Astrology of Today’s News

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is as per usual sandbagging the seawall against any attempts to stop American citizens buying automatic weapons.
Founded 17 Nov 1871, they may find that pressure of public opinion does begin to bite despite Republicans’ best efforts to support them.
2016 has a jangled and distracted tr Uranus conjunct the NRA Neptune with an undermining Solar Arc conjunct Neptune. Plus a very bad tempered Solar Arc Mars Saturn opposition Mercury. So the arguments will rage though not from the looks of that all in favour of the great John Wayne spirit.

The female shooter in San Bernadino, Tashfeen Malik, was born 13 July 1986 in Pakistan, brought up in Saudi Arabia and married Farook on 16 Aug 2014.

She was a Sun in Cancer opposition Mars in Capricorn square an Aries North Node; with Sun inconjunct Uranus in Sagittarius. So definitely angry and pro-active. Cancer can be patriotic, attached to the country of birth. Mars in opposition in a Cardinal sign is rash and overly impulsive.

Her Solar Return for this year had Sun Mars opposition Pluto square Uranus so hostile, ruthless, explosive.

Farook’s Solar Return had an exact Sun Mars conjunction; and a Yod of Venus in flamboyant Leo sextile North Node inconjunct Neptune in Pisces – so angry and warped dreams of the afterlife.

Her Cancer Sun (Moon) was conjunct her husband’s Mars in Cancer with her Mars in opposition; and her Uranus opposed his Gemini Sun. So a volatile match that sparked off both their anger issues and rebellious streak.

Their relationship chart had a delusional composite Sun opposition Neptune, trine Pluto and square Jupiter – so a curious mix of idealistic, overly confident, determined, controlling.

Their wedding chart is horrible with a cruel Mars Saturn conjunction opposition Moon and Saturn square Sun.

Her Mars was also opposition the USA Sun and square the USA Saturn as was the case with Farook – so not a country she liked. Her Uranus was also opposition the US Mars and square the US Neptune – a disruptive combination. I’d imagine this was always her intention when she married and came across.

I’m not sure I want to do another shooting/bombing atrocity. But here we go – again.

The Mars opposition Uranus square Pluto is certainly making its presence felt. Mars moved into Libra just before mid November, running towards the hard aspects on Dec 6/11th and since then there has been a series of more than usually nasty attacks – Beirut, Paris, Mali, Russian plane shot down. Now San Bernadino, which appears to have been at least partially inspired by ISIL though not necessarily promoted by them.

14 are dead and 21 injured after a shooting by a husband and wife at a party at a disability centre in San Bernadino, California on 2nd December at 11am. They also had a stash of bombs and weapons. Though there’s still caution as to what the motives were, work related or terrorist.

Syed Rizwan Farook, US-born of Pakistani origin, 14 June 1987 Chicago, was a health worker. His wife was also Pakistani. He was a Sun Gemini opposition Uranus Saturn in Sagittarius; with Mars Mercury in Cancer opposition Neptune, trine Pluto. What is relevant is that his Mars is conjunct the US Sun and square the US Saturn; and the US Mars is conjunct his Sun and opposition his Saturn Uranus. So a country which aroused his anger in multiple ways.

San Bernadino was incorporated on 10 August 1869. On that chart there’s a violent, destructive Solar Arc Pluto conjunct Mars now and tr Pluto square both. So undoubtedly a major shock and frightening.

On aspects to Fixed stars, the shootings chart.
Sun conjunct Antares – “rival of Mars,” the brightest star in Scorpius (The Scorpion). Associated with rashness and violence. Tough, belligerent and aggressive.

Moon’s North Node conjunct Alkaid – of the nature of Mars, associated with death and mourning. It can claim lives in calamities.

Mars conjunct Vindemiatrix, the widowmaker.
Regarded as unfortunate, associated with deception and disgrace.

Both Saturn and Neptune were in aspect to the Sun/Moon midpoint which often appears highlighted in tragedies with loss of life.

Yahoo appear to be in trouble with stagnant growth on the internet side with murmurings that Marissa Mayer’s time ahead as CEO may be short.
Yahoo, 1 March 1995, looks if anything in even worse trouble ahead with tr Neptune conjunct its Pisces Sun in 2016 – Neptune not being a good influence for commerce. Tr Pluto continues the hard-slog sextile to its Saturn in 2016 as well with a financially depressing tr Saturn conjunct Jupiter from Feb till November 2016.

MM’s term chart, 16 July 2012, also has the enthusiasm-dampening tr Saturn opposition Jupiter (and tr Neptune square) at the moment and tr Saturn opposition the financial Venus. From late May 2016 tr Uranus will oppose Saturn and then square the Sun which will upset her applecart, if it doesn’t come before.

Her personal chart, 30 May 1975, has a Gemini Sun opposition Neptune which is catching the tr Saturn hard aspect this December which looks like a setback; with tr Neptune square her Sun in Jan/Feb 2016 which is sinking in a different way. Plus from Feb 2016 for two years she has tr Pluto opposition her Saturn and square her Jupiter.
She hates failure more than most with that Saturn square Jupiter and will push mightily hard not to by done down by the experience. She will get some lift from tr Uranus square her Jupiter/Uranus midpoint in May onwards. But these types always walk away with a he payoff and usually fairly quickly into another venture. Though she will have her downs through the next two years.

The Syria bombing vote saw a goodly chunk of the shadow Labour front bench and many other Labour MPs vote against their leader’s nay-saying to support David Cameron’s motion. There is relentless media muttering that the Labour Party is in meltdown and Corbyn will have to go. But since the electorate is on his side at least over this matter, it’ll have to wait on regional election results to see what comes next. The membership like him a good deal better than his parliamentary colleagues. But party discipline is a shambles, hardly surprising since he never toe-ed the whips’ line himself. But there are hints of bullying tactics in trying to de-select those seen as disloyal. So rancour ahead.

His Leadership chart, 12 Sept 2015 11.42am London, has negative, discouraging and deflating influences as tr Saturn squares Jupiter Moon and Neptune between now and the year end. Tr Neptune then opposes the Moon through 2016 with tr Saturn returning for another dunt mid year – so hugely uncertain and distrusting. Tr Saturn then squares the Sun by December 2016 which could be curtains; or it might well wait for 2018 when tr Pluto will square Uranus.

His own personal chart, 26 May 1949, with Sun, Venus, Mercury, Uranus spread out through Gemini will be wading through the tr Saturn oppositions for the next eighteen months so it won’t be a picnic. He’s also got a really dreary tr Pluto opposition Sun/Saturn from early 2016 till late 2017. Ebertin regards this as having health implications, or at least accompanying a difficult struggle to advance, feeling isolated. He will have some lucky moments in 2016 but not too many.

The Labour Party, 27 Feb 1900, which has tr Saturn square and tr Neptune conjunct the Pisces Sun exactly now is clearly at a low ebb. And with tr Saturn moving on to conjunct Jupiter this December and then Uranus on and off through 2016 as well as opposing Pluto, it’s not a time of cheer or progress.

Tom Watson, the Deputy Leader elected on a separate ticket so not selected by Corbyn, 8 Jan 1967 is facing a hugely pressured, challenging and frustrating time in 2016/17 with tr Pluto conjunct his Capricorn Sun and square his Mars in Libra. His relationship with Corbyn is volatile at the best of times with a composite T square of Jupiter opposition Neptune square Mars Uranus on their relationship chart. The distrust will escalate from mid 2016 onwards till late 2017. And it’ll blow apart altogether in 2018.

John McDonnell, 8 Sept 1951, the Shadow Chancellor who is seen as Corbyn’s closest ally, is a Sun Venus and Mercury in Virgo so also feeling the effect of tr Saturn hard aspects next year; with tr Neptune opposing his Sun in 2017. 2017 looks a disastrous year for him with Solar Arc Mars opposition Neptune, Solar Arc Sun square Pluto and tr Pluto square his Neptune. Next year will also have moments of dashed hopes.

His relationship with Corbyn is labouring badly in 2016/17 with tr Pluto trine the composite Saturn; with a deflating tr Neptune square tr Saturn hitting on their composite Jupiter at the moment. It could rupture altogether come mid 2016 with tr Uranus square the composite Sun.

Diane Abbott, another pro-Corbynite, 27 Sept 1953, isn’t looking any more cheerful than anyone else with tr Saturn in an irritable square to her Mars in December; and an undermining tr Neptune opposition Mars in early 2016. Solar Arc Pluto will conjunct her Saturn in 2016 for a depressing and paralysed few months; with she has a highly strung and rebellious tr Uranus opposition Neptune and square Uranus from next spring onwards.

The one who emerged with plaudits from yesterday’s long Commons Debate was Hilary Benn, 26 Nov 1953, a Sun Sagittarius Moon Leo, who is being spoken off as a potential replacement for Corbyn though that is undoubtedly premature. He’s got a foot-dragging tr Pluto square his Mars through 2016; with a highly unsettled tr Uranus square his Uranus.
He will get come lift from tr Uranus sextile his Jupiter on one end of a mini-Grand Trine to Neptune, sextile Pluto from June onwards next year – and that may translate itself into more power by 2017 when tr Uranus will trine his Pluto. But there are no birth time which doesn’t help.

Peter Sutcliffe, the serial killer dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper, convicted for killing 13 women and attacking many others was sent to Broadmoor for the criminally insane in 1981, claiming he heard voices. He has now been pronounced sane by his shrinks. He’ll be moved, it is thought, to a standard high security prison. An investigating detective on the case and his brother both thought he made up the mental illness to get a cushier berth inside.

Born 2 June 1946 8.30pm Bingley, England, his chart has a packed 8th house containing Moon Saturn conjunct in Cancer and Venus in Cancer, as well as Pluto and Mars in Leo (not conjunct). A 7th house Gemini Sun is trine Neptune in the 10th, sextile Pluto. The Sun is also conjunct Mercury Uranus in Gemini trine Jupiter in the 10th, sextile Mars in Leo. So a carapace of confidence and charm along with some megalomania and an extreme difficulty in intimate relationships.

Such a strong 8th house will give him connections to other realms, way below his conscious mind so voices may well be a possibility.

He’s already had one heart attack and tr Uranus square his Moon Saturn in 2016 suggests a serious upset and high tension. Tr Neptune will also be squaring his Sun which will not be uplifting.

Just a snippet as Westminster goes into vote on bombing Daesh in Syria. David Cameron’s 2nd Term chart has Mars in Taurus in the 10th conjunct Algol and = the Mars/Saturn midpoint which has associations with the military and killings.
Algol marks Medusa’s severed head and has a reputation for violence and extreme danger. Algol is a name derived from Arabic “Al Ghoul” meaning “demon”, “evil spirit” or “devil”. Nature of Mars and Saturn.

The Venus is conjunct Betelgeuse which evidently confers military honour or success in combative situations.

And his personal chart, 5.30am being accurate, puts Jupiter on the MC in Syria. Mind you his Mars aspects at least three risky and unpleasant Fixed Stars as well.
Alphard is associated with ‘poisoned thinking’.

Adhafera is a star on the crest of the Lion’s mane. A malefic star associated with danger from fire, explosives, acid or poison. Nature of Mercury and Saturn.

Al Jabhah brings loss and danger of violence.

Uranus conjunct Denebola warns of misfortune and disasters; there is the risk of loss of position or a fall from grace.

Bahrain handled its Arab Spring in 2011 with brutal suppression, imprisoning and torturing opponents of its virtual autocratic monarchy. King Hamad bin Isa Salman Al Khalifa, 28 Jan 1950, was mainly school educated in England, Cambridge Univ, Sandhurst and then Leavenworth, USA. He is friendly with the Brit Royals though did not appear at Prince William’s wedding because of bad publicity over his crackdown.

Bahrain gained independence on 14 August 1971 making it a Sun Venus in flamboyant Leo opposition Mars and North Node in Aquarius; with Sun square Jupiter in Scorpio. So grandiose. There’s also a Moon Saturn in Gemini opposition Neptune square Mercury in Virgo – so not a happy population – anxious, uncertain.

2015 has been a tricky year with a Solar Arc Mars opposition Pluto, frustrating and stuck, though that is now moving on. There’s a slight hint of positive change with tr Uranus trine Sun early in 2016. But not much else of note apart from the September 2016 Solar Eclipse falling conjunct Mercury which will bring mental strain.

King Khalifa took over the emirate on 6 March 1999 with a Pisces Sun square Pluto and trine Mars in Scorpio – so controlling and vengeful. There’s a stuck tr Saturn conjunct Pluto this December and square Sun next year which will be downbeat but not much else.

His personal chart, born 28 Jan 1950, only two days after the former Austrian neo-nazi politician Jorg Haider, has a Sun Venus Jupiter in Aquarius opposition Pluto and trine Mars Neptune in Libra – superficially charming, stubborn, controlling, keen on the right kind of publicity. Tr Uranus is trine his Pluto once more into early 2016 which might provoke some change but he has a very fixed chart.

2018/19 is where it gets tougher for him with tr Pluto conjunct his Mercury and trine his Saturn; and a sagging, panicked Solar Arc Sun opposition Neptune in 2019.

Algeria also didn’t handle its uprising well in 2010/11 though they did make some changes in the aftermath but there is still harassment of government opponents and widespread criticism of electoral fraud. The President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 2 March 1937, has now been in power through four terms since 27 April 1999.

Algeria gained independence from the French on 3 July 1962 10.38am Algiers which gives it a Water Grand Trine of Cancer Sun trine Jupiter in Pisces trine Neptune, formed into a Kite by Jupiter opposition Pluto – so inward looking, secretive, driven by power. With Mars conjunct Algol in Taurus square Uranus – so used to cruelty and explosive situations.

Tr Saturn will square that central Jupiter opposition Pluto on the Desc/Asc in December/Jan 2016 for a blocked and discouraging few weeks. Then tr Neptune will oppose Pluto and square the Jupiter/Pluto midpoint in 2016 and conjunct Jupiter in 2017 which will be extended period of power losing its grip and perhaps financial bubble-bursting.

Tr Neptune will also square the MC in 2016 for an uncertain, indecisive year. With the September Virgo Eclipse conjunct the Pluto leading to a crisis.

The Presidency chart from 1999 is unpleasant with a Taurus Sun Saturn opposition Mars in Scorpio square Neptune – not much sentiment or kindness in there.

Bouteflika’s personal chart, is definitely sagging in 2016 which may be age since he’s in his late 70s. Tr Neptune will conjunct his Pisces Sun from April onwards till late 2017 which undermines energy, motivation and ability to make decisions. He’s also got a confused tr Pluto trine his Neptune which is much the same.

His chart has a ruthless Water Grand Trine of Saturn in Pisces trine Pluto trine Mars in Scorpio. He fits the country chart but it hardly makes for an easy lifestyle having him as ruler.

Expectations (and fears) are running high that France’s far-right Front National party will do well in this weekend’s regional elections after the Paris shootings and Charlie Hebdo earlier in the year. The party under Marine Le Pen has cleaned up its act in recent years, moving its image away from the old anti-semitic, neo-Nazi rantings of her now estranged father. She’s even being spoken of as a possible President in 2017.

Marine Le Pen, 5 Aug 1968 12.20 am Neuilly sur Seine, France is a Sun Mercury in Leo with a Capricorn Moon so certainly ambitious. With a heavy Yod of Pluto Uranus in Virgo sextile Neptune inconjunct Saturn in Aries – that gives a sharply focussed purpose in life but needs real maturity to make it work. Fated changes can bring a turning point which will test the individual to the limit and can set them on a path of social responsibility; or it can bring self-defeating actions which end in failure.

She certainly looks successful and confident exactly now with tr Jupiter conjunct her Pluto. Though tr Neptune opposing her Jupiter through 2016 which bring over-confident hopes which are then not fulfilled. She does have good transits to Jupiter midpoints in 2016/17 as well. Though she’ll experience quite a knock from Solar Arc Uranus square her Sun in about 6 months’ time.
What is interesting is that tr Uranus will conjunct her Yod focal point Saturn in 2017 exactly when the election result is due. That will really test her mettle to see if she can rise to the challenge of the Yod or end up in failure. Tr Pluto will be opposition her MC then which might suggest a failure. But maybe that is wishful thinking on my part.
Tr Jupiter will then be in her 1st house which will boost her image.

Her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen, 10 Dec 1989 1.05am St Germain en Laye, Fr, is also into the family business, hoping for a win this weekend. She’s got Mercury Uranus Neptune Saturn in Capricorn in the 4th opposition a 10th house Jupiter – so highly strung, quite chaotic, emotionally changeable. Though ultimately in life will gain a reputation in her own community. She has a fearsomely angry and bitter Pluto Mars conjunction in Scorpio with Pluto opposition an 8th house Taurus Moon. A loose cannon in some ways and may end up falling out with her aunt.