Alexandria Ocasio Cortez – A young woman who will not be held back...

The youngest and most controversial member of the House of Representatives in Washington DC has a fascinating astrology chart for sure, and in a post last week I mentioned that I would look at her. She is a Sun Libran (born 13th Oct 1989 at 11.50am in the Bronx), her birth time confirmed in the last week by herself through Astrologer Arthur Lipp-Bonewits.

Midterm elections in the US – A turning point...

On 6th November, many Americans will go to the polls in the Midterm elections, as 435 of the seats in the House of Representatives are up for re-election and 35 senate seats in the US Congress are up for grabs. The way the country votes in two weeks time may shift the balance of power in the US and affect the ability of the President to get through his agenda.

America and Guns - The Astrological link between Columbine, Sandy Hook and Parkland...

For years now on my Astrology website I have followed America as a nation become more and more divided over the most controversial of subjects, that of the ownership of guns. The conflict between the proliferation of guns and the 2nd Amendment of their constitution to bare arms to protect themselves. Notice the language I used - to protect themselves!! Somehow over the years, this statute laid down by the early founding fathers had in my eyes become misconstrued into being a right to own and use guns, no matter how powerful and dangerous they may be. America has always been a violent place, but a new low was reached in 1999 as the use of guns was used in an educational facility, an attack that shocked and horrified a nation.

Tom Brady – Born to be a quarterback

If you could ever want to find an Astrological chart that screams quarterback, then Tom Brady has it all. Later today in Minnesota, Tom Brady goes to try and win an unprecedented 6th Superbowl ring. It will be his 8th appearance in the NFL's show piece game, four times before he has been the game's most valuable player. He is without doubt the best there has ever been, and who would bet against him winning another championship on Super Sunday? I wouldn't.

Oprah Winfrey, the Golden Globes and a run for the Presidency of the United States in 2020?

Oprah Winfrey

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly. Oprah for the White House? Am I crazy? Not as an Astrologer I’m not. Back in 2011 I wrote a post about Donald Trump and his ambitions for the White House, and 5 years later it came true. At the time I said he would be very tempted to go for it, and he finally pulled out at the last minute for the 2012 race, but I caught the moment and felt the temptation in his natal chart. We all know what happened in 2015 and 2016.  Now, these are interesting times for sure, and last night at the Golden Globes Awards, Oprah Winfrey became the first African American woman ever to receive the Cecil B DeMille Award for outstanding service to the entertainment world. Not only did she accept the award with grace and humility, but she also sounded a rallying cry for every woman who has suffered at the hands of powerful men, and ever so subtly indicated a desire that she personally wants to do something about it. On an astrological note, this just could be her time.

Oprah - Birth Chart

Oprah was born on 29th January 1954 at 04.30 in Kosciusco, Mississippi in the United States, the time I quote is from memory, “A” rated by Astro.com. She has a humanitarian Aquarius Sun, backed up by a free and easy Sagittarius Moon and Ascendant. Her Sun and Venus are virtually exactly conjunct, just nine minutes of a degree apart in the 2nd house of money and values. Aquarius conveys a star quality, and Oprah shines with it, kind, fun loving, sociable, sympathetic, popular yet independent and a bit detached, as all the great interviewers (and she was a great one) have to be.

This merged Sun Venus is quindecile Pluto in the 8th house, square Saturn in the 10th house of her work and widely sextile to her Moon in the 11th. These three planets tell the story of Oprah’s upbringing. Her Sun/Venus is very afflicted by Saturn and Pluto; in astrology the Sun represents the father. Here Pluto is retrograde in the 8th house, hidden away in the house of sex secrets and brutality and Saturn square the Sun shows a difficult, cruel upbringing. Oprah was the product of a short relationship, and she was brought up in poverty by a single teenage mother, she never knew her father. Oprah suffered sexual abuse as a child from members of her family, again Pluto in the hidden 8th house square to Mars in Pluto’s own sign of Scorpio represents abusive actions of a sexual nature affecting her. With Mars ruling her 4th house of the home, we know that the abuse came from those close to her in her family.

The one thing when she was young that everyone noted about Oprah was her confidence in speaking and performing. Obviously when we look for communication, we look to Mercury. Oprah’s Mercury really is the centre of her chart in the wide conjunction to Sun/Venus, every other planet on the chart in some way feeds into this conjunction sitting in the house of earning money. There is a trine to Jupiter in chatty Gemini – here is curiosity in the purist form, needing to know everything, asking questions and a general interest all kind of media. Jupiter is in the 6th house of every day work and service so there is an easy going and optimistic style to the way that she communicates through her work that has had wide appeal, and that has influenced hundreds of copycat shows all around the world.

The Moon in Sagittarius is widely conjunct to Mars ruling that fourth house I mentioned earlier, so she will be proud of her Afro American roots and protective of her own family, her nation and heritage. With the Moon in her 11th house Oprah will have many female friends, is always out for a good time, and with that Mars in her 11th house she will be seen as a team leader or someone who paves a way for the collective. There is a sharp side to her emotions, and when she is emotionally hurt, she will go on the attack.

Pluto makes an opposition with Mercury giving Oprah a forensic mind, delving into the depths to find out the truth in any situation; she is a natural investigator and a powerful speaker able to influence people with the force of her own convictions, however she will rarely if ever reveal her own motives or weaknesses. Neptune is also trine to Mercury in the second house, it is in a imaginative mood, and often people with this placing will make money through creative pursuits and here is an idealism about the use of money to help through caring and compassion. With the Sun/Venus/Mercury in social, humanitarian Aquarius and Uranus in the Cancerian ruled 7th house, there is huge interest in other people, in family and community – she is a giver and not a taker. Oprah has probably been the most generous black American woman ever, her charity foundations contributing $80 million and counting to various causes.



If you look to her Nodal axis there is one other very interesting connection. Her North Node is very closely conjunct to Chiron, the planet of wounding and healing and a maverick influence affecting her. This axis is connected to one's mother, and in the speech Oprah made, she indicated that her mother had been subject to abuse, totally vindicating this position of her being “wounded” by the treatment she faced. Oprah's role is as a healer, and also as someone who can act as a vehicle for change. One other point to note too. Oprah’s Mercury Pluto opposition mirrors the US Ascendant/Descendant axis, there is a direct link between the way she communicates and calls for transformation, and the American psyche. Her Aquarian Sun squares this axis and it is conjunct to the US natal Mars – she was born to communicate with the US people and for them to respond favourably to her in a positive manner – this is the position of a commander in chief. Her Saturn is conjunct to the US natal Saturn/Mercury conjunction – this lady commands authority!!



Now if someone who connects with the US natal chart so readily indicates that they want to step up to the plate and take on the establishment, we should sit up and take notice. The speech last night was mesmerising and incredibly powerful, and for Oprah it was the beginning of a brand new cycle in her life. You see Oprah has a late Sagittarian Ascendant on the 29th degree of knowing, she is wise beyond her years, and Saturn over Christmas time passed over this point, entering into her Ascendant house, and a new beginning for her, and giving her added authority. Last night, Mercury the planet of communication was conjunct to her Ascendant too as well as her Saturn. She spoke with gravitas, and as the unofficial leader of the “#metoo” women's movement that is growing in stature, lead by the women of Hollywood who have the influence and the voice to stand up for the millions of oppressed women who can never defend themselves. It was a bold and electrifying speech that Oprah gave, unafraid, a rallying cry of immense significance and one that rang out loud and clear. Transiting Jupiter and Mars in her 11th house of friends, (she was in the company of colleagues and friends) made a square to her 2nd house Mercury in the house of values, and a trine to the rebel planet Uranus which rules that house. That message has spread around the world, and lit a fire with speculation starting to build that she might be harbouring a run in 2020 for the Presidency. If this was the moment for her to throw her hat “unofficially” in the ring then it was an auspicious one, as remember, her natal Mercury connects to the US Ascendant. Her thoughts and values are America's values.

Even more significantly Mars and Jupiter yesterday made sextiles to the Sun, Venus and Pluto, and they in turn are making a powerful square to her Midheaven at 17 degrees Libra. Pluto in the past weeks has been activating a change in her professional and public outlook. Pluto is power, control and inevitable change and there is a shift now as Pluto activates her point of career. More power might be coming her way. Pluto is starting to and will be opposing her natal Uranus in the coming year, the planet linked directly to her as an Aquarian, sitting in her house of relationships and open enemies. He message to take on and radically change values, will certainly gain opposition, but it is one that will gather support of the collective too. Pluto and Uranus are very powerful agents of change, and if she mobilises people behind her then she can move mountains linked to this message. Look back at her natal chart, and to that Sun Venus conjunction in the house of values closely square to Saturn, the planet of administration sitting in the 10th house of career. Isn't that an interesting aspect now in the light of her Golden Globes speech?



As she made this speech, it is worth looking at her Progressed chart, at it is stunning in it's significance. Her progressed Ascendant has now reached 16.01 degrees Pisces, and her Progressed Mercury had reached 16.01 degrees Pisces. A perfect and exact fit for the moment in a setting surrounded by the great and the good of the film and TV world (ruled by Pisces and Neptune). On this progressed chart, Mercury rules the 4th house of the nation, and the 7th house of open enemies – we all know who it was aimed at. Her progressed Jupiter, the planet of expansion and optimism is at her Progressed IC, activating all four angles of this progressed chart – this is the moment that she starts to open out on her personal ambitions for herself (Ascendant), her nation and roots (IC), her work and career (MC) and to those who oppose her (Descendant). Her progressed Moon is now also closing on a conjunction with her progressed Sun in her first house, starting to square her progressed Uranus and Nodal axis. I see this as an emotional pull to start acting in a more rebellious manner. She wants to see change, she realises she is the one individual who can fulfil it, and this picture only confirms this.



Later on this year, there is a Solar eclipse at 20 degrees Cancer that will hit this progressed Uranus and South Node on 13th July 2018. Transiting Pluto at that moment, the planet of power will be 0.01 degrees from a direct hit to her progressed North Node, her point of destiny. This eclipse also makes a square to her  her progressed Moon, indicating a shift in her personally (1st house) that is coming as well as her individual talents (5th house). Neptune will be on her progressed Ascendant and Mercury at this moment too, highlighting her as a person, and what she says. Neptune is compassionate and self sacrificing and I wonder if she will make a sacrifice now in service to her nation (Mercury ruling progressed 4th house)? This is the first of a series of Cancerian eclipses for the US Cancerian nation born on 4th July (even though I use the Stolte rising chart which highlights the Articles of the Confederation signed when the Sun was in Scorpio).



So do the transits of this eclipse back things up? Yes they do. The eclipse lands in Oprah's 7th house conjunct to her natal Uranus ruling that 2nd house of values and money and square to her Midheaven. This eclipse is going to propel her career in a new direction. I think this will be a very significant moment for Oprah, as transiting Mars will be on her Sun. She will go on the attack, the eclipse will be trine to her natal Mars, giving her impetus and drive for the future and remember Mars rules her home life her nation, and women's issues too. Natal Mercury will be at the midpoint between her natal Jupiter (her chart ruler in her house of work) and her Midheaven, the point of career. Whatever she says now will be important for her future goals and expansion. Transiting Uranus is for the next year going to be trine to her Sagittarian Ascendant from that 4th house of the nation. Trust me, this is a lady who is not going to let this moment lie, there will be a fierce desire in her for radical change in women's issues and how America deals with them. If there is a moment when she starts to seriously running for office, keep an eye on and around this date, and what she does.



If I was her advisor, I'd tell her right now – run for the Presidency!!! Why? I'll tell you. She can get under the skin of President Trump, just like Steve Bannon and Michael Wolff has done. Her Pluto at 24 degrees Leo like theirs sits square to the President's Midheaven at 24 degrees Taurus, a perfect square. She can undermine him, brutally cut him to ribbons and remember that incisive and surgical Mercury Pluto opposition in her chart – well it squares his Midheaven. She could have the ability if so used to tear him, and his administration to bits. Her Mars in Scorpio sits at 23 Scorpio directly on his IC, opposing his Midheaven, that Mars that so passionately cares about her country and women's issues. If used correctly could be used as a dagger to skewer Trump and his public attitudes. Her Sun/Venus conjunction opposes Trump's natal Pluto in Leo, so here we have power verses kindness and compassion, a battle of wills of complete opposite agendas. Also in regards to her ambitions, her Saturn at 9 Scorpio square his natal Pluto at 10 degrees Leo, therefore in effect if they come up against each other, they would have to battle for power and control. In effect Trump can change her ambitions, and she will be critical of his power base.

Also Oprah's North Node Chiron conjunction opposes Trump's Saturn Venus conjunction, her South Node sits closely conjunct to his planet of administration and the planet ruling his MC (Taurus Midheaven). Through this combination she can seriously wound him and expose the way he runs his administration. She can also undermine his tentative hold on the Republican party (his Saturn sits in his 11th house of groups) and how he communicates (Venus rules his 3rd house of communication). Talking of communication, Oprah is the darling of the press, her Jupiter trines her natal Mercury, and she could use this to her advantage to use the oppressed media to support her in her ventures. All this is of course speculative unless she throws her hat into the ring, which I think is something that will she will seriously consider.



Now let's put a scenario in the air. Oprah, runs for the Presidency, there is no viable Democratic candidate out there at the moment and she takes the nomination. Speculation I know but hear me out on this. The Solar Eclipse before the election on 21st June 2020 is going to be at 0 degrees Cancer, on the cusp of the sign that defines the United States, the nation's state, the family and women's issues. It also lands on Oprah's Descendant, opposite to her natal Ascendant. It's almost a perfect hit, within a degree of exact. This is going to be another hugely significant moment, just before the time of the party conventions of 2020.



This eclipse over Washington D.C. is utterly fascinating. It sees Uranus, the rebel planet conjunct to the Ascendant and Saturn, the planet of administration is on the cusp of Aquarius, the sign that Uranus rules and Saturn used to rule. The eclipse sees Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn in the 10th house of administration, and the eclipse is inconjunct to Saturn. We are sensing a revolt, and a change with Uranus so close to the Ascendant. Closest to the Midheaven is Pluto conjunct Jupiter. Pluto is power and Jupiter represents diversity, perhaps ethnic diversity? Everything here tells me that a change is coming to Washington, a woman perhaps (0 degrees Cancer) eclipsing the Administration, is an ethnically diverse female Aquarian is coming to the party? Think about this picture for a minute. Does it make sense to you??

Ok, let's take things a bit further on. It's election day 2020, the 3^rd November. It's Oprah vs Trump for the White House. Hypothetically, who wins?



Well at 07.00am when the polls open in Washington DC, the Midheaven will be exactly and I mean exactly on Oprah's natal Pluto, the planet of power. Where's that influential Uranus, the planet she rules? It's square to her natal Sun/Venus ruling her Libran Midheaven, her Taurean 5th house of doing things by herself and the Leo ruled 8th of power and inevitable change. Mercury the planet of decisions will be in her elevated 10th house conjunct to her 10th house Neptune. This links her work and career, to votes cast and decisions made perhaps (Pisces rules 3rd)? Mars will be about to enter her 4th house of the home, so things connected to her family and where she lives will be important to her. Most significantly of all though, that Saturn Pluto Jupiter conjunction will be on her North Node Chiron conjunction. Whatever she is doing at this minute, destiny will be calling her. Power will be coming her way, an expansion in her life, responsibilities on her shoulders to heal, as she has always healed others.



The same for President Trump. What happens to him? Uranus is going to be square to his natal Pluto. Ouch, this planet rules the place he lives, the White House. A sudden change is on the cards? Mercury ruling votes will be square to his natal Saturn/Venus conjunction in his 11th house of parties, ruling his Midheaven (career) and individual style (Saturn rules Capricorn intercepted in his 5th house), therefore the vote doesn't seem to be going in his direction, it's at a counter point to his administration. Donald will be going through a Nodal return at this minute, and this brings to light an interesting point. Nodal returns are crossroads points one's life, as if you come to a decision point as to how your future will go. The North Node is on his Sun and Uranus, but the detrimental South Node will be on his natal Moon, thus a woman, women's issues or his own family will be dragging him down. There is a sense of a dramatic change going on here, a shift affecting him and a sudden about turn in his fortunes. This Nodal return will be acting across his 4th house/10th house axis, highlighting a division between his work and his home life, his public life and his family.

The Saturn Pluto Jupiter conjunction of 2020 is the standout aspect of many a long year and how is affecting President Trump. Well it will be opposing his natal Saturn Venus conjunction and holding judgement on what he has done in running the US for the previous 4 years. Saturn oppositions can be depressing and rather nasty, and Pluto opposed to Saturn Venus is transformational, affecting his hold on a group, the Republicans, his job (Taurus ruled MC) and his individual persona (5th house). Jupiter brings more freedom into his life and these planets also make a trine to his Midheaven. From all I can see from these aspects, they are forcing a career change on him, allowing him to release himself from the burden of administration. I'll make a prediction now based on this that President Trump even if he wants to will not serve a second term.

Now whoever goes on to take him on in November 2020 will oppose the President facing the same picture, and of course to unseat a sitting President isn't easy, and you have to have a credible and powerful candidate. The year 2016 proved that anything can happen in the world of politics, and you don't have to be a veteran politician to win the White House any more. Donald Trump ripped up the rule book and destroyed the reputation of many an Astrologer in the process. So what will 2020 bring with it? Well in the year of the great Pluto Jupiter Saturn conjunction, all the Astrologers have been predicting a power shift of incredible proportions, and any power shift begins at the top so here goes. As unlikely as it may seem right now, wouldn't it be appropriate if a black (Pluto) ethnically diverse (Jupiter) Aquarian (old ruler of Saturn) woman (0 degrees Cancer eclipse) loved universally by Americans young and old backed and to the hilt by the former first Black male President Barak Obama completely changes the rules, releases the media from the disgraceful impositions and slurs placed upon them, gives all women in the country hope, and enters the White House?

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Michael Wolff – Writing words of fire and fury

Michael Wolff - The writer of "Fire and Fury"

The current storm around Donald Trump has been caused by the release of the book “Fire and Fury” penned by author and journalist Michael Wolff, who shadowed the President Trump and his team in the first few months of the administration's term of office. Wolff rushed out the book after lawyers tried to restrict it's release, due to the criticisms aimed at the Administration and President Trump. Excerpts from the book call Trump “like a child”, the running of the administration “chaotic” and it mentions a meeting at Trump Tower between the President's son Donald Jnr and some Russians as potentially “treasonous”.

The Full Moon in Cancer on 2nd January 2018 – Flying high, but affected by the winds of change.

The first major astrological event of the New Year comes up soon as we encounter a Full Moon in Cancer. Anyone who has followed my work over the past few years will know that the Full Moon is a release point, the culmination of all our experiences as the Moon fully reflects the light of the opposing Sun. We have energy opposed to emotion, ying versus yang, light versus dark, man vs female. If you ever wonder why at a Full Moon our emotions are heightened, then you'll realise that in the main, all living organisms need male relationships with females of the species to survive, and when one is pitted against the other, tensions rise. More things happen over a Full Moon because there is a peak amount of opposed energy, causing division between the sexes who naturally see things on a completely different level. This is a Super Moon, the second of three in a row, and therefore potentially the most significant of them all. You'll remember the chaos that surrounded the 3rd December 2017 Super Moon in Gemini square to Neptune and the fall out in your lives from it in the following two weeks? Let me tell you, this Full Moon is no less dramatic.

Saturn enters the sting of Scorpio, and the threat level raises.

It's always important as an Astrologer to keep an eye on the moments of the planets on the Astrology wheel, but it also pays to realise that the wheel we use is quite crude almost anaesthetic in nature. When you put the planets and place them within the constellations, then things come very much to life, and you get a brand new perspective on their movements. For us all, there is no more important planet than Saturn as it teaches us all lessons, and now it it moving into a very interesting part of the heavens.

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.

The Great Saturn and Pluto conjunction of 2020. How will it affect us all?

I have been promising to write this article for quite a while now and many of my readers have been asking for it too, so today I finally get out the crystal ball and try and predict what may happen as these two most influential of planets connect up in the month of January 2020 and beyond.

A political bombshell explodes as President Trump fires FBI director James Comey

 

Overnight one of the most brutal acts of political cover-up that I have ever witnessed occurred, and it wasn’t even subtle. FBi director was in Los Angeles addressing his staff when he was handed a note telling him that he had just been fired, with immediate effect. The official line that it was due to his handling of the Hillary Clinton email scandal (which Trump had previously praised Comey for), but we all know the real reason, don’t we??

The USA drops the largest non nuclear bomb in history for the first time.

 

Evening everyone. Out of the blue the US has announced that the American Air Force dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever against ISIS positions in Afghanistan. According to the Independent Newspaper in here in the UK, "the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, or "Mother of all Bombs" is one of the most powerful conventional weapons in existence. The bomb weighs more than 10,000 kilograms and contains 8,164 kilograms of explosive and its explosion is equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the blast radius is a mile wide!!!"

America strikes back at Syria for the 4th April chemical attack

 

Good morning everyone. President Trump has entered the Syrian Crisis in a big way tonight ordering a a very specific and targeted attack on the air base from where the 4th April chemical attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun was launched. According to reports 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired at the Syrian base from American war ship based in the eastern Mediterranean. The Russians, who use the base for helicopter missions were apparently given a short warning in advance that the attack was imminent. I would assume that the Russians in turn told the Syrians that President Trump was due to act against them. It took place just before 04.00am local time and I hear that it was aimed at aircraft, aircraft hangers, operations buildings, technical equipment and oil storage at the airfield.

The battle over the Supreme Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch

 

There seems to be a fight looming in the Senate over the appointment of judge Neil Gorsuch, the nominee of President Donald Trump to fill the ninth and last place on the Supreme Court bench in the United States. There has been a vacancy in the highest law court in the US since judge Antonin Scalia passed away in February 2016. He was conservative in nature, and Gorsuch's pending appointment would bring back the 5-4 majority in favour of more conservatively leaning justices. Now there is a hitch in the appointment process, as the Democrats could potentially scupper the appointment process.

Jeff Sessions - Truth, lies and Russian officials...

 

Good morning everyone. My topic for discussion today is Jeff Sessions, the Attorney General in the US. He is the chief lawmaker for the US and it sounds like before he took office he spoke with a certain Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the US. Yes, this is the same Sergey Kislyak who General Michael Flynn spoke with before he took office, the former National Security Advisor to Trump who was forced to fall on his sword just 26 days after assuming office.

Is Steve Bannon the real power behind the Trump throne?

 

Since he was announced as chief strategist to Donald Trump, the influence of Steve Bannon, the faceless former executive behind Breitbart News seems to be all over every executive order that President Trump has issued. Breitbart News for those of you who don't know is an ultra right wing Conservative online publication started in 2007. It is unapologetically pro Israeli because of it's founder Jewish American Andrew Breitbart, and linked through Bannon to the Alt-Right faction. It has been described as misogynistic and xenophobic in the past and continues to espouse controversial views such as the dismissing of climate change and it's potential environmental consequences.

Donald Trump - Being born under a Lunar Eclipse.

Ok so there has been a bit of a spat between myself and Astrologer Peter Novak over Donald Trump on my Facebook page – Solaris Astrology. Now I was questioned in a reply on my page about Trump (or anyone for that matter) being born under a Lunar eclipse and I thought, Ok, good subject for a discussion.

A lunar eclipse is the same as a full Moon (Sun opposition Moon) only that the earth intervenes and gets in the way of the light of the Sun for a short period as it crosses in between the two, thus blanking out the visibility of the Moon in the Earth's shadow.

Now what in my view are the effects of being born under one of these? Well it very much depends on the first point if this is a North Node Lunar eclipse or a South Node one. There is a significant difference between the two. Both connections I think will indicate increased intuition on the issues of the Nodes in the natal chart, affected by the sign that they are in and the house placement too, after all at every eclipse they are in close attendance. The North Node is linked to your future goals and the lessons that you have to learn in this life to fulfil your soul's mission, so I think you will instinctively and emotionally know what to do to achieve these and how to effectively work on them.

The South Node indicates the place where we entered this life, the talents we know we have and it's the place in the chart that in times of trouble we fall back on. It's our default position and we feel very happy there but it doesn't do us any favours for our future direction. I feel as if this is a position where those people will get stuck into ingrained habits, and that will not help them in moving forward. Anyone with a South or North Node eclipse tunes into these emotions and will feel very them very acutely, but there will always be a divide between their emotional responses and the way that they integrate them into their lives.

Now in Donald Trumps case, he was born under a South Node Lunar eclipse in Sagittarius in his 4th house and this is a place where he is very intuitive, but it is also a place where he is likely to get into trouble at the same time as his emotions are stuck into the lessons from the past, rather than being able to appreciate those of the future. The Sagittarian element is incredibly forthright and blunt, go getting and expansionist but in the wrong way for goals that he needs to achieve for his soul to complete it's journey. This comes out in issues of race and ethnicity (Sagittarius) his real estate and property business, (4th house), his attitude to his family, women and possibly his mother (Moon), to his country, his nation and to the past, again all lunar and 4th house themes.

His instincts are very tuned in to all of these things but I believe his attitudes to them are stuck in the dark ages and the Sagittarian side of things makes him yes very expansionist and a risk taker too, but also very blunt and unapologetic with it. The 4th house Eclipsed Moon and South Node conjunction on his chart being opposed to Uranus indicates him to have a very reactionary and very unpredictable temperament. He is very clever and talented, but also too emotionally fixed in his own ways for his own good, even with his Sun and Uranus in Gemini. Once these individuals make up their minds on something, they tend to stick with it no matter what the circumstances. Individuals with Uranus or Aquarius affecting their chart can be so stubborn in some parts of their lives, attitudes get ingrained and their dedication to what they think is right is in their mind seems never in doubt. Unfortunately with Trump and his attitude to women, his nation and international affairs, the world moves on as he stands still, and these I feel are big flaws in his character.

I do think that Donald does appeal to a section of the US population who hark for America's past, for the time when the US was the policeman of the world, when it was a great manufacturing and financial powerhouse, but those days are ending as Pluto opposes the US natal Sun. The US's place in the wold is changing as China, India and other former 3rd world nations rise in influence and the demographic of the population is changing too. It's no longer dominated by the white male middle and working class, the section of the nation that fervently supports Trump and his vision for America returning to it's former glory. The Hispanic and African American communities are rising in size and in influence and are having a much bigger say on the voting patterns of the country as their own values become increasingly more important. I don't think he appreciates them and his views seem very insular and out of touch with wider society.

You know, it's not his fault that he intuitively tunes into matters of the past, however I don't believe he can't see the wood from the trees for America's future direction. Remember at an eclipse, the light of that Moon is extinguished and in the same way anyone born under a lunar eclipse will have trouble in seeing and viewing issues and failings connected to the part of the chart that the Moon sits in...

If you were interested in this article why not read…

The 2016 American Presidential Election – Who will compete for the Presidency and who will win?

#DonaldTrump #GOP #United States #Politics #Vote2016 #Eclipses #Moon #South Node

The 2016 American Presidential Election – Who will compete for the Presidency and who will win?

First and foremost, it’s good to be back. Ok, as ever before a big election I have a look at the runners and riders and try to see who is likely to come out on top. The US Presidential election will be held on 8th November this year and at the time of writing, unless there is a complete meltdown for the leading candidates before we get the the Summer national conventions we are going to be looking at a Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump battle for the most powerful job in the world. Hillary currently needs just over 250 of the final 1300 Democratic delegates to win her nomination, so she is almost guaranteed to be victorious. The Democratic convention in Philadelphia in late July is likely to be a coronation for her.

The Republican race is closer with Trump having a 290 delegate lead over his nearest rival, Ted Cruz and by the time of the Cleveland convention ending on 21st July, he may not have passed the winning line, but I expect him to have gained the most votes, giving him a mandate of sorts to take on the Republican nomination. The transits for Trump at that time see transiting Mars opposing his Midheaven, so I can imagine him facing some very public opposition then, however simultaneously transiting Jupiter squares both his natal Sun, Moon and Uranus and this may just give him the boost he needs to secure the nomination. His need for social justice and fairness at that time will be strong, his ego will know no bounds and I can see a tremendous sense of pride welling up inside him. Jupiter square Uranus may also provide the spark of luck and fortune that gets him through, although he is likely to be quite restless and impatient as well. His progressed Sun hits his natal Ascendant exactly at this time too, often an indication of a personal boost, especially as his Sun natally resides in his 10th house of career and public appreciation. Finally at this moment, transiting Saturn trines his natal Pluto, and this trine is always one connected with the acquisition of personal power and influence.

So, assuming we have a Clinton vs Trump race, who is likely to win? Both candidates have not had the easiest of rides recently. Hillary has faced the "email scandal" connected to her setting up a collective email system at her New York home for when she was Secretary of State between 2008 and 2012. She did this to have control over her work and for "convenience" and so that she wouldn't have to deal with more than official one blackberry at any one time. Seeing that she is a Sun Scorpio with Scorpio rising and Mercury, the planet of communication in that sign too with both planets stationed in the behind the scenes 12th house, one would not be in the least bit surprised at her need to absolute control over the messages and information that she received. Don't be wrong about this, Hillary is the archetypal back seat driver and she will have an iron grip on all that she has responsibility for. Convenience in her words really meant "I'm in charge".

Very interestingly both her progressed Sun and progressed Mercury have been square to her natal Neptune in the past few months. Neptune is an influence of deception, illusion and it clouds the issues over things, and right on cue doubt was raised over her personal dealings and her communications. Her natal Mars has also been squared by her progressed Midheaven, and investigative action by the FBI has been digging into Hillary's time as Secretary of State. The timing of these progressed aspects are interesting. The progressed MC/Mars aspect started to affect her in the spring of last year as the investigation began and it reached a peak at the end of November, this aspect is now tailing off in it's effect over her. The progressed Sun square to Hillary's Neptune was strongest in January and the progressed Mercury square Neptune aspect hits a peak in this month of April. By the time we hit the Presidential vote, they will no longer be strong influences over her. I suspect that this drama will die down as the hands on fight of the real race gets underway. Her reputation may have been tarnished, but I don't think it will be fatal for her chances.

As for Trump, his campaign has not been plain sailing either. Natally, he has Mars sitting directly on his Ascendant, so he is aggressive, forward looking but controversial too and he naturally will inspire some people but alienate others as well; as many people will love him as hate him. He has a natal Sun Moon opposition with the Sun conjunct Uranus and the North Node and thus the Moon sits with the South Node. I have constantly mentioned that his relationship with women would be a problem for him. He will not be able to understand them well, plus his unpredictable nature will tend to alienate them. I have a similar problem, with my natal Moon square to Uranus instead of in opposition, and I have never really understood the fairer sex. The South Node influence on his Moon is crucial to all this as well. It is an unfortunate influence, and suggests that women (Moon) will tend to get the better of him over time. His Moon is in the the sign of Sagittarius in the 4th house, suggesting that Donald's mother was quite private, religious, generous and potentially from overseas, and indeed she came from Scotland from a religious family, and became a noted philanthropist in New York. It's interesting that all Donald's wives have come from overseas too, and maybe this leads me to ask the question if Donald gets on better with women from abroad much better than he does from home in his native USA? It's an interesting thought to ponder over.

Since declaring his candidacy for President, Trump's campaign has been dogged by controversy. Back in August last year, his progressed Moon was approaching a square to natal Neptune, just as the Megyn Kelly spat took place, a time when Donald was extremely disparaging about the Fox News correspondent. This is a time when one can fall foul of women through deception, gossip and scandal, and of course Neptune rules the world of TV where the dispute was played out to a worldwide audience. He also had a public TV dispute with fellow candidate Carly Fiorina on 16th September still under the influence of this square (progressed Moon aspects last about 2 months). Since January February, a new progressed aspect has been influencing Donald, a square between his progressed Mercury and his natal Mars. This will make him wilful, even more impulsive than he normally is, rash, argumentative, insensitive and it may land him into controversial situations. This is the aspect of opening your mouth without thinking of the consequences and it can land you in hot water. His strident views and off the cuff comments about immigration and abortion have prompted mass protests and anger, especially from non whites and from women.

He has been at the tip of the arrow of a protest movement in the US concerned with the drift in influence and apparent lack of strength that America has been showing. What Trump fails to see and appreciate is that the world is now a much more even playing field than it once was, simply because of the amount of wealth that has flowed out from the US to the poorer nations on earth, as it was cheaper to manufacture overseas than it was at home, and that has built up those nations and made them stronger. The world no longer needs to rely on America as being the manufacturing and financial powerhouse that it once was, there are other places taking up the slack. The financial crash of 2008/9 also contributed to the decline in world influence of the US, and other countries such as China and India have started to fill the void that appeared as the Western nations lead by the US struggled to cope. In a way Trump is making a case for the old American way, but Pluto is now opposing the US Sun and the country is radically changing. Is this another weakness of Trump? His natal Moon/South Node conjunction in the 4th house in Sagittarius shows him to have old fashioned views about his nation (4th house) and diversity (Sagittarius).

Now, at this point it is worth looking at how their charts relate to each other to see who might just come out on top. When studying their charts you can almost imagine that a square off between these two individuals was bound to happen. The first thing I notice is that Donald's Midheaven, point of career is conjunct to Hillary's North Node, her point of destiny. This is not an easy connection and it indicates that Donald's potential career path has to run through Hillary. The Midheaven person (Donald) in this link up often suffers disruption in their own career goals because of the intervention of the North Node person.

Secondly, Hillary's Pisces Moon sits square to Donald's Sun, Uranus, North Node/ Moon South Node opposition. The Pisces Moon is emotionally evasive at the best of times and square to the main opposition in Donald's chart, including his main personal planets and his nodal axis, therefore I don't think Donald will understand Hillary at all in an emotional sense as their needs will be very different. She won't appreciate his points of view either, and this will cause them to clash and be irritated by each other. Donald's Gemini Sun sits inconjunct to Hillary's Scorpio Ascendant and so he will have to adjust his personal tactics to have any effect on her, in essence these two are poles apart in their personal understanding. It's a known fact that in a debate, a strong woman will tend to run rings round any man, and I can see the impending battle will be quite dirty and filled with memorable moments, more in Hillary's favour than in Donald's. Add this into the mix as well. Donald's Midheaven is square to Hillary's Saturn and opposes her Mercury and Ascendant. In this I feel that Hillary has the upper hand, Saturn will put down Donald's career ambitions and they will tend to clash verbally in public. Finally, Donald's Mercury squares her Neptune, so he think that she is dishonest and his Mars squares he Ascendant, a volatile connection indicating arguments and clashes between them. Safe to say the sparks should fly as they vie for the public vote.

The election is held this year on the 8th November and as always I turn to Venus to give me indications of who will win. Why Venus? Well because the election is held on a 4 year cycle and Venus works on a eight-year pentagonal cycle, therefore Venus returns to the same spot in the sky every 2 US elections; she can be in either Libra or Sagittarius. The Venus in Libra election is when she rises in the morning before the Sun in Scorpio, she is the morning star and the Venus in Sagittarius election (as this one is) she sets as the evening star just after the Sun in Scorpio sets. Even from ancient times Venus, the only planet associated with a female deity has always been seen as a fortunate omen, the one who brought prosperity and growth but also who when angered could wage war too, after all, "hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn". Whoever Venus was radiating at the time or wherever she was in the sky was generally given good fortune. Now the sign of Libra has Saturn, the administrator or the ruler exalted in it, and it is notable that all but two of the American elections (since this 4 year electional cycle held in the first week of November was agreed upon in 1848) when Venus has been in Libra has been won by the administrating party and their candidate at the time of the vote. The two exceptions to this were in 1932 when Franklin D Roosevelt won and in 1980 when Ronald Reagan was victorious, that's an 89% success rate for the administering party !!! The last election in 2012 was won by Barack Obama, the incumbent president, and that election was a Venus in Libra election, so running true to form.

Now the next one on 8th November is a Venus in Sagittarius election and these tend to be more keenly contested. To work out who will win you have to look at Venus more closely and discover which planet or planets are being affected by the light of Venus, effectively those in conjunction to her or closest in the sky to the evening star as she sets. This time in November, the closest planet is Saturn, representing the one with experience in administration and government and the establishment candidate from the current ruling party or family. This directly points to the former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Had Mars or Uranus for example been highlighted by Venus representing the entrepreneur (Mars) or the non establishment rebel (Uranus) then I would have veered towards Donald Trump winning the White House, but this time it is not the case according to the Venus cycle.

Ok, do the other transiting aspects on their own natal charts back this up? For Donald, his chart on 8th November is severely lacking in aspects telling me that he in unlikely to be attaining new found power and status, this is the ultimate job interview after all. On the positive side transiting Saturn sextiles Jupiter so this promises slow and cautious growth, but it also helps to temper your ambitions too. Transiting Pluto squares his natal Jupiter and Chiron which suggests an almost over inflated ego, confidence or belief (Jupiter) that will be smashed to pieces by Pluto, bringing hurt and pain initially before the healing process begins (Chiron). That's not a good omen for him.

Transiting Saturn moving in his 4th opposes his natal Uranus sitting in his 10th house of career and work with Uranus ruling his 6th house of routine and health. This is another tough aspect for Trump, as Saturn will put the breaks on any work ambitions here, it's a stop and think moment for him, the radical pioneering side of him will be harshly judged. At the crucial moment at the time of the election, his strength until now will be exposed as a weakness. Transiting Mars is inconjunct to his natal Mars and his Leo Ascendant as well as being opposed to his natal Venus indicating him in a very feisty mood, and also suggesting that he has to adjust his actions or his personal attitudes. This is important as Venus rules his point of career, his Midheaven. There is potential conflict here with a group or party (Venus in 11th house) over opposition to career advancement.

Neptune is in a long term inconjunct aspect to his natal Pluto, thus diminishing his power and control. This is a spiritual connection, divesting you of your wealth and influence and promoting a less materialistic outlook on life. This aspect again is not one of advancement unless it is in a spiritual direction, and with Pluto ruling his 4th house of domestic affairs and endings, there may be some dissolving of his power base now, including his property portfolio.

Transiting Venus is at the point of a transiting yod connecting to his Venus/Saturn conjunction and his Midheaven. Again, this aspect indicates a vital turning point and moment of truth for Donald in his career ambitions. Venus making the two inconjunct aspects indicate a separation or change in the way he is seen publicly (10th house ruled by Venus), individually (5th house ruled by Saturn) and in communication or a vote (3rd house ruled by Venus). Here is social commentary on Donald and often a yod with Venus at the apex will make you feel out of touch with society; this is an aspect formation of alienation.

Mercury sits directly on his IC at the bottom of his chart, so he will prefer to be at home with loved ones as the vote results roll in. Mercury here opposes his Midheaven here, and work issues and communications are not favoured now. Uranus squares his natal Saturn, an aspect of accepting that you can't keep on going along at a cavalier pace, things have to slow down and eventually you have to accept your limitations. Uranus also makes a trine to his Moon and a sextile to his Sun. These generally positive aspects suggest unexpected events in his life that he may not have been counting on. There is a sense of freedom here from the burdens of life and a sense that you want to get away from it all and do something new.

Jupiter makes no aspects of note, but there is one more and this is hugely important; transiting Chiron squares the most important aspect on Donald's chart, his Sun/Uranus/North Node opposition to his Moon. As I write now, I am going through a Chiron square to my own Moon and this brings hurt, disappointment, feelings of inadequacies to the fore, especially in regards to dealing with women. Chiron hitting this so important axis will bring bitter disappointment to his life, this is an aspect of defeat and hurt and only after you have experienced it can the healing process begin. Chiron will be moving in his 7th house of open enemies; this hurt will come from a rival.

Now all this is not a good prognosis for Donald and yet there is a natal conjunction between his late Leo ascendant and the star Regulus, the star of Kings that still sticks in the back of my mind. Will this connection shape his destiny and confound the rest of the Astrology I see? Well Regulus brings wealth, riches, power and success but, and here's the kicker, only if you avoid matter of vengeance in your life. With Mars stationed conjunct his Ascendant too, Donald has been truly outspoken, vindictive and aggressive to anyone who has stood in his way in the past causing a lot of hurt and anger against him, and that alone suggests to me pride coming before a big fall and a downfall in his fortunes at some point in his life; a time when all your ambitions turn to dust. Now may be the time for that to happen.

Now to Hillary. In the same way I will go through the transiting planets one by one against her natal chart. To start with transiting Mercury sits on her Ascendant on 8th November just into her 1st house indicating a busy day of phone calls and communications. Mercury sits also on her South Node, so a time of wrapping up business, dotting the i's and crossing the t's. There is a sense here of the past being important, and a return to meeting old friends and with people she crossed paths with before. Her nerves may take a pounding and her transport schedules may have to be adjusted. Mercury trines her Moon, (settled emotions) and conjuncts her natal Mercury (sharp mind and good communications) but it also squares Saturn ruling in her 9th house ruling her 3rd house. This will bring nervous tension, a critical attitude and she may have to justify her position. Connections to contacts abroad will be made and there may be some disappointments along the way. All in all a mixed bag here.

Transiting Venus opposes her 8th house Uranus, bringing her into contact with new, possibly talented individuals, causing unexpected social events, there will be a whirr of social activity here to deal with. Venus squares her Moon, not a difficult aspect to deal with and it may stimulated love and good feelings between herself and her family. Mars makes a square to her natal Sun, so Hillary will be in a competitive mood on this day making her irritable and feisty and willing to take up battle to anyone who annoys her. Mars sextile to Jupiter is fun and wanting to take up a challenge, opportunities may present themselves now, especially financial ones (Jupiter rules 2nd house).

Transiting Jupiter is in a good mood, making a conjunction with her natal Neptune ruling her 4th house of home and family. Anything to do with property and home is favoured now and a house move or improvement often accompanies a Jupiter aspect to a 4th house ruler. Jupiter at the same time sextiles her natal Pluto/Mars conjunction. Again we have a chance to advance and take up a new challenges, there is fortune in dealing with powerful people especially from abroad (both in 9th house) and with Hillary being a double Scorpio (Sun and Ascendant) this is a very fortunate time for her in personal growth and expansion. This may be a time of learning for her too.

Transiting Saturn is currently moving in Hillary's 1st house so she is rebuilding her life after a period of two years following her leaving the Secretary of States job in 2012; a time when she would have gone into virtual hibernation. Saturn makes just two aspects but my these are important ones, two trines to her Mars/Pluto conjunction, the Pluto one is exact on 5th November too. Saturn is the planet of worldly progress when it's in a good mood, and here it is. Here is the potential for an increase in power and status, a step up the ladder of life. Mars rules the 5th house of doing things by yourself and of course for a double Scorpio, this trine from Saturn to Pluto is huge for her. The job of president is the loneliest job in the world they say, and this aspect focuses directly on Hillary, her own talents, her ego and own motivations plus her ability to control things. Again sitting in her 9th house matters to do with learning and international affairs will be responsibilities that she will have to take on.

Uranus moving in her 5th house makes two inconjunct aspects to her Mercury and Ascendant and a trine to her natal Saturn. The trine in contrast to Donald's tense square between the same two planets, this time the trine allows her to update her life a little and to bring in new aspects to complement the ones that she already has. This is an aspect of renovation and development from one state into a better more up to date one. On her chart, Saturn rules her 3rd house of communication and local affairs. There will be contracts to sign, lots of unexpected journeys to make and she will have to change and update the way that she talks and communicates to people. The inconjunct aspects are again ones of adjustment and difficult change. Mercury rules Hillary's Midheaven and so a change of public role or work is on the cards, this is not going to be an easy transition whatever the change is. There is something permanent about the change though as Mercury also rules the secretive and powerful 8th house. Here is her being exposed to a new underground world, or power, corruption and back street deals. It is hard to see if these changes are positive or not, although I am sure that they will initially unsettle her.

Transiting Neptune makes a weak inconjunct to her natal Neptune making her lean more on her belief systems and faith in making the right decisions rather on ones connected to the material world. This is more of a generational aspect that we all go through when we get to around 60 years of age. It also makes a trine to her 12th house Chiron, a healing transit allowing her plenty of meditative time, solitude and sacrifice in what she has to face up to now.

Transiting Pluto forms a sextile to her natal Venus, ruling her 6th and 7th houses and here there will be a positive and easy transformation in her everyday routine as well as her marriage to Bill. It will almost be like she is now taking control over him!! Pluto makes two inconjuncts to Pluto/Mars, indicating a difficult personal transformation will have to be made and she may have to give up some of her outside work interests. Finally, transiting Chiron makes a conjunction to her natal Moon, a difficult emotional aspect and there may be hurt with family members or with women at this minute. Happening as it does in her natal 4th house, there will be upset of upheaval in the family home or domestic life. Chiron also makes trines to her Ascendant and Mercury, and these are aspects of personal healing, through communications, through work (10th house) and through back room dealings and inevitable change and the use of power (8th house).

Having gone through these aspects with a fine tooth comb, I think from my analysis you can see which way the wind is blowing, and over Washington on the 8th November there is one more planet/star paran aspect that gives me the feeling that a historic day will be made. Between 19.02 and 19.06 hours, Regulus, the star of Kings in the royal constellation of Leo hits it's nadir, the Moon culminates in the sky and Venus sets. This is a connection of female power and indication to me that a woman or women will have much influence now. With Donald Trump already suffering badly in the way he treats women and with his rival likely to be a woman in Hillary, there is in my mind just one possible outcome on that day in the American General Election.

It is without hesitation therefore that I have come to the conclusion that Hillary Clinton will become the 45th President of the United States and become the first woman to assume the position of commander in chief.

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Donald Trump - Born under a lunar eclipse...

#unitedstates #usa #donaldtrump #hillaryclinton #vote2016 #astrology #prediction

Ebola Virus Crisis – Five cases an hour in Sierra Leone, and now it arrives in the United States.

 

As you’ll know if you read Solaris Astrology on a regular basis, I put a warning out on 1st April this year that the Ebola Virus outbreak in Guinea could be the start of something rather nasty, you can read my initial article here -  Deadly Ebola virus spreading in West Africa at a rapid rate. I traced back the history of the virus to the initial reported cases, there were two simultaneous ones actually in Africa but the current crisis is connected to the Yambuku River outbreak discovered on 26th August 1976 in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus is seems is harvested in fruit bats, which in that part of the world is a local delicacy. Now the virus rampaging through several countries in Western Africa has seen it’s first confirmed case in the the United States. The Astrology to say the least is worrying.

The United States – Why doing Astrology for the US nation is shrouded in mystery.

One issue has always caused more debate in Astrological circles than any other in my view is what time was the United States actually created? The founding fathers in signing and declaring the Declaration of Independence never gave an exact time of it's inception and acceptance, and so Astrologers have never been able to cast an accurate Astrological chart for the US. There are many points of view, with the US either having a Gemini, Sagittarian or Scorpio Ascendant being the most popular. As an Astrologer, I still have an open mind, but I am hoping that a coming planetary opposition may give us some vital clues.