Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One driver isn’t having a great season (I am reliably informed by googling) with engine troubles and track mishaps, and now his second penalty.

Born 7 January 1985, he has an ambitious and lucky Sun Jupiter in Capricorn opposition a Cancer Moon. Though his Sun has the tr Pluto conjunction exact at the moment and on and off till late 2017. So a pressured time in what is a highly pressured lifestyle. He’s also got Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Sun this year which may also put him off his stride. Plus a disappointing tr Neptune conjunct his Mars until mid Feb 2017 – it’s that which is likely to be causing him most trouble since its works against ego-ambitions and success. Tr Saturn is also square that Mars till this September which is associated with setbacks, irritations and sometimes accidents.

However he does have tr Uranus square his Jupiter from May 8^th for three weeks and returning on and off till March 2017 which will give him some upbeat patches.

Nicola Sturgeon is sailing into the Scottish Elections on May 5^th in the enviable position of having no solid opposition in voter terms. All the polls indicate a clear majority to cement what has been a successful term for her at least in PR terms since she took over as First Minister on 20 November 2014 at 10.15am in Edinburgh.

Her term chart has tr Uranus trine Jupiter picking up a couple of days after the election which certainly looks elated. Though there’s a less cheerful Solar Arc conjunct Saturn exact in four months’ time; and heavy weather in 2017/18 with tr Pluto conjunct Mars which looks highly frustrating and irritated.

Her personal chart, 19^th July 1970 3.16pm Irvine, Scotland, has tr Jupiter in her 10^th until mid July which is generally successful and high profile. And a definitely upbeat tr Pluto square her Jupiter/Uranus in June to mid July, repeating on and off till late 2017. Tr Uranus is trine her MC come this June which suggests a positive change of direction for her.

But she’s also got a handful of points between 10 to 15 degrees Virgo which are catching the tr Neptune square tr Saturn square tr Jupiter – so it won’t be smash hits all the way. There will be dashed hopes, some setbacks, some failures as well as triumphs.

She’s still held back to some extent by tr Saturn in her first quadrant for several years yet which tends to militate against great achievements. And her Progressed Moon goes into her 12^th in less than six months, staying for a couple of years, which can be inward looking and conflicted.

The two SNP charts of 14 Dec 1933 and 7 April 1934 both have Cardinal Grand Crosses involving Mars Pluto Uranus and Jupiter and both are being hard-aspected by the tr Uranus square tr Pluto through this year and the next several years as well.  Jupiter involved in the mix makes it tricky to gauge, since its’ luck can pull a rabbit out of the hat, but there will still be a considerable amount of angst and aggravation as tr Pluto hits the aspect to Mars especially in 2017/18.

The fall in oil prices and subsequent cutback in the Scottish oil industry has hit the economic arguments for independence badly. And as continued devolution puts more power in Holyrood’s hands there is less room to use the Westminster government as the scapegoat for all blame. How the glaring problems of the Scottish NHS, education and police are handled will become a testament to the SNP’s ability to govern competently.

There’s been a row rumbling about anti-semitism in the Labour party, the left-wing UK main opposition, which has now erupted with an MP and a prominent senior member suspended as a result. Traditionally Labour has been pro-Palestinian which has led it in the past to share platforms with Hamas and Hezbollah, militant organisations who grew out of the mistreatment of the Palestine people, but are now proscribed terrorist groups. But Labour’s dislike of Israeli government policies has escalated in some quarters into wilder anti-Zionist conspiracy-theory territory and Jeremy Corbyn is now facing calls to stamp on the problem once and for all.

Astrologically it isn’t surprising the Labour Party, 12 Feb 1906, is opposed to Israeli attitudes given that the LP’s Aquarius Sun Venus and indeed Saturn in Pisces all oppose Israel’s Mars in Leo. The LP’s Mercury opposes Israel’s Saturn Pluto and the LP’s Uranus opposition Neptune square Mars in Aries is in hard aspect to Israel’s Venus square Neptune; and the LP’s Pluto is conjunct Israel’s Uranus. So a bad-tempered, hostile and incompatible mix.

The relationship chart has a fight-for-the-upper-hand composite Sun Mercury square Pluto; and a doubt-ridden, suspicious Saturn square Neptune.  The composite Pluto is being assaulted by a tr Pluto opposition this year; and there’s a disappointing tr Neptune conjunct Jupiter from June onwards as well.

Some are suggesting it calls into question Corbyn’s leadership, stirred on by John McDonnell who’s now manoeuvring to stake his claim should a coup occur. Corbyn’s leadership chart, 12 Sept 2015 11.42am London, is certainly looking on a downhill slide this year and insecure from early May onwards. But the real risk for him comes in 2017/18.

The rift between Corbyn and McDonnell will become more obvious from late this June as tr Uranus starts to square the composite Sun.

Ken Livingstone, a close Corbyn ally, who has always been a loose cannon and a motormouth, 17 June 1945, stepped into support the first suspensee and got himself a dose of the same after some ill-chosen remarks about Hitler. He has an overly confident Sun Mercury in Gemini square Jupiter; with an intemperate Pluto square Venus Mars in Taurus. He’s facing one of the worst years of his life with his Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Saturn; and Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his Jupiter – major setbacks and enthusiasm-dampening. It may see his exit from politics altogether – maybe. Though tr Pluto trine his Jupiter in 2017/18 will probably pull him back into the fray.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Russian oligarch who spent 10 years in a Russian jail after saying he would run against Putin, is now ensconced in London. The invasion of the Crimea made him break his promise to himself and his family not to re-enter politics. He says he is the anti-Putin and wants to replace him with a democracy; and is ready when Putin topples to step into the breach. He has given himself ten years for this to happen. Though the possibility of an assassination must always be an ever present concern.

Born 26 June 1963, he’s a Sun Cancer with Uranus (Moon) Pluto Mars in Virgo so not short of determination or courage. He’s also got a Yod of Mars sextile Neptune inconjunct Jupiter, which if handled well could allow him to pursue ideals which would have a favourable effect on his society. Though over-confidence and foolhardiness could be a downside.

Despite his brave words, he doesn’t look to be making much headway this year with tr Neptune opposition his Mars Pluto with tr Saturn square Mars Pluto; and a sinking Solar Arc Neptune opposition Sun this year into 2017 as well. Mishaps aside, he’ll be pushing on nonetheless with tr Pluto square his focal point Jupiter till the end of 2017.

His Saturn in Aquarius opposes Putin’s controlling Pluto MC – so it will be an unyielding battle of opposing attitudes. MK’s Mars Pluto and Uranus also fall in Putin’s 10^th (9.30am birth time) which would also suggest a tussle for power.

Their relationship chart has an explosive and at cross-purposes Mars Neptune square. There is a definite shift in their relationship this year as Khodorkovsky comes out of the shadows with tr Uranus trine the composite Sun. But it’ll be 2019/2020 when (all being equal) that trouble really brews between them, as tr Uranus then in Taurus starts to oppose the composite Mars Neptune, at the run up to the next Presidential election.

Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, should face corruption charges over a 1999 arms deal, the High Court has ruled. The charges were dropped just weeks before the 2009 election which led to Jacob Zuma becoming president. It’s certainly a blow to Zuma though there is still doubt about whether it will go to trial.

His 2^nd term chart, 24 May 2014 11.35am, has the de-stabilising Solar Arc Pluto square Uranus, exact in just a few weeks’ time. That chart was always descriptive of a term of rolling crises with a Cardinal Grand Cross of Pluto opposition Jupiter square Mars opposition Uranus Moon. It certainly suggest riding roughshod across rules and regulations, bullish over-confidence but also good luck.

His personal chart has tr Uranus conjunct his Aries Sun exactly now and running on and off into 2017. With setbacks from tr Saturn opposition his buccaneering Mars Jupiter in Gemini later this year.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are entirely different personality types.

Hillary is very Fixed with Sun plus Venus Mercury in intense, secretive Scorpio; magnified by having Mercury Venus square a formidable Mars Pluto Saturn in Leo. So die-or-die determined, unbudgeable, built for the long haul, good in crises, a forceful speaker both on a platform and at close quarters. She’ll certainly be very defensive and controlling with all that Pluto and Scorpio. My impression – from a distance – was that she gained a fair few credits for her time as Secretary of State (apart from Benghazi) when she seemed tireless and not a publicity-seeker. One commentator described her as ‘more of a workhorse than a show pony.’

She’s a Water/Fire type – so more passionate and excitable than is allowed to show.

She’s certainly got a strong 9^th Harmonic which often goes with a lust for money; as well as the obsessive-dream 11H; and leaving-a-legacy-for-history 17H. Europeans weren’t as fussed as Americans about the whole Bill/Monica and why-didn’t-Hillary-leave-him thing. In France it wouldn’t even have made the papers let alone an indictment.

Bernie Sanders on the other hand is fairly Mutable – with a Virgo Sun and Neptune, Jupiter and Uranus in Gemini – so more flexible but also more inclined to blow around in the prevailing breeze. His chart is Earth, Fire, Air and lacking in Water which is strange since he puts himself across as the compassionate one.

He’s also got a sociable and charming Venus in Libra trine Jupiter and opposition Mars Moon in Aries. That might make me wonder about a) superficiality (Venus Jupiter); and b) insensitivity (Moon Mars opp Venus). It’s not that I think Hillary is remotely sensitive but although she’s deeply secretive, in some ways she is what she is. While with him I might wonder whether there’s more hidden behind the reasonable facade than appears. He can certainly talk well with Mercury in Libra trine Uranus, sextile Pluto – but is also quite controlling. He’s also got a strong 11H and 17H.

Politicians (generalising wildly) are all flawed one way or another and you generally can’t tell till they are in office how they’ll cope.

May, and indeed June, will shake a few things out of the tree for Sanders and Trump, so be interesting to see what transpires.

Please post below ……………

Ted Cruz has picked Carly Fiorina as a putative running mate (he’s hopeful!). She’s best known for her tenure as CEO of Hewlett Packard, which was not a resounding success.

It’s not exactly a match made for harmony since her Mars in Capricorn is conjunct his Sun; and her Saturn in Scorpio is conjunct his Mars; and her Mercury in Virgo is conjunct his Pluto – so argumentative, potentially lots of bitter, no-win discussions. Admittedly her Jupiter Uranus falls in his 10^th if 1am is a sound birth time, which could give him a boost.

Their relationship chart isn’t reassuring either in chemistry or influences.  There’s a Sun Venus Neptune conjunction square Saturn – so friendliness obliterated by suspicion on both sides; plus an explosive, power-struggling composite Mars square Pluto Uranus.

Tr Neptune will start to oppose that Pluto from June 2^nd for the month and tr Saturn will also square Pluto – so undermined and blocked.

What bright spark decided to ask for public suggestions to name a new £200m polar research ship for the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)? It will be a beacon for the UK’s role at the forefront of climate and ocean research. The question unleashed the idiot mob who voted for Boaty MacBoatface – which one presumes they’ll duck once it gets to launch date.

The deal was signed with Birkenhead shipyard Cammell Laird late on November 19 2015; the first steel will be cut this June and completion aimed for 2019.

The deal chart has the anxiously uncertain Saturn square Neptune; a powerfully confident Jupiter trine Pluto; and a formidable Uranus opposition Venus (Mars) square Pluto. That last slightly suggests some mishaps along the way of the build with a frustrating Mars square Pluto; or worse, high-risk in 2025 when it will be seagoing.

All going to plan, the June hull laying again has the confident Jupiter trine Pluto; but also that tricky, sticky Saturn square Neptune, maybe formed into a T square by Mercury. So worrisome.

The launch date in 2019 will have the Saturn Pluto conjunction which is tough, which it would need to be to survive in arctic waters. But it could also point to delays; plus an over-hopeful and maybe over-budget Jupiter square Neptune.

Why oh why does it take decades before cover-ups and lies are uncovered? 27 years on an inquest jury has found the 96 victims of the crush at a Hillsborough football match were unlawfully killed and pinpointed police failures before and after the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. There are now calls for senior police officers to be held accountable for the deaths; and for perverting the course of justice, perjury and misconduct in public office, as they blamed drunkenness amongst fans as the cause for the disaster in the aftermath.

The disaster happened around 3.06pm on 15 April 1989 in Sheffield, England. The chart itself is not on first sight that descriptive. The potentially chaotic triple conjunction of Uranus Neptune Saturn in Capricorn certainly fell in the 5^th house of sport and entertainment. And there was a bleak sextile of Saturn to a 3^rd house Pluto which does reasonably describe pressures on getting about.

It does have Jupiter in the 10^th somewhat similar to 9/11 which has Jupiter conjunct MC, not exactly what you’d expect of expansive, lucky Jupiter. In the Hillsborough chart the Jupiter is further emphasised being square North Node opposition the Virgo Ascendant. Jupiter’s tendency to expand, exaggerating the bad as well as the good. The 10^th house Mars is also emphasised being on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine from an Aries Sun Venus trine Leo Moon.

The Hillsborough midpoints are more stark with Pluto = Mars/Uranus which is sudden destructive violence. And the North Node = Mars/Pluto = Sun/Saturn = Sun/Neptune which is brutal, muddled, rigidity (Saturn) leading to asphyxiation (Neptune).

Just out of interest tho’ I don’t normally pay that much attention to Fixed Stars I had a look since the chart itself seemed sparse on detail.

The Midheaven was conjunct Algol which has a reputation for violence and extreme danger.

Mars was conjunct Bellatrix indicating reckless behaviour leading to physical injury.

Mercury which is emphasised in the chart conjunct Hamal, associated with brutality and cruelty.

Venus which sits on the cusp of the legal 9^th house was conjunct Alpherg indicating success through determined effort. And it has certainly taken a relentless campaign by a small group of people for this to come to a conclusion albeit very very late in the day.

The 8^th and 16^th Harmonics are strong, unpleasantly so which is to be expected. The 8H is especially has a T Square of Saturn opposition Mars square Sun; two Mystic Rectangles made up from Mars opposition Saturn, Pluto opposition Jupiter and Venus opposition Uranus which are sextile/trine each other And Sun inconjunct Pluto. So an unholy mix of sudden violence and destruction with emotional shocks.

At the moment tr Pluto is opposition the disaster Solar Arc Mars; and tr Uranus sextile Mars as the excruciatingly slow process moves on a decisive step. Whatever charges now ensue may come in 2017/18 as tr Uranus is conjunct the disaster Sun and then Venus, trining the Moon, bringing relief for the families of victims.