Astrology of Today’s News

“The past does not repeat itself. But it is rhyming.” The drumbeats hinting of a rising economic crisis similar to the 1970s are growing louder. High inflation, wars in key commodity-producing regions, declining real wages, slowing economic growth, fears of tightening monetary policy and turbulence in stock markets – were the dominant features of the world economy in the 1970s, as now. Though analysts say there is still time for policymakers to get a grip of inflation and not assume that post-pandemic life will return to normal. Estimates are that slow growth will be the norm for this decade and that isn’t even factoring in future unforeseen black swan events similar to Ukraine to put more pressure on the economic situation.   

  The 1973-75 recession, caused by the 1973 oil crisis and in the USA the deficits of the Vietnam war and the fall of the Bretton Woods system followed by a stock market crash, put an end to post–World War II economic expansion. USA inflation remained high until the early 1980s.

  In the UK the oil crisis and miners strike led to the three-day week as electricity was rationed. Inflation peaked at more than 20%. There were negative effects on other countries that relied heavily on imported oil, such as France, Sweden especially, Japan, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Denmark. Some countries saw benefits – Spain, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil, as their low-cost environments attracted new investments and gave their products a competitive edge.

  The astrological similarities to the 1970s are the sign changeovers – with Pluto moving into Libra in late 1971 with Neptune hovering on the cusp of Sagittarius. In this decade Pluto moves into Aquarius in early 2023 and Neptune moves into Aries in 2025.

  The outer planets shifting sign do always appear to have a significant, often global effect. Pluto changes in particular appear to resonate in Russian history-changing moments more than than most. See below.

  Following the 1973-75 oil crisis the UK ended up cap in hand at the IMF begging for a loan to cover debts in 1976. Also below.  

PLUTO CHANGE SIGNS

Previous post: March 8 2022

Pluto sign changeovers are spotlighted in Russian history again and again, and regrettably in significant wars elsewhere as well.

 Catherine the Great took over the Russian throne in 1762 when Pluto was in final degree Sagittarius and ruled to powerful effect through Pluto in Capricorn and Aquarius, dying as Pluto was poised to moved into Pisces in 1797.

 In 1853 as Pluto moved into Taurus the Crimea War broke out between Russia and a coalition of UK, France and the Ottoman Empire. In 1881 Alexander 11 of Russia (liberator of serfs) was killed by a bomb as Pluto prepared to exit Taurus for Gemini the following year.  

1914 as Pluto moved into Cancer was the start of World War 1 which saw Austria-Hungary invade Russia. The next shift in 1938 of Pluto into Leo saw the build up to World War 11. In 1956 the Pluto move into Virgo coincided with the Soviet invasion of Hungary to quell the revolution there. Krushchev denounced Stalin.

  There’s not much obvious for Pluto into Libra in 1971 and into Scorpio in 1983. But Pluto into Sagittarius in 1995 saw the First Chechen War, starting the year before. Wiki: ‘Despite Russia’s overwhelming advantages in firepower, manpower, weaponry, artillery, combat vehicles, airstrikes and air support, the resulting widespread demoralization of federal forces and the almost universal opposition of the Russian public to the conflict led Boris Yeltsin’s government to declare a ceasefire with the Chechens in 1996.’

 In 2008 as Pluto entered Capricorn, the Russian-Georgia War erupted over South Ossettia, regarded as the first European war of the 21st century.

Looking back over two centuries of Pluto changeovers is a blitzing experience since the world appears to be in constant conflict somewhere with wars, disasters and mayhem on a monthly basis. Extrapolating a pattern and not drowning in noise isn’t easy. But I’m not sure how we were lulled into a sense of false security in thinking that wars were in the past, never to be repeated.

Pluto into Aquarius 1778 – American War of Independence 1775 – 1783. The Anglo-French War 1778 to 1783, squabbling over  colonial territories, aided the US, brought an end to the First British Empire.

Pluto into Pisces  1797. The 1790s were anti-imperialist as new American and French democracies flourished. Napoleon Bonaparte was on military campaigns aiming for First Consul from 1799.

Pluto into Aries 1823. Napoleon dies in 1821 – what rises on one often falls on the next or the one after that in the case of Catherine. 1823 also saw the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.

Pluto into Taurus 1853. The 2^nd French Empire, with Napoleon 111 becoming French Emperor. Rebellions in China.

The Crimea War 1854 to 1856

Pluto into Gemini 1882. The Anglo-Egyptian War with Britain seizing the Suez Canal and Egypt becoming a Brit protectorate

Pluto into Gemini 1881. Alexander 11 of Russia killed by bomb.

Pluto into Cancer 1914. World War 1. Austria-Hungary invades Russia.

Pluto into Leo 1938. Spanish Civil War running since 1936, build up to World War 11. Sino-Japanese War 1937 to 45.

Pluto into Virgo 1956.  Suez Crisis – UK and France bomb Egypt and have to withdraw in humiliation after international outrage. Israel invades Sinai. Soviet Red Army troops invade Hungary. Vietnam War starts. The EEC founded 1957.

Pluto into Libra 1971. India-Pakistan War. Northern Ireland Troubles – 1972 Bloody Sunday. Vietnam winding down. Watergate

Pluto into Scorpio 1983 – Beginning of the internet.

Falklands War 1982. Lebanon War, Israel invades.

Pluto into Sagittarius 1995. First Chechen War.  The Srebrenica massacre in the Bosnian War (1992 to 1995)led to the NATO bombing campaign against Bosnian Serb artillery positions. The Dayton Agreement brings it to an end in December 1995.

Pluto into Capricorn 2008. Stock Markets plunge. Lehman Brothers collapse. The financial crash. Gaza War. The Russo-Georgian War over South Ossettia.

  The final degrees of Pluto in a sign, far from overseeing stagnation appear to trigger major conflicts – with some countries more susceptible than others. After a rapid skim through, in addition to Russia – Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and France as well as the UK appear to be more prone than most to be involved in scraps.

UK parallels to 1976 – Previous post May 14 2020.

In 1976 UK PM James Callaghan said: “We used to think you could spend your way out of a recession and increase employment by cutting taxes and boosting government spending. I tell you in all candour, that option no longer exists.”  What followed was a reduction in government spending, tax increases and rises in interest rates. The economy did recover and it was paid back within three years but it ultimately paved the way for Margaret Thatcher’s 1979 victory.

  The IMF Bailout came in December 1976 when tr Uranus was in early Scorpio and squaring Saturn in Leo, in the months running in and after.   Tr Uranus in hard aspect to tr Saturn is traditionally associated with economic recessions and another such turns up in 2021 with tr Uranus half a cycle on in Taurus square Saturn in Aquarius.

  On the UK chart around the time of the bailout tr Uranus was poised to oppose the 8^th house financial Mars by January 1977 with tr Saturn in square. This time round tr Uranus will conjunct that UK Mars with tr Saturn in square in 2021 – so very similar.   The Solar Arcs were marginally more damaging in 1976/77 with Solar Arc Saturn conjunct the financial Venus with tr Saturn in opposition to the UK Venus; and tr Uranus square the Solar Arc Venus.

  But it’ll still be a very rocky ride ahead economically for the UK with the tr Uranus square tr Saturn hitting on the financial planets badly in 2021 with more disappointment by 2023 with the Solar Arc Sun square the 2^nd house Venus; and more shocks in 2025 when the Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct the Mars. Tr Uranus doesn’t clear the 8^th house of international trade till 2027 so it’ll be a bumpy ride ahead.

  The Bank of England chart, 27 July 1694 JC, with its natal Sun Jupiter in Leo and Solar Arc Uranus in Taurus will catch the tr Saturn square tr Uranus next year for high-stress challenges. With 2023/2024/25 keying up as high-anxiety phases as well.

Heat is rising between Turkey and Greece over islands in the Aegean Sea, which Turkish President Erdogan is demanding are demilitarised.  Greece says the islands, located within striking distance of a large Turkish landing fleet, cannot be left undefended and have been garrisoned for decades. The Greek PM is trying to defuse the spat saying restraint is required given the Ukraine situation and that it is not as tense as it was in 2020 when tensions flared over gas exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean. There is a long history of disputes between the two countries who are both NATO allies.

 Erdogan is a populist dictator who is surprisingly popular domestically despite the dire economic mess he has made. Greece hasn’t emerged shining white either from recent allegations of mistreatment of refugees with what appear to be illegal and violent pushbacks, carried out by Greek officials at the borders between Greece and Turkey. All hotly denied.

   Recep Erdogan’s 4^th Term chart, 9 July 2018 4.30pm Ankara, isn’t showing signs of instability until 2024 but that is when tr Pluto squares the Term Uranus running also through 2025 which is often a fall-off-perch time.

  Both Greece charts, 24 July 1974 4am Athens, and 25 March 1821 5pm, are aggravated and stressed at the moment. Though that could be from a myriad of causes. The 1974 chart has for a potential military clash from Solar Arc Saturn conjunct the Mars though that could also be a significant setback from pandemic/economic effects. Tr Pluto opposing the Leo Sun in 2023/24 will exert maximum pressure for change none of which will be easy.  The 1821 chart has an alarming, eruptive Solar Arc Mars square the Neptune Uranus this year which could lead to seriously bad-tempered exchanges.

  There are some wrinkles and ripples on the Greece/Turkey relationship charts this year along with major confusion but it is 2023/24/25 which are the testing years. Turkey and NATO are not on great terms through 2023 to 2025 either.

  Turkey is over excitable from July onwards which could precipitate an unwise move but is running into seriously discouraging and deprived influences from early 2023 and 2024 – their economic swamp is going to sink them at some point.

Add ON; There is another chart for Greece – 3 February 1830, no time – which reflects the same unsettled feel as the other charts with high tensions this year into early 2023. There’s an undermining of trust with Turkey this year and more eruptions in 2024.

Multimillionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks has lost his libel action against Guardian reporter Carole Cadwalladr. She was being sued for defamation over talking about his ‘covert relationship’ with Russia. The case was criticised as an attack on free speech. Banks who funded the pro-Brexit Leave EU campaign group said he would appeal. If he had won she would have been liable for his costs and damages – well over £1m.

  She was born 10 October 1969 in Cardiff, Wales and became known internationally in 2018 for her role in exposing the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal for which she was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

  She has a confident, fair-minded and outspoken Sun Jupiter in Libra with Uranus, Mercury and probably Moon in Libra as well. Her ambitious Mars in Capricorn squares her Libra planets making her impulsive and a risk-taker. Tr Jupiter in Aries is exactly opposition her Uranus bringing her a lucky break as the judge declared in her favour saying her belief had been reasonable in terms of public interest. Though she’s looking edgy ahead which may be the appeal or other concerns troubling her.

  Arron Banks, 22 March 1966, is co-founder of the Leave.EU campaign and was one of the largest donors to the UK Independence Party (UKIP). He was investigated over concerns about the source of his funding but there was “no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed.” According to wiki he is reported to have had multiple meetings with Russian embassy officials as well as being offered business opportunities in Russia in the run-up to the Brexit referendum. He has denied any wrongdoing.

 He is Cadwalladr’s opposite number having a Sun, Mars and probably Moon in Aries, making him go-ahead and argumentative. He’s also got a super-confident Jupiter in Gemini square Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn Mercury in Pisces.  He looks even less content over the next four years with major confusion this August to December and Neptunian sinkholes appearing along with disappointments up to 2025.

  Their relationship chart is not surprisingly highly-charged and chilly with a Sun square Saturn; an outspoken composite Uranus square Mercury and inconjunct Mars; and Mars in a square to Neptune, hinting at differences where only one can win. It looks shaken up through the next three years, 2024 especially – so either there is more to follow or the result will cause continuing resentment.

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The wondrous and enigmatic Kate Bush has soared to prominence again as her 1985 hit Running Up That Hill featured prominently in Netflix’s Stranger Things and is now the most-streamed song in the world each day on Spotify, earning nearly 8m plays a day. It’s the third time round for this track since it also hit the charts in 2012 after being used in the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

  Kate Bush was born 30 July 1958 in London, no birth time sadly, into a musical family and started writing songs at 11. Her haunting Wuthering Heights topped the singles charts in 1978 when she was 19 and since then since has released 25 UK Top 40 singles, including “The Man with the Child in His Eyes“, “Babooshka“, “Don’t Give Up” (a duet with Peter Gabriel) and “King of the Mountain“. All ten of her studio albums reached the UK Top 10. Her ‘eclectic and experimental musical style, unconventional lyrics, performances and literary themes’ have influenced many other artists and earned her a raft of awards.

 She has a volatile and stubborn as well as enduring Fixed Grand Cross in her chart of a quirky Sun Uranus in Leo opposition (probably) an Aquarius Moon square a determined Mars in Taurus in a showbizzy opposition to Neptune in Scorpio. She also has a talented Half Grand Sextile from that Mars opposition Neptune sextile Mercury Pluto in Virgo and sextile Venus in Cancer.

  Despite her constant success she never seems too happy in the spotlight and when Wuthering Heights hit the top spot in 1978 she appeared to find the pressure burdensome. At that point she did have a complete-change but also disruptive Solar Arc Uranus conjunct her Pluto and tr Saturn conjunct both; with her Solar Arc Pluto square her Saturn as well. A heavy time.

  She has had tr Pluto square her Jupiter and North Node in recent years which would lift her morale. At the moment tr Saturn has moved to oppose her Pluto Mercury from early 2023 – a Saturn cycle and a half since Wuthering Heights. Her intense Mercury has moved by Solar Arc to a stressed opposition to  her Mars exactly this year, impacting her Fixed Grand Square. It will be followed by her Solar Arc Pluto which will make for an intense and challenging few years ahead.

  An interesting lady. Though her Leo Sun is the ultimate performer, I’d reckon it might sit in one of her hidden houses.

Canadian popstar Justin Bieber has cancelled a series of shows on his latest tour after a virus caused “full paralysis” on one side of his face. He said he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome which is usually treated with steroids, antiviral medication and facial rehabilitation. Information varies but a third to a half of sufferers recover completely, some don’t. A surgeon said: “Some people [recover] very quickly – in three weeks – others can take several months. It’s a very unpredictable exercise.”

  He was born 1 March 1994 12.56am Stratford, Ontario, and has a musical Sun Saturn and Venus in Pisces trine Jupiter in Scorpio. He has two other key elements in his chart which are coming together by Solar Arc which is always an indication of a life-changing period. He has the highly-strung and often talented Uranus Neptune of his generation which aspects his Water planets; and he has an influential but challenging and crisis-prone Pluto North Node square Mars Mercury, a legacy from a messy childhood.

  His Mars square Pluto is catching not only the Eclipses this year but also the tr Saturn hard aspects from late this May on and off until March 2023 so he will be facing rolling setbacks and frustrations. His Solar Arc Uranus is also conjunct his Mercury now followed by Solar Arc Neptune conjunct – starting a few years of anxious concern and obstacles.

  His Pluto on his North Node will give him the potential to influence the masses but the Scorpio North Node on its Nodal Half Return this year hints at the need for a rethink.

   The lessons of a Scorpio North Node can be harsh, demanding a complete break with the past in order to undergo a profound transformation. Sometimes this can be a physical setback. Two examples come to mind though of an extreme variety – John Addey, the noted astrologer, who had keen sporting abilities until struck down young with arthritis which turned his attention to the study of astrology and philosophy. The other is Melanie Reid, a Sunday Times columnist who was left tetraplegic after a horse accident and writes inspiring weekly pieces about her disability.

 I hasten to add that not everyone with a Scorpio Node will be hit with such devastating effects and the transformation process does not always have to be somatised (= lived out through the body). Others will go through the process in other ways.  And not everyone lives out their North Nodes, some cling tenaciously to the old patterns and exit as they came in.

  Bieber does have his Progressed Moon moving through his 12^th at the moment which is reasonably minor but is often a more inward looking time of endings and sorting out his life and that’s around until late 2023. What will be encouraging is Jupiter moving into his outgoing and entertaining 5^th house from February 2023 onwards which should bounce him out into more activity. Though it is also his year of his Saturn Return which can be heavy going, sobering and a time to face hard reality.

 His Solar Return for this year does look stuck, scary and exasperated with Mars Pluto in his 4^th. Next year’s not so much so.

Donald Trump “summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack” asserted Liz Cheney at the opening of the January 6 Capitol Hill attack investigation. The committee hopes to prove Trump incited an attempted coup against the US government although they have not yet proven he colluded with the insurrectionists directly.

   He could still face criminal charges if it can be shown he deliberately incited or helped organise the riot with the intention of stopping Joe Biden being certified as president. On December 19^th on his Twitter feed he messaged. “Big protest in D.C. on January sixth. Be there, will be wild!” There is proof he urged the attackers on from his Twitter feed and from a podium outside the White House, and watched the violence on television, raging at advisers who urged him to call off his supporters.

  The committee has been hampered by the unwillingness of certain Trump associates to be frank. Although William Barr, his former attorney-general, insisted in taped testimony that claims that the election had been rigged were “bullshit”. Even Ivanka Trump said she “accepted” Barr’s conclusions.

     Even if he is not prosecuted, Democrats hope these hearings might destroy his support in public and in Congress.

  Liz Cheney, 28 July 1966, a blonde Sun Leo  in a serious trine to Saturn with a passionately enthusiastic Venus, Mars and Jupiter in Cancer, has made herself unpopular amongst her erstwhile colleagues in the Republicans and no matter the outcome may pay the price in 2024 which looks a dire year for her. Though she’ll bounce up by 2026.  She is labouring under a discouraging Solar Arc Sun opposition her Saturn over coming months but does look upbeat and successful this August to early December so will be pleased in part with what she has achieved. The investigation committee chairman Bennie Thompson, a stalwart Aquarius, is also in a progressive phase.

   Trump was contemptuous about his daughter Ivanka siding with William Barr which brings sharply into focus their relationship which was always a total mystery. The relationship chart has a composite combative Sun Mars conjunct an aggravated and resentful Saturn. With Saturn in a jolting conjunction to Uranus which in turn makes a disruptive connection to Pluto. It was a volcano waiting to blow.

  Both she and husband Jared, himself once an embedded ally, were born close together and have relatively similar synastry with father/in-law. Both have their Uranus square his Mars in Leo which is a firecracker crossover; and Ivanka’s Scorpio Sun and Jared’s Mars in Aquarius both collide with Trump’s 12^th house controlling and vengeful Pluto; and their Neptune Venus in Sagittarius are conjunct his Moon for a superficial and deceptive closeness. Pluto Ivanka’s super-confident Jupiter Pluto and Jared’s Capricorn Sun also collide with Trumps Saturn Venus in Cancer. How they managed to coexist in the same space is a testament to their ability to cherry-pick what was to their advantage and grit their teeth for the rest.

 Jared’s relationship with Trump with that fated composite Yod of Pluto sextile Mars inconjunct Mercury – all planets being at 17 degrees – will be in for a shock and no doubt an eruption of bad temper from the middle of this month to early July as tr Uranus tugs on two legs of the Yod, repeating October and early 2023.

Kushner’s memoir due out in August may not help to assuage Trump’s jealousy, nor will the $2bn investment from a Saudi Arabian wealth fund, controlled by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, signed recently. Kushner formed an investment firm after Trump left office and is harvesting the goodwill created by Kushner’s time as Middle East peace envoy. A House Oversight investigation has been launched to focus on whether Kushner’s personal financial interests improperly influenced U.S. foreign policy while he served in the White House.

Trump’s year on his chart has one blip of good luck mid June to early July but on the whole is swampy and disappointing with more than a few catastrophes to contend with from tr Uranus square his Mars/Pluto midpoint early July to mid October (repeating in early 2023). And this first batch of destructive Mars/Pluto influences runs parallel with his Solar Arc Mars square his 12^th house Pluto exact in six months but in effect now and building up a head of steam. Mars Pluto is acutely frustrating, trapped and scary. And as if that was not enough to sink even his titanium-strength confidence he has the return of the undermining tr Neptune square his Sun from late October this year running into early January.

Britney Spears pledged her troth for the third time yesterday to her long-time, twelve year younger boyfriend Sam Asghari at a glitzy Los Angeles do. Reports indicate evening and the wedding pics have his watch at 7.45 so I’m assuming circa 7pm.  There was a Gemini Sun in a sensible trine to Saturn and trine a Libra Moon so an Airy, emotionally detached affair. The Sun was also in a vague, unrealistic square to Neptune; with a super-enthusiastic Jupiter Mars in Aries; an excitable, needs-space Venus Uranus; and a serious Mercury in Taurus square Saturn, sextile Neptune trine Pluto which last won’t make light-hearted communication easy.

  She has tr Jupiter just over her Descendant moving through her 7^th house of close relationships for a few months which is positive for one-to-one partnerships.

  Though it’s a year where she will have panicky moments of plans not working with tr Neptune opposition her Mars, around earlier this year and returning late September through October and again January/February 2023.

  But she’s on a confident roll no matter what with tr Pluto square her Jupiter/Pluto midpoint on and off till late 2023 and then square her Jupiter in 2024/25.  She may go over the top and overdo the enthusiasm but she’ll be up rather than down.

 His birth date is unverified either 3 March or 23/24 March 1994.  The later date would work better putting his Aries Sun and Venus in her 7^th. But it isn’t certain.  

Add On: 3 March appears to be supported from their Instagrams which makes him a Sun Saturn in Pisces with Venus also in Pisces; plus the highly-strung, excitable Uranus Neptune in Capricorn and a trio of Scorpio planets – Jupiter, Moon, Pluto. His chart has an abundance of Water signs where hers has only one and she’s Air/Fire so they’ll either complement each other; or totally mystify each other since they won’t understand where the other is coming from.

 Both have Jupiter in Scorpio so will be attracted to money and indulgence. His Pisces planets fall in her 6^th so he’ll get her organised on the work front and will be comforted by her wealth with his Scorpio planets in her 2^nd.

  It’ll be an edgy combination but she’s not exactly a settled personality. There is a composite Jupiter Pluto conjunction in the relationship chart which is a sign of a power couple – together they boost each other’s morale and make a splash together. But these relationships sometimes come apart at the seams if one tries to outdo the other. [This depends on his birth date being accurate.]

Hindsight being a wonderful thing, looking at the astrology it was clear from 2013 when David Cameron promised a referendum that there was a strong potential for a partnership split. He was only echoing what previous political leaders had pledged but by 2015 he was able to make it happen.

  In 2013 tr Uranus was poised on the cusp of the UK 7^th house which is often a divorce signature for the several years following. And even more significant and challenging was tr Pluto in Capricorn exactly conjunct the UK Sun – that often presages civil war or changes on a momentous scale. At the time less happened than fitted the astrology but the timebomb was obviously ticking.

   By 2016 the disruptive tr Pluto square tr Uranus had been upsetting the status quo out in the world and fomenting an urge to toss old certainties out of the window. By this time both tr Pluto and tr Uranus had been in hard aspect to the UK 7^th house North Node and Sun/Moon midpoint throughout the campaign in 2015 and right up to the vote and after. Both these influences in an individual chart would be indicative of a divorce especially where cooperation does not come naturally as is the case with a leadership/stand-alone Aries Node. Though there is an argument with an Aries 7^th house North Node that flouncing off to be independent is not the mature decision. Learning to be interdependent is what is required spiritually.

  The 2016 Brexit vote was also undertaken with a messy, over-hopeful, unrealistic  Neptune opposition Jupiter square Saturn in place; and an aggravated, no-compromise Uranus inconjunct Mars in vengeful Scorpio – so it was never going to be a clean break.

  The eventual Brexit leaving chart of 31 December 2020 hints at financial shocks and massive difficulties with an 8^th house Mars square Pluto as well as Saturn and Jupiter. So it was never going to be sweet and amiable. It looks increasingly logjammed in 2024 with the Solar Arc Pluto square Mars exactly; jolting with tension in 2025; and won’t really clear bad blood until almost the end of the decade.

  I’m oddly enough not a great believer in ‘written in the stars’ meaning a literal and concrete event has to happen. There are always choices, different ways of handling the influences which could come up with a different result. The best analogy is sailing a boat. The captain has no choice about the direction or force of the wind, but can decide whether to meet it head on, let it blow from behind or ignore it and get blown over – i.e. there are choices about making  best use of the inevitable.

Out of the frying pan onto the spit-roast, the Prime Minister is back wrestling with the Northern Ireland Protocol with every indication that it will end up a hot mess on the floor. The EU is hardening against an ‘unserious’ Johnson, whom no one in Europe believes according to an Irish minister. He’s being elbowed at home, as per usual, by the Tory true-believer euro-sceptics, into what are described as ‘lawless antics’ in breaking the agreement he signed. It is likely to end up in a trade war and continuing ill will, which at a dire economic time seems outrageous.

  UK exports to the EU in 2021 were down 12 per cent on 2018, double the hit to the level of UK exports to the rest of the world – so it can’t all be blamed on the pandemic. Analysts reckon exports to the EU may fall by another 8 per cent again by 2025. The pound is weak, generally attributed to Brexit — down 9 per cent since June 2016.  UK exporters continue to struggle with the bureaucracy involved in selling goods and services to the EU. The massive deregulation and open trade with the rest of the world to replace lost EU business and deliver a boom promised by the Brexiteers hasn’t happened. And the deregulation never will because of the impact on domestic industries such as agriculture.

 The proof of the pudding and all that. The electorate were bamboozled and bewitched by cheap n’ easy slogans that were never going to be a reality.

   Boris’s relationship with the EU has always had that mystifyingly hostile composite Mars opposition Pluto – mystifying in the sense that he has a mega-multi-cultural background so is hardly your average John Bull. But his sojourn as a child, aged 9 to 11, in Brussels with his family when he father was working for the European Commission must have coloured his outlook. That was when his mother suffered a breakdown and he was sent back to England.

 Anyway that Mars opposition Pluto is getting a bucket of cold water thrown on it throughout next year, from early on as tr Saturn sits in hard aspect – and there’s a discouraging uphill slog of tr Pluto conjunct the composite Saturn in 2022/2023 – so nothing that looks like a speedy détente between him and the EU.

  The two prominent Tory Brexiteers who reckon they have the Prime Minister over a barrel – Bernard Jenkins, 9 April 1959; and Bill Cash, 10 May 1940 –  both look considerably discontented ahead for two years.  Bernard Jenkins looks deeply uncertain this year and totally trapped in 2023; and feels a failure by 2024. Bill Cash is displaying some machismo and bullish confidence interspersed with panicky failure this year and next.  So clearly they are not getting it all their own way.

  As an added aside – of Astro-note – Bill Cash has his Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Libra North Node now and Jenkins has his Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Libra North Node.  I’m not sure how I’d interpret that except that in both cases with a Libra North Node their challenge in life is learning how to co-operate and their primitive defence will be to insist on standing alone/being the leader not a partner.

 Relations between the UK and the EU are jangled this year with emotional outbursts and irritations from tr Uranus square the composite Venus and tr Saturn conjunct the Mars; and into 2023 an aggravating and argumentative tr Uranus square the composite Mars and tr Saturn in Pisces blocking the composite Pluto and jolting the Uranus. So this spat is not going to settle any time soon either.