathon campaign as tr Saturn is conjunct his Sun/Jupiter and Sun/Neptune until the fall.

Mid March to early April sees a minor disaster with tr Uranus opposing his Mars/Pluto. But he’s had a couple of those last year so clearly not a terminal catastrophe. May also looks high risk and hugely pressured with tr Uranus square Saturn/Pluto. June will have its losses and moments of uncertainty as well.

His Solar Arc Jupiter is moving to the conjunction with his Mercury perhaps as soon as late this year which will be upbeat, though it could come through 2017, depending on birth time.

He declared his bid at midnight on 23 March 2015 with a usefully fiery chart – Sun Aries trine Saturn so well planned; Jupiter in Leo trines Uranus; which latter is widely conjunct Mars in Aries and both square Pluto. So a campaign which was always going to produce surprises, some ruthless manoeuvring, though is well planned and executed.

There’ll be a major jolt come late May when tr Uranus is exactly conjunct Mars.

Aung San Suu Kyi took her place in the swearing in session for the new Myanmar parliament after the first free elections in 50 years, in which her party scored a resounding 80% victory. It ends decades of military rule though the army still control key ministries and a quarter of the seats. So there’ll be concern about quite what follows.

She was born 19 June 1945 and is a Sun Gemini square Jupiter in Virgo; with a charming and highly determined Mars Venus in Taurus square Pluto.

She was a political prisoner on house arrest after winning the 1990 election until her release in 2010.

She’s had a tough, scary time in the past three years with the tr Pluto square tr Uranus in hard aspect to her Saturn in Cancer; as well as Solar Arc Mars conjunct her Saturn in 2014/15. So it would feel knife edge.

Even at the moment she has her Solar Arc Saturn conjunct her Jupiter which will temper her enthusiasm with realism. Where she starts to forge ahead with more confidence and real success is from 2017 onwards as tr Pluto trines her Jupiter for two years.

The Burma 1 April 1937 12 am Rangoon chart definitely looks upbeat at the moment with Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct the Sun; and a relief-bringing tr Uranus square Jupiter from mid this year for twelve months.; and tr Uranus square Pluto in 2017 – so major changes.

But there is also anxiety, confusion, upheavals as the country attempts to make the transition away from a brutal and paternalistic junta into democracy. A panicky Solar Arc Neptune is conjunct Mars in 2017; a disruptive Solar Arc Uranus conjunct Pluto in 2018;and an uncertain Solar Arc Saturn square Neptune in 2019.

There are ongoing ethnic conflicts, especially with the marginalised Rohingya Muslims, described as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

Thw new government chart, circa 9am 1 February 2016, is complicated. There a controlling Pluto sextile a ruthless Mars in Scorpio, and a confident trine to Jupiter. With Sun square Moon Mars; Saturn square Neptune on one side and square Jupiter on the other; plus the Uranus Pluto square. So argumentative, power blocs not giving way easily, will see saw between highs and lows.

Chef Benoit Violier, whose Swiss restaurant was named the best in the world in December, has been found dead at his home in an apparent suicide. His death comes months after that of Philippe Rochat, his mentor and predecessor at the same restaurant, who fell ill while cycling. He seemed to have everything going for him though it is a hugely pressured world.

Born 22 August 1971, he was a charming Sun Venus in Leo square an enthusiastic Jupiter in Scorpio conjunct Neptune in Sagittarius. He also had an Air Grand Trine of Saturn in Gemini trine Uranus in Libra trine Mars North Node in Aquarius – so a thinker and communicator. His Moon and Mercury were in meticulous, anxiety-prone Virgo.

His Mercury was square his Mars/Pluto midpoint with Saturn square his Mercury and opposition Mars/Pluto – a good deal of mental strain from that.

His Solar Arc Uranus was conjunct his Sun, now which can be a shock. And his Solar Arc Mars was approaching an opposition to his Pluto as well as Solar Arc Pluto heading for a square to his Mars, not exactly now but the shadow would be looming. Both of these latter would be exceptionally challenging, putting him under enormous pressure.

What a waste and a shame.

Terry Wogan, one of the most memorable voices on BBC radio and television has died suddenly aged 77. Born 3 August 1938 Limerick, Ireland, he had a mellifluous Irish brogue which rattled on with amusing whimsy, seemingly with no effort, for two and a half hours every morning five days a week. He was educated by Jesuits but lost his faith at 17 (‘with relief’), was married for 51 years, had a happy family life with children and grandchildren and never a hint of scandal.

He had a surprisingly strong chart for someone who seemed self-deprecating, friendly and placid.

His flamboyant, showy Sun Mars in Leo were on the point of a T Square to a private Scorpio Moon opposition Uranus – so he thrived on being an entertainer in a constantly changing environment. His Sun was trine Saturn in self-reliant Aries which would help to keep him anchored down.

His Pluto was conjunct Mars giving him determination, and Pluto was also inconjunct Jupiter in tolerant Aquarius – so influential, pushy when necessary.

His Venus Neptune in Virgo must have been in a significant place in his chart, perhaps on the Ascendant or in his 3^rd, giving him his ability to charm and softening the harder edges of other planets and configurations.

HM Queen Elizabeth is preparing for her 90^th birthday celebrations on April 21^st and beyond and still seems as vibrant as usual. Though she is handing over more of her roles to members of the Royal Family.

Her Solar Return for 2016 has an enthusiastic, successful Jupiter in the 10^th and a sociable Venus in the 5^th so much popularity – plus on the downside, an awkward Mars Saturn which may point to financial cutbacks.

She seems to have got through the tr Uranus square tr Pluto hitting on her 6^th house Pluto without any major health mishaps.

Her next tricky aspect is Solar Arc Saturn opposing her Neptune and conjunct her Mars from early 2017 through 2018 which look uncertain and agitated.

Her relationship with Prince Charles, never easy at the best of times, is insecure and rather grudging through this year.

Singer Phil Collins is back with his third wife, Orianne Cevey, whom he very expensively divorced in 2006, after ‘drifting apart.’ In the interim she remarried and had a child, and is partially paralysed due to complications in an operation.

No birth date unfortunately for her.

He’s born 30 Jan 1951 12.05am London and has a 4^th house Sun Aquarius trine Saturn and opposition an influential and controlling 10^th house Pluto.  He’s also got a highly emotional, self-protective Water Grand Trine of a Scorpio Moon trine Mars Jupiter in Pisces in the performing 5^th trine Uranus in Cancer.

Both a Scorpio Moon and 10^th house Pluto will make letting go difficult.

He’s in a very Neptunian phase at the moment with tr Uranus opposition his Neptune; Solar Arc Neptune opposition his Pluto; and tr Neptune conjunct his 5^th house Mars Jupiter. That can be undermining though also softening and healing.

Their original wedding chart, 24 July 1999 has a Fixed Grand Square of Jupiter opposition Mars square Sun Mercury opposition Neptune – so plenty of energy and optimism, designed for showbiz and glamour.

He’s got a few bumps on his road ahead with a blocked Solar Arc Sun conjunct his Pluto by early 2018 and at the same time tr Uranus moving into his 7^th which is often not easy for close relationships.

The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s greatest iconic structures and instantly recognisable symbol for Paris, was set under way on 28 January 1887 when the foundations were dug.

That gives a powerful Mars in Aquarius opposition a leadership Leo North Node square Neptune in Taurus and Pluto in early Gemini.

That T square sits right at the heart and base of the France 21 September 1792 3.30pm chart with the focal point Neptune conjunct the France IC, the Eiffel Tower Mars Venus in Aquarius in France’s 1^st house close to its Pluto and the North Node in Leo in France’s 7^th close to Uranus. So truly a national treasure.

The Eiffel Tower also has an Aquarius Sun Mercury square Jupiter in Scorpio – so confident and proud.

It was closed in 2015 on several days because of terrorist risk.  Over coming months there’ll be increasing unease about its safety with an approaching Solar Arc Saturn opposition Neptune. That doesn’t necessarily signify an event, merely anxiety. There’ll be more jolts and upsets in two and three years’ time for further Solar Arcs colliding.

Marvin Minsky, one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, has died. As early as the 1950s, ‘he worked on computational ideas to characterize human psychological processes and produced theories on how to endow machines with intelligence.’

Born 9 August 1927 in New York, he had a Sun Leo with Jupiter Uranus in Aries trine Saturn in Sagittarius, with Neptune also in Leo and maybe Moon in Sagittarius – so oodles of inspirational and confident Fire in his chart. His Sun was 135 degrees from Uranus Jupiter so picking up that lucky, risk-taking energy.

His Mars in hard-working and detailed Virgo was in a disciplined square to Saturn and a determined sextile to Pluto. So a solid backing for his ideas.

His creative 5^th and 7^th Harmonics were strong as was his –leaving-a-legacy-for-history 17H