Marjorie

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.

There are fears of a retreat away from a civilized stance on same sex marriage in the USA with a plea to the Supreme Court to overrule a 2015 landmark decision making it a fundamental right.

 Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for six days in 2015 after refusing to issue marriage licenses to a gay couple on religious grounds is on the legal war path seeking to overturn the Obergefell v Hodges ruling which extended marriage rights for same-sex couples under the 14th Amendment’s due process protections.

 There have been various steps along the way of legalizing same sex marriages across all states in the USA since 2004. The most recent 26 June 2015 is showing signs of distress with the Mars Sun conjunction in early Cancer catching the tr Saturn Neptune square exactly now and into 2026; continuing into 2027. Plus over this winter tr Uranus opposition the Saturn in Scorpio pitting progressives against reactionaries.

 Kim Davis, 17 September 1965 9.45pm Morehead, Kentucky,  belongs to a fundamentalist Christian movement, which favors a literal interpretation of the Bible. She has said she believes that “we are living in end times.” And reinforced her view that the Bible is infallible.

 Despite her piety she has been married four times to three husbands with a variety of children, some born within wedlock, others not. Shortly after the same-sex marriage license controversy, she switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

 She was born 6 days after Bashar Assad, the former Syrian dictator, and has Saturn in Pisces in her 10th opposition Uranus Pluto in Virgo conjunct Mercury in her 4^th square a Gemini Moon on her Ascendant. Highly strung, emotionally reactive, scattered, erratic.  She also has Mars Neptune in vengeful Scorpio square her Midheaven and trine her Saturn.

 Her Mercury conjunct Pluto echoes the USA’s dogmatic, intransigent Mercury opposition Pluto, making the country susceptible to rabble rousers with dinosaur brains.

  Tr Saturn and Neptune are square her 1^st house Jupiter across the winter denting her confidence. Further ahead she will face a life-changing series of devastating calamities in 2027/28 as her Solar Arc Uranus Pluto conjunct her Mars Neptune.

  Although her plea to the Supreme Court seems outlandish and absurd, there are worrisome crossovers. Both she and SCOTUS, 24 September 1789, have Saturn in Pisces (= regretful about the past); both have Venus in early Scorpio; and her determined, publicity-seeking Mars Neptune is conjunct SCOTUS North Node and square its Pluto – though that could swing either way.

 Her relationship chart with SCOTUS points to movement over the winter though not maybe in her favour but there looks to be continuing pressure for two/three years ahead. Given the justices who are “originalists”, sticking to the mandates issued 250 years ago, anything is possible.

  Davis’ relationship chart with the USA looks deflated in 2026 but again is likely to be still causing ripples into 2027.

  I know Cancer clings onto the past (tho’ I know several who are very forward looking) but I struggle to understand why the USA is so vulnerable to ??? – creationism for heaven’s sake; and other whacko religious zealots plus anti-government militias. All western countries have all these bizarros in odd pockets but nowhere near as visibly.

Princess Anne, having her 75^th birthday this week, is catching rave reviews in contrast to her younger brother Andrew.  In the course of 2024, she was the busiest royal, carrying out 474 official engagements despite being hospitalised in June for concussion. Reliable, unfussy, devoted to her late mother and a reassuring support for her elder brother King Charles, she shows no signs of flagging.

 Born 15 August 1950 11.50 am London, she has an influential and controlling 10^th house Sun Pluto in Leo; with a dutiful, socially conscious Moon in Virgo conjunct Mercury and Saturn in her 11^th.  She also has a self-protective Water Grand Trine of a confident Jupiter in compassionate Pisces in her 5^th house which rules sport and children trine an adventurous-travel 9^th house Uranus trine a formidably determined Mars in Scorpio in her 1^st house.

 Her Solar Arc Sun was conjunct her Mars in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth 11, her mother, died with her Solar Arc Pluto following behind to hit the conjunction to her Mars in late 2026. So a longish period of high stress and frustration – which her accident, being kicked in the head by one of her horses at grass would be part. It happened when her Solar Arc Sun/Pluto midpoint crossed over her Mars. She has also had her Progressed Moon moving through her 8^th house for almost two years exiting in February 2026 which can be heavy-going and a time of serious inner reflection.  

  At the time of her accident which appears to have been more serious than advertised, tr Neptune was just into her 6^th house and over the conjunction to her late Pisces North Node, being joined by tr Saturn from April of this year. She always looks incredibly healthy but she will be more aware of her physical limits through this phase until Saturn exits her 6^th in early 2028. She does have tr Jupiter moving through her 9^th at the  moment to lift her enthusiasm and then across her successful 10^th from July 2026 for a year thereafter. But that runs alongside tr Pluto opposing her Midheaven through 2025/26 which will bring forced changes in her direction. Tr Pluto then moves into her 4^th house from 2026 onwards when she will be faced with ongoing emotional changes within herself and her the family and domestic setup for many years to come.

 Tr Uranus square her Jupiter will bring luck and moments of confidence and enthusiasm in 2026/27 which will reverberate round her Water Grand Trine to good effect.

  Although she was supposed to be closer to her father, her relationship with QE11 was the crucial one with her mother relying heavily on her after the Buckingham Palace break in and Anne’s obvious sorrow in 2022 when she accompanied the Royal coffin from Balmoral to London. Her mother’s Taurus Sun fell in Anne’s 7^th for a close partnership with her Neptune Moon falling in Anne’s 10^th conjunct her Sun and Pluto.

 Their relationship chart had a reassuring composite Moon opposition Jupiter square Venus North Node; plus a steady composite Sun trine Saturn and trine Jupiter.

 Anne sat with her mother in the 24 hours before she died in September 2022 when the transiting Virgo Sun was exactly conjunct Anne’s Moon.

  All of her close family relationships will be undergoing challenges in the next several years. Andrew, I suspect, she wrote off earlier this year when tr Uranus was conjunct their composite Sun square Pluto. With Charles there will be continuing concerns from now onwards peaking in 2028 if not before. With Prince William, she has an up and down connection, veering from highs to critical lows. Again there will be a drift of uncertainty over the next two years.

Edward, her youngest brother, she finds tricky with a cool composite Sun opposition Saturn square Pluto and there will be tensions on that front through the next four years.  

 Her Solar Return for the year ahead catches the volatile Kite of the moment with Uranus in the 7^th trine Pluto in the 3^rd trine a hard-working Mars in the 10^th opposition Neptune Saturn in the 4^th. Which looks exhausting frankly.

  Tr Uranus square her Sun/Moon midpoint in 2026/27 hints at either changes in her marriage or an internal psychological shift. She has been married to naval officer Tim Laurence for 33 years. There are some adjustments ongoing in that relationship over the coming year – so she’ll have her hands full coping with tensions on various fronts.

Gaza is an unbearable horror show; stalwart Ukraine is no nearer expelling the invaders; the USA is being dismantled under a military dictatorship; UK is in despairing chaos under a rudderless (and control-freaky) government; the EU are up against the wall, southern locations under threat of overheating/wildfires and on and on and on. It was not supposed to be like this.

  Pluto and Uranus into Air signs should have brought intellectual insight, awareness and enlightenment – Saturn Neptune in Aries the urge to improve society and support the underdog.   

 Netanyahu, Trump and Putin are on a might-makes-right high, all selfish ambition and just-because-I-can. Elsewhere there is an unnerving lack of effective leadership.

  Grasping at straws, might it be Neptune’s swansong in Pisces conjunct the shipwrecking Fixed Star Scheat, in place till late January 2026, which is in part the chaos creator?

 Scheat can bring – stubbornness, is headstrong of a combative nature, wins and loses friends, may be unfortunate, a changeable, unpredictable nature, has high enterprise, and may be subject to violence. Fantasizes. [Astrology King]

  The March 2025 Solar Eclipse had the North Node, Venus and Neptune all conjunct Scheat in a violent Saros series.

  The approaching September 2025 Solar Eclipse has the New Moon in final degree Virgo in a downbeat opposition to Saturn, Scheat and Neptune in Aries in a worrisome, health-related, low energy Saros Series. Plus a can-be-ruthless/violent Pluto square Mars as well as three yods onto focal points Neptune, Mars and Venus respectively – which sounds stressful, indecisive, and much of the same as went before.

  Which reflects the paralysis in the Israel/Gaza, Ukraine charts and indeed the USA chart which is battling headwinds from the Solar Arc Sun square SA Saturn colliding with the natal Mars square Neptune from last year until early 2027.

 Where the eclipse effect brightens is by February 2026 with the Aquarius Solar Eclipse in a high-energy, constructive Saros series, bringing unification within relationships and idealism. It still won’t be wonderful with Algol conjunct Uranus square the Sun; and Scheat lingering close to Saturn Neptune in Aries – but slowly slowly it will get better.

  By late August 2026 the North Node reverses out of Pisces (and away from Scheat) into Aquarius staying till early 2028 which will also help, since it is likely to promote causes and humanitarian activism.

 It will take till 2027 for the USA to sail into calmer waters. By early 2027 the UK will be clear of the disruptive tr Uranus square Pluto and even better tr Uranus will be moving out of the UK 8^th house into less erratic financial circumstances. The EU will have cleared the punishing Solar Arc Pluto opposition its Moon and square Uranus of the moment; and the upheavals of tr Uranus square Pluto in 2026 (though their challenges will not disappear as the decade wears on.)

  It all sounds like jam tomorrow but there are astro-hints that once over the hurdle of Neptune loosening its grip on Pisces, and Scheat receding into the distance there should be gradual improvements through next year – with hopes that the benefits of Pluto Uranus in Air and Neptune Saturn in Fire may start to bear fruit into 2027 and beyond.