Astrology of Today’s News

Whither the EU in 2024? – if only they knew. With the chief economic-driver Germany faltering and the other lead country France floundering, there is a sense of disarray and lack of resolution about how to tackle the economic slowdown.

  Neptune abounds in various charts – square the EU Midheaven at 29 Gemini, opposition the France Virgo Sun, denting Ursula von der Leyen the commission president’s hopes. Her start chart and that of Germany’s Olaf Scholz were both Sun square Neptune administrations which is never a hopeful sign for constructive progress. Emmanuel Macron’s 2^nd term likewise started on a Mars Neptune conjunction. Sea fogs, swamps and illusory, unrealistic hopes all round.  

  The EU chart, 31 December 1957, in addition to a confused and dithery tr Neptune square the late Gemini Midheaven, has a car-crash SA Midheaven square its Mars which is being dragged down by tr Saturn through into February 2025; with massive pressure for change being exerted by the Solar Arc Pluto conjunct the North Node in Scorpio at the moment. Scorpio Nodes are famously reluctant to allow changes to take place since they involve letting go, burning old bridges and adopting a radically new outlook in future. Which would not be an easy task for as unwieldy a body as the EU.

 The ECB (central bank), 1 January 1999, has a confused/devastating tr Pluto conjunct the Neptune picking up in February 2024 and running on and off till late 2025. Plus a jolting, high-tension Solar Arc Saturn and tr Uranus square the North/South Node axis in coming months, which is a particularly sensitive point, having flagged up at the 2008 collapse.

  Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, has a calamitous road ahead with disruptions, upheavals and major setbacks through the next this year and next.

  The Germany 1 January 1871 chart is logjammed with tr Pluto in a frustrating, trapped trine to the Mars continuing through this year from last. With a can-be-devastating SA Pluto opposition the 7^th house Neptune almost exact now and in coming months, hinting at relationship problems. And there is an uncertain, panicky tr Neptune Saturn in Aries opposition the Germany Mars and square Saturn in 2025 and 2026. Nothing that will sort quickly.

 Berlin is grappling with a budget crisis after the top court ruled that the government broke the law by using Covid cash to fund net zero spending. House prices have suffered double-digit declines. Problems have been compounded by a slow transition away from cheap Russian gas, which analysts believe will continue to hold back Germany’s recovery next year. Manufacturing is weak, with lower Chinese demand.

France, 21 September 1792 3.30pm has a discouraging tr Pluto square Saturn continuing on from last year until December 2024. Tr Neptune opposes the France Sun from May 2024 on and off till January 2026 which will be disappointing and confused. With employment and other losses from tr Pluto conjunct the Jupiter/Saturn midpoint in 2024/25.

But much more crucial and to be watched for – the France revolutionary T square of Uranus opposition Pluto in Aquarius square Mars (MC) in Scorpio is being severely jolted/activated. not only by tr Uranus in Taurus rattling up all three ends of the T square from April 2024 through till April 2025. But also by the Solar Arc Sun square the France Uranus and Pluto, exact late 2024 into early 2025. All of that will be massively unsettling, disruptive and could be violent.

 Emmanuel Macron is struggling badly with thoughts that he may bale or be ousted in a confidence vote before the end of his term in 2027 with unfixable immigration problems and hostility to any suggestion of public sector cutbacks. All of which might let in Marine Le Pen who looks to be on a successful roll from 2026.

  The intriguing astrological question for the time ahead is Germany’s relationship with the EU which is fraying at the edges through this coming year and moving into a complete volte face in 2025/6/7 with tr Pluto opposition the composite Uranus square Mars and conjunct the Moon. It would be difficult to see Germany exiting but there will be an almighty battle to change the rules and come to a different understanding within the EU framework.  France looks at odds with Germany for the next two or three years; and keen to upend certain strictures this year – but nothing like as fraught as the Germany/EU bond. Interesting times.

China’s power-house economy is creaking with a mounting debt crisis hitting the property sector and local governments; and export earnings post-pandemic showing disappointing returns. There are doubts about whether the old playbook of credit-financed investment and monetary stimulus will be wise because of the weakness of the renminbi.

  The 1 January 1912 China country chart has been undergoing a sizeable upheaval since 2022 with tr Pluto conjunct the Uranus which has just completed its two year run though the after effects will run on. 2024 will see tr Uranus conjunct the Moon and Mars and oppose the financial Venus from April throughout the rest of the year which will bring sudden jolts and shocks, hasty reactions and some alarm – these run on into April 2025.  Tr Neptune is also square the Mercury opposition Pluto which will bring a degree of panic and confusion covered over by lies and deception.

 The Bank of China has been downgraded as the central party has taken over more of the money decisions but its chart is still flagging high-anxiety from May 2024, worsening as tr Neptune Saturn in Aries in 2025 squares the normally ebullient Mars Jupiter – and SA Neptune adds a larger dollop of woe in 2026/27. So it is showing no signs of a quick recovery.

 Xi Jinping’s 3^rd term chart from 23 October 2022 is under heavy pressure to change with tr Pluto square the Sun through 2024 with high levels of panic about failures at the moment into mid February 2024. Possibly more relevant is his presidential start chart of 15 November 2012 which sees a jolting tr Uranus opposing the Scorpio Sun in the second half of May 2024 followed by tr Uranus opposition the North Node at 26 Scorpio in that troubled July 2024 Mars Uranus Algol patch.  Plus it has the panicky-failure tr Neptune square the Mars in April 2024, September to mid October 2024 and February 2025. Plus another Neptunian balloon-bursting, enthusiasm-denting Solar Arc by 2026.

 His personal chart is also flagging up 2026 as a disaster year with his SA Saturn Neptune opposition his Mars.

On international relationships:-

With USA a foot-dragging, edgy year ahead.

With Russia – confusion and disappointment extending into 2025/6.

India – a relationship under pressure, with uncertainty with hints of relief by July 2024 though more angst through 2025.

Saudi – high hopes may disappear into the sand by 2025.

EU – fractious in the extreme in 2025 and heavy challenges through 2024.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a Munchausen-by-proxy victim, who was jailed for her complicity in killing her abusive mother Dee Dee, has been released after serving eight years in prison. She spent her childhood with her head shaved, pumped full of drugs, posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid suffering from leukaemia and muscular dystrophy. She was fed medications that caused her to lose her teeth and was forced to undergo unnecessary surgeries on her eyes and salivary glands while cashing in with charity handouts and perks including a free trip to Disney World. When doctors raised red flags, Dee Dee relocated to Missouri where she got a home built for free, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity and told everyone that Gypsy’s medical notes were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

 Eventually in an effort to escape 24 year old Gypsy persuaded her autistic boyfriend to kill her mother. Gypsy was born 27 July 1991 11.12 am Raceland, Louisiana and has a Leo Sun conjunct Chiron opposition Saturn in Aquarius. Her 5^th house Aquarius Moon opposes Jupiter squaring onto a 2^nd house Pluto. A disruptive-homelife Uranus Neptune in her 4^th is trine Venus Mars in Virgo in her 12^th.

  I must confess I was expecting a starker chart than this.  The Moon Jupiter Pluto certainly suggests a controlling/possessive, drama queen mother. And her childhood home looks chaotic and off-the-wall with Uranus Neptune in the 4^th; and a 12^th house Venus Mars suggests an affection-deficiency as well as buried anger. Chiron close to the Sun would bring loneliness and low-self-esteem, exacerbated by the Saturn opposition.  So there are hints of her bizarre and damaging childhood but not a strong indication of what was effectively torture.

  Dee Dee Blanchard, 3 May 1967 no birth time, was a Sun Taurus trine Uranus Pluto in Virgo with a Pisces Moon. Her Venus in Gemini was trine Mars square Uranus Pluto and inconjunct Neptune, so emotionally unsettled with contradictory and erratic reactions. Her Saturn in forced-to-be-self-reliant and hard edged Aries was unaspected, bar a wide opposition to Mars, hinting at a disordered life.

  Her Sun fell in Gypsy’s 8^th, her Saturn on Gypsy’s Descendant and her Pluto Uranus in Gypsy’s 12^th – a deep, entangled connection, with empathy lacking and psychologically damaging.  

  Their relationship chart had a composite Sun opposition a delusional Neptune square a competitive and publicity-seeking Mars. Confusion was writ large in their connection with an underlying fear that only one individual’s needs could be fulfilled. There may also have been a yod of Venus sextile Mars inconjunct Moon – which sounds likely – again pointing to emotional disorganisation.

  Gypsy Rose Blanchard has stepped out into a blizzard of publicity with promises of a reality show and a new husband whom she married when inside.  Fans can look forward to her TikTok page – with 400,000-plus followers – and her new eBook, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom.

  Not the best way to heal from her ordeal and it won’t be an easy road ahead with tr Pluto opposing her Chiron this year and then her conjunct her Saturn and opposition her Sun through till 2027.

India is forecast to become the world’s third $10 trillion economy in 2035 in a geopolitical shift from two superpowers – USA and China – to three. PM Narendra Modi up for election in April/May is expected to win because of his economic reforms but is criticised for his autocratic administration and attack on India’s secular values, discriminating against Muslims, cracking down on rivals and curtailing civil society including journalists.

  Infrastructure building has taken off during his premiership since 2014 a doubling of airports to 149; metro lines tripled; medical colleges doubled. Despite troubling allegations of assassinations of Sikh separatists abroad and buying discounted Russian oil, he is forging a strong relationship with Joe Biden as the US looks for alternative trading and diplomatic partners to China. And he appears to be willing and able to tap dance amongst world leaders, even those at odds with one another.  On Israel – he is a key partner with technology and has a shared right-wing nationalist world view with Netanyahu while supporting aid to Gaza and pushing for a two-state solution. He takes a harder stance against China, because of a long-running border dispute.

  The election will be in April/May when tr Uranus is square the India Leo Sun which might suggest a change and tr Uranus is also square his BJP’s party chart which could suggest an upheaval as well. But no one seriously thinks he can lose and Rahul Gandhi, the opposition Congress politician has tr Neptune square his Gemini Sun suggesting a disappointing result.

 The Reserve Bank of India, 1 April 1935, does have tr Pluto square its Uranus this year but that could be a turnaround for the good as well as the opposite and a lucky/relieved tr Uranus opposition Jupiter in late April/early May around election time. It does look less stressed than other key central bank charts.

  Where there will be a few financial setbacks will be by 2025 when tr Neptune and Saturn in Aries square the India country Mars, and even before then as both square the Uranus/Mars midpoint which could suggest that high financial hopes don’t materialise as quickly as mooted.

  But for all that with tr Jupiter moving across the India Ascendant from June 2024 for a year ahead there will be a resurgence of confidence and enthusiasm. And tr Uranus moving across the Ascendant in 2025 onwards suggests an India flexing its muscle to go its own way and not care about the consequences.

 Narendra Modi has no birth time and some questionmarks over the date but on 17 September 1950 he is a serious Sun, Saturn, Mercury in Virgo with a tough, ruthless Pluto square Mars in Scorpio which in turn squares Jupiter – which fits a pragmatic autocrat. Tr Uranus will oppose his Mars from June 2024 which could rattle his composure but since his Mars its tied into his Jupiter, it could also prompt him into taking opportunistic and adventurous risks. That runs on and off into 2025 when he will be the recipient of more good luck.

 His first prime ministerial stint started 26 May 2014 6.13pm with a high-octane Cardinal Grand Cross of Mars opposition Uranus square Pluto opposition Jupiter – forceful, explosive, an initiator and reformer and not backwards about putting his foot down. There is nothing much to suggest he’ll topple off his perch instantly. Though he will start running into headwinds come 2026 onwards as tr Saturn in Aries starts to hard aspect his initial premiership Grand Cross.

Photo of a grand temple of Lord Ram, worshipped by millions of Hindus, will open in January in northern India at a site believed to be his birthplace, fulfilling a promise from the ruling party in a location that was a flashpoint for Hindu-Muslim violence. The site was bitterly contested for decades with both Hindus and Muslims laying claim to it. A Hindu mob destroyed the mosque in 1992, triggering riots that killed about 2,000 people across India, most of them Muslims.

Building a Ram temple at the site has been a central, campaign theme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for more than three decades.

Two Titans of the EU have died. Jacques Delors,  who led the EU Commission from 1985 to 1995, promoted an unashamedly federalist, centralising agenda and presided over the Single European Act in 1987; and the Maastricht Treaty. From 1985 to 1995, he was the high priest of “ever closer union” – including the adoption of the single market and the creation of the euro. ‘The EU is so much his creation that one of Delors’s biographers called it “the house that Jacques built”.’

  Along the way he fought vigorously with Margaret Thatcher and his policies arguably did a great deal to bring about her downfall.  

  The other is Wolfgang Schauble, the German statesman, an indispensable assistant to Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel, who charted the German response to the collapse of eastern European communism in 1989, designed road maps for closer EU integration in the 1990s and crafted emergency measures to save Europe’s monetary union after 2010.

 Jacques Delors 20 July 1925 12.30pm Paris, France, had a Cancer New Moon in his career 10^th alongside a ‘leadership’ North Node in Leo and Mars also in Leo. Plus a visionary, idealistic Venus, Neptune, Mercury in Leo in his 11^th. His pushily-confident Jupiter opposition Pluto clashed badly with Maggie’s similarly forceful Jupiter opposition Pluto and it also squared her Sun Mars. Their relationship chart had a competitive composite Sun Mars conjunction, a oneupmanhship-struggling Jupiter opposition Pluto and an outspoken Mercury opposition Uranus.

 Delors’ leaving-a-legacy-for-history 17^th harmonic is exceptionally strong with a pulling-together-opposites Saturn opposition Uranus square a successful Sun Jupiter; as well as a do-or-die determined Mars opposition Pluto square Venus. His vision was railroaded through against bitter hostility.

  Wolfgang Schauble 18 September 1942 11.45 am Freiburg im Breisgau, was a softer temperament with an intuitive Sun Neptune conjunction in Virgo conjunct Mars in Libra; a good-for-PR Venus in his 10^th; and a financially astute and inventive Saturn in his 8^th conjunct Uranus.

  His 17^th harmonic was also strong, hooking him into the zeitgeist, the spirit of his time.

Careering towards a general election with no great enthusiasm for either of the top two choices, the UK is no less confused and uncertain than elsewhere.

  This will be due in part to the lacklustre, indecisive Solar Arc Sun square the UK Neptune exact now and fading over coming months. But change is coming for good or ill once Neptune’s sea-fog is blown away by tr Pluto trine the UK Uranus from late February 2024, repeating on and off till late 2025. That influence runs alongside tr Pluto opposing the UK 10^th house Jupiter which should bring a surge of confidence and enthusiasm with a renewed push for success.

  2024 is the year for a UK Nodal Return bringing a reevaluation of partnerships since the North Node falls in the 7^th house of close relationships.  It was crucially upended at Brexit so there may be a revisitation of an adjusted EU relationship post the split. It will never be reversed but there could be more cooperation. Though with the Progressed Moon going through the 12^th house till late 2025 it will continue to be a time of endings and introspection rather than a leap-ahead into a brave new future.

 Transiting and Solar Arc Uranus remain the key influences. Tr Uranus is square the UK 11^th house Saturn bringing shock changes to the UK legislature? Or a shift in forward hopes. It hits once May 12 to 28 in 2024 and again December 20 to March 16 2025.  Which may or may not be a hint about the House of Lords. But the really consequential aspect remains the SA Uranus conjunct the 8^th house Mars in Taurus which comes exact in late 2024/early 2025. Transiting Uranus is still moving through the UK’s 8th house of deeper transformations, joint finances and sexuality (2020 to 2027) which was always going to be roller coaster on the international and business finance front.

  When tr Uranus crossed the Mars in 2021/22 it was the anniversary of the previous Uranus in Taurus in 1938 as WW11 approached and before that 1853 when the UK along with France declared war on Russia over the Crimea. In 1853 as well there was a cholera outbreak in London which killed 10,000.

  The UK deeply buried 8^th house Mars tends to stir up a volcanic eruption of accidents or anger when it is triggered. When tr Pluto in Scorpio opposed the UK Mars in 1987/88 – there was a relentless stream of disasters – Hungerford mass shooting, Zebrugge Ferry sinking, IRA bombs various, Kings Cross fire, Piper Alpha rig explosion, Lockerbie plane crash, Prince Charles equerry killed in skiing accident, Clapham Rail crash.  Maggie Thatcher was elected for the 3^rd time and the Channel Tunnel was started – no noticeable economic fall out. Admittedly Pluto will have brought a more destructive effect to bear on the Mars than Solar Arc Uranus will – but there is still likely to be a key event or events of a highly unsettling nature.

  The Bank of England chart, 27 July 1694 JC, like elsewhere globally is logjammed through 2024 with tr Pluto trine the Mars; and extremely anxious and uncertain from April 2024 into 2025 with tr Neptune square the Saturn. That undermining Neptune transit along with tr Saturn continues on to square the BoE Venus for a downbeat 2025. But a recovery looks likely with a confidence surge and a mighty push forward in 2026 and onwards from tr Pluto square the Jupiter/Pluto midpoint and then the Jupiter in following years. Which timeline coincides with tr Uranus exiting the UK’s 8th house of joint finances so financial stability if not an outright improvement may return.

  PM Rishi Sunak, 12 May 1980, will be rattled by tr Uranus conjunct his Taurus Sun mid March to early April and then opposition his Uranus in May 2024. That is when the Conservative Party chart, 9 May 1912, is also in a disruptive phase with tr Uranus and SA Uranus both conjunct the Sun/Saturn midpoint. Which may or may not be a spring election. But the Tory Party chart will continue to be undermined by tr Neptune square the Pluto through 2024 and SA Uranus conjunct the Saturn in 2025/6 – a longish phase of instability and major pressures for change. The April Solar Eclipse is also exactly opposition Rishi Sunak’s Pluto in Libra, bringing heightened tension.  And now that I look the Tory Party is also on a Nodal Return – much rethinking of direction and objectives.

 The UK are not that enamoured of Rishi Sunak, though oddly they may prefer him to Keir Starmer. Which does not mean Starmer could not get elected this year and rapidly become seriously disliked since his relationship chart with the UK has a strongly hostile Mars Pluto aspect as did Tony Blair. But Starmer is certainly going nowhere good – even in the short term with a disappointed Progressed Mars square his Neptune over coming months; and two cataclysmic Solar Arcs by 2025/26 – SA Mars conjunct his Sun, Pluto and SA Sun Pluto conjunct his Neptune. He is by no means a slamdunk even for a an early 2024 election though he does have one faintly upbeat popularity surge from now till mid March 2024.

  His leadership chart, 4 April 2020 10.45am is facing an aggravated uphill slog over the next three years with setbacks galore.

  I am not overly fond of political party charts but for what it is worth the LP 12 February 1906 chart will be rattled by the late March Lunar Eclipse opposing its Mars with an all-systems change tr Uranus square the Venus Sun in May 2025. But it is heading for a roadblock of considerable proportions by 2025 with the SA Sun Venus conjunct the Pluto. And 2027 to 2029 looks like a downhill slide.

 The LP 27 February 1900 chart is having a Saturnine year in 2024; some shocks in 2025 and setbacks in 2027.

 The Liberal Democrats, 3 March 1988, upbeat through 202/23 with tr Pluto square the Jupiter looks completely trapped now and on for a few months with nothing about undermining Neptune’s entry into Aries in 2025 which will suit it through till late decade.

Throw them all into the Thames and start again – I wish

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The Royal machine went seamlessly into action for the Christmas Day church service with the extended family out on parade, including grandchildren, mini-cousins, nephews and nieces. King Charles made his annual televised festive speech cheerleading for community volunteers and managed not to step into any political minefields. So far so normal.

  Jupiter will be transiting his 10^th house until July 2024 so his popularity will stay solid. Tr Pluto will continue to square his 10^th house Moon on and off throughout 2024 as his career/life’s direction changes under pressure though with a few family tensions at the same time. Late May to early September 2024 tr Neptune will square his 5^th house Jupiter and his Uranus which will dent a few hopes, some financial, but it could also involve children. What will be worth noting is his Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his Sun, exact in 11 months, which suggests a discouraging setback which again may be connected to the family as well as having wider implications.

  Queen Camilla is forging ahead confidently in 2024 despite feeling weighed down by duty and hitting a major muddle soon.

  Prince William is in full sail with tr Pluto square his Jupiter through 2024 and his Jupiter/Midheaven as well – he clearly intends to hit the ground running and make his mark as Prince of Wales.  He also has a Solar Arc Saturn wet-blanket in action like his father, though in his case it is opposition his 5^th house Venus in Taurus which is on the focal point of a yod – so it might suggest events which change the trajectory of his life or consolidate his sense of purpose. That is exact in six months. Where he will hit more difficulties will be when tr Neptune and Saturn in Aries make an undermining square to his Cancer Sun and then Moon from 2025 into 2026/7.

 His relationship with his notoriously thin-skinned father has not always been easy but seems more stable. Though there may be a few frosty moments over the next few months.

  One bone of contention may be Prince Andrew, whom William would be keen to see banished from the Royal scene as he quite rightly thinks his presence is damaging to the monarchy. William’s relationship with uncle Andrew will be aggravated through next month and under pressure throughout 2024.

  Charles clearly is more soft-hearted about his brother but that may not last through 2024 with a major disruption from May/June and much worse through 2025.

  Prince Andrew will continue to fly in the face of reality with an upbeat tr Pluto square his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint through 2024, but he’s also due for a major upheaval, perhaps involving a house move with tr Uranus opposition huis 4^th house Moon from mid June, which he will take badly as his SA Pluto is conjunct his 4^th house Neptune after mid 2024 as well which will feel devastating.

  Princess Anne and Andrew are also moving through turbulent times from mid 2026 onwards as their relationship is in turmoil with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Sun and square the composite Pluto.

Sarah, Duchess of York, despite being welcomed back into the family fold for the Christmas church parade will be hitting a turbulent patch with all the senior Royals from May 2024 onwards into 2025.

  Charles and Edward also mystifyingly look at odds now and for the next three years with their always-complicated relationship going through a muddled and irritable phase.

  Princess Anne never gives much away but is going through a tough patch with tr Uranus square her Sun (Pluto) in spring 2024; and her SA Pluto Sun is crossing her 1^st house Mars in Scorpio in a longish phase of several years covering the death of both her parents and on till 2026 – so she is grieving in her own way as well as coping with additional public duties supporting her brother.

  Meghan and Prince Harry have been covered ad nauseam in previous posts, see dates below.

 Briefly Harry has his SA Pluto conjunct his Uranus exact in seven months for a major change in his future plans; with tr Uranus conjunct his Moon in April 2024 for a possible house move. His SA Saturn will square his Sun early in 2025 which is downbeat. And tr Saturn is still trailing through his 2^nd house of finances and the lowest point of his chart so he is not out of the woods yet.

  His relationship with none of the senior royals looks to be mending anytime soon. Indeed with his father and Camilla it could worsen through 2024. With William, I’d give it another decade.

  Meghan ditto and her war-of-envy with the Princess of Wales could escalate through the middle of 2024 and beyond. Where Meghan comes a real cropper will be 2026/27 when transiting Neptune Saturn in Aries start to oppose her Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and her Progressed Mars is conjunct her Sun in 2027. If ever there was a salutary tale about hubris and its downfall in humiliation, this is it. They may pick up a few breadcrumbs of triumph but the rest will turn to dust, all the more painful because the damage has been self-inflicted.

Previous posts

For Meghan/Kate – 1 December 2023, 5 November 2023.  For Andrew/Sarah 22 November 2023, 2 March 2023.

Putin’s dream of restoring Russia’s Tsardom glory under  Catherine the Great is collapsing with the economy creaking following sanctions and the Ukraine invasion in stalemate. Mothers and wives of conscripts are demonstrating against the war, with outbursts of mutiny amongst soldiers themselves.

  [Catherine the Great, who during the previous Pluto in Capricorn in the late 18^th Century swallowed half of Poland, extended Russian power to the Black Sea through her wars against the Turks, and annexed the Crimea, allowing the Russian navy dominated the Near East. Her 34 year reign survived almost to the end of Pluto in Aquarius which is unlikely to be the case for Putin. She was a power-hungry Sun Mars in Taurus sextile Saturn inconjunct Pluto, with her Pluto square Jupiter and trine Neptune.]

  The Russia 8 November 1917 2.12 am chart has an unsettled, disruptive, rebellious tr Uranus square Uranus from mid this month to mid March 2024 – plus a couple of damaging, collision-type Solar Arcs of SA Sun opposition Mars and SA Saturn square Mars now and for a few months ahead.

  The 8 December 1991 7.45pm Russia chart has a similar damaging-setback SA Saturn square Mars in effect over coming months. With a tough/deprived slog from tr Pluto in hard aspect to Venus and Saturn over the next three years.

 The Bank of Russia chart, 13 July 1990, looks blighted as well with a frustrated/scary, blocked tr Pluto square the Mars throughout this year and then tr Pluto opposing the Mercury in 2025/26. Plus an imminent devastating SA Neptune square Pluto.

Putin’s 4^th Term chart, 7 May 2018 11.05 am Moscow, is looking increasingly unstable through 2024 with tr Pluto square the Uranus – and lucky as well, as is his undeserved wont. His initial Presidency chart, 31 December 1999 is undermined and sinking at the moment, as well as catching lucky breaks; with jolting shocks from mid year onwards.

  If his birth date of 7 October 1952 is accurate he has the same mix of positive and damaging influences ahead, so pluses and minuses. His relationship chart with Russia will be unrelentingly strained with increasing hostility from the masses through 2024.

  Relationship charts between Russia and Ukraine indicate the agony dragging on through 2024.  

  The USA now through the exact Pluto Return and pulling away from the fanatical Mercury opposition Pluto mood of the past four years will be coping with new astro-influences.

  One is a significant setback, accident, shock or upset courtesy of the Solar Arc Saturn conjunct the USA Mars, exact in six months, followed by SA Saturn in a high-uncertainty square to the US Neptune by late 2025 – this will be a two year phase of mishaps and anxiety. On the 11am start time I use, it is 9^th house so suggesting international complications. On the Sibly Sag rising chart, it is 7^th house pointing to issues with a close partner.

  The second is tr Uranus square the Aquarius Moon anywhere from May onwards depending on which USA chart is used which suggests an excitable and over-reactive public response to events.

 The third are the solar eclipses at 19 Aries and 10 Libra in April and October which are within orb of the USA Sun and Saturn. With Saturn there is always a price to pay which sometimes extends to being landed with responsibilities for the actions of others. A time to face up, get real and get rid of old baggage whether in outdated attitudes or policies.  Not usually a fun time.

Tr Uranus is also moving to trine the USA Pluto and sextile the Mercury so the rancorous debates of recent times won’t subside altogether but there will be a sense of overdue change in the air.

  The USA Federal Reserve chart 16 November 1914 9am Washington, is showing signs of confusion if not outright panic with tr Pluto continuing to oppose the Neptune from early 2023 till the end of 2024. With a downbeat tr Saturn square Mars, Venus in 2024; and tr Uranus in a disruptive opposition to the Scorpio Sun in May 2024, mid December to mid March 2025. By 2025 there will be a calamitous tr Neptune Saturn in Aries square the Fed Res Saturn Pluto running into 2026.

   Many other central bank charts are flagging significant problems so it may be the fragile world economy takes a hit from an unexpected flare up, such as the disruption to international freight caused by Houthi rebels attacking cargoes in the Red Sea recently. A global supply shock from whatever cause would have inflationary consequences.

  It will, of course, be an election saturated year in the USA to the point of screeching ennui – and existential anxiety as Democrats face the prospect of a Trump victory and Trump supporters get enraged by any hint that his numerous malfeasances might disqualify him. 

  The Supreme Court is likely to be dragged into the political fray over the Colorado disqualification of Trump for insurrection with calls for Clarence Thomas to recuse himself because of his wife’s January 6^th cheerleading. And another abortion ruling is due this year which could favour the Democrats since the reversal of Roe v Wade gained them votes.  

   What follows is as per usual hedged with innumerable provisos. Biden could blink and retire from the fray or keel over. Trump could be disqualified, keel over or not be nominated. The November 2024 election chart itself is fraught, aggravated and fearful with a close Mars opposition Pluto; a dynamic-change Pluto trine Uranus; a sensible Sun trine Saturn and a hope-for-the-best Jupiter square Neptune.  A pot pourri of influences that can be argued any which way.  The Inauguration in January 2025 has a controlled/controlling Sun Pluto conjunction opposition a 4^th house (mutinous electorate) Mars. Uranus in the 1^st also suggests a changed-brand administration, not always stable with Saturn square Jupiter.

  Joe Biden, sagging badly in the polls, despite an uptick in employment, is struggling to convince Americans hit by higher gas prices that his policies are working.  His Term chart, 20 January 2021 11.48am has a couple of discouraging Saturnine hits over the next six months and is under pressure from tr Pluto conjunct the Sun throughout 2024.

 His personal chart looks poleaxed over the early November election in 2024 with tr Pluto square his Sun/Neptune midpoint which is not a winning combination. But he will get his mojo back in the final ten days of November and looks exceptionally confident and upbeat from New Year till the end of January 2025 with tr Pluto opposition his Jupiter/Pluto midpoint.  Though January 2025 also sees tr Pluto trine his Neptune and square his Moon so he will still be over-wrought. But that triumphant Jupiter/Pluto midpoint of his will be activated from early 2024 and fish him out of a few tight corners.

  Trump, birth time being sound, has a lucky/successful tr Jupiter crossing his Midheaven from May 2024 till mid 2025. But that is a mild enough influence and nothing like the bountiful supply of Jupiter which won him 2016.  Over the Inauguration in 2025 (and Super-Tuesday 5 March 2024) he has the discouraging tr Pluto opposition his Saturn/Pluto midpoint; and a downbeat tr Saturn opposition his Mars/Neptune midpoint which does not look jubilant.

  He also from early 2025 has his Solar Arc Neptune conjunct his Moon, aiming to oppose his Sun in 2026 which will be lacklustre. Tr Uranus cross his Midheaven late May 2024 on and off to April 2025 hints at a change of career or life’s direction.

  What intrigues me is the Republican Convention of 15 July 2024 where the GOP nomination is bestowed. It kicks off on an exact Mars Uranus conjunction in Taurus which is exactly square Trump’s bombastic, showy Mars in Leo.  That Mars Uranus also collides with the composite Mars in Trump’s relationship chart with the GOP and the Supreme Court, so the temperature gauge will be flashing red hot. Tr Uranus square Mars can bring a sudden shock to the system, an event which challenges the individual’s self-esteem and often causes an extreme reaction with a retaliatory act of bravado to prop up morale.

  There are all manner of ways it could manifest – one being that international events derail the GOP Convention causing a rethink because of changed conditions on the ground. That July period flags up on Middle Eastern and other charts so there could be a knock on effect. Trump’s chart has the same discouraging tr Pluto opposition Saturn/Pluto midpoint over the GOP Convention as he has over Super-Tuesday and the Inauguration. He’ll be pushing boulders uphill all the way.

  The astrology is even more of a Rorschach puzzle than usual. I hesitate to say Trump won’t be installing himself back in the White House lest my bias colours the interpretation. But he’s not remotely on the roll he was in 2016.