North Korea has taken a step back from rapprochement with South Korea, blowing up a joint liaison office in the demilitarized zone between the countries. It had allowed constant communication between the two sides for the first time since the start of the 1950-53 Korean War. The two countries have one million troops stationed on either side of the border.

North Korea has been irritated by the flow of anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent over the border on drones and in balloons by defectors. Though analysts say they may be seeking to manufacture a crisis to increase pressure on Seoul while nuclear negotiations with Washington are at a standstill, which pushes back any chance of sanctions being lifted. They say South Korea has failed as a mediator.

The pandemic has also caused problems, freezing cross-border trade with China which has worsened the impact of UN sanctions, which limit the purchase of almost all goods from North Korea. Beijing had hoped to coax Pyongyang towards market reforms in return for scaling back its nuclear programme, but that’s no longer a priority.

The North Korea country chart is in over-hopeful gear at the moment with tr Neptune square the Jupiter which also often accompanies financial meltdowns and that runs on and off till late 2021. This month’s Cancer Solar Eclipse will conjunct the Uranus exactly which is likely to provoke impulsive reactions and unpredictable behaviour.

Kin Jong Un is thought to have had health problems recently and his Leadership chart, 29 December 2011 11.57am Pyonggang is being rattled by the Eclipses this year with the Mercury catching the June 5th Sagittarius Lunar eclipse; and the Sun Pluto in Capricorn square Uranus catching the early and mid year Eclipses, Solar and Lunar. With a panicky-failure tr Neptune opposing the Mars this year into early 2021; and a downbeat tr Saturn square the Jupiter in place exactly now till early July. The regime is not in great shape.

Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong has been more visible recently, making this latest military announcement. If her birth date is accurate, 26 September 1987, she’s a Sun Venus in Libra with Moon Pluto in Scorpio. She’s in a year of upheaval with tr Uranus opposition her Pluto and then on a fast downhill slide in 2021/22 with tr Neptune opposition her Mars and square her Uranus, so any violent responses would end in failure. Though she’s also at risk if her brother dies or is overthrown since there would be a deadly power struggle between older rivals for the leadership.

The South Korean President Moon Jae-In’s Administration chart looks rattled by this December’s Solar Eclipse conjunct the Saturn; and will be into turbulent waters come 2021.

The North Korea/USA relationship chart has been and will continue to be rattled by this year’s Eclipses and tr Neptune in a nerve-stretched square to the Uranus and in a deeply uncertain opposition to the Saturn through 2021; with more jolts in 2022. So nothing sorting soon.

The assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme on a Stockholm street in 1986 sent shock waves through Scandanavia. He was an outspoken critic of the USA, Russia, South Africa, Pinochet’s Chile and elsewhere, supporting Third World governments including Cuba and other South American countries. So there were no shortage of conspiracy theories about who might have been responsible for having him gunned down as he walked home with his wife from the movies at midnight without a bodyguard. A small-time criminal was found guilty of his murder later but had his conviction overturned.

Recently Swedish prosecutors made a song and dance about announcing belatedly who the real culprit was but it turned into a damp squib with the announcement that a Swedish graphic designer, who died 20 years ago, with differing political views to Palme, was most likely responsible.

Palme was born 30 January 1927 5.15 am Stockholm and had a 2^nd house Sun Mercury in Aquarius with a 1^st house outspoken Sagittarius Moon; a full communicative 3^rd house with Venus in Aquarius opposition an idealistic Neptune, as well as Jupiter and blunt-speaking Uranus. His Sun Mercury were widely square a pro-active and determined Mars in Taurus in his entertaining 5^th which in turn was sextile an influential Pluto in his 8^th.

When he was killed on February 28 1986 he was on his Second Saturn Return with his Solar Arc Moon and Solar Arc Uranus both in exact aspect to his idealistic, head-in-the-clouds 9^th house Neptune. Tr Pluto was also hovering around the challenging square to his Sun Mercury and in a blocked square to his Solar Arc Saturn.

The alleged killer Stig Engstrom, 26 February 1934, was a Sun Pisces with a could-be-ruthless Mars Mercury in Pisces trine Pluto in Cancer. Engstrom’s Saturn in Sagittarius was square Palme’s Sun and his Saturn in Aquarius squared Palme’s Mars and sat on top of Palme’s Venus opposition Neptune – so it wasn’t good chemistry between them. Their relationship chart had an exact hostile, power-struggling composite Pluto square Mars and Uranus.

Not exactly startling, though it’s possible he was acting on behalf of others, since there seemed to be no obvious smoking-gun motive.

Music mogul Russell Wendell Simmons who resigned from his positions at Def Jam Recordings and other companies after multiple allegations of serious sexual misconduct and assault, has popped back up in a radio interview proclaiming his innocence. A recent documentary featuring some of his accusers lost Oprah Winfrey’s support. In 2018, it was reported that Simmons had moved to Bali, Indonesia, where there is no extradition treaty to the U.S.

Born 4 October 1957, Simmons is a pro-active Sun, Mars, Jupiter in Libra in sextile to Saturn in Sagittarius on one side and Uranus on the other – a risk-taker, confident, innovative. His Saturn is also in a tough-minded square to Pluto. His Venus in seductive Scorpio squares onto an Aquarius Moon.

It’s not a particularly alarming chart (without a birth time) but his way ahead looks less than upbeat. He has a car-crash Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Saturn this year, as well as tr Uranus opposing his Mars/Saturn for a run of calamities from this month, on and off to early 2021; plus jolts and jangles from tr Uranus square Uranus, Sun/Saturn and Jupiter/Saturn midpoints from this July on and off into mid 2021 – which suggest losses, upset and forced change. And tr Neptune is in a disastrous opposition to his Mars/Pluto midpoint now till early 2021. In 2022 Solar Arc Neptune squares his Mars for panicky failure. Photo: David Shankbone

Continuing protests in Hong Kong have been marking the first anniversary of major clashes between police and pro-democracy demonstrators as well as voicing protests about the new national security law imposed by Beijing. The Chinese government say it will target subversion, succession, terrorism and foreign interference. But critics fear it will bring mainland-style political oppression to a city supposedly guaranteed freedoms and autonomy for 50 years after its handover. Hong Kong enjoys liberties unseen on the mainland as part of the “one country, two systems” deal made when colonial power Britain handed it back to China in 1997.

The Hong Kong 1 July 1997 12 am chart does have tr Pluto conjunct the Solar Arc Midheaven exactly now and continuing till late 2021 which is a fair description of blocked progress and crushed ambitions; with a deflated Solar Arc Neptune conjunct Jupiter as well this year, which could dent finances as well. With nothing much showing ahead that is upbeat – tr Pluto will conjunct the Neptune in 2023/24 which will be even more devastating.

The Hong Kong 25 January 1842 chart is no more cheering with outbursts of tension from this month, into 2021; a panicky, nerve-stretched 2021 and more of the same in 2022. It all looks like, muddle, mayhem and disappointment.

Relationship charts with both China 1912 and 1949 look to be on a downward slide until almost mid-decade.

The China 1 October 1949 3.15pm chart is pushily confident till this year end but then has tr Saturn moving across the Ascendant into a lower profile First Quadrant for several years thereafter. It may take a while to bite but there will be a less bullish attitude as the old success becomes more difficult to achieve. 2022 will be particularly turbulent, explosive and insecure with the likelihood of hasty over-reactions as tr Saturn square tr Uranus hits on the 7^th house China Mars Pluto in Leo and by 2023 tr Uranus opposes the financial Venus, which will bring financial upsets.

The 1 January 1912 China chart is in a state of upheaval this year with Solar Arc Sun square the Uranus and a devastating and confused tr Pluto Saturn opposition the Neptune – presumably CV-19 plus economic damage. Tr Saturn moves onto to conjunct the Uranus later this year for more tension; and by 2022 tr Pluto will conjunct the Uranus for a phase of disruption and perhaps rebellion. Tr Neptune will also square the Mercury opposition Pluto in 2022/23 for further discontent.

So the overlord China will be going through a series of convulsions.

Xi Jinping’s First Presidency chart – 14 March 2013 11.51 Beijing is possibly the more accurate since he’s now abolished the two-term rule. It indicates major problems from next year onwards. In 2021 the economically-challenging tr Uranus square tr Saturn will hit the speculative 5^th house Saturn in Scorpio; tr Neptune will also make an undermining conjunction to the Pisces Sun and Solar Arc Midheaven, so it’ll be dither and indecision. By 2023 there are two poleaxing Solar Arcs of a dead-halt, trapped Mars square Pluto; and mutinous-population Pluto square Moon. He won’t emerge from that looking like a victor.

None of which may do Hong Kong much good. It may be helped by tr Pluto moving into Aquarius after 2023/24 since on the 1841 chart the Sun is in early Aquarius; and on the 1997 Uranus is at 7 Aquarius – both of which could (maybe) bring about significant reforms.

The mystery of Melania Trump is under scrutiny in a new book ‘The Art of Her Deal’ which suggests her reluctance in moving to DC after Trump’s election was because she was using her leverage to renegotiate her prenup and protect her son Barron’s financial interests.

It makes sense from various astrological pointers. She is a Sun Saturn in Taurus opposition Jupiter in Scorpio, with Mercury Venus also in Taurus trine Pluto so she will be obsessive about material security and money. The other is that tr Pluto in Capricorn was opposing the composite Mars in her relationship chart with Trump suggesting a bitter tussle. Tr Pluto was also squaring his 2^nd house Jupiter, lifting his confidence certainly with a win but also pointing to a financial tug of war. Plus tr Saturn in Sagittarius was conjunct his Moon, opposition his Sun and in hard aspect to his marriage signature Sun/Moon midpoint through late 2016 and 2017 pointing to marital separation.

The book also says she is more like Trump, supports his general outlook and is closer to him than was suggested initially. They are different types since she has a predominantly practical earthy and Fixed chart with a Capricorn Moon as well as a stellium in Taurus and Pluto in Virgo, while he lacks Earth altogether. She has no Water planets and only one Fire – so out of touch with feelings and lacking trust in life, which is why she needs to accumulate security and possessions. They may well complement each other – she’s pragmatic and steady while he’s scattergun and disorganised.

Her Mercury and indulgent Venus in Taurus sit on his Midheaven with her Pluto trine so she’d be attracted to his status for what it could give her. Her Mars in his 10^th will throw her energy behind his ambitions.

Their relationship chart has a controlling composite Sun square Pluto which describes a relationship in which power plays a major role. Initially that might have suggested she was the submissive partner and she is certainly adept at playing the silent, one-step-back half of the duo. But her Pluto squares his Sun and Moon, so she could well have the measure of him and be the subtle string puller.

Her own chart is agitated and in crisis-mode at the moment with tr Uranus conjunct her Saturn/Uranus midpoint; with a mountainous struggle picking up from early July till mid August as tr Pluto opposes her Saturn/Uranus midpoint, opposes her Solar Arc Mars and trines her Mars/Saturn midpoint. And that influence returns late November through this December. In 2021 she has a seriously blocked Solar Arc Sun square Pluto which could even pick up late this year depending on her birth time which isn’t known. And she will be badly affected by the tr Uranus square tr Saturn hitting on her Saturn in 2021 as well, so could be economically damaging for her.

Her relationship chart with Trump is in facing-a-disaster-mode from now till early July, again in October and early 2021. The two Lunar Eclipses this month and next are rattling the composite Saturn Mercury in Gemini and Mars respectively; and the December Solar Eclipse is opposing the composite Venus – so plenty in the way of upsets, chickens coming home to roost, irritability and emotional shocks late year. With a major turnaround from spring 2021 onwards as tr Uranus square tr Saturn hits on their composite Uranus. But without her birth time not showing much more.

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Jessica Mulroney, who is/was Meghan Markle’s best friend, fashion stylist and wedding planner, has become embroiled in an extraordinary spat with a black Instagram influencer which has led to her being dropped from Good Morning America and having her reality TV show cancelled. What’s bizarre is that given Mulroney’s associations she should have been tripping herself over backwards to be supportive of Black Lives Matter, not lashing out with a spiteful response.

What is also odd is the lack of much crossover between Meghan and Jessica’s charts given their long friendship.

Jessica was born 14 March 1980 in Montreal, Canada, and is a Sun Pisces opposition Saturn in Virgo square Neptune – creative, neurotic, scattered; with a flamboyant Mars in Leo in a go-ahead and adventurous conjunction to Jupiter. And the classic fashionista/indulgent/superficial Jupiter trine Venus in Taurus; and a publicity-attracting Mars trine Neptune.

The main connection with Meghan is money and extravagance with Jessica’s Mars Jupiter falling in Meghan’s 2^nd house. Material gain is what drives the relationship and it can be good for joint business ventures. But resentment can arise in a personal relationship about ulterior motives of personal gain on one side or the other.

Their relationship chart is no more illuminating having a needs-space and differing-agenda composite Sun Mercury opposition Uranus; and a confused, suspicious composite Jupiter Saturn square Neptune. (Unless her birthdate is wrong it is v weird.)

Jessica gets on even less well with Prince Harry with her Saturn in a dampening conjunction to his Virgo Sun. Their relationship chart has a seriously aggravated composite Sun trine and composite Venus square a loaded Saturn, Mars, Pluto conjunction, plus an illusory/disappointing composite Sun opposition Neptune. This was never going to last.

Jessica herself looks unsettled and nerve-jangled now with tr Uranus conjunct her Venus and tr Pluto conjunct her Sun/Uranus midpoint as well as tr Neptune square her Sun/Neptune – so the birth date may well be right. Next year looks littered with failed plans as tr Neptune opposes her Saturn and then moves on to conjunct her Sun in 2022.

Astro-point to watch out for. Meghan and Harry’s relationship chart has a composite North Node at zero degrees Cancer catching this month’s Solar Eclipse exactly. The Lady Colin Campbell reveal-all book is out later this month followed by the semi-authorised ‘Finding Freedom’, both of which will no doubt provoke attention and the usual divisive for and against arguments. They are already wading through thick mud with tr Pluto square their composite Saturn this year and next, followed by tr Pluto square the composite Pluto and worse opposing the composite Moon in 2022/23. Tr Saturn is also square the composite Saturn Pluto and opposition Moon from this July right through until December this year. Not all hearts, flowers and picnics to put it mildly.

Bashar Assad of Syria’s fortunes are running on track with the astrology. It was always puzzling when he was generally deemed to be the victor of the brutal civil war, aided and abetted by Russia and Iran. Yet what his Presidency chart, 17 July 2000, showed was escalating pressure, fear and devastation from 2019 for several years therafter. Tr Pluto has been in a dead-halt opposition to the Mars, then Sun/Mars midpoint and is now aiming to oppose the Cancer Sun (conjunct Procyon, lord of rises and falls) in 2021/22.

In his desperation to stay on top and quell dissension he has almost destroyed the country and its economy. In recent months there has been hyperinflation, mass business closures, food shortages and widespread unemployment. Not only is coronavirus a major threat but there could also be a famine coming. Assad has already started targeting his own wealthy relatives and seizing their assets. His popularity out on the street and amongst the elite is sagging and there are even suggestions he may be ousted altogether.

It Pluto opposing his Administration Sun in 2021/22 could be the turning point – transform or implode – and its difficult to see what options there are for rebooting a destroyed Syria. Though if he does go he’s likely to be replaced by another establishment figure.

His personal chart, 11 September 1965, has a panicky, undermining tr Neptune opposition his Virgo Sun till January next year; but much worse is a catastrophic run of Solar Arcs stretching from 2022 to 2027 which will collide his central configuration of Sun, Uranus, Pluto opposition Saturn in its Solar Arc position with his Mars Neptune in Scorpio. Shocks, collisions, setbacks, high insecurity, violence – it will be the crisis of his life, worse than anything he has lived through over the past decade. Difficult to see how he will come out of it intact. See previous post October 8 2019

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/11/assad-syria-collapse-313276

Cristiano Ronaldo is on track to become football’s first billionaire, about to join golfer Tiger Woods and boxer Floyd Mayweather in the sports super-wealthy club. Ronaldo has been a shrewd marketer of his brand as well stratospherically well-paid for his on-field talent.

He was born 5 February 1985 Funchal, Portugal at 10.20 am according to his mother. This puts his Aquarius Sun and Mercury in the 11^th house; with a serious-about-business Saturn in obsessive Scorpio in his financial 8^th; with his North Node in money-minded Taurus in his 2^nd house. Not a sharer, that’s for sure. If the birth time was a few minutes out it might even put his Pluto in the 8^th as well. His Jupiter in ambitious Capricorn is also inclined towards money and status; and oddly enough Aquarius does appear in the lists of the world’s most wealth.

His Pluto is in a successful and pushily-confident square to his Jupiter. His Sun is square his tenacious and tough-minded Saturn/Pluto midpoint; his Uranus is conjunct his Jupiter/Pluto for a lucky streak; and his Jupiter is conjunct his Mars/Saturn midpoint so he revels in the discipline required to get to and stay at the top. He’ll do even better by 2023 when tr Pluto is conjunct his Jupiter.

Tiger Woods, 30 December 1975 10.50pm Long Beach, California, is a Sun Capricorn on the point of a T Square to a confident and successful Jupiter in Aries opposition Pluto. With his Sun opposition his Mars/Saturn midpoint.

Floyd Mayweather, 24 February 1977 Grand Beach, MI, is a Sun Pisces with a hard-edged Mars opposition Saturn square Uranus; and a talented Half Grand Sextile from Venus opposition Pluto, sextile Neptune sextile Mars. His Jupiter (and Moon) are in indulgent, materialistic Taurus. His Pluto is square his Sun/Jupiter midpoint; his Jupiter is conjunct his Sun/Saturn and square his Sun/Mars; and his Uranus is opposition his Mars/Saturn.

So he has the same mix as the other two of luck along with the ability to succeed and very hard-driving aspects which push them on through pain, injury, exhaustion and the sacrifice of fun to reach the sporting heights.

I’m never convinced that these guys are good role models. While it may be motivating to see someone succeeding despite coming from a poor background in the case of Ronaldo and Mayweather, it does give ordinary mortals over-inflated expectations of what’s possible. I worked a fair amount in India and used to be continually asked by clients when they were going to earn or win their billion. To which my response was – try to be satisfied with what you achieve, whether it’s ten, fifty or a hundred thousand. But none of them wanted to be a millionaire, it was only ever billionaire. For 99.99% of the population it’s never going to happen. The unattainable makes people feel like a failure which is a shame.

Spike Lee’s latest movie Da 5 Bloods about four African American veterans returning to Vietnam in search of the remains of their team leader, releasing this week on Netflix, couldn’t be more timely. Peter Bradshaw described it as “an explosion of satire and emotional agony about … the fact that black deaths count.” “It’s a rip-roaring adventure yarn, a modern-day remake of The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre and a deeply heartfelt tribute to the black men who risked their lives for their country overseas, only to find their country barely valued theirs once they returned home.”

African-Americans at the time complained they were disproportionately drafted, assigned to combat units and killed in Vietnam. In the early years of the war African-Americans, approximately 11 percent of the civilian population, made up 16.3 percent of draftees and 23 percent of combat troops. Yet few Vietnam War movies reflect their experience.

Spike Lee has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump describing him as Agent Orange and “that Klansman in the Oval office”. He says: He will “go down in history as the worst president of the United States Of America”. “If this guy wins (in 2020), the world is in peril. Not just the United States Of America. The world.”

Spike Lee was born 20 March 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia, his mother a teacher of arts and black literature and his father a jazz musician and composer. He was making films in college and never stopped with his company producing 35 films since 1983, earning multiple awards.

He’s (probably) a final degree Sun Pisces in an expansive opposition to Jupiter in Virgo and trine an innovative Uranus and sextile Mars in argumentative, outspoken Gemini. His Mars is also in a frustrated and do-or-die determined square to Pluto. He’s got a couple of Yods of Sun sextile Mars inconjunct Neptune; and Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Sun Mercury – a unique individual, who uses his outsider status to good effect.

Spike Lee’s Pluto is conjunct Trump’s Mars for an inflammatory chemistry of hostility and dislike; with his Saturn opposition Trump’s Uranus for more tension.

He looks aggravated this year with his Solar Arc Sun Mercury conjunct his Mars, and his Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Uranus. Though that may be more social and political than responses to his career. He’s on a good roll ahead with tr Pluto in a successful trine to his Jupiter from March 2021 through to late 2022 and beyond since tr Pluto moves onto a super-confident opposition to his Sun/Jupiter midpoint in 2022/23 and then forms an influential sextile to his Mercury Sun in 2023/24.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS