Marjorie

Protests in Iran are gaining a surprise momentum, driven largely by poor workers, in contrast to the 2009 demonstrations by educated liberals. What started as economic gripes against the President Rouhani’s policies has turned into vociferous criticism of the ruling clerics, corruption amongst the elite and the monies being spent on foreign incursions in Syria, Iraq and Yemen with Hezbollah’s help from the Lebanon.

Iran’s pro-active foreign policy is being driven by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) who answer directly to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, not the President. They were set up after 1979 revolution to defend the country’s Islamic system and to provide a counterweight to the regular armed forces. Over the years they have built up a sprawling business empire in oil, gas, telecoms and construction which President Rouhani is attempting to curb in order to revitalise and rebalance the economy.

Established on 5 May 1979, they have an acquisitive Taurus Sun in a no-compromise opposition to Uranus; plus an entrepreneurial Fire Grand Trine, focussed onto a Kite with Mars Mercury Venus in Aries opposition Pluto giving them not only high ambition but also a ruthless edge. They are looking increasingly hemmed in from early 2018 for two years with tr Pluto square the Mars Mercury. If their power is curtailed then it will have a significant impact on the Ayatollah’s position and power.

Amongst ‘black swan’ events being forecast for 2018 is that Poland might bale from the EU, given the fraught collision between Brussels and the Polish government over judicial meddling. Relations will certainly move from the high-temper of the moment to complete upheaval from late March. Tr Uranus opposes the composite Mars at the moment and tr Pluto begins a two year square to the composite Uranus in March. There is a slight possibility of a complete rupture come 2019 with tr Uranus opposition the composite Sun then. Though given that Germany is Poland’s largest market it would be a self-destructive move.

The EU is moving into the great unknown this year having to carve out a budget without the UK contribution in future years, which means cutting spending and landing ever heavier demands on the net contributors – France, Germany, Italy and Spain. With Merkel’s popularity continuing to slide and her successors being openly discussed, there may be even less willingness from Germany to dole out more cash.

It was always the intriguing question of what Germany’s relationship to the EU would be especially through 2019 into 2020. At that point on their relationship chart, tr Saturn will be in opposition the composite Pluto and conjunct the Sun (late Dec 2018) and then conjunct Mercury which will certainly douse cold water on good feelings; with tr Uranus from this July starting to seriously rattle the composite Grand Cross of Venus opposition Uranus square Mars opposition Moon. And that will create a serious amount of disruption for three years. Given the history of the EU (founded to prevent another European war) the relationship was always tightly bound together. That’s certainly reflected in the chart with a composite Earth Grand Trine, focussed onto a Kite by Sun opposition Pluto – making Pluto in the 10^th the driving planet. It would take a seismic upheaval for it to part. But without Merkel, all bets are off as to what comes after her.

It is just possible that instead of Macron’s grand idea of closer federation that the EU becomes two-speed, with a looser outer core of the eastern European countries perhaps following a UK model (if it gets agreed) with access but not bound by Brussels rules and regulations. But Macron himself looks deflated, his hopes dented, with tr Neptune square the Mars on his presidency chart from April onwards.  Interesting times ahead.

Lorde, the young New Zealand singer/songwriter, whose music has been a crossover hit around the globe is under fire for boycotting a scheduled concert in Israel. She was urged to cancel by pro-Palestinian groups citing Israel’s human rights abuses. An outspoken rabbi took out a full-page advert in the Washington Post condemning her as a Jew-hater, like, he said, the NZ government, which had backed UN condemnations of Israel and its treatment of Palestinians.

Her music is dream pop, with themes of heartbreak and solitude; she collaborated on the soundtrack for Hunger Games and has won multiple awards. Born 7 November 1996 10am Takapuna, NZ, she’s an intense Sun Mercury in Scorpio sextile Jupiter in ambitious Capricorn; with an ultra-determined and angry Mars in Virgo square Pluto. Her Moon is also in Virgo in a creative trine to musical Neptune and innovative Uranus. She also has Saturn in self-reliant Aries trine Pluto, sextile Uranus – so tough-minded as well as experimental.

Her Scorpio Sun Mercury are square Israel’s bleak and controlling Saturn Pluto, so no surprises she reacted. Though she’s criticised for continuing with plans to tour Russia.

Her musical 7^th harmonic is strong with pulling together the Sun and Moon and linking them to Venus Pluto and Saturn.

I do wish the pro-Israeli lobby would stop conflating criticism of successive Israeli government policies with anti-semitism. It’s not only grossly insulting, it’s also bullying and manipulative. The terrible persecution the Jewish people have suffered through no fault of their own over centuries does not make them immune from comment when they cause harm.

There’s a supermoon in the early hours of tomorrow morning (UT) in Cancer, which will appear larger than usual because the Moon’s cycle brings it closer to the earth than usual. This early January Full Moon was known by early Native American tribes as the “Wolf Moon”. Hungry wolves would howl outside their camps in the direction of the moon. A howl aimed upwards carries the sound farther.

Unusually this month there will be two Full Moons, the second on the 31^st known as a blue moon, will also be super-sized and a Lunar Eclipse. Most of North America, Asia and Australia, will see the total lunar eclipse which causes it to appear red in the sky. So a red blue moon just to be confusing.

This first one tomorrow at 2.34am UT January 2^nd at 11 degrees Cancer/Capricorn will be opposition Venus and Pluto in Capricorn; and in a Water Grand Trine to Mars Jupiter in Scorpio trine Neptune. Quite a complicated set of influences – dynamically confident from Mars Jupiter, though requiring considerable effort to forge ahead because of Pluto. Emotionally intense, seductively charming, passionately enthusiastic, self-protective. The Sun, Moon and Venus all aspect the bleak Saturn/Pluto midpoint. The North Node, Saturn, Uranus, Mars all aspect the mystical and supernaturally-inclined Neptune/Pluto midpoint; and Uranus aspects the accident-prone Mars/Saturn.

The Total Lunar Eclipse on the 31^st sees the 11 degree Leo Moon opposition Sun Venus in Aquarius and is inconjunct Neptune – so milder from the aspects – indulgent, charming, dreamy. But the Eclipse will still have an effect on individuals/Countries whose charts it impacts. For them it hints at a need for change and rebalancing in some arena of their lives.

Frances McDormand is about to delight in another of her trenchant performances in the upcoming Three Billboards, described by the Times as ‘angry, funny, foul-mouthed, prone to startling acts of violence’. She is that rarity, a character actress who can be a starring lead. Her long career is littered with awards, but most memorable recently was her role as Marge Gunderson in Fargo and Olive Kitteridge in the HBO mini-series.

Born 23 June 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, she was adopted aged one, from a mother she once described as ‘white trash’, by a travelling pastor so had an unsettled though rigid childhood against which she rebelled by becoming pagan. Since 1984 she’s been married to Joel Coen of the talented film-making duo the Coen Brothers and they have an adopted son initially from Paraguay.

She’s a Sun Cancer with a Taurus Moon, so is family-oriented as well as creative. Her Sun is sextile Pluto and trine filmic Neptune and as well as being square Jupiter, so she’s got confidence and persuasive power. A volatile Mars Uranus in flamboyant Leo, which may square her Moon, gives her a fiery streak.

Her ‘acting’ 15^th Harmonic is well-aspected and favours tough and at times unstable roles, linking together Mars Saturn Neptune and Uranus. Her victim/healer 12^th harmonic is also well marked and she’s done well to survive her difficult beginnings to thrive both personally and professionally.

“Death to the Dictator” isn’t a demo slogan that’s lightly spoken in Iran, as police and internet clampdowns are proving. An upsurge of popular dissent not seen since 2009 against economic hardships, corruption and, most significantly, the clerics’ iron grip has brought people out onto the streets in several cities.

The Ayatollah Khamenei has been at the helm since 1989 and his leadership chart does show signs of flagging with tr Neptune square the Gemini Sun in 2017/2018. Since the Sun sits on the focal point of a Yod to a tough Pluto sextile Saturn, any undermining of the Sun’s power will have a ripple effect. Tr Neptune will also square the Sun/Jupiter midpoint in 2018 and then Jupiter in 2019 – so it will see a less successful and less rigid three years ahead. There have been signs of the reins loosening with women no longer being charged for not wearing headscarves in Teheran. More will no doubt follow. If this Supreme Leadership continues and accounts vary about Khamenei’s health, 2019/2020 will be high-risk, exceptionally challenging and trapped with tr Pluto opposition the Mars.

Both the Iran 1906 and 1 Feb 1979 charts hints at tensions, low morale, significant problems especially in early 2018, with hints of radical changes. There’s unlikely to be a full-blown revolution. But the winds of change won’t stop blowing Iran onto a different track.

Hassan Rouhani’s term chart, 3 August 2017 11am, will hit crisis from the Lunar Eclipses in late January and late July 28; and the Ayatollah Khamenei’s Supreme Leadership chart will meet with a considerable collision come the July 2018 Cancer Solar Eclipse conjunct the Mars.

A star belonging to the constellation of Pisces is ‘eating’ planets close by, crushing one or more of them into a vast cloud of gas and dust. Like the Greek god Cronus who devoured his children. Except he was Saturnine. But it is wonderfully symbolic of Pisces’ dark side. Big fish, little fish. The minnow Pisces are vague, sensitive, wispy creatures. The big fish Pisces are voracious whales, consuming everything in their path, including their offspring.

What a delight to have astronomers back up the mythology.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171221160737.htm

Carl Jung was fascinated by the symbolism of Pisces, for the Age of Pisces, coinciding with Christ’s birth (fairly western-centric, I grant you, in Aion). He makes the point that Pisces is associated mythologically with two hostile brothers – Christ and the anti-Christ, the spirit versus the flesh – which makes sense of the glyph of two fishes swimming in opposite directions. The early Gnostic Christians believed that Lucifer (the anti-Christ) created the body and the material world; and God/Christ created the soul. Life’s journey was about rescuing the soul from its leaden overcoat of the body.

Pisces represents the ideal as well as the shadow, eternally at war. You don’t get one without the other. The central motif for Christianity is one of torture in the crucifixion. That is also part of Pisces’ story – dismemberment, pain inflicted or suffered, mortification of the flesh. Risking all for the sake of heavenly redemption – which fits into the Muslim ideology as well. Earthly life sacrificed for celestial glory. Indeed most religions disavow the physical for the sake of the spiritual.

When it goes wrong and the Pisces/Neptune energy leans too heavily towards the shadow, then you get the most appalling cruelty. The sea god Neptune in an all consuming rage.

Individuation, Jung believed, was only accomplished when you can own both contradictory sides. The conundrum of the paradox of life.

Action star Vin Diesel is this year’s top-grossing actor thanks largely to the mammoth success of Fate of the Furious which topped $1.2 billion at the global box office, now on its eighth instalment. He said the whole point of The Fast and the Furious franchise was to diversify Hollywood, referring to the car saga’s multicultural ensemble cast.

Born 18 July 1967 3.35pm Alameda, California, with an astrologer mother and absent, unknown father though he had a supportive acting instructor/theatre manager step-father, he started acting when very young; and is best known for F and F and the xXx series which he also produces. He owns his own film company and directs as well as writes screenplays.

His last decan Cancer Sun, like James Norton (below), is conjunct Procyon in the 9^th. His Sun is in a square to outspoken Mars in Libra. His 10^th career-house has a charming and hard-working Venus in Virgo conjunct the MC along with the rebellious, ground-breaking Uranus Pluto in Virgo. His Saturn in self-reliant Aries sits in his ‘entertainment’ 5^th house, suiting him for an organisational role in the movie business. He has planets in all three inspirational Fire signs – Jupiter in flamboyant Leo, a Sagittarius Moon and Saturn. His Moon squares Uranus Pluto which would fit with an astrologer for a mother. Its a Fire Earth chart, known for its steamroller energy. A private Scorpio Ascendant has filmic Neptune conjunct.

He should be taking it easy with tr Saturn moving through his lower-profile first quadrant, but clearly not. Though he’ll have some tough moments in 2018/19.

Apart from some blips, the UK is maintaining a remarkably upbeat mood despite all the Project Fear prophecies of doom. A couple of zippy, confident Pluto transits to two separate Jupiter midpoints from February to mid-July, returning over the New Year and throughout 2019, should make for good news. Plus a ‘lucky break’ upsurge of euphoria in June, Sept/October as tr Uranus squares the 10^th house Jupiter, returning April 2019 will blow away a few worries and tensions.

On the downside, there’ll be a tough moment or two over this New Year into January; a continuing sense of emotional angst and unhappiness amongst the masses with tr Pluto opposition the 10^th house Cancer Moon from January till late 2018, some of that affecting the Royals and maybe even rulers. A definite feeling of tectonic plates shifting from July to mid-September with tr Uranus sextile the UK Pluto, again in 2019. And hints of violence or anger erupting from tr Pluto opposition the Mars/Uranus midpoint late March to end of May, and again in 2019. Tr Saturn will move into the UK 4^th and conjunct the Sun in December 2018, for a sense of finality and cold realism. 2019 also sees the Solar Arc Moon opposition the 11^th house (legislature) Saturn.

There will be ripples of the economic fallout from Brexit from 2019 with Solar Arc Uranus into the financial 8^th though it’s unlikely to hit hard before 2020/2021 when tr Uranus moves into the 8^th as well and is conjunct the financial Mars in Taurus there.

The Progressed Moon is within a few months of crossing the midheaven and thence through the 10^th for two years plus which is usually ambitious and forward looking.

It won’t all be a cakewalk but it is looking less catastrophic than might be expected.

What is marginally strange is that PM Theresa May has fairly devastating influences through 2018/19 with tr Neptune conjunct her Mars in February and late in the year; with a disaster-prone tr Pluto square Mars/Saturn late March to end of May, and again in 2019, when the UK also looks in the line of fire – so that may be indicative less of Brexit and more of another crisis erupting.

The chief UK Brexit negotiator, Oliver Robbins, (20 April 1975 no birth time), will be confidence-dented late Feb/early March and late November; and rattled around with tr Uranus conjunct his late Aries Sun and then opposition his Uranus from May onwards, but he’s also got some bullish Jupiter giving him a lift throughout 2018 into 2019. David Davis who is vehemently denying that he’s been sidelined looks very – sidelined and trapped – from February onwards with tr Pluto conjunct his Mars till late 2019, and tr Saturn conjunct his Capricorn Sun over this new year and then conjunct his Mercury and Jupiter in Capricorn in late Feb/March and twice again in May/June and Nov/Dec.

James Norton, about to star in McMafia, a new American-Brit mini-series about the shady underbelly of international crime, launching on New Year’s Day in the UK, is being touted as the next James Bond. He’s swearing allegiance to Daniel Craig but his role as the British-raised son of a Russian mafia boss trying to escape the ties of organised crime, will give him a useful audition for the superspy role if and when it becomes vacant. He’s best known to British viewers from Happy Valley, Grantchester, and the most recent War & Peace – a madman, a vicar and a Russian prince, so versatile.

Born 18 July 1985 in London he has a volatile Sun Mars in Cancer square Pluto and trine an obsessively conscientious Saturn in Scorpio. His chart gives him an edge of danger and toughness; softened by a light-hearted Venus in Gemini trine Jupiter in outgoing Aquarius.

His Sun Mars are conjunct the Fixed Star Procyon which has a reputation for raising to great heights and then bringing crashing down, though others say it is a star of great fortune. One of the astronauts has his Sun conjunct Procyon and he managed to land safely and continued successfully thereafter.

His life is due for an upheaval, maybe transformation, from mid this year with tr Uranus opposition his Pluto, with tr Uranus square his Sun Mars before that in February which could be uncomfortable. But there’s no sign of the mega-bucks that would come with a Bond role just yet.