Astrology of Today’s News

Leo Tolstoy – unhappy and fruitful marriage, a cruel genius

Leo Tolstoy wrote two of the world’s best known novels -the epic War and Peace and Anna Karenina.  He was a towering talent though a truly terrible husband. Aged 34 he married the 16 year old Sophia and as a wedding gift presented her with his diaries, recording his multiple past sexual liaisons with prostitutes and servants.

He proceeded to father 13 children on her and she wrote bleakly in her diaries: ‘I am to gratify his pleasure and nurse his child, I am a piece of household furniture.’

Despite being suicidal (and homicidal) at times, she helped him with his novels, copying out War and Peace several times. Indeed it has been said she was pivotal to his success as a novelist.

Latterly he became an austere Christian-socialist and left all of the running of the finances, estate and children to her. She wrote: “If he had one iota of the psychological understanding which fills his books, he would have understood the pain and despair I was going through.”  She loved his genius and loathed the man.

Born 9 September 1828 10.52pm(?) Tula, Russia, he had a New Moon and Mercury in Virgo in his 4th house, so was a communicator though also self-sufficient and critical at a domestic level. He had Uranus in the 8th, which would drive his early need for sexual experimentation opposition Saturn Venus in Leo – making him autocratic, with a desire to be grand.

A 7th house Mars Neptune in Capricorn squared a 10th house Pluto – suggesting a need to dominate and possibly also a need to undermine a marriage partner to whom he was not fully committed.

Luckily for him, his wife had a backbone of steel. Born 22 August 1844 in Moscow, Sophia was a Sun Mars in Leo trine Pluto so brave and enduring. Her Sun Mars opposed Neptune so she’d enjoy the publicity his novels brought. Her Uranus Jupiter in Aries were conjunct his 10th house Pluto so she would bring luck to his ambitions and would be a catalyst. Her Venus in home-loving Cancer opposed his 8th house Uranus – so he would not provide her with the emotional support she needed.

Their relationship chart lays out graphically what AN Wilson described as one of the unhappiest marriages in literary history. A composite Moon Mars opposed Saturn which points to unkindness and downright cruelty at an emotional level. That opposition squared onto Neptune – so in many ways quite perverse, though finding an outlet in creativity. The composite Sun also opposed Uranus – so not well designed for intimacy.

His creative 5th and 7th Harmonics are strong (quintiles and septiles) and his writers’ 21st Harmonic is especially marked.

Lili Elbe – The Danish Girl – Moon Neptune Saturn Pluto

Lili Elbe was a Danish painter and transgender woman, probably the first to have sex reassignment surgery from male to female, from which she died in 1931. The Eddie Redmayne film The Danish Girl is loosely based on her story.

Lili was born Einar Wegener, 28 December 1882, and had the truly difficult Neptune Saturn and Pluto in Taurus opposition North Node in Scorpio square a Leo Moon –  so he would be conflicted emotionally.  Uranus in Virgo was also trine Neptune Saturn and Pluto – creative, though highly strung and changeable. His Sun Mercury and Mars were in Capricorn with Mars square Uranus – restless, ambitious, keen to take the initiative, volatile.

He married Gerda Gottlieb, another painter, 15 March 1886, who was a Sun Pisces opposition Jupiter in Libra square Saturn in Cancer – quite a mix of artistic, optimistic and pessimistic. The marriage was dissolved when Einar became Lili. Gerda’s focal point Saturn was opposition Lili’s Mars Sun – so not an ideal mix.

Their relationship chart hints at mutual support and an adventurous streak; though was also destined to disappointment with a composite Sun opposition Jupiter square Mars on one side and Neptune on the other.

At the time he decided on gender reassignment surgery his Solar Arc Sun Mars were moving square to his Neptune Saturn in Taurus planets in the run up.

Ethan Couch – spoiled to death

Ethan Couch is a teenage boy responsible for the deaths of four pedestrians when driving drunk, speeding and illegally on a restricted licence in 2013. He was let off with probation by a judge on the excuse he was a spoiled brat – affluenza – not taught limits by his wealthy parents. His divorced mother took him to Mexico, paid his strip club bill and is now residing in prison in the US where he is expected to follow.

Ethan was born 11 April 1997 in Texas and is a Sun Venus in Aries square Neptune, with a Gemini Moon so undoubtedly prone to impulsive behaviour and impractical/unrealistic. He’s also got an ‘adventurous’ Jupiter Uranus in Aquarius.  Though his life won’t always have been a picnic with a tough, forced-to-be-self-reliant Saturn in Aries trine Pluto, sextile Uranus.

His Mars in Virgo is also on the focal point of a Yod to Sun sextile Jupiter. This will make him rash, tending to leap into ill-thought out actions which turn out to be self-defeating. Not able to control his aggression and charging ahead recklessly.

His life is certainly going to change direction in 2016 with tr Uranus conjunct his Sun Venus; and will be challenging, not to say trapped in 2017/18 with tr Pluto trine that focal point Mars.

His mother, Tonya Couch, 26 April 1967, although a Sun Taurus, looks erratic with Uranus Pluto in Virgo sextile Neptune inconjunct Mercury; and Uranus Pluto square Venus in Gemini – so scattered, doesn’t always think straight, emotionally unpredictable. She’s also got Mercury opposition Mars square Jupiter in Cancer – exuberant, short-attention span, doesn’t think through consequences of actions.

Her relationship chart with her son looks overly controlling, over indulgent and rather cruel. Not a good mix. With a composite Sun Jupiter opposition Pluto, trine Neptune; and Saturn opposition Mars. There will be a parting-of-the-ways between them by 2017 and beyond.

 

Dubai fire – ominous portent

There are concerns that the fire on New Year’s Eve in Dubai in a high-rise hotel near the Burj Khalifa (largest skyscraper in the world) may have spread more rapidly because of flammable building materials. If so it will be a headache for the other towering blocks which are the Emirates pride and joy.

The Address Hotel which went up, was opened on 9 September 2009, on the Saturn in Virgo opposition Uranus square Pluto. Saturn had moved by Solar Arc to close the square to Pluto to exact when the fire struck; with Solar Arc Uranus less than a degree away from the exact square on the other side of Pluto. So a critical point for the hotel.

The Marina Torch which went up in flames early in 2015, was opened in May 2011 and had more or less the same with Solar Arc Pluto exactly square Saturn; and Solar Arc Uranus approaching the square to Pluto on the other side.

The Burj Khalifa, opened on 4 January 2010, also has similar in four/five years’ time when Solar Arc Uranus moves to square the BK Pluto and then oppose the BK Saturn. And in three/four years’ time the Solar Arc Saturn will square and Solar Arc Pluto conjunct the BK Sun as well.

Dubai, 8 January 1820 chart, does have Solar Arc Sun conjunct its Mars now which is a shock or collision of sorts. And tr Uranus is set for its final square to the Capricorn Sun from later this month with tr Pluto conjunct the Dubai Sun picking up late February, running till late 2017. So it is facing a very challenging time, perhaps for other reasons, but perhaps symbolised by these scary fires.

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best for 2016.

Welcome to the new website. The old familiar one had been clunking along for nearly twenty years and regrettably no longer spoke to the new technology. So needs must.

Like all babies the new site won’t come into the world without a few hiccups. There are still sections to be added and fine tuning to come. so I hope you’ll bear with us. And email me (on contact) with any suggestions.

First week in January looks challenging (sigh) with a Capricorn Sun conjunct Pluto and square Uranus. But Mars is moving into super-determined Scorpio from the 3rd which will help to squash any problems underfoot. By mid-month Jupiter should (and it had better!!) spread its magic around.

There is a box for comments under the individual Astrology of Today’s News posts; scroll down to the bottom of the page. At present only the posts to the left have a comment box. Otherwise Contact on the top bar comes through to me. Heavenly Headlines is under News, also top bar.

Amicalement   Marjorie

 

El Nino – Saturn square Neptune

Nasa has said that the effects of the current El Nino weather phenomenon could be as bad as those of 1998, the strongest on record. El Nino is a naturally occurring weather system which happens every two to seven years, bringing severe droughts and devastating flooding in different parts of the world.

Looking back to 1998, there was a Saturn square Neptune as there is now. Other particularly severe E Ninos:-  in 1972 there a Saturn opposition Neptune. In 1925 and 1891 there was also a Saturn square Neptune.

In two other years recorded as strong El Ninos, 1982 and 1875/6 there was a Saturn sextile Neptune which is weaker – so a less obvious connection. Though 1875 which oversaw droughts and great famine in India and China for three years after also had Saturn square Pluto at the start and Uranus square Pluto as well.

So the Saturn square Neptune uncertainty which is hanging around now, and continues until after mid 2016, may well in part be connected to the extreme weather patterns.

Beryl Markham – nothing by half measures

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 – old rocker tunes out

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 – not a great start but a flying finish for his final lap

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 – pressure beginning to show

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.