Zimbabwe – a turning point coming

The ‘who succeeds’ question is becoming more urgent in Zimbabwe as Robert Mugabe, now 91, grows ever frailer. He has ruled with an iron fist since 4 March 1980, 35 years which has seen a once thriving economy destroyed, hyper-inflation raging and the population beaten into submission. All power and most money lies with his corrupt cronies and the successor is likely to come from their ranks. There is even talk it could be his wife Grace.

His Presidency chart, will be de-stabilised by tr Uranus opposition the Pluto from mid April 2016, on and off for a year thereafter. Though given his track record for surviving against all the odds, it may be late 2017/early 2018 when the Solar Arc Sun opposes Pluto that brings his reign to a close. 2018 also has tr Pluto square Pluto – so an almighty amount of pushing and pulling.

This accords with the Zimbabwe chart, 18 April 1980 12am Harare. Tr Uranus opposes Pluto on that also from April 2016 until early 2017 which will start the upheaval; and then tr Uranus will conjunct the Aries Sun and IC in 2018 – so shaking the country to its foundations. In 2018 as well, Solar Arc Saturn will oppose the Sun; and tr Pluto will trine the 8th house Saturn in 2018/19 – so it will be a tough struggle with even more hardship and economic problems.

Grace Mugabe, 23 July 1964, is a Sun Leo, with a lively Venus Mars in Gemini, an indulgent Jupiter in Taurus opposition a delusional Neptune; and a Capricorn Moon.

She doesn’t look remotely a good fit for Zimbabwe with her Saturn in Pisces opposing the Z Jupiter; and her Mars Venus square the Z Saturn and opposition the Z Neptune.

She does have tr Neptune opposition her Uranus Pluto now till late 2017 which will be undermining. But then from 2018 tr Pluto will trine her Jupiter which looks confident, pushy and successful, more’s the pity.

Star Wars 7 – arousing strong reactions

Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens premieres tonight in Los Angeles at 5.30pm. This puts Neptune conjunct the MC from the 9th square a 6th house Saturn which doesn’t sound too inspiring. The 10th house Uranus opposes a 4th house Mars square a 7th house Pluto – so probably arousing as much adoration as the opposite. It’ll certainly bring a strong reaction. Pluto is trine Jupiter which will be commercially helpful.

Though it’s nowhere as enthusiastic as the first Star Wars which premiered on 25 May 1977 which had a Sun Jupiter trine Pluto; and an inspirational Fire Grand Trine of Saturn in Leo trine Neptune trine Venus in Aries, with Venus opposition Pluto – so the potential to be a gamechanger – which it was.

Charlotte Rampling – air and water

Charlotte Rampling also picked up two awards at the European Film Festival, one lifetime and one as best actress for 45 Years.

Born 5 Feb 1946 7.20 am London, she’s got a very Airy chart with Sun Venus Mercury in Aquarius trine Uranus in Gemini trine Neptune in Libra with Jupiter also in Libra. The Air Grand Trine is formed into a Kite by Sun Mercury Venus opposition Pluto – so a powerful, determined personality. Though with Pluto in the 7th she’s attracted to intense, controlling partners.

She’s also got a really difficult Mars Saturn conjunct in Cancer in her 6th trine a Pisces Moon. Tr Uranus square tr Pluto has been bouncing off that conjunction through 2015 – her long-time partner died earlier this year – and some of those difficult aspects will roll on for another year or two.

There’s nothing much to suggest success at the Oscars. Not that she would be that fussed, I imagine.

Guo Guangchang – China’s Warren Buffett – feeling trapped

The most recent of China’s financial high flyers to disappear and re-appear, apparently ‘assisting’ authorities in their corruption clean-up campaign, is Guo Guangchang. Described as China’s Warren Buffett, he’s the founder of Fosun Group which has interests in media, insurance, real estate and retail. Recently it took control of French holiday group Club Med in a deal worth $1bn.

Born 16 February 1967, he’s a Sun Aquarius on the focal point of a Yod to a lucky Jupiter in Cancer sextile Uranus in Virgo. The Sun here can give an awkwardness of manner and if not handled well a tendency to mis-use personal power. The ego either overplays or underplays or both at different times.

He’s also got a creative and self-protective Water Grand Trine of Jupiter trine Saturn Venus in Pisces trine Neptune in Scorpio, formed into a Kite by Saturn Venus opposition Uranus Pluto in Virgo. So very talented and a trailblazer with Uranus Pluto driving.

He does look paralysed at the moment with a scary Solar Arc Mars square his Pluto and with the Eclipses in 2015/16 hitting on his Virgo Pisces opposition planets.

John Caudwell – putting his money to good use

Self-made billionaire John Caudwell, philanthropist and co-founder of Phone 4U, a mobile phone retailer, has said that 11 members of his family are suffering from the potentially crippling Lyme’s Disease. Medical wisdom says only ticks can spark off the ailment but his experience appears to show there may be other ways of contracting it. He says there may be a link to other devastating conditions including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and myalgic encephalopathy (ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome).

What’s intriguing is that he was born on the same day as Vladimir Putin, 7 October 1952. His father died when he was a teenager, so he left school without A levels, worked for Michelin and then moved into retail. He’s got the Libra Sun Saturn Neptune Mercury conjunction square Uranus in Cancer; and the ultra-determined Mars in crusading Sagittarius trine Pluto. Pluto in turn is opposition his North Node in Aquarius square Jupiter so not short of confidence or luck.

Clearly he’s turned his talents in a different direction to Putin’s but he’s got the same trajectory from a standing start up to great heights. His Aquarius Node will give him a passion for a cause which he’s now focused on wakening up governments about the prevalence and lack of sensible diagnosis/treatment for Lymes’ Disease.

Michael Caine – a Pluto Jupiter moment

Michael Caine picked up the best actor prize at the European Film Awards for his portrayal of a retired composer in Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth, as well as an honorary award.
There are even murmurs he could get an Oscars nomination.
Born 14 March 1933 10.10am London, he has Jupiter at 17 Virgo which will pick up the tr Pluto trine just days after the Oscars at the end of February. So he could be on a winning streak. Whichever way it goes he looks in for a confident two years ahead. Though with some bumps and jolts from tr Uranus conjunct his Uranus, square his Pluto and opposition his Moon.

Jacob Zuma – wobbling on his perch

There are increasingly strident demands for President Jacob Zuma of South Africa to depart. His latest idiocy was to fire a respected Finance Minister which sent the rand and markets tumbling, debt-servicing costs rising, and will cost the country billions.

His term chart 24 May 2014 11.35am Pretoria has a crisis-ridden Cardinal Grand Cross of Uranus opposition Mars square Pluto opposition Jupiter. The Pluto Jupiter probably alludes to his cavalier tendency to throw taxpayers’ money at personal projects as if there were no restrictions. The Pluto moves by Solar Arc to square Uranus exactly in 6 months’ time so the run up will be very unstable. Ditto tr Pluto back to square Uranus from the New Year through January 2016.

His own personal chart, 12 April 1942, has tr Uranus conjunct the Aries Sun from late April which will be a jolt; and he has four midpoints being undermined by tr Neptune and tr Saturn hard aspects, now and through 2016. So definitely sagging.

The South Africa 1910 chart looks uncertain, undermined and indecisive next year with the Tr Saturn square tr Neptune hitting on the 9 degree Gemini Sun. Plus a high panic tr Uranus opposition Mars Neptune in Cancer early in 2016 and tr Pluto square Neptune, then Mars – huge frustration, anger and devastation.

Climate Change Deal – maybe, might just do good

Much triumphalism by political world leaders about their historic climate change deal which was gavelled into agreement just before 7.30pm yesterday in Paris. And just as much cold water being poured on its overblown promises by climate sceptics and climate obsessives alike.

The chart has a trail-blazing Uranus in the 10th opposition a domestically-irritable 4th house Mars square an uphill-struggle 6th house Pluto. There’s certainly enough power in that T square though also potential for arguments.

The grandstanding 5th house Sun is in an overly expansive square to Jupiter, sextile Mars and trine Uranus so prone to promising what it can’t or won’t deliver but willing to try. A 5th house organisational Saturn square a 9th Neptune – at best, hopes for a better society, though it’s fairly disconnected.

The one thing which is marginally hopeful is the 17th Harmonic = leaving a legacy for history. It’s strong with planets in all three Earth signs – which, with wide orbs, does make a Grand Trine, formed into a Kite focussing on idealistic Neptune. And a T square of Sun opposition Uranus square Moon. So something may emerge from it.

Golden Globes – hopes and disappointments

The Golden Globe nominations are out for the awards on January 10 next. Too many to cover and most without birth times.

Just on a brief scan. Cate Blanchett up for Carol has tr Jupiter trine her Taurus Sun exactly that day which has to help.

Leo di Caprio – The Revenant – Scorpio Sun Libra Moon. Has a couple of useful Jupiter transits to Jupiter midpoints though they aren’t that strong. He’s certainly very emotional with tr Pluto square his Libra Moon and Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Venus – which is either making him feel much loved or seriously jealous.

Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn – Aries Sun Taurus Moon. Looks happy in the aftermath but not necessarily on the day itself.

Maggie Smith – The Lady in the Van – Capricorn Sun Virgo/Libra Moon. Fairly mixed. Tr Pluto will sextile her Jupiter in the immediate aftermath and across the Oscars but tr Pluto is also trine her Solar Arc Saturn which in turn opposes her Jupiter. A dashed hopes tr Pluto square Jupiter/Neptune and an upbeat tr Jupiter to a Jupiter midpoint. Pleased to be nominated maybe but not quite there, maybe more of a shot in the Oscars.

Mark Rylance – Wolf Hall/Bridge of Spies – Capricorn Sun Virgo Moon. Looks frustrated and irritable, rather uncertain.

Damien Lewis – supporting, Wolf Hall – Aquarius Sun Leo/Virgo Moon. Nothing too good, blocked and irritable with Solar Arc Saturn conjunct Mars; and tr Neptune square too Mars midpoints which are sinking.

Idris Elba – Beasts of No Nation/Luther – Virgo Sun, Moon Leo/Virgo. Could be chipper with tr Jupiter trine his Sun/Pluto but his life is certainly in a state of upheaval with the tr Uranus square tr Pluto hitting his Uranus – a mid life crisis and then some.

Bryan Cranston – Trumbo – Pisces Sun Capricorn Moon. Tr Pluto trine his Solar Arc Sun and moving to sextile his Pisces Sun in the weeks thereafter suggest he feels his life is coming together satisfactorily. But he looks jagged and rather lacklustre over the Globes, though with one upbeat tr Jupiter to a Mars midpoint showing.

USA – mood around election and inauguration

I’ve been puzzling over the USA 1776 and First Presidents’ chart to see if I could gauge the mood of the country over the election and inauguration – and am not much wiser.

When GWB was inaugurated after the dodgy 2000 election, there was a Sun Neptune, Mercury Uranus in the 10th – so vague, indecisive, ineffectual, impulsive. Mars was opposition Saturn square Uranus Mercury – so militarily inclined and explosive. There was a secretive (dirty tricks behind the arras) 8th house Moon Pluto which through 9/11, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars tr Saturn moved to oppose.

Barack Obama’s first term had a 10th house Sun Jupiter Mercury with a country largely delighted they had elected their first black president and buoyed up his ‘we can change’ message. Plus an all-systems change Saturn opposition Uranus.

Ronald Reagan’s inauguration had a 10th house Sun Mercury Mars trine Saturn Jupiter and with Sun opposition Moon. Mars was also trine Pluto. So reasonably dynamic and idealistic.

The 2017 inauguration, assuming 20 January 12 noon, has a solo 10th house Sun square a Scorpio Moon so out of step at times with the mood of the country. A pushily over-confident Jupiter opposition Uranus square Pluto – looks controlling, inclined to take risks and arouse resentment (perhaps abroad) or with dogmatic views. There is a balancing Saturn in Sagittarius trine Uranus and sextile Saturn which may help as an antidote. Though Saturn trine Mars also looks military. I can’t decide whether that looks more like Hillary than Trump.

The election will be held on 8 November 2016 with a Scorpio Sun trine Neptune and Neptune square Saturn – so arousing paranoia and some confusion, maybe undecided. Though there’s also the pushy Jupiter opposition Uranus square Pluto with Uranus square Mars – so much heat generated.

The USA 4 July 1776 11am chart is trudging through thick mud, feeling discouraged in 2016 with tr Pluto square Saturn; and undermined with tr Saturn square tr Neptune hitting on the Solar Arc Sun – not knowing what to do for the best. Tr Uranus will be square Mercury in Cancer so outbursts of excited utterances, ie. arguments and insults; with tr Uranus moving to square Pluto in 2017 for quite an upheaval.

On the First Presidents’ chart 30 April 1789 12.45pm New York, there’s a good deal of passion being aroused through 2016/17 with tr Pluto opposing the FP Moon; with a lacklustre feel over the inauguration.

On reflection and you can argue these things round all ways – Jupiter Uranus Pluto could be the not-entirely-humble Trump; and the election North Node opposition Neptune square opinionated Saturn in Sagittarius could be ditto, for a conservative result.

I hate US elections, they go on for aeons of time. And this one seems even more obscure than most.