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ASTRO- INSIGHT COLUMNS

Review of JULY 2011

July was an intense and eventful month, given the phone hacking scandal that just seemed to get bigger and uglier with each passing day. The situation seemed to spring out of nowhere and develop momentum just days after the solar eclipse in Capricorn on the 1^st, with reports that News of the World journalists had hacked into murder victim, Milly Dowler’s phone surfacing in the press around the 4^th. Within a week, the tabloid newspaper had been closed down, leaving over 200 journalists jobless and a growing political firestorm brewing over how widespread the practice had been within the British press and whether corrupt members of the police force had deliberately sabotaged an earlier investigation into the matter some years before.

 At the heart of the firestorm were damning revelations and shocking allegations concerning institutional corruption, nepotism and abuse of power which threatened to engulf not just News International but the Metropolitan Police as well as Parliament. Astrologically, this situation played out against the backdrop of an on-going square between Pluto and Uranus in cardinal signs. This combination, which first became active in June 2010 but which was mitigated at the time by a Jupiter conjunction, is part of a long-term transit that appears to be pitting the righteous indignation and revolutionary zeal of ordinary citizens against the tyranny of endemic corruption and abuse of power within institutions in need of serious reform. You may be interested in some comments I made about the relationship between Pluto and the rooting out of institutional corruption in previous columns about recent eclipses, which seem to be pertinent, given recent events, including the June-July 2009 and June-July 2010 eclipses, both of which featured Pluto and Uranus prominently.

 This configuration, which will not actually become exact this year, will be around for some time, going in and out of orb until it finally perfects in November 2013, suggesting that any other tabloid newspapers, bent coppers or corrupt officials who have escaped scrutiny up til now may not enjoy the safety of anonymity forever. Many astrologers are drawing historical parallels between now and other periods when these two planets were at loggerheads, including the 1930’s and the 1960’s – both times of major economic and political upheaval in the western world. For example, in the 1930’s, we had the Great Depression, which was precipitated by speculation on the stock market, together with the collapse of several major banks in Germany and Austria, leading to a major financial crisis in Central Europe. In the UK, austerity measures, which were introduced to try and reduce a huge budget deficit met with riots in both London and Glasgow – sound familiar?  

 Interestingly, Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corp, was born in March 1931 and so has lived through both of these astrological epochs. In fact, the Pluto-Uranus signature is found in his own natal chart where he has Uranus, also in Aries, square to Pluto in Cancer – the opposite sign to Pluto’s current location in the zodiac (Capricorn). He is thus very much a man whose life reflects the times.

 In the context of present events, Rupert Murdoch became a hated and vilified figure in the public mind - until his appearance at a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing where he was revealed to be a frail octogenarian vulnerable to the unceremonious attack of an overzealous youth with a shaving cream pie – a far cry from the image painted of him just days before. So why did he become such a target of revulsion and anger in the public mind?

 It could have something to do with the fact that natally, his ruling planet, Saturn, happens to oppose Pluto, which could be interpreted as someone who aspires to wealth and power but who never actually feels that powerful himself. This may be the reason for his rather Wizard of Oz-like persona of someone who appears to be ruthless and power-mad but who at heart is actually more concerned about building up and preserving a sense of emotional and financial security and protecting a family legacy than amassing worldly status and pulling strings behind the political scenes. An anecdote told by his former butler, Philip Townsend, revealed in a recent documentary about Murdoch on Channel 4, suggests that in fact, Murdoch lacked personal confidence and is actually quite an unassuming man.[i]

In The Astrological History of the World, Marjorie Orr describes the common characteristics of those born at the same time as Murdoch:

 …[T]hose born in 1931 are determined survivors with incredible stamina….Highly Uranian, they are restless, sometimes reckless, bluntly outspoken, and determined to maintain their personal freedom. Often innovators, they can destabilize what is going on around them…with strong Saturn-Pluto aspects they can be obsessive, depressive and regard themselves as outsiders, but they can also be very successful because they push hard to rise up from their beginnings.’[ii]

 Is his unstinting drive to amass a media empire more an expression of his need to remain independent from other powerful social institutions rather than someone keen to meddle in world affairs? Again, a speech given by Murdoch’s son and successor, James, may be rather telling. During the McTaggart Lecture in 2009, he told a room full of Sky employees that:

‘The only reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of [media] independence is profit.’

 On a more upbeat note, Scottish couple Colin and Chris Weir won a staggering £162 million in the Euro Millions draw held on Tuesday the 12^th of July. Interestingly, on the day of the draw, Jupiter in abundant Taurus was just separating from a minor grand trine involving Pluto and Chiron, which may suggest that the win had the potential to be both enormously healing for the Weir family as well as dramatically change their lives forever - hopefully for the better. Another terribly lucky Jupiter transit in late August could signify another large Lotto win for someone – read further on to find out more.

SOLI-LUNAR PHASES

Over the course of a year, the solstices and equinoxes of the Sun mark out the changing seasons, which affect not only the beginning of different natural cycles, but our moods and choice of activities; whilst on a smaller scale, the Moon's phases make up the time-span of a month. In fact, the etymology of the word month, comes from the Indo-European word, 'me(n)ses', meaning "moon." ¹

 During this period, the Moon also moves through the zodiac, with every progressive full or new moon cycle occurring in the sign more or less following that of the previous month.

Lunar Phases

With the lunar phases currently out of sync with our calendar months, the New Moon in Leo actually occurs in late July and we will not experience another New Moon until the end of August.

NEW MOON IN LEO

30 July 2011

The New Moon in Leo (30 July, 18h40 GMT) should help you to initiate new activities relating to leadership, creativity, self-development and self-promotion.

FULL MOON IN AQUARIUS

13 August 2011
On the 13^th of August at 18h57 GMT, a Full Moon in Aquarius will help bring closure or fulfilment to scientific, IT and collaborative projects, and augur well for friendships and humanistic efforts.

NEW MOON IN VIRGO

29 August 2011

Taking place in Virgo on the 29^th (03h04 GMT) the New Moon signals the start of new gardening and writing-related projects, as well as new cycles in diet- or pet-related matters. This is also an excellent time to dot your i's and cross your t's when it comes to checking the fine print in contracts and editing written work.

Solar Phases

SUN INTO VIRGO

23 August - 23 September 2011
The Sun enters discerning and perfectionist Virgo on 23 August 2011 at 11h21 GMT, beginning a month-long cycle during which you can reap the benefits of seeds planted earlier in the year, as well as make progress in fine-tuning the details of personal and work-related matters, including the employee contracts. This is also an excellent time to indulge in some earthy meals, list-making, walks in nature and time spent in the garden or with your pets.

Planetary Events & Energy Shifts throughout AUGUST 2011

During August, we will experience another Mercury retrograde, starting on the 3^rd /4^th but fortunately lasting only until the 27^th. The best way to utilise this energy is to revise the details of current plans or written proposals (especially while Mercury is still in Virgo – up to the 7^th) and revisit old ones, particularly if they involve ways to promote yourself or your creative work. People from your past may also pop up for a fun reunion. When it comes to travel or communications, plan, plan and then allow some extra time for unforeseen delays and transport breakdowns.

Mars is also due to ingress into Cancer – the sign of its fall – on the 3^rd. This can help provide added assertiveness to help deal with formidable family members but more than likely it may result in a few arguments with relatives and the odd domestic difference of opinion. If you are planning a move or a major tidy up around the house though, then Mars could give you the energy and impetus needed to tackle the job with gusto.

 The Sun and Venus will be playing tag for most of the month. Expect plenty of spectacles, action and fun as these two planets take turns to weave in and out of contact with Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Their meeting - a conjunction in Leo on the 16^th –sure to result in a day packed with fun, praise and opportunities to negotiate a promotion, some welcome press coverage or a delicious new job. Days to watch out for include the 1^st and 5^th, when over-indulgence and inflation are possible, and the 21^st and 22^nd when a series of oppositions with Neptune could result in deception or disappointment in love and public affairs. Romantic and financial commitments are both possibilities on the 8^th, despite any initial misunderstandings or misgivings, thanks to a Venus-Saturn sextile. 

Dramatic relationship developments and big personal announcements or decisions both seem likely on the 25^th and 28^th when first Venus and then the Sun trine Pluto from Virgo. Venus is due to make the sign switch on the 22^nd with the Sun following suit a day later.

 On Tuesday the 30^th, an extremely lucky Venus-Jupiter trine in earth signs will be in orb which could signal another big Euro Millions win, so be sure to take a ticket if you want to be in with a chance!

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