Mars, 'the hot and dry planet' according to traditional astrology, is closest to the Earth than it has been since 2003 - another prolonged hot summer - and before that since 60,00 years ago!

If you go out and take a look at the southern night sky after 11pm, clouds permitting, you will be able to see a bright pinkish 'star' shining low on the horizon - it's very bright at the moment but will begin to fade over the next few weeks as we move further from it.

Mars is retrograde too now and will go stationary direct on the 27th of this month, at 28 degrees of Capricorn.

Beginner's courses are starting in Cheltenham with the Isbourne College and in Bristol with Bristol & Bath Astrologers. Full details on our Beginner's Classes page.

This month we enter the eclipse season again with a lunar eclipse at 15 degrees Aquarius on Monday 7th followed by a total solar eclipse at 28 degrees Leo on Monday 21st. The latter is being called 'the great American eclipse' as its path crosses the USA from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the west.

Download the charts of the two eclipses, together with charts of the UK and USA, and the US president, who will be having the solar eclipse very close to his Mars/Ascendant.
​GB

Click here for an excellent animation of the eclipse path, also showing that it will be a substantial partial eclipse across most of the USA away from the path of totality in the above diagram.

In case you need reminding, this shows the mechanics of how a solar eclipse occurs.

President Trump (do those words really make sense together?) was born on a lunar eclipse. He currently has transiting Saturn on this eclipse, conjunct his Moon opposite his Sun. He is just passing a Jupiter return. The star Regulus in his chart is conjunct his Ascendant and hence hit by the eclipse as well. Click here for a discussion of the nature of Regulus. 
​KL

The letter was signed 4.37 pm previous day, but this is the chart for the handing over of the letter. How nicely old-fashioned to have a personal meeting and a real letter ! Unsurprisingly Pluto on the Descendant (a significant point of partnership) but also notable that Neptune planet of dreams and confusion is the most elevated planet. Mars in practical Taurus in helpful aspect to both of these. The almost unaspected Sun  in Aries looking rather alone and separating from retrograde Venus also looks significant. Striking out for an independent adventure but leaving friends behind. The UK 1801 Moon (the people) is at 19° Cancer, filling in the missing angle of a grand square with Pluto Uranus and Jupiter. KL

Here are the charts for the May prime ministership and for the Cameron prime ministership - interesting that Uranus is transiting its Moon now.  Does the latter sum up the key issues in UK politics of the last six years ? The new premiership is ruled by Jupiter (though in its detriment in Virgo) but with Saturn close to the Sagittarius ascendant it looks like the fun may be curtailed.

Currently the birth time for Theresa May is not available, but her birth date is 1 October 1956 (Eastbourne).  Sun Libra, Moon Leo or Virgo, Mercury retrograde Virgo, Venus Leo, Mars retrograde Pisces, Jupiter Virgo, Saturn Scorpio.

Though currently on a Jupiter return, and with Jupiter crossing her Sun in September, after that it doesn’t look easy, with Saturn become more prominent by transit. Most notably, Neptune will be transiting that Mars during 2017/18, which does not look easy for taking decisive action and may also reflect health issues. How do you lead a government when Neptune is on your Mars ? Followers of the UK 1801 chart might note that transiting Pluto will be opposing its Moon over this period. And the 1707 Act of Union chart currently has Pluto transiting its Ascendant.
KL

​PS that's now nine in a row for cardinal Sun sign Conservative leaders.

The main aspects this month are Saturn-square-Neptune and Jupiter-trine-Pluto. Here is the chart for the EU referendum day, set for the close and opening of polls. At our recent discussion we felt that these charts (and the others we looked at) didn’t produce any obvious astrological conclusion. The grand cross involving Mercury-Saturn-Neptune-Jupiter and the way that other aspects don’t link in to this may indicate a lack of coherence or the competing viewpoints failing to connect. But is the angular Mars & Pluto at close of polls significant - and if so how ? A sudden change of direction, the power to hang on to the status quo, or just a lot of angry people whatever the result ? The 1975 referendum had Uranus on the midheaven at close of polls, but that produced a clear majority in favour of staying in what was then the EEC. As so often with astrology one can make a case for these charts summing up the issues people are debating, and the nature of that debate, but trying to condense that into a yes/no decision isn’t so clear. One could view a chart that's difficult to judge as one where the real issues are hidden or overlooked, so plus ca change is another possible interpretation.
​KL

After a turbulent few years, BHS has gone into liquidation. The formation chart for the company has six planets in Aries, so transiting Uranus has been successively hitting all of these since 2010, marking a series of continuing losses, reorganisations and re-brandings. Furthermore in 2015 transiting Neptune conjuncted the BHS Mars in Pisces, potentially a recipe for problems focussing on direction, dissipation of energy and inability to take practical action. This was when the company was sold to its final owners for a nominal £1 and now there is an ongoing inquiry into whether this transaction was carried out with due diligence, particularly in light of a deficit in the company’s pension fund, with allegations that the company was asset stripped before its sale. When Neptune transits a business chart it seems to indicate the possibility of loss, fraud or deception, though usually it’s a Neptune-Venus contact. It has also been experiencing its Pluto half-return and will be reaching its demise on its third Saturn return.
KL

A lengthy and rather thoughtful article about contemporary astrology and astrologers (some of whom will be familiar to Aquarius Severn members) in The Independent of 2 Jan. It largely manages to avoid the sneering of scientism usually present in newspapers.

Oh, would that be the same newspapers that continue to publish Sun-sign forecasts whilst simultaneously rubbishing any more reasoned astrological approach ?
​KL

The astrological perspective on the agreement to attempt limiting the rise in global temperature to 2°C. Will the agreement hold ? Is it enough and soon enough ? What challenges lie ahead ?

Here is the most widely used chart for Greece - like most countries there are several possibilities. There are interesting transits going on. Neptune is conjuncting Venus (which would represent the currency) suggesting high inflation or devaluation if the currency dissolves back into the drachma, and also opposing Mars - difficult to find any clear sense of direction with that. Uranus is also transiting the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, which could involve smashing apart of existing structures but also sudden freedom. With that conjunction Jupiterian freedom always comes with a Saturnian price. Or alternatively there is always good news arising out of crisis.
KL

Update mid July. It's interesting symbolically that the crisis is playing out under the fixed stare of stationary Saturn in Scorpio. Venus conjunct Jupiter in Leo might like to escape the consequences or hope for a cheerful outcome, but the heavy hand of reality can't be evaded. Venus dips into Virgo on 18 July, but will retrograde on 25 July. Saturn direct on 1 Aug.