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The US pro-Israel lobbying group, AIPAC has a stated mission  ‘to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.’ It has been publicly supportive of Netanyahu’s Iran attack and Gaza campaign despite growing concern amongst moderate Jewish groups.

 AIPAC, incorporated 2 January 1963, has a conservative Capricorn Sun with a pushily confident Jupiter opposition Pluto and Uranus. This September’s Lunar Eclipse will oppose its Pluto though it may have relatively little effect – Eclipses on Pluto hint at a change-or-stagnate challenge and they show no signs of softening their approach.

 The relationship between AIPAC and Trump is being undermined now till late July and again through 2026 with tr Neptune conjunct the composite Sun followed by tr Saturn. The recent Iran attack was by no means initially welcomed by Trump whose relationship with Netanyahu, albeit chained-together, showed a major jolt of insecurity; as did the AIPAC/Israel relationship chart.

 This September’s Pisces Lunar Eclipse also flags up on the AIPAC/USA relationship chart so it will continue to be a fluid scenario. And it opposes Netanyahu’s Saturn in Virgo for a sobering face-reality few months.

 The other point of astro-interest is 4 degrees Cardinal which tr Saturn gets to late March 2026 and tr Neptune from late May 2026 onwards on and off into 2027. This will rattle Netanyahu’s Uranus at 4 degrees Cancer producing nervy responses, perhaps exacerbating his normally inflexible and uncompromising stance. Worse for him, his Progressed Mars will reach 4 degrees Libra, on the same degree after mid 2026 and sticking around for a year plus thereafter – which will be explosive and insecure, perhaps prompting macho displays.

The good times won’t be rolling anytime soon.

Anna Wintour, heralded as the most powerful woman in publishing and a global fashion leader, is stepping down as editor-in-chief of Vogue after 37 years. She has been chairperson of the annual haute couture Met Gala since the 1990s. Revered for her talent, she has been criticised for her reportedly cool and demanding personality a la Meryl Streep in the movie The Devil Wears Prada.

 A lazy retirement is not in her future, since she will continue as Vogue’s global editorial director, as well as chief content officer for its parent company Conde Nast.

  Born 3 November 1949 in London, with a journalistic father, she has a determined Sun Scorpio in a controlling square to Pluto and an innovative trine to Uranus in Cancer; with a workaholic Saturn and Mars in Virgo.  Her Aries Moon may oppose her Neptune.

  She is credited with giving American Vogue a new lease of life, turning it into one of the world’s top fashion publications by overhauling its output with less well-known models and mixing inexpensive clothes with couture.

 Vogue founded 17 December 1892 has a Sagittarius Sun in a friendly, creative conjunction to her Venus; and its Uranus is conjunct her Sun so she would challenge it to become let out its conventional streak.

 When she took over in 1988 tr Uranus Saturn in late Sagittarius were conjunct Vogue’s Sun and her Venus.

 Conde Nast, the parent company, 24 June 1909, is moving through undermining times, along with the wider magazine world in general, with tr Neptune Saturn square the Cancer Sun.

 Anna Wintour ahead will have a bumpy road with Conde Nast through 2026 to 2028. Her own midpoints are mixed, with success in 2027/28 but a few glitches before then.

Activists are on a mission to change the world and come in all forms from national political – South Africa’s ANC, the IRA (and forerunners in Ireland), Palestine Liberation Organisation (Hamas and Hezbollah) – to specific causes within society like Suffragettes, Animal Liberation, Hunt Saboteurs, Climate Change, Stop Oil etc.

 Such organisations are by their nature pro-active so assertive Mars will figure prominently, as will Uranus Pluto or strong Uranus aspects. When the will for change meets resistance that assertion gets frustrated and can – in some cases turn violent. For instance the Animal Liberation Front has in recent years been considered a domestic terrorist group by both the FBI and the Southern Poverty Law Center–despite the ALF’s official stance of nonviolence. It executes raids and attacks on animal testing facilities and was founded around 1974 by a Brit Ronnie Lee (born 1951) by all accounts an unassuming man who launched an extremist movement that uses intimidation and economic sabotage to advance its cause.

  The Suffragettes have two founding charts – NUWSS 14 October 1897 and 10 October 1903. The first has a fair-minded Libra Sun trine Neptune Pluto in Gemini with a determined Mars in Scorpio in a risk-taking square to Jupiter.  The 1903 chart also has a Libra Sun with Mars in outspoken Sagittarius in a can-be-ruthless square to Pluto opposition Jupiter.

It involved two main groups: the suffragists, who favored peaceful tactics, and the suffragettes, who employed more militant and confrontational methods, chaining themselves to railings, breaking windows, setting fires, and hunger strikes in prison to achieve their goals. “Deeds not words” was the  motto reflecting the belief that peaceful methods were not enough to achieve their goals.

Millicent Fawcett wrote: “I could not support a revolutionary movement, especially as it was ruled autocratically. I had no doubt whatever that what was right for me and the NUWSS was to keep strictly to our principle of supporting our movement only by argument, based on common sense and experience and not by personal violence or lawbreaking of any kind.” Born 11 June 1847 she had a Sun Jupiter in Gemini square Mars with her Sun also square Saturn in Pisces.

Emmeline Pankhurst, 15 July 1858 was widely criticised for her militant tactics, but her work is recognised as a crucial element in achieving women’s suffrage, helping win the right to vote in the UK.  She had a Water Grand Trine of a Cancer Sun trine Mars in Scorpio trine Neptune in Pisces with Pluto in Taurus square Saturn in Leo – tough, stubborn, courageous.

  South Africa’s ANC struggling against apartheid, 8 January 1912, has a Capricorn Sun trine both Saturn and Mars in tough-minded Taurus with Uranus also in Capricorn trine Mars and opposition Neptune.  Nelson Mandela, 18 July 1918 was a Sun Cancer inconjunct Uranus; with a confident Jupiter Pluto conjunct in Cancer square Mars and his Mars sextile Saturn. He initially started out revolutionary taking direct action in strikes and demonstrations and concluded that violent action would be necessary to end apartheid and white minority rule. He ended up serving 27 years in prison for his beliefs and actions, with apartheid eventually collapsing due to international pressure.

 The Palestine activist groups which started because of the violent displacement of Palestinian Arabs after 1948 and the increasing alienation of those who remained have tended to be more violent. The PLO, 28 May 1964, has a revolutionary Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn square Sun; with Uranus Pluto trine Jupiter. With Mars in determined Taurus opposition Neptune and trine Pluto.

 Hamas, 14 December 1987 Has a fearsome Mars Pluto in Scorpio and Hezbollah, 16 February 1985, has Mars in direct-action Aries trine Uranus with the Aquarius Sun tied into Saturn in Scorpio and Algol North Node – formidably determined.

 Palestine Action (see post below) also leans towards violence in its rage about the unfairness of the situation.

  In other arenas – Hunt Saboteurs, 26 December 1963, has a potentially violent Mars in Capricorn trine Uranus Pluto in Virgo. Just Stop Oil, 14 February 2022, has Mars Venus in Capricorn trine Uranus with Sun Saturn in Aquarius.  Extinction Rebellion, 31 October 2018, has an exceptionally stubborn chart with a Scorpio Sun opposition Uranus square Moon North Node; with Jupiter in Scorpio square a defiant Mars in Aquarius.

 Not sure what conclusions can be drawn except that peaceful protest plus a few (metaphorical) sharp kicks on the shin appear to be needed in certain situations. But not all protests work and it is not a fair world where justice wins through eventually – hence the Tibetans and other beleaguered peoples suppressed under the the dictator’s heel.

Zohran Mamdani, the leftwing Democrat not beloved by Wall Street, is the surprise winner of the Democratic race to become mayor of New York. Andrew Cuomo conceded defeat though the final result won’t be known until July 1^st. Mamdani ran his campaign on a pledge to make life more affordable for New Yorkers, with promises to raise taxes on the rich to fund free buses and childcare and has criticised  US support for Israel in Gaza,. He found a groundswell of support among younger voters, amassing a huge social media following and was backed by Sanders and AOC. The contest was widely seen as a referendum on the future of the Democratic party.

  He financed his campaign through small-dollar donors and said Cuomo’s campaign was the “latest example of billionaires and corporations trying to buy an election.” Cuomo in response drew attention to Mamdani’s inexperience in government.

  He was born 18 October 1991, Kampala, Uganda into a Muslim family and moved to New York aged 7, becoming a U.S. citizen in 2018. He worked as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor in Queens, an effort focused on helping low-income homeowners of color — a role he has said inspired him to enter politics.

 He has a Libra Sun conjunct Mars (and Mercury) in early Scorpio in a hard-edged short-fused square to Saturn in Aquarius with an Aquarius Moon – determined and a thinker and communicator. He has the generational Uranus North Node Neptune in Capricorn  – innovative and can-be-opinionated and that trines a charming, light-hearted Venus Jupiter in Virgo.

 His Solar Arc Jupiter is exactly square his Uranus at the moment for a lucky break.

  His Solar Arc Jupiter chimes with New York’s Jupiter in Libra square Capricorn Sun. Though his Uranus Neptune North Node conjunct the NY Sun could be tricky.

His relationship chart with New York has a composite Pluto trine Saturn and square Mars Sun which suggests an aggravated interface. Similar to Tony Blair and the UK – started upbeat and ended hostile. Whatever plans he has in mind may run into considerable opposition.

  Though the New York chart looks in line for relief, a lucky break and potentially positive changes for the next two years with the SA Uranus opposition the NY Jupiter and square Sun.

  The Jeff Bezos extravaganza in Venice as he marries the eye-popping Lauren Sanchez is causing equal measures of outrage from Venicians and merriment amongst cartoonists.

 The Guardian’s First Dog: “The world’s richest Jeff had his wedding plans interfered with by Italian busybodies! Oh no!” “Why do people hate vulgar displays of extreme wealth by people whose business interests are burning the planet to the ground and destroying the rights of workers?”

 Latest reports have described a local activist-revolt of filling the canal with inflatable crocodiles to deter the Kardashian tribe and other invitees; and indicate Friday to be the day of the oaths.

  There will still be an expansive Sun Jupiter conjunction in Cancer in place and in square to the Neptune Saturn in Aries conjunction. Ebertin describes Saturn Neptune as renunciation and ascetism or a struggle between higher and lower nature. That will be amplified by the Saturn square Jupiter and Jupiter square Neptune often accompanies high-finance activities or individuals. Uncertainty and neuroses can be outcomes of Saturn Neptune as well. What will make for an even more fraught mood are the two yods still in place with apex planets Mars and Pluto respectively. Not all peace and love.

 Jeff Bezos, 12 January 1964, a Sun Mars in Capricorn with Venus Saturn in Aquarius square Neptune is certainly a go-getter. His Moon is late Sagittarius/Capricorn. His bride-to-be Lauren Sanchez, 19 December 1969, New Mexico, is an upfront  Sun Sagittarius in a controlling square to Pluto. With a tough-minded yod of Mars in Pisces sextile Saturn in Taurus inconjunct a defiant Uranus – and a Taurus Moon.

From a previous post 26th May 2023: Jeff Bezos – life at the top not all a bed of roses

‘Their relationship chart has a frivolous, enjoy-the-high-life composite Venus Jupiter conjunction trine Pluto Uranus and on the midpoint of a mini-Grand Trine of Neptune trine Saturn – so a mix of light and shade, and a relationship that will go through distinct phases. There will be an emphasis on conspicuous wealth and glittery trimmings with such an emphasized Venus Jupiter.’ 

 The wedding chart hints of considerable pressures on their togetherness over the next three years with the tr Neptune Saturn closing the square to the Sun Jupiter and by 2026 an insecure tr Uranus square the Mars.

 That is reflected in challenges to each of their individual charts. Bezos has his Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Neptune in 2026 and SA Neptune conjunct his Sun in 2027 – both of which will be worrisome and confused. 

  Lauren has a top-of-the-world Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct her Sun now and square Pluto as her self-assurance skyrockets as Mrs Third-richest-man-in-the-world Bezos.  But she also has a hard-slog tr Pluto square her Saturn till late this year alongside a nerve-stretched tr Uranus opposition her Neptune – and then an edgy, insecure tr Uranus square her Mars in 2026/27.

Palestine Action, a leading activist group has been banned by the home secretary, proscribed as a terrorist organization, “aligned with the Iranian regime”, after vandalism of two military aircraft at the RAF’s largest base. Palestine Action had its first foray on 30 July 2020 by campaigners who had broken away from Extinction Rebellion (XR), the climate exchange group, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

  It has provoked a demonstration in London; with Jeremy Corbyn saying that the “draconian” proscribing of Palestine Action as a terrorist group “is an outrageous and authoritarian crackdown on the right to oppose genocide”.

 Co-founder Richard Barnard, was charged last year with encouraging criminal damage, urging activists to “smash Israeli weapons factories” and expressing support for a proscribed terrorist group, Hamas, at pro-Palestinian rallies in Manchester and Bradford. He pleaded not guilty and faces trial next year. Another campaigner received suspended 23-month jail sentences last year after being convicted of burglary and damaging property at a British firm it claims supplies equipment to the Israeli army.

  Huda Ammori, another co-founder was a former Labour activist for Jeremy Corbyn but turned away from the party under Starmer.

  The Palestine Action chart is certainly over-heated and potentially violent with a Jupiter Pluto Saturn in Capricorn opposition Mercury square Mars in Aries – hot-headed, aggressive, rule-breakers.  The Pluto has moved by Solar Arc to conjunct the Saturn exactly now as it comes to a halt along  with a frustrating, enraged, powerless SA Mars square Pluto  approaching.

 Huda Ammori, 17 March 1994, London, is a Sun Pisces trine Pluto sextile Uranus Neptune in Capricorn – intense, controlling, excitable, intransigent. With an uncompromising Mercury in Aquarius square Pluto; and a hard-edged Mars Saturn conjunct in Pisces.  The September Solar Eclipse will oppose her Sun for for a crisis turning point; with the February 26 Solar Eclipse conjunct her Mercury, and tr Uranus will oppose her Pluto across this year end – a rattled, disruptive phase.

 A phrase that is circulating in various fraught debates at the moment – “when good people fail to act, bad men take over” – seems relevant. Anger over the plight of Palestinians is more than legitimate. But the mainstream frowns, winces and does nothing creating a vacuum into which the zealots leap, carrying on the fight in often anti-social ways.

  The far left cosying up to militant Islam? You wonder if they think their alliances through – or what it would be like if they actually lived in Iran or a Hamas stronghold?  

F1: The Movie, Brad Pitt’s racing drama is mischievously described as “Barbie for dads.” Reviewers are tripping over themselves to find adjectives which praise it as “rousing entertainment” while protecting their gravitas by labelling it as a “cheesy” and a “big, dumb, fun summer flick.” Directed by Joseph Kosinski, of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ fame, it is blatantly commercial and you “probably have to turn off your brain a bit to truly enjoy it”. Motor racing fans will find it “surreal and spectacular.”

  Whether it reaches Barbie’s near $1.5 billion box office takings remains to be seen.

   Brad Pitt, 18 December 1963 6.31 am Shawnee, Oklahoma, star and co-producer along with Jerry Bruckheimer and Lewis Hamilton, has transiting Jupiter about to enter his financial 8^th house for a year ahead which sounds profitable. Though he does have the September late Virgo Solar Eclipse conjunct his Midheaven and tr Uranus opposition his Solar Arc Midheaven exactly now – which could suggest either a crisis of career direction or a radical change.

  His Solar Arc Jupiter is square his Uranus/Pluto midpoint moving to square his Pluto in two years – which suggests an unexpected success or success through a change of direction. On the other hand his SA Mars is opposition his Uranus/Pluto and then Pluto which hints at over confidence maybe getting in the way. His midpoints look discouraging in this July and edgy through August – so not all celebrations ahead instantly.

 Joseph Kosinski, 3 May 1974, Iowa, a Sun Taurus with a tough-minded Mars Saturn in Cancer square Pluto (Moon) in Libra is equally not looking overly upbeat on his midpoints in the immediate future and will be unsettled by the September Solar Eclipse opposing his creative Venus in Pisces.

   Principal Photography started on 8 July 2023 in Silverstone, England, on a high-tension Pluto inconjunct Mars in Leo which fits with the film’s death-defying content, though would not necessarily suggest an easy launch.

Stephen Fry has been letting loose on J.K.Rowling accusing her of ‘crowing’ over the Supreme Court Ruling that “sex”, “man” and “woman” in the Equality Act refer to biological sex (a person’s sex at birth); and being radicalised.

 Quite why he has erupted now – well podcasts being one answer – is not clear since the gender argument has been running for years and part of it may be sour grapes since he disagreed with the ruling.

 Fry, 24 August 1957 6am London, has a determined and controlling Pluto Sun in Virgo on his Ascendant with Mars in Virgo close by in a short-fused square to Saturn in can-be-self-righteous Sagittarius. Mercury in later Virgo makes up the stellium in communicative, can-be-critical Virgo. His 4^th house Saturn is trine Moon Uranus in Leo in his 12^th and sextile Jupiter Venus in Libra. A complicated personality, undoubtedly talented, but emotionally volatile.

 Not that J.K.Rowling is exactly serene  with a challenging stellium in Virgo ranging from Mercury, through Venus to Uranus Pluto  and a Virgo Moon. Her Leo Sun in square a creative Neptune.

  She and Fry are not a good mix since her Sun is conjunct his Uranus – differing agendas and need space; her Mercury conjunct his Pluto = no compromise, unwinnable arguments; and worse her Uranus Pluto conjunct his Mars and square his Saturn which is explosive and hostile in both directions.

 Their relationship chart echoes the synastry with a composite Sun conjunct Uranus; composite Mercury conjunct Pluto; and composite Saturn trine Mars Venus.

  Predictive astrology is complex, requiring detachment, the ability to juggle and rank variables in order of importance and a respect for the ultimate unknowableness of how events will turn out. My own view is that astrology can tap into an underlying realm of potentials, out of which real events emerge. The range of possibilities is relatively easy to compute, the end result less so.  

 There are various techniques used which are not mutually exclusive, indeed best all brought to the table.

1.Transits to planets and through houses (birth time being available).

2. Secondary Progressions are helpful, in particular the Progressed Moon through the houses and Progressed Mars in hard aspect to natal planets.

3. Solar Arcs, a more recent technique (I think), are more useful than Progressions since with SA Directions the planets move by one degree a year and will show up up effects more regularly than progressions and certainly will pinpoint significant turning points in a life.

 4. Transits to midpoints fill in details especially where the birth time is missing.

  I use all four techniques automatically and have on occasion wondered why accidents for example show up on Progressions (Mars) but not as clearly elsewhere.  Every astrologer has their own individual way of approaching chart interpretation and predictions. Transits of outer planets moving through houses, especially at the start, are one of my favourites. Transits to midpoints I use a good deal for depth and detail. But most of all I am impressed by Solar Arcs in action. They tend to be prominent in aspect to natal planets when there are major, often life-changing events.

 For example, crypto-magnate Sam Bankman Fried, 5 March 1992  9.51 am Stanford, California, tumbled from billionaire to bankrupt, hero to zero, when his Solar Arc Mars Saturn was conjunct his Pisces Sun, his Solar Arc Uranus Neptune was conjunct his Venus and his Solar Arc Sun was square his Neptune Uranus. His journey to the bottom and into prison over two or three years coincided with the above.

 Ghislaine Maxwell, 25 December 1961 3.20pm Maisons Lafitte, France, Epstein’s friend and fixer, crashed and burned when she was arrested as her Solar Arc Mars (Sun) was opposition her Uranus, beginning several years of maximum aggravation as her SA Mars moves to oppose her 4^th house Pluto. Not a happy home time as she languishes in prison. Her SA Pluto was also conjunct her Neptune as she started her sentence.

  Tony Blair, 6 May 1953 6.10 am Edinburgh, Scotland, on the other hand, gained a surprise win in 1997 moving into Downing Street when his Solar Arc Mars was conjunct his Uranus for a jolting surprise which could have been accident-prone. But because his Mars is natally conjunct his Jupiter, the combination of Mars Jupiter by Solar Arc Directions impacting on his central Cardinal T square of Saturn Neptune opposition Venus square Uranus catapulted him into a fast-moving upbeat few years. He exited his premiership as his SA Mars was almost at the end of wading round his Cardinal planets and about to conjunct his IC. You would not necessarily have put a firm date on his departure but the broad pattern was there from his Solar Arcs.

  There were also transits to consider when he won with tr Jupiter through his 10^th opposition his Pluto. His stay at No 10 coincided with a full house transit of Pluto from his Descendant in 1997 into his hidden, stuck 8^th by 2007 when he handed over to Gordon Brown.

  Solar Arcs or not an either-or-choice but one of the key ingredients to be used alongside others.

 Donald Trump had his Solar Arc Pluto conjunct his Jupiter in 2016 for his first presidential victory in addition to being on a Jupiter Return and tr Pluto was also square his Jupiter. Was one more important than the other? I would certainly have marked up the Solar Arc as the most impactful of the three but there was also a cumulative effect.  Despite any pushback from common sense or common decency, he was undoubtedly going to win.