Marjorie

 

Yet another Al Capone movie, this one about his post-Alcatraz descent into syphilitic dementia, hasn’t impressed the reviews. The Wall Street Journal says: “If watching a shuffling, scrofulous, incontinent and delusional gangster in terminal decline is your idea of entertainment, “Capone” is what you’ve been waiting for. The Chicago Sun Times described it as “a noxious film about a noxious man”.

America’s most famous criminal ran a Chicago empire during Prohibition, built on illegal alcohol, gambling dens, bordellos, loan shark operations, protection and extortion rackets. He had judges, politicians, journalists and policemen on his payroll. His ‘Outfit’ brought in $1.5 billion in today’s money and left hundreds of corpses in its wake. He was ultimately convicted for tax fraud and once inside was diagnosed with late stage syphilis contracted from his early days working as ‘the muscle’ for numerous brothels.

Capone, born 17 January 1899 New York 9.30am (unverified) had a see-saw chart with three oppositions – an ambitious, can-be-dictatorial Capricorn Sun in a combative opposition to Mars in final degree Cancer; an innovative, unpredictable, emotionally changeable Pluto opposition Uranus Venus in Sagittarius; and a neurotic, paranoid, creative Saturn in dogmatic Sagittarius opposition Neptune. See-saw charts are continually looking for balance and rarely finding it. It’s not (on this birth time) that brutal a chart for a man who ran an ultra-violent crime outfit, profiting from human misery and depravity.

His serial killer 18^th Harmonic was strong, as was his in-the-history-books 17H; and oddly enough the victim/sacrifice 12H, which joined together a fearsome combination of Pluto Moon, Mars and Uranus, much more descriptive of his murderous lifestyle – so 12H must have an additional meaning.

His reign of terror didn’t last long – in mob-boss terms – since he was sentenced at 33 by which time his mental decline was marked. At that point his Solar Arc Neptune opposition Solar Arc Saturn was starting to oppose/conjunct his natal Sun opposition Mars. When two major chart configurations come together by Solar Arc it almost always creates a life-changing crisis – and it would be in place for the few years following when he evidently failed to make much impact in Alcatraz as his deterioration increased. Tr Neptune was starting several years of squaring his Uranus. Venus, Pluto and Saturn. With tr Pluto in Cancer aiming also to oppose his Sun and conjunct his Mars in the final phase of his 8 year incarceration which would be devastating. He died at home of a stroke just after his 48^th birthday.

For a man who became such an iconic figure for the USA, it’s a puzzling chart with less substance than might be expected. Though his Capricorn Sun was exactly conjunct the USA 1776 Pluto, tying him into the country’s seamier underworld.

Tom Hardy, always attracted to violent weirdo roles, stars. Josh Trank directed, continuing on his roller coaster career path, starting with an epic high in 2012 in Chronicle, followed by the disastrous Fantastic Four which Vulture called a “confused, joyless mess”, an abysmal box office fail.  This may not be much better.

 

Cataclysmic descriptions about the economic damage caused by the virus lockdown are difficult to gauge since no one knows whether it’ll be a V-shaped dip with quick recovery or an L-shaped slog. The more dramatic couch it in terms of a historic first in direness. Though parallels are being drawn with the 1976 humiliation for the UK when it was forced to go cap in hand to the IMF for a loan. The PM of the day James Callaghan said: “We used to think you could spend your way out of a recession and increase employment by cutting taxes and boosting government spending. I tell you in all candour, that option no longer exists.” What followed was a reduction in government spending, tax increases and rises in interest rates. The economy did recover and the loan was paid back within three years but it ultimately paved the way for Margaret Thatcher’s 1979 victory.

The IMF Bailout came in December 1976 when tr Uranus was in early Scorpio and squaring tr Saturn in Leo, in the months running in and after. Tr Uranus in hard aspect to tr Saturn is traditionally associated with economic recessions and another such turns up in 2021 with tr Uranus half a cycle on in Taurus square Saturn in Aquarius.

On the UK chart around the time of the bailout tr Uranus was poised to oppose the 8^th house financial Mars by January 1977 with tr Saturn in square. This time round tr Uranus will conjunct that UK Mars with tr Saturn in square in 2021 – so very similar.   The Solar Arcs were marginally more damaging in 1976/77 with Solar Arc Saturn conjunct the financial Venus with tr Saturn in opposition to the UK Venus; and tr Uranus square the Solar Arc Venus.

But it’ll still be a very rocky ride ahead economically for the UK with the tr Uranus square tr Saturn hitting on the financial planets badly in 2021 with more disappointment by 2023 with the Solar Arc Sun square the 2^nd house Neptune; and more shocks in 2025 when the Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct the 8th house Mars. Tr Uranus doesn’t clear the 8^th house of international trade till 2027 so it’ll be an extended bumpy ride ahead.

The Bank of England chart, 27 July 1694 JC, with its natal Sun Jupiter in Leo and Solar Arc Uranus in Taurus will catch the tr Saturn square tr Uranus next year for high-stress challenges. With 2023/2024/25 keying up as high-anxiety phases as well.

An IMF bailout hardly seems likely since they haven’t the money to prop up the world, but similar cutbacks and shocks look unavoidable.

Psychopathic female assassins have become all the rage since the television drama Killing Eve shot the character of Villanelle to anti-hero greatness. She was evidently based on a notorious Spanish hit-woman, Isola Lopez Riano, who killed 23 people for the Basque separatist group ETA in the 1980s. She was dubbed La Tigresa (The Tigress) because of her legendary sexual prowess, often seducing policemen before she killed them. The dramatist who translated her across to television described her as narcissistic and completely lacking in empathy.

She joined the group aged 18 and spent 10 years fighting with them, with her most infamous attack being the 1986 car bomb in a Madrid square which killed 12 Civil Guard and injured 50 people. Later that year she killed five more with another car bomb, gunned several policemen and four soldiers, and attempted to kill a high court judge. ETA finally pensioned her off and she was arrested in 1994 in southern France, served time for terrorism offences and was then extradited to Spain where she was sentenced to 2,000 years in prison, though was released in 2017. In prison she renounced violence, apologised to relatives of the victims and was declared persona non grata by ETA.

She was born 18 March 1964 in San Sebastian, Spain, and lo and behold La Tigresa is the personification of a Neptunian monster – a Sun Mars and Chiron in Pisces trine Neptune in Scorpio. She might have been a dancer or a yoga teacher. With admittedly Mars in a wide opposition to Pluto which would fit with a ruthless streak. Her Venus in tactile and indulgent Taurus was trine Pluto and Uranus as well as opposition Neptune so she would have a seductive way about her.

Her 18^th Harmonic which is often strong with serial killers is very marked joining together the megalomaniac Neptune Pluto with the Sun – she found a cause that gave her permission to wield ultimate power.

The same warped ambition is found in her midpoints with her Pluto falling on her Neptune/North Node midpoint along with a brutal Mars square her Sun/Pluto and a methodical Sun conjunct Jupiter/Saturn.

Not a show I watched after the first half season but the inspiration is chilling enough.

A serial liar who became France’s go-to expert on serial killers, writing forty books which sold millions, fronting documentaries and lecturing to magistrates, prison officials and police, has finally admitted he’s a fake. Stéphane Bourgoin claimed to have interviewed more than 70 serial killers, trained at the FBI’s base in Quantico, Virginia and that his own wife was murdered in 1976, by a serial killer. In reality there was no wife, he was never near the FBI or Charles Manson.

Born 14 March 1953 in Paris 4.45 am, he was excluded three times from high school and had no diploma, worked in the horror film business and then in a Paris bookstore that specialized in detective novels and criminology. When his house of cards collapsed recently he said he just wanted to be loved.

He does have an interesting chart with a Yod onto a focal point 2^nd house Pisces Sun inconjunct Pluto sextile Neptune Saturn, with Neptune Saturn opposition Mars Venus in Aries.

A focal point Sun makes for a wavering sense of self-identity which starts with low self-esteem and then flits to the opposite of aggrandisement. If mismanaged can lead to an abuse of personal will and authority – and would definitely aim him in the direction of a money-making career.

His 9^th house Saturn Neptune will make him neurotic as well as creative and a good communicator with a bent towards lecturing and publishing; Neptune Pluto is ambitious and with Saturn involved ultra-determined. Saturn opposition Mars would spark his interest in murder; Neptune opposition Mars likes publicity. Mars Venus in his 3rd house, also an indicator of a communicator and researcher keen to get his message across. His North Node in Aquarius would prompt him to find a cause to which to devote his energies – and falling in his 1^st house would also give him problems in early adult life with trying to settle on an identity/image.

I’d hazard a guess that the time might be out marginally but say 5 minutes earlier which would put his Pluto in the influential and dark 8^th. His Midheaven was in Scorpio with a Capricorn Ascendant which also fits his chosen obsession.

An oddity with an astrologically compelling chart.

Roy Horn, half of the famed Siegfried & Roy exotic animal illusionist act which for decades was a top Las Vegas attraction has died from coronavirus complications. He levitated tigers, made elephants disappear, turned himself into a python in an extravaganza of sequined costumes, feathered headdresses and smoke-and-laser magic and made mega-millions for Mirage Casinos who custom-built the act their own hotel.

Horn, born on 3 October 1944 at maybe 8.45pm in Nordenham, Germany, grew up in the confused aftermath of WW11 and as a child played with wild animals in a local zoo. He met his partner amateur magician Siegfried Fischbacher on a cruise ship where he was a 13 year old cabin boy and had smuggled a cheetah onboard. They combined their talents, struggled through the early years and after a rave notice from Princess Grace in Monaco they took off, moving to the USA and becoming one of the most successful acts in Las Vegas history. Their career ended after a tiger attacked Roy Horn on stage in 2003, crushed his windpipe and left him semi-paralysed after a stroke. Because they worked with endangered species they did become involved in conservation work.

Horn was a dreamy Sun Neptune in Libra trine Uranus sextile Pluto and square Saturn –  influential, stubborn, innovative, creative and wounded by his childhood. If the birth time is right then his Sun, Mars and Venus were in his performing 5^th house with Pluto giving him added influence. That was magnified with his Pluto being on the point of an obstinate and enduring Fixed T Square to his Moon in earthy Taurus opposition a charming Venus in Scorpio. Plus an adventurous Jupiter in Virgo square Uranus. Curiously for someone who was immersed with animals all of his life he only had one Earth planet – his Taurus Moon.

Siegfried Fischbacher was born 13 May 1939 7.20 am Rosenheim, Germany, with his father a POW in Russia and he survived through poverty-stricken war years, entertaining himself learning magic tricks. He has a stark chart from harsh early conditions and suiting him for a dangerous career with a Mars in Capricorn opposition Pluto square Saturn Venus in Aries. His earthy Sun Uranus in Taurus in an inspired trine to Neptune would definitely help for their unique animal act.

Their synastry isn’t that remarkable but their relationship chart was with two composite Grand Trines of Venus trine Neptune trine Saturn Uranus formed into a Kite with Venus opposition a powerfully influential Sun Pluto conjunction. And another Grand Trine of composite Sun Pluto trine Mars trine Moon; with Mars opposition Saturn Uranus. Glamour and creativity mixed with risk.

When Horn’s accident with the tiger happened on his 59^th birthday in 2003 tr Neptune was in a devastating opposition to his emphasised/afflicted natal Pluto; with tr Saturn in a setback square to his Solar Arc Midheaven – with Solar Arc Pluto moving to conjunct his Sun in the difficult aftermath.

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Trump at the moment is frustrated and furious with tr Pluto opposition his Sun/Mars midpoint running since February when the virus started to take centre stage and the economy tanked. That influence rolls on till early July and returns late January into February 2021 at the same time as tr Pluto opposes his Venus/Saturn midpoint pushing him into his emotional wound of being unloved and creating depression.

From 5^th July he picks up the catastrophic tr Uranus square his Mars/Saturn midpoint, to which Ebertin ascribes accidents, illness or tests of nervous strength. At the same time he has the disruptive tr Uranus square his Pluto. Both keep running till late September, and return in April 2021 along with a blocked tr Saturn in opposition to both his Pluto and Mars/Saturn, and those run on and off till early 2022.

July 6 to August 18 he has the discouraging tr Pluto opposition his Saturn, returning late November till late December.

He will get some uplift mid August to late November from tr Pluto trine his Mars/Jupiter midpoint though that’s minor and it won’t outweigh the fraught tr Pluto opposition his Mars/Uranus running at the same time and the other influences.

He’s got an extended run ahead of Neptune transits this year and more so next which tend to lower energy and undermine ego-driven ambitions, and can also indicate underhand and deceptive tactics. He’s nerve-stretched at the moment and not thinking clearly with tr Neptune square his Sun/Uranus midpoint late April to late August. Tr Neptune squares Uranus/Node through September; and opposes his Progressed Moon over the election which are much the same.

Into 2021 from late March 2021 tr Neptune squares his Moon and then his Sun, on and off till early 2023.

The June Lunar Eclipse this year will be opposition his Uranus for a shake up; and more significantly the December 23 Sagittarius Eclipse will conjunct his Moon and oppose his Sun. A Solar Eclipse opposition a natal Sun usually brings a realisation of not always being right and needing to acquire a fresh perspective. A Solar Eclipse conjunct the Moon brings up the past and tests the foundations of life in a major way. It can bring public image under scrutiny. Robert Jansky says: ‘If society considers you a valuable person it will let you know. If they don’t think much of your efforts, they’ll let you know that as well.” These Eclipses repeat through 2021.

His Solar Return was horrific from June 2019 to 2020 with the Saturn Pluto conjunction in his 10^th opposition Mars Mercury in the 4^th – career blockage resulting in temper tantrums. The Solar Return June 2020 to June 2021 isn’t as stressed though it does indicate a change of career direction with Uranus in the 10^th.

His Term chart which has the central Jupiter opposition Uranus square Pluto T Square – opportunistic, control-freaky, arrogant and contemptuous of rules, running legal battles – is being exacerbated by tr Pluto square the Jupiter from mid August to late November, so dirty tricks are not beyond the bounds of possibility.

At the election the Progressed Moon will be exactly square the Term Mars and conjunct Saturn, which sounds like a setback, though it’s a fast-moving influence.

From previous April 11 post:

His relationship chart with the USA sees tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars from late January 2020, returning July to mid August, and late November through December; with jolts and jangles from tr Uranus opposition the composite Pluto and trine Saturn in March.

The June Cancer Eclipse will conjunct the relationship composite Sun which could be a critical turning point; with the July Capricorn Lunar Eclipse hitting the composite Venus for an emotional shock.

His relationship charts with both Republican charts, 28 February 1854 and 22 February 1856, are stressed this year and on. The 1854 chart especially from exactly now to mid-June with tr Saturn square the composite Sun and inconjunct Mars; with a disappointment-writ-large tr Neptune square the composite Pluto.

Individual charts are always a mess running into elections though admittedly his wasn’t in 2016/17 with a wealth of Jupiter to speed him into the White House against the odds. He has none of those this time round, quite the reverse. Even GW Bush who didn’t win the 2000 election against Al Gore had more encouraging transits than he does this time round.

 

 

A combination of narcissistic rage at being criticised by a loathed rival and knee-jerk diversionary tactic sent Trump into a 100-a-day twitter frenzy attacking Obama, as the US virus death toll reached 80,000. He charged Obama with ‘the biggest political crime in American history’ though it’s not clear what he’s supposed to have done. Obama in a leaked private support-Biden conversation with Democrats had warned “the rule of law is at risk” over the decision to drop the criminal case against Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI.

The relationship between Trump and Obama has always been fraught with a composite deeply-suspicious Saturn opposition Neptune in a fanatical, high-tension square to Uranus opposition North Node. Their connection is under heavier pressure this year and next with tr Pluto square the composite Saturn and conjunct North Node. Which may not mean much in terms of predicting Trump’s likely departure date since relationships continue on even after splits, no contact and even death.

But Obama’s personal chart looks ominously downbeat in 2021 and 2022 with tr Neptune in a disheartening opposition to his Mars from April 2021 onwards till early 2023; and even before then he has a discouraging tr Pluto conjunct his Saturn from late January onwards till late 2022. He’ll be in better fettle come 2023/4 with tr Pluto conjunct his Jupiter; and tr Pluto sextile his Midheaven. He will get some uplift from tr Uranus opposition his Sun/Jupiter midpoint and that’s around over the 2021 Inauguration but he looks exceptionally nerve-stretched over the November election date with tr Uranus opposition his Neptune and tr Uranus then moves to square his Sun from late May 2021 – so not an easy transition into the new presidency. Though there could be other non-presidential factors at play.

Michelle Obama is also heading into stressful times with tr Saturn conjunct her Capricorn Sun over the election and tr Pluto conjunct her  Sun in 2021/22. Like Obama she does have some Jupiterian rays of sunshine but more downers than uppers. Her relationship chart with Trump has active dislike written all over it with a composite Saturn Venus opposition Mars which is being triggered with tr Uranus in hard aspect through this year and the next two. She also looks uncertain about Joe Biden this year and in 2021/22 with tr Pluto square their composite Neptune and then tr Neptune square the composite Mars.

I cannot believe that even the United States with its tolerance for corrupt and wayward politicians could stomach another four years of Trump or even a Trump replacement given how complicit the GOP have been in his aberrant behaviour. And that’s not a partisan thought, just common sense. But the thick-as-a-brick, true-believing Trumpers tapped their approval of his twitter-mania in their millions. So who would know?

 

Florence Nightingale, a well-bred English lady who almost single-handedly turned nursing into a profession, was born 200 years ago today. She rebelled against her wealthy background to focus her attention on nursing and when the Times wrote of the appalling conditions suffered by injured soldiers in the Crimea War, many dying unnecessarily of septicaemia and neglect, she volunteered and was given the task of recruiting a team of largely untried and untested women. Hospital nurses of the time were deemed morally unsuitable and unreliable for bedside nursing. Nuns were chosen since they came free along with unpaid, genteel lady volunteers who supervised the nurses who were chosen to ensure they did their jobs properly without engaging in promiscuous conduct with the soldiers.

In later years she set up a nurses training school in the UK and wrote prolifically. She had many male friends but never married.

She was born 12 May 1820 2pm (unverified) Florence, Italy and was a single-minded New Moon in earthy Taurus in the far-travelled and communicative 9^th house sextile Jupiter in compassionate Pisces in her hard-working 6^th house – which makes the birth time sound feasible. She had an intense, persuasive and intimidating Pluto conjunct her Descendant which squared a 10^th house Venus, so she could turn on the charm though usually with an agenda. Her Saturn in self-reliant Aries was trine Mars and square Venus suiting her for difficult and dangerous circumstances and a life of emotional sacrifice.

Her 4^th house Neptune Uranus was square Pluto and opposition her 10^th house Venus for an unsettled domestic life but one bent on pushing through reforms which with a focal point Pluto would be against heavy resistance since many were ahead of their time. She emphasised the need for good sanitation, improved sewage systems and cleanliness (washing hands) – all of which are very Taurus and Pluto.

Her humanitarian 9^th Harmonic was well-aspected; as was her ‘healer’ 12H; leaving-a-legacy 17H; and global reputation 22^nd Harmonic.

 

Northern Ireland with relatively few Covid-19 related deaths, half of them in care homes, is edging towards a cautious lift of the lockdown. The differences in health policy between the three regions of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have heightened tensions with Westminster with the approaching Brexit guddle no clearer. It has a key significance for Northern Ireland since bumbling Boris has thrown a smokescreen over precisely what it means in practical terms for an EU customs border between north and south.

The regional government was restored earlier this year after a three-year period of political paralysis and dysfunction.

The NI 7 December 1922 3.28pm chart is stressed with tr Pluto opposition the Cancer Moon running till late this year indicating an emotionally conflicted populace and there’s also a panicky Solar Arc Neptune square Mars exact in four months’ time. There might (?) be a confidence and enthusiasm-lift come late May into early June with tr Uranus opposition the Jupiter, repeating late October/November this year and early 2021. With the tr Saturn Jupiter conjunction this December moving to conjunct the Midheaven which will set the region on a new path. It won’t be easy since tr Pluto is following behind to move into the 10^th from 2023 onwards (start time being accurate) which suggests a radical rethink of direction and purpose.

The relationship with the UK chart is under disappointing and worrisome influences this year with tr Neptune opposition the composite Jupiter Saturn and square Uranus; and tr Neptune moves on to form an undermining square to the composite Sun by 2023. So the relationship won’t improve in the short term.

Although some have claimed that a unified Ireland is more likely because of Brexit the relationship chart between north and south (1949), at best highly aggravated, looks less than harmonious ahead for several years with tr Neptune opposing the composite Saturn and conjunct Mars; with emotional upsets in 2021 and great challenges till 2024.