Marjorie

The South African economy is ‘in crisis’ says the finance minister Pravin Gordhan. There is shrinking growth, 25% unemployment, and widespread poverty. The South African rand has halved over the past five years, losing 30% since last year’s Chinese crisis.

The South Africa 1910 chart has a 9 degree Gemini Sun which is catching the tr Neptune square, usually an indicator of collapse of financial confidence. That repeats in magnified form in 2018 with Solar Arc Jupiter opposition Neptune. Before then tr Pluto will oppose Neptune in 2016/17 which is devastating; with a frustrating, trapped tr Pluto opposition Mars in 2017/18. Plus a rebellious tr Uranus square Uranus this year – so all fairly grim.

The May 10 1994 chart, has tr Uranus square Neptune in 2016 and Uranus in 2017; with tr Neptune square tr Saturn hitting the Solar Arc Sun this year; and tr Pluto square Mars in 2017/2018 – much the same story.

The Bank of South Africa, 30 June 1921, starts several years of a Neptunian swamp as tr Neptune is conjunct Uranus and moves on to oppose Jupiter Saturn in Virgo until 2012, so it won’t be easy or quick to turn the situation round.

Australia is to boost its defence spending because of concerns over military expansion in the region, especially by the Chinese.

Although Australia did well out of China’s boom and need for commodities, there is wariness about China’s less than transparent activities in the southern oceans.

It was always an edgy relationship with the AU Mars conjunct the China Saturn in Virgo; and the China Sun Neptune in Libra square Uranus hitting off the AU Sun Saturn in Capricorn.

The relationship chart has an uncomfortable composite Sun square Neptune Mars – so not a recipe for long term co-operation and mutual support; plus a oneupmanship composite Jupiter opposition Pluto. That latter is under pressure till late 2017.  In 2018 there’s an insecure, argumentative tr Uranus trine the composite Mars; and by 2020 the disruptive tr Pluto trine the composite Uranus will upset diplomatic relations considerably.

Prince William has come under criticism for not pulling his weight as a working Royal while holding down a part-time helicopter pilot job (in the Daily Mail). While it is arguable as third in line he doesn’t really need to do as much as he’ll do later on, Ken Palace coming out with some weak-minded excuse about EU regulations, that was instantly blown out of the water, hardly helps. The Queen did enjoy quiet time in Malta in the early years of her marriage when Philip was stationed there (the children were left at home with nanny), so there is precedent.

Prince William has a dependent-on-close-partner 7^th house New Moon in Cancer trine a drama-queen Jupiter on the MC. He’ll grow into the latter as a success story as he matures in later life but it can make him lazy. Plus he has an emphasised Venus in Taurus in the 5^th which is indulgent; and as focal point of a Yod, makes him feel he doesn’t fit in when out and about glad-handing. Again, once that Yod clicks into place he’ll find his groove.

Last year and this he does have tr Pluto square his Saturn which can feel like an uphill struggle and discouraging.  Though he’ll get a jolt when tr Uranus starts to oppose his 9^th house Pluto from mid 2016 to mid 2017. That suggests a change of pace and pressure for a major re-organisation of his everyday life. Though with a Saturn Pluto conjunction he can be very stubborn and resistant to advice and pressure.   His midpoints this year are a mix of some highs and some aggravated phases.

Tr Saturn is now into his 12^th so gradually moving away from old ambitions and he may drop into a lower profile phase from late 2017 onwards for a few years.  But during tr Saturn in his 1^st quadrant from 2018 onwards it is possible he may find himself and get himself onto a meaningful track. In 2019 his focal point Venus has moved by Solar Arc to conjunct his Sun so that could be the trigger.

One problem he faces is his father who tends to get prickly if attention is diverted away from him. Their relationship chart has a composite Mars Neptune conjunction, so if one succeeds the other feels diminished. Their relationship looks disappointing and cool this year and under a fair amount of pressure.

Kate is having a fairly tricky year with tr Uranus square her Capricorn Sun and opposition her Saturn as well as tr Pluto opposition her Moon (maybe) so a fair amount of upheaval.

My feeling is that not all is happy in her parents’ marriage which given the closeness of the family will give her problems. Prince William looks as if the shine has gone slightly off his relationship with them. And there are some hiccups for the Middletons through this year.

Boris Johnson has decided to opt for Brexit but is hedging his bets madly by saying voting OUT is the best way of gaining more concessions which would then make it worthwhile to stay IN. 19 June 1964 2pm New York.

Over the late June referendum he has tr Saturn exactly square his Pluto in Virgo with tr Neptune in opposition which doesn’t look too supportive of a power base.

One problem with predictions this year is the Saturn Jupiter Neptune T square in transit which throws up good news and bad news at the same time. His Jupiter does get a confidence boost pre-Referendum from the tr Pluto trine but it also gets a tr Pluto sextile Neptune at the same time which could undercut over-confident plans. He’s also got three very disaster-prone Uranus transits in hard aspect to Mars midpoints before then which doesn’t suggest high confidence.

Ian Duncan Smith, another Brexit campaigner, 9 April 1954 9.02pm Edinburgh, has all manner of Jupiter aspects which look more hopeful for him this year and especially in the next three years; though tr Saturn heading into his 2^nd house is generally a less successful time.

Michael Gove, Theresa Villiers and Chris Grayling, other Brexit-ers, all have unhappy, stuck influences in late June.

The Conservative Party chart, 12 Nov 1867, is certainly under pressure this year from tr Pluto trine Pluto and moving on to sextile the Sun in 2017/18 which looks like forced change under great difficulty. But managed without upsetting the applecart.

Tr Neptune is opposition the CParty North Node in Virgo exactly in late June with tr Saturn square – which is fairly esoteric and difficult to assess.  Though at a stretch, maybe concerns about the soul of the party and great concern arising from that. But there’s nothing suggesting an implosion.

The 2016 USA Election will be held on November 8^th when there is a controlling T Square onto Pluto in Capricorn from a Jupiter in Libra opposition Uranus; and another T Square onto Saturn in Sagittarius from a North Node opposition Neptune. Saturn and Pluto both suggest a conservative victory. And indeed tr Jupiter will conjunct the USA’s 1776 Saturn in Libra shortly after, which could also be seen as a boost for the traditional party.  That’s speculative but thoughts to ponder.

Donald Trump has a plethora of lucky, successful Jupiter this year with tr Pluto square his Jupiter in Libra from March on and off till late 2017. Plus Solar Arc Pluto conjunct Jupiter, exact at the New Year – and tr Jupiter conjunct both, between the election and inauguration. He’s also got helpful Uranus transits to Jupiter midpoints now till mid-April and returning in December/January 2017.

However he also, less helpfully, has tr Uranus square his Saturn in Cancer in late May/June as well as tr Uranus square his Mars/North Node midpoint at the same time – both of which are high-tension, argumentative and can accompany heart scares. And tr Pluto trine his Mars/Neptune June to mid July which is low energy and confused.  Plus tr Uranus square his Sun/Mars midpoint from late June to early September which is overtaxing strength, over hasty, having to adjust to new conditions.

His Solar Return from June 2016 for a year has a pressured Pluto in the 6^th square a 10^th house Uranus – which could either point to health issues forcing a change of direction; or a change of direction landing him with too much work. Four of his Lunar Returns – March, April, May/June and October – have planets in the 6^th which could again indicate overwork impacting on health.

Other thought is that tr Pluto square his Jupiter from March can lead to an over reach of confidence, often financial, but also can push the individual into thinking that rules governing ordinary mortals don’t apply to them.

Bernie Sanders does have tr Uranus sextile his Jupiter this year mid March to early April which is mild but good news; and tr Pluto trine his Virgo Sun, on and off all year, which is generally progressive. On the downside he has tr Neptune square Jupiter/Saturn and then Jupiter/Uranus mid Feb to mid April which suggests a bit of a slide. The second week in May till the end of the month has high tension tr Uranus square Sun/Saturn and Sun/Uranus as well as tr Uranus opposition Venus and then conjunct Mars in late May to end of June – all of those are insecure, high tension, jolting and the last one can put strain on heart in older people.

If birth time of 12.27pm is accurate he has tr Uranus conjunct his Moon in the second half of March; and Solar Arc Pluto opposition his Moon, exact across the election. The Moon is emotional but is also associated with the body.

Hillary, as ever, remains an enigma, and has a dodgy birth time. She gets a minor uplift from tr Pluto sextile Sun/Jupiter now till early March and again June to mid July. But has wobbly, insecure transits to other mid points apart from that. Tr Uranus will trine her Saturn over the election which could arguably be a positive change of direction/lifestyle. But on its own it’s hardly strong enough to indicate a victory.

Ted Cruz, without birth time, doesn’t look to be on a winning streak; and neither does Rubio, again without birth time. Both would be hoping to mop up the anyone-but-Trump votes as the other candidates throw in the towel.

David Cameron has returned from a punishing negotiation in Brussels claiming victory and a special status for the UK ahead, while the Brexit campaigners says it was a hollow deal only offering minor changes. Plus ca change in politics.

The UK IN/OUT EU referendum will now be held on 23^rd June with the Neptune opposition Jupiter square Saturn in place which has a high worry, and nit-picking factor; plus a confident Jupiter trine Pluto.

David Cameron’s Govt chart, 8 May 2015 12.30pm, is looking confident and successful then with tr Jupiter trine Pluto and trine the Taurus Sun. His own personal chart has the lucky Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct Uranus, not exact for some months but in effect; and tr Jupiter conjunct his Pluto Uranus through the aftermath in July – all of which looks like a boost.

The EU chart isn’t much help since it is sunk in catastrophes and setbacks all year. Losing the UK would be a blow but it pales in insignificance compared to the other gargantuan problems they are facing, the unstoppable flow of migrants being one.

The EU/UK relationship chart was under most strain two or three years back with the tr Uranus square tr Pluto hitting on the composite Sun. But apart from tr Saturn opposing the composite Moon and squaring Jupiter in late Oct/Nov there’s not much sign of a terminal separation.

The UK 1801 chart does have tr Uranus moving through the 7^th square the 10^th house Moon in the second half of next month (March) which could suggest a need for freedom in close relationships and a significant change. Tr Uranus will trine the 11^th house Saturn at the Referendum which could suggest constitutional changes for the country. Plus tr Pluto squares the 7^th house North Node and Sun/Moon midpoint this September/October which could point to strains in close relationships – which it would have to be said are not the UK’s forte.

But having said that, all in all, I’d doubt the UK would leave – from the astrology I mean.  Cameron’s charts look too chipper to fail at the moment..

Yet another Jeffrey Archer pot-boiler (= extremely successful) thriller has appeared – Cometh the Hour. To date he’s sold 330 million worldwide during a life which has been jampacked with more incident and scandal than many novels – bankruptcy, a libel trial involving a prostitute, a perjury trial resulting in four years imprisonment. Throughout, his steadfast wife Mary, an academic scientist and charity worker, led a worthy professional life and stood by her man – and his money.

He was born 15 April 1940 11.45am London and has an ambitious and lucky 10^th house Jupiter Sun in Aries with Saturn and Uranus in Taurus (not conjunct) also in the 10^th.  His Sun Jupiter oppose a 4^th house North Node in Libra squaring onto a 12^th house Cancer Moon – hinting that establishing a home life and close relationships did not come easily to him. His Uranus is trine Neptune, sextiling onto the Moon – so more focus on a Moon which has an intuitive sense of what the public like.

Mary, 22 Dec 1944, is a Sun Mercury in Capricorn opposition Saturn in Cancer square Neptune – undoubtedly serious, hard-working though obviously with a Neptunian ability not to see what she didn’t want to. Her Neptune is also in an intellectual/communicative, emotionally detached Air Grand Trine.

What is interesting about their synastry are that both have Water Moons (hers Pisces, his Cancer); both have Venus in Air signs (his Venus Mars in Gemini, hers Venus in Aquarius trine Uranus trine Neptune). Both have ambitious Cardinal Sun though her is in hard aspect to Saturn and his to Jupiter – he has the confidence and she lacks self-esteem. Her Jupiter opposes his Mercury and his Jupiter trines her Mars in Sagittarius.

Their relationship chart isn’t memorably passionate apart from a composite Venus trine Pluto; but it has an adventurous Mars square Jupiter and a superficially light-hearted Venus square Jupiter; plus a focal point Pluto keeping them together.

What is also significant is that both their Venuses are conjunct their Sun/Moon midpoint, suggesting the luck to find an affectionate partner – despite all the difficulties.

He had prostate cancer three years ago when his Solar Arc Uranus was conjunct his Pluto and tr Pluto was just into his 6^th house of health.  This year is sprinkled with good luck with tr Uranus conjunct his natal Jupiter; and three Jupiter midpoints getting a boost.  So generally an enthusiastic, upbeat year for him.

Best known for The Name of a Rose, made into a film starring Sean Connery, Umberto Eco was a modern Renaissance man, an Italian philosopher, literary critic, novelist and essayist. His novels are not for the faint hearted combining semiotics, mediaeval history and literary theory. He said his greatest influences came from Jorge Luis Borge and James Joyce.

Born 5 January 1932 in Alessandria, Italy, he had a powerful Cardinal T Square of Pluto opposition a Capricorn Sun Mars Saturn square Uranus – so a tough early life, but born with the formidably determined Saturn Pluto of the early thirties squaring onto an innovative Uranus which produced many successful individuals.

He also had an inspirational Fire Grand Trine of a 5^th house Moon North Node in Sagittarius trine Uranus MC trine Jupiter in Leo – so not short of confidence, and revelling in public attention. He died on 19^th February 2016.

Harper Lee, author of Kill the Mockingbird, has died just a few months after her only other novel, a prequel – Go Set A Watchman – was discovered and published.

Mockingbird brought her a Pulitzer and stratospheric success to which she responded by retiring into obscurity and never writing another. Almost as if the success was too much to tolerate.

She was born 28 April 1926 5.25pm Monroeville, Alabama, to a lawyer father who inspired her to write her novel about racism in the courtroom in the Deep South.  She had a 7^th house Taurus Sun sparsely aspected except for a sextile to a 9^th house Pluto. Her chart is dominated by a creative and self-protective Water Grand Trine of Venus Uranus in Pisces trine Moon Saturn in Scorpio trine a Cancer MC and North Node. And a Fixed T Square of Neptune opposition Mars Jupiter in Aquarius square a focal point Moon Saturn in Scorpio.

Water Grand Trine individuals can be detached from reality, preferring to stay within their inner fantasy world; and a heavily aspect Moon Saturn in private Scorpio would also have difficulty coming to terms with global adulation.

Her 7^th Harmonic was strong which I always associate with a flash of genius rather than a constant flow of inspiration. But she also had a notable writers’ 21H.

The Koh-I-Noor diamond, Persian for Mountain of Light, was supposedly found in the 13^th Century. It then had a chequered history being taken as a spoil of war through several centuries, before the Brits in India (then united with modern Pakistan), got hold of it in the mid 19^th Century. It was presented to Queen Victoria on 3 July 1850, re-cut and ultimately found itself as the centre piece of the Queen Mother’s crown.

There is now a claim, as there have been in the past, for its return, in this case to Pakistan, though it is unlikely to happen.

The 3 July 1850 chart has a flamboyant Mars in Leo trine Uranus Pluto Saturn in Aries – so a triple conjunction event. Venus also in showy Leo is conjunct the ‘leadership’ Leo North Node – winner takes the spoils.  The Cancer Sun is trine Neptune on one side and sextile Jupiter on the other.

Tr Uranus is conjunct the KIN Saturn in a couple of months and by 2018 will be conjunct the KIN Uranus Pluto which looks like an upheaval of sorts. But being removed from the Tower of London is not a realistic possibility.