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Veteran actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95, having retired from movies two decades ago and turned his hand to co-writing three historical fiction novels. Renowned for The French Connection, Unforgiven, Mississippi Burning, Superman, A Bridge Too Far, Enemy of the State, amongst many others he was prolific over an award-strewn, four decade career on screen.

  He was born January 30, 1930 7.45 am San Bernadino, California, and had ambitions to be an actor at a young age though he volunteered for the Marines aged 16 and became a field radio operator in China, Hawaii and Japan.

  He struggled initially as an actor along with Dustin Hoffman, acting on stage and in bit parts but broke into the big time when he was in his forties with the French Connection after which he never looked back.

 He had a New Moon and Venus in Aquarius in his reclusive and creative 12^th house with Jupiter on his IC so he would be content to relax at home in between movies. His ambitious Mars in Capricorn in a sharp-spoken conjunction to Mercury sat on the cusp of his 12^th house and was in an ultra-determined opposition to an attention-commanding Pluto in his performing 5^th house. His Saturn in Capricorn was in his not-altogether friendly 11^th house reinforcing his image as not light hearted or sociable. His Saturn was in a can-be irritable and/or autocratic square to Uranus.

 He also had an Earth Grand Trine of Saturn trine North Node in Taurus trine Neptune in Virgo in his 7^th house.

 An interesting, intensely talented man if not always easy within himself or with others.

  His actors 15^th harmonic was powerfully confident, though strained. His leaving-a-legacy 17H was lucky and adventurous. And his global superstar 22H was explosive and intense, reflecting the characters he played.

   He appears to have been found along with his second wife of twenty five years, former classical pianist Betty Arakawa. She was born 1 December 1961 and was a lively Sun Mars in Sagittarius though that made an intense square onto Pluto and her Mercury in Sagittarius was square Uranus. She had Jupiter in Aquarius which would sit well with his New Moon and Venus and his Jupiter IC. Though her Saturn conjunct his Mars would be scratchy and her Uranus in his 7^th conjunct his Neptune hinted at an unconventional bond. His Mars Pluto would be fairly dominating and her Mars Pluto was used to being submissive (mainly).

 Their relationship chart had a passionately enthusiastic composite Sun, Mars, Venus conjunction squaring Jupiter opposition Neptune – Jupiter to bring mutual support and confidence; Jupiter Neptune for optimism and Neptune for ideals and illusions. There was also a composite yod of Pluto sextile Uranus inconjunct Saturn which would require maturity to make it work.

 It is not clear in what circumstances she died though police say there are no indications at this stage of foul play.  

‘The day the UN died’ was the headline as the USA voted with Russia and China at the United Nations to avoid condemnation of the Kremlin over the blood-soaked Ukraine invasion – ‘as if Ukraine’s calamity was a natural disaster for which no-one could be blamed.’

 Ripples of unease are running round various international bodies as Trump tears up the global order.

 The UN, 24 October 19845 4.40 pm Washington, DC, is under major pressure for change as tr Pluto squares the Sun this year. But it is 2027/28 which look the most fraught with the Solar Arc Sun opposition the Mars Saturn hinting at a calamitous setback.

 The World Health Organisation 7 April 1948 New York, is rattled this year with tr Saturn Neptune and the Eclipses catching its Mercury in late Pisces. But again 2027 looks like being the key year of dented hopes. 2026 will see emotional and financial upsets also with tr Uranus square the Venus. Though it is a tough outfit with a Pluto, Saturn, Mars in Leo trine Sun so won’t budge easily under pressure.

 NATO, 24 August 1949 11.42 am Washington, DC, will be jangled when tr Uranus moves into Gemini to square the Sun from this August into 2026 – with 2026 looking high-stress and blocked with the Solar Arc Sun square Pluto, and tr Neptune Saturn in Aries in hard aspect to the financial Venus square Uranus.

 The International Criminal Court, 1 July 2002, which has issued a warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu, will be rattled this year; and will face it greatest test in 2027 after an explosive 2026.

  Not all of this may be due to Trump pulling the plug.  

John Dee, an astronomer, occultist, alchemist, mathematician and astrologer to Elizabeth 1, evidently predicted her rise to the throne to replace her sister the blighted Queen Mary.

  That may have been a lucky guess from a psychic seeking to make his way in the world or astute political intuition but he did end up on the right side of history when the forlorn Mary deserted by her younger husband Philip of Spain died a mere five years after her coronation and Elizabeth succeeded her.

 John Dee born 13 July 1527 JC 4.02pm London had a final degree Cancer Sun on the cusp of his 9^th house with Jupiter Mercury in Cancer in his 8^th house giving him a gateway into another world beyond rationality. His Uranus opposed his Sagittarius North Node square Neptune which also has other-worldly overtones. He evidently had the largest library in England which fits with a 9th house Sun and Venus.

 His Jupiter Mercury fell on Elizabeth’s Descendant so it would feel like a good partnership – for a while. His determined Mars in Scorpio fell in Elizabeth’s career 10^th so she would see him as furthering her ambitions.

 I am not up on mediaeval astrology and they did not have access to the outer planets so I have no idea what led to his conclusions.

 Mary, born 18 February 1516 JC 4.13 am London was born with a Full Moon in Virgo in her 8^th opposition a Pisces Sun square a 12^th house Saturn which did not augur well. Like Dee she had Jupiter in Cancer but in her case that was opposition both Pluto and Mars in Capricorn sitting across her Ascendant.

 Her husband Philip of Spain, 21 May 1527 JC 3.57pm Valladodid, was a highly strung Sun Uranus in Gemini square Neptune with an arrogant, self-aggrandising Jupiterian yod. It was a bad match with her Uranus conjunct his Saturn and Descendant  – not a happy or fruitful union.

 Monarchs in those days were sold into sexual slavery for the sake of political alliances – with top courtiers acting as high class pimps. Toe curling.

  Anyone up on the astrology John Dee might have used is welcome to predict what he may have seen.

  Dee seems to have gone off track in later years falling in with charlatans.  

Another musical icon has departed to join the heavenly choirs. Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw His Face and Killing Me Softly from the 1970s have gone down as all-time classics and she is described as having ‘one of the loveliest voices pop music has ever heard.’ ‘There was something almost supernatural about Flack’s singing.’

  She was born 10 February 1937 6.30am Black Mountain, North Carolina, and took to music early, singing in church choirs and gaining a full music scholarship to Howard University in Washington DC to study classical piano and orchestration. She sang jazz in nightclubs and it was in her thirties that she broke into the big time as Clint Eastwood used her song in his directorial debut Play Misty For Me and it became a blockbuster hit.

“I didn’t try to be a soul singer, a jazz singer, a blues singer,” she told the Guardian in 2020, looking back on a lifetime she’d spent honing her own voice. “My music is my expression of what I feel and believe in a moment.”

  She had a 1^st house Aquarius Sun and an Aquarius Moon on her Ascendant and a hugely complex chart. She has planets in all three creative Water signs – Mars in Scorpio trine Saturn in Pisces trine Pluto in Cancer, which Pluto in turn was opposition Mercury which would give her a sorrowful intensity. Her Saturn was in a creative opposition to an 8^th house musical Neptune square her North/South Node opposition tying her into the spirit of the age. Her Mars was in a hard-edged trine to Saturn so she learned discipline through tough experiences. But that was softened by having a midpoint to that trine of a 12^th house Jupiter which gave her inner contentment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pluto MC line is through Norway and central Europe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Previous post February 13.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Snippets from the Trump bin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On other present Republican associated charts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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