Mars fighting (chart of today July 17, 2014)

My progressed Moon is moving to a trine with Mars, and that is a good sign if you need some energy and action. The actual chart of today, however, shows that Mars is in trouble. Why? Well, Mars is square Sun and in conflict with Ceres, Sedna and Eris. There is also a link (by means of minor aspects) to the Saturn inconjunct Uranus aspect (see that post). It is vibrating with heat.

Sun square Mars and Eris is an aspect combination for war (see the chart of Pearl Harbor http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2010/12/chart-of-pearl-harbor-december-7-1941.html )  The Sun is now highlighting the tendency to start fights and wars. 'Make love not war' is not in the air tonight.

Here is the chart, drawn for Rotterdam, but the aspects are valid all over the world. This chart mirrors the problems.

Click for better view

Besides Sun- Eris Mars must deal with Saturnus inconjunct Uranus (related to the chart of Israel) . That is, because there is a 112.5 degree minor aspect with the Sun and a 157.5 degree minor aspect with Eris. 

Moreover: Mars is conjunct Ceres (basics, food, dynasties and genes) and Vesta (dedication). Sedna is inconjunct Mars and sextile Sun. Sedna is seen as the symbol of the feeling of betrayal.

How complicated! It is the perfect mirror of the situation in the world today. If the present Sun or Mars is in aspect with your natal or progressed chart, you could expect to be affected by the overheated and speeding nature of Mars and get involved in conflicts or suffer an injury (depending also on your individual chart and situation). Take care!

This weekend the fighting Mars sees the Moon in Aries. Mind your eyes and head and wear something red if you want to join the party up there. If you can't join them, beat them! Maybe it is a good idea to start counting to 10. 

Also visit: Astromarkt.net All rights reserved

Selecting a wedding date

Today is a special day: the 11th of December of 2013 (11-12-13 in Europ). Numerous couples tried to schedule their marriage at 14h15. Here is more on the chart of that moment in Amersfoort (Netherlands) , when 9 couples will get married. It is a good chart for a wedding.

click to enlarge

There are a few reasons why this is a good chart for a wedding ceremony:
1. Venus doesn't make aspects in sign or orb 5 degrees.
2. Jupiter is elevated
3. Mars is also 'calling' (no aspects in orb 5 degrees)
4. Vesta is on the horizon
Venus and Jupiter are always 'in' for a party. The prominence of Venus and Mars points at the passion of that moment. And Vesta conjunct Ascendant presents the perspective of a warm house.

Of course, there are also lesser aspects. Eris in the 7th house might be indicative for the jealousy of not selected couples. Uranus and Pluto on the corner stones of the chart present high tension (the media is interested, there are a lot of couples getting married at once...). And how about Mars in Libra? Sometimes there is just too much 'fire'. But don't worry...

Wedding charts are just one of the charts involved in a marriage. More important are the charts of the partners, their synastry and the shared aspects. It also matters how the progressed charts and transits of each of the partners are. And then the exact day or hour is of minor importance. I got married with Juno on the Ascendant of the wedding chart and on a Venus conjunct Jupiter day. Juno was conjunct Saturn and opposition Mars. It was on December 31 1970, icy cold. Perhaps that is how the marriage remained fresh:).

For a wedding party (and any other party) it is best if it is on a day with an aspect between Venus and Jupiter or with Venus or Jupiter in aspect with the positions in the charts of the partners involved. Don't forget to have a look at the position of Juno!

 Also visit: Astromarkt.net All rights reserved

Home is where the heart is (Tina's Vesta)

Today the press writes about Tina Turner's change of nationality. She is Swiss now, instead of American. For a long time she lives in Switzerland and she speaks German fluently.

In the post on Astro Click Travel lines ( http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2013/06/more-astroclick-travel-lines.html ) I asked the question: does it work? Most of you said yes. But Tina's lines don't seem to correspond with those lines. There is no line over Switzerland, for example. Here is her astro click portrait:

In the natal chart Saturn is conjunct Vesta in the 9th house and the Sun (ruler 1) is in 4. Ruler 4 Pluto is in 12. And now Transit Neptune (ruler of the 8th house) is inconjunct Pluto (ruler 4)!  Progressed Sun square Uranus adds some more change and controversy or: NEWS. There is also progressed IC trine Uranus. How much more change of background (IC) would you like?

Perhaps most of the explanation is in that, but I choose to look at the progressed Vesta. Vesta is in her 9th house (the house of 'over there, abroad'). Progressed Vesta, still in 9, gradually moved to an inconjunction with her natal Sun. Her domicile (Vesta) gradually reached her heart (Sun), but (inconjunct!) in order to get to a point where she and her domicile became one (LOL, forgive my free thinking) there was something to give up (inconjunct).

I like to see Vesta as the symbol of home (where the fire place is) and the Sun as heart. Home is where the heart is and what you want to give up (inconjunct) your birth nationality for. 

To enlarge the pictures, click them!

LINKS

http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2008/11/astrology-chart-tina-turner.html On her talent

http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2007/12/ike-of-tina-turner-and-how-her-birth.htm on the match with Ike

http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2011/03/vesta-in-time-for-my-fireplace.html

Saturn opposition Vesta in Oriana Fallaci's chart:  http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2010/06/oriana-fallaci-born-june-29-and-vesta.html

Also visit: Astromarkt.net All rights reserved

How Sun and Jupiter called a Salvation Army soldier

This blog is about a Salvation Army worker, who couldn't resist the call of Sun and Jupiter.  Or should I say: it is about a Sun and Jupiter who had to be seen and heard in the life of a modest 'soldier'.

On Astropost and on Astromarkt (here is the link) I wrote about the special position of the aspected planet, Sun or Moon without Ptolemaic aspect within 5 degrees orb and/or within sign: they are 'calling'! They manifest at any possible level, somehow, anyhow. They can't be denied.

CALLING STAR
When the Sun is 'calling' it is like the Sun is shining in a special way. Those who have a 'calling' Sun in their chart will always draw attention. Many of them are leaders. Some of them are 'stars'. When the Sun is 'calling' you can't resist to shine.

CALLING GROWTH
People who were born with Jupiter 'calling' will be (I quote myself) "an international, a traveller, someone with a strong conviction, showing the way (sometimes as a coach, sometimes on a trip: a guide). Jupiter is seeking for a conviction or religion and wants development. Jupiter folks like to guide others. Calling Jupiters know best, always. That is sometimes hard for the rest of us!:)"

SUN+JUPITER=SELF CONFIDENCE
Sun and Jupiter in aspect is great for self confidence and therefore for being successful. When both planets are 'calling', you may expect a person to become greater than great, drawing a lot of attention.

Here is an example of a modestly but greatly shining Sun-Jupiter 'calling': Major Bosshardt. She was a Salvation Army soldier for all of her life, since she was 18. She mostly worked among prostitutes. In 2004, Yad Vashem recognized Bosshardt as a Righteous Among the Nations, for her work in the Second World War. There are statues of her. There is a book about her life (title: 'So very special ordinary'). In Amsterdam they will name a bridge after her. And her story is on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alida_Bosshardt ). She was a very popular woman, even among those who don't believe in God or Jesus. She didn't judge people.

She has an interesting chart, even without hour of birth. Saturn rises before the Sun (duty first, responsibilities, ambition). And the Sun and Jupiter were 'calling' when she was born. The Sun and Jupiter manifested fully in her life. She was a modest worker who became famous. The inconjunct between Sun and Jupiter shows that she had to give up on something because of that. She gave up family life and intimacy. I also like the Leo Moon. People with a Leo Moon have a need to be in the spotlights. Major Bosshardt was in the spotlights because of her dedication and her joyful approach.


Here is the chart with transits and progressions for the day of her death (P Sun inconjunct Vesta, Transit Pluto opposition Progressed Mars, Transit Node inconjunct Venus, Transit Pholus inconjunct Venus and this after Transit Uranus square Sun)

Continue if you want to see why she never married.

Margareth Hone, a Libra astrologer

Margareth Hone was a well known British astrologer and a Libra, born on October 2, 1892. She was known as Peg Hone in the 50's of the 20th Century.
Margareth Hone helped founding The Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1948. She worked with the important British astrologers of her days. What Libra can do for astrology, is finding allies and seeking balance working together and finding diplomatic ways to communicate the meaning of the chart.
She helped to found the UK Astrological Association. She wrote "The Modern Text Book of Astrology".

This is her chart. The transits and progressions are for the day of her death (see Progressed Sun inconjunct Progressed MC and transit Neptune - ruler 8th house of life and death - square Ascendant).

JUPITER URANUS
Most astrologers have a Jupiter-Uranus connection in their charts. It is different and not so obvious in the chart of Margareth Hone. Venus is in aspect with both Jupiter (trine) and Uranus (quintile). The Aquarian Moon (ruled by Uranus) is in minor aspect with Jupiter (67.5 degrees, a half sesquisquare).

Her prominent placements included the Mercury-Saturn conjunction rising before the Sun and the Venus-Chiron conjunction with the Ascendant. I'd say that this Mercury-Saturn points at the importance of science (and ambition to write or give instructions). There is a big trine between Sun, Moon and Neptune-Pluto in the 10th house. Neptune and Pluto are the planets of mystery and the ' supernatural' or say: spiritual. Maybe she was highly sensitive? (Was she involved in theosophy, like Carter?)
The elevated Vesta tells us about dedication, above all.

CARTER
Charles E.O. Carter appreciated her work. This famous astrologer knew Margareth Hone. Astrology (IMO) is symbolized by Jupiter-Uranus. The Jupiter-Uranus connection can be found in the synastry of the charts of Margareth Hone and Charles E.O. Carter.

•  Her Jupiter is trine his Midheaven (in aspect with his Jupiter/Uranus midpoint). 
• His Uranus is trine her Moon. 

As you may notice, Jupiter and Uranus are prominent in the chart of Carter. Jupiter rises before the Sun and Uranus is conjunct Ascendant. Jupiter is half semi square Uranus. Maybe that prominence tells us how important astrology was for Carter. This is his chart

The picture above is Jacob Jordaens idea of Libra (17th Century), found on Wikipedia.

LINKS
1. About Margareth Hone
http://www.solsticepoint.com/astrologersmemorial/hone.html

2. C.E.O. Carter wrote 'The astrology of accidents' and I wrote about that on Astromarkt: http://www.astromarkt.net/accidents-and-astrology.html

3. I plan to write about an astrologer each month. Here is the link to what I blogged about Virgo astrologer Zipporah Dobyns (who worked with asteroids, the small objects...)
http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2012/08/virgo-astrologer-zipporah-dobyns.html
What the sign of Virgo can do for astrology is:
- keep up the standards and never believe it all
- contribute perfect data
- find ways to use astrology in every day's life (without drifting away, I mean)

4. About Jupiter-Uranus and the charts of astrologers:
http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2009/02/jupiter-uranus-and-charts-of.html

5. About aspects between Jupiter and Uranus and midpoint combinations with Jupiter/Uranus: http://www.astromarkt.net/jupiter-in-aspect-with-uranus.html

6. Neptune and Pluto; combination of the silent force
http://astropost.blogspot.nl/2008/06/neptune-and-pluto-combination-of-silent.html

7. Bob Marks about Vesta
http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/Vesta21.4.html

and see the labels for more background info!

Also visit: Astromarkt.net
All rights reserved

Chart of Rupert Murdoch:

Rupert Murdoch is a media tycoon. The scandall with one of his papers, News of the World, is indeed news in the world, today. Uranus-Pluto-Midheaven resonates the revolution in his career. (Transit Uranus is trine Progressed Midheaven. Pluto is sesquisquare MC in his progressed chart.) 

Uranus and Pluto together with MC are always causing intense nervous problems because of the dramatic change that often accompanies the combinations of Uranus and Pluto. 

Now we have a sudden (Uranus) dramatic (Pluto) turn (Pholus) in his career (Midheaven) and 3 indications of change and tension, because: there is also Pluto with Pholus. Quoting Astromarkt:

"Pholus+Pluto: dramatic turning point: the prize (or the price to pay) forcing a turning point (?), the pyrrhic victory"

Interesting coincidence is, that the Pholus of News of the World (first published October 1, 1843) is in the 6th degree of Capricorn, just like the Pholus of Murdoch, so that both Murdoch and the newspaper have Pluto conjunct Pholus. 

ASTRO ID

Here is the chart of birth with transits and progressions:

The chart has a few marking points: Mercury (communications), Venus, Neptune (both 'calling' for sense of art and sensitivity at any possible level), Pholus, Quaoar and Vesta (the importance of extraordinary qualities), with Saturn - parents, ambition, management - orient(ation)al: the importance of status, parents and being serious. Venus in the second house of earning money could mean a comfortable financial position and/or the love of earning money.

Here is the progressed chart with transits. I like to point at Uranus rising before the Sun here. Uranus means news, change, upheaval and technology. But Uranus rising before the Sun is also frequent in the charts of very old (and still active) persons. They are exceptional, like Murdoch is. 

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Jupiter, the multiplier, is in the 7th house of marriage and yes: he married more than once. 

Uranus is inconjunct Midheaven in the natal chart: that is for a lot of upheaval with a loss involved...(News related to the career in a disproportional way). The fact that transit Uranus is now trine Progressed Midheaven illustrates that combinations in the natal chart that are being repeated by transits or progressions are very important. The news with a loss involved is now.

LINKS

The progressed chart shows you how you grew to become the person that you are at a certain point in life. The progressed chart of Obama is the chart of President, more than the natal chart is. (Read: http://astropost.blogspot.com/2011/01/complete-progressed-chart-of-blair.html 

and/or http://astropost.blogspot.com/2008/12/progressed-chart-and-how-one-grows-into.html

Uranus-Pluto is the combination of radical change and intense rebellion:

http://astropost.blogspot.com/2010/02/radical-uranus-pluto.html

The chart is a B-rated chart (one source, not exact), see:

http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Murdoch,_Rupert

Also visit: Astromarkt.net for example about aging... 

Vesta, in time for my fireplace

This weekend I have been busy moving around the house. Now I have my own special little room, a study filled with my own books and documents, my laptops, my music and some special objects. My room is a rooom with a view, on the sunniest side of the house (maybe that is the interpretation of transit Quaoar on my progressed Descendant?:). From my window I can see the bridge across the river and I look down at the trees and flowers of the neighbours gardens. When it is hot (and it will be hot this spring, they say) there is a balcony. I will write my blog in this room instead of 'on the kitchen table' from now on. But, more on topic: for my comfort (I like it hot:) there is a ' fireplace'. Did you know that Vesta is the symbol of the fireplace? I thought of that when I was thinking about this blog and I looked at the position of Vesta when I started to decorate the study and the fireplace arrived. It was with transit Vesta conjunct my Mars (the symbol of fire) and the AC/MC midpoint.
Sometimes that is (apparently) simply what happens: you buy something warm and do something in the house.

For more about Vesta, see the label.

Also visit: Astromarkt.net

The sometimes controverial statesman in the chart of Jimmy Carter

This is the chart with transits and progressions for Jimmy Carter, now that he is coming back from North Korea with a released American prisoner, Aijalon Gomez. (See the announcement here..) North Korea only wanted to let him go, if Jimmy Carter came to get him and Carter agreed. Transit Vesta, the symbol of dedication, is on Carter's Sun right now:

Natal and transits of Jimmy Carter

There are more transits and progressions at the moment that you see in the chart above and in the chart of natal, transits and progressions (later in this post). The natal chart shows us an ambitious leader with a very strong personality who is first of all a dedicated idealist with sometimes controversial ideas and decisions. This post is about a 'calling' Sun and Saturn, Moon in Scorpio trine Pluto, Venus with Neptune/Vesta and last but not least about Mercury-Uranus...Those are the most important features of his chart. They tell us the main story...

Chart of moment of intruder in Paris Hilton's house

chart of moment of call and (in green) natal positions day of birth P.Hilton

This is the chart of 6:42 a.m. on Tuesday August 24,when Paris Hilton called the police about an intruder in her house. The green position are the positions on Paris Hilton's day of birth. The hout of birth of Paris Hilton is uncertain. So we don't know the degree of the Moon. What combinations are there on that moment?

• The transit Moon is semi sextile her Pholus and transit Moon is also on her Mercury.
  Moon > Mercury-Pholus: a mind changing moment
• Her Uranus trine Uranus and square the Moon of the  moment (upheaval, sensation). T Uranus is also conjunct her Pholus.
  Moon and Uranus- her Uranus and Phoulus; sensational moment that awakenes her at sudden 
• The Ascendant is conjunct her Vesta (symbol of 'home').

This seems to reflect the situation: her home (Vesta) is the place of event (Ascendant), she is suddenly awake (Moon-Uranus-Pholus) and immediately start thinking, calling and twittering.

More observations:

Transit Chiron is on her Sun and semi square her Chiron.

Her Node is inconjunct transit Node.

HOW ABOUT YOU (AND LINKS)
More about Paris Hilton, the party animal in her chart, about her arrest in Sout Africa and about you:  when to have a party...
http://astropost.blogspot.com/2010/07/paris-hilton-arrested-and-when-to-have.html

Link to the news and source of moment:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/entertainment/2010-08/25/c_13461115.htm

It is not the first time that someone broke into her house. See this video with pictures of the house:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qquOPgmwiSs

and see the labels...

(c) http://astropost.blogspot.com/

Uranus, Neptune and the arrests of a crime reporter

M.Escher drew a world upside down...

Famous detective/reporter Peter R. de Vries (known for the Natalee Holloway case) has been arrested in Perth, Australia, where he was confronting a British/Australian diving instructor with the death of Mariska Mast, who died under suspicious circumstances in Honduras on the island of Roatan. The instructor was arrested but allowed to leave prison. He had to leave his passport behind. But the man has two nationalities and was able to fly away…to Australia. That is where Peter R. de Vries located the man and where the police protected him and arrested the reporter for trespassing. See the news…
His arrest is mirrored by transits of Eris, Vesta and Quaoar and by transit Uranus semi square progressed Midheaven. Uranus is always around when there is upheaval...

See the chart, the observations, the links, but first more about the important Neptune in Scorpio in the chart of the arrested reported. The placement of his Neptune is reflecting the man who is very much motivated to uncover mysteries...It is a prominent Neptune.

1. Neptune is rising before his Sun (in a position that marks the orientation).

2. Neptune is the ruler of Midheaven. 

3. Neptune is square his Sun/Moon midpoint (the point of motivation). 

4. Neptune is inconjunct Aries Point and half semi square the Sun. Neptune's only major aspect is with the Pluto, ruler of Scorpio. The midpoint Neptune/Pluto is opposition Midheaven.  One of the issues of Neptune in Scorpio and of Neptune/Pluto is uncovering mysteries as well as discretion about the sources of information. See the links for more examples and info.

Peter R. de Vries has been arrested more than once (twice for trespassing now) in different circumstances and with different transits and progressions. There is no recipe for arrest in astrology, but Uranus-Pluto combinations in the natal chart often give an indication of impulsive behaviour that easily leads to a sudden dramatic change like an arrest. De Vries had Mars sesquisquare Uranus and quatronovile Pluto (rejoycing taking risks)...

Oriana Fallaci (born June 29) and Vesta

This is about the natal chart of Oriana Fallaci, a very controversial – Sun square Uranus - journalist and author (Sagittarius MC and Mercury final dispositor of Midheaven) who died in 2006. See Wiki about her life. The hour of birth was mentioned on Luigi Stocchi’s site here… Scroll down for the drawing of that chart (with transits and progressions for the day that she died). It is said that she was born on a June 29, in 1929. Some sources mention June 24. I think that the chart below might be the correct one. The prominence of Mercury,Jupiter and Pluto is reflecting the famous author. The opposition of Saturn in Sagittarius and Vesta showed that her 'most cherished beliefs ....in opposition to cultural traditions and authorities' (quoting Members.wizzard.net).

VESTA
Instinctively I added Vesta as an additional object in the chart drawing and see: Vesta is opposition Midheaven (on the IC). Vesta is the symbol of the keeper of the domestic fire and of dedication. This dedication goes together with the symbol of 'background and home' (the IC).

The Romans related Vesta to Capricorn.

MERCURY, JUPITER & PLUTO
Mercury, Jupiter  and Pluto are the combination of a ' treasure of words'. This combination is prominent in the chart of Fallaci.

• MERCURY ‘ calling’

Fallaci decided not to obey and to say no to oppression for the rest of her life. She also decided not to choose her words very carefully in doing so. Just like General McChrystal (see the post here…) she had a ‘ calling’ Mercury (Mercury without major aspects in sign). A 'calling' Mercury is reflecting the issue of communications, at any possible level...(About missing elements and aspects, see Astromarkt:Conspicous by Absence)

• JUPITER ‘oriental’ (rising before the Sun)

Jupiter, ruler of the MC, is the oriental planet (that is the first outer planet rising before the Sun). Jupiter’s keyword is ‘ international’. She lived in New York and in Tuscany and interviewed VIPs all over the world form Kissinger to Khomeini and Sean Connery, too. Transportation (the axis of Mercury-Jupiter) was important and so was convincing others (also Mercury-Jupiter).

• PLUTO ‘calling’

When Pluto calls you can’t resist power, influence and politics.

Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto are prominent. The prominence of these three promises an impressive vocabulary and success in the field of communications (using words, books...talking and writing). As Jupiter rules the MC and Mercury is the final dispositor or Midheaven, the career is related to convincing with words. It is more then ‘reporting’ only. And Saturn in Sagittarius also has a role to play...

SATURN
In the article about sun signs and planets on Astromarkt (click to see the article http://www.astromarkt.net/Basics.htm) I wrote this about Saturn in Sagittarius:

"Hypocrite? Maybe, but then Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince are too. You have a great sense for justice, and religion or conviction might play a heavy role in your life."
Translation:): you have a great sence of justice. Religion and/or conviction might play a big part in your life.

And that is in line with the importance of religion for her position and status in the years after 9-11. She was agnostic, but she spoke with the Pope and with Khomeini and she wrote a lot about Islam, as a professional (Saturn is on Midheaven) but with a sort of a dedication that makes it an issue of greater personal importance.

MORE
There is an opposition between Saturn and Vesta on the Meridian, perhaps showing a (public or professional) polarity.

When WWII started, the progressed Sun of Fallaci was conjunct Pluto (her ‘calling’ planet) and that is a sign for stress and challenges. It is also a sign of vital change (and being impressed, a period with great impact).

Her chart is pretty clear about it: she used a lot of words in her job and her position and the reputation is strongly related to the Sagittarian field of convictions and opinions.

HOW ABOUT YOU AND VESTA?
When Vesta is prominent in your (progressed) chart (f.ex. because of angular or oriental placement, or because Vesta is ‘ calling’ – without major aspects-), the word ‘dedication’ is your keyword. You ‘ go for it’ when you belief in it. Vesta also indicated what not to do in order to ‘ recharge’ and in order to avoid 'getting drained'. In the chart of Oriana Fallaci that is ‘ writing, speaking’ …her job! But the third house is also the house of the lungs (she was a heavy smoker).

When your progressed Sun or Midheaven is in aspect with Vesta, you might get dedicated to a project or commit yourself to something that might drain you, if you are not careful enough.

ALSO BORN June 29, 1929: Pat Crawford Brown (actrice)


LINKS
See Bob Marks about Vesta. Click the label to see more examples on this blog.

Interesting site with Saturn’s aspect with asteroids and small planets, like Vesta here…


(c) http://astropost.blogspot.com

Chart of David Cameron

This post is about the chart of David Cameron with transits and progressions (to see the drawing, scroll down). Yesterday David Cameron became the winner of the British Elections. His Sun was sextile the Midheaven of closing time of Election Day*).

In short, David Cameron has the chart of a leader (the Sun is 'calling'), a lot of things coming his way (beginning with barriers!) and in the long term a success to look forward to. But first he has to deal with partnership/coalitions...(Saturn on the Ascendant; time to commit yourself).

Because of the placement of Ceres - seed and genes - on top of his chart, and the results of the elections, I added a picture of the corn harvest (by Pieter the Elder Bruegel). It isn't harvest time,yet, however. It is not even certain if he will be the next PM and if he is: will it be a conservative government or does he need a partner? Labour + Liberals = a majority...There are a lot of (political) considerations following the results of the elections. Let us see David Cameron's natal chart with transits and progressions. What is to be expected íf he will be the next MP?

TRANSITS AND PROGRESSIONS
Coalitions and Saturn
It is a difficult chart for coalitions and relations in general, at the moment. Transit Saturn is about to reach his Ascendant (this August), followed by Mars. It will certainly be hard work to keep standing and it might require strict measures.

Whatever he does now, will be important for the next years. (For example: Saturn was on the Ascendant of George W.Bush during Katrina and what he did nOt do was of importance for his position and status). Any transit on the Ascendant or Descendant has the potency to change your horizon and it depends on circumstances and the person involved what the transit of Saturn will be reflecting. Some keywords: taking responsibility, being blamed, duties on the horizon, commitment and sometimes separation (distance). It requires patience, decency, respect and control to deal with this transit. Transit Saturn moved over his Ascendant before (with this Ascendant: on March 12 and again on August 12. May 27 is in the middle of the period.)

More 2010+2011
There is a lot of activity with this chart. Transits of Uranus, Jupiter and Neptune come and go in 2010 and 2011.
The trine made by transit Uranus will be back and bring welcome changes for a while (in September 2010 and in March 2011).
There will also be support in mid January 2011 (t Jupiter trine progressed Sun), but Neptune will be square the progressed Sun in February 2011. Neptune is the symbol of disappointment and isolation. A lot of ups and downs....
In 2011 transit Uranus will be square the Midheaven and opposition Ascendant, illustrating upheaval and changes again in April.

2012: P Sun trine Jupiter
The chart of this leader has one advantage. In April 2012 the progressed Sun in Sagittarius will make the first major progressive aspect in the new sign and it is one of the best: Progressed Sun trine Jupiter rx. It is the reflection of a successful new life (or lifestyle) and if he is still in charge it mirrors successful leadership later in 2011 (and perhaps good prospects for the UK).

Duties and responsibilities (Saturn)
The chart of a leader of a nation is often indicative for the well being of the people. There may be hope and eventually successes, but times are hard first. Saturn is the symbol of hard times. Transit Saturn will hit Cameron's Ascendant in August and his Sun in December.

NATAL CHART
The natal chart has the Sun 'calling' (for drawing attention and taking the lead at any possible level). The 'calling' Mars gives an energy level with ups and downs and is often seen in the charts of workaholics and ...sportsmen. Vesta on the Ascendant shows dedication. The oriental position of Uranus and Pluto might point at impulse and a tendency to be 'radical' (in the sense of making changes, 'revolutionary'). He may be a young radical in the eyes of old conservatives, but with the final dispositor of Midheaven (Venus) in Libra he is more of a diplomate and moderate.
Should I say: a dedicated diplomatic workaholic leader with an eye on change?

FAMILY AND NETWORK
David Cameron's Ceres on top of the chart and the crucial midpoint AC/MC in aspect with the Northern Node might point at the importance of networks and genes (or the family background). Ceres is the symbol of grain and seeds. Isn't it surprising that this symbol is so important in the chart of a descendant of Alexander Geddes, who made a fortune in the grain business? BTW one of his ancestors is 18th century King William IV (and his mistress Dorothea). In the UK there is more (openly:) distance between the classes than in the rest of Europe. The position of Ceres makes it clear how important networks and genes were and are in the life and position of Cameron.

For more background information about Ceres, Vesta,midpoints, Uranus-Pluto combinations etc., see the labels!

*) The Suns of Brown and Clegg were inconjunct (quincunx) and that is a sign of lost. The Midheaven of a final moment related to the charts of leaders reveals a lot in football games (see the label 'football') and politics has a lot in common with football:), apparently.

(c) http://astropost.blogspot.com

Chart of judge Baltasar Garzón

In Spain a judge has to appear before court because ultra right groups like Manos Limpios (Clean hands) have accused him.

Judge Baltasar Garzón is leading the corruption inquiry named 'Gürtel'. The accused are linked to the main right wing Partido Popular. Now ultra right admirors of General Franco (the late dictator) accuse Garzón of twisting the rules of law and overreaching powers when he investigated the case of dissappeared victimes in the period of Franco (the civil war). He is been accused of ignoring the Ley de Amnistía of 1977 (a law that permitted the crimes to be left unpunished). This is a very delicate matter in Spain (as in Argentina).
The killers of unarmed enemies have never been on trial. But Garzón: he has to face the judge. "No entiendo nada. ¿Al final va a volver a ganar Falange?" (I don't understand this. Is the Falange going to win in the end?) There is a lot of upheaval in the media, mirrored by Uranus square his Sun. See El País for more and for pictures...

OBSERVING THE TRANSITS
There are a few transits and progressions of interest:

- Transit Uranus square progressed Sun (upheaval, news about you)
- Transit Saturn retrograding towards a square with progressed Sun
- Progressed Midheaven will be square Saturn again this year
- Progressed Ascendant is inconjunct the natal Sun
- Progressed Ascendant trine natal Uranus
(and now we see the combination of restricted freedom, being stopped and the fight against it)

- Transit Jupiter inconjunct Vesta
(perhaps for the overload of dedication that is not in his favour now?)

- And a progressed Sun moving to the final degrees of the sign to indicate that his lifestyle will shortly change
- Progressed Sun trine natal Jupiter (for being supported and ... judged)
- Progressed Sun will be trine Pluto within one year
(this is the combination of success and winning or being valued)

- Transit Pluto is conjunct progressed Mercury (mental stress)

- Progressed Moon trine Neptune and conjunct transit Neptune (hope and sentimental or negative feelings, the influence of the media).

It is not surprising to see so many reflections of an important event like this.

NATAL CHART
Garzón has a 'calling' Moon, Mercury and Mars, with Neptune rising before the Sun and in aspect with AC/MC. This is not the combination of being without bias. He is a compassionate idealist fighting for a cause. He also tried to 'get' Berlusconi, Henry Kissinger, ETA and army officers in Argentina who tortured students to death. This dedication is also the reason why he makes enemies (but perhaps he likes to fight them: Mars novile Pluto).

The political and strong willed sign Scorpio is on Midheaven, with Jupiter and Pluto quintile the MC, mirroring creative successes. With Sun square Uranus he is different than the rest, also in his conservative branche (inter non pares). With Mercury quintile Uranus his ideas are also considered to be controversial, though he has creative ways to express them. He may be right, but in his society he is rather controversial. Moon inconjunct Uranus also gives the need to be different and sometimes that need causes so much controversy that the goals won't be reached.
See Cafe Astrology about Moon inconjunct Uranus...

Garzón is also dedicated (Vesta) and fanatic (Scorpio). The symbol of decidation, Vesta, doesn't make any aspect and transit Vesta is now on top of his chart, trying him. Read 'Una injusticia en España'(Injustice in Spain) - easy to be translated by Google - here.

His case reminds me of Simon Wiesenthal. He also had a 'calling' Moon in the 2nd degree of a sign (105 degrees from Uranus), Pluto in aspect with Midheaven and Mars inconjunct Pluto to illustrate the strongly driven personality, fighting for justice for victims of war. One of the notes of Reinhold Eberting regarding the Mars-Pluto combination is 'victims of war'. The issue is important in the lives of Garzón and Wiesenthal. For more about the combination of Mars and Pluto, see the label.

(c) http://astropost.blogspot.com

Trying to explain Fred and Shirley Phelps

It is hard to explain why a person loves to hate, but some people just do, like Fred and his daughter Shirley Phelps. Here above is the chart of the day of birth of Fred Phelps with the transits for the day that his daughter was born. The minor hard aspects with the extraordinary objects Vesta and Eris and the quindecile between Mars and Chiron could be the explanation for the extreme expression of sexual and political hate.

WESTBORO BAPTISTS
Father, daughter, family and followers are members of the Westboro Baptist Church, founded by Fred himself. He and his followers use to wish everybody else to hell and they expect the world to allow so because of the First Amendment. They appear at funerals of homosexuals and soldiers and shout that the deceased are hated. You'd say that the law would protect the families of the deceased against this kind of disturbance but instead the father of a killed soldier now has to pay the church. I can't understand the idea behind that, maybe you can. Here is the story...

Often the leaders of an institution are an example to the followers. They follow Phelps in his outbursts of anger and love of discord. The tightest aspects in his chart with the often unnoticed Chiron, Vesta and Eris are not explaining why he chooses to do so, but they are reflecting hidden frustration, pain and anger in the man who is the catalyst in persona for group events filled with hate.

FRED
Trying to explain the extreme personality of Fred Phelps by means of a chart without hour of birth is not easy. I guess that his indiviual chart with hour of birth wold explain a lot. On the day of his birth there were several indications for successful comminciations and though the contents are controversial and filled with hate, he managed to get a group of fans and followers united in his 'church'. (His orientation is mirrored by Neptune, the symbol of beliefs, fantasy, art, visions and the immaterial field.)

It is also clear that the combination of Sun Scorpio and Moon in Aries with Sun trine Pluto and conjunct Mars (resonating the Scorpio-Aries combination) is the recipe for a person with a fanatic and strong drive. Mercury has minor afflictions, for example the inconjunct with the 'calling' Jupiter, semi square with Saturn and biquintile with Uranus. This could be read as overstating his point of view of what freedom of speech is. He is creative in provoking discussions.

MARS QUINDECILE CHIRON
A lot of the issue of hurting people is in Mars quindecile Chiron. When Phelps was five years old, his mother died (with progressed Sun conjunct natal
Mars and quindecile Chiron). Perhaps that is when he got hurt inside and never found a cure. There is an obsession with pain and sex and a problem with expressing anger (see Cafe Astrology: http://www.cafeastrology.com/articles/chironaspects.html).

VESTA and ERIS
His Saturn is sesquisquare Vesta and that is the tightest aspect that I can find in his chart. It is reflecting a sort of a dedication that meets disapproval . Bob Marks refers to sexual hang-ups (repression and denial) and that seems to fit the man (marrying at age 52, fulminating against homosexuals).
The explanations of this tight sesquisquare between Saturn and Vesta combine the hate speeches and sexual problems (again).

Venus is inconjunct Eris (goddess of discord) and I think that this is an interesting aspect considering the man who just loves to make amok wherever he goes. He enjoys (Venus) discord (Eris) in a disproportional way (inconjunction). Maybe he just feels bad and wants to express his feelings:).

CONCLUSION
If I didn't know about the hate speeches, how would I see this chart (without bias, I mean and without using Chiron, Vesta and Eris)? What you see is an idealist (Neptune oriental) with a very strong drive (Scorpio-Aries, Sun-Mars-Pluto) and an inventive but somewhat narrow mind (Mercury with Jupiter, Uranus and Saturn) in opposition with 'the community'(Node), argumentive at any possible level. Only when you go deeper, you see the hidden and extraordinary problems*).

With an hour of birth this could be more specific, of course. But without taking a look at Chiron,Vesta and Eris and the importance of the event at age 5 (death of mother with P Sun conjunct Mars and quindecile Chiron) the matter of hurt and hurting and sexual hang-ups would not immediately come to mind, unless you consider his background. He is a believer and he apparently likes to believe in a God hating all those who don't try to be like Fred Phelps and his followers appear to be.

TIMELINE
In the summer of 1946 he (and his friend) got religious with progressed Sun trine Uranus and transit Uranus inconjunct natal Sun, and progressed Venus (there was a conjunction of progressed Venus and natal Sun). It looks like the same kind of aspects as 'falling in love'. (Maybe that explains the excitement that is on the faces of new believers? or was it because of the cooperation with his friend John Capron). Maybe Uranus is in the 9th house to reflect conversion and controversy because of convictions?

He married in 1952, very late, with progressed Sun opposition Jupiter in Gemini and trine Vesta in Leo, no more than a year after the progressed conjunction of Sun and Mars.

In 1955 he founded the Westboro Baptist Church with Progressed Sun opposition natal Ceres and trine progressed Vesta (the same sort of combination as in 1952, when he married). That is when Saturn was getting closer to Pholus in the progressed chart.

SHIRLEY
On October 31, 1957 his daughter Shirley was born. She is also devoted to hate speeches and as controversial as her father is. She has Mercury square Uranus (he the biquintile) and they share the oriental Neptune for an idealistic orientation. Both are Scorpio’s, btw.

With Mars quintile Uranus she will have a creative short fuse to add some fuel and she is the kind of person with a passion (Venus sextile Mars). Vesta is inconjunct her Sun.That is for being devoted to a higher cause, but to much and getting out of balance. Her hour of birth might give a clue to why she follows into her father's footsteps like that.

PS I was surprised to see on Wikipedia that Phelps is a Democrat (a member? Do they know that?:)

*) Minor aspects often refer to what is not immediately visible (the hidden things) and the 'extraordinary' is related to asteroids and all other objects that are not the 'usual kind of tools to read charts'.

(c) http://astropost.blogspot.com

FARC release of Pablo Emilio Moncayo

Pablo Emilio Moncayo was 18 years old when the FARC captured him and they kept him for 12 years. Now he is free again. I found his day of birth on
http://noticias.prodigy.msn.com/internacional/articulo-bbc.aspx?cp-documentid=23763005 and on that site they give the following information:
- DOB:' el 26 de febrero 1978 en Sandona, una población en las cercanías de Pasto, capital de Nariño.'
- Captured: ' secuestrado el 21 de diciembre de 1997'

What kind of transits and progressions accompany the main moments in his life? Of course there is no hour of birth, so that there is a limited amount of astrological info. And there are very special conditions. He was in military service and the FARC was around.

In December of 1997 we see:

- (strange enough) Progressed Jupiter square progressed Sun. Maybe that is not so strange after reading the story - in Spanish- in El Mundo, where they describe him as an unusual optimist and when we consider the fact that he survived a battle that day.
- Transit Uranus/Pluto square Node: sudden dramatic change in a group of people
- Progressed Vesta, symbol of the hearth of the home and of dedication - was in the 16th degree of Sagittarius. That is where transit Pholus is today…

Now that he is free (but I don’t know in what condition):
- Progressed Sun trine Vesta
- Progressed Sun sesquisquare progressed Saturn
- And what I mentioned before: transit Pholus at the point where Progressed Vesta was 12 years ago.
Earlier there was transit Uranus square Jupiter and inconjunct Saturn for the relief and the end of captivity.

Now he is reunited with his family: see the video

Ingrid Betancourt is one of the most famous persons held by FARC. Here is more about her and her chart...

(c) http://astropost.blogspot.com