Coping with overwhelming crisis in a time of chaotic uncertainty and constant diverse conflicts requires the ability to stand back from the melee. Either taking a historical perspective – ‘we have lived through worse before’ and ‘this too will pass because it always has done.’ Or going inwards – ‘if you can’t sort the world’s problems you can sort yourself.’
Attention is being drawn to the writings of Renaissance philosopher Michel de Montaigne, born as Pluto moved into Aquarius in 1533, a time when the Reformation upended Europe, Cortés conquered New Spain, civil war engulfed France and Suleiman the Magnificent brought Islam to the gates of Vienna.
“He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.”
His essays promoted the idea that man must discover his own nature in order to live with others in peace and dignity. His approach made him a favourite with Virginia Woolf, Friedrich Nietzsche, Gore Vidal and Lord Byron.
He was born 28 February 1533 JC 11.30 am Chateau de Montaigne, France, and had his Pisces Sun in his 10th house conjunct Neptune in late Pisces. His Pluto in Aquarius was in his 8th conjunct Mars and widely Venus, all square his Taurus Moon. Such a powerful 8th house tied into his Moon would not make him easy to live with but would bring him influence. His Mercury in Aquarius was in his communicative and optimistic 9th house sextile Jupiter; with his Jupiter in turn in a hopeful square to Neptune. He also had Saturn conjunct Uranus sitting on his Cancer Ascendant which at best made him an original thinker though it could give him a tendency to obstinacy.
QUOTES:
“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.”
“The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them… Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.”
“Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.”
“I know well what I am fleeing from but not what I am in search of.”
“He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.”
“Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.”
“There is no passion so contagious as that of fear.”
“Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.”
“I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly.”
“The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.”
“The truth of these days is not that which really is, but what every man persuades another man to believe.”
“Freedom of will is the ability to do gladly that which I must do.” Carl Jung’s paradoxical maxim can be seen as a motivational urge to make the best of a bad situation by wearing a happy smile. Or at a more profound level as an encouragement to accept who you are and live that out with enthusiasm.
Gauquelin’s work with astrology indicated, as I recollect, that the most successful were those who lived out their birth charts most fully. Which resonates with another of Jung’s thoughts “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Stay unconscious and you’ll be buffeted by outer events for which you are seemingly not responsible but in some mysterious way are part of who you are.
Patterns of life fascinate me and more the older I get. How seemingly random life experiences happen again and again. Even with growth of self-awareness (and consciousness) there seems to be no escaping some level of repetition – which can usually be found in the chart if the individual is keen to know the whys and wherefores.
The birth chart lays out personal temperament, psychological dynamics and the pattern of a life. It does not pin point what can best be described as ‘grace’ or in different parlance level of soul evolution. Or the level of conscious versus unconscious that operates within the individual’s life.
Accepting the hand of cards you were handed at birth, reflected in the birth chart, would appear to be the way to fulfilment. Which means kicking envy (they are richer than me) and regret (I never won Wimbledon) to one side and becoming fully invested in who you have the potential to be – i.e not designed to make mega-millions or be a sporting superstar. Be yourself.
But can you ‘choose’ to become conscious? I have never been able to decide whether that is a choice or not, since some individuals are predisposed to be curious and dig for answers where others have a different temperament and are content/resigned to plough the same furrow without scratching the surface or plumbing the deeper mysteries. Indeed there is an argument that the glue which holds society together are the less-than-fully-conscious ones since they offer cohesion, structure and stability. While the constantly-questioning ones threaten to upset the applecart. Of the latter variety, some become trailblazers and inspired leaders, while others are creative or troublemakers.
Harsh influences accompanying challenging experiences bring positive results? Positive change usually only comes through pressure – not quite as extreme as a breakdown means breakthrough but heading in that direction. There was an intriguing hypothesis by Julian Jaynes in his Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind book which posited that major climactic crises and natural disasters two/three thousand years ago caused significant changes and advances in human consciousness.
Some temperaments come alive in moments of high stress and sink into a gloom when life become settled and calm. Squares in a birth chart teach resourcefulness and resilience. Too many trines/sextiles don’t. Life and psychology are complicated.
Astrology while it does not have all the answers has more than enough to make it invaluable. The only explanation I have ever seen which even touches on a possible explanation is an analogy with theoretical physicists David Bohm’s thoughts on an implicate universe which unfolds into the explicate order. The implicate universe which is a realm of potentials and possibilities is what astrology taps into and that unfolds in a variety of possible ways into external reality, but within the constraints of the underlying pattern – if that makes sense.
Sun sign astrology though simplistic can be astonishingly accurate in terms of temperamental inclinations, including the signs which distrust astrology or say they do. Top of the list would be Taurus – maybe too earthy and practical to be drawn into what feel like mystical realms. But also I suspect more to do with Taurus’ underlying drive which is for power. They dislike the idea that they are not masters of their own fate. When the truth is we are and we aren’t.
My remedy for most lives it to find a context which suits your temperament (and chart). If you have a substantially Cardinal chart you are a sprinter, not a marathon runner and have an overdose of resourcefulness and initiative. Find a lifestyle with frequent new starts and variety.
All Fixed? Go for an unchanging lifestyle where you are ploughing the same furrow for ever. Periods of change are inevitable and will cause strain.
Too much Mutable – blown around like a feather in a strong wind, you need to find a calm centre out of which to operate and be grateful for your ability to be flexible and fit in with prevailing trends.
Heavy Mars Pluto or Mars Uranus aspects – you won’t turn yourself into a suburban plodder no matter how hard you try. You need crises, excitement, thrills and risk otherwise you’ll constantly be creating disasters just to feel alive.
Random thoughts. Astrology works in its own peculiar way and has some limitations but used sensibly it will bring more freedom to act not less.
ADD ON: Astrology has traditionally been associated with the planet Uranus, named after Ouranos the sky god, castrated by his children and thus not of the biology. Uranus is also associated with the Greek mythological figure of Prometheus, (from ancient Greek possibly meaning “forethought”). He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by taking fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge and, more generally, civilization.
Although astrology is lumped into the paranormal it is the most rational of the ‘unexplained’ domains of knowledge. Clairvoyance, spiritualism etc I would class as Neptunian. Astrology based (simplistically) on number crunching is a more cerebral method.
The following may be an obscure not to say obtuse explanation but it makes sense to me. I worked in television at a time when film (Neptunian) became obsolete and digital (Uranian) came in. It caused sadness since there is a magic about a film (Neptunian) image, a lustre/aura that cannot be dissected (= put into words) – it defies rationality. Whereas a digital (Uranian) image, made up of thousands of pixels, can be broken down. Digital (Uranus) belongs to the rational world of numbers and words – and produces a similar though less incandescent image.
The difference between Neptune, (the dream-maker), and Uranus (the knowledge-bringer) in this instance is subtle but clear.
Astrology is hugely complex and has to contend with a realm of possibilities not certainties. Complexity and fluidity may seem irritatingly chaotic and confused but such is life and human psychology.
Anthony Hopkins who lost his home in the Palisades fire issued a zen-like message of stoic calm in the aftermath.
“As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it’s important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give.”
Born 31 December 1937 9.15 am Port Talbot, Wales, he has his Sun, Mercury, Venus in Capricorn in his creative, self-protective 12th house with a determined Jupiter opposition Pluto . His Neptune in the 8th (a frequent movie star placing) opposes Saturn and squares a Sagittarius Moon. At the moment his Solar Arc Moon in Pisces is exactly opposition his Neptune, moving through his 2nd house of personal finances as is transiting Saturn. So it will be a substantial financial hit just at a time he no doubt thought he could take it easier on the earning front.
Tr Neptune is moving to conjunct his 2nd house Saturn throughout 2025 and tr Saturn won’t exit his 2nd house for another two years – so it will be an uncertain time. Tr Uranus is also hovering over his IC on the cusp of his 4th house which suggests upheavals at home. Plus his Solar Arc Mars is conjunct his 4th house South Node at the moment
But he also has tr Pluto conjunct his Jupiter through 2025 so he will cope with renewed vigour and drive.
The previous fire which badly damaged his then London home when he was away in January 2000 happened when his Progressed Moon in Pisces was also moving through his 2nd house and rattling up his Saturn opposition Neptune square Moon – so that does seem a sensitive trigger point in his chart. In 2000 as well tr Saturn was conjunct his SA Mars conjunct his Uranus which is much more descriptive of a disaster event.
His Mutable Grand Cross of Saturn opposition Neptune square Moon opposition Chiron would seem to suggest a life pattern of constant flux where Moon areas of home are concerned. Which is emphasised by a 4th house South Node. Sliding back into home and a self-protective nest will be tempting but is not his destiny.
Mel Gibson, 3 January 1956 4.45pm Peekskill, New York, has more obviously catastrophic influences with tr Uranus opposition his Mars in Scorpio exactly now and heading to oppose his Saturn in Scorpio and square his Pluto throughout 2025 to early 2026. Tr Pluto will also be conjunct his SA Mars throughout 2025/26 so it will be a frustrating time.
Billy Crystal, 14 March 1946 7.48am New York, has a fair amount of activity hitting his Taurus Moon though more in the aftermath – and tr Uranus opposition his Chiron soon as well. His SA Mars will oppose his Moon in coming months and tr Pluto will square his SA Mars Saturn for several years ahead. His SA Neptune is also conjunct his Jupiter which will undermine his optimism and often has negative financial implications.
Paris Hilton, 17 February 1981 2.30am New York, has her Jupiter Saturn in Libra conjunct her Midheaven catching last October’s Solar Eclipse and next March’s Aries Eclipse. Her Solar Arc Pluto is also square his Mars for an act of violence, ruthless energy slowing her progress. Her Progressed Mars is also conjunct her Solar Arc Sun Mercury in her 4th exactly now – which will pile on the pressure.
The effect on each individual is likely to vary depending on whether they had insurance, had other homes and how invested they were temperamentally in having a solid domestic foundation to their lives.
Poor Keir Starmer from whom the proverb ‘be careful what you wish for’ must be echoing round the walls of No 10 as one political sinkhole after another turns up for him to trip into.
Not all the political disasters are of his own making, though Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s missteps which have spooked the markets and upset pensioners, look like misjudgments. As one commentator put it she played a bad hand badly.
There is a tone-deafness about his responses, an inability to put across a message that the electorate would appreciate or to bat back the standard opposition brickbats. No one sensible wants another mega-child abuse inquiry but he somehow made it sound as if he was covering up the problem. Not giving winter fuel payments to wealthy pensioners makes fiscal sense but he/the government have allowed themselves to be cast as death-dealing scrooges.
There are now questions being asked about whether he’ll survive to the next election or whether Labour will survive in power after that.
His chart is under increasing pressure with a devastatingly confused Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Neptune exactly now followed soon by SA Sun conjunct Neptune. Then tr Uranus will square his Uranus after mid 2025 with late 2025/26 being totally logjammed by SA Mars conjunct his Sun Pluto.
The two Labour Party charts, 27 February 1900 and 12 February 1906, point to shocks and high insecurity before mid 2025, deep uncertainty and worries in 2026/27 – and hints of splits in 2026 with a sense of failure and setbacks in 2026/27.
Rachel Reeves, 13 February 1979, is irrevocably tied into Starmer with a yod in their relationship chart of Saturn, Neptune, Sun, Venus sextile Pluto inconjunct Mars which is being shaken at the moment by tr Uranus opposition the Saturn and tr Neptune opposition the Pluto throughout 2025 – and worse tr Uranus into Gemini opposing the Neptune, Sun, Venus in from July 2025 and through 2026.
Her own chart which is stubborn and fairly single tracked minded with Mars, Sun, Mercury in Aquarius square Uranus in Scorpio, trine Pluto and sextile Neptune hints at a degree of over confidence in patches through 2025. But tr Neptune into Aries from April and tr Uranus into Gemini by July will create/accompany major setbacks and escalating challenges, continuing on into 2026.
Another pitfall awaiting Keir Starmer which will not play well is his personal friendship with Tulip Siddiq, a junior Treasury minister, niece of the ousted former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, at present under investigation for corruption.
Tulip Siddiq, 16 September 1982 London, is a Sun, Venus, Moon in Virgo which will chime with Starmer’s Virgo Sun and Jupiter in Pisces. She also has a volatile Mars in Scorpio conjunct Uranus which will be rattled within weeks and again throughout the year. Starmer’s relationship with her is running into trouble and perhaps splitting later this month into early February. With further disappointments mid year into 2026.
“In the middle of the journey of our life I found myself within a dark woods where the straight way was lost.” Dante Alighieri, Inferno
Add On: For all the fur flying between Musk and Starmer, which may or may not have something to do with the UK moving against social media and denting Musk’s empire the real aggravation is between Trump and Starmer. To a degree Musk may be doing his master’s bidding. The Trump/Starmer relationship chart has a composite Sun Mars at one degree Leo so catching the tr Pluto opposition now exactly and on and off throughout 2025. There are ripples of discontent on Musk/Starmer but nothing like as notable.
What does seem to rile Musk is the UK. His Uranus sits on the UK’s Ascendant square the UK Capricorn Sun, with his Sun nearing the UK MC; his Saturn opposition Neptune square the UK’s Pluto; and his intransigent Mars in Aquarius opposes the UK’s Saturn. The relationship chart has the Solar Eclipse rattling the composite Sun last October and this coming March; with tr Neptune Saturn into Aries causing more confusion over the next several years.
No idea why so any suggestions gratefully received.
The irreplaceable and extraordinary David Attenborough will be 98 soon and is still making nature documentaries after five decades. From childhood he was fascinated by fossils and wildlife and studied zoology at Cambridge. Although he became a producer and rose to the top of the BBC, being offered the Director General position, he resigned to go freelance in his late forties. His soothing commentaries, obvious delight and curiosity about the animals, birds, fishes and insects he filmed made his documentaries irresistible to large audiences the world over.
In recent years he has become more vocal about environmental protection.
He was born 8 May 1926 (rectified by Starkman to 2.58am) Cambridge, England two weeks after Queen Elizabeth 11. His father was Principal of Leicester University and one brother Richard became a renowned actor and director, and another an executive with Alfa Romeo. David has a Fixed Grand Square from a nature-loving Taurus Sun opposition a conscientious Saturn in Scorpio square Jupiter in Aquarius opposition Neptune – he has endurance aplenty, the ability to persevere though won’t always be flexible or good at compromise. He also has a creative, compassionate Water Grand Trine of Saturn trine North Node (Pluto) in Cancer trine a Pisces Moon and Uranus. His healing Neptune is close to Ceres, the planet of agriculture and nature.
His Mars in Pisces is unaspected giving him an uncompromising streak and a tendency towards non-stop action with a focus on a singular interest.
In some ways he mirrors the UK chart with its four Fixed Planets as did Queen Elizabeth. Stalwart to the end.
His harmonics are notable with a strong global-influencer 22H and 17H; a creative 5H and a humanitarian 9H.
David Attenborough quotes:
“I’m luckier than my grandfather, who didn’t move more than five miles from the village in which he was born.”
“If I was earning my money by hewing coal I would be very glad indeed to stop. But I’m not. I’m swanning round the world looking at the most fabulously interesting things. Such good fortune.”
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
“I’m not an animal lover if that means you think things are nice if you can pat them, but I am intoxicated by animals.”
“It is vital that there is a narrator figure whom people believe. That’s why I never do commercials. If I started saying that margarine was the same as motherhood, people would think I was a liar.”
“I had a huge advantage when I started 50 years ago – my job was secure. I didn’t have to promote myself. These days there’s far more pressure to make a mark, so the temptation is to make adventure television or personality shows. I hope the more didactic approach won’t be lost.”
“In the old days… it was a basic, cardinal fact that producers didn’t have opinions. When I was producing natural history programmes, I didn’t use them as vehicles for my own opinion. They were factual programmes.”
Shudders of disbelief are running through western capitals at Trump’s alpha-chimp chest-beating display in pursuit of Greenland, Panama and – why not? – Canada. The farcical theatrics appear to be driven by Trump’s (not unreasonable) concern about holding back Chinese encroachment.
Background: ‘China craves its rare earth minerals needed for microchips and sonar systems. It imagines the world’s biggest island becoming part of its Polar Silk Road, a crucial stopover for its vessels as they exploit the melting Arctic ice to boost trade between Asia and the West. In US hands, the minerals and seaboard of the world’s biggest island would strengthen the West.’
President Harry Truman considered buying Greenland after the Second World War as a way of cutting off a potential Soviet attack. The purchase never went ahead but American bases were set up. Since Trump won the election, China has conducted its largest naval exercises in decades, launched the world’s biggest amphibious warship, been accused of sabotaging undersea cables in Asia and Europe and hacking the US Treasury, unveiled four new advanced aircraft, rehearsed a naval blockade near Japanese islands for the first time and intensified espionage activity in the West. The point? To help Beijing negotiate with Trump from a position of strength.
Greenland has a population of 56,000 with New York 4 hours way by plane; and could hold an independence referendum this year about splitting away from Denmark, which if it happened would give the island more power to determine its foreign policy which could include a closer relationship with the US. Though Trump’s wild talk of not denying he might use military force is not helpful – and would I suspect run into internal brakes being applied by appalled Republicans.
China is also the worry behind the Panama Canal. “The Panama Canal was built for our military,” Trump said. “Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China. China! And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China.”
The Greenland 1 May 1979 chart is upbeat through this year though moving through a critical phase of questioning its self-image. Its relationship with Denmark is facing a bumpy ride with a potential split in May 2025 and January to mid March 2026 as tr Uranus is conjunct the composite Sun. Relationships between Trump and Greenland will move into an all-systems-change gear from May onwards as tr Uranus is conjunct the composite Mercury, then Sun and into 2026/27 conjunct the Venus and square the Uranus. There will be definite changes afoot.
Trump’s relationship with Denmark will be high-tension with arguments erupting from mid 2025 onwards with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Saturn. And even before then will be discouraging and argumentative.
Trump’s actions and policies will send ripples of unease through the EU as well with tr Neptune Saturn conjunct the composite Sun from May 2025 onwards with muddles and mayhem for several years thereafter.
There will be continuing pressure on the Trump/Panama relationship chart throughout 2025 and 2026, with outbursts, stand offs and disappointment.
Relocating Trump’s chart to Beijing, puts his bombastic, flamboyant Mars in the 7th house of partners and enemies with Pluto conjunct the Descendant from the 6th so no surprises it arouses his competitive, aggressive instincts. Plus there is a Pluto, Sun, Saturn, Mars composite conjunction pointing to an inherent dislike though with no indication that it could ever be resolved. The composite Neptune will catch the Libra/Aries Solar Eclipses extending through 2025 which suggest confusion and indecision.
The whole furore is not quite as ludicrous as it sounds on the face of it – and much water will flow under the bridge in the coming three or four years, so it won’t all disappear in a puff of smoke as a figment of Trump’s delusional fantasy.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, who repeatedly played down the Holocaust and was an unrepentant extremist on race, gender and immigration, founder of the French far-right National Front party, has died.
Always a controversial and divisive figure described as the ‘Devil of the Republic’, he caused consternation when he reached the presidential election-run off against Jacques Chirac in 2002 but was thereafter resoundingly defeated.
He started his political life fighting Communists and conservatives alike – described himself as “ni droite, ni gauche, français” – not right, not left, but French. His daughter, Marine, took over as party chief in 2011 and has since rebranded the party as National Rally, turning it into one of France’s main political forces.
Born 20 June 1928 3am Nantes, France, his chart is not as malevolent or as ideologically-obsessive as I might have expected. His only two Air signs were Sun Venus in Gemini on the focal point of a mini Grand Trine to a publicity-attracting Neptune trine Mars in Aries. Admittedly he had Mercury in emotional Cancer in a dogmatic conjunction to Pluto on one side and a revolutionary square to Uranus on the other, which would ramp up his rabble-rousing tendencies.
The National Rally party he founded, 5 October 1972, is more obviously a force for far-right agitating with a determined and can-be-hate-filled Mars Pluto conjunction square Jupiter- and six planets in Air, which would suggest an ideological bent.
His daughter Marine Le Pen, 5 August 1968 11.20 pm Neuilly Sur Seine, France, has a much harder chart despite her toning down the party’s hardline, rightwing politics. Her relationship with her father from her chart looks more than stressed with a competitive 10th house Mars in an unfair-treatment square to Saturn, with Saturn on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Pluto Uranus sextile Neptune. She threw him out of the party in 2015 after he repeated his Holocaust views.
ADD ON: The focus will now turn on the rivalry between Marine Le Pen and her niece Marion Marechal who regards herself as Jean-Marie’s rightful political successor carrying forward his extreme far-right policies.
Born 10 December 1989 1.05am St Germain en Laye, France, Marion has a stellium in Capricorn ranging from Mercury, through the all-systems-change triple conjunction of Uranus, Neptune, Saturn to Venus in final degree. She has a lucky, successful Jupiter in her career 10th opposing four of her Capricorn planets plus an ultra-determined, can-be-ruthless, can-be-hate-filled Mars Pluto in Scorpio in her communicative 3rd house with her Pluto opposition an 8th house Moon in Taurus. She’s well positioned to rock the boat with tr Jupiter moving through her 10th till mid 2026 and tr Saturn rising above her Descendant from 2026 onwards.
Her relationship with her aunt Marine has a composite overly-controlling, power-struggling Sun, Pluto, Mercury conjunction – with 2025 seeing an undermining tr Neptune opposition the composite Mars and rising tensions in 2026/27.
But it is Marion’s relationship with Jordan Bardella, leader of Marine’s National Rally party which is most fraught. Mutual hostility writ large with a composite Mars Pluto Mercury square Saturn. That is under pressure through 2025 and more so again in 2026/27.
Los Angeles is in a state of emergency as a raging wildfire exploded from 10 acres to more than 2,900 acres in hours with worse forecast to come as the winds stay high. More than 30,000 people have been evacuated with many celebrity homes at risk.
The fire broke out at 10.30am on the 7th with Neptune Scheat on the Ascendant. In astrology Scheat is associated with unfortunate events and disasters, often involving violent storms.
The previous October Solar Eclipse also had Neptune Scheat on the IC with the Libra New Moon in the 7th. The previous September Lunar Eclipse had Mars in Cancer conjunct the IC.
Most telling is the Los Angeles incorporated chart of 4 April 1850 which has a Sun Saturn conjunction in Aries square Mars in Cancer with the LA Saturn catching last October’s and next March’s Libra/Aries Solar Eclipses. Eclipses on Saturn usually point to a time of facing grave responsibilities and being realistic. Since the LA Saturn is in Aries it may emphasis the need to be self-reliant.
Add On: The Hollywood chart, 1 February 1887 is also showing high stress. The Solar Arc Saturn is opposition the Hollywood Pluto (which squares Mars so is a danger point). The SA Uranus is in an emotionally upsetting conjunction to Venus; and the SA Venus is square Uranus. Plus the Uranus at 12 Libra is in line of the previous Libra Solar eclipse for a major jolt.
Wildfires are becoming more frequent in many areas including the south of France where I lived and are extremely scary and fast-moving with high winds. As a result there is now mandatory débroussaillage – which is clearing of all brush, dead vegetation and burnable material within fifty metres of any house. Pine trees need to be spaced out. Water is scooped up from the sea and dropped by helicopter, as well as fire hydrants.
There is a description today of how the Getty Museum protected itself against the fire which destroyed surrounding buildings – partly with an irrigation system, partly fire resistant building materials and brush clearing. There are ways of mitigating what is becoming a major problem in various regions.
Jerry Springer, the man who ruined a culture and fronted a tawdry, outrage-inducing and popular talk show for three decades, is given the netflix documentary treatment 18 months after his death. Fights, Camera, Action according to a review is a damning insight into TV’s most notorious show. One insider said ‘It really was the modern version of the Roman Colosseum.’ They pitted warring families against each other, got guests drunk, abused their confidence, coached them to perform onstage and offered no duty of care to clearly mentally vulnerable people. After an on-air altercation, one woman was killed by her ex-husband, who hours previously had appeared together on the show. It didn’t hurt the ratings.
After a slow start in 1991, With clean-cut Springer harbouring aspirations of a senate run, The Jerry Springer Show collected a new producer, a former tabloid journalist Richard Dominick, variously described as a Svengali, a mob boss and an evil genius. Outrageous behaviour and sleaze on the show turned Springer into an international superstar and a pariah.
Another review raises an interesting point about what the show’s popularity says about human society and psychology and whether Springer paved the way for the sensationalisation of US politics.
When it launched on 30 September 1991, admittedly low key at the start, tr Uranus Neptune in Capricorn were opposing the USA Cancer Sun; with the US Solar Arc Uranus moving to oppose the US Sun. All were conspiring to throw a hand grenade at the white-picket-fence family-togetherness Cancerian image of old.
Springer himself, 13 February 1944 11.45pm London, England, keyed into the USA chart in an intriguingly pointed way. He was a Sun Aquarius (conjunct the USA Moon) in a confident opposition to Jupiter. But even more significant he had a communicative Air Grand Trine of Neptune trine Mercury South Node in Aquarius trine Uranus, formed into a Kite by Mercury South Node opposition Pluto North Node in Leo in his 10th. He was destined to be hugely influential and with his ‘leadership’ North Node being conjunct the USA’s North Node exactly he would become the man of the moment, at one level the face of USA.
Springer did have an unsettled Mars Uranus conjunct in his 8th house and Saturn conjunct Mars – so he would carry a good deal of inner turmoil, externalised into the wild and wayout stories of his show guests.
Richard Dominick, 21 May 1952, NJ, has his Sun Gemini with Algol sitting between his Sun and Venus which in turn squared Pluto. Emotionally ramped up and manipulative. Dominick’s Pluto fell in Springer’s career 10th conjunct his Jupiter, making Springer a mega-success by controlling him; and RD’s North Node was conjunct JS’s Sun for a fated coming together. RD’s Moon, Jupiter, Mercury were in JS’s 7th for a good partnership. Though it would be an uneasy combo with RD’s Sun conjunct JS’s 8th house Uranus and RD’s Saturn Neptune in JS’s 12th; plus RD’s Mars in Scorpio square RS’s Pluto.
The relationship chart is illuminating with a composite Sun trine a chained-together (and resenting it) Saturn Pluto; with Saturn Pluto conjunct Mars for additional aggravation which they coped with by projecting it out onto their show guests. Plus a lucky Jupiter Uranus square Venus. Pluses and minuses writ large.
In later years Springer showed his embarrassment and contrition by trying to project a more serious, cultured image.
