Astrology of Today’s News

Award winning American actress Shailene Woodley, (Divergent series, Snowden etc) is an avid environmental activist and is campaigning against the Dakota Access Pipeline. It is a 1,172-mile crude oil pipeline which Native American tribes say will harm drinking water and cultural sites on their land.

Born 15 Nov 1991 in Simi Valley, California, she’s certainly a determined fighter with a powerhouse Sun Mars Pluto in Scorpio, plus a helpful and lucky Jupiter in Virgo trine a highly strung Uranus Neptune in Capricorn.

She’s got some disappointments in 2017 but is also amazingly exuberant and not going down without having her say as tr Pluto squares three of her Jupiter midpoints.

Unfortunately the CEO of the Texas company laying the pipeline, Kelcy Warren, 9 Nov 1955, is also a real toughie with a Sun Saturn in Scorpio square Jupiter Pluto in Leo.

There aren’t really any charts for the Native Americans apart from the Fort Laramie Treaty, 29 April 1868, which guaranteed land ownership for some tribes, which the government reneged on parts of it in later years. It was signed with a control-freaky Sun Pluto in Taurus square Moon; and an unstable and explosive Uranus square Mars Neptune in Aries.

Of the Trump nominees announced so far (bar three I can’t find dates for) – four are Sun Capricorn or five if you include Jared Kushner. Three are Sun Sagittarius including Bannon. Plus one Libra, one Gemini, one Aries.

Three of the Sun in Capricorn individuals have Sagittarius planets and some of the Sags have at least one Capricorn planet. So those are clearly his two favourite signs. His Moon is in Sagittarius so he’ll be nurtured by that energy; and Capricorn is his 5^th house so those will be play or speculation buddies.

What is also notable are the Jupiter aspects in all of them – enormously strongly marked. Out of seven there are four with Jupiter in hard aspect to Pluto, so pushily confident and disinclined to stick to rules. Four with Jupiter aspects to Neptune, so keen on high finance, not always practical, can get carried away on a delusional bubble. Three have Jupiter in aspect to Uranus, so undoubtedly lucky but also risk-takers. Two Jupiter Mars adventuring types amongst them as well.

It won’t be dull.

Polls are putting Geert Wilders, the Dutch far-right, anti-Islamist politician, in the lead at the moment as the Netherlands heads for a May 2017 election. On these figures he wouldn’t have enough for an overall majority and would have trouble finding support amongst other parties for a coalition, but he would have sufficient to become prime minister.

It is putting the wind up politicians and commentators who, on the worst case scenario, given electorates recent track record, are envisaging Le Pen into the Elysee Palace in France, a far-right President in Austria, Italy in the hands of the euro-exiters. It may never come to pass but who knows?

Wilders, 6 September 1963, has mixed fortunes over 15 March 2017, with tr Neptune opposing his Sun/Pluto midpoint, then opposition his Sun from mid April. But he’s also got tr Uranus square his Mars/Jupiter midpoint which could just swing it for him, then he’d run into problems pulling together a government. He’s certainly on a confident roll before the election with tr Pluto square his Jupiter in Aries (a la Trump) through February and then again in June.

The Netherlands, 26 July 1581 JC chart, is looking panicked through this December with tr Pluto opposition the Neptune; and a droopy tr Neptune opposition Mars in March and later in the year. But the Solar Arcs are indicating a series of major turnarounds in April and May.

The other Netherlands chart, 16 March 1815 11.47am, looks angry and blocked in 2017/18 with tr Pluto conjunct the 7^th house Mars, which will give problems with neighbouring countries. Plus a discouraging series of Saturn transits square Pluto MC Mercury Sun from this New Year on and off throughout 2017.

All countries have their own internal inclinations. The Dutch have always prided themselves on their liberal outlook and memories stretching back to Nazi occupation in WW11 give the older population no love for the far-right. So they could take fright as France did when Le Pen’s father got into the second round of the Presidential election years back. It so offended national pride it provoked a backlash.

Spain, despite going through political turbulence for 11 months and now stuck with a minority government, does appear to be making some headway economically. It has grown strongly in 2016, and the expansionary phase is expected to continue in 2017 and 2018. Though unemployment is still the second worst in the EU (below Greece) – 19pc overall, with youth 42pc. Though both are down considerably from last year.

The Bank of Spain chart, 2 June 1782, is limping through 2017 with tr Neptune square the Gemini Sun; and tr Saturn damping down the Jupiter in Sagittarius. The Spain 22 Nov 1975 12.45pm country chart has had tr Pluto square the Jupiter as it dragged itself out of the mire, but that finishes more or less now. There’s not much more showing apart from tr Neptune opposing Solar Arc Saturn in the 8^th in 2017 which doesn’t look inspiring but won’t be terminal.

What is more interesting is the chart for the date Spain joined the EU on 1 January 1986. That would certainly indicate joining the EU was a mixed blessing with a heavily aspected Mars Pluto conjunction in Scorpio opposition North Node and tied into both Sun and Moon. Like Ireland, Spain gained substantially from infrastructure funds from the EU especially in rural areas, but the fixed currency has given them similar headaches to other southern European countries. That chart like several others associated with the EU will be under its most separative aspects come 2019 when tr Saturn will be in Capricorn. Tr Saturn conjunct the Sun isn’t that strong but following on from what has gone on earlier through this decade with tr Pluto and tr Uranus in hard aspect, it might just loosen the ties.

There’s chaos in India as Narendra Modi’s government, without warning, declared 86pc of the country’s bank notes no longer legal tender, in a bid to crack down on tax evasion and corruption. About 90% of India’s transactions are in cash and many people do not have a bank account. While some applaud the effort to stamp down on the black economy, it has caused immense headaches for most of the population and travellers.

Born 17 Sep 1950 he’s a rigid Sun Saturn Mercury in Virgo with a ruthlessly confident and overly pushy Fixed T Square of Pluto widely opposition Jupiter square Mars in Scorpio. So not a man to budge when he has steamrollered ahead.

His PMship chart, 26 May 2014 6.13pm New Delhi, is certainly at its most unstable at the moment with the Solar Arc Pluto have moved to square Uranus exactly; and tr Pluto also square Uranus. But there’s a strong Jupiter in this chart, so his luck might hold.

Though his personal chart looks confused this December; and lacklustre and disappointing right through 2017 with a major setback late March into April.

The Reserve Bank of India, 1 April 1935 9am, looks jammed up every which way in 2017/18 with tr Pluto square Mars, which is frustrating and scary. With upheavals again late March into early April 2017. It’ll be in better spirits come 2019/20 with tr Pluto sextile its Jupiter.

The India 15 Aug 1947 12am chart does have tr Pluto sextile Jupiter from early 2017 for two years which is generally good news on the work, health and employment front. Apart from that it isn’t showing a huge amount bar tr Uranus trine Sun in Feb 2017 which is positive change; and some difficulties from transits to Solar Arcs – tr Uranus opposition Solar Arc Pluto, Saturn, Venus and conjunct Solar Arc MC, running from this December till April 2017 – so there will be upheavals, bumps and jolts and a fairly unsettled feel. Tr Saturn will in 2017 hover on the cusp of the 8^th house of joint finances (which includes money owed to government in taxes), then it stays there till 2020 suggesting the tightening up will continue.

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Yemen, one of the poorest Middle Eastern countries, has been ground to a halt by a destructive war between forces loyal to President Hadi and the Houthi rebel movement. More than 6,800 have been killed, 35,000 injured since March 2015, and 80% of the population are in need of aid.

The Houthis, initially a provincial militant movement, pushed the national government into exile and were then bombarded by forces from Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab countries. The Houthis are anti-USA, Israel and Saudi Arabia, and thought to be supplied by Iran. They describe themselves as “revolutionaries” like Hezbollah or Hamas, and their aim is to cleanse the country of corrupt leaders beholden to foreign powers. Some call it a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is draining Saudi cash at a substantial rate, damaging their economy, already badly hit by falling oil prices.

President Hadi, seen as a weak leader, took over from the previous incumbent the ‘kleptocratic’ Saleh, who amassed billions in his decades as president.

There are two charts for modern Yemen, though its history stretches back over millennia. 27 September 1962 4am San’a’, and 22 May 1990. Neither look settled or cheerful for several years ahead. The 1962 chart has tr Neptune opposition Pluto Moon in 2017, extending into 2018 which looks like a neglected and unhappy population. With a volatile, explosive tr Uranus square Mars in Feb 2017; and then a cornered and fearful tr Pluto opposition Mars in 2018/19.

The 1990 chart has tr Uranus in a jolting square to Saturn through 2017; then tr Pluto will sextile Mars in 2020/21 which will be high risk; and then conjunct Saturn which is usually hardship and deprivation in 2021/22.

The civil war itself may not last that long, but the humanitarian crisis will stretch ahead. It makes western ideas of political crisis look feeble and self-indulgent.

There’s a good deal of hot talk about the possibility of Donald Trump being impeached, mainly on grounds of conflict of interest between his international business empire and countries where he has a foothold which have serious human rights concerns, like Turkey and the Philippines, never mind Russia. As I understand it this would need a Democrat majority in Congress which can’t happen before 2018.

The Inauguration chart of 20 Jan 2017 assuming 12 noon, is most at risk in late 2018 into 2019 when Pluto moves by Solar Arc to square the Uranus; though even from early 2018 tr Pluto will start to square the Uranus for two years – so that will be a very unstable time for the Trump administration. Though, to be remembered, there is Jupiter tied into that Inauguration square with Uranus Pluto which does suggest a greater degree of luck than circumstances might suggest or indeed it deserves.

Trump does have the cataclysmic Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Mars on his personal chart, exact in mid 2018, though that could be health as well as the possibility of a career-stopper. He’s also got two overwrought and panicky Solar Arcs in late 2018/19 – Solar Arc Neptune opposition Uranus and Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his 2^nd house Neptune – so hitting on his career, reputation and finances. Before then he’ll be like a bull in a china shop, from Jan 2017 for two years, blithely disregarding accepted practices as beneath him. His Solar Return for 2019, for what it is worth, is hideous with Saturn Pluto in the 10^th opposition a 4^th house Mars which could certainly be interpreted as a career terminator.

VP Mike Pence, 7 June 1959, is facing an uphill battle in his unexpected promotion to possibly the most powerful VP job ever, if he’s allowed to get in a word edgeways that is.

Tr Pluto conjunct his Solar Arc Jupiter in 2017/18 will give him morale boosts as he faces one dangerous crisis after another through two muddled years; with 2018 being the worst by far. By then tr Neptune will square his Gemini Sun which is not generally uplifting for ambitions and that influence sticks around through 2019 as well. In 2018 also Solar Arc Saturn opposes his Pluto and Solar Arc Sun is conjunct his Uranus – so he’ll be feeling bleak, stuck, under a ton weight of problems and jolted at the same time. Uranus is, of course, the trickster planet so it could propel him into a different role. By 2020 he has tr Pluto sextile his Jupiter so will be into a successful, upbeat two years thereafter. Which means through the next election.

The economic plight of Italy is dire as it approaches what could be a game-changing referendum on Sunday. It is nominally about parliamentary reform, but the electorate are more concerned with voicing disapproval on the current state of stagnation. [See previous post on Euro.] Since 2008, the US and the UK have seen output rise by 12pc and 8pc respectively, whereas Italy’s is down by 8pc. Even more crucially since 1999, when the euro got under way, Italy has managed to grow by less than 6pc, in comparison to 25pc in Germany and France and 40pc in the UK (outside the euro). Unemployment now stands at about 12pc of the workforce; with youth unemployment nearly 40pc, third worst in the EU below Spain and Greece (UK unemployment 4.9 pc overall with youth 13.7pc).

Italy needs a much lower exchange rate than their German neighbours, which of course is impossible within the currency union. With a boost to competitiveness of 20 to 30pc through a lower exchange rate, there would be a surge in net exports, higher economic growth and less employment.

The Italy 1861 12 am chart, hints at financial disappointment through 2017 with tr Neptune conjunct Venus; and a hugely frustrating tr Pluto trine Mars in the 6^th house of work, causing anger. Tr Saturn will also square the MC, Mercury, Sun, Neptune on and off for most of 2017. 2016 will undoubtedly be seen as a year of the great rebellion with the Solar Arc Uranus opposing Pluto and in force for another few months. There’s also tr Uranus square the Sun/Moon midpoint which could indicate partnership splits. (as in the UK)

The other Italy chart, 2 July 1871 12.30pm, is relatively similar with tr Pluto trine the 8^th house Pluto in 2017/18 exerting huge subterranean pressure for change. With tr Uranus conjunct the 7^th house Neptune and square the 10^th house Uranus from March onwards – so a radical change of direction and very high-tension relations with neighbours which could involve a split.

The Bank of Italy chart, 10 Aug 1893, is sagging badly through 2017/18 with tr Neptune square Pluto Neptune and opposition the financial Venus, so no quick n’ easy solutions.

The EURO chart, 1 January 1999, will be under extraordinary pressure, the worst in its short history,  from Feb 2017 till late 2018, with tr Pluto square the Euro Mars, so it’ll be boxed in every which way causing major angst and considerable fear. And there’ll be a series of major upsets when tr Uranus starts to square the Euro Venus from late April and conjunct the Euro Saturn from mid May onwards, on and off till March 2018. The warning signs will be there from late this December with tr Saturn moving round the Mutable T Square, conjunct Mercury and square Jupiter and then opposition Moon, repeating the whole process in the autumn of 2017.

One possible catalyst could be the political situation in Italy, which is facing a referendum on December 4^th to push ahead reforms which may see PM Renzi step down if he loses which it looks likely that he will. Italy is considered one of the biggest threats to the survival of the euro, with eye-watering debt and banks filled with non-performing loans. A Renzi resignation would make markets look again at the state of Italy’s banks which could push the eurozone crisis from its current chronic state to an acute one. On a worst case scenario, Renzi goes, and a new populist party takes over which has pledged to hold a referendum to leave the euro, which was what Berlusconi threatened before he was toppled. Several other European countries also desperately need a more affordable currency, but are stuck inside the euro straitjacket.

The European Central Bank (ECB) chart 1 June 1998 is facing an undermining tr Neptune square its Gemini Sun in January 2017. But also has a bullishly confident Solar Arc Pluto square its Jupiter, exact in early 2017, which could cause them under pressure to throw away the rule book; followed late in the year by a reckless Solar Arc Mars square Jupiter. Plus a whole raft of discouraging Saturn hard aspects to Solar Arcs in 2017.

Matteo Renzi, 11 Jan 1975 2.45pm Florence, Italy, has a Capricorn Sun picking up the tr Uranus square in the final days of this month through Dec/Jan 2017, so there will be a major disruption in his life; with an aggravated setback tr Saturn conjunct his Mars in January 2017. He may, of course, lose the referendum and decide not to resign, though even he was talking of breaking regulations and baling out the banks.

Brexit may be the lesser of EU worries as 2017 proceeds with France and German elections to be held, with all populations distinctly restive and inclined to kick over the traces.