Total Lunar Eclipse on March 14 at 24 degrees Virgo – the Pisces Sun will conjunct Saturn and Neptune opposing the Sun so the mood will be of uncertainty, with a need for determined effort in the face of difficulties or danger with Mars trine Sun and Saturn.
Partial Solar Eclipse on 29 March at 9 degrees Aries in Saros Series 9 New North. This Saros series is, according to Bernadette Brady, physically expressive so requires effort and may accompany accidents or violent events. The advice is to undertake physical activity but with caution. Around before in 2007, 1989, 1971, 1953, 1935, 1917. The Aries New Moon will sextile Pluto on one side and Jupiter on the other for a smidgeon of confidence and cheer. Though the hard-edged Saturn trine Mars is still in place with Uranus midway between which won’t be too settled.
Total Lunar Eclipse on September 2 at 15 degrees Pisces for the first time will have Uranus in Gemini trine Pluto and sextile Neptune Saturn so evocative of the new era. The Full Moon in Pisces is trine Jupiter for a hint of luck with Jupiter in turn square Mars for impulsive action.
Partial Solar Eclipse 21 September 29 degrees Virgo in 9 New South Saros series. This Saros series brings to the surface long term worries whether over loved ones, health or to do with paperwork. ‘Any news will have a sense of destiny or fatedness about it.’ Before in 2007, 1989, 1971, 1953, 1935, 1917.
The final degree Virgo New Moon will trine Pluto and trine Uranus, forming a kite in the opposition to Saturn and Neptune, making a powerful statement so momentous events will happen on its watch. The Saturn Neptune are inconjunct Mars for disagreements and maybe conflicts.
The eclipses will keep pace with the changing of the celestial guard so it will be a year to stay alert and be flexible. Last year’s October 2nd Solar Eclipse at 10 degrees Libra will still be in effect until March – it heralded a time of endings and closure or completion. And the 26 degree Pisces Lunar eclipse also of last September will linger on as well.
The IS (Islamic State) flag on the truck which drove into a crowded New Orleans street at 3 am on January 1st killing 15 revellers and injuring dozens more is an ominous sign. If it proves to be more than a disturbed perpetrator, then it will give Trump a serious headache from the start. He may yodel on about immigrants but incoming refugees from South America are a totally different problem from an IS (Middle East) threat on his home turf.
The killings started around 3.15am in New Orleans unsurprisingly on the Mars opposition Pluto which often accompanies acts of brutality. It also gives a late Leo Midheaven conjunct Trump’s Mars.
The USA chart is on high alert at the moment anyway with the high-risk Solar Arc Saturn conjunct Mars still in effect and moving on to a worrisome SA Saturn square the Neptune through 2025.
There is no exact date for the foundation of IS, a transnational Salafi jihadist group, but there was a declaration of intent made on 29 June 2014 5pm Baghdad, Iraq. IS gained global prominence in 2014 when its militants conquered large territories in Iraq and Syria and by 2015, its self-declared caliphate ruled an area with a population of about 12 million. After a grinding conflict with American, Iraqi, and Kurdish forces, IS lost control of all its Middle Eastern territories by 2019, reverting to insurgency from remote hideouts while continuing its propaganda efforts.
The IS Declaration chart does show a ‘lucky’ break Solar Arc Uranus square Jupiter at the moment as well as a forceful SA Sun square Mars – with indications of a more confident push by 2028. The chart has a Cardinal Grand Cross so it is not short of initiative or the ability to reinvent itself.
The Trump/IS relationship chart which flags up deep dislike and suspicion will be rattled in the early months of the new administration and will be undercut by tr Saturn Neptune square the composite Sun, Venus, Mercury from before mid 2025 into 2026. Not indicative of conflict but a confusing situation causing concern.
The USA/IS relationship chart similarly does not look aggravated in terms of acts of violence but tr Saturn in Aries in 2026/27 will see a standoff with the tussle of the upper hand running into a stalemate.
The Paris Bataclan shooting of 13 November 2015 with 130 dead and 350 wounded was claimed as an IS atrocity. It happened with the North Node conjunct Mars at zero degrees Libra. This New Orleans killing occurred exactly half a cycle later with the North Node at zero Aries, trine/sextile the Mars opposition Pluto.
IS have not yet claimed responsibility and there are no neon lights flashing red on the charts but the undercurrents are concerning. Especially given the USA’s unwavering support in supplying arms to Israel. Not that IS will particularly care about the Palestinians but the Israeli carnage in Gaza can only inflame the mood in the Middle East and give hostages to fortune.
ADD ON: Shamsud-Din Jabbar, named as the New Orleans perpetrator, was born 26 October 1982 in Beaumont, Texas (source: MSN). This made him a Sun Venus conjunct in Scorpio with Jupiter also in Scorpio with a determined and bleak Saturn Pluto in Libra sextile Mars Neptune in Sagittarius.
If accurate, he had been through a turbulent emotional patch with tr Pluto square his Venus and at the moment his Sun/Venus midpoint – plus an intense Progressed Mars square his Pluto bringing acute frustrations and turbulent dark feelings.
The Vegas cybertruck bomber if it is Matthew Livelsberger, though his remains are yet to be identified, according to his passport was born 22 July 1987 in Colorado Springs, making him a final degree Sun Cancer with a determined, courageous (and desperate) Mars square Pluto. Tr Pluto was just finished two years of opposing his Sun which is a punishing process of forced change.
I am reminded often with these murder-suicides of Ernest Becker’s thought that what many fear is not death itself but death with insignificance. The prospect of a failed marriage or other existential crisis bringing feelings of intense inner worthlessness spark a last desperate need to gain attention by going out with a bang. The tragedy is that bystanders become the unwitting victim of a perverted howl for validation.
Jocelyn Wildenstein whose extreme addiction to plastic surgery led to grotesque changes in her appearance has died in her sleep aged 84. As her marriage to a wealthy art collector billionaire started to crumble she hoped to win back his affections by ‘improving’ her appearance and since he had an interest in wild cats on his Kenya ranch she opted for the feline look. ‘By the end her skin was stretched so tightly over her face that she could barely blink and her lips so stuffed with collagen they looked like rubber. The first time Alec Wildenstein saw his newly-sculpted wife, he was said to have screamed in horror. “She seems to think that you fix a face the same way you fix a house”, he complained later.
During their opulent marriage their spending was obscene – reputedly $1 million a month over twenty years. Despite her massive divorce settlement when the split came, she end up in recent years filing for bankruptcy.
Born 5 August 1940 in Lausanne, Switzerland, she was not surprisingly a flamboyant Sun Leo conjunct Mars with Pluto also in Leo and her Sun sitting on her Mars/Pluto midpoint. She also had Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus and Algol in Taurus trine Neptune, and in varying squares to her Leo planets – staggeringly Fixed.
Although Fixed planets dislike change they do incline when in quantity towards extremism and can lead to psychosomatic problems when intractable inner emotional problems are acted out through the body. She tried to change the outside because she couldn’t change the inside. I’m intrigued also by the afflicted Mars.
Her Mars is conjunct her Sun and square her Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus – which is a volcanic reservoir of bubbling lava. Her Sun on her Mars/Pluto midpoint hints at a tendency to take violent measures. Her Venus/Neptune sits in the same place pointing to illusions and delusions about love and beauty. Her Venus is also conjunct her Mars/Saturn midpoint suggesting a masochistic streak and again allying a self-destructive impulse and love. Attacking herself brutally all in pursuit of love and beauty.
Her Solar Arc Mars is exactly square her Sun at the moment which can accompany a ‘shocking’ event.
Her chart reminded me of Katie Price, an English media influencer, former glamour model, also addicted to cosmetic surgery whose life is in constant financial and emotional chaos. Born 22 May 1978 she has a Gemini Sun conjunct Algol square Mars Saturn conjunct in Leo with Mercury in Taurus opposition Uranus in Scorpio and possibly a Scorpio Moon. Again hugely Fixed with an angry, afflicted and self-destructive Mars. She also has Venus in Cancer like Jocelyn Wildenstein.
One motivation in the forcible control of outer appearance must be to bury an inner unworthiness. But part of it may also be a delusional attempt to stave off mortality by refusing to grow old, at least in looks. Beyond weird.
Magic and escapism with a touch of Disney schmaltz throw sparkle and glitter over Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood. While there has always been an undercurrent of darkness in modern versions of fairytales, the reality of Grimms’ Children’s and Household Tales was a good deal bleaker. The original version of 1812 was not translated until recently making it clear how much the Grimm brothers had watered down their lurid tales for subsequent editions.
Rapunzel is impregnated by her prince and the evil queen in Snow White is the princess’s biological mother, plotting to murder her own child. Dropped altogether in later editions is How the Children Played at Slaughtering, where children playing at being a butcher and a pig. A boy cuts the throat of his little brother, only to be stabbed in the heart by his enraged mother. Unfortunately, the stabbing meant she left her other child alone in the bath, where he drowned. Unable to be cheered up by the neighbours, she hangs herself; when her husband gets home, “he became so despondent that he died soon thereafter”. The cruel stepmother who abandoned Hansel and Gretel was originally their mother.
Jacob Grimm, 4 January 1785 19.30 pm Hanau, Germany and Wilhelm Grimm 24 February 1786 Hanau, Germany, were inseparable the whole of their lives, becoming university librarians and a professor. Their extraordinary work found international acclaim with later abridged stories translated into more than 170 languages.
Their project was less about entertaining (and terrifying children) and more about the protection and promotion of Germanic culture. Their nationalistic fervour was troubling. “The popularity of the Grimms’ collection during the Nazi years later led Allied occupation forces to ban the Grimms’ fairy tales for a time after the war, believing that they had contributed to the Nazification of Germany”.
What is intriguing is that both Grimm bothers were born during the last Pluto in Aquarius and it is an integral part of their charts. Jacob has a 4th house Capricorn Sun opposition Uranus square Neptune – certainly inventive, creative, though also veering to the fanatical. His Libra Moon was in a bleak square to Saturn and and affectionate trine to Venus. His attitude to his mother and women would be conflicted.
His creative and attention-demanding 5th house Pluto in Aquarius was trine Neptune, sextile Mars in Sagittarius in his 3rd house – which would give him a cruel streak.
His brother Wilhelm had a creative, attention-grabbing 5th house Sun Venus in Pisces with a bleak, hard-edged 4th house Saturn Pluto in Aquarius trine Neptune trine Mars in Gemini, formed into a Kite by Neptune opposition Jupiter which in turn was part of a Cardinal Grand Cross square Uranus opposition a Capricorn Moon.
Both had strong, creative charts with a dark streak. Both had North Node in Aquarius which would focus their attention on a cause to which to devote their lives, in their case to promoting Germanic language and culture.
The two brothers spent their entire lives close together. In their school days, they had one bed and one table in common; as students, they had two beds and two tables in the same room. They always lived under one roof and had their books and property in common, even after Wilhelm married. A visitor observed, “they both live in the same house, and in such harmony and community that one might almost imagine the children were common property.”
Pluto in Aquarius has many facets – nationalism in their case being one, as well as misogyny plus a bloodthirsty streak evident in their tales and even more so in the French Revolution’s bloody Reign of Terror.
ADD ON: Wilhelm married Henriette and had four children. His Sun/Moon midpoint, the marriage significator, was conjunct his 4th house Saturn Pluto which makes it sound a bleak affair. Jacob’s Sun/Moon midpoint (he never married) fell in his 3rd house of siblings.
Their relationship chart was not all sunshine and roses despite their apparently seamless partnership. There was a composite Sun, Saturn, Mercury, Pluto conjunction hinting at a chained-together bond with underlying resentment; and an irritable composite Moon square Mars.
But the synastry had important positives with Jacob’s Capricorn Sun conjunct his brother’s Moon; and Jacob’s Jupiter conjunct Wilhelm’s Sun.
The Jupiter in Gemini square Saturn in Pisces hovering over the close of the old year and start of the new has produced an oddly disjointed mood to add to everything else. The square between high-hopes Jupiter and downbeat Saturn picked up in August 2024 and will run on to mid 2025 after which Jupiter in Cancer starts to pull away from Saturn in Aries.
In addition to mood swings, Jupiter square Saturn usually accompanies a time of faulty planning and judgement where actions are initiated and responsibilities taken on board without preparation. Of which the previous occasion in 2016 when Brexit was promoted and voted through is a prime example. Though added Neptune would also play its part; which will also be the June 2025 experience with Neptune in Aries conjunct Saturn and square Jupiter.
Timing can be bad since too much Jupiter brings over-optimism and too little discipline so makes charging ahead tempting. In contrast to an overdose of Saturn which induces a crisis of confidence and a reluctance to act.
The mythological background is revealing with Jupiter/Zeus inspiring messianic and Olympian aspirations – there are no limits to what can be achieved. And Saturn, the pragmatist, being tediously realistic, pointing to the inevitable limitations of life. Jupiter’s tendency to attempt too much leads to crash-landings so disappointment follows heady new beginnings.
Jupiter square Saturn will be obvious at a personal level as positive events and negative ones will come simultaneously. Good things and not such great things come side by side.
New Zealand has been under enormous strain in recent years with Pluto bearing down on its Sun Mars in Capricorn square Pluto since early 2022 running till last month. The worst of that is over but it always takes time on the far side of Pluto to see the benefits of the forced changes.
On the New Zealand chart, 17 January 1853 12 am Wellington, NZ, there is a stuck, slow-progress Solar Arc Saturn opposition Pluto now; as well as a mutinous-electorate SA Pluto opposition Moon, which may be a result of employment or health issues.
Assuming the start time is sound tr Jupiter through the financial 8th will bring improvements in coming months with hints of more success late in the year. But this longish phase of massive change for New Zealand will pick up again in 2026/27 when tr Pluto squares the NZ Uranus, upending conventional wisdom and shifting the status quo.
The Bank of New Zealand, 1 August 1934, should get an upsurge of confidence at points in 2025, alongside significant upheavals.
Christopher Luxon sworn in as PM on 27 November 2023 11.18 am Wellington, does not have a lucky Administration chart with a Sun Mars in Sagittarius square Saturn, all of which tr Uranus moving into Gemini in July will hard aspect, bringing significant setbacks, running into 2026.
But whatever happens New Zealand is doing well – scoring 99 out of 100 for political and civil liberties – the second highest after Finland. It is also doing well on the corruption-free front; and for safety and security with low domestic and international conflict.
Indications are that Australia faces cautious optimism ahead with an improving employment rate and interest rates tipped to drop. But the Bank of Australia chart, 14 January 1960, suggests there may be a hurdle or two to overcome on the economic front. Tr Neptune will square the Mars from March 2025 on and off till January 2026 which looks like panic and failure; with a totally logjammed Solar Arc Mars opposition Pluto later in 2025.
The Australia country chart, 1 January 1901 1.35pm Sydney, has tr Pluto crossing the Midheaven through 2025 which does suggest a forced change of direction. Tr Saturn is also square the Jupiter opposition Neptune throughout 2025 which usually accompanies a come-down-to-earth-with-a-bump and face reality phase especially on the cash front.
PM Anthony Albanese is also on tenterhooks in 2025 with his Administration chart, 23 May 2022 9am Canberra, edgy and in upheaval in April 2025 with tr Uranus square the Saturn; and moving through a turbulent patch as tr Uranus into Gemini will conjunct Mercury and the Sun just after mid year, into 2026. There is a disappointing, high-hopes-dent tr Neptune conjunct the Jupiter also after mid 2025; and a panicky-failure Solar Arc Neptune conjunct Mars in late 2025.
India remains the world’s fastest growing major economy, with an uptick of 8.2% in 2023/24. Public investment in infrastructure and rising household investments in real estate plus a buoyant manufacturing sector were all given the credit. Narendra Modi was sworn-in as Prime Minister for the third time on 9th June 2024 after a decisive victory. All would seem to be well and with tr Jupiter moving across the Ascendant and through the 1st house until June 2025 the mood of public confidence will stay high.
The one fly in the ointment is tr Neptune and Saturn in Aries moving to square the India 2nd house Mars from this April onwards into 2026 which could put a few brakes on financially. 2026 will see tr Saturn opposition the 5th house Neptune which could point to setbacks where speculative markets are concerned.
Tr Uranus is also heading to cross the India Ascendant at zero degrees Gemini from July 2025 onwards which suggests a more rebellious or at least freedom-loving approach and image thereafter.
The Reserve Bank of India, 1 April 1935 9am Delhi, has its Aries Sun in line of the recent October Solar Eclipse and next late March’s Aries Eclipse, so a change of direction, perhaps forced, may be on the cards.
Though where the key changes will come is likely to be in 2026 as tr Uranus in Gemini squares the Saturn. On Narendra Modi’s initial premiership chart, 26 May 2014 6.13pm, 2026 also looks to be a crucial turning point with tr Uranus conjunct the Modi Administration Sun. There is no election due but there are certainly winds of change buffeting the government.
Add On: 1 January 2025 the FT:
Has the ‘India trade’ run out of steam? Slowing growth and high inflation are hitting household incomes and raising questions about economic fundamentals
Mars retrograde in Leo will oppose Pluto on January 3rd which will put a damper on New Year high spirits until the blockage is passed.
Mars goes retrograde every two years for about 10 weeks – in this instance from 7 December 2024 to 25 February 2025 – and once it goes direct it will meet another Pluto opposition in late April 2025.
Retrograde tends to turn the energy inwards and with Mars it saps vitality and forward-drive as will-power and motivation are pushed down. When it goes direct, the stored-up energy surges into the open with extra vigour, bringing sometimes crises or conflicts.
Looking back on previous Mars retrogrades:
2022 31 October to January 13 2023. Mars in Gemini.
2020 10 September to 15 November. Mars in Aries square Saturn Pluto in Capricorn. Covid deaths rising fast.
2018 June to August. Mars in Aquarius/Capricorn.
2016 April 18 to 30 June. Mars in Sagittarius. Brexit 24 June 2016.
2014 2 March to 22 May – Mars in Libra square Pluto. Russia annexes Crimea 27 February. Airliner M370 vanishes 8 March.
2012 25 January 2012 to 15 April. Mars in Virgo
2009 22 December to 11 March 2010. Mars in Leo
2007 16 November to 31 January 2008. Mars in Cancer/Gemini opposition Pluto in Sagittarius (Exact opposition 1 January 2008). Stock markets plunge in anticipation of coming recession.
2003 July 30 to 29 September. Mars conjunct Uranus in Pisces square Jupiter. Iraq attack launched March 2003 so in full devastation mode.
2001 12 May to 20 July Mars in Sagittarius opposition Pluto (not exact). Run up to 9/11
1990 21 October 1990 to 2 January 1991. Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins with air strikes against Iraq January 16 1991
1982 21 February to 12 May. Falklands War 1 April.
1941 September 7 to 10 November Mars in Aries. Pearl Harbour 7 December 1941.
1939 23 June to 24 August 1939. Mars in Aquarius/Capricorn opposition Pluto in Leo/Cancer. WW11 started 1st September 1939.
1928 12 November 1928 to 28 January 1929. Wall Street Crash 24 October 1929.
1913 November 28 to 12 February 1914. Mars in Cancer. WW1 start June 1914.
There does seem to be some correlation between Mars retrograde in the period running into a conflict or crisis; and occasionally in the midst of one. But this is only a rough and ready survey so needs more investigation by those with the time. Otherwise it is a watch and wait exercise.
