Astrology of Today’s News

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The sad tale of child singing phenomenon Lena Zavaroni is the subject of a new BBC documentary.  She shot to fame aged 10, winning the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks and was whisked off to London by agents away from her family to entertain on TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic. She sang with Frank Sinatra and at the White House. By 13 she was diagnosed as anorexic, almost certainly a result of outside pressure to lose weight. At 15 she weighed four stone and was diagnosed with depression as well. She eventually died from pneumonia, exacerbated by her condition aged 35.

  Born on 4 November 1963 12.45am Greenock, Scotland, with musical parents who ran a chip shop, she had a chart riddled with quincunxes giving her an internal unease as if she could never quite pull together the contradictory sides of her personality. She had a quick witted and intense 3^rd house Sun, Mercury, Neptune in Scorpio inconjunct a 10^th house career-oriented, restless Gemini Moon formed into a yod by Moon sextile Jupiter. She had another yod of Uranus Pluto sextile her Sun, Neptune inconjunct her 8^th house Jupiter. And her Jupiter sextile her 6^th house Saturn was inconjunct a highly-strung and erratic 1^st house Uranus Pluto.

  Her Gemini Moon was widely opposition a 4^th house Mars square Uranus Pluto in Virgo in her 1^st house further emphasizing her chaotic, nervy, high-octane approach to life.  

 In her twenties her mother died of a tranquilliser overdose and Lena had a fire in her home which destroyed all her showbiz memorabilia. Her short-lived marriage broke up after 18 months. She was unable to work and had ended up on state benefits. Towards the end of her life she underwent electroconvulsive therapy and threatened suicide if doctor’s didn’t attempt brain surgery to alleviate her depression. She did undergo “psychosurgical” operation but contracted pneumonia and died.

 Her global superstar 22^nd Harmonic was notable; as was her creative 5^th H. Her ‘victim’ 12H had a trapped, frustrated, destructive Mars square Pluto tied into the Midheaven.

  Talent and early success often comes at a great price.

Apple Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay Chris Martin’s daughter was wheeled out for a time-warp debutante ball in Paris. Le Bal des Débutantes is an annual invitation-only event that introduces young women from prominent families “into society” and aims to raise money for charities. Apple wore a strapless blue Valentino gown that took 750 hours to make and was paired with a ‘cavalier’ from a distinguished background, in her case a German count, son of a film producer.

 It’s enough to jump start another French Revolution.

Apple was born 14 May 2004 1 am London and has her Taurus Sun on her IC making her private and very attached to her family and roots with her Sun square a kind but vague 1^st house Neptune. Her Sun is also inconjunct her Pluto for an uneasiness about how best to use her influence. She has a financially lucky 8^th house Jupiter opposition Uranus; and a sociable, charming, though can be manipulative Venus opposition Pluto square a 2^nd house Pisces Moon. Good at putting on a show and keen on financial stability.  She does have a tricky Mars Saturn in her 6^th which will make her hard-working but could suggest health issues down the line. Her Saturn sextile Jupiter is inconjunct Neptune for an head-in-the-clouds Neptunian yod.

  Her earthy, Fixed Taurus Sun will anchor her which is a help with a fairly disorganized, insecure though compassionate Moon.

  Her mother Gwyneth, 27 September 1972 5.25pm Los Angeles, does not have the easiest of temperaments with a controlling (and then some) Sun conjunct Pluto in Libra conjunct Mars in late Virgo, all in her 7^th house of relationships. With her Saturn in Gemini in her 4^th hinting at a cool, workaholic approach to domestic and family life with her Saturn in a hard-edged square to Mars;  plus her Saturn is conjunct a restless Gemini Moon. Her Saturn Moon trine an 8^th house Uranus.  Her megaton Mars Pluto Sun conjunction plus Venus all fall in Apple’s 8^th which is possessive, suggesting a deep-rooted bond (chain) between mother and daughter which it will be difficult to separate from.   

 Their relationship chart is a web of complexity with an affectionate composite Sun Venus; plus an edgy Sun inconjunct Uranus with Uranus opposition Saturn; a power-couple Jupiter Pluto and Pluto square Mars. All of which will take time to play out but suggests difficulties in embracing differing needs and wishes between the pair and undercurrents of power struggles and resentment.

 Her father Chris Martin, 2 March 1977 5.52pm (?) Exeter, England, has his Jupiter on her Sun for a reassuringly, supportive connection. Though his Mars in Aquarius opposition Saturn square Uranus all impacting on Apple’s Neptune suggests a confusing and erratic chemistry between them.

  All three have afflicted Mars in their charts which suggests that anger (and assertion) is not something well handled within the family.

 Another Taurus in the news – Donatella Versace, 2 May 1955 5am Reggio di Calabria, Italy, the fashion designer, attracted comment for her changed looks as she stepped out at the Devil Wears Prada musical. With her Sun on her Taurus Ascendant she will be naturally focused on her appearance and brand. And that plus an attention-seeking Pluto in her 5^th plus a 5^th house Virgo Moon, means she will rarely go unnoticed. Tr Saturn is opposition her Moon and square her Mars for a few weeks ahead but there is nothing much affecting her Ascendant or her Venus.

Kash Patel, a deep-state conspiracy theorist with limited management experience, who is Trump’s pick for head of the FBI, will face a tough confirmation hearing. Patel began his career as a Miami federal public defender, then worked as a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice, followed by  senior aide to Republicans who led the House Intelligence Committee, reportedly fighting the investigation of Trump and Russian collusion in the 2016 election. Then onto security, intelligence and Pentagon posts until Trump left the White House.

 The FBI director leads 37,000 employees across 55 US field offices and oversees 350 satellite offices and more than 60 other foreign locations expected to cover almost 200 countries. Former FBI officials said the job is difficult and it would be nearly impossible for someone like Patel to operate effectively.

  Since leaving office, Patel has promised in interviews that he and others will use the government to go after political opponents – including politicians and members of the media who he alleges without evidence helped overturn the 2020 US presidential election results.

  He was born 25 February 1980 in New York and is a Sun Pisces opposition an opportunistic Mars Jupiter in Virgo; with Saturn in Virgo opposition Mercury in Pisces square Neptune.

  Mars Jupiter is interesting. In positive gear it is highly enthusiastic and self-confident. In its negative mode it can be ‘avaricious and bellicose’ with a might-makes-right attitude, won’t take no for an answer and can veer towards the fanatical. Sakoian & Acker see it as destructive, dishonourable, self-aggrandizing with a tendency to go on ‘holy crusades’ which channels their anger in sanctimonious and self-justifying directions.  The house positions may intensify the energy.

 The other problematic aspect of his chart is the Saturn opposition Mercury square Neptune which can be highly neurotic, veering towards paranoia, with a tendency to become involved in intrigue and scandal.

 [These are all the negative possibilities from those aspects.]

 He is running into a deadlock, high-risk blockage probably by 2026 when his SA Mars is conjunct his Pluto. Since his SA Jupiter is not far behind, he may go well over the top and create a backlash.

  His relationship chart with Trump will hit a few bumps from mid March onwards and more from midyear 2025. It is a volatile connection with an undertow of suspicion.

 There are two FBI charts, 26 July 1908 and 22 March 1935.  The 1935 chart looks alarmed to a considerable degree over coming months with a trapped, high-risk SA Pluto conjunct Mars and then an undermining tr Neptune Saturn conjunct the Aries Sun from mid 2025 into 2026.

  Patel’s relationship chart with the FBI 1908 chart looks fraught in the extreme especially over the Inauguration and sagging badly in 2026.  His relationship chart with the 1935 FBI is wildly confused, devastating and panicky through 2025.

 Which does not mean he will make it through the confirmation hearings but he will likely to be around in some capacity.

Add On. J. Edgar Hoover’s birthdate (see comments below) is either 1 Jan or 1 June 1895 and I have put both up above. Either looks feasible.

January has a hard-edged, can-be-cruel Mars in Taurus opposition Saturn with the Capricorn Sun inconjunct the not entirely stable and stratospherically ambitious Neptune Pluto in Gemini.

June has the Gemini Sun conjunct Neptune Pluto with a can-be-promiscuous Venus Mars in Cancer trine Uranus.

France’s government is on the brink of collapse as PM Michel Barnier vowed to force through draft tax and spending plans without parliamentary approval in the face of a no confidence vote backed by Marine Le Pen. He said. ““We have arrived at a moment of truth. It is now up to members of the parliament to decide if our country gets a responsible, indispensable budget or if we step into uncharted territory.” France with its bloated state-sector costs is facing a financial crisis which has proved impossible to tackle given public determination to hang onto past securities.

If Barnier’s government falls it would make him France’s shortest-serving premier since 1958. Emmanuel Macron appointed him after the gamble on a summer election backfired, leaving Macron’s centrist coalition far short of a majority in the National Assembly. Macron would have to name another prime minister if the motion of no confidence succeeds.

France was always in for a quagmire phase with tr Neptune opposition its Virgo Sun from May 2024 on and off till March 2026. And the astro-detail has been covered in several recent posts.

La France – the day of confusion has arrived 8th July 2024

France – teetering on the brink 1st July 2024

France – Macron’s desperate gamble 10th June 2024 by Marjorie

  What is intriguing is that Michel Barnier, 9 January 1951 4.40 pm La Tronche, France, has his terrifyingly stubborn 8^th house Mars Moon in Aquarius opposition Pluto sitting exactly on top of France’s revolutionary (can-be-violent and defiant) Pluto in Aquarius opposition Uranus which squares Mars in Scorpio. A gladiatorial conflict of earth-shaking proportions.

  Barnier’s appointment, 5 September 2024 does have a 13 degree Virgo Sun which is exactly now facing the tr Saturn opposition which could spell a speedy end. If he staggers on in situ then tr Neptune Saturn into Aries square the PMship Mars from April 2025 onwards hints at setbacks and failure.

 Later this month to mid March 2025 is another trigger point with both Macron’s Presidency charts starting on a 23 degree Taurus Sun which will catch the tr Uranus conjunction from Dec 21^st onwards. That also flags up on Barnier’s relationship chart with France.

 In the unlikely event of Barnier being left in place his relationship with Le Pen will not improve in the next three years.

 Barnier himself, no matter what happens, will have a few moments of cheer from May 2025 onwards into 2026 with two of his Jupiter midpoints picking up traction.  

Wendy Williams, the former UK talk show host is tragically now permanently incapacitated at the young age of 60 due to aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, the same form of the illness as actor Bruce Willis.

 There are no agreed astro-indicators for dementia but it was clear from her chart she was moving into dark and difficult times just before her diagnosis was publicly announced.  Born 18 July 1964 9.30 pm Monmouth, New Jersey, she has a 6^th house Cancer Sun trine a Scorpio Moon (Neptune) opposition Jupiter. Plus Saturn in Pisces opposition Uranus Pluto in Virgo.

 In 2021 and 2022 tr Pluto having moved into her 12^th house was opposing her 6^th house Sun. By 2022 tr Uranus was opposing her Neptune, heading to oppose her Moon in 2024/early 2025. Plus her Progressed Moon is moving through her 12^th at the moment. None of it easy.

  Bruce Willis, 19 March 1955 6.32pm Idar-Oberstein, Germany, has a 7^th house Pisces Sun trine Uranus Jupiter in Cancer; with Pluto on the cusp of his 12^th square Saturn in Scorpio which in turn opposes Mars in Taurus in his 8^th house. He admitted his diagnosis in 2019 though symptoms had been obvious before then. In 2019 tr Pluto was opposition his Uranus moving on to square his Neptune by 2022; with a SA Saturn square his Neptune also in 2021 at the same time as tr Uranus was conjunct his 8^th house Mars for a profound upset.

 The German psychiatrist and neuropathologist credited with researching dementia who gave his name to the general condition though there are different varieties was Alois Alzheimer, born 14 June 1864 4am Marktbreit, Germany,  who had an innovative Sun Uranus in Gemini on his Ascendant. He had Chiron in his career 10^th house; a confident Pluto in Taurus opposition Jupiter; and a fractious Moon Saturn in Libra opposition Mars Neptune in Aries.  

 His victim/healer 12^th harmonic is strong with a yod of Mars Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Uranus.

 Other examples of charts with dementia:

The Astrology of Alzheimer’s

Joe Biden’s pardon for his son Hunter for gun and tax charges and broken promise not to do so has brought criticism even from his own side. One Democratic congressman tweeted  “This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” The president backdated the wide-ranging pardon to 2014, even though the gun charges arose from actions in 2018 and the tax charges from 2016-19. Hunter began working for a Ukrainian gas company, in 2014, a lucrative job clearly linked to his father’s role as vice-president with responsibility for that country, leaving the impression that Biden is covering both himself and Hunter from future investigation.

 Arguments that the other side is worse are hardly encouraging especially when the USA chart has Saturn in Libra, supposedly rigorous about fairness in legal matters.

  The broader question is whether the entire system is sinking into banana republic corruption. The Times writes: “America’s presidential power of pardon was always in danger of becoming just another lever of patronage and perhaps this should not be surprising in a legal system which is overtly politicised from top to bottom thanks to its system of elected prosecutors and politically appointed judges.”

  Whether it would ever be possible to entirely remake this system, part of which is the ludicrously partisan Supreme Court, would depend on grassroots pressure of major proportions from a public largely disinterested in social makeovers.

  My eye is drawn to the USA Saturn in Libra which has the Solar Arc South Node conjunct in late 2025 which suggests a slide backwards, not forwards.

  On the Supreme Court chart, 2 February 1790, transiting North Node will conjunct the Aquarius Sun Pluto in 2027 which may bring a prompt to improve its Aquarian credentials – though it has a very Fixed chart and won’t budge under anything but monumental pressure. 2028/29 will see tr Pluto opposing the SCOTUS Uranus for another disruptive phase of challenge to change. 

But it is 2032/33 which will see tr Pluto conjunct the SCOTUS Sun and trine the USA Saturn which might be the crucial trigger for change (against reluctance and under extreme pressure).  SCOTUS will go through its Pluto Return in 2034/35, which again could be a marker which separates it out from the immediate past. Or not. At that point tr Saturn Uranus in Cancer is around which historically is associated with the rise of better times.

It may all be part and parcel of the USA’s Pluto Return recently which hints either at a slide into irrelevance, stagnation, deterioration or a chance for a reboot.

  As far as Joe Biden is concerned, this decision will do nothing to burnish his image already wilting under criticism that he hung on too long and made Kamala Harris the only choice. With his 5^th house Taurus Moon under pressure from tr Pluto square earlier through this year and again in January 2025, it was clear that his son would be his Achilles’ Heel, a dilemma and a priority. His SA Pluto also opposes his Moon in a few months which will be emotionally fraught.

  Hunter Biden’s time ahead won’t be a walk in the park with tr Pluto moving into his 8^th house for many years to come which can throw up financial problems and well as restrictions elsewhere. His Progressed Moon is also moving through his 8^th for nearly another two years which can also be slow going, a time of pressure to transform inwardly – which he may or may not pick up.

Add On: The USA Constitution, 17 September 1787, is also undergoing its Pluto Return in 2032/33.

 The shifting sand storms in the Middle East are brewing up more chaos with rebel forces taking control of Syria’s  second-largest city, Aleppo. Although Russia has launched air strikes in response, for the first time since 2016, the rebels know that Assad’s old allies in Hezbollah, Iran and Russia are overstretched fending off Israeli attacks and coping with Ukraine.

 An analyst says: “Years of economic collapse, internal fragmentation and the rise of unchecked militias have left Assad severely weakened. In many ways, the regime is now a hollow version of the one Russia and Iran fought to save in 2015.”

  Assad may tilt towards Russia and the Arab states, as well as try to curry favour further west as European nations will be keen to return Syrian refugees.

 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.

 The Syria 12 January 1944 chart also points to 2026 as being an explosive moment of change with tr Uranus conjunct the Uranus Mars in Gemini; and tr Saturn Neptune opposing the Neptune.

 The civil war started in 2011 when tr Pluto was conjunct Syria’s Capricorn Sun.

An endless mess and unconscionable suffering for the displaced.

The Assisted Dying Bill for England and Wales was voted through yesterday in Westminster at around 2.15pm. It would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life. There will be hurdles ahead before it becomes law and (I think) it requires two doctors and a judge to sign off on any procedure as a safeguard which could be cumbersome.

  If the time is accurate there is a hidden Fire Grand Trine of Sun in the 8^th house of death and transformation trine North Node (and Chiron) In the 12^th trine Mars in Leo which Mars opposition Pluto. Both the 8^th house Sun and ‘driving rod’ Mars Pluto opposition tie in with a profoundly serious, fundamental issue concerning death.

  Uranus in the 1^st conjunct the ‘destructive’ planet Algol oppose a 7^th house Scorpio Moon. Algol features heavily in other dying with dignity campaigns and organisations. See

Taking control of death in terminal illness + Canada & EXIT 19th December 2023.

Dying with dignity – Algol rules 10th May 2023

Algol – light in the heart of darkness ++ additional thoughts 25th March 2024

Greg Wise – an Algol that breeds empathy 24th March 2024

  On a personal note I used to be drawn to the notion of death being a spiritual journey which should not be interfered with – but the older I have got the more I see it as a personal choice. Modern medicine prolongs life long after it would have petered out in centuries past. And in more recent times pre-the odious Harold Shipman (the GP who bumped off scores of aged patients) doctors were happy to administer morphine overdoses to speed the process along when too much pain and suffering was involved.

 Having had dogs and cats put down over the years when it was ‘their time’ and life had become too much of a struggle (with many tears but knowing it was in their best interest), it seems heartless to force people to hang on grimly to an often bitter and inhumane end.  

Mars in Leo gives drive, will-power, dramatic flair and creativity, leadership ability, self-confidence, a competitive nature which can tilt over into egotism and an over bearing streak with a tendency to dominate others. Not surprisingly it fills the ranks of those seeking attention in politics and showbusiness – Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris + George Clooney, Cher, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion,  Paul McCartney.

 In the news today one of their number is Gregg Wallace, presenter of BBC’s Master Chef, who has been sidelined after a slew of allegations about his wildly inappropriate sexual behaviour and jokes. Born 17 October 1964 London, his charming Libra Sun and sensitive Pisces Moon, are clearly not his leading lights, as his brash Mars in Leo in a hard-edged opposition to Saturn and square Jupiter in Taurus opposition Neptune dominate his chart and presumably personality.

 He was born 3 days before Kamala Harris and what is interesting is that tr Uranus is exactly conjunct his Jupiter as was the case with her over the election result. On its own that aspect should bring a lucky opportunity – instead it clearly tugged on an uncertain, failure-prone Neptune and Mars opposition Saturn which often brings considerable setbacks.  The same happened with Boris Johnson when tr Uranus hit his Jupiter opposition Neptune which brings over-confidence and self-created scandals.  Gregg Wallace also has a discouraging tr Saturn opposing his Uranus Venus in Virgo and then Pluto now and in coming weeks. Plus his SA Sun is conjunct his South Node.

  Louise Haigh, 22 July 1987, Starmer’s hapless Minister for Transport is another who has just resigned over what sounds like a fairly minor conviction from years back though more may emerge; and she has certainly been impolitic in her approach since taking up high office.  She is a Sun Cancer in an overly expansive square to Jupiter opposition Pluto in Scorpio with her Mars also square Pluto. That is way too much pushy self-assurance and brashness.  Her Mars is also trine her Saturn which in turn is conjunct a can-be-autocratic conjunction to Uranus.  A chaotic loose cannon.  Tr Pluto is opposition her Sun now for maximum pressure; with her Solar Arec Mars square her Saturn for a considerable setback.

  Emmanuel Macron another with a prominent Mars in Leo is also finding his confident push backfiring and deserves a post to himself along with France, Barnier etc tomorrow.

 Anthony Albanese, the Australian PM, 2 March 1963, Sydney, AU, is not in as much trouble immediately, but he has a similar Mars in Leo widely opposition Saturn square Neptune. His Pisces Sun opposition Pluto is a hanger-oner, but his term chart, 23 May 2022, won’t have its troubles to seek through 2025 from February onwards with a failure-ridden tr Neptune conjunct the Mars and worse as the year goes on.

  In this week’s news as well for other reasons is Cher with her Memoir Part One being released with grim tales of her early abusive marriage to Sonny Bono. Born 20 May 1946 7.25am El Centro, California,  she has a late Taurus Sun and Capricorn Moon with a difficult Mars Pluto conjunction in Leo. Mars Pluto when not lived out can attract dominant, if not ruthless partners and experiences. Though it can ultimately mature into a determined personality.

  Mars in Leo is all its multi-faceted glory.

Add On: The painter Frank Auerbach (see post 13 November below) was another Mars in Leo square a Taurus Sun Mercury and trine Venus in Aries. The description below from a reviewer may be as much about his Taurus Sun but it also hints of the Mars in Leo’s difficulty with introspection.

“His lack of introspection. Because no one had more to be introspective about. As a child, Auerbach was sent to Britain from Nazi Berlin by his Jewish parents, whom he would never see again. Asked about this experience, he’d offer the following. “I’ve simply moved on.” “Life is too short.” “I’ve done this thing that psychiatrists disapprove of, which is blocking things out.” “There’s just never been a point in my life when I felt I wish I had parents.” “I’m not given to self-analysis.”