Astrology of Today’s News

George Osborne, a not entirely popular UK Tory Cabinet Minister, is resigning his parliamentary seat (for now) to commit himself fully to his new and unlikely job of editing the London Evening Standard newspaper plus a few financial consultancies no doubt as well.

Born 23 May 1971, London, he’s a Gemini Sun conjunct Saturn in late Taurus opposition a high-finance Neptune Jupiter in Sagittarius; with a tough Saturn trine Pluto; and a wide Air Grand Trine of Saturn trine Uranus trine Mars in Aquarius – so an ideologue, a thinker, emotionally detached, sometimes given to flights of fantasy.

He’s not having a smooth ride ahead with tr Saturn square his Pluto till later this year; a few ups in 2018 courtesy of tr Uranus opposition his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint though mired in confusion as well; and coming to a grinding halt by late 2019 as his Solar Arc Mars opposes his Pluto at the same time as tr Uranus makes an insecure square to his Mars. By 2021 tr Pluto is opposing his Saturn/Pluto which looks discouraging. He won’t hit his stride again until tr Pluto moves into Aquarius from 2024 onwards.

Donald Trump, scrambling to get a headline-grabber on his 100 day mark, after the failure of the Affordable Act repeal and the border wall funding, has pushed up his tax reform plans faster than Washington and economists think is wise, before details have been thrashed out. He has pledged that the tax cut in total would be the largest in U.S. history, and Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary has said: “The plan will pay for itself with growth.” Which goes against all experience and almost certainly would send the deficit soaring, which means it probably won’t get voted through.

Mnuchin’s relationship chart with Trump has an over-hopeful Sun opposition Venus square Jupiter; probably a fantasy-bubble Water Grand Trine of Sun Uranus Moon; and a potentially hostile, going-to-extremes, power-obsessed Mars Pluto sextile Neptune inconjunct Sun. This chart has dampening Saturn transits conjunct the composite Jupiter exact now and in May square the composite Sun; with a highly strung and disruptive tr Uranus opposition Neptune at the moment and square Uranus in May. And those run on and off till late 2017 for Saturn and early 2018 for Uranus.

Gary Cohn, Director of the NEC, 27 Aug 1960, ex-Goldman Sachs CEO, intimately involved in the tax reform plans, is a tough Sun Pluto Mercury in Virgo trine Saturn. He also has a fraught relationship chart with Trump. There’s a composite volatile  and explosive Uranus Mars Sun conjunction trine Jupiter and square Saturn Neptune; and Jupiter square Pluto Venus – so a complex mix of over-hopeful, deeply suspicious and power-struggling.

Cohn’s personal chart looks stressed at the moment and insecure with tr Uranus square his Sun/Mars this month and worse in a catastrophic square to his Mars/Pluto in May, repeating till early 2018; and a disastrous tr Pluto opposition his Mars/Uranus now and on and off till late 2018. So huge pressures. His relationship chart with Trump is a major uphill struggle this year with tr Pluto square Saturn, square Saturn/Neptune at the moment and worsening through 2018.

Paul Ryan who will be tasked with getting the Tax Reform vote through, is also not going well vis a vis Trump’s approval with their composite Mars Saturn conjunction now starting a long two year run of undermining Neptune squares. There’s one ‘whew’ of relief in May and later in the year, but generally their relationship is on a downhill slide. [See Trump timeline April 17 post.]

Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis player, resident in the USA, is returning to the courts after a two year drug ban to some unease amongst the sporting community. She was formerly ranked No 1 and had a long and successful career from 2001, being described by John McEnroe as one of the best the sport has seen; and she is a money-maker for tennis, especially necessary with Serena Williams out for the rest of her pregnancy. But she has done herself no favours by voicing no regrets for her drug taking.

Born 19 April 1987 3am Nyagan, Russia, she’s a pro-active Sun Aries trine a can-be autocratic Uranus Saturn in Sagittarius; with a Yod of Mars in Gemini sextile Jupiter in Aries inconjunct Pluto in Scorpio. The focal point Pluto will make her power hungry, closed in, having a tendency to coerce others.

At the moment tr Saturn is moving across her Ascendant into her first quadrant for several years ahead, which is generally not overly successful. She has a mentally pressured Solar Arc Mercury opposition her Pluto exact now plus an uncertain Solar Arc Mars opposition Neptune; and an undermining tr Neptune square her Mars/Saturn picking up now and running on and off till late 2018. She’ll be bullishly confident all the same and will have some good moments. But she’s unlikely to return to her previous form. If her birth time is sound she may well call a halt in 2019 with Solar Arc MC conjunct her Saturn.

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Jump jockeys are notoriously tough and heal from broken bones remarkably quickly. But no story is more extraordinary than that of Declan Murphy who has just written a memoir. In May 1994 at Ascot his horse fell, and another horse shattered his skull. His injuries were so bad the Racing Post published an obituary; and by all rights he should have died. But traffic was light, the paramedic skilful and the neurosurgeon was available. After a long operation, the doctors thought he would be brain-damaged, paralysed and partly blind. But four days later he hadn’t regained consciousness and the hospital was waiting for his family to arrive from Ireland before switching off life support. They came by boat since his father was afraid of flying. The journey took ten hours and three hours before they arrived he started to waken up. He discharged himself two weeks later; and 18 months after that, despite his brain damage and impaired memory, he made his professional comeback at Chepstow and won. A month later, having gained closure, he retired from the sport and became a businessman.

He says he believed that he could recover fully only if he disregarded everyone else and fought his way back to a full recovery by sheer force of will, because he felt that the alternative was to look weak or inadequate. ‘The only thing that clawed me back was this belief that I was going to do it. I was going to be referred to as a now rather than a past tense.’

Born 5 March 1966 Limerick, Ireland, he has Sun Saturn Mars in Pisces opposition Uranus Pluto square Jupiter in Gemini – so a mix of dogged determination from Saturn Pluto and Mars, and a fear of not coming up to expectation from Sun Saturn – plus a huge dollop of luck from ever-optimistic Jupiter. He’s also got Neptune in Scorpio, a Leo Moon, North Node in Taurus and Venus in Aquarius – so enough Fixed planets to give him staying power.

When he had his fall in 1994 he was on his First Saturn Return with tr Saturn approaching the conjunction to his Sun; tr Pluto was trine his Mars and tr Uranus sextile his Mars; with the transiting Uranus Neptune in Capricorn hovering around the square to his Solar Arc Mars – so a high-risk, accident-prone and a hugely disorientating time. But his Solar Arc Jupiter was exactly trine his Saturn and tr Jupiter then in Scorpio was about to trine his Pisces planets in the months following.

Difficult charts tend to attract difficult life situations, but they provide the grit to overcome problems. And his lucky Jupiterian guardian angel also played a part in getting him immediate care through the initial trauma and then giving him, what must have seemed to others, the delusional hope that he was going to recover. Never knock the crazy optimism of Jupiter or indeed the dour determination of Saturn and Pluto.

Jessica Lange, is an actress with a long and successful career, all the more notable in an industry which tends to discard women over 40. Recently she’s been in American Horror Story, winning awards for a stage performance of Long Day’s Journey into Night, and been acclaimed for her performance as Joan Crawford in the TV series Feud.

Born 20 April 1949 11am Cloquet, Minnesota, she had a peripatetic childhood with a travelling salesman father, studied photography in college, married a photographer, became a model and thence into acting.

Like Jack Nicholson she has a 10^th house Taurus Sun, in her case in a charming and creative conjunction to Venus Mercury, with ambitious Mars in Aries also in the 10^th. Her Mars is in a disciplined and determined trine to Saturn and Pluto; and she has an easy-going Moon Jupiter in Aquarius on her Descendant square her Sun Venus Mercury.

After her first marriage broke down, she had a child with ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov; and two more later with playwright and actor Sam Shepard from whom she separated a few years back. Her children are now in their thirties.

She’s in a changeable phase in her career with tr Uranus moving through her 10^th which suits television; with a definite change of direction in 2018 as tr Uranus is conjunct her Sun Venus and square her Jupiter. Her Solar Arc Moon has just moved across her MC, to be followed in future years by her Solar Arc Jupiter. She looks as if she’ll keep working on and on, as well as publishing books of her photography.

Jack Nicholson has just turned 80 and is to return to the big screen with his first movie in a decade, an English language remake of Toni Erdmann, which he approached Paramount to make since he loved the character. ‘A shambling, unshaven music teacher with a mop of gray hair and a prankish sense of humor, who carries a set of joke-shop fake teeth in his shirt pocket, and has a habit of disrupting the routines of everyday life with absurd and outrageous improvisations.’

Nicholson, born 22 April 1937 11am Neptune, New Jersey, has multiple awards for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Chinatown, The Shining, A Few Good Men, Terms of Endearment – and on and on throughout a long and successful career. He was the son of a showgirl, never knew who his father was; was brought up by his grandparents whom he thought were his parents, only to discover in his late 30s that his ‘sister’ was his mother. He’s led a riotous life with only one marriage but numerous relationships and has never stinted on excess.

He has a maverick, determined and indulgent Sun Uranus in Taurus in the 10^th; with Venus in Aries conjunct his Midheaven and Mercury in Taurus also in the 10^th – so ambitious and designed for a public career. He’s also got a powerfully confident, exact Pluto opposition Jupiter in Capricorn – ultra-determined to get his own way and good at attracting money. His Mars in feisty Sagittarius is in the performing 5^th so not only an entertainer but in his day a vigorous party-goer. His Virgo Moon opposes Saturn in Pisces and sits on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine of Mars trine Pluto – so not an easy emotional life.

2017 looks to be a year of great highs and some lows as tr Uranus squares his Pluto opposition Jupiter and Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct Pluto later in the year and opposition Jupiter – so significant changes. I’d worry marginally about health issues with the Solar Arc Uranus on Pluto at his age.

Inexperienced, centrist Emmanuel Macron and right-wing  Marine Le Pen are through to the second round of the French election on May 7^th. By all accounts, polls and bookies, Macron is a shoe-in.

Apart from a waning Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Mars which has given him the impetus to rise out of obscurity to get this far, there’s not much else of note in his chart. What made me think he’d lose his mojo is tr Neptune opposition his Mars/Pluto which is running through into mid May. That can be cunning and deceitful but can also be fairly catastrophe-prone, which hasn’t been obvious so far. He’s also picking up tr Saturn square his Mars/Uranus which is accident prone. Some of this may well be outright panic at an unexpected win. Winning doesn’t always show up as resounding glee, since the reality of what lies ahead looms ominously scary. And with no party behind him, he could find himself in power but not in control of the French parliament.

The Neptune Mars/Pluto might also be a hint of the dirty tricks going on behind the scenes, targeting Fillon and airbrushing Macron. [See short URL: goo.gl/8shIyd.]

Macron’s Solar Arc Pluto is approaching a conjunction to his Midheaven; and is exactly conjunct the France MC and focal point Mars; with his Solar Arc Neptune conjunct the France Ascendant – gaining influence (with reservations) in a country undergoing an identity crisis.

His natal Taurus Moon is exactly conjunct the France Solar Arc Sun; although his Uranus also opposes the France Solar Arc Sun, so a fit, but potentially a disruptive one for this stage in France’s development.

His relationship chart with France has an affectionate Sun Venus conjunction though Neptune lurking close by could turn good feelings to disappointment; and a ratchety, volatile Mars Uranus square Saturn, so he will meet with resistance.

Marine Le Pen’s Jupiter in Virgo falls conjunct the France Solar Arc Ascendant which is why she’s been able to get this far this time round. And her Cancer MC is conjunct the France Solar Arc Moon in the 10^th. Her Solar Arc Sun Mercury are conjunct the France Sun; with her Solar Arc Moon conjunct the France Pluto and opposition Uranus. The result may be closer than the 80-20 suggested at the moment.

Macron is married to a drama teacher, Brigitte, 13 April 1953 3pm Amiens, France. She’s a Sun Venus in Aries which chimes with his Sun Venus in Sagittarius; and her Aries Moon is opposition his Pluto for a close link; with his Taurus Moon conjunct her exuberant Mars Jupiter.

One thing is certain – Macron seriously dislikes the UK. His relationship chart with the UK has a fearsome-dislike Mars Moon opposition Pluto Mercury, trine Uranus, sextile Saturn. So he won’t go easy in Brexit negotiations.

Prince Andrew, so reports go, is dating and consoling Kylie Minogue, after her split from her fiancé. Sounds like a celeb magazine fantasy but who knows? Maybe his nose is out of joint over Prince Harry’s showbiz significant other and thought he’d try some one-upmanship.

He’s a Sun Pisces, Scorpio Moon with Venus Mars in Capricorn; while she is a Sun Moon Mars Venus in Gemini – so a chalk and cheese, Water Air mix. His Pluto squares her Venus Sun so there could be an attraction – with a degree of control and possessiveness on his side. Her Saturn in self-reliant Aries and MC square his Venus, which isn’t so great.

Their relationship chart has a composite Moon Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn, which is downright bad news, emotionally blocked several ways; with an illusory composite Sun inconjunct Neptune; and a passionate Venus Mars conjunction. A few sparks but not enough for a forever match.

His Venus Mars is conjunct her Descendant which is good partnership material for her; and her Gemini planets fall in his 10^th so good for his reputation.

What may or may not be significant are the tremors of dislike from his entourage of ladies – Sarah, Beatrice and Eugenie – with Kylie. Sort of ex-wife Sarah has tr Pluto opposition the composite Venus in her relationship chart with Kylie, exact now and recurring for two years, which could be jealousy. Ditto Eugenie: with tr Pluto square the composite Moon and Pluto. Beatrice looks no more enamoured.

His Solar Return for Feb 2017 for a year has Saturn conjunct his Descendant and Pluto in the 8^th so doesn’t sound like a passion feste. And while tr Uranus is conjunct his MC this year for a sudden change of direction life-wise, there’s nothing dramatic showing up on the emotional front.

Presidential elections in Iran will be held on May 19^th with six candidates having been passed by the Guardian Council, who vet all applicants and refuse as suits them without explanation.

None of the three likeliest have much showing on their charts (without birth times). Hassan Rouhani, present President and a reformist, is a Sun Scorpio square Pluto, with Jupiter in Sagittarius opposition Uranus. His Jupiter is conjunct the Iran 1 Feb 1979 9am chart MC and Venus, so would be a popular choice. And his Sun is conjunct the Iran 1979 Uranus, so could for reform. If he does get in, then he has a tough road ahead around 2019/2020.

Ebrahim Raisi, 14 Dec 1960, a cleric, is a Sun Sagittarius trine Uranus, with Jupiter Saturn in Capricorn opposition Mars in a Half Grand Sextile to Neptune and Pluto, so tough and talented. He’s generally in a blocking year with tr Pluto conjunct his Saturn from July onwards again, tr Neptune conjunct his Solar Arc Saturn in late May, moving back to oppose his Solar Arc Mars later in the year, as does tr Saturn in conjunction to his Sun.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, 23 Aug 1961, a former commander of the Air Force and ex-Mayor of Teheran, is a Sun Uranus in Leo with Jupiter Saturn in Capricorn opposition Venus. He looks confident in the run up but has a loss-making tr Uranus square Jupiter/Saturn at the election.

The President sits below the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini – and the key question is what happens when he goes, since his health has been failing for years. His Leadership chart, 4 June 1989 is under dissolving Neptune transits with tr Neptune square the Sun this year, then Sun/Jupiter, then Jupiter in 2019, along with tr Pluto opposition Mars – so a total dead-halt.

The Iran 1906 chart (old Iran) has tr Jupiter conjunct the Libra Sun at the election which might be a hint of a reformist figure winning; with tr Neptune is hovering around.

The Iran 1979 Revolutionary chart looks less sanguine with tr Saturn retrograding to conjunct Venus in the aftermath, with tr Neptune conjunct the Solar Arc Mercury. Though these influences could also point to external pressures from the USA and elsewhere.