How did we get here from there? The Jupiter Saturn Cycle

Happening tomorrow (31st July)!

Mandi Lockley is discussing the relationship between the Jupiter-Saturn cycle, the rise of globalism and extraordinary breakthroughs in human development and I ask How Did We Get Here From There?

It's a timely topic, as we started a new 20 year cycle at the end of last year during a period of turmoil and change. This new cycle also heralds over 200 years of Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions in the Air signs.

The written word, the Enlightenment, industrial revolution, tech revolution, climate change and global pandemic, are all examined through the lens of the Saturn-Jupiter mutation cycle.

Join us on Saturday 31st July, 5pm UK time (convert to your local time here)

Suitable for all levels

http://www.academyofastrology.co.uk/how-did-we-get-here.../

Pandemics of Fear

While the spread of Coronavirus is undoubtedly serious and we must all do what we can to keep ourselves and others safe, what we are also in the midst of is a pandemic of fear.

With the Saturn Pluto Conjunction ongoing, the astrology is clear. Saturn and Pluto hard aspects have fear written all over them. They are an astrological archetype of collective fear.

The last Saturn Pluto Conjunction was in 1981-83 in Libra, a sign associated with relationships and sharing. The fear during that Conjunction was the threat of the AIDs and HIV, a virus transmitted mainly through sex and also the sharing of needles during drug taking. Again, this virus was very real and at the time it had the potential to be a death sentence for those who contracted it.

In my world, however, as a young women just starting out on her sexual journey, I was never really at risk. It was all about the fear. I clearly remember the UK government campaign, ‘Don’t Die of Ignorance.’ The visuals – tombstones and funereal bouquets – piled on the scares. This disease, we were told, could take us directly to the bowels of Pluto’s underworld if we didn’t exercise extreme caution (Saturn) when having sex. Protection took the form of the barrier method (Saturn) of contraception. My girlfriends and I had all gone ‘on the pill’ as soon as we were ready to be sexually active. This is what young women did in the early eighties. We were the beneficiaries of the sexual revolution started by our parents’ generation. AIDS ended that. We were all scared. There was also a sense of feeling the fear and doing it anyway (with protection), but we were definitely, especially us women, denied the sexual freedoms we had thought were our right.

So here we are, with a new Saturn Pluto Conjunction, this time in Capricorn and another new, seemingly terrifying virus. Most at risk are the elderly and those with some underlying health conditions, but most particularly elders with underlying conditions. Saturn in Capricorn clearly describes the elderly.

Jupiter, also in Capricorn, amplifies everything. Are we as a society and individuals overreacting, over-exaggerating? Some say yes, some say no, but time will tell. What is clear and again Saturnian, is that we are all looking to Government and other experts, such as health and medical professionals for advice and instruction. In many countries, laws are changing, if even temporarily. Some laws are being relaxed to help flagging economies affected by the virus and other laws are being set to help control the virus’ spread and by implication to control the behaviour of citizens. Law and order come under Saturn’s symbolism and control is a classic Saturnian word.

There’s a sense of being at war and war-like language is being used, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who understand the combined symbolism of Saturn and Pluto.

In the UK, people are panic buying toilet paper (or loo roll, as us Brits like to call it), even though Coronavirus doesn’t apparently cause bowel upsets. Pluto is of course associated with bowels and with waste in general. It’s about what we get rid of once we’ve taken what we need. This applies as much to our bodily functions as it does to our psyches. To purge is also to cleanse and hand sanitising gels are also currently being rationed due to high demand.

People with the virus are being forced to self-isolate. Again, it is typical of Pluto transits to isolate us, as individuals but also collectively. Walk around central London today and you will find that people are keeping each other at a physical distance. Expect a space to clear around you should you cough or sneeze. Usually it’s impossible to walk down the main shopping street near my office without literally brushing up against someone. Now we’re back in the realm of Saturnian boundaries and barriers.

Keep your distance, says Saturn!  By keeping away you are being isolated, says Pluto! ‘Social distancing’ currently looks like becoming one of the phrases of the year.

Yesterday (10^th March), Mercury turned Direct in Aquarius, having spent most of its Retrograde in the sign of its Fall, Pisces. I tend to underplay Mercury Retrograde’s significance and for good reason, but this one was severe. Under Pisces, things can spread, become infected. Because of the fear of spread, we have travel restrictions, cancelled flights, holiday plans ruined, big crowd events cancelled, closed schools, fears about the virus spreading on public transport, massive strains on ‘Piscean’ institutions such as hospitals, prisons and care homes. And let’s not forget all the cruise passengers trapped on board floating germ factories. Of course, on its own, Mercury Retrograde doesn’t symbolise the whole picture, but it’s nevertheless interesting to note the clear symbolic resonances.

Saturn is today at 29 degrees Capricorn. When a planet is in the last degree of any sign, the meanings of the planet and its sign are intensified. The seminal work on this and the other ‘power degrees’ of the zodiac has been done by Frank Clifford who writes that at 29 degrees we “encounter some of the most challenging facets of that meaning.” A four stage plan to tackle the outbreak is in operation in the UK and elsewhere. Stage one is Containment. The second is Delay. Both of these are Saturn key words and these stages are incredibly challenging to implement and to live by. If the UK goes into Delay stage (as it has in Italy and other places) it means not going to work or school, not visiting elderly relatives, not travelling unless it’s an emergency and not socialising. And where this is being enforced there are threats of criminalisation for non-compliance, undoubtedly representing the most challenging aspects of Saturn, at the end of Capricorn.  

And as I publish, the World Health Organisation has just confirmed the Coronavirus as a pandemic.

 

Saturn moves into Aquarius on 22^nd March. We shall see what happens then. It’s the sign of humanitarianism, community, collaboration. It’s also the sign of innovation and technology, which bodes well for the 3^rd stage – Research – which is already underway to develop a vaccine and also find existing drugs that can help with treatment. Reports are that pharma companies are collaborating positively. The Mitigation phase, if all else fails, focuses on saving lives, whilst maintainin public services and law and order. Stay safe, look after each other and don’t panic, this too shall pass.

(Here's a happy picture I took in the park today - spring is on it's way).

With love,

Mandi

The Rise of Extinction Rebellion

The Extinction Rebellion group (also known as XR) occupied a number of important locations across central London on April 15 2019, including Parliament Square, Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge and Marble Arch. At the time of writing, April 18, the protest is ongoing and appears to be growing in numbers, despite police making over 400 arrests so far.

This, in their own words, is what the protest is about:

‘The Extinction Rebellion is a necessity. Our political establishment has failed to protect its people from pollution, prevent further mass extinction of species on earth and prevent the possibility of human extinction in the near future. Therefore we must rebel to protect the livelihood of citizens and our natural world, or risk losing everything we cherish.’ source

The chart data for the start of this action is April 15 2019, 11am London. The source is one of XR’s posters advertising the action, as well as their website.

Chart for start of  XR Protests - 15 April 2019, 11am, London

The chart (above) is remarkable. The Saturn-Pluto Conjunction sits exactly on the DC. The Nodes, sitting at the midpoint of Saturn-Pluto, are Partile Conjunct the ASC-DC axis. Saturn-Pluto hard aspects are associated with fear, even the threat of apocalypse or ‘extinction’. They are a warning sign that things will be forced to change if we don’t take proactive action. Destruction of some kind occurs and is followed by a necessary rebuilding process. What XR say they want to achieve is “radical change in order to minimise the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse” and in essence Saturn-Pluto is about the transformation of socio-political structures and in Capricorn it’s about the Earth itself and how we need to fundamentally change how we treat it, if we want to preserve it for future generations.

The Cancer Ascendant Conjunct North Node also suggests this need for action for mother earth. The South Node, Saturn, Pluto and DC axis Conjunction certainly denotes the fear of disaster if we don’t change the way we treat our planet. And when veteran naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough is concurrently saying we face "irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies" it’s safe to assume 

there’s something in it.

A Venus-Mercury-Neptune Triple Conjunction in Pisces is also angular, sitting across the MC. Like the DC, the MC is also a public point. XR’s message is of non-violent civil disobedience. This was also the impression I got from spending time at the Oxford Circus occupation (where these photos were taken). As police arrested protesters one by one, they neither fought nor complied, but allowed themselves to be carried away to clapping and the chanting of we love you from the gathered crowds. 

That a pink boat is at the the centre of the protest emblazoned with the words TELL THE TRUTH is a nice translation of Venus-Mercury-Neptune in Pisces, as is its placement at a major transport crossroads (they would probably say that the earth itself is at a crossroads).

On the other hand, the overall public perception seems to be that they are idealistic ‘hippies’ who will never get their demands met.  These demands are that the Government “tell the truth” about the ecological emergency and work towards change, that they act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and that they “create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.”

Mars in Gemini also Squares Neptune an applying aspect signifying idealistic action, tension and disappointment when dreams meet reality, but also a certain charisma and the potential for this movement to become a phenomenon.

For an action of civil disobedience of such persistence and momentum we must also look to Uranus. Indeed, the planet of rebellion and revolution is in Taurus (the earth) tight to the 11^th House cusp (groups, communities, the collective) and Conjunct the Sun in Aries. This is a symbolic picture of the eco-warrior and a strong statement about the group’s mission, especially as it makes a Square to Saturn and Pluto. Sun and Uranus form a Fire-Earth Grand Trine with the Moon in Leo and Jupiter in justice seeking Sagittarius. Jupiter Squares Neptune, Mercury and Venus, symbolising how ideals turn into society’s expectations which are either delivered upon or dissolved into disillusionment and disappointment.

The Moon at 29 degrees 52 of Leo is telling us that things are urgent, time is running out to save our home. Indeed, the logo of Extinction Rebellion is a stylised egg timer. Below is a screenshot from the home page of their website.

Extinction Rebellion was founded on 31st October 2018 and has quickly grown into an international movement. On this date their website states, “we assembled on Parliament Square in London to announce a Declaration of Rebellion against the UK Government. We were expecting a couple of hundred people. Instead, 1500 came to participate in peaceful civil disobedience”. 

This chart (time now known, set for midday) shows Uranus at zero degrees of Taurus (rebellion to save the earth) in an Opposition to the Sun and Venus in Scorpio (its mission is change through peaceful means). A potential T-Square to the Moon brings the message home about our ‘home’. Mars in Aquarius, the activist, is Square Mercury and Jupiter in Scorpio and their demands for ‘the truth’ ring strong and loud in their throats.

References:

https://rebellion.earth/the-truth/about-us/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_Rebellion

Weinstein and the Anaretic Degree

The film industry was rocked by allegations in the New York Times on 5^th October 2017¹ that producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein had been sexually harassing young women, mostly actresses, for decades. Following the first wave of accusations, on October 8^th, he was fired from his own business, The Weinstein Company. He was also subsequently suspended from the British Academy and the American Academy, the organisations responsible for the BAFTA and Oscars awards.

Born with the Sun at 29 degrees Pisces and the North Node at 29 degrees Aquarius / South Node at 29 Leo, he is sensitive to the 29^th, anaretic degree. When a planet, natally or by transit, is at that critical degree it’s said to be emphasised, powerful. According to the Café Astrology website², with a natal planet at 29 degrees, “there can be some real issues with decision-making in that part of the personality represented by the energies of the planet”. It goes on to say that, “it’s also associated with a sense of urgency…it can be a point of poor choices, difficulties, crisis or overcompensation.” So, for Weinstein, with the Sun and Nodes in the anaretic degree, it’s about poor decisions, crisis and overcompensation related to his life mission, purpose and direction. It also perhaps represents the playing out of some intense karma (Nodes) - the release of the need to be ‘king’ of his creative domain (Leo), to be brought back down to the level of the common people (Aquarius).   

By transit, planets at the aneretic degree can bring crisis and on October 8^th, when the scandal began to gain traction, transiting Jupiter at 29 degrees Libra triggered his Sun via a partile Quincunx and his Nodes via a partile Trine to the North Node and sextile to the South Node. Transiting Jupiter was also applying to a Trine with his natal Venus at 3 degrees Pisces (Venus in Pisces a fitting symbol for the actresses he’s said to have abused). Appearing before reporters a few days later, Weinstein told them, “we all make mistakes,” (reflecting the issue of poor decision-making associated with the anaretic degree) telling the press that he’d been good to them and asking for a second chance (un-evolved Pisces is prone to inappropriately playing the victim).

The Quincunx is interesting. It’s an awkward aspect between two signs which don’t see eye to eye and often plays out in the context of relationships. Adjustment is required. In this case, the justice and fairness urgently demanded by transiting Jupiter in the last degree of Libra, awkwardly meets his Sun in the last degree of Pisces. The Sun at the very end of the zodiac could mean that poor life choices are made out of a fundamental difference in how he perceives reality, himself and his life purpose, compared to reality as perceived by his multitudinous victims. The Quincunx from transiting Jupiter to his Sun highlights the irreconcilability of these different points of view - he continues to assert that the sexual acts between him and his accusers were consensual. That his Sun is un-aspected (although there may be a Square to the Moon), lends it even more emphasises – he dances to the beat of his own drummer, led by his ego need, perhaps even unaware that his actions were causing so much emotional damage. But he knew he had the power to make or break a young woman’s career and he used it. Natal Mars in Scorpio tightly Squared to Pluto in Leo is a powerful symbol for using sexual predation to satisfy the urge to wield power and control.

Weinstein’s wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, announced she was leaving him on October 10^th, the day Jupiter ingressed into Scorpio³.

On the 11^th October, he was more contrite, saying in a statement to celebrity gossip website Page Six, “I apologise to everyone I have hurt by my actions…I realise I need to work on myself and to change. I am in intense therapy and counselling.” Weinstein is now the subject of a number of police investigations in the US and beyond.

We don’t have a birth time for Weinstein, but transiting Pluto in Capricorn is currently Squaring his natal Mercury-Jupiter Conjunction in Aries.  During Pluto’s transit through Capricorn, the historical crimes and transgressions of powerful people and institutions have surfaced and often these have been ‘open secrets’ or rumours that have circulated for years. Egregious behaviours and actions were tolerated or ignored because the victims felt they had no power, or actually had no power. Under Pluto in Capricorn, however, when a shift change occurred in the collective, these transgressions were finally acknowledged, with the sordid details rising to the surface for all to see and judge, precipitating a crisis.

Collective shift changes are of course reflected in Pluto’s long, slow transits through each sign. In Capricorn it’s been about revelations that endemic within the culture of major institutions there exists a rotten boil that needs to be lanced, with not undeserving scapegoats (Capricorn) as the central focus. First it was banking culture (the early scapegoat being Fred ‘The Shred’ Goodwin, CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group). Next, Plutonian crisis rocked the institution of television, in particular the BBC crisis around the exposure of Jimmy Savile’s prolific child abuse. And now, with these allegations against Harvey Weinstein, it seems that the glamour has fallen away from the movie world, with many saying his actions are just the tip of the iceberg and such behaviour is widespread in the film industry.

There is an Interesting astrological correlation between the timing of the full exposes of Harvey Weinstein and Jimmy Savile's abuses of power through sexual assaults on a huge scale (alleged in the case of Weinstein). The 'open secret' about Savile was finally acknowledged publicly when Saturn was just about to go into Scorpio and with Weinstein it was when Jupiter was just about to go into Scorpio. A few differences - there's been no suggestion that Weinstein abused children and also, unlike Savile, Weinstein is still alive to answer for his crimes. Proving that Jupiter isn't always the planet where you 'get away with it.'

British actress Emma Thompson, when interviewed on the BBC’s Newsnight⁴ show made the connection, asking, “isn’t it the same story as Jimmy Savile?”

Referring to news stories that Weinstein was checking himself into rehab for sex addiction (addiction can be a negative expression of Pisces, a way for this sensitive sign to avoid painful realities), Thompson went on to say,

 “I don’t think you can describe [Weinstein] as a sex addict.  He’s a predator – that’s different. He’s at the top of, as it were, the ladder, of a system of harassment and belittlement and bullying."

Thompson has outspoken Mercury in Aries Sextile Venus and Square Mars and Saturn (speaking up for/fighting for women against male authority figures). She also has Venus in Gemini (again, speaking up for women) Opposite Jupiter, with both Squaring Pluto to form a T-Square, she concluded, "I didn't know about these things, but they don't surprise me at all, and they're endemic to the system anyway…this isn't about one man's crimes against women. This is about our system's imbalances, our system's gender crisis.”

Under Jupiter in Scorpio there is the potential for this scandal to spread far and wide and of course, Scorpio in its worst expression can be about abuses of power of a sexual nature. Indeed, the #metoo campaign on social media has seen women (and men) in extraordinary numbers, from all walks of life, share, for the first time, their own stories of sexual harassment and abuse.

References

How the scandal unfolded: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41594672

¹https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html

² https://cafeastrology.com/criticaldegrees.html

³http://people.com/movies/harvey-weinstein-wife-georgina-chapman-separating/

⁴https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV_W6kPqR9U

Charts

https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Weinstein,_Harvey

https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Thompson,_Emma

Whistleblowers at the Galactic Centre

At the heart of our galaxy, the Milky Way, is the Galactic Centre - a super-massive black hole (or a “giant cosmic broom”) positioned in late Sagittarius – which plays a key role in chart signatures of people who spill the beans on organisations and governments, as many famous cases attest.

A whistleblower is a person “who exposes misconduct, alleged dishonest or illegal activity occurring in an organisation. The alleged misconduct may be…a violation of a law, rule, regulation and/or a direct threat to public interest, such as fraud, health and safety violations, and corruption. Whistleblowers may make their allegations internally (…to other people within the accused organisation) or externally (to regulators, law enforcement agencies, to the media…). Whistleblowers frequently face reprisal, sometimes at the hands of the organisation or group which they have accused, sometimes from related organisations, and sometimes under law”.

Research into the most infamous and noteworthy whistleblowers shows that the majority of them have planets and points in their natal charts which connect to the Galactic Centre (GC), the black hole at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. This can’t be a surprise because Sagittarius, seeker of truth, guardian of the moral high ground and the sign the GC falls in, is surely a most appropriate signature for the whistleblower. It would seem, as the case studies will show, that individuals whose charts connect strongly to the Galactic Centre (GC) can have an impact on the world that reaches far beyond the personal when given access to information that others would prefer to keep hidden and when they have the means and motivation to share that information on a huge scale...

This article first appeared in the March/April 2016 edition of the Journal of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and was re-published on the Astrodienst website where you can read the rest of the article here: Whistleblowers

The T-Square in the Aries Ingress Chart (& other thoughts)

The Sun is now settled in impulsive, pioneering, confrontational Aries, following its ingress on March 20th and the Astrological New Year has got off to what can only be described, unfortunately, as an explosive start.

The following article (with a few updates and additions) was first published in the March/April edition of Infinity Astrological Magazine.

Forget January 1st and its broken resolutions, the astrological year begins with the Sun’s ingress into Aries. It’s an Equinox, when day and night are in equal balance, and the start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

The chart for the Aries ingress can be read as an overview of the year to come, symbolising trends in economics and politics, major events including crises and wars, social trends and natural phenomena such as the weather.

The most striking thing in this year’s Aries ingress chart is the on-going T-Square of Neptune in Pisces, Jupiter in Virgo and Saturn in Sagittarius. Venus joins the T-Square in a tight conjunction with Neptune; the Moon in Leo links in with a Trine to Saturn and Pluto forms an earth Trine with Jupiter.

The T-Square incorporates hard aspects of three important cycles: the waning Square of the 20 year Jupiter-Saturn cycle; the waning Square of the 36 year Saturn-Neptune cycle and the Opposition of the 13 year Jupiter-Neptune cycle.

That two of these cycles are in the waning Square phase highlights that we are in a period akin to the dark of the Moon. This means that, as the winding down of those two cycles begins, the themes and issues of those cycles (discussed below) feel more intense, more karmic and more exhausting as if we’re tired of the way things are and, craving a fresh start, we look forward to what the next cycle promises to offer. However, a start cannot be truly fresh unless we use the final quarter of the current cycle to commit ourselves to cleaning up the messes we have created since the cycle began. To do this we must accept that our mistakes were part of our learning curve and resolve to use the wisdom our experience has rewarded us with to do better next time.

In mundane astrology, the Jupiter-Saturn cycle is associated with the economic cycle and the current Square is the last in the cycle that began in 2000. This Square represents a final crisis point, when we are offered one last chance to clean up the financial messes we have made, and boy we have made a mess, and prepare a clean slate for the next cycle which begins at the end of 2020. One thing is clear, what we have created no longer works, so we must prepare new economic structures to carry us forward into the next cycle. But will we collectively learn from the mistakes of the past or simply carry on as usual?

The current Saturn Neptune cycle, which began in 1989, is also into its last set of Squares, with the next cycle beginning in 2026. This cycle symbolises how we collectively manifest our ideals, highlighting the gap between the ideal and reality, the conflict between what we wish for the world and the reality of what we have and fact and theory vs. what we feel and intuit. This Square represents a crisis point, where Neptune intensely challenges Saturn’s desire to maintain the status quo and the result can be crushed ideals, morals and disappointment and disillusionment in our institutions and traditions. We are at risk of falling for illusions, deceptions and propaganda, of giving in to paranoia (egged along by the media) or simply of dropping into escapism and trying to avoid reality altogether. Conversely, Saturn counter-challenges Neptune to ground its idealism in practical reality, to bring its dreams and high ideals down to earth. It’s an aspect that offers hope, even as it seems to mete out suffering.

The Conjunction of this current Saturn-Neptune cycle coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the death throes of Communism. We have also seen the rise of capitalism to the point that democracy seems to have dissolved before our eyes (democracy defined as “government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system” ¹ and we live in a world where election success is for sale and where the elite increasingly rule, protecting corporate interests and the elitist status quo ahead of the interests of the general electorate). But how can things change when most cannot imagine any other way of doing things? The astrology, however, tells us we must start to think differently, do things differently. But will we take heed or will we ignore reality and continue to put our faith in an outdated system. Do we have the imagination (Neptune) to manifest (Saturn) something different? 

Also in the T-Square is the separating Opposition of Jupiter and Neptune. This 13 year cycle is associated with idealism, humanitarianism and ideology and during the Opposition the cycle’s issues become fully exposed and certainly we have seen religious and political ideological differences coming to a head in the conflict in Syria and Iraq with the resulting humanitarian refugee crisis overwhelming parts of Europe and the Middle East, as well as in the terrorist attacks occurring across the world.

Saturn, as the apex of the T-Square represents the status quo. It’s the laws of the land, state run businesses, the administration of Government, justice, order and business as usual. In Sagittarius, the status quo must respect moral principles, but of course when one country or faction’s moral principles differ from another’s what Saturn represents can become dogmatic, believing that its way is the only way and this is currently very obviously playing out on the world stage.

Venus in this T-Square highlights the potential for peace negotiations, but with the danger of lack of disclosure and disappointing results with its close Conjunction to Neptune. More optimistically, Venus Conjunct Neptune in Pisces suggests humanitarian efforts and compassion. However, the Square from Saturn suggests those efforts could be blocked or delayed, but also suggests the practical application of a realistic humanitarianism. Venus also represents financial matters and could point towards deceptions/frauds or other financial scandals such as the misuse of public funds, even as the powers that be (Saturn) insist on maintaining the status quo. It also suggests disappointing financial results, and slow economic growth despite optimistic forecasts. Austerity looks set to continue, fuelling the row between current leaders and political opposition which believes austerity is not working and is only creating unnecessary suffering for ordinary working people whilst the wealth gap continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.

Overall, this T-Square suggests political instability and a year when our collective faith in many things - society and its systems, the rightness of conflict, politics and religion - is set to be tested, but that there is always hope. With both the Jupiter-Saturn and Saturn-Neptune cycles in the last quadrature of their cycles, it’s time to set out our vision for the future. Saturnian hard work and pragmatism is what will manifest that vision ad the first step is perhaps letting go of the past, of the old way of doing things. 

Moon Trine Saturn is about doing the right thing, carrying on with the normal routine, taking responsibility. The Moon in the context of mundane astrology refers to the general population as a whole, the consensus opinion. This Trine is hopeful, suggesting stability on a general day to day level for most people, but at worst, apathy and a too willing, unquestioning acceptance of the status quo. Pluto in Trine to Jupiter (along with Saturn’s placement in Sagittarius) suggests an ongoing preoccupation with international terrorism; with how money is made and distributed amongst the masses and with our collective belief systems.

There are of course, other important and relevant aspects in the Aries ingress chart, but for the sake of brevity this article is concentrated on the T-Square.

The Europe Union

 

Transiting Jupiter falls in the 2nd House of the chart for the EU, Saturn is in the 5th and the Venus-Neptune Conjunction in the 8th. The focus on the 2nd-8th axis means that money will continue to be the major theme and concern for the EU this coming year.

The 2nd represents currency so there will be further concern about the Euro and its value against other currencies and the 8th is about the deficit between public income and expenditure. Jupiter’s Opposition to Venus-Neptune falling across this axis is worrying and the Greek debt crisis will no doubt continue to dominate the EU agenda as the austerity measures demanded by the bailout continue to roll out against intense opposition from regular Greek citizens. The cost of the migrant crisis will also a continuing concern for the EU and the suggestion is that however much money is thrown at these problems it will not be enough, even as the appalling living conditions many migrants are suffering becomes more apparent and urgent.

Saturn in Sagittarius in the 5th doesn’t sound like there’s much fun to be had. Controls in individual self-expression such as freedom of speech on social media etc. are likely, maybe legislative controls, but also self censorship from fear of offending those who are ‘different’ from ourselves and of being publically shamed (usually online) for doing so. Will those fears put a dampener of old fashioned romance? While many young people might dream of a handsome stranger approaching them to tell them they fancy them, there’s a fine line these days between that and harassment! Cuts to arts and culture funding are likely and issues around children and birth-rates are also likely to be a focus, as well as regulatory issues around betting and gaming regulations.

Addition: Since writing this for Infinity Magazine back in February, on 22nd March, two days following the Aries ingress, Brussels suffered a horrific terrorist attack on its public transport network. The Aries ingress chart set for Brussels (see the outer wheel of the bi-wheel above) sees the two traditional malefics, Mars and Saturn, either side of the MC. Saturn is moving slowly and stations Retrograde on March 25th at 16 Sagittarius. Mars too will go retrograde in Sagittarius in mid April. Mars will not overtake Saturn in Sagittarius until late August, so these two planets will be running mates for some time to come (even though Mars will be back in Scorpio from late May to early August).

Sagittarius (internationalism) has been very strongly associated with international terrorism since Pluto’s journey through Sagittarius (9/11 etc.) and with Mars and Saturn concentrating their joint energy in this sign, themes that will play out include war, military action, the demand for retaliatory action. Simply put, there will be hell to pay, one way or another and the repercussions will be far reaching and longstanding.

A discussion between astrologers on social media also noted that the fixed star Antares is part of the Mars-Saturn picture. At 9 Sagittarius 46, Antares sits between Mars and Saturn in the Aries ingress chart and is conjunct the MC (the highest, most prominent/most publically obvious point of the chart and that which symbolises a country or entity’s leader/s).

Antares is associated with life and death experiences, extremism, obsession, ruthlessness and conflicts that are difficult, even impossible to resolve. Antares conjunct Mars and Saturn suggests increased danger, caused by ‘foreign’ aggressors but also by  leaders in government/police/military etc. Etymologically, Antares means anti-Mars, Mars’ rival, a rival in arms.

Mars finally catches up with Saturn on 24th August, following their respective retrogrades, at 9 Sagittarius 52, EXACT on Antares (9 Sagittarius 46), so this will be a date to watch.

The UK

 

The T-Square falls in the 3rd (Saturn), 5th (Neptune and Venus) and 12th (Jupiter) Houses of the UK Act of Union chart, with transiting Saturn Conjunct the UK’s natal Mercury. This puts the focus of the T-Square on transportation and communications, news, the media and education, as well as the UK’s relationship with its neighbouring countries (for example, expect to see the issue of the shockingly dismal migrant camps in Calais in the news again. Calais is a port in Northern France, just a very short sea journey from the English port of Dover and most if not all the migrants ended up in Calais because they wanted to try to get to the UK. However, the British Government have said it’s a French problem, that help from Britain would only encourage more migrants to Calais). The 3rd House also relates to local losses related to storms and this will be a big issue as the long clean up from this winter’s devastating flooding of homes and businesses across the North of England and Scotland continues. The question going forward is what systems (such as improved flood defences) will be put in place to prevent it happening again and who is responsible?

Neptune and Venus in the 5th suggests a general engagement in and expenditure on escapist activities, the distraction/pleasure of entertainment, sport, leisure and gambling. The Stock Market is also linked to this house (being based on speculation). Could we see a Stock Market Bubble, with certain stock prices rising to above their value and then crashing? That certainly fits the symbolism of the T-Square. The 5th is also concerned with children and their interests and also with Government representatives and ambassadors, so look out for news stories on those topics.

Neptune is just four degrees from the 6th House cusp (and Venus 5 degrees) so it is likely that health will continue to be a big issue. Perhaps the privatisation of the NHS by stealth will continue and at the time of writing junior doctors are involved in industrial action over changes to working contracts. This issue may drag on, with other health workers joining the dispute and/or we will see similar actions by other public sector workers and key service workers. The presence of Venus also suggests issues around occupations predominately carried out by females.

The 12th House stands for the nation’s secret enemies, its spies and its secret agenda, terrorist activities, hostage situations and crime in general. Will the UK see terror attacks on its soil? Let’s hope not, but it can’t be ruled out. It’s certain that behind the scenes covert operations will be going ahead to try to prevent terrorism, so we will see more and more stories appear in the media about attacks which have been averted, but the details will remain secret for reasons of national security. The 12th also of course rules prisons and hospitals and other places of confinement, so these will also come into focus in the coming 12 months.

Addition: since writing the original article in February, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union to be held on Thursday 23 June. The Moon (the general populous) for the day of the referendum falls in the 4th House, symbolising that voters will be considering issues of living conditions (what will improve ‘austerity Britain, being in our out of the EU) and other issues such as the escalating housing crisis. It also represents the ‘homeland’ and patriotism in general. Interestingly, the 4th House rules the opposition party in government (the opposition Labour party is officially in the ‘in’ camp). The Sun falls in the 9th House Conjunct Venus (which is 3 degrees from the MC).

The 9th House of course, is about foreigners and foreign lands, immigration, imports and exports and legal matters - all key issues in the political and media debate around whether or not the UK should exit the EU. It also reflects what the press think the public are interested in, but the Moon’s placement suggests that the populace’s main concerns lie closer to the bosom of their homes and that voters will be asking themselves what it means to be British as opposed to European.

The Sun and Venus falling in the 9th and near the MC says something about how the nation is perceived by other nations (in this case the EU) and certainly reflects how the UK is known as a centre for financial services (The City of London) and for the creative arts in general and the music and entertainment industries in particular.

How the referendum swings, I am not going to try to predict as it’s difficult not to be biased when I have my own views which I won’t share here.

The USA

The Sibley Chart puts the T-Square Saturn in the Ascendant, Venus-Neptune in the 3rd and Jupiter in the 9th.

Saturn just four degrees into the 1st House doesn’t suggest an optimistic outlook during this year when Obama will step down to make way for a new President. Amongst the top issues will be law enforcement, corporate interests, administrative prudence, homeland security and thrift. There will be much talk about taking responsibility and the prevailing attitude of the nation will be a conservative one.

With the 9th House impacted by Jupiter, immigration will continue to be an issue and a key one for the election, also foreign relations and internationalism in general, including foreign imports and exports and trade relations. Scandals will be played out in the media at home and abroad. Water related issues are suggested by Venus-Neptune in the 3rd, with potential problems around flooding, dams and travels on the high seas. The 3rd-9th axis also highlights education, all forms of communication and transportation and issues around the ecclesiastical and legal professions and the churches and courts in which they operate.

On a personal level, look at where the T-Square falls in your own chart, what planets and points it touches. Look back to the time of the Conjunction, 1st Square and Opposition of the current Saturn-Neptune and Jupiter-Saturn cycle and the Conjunction and 1st Square of the Jupiter-Neptune cycle to see if you can identify themes to help you get the big picture view of what those cycles mean to you personally.

And may you, and our world, grow, learn and develop into a better place, for the world is only as good as the sum total of the thoughts, words and actions of every one of us.

¹http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/democracy

With love,
Mandi

The Astrological Journal

I'm proud to say that my article Whistleblowers at The Galactic Centre features in the Mar/Apr 2016 issue of the Journal of the Astrological Association of Great Britain. The cover, I'm sure you'll agree, is nothing short of beautiful and I'm thrilled to get a name check on it.

The article came out of research into the Galactic Centre done in collaboration with astrologers Rod Chang and Mechthild 'Nusse' Belton, over many fun and inspiring meetings that saw us finish off several bottles of wine and countless frothy coffees.

It postulates that the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, the Galactic Centre - a super-massive black hole (or a 'giant cosmic broom') positioned in late Sagittarius - plays a key role in chart signatures of people who spill the beans on organisations and governments, as the many famous cases in my article attests.

In this issue I find myself in very good company:

Priscilla Costello (Shakespeare 's hidden astro keys); Brian Clark (the 'night' approach); Sue Joseph Kientz ('new' Pluto); Frank C Clifford (durable couples); Marjorie Orr (Angela Merkel); Marcos Patchett (Rejection and other Reception variants); Sharon Knight (Astrologers' Feast of the Astrological Lodge of London and Astrologer of the Year at Gopal Bhattacharjee's fabulous conference in Kolkata [not forgetting Robert Currey's lifetime achievement award]); Smiljana Gavrancic (Paris atrocities and 21° Aquarius in France's chart); Christina Rodenbeck (David Bowie); Nicholas Kollerstrom (debunking French debunkers of Gauguelin's Mars Effect); Lucy Zolonga (Jup in Virgo solarscope); Pam Crane (astro crossword and the Dwad); Marion Williamson (Jo Logan remembered); Alex Trenoweth (Kolkata diary) ; Anne Whitaker (Age of Aquarius?); Roy Gillett (the enlightenment) and Sarah Cochrane (transits).

Thanks to Editor Victor Olliver for his fine work in putting together and publicising it.

The AA Journal, published bi-monthly, is free to members of the Astrological Association of Great Britain, or single copies can be purchased for £5.95. For a trial period this issue will be available for sale in digital format.

For full details of how to get your hands on the Journal (including downloading a free copy of the equally fabulous Sept/Oct 2015 edition), see the Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/AstrologicalJournal/?fref=ts 

For more on the output of our research on the Galactic Centre, see Where God Divided by Zero: New Thoughts on the Galactic Centre, co-authored with Rod Chang, in issue 2 of Infinity Astrological Magazine, which can be downloaded free (you just need to register) from: http://infinityastrologicalmagazine.com/

Rod also has an article on the Galactic Centre in the current (Mar/Apr 2016) edition of Infinity (available from the same link as above) linking planetary transits to the Galactic Centre (GC) to the banking crisis of 2008, 9/11, the end of the Cold War and more.

What is also startling, is that like myself when I was researching the GC and whistleblowers, he has discovered that Mars seems to be an important factor in activating the energy of the GC and I suspect that exploring the significance of this observation will mean a few more vino and caffeine-fuelled meetings. Watch this space!

With love,
Mandi xxx

Jupiter in Leo - The Iraq Connection

Jupiter in Leo is an important trigger, a crucial point in the Jupiter cycle for the modern history of Iraq and a transit to watch closely. 

Iraq is awash with Lion symbolism. The Desert Lion (Shakir Wahiyib, the public face of Islamic State); The Lion of Babylon (Iraqi tank used during the 1991 War); the other Lion of Babylon (representing the King of Babylon and depicted at the Ishtar Gate to the ancient city, now part of Iraq) and of course, the live lions Saddam Hussein kept at his palace.

Also, it seems that Jupiter's transit of Leo is incredibly relevant to modern day Iraq. This is an expansion of my post of early July written just as Jupiter was moving into Leo, with further insights to offer, more dots to connect.

When in Leo, once every 12 years, Jupiter transits through Iraq's first house (representing the country as a whole and its leaders, its identity, its ego and how it wants to be perceived by the world), making conjunctions to its Mercury and Uranus conjunction as it goes, before moving into the 2nd house (its assets and values), eventually meeting Pluto at zero of Virgo. Pluto in this case perhaps signifying upheaval, destruction, oil as an asset and regeneration after war.

Iraq - click to enlarge

Iraq's leaders, national identity, assets, sense of national pride, ideologies and values - including spiritual ideologies and values - are therefore highlighted and challenged by this transit.  

Here's the potted history, all of it directly connected to what's happening today:

Jupiter was in Leo from mid-August 1990 until September 1991. 

This was the period of the 1st Iraq War.

It was waged by coalition forces from 34 UN-led nations in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait in early August 1990. The conflict began with an aerial bombardment on 17 January 1991, followed by a ground assault on 24 February. A United Nations Security Council Resolution in April 1991 established formal cease-fire terms. The controversies over enforcing this (the disarmament crisis and alleged weapons of mass destruction) and subsequent resolutions led directly to another war 12 years later - when Jupiter next returned to Leo.

Jupiter’s next transit through Leo was August 2002 through August 2003.

This was the period of the Iraq disarmament crisis and the 2nd Iraq War. 

During this transit, Jupiter made three hits to Iraq's natal Uranus at 10 degrees Leo in the 1st House, between Sept 02 and May 03. Additionally, Jupiter in Leo Squared Iraq's Neptune at 2 Scorpio in the 4th House in August 2002. The 4th represents the land a country occupies, its regular people (vs. its elite) and politically, the opposition to the ruling regime. Of course, these same planets would have been hit during the previous transit in the early 90's.

Here's a timeline of events for the 2nd Iraq War:

·         In August, a group of Iraqis opposed to the regime of Saddam Hussein took over the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin for five hours before releasing their hostages and surrendering.

·         In November, The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution, forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm or face "serious consequence." Iraq agreed to the terms and the UN sent in its weapons inspectors

·         In Feb 2003, an estimated eleven million people around the world took to the streets to protest against the looming war with Iraq, followed by the largest coordinated worldwide vigil in March as part of the global protests against an Iraq war (that internationalism theme again). British Cabinet Minister Robin Cook resigned from government over plans for the war with Iraq.

·         In March, Iraq was invaded by an American and British led coalition,  without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion. Shortly afterwards, The Arab League voted 21-1 in favor of a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of U.S. and British soldiers from Iraq.

·         In April Baghdad, fell to U.S. forces.

·         In early May, President George W. Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended.

·         In July, the US military attacked a compound in Iraq, killing Saddam Hussein's sons.

·         It was in December of 2003, with Jupiter moved into Virgo and conjunct Iraq's Pluto, that Bush announced the capture of Saddam Hussein.

This is all important because Jupiter in Leo is hitting those same points in Iraq’s chart again 

The toppling of Saddam Hussein’s government in 2003 marked the start of years of violent conflict with different groups competing for power. This is now coming dramatically and violently to a head, with current events directly linked to those of the early 90's and 00's. 

When I wrote my first post on Iraq over a month ago, Iraq was at the top of the world news, with concerns over the ascent of Sunni rebels led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) now known as Islamic State, with reports that thousands had fled the ensuing atrocities, with Iran and the US offering their assistance, but with the UK still on the fence.

Now, of course, the US have launched air strikes in support of the Kurdish militia and as predicted the UK government have told us that military involvement is now inevitable, but so far have limited it to humanitarian aid and what is set to be a prolonged Royal Air Force reconnaissance mission. The Prime Minister has ruled out 'boots on the ground' but has not ruled out other intervention including arming the Kurds. The focus, he says, is on protecting the UK from a terrorist threat. Perhaps this reticence for sending in the army to fight is a lesson learned from the political suicide committed by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, when he declared war on Iraq in 2003 without the support of the UN or the majority of UK citizens. 

Whatever occurs next, the direct connections between now and events in Iraq spanning back over the last 24 years and earlier need to be considered. Already, nobody can argue that the so called War on Terror that led to the 2003 Iraq War didn't directly radicalize certain Islamic factions.

The 1801 UK chart has Jupiter in early Leo and Saturn later in Leo, so the country has just had a Jupiter return. While a UK presence will be in Iraq in some form, the full consequences or ramifications will only be felt once transiting Jupiter hits the UK's Saturn in around a year's time. At the same time, Jupiter hits Iraq's Pluto. We can expect to see a shift in power, a moving around of assets, rebuilding, rehabilitation, restoration, perhaps a new government. But at what human cost?

The US Sibley chart has the North Node (destiny/lessons/the mission/key relationships/significant meetings) at 6 Leo in the 8th House (financial relations with foreign countries). Jupiter has now hit that point. 

Jupiter will also Conjunct Barack Obama's Leo planets - it has already crossed Mercury (the time for talking is over) and is heading for his Sun in the 6th  (national services including the army and the navy) and the Uranus and North Node in the 7th (foreign affairs, relations with other countries, open enemies) and the DC in Leo. This is of course the first time Jupiter has crossed those planets and points since he has been in office, so these transits will be interesting to observe.

Note also that George Bush Snr. (President during the 1991 Iraq War) has Leo rising with a 12 house North Node and Neptune in Leo. 

George W. Bush  (President during the 2003 War) shares his father's Leo Ascendant, with Mercury, Venus and Pluto in Leo. His 'partner in crime' was British PM Tony Blair. Blair has the South Node in Leo and the generational Pluto in Leo.

The connections between Bush and Blair and the US and Iraq charts are remarkable - Blair's South Node is conjunct the USA's North Node and sits on Bush's Ascendant. Bush's Mercury and Pluto in Leo are conjunct Iraq's Uranus and Blair's Moon in Aquarius opposes all of them. Tangled destinies indeed and there are plenty more connections, but time and space is short. See quad-chart below (click to enlarge).  

Interesting also that Obama's Leo points and planets fall in the opposite part of the chart to those of the two Bush Presidents. What does this suggest? That Obama has less control over this new war than the Bush's did in previous wars? That it's a situation he's being forced to deal with rather than a situation he's created? For sure, it's part of his destiny as President to face a foreign enemy (North Node in the 7th).

For his part, the UK's Prime Minister, David Cameron, has Moon conjunct Jupiter in early Leo (a Jupiter return for him as it is for Iraq) and Mars in Leo in the 11th House.

This all suggests that the recent history of Iraq and its future is closely tied to Western powers and their leaders and of course the facts if you care to look into them bear this out.

Certainly, there are many other astrological factors and planetary cycles to be considered, but one thing is certain:

Jupiter in Leo is an important trigger, a key point in Jupiter's cycle for the modern history of Iraq and a transit to watch closely. 

The 2014 transit timings for Iraq are as follows:

Jupiter in Leo, travelling through Iraq's 1st House squared Iraq’s 4th House Neptune in late July. The 4th representing the land a country occupies, its regular people and the opposition to the ruling regime - with ISIS (now known as Islamic State) having already taken vast swathes of land, forcing many to flee or be brutally killed.

In September, Jupiter conjuncts the Uranus (rebellion, progressive tendencies, but often also the totalitarian and autocratic) in the 1st House (which describes, along with Iraq's Cancer rising and Mercury in the 1st, the country and its people as a whole, its ego and national identity). 

Iraq is also taking a battering from the Uranus-Pluto squares, with Uranus currently hovering around the MC (upset of the status quo, rebellion, overthrow of the government etc).

Of course, Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction were never found and it’s now widely accepted that the dossier on Iraq’s weapons capability - used as justification for the 2003 invasion - was at best ‘sexed up’, at worst a lie. Google Iraq September Dossier to read more. It’s of note that the dossier was published just after transiting Jupiter in Leo squared Iraq’s Neptune. As Jupiter in Leo prepares to square its Neptune again, it would be wise to be wary of what we’re told about the situation in Iraq. Already, rumours are circulating around the internet, said to come from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, that the mysterious leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a Mossad trained operative, real name Simon Elliot or Elliot Shimon. 

Are we destined to keep going around and around dealing with new incarnations of the same problem until the karmic lesson, whatever that is, is learned? A cycle of rinse and repeat, with human lives the cost? 

Astroair News

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Saturn is half way through its transit of Scorpio. To mark the occasion, my ebook Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through the Dark is now half price on Amazon. Go straight to your local Amazon site to purchase, or click here to find out more about what’s in the book.

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May your cosmic journey continue to be interesting and full of joy.

With love,
Mandi