Marjorie

Immigration is inflaming tensions in the UK, Europe and the USA, headlined as an unsolvable problem and scaremongered as a threat to national identity. Looking back in history it is clear that ‘invasions’ by foreigners – in the case of Britain – Roman, Anglo-Saxon (Germanic), Viking (Scandanavian) and in the case of Spain the Moorish take-over from the 8^th to 15th Century all left their mark on language, cultural and social practices, were absorbed and in some cases later expelled though leaving behind traces of their presence.  The Christian Crusaders who settled in the Middle East brought back with them knowledge of architecture, astronomy, alchemy and much else when they were finally repelled in the early 14^th Century. So cultural appropriation has always been a valuable part of human history.  

  In the 20^th Century displacement of people after World War 11, the fall of the old USSR in 1990 and the Middle East collapse into chaos in the early part of this century, plus drought and unrest in Africa have hastened the influx – with risk and poverty in South America sending many fleeing north to the USA.

  There are no specific markers astrologically for immigration bar a thought about 9^th house (long distance travel) – and some have suggested Jupiter Neptune. It appears strongly in the UN Refugee Convention of 28 July 1951 set up after World War 11 to protect displaced people. Though it was also around for Brexit in 2015 which was partly motivated by a wish to curb immigration. 2015/2016 was also when Denmark dramatically tightened its rules on immigration.

 The UN Refugee Convention chart is under severe pressure at the moment with the Solar Arc Mars conjunct the Saturn and SA Sun conjunct Neptune – undermining its ethos.

 George H Bush’s US Immigration Act of 29 November 1990 which helped permit the entry of 20 million people over the next two decades, the largest number recorded in any 20 year period since the nation’s founding, came about during Saturn Neptune in Capricorn; and is mired in confusion around now with SA Neptune square the Pluto.  But the present Saturn Neptune has seen Trump repelling immigrants with chilling fervour – and in the UK, outrage about illegal immigrants being housed in hotels in residential areas has led to public demonstrations.

  One key difference in modern times in contrast to the past is the welfare system and social housing. In the UK especially with the health service, housing provision and national finances all creaking badly, there is understandable anger about immigrants soaking up limited resources. And bringing in immigrants from backward regions with differing cultural practices especially with regard to women is guaranteed to cause trouble; as is making little effort to integrate newcomers into the broader community, allowing ghettos to be set up.

   Yvette Cooper, the UK Home Secretary, has been landed with the unenviable task of sorting out the immigration problem (and Palestine Action). Born 20 March 1969 in Inverness, Scotland. She has a last degree Pisces Sun conjunct Scheat and North Node in Aries opposition Jupiter Uranus in Libra which feels erratic; with a tough yod of Neptune sextile Pluto inconjunct Saturn Venus in Aries. Her chart has only one Earth sign so lacking in practicality?

  Tr Saturn Neptune are opposition her Jupiter at the moment denting her confidence and moving to a high-tension opposition to her Uranus in 2026. Over the winter tr Saturn Neptune will conjunct and undermine her Sun. With a nerve-stretched tr Uranus opposition her Neptune also over the winter and an even more worrisome her Solar Arc Uranus conjunct her Neptune in 2026.

For extra thoughts and some stats see previous post:

Immigration – social cohesion not differences ++ the case against multiculturalism 3rd March 2024

ADD ON: Sweden’s migration system pre 2015 was open and unrestricted. Schools and social services struggled to keep up. The failure to integrate immigrants led to the “ghettoisation” of some groups — and a precipitous rise in gang crime. Sweden went from having one of the lowest levels of fatal shootings in Europe to one of the highest in a decade. In 2016 the centre-left prime minister put in tougher border controls, offered temporary (rather than permanent) residence permits, and tighter rules on family reunification. In 2022 a new government reduced asylum rights to the minimum allowed under EU law. Swedish citizenship is harder to get with with new language and cultural values tests (like commitment to free speech and democracy). Rejected asylum seekers are being housed in return centres, while deportations of illegal migrants have been ramped up. And there is an emigration strategy — offering cash grants of £26,000 to migrants who choose to depart voluntarily.   

The goal is to ensure a cohesive society that can successfully absorb newcomers, because it’s not fair to anyone, including immigrants, if public services and communities are coming apart at the seams.

Denmark now has the toughest rules on immigration which have been pursued by a centre left government.

Participation in the labor market is seen as the primary means of integrating immigrants into society.

In 2016, Denmark introduced a controversial law allowing authorities to seize asylum seekers’ assets to help cover the costs of their stay.

The ability for refugees to bring family members to Denmark has been significantly limited.

The Danish government has focused on addressing what they term “ghettos” or “parallel societies,” often involving the displacement and relocation of residents from these areas.

Some policies are driven by a desire to preserve Danish culture and national identity.

Despite efforts to promote integration through work, challenges remain in integrating immigrants, particularly those from non-Western countries.

The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been charged with 32 offences, including four counts of rape with one of them allegedly taking place after his arrest, and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the most serious charges. He does not have a royal title or official duties and is stepson of Crown Prince Haakon.

 I do not normally write in advance of legal proceedings but his background and that of his mother never mind their astrology is fascinating.

  His mother Mette-Marit was born 19 August 1973, with a journalist father who was a convicted for violent assaults. Her parents divorced, and her father later married a professional stripper. One step-brother, Trond Berntsen died in the 2011 Norway attacks. She had a rebellious youth at one point in a relationship with a man convicted of drug-related offenses; and had a son, Marius, with another convicted felon.

  Needless to say the Norwegian public were less than enchanted when Crown Prince Haakon decided to marry her. Since then she has taken several university-level courses and obtained a master’s degree in executive management.

 She has a late Leo Sun conjunct Alphard (Hydra, the Water snake) which gives artistic appreciation, strong passions, lack of self-control. ‘The native seeks the limelight, power, authority, and gain fame for themselves, good or bad. Negatively, the star imparts to its natives suffering from their acts, possible loss of both  position and power and authority. Subject to legal entanglement and a possible judicial sentence. The native is jealous but makes an effort to conceal it.’ Bill Clinton has his Sun conjunct Alphard.

  The rest of her chart is notable with six planets in early degrees – Jupiter in Aquarius is in a confident and charming trine to Pluto Venus and a risk-taking, opportunistic square to Mars in Taurus (maybe conjunct a Taurus Moon). Her Saturn is in a tough-minded square to Venus Pluto. She also has three yods of Neptune sextile Jupiter inconjunct Saturn; and Venus Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Mars; and Mars sextile Saturn inconjunct Neptune  – making Saturn, Mars and Neptune her apex planets, giving her a heavy karma, a tendency to be overly-impulsive/attract her to aggressive men; and to be elusive or uncommitted.

Oddly in some ways she is not dissimilar to her husband Haakon, the Crown Prince, 20 July 1973 2.12pm Oslo, Norway. His Venus in Leo is conjunct her Sun for attraction and an affectionate bond; both have Jupiter in Aquarius and her charmingly, seductive Venus Pluto conjunction connects with his Pluto and opposes his Pisces Moon. What may also be relevant is his Sun/Moon midpoint, the marriage significator, is conjunct Algol, arguably making him attracted to drama and a walk on the dark side. He is also rebellious with Uranus square his Cancer Sun so he’d be keen to suit himself and rock the boat when the mood took him.

Marius Hoiby, 13 January 1997, who appears to have been the result not even of an affair but of a passing moment (wiki), has an overly confident Capricorn Sun, Neptune, Jupiter conjunction with a Pisces Moon. But like his mother his chart is otherwise early degrees.

  He has Mars North Node in Libra opposition Saturn square Venus Mercury in Capricorn  – emotionally insensitive from Venus Mars and Venus Saturn as well as South Node in Aries, possibly sexually compulsive also from Venus Saturn with hints of unfair treatment in childhood which he has turned round in his adult life to act out on others.

  His can-be-unkind Mars opposition Saturn forms a Half Grand Sextile with Pluto and Uranus which is volatile and would need a constructive outlet otherwise it could turn bad.

 His mother’s synastry with him is hardly sympatico with her Venus Pluto conjunct his Mars and opposition his Saturn and square his Venus Mercury; and her Saturn blocking him every other which way.

  His early degree planets – Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Pluto, Uranus will all be seriously rattled through the next two years. As will his mother’s.

N.B. Crown Prince Haakon’s sister Prince Martha Louise, recently embarked after a divorce on a controversial marriage to a shaman.  See previous posts:

Princess Martha weds her shaman  1st September 2024

Princess Martha Louise – a truly 8th house entanglement 4th October 2023

“We ignore the gods and fill our minds with trash.”  Rainer Maria Rilke.

  Starting with a mea culpa for a plunge into the rancid world of reality shows and tabloid hysteria. The Kardashians are practically in the rear view mirror, with the Beckham/Peltz family feud stepping in as the daily-rag top delight. Followed closely on this side of the Atlantic by the Katie Price circus.

 For those mercifully ignorant, she is a former topless model, surgically impaired after endless cosmetic procedures, twice bankrupt, with a grubby, pig’s breakfast lifestyle and an addiction to publicity. The rest of the cast for this tawdry drama are her daughter, a sweet, sad 18 year old Princess Tiaamii (Andre), her father Peter, divorced husband of Katie, and two other divorced husbands, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler.

  The Princess Diaries have just launched on TV – the 18 year old’s attempt to make sense of her over-exposed life and boost her influencer profile, which by all accounts is dull and melancholy. Mama has taken a hissy fit and spouted off about being banned from sharing the spotlight, with all three ex-husbands now vowing to spill the beans singly and cooperatively on her past misbehaviour and untruths.

  The poor teenager stuck in the middle, under the custody of father but fond of her mother despite the running embarrassment, was born 29 June 2007 at 8.49am London and has a cool, sophisticated Venus Saturn in Leo conjunction on her Ascendant opposition Neptune  on her Descendant. Her ever-optimistic Sagittarius Moon is conjunct Pluto in her attention-seeking 5^th trine Saturn Venus and square an 8^th house Uranus = an all-over-the-place, unpredictable mother both possessive and defensive/not there. Princess also sadly has a mother-oriented Cancer Sun with Mars in Taurus conjunct her midheaven as she follows mama’s ambitions career-wise though in a less gawdy, exhibitionist way. She also has Jupiter in her 4^th a hint of the support she got from her steadier, calmer father.

 Katie Price, 22 May 1978, no birth time but maybe 7.30am with Jupiter Venus in Cancer on her Ascendant. She has a Gemini Sun with a Scorpio Moon and Uranus square an angry, hard-edged Mars Saturn conjunct in Leo. She has spoken of being abused sexually as a 7 year old and car jacked and raped while filming in Africa in 2018. On both those occasions her Mars Saturn conjunction was being triggered. She has had innumerable relationships and (I think) seven children, including one severely disabled.

 Her Mars Saturn in Leo conjunction falls on her daughter’s Venus Saturn Ascendant and opposition Neptune – so she will crash into Princess T’s life when the youngster is trying to attract attention for herself. There will be affection with Katie’s Jupiter Venus conjunct Princess’s Sun Mercury but definitely more minuses than pluses.

 Her father on the other hand, Peter Andre, has a Pisces Sun which falls in the Princess’s 7^th house of partnership along with Venus for an easy supportive bond.

 Princess’s relationship chart with her mother has a competitive Sun Mars conjunction; with a chained-together and resenting it Saturn square Pluto; an emotionally troubled composite Venus opposition Uranus Neptune; and a stressed composite yod onto the Sun.

 Just another messy, tragic family as fodder for the public need for sensationalism.

  Juvenal’s edict to quell the masses by giving them ‘bread and circuses’ still holds good.

*******

“People may trash me, but at least they’re talking about me.” Laura Loomer.

“Trash has given us an appetite for art.” Pauline Kael

ADD ON: The older brother of the sad Princess Tia, is rapper Junior Andre, born 13 June 2005 10.05 am London, who has, according to reports, distanced himself from his mother and the running dramas around her life and relationships. Like her, he is a Sun Gemini but her Mars Saturn in Leo falls on his Ascendant – as it does with his sister – so mama threatens to overshadow everything. Also like his sister Katie’s unsettled Uranus falls in his domestic/family 4^th. And her South Node is conjunct his 8^th house Mars – so her impulsive, self-centered and less evolved actions trigger his buried anger.

Winston Churchill or Charles de Gaulle – who was the greater leader? A niche question about bygone times but relevant given their ability to lead their country through perilous times. A new dual biography of them shows how different they were: one patrician and curiously childish, the other a bourgeois brigadier.

 Winston Churchill, 30 November 1874 1.30am Woodstock, England; Charles de Gaulle, 22 November 1890 4am Lille, France.

  They did have some similarities and in different ways rallied morale. Both had an adventurous, upbeat Mars Jupiter conjunction in an Air sign – de Gaulle in Aquarius and Churchill in Libra.  Both had a determined Pluto in the 8^th giving them unseen power and influence and a streak of stubbornness.

 Indeed both had Pluto and Neptune in the 8^th giving them the ability to project a powerful and mesmerising aura – as indeed did Hitler.

 ‘Churchill, who believed that nothing was inevitable, was a more optimistic human being than de Gaulle whose thinking  “was permeated by … a melancholy, sometimes apocalyptic, belief that all human enterprises will fail sooner rather than later. In his darker moments, he was not sure that even France would endure.”

   Churchill had a fiery Sagittarius Sun in his communicative 3^rd house and a Leo Moon conjunct Regulus; where De Gaulle was a Sun Scorpio with a cautious Saturn in Virgo. De Gaulle did have his Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius and an Aries Moon.  But he lacked WC’s Fire Grand Trine of Moon trine Neptune North Node in Aries trine Venus in Sagittarius.

 A Fire Grand Trine is inspirational, has strong self-belief, is a risk-taker, can be arrogant and unrealistic. “For one extraordinary moment all his defects became qualities . . his defiance of the rules, even his “detachment from reality”, of which his colleagues had long despaired, became a “superb optimism of the will”. At that moment he became the personification of a colossal national effort.

  What is interesting is Churchill’s relationship chart with the UK which has a fated composite yod of Jupiter sextile Saturn inconjunct Pluto North Node – tr Jupiter was moving through Aries as war started in September 1939 with Churchill moving from Head of the Navy to PM in 1940.

  De Gaulle’s relationship chart with France was also inspirational in its own way with a composite Jupiter trine Pluto trine Neptune; though also tied together with a focal point controlling Pluto which possibly made De Gaulle a better peacetime leader than Churchill who was better suited to Boys Own Paper escapades.

  Churchill was rife with flaws – bad judgement of people. He liked Mussolini and Stalin, was racist and fought to keep Edward VIII on the throne. There is an unnerving thought that had Edward not abdicated it is unlikely when Chamberlain resigned, that as king he would have accepted the recommendation to send for Churchill, the “warmonger”, rather than an appeaser.

  But for all that his Fire Grand Trine was wildly unrealistic and over the top, it was that which made the difference as he ‘empowered Britain to stand among the Second World War’s victors as probably no other contemporary Englishman could have contrived.’

It’s extraordinary to think that Churchill was born a decade after the American Civil War, rode in a cavalry charge in 1898, lived through atomic bombs and died a decade before the foundation of Microsoft.  

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Zelensky backed by European leaders is due to meet Donald Trump at 1pm EST after his Alaskan two-step with Putin which was consummately finessed by the Russian leader.

 The Sun at 26 Leo exactly conjunct Trump’s blowhard Mars suggests he’ll be on his typical blustering and grandstanding form. The Sun is also in a wide-ish yod inconjunct Pluto sextile Saturn Neptune which suggests indecision and discouragement.

 Trump and Zelensky do not get on with Zelensky’s Saturn in Leo conjunct DT’s Mars and Ascendant; and Zel’s Sun Venus in Aquarius opposition DT’s 12^th house Pluto. Zel’s Uranus is also square DT’s Pluto and widely his Mars.  Not a recipe for cooperation. This translates on their relationship chart to a toxic-dislike composite Saturn Mars North Node square Neptune.

  There is nothing much in the astrology to suggest a sudden or happy end to the illegal Russian invasion –  see previous Ukraine posts. Starmer who is supposed to be a Trump-whisperer looks frustrated in the extreme with DT as he leaves the White House meet. And Zelensky’s Saturn at 28 degrees Leo will be sagging in the days to come and agitated over the winter.

 But pondering gloomily about the impasse and the bad guys winning, a thought crossed my mind which may be clutching at straws —– but there has been a curious tie-in between DT and Putin since 2016 and before. Sometimes with these political duos, even ones which are at odds, when one goes so does the other.

  Putin’s 5^th Term, 7 May 2024, is limping through 2026 and in a panic about failure by 2027. His original Presidency chart, 31 December 1999,  which did lurch badly two years back, has a potentially destabilising  Solar Arc Uranus square the Pluto from late this year through 2026; with massive confusion in 2026 and dead halt by 2027.

  Trump’s Inauguration chart hints at increased unpopularity as the Solar Arc Saturn is conjunct the Venus from mid this October into mid and later 2026. The Progressed Moon moves to square the Sun by February 2026 and square the Pluto a month later. With an uncertain tr Saturn conjunct the Neptune and North Node through this winter.

His own chart is swimming even deeper into Neptunian swamps with his SA Neptune conjunct his Moon now and opposition his Sun in 2026; with tr Pluto into his 6^th house of health; and his tr Neptune into his 8^th house of joint (business) finances and cooperation.

   Not to suggest that Trump will exit stage left anytime soon but his screw up of Ukraine, Gaza and the economy will be what pulls the rug out from under his feet. And if Putin by some miracle did depart Trump would be sitting in an exceedingly draughty spot all by himself contemplating his failings.

Actor Terence Stamp, the face of the Swinging Sixties, a star of Billy Budd, Far From the Madding Crowd, Poor Cow has died. Known as  “the most beautiful man in the world” he was beloved by the paparazzi as well as being a favourite of directors like Pasolini, Fellini, William Wyer, Soderbergh, Joseph Losey. He rose to international stardom with his first movie and then as his career faltered in the 1970s he disappeared off to an Indian ashram, returning in 1978 to play in Superman and latterly having a surprise success in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

 He was born 22 July 1938 11.58 am London, the son of a Thames tug-boat pilot, a heavy drinker who eventually died of cirrhosis. He was turned down for National Service because his feet were different sizes and auditioned for a place at a Dramatic Art school where he shared a flat with Michael Caine.

He romanced Julie Christie and became the face of young London chic with supermodel Jean Shrimpton before retreating to India. He remained unmarried until he was 64, when he took a wife 30 years his junior. It lasted six years and in later life he lived an almost ascetic existence in London.

  He had an extraordinarily intense, introverted and troubled chart with a 10^th house Sun, Pluto, Mars in Cancer conjunction. He once said ‘I have a lot of rage inside me. My acting is a kind of outlet for that. If I wasn’t an actor, I’d probably be a psychopath.’  Mars Pluto Sun can carry a deep reservoir of boiling frustration and fury.  He also had an 8^th house Taurus Moon conjunct Uranus on one side and conjunct South Node and Algol on the other, all in a creative trine to Neptune in his 12^th house. At one point he had a heavy drug problem which can go with Neptune in the 12^th plus 8th house plus his 10th house bubbling cauldron. His Neptune was also inconjunct a 7^th house Saturn in Aries, which may be one indicator of an unmarried/uncommitted to close-partner existence. Plus Moon Uranus.

  He did have Jupiter in Pisces in his 5^th giving him confidence as a performer with a leaning towards fun and parties.

 If his birth time (from memory) is accurate he has Vindemiatrix exactly conjunct his Ascendant and Sirius exactly conjunct his Midheaven. Sirius on the neck of the Greater Dog, Constellation Canis Major, is the brightest star in the sky. Sirius marks immense creative talents in any field at all with ‘only’ the warning that there may be more inner power than can be safely managed. It gives honor, renown, wealth, ardor, faithfulness, devotion, passion and resentment.

 Vindemiatrix, situated on the right wing of Virgo, on the Ascendant is said to help mental concentration.  Though it may also carry Virgo’s reputation for self-sufficiency.

  Stamp’s profile declined sharply at the end of the 1960s and work dried up. “It was a mystery to me. I was in my prime. When the 1960s ended, I just ended with it.” One obituary remarked despite his charm and looks, Stamp never fully achieved the success predicted for him as an actor. His self-destructive tendencies were summed up by one wit who called him, ‘The man who threw himself off the edge of a decade.’

  What is intriguing is that the tragic star Natalie Wood, born two days earlier on 20^th July 1938 at 11.16 am San Francisco, California, has almost the same chart.  She has Sun Mars, Pluto conjunct in Cancer in her 10^th with her Midheaven conjunct Sirius and her Ascendant conjunct Vindemiatrix, South Node conjunct Algol. Only her Moon at zero degrees Taurus was different.

   The mythic status of the Kennedy family in the USA is well-trodden ground and a new CNN series American Prince: JFK Jr about the tragic son of Jackie and JFK killed in a plane crash when he was 39 apparently does little to dull the starry image. The reality is, as ever, another story altogether.

  Trawling through the Kennedy family charts what is notable is the prominence of Fixed stars.

 John F Kennedy Jnr, 25 November 1960 12.22am Washington DC, had his Midheaven exactly conjunct and Pluto square Aldebaran, one of the four Royal stars, of which Astrology King remarks – A splendid and illustrious life; glorious, mighty and commanding nature; fame, busy with many activities, bountiful resources. Prosperity from youth. Honour preferment, good fortune and favors from women.

 His 12^th house Uranus was also conjunct Alphard, the Fixed star which can give artistic appreciation, also strong passions, lack of self- control, and a sudden death by drowning, poison or asphyxiation. In particular Uranus conjunct Alphard can bring disgrace through love affairs, bad for marriage, downfall through love disappointment.

 Carolyn Bessette, 7 January 1966 8.45pm New York, to whom he had an ill-starred marriage that was on the rocks after three years just as both were killed in the plane crash, has no Fixed star aspects; though her full-on, recklessly enthusiastic Mars Venus in Aquarius conjunct her Ascendant and Uranus Pluto in her 8^th hints at a troubled and out-of-control personality. Their wedding on 21 September 1996 had the North Node conjunct Vindemiatrix, the widow maker. Their relationship chart had the composite Jupiter conjunct shipwrecking Scheat.

  Their deaths on 16 July 1999 6pm Martha’s Vineyard MA, had Vindemiatrix hovering around the Midheaven and the Cancer Sun was conjunct Procyon, Fixed star of rise and fall.

One generation back. John F. Kennedy, 29 May 1917 3pm Brookline, MA, had rise-and-fall Procyon on his Midheaven, his Gemini Sun conjunct Aldebaran, his 8^th house financial/sexual Jupiter was conjunct the destructive star Algol; and shipwrecking Scheat was conjunct his Chiron in his 6^th house of health.

Sun conjunct Aldebaran gives great energy and perseverance, high material honors but the danger of losing them, danger from quarrels and the law, honor, and riches ending in disgrace and ruin, liable to disease, fevers, and violent death. Gains may be great, but always lurking in the background, even in the shadow of success is a loss, sometimes a tremendous loss. Violence is possible. Will gain a leading position but also will make enemies through whom danger will threaten.

Jackie Kennedy, 28 July 1929 2.30pm Southampton, New York, had Regulus conjunct her Midheaven and Neptune with Alphard close by.  Regulus on the Midheaven raises the individual to a high position in life, far exceeding the environment they were born into. Connections with rulers or famous people. A splendid and illustrious life. Neptune conjunct Regulus: Prominent leader, influential friends, few if any enemies, domestic harmony, natural death in old age.

 But the relationship chart between JFK and Jackie has Saturn conjunct Vindemiatrix square Pluto exactly – with the composite Pluto conjunct a composite New Moon on one side and Mars on the other. Saturn conjunct Vindemiatrix suggests secret difficulties with marriage partner.

 JFK’s Inauguration chart, 20 January 1961 12.45pm Washington, DC, if the time is accurate, had Algol conjunct the Ascendant and Uranus conjunct Alphard. The latter as above with JFK Jnr – strong passions, lack of self-control, disgrace through love affairs, bad for marriage, and a sudden death.

When JFK died in Dallas on 22 November 1963 around 1 pm Aldebaran was conjunct the IC and Regulus conjunct the Descendant.

  The Kennedys certainly provide a crash course in Fixed stars. Whether it reinforces the notion of the Curse of the Kennedys, or an indication that being intertwined with the Fixed stars makes for a noteworthy life, good and bad, I am not sure.

The indefatigable actor Brian Cox, born two weeks before Donald Trump, is still going full tilt. He’s just off stage playing the 18th-century economist Adam Smith; has this year released several films, plus his own directorial debut of Glenrothan with Alan Cummings, as well bizarrely as fronting a reality show  007: Road to a Million; continued his long-running radio series McLevy; and was planning a touring one-man show called It’s All About Me! Until his family suggested he might be overdoing it.

 In a decades-long career he’s played Winston Churchill, Pablo Picasso, Titus Andronicus, Stalin, Göring, Trotsky, J Edgar Hoover, King Lear and Hannibal Lecter but it was Logan Roy in the television Succession which brought him international recognition. It was popular with critics and award-givers, less so with audiences, but was a publicity juggernaut

 Cox, born 1 June 1946, had a fractured upbringing with his father dying when he was eight, and his mother, often hospitalised with mental-health problems. One of his three elder sisters looked out for him but he often slept at the local theatre where he started work at 14.

 He says: “The irony was, I was very free. I had no parents and nobody to tell me what to do, so I just got on with it. I had to make up my own rules, and I think that’s why I have the sort of drive that I have, because I realised there was nobody around to help me. It was very exciting – I had a great time as a kid.”

  He has a much travelled and communicative 9^th house Gemini Sun, Mercury, Uranus sextile a heavyweight 11^th house Pluto and Mars in Leo. His 10^th house Cancer Moon conjunct Venus suits him for a public career and gives him a modicum of charm to offset his bombastic Mars in Leo. His Moon squares a 1^st house Neptune and his Venus squares Jupiter so he will have an actor’s chameleon-like ability to inhabit different characters. His Jupiter is trine his Midheaven and North Node and sextile Mars for high-vitality and luck. His Saturn in Cancer in his 10^th makes him a good organiser; though in square to Jupiter he will be more prone to ups and downs than his robust remarks suggest.

  He has Trump’s mouthiness, perhaps boosted by his Mars in Leo, and Gemini Mercury sextile Pluto, but despite his Logan Roy success in Succession dislikes Trump and the wealthy, being a resolute socialist.

 At the recent Edinburgh Book Festival he was letting loose about Mel Gibson’s Braveheart movie in which he played the uncle of the 14^th Century William Wallace who fought for Scotland’s independence. He described it as a “lie”,  reinforcing the general view that it had been historically inaccurate. Despite which it won multiple awards and boosted the Scottish nationalist cause.

  He signed off a recent interview with a memorably Mars-in-Leo salvo: “People snipe at me but I’m too old, too tired and too f—ing talented to care.”

  His actor’s 15th Harmonic is certainly outstanding with a New Moon in a T square to Venus and Saturn; Jupiter, Neptune Mercury tied together in another T square; the Midheaven boosted by Jupiter and Pluto; plus a strained yod of Mars sextile Mercury inconjunct Pluto.

 He has been married three times, the last since 2002 and has several children.

 With Saturn rising above his Descendant and an extra-successful Jupiter moving through his career 10^th for the next year he does not look like slowing down much. Though tr Saturn Neptune square his Moon may give him pause for thought.

George Reid, former Presiding Officer and founder member of the Scottish Parliament, who has just died at 86, was that rare animal, a politician with a background in the real world.

 Initially an award winning journalist and TV producer, he became an SNP MP for several years, campaigning for devolution, before prompting a no confidence motion against the Labour government which led to Margaret Thatcher winning in 1979. He lost his seat and went back to television,  producing the reportage by Michael Buerk of the Ethiopian famine of 1984 that inspired the Band Aid and Live Aid charity campaigns. This led to his being headhunted by the International Red Cross where he spent 12 years as head of information for the Red Cross and then director of its International Campaign for Victims of War, working worldwide in conflict and disaster zones. He headed the international relief effort in Armenia after the 1988 earthquake which killed up to 50,000 people and left 130,000 needing medical attention.

  His second political stint saw him elected as an MSP for the new Holyrood government, serving as presiding officer during the troubled construction of the new building. An obituary said: “his intellect, talent for diplomacy and personal charm made him at once an establishment figure and a politician beloved of the national movement.”  Latterly after a bout of ill health, he became a visiting academic, an independent reviewer of public bodies, and the Queen’s representative to the Church of Scotland.

  Having worked under George in his stint in STV in the late 1960s what fascinated me about his later career was his knack/talent for being in at the centre of the zeitgeist – whether being the trigger for Labour losing the 1979 election, Live Aid, global disasters, and devolution.  I did not agree with his politics but he was a pivotal figure.

   He was born 4 June 1939 near Stirling, Scotland and had an extraordinarily tough chart that belied his looks. His journalistic talents came courtesy of a communicative Gemini Sun and Mercury sextile Jupiter.  That was part of a Half Grand Sextile of Mars in determined Aquarius opposition Pluto sextile Mercury conjunct Aldebaran sextile Jupiter. His formidable Mars opposition Pluto was square Saturn in self-reliant Aries which gave him courage and a hard core. His Venus Uranus in Taurus trine Neptune was restless and innovative.

 It was a chart which suited his work with the Red Cross since Mars Pluto Saturn is designed to cope in crises.

  His communicative Mercury in Gemini exactly conjunct the Fixed Star Aldebaran is interesting since it can give “honor, intelligence, eloquence, steadfastness, integrity, popularity, courage, a responsible position, public honors and gain of power”. “The star is said to presage individuals who are “restless and riotous, always stirring up popular dissent and revolution.” The star is also said to inflame the minds of the people with furious quarrels, and to be an enemy of quiet and peace, “madly desiring civil and domestic wars.” [Astrology King.]

Henry Kissinger also had Mercury conjunct Aldebaran, as does Prince William.

 The original Act of Union which bound Scotland to England has Saturn exactly conjunct Aldebaran, which is not considered positive.

  My political prejudice may be showing through but I never understood his fascination for the SNP since he was an internationalist at heart and his chart does not gell with the SNP chart. Maybe his emphasized self-reliant Saturn in Aries persuaded him that the country of his birth needed to stand on its own two feet.

  He said of devolution that Scotland was now a country where “if we make mistakes they are our mistakes, and we can no longer blame anyone else”. Pity Nicola Sturgeon was/is not listening.