not categorised

The hundred-headed hydra that is ISIS has apparently struck again with 133 dead in an attack on a Moscow concert. Some reports pointed a finger at Ukraine, others at a Putin false flag attack to bolster his position (which seems unlikely) while Isis-K, a regional affiliate of the Islamic State (Isis) wider movement has claimed credit. Based in Afghanistan and central Asia, it has become increasingly focused on Russia, which it sees as equivalent to the US in its “hatred” for Islam, after Russia’s 2015 intervention in Syria in support of the Assad regime.

  The original Isis chart, 15 October 2006, has a Sun, Mars, Venus in Libra with all three catching the April Solar Eclipse by conjunction. When Isis was supposedly crushed in March 2019 tr Pluto and tr Saturn were square those three Libra planets – so it looks a feasible chart. Tr Uranus will oppose the Jupiter for a stroke of luck through this April, though that will be followed by a high-tension disruptive tr Uranus square the Saturn late April to mid May.

 The relationship charts with Isis 2006 and both Russian country charts are starkly hostile. With Russia 1917 there is a ruthless, brutal composite Mars Pluto being triggered this year by tr Pluto in trine; and this year and next by tr Neptune and tr Saturn in opposition the Mars Pluto.  The relationship chart with Russia December 1991 is equally aggravated and destructive with a composite Saturn, Mars, Sun and it is moving through devastating confusion exactly now and on till late 2025.

 Isis-K was formally announced on 26 January 2015 on the revolutionary Uranus square Pluto.

 It is Russia’s worst terrorist outrage in 20 years and has been described as “the Kremlin’s worst nightmare: a jihadist attack originating from central Asia at the very time that it is focused on Ukraine. With Vladimir Putin having staked his legitimacy on his role as the tough defender of the Motherland, his inability to prevent such an attack inevitably weakens him.”  Isis-K was behind the bombing of the St Petersburg metro in 2017, which left 15 dead, as well as a string of smaller and often unsuccessful attacks. Most recently, it tried to launch an armed attack on a synagogue in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow this month, which was foiled by the Federal Security Service (FSB).

  What is significant is the Russia 8 November 1917 2.12 am Leningrad chart which has a 12^th house Mars at 2 degrees Virgo which is being opposed exactly at the moment (to within four minutes of a degree) by the Solar Arc Sun suggesting a shock/collision; with an even greater violent setback sometime in the next 10 months or slightly beyond from Solar Arc Saturn square the Mars. And more explosive, insecure-making disruptions in 2026/27 as tr Uranus in Gemini squares the Mars. Being 12^th house it could well point to action by subversive groups.

Add On:  Background on ISIS hostility to Russia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/25/putin-russia-moscow-attack-isis-k-islamist-jihadi-ukraine/

Russian military campaigns in Syria, Dagestan and Chechnia and Wagner Group actions in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger (as well as Mozambique and many other places) have positioned Russia as an enemy of these militant Islamists. 

The Russian war with the Islamists goes way back to the breakup of the Soviet Union, which sparked several civil wars across former Soviet republics including Tajikistan. The commander of the Tajikistan police special forces defected to ISIS in 2015.

  The intent is, as always, to goad the Russians into a disproportionate response against Muslims with the intent of further radicalising the sizable Russian Muslim minority – which will soon make up a third of Russia’s population.

Pressure is mounting on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza with the USA for the first time  fielding a resolution at the UN. In the UK David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, has been sharply critical about aid into Gaza being blocked and there have been protests and blockades at UK arms factories which supply weaponry to Israel.

  A crucial problem is that both Netanyahu and Hamas seem to have an interest in prolonging the war. Netanyahu to protect his position and Hamas hopes continuing loss of life will erode international support for Israel. 

  Netanyahu, 21 October 1949 10.15am has his Libra Moon catching this April’s Solar Eclipse exactly which will test the foundations on which he has built his life and shake him to the core and bring his public image under scrutiny. Criticism is likely to be sustained. He’s running into a major calamity late April to mid May with tr Uranus square his Mars/Pluto midpoint; but his greatest test will come from mid July to early September when tr Pluto is opposition his Mars/Uranus midpoint and tr Uranus squares his Mars in Leo.

   The chart for the Hamas attack, 7 October 2023 6.30am does show late April/early May as critical with a significant jolt. It may be stretching a point but it could be a deliberate disturbance aimed at ending the stalemate. Certainly the Progressed Moon hitting an exact square to Mars and then opposition the Pluto through April/May/June which hardly suggest a peaceful ceasefire.

   Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State,  is meeting with Netanyahu today, which seems unlikely to go well since tr Saturn is exactly square their composite Mars for a fractious mood. Blinken, 16 April 1962 2.56 am New York, is coming to prominence over this dispute which fits with his Aries Sun in the 10^th relocated to Israel – and notably his pro-active Mars is exactly on the Midheaven there.  His relationship with Netanyahu is gridlocked at the best of times and heading for a major disruption but not until July/August this year.

  David Cameron, recently hauled out of seclusion by Sunak,  is also coming into his own over the Israel/Gaza conflict as it puts his Jupiter conjunct the Midheaven there. His relationship with Netanyahu which is hostile at best is in the deep freeze now with tr Saturn opposition the composite Moon now and heading for a major blow out come August.

   And so it rolls on.

An inspirational life has ended at 78 as Paul Alexander, “the man in the iron lung”, who contracted polio when he was six, leaving him paralysed from the neck down, has died. He went on to earn a law degree, practice law, become a campaigner for disability rights and publish a memoir, written by tapping the letters on a keyboard with a pen glued to a stick clenched between his teeth. After years, he eventually learned to breathe by himself, having been promised a puppy if he did, so that he was able to leave the lung for short periods of time. Ventilators replaced the lung but he kept living in the cylinder because, he said, he was used to it.

  A polio vaccine developed in the 1950s saw a dramatic fall in cases – from around 350,000 worldwide in 1988 to just 30 confirmed cases in 2022.

  He was homeschooled and went out with friends who took him in his wheelchair to the local cinema and diner; eventually attended college and law school.

Later he formed a platonic, but essential, relationship with his caregiver Kathy Gaines. He said latterly: “I wanted to accomplish the things I was told I couldn’t accomplish and to achieve the dreams I dreamed. You can truly do anything. You just have to set your mind to it, and work hard.”

  Born 30 January 1946 in Dallas, Texas, no birth time, he did have a robust chart with an Air Grand Trine of a Sun Venus in Aquarius trine Uranus trine Neptune – custom built as a thinker and communicator. Formed into a talented and influential Kite by Sun Venus opposition Pluto, making determined Pluto the driving planet. He had a Capricorn Moon which may have opposed a tenacious Mars Saturn conjunction in Cancer. Ebertin describes Mars Saturn as – energetic people able to overcome the greatest difficulty.

  His get-it-together and build-a-life 5^th harmonic was strong, as was his victim/healer 12H, his breakthrough 13H, and strongest of all was his leaving-a-legacy 17H.

Wunderkind of the crypto currency universe Sam Bankman-Fried is about to be sentenced next week on what is described as a colossal fraud and could be facing a forty to fifty year jail stretch.

  This is just an astro-quickie with all details in previous post November 14 2022.

 What is intriguing is a collision of his Solar Arcs with his natal chart which invariably accompanies a major life crisis.  Born 6 March 1992 in California he is a visionary and inventive Sun Pisces trine Pluto, sextile Uranus Neptune; with a manipulative Venus square Pluto as well as a Mars Saturn conjunction in Aquarius widely square his Pluto. Controlling, influential, with an inventive streak as well as hard-edged and chillingly single minded.

  His Solar Arc Mars Saturn are now about to conjunct his Sun for a massive setback. With his Solar Arc Sun square his high-wire Uranus Neptune conjunction. And his Solar Arc Neptune Uranus approaching the square to his Pluto. A perfect astrological storm that does not augur well.

Solar Arcs colliding with major configurations in a chart are worth looking out for.

ADD ON: Accurate birth time/date from birth certificate now puts him as born on 5 March 1992 at 9.51am Stanford, CA.

  His Sun and Moon (not conjunct) are in his 11^th house with his Moon conjunct Mercury in Aries. His hard-edged, unsentimental Mars Saturn Venus conjunction are in his career 10^th – giving him a charming veneer covering over ruthless ambition. His Pluto in Scorpio was in his 6^th house nearly on the cusp of his 7^th trine his Sun and Moon, and sextile Uranus Neptune in Capricorn as well as square Venus, Mars, Saturn. That is some Pluto – if in the 6^th relentless about getting his own way at work. If in the 7^th would impose his will on others. Pluto Venus is manipulative. Pluto square Saturn Mars is cold-hearted and merciless.

 His Solar Arc Pluto has just moved into his 8^th house of joint finances to stay for the next 22 years. Tr Saturn is making him serious/discouraged about his long term plans as it heads to his 11^th and aiming to conjunct his Sun Moon for a prune-back of optimism and confidence; along with transiting Neptune in an undermining, confusing conjunction to his Moon,

Odd enough his Solar Arc Midheaven is exactly opposition his Jupiter which may have amplified his extremist tendencies. What seems more apt is his Progressed Mars  moving to conjunct his SA Midheaven over coming months which does suggest a collision of sorts. The Solar Arcs detailed above still hold even with a day’s difference since they cover a span of several years.   If his birth time is accurate, it is surprising that tr Pluto conjunct his Midheaven did not show up – which won’t come until 2027/28 which is usually the fall-from-grace influence. With worse to follow as tr Pluto then crosses his Mars, Saturn and Venus through into the next decade which will be punishing.

Leo Varadkar, who became a surprisingly progressive Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland, has announced his resignation. He was the first openly gay Irish leader, and the first of half-Indian heritage. He saw through a referendum overturning Ireland’s abortion ban, and helped steer the country out of the pandemic to a healthy budget surplus. On the downside he suffered a humiliating loss recently with a referendum on family life and leaves with a housing crisis, a divisive debate over immigration, and his party Fine Gael facing defeat in a general election with Sinn Fein in the ascendant.

 In Brexit negotiations, he won acclaim at home and resentment in London by mobilising the EU behind the border backstop that rebalanced Ireland’s historically subservient relationship with Britain. It paved Johnson’s path to Downing Street and the Northern Ireland protocol that appalled unionists by putting a trade border in the Irish Sea.

A commentator said:  ‘Varadkar’s critics felt he was essentially a political lightweight without deep convictions, driven by fashion and the urge to show Ireland as a determinedly progressive little country.’

  Born 18 January 1979 5.30am (from memory) Dublin, he has an ambitious Sun Mars conjunct in Capricorn trine a Virgo Moon and sextile Uranus – hard-working, money-minded, a reformer and with Pluto in his 10^th influential.

  It will have been an uphill struggle for him recently with tr Pluto conjunct his Sun Mars in 2022/23 and a major setback from SA Saturn square his Mars also in 2023. Plus he has tr Saturn moving through the middle of his 1^st quadrant, making him question whether he was doing what best suited his essential self. At the moment he has the approaching April Solar Eclipse opposition his 10^th house Pluto exactly which will have put pressure on him to change.

 His Solar Arc Sun is also exactly opposition his Saturn for a separation from the past. And his midlife crisis is in play with his tr Uranus opposition his natal Uranus, starting last year and with a final aspect exactly now. There is an urge to change over the midlife crisis with old unfulfilled ambitions becoming  urgent. At the same time he looks relieved and keen for a new start. His Progressed Moon and tr Uranus moving through his 6^th may also have given him pause for thought on the health front.

 His initial term as Taoiseach, 14 June 2017 3.30pm Dublin, also has the Solar Eclipse square the Pluto and Midheaven and opposition the Ascendant, for a wrench away from the past.

  He was a surprising political leader for a country still enmeshed in its religious past but his Sun Mars was conjunct the Ireland Moon and opposition Neptune so he would clear away some of the old confusion. His Uranus in the Ireland 4^th would create a minor domestic revolution and his Jupiter conjunct the Ireland South Node made for a partnership that moulded social trends.

 Whatever his political failings, he was an astonishing leader in troubled times. There is a great deal ahead for him on the career front whatever he chooses to do. At present he says he intends to stay in the Ireland parliament.

 His partner, another doctor, Matthew Barrett has preferred to stay low key. He possibly has the same birthday or thereabouts in 1987. If accurate that would make both Sun Capricorns, both have Venus in Sagittarius and both have a Virgo Moon.

  The first of this year’s eclipses comes next Monday with a Lunar Eclipse at 5 degrees Libra/Aries. Pluto will trine/sextile the Full Moon to provide a degree of get-it-together energy. Though Neptune widely conjunct the Sun opposition Moon may cast an air of dither and drift into proceedings. Jupiter Uranus conjunct will produce a dash of adventure and luck. It’s not a well-integrated chart so unless planets are on the axis it may not have much impact – Moon MC mid North America. Argumentative Mars MC Moscow, Saudi and Irag; and Pluto MC Germany.

  The Total Solar Eclipse on 8 April at 19 degrees Aries – the great American eclipse – has its path across the USA.   In addition to the lucky Jupiter Uranus there is a less cheerful Mars Saturn conjunction in Pisces which can be accident-prone or bring setbacks. Like the Lunar Eclipse it is not especially well integrated as a chart.  The New Moon/Midheaven line runs through the USA east and centre. The Mars Saturn Midheaven which is less helpful through the western USA. Jupiter Uranus through South America. Mars Saturn IC through Iran. Pluto IC through Germany.

  Bernadette Brady says of this Saros series that it is inventive, with flashes of genius, insights, good ideas, vivid dreams and an urge for freedom which may pull the individual away from relationships temporarily causing strain. Around before in 2006, 1988, 1970, 1952, 1934, 1916.

The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT. For those lucky enough to be in the ‘path of totality’, daytime will turn into darkness for a short time.

  The 18 September 2024 Lunar Eclipse at 25 degrees Pisces/Virgo is conjunct Neptune and square Jupiter for a hint of over-optimism and delusion. There is an Earth Grand Trine of Uranus in Taurus trine Sun trine Pluto which is practical and good for crafting solid achievements. Except in this case it also forms a Kite with Sun opposition Neptune so there will be a degree of indecisiveness and confusion. As well as high hopes and enthusiasm.

The Solar Eclipse of 2 October 2024 at 10 degrees Libra has the New Moon in a hyper-active and argumentative square to Mars. And Jupiter square Neptune and Saturn so prone to mood swings, up and down.

 Bernadette Brady says of this Saros Series it is about separation and loss, to finish or complete a process. With sadness at the end or closure. Not good for strenuous physical activities. Around before 2006, 1988, 1970, 1952, 1934, 1916.  

 New Moon Midheaven through central USA. Pluto Midheaven Germany, Italy. Saturn MC Iran. Neptune MC Pakistan. Uranus MC Hong Kong and Philippines.  Jupiter Ascendant through Ukraine.

China’s grip on Hong Kong has tightened with a draconian new security law which has attracted international condemnation.

Officials say the law is essential for stability but opponents called it a “nail in the city’s coffin”. The new law allows for closed-door trials, gives the police rights to detain suspects for up to 16 days without charge and penalties including life sentences, among other things.

Hong Kong’s leader John Lee defended the law which was fast-tracked through its final phase on Tuesday saying the legislation would help the city “effectively prevent, suppress and punish espionage activities, conspiracies and traps from foreign intelligence agencies, and infiltration and sabotage by hostile forces”. Commentators fear the law could also be used to target HongKongers overseas, or their families and friends back home. The city has previously offered bounties for information on activists who fled overseas, and arrested four people in Hong Kong for supporting people abroad who “endanger national security”.

   The Hong Kong 1 July 1997 chart has had a ruinous tr Pluto conjunct the Neptune through 2023 till late this year, which extends on as tr Pluto opposes the 5^th house Venus this year and next putting a damper on self-expression and spontaneity. There is also a Solar Arc Uranus square the Pluto exactly now pointing to jarring changes and disruption. The second half of this decade does not offer much hope of positive change with tr Neptune Saturn in Aries impacting on the Capricorn Sun square Mars and tr Pluto conjunct the Uranus.

 The relationship chart between HK and China 1912 has similar astro-challenges with a hostile/trapped tr Pluto opposition Mars till late this year and conjunct the Uranus in 2025/26 and square the composite Saturn as well which looks discouraging and agitated.

 The present HK chief executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, a hardline former HK policeman, is under investigation by the EU as to  whether he should be sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act. His Term chart, 1 July 2022 10.20 am,  with a ruthless, domineering Mars square Pluto will undoubtedly follow Beijing’s party line. The mood last year and this has been punitive with some jolts and tensions erupting this June onwards.

   You can say what you like about the old empire and colonialism but in a toss up it was a million times better than this.

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Oprah Winfrey has become the latest in a line of celebrities shunning the fat-is-fabulous trend to streamline their shape and take strain off their joints and kidneys.  After knee surgery in 2021 she went on a diet and exercise regime, helped along by a weight loss drug she admitted last year.

  She was born 29 January 1954 4.30am Kosciusko, MS and had a poor and abusive childhood. She has a charming Sun, Venus in Aquarius in her money-making 2^nd house trine a 6^th house Jupiter (which is prone to indulgence and expansion). More significantly she has Mars in Scorpio square an 8^th house Pluto, hinting at the fears which will have dogged her steps throughout her life.

  Weight is often not just a way of filling an emotional void but more importantly a protection. Being small, slight and vulnerable is scary. Being heavyweight with layers of fat erects a defence for security and safety. Mars Pluto is about total domination so the child fears their life never mind their bodily integrity is at risk.

  Adele, 5 May 1988 8.19 am London has her Mars square Pluto opposition Sun Jupiter in Taurus with her Moon in the 6^th as does Lizzo born a week earlier.

  Producer Shonda Rhimes has a Mars opposition Pluto. Kirstie Alley has a Mars opposition Pluto.  Gabourey Sibide has her Mars in Taurus (conjunct her Taurus Sun) on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Pluto sextile Neptune. Monique has a Mars sextile Saturn inconjunct Jupiter.

  Jupiter and Taurus have a hand in weight gain as does the Moon on occasion but the recurring Mars Pluto theme is striking.

  When Oprah finally got a grip of her weight problem after a life of yo-yo ups and downs, tr Saturn was moving through her 1^st Quadrant. That is sometimes a point where the body says ‘enough’. But is also a time when unresolved psychological/emotional issues surface to be resolved. Tr Saturn was also in 2022 shaking up her Mars square Pluto; followed in 2023/24 by tr Uranus opposition her Mars square Pluto – so that defensive structure in her robust personality was being put under pressure to change.

  One reason diets often don’t hold is that the underlying fears about vulnerability and attractiveness surface and the old defence mechanisms come back into play.

Votski – Putin 87%, unfortunate accidents nul points.

  At least the cartoonists raised a smile at the foregone conclusion of an election described as “farcical” with Putin heading into a fifth term.

 The Russia 8 December 1991 7.45pm chart hints at strong emotional reactions domestically this year and next and an increasingly discouraging struggle where neighbours are concerned through 2025/26 with tr Pluto conjunct the 7^th house Saturn.  With 2027 looking ruinous with hints of violence.

The Russia 8 November 1917 chart will have a blip of luck in 18 months’ time; but otherwise will be sagging domestically with tr Neptune Saturn squaring the 4^th house Venus in 2025/26; with 2026/7 looking explosive and disruptive perhaps from internal dissidents with tr Uranus square the 12^th house Mars. Tr Pluto opposition the Neptune by 2028/29 will see devastating confusion, perhaps with a natural disaster though also perhaps a political collapse.

 What is intriguing is the 1917 chart had its Progressed Mars go retrograde in November 2005 as Putin started to seriously strip away democratic protections with the Russian parliament and in the regions. The following year the USA saw its Progressed Mars also go retrograde for many decades thereafter. A retrograde Mars usually indicates a lessening of vitality and effectiveness.

 Putin’s initial Presidency chart 31 December 1999, which dipped badly last year, will get a sharp elbow in the ribs come this July/August and on; with calamities, confusion and lack of will in 2025/26 with tr Pluto conjunct the Neptune. But it is 2026/27 which may see his grip on power being destabilized with Solar Arc Uranus squaring the Pluto. Tr Saturn also squares the Sun in 2025 which sometimes see the curtain come down on administrations and if all that doesn’t shift him, then by 2028 tr Uranus will square the Pluto for more earthquakes under his feet.

  My estimate would be overall that Uranus moving into Gemini from 2025 onwards will be the catalyst for his final exit.

ADD ON: The Germany 1871 chart had its Progressed Mars retrograde between March 1910 and August 1990. In 1990 East and West German became united again with Unification Day celebrated on  3 October 1990. Blaschke describes Mars going direct as unleashing an inner reservoir of power that has been building up throughout the retrograde period. It is associated with will power and drive, which would certainly describe Germany’s economic resurgence in the years following.