Astrology of Today’s News

The first eclipse of the year is a Total Lunar Eclipse on 14 March at 23 degrees Virgo/Pisces with the Sun conjunct Saturn and Neptune which suggests a fair amount of anxiety and illusory thinking from Saturn Neptune. With a harder-edged, explosive, perhaps military, Sun Saturn trine Mars sextile Uranus.

  On the astrocartography, the generally unfavourable Pluto MC line runs through Ukraine and all points south which does not look hopeful.

The Partial Solar Eclipse of 29 March at 8 degrees Aries, also has the potentially high-risk Saturn trine Mars sextile Uranus. It is in a  9 New North Saros series which according to Bernadette Brady is physically expressive, so accidents, great effort or even violent events may accompany it.  It can be positive in terms of constructive physical activity as long as a watchful eye is kept on safety.

It was around previously in this Saros Series in 2007, 1989, 1971, 1953, 1935, 1917

  Ukraine has Chiron on the Midheaven which might suggest difficulties deciding on a path ahead; and the New Moon MC runs through Poland. Brazil and Australia look less than thrilled.

  The Total Lunar Eclipse of 7 September at 15 degrees Pisces/Virgo is the first eclipse to bear the signature of the new era with Pluto in Aquarius trine Uranus in Gemini sextile Neptune in Aries and Saturn in final degree Pisces. There may be a more upbeat mood with the Full Moon trine/sextile Jupiter and Jupiter in an enthusiastic square to Mars.

  Though the Saros series of 9 New South is associated with worries about loved ones, health and paperwork. Bernadette Brady remarks: “Any news will have a sense of destiny or fatedness about it.”  It was around previously in this series in 2007, 1989, 1971, 1953, 1935, 1917.

 On the astrocartography the Pluto MC is through Moscow and the Middle East which may not augur well for those regions; with a more comforting Jupiter IC through Ukraine.

It will be visible from parts of Europe, North America, Greenland, and Russia with the greatest eclipse depth over Greenland and far-eastern Canada.

 The Partial Solar Eclipse of 21 September 2025 at 29 degrees Virgo is in a downbeat opposition to Saturn and Neptune, though Saturn is trine Jupiter which in turn is square Mars in final degree Libra which may take the edge of the Saturnine gloom. Plus the Pluto trine Uranus sextile Neptune (Saturn) of the new era is in place. 

The Pluto MC line is through Norway and central Europe.

  It will be visible from parts of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

  The EU chart with its Ascendant at 29 degrees Virgo will be affected by the September Solar Eclipse especially – and also by tr Neptune Saturn moving across its Ascendant as they head for Aries in the EU 1^st house cutting down high hopes and bringing confusion about identity.  

ADD ON: Starbucks is cutting back on its corporate staff and some items on the menu to counter falling sales in the US. With a 9 degree Aries Sun opposition Uranus; and Pluto at 28 degrees Virgo, it is catching almost all of this year’s eclipses, forcing it into changes.

 Th other eclipse sensitive chart is the relationship chart between Emmanuel Macron and Trump which has a composite Sun at 26 degrees Pisces and Venus at 8 Libra – which is equally being tested to the limits throughout this year.   [The mutual dislike in this instance is every bit as strong as between Zelensky and Trump with a similar composite Saturn Mars square Neptune – suspicion and hostility.]

ADD ON 2: Another eclipse-jangled chart is the original Act setting up Washington, DC, 16 July 1790,  which has a Cancer Sun square Neptune; and more significantly for 2025 a yod of the Sun sextile Mars at 27 Virgo inconjunct Pluto. So the Virgo/Pisces eclipses all year will rattle up the combative Mars. Plus there is a frustrating, trapped, infuriated Solar Arc Mars square the Washington yod focal point Pluto as well. A tricky year.

A splintered result in the Germany elections will almost certainly see Friederich Merz replace Scholz as much-of-the-same head of a coalition government. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, egged on by senior figures in the Trump administration, notched up the strongest election result for any party of the radical right since the Second World War, with a projected 20 per cent of the vote. Its support comes from eastern Germany and across the younger, poorer half of the electorate.

The new Chancellor will face formidable problems with no economic growth for the past five years and parts of the manufacturing base in freefall; public unrest over immigration and domestic security after terror attacks and indiscriminate stabbings by foreigners; and the USA, the cornerstone of German security for the past 70 years, withdrawing support.

 The Germany 1 January 1871 12 am chart is showing a cataclysmic two years ahead with tr Neptune Saturn in Aries opposing the Mars and square Saturn, picking up from April this year – and a swampy road ahead till the end of the decade as tr Neptune moves (across midpoints) to finally square the Germany Capricorn Sun. There could/should be a positive turning point by 2030 with a Solar Arc Sun conjunct Jupiter; tr Uranus moving out of the financial/economic 8^th and tr Pluto moving into the 5^th to restore Germany’s self-esteem. But it will go down before it goes up – with an increasingly fractured relationship with the EU (see below) through the next few years.

 What is interesting is that the East Germany split, 7 October 1949 and Germany Reunited 3 October 1990 charts both have tr Pluto in hard aspect to the Germany 1871 Pluto and tr Uranus conjunct the chart axis – tr Uranus moving to conjunct the Midheaven in 1949 and conjunct the IC in 1980. Tr Uranus will return to Cancer by 2034 at the same time as tr Pluto in Aquarius will be square the Germany 8^th house Pluto. So it will be another history-changing moment for the country.

Previous post February 13.

Germany is heading to the polls on 23 February to vote in a snap general election, after the government collapsed in November. The centre-right CDU/CSU alliance is in the lead with about 30%, while the anti-immigration, Eurosceptic, far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has risen to more than 20%, making it the second strongest party.

 The country is seeing a radicalisation on the left and right in line with elsewhere. There are concerns about a lack of investment in the country’s ailing transport, energy, housing, education and health infrastructure which run headlong into Germany’s reticence about taking on more public borrowing. Cheap gas from Russia has dried up and German industry has suffered, with a third consecutive year of recession looming.

 The likely winner Friedrich Merz is not inspiring enthusiasm any more than the outgoing Scholz did.

  Whoever wins, the country is moving into troubled times. The Germany 1 January 1871 chart has Mars at zero degrees Libra square Saturn at 1 degrees Capricorn which will be badly undermined by tr Neptune Saturn in Aries from April onwards into 2026 in hard aspect to both, resulting in a sense of panicky failure and great uncertainty.  

 Germany’s relationship with the EU was always in for a rocky ride from this month onwards, worsening through 2026/27 and continuing through till  late decade with tr Pluto opposition the composite Uranus, then square the Mars and finally square the Moon; followed by tr Saturn and Neptune eroding the tightly controlled composite Sun opposition Pluto.

 Relations with France will be rocky through this year, sagging in 2026 and in a significant upheaval by 2028. USA diplomatic ties are also on a slide for several years. And with Russia there will be aggravation in 2026/27 – and perhaps worse through the final years of the decade.

  The Bundesbank, central bank chart, 26 July 1957, flags up confusion and indecision now, with an extended phase of disappointment, losses and turmoil through 2026 to 2028.

Friederich Merz, 11 November 1955, no birth time,  is a determined and battened-down Sun Saturn in Scorpio square a confident Jupiter Pluto in Leo. His life is changing radically this year with tr Pluto opposition his Uranus and lucky with tr Uranus square his Pluto Jupiter conjunction from June onwards – but if he does get elected his 2026/27 look fairly calamitous with tr Pluto square his Sun/Mars and his Mars/Saturn midpoints.

ADD ON:  Alice Weidel, 6 February 1979 Gutersloh, Germany, co-chairman of the right wing AFD, [born a few days before UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves] is a determined Sun, Mercury, Mars in Aquarius sextile Neptune trine Pluto and square Uranus. She has an upbeat, confident tr Pluto opposition her Jupiter till early March and on and off till late 2025. And gets a lucky break this April but thereafter runs into considerable setbacks in May 2025 and later in the year. With her successful influences running out in 2026/27.

Tino Chrupalla, the other co-chairman, 14 April 1975, also has smatterings of good luck bringing success though the election result won’t please him.  But he will gear up and push ahead confidently despite hitches and glitches for the next two years.

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Osgood Perkins is a child and adult actor turned horror movie director which could be a run-of-the-mill Hollywood tale. Except his father was Anthony Perkins and his mother was killed in one of the 9/11 plane crashes.

 What struck me as astro-intriguing is his connection, albeit unwanted, to key historical events which resonated with the spirit of the times. His father starred in one of the most iconic movies of the past fifty years – Psycho – was gay and died of AIDs having fathered two children with Berry Berenson, a photographer, sister of actress/model Marisa Berenson. His mother died as her plane was crashed into the North Tower on 9/11.

  Osgood, 2 February 1974, no birth time New York, is an upbeat Sun and Jupiter in Aquarius in a go-ahead square to Mars in Taurus; with his Sun in an ambitious trine to Pluto and sextile Neptune. But most significantly he has a talented Air Grand Trine  of Uranus trine Saturn trine Mercury Jupiter, formed into a kite by Saturn opposition his North Node. Putting his North Node, indicator of the spirit of the age, as the central and driving point of his chart.

 When his father died in 1992, he was on a Nodal Return. And at 9/11 the transiting Saturn (opposition tr Pluto) was exactly conjunct his Solar Arc Mars. The transiting Moon was conjunct his South Node and Saturn exactly.

He made his directorial debut with the horror film The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015) and has since became known for directing horror films such as I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016), Gretel & Hansel (2020), Longlegs (2024), and The Monkey (2025).

Snippets from the Trump bin.

Kash Patel, former lawyer and federal prosecutor, now Director of the FBI, is heading into car-crash territory more obviously than most of the controversial Trump nominees. He is the  promoter of multiple conspiracy theories about the “deep state”, false claims about 2020 election fraud, COVID-19 vaccines, false claims that the FBI instigated the January 6 United States Capitol attack and the QAnon conspiracy theory.

  Born 25 February 1980 New York, no birth time, he has a Pisces Sun opposition a ‘might makes right’ Jupiter Mars conjunction in Virgo. His Saturn in Virgo opposition Mercury is in a can-be-neurotic-and-paranoid square to Neptune.

  His Solar Arc Sun opposition SA Mars is heading to sit on top of his Pluto by 2026 if not before which will be a grind-to-a-halt phase over several months – frustrated, trapped, scary. Because his Jupiter is tied into the equation he may go a step too far which rebounds. Even before then he is in real trouble at the moment, worsening in May/June from various midpoints, repeating September and January 2026.

 The FBI 22 March 1935 chart is not responding well to his leadership with his Pluto conjunct the FBI Mars for a hostile interface; and his gung ho, bellicose Mars Jupiter opposition the FBI’s Saturn.

 Robert Kennedy Jnr in Health is hitting setbacks soon; panicking from May onwards, stumbling through confusion this year and much worse in 2026 when tr Neptune Saturn oppose his Mars/Pluto midpoint.

Petee Hegseth causing waves in Defence, another Saturn square Neptune, is spreading chaos and confusion through this year, panicking as tr Neptune moves into Aries in April and opposes his Mars/Pluto midpoint for a run of calamities thereafter, worsening in 2026.

  Susie Wiles, chief of staff, is facing a loss-making, downhill slide in 2026.

JD Vance will be panicking and not winning from May onwards as tr Neptune moves ahead in Aries and that runs into a worse 2026 with tr Saturn joining in. He’ll be rattled badly come June this year and also from August onwards. He will have the odd upbeat influence but mainly the other variety.

 Musk’s problems start with Uranus moving into Gemini come this July escalating in 2026.

  Being president is never an easy run for the main occupant or for underlings. But there do seem to be hints of the wilder Trumpian vision running into real trouble ahead.

On other present Republican associated charts.

CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference), 25 January 1974, at which Trump has been grandstanding this weekend talking about himself for 75 minutes,  has Venus Sun in Aquarius which is ramped up this year with tr Pluto conjunct the Venus though with some setbacks along the way as well. 2027 is its nadir when the Solar Arc Mars square the Pluto.

 The USA Tea Party, 16 December 2007, will have its confidence and optimism brought down to reality through this year in April May and beyond; and is in trouble in 2026/27.  The Heritage Foundation (Project 25) will be hitting meltdown in 2026/27. As will Kevin Roberts the CEO.

 There seems to be a pattern overall that Neptune Saturn moving into Aries and Uranus into Gemini will not bring the expected breakthrough into the promised land that has been punted by the pro-Trumpers.

Suleiman the Magnificent who expanded the Ottoman Empire to become the pre-eminent influence in central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in the 16^th Century, ruled during Pluto in Capricorn and in Aquarius and finally giving way to old age midway through Pluto in Pisces. His early rule was dominated by military land grabs, was gory and flamboyant but he mellowed during his middle reign to become Suleiman The Lawgiver.

 A new Book In The Golden Throne by Christopher de Bellaigue vividly evokes his reign.

 Born 6 November 1494 he was a Sun Scorpio with Pluto in Scorpio square Uranus in Aquarius and Neptune in early Capricorn.  By the time he acceded the throne Pluto was three years into Capricorn with Neptune about to leave Aquarius.  He exited when Pluto in mid Pisces was square Uranus opposition Neptune.

 During the next Pluto in Capricorn/Aquarius Catherine the Great of Russia came to the throne. She usurped her husband in a coup and during her long reign, Russia experienced a renaissance of culture and sciences, which led to the founding of many new cities, universities, and theatres, along with large-scale immigration from the rest of Europe and the recognition of Russia as one of the great powers of Europe.

 Born  2 May 1729 2.30am she was a Sun Mars in Taurus sextile Saturn in Pisces inconjunct Pluto, with Pluto in a pushily confident square to Jupiter and trine Neptune.

 She was crowned when Pluto was at zero degrees Capricorn and died when Pluto was in final degree Aquarius.

  Roll back a few Pluto in Capricorn and Aquarius, and it gets to Charlemagne, who united most of Western and Central Europe. His reign was marked by political and social changes that had lasting influence on Europe throughout the Middle Ages.

 He acceded when Pluto was in Sagittarius in 768 and reigned through Pluto in Capricorn and Aquarius, dying when Pluto was in the final degrees of Aquarius.

  This is only of passing interest since these were different days – but the Pluto in Capricorn and Aquarius eras did seem to have an outsize influence on the culture of the times especially in Europe.  

Uranus, trailblazer and light-bearer for a darkened world, a progressive agent for change. OR a defiant and lawless disruptor so intent on upending the status quo that anarchy and chaos result since the Uranus energy is not well designed to lay the foundations for the new era. Good at wrecking what has outlived its usefulness, not so great at rebuilding.  

 Puzzling over the phenomenon of Trump, it strikes me we have been so invested in seeing him as The Capitalist Clown that his Uranus conjunct North Node and his Sun in his 10^th has been overlooked.   

   All chart signs, houses and aspects have a spectrum of meaning from negative to positive and none stand alone from the rest of the chart.  But it is illuminating to consider others who have Uranus in their 10^th house of career.

 On the political side there are startling examples from revolutionary socialist Karl Marx to Mao Tse Tung, China’s revolutionary leader who wreaked destruction on the old culture, Italian fascist Benito Mussolini, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro and Palestinian Yasser Arafat.

   On the US side the less than salubrious examples of J. Edgar Hoover and Joseph McCarthy pop up – neither were enlightened but both were intent on doing damage.

 Criminals also feature amongst the less desirable Uranus in the 10^th examples – Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Carlos the Jackal as well as Martin Bormann and Heinrich Himmler. Lawless and defiant.

 There are obviously reams of other positive examples of Uranus in the 10^th from creative types, original thinkers, explorers to inventors and those who influenced society for the better.

 But when Uranus gets stuck in its law-unto-itself mode and hell-bent-on-destroying-the-old without thought for tomorrow it ends up in disorder and confusion. The new becomes a chaotic vacuum which is worse than the old for all its flaws.

  What strikes me about Trump is that his targets for change are understood by a good many people which is why he gets support. 1. Government waste (in which the US is not alone. Over the past five years, one UK government department mistakenly paid more than £500m in state pensions and credits to people who had died – never mind all the other egregious examples of UK state failures in recent times.) 2. Europe not pulling their weight on the defence front. 3. Gaza and Ukraine both seemingly unending conflicts (and both costing the US money). 4. Undue emphasis on ‘woke’ topics which do not align with ordinary people’s lives.

  And OK his remedies are worse than the disease and his motives are suspect – imperial and money-grubbing which is why his poll ratings of approval are not great. But he has homed in on situations which were crying out for an almighty wake-up call.

  Change or transformation is never a simple linear process. The old has to be destroyed which only comes through turmoil as old stabilities and securities are upended and it feels like a step backwards (and is). What is crucial in the process is allowing Saturn to take over to provide a new structure. Too much Saturnine energy before the change leads to stagnation but not enough after the initial destruction means the new era will not be built on solid foundations.

  I am not a great believer in assuming everything happens for a reason but seeing Trump as an agent, albeit clumsy and self-seeking, for changes that needed to be dragged into centre foreground may put him into a broader context. His Uranus is after all conjunct both his North Node and his Sun tying him firmly into the zeitgeist (spirit of the age).  He stands on the threshold of a new era and while he may not provide healthy answers for what lies ahead, he may be cutting a few ties with the past that needed to go or at least forced a radical rethink.

 Mind you that may be overly cheerful since I cannot think of anything positive that McCarthy did or Edgar Hoover or the criminal bunch. 

 Musk is also Uranian with a Sun square Uranus – inventive, an innovator and a saboteur.

Thoughts to ponder.

Pope Francis, 89 this year, in hospital with pneumonia in both lungs may well be facing tough decisions about whether to resign like his predecessor Pope Benedict.

 He was elected on 13 March 2013 at 7.06 pm in Rome, with a Pisces Sun which is about to catch the transiting Saturn conjunction towards the end of this March. There is also a socially influential Jupiterian yod inconjunct Saturn sextile Pluto which is about to catch the tr Saturn square the focal point Solar Arc Jupiter also this March. So a downbeat time.

  His birth chart of 17 December 1936 9pm Buenos Aires, Argentina, is also under Saturnine stars with tr Saturn square his focal point Sagittarius North Node and Sun late March and in April this year.  Plus he has his Solar Arc Midheaven conjunct his Pluto at the moment which is blocked in terms of progress.

  The Vatican, 7 June 1929 11am Rome, is uncertain at the moment with tr Neptune square the Vatican Saturn and tr Saturn square the Vatican Mercury. The first half of June this year will be a time of upheaval, perhaps some relief but also high anxiety with tr Uranus conjunct the Jupiter Midheaven and square Neptune. Which could coincide with a scandal or two emerging given Jupiter Neptune’s inclinations.

Juno is considered one of the four major asteroids and named after the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods. In addition to commitment, fairness, love and relationships and wealth her meaning also encompasses betrayal through infidelity. She is deemed a protector of women, especially during childbirth. She is often fused with the Greek goddess Hera, although Hera was more actively jealous and vengeful. Juno was loyal and stayed in an unfaithful marriage to Jupiter – making the most of her connections.

   A new book on JUNO, More Than Meets the Eye by Lianne McCafferty breaks new ground by covering Juno in depth with mythological background and multiple chart examples both personal and mundane as well as in synastry.

  As an ingenue to the world of asteroids I am still struggling to grasp the impact of Juno in signs and houses. So this is open forum for other more informed comments.

 Juno was discovered 1 September 1804 10.12 pm Lilienthal, Germany at 2 degrees Aries in a Cardinal Grand Cross involving Chiron, Saturn and Mars – all of which will be impacted by the transiting Neptune Saturn conjunction in Aries over the next three years and by tr Uranus square the Pluto opposition Sun in 2028 – so arguably our understanding of its meaning may undergo adjustments before the end of the decade.

  Madame Pompadour is highlighted in Lianne McCafferty’s book, the influential mistress of King Louis XV and patroness of the arts.  Born 29 December 1721 10.15 am Paris, she has Juno in Pisces in her 1^st house conjunct Chiron and Ceres.

 On a quick flip through the astro-archives – Imelda Marcos, Jackie Kennedy, Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York), Zsa Zsa Gabor all have Juno either in their 1^st or conjunct their Ascendant – so a high profile marriage plus making the most of your connections seems to work. 

 But Rosa Parks, civil right activist and Betty Freidan, feminist civil rights activist also have Juno  in their 1^st, and close to the Ascendant. Which may point to Juno’s insistence on fairness.

 Prince William also has Juno in his 1^st.  

 Donald Trump has his Juno conjunct Chiron conjunct his 2^nd house Jupiter – for a wealth connection.  Several charts I looked at had Juno conjunct Chiron which appears to indicate a deep emotional need for healing and growth within partnerships and committed relationships. In Trump’s case definitely – responsibility where money commitments are concerned needs worked at.

The EU has moved into paralysis zone with the not-unexpected Trump withdrawal from Ukraine support. The Solar Arc Pluto has now moved onto the exact degree in opposition to the EU 8^th house Moon and square Uranus and will stay in effect throughout 2025. Blocked, stuck, in turmoil as it faces the cost of filling the gap left by USA finances and weaponry.

 Tr Uranus square the 12^th house EU Pluto from mid 2026 onwards into 2027 at the same time as a devastating financial meltdown from tr Pluto square the 2^nd house Neptune in 2026/27 suggest that dither and indecision amidst great confusion are more likely than incisive decisions and action in the time ahead.

  Both Ukraine charts – 24 August 1991 2.31pm Kiev and 22 January 1918 9.54pm Khrakov, are facing an uphill struggle ahead. The 1918 chart has tr Pluto conjunct its Aquarius Sun this year and moving on to oppose the Neptune Saturn from 2026 onwards. Plus their Cardinal T square of Pluto opposition Mercury square Mars is feeling the brunt of the tr Saturn Neptune hard aspects from mid 2025 on for several years, suggesting disappointment and losses.

 The Ukraine 1991 chart is depressed and discouraged this year with tr Pluto conjunct the Saturn; jangled with tr Uranus square the Sun from mid 2025 into 2026; and mired in confusion in 2026 with Solar Arc Neptune square Pluto.

 President Zelenzky, 25 January 1978 2pm Krivoj Rog, has an exact Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his Pluto now and through 2025 which suggests an insurmountable obstacle. Plus an undermining tr Neptune Saturn in late Pisces squaring his Jupiter denting his hopes; and tr Pluto continuing the long haul round his Mars in Leo opposition Sun Venus in Aquarius which has been putting him under immense pressure for the past two years and won’t give up until late 2027. Plus a jolting tr Uranus square his Saturn on and off till April 2026.

 His Term chart 20 May 2019 10 am which started in a late Taurus Sun, Mercury, Algol will catch the unsettling destabilizing tr Uranus conjunction to those planets through this year as well from May onwards into 2026.

  Of the other former Soviet satellite countries the start dates and times are not always certain. To a degree all look unsettled in the immediate few years especially Estonia and Bulgaria, Poland. But that could be for many different reasons.

 The two Russia charts – 8 November 1917 2.12am Leningrad and 8 December 1991 7.45pm Moscow – both point to 2027 as a devastating time of confusion, indecision and meltdown. So I doubt it will be strutting around in domineering mood.