India remains the world’s fastest growing major economy, with an uptick of 8.2% in 2023/24. Public investment in infrastructure and rising household investments in real estate plus a buoyant manufacturing sector were all given the credit. Narendra Modi was sworn-in as Prime Minister for the third time on 9th June 2024 after a decisive victory. All would seem to be well and with tr Jupiter moving across the Ascendant and through the 1st house until June 2025 the mood of public confidence will stay high.
The one fly in the ointment is tr Neptune and Saturn in Aries moving to square the India 2nd house Mars from this April onwards into 2026 which could put a few brakes on financially. 2026 will see tr Saturn opposition the 5th house Neptune which could point to setbacks where speculative markets are concerned.
Tr Uranus is also heading to cross the India Ascendant at zero degrees Gemini from July 2025 onwards which suggests a more rebellious or at least freedom-loving approach and image thereafter.
The Reserve Bank of India, 1 April 1935 9am Delhi, has its Aries Sun in line of the recent October Solar Eclipse and next late March’s Aries Eclipse, so a change of direction, perhaps forced, may be on the cards.
Though where the key changes will come is likely to be in 2026 as tr Uranus in Gemini squares the Saturn. On Narendra Modi’s initial premiership chart, 26 May 2014 6.13pm, 2026 also looks to be a crucial turning point with tr Uranus conjunct the Modi Administration Sun. There is no election due but there are certainly winds of change buffeting the government.
Add On: 1 January 2025 the FT:
Has the ‘India trade’ run out of steam? Slowing growth and high inflation are hitting household incomes and raising questions about economic fundamentals
Mars retrograde in Leo will oppose Pluto on January 3rd which will put a damper on New Year high spirits until the blockage is passed.
Mars goes retrograde every two years for about 10 weeks – in this instance from 7 December 2024 to 25 February 2025 – and once it goes direct it will meet another Pluto opposition in late April 2025.
Retrograde tends to turn the energy inwards and with Mars it saps vitality and forward-drive as will-power and motivation are pushed down. When it goes direct, the stored-up energy surges into the open with extra vigour, bringing sometimes crises or conflicts.
Looking back on previous Mars retrogrades:
2022 31 October to January 13 2023. Mars in Gemini.
2020 10 September to 15 November. Mars in Aries square Saturn Pluto in Capricorn. Covid deaths rising fast.
2018 June to August. Mars in Aquarius/Capricorn.
2016 April 18 to 30 June. Mars in Sagittarius. Brexit 24 June 2016.
2014 2 March to 22 May – Mars in Libra square Pluto. Russia annexes Crimea 27 February. Airliner M370 vanishes 8 March.
2012 25 January 2012 to 15 April. Mars in Virgo
2009 22 December to 11 March 2010. Mars in Leo
2007 16 November to 31 January 2008. Mars in Cancer/Gemini opposition Pluto in Sagittarius (Exact opposition 1 January 2008). Stock markets plunge in anticipation of coming recession.
2003 July 30 to 29 September. Mars conjunct Uranus in Pisces square Jupiter. Iraq attack launched March 2003 so in full devastation mode.
2001 12 May to 20 July Mars in Sagittarius opposition Pluto (not exact). Run up to 9/11
1990 21 October 1990 to 2 January 1991. Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins with air strikes against Iraq January 16 1991
1982 21 February to 12 May. Falklands War 1 April.
1941 September 7 to 10 November Mars in Aries. Pearl Harbour 7 December 1941.
1939 23 June to 24 August 1939. Mars in Aquarius/Capricorn opposition Pluto in Leo/Cancer. WW11 started 1st September 1939.
1928 12 November 1928 to 28 January 1929. Wall Street Crash 24 October 1929.
1913 November 28 to 12 February 1914. Mars in Cancer. WW1 start June 1914.
There does seem to be some correlation between Mars retrograde in the period running into a conflict or crisis; and occasionally in the midst of one. But this is only a rough and ready survey so needs more investigation by those with the time. Otherwise it is a watch and wait exercise.
Jimmy Carter has died aged 100, who became renowned in his post-presidency years for the success of his initiatives on global health, democracy promotion and conflict resolution. Although deemed a lacklustre president he was the first since Jefferson under whom no blood was shed in war. At a farewell dinner as he left office, his vice-president, Walter F Mondale, gave a toast: “We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace.” Carter later added a fourth major accomplishment: “And we championed human rights.”
He was born 1 October 1924 7am Plains, Georgia, into a well-to-do family though they had no electricity, running water or mechanized equipment on their farm. After a stint in the navy he took over the family peanut business and moved into politics, stepping into the White House on the back of Nixon’s Watergate scandal.
He had a 12th house Libra Sun square a strong-minded Pluto in his opinionated and far-travelled 9th; with an idealistic Neptune, leadership North Node and Venus in Leo in his career 10th in a high-vitality opposition to Mars in determined Aquarius. He had an understated Saturn in Scorpio just below his Ascendant in his 1st as well as an intense, secretive Scorpio Moon. His 12th house Sun and 10th house Neptune would help in his humanitarian ventures though was perhaps less useful in the attention-grabbing, ego-clashing arena of politics.
His Presidency chart, 20 January 1977 12pm had an afflicted Mars in the 9th square Pluto and inconjunct Saturn, hinting at foreign policy failures; with an indecisive Neptune in the 8th. The Moon opposed Saturn and square Uranus on the Descendant for an administration that left the electorate less than pleased (Saturn) and proved divisive (Uranus Desc). There was an enthusiastic Jupiter on the Ascendant and a friendly 11th house Venus but it was not enough to stave off criticism or a swingeing electoral defeat to Reagan next time round.
From a previous post on his wife Rosalynn Carter, who died last year (Post 20 November 2023).
Rosalynn Carter wife of former president Jimmy Carter has left behind a solid legacy of good works as she dies aged 96. A biographer described her as having achieved “one of the great political partnerships in American history”. She was up with Eleanor Roosevelt in her influence as first lady. And their four decades after the White House as global humanitarians advocating peace, democracy and the eradication of disease set a new standard for post-term presidents.
She was born 18 August 1927 6am In Plains, Georgia, into poverty, becoming a carer for her siblings after her father died in her early teens. She married Jimmy when she was 18, was a devout Baptist and mother of four, but her soft smile and outward shyness masked her determination and passion for politics which had her dubbed the ‘Steel Magnolia in Washington.
Her 12th house Sun Neptune in Leo gave her idealism, flair, inspiration and the ability to work tirelessly behind the scenes on mental health and other issues. Her Venus Mars in Virgo in her First added passionate enthusiasm for practical causes and a far-travelled 9th house Taurus Moon sent her round the world doing good.
Oddly enough his Uranus fell in her 7th house suggesting a bond that can only work where both gave each other freedom and she did travel and campaign a good deal on her own. His equally idealistic Venus Neptune North Node in Leo were conjunct her Sun Neptune for shared hopes and activism, with his Mars in Aquarius in opposition adding a spark of zest and no doubt a few arguments along the way.
His Libra Sun was opposition her adventurous Jupiter Uranus in Aries for an adventurous streak; and his Uranus square Jupiter sparked off HER Mars Venus conjunction.
Her Mercury and Sun Neptune in Leo fell in his 10th for a helpful career mate and her Moon in his 7th for support and nurturing.
Their relationship chart had an affectionate and friendly composite Sun Venus conjunction and a domestically soothing Moon Jupiter conjunction. A 10th house Pluto which made them influential as a couple was in an enduring trine to Saturn and sextile the composite Sun. Both were keen on a settled family and home life, she with a Taurus Moon and he with a Scorpio Moon – they could both be stubborn but obviously found a way to handle their differences.
It was a relationship which could have gone wrong if either had been driven by ego but both with 12th house Suns helped in that regard. Pluto in the composite 10th can turn into a power struggle but only when aims for individual glory are pursued. Pulling together they had the capacity to make a difference.
Manmohan Singh whose economic reforms from the 1990s onwards unleashed an economic boom in India and propelled it to a world power has died aged 92. Starting as finance minister in 1991, he took up the reins when India was close to defaulting on its external debt, had only two weeks of foreign currency reserves left and inflation was well into double figures. He put an end to four decades of socialism, isolationism and stagnation and started by quoting Victor Hugo: “No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come.”
When he started his reforms tr Pluto in Scorpio was conjunct the India 6th house Jupiter giving the country an almighty push.
Despite his mild manner and his first love for academia, he was a born revolutionary with a focal point Uranus on a tough-minded Cardinal T square. He was born 26 September 1932 2pm Jhelum, Pakistan (net sources) and had a Libra Sun close to Mercury in his knowledgeable 9th house. He has a strong 8th house (of finances) with Moon Venus in Leo and the economic Neptune Jupiter in Virgo there.
His Saturn in Capricorn was opposition the India Cancer Moon and was conjunct the Reserve Bank of India North Node giving him the drive to impose his bold market reforms on India’s commercial life. Having retreated to academia in 1996 after his initial stint as finance minister he was persuaded out again in 2004 to become prime minister and stayed in situ for ten years.
That early 1930s generation bred in times of hardship with a driving need to change the status quo certainly left their mark. His 9th harmonic was hard-driving and notable – often connected with money and humanitarian ideals. His global- influencer 22H was also exceptionally well aspected.
The jungle drums are beating more loudly over worrisome levels of global government and corporate debt with the money wonks cautioning that America now owes more money than the value of its economy.
Quite what John Maynard Keynes would have made of it, the English economist whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments, isn’t clear. But his ideas were a guiding light from the Great Depression to the mid 1970s, and came back into favour in 2008 with the financial crash. So his spirit will be hanging over policy discussions.
Keynes was born 5 June 1883 9.45 am Cambridge, England, and he had an extraordinary chart with seven planets in his career 10th – stretching from Venus Neptune in Taurus close to his Midheaven, Saturn Pluto conjunct in early Gemini and a New Moon and Mercury conjunct in mid Gemini. He had Mars in earthy Taurus in his communicative, far-travelled 9th house sextile Jupiter. And an inventive Uranus on the cusp of his 2nd house of finances trine Neptune Venus and Midheaven.
His 17th harmonic = leaving-a-legacy-for-history is exceptionally noteworthy with an Air Grand trine of Sun trine Venus trine Pluto; formed into two Kites by Pluto opposition Neptune and Sun opposition Uranus.
With tr Uranus approaching the conjunction to the Pluto Saturn in Gemini on his chart from mid 2025 into 2026 it might seem likely that his ideas in handling crises periods (indicated by his hardship, deprived Saturn Pluto) might come to the forefront.
Oddly enough his Gemini Sun is mirrored in the chart of Adam Smith, the 18th century pioneer in the field of political economy seen by some as “The Father of Economics” or “The Father of Capitalism. Born 5 June 1723 JC in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, he had a Gemini Sun opposition Saturn with Neptune and Venus in Taurus like Keynes in his case trine Pluto. With an excitable, outspoken Uranus opposition Mars square Mercury.
Theoretical economics is absolutely not my subject. Comments welcome from those more knowledgeable.
ADD ON: Keynes’ romantic life initially was homosexual with a string of sometimes concurrent lovers. The artist Duncan Grant was the love of his life for seven years up to 1915. Then he started to gravitate towards women, falling in love in 1921 with Lydia Lopokova, one of the stars of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. In the early years of his courtship, he maintained an affair with a younger man in tandem with Lopokova, but eventually chose Lopokova exclusively. They were married in 1925, with Keynes’s former lover Duncan Grant as best man in what proved to be a stable, happy union until Keynes’ death in 1946.
With such a heavily populated 10th house Keynes’ relationship with his mother would have been a profound influence on him. His biographer remarked that her children “never outgrew home”. Keynes’ also had a New Moon which tends to give a tendency towards self-sufficiency and that squares Uranus so he would be wary of intimacy and close committed relationships.
His relationship with Lydia, whose birthdate varies between 21 October 1891 and 1892 started when tr Uranus had moved into his 7th house altering his approach to close relationships. Neither of those years for her birth indicate a startling connection.
His relationship life is a mystery since even his liaison with Duncan Grant was not obviously a soulmate match.
The continuing fascination and embarrassment surrounding the Meghan-Harry roadshow continues with a dud polo Netflix series streaming and disappearing, various splotches of critical media comment and no sign of the upmarket jam jamboree landing soon.
While I would love to wish them happy ever after, all the indications are that after a hugely stressful four years of tr Pluto square their composite Saturn Pluto and opposition the composite Moon, they are heading into a dip in 2025. Tr Neptune will be opposition the composite Mars Venus into 2026 which will feel like failure and that is followed in 2026 by a major disruption from tr Uranus square the composite Sun and opposition composite Uranus.
The wedding chart is also being ground down with tr Pluto conjunct the Mars and square Uranus running on from 2023 to late 2025. Plus a jolting, destabilizing tr Uranus conjunct the Sun in 2025 (which was coincidentally conjunct the destructive star Algol).
On Sun/Moon midpoints which are the marriage significator. Meghan’s at 8 degrees Virgo had a separating tr Saturn in opposition in early 2024 as they started to appear solo at various events. Harry’s Sun/Moon midpoint won’t pick up similar until 2027.
Tr Saturn Neptune in Aries from mid 2025 onwards won’t suit Meghan’s Moon, Saturn, Jupiter since they will oppose those planets, undermine her confidence and pose questions about her domestic life amongst others. 2027 to 2029 look difficult years for her.
Harry looks lost in terms of direction in 2027 but gradually thereafter he is heading into a more visible and hands-on phase of his life as tr Saturn moves slowly towards the end of his low profile First Quadrant which started at the time of his wedding.
His relationship to his late mother Princess Diana is omnipresent and may be a key to his marriage. Diana’s Cancer Sun fell conjunct his Descendant (as does Meghan’s Mars in Cancer) – key to his sense of partnership. Diana’s Venus in Taurus was conjunct his Taurus Moon for an affectionate bond and Meghan’s Chiron is conjunct his Moon – so there will be a healing connection on both sides.
Harry’s Chiron falls in his 5th house of children, which is possibly where he seeks a balm.
Harry’s relationship chart with his mother was affectionate and idealistic with a Grand Trine of Venus trine Moon trine Neptune, and a possessive Moon opposition Pluto. A much stronger bond in many ways than between William and his mother which has worked to Will’s advantage in freeing him up to settle into a different style of marriage.
Diana’s can-be-destructive Mars Pluto and wilful Uranus both fell in Harry’s 8th house for a deep and disturbing bond.
Meghan and Diana would undoubtedly have clashed with Meghan’s Mars conjunct Diana’s Sun for a competitive interface.
Two thoughts – Meghan is broadly similar to Diana, since both in their own way were drama queens (and both came from broken homes). Both were/are quite destructive in their need for vengeance.
The second is a personal Virgo beef. How can they be so impractical when it comes to setting up projects? Employing endless expensive help who leave regularly and they keep ending up in a muddle over what appear to be basic details, permissions, copyright etc and either not completing or ignoring marketing advice to end up with vacuous nonsense. Diana at least put in the legwork to build a platform for the global image she later established. Meghan seemed to want the end result without the slog.
Add On: California was never going to be a launching pad for Prince Harry since it puts his Moon in the hidden 8th and his Sun in the hidden 12th – maybe OK for sorting himself out. But a place to lie low.
Meghan, I never quite understood, since relocating to London puts her Sun Mercury on the Midheaven for career success with a far-travelled Mars in the 9th and a friendly Venus in the 11th. It could have given her what she wanted had she stuck it out and taken on the Commonwealth with Harry.
ADD ON: There are some similarities between Meghan and Wallis Simpson in that both have their North Node in their First House which suggests problems building up a solid sense of personal identity. Sliding back into a partnership will feel comfortable but will not be the way to fulfilment.
Oddly enough the Duke of Windsor has his North Node in Aries which equally suggests an imperative (clearly ignored) to stand on his own two feet and be independent.
Harry’s North Node in Taurus strongly suggests that letting go bitter, endlessly dragged-out arguments will bring him peace of mind. Nature will be his cure.
Wallis Simpson’s Chiron was conjunct her Moon and in Edward’s 8th house conjunct his Saturn; his Chiron was in his 8th. In both cases it suggests problems with the early mother relationship and later sexual difficulties; with men often attracting them to powerful women.
Meghan’s Chiron in Taurus is conjunct Harry’s 4th house Moon. A Chiron in Taurus can suggest lack of self-worth and never feeling secure, with issues around money. So Harry would represent safety and stability for her.
On their relationship chart the composite Chiron falls conjunct the Ascendant giving them a problem deciding who they are as a couple and how to present themselves. The composite North Node falls in their 2nd house of personal financers hinting that becoming independent and not relying on the generosity of others will be vital.
Add On: Meghan’s cookery show launches on January 15 on Netflix – clearly not scheduled with astrology in mind. There is a late Capricorn Sun conjunct Pluto and opposition Mars which does not look propitious.
Sara Netanyahu, the Israeli PM’s wife has been accused of harassing witnesses and obstructing justice in her husband’s corruption cases. She is said to have orchestrated a campaign of demonstrations and social media attacks against perceived “enemies” of the prime minister. He is standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust relating to allegations of favour trading with wealthy benefactors.
She was born 5 November 1958 5.15 am Haifa, Israel and has Mars conjunct Algol in heavyweight Taurus, an astro-signature for powerful wives like Asma Assad, Eva Peron and Catherine the Great. See previous post on Asma Assad. 10 December 2024.
Sara Netanyahu also has a stellium in determined and acquisitive Scorpio in her 1st house of Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune plus a flamboyant Moon in Leo conjunct Uranus in her 10th. Utterly fixed and unbudgeable, built for the long haul, not flexible.
Tr Uranus is aiming to conjunct her Mars in May 2025 and January to mid March 2026 for a jolting shock and ensuing insecurity possibly evoking an over-hasty reaction.
She does have her Solar Arc Pluto moving to conjunct her Jupiter Sun in 2026 which could give her a surge of confidence but it can also result in conflict with authorities if she acts as if rules did not apply to her. At the same time in 2026/27 tr Pluto will square her Neptune for a phase of confusion and devastation with tr Uranus square her Pluto putting her life into upheaval. At that point in 2026/27 her relationship with her husband will be under strain with tr Pluto square the composite Saturn, Mercury, Sun.
Those who live by the sword —– eventually succumb.
Add On: Their eldest son Yair, 26 July 1991, is outspoken and extreme in his views. He is a Sun Leo opposition Saturn in Aquarius; with a pushily confident Jupiter in Leo square Pluto; and a can-be-fanatical Uranus Neptune in Capricorn trine Mars Venus in Virgo.
The younger son, Avner, 10 October 1994, is a Sun Libra like his father and has a stellium in Scorpio like his mother of Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Pluto with Mars in Leo and a Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn.
Neither boy looks upbeat over the next two/three years.
An astrologer predicting an imminent death may have shifted the course of English history a fraction. In the febrile period after Henry V111’s death, he was succeeded by his son Edward V1, then 10 years old. Next in line Mary Tudor, his half-sister, was persuaded to stay in England by the prospect of his approaching death, despite him being young and healthy. He did die aged 15 probably of tuberculosis and she stepped up to be crowned Queen Mary I.
He was born 12 October 1537 JC 1.44am London and had his Pluto on the cusp of his 6th house of health conjunct a late Capricorn Moon and opposition Uranus Mars in Leo. Heath issues were likely with such an afflicted bunch of planets homing in on his 6th and 12th houses. When he died after a longish illness tr Neptune was square his Solar Arc Moon; and the transiting North Node was opposition his Moon. Tr Neptune was also just passed an opposition to his SA Sun. His death 6 July 1553 JC 8.30pm London.
Astrology in those days was different with no outer planets known so I have no idea how his death would have been predicted.
Add On: King Charles 1, 29 November 1600 11pm was beheaded on 30 January 1649 – would an astrologer have predicted it? Tr Pluto Saturn conjunct in Gemini were opposing his Sagittarius Sun Mercury exactly which feels pretty bleak. Significantly his Solar Arc Saturn was approaching and within less than a degree of a conjunction to his Mars, which is a traditional assassination signature. His Progressed Saturn was exactly conjunct his Part of Fortune hinting his luck had run out.
Lady Jane Grey, 5 October 1537 3.14 am Leicester (not verified), who reigned for nine days, was beheaded after a coup on 12 February 1554. At that point (birth date being sound) tr Uranus was conjunct her Libra Sun; and a formidable, high-risk transiting Mars, Pluto, Sun in Pisces were opposition her Venus.
The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 was caused by an underwater earthquake, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, that struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. A massive tsunami with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) high, devastated communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries. It is the one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst tsunami disaster.
The astrology is oddly vague with nothing much that would flag up such a devastating event. There was a Jupiter in Libra trine Neptune sextile Venus Mercury in Sagittarius which was light hearted; a slightly edgier Mars square Uranus but that is nothing pass remarkable. The midpoints have a few pointers including Pluto square Neptune/Node which is a natural disaster signature.
The October eclipses immediately prior both had Jupiter in the 10th located to Banda Aceh but nothing too ominous in terms of aspects. The April 2004 Solar Eclipse did have a high-risk Mars opposition Pluto but nothing else that would indicate the magnitude of the horror at the year end.
On the tsunami chart the 8th and 16th harmonics do look brutal and devastating with Mars Pluto Sun Venus aspected on one; and Mars Pluto Neptune Moon on the other.
There may be an astro answer in there but my flu-fogged brain can’t see it. Comments welcome.
