Astrology of Today’s News

There’s a novel out (by Paula McLain, best known for The Paris Wife) about the life of Beryl Markham. She was an extraordinary woman – a licensed racehorse trainer in Kenya before she was 20 and one of the early record-breaking pilots; on the periphery of the louche colonial Happy Valley set, with a string of marriages and affairs, including Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (the Queen’s uncle) and big game hunter Denys Finch Hatton, who had previously been the lover of her friend Karen Blixen (Out of Africa). They seemed to bed hop like musical chairs out there.

She was born 24 October 1902 and lived with her racehorse-breeder father in Kenya after her mother abandoned her at 5. She was a Sun Scorpio probably on the focal point of a T Square to Jupiter in Aquarius opposition a Leo Moon – so intense, optimistic, self-centred, tolerant.
Her Sun was also trine Neptune, sextiling onto a focal point Mars in Virgo giving her a capacity for hard work and the courage to try high-risk sports. She was of the Uranus in Sagittarius opposition Pluto generation so a mould-breaker. Her Venus in Libra was in a passionate trine to Pluto and a chilly square to Saturn in tough-minded Capricorn. Venus Saturn is often found in charts of the promiscuous, perhaps a relentless search for the love that was never on offer in childhood.

Her relationship chart with Prince Henry, 31 March 1900 7.30am Sandringham, England, was frankly horrible with a composite Mars Moon Pluto opposition Uranus – the attraction may well have been the danger. Plus a composite Sun Saturn conjunction. An afflicted Saturn often acts in relationship charts as an insuperable barrier. The senior Royals were aghast when Markham’s husband threatened to name Prince Henry in the divorce and she was paid off with an annuity and they never met again.

Denys Finch Hatton, 24 April 1887, was probably the love of her life but too much of a free spirit to settle. His bullishly confident Sun Mars in Taurus opposition Jupiter in Scorpio picked up her Scorpio Sun, giving her a morale-boost when he was around and her Jupiter was trine his seductive Venus Pluto in Gemini. Their relationship chart has an inspiring and adventurous Fire Grand Trine of Venus Saturn Jupiter with Jupiter opposition Neptune Pluto – so good for excitement and romance though with Venus square Uranus it was fairly unpredictable.

The kind of life that makes one feel one’s own is a touch dull. Maybe not that happy but certainly full. Her 8th and 16th Harmonics are also very strong. (see Lemmy).
She nearly died in poverty but her memoir which had gone out of print was re-found and became enough of a success to support her till her death at 84.

Lemmy, the heavy metal rocker and frontman for Motorhead has died aged 70, the miracle being he survived as long as he did on a diet of drugs, whisky and coke, and cigarettes. He was brought up by his mother and grandmother, his army chaplain father having baled when he was 3.

Born 24 December 1945 8.30am Stoke-on-Trent, England, he had a Capricorn Sun on the Ascendant and seemed to have been a full-on kind of guy. His Neptune is emphasised on the focal point of a T square to Sun Ascendant opposition North Node, so musical, creative, addictive. He also had an outspoken Mercury in Sagittarius opposition Uranus square a Virgo Moon.

What is most striking about his chart is a wide Mars Pluto in Leo conjunction in his 8th with Mars conjunct Saturn in Cancer in the 7th – which is a very heavy combo. Driven by demons, perhaps why he had the baddest, loudest band of them all.

He slept with thousands of women but never settled to a committed relationship, due partly to his North Node conjunct his Descendant and high-risk planets in the 8th ,giving him a fear of intimacy. Obituaries says he was surprisingly cultured and well educated about social issues, despite his rough image, which may be down to Jupiter and Neptune in Libra in his 9th house of philosophy and broader understanding.

His creative, get-it-together 5th Harmonic is powerfully confident. But it is his 8th and 16th Harmonics especially which bring together an unholy collection – of Mars Pluto Neptune in his 8H; and New Moon Mars Pluto Saturn Venus in his 16H.

Vendla’s number interpretations certainly fit his life.

8H: A fated number. “Karmic debt”. Soul wounds, bad luck or loss may follow this number, which also gives an abundance of strength and stubbornness in the face of difficulties. The road to success is often bumpy and hard, and if it comes easy, or at all, it will not necessarily bring happiness.

16H: Destruction. This number warns against all kinds of catastrophes. Disappointments, humiliations, threatening dangers, accidents, disasters. Life as you know it might change completely. Sometimes this is self-inflicted, sometimes it is not. A special sensitivity is present, often artistic.

However hard he tried to self-destruct he kept hanging on in there. Latterly on medical advice he gave up whiskey and coca cola and switched instead to vodka and orange juice.

Barack Obama is coasting the way into his last year, improving his golf in Hawaii. He’ll still be working hard with tr Saturn going through his 10th, glad handing with great enthusiasm as tr Jupiter moves through his 7th till June. He’ll have some sinking moments and setbacks in January and on till March with first tr Pluto square his Mars/Neptune which is either low energy or plans dissolving under his feet; and then tr Neptune opposing Mars/Uranus and Mars/Node – somewhat similar to Cameron so may be violence out in the world causing anxiety.

His Solar Arc Neptune opposes his 5th house Venus, exact in six months’ time – an emotional disappointment perhaps about one of his children; or even his relationship since his Secondary Progressed Venus is moving to conjunct his 7th house Pluto through this year – so intense feelings.

That apart nothing too dramatic. Though tr Jupiter going into his 8th from June for a year will bring more money his way and a positive change in his life. Into 2017 tr Uranus moves into his 3rd where it stays for several years bringing an even busier everyday schedule. So he’s clearly not going to be putting his feet up.

His 2nd Term chart isn’t showing anything too dramatic apart from tr Pluto conjunct the 9th house Venus, which could be foreign affairs causing some angst and putting on a charm offensive. Venus can also be economic.

David Cameron is wading knee deep in flood water, getting heckled, trying to explain why he did not put a decent defence plan into operation despite multiple warnings.
He’s got tr Pluto returning to square his Libra Sun from this Thursday for a month, and returning on and off till late 2016, so it is a pressured year for him. Not that he ever gives much sign of caring. He’s also got a run of Neptune transits in opposition to his Sun/Jupiter, Mars/Pluto and Mars/Uranus midpoints from mid January till March and again October to Jan 2017 – which look panicked, disaster-prone and disappointing. Neptune on the Sun/Jupiter has a hint of economic problems so all may not be as rosy in the garden as is being made out at the moment.

Chancellor George Osborne, has slightly similar with tr Neptune square a Mars midpoint early and late in the year; and tr Pluto conjunct his Solar Arc Jupiter Neptune conjunction which will boost his confidence hugely, then bring it crashing down. Plus a jolting Solar Arc Saturn square his Uranus sometime around now.

The cracks in his relationship with David Cameron will start to show from late April with tr Uranus square the composite Venus and worsening through 2017. It was never as cosy as it looked with a cold Venus square Saturn; and worse an unsupportive composite Mars Neptune = when one succeeds the other feels diminished. There’s luck in there with a Jupiter Uranus conjunction and some good feeling from Jupiter trine Moon, but scratch the surface and there’s resentment lurking. Some of which will become more obvious as this year progresses; but especially in 2017 when tr Pluto is sextile the composite Mars and tr Uranus is conjunct the composite Saturn.

Cameron’s personal chart is showing real strain in 2017 with tr Pluto starting the long haul trine his Pluto Uranus and then sextile his Saturn. Changes will be forced on him. Though for all that tr Jupiter will be moving through his 1st then which always gives a lift.

His 2nd Term chart has tr Pluto trine the Sun in 2016/17 so perhaps exerting more control (Freedom of Information etc). There’ll be some slipping and sliding and evasion this year with tr Neptune square Mercury on and off. But it is 2017 where the real headaches and instability come with the Pluto Uranus square closing to exact by Solar Arc and by transit.

The social media sharing of Christmas happy family pics seems to have turned into a contest between Madonna and the Ritchie family with young Rocco enjoying himself in the UK, despite being court-ordered back to New York. (See previous post).

Guy Ritchie, Madonna’s ex and father of Rocco, remarried this year to Jaqui Ainsley, with whom he has three children. Born 28 Nov 1981, she’s a lively Sun Uranus in Sagittarius with a determined Pluto conjunct Jupiter on one side and Saturn in the other. Her Mars in Virgo squares Madonna’s 4th house Saturn in Sagittarius so challenging Madonna’s need to keep her family under control.

Their relationship chart does not indicate harmonious chemistry at the best of times, with an aggravated composite Mars square Sun; and Mars trine Saturn. And it is being heavily pressured over the next three years with tr Pluto square the composite Sun, then opposition the composite Mars and sextile Pluto.

So a battle of the mothers.

Bubbly actress Barbara Windsor, best known for EastEnders, Carry On comedies and a riotous love life involving some scary criminals back in the day, is reportedly to be made a dame in the New Year Honours. Though some think that unlikely. She has skated through through scandal after scandal and emerged as a national treasure, partly because of her charity work.

Born 6 August 1937 in London with an unverified 2pm birth time from ADB, she’s a New Moon in Leo square Uranus in Taurus – so a performer who goes her own way without caring about convention. She’s got a talented and lucky Earth Grand Trine of Jupiter in Capricorn trine Neptune in Virgo trine Uranus; with a confident Jupiter widely opposition Pluto.

2pm doesn’t seem that likely since it would give her a 9th house New Moon. I’d guesstimate more likely to be 11pm which puts the flamboyant Leo New Moon in the entertaining 5th; and Jupiter in the 10th which often brings respectability in later life. Plus a 4th house Pluto trine a 7th house Mars in Scorpio.

She did date both the Kray Twins (urgh) and married gangster Ronnie Knight and had a string of abusive other relationships – and five abortions. Her Venus in Cancer squares Saturn in self-reliant Aries, so she probably thought she wasn’t worth much emotionally.

Her Jupiter in Capricorn is about to get the tr Uranus square in early 2016; and then tr Pluto conjunct in 2017/18 so lots of success ahead.

One thing worse than being born into a celebrity family is being born into an aristocratic one. Castle Howard, the spectacular setting for Brideshead Revisited, is now the scene of a family feud which according to a friend makes ‘Kane and Abel look like a fairy tale.’

Before the late Lord Howard of Henderskelfe died in 1984 he offered the running of the house and estate to the elder son Nicholas, who turned it down to pursue an (unsuccessful) career as a pop singer. So his brother Simon took it over. Now he and his family have been issued with an eviction notice telling them to leave their home by the end of January. Nicholas and his wife Victoria Barnsley (until 2013 a high powered publishing CEO) are taking over.

Nicholas Howard, 25 April 1952, is a Sun in Taurus opposition Mars in Scorpio with Sun conjunct Jupiter in late Aries; and Mars square Pluto – so lucky, stubborn, ultra-determined to get his own way.

Simon Howard, 26 January 1956, is a Sun Mercury in Aquarius opposition Uranus square Neptune; with Mars Saturn in Sagittarius square Venus in Pisces; and a confident Jupiter Pluto conjunction in Leo. So also Fixed, not always co-operative and creative. There’s always a feeling about Mars Saturn of not getting quite what he wants, or being badly done by. Nicholas’s Mars in Scorpio squares his Aquarius Sun which is not a good combination since Mars here has a do-or-die relentlessness and a ruthless streak.

Their relationship chart has a volatile Water Grand Trine of composite Sun trine Uranus trine Mars; and worse a composite Mars square Pluto; and a Yod onto the composite Sun – so explosive, hostile, power struggling and a real ego-clash.

Simon Howard has been having a tough time recently with his Solar Arc Saturn Mars crossing over his Sun, through a bout of throat cancer and now this. He looks disappointed and lacking drive in 2016. Though will bounce back in 2017/18 as tr Uranus trines his Pluto Jupiter.

Victoria Barnsley, wife of Nicholas, according to reports is part of the driving force behind the changeover. Born 4 March 1954, she has Sun, probably Moon, and two other planets in Pisces on the focal point of a T Square to Mars in Sagittarius opposition Jupiter – so ego-centric, a risk-taker, talented, scattered.

Her relationship with Simon is bleak with a composite Sun opposition Pluto square Saturn. With her husband there’s a real powerhouse, Sherman Tank of a composite T square of Mars opposition Jupiter square Pluto. Mows down anything in its path. She doesn’t look either settled or successful over the next two to three years.

The Australia 1901 chart has Sun and Saturn in Capricorn which have survived the pounding of the past few years of tr Uranus square tr Pluto.

However with seven planets in Mutable signs – 4 Sag, 2 Gem, 1 Virgo – the year ahead will hold problems of a different sort with tr Neptune square the financial 8th house Venus and opposition the 5th house (speculation) Mars. Plus tr Saturn conjunct Venus, Uranus, square Mars and opposition Pluto in 2016; dragging into 2017 with the conjunction to the AU Jupiter, Mercury and by opposing Neptune.

The Eclipses are also targeting those Mutable planets with the September Virgo Eclipse the trickiest as it is conjunct the AU Mars.

So worrisome, deflating, enthusiasm-denting, with perhaps more aggravating factors than usual with the Eclipse on Mars which is angry and can also be disasters of one sort or another. There’ll be a considerable jolt from Solar Arc Uranus square Sun, exact in six months time. Following that there’s an accident-prone/military? Solar Arc Mars conjunct Saturn, exact in late 2016, which will produce heated outbursts.

There will be some moments of sunshine with tr Uranus conjunct the Solar Arc Jupiter from late April 2016, again in November and early 2017; with better news as tr Uranus trines the AU Jupiter in 2017.

So a definite dip with several reality checks, but light at the end of the tunnel come 2017.

The Bank of Australia, 14 Jan 1960, has three planets in Sagittarius so it will feel the discouraging effects of tr Saturn conjunctions in 2016/2017; with an upheaval or two from tr Uranus squares the BoA Capricorn Sun in 2016. But again better luck coming by 2018.

Singer Elton John, according to the Daily Mail, has been gradually losing most of his old staff, it is said due to differences with his now-husband David Furnish, who has taken over his career direction. Furnish has been liked to Yoko Ono in terms of his influence.

Elton was born 25 March 1947 4pm Pinner, England and has been through a testing time in recent years with his 8th house Aries Sun opposition Neptune being hammered by tr Uranus and tr Pluto. He’s clear of that now.

His relationship with Furnish, 25 October 1962, is supportive with F’s Jupiter in E’s 7th; and F’s Venus conjunct E’s 4th house Jupiter in Scorpio. There are less wonderful cross overs with F’s Mars in Leo conjunct E’s Saturn Pluto, which looks problematic and could end up in a bitter power struggle if it ever came to a separation.

That is mirrored in the relationship chart with a composite Mars square Pluto; though there’s also an affectionate and morale-boosting composite Sun Venus Jupiter conjunction as well. So lots of positives as well as some negatives.

There will be pressure on their relationship through 2016/17 with tr Pluto conjunct the composite Sun and Jupiter; and in 2017 with tr Uranus square Uranus, opposition Neptune. Elton also has his Sun/Moon midpoint stressed in 2016 as tr Uranus opposes it which can sometimes cause rifts in marriages.

Furnish himself looks rather stuck and undermined in 2016 and hugely frustrated and enraged in late 2016/2017. So not all harmony in the golden palace.