Astrology of Today’s News

The Duke of Westminster, Britain’s richest aristocrat, who once said he’d prefer not to have been wealthy, has died suddenly aged 64. He owned the freehold of much of London’s most expensive property in Belgravia and Mayfair, including the American Embassy. His business empire, Grosvenor Holdings, owned shopping centres around the UK, including Liverpool which transformed the centre, as well as commercial interests abroad. When he inherited the estate in 1979 it was debt laden and he turned it into a several billion pound concern. He had strong charitable interests in the NSPCC (child cruelty), gave foot-and-mouth farmers a sizeable donation and was a driving force behind the new Rehabilitation Centre for wounded soldiers due to open in 2017. In recent years he’s been plagued by depression and had breakdowns.

Born 22 December 1951 he was a Sun Sagittarius (unless a very late night birth in which case he’d be Capricorn) with his Sun trine Pluto; and an uncomfortable collection of (Moon) Saturn Mars Neptune in Libra, suggesting a less than lyrical childhood. His Saturn Mars (Moon) opposed Jupiter in Aries squaring onto Uranus in Cancer – so definitely innovative. His Mercury in Sagittarius was trine Pluto, sextiling onto Mars Saturn – so he’d take his duties seriously, but feel constantly frustrated when plans hit snags which they frequently would. It would also put a good deal of stress on his Mercury causing mental pressures. Over the past eighteen months he’d had the tr Uranus square tr Pluto in hard aspect to his Mars Saturn, which would be very challenging and strained.

His heir, Hugh, 29 January 1991, is a different temperament with an Aquarius Sun opposition Jupiter, sextile/trine Mars in Gemini – confident, impulsive, talkative. He also has the highly-strung and innovative Uranus Neptune and Mercury in Capricorn.

Turkey is now turning eastwards towards Moscow after Western criticism of the brutal suppression of the coup. Recep Erdogan, the president, has been meeting Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg with placatory apologies healing the recent rift over a Russian plane being shot down by Turkish forces.

It’ll make the already over complicated situation in Syria – with a myriad of conflicting groups fighting for different ends – even more of a mire. Rebel forces have just fought back against Assad and Russian planes to open a munitions route to Turkey. Which presumably would be one thought in Putin’s mind. Erdogan’s main aim is to quash the Kurdish separatists, while Putin wants not to get swamped down in Syria for ever and needs a victory of sorts before he exits.

Putin’s relationship with Assad is sagging under disappointment through till late Jan 2017 as tr Saturn opposes exactly this month, and tr Neptune squares the emphasised composite Jupiter. And his relationship with Erdogan will not be easy to hold together with tr Uranus opposing the composite Neptune, trine Pluto; and tr Pluto opposition Uranus from early next year on.

Turkish/US relations, already shaky,  look in a parlous state from early 2017 onwards with tr Pluto square the composite Saturn. Even before then the tr Neptune square tr Saturn is in hard aspect to the composite Sun Mercury Venus and following for a couple of years Jupiter as well. This September’s Solar Eclipse will conjunct that composite stellium, so this is a critical, game-changing point on that diplomatic front.

Assad’s presidency chart, 17 July 2000, having weathered a fair few storms since the civil war began, looks insecure and at risk in January 2017 with tr Uranus square Mars; and thrown off course by tr Uranus square the Sun from late April. I’ve given up predicting his exit but, on the astrology, if 2017 doesn’t topple him, it’ll be 2021 when he hits his nadir – with tr Pluto opposition the Presidency Sun; and Solar Arc Uranus square the Pres Pluto. But it’ll be a tough, frustrating, dangerous few years between now and then with tr Pluto opposing the Mars in 2018/19.

The great risk, putting aside the poor Syrian people (the ones who are still left standing), is that what is already a proxy war on the ground between Russia and the West, escalates into something much worse. The US are supporting some of the ‘rebel’ groups who have an uncomfortable provenance; while Putin supports the insupportable Assad.

It was beautifully skewered in a Peter Brookes cartoon a couple of years back with Obama standing on a bluff looking down on a valley full of Arabs tearing each other to bits. The caption read; ‘Can the good guys please put their hands up?’  Who’d know?  Following the old Arab saying that the  enemy of my enemy is my friend – can lead down the road to perdition.

Pluto next moves sign, into Aquarius in 2024 staying till 2044.

Last time round, 1778 to 1797, the American Revolution was in full swing and finished victorious as the Brits were booted out; and the French Revolution also got underway, though admittedly for the latter there was a Uranus opposition Pluto. The Industrial Revolution was also in full swing in the UK with inventions, heavy industry and production of goods proliferating.

Aquarius is scientific, so no surprises there were major advances in chemistry. And, with blissful syncronicity, William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus, which rules Aquarius. Explorers, another Aquarian strength, were also out and about with Captains James Cook and William Bligh leading the way to ‘new’ lands.

It was a productive period for philosophical and progressive social thinkers – Emmanuel Kant and Thomas Paine (Rights of Man); with cultural highpoints from Mozart and Scottish poet Robert Burns, who later established a global footprint. Apart from that there was the usual plethora of wars.

This next time round tr Pluto in Aquarius will march in time to Neptune in Aries (2025 to 2038) and early on to Uranus in Gemini (2025 to 2033) – so early on there’ll be a Uranus trine Pluto sextile Neptune after mid next decade – innovative and creative. Of the earlier historical happenings which might repeat, we can expect more advances in science and exploration (outer space/bottom of the sea/under Arctic ice?).  Certainly a ferment of new ideas on social cohesion and rights, though Aquarius can have a fascist as well as a humanitarian side.

For the rest – the US and France will have come full circle back to their first Pluto Return or the immediate aftermath, so significant shifts/adjustments, epochal events in both countries. With luck the UK might manage to get back to actually making things, rather than relying on the financial service industry for prosperity. Though sometimes empires that rise on one Pluto cycle, fall on the next.

Pluto was in Virgo 1956 to 1971, the middle patch of which was swamped by the revolutionary and chaotic conjunction to Uranus opposition Saturn in Pisces across the mid 1960s. Advances in medicine and changes in attitude to work and working methods would be obvious outcomes. More serious than Pluto in Leo, less indulgent and less ego-centred.

Pluto in Libra – 1971 to 1983 – intense and focussed on one-to-one relationships, though in typical Plutonic fashion, it leads to either full-on or switched-right-off. Certainly a different attitude to co-operation and interdependency.

Jupiter moves into Libra on September 9^th to stay until October 2017. Good news for those with Sun in Libra; and even better for those with Libra Ascendants. Jupiter supposedly is the bringer of health, wealth and happiness, which may be too much to expect, but certainly it will bring more confidence, morale boosts and good luck. Jupiter can have a tendency to expect everything handed on a plate without effort, so it can be lazy, demanding, at times a bit above itself, and self-righteous to boot if it gets into know-it-all gear. But in general it is good news.

Aries (Sun or Asc) – better close relationships: Taurus – good for health and work, though indulgent; Gemini – social fun; Cancer -happy home; Leo – confident communication; Virgo – more money;  Scorpio – inner peace; Sagittarius – optimistic, new friends;  Capricorn – social and career success; Aquarius – travel, study, adventurous; Pisces – good for joint finances and sex life.

Libra is the sign of relationship and justice, as well as one of the communication Air signs. Jupiter will have an expansive effect on all of those areas.

Looking back over previous Jupiter in Libras (every 12 years) – Oct 2004 for 1 year; May 1981 for a year; late 1968 for a year; Aug 1957 for a year – it’s tricky to extrapolate what could be attributed solely to it and what to other influences around.

But it does seem to be significant, as might be expected, in promoting better social relations. Civil Rights, gay rights and consumer protection movements started. A variety of joint diplomatic ventures and associations between countries got under way, including the European Economic Community in 1957.

Aerospace, Sputnik satellites and their ilk seem to be more active during these periods.

Both of Prince Charles’ weddings were held under its beneficent parasol, the first to Princess Diana being watched on TV by 700 million round the globe.

The incredible Michael Phelps has just won his 19^th Olympic Gold Medal and 23^rd Olympic medal overall with more chances to come this week in the Rio pool to beat his own record as the most decorated of all time.

“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.”

“Swimming is normal for me. I’m relaxed. I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It’s my home.”

Born 30 June 1985 (maybe 5.55am) Baltimore, Maryland, he’s a Sun Mars in Cancer, on this birth time on the Ascendant, with Sun trine Pluto and opposition Neptune – Neptune Pluto often gives outstanding ability, putting power behind a dream. His Mercury squares Pluto which will be good for single-minded focus; and his Venus in Scorpio opposes Saturn, so he’s able to push aside an indulgent lifestyle when necessary. That opposition squares onto Jupiter at 15 degrees Aquarius (which mid Aquarius position is frequently found in athletes’ charts) – so confident, scared of failure and obsessive about getting things right.

His Jupiter is further emphasised being on one leg of a Yod sextile Uranus inconjunct Mars – this would give him a sense of strain, not fitting in initially, until he found his track. He was hyper-active as a child (ADHD) until he was sent swimming to soak up his energy when his Sun had moved by Solar Arc/Progression to conjunct Mars on the focal point of his Yod – and he’s never looked back since. He found a way to make his ‘difference’ to other people an advantage. His Moon is Sagittarius.

Tr Pluto is sextile his Solar Arc Jupiter at the moment with Solar Arc Jupiter square his Uranus – so feeling the luck is with him and full of confidence.

Katie Ledecky, is another US swimmer, with a Gold from yesterday when she broke her own world record. Not yet 20, she has a cupboard full of medals and has broken 12 world records. Born 17 March 1997, she’s a Sun Venus in Pisces opposition Mars in Virgo; with her Sun sextile Neptune and trine Pluto – so again a feisty Mars, and Neptune Pluto. Her Jupiter at 12 degrees Aquarius is conjunct Uranus and on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine of a tough-minded Saturn in self-reliant Aries trine Pluto. Her Moon is Cancer.

Adam Peaty restored GB’s morale by winning the first Gold since 1988 for swimming. He won by a staggering second and a half, breaking his own world record. Born 28 Dec 1994, he’s a Sun Capricorn trine Mars in Virgo; with a disciplined, dedicated Saturn opposition Mars squaring onto Jupiter in sporting Sagittarius and Pluto in last degree Scorpio – so powerfully confident. His Uranus Neptune in Capricorn sextile his intense and charming Venus Pluto in Scorpio.  His Moon is Scorpio. A larger than life personality, he follows a punishing training schedule, like the other top athletes, eating 8000 calories a day when at full stretch. He was sent off to swim very young to try to overcome his fear of water.

All have Water as the dominant element in their charts – whether that’s a coincidence or not I don’t know. Phelps is Water Fire and the other two Water Earth.

Dissecting the family dynamics of the Royals can seem intrusive but it does provide light relief from the weightier concerns of a collapsing world. And it also shows relationship charts and synastry at work – which is my excuse when I think they are only human and must terribly dislike being picked over.

The Daily Mail, never ones to pull back from a juicy expose of motive and behaviour, have suggested today that Ma and Pa Middleton’s absence from front line Royal events this year is all down to Prince Charles’ huff at being sidelined as a grandpa. Which would certainly fit with Carole Middleton’s chart shock last year when Charlotte arrived (see previous post 4^th August).

CaroleM’s relationship with Prince Charles is seriously not-good with her emphasised/afflicted Saturn conjunct his Scorpio Sun and her Pluto square his Sun – so he’ll feel very cornered and suppressed by her; plus her headstrong, quite aggressive Mars in Aries is conjunct his midheaven, so definitely competitive.

Their relationship chart has a hostile, power-struggling composite Pluto opposition Mars square Venus – so a volcano’s worth of boiling feeling and jealousy. Plus an uncompromising, tension-provoking composite Saturn square Uranus which has been under huge pressure through the birth of both grandchildren.

Even Prince William feels a touch trapped and manipulated by CaroleM in ways he won’t understand with her Pluto falling in his 8^th; and in her Mars square his Moon, so irritations bubbling when the sugary sweet veneer (Jupiter opposition Venus square Moon) wears off, which it is doing at the moment. Her Saturn also opposes his strained 5^th house Venus in Taurus – so children could be a bone of contention.

It will put him in a quandary (as in-laws always do) since he’ll be aware of his father’s prickly sensitivity as well as Kate’s genuine fondness for her mother with her Venus in Aquarius conjunct CaroleM’s Sun. His relationship with his father is not easy at best, since Charles’ fragile ego tends to see any competition from the next-heirs-but-one as stealing his limelight – and it seems fairly unsettled and undermined this year.

Prince William has been in an uphill two years with tr Pluto square his Saturn in 2015/16; and with tr Saturn heading for his Ascendant from late 2017 won’t really be in a mood for duty or taking on more public responsibilities. But if Kate’s birth time of 11.30 is accurate, then as a couple they are moving into a more hard-working, responsible few years ahead, so he will be pushed and pulled. They do look to be ploughing through some heavy weather in 2017/18 with tr Pluto square the composite Saturn, which may be external pressures bearing down on them – or being stuck in the middle of a family tug-of-war – played out in the media which won’t help.

NATO’s plans to deploy military units to Eastern Europe in numbers unmatched since the Cold War are pitched as a defensive measure to protect against further incursions by the Russians. The Russians, including former premier Gorbachev, say it is an offensive measure.

After Moscow’s seizure of Crimea in 2014 and military intervention in Ukraine there has been growing unease in NATO’s Baltic member countries, where the ranks of civilian volunteer militias has swelled, and the politicians and populations seem to consider war with Russia a real possibility. A US state department spokesman said: ‘“A Europe whole, free, and at peace rises or falls with Ukraine.” “Ukraine’s frontline for freedom is ours as well.”

Others see Europe’s security crises as part of a return to regional power struggles, as well as an anti-globalization movement, which has rejuvenated nationalism worldwide. “Everything is connected; basically what we are seeing is the collapse of the world order as we have known it since World War II, and we — politicians, intel and security agencies — still struggle to understand it.” http://goo.gl/RmBzeQ

Lovely, something else to worry about.

The NATO chart, 24 Aug 1949 11.42am Washington, DC, does look edgy in Feb 2017 when tr Uranus squares the Mars in Cancer, which will be a shock leading to insecurity and perhaps hasty decisions. It’ll be considerably worse in 2018/19 with tr Pluto opposition Mars and Solar Arc Saturn square Pluto also in 2018. This September’s Virgo Solar Eclipse will conjunct the NATO Moon Saturn in Virgo bringing a time of weighty responsibilities, where the price for actions has to be paid.

The NATO/Russia 1917 relationship chart is panicky and suspicious with the Virgo Eclipse conjunct the composite Neptune for a few months ahead; but it really starts to agitate from Feb 2017 onwards, destabilising badly from April 2017 for eighteen months thereafter with tr Uranus square the composite Pluto and conjunct Uranus. Intensifying as tr Pluto hits on those planets and not really settling till after 2022/23.

The USA interface with Russia is in disarray through the next few years with tr Pluto square the composite Uranus Pluto till late 2017. Tr Saturn is in a separating square to the composite Sun Saturn this autumn; with an undermining tr Neptune to follow in 2017/18; and an edgy, explosive tr Uranus square Mars in 2018.

The EU/Russia relationship chart has much the same though involving different planets – a complete turnaround in diplomatic relations through 2015 continues till the end of this year; with serious confrontations come Jan 2017, worsening through to late 2018 with tr Pluto square Saturn Mars. As well as tr Saturn square tr Neptune in hard aspect to the composite Sun, which in Neptune’s case runs till early 2018.

The Ukraine chart, 24 Aug 1991 2.31pm Kiev, looks under assault at the moment with Solar Arc Sun conjunct Mars; nervy and strung-out this September; and on high-risk alert from early 2017 for two years; with 2021 looking very trapped, enraged and dominated by forces beyond their control. Their relationship with Russia is blocked at the moment, sagging badly in 2017; with a tussle for the upper hand ongoing; panicky and unstable right through 2018.

David Cameron’s ermine-lined presents to his buddies as he flounced off may well prove to be the final nail in the coffin of the House of Lords, though it won’t happen instantly.

The (still unelected) House of Lords was the ruling body of England in the bad old days of autocratic monarchs and nobles; and its power was very gradually eroded in a series of moves over the centuries. Hereditary peers were edged out; it was prevented from blocking House of Commons (elected members) legislation etc etc. But it remains as a depository of Prime Ministerial and Opposition Leaders’ favours; and on occasion does put a much-needed brake on hot-headed Commons decisions – elected members bringing no guarantee of common sense.

Major changes to the UK legislature would involve the UK 1801’s 11^th house Saturn in Leo. There’s some movement on this in 2017 with tr Uranus trine Saturn; but it might have to wait till 2024 when tr Uranus in Taurus is in square. Though it could come earlier, since the UK Saturn is tied into other planets at earlier degrees. And tr Pluto opposition the 10^th house Moon in 2017/18 may begin to chip away at the populations’ attitude to their rulership.

There were two Acts in the 20^th Century which had a significant effect on the House of Lords – 18 Aug 1911 and 16 Dec 1949.

There is significant pressure on both these charts at the moment – a nasty sinking feeling – and more so through a teeth-gritting few years ahead, when pressure for change escalates against heavy resistance. Both these charts indicate 2024 as game-changers. So that would fit with the UK chart.

Please post below, on whatever ………..

Emma Jung, the long-suffering wife of psycho-analyst Carl, is the subject of a biography – finally, after all her years as the neglected one, forced to suffer his infidelities and the humiliation of the menage a trois he set up with his ‘muse’ Toni Wolff.

Born 30 March 1882 10.45pm Schaffhausen, she was the second richest heiress in Switzerland, which was of great assistance to a young professional struggling to make his name. Her early married life she spent at Burgholzi, an asylum for the insane and through all the years that followed she kept the domestic ship afloat since she loved him and wanted to keep the family of five children together.

She had an Aries Sun and Venus in the 5^th (her nickname was Sunny) square an intense Mars in Cancer in the 8^th; with a powerful Jupiter Pluto on her Descendant which was what she attracted as a partner. And given that her Node fell on her Ascendant she would have problems forming a strong identity of her own. Jupiter Pluto squared her Leo Moon, so she’d be possessive and inclined to look on the bright side. Uranus on her Midheaven certainly designed her for a life out of the ordinary and she herself was a therapist.

Her relationship chart with Carl Jung (26 July 1875 7.26pm Kesswil, Switz) had an affectionate Venus Sun conjunction in the 5^th house of children; sextile an expansive Jupiter in the 7^th house of relationships – so enough positive to keep the flame alight. But there was also an unkind (cruel) composite Saturn opposition Mars square Moon; and a disappointing 4^th house Neptune. On the synastry there are Saturn Moon crossovers which leads to coldness and longevity.

Carl Jung did have a Leo Sun Uranus in his 7^th with Uranus square his Taurus Moon – so he was never likely to settle to 24/7 domesticity.

Toni Wolff, another wealthy Swiss and initially Jung’s patient, also subsumed her life to his, publishing little herself, but was pivotal in helping him to define and refine his ideas. She had Neptune Pluto in the 10^th opposition a 4^th house Mars Jupiter squaring onto a 7^th house Pisces Moon – emotionally sensitive and fragile, dependent, other worldly.

Her Mars Jupiter was conjunct Carl Jung’s midheaven she would help his career; and her Virgo Sun Venus Mercury Uranus fell in his 8^th so she would tap into his deeper layers.

Her relationship with Emma was not surprisingly difficult with a buried-anger Mars in the 12^th square Saturn conjunct Sun – teeth gritted. The composite Moon conjunct Neptune and Pluto was in the 8^th – so there would be a vast reservoir of resentment that went unspoken.

Being married to a great man comes at a price.