Mitzi Gaynor, actress, singer and dancer, was best known for South Pacific, the 1958 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical extravaganza which won her a Golden Globe nomination; and There’s No Business Like Showbusiness. She has died aged 93, after a long career performing latterly in nightclubs and on TV specials.
She was born 4 September 1931 10.35am (unverified) CST, Chicago, Illinois and had a stellium in Virgo with her Sun conjunct Mercury, Venus and Neptune – hard-working, earthy, creative. Her Virgo planets squared a restless Gemini Moon. The rest of her chart was tied into a high-powered, pro-active Cardinal Grand Cross giving her a surplus of initiative. She would not be short of courage, determination and grit but would have a tendency to attract crises and disruptions in her life.
Thomas Tuchel considered one of the best football managers has been named as the England team coach from 1 January 1925. He is described by one commentator as ‘an impressive, if abrasive, personality with a reputation as an outstanding tactician.’
Born 29 August 1973 Krumbach, Germany, no birth time, he has a singular, complex and determined chart. His Virgo Sun and Mercury are sextile Saturn and trine Mars in earthy Taurus; as well as being square a visionary Neptune. His Pluto is in an unrelenting square to Saturn and a confident trine to Jupiter.
What marks his chart out in addition are three yods. Neptune sextile Jupiter inconjunct Saturn; Saturn sextile Sun Mercury inconjunct Jupiter; and Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Mars.
What a complicated mix of opposites.
His start chart of 1 January 2025 is not too encouraging with a frustrated/trapped Mars opposition Pluto – and an up-and-down Mercury opposition Jupiter square Saturn.
Tr Neptune Saturn into Aries will give him problems into 2026 as it undermines his Pluto and Saturn but he’ll respond with bullish confidence as tr Pluto is conjunct his Jupiter.
Plagiariasm is defined as passing someone else’s words or ideas off as one’s own. Effectively stealing. It has long been known in academia and in journalism though there are grey areas in music and the creative arts with arguments over whether ideas or tunes can be copyrightable.
On a quick skip through some high profile examples, what is at first sight counter-intuitive are frequent aspects between Mercury and Saturn in the individual charts. Saturn has a reputation for rigour and sticking to the straight and narrow. But here it might have more to do with a lack of confidence or low self esteem in words/ideas/writing so other authors’ work seem a tempting way of appearing brighter and better.
Journalist Johann Hari, 21 January 1979 was one and he has a Sun Mars in Aquarius opposition Jupiter in Leo so will be temperamentally keen to make a splash – Mars Jupiter can also be opportunistic. His Mercury in Capricorn is trine Saturn North Node in Virgo.
Jayson Blair, 23 March 1976, a NY Times journalist, a desperately ambitious Aries Sun opposition Pluto square Mars; also has Mercury (in Pisces) trine Saturn in Cancer.
Jonah Lehner, 25 June 1981, author/blogger, has his Cancer Sun conjunct Mercury in late Gemini with both square Jupiter Saturn in Libra.
Stephen Glass, 15 September 1972, a former journalist, has a Virgo Sun, Mars, Mercury square Jupiter on one side and Saturn in Gemini on the other.
Doris Kearns Goodwin, 4 January 1943, author, is a Sun Capricorn with her Mercury in Aquarius opposition Pluto and trine Saturn and Uranus as well as Neptune.
Claudine Gay, 4 August 1970, academic, has a Sun Mars in Leo with her Mercury in a squine (105 degree) aspect to Saturn – not really instructive.
My slight impression – in addition to a fair amount of Fire in several charts – is a mix of super-charged ambition combined with worry about weak communication skills is what does the damage. And Saturn as ever always claims its pound of flesh in exposing transgressions.
Liam Payne, once a member of One Direction, the most popular boyband of its era, a creation of Simon Cowell’s talent show X Factor, has died at 31. He fell off a sixth floor hotel balcony in Argentina after a police intervention for acting aggressively, apparently on alcohol and drugs. Fame at a young age hit him hard and more so his lack of direction once the band split. He talked in interviews about being troubled, having addiction problems and being suicidal, with his ex-fiancee having a restraining order against him for his obsessive behaviour after their split.
He was born 29 August 1993 1pm Wolverhampton, England, and had a Virgo Sun Mercury conjunct his midheaven inconjunct an Aquarius Moon which would make him ambitious but give him problems finding a balance between his head and his heart. He had Pluto in his 1st below his Scorpio Ascendant in a tough, unrelenting square to Saturn in Aquarius, hinting at a depressive streak. His Sun/Moon midpoint, his marriage/close relationship significator, was conjunct his Pluto hinting at his intense approach to partners, often older than himself – and is described by Ebertin as ‘a soul torn by inner conflict.’
He also had the highly-strung Uranus Neptune in Capricorn of his generation square an exuberant Mars Jupiter in Libra. When the band split in 2016 tr Pluto was crossing his Uranus Neptune conjunction which would cause maximum confusion – made worse by tr Saturn moving through the nadir of his first Quadrant.
Recently he had the Libra Solar Eclipse conjunct his Mars which can result in anger spilling out destructively into the open if not channelled sensibly.
General Sir Mike Jackson, formerly called ‘The Prince of Darkness’ and UK Chief of the General Staff from 2003 and 2006, has died. Well liked amongst military personnel for his no-nonsense style of leadership, he proved his mettle in the Kosovo crisis when he refused to obey his American counterpart in blocking Russian troops landing at Pristina airport to support the Serbs, saying “I’m not going to start World War Three for you.” He defused the situation, which could have ended in a nuclear conflagration by drinking whisky and then vodka with his Russian counterpart.
He was born 21 March 1944 in Sheffield, into a military family, studied Russian at university and moved into Intelligence before transferring into the Parachute Regiment. He was a junior adjutant in Northern Ireland during Bloody Sunday, when British troops killed 13 Catholic men during a civil rights march in Londonderry in January 1972 and served three tours there.
He had a pro-active Aries Sun and Mercury opposition Neptune and trine Pluto North Node in Leo – Neptune Pluto gave him overwhelming ambition and Pluto North Node in Leo, influence and leadership ability. He had a talented Half Grand Sextile from the Sun Neptune opposition sextile Uranus and Pluto North Node. Plus a military Mars Saturn conjunction in Gemini sextile Jupiter in Leo.
When the standoff in Kosovo happened in June 1999 his Solar Arc Pluto was opposition his Sun putting him under considerable strain. With a lucky tr Uranus opposition his Jupiter and a nerve-wracking tr Neptune opposition his Pluto North Node.
Generally considered one of the last of the old school military leaders.
Ratan Tata, a much revered and respected Indian businessman and philanthropist, who turned his family’s Tata Group into a global player, and invested heavily in British industry – Land Rover and British Steel – has died. He was a major figure in the international business community, close to US politicians as well as the Indian government, advising the former prime ministers Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
‘A softly spoken man, renowned for his courtesy, he never married, although he described himself as having come close four times. He was known for living modestly —- and noted for his love of dogs.’ Under Ratan Tata’s leadership, 65% of Tata Group’s profits were directed to charitable causes, supporting education, healthcare, scientific research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tata Steel announced that the families of employees who died from the virus would continue to receive their salaries and benefits until the worker would have turned 60.
Born 28 December 1937 6.30am Mumbai, India, he had an ambitious and practical 1st house Capricorn Sun and Mercury sextile Mars in Pisces and trine an innovative Uranus in Taurus in his 5th house. His also had a super-confident Jupiter in his 2nd house of finances opposition an 8th house Pluto tying him irrevocably into business/financial environment.
What marked his chart out as different from your run-of-the-mill capitalist financier was Neptune in Virgo in his 9th in a hope-for-a-better-society opposition to Saturn square a softly charming Venus on his Ascendant opposition Chiron on his Descendant.
Chiron on his Descendant points to a woundedness in close relationships which added to a freedom-loving Uranus in his 5th opposition an 11th house Scorpio Moon; and Saturn close to his IC all probably contributed to his unmarried state. His Sun/Moon midpoint was conjunct his Black Moon which might also be a pointer.
Angela Rippon, one of UK TV’s best known faces who broke through several glass ceilings early in a long and illustrious career by becoming a BBC female news reader and presenting Top Gear for petrolheads has been celebrating her 80th birthday in style. A BBC4 programme at the weekend marked her extraordinary career over the past 58 years. At the moment she co-hosts the weekly Rip Off Britain show and was an unforgettable, oldest-competitor-ever on Strictly Come Dancing with Kai Waddrington last season. Over the years she has also presented many Royal events for UK, USA and Australian networks.
Born 12 October 1944 5.50pm (from memory) Plymouth, England, she has a social and diplomatic 7th house Libra Sun and Mars squaring onto the North/South Node axis so has an attention-attracting personality which draws her into the national culture. Her 8th house Venus in Scorpio trines Saturn and sextiles a 6th house Jupiter in Virgo giving her a sophisticated charm as well as an enthusiasm for work and staying healthy.
Added to that is an emphasised Pluto in her performing 5th house which is on the focal point of a mini Grand Trine to Uranus trine Neptune, giving her creative and social influence.
Her 3rd house Uranus is also in a lucky square to Jupiter and trine her Mercury and Sun, suiting her for television which is ruled by Uranus.
Relating the mainly ups and a few downs in her career, she alluded to her firing in 1982 from TV AM, the much heralded-in-advance commercial TV breakfast show which launched with the Famous Five presenters – Angela, Anna Ford, David Frost, Michael Parkinson, Robert Kee. After a disastrous start, mainly due to confusion off screen and management chaos, she and Anna Ford (another Libra) were let go. At that point the tr Saturn Pluto conjunction in Libra was crossing Angela’s Sun and Mars which would have been devastatingly stuck and she also had an undermining tr Neptune was sitting on her Midheaven.
She did not work for a year thereafter she said and then accepted a job in Boston, USA for a year where she won an Emmy. Her astrocartography points to the USA as being a successful zone for her with her Sun, Mars Midheaven lines being down the east coast and her Sun Midheaven down the west coast.
Her harmonics include a strong get-it-together 5th, designed for a glamorous business with super-confidence, giving her the drive to keep going. Her leaving-a-legacy 17H is also marked; as is her global renown 22H.
Alex Salmond, a towering figure in UK politics who very nearly split apart four hundred years of a union between Scotland and England, has died. Whatever his detractors said he was a great orator and a shrewd politician whose rallying cry was ‘Scotland is a country not a county’. His reputation in recent years was sullied by his association with the Russia Today channel on which he had a show and his rancorous split with Nicola Sturgeon after sexual assault charges were laid against him of which he was found not guilty. There were suggestions that a political conspiracy from within the Scottish National Party lay behind some of the charges. Though even his own defence barrister admitted “I’m not here to suggest he always behaved well or couldn’t have been a better man on occasions.”
Born 31 December 1954 4.30pm Linlithgow, Scotland, he had a Water Grand Trine of Mars Moon (Midheaven) in Pisces trine Uranus Jupiter Ascendant in Cancer trine Saturn Venus in Scorpio. Water Grand Trine individuals are creative, healing for others, very private and self protective, can be escapist, can have an exaggerated need for dependency. They can be emotionally sensitive and need periods of quiet to re-centre.
He had a yod of Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct his Moon which points to a degree of emotional disorganization which found its outlet in a political career (10th house Moon). His hard-working 6th house Capricorn Sun was less integrated into his chart than the rest of his planets.
He leaves behind his wife Moira, always a background figure, who is 17 years older than him.
Recent photographs show him overweight and it was evidently a heart attack which caused his death after giving a speech in North Macedonia.
At the moment tr Uranus was in a disruptive square to his Pluto tugging on one leg of his yod and his Solar Arc Neptune was approaching a conjunction to his 6th house Sun within coming months.
Whatever his personal failings he did make his mark.
Add On: Relocating his chart to Northern Macedonia puts his Jupiter Uranus exactly on the Ascendant as his image is burnished by highly complimentary obituaries. The IC of the relocated chart, the lowest point which hints at roots and belonging, is exactly conjunct Vindemiatrix, the widowmaker, and was also exactly in line of the recent Libra Solar Eclipse. His Chiron was also conjunct the Descendant there. All close connections though with the exception of Jupiter Uranus on the Ascendant tricky to interpret. Any comments gratefully received. The Eclipse on the IC could be seen as a challenge to move away from old familiar connections. Looking back the two recent ones I have had on my IC coincided with house moves. So a general sense of an upheaval and moving away from familiar roots.
Two Jewish writers who used words to make sense of their war-time experiences have died.
Lore Segal, 29 December 1923, Austria, was one of the lucky 10,000 children selected for Kindertransport, in 1938, a humanitarian initiative to foster endangered Jewish children in Nazi territories into British homes. She was later reunited with her parents. She started to write when she was ten to make sense of what she had been through and continued writing everyday of her life thereafter, producing five novels and many short stories. “It was the novelist’s impulse not to explain or persuade but to force the reader’s vision: see what I saw, feel what it felt like,” she wrote in the preface to her first novel. In 2007, she published Shakespeare’s Kitchen, a collection of stories set in a think-tank in Connecticut which was nominated for the Pulitzer.
She was a Sun Pisces trine Pluto and square Saturn which could have given her a depressive streak but she was blessed with a lucky, adventurous Jupiter Uranus in Aries with her Jupiter in a confident square to Pluto and sextile a determined Mars in Aquarius – and two other planets in Aquarius including Mercury which gave her the detachment to stand back and observe. She also had a powerful yod of Venus sextile Saturn inconjunct Pluto giving her a singular sense of purpose.
Lily Ebert, 29 December 1923, a Hungarian-born Auschwitz survivor who devoted herself to keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive, including on TikTok, where she drew millions of viewers with her testimonials, lost her mother and two youngest siblings to the gas chambers. Initially she could not speak of her experiences but as she aged and her family grew – ultimately to 10 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson, she found the strength to speak out.
She had a stark and exceptionally tough Water Grand Trine of Mars in Scorpio trine Pluto trine Uranus formed into a Kite by Pluto opposition a Capricorn Sun which gave her determination and courage to overcome appalling experiences; and a flicker of optimism from Jupiter in Sagittarius square Uranus.
