Marjorie Orr

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Valentina Matviyenko - a name for the future From: Marjorie. (06 Sep 2010 19:20):
An intriguing name has been thrown into the Russian political pot though possibly too early and not helpful to her prospects. Valentina Matviyenko, the Governor of St Petersburg and one of only two women at that level in Russia is being floated as a possibly contender for the Presidential Elections in 2012. Either as a substitute if Putin decides not to go for it or just as a straight competitor though she'd be a brave lady if she did that.
Born on 7 April 1949 she's a feisty, charming but argumentative Sun Venus Mars Mercury in Aries in a controlling trine Pluto and a vague opposition to Neptune. She also has Saturn in Leo trine the Aries NNode, sextile Uranus. That sextile forms a Yod onto Jupiter in Capricorn. Jupiter on a Yod can when activated contribute largely to a society.
Putin is hardly likely to recommend her as a substitute since their relationship chart has a bitter power-struggling Mars opposition Pluto and a no-compromise Sun Uranus conjunction square Neptune - so bad news all round.
There's no birth time and she's got a fairly bumpy ride for the next few years with the Cardinal influences hitting her Aries planets and Neptune in Libra. 2011/12 especially will be sinking with tr Neptune opposition her Saturn. So the next election looks unlikely. Though she'll be clear by the following one in 2018. And where she'll really come into her own if she's still politicking is two elections hence in 2024 which is when tr Pluto is conjunct her emphasised Jupiter.

Wayne Rooney - Sun Pluto Scorpio From: Marjorie. (06 Sep 2010 19:03):
Footballer Wayne Rooney is not looking at all happy at the moment as news gets out with his trysts with a lady of the night during his wife's recent pregnancy. But she must have known what she was getting into since he's never exactly been shining white. He has tr Uranus in a highly insecure opposition to his Virgo Mars and a confused, very uncertain tr Neptune square his Saturn now. And tr Saturn coming up to conjunct his Venus in Libra in Oct which is unpopular on the romantic front. Plus tr Neptune squaring his Solar Arc Pluto Sun really for the next two years but definitely sinking from mid Oct this year for two months. He's got a truly difficult road block coming up by 2012 with SArc Sun conjunct Saturn. This is not his shining hour (for two years ahead). His Sun/Moon is around early to mid Capricorn so I'd reckon it will split at some point which is what junior's chart says - below.
Colleen is also looking shell shocked at the moment with Solar Arc Saturn conjunct her Mars now and conjunct her Neptune by 2012. Her Aries Sun gets the Saturn opposition from October onwards.
Their relationship chart (without birth times) indicates that perhaps eighteen months down the road rather than now would be the split.

Previous post: WAYNE ROONEYJNR NOV309
The baby of Wayne and Coleen Rooney - Liverpool footballer for those of us who are sports-challenged - is certainly going to be a complicated personality. With Jupiter on the Aquarius Ascendant he'll appear to be amiable, outgoing, mischievous. But with a 9th house Scorpio Sun opposing a Taurus Moon square Mars and opposition Ascendant (Jupiter) - he'll be hugely stubborn, immoveably so (multi-fixed planets), at times impatient (Mars), adventurous and not always sensible (Mars Jup). He'll see his parents as at least hugely different probably incompatible personalities and it's not beyond the bounds of possibility they do split. He'll be angry at both of them.
Plus he's got the tough Saturn opp Uranus square Pluto - a similar configuration in the early 1930s of Saturn opp Pluto square Uranus produced a good many notable successes though they tend to be driven, not always happy individuals. Rooney Jnr has Saturn in the 8th as well as Venus - so intimate relationships won't come easily to him. Uranus in the 2nd plus Mars Jupiter suggests his handling of money will be erratic. Moon in the 3rd could suggest comfort from brothers and sisters so perhaps there will be more to come.
His father Wayne is a Sun Pluto in Scorpio square Jupiter in Aquarius - so controlling and pushy; with a Pisces Moon and Venus in Libra. His mother Coleen is unbelievably a Sun Aries with perhaps an Aquarius Moon so she'll have a tough time with two Scorpios on her hands. Though her Jupiter in Pisces will help; and she has a Venus in Taurus opposition Pluto squaring onto her Moon which is perhaps why she's attracted herself into such an emotionally intense family.
2 Nov 2009 1.45pm Liverpool, Eng

Trevor Eve - talented and sharp edged From: Marjorie. (05 Sep 2010 15:58):
Trevor Eve, possibly the most respected UK TV actor (Shoestring, Waking the Dead, Hughie Green), is to star in a remake of Bouquet of Barbed Wire, the controversial 1970s TV drama. Born on 1 July 1951 he is an emotional and rebellious Sun Uranus in Cancer on the point of a T Square to a Neptune opposition Jupiter.
So his chart has certain similarities to Paypal's co-founder Max Levchin (below) with a focal point Cancer Sun, Uranus and Jupiter in Aries. It's always intriguing to see how similar energies can play out differently and in Levchin's case the Saturn sent him towards business whereas with Eve the Neptune moved him in more creative directions.
Trevor Eve also has a confident Jupiter trine Pluto (conjunct Venus) in flamboyant Leo so he can turn on the charm but he does like his own way. His edginess comes in part from an emphasised Uranus but also from a pernickety Saturn in Virgo in a hard square to Mars in argumentative Gemini.
Eve will have his ups and downs with tr Uranus square his Mars and opposition Saturn till early 2011 and tr Saturn square his Sun Uranus, opposition Jupiter, conjunct Neptune from October onwards. But his Jupiter will keep him buoyant through most of the roller coaster of tr Pluto and tr Uranus in hard aspect to his Cardinal T Square.

Morrissey - impolitic but talented From: Marjorie. (05 Sep 2010 15:32):
Morrissey, the English singer songwriter regarded as one of the most influential of his generation, has always been in trouble for shooting off his mouth, with accusations of racism in the past, and he is lifelong animal activist. He recently described the Chinese as a 'sub species' for their cruel treatment of animals.
Born on 22 May 1959 he's a Gemini Sun opposition Jupiter in late Scorpio square Pluto so is overly impulsive/expansive and controlling. His Jupiter trines Mars always a touch over excitable in Cancer with Venus also in Cancer. Plus he has Uranus in Leo in a fanatical/not great judgement square to Neptune and in an outspoken, speak-first-think-second square to Mercury in Taurus. His Pluto is in a gritty, persevering trine to Saturn in Capricorn which opposes his Venus - so he's quite cool/hard looked at one way or unhappy looked at another.
His chart doesn't look unduly stressed at the moment though tr Neptune is still undermining his central T Square of Jup opp Sun squ Pluto till early 2011. But he also has a lucky tr Uranus trine Jupiter in Nov/Dec. Just a blip along the way of his uncommon life, I reckon.

Prince Andrew - ambling along the old Silk Road From: Marjorie. (05 Sep 2010 15:19):
The sale of Prince Andrew's old home at Sunninghill, way above market value, to a Kazakh billionaire is back in the headlines with allegations that the money used (£15 million, circa $25 million) was money being laundered. The court case in which the allegations were made is unlikely to affect Prince Andrew but the mystery of his relations with the Kazakhstanis, involving frequent personal trips there, will again be the focus of attention.
Timur Kulibayev who bought Prince Andrew's old house, son-in-law of the Kazakh President, was born on 10 Sep 1966 so is a thrusting, rebellious Virgo Sun Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn. He has a self-protective Water Grand Trine of Jupiter in Cancer trine Neptune trine Saturn, formed into an even more talented Kite by the opposition - putting his Sun Uranus Pluto as the driving planets. So he's not an inconsiderable force to be reckoned with.
That Sun Uranus Pluto in Virgo falls in Price Andrew's 2nd house so money really is the major tie up between them.
Kazakstan falls just to the west of Prince Andrew's Jupiter IC line so unlikely as it sounds it is where he'll feel at home and comfortable. And it falls on one of Prince Andrew's Moon Venus parans (latitude line)where 'At this latitude, you know how to live and enjoy the good things in life. You have a taste for luxury, but also a tendency to over-indulge in pleasure seeking activities, including partying into the night.'
Their relationship is rather unsettled at the moment with tr Pluto trine composite Uranus and sextile Mars this year with a decided enthusiasm dip come November.

Max Levchin - spilling over with Cardinal and an aggressive Yod From: Marjorie. (05 Sep 2010 14:51):
The Ukrainian-born co-founder of Paypal Max Levchin was born on 11 July 1975.
He's got an intriguing chart. His hard working, disciplined Sun Saturn in Cancer sit on the focal point of a T square to an adventurous Uranus opposition Jupiter. So he's got the executive ability (Saturn), ego-drive (focal point Sun), technological aptitude (Uranus) and good luck (Jupiter) to make it happen, all in initiative-oozing Cardinal signs. His Mercury in communicative Gemini is also trine Uranus and sextile Jupiter hooking that into his central configuration.
Plus he has a Yod of Neptune sextile Pluto inconjunct Mars in Taurus so he's aggressive, overly decisive and confrontational. Bil Tierney writes of this placing that 'the individual might have to sever ties from the past or break away from comforting securities' to get onto a more productive track. Yods initially bring strain but once the out of alignment influences start pulling together then it acts as a lightning rod.
His family moved from the Ukraine under political asylum in 1991 when his Jupiter had moved by Solar Arc Direction to conjunct that Mars with SArc Saturn square - which was clearly the jolt needed to click his Yod into place and into forward gear. He then took a degree in Computing Science at Illinois and thereafter began founding internet companies, firstly the forerunner of Paypal and has continued after selling it into social networking companies and now is a Vice President with Google.
PayPal went to IPO on 15 Feb 2002 on a close Sun Uranus conjunction in techie Aquarius sextile Pluto and trine the North Node in Gemini. It's a chart full of trines and sextiles with Pluto trine Mars in Aries (conj Levchin's Jupiter), Saturn trine Neptune, Jupiter trine Venus. The Paypal chart will hit a stumbling block in coming months with SArc Saturn opposition Pluto and tr Neptune still has a couple of undermining conjunctions to the Aquarius Sun until early 2011 - so clearly a few adjustments will need to be made to cope with a difficult situation.

Auto-immune diseases From: Marjorie. (04 Sep 2010 12:05):
Maggy may have more ideas on auto-immune diseases. RP sounds too obscure to be worth looking at. Lupus is generally regarded as auto-immune while others like MS are still under question mark as to whether they belong under a different category.
The two known Lupus sufferers whose dates I could find, Ray Walston and Charles Kuralt, had more of a Saturn Pluto signature. RW had a Taurus Moon sextile Saturn Pluto; while CK had a Moon trine Saturn, square Pluto.
Barbara and George Bush Snr evidently have Graves, another auto-immune disease. He has again a Moon Saturn conjunction with Moon square Pluto. While Barbara has a Moon sextile Saturn and sextile Mars trine Sun; with her Sun opposition Saturn and Sun semi-sextile Pluto.
I don't think Neptune is strong enough to be a signature for auto-immune.

Portugal - not short of troubles to seek From: Marjorie. (04 Sep 2010 11:44):
The five year long Portuguese child abuse case has ended with six, including a former TV presenter, ambassador, governor, doctor and lawyer being give prison terms for abusing children in a state run home.
The chart for modern Portugal - 25 April 1974 5.15pm Lisbon - has a deeply buried 8th house Taurus Sun and a hard, rather uncomfortable, not compassionate Mars Saturn in Cancer on the Midheaven square Pluto conjunct Ascendant. So it is not a country that gives up its secret easily.
When this scandal first erupted and the trial began Solar Arc Pluto was opposition the 8th house Sun which is not just a major block (with financial implications) it would also impact on all those deeply buried, dirty secrets. Tr Pluto was also moving across the nadir into the 4th which is often when 'family' secrets emerge. Along the way tr Pluto has been opposing the Midheaven, Saturn, Mars and square Pluto so it has been a truly challenging and unpleasant time for Portugal. Solar Arc Mars squared the Sun three years back. This year tr Pluto reached the trine to that 8th house Sun continuing the process. And at the moment as well the Solar Arc Saturn is square the Portugal Sun which is another reality check of a discouraging order.
Portugal's economy has of course been in meltdown through this time. Plus the Madeleine McCann disappearance debacle. It is strange how often nasty scandals accompany periods of a country's other problems.
Tr Uranus is now almost on the opposition to the Portugal Ascendant and square its Midheaven - so a decided jolt to its reputation and direction.
Portugal's chart isn't going to settle any time soon since tr Uranus has still to meet the highly insecure opposition to Mars in 2011 and the disruptive, rebellious opposition to Pluto till early 2013.
Carlos Cruz, the ex-TV presenter now inside for some years was born on 24 March 1942 making him an Aries Sun in a controlling trine to Pluto. He has a Fixed sign Venus in Aquarius square Saturn Uranus with possibly a Gemini Moon square Neptune - so he's emotionally cold, erratic and confused.
At the moment he has tr Uranus opposition his Neptune which is highly strung and anxious with tr Neptune square his Uranus which is a double whammy. Plus his SArc Sun is to conjunct his Mars which is usually a collision of sorts; with his SArc Pluto in a trapped, frustrating trine to his Mars as well. His SArc Uranus is conjunct his Pluto which is a total change in lifestyle with SArc Saturn meeting the conjunction to Pluto by 2012. So he isn't going to enjoy the next few years. Though he may get out early as his SArc Sun is conjunct his Jupiter by 2014.

New Zealand - ripples and after shocks From: Marjorie. (04 Sep 2010 11:02):
New Zealand has suffered its worst earthquake for a while though no lives lost and a plane has crashed killing nine. The New Zealand chart has a 4th house Sun Mars in Capricorn square Pluto Uranus, which I always think is odd. A bit like the Denmark chart, not quite what you'd expect of nations which appear calm, collected and rather conservative on the outside.
That NZ Sun Mars square Pluto is being rattled at the moment by tr Uranus semi-sextile Pluto exactly now and aiming to sextile Mars within a few days and then the Sun by the year end. Even easy aspects tend to act like hard when applied to a country chart. So it will be sending ripples through that very compacted, power packed and angry Sun Mars Pluto.
The previous few Solar Eclipses have had significance for New Zealand. The Feb 08 Eclipse on whose path NZ was had Uranus on the Midheaven and Mars on the Ascendant with a Mars opp Pluto - so very difficult and risky.
The most recent July 2010 Eclipse had the Cancer New Moon on the Ascendant for NZ which marks it out as a key place. Tr Uranus had moved back to exactly - and I mean exactly to the minute! - close the opposition to Saturn on this chart. The July 09 Eclipse had Pluto conjunct Ascendant and Uranus conjunct IC/Nadir for New Zealand with a Saturn square Mars so disruptive and risky. Tr Uranus is now trine that July 09 New Moon (to within 9 minutes = one sixth of a degree). The very powerful August 2008 Eclipse had Pluto conjunct Midheaven for NZ with a Mars Saturn conjunction and tr Uranus is within days (half a degree) of being square that Pluto which is disruptive.
So a good deal of activity on the Eclipse charts and New Zealand's own natal chart. It is an edgy time for New Zealand and tr Uranus is aiming to square the Venus come Oct/No which is emotionally unsettling as well. Plus an upheaval from tr Pluto trine Uranus from late Nov into Dec.

David Cameron - into the maelstrom that is No 10. From: Marjorie. (04 Sep 2010 10:24):
New UK PM David Cameron is having a rocky week as his personally appointed press aide Andy Coulson (ex-News of the World editor) is thrust back into the spotlight by a New York Times rerun of the journalist hacking story. Plus his Foreign Secretary William Hague's blundering attempts to cover over his special adviser misjudgement.
All in a week when he is presenting his new baby to the world and his Government should have been glorying at the sight of Labour tearing themselves apart as old dirty washing was paraded by TBlair.
David Cameron's personal chart has nothing too specific showing at the moment though he has tr Neptune opposition his Mars hanging over this year, returning finally next Jan/Feb which is undermining and can be scandal prone - the wrong kind of publicity. He's got tr Saturn heading to conjunct his Venus in the final few days of this month which will lower his popularity and conjunct his SArc Mars from late Oct and his Libra Sun in Dec this year and repeating up to mid 2011. So there will be setbacks, sharp intakes of breath and a few curses along the way.
His Government chart always did look volatile, prone to frenzy and constant changes with a Saturn opp Uranus Jupiter square Venus in Mutables; and Saturn opp Uranus Jupiter square Pluto. So alternating charm and an iron grip. Plus a glitzy but scandal-prone Mars opp Neptune square Sun.
Andy Coulson (21 Jan 1968) an Aquarius with an 'adventurous' (chancing his arm) Mars opp Jupiter looks less likely to leave the fold than Hague does. Indeed he looks positively gung ho come this December and thro' 11/12.

Depardieu and Binoche - a lovvie tiff From: Marjorie. (03 Sep 2010 12:21):
An unseemly spat is entrancing the French public between their two most respected actors. Gerard Depardieu for no apparently good reason publicly attacked Oscar winning Juliette Binoche accusing her of having done nothing in her career and not deserving her success. The winsome Binoche has carefully suggested he may be suffering from personal problems.
Depardieu (27 Dec 1948 8 am Chateauroux, Fr) has had an illustrious, film-packed career from unlikely beginnings as a street child. He's a lucky but tough minded Sun Jupiter Mercury in Capricorn trine Saturn in Virgo. With Mars in acquisitive Capricorn sextile an intense Scorpio Moon; a trapped 8th house Pluto and an erratic 7th house Uranus opposition his Sun. He's also a wine grower and a gourmand, leading to his quintuple heart by pass some years ago.
Binoche (9 March 1964 12.25pm Paris, Fr) is from a talented, intellectual and artistic middle class background and clearly has a different style to the rambunctious, roistering Depardieu. She has Mars Sun in Pisces conjunct her Midheaven with lucky Jupiter also in her 10th. Her cool Saturn in Aquarius squares Depardieu's Scorpio Moon and her Capricorn Moon is conjunct his 2nd house Mars - so she'll be too cool for his sexually intense Moon and somehow sparks off his concerns about money.
She does - in that odd way of seemingly gentle women - have a really tough Mars Sun opposition Pluto and Uranus. So she will attract very strong at times hostile responses which appear to be undeserved and yet belong to her subterranean anger.
Their relationship chart has what could be a friendly, affectionate Sun Mercury Mars Venus conjunction. But there's also a oneupmanship Pluto opposition Jupiter in a chained-together and hating-it square to Saturn.
Neither of them look about to disappear off the acting scene for a goodly while indeed Depardieu could be poised to produce his best work with Saturn aiming for his midheaven by 2011, setting his peak in the years thereafter. Though he does have tr Saturn about to square his Sun this month and Jupiter Mercury in Oct/Nov with a dreary slog-on tr Pluto trine his Saturn in 11/12. And he did have tr Neptune was his Moon when he made the remarks so something isn't going well for him at a comfort level.
Binoche has her Solar Arc Moon about to hit her Midheaven in 2011 so again will be higher profile still and with Saturn now out of her first quadrant she's likely to go on and on.

Tony Blair - money a means to an end of greater glory From: Marjorie. (03 Sep 2010 11:43):
The conventional wisdom was that Tony Blair was not that into money but wife Cherie was - clearly. On a 1.20am birth time she has a 2nd house Pluto and a Leo Moon all of which would point to a compulsive need to amass or control money and to live a five star lifestyle.
Blair himself is all about ego. OK so he's Sun and Jupiter in Taurus which would suggest a leaning towards an acquisitive lifestyle but he's more about fame, glory, respect and power/influence.
On his book thing, his memoirs were about to be a resounding flop until he said the proceeds would go to the British Legion which was a smart PR move. It has shot up the lists - and that is what he needs. A failure would be more damaging to his self esteem than losing the money.
It may be that having moved out of No 10 he felt he would fade into insignificance which he utterly could not stand and acquiring money is one way of keeping his status high.
His relationship chart with Cherie has money written large all over it and it may be that she lives out his greedy side for him. He's got an odd way of using other people to live out the sides of himself he'd rather not own - Alistair Campbell as the rottweiler etc. When he was a jobbing MP, Cherie was earning quarter of a million a year as a high flying barrister so they have never exactly gone short.
Blair's 9th and especially his 13th Harmonic have Jupiter very strongly aspected to his Sun. In his natal chart it is an over wide conjunction of 14 degrees. But his Sun and Jupiter are joined more strongly by 9th and 13th aspects. The 13th is the spiritual deadness one and it may be that having lots of loot makes him feel more alive. So it isn't a Midas greediness, more a filling of the empty space inside himself.

Peggy Guggenheim - an artistic and chaotic life From: Marjorie. (02 Sep 2010 12:25):
There's to be a bio-pic about Peggy Guggenheim, the heiress and art collector who moved in art circles. Her first husband was a sculptor and she then married painter Max Ernst though she also had a legendary number of affairs.
Born 26 Dec 1898 she was a Sun Capricorn in sextile to money-oriented Jupiter in Scorpio; with her Jupiter in an adventurous/reckless square to Mars in Leo. That her emotional life was muddled is hardly surprising since her Gemini Moon was conjunct Pluto Neptune and opposition Saturn and her Venus in flamboyant Sagittarius was conjunct erratic Uranus with Venus Uranus being trine Mars. So she would never quite know what she wanted but it also involved constant change and excitement.

Her father Benjamin Guggenheim went down with the Titanic when she was 12 and he had a chart and a half. Born on 26 Oct 1865 he was a Sun Saturn Mercury Mars in Scorpio opposition Pluto in Taurus, trine Uranus in Cancer. And that is a poleaxing amount of compacted and not altogether pleasant energy. Evidently when the Titanic started to sink he went down to his cabin to dress and said he would die like a gentleman and not a coward (wiki). Mars Saturn Pluto would give him guts though possibly also attract him to risky situations. At that point tr Uranus was exactly square his Saturn Sun in Scorpio which is a tremendous jolt - and he had tr Pluto just one degree past the opposition to his Jupiter with SArc Mars nearly conjunct Jupiter - so ways too much over confident energy.

Hirsi Ali - not one for turning From: Marjorie. (02 Sep 2010 11:54):
Just a quick thought about Hirsi Ali, the Somali feminist activist, writer, and politician and prominent critic of Islam especially in its treatment of women. She was born on 13 November 1969 which gives her the exact same birth day/year as Lori Berenson, the American activist who has served nearly 15 years of a 20-year sentence in Peru for aiding violent leftist rebels (see Aug 20 below).
Both have the intense and idealistic Sun Neptune Mercury in Scorpio in a determined sextile to Pluto in Virgo. With an uncompromising Mars in Aquarius trine reformist Uranus and Mars is on the point of a Fixed T Square to a Venus in Scorpio opposition an unyielding Saturn. Courage aplenty from that Mars but not always sensible.
Clearly both cut from the same courageous/reckless mould though their focus is clearly different which will to some extent be down to house positions.

Matthew Newton - down the generational chain it goes From: Marjorie. (02 Sep 2010 11:37):
Matthew Newton is an Australian actor/tv presenter from a television family who has earned himself a reputation as a bad boy following domestic assault charges, attracted outraged criticism for simulating sex acts on television and has recently been in rehab.
Born on 22 Jan 1977 he's a Sun Aquarius with an Aquarius/Pisces Moon. But his problems undoubtedly stem from Mars Mercury in Capricorn square Pluto with Mars Mercury sextile Uranus, trine Jupiter and inconjunct Saturn. So his Mars is very afflicted and he clearly carries a huge amount of rage and anger, mainly stemming from his father.
Father Bert (23 July 1938) has an exact Sun Pluto conjunction in Cancer closely conjunct Mars at 0 Leo. And that contains quite a powerhouse of anger and control issues. Mother Patti (2 April 1945) is a vague though controlled-or-controlling Sun Aries trine Pluto and opposition Neptune in a constantly worried square to Saturn with her Saturn trine Mars in Pisces. Her Mars is square Uranus and inconjunct Pluto. So there are the same themes running through all of the charts.
You could be right, Zdo, about him acting out for the family.

James Franco - a dynamo of energy, intellect and talent From: Marjorie. (02 Sep 2010 11:12):
James Franco, the American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer, and painter, best known for his Spiderman role certainly has a multiplicity of talents and energy. According to wiki: He has "an unusually high metabolism for productivity...a superhuman ability to focus". He left his early skill as a mathematician to act and has now returned to acquire a plethora of degrees.
He reenrolled at UCLA, taking three times the normal number of course credits per quarter while continuing to act. He moved to New York to attend simultaneously graduate schools at Columbia for writing, New York for filmmaking, and Brooklyn for fiction writing. He starts a Yale Ph.D. in English now and will also attend the Rhode Island School of Design.
Makes me tired just thinking about it though also very respectful.
Born on 19 April 1978, he's a Sun Aries with a Fire Grand Trine of Mercury in Aries trine Saturn in Leo trine Neptune in Sagittarius - that's a useful combination of unshakeable self confidence and high energy (Fire) plus Saturn's self discipline and determination to be a person of substance plus the Saturn Neptune creative drive. His Saturn is further emphasised being on the point of a T Square to a Venus in Taurus opposition Uranus. So his determination is second to none when he sets his mind on a course. He also has Mars in Leo.
Luckily he has a Virgo Moon which although a worrier is an earth sign like his Venus. The problem with a too fiery chart is often burnout since they don't stop long enough to recharge their batteries along the way. So Earth does help. Plus he has Jupiter in Cancer and Uranus in Scorpio so just enough Water to also help in the recharge process. Fire and Air take off away from the body while Earth and Water are part of the reconnecting, healing process.
He certainly looks on a high late this year into 2011 with his Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Mars.

Forum changes From: Marjorie. (02 Sep 2010 11:11):
Hi, The Forum has been changed really to have two strands. One is my pieces of Today's News without comment so you don;t have to search down the list. The other is really a revamp of the old forum which allows for comments on any subject, questions/new topics and hopefully ongoing discussion.
I'll get the back button put up to the top though I just use the PC back button. Also I'll get headers put in for these pieces as well.
Hope this helps waken things up.

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - cut from the same mould From: Marjorie. (01 Sep 2010 11:14):
Early views of Tony Blair's voyaging memoirs indicate he has described Gordon Brown as having zero emotional intelligence and accused him of all manner of dirty tricks.
Their relationship chart is in a cool dip understandably exactly of this moment with tr Saturn opposing the composite Venus and about to oppose the composite Sun square Uranus and square the composite Midheaven later in the year. No doubt there'll be tit for tat along the way.
Their relationship chart does have a deceptively friendly, even affectionate Sun Venus conjunction but that is firmly held in check and the good feelings damped down by a Saturn opposition and Uranus square - so tensions would erupt suddenly. Worse there is a Pluto trine Jupiter Mars and that suggests a bitter power struggle for the upper hand.
Blair's very stubborn Aquarius Moon opp Pluto square Taurus Sun do hit Brown's spotlight-demanding 5th house Moon Pluto in Leo opp Mercury in Aquarius very awkwardly. They are both hugely obstinate and unyielding.

Global Finance - creaking and groaning From: Marjorie. (01 Sep 2010 10:24):
US stock markets suffered their worst August in almost a decade. The Dow Jones ended the month 4.3pc lower, with the S&P 500 down 4.7pc. The FTSE 100 lost 0.6pc in the month, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 7.5pc and Germany's Dax 5.8pc.

The Dow Jones chart had tr Pluto square Mars and sextile Solar Arc Saturn through July/August so was always on cue for a slide and those influences return mid Oct to late Nov this year. What is worrying is that in 2011/12 tr Pluto was will be square the Dow Jones Solar Arc Neptune which is pretty devastating, mirroring the panicky confusion of the 1929 Wall Street crash when tr Pluto was conjunct the DJones Solar Arc Neptune. There aren't quite the plethora of other damaging influences that were around in 1929 and the aftermath but it still is not going to be pleasant.

Japan's economy is creaking ominously again with deflation having a strong grip. The Bank of Japan chart is very blocked and depressed with Solar Arc Sun square Saturn at the moment and tr Neptune due to conjunct the Solar Arc Sun and square Saturn from mid Oct to mid Nov this year which will be panicked and uncertain. Solar Arc Uranus is exactly trine the BoJ Pluto as of now as it takes extraordinary steps to try to rectify the situation. But with Solar Arc Neptune creeping closer to a trine to Pluto thro' 11 and then 12 it'll be ways off before they find constructive stability.
The Nikkei chart also has more woes to come with tr Neptune opposing its Venus through the latter months of this year; with tr Saturn about to cause jolts in Oct, deep gloom in Nov and high anxiety in Dec and those influences repeat into 2011.

The UK FTSE, although in a better state since Saturn moved out of Virgo and stopped squaring the Jupiter Neptune conjunction, still has a highly strung look about it with tr Uranus square Neptune now and again in early 2011; SArc Saturn conjunct Uranus now; SArc Uranus conjunct Mercury and by next year the Sun - all of which look like major jolts.
The Bank of England also has a volatile, disruptive SArc Sun conjunct Uranus at the moment and tr Uranus square Saturn from mid September - so a change of policy will be forced on them by outside circumstances.

The EU has been strangely absent from the headlines recently apart from unemployment figures staying high. But there is no way that Greece is doing well with the pole axing influences on their chart; Spain is in horrible shape and that's not going to improve anytime soon, indeed will be even more visibly on its knees in 11/12; Ireland despite stalwart efforts is not doing well. The German-back EU policy of cut, cut, cut pulls down tax revenues and consumer demand and makes for a moribund economy. That is going to come home to roost at some point.
The EU Central Bank is under huge pressure astrologically at the moment, though its not too obvious on the outside and will continue to be s till the year end with a distinct dip in Sept and Oct this year as tr Neptune opposes their financial Venus. Later this year the major upheaval of SArc Uranus conjunct their Pluto comes in to play so they won't be able to hold to their present course much longer. 2011 looks disappointing and confused for them.
The interesting point will be after mid October for the EU and Euro charts with their 10 Capricorn Suns and of course Germany which has the same. Tr Saturn square their Sun may be a mild enough influence but it does seem to be affecting a good many of the key charts. And is a harbinger of things to come with tr Pluto and tr Uranus moving to the hard aspects three years later.
Germany is the lynch pin of the EU and although they are buoyed up by Jupiter influences in 11/12 also have decidedly panicky ones as well - tr Neptune square Solar Arc Sun; and a really discouraging tr Pluto conjunct Sun/Saturn from early 2011 for two years thereafter.

Setting an exact timetable for these charts isn't easy - as we saw last year from the Euro chart - since both countries and company/bank charts seem to have a time lag. Perhaps their inanimate nature makes them less sensitive to the early warning signals and it is often after the exact influence that they start to react.

Paris Hilton - melting down From: Marjorie. (31 Aug 2010 17:10):
Paris Hilton having avoided a drugs charge in South Africa now faces a felony charge in the US for possessing cocaine.
Her stubbornly rebellious Aquarius Sun Mercury (and Venus) square Uranus is under attack on all fronts. Tr Uranus is trine her Uranus and square her Solar Arc Uranus and about to conjunct her Solar Arc Sun Mercury. With tr Neptune having earlier this year and again into 2011 being in the undermining conjunction to her Sun Mercury. So spaced out, highly strung, all over the place. She's also got the even more debilitating Solar Arc Neptune square her Pluto exactly now which is hugely uncertain, anxiety-provoking, especially since her Pluto is 10th house so she likes being in control - and Neptune is dissolving all of that. Plus she has tr Saturn aiming to square her Solar Arc Mars late this September and then conjunct her Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Oct this year - all of which will grind her to a halt.
Tr Saturn is aiming to conjunct her Midheaven later this year which can signify a consolidation of reputation in the time thereafter. But it has another meaning of chickens coming home to roost and doing the opposite. Saturn always exerts its toll. If anything she may be facing greater difficulties ahead since her Solar Arc Mars will oppose her Jupiter Saturn by 2012 which will be a roadblock of another variety.

Air signs - not so friendly and charming From: Marjorie. (31 Aug 2010 16:42):
A German Bundesbank senior has been slated for his views on Muslim immigrants and Jews. Thilo Sarazin was born on 12 Feb 1945 and is - surprise surprise - a New Moon in Aquarius with Mercury in Aquarius opposition Pluto. The traditional astrological description of Aquarius as humanitarian, tolerant, into the brotherhood of mankind - seems to fall decidedly short when you look at the multiple Aquarius planets including Sun of Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and indeed the late fascist pro-Nazi Jorg Haider. Haider had Sun Jupiter Venus in Aquarius opposition Pluto with Mars Neptune in Libra.
Sarazin has his Aquarius Mercury trine Uranus in Gemini trine Neptune in Libra - so very Air-sign oriented.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who is evidently a hugely respected religious scholar in Israel has equally caused a storm of protest on the eve of the Israeli-Palestine peace talks by saying that Mahmoud Abbas should die. He said in a sermon (!?!) that God should strike the Palestinians and their leader with a plague. "Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this earth." In 2001 he said the Arabs should be annihilated. "It is forbidden to be merciful to them. They are evil and damnable," - in another sermon. He was born on 23 Sept 1920 and is a Libra Sun, Mercury, Venus with probably an Aquarius Moon. He also has a hugely emphasized Mars in Sagittarius on the point of a Mutable T Square to a Jupiter opposition Uranus which explains some of his intemperate hatred.
But the Air sign thing is interesting.

Climate Change Panel - raining on their parade From: Marjorie. (31 Aug 2010 15:11):
A critical review has said the U.N. climate panel should make predictions only when it has solid evidence and should avoid policy advocacy. The scientists who wrote the report called for thorough reform of the body.

On the astrology there's not much more to add to the previous Feb 3 2010 post:

Raj Pachauri (20 Aug 1940) head of the UN IPCC is not facing a good year ahead. His 27 degree Leo Sun has a tr Neptune opposition picking up from early March - and in August. He is a stubborn Leo square Uranus Saturn Jupiter in Taurus with Mercury Pluto also in Leo so won't budge easily.
The IPCC itself (9 Nov 1988) has tr Uranus (aided and abetted by tr Saturn) coming up to square the IPCC Saturn Uranus in Sagittarius in April and May 2010, returning Aug/Sep 10 and early 11 - so there'll be more earth shaking moments over coming months.
Pachauri's relationship chart with the IPCC has a very volatile Mercury Pluto opp Uranus square Mars which has been elbowed recently by tr Uranus; with tr Neptune coming up to a disappointing opposition to the comp Venus in March (and again in August) and more significantly a tr Saturn conjunct the composite Sun in late Sept 2010 - so there may well be a parting of the ways.

William Hague - distractions and diversions From: Marjorie. (30 Aug 2010 11:11):
William Hague, the UK Foreign Secretary, has hit the headlines with questions about a new special adviser, taken on above quota in times of austerity and not overly qualified by the looks of him. One treads carefully in these litigious waters but it is fair to say that Hague's chart does look troubled in times to come.
Born on 26 March 1961, 6am? Rotherham, England, he has an Aries Sun square Mars in Cancer so he is energetic and combative in argument. His intense Mercury opposition Pluto also makes him a formidable and persuasive debater. His home loving Cancer Moon opposes Saturn Jupiter and squares Venus in Aries - so he's good at charm, driven by a sense of vision, has oodles of initiative and likes to party.
He has a jangled tr Uranus square his Solar Arc Neptune exactly at the moment and tr Saturn is aiming to oppose his Sun within a few days which may bring a reality check. Tr Uranus may also be trine his Moon (birth time of 6am being accurate) in Sept/Oct which could be emotionally unsettling. Tr Saturn then makes an impatient-about-setbacks square to Mars in Nov this year and again next year; plus tr Pluto returns to the pressured, challenging square to his Sun over the New Year and on thro' 2011. This latter means his life is changing out of all recognition. Which is certainly true as he takes on the onerous job of Foreign Secretary never mind any side diversions. He's then got tr Neptune opposition his Solar Arc Mars in 11/12 which is not good news, sinking and undermining.
It's a shame since he is one of the brighter ones.
PS Hague's relationship with PM David Cameron looks very disappointed and uncertain now and thro' till late Oct with real coolness/separation in the third week of September and more of a gulf in late October as tr Saturn squares the composite Sun.

P.S. Sept 2: On birth times looking at his Tory Party Leadership (11 June 1997) and resignation (7 June 2001) I'd think an Aquarius Ascendant is about right but possibly 5.40/45 rather than 6 am. He has always seemed an oddball which kind of fits that Ascendant. 1997 put tr Jupiter on his Ascendant and tr Saturn trine his Midheaven. His departure in 2001 would have tr Pluto conjunct his Midheaven.
Although he has a reputation as bright his career is littered with criticisms of misjudgements both personal and policy. In recent times he took the Tories out of mainstream Europe into alliance with a bunch of wildly right wing Rumanians or somesuch and he certainly was very allied to Lord Ashcroft whose business and tax affairs did seem to raise serious question marks.
That Water Grand Trine on his chart will disappear him into his own inner dream world so he doesn't relate that clearly to reality at times. And one leg of it is an impulsive Mars in Cancer which is being jolted by tr Saturn fairly soon.
The journalists clearly think there's more to come out on the story and his astrology certainly indicates a continuing saga of some sort. The miscarriage press release has been described as throwing the kitchen sink at the allegations but it does smell of desperation.
Guido Fawkes the political blogger (order-order.com) called it an Aitkenesque 'sword of fidelity' statement. That referred to ex-MP Jonathan Aitken's notorious proclamation:- "If it falls to me to start a fight to cut out the cancer of bent and twisted journalism in our country with the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of British fair play, so be it. I am ready for the fight. The fight against falsehood and those who peddle it.' After which he did a stretch at Her Majesty's Pleasure for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
A 6am birth time puts tr Neptune conjunct Hague's Ascendant which certainly fits a sinking reputation. Or a 5.40 am puts his Solar Arc Ascendant conjunct his Sun both of which are about to get the tr Saturn opposition.

Gloria Allred - a steamroller personality From: Marjorie. (30 Aug 2010 10:55):
Another tough lady of almost the same vintage as Kitty Kelley is lawyer Gloria Allred, born 3 July 1941 10.56pm Philadelphia, PA, US. Although she's best known for her high profile celeb clients of often dubious image - the Octomum, Tiger Woods' mistress etc etc, she does a huge amount of unseen and valuable work for women's rights and early on for the civil rights movement.
She's had a complicated emotional life with an early failed marriage to an abusive bi-polar sufferer who ultimately suicided, a rape and a botched abortion following. Then another longer though not altogether happy marriage.
She's a 5th house Sun Mercury in Cancer so clearly likes the spotlight though with an 8th house Scorpio Moon she's driven by very private and intense feelings. Her Moon is quadrupled up in intensity not just being in Scorpio and in the 8th, Scorpio's natural home, but also squaring Pluto and Venus in Leo in the 6th. So work is her passion and her obsession.
Pluto Venus are further emphasised being on the point of a mini-Grand Trine to Neptune trine Uranus (Saturn) in Taurus - so she's obstinate, persevering, charming when it suits her, controlling.
She looks fairly stuck at the moment with her Solar Arc Saturn conjunct her Venus and aiming to conjunct her Pluto by 2012 which is very blocked, maybe from health issues. She'll have a confident high in 2011 with her SArc Mars conjunct her Jupiter but then there's that drag in the background plus an emotionally upsetting SArc Uranus square her Moon in 2012 as well.

Kitty Kelley - stirring up dirt From: Marjorie. (30 Aug 2010 10:04):
Kitty Kelley, who writes unauthorised biographies of the rich and famous with a poison pen, was born on 4 April 1942 in Spokane, Washington, US. Her latest tome on Oprah Winfrey has raised the usual criticism of factual errors, dirt digging etc etc.
She's a feisty Sun Aries in a wide, controlling trine to Pluto in Leo. She's also got a crusading and self-justifying Mars Jupiter in Gemini which sextile her Sun giving her confidence and drive.
Her Mercury opposes Neptune which is fantasy-prone, not good with detail and finds it difficult at times to distinguish fiction from fact.
If she was born around mid day which looks fairly likely giving her an ambitious 10th house Sun, then she has a very emphasised Scorpio Moon. The Moon opposes Saturn Uranus in Taurus and squares Venus in Aquarius - so she's emotionally all over the place - stubborn, vengeful, cold, erratic and good at turning on a smile (Venus) for PR purposes but that's only a veneer.
It does all rather fit an odd story about her on wiki from an unauthorised biography of her life - that she was fingered for being a kleptomaniac at college, asked to leave, sent away from home and may have had a breakdown ending her up in a wheelchair for a while as a result. A focal point Fixed sign Venus tends to want, want, want since the fixed energy sensualises all of Venus's indulgent side.
At that point her Solar Arc Pluto was coming up to square her Saturn, Uranus Moon and oppose Venus in the two or three years thereafter which is very stuck and blocked and impacts the Moon which can give rise to physical efects. Plus tr Pluto in the aftermath was also square her SArc Moon and square her Mars Jupiter - so huge frustration and rage.
She also has a Mystic Rectangle of Mercury sextile Saturn Uranus and Neptune sextile Moon which is joined by a series of oppositions and trines. Mystic Rectangles are difficult to balance because of the oppositions and usually require insight before they find a positive outcome.
At the moment she still has tr Neptune wending its way round her Fixed T square with tr Neptune conjunct Venus, square Uranus, Saturn and maybe square Moon which has made the past couple of years rather undermining. That won't disappear until mid way through 2011. Plus she has Solar Arc Saturn conjunct her Pluto in 2011 which is very stuck. But she's one tough lady so will no doubt keep pushing on.

Andy Murray - a roller coaster life From: Marjorie. (29 Aug 2010 11:50):
Andy Murray, the Scots tennis player, ranked World No 4, whose career has had its ups but never quite managed to sustain at top level, is not renowned for his public relations skills. Born 15 May 1987 at 2.10pm Glasgow, Scotland, he is a well-travelled 9th house Taurus Sun. But his chart apart from that is mainly Air and Fire. He has Mercury and Mars in Gemini with Mars ambitiously placed in the 10th. His Mars opposes Uranus Moon Saturn in Sagittarius so he'll be impulsive, erratic, emotionally volatile, impatient, at times autocratic, at other times rather downbeat.
His parents split when he was 9 and he stayed along with his brother with his father which seems marginally odd. A 4th house Saturn Moon Uranus Neptune certainly suggests a not altogether happy childhood, with constant changes which will have contributed to his edginess.
Oddly enough like Linda McCartney (below) he has an 8th house Jupiter (and Venus in Aries) which do slightly soften that ratchety Mars opp Moon Saturn Uranus by sextile/trine.
When the Dunblane shootings occurred on 13 March 1997 in his school there was a transiting Saturn Mars conjunction with tr Saturn exactly square his Mars which sounds descriptive enough of a near-miss. Tr Pluto was opposition his Mercury and tr Uranus trine Mercury - so clearly it would affect him mentally, a huge strain.
At the moment he has tr Saturn into his lower first quadrant which does mean he's pushing against the grain somewhat in keeping up a heavy training and playing schedule in the few years to come.
He does in general have tr Pluto trine Sun/Jupiter in 10/11 which is good for wins and confidence though that doesn't come back exactly till the New Year, and again next summer and late autumn. He looks fairly stuck from now till mid October and very unsettled and insecure (accident prone) in Nov/Dec 2010 as tr Uranus squares his Mars. Into next year he's got some really draggy and muddled influences as well as a few spots of brighter Jupiter.
I'd have my doubts as to whether he's got that much longer at top level, perhaps another year.

Linda McCartney - lucky and determined From: Marjorie. (29 Aug 2010 11:09):
The latest biog of Linda McCartney suggests she was a sex mad groupie and hell bent on landing a name. Though that may just be senationalising to sell the book.
She did have quite a strong and not altogether easy chart. An 11th house Libra Sun was conjunct creative Neptune and trine Saturn Uranus, with both ends of the trine sextile a 9th house Pluto - so she was quite controlling and keen to make herself heard. She would be argumentative with Mercury opposition Mars in Aries but that was softened somewhat by being trine/sextile Jupiter in Gemini. She came from a wealthy family which Jupiter in the 8th can suggest. Things came easily her way and maybe she did expect that. She also had an intense Moon Venus in Scorpio conjunct her Ascendant in the 1st with Venus square Pluto - so she was passionate, possessive, difficult to get to know well.
It undoubtedly was a love match with Paul since their relationship chart had a Sun Venus conjunction sextile Mars - so lots of affection and energy. But there would be more ups and downs than were obvious from the outside with a Moon Neptune trine Saturn Uranus sextile a 10th house Pluto - so rough edges, some evasiveness and a fight for control at times.
His Leo Moon fell in her 10th closely conjunct her Midheaven so he gave her life a direction and helped her ambitions. His Sun Jupiter fell in her 8th which makes it deep and meaningful and gave her financial security. Her Jupiter in Gemini was conjunct his Midheaven and Gemini Sun - so equally she gave a great deal to him that was good career-wise and also boosted his morale.

Joran van der Sloot - trying to slide through the cracks From: Marjorie. (29 Aug 2010 10:42):
Joran van der Sloot is awaiting the verdict of three judges in Peru as to whether his confession to the murder of Stephanie Flores was illegally obtained. He is the chief suspect in the disappearance and presumed murder of Nathalie Holloway.
He has tr Uranus opposition his Mars/Pluto midpoint now till Sept 12th which Ebertin describes as 'sudden calamities and catastrophes'. That doesn't sound like a get-out-of-jail-free card. He does have a tr Pluto sextile Jupiter/Neptune until mid October which is probably making him over hopeful so there may be a glimmer of light for him. And he does have tr Pluto trine his Solar Arc Sun from the New Year which is more in control. But there's a good deal of Neptune floating around which isn't usually ego-boosting. He's a slippery sod with a super-confident Fire Grand Trine so he probably thinks he can talk his way out of any tight corner. Maybe tr Saturn opposition his Aries NNode at the moment will bring him down to earth.

From previous post:
He is a Sun Venus Mars in Leo with his Sun Venus square Pluto and trine Saturn in Sagittarius. His Mars is also trine Uranus in Sag and Jupiter in Aries. So bucket loads of Fire. In that not dissimilar to Derrick Bird, the UK taxi driver killer who also had a Fire Grand Trine which included Saturn in Sagittarius. Both also have Fixed sign Venus square Pluto. Fixed sign Venuses tend to sensualise their feelings so are more likely to act out. An over emphasis on Fire tends to give too much self confidence, a lack of realism and insensitivity to the needs of others. His Jupiter is also in a head-in-the-clouds trine to Neptune and possibly Moon. Though his Moon could be Sagittarius and therefore conjunct Uranus and possibly trine Mars as well which sounds more like it.

Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin - the terrible twins From: Marjorie. (29 Aug 2010 10:21):
It is seriously spooky that Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin the Tea Party icons are born within a day of each other - 10/11 Feb 1964. Both have that cold, hard, ratchety Aquarius Saturn, Mars, Sun conjunction in a paranoid, none-too-straight-forward square to Neptune in Scorpio. Beck has Mercury in Capricorn with a Capricorn Moon while Palin has Mercury Moon in Aquarius.
Holding their latest hate-in at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday where Martin Luther King made his 'I have a dream' speech was typically crass.
I shouldn't allow myself political comment - but the good news is that they are looking increasingly unhappy in coming months. Their Sun Mars Saturn square Neptune has moved by Solar Arc Directions into early Cardinal so that tr Saturn will square SArc Neptune at the tart of September; with tr Saturn opposition SArc Sun, Mars, Saturn from late Sept till Nov this year which will be dampening. Even worse from their perspective is that tr Neptune will conjunct their respective Saturns from Oct 22nd till late Nov which is uncertain, confused, undermining.

Edith Holden - an unfolding destiny From: Marjorie. (28 Aug 2010 14:29):
Edith Holden's Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady was a lovely book with flower illustrations and quite a publishing sensation when it was fished out of an attic and brought out in 1977.
She was born on 26 Sept 1871 so was a charming Sun Venus in Libra in a hard working square to Saturn in Capricorn. Her Sun Venus were also on the focal point of a mini-Grand Trine of Mars in determined Scorpio to Uranus Jupiter so she was lucky, self confident, adventurous, not one to compromise. She also had a wide Pluto opposition Mars which is quite ruthless/suppressed and could have attracted her to risk. She also had a highly strung Neptune square Jupiter Uranus. Her sensitive, creative Pisces Moon was sextile Saturn. Her Mercury in meticulous Virgo was trine Pluto.

When she accidentally drowned in 1920 looking for flowers on a riverbank tr Uranus was conjunct her Moon (exact if a 12 noon birth time) and her Solar Arc Moon was conjunct her Neptune - which would make me think that might be the right time. By the looks of that she'd not be paying attention. Her Solar Arc Mars was just passed a trine to her Mercury and there was quite a lot of Mars around then so she'd probably be impatient.

When her grand-niece found her diaries and had them published on 13 June 1977 the tr Sun Jupiter in Gemini were conjunct her Solar Arc Moon which sounds about right for a lucky confidence boost and a real coming together for her. Tr Uranus was nearly conjunct her Solar Arc Jupiter Uranus which again is a lucky break; her Solar Arc Sun Venus were just passed the trine to her Mercury so promoting her communication and artistic skills in a book. And tr Pluto was conjunct her Solar Arc North Node bringing out a moment in her destiny, albeit nearly sixty years after her death.

Cardinal Climax From: Marjorie. (28 Aug 2010 13:43):
March 2010: Around about Aug 8th this year Saturn, Venus, Mars will be in Libra opposition Uranus Jupiter in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn (& NNode in Cap).
It's a rather mind boggling collection to interpret. And the wild card is Jupiter which could actually produce good news. If you strip Jupiter out it's Uranus opp Saturn Mars square Pluto which is seriously unfun - accident prone, violent, domineering, ruthless, stuck.
Admittedly Mars opposition Jupiter can lead to acts of self-righteous over confidence. The Afghanistan War was launched on a Jup opp Mars square Sun and the Iraq Attack on a Mars quincunx Jupiter. And Jupiter square Pluto can also be pushy, uncaring about other people's rights.
The Saturn opp Uranus square Pluto is all in Cardinals for the first time and fairly close at that point - it runs on thro' 2011 so there will be continuing effects. In many ways the height of the Cardinal Climax will be around the July 2011 Solar Eclipse with the New Moon in Cancer opp Pluto square Saturn opp Uranus which could produce more major events.
Looking back the triple conjunction of Saturn Uranus Pluto in the mid 19th Century in Aries/Taurus produced the 'year of revolutions' in 1848 as Europe went into revolt. This conjunction launched the Second French Empire under Louis Napoleon; and the unification of modern Germany effectively began then. The seeds of Communism were sown with Marx and Engels in full flood. The start of the liberation of the serfs in Russia really kicked off in the aftermath leading eventually to the Russian Revolution 70 years later. China was also in internal revolt over corruption.
The previous triple conjunction of Saturn Uranus Pluto around 1713 in Virgo brought a balance of power and economic growth to Europe with the Age of Enlightenment dawning which brought scientific progress, the breakdown of old beliefs and arts and culture flourished. Plus rebellions around the globe.
I'd expect to see more of the Greek-type street riots in various countries over the economic situation. And there is a good deal on the financial charts pointing to this October as being a tipping point in the downward direction for a second major dip.
There's a huge amount changing in the world at the moment both internally in individual countries and in terms of larger global movements. Even the headlines this week are instructive -1. Europe cracking at the seams. 2. Israel almost for the first time finding itself in isolation - which is pivotal not just for the Middle East but for the wider East West relationship. 3. Even the Vatican which has been around for almost two millennia is facing an existential crisis. 4. The USA finally managed to pass Healthcare which has defied all efforts to get in place for a 100 years. 5. The UK sinks to even greater depths economically and morally in terms of political leadership. Etc etc.
Pluto in Capricorn is grinding inexorably on pulling down the old structures, forcing a rethink economically and politically with the peasants becoming increasingly restless about the quality of their leadership. It isn't going to lead to a shining golden Age but some of the old baggage will undoubtedly go and a few pedestals will be tumbled.

Albert Einstein revisited From: Marjorie. (28 Aug 2010 13:42):
Nov 23 2008: The BBC retrieved some of its tattered reputation last night with fascinating drama about British scientist Arthur Eddington's successful attempt to prove physicist Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, which brought Einstein to world attention in 1919.
Einstein was a Pisces as befits an explorer of cosmic space - an amazing number of scientists especially of the visionary variety are Pisces. He had a 10th house Sun as well as Mercury, Saturn and Venus in Aries in the 10th - so was ambitious, serious minded, wanted to communicate his ideas. Jupiter in Aquarius in the 9th added to his communicative flair, with Aquarius also having a scientific bent, as does his Uranus in Virgo trine Neptune. Uranus Neptune often accompanies Eureka moments of scientific advance. He also had Mars in Capricorn trine Pluto so ruthlessly applied himself in the face of considerable difficulties - he was a German Jew who became a naturalised Swiss but continued to work in Berlin thro' WW1.
When he had his annus mirabilis in 1905 - his wonderful year - when he published four scientific papers now deemed to be revolutionary - his Solar Arc Jupiter was conjunct his 10th house Sun. By the time he had published his Theory of Relativity in late 1915 his SA Jupiter had moved to conjunct his 10th house Mercury.
Arthur Eddington, the astronomer, whose experiments helped propel Einstein to world fame was a Sun, Mars, Mercury in Capricorn with an Earth Grand Trine of Mercury trine a Neptune Saturn conjunction in Taurus trine Uranus in Virgo. With so much earth in his chart his work had a very practical orientation. His Uranus fell exactly opposite Einstein's Pisces Sun and his Jupiter square Einstein's Sun - so Eddington's confidence and luck (Jup) threw light (Ur) on Einstein's work - revealing him as the brilliant scientist that he was. Their composite chart is interesting with a close Earth Grand Trine of Mars trine Neptune trine Uranus - so throwing energy (Mars) into scientific advance (Ur Nep). There's also an exact Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Aries in the composite chart giving them a joint sense of vision for change.
Albert Einstein 14 March 1879 11.30 am Ulm Germany (Astrotheme)
Arthur Eddington 28 Dec 1882 England

Pakistan - Uranus Mars and Eclipses From: Marjorie. (28 Aug 2010 11:50):
The Pakistan floods and their aftermath appear to be worsening by the day. Tr Uranus is now off the highly insecure square to the Pakistan Mars which was there at the start of the monsoon but Uranus is now on the square to Mars/MC and reversing towards the jolting square to the Pakistan Midheaven and opposition Ascendant from later in September, with tr Uranus square Mars/Uranus thereafter. Which is all much the same. So it all looks very edgy, high risk and volatile and that will roll through 2011 as well since tr Uranus is returning to square the Pakistan MC early and Mars till late next year.
Pluto is now also firmly into the 4th so there's a very long haul ahead of rebuilding with much discontent from the people. Pluto in the 4th isn't all about the floods since it is there for the next decade and a half - but recent events may bring into focus what was simmering below the surface.
It clearly is a major turning point in Pakistan's history and with tr Neptune square the Taurus North Node in 10/11 there's a real possibility of further slides and decay. Though also an outside chance of spiritual development as well.
There is some sign of confidence and morale lifting from late Nov into December this year with Pluto square Sun/Jupiter. But that is only a window of sunshine and the aggravation one way or another will continue.
The Zardari Government chart is certainly getting increasingly unstable as September continues with more setbacks in November.
It isn't beyond the bounds of possibility that the army takes over. General Kayani, ex Intelligence chief, is seemingly non-political but if the chaos threatens to implode Pakistan altogether he may step in. There's no birth date for him apart from April 1952 (same as General David Richards, the UK Chief of Staff). His term of office chart looks better held together and luckier than Zardari's.

The difficult August 2008 Solar Eclipse at 9 Leo had a Saturn Mars conjunction with Mars opp Uranus square Pluto. The Eclipse itself was conjunct the Pakistan Saturn Pluto Venus in Leo. And setting the Eclipse chart for Sindh, Pakistan it puts the Saturn Mars conjunction straddling the Midheaven. The July 2010 Solar Eclipse at 19 Cancer also had a wide Mars Saturn conjunction with Mars back in Virgo for the first time since the 2008 Eclipse. From memory that was one of the triggers for the difficult August 1999 Solar Eclipse which showed not much effect at the time (except for a smallish Turkey earthquake) but did trigger two years later when Mars had made the full zodiac cycle to be back into the same sign.

Florence Cameron- No 10 babies From: Marjorie. (28 Aug 2010 10:10):
Florence Cameron, the UK Prime Minister's daughter was born on 24 August 2010 at around mid day in Truro, England. She's most likely a 10th house Virgo Sun so designed for a public career. Though with her Sun opposition Neptune Moon in the 4th she will be vague, rather ambivalent about what she actually wants to do. She will feel she has to sacrifice a fair amount for her family, since in a way her identity will be circumscribed by her parents and their situation. Being an almost Full Moon baby she'll see her parents as very different individuals, at some level not quite compatible.

She's also got the Uranus Jupiter (cusp of 6th) opposition Saturn (12th) square a 3rd house Pluto - so she'll be quite intense in her way of communicating, at times rather weighed down by the seriousness of life (Pl in 3rd), controlling, and quite hyper active. Her Sun is trine Pluto so her Pluto is heavily aspected and it does suggest she'll see her father as being quite controlling, well influential I suppose. Her relationship chart with him is quite tricky. Her Aquarius Moon is quite detached and being conjunct her Neptune means she'll find her mother tricky to pin down - though possibly also over involved elsewhere.
She has a passionately enthusiastic Venus Mars in Libra though hidden away in the 12th so she'll be creative and at times happy to be behind the scenes.
There's not much similarity between Florence and Leo Blair, also born as a No 10 baby. He's an upfront and very stolid Taurus Ascendant with Jupiter Saturn Venus Sun also in Taurus in his Ist house so he'll be very visible and quite pushy. He also has (4.32am being accurate) an 8th house Sagittarius Moon conjunct Pluto opposition Mars - so a rather scary, possessive, controlling mother and a general feeling of being trapped in his life.
Oddly in his life his father is the Neptunian one since he has a 10th house Neptune trine his Mars Mercury - he may well go into healing/helping work. He'll be a rebel or a reformist since his 11th house Uranus squares all his Taurus planets.

Bill Millin - the pipes of war From: Marjorie. (24 Aug 2010 10:07):
Bill Millin, the piper who played on the D Day Normandy landings while his mates were being killed in front of him was born on 14 July 1922. Playing the pipes in war is a tradition in Scottish regiments to motivate the soldiers. Indeed it was banned as a weapon of war during the Jacobite uprisings in the 17th Century.
Millin was a patriotic Sun Cancer with Pluto Mercury also in Cancer square an idealistic and iconic Jupiter Saturn NNode in Libra. He also had Neptune and Venus in Leo so clearly enjoyed putting on a good performance. His Neptune was in a trine to Mars in fiery Sagittarius and both sextiled onto Jupiter - so he clearly was an adventurer and an optimist.
At the D Day landings in June his Solar Arc Mars was square his Saturn and NNode indicating the difficulty of the time with a worrying tr Neptune conjunct his Saturn as well.
Interestingly his birthday was only a few days after that of his commander Lord Lovat (9 July 1911) who was a Cancer Sun Neptune Mercury opposition Uranus square Mars in Aries - so definitely a pro-active, impatient, courageous man. At the D Day landings he had tr Saturn conjunct his Pluto again indicating huge effort and tr Uranus was conjunct his Solar Arc North Node so a moment of destiny for him.

Tiger and Elin - cast asunder From: Marjorie. (24 Aug 2010 09:35):
There was no way that marriage was going to hold together since every connected chart was singing a separation loud and clear. Tiger has a Sun/Moon midpoint which is the marriage significator at 0 degrees Capricorn which Pluto has been elbowing since 2008, then Saturn and Uranus battered at it. Elin's Sun/Moon is also probably around early Cardinals in Aries so ditto and ditto. The much publicised car and golf club fight was when it emerged but the trouble between them has been there for a while.
Their relationship chart has had the tr Saturn opposition tr Uranus putting a jolting and dampening effect on their composite Moon square Jupiter and then tr tr Pluto started to exert maximum pressure on their composite Venus earlier this year with tr Saturn just about to do the same. And there's more of a gulf to come with the composite Sun being 9 Capricorn plus there's an confused, undermining tr Neptune opp composite Saturn in 11/12 so post-marriage won't be as plain sailing as perhaps they hope.
Both Tiger and Elin have Capricorn Suns at 8/10 degrees so definitely in a sobering year as tr Saturn heads to square their Suns this October. With even more upheaval, reorganisation going on as tr Pluto and tr Uranus get there in 2012/13/14.
Tiger will be especially badly affected since Saturn is now poised to move round his very confident Jupiter opp Pluto square Sun from this autumn and through 2011. That will dent his ego and damp his fire somewhat. And with tr Saturn now being into his lower 1st quadrant I'd think he'd struggle mightily over coming years to regain steady form. Indeed 2012/13 look accident prone years which could put him out of the game for a while (as does this Oct in a more minor way). Where he starts to bounce again is towards mid decade.
I wouldn't be surprised if Elin finds a new beau fairly rapidly since she has her Progressed Sun conjunct her Venus over this coming year.

Vivien Leigh - the glitter and the reality From: Marjorie. (23 Aug 2010 19:11):
Aah the façade that is Hollywood. A new book out on Vivien Leigh of Scarlett O'Hara fame who was in a fairy tale marriage to Laurence Olivier and described by poet John Betjeman as 'the essence of English womanhood' turns out to be anything but. A serial bi-sexual adulterer she had a taste for 'rough trade' - male prostitutes and street boys.

Born on 5 Nov 1913 at 5.16pm Darjeeling, India she was a Sun Scorpio on the Descendant square an Aquarius Moon Uranus conjunct the Midheaven. A Scorpio Sun and an Aquarius Moon is a tricky combination to manage - one is intense, possessive and the other detached and with Uranus experimental. She also had an Air Grand Trine of Moon trine Saturn trine Venus which would pull her away from her feelings and her body. And alongside that had four water planets - her sun, a showbizzy Mars Neptune in Cancer and Pluto in Cancer. Arroyo says of Air Water combinations that they are the most sensitive physically and psychologically. She was at the tale end of the highly strung Neptune opposition Uranus generation so prone to misjudgements.
When she was cast as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, her first big break, she had tr Jupiter conjunct her SArc Midheaven and Uranus; with her SArc Jupiter conjunct her 10th house Moon. And tr Uranus conjunct her Ascendant exactly as well as tr Pluto on her IC/nadir. So it was both hugely successful and a truly life changing time for her.
Her marriage to Laurence Olivier (22 May 1907 5 am Dorking, England) - a Taurus Sun Virgo Moon, a Water Earth chart - ultimately ended in tears. The relationship chart had an extraordinarily tricky Venus in an illusory conjunction to Neptune in a separating opposition to Uranus and in a heated square to Mars. There would be heat at the start but not much stability. His Midheaven was conjunct her 10th house Moon so work brought them together but there may also have been a thought of the career benefits of attachment on both sides to a glamorous public figure. Olivier's own chasrt had a dominant opposition from an intense volatile 8th house Uranus Mars in Capricorn opposition Jupiter Neptune in Cancer - so he'd be pulled in different directions when it came to close relationships. Though his chart is better knitted together than hers with his - and with a better-grounded Earth Grand Trine and a strong Saturn.

Noel Coward - a balancing act From: Marjorie. (23 Aug 2010 19:10):
Noel Coward, the English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his acid wit and flamboyance was born on 16 Dec 1899 at 2.30 am Teddington, England.
Coming from a relatively poor family he had an ambitious mother and appeared on stage as a child. At 20 he appeared in his own play in London's West End. He was homosexual but in the culture of the time was always discreet about his private life.
He had one of those see-saw charts which were around at the turn of the century (as did Lord Louis and Edwina Mountbatten) with Uranus Saturn in Sagittarius opposition the Neptune Pluto conjunction in Gemini. His personal planets fitted him into the mood of the time since his Sagittarius Sun and NNode were conjunct Saturn so he was a hard worker, self doubting but keen to have a good reputation. His Mercury in Sagittarius was conjunct Uranus giving him his sharp-witted and mischievous streak. And his Gemini Moon was conjunct Pluto (conj Neptune). Sagittarius is often a sign of comedians.
He also has Mars and Venus in socially ambitious Capricorn and he did mix most of his life in upper circles. He also had Jupiter in Scorpio in the 2nd house of finances which is good for money trine his Cancer Midheaven. He died a rich man.
A see-saw chart gives the need for relationships and an equally opposing force draws away from them. He was seemingly a generous man, supporting good causes often unobtrusively.
His chart is mainly 2nd house (money), 3rd house (good for communication) and an 8th house Moon Pluto which would give him intense but hidden feelings, a fear of being trapped by intimacy yet an ability to be influential out in society.

Australia - stalemate in all directions From: Marjorie. (23 Aug 2010 19:10):
There are no birth times for Julia Gilliard or Tony Abbott which doesn't make predictions easier. On what's available he looks more frustrated and stuck than she does this month. Though neither are especially hhappy. She is certainly moving into more discouraging times come September with Saturn conjunct her Libra Sun; is very trapped in Oct/Nov; hugely pressured over the New Year and sliding into early 2011. It may be if she can cobble a coalition together that it doesn't hold.
But Tony Abbott's chart is in no better shape.
In any event whoever gets the premiership may find it a poisoned chalice since the Australia chart has the immensely difficult, tough-times tr Pluto conjunct Saturn and then Sun, starting early 2011 on until mid decade. There are hints of that from late this September as Saturn squares Saturn Sun.

Sean Connery - the dream which pushed him on From: Marjorie. (22 Aug 2010 11:45):
Unbelievably Sean Connery is 80 this week. Born on 25 August 1930 at 6.05pm Edinburgh, Scotland, he is one of that very stalwart generation with a heavy Cardinal emphasis - Saturn in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Cancer. He also has the confident, successful Jupiter Pluto in Cancer that was still around a few months later when Rupert Murdoch was born.
Connery has Saturn on his Capricorn Ascendant giving him an unapproachable feel on first meeting and with Jupiter Pluto in his 7th he can also be very intense. Uranus opposes his Venus in Libra squaring onto Pluto Jupiter with Jupiter conjunct Descendant opposition Saturn. So he has a very wide Cardinal Grand Square giving him initiative by the bucket-load but also contributing to a non-stop life where he's going off in all directions at once.
His Virgo Sun close to filmic Neptune is deeply buried in his 8th house giving him the ability to project a starry image. Though in reality he'll be slightly vague, a dreamer at heart.
His 9th house has a Virgo Moon Mercury and Venus there - so travel and living abroad would always be high on his agenda. What's interesting on his astro-cartography is that his confidently determined Jupiter Pluto is on the Midheaven through Los Angeles and his filmic Sun Neptune is on the Midheaven through New York.
He does have a fair number of septiles in his chart - a strong creative 7th Harmonic. But he has an even stronger 11th Harmonic (32.7 degree aspects and multiples) which is the harmonic of the burning obsessive dream. His 11H has a T square of Sun Jupiter Pluto and a Fire Grand Trine and a Water Grand Trine tying his Moon and 11H Midheaven.

Rihanna and Eminem - love you to death From: Marjorie. (22 Aug 2010 11:05):
Eminem and Rihanna are at the top of the American charts with a song called "Love The Way You Lie", about a couple locked in a violent love-hate relationship. There's a good deal of criticism about how it glamorises domestic violence turning it into a folie a deux. He likes it, she likes it, kind of thing. Brutality chic seems to be another sign of the times.

Rihanna had a much publicised punch up with her then boyfriend Chris Brown last year which ended him up in court. Just as well for her that this song wasn't released then. Born on 20 Feb 1988 she's a Pisces Sun but it is the volcanic collection of Mars in Sagittarius conjunct Uranus Saturn Neptune in Capricorn in her chart which will attract her life a moth to a flame to the bad boys.
Eminem, born 17 October 1972, is a rebellious Sun Uranus in Libra with a ruthlessly pushy Mars Pluto in Libra square Jupiter in Capricorn.
Chris Brown is a Mars in Cancer opposition Uranus, Neptune, Saturn in Capricorn which is definitely on a short fuse. I thought at the time of the punch up that it wasn't all one sided since she has such a combustible chart. But sad to see the underlying themes shooting to the top of the chart.

John Malkovich - talent doesn't extend to money From: Marjorie. (22 Aug 2010 10:50):
John Malkovich, Line of Fire, Places in the Heart, The Empire of the Sun, Being John Malkovich etc - is a good actor, especially in menacing roles and he also writes and produces. He is due on the London stage next year playing the serial killer Jack Unterweger in a one man show.
He was born on 9 Dec 1953 at 11.39pm Christopher, IL, USA and has a 4th house Sagittarius Sun opposition Jupiter in Gemini conjunct his Midheaven in a trine/sextile to Pluto in the 12th. So he's private about his home life, lucky in his career, at times too laid back and likes to pull strings behind the scenes. He has Half a Grand Sextile with his Sun and Pluto sextile a showbizzy Mars Neptune in Libra which in turn trines Jupiter on his midheaven. So he has a great deal of talent but possibly doesn't put much value on what he does which is the way of trines and sextiles.
His most populated house is the 2nd - of personal finances - with Mars Neptune and Saturn in Scorpio there. He had to leave his home base of France in 2003 over tax matters when tr Pluto was conjunct his IC/nadir and aspecting his Half Grand Sextile including the 2nd house planets. And is reputed to have lost millions recently through the Bernard Madoff meltdown.
He is certainly facing his financial demons at the moment with tr Saturn about to move through his 2nd from 2011 for a couple of years; plus tr Pluto sextile his 2nd house Saturn till late 2011 which is discouraging and a real slog with a fair amount of belt-tightening required. Plus his SArc Pluto is conjunct his 2nd house Mars in 11 and Neptune in 13 - which doesn't look great on the cash front to put it mildly. But he's lucky and will bounce himself back up by 2015 when his Sarc Jupiter is conjunct his Pluto and by that time tr Saturn is heading to exit his first quadrant - from 2016 onwards.

James Patterson - a sign of the times From: Marjorie. (22 Aug 2010 10:33):
James Patterson of thrillers and Alex Cross fame, is now the highest paid writer having overtaken JK Rowling. Last year he earned £45 million (circa $75 million). He's had an astonishing career with 65 novels over his 33 years. He has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds the New York Times record for most Hardcover Fiction bestselling titles by a single author (56 total), which is also a Guinness World Record. The world's best-selling author, his novels account for one in seventeen of all hard-cover novels sold in the United States; in recent years his novels have sold more copies than those of Stephen King, John Grisham and Dan Brown combined.
What is depressing is not just that he self admittedly does not write the books himself and relies on a team of five co-authors but that the books are also abominably badly written. The prose style is atrocious.
Born on 22 March 1947 he is a Sun (maybe Moon) in Aries with his Sun trine Saturn in Leo (conjunct Pluto) and Sun Saturn trine Jupiter in late Scorpio - so it is an out of element Grand Trine which gives him luck, talent, self confidence and the ability to attract money (Jup in Sc). The Sun is in opposition to image-creating Neptune turning it into a wide Kite. His Mercury Mars in Pisces square Uranus so he clearly likes a thrill with a high adrenalin flow and is argumentative.
This year he has tr Uranus trine his Jupiter into Jan 2011 and his SArc Jupiter moving to sextile his Sun in 2011 - so there's more good news coming.

American Apparel - Dov Charney - driven by Saturn Mars Pluto From: Marjorie. (22 Aug 2010 10:32):
American Apparel the controversial clothing firm is now in major liquidity problems, possibly about to default on loans and minus its accountants Deloitte who have resigned.
It was started by Canadian Dov Charney (13 Jan 1969) who has hit the headlines for his management style, walking around the office in his underpants, fending off sexual harassments suits and being sued by Woody Allen for using his image in an advert without permission. He's an ambitious controlling Sun Capricorn trine Pluto with his Sun also square Saturn in Aries. So he's ambitious, a go getter but not exactly dripping with sensitivity. His Mars in determined Scorpio (and Moon) are square Mercury and trine Venus - so he's argumentative, not above getting his own back. At the moment he has tr Pluto square his Uranus turning his life upside down; a financially downbeat tr Saturn conjunct Jupiter in early this September. And much worse his Solar Arc Pluito is approaching a conjunction to his Mars late 10/11 which will be meet-brick-wall-time and hugely frustrating for him.
The incorporation date for American Apparel is 22 July 2005 which intriguingly follows the theme of his own chart with a Sun conjunct Saturn square Mars and Mars trine Pluto. That chart is also labouring mightily at the moment with tr Neptune opposition the financial Venus in 11/12 and before then an insecure tr Uranus trine Sun, Saturn and square the SArc Pluto - so all standing on its head.

Israel forced into direct talks with ?? prospects From: Marjorie. (21 Aug 2010 11:48):
Hillary Clinton has determinedly announced new direct Israel-Palestine peace talks but there is general gloom and despondency about these leading anywhere. One theory is that Netanyahu caved in to give himself more time since he can as per usual stall his way through long drawn out discussions.
The USA/Israel relationship chart had tr Saturn conjunct Neptune Jupiter earlier this month with tr Saturn square the composite Mercury and then square Venus along the way of this month - so one assumes forcing these talks on the Israelis hasn't exactly improved relations. And with tr Pluto opposing the composite Mercury and Venus for the next few months feelings and arguments will be intense.
Next year tr Uranus is opposition that composite Jupiter Neptune and square Venus Mercury - so there's no indication there'll be a happy ending and the old USA Israel chumminess return any time soon.
Netanyahu is slipping and sliding this year into early 2011 with tr Neptune opposing his Mars (conj Pluto) so his old ruthlessness has lost its edge. But even after that disappears into 2011 he has Solar Arc Saturn square his Pluto which is exceptionally stuck. And the Israel country chart has an undermining tr Neptune opposition Mars till late 2011.
The Palestine 1988 chart does not indicate any resolution of a positive variety until tr Pluto tr Uranus clear 8 degrees which is beyond 2013. Before then it is all muddle and mayhem, with an even more insecure, risky 2011 as tr Uranus is conjunct their Mars. Where they start to pick up more hopeful, confident aspects is towards mid decade.

Midpoints - accidents and bonuses From: Marjorie. (21 Aug 2010 11:22):
Midpoints are exactly what they sound like - the midpoint of two planets in a chart. For example if the Sun is at 20 degrees Aries and the Moon at 20 Leo then the Sun/Moon midpoint will be 20 Gemini - half way between. You can calculate by hand though it is a tedious process. The midpoint of each planet to each other planet and to the Ascendant, Midheaven and North Node produces about 78 midpoints in any given chart. They are in all the astrolological software and I've no doubt there are free calculators on the net somewhere if you google.
They are useful when you can't see anything on the natal chart itself in terms of transits that might explain why something happened. I tend to look at transits to midpoints, just the conjunction, square, opposition - for accidents, operations (Mars midpoints) and good luck, high confidence times (Jupiter midpoints).
I tripped into them by accident really since I worked for a company which kept nearly collapsing with a constant series of boardroom coups. I couldn't see on the company chart how I could pin down the timing of these lurches - but there was an obvious midpoint which showed up as being undermined by Neptune transits. So I explored further and found Ebertin's marvellous book The Combination of Stellar Influences which gives the interpretation for combinations of midpoints. He used it more to define a personality. But I've found the transits very helpful as well.

Astrology and Homosexuality From: Marjorie. (21 Aug 2010 11:21):
There's no way of telling gender from a birth chart never mind sexual orientation. As I understand it any studies done have indicated that there's no homosexual astrological signature or significant aspects/houses/signs.
You can - if you know - give a considered view of some of the family and psychological dynamics involved. For example in a male homosexual's chart - fondness/identification with father and fear of the gorgon mother. But I've seen charts with those influences which produced heterosexuals.
Sometimes you can see especially strong Uranian influences which tend to go against the prevailing culture which has until recently been heterosexual. But I don't think that makes much sense since people aren't homosexual because they are bolshie. It's an innate instinct.
You certainly could pin down sado-masochism astrologically though again you'd never really know whether it was acted out in sexual behaviour or merely lived out emotionally. And again it is not an exclusively homosexual orientation.
Even psycho analysis struggles to define the roots of sexuality in any of its orientations, whether 'traditionally accepted' ones or otherwise. And it is reasonably clear that human sexuality is a good deal more fluid than we imagine if you dig deep enough - it isn't an exclusively this or that. I don't mean we are all bi-sexual just that there not the clear demarcation lines we imagine.

Lockerbie Bomber - Scotland versus USA From: Marjorie. (21 Aug 2010 10:56):
Dear dear - the Lockerbie bomber - what a hotch. Never trust medics making absolute judgements; or indeed politicians caught up in situations of high public emotion. The US Government is now demanding that Al Megrahi is returned to Scottish prison.

The Pan Am 103 crash happened just after 7pm on 21 Dec 1988 exploding in mid air and killing all 259 on board, mainly Americans and 11 residents in Lockerbie, Scotland when it hit the ground. There was an aggressive Mars in Aries conjunct the midheaven and a chaotic Sun, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury conjunction in Capricorn in the 5th with a trapped Pluto in the 4th.
Al-Megrahi, a Libyan, does seem to have been convicted on the basis of questionable identification and evidence, leading the father of one Scottish victim, amongst others, to think he is innocent. An appeal which was on the table before his release on compassionate grounds of his imminent demise would have dragged embarrassing details out into the open. It may well have suited the realpolitik of the time (mainly USA) to point the finger at Libya but the witness testimony did appear tainted (and was maybe even bought).
A former Libyan intelligence officer, head of security for Libyan Arab Airlines, he was born on 1 April 1952 which gives him an Aries Sun Mercury opposition Saturn (and Neptune) in Libra square Uranus in Cancer. He also has a suppress-or-be-suppressed Mars in vengeful, determined Scorpio square Pluto.
There's no way of telling from the astrology whether he's guilty or not. Though over the plane bombing and crash he did have tr Jupiter conjunct his Solar Arc Jupiter just past the trine to his SArc Pluto which does look rather celebratory. His Solar Arc Mars was also just months passed a trine to his natal Jupiter which is much the same. At the time of the crash as well tr Pluto was squaring his SArc Uranus - perhaps a hint of the upheaval to come. And by the following year his SArc Saturn was conjunct his Mars, perhaps as his life came to a halt.

At the moment Al Megrahi has tr Saturn about to hit his Cardinal T square of Sun Mercury Jupiter opp Saturn Neptune square Uranus (Moon) from different directions so it's a very bumpy time ahead - either because of his illness or the prospect of being returned to Scotland or both. At the moment he has an insecure tr Uranus sextile Sun/Mars. Though he still has one more 'lucky break' tr Uranus conjunct his Jupiter/NNode in Nov/Dec this year.

The UK Government is stuck in a tight spot since it wasn't their decision to release Al Megrahi, but that of the devolved Scottish Parliament. But for all that the UK/USA relationship chart is under chill winds from early September onwards with tr Saturn conjunct the composite Mercury and then conjunct the composite Sun by late October; with an even more stressed/intense arguments tr Pluto square Mercury over the New Year and across 2011.

What is intriguing is that the Scotland chart of 16 March AD 842(OS) does seem to check out in all of this. It has Mars in Cancer opposition Neptune Saturn in Capricorn square Uranus Moon (Sun) in Aries. The Scotland Mars is exactly conjunct the USA Sun and the Scotland Uranus exactly square the USA Sun. So not a happy mix. And the Lockerbie crash itself with Mars Midheaven in Aries and 5 Capricorn planets also hits both country charts in a difficult place.
The Scotland 842/USA relationship chart has right on cue tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars which is anger, bitterness and a complete deadlock. That is exact now until mid October but has been running over the past eighteen months as well as US anger mounted.
There's no way of telling how this will go - except the Scottish Parliament are unlikely to budge. But given Al Megrahi's condition and he clearly isn't a well man despite all the brooha, I'd reckon the upcoming pressures on his chart will put his stamina under considerable strain.

Lori Berenson - determined but not sensible From: Marjorie. (20 Aug 2010 11:05):
Lori Berenson, the American activist who has served nearly 15 years of a 20-year sentence in Peru for aiding leftist rebels after being convicted of terrorist collaboration, has been taken back to prison after her parole was revoked. She is widely disliked among Peruvians for collaborating with the violent Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, and her release on parole was unpopular. There was an international outcry at the time of her original imprisonment on the basis of an unfair trial. During her time in prison she married one of the former TARM leaders, who is now her lawyer and has a fifteen month old child.
Born on 13th November 1969 she is an idealistic, vague though very intense Sun Mercury Neptune in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Virgo. She also has Venus in Scorpio opposition Saturn in Taurus square Mars in Aquarius. Emotionally she'll be drawn to difficult, perhaps dangerous partners with Venus picking up Mars Saturn and in Fixed signs. Mars in Aquarius is pretty uncompromising and hers is very emphasised being on the point of a T square, making her head strong, single minded, a bulldozer who doesn't give way easily if at all.
Her immediate future prospects don't look that bright with tr Pluto trine her Saturn till late 2011; a disruptive tr Uranus opp Pluto late this year. Plus an emotionally upsetting tr Saturn conjunct her Uranus and square her Capricorn Moon at some point soon which may indicate she decides to send her child out of prison.

South Africa - the people versus the rulers From: Marjorie. (20 Aug 2010 10:47):
South Africa is in the grip of an indefinite public- sector worker strike which is a major test of President Jacob Zuma since it was in part their support which brought him to power. They are demanding double the rate of inflation and complaining about poor wages while the rulers live lavishly.
The South Africa chart (31 May 1910 12 noon Pretoria) has tr Pluto sextile the Moon which picked up as the strike began. The Moon represents the masses - so feelings are running high. That Pluto transit runs till mid October this year. In early September tr Saturn will conjunct the SAfrica Jupiter suggesting economic cutbacks are in the air and a lowering of enthusiasm. And the Solar Arc Uranus is moving to conjunct the 8th house business-finance 8th house Saturn - which also looks like a general upset.
Jacob Zuma's personal chart is in a major mess right now. He has tr Neptune in a panicky-failure opposition to his Solar Arc Mars with a highly strung, insecure, confused tr Neptune square his Uranus Saturn in Taurus as well - and doubled up by SArc Neptune square Saturn Uranus. Plus a really jangled tr Uranus opposition his Neptune in the autumn as well as in a jolting square to his SArc Sun; with a dispiriting, undermining SArc Sun square Neptune. None of the above is going to disappear in a hurry, extending well into 2011. Not his moment of glory to put it mildly.
His Swearing in chart (9 May 2009 11.20 am) has a pie-in-the-sky 8th house Jupiter Neptune squaring onto a 10th house Sun opposition Moon. So it is a Full Moon chart and therefore pulled in opposite directions with the people (Moon) at odds with the rulership (Sun). Jupiter Neptune in the 8th suggests over hopefulness about economics and possibly evasiveness as well. Tr Saturn is about to block the Pluto on this chart by square from this weekend on for a week and then moves on to oppose Venus, diminishing his popularity and oppose Mars by November which brings anger and more setbacks.

Edwin Morgan - a poetic life From: Marjorie. (20 Aug 2010 09:24):
Edwin Morgan, the most renowned Scots poet since Hugh McDiarmid has died aged 90 (27 April 1920 11.30am Glasgow, Scotland). He was one of my tutors at Glasgow University, a reserved rather gentle man, seemingly steeped in academia, a surprising hit on the world poetry scene from his mid forties onwards. Not surprising in terms of his talent more that he seemed constrained by his milieu and might possibly live on with his potential untapped. In his 30s, still living at home, he thought life has passed him. By the late 1960s he was widely read, had left home and struck up his first romantic relationship, though he only came out as homosexual when he was 70.
He had Mercury in Aries within two degrees of his Midheaven conjunct Venus, with a Taurus Sun in the 10th as well square Jupiter Neptune in Leo on his Ascendant. Jupiter Neptune were trine his Midheaven. Mercury on his MC certainly made words and communication his forte and he was a formidable linguist translating mainly from Russian but in six other languages as well including Hungarian which is no mean feat. 3 planets in the 10th including his Sun gave him ambition and a Taurus Sun square an emphasised Jupiter Neptune has a poetic feel to it.
But what is striking about his chart is a three quarter Grand Sextile - of Uranus in the 8th sextile Sun sextile Pluto sextile Moon Saturn in Virgo sextile Mars in late Libra in the 4th. Sextiles give talent, an easy flow of energy.
When he emerged as a national and international poetry star in the 1960s the tr Pluto Uranus conjunction was rattling away at his Grand Sextile first conjunct Moon, Saturn and opposition Uranus - not bringing disaster but a blossoming of his potential. In the late 1960s the tr Uranus Pluto conjunction was then square his SArc Sun and conjunct his SArc Jupiter Neptune, and trine his SArc Midheaven and Solar Arc Mercury; with tr Saturn then in Aries moving across his Midheaven - pushing him further into the spotlight.
One of his obituaries says: 'In 1969, Morgan's worldwide fame was launched by inclusion in Penguin Modern Poets 15. As the book made its way round the world it was as if a dam impeding Morgan's complete self-expression had burst. The years 1972 and 1973 were anni mirabiles.'
Interesting to be able to follow through what even difficult transits can do in releasing hidden depths.

Atheists and Aries + Taurus From: Marjorie. (19 Aug 2010 12:19):
On the subject of atheists and Aries (thanks to Sol for response under Hitchens below) - if you were to ask me which were the two most sceptical signs I'd have said Aries and Taurus. That's just from years of being attacked on the subject of astrology at parties. Scorpio might have a few jabs since they dislike the thought that astrology might know their inner secrets. But they do have a sense of what is transcendent. Not that astrology and religious belief are the same thing but they probably go together as unexplainables which Aries and Taurus clearly don't like.

Descartes certainly was an Aries and a half like Hitchens. Descartes, the god of rationality, who skewed intellectual thought and philosophy for the past five centuries had Sun, Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto, Mercury in Aries plus Moon Venus in Taurus.
Even the dire Richard Dawkins, UK loudmouth on the supremacy of science and atheism is a Sun Aries.
Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx who were both trenchant atheists were both Sun in Taurus plus 2/3 additional Taurus planets. Engels was mainly Sagittarius with Saturn in Aries.
Not a hard and fast rule clearly but intriguing.

Laura Schlessinger - hard and mouthy From: Marjorie. (19 Aug 2010 11:39):
Dr Laura Schlessinger, the US radio host is to leave her show after using the n***** word eleven times in a phone-in.
Born 16 January 1947 she has quite a hard chart with a Sun Mars Mercury in Capricorn sextile Jupiter in confidence and money-attracting Scorpio (and Moon in Scorpio). She also has the stalwart Saturn Pluto in Leo trine her fiery Venus in Sagittarius.

Howard Stern, the best known US shock jock is also Capricornian with a Scorpio slant. He's Sun, Mercury, Venus in Capricorn with Mars Saturn in Scorpio. Their Mercurys are less than a degree apart and he's got Jupiter in Gemini less than a degree from her Uranus in Gemini - so magic numbers operating in there somewhere as well.

She's got her Solar Arc Sun Mars at 29/27 Pisces so tr Uranus is conjunct exactly now which is a sudden, shocking upset with high insecurity as she exits; with a panicky, undermining Solar Arc Saturn conjunct Neptune at the moment as well.

Some of her choicer quotes: Explaining why she doesn't approve of test-tube babies: "When you're the product of some fellow ejaculating into a cup for $100 there isn't the same sense of history."
"So what?" she likes to tell victims of childhood abuse. "You're still responsible for your actions!" To a pregnant woman wondering whether to agree to her boyfriend's request for an abortion, she once declared: "You got knocked up by a guy who wants to kill your child? Get a backbone transplant here!"
On relationships: "I use the term 'unpaid whore' for women who shack up with guys, rather than dignify themselves and sexual intimacy with a marital commitment. I tell them that at the very least, they ought to be paid for sex, since it ultimately means nothing profoundly important to him past the orgasm."

Shiloh-Jolie Pitt - birth time From: Marjorie. (19 Aug 2010 11:38):
There seems to be questionmarks over the birth time of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt perhaps due to time zones since she was born in Namibia. There's another two hours later than below - 1.40am 28 May 2006. This still leaves Pluto conjunct the Midheaven from the 9th so not that much difference. What it does is shift the Gemini Sun Moon from the 4th to the 3rd which is some ways is s shame. Though it will make her bright and chatty.

Iraq - the end game stretching out From: Marjorie. (19 Aug 2010 11:17):
The last US combat brigade has left Iraq has. A further 6,000 support troops will be in Iraq until the end of the month, when US combat operations will end, leaving 50,000 US troops to advise Iraqi forces and protect US interests until the end of 2011.
An Iraqi General said in recent days he thought Iraqi Army and security couldn't cope and the US needed to stay till 2020. With no sensible government in place and effective political stalemate across sectarian lines after the elections the hope for a stable post-USA Iraq are not good in the immediate future.
The Iraq 1921 chart has a debilitating tr Neptune opposition the Leo Sun and Mercury in 11/12 with tr Neptune square the SArc Sun Mercury this year into 2011 aw well. So in the short term the country is looking confused, rudderless, undermined. There's liable to be revolutions or internal unrest of a more visible nature as tr Pluto is sextile Uranus from early 2011 for two years thereafter. Even before then tr Saturn is square the Iraq Pluto in Oct 2010 and tr Pluto and tr Uranus will hit that Pluto by 2012 which is yet more instability.
The Iraq Attack chart (20 March 2003 6.30 am Baghdad) has a 29 degree Pisces Sun which tr Uranus is exactly conjunct at the moment - so the exit is definitely on cue. Though that Attack Pisces Sun is square the Saturn opp Pluto in place in 2003. That Pluto opp Sat has moved by transit and Solar Arc to close the T square with Pluto over the next two years - so the challenges won't go away in a hurry.
The USA/Iraq relationship chart is muddled and confused this year with tr Pluto finishing the trine to the composite Neptune and a real slog with tr Pluto square Saturn in 10/11. So changes not happening easily or quickly. But there'll be more aggravation come November/December 2010 as tr Saturn squares the composite Venus Mars. That continues on through 2011 and tr Saturn then starts to opposes the composite Pluto Uranus. So the after effects of GWB/Rumsfeld/Cheney's ill conceived assault will be around right through Obama's term.

Thomas Peebles - measles vaccine on Uranus Pluto cue From: Marjorie. (18 Aug 2010 15:22):
What an interesting chart. Thanks for Thomas Peebles who discovered the measles vaccine and has just died aged 89.
Born on 5 June 1921 he was a Sun Moon Mars in Gemini square a hard working and idealistic Jupiter Saturn in Virgo. But what marks his chart out is a Half Grand Sextile of Saturn Jupiter opposition Uranus; with Uranus sextile Venus in Taurus sextile Pluto Mercury in Cancer sextile Jupiter Saturn - so he had a great deal of talent and inventiveness with Uranus trine Pluto.

When he produced the measles vaccine in the early 1960s the ground was fertile for change especially in the medical sphere with tr Uranus conjunct tr Pluto in health-oriented Virgo and the other health signature - a Saturn square Neptune was also around.

The tr Uranus tr Pluto were conjunct his Jupiter and opposition his Uranus so triggering all of that Half Grand Sextile. And the tr Saturn square tr Neptune were picking up his Half Grand Sextile Solar Arc positions with tr Saturn trine SArc Jupiter Saturn.

It's also an example of what seems to happen with inventors and others - that key outer planet aspects in their birth charts are triggered by similar up in the heavens when they make their breakthrough. Peebles had a Uranus trine Pluto natally and his moment came when tr Uranus was conjunct tr Pluto.
Christopher Sholes (see Aug 12 below) who was born with a Uranus Neptune conjunction natally invented his typewriter keyboard still in operation on today's pcs when there was a tr Uranus square tr Neptune.
Fibonacci, the 12/13th Century mathematician was born with a Uranus square Pluto and his moment of the discovery of the Fibonacci series of numbers (the universal laws of the of the physical world have a mathematical basis) came when tr Uranus was conjunct tr Pluto.
So if it is in the natal chart it often takes the same celestial resonance to bring out the full potential. For us lesser mortals it also means you shouldn't be scared of difficult aspects of the moment if you have them in your natal chart since they could bring out the best in you.

Angelina - straddling the generations From: Marjorie. (18 Aug 2010 15:00):
The wannabe-a-boy Shiloh Jolie-Pitt doesn't really have the same chart as her mother Angelina
From a previous post: Shiloh Jolie-Pitt born 27 May 2006 at 11.30 pm Walvis Bay, Namibia does share the same Pluto aspects to mother as Kathryn Beatty and Chaz Bono (see below 19 June) who have changed gender in adult life.
Shiloh has a 10th house Pluto which is the controlling, possessive, suffocating mother and Shiloh's Moon is also widely opposition Pluto. The two above have Pluto in 10th or Pluto conj Midheaven and hard Moon Pluto aspects so a double dose of the over powering mother. Not easy to stamp a feminine identity with all that going on.

What Shiloh also has is a 4th house Moon and Sun so she identifies with father Brad Pitt (Sun) and gains emotional comfort and security from him (Moon). Her mother is not only heavily Plutonic, she's also Uranian since Shiloh has a Moon square Uranus so she is the mother who is erratic, sometimes close, sometimes pushes away. Children just hate, indeed can't cope with, double messages.

Angelina's chart indicates two awful parents with a Moon Mars opposition Pluto square Saturn - so both mother and father were not safe to be around. But children can't cope with two horrors, so they split psychologically and see one parent as nicer than they were and the other as nastier. Her mother was the only one around so mini-Angelina had to create an airbrushed, falsely positive image of her to survive. The self harming can be the loathing and anger which the child turns against itself and its body rather than place it where it belongs on the errant parent. Though it can also be a symptom of abuse.
Shiloh Pitt has no where near as difficult a chart. Though the Moon opposition 10th house Pluto square Uranus will give her very erratic emotional life later on. It's Mars which usually causes the problems with self harming since it is mis-placed anger. Though admittedly Shiloh now that I look does have Mars quincuncx Pluto which will make it tricky for her to handle assertion and power issues calmly. But I'd suspect with Angelina it was Moon Mars Pluto Saturn which did the damage.
Angelina's mother Marceline Bertrand was a toughie with a Taurus Sun square Pluto and Sun trine Mars Saturn - so Angelina did really in a sense follow in her footsteps. But it hasn't come one generation down to Shiloh.
Jon Voight, Angelina's father is a hard Capricorn Sun square Saturn in Aries which crashes into Angelina's Mars Moon opp Pluto square Saturn in an enormously difficult way. Marceline had Venus in Aries opp Neptune square Uranus - so although she was erratic and evasive it wasn't quite as damaging a relationship as with Jon Voight.

Andy Murray - sports ups and downs From: Marjorie. (18 Aug 2010 14:09):
Why did Andy Murray win and Federer and Nadal lose in Canada? Usually sports results are tucked away in transits to midpoints. Nadal had just picked up tr Uranus square his Mars/Saturn and that is bad news. Plus an emotionally excitable tr Pluto square Venus/Uranus so really not on form. Federer equally had tr Pluto square Mars/Neptune which is confused and a downer, plus tr Pluto trine Saturn/NNode which is dreary.
You'd expect to see either Jupiter transits to certain midpoints or transits to Jupiter midpoints for a resounding victory in sport or politics. Andy Murray had tr Uranus trine his Jupiter/Ascendant and tr Jupiter trine Venus/Pluto.
There's usually several aspects so it's a question of trying to prioritise and sift out what's more powerful and what less. And it doesn't help not always having solid birth times.

Christopher Hitchens - hard talking even when facing the possible end From: Marjorie. (18 Aug 2010 13:43):
Christopher Hitchens, the writer, journalist, broadcaster and professional atheist is now receiving treatment for esophageal cancer. It is usually though not always associated with heavy drinkers and smokers which he was; and I think his naval commander father died of it.
Born on 13 April 1949 he's a fiery Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars in Aries hence his combative, confrontational debating style. His Aries planets are trine Pluto Saturn in Leo. Mars Pluto is closest as is Sun Mercury Saturn - so he's ruthless, bitter at times but also exceptionally hard working.
It is a very heavy chart with a creative though also addictive Neptune opposition Mars. His Moon may be Libra and is certainly on the opposite side of his chart from his Sun. It is a bucket chart with all planets contained in one half with a singleton planet - Jupiter in Aquarius out on its own as the handle. It carries the weight of the chart. So he is confident, socially idealistic though in an over the top kind of way and stubborn.
He has the confusing, uncertain SArc Pluto conjunct his Neptune now and the jolting SArc Uranus conjunct his Saturn in 2011. Plus into 2011/12 he has the undermining tr Neptune opposition his Saturn so doesn't look an easy time ahead.
His brother Peter Hitchens (28 Oct 1951) also a writer, interestingly also has a bucket chart with Jupiter (in Aries) on the handle. He's a Sun Scorpio with Venus Mars in Virgo and Saturn Neptune in Libra - so the brothers are two very different types and they did have a major falling out some years back. Their relationship chart has a combustible Mars Venus Uranus conjunction though luckily those three composite planets are trine Jupiter which no doubt contributed to a reconciliation later.

Wal-Mart - grinding and groaning ahead From: Marjorie. (18 Aug 2010 12:19):
George Soros has evidently dis-invested himself of a goodly chunk of his US equities portfolio, including Wal-Mart because presumably of uncertainties he sees lying ahead. Wal-Mart latest sales figures show a dip in the US as unemployment and cash shortages keep shoppers at home.
Wal-Mart (31 Oct 1969) as an indicator of things to come isn't exactly cheerful with a very stuck Solar Arc Pluto conjunct Sun from now until mid 2011; and major buffeting from tr Uranus opp Pluto later this year and tr Pluto square Uranus next requiring a total re-think of policies and organisation. On top of that there's a really depressed tr Pluto trine Saturn in 10/11 and a downbeat tr Saturn conjunct Uranus, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury from this September for the next two years.

Tony Blair - trying to be real From: Marjorie. (18 Aug 2010 11:53):
Tony Blair's apparent donation to an Army charity of the total cash proceeds of his about-to-be-published memoirs, running into several millions, has not had the required effect of burnishing his kind and caring image. It has just given a window of opportunity for yet more brickbats to be hurled at him. With the country labouring under an economic mess to which his term in office substantially contributed plus the ongoing pressure for a Dr David Kelly inquest plus the damaging drip feed of the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War plus his erstwhile colleagues distancing themselves from his policies - all in all despite his rapidly escalating wealth he is not a happy man.
It is intriguing how that tr Pluto through his 8th has worked out since it didn't as in many cases bring financial meltdown but it has had the same broad effect of making him feel trapped and frustrated. And that doesn't disappear until 2014. Before then he has tr Neptune square his Jupiter Mars Ascendant from 2011 to 2014 all of which is confidence denting, eroding his image and his boyish enthusiasm still further. Since that self justifying, wrap-aggression-in-a-holy-context Mars Jupiter was what tipped him and the UK into an ill conceived military escapade it is very fitting.
He still has a few highs from tr Uranus trine his Jupiter at the moment and in early 2011. But once that disappears there's not much more Jupiter to bounce him up for some years ahead.
Cherie, the wife, has tr Uranus opposition her Virgo Sun at the moment which is unsettling and by September Tony has tr Uranus conjunct his Sun/Moon midpoint which isn't good for marriage relationships or for a politician's public popularity. Their relationship chart is most strange - with a need-for-space Sun Uranus Mercury opposition Venus square a suspicious Neptune Saturn; with Sun Uranus Mercury also in an argumentative, slightly volcanic trine to Mars. The composite Mars is further emphasised being on the focal point of a Yod to a Pluto sextile Neptune so anger will not be handled in a sensible manner between them. Plus there is a Jupiter trine Saturn Neptune sextile Pluto - which is pushy, lucky, not always realistic. It is a highly complex intertwined relationship, not remotely easy.
On pondering on what makes TBlair tick which is an ongoing puzzle I looked at his Harmonics (lesser aspects in a chart). By far his strongest, like the late Senator Edward Kennedy and Peter Sellers, is the 13th Harmonic (aspects approx 27.5 degrees or multiples). David Hamblin says this Harmonic is connected to a person's attitude to death and spiritual deadness.
Peter Sellers had this odd quirk, Hamblin says, very central to his personality, of never feeling he quite existed, not being a real person at all. Which would certainly fit with the notion of Tony Blair's false-self persona. It's an act he puts on to obscure the ?? inside. No one quite at home in there. Which is why no matter how hard he tries nothing seems sincere. Real sincerity depends on being true to the integrity of who you are - and if he doesn't know who he is then it isn't possible.
TBlair's 13th Harmonic has a Mystic Rectangle of Jupiter in the 10th trine Uranus, opposition Sun; with Sun trine Neptune Mars Saturn which in turn oppose Uranus. That is quite a mix of super-indulgent, innovative, publicity hungry, autocratic, contradictory, blocked and prone to setbacks. So arguably he races around trying to pull all those disparate strands together to make himself feel real.

Suzy Lamplugh - the search goes on From: Marjorie. (17 Aug 2010 11:45):
The case of Suzy Lamplugh, the UK estate agent who disappeared 24 years ago and her body was never found, appeared to have a new lead recently which then fizzled out. The police have gone as far as naming a suspect but he's doing a long stretch inside and there's no concrete evidence.
She was born on 3 May 1961 and was a Sun Mercury in Taurus opposition Neptune square Jupiter in Aquarius - so she'd be indulgent, unrealistic, kind and rather head-in-the-clouds. Her Sun was in a controlling trine to Pluto and a wide impulsive square to Uranus. Her Mars in excitable Cancer was opposition Saturn in Capricorn and Jupiter. Her Sagittarius Moon was probably trine Uranus trine Venus in upfront Aries so she'd be pretty fiery, inspirational and confident. Her Pluto was conjunct the Moon's North Node which is perhaps why she turned into such an icon for danger in society.
Her judgement from all that doesn't look that good and she'd have been attracted to thrills, walking on the wild side a bit. The story is that she had a new boyfriend who might have had a violent streak.
When she disappeared tr Uranus might have been conjunct her Moon which would make sense of an emotional shock; plus SArc Mars was just over the conjunction to her Uranus which is explosive and her Solar Arc Pluto just over the sextile to her Mars. From that one might assume she'd been in dodgy situations leading up to her disappearance.
There is some movement on her chart through this autumn and next year so I suppose something more may emerge.

Denise Richards - riddled with quincunxes From: Marjorie. (17 Aug 2010 11:10):
Denise Richards, American ex-model, actress and reality TV show star who was formerly married to Charlie Sheen was born on 17 Feb 1971.
She is a Sun Aquarius square (?) a Scorpio Moon with her Moon opposition Saturn in Taurus and her Sun quincunx (150 degrees) Pluto. So she's quite Fixed, doesn't change easily, can be stubborn and withholding; and is uneasy about handling power issues with that quincunx.
She also has another exact quincunx of Saturn to Mars in Sagittarius. That brings more strains. Frankly she doesn't look very comfortable in her skin and has major issues around assertion and control - she either over or under-does them or attracts them to her. She has a socially ambitious Venus in Capricorn in an unpredictable square to Uranus and trine Saturn. So that plus Scorpio Moon opp Saturn - doesn't look like she's easy on the emotional relationship front.
I would have to confess it isn't a chart I warm to. Her first child with Charlie Sheen also has a quincunx of Mars to Pluto and the second one a Saturn quincunx Pluto with Pluto square Mars - so down the generation it goes.

Michael Douglas - wishing him well From: Marjorie. (17 Aug 2010 10:48):
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones have the same birthday so both have a 2 degree Libra Sun which is under considerable pressure at the moment from tr Saturn conjunct and tr Pluto square over coming weeks. They also have multiple other planets in Cardinal signs. He's got a Sun Neptune Mercury Jupiter in Libra square Saturn in Cancer opposition a Capricorn Moon. While she has a Sun Uranus Mercury Jupiter in Libra and Mars in early Capricorn.
So this is a very pressured and challenging time for both and scary. And regrettably it'll be a while before it settles. Luckily this year she has very enthusiastic, successful Jupiter Solar Arcs to keep her buoyant. And he has an emotionally supportive SArc Venus conjunct his Moon next year. But the rest of their charts are fairly tough going in the time ahead.

China - in the spotlight and wriggling From: Marjorie. (17 Aug 2010 10:35):
China has hit the headlines in three different stories. One is a book emerging which is critical of Premier Wen Jiabao, suggesting he isn't as sympathetic as he looks. Hardly an astonishment for a Western country but unheard of in paranoically secretive/censored China. Secondly the US is grumbling hard about the Chinese yuan being even more under-valued than usual giving their exports an unfair advantage. Thirdly China has overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest economy though still less than a third the size of the US economy.
Premier Wen Jiabo (15 Sep 1942) is a Sun Mars Neptune in Virgo so hard working, idealistic, go ahead, likes publicity. His Sun is sextile Jupiter in Cancer and possibly sextile a Scorpio Moon. His Venus in Virgo squares Saturn Uranus in Gemini. There's no birth time but he doesn't look exactly ferocious.
Chairman Hu Jintao (21 Dec 1942) is a Sun Sagittarius with a rather more fearsome Mars trine Pluto and Mars opposition Uranus Saturn so a harder type.
What is interesting looking at their charts and their Premier/Chairmanship charts is that there is a distinct jangle coming up when tr Uranus hits 29 and 28 Virgo which is does from now (mid Aug) through till early October. On Wen Jiabo's natal chart that hits his Mars Neptune so he'll be insecure and highly strung. On his Premier chart the intractable Saturn opposition Pluto has moved by Solar Arc to catch the tr Uranus squares until early November this year and then again early next year.
Hu Jintao's Sun is at 28 Sagittarius so gets a sideways hit from tr Uranus in Sept/Oct. And that also appears in his Chairmanship chart in September/Oct.
There is also distinct signs of strain on the China/USA relationship chart with a confused, disappointing tr Pluto square tr Saturn in August and early Sept; and then tr Uranus in a jolting opposition to the composite Saturn in Sept/Oct.
So there's clearly something in the offing.

There's nothing of that sort showing up on the China chart. What is there is tr Saturn conjunct the 8th house Libra Sun, Mercury, Neptune from late September this year (returning next) which looks like financial cutbacks, especially as it is a forerunner to the much more difficult total reconstruction of tr Pluto square the China Sun through 2011/12. And of course there is the tr Saturn square tr Pluto opp/square to the China Uranus - so there are in the midst of a period of huge upheaval, attempting to damp down an over heating economy and forge ahead at the same time. Tr Neptune is also square the China Midheaven in 2010/11 which suggests a degree of indecision and dithering.
Their reconstruction may of course work better than in most countries since the Bank of China chart is buoyed up to some degree by Jupiter until after 2012. Their really austere times look to be 2012/2015.

Obama - shooting from the hip in both directions From: Marjorie. (16 Aug 2010 17:44):
Obama's reactions are odd. He gets elected on a liberal, bleeding-heart ticket and then ramps up the war in Afghanistan against a good deal of advice from every one but the military with whom he clearly doesn't get on too well.
He goes on a jingoistic sensationalist Brit-bashing exercise over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill which fits in with American sentiment. And then goes the opposite way against populace sensitivities over the New York mosque.
That may partly be a Uranus inconjunct Saturn in his chart which will send him off in contradictory directions since there's real strain between his conservative side and his reformist streak. Plus Uranus being a fairly key planet in his chart - and it does have a very contrary side, flipping from one end of the spectrum to the other. His Jupiter Saturn as well in different signs will have a tendency to send him in opposite directions depending which is being triggered. And both Jupiter Saturn opposes his Mercury which affects his thinking processes and communications.
But I keep being drawn back to that very emphasised Fixed Neptune of his in Scorpio, square Jupiter opposition Mercury. And Neptune squares his Sun and trines Venus. Neptune doesn't improve judgement since it will tend to wrap him up in his dream world and detach him not only from reality but also from other people's needs and feelings. So he doesn't really have good political antennae.
What strikes me is that both the Brit bashing and the mosque are his very personal issues. OK so we all hate big greedy conglomerates but his attack was quite personally directed. His grandfather was tortured in Kenya by the Brits so it would be understandable that he harbours resentment. And he was brought up in Muslim countries and has more resonance with the religion than most.
The present influences aren't hitting anything too obvious in his chart except for his Solar Arc Ascendant at 5 Aries and tr Uranus now opposing his Solar Arc/Progressed Sun which is upsetting until mid Sept.

In some ways he has quite a fragmented chart which his smooth election campaign rather obscured the effects thereof. He has Uranus and North Node in the 7th so doesn't like to be held to other people's needs or to compromise. Yet he's also got Pluto in the 7th square his Moon which is emotionally possessive, liking the other close.
He dislikes confrontation with that Neptune yet he's got a very deeply buried, resentful Mars in the 8th in a difficult trine to a 12th house Saturn - so there's quite a cauldron of grievance in there which has probably never been properly addressed.
Most of us are a bundle of contradictions but he's more enigmatic than most, possibly to himself as well as to others.

MacDonalds - the American way of food worldwide From: Marjorie. (16 Aug 2010 12:11):
MacDonalds has seen its highest profits for a while indicating that cheap food outlets and their flexible marketing policy are exactly what is needed to ride out a recession.
Started on 15 May 1940 in San Bernadino, California, MacDonalds now serves 47 million customers daily in 119 countries. It has not surprisingly a very robust chart with an indulgent, persevering Taurus Sun in a conjunction to innovative Uranus and Mercury with Saturn also in Taurus. Saturn is conjunct Jupiter in late fiery Aries both in a gritty, confident, pushy square to Pluto.
Given that MacDonalds is the face of America for the rest of the world it is hardly surprising that there are chart similarities. MacDonald has Mars in Gemini square Neptune in Virgo as the US 1776 chart with Neptune at exactly the same degree. And MacDonald's Mars is exactly conjunct the US 11 am Midheaven. The MacDonald's Mars is also conjunct its Venus in Cancer which in turn is closely conjunct the USA Jupiter in Cancer - so an ambitious and indulgent combination.
It's not all plain sailing ahead for MacDonalds with an insecure tr Uranus square Mars this September and early next year; and a dreary tr Pluto trine Saturn in 11/12. But with Saturn square Pluto in their chart they are custom built to withstand tough times.

Afghanistan War - military and Obama at odds From: Marjorie. (16 Aug 2010 11:26):
One of the great mysteries of Barack Obama's presidency was why he ramped up the military effort in Afghanistan since politically he could have cleaned it off the slate as a GWB mess. Instead of which he has now made it his.
The new US commander there David Petraeus, replacing the criticise-Obama-and-get-fired Stanley McChrsytal, has now fired a warning shot against Obama's bows by querying whether a 2011 exit will be feasible.
His relationship chart with Obama has a few wobbles to come with a shock/separation tr Uranus opposition the composite Sun in September this year at the same time as tr Saturn is in a downbeat conjunction to the composite Mercury. And there'll be further more intense differences come the turn of the year as Pluto squares that Mercury.
There are similar pressures on Petraeus's new command chart (4 July 2010).
Mike Mullen, Chief of the Joint Staffs, doesn't have quite the same strains on his relationship chart with Obama apart from a seriously bad tempered tr Saturn conjunct the composite Mars in late Nov/early Dec this year. Though without birth times it isn't possible to know how the comp Moon is affected which is around late Mutable/early Cardinal so will be picking up some flak over this time.
His own chart (4 Oct 1946) is ploughing through heavy seas at the moment with tr Pluto trine Saturn; has major upsets from mid August (now) onwards into 2011 with tr Uranus square Pluto and square SArc Pluto; and quite a lot of frustration/bad temper with Mars/SArc Mars being assaulted by tr Saturn and tr Pluto; plus a discouraging tr Saturn conjunct Neptune and Sun in Libra this October and again in 2011. So a problematic time for him.
The chart for the Afghanistan War (7 Oct 2011 4.25pm) has a gung ho, self justifying Jupiter opposition Mars square Sun in Cardinal which tr Saturn is damping down through late Nov/Dec this year and again up to mid 2011 so enthusiasm for the war, already sinking will wane sharply. The Midheaven for this chart set for Afghanistan is 29 Aquarius which tr Neptune will conjunct from early 2011 for two years which will bring confusion and indecision. Relocating to Washington, DC it gives a 6 Libra Midheaven which tr Saturn will conjunct this September and tr Pluto will square from January 2011 onwards. So the USA will be caught between a rock and a hard place. The original chart has the intractable Saturn opposition Pluto - and here we are back round to a Saturn Pluto square.
On Obama's chart Afghanistan falls widely to the left of his Saturn IC line which is not hopeful. As Vietnam did on JFK's Saturn IC.

Princess Anne - no one's push over From: Marjorie. (15 Aug 2010 14:22):
Princess Anne is 60 today though in her typically unflashy way isn't celebrating much. Described as 'the best king we never had' she's undoubtedly the most robust of the Queen's children, working tirelessly on 600 public engagements a year with a special focus on Save the Children.
Born on 15 Aug 1950 at 11.50am she's an ambitious, controlling 10th house Sun Pluto in Leo so custom built for a public career where she isn't being pushed around. She also has a hard working Virgo Moon conjunct Saturn Mercury so has inherited her mother's workaholic tendencies. Duty comes first. She also has a self-protective Water Grand Trine of a determined and snappy Mars in Scorpio in the 1st trine Uranus trine a 5th house Jupiter. She likes a high adrenalin life style with Mars Uranus and with a 5th house Jupiter is fond of sport and children. She says she doesn't actually like children (Moon Saturn) but works endlessly on their behalf in charities and has brought her own two children up well.
She is supposed to be her father's a favourite but was the one her mother turned to in crisis when Buckingham Palace was broken into years ago.
Prince Philip's Leo Moon is exactly conjunct her Sun which will help create a bond and his Jupiter is close to her Moon which will help mellow her overly severe side. The Queen also has a Leo Moon though it is her Neptune which is conjunct Princess Anne's Sun so she'll find her mother elusive, tricky to pin down. Though the Queen's Venus in Pisces falls in PAnne's 5th so there is genuine affection there.
Princess Anne is clearly a lady who likes her own way with Pluto and a Leo Sun in the 10th so not surprisingly she opted for two husbands who won't rock the boat. Mark Philips is a Sun Virgo with an earthy Taurus Sun. That relationship chart had a wide passionate Venus Pluto conjunction but with a Sun Saturn conjunction on the point of a Uranus trine Mars would be overly dutiful with feelings suppressed and argumentative.
Her second husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence is a Pisces with a Taurus/Gemini Moon with Mars in Taurus opposition her Mars in Scorpio. Why that marriage happened is more of a mystery since the composite Venus is conjunct a downbeat Saturn and an evasive Neptune with an argumentative Mars trine composite Sun. His Pisces Sun does fall in her 5th which would help make it fun at the beginning and his Uranus Jupiter is conjunct her Venus in Cancer so there would be a sense of adventure about it. But it is clearly a semi-detached affair which is presumably what suits her.
With Saturn heading for her Libra Ascendant from late 2011 she'll want to step back slightly either to do less or suit herself more.

Candia McWilliam - a misery memoir of a glittering life From: Marjorie. (15 Aug 2010 12:03):
If ever there was an example of the stupidity of envying those who appear from the outside to have it all novelist Candia McWilliam is it. While still at Sherborne school, she won the Vogue Talent Contest. After taking a first class honours degree in English at Cambridge, she lodged in Warwick Avenue with Amschel Rothschild, writing journalism and modelling a bit too. In 1981, she married Quentin Wallop, heir to the Earl of Portsmouth. They had two children but divorced three years later. In 1986, she married the Oxford don, Fram Dinshaw, and had another child with him before they too separated, when she left him in 1996, taking up with the Old Etonian Labour MP Mark Fisher.
In interviews she says: "I sense myself as a disaster in a room, as though someone has let in a maimed domestic animal and half killed it ..." She says she burns with remorse in the night, that she carries "like typhoid" the sense that there is nowhere left for her to go where she is not a nuisance. "The sense of being disliked and of not belonging is the earliest sense I have."
Her mother committed suicide at the age of 36, when Candia was nine. Instead of staying with her father, an architectural historian in Edinburgh, she was taken on by an Anglo-Dutch stepfamily and began a process of attaching herself to other families that led her to call five people "Mum, Mummy or Mama".
She has admitted to a long period of alcoholism and more recently to going blind for two years. Now dry and able to see again she has written what sounds like a searing memoir called 'What to look for in Winter'.
She was born on July 1 1955 (in Scotland so someone must have a birth time? Most grateful). She's a Sun Cancer in a hard working, downbeat trine to Saturn in obsessive Scorpio. Her Moon is probably also in intense Scorpio and square Pluto so a doubly whammy of that tormented energy; her Moon is probably also trine Mars Uranus in Cancer and may well be in a wide conjunction to Saturn.
So she has enormously difficult Moon aspects - Uranus is the erratic, unpredictable and can be abandoning mother; Moon Mars is anger at mother; Moon Saturn is the uncaring mother. Plus if her Moon is Scorpio which sounds likely she's taken it all inside and blamed herself. What would make it more difficult to handle is her Cancer Sun which more than most needs a secure family. Plus her father is Saturnine, so cool, work focused, not emotionally supportive of her needs.
She also has a mercifully light hearted Venus Mercury in communicative Gemini opposition a Sagittarius North Node and sextile her Pluto so writing will be a lifeline for her which connects her into the zeitgeist. Her Jupiter in flamboyant Leo is in a lucky conjunction to Uranus and opposition her Chiron so again some saving graces in there; and her reckless Mars Uranus are in a highly strung square to Neptune.
When her mother died tr Neptune was hovering around the conjunction to her Saturn making for a confusing, acutely worrying time. Tr Saturn was also opposition her Pluto and possibly square her Moon - so a very unhappy time.
When in early 2006 her eyelids refused to open making her blind though her eyes were OK she had been suffering from writers' block for some years. So there was a sense that this wasn't entirely physiological. At that point tr Pluto was exactly conjunct her North Node which although a subtle influence is a chance for transformation. So arguably the experience was a necessary one for her development. There was also a curious combination of tr Saturn conjunct her Jupiter and tr Jupiter conjunct her Saturn. So it was an experience also connected to re-balancing her life - getting the highs and the lows more in equilibrium.
Regrettably she's not out of the woods yet with a discouraging Solar Arc Saturn opposing her Sun in 2011/12 at the same time as the disruptive tr Uranus and tr Pluto hard aspect her Sun. Though what will help to give her a considerable lift is tr Jupiter and then tr Uranus in Aries trine her Jupiter in 11/12 which will give her confidence boosts.

Norway - Grand Sextile From: Marjorie. (14 Aug 2010 15:26):
May 2009 post: A quick look at Norway's chart shows a Gemini Sun in a controlled conjunction with Pluto both of which are being assaulted by the tr Uranus opp tr Saturn which does not suggest good fortune. But on closer examination it is quite an astonishing chart. There is a Grand Sextile of Mars in Scorpio sextile Uranus in Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces sextile Venus in Taurus sextile Neptune in Cancer and sextile North Node in Virgo. This effectively creates two Grand Trines one in Earth (good for harvesting resources) and one in Water; with additional Kites from three oppositions. Sextiles, Trines are all lucky, talented, free flowing and the three Kites drive them along.
And with the natal planetary positions having moved by Solar Arc to bring Jupiter just into Virgo, boosted by a tr Pluto trine in 08/09, it means SA Jupiter is perfectly poised to encourage that Grand Sextile over the worst of the global slump.
Norway won't miss all of the global disruption since tr Pluto is conjunct Uranus and opp Neptune until 2012, plus tr Saturn and tr Uranus which will give rise to worries. And there could be a few jolts and setbacks come 2011/12 as SA Pluto squares the Norway Uranus and SA Saturn conjuncts the Sun in 2012 which is downbeat. But it may just be jolts to the Grand Sextile are just what is needed to get it onto a new track. What a wonderful chart!
Norway 7 June 1905 11 am Oslo, Norway.

Paul McCartney - difficult times and choices From: Marjorie. (14 Aug 2010 12:28):
More on Leo Mars.

There's a new book out on Paul McCartney about his ill-fated though predictably disastrous marriage to Heather Mills. Give his history of a long, seemingly happy marriage to Linda it raises the question of what sent his judgement so badly awry especially since everyone around him advised against the match.

Born on 18 June 1942 at 2pm Liverpool, England Paul McCartney is a 10th house Sun Gemini conjunct Jupiter in happy-home Cancer in a musical, though vague square to Neptune. His Neptune trines Saturn Uranus in Gemini and both sextile onto Mars Pluto in Leo. That emphasised Mars Pluto makes him utterly determined, keen to be in control and very stubborn.
In the years running into Linda's death from Cancer his Solar Arc Mars was approaching the square to his Sun and the conjunction to his Neptune which would be devastating since it not only affected Neptune but also that mini Grand Trine involving five other planets. So almost his entire chart was being shaken.
When he met and married Heather Mills four years after Linda's death his Saturn Uranus had moved by Solar Arc to start a conjunction to his natal Mars Pluto and that was in place right through the brief marriage.
So this was always going to be a hugely high stress time for him which he clearly acted out through an expensive marriage/divorce shambles. He married on the bleak tough-times tr Saturn opp tr Pluto which didn't bode well.
It is intriguing to ponder on how he'd have lived out those influences if he had avoided the Heather Mills trap.

Hugh Laurie - there's gold in grumpiness From: Marjorie. (14 Aug 2010 12:08):
Hugh Laurie, the multi-talented English, actor, comedian, musician and writer has been named as Hollywood's highest paid television actor for his starring role in House - $400,000 (£250k) per episode. It was the most watched television programme in the world in 2008.
Laurie has worked consistently since leaving Cambridge usually playing a witless aristo thro' Jeeves and Wooster and other shows with Stephen Fry, plus cameo roles in BBC costume dramas etc. But his stratospheric success as the grumpy Dr House, based in part on Sherlock Holmes, is in many ways a surprise as he hits his fifties.
Born on 11 June 1959 he's a versatile, chatty Sun Mercury in Gemini with Venus Mars Uranus Moon in entertaining Leo. He has the gritty Pluto trine Saturn in Capricorn, sextile Neptune and an unaspected Jupiter in money-attracting Scorpio. Unaspected planets tend to act erratically and be either switched on full blast or switched off. Houses would make a huge difference but without a birth time it isn't possible to know.
When he landed the role in 2004 his Solar Arc Mars was square his Sun. Normally this accompanies a clash/collision of some sort. Though with his Mars conjunct Venus it would mellow the effect - and it did certainly jolt his life onto a totally different track with a huge domestic upheaval for him. His Solar Arc North Node was also conjunct his Jupiter sending his earnings and his Jupiter up several notches.
Oddly enough his Mars in Leo is exactly conjunct the USA North Node in Leo - so presumably his bad tempered role fits a deep seated need within the USA psyche. A contrast from the US syrupy 'have a good day' approach.
If anyone has a birth time I'd be delighted to hear about it.

New York mosque - pros and cons From: Marjorie. (14 Aug 2010 11:49):
The furore over the siting of a new mosque in New York two blocks from Ground Zero is partly fuelled by sensitivities over 9/11 and partly by the racist, anti-immigrant campaigns fostered by the US right wing at the moment.
Two personal thoughts - 1. The central London mosque at Regent's Park is highly exotic with a golden dome. It's been there since 1978 so is accepted as part of the landscape and is rather beautiful. 2. When a wider community, in this case of Muslims, is tainted by the actions of an extremist fringe it is up to that community to stand up and be clear in their condemnation. That hasn't really happened, over 9/11 or indeed over any of the utterly barbaric practices in certain Muslim countries including their denigration of women. So it leaves a suspicion that they agree/accept. Ergo it is hardly surprising if they get tarred with the same brush.

It is tricky to pin down astrologically except that using the USA 11am chart (which I like more and more) tr Pluto is now into the 4th which will bring up poisonous and resentful feelings domestically. Plus the US Solar Arc Saturn is moving within a year to conjunct the 9th house Uranus in Gemini which I have always associated with the US's insistence on free speech and diversity. SArc Saturn will put brakes on that for a while. And tr Pluto this year anyway is opposition the US Venus which will bring up intense emotions. And with the tr Saturn, Pluto, Uranus heading for the USA Sun on coming years there's likely to be polarisation and fragmentation of what before had a semblance of cohesion.

If one takes as the Muslim chart the start of the Islamic Calendar of 16 July 622 AD (presumably JC) it has intriguing crossovers with the USA chart. Both have a North Node at 6 degrees Leo - so both want to be leaders. The Islamic Calendar has a Cancer Sun square Pluto in Aries so not hugely dissimilar from the US chart. And the IslCal Mars in Virgo is conjunct the USA Neptune in Virgo and square Mars - so an argumentative interface.

That North Node in Leo which both share had tr Neptune exactly in opposition over 9/11 so denting America's image and need to be seen as strong. But it also dented the Muslim image. Neptune transits to the Node are an opportunity for greater spiritual understanding but ignored bring deceit and decay. Plus the bleak tr Saturn opp tr Pluto of 9/11 hit the fanatical Uranus Neptune of the Islamic Calendar chart head on in its Solar Arc Directions. So in a sense neither picked up the chance to develop but both hardened in attitude and - we are where we are today.
The Islamic Calendar/USA relationship chart has that North Node closely conjunct Mars and Mercury in Leo so was always going to be a heated relationship at a very core/karmic level and one riddled with doubt, suspicion and entrenched attitudes on both sides (composite Saturn Neptune opp Pluto).There is huge pressure on this chart through 2012 to 2015.

The New York chart ( 1 Jan 1898 12.00 am) which is highly strung at the best of times with Uranus Saturn and Mars Venus in Sagittarius and Neptune Pluto in Gemini looks more over heated and insecure at the moment with tr Uranus square Mars Venus at the moment and again early in 2011. It sits very uncomfortably with the Islamic Calendar chart with the NY autocratic Uranus Saturn square the IslC Saturn Neptune. Plus the IslamicC Mars square the NY Neptune; and the IslamicC Sun square Pluto crashing into the NY Mercury in Capricorn.

The answer is I've no idea whether the New York mosque will be allowed. Though it does seem at the very least a politically insensitive planning idea to put it that close to Ground Zero.

Eat Pray Love - the talent From: Marjorie. (13 Aug 2010 14:40):
The new Julia Roberts film - Eat, Pray, Love - directed by Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck, Glee etc)is based on Elizabeth Gilbert's book about her year long travels seeking peace of mind after her divorce in Italy, India and Thailand.

Julia Roberts (28 Oct 1967 12.16 am Atlanta, GA, US) is now taking more substantial roles after her voluntary semi-retirement to have children as tr Saturn moved for several years through her lower profile first quadrant. Saturn is now about to move into her 4th so she'll be gearing up for a harder working, more visible time ahead.
She's a 4th house Sun in Scorpio with Mercury Neptune also in Scorpio so she is doubly private and keen to have a solid home life. She's also got four planets in hard working Virgo - Jupiter conjunct a late Leo Moon in the 2nd, improving her chances of earning a good deal; and Venus Pluto Uranus in the 3rd so she's intense, seductive though also quite unpredictable and keen to communicate. She has a bucket chart with all planets bar one contained within a wide trine with self-reliant Saturn in Aries being the singleton so she's very focussed on work plus she has Mars in earthy Capricorn in the hard working 6th.
Her Jupiter (Moon) trine Mars and sextile onto her Sun so she's got the confidence and determination to make her ambitions stick.
Next year Jupiter moves across her 10th from spring onwards which will keep her on a high career-wise though she's also less useful influences. Solar Arc Neptune square Saturn in late 10/11 is uncertain; tr tr square SArc MC in 11/12 is directionless. But she has a difficult tr Pluto square her singleton Saturn and tr Uranus conjunct which will throw her onto a different track though it'll be a very bumpy process. And she may have a few health issues along the way with Pluto into her 6th crossing Mars and her SArc Neptune also there.

Ryan Murphy ((30 Nov 1965) is a thoughtful, enthusiastic, scattered Sun Mercury in Sagittarius though a downbeat square to a regretful Saturn (Moon) in Pisces will make him discouraged at times. His Mercury squares Uranus Pluto in Virgo making him highly strung and quite changeable. With Jupiter in Gemini making up a very out-of-orb Mutable Grand Square - so he'll be constantly racing off in all directions at once. What will anchor him down somewhat is Mars in ambitious Capricorn which is in a disciplined sextile to his Saturn and a determined trine to Pluto Uranus.

Elizabeth Gilbert, the novelist and short story writer whose memoir is the basis of the film (18 July 1969) is an emotional self protective Sun Mercury in Cancer in a trine to creative, spiritual Neptune and to crusading Mars in early Sagittarius. Her showbizzy Mars Neptune trine Sun Mercury sextiles onto a focal point Pluto Jupiter Uranus - so she's quite a powerhouse, lucky, adventurous, controlling.

Three talented people.

Qwerty inventor - Uranus Neptune From: Marjorie. (12 Aug 2010 11:29):
An astrologically quickie. Christopher Sholes who invented the first commercial typewriter qwerty keyboard was born on 14 Feb 1819 at 5.45pm Moorestown, PA, USA. He was a thinking-type Sun Aquarius with a confident Mars Jupiter Mercury conjunction also in Aquarius on his Ascendant. He also had the highly inventive, inspired Uranus Neptune conjunction square a determined Saturn Pluto in Pisces.
His qwerty keyboard which remains in operation today was launched in June 1868. [Those are the first five letters on the top line of the keyboard - out of alphabetical order but so common we no longer think about it.]
At that point there was a transiting Neptune square transiting Uranus. So the mood and 'eureka' propensities of his natal conjunction were again in the celestial air.
It is worth looking at what happens when strong natal aspects come back round into the heavens even if they don't aspect anything in the natal chart. It produces a resonance that clearly has an effect.

David Beckham - what comes next? From: Marjorie. (12 Aug 2010 10:28):
David Beckham has been unceremoniously dumped from future international football by England manager Fabio Capello. Beckham does look very stuck at the moment with his Solar Arc Pluto opposing his Taurus Sun, exact in three months time so at peak intensity at the moment. Assuming his 6.17 am birth time is accurate ( 2 May 1975) he also has tr Neptune square his Ascendant, diminishing his image and two transits to Moon/SArc Moon at the moment which would make sense of an emotional and public upset.
He's also got tr Saturn aiming to damp his enthusiasm as it aspects his Cardinal T Square of Jupiter in Aries opp Pluto square Saturn in Cancer from late September this year till mid 2011. He won't disappear since he has a good deal of career ahead of him but clearly not as a footballer.
His relationship with Fabio Capello always was ferociously difficult with an outright-dislike, argumentative Sun Mars square Pluto in their composite chart; plus a cold Venus Saturn in a suspicious trine to Neptune.
Fabio Capello, (18 June 1946) survived England's dismal showing at the World Cup but has a very bumpy ride ahead and may not see his contract out till 2012. He's a Sun Uranus in Gemini sextile Mars in Leo , trine Jupiter in Libra - so he's lucky and innovative though not good at compromise. Tr Neptune is opposing his Mars in 10/11 which always smells of ego-dents and failure; plus his Solar Arc Sun will conjunct his Mars over coming months into 2011 which is always a collision of sorts, literal or career-wise. And tr Neptune opposes his SArc Sun as well - so all pretty much pointing to the exit door.

Hillary & Obama - problems looming From: Marjorie. (12 Aug 2010 10:07):
Hillary Clinton's relationship with Barack Obama isn't as cosy and easy as it appears. There's an intense, power struggling Pluto conjunct Mars which was in evidence over the election run up; plus a passionate Mars Venus sextile an entrenched Saturn; and a highly strung Moon opposition Neptune square Uranus.
The transiting Uranus opp tr Saturn last year failed to make an obvious dent as it hit the composite Virgo Sun. But tr Neptune opposing the composite Mars in 2012/13 certainly will - it's disappointing. Plus in 2012 there's a really dreary tr Pluto sextile the composite Saturn. And by that time tr Saturn is starting to oppose the composite Moon, conjunct Neptune and square Uranus - none of which is good news for a successful combo.

Joe Biden and Obama - pulling apart From: Marjorie. (12 Aug 2010 09:58):
There's more chat of Hillary Clinton replacing Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate for 2012. He's certainly prone to putting his foot in it when he opens his mouth but this is more to do with propping up Obama's failing popularity than anything too personal. I wouldn't even be totally surprised if he disappeared before 2012 since relations between himself and Obama look to be deteriorating if anything.
It isn't quite as bad a relationship as between Bill Clinton and Al Gore but it certainly isn't mutually supportive.

June 29 Posting: Biden is feeling a touch lack lustre this year with tr Neptune square his Sun Venus though with occasional rays of hope for positive change from tr Uranus trine Sun Venus till early 2011.
His relationship chart with Barack Obama is not inherently easy and is being beset by major difficulties now and ahead. There's a composite Sun opposition Saturn which is workmanlike, good for business but hardly warm. Plus an argumentative Uranus square an undermining Mars Neptune - so it isn't exactly a mutually supportive bond.
It's been labouring from the start under a tr Pluto square Saturn and hitting the Sun/Saturn midpoint and then this year tr Pluto square the composite Sun. Tr Pluto tends to pull apart. Relations between them will cool considerably come this September as tr Saturn is conjunct the composite Sun with tr Pluto maintaining the pressure on them through 2011. By 2012 tr Uranus is opposing the composite Sun which is definite separation time if it hasn't happened before.
Only two VPs have ever gone before full term. The last was Spiro Agnew facing finance charges in 1973.

Emma Thompson and Audrey Hepburn - both tough fighters in their different way From: Marjorie. (11 Aug 2010 10:18):
Emma Thompson, the English actress/writer now focussed on a new My Fair Lady has managed to ruffle feathers by suggesting that the star of the original Audrey Hepburn was twee, mumsy and couldn't act. Certainly they are very different kinds of actresses but Hepburn had a luminous presence on screen which turned her into an old time star.
EmmaT was born on 15 April 1959 and is an energetic, upfront Sun in Aries. But it is her Mercury in Aries which probably causes her problems with its foot-in-mouth tendencies especially in square to an over heated Mars in Cancer opposition Saturn in Capricorn. Her Pluto is also sextile her Mars and inconjunct her Mercury adding more force to her words and actions. Plus her Pluto in Virgo is on the point of a T square to a Gemini Venus opposition Jupiter in fiery Sagittarius. A focal point Mutable Pluto tends to be over wound up and constantly discontented with what is, wanting to tear down and rebuild. It can be useful for social reformers but isn't good at tranquil acceptance.

Audrey Hepburn, born 4 May 1929 3 am Ixelles, Belgium, had an extraordinary early life. Her father left when she was six and the family moved to the Netherlands, living under Nazi occupation in WW11. Hepburn trained as a ballet dancer and gave secret concerts to raise money for the Dutch Resistance. She starved during the Dutch famine of 1944 as Germans blocked supply routes, ending up with serious medical problems - which contributed to her never being able to gain weight later in life. Her experiences led her to become a dedicated campaigner for UNICEF, helping dying children round the globe.
She was a Sun Jupiter in Taurus sextile Pluto giving her confidence, optimism and determination. Her entertainment 5th house Pluto was also conjunct Mars in Cancer, giving her courage as well as the need to be seen as influential, a person of substance. Neptune was on her Descendant giving her that fey, mysterious, fragile quality as did her 1st house Pisces Moon. But in reality she was stalwart and tough.

Betty White - battling on From: Marjorie. (11 Aug 2010 09:49):
Betty White, the American actress and comedienne - The Golden Girls, Boston Legal, game shows etc - is still going strong after 70 years in show business. Born on 17 Jan 1922 at 6.38pm Oak Park, Il, USA she is an earthy, ambitious Sun Venus in Capricorn in the hard working 6th.
What is eye catching about her chart is a ferociously determined and not-easy-to-live-with Mars in Scorpio in the 4th. It sits on the point of a Fixed T square to a Neptune Ascendant opposition Mercury. She doesn't budge easy at home or anywhere else. Mars is also in an emotional/creative, self-protective Water Grand Trine to Pluto and a 7th house Uranus. So again more determination and with Uranus in the 7th close closeted relationships don't suit her. She had two very brief early marriages, a third which lasted longer but ended with her husband's death in 1981 and she hasn't remarried since.

Karen Woo - kind but over confident From: Marjorie. (11 Aug 2010 09:32):
Karen Woo, the UK doctor killed this week in Afghanistan in the remote region which was the backdrop to the movie The Man Who Would be King, was born on 18th June 1974. She was a Sun, possibly Moon in Gemini with her Sun in an independent-minded trine to Uranus. Her Sun was widely conjunct Saturn in Cancer and both squared Pluto - so she was tough and gritty. Her Pluto was also sextile Mars in Leo giving her courage and a flamboyant side. She started her life as a dancer before moving into medicine. Her compassionate Jupiter in Pisces was sextile an indulgent Venus in Taurus so she enjoyed the good life as well as pitting herself up against danger. Her Jupiter is widely square her Sun hinting perhaps at over confidence since they had been well warned of the dangers of their mission.
Her chart tragically has her Solar Arc Venus near the conjunction to her Sun in the year she was due to marry. That apart most of the hard aspects would involve her Moon which is not known with no birth time - SArc Moon conj Saturn, SArc Mars square Moon, SArc Uranus opp Moon are the possibilities. Plus tr Pluto square tr Saturn hitting her Sun/Saturn midpoint which is bleak.

Zac Goldsmith - going places From: Marjorie. (11 Aug 2010 09:17):
Zac Goldsmith, one of the new batch of Tory MPs in the UK is the son of financier and environmental campaigner Sir James Goldsmith. His father left him quarter of a billion pounds when he died (circa $400 million).
Zac, born 20 Jan 1975, is a last degree Capricorn Sun in a reforming square to Uranus in early Scorpio and has followed in his father's eco conscious footsteps. He also has a no-compromise Mars in crusading Sagittarius, semi-sextile his Sun and sextile Uranus. He's got a gritty, persevering Saturn square Pluto and a stable Jupiter in compassionate Pisces trine Saturn.
There's a fuss going on at present about his election expenses and he does have an insecure, over excitable tr Uranus square his Mars in Aug/Sep and again early in 11 plus a stuck tr Saturn conjunct his Pluto this October. But he also has tr Pluto sextile his Solar Arc Sun in 10/11 which is one of those getting it altogether influences.
Really when he comes into his own will be after mid decade with a wonderful collection of successful tr Pluto sextile Jupiter in 2016/17, enthusiastic and confident Solar Arc Jupiter trine Mars in 2017 and expansive Solar Arc Jupiter square his Sun and opposition Uranus in 17/19.

Ted Stevens - a packed though accident prone life From: Marjorie. (11 Aug 2010 09:17):
Ted Stevens, the ex-US Senator, the longest serving Republican who was the dominant political power in Alaska, was killed in a plane crash yesterday. Known locally as Uncle Ted he was renowned for directing hundreds of millions of dollars in worthless projects to his home state of Alaska until he was convicted of corruption and thrown out of office.
He survived a previous plane crash in 1978 in which his wife was killed.
Born 18 Nov 1923 he was a confident Sun Mercury Jupiter in Scorpio in a happy-go-lucky and not always straightforward square to Neptune in Leo. He also had a hard edged Saturn Mars in Libra.
When the previous plane crash occurred on 4 Dec 1978 there were major markers on his chart with tr Saturn opposition his Uranus and square his Venus; with tr Neptune conjunct his Solar Arc Mars; with his Solar Arc Sun square Mars and tr Pluto approaching a conjunction to his Mars. So emotionally upsetting and very high risk.
This time round there's less showing on his chart perhaps because of his age. A couple of hard transits to Mars midpoints aren't quite exact. His Solar Arc Venus was approaching a trine to his Pluto and was two degrees from the conjunction to his Uranus. His Solar Arc Sun was past the opposition to his Neptune which made his felony charges two years back a sinking affair for him.

Mia Farrow - fighting evil From: Marjorie. (10 Aug 2010 11:37):
The testimony of actress Mia Farrow and Naomi Campbell's ex-agent may be what helps ex-Liberia dictator Charles Taylor sent away for a very long time not just for war crimes but also dealing in blood diamonds.
Mia Farrow, born on 9 Feb 1945 is a determined, ambitious, humanitarian 10th house Sun Aquarius with an assertive Mars in Capricorn on her Midheaven. She has a communicative, interested-in-ideas Air Grand Trine of Mercury in Aquarius trine Uranus trine Neptune, formed into a talented Kite by a determined Sun opposition Pluto. Plus a Cardinal Grand Square of Capricorn Moon opposition Saturn square Neptune opposition Venus in Aries - so she's a bundle of energy, driven in part by a hangover from a not altogether happy childhood with a film director father and actress mother, Maureen O'Sullivan.
Mai Farrow's Sun is exactly opposite Charles Taylor's Saturn in Leo and her Pluto exactly opposite his Aquarius Sun - so a clash of two very stubbornly determined personalities. Their relationship chart is not surprisingly immensely difficult and intense with a composite Sun Mercury opposition Pluto square Mars Jupiter. So outright dislike and a major power struggle. She's a brave lady.
She has some highs later this year with tr Uranus opposition her Jupiter. But the tr Saturn, tr Pluto, tr Uranus are also wending their way round her Cardinal Grand Square from now till almost middle of the decade so there will be major challenges lying ahead for her. But she doesn't look as if she is disappearing off the map any time soon since tr Saturn is due to rise above her Descendant come 2013 onwards which will see her even higher profile.

Hola to Hello - the soft soap sell From: Marjorie. (10 Aug 2010 10:58):
Eduardo Sanchez Junco who turned the Spanish Hola magazine started by his father into the international Hello magazine brand was born on 26 April 1943. He was a Sun Taurus square Pluto and sextile Mars in Pisces; and Mars square Uranus Mars Venus - so clearly he had a powerhouse father and would be both energetic and fairly controlling himself. His Mercury in late Taurus was conjunct Uranus; with Uranus conjunct Saturn Venus in Gemini. Plus he had the family-oriented Jupiter in Cancer probably opposition a Capricorn Moon.
I suppose the Gemini covers the semi-journalistic side of Hello and the Taurus covers the indulgence of its content; plus the marshmallowy Moon Jupiter.
The first Hola magazine came out on 8 September 1944 when he was a year old - and it had an Earth Virgo Sun and Moon Uranus in Gemini, Moon square Jupiter and Saturn square Mars Venus - so was similar in some ways to his chart.
The English speaking version started on 21 May 1988 and had a Gemini Sun and Mercury with Sun square Mars and Mars sextile Uranus Saturn (Neptune) with a pushily indulgent Jupiter in Taurus opposition Pluto. The aggressive Mars in all these charts isn't reflected in the soft subject matter but would be useful for getting the brand pushed.
What was being activated on Junco's chart when the European editions started in 1988 was his Jupiter in Cancer. This placing tends to be kind and generous, likes to focus on families, houses, food - all the lunar areas - and can at a negative level be given to maudlin sentimentality.

Zara and Prince William - friends for fleeting occasions From: Marjorie. (10 Aug 2010 10:30):
Zara Phillips has her Taurus Sun conjunct Prince William's Venus in Taurus. So there's real friendliness and affection there. But it wouldn't survive without a few arguments if they were closeted in a small space over extended periods. Their relationship chart has a Mars square Pluto and Mars trine Uranus - so there'd be power struggles and explosive moments.

Germany - making better headway than most From: Marjorie. (10 Aug 2010 10:26):
Germany has reported good growth figures with higher than expected exports, in part a consequence of the weaker euro. Germany is the world's second biggest exporter after China and now has a widening trade surplus.
Astrologically what is keeping them buoyant at the moment are usefully placed Jupiter midpoints which are picking up tr Uranus aspects. And with tr Pluto sextile their Solar Arc Jupiter in 2011/12 their good times will continue to roll on against the trend.
However that doesn't mean they'll escape problems altogether. Their 10 degree Capricorn Sun is conjunct Saturn at 1 Capricorn square Mars at 0 Libra - so they have a fair amount of jolting, jarring and setbacks to contend with when tr Uranus comes back in 2011 to oppose their Mars and square Saturn. Plus tr Pluto is in a dreary conjunction to their Sun/Saturn midpoint in 11/12 as well which will make for a few uphill climbs. And they have tr Neptune square their Solar Arc Sun in 11/12 which tends to be lack lustre.
Part of the above may involve the other less robust EU economies who for all the happy smiles of the moment will sometime soon come back round to expecting a German bail out. The gap between Germany and the rest of the EU is likely to cause increasing angst and resentment certainly from this October onwards. 2013 could be the crunch point - for Germany internally as well as their relationship to the EU.

Take That - Fixed meets Fixed From: Marjorie. (09 Aug 2010 19:04):
Robbie Williams parted company from the group Take That in 1995 over disagreements with lead singer/songwriter Gary Barlow and others, in part due to his drug use at that time.
Barlow, is recognised as the musical talent behind Take That and was instrumental to the success of their re-launch in 2005. Born on 20 Jan 1971 at 12.20 pm Frodsham, England, he has an ambitious 10th house Sun in Capricorn in a controlling trine to Pluto in the 6th and sextile a fiendishly determined Mars in Scorpio. Pluto in the 6th tends to have firm ideas about work and usually wants to be in control.
His Mars in Scorpio is conjunct Williams' Scorpio Moon and opposition W's Mars and square W's Sun Jupiter - so it would be a mighty clash of two stubbornly entrenched personalities neither of whom budge easily.
Their relationship chart has composite Uranus trine Sun and Mars so it's a relationship that needs a great deal of space since neither compromise easily. Plus an intense Venus square Pluto; and a suspicious, doubting Saturn opposition Neptune. That Venus square Pluto is under assault this year from tr Pluto and tr Saturn so it'll be a sticky few months till the end of the year and beyond.

Jim Morrison - self destructing before 30 From: Marjorie. (09 Aug 2010 18:37):
Jim Morrison of the Doors was one of the exceptionally successful, charismatic tragedies of the music world who died at 27 probably from a heroin/cocaine overdose. Born on 8 Dec 1943 11.55 am Melbourne, FL, US he was an ambitious 10th house Sagittarius Sun opposition Saturn. He had a heavy alcohol problem which is sometimes associated with the depressive hard Sun Saturn aspects.
He came from a military family with constant home moves and a father more absent than present. With Mars Uranus in Gemini in the 4th he'd carry the mark of that restless, heated early home environment with him into a rebellious adult life. His Mars Uranus trine an 8th house Neptune which gave him an ability to project a magnetic image to the world at large, despite his inner turmoil. He also had a sexy, seductive Venus in Scorpio in an intense square to Pluto.
There are many conspiracy theories surrounding his death in Paris on 3 July 1971. At that point his Solar Arc Pluto was exactly square his Uranus (to within one sixth of a minute) which certainly denotes a major upheaval. And his Solar Arc Uranus was exactly square his Neptune. Perhaps that 8th house Neptune looking for transcendental bliss down the drug route - which was bound to end in tears.

Hewlett Packard - the Mars blight From: Marjorie. (09 Aug 2010 11:46):
Hewlett Packard's fortunes won't turn up regrettably with Mark Hurd's departure. They still have tr Pluto opposition Mars till late this year which is very stuck. Tr Uranus opposition Mars in 11/12 which is insecure and tr Pluto tr Uranus hitting Neptune in 12/13. So quite a long haul ahead. 18 Aug 1947

Duchess of York - the merry-go-round never stops From: Marjorie. (09 Aug 2010 11:41):
The ongoing saga of the carnival that is Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York's finances continues to amuse during a silly season dearth of serious stories. Her worst moments came late last year into early 2010 as her cash meltdown impinged even on her distracted attention. Voluntary bankruptcy is now being discussed though resisted by her. But with tr Saturn square her 2nd house Saturn this month it may be necessary to bite the bullet.
Not that she's out of the woods if that happens since she has tr Uranus opposition that Saturn in 11/12 - so more financial hitches and glitches will come along the way. She' does have a glimmer of cheer as tr Pluto sextiles her Jupiter/NNode from mid Aug to mid Oct this year. But her relationship to her daughters does look under serious strain because of her fecklessness in 11/12 with tr Pluto and tr Uranus hard aspecting her 5th house Aries Moon (natally square Saturn).
What is an eternal mystery is why Prince Andrew hasn't cut that ties that bind and cast her loose. He is a Sun Pisces opposition Pluto square a Scorpio Moon - so is very possessive and not inclined to let go. But that also suggests he's fairly under the control of both parents and it is his relationship with them that is threatening to rupture.
He was always considered the Queen's favourite and they do have an immensely complex relationship chart with an Air Grand Trine of Sun Neptune trine Uranus trine Mars MC. But that is formed into a Kite by a Mars MC opposition Pluto which is a feature of most of HM Queen's relationships with her close family - it's all about power and there's no doubt who holds it. Their relationship is under very considerable strain as tr Saturn was conjunct Neptune Moon and opposition Sun over the cosy family hols on the Scottish boat recently. Tr Uranus is also at the moment conjunct their composite Sun and opposition Neptune; plus tr Pluto square composite Moon - so they are definitely not singing off the same hymn sheet.
His relationship with Prince Philip is worsening in late Oct and onwards as tr Saturn is conjunct their composite Moon and opposition Mars - so cold and argumentative. So it doesn't look as if there is a resolution anytime soon.
HM Queen finds the Duchess of York very difficult with a Saturn opposition Sun Venus Uranus in their relationship chart shutting down warmth and causing tensions to erupt. But it is Prince Philip who has most problems with a Fixed angry Sun Mars square Uranus and a chained-together-and-hating-it Saturn square Pluto.
The Duchess of York must represent that errant embarrassing scandal-prone trait in the Royal Family that needs to escape from time to time to create havoc.

Roald Dahl - a dark life lived to the full From: Marjorie. (08 Aug 2010 13:52):
There's a new biography out on Roald Dahl, the Norwegian English-born novelist, macabre short story and screen play writer best remembered for his dark humour. And for his children's stories - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which made it into the movie Willie Wonka.
Born on 13 September 1916 (sadly without time) he had an extraordinary and tragedy-strewn life. His sister died at 7 (appendicitis) as did one of his own daughters (measles). His father died the same year as his sister when he was 3, and he had an unhappy public school upbringing. He went on to have a high-risk WW11 as a pilot and ultimately married Patricia Neal, the well known Hollywood actress. His first child was brain damaged in a car accident at four months old; two years later his daughter died; and three years after that his wife, Patricia Neal, took a near terminal stroke.
He was a Sun Virgo as befits a writer and had the attraction-to-the-dark-side Mars in Scorpio trine Pluto in Cancer (as PD James). His Mars was in a reckless opposition to Jupiter in indulgent Taurus square Neptune Venus in Leo (conjunct Saturn in late Cancer) - so he liked the high life; and although charming could be very stubborn; and was emotionally a rather complex mess. Not an easy man to live with. His Mercury in Libra was opposition his Aries Moon and trine his Uranus but doesn't (without a birth time) really stand out as remarkable in his chart - and his Sun is unaspected.

His wife of 30 years Patricia Neal, born 20 Jan 1926 at 4.40 am Gatliff, KY, USA is a Sun Capricorn conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius with a hugely complicated chart. She has a bleak, though persevering, self protective and creative Water Grand Trine of Saturn in Scorpio trine an 7th house Pluto trine Uranus. She also has an inspirational, confident Fire Grand Trine of Mars in Sagittarius trine an Aries Moon trine an 8th house Neptune in Leo, formed into a Kite by Venus opp Neptune. A Fire Earth chart is highly combustible, excitable, impulsive and is relatively common in creative/entertainment business types. And of course Neptune in the 8th is quite a movie star signature.
When his son Theo was knocked down in his pram and suffered a fractured skull on 5 Dec 1960 with major after effects Dahl had his Solar Arc Sun exactly conjunct his Mars indicating the kind of angry collision that Sun Mars aspect can produce. And since his Mars is hugely emphasised, tied natally into that opp Jupiter square Venus Neptune Saturn T square it would reverbrate round all those planets as well. He later invented a medical shunt to ease the pressure on his son's brain which was used elsewhere.
On Patricia Neal's chart it showed up as tr Uranus opposition her emphasised Venus (driving planet of her Fire Grand Trine of Neptune, Mars, Moon) so a truly power-packed emotional upset.
Two years later when his daughter died of encephalitis Dahl had tr Saturn again triggering off his difficult emotional T square with tr Saturn opposition Venus Neptune. And Patricia Neal had tr Uranus opposing her Solar Arc Sun.
Three years later when she was pregnant in 5 Feb 1965 Patricia Neal took a massive stroke which left her unable to move or speak and she had to relearn how to walk and speak again. At that point tr Uranus was exactly trine her Mercury - which is minor enough but perhaps a trigger since the pressure would have been building with tr Uranus Pluto in Virgo having just passed the square to her natal Mars. Plus a punishing set of Solar Arc Uranus square Sun and SArc Mars sextile Saturn through the aftermath of her daughter's death.
At the point of her stroke Dahl's chart had the tr Uranus tr Pluto in Virgo conjunct his Solar Arc Saturn - again picking up that central T square of his. With a majorly disruptive Uranus square his Pluto.
They divorced some eighteen years later because of his affair with a friend.
It is useful to look back on lives to see which particular configuration or planets are aspected at the time of major life events. It is different for different charts.

Robbie Williams - an Aquarian feste From: Marjorie. (08 Aug 2010 11:44):
Robbie Williams was married at 5pm-ish in Los Angeles, CA yesterday to his long term girlfriend Ayda Field.
RobbieW born on 13 Feb 1974 3.20pm Stoke-on-Trent, England is a Sun Jupiter in Aquarius in an Air Grand Trine to Saturn in Gemini trine Uranus in Libra. So he's lucky, friendly, up in his head, communicative. That Grand Trine forms a Kite with the Saturn opposition North Node in Sagittarius so he's been graced with even more talent. His Scorpio Moon opposes an ambitious 10th house Mars in Taurus squaring onto his Sun Jupiter in a Fixed T Square - so he's ego-centric, indulgent and very determined.
Emotionally his chart isn't easy with an unsettled Uranus in the 4th and only one Water sign - his Scorpio Moon - which would make him intense though very on or off about his feelings which would never be entirely within his control. His only Earth sign is Venus in Capricorn in the hard working 6th trine his Mars and sextile his Moon which would help soak up a good deal of his angry feelings, channelling them into his career.

Ayda Field, 17 May 1969, is a stalwart though independent-minded Taurus Sun opposition Uranus. She has an Aquarius Moon which may be opposition her Jupiter in Leo and square her Mars in Taurus. Her Mars is in a disciplined trine to Saturn in meticulous Virgo.
Her Aquarius Moon clearly sits well with his Sun Jupiter in Aquarius. And her Venus in Aries, Mars Mercury and Sun all fall in his 10th so she'll be focussed on his career and getting his life moving forward. It'll be bumpy at times since her Uranus is conjunct his Moon so she'll not compromise easily. Well, neither of them will and he may find her rather unpredictable as time goes on. Both are exceptionally obstinate.
She apparently got him together and off his former destructive lifestyle. He met her when tr Saturn was about to go below his Ascendant into his 1st quadrant which is often when people get their personal lives together in the time following.
Their relationship chart is rather tumultuous and stubborn with an adventurous Mars Jupiter opposition a needs-space Uranus square a too-much-work Saturn; and there's a close controlling Pluto opposition composite Sun Mercury. It'll have its cool patches this autumn and into 2011 with tr Saturn hitting that Sun Mercury opposition Pluto.

Their Wedding chart isn't dissimilar to Chelsea Clinton's with a secretive 8th house Sun and an even more private emphasised Pluto on the Ascendant. It'll be tricky at the start with jolts and jars until tr Saturn, tr Uranus, tr Pluto clear those Cardinal planets of Uranus Jupiter opp Mars Saturn(Venus) square Pluto Ascendant which will take till 2013.

Kashmir - the key problem From: Marjorie. (07 Aug 2010 15:24):
To those outside the Indian sub-continent Kashmir is a rather obscure separatist problem, hence the previous UK Foreign Secretary's gaffe last year when he deeply upset his Indian hosts by suggesting the matter should be fixed asap.
In fact Kashmir is central to the lifelong hostility between modern India and Pakistan; and one reason why the Pakistan Army is kept at peak strength. The Afghanistan Taliban are less of a worry to Pakistan than India or indeed China who are their two major neighbours.
The history of Kashmir goes way back but it became a princely state in the time of the British colonials on 16 March 1846. Largely Muslim, it had a Hindu maharajah in 1947 at partition who with the agreement of the witless departing British rulers handed it to India. There have since been three Indo-Pakistan wars fought over it. At present it is split uncomfortably into three - under India, Pakistan, China.
The 1846 Kashmir chart is a Sun Pisces with a rebellious Mercury Uranus in Aries and a stubbornly stuck, resentful Mars in Taurus square Saturn Neptune in Aquarius.
What is striking is the relationship chart between India and Pakistan (both born on the same day) and Kashmir. This has a truly horrible Sun Mars Pluto opposition Neptune probably square Moon - so no surprises there is outright hatred and a relentless struggle for dominance. Plus a pushy Jupiter square Uranus Saturn.
There was a separatist insurgency in Kashmir in 1989 which was suppressed when the triple conjunction in Capricorn was square the Kashmir Mercury Uranus - and that repeats in the next three years with tr Saturn, Uranus, Pluto hitting the same spot. So there may be more internal ructions. Although there's nothing to suggest the India and Pakistan stance will change at least until after the middle of this decade. 2016/2017 look extremely fraught.
Quite why Kashmir should be such a toxic hot spot for both India and Pakistan is possibly to do with the India Pakistan Moon's North Node in Taurus which is conjunct the Kashmir Mars and square the Kashmir Saturn Neptune. Taurus North Nodes, of which Israel has one, tend to involve the individual or country in overly defensive action against those close since it constantly fears suppression. It goes along with plotting and planning either for revenge or to defend property/territory. Schulman says of this NNode that they react 'like wounded animals' who can be deadly when they feel cornered.
There can be a happy ending for a Taurus North Node if they stop clinging on so ferociously and recognise that they actually have all they need. But it can be a long time coming for individuals and presumably centuries long for countries.

George Clooney's arm candy in trouble From: Marjorie. (07 Aug 2010 14:43):
George Clooney's Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis is hitting the headlines with the wrong story at the moment, after she was linked to a suspected cocaine and call girl ring in her homeland.
The notoriously marriage-shy actor was deemed to be almost on the point of an engagement when the allegations were made.
She was born on 12 Sept 1978 so is a Sun Virgo with a Capricorn Moon and a serious Mercury Saturn in Virgo. On the face of that she could be hard working and very understated. But what sparks her up is a seductive Venus in Scorpio on the midpoint of Mars and Uranus, making her passionate and excitable. Plus perhaps a Moon square Mars Pluto in Libra which is seriously heavy duty emotionally, angry, impatient, possessive.
Her Virgo Sun suits George Clooney's Taurus Sun. They both have Capricorn Moons and her Jupiter in flashy Leo is conjunct his Mars which is a morale-boosting combination. Admittedly his Venus is in wandering Aries while hers is in Scorpio which doesn't sit so well and his evasive Neptune is conjunct her Venus which will probably drive her wild.
Their relationship chart isn't that memorable. There is an exact composite Sun trine Saturn hinting at more work than play and a disruptive Uranus Pluto conjunction. The Sun opposition Venus (perhaps conjunct Moon) will help to provide an affectionate connection. There are definite signs of an upheaval from mid August with tr Pluto square tr Saturn hitting the composite Uranus - and certainly more separation when tr Saturn squares the Sun and then Venus in 11/12.

Poland - new President in for a sweaty ride From: Marjorie. (07 Aug 2010 14:05):
The new Poland President Bronislaw Komrowski has been sworn in on 6 Aug 2010 10 am, Warsaw following the death of the previous president in a plane crash in Russia.
Komrowski, 4 June 1952, is deemed a safe pair of hands and is a Sun Venus Mercury in Gemini in a sensible trine to Saturn in Libra. With his Sun also trine Neptune and sextile Pluto. He also has a rather over-confident, stubborn Jupiter in Taurus opposition Mars in Scorpio. He has Saturn at 8 Libra square Uranus at 12 Cancer so there'll be some jolts and very heavy pressure through 2012/13 and up to 2015 if he survives that long politically.
Though his Presidency chart has Mars Saturn Venus conjunction on the Ascendant with Jupiter Uranus on the Descendant squaring onto a 4th house Pluto North Node. That looks highly unsettled until tr Uranus clears that T square which won't be until after 2012. With Pluto there especially square Mars Saturn there's likely to be a fairly tight grip maintained on domestic matters with rumblings of discontent from the voting populace.
The two Poland charts (1916 and 1989) do indicate a tough slog through 10/11/12 and 13. So he hasn't taken over at an easy time. 2012 looks the worst in the short term.

Michelle - swanning around in Spain From: Marjorie. (07 Aug 2010 13:42):
Michelle Obama's Marbella holiday over her husband's birthday is very odd. Spending lavishly at a time of national hardship was an obvious no no whether it was their personal money or not. And he needs all the support and morale-boosting he can get at the moment.
There's no birth time for her but she is feeling very trapped and rebellious at the moment with her Solar Arc opposition Pluto this year as well as Solar Arc Uranus square her Capricorn Sun. Though she'll be feeling worse come 2012/13 with a very trapped Solar Arc Pluto square Mars and a downbeat SArc Saturn conjunct her normally fiery Jupiter in Aries.
Their relationship is going through a bad patch with tr Neptune square the composite Mars exactly now.
Life in the White House isn't fun for families with a heavy security presence around permanently and she may just have had enough and decided her daughter needed a treat. Michelle is a feisty character who doesn't push around easily. Though it is the other daughter who seems to be ploughing through troubled seas at the moment. She's off at summer camp.
Obama does have his Venus at 1 degree Cancer which is being squared by a separating, emotionally gloomy Saturn exactly now. With tr Uranus squaring it through 2011. His relationship with Michelle is a complex one being focussed more on duty than pleasure - composite Sun opp Venus square Saturn - with some one-upmanship games going on from time to time with a Jupiter opposition Pluto.
No doubt something will emerge out of the woodwork along the way to explain quite what is going on.

Hiroshima - Harmonics and Eclipses From: Marjorie. (06 Aug 2010 15:28):

The Japanese are today marking the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bomb which was dropped on 6 August 1945 at 8.15 am. About 140,000 died then or in the months following and Japan surrendered, bringing an end to World War 11.
The chart for the bombing has sudden-disruption Uranus exactly conjunct the Midheaven set for Hiroshima - to the exact minute of the exact degree. Uranus was also in an explosive conjunction to Mars and both were in a heavy sextile to Sun Pluto in Leo. Mars was exactly sextile Pluto and trine Neptune. Plus there was an emotionally downbeat Moon Saturn in Cancer in the 10th. The exactness of some aspects is interesting and it is a difficult chart. But for all that it doesn't have that stagger-back quality you'd expect from such a universe-changing event as the Hiroshima bomb. Mind you neither did the 9/11 chart.
Where the 9/11 chart started to make more sense was in the 16th Harmonic which is multiples of the difficult 4 with a Mars square Saturn Uranus and sextile Pluto with Pluto opposition the 16H Midheaven. And that is pretty brutal.
Where the Hiroshima chart looks more menacing is in the 9th Harmonic curiously which is supposedly about happiness but clearly there's another dimension. The Hiroshima 9H has a Mystic Rectangle of Uranus Midheaven opp Jupiter; and Mars opposition Pluto; with Pluto trine Uranus MC and Jupiter trine Mars. That looks more along the right lines - especially with Saturn widely conjunct Mars. So a mix of explosive Mars Uranus pumped up by Jupiter Pluto's hyper-mega tendencies. The difficult side of the 9th Harmonic is evidently egotism, easily hurt, quick tempered. Perhaps seeing Hiroshima as payback for Pearl Harbour makes most sense of this Harmonic.

The Hiroshima 11th Harmonic is also strong. The 11H is about a burning, obsessive dream but gone sour it can have very negative consequences as dreams don't always act out well in reality. This has a Water Grand Trine of Pluto trine Neptune trine Moon Saturn - Sat Pl is bleak; Pl Nep is nuclear and major confusion; Moon Saturn disregards feelings. And an attention-demanding, inventive Fire Grand Trine of Sun trine Mercury trine Jupiter. With another feeling-dampening T square of Moon Saturn opposition Venus square Sun. And a panicky, overly aggressive, self justifying Mars opposition Neptune square Jupiter.

On the Japan chart in 1945 there was a Solar Arc Mars square Sun which does usually coincide with a major collision of sorts; plus an undermining, panicky Solar Arc Neptune trine the Japan Mars. There was also a Solar Arc Pluto inconjunct their Jupiter which would fit with overpowering confidence backfiring.
Tracking back on the preceding Eclipses:-
The 9 July 1945 Total Solar eclipse in Cancer had Saturn conjunct and it had Jupiter on the Descendant and Uranus on the nadir/IC located to Hiroshima. It also had an expansive Jupiter trine Mars in Taurus sextile New Moon Saturn - so arguably pushing all that inflated Mars Jupiter into an event of great sadness with Saturn in Cancer on the Eclipse. When the bomb was dropped a month later the transiting Moon was just one degree passed the conjunction to the Eclipse - which is relatively often the case as the following Moon appears to trigger the Eclipse chart.
The partial Lunar Eclipse of 25 June 1945 was even more pointed set for Hiroshima with Moon conjunction Midheaven opposition Sun Nadir/IC square Neptune conjunct Descendant. There was nothing visible triggering that though the chart itself is indicative of a time of great panic and confusion - with Eclipse charts having an effect for some months after the event.
The Solar Eclipse of 14 January 1945 is in many ways just as pointed with Uranus on the Ascendant set for Hiroshima with Venus conjunct Midheaven. That Eclipse Uranus also falls exactly on the Japan country chart assuming a mid day start, suggesting a major turning point in Japan's destiny. When the bombing happened tr Mars was exactly conjunct the Jan 45 Eclipse Uranus and square the Eclipse MC and conjunct the Japan Ascendant.
The 25 Jan 1944 Total Solar Eclipse was exceptionally difficult with Pluto opposing the Eclipsed New Moon in Aquarius. With an Air Grand Trine of the New Moon trine Neptune and trine explosive Uranus Mars. Set for Hiroshima it had Pluto conjunct Midheaven opposition New Moon conjunct nadir/IC - very suggestive of a total blockage, damage to reputation and status. There was no visible trigger on this chart eighteen months later in Aug 1945 except that Neptune had returned to its' Eclipse position and was back in trine exactly to the Eclipsed New Moon.
Much the same conclusions as before - Eclipses show tantalising glimpses of events to come but we/I still haven't quite grasped the cipher.

Kyron Horman - gone but not forgotten From: Marjorie. (06 Aug 2010 11:08):
Kyron Horman, born 9 Sept 2002, disappeared on June 4th this year with no news to date of his whereabouts. His step-mother Terri Horman, 14 March 1970, has not been charged though there is media speculation that she may have been involved. The USA has much looser libel laws than the UK which allows for unproved allegations to be made without penalty.
He does/did have a difficult chart with a Sun Mars in Virgo square Pluto which could attract danger and risk. But there are very good aspects to his chart as well with a sociable Jupiter in Leo opp Neptune square Venus and a confident Jupiter trine Pluto, sextile Mercury. When he disappeared there was an exact Solar Arc Mars square his Pluto, so closing his natal square. That doesn't look good since it is very trapped. Mars Pluto can be destructive. And tr Pluto had been opposition his Solar Arc Saturn in the two months before which would be very heavy going.
His step-mother is a controlling Sun Pisces opposition Pluto, maybe square a Gemini Moon with a not-altogether sweet natured Mars Saturn in Taurus in a pushy opposition to Jupiter in Scorpio. Her Solar Arc Pluto was exactly conjunct her Jupiter this June which would have lifted her confidence and opposition her Mars which would make her feel acutely trapped and perhaps make her want to find a way out of difficulties. Solar Arc Pluto is now continuing on to oppose her Saturn which is stuck and bleak in the aftermath. She can't work now she says because of all the adverse publicity. The tr Sun was conjunct her Solar Arc Mars Saturn conjunction when he disappeared which would stoke up her anger.
Their relationship chart is a mix of adventurous and difficult. There is a Sun opposition Uranus square Jupiter which would be OK in a lifestyle that allowed for excitement and fun, but in a restricted lifestyle would lead to both sides feeling impatient (Sun Uranus). Plus there were anger issues from a difficult composite Mars trine Pluto and Mars opposition Neptune. So a relationship where control was a major issue (Mars Pluto) and who got the attention (Mars Neptune). Tr Pluto was exactly conjunct the composite Neptune in June making for confusing circumstances and pulling a good deal on that Mars.

Marvel comics - strong enough to withstand the storm From: Marjorie. (06 Aug 2010 10:37):
Disney bought Marvel Comics on 31 Dec 2009 in a fit of wild over-confidence with a Mars in Leo opposition Jupiter Neptune in place; plus a tricky, stuck Saturn in Libra square Pluto Venus Sun in Capricorn. That chart is going to bump, grind and groan over the next few years with a major upheaval come 2013/14 with tr Uranus and tr Pluto hitting the Capricorn Sun.
I couldn't find an exact first date for Marvel except for October 1939. But assuming 1st Oct 39 then it has a Mystic Rectangle - of two oppositions, Mars to Pluto and Sun to Saturn plus Jupiter trine Pluto, sextile Mars and Sun trine Mars, sextile Pluto. So a very strong chart indeed. But again with a 7 degree Libra Sun (?) and Jupiter at 3 Aries there's quite a lot of change coming up. Some of it positive and some not.

Wyclef Jean - pushing too hard can backfire From: Marjorie. (06 Aug 2010 10:13):
Wyclef Jean, the American-Haitian musician and record producer is now intending to run for the Haiti Presidency when elections come round late this November.
His track record financially is somewhat iffy with late tax returns for his Haiti charities and some questionable expenses so I'd imagine the run up might bring a few difficult questions for him.
Born on 17 Oct 1972 he's an independent-minded Sun Uranus in Libra with an over confident and ferociously determined, law-unto-himself Jupiter square Mars Pluto in Libra.
His Sun Uranus is in a stabilising trine to Saturn and perhaps in trine to an Aquarius Moon. [Born just a week after Michele Hughes Linehan, see Aug 3 below].
He's definitely in an upbeat, pushy mood at the moment with tr Pluto conjunct his Jupiter till mid October and square his Pluto. Though tr Saturn may damp his enthusiasm somewhat through the middle of this month as it opposes Pluto and squares Jupiter. He's got a major setback tr Saturn conjunct his Mars in late Oct during the start of campaigning. And with his Solar Arc Sun approaching a conjunction to his Neptune really isn't on a winning streak at the moment. His chart is fairly mixed over the result with some highs and a few major jolts. They could, of course, jolt him into a new career but it doesn't look all plain sailing by any manner of means and could be a failure.

Naomi Campbell & Charles Taylor - chic amidst war crimes From: Marjorie. (06 Aug 2010 09:49):
Naomi Campbell gave unwilling testimony at the Liberian ex-war lord Charles Taylor's War Crimes trial at The Hague yesterday to great fanfare. Though whether what she said about being handed 'dirty stones' - ie. uncut diamonds - in the middle of the night by lackeys proved anything is questionable.
She of the famously short temper was born on 22 May 1970 at 1 am London and is a 4th house Sun Gemini opposition Neptune conjunct her Midheaven. So she's well designed for a career involving dreams, mystique and airbrushed images. But most of the hard core energy of her chart focuses on an unsettled and potentially volcanic 8th house Uranus Pluto which squares an enthusiastic, argumentative and spotlight-dominating Mars Venus in Gemini in the entertainment 5th house.
She's looking edgy at the moment with Solar Arc Uranus opposition her Mercury at the moment, moving into the jolting opposition to her Saturn into 2011. If her birth time is accurate then she's got tr Neptune aiming to square her Midheaven in 11/12 which will bring a few sinking career moments.

Charles Taylor, born 28 Jan 1948 is an Aquarius Sun in a bleak unyielding opposition to Saturn Pluto in Leo. He also has the adventurer's Mars opposition Uranus. His chart is reasonably well tied together which is no doubt why he succeeded with his Sun opp Pluto tied in by trine/sextile to Neptune. And his Jupiter Uranus opposition in trine/sextile to his Saturn.
He has a double set of tr Pluto hitting his Mars and his Solar Arce Mars in 10/11/12 which is very trapped; plus a sinking Solar Arc Sun opposition Neptune in 2012 - so not a happy time ahead.
His Liberian Presidency chart (2 Aug 1997) had a cruel Mars opposition Saturn square Neptune with an over confident Sun opposition Uranus Jupiter; and a controlling Sun trine Pluto - so pretty descriptive of what occurred during his time in office.

Banks - highs come before lows From: Marjorie. (05 Aug 2010 11:56):
I would think the banks' raised profits are to do with the Jupiter effect. Pluto in Capricorn can certainly go for mega-large since its' nature is to gain as much control as possible. In previous Pluto in Capricorns there was usually one empire builder who took over great swathes of the globe. Nowadays it's more conglomerates and financial houses. But the banks as they stand at the moment aren't out of the mire by a long shot.
Santander took over RBS branches as I understand since RBS was thought to be too big. So now Santander is too big! And it's not looking good at least at home in Spain come 11/12.
Lloyds has some seriously dips later this year and highly insecure and very challenging influences in 11/12. RBS has a Venus in Cancer square Pluto in Libra at 10 and 2 degrees so they've got multiple hurdles to jump from mid August onwards and on and on till 2013/14.
Barclays may fare marginally better but they've got tr Saturn opposition their Sun Venus and square Pluto in 11/12 which will curb their progress somewhat.

Lourdes Ciccone - Madonna's other half From: Marjorie. (05 Aug 2010 11:40):
13 year old Lourdes Ciccone, Madonna's eldest daughter has been getting steadily higher profile with magazine cover pics of her and a new fashion range launched, co-produced with her relentlessly ambitious mother.
Born 14 Oct 1996 at 4.01pm Los Angeles, CA she's a secretive, intense 8th house Libra Sun in a vague, though creative square to Neptune. Her hard working and showy 6th house Mars in Leo is square a Scorpio Moon so she will clash with her mother at times. She's got an emphasised Jupiter in materialistic Capricorn squaring onto a self reliant Saturn in Aries opposition Mercury North Node in Libra. She'll dislike failing with Jupiter Saturn but tend to flip from high to low quite easily and will with a focal point Jupiter expect results to come through easily. She has the outsider's Saturn trine Pluto sextile Uranus which is in turn conjunct Neptune so she'll be highly strung and utterly determined.
Her relationship with her mother is very Pluto (possessive) and Saturn (work comes first). There's a close entertainment 5th house Moon North Node Pluto conjunction on the focal point of a mini Grand Trine of Venus trine Neptune. With Moon Pluto trine Saturn. So at times their relationship will be over loaded and quite bleak. It may be that Madonna hopes to continue her high profile public image by keeping her daughter exceptionally close and appearing as a duo. But there will be impatient outbursts with a Mars trine Uranus and Uranus square Saturn. Tensions and resentments will build and bubble over.
Lourdes will be on a real high come 2013 to 2015 with tr Pluto conjunct her emphasised Jupiter and her Solar Arc Mars trine her Jupiter. That's when tr Saturn hits her Midheaven for a peak of about seven years as she hits 20. That will cause some aggro with mama since tr Uranus and tr Pluto are both then in hard aspect to that very tightly controlling Moon Pluto conjunction in their relationship chart.

Barack Obama - Solar Return into mixed fortunes ahead From: Marjorie. (05 Aug 2010 10:57):
Barack Obama spent his 49th birthday alone with one daughter off at summer camp and Michelle off to Marbella for 'quality time' with their other daughter + 40 friends.
He spent his birthday in Chicago as far as I can gather. His Solar Return is very mixed as to be expected with the present complicated influences up above.
A hard working, health-focused 6th house Sun trines the Solar Return Midheaven as does Jupiter Uranus in Aries from the 2nd. This suggests some progress and achievements. But there is also an 8th house Saturn Mars which points to business/joint finances giving him aggravation - bank, global economics and the like.
The Uranus Jupiter opp Mars Saturn square an 11th house Pluto could also indicate a major power struggle with the legislature and indeed polarised attitudes to him out amongst the voting populace becoming more extreme. They love him or loathe him. He's also got an uncertain Neptune conjunct the Return Ascendant which will give him an evasive, impractical or mysterious image for the year ahead. It suggests a lack of confidence about how to put himself across in public.
The Solar Return Moon hovers on the cusp of the 4th hinting that family is his support system but since the Moon trines an 8th house Mars Saturn he's also experiencing lack of emotional support from close partners.
A 7th house Mercury is heavily emphasised being square the Midheaven and Moon/Nadir - so he'll be talk, talk, talking though at times going round in circles (Moon Mercury). An 11th house North Node suggests lack of plans for the longer term.
His relationship to Michelle is having some sinking moments - at the moment through August and again in Jan 2011 as tr Neptune squares their composite Mars. Wit a hint of an upheaval as transiting Pluto is sextile the composite Uranus from mid August to mid October this year.
On his Solar Arc Directions he's got tr Uranus opposition his Solar Arc Sun from Aug 14th till early Sept 2010 and then again March and Nov 2011 which is jolting and jarring. This is especially true in his case since his Sun natally is square Neptune; so tr Uranus is hitting the highly strung, nervy square to Solar Arc Neptune in Nov/Dec this year as well.
Though he'll be less visibly angry this coming year. Last year's Solar Return had an emphasised 7th house Mars which over-rode his typical no-drama-Obama approach.

Cardinal - Mars Pluto Jupiter Saturn Uranus - Sun storms From: Marjorie. (04 Aug 2010 11:08):
The Mars Pluto Jupiter effect + the residual Mars Saturn Uranus - does seem to be playing out in the devastating Pakistan floods, the worst for half a century. Natural disasters can sometimes 'soak' up these very heavy influences as opposed to man-made aggressive disasters. Plus albeit in a minor way there has been a failed assassination attempt on the Iran President and Israel nearly going to war with the Lebanon over a tree. Cross fingers the latter will be damped down.
On Solar storms I don't know much about them though researchers say they do have a definite effect. I read a book years ago which related Solar Storms/sunspots to a spate of traffic accidents and road rage incidents. I looked up the astrology and discovered there was a Mars Uranus Pluto in place at that point which would also explain the outburst of bad temper and risk. But unless you correlate Sun surface activity to these planetary influences not sure where the connection lies.

Iran - Ahmadinejad & Khamenei - pressures continuing. From: Marjorie. (04 Aug 2010 10:54):
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has survived a hand grenade attack on his convoy in western Iran, media reports from the region say.
His chart looks edgy at the moment and stuck but not seriously at risk. Both his personal and his presidency chart show major wobbles and disruptions from mid August in a few days through till Oct 2010; with a very confused, uncertain patch Aug to Oct.
The Iran 1906 country chart looks set for an emotionally upsetting September this year and then a downbeat late Oct into Nov 2010 with tr Saturn square the Iran Jupiter Neptune and conjunct the Sun. But that may be more economic than anything too nuclear. The internal reformist fervour may attempt to make waves again come Dec and into 2011.
But the chart showing up most strain is that of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. His ferociously determined Pluto (Moon) opposition Mars in Aquarius square Saturn in Taurus is about to be upended by Solar Arc Uranus conjunct Pluto and square Saturn within the next few months; worse will be when SArc Uranus opposes his Mars in 11/12.
He's under pressure from mid August with tr Pluto square his Solar Arc Sun; very jumpy; and feeling at risk and thoroughly setback come October with tr Saturn in hard aspect to his Solar Arc T Square of Pluto Mars Saturn.
His Leadership chart is wading through thick mud at the moment with tr Pluto square SArc Sun with an extremely insecure, disruptive Solar Arc Uranus opposition the Leadership Sun this year as well as tr Pluto conjunct Uranus which has been trying to dislodge him since early 2010 and that continues through 2011.

Michele Hughes Linehan - not out of the woods by a mile From: Marjorie. (03 Aug 2010 11:40):
Michele Hughes is now out on bail after her conviction for shooting her ex-fiancee in 1996 was overturned in Alaska. Presumably she now faces a re-trial.
Born on 12 October 1972 she's an independent-minded Sun Uranus in Libra in a capable trine to Saturn in Gemini. She's also got a Mars Pluto conjunction in Libra square Jupiter in Capricorn. At her trial she was put up as a community-minded vegetarian who was not capable of murder. You can't tell from a chart about guilt, especially since Mars Pluto in a woman's chart is as likely to be trodden underfoot as it is to act in its more masculine, ruthless manner. But she certainly looks confident enough to cope with life and not be pushed around by others.
When the murder happened on 2 May 1996 there was a great deal of pressure on her Pluto (and therefore Mars Pluto) with tr Saturn exactly in opposition, tr Uranus heading to trine her natal Pluto and tr Pluto heading to sextile Pluto.
She's got a tough time ahead with her Pluto Mars at 2 and 7 degrees Libra since tr Saturn will conjunct both from Aug to Oct and then into 2011 tr Pluto will square her Mars which is very trapped. In 2011 also tr Uranus opposes her Pluto which is an upheaval. Then tr Uranus is in the high risk, insecure opposition to her Mars in 2012.

Cheryl & Derek - making merry in Malibu From: Marjorie. (03 Aug 2010 11:15):
Cheryl Cole, the signer and X Factor judge, is now recovering from a nasty bout of malaria in California with her new squeeze Derek Hough, the American dancer, choreographer, musician and actor. He insisted she have blood tests when the doctors said she had flu and almost certainly saved her life.
He was born on 17 May 1985 so is a Sun Taurus in opposition to an obsessively conscientiously Saturn in Scorpio with both squaring onto an expansively confident Jupiter in Aquarius. He's determined, very stubborn and certainly doesn't like to fail with a Jupiter square Saturn.
He's also got a lucky, talented Half Grand Sextile - which is two trines and two sextiles enclosed within an opposition. That's Mars in Gemini opp Uranus, with Mars trine Jupiter, sextile Venus in Aries, and Venus trine Uranus sextile Jupiter. So a wonderful mix of high energy and upfront charm. He also has an intense quite forceful Mercury in Taurus (maybe conjunct Taurus Moon) opposition Pluto.

So he's Sun Taurus with Moon in Aries/Taurus and she is a Sun Cancer with Moon in Pisces. Both have Venus in Fire signs - hers in Leo.
Their relationship chart has a passionately enthusiastic and affectionate Sun Venus Mars conjunction and a head-in-the-clouds, kindly Jupiter Neptune. But there's also a Mars trine Pluto and a Sun Venus opposition Uranus. The Uranus can produce instant fascination but often it finishes as quickly as it starts. There's certainly a need for space which won't be a problem with two such busy careers. And indeed in some odd way they look quite tied together. The heavy side of their relationship chart suggests a near death experience would draw them together but that Mars Pluto would prove problematic when life settled down. Bit of a power struggle at times.
His Pluto is conjunct Cheryl's Midheaven so he'll definitely want to be in charge. But for all that there's a good deal of fun and romance around it with his Sun in her 5th.
She's not got an easy time ahead with her Mars Sun in Cancer at 1 and 8 degrees. So lots of jolting and jarring over the next three years. Plus a highly strung tr Uranus square her Neptune and trine her Solar Arc Mars between now and end of this year. What's more troubling is her Solar Arc Mars square her Pluto Saturn conjunction. SArc Mars was square Pluto when she fell ill which certainly fits the high risk nature of that aspect. But she's still got the accident-prone and setback SArc Mars square Saturn later this year and next.

Zardari pushing the Bhutto bloodline From: Marjorie. (03 Aug 2010 09:55):
Pakistan's President Zardari is picking up flak for visiting the UK to promote his son's future political career at Government expense during the country's worst floods in a century. Around 1500 have died so far with millions affected and deaths are likely to rise with outbreaks of cholera and the like still to come.

Ali Zardari (27 July 1955) is a bullish Sun Mars Jupiter Pluto in Leo with his Sun Jupiter Mars in a square to unyielding Moon Saturn in Scorpio. Not a man to shift his goals in a hurry. He does have his problems at the moment with tr Pluto conjunct his Solar Arc Moon (conj Saturn) and that runs on for several years. But he's also got tr Pluto square his Solar Arc Mars Jupiter from now till late Nov this year so he'll brass-neck out whatever problems he encounters.
His son with Benazir Bhutto, now known as Bilawal Zardari Bhutto to keep the dynastic flag flying, was born 21 Sep 1988 and is presently studying at Oxford. He can't enter politics effectively until late 2013 when he's 25.
He's in a decided jangle at the moment with his Virgo Sun square Uranus Saturn in Sagittarius being fairly battered by the tr Saturn opp tr Uranus this year - with tr Uranus continuing on the opposition to his Sun and square Saturn Uranus from September till Feb 2011. So nothing at all stable and secure. Plus he has a Mars at 7 Aries square Neptune at 7 Capricorn which will get the full brunt of the tr Saturn, tr Pluto, tr Uranus from this Oct right through till 2013. So multiple running panics, trapped frustrations, aggravations and some risk in 11/12 from tr Pluto square Mars.
Bilawal does look in an over confident mood come 2014 with Solar Arc Pluto opposing his Jupiter pushing him a step to far and another risky SArc Pluto trine Mars around 2015.
His relationship with his father is highly complex with a rather 'cruelly treated', irritable and suspicious Mars opposition Saturn Neptune square Sun. There's also an unstable Uranus Pluto in a oneupmanshp power struggle square to Jupiter which is fittingly in the dynastic/family sign of Jupiter. It'll all end in tears one day.
The Zardari Presidency chart (9 Sep 2008) is showing distinct signs of a major wobble if not total upheaval in Sept 10 and Feb 11 with tr Uranus square the Govt Pluto. With some real setbacks come Nov/Dec as tr Saturn is conjunct Venus, Mars, Mercury and square Jupiter - causing major arguments and dampening Govt morale and enthusiasm.

Kieron Williamson - prodigy painting on oppositions From: Marjorie. (03 Aug 2010 09:14):
Kieron Williamson, another young prodigy painter was born on 4 August 2002. He's an entertaining Sun Mars Jupiter in Leo so is bouncing with energy and confidence with these Leo planets in opposition to creative Neptune in Aquarius. He also has a fast thinking Mercury in Leo opposition Uranus. And a bleak Pluto opposition Saturn NNode in Gemini (and Moon?) widely square Venus in Virgo.

If you compare his chart and that of Akiane Kramarik (9 July 1994) another prodigy painter the charts aren't remotely alike in elements or signs but the chart pattern is strikingly similar with oppositions the key feature. Ariakne has a Sun (Moon) opposition Uranus Neptune, a Pluto opposition Mars and while her Venus isn't opposition her Saturn they do sit on opposite sides of the zodiac.
Oppositions bring tension and stress but they also can act as motivators, although the tendency is to swing from extreme to extreme.
Kieron has three oppositions which involve all of his planets apart from Venus which squares one opposition. But he also has his Sun Mars on the end of one opposition trine Pluto, his Uranus trines Saturn and his Gemini Moon may trine Neptune. So these easier aspects give the oppositions some stability and outlet. He has an easier, less unhappy and more stable chart than Akiane.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle
/2009
/dec/29/boy-paints-like-old-master

Angelina Jolie - unhappy biography From: Marjorie. (02 Aug 2010 12:30):
There's a new Andrew Morton unauthorised biog out on Angelina Jolie which is evidently being shunned by the US TV shows, worried at offending the great lady.
She's due for a difficult time in her life from now onwards with tr Saturn square her Mars Moon opposition Pluto from this Sept onwards. Stories of her abandoning mother certainly ring true with those Moon aspects especially with the Moon square Saturn in Cancer as well. Tr Pluto then starts to square her Pluto from early 2011 which will be really difficult; tr Uranus squares Pluto in 2012 with upheavals to go with it; and everything getting much worse as tr Pluto and tr Uranus hard aspect her Mars in 2013/14. A very angry and frustrating time ahead.
Her relationship with Brad Pitt, whatever the happy red carpet smiles indicate, has been labouring mightily in recent years with a really heavy feel at the moment and later this year as tr Pluto trines the composite Saturn; and tr Saturn squares Jupiter dampening enthusiasm between them in Nov 10. Plus an intense push n' pull tr Pluto trine composite Moon in Aug to Oct 10.
His clutch of Capricorn planets (Mars Mercury, Moon, Venus) start to be picked off by the downbeat tr Saturn squares from later this year. His Sun/Moon midpoint - the marriage significator - is at 9 degrees Capricorn so will take the full force of tr Saturn from this Oct and then tr Pluto tr Uranus in 2012. That may well blow everything asunder.
PS Their composite chart has a Sun opposition Pluto which is very possesive with control being a major issue. These types of relationships usually feel fated - as if they were meant. But when they break up usually do so with a good deal of bitterness and very slowly.

Ian Huntley - inside and unsafe From: Marjorie. (02 Aug 2010 11:59):
There's been a furore in the UK as convicted child killer Ian Huntley is suing the prison authorities for not protecting him against attack by other inmates. His throat was slashed in March.
While in general terms he is right in that the prisons should be responsible for the safety of inmates he's unlikely to benefit from any legal action.
Born on 31 Jan 1974 he's a confident Sun Jupiter in Aquarius in a chancer's square to Mars in pushy, acquisitive Taurus and a controlling trine to Pluto. He's also got an emotionally detached, intelligent Air Grand Trine of Mercury in Aquarius trine Saturn in Gemini trine Uranus, with Saturn opposition a Sagittarius North Node. He's not without talent but clearly went bad early on which would show up on house placings.
He has a very trapped, high risk Solar Arc Pluto opposing his Mars exact in about two years time but coming into effect in the months before. If anyone is concerned about his safety he should probably be left in solitary confinement.

Stephen Sondheim - a life well lived From: Marjorie. (02 Aug 2010 11:47):
Stephen Sondheim, the legendary composer and lyricist has been given an extra 80th birthday present this year with a whole BBC Proms Concert of his works being presented. Born 22 March 1930 3.30 am New York, he came from a well-to-do family but had 'an isolated and emotionally neglected' childhood with an abandoning father and psychologically abusive mother.
He has the same tough though innovative T square of Charles Rangel, born ten weeks later - of Saturn in Capricorn opposition Pluto square Uranus. Saturn in Capricorn isn't all about poverty, its hardship comes in other ways as well. Sondheim had a cold, unpredictable Moon Saturn square Uranus mother. His Aries Sun was also widely conjunct Uranus so an absent father as well. Luckily he has Venus in Aries conjunct his Uranus tying it into that formidable T Square so allowing him to channel his feelings into his creativity.
He also has a showbizzy Mars in Pisces opp Neptune widely square Jupiter in light hearted Gemini. And a Water Grand Trine of a Scorpio Midheaven trine a hard working 6th house Pluto trine Mercury in musical Pisces. Water Grand Trines are highly emotional but self protective, healing for others but often living in their own inner dream world.
Some of the aspects in his chart are wide of orb so show up better in his 5th, 7th and 9th Harmonics. The 9th especially which was was brought him pleasure has a Mars trine Sun Saturn, sextile Pluto and both Pluto and Sun Saturn sextile the 9H Midheaven - so hard work, and life with an edge suited him. His creative 7H has the artistic Neptune opp Saturn square an inventive Uranus Venus; and a Mercury opp Moon square Midheaven which keyed him in well to the public mood. His 5H has a successful Sun Jupiter in the 10th.

Pakistan - wars of words From: Marjorie. (02 Aug 2010 11:27):
David Cameron has raised Pakistani ire with some sharp comments about them looking both ways on Islamist violence and promoting the export of terror. Since he had newly emerged from cosy chats with President Obama one assumes he was acting in a way that would please the US.
Pakistan does seem to be where the main problem of recent events from 9/11 through the UK 7/7 lies. Though whether saying so will make much difference is questionable.
The Pakistan chart is very much on edge at the moment with the blocked, bad tempered tr Saturn square its 10th house Mars and tr Uranus also square now and returning in March 2011 and late in the year as well. Uranus square Mars is highly insecure and tends to result in macho gestures to prop up drooping morale so leads to rash, ill judged actions - and it can also be explosive. The Pakistan Midheaven and Ascendant at 28 degrees Gemini/Virgo is also being walloped around by tr Uranus in Sept this year and February next year so many changes of direction and changes to its image.
The Pakistan/UK relationship chart has tr Pluto hovering over the IC/nadir so beginning a longish period of resentments and bad feeling emerging. With tr Saturn conjunct the composite Ascendant and square the comp MC in September so the froideur will continue. The recent July Cancer Eclipse was also conjunct the composite 10th house Moon so some fall out was to be expected, of a highly emotional nature. Next year's Eclipses also impact on this chart. The UK is hardly a main player on the world stage but does have a large Pakistani Muslim immigrant population so their relationship to Pakistan is significant.
The USA/Pakistan relationship is more uncertain at the moment with tr Saturn conjunct and tr Uranus opposition the composite Neptune. It will also become much more intense over the New Year into 2011 as tr Pluto returns to trine the composite Moon and sextile comp Pluto. So heavy pressure is being exerted. And that will continue later in 2011 as well.
The December 2010 Lunar Eclipse in late Gemini is a difficult one and it impacts on both the Pakistan and USA 11am charts quite significantly. Lunar Eclipses are not necessarily indicators of major events but it does look stressed around that time.

Solar Eclipse - Oil Spill disappearing From: Marjorie. (01 Aug 2010 16:55):
The recent Solar Eclipse in Cancer on July 11th 2010 at 19 degrees was in a Saros series which Bernadette Brady describes as bringing 'successful outcomes to long-term worries or illness. An issue which has worried or drained the individual for some time will first seem worse and then clear with successful conclusions' (The Eagle and the Lark). Seems just about spot on for the Oil Spill. Eclipses cast their shadow over events in the following few months.

Max Clifford - Fire and Venus From: Marjorie. (01 Aug 2010 14:53):
Max Clifford is the best known of the UK PRs, controversial because of his work with sleazy kiss n' tell exposures of flim flam celebrities. Though his work often involves keeping stories out of the papers. And in my one slight encounter with him I was very impressed at his efforts to drum up maximum publicity where it was needed in a child abuse case. So he's a quirky character.
Born on 6 April 1943 he's a Sun Mercury in Aries which fits with a hard-sell public relations type; with his Sun Mercury trine a 'rags-to-riches, leadership' Leo North Node. That North Node which ties him into the zeitgeist is highly aspected being in opposition to a no-compromise Mars in Aquarius square Venus in Taurus. A focal point Venus also has skills in public relations. Finally he has a Uranus Saturn trine Neptune sextile Pluto - so he's inventive, intuitive and controlling/influential.
Plus he has Jupiter in Cancer so is at heart a family man being devoted to his handicapped daughter. And now that I look at it his Jupiter squares his Sun Mercury giving him that slightly over-the-to, expansive feel.

David Warren - inventive Sun Uranus in Pisces From: Marjorie. (01 Aug 2010 14:53):
David Warren who made the first proto-type black box recorder for planes (following on from earlier French inventions) was born in Australia on 20 March 1925. He was a Sun Venus Uranus in Pisces with his Uranus trine Saturn in Scorpio trine Pluto. So he had the inventive Uranus well emphasised in his chart. Not just in the 'eureka' connection to his Sun but also in an adaptive trine to Saturn. Pisces can be a surprisingly scientfic sign despite its vague reputation.
Presumably what spurred him on was the death of his father in an air crash when he was 9 years old which also fits with his Sun Uranus conjunction indicating the absent father.
His Sun Uranus also was in sextile to a determined Mars in earthy Taurus and sextile Jupiter in earthy Capricorn. So he had the confidence (Jup Mars) and determined (Mars Taurus) to push ahead and get his invention (Sun Uranus) out into use.
He also had a 'leadership' North Node in Leo conjunct Neptune in Leo which always has an aeroplane feel to me - high flying.

Amy Carter - cut from a different mould From: Marjorie. (01 Aug 2010 13:29):
Amy Carter, youngest of Jimmy Carter's kids, only 10 when she hit the White House, has a very different chart to Chelsea Clinton's.
Admittedly both have 4th house Suns which indicate a close connection to family, especially father, and a need for privacy about personal matters.
Born 10 Oct 1967, 12.26 am Plains, GA, USA, Amy Carter is a Libra Sun opposition a well organised self reliant 10th house Saturn in Aries. She'll be slightly downbeat with that Saturn though a good organiser, hard working and will come into her own later in life I'd imagine career-wise. But her Sun opp Saturn squares onto a Capricorn Moon on the cusp of the 7th. So she's overly concerned with duty, doesn't look to have had too much emotional nurturing from either parents and is quite dependent on a close partner for security. She does have a 2nd house Jupiter in Leo trine a 6th house Mars in Sagittarius so she'll be keen to make money and live a decent lifestyle.
Chelsea in contrast has a confidently ambitious Mars Jupiter in the 10th opposition Sun - so an indulgent father and a mother keen to help her promote herself dynamically.

The Clinton Wedding - a flashy affair From: Marjorie. (01 Aug 2010 13:17):
The Chelsea Marc wedding took place amidst great secrecy late yesterday afternoon with guests arriving around 5pm in Rhinebeck, NY, US.
Putting the time at around 5.30pm would put his Sagittarius Sun exactly on the Ascendant with his Pluto on the Midheaven, with Chelsea's Venus in Aries on the IC/nadir.
The wedding chart would have an 8th house Leo Sun, descriptive of the need for privacy. Yesterday's Sun was within a day of being conjunct Chelsea's Leo Moon and Marc's flamboyant Mars in Leo so she'd feel together and he'd be fired up at all the pomp. Her Leo Moon which loves the five star lifestyle plus her overly expansive Mars Jupiter opposition Pisces Sun would have contributed to the lavishness of the spectacle. Her natal 4th house Sun also hints at a need for family privacy.
Apart from that the wedding chart does have that complex mix of Mars Saturn opp Jupiter Uranus square Pluto which suggests the first three years will have major highs and lows, quite a pressured time. Indeed it'll never be entirely settled. Jupiter in there helps but if you strip that out you're left with Mars Saturn opp Uranus square Pluto - which looks extremely challenging.

From July 6 post: Chelsea, born 27 Feb 1980 11.24pm Little Rock, AR, US is a private, home loving 4th house Sun Pisces (though she'll want to be in charge there) opposition a confidently ambitious Mars Jupiter in Virgo in her 10th. She has a much travelled 9th house Leo Moon which will prompt her to live abroad at some point in her life, plus an upfront fiery Venus in Aries. And an uncompromisingly independent, go-her-own-way Uranus in the 1st just below her Scorpio Ascendant. Her Venus is in a possessive opposition to Pluto in her 12th so she'll be controlling in a subtle, behind-the-scenes kind of way.
Marc born 15 Dec 1977 is a Sun Sagittarius with Venus Neptune also in Sagittarius trine Mars in Leo so he's definitely fiery. He's also subtly controlling with his Mars trine Venus Neptune Sun having Pluto on the midpoint/sextile of that. He has a happy-home Jupiter in Cancer in an expansive opposition to Mercury. He may have a Pisces or Aquarius Moon opp Saturn.
Her Leo Moon and Venus in Aries do connect well with his Sagittarius planets though it'll be noisy with her Moon conjunct his Mars. And if he was born after 10 in the morning and is a Pisces Moon then his Moon will be conjunct her Sun which is good.
The problems may come from his hard working, nit-picky Saturn in Virgo conjunct her Mars Jupiter opp her Sun which will damp down her enthusiasm somewhat. And her Saturn is also square his Sun so it'll work in the opposite direction as well. I suspect with all that Saturn it's a marriage where work is going to play a central role and get in the way. Though she's very used to that scenario from her childhood.
Their relationship chart has an expansive though possibly also extravagant and over hopeful composite Sun opposition Jupiter; a passionate Venus trine Pluto; and a rather super-charged Venus opp Mars square Uranus (perhaps opp Moon) which suggest an unconventional marriage in which both need a fair amount of space.

Charles Rangel - Gemini with Earth Grand Trine From: Marjorie. (31 Jul 2010 18:02):
I confess I'd never heard of Charles Rangel who is one of the more important Democrat Congressmen who is now up on violations of House rules, from filing incorrect tax returns to improperly using a rent-controlled apartment as a campaign office.
The Independent writes: 'Barring a compromise between his lawyers and the committee, he is likely to go before his peers for judgment in September - the first such ethics trial of a sitting Congressman since 1992. Mr Rangel himself now faces the prospect of an ignominious end to an illustrious 40-year career in Washington politics. It is, depending on your point of view, the sad downfall of a loveable rogue - or comeuppance for a Congressional baron with an outsized sense of entitlement, who had long lost touch with the voters he was supposed to serve.'

Born on 11 June 1930 he came out of a tough background with an abusive and largely absent father, but overcame his problems to serve with valour in Korea, got a law degree and prospered.
He has the 1930 astrological signature of hardship, deprivation and tumultuous times with Saturn in Capricorn opposing Pluto in Cancer square Uranus in Aries. He's also a Sun Jupiter in Gemini so is lucky, enthusiastic, communicative and keen to spread his net as widely as possible. He also has a materialistic Earth Grand Trine of Saturn in Capricorn trine Mars NNode in Taurus trine Neptune giving him an aptitude for money and solid achievement.
That Grand Trine is being elbowed by tr Pluto, now off the trine to Neptune but heading for the frustratingly trapped trine to Mars in 11/12 with tr Saturn aiming to square Saturn this Oct - with much worse to follow come 12/123 as tr Pluto is conjunct Saturn and tr Uranus squares it. The tr Saturn opp tr Uranus has also been squaring his Jupiter this year, dampening his optimism. Though tr Uranus has another square come Nov/Dec this year which might just cut him some kind of deal.
It's certainly not what the Democrats need heading in for potentially damaging Nov elections.

Tom Jones - singing into the sunset From: Marjorie. (31 Jul 2010 17:06):
Welsh-born singer Tom Jones has re-invented himself with a new album which sounds more blues and gospel than pop. He has over the years had a wide repertoire in his 45 year career, selling 150 millions records.
Born four months before John Lennon on 7 June 1940 at 12.10 am Pontypridd, Wales he has an archetypal pop singer chart. His light, airy Gemini Sun is on the cusp of his entertainment 5th house with a Gemini Moon also in the 5th. So he loves to be centre stage, getting attention and keeping an audience happy. His Sun/Moon midpoint squares an 8th house musical Neptune though it also points to a somewhat Neptunian approach to commitment to his long suffering wife of 50 years plus.
He has a passionately enthusiastic and emotional Venus Mars in Cancer in the 6th sextile the Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Taurus in the 3rd. So he's a hard worker, communicative, constantly on the go. His 7th house Pluto trines his Midheaven so his intense approach does promotes his career. He also has the inspired Uranus trine Neptune of that generation.
Tr Pluto is trine his Jupiter in 10/11 which is confident and usually successful. His Solar Arc Jupiter is also heading to conjunct his Mars Venus by late 11/12 which should also give him a boost. Though he's got Solar Arc Uranus conjunct his Pluto come 2011 as well which may bring some upheaval to his closest relationships. With his Solar Arc Venus Mars conjunct his 8th house Neptune by 2012 which could bring disappointments, both financial and emotional.

I was trying to work out from John Lennon's chart (see post below) why he died such a young and iconic death while Tom Jones seems indestructible.
Lennon does have the Jupiter Saturn conjunction exact which Jones does not. And Lennon's Jup Sat is the focal point of an overloaded, fixed T square with a Moon opp Pluto so it is hugely emphasised.
Lennon's 9th Harmonic chart has a powerful, successful Pluto Jupiter sextile the 9H Midheaven. But it also has a difficult Sun opp Neptune Uranus, tied in by sextile/trine to an 'accident-prone' Mars Moon opp Saturn which in turn squares Venus. The 9th Harmonic is what makes one happy, that to which you strive towards. In Lennon's case he was keen to be influential and wealthy with Jupiter Pluto MC. But he also thrived on an element of chaos hoping for spiritual enlightenment - Sun Uranus Neptune; and wanted a life with an edge to it (Mars Saturn). Mars Saturn can be quite masochistic.
Whereas Tom Jones' 9th Harmonic although it has Pluto MC sextile Juputer which is similarly successful to Lennon's has much easier other aspects. Jones' 9H Sun is trine Mars Venus so he goes with the flow of his passions. And his Saturn trines Neptune Uranus Mercury sextile Moon - so he's creative, adaptable and focussed on his public (focal point Moon).

Potters Bar Train Crash - more Mars From: Marjorie. (31 Jul 2010 12:07):
Talking of afflicted Mars - the Potters Bar train crash of 2002 is due to be re-investigated with a view to criminal charges for negligence being laid if proven.
It occurred ay 12.55pm on 10 May 2002 at Potters Bars, England when the train derailed, killing 7 and injuring many.
At that point the Taurus Sun was exactly conjunct the Midheaven; with an exact Mars conjunct North Node, conjunct Venus, conjunct Saturn opposition Pluto in place which is a bleak and destructive combination. The Mars Pluto opposition was 2 degrees from exact. But both the Sun and Mars aspected the highly strung, disruptive Neptune/Uranus midpoint exactly, the Sun by square the Mars by trine. And Pluto was also exactly in opposition to the Mars/Saturn midpoint as well. Not a good mix.

Mexico's High Noon - more narco deaths From: Marjorie. (31 Jul 2010 11:52):
Another drug lord bites the dust in an army shoot out in Mexico. The death of Ignacio Coronel, known as the "King of Crystal" for his control over methamphetamine into the United States is a significant feather in the cap of President Felipe Calderon. More than 25,000 people have died in drug-related violence since the Mexican Government launched its offensive against the cartels in late 2006.
Coronel was believed to be the right-hand man of Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, Mexico's most-wanted drug lord who has made it onto the billionaires list.
Coronel, born 1 Feb 1954 was a Sun Venus in Aquarius, in a confident trine to Jupiter and a determined square to unyielding Saturn in Scorpio. But what marks his chart is a Mercury in Aquarius opposition Pluto square Mars in Scorpio. Putting that headstrong, dogged, ruthless Mars in Scorpio as the focal point.

Joaquin Guzman, born, 4 April 1957, is a Sun Venus in Aries sextile Mars in Gemini, trine Saturn in Sagittarius. So he again has an afflicted Mars with the opposition to Saturn. It is also a highly entrepreneurial chart with Uranus and Pluto also in Fire signs in Leo. His life has taken a considerable jolt at the moment with his Solar Arc Mars conjunct his Uranus.

Arturo Beltran Leyva, another drug lord, despatched late last year, 27 Sep 1961, also had an afflicted/hard aspected Mars in Libra square Jupiter Saturn in Capricorn.

President Calderon, is himself a Leo Sun sextile Mars in Gemini; with a confident Jupiter in Pisces opposition Uranus Pluto in Virgo. He's looking more than a touch insecure in October this year as tr Uranus squares his Mars, and that returns in early 2011.
His Presidency chart, 1 Dec 2006, has a heavy weight Saturn in Leo square Mars in Scorpio, trine Pluto in Sagittarius describing his admirable and courageous though possibly foolhardy campaign against the drug lords. It is in trouble this year and more so next. His Government's confidence is being eroded by tr Neptune square Mars from September through till early 2011; and then tr Neptune square the composite Mars. Tr Uranus is trine the Govt SArc Mars and square Solar Arc Pluto in Aug/Sep and Feb/March 2011 which is very unstable.

Sylvio Berlusconi - Libran wobbles From: Marjorie. (31 Jul 2010 11:18):
Sylvio Berlusconi's Italian Government is in trouble as his main coalition ally backs out. It has led to talk of his reign in power not surviving until the 2013 elections.
Which could well be true since his Government chart (8 May 2008) has tr Saturn and tr Uranus both square the Govt Pluto - which is usually a sign of a major upheaval. Tr Uranus returns to do the same next spring. He's certainly looking highly insecure from mid August onwards
His own personal chart has a 5 degree Libra Sun as well which will be damped down by tr Saturn in September. He'll probably try to brass-neck it out as he so often as done before since he's got a confident tr Pluto sextile Solar Arc Jupiter from mid Aug to Oct. But then tr Pluto returns to square his Libra Sun across the New Year and thro' 2011 with the tr Uranus opposition picking up by 2012. He's never going to survive all of that at the top.

Crime Writers - P D James stands out From: Marjorie. (30 Jul 2010 12:05):
Following on thoughts from PD James I had a quick look through about 12 of the top crime writers and curiously she has THE most difficult chart in terms of heavy energy with her Mars in Scorpio trine Uranus trine Pluto all focussed on Saturn in Virgo. Even the creepy Patricia Cornwell who (I think) writes blood curdling thrillers has a lighter chart.
Admittedly Wilkie Collins who started the genre has a Mars opp Pluto (Moon) square Neptune opp Jupiter - which has a tinge of the dark side about it. And Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) has a Moon MC opp Saturn square Pluto Mercury - but that's bleak rather than bloody.
It is surprising since she seems so well bred and has led a blameless, hard working life.
Most of the others - Agatha Christie, Menkell, Dorothy L Sayers, Margery Allingham, Mickey Spillane, Patricia Highsmith, Raymond Chandler, Ruth Rendell, Edgar Allan Poe - have a sprinkling of Air. Whereas PD James has none. Though some don't have especially well aspected Mercurys. Where birth times exist there are also strong 3rd/9th house placings.
So sometimes the standard astrological rules-of-thumb don't apply.

Dr Crippen - the murder guessing game From: Marjorie. (30 Jul 2010 11:51):
Dr Crippen was probably one of the most famous of murderers, who killed his wife, dismembered her, dissolved some of her remains in the bath and fled to the USA. He was apprehended and ultimately hanged. New evidence purports to show he might have been innocent.
Born on 11 September 1862 in Michigan he was a Sun Saturn in Virgo with his Sun in a controlling trine to Pluto and an impulsive square to Uranus. His Uranus was sextile an assertive Mars in Aries.
When his wife Cora disappeared on 31 Jan 1910 tr Saturn was exactly conjunct his Mars which seems a clear enough indication of at least a nasty accident. Tr Neptune was also within a degree of squaring his Mars suggesting panic in the aftermath. And tr Pluto was just passed the square to his Saturn suggesting a very heavy period just before they parted company.
One theory is that he may have accidentally overdosed her on a Victorian play drug and then tried to dispose of the evidence. But I'd put my money on his guilt.

UK and India - hope over experience From: Marjorie. (30 Jul 2010 11:40):
David Cameron, the new UK PM having grovelled all over President Obama is now doing much the same in India in the hope of the UK picking up a few breadcrumbs from the dynamic Indian economy. Turning the tables from the days of the old Raj may not be that easy since memories of Britain's former colonial arrogance run deep.
The UK chart plotted on the India independence chart (15 Aug 1947 12.00 am) does suggest a very intense relationship with the UK Sun in the India 8th. But the UK Saturn is also conjunct the India Sun putting a damper on good feelings; with the UK Pluto in India's 10th suggesting the old power plays will get in the way.
On the relationship chart there's a Sun Neptune conjunction suggesting high hopes/delusions will prove disappointing. So not an interface which carries great promise.

California - land of hope up a cul de sac From: Marjorie. (30 Jul 2010 11:21):
California is slowly grinding to a halt under its debt problem with no resolution in sight via a new budget which might help ease the matter. Governor Schwarzenegger says October is crunch point. He leaves office at the end of the year.
The California chart (9 Sep 1850) certainly shows late October as bad tempered, blocked and high stress with tr Saturn conjunct the California Mars and heading to a depressed conjunction with Mercury in Nov this year.
There's also a tremendous whammy of Solar Arc Uranus Solar Arc Pluto conjunct that Mars. If the California start time was 12 am then it hits exact in early Nov. but if mid day then into early 2011. Though Solar Arcs spread their shadow ahead of them so the pressure is building and building towards a complete meltdown.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is certainly not a happy camper come late September/early October with a confused, uncertain tr Saturn conjunct his Solar Arc Sun and then natal Neptune. He leaves office with his Solar Arc Sun approaching the conjunction to his Neptune so his sense is going to be of failure. He also has tr Pluto conjunct his 6th house Moon at the moment till mid Aug and again mid Oct till late Nov which will put him under emotional and health strain.
His Governorship chart (17 Nov 2003) always indicated a difficult tenure with an unsettling Sun square Uranus and worse a frustratingly stuck, irritable Pluto Venus square Mars and Mars trine Saturn.
He took on California's highest office as tr Saturn was heading into his 1st house and first lower quadrant so it never looked like a high success time for him. With tr Neptune opposing his Saturn Pluto conjunction square Jupiter in the early years. All very slipping and sliding and no progress.

Alison Lurie's presumably complimentary saying may well come to have uncomfortable undertones. 'As one went to Europe to see the living past, so one must visit Southern California to observe the future.'

Mark Chapman & John Lennon - bound by fate and hatred From: Marjorie. (29 Jul 2010 10:35):
Mark Chapman, John Lennon's killer is due for another parole hearing on August 9th as he is into the 29th year of a 20 years to life sentence. Yoko Ono has written to oppose his being freed.
Deemed a schizophrenic at the time of his trial, he'd had a fractured life with an abusive father, a history of drug taking, latterly becoming a born-again Christian. Born on 10 May 1955 at 7.30pm Fort Worth, TX, USA he does have an extraordinary chart. His Sun Taurus is in opposition to an obsessively conscientious Saturn in Scorpio squaring onto Pluto - describing the unyielding bleakness of his soldier father.
Pluto also sextiles his 8th house buried-anger Mars in Gemini and trines Venus so his feelings do run deep and intense. With a Venus in Aries opposition Neptune square Jupiter Uranus in Cancer. So he has a half Grand Sextile and a Fixed T square and a Cardinal T Square.
The mid 1950s did produce some remarkable talents with that emphasised Jupiter Uranus conjunction but his life perhaps because of house placings went off the rails.
When he murdered John Lennon on 8 Dec 1980 tr Pluto was within a degree of a square to his emphasised Jupiter Uranus conjunction, boosting his already manic state. With the heady tr Jupiter conjunct tr Saturn in Libra trine his Mercury - doing much the same.
There are marked cross overs between Chapman and John Lennon's chart - 9 Oct 1940 6.30pm Liverpool, England. Chapman's Venus was exactly conjunct Lennon's Aries Ascendant, so he'd be drawn to Lennon's public image. With Chapman's Capricorn Moon trine Midheaven sitting conjunct Lennon's Midheaven trine Venus - so there's a good deal going on which is partly affectionate, partly envious. Chapman's emphasised controlling Pluto was also squared Lennon's Uranus in Taurus so Chapman's need to be the one pulling the string proved to be the final upset in Lennon's life. Chapman's Chiron was also conjunct Lennon's Aquarius Moon so perhaps in some warped way Chapman though his road to healing lay in destroying Lennon's connection to the public (Moon).

But the relationship chart shows up a less Venusian connection with a hatred-filled, brutal Saturn opposition a Mars Pluto conjunction. It is a real killers' interface. Tr Pluto was exactly sextile the composite Mercury and trine the composite Uranus in 1980 so an intensely disruptive point.

The tragically interesting point about Lennon's chart is that he was born on an exact Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Taurus, launched his stratospherically successful career twenty years later on the next Jupiter Saturn conjunction, and died twenty years after that on the next almost exact Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Libra. Jupiter Saturn can be problematic for those who become public icons - who fly too high on the Jupiterian soar and are then cut down to earth by Saturn. For most normal people with Jupiter Saturn who don't defy the gods with overwhelming ambition, this doesn't happen clearly. They just struggle with finding a balance between idealism and realism.

When Lennon died tr Uranus was just into his 8th house of transformation, conjunct his Solar Arc Sun - so had he not died, he'd still have had a tremendous jolt. His Solar Arc Uranus was also just into his 4th house. So there was a great deal of Uranian energy was sitting at critical points in his chart releasing a sudden burst of disruptive energy. Plus the tr Jupiter tr Saturn conjunction was square his Midheaven and tr Pluto was trine his Solar Arc Saturn Jupiter - again highlighting the crucial nature of that Jupiter Saturn in his life.

Chapman's chart also impacts strongly on Yoko Ono's - 18 Feb 1933 8.30pm Tokyo, Japan. Chapman's bleak Sun falls in her 8th house of transformation with his impulsive Jupiter Uranus conjunction her 10th house Pluto, pulling away her power and control. Her Pluto squares a 7th house Uranus so his Cardinal T Square - also disrupted her close but unconventional relationship with Lennon. Chapman's angry, explosive Mars is square her 12th house Jupiter Mars in Virgo, destroying her peace of mind.
Their relationship chart also has a hatred-filled Mars Pluto conjunction sitting on the composite Midheaven trine the composite Sun, so there'll be no forgive and forget.

At the moment Chapman has difficult transits to midpoints making it seem unlikely that this his sixth parole hearing will be any more successful than the previous ones. But he's also got his Solar Arc Midheaven conjunct his natal Jupiter Uranus - so he could get lucky. Though life on the outside after thirty years of institutional living would be almost impossible for him and highly risky since he'd undoubtedly be targeted by the media and then vengeful fans.

James Cracknell - Pluto upended by tr Saturn tr Uranus From: Marjorie. (29 Jul 2010 09:20):
James Cracknell, the British rowing champion, double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer is recovering from a fractured skull after being hit by a truck as he cycled across America.
Born 5 May 1972 he's an earthy Sun in Taurus in an expansive trine to Jupiter in Capricorn; with a creative/anxious Saturn opposition Neptune. But what gives him his drive is a passionately enthusiastic and highly determined Mars Venus in Gemini square Pluto in Virgo. When his accident happened when tr Saturn was conjunct his Pluto with tr Uranus returning to the opposition on and off till early 2011. There are fears of residual brain damage so it's expected to be a while before he's back fighting fit again.

Cardinal Richelieu - arch manipulator From: Marjorie. (28 Jul 2010 12:10):
Cardinal Richelieu was the key political figure during the reign of King Louis X111 of France becoming effectively the world's first Prime Minister. He sought to consolidate royal power and crush domestic factions. His successes were extremely important to Louis XIII's successor, Sun King Louis XIV who continued Richelieu's work of creating an absolute monarchy.
Not much loved, Richelieu is seen as a Machiavellian character - 'the end justifies the means'. So it would be a considerable worry to him, one imagines, that no legitimate heir was forthcoming from Louis X111's long and unhappy marriage to Anne of Austria. He plotted and planned everything else so why not this?
Though it would have to be said that Louis X1V was born in 1638 just four years before Richelieu's death at 59 years of age which had been creeping up on him for years with a litany of nasty ailments so not entirely sure he'd have been up to fathering Louis X1V. But he was certainly interested in Louis X111 progeny as per below.

Born on 9 September 1585 at 9.28 am Chinon, France, Richelieu was a Sun Virgo opposition Pisces Moon (in the fertile 5th!) square Jupiter in the 8th so he'd be lucky and confident. He had a ferociously determined Mars North Node on his Scorpio Ascendant plus an equally relentless Pluto Saturn in Aries in his hard working 6th trine his Midheaven.

Louis X111 had Saturn in Scorpio on the cusp of his 5th so late children would have been expected from his chart. And with his Saturn opp Uranus square Mars his late child perhaps also give rise to anger and suspicion. Richelieu's Mars NNode were conjunct Louis X111's late/non-child producing Saturn. And Richelieu's Leo Midheaven was conjunct Louis X111's Mars in Leo - so there's a good deal going in there about the Royal succession and money wrapped up in Richelieu's ambitions.

Louis X111 had Pluto in the 10th so had a controlling, possessive mother. R's well-honed Pluto fell in Louis X111's 10th house so he in a sense replaced the errant Marie of Medicis in holding the strings during Louis X111's reign - though admittedly with some blips along the way.

You can't tell from charts about biological fathers especially with Royals who led such warped lives. But Richelieu's chart does fit remarkably well with Louis X1V's. Both were Sun Mercury in Virgo with Venus at the same degree in Leo. Perhaps why they looked quite similar. Richelieu's Venus Midheaven were conjunct Louis X1V's Moon Venus in Leo. R's Mars in Scorpio was conjunct Louis X1V's Jupiter. So there was a clear progression from R's determined ambitions to Louis XIV's expansively Jupiterian reign which followed.

Hans Blix - proved right From: Marjorie. (28 Jul 2010 12:09):
Hans Blix, the former UN Weapons Inspector who argued for a delay in attacking Iraq since repeated inspections couldn't find any active WMD programmes, yesterday gave evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry. He criticised both Tony Blair and GWB for relying on what he said was very questionable intelligence.
Born on 28 June 1928, the former Swedish diplomat is a charming though determined Sun Venus Mercury Pluto in Cancer with an independent-minded square from Uranus in Aries.
When the Iraq Attack was launched on March 20 2003 the tr Saturn opposition Pluto was hitting his Solar Arc Uranus exactly, having just finished squaring his Solar Arc Venus Sun Mercury - so quite a jolt for him Though oddly his Solar Arc Jupiter was also conjunct his Pluto which is usually a sign of confidence - perhaps in part his high profile, central role at that point and also a feeling that he was about to be proved right.

Hayward, Dudley, Svanberg - BP changing skippers in a storm From: Marjorie. (27 Jul 2010 14:32):
Tony Hayward has half fallen on his sword by resigning as CEO of BP though it says a good deal about conglomerate politics that he's been kept on by BP to help handle their Russian interests. Putting in an American CEO, Bob Dudley, from October will quell US ire but could upset Russian sensitivities since Dudley had to flee from there when he was in charge of BP Russia.
There's also pressure mounting to oust the invisible BP Chairman Carl Svanberg who let Hayward take all the flak through the oil spill.
Hayward (21 May 1957) has the jolting Solar Arc Saturn opposition his natal Uranus at the moment, bringing to a halt his grand ideas for reform. And tr Neptune this year is opposing his Pluto and is perhaps around the conjunction to his Moon, making him feeling as if he losing his power and standing on swampy ground. He's looking thoroughly gloomy and confused through 10/11 but bounces back on form by 2012.
His CEO chart (1 May 2007) shows up the timings much more pointedly even than his personal chart. When he took over there was a Jupiter Pluto conjunction in Sagittarius opposition Venus in Gemini square an explosive Mars Uranus in Pisces - so it was never going to be a smooth sail. The Oil Spill occurred when tr Uranus (opp tr Saturn) was exactly square that CEO Pluto - effectively upending it. When he leaves the top job on Oct 1, tr Uranus is back to the same degree on the square to Pluto ending his term. Tr Saturn has also moved to close to exact the opposition to Neptune on that CEO chart.
Interestingly his relationship chart with BP didn't show up as a complete rupture - more muddle, disappointment and a complete shift (tr Uranus trine comp Pluto).
When Bob Dudley (no birth date) takes over on Oct 1There's a Sun Saturn conjunction square Pluto opp Cancer Moon; with Mercury and (widely) Sun Saturn opp Uranus. So it's going to be a slow, hard haul to make progress over very bumpy terrain.
Chairman Svanberg, another Gemini, is having a frustrating, risky Aug to Oct with a look of high insecurity in his chart from Oct through till early 2011 so he may not last much longer. His Chairman chart has a Pluto Venus Sun in Capricorn square Saturn in Libra between 3 and 10 degrees Cardinal - so he's not going to survive too long with the influences of this year and next hitting all those key planets.

Ben Bernanke + Fed Reserve - looking for light and not finding much From: Marjorie. (27 Jul 2010 13:46):
Ben Bernanke, head of the Fed Reserve Bank, born on 13 Dec 1953 is an optimistic Sagittarian Sun opposition Jupiter perhaps square a Pisces Moon. With that expansive Sun Jupiter opposition keying in by sextile/trine to a publicity conscious Mars Neptune in Libra. In fact now that I look, he has a half-Grand Sextile of Sun sextile Mars Neptune sextile Pluto sextile Jupiter. His Mars Neptune is further emphasised being on the point of a T square to a Uranus in Cancer opp Capricorn NNode. So h'll be impatient, go ahead, hyper-energetic though not always sound in judgement (Uranus Neptune Mars).

What is being spotlighted in his chart in 10/11 is his missing link - an unaspected Saturn in Scorpio. Tr Pluto is in a dreary, slog-on through-tough-times sextile in 10/11. And exactly at the moment he has tr Pluto conjunct his Solar Arc Saturn in Capricorn, returning in Oct/Nov 2010. With tr Saturn square SArc Saturn come this August. While not totally catastrophe time it certainly isn't cheerful and he'll be feeling untypically very downbeat.
Into 2011 his Solar Arc Neptune is approaching the lack-lustre, slipping-and-sliding conjunction to his Sun which isn't success time and faring worse the following year with Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Neptune. So not an easy road ahead.
The Fed Reserve chart, if the 9 am start is accurate, has a debilitating Solar Arc Neptune conjunct Moon exact within about three and a half months; and its' Saturn Pluto conjunction is picking up the downbeat square from tr Saturn in early August and more discouragement in Oct 2010 with tr Saturn square SArc Saturn Pluto. Not as bad as it was two years back with tr Pluto opp Saturn Pluto. But it still has the exceptionally jolting and jarring tr Uranus opp Saturn Pluto to come in 11/12. So bumping along the bottom for a while yet.

The Man in the Iron Mask - the less than lovely Royal lifestyle From: Marjorie. (26 Jul 2010 11:25):
There are so many conflicting and fanciful theories as to who the Man in the Iron Mask imprisoned in France from 1669 until his death in 1703 really was that it's impossible to say.
What is feasible is that he was Sun King Louis XIV's father. Louis XIV's putative father, Louis X111, was homosexual and the child appeared 23 years into a childless marriage so seems unlikely that he actually was the sperm donor. But even if the real father had only been 20 when doing the deed it would make him a stalwart late 80s when he died.
The mystery man who ended up in prison, only turned up three years after Louis XIV's mother had died, so it is a possibility that his claim to be the real papa would have been seen as a threat to the legitimacy of Louis XIV's claim to the throne.
Certainly the dates of the Man in the Iron Mask's incarceration and death do show up on Louis XIV's chart as fairly significant. Louis XIV was born on 5 Sep 1638 at 11.13am St Germain, France and he was a Sun Virgo; with a bleak Saturn in Aquarius trine Pluto in Gemini; and a Fixed T Square of Moon Venus in Leo opp Saturn square an expansive Jupiter in Scorpio.
In 1669 when the long prison sentence started Louis's chart shows relief and a confidence boost (tr Uranus sextile Jupiter, tr Jupiter tr Pluto trine Jupiter and opp NNode) with some underlying anxieties (tr Neptune conj Saturn, trine Pluto). When the man died in 1703 after 34 years inside Louis's chart had tr Jupiter trine Sun, tr Uranus opp Saturn, tr Uranus sextile Pluto - so again a mix of confidence, progress and quite a jolt. Although he was a King, he was also a man so whether it was his father or a brother it would tug at his heart strings at some deeper level.

Louis Oosthuizen - a bundle of energy and grit From: Marjorie. (26 Jul 2010 10:56):
Thanks to Robert Blaschke for a birth time for Louis Oosthuizen, the South African golfer who won the St Andrew Open. I've put the URL below of Robert's excellent piece on Oosthuizen.

And what a chart. Born on 19 Oct 1982 at 11.02 am Mosselbaai, South Africa he has a very bundled chart with all planets in three consecutive signs. He has a close conjunction of Sun Pluto Saturn in Libra making him ultra-persevering, with Venus and Mercury also in Libra. So charming as well as gritty. He's also got an emotionally intense and expansive Moon Jupiter in Scorpio. Mars Neptune in sporty Sagittarius sextile his Venus Sun Saturn Pluto - so he's designed for the PR showbiz side of international golf with Mars Neptune; is disciplined, energetic and determined with Mars sextile Saturn, Sun, Pluto; and has that oddly quirky athletic Neptune in there as well.
His win came as tr Pluto was sextile his Progressed/Solar Arc Midheaven with his Solar Arc/Progressed Sun conjunct his Scorpio Moon - so a real coming together.
He's in a generally confident, upbeat couple of years with tr Pluto sextile his Sun/Jupiter; with better to come in 11/12 with tr Pluto sextile Jupiter/Pluto.
As Robert points out St Andrews suits him with Jupiter on his Ascendant, relocated there.

www.earthwalkastrology.com
/Louis%20Oosthuizen.html
(The URL is split for length so you need to join it back together.)

Rod Blagojevich - trying to squelch a firefly From: Marjorie. (26 Jul 2010 10:39):
The shamelessly irrepressible Rod Blagojevich is now at the end of a lengthy trial on charges of bribery and corruption, including trying to trade Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat in return for political favours. He could be facing a long jail sentence but is putting on a bravado performance as though he's running for office. And who knows with the American legal system?

Born on 10 Dec 1956 he's an ever-optimistic Sun Sagittarius. But what really marks his chart is an entrepreneurial Fire Grand Trine of Mars in upfront Aries trine Saturn in Sag trine Uranus in Leo. Fire Grand Trines are unshakeable in their self confidence, demanding of attention, not humble, bouncing with high-octane energy. He's also got a chance-your-arm Mars opposition Jupiter in late Virgo squaring onto Mercury in Capricorn - so all mouth and expansive promises. Plus his Mercury trines Pluto and both sextile Neptune in a mini-Grand Trine. An emphasised Neptune can be slippery.
With the tr Pluto square tr Saturn hitting his very accentuated Mars in Aries in August with tr Pluto continuing to square Mars till Oct this year - he's hitting a really stuck patch so a get-out-of-jail-free card looks unlikely. Plus his Solar Arc Uranus is in a highly insecure opposition to his Mars in 2011.
Right at the moment he does have tr Pluto trine Jupiter/Uranus which can bring luck breaks and that's back Oct/Nov this year. And he's certainly bouncing again by 2012. So he'll be the cat with nineteen lives and not be down for long. Though tr Uranus will take till 2012 to clear his Mercury T square.

Wikileaks - raising the bar From: Marjorie. (26 Jul 2010 09:41):
Wikileaks, the whisteblowing website, has just released a ton of confidential papers relating to the US Afghanistan war effort. In an interesting development of wikileaks' strategy it released the papers early to the UK Guardian, New York Times, German Der Spiegel to allow reporters time to sift through the material.
As fas as I can see Wikileaks was registered as a domain name on 4 Oct 2006 and launched onto public access on 3 Jan 2007. The 2007 chart would make sense since it has Jupiter and Mars in crusading Sagittarius in a rebellious, no-compromise square to Uranus conjunct North Node in Pisces. That's intriguing having Uranus as the planet fitting them into the zeitgeist since Wikileaks does see itself as the torchbearer shining light on hidden places which is very much the Uranian issue.
Pluto is also in Sagittarius in a high-risk, courageous conjunction to Mars with both in an unyielding trine Saturn in Leo. **ssing off Governments and major conglomerates is definitely a dangerous past time.
Julian Assange, the Australian, behind Wikileaks has a recognisable photograph but questionable background. One version is that he is an ex-mathematician and physicist; the other is he was from an itinerant family with no father and started as an underground computer nerd. All that I can find is he was born 1971 when Jupiter was also in Sagittarius along with Neptune which fits with the launch chart. There was probably a Saturn in Taurus trine Pluto so definitely the chart of a stubborn outsider; with Saturn probably square a 'humanitarian-cause' Aquarius North Node. No doubt more will emerge about his background - perhaps from Australia?

Cambodia torture - Mars Pluto Scorpio From: Marjorie. (25 Jul 2010 14:46):
Some signs and aspects are rather unfairly dubbed as bad. But there again sometimes their 'afflicted' reputation is well deserved. On trial in Cambodia at the moment for the regimes crimes is Kaing Guek Eav, head of the Khmer Rouge special branch who ran an infamous prison which tortured and starved inmates.
Born on 17 Nov 1942 he's a Sun Venus Mercury in Scorpio with Mars in Scorpio is square to Pluto in Leo. Mars in Scorpio square Pluto in its most negative aspect is almost the archetypal signature for torture and killing. Eav himself was tortured when younger by Government forces.
His Pluto is further emphasised being on the point of a mini Grand Trine of Neptune to Saturn Uranus in Gemini. So it's a Water Air chart which is a difficult combination in itself.

Germany - death at Love Parade From: Marjorie. (25 Jul 2010 13:05):
The 18 deaths at the German Love and Peace rally may well fit in with the Cardinal build up into early August. The German chart has Mars at 0 degrees Libra square Saturn at 1 degrees Capricorn (and Sun at 10 degrees Capricorn).
So at the moment tr Saturn is conjunct the Germany Mars with tr Uranus in opposition - which is an explosive, accident-prone combination. With tr Pluto hovering around in the background adding a destructive boost to the mix.

Hurricane Higgins - lucky and self destructive From: Marjorie. (25 Jul 2010 12:59):
Hurricane Higgins, the wild and way-out Belfast bad boy of snooker has died of cancer. In a tumultuous career and personal life punctuated by punch ups, brawls, drinking, drugs and gambling he brought snooker to national attention.

Born on 18 March 1949 in Belfast he was a Sun Mars Venus in Pisces in an explosively rebellious square to Uranus and a lucky sextile to Jupiter in Capricorn. He also had an intense Scorpio Moon probably square Pluto so he lived life emotionally at quite a pitch.
His Saturn in Virgo which might have kept his feet on the ground was sparsely aspected.
He died after a long battle with ilnness as his Solar Arc Pluto was in a close conjunction to his Neptune; and his Solar Arc Jupiter approached the conjunction to his Mars Sun - so a merciful release.

P D James - genteel bloody murder From: Marjorie. (24 Jul 2010 13:20):
PD James, the crime thriller writer par excellence, does at first glance have an odd chart for a writer - with no Air and a sparsely aspected retrograde Mercury.
She hasn't had an easy life with her mother in a mental hospital by her mid-teens so she had to care for her two younger siblings. Then she married a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps, who suffered a mental breakdown after WW11 and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. So she had to support him and her two daughters. He died at 44, it is thought, by suicide though she's never said. Her writing had to fit round her civil service administration job which she kept up long after her books became successful.

Born on 3 August 1920 in Oxford she's a Sun Neptune Venus Jupiter in Leo. Leo is the entertainment planet and Neptune is creative. She does seem to have an almost visionary sense of writing her books. She says: 'I usually begin with a setting, which sparks off my imagination. I have a very strong response to what I think of as the spirit of a place.'

She also has a striking and rather ferocious Water Grand Trine of Mars in Scorpio trine Pluto trine Uranus which forms a Kite from the Uranus opposition Saturn in Virgo, making Saturn the driving planet. You can see where she gets her fascination with murdered bodies and evil from. Though all presented in such a refined upper-class Leonine way.
Guessing birth times is a mug's game but on a mid afternoon time, she'd have Mercury and all her Leo planets in the publishing 9th, a well organised, disciplined Saturn in the 10th - and those truly difficult Water planets in the 12th, 8th, 4th which makes sense.
She talks of her sense of detachment from life, always observing - ' With some of the most difficult things that have happened in my life, part of me stands aside and watches me deal with it. In that sense my life has been a continual narrative.' She seems to dislike psychological probing of any variety, never seeming to question why she has 'visions' of bloody corpses which often spark off her next book plot. That would fit with heavily populated 4/8/12th houses which she doesn't want to address at a personal level.
Mars Pluto Uranus plus Saturn is a difficult combination and it's as well she has acted it out through her novels. Had she been a man she could have been a killer. But clearly she carries an ever present sense of danger with her, always double locking doors, having grilles on windows in her home.
One interviewer commented that it was perhaps not a coincidence of timing that Commander Adam Dalgliesh, hero of her novels, entered her life shortly before her husband left it. And added, it is telling that she has found consolation in crime fiction, a genre that always offers resolution and creates moral order. Which would be a strongly emphasised Saturn (maybe in the 10th).
But it is odd that her Mercury is so unaspected except perhaps for a trine to her Pisces Moon.
Her Mercury is more prominent via quintile and septile aspects. Her workmanlike creative 5th Harmonic has an inspired Mercury Uranus conjunction with Mercury in a confident trine to Jupiter and in a creative sextile to Neptune Sun. Her 5th Harmonic is also marked by two Yods - of Mars sextile Saturn inconjunct Uranus (conj Mercury) and Sun (Neptune) sextile Uranus (Mercury) inconjunct Saturn. This gives a sense of the strain in her life which has found an outlet through her writing.
In her other creative 7th Harmonic Mercury is opposition Jupiter and sextile Uranus.
Not sure if I've anything cogent to say on Mercury retrograde - I never pay much attention to them to be honest, having one myself.

Jon Venables - a life gone bad From: Marjorie. (24 Jul 2010 11:45):
Jon Venables, the Bulger killer, has been returned to prison on a two year sentence for child pornography. The tabloid media has as per usual been stirring up vengeful mob hatred over the whole affair. And Jaimie Bulger's mother attended the trial. Why? It's sick.
Take a kid from a sink estate from a wildly dysfunctional family who then - surprise surprise - acts out with tragic consequences. Try him in an adult court at 11 years of age. Institutionalise him through his formative years. Then turf him out with a 'new identity' which means whatever fragmentary connections he had from his past are now completely ruptured and he's expected to turn into a socially well adjusted adult.
I'm not sure what the answer would have been except that major psychotherapeutic support through his time inside which continued thereafter would have been a no brainer.
Born on 13 Aug 1982 (no birth time) he doesn't have that difficult a chart. A Leo Sun trine Neptune, sextile Saturn Pluto in Libra is reasonably bleak but not more so than many. He's also got a confident Mars Jupiter in Scorpio square Venus in late Cancer and sextile Mercury in Virgo. Though where the planets fall in houses from a birth time could make all the difference. His Moon in Gemini/Taurus was opposition Uranus - so he had an unpredictable erratic mother to add to a Neptunian and rather unyielding father.
At the moment he has strangely enough tr Pluto sextile his Jupiter which should be confident and his Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Uranus which does suggest some kind of a lucky break. Tr Neptune may also be squaring a late Taurus Moon if he was an early morning birth. Though a professional close to him did say that he was having such problems coping with life outside that 'The return to prison was something of a relief when it came.'

Transocean - Oil Spill blame widening From: Marjorie. (24 Jul 2010 11:11):
One of the UK gripes about the way the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been handled politically is that BP has been spotlighted as the only culprit. Yesterday 'the damning testimony yesterday from rig technicians working on the stricken Deepwater Horizon about safety alarms being routinely switched off on the Transocean rig could be a pivotal moment in the political blame game.' (Guardian).
Be interesting to see whether Obama's attack-British Petroleum stance widens to encompass the US owned Transocean, Anadarko etc who were also involved.
Transocean (30 Mar 1978; 5 Sept 1996) does look panicky, pressured and especially edgy later this year around Nov/Dec and is labouring mightily across the New Year into 2011.
While all the talk is of CEO Tony Hayward exiting BP, the one who should really be bounced is the BP Chairman Carl Svanberg. Svanberg left Hayward who is an engineer to flounder in media interviews when it was really the Chairman's job.

Bjork - getting involved From: Marjorie. (24 Jul 2010 10:57):
The previous Bjork post is below. With Uranus Pluto closely conjunct her Midheaven she will want to make waves and change the status quo. She's certainly done it in her music but clearly she wants to paint on a broader canvas by taking on a more politically active role. She's also got a very outspoken Mars in Capricorn in the 3rd which will want to make her get her views heard.

Nov 2008 post: Bjork, the Icelandic singer, song writer, composer and producer is a Sun Neptune in Scorpio with a Scorpio Moon as well (not conjunct) which does make for powerful intensity. On this birth time she has the revolutionary Uranus Pluto conjunction exactly conjunct her midheaven which makes sense of a singer who is constantly pushing the boundaries, has an extraordinarily wide and at times eccentric range of musical styles. She has a passionately enthusiastic Mars Venus in Capricorn in the 3rd opposition Jupiter in Gemini in the 9th - so is communicative, adventurous, keen on making money but not always practical.
Her career should be moving into a more ambitious phase with tr Saturn into her upper quadrant for the next six years, perhaps taking on a more executive producing role. Though she'll have a few blips along the way with Solar Arc Mars square her Neptune in 2009 which is rather undermining and panicky; with more of the same when her Solar Arc Neptune conjuncts her Mars in 2010 - with tr Neptune square her Sun at the same time. In four years time her Solar Arc Uranus Pluto start to conjunct her 12th house Moon which will cause some emotional upheavals for a couple of years.
21 Nov 1965 7.50 am Reykjavik, Iceland.

Venezuela versus Colombia - not cricket From: Marjorie. (24 Jul 2010 10:51):
Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela has broken off diplomatic relations with Colombia in a sulk because they were accused of harbouring left wing Farc rebels on Venezuelan territory.
The relationship chart between the two countries certainly could not be more stressed with a composite Mars Sun conjunction at 29 Virgo and 3 Libra opp Venus at 29 Pisces which is being buffeted by the tr Uranus opp tr Saturn square tr Pluto - and will continue to be so for another three years until tr Uranus clears the opposition to the Sun. So the breach could widen significantly with a great deal of bad temper at the very least erupting.
It may worsen when Juan Manuel Santos takes over as Colombia President on 7th August this year since he and Chavez are definitely at daggers drawn. Their relationship chart has a Sun Pluto conjunction sextile Mars Saturn Neptune with the latter in square to Uranus - so a power struggle, high wire tensions and high levels of impatience. There is disappointment writ large in this chart in 2011 and worse aggravation come 2012.

Santos takes over right on the difficult Cardinal Grand Square with Uranus Jupiter in Aries opp Venus Saturn Mars square Pluto NNode opp Moon - so he's in for a very bumpy ride indeed through his first three years term in office. And his own personal chart looks lack lustre, undermined and unhappy with Solar Arc Pluto conjunct Neptune this year and next; and Solar Arc Sun conjunct Neptune following. He is highly impatient with an accentuated Mars in Cancer on the focal point of a Jupiter opposition Neptune - so will tend to leap into impatient gestures and boil over easily.
Chavez's Presidency chart is being jolted and jarred this year by Solar Arc Saturn square Uranus this year and the very edgy tr Uranus square Solar Arc Sun in Nov/Dec this year. Plus a risky, frustrated tr Pluto square Mars across the New Year and thro' 2011.
Hugo Chavez: 28 July 1954
HC Pres: 6 Dec 1998
Juan Manuel Santos: 10 Aug 1951
JS Pres: 7 Aug 2010
Venezuela: 5 July 1811
Colombia: 17 Dec 1819

From: Marjorie. (24 Jul 2010 09:54):
Linda, Several things strike me about your mother's chart. One is that her 6th house Pluto was/is being pressured not only by the tr Pluto opposiiton but also by a Solar Arc Pluto square Pluto.
Secondly she had tr Neptune only a degree away from the square to her Taurus Sun which must have made the previous eighteen months low energy perhaps in the build up to this.
More pointedly she has her Solar Arc Uranus conjunct her natal Mercury as well as her Solar Arc Mercury opposition her natal Uranus. That's a double whammy of very jolting activity. Plus her Solar Arc Uranus is conjunct her nadir/IC. Stacy Keach had tr Uranus conjunct his IC/Nadir so that may be another signature.
I just love the way astrology works from several different angles - and different astrologers will come at the issue from their own standpoint/methods. Many paths, one goal.

Muttiah Muralitharan - one of a kind From: Marjorie. (23 Jul 2010 13:08):
The popular Muttiah Muralitharan has crowned his astonishing cricketing career by becoming the first cricketer to take 800 wickets in his final match. He was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002.
Born on 17th April 1972 in Sri Lanka he is a Sun in Aries with a high octane Fire Air chart. His passionately enthusiastic, restless Moon Mars Venus in Gemini are in a lovely trine to Uranus; and his sensible Saturn in Gemini is in a persevering trine to Pluto in Libra. His upfront Mercury in Aries trines Neptune in Sagittarius, as well as being tied into a T square opposition Pluto square Jupiter in Capricorn, his only earth planet. So he's intense and confident, attracting luck and the better things of life.
Fittingly as he retires from cricket his Solar Arc Sun is conjunct his Saturn - Saturn being the planet of limits and boundaries. His Solar Arc Jupiter is also trine his Uranus this year, guaranteeing that his exit would be a fortunate and joyful one.

Strokes - Saturn Pluto + Uranus From: Marjorie. (23 Jul 2010 12:17):
This is hardly a solid survey since I only looked at three charts but it seems that Saturn Pluto and a hint of Uranus are more connected to strokes than anything else.
Richard Nixon (9 Jan 1913 9.35pm Whittier Jnctn, CA, USA) had a major stroke on 18 April 1994 from which he died a few days later. At that point tr Pluto was exactly opposition his Saturn (co-ruler of his 6th); tr Uranus was within a degree of being trine his Saturn; tr Saturn was opposition his Solar Arc Midheaven; and his tr Neptune was square his Solar Arc Uranus.
Walt Whitman (31 May 1819 1.45 am Huntington, NY, US) had a major stroke in early 1873 which severely incapacitated him thereafter. At that point tr Pluto was conjunct his Solar Arc Saturn; tr Saturn was sextile his natal Saturn Pluto conjunction; tr Uranus was conjunct his Solar Arc Sun; and his Solar Arc Uranus was square his Mercury. So not dissimilar to Nixon.
Stacy Keach, the actor, had a transient stroke last year but is now back working. Tr Uranus was sextile his 6th house Saturn; tr Saturn was sextile his Solar Arc Saturn and trine his Solar Arc Mars; tr Uranus was conjunct his IC/Nadir with Solar Arc Uranus approaching a conjunction to his 8th house Pluto.
It will differ I imagine with different personalities. The heavy Saturn Pluto tends to grind everything to a halt.
Perhaps Maggy has some thoughts.

UN - grumbling and griping inside and drifting outside From: Marjorie. (23 Jul 2010 12:00):
The United Nations was born on 24 October 1945 at 4.45pm. It has an intense 7th house Scorpio Sun and Mercury square a 5th house Pluto. So it is dependent on alliances, stubborn, possessive, slow to let go control. All of which rather belies the fiery pro-active looking Aries Ascendant. Neptune Venus in Libra in the 6th give a sense of service though not always a practical outlook. Indeed there's no Earth in the chart at all so it's not always realistic. Jupiter in Libra trine Uranus and sextile that very emphasised 5th house Pluto - so grandstanding is part and parcel of its modus operandi.
There's also a curiously aggravated 4th house Mars Saturn in Cancer hinting at a not entirely happy internal set up.

Tr Saturn is now into the 6th about to conjunct Neptune Venus Jupiter from October this year onwards - so some confusion and uncertainty, a heavy workload but not much sense of progress. This is accentuated by the Solar Arc Sun squaring the UN Neptune in 10/11 which is lack lustre and drifting. There is also a good deal of jolting and jarring from tr Uranus opposition the Solar Arc Mars and Saturn at the moment till late September and returning early next year. So the highly critical memo of the departing senior aide about Ban Ki-Moon's failings may just be the beginning of internal rumblings of discontent.
Into 2011 tr Pluto is square the 6th house Neptune and Venus which does not bode well since it suggests even more uncertainty and muddle. What may help is Saturn rising above the Descendant in 2012 and beyond which should put the UN into a more prominent position.

The UN's relationships with the USA look most stressed at the moment and worsening to major frustration in 11/12. The EU interface also looks enfuriated and stuck with huge upheavals and disruptions come 2013/14. China's UN relationship looks edgy and unsettled this year especially in Nov/Dec but the major aggravation will come in 2012 and beyond.

Desmond Tutu - Cardinal Grand Square plus plus plus From: Marjorie. (23 Jul 2010 11:40):
Desmond Tutu, who played a prominent role in the struggle against apartheid and was the first black cleric to become an Archbishop, is to retire from public life.
Born on 7 October 1931 he has an astonishing chart. His charming Sun Venus in Libra are part of a Cardinal Grand Square with Sun Venus opposition Uranus square Saturn in Capricorn opposition Pluto. So he grew up in the bleak 1930s which gave him the grit and perseverance for the challenges of his life. His courage was further strengthened by a determined Mars in Scorpio in a disciplined sextile to Saturn and (widely) in a never-say-die trine to Pluto.
What lifted his personality which could otherwise have been rather gloomy and argumentative was Jupiter Moon in Leo which sextile his Sun Venus and trine his Uranus. So he gives off an air of happiness and enthusiasm in spite of the difficulties into which his life and chart inevitably drew him.
Into next year tr Pluto is sextile his Solar Arc Jupiter which will produce some fun moments. Though his life will never be entirely settled and he could be facing a blockage by 2012 as Solar Arc Pluto is conjunct his Sun.

The South Africa (1910) chart has a Gemini Sun which sits well with his Libra Sun. It also has a Mars Neptune in Cancer opp Uranus in Capricorn square Venus in Aries onto which his Cardinal Grand Square sits with not always easy aspects. So his relationship to his homeland has its difficult aspects. But there's also a Sun Neptune conjunction in the Tutu/SAfrica chart pointing to a shared vision and an enthusiastic Mars Jupiter as well.

George Clooney - onwards and upwards From: Marjorie. (22 Jul 2010 14:51):
George Clooney is to be given a humanitarian Emmy for his good works, most recently on behalf of the Haitian earthquake victims. He's managed to tread a subtle line in his career between high money earning films and socially relevant ones which interest him like Three Kings and Syriana.
Born 6 May 1961 2.58 am Lexington Manor, KY, USA he's a Sun Mercury in Taurus opposition a filmic Neptune, square a rebellious Uranus and trine a controlling/influential Pluto. His Capricorn Moon is conjunct Saturn and humanitarian Jupiter in Aquarius and opposition Mars in Leo - so he's an odd mix of rather emotionally clamped down and impatient(Moon Saturn opp Mars) as well as optimistic and risk-taking (Jup Mars). His Jupiter opp Mars squares onto Neptune, again giving a showbizzy feel to his chart. His Venus in party loving, upfront Aries is in a freedom-loving trine to Uranus.
With Jupiter now into his 1st house he's into a confident, outgoing phase and with Saturn rising above his Descendant his career looks set for years ahead.

Wesley Snipes - not looking forward to 2012 From: Marjorie. (22 Jul 2010 14:50):
Wesley Snipes, the actor, could have his bail revoked on tax evasion charges if prosecutors have their way in the US. Born 31 July 1962 he's an entertaining Sun, Moon and Mercury in Leo. Though the flamboyance of his Leo planets are held in check by a downbeat opposition to Saturn in Aquarius which squares onto Neptune in Scorpio. So he's inclined to ignore details/realities which don't suit him with such an emphasised Neptune.
He's also got a mega-pushy and determined Jupiter opp Pluto square Mars which will certainly give him a high handed inclination to go his own way and cross lines if necessary to get what he wants. This latter Mutable T Square has been damped down by transitting Saturn since charges were brought two years ago.
There's nothing much showing on his chart - without a birth time - except for tr Uranus square his Solar Arc Neptune in the autumn and into early 2011 which will be highly strung and anxious. Transits to his midpoints are edgy but not catastrophic until later in 2011 and thro' 2012/13/14 which do look really tough times.

Switzerland - suffering from too much money From: Marjorie. (22 Jul 2010 13:58):
Switzerland is now reckoned to be such a safe haven from Eurozone and US economic woes that monies are pouring into their banks from outside investors to a degree which is causing problems. Switzerland's budget deficit is just 1pc of GDP; gross public debt is 40pc; the current account surplus is 9pc; unemployment is 3.9pc. The eight million Swiss have half a trillion dollars of external assets.

The Swiss National Bank chart (20 June 1907) is facing some wobbles and setbacks with tr Uranus still to square its Gemini Sun and conjunct its' Saturn in Oct this year and Jan 11. They've also got major pressures in 2011 from tr Saturn squares to their Jupiter Neptune opposition Uranus Mars. So they won't escape anxieties from the next great dip entirely. But what will keep them buoyant is a Solar Arc Jupiter trine Sun in 2011/12 which should keep them ahead of the game.

The Swiss franc chart (7 May 1850) is challenged at the moment, very edgy through July/Aug 2010 and not as secure in 11/12.

The two Swiss charts (1231, 1291) give the same sort of indications of setbacks this October and undermining confusion in 11/12. Though the 1291 chart also indicates some spikes of good luck in Aug/Sept 10 and March 11.

Norway is evidently now seen as a safer resort for sovereign bonds than Switzerland. It is the third wealthiest country in the world in monetary value, with the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation. Norway is the world's fifth largest oil exporter. Bankers have deemed the Norwegian Krone to be one of the most solid currencies in the world.

The Norway country chart (7 June 1905 11 am Oslo) has had the hugely supportive tr Pluto trine its Solar Arc Jupiter in 09/10 but that disappears from this October. They are heading for a slow down come 2012 with Solar Arc Saturn conjunct their Sun which may be to do with oil sales.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/
ambroseevans_pritchard/7903463/Swiss-endure
-safe-haven-agony-from-euro-flight.html

Brian Clough - when push comes to shove From: Marjorie. (21 Jul 2010 16:12):
The late Brian Clough was an English footballer in his early days and a football manager considered as the greatest by some. He was described as 'charismatic, outspoken, and often controversial'.
Born on 21 March 1935 his chart certainly describes a very big character - controlling, super confident, pushy, a risk-taker, lucky, talented and a strong individual.
He was a Sun on the cusp of Pisces/Aries in a Grand Trine to Pluto trine Jupiter in Scorpio. He attracted the better things of life with that well aspected Jupiter in Scorpio and had the brass neck to push for what he wanted.
His Pluto was also square Uranus Venus in Aries and opposition a Capricorn North Node with (Moon) Mars in Libra making up a Cardinal Grand Square. So his life would be a series of revolving crises, though he was never short of initiative, a bubbling cauldron of ideas. He would be argumentative, stubborn, not a one to compromise. He also had the generational Neptune in Virgo opposition Saturn (Mercury) in Pisces which would soften him down slightly.
His latter years were blighted by alcoholism and he died two years after having a liver transplant.

Simon Baker - Fire Air actor From: Marjorie. (21 Jul 2010 15:43):
Simon Baker is the Australian actor now starring in the US TV police drama The Mentalist. Born on 30 July 1969 he's a Sun Mercury in Leo as befits a showy entertainer trine a fiery Mars in Sagittarius, sextile Jupiter Uranus in Libra - so he's got luck, individuality, enjoys an exciting lifestyle and will be outspoken. His Sun is also square Saturn in Taurus which will damp down his fiery enthusiasm at times but give him discipline and common sense. His Venus in Gemini is in a seductive, possessive square to Pluto and is probably trine his detached, quirky Aquarius Moon as well as being inconjunct his Neptune.
Tr Pluto is square his focal point Jupiter Aug to oct this year for the final time which should boost his confidence; though the tr Saturn conjunction to Uranus Jupiter may pull him down to ground level briefly in August as well.
Tr Uranus opposes his Jupiter Uranus in 11/12 so perhaps a sudden change of direction or new movie/series coming his way.

North Korea - coming to the boil From: Marjorie. (21 Jul 2010 15:30):
North Korea is back in the headlines as Hillary Clinton presses on with more sanctions ahead of the USA/SKorea naval exercises in a few days time. These are intended to show support for South Korea after the sinking of one of their ships by North Korea some months back. All of which makes China nervous since they don't appreciate a show of American force on their doorstep.
North Korea is in an even more paranoid state than usual with not much known about Kim Jong-Il's intentions for his successor, presumed to be his youngest son.
The North Korea chart is on edge at the moment with tr Uranus square Uranus but gets more heated from late November with tr Pluto sextile Mars and tr Pluto conjunct Solar Arc Mars over the New Year into 2011 and for months thereafter. Though there will be a few blips and hiccups as tr Saturn is square Uranus from now onwards for a couple of weeks; and tr Saturn then continues to square SArc Mars in Sept and conjunct Mercury Neptune in Oct/Nov 2010 - so there's a build up of aggravations and setbacks.
The relationship chart between North Korea and the USA is panicky through late July/Aug and highly confused from mid Aug to Oct 2010 - so a time of high suspicion, doubt and evasions.

Sokratis Giolias - brave but not sensible From: Marjorie. (21 Jul 2010 15:08):
The Greek investigative journalist and blogger Sokratis Giolias who was gunned down on Monday at just before 5.30 am was born on 13 Feb 1973. He was a Sun Aquarius trine Uranus, with Uranus also in an adventurous square to Jupiter and widely trine Saturn in Gemini - so a very outspoken, reformist personality.
He also had a highly communicative Air Grand Trine of Venus in Aquarius trine Saturn trine Pluto, formed into a talented Kite by a Saturn opposition Neptune. So he was an odd mix of very up-in-his-head, yet very stubborn and enduring as well with Saturn Pluto. Neptune gave him vision for a better society. He also had a courageous, determined Mars in Capricorn square Pluto, perhaps in a T square of Mars opposition Moon in Cancer square Pluto. So he did have a great deal of anger to burn off.
On his chart - without a birth time - tr Uranus was square his Mars exactly and the tr Saturn square tr Pluto was obviously also impacting on his natal Mars square Pluto. So an insecure, risky time for him.
He was assassinated on his doorstep, it is thought by a leftwing terrorist group, when a Saturn Mars conjunction in Virgo was straddling the Nadir/IC. Which makes sense. There was a Mars Saturn opp Jupiter Uranus square Pluto North Node - so it does fit in with the mood of the moment. Plus there was a transitting Yod coming into aspect of Sun sextile Saturn inconjunct Neptune hinting at the other more fanatical side of Neptune. And also hinting at Giolias' disregard for his personal safety.

Ban Ki-moon - Saturnine droop From: Marjorie. (21 Jul 2010 11:14):
Ban Ki-moon the UN head has been given a withering assessment by an outgoing aide who said the UN was in a process of decay, lacking strategic guidance and weakening under his leadership.
Born on 13 June 1944, he is a Sun Saturn Venus Uranus Mercury in Gemini so is cool, detached, has broadly based interests, is communicative though also damped down by that Saturn. He also has a surprisingly fierce Mars Pluto in Leo with Jupiter also in showy Leo.
His Saturn in Gemini is under assault this year from the tr Saturn opp tr Uranus squares. With tr Uranus having another two hits in Aug/Sept this year and Feb/March 11. His Saturn is also undermined by trines from Neptune in 11/12 so his term in office is not going to improve.

Conrad Black - Jupiterian excess and luck From: Marjorie. (21 Jul 2010 11:13):
Former media mogul Conrad Black could walk out of US prison today, two years into the six and a half year sentence he received for fraud and obstruction of justice. He could be freed on bail pending his appeal which may clear him of the charges since the law has been changed since his conviction. Though he'll still face major financial costs, perhaps a hefty tax bill and have to foot all future litigation for the libel suits he says he intends to issue.

Born on 25 Aug 1944 at 6.15 am Montreal, Canada he does have a lucky Sun Jupiter in Virgo in his chart. Tr Pluto has been in a successful, confident trine Sun/Jupiter through 10/11 and then Pluto trines Jupiter which is even more upbeat in 11 and 12. He'll still have a few insecure and impatient wobbles from tr Uranus opposition his Mars in Oct 10 and Jan 11. And if his birth time is right from a disappointing, lack lustre tr Neptune square his Midheaven till Jan 2011.
Plus he's got a tr Pluto opposition his Saturn in 11/12 which will be a real drag so he may not find his life out in the open quite as easy as he might have wished.

Barack Obama - Mid Term elections From: Marjorie. (17 Jul 2010 11:10):
Barack Obama's poll ratings are sliding and there are dire murmurings being made about the Nov Mid Term Elections. There are no great indications on either his own chart or the First Term Admin chart about a meltdown.
The Administration chart (20 Jan 2009 12.05 pm) has tr Uranus sextile the Midheaven in November which is usually a positive change of direction or a new opening. There's also a relatively stuck though minor tr Pluto conj SArc Pluto which is trapped but nothing new.
On Obama's own chart he does have tr Saturn sextile his Sun as results are announced which is steady. He admittedly also has a tr Saturn at the same time conjunct his Solar Arc Uranus which may rein in some of his reforming tendencies.
A week is a long time in politics and there are three and a half months before this all comes down - so maybe more water flowing under the bridge by then which lessens the pressure on him.

Australia elections - Gilliard v Abbott From: Marjorie. (17 Jul 2010 10:59):
The Australia elections will be held on Aug 21 when the Jupiter in Aries opposition Saturn square Pluto will be exact. It's a very odd mix of pushily confident (Jup Pl), thoroughly stuck (Sat Pl) and split between the Pollyannas (Jup) and the pessimists (Sat). Just to add to the melange of mood there's trickster Uranus in there conj Jupiter; and a damped down Venus Mars in Libra conjunct Saturn through campaigning; and a disappointing Sun opp Neptune the day before.

Taking the easy bit first. Tony Aboott isn't in great shape astrologically with a very upsetting tr Uranus opp Mars/Pluto and a confused, undermining tr Neptune square Sun/Saturn. Plus he has two very awkward Solar Arcs this year. His SArc Pluto is conjunct his natal Mars sometime soon which is enraged and trapped; and SArc Jupiter is conjunct his Saturn which will temper his wilder antics.

Julia Gilliard (with no birth time either) has nothing showing up as a spectacular triumph. She'll be particularly intense with the tr Jupiter opp tr Saturn square tr Pluto all impacting on her Venus/Mars midpoint - so a fair amount of frustration wrapped up in there. But her chart isn't in as bad shape as Tony Abott's. Her main problems start picking up through this September and across 20101 and beyond.

The Australia chart has a lacklustre tr Neptune sextile Mercury and sextile Saturn - so a muddled electorate who probably don't like any of the choices in front of them.

Roman Polanski - home but still not free of the future From: Marjorie. (16 Jul 2010 11:48):
It's not clear what comes next with the Swiss authorities refusing to extradite Roman Polanski to the USA on the basis that the US legal end refused to supply them with all necessary documentation. He's now back in France which has always tended to the view that his artistic talent trumps all charges.
He has lost the jolting Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his very emphasised Uranus (natally opp Mars square Moon Pluto MC) which oversaw his house arrest in Switzerland. But he's not got a happy time ahead with tr Saturn conjunct his Solar Arc Midheaven, SA Moon, SA Pluto, SA Uranus and square Solar Arc Mars - from August this year on into 2011. He's got a muddled, confused Aug to Oct this year as well with tr Pluto trine Sun/Neptune and square Mars/Neptune - so an amount of panic and low energy from those. And an edgy, insecure, emotionally upsetting Nov and Dec 2010 courtesy of tr Uranus opposition his Venus and square Mars/NNode, Sun/Uranus.

Rory McIlroy - putting into the headlines From: Marjorie. (16 Jul 2010 11:33):
Rory McIlroy, the young Northern Ireland golfer was in the overnight lead at St Andrews though has slid back somewhat in today's play. He has a reputation for being erratic and fairly gung ho. Born on 4 May 1989 he's a Sun Taurus in a close opposition to Pluto in Scorpio so there's no doubting his relentless determination. But his Sun also trines that highly strung Uranus Neptune Saturn conjunction in Capricorn; with an emotionally volatile Mars in Cancer opposition Uranus as well - so he will struggle at times to stay on an even keel.
At the moment he has the tr Jupiter square tr Pluto in hard aspect to his Mars - forming a T square which could go either way - either overstepping the mark and finding himself on the back foot or powering ahead. He's definitely got a high energy if somewhat erratic time ahead with his Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Mars by late 2011/12.

Caster Semenya - running free From: Marjorie. (16 Jul 2010 11:31):
Caster Semenya the South African woman athlete is back on track and seemingly on form after reported hormone treatment following complaints about her gender status last year.
Born on 7 Jan 1991 she's a Sun conjunct Uranus Neptune and widely conjunct Saturn - all in Capricorn. So she's highly strung, ambitious and ultra-determined with Pluto sextile her Sun Uranus Neptune, and opposition Mars in Taurus. She's also got a super confident Pluto square Jupiter in Leo so it's quite a chart. She's still got a couple more undermining tr Neptune square her Mars till early 2011. And tr Saturn starting to square her Uranus Neptune Sun from this autumn through till mid 2011 which will make for a bumpy ride. But she'll then start to pick up the bountiful effects of a Solar Arc Pluto trine her Jupiter which gets exact into 2012 - so there'll be more success for her ahead.

Civil Wars - more Uranus than Pluto From: Marjorie. (16 Jul 2010 09:48):
I'm not sure why the approaching Pluto opposition to the USA Sun should bring up thought of a Civil War. The previous Pluto conjunction to the USA Sun was in the mid 1920s when the USA pursued a policy of unilateralism and isolationism from the rest of the globe.
The two Pluto squares to the USA Sun were in the 1830s during the Trail of Tears when Native American Indians were relocated; and in the late 1970s when Jimmy Carter became a limp President in a time of economic stagnation and inflation.
The American Civil War happened on the Uranus Return (Uranus conj Uranus) with Pluto approaching a sextile to the USA Sun; and Neptune approaching a square to the USA Venus, Jupiter, Sun.

Looking at other countries' civil wars.

The Spanish Civil War (1936) started on a Uranus square to the 1479 Spain Sun with Neptune conjunct Saturn and opposition Mars.

The English Civil War (1642) on the England 973 chart had a Uranus Return; Neptune just passed the opposition to the Sun and Uranus approaching the opposition to the Sun. Pluto was 11 degrees passed the conjunction to the Sun and conjunct the Moon? On the England 1066 chart Uranus was sextile the Sun.

The 1917 Russian Revolution did have Pluto square the 1462 Russia Sun; with Uranus opposition Pluto, sextile Mars; and Neptune Saturn trine Sun Mars.

Uranus seems more intimately tied into Civil Wars with a dollop of Neptunian confusion thrown in as well. The Pluto hard aspects to the USA Sun do seem to coincide with less than glorious periods in its history but not with any sign of splitting asunder.

Tiger Woods - good but not enough? From: Marjorie. (15 Jul 2010 17:20):
Tiger Woods is in for the St Andrews Open bidding to become the first player to win on three successive occasions. He's playing well but others are playing better so will be interesting to see how it plays out.
He does have a useful though minor tr Jupiter sextile Jupiter/NNode, tr Jupiter square SArc Venus and SArc Jupiter square Venus - none of these are hugely strong but with tr Saturn sextile his Solar Arc Midheaven he's possibly regaining steady form.
Where his problems come in are from several highly emotional influences - tr Uranus square his Sun/Moon and tr Pluto conjunct his Solar Arc Venus which suggests his marital breakdown is hanging fairly heavily on him. Plus gloomy tr Saturn conjunct his Venus/Saturn and tr Neptune in a romantically disappointing square to his Venus.

Tour de France - Cadel Evans looking good From: Marjorie. (15 Jul 2010 17:11):
A quick flip through the main Tour de France contenders - mainly without birth times - suggests that Cadel Evans has a good deal of support from his chart. Tr Jupiter is square his Sun/Uranus and trine Jupiter/Pluto and sextile his Mars - all of those are high energy, confident, successful. Admittedly he does have a rather draggy tr Saturn opposition his Solar Arc Sun but that may give him focus.
Ivan Basso may have tr Jupiter trine his Sun but he's got a number of other less encouraging influences as well. Alberto Contador, last year's winner, does have tr Jupiter square his Solar Arc Uranus which should bring him some lucky breaks. But he's lost the powerhouse SArc Pluto conjunct Jupiter which pushed him to last year's victory. Mark Cavendish looks a touch gloomy and impatient - plus ca change. Andy Schleck has nothing showing astrologically except for an insecure tr Uranus square Mars so not perhaps on his best form.
Lance Armstrong looks seriously downbeat in this his last Tour de France which he has won seven times in the past after overcoming a major bout of cancer. He has tr Saturn conjunct his Pluto exactly now and aiming to conjunct his Venus within a couple of weeks. What may affect his performance apart from advancing years is the announcement of an investigation by USA federal authorities on allegations of fraud and doping made by disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis. He and others could be among witnesses issued grand jury subpoenas as part of the probe. Armstrong fiercely denies all charges.
He's got a very stalwart, feisty chart with a determined Sun Pluto conjunction in Virgo; and an Air Grand Trine of Uranus trine Saturn trine Mars in Aquarius which is disciplined and uncompromising. He looks more upbeat and enthusiastic into 11/12.

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem - Taurus and Pisces From: Marjorie. (15 Jul 2010 13:38):
Penelope Cruz appears to have married fellow Spaniard Javier Bardem. Both are hugely successful, award winner actors and she also models.
She was born on 28 April 1974 and is a Taurus Sun in a lucky, confident sextile to Jupiter in Pisces with Venus also in Pisces and probably a Cancer Moon. She has also an emotionally anguished Mars Saturn in Cancer square Pluto so her childhood would not be without its problems and she'll at times be impatient and/or feel trapped as a result. Her Jupiter will also is in a head-in-the-clouds square to Neptune will help mellow down the gritty effects of that Mars Saturn Pluto somewhat.
Javier Bardem, born 1 March 1969, is a Sun Pisces with a curiously disconnected chart unless his Moon and the angles tie it together. He has a showbizzy Neptune Mars conjunction, an emotionally cool, self reliant Saturn Venus conjunction in Aries and a lucky, adventurous Uranus Jupiter conjunction.
His Mars Neptune are sextile Uranus Jupiter and perhaps trine a Leo Moon. His Leo Moon may also be tied into a Fire Grand Trine of the North Node in Aries trine Mars. That would make more sense of a flamboyant, self confident personality.
Penelope's Jupiter is exactly conjunct his Sun so she'll boost his morale and her Venus is also in Pisces. But her Mars Saturn squares his Uranus Jupiter so there will be rough edges - and I imagine a bit of oneupmanship struggle at times as her Pluto is also conjunct his Jupiter Uranus.
Their relationship chart has a romantic, affectionate, friendly Sun Venus conjunction though both Sun and Venus are opposition Uranus so it's a relationship that needs a good deal of space and where compromise won't be easy since both are strong individuals. There's also a curious composite Mercury opposition Mars Pluto square Jupiter. Again the Jupiter will help to keep it enthusiastic and optimistic but there will undoubtedly be some arguments along the way.
The strain on these marriages with two exceptionally busy types often separated for longish periods is enormous. Their composite Venus Sun are at 7/9 degrees Aries so the next three years won't be that easy as tr Saturn, tr Pluto, tr Uranus all hard aspect the comp Sun Venus. But the relationship chart also has a Saturn trine Pluto so it does have a hang-on-in-there streak about it.
Both of them have their ups and downs in the next few months as he has tr Saturn square Pluto hitting his Jupiter Uranus conjunction which will stifle his enthusiasm somewhat; and she has tr Saturn square tr Pluto picking up her Pluto square Mars Saturn - and indeed tr Pluto continues to oppose her Mars and square her Pluto till late 2011 - so a good many difficult adjustments will be needed on her side.
But she looks set for a highly positive, successful 2013/14 as tr Pluto is sextile her Jupiter and even before then tr Pluto is trine her Taurus Sun in 11/12 which will help her get her act together.

Bristol Palin & Levi Johnson - roller coaster From: Marjorie. (14 Jul 2010 20:30):
Sarah Palin's daughter is now back, according to reports, with the father of her baby, Levi Johnston. There was a difficult separation with him slinging mud at the Palins for not allowing him access to his child.

She's a Sun, possibly New Moon and Venus in Libra while he is a Taurus Sun with probably a Virgo Moon and Venus in Pisces/Aries so they are very different personalities.
Their relationship chart always did look very muddled with a Venus conjunct Uranus and Neptune sextile Pluto and probably square the composite Moon. So very blow hot, blow cold, prone to disruptions and highly strung. There's also an argumentative not very sensitive or sympathetic Mars square Saturn.
She's got her Sec Progressed Venus conjunct her Pluto at the moment so she'll be emotionally very intense. Though with her Sun moving by Progression/Solar Arc to conjunct her Pluto in eighteen months/two years time she's also going to be very stuck. She's also got tr Pluto opposing her Solar Arc Mars later this year/2011 and tr Pluto also conjunct her Uranus in 11/12 - so there'll be a great many ups and downs in the near future. Their relationship chart also has tr Pluto conjunct Uranus in 11/12 and conjunct Venus in 12/13 - plus tr Saturn this autumn squaring Uranus, Venus, Neptune and tr Uranus catching up to the squares come 11/12/13. Not going to be plain sailing, that's for sure.

National Health Service - on a slide From: Marjorie. (14 Jul 2010 20:29):
Major radical reforms of the UK National Health Service are being mooted. Though the chart (5 July 1948) looks thoroughly stuck with not only a Solar Arc Pluto square Sun over the next two months exact. Plus tr Saturn in hard aspect to the Cancer Sun square Neptune in Libra through this autumn and beyond. Plus tr Uranus square Uranus Mercury Venus. So it's all jolting and jangling but not going anywhere very fast except downhill.

Apple bouncing in the wrong direction From: Marjorie. (14 Jul 2010 20:02):
Apple shares have fallen dramatically after bad reviews of the latest IPhone4. Which fits the astrology beautifully though not to Apple's advantage.
Oct 09 Post: Transitting Pluto is trine the Apple Jupiter at the moment till late Nov 09 which is an indication of success. More innovations can be expected through 2010 as tr Uranus trines the Apple Saturn. But thereafter problems start to mount up with first a setback tr Saturn square to Mars, a stuck conjunction to Pluto and discouraging opposition to the Apple Sun from late 2010, thro' 2011. Tr Pluto then in 2011 opposes Mars which is seriously bad news; with tr Uranus to follow in 2012.
The years from late 2010 will be stressful in the extreme with an almost complete reconstruction being forced on Apple in the years up to 2014.

World Cup - clutching at straws From: Marjorie. (12 Jul 2010 10:47):
Ah well, I'm no wiser about how to predict sporting wins for countries.
One amusing - coincidence? - is that the original chart for Spain from 1479 has tr Pluto sextile the Solar Arc Jupiter exactly at the moment which is a definite confidence boost.
This chart also has all the same indications as the more modern Spain chart for a really dreary, stuck patch in 2011/12. Dead halt time.

Danielle Spencer & Russell Crowe - Taurus in tune with Aries From: Marjorie. (12 Jul 2010 09:40):
Danielle Spencer, the singer/songwriter wife of actor Russell Crowe is getting back into the music business after a break having two children and coping with an international travel schedule with her husband on location.
According to wiki she was born on 16 May 1969 which makes more sense than the previous 1970 birth date. This makes her a steady Taurus Sun, possibly New Moon opposition a musical/creative Neptune. With her Sun Moon trine Pluto Jupiter in Virgo and Uranus in Libra. She evidently calms down her excitable husband which makes sense of a Taurus Sun but she shares enough of his adventurous approach to life with her Pluto Jupiter Uranus to make it viable.
He's a Sun and Mars in Aries with his Sun conjunct her Venus in Aries and trine her Mars - so there's a good deal of affection and a joint passionately enthusiastic approach to life. Her Moon, if late Taurus or early Gemini is conjunct his Gemini Moon as is her Taurus Sun - so again a really affectionate resonance.
Their relationship chart has a romantic, super friendly Sun Venus conjunction sextile a mutually supportive and smooth-round-rough-edges Jupiter. The Sun Venus also square Mars so there'll be a fair amount of snap-crackle-and-pop at the same time. There's also probably a Moon Saturn conjunction which brings longevity and puts work/duty at times before indulgence.
Taurus and Aries aren't supposed to be a good match but just goes to show that hyper-manic Aries sometimes is the better of a steadying hand.
She's due for a high energy, lucky breaks phase come 2012/13 when her Solar Arc Mars is trine her Sun and trine her Jupiter.

Raoul Moat - searching for the positive masculine From: Marjorie. (12 Jul 2010 09:05):
Thanks for the birth date on Raoul Moat, the latest UK gunman to run amok, which looks just about right. 1 January 1973, Newcastle, England.

This made him a Sun, North Node, Jupiter in Capricorn with his Sun in a controlling square to Pluto in Libra and his Jupiter in an impulsive square to Uranus. So he was earthy, ambitious, needing to stay in control, yet wanting freedom as well. Interesting that he was never told who his father was which clearly bothered him greatly - the Capricorn North Node is the search for a father figure. Plus a Sun square Pluto in this case = absent father.

He also had a Mars Neptune conjunction perhaps conjunct a Sag Moon with Venus Mercury also in Sag. His Moon if conjunct Mars is a frustrated angry childhood and relationship to mother/mother figures (Moon Mars) who are evasive and inaccessible (Moon Neptune). His mother did have mental health problems. His Venus opposed Saturn so emotional coldness also in childhood.

With a 9.30 am birth time it would put a chilly-childhood Saturn in 4th; and a trapped Pluto and disruptive Uranus in the 8th (he was partly brought up by grandparents) plus a bossy Mars in the 10th.

This year when he finally erupted in a vengeful shooting spree his Solar Arc Uranus was approaching the conjunction to his Mars which is explosive. And his Solar Arc Mars was approaching the conjunction to his Sun. Solar Arcs build in effect in the months before. So he did look like a powder keg. Tr Pluto has also been squaring his Pluto attempting to pull him away from the past.

Jeremy Bamber - another 'innocent' convicted killer From: Marjorie. (11 Jul 2010 14:46):
Another murder conviction appeal coming soon is by Jeremy Bamber, sentenced to life without parole in the UK 25 years ago for shooting his two adoptive parents, adoptive sister and her two children. Initially it looked as if his schizophrenic adoptive sister had shot the others and then suicided. But later evidence pointed to different killer. Bamber has always proclaimed his innocence, suggesting a quite wide ranging conspiracy against him by a vengeful ex-girlfriend and other relatives keen to claim his inheritance.
Born on 13 January 1961 he does have a very stalwart, complex chart. He is a Capricorn Sun conjunct Saturn Jupiter and Mercury so is practical, earthy, ambitious, keen to overcome difficult early beginnings and prone to mid swings. He also has a self-protective, inward looking, creative Water Grand Trine of Mars in Cancer trine Neptune trine Venus in Pisces, formed into a Kite by an emotionally intense Venus opposition Pluto.
When the killings took place in the early hours of 7 Aug 1985 his very emphasised Mars on one leg of that Grand Trine and Kite was being challenged by an approaching Solar Arc Pluto square to his natal Mars and a tr Pluto trine his Mars.
You could argue that these would be soaked up by being arrested, charged, convicted for something he didn't do. Pluto on Mars is very trapped and highly enraging since it renders the individual powerless. But you could as easily, possibly more easily, argue that Pluto on Mars brought out his need to be in control (Kite focal driving planet is Pluto) and he was indeed guilty as charged.
PS. Amanda Knox has a natal Mars square Pluto where Bamber has a highly intertwined Mars sextile Pluto.

USA ahead - Saturn Return and beyond From: Marjorie. (11 Jul 2010 14:31):
Andy asked about the USA's path ahead astrologically and whether it was passed its' glory days.

The USA chart has Venus Jupiter Sun Mercury in Cancer, Saturn in Libra and Pluto in late Capricorn - so it will catch the transiting Saturn, Uranus, Pluto hard aspects at various stages over the next few years - which suggests the present bumpy ride won't settle down any time soon.
Tr Saturn from this August starts picking up the aspect to Venus which probably will be a cash setback, and depresses enthusiasm further as it squares Jupiter in Sept; and then is square Sun and conjunct Saturn in Nov 2010 and again into 2011. Tr Pluto is also putting pressure on that financial Venus from mid Aug to Oct this year. So short term it looks like financial challenges. This year and next are the years of the USA's Saturn Return which is basically grow-up-and-get-real time.

The wild card is Jupiter which gets the tr Pluto opp this year and next and tr Uranus square in 2012 which will bring some lucky breaks, though could also bring either over confidence which backfires or an attempt to throw money at a stumbling economy which again will ultimately blowback.

2011/12 has Solar Arc Saturn conjunct Uranus which will be a tremendous jolt - that may be less economic than a global event or impact of another country's actions. Especially since Solar Arc Pluto squares the USA Mars in 11/12 as well which is high risk and trapped. 2013 has a continuation of the same mood as the Solar Arc Pluto is then conjunct the USA Neptune (which is natally square Mars). So basically the years from 2011 to 2013 look scary and troubled.

Into 2012 tr Neptune in Pisces is trine the USA Venus which is gently undermining and then continues on to trine Jupiter and Sun through till 2017. This isn't devastating more a drift and a stagnation.

The tr Uranus square tr Pluto don't get to hard aspect the USA Sun square Saturn until 2014/15 which will be times of austerity, hardship and upheaval.

As to whether America has had its SuperPower days - it is fairly difficult to establish an astrological pattern for the point at which great powers wane. Though in the case of France and Spain, once great colonial powers, it did seem pointed up by a Pluto return. Houses may make a difference which is tricky since there's no accepted birth time for the USA or indeed for other older powers. The UK which does have a start time really faded badly from the end of WW11, losing its final colonies 15 years later - when tr Pluto and SArc Pluto were heading into the 11th and 12th houses - so change of expectations for the future.

The USA has its Pluto Return around 2022, just after the Saturn Pluto in Capricorn years of 2019/2020 which will be difficult for the USA. Often the countries/empires which rose on one major aspect or group of aspects fall on the next. The USA started on a late Pluto in Capricorn and this is next time round. So could be.

Amanda Knox - uncertain future From: Marjorie. (11 Jul 2010 12:22):
Amanda Knox had her 23rd birthday two days ago serving a 26 year jail sentence in Italy so her Cancer Sun is directly in the line of today's Solar Eclipse. She is being sued by the Italian police for defaming them, saying she'd been beaten into making a confession. Now a jailed Mafia supergrass has come forward to say his brother killed Meredith Kercher. This will be used as part of Amanda Knox's appeal later this month.
What a guddle and a muddle. The Italian police and judicial system are about on a par with the Portuguese. Whatever the truth of that night it was hardly likely to come out into the light of day with any certainty in court.

There's nothing on Amanda Knox's chart that looks too hopeful in coming years. Her Venus Mercury in Cancer opposition Neptune in Capricorn are catching tr Pluto conj Venus in 10/11 which is hugely emotional and stuck; tr Saturn square Venus Mercury Neptune this autumn which is discouraging and confused; and tr Pluto in a highly confused and uncertain conjunction to Neptune and Solar Arc Saturn in 11/12/13 and opposition Mercury. Plus tr Uranus thrown in for good measure come 2011 to 14 as well. Her Solar Arc Neptune oppose her Mars come 12/13 as well which is very panicky and not progressive.

Mandelson & Blair - the old wounds laid bare From: Marjorie. (11 Jul 2010 11:36):
Squawks are emerging from the hen house again as Peter Mandelson (Prince of Darkness) has brought out his Memoirs ahead of schedule beating his old buddy Tony Blair to the starting post. Blair's spokesman said sniffily that the TB memoirs due in a month will be 'statesmanlike' - i.e. stuffy and tedious. The Mandelson chronicles are more likely to be entertaining and bitchy, laying bare the in fighting in New Labour's time in office.
The Mandelson Blair relationship was never as cosy as it looked on the surface with an explosive Mars Uranus conjunction square Saturn Neptune in the composite/relationship chart. Saturn square Uranus suggests simmering tensions that suddenly boil over. Saturn square Mars is unkind treatment and impatience. Uranus square Neptune is highly strung. Mars square Neptune is one-wins-the-other-loses. Hardly mutually supportive despite their long friendship, though ruptured as it was by Mandelson's two fast exits from Cabinet over perceived misdemeanours.
Both ends of that difficult composite square are being elbowed this year with a potentially explosive, insecure tr Uranus trine Mars returning in Sept and early 11. Tr Neptune is also in an undermining, suspicion-ridden trine to Saturn in Sept/Oct (again in late Nov/Jan 11). So September could be a sticky month between them with a real chill in Oct as tr Saturn squares the composite Venus.
Blair himself has a few more spots of good fortune with tr Uranus trine his Jupiter from mid Aug to mid Sept which will bring lucky breaks - and again in early 2011. But by early 2011 tr Neptune starts to square his Jupiter for two years which will bring disappointments, especially financial ones. And then tr Neptune by 2012 is square his Mars Ascendant for two years which is distinctly slippery slope time. Not confident or winning.
Mandelson is in an emotionally intense year with the tr Pluto square tr Saturn hitting his Venus in Libra till later this year; and a lack lustre tr Neptune trine his Libra Sun. But he's also got an enthusiastic, good luck tr Uranus square Jupiter in Nov/Dec 2010 to boost his morale. Into 2011/12 he's got a mix of tr Neptune trine his Saturn which is uncertain but it is more than balanced out by a Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Pluto which should bring soaring confidence and probably money.

Ingrid Betancourt - struggling with Sun Mars Pluto From: Marjorie. (10 Jul 2010 14:41):
Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian politician who was held hostage by leftist rebels for six years is suing the Colombian Government for damages and loss of earnings.
There was a high profile French campaign to free her since she has French citizenship. Since she's been out the other hostages have written memoirs of their time in captivity, describing her as selfish and arrogant.
Born on 25 Dec 1961 at 2.15pm Bogota, Columbia she does have a tricky chart with an 8th house Capricorn Sun Mars trine Uranus and a demanding 5th house Pluto. So she's intense, determined, attention seeking. She's also got a drama-queen Jupiter on her Midheaven opposition a five-star-lifestyle Leo Moon square Neptune in Scorpio in the 7th. Relationships and commitment to others won't be her great strength.
With the tr Pluto square tr Saturn opp tr Uranus still hitting her 8th house Mars and Sun this year; and tr Uranus continuing on in 2011 and into 2012 it's not an easy time for her. Plus her Solar Arc Neptune is conjunct her Sun in 11/12 at the time tr Uranus is square her Mars - so she'll be low in energy and very insecure over money as well as more personal issues. Plus the Pluto, Saturn, Uranus is also hitting her Solar Arc Moon until 2012 as well with all the emotional upsets that brings. So she's having a difficult re-entry into the world.

Barefoot Bandit - creating a legend From: Marjorie. (10 Jul 2010 11:04):
The barefoot bandit as he has become known, Colton Harris-Moore is a 19 year old thief from a troubled background who has been stealing planes and evading the law all round the US and Canada since 2008. He stole planes without being able to fly and managed to take off and crash land without injuring himself. At present he's on the loose in the Bahamas and is wanted for 70 police investigations.
Born on 22 March 1991 in Camano, WA, USA he was nearly choked by his father when he was two. His father then left, his step-father died when he was 7 and he's been in trouble ever since.
He's a fiery Sun in Aries trine a supremely confident, showy Jupiter in Leo so he clearly thrives on the adventure and attention. His Jupiter opposes a 'scientific' Saturn in Aquarius squaring onto an acquisitive Venus in Taurus - he wants what he wants and takes it. His Sun is also sextile Saturn so he's clearly practical and presumably intelligent.
His Mars in Gemini is possibly conjunct a Gemini Moon which makes sense of a kid angry at his childhood. With his Mars (Moon) square his Sun so he'll dislike being hemmed in. He's also part of the Uranus Neptune conjunction in Capricorn which are part genius, part fanatic and highly strung. Plus a Capricorn North Node which is looking for father.
Tr Saturn is heading to oppose his Sun within a couple of weeks and that plus his Solar Arc Saturn trine his Mars over coming months will slow him right down.
He's got a lucky, over confident SArc Uranus opposing his Jupiter in 2011 and then SArc Uranus is conjunct his Saturn and square his Venus in 2012 which will be an unsettling jolt to his system. If he does evade capture this time he'll probably over step himself into 2011 and that'll backfire.
What a waste of a bright, feisty kid who could have had a good life. There's nothing (without birth time) inherently nasty about his chart.

Raoul Moat - 8th house transiting Pluto From: Marjorie. (10 Jul 2010 10:28):
The latest UK shooter suicided this morning by shotgun after a week long police hunt. His birth date is still elusive for some obscure reason but the charts of the start and finish of his spree do have certain similarities.
He shot dead the boyfriend of his ex-lover at 2.40 am on 3 July in Birtley, England. That gave a 23 degree Pisces Moon, an 11 Gemini Ascendant and Pluto one degree inside the 8th house cusp, with North Node also in the 8th.
When he fatally wounded himself this morning in Rothbury, pronounced dead at 2.20 am, the Moon had moved an exact quarter zodiac to be at 23 Gemini exactly square the Mars/Saturn midpoint. There was a 14 Gemini Ascendant and Pluto was one degree from the 8th house cusp, with NNode in the 8th.
The 8th house trapped Pluto makes sense of a personality from a troubled background, with no known father, a mother troubled by mental health problems, whose sanity had been further de-railed by steroid use. The Moon square the 'murder signature' Mars/Saturn also fits.
That apart we'll have to wait to see what birth date surfaces which will no doubt pick up some of the above.

Just an add-on. The Derrick Bird killing spree started just before 10.20 am on 2 June 2010 in Lamplugh/Frizington, North England and he killed himself shortly before 2pm. The Sun at 11 degrees Gemini that day is the same degree as the start of the Moat shootings Ascendant. The Bird shootings had an attention seeking 5th house Pluto and a show-off Ascendant Mars in Leo opposition Neptune. His death sometime around 1pm or just after had the 11 Gemini Sun conjunct the Midheaven and a mid Virgo Ascendant with Pluto in the trapped 4th.
The Moat shootings and on-the-run had Venus in showy Leo opposition Neptune. When Moat shot the policeman next day on 4th July 12.45 noon Denton, England Pluto was conjunct the Midheraven.
The number similarities may be coincidence but interesting all the same.

Sevvy Ballesteros - moving along slowly From: Marjorie. (09 Jul 2010 10:48):
Sevvy Ballesteros, the immensely popular Spanish golfer, recovering from a 2008 brain tumour operation, was hoping to make St Andrews this year but has been stopped by his doctors.
Born 9th April 1957 at 12.35pm Padron, Spain, he's a Sun Venus in Aries in a determined trine to Pluto. His Sun Venus are also in an energetic sextile to Mars in Gemini. Mars in turn is in an exact self disciplined opposition to Saturn in Sagittarius squaring onto a hard working Jupiter in Virgo - thus a Mutable T Square. He also has a Fixed T Square Mercury in Taurus opposition Neptune square Uranus (Moon) in Leo.
He retired from golf in 2007 because of poor play presumably in the run up to his brain tumour developing. At that point his Mutable T Square of Saturn opp Mars square Jupiter had moved by Solar Arc to sit on top of his natal Fixed T Square with his Solar Arc Saturn opposition Solar Arc Mars hitting his Uranus square Neptune. Mars Saturn tends to stop forward progress and added onto Uranus Neptune it would be highly strung, extremely confusing and panicky.
These movements of major configurations by Solar Arc Direction do seem extremely important. When they hard aspect a natal configuration it does point to a major period of life-changing stress.
He has a ways to go before these two T squares disentangle themselves but with luck tr Jupiter through his 10th will give him a lift through this summer and 2011.

Mel & Oksana - passion and anger From: Marjorie. (09 Jul 2010 10:24):
A birthdate has surfaced for Oksana Grigorieva, who is fighting an increasingly nasty custody/palimony battle with Mel Gibson. I'll keep this short since it is unverified. 1 January 1970 makes her a Sun Capricorn like Gibson, and she's a charming though ambitious Sun Venus in Capricorn in a rebellious square to Uranus; with her Venus also in a passionate, possessive square to Pluto. She has a money-attracting Jupiter in Scorpio sextile Venus, widely sextile Sun and trine Mars. Her Jupiter also opposes an unyielding Saturn in Taurus.
She's in an emotionally intense year with the tr Pluto square tr Saturn hard aspecting her Venus and a dreary tr Pluto trine her Saturn.
If this birth date is right then the relationship chart with Gibson has an argumentative, heated Sun Mars conjunction with Mars in a passionate conjunction to Venus as well. Which sounds about right. Plus an unstable Uranus Pluto conjunction; plus a Moon Jupiter conjunction which is under assault by tr Saturn square tr Pluto, dampening all optimism and enthusiasm between them. Tr Saturn is aiming to square the composite Sun from this autumn onwards which added onto tr Saturn tr Pluto hitting the composite Moon is an indication of separation.

Sarkozy - in a bad-tempered tangle From: Marjorie. (09 Jul 2010 10:10):
The Lilliane Bettencourt case in France is threatening to seriously undermine Nicholas Sarkozy personally, now that allegations have surfaced suggesting his political campaign accepted funds from her.
His Presidency chart (16 May 2007 9.36 am, Paris) is under considerable pressure at the moment with tr Pluto square the Solar Arc Mars till mid Aug and returning mid Oct/Nov 2010 which is blocked and enraging. There'll be more than a wobble when tr Uranus returns to square the Pres chart Pluto in Sept again in Feb 2011) which is seriously destabilising and sometimes coincides with a Government toppling altogether. Even before then there is an impatient, accident-prone tr Saturn opposition Mars, square SArc Pluto and opp SArc Mars in late July/Aug. Plus a distinct unpopularity tr Saturn square Venus come Oct 2010.
His own personal chart mirrors these high-stress influences with tr Pluto square his Solar Arc Sun now till mid Aug and again later in the year and thro' 2011 as well. With tr Saturn hitting the opposition to the SArc Sun come Aug.
So it's going to be an exceptionally bad tempered summer for him. With an even worse autumn as tr Saturn opposes his Aries Moon Mars from late Sept through Oct 2010. He's also from later this year got tr Uranus into his 7th which suggests partnership problems both personal and political.

Finance - general From: Marjorie. (09 Jul 2010 10:09):
Vinod, Currencies and stock markets go up and they go down but there's no doubt about the way things are heading astrologically. Spain is in even more dire trouble than they have admitted with a very nasty two or three years ahead for them. The general view is that Greece will default on its debts no matter what is being said. The EU bank stress tests due late July are now deemed worthless since they won't really uncover the real problems. And there are still ongoing constitutional fights in Germany about whether any of the EU stimulus plans - which effectively expect Germany to foot the major part of the bill for the feckless sud-Medders - are legal. Which they aren't since they have driven a horse and cart through the EU Treaty.

Abu Hamza - fuelled by hatred From: Marjorie. (08 Jul 2010 15:28):
Abu Hamza, the Egyptian born Islamic fundamentalist whose preaching of hatred and incitement to violence at a London mosque led to a 7 year UK jail sentence, has had his extradition to the USA on terrorist charges delayed by the EU Court of Human Rights. An American high security jail is a little too draconian for their delicate tastes - the judges I mean.
Born 15 April 1958, Hamza has a chart which reflects his embittered, hatred-fuelled temperament. His Aries Sun Mercury is in an unshakeably self-confident Fire Grand Trine to a bleak, unbudgeable Pluto in Leo trine Saturn in Sagittarius. He has awesome perseverance. What makes it worse is that his Pluto is in a can-be brutally ruthless opposition to Mars in uncompromising Aquarius. So Mars is the driving planet of one kite formed by the grand trine and two sextiles of Saturn to Mars, and Sun to Mars. Another Kite is formed by the Sun opposition Jupiter which is way-over-the-top optimistic and overly demanding. He's got a great deal of talent and energy which clearly regrettably he funnelled into the wrong aims. He has real entrepreneurial flare which could have made him very successful at more than whipping up hatred and sponging off social security.
He was born when Uranus was on the station to go direct in Leo. While not heavily aspected (only a potentially fanatical irrational square to Neptune) it would power up this revolutionary planet. When he first became interested in radical Islam in the early 1980s aged around 25, his Pluto, retrograde at birth, went direct by progression giving him a sense of where his power, influence and anger could be directed.
What is interesting in his Secondary Progressions is that his Progressed Mars was on the exact mid point of the Jupiter Pluto sextile, thus forming a yod when the first news of his extradition came up a couple of years back. When Yods constellate even by progression there is usually a fated change of life's direction. Mars inconjunct Pluto is stuck, frustrated, frightened. Mars inconjunct Jupiter suggests over confidence which back fires.
Whatever the European Human Rights judges say he doesn't have a happy time ahead. 2011 is frustrating and scary (SArc Pluto trine Mars); 11/12 are panicky and uncertain (SArc Neptune conjunct Saturn); 13/14 are a dead halt (SArc Pluto conjunct Sun); and 14/15 could be a complete meltdown as his SArc Saturn is conjunct his hugely emphasised and aspected Mars. Perhaps ending for ever his determination to get his own way.

Anna Chapman - from Russia with Love From: Marjorie. (08 Jul 2010 15:04):
The beautiful though unlikely Russian spy Anna Chapman being held in the US at the moment along with nine others appears to have been born on 28 Feb 1982 in Volgograd, Russia. There's a possibility that a swap may be done with Russia in return for US spies held in prison there.
She was born only six weeks after Kate Middleton and both have the ultra-determined Mars Saturn Pluto in Libra and the money-attracting Jupiter in Scorpio.
AnnaC has her Venus in upwardly-mobile Capricorn square Mars Saturn Pluto so emotionally she's fairly wild and wayout. Her Moon, if in Aquarius, will also trine Mars Saturn Pluto - giving her a really tough childhood and difficult relationships with both parents. Her Sun is in Pisces square Uranus so she's quite independent minded though also very very controlled.
She's also lucky with her Sun trine Jupiter and although there are a few hitches and glitches along the way of this year she also has positive transits to Jupiter midpoints and even better ones in 2011/12. So she'll probably duck out from under the worst that the US authorities had in mind.

Michael Flatley - a soaring Sun Moon From: Marjorie. (07 Jul 2010 14:13):
Michael Flatley, the Riverdance founder and star, is making a comeback after a nine year absence from the stage.
Born on 16 July 1958 11.55pm Chicago, IL, USA he's certainly got a performer's chart. He was always described as a supreme egotist and flamboyant showman which his chart certainly reflects.
He has an enthusiastic 1st house Jupiter in Libra in an adventurous opposition to a dynamic Mars in Aries which both square onto a 10th house New Moon in Cancer. Sun in the 10th needs a public career as does Moon in the 10th - and he's got both, quadruply emphasised and boosted by that hyper-charged Jupiter Mars opposition. He's not well designed for life in retirement on the back seat.
He's also got a wide-ish entrepreneurial Fire Grand Trine of Mercury in Leo trine Saturn in Sagittarius trine Mars; formed into an even more talented Kite by a Saturn opposition Venus in Gemini. So Venus is the leading planet of all that fiery energy. Venus in Gemini is light hearted, a social butterfly, often around in the pop music business. And as if that wasn't enough he's got a ruthlessly determined Mars trine Pluto.

He had an odd major illness landing him in hospital for a spell just after his marriage in 2006 which he insists a faith healer cured. That was when tr Uranus was opposition his Solar Arc Sun Moon and shaking his entire Jupiter Mars Sun Moon T square. Tr Saturn was also conjunct his Solar Arc Midheaven and tr Pluto aiming to trine his Mars - slowing him down considerably.

He has already got into the punishing training schedule for his comeback in Europe but whether he'll be able to keep up the pressure is doubtful. He has tr Saturn heading below his Libra Ascendant come this autumn which is generally a time when overwork isn't a good idea or possible as energy levels fall. Plus he has tr Neptune conjunct his Solar Arc Midheaven in 2011/12 which is not a success significator. His Solar Arc Pluto will conjunct his Jupiter by 2012 which could bring financial success and confidence; but since it will also square his Moon Sun and pull in the opposition to his Mars - it could also stop him from performing.

Lindsay Lohan - numbers and fate From: Marjorie. (07 Jul 2010 13:59):
Lindsay Lohan was in tears as she was given a 90 day prison sentence for breaching the conditions of her parole for a 2007 drug offence by not attending all the alcohol education classes.
Born on 2 July 1986 she's a Sun Cancer in an escapist opposition to Neptune in Capricorn, and a controlled/controlling trine Pluto in Scorpio. She's also got an indulgent Taurus Moon and a well intentioned though head-in the-clouds Jupiter in Pisces.
She's under a good deal of pressure obviously this year and next with the tr Pluto square tr Saturn hard aspecting her Neptune which is confusing, uncertain and will feel fairly devastating. Then tr Saturn starts to square her Sun this autumn onwards which is a reality check. Tr Pluto tr Uranus hard aspect her Sun come 2012/13, tho' they'll pick up the Sun/Neptune midpoint before then which will have much the same muddling effect. She's got a fair way to go to get her life onto an even track.
She does have three obvious semi-semi-sextiles (15 degrees) in her chart - Mercury Venus, Saturn Uranus and Neptune Mars; plus exact semi-sextiles of Saturn Neptune, Uranus Mars and Pluto Saturn; sextile of Neptune Pluto; and trines of Mercury Saturn, Venus Uranus. 4 and 19 degrees are very marked in her chart with four planets at 4 degrees and three planets at 19 degrees (maybe four with the Moon if she's just before mid day birth). This gives her a truly difficult 12th Harmonic chart with a Uranus Venus Mars opposition Pluto Mercury Neptune Saturn square North Node. The 12th is supposed to be a relatively positive Harmonic but she's clearly struggling to get to where she needs to be.
And there's a wide-ish Yod of Mars sextile Jupiter inconjunct Venus which gives her strains around her emotions and presenting herself in a socially acceptable way. A focal point Venus in a Fixed sign is also inclined to indulgence.

Cheryl Cole - struggling along a bumpy road From: Marjorie. (07 Jul 2010 11:38):
Cheryl Cole according to her publicist had been taking the malaria pills but they don't always work. It can be more serious than it sounds so it's understandable she's in hospital.
Health is usually flagged up by 6th house activity or pressure on the Moon (= body) and by frustration or depression influences. She's got nothing much around the 6th house though she does have tr Pluto just off the square to her Solar Arc Moon, returning on and off till late 2011 - so it is a pressured time for her as far as body, family, emotional, mother issues are concerned. And tr Saturn returns to the opposition to her Moon in early Sept. From that you could surmise that her health and her relationship break up is all part and parcel of a difficult two years.
She also has tr Saturn square her Descendant at the moment affecting her public appearances; and tr Uranus returns to square her Descendant/Asc in Sept and again early 2011. So a very changeable and tense time.

Plus tr Saturn square her Mars (impatience at setbacks) in Aug this year and a downbeat tr Saturn square her Cancer Sun in Oct.

Plus she has difficult transits to midpoints - exactly now she's got tr Pluto conj Moon/Saturn (physically and emotionally down) and tr Pluto square Sun/Neptune (confusing and uncertain) and tr Pluto trine Sun/Saturn (setbacks, real slog). There are humps and bumps into the autumn and into 2011 as well.

So not an easy patch for her which will be health plus other factors.

Chelsea and Marc - the USA's Royal Wedding From: Marjorie. (06 Jul 2010 13:58):
Chelsea Clinton is to marry Marc Merzvinsky if reports are to be believed on 31 July. The run up to that is going to be fraught with an explosive, disruptive Mars opposition Uranus the day before; plus a Saturn opp Uranus, Jupiter square Pluto just before that and a Saturn Mars conjunction on the day itself. Stresses, strains, bad temper, accidents, changes of plan. A few people throwing their weight around with Jupiter Pluto. Doesn't sound tranquil.
Chelsea, born 27 Feb 1980 11.24pm Little Rock, AR, US is a private, home loving 4th house Sun Pisces (though she'll want to be in charge there) opposition a confidently ambitious Mars Jupiter in Virgo in her 10th. She has a much travelled 9th house Leo Moon which will prompt her to live abroad at some point in her life, plus an upfront fiery Venus in Aries. And an uncompromisingly independent, go-her-own-way Uranus in the 1st just below her Scorpio Ascendant. Her Venus is in a possessive opposition to Pluto in her 12th so she'll be controlling in a subtle, behind-the-scenes kind of way.
Marc born 15 Dec 1977 is a Sun Sagittarius with Venus Neptune also in Sagittarius trine Mars in Leo so he's definitely fiery. He's also subtly controlling with his Mars trine Venus Neptune Sun having Pluto on the midpoint/sextile of that. He has a happy-home Jupiter in Cancer in an expansive opposition to Mercury. He may have a Pisces or Aquarius Moon opp Saturn.
Her Leo Moon and Venus in Aries do connect well with his Sagittarius planets though it'll be noisy with her Moon conjunct his Mars. And if he was born after 10 in the morning and is a Pisces Moon then his Moon will be conjunct her Sun which is good.
The problems may come from his hard working, nit-picky Saturn in Virgo conjunct her Mars Jupiter opp her Sun which will damp down her enthusiasm somewhat. And her Saturn is also square his Sun so it'll work in the opposite direction as well. I suspect with all that Saturn it's a marriage where work is going to play a central role and get in the way. Though she's very used to that scenario from her childhood.
Their relationship chart has an expansive though possibly also extravagant and over hopeful composite Sun opposition Jupiter; a passionate Venus trine Pluto; and a rather super-charged Venus opp Mars square Uranus (perhaps opp Moon) which suggest an unconventional marriage in which both need a fair amount of space.
Chelsea's about-to-be new father-in-law Ed Mezvinsky, an ex Democrat Congressman served seven years in prison for financial fraud, getting out in 2008. Born on 17 Jan 1937 he's very unlike his son mercifully and has quite a chart. His Sun is in materialistic Capricorn opposition a controlling Pluto which is widely square a Mars in determined Scorpio opposition Uranus in Taurus. So he definitely likes his own way and is quite a risk-taker. His Jupiter in money-attracting Capricorn is trine/sextile Uranus Mars. He has the generational creative/neurotic Neptune in Virgo opp Saturn (and Venus) in Pisces square NNode in Sagittarius.

Simon Bolivar - a Cardinal Grand Square plus plus plus From: Marjorie. (05 Jul 2010 18:30):
Another Cardinal Grand Square of a very definite variety on the angles belonged to Simon Bolivar, regarded in Latin America as a hero, visionary, revolutionary and liberator. In the early Nineteenth Century he led Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in most of Hispanic America. He was highly educated and enlightened, a supporter of the American and French Revolutions and staunchly anti-slavery.
Born on 24 July 1783 at 10pm in Caracas, Venezuela, he had a fractured childhood with his military father dying when he was three and his mother when he was nine.
He was a 5th house Sun Leo so flamboyant and quite a showman with his Sun in a determined opposition to Pluto. But it is his Saturn in Capricorn conjunct his Midheaven opposition Uranus Mercury in Cancer on the nadir/IC square Mars in Aries conjunct his Ascendant opposition Neptune conjunct his Descendant which really defines his life.
Saturn in Capricorn hints at a difficult early life and conjunct his Midheaven would make him a good organiser, suited to executive power. His courageous and reckless Mars in Aries on his Asc would make him forceful and square Uranus no stranger to danger and keen to take risks. Visionary Neptune added into the Grand Square would focus his energies towards fulfilling his dream. Though with that mix of planets he could also have turned out rather nasty. His communicative 3rd house Gemini Moon squared onto a Venus in Virgo opposition Pisces North Node - again hinting at his need to be fulfilled through public service and acclaim.
He's also got an Earth Grand Trine of Jupiter trine Venus trine Chiron in Taurus. With his Chiron in a tight sextile to his Pisces North Node so again his faith in his actions proved a healing source.
He also has a Mystic Rectangle - two sextiles, two oppositions and two trines. Mars sextile Pluto and Neptune sextile Sun; with Sun opp Pluto and Neptune opp Mars; and Neptune trine Pluto and Sun trine Mars. This configuration is not easy to handle since the oppositions tend to send the individual one to one extreme or the other. But he clearly found a way of balancing them to work together.
What an interesting chart.

Elena Kagan - a Uranian Taurus From: Marjorie. (05 Jul 2010 09:40):
Elena Kagan is Barack Obama's choice for the Supreme Court. She's right-ish though a firm advocate of gay rights, is unmarried and has never been a judge.

Born on 28th April 1960 she has quite a chart. She has a stalwart Taurus Sun in an Earth Grand Trine to Pluto in Virgo trine Jupiter in Capricorn so is very practical, earthy obviously, good with money I'd imagine. Her Sun is also in a close opposition to Neptune making that an even more talented Kite with visionary Neptune as the driving planet.

She's also got a disciplined, hard working Saturn in Capricorn sextile Mars in a wid-ish Yod to Uranus; with Uranus also the focal point of a Fixed T square onto that Sun opposition Neptune - so she's innovative but in a less disruptive way with Uranus being in Fixed signs, so just steady pressure for the changes she considers important. The Yod focal point Uranus(bit out of orb) will make her a catalyst and a trailblazer. From her wiki entry I gather she insisted her local synagogue gave her a bat mjitvah, the female version of a bar mitvah, the first they had ever done in the way she wanted. She was described then as 'strong minded and independent' which rather covers a strong Uranus.

Her feisty Venus Mercury in Aries are rather damped down by a square to Saturn. Her Gemini Moon may be square Pluto and could be sextile Uranus, even square Mars - so emotionally she's quite variable.

At the moment she's got tr Pluto conjunct her Jupiter and trine Pluto - two legs of the Grand Trine - and definitely looking successful. In general this year and next she's progressing well with tr Pluto sextile Sun/Jupiter as well. Admittedly tr Saturn will also square her Jupiter in late August which will be a setback and late October doesn't look too chirpy on the job front either. Depends really when the decision is made but she looks much more successful rather than less.

World Cup - speculative astrology From: Marjorie. (05 Jul 2010 09:14):
I gather from the headlines we're now down to four for the World Cup Football - Uruguay, Germany, Spain, Netherlands.
This is hardly serious astrology - but on the astrocartography of the initial World Cup opening chart - Uruguay has Venus in the 1st conj Asc and Germany has Venus in the 10th conj MC. Netherlands and Spain also have Venus in the 10th. Venus certainly brings popularity.
Looking at the country charts since major sporting wins usually bring an upswing of euphoria which does register - Uruguay has tr Jupiter conjunct its Pluto which is definitely good news, confident and enthusiastic. And Germany probably is also in a decidedly gung ho mood over the final. Spain has a fainter though also cheerful/minorly successful tr to a Jupiter midpoint.

Netanyahu v Obama - different tactics From: Marjorie. (05 Jul 2010 09:06):
Barack Obama will have another go tomorrow at trying to persuade Benjamin Netanyahu to halt settlement building in an effort to progress the pre-pre-pre-Peace Talks with the Palestinians.
Relations between the two countries have sunk to a new low in recent times though Israel in typically bull-necked fashion is refusing to budge.
This time round Netanyahu has been invited to stay in the inner sanctum in the White House so no doubt there's an attempt to see if charm plus force works better than just putting the Presidential foot down which has clearly not registered.

The Obama/Netanyahu relationship chart has an argumentative Mercury Mars conjunction which has been stressed earlier this year and will be again over the coming New Year and through 11/12. But all that's showing at present are transits to the composite midpoints which indicate huge frustration (tr Pluto trine Mars/Pluto) and confusion, disappointment and plans not working out (tr Pluto square Mars/Neptune).

On the USA/Israel relationship chart there is emotional intensity and a good deal of pushing and pulling with tr Pluto opp the composite Venus now and again in Oct/Nov and tr Pluto opposing Mercury Aug to Oct which will lead to major arguments with both sides standing firm. There could be a real low through Aug 2010 as tr Saturn is conjunct the composite Jupiter Neptune and then squares Mercury Venus - so a wider gap and less friendly mood. Where the US/Isr relationship chart gets really strung out is in 2011 as tr Uranus opposes that over-idealised Jupiter Neptune and squares Mercury Venus. So the pressure will be kept up.

The Israel country chart is emotionally fairly intense and anguished with tr Pluto conjunct the Solar Arc Moon this month into July and on and off through later this year and 2011; as well as tr Pluto opposition Venus which has much the same effect - and will give Israel serious worries about its fading popularity (Venus). And tr Neptune returns to oppose their Mars thro' 2011, continuing the sinking, panicky mood of this year.

India - facing pressures but staying afloat From: Marjorie. (04 Jul 2010 12:20):
India's economy is growing at a rate which must make the US and Europe green with envy though as Mark says (in New Topics) with all manner of accompanying problems - of rampant inflation, bureaucratic muddles, widening inequalities etc etc.
With the Sun and four other planets including Saturn Pluto in Leo and Jupiter in Scorpio it is a fixed country where change will only come after considerable pressure.
But as far as the impending global economic hiatus is concerned it may fare better than most. It does admittedly have Mars at 0 degrees Cancer in the 2nd house (personal finances) square a 5th house (speculation) Neptune at 8 Libra - so it won't escape entirely the coming tr Uranus opp Mars in 10/11 which is highly insecure; tr Saturn square Mars in late July 10 which will be a financial setback; then tr Saturn conjunct Neptune in that tricky Oct/Nov period this year which seems to be showing up on a good many of the finance charts as a definite roadblock.
But it is buoyed up by transits to Jupiter midpoints through 10/11/12. It may, of course, overstep the mark with tr Pluto square Sun/Jupiter in 10/11 which will send inflation soaring even higher. But there'll be lucky breaks in 11/12 with tr Pluto trine Jupiter/Uranus.
The Reserve Bank of India has a 10 degree Aries Sun (opp Mars at 18 Libra widely square Pluto at 23 Cancer) so it'll will be under pressure to control the internal financial situation in India between this Oct and mid 2011. And it also has in 10/11 tr Pluto sextile Saturn so it will be trying to pull back rather than letting expansion get out of control.
Where the real problems will come is 2013/14 as tr Pluto and tr Uranus hard aspect the Res Bank Sun which will cause major upheavals and require a considerable change in outlook. By that time the Solar Arc Pluto is also in opposition to the Res Bank Sun which is a complete standstill.
And the India country chart also shows up 2012/13 as a time when the financial pressures will really bite with tr Pluto and tr Uranus in hard aspect to their Neptune - which will be panic and confusion, some kind of a meltdown.
But for all that I do still reckon India will manage better than some. This is just speculation on my part but I think that tr Pluto through the 8th of a country (as opposed to a personal) chart does indicate increasing prosperity. India has Pluto in the 8th until early in the next decade. Though they can't escape entirely since their economic growth is dependent on other countries investing and buying which can't happen if there's a general economic downturn.

Serena Williams - flying high From: Marjorie. (04 Jul 2010 10:52):
Serena Williams won the Women's Finals at Wimbledon. Just a brief note on the influences giving her that added boost. She had tr Jupiter sextile her Jupiter/MC and tr Pluto square her Moon/Jupiter. Tr Pluto was also square her Libra Sun but with tr Jupiter rapidly approaching the opposition to her Sun there was a resoundingly confident tr Jupiter square tr Pluto in aspect to her Sun.
With sporting and political wins there's usually some Jupiter in there providing a lift.
26 Sep 1981 8.28pm Saginaw, MI, US

Afshan Azad - stuck between a rock and a hard place From: Marjorie. (04 Jul 2010 10:44):
Afshan Azad, the actress who appeared in the Harry Potter films was evidently attacked by her father and brother because of her relationship with her boyfriend. They appeared in court a few days ago charged with threatening to kill her. Her family is Bengali in origin.
Born on 12 February 1988 she's a Sun Mercury in Aquarius with a wide square to controlling Pluto in Scorpio. Though more pointedly she has an awkward Mars Saturn Uranus conjunction in Sagittarius sextile her Sun. Mars aspects often point to the father or masculine influences. Mars Saturn can be cruel, add in Uranus and it becomes disruptive, volatile, explosive. Her Moon is also in Sagittarius.
Luckily her confident Jupiter in Aries is sextile her Sun and trine those Sagittarius planets which will give her the resilience to bounce back.
If she was born around mid day then tr Pluto is conjunct her Solar Arc Moon this year which would make sense. Tr Uranus opp tr Saturn has also been in square to her Uranus Saturn Mars in recent times and tr Uranus stays there till early 2011 so it is a difficult time for her of pulling away from the past. Plus tr Pluto is now square her Venus in Aries at the moment which will be emotionally intense.
She evidently wants the charges dropped so is stuck in the classic abusive family dilemma - she can't live with them and can't live without them.
If it was an attempted 'honour killing' and the circumstances are unclear it might bring some welcome media spotlight onto a difficult problem in immigrant families and indeed abroad where such practices still go on.
Although it is almost impossible for westerners to grasp the mindset behind them it is implicit in the old enmeshed patriarchal family cultures which still exist. Indeed which existed in the west two hundred years ago. I've come across it doing chart readings in India and it is most strange. Individuals (usually men) feel at a highly personal level that it is their own identity and reputation which is being attacked if a female member of the family misbehaves. Nowadays in the west if a family member misbehaves then everyone just raises an eyebrow and thinks 'every family has their black sheep/renegade' and no one fusses much.
Admittedly the family structure has almost broken down in the west which has its downside but at least there isn't this extraordinarily draconian set up where everyone has to stay within the ring fence of that particular family's value system - from which the entire family appears to take its identity.

Paris Hilton - looking for a goal From: Marjorie. (03 Jul 2010 14:59):
Paris Hilton, an icon for a society fixated on empty celebrity, bling and all things disposable, has been had a drugs possession charge dropped in South Africa. She was there, one assumes, more to follow the media spotlight than for the football.
Born on 17 Feb 1981 at 3 am New York, she has a very Airy chart with her Sun, Mercury, Venus in Aquarius and Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto in Libra with a 'five-star lifestyle' Leo Moon. Venus in Aquarius or Gemini tend to be the social butterflies of the zodiac and she has it in spades with her Venus opposition Moon North Node and trine a 10th house wannabe influential Pluto. Her Pluto also trines her Sun Mercury, with Neptune on the Ascendant as a midpoint to that trine. So she likes to create an aura of mystique(Nep on Asc) behind which she can be fairly controlling.
She also has a Yod of Jupiter Saturn in Libra sextile Moon NNode in Leo inconjunct (150 degrees) Mars in Pisces. A Yod brings strain, a sense of not being quite in tune with herself or what's around her. And a focal point Mars gives her hyper-manic energy but tending to go off in all directions without much focus or sense of real purpose.
Usually Yods bring about unforeseen circumstances which force or present the individual with an opportunity to get onto a more focussed track where they finally feel they've found themselves. But it does require a breaking away from old securities. Though Bil Tierney says: " A mismanaged Yod could result in fateful consequences - due to rash or disruptive actions."
Usually Yods are triggered when one end is mobilised by strong transits. Her focal point Mars is at 9 Pisces which will get the tr Pluto sextile in 2012; and tr Pluto and tr Uranus will both hard aspect her Jupiter Saturn on one leg of the Yod also by 2012/13. By that time her Mars has moved by Solar Arc to pick up the tr Pluto tr Uranus hard aspects as well. So her life will change radically over the next two or three years. And there may be hints of it sooner when tr Saturn opposes her Solar Arc Mars come this autumn.
In any event this year and next are slipping sliding years with tr Neptune conjunct her Sun Mercury and square Uranus.
With an 8th house Moon NNode she's also likely to be embroiled at certain points in her life with financial tugs-of-war.

Robert Byrd - moving with the times From: Marjorie. (03 Jul 2010 14:16):
Robert Byrd, the longest serving Senator/lawmaker in the US has died aged 92. Born 20 Nov 1917 at 2pm Wilkesboro, NC, USA he came from poor beginnings, fostered out to an aunt after his mother died when he was one. He started his political career in 1946 and became a Senator in 1959 and served ever since.
He had a 9th house Sun in Scorpio and Mercury in Sagittarius so was well suited to the arena of law and giving him an overview of society. His Mercury was in an exact (to one minute) opposition to a confidently communicative Jupiter in Gemini in the 3rd squaring onto an impatient, rather scattered, hard working, meticulous Mars in Virgo in the 6th.
His Aquarius Moon was conjunct Uranus and opposition Neptune Saturn in Leo - a fair description of his muddled, motherless childhood - though that opposition also was sextile/trine his Midheaven so he'd channel his energies towards his career. He also had a trapped Pluto in the 4th house of childhood.
His Capricorn North Node was in the 10th opposition Pluto so again he pulled away from his difficult early beginnings to make his career in public life.
Despite early leanings towards the Klux Klux Klan and anti-civil rights he did shift in time to a much more moderate outlook - perhaps a reflection of his Sun square Uranus which has a habit of flipping in outlook.

Robert Pattinson - born with a Jupiter spoon From: Marjorie. (03 Jul 2010 13:42):
Robert Pattinson the English actor (Harry Potter, Twilight), model, musician was born on 13 May 1986 at 8.32 am London England. He's on a roll at the moment and does have a lucky chart.
His Jupiter in Pisces in his 10th conjunct his Midheaven certainly marks him out as having a lucky career and a solid reputation. His Jupiter MC trine a Cancer Ascendant and 12th house Cancer Moon which in turn trines Pluto in Scorpio. So it's a creative Water Grand Trine, formed into an even more talented Kite with Moon Ascendant opp Neptune Mars in Capricorn. The orbs are wide for some of that but it gives a general feel - of a motivated and artistic temperament.
His Saturn in the 5th suggests a later career as an organiser/producer as well as a front of camera type.
His friendly 11th house Taurus Sun is in a mini Grand Trine wit Sun trine Mars, sextile Jupiter - so again he's got all the right energies working for him. He's also got a 12th house Venus opposition Uranus so perhaps emotionally rather fickle and quite hidden.
He's clearly multi-talented and would I imagine be around for a long time with tr Saturn now only in his 4th so long ways to go. Maybe a great love in four years time when his Prog/SArc Sun is conjunct his Venus but then the Prog Sun opposes Uranus - so may be not too long lived.
He's also got a tricky patch in four/five years time with his Solar Arc Saturn conjunct his 6th house Neptune and his SArc Uranus conjunct his 7th house Mars - health, work and close partnerships causing him concern.

UK politics - sliding and stuck From: Marjorie. (03 Jul 2010 13:22):
A referendum on a new AV voting system in the UK will take place on May 5th next year. It isn't full proportional representation which tends to favour a party rather than an individual but may be fairer than first past post (as far as I understand it which isn't too far.)
What's around on May 5 is a stuck Saturn square Pluto, with a controlling Sun trine Pluto and a disruptive Pluto square Uranus plus an upbeat Mars Jupiter in Aries - so you can take your pick. I'd be inclined to suspect NO will be the answer. The UK's 11th house Saturn in Leo which represents the legislature has nothing much aspecting it - and is anyway like the UK very fixed and thus slow to change. Tr Pluto is at that point exactly square the UK Ascendant heading towards the nadir/IC which again feels very stuck.
I would think with tr Saturn also just past the square to the UK Sun most people will think there are other things to worry about.

Just to catch up on David Cameron. He has that panicky, failure-ridden tr Neptune opposition his Mars again late July/ Aug 2010 and repeating for the final time in Jan 2011; with tr Neptune conjunct his Solar Arc Sun into 2011/12. So he's feeling none too solid.
His Government chart will get a shudder of instability or discomfort from mid Aug through to October as the wobbly Saturn opposition Uranus is constellated with tr Uranus back to its' natal position.
The LibDems who are propping up the Coalition to the greater personal glory of Nick Clegg and the discomfiture of most Liberals who dislike Tory policies, are an unhappy bunch throughout. The original Liberal Party chart (31 May 1877) works best for them though the LibDem (7 March 1988) is also OK. The Liberal chart showed huge anger through June with the Coalition coming together and Osborne's Budget slicing thro' their Manifesto policies. That repeats off and on - Dec 10 and thro' 11 as well. Plus as very slumped tr Neptune conjunct Mars come Sept/Oct/Dec 2010. The 1988 chart indicates divisions in 2010; jolts and slumps in 2011; and outright devastation come 2012/13. They may come to regret this exercise. How to lose out while winning power.

Al Gore - shining white and beyond reproach From: Marjorie. (02 Jul 2010 16:45):
What a strange tale of stuffy, uptight Al Gore. Whatever possessed him to ask for a massage at 11pm at night given his high public profile. It was asking for trouble given the propensity in the US for suing or selling to the tabloids.
And at the end of the day it's one of these he-said, she-said situations. So who'd know? It does sound odd. I can't imagine a late night masseuse would be that vaporous or unused to advances.

His chart does have a tactile Venus in Taurus so he'd probably like massages. His Venus is square Mars which can sometimes go in for purely sexual gratification and isn't always sensitive about 'the other'. But you couldn't pronounce him guilty on that score.
He does have tr Saturn conjunct his Neptune and opposition his Sun this autumn which is a downer and rather panicky. And tr Neptune is square his 10th house Venus in Sept, Oct, Dec which could arguably undermine his reputation and diminish his reputation -though that needn't necessarily be about this. In general he's seeing high hopes come down in 10/11 though that could also be the flagging climate change campaign. Plus of course tr Pluto conjunct and tr Saturn square his Moon which will be emotionally difficult at the moment and till late year.

The massage which turned into an alleged situation was on 24 Oct 2006 when comically there was an exact sexy and intense passionately Venus Mars Sun conjunction in Scorpio falling in Al Gore's Solar 8th house and trine his Mars/NNode midpoint. Venus Mars Sun were moving through his natal 4th house of emotional roots and security; vague Neptune was in his 7th house of marriage and partnerships, attention-seeking Pluto was in his 5th and experimental Uranus in his 8th. You could write a novel about that but I'd better not since he may well be as pure as the driven snow.

Mel Gibson - at boiling point From: Marjorie. (02 Jul 2010 11:11):
In Mel Gibson's heyday as Hollywood's golden boy, happy family man etc etc I used to look at his chart and wonder what on earth he did with all that extraordinarily heavy and difficult energy in his chart.

Born on 3 Jan 1956 4.45pm Peekskill, NY, US he's a Sun Capricorn with Moon in Libra. The eye-catcher however is a fearsome 5th house Mars Saturn in Scorpio square Pluto Jupiter. It does make sense of a financially successful entertainment career playing violent heroes. But it clearly also operates in his personal life and indeed personality. Following on from his anti-semitic rant at police when they stopped him on a drink drive offence a couple of years back, he's now embroiled in yet more accusations of racism and aggressive behaviour as he splits from his girlfriend Oksana, mother of his latest baby.

My reckoning was the rot set in when he made his bloody and sadistic the Passion of Christ. At that point his Mars Saturn had moved by Solar Arc to straddle his Capricorn Sun. So arguably unleashing all of his deep seated and really brutal aggression, sanitised as a religious epic.
Mars aspects often say a good deal about the father and Hutton Gibson (26 Aug 1918) is super-religious, a conspiracy theorist, a holocaust denier and holds extreme views abut the Catholic Church Not quite on the same planet as the rest of us by the sound of it. A Mars Saturn Jupiter Pluto father is something to be on the receiving end of!
HuttonG is a Sun Virgo on the point of a mini Grand Trine to a powerfully confident Jupiter Pluto in Cancer trine Mars in Scorpio - so ego-centred (emphasised Sun) and ferociously determined (Pluto trine Mars in Scorpio). He's also got an autocratic, contradictory Saturn opposition the singleton Uranus on the handle of a bucket chart - so a maverick. Plus Mars square Neptune Venus in Leo, possibly Mars opp Taurus Moon so emotionally volatile, confused and confusing.
HuttonG's pushy Jupiter Pluto opposes MelG's Capricorn Sun so there are definite control issues. And his Uranus opposes Mel's Pluto and squares Mars Saturn which would be a quite explosive combination if it weren't all so locked down by that Mars Saturn Pluto in Fixed signs. But there's a huge powder keg of resentment in there which I suspect has never and will never be addressed, hence perhaps Mel's alcoholic tendency.
At the moment Mel's Moon has moved by Solar Arc to conjunct his Mars two years back when he divorced and first started to go seriously off the rails. The SArc Moon will square his Pluto in two or three years time before being conjunct his Saturn the year after. So he's got a long haul of extreme emotional tension. The pressure cooker inside him is going to continue to boil over.

Kelsey Grammer - Cardinal Grand Square in action From: Marjorie. (02 Jul 2010 09:31):
Kelsey Grammer (21 Feb 1955) now divorcing from his third wife has a Cardinal Grand Square in his chart of Mars in Aries opposition Neptune square Jupiter Uranus in Cancer opposition Venus. Cardinal Grand Square individuals tend to have event filled, very restless lives with revolving crises. But it can produce some very successful people. The 1930 Cardinal Grand Square - Saturn opp Jupiter Pluto square Uranus opposition ? produced Sean Connery plus many other stalwarts of the business and political world.

KelseyG (Cheers & Frasier) is a Sun Pisces, with Moon in Aquarius probably opposition Pluto square Saturn in Scorpio which would certainly point to a very bleak emotional and family life. His Sun is also opposition Pluto. His Mars in Aries is very heavily aspected being trine Pluto as well as square Uranus and opposition Neptune which might be a pointer to the major tragedies of his life.
His parents split early and his father whom he barely knew was murdered when tr Saturn was conjunct his Mars in Aries putting discouraging influence right round his Cardinal Grand Square. With tr Neptune conjunct his Saturn in Scorpio (square Moon opp Pluto) - so a real shock, setback and highly confusing.
When his sister was raped and murdered in 1975 tr Saturn had moved a quarter cycle to be in Cancer conjunct his Jupiter Uranus, again shaking his Grand Square; with tr Uranus conjunct his Neptune doing the same. When his half twin brothers were killed by a shark tr Pluto was then in Libra square his Jupiter Uranus and again putting immense pressure on his T square.
On Solar Arcs when his sister was killed his SArc Mars opp Neptune was at 17/18 degrees Taurus/Scorpio so I would hazard a guess that would be squaring his Aquarius Moon, putting his birth time around 3am. That would put Pluto in the 8th and Mars in Aries in the 4th which feels about right. With a Capricorn Asc and Venus in the 1st and Neptune in the 10th. When his brothers were killed tr Uranus was conjunct his SA Neptune which was conjunct his natal Saturn.
At the moment he has his Solar Arc Saturn moving to conjunct his Venus which is emotionally downbeat. More pointedly he has his natal Sun opposition Pluto now moved by Solar Arc to hard aspect his Cardinal Grand Square. So another life changing and probably unwanted change.

Cardinal Climax From: Marjorie. (02 Jul 2010 09:18):
This is the March post on the Cardinal Climax.
Around about Aug 7th this year Saturn, Venus, Mars will be in Libra opposition Uranus Jupiter in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn (& NNode in Cap) and opp Moon in Cancer.
It's a rather mind boggling collection to interpret. And the wild card is Jupiter which could actually produce good news. If you strip Jupiter out it's Uranus opp Saturn Mars square Pluto which is seriously unfun - accident prone, violent, domineering, ruthless, stuck.
Admittedly Mars opposition Jupiter can lead to acts of self-righteous over confidence. The Afghanistan War was launched on a Jup opp Mars square Sun and the Iraq Attack on a Mars quincunx Jupiter. And Jupiter square Pluto can also be pushy, uncaring about other people's rights.
The Saturn opp Uranus square Pluto is all in Cardinals for the first time and fairly close at that point - it runs on thro' 2011 so there will be continuing effects. In many ways the height of the Cardinal Climax will be around the July 2011 Solar Eclipse with the New Moon in Cancer opp Pluto square Saturn opp Uranus which could produce more major events.
Looking back the triple conjunction of Saturn Uranus Pluto in the mid 19th Century in Aries/Taurus produced the 'year of revolutions' in 1848 as Europe went into revolt. This conjunction launched the Second French Empire under Louis Napoleon; and the unification of modern Germany effectively began then. The seeds of Communism were sown with Marx and Engels in full flood. The start of the liberation of the serfs in Russia really kicked off in the aftermath leading eventually to the Russian Revolution 70 years later. China was also in internal revolt over corruption.
The previous triple conjunction of Saturn Uranus Pluto around 1713 in Virgo brought a balance of power and economic growth to Europe with the Age of Enlightenment dawning which brought scientific progress, the breakdown of old beliefs and arts and culture flourished. Plus rebellions around the globe.
I'd expect to see more of the Greek-type street riots in various countries over the economic situation. And there is a good deal on the financial charts pointing to this October as being a tipping point in t