Aretha Franklin - Queen Of Soul

Today (August 16, 2018) I awoke to the sad news that Aretha Franklin had died. The public learned that she was “gravely ill” on August 13. As it turns out, she had been gravely ill for some time and had been in hospice care at her home. Her final concert took place in New York City on November 7, 2017 at a celebration for Elton John’s AIDS Foundation’s 25th anniversary. Below I would like to write a few astrological thoughts about Aretha - an icon that I and millions of others will remember very fondly and miss enormously. The above photo first appeared in Mirror Online.

She was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, TN. The time as listed by astro.com is 10:30 PM and gets a Rodden rating of AA. She is an Aries with Scorpio rising and Moon in Cancer.

Her Sun is in the fifth house - the house of creativity, children, and just having fun. She loved to perform and I’ve heard many that knew her well describe her as having a very regal presence (today). The fifth house is related to the sign of Leo. It’s no surprise that she became known as a queen - the Queen Of Soul. Her MC (the top of the chart) is on Leo. And, her lunar node is located in the tenth house. It seems that she was destined for success and public acclaim. She earned/won eighteen Grammy awards. Her Aries Sun reminds me of songs such as “Who’s Zooming Who” and “RESPECT.”

Although she was quite well off financially and did not need to, she loved to cook and also working and cleaning around her own house. Her Moon is in Cancer and her natal Venus is conjunct her IC and in Aquarius. She did not hesitate to do her part for various causes that she believed in.

She released “Natural Woman” in 1968. In early 1968, transiting Saturn was in early Aries and conjunct her natal Sun. The first lyrics of the song reflect that aspect quite well:

Looking out on the morning rain

I used to feel so uninspired.

And when I knew I had to face another day

Lord, it made me feel so tired.  

However, Jupiter was transiting her tenth house then, and the song became a big hit. It has remained big and is one of her signature songs/hits.

She performed with other artists and sang a few duets. One of them - “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” - is a favorite of mine. She sang it with Cancer native George Michaels, and it was released in January of 1987. Jupiter was transiting Pisces and heading into Aretha’s fifth house. Mars was transiting her fifth house, and it conjoined her natal Sun and trined transiting Venus (in Sagittarius) early during the month of January, 1987.

The lunar eclipse of February 10, 2017 hit her natal Venus (in Aquarius). It’s been about a year and a half since then (about the time it takes a lunar eclipse to mature for an individual). The Sun is stimulating that eclipse now. The cause of death is advanced pancreatic Cancer. She has natal Pluto in early Leo and it is conjunct her natal Chiron. Transiting Mercury (ruler of her eighth house) is conjunct her progressed Chiron and close to her natal Chiron. And, the July 27, 2018 lunar eclipse opposed her natal Pluto. Pluto is the planetary ruler of the pancreas. The Moon is transiting her twelfth house today as she passed away. The twelfth house is the house of death and loss. I think we all feel that loss.

Astrology And Politics - John Brennan And President Trump

Today (August 15, 2018) President Trump revoked John Brennan’s security clearance. While one does not need to have bad synastry to dislike Donald Trump, these two clearly have some hard aspects between their planets. I’ll list a few of the majors ones.

John Brennan was the Director Of the Central Intelligence Agency (the CIA) from March 2013 to January 2017. He served the agency for twenty-five years and is quite well-respected among his colleagues. He was the point person within the Obama White House on the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. His birth date is September 22, 1955 (time unknown) and he was born in North Bergen, NJ.

Brennan’s natal Mars at 17 Virgo is in a square aspect to Trump’s natal Sun/Uranus/Node in Gemini and his natal Moon in Sagittarius, which is likely to cause arguments and fierce disagreements.  

Brennan’s natal Pluto and Jupiter in Leo are conjunct Trump’s natal Mars and Ascendant - another aspect that can cause arguments and disagreement in addition to the potential of power struggles.

Brennan’s natal Mercury and Neptune in Libra are in a square aspect to Trump’s natal Venus and Saturn in Cancer (in the eleventh house). With transiting Mars in late Capricorn and the Moon transiting the latter part of Libra, Trump took action to revoke Brennan’s security clearance. This isn’t likely to work out as Trump would like it to with both transiting Mercury and Mars in apparent retrograde motion.

Astrology And Politics - Paul Manafort

The trial for Paul Manafort began this week, and I thought I’d discuss what is going on in his chart. Paul Manafort’s birthdate is April 1, 1949 in New Britain, Connecticut. I do not have his exact birth time - so, it’s difficult to make a prediction with complete accuracy and/or certainty. However, there is still much to discuss. His natal chart is at the bottom of this article. The above photo first appeared in Politico.

Mr. Manafort has four planets in early Aries - Mercury (could also be in very late Pisces), Venus, Mars, and the Sun. He also has the lunar node in late Aries. He’s quite aggressive with all those planets in Aries, and it’s seems clear that he very often does not look before he leaps. Venturing where angels fear to tread may be part of the reason that he is in such a legal jam right now. Saturn - the planet of karma and holding folks responsible for their actions - has been transiting back and forth over all those planets - except the Sun (but, it’s gotten quite close before turning retrograde).

I don’t know the exact position/degree of the Moon in his chart, but it’s located in the sign of Taurus - the sign of money and values. His natal Pluto (in “let’s do everything in a big way” Leo) is in square aspect to his natal Moon. This shows that he is willing to do whatever it takes and to cut corners to have the money and the wealth that he believes he deserves. It indicates that he will pay an intense price if he does not maintain appropriate and high values. The August 7, 2017 lunar eclipse in Aquarius hit his Pluto (by opposition).

Manafort’s natal Neptune is in opposition to his natal Sun, Mars, and Venus. It indicates his penchant for hiding his actions, for deception, and for playing fast and loose with the truth. Mercury is a part of the Aries stelium as well.

He has a YOD in his natal chart - Saturn sextiles Uranus and both planets are inconjunct Jupiter - the planet of both foreign cultures and the law. This pattern is symbolic of his troubles - or getting into trouble because of his activities - with foreign countries. And, transiting Uranus has squared his natal Jupiter (in Capricorn) and conjoined his lunar node the last couple of years. It appears that he has taken a few ill advised financial risks.

Another sign of Manafort’s troubles is found in his progressed chart. His progressed Mars is squaring his natal (and progressed) Saturn very closely. The August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse in Leo (the Great American Eclipse) hit his natal Saturn. We’re just about a year out from that eclipse now (and, the trial is moving along quite rapidly).

August 11, 2018 Solar Eclipse In Leo

Our third eclipse within a month’s time will be a  solar eclipse on August 11, and it occurs at 18 degrees and 34 minutes Leo. Eclipses usually come in pairs, but on a fairly rare occasion we will experience a third eclipse within a short period of time. This eclipse will be visible on the northern part of North America, in Greenland, in Northern Europe and north-eastern Asia. Eclipses generally affect the masses - events that affect most people in a large area or even worldwide. Since this eclipse occurs in leadership oriented Leo, this eclipse could affect world leaders (including the President of the USA), royalty, and other central figures. The hard aspects tend to show threats. Jupiter in the mix shows inflated expectations, exaggerations, and over-confidence. Mercury is in apparent retrograde, so confusion, misunderstandings, and other communications problems are present.

For the US, this eclipse will affect the President and our own personal interests. Overconfidence and exaggeration is a problem for the President, and plans are probably not well thought out or realistic. Problems with the law and the courts is indicated and some of those problems might have to do with home front security issues. Pluto inconjunct the eclipse point indicates that security forces - such as the FBI - are involved. Saturn in hard aspect to the eclipse point indicates some problems with business interests. Neptune in the eighth potentially points to the death of a glamorous and powerful movie star. The chart shows problems for the automobile industry and shows that industry in a depressed and restricted state. Saturn square Venus in the third also shows communications problems and issues with the media. Saturn in the fifth house shows that there are issues for children and creative efforts that need to be dealt with. The high tech industry fares well, however. Workers are angry (but hesitant to take action), and that anger could be ignited by sudden and unpredictable moves made by the executive. Sexual relationships are favored in this chart, and the general relationship between men and women may improve. Jupiter in favorable aspect to Pluto (in the sixth) might indicate that the unemployment rate remains low. Foreign nations are also irritated with us and could become quite angry with sudden and unexpected moves made by the executive.

As always, this eclipse will affect you personally if you have planets and/or points conjunct or opposite the eclipse point (only a two degree orb). Those planets or points between 17 degrees and 21 degrees of Aquarius or Leo are included. Eclipses are Uranian in nature in that what happens is unexpected, and you might not even be certain as to what is happening for six months. For a solar eclipse, it takes about a year for the event to completely mature. Whether the eclipse is experienced as positive or negative depends on the planet that is conjoined or opposed, it’s place in your chart, the condition that the planet is in, and whether and how you might have prepared for what is happening (i.e. free will). If you’d like to know if you have planets or points that fall into this range, let me know. For most people, it will be experienced simply as a New Moon type event. Those are generally felt as the start of something new or a new beginning.