Marjorie

  The Ascendant (rising) sign is our first introduction to the world at birth. Modern astrology has tended to view it as a mask or persona we wear on first meetings and dictating appearance – the real person being hidden behind it. Whereas traditional astrology regarded the Ascendant as a fundamental key to the individual – the Ascendant and Ascendant Ruler being deemed the most important factors in determining personality. In a world ruled by the will of the gods, it was hour zero in the individual’s entanglement with fate – a moment in destiny.

  It is crucial since it sets up the entire structure of the chart by establishing the house layout and which planets fall where.

  I would have to confess to paying less attention to the Ascendant (than maybe I should) and focusing more on the subsequent houses which derive from it – plus Sun, Moon signs and aspects.

 What does interest me are planets that fall on the Ascendant indicating the experience around the time of birth. Caesarean or difficult births were always associated with Pluto on the Ascendant, signifying a difficult struggle to enter the world leading to a secretive, defensive personality.

  Neptune on the Ascendant used to be associated with a drug-induced birth and to producing a mesmerizingly attractive appearance.  [It struck me the other day that actor Cillian Murphy who has no birth time possibly has Neptune on his Ascendant. He has those Neptunian eyes.]

 Saturn on the Ascendant – defensive on first meeting.

  Taking an example of Greta Garbo, 18 September 1908 Stockholm, Sweden 7.30pm – Jupiter in Gemini on the Ascendant. Would her enthusiastic Gemini Ascendant define her more accurately than her self-sufficient Virgo Sun or hidden 12^th house Moon square Saturn?

  Queen Elizabeth 11 was defined in terms of her outward appearance by her Capricorn Ascendant – status, conservatism, tradition, not overtly touchy feely. Yet those who knew her said her quick wit and mischievous sense of humour surprised them. Her 3^rd house nature-loving Taurus Sun would seem a better guide to who she was, tempered by an overloaded Saturn on her Midheaven.

   Relocating charts does shift the Ascendant. Capricorn Ascendant Sean Connery became Venus on Libra Ascendant when jetted over to Los Angeles to boost him to superstar status, Though I would tend to look first at his Jupiter Pluto conjunction which landed on the midheaven in LA as being more to the point.  

  Meghan Markle moves from her natal Cancer Ascendant to a Libra Ascendant when in London which looks sociable enough but clearly did not work for her. More significantly it moved her  Moon, Jupiter, Saturn from the 3^rd into the 12^th along with Pluto which made her feel trapped and buried part of her personality. It did put her Leo Sun in the 10^th in the UK which should have worked but obviously was not enough.

  Barack Obama was born an Aquarius Ascendant for his Hawaii birthplace but became a communicative Gemini Ascendant in Washington DC – which kind of makes sense but Washington, DC put his Uranus and Pluto in the 4^th so it was clearly an unsettled domestic area for him.

  I remain to be convinced that the Ascendant has an overwhelming importance more than other planets/aspects/houses in a chart. If anything I would veer towards seeing the Sun sign as becoming more pronounced with age.   But I am sure there will be differing views so do pitch in.

Peter Higgs, the theoretical physicist, who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the “God particle” as it became known much to his irritation as an atheist, has died. His work on the mass of subatomic particles had a profound effect on our understanding of matter and how the universe was formed.

From The Times “ In layman’s terms, Higgs’s theory suggested that all space is permeated by a “field” that interacts with the particles within it, giving them mass. One analogy is to imagine a room with people milling round. A celebrity (the particle) enters and people cluster around — suddenly the celebrity particle has mass. Higgs developed the idea that particles had no mass when the universe began, but acquired mass a fraction of a second afterwards when they entered a theoretical field. Higgs proposed that this field, now known as the “Higgs field”, permeates space, giving mass to all elementary particles that interact with it.”

 From an astrological point of view what is intriguing is that he had his “eureka” moment on July 16, 1964. He then spent years touting his theory to scientific journals with little interest initially and was totally vindicated in 2012 when Cern researchers in Switzerland were able to isolate the Higgs boson.

  He was born 29 May 1929 Newcastle on Tyne, had asthma as a child and was home schooled for a while, then went on to study mathematics and molecular physics.  He had his Sun in Gemini on the focal point of an inventive mini Grand Trine of Uranus in Aries trine Mars in Leo. What is notable is his Jupiter in Taurus conjunct Algol and conjunct his North Node which was square Neptune and inconjunct his Saturn. His Saturn trine Neptune trine Venus made up an inspirational, attention-grabbing Fire Grand Trine which usually harbours little self-doubt. And that focused onto a Kite driving planet Mercury in Gemini.  

 A marked experimental Mars trine Uranus, a Fire Grand Trine and an emphasized Mercury and Jupiter would give him the potential and self-belief to succeed.

 When he had his “Oh shit” moment as he put it in 1964, transiting Jupiter then in Taurus, heading for a Jupiter Return was conjunct his North Node with his Solar Arc Pluto square his Node. Trailblazing tr Uranus was square his Sun. Tr Pluto was conjunct his Solar Arc Mars tugging on his SA Uranus. Transiting North Node was hovering around his SA Jupiter and his Progressed Mars was conjunct his Progressed Neptune. A conflagration of luck, transformation under pressure opening up new horizons, having an impact on society and attracting publicity.

  When the proof was finally published on 4 July 2012 tr Jupiter was heading to conjunct his Gemini Sun for a morale boost, his Pluto was on a Half Return; and his Solar Arc North Node was conjunct his Mars, emphasising his experimental mini Grand Trine.  

  His global influencer 22^nd harmonic is notable as was his creative, get-it-together 5H. His breakthrough-genius 13^th harmonic was his strongest.

  The staging posts in his remarkable life were well marked by his astrology.

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South Africa is heading for a general election on 29 May, with polls suggesting the governing African National Congress (ANC) could get less than 50% of the vote for the first time in 30 years. There has been increasing criticism of the party that led the fight against apartheid under the late Nelson Mandela with the possibility of a coalition government ahead.

  High unemployment, economic inequalities, high levels of violent crime – on average 130 rapes and 80 murders a day in the last three months of 2023, corruption allegations and frequent power cuts have reduced its popularity.

  The next president will be elected by the new assembly within thirty days after the general election. That will decide whether the present president Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC goes or stays.

  The South Africa 27 April 1994 11am chart is certainly due for an upheaval this year with tr Uranus opposition the Scorpio North Node in May and at the end of the year into 2025, as well as tr Uranus opposition the Pluto (conjunct Algol) from August onwards into 2025. It looks an unsettled road thereafter with major setbacks in 2025 from SA Saturn conjunct Mars and SA Uranus square the Pluto in 2026. With SA Neptune following behind through to the end of the decade.

 The ANC chart, 8 January 1912, which has its Mars conjunct Algol opposing the South Africa North Node, Pluto, Moon, Algol, was always going to be an uneasy fit. It does have the highly-strung, can-be-fanatical Uranus in Capricorn opposition Neptune which is a similar energy to the South Africa 1994 Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn but it will double up on the negative aspects of confusion and lack of emotional balance.

 The ANC do look in for a serious jolt of insecurity over the election itself with tr Uranus conjunct their Mars in Taurus – and that repeats on and off into early 2025. There’s also a diminishing-influence tr Neptune square their Pluto, not exact again until the autumn but stretching out to early 2025 as well.

 Cyril Ramaphosa, 17 November 1952, is a Sun Scorpio opposition Algol and square Pluto so a considerable heavyweight. But tr Uranus will square his Pluto this May (and again New Year to March 2025) and oppose his Sun in June (and into 2025). So he is definitely into a period of major jolts, jangles and disruption. Though he is exceptionally fixed so won’t budge easily.  

  It is such a tragedy for Nelson Mandela, given that all he suffered, to see his legacy in tatters. His posthumous chart has Solar Arc Mars opposition his Cancer Sun (conjunct Procyon) this year and tr Uranus is heading to square his Uranus by July. Not resting easily.

Gardens are a healing space in a chaotic and stressful world with Dutchman Piet Oudolf called the “Rembrandt of gardens” leading the way in designing and planting urban parks in New York, Chicago and London. He is now redesigning the Glasshouse borders at the RHS’s flagship Wisley garden in England. He is one of the most influential gardeners of modern times  bringing a sense of wilderness into cultivated settings with  grasses and structural plants. He believes design is about the “movement, the flow of colour, the light ­filtering through” the grasses, the “energy of growth”, but also the cycle of life and death. He leaves the “skeletons” – the seedheads – to provide strong visual interest throughout the winter.

  Surprisingly, for a creator who is drawn to willowy grasses and a misty, soft focus look, he has a hard, determined chart. Born 27 October 1944 in Haarlem, NL, he is a Sun, Mercury, Mars in Scorpio square Pluto and trine Saturn. He does have a flowing Pisces Moon probably square Venus; and his Neptune is heavily aspected attracting him to sweeping images.

 Several prominent gardeners have early Scorpio planets which fits with Charles Carter’s degree equivalences in which he lists 6 degrees Scorpio as love of soil.

 Many other gardeners’ charts have Taurus planets which is the sign most often associated with nature and design.  TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, 2 May 1949, has his Sun, Venus and Mars in Taurus.  Interior and garden designer David Hicks, 25 March 1929, had Venus Jupiter, North Node in Taurus.

   Susana Walton, 30 August 1926, wife of composer Sir William, who designed the famous La Mortella gardens in Ischia, Italy, had Mars in Taurus opposition a Scorpio Moon Saturn square Neptune opposition Jupiter. Like Gertrude Jekyll, she had Jupiter in Aquarius, in her case, doubly emphasized being on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Sun sextile Pluto.  Alan Titchmarsh also has Jupiter in Aquarius on the focal point of a yod to Saturn sextile Uranus.

 Trying to trace similarities in gardeners’ charts there are several with inconjuncts – and three in particular Susana Walton, Beth Chatto and Vita Sackville West had Uranus inconjunct Neptune. With two others also having strong Uranus Neptune aspects.

  Pluto features strongly as well which makes sense of trying to exert control over plants and designs.

 Many of the gardeners’ charts have challenging aspects suggesting they are/were high stress personalities who found an outlet in gardening. The TV gardener and author Monty Don, 8 July 1955, has often talked of his mental health problems and how much gardening has been his saviour. He, like Beth Chatto, is a Sun Cancer with Venus also in Cancer and Uranus Mars in Cancer square Neptune. His Mercury in chatty Gemini is trine Neptune and sextile Pluto.

 Susan Walton took up gardening to give her an occupation when her much older (and none too faithful husband) shut himself away composing. Vita Sackville-West found solace in gardening in the midst of and after a tumultuous love life. See post 17 March 2024. She had Uranus inconjunct Pluto Neptune; a revved up Mars – and significantly a Taurus North Node which would appreciate the calming influence of nature and plants.

A respite from a depressing world.

ADD ON: Inconjuncts and yods are reflected in the 12^th harmonic which is the victim/healer harmonic. It is strong in doctors charts. The 150 degree angles are constantly trying to find a way of merging incompatible elements to reduce discomfort. Definitely a healing drive.

  Christopher Lloyd is a case in point (thanks Jane), 2 March 2021 since his natal chart has Sun Jupiter in Pisces inconjunct Neptune in Leo. Mars in Aries inconjunct Jupiter in Virgo. Venus in Aries inconjunct Saturn in Virgo.

  He had an exceptionally strong and successful 12^th harmonic with an emphasised Jupiter – and a Sun Neptune Venus link.

A fat teenager with alcohol and gambling problems was on the skids and descending into depression when he had a flash of enlightenment in a realization he had to do something with his life and make a difference. He started running, entering his first half  marathon when he was 21.

  Now at 27 he is a hardened endurance runner, recently going from Istanbul to London, averaging 46km per day for 66 days. Today he is expected to complete his most ambitious run yet from the southern tip of South Africa the entire length of Africa to Tunisia. For more than 10,190 miles (16,400km), 352 days, 16 countries, he endured food poisoning, back and health problems, sweltering heat, being taken hostage and being the victim of armed robbery. In all he has raised more than £550,000 The Running Charity, which supports the mental health of young people with complex needs or who are homeless, and Sandblast which educates people about Sahrawi culture.

 Russ Cook, 13 March 1997, Worthing, England, no birth time, is a Sun, Mercury in Pisces opposition Mars in Virgo North Node, sexile/trine Neptune. Although it seems counter-intuitive Pisces is a surprisingly common sign amongst explorers and a strong Neptune occurs frequently in the charts of top athletes and sportspersons. He also probably has an Earth Grand Trine of Neptune trine Mars North Node trine a Taurus Moon. Plus a tough-minded Saturn in self-reliant Aries trine Pluto, sextiling onto a lucky, adventurous Jupiter Uranus conjunction combining endurance with an aptitude for risk-taking.

  What brought the revelation that pushed him onto a better track in life?  When he was 17 his Solar Arc Pluto was square his Sun, forming a T Square to his Sun opposition Mars – a longish process of six years when he could have felt totally trapped and boxed in – and he sounds as if he sank into a trough at the start. What kicked him out of it was his Solar Arc Jupiter Uranus sextile SA Saturn moving to inconjunct his Mars, forming a travelling yod.

  His Jupiter Uranus is lucky – his Mars gives him drive, practicality and aptitude for hard graft. His Mars on one leg of a talented Earth Grand Trine gives him the potential to achieve great things but clearly needed a shunt from the universe to click it into gear.

  So his natal Saturn trine Pluto, sextile Jupiter Uranus configuration moving by Solar Arc to collide with his Sun opposition Mars did provide a life changing crisis – by kicking him out of his rut and making him find his niche. And off he went.

  He could have so easily gone the way of many lost druggy teenagers and never found his way. It is fascinating and uplifting to see how the astrology shifted to give him the insight and motivation he needed to find his very singular path.

  He started this trans-Africa run on 22 April 2023 in Agulhas, South Africa. On a 6.30am sunrise chart that puts Jupiter on the Aries Ascendant conjunct a Taurus Sun with both square Pluto just into Aquarius in the 10^th, which seems apt.

Eurovision is “not the arena to solve a Middle East conflict” say the organizers, valiantly trying to stave off criticism about Israel’s inclusion after its invasion of Gaza, when Russia was banned after the Ukraine incursion. Their banner “United by music” is unlikely to make an impact against a backdrop of heightened terror alerts across Europe, the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s ire about Sweden joining Nato, Eurovision 2024 looks to be the most politically contentious ever. What is worse, the location in Malmo, an international city with a young and diverse population (around a third born outside Sweden) with a strong Palestinian community is likely to throw up its own problems.

 Activism and terrorism are the twin threats for locals and the 100,000 visitors, who will be entertained not just at Eurovision but in club nights and drag shows across multiple venues.

 The competition kicks off at 9pm on 7 May 2024 just before the Taurus New Moon; with a divisive Uranus in the 7^th house of neighbourly relations and Mars in pro-active, assertive Aries in the performing 5^th house. Plus a downbeat Saturn in the 4^th as well as Neptune hinting at an uncertain mood on the home territory.

  With eerie syncronicity the final on 11 May occurs just as tr Uranus moves to 23 degrees Taurus to conjunct the Israel 8th house Sun.

 The Sweden 6 June 1523 JC 11.30am Stockholm chart, has tr Saturn almost opposition an aggravated Mars over the song contest and just after as well as square the Midheaven (start time being accurate). Plus a handful of tough Pluto transits to midpoints but nothing too dramatic.

 The Sweden 7 December 1856 3.30 pm chart is on its Nodal Half Return with the SA Pluto catching this month’s Solar Eclipse and tr Uranus connecting with the 23 Taurus SA Sun.

  Relationship charts between both Sweden charts and Russia and Israel hint at some disruptions in May but more across the July/August period and beyond.

  Sweden does not have its problems to seek even without a fractious Eurovision. An open-door migration policy in the past with no accompanying policy to help the newcomers integrate has led to the emergence of neighborhoods with all residents immigrants, unemployment rates are high and where the children are often not proficient in Swedish. ‘This has served as an incubator for crime, as gangs take over where society fails.’ ‘Present-day Sweden carries the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of gangland killings in Europe. It boasts the lowest average age of serious offenders, with children in their low teens being arrested for murder.’

  Foreign-born citizens now account for 20 percent of the nation’s population. If this includes those born in Sweden with two foreign-born parents, the number rises to 26 percent.

Among residents aged 25-34 years, one-third presently has a foreign background, and among those aged 35-44 years, it is 38 percent.

Sweden looks into the abyss

Robin Williams is being remembered in a BBC celebration ten years after his death. Known for his improvisational skills, he was regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time with an award strewn career in Good Will Hunting; Good Morning, Vietnam; Dead Poets Society; and The Fisher King amongst many others. During his career, he suffered substance abuse issues and phases of severe depression though his eventual suicide was attributed to the debilitating effects of Lewy body disease, akin to dementia, which induces sudden and prolonged spikes in fear, anxiety, stress and insomnia, worsening into memory loss, paranoia and delusions. His wife later said “Robin was losing his mind and he was aware of it.”

  He was born 21 July 1951 1.34pm Chicago, Illinois, into a wealthy family and was a quiet child until he found drama. He had a communicative, thoughtful 9^th house Cancer Sun sextile hard-working Saturn in Virgo. His Pluto in the 10^th conjunct Mercury in Leo would make him influential though with a strong need to be in control. What drove his mischievous, anarchic sense of humour was Uranus Mars in Cancer on the focal point of a T square to Jupiter in Aries opposition Neptune – volatile, excitable, could be fanatical in his obsessions, a risk-taker, uncompromising, unrealistic. His 12^th house Neptune would incline him towards escapist addictions. His sensitive Pisces Moon on the cusp of his performing/entertaining 5^th house was in a soft-hearted opposition to Venus.

  A strong Uranus often appears in comedians charts – Lionel Shriver’s satirical bent comes from there. James Gillray, the 19^th Century caricaturist has Uranus on the focal point of a yod square Pluto – it gives an ability to think outside of the box and take a quirky view of life.

  When the first symptoms of his illness appeared he had his Progressed Moon moving through his 8^th house; with his Solar Arc Sun just over the conjunction to his Saturn. Probably more significantly his Progressed Mars was conjunct his 10^th house Mercury conjunct his Progressed Pluto – so enormous pressure on his ability to think clearly and communicate. No 6^th house influences at all.

A lovely man, fondly remembered.

  The slight 4.8 earthquake that rattled New York on Friday did little physical damage but following the Baltimore Bridge disaster ten days ago and the approaching Great American Total Eclipse on Monday, tit brought a sense of unease.

  The accident-prone Mars Saturn conjunction in Pisces has been drawing closer since late March and becomes exact this coming Wednesday. On the earthquake chart it fell close to the Midheaven in the 10^th.

  What is curious is that the Baltimore Bridge collapse occurred with the Moon at 16 Libra conjunct the South Node at 15 Libra – and this earthquake happened with the Sun at 16 degrees Aries conjunct the North Node. Both of which impact on the USA natal Saturn at 14 Libra. The USA natal Saturn has moved by Solar Arc to conjunct the Mars, exact in three months but in effect now which is likely to bring a significant setback/accident/misfortune for the United States.

  Quite how much this has relevance remains to be seen. Saturn being opposed by a Solar Eclipse usually suggests a need to take responsibility, often for the actions of others – but there is always a sense of chickens coming home to roost and a price to be paid either for past actions or past associations.

  Mars Saturn sits on the angles of Solar Eclipse charts located in different locations – on the Midheaven on the west coast of USA/Canada. On the IC of Iran. On the Ascendant through central/east Australia and on the Descendent for the tip of Brazil.

 The Iran 1979 Islamic Republic chart has its Pluto conjunct this Eclipse which could bring strong reactions for the recent Damascus attack by Israel.

   The Jupiter Uranus conjunction which is the subject of much internet astro-chatter falls in the earthquake 11^th house and the Eclipse 10^th house set for New York. I am not sure why it is causing so much interest since these conjunctions come round every fourteen years or so. The 1941 conjunction in Taurus was certainly fairly horrific since it coincided with the Luftwaffe blitz on London, Liverpool and Greenock but that also had Saturn in Taurus nearby which would not help.  The other instances did not seem to throw up pass remarkable events.

  On its own Jupiter Uranus should be lucky, bringing new opportunities, relief from tension and optimism.

  All straws in the wind at the moment. But worth paying attention – without getting panicked.

ADD ON:  California is in for a troubled year with the April Solar Eclipse conjunct its Saturn in Aries and tr Pluto continuing to upend its Uranus Pluto in last degree Aries till late November.    It does not have similar Uranus Neptune aspects to the 1994 quake or the 1906 one – so it may be political upheavals or other natural or man made disasters.

Damian Hurley, model, actor and now film producer, son of Liz, celebrated his 22^nd birthday amid a hullabaloo over him directing his mother in lesbian sex scenes in a film he wrote himself. Both say it is a fuss about nothing. He commented ‘For most people it would be inconceivable for their perfectly normal moms to do the scene, but for us it’s business.’ She said it “felt totally normal”.

 They have had an unusually close relationship with his father businessman Steve Bing denying paternity until forced to take a DNA test and his childhood spent partly with his mother’s partners, Indian businessman Arun Nayar and then the Australian former cricketer Steve Warne. He said his mother taught him about sex at a “ludicrously young” age, and was more like a sibling to him than a parent. He often takes her bikini shots which feature on her Instagram page; and they often borrow each other’s clothes.

 Damian was born 4 April 2002 12.22pm London, with a 10^th house Sun Mercury in Aries as well as Venus and Mars (not conjunct) in Taurus. The 10^th house refers to mother; and the Sun there, according to Liz Greene, suggests an individual destined to live out their mother’s ambitions, not necessarily their own, with an underlying emptiness about what they want for themselves. It often occurs in showbiz personalities or those destined to live a ‘public’ life.  Venus in the 10^th is charming, good at public relations.

  His Mars in earthy, determined Taurus is in a volatile square to Uranus in the 8th house of sexuality and joint finances.

  His Saturn in the 11^th is in an unyielding opposition to an attention-demanding 5^th house Pluto conjunct South Node. His Venus in indulgent Taurus is in a fashion-biz sextile to Jupiter and square to a filmic though uncommitted relationship-wise Neptune in his 7^th.

  His hard working 6^th house Capricorn Moon is conjunct Chiron square his Sun, trine Venus, inconjunct Saturn, opposition Jupiter. Which is a complex set of Moon aspects.

  Moon Chiron hints at mother being a significant issue with the individual feeling compelled to mother the mother to make her happy and comfort her. In some cases to become like a substitute husband. Moon square Sun – split parents. Moon trine Venus – what Richard Idemon called ‘the poisoned apple’ of  sexual attraction being muddled up with the maternal bond. Moon inconjunct Saturn and opposition Jupiter – lacking warmth and compensated by over indulging.

  His Sun/Moon midpoint, the close partner significator, is conjunct his 8^th house Uranus so he is likely to follow his mother’s pattern of revolving-door relationships.

 Their synastry is not as cosy as the publicity pics suggest with her Gemini Sun, Mercury, Jupiter square Uranus, Pluto, Mars in Virgo squaring his Pluto opposition Saturn. Her chaotic, over excitable temperament undoubtedly stiffened his spine, making him develop strength and endurance to cope. But left its mark.

 Their relationship chart is even starker. There is an over-hopeful composite Jupiter opposition Neptune which will help to sweep grittier feelings under the carpet. But the composite Pluto opposition Saturn square Mars hints at a one sided relationship which has an undertow of anger and resentment.

 In an interview he said he and his mother are “extraordinarily alike” in general and “apart from having the same face, we are really, really in tune”. “We are very, very similar.” “We are twin-like.” 

  Hmm.

 He’s got a tr Uranus about to conjunct his Mars this May and then square his Uranus come August onwards – so a jangled, risky year ahead and a tough three or four years to follow with a blocked, frustrating Solar Arc Mars opposition his Pluto in 2026; an intense SA Pluto conjunct his 6^th house Moon in 2027 and a lacklustre SA Sun square his Neptune in 2028.