Huge underground water supply found under the deserts of Namibia.

I love astrology!! From my last post where in China they are having too much water and rain falling on them causing floods to this story from the deserts of Namibia. Scientists have found a huge underground store of water, such a precious commodity in dry countries sitting deep under the Northern Namibian desert. Apparently there is so much sitting there in this aquifer, that it could supply the north of the country for 400 years!!

 

The natal Namibian chart has the Sun in the 4th house of Sagittarius so this country relies on the land (4th house). This is a vast harsh, environment  - Jupiter and Saturn is in Virgo in the first house square to the natal Sun and it is difficult to ply an existence where drought and lack of rain makes life hard. The country also relies on mining and its underground resources, and Pluto in the 10th house of national reputation quindecile to the Sun and Taurus (the planet of resources) on the cusp of the 9th house signifying international trade shows this clearly. With Uranus and the Moon together in the 6th house of routine, you can see that the population (Moon) are in the majority (around 50%) derived from independent (Uranus) farmers.

Look at that Uranus, the planet of surprises in the 6th house. It sits quindecile to lucky expansive Jupiter and is at 2:17 Pisces, trine to Pluto the planet which signifies things hidden and underground. Today’s announcement happened as Neptune the planet of water at 2:36 Pisces connected conjunct to that Uranus, thus it activates that trine to Pluto and quindecile to Jupiter. The transiting Nodal Axis is also square this conjunction bringing fate and a change to the destiny of this barren country. It will irrevocably change the face of agriculture in Namibia which could bring new wealth and prosperity. Good luck to them…  

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China – Beijing deluged by worst floods for 60 years

In Beijing, the Chinese capital has been experiencing the worst rainfall in 60 years causing flash floods, wide scale damage and several people have been killed. According to the BBC roof collapses, lightning strikes and electrocution from downed power lines were among the causes of the deaths. If you look at the Chinese natal chart, this situation can be clearly seen.

Water and rain is ruled by Neptune so it here we look for the answers and they soon come. As you will be aware if you have been reading my posts recently, Neptune has been and still is in conjunction with fixed star Sadalmelek in the Urn of Aquarius the water bearer. In the UK we have floods and non stop rain for weeks and transiting Neptune was sitting bang on the UK Pluto, planet of excess of death and destruction. Guess what? On the Chinese chart transiting Neptune is now almost exactly quindecile Pluto, which of course is in conjunction natally with Mars which rather increases the energy up a notch or two. Quindeciles are focused aspects of obsession, rather like Pluto in nature. The two planets are just 4 minutes of a degree from an exact 165 degree quindecile, and right on cue as close contact was made the rain came down in torrents.

The flash nature of this event is seen by Neptune also being trine to the Chinese natal Uranus, the planet of shocks. Remember this degree 2:36 Pisces in relation to the Chinese chart. I bet you when Mars or Saturn or another malefic planet hits this point, something shocking will happen in China. It seems to me to be a vulnerable point which could trigger unexpected and maybe tragic events.

Elsewhere on this chart, the Chinese Sun is being battered by an opposition by Uranus and a square by Pluto – Pluto also opposes natal Uranus too and Mars has just moved over a conjunction with the Sun. Behind the scenes, I suspect things are happening in China at a top level. We won’t know exactly what as the natal Chinese Sun sits hidden away in the secretive 8th house, but keep your eyes open for any signs of a power struggle developing. Transiting Uranus and Pluto (the chart ruler) hitting that natal Sun through the rest of the year could indicate some sort of fundamental change and hints at rebellion and independent revolt.

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The stars over Aurora as the community mourns.

So often we astrologers look at the violent terrible events and then forget that life goes on after a tragedy and in the heavens, the stars reflect this too. I thought it pertinent mainly for my American readers to take a look at the stars after the dust has settled.

The main horoscope has not moved on much since a couple of days ago. The Moon representing the people and their emotions is now in Virgo for a day or so and the prevailing emotion will be one of service and of small individual tributes. A day of remembrance is planned for Sunday and this is in line with the general synopsis. The Moon will then progress into Libra and connect with Mars and the violent t-square that was such a part of the awful events of the past week all across the world. I suspect this conjunction will precipitate anger and a need in the community for action and controls to try, if it is possible, to prevent such a massacre happening again. Mercury is in trine with Uranus so bright ideas and new concepts can be found. It is interesting that both these planets are retrograde, as if you are revisiting old issues. With the Columbine massacre still fresh in the consciousness of many in the local community, indeed they are and maybe this time around pubic opinion will force the issue to change attitudes?

In such a country as America, where the right to defend oneself is enshrined within the constitution, how does one go about making the population more responsible in the use of firearms and violent weapons? In the UK where I live, we have rigidly strict gun licensing laws and many type of guns are completely banned, a result of two massacres we suffered too, in Dunblane in Scotland and in Hungerford. Our society has been so much safer since these laws were passed, gun crime is rare and the murder rate is thankfully very low in the UK, and maybe America should have a close look at the way we have dealt with these issues.

Back to the Astrology and a look at the fixed stars over Aurora at 39 degrees North today. The Sun is in paran with Vindemiatrix now, suggesting a gathering of people and it culminates as the star Al Rescha in Pisces is setting showing that one individual unites or polarizes society. The Moon on 22nd July culminates with Alkes, “The Sacred Cup”. Here is love and empathy for life and the living and for those who have passed and a time when one must focus on what can be saved from a situation. In the background, Mars sets with Zosma in Leo indicating having to work in very trying and difficult situations and dealing with suffering (I think of the police officers and hospital workers here too) and Saturn rises as Altair in Aquila (the Eagle) is  on the nadir, showing bravery and honour colouring the lives of many in the community. With Saturn conjunct Spica in the heavens, the leaders and those in authority should react carefully and appropriately, something which is really needed.

In this post I have tried to show that the stars and planets do not show doom and gloom all the time and they reflect the mood of the public before and after an event. A small snapshot for one place on earth at one very sensitive and particular moment in time. It’s going to be a long journey for the people of Colorado and of America to get over this horrid event, and I hope that they can react with restraint and with cool heads…

Link also to - The Aurora Cinema Massacre        The Astrology of James Eagan Holmes - The Aurora Shooter

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James Eagan Holmes – The astrology of the Aurora shooter.

Ok, details of this guy are a little sketchy but lets have a look at what we have and see if it pulls together. James Eagan Holmes is being held for the murder of 12 people and wounding of several more at the Aurora cinema (movie theatre) which was showing the latest Batman film, “the Dark Knight Rises”. He is now responsible for the worst mass shooting since the Virginia Tech massacre when there were 32 victims in April 2007, and this tragedy occurred very close to Columbine, which occurred in April 99 also in the state of Colorado in the United States.

Now to all reports, Holmes was born in San Diego, California on 13th December 1987 (no birth time yet available). This gives him a Sagittarian Sun, and more than likely a Virgo Moon. I say more than likely because so often the type of person who eventually seems to carry out these type of atrocities is emotionally repressed. By having a Virgo Moon Holmes would have this shy side about him and he would be unable to openly express feeling of love and affection. At the same time Virgo Moons are also unable to receive affection either, it is almost as if you don’t deserve such things and as a result the Virgo Moon person remains rather cold and aloof. Speculation I know, but I am confident that I am correct on this assumption. Crucially, if he did have a Virgo Moon as I think, then it would be square to a quadruple conjunction in Sagittarius of Uranus, Saturn the Sun and Mercury.

This conjunction is very repressive too. Sun Saturn is very harsh on oneself, and indicates that Holmes would have had a very strict and harsh father. This conjunction is like putting a brick wall in front the personality, one is sober, serious and very reserved. The presence of Uranus here brings perversity, a need for independence and creates the impression to me that this guy is very much a lone wolf. Because these three planets are in Sagittarius, we have someone who not only is a gambler but also has inclinations to shakes things up from time to time. That Uranus is a real wild card here, ready to upset the status quo. Mercury in this combination shows the effect these planets have on his mind. Mercury in Sagittarius has big plans, thinks big thoughts, it believes one can achieve anything one wants. How his character behaves is down as I see it to which planet was more dominant at the time, sober stable Saturn or rebellious, shocking Uranus – the one which was affecting his chart more at the time would hold sway. All these three hinge on those repressed emotions of the Virgo Moon, which in turn would affect his state of mind.

On the other side of the chart making a quadruple trine to this conjunction is Jupiter in Aries. You could not get a more positive place for Jupiter to be. Here is the belief that one’s actions will be successful, no doubt at all!! Jupiter trine the Sun is lucky and optimistic, trine to Saturn is constructive and good at planning, trine to Uranus is audacious and risky and trine to Mercury doubles the effect that one believes that one can achieve anything. There are also international desires here, as if ones ideas can be globally received.

Venus in Capricorn does not help things either on this rather repressed chart. Holmes would find love difficult to express and although he would crave it as much as anyone else, you could never tell because you appear so aloof and detached. This guy I think desperately wants to be loved. Now I also think he comes from a broken family. The Moon close to the Nodal axis shows a close tie to the Mother and the Sun representing the father being affected by independent Uranus and Saturn shows difficult tendencies. The Sun and Moon in this chart if I am right are square to each other which shows a rift between the parents. As such, I suspect he was rather dependent on his mother who would have been cold and rather unloving (Moon square Uranus/Saturn), and if he lacked a father figure to guide him too then that lack of love would be with him until this day.

I move on to the most shocking of all the aspect on this chart. The sextile between Neptune and a Mars/Pluto conjunction in Scorpio. Mars Pluto in Scorpio is such intense energy. Here is jealousy, dark underground thoughts, violent tendencies and huge determination. Many people have such a conjunction and it depends on the character of the person how this force of energy can be used. Often those with less repressed charts can use it constructively to achieve great things, but the possibility lies there to use it for more evil purposes. Recently I looked at Luka Magnotta the Canadian killer who murdered his victim in front of an internet camera. He also has a repressed chart and a close Mars/Pluto conjunction. Quite frighteningly, this Mars Pluto conjunction on Holmes is sextile to Neptune which rules creativity and the film industry. The signature of the massacre he carried out is sitting here clear as day. All it needed was to be activated.

Now, that Neptune in Capricorn was being conjunct by transiting Pluto in the couple of weeks and this week it was in the crosshairs of the Mars Uranus Pluto t-square formed in the universe, Mars and Uranus both being square to natal Neptune, triggering the natal sextile to Mars Pluto conjunction, the only aspect that Neptune makes.

Remember also that both Mercury and Uranus in the past week both went retrograde and both these planets sandwich the Saturn/Sun conjunction and potentially square that vulnerable Virgo Moon. Did something switch in his brain when Uranus and Mercury turned? Did a long held plan come together? Transiting Mercury at the time of the attack was exactly to the minute square to natal Pluto, the planet of death and destruction. With all the confidence of his Aries Jupiter (transiting Jupiter was quindecile his natal Sun so he would have felt exceptionally lucky) that nothing could go wrong, that he would make a international statement, that he would take a risk and shake up the status quo, that he would do something to provoke some attention on himself and maybe mistakenly be loved by some people, he entered the cinema…

Link also to - The Aurora Cinema Massacre

                      The stars over Aurora as the community mourns

***Please note that a few of the details (the position of the Moon) here are a touch speculative on my part***

Please keep any comments aimed at the astrology. I don’t mind people disagreeing with me, but please no obscenities. I have already had to block one comment because of unsuitable language, and I will continue to do so. Thank you…

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Bradley Wiggins – An Englishman winning the admiration of the French public.

I love the Tour de France. Three weeks of hell on a bicycle as around 200 supreme athletes race up impossibly steep roads, bash their bodies over cobbles and complete a lung busting circle around France of around 3000 km. These guys are brave, risking their lives as they hurtle down mountains, and totally mad for putting themselves through the pain barrier, all to achieve eventual glory on the grand boulevards of Paris. At the moment, the leader of the race and likely winner is an Englishman, Bradley Wiggins. For a Frenchman, the idea of an “Anglais” in the yellow jersey and winning their race for the first time must be a galling experience (sorry for the pun), however Bradley has, after a lot of scepticism, started to win over the doubters.

Bradley was born on 28th April 1980 in the cycling hotbed of Ghent in Belgium, however he moved with his mother back to the UK when only 2 years old after the split of his parents. Immediately if you look at the chart you can see why. His Sun sits peregrine alone in Taurus unconnected by any major aspect to any other planet. Whenever the Sun is disconnected from the rest of the chart, one knows that the mother and father split. There is further evidence here. The Sun is quindecile to independent Uranus, his father would have needed his own space and may have been a bit of a rebel and Saturn in retrograde, showing a lack of love from his father missing from his upbringing.

Bradley has taken this independent spirit with him through life from his father, he has his own style, his sideburns and though he dutifully does the requisite interviews as part of the race, one can see he doesn’t thoroughly enjoy his space being invaded by reporters. He is a Taurus and it does not surprise me that he is making his mark as he gets into his 30’s. Taureans take their time, won’t be hurried, but when they do achieve success, it is no flash in the pan and they can hold onto the top position for a long time. The last 18 months he has been peerless on a bicycle, and slowly but surely he is reaching his peak.

His Moon sits in Libra conjunct to Pluto, so there is an intense store of emotion within him as well as in intense hatred of anything which is not harmonious and in balance. This guy is a real idealist and he does suffer with huge worries and indecision, Moons in Libra just cannot make up their minds and emotionally it will tear them to pieces, but he can hide it behind that Pluto, at least until the emotions get to boiling point, and then the emotion will explode out like the proverbial volcano.

This is a fascinating chart. We have a mystic rectangle here connecting Moon Pluto in Libra, Venus in the sign of Gemini, Neptune in Sagittarius and Mercury in Aries. There is no aggression here except when Bradley speaks out, and he will speak his mind clearly and concisely. This is a peaceful man, a gentle yet passionate guy and a true winner. Why? That Mercury in Aries is the key. Mercury rules the 3rd house and transport in general, including bicycles. That Mercury is in the sporting sign of Aries and it picks up aspects from pretty much every planet going on this chart. It is also the point of a Yod connecting Uranus and Saturn (he has a dry and quirky sense of humour) and is part of a Mars/Jupiter North Node and Neptune grand fire trine. That Mars Jupiter and North Node sits on the fixed star Regulus, the sign of the king. He has luck on his side, is courageous and in battle he will be successful so long as he does not seek revenge for people who do him wrong. All that energy passes through that Mercury, his bike riding ability.

Uranus is trine to Jupiter and Mars so Bradley is severely impulsive, brave and can take too many risks. The saving grace of this aspect is that Jupiter is just into Virgo rather in Leo like Mars. this allows him to think strategically, to plan out the tiniest details so that success can be gained. This Jupiter in Virgo is modest in one’s achievements, and is happy for the overall success of any venture rather than for personal gain. He is a proper team man, and has a Musketeer spirit, of “all for one and one for all”.

Saturn in Virgo shows he has great attention to detail and is severely self-critical and he will suffer in relationships of all forms being square to Venus and Neptune. Maybe he can be too over-idealistic, too harsh on himself and this may take it’s toll, but victory in “Le Tour” will make up for a lot of heartbreak (Venus) and years of sacrifice (Neptune).

I look forward to history being made on the Champs Elysees on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd July 2012. I hope the French public will acclaim Bradley as the champion cyclist of the year, and give him the true adulation he so richly deserves.

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Aurora Batman Shooting – Another Mars, Uranus and Pluto event.

There has been a nasty shooting at the screening of the latest Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado. A young 24 year old, James Holmes, apparently opened fire at cinema goers during a shoot out scene in the film, letting off a smoke bomb and leaving 12 dead and 50 injured. Luckily he was arrested by local police before he could kill any more and is now in custody.

You know, I have been flagging up the possibility of this sort event happening on Solaris Astrology for a week or two now, and today unfortunately it occurred. The shooting was in no doubt caused by the Mars Uranus Pluto t-square which is now at probably it’s most potent point, all three planets around the 8 degree mark of cardinal signs. Mars was also trine to Jupiter and Venus which encourages risk taking and sextile to Mercury retrograde and the Moon so there was danger to the public, Uranus was also trine this conjunction so unexpected events could happen.

The key and the timing to why this event happened is due to Mars’ position in the sky. Mars was in paran with Deneb Agide which sits in Cygnus which encourages one to “act in accordance with their own principles”.  It was also conjunct to fixed star Vindemiatrix, which is quite a violent combination. Vindemiatrix was known by the Romans as the “grape picker” and is associated with taking action. Add to these star connections with Mars a connection to destructive Pluto and shocking Uranus and you have a combination that is deadly. Vindemiatrix is a star in the constellation Virgo which is activated by the Sun in late summer at the time of the harvest. At the harvest when you pick your grapes, you reap what you have sown, and likewise this young man will now pay a heavy price for the actions that he has carried out.

There were a couple of other star planet connections which tied this event to Denver at 39 degrees North. The Heliacal rising star for that latitude was Alhena which indicates that “People would be carried away with a mission or a cause”. Venus was last night in paran with star Bellatrix which indicates society having to deal with “a rogue”  and Mercury (also conjunct the Moon) was in paran with fixed star Hamal which Bernadette Brady indicates as bringing “jolting news”. All too true, and the poor people of Colorado after having had to deal with wildfires and destruction on a wide scale are now having to cope with this tragedy too.

My condolences go out to all the victims and families associated with this tragic event…

Link also to - The Astrology of James Eagan Holmes - The Aurora Shooter

                      The stars over Aurora as the community mourns

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Syria – Three of Assad’s inner circle killed in bomb blast.

Reports out of Damascus today say that 3 of the top members of President Assad’s inner circle were killed by a suicide bomber. President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Deputy Defence Minister Gen Asef Shawkat, as well as Defence Minister Gen Daoud Rajiha and former Defence Minister Hassan Turkomani were caught up in the blast severely weakening the hold of Assad over an increasingly militant and unsettled Syrian population.

The bomb blast occurred close to 10.00 in Damascus as Mars, Uranus and Pluto were approaching their closest connections in the rather deadly cardinal t-square formation that has been tightening in the past few days. In relation to the Syrian natal chart, the effects of the t-square is quite obvious. Mars, the trigger in all this was making a trine to the disruptive Mars/Uranus conjunction in the 8th house of death and destruction. The fact that Mars is passing through the Syrian 12th house was indicative that the bomb was by all reports a suicide effort, the 12th house is the house of sacrifice and was detonated by a hidden enemy who infiltrated to the Baath Party Security Centre. Mars was also sextile to natal Pluto/Moon conjunction in the 10th house so aimed at the people at the centre of the power base who control the country. Notice that these are soft or easy aspects allowing the action to happen.

It also interesting that transiting Pluto is at the point of a forming Yod connecting those who crucial conjunctions activated by the Mars contacts that I just highlighted. The Syrian Sun at 9:21 Capricorn (Assad) is still under pressure from transiting Uranus, the planet of revolt and revolution and although I thought he might go earlier when Pluto previously contacted this point, it looks as if this is a wearing down process which will eventually see Assad ousted at the latest by the end of the year as Pluto contacts the Sun again in December 2012.

There are a number of fixed star connections which are active right now for Damascus at 33 degrees North which back up the mood of the people :-

Heliacal Rising Star
Alhena - Rising 18 mins 22 secs before Sunrise – “People can be carried away with a mission or a cause”

Moon - The Emotions of the People
Rising when Mirfak is Rising orb 00 mins 36 secs – “A yearning to be absorbed in a struggle, political or military”

Mercury - Business and the Media
On Nadir when Ankaa is Rising orb 00 mins 50 secs – “A solution comes to a long-term problem”

Jupiter - The Type of Action which is Favoured by this Period of Time
Setting when Zosma is Culminating orb 00 mins 04 secs – “The weak and victimised are assisted and become strong”

Saturn - The Law and Civic Order                                                                                                                            Rising when Pollux is Culminating orb 00 mins 02 secs – “People's lives altered by a disaster, or the actions of an aggressive group”

Uranus - Public opinion, Public expectations
Rising when Canopus is On Nadir orb 01 mins 04 secs – “A single-mindedness in the mood of the general public” Rising when Fomalhaut is Rising orb 01 mins 15 secs – “A collective desire”
Setting when Alhena is Culminating orb 01 mins 16 secs – “Protest, parades, meetings and marches”

Pluto - The Crises or the Changes that Occur
Setting when Alnilam is Rising orb 00 mins 01 secs – “A polarizing time, us versus them”
Rising when Altair is Rising orb 00 mins 03 secs – “Believing the end will justify the means”
On Nadir when Vindemiatrix is Rising orb 00 mins 23 secs – “A cyclone, literally or metaphorically”

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Usain Bolt – Coming to London under a cloud of uncertainty.

With the Olympic Games very much in our thoughts here in the UK, I thought it time to have a look at the biggest star due to fly to London to compete, the phenomenal sprinter and current 100m champion Usain Bolt. It is interesting that recently he has not been his normal unbeatable self, and lost to his compatriot Yohan Blake twice recently. Looking at his stars, one can see why he has not been on form and he arrives in London under a cloud of uncertainty.

Usain was born in Trelawney, Jamaica on 21st August 1986 (no birth time known). He is a Sun sign Leo with a Pisces Moon which is a really soft hearted and loyal combination. The Pisces Moon is very sympathetic and kind and the Leo Sun is proud and individual. We have a great creative spirit here, probably a love of music, a need for personal recognition and a very generous nature, enhanced by the Moon’s conjunction to Jupiter.

That Moon Jupiter conjunction is hugely forgiving and really lovely in Pisces, Usain will have the biggest heart going and I think he is a real softie, very friendly and a true humanitarian. This conjunction is square to Uranus which is very optimistic as well as impulsive and excitable. Uranus in Sagittarius is in an incredibly enterprising position, he was never going to remain in his homeland on the island of Jamaica, this is one guy who was always destined to travel and explore far and wide.

The reason Usain has captured the world’s attention is not just that he is the fastest human ever (I will explain why later), it is because he has great charisma explained by Mars being conjunct to Neptune which is very imaginative and has a great sense of drama about it. The Mars/Neptune conjunction squares to Venus in it’s own sign of Libra, a most sociable place for Venus to be. That charisma is directed in a very easy going way, Venus in Libra is very Caribbean in nature, he will be popular and have an almost lazy charm about him.

Behind this all of course there is a serious athlete too, with Mars in Capricorn very goal orientated and serious about doing well and being successful and first in all one’s endeavours.  Uranus trine to Mercury in Leo is a fire trine which shows he has quick reactions and thrives in a fast paced environment, his brain is very sharp too and Usain will speak his mind, although he is prone to exaggeration in order to get his point of view across.

Amazingly with all this positivity, Usain does have an achilles heel, personal self doubt that can wrack his nerves when that Leo Sun and his ability is tested. Saturn is square to his Leo Sun so you will have two sides to Usain. When he is confident, he can and will conquer the world but when he is tested he can be plagued by inadequacy and inhibition.

So why is Usain so fast and so good? To find out, we have to look at his fixed stars. First and foremost, his North Node his destiny is in Aries, the sign of the athlete ruled by Mars and it was rising as the star Spica, the star that sits in the wheat sheaf in the hand in the Virgin in Virgo. Spica adds brilliance and special talent to whatever it touches, and that athletic North Node is enhanced by the connection. Mars (above right), Aries’ ruler was setting on the horizon on the day of Usain’s birth as fixed star Alhena (above left) was rising. Alhena sits in the foot of one of the twins in Gemini and is known as “The one who marches”. Mars here doesn’t just march, it runs, very, very fast. This connection shows someone who lead by example, his actions speak louder than any words, and watching Usain run, you have little if any time to speak. This correlation between the North Node and Mars, with the brilliance gifted by Spica to the ability to run shown by Alhena, and I think it explains why Usain has been blessed with such speed.

Unfortunately that speed has been missing recently leading to a couple of unexpected defeats. Why? Saturn which natally squares his Sun has for the past month or two been sitting on his 23 Libra South Node, a place of detriment on his chart and it will be still closely conjunct to it on the day of the 100 metres final at the Olympics.  One thing in his favour right now is that the transiting North Node will have moved to conjunct his natal Saturn which traditionally brings fortune and luck. One gets a reward when this connection is made, but I fear by the day of the final, the Node will have passed Saturn by a couple of degrees and on balance, I feel that that transiting Saturn will hold sway this time. Maybe the reward is getting over a hamstring strain that has allegedly been troubling him allowing him to compete, those medical problems can be seen by transiting Neptune which has been exactly square to his natal Saturn. Now I know that Usain is hugely talented and fast even when he is not at his best and as talented as Usain is, I do not think that London will be a successful games for him, and I feel he may be defeated this time.      

*** Update 5th Aug 12 - Usain wins 100m gold in London ***

Ok, I was wrong with my last assumption that he would get beaten. Thing is, as much as you can see that an athlete might be having a tougher time, if they are as outrageously talented as Usain Bolt is, then on form or not, they can still win. It looks like he got over his physical problems in time for the Olympic Games, 9.63 seconds the 2nd fastest ever run over 100m is not bad at all, isn’t it? Just think how fast he could have run if he had been fully fit all season??

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Fixed star Astrology and the American Election – A question of ethics and honour.

Oh it’s getting rather dirty with accusations and insults of wrong doing flying between the two Presidential candidates. I said it would be in my analysis of the two candidates a few months ago, and even though I have already nailed my colours to the mast in thinking that Obama will just win the election in November (it’s going to be a close one), I think it is interesting to see what the planets are doing in the sky as it plays out the story beautifully.

I have two star maps to show you. The first represents the challenger, Mitt Romney who in visual astrology is represented by Jupiter, the young prince or pretender to the throne, the one who seeks power. Right now Jupiter is sitting in the constellation of Taurus the bull and in close attendance is Venus (known in ancient Astrology as Ishtar), the goddess who shines her light in favour of the challenger right now. Romney is in the news and according to the latest polls is on par with the King (Obama) represented in the heavens by Saturn.

Venus and Jupiter as you can see are very close to the royal star Aldebaran, the bright red star that sits in the eye of the great bull in the sky. Aldebaran is a star that traditionally was associated with Mithras, a warrior god and king who was known as the “Lord of Contracts”. According to legend, Mithras guaranteed you success and honour, if you held your side of the bargain he offered. He insisted on honesty and purity of his followers, and if their failed this test, then they were condemned to an ordeal of fire. In the same way, Aldebaran does promise success but challenges your honesty and integrity. Jupiter (Romney) here is being shown a path to greatness, but he will have to undergo a test to get there. Venus in connection with Aldebaran shows normally shows success through music, literature and art, but also can show power which is directed wrongly.

Moving across the sky to Saturn which is sitting pretty in Virgo now conjunct Spica, the wheat sheaf in the hand of the Virgin in the skies. The king is feeling good right now. He has just got his healthcare bill through, Virgo is the sign of health so he was always going to win this battle and now Mars is joining him in Virgo, so the king will feel content that the planet of force and war is on his side. We have both of the main players Saturn and Jupiter being joined by a supporter, Jupiter with Venus and Saturn with Mars. Does this picture suggest that Romney’s running mate will be a woman? Condaleeza Rice has been mentioned recently, and I would not be surprised if he made such a decision.

Battle lines are now being drawn, and Obama and Romney and their teams have jumped into the fray feeling confident accusing each other of lies and deceit. Obama can sense that Romney is being blessed right now by Venus, the planet of money. Romney is bringing in large amounts of cash and is looking like a viable contender, so how to hurt him? Test his integrity and his honesty and see if he reacts. Remember what I said about Aldebaran and Jupiter, and keeping your honour. Romney if he wants a chance to gain power and the crown and not be subjected to trial by fire, has to keep his cool right now and not bite back. Will he be able to do this? Venus says that he may not, that his power and influence may be directed wrongly.

There is one other scenario which can be possibly determined from this star picture. Jupiter also has international implications, and Venus Jupiter on Aldebaran can indicate someone or a group of a foreign nature opposed to the king using some influence to plot against him, for in Taurus on Aldebaran, they (Jupiter) seek the power for themselves. The king is safe for now being protected by Mars, but Mars will move on in the future, and then he may become vulnerable. This is one to keep in mind as we go on through the year. The king (Obama) will have to keep his wits about him.    

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Mont Blanc avalanche, another Syrian massacre, expect more tragedy as Mars, Uranus and Pluto collide.

We are coming up to a very dangerous astrological formation in the next couple of days, a t-square forming between Mars Uranus and Pluto in the universe above us is probably one of the nastiest ones I have seen since I started doing Astrology. It will have ramifications for many people and the news reports I fear will be dominated by a series of tragic incidents.

I normally look at the individual charts for each incident, but just because of the nature of the t-square involved I don’t really need to. Mars opposite Pluto square to Uranus promises all amounts of disruption, potential violence, accidents in the next few days, all in the most stressful configuration that these 3 planets could possibly form. Mars is the planet of force, of action and violence. It rules anger, desire, passion, frustration, fire, the military, machines, guns and explosives. Mars squares to Uranus the planet of rebellion, of shocks and unexpected events and these two planets also connect with Pluto, the planet of control, of regeneration, underground action, of cruelty, destruction and death.

It is a violent cocktail of energies that could trigger any amount of nasty events. Already as this t-square is forming, there has been a fatal accident in the French Alps near to Mont Blanc where 6 climbers including notable British climber Roger Payne were engulfed and killed by a deadly avalanche. In Syria, there are reports this morning of the biggest massacre of the civil war there to date, with 250 people feared dead.

For sure, there is a lot of energy here as all three planets are in cardinal signs, the element that impels thing to happen. This energy will be released over the next few days as this t-square tightens. Mars, the trigger in this t-square, is now at 5 degrees Libra and is approaching exact aspects with Pluto and Uranus which sit in at 8 Aries and 8 Capricorn respectively. The closest pass of these 3 planets is around 17th to 19th July, although obviously the effects are already being felt as the incidents I have highlighted have shown. We all can use this energy positively too and through it we can achieve great heights and achievements, but be careful as you know if you play with fire, there is always the likelihood of getting burnt.

So then, if there is an increased risk over the  next week or two, where are these incidents likely to happen? Impossible question to answer I am afraid, although maybe in the future we will work out a way of pinpointing danger zones. As for your own lives, take a bit more care over the next couple of weeks, as though you may feel energetic and ready to conquer the world, personal misfortune is always an ever present danger.  By the way, it’s not just stressed square or opposition aspects that cause accidents to occur. Easy going trines (120 degrees) allow energy to flow, and if that energy is bad energy, it can affect you just as much if not more than a tension or stressful aspect. As a result, be extra careful if you have any of your personal planets (Sun, Moon or Ascendant ruler) or angles (Ascendant or Descendant, Midheaven or IC) at between 5-11 degrees of any of the signs.

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Uranus & Mercury Retrograde July 2012 – Searching for the higher truth to set our minds free.

Uranus, the planet of rebellion, of disruption, independent spirit and thought turns retrograde on 13th July for it’s annual 155 day retrograde period. This happens on a regular basis and normally one would not take so much notice, however this time Uranus is now in a series of square aspects to Pluto and it’s turn to retrograde motion coincides with Mercury, the planet of communication and of the mind turning retrograde too a couple of days later on 15th July. What’s more, these two planets which represent the way we think are in trine aspect in the skies above us.

Retrograde periods happen when the transiting planet in relation to the earth seems to move backwards in the sky. It is caused by the variable orbits that the planets take to go around the Sun, they don’t just all follow the same plane or circular path and it so happens that a retrograde period happens when the transiting planet makes it’s closest pass to the earth that retrogradation happens. The picture below shows a retrograde loop of Mars, but the effect is the same for all planets when they go retrograde, they turn, reverse and then double back on themselves passing over the same spot 3 times.

If you are Aquarian by nature or more potently have an Aquarian ascendant or have Uranus in contact with one of the angles in your chart, especially your ascendant, then you will feel the vibes. Mercury’s retrograde period is much shorter, just under a month this time, but often depending where Mercury is placed in your natal chart or if you have a Gemini or Virgo Ascendant, you may find that you have to endure more annoying miscommunications, travel disruptions and little annoying things going wrong than the rest of us. My Mercury is in my 10th house of career, and things never seem to run smoothly at work when Mercury about turns. Incidentally, the only ones who do seem to benefit are those who have Mercury retrograde in their own personal chart. President Obama is one of their fold, and he should thrive in getting his message out in the next month.

 

A case in point right now which illustrates things. The UK chart has Uranus conjunct it’s ascendant (from the 12th house) and transiting Uranus is on the descendant square to the Midheaven and opposing the Ascendant, a important place to be. You would expect disruptions and possibly technical things to go wrong in the UK as Uranus slowed to a stop and so it has proved. Last week, one of our major banking groups had computer problems and millions of people could not access their money, and today just before Uranus and Mercury go retrograde, the mobile  (cell) phone provider O2 has lost all phone and internet signals across the country (including my mobile phone) and so a quarter of us are cut off from everyone else except for using old fashioned land lines. Uranus is also I think behind a potential problem that could potentially hurt the reputation of the UK. Pluto as I said is square to Uranus right now and sitting in the 3rd house of transportation. A crack formed in the road in an overpass on the main motorway link between Heathrow Airport and Central London where the Olympic Games are being held. It is causing transport hell in West London as the motorway has had to be closed for safety reasons, just before thousands of athletes, officials and sports fans fly in for the games. Very, very inconvenient timing, and all down to the two tricksters in the skies that are Uranus and Mercury before they set off on their retrograde paths.

Let’s step back for a second now and think of the wider implications. Uranus and Mercury are at their closest point to the earth in their orbits. Remember this. Uranus’ and Mercury’s effect on us should then be at it’s strongest, especially as they both grind to a halt, focusing all that Uranian and Mercurian energy on one particular degree in the zodiac, the point where they turn. So are we going to have mass revolution and freedom from tyranny because all this Uranian energy is flooding down upon us? Are we all going to suffer mass communication breakdowns? Probably not, although there will for sure be shocks and disruptions and unexpected things going awry, depending on how your chart reacts to these planets.

One thing for sure, you cannot avoid this moment, so how will it affect us personally? Robert Hand thinks that when there planets are close to the earth, we lose perspective on their energies. We are closer to them so we feel their energies more intently and we tend to take the unimportant details in a situation more seriously, losing the wider more significant messages and lessons in the long run. So the lesson here it seems is during a significant retrograde period to consciously step back, to see the bigger picture and to assess it. Many will not in the next few months as Uranus has an effect, and their actions, although rebellious and well intentioned, may well miss the mark and not have the desired outcomes that they wish for.

Uranus and Mercury are linked as they rule the mind; Mercury rules our daily thought processes and Uranus, often seen as the higher octave of Mercury rules our higher mind, our intuition. Both these planets turning at the same time are giving us the message to think about the previous few months of direct motion, and assess who we can bring freedom to our lives and our minds. What restrictions have been placed in our way and have been blocking our progress? How can we break the shackles binding us, so that we can make that progression to experience new fresh challenges, and in the process grow as individuals? How can we find the higher truth, the new avenues of expression that can result in greater self-illumination?

With Pluto in tow (the bulldozer or wrecking ball in the sky is there in place to knockdown any obstacles in our way), this retrograde period I think is the cue for us to step back, assess your life and think very carefully which direction you want to go, for if you harness the power of Uranus and Pluto and you make the right choice, you can go anywhere you want to…

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Summer floods and banking scandals in the UK – it’s all linked…

This summer in the UK has been dominated by two themes so far; a complete and total washout weather wise and news of complacent bankers illegally setting interest rates. Since records began, never has so much rain fallen and so consistently with both April and now June posting records of total rainfall and July has started off in the same vein. Why? Is it down to global warming or are we in the UK just simply unlucky? In the city of London, a scandal broke after it emerged that Barclays Bank had been manipulating the Libor rate, the interbank interest rates so that they could make millions more on interest payments. American Bob Diamond, the CEO of Barclays promptly fell on his sword after increasing pressure from members of Parliament and the press, however he hinted that Barclays had not been the only bank carrying out this dubious practice.

I think that both these events are down to a simple planetary alignment which is causing all the misery. On the UK natal chart, Pluto planet of big business and banking as well as ruling things which can go out of control causing death and destruction sits in the speculative 5th house in Pisces. In a financial sense, this is very much a double edged sword as can be seen clearly by the city of London, one of the world’s premiere financial centres. Pluto allows the UK to benefit from unrestrained growth and power. Big finance, stocks, shares and hedge funds are all risky ventures where one can win big but also lose big too, very much representing the 5th house placing and Pluto in Pisces has the potential for unrestrained growth or losses.

Now, all the problems in the past year or so this summer I think has been caused by two factors. Right now Neptune is sitting absolutely bang on the UK Pluto. Neptune (and the UK Pluto) in the heavens is now conjunct the fixed star Sadalmelek which sits in the constellation of Aquarius. Sadalmelek is considered a very lucky star and the UK Pluto (and the city of London) for years now has benefitted from this conjunction. This type of luck is considered “luck of your own making”. Remember this for later on. Now the transit of Neptune coming along to conjunct with Pluto caused a huge problem. Here we have the planet of failed dreams and deception sitting on the hub of power for the UK financial industry. It has emerged that a lot of the huge profits that the banks were making was indeed down to “luck of their own making”!! Neptune moves very slowly so isn’t going to get cleared up very soon.

Back to the weather, and Neptune of course rules water and thus rain. Neptune in Aquarius is sitting on one of the main stars in the shoulder of the water bearer in the skies. Neptune conjunct Sadalmelek conjunct to Pluto promises limitless amounts of water which is out of control, and bang on time we have had storm system followed by storm system sweeping across Britain for what seems weeks now. All this precipitation is setting new records and the floods all across the UK are destroying houses, affecting many, many lives and wrecking our summer. At least the British are rather used to having wet miserable summers but saying that, this one is proving a bit much even for us!!

Why the timing of these events hitting right now, seeing as this influence is sitting over us in the UK for a couple of years? Well, the transiting nodal axis is now exactly square this potent conjunction on the UK chart, bringing unusual unforeseen twists of fate and events to happen. If you are in the UK, expect the unexpected as well as the beginning of a major shake up in the financial rules that the city has to work under.  Why? The answer is the transiting Nodal Axis again, which is changing houses on the UK chart, entering a 2 and a half year phase crossing the 2nd/8th house axis with the North Node in the 2nd house of the UK finances and the South Node moving through the 8th house of big business.

Just shows you that these planets work on many different levels all at the same time for the same aspect on one individual chart. That’s why astrology is so fascinating and yet so infuriating to us astrologers when we are trying to make accurate predictions. As for silver linings from all this doom and gloom in the UK ? At least the drought warnings and hosepipe bans have now been lifted, and about time too…

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Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes – Victims of the curse of the solar eclipse

Sometimes it is worth stepping back for a few days just to explore all of the possibilities before you write an article especially in Astrology as if you look hard enough all becomes clear. Last week Katie Holmes shocked the entertainment world, and I suspect her husband Tom Cruise too, by filing for divorce. However just look at their composite chart and all becomes very evident why she acted the way she did.

This is Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s composite chart. With Sun Venus Pluto and Uranus all together, this is a difficult chart where there would be not only friendship and love but also a battle for control as well as freedom on the cards as the relationship progressed. That Pluto in the 1st house is conjunct the composite Venus and Sun showing there is some love and goodwill here, but it is also very transformational. In such situations, this is not a difficult placing if both parties wish for some transformation to go ahead, BUT if both don’t agree, then the possibility of all out war could ensue prompting a battle for control. It seems as if Tom’s obsession with scientology and his wish to convert his wife Katie from Catholicism to Scientology and to bring up his daughter under this so called religion was a transformation that Katie could not deal with. Uranus’ presence is a wildcard in all this and you can see the potential for one breaking for cover and rebelling against the other partner. So it has proved to be.

This quadruple conjunction is at the focus point of a strong wedge formation including an opposition between Neptune and Saturn on one side and Jupiter and the Midheaven on the other. Here we have both the faith planets (Neptune & Jupiter) facing off against each other, augmented by authoritarian Saturn and across the 3rd/9th axis, the axis of communication and wisdom. Here we had the law being laid down by Tom over the adherence to his religion, and seeing as we now know that the divorce is based around Tom Cruise’s scientology beliefs, it would have been pretty obvious from the start of them meeting up that religion, faith and control would be a bone of contention in their relationship with the opposition starkly present in their chart.

Needless to say that this was not a happy marriage from the beginning. Mercury opposite Mars sitting in the 7th house of partnership promised a war of words from the offset, Mars in the 7th promises fights and battles just as much as an active love life. With all this, why on earth did they get together in the first place? Well maybe the Moon gives an answer. It sat at the midpoint of their joint Midheaven and that quadruple conjunction on the point of a mini grand trine in the 11th house of friendship. There was a lot of sympathy between them and shared friendship that would have existed before they got married, and sometimes these nastier aspects only rear their ugly heads one you are put in a position where you are with someone 24/7.

I think trouble had been brewing for some time, but the last two solar eclipses would not have helped matters at all & probably started the road to divorce. The 25th November 2011 eclipse struck at 3 degrees Sagittarius conjunct to the nadir and thus opposing their composite Midheaven and shaking their public status as a couple. This was a Northern eclipse, so not as potent as the next one which would be a Southern one. That following eclipse at 0 Gemini hit in their 9 house of beliefs opposed their joint Neptune (the planet of faith and spirituality) which rules their 7th house of marriage via Pisces and natal Saturn which rules the 5th house of children. The battle lines were beginning to be drawn. This eclipse would have caused a lot of discontent combined with transiting Pluto approaching a square to natal Uranus and transiting Uranus opposing the Sun and latterly it’s own position. However, as with all situations in life, it needed a spark to light the flame so that one of the two could break free of that iron grip and control exerted by the natal Pluto in their composite chart. This came as transiting Mars (the planet of action) last week made a conjunction with Pluto just before entering Libra, the sign of relationships. I guess that Katie sensed that now was the time to act and sort out her marriage, as she broke for emotional freedom, backed up by transiting Uranus trine the composite Moon.

I sense there is going to be an almighty battle for their daughter Suri but the decision will only go one way. Transiting Pluto, which is the planet of control is on the cusp of the 5th house of children, and later this year when Pluto starts moving direct again will enter the house properly. If you look on Katie Holmes’ natal chart, then transiting Pluto is already there midway through her 5th house. Tom has his South Node and Saturn at 9 & 10 degrees Capricorn in his own 5th house in the firing line of Pluto, so things look especially nasty for him in the coming months as Pluto conjuncts this spot. I very much suspect he will lose that battle for his daughter, and learn a fair few lessons into the bargain…

*** Update 9th July 2012 ***

Sounds like I was wrong and this is not going to be a long drawn out divorce battle. News out of Los Angeles today reports that a settlement has already been signed sealed and delivered. Maybe his hidden 12th house Moon came into play, not wanting to drag all all of these emotions out into the open of the public domain?

Katie Holmes – Born 18th December 1978 at 21.23 hrs in Toledo, Ohio, USA

Tom Cruise – Born 3rd July 1962 at 12.05 hrs in Syracuse, New York, USA

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