The jungle drums are beating more loudly over worrisome levels of global government and corporate debt with the money wonks cautioning that America now owes more money than the value of its economy.

 Quite what John Maynard Keynes would have made of it, the English economist whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments, isn’t clear. But his ideas were a guiding light from the Great Depression to the mid 1970s, and came back into favour in 2008 with the financial crash. So his spirit will be hanging over policy discussions.

 Keynes was born 5 June 1883 9.45 am Cambridge, England, and he had an extraordinary chart with seven planets in his career 10^th – stretching from Venus Neptune in Taurus close to his Midheaven, Saturn Pluto conjunct in early Gemini and a New Moon and Mercury conjunct in mid Gemini. He had Mars in earthy Taurus in his communicative, far-travelled 9th house sextile Jupiter. And an inventive Uranus on the cusp of his 2^nd house of finances trine Neptune Venus and Midheaven.

 His 17^th harmonic = leaving-a-legacy-for-history is exceptionally noteworthy with an Air Grand trine of Sun trine Venus trine Pluto; formed into two Kites by Pluto opposition Neptune and Sun opposition Uranus.

 With tr Uranus approaching the conjunction to the Pluto Saturn in Gemini on his chart from mid 2025 into 2026 it might seem likely that his ideas in handling crises periods (indicated by his hardship, deprived Saturn Pluto) might come to the forefront.

  Oddly enough his Gemini Sun is mirrored in the chart of Adam Smith, the 18^th century pioneer in the field of political economy seen by some as “The Father of Economics” or “The Father of Capitalism. Born 5 June 1723 JC in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, he had a Gemini Sun opposition Saturn with Neptune and Venus in Taurus like Keynes in his case trine Pluto. With an excitable, outspoken Uranus opposition Mars square Mercury.

Theoretical economics is absolutely not my subject. Comments welcome from those more knowledgeable.

ADD ON: Keynes’ romantic life initially was homosexual with a string of sometimes concurrent lovers. The artist Duncan Grant was the love of his life for seven years up to 1915. Then he started to gravitate towards women, falling in love in 1921 with Lydia Lopokova, one of the stars of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. In the early years of his courtship, he maintained an affair with a younger man in tandem with Lopokova, but eventually chose Lopokova exclusively. They were married in 1925, with Keynes’s former lover Duncan Grant as best man in what proved to be a stable, happy union until Keynes’ death in 1946.

  With such a heavily populated 10th house Keynes’ relationship with his mother would have been a profound influence on him. His biographer remarked that her children “never outgrew home”. Keynes’ also had a New Moon which tends to give a tendency towards self-sufficiency and that squares Uranus so he would be wary of intimacy and close committed relationships.

  His relationship with Lydia, whose birthdate varies between 21 October 1891 and 1892 started when tr Uranus had moved into his 7^th house altering his approach to close relationships. Neither of those years for her birth indicate a startling connection.

 His relationship life is a mystery since even his liaison with Duncan Grant was not obviously a soulmate match.   

The continuing fascination and embarrassment surrounding the Meghan-Harry roadshow continues with a dud polo Netflix series streaming and disappearing, various splotches of critical media comment and no sign of the upmarket jam jamboree landing soon.

 While I would love to wish them happy ever after, all the indications are that after a hugely stressful four years of tr Pluto square their composite Saturn Pluto and opposition the composite Moon, they are heading into a dip in 2025. Tr Neptune will be opposition the composite Mars Venus into 2026 which will feel like failure and that is followed in 2026 by a major disruption from tr Uranus square the composite Sun and opposition composite Uranus.

 The wedding chart is also being ground down with tr Pluto conjunct the Mars and square Uranus running on from 2023 to late 2025. Plus a jolting, destabilizing tr Uranus conjunct the Sun in 2025 (which was coincidentally conjunct the destructive star Algol).

 On Sun/Moon midpoints which are the marriage significator. Meghan’s at 8 degrees Virgo had a separating tr Saturn in opposition in early 2024 as they started to appear solo at various events.  Harry’s Sun/Moon midpoint won’t pick up similar until 2027.

 Tr Saturn Neptune in Aries from mid 2025 onwards won’t suit Meghan’s Moon, Saturn, Jupiter since they will oppose those planets, undermine her confidence and pose questions about her domestic life amongst others. 2027 to 2029 look difficult years for her.

  Harry looks lost in terms of direction in 2027 but gradually thereafter he is heading into a more visible and hands-on phase of his life as tr Saturn moves slowly towards the end of his low profile First Quadrant which started at the time of his wedding.

  His relationship to his late mother Princess Diana is omnipresent and may be a key to his marriage. Diana’s Cancer Sun fell conjunct his Descendant (as does Meghan’s Mars in Cancer) – key to his sense of partnership. Diana’s Venus in Taurus was conjunct his Taurus Moon for an affectionate bond and Meghan’s Chiron is conjunct his Moon –  so there will be a healing connection on both sides.

 Harry’s Chiron falls in his 5^th house of children, which is possibly where he seeks a balm.

 Harry’s relationship chart with his mother was affectionate and idealistic with a Grand Trine of Venus trine Moon trine Neptune, and a possessive Moon opposition Pluto. A much stronger bond in many ways than between William and his mother which has worked to Will’s advantage in freeing him up to settle into a different style of marriage.

 Diana’s can-be-destructive Mars Pluto and wilful Uranus both fell in Harry’s 8^th house for a deep and disturbing bond.

 Meghan and Diana would undoubtedly have clashed with Meghan’s Mars conjunct Diana’s Sun for a competitive interface.  

 Two thoughts – Meghan is broadly similar to Diana, since both in their own way were drama queens (and both came from broken homes). Both were/are quite destructive in their need for vengeance.

  The second is a personal Virgo beef. How can they be so impractical when it comes to setting up projects? Employing endless expensive help who leave regularly and they keep ending up in a muddle over what appear to be basic details, permissions, copyright etc and either not completing or ignoring marketing advice to end up with vacuous nonsense. Diana at least put in the legwork to build a platform for the global image she later established. Meghan seemed to want the end result without the slog.   

 Add On: California was never going to be a launching pad for Prince Harry since it puts his Moon in the hidden 8^th and his Sun in the hidden 12^th – maybe OK for sorting himself out. But a place to lie low.

Meghan, I never quite understood, since relocating to London puts her Sun Mercury on the Midheaven for career success with a far-travelled Mars in the 9^th and a friendly Venus in the 11^th.  It could have given her what she wanted had she stuck it out and taken on the Commonwealth with Harry. 

ADD ON: There are some similarities between Meghan and Wallis Simpson in that both have their North Node in their First House which suggests problems building up a solid sense of personal identity. Sliding back into a partnership will feel comfortable but will not be the way to fulfilment.

 Oddly enough the Duke of Windsor has his North Node in Aries which equally suggests an imperative (clearly ignored) to stand on his own two feet and be independent. 

  Harry’s North Node in Taurus strongly suggests that letting go bitter, endlessly dragged-out arguments will bring him peace of mind. Nature will be his cure.

 Wallis Simpson’s Chiron was conjunct her Moon and in Edward’s 8^th house conjunct his Saturn; his Chiron was in his 8^th. In both cases it suggests problems with the early mother relationship and later sexual difficulties; with men often attracting them to powerful women.

 Meghan’s Chiron in Taurus is conjunct Harry’s 4^th house Moon. A Chiron in Taurus can suggest lack of self-worth and never feeling secure, with issues around money. So Harry would represent safety and stability for her.

 On their relationship chart the composite Chiron falls conjunct the Ascendant giving them a problem deciding who they are as a couple and how to present themselves. The composite North Node falls in their 2^nd house of personal financers hinting that becoming independent and not relying on the generosity of others will be vital.

Add On: Meghan’s cookery show launches on January 15 on Netflix – clearly not scheduled with astrology in mind. There is a late Capricorn Sun conjunct Pluto and opposition Mars which does not look propitious.

Sara Netanyahu, the Israeli PM’s wife has been accused of harassing witnesses and obstructing justice in her husband’s corruption cases. She is said to have orchestrated a campaign of demonstrations and social media attacks against perceived “enemies” of the prime minister. He is standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust relating to allegations of favour trading with wealthy benefactors.

 She was born 5 November 1958 5.15 am Haifa, Israel and has Mars conjunct Algol in heavyweight Taurus, an astro-signature for powerful wives like Asma Assad, Eva Peron and Catherine the Great. See previous post on Asma Assad. 10 December 2024.

 Sara Netanyahu also has a stellium in determined and acquisitive Scorpio in her 1^st house of Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune plus a flamboyant Moon in Leo conjunct Uranus in her 10^th. Utterly fixed and unbudgeable, built for the long haul, not flexible.

 Tr Uranus is aiming to conjunct her Mars in May 2025 and January to mid March 2026 for a jolting shock and ensuing insecurity possibly evoking an over-hasty reaction.

 She does have her Solar Arc Pluto moving to conjunct her Jupiter Sun in 2026 which could give her a surge of confidence but it can also result in conflict with authorities if she acts as if rules did not apply to her. At the same time in 2026/27 tr Pluto will square her Neptune for a phase of confusion and devastation with tr Uranus square her Pluto putting her life into upheaval. At that point in 2026/27 her relationship with her husband will be under strain with tr Pluto square the composite Saturn, Mercury, Sun.

  Those who live by the sword —– eventually succumb.

Add On: Their eldest son Yair, 26 July 1991, is outspoken and extreme in his views. He is a Sun Leo opposition Saturn in Aquarius; with a pushily confident Jupiter in Leo square Pluto; and a can-be-fanatical Uranus Neptune in Capricorn trine Mars Venus in Virgo.

 The younger son, Avner, 10 October 1994, is a Sun Libra like his father and has a stellium in Scorpio like his mother of Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Pluto with Mars in Leo and a Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn.

 Neither boy looks upbeat over the next two/three years.

 What an incredibly Fixed family.

An astrologer predicting an imminent death may have shifted the course of English history a fraction. In the febrile period after Henry V111’s death, he was succeeded by his son Edward V1, then 10 years old. Next in line Mary Tudor, his half-sister, was persuaded to stay in England by the prospect of his approaching death, despite him being young and healthy.  He did die aged 15 probably of tuberculosis and she stepped up to be crowned Queen Mary I.

 He was born 12 October 1537 JC 1.44am London and had his Pluto on the cusp of his 6^th house of health conjunct a late Capricorn Moon and opposition Uranus Mars in Leo. Heath issues were likely with such an afflicted bunch of planets homing in on his 6^th and 12^th houses. When he died after a longish illness tr Neptune was square his Solar Arc Moon; and the transiting North Node was opposition his Moon. Tr Neptune was also just passed an opposition to his SA Sun. His death 6 July 1553 JC 8.30pm London.

 Astrology in those days was different with no outer planets known so I have no idea how his death would have been predicted.

Add On: King Charles 1, 29 November 1600 11pm was beheaded on 30 January 1649 – would an astrologer have predicted it?  Tr Pluto Saturn conjunct in Gemini were opposing his Sagittarius Sun Mercury exactly which feels pretty bleak. Significantly his Solar Arc Saturn was approaching and within less than a degree of a conjunction to his Mars,  which is a traditional assassination signature. His Progressed Saturn was exactly conjunct his Part of Fortune hinting his luck had run out.

 Lady Jane Grey, 5 October 1537 3.14 am Leicester (not verified), who reigned for nine days, was beheaded after a coup on 12 February 1554. At that point (birth date being sound) tr Uranus was conjunct her Libra Sun; and a formidable, high-risk transiting Mars, Pluto, Sun in Pisces were opposition her Venus.

The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 was caused by an underwater earthquake, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, that struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. A massive tsunami with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) high, devastated communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries. It is the one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst tsunami disaster.

  The astrology is oddly vague with nothing much that would flag up such a devastating event. There was a Jupiter in Libra trine Neptune sextile Venus Mercury in Sagittarius which was light hearted; a slightly edgier Mars square Uranus but that is nothing pass remarkable. The midpoints have a few pointers including Pluto square Neptune/Node which is a natural disaster signature.  

 The October eclipses immediately prior  both had Jupiter in the 10^th located to Banda Aceh but nothing too ominous in terms of aspects. The April 2004 Solar Eclipse did have a high-risk Mars opposition Pluto but nothing else that would indicate the magnitude of the horror at the year end.

  On the tsunami chart the 8^th and 16^th harmonics do look brutal and devastating with Mars Pluto Sun Venus aspected on one; and Mars Pluto Neptune Moon on the other.

 There may be an astro answer in there but my flu-fogged brain can’t see it. Comments welcome.

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Warmest best wishes all round for festive fun or relaxing peace and quiet. Whatever floats your boat.

  Bon chance et courage for 2025

James Bond fans will be chewing their fingernails at the delays over their next favourite movie as producer Barbara Broccoli and Amazon, the new owners of MGM, appear to be at a standoff.  Old school versus the algorithm generation don’t appear to be a good mix with no sign of a script or replacement for Daniel Craig in the offing.

 Barbara Broccoli, 18 June 1960 9.55am Santa Monica, California, who took over the franchise when her father Cubby died three decades back, is a confident, friendly 11^th house Sun Venus in Gemini opposition Jupiter in Sagittarius; with a feisty Moon Mars in Aries in her 9^th square Mercury in Cancer which in turn opposes Saturn in Capricorn. A lady who will fight her corner with vigour especially with a defiant and unconventional Uranus in Leo on her Ascendant.

  She is not at her best at the moment with tr Neptune square her Sun and Jupiter now till March 2025; and a confusing, disappointing Solar Arc Pluto conjunct her Neptune through 2025 as well. Plus her SA MC is conjunct her Saturn now for slow progress. Where her luck turns good will be by 2027 with tr Jupiter crossing her Ascendant and her SA Jupiter opposing her Pluto for a major confidence surge.

  Tr Uranus was crossing her Taurus midheaven when the Amazon MGM acquisition was signed in 2022 so it was always going to shift her career direction considerably.

 The first ever Bond which was Dr No, 5 October 1962, has Jupiter in Pisces opposition Uranus which happily coincides with her lucky spot in 2027.

Ariane Grande’s tumultuous love life strewn with a series of short-lived flings and a recent two year marriage followed by a divorce has managed to wreck another marriage. Co-star of her recent movie Wicked Ethan Slater left his childhood sweetheart, wife of several years and mother of his months’ old baby, to hook up with her.

 She was born 26 June 1993 9.15pm Boca Raton, Florida, and has a hard-working 6^th house Cancer Sun square an easy-going Moon Jupiter in her 9^th. But there is little overall that is laid-back about her chart. A highly-strung, unpredictable Uranus Neptune in Capricorn on her Ascendant opposes her Mercury. To call her mercurial would be an understatement. She has an influential and controlling 10^th house Pluto square her Sun/Moon midpoint and opposition Venus in Taurus making for overly-intense, high-passion relationships that sink under the strain. Most relevant of all is probably her 8^th house Mars opposition Saturn which hints at intergenerational trauma and deep-seated anger issues.

 He recent short lived marriage to Dalton Gomez, 7 August 1995, did have the advantage of his Leo Sun Venus falling in her 7^th house of partnership. But was always going to be a stormy affair with a composite Sun opposition Neptune Uranus, trine/sextile Mars and trine/sextile Pluto.

 Her present hope Ethan Slater probably has a Cancer Moon conjunct her Sun which is a good crossover; though his Mars in Aries squaring her Uranus Neptune will bring explosive differences. What is notable is that his Sun Venus in Gemini are conjunct her South Node and her Sun is conjunct his South Node – as if both pull each other back into less evolved patterns of behaviour.

  Their relationship chart is a wonder of complications with a yod of Pluto sextile Uranus Neptune inconjunct Sun South Node – a ‘fated’ connection that will define their lives. There is a composite Sun Mars conjunction (sparks of attraction fly early on but tend to turn to competitive arguments) and that is in an impulsive square to Jupiter. Venus opposing Pluto for passion squares a cold, blocked Saturn which may oppose the composite Moon. It won’t be an easy relationship to split.

 She is moving into a tricky patch ahead with tr Saturn moving through her low profile, less successful First Quadrant for several years. Tr Uranus will oppose her Pluto exactly now into March 2025 for an unsettled career patch with questions about future direction; and tr Uranus moving into Gemini will square her Saturn in July and by 2026 will be square her 8^th house Mars which will be emotionally and financially stressed. By 2026 as well tr Neptune Saturn in Aries will square her Sun for an uncertain disorienting time.

  What a tangled web.

See previous post: Ariane Grande 18th May 2021

The mind-numbing stories from Gaza of a starving, traumatized population in mid winter, described by an Oxfam director as “apocalyptic” with no help in sight from an international community seemingly incapable of taking action is a sobering indictment of the times. The Israeli liberal newspaper Haaretz, now sanctioned by the Netanyahu government, relates stories from IDF soldiers about civilians, even children, being treated as combatants. ‘The regime of arbitrary, even competitive killing, was described as “the wild west on steroids”. Hospitals and refugee camps are being bombed, aid convoys are being blocked. The independent Famine Review Committee (FRC), warned there is a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of the northern Gaza Strip with warnings that “starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing.” in north Gaza.

  Gaza stays in mind where other atrocities like the Sudan, Myanamar, even Tibet fade, partly because they are further away and because they seem beyond help. But Gaza is a western-created problem instigated initially by the USA and Britain.

The incoming Trump administration is unlikely to improve matters for the Palestinians given son-in-law Jared Kushner’s suggestions earlier this year about moving Gaza residents into the desert and possibly into Egypt and salivating over the prospect of Gaza’s ‘very valuable’ seafront property. And there being no constructive steps taken to preventing West Bank Israeli settlers expanding their territory illegally and driving Palestinians out of their homes.  

 The Palestine Declaration of Independence, 15 November 1988 Algiers, with its Mars at one degree Aries square Saturn at zero Capricorn conjunct Uranus – is being heavily undermined by tr Neptune Saturn in hard aspect from early 2025 through till 2027; with the Solar Arc Sun conjunct the Saturn and square Mars  between 2025 and 2027. Disappointments and setbacks of considerable magnitude.

  Hamas, largely destroyed, though the bitterness will breed problems down the line, 14 December 1987, has the Solar Arc Mars conjunct the Sun exactly now – with the SA Mars Pluto moving across the Hamas Sun Saturn for the next three/four years for a dead-halt, scary, totally trapped phase.

 Hezbollah, 16 February 1985, has its Mars at 10 degrees Aries in line of the recent October Solar Eclipse and the late March 2025 one putting them in  a combative mood. Tr Uranus opposition Saturn and square the Hezbollah Sun all through 2025 suggests a tumultuous year. Though they may be pushing confidently ahead nonetheless in patches with tr Pluto conjunct their Jupiter. 2027/28 see their Solar Arc Sun conjunct their Mars and SA Pluto conjunct their Uranus which will be an almighty clash and turnaround so nothing settling soon on that front.

  The same goes for Israel which is facing years of challenge, stress and jeopardy ahead. Tr Uranus is now for the final time in a disruptive conjunction to the Israel 8^th house Taurus Sun picking up a couple of days ago and running till mid March 2025, followed by tr Uranus square the Israel 10^th house Mars late April to mid May 2025, the latter bringing a shock, sudden explosive turn of events with resulting insecurity and perhaps over hasty reactions.

 Through 2026/27 tr Pluto will square the Israel 10^th house Leo Moon putting pressure on the ruling classes from a mutinous population. The Solar Arc Mars square Pluto late 2025/26 will be blocked, high-risk, with no obvious way forward. That is mirrored in the Solar Arc Midheaven conjunct Neptune creating indecision and confusion about future direction around 2026/27.  The Solar Arc Neptune is opposition Uranus for a highly-strung 2025 and then in a dented-hopes conjunction to Jupiter by 2028. Tr Neptune Saturn square the Venus will make for international unpopularity and financial repercussions in  2026/27. The Bank of Israel is showing panic and losses through 2025 and beyond.

 Then into the early 2030s both tr Pluto and the Solar Arc Sun will start to exert pressure on the Israel 10^th house Pluto and then Saturn. Nothing that looks like peace anytime soon.

  The Israel/USA chart was never as seamlessly well matched as events might suggest with a fractious, differing-agendas composite Sun Uranus square Saturn plus an over-hopeful Jupiter Neptune conjunction. That latter will be undermined by tr Neptune Saturn opposition the Jupiter Neptune in 20925 and more in 2026 so some of the shine may come off.

 Trump is fairly well-chained together with Israel with a composite Saturn Pluto conjunction in the relationship chart. There will be a few cool moments in March/April 2025 with major jolt and perhaps eruption in May 2025 and again January to mid March 2026. That could be a difference of opinion or a joint reaction to an outside disruption.

  The most intractable conflict of the 20^th Century seems destined to drag on.

The Dalai Lama XIV evidently once remarked, “If a problem is fixable, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying”.

  Normally I would agree but in this instance it is deeply depressing. A Palestinian was quoted recently as saying only the leaders wanted to fight – the ordinary people just wanted to get on with their lives. Much the same in Northern Ireland and it partly took the mothers standing up to say enough before peace talks got under way – with substantial input from the USA. Much the same as the end of the Russia invasion of Afghanistan when a Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers stood up and made their voices heard.