Astrology of Today’s News

A shock-and-awe, tax-cutting budget from new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng may have favoured the wealthy but it has seriously spooked the markets and sent the pound plummeting. Even the Financial Times describes it as a ‘gamble with economic stability’ with tax cuts amounting to 2% of GDP and no concern for the impact on public finance debt.  “This government may be indifferent to painful reality. But reality usually wins in the end.”

  Inside Westminster there is equally obvious alarm. One supporter of the previous chancellor Rishi Sunak said “she has just taken one of the biggest political gambles since the Second World War – and she is doing it without the support of a lot of MPs who backed others for leader, and even without the support of some of her own people. The fact is that if this plan fails it will burn the Conservatives’ reputation for economic competence for an entire generation. It feels existential.”

 Parallels are being drawn with the early 1970s when Anthony Barber, then Chancellor, promoted  “dash for growth” policies with significant tax cuts and did did it mostly on borrowed money: government borrowing rose from £1 billion in 1970-71 to £4.5 billion in 1972-73. There was a temporary upward blip in the economy then sterling slumped by 15 per cent, inflation shot up to more than 20 per cent, unemployment rose and the Heath Tory government was voted out in 1974. By 1976 Jim Callaghan, the next PM had to go cap in hand to the IMF begging for a loan.

 [ See previous posts on astrological parallels with the 1970s – 24 September 2021 and May 14 2020.]

Kwasi Kwarteng, 26 May 1975, London, is a super-ambitious Sun Gemini opposition Neptune and trine Pluto which in turn forms a ruthlessly determined opposition to Mars in impulsive Aries. The two stark oppositions in his chart will find him struggling to find balance. He’s certainly resourceful and overflowing with initiative with Saturn Venus in Cancer square Jupiter in Aries and Uranus in Libra to add to his two other Cardinal planets. What he lacks are practical, grounded Earth planets and Fixed enduring ones to give him staying power.

 His relationship chart with Liz Truss is odd for a chosen partner with a composite Mars opposition Saturn square Uranus – volatile, bad-tempered, unstable and liable to blow a fuse, which it may do from January 2023 onwards when tr Pluto upends the composite Uranus. There’s also a controlling composite Sun square Pluto – not a match made in heaven.

  His popularity with the UK in general will sag from November onwards. His own chart is slipping and slithering through tricky Neptune transits to midpoints and Uranian jolts as well over coming months; with a wake-up-call disruption from tr Pluto square his Uranus from February 2023 onwards.

  The Bank of England chart, 27 July 1694 JC, is under stress in 2023/2024 with tr Pluto trine the Mars = trapped, fearful, frustrated, no choices. By 2024 problems will escalate with the Solar Arc Pluto in a ‘blocked’ opposition to the BoE Saturn; and tr Neptune square the BoE Saturn into 2025 for high uncertainty and lack of will-power/choices.

 That fits with the general astrological trends:

UK economy in summary. Tr Uranus is opposition the UK 2^nd house Neptune now till mid October and repeating in the spring of 2023 = high anxiety about personal finances. Tr Uranus is also square the 5^th house Venus ruling stock markets, speculation and new projects for jolts and jangles. It’ll be early 2025 before tr Uranus is clear of hard aspects to the UK’s Fixed planets which is making this such a turbulent, uncertain period of rapid change. And 2025 also when there is an economic super-whammy of the wrong variety as the Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct the 8^th house Mars. Once that clears, from 2026 onward tr Uranus is out of the UK 8^th house.

Liz Truss may yet live up to Dominic Cummings’ ‘human hand grenade’ jibe. Her Term chart with a loaded Mars in the 8^th house of finance and debt; and a divisive Uranus in the 7^th is making sense. See post September 6 2022.

Add On; While there is a thought that the markets may have over-reacted to the ‘kamikaze’ mini-budget there have been acerbic comments from prominent economists, never mind an unprecedented slap down from the IMF.

  Larry Summers, former US Treasury secretary, said it made the UK appear “a bit like an emerging market turning itself into a submerging market”. Olivier Blanchard, former chief economist at the IMF, said the statement had been a “textbook example of how not to design and not to sell a fiscal expansion”.

  The FT says “Truss learns the hard way that Britain isn’t America. Reaganism is a good idea, but Reaganism without the dollar isn’t.”  And suggests – in different words – that arrogance is behind the Tory right’s policies in recent years, Brexit included. Not an out-of-date imperial arrogance, but a delusional superpower arrogance nonetheless.

 What is downright astonishing astrologically speaking is her relationship chart with Kwasi Kwarteng – rumours are of disagreements now but if it holds together December is when it will blow a real fuse.

Hilary Mantel, the only British author to win the Booker prize twice for her Thomas Cromwell trilogy has died.  She was extraordinarily prolific by any standards but more so because of the ill-health that plagued her throughout her life.

   She was born 6 July 1952, sadly no birth time, and had a fractured childhood with her mother’s lover, Jack Mantel, moving in with the family when she was seven. He shared a bedroom with her mother while her father moved to another room. They moved when she was 11 to escape the local gossip and disapproval and her father left, never to meet up with her again.

  She married her childhood sweetheart, a geologist, when she was 20, worked as a social worker after university with her debilitating illness — pain, vomiting, fatigue — dubbed psychosomatic by doctors. Eventually she diagnosed herself with endometriosis, a disorder of the cells that line the womb, which required surgery and left her unable to have children. Hormone replacement therapy saw her develop “a steroid moon face” and balloon from her previous size eight to a size 20: “I went to live in a body I didn’t recognise,” she said.

  She had visions as a child, firstly of the Devil when she was seven and again later. Ghosts were natural to her: “I am used to ‘seeing’ things that aren’t there,” she wrote. “Or — to put it in a way more acceptable to me — I am used to seeing things that ‘aren’t there’.”

  She was a Sun Cancer conjunct Venus and Uranus so destined for a unique path in life and marked by the rupture in her relationship with her father. Her Cancer planets were square a creative Neptune and an austere Saturn, as well as being widely trine a determined Mars in Scorpio. Her Jupiter in Taurus was in a confident square to Pluto and her South Node which was merciful given the difficulties of her life. Her Moon may have been Sagittarius or Capricorn.

  Her Mercury in flamboyant Leo was sextile a well-organised Saturn, in an acerbic/argumentative square to Mars and a confident square to Jupiter.

 Her writers’ 21^st Harmonic and her creative 7^th Harmonic were the strongest, marking her out as an exceptional talent when it came to words and communication.

 An extraordinary life – I imagine there would be strong 8^th house and 6^th house planets if a birth time was known for ghosts and visions and health.

Voter gloom about the Biden presidency with inflation rising and an economic recession approaching, and no sign of immigration or crime being tackled effectively pointed to a sure-fire loss in the November midterms. But the polling gap is closing after the unpopular anti-abortion rulings and the Trump classified-document farrago at Mar-a-Lago and now the New York corruption allegations.

 Biden is still unpopular but there may – perhaps – be a calculation that the alternative is worse. Though since the Second World War, only two midterm contests have gone the sitting president’s way – 1998 with Bill Clinton sitting on a strong economy; and 2002 GW Bush in the aftermath of 9/11.

   Biden is bedevilled by the present run of Eclipses with the October Solar opposition his Moon, bringing relationship upsets and a pressing dilemma about future plans; and the Lunar Eclipse on the day of the Mid Term Elections rattling his Mars and Mercury so it will be aggravated and stressful.  He does have a mildly positive tr Pluto trine his successful Sun/Jupiter midpoint now until early December which may help. Though he also has a stuck tr Saturn opposition his Pluto/NN midpoint which isn’t constructive.

   That apart he looks confused, has difficulty concentrating and that will continue in amplified form through 2023/24. He looks poleaxed in the month before the presidential election in 2024. He can’t possibly stand again. The Democrats need to find a competent, functioning substitute.

Nancy Pelosi, the Dem Speaker in Congress, is being coy about whether she’ll retire soon. Born 26 March 1940 3.10 pm, she does have the transiting Saturn square tr Uranus tugging at her Taurus Midheaven over coming months so a change of direction does look more than likely through 2023.

  Tr Saturn will square her Scorpio Moon exactly over early this November and then square her Uranus from mid November onwards, so there will be a degree of disruption and upheaval with tensions running high. There’s nothing that looks triumphant.

  2023 will be an uphill slog and fractious with acute frustrations and calamities in 2024 – but that could be personal issues. What will help is tr Jupiter moving through her 10^th in 2024 which should keep her morale high and her reputation intact.

Adam Schiff, who might replace her if/when she goes, 22 June 1960 6.13am Framingham, Massachusetts, has more indications of enthusiasm and good luck with tr Jupiter moving across his 10^th now till after mid 2023, with Jupiterian midpoints buoying him up as well from early 2023 onwards, with 2024/25 looking even more upbeat. He’ll have ups and downs and some setbacks at the same time but has more going for him than the others.

 Chuck Schumer, 23 November 1050 11am (from memory) New York, the Dem Senate Majority Leader, overseeing a 50-50 split at the moment, has the tr Saturn square tr Uranus tugging on his Pluto and one of his Mars midpoints in the aftermath of the election from mid November and through 2023, which looks bad-tempered, turbulent and not upbeat. 2023 will be a dreary slog; 2024 more so. If his birth time is sound then he’s not in a successful, progressive phase of his life.

Mitch McConnell, 20 February 1942 no birth time, Rep Senate Minority Leader, could be satisfied with the result with his Solar Arc Jupiter opposition his Sun around this year but the timing of that depends on his birth time which we don’t know. This December he’s oozing confidence and successful and that repeats in October 2023. Apart from those patches 2023 looks a fractious, aggravated and high-stress year with  2024 worse and calamitous for him across the November 2024 Presidential election.

 Kevin McCarthy, 26 January 1965 12.40pm Bakersfield, CA, Rep Minority Leader in Congress, has the tr Saturn square tr Uranus rattling up his cloud-cuckoo-land Jupiter opposition Neptune across the next few months which will bring him down to earth with a bump. Though he does have a mildly successful/positive tr Pluto sextile his Sun/Jupiter midpoint up to early this December. 2023 is a slog; 2024 a panicky failure.

To be remembered the influences on the chart may be about personal matters, individual professional concerns and not necessarily point to the state of the party.

Trump troubles are not coming singly, with a battalion of woes being landed at his feet. The Mar-a-Lago classified document scrap has been kicked firmly in touch by the special master judge who opined Trump couldn’t have it all ways and he needed to face the music. Now the New York AG Letitia James,  after a three-year civil investigation, has landed Donald Trump, his three children and two Trump Organisation executives with a fraud lawsuit. It alleges that they lied “by billions” about the value of real estate in order to get loans and pay less tax. The 222-page complaint alleges they accrued an estimated $250 million in unwarranted benefits between 2011 and 2021. James’s suit seeks to recover that money from the firm — and to limit the ability of Trump et al to do business in the state of New York.

Her office does not have the power to file criminal charges, but is referring allegations of criminal wrongdoing to federal prosecutors and to the IRS.

  This is in addition to the DoJ investigation into the January 6 riot last year and a 2020 election interference case in Georgia. Plus an old rape allegation from EJ Carroll may be heading for another civil lawsuit.

 What is clear from the fraud allegations is quite how delusional Trump and those around him are. To take an example, the size of his New York apartment was exaggerated by three times and ditto the value, both of which were easily checkable and could have been disputed. His grandiosity is way beyond the bounds of sanity with – until now – no one facing him with a hard reality check.

 The legal net is closing around him which it was always going to do late this year. His chart is facing a mountain of grief. Tr Uranus is in a catastrophic square to his Mars/Pluto midpoint now till mid October, with tr Saturn adding its sorrows in hard aspect to the same midpoint through this  October to mid November. From the end of October through till early January 2023 tr Neptune is retrograding back to the undermining square to his Sun and opposition his Mars/Jupiter midpoint, undercutting his enthusiasm.

  His Solar Arc Mars will square his Pluto, exact this coming December but in effect beforehand which will see him trapped, fearful and enraged. His Solar Arc Pluto moves to square his Saturn by March 2023, which will be a road-block of considerable proportions, discouraging and burdensome, with the effect building up beforehand. Being Trump he will have glimmerings of luck mid October to early November, but that won’t outweigh the massive pressures bearing down on him.

His CFO Allen Weisselberg has already pleaded guilty to tax violations and accepting off-the-books compensation from the former president’s company, including untaxed perks like rent, car payments and school tuition. As part of a plea deal which cut his prison sentence from a possible 15 years to a probable five months, he has agreed to testify against the Trump Organisation but has refused to testify against Trump himself. His relationship with Donald Trump is under massive strain in 2022/23 with tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars – cornered and infuriated and it won’t settle back to amiability any time soon with dark clouds looming over their connection for several years ahead.

  Of the children (all without birth times) Eric looks the most unnerved and shattered with tr Pluto square his Mars in 2022/23; the October Eclipse catching his Pluto in Scorpio; and tr Neptune undermining his confidence as it squares his Jupiter.  Plus a massive upheaval from Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Uranus at the moment.  

 Don Jnr is in his mid life crisis with tr Uranus opposition his Uranus across this year and early next with this November Lunar Eclipse also in opposition – so a changing-of-the-guard moment when key decisions get made. Not that he’ll have open options ahead with a blocked and depressing Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his Pluto in 2023 plus a raft of disastrous, disruptive and career-denting transits to midpoints.

  Ivanka, who is coping with husband Jared’s second operation for thyroid cancer, may have her mind elsewhere but she’s due quite a shake up by 2024 when her Solar Arc Saturn is conjunct her Uranus, putting a few limits on her freedom. Before then her midpoints look dismaying and undermining.

  Donald Trump’s relationship chart with the USA has the composite Pluto in Scorpio catching this October’s Solar Eclipse which looks like a decisive moment in the liaison – with a hint of criminality from Pluto and a realisation (hopefully) that changes have to be put in place.

  If the Republican Party 12 October 1853 chart holds good it has its Pluto in Taurus opposition the October Solar Eclipse. Trump’s relationship with the Party based on this chart is sagging and sinking as well as jolting and jangling through 2023 into 2024.

As with all things Trumpian, as well not to get over hopeful that this is IT. But even he can’t defy the laws of gravity forever.

  “When sorrows come, they come not single spies. But in battalions!”  William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Mahsa Amini killed by Iranian morality police for allegedly failing to properly observe the Islamic dress code, despite wearing a long black coat and scarf, has set off a wave of protests. At least seven people have been killed as thousands of people have demonstrated in anger at her death. Women took to the streets for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, burning their scarves to protest the compulsory hijab in towns and cities across the country.

 She was not a political activist and had no record of speaking out against social and political restrictions and was preparing to start university this month. The regime is now reckoned to have overstretched its enforcement of the Islamic dress code in an effort to hold back the tide of secular modernity. While there is general awareness that the street protests will not succeed in overturning the hijab obligation, there is increasing pressure to rein in the Ershad patrols,  now nicknamed death traps. Some conservative and hardline members of parliament even believe that apprehending women in the street should end for good.

     There isn’t a dramatic amount showing on the Iran 1979 Revolutionary charts except that they have Uranus in Scorpio catching the tr Saturn square this year and tr Uranus opposition in 2023. They’ve hit a mid-life crisis in the midst of a battle between the forces of regression and the forces of reform. Tr Neptune is also lurking around undermining morale.

  The Iran 7 October 1906 chart is showing more visible signs of unrest with the Solar Arc Mars opposing the Neptune and moving soon to square the Sun, all of which adds up to confusion and a shock.

  Ebraham Raisi, the current President’s Term, 5 August 2021, started on a Sun opposition Saturn square Uranus so was always going to be a tightrope act and subject to sudden swings between extremes. None of which will settle over the next two years with the Solar Arc Sun square the Uranus this year into next and Solar Arc Saturn opposing the Sun in 2024.  

  Ayatollah Khameini, the Supreme leader, now 83 and suffering from prostate cancer, has seen off several public demonstrations during his 30 year reign since 4 June 1989. The Pluto in Scorpio in his leadership chart has been rattled last year, this year and next by the Eclipses but there is nothing (without a birth time) that looks like a major hiccup anytime soon.

The third Carolean era begins on a high note with respect for the late Queen and her glorious send off touching the heart of even the most ardent republican. But whether Charles, basking in her glow and without a guiding hand from an experienced and esteemed prime minister as she had, will glide easily into his new role is questionable.

  Massive change is visible on his personal chart with tr Uranus square his 1^st house Pluto until early 2023, which always accompanies a revolution in lifestyle and in his case image as well. And tr Pluto squaring his 10^th house Moon  throughout 2023 and 2024, will bring immense challenges and pressures in his career with power struggles ongoing which always ensue with Pluto around. Perhaps in part due to his intention to slim down the monarchy and institute far-reaching changes. And all at a time of high anxiety for him with Neptune bearing down heavily on his freedom-loving Uranus Jupiter.

 His relationship chart with the UK is chained-together but strained with a composite Saturn opposition Mars square Pluto opposition Mercury likely to cause divisive and hostile arguments which will reverberate through the first three or four years as tr Saturn and tr Uranus wend their way round that Grand Cross. There is affection for him but he’s likely to cause great irritation as well. And confusion through 2023/24.

  His relationship with Liz Truss is distrustful and suspicion-ridden on both sides with a composite Saturn square Neptune; as well as implacably and explosively opposed on certain issues with composite Mars opposition Pluto and Uranus. With  sprinkling of friendliness added to cover a few cracks. But it will get ratchety in January next with tr Uranus square the Saturn with more discord in April and on and off into early 2024. With disappointment and evasions undermining confidence with tr Neptune opposition the composite Sun and Venus in 2023/24.

 Relations with other Royals:-. To be remembered there are always undercurrents in all families which the astrology pinpoints which individuals may not be aware of. And the Royals are more of a pressure cooker tribe than most. Plus some are knocking on in years and despite longevity in both parents there is no saying that certain influences of separation may point to a physical not an emotional experience.

 Charles’ relationship with William which has a complicated push-pull composite Sun, Uranus, Pluto conjunction has been through many changes but is clearly more settled than in the past. There will be moments of uncertainty and worry throughout 2023 with tr Neptune opposition the composite Saturn; and a few rocky moments over New Year as tr Uranus opposes the composite Mars Neptune conjunction. Charles’ vulnerability to being upstaged may be a problem as Will and Kate prove a more photogenic attraction. But it won’t last long.

  Charles gets on well with Princess Anne as long as both can lead their independent lives. Their composite Sun square Moon Uranus  suggests that close confinement would be a mistake. There’ll be a few blips in early 2023 and a business-like coolness throughout the year; with the possibility of a more enthusiastic joint push in 2024/25.

  What intrigues me is his relations with Edward and Sophie, since she has stepped recently into high prominence and seems a capable pair of Royal hands. Charles’ relationship with Edwards will be labouring under considerable confusion in 2023/24 and will be seriously aggravated in 2025/26. With a damper on good feeling with Sophie in 2023 and muddles and disappointments in 2024/25.

  Charles’ relations with Harry always were fraught and bitter with a composite Mars square Uranus Pluto which will make both feel trapped. It has been sagging under disappointing Neptune transits for the past two years and will continue to be so till February 2023. What is crucial ahead will be how both handle tr Pluto conjunct the composite Midheaven, dictating the path ahead for their togetherness. Tr Pluto conjunct the composite MC from late March 2023 on and off till late 2024 could transform their relationship path in a positive way after a long struggle or break it up altogether.

  He’s not overly enamoured of Meghan with aggro and frustration stretching ahead over the next three to four years.

  Prince Andrew is the blot on the landscape that needs bulldozed out of sight permanently. C’s relationship with him was always cool and argumentative/competitive with a composite Moon square Saturn and a Sun Mars conjunction. This year confusion reigns between them; in 2023 a chill will descend and by 2024 there will be a further upheaval. Charles is no fan of Sarah Ferguson, even less so ahead than before.

  Andrew’s personal chart indicates a life-changing fork in the road now with his Yod focal point Uranus at 18 degrees Leo catching the tr Uranus square now until early 2023. Pluto pressures from tr Pluto conjunct his Mars Venus in late Capricorn which is Solar Arc Moon is also conjunct which will make this year and next emotionally anguished and bitter. Plus a good deal of activity around his 8^th house Mercury with his Progressed Mars approaching and exact in 2024, which could detonate a few more unsavoury financial scandals into the open. 2024 will also see tr Uranus opposition his Scorpio Moon which can coincide with a house move – so it may be he moves out of Windsor Park.

  Andrew’s relationship with William has never been good with a mistrustful and exasperated composite Saturn, Neptune, Mars conjunction. It is forcibly pulling apart at the seams through 2023/24 with tr Pluto square the composite Sun; tr Neptune undermining the Venus Pluto, and then tr Uranus elbowing the Saturn, Neptune, Mars conjunction in 2025/26– it looks unlikely he’d keep any doors open for a come back.

Add On: Charles’ bro-romance with French President Emmanuel Macron forged at last year’s climate change conference may make France the surprise choice for his first state visit ahead of a Commonwealth trip. The Foreign Office is understood to be keen to utilise the diplomatic power of the monarchy to build bridges with major European neighbours post-Brexit.  Charles and Macron have a friendly link with Macron’s Sagittarius Sun conjunct C’s Jupiter and Macron’s Venus conjunct C’s Mars. Both have Saturn in Virgo and Moon in Taurus; and Macron’s Pluto is conjunct C’s Venus for a shared passion in environmentalism. There will be scratchy moments as well but overall they are singing off the same hymn sheet. Though whether that falls foul of Truss’s hardline policies against the EU remains to be seen.

  A bombshell revelation from – yet another – Royal book, this one by Angela Levin, suggests that Andrew lobbied his mother to forbid Charles’s proposed marriage to Camilla. ‘A senior insider told me, he had a treacherous request. “He tried to persuade the Queen to block Charles marrying Camilla by being quite poisonous, mean, unhelpful and very nasty about Camilla.” His claims included that she was insufficiently aristocratic and that she was not to be trusted. The same individual went on to say that “when Diana was alive, through her friendship with Andrew’s wife Sarah, [Duchess of York] she plotted with Andrew to try to push Prince Charles aside so Prince Andrew could become Regent to Prince William, who was then a teenager.’

“Andrew lobbied very hard with the hope that Charles would not become king when his mother died, and that William would wear the crown. His behaviour was very, very negative and extremely unpleasant to Queen [Elizabeth], who disagreed. I was told it was one of the rare occasions he didn’t get his way. Nonetheless, he was apparently very angry that he couldn’t rule the country in some way. He remained so hostile to Camilla’s emergence and acceptance that it’s doubtful it has ever been forgiven.”

  If a smidgeon of that is true it is mind-boggling. It certainly spotlights Charles and Andrew’s composite highly competitive Sun Mars conjunction in their relationship chart. Around that time tr Saturn in Cancer was opposing the composite Sun Mars. And Saturn was also casting a freeze on the Queen and Andrew’s relationship in hard aspect to the delusional Sun opposition Moon Neptune on their composite chart – bringing a reality check. Pity the Queen never quite woke up to his true colours.

   Around this time Camilla was not invited to a Royal family Windsor do but Andrew turned up with his special guests – Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Nuff said.

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     Liz Truss hot-footing it to the USA has made the surprising admission that a UK-US trade deal, seen as one of the biggest prizes of Brexit, essential to boost UK growth, is not likely in the next few years. The Northern Ireland Protocol is one stumbling block with some Democrats warning there can be no trade deal unless the matter is resolved.

  A leaked 2018 UK government document assumed a US trade deal might boost Britain’s gross domestic product by 0.2 per cent in the long term, and deals with India, Australia, Gulf States  and south-east Asia might add a further total of 0.1-0.4 per cent to GDP over the long term. compared with official forecasts suggesting that Brexit would cut GDP by 4 per cent in the long term.

  What is astrologically striking is that Liz Truss’s relationship with Joe Biden which has a volatile, not to say explosive, Mars Uranus conjunction is flaring up into open discord at exactly the time when the USA/UK relationship chart is due for a major jolt.

 Truss’s Mars in Taurus was never going to sit comfortably with Biden’s Scorpio Mars Mercury; nor was her evasive, disorganised Neptune opposing his Saturn going to make for a shared agenda or mutual trust. Plus her controlling Pluto falls in his 10^th tempting her to micromanage his decisions; while her Sun is conjunct his Pluto making him think he’s top dog and in control. Last but not least her overloaded and rigid Saturn in Cancer is conjunct his Jupiter, so she’ll dampen his enthusiasm and then some. Not soulmates for sure.

  All of this translates in the relationship chart into a tussle-for-the-upper-hand composite Jupiter square Pluto; a defensive, chilly Sun square Saturn; and a combustible Mars conjunct Uranus at 15 degrees Leo. Tr Uranus will light the touch paper to detonate the composite incendiary Mars Uranus this December to mid January and again in February to mid March.

  The USA/UK relationship chart has an emphasised Pluto at 15 degrees Aquarius which is on the focal point to a Yod inconjunct Jupiter sextile Neptune giving rise to an at-times illusory togetherness but one in which power and status plays a key role. The Pluto is also trine the composite Sun trine North Node, which doubles its effect, giving rise to a locked-together connection that has undertones of resentment and constant game playing. The UK/USA composite Pluto will catch the transiting Uranus square in December/January and February/March 2023 which will require a significant diplomatic reset; with aggravations continuing in 2024/25 with tr Pluto trine the composite Mars.

ADD ON: UK economy in summary. Tr Uranus is opposition the UK 2^nd house Neptune now till mid October and repeating in the spring of 2023 = high anxiety about personal finances. Tr Uranus is also square the 5^th house Venus ruling stock markets, speculation and new projects for jolts and jangles this year and early next. It’ll be early 2025 before tr Uranus is clear of hard aspects to the UK’s Fixed planets which is making this such a turbulent, uncertain period of rapid change. And 2025 also when there is an economic super-whammy of the wrong variety as the Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct the 8^th house Mars. Once that clears, from 2026 onward tr Uranus is out of the UK 8^th house and the stormy seas should calm down slightly.

  This was never going to be an easy phase – several annis horribilis years.

Watched by a goodly chunk of the world’s population on television the Queen’s funeral was a breath taking and  sumptuous display of military pomp, which, as ever, ran with flawless precision. The pallbearers of the Queen’s Company, 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards, recalled at short notice from active service in Iraq, had the nerve-wracking task of manoeuvring the coffin off and on catafalques, up and down steps and in and out of the hearse four times without stumbling. The floral bouquet, state crown and orb and sceptre balanced on top never wobbled.

  Lessons were learned from previous Royal funeral mishaps – in 1936 George V’s bejewelled Maltese Cross, containing some of the biggest jewels in the Crown, fell off into the gutter from the coffin top during his funeral procession. It was deemed a bad omen, with his son, Edward VIII abdicating not long after which caused a constitutional crisis.  Since then the Royal symbols have been anchored on. He was buried on 28 February 1936 with an accident-prone Mars Saturn conjunction in Pisces in a hopeful opposition Neptune square Jupiter, which latter two sometimes accompany scandals and instability.

  The sailors pulling the coffin on the gun carriage on ropes stems from Queen Victoria’s funeral in 1901 when panicking horses reared up and threatened to topple the coffin. Sailors on foot took over and the tradition has stuck. Her funeral on 2 February 1901 was a scrambled affair since no one knew what the protocol was and she insisted on being buried in a white dress with her wedding veil. At her request a dressing gown of her late husband Albert who had died 40 years earlier, was placed by her side, along with a plaster cast of his hand, while a lock of John Brown’s hair, along with a picture of him, was placed in her left hand concealed from the view of the family by a carefully positioned bunch of flowers.

  On her funeral day there was an exact disruptive Uranus opposition Pluto in an excitable and aggravated square to Mars. No wonder the horses were skittish.

  Queen Elizabeth’s funeral chart had a dreamy though not always practical Sun opposition Neptune, but that was anchored by an Earth Grand Trine of a Virgo Sun trine Uranus trine Pluto – arguably allowing Neptune to give vent to its cinematic talents without getting in the way of the organisation which ran like clockwork.

 My personal observations having watched the entire day was of admiration for the logistics and spectacle of it all – even if the Windsor last leg was a touch too much. Inside, the religious service was less noteworthy. The prelates, as ever, had uninspiring voices, flat delivery and were glued to the words on the page in front of them. When will they ever learn they are broadcasting to billions? Taking voice production lessons and practising oratory might add to the gravitas of the occasion. The choral music was top notch.  

 Baroness Scotland, secretary-general of the Commonwealth, was presumably there at the Queen’s request to indicate her love of the Commonwealth but given the corruption allegations against her was regrettable – she’s a Sun Mars Pluto in Leo conjunction, which is formidably determined and ruthless. Liz Truss up second was also less than rousing. Seating Joe Biden way back in the stalls was a mistake.

  Of the Royals – Camilla looked haunted and under-slept. The Princess of Wales looked supremely elegant, sombre and steely. The Royal children were well-behaved and Charlotte will clearly be a beauty. Charles let his feelings show but came across as dependable in the role. Princess Anne was a stalwart support. Prince Harry looked ill-at-ease but at least he was sat visibly behind Charles and Camilla for one of the services which made him feel less like an unwanted spare. Prince Andrew’s presence was a jarring mistake but probably unavoidable given his closeness to the Queen. Pray god he disappears off stage for ever in the near future. Though it may take a heavy boot behind him since his arrogance is boundless.  Luckily Prince William seriously dislikes him and he’ll straighten Charles’ spine.

Putin’s plans for a rival political and economic bloc to counter US and western interests have taken a hit with both China and India voicing concerns over the Ukraine invasion. Narendra Modi, the Indian PM, told Putin that “today’s era is not an era of war” and is thought to prefer a position of ambiguity where he can be friends with both sides. And Putin acknowledged Xi’s “concerns” about the war in public remarks.

  None of relationship charts between China, India and the two Russia charts, 1917/1991 look encouraging as far as diplomatic warmth is concerned. The China 1912/Russia 1991 chart indicates disappointment, confusion and uncertainty through 2022 and 2023. The China 1912/Russia 1917 composite is devastated in 2023/24, more so in 2025.

  It’s not quite so stark with India though the India/Russia 1917 connection is sagging and evasive in 2023 and completely blocked in 2024/25. Not much entente anywhere to be seen and certainly not cordiale.

 The Russia 8 December 1991 7.45 pm chart is catching the Scorpio Solar Eclipse late this October as it is conjunct the 4^th house Venus, hinting at a domestic crisis and can accompany a feeling of having to make it alone for a while.

  Tr Uranus will oppose the Pluto for a major disruption from mid June onwards, on and off into 2024. That could coincide with considerable domestic unrest and a forced change of direction from the leadership. Before then in late December tr Saturn will square the Russia Pluto for a stuck, gloomy couple of weeks which could be associated with the war. Relations with neighbours will take years to fix with tr Pluto moving on to square the 7^th house Saturn in 2025/6.

 The Russia 8 November 1917 2.12 am chart is showing more obvious turbulence with its Fixed T Square of Uranus in Aquarius opposition Saturn square Sun, Mercury in Scorpio catching the unstable tr Uranus square tr Saturn full on this year plus the Eclipses on the Sun with tr Uranus causing ructions in January 2023 and more from May 2023 onwards.

  It may or may not be relevant but on the Russia 1917 chart the Progressed Mars went retrograde around 2008/09 and stays that way for many years. That usually accompanies a loss of potency and vitality with direct action bringing diminishing returns.  

   The Georgia war broke out at that point and was the first time since the fall of the USSR that the Russian military had been used against an independent state to attain its political objectives. ‘The war in Georgia showed Russia’s assertiveness in revising international relations and undermining the hegemony of the United States.’

   Maybe that’s where it all went wrong as Putin embarked on his wrong-headed campaign to restore Russia’s greatness by forcefully harvesting former satellite states. As with all astrology affecting countries it takes longer to kick in than with individuals.

  The USA’s Progressed Mars went retrograde in 2006 which caused comment and may be a pointer. Though the UK Progressed Mars didn’t when you might have expected it to – so maybe not all that significant.

Add ON: Putin has now threatened the West with nuclear weapons over Ukraine, saying: ‘I’m not bluffing’. And he has announced the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists, the first Russian mobilisation since WW2. Though many analysts are sceptical that a partial mobilisation will have a rapid impact on the battlefield, because it could take several months to train reservists and to create new units with commanders and logistical support, never mind finding adequate equipment.

   His warnings have prompted even China to demand a ceasefire ‘through dialogue and consultation’, while Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Putin should return all occupied land, including Crimea, to its ‘rightful owners’. 

Putin is generally regarded as desperate because of recent losses and the overall failure of his invasion which it is reckoned has cost 70,000 Russian dead or wounded. Unfortunately losing may make it more likely that he will lash out like a cornered cougar.

  His 4^th term chart has tr Pluto conjunct the Mars now till early December which will increase his fear and impotent frustration to def con levels. The relationship chart with the USA will heat up from early December through to early January with increasing bitterness and hostility. January also sees further eruptions of tension.  The EU and UK look rattled at the moment and again in early 2023. NATO is on alert with hints of an upheaval this November and again in March 2023.

  This October’s Scorpio Solar Eclipse is in a Saros Series that Bernadette Brady connects to Mars Pluto – ‘It is about being forceful and taking power. It has a manic flavour about it with great force or strength manifesting in the relationship area.’

  The Russia 1991 chart’s 4^th house Venus catches it exactly – which could point to nationalistic fervour – love of the homeland etc.