Netanyahu – ploughing ahead regardless

Few in Israel think that Hamas can be eliminated totally despite Netanyahu’s unwavering insistence it can. He is ploughing ahead with no end in sight to the return of hostages or a cessation of the bombing of Gaza which is rapidly heading into famine. Biden’s few bleated entreaties about taking care are having no effect apart from losing him votes in the US from younger concerned Democrats.  

 Netanyahu’s Government chart, 29 December 2022 4.30pm, is not showing any signs of imminent collapse though it will get jolted late April/early May, perhaps as internal political tensions flare up. There is  pervasive undercurrent of  failed plans through this year and next; with outbreaks of violence/argument in June and more so in July, October and November and early in 2025. There is an obscure yod on this chart of Sun sextile South Node inconjunct Mars which is being activated through the next year as it shifts to exact aspects which suggests a feeling of hopelessness and being stuck. There is one blip of luck after mid 2025 but by that time tr Neptune and Saturn will be conjunct the Government Jupiter which will undermine confidence and forward progress.

 Netanyahu’s personal chart is sagging badly through this month with tr Neptune opposing and undermining his warrior Sun/Mars midpoint. High risk comes late April/early May from tr Uranus square his Mars/Pluto midpoint. June will see his nerves overstretched and in July tr Uranus will make an explosive square to his Mars in Leo which does suggest a flare up (and appears on several Middle Eastern and political  charts) which suggests a hot spot of increased activity and perhaps reckless moves on his part to prop up his self-esteem.

His relationship chart with Israel shows up August and onwards as aggravation/ risk points with tr Uranus square the composite Mars – with more angst through 2025.

 The Israel chart flags up more disruptions as tr Uranus returns to conjunct the 8th house Sun this May and again late December to mid March 2025; with danger spots mid March through till early May with tr Uranus square the Mars/Pluto, Mars/Saturn midpoints and opposes the Israel Chiron.

 Joe Biden’s relationship chart with Netanyahu shows a tight connection with an exact composite Sun square Pluto so not much daylight between them despite Biden’s words of caution. But at the end of the day the relationship is not mutually supportive with a composite Mars Neptune conjunction – one wins the other loses.  

 Evidently Biden has been a firm supporter of Israel since 1982 after Israel invaded Lebanon in retaliation for cross-border attacks by the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Biden was supportive of the Israeli attack to the point the prime minister Menachem Begin later expressed surprise at the vehemence of Biden’s position particularly the senator’s attempts to justify the killing of women and children. “I disassociated myself from these remarks,” Begin told Israeli reporters. “I said to him: ‘No, sir, attention must be paid. According to our values, it is forbidden to hurt women and children, even in war’.”

  Biden’s relocation chart to Tel Aviv puts his inordinately stubborn Sun, Venus, Mercury in Scorpio in the 8th with a supportive Jupiter in the 4th. But for all that Biden’s relationship chart with Israel does show a rupture from mid June onwards with tr Uranus square the composite Sun and that repeats on and off into early 2025. Which may be the temporary port being mooted to send aid into Gaza.

Boris Johnson – hiding a sad reality ++ Carrie

The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson, a four part documentary series,  is unnerving viewers and reviewers since it seems too previous. The question lurking – will he come back?

  Well put together, it covers ground known and unknown about his years of fumbles, bumbles and seemingly unstoppable rise on the back of mishaps, failure and scandals. Underneath the buffoonery there is a friendless and self-doubting individual. ‘His biographer Andrew Gimson remembers Johnson trying to buy him out of writing the book – a comic take would be fine, said the subject, “but nothing could be more damaging than a book that told the truth about me”.

  His column in the Daily Mail since his ousting is a damp squib unlike William Hague’s stately utterances in The Times. He feels like a spent force but his jack-in-the-box temperament, fuelled by desperation for prominence and a win is unlikely to see him lurking in oblivion for ever.

  This year and throughout 2025 however he is contending with tr Pluto trine his 8th house Mars which is trapped, infuriating and stuck – and this year the continuation of tr Pluto square his Moon from last year which will be emotionally stressful.  Plus he has the undermining tr Neptune square his Sun Venus in Gemini from this April on and off into early 2025 which won’t be progressive.  He does have one lucky break through this May and late December to March 2025 plus tr Jupiter going through his financial 8th, birth time being sound, now for a year ahead  – both of which might suggest money so he could be signing publishing deals or grabbing other lucrative opportunities.

 His relationship chart with Rishi Sunak looks downbeat this year which might suggest rumours of an invitation from that quarter are a touch fanciful. His relationship chart with the UK is also separating and edgy so the country would not be overly pleased to see a rerun.

  But he is by no means down and out permanently. There is a fair amount of steam left in him with Saturn moving upwards in his chart for the next decade and a half. And tr Jupiter as well as his SA Jupiter are aiming for his midheaven after mid 2025. Into 2026 he will be through his emotional and marital dramas which peak in 2025; his Mutable T square and Sun Venus will be free of transiting Saturn; and the general feel of Air and Fire with Pluto in Aquarius, Uranus in Gemini and Neptune in Aries should suit his 9th house communicative Gemini, Sun, Mercury, Venus thereafter.

  A sad clown.

Add On: Carrie, his wife, 17 March 1988, has been through a droopy time recently with tr Neptune conjunct her Pisces Sun, perhaps a consequence of having three young children under the age of four. That rolls on till early 2025 but she will get an uplift from tr Pluto square her Jupiter in Taurus this year and next, boosting her confidence. Like Boris she has an excitable temperament though for different reasons. She has the triple conjunction in Capricorn conjunct Mars so will be overflowing with restlessness and initiative though inclined to leave a trail of chaos behind.

  Tr Neptune Saturn starting to square her Capricorn planets from 2025 inwards, first Uranus and then Saturn, will put her on edge and make for an uncertain mood. Her relationship chart with Boris is rocking and rolling at that point with tr Pluto in hard aspect to the composite Saturn square Uranus. And in 2025/26 tr Uranus will square Boris’s Sun/Moon midpoint. So a few storms in the paradise garden.

Rupert Murdoch – try again, hope over experience

Rupert Murdoch, 93 this year, is aiming back up the altar for the fifth time with a new fiancée biologist Elena Zhukova. Last year, he broke off his engagement to his previous fiancée, Ann Lesley Smith, just two weeks after he proposed.

 Full marks for optimism and persistence.

  This is only en passant but of interest is his 7th house possessive Pluto close to ever hopeful Jupiter in Cancer. Plus surprisingly his Sun/Moon midpoint, the marriage significator, is conjunct his Venus suggesting he will have a knack of attracting affectionate partners. Though his 7th house Pluto square a 4th house Uranus does suggest rolling changes on the relationship and domestic front. His marriages to date have lasted 11 years, 32 years, 14 years and 6 years respectively.

  Looking at other much-married celebrities. William Shatner (4 times) has his Sun/Moon midpoint conjunct his disruptive, freedom-loving Uranus North Node and square Pluto with evasive Neptune in his 7th

Nicholas Cage (five times) has his Sun/Moon midpoint square Uranus and North Node in his 7th hinting that constancy in close relationships is difficult for him. Mickey Rooney (8 times) also has his Sun/Moon midpoint square Uranus.  Billy Bob Thornton (6 times) has his Sun/Moon midpoint conjunct his irritable Mars (Pluto) with evasive Neptune ruling the 7th

Larry King (8 times) has his Sun/Moon midpoint opposing an 8th house uncommitted Neptune. Zsa Zsa Gabor has her Sun/Moon midpoint conjunct her Venus for a true romantic though the opposition to Saturn hints the reality will be a let down. Neptune rules her 7th.

 Kenny Rogers (5 times) has Uranus in his 7th square Mars; with his Sun/Moon midpoint conjunct Pluto – both of which in different ways will lead to conflict.

  Different personalities with different relationship needs (and antipathies). Not always, but very often the Sun/Moon midpoint can home in on the key influences in picking a partner and staying the course – or not. Along with 7th house aspects. Transits to the Sun/Moon also tend to be pressured when splits occur.

Indian billionaire wedding – poverty next door ++ mum Nita Ambani

Conspicuous consumption and “opulence on steroids” may be the way of Indian billionaires but it is a questionable look for western wannabe-trendsetters such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg and Ivanka/Jared Kushner. The Mukesh Ambani pre-wedding celebrations recently had a thousand famous guests from the worlds of business, sport and film who were treated to fine dining, personal make-up artists and hair stylists and treated to performances by some of the world’s best-known stars including Rihanna and Cirque du Soleil. Even the Daily Mail was horror struck as the event took place “just yards from where some of the poorest people on earth eke out a living”.

 Note pre-wedding of Anant Ambani to Radhika Merchant. The actual junket takes place on July 12th and is expected to cost even more than the £100 million this warm up did.

 The Ambani business empire embraces oil, telecoms and textiles with father Mukesh intending to hand over his company soon to his twin daughter and son Isha and Akash, and his youngest son Anant.

Mukesh Ambani, 19 April 1957 7.47pm Aden, Yemen, has a workaholic 6th house go-ahead last degree Aries Sun conjunct Venus trine an influential and controlling Pluto in his career 10th. His Sun Venus oppose Neptune and square Uranus in Leo giving him a trailblazing streak. He also has Mars in his financial 8th in a hard-edged opposition to Saturn and square a confident, lucky Jupiter. And a build-a-business Grand Trine with Earthy Venus in Taurus trine a Capricorn Moon trine Pluto. A powerhouse chart.

 His twins, 23 October 1991, are also ultra-determined with a Sun Libra conjunct Mars in Scorpio square Saturn types. Son Anant, 10 April 1995, who has had health and weight problems is deemed the least experienced of the three – with a Fire Grand Trine of an Aries Sun Mercury trine Moon Mars in Leo trine Jupiter in Sagittarius – confident and full of ideas though not always realistic or well-grounded.

  His fiancée Radhika, daughter of a wealthy industrialist and a dancer, 18 December 1994 – born three weeks before Bianca Censori (see Kanye West post below) has a Sagittarius Sun Mercury with an edgy Saturn opposition Mars square Pluto conjunct Jupiter –  supremely confident and also submissive.  Her Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn square his Sun Mercury – so not the easiest of combinations. 

Their relationship chart looks challenging with a composite Sun Mercury opposition Mars square Pluto – a real power imbalance leading to a reservoir of resentment. What’s more the actual wedding of July 12th is when tr Uranus Mars in late Taurus will rattle up that composite T square – so the wedding will be even more fraught than the usual over-the-top sumptuous nuptials.

Add On: Nita Ambani, 1 November 1963, wife of Mukesh, and mother of three, regularly listed by Forbes amongst its influential women business leaders in Asia list is a  philanthropist, art collector and the owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Mumbai Indians. In 2023, she launched the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai.

 She has an ultra-determined stellium in Scorpio with her  Sun, Mercury, Neptune in Scorpio conjunct and Venus close by. Her Neptune sextile Pluto is inconjunct a yod focal point Jupiter giving here the ability to make positive social changes although over confidence and Jupiterian excess can be a downside.

 Her Uranus Pluto in Virgo fall in her husband’s 10th house so she will keep him on his toes exploring new ventures and constantly looking for the next trend.

 Their relationship chart has (probably) a Grand Trine of Jupiter trine Neptune trine Moon, hinting at an optimistic, look-on-the-bright-side approach; though since it also (probably) focuses onto Pluto in opposition to the Moon as the driving planet – power and influence will be motivating forces. There is also an affectionate composite Sun Venus conjunction squaring onto Neptune which could be blissed out or not always realistic. Plus a loaded composite Mars Pluto conjunction again hinting that power is a driving force. Handling that kind of wealth and influence is not easy.

Trump win less super than expected

A week is a long time in politics and there are – only – 35 weeks to go before the USA presidential election filled with whatever mayhem the fickle fates decide to throw as disruptors to best laid plans.

  Despite a thumping win Trump did less well than the pollsters expected. In New Hampshire, he beat Haley by 11%, not the expected 18%. In South Carolina, he won by 20% not the polled 28% . Same in Michigan, 42 to an expected 57.  “Secret non-Trump voters” were out in force during the 2022 midterms where the GOP was expected to rack up huge majorities in Congress and take back control of the Senate – neither happened.  

     Trump’s erratic behaviour and contempt for democratic norms have produced a notable shift in suburban voting patterns; and there is mounting evidence that Republican women have turned against Trump after the decision to overturn abortion rights. A significant minority of Republicans said they did not think Trump would be fit for president with a criminal record.

 Trump met with Elon Musk at the weekend no doubt keen to grift a few millions to refill in his campaign coffers which are sagging behind Biden’s and maybe even help pay off his legal woes. Musk has not publicly come out for Trump though he is evidently opposed to Biden (whom he voted for in 2020) seeking a second term.

Musk’s Progressed Sun is conjunct Trump’s Mars in Leo so there may be a clap of thunder from that though their relationship chart looks undermined with tr Neptune square the composite Sun Saturn from May right through the election and beyond. Not that Musk looks any more enamoured of Biden with a chilly, critical, separating tr Saturn opposition their composite Sun, Mercury late this month, on and off into early 2025.

  On Trump’s astrology: He has one more major stroke of luck/success March 13 to April 5. No more Jupiter midpoints or aspects are being triggered thereafter but he does have tr Jupiter moving across his midheaven from this May through till after mid 2025 which one way and another will bring him prominence.

  He has several confidence dents/losses leading to feelings of inferiority – late March/early April, October and December with tr Saturn opposition his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint.  Another late April/early May, late August/early September and across the Inauguration from tr Saturn opposition his Mars/Neptune midpoint. And a tough, depressing slog at the moment through March to mid April, again June/July and across the Inauguration from tr Pluto opposition his Saturn/Pluto midpoint. Evidently his winners’ speech yesterday was downbeat rather than the usual donkey-braying glee.

  Other astro: tr Saturn will square his 10th house Uranus for high tension eruptions affecting his career direction – first half of May, second half August and late January 2025. June will see tr Uranus conjunct his Midheaven (birth time being accurate) for a sharp change of direction career-wise, usually forced by outer events.

 And the one to watch for which is tr Uranus square his Mars in Leo across the GOP Convention in July which will be explosive.

  That point also sparks up in his relationship chart with the USA as tr Uranus squares the composite Jupiter. Whether that means the country breathes a sigh of relief or together they notch up a success is not clear. Though at exactly the same time tr Uranus squares the composite Mars/Neptune for a crisis and sudden disadvantages.

 Trump’s Solar Return chart taken as a stand alone does not look inspiring with Neptune conjunct the Midheaven from the 10th and Saturn conjunct from the 9th. His Solar Return Ascendant at 14 degrees Cancer is not cuspal or aspecting any of his natal planets but is almost exactly conjunct the USA Cancer Sun.  That will require a retrospective interpretation when the election is over.

  Nikki Haley will have a run of successes in April till early May but sags thereafter. She really has embarked on a Sisyphean task pushing a massive boulder uphill with tr Pluto trine her Saturn and conjunct her Sun through till after the election. Without a birth time there is no saying but she might well be playing a long game looking to kudos stored up for the future.

  Joe Biden of course has tr Uranus opposition his Scorpio Sun this August for a lightning bolt of a shake-up. See post of Jill Biden Jan 19th 2024. In addition to his age and a lacklustre VP, he is facing increasing pressure from a powder keg immigration surge as an increasingly lawless South America explodes in cartel violence.

Gary Goldsmith – a loose cannon with Royal ties

The Princess of Wales’ embarrassing uncle Gary has sashayed into the Celebrity Big Brother house threatening to blow holes in the Royals code of silence over Princess Catherine’s health and other matters. It could not have come at a worse time with conspiracy theories raging and heightened interest.

 Known as the black sheep of the family he is 10 years younger than sister Carole, has been married four time and is “an absolute nightmare to live with” in his own words, having no control over his words. Having grown up in a council house, he made his fortune with an IT recruitment company, floated on the stock market giving him a windfall worth many millions. His tastes run to the brash and expensive in clothes, holidays, houses, a yacht. His Ibiza villa he named La Maison de Bang Bang. In 2017, he was arrested and charged with assaulting his latest wife during a drunken argument for which he was fined £5,000 and ordered to rehab.

 He was born 29 April 1965 and has a charming and indulgent Sun Venus in Taurus opposition Neptune alongside a Piers-Morgan explosive collection of Mars, Uranus, Pluto in Virgo opposition Saturn. Plus a ‘bull in a china shop’ Gemini North Node giving him an extra a streak of wildness. Carole, born 31 January 1955, is much more battened down with a Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto. She’s be fond of him with her Moon in Taurus but also doesn’t trust him with his Neptune conjunct her Saturn. Her Mars in Aries is conjunct his Mercury so there will be arguments.

  On their relationship chart tr Neptune is square the Jupiter (conjunct Mars) throughout the BB stint hinting at disappointment if not outright panic. Though there’s also a sense of a oneupmanship tussle. By his own admission he is a mischief-maker and hates being controlled or told what to do.

  He looks to be in luck from March 13th onwards into April which might mean a win, or picking up goodies as he exits from other deals – or being relieved he is out of the hothouse.

 Catherine looks distanced from him with tr Saturn conjunct the Mercury and Sun in their relationship chart exactly now till early April.

 Prince William, if anything, looks more unsettled by him in 2025. Which is the worry once the media have got hold of him that he may continue on his merry way blurting out confidences.

 His other niece Pippa looks more furious with him after the event, in April and more so in July and onwards.

  Camilla oddly looks frosty but that may be because it upsets King Charles. Her Saturn Pluto in Leo clashes with Gary’s Sun Venus so not a good combo. Again her irritation with him lingers through April/May and across the summer and on.

  Like Piers Morgan Gary’s Mars Uranus Pluto sits in Harry’s 8th and is conjunct Meghan’s Venus in Virgo – so both will be flash points.

  All a confected media kerfuffle about nothing much.  But the Royals public relations advice is doing them no favours at the moment. King Charles’ health they have been admirably open about but they should know by this time that saying virtually nothing about Catherine is guaranteed to attract speculation – indeed may have helped prompt to TV invite to uncle Gary. Ditto William withdrawing at the last moment from a memorial for ‘personal reasons’. 

  Privacy is one thing but when you get handed vast amounts of wealth in William’s case a £1 billion estate with an income of £25m a year plus plus – it comes with strings attached. I’m no Republican but the reason they get the status, privilege, money is because they fulfil a singular public role.  It is a difficult life and I would not volunteer for it, but there are compensations.  

Brian Mulroney – appreciation grew with time

Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada was the most popular went he won in 1984 and the least popular when he exited in 1993 in a defeat of historic proportions.

  One obituary described him as “a complicated figure. He had an easy charm, combined with square-jawed good looks and abundant confidence, but his many enemies considered him smooth, showy, manipulative and self-regarding. He left office reviled, and was subsequently revealed to have accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from an arms lobbyist, but over time his achievements as prime minister gained a wider appreciation.”

He was unable to solve the Quebec separatist issue but he helped Canada to gain prominence on the international scene, having close friendships with Reagan and G HW Bush. He secured a free trade agreement with the USA, reformed Canada’s tax regime which reaped long-term dividends and did safeguard Canada’s natural environment. He made an unexpected comeback from retirement when Justin Trudeau, sought his help in dealing with President Trump.

 Born 20 March 1939 10.17 pm Baie Comeau, PQ, Canada, he had a 4th house Pisces Sun trine a persuasive 9th house Pluto and square a money-oriented Mars in his 2nd. His Sun was also opposition Neptune in his 10th which might have been slippery but would also have given him a sense which way the wind was blowing on certain issues.

  His crossovers with Canada are mixed. Both have Jupiter in Pisces. Both have heavily 4th house charts, keen on domestic issues and nature. But his Mercury and Saturn in Aries was conjunct the Canada Neptune Ascendant which would give rise to doubt and suspicion. His Ascendant was conjunct the Canada Saturn which would put a damper on his image.  And his Uranus in Taurus collided with Canada’s Pluto in Taurus opposition Saturn – his instinct would be for reform, to shake up moribund situations which would not always go down well.

Tammy Faye Bakker – church and mammon

Tammy Faye Bakker was a gaudy, over-made-up, campy televangelist who made millions for her church, married two true-believer, mega-church husbands, both convicted for fraud and gave Jessica Chastain an Oscar winning role in the 2021 movie about her. Now her son has made what he insists will be a revealing documentary of the true story of his family’s life: Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye.

Born 7 March 1942 3.27am International Falls, Minnesota, with Pentecostal preacher parents who divorced when she was young, she rose out of poverty, to make millions with her first husband Jim, until he fell from grace into prison, convicted on multiple counts of fraud. She attended his trial but was never charged. She divorced him when he was inside and married a contractor who built megachurches, who was later convicted of bankruptcy fraud and landed in jail as well.

  She had a 3rd house sharp-witted Pisces Sun in an expansive, over-confident square to Jupiter in chatty Gemini and trine an intense Scorpio Moon.  Her Moon was on the focal point of a Fixed – and clearly acquisitive – T Square to a 2nd house Venus opposition an 8th house Pluto. Her Moon would design her to interface with the public and her 8th house Pluto would give her influence. She also had Saturn Uranus in Taurus in her 5th giving her an ability to organise ‘entertainment.’ Her Neptune fittingly was in the religious 9th in a creative trine to Uranus and a publicity-seeking trine to Mars.  Her 8th house Pluto would arguably attract her to the dark side and to partners who wanted to wield power and money.

 Her first husband Jim, 2 January 1949 11 am Muskegon, Michigan, had his Libra Moon on her midheaven, also a showbizzy, publicity-attracting hard Mars Neptune aspect, and both had Venus in Aquarius. His Capricorn Sun was widely square Jupiter in pro-active Aries pumped up by a conjunction to Mars with Jupiter trine Pluto – overflowing with confidence.

 They were a tight, affectionate couple with a composite Sun Venus opposition Pluto square a Jupiter Saturn conjunction – and I would hazard a guess that she was the stronger of the two and the more indulgent.

  At his trial the jurors heard how over a million dollars went on furs and jewellery; homes were purchased and condos, and $2,000 a month on electricity went to heat their swimming pools.

  When their house of paradise collapsed in 1986 tr Uranus was conjunct Jim’s Midheaven and conjunct her Ascendant.

 She divorced him when he was in prison, disappeared for a while and returned with books, documentaries, and TV appearances and went on to marry Roe Messner, a church building contractor, 1 August 1935, whose Leo Sun and determined Pluto Mercury in Cancer fell in Tammy’s 8th with his Sun square Mars in Scorpio which fell in her 10th and square Jupiter in money-magnet Scorpio which was conjunct her Moon. An intense, entangled relationship. With their relationship chart having a serious indulgent composite Sun opposition Venus square Jupiter, trine Neptune with some gritty moments from Mars square Uranus and trine Saturn.  Her 8th house Pluto knew how to pick dramatic relationships.

  She died of cancer in 2007 and Jim when he was released from prison married a former televangelist. In 2021 he was sued for selling a fake COVID-19 cure called Silver Solution for $125 each.

  Leopards don’t change their spots but I never understand how all the conning and grifting squares with the god bothering.

Iris Apfel – whacky, colourful and ageless

Iris Apfel, the unashamedly ancient fashion icon, has died at 102. She had an illustrious career with her husband in their textile weaving business as an interior designer, decorating the White House for nine American presidents. Only after her retirement in her mid eighties she was asked to put on an exhibition of her enormous collection of outfits and accessories for New York Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and her ‘geriatric starlet’ days were born as she came into demand for lectures and fashion shoots.

  She was born on August 29 1921 in Queens, New York, her father head of a business selling glass and mirrors, and a Russian-born mother who who owned her own boutique and, according to her daughter, “dressed like the Duchess of Windsor”.

 Iris was a Sun Mercury in Virgo in an inventive and outspoken opposition to Uranus; with her Uranus in an experimental trine to Pluto (maybe Moon) in Cancer. Uranus doing its whacky best to make her stand out from the crowd. Her creative Venus in home/family oriented Cancer which would suit her interior design talents and may also have been conjunct her Moon. Her Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Virgo would help to rise her above the crowd and her Mars Neptune conjunction in flamboyant Leo attracted publicity and suited her for a zizzy lifestyle.   

  Her husband died in 2015 aged 101.