Astrology of Today’s News

The fall of the House of Assad has turned the spotlight back on the mafia state in Syria which crushed dissent for decades, killed countless hundreds of thousands and wrecked a country rich in natural resources, with an ancient history and a strategic position on the Mediterranean.

 Hafez Assad, 6 October 1930, described as “a cold and calculated political and security operative” – a Mars, Pluto, Jupiter in Cancer trine Venus in Scorpio which was opposition Algol; with a Libra Sun opposition Uranus – took over in 1970.

He was succeeded by his second son Bashir ably assisted in his kleptocratic dictatorship by his brother Maher and wife Asma — a London-born ex-JP Morgan banker. Maher, head of the army’s notoriously brutal fourth division, ran weapons, oil smuggling, alcohol and sales of the illegal amphetamine Captagon. Asma consolidated control over the aid sector, a huge — and rare — source of clean cash into Syria.

 Summarised from a previous post on Asma – “a greedy profiteer who amassed billions for herself and her family out of the bloodied ruins of starving country. She controlled the economic levers consolidating the Assad’s grip on Syria, shaking down the rich merchant class (imprison in hotel and extort a la MBS in Saudi) and even – horrifyingly – crafting a corrupt humanitarian assistance system, monetising NGOs and the aid sector which takes in international money.  The economy is teetering on the brink of collapse and what little still exists appears to be controlled by Asma Assad and family across multiple sectors, including real estate, banking and telecommunications. “For any new business to get done today, Asma [and her people] take a cut,” says a relative. 

  Wives of dictators tend to get an easy ride in the media but her chart, 11 August 1975 with its Mars, South Node and Algol clustered in late Taurus was always an ominous sign. Her Leo Sun falls in his husbands 7^th for a good partnership with her controlling Pluto in his 8^th as she pulled the economic strings. Her Mars Algol fell in Bashir’s 4^th conjunct his IC so she’d be a dominant force in his home life.

 Not surprisingly her life is in turmoil with tr Uranus conjunct his Mars South Node and Algol through till mid 2025. With her Solar Arc Venus conjunct her Uranus for an upset – and a high-risk, acutely frustrated and trapped 2025 ahead of her.

  Indications on Bashir’s relationship chart with Putin (birth data being accurate) hints at a deteriorating association as tr Neptune Saturn move into Aries and oppose the composite Sun and square Saturn; with muddles and disappointment in 2025/26.

Skipping across a few other wives of strongman rulers, some of whom went on to succeed them, Taurus features widely and, on some, Algol.

 Imelda Marcos, 2 July 1929 2.30pm Maluso, Philippines, was a Sun Pluto in Cancer with Venus conjunct Ceres, Algol and North Node square Mars Neptune in Leo.

Eva Peron, 7 May 1919 5am Buenos Aires, Argentina, a determined and acquisitive Sun Mars in Taurus with confident Jupiter Pluto in Cancer trine Uranus.

Grace Mugabe, 23 July 1964 Harare, Zimbabwe, a Sun Leo with Jupiter in Taurus conjunct Algol and widely trine Pluto.

Farah Pahlavi, widow of the exiled Shah of Iran, 14 October 1938, is a Sun Libra, with Uranus South Node in Taurus trine Mars Neptune in Virgo – and Ceres conjunct Algol.

 Catherine The Great of Russia, 2 May 1729 2.30am, came to power after overthrowing her husband King Peter. She, like Eva Person, was a Sun Mars conjunct in Taurus in her case sextile Saturn and inconjunct a yod focal point Pluto. With her Pluto square Jupiter.

 Forget the weaker sex – these relationships are either folie a deux with two sociopaths meeting their twin or as may be the case with the Assads, the wife being the stronger half.  The relationship chart between Asma and Bashir has a chained-together power-couple Jupiter and Saturn trine Pluto plus a one sided, can-be-cruel Mars square Saturn. It’s a toss up which of them had to suppress their identity to make it work.

“Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” T.E. Lawrence.

With revolution in the air, a look at the charts of leaders who led the charge.

 Maximilien Robespierre was the flag bearer for the French Revolution, though he only lasted two years after the storming of the Bastille to face death by guillotine as he had condemned the aristocracy before him in the “Reign of Terror”. The revolutionary years did not last long with Napoleon Bonaparte taking over just after the turn of the century. Robespierre born 6 May 1758 2am Arras France, had a super-charged Jupiter Pluto in his 10^th square a rebellious Uranus in his 1^st. His Taurus Sun was square a publicity-attracting Mars Neptune. Confident and aggressive.

Vladimir Lenin, 22 April 1870 9.42 pm Simbirsk, Russia, at the front of the Bolshevik Revolution which brought down the Czar was another Sun Taurus with a wide Jupiter Pluto conjunction. His  Neptune conjunct Mars in Aries was in a volatile, can-be fanatical square to Uranus.

George Washington who led the army in the Revolutionary War against the UK, 22 February 1732 10am Wakefield Corner, VA, was a Sun Pisces square an uncompromising Uranus; with a confident Jupiter Pluto conjunction; and an inspired though can-be-fanatical Uranus opposition Neptune. His determined Mars in Scorpio was unaspected.

 Che Guevara, the poster boy for revolutionaries, an Argentine Marxist incensed by the USA’s capitalist exploitation of Latin America, became involved in insurrections in Guatemala and was a major figure of the Cuban Revolution. He was ultimately captured in Bolivia and executed.

   Born 14 May 1928 3.05 am Rosario, Argentina, he was another Sun Taurus in his case with his Sun square an idealistic Neptune; with a rebellious Uranus in Aries on his Ascendant square Pluto. His Pluto was also in a confident wide square to Jupiter and inconjunct Saturn. His Mars in Pisces was inconjunct Neptune. A Uranian temperament but not especially aggressive. His Neptune and Mars in Pisces caught the public imagination.

Alexandros Panagoulis, a Greek politician and poet, took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels (1967–1974) in Greece and was renowned for his attempt to assassinate dictator Georgios Papadopoulos. He was captured, tortured but ultimately freed and after the restoration of democracy was  elected to the Greek parliament. Born 2 July 1939, nr Athens, Greece, he was a Sun Cancer with a formidably determined (and tormented) Mars in Aquarius opposition Pluto square Saturn in final degree Aries. His Jupiter was in a confident trine to Pluto; and his 8^th house Uranus was in a creative trine to Neptune.

Lech Walesa, 29 September 1945 3.30 am Popowo, Poland, led the Solidarity movement and a successful pro-democratic effort, which eventually ended Communist rule. An idealistic Sun, Neptune, Jupiter in Libra square Mars Moon in Cancer, he had an all-systems-change Uranus in his career 10^th.

Nelson Mandela, 18 July 1918 2.54pm Umtata, South Africa, the figurehead for the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, was a Sun Cancer with a confident Jupiter Pluto conjunction in Cancer square Mars. His rebellious Uranus was square a Scorpio Moon and inconjunct his Sun.

 There is less marked Uranus than I might have expected, some but not an overdose.  Plenty of Jupiter Pluto which helps in the drive for power or to tilt against misuse of power in authorities. Some aggressive, others less so. Neptune figures largely driving the vision of a different society. The long term effect of revolutions – especially in France and Russia, even South Africa – is not altogether encouraging.

Add On: Michael Collins, revolutionary leader in Ireland’s struggle for independence, 16 October 1890 2.30am Clonakilty,  was a Sun Uranus in Libra with a confident Jupiter in Aquarius trine Pluto Neptune in Gemini.

Mahatma Gandhi, 2 October 1869 7.08 am Porbandar, India, led the non violent resistance which led to India’s independence from the British. Another Sun Libra he had a confident Jupiter Pluto in Taurus opposition Mars Venus in Scorpio square a Leo Moon; with Uranus conjunct his Midheaven square Neptune.

The tectonic plates in the great power game are shifting on cue with the outer planet transitions and an October Solar Eclipse pointing to a time of completion and separation from the past.

  The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is marked in the date of the original military coup which brought his repressive father to power on 13 November 1970. That happened with Neptune at zero degrees Sagittarius and Pluto at 29 Virgo. The Assad Dynasty born on a change, dies on a change, albeit a third of a zodiacal cycle on. The Uranus (conjunct Mars) on the 1970 coup chart is also triggered by the recent Solar Eclipse in opposition upending 55 years of brutal rule.

  Although Syria 1 January 1944 with its controlling Pluto in the 10^th and explosive Mars Uranus conjunction will be prone to strong-man rulers and intermittent violence. So there is no guarantee a jihadist government will be an improvement. Which is not stopping jubilation in the moment. One Syrian is quoted as saying “This is our Berlin Wall moment.”

  Iran-backed Hezbollah is on the backfoot after Israel’s recent Lebanon campaign against them and suffering from an Eclipse assault as well with its Mars Venus in Aries catching the recent and next March’s Solar Eclipses for a challenging shake up.  

  All of which reflects back to Iran, with an elderly, ailing ruler still holding power. His Leadership chart, 6 August 1989 will be unnerved as tr Neptune Saturn move into Aries mid 2025 squaring the Uranus; and more so with tr Uranus square the Mars by August 2025.

 Vladimir Putin’s initial Presidency chart, 31 December 1999, marking his long reign in power will find his grip shaken in May 2025 – with a potential topple-of-perch SA Uranus square Pluto late in 2025/early 2026. Which would fit with the Saturn Neptune conjunction being a key changeover period for Russia.

 There are too many charts to run through without getting confused but Turkey looks at odds with Russia and Iran – perhaps because of its (maybe) support for the Syrian rebels, hopeful of an opportunity to return the massive influx of Syrian refugees. With a complicating factor of Kurdish rebel factions.

  Next late March Solar Eclipse at 9 degrees Aries was around in the same Saros Series in 1989 and is physically expressive, sometimes violent or accident prone.

Previous post Syria – more Middle East turmoil 30 November 2024 gives details of Assad’s presidency and personal chart. “His Presidency chart, 12 July 2000, has been dealt a devastating blow exactly now with the Solar Arc Neptune square Saturn; with 2026/27 looking to be mired in confusion and paralysis with tr Pluto conjunct the Neptune.

   His personal chart, 11 September 1965 4.43 pm Damascus is following a similar trajectory – an undermining SA Sun conjunct his Neptune now into 2025; his SA Pluto in a potentially destructive conjunction to his Mars in Scorpio now, and in a total-confusion conjunction to his Neptune in 2027. 2025 sees high hopes dented with tr Neptune square his Jupiter with a major setback from his SA Saturn opposition his Mars in 2026/27.”

Watch and wait as recent history reaches a crossroads.

The collapse of the old left-right political battleground in the UK has led to Reform stepping up as a viable alternative with a recent polls giving Reform (24%) the edge on Labour (23%) with Tories just ahead (26%). Even Morgan McSweeney, the PM’s chief of staff, said it is unclear who Labour’s main opponents will be come 2029.

  [Major caveats include polls being notoriously unreliable; and Starmer et al may not make it for a full term.]

  However Nigel Farage for all his oddities does seem to be giving his Reform party a boost in the midst of widespread disillusionment with what went before. At a recent meeting he declared with his characteristic bombastic flourish, “We are about to witness a political revolution the likes of which you’ve not seen since Labour after the First World War.”

Sir John Curtice, the pollster said: “The electorate fractured in 2024. At the moment it is fracturing a bit more.” There is speculation that at the next election an insurgent party will be the incumbent or main challenger in most constituencies.

 Farage, born 3 April 1964 4.30 pm Farnborough, England, has an 8^th house Aries Sun widely conjunct Mars in upfront Aries in his 7^th; with Jupiter in Aries conjunct Mercury in Taurus also in his 8^th = intense, competitive, confident. He has the rebellious, disruptive Uranus Pluto conjunction sitting on his Ascendant so will be in his element as a troublemaker and upsetter of the status quo, rather than as a steady hand on the tiller.

  He is on a communicative roll at the moment tr tr Pluto square his Mercury and just off the square to his Jupiter; and tr Jupiter across his 10^th now till April 2026 should be successful.  Tr Saturn now rising above his Descendant will also bring him more prominence in a hard-working patch ahead. Tr Uranus square his 6^th house Saturn from August 2025 into 2026  could throw up odd health issues given his smoking and drinking habits. 2026/27 will not be progressive years for him with tr Neptune Saturn conjunct his Mars. And 2026 could see a sharp change of direction on the career front with tr Uranus crossing his Midheaven.

 The Reform Party chart, 23 November 2018, will be on their toes with tr Uranus opposition their Sagittarius Sun from August 2025 and then tr Uranus opposition their Jupiter and square Mars in 2026/27. They will be highly visible, buoyed up by confidence but tending to go off like a scattergun. 2028/29 look less certain with tr Neptune square the Saturn. [Another caveat – political party charts are not always the best guide.]

  The much vaunted Elon Musk/Farage bro-romance is built on shaky sands with their relationship chart having an illusory composite Sun opposition Neptune which will be upended next March/April. Plus an aggravated Mars opposition Pluto with Saturn inconjunct Pluto as well.

The street shooting of Brian Thompson CEO of UnitedHealth Group, the largest insurance provider in the US, has brought into focus consumer rage against the trillion dollar healthcare business. Social media is awash with Americans’ dire experiences at the hands of health insurance companies and outrage at the large profits that they generate. United Healthcare is one of the biggest companies in the world, valued on the market at $539bn and is renowned as one of the worst for rejecting claims. Thompson himself was paid $10.2m (£8m) last year.

Background: There is a widespread perception that health insurance companies are characterized by avarice and callousness. The public hold them largely responsible for high healthcare prices. Another national poll found that almost 1 in 4 Americans agreed with the statement that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”

  Thompson’s shooting which appears closely connected to public anger happened at 6.44 am New York on 4 December 2024 with Pluto sitting at zero degrees Aquarius opposition Mars in the 8^th/9^th; and a disruptive Uranus in the 6^th house of health.  The Saturn square Jupiter was prominent being tied into the Sagittarius Sun Mercury.

 Jupiter is also highlighted in Thompson’s chart being on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Mars and Uranus – which can have a tendency to let hubris and amplification = bigger is better – overtake common sense and humility. His Jupiter was in the line of fire of tr Jupiter square when he died – which would exacerbate his tragic flaw of aggrandisement.

  Jupiter Saturn in conjunction is also associated with those who fly too high on a Jupiterian and wave get cut down by Saturn’s grim reaper tendencies.

United Healthcare was founded in the late 1970s with its IPO on 17 October 1984 when Pluto had just moved into Scorpio, ruler of the 8^th house of business finances. Jupiter in materialistic Capricorn was also in a super-charged conjunction to Mars.  The Solar Arc Jupiter is square the Saturn exactly now for another uneasy fluctuation in its fortunes. Though 2027/28 look more ominous.

  I am not familiar enough with the highly complex USA healthcare system to make specific comments. Though I cannot see Trump undermining the insurance billionaires. The Inauguration for 2025, assuming it is held on schedule, does have a heavily aspected Moon in the 6^th house of health. It sits on the focal point of a Cardinal T Square to Mars on the IC (= angry electorate) opposition Mercury. At the very least that suggests rancorous arguments.  The Moon is also on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Uranus and Venus Saturn.

  The Moon as focal point of a yod tends to be disorganized, overly defensive and agitated but does have a potential, if well handled, ultimately to look after the needs of the weaker; and ‘attend to the basic needs of the populace.’ A Cardinal Moon on the focal point of a T Square tends to be hyper-sensitive and overly emotional.

  It could well be a central focus of the next administration for good or for ill provoking ire amongst the electorate (Mars in 4^th).

 Obamacare, 23 March 2010 11.56pm Washington, DC, could be affected in a Trumpian term. It has tr Pluto opposition the Mars throughout 2025 which is trapped and at risk. The Cardinal Grand Cross of the Aries Sun opposition Saturn square Pluto opposition Moon will be under assault from tr Neptune from May 2025 right through till 2028.  With tr Saturn adding its dollop of woe through 2026.

Anxious times ahead.

Romania’s constitutional court has annulled the result of the first round of voting in the presidential election after it was won by Calin Georgescu, an almost unknown far-right Nato-sceptic who has previously praised Vladimir Putin. The decision came after suggestions that  he benefitted from a mass influence operation, assumed to be Russian, to interfere with the result of the vote.

 Born 26 March 1962 in Bucharest, he is a far-right politician and prominent conspiracy theorist, with no party of his own, who campaigned mainly on TikTok. His videos had more than 52 million views in a four day period and attracted the attention of younger voters. He won 23% of the vote. He is a Sun and Venus in Aries; with a power-hungry yod of his Sun sextile Saturn in Aquarius inconjunct Pluto and Pluto opposition both Mars in Pisces and Jupiter.

 He looks aggravated and setback exactly now though has some moments of cheer late December and throughout patches of 2025. A dip in 202  when his Solar Arc Mars opposes his Neptune.

 Romania made its independence proclamation on May 21, 1877, Bucharest from the Ottoman Empire.

 That chart is undergoing seismic changes with tr Uranus conjunct the focal point Pluto in Taurus at the moment and again next March/April. The Pluto squares a volatile and intransigent Mars in Aquarius opposition Uranus so it will create waves.  Then tr Uranus will conjunct the zero degrees Gemini Sun from July 2025 on into 2026. It is undergoing a Saturn Return now as well.  

A magnitude 7 earthquake struck off the north west coast of California yesterday at around 10.40am local time with minimal damage and a tsunami warning proving to be redundant.

 The quake chart has Pluto on the Aquarius Ascendant in a destructive, scary opposition to Mars; with Uranus conjunct the IC – which is fairly descriptive of a disruptive event causing fear.

 The recent Solar Eclipse set for Ferndale, California has Mercury on the Ascendant, Neptune on the Descendent and a high-tension Saturn and Uranus straddling the Midheaven.  The recent Lunar Eclipse has Neptune on the Ascendant and Uranus on the IC. Planets on an eclipse chart axis located to a specific place/region usually suggest major events.

 The classic Earthquake signature is Uranus Neptune – around for the San Francisco 1906 quake and the Los Angeles 1994 one. Or Pluto Neptune. Neither of which are around in direct aspect for many years ahead.

The state of California, 9 September 1850, is looking rattled at the moment, in part presumably because of the political scene. The California Mars at 11 Libra was triggered by the recent Solar Eclipse and again by next March’s Aries Eclipse = angry, argumentative. Tr Saturn is in a downbeat opposition to the California Virgo Sun over the Inauguration in January with an undermining, dented-hopes tr Neptune opposition the Jupiter throughout 2025 which can have financial implications.

Queen Camilla recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia still appears to have a busy schedule of state dinners and book club jaunts. She has had a punishing year with her husband King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as the Princess of Wales – and is known for not finding overseas visits especially to hot countries easy. So the recent down-under one will have taken its toll.

 Born 17 July 1947 7.10 am (biography) London, she has a happy-behind-the-scenes 12^th house Cancer Sun and Moon Venus in Cancer as well. She was born at the time of the formidably tough Saturn Pluto conjunction in Leo which sits on her Ascendant on the midpoint of a showy Mars trine Neptune. Jupiter in Scorpio in her 4^th points to a happy upbringing and focus on a contented family life.

 Her Solar Arc Sun has been conjunct her Neptune through recent months and continuing on for another six months – which will make her less energetic than usual. Tr Pluto has been moving through her 6^th house of health for more than a decade and exits within a year or so which may help to lift pressure from her on the minor ailment front.

   She clearly makes Charles happy which is not surprising with her Jupiter conjunct his 4^th house Sun and her Sun, Moon, Venus in his 12^th giving him discreet support.

 Their relationship chart  has an easy going, supportive composite Moon opposition Jupiter – and an encouraging, morale-boosting composite Pluto trine Jupiter. But it will have its fractious moments with the composite Sun Mercury opposing Mars and the Sun being square Uranus. A busy schedule with separate houses will help to soak up the Mars and provide space from each other.

  Her Chiron falls in his 4^th house conjunct his South Node and his Chiron falls in her 4^th house conjunct her South Node. I have absolutely no idea how to interpret that – well the 4^th house makes sense of healing old childhood wounds and bringing domestic stability. But the South Node? Hmm.

  Melanie Rhinehart suggests that in an individual’s chart Chiron on either Node suggests a strong vocational interest. So maybe in a relationship it means that each supports the other in their career and purpose in life.

La France born on Pluto in Aquarius with an added splash of Uranus is grandstanding the downside of Fixed, egalitarian, Airy Aquarius. As one commentator pointed out, France has never developed a culture of compromise. An angry ideological push for ever more generous spending pledges, despite stark warnings about the national debt flies in the face of common sense.

  Veteran journalist Eric Brunet said after viewing the fractious debate which toppled Prime Minister Barnier, “What we have just seen is jaw-droppingly French. No pragmatism. Just ideology. All the speeches were about values, about extremes. Our whole discourse is disconnected from reality. It is typically, singularly French.” Predictions are that this process will be repeated several times over before daylight sinks in. Which fits the previous post with tr Neptune opposing the France Virgo Sun until early 2026.

 What makes France’s chart even more intransigent is the Uranus opposition Pluto in Aquarius square Mars in Scorpio which creates a determination to die at the barricades before surrender. Stirring stuff for movies, less helpful for balancing the economic books.

  The EU’s two power horses are now both in trouble with Germany being elbowed into a snap general election in February after its bickering coalition government recently collapsed.

  Key points from earlier posts. The EU 31 December 1957 chart has a deadlocked Solar Arc Pluto opposition its 8^th house economic Moon and square its Uranus later in 2025. With an upending, disruptive tr Uranus square Pluto in 2026/27. Though the catastrophic perhaps terminal problems come later this decade as tr Pluto squares the EU Moon and opposes the Pluto. This is when the 2004 enlargement countries of Czechia, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia may consider a breakaway as their entry chart also has a 10 degree Taurus Sun.

 The Maastricht Treaty chart, 1 November 1993 12 am,  is seriously rattled at the moment till April 2025 with tr Uranus conjunct the Taurus Moon, opposing the Mars Pluto in Scorpio and square Saturn which will see a considerable crisis. But again its moment of greatest jeopardy will be later in this decade.

See previous posts:

France – bulldozer meets brick wall ++ 5th Republic chart  3rd December 2024

EU – heading for splits or a collapse ++ Germany ++ Poland 4th October 2024

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