Astrology of Today’s News

Donald Trump is the unquestioned winner of the election with Jupiter crossing his 10^th house natal Uranus and transiting Uranus conjunct his Midheaven pushing him across the line. His success comes despite a raft of imponderables ahead. His Solar Arc Neptune is conjunct his South Node exactly now, then conjunct his Moon in 2025 and opposition his Sun in 2026. And tr Neptune will square two of his Mercury midpoints throughout 2025. So word salads are likely to turn into word soup. Neptune does not enhance clarity of thought or speech, tends to undercut energy and motivation and can increase addictions and delusions.

 Not that the Inauguration chart looks anything but control-freaky and dictatorial with Sun Pluto in the 10^th opposition Mars in the 4^{th –} the latter hinting at a mutinous electorate. Though Neptune in the 11^th does suggest a lack of vision for the future. A defiant (lawless/reckless) Uranus in the 1^st points to significant changes being implemented that break with convention or the past.

  If his birth time is accurate then his Solar Arc Pluto is moving to conjunct his Sun – which can indicate a power play but as often ends with blocked progress.

 Looking at his relationship charts:

With the Federal Reserve which is entering a troubled phase in 2025 and on with tr Neptune Saturn square its Saturn Pluto plus plus – DT is producing a sinking feeling with tr Neptune conjunct the composite Sun, with confusion and then worse by 2026. So his fiscal and economic policies won’t bring peace of mind to the money wonks.

With NATO there are some tremors but not as much as you might expect from his rabble rousing beforehand.

Ukraine’s Zelensky he really dislikes and there will be tensions and an agenda shift through 2025 and more so in 2026.

With Putin, assuming his 1952 birth date is sound, there looks to be a confidence surge in 2025/26 which could lead to overconfident actions with tr Pluto opposition the composite Jupiter.

With Benjamin Netanyahu, which is an argumentative, competitive relationship at best, there will be jolts and jangles into early 2025.

J.D. Vance, 2 August 1984 8.11 am Middletown, Ohio, like Trump has tr Jupiter and tr Uranus moving across his 10^th house of career.  His relationship chart with Trump shows enthusiasm/success at the moment with tr Uranus opposition the composite Jupiter; and a few downbeat moments through January/February 2025 but nothing startling. Though their composite Mars is catching the March Aries Solar Eclipse in opposition to arguments are likely.

 Trump’s relationship chart with the USA is upbeat in spring 2025 but hitting disappointments and erupting tensions in 2026/27.

 The USA chart, 4 July 1776 11 am Philadelphia, having moved through its history-changing moment of a Pluto Return is poised on that crucial moment of either facing up to an erosion of its super-power status or of attempting a reboot.  There are risks and setbacks from SA Saturn conjunct the Mars now and square the US Neptune in 2025 bringing great uncertainty.  There will be a resurgence of morale and a confident (over confident) push in 2026 when the SA Pluto squares the US Jupiter.

  But I would pin point tr Pluto opposition the US North Node in Leo in 2027/28 as being the critical turning point. 9/11 happened when tr Neptune was exactly opposition the US leadership Leo North Node which dented US pride – and this may be the point where the future trajectory is decided.

Relations between the USA and Russia 1991 don’t look as upbeat through 2025 as expected from the Trump Putin bro-romance. Nor do the USA/Israel relationships look anything  but disappointing.

  This only a fast canter through the charts and more will no doubt follow follow. Trump’s relationship with General Randy George, Army Chief of Staff, if it is relevant, is fraught in the extreme in 2025.

Add On: Trump’s relationship with the present UK prime minister Keir Starmer is aggressively argumentative and competitive, as well as uncertain, suspicion-ridden and resentful. Not surprising when Labour sent activists across to help with the Harris campaign and the Foreign Secretary Lammy openly described Trump as a neo-Nazi sociopath. Ignoring the truth or otherwise of that last description there is a resounding lack of political commonsense amongst the present UK government. Like them or loathe them, other countries’ leaders have to be accorded a degree of respect for the position they hold and for the electorate who voted them in. Fouling the pitch before you start is plain stupidity.

 The Trump/Starmer relationship chart has a composite Sun Mars conjunction at 1 degree Leo which is catching the tr Pluto opposition through this coming January, repeating late August to early December 2025. Early this coming January will be especially fraught since the tr Pluto opposes tr Mars once again on that degree.  And their togetherness will be further upended mid March to early April with tr Uranus square the composite Pluto.

  Starmer’s relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu is also at degree daggers’ drawn over the same period with a composite Mars at 1 Leo in their relationship chart – so January 2025 and the second half of 2025 with see UK/Israel relations at an all time low; with 2026 being not much better.

  Trump also looks agitated with Netanyahu late this December to mid March 2025. And the Israel 8^th house Taurus Sun is catching the final tr Uranus conjunction then as well – so the Middle East may be one reason for mounting tensions and disagreements.

Add On: Trump’s relationship with the present UK prime minister Keir Starmer is aggressively argumentative and competitive, as well as uncertain, suspicion-ridden and resentful. Not surprising when Labour (in government) sent activists across to help with the Harris campaign and the Foreign Secretary Lammy openly described Trump as “a neo-Nazi sociopath.” Ignoring the truth or otherwise of that last description there is a resounding lack of political commonsense amongst the present UK government. Like them or loathe them, other countries’ leaders have to be accorded a degree of respect for the position they hold and for the electorate who voted them in. Fouling the pitch before you start is plain stupidity. Hedging your bets before an election is wise.

 The Trump/Starmer relationship chart has a heated composite Sun Mars conjunction at 1 degree Leo which is catching the tr Pluto opposition through this coming January, repeating late August to early December 2025. Early this coming January will be doubly fraught since the tr Pluto opposes tr Mars once again on that degree.  And their togetherness will be further upended mid March to early April with tr Uranus square the composite Pluto.

  Starmer’s relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu is also at degree daggers’ drawn over the same period with a composite Mars at 1 Leo in their relationship chart – so January 2025 and the second half of 2025 with see UK/Israel relations at an all time low; with 2026 being not much better.

  Trump also looks agitated with Netanyahu late this December to mid March 2025. And the Israel 8^th house Taurus Sun is catching the final tr Uranus conjunction then as well – so the Middle East may be one reason for mounting tensions and disagreements.

Add On 10 November 2024

 Thoughts from today’s Sunday Times by Mark Urban with pointers to where Trump’s actions may be more limited than hysteria suggests.

Five forces limiting Trump’s global influence.

Debt, the risk of a trade war and volatility in the Middle East and Ukraine may threaten Trump’s ability to get his own way.

Steering clear of foreign wars is a Trump pitch, but the US could get sucked in an Iran/Israel conflict.

The US is militarily weaker than it was during his last term. The strains of sustaining Ukraine or backing up Israel have undermined the US ability to train and stockpile for what is considered to be the main event: a possible confrontation with China.

Another constraint on Trump’s foreign policy is America’s ballooning government debt. It now stands at $35 trillion, or 123 per cent of GDP, and will rise still further if Trump cuts taxes again. Among those the US has relied upon to finance its debt are China, and Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Add together weakening US military clout and growing indebtedness and it’s apparent why America’s ability to call the shots is dwindling in many parts of the world.

Trump’s trade war could derail his entire platform. Campaign promises of 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods and 20 per cent on others could spark all manner of economic consequences. Such a step could send US inflation back up, while triggering retaliation from others and wrecking American supply chains. Musk says “You need to be careful with tariffs otherwise you shock the system and it breaks.”

‘Whatever the outcome of a Ukraine peace negotiation, a confrontation with Iran or a tariff war with China, the limitations on American power are evident. Bending other states to your will — while simultaneously rolling back military protection for friends, waging a trade war with almost everyone and expecting geopolitical rivals to finance your debt — is a tall order. Making America great again seems an even tougher challenge now than it was in 2016.’

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Clint Eastwood at 94 has just released his latest movie with a sterling record as a director, grossing over a billion dollars, with three of his biggest hits coming in the last decade.

 And Michael Caine, British actor, at 91, with an equally prolific output of 160 films during a seventy year career, now retired, has come out with his third memoir titled Don’t Look Back You’ll Trip Over.

Eastwood born 31 May 1930 5.35 pm San Francisco, California has the signature depression/innovation Cardinal T square of Saturn in Capricorn opposition Pluto square Uranus. Though he had a reasonably affluent middle class upbringing.  He has a filmic Neptune conjunct his Midheaven square a Gemini Sun and in a showbusiness/publicity-attracting trine to a hard-working Mars in Aries in his 6^th. A lucky Jupiter in his 8^th will have helped to keep him well supported.

 According to wiki, twice divorced, Eastwood “has had numerous casual and serious relationships of varying length and intensity over his life, many of which overlapped. He has eight known children by six women.” With a focal point Uranus in his 5^th house of children and romances, he would want and certainly end up with variety and constant change – and Chiron and Algol in his chart area of close relationships would not make for calm and harmony. His Leo Moon is on the focal point of a T square to Mars North Node opposition South Node, fitted him for a public career but did not necessarily fashion him for one-to-one commitment.

Michael Caine, 14 March 1933 10.10am London, grew up poor in London’s East End though spent the war years in rural Norfolk. He did active service in Korea before embarking on his acting career.

  His creative, filmic Pisces Sun and Venus are in his career 10^th with his Sun in a laid-back opposition to Jupiter and his Venus opposing a creative, talented and upbeat Jupiter, Neptune, Mars in Virgo. His Libra Moon in his 5^th house of performance opposes Uranus and squares Pluto – so like Eastwood he came out of a tough, turbulent ethos but will be steadier (and more controlling) with a prominent Pluto. He does have a yod of Mercury in upfront Aries sextile Saturn inconjunct Mars Neptune – so is well suited to a world of pzazz and glamour.

 His Moon is inconjunct his Sun for a degree of strain between his head and his heart but his Moon square Pluto and 4^th house Jupiter have kept him married to his second wife for fifty years.

The relationship between monarch and country has always been troublesome (with scandals aplenty) though less so in recent centuries in the UK with the growth of democracy. 

  Queen Elizabeth’s relationship chart with the UK had a powerfully confident Jupiter Pluto conjunction suggesting a strong and successful association. There were two yods onto a Leo Moon and Neptune respectively pointing to a relationship which bound the destiny of monarch and country together – with pomp and circumstances from Moon in Leo and a life of sacrifice from Neptune. There were also rough edges of resentment from a composite Saturn opposition Mars.

  Her hard-working Pluto was conjunct the UK Midheaven giving her great influence; and her lively Mars Jupiter were in the UK’s 5^th house conjunct Venus so she would boost morale and attract affection.  

 Charles’ relationship chart with the UK is more stressed with a composite Pluto opposition Mercury square Saturn opposition Mars – chained-together by circumstances and having to accept it, resentful, aggravated, arousing bitter arguments – and getting more so over the next 18 months with tr Uranus conjunct the Pluto later this month into December, then the composite Midheaven, opposition the Mercury and in 2025 square the Saturn and square the Mars into 2026. Plus a separating, discouraging tr Saturn square the composite Sun Venus over this coming New Year and in early spring 2025. So a longish run of disruption and confusion, which may not all be financial but these revelations won’t help.

  Charles always had a reputation for hobnobbing with questionable wealth which his father evidently warned him against. Armand Hammer I recollect from decades ago was a buddy, an oil baron with close ties to Russia. And Middle Eastern potentates as well through decades, who were still dropping lavish jewels on the Royals when Harry married Meghan. The Queen through her racing interests was also associated with Sheik Maktoum, the billionaire Dubai absolute ruler, who kidnapped his daughters.  Never mind Andrew and the Kazakhstanis.

  Prince William has a marginally easier relationship chart with the UK with a friendly, affectionate Venus Sun conjunction on the focal point of a linked-destiny yod inconjunct Midheaven sextile Uranus. Though a stressed composite Pluto in a resentful square to Saturn and a mutinous inconjunct to Mars hints at underlying problems on both sides.

 There will be changes ahead in the relationship with tr Pluto square the composite Uranus this year and next; plus tr Neptune Saturn square the Pluto at the same time; and by 2026/7 tr Saturn Neptune will make an undermining square to the composite Sun Venus. An uneasy passage ahead.

 William’s compassionate Cancer Moon is usefully situated conjunct the UK’s Midheaven with his Cancer North Node in the UK 10^th square a disciplined, hard-working Mars Saturn on the UK Ascendant. He may be less on the hook for financial problems vis a vis the UK in contrast to his father and grandmother.

 There was an astrological theory that William born in 1982 on the day of a Solar Eclipse in the 2 Old North Saros series which finishes in 2036 might be the last monarch and exit that point. Though how sound that speculation is I wouldn’t hazard a guess.

[Having skipped through my own chart looking at the repeating Saros series which oversaw my birth it did appear to coincide with career/house moves. So something may be afoot in William’s life.]

  In 2036 tr Uranus will be conjunct the UK’s 10^th house Cancer Moon which is associated with the ruling classes. With tr Saturn on a Return in the UK chart conjunct the 11^th house (legislature) Saturn opposition Pluto in Aquarius. That suggests major push for a change in the UK’s direction with a rethink of the parliamentary system and considerable financial pressures. It will be a pivotal moment for the UK with the SA Saturn conjunct the North Node, tr Pluto square the SA Uranus; SA Neptune conjunct the Midheaven.

 It won’t necessarily involve the Royal question but it is true that the UK’s finances and parliamentary set up will be hugely affected by tr Pluto in Aquarius through the 2030s starting with a completely blocked square to the Mars in 2030/31 and moving its way on to hard aspect the UK financial Venus and Neptune and then Saturn.

  On Prince William’s chart in 2036, tr Neptune is crossing his IC and move into his 4^th bringing an unsettling sense that he is losing his roots; and the foundations of his life are dissolving. His Solar Arc Midheaven will also conjunct his Neptune the following year. Tr Saturn opposition Pluto will be bringing extreme pressure to bear on his Solar Arc New Moon as well.  Nothing definitive in terms of a change of career but certainly highly stressful and confusing.

 The Hanoverian Monarchy chart, 1 August 1714 JC, which was the start of this Royal line has a 19 degree Leo Sun which in 2036 will be exactly opposed by tr Pluto with tr Saturn square. There have been such influences before on this chart so it may not be terminal but it does indicate major challenges.

Add On: Prince George is a less obvious monarch lacking his father’s Jupiter Midheaven aspect and having a deeply buried Jupiter, Mars, Mercury in Cancer in the 8^th. Though that Cancer collection does sit on the UK’s Midheaven along with his Cancer Sun which is conjunct the UK’s Jupiter in Leo which has the potential to be a successful duo. And his relationship chart with the UK is reasonably upbeat with a composite Sun opposition Moon square Jupiter.

 In 2036 his chart is showing challenges, stress and pressure for change with tr Pluto opposition tr Saturn in hard aspect to his Solar Arc Sun and Moon; and his SA Saturn moving to conjunct his Ascendant.  Again nothing clearly pointing to a change of life or career direction but challenges and difficulties aplenty.

 Add On: The last time England was a republic was after the beheading of King Charles 1 on 30 January 1649 after which Cromwell took over as Lord Protector but the monarchy was restored 21 years later. In 1649 there was a ferociously difficult collection of Saturn Pluto in Gemini opposition Uranus Neptune in Sagittarius squaring Mars in the January.  

Quincy Jones, one of the American popular musical greats renowned as a brilliant creator and composer as well as an entrepreneur, has died at 91. He raised many singers to a different level including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin and propelled Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith to fame and fortune.

 He was born in Chicago on March 14, 1933 at 8.40pm into  grinding poverty during the Depression with his grandmother trapping and cooking rats when food was scarce. His musically gifted, schizophrenic mother was institutionalized when he was 7 and his father was on the payroll of a notorious street gang. He was headed to becoming a gangster when he discovered music in his teens.

  He started out as a jazz trumpeter, playing with Ray Charles, later moving to Paris to study composition. He scored films, sharing an Emmy Award for the TV miniseries “Roots,” and produced Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the top-selling pop release of all time. He produced the all-star charity song “We Are the World” in 1985, a best-selling single that raised $50 million for African famine relief. In the same year he coproduced the film “The Color Purple” and handpicked Winfrey, then a rising Chicago-based talk show host, for her breakout dramatic role.

 He had a musical Pisces Sun in his performing 5^th house widely conjunct Venus also in Pisces. His creative Neptune was opposition his Venus, conjunct a showbizzy Mars in Virgo; and on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Saturn sextile Mercury. His Scorpio Moon in his 1^st house was on one leg of another yod sextile Mars Neptune inconjunct Mercury which destined him to be a communicator and teacher.

  Accented Neptune and Mercury thrust him into a glittering musical and trailblazing career. He also had the disruptive Pluto square Uranus of his generation.

  1933 with Mars, Neptune and Jupiter in Virgo produced a whole raft of distinguished creative and showbusiness types, including Michael Caine.

 Quincy Jones’ 17^th and 22^nd harmonics are both strong – indicating the considerable effect he had on the culture of the time and in future.

Even staunch Royalists are wincing over the recent investigation into King Charles and Prince William’s opaque financial affairs which details how their estates take money off hospitals, the military, prisons and firefighters. Both Royals pay income tax (since the 1990s though refuse to say how much) but not capital gains and corporation tax. Hints from 25 years back that greater transparency was needed have clearly been ignored.

The feudal-sounding duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, owned and run by the Royals are actually property companies with assets worth £1.8 billion and 5,410 landholdings, ranging from rental houses and flats to farmland, mining rights and drilling sites.

‘Prising open the secrets of the two duchies, which are exempt from business taxes and are used to fund the royals’ lifestyles and philanthropic work, has proved almost impossible. Two parliamentary committees have tried and largely failed.’

  There are calls for the two duchies to be folded into the Crown estate, which sends its profits to the Government.

King Charles, 14 November 1948 9.14pm London, has his Saturn in Virgo in his 2^nd house which has always puzzled me – since it should mean thrifty even mean about money, when his personal lifestyle hardly shrieks austerity; though it can also mean shrewd in business. He is nowhere near the top of the global rich list coming way down at around 250^th.

  He does have a Taurus Moon close to his North Node which can indicate an acquisitive streak and a tendency to become embroiled in financial tussles. His Moon is trine Saturn trine Jupiter in an out of element (nearly Earth) Grand Trine which will emphasise his interest in building a solid business operation.

  At the moment he has his Saturn moved by Solar Arc direction to conjunct his Sun exactly bringing a few financial realities home to roost. Tr Saturn is also moving through his 8^th house which again suggests a need for rearranging joint finances. Early 2025 in particular will see transiting Saturn tugging on his Mars, Uranus Jupiter – and thereby affecting his Grand Trine involving Saturn – for another discouraging phase of having to face the bottom line. Plus his Solar Arc Pluto will conjunct his South Node in 2025. By 2027 tr Uranus will be squaring his Saturn as well. Not all of this may involve money matters but a chunk will. His life and attitude to finances will have to change force majeure.

 He is not as indulgent as his mother Queen Elizabeth 11, who for all her emphasis on living a frugal lifestyle with single bar radiators and the like, also bred and competed racehorses – and that is a very expensive hobby about which nothing much was ever spoken. She had an indulgent Venus and erratic Uranus in her 2^nd house of finances and an earthy Taurus Sun, as well as a Leo Moon.  

  Prince William is less money-minded than his father/grandmother. But even he is feeling the pressure with his Progressed Moon moving through his 2^nd house of finances for another year; and tr Pluto moving through his 2^nd house well into the 2040s. Both will alter his approach to money.

  Tr Uranus is conjunct his Venus in Taurus exactly now, which given that it is on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Neptune sextile Pluto, it does suggest a life-changing phase, when he will be jolted onto a new track.

  Part of the problem as Libby Purves explained in The Times quoting the experience of a journalist who previously tried to investigate the Royal finances “The King is a good man. So is William — big sense of obligation. But they have these hard-nosed people, chisel-faced accountants ….” The men in grey suits get the blame.

  I am pro-Monarchy since it is good for tourism, holds the country together and they do put on a good performance when it comes to state occasions. The ranters and ravers, driven by a good deal by envy, would do well to consider what the alternatives are. The Russian royals were assassinated and the Bolsheviks took over. Spanish Royals out – dictator Franco in. Shah of Persia exiled and the beards moved in.

 Royals can be their own worst enemy and shoot themselves in the foot with crass decisions and obfuscation. But I would not trade their lifestyle for all the money in the world and the vacuum they leave is often filled by much much worse.

Spain is in shock after its worst flooding in decades after a year’s worth of rain fell in a matter of hours onto drought- hardened ground. The death toll is well over 200 and rising. It is Europe’s worst flood-related disaster since 1967 when at least 500 people died in Portugal. Spanish troops have been drafted in to help, with questions being asked about why the extreme red weather alert was not communicated to residents sooner.

 The Spain, 22 November 1975 12.45pm chart had the recent Libra Solar Eclipse conjunct its Pluto – which is a hint about the need for change. Transform or stagnate is the message. Tr Uranus was also conjunct the Spain IC opposition the Midheaven and Mercury exactly now pointing to a domestic disruption. Tr Uranus moves on to oppose the Spain Sun later in 2025 into 2026 so major changes in the country’s direction will be unavoidable. Followed by tr Pluto opposition the Spain Saturn and square the Uranus between 2024 and 2027 bring a series of jolting events and a prompt to alter Spain’s attitudes and expectations.  Tr Saturn Neptune into Aries just before mid 2025 and on into 2026 will square the Spanish Mars for another image and confidence dent.

 The recent Solar Eclipse located to Valencia puts Pluto conjunct the Midheaven for an event of considerable magnitude and destructive power.

 The Spain/EU relationship chart has a composite Saturn at 11 degrees Libra also being triggered by last month’s Libra Eclipse and the Aries one next March. It will be a time for facing reality.

Add On: King Felipe and Queen Letizia faced angry crowds when they visited the flood devastated area with shouts of ‘murderer’ and mud and stones being thrown. Though why the Royals were being blamed for what were local authority failures over communication; and government failures over disaster relief isn’t clear.

There are predictions that segments of the Mediterranean will become uninhabitable due to climate change with untenably high temperatures, and extreme weather conditions both drought and excessive rain.

  King Felipe, 30 January 1968 12.45 pm Madrid, a New Moon in Aquarius; with Mars in Pisces opposition Pluto (conjunct Uranus) does have transiting Pluto crossing his Midheaven exactly at the moment which often accompanies a reputation come-down and damage to career. Tr Uranus is opposing his Neptune also this year into spring 2025 which hints at uncertainty in his relationship with the public (and wife). The recent September Lunar Eclipse and early and late Eclipses in 2025 hit his Uranus Pluto in Virgo, with a SA Sun conjunct his Saturn in 2025 and his SA MC opposition his Uranus by 2026. So there’s a whole cluster of sinkholes and potential calamities to negotiate over the next several years.

 His Accession chart, 19 June 2014 12am is being undermined by tr Neptune square the Sun and Mercury exactly now and across till early 2026.  It was always going to be a crisis-strewn reign with Uranus opposition Mars square Pluto.

A quick catch up on the ongoing Prince Andrew saga of will-he won’t-he be forced to move out of his palatial 37 room Royal Lodge which even his late mother thought he would have to exit. An updated biography of Robert Hardman claims King Charles has finally removed his £1 million annual allowance and ceased to fund his personal security staff.

 Andrew was born 19 February 1960 3.38pm London with a Pisces Sun opposition Pluto and a 4^th house Scorpio Moon, so letting go is not his style. Pluto reigns supreme – for the time being. He also has a defiant Uranus on the focal point of a yod adding to his determination to walk his own road.

  But the astro-omens are not in his favour. His Solar Arc Uranus is now approaching a conjunction to his IC hinting at a major domestic upheaval ahead. His Solar Arc Pluto is conjunct his 4^th house Neptune for a sense of devastation and confusion around home and family matters. Tr Saturn now moving through his 8^th house suggests he is being thrown back on his own resources financially and having to cope independently. And his progressed Mars is now exactly conjunct his 8^th house Mercury on one leg of his yod.

 He does not look popular with any of the senior Royals and tr Uranus opposition his Scorpio Moon has two more exact hits – one exactly through this month and another next April.

  His relationship chart with Charles is in a state of upheaval exactly now as well with tr Uranus square the composite Pluto.

  All in all, the winds of change are not blowing the way he’d like.

  See previous post: Prince Andrew – a cold cup of reality. 1st June 2024

Kemi Badenoch has been voted as leader of the UK Tory Party in opposition. With a background in IT, she was born in London, 2 January 1980 but grew up in Nigeria, returning when she was 16 and becoming an MP in 2017.

 Her Leadership chart, 2 November 2024 11.05 am approx, is challenging to put it mildly with the blocked, power-struggling Mars opposition Pluto falling across the financial 2^nd/8^th houses; and a jolting Uranus opposition both Mercury and a Scorpio Moon. Plus a superficially charming Venus opposition Jupiter square both Saturn and Neptune – ups and downs and not realistic in expectations. A sparsely aspected Scorpio Sun with only a sensible trine to Saturn hints at a serious, hard-working administration that will struggle to establish its identity.

  Her relationship chart with the Tory Party 1912 is intense, with an undercurrent of aggravation, subject to fluctuations. With the UK her chemistry is argumentative but reasonably OK.

 Her own chart has a Capricorn Sun in an enthusiastic and lucky trine to Jupiter Mars in Virgo and opposite a Cancer Moon; with a hope-for-a-better-society Saturn square Neptune. She looks fractious over the New Year for a few days, with plans not working out in February and on and off till late year. Though it is Neptune Saturn into Aries and tr Uranus into Gemini from mid 2025 onwards into 2026 which will cause her most grief.

  There is an odd sense from the Leadership chart and both relationship charts – of not much happening ahead.

See previous post: Tory Party – fighting over scraps
21st October 2024

Add On: The Tory Party 18 December 1834 Tamworth chart has a tough-minded Saturn in Libra opposition Pluto square Mars (Moon) in Cancer; with an Air Grand Trine of Saturn trine Uranus trine North Node in Gemini – with the Sun in last decan Sagittarius sextile Saturn and Uranus. Not exactly sentimental or touchy-feely but built for the long haul, ideologically-oriented and capable of innovation.

  Tr Pluto has been conjunct the Neptune in 2023/24 for confusion and meltdown but that will finish from this New Year. With tr Uranus square the Uranus for the final time into the early months of 2025 there will be moves afoot to set the agenda for the years ahead. 2026 looks stuck and upbeat at the same time with SA Pluto conjunct the Saturn bringing to an end a challenging and punishing few years since 2016. Tr Uranus will conjunct the Jupiter also in 2026/27 for a confidence boost.

Kemi Badenochs’ relationship with the 1834 chart: Could be successful if internal power struggles are quelled (large IF) with 2026/27 being disappointing with tr Neptune Saturn square the composite Sun.

Her relationship with Starmer will be noisy, argumentative and competitive. Her high-vitality Mars Jupiter in Virgo are conjunct his Sun Pluto so sparks will fly as she challenges his overly controlling approach.

Her relationship with Farage hints at superficial friendliness hiding a good deal of evasion and smokescreening. Less combative than with Starmer though there may be an eruption in May 2025 and early 2026 as tr Uranus squares the composite Sun. Farage will find her tricky since her super-charged Mars Jupiter is conjunct his Ascendant and Uranus Pluto in Virgo.

 Mars at odds with Pluto will be the unwelcome spirit of the times until next April as Mars retrogrades and then advances across the zodiac from Pluto moving out of Capricorn into Aquarius. The first exact opposition is tomorrow, with another on January 3^rd and finally April 27^th 2025.

  Understanding the nature of this most intractable opposition may offer clues about how best to negotiate the challenges ahead.

 Mars Pluto operates in three arenas. Firstly in personal and event charts. Secondly in relationship dynamics. Thirdly out in the cosmos as a general trend affecting everyone.

  The simplistic interpretation of Mars Pluto highlights force, brutality, fanatical and obsessive ambition, ruthlessness, excessive effort with resulting violence and calamities.  The ultimate expression of power, with domination and submission being two sides of the same coin. The individual either becomes a bully, as a result of mirroring the behaviour of a dictatorial father, or remains a submissive and powerless victim, continually attracting Mars Pluto experiences and relationships from outside.

 In extremis, Mars Pluto results in events like the savage and barbaric Hamas attack of October 2023 with targeted, hate-filled killings and rape, which occurred on a close Mars Pluto square.

 Though it would have to be emphasized for most when these influences come around the prevailing sense is of being stuck, acutely frustrated and on occasion enraged about facing immoveable obstacles in the way of progress.

  In relationships in a composite chart it is a supremely challenging dynamic to handle. There is such a strong power drive in the dominating partner (coercive control) that the other is forced to continually give away their autonomy and freedom of choice to allow the partnership to continue. Confrontation won’t work and could result in physical violence. There is a faint hope that the relationship could be creative rather than destructive if love is allowed to mellow the need for control. “Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.” Carl Jung.

  Robert Hand shines an illuminating light on Mars Pluto in relationships and elsewhere. He says Mars has to do with ego drives. Pluto is a more cosmic energy, bringing intense and fundamental transformation. ‘A cosmic power is subjected to purely personal and selfish drives.’ Buried in that profound thought is the reason why Mars Pluto can be so immensely destructive.   

   Driving Mars, the warrior, forward with its aggressive and competitive need to win is an almost supra-human Plutonic power. Although Pluto is essentially about transformation, it can resist change with extraordinary stubbornness in a bid to maintain control. So there is something almost mythic in the conflict and cooperation between the two – human and inhuman, man and the god of the underworld – anger and power combined.

  Hand says in order to deal with the energy constructively, it is necessary to reverse the roles of Mars and Pluto so that the ego-drives are transformed by the cosmic power of Pluto. He says (hopefully) ‘You must let this relationship change and transform you without resistance.’ Though it does take two to tango so not too sure this would work in most individual Mars Pluto partnerships. 

  But again there is a glimmer of a solution to handling Mars Pluto in general – use the experience to become aware of where your Mars (ego-drive, assertive, competitive instincts, has to win) requires to transform.

  The standard response to Mars Pluto aspects celestially is to feel blocked and frustrated with less chance of forward movement. Accepting that the Mars energy (anger) is backed up for good reason – in order for a new awareness to develop and necessary changes to take place – may make it easier to handle.  

  John Townley adds his thought from Composite Charts –  Mars merging with the intractability of Pluto. Don’t fight it. That sounds defeatist but in a deeper sense may be what allows Pluto’s transformation to work its magic – if it is allowed to, which is a fairly large IF as below will indicate.

 Recently I have been keeping a tally of Mars Pluto types in the news. Twitter X launched in 2006 on a Mars opposition Pluto, perhaps one reason why it has fostered an echo-chamber for hate-filled rants.  Mike Amesbury, UK Labour MP involved in a much publicized physical brawl has a Mars square Pluto. Nicola Sturgeon’s 2014 elevation to the Scottish premiership (now on the skids) came on a Mars Pluto conjunction. Tommy Robinson, the far-right, anti-immigrant, ranting and raging activist, jailed for contempt of court, 27 November 1982, has his Mars square Pluto and Saturn. Richard Dawkins, with a new book out, a forceful exponent of his scientific viewpoint which allows little leeway for nuance or tolerance has a Mars opposition Pluto. The loopy Russell Brand with a Mars opposition Pluto as well, is involved in a village squall over his plans for a local pub. Angelina Jolie, ditto, is still ongoing in an endless divorce squabble with Brad Pitt. 

  The latest prime example of Mars Pluto’s inability to let go is Rebekah Vardy, a nonentity, who is fighting an eternal legal battle with a footballer’s wife over who leaked what to the press. Vardy, 17 February 1982, no birth time, has a ferociously difficult chart with a Mars, Saturn, Pluto conjunction in Libra trine an Aquarius Sun. She was abused as a child, abandoned by her mother and ended up homeless at 15, suicidal, with a brief early marriage, upgrading to a footballer and after a few years of spending his money moved, onto her present even wealthier footballer spouse.  

  She did have brutal experiences early on which toughened her up. Given the choice between becoming a doormat and letting life/anyone tramp over her, she refuses to give in and fights for the upper hand. Mars Pluto is known as do-or-die determined. For this temperament, the opposite of ‘do’ is annihilation. Accepting failure or submission would mean her personal autonomy was eradicated so she embarks on a desperate fight not only to regain control but at some fundamental level to show she exists. [See previous posts: Rebekah Vardy – a hard start in life left its mark, 30th July 2022; Rooney v Vardy – sound and fury signifying nothing, 11th May 2022.]

     Letting go is the hardest thing for Mars Pluto types. Which may be understandable given what has moulded their defences but it does not make them easy to handle or necessarily likeable and often makes their actions self-destructive.

  Where Mars Pluto excels is in coping with crises since it endows courage and its iron grip on control means panic is kept at bay in situations where everyone else is getting hysterical. It does give tremendous strength; and operating in the right context, usually where there is risk and emergency or calamities it does flourish. In an ordinary life not so much.

  Anyways some rambling thoughts on a celestial companion over the next six months.