Astrology of Today’s News

A long-running showbiz marriage is an oddity so TV presenter Jonathan Ross’s 32nd anniversary to screenwriter Jane Goodall is being much lauded. Though it’s not an intuitive match since he’s a Scorpio Sun and probably Moon while she’s a Gemini Sun and Virgo Moon.

He was born 17 November 1960 and has been at the top of the TV presenting stakes for decades, with interests in movies and comics. She was born 11 June 1970, and is co-writer of Kingsman, The Golden Circle, X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass and Stardust; has written several books and presented her own paranormal TV series. Neither have birth times sadly.

Her Virgo Moon connects well with his Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn; while his Moon may be conjunct her Jupiter. Her Venus in Cancer is good with his Scorpio Sun and his Venus in Capricorn opposes her Mars for a sizzle of attraction. But her elusive Neptune is conjunct his Sun with her stubborn Saturn opposition his Neptune and Sun – so there will be glitches.

Their relationship chart is complicated with a private, emotionally-loaded Grand Trine of Saturn trine Mars trine Neptune, with Saturn opposition Uranus Pluto. Mars Neptune is publicity-attracting; Mars Saturn suggests an imbalance and element of unfairness on the part of one, so not all sweetness and light. A family friend is quoted as saying: ‘They are a family who regard themselves as being very bohemian and very open with each other. The children are more like friends than kids.’ According to the Daily Mail other friends describe a ­haphazard way of family life in their north London home, once described as ‘a 17th-century baroque palace as seen through a kaleidoscope, drunk’.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1349512/Jonathan-Ross-Betty-Kitten-The-bizarre-truth-peculiar-family-.html

The relationship chart also has a Yod of Venus sextile Mercury inconjunct Saturn, suggesting a ‘fated’ union that has irrevocably changed both their lives. She was 18 when they married in 1988 and he was 28. The composite Sun square Jupiter will help to keep enthusiasm alive.

Their wedding chart for 24 August 1988 has more affectionate crossovers with a passionate Venus trine Pluto and square Mars.

One daughter, now in her twenties, has recently complained about their attitude to her weight problems as a teenager – she’s a ‘fattist’ influencer who insists she’s happy being the weight she is. No birth date.

Birth times might shed more light on their eccentric relationship which won’t be all seamless contentment. It’s never a good idea to judge showbiz marriages from their glam and gushing Instagram posts.

Photos: Gage Skidmore

Mali in West Africa is in turmoil after the second military coup in eight years ousted the unpopular president. There is concern that coups, once a regular part of African political life, are making a comeback with Sudan and Zimbabwe seeing similar in recent years. The initial justification is usually to reinstate democracy after rigged elections keep dictators in power often for decades, but it can end up with more of the same.

Mali, the eighth largest African country, has a complicated history, was once an empire twice the size of France, enriched by the trans-Saharan trade. During its golden age, peaking around 1300, there was a flourishing of mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art. In the late 19th century, France seized control of Mali, making it a part of French Sudan and it gained independence on 22 September 1960 after the secession of Senegal.

The 2012 coup is more obvious on the Mali chart with tr Uranus in Aries (square tr Pluto) then hitting on the Mali Mars in Cancer with the several years following being fraught. Though what may be significant is the Solar Arc Uranus which was then approaching the three Libra planet conjunction in the Mali chart. In the intervening years it has moved across the Mali Mercury, Moon and will next year conjunct the Venus.  So perhaps this coup can be seen as a continuation of a running unease – with again indications of ongoing disruptions for five or six years ahead. Climate change water challenges, poverty, AIDS, the pandemic and corruption are problems that won’t be easily fixed.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have expressed disquiet and become involved in talks to ensure a peaceful democratic settlement. It was established by 15 West Africa countries including Mali on 28 May 1975 in Lagos, aimed at creating an economic and trading union; and also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region able to intervene at times of political instability and unrest.

It has a Gemini Sun opposition Neptune trine Pluto with Pluto opposition Mars – not short of ambition or determination. It’ll come into its own after a major overhaul and reorganisation in 2023/24 as tr Pluto squares the Uranus; and then starts to flourish from the middle of this decade with tr Pluto into Aquarius and tr Uranus into Gemini with a peak by 2027.

The death sentence has been overturned in the case of Scott Peterson found guilty of murdering his wife who was eight and a half months pregnant, in 2002. His conviction has been upheld.

Laci Peterson, 4 May 1975 4.44am Modesto, California, disappeared on Christmas Eve and her decomposed body and that of her unborn son were discovered the following April on the San Francisco Bay shore. It transpired that her husband had entered into multiple affairs throughout their marriage and informed his latest squeeze that he was about to become a widower two weeks before she vanished.

Laci was a Sun Taurus sextile Mars in Pisces in the 12th and sextile Saturn in Cancer in the 4^th, so used to hardship and with Uranus in her 7^th house of relationships would be attracted to a maverick, unpredictable partner. She had a cool Air Grand Trine of a mischievous Aquarius Moon trine Uranus trine Venus in Gemini; and a confident Jupiter in upfront Aries on her Ascendant opposition Pluto Descendant. Pluto there also suggests she would veer towards a controlling, manipulative husband.

Scott Peterson was born 24 October 1972 9.36am San Diego, CA, and is a Sun Scorpio with a volatile and uncompromising thrill-seeking Mars Uranus conjunction; a controlling Pluto in the 10^th in a rules-don’t-apply square to Jupiter. He had Saturn in his 7^th house of marriage suggesting he found it hard work and his Sagittarius Moon was in a slippery opposition to Neptune on his Ascendant.

It was hardly an ideal match with her Uranus conjunct his Sun; her downbeat Saturn in his 8^th and her Mars in his 4^th. Despite her efforts to be the perfect housewife she did have an independent streak, would put a damper on intimacy and be argumentative at home.

His Mars Uranus as well as his Sun fell in her 7^th so he was always going to be a combustible partner, constantly on the move and not co-operative. Her North Node was conjunct his Neptune with his Moon exactly opposition.

Their relationship chart was toe-curlingly bad with a high-risk, scary, unkind (cruel) composite Mars opposition Saturn square Pluto; plus an illusory/delusional Sun Venus in aspect to Neptune. It was always guaranteed to blow a fuse at some point. The tragedy is they ever got together in the first place.  When she disappeared, tr Saturn was conjunct the composite South Node and tr Uranus was opposition the composite Mercury and conjunct the Mars/Chiron midpoint. These aren’t exactly headlines, but the transiting Sun just into Capricorn was moving round that brutal composite T Square of Saturn Pluto Mars – and tr Neptune was just over the opposition to the composite Sun Venus.

Her chart at the time had tr Pluto square her Mars which is trapped and dangerous; with tr Mars moving into her 8^th house; and tr Uranus heading to conjunct her Moon.

On his chart there was a good deal of movement with a ‘confident’ tr Jupiter square his Solar Arc Mars Uranus conjunction. Perpetrators often have uplifting Jupiterian influences to give them the ‘courage’ to do the deed and presumably for the benefit they think it’ll bring them. He also had tr Saturn exactly conjunct his South Node in the 8^th Plus a variety of other transits to midpoints including two warped Neptune ones to two Mars midpoints.

The crossovers with and activity around the Nodes are what is remarkable with his Moon conjunct her South Node; her Saturn conjunct his South Node. And the tr Saturn conjunct the composite South Node on the relationship chart and the South Node on his personal chart when she disappeared.

For a man who has had a death sentence lifted he doesn’t look that cheerful with an uncertain tr Neptune square his Saturn till early 2022 and other less than upbeat influences on midpoints.

It takes a particular kind of evil to kill a pregnant woman, near term, who was carrying his child. And all presumably for the insurance money and the freedom to screw around as he pleased.

Another milestone has been passed in the decline of the oil and gas industry with Exxon Mobil now removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  Historically the Dow consisted of heavy industries, manufacturing, and transportation, then oil and gas rose up, but they’ve now been replaced by global technology firms. Energy fossil fuel stocks have been declining since 2015, with a 35% dip last year as the broader market rose by nearly 20% (along with shares in major renewable energy firms).

ExxonMobil came together in a merger on 30 November 1999. Tr Saturn is exactly in an enthusiasm-denting square to the Jupiter now and next month – and although tr Pluto will move into overdrive in 2021/22 as it squares the EXXM Jupiter for a hefty push, there are other less favourable indicators. The tr Uranus in Taurus square tr Saturn in Aquarius in 2021 usually associated with an economic downturn will hit the ExxM Saturn in Taurus square Uranus in Aquarius throughout the year.  2024 to 2027 will be even more discouraging with the Solar Arc Saturn opposition first the Sun and then Pluto.

Chevron, 9 September 1879, the only oil company to remain on the Dow for the time being, while not doing well, with 28% drop in stock price over the past year, is in marginally better shape than others in the industry.  It’s slogging through an exceptionally tough four years with tr Pluto trine its Mars Pluto in Taurus since 2019. And will be just as rattled if not more so than ExxonMobil by the tr Uranus square tr Saturn in 2021 as it impacts on their Neptune in Taurus. 2022 will see tr Saturn in Aquarius square the Mars Pluto for mishaps and significant setbacks. And 2023 to 2025 will be exceptionally insecure as tr Uranus is conjunct the Mars Pluto conjunction.

The Trump tribe were out in force for the Republican Party convention with Don Trump Jnr in the lead issuing a firebrand speech in support of his father and a denunciation of Joe Biden.

Don Jnr: Born 31 December 1977 (no time) he’s an ambitious Sun Venus in Capricorn in a controlled/controlling square to Pluto, trine a hard-working Saturn in Virgo and inconjunct Mars in flashy Leo with his Mars in a volatile, uncompromising square to Uranus and an over-promising Mercury in Sagittarius opposition Jupiter.

He’s not remotely hopeful, feels as if he’s standing on swampy ground and is stuck at the same time running into the election and across the New Year with various Neptune midpoints being triggered as well as a blocked, depressed Solar Arc Pluto square his Saturn around now and in effect for several months.  2021 will be uncertain and panicky; with better luck in 2022.

His relationship with his father is moving into nervy, disappointed and turbulent times through 2021 and beyond.

Eric: Born 6 January 1984, he’s another Sun Capricorn sextile Saturn in Scorpio with a frustrated/trapped Mars Pluto conjunction.  Not the sharpest tool in the box evidently, he’s wanted by the New York attorney general for a probe into the Trump Organization, with talk of improperly inflated assets and “protracted criminal conduct”.

He’s disappointed, facing losses this September and is seriously on edge over the election, set back on his heels until late November and again in spring next year. 2021 will see high hopes dashed but 2022 is his nadir with a disruptive Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Uranus and tr Pluto in a scary, high-risk, trapped square to his Pluto through 2023 as well.

With his father he’s on a serious downhill slide now and right through into 2021 and beyond with hints of devastation and major concerns.

Ivanka: 30 October 1981 is a Sun Scorpio sextile Mars in Virgo with a pushily-confident Jupiter Pluto in Libra and an ethereal Neptune Venus in Sagittarius. She’s in a mixed patch with tr Pluto square her Jupiter Pluto for an almighty and enthusiastic push in place over the New Year to late January 2021, and again later in the year. But she’s also got a car-crash halt from Solar Arc Mars conjunct her Saturn round about now and in effect for several months. October to late November will be a time of great mental strain and arguments; and 2021/22 from March onwards has discouraging influences as well as bullish ones.

Unlike the other two she will have upbeat moments with her father. Not everything will be sweetness and light with a disaster or two lurking in September. But they look in good spirits when together from late next January with a few dips but more ups into 2022.  What’s intriguing is that she has a Sagittarius Moon, given the Woody Harrelson conversation recently about those who see glaringly inadequate parents through rose-coloured glasses.

 Jared Kushner: Born 10 Jan 1981, another materialistic and ambitious Sun Mercury in Capricorn in a controlled/controlling square to Pluto, as befits a man with a criminal father and a father-in-law cut from much the same cloth. He’s on tenterhooks, edgy and insecure at the moment, expecting mishaps and he’ll get them from now right through to late November as tr Uranus squares his North Node, then his Sun/Mars midpoint in September and his Mars in Aquarius from late October across the election – all of which repeat in spring next year. 2022/23/24 look to be his worst years – panicked, blocked, scary.

With Trump – jumpy, neurotic and concerned this September and more so through a good deal of 2021 with losses littering their path; but also upbeat from March 2021 onwards in patches through to 2022.

 Melania: 26 April 1970 a Sun, Saturn and Mercury in Taurus with a showbizzy Mars opposition Neptune, she’s been in a downbeat mood recently, which returns from late November. Exactly now till late November as a tell-all book by a former adviser is due out (September 1) she’s stressed, blocked and not feeling in control; with worse in 2021 as her Solar Arc Sun squares her Pluto and the tr Uranus square tr Saturn elbows her Saturn. But she’s not much of a guide since she would not regard another four years in the White House with undiluted joy.

Her relationships with all the main Trump offspring are inherently bad with active dislike from Don Jnr, much the same from Ivanka, Jared and Eric  – all of the relationship charts have afflicted Mars, either in hard aspect to Saturn or Pluto or both and Neptune.

Melania’s relationship with Donald is facing a tussle for the upper hand late November through December; and into 2021 there’s a mix of grim-slog, disappointing, hostile arguments and jolting upheavals from the spring onwards.

Younger daughter Tiffany, only offspring of the Marla Maples marriage, educated in sociology and law though better known for her fashion interests and million plus Instagram followers, spoke on the second day to praise her father and criticise the media for being one sided.

Born 13 October 1993 12.50pm West Palm Beach, Florida, she’s an enthusiastic Sun Jupiter in Libra square a highly strung Uranus Neptune conjunction; plus an uber-determined Mercury Mars in Scorpio and Pluto also in Scorpio in a stubborn square to Saturn in cool Aquarius and in a seductively charming sextile to Venus Moon in Virgo. She’s a good deal tougher than her air-head barbie-doll looks would imply.

She’s the most upbeat of the kids with tr Pluto square her Sun/Jupiter now till late November; a lucky-break tr Uranus opposition her Jupiter/Pluto midpoint in September; and an even more go-ahead tr Pluto square her Jupiter (same as Ivanka) over New Year to late January. Though she’s also got unsettled and upsetting Uranus transits to two Saturn midpoints late December to early February, which she’ll tackle with positive bravado. Late March 2021 onwards will be confidence-sapping for a year thereafter.

Her relationship chart with her father is pretty scary with a dominating composite Mars Pluto in an unpredictable square to Uranus and an evasive/disappointing Sun square Neptune; plus an emotionally cool, defensive composite Moon opposition Saturn. Those latter two planets will be seriously rattled from late October to late November across the election, so they will be living through disruptive times together.

Dynasty had nothing on this lot.

Positive-think your way to fulfilment books and podcasts are back in fashion with celebrity influencers punting Glennon Doyle’s “Untamed:  Stop Pleasing, Start Living” and Brene Brown’s “Daring Greatly: The Courage to be Vulnerable” self-help best-sellers.  With the help of Oprah, Adele and the Harry-Meghan duo’s ringing endorsements they show no signs of becoming yesterday’s fad.

Brene Brown, 18 November 1965, 8am San Antonio, Texas, is an academic and author whose staggeringly successful writings focus on courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. In 2018 she was reputed to be giving two dozen speaking engagements a year at $100,000 a go.

She has a 12^th house Sun Neptune in Scorpio which fits a fascination with the unconscious and the psyche. Scorpio is a great researcher, an explorer of the depths. She’s also clearly designed for a leading-edge, public career with the innovative Uranus Pluto conjunction in Virgo at her Midheaven along with Moon in the 10^th. She has Mercury in crusading Sagittarius in her 1^st in an intense, persuasive and outspoken square to Pluto Uranus. Plus a financially ambitious Mars Venus in Capricorn in her 2^nd.

She has a talented Half Grand Sextile from Pluto Uranus MC opposition Saturn, sextile Venus and Neptune – so a strong and individualistic chart.

Prince Harry was evidently inspired by her approach to allowing vulnerabilities to show since it fits with his mental health campaigning. Her Uranus Pluto Moon in Virgo will connect with his Virgo Sun. But its not a combination that will stand the test of time.

The other New York Times best-selling guru – “Pain isn’t tragic, it’s magic” – Glennon Doyle, was born 20 March 1976, no birth time, and is a last degree Sun Pisces/or Aries Sun. With a healing and creative Water Grand Trine of Uranus in Scorpio trine Mars in Cancer trine Venus in Pisces; and an up and down Jupiter in Aries square Saturn in Cancer.

She was a troubled adolescent with bulimia, drug and alcohol problems who spent time in a mental hospital, got pregnant by accident, had three children, wrote a successful mummy-blog and espoused a rock-solid Christian faith. Her initial financially-lucrative writings about overcoming her demons were thrown into disarray when she discovered her husband had been unfaithful from the start. She foreswore her earlier protestations that self-sacrifice makes for a perfect wife and mother and embarked on a voyage of self-discovery which included a divorce after a coup de foudre with a female football player whom she subsequently married.

Singer Adele, herself just out of an unhappy marriage said Doyle’s latest book would “shake your brain and make your soul scream.”

Both of Brown and Doyle have strong 12^th Harmonics which is associated with healing and also victimhood.

What astonishes me is how so much of what sound like clichés appear to come as a revelation to the hungry masses. Women as free creatures –  a revolutionary concept.