New Moon in Libra on 6th October 2021 – Rapid Change

We are coming up to the next New Moon occurring in a few days time on 6th October, and naturally it will be happening in the sign of Libra, the sign of relating with others, of equality and justice. There is a very interesting dynamic with this lunation that may see some quite dramatic turnarounds in our relationships, and you already may be starting to feel a shift that is occurring

The Full Moon in Pisces on 21st September – The incomplete truth

We are on the verge of another full Moon, and this one early tomorrow morning (UK time) lands in the sacrificial sign of Pisces. As you will know if you have followed my work or any other reputable astrology writer, the Full Moon is a moment in time when everything comes together and the full extent of a situation is known and revealed. Now I preface that this is normally the case, but in this particular situation and under this full Moon, I am not so sure if the full extent of what is going on will be opened out. The reason is that both Pisces where the Full Moon will be located and its conjunction with Neptune moving in its own sign may cast elements of doubt and will bring a lack of clarity over proceedings. I say may, because with Neptune and Pisces, you never know where the end is, as everything is so open-ended.

This Week in Astrology - 26th July until 1st August 2021 – Flexibility

This week begins rather quietly, and there will be no new aspects on either Monday or Tuesday, and it's only in mid-week when the action will begin. This will see Mercury which has been moving through emotional Cancer shift into brash and bold Leo early on Wednesday 28th July. As it does so, it will immediately pick up on an inconjunct aspect to Jupiter, and here we may have an issue of being too forthright for our own good, before suddenly realising that we have rather overstepped the mark. It is possible that we may have to retract what we say, or express our ideas and feelings in more measured terms. Decisions we make in the heat of the moment we may come to regret, and the landscape will change further later on in the day, as Jupiter moves out of Pisces and back into Aquarius. What started out as a good idea, may end up being a total misjudgement, so be prepared to make last minute changes, if needs be. If you are making a trip today, watch out for unexpected delays, or things going wrong en-route.

This Week In Astrology - 12th until 18th July 2021 – Love Is In The Air

 

There's a warm feeling abut the coming week in the heavens above us, and we start off in a hugely philosophical mood with Mercury in humanistic Cancer making a trine to Jupiter in Pisces. This is a day of huge emotion and joy, both of tears of happiness and disappointment, and whichever side of the coin we find ourselves on, we will be able to learn lessons from all of those feelings surrounding us. There is a wide outreach surrounding the energy today, and we will understand that we can aspire to more and to go further than we have done. Big plans come out of Jupiter trine Mercury.

This Week In Astrology (28th June - 4th July 2021) - Mars Enters The Fray

Good morning everyone. Hope you had a good weekend. During this week in Astrological terms, Mars, the planet of action steps into the spotlight as it enters the realms of the Saturn Uranus square. This then on the face of it looks a tricky week, and it appears to get tougher as it progresses.

The Full Moon in Cancer on 30th December 2020 – Making plans for the New Year

There's going to be a full Moon on the 30th December at 8 degrees in the sign of Cancer, a reminder that the Capricorn Cancer influence of the past 2 to 3 years has not quite finished yet. As you will know Cancer is a sign of nurturing, security, family and the past, and this lunation will highlight these themes as we get the end of a most difficult year, and look forward with hope that 2021 will be a little bit better.

The 14th December 2020 Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius – The survival of the fittest

We have a New Moon Solar Eclipse arriving in a few days on the 14th December, landing at 23 degrees Sagittarius. Each eclipse series or family has a different theme associated with it, and this one, the Saros Series 4 South, is very much connected to intense relationship situations or volatile financial issues, very much based around debt, big business, stocks, shares and corporations. This is a South Node eclipse, and these are linked to events that end or fade out, situations that have outlived their usefulness and have to make way for new conditions or fresh starts.

Australia – The great burn up continues

Watching the awful pictures of the past couple of months out in Australia and the record temperatures being recorded there, it set my mind wondering what is causing the extremes that the Aussie nation is experiencing, especially in Astrological terms. Now we all know about climate change, and that will not be helping things. In the UK where I live there seems to be non stop rain and the river levels are creeping higher and higher. In Australia, the smoke from bush fires are blanking out the sky in Sydney and the city is on constant alert.

The 15th degree of fixed signs – The “Avatar Degrees” and their significance to us all as 2018 begins.

This is a significant day in astrological terms as the Lunar Nodes now have reached the middle degree point of the fixed signs. In Astrology and in spirituality there is a mythical reputation about 15 degrees of any of the fixed signs, and right now and in the next couple of weeks they will be playing a huge part in all of our lives.

Now for those of you who don't realise, the 15th degree of any fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius) is significant because it's exactly midway between the cardinal equinox and solstice points. These degrees have been known as “The Gates of the Avatars” and as you may know, an avatar is a free spiritual being or soul with magical or god like powers. There is a special melding of energy here and throughout history, it has been noted that these degrees have produced people with unusual gifts and talents that have a transcendental quality about them. These are fixed signs too and you often find enormous determination here to beat the odds stacked against you, in both good and bad ways. With the transiting planets there can be amazing coincidences, lucky breaks, the ability to achieve when it was thought impossible to do so.

Now obviously you need some examples and I have many. The late David Cassidy had Pluto at 15 degrees Leo in his 2nd house of making money (ruling his creative 5th house) and the fame and fortune he received because of his talent to charm a generation sent him on a path of personal destruction. Serena Williams has her Mars, the planet of sports on the same degree in her 5th house of sports and games, and she has taken women's tennis to a new level. Pablo Picasso had his natal Neptune at 15 Taurus, and his imagination to create and make things (Taurus is a sign of building) knew no boundaries. Stevie Wonder has his natal Pluto in his 10th house of career and he has overcome tremendous odds since going blind soon after birth (he has disintegrating Neptune the planet of music retrograde conjunct his Ascendant sextile to Pluto) to become one of the music geniuses of any generation. Carlos Puidgemont, the Catalan leader in exile has Neptune at 15 degrees Leo and he has causes chaos and disruption in Spain, and he himself has sacrificed himself for the dream of Catalan independence. Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany has her Moon in Aquarius opposite to Pluto and she has become the most powerful woman on earth for many years now. Facebook was launched with the Sun at 15 degrees Aquarius, the sign of networking and the internet and it has become probably the most successful website ever. John Paul Getty had his Jupiter at 15 Taurus opposite to Saturn, and he amassed a huge fortune and was notoriously frugal with it. Both Willie Nelson and Diana Ross had the sign of communication Mercury at 15 Taurus, Marvin Gaye his Uranus at 15 degrees Taurus trine to Neptune, the planet of music and imagination, Leslie Nielsen had his Venus at 15 Aquarius conjunct to Mercury and opposite to Neptune. Alice Cooper has his Sun conjunct 15 Scorpio, and he has made his name through a complete transformation of his persona. Finally Marcel Marceau, the mime artist had Neptune at 15 degrees Leo, the planet of imagination in the sign of performance. I think I've proved my point.

We also have another influence at 15 degrees now, Jupiter at 15 degrees Leo sitting at the North Bendings of the transiting Nodes. The North Bendings is the square point to the Nodes (there is a South Bending Point too) is a position of taking things a little too far and with Jupiter in this position there is a potential for total excess now, or going over the top. The US tax bill was signed on 22nd December with the Nodes at 15 Leo Aquarius and Jupiter square to them, and the general consensus is that the US Senate and President Trump have gone too far in pleasing their own rich and wealthy followers at the expense of the majority of the population. Punitive oil sanctions were voted on against North Korea at the UN security council, banning 90% of exports to that country, however that won't stop the Koreans and President Kim. Why? North Korea has Pluto, the nuclear planet natally at 15 degrees Leo and it is now conjunct to the transiting North Node and square is transiting Jupiter at 15 degrees Scorpio. Remember what I said about beating the odds and having a special mystical quality. North Korea has it too, secretive, utterly brutal and determined. These sanctions won't deter North Korea, indeed I think they will make her even more determined to prove a point.

In this regard I would be very wary in the next week or two, especially as military Mars gets to 15 degrees Scorpio conjunct to Jupiter and sextile to Pluto promoting a dangerous risk taking attitude in the pursuit of power and control. Remember Mars will still be closely square to the Nodes at the “going too far point” of the North Bendings. All this happens as the planet of disruption, shocks and rebelliousness Uranus slows to a halt on 2nd January 2018, stationing direct. You know something unexpected always happens at a Uranus station. I fear the new year may come in with quite a bang!!!

Zimbabwe in crisis – Political theatre, tanks, vested interests and China.

There is a very interesting power play going on in Zimbabwe at the moment, but what is really going on? Is there an official coup in progress against 93 year old President Robert Mugabe? Then again, he has been seen on the national TV service that the military now control, at home and seemingly in control. It appears that he is confined to home, but free to speak. What’s going on? Let’s take a closer look…

Trump Watch – What's up next for 45?

It's been a long while since I looked at the 45^th President of the United States and for us Astrologers he is fascinating simply because so much happens while he's around. As someone born with a Sun Uranus conjunction, he courts controversy and disruption, and that's how he will always operate. Uranus in Gemini is almost schizophrenic in nature – I mean the planet of disruption in the sign of the trickster??!? My wife is a Gemini and she blows hot and cold and you will see all 4 seasons in one day from her, so heavens alone what it must be like to work alongside the erstwhile President? Anyway, back to matters in hand and I will (if I have time) have a look at his chart periodically to see what is on the horizon for him.

Harvey Weinstein - From Hollywood hero to zero

I have to say straight up that when I heard the news last week about Harvey Weinstein, I was naturally shocked, disgusted, and yet not that surprised. That's because in my time in working at London Heathrow Airport I actually had the dubious pleasure of encountering him. He was one of the, if not the most awkward, demanding and egotistical clients that I had ever dealt with. I was left with a sense of unease and utter relief after he had gone to his flight back to Los Angeles. My feeling was this was not a nice man, and when I have a feeling about someone, I'm often not so far from the truth.

Mars conjunct Bellatrix - The long hard struggle to success

 

This connection is active tomorrow and lasting through until 23rd July 2017. It occurs at 21.11 degrees Gemini.

This is an interesting combination as Bellatrix is a star in the constellation of Orion that does have a successful side to it, but with the achievement comes problems in the form of vulnerability and exposing where you are lacking in ability and confidence. This star is also one of strength, bravery and courage but there does always seem to be a down side to any gains that you make and reversals in fortune can often follow. There can be a tendency to fight for lost causes if this star is prominent in your chart. It is connected to femininity and is nicknamed the" Amazon Star" in homage to strong women. Thomas Hood mentioned that “women born under the stars of Orion and especially of Bellatrix shall have mighty tongues!!” Elsbeth Ebertin said of Bellatrix that "If positive properties can be drawn out, will lead to advancement and success, but those who succeed always have to allow for being surrounded with envy and hatred. Quick decision making, thoughts and plans being realized with energy, courage, fighting spirit, strategic talents, ability to organize, discrimination. Reckless aggressiveness of a belligerent daredevil"

The link to Mars complements these qualities quite nicely and once this connection is active whatever you start up or try to do will be hard work and you may succeed, but go into any task now knowing that its not going to be straightforward. There are battles and tests of strength and maybe endurance that you will have to overcome first, and maybe prices to pay afterwards as well. The hardest or most frustrating day of the three may just be tomorrow, as Mars will still be in an inconjunct aspect with Pluto, thus whatever you try to do may be subject to some adjustment, change or outside control. Monday and Tuesday look clearer however as Mars is not making any other aspects, and so you can get the job done without too many distractions.

Some famous people with connections to Bellatrix

Amy Winehouse - singer (North Node). Donald Trump - President (North Node), George Soros - Financier (Mars), Gwyneth Paltrow - Actress (Saturn), Jackie Chan - Actor/Martial Arts (Jupiter), Prince Albert of Monaco - Royalty (Ascendant), Diana Ross - Singer (Saturn), Art Garfunkel - Musician (Jupiter), Al Pacino - Actor (Venus), Roy Orbison - Musician (Midheaven)

Mars conjunct fixed star Rigel - A lot of enthusiasm, but reckless with it...

 

This conjunction is starting to build and will last from tomorrow 15th May now until Wednesday 17th at 17:04 degrees Gemini.

Mars is now approaching one of the most prominent stars in the constellation of Orion, Rigel, a star that lies in the foot of the warrior hero in the skies. Rigel also sits at the end of the constellation of Eridanus, the river. This star does have a rather chaotic and independent side to it but it is also highly regarded by the star gazers of the past. Robson said it was one that brought "benevolence, honour, riches, happiness, glory, renown and inventive or mechanical ability". Rigel also bring the potential for educating or informing and instructing people and is tied to teaching and learning.

Now Mars connecting with star can bring great determination and a will to win, and you can achieve much in all your aims and desires as this star can help you literally keep your feet on the ground. I think that so long as you have a plan in advance and you stick to it then you will be fine, but Mars with this star can be unruly and boisterous, thus it can lead you to being too rash and taking things for granted too much. If you get too impatient of course or try to "wing it", that's when you'll likely get in trouble. Also be careful in regard to dealing with authority, as you may disregard what they tell you to do; this is a connection that often flouts the law, taking an "I don't care" attitude. As mentioned before this is a great star to have if you are learning something new or teaching someone else, and it's great for solving technical and engineering matters.

Now in the world around us this connection may bring about some illegal acts or some rather rash military ones. There's a sense of acting without due consideration here, doing things out of impulse, and remember this. Donald Trump's disruptive natal Uranus (conjunct to his Sun) is at 17.54 degrees Gemini and this conjunction especially in mid week is going to be a little too close for comfort for him not to do something unexpected, or stupid!!

Mars conjunct Aldebaran - Taking decisive action

 

In the next day or so, Mars moves in to conjunct with one of the Royal Persian stars, Aldebaran, the “Watcher of the East” sitting at 10.01 degrees Gemini in the eye of the bull in the constellation of Taurus. All royal stars promise success however with Royal Persian stars there is always a test to make sure that you are held true to your values and if you fail it then all your gains will be lost. With Aldebaran, this test is one of your ethical integrity. If you are not honest in your endeavours, then you will lose everything you have and you will come crashing down to earth.

I always tend to see this star as one of strength, either physically or mentally, and Mars as you will know is the planet of getting things going, of action and aggression, and also of the police and the military. It is possible that we will see a proliferation of force or people taking direct action in the light of this connection. Robson says of this conjunction the it favours military action but attended by much danger and there is possibility of accidents too. Those who order such action may be judged by Aldebaran now, and if their actions are not ethical or humane, then they will be due heavy retribution somewhere down the tracks.

In your personal life this connection can help you to move forward in your life and take decisive action, but make sure that all that you do is honest and in done in the right way, and then you will be able to achieve your goals successfully.

Some people connected to Aldebaran

Michael Jackson - singer (star rising), Bruce Lee - martial arts actor - (star setting), Abraham Lincoln - US President (star on Nadir), Joe Biden - politician (conj to Saturn), Billy Connolly - comedian (conj to Saturn), Jeffrey Archer - writer and disgraced politician (conj to Mars), Clint Eastwood - actor and director (conj to Sun), Elizabeth Warren - politician (conj to Mars), Jimi Hendrix - guitarist (conj to Saturn), Maria Sharapova - tennis player (conj to Mars)

Mars conjunct to Alcyone - Acting in a short sighted manner

 

Mars is now into the constellation of the stars of Taurus the Bull, and the first one it comes into contact is the star Alcyone in the bull's shoulder, sitting at 0.14 degrees Gemini.

Mars conjunct Capulus and Algol - Beware the eyes of the Medusa

 

Just a little heads up for the middle to the end of this week, in particular between 12th and 17th of this week, over the Easter holidays. Mars as you may know is moving in Taurus, and from Wednesday through until Easter Monday it is traversing the most dangerous part of the whole zodiac, past the star Capulus at 24.26 degrees Taurus in the sword hand of Perseus and then connecting with Algol at 26.24 Taurus, the blinking demon star in the head of the Medusa in Perseus' hand.

Mars conjunct Menkar – Fearing what you can’t control

 

Mars, the planet of war and action is now at 14 degrees Taurus connected to the star Menkar in the mouth of the constellation of the Great Whale or Sea Monster of the skies, Cetus. The whale appears in classic Greek mythology as a terrible creature and it also entered more popular culture in the story of Jonah and the Whale.

This is a time for extremes, for collective action and chaos, or of things that unconsciously affect us all on this planet. There is an unsettling and maybe fearful edge to today that could (and I say could) break out in upsets, disputes for no apparent reason, confusion and even violence, although this is a last resort reaction. It will be us reacting to things that maybe we cannot control, leading to anxiety and worry. This influence will pass in the next couple of days so just ride out the storm as best you can if it visits you

Mercury opposite to Mars - Releasing the pressure

Ok everyone, get ready for more fireworks tomorrow as Mars retrograde in Scorpio opposes Mercury in stubborn Taurus. This is going to be a showdown in the fixed signs between the planet of the mind and of communication and the planet of action and aggression, which retrograde in Scorpio is harbouring deep deep resentment and irritation. Mars is not happy retrograde in Scorpio as all that action and anger that is normally allowed to flow in the sign Mars used to rule is being stored up internally. It's like the water bubbling and boiling within a pressure cooker until the pressure reaches it's limit, and then the steam blasts out.

The opposition here shows potential verbal conflict as old wounds and irritations come to a head and "boom", an explosion occurs. The fixed signs indicate issues coming under pressure that have entrenched positions, neither side wants to move or adjust and so they just snipe insults or fire rockets at each other.

Tomorrow is going to be one of those tricky days, so watch out for verbal battles and disagreements and try and keep your cool. Mercury rules transport and the press too, so transport accidents may occur through too much speed, there may be sensational investigations that break in the press, or there may be fire and/ or mechanical technical faults.

Mars conjunct Pluto - Never take no for an answer...

 

Anyone who has this conjunction or maybe the trine, opposition or square in their own chart will understand the above statement as absolutely true. Anyone who has these planets linking up will have a very strong will, will have tremendous energy and determination at their disposal and you will be driven sometimes by an invisible force to achieve your desires at literally any cost. These people can throw common sense out of the window in the pursuit of a goal. There is a quiet and subtle desire for power as Pluto will drive the need for power below the surface, thus the potential for secret actions and manipulation is high. Here are actions fuelled by jealous rage and a need for ultimate control. These are a couple of really intense days that we are embarking on.

This combination of Mars and Pluto this time around are squared by Uranus, so there is an unpredictable and potentially shocking side to the energy affecting us all. Mars square to Uranus is very accident prone as the planet of energy and action challenged by the planet of disruption. This is a cardinal square too, so the desire to act positively is strong. I can see hugely unexpected occurrences that change the ground rules now, things that will make you sit up and really take notice. Will your desire to control a situation or to take things into your own hands encourage you to take highly unusual steps to achieve what you want? There is so many potential changes and so much tension that can occur under this double square. There could be anger, violence, sexual tension, subtlety, manipulation, jealousy, accidents, revolution and rebellion, brutality, perversity, innovation, invention, the use of power for good and for ill. You can use the energy here to propel yourself into a new dimension, or you can use it to be hugely destructive.

What I will say is that if you have planets in the middle degrees of any of the signs, then you are likely to see or experience some incidents this weekend that could be rather unexpected. It's your choice how you react to the situations that face you and it will be very easy to overreact, to be obstinate or inflexible and this may cost you, so use the energy wisely...