Radio 4's In Our Time this week was about 1848. Implicitly there were connections with current historical events, but one factor that interests astrologers and which added to some predicting revolutionary events last year, is Neptune's move into Pisces to join Uranus in Aries - the last time this happened was 1847-8. The programme will continue to be available to listen to in the In Our Time archive.
KL

Go to our previous talks section to see part of the presentation from our evening looking at the astrology of 2011/12. The themes of 2011 will continue in many ways, with Uranus in Aries making the first exact square to Pluto in Capricorn - it didn't quite reach there in 2011 but will make an astonishing seven exact squares during 2012-15. So expect more challenging of institutions and a struggle to transform. On a personal level we can all use this time to make positive change - though squares tend to produce resistance, my feeling is with Pluto we don't usually have to give up things we don't really need. In 2012, planets in your birth chart around eight or nine degrees will particularly connect you to wider events. July 18th-19th. should be particularly worth noting as Mars in Libra makes a 'T-square' with Uranus and Pluto. When Mars (in Cancer) made a T'square in August 2011 it coincided with the UK riots and subsequent coming together of many communities in response.

The year also sees late on a trine between Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces, so a great time for manifesting dreams. Also round about March 13-15 a lovely earthy grand trine between a Venus Jupiter conjunction (at nine degrees of Taurus) and Mars and Pluto. Venus and Jupiter - the two 'benefics'- will also be close in the dawn skies for several weeks over midsummer, making it easier to avoid being drawn into gloom and enjoy the challenge of positive change.

The birth chart for Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer, whose death was announced today. The unaspected retrograde Mercury in Aquarius stands out for a technological pioneer. It is typified by the slogan Apple used for many years : "think different".
"Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition - they somehow already know what you truly want to become." Steve Jobs
KL

The rioting in London and other English cities over the last few days has come as a shock to most people, but it shouldn't come as a complete surprise to astrologers, since we are in the middle of a dramatic line-up of planets that has its peak of intensity between today (August 9th) and Thursday.

Uranus and Pluto have been approaching a square (90 degrees) aspect since the middle of June (see blog post on the subject below), and in the last week, Mars has entered the cardinal sign fray by ingressing into Cancer last Wednesday, since when it has been within orb of both Uranus and Pluto. Mars, is said to be in its fall in Cancer, meaning that its normally direct, assertive energies are more likely to express themselves resentfully. Today it makes the exact square to Uranus, and in the early hours of Thursday, reaches the opposition to Pluto.

A more volatile combination of planets, in a  more volatile pattern, and in more volatile (or at least, fast-moving) zodiac signs, can hardly be imagined. The fact that cardinal signs are strongly configured in the UK's national charts (especially Capricorn and Cancer) shows our particular sensitivity to these energies.

It is to be hoped that once Mars moves on after Thursday's opposition to Pluto, that the energy behind the current unrest, looting and violence, will dissipate as quickly as it arose, although we also have a Full Moon (bringing heightened feelings) to contend with, this weekend.

Another possible scenario is that the unrest lasts until the 25th, when angry, resentful Mars is contained by sternly disciplinarian Saturn, currently strong in the sign of its exaltation, Libra.

As always, please add your thoughts and comments, and share this post with your friends via the twitter and facebook buttons below.

Graham.

With the sad news that the gifted but troubled Amy Winehouse has passed away, we are showing her birthchart in order for those who can interpret them to gain insight into her character, life and the challenges she faced.

She is not listed in the AstroDataBank, but apparently her birthtime was given by her mother to a mutual friend of astrologer Margaret Zelinski. This must be regarded as speculative until confirmed however. The chart below is from Astrotheme, a French database of famous birthcharts.

It is unusual to see so many conjunctions in a birthchart, indicating an intense but scattered nature. Note how Neptune is closely entwined with the lights (the Sun and Moon) as well as Venus and Pluto.

Graham

In the light of the tragic massacre yesterday in Norway, the horoscope of the country, set for the parliamantary declaration of secession from Denmark in June 1905, is reproduced below.

Announced today that the NOTW is to close following the continuing repercussions of its reporting techniques. The chart is for the first edition. Sun Venus (good for a new business venture); Mercury in Scorpio is good for investigative journalism, but its all but unaspected position means it's not connected to the rest of the chart. Transiting Neptune trine that Mercury may be bringing the truth to light. Saturn Moon Mars close in Capricorn may be a fascination with the darker side of life, but would you trust someone with a Jupiter-Neptune conjunction ? I guess it depends - good for a charity (especially in Aquarius) but a newspaper ? The current Pluto Saturn square is hitting the Sun/Venus square Mars - and with Pluto to make more transits of Mars along with transitting Uranus (see earlier posts) killing off the newspaper (BTW not every Pluto Mars transit means 'murder'!) is unlikely to end the unfolding story.

Kris

I don't like most (new) 'Americanisms', but I can't think of a more fitting phrase than that this is a 'heads-up' re the current Uranus-Pluto square.

Uranus having entered Aries in March this year, it was bound at some time to close in on Pluto - at least, by a 90 degree angle (otherwise known as a square aspect) - which is in early Capricorn. Uranus turns retrograde in early July, meaning that the square doesn't quite perfect, i.e., reach exactitude, until June next year, but it's within 2 degrees from June 20th to September 18th this year, and it's at its closest (within 1 degree and 1 minute) in early August, which is when astrologer Hans Baker will be coming along to talk about this astrological phenomenon, which is already having all sorts of repercussions in all sorts of ways, and will continue to do so over the next 5 years, during which time it perfects an extraordinary seven times.

See Thursday 4th August, 8-10pm: 'Uranus Square Pluto: Revolutionary Imperative'.

Graham

On Saturday we went on our annual summer field trip, which is always held near the solstice. This year we went to the delightful home of William and Jane Morris, and their friend, the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. William Morris, a multiple Aries, was the pioneer who initiated the 'back to nature' Arts & Crafts movement, a reaction against the Victorian primness and fussiness of the times, and, along with other artists, craftsmen, writers and socialists, headed to the Cotswolds to live a simpler, more authentic life. Kris brought along the birthcharts of the the Morrises and Rossetti, who were involved in a complicated Ménage a Trois. Their characters shone through their birthcharts, and the synastry between them was highly revealing. After lunch we also discussed how Venus in our own chart might reflect our own artistic preferences and creative style.

The house and garden were idyllic, as were the treasures inside. Well worth a visit. With thanks to Pamela for taking the photos below, including the contented-looking archetypally Taurean Bull!

Graham

The Euro is currently being put under severe strain by the Greek debt crisis. There is the possibility that Greece will revert to its former currency, the Drachma, but this might paradoxically weaken the Euro as speculators may suspect that the same fate will befall other struggling members of the Eurozone.

Given that the Euro is a currency, one might think that The Sun (which rules gold) is especially important in its 'birthchart', along with Venus, the traditional ruler of money. The Sun in this chart is (oddly) unaspected, whilst Venus squares Saturn - not exactly an indicator of easy wealth-creation. The chart ruler (i.e.. ruler of the Ascendant), Mercury, is in its detriment in Sagittarius, and (a double-whammy), square to Jupiter, perhaps suggesting the strongly ideological and over-reaching aspect of the currency, in that part of its raison d'etre was to bind countries together in an ever-closer financial and political union.

Currently, transiting Saturn is making a square to The Euro's Sun, bringing problems and stress, although perhaps a greater test will be later this autumn, when Saturn opposes its natal position for the first time. Progressed Venus is also conjunct natal Uranus, perhaps bringing instability and the need to reformulate its internal and external relationships (or sever them entirely and move on).

Graham