SEPTEMBER 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

 Mars, so powerfully extra strong now in its home sign of Aries, since the beginning of August, is certainly and loudly, creating turmoil and anger on the world stage. This rare long placement, lasting till January 6^th is bringing out rather primeval impulse and rage.

 Saturn and Pluto are still closely conjunct in their oh so rare configuration in Capricorn which equals restriction(Saturn) on power(Pluto) and on economies and because Mars (drive, ambition assertion) as last month, is still squaring this conjunction, this is creating a serious ongoing tension and notable frustration. A conflict is continually growing between a resumption of the economy, versus a need for serious caution re public health, of course.

 It is fair to say generally, that currently, and indeed from the beginning of this year, everyone who has a birthdays around 13th to 19^th of January, July, October or April (which equates approximately 22 degrees to 27 degrees of these signs) are currently being personally very impacted by this powerful and rare combination of planets, that existentially has been and is still so significant now on our entire globe. Indeed, also many who have their Ascendant or Mid heaven, or other important natal planets in any of these degrees of these signs, will also feel the power and the challenge personally in their lives and within themselves,

But very importantly, from the 9^th of this month, Mars moves retrograde and stays in that mode till November 14^th. The addition of a retrograde motion of Mars, will serve to significantly complicate issues.

 This retrograde movement of Mars happens on average every 2 years for approximately just over 2 months and often shows itself as bottled up simmering anger, because of restrictions and blocks to action and power, personally and globally… and when in Aries , this is underlined to the nth degree. In fact, this retrograde planetary positioning demands a huge need for patience and a need to re plan and reconsider future action and to recognize that things/progress need to be more fundamentally reconfigured out of wise necessity.

Things will take longer than would be liked, especially in relation to the mastering of the Covid pandemic. However, because Mars is in assertive “go for it” Aries and is also potently squaring up to Pluto and Saturn, this cautious stance and the need for patience and re-evaluation will be resisted and defied. Wisdom is likely to be ignored on the altar of the powerful force of frustrated anger and the great desire for a return to “normality” and for power and control, despite any blocks. Impotence however will be felt in the face of failed or foolish plans and will likely create bitter frustration among leaders and the populace.

Behind the scenes, purely ego driven manoeuvres will also be powerful now among the powers that be, and secrecy of tactics will be the order of the day.

This is a dangerous, reckless and foolhardy time. An almost civil war mood will be brewing.

The most powerful configuration is from September 20th and operative till the very beginning of October when a tricky T square is created between Mercury opposing Mars which in turn are squaring Saturn and nudging Pluto by square too. Dangerously angry days will be flagged up then, when an obsessive desire to take quite ruthless control by leaders within their own country are highlighted, or an international challenge, resulting from displaced anger can manifest. Diplomacy will be trounced by anger. The fall out in the 1st half of October will be significant .

This tense mood can be palpable also between ordinary citizens, and within families as well as in an international political context.

The environmental mood will not be kind either and this will be reflected in the weather and in manifestations of the fallout of nature’s reactions to our environmental meddling.   Low yield crops, not least.

 Days of potential deception, fake news, fantasy, smoke and mirror happenings, unrealistic ambitions, and falsifying accounts of situations are between the 11^th and 13^th when the Sun opposes Neptune.  Although this period, can work well for the power of music, film and the arts.

Trump, all month, has Saturn opposition Venus (every 30 years), which equates to harsh reality checks re his public standing in the polls (Venus rules his natal Midheaven, which is all about career /status). It will also unavoidably flag up areas of his responsibilities which he has failed to address, or he will find himself blocked from doing what he wants to do. The economy too will be a real challenge. He also simultaneously has Jupiter square Natal Jupiter all month (every 6 years) and this will mean he will compensate for these frustrations, by over doing, over promising and potentially reckless overreaching and daring in certain other actions and policy decisions. Late month, he will also have Mars squaring his Venus, and sextiling his Mars which will make him desirous of power over others in a rather primitive and potentially bullying way, especially when dealing with politicians of the opposite sex. Also, a ruthlessness over finances, both his own and the economy, are flagged up then. However, he will also simultaneously have renewed confidence and determination to do as he wishes, which may bring him significant support and admiration from his followers.

Jo Biden who has his natal Sun, Mercury , Venus and Mars in  Scorpio ( positions never to be underestimated) with Sagittarius rising, has Saturn opposition his natal Jupiter (his ruling planet) all month, which does not augur well for his confidence or sense of progress to be honest, but realism will dominate. By contrast Kamala Harris, his Democratic running mate, has Jupiter trine her natal Venus all month , which will enhance her popularity , which she will need, as also Mars is squaring her Moon, all month , suggesting that she will be very frustrated in her dealings with men in a political context and she will be challenged significantly… but she is a fighter.  She is a Libra, with Gemini rising, and Moon in Aries, opposition her Sun (full Moon birth). Mercury, her ruler, is in forensic Scorpio.

 Boris Johnson's chart is looking unscathed by the current intensity, probably because he is not calling the shots and is being rather elusive.  He has again the exact recurrence of Neptune squaring his Mercury all month, as he had exactly when he came down with Covid. My guess is that he is backing off major leadership activity, because of some possible ongoing physical impairment and/or, because he is keen to avoid making decisions and reaping any resulting flack. This once in a lifetime (every 82 years) planetary combination can not only affect the health, but also creates much avoiding of the truth and a tearing up of the rules of accountability and also underlines a habit of making empty, fanciful statements and promises. Much secrecy of true intent is surrounding his position now.  Plenty of delegation is also the order of the day in his chart. Power without responsibility. This current year long intermittent combining of Neptune/Mercury energy has been haunting him since April this year, strong again this month, and continues its influence till March 2021.

Positive days this month generally are the 2^nd/3^rd when the Sun trines Uranus, which is good for scientific breakthroughs and positive, possibly surprise change; and the 9/10^th when the Sun trines Jupiter, auguring well for optimism, progress, confidence and international cooperation. But do not underestimate the effect of retrograde Mars in Aries from the 9th!

The Moon is full on the 2^nd at 10 degrees of Pisces and new Moon is on the 17^th at 25 degrees of Virgo…

You reap consequences of actions on the full Moon and sow new seeds for the future on the new Moon.

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

As last February and March, Saturn  (brakes/reality checks and karmic school teacher) is now seriously once again speaking truth to Pluto (power). Both planets are once more close in the critical and powerful last 10 degrees of Capricorn (established economic system). Saturn is basically now putting a huge block on the idea of simply “getting back to normal”, especially re the economy, as is/was the hope.

 The power and extreme rarity of this ongoing combination during 2020, makes it no surprise that we are still in the grips of this virus, as it once again, in so many places, is bouncing back and this is not something our civilisation is prepared for. It was never imagined as a likely global phenomenon.

 August, astrologically, reflects the fact that it is a month of significant realisation as to the full scale of the current global crisis. A mixture of the virus, economic situation, environmental issues/climate change and the anarchic energies at work in countries, where the leaders are clearly at a loss as to how to cope with current circumstances has caused chaos. Pure ego is completely counterproductive in leadership qualities, as is becoming so obvious. Sadly ignorance and arrogance are twins, a combination, which, in some countries can also bring a gradual dissolving of once accepted moral obligations in leadership.  Only wise, inclusive, big picture egoless leadership will do now, which we are now beginning to see in some countries.

 We are desperate for “normal”, but we now have to question how our habitual normal, in terms of our global values and habits, has contributed to our current global situation on many levels. Neptune concurrently travelling through his home sign of Pisces (2012-2026, occurring only every 165 years) now is reflecting the power of a massive invisible spread of power in so many areas of life, not least social media, political interferences, climate change and now of course, a virus. Neptune in Pisces most essentially reflects the power of nature to show its power, if we in any way abuse it.

 A global world has to be prepared to bear global consequences of actions in any individual country. Our power to subdue a virus is proving a huge scientific, social and psychological challenge, not to mention politically and the impatient hunger for economic growth again is putting our efforts to quell the virus at risk. Choices made under our present system are so hard and so impossible, given that the current style of global economy equals a matter of life and death in many ways too.

 Jupiter (growth and optimism) has also been involved in this so rare conjunction in Capricorn, which has also given a hope and optimism, and in many cases an arrogance of assumption, that we can resume economic life as it was, but all too quickly and sadly, also over optimistically

 A recent comment made by journalist George Monbiot, is hugely prescient… “We are acclimatising ourselves to an existential crisis”.

 This crisis is actually a huge message to our planet that we need to have a fundamental change in what needs to be normal. We need to shift our values, expectations and rebalance our priorities in how we live our lives. Respecting our planet is a screaming necessity, as the power of nature is clearly telling us when we have abused it. Money and the unthinking pursuit of eternal economic growth, at any cost to our natural world, cannot continue to be the god of us all.  It is that very value that has created this existential crisis. The huge uncertainty around us currently causes great anxiety, but out of uncertainty, creativity is born, as are new paradigms of being.

 Uranus, which equals shock, disruption, innovation, the future and change, which is often ultimately liberating, is now in Taurus (money, value systems/ security/ and indeed the very earth itself) and has been committed to that sign since March 2019 and will stay there till the end of April 2026. This is and will continue slowly to bring a revolution in all those areas i.e. how we are forced to negotiate our needs/values in a new way. It’s a shock and game changing but necessary. That is the point of and purpose of Uranus.

 There are only two certainties in life, and one of those is change.

 Mars, remains in  his home sign of Aries  this month and  has underwhelming through this sign since early July and stays there for an unusually long period, till January 6^th. This is a powerful warlike position at worst, healthily determined and assertive at best. The recent chaotic unrest, in Hong Kong and of course in parts of the USA, which has been met by brutal governmental generated force, has reflected this powerful position. From the 13^th to the 29^th, this month, Mars aspects will likely then seriously generate more potential dangerous, forceful controlling abuses of power, which will be followed by serious frustration and resultant greater anger, (Mars squares Pluto and then squares Saturn during those dates.)

 Mars will also between the 13^th-24^th seriously challenge Trump’s Saturn and Venus, by square aspect, which will create significant challenges to him internationally and legally, and which will almost certainly result in his desperate push to regain control with desperate, impulsive anger and action.

 Trump’s chart has ongoing incredible challenges, not least Pluto opposing his Saturn (every 248 years). He has had this on and off since January and strongly since the beginning of July and most of this month and strongly again at the end of the year. This transit, when experienced, really pulls the rug from under your feet and an inevitable change in the status quo is indicated because of fated forces. It is powerful in terms of elimination of assumptions about ones position and resources. Fighting these forces successfully is only possible if you are totally on the right path and your conscience is totally clear.  In Trump’s case, it is not helpful to his mental health either (Pluto in the 12^th house in his natal chart). It can also possibly bring physical health issues to the fore, which can seriously affect one’s power to continue in one’s desired way.

 We have however to remember that Trump does not respond like most people, because he chooses not to see facts or truth, as his ego is so delicate/damaged, so the truth is just not an option. In fact, he defies many basic laws of humanity…so he is immune to the normal responses in so many ways.   He will fight in any drastic way possible to cling on to power. In late September and October he also has Saturn opposition his Venus (every 30 years), and along with Pluto’s influence, that is very stressful re work and his image in the world. It is a bit of a final straw of a reality check.  Also Uranus is squaring his Pluto now till late September, which does not auger well for stability in many ways. In fact his own party and previously close associates are likely to dessert him, or at least distance themselves significantly, in order to protect their own status.  But never underestimate Trumps popularity with core supporters. He is hypnotic to them, like a cult leader.

 Looking at Boris Johnson, he has Mars, which is currently in Aries, going through his 7th house now (he has Libra rising) continuing till late January. That will bring significant challenges from others and from the outside world. Around the 13th of this month, he has Mercury squaring both his Neptune and his Jupiter. That will be a period where his statements and the facts of a situation, may well be rather at odds. His optimistic generalisations and any carelessness then, may not do him any favours.  He also needs to be careful from August the 27^th and all through September, when Neptune once again squares his Mercury (every 84 years and it was strong when he was hospitalised with the virus), as his health will again be prone to vulnerability, or at the least, his work will feel very stressful, and again, relations with other countries are strained. Lack of clarity then will especially be his enemy. Yet again, this period also shows that his idealism and fantasies may well outweigh facts in his statements and in his projected view of things.

 However no Pluto, Uranus or Saturn challenges are in the air for Johnson currently, so he will muddle through.  

 Astrology is great at seeing how the planets are affecting the world and seeing the challenges that need addressing, but as to whether humanity is up to grasping the necessary nettle is another story … Change may well be forced upon us, such is the power of the astrological energies right now. The problem remains that it is short-term economic success that is the god of so many in power and indeed is the god of our globalised system. We may indeed be forced to remodel that god. Capitalism as it is , may well need to be recalibrated.

 The optimistic news  (yes, I can dredge some up) is that from mid/late December when Saturn and Jupiter, in their natural cycle, both move into and commit to Aquarius, (innovation /future/ technology/ big picture/wisdom) we will see not only serious indications of the coming conquest/control of Covid, but also the tentative beginnings of a very new value system starting to emerge, as many of us and indeed many of our leaders, all start, out of total necessity, to look outside our outdated and rather toxic box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JULY 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

Saturn speaks truth to power (Pluto), but it is an inconvenient truth to those in power whose ego is significantly greater than their wisdom. The more power is abused however, the more Saturn hurts.

The current combination of Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter all more or less conjunct in Capricorn, is as rare as it gets. This conjunction started significantly in late February, which was when the virus took hold and became significant in all our consciousness.  Its virtual total global reach is the first time in human history.

Capricorn is all about the establishment and the economic system. Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) however puts a break on everything it touches and brings serious reality checks that we need to learn from. He is not called the karmic schoolteacher or benevolent despot for nothing.  Saturn always calls time on abuse of power. Hence the ruthless power of Pluto, and the growth and freedom factor of Jupiter, related to the economy, have all been drastically curtailed by the karmic power of the necessity principle of Saturn.

It is significant of course that England is a Capricorn country and the USA is Cancerian country, both especially powerfully affected by this whole crisis i.e. England by conjunction from these current Capricorn planetary placements, and the USA by opposition from them.

Climate change has also been hugely brought to our attention since Saturn entered Capricorn at the end of 2017, a real heads up to what the fallout can be for the health of our planet, resulting from our blind pursuit of eternal economic growth…Then along came the Covid crisis, a globalised pandemic.

Since late March however, when Saturn left Capricorn and moved temporarily into very early Aquarius, focus has been by necessity, turned to issues that the sign rules, i.e. research /technology relating to medical science and also the necessary limitation of our freedoms (not least in aviation, also ruled by Aquarius).

We have also however recognised since then, the limitations of science, when time for a solution is short. This virus proves very challenging to deal with in terms of the time span needed to find a vaccine and for creating efficient test, trace and track systems, not least in England. As a result, patience has been sorely tested, and a return to normality and economic rescue, is longed for and seen as urgent.

This has created a major and not so subtle conflict between these two principles, i.e. ongoing caution to secure health/safety/lives, versus the economic priorities/freedom.

 After Saturn left Capricorn in late March (temporarily), Jupiter in Capricorn (confidence, expansion, optimism,)  gradually moved to get closer to Pluto (power, determination) and they finally formed an exact conjunction, starting on June the 23^rd. This combination in Capricorn, without the brake of Saturn, brought a huge and somewhat ruthless determination to restart the economy, and possibly a blind optimism and confidence to move forward. This is understandable, but caution/reality (Saturn) has simultaneously been downgraded significantly.

There has been of course, reflecting these planetary energies, an understandable powerful push by business and of course the political powers that be, to reprioritise the economy, as the truly scary economic fallout of the pandemic sets in. 

Hence lock down has quickly loosened in many places...a decision has been made and medical scientific advice is somewhat downgraded.

However on the 1st of this month, Saturn returned to Capricorn, staying till mid December. Between now and then, the massive fallout for the economy will indeed be revealed and the virus, because of our returned freedoms, will also return in significant waves and once again the conflict of choice between life or the economy will be powerful. Saturn, back in Capricorn, will once again put pressure on Pluto and Jupiter, and once again put the brakes on our freedoms in many places, and therefore on the economy. This can only of course ironically set back the economy even more. There will be a nemesis .

When the choice can be quite starkly boiled down to either protecting life or a healthy economy, something is wrong.  Some libertarians can also interpret it as authoritarian governmental control versus freedom. This whole period astrologically is however designed to show us that our socio-economic system is basically flawed, especially as this virus is anyway a bi product of our interference in and exploitation of nature and its creatures, on the sole altar of economic growth/survival.

When a catastrophic economic crisis happens as a result of more or less 3 months of economic pause, it shows us how fragile our economic system is, especially as events like epidemics and social crisis/upheaval/war are thankfully rare, but nevertheless periodic facts. For major socio/economic systems not to be properly economically prepared for such an event, is both naïve and arrogant.

 From the 18^th of December however, Jupiter along with Saturn will both start their committed journey through Aquarius (again a rare combining). This will genuinely begin a lengthy period of increased enlightenment and potentially major leaps in benevolent scientific and medical advance. It will also flag up a potentially more humanitarian and planet centred value system. Out of the ashes, the sight of a beginning of a phoenix rising, is really possible then and is actually essential.

Pluto in Capricorn (2008-2025 and only ever 248 years) has basically seen a ruthless growth in global neo liberal capitalism, with all its fallout. This ultimately has the seeds of its own destruction Whatever sign that Pluto is passing through, is where there is a real potential for abuse of power in the arena of life that the sign  rules. The whole climate change issue / pollution issue and now a global health issue is a linked, combined and growing crisis, that is beyond massive. Saturn being closely involved has had the job of seriously flagging this up and tryng to force lessons..

This month there is another lunar eclipse and coincidentally, it’s on the 5^th, as it was last month.  Just as last month it correlated with an eruption of global demonstrations against racism, and saw the collective frustration from lockdown emerge, so again this month’s eclipse may well signal an eruption of anger/frustrations/shock, but its focus will more likely be connected to economic matters, as it is in Capricorn. (It was in Sagittarius last month).

Mercury moves direct on the 12^th having been retrograde since the 18^th of June. This does signal a greater certainty of what the direction of travel really should be, after weeks of global uncertainties and confusion.

Around the 16^th when the Sun opposes Pluto there is tension and crisis is in the air internationally, especially in the States and around the 27^th, significant dishonesty, sleight of hand and denial of truth are likely, not least from some of our leaders.

Boris Johnson has Mars opposing his ascendant on the 17^th/18^th. A period for him of much confrontation from others.

Trump has Pluto opposing his Saturn all month and indeed all the first half of August.

This significant, rare (every 248 years) and powerful transit, which haunts him till next January, certainly challenges him to the core. Instability and inevitable change is forced upon him. Lack of control of his situation becomes apparent to him and his reactions will be a sort of fight or flight response. His survival urge will become primeval and desperate in manifestation. However because he has Jupiter involved in the opposition between the 1^st and 10^th, his compensatory confidence and over reaching ego then, will not do him any favours. The US economy from late July till December will also likely be increasingly challenged in an unprecedented way, as Saturn and Pluto haunt the economics of the US chart.

Lets not forget that Neptune is still in Pisces remaining there till April 2025 and it does indeed symbolise invisible spread of issues and events and with no boudaries, both positive and negative (an example, apart from the pandemic, was how the Black Lives Matter demonstrations reverberated so quickly around the world.) It also symbolises a very necessary increasing awareness of a global need to re think our value system and above all the need to recognise the power of nature and our need to have much greater reverence for it.

JUNE 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

There are two eclipses this month. A lunar eclipse is on the 5^th at 15 degrees of Sagittarius and a solar eclipse is on the 21^st at 0 degrees of Cancer.  This makes for a quite a powerful month. Also throughout the month the Sun in Gemini is within a trying mutable square angle to Mars in Pisces. This will be exact on the 5^th when the lunar eclipse occurs. Suffice it to say; this suggests the mood music will be at the least impatient and frustrated and at worst, angry, eruptive, warlike and confrontational. Long fermenting anger will explode. We have already seen this sort of activity in the States and in Hong Kong late last month.

 Mercury, now in Cancer, famously goes retrograde on the 18^th and stays so till July12th.

This represents delays, confusions, breakdowns of communication and technology. Misunderstandings and miscommunication and so often, travel hitches, are all possible for us all. Patience and a need to rethink strategy and to fine-tune thinking and communicating is demanded.

 It will also be an almighty feeling of significant frustration, with the triumph  of human ingenuity  over the elusive nature of a tricky, morphing Covid 19 virus being seemingly beyond management … or at least delayed.

The lunar eclipse on the 5th will be tense and have a sense of explosion of frustration and anger about much that has been seething. Dark unconscious eruptions manifest into the consciousness.   Those born around December 6th-8^th are most likely to feel the power.  If born around June 5th-7^th, eruptions can manifest from others.

By contrast the Solar eclipse on the 21^st, has a far more benign sense of the positive and the new being born, uplift. If born around June22nd, this may be a very good time for new chapters.

It is however a uniquely critical time in the world and the pandemic is also at a critical moment and at least in the UK, the easing of the lockdown is a step that to many is controversial/risky/dangerous, and to some to be totally celebrated and indeed in some countries the lockdown has been resisted by presidents and indeed significant parts of the populace too.  It is a matter of the huge pressure of the importance of the economy. Pluto in Capricorn is obsessed with that.

Jupiter in Capricorn is now also moving into close proximity with Pluto, this month, which brings determined optimism and quite ruthless determination related to getting the economy back on track.

 In the UK, several “Sage” scientific advisers are indeed fearful and have urged more caution re loosening the lockdown, but economic advisers have prevailed. The problem is that this current combination of and sign placement of planets in Capricorn can bring quite an unconditional desire to particularly protect big, powerful international business e.g. the aviation industry, and holiday companies, and there is desperation for them to resume, as was.

 It is all a question of weighing up risk to life versus a risk to the economy, and with the economy being so much of a motivator with all this Capricorn strength in the ether, clearly that will be very underlined and totally prioritised. Governments desperately need the economy to bounce back, as it is obviously so much in their interests in terms of the ongoing functioning of society. Human psychology is also hugely stressed by the privations psychologically and economically, of lockdown, so it all is no surprise. The pressures to be once again as we were, are huge. However viruses and nature are not to be underestimated… nor should we underestimate the urgent need to rethink our big picture value system. After all every crisis is an opportunity. If we don’t learn, it is wasted, and another bigger one will be in the wings.

At the beginning of July when Saturn (the brakes/lessons/reality checks) leaves Aquarius and moves back into Capricorn, there will gradually be an undermining of economic optimism. Of course also then, the massive rather unimaginable fallout, for the economy and peoples jobs/living circumstances, as a result of the last few months, will then become all too distressingly obvious. Saturn is karmic schoolteacher, not least about economic factors from July. There is also a very significant likelihood then of a beginning of a significant bounce back of the virus manifesting over the coming months, as a result of over pushing our risk, in trying to resume normality.  That can lead of course to worse privations on the economy.

Neptune in Pisces (invisible spread/permeability) is so powerful still and the elusive quality of Covid will remain a conundrum, despite the excellent global work that scientists and epidemiologists have done during Saturn’s visit to Aquarius since March 22nd (he returns there for the long term in mid December) .

Mars (energy /focus) has been in Pisces (nature, the obscure, emotions) too since May 13^th and remains there till the 28^th of June. Positively this has brought a huge appreciation of nature, as we have paused our noise and some of our assault on the natural world. It also creates many emotional /psychological vulnerabilities because of a yearning for love, connection and humanity, which we have been deprived of, but which we have seen so powerfully exhibited in carers and health workers. It also creates idealism, and that has contributed to a natural and desperate desire to get our physical connections back with others, and for many people, a chance to rethink how we treat the planet.

The downside of Mars in Pisces is weakness, impotence and delusion about what is possible. Fire (Mars) is quashed by water (Pisces). It has highlighted the impotence of many of those in power (Mars) relating to fighting and managing this virus (Pisces). There has been some delusion /illusion, smoke and mirrors too.  Denials about the power of the virus and about its origin have arisen. It has been called a myth; fake news, a Chinese hoax, caused by technology etc and false optimism about its imminent demise have also been rife…. Populist leaders have had their narcissistic tendencies underlined, as their egos have been threatened by their helplessness and lack of muscle in the face of the virus, hence denial of the importance of, or the power of the virus has been expressed, or they have made ridiculous, false claims that they have the answer to it.

The virus has also underlined massive inequalities between the poor and wealthy, in terms of their vulnerability.

Mars (drive/competitiveness/ambition) in Pisces (over idealism/fantasy) has created some grasping at techniques that are claimed to be ultimate answers to the problem. The test, track and trace tool that has worked in other countries because of dedicated organisation has seemed to fall off its pedestal, as the solution in the UK. The more egotistical a government and its leader are, the more Mars traversing Pisces brings problems of unreal claims and oversold, overoptimistic, perceived solutions, often simply because of insufficient attention to timing, reality, detail and practical organisation.

This planetary position also creates an increased likelihood of buried sleight of hand in terms of pushing through controversial policy decisions, by those in power, under the cover of the focus on and distraction of, the global health crisis. Smoke and mirrors can abound with Mars in Pisces.

Obfuscation of reality, or avoidance of directness is a negative manifestation of this planetary placement and it can also often draw people to controversial, extremist social ideology. Mars in Pisces is often secretive and likes to be hidden and private with its power.

 Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's chief adviser has Mars in Pisces at birth.

Neptune demands no selfishness, no ulterior motive and no ego involvement, in order to ensure good outcomes

Between the 12^th and 15^th when Mars conjoins with Neptune now trolling through Pisces (Neptune is the ruler of Pisces) this really gives huge power to this energy. There may then at worse, be a real impetus to the growth of the virus and more serious deceptions being undertaken or exposed.  Over idealism and ideological vigour can also take on an obsessive quality then.

Boris Johnson has a pretty tough month ahead, with little mitigation, especially in the second half.

Mars squares his Mercury between the 10^th and 13^th and that might be a very tricky time for him, in terms of difficulties with challenges from others at home and especially in international issues and he needs to look after his lungs then too. (Mercury rules the lungs and he is a Gemini, which is ruled by Mercury)

More seriously, Saturn is squaring his Moon from June 14^th till July 2^nd as it did in late March/early April, when he contracted Covid 19. This is potentially significantly challenging for his career status, health and also issues connected to women.

Emotional/physical stress is strongly indicated and his career can suffer as a result. This square will return for the final 3^rd time in the second half of December this year, with a definitive challenge. It will not so affect him in this way, again for aprox another 15 years.

He will also experience between the 24^th and 27^th, Mars squaring both his Sun and Venus, which will be vexatious for him in terms of others threatening his position and he will not be given an easy ride by them.

Neptune generally haunts Johnson by square to Mercury all this year (every 84 years) and it got under way last March  (again can create vulnerability in lungs) and can weaken his public position generally, especially in questions of trustworthiness and capability and this stays with him on and off, in operation till April 2021.

Trump has a very tricky time this month too.

Neptune is now squaring his north node till late August. This every aprox 84-year transit brings confusion as to identity and purpose and a meltdown of the old assumptions about self. However, when someone is very insecure, or damaged and can’t face up to mistakes or a need to rethink identity, then anger, as a confused reaction results and a lashing out to blame all around, rather than to review oneself and one’s trajectory in life. As mentioned, Neptune does not work at all well with ego.

Between the 12^th and 17^th when Mars squares his Sun and Moon, anger and war like impulses are indeed in the air, and petulance and impatience, that can be dangerous. There is also considerable likelihood of him taking very risky action in the week before that period, when Mars squares his Uranus and then the unpredictable is very strong in himself and emanating from others in power.  However with Jupiter strong in his chart by opposition to Venus also mid month, it is likely he will feel emboldened and will seemingly confidently push the boat out wildly and too far, to compensate for a feeling of stress, confusion and impotence in power.

So hang on to your hat folks. Stay safe.

MAY 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

Unique times are upon us and the human landscape is in many ways unrecognisable. Saturn (karmic outcomes) has spoken truth to power (Pluto) in relation to power’s vulnerability in the face of nature’s forces. This is especially true when we have contributed to the creation of this crisis through our abuse of the natural world and its creatures.  Uranus, also which represents disruption /shocks/ rebellion, now in Taurus, a sign symbolising simplicity and the natural order of nature, is bringing home to us that we manipulate the natural order and its creatures, at our peril, in a way that we should have anticipated more profoundly.

Truth can be spoken to people in power, but for some in power, with egos larger than their intellect, those truth speakers immediately become their enemy.

We can try to blame 5G or escaped experimental laboratory viruses, all we want,  (Neptune in Pisces, negatively manifested, now loves a smoke and mirrors fantasy, so as to displace blame) but the science is pretty indisputable about the now relatively frequent events of very unnatural viruses being created because of our impact on the natural world.

Zoonotic viruses enabled by us are very tricky to handle.

Myself and no doubt other astrologers have mentioned before how difficult Donald Trump’s chart is most of this year. Most people with the transits that he has now would have to endure almost impossible pressures, which limit power enormously and often bring an ending of that person’s status quo… but he is Teflon. Capricorn rules the economy and it particularly rules the US economy (2^nd house) and with the Pluto/Saturn combining there, so rarely now, and conjuncting the US chart’s natal Pluto in that house, I wondered what inevitably would hit the economy so particularly hard this year, and now we know.

Pluto is opposing both Trump’s Saturn and Venus now (every 248 years) and will do so till August and it hits him hard again in November. Saturn also joined in on the act powerfully in January/February and does again in September and October. These have been and will be periods of real crisis for him, whether he perceives it or not. He also however has a very strong Jupiter opposition to these planets too, which was strongly at work last month, (April). These influences boosted his ego, as he saw it, but the danger of arrogance, seriously over reaching and over selling himself then (disinfectant ideas and Covid etc) were very strong. He has this same Jupiter transit again strongly in June / early July and November this year, and his behaviour will undoubtedly be similar then. However the strength of Pluto and Saturn in his chart totally dominate and are overbearingly challenging and rather fatalistic in his career and in his life. So far he has defied much planetary pressure, and that is because of a denial. Whether he gets into power again or not, his 2021 will also be pretty hard going for him.

Of course Boris Johnson has had a baptism of fire, as he suffered a real personal hit from the virus. This may be a game changer for him and he can never now underestimate this virus, nor financially starve the NHS, after his life saving benefit from it, without a huge lash back in public opinion.  In a karmic way this may change him and his policies in a positive way, as many hard personal crises do.

He had Neptune exactly squaring his natal Mercury by transit, when he contracted the virus. This happens only every approximately 82 years in someone’s life.  Mercury is a powerful planet in his chart as he is a Gemini, which is ruled by Mercury.

Mercury literally rules the lungs. Neptune creates vulnerability in any planetary energy it challenges by transit. Neptune also rules specifically his 6^th house of health and ability to function on a day today level. Simultaneously, he had Saturn (challenge) squaring his Moon (every 30 years). The Moon in his chart rules his midheaven (career point).  He therefore had a real undermining of those areas, both health wise and work wise throughout April.

This general vulnerability in his life, especially work wise, is underlined again to some extent in late summer and autumn. He may find he has to ease up somewhat on pressures then and his ability to fulfil projected policy plans may be significantly undermined, because of the fallout of events that have arisen since he became PM.

 

However on a global stage the impressive reaction of many governments (by no means all) and the intensification of scientific work, have shown also what the potential for human expertise and cooperation is, in the face of such a crisis.  This correlated perfectly with the temporary entrance of Saturn into Aquarius on March 22^nd. Aquarius is absolutely about scientific insight and humanitarian progress and Saturn is a force of karmic necessity. Mars, also in Aquarius all last month and till May 13^th helps energise and drive the fight for knowledgeable progress.  Saturn is in full throttle in Aquarius till the beginning of July in working on this cause, and then he retreats back to Capricorn, and will then commit itself to facing the problems of the economy again, till mid December this year.

 Of course, if we put the economy as a priority too soon this year, as our society as it is relies so much on the continuation of the same old status quo of eternal growth, we may well find ourselves with a serious rebound of the virus in the late Summer/Autumn, when Saturn once again challenges Pluto and then again the economy will take a further worse hit.

These huge problems will necessitate a fairly fundamental rethink of how the economy works; a restructuring no less.

From December, scientific and technological expertise will be intensified again, maybe of stark necessity, continuing till March 2023.

Interesting that Jupiter now also in Capricorn since early December, has also been conjunct with Pluto from late March and hovering there till late December this year. This has been a powerful positive catalyst for the impact of constructive group cooperation in the face of a crisis..  Wise and international (Jupiter) use of power (Pluto) has created at the least, much protection from the worse potential of this virus.  Never before has a crisis been so globalised in all its aspects, and rare global cooperation has been uniquely activated in social action, research and learning from each other, in how to deal with it. This is the real upside of Jupiter and Pluto together. As long as that combination is motivated always for the greater universal good and not for egotistical or personal aggrandisement, it can be magnificent and so powerful in achievement.  Motive is everything.

 The coming together of Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn is a virtually unique event in our history as a human race.  The last time it happened was 1894 BC…a period when the very earliest, crude principles of our economic laws were initiated.  We will now, going forward, have to initiate a significantly revised economic order.  The old order of political ideologies will largely become defunct on the altar of survival.

It is interesting to see how, when the threat and the very distressing death rate from this virus is so in our face personally and on our doorstep, we wake up and go into full on emergency measures to fight it, involving significant sacrifices from us all. We of course all realise that the economy is very threatened as the global astrology clearly indicates, and which started in January this year. Saturn so often brings an uncomfortable reality check, which is designed to stop us in our tracks and make us all re-evaluate our goals and indeed our value systems and priorities, but this one is collective and as big as it gets.

For leaders to assume that we will be able to, in the near future, automatically go back to the same system and continue building again to the same template as was, is a fundamental misjudgement.  There are only two certainties in life and one of those is change and astrologically this is globally massively indicated.

As shocking and tragic as this virus crisis is, in reality the existential threat of climate change is ultimately a more dangerous long term global catastrophe, it is just not so in our faces as yet… It is still sort of just out there. When this Corona crisis is managed to a reasonable degree, we and governments will need to realise that we will all have to cooperate and pull together and make sacrifices in the same way as we have done, and as urgently, to stop the acceleration of our burgeoning climate catastrophe.. If we don’t, the fallout will in the coming few decades or so, be much more globally catastrophic for us all, than is this pandemic, in terms of its destructive fall out for every thing we take for granted.

 We are in many ways in training now, or should be.

Our observations about the slowing of the melting ice caps and the resurgence of animal life since the lock down, is there to really wake us up to what we have to of necessity, change permanently. Uranus in Taurus will ensure more future shocks of nature if we don’t look and learn.

Starting in mid/late December, Jupiter and Saturn will both join in Aquarius for a year. This last occurred in 1962, around the beginning of a revolutionary (hippy) period, when there was a longing for a new world order after the terrifying Cuba crisis. This time, however, it will not be just seen as an indulgent luxury for the young to dream of. This will truly be the initiation of a totally necessary rethink of our society, its laws, particularly its socio-economic and political realities and values.. It will also see technology accelerated, out of stark necessity, for beneficial global purposes, and as a result of what we have learnt from these year’s events and vitally in relation to climate change realities. Additionally this will include the fight against antibiotic resistance.

One other significant planetary event this month is that Venus now in Gemini, moves retrograde on the 13^th and remains retrograde till June 25^th. This event happens on average every two years for around 6 weeks,

This retrograde motion of Venus always signifies a period when we have to all individually reconsider our value systems and true necessary priorities. It is a time of a necessary pause and reflection about our relations with others and with ourselves; and what really matters in terms of our life. It is also a time that collectively we have to do that as a society.  This is an unprecedented retrograde of Venus, because of its parallel with other planetary forces at work.  It is no time for mere habitual responses. This a time to understand more profound issues related to our value systems re economics, human relationships and the more existential global situation, not least, our relationship with the natural world.

The Moon is full on the 7th at 17 degrees of Scorpio and New on the 22^nd at 2 degrees of Gemini. The Full Moon indicates endings of chapters and is the fallout of building stresses and pressures.  The New Moon represents literally the birth of the new and can indicate positive beginnings.

APRIL 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

We are clearly in a game changing global health crisis and a resultant, burgeoning socio-economic tsunami.

As many of you who have followed my blog and that of other astrologers, over the last several months or so will know, this rare critical period has been anticipated, because of the current planetary combinations of Saturn (karmic schoolteacher) being in conjunction to Pluto (major power drive).  This conjunction has been building over 2019 and culminated in January/ February this year, in the critical karmic last 10 degrees of the sign Capricorn, a sign that represents establishment driven socio economic systems.

 It has been obvious, at the least astrologically, that a crisis in our whole economic system was looming, but what exactly would trigger it, was not so certain. This powerful, rare conjunction in Capricorn last happened approximately 500 years ago.

While Pluto has been in Capricorn, since 2008 (till 2024/2025), the flaws in the values of our global socio-economic system and the prevailing establishment (the principles of Capricorn) have been, increasingly more evident for some years in terms of its fallout for our planet and its inhabitants. Pluto often equates to selfishly ruthless and obsessive tendencies in the pursuit of the power, in the area of life symbolised by the sign he is moving through.  Think of the words Plutonium and Plutocracy, to understand the potential strength and misuse of this power

Saturn by contrast is indeed a severe, if necessary, disciplinarian, a karmic schoolteacher and is a reality check agent, bringing karmic lessons, re any abuse of power associated with the principles of the sign he is travelling through, He has been in Capricorn since the beginning of 2018.

When Saturn closely linked up with Pluto in Capricorn late last year/ early this year, this flagged up the beginning of the real clash of these two powerful, contradictory planetary energies. Firstly, by showing the whole system the clear need to confront the impact of human activity induced climate change; and now to face up to the dramatic trigger event of the spread of the Covid 19 virus, which is also linked to human interference with the natural order of nature.

Saturn, is therefore now putting a huge brake on and indeed exercising an enforced assault on the express train of Pluto, which has seen the neo liberal capitalist economic system gallop along unchecked ruthlessly since 2008, despite the warnings then of the financial meltdown at that time (Banking crisis). We did not learn our lessons then, so Pluto’s intense power in Capricorn, has served since then to escalate and rubber-stamp the unmitigated principle of a relentless desire for economic power and growth, at the expense of the planet and indeed, many of its people, in terms of growing huge inequality. Climate change denial by the big players has been rife. It really has been an inconvenient truth.

Interestingly, just as the power of Covid 19 became apparent in its effect on all our lives so dramatically, Saturn nudged into the 1st degree of Aquarius on March 22^nd  (every 30 years) where he hangs out temporarily till the very beginning of July.  He however still remains conjunct to Pluto throughout. Saturn is the planet of uncomfortable necessity, a brake on unwise energy; an enforced limitation and he is a karmic schoolteacher. He enforces maturity, constructive austerity, hard work and discipline (benevolent despot). He will impinge on and also focus significantly on Aquarius characteristics while in that sign. These are about individual freedom and the necessity of big picture insight. Aquarius also rules technology, science, the future and humanitarian principles.

Saturn, (necessity) in Aquarius now, correlates with the necessary current limits on the freedoms of individuals, the need to conform, for the sake of the many. This is likely to be in place till the beginning of July in many countries..

Technological development, scientific research, the production of medical equipment and a focus on scientific insight is now, and will remain, an essential and frantic urgent mission, suddenly invested in as a necessity, not because of economic opportunity, but as a humanitarian imperative, in order to resolve the many issues we face.  It is interesting that suddenly experts are honoured and desperately needed, after recent sentiments by some, that we have had enough of experts.

Saturn will force us to appreciate the scientific ingenuity principles of Aquarius operating powerfully, particularly till the beginning of July, after which, Saturn moves back to Capricorn till mid December.

When back in that sign, Saturn in the last 6 months of the year will reveal fully the economic fallout of this crisis, and so highlight the flaws of our socio-economic system. There will be a need to radically rethink this system as a result. Every crisis is an opportunity. If we do try to go back to the same old values and global behaviour, especially re environmental issues, this sort of event will keep recurring.

 During this current lengthy pause in normal human activity, and not least in the reduction of road traffic and flights, there has already been a significant improvement reported in the quality of the air in many places, and nature has bounced back in many cities. We need to take note

This Saturn brake on the power of the Pluto trajectory during this time, is and will be a particular shock to those of our world leaders, not least in the USA and Brazil, amongst others, who espouse the principal of eternal economic growth as the only god worth worshipping, and who seem to see it as more important than human life and the planet itself.  Their ego is totally tied only to the visible power of a thriving economy. Their time is nearly up.

The warnings of the fallout of climate change and planetary pollution, for our planet, as a result of our obsession with economic power and eternal growth, have been now largely acknowledged, but the systemic response to reverse or combat this has been inadequate to say the least.  However nature will always have the last word. She (mother nature) is now demonstrating a different approach through Covid 19, to reveal the now clearly globalised fall out of our abuse of nature, not least of animals and how the results of this abuse has become a serious threat to us all, in a different guise, i.e. in a now more direct, personal and a potential lethal form.

This powerful Covid 19 pandemic correlates with the current very potent placement of Neptune in Pisces (nature and its laws). This transit of Neptune in Pisces (2012-2026) happens every 165 years and is so strong, because Neptune rules Pisces, so this planet is doubly strong in its own home sign. This combination puts huge emphasis on the power of invisible, insidious spread and permeability; with no boundaries metaphorically and literally (results of unprecedented globalisation). This has manifest in the spread of fake news and the smoke and mirrors blurring of the differentiation between facts and lies. It can also manifest in literal spread of invisible viruses. Neptune and Pisces are symbolic of the underestimated, invisible power of nature to affect our planet and how it can bring to our attention, the massive results of our misuse of nature / animals and the karma we can face globally, as a result.

We have had viruses before such as Sars and Bird flu, which have emanated because of our abuse of animals. Bringing animals into contact with other animals and humans, both of which they would normally have no contact with, is a dangerous game, notably in Wet markets where live and dead animals mix and are killed in close proximity. We have invaded their territory unnaturally, as we claim more and more of their space, not least because of growing agribusiness across the world. There is also a dark economy in the wild animal market.

This unnatural interference with animal lives and territories leads to the emergence of unique mutated viruses that also infect humans and which now affect the world, because of no boundaries to travel. We are now affected, as never before and so we are all waking up. This is the downside of Neptune from our viewpoint i.e. no boundaries to the very dark fallout of our abusive treatment of nature. But this brings a balancing, if harsh learning curve. We reap what we sow.

Previously, Most of these viruses we have experienced have been contained within poorer countries, so most of us had the luxury of watching from afar.

Ironically, we humans have acted rather like a virus on the planet ourselves, through our spread of destruction of the natural world and on the habitats of our fellow creatures, all on the altar of our economic system and priorities; and of course because people have to make money somehow, anyhow.  Nature is retaliating.  She tends to have the last word.

The upside of Neptune in Pisces however, is an increased emphasis on compassion, empathy and a caring coming together of people in order to help those that need it. The power of the heart/soul is given oxygen by this Neptune transit. It will serve to help correct an imbalance in our current unsustainable value system that is threatening to destroy us all.  Community groups locally, and in many countries have recently arisen to help the vulnerable and now also the increasingly poverty stricken and especially those who are working under such difficult conditions, such as health workers. Suddenly we are all appreciating these life saving workers as never before and many governments now have to face the results of complacently undervaluing these people and of the under funding of the institutions they work in. These people are not in the purely money making game, that the economy reveres and prioritises. They work for the caring of humanity.

 It is also true to say that this transit of Neptune in its home sign of Pisces is really making us (most of us) increasingly value nature, as it is increasingly diminished and threatened. What is beautiful is valued; and as it becomes rarer or threatened, we value it more.  Neptune opens the heart to the beautiful, the simple and the essential, on our planet. The likes of Greta Thunberg personifies this and the children born 2012 – 2026, who have this planetary position in their natal charts, will value nature especially passionately and will be horrified at what their predecessors have done to the planet.

Saturn’s power in the manifestation of the need for lockdown, yes, is a current huge assault on our lives and on economic growth, but there was no choice in terms of life saving and it will bring an enforced potential realisation of a necessary shift in values. This enforced block on our usual pursuit of our everyday lives, is an opportunity to pause and have a collective fundamental rethink of our direction of travel as a planet. Saturn can be very demanding and harsh, but retrospectively his lessons are very valued.  We will have to recognise that what we need is often far more important than what we want, or think we want.

Pluto, in its power, also flags up endings /death, metaphorically, as well as literally. It certainly points now to the death of our complacency about the human condition. Change is one of the two certainties of life. The old ruthless economic order will have to die and our power to create and advance, has now to become much more deferential to the principle of nature’s survival and therefore our survival. We cannot function without nature, but nature can thrive without us…and will, if she has to.

When Saturn is back in Capricorn (1st July to 17^th December) when the conjunction of Saturn and Pluto is very strong again, we may need then to be very aware of the danger of any complacency about believing that the power of the virus has been weakened and indeed we may need to be reminded then quite harshly, that the old “normal” cannot automatically resume.

When Saturn finally commits to Aquarius throughout 2021, 2022 and till March 2023, he will certainly then step up to reinforce the lessons we are learning right now, related to the principles of Aquarius.  This will be about the future, innovation, and technology, and demand a total very urgent necessary commitment to finding ways to limit climate change fallout.  Aquarius also rules humanitarian issues and the quest for freedom and rules global cooperation and non-insularity. Saturn in that sign will force us, through some steep learning curves, to understand the necessity of global solidarity and cooperation in fighting the global problems we have, or we face ongoing disunity, which will help no one. Wherever Saturn is, shows us our karmic learning challenges, and where discipline and focus is needed, despite difficult mountains to climb. A race against time in technological development will be apparent, in terms of limiting the destructive fallout of our historic behaviour, and we will also be forced to face up to the consequences/karma of the misuse/abuse of the power of technology, which we have suffered from, over the last decade or so. 

Uranus, which rules Aquarius, is the planet that especially rules aviation, hence right now till July, and from December for 2 years, Saturn flags up a period where that industry will literally have its wings clipped, because of economic loss and fallout re ongoing caution over international travel. It will also be a time where there will be a real focus too, of necessity, on research and development on how to make flying environmentally sustainable.

This is all a huge eye opener. A very tough lesson in the need for systemic humility has been born and which we need to accept, respect and above all, learn from. If ever there was a need to acknowledge the principle of hubris and nemesis, it is now.

The climate emergency wake up call is chapter 1 and this Covid 19 crisis is chapter 2.

 What more will it take?

MARCH 2020 GLOBAL ASTROLOGICAL OVERVIEW

A significant astrological shift is occurring this month. Saturn is moving out of Capricorn and into Aquarius on the 22nd.  This is a temporary toe dipping exercise till the beginning of July, when he moves back into Capricorn, in order to finalise his work in that sign, completed by mid December 2020. He then commits to Aquarius to test the principles of that sign till March 2023.

On an individual level when Saturn is in Aquarius, natives of that sign, also Leos and to some extent, Taurus and Scorpio, will go through significant learning curves and reality checks, which ultimately are strengthening. Initially however between late this month and till early July, it will only affect people born around the 22^nd of January, July, April and October.

Saturn is a benevolent despot, or can be described as a karmic schoolteacher.

On a global level, from Capricorn, which Saturn rules, he has continued to show us the downside of the validity of the prevailing socio/economic and political system and the current establishment. (Especially for Capricorn ruled England and Cancer rued USA) and makes evident the fallout of the ruthless pursuit of economic growth at all costs, even in the face of existential issues such as climate change. Saturn brings a certain nemesis to bear, but the establishment figures cling on furiously to this model (Saturn, negatively, tends to stick to the perceived safety of old habits)

From the air sign of Aquarius, (ruled by Uranus and sub ruled by Saturn) Saturn, will force a wake up globally to the more powerful karmic fallout from the power of technology and its abuse. (Uranus rules Aquarius and is very linked to technology and futuristic issues for good or ill and is also a humanitarian sign).  From Aquarius, the system will be forced, maybe uncomfortably so, to look outside the box and recognise alternatives to our habitual value system.  Positively, when we face certain problems that Saturn always flags up, we are, during his Aquarian journey, forced to work hard, out of necessity and often reluctantly, to combat and change things that have gone wrong with our thinking (Air signs relate to the mind and Aquarius enables the need to think out of the box/divergently). Saturn in Aquarius will point out undeniably, how we need to use technology for only the greater good.

It will cause basically a clash between the ongoing desire to pursue technological power for selfish, monetary/political gain, and the realisation that out of urgent necessity (Saturn) we have to direct technological progress (Aquarius) to develop more quickly, for the greater good of humanity and our planet.

We will have to find more new ways, of necessity, to change sources of energy and to apply many new technological abilities and breakthroughs to make headway to reverse, or stop the ongoing impact of our abuse of the environment, that has been underway over many decades. It will also bring a need to recognise a need to be free from the same old, systematic patterns of how we use power, and what power means.

Uranus the ruler of Aquarius, now in Taurus (May 2018 till May 2026)

is seriously waking us up and shocking us (the job of Uranus) to the fragility and value of our natural world and environment (Taurus), as chaos on our planet (floods, fires, drought) run amok, largely as a result of misuse and abuse of human power over it. .

Saturn from Aquarius will also be squaring Uranus (ruler of Aquarius) strongly in 2021 and that will really be a true clash of the titans.  However because Saturn will be in Aquarius (ruled by Uranus and co ruled by Saturn), the need for freedom from old outworn systems and values, versus the desire to stick with the old power systems, (especially as championed by many of our increasingly despotic leaders) can really become a serious battlefield.  The clash between freedoms to do as we individually wish, versus our collective responsibility to the planet, will be very real. However this combination will likely evolve, so as to only allow us to have freedom (Uranus), when it is combined with a huge sense of global responsibility (Saturn). This may even become a matter of global acceptance, as it becomes so obvious and in all our faces.

Scientific achievements will bring huge breakthroughs that are not related to the power of mere wealth. There will be a realisation of the need to set aside ego and see things in the light of impartial, impersonal law. A need for a sense of global responsibility will become undeniably apparent.

Neptune still in Pisces till April 2025 is bringing to our attention the lack of boundaries that a globalised world has and how what happens in one part of the world affects us all in some way now, not least the impact of climate change, technology and globalised capitalist economic forces. Neptune knows no boundaries and in Pisces, his own sign, his invisibility and permeability are extra strong, so this is totally underlined now. The Corona Virus (Covid 2019) issue is a classic manifestation… and its global affects on the economy.  To try to separate ourselves from a globalised world is impossible now.

The idea of setting a nation up as an independent power, cutting off from many other countries, is totally a rebellion against an inevitable need to work together in a very interrelated world, in order to combat huge globalised problems,

I have talked a lot previously about the significance of the current Saturn conjunct Pluto and that continues on and off for most of the year. This rare combining in Capricorn, of necessity also forces us to rethink our lives and to differentiate between what we want and what we need. It puts us all to the test, both individually and socio-politically/economically… about our choices of how we live, with repercussions that are existential, as never before, in their fallout.

Mercury remains retrograde till March 10^th, so there remains till then a sense of uncertainly, confusion, delay and blockage, but actually it is really a time to stop, take stock and reconsider issues; a necessary and important pause for reflection, both personally and globally.

The Moon is full on the 9^th at 19 degrees of Virgo; and is new on the 24^th at 4 degrees of Aries.