The new round of negotiation started on the morning of 2.Sep.10. Does astrology provide any clues to outcomes ? I haven't found a time, but the one I guessed (10:30am) places the current Venus-Mars conjunction in Libra right on the Ascendant i.e. rising in Washington. What could be better for peace negotiations ? Or are they just hidden away in the twelfth house ? As for retrograde Mercury, maybe this is helpful for re-visiting and re-evaluating and maybe the idea of "unexpected outcomes" associated with this work in the talks' favour. The big sticking point however is that Saturn-Pluto square. Immoveable sides and, one might argue, the exclusion of Hamas. Saturn is however now separating in the aspect, so maybe this isn't as bad as it looks.

Here are a couple of birth charts that we looked at as part of our evening exploring the relationship between Venus & Mars, with the two planets conjunct in the evening sky. Where else would you read Mohandas Gandhi and Naomi Campbell in the same sentence ? The Scorpio version of this conjunction is rather different to the Gemini one. The pacifist imprisoned Myanmar opposition leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi also has a Venus-Mars conjunction (in Taurus).

Pakistan and India both formally gained independence from Britain at 00:00 hrs on 15 August 1947. However the most recent incarnation of Pakistan is the Islamic Republic that was formally established at 7:00 AM on 23 March 1956. It’s been suggested that the selection of a time and date may have been influenced by astrological advice. Note that the current T-square (Jupiter/Uranus opposite Saturn squared by Pluto) is transiting this chart’s Sun. Saturn will transit the ascendant late October,  Uranus will not complete its transit of the Sun until early 2012, while Pluto will move right onto its Midheaven for the next couple of years, so Pakistan is likely to remain prominent in the news, especially over Pluto-related issues. KL

The chart for "Bloody Sunday", when soldiers fired on crowds in Belfast. The proximity of the nodes to the Sun & Moon show this to be the day of a total eclipse, which adds to the stress of the Full Moon and may indicate the long-running search to establish the truth, that the reality around the event has been continually re-visited. The Saville Report was published (15-Jun-10 3:30PM) with a Moon-Venus conjunction in early Leo, which may help some sort of resolution. KL

Below is the chart for BP. Currently on second Chiron return with Neptune also transiting Chiron. Uranus on BP's Mercury, Saturn will be opposing its Aries' planets (including Venus - image and finances) this year, so looks like a rocky time for some while. KL

Th Aquarius Severn Astrology Blog will be used to post occasional charts of "in the news" people and events.