UK Riots - an astrological comment

In 1979 a Tory government came in to power lead by Margaret Thatcher, at the time the UK economy was considered to be facing severe problems, including inflation running in to double figures. In seeking to amend this Thatcher's government immediately raised taxes and interest rates and made cuts to public spending, particularly welfare and social security spending. These policies were to hit the poor the hardest.

As a result of these policies by 1980 Britain had been plunged into a full scale recession, with unemployment hitting an unprecedented 3 million. At the time there was wide spread criticism aimed at Thatcher who adamantly refused to change course on any of those policies.


In 1981 an event occurred that triggered a summer of riots throughout the UK when police were thought to have refused to get help for a young black youth who had been stabbed. This event lead to what are now known as the Brixton riots. The Asian community had been feeling increasingly disenfranchised. The Police had been given new powers to question people about their immigration status. Resentment arose about how the police applied these laws in particular to the Asian community. Economic hardship and these feelings of being targeted by the police lead to the riots


When looking at events that affect a country a look at sun entering the cardinal signs (called ingress charts) can give an insight into the events, especially compared to that countries chart. In particular the Aries ingress gives an insight into the whole year.





If we look at the previous Aries ingress to the 1981 riots and compare it to the UK 1801 chart (above) we can see that the ingress occurred at the same time as a full moon. The ingress is always going to be opposite the 1801 UK Uranus, the planet of rebellion, but it's not always going to have a full moon contacting this planet. Note also the involvement with Mars conjunct the ingress sun and thus opposing the UK's Uranus.  By the time of catalyst event that triggered the riots Mars has moved through the zodiac and is now square the UK moon. The moon represents the public;  this square shows the public discontent




Also if we look at the chart for the 1981 catalyst chart (Above) we can see that Mars (planet of anger and aggression) is now opposing Pluto (planet of violent upheaval) Further riots were to follow in July of that year


Fast forward 30 years and we have another Tory government who, as soon as they were elected introduced austerity measures which included severe cutbacks to the welfare state, again these have had the most impact on the poorest of society. Not only that but any chance of the poor bettering themselves has been taken away by the introduction of unaffordable university fees. And again there is tension between the police and black communities.

A catalyst incident again triggered a series of riots, starting in Tottenham and spreading throughout the country (on going as I write)


So what of the Aries ingress chart this time? (Above) No full moon this time but as you can see the sun is conjunct Uranus so we again have the planet of civil unrest emphasised. Also note Pluto on the UK's IC and squaring the UK ascendant.




If we look at the catalyst chart we see that Mars is opposing Pluto as it did in 1981 - this time we have the added factor of both squaring Uranus indicating the suddenness and violence of the current riots
Inst 2011 catalyst


Finally just take a look at the previous eclipse chart to these current events in relation to the UK chart. Note it is exactly on the UK’s midheaven. Also note that the degree of this eclipse is conjunct the 1981 catalyst moon. History is repeating itself but in a far more intense and violent way than the previous incident.

I am neither condoning nor condemning the riots, just making astrological comment – these charts show that economic factors have a bearing on both events. There is far more that can be studied here- I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg.
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The following websites were used in researching this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/may/09/past.women
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/secret-papers-reveal-thatchers-fury-during-1980-crisis-2171788.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Brixton_riot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_England_riots
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14436499

Street Photography Now – According To Flickr.

Is voyeuristic! No. Honestly. It’s a long time since I last blogged and as you can see this is not about astrology, it’s miscellaneous.

My second love after astrology is photography, it’s a recently acquired hobby in relation to astrology but it’s grabbed me. A friend persuaded me to join Flickr and I soon discovered that there is a wonderful group of people there. Indeed I have made many friends there.

For just over a year now I have become fascinated with the genre of street photography and recently enjoyed the exhibitions put on by the London Street Festival Organization.  http://londonstreetphotographyfestival.org/

It's an addictive pastime and indeed I have friends and contacts at Flickr who also class themselves as street photographers – one of whom recently had his account deleted by Flickr with no warning whatsoever, there one minute and gone the next! I found this extremely worrying as in many ways our street photography was of a similar style. The only way he could get support was to re-join under a different name (this in itself is bad practice, why is there no support email address at Flickr?)

It’s taken my friend 4 days, countless emails and numerous posts on the help forum in order to get an answer to the one question he asked “why?”

Finally it seems he got an answer, his photos are deemed ‘voyeuristic’ by Flickr? Hang on….? He’s a street photographer and so am I? Does that make me a voyeur too? Does this mean that the British Library who hosted one of the London Street festival’s exhibitions encourage voyeurism?

It appears he broke the community guideline that states

“Don’t be creepy.
You know the guy. Don't be that guy.”

Now if that isn’t a vague guideline I don’t know what is, who at Flickr (and its parent company Yahoo) defines creepy? – but on the strength of that Flickr can do the following

Flickr expressly reserves the right to immediately modify, delete content from, suspend or terminate your account and refuse current or future use of any Yahoo! service, including Flickr pro, if Flickr, in its sole discretion believes you have: (i) violated or tried to violate the rights of others; or (ii) acted inconsistently with the spirit or letter of the TOS, the Community Guidelines or these Additional Terms. In such event, your Flickr pro account may be suspended or cancelled immediately in our discretion, all the information and content contained within it deleted permanently and you will not be entitled to any refund of any of the amounts you've paid for such account. Flickr accepts no liability for information or content that is deleted.

So the photo uploading site, used by many professionals and used by the BBC and the American Government amongst others can just delete your account, with no warning and no reason given  whether you are a paid member or not. I’m sorry Flickr this is entirely unacceptable behaviour by you. In fact I find that creepier than any street photographer’s photo stream.

Oh and please don’t think this is an isolated case, here are a few more:
Yahoo 'censored' Flickr comments 
Flickr Accidentally Deletes a User’s 3,400 Photos
What Would Happen If Your Pro Flickr Account Was Deleted?

 One final note: It seems that you can post all sorts of pornographic images to Flickr without being considered creepy (and there is a hell of a lot of  it there) yet street photography images are considered creepy and voyeuristic!

I will be uploading my last ever picture to Flickr soon, it will be a street candid so no doubt will be considered voyeuristic. I'll miss all my contacts, (whom I want to thank here and now for their support, comments and encouragement)  but never again will Flickr have a penny of my money or a moment of my time.

Meanwhile my photos will continue here for the time being whilst I look into other alternatives:
https://picasaweb.google.com/sasastro

An Astrologer Thinking Aloud

Every year in January I lead a discussion at the Suffolk Astrological Society looking at an overview of the year. As anyone who does Mundane astrology knows this involves looking at a lot of charts. My method is to look at ingress and eclipse charts. Using tight orbs I tend to just see what jumps out at me, I make brief notes on my perceptions in order to open up the charts for discussion. In effect the notes are me thinking aloud. SAS members will either agree with my thoughts and/or add their own. Please feel free to do likewise.

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January

4th January 2011 Partial Solar Eclipse 13 Capricorn.
Interesting eclipse, depending upon where you are either Capricorn or Aquarius rises and Either Sag or Scorpio on Midheaven - signifying a country divided?

Set for Westminster we have the last degree of Capricorn rising - the nation is getting ready for change. In all cases the eclipse is in the 12th - the nation is its own worst enemy? More hidden issues are yet to come to light? Maybe confirmed by the Eclipse squaring 1801 nodes.
Saturn chart ruler in 8th is very very dignified. 8th is issues with either tax or banks. The eclipse is applying to a square of Saturn and then to a conjunction of dignified Mars - something here to come to light? Maybe connected with banker's bonuses? Or more cock-ups with the tax system?

• Eclipse opposite Tory Uranus (natal 6th co-rules Aquarius intercepted in the first) rumblings of discontent from the bank benchers?
• Eclipse Opp Lib-Dem asc Lib-dems are being eclipsed? Star on the wane?
• Eclipse Nnode on Ed Miliband's Sun whilst eclipse Saturn trines those nodes - would suggest this is all about timing, he will gain more respect and his popularity will improve if he gets it right?
• Eclipse Opp Q Elizabeth Pluto and also conjunct Prince Philip’s Asc. Given the added thoughts below re the eclipses I’m thinking that maybe thigns don’t look good for one or the other of them.
• Conj M Thatcher Jupiter/Pluto opposition. (She will also have Jupiter coming up to oppose her 6th house ruler mars and Saturn coming up to square that Pluto/Jupiter opposition.) Things not looking good here either. 

**Saros 13 North "This is an eclipse family of groups and associations. Its energy is about large ambitious group projects. These projects will require a separation and a breaking of a bond that already exists. The individual may well experience this eclipse initially as a separation and then as a joint achievement".

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March


12 Mar 2011 Aries ingress of Uranus
Uranus briefly went into Aries 28 May 2010. August 2010 went back into Pisces) Now in Aries until 2018

Ingress chart: Uranus in 3rd but conjunct IC, on a big level could change the way we view the media, the way we communicate. (Seconded by moon in Gemini) and will have an impact on home-life (seconded by Chart ruler in 4th).
If there are news articles to reflect the ongoing influence of Uranus in Aries they may well involve primary schooling. I'm wondering if maybe there will be a rise in home schooling during the next 7 years.

To get a flavour of Uranus in Aries I looked at some of the events that occurred in 1927, this was the previous ingress of Uranus into Aries - will leave you to draw your own conclusions

• UK In Britain, a 1000 people a week die from influenza epidemic. BBC Nationalised
• Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia becomes independent
• China, China attacks foreign ships approaching Chinese waters. Earthquake measuring 8.6 on Richter scale strikes Xining, China killing 200,000
• Russia, Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Communist Party and Josef Stalin takes control.
• U.S. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 affects 700,000 people in the greatest national disaster in US history
• Striking miners from the Columbine Mine are massacred with machine gun fire at Serene. Charles Lindbergh flies The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic nonstop and solo, direct from New York City to Paris, as the first solo transatlantic flight.

March 20th 2011 Aries ingress of the sun
With fixed sign rising it's said that the effects of the ingress will rumble on for a year.


Sun conjunct Uranus, desire for change, political tensions maybe even more riots. With Scorpio rising and mars in Pisces will we see the threatened deployment of water cannons?
And/or, as Mars has term and face but is in Pisces will there be a lot of righteous anger but nowhere for it to be directed?
Moon is in Libra, it has no essential dignity but is conjunct spica, thus giving a 'feel good' factor. Not sure what this is about unless it's the upcoming royal wedding or maybe some success for Britain, maybe in acting or sports.

• Ingress asc trine Cameron's Saturn also has his sun conjunct ingress Saturn. Normally this would be more responsibility or it could be feeling restricted - but with Spica involved maybe he has reason to feel pleased with himself? Though with Ingress chart ruler (and sun) trine his Neptune maybe it's all an illusion. Or he is going to jump on the royal wedding bandwagon in the hope of reflected glory?
• Ingress asc conjunct Clegg's Neptune whilst ingress Mars is opposite his Pluto and ingress moon is conjunct his Mars. Suggest that Clegg is fighting for his political life, especially as Lib-dem mars is conjunct ingress Pluto

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April


4th April 2011 Neptuune Ingress into Aries
In April Neptune dips into Pisces, dips out again in Aug, giving us a taste of what is to come next year. (Back in to aqu 5 aug, then piscesfrom 3 feb 2012)


 Last time Neptune was in Pisces (1848) saw the rise of the Chartist movement in the UK . The People's Charter was not enacted in the 1840s. In the short term Chartism failed, but it was a movement founded on an optimism that was eventually justified. It was a powerful assertion of the rights of working people, creating in them a long-term self-confidence and self-reliance. During the century after the end of the movement, most of the Chartist demands were passed into law, and undoubtedly the Chartist issues of democratic inclusion and the rights of citizenship remain highly relevant today. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/chartist_01.shtml
I'll say no more on this other than to say that I think we will agian see ordinary workers demanding a fairer deal

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June


June 1st Partial Solar Eclipse 11 Gemini
Eclipse in Gemini 6th trine Saturn. Jupiter, chart ruler on eclipse IC to me signifies a sense of movement, things about to change. (Also mutable asc and chart ruler at end of Aries) Eclipse is in the 6th house, health/sickness, health service, trade unions, work (in particular services).
As the eclipse triggers UK 9th I doubt it's an epidemic, though if it is then there may be an embargo on foreign travel. It's more likely that the cuts and cutbacks that are beginning to bite.
Eclipse also trines Saturn in eclipse chart (I have brain freeze - can't think what this might mean)

• Eclipse Mercury is square Tory Jupiter; this is an aspect of grandiose ideas or promising more than can be delivered. Eclipse also square Tory nodal axis - adverse circumstances. As eclipse Venus is opposite Cameron's Neptune this reinforces the grandiose ideas. Eclipse mercury is square his mars so this is not a good time for Cameron to be saying the wrong thing.
• Eclipse Uranus opposite Labour party moon whilst eclipse Saturn squares Miliband's moon, if there were to be a general election at this time then these would be good significators of a labour victory. However it would have to be a much changed labour party. (Uranus)
• Eclipse squares Lib-Dem moon, eclipse Pluto on LD mars, eclipse Venus exactly trine Clegg's Venus to the minute. Big transformation in values, plus high finance. So although the lib dems will be battling Clegg will not be. I suspect that if his position is threatened he will be lining himself up a job in the finance sector

Saros 13 old south
"This family of eclipses has a very similar energy to its north node cousin: expansive energy under which lies a more sinister flavour. An urge to expand is experienced, but the expansion contains frustration, inhibitions and loss or separation."


4th June Jupiter ingress into Taurus where it will stay for a year
Libra rises, with a dignified chart ruler (Venus) in Taurus (8th,) dignified moon in Cancer and exalted Saturn conjunct asc. On the whole this is a nice chart, for once Jupiter may well deliver on what it promises, (financial and educational gains) markets will be buoyant and if nothing else the bankers are still raking it in! (Though Jupiter will go retrograde later this year so any gains made now may well stall during the last few months of the year.) But meanwhile this could well be a 'feel good' period, especially as the angles are very close to the UK chart.


15th June total lunar eclipse 24 Sagittarius 
Eclipse slap bang on asc/desc (Moon void - a sense of waiting for something to happen?) Asc Sag, Chart ruler Jupiter in 4th conjunct IC Eclipse across UK 3rd/9th emphasis on education, communication and travel. Eclipse also squares UK 9th house Saturn reinforcing this. Have a feeling that no one is going anywhere. Maybe another strike somewhere affecting flights? Same Saros as previous solar eclipse,13 old south

• Eclipse MC opposite Lib-Dems Jupiter. Also squares Clegg's Uranus Saturn opposition. If he is still leader of the LibDems by this time he won't be for much longer.
• Eclipse also across Labour Asc and eclipse Jupiter on Miliband's Saturn, his moon also squares that Jupiter. Suspect that Miliband (and thus labour party) will not be getting good press, may be accused of too many conservative principles.

.
21 June Cancer ingress of Sun
Sun will of course be at 0 degrees but Mars and Neptune are also at 0 degrees, this would signify some sort of change or movement to me.Scorpio rising, mars in Gemini 7th - some sort of negotiations/tension between UK and other countries as Gemini I wonder if this is to do with trade? Possible confirmation with asc activating UK 1801 chart 2nd and Ingress sun in 8th

• Asc conjunct Tory Saturn/moon opposition. Natally we would say that this natal opposition shows an aversion to change, could also indicate a constant battle for support of the people. Once they have won that support though it tends to be unswerving. This is to the fore for the cancer ingress. Ingress moon is also conjunct south node. I'm not sure if the Tory party will be enjoying a lot of support from their own grass root level supporters, or if they will be struggling now to portray themselves in a positive light.
• Nothing much showing in Cameron's chart and nothing major jumps out for the other parties or their leaders. (suspect more brain freeze)

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July


July 1st Solar partial eclipse at 9 Cancer
Eclipse in 11th house in mundane astrology represents Parliament, especially the House of Commons. Town and County Councils and similar bodies. Friends of the nation. Legislation. In personal astrology it’s friends, hopes, shared dreams, rebelliousness. It's a dignified moon but as Virgo rises, and chart ruler mercury in Cancer has no essential dignity it's an eclipse that can both give and take. Certainly it's not a good time to be making decisions with that poorly placed Mercury. I don't think this is going to be a good eclipse for us in the UK, it is slap bang on the UK MC. Our status is being eclipsed, possibly by sky high unemployment rates On the other hand it cold be our government, or it could relate to royalty. Saros listed as new south, cannot find interpretation for this so assume same as 13 south above.

• The eclipse is opposite Nick Clegg's mercury so anything he has to say now will not be held in high regard., if it's heard at all
• Eclipse may be conjunct Miliband's moon ( no time so no exact moon position) and square his Uranus. Public perception of Miliband cold be changing

Note: In July There are two New Moons, July 1 & July 30 Black Moon, Called variously: Secret Moon, Spinner’s Moon, Finder’s Moon or black moon, this second one of the month is considered especially potent for magical practice.

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September


23 September Libra ingress of Sun.
Scorpio rising, Mars, chart ruler in Leo, 9th house. Mars mutually applying to trine Uranus in Aries 5th house. I wonder if this is anything to so with sport given the houses involved. Perhaps some scandal regarding one of our national teams?
Moon just separating from mars, Mars and moon lacking in essential dignities, (Sun always is during Libra ingress)

• The ingress Moon/Mars conjnction is in-between Cameron's natal Moon Jupiter, with Moon just a few minutes from being exactly on the natal midpoint. Is it possible that Cameron will be announcing news of a pregnancy?
• The transiting nodal access is across Miliband’s MC/IC - an increase in his status maybe? The only problem is that Mars is squaring his Saturn - he is failing to be decisive.

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November


25 November Solar Partial Eclipse at 2 degrees Sagittarius

Scorpio rises, Mars in Virgo, 10th house, conjunct MC Mars in Virgo indicates energies focussed on attending to duty and on practical matters. There is an aura of stress and tension about this chart. Will there be some sort of epidemic? The eclipse is square UK Pluto; at the same time Jupiter (eclipse ruler) is square UK Jupiter. Eclipse asc also square UK Venus. Is there something here connected to clergy/religion? Or maybe it's sport; bearing in mind we are on the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Some sort of scandal re this?
Saros series 14 North A most peculiar eclipse family, heralding an acute time of confusion in personal relationships, unexpected happenings in financial matters and possible illness. Unrequited love, despair, confusion, a draining of energy, a peculiar turn of events. No important decisions should be made concerning incoming events, as there is too much confusion and possible delusion to make clear judgements.

• Eclipse on Tory Venus/Mars - a strong sense of dissatisfaction amongst the Tory party?
• Eclipse on Lib-dem Saturn, if the coalition still exists then their roles in government are being eclipsed now.
• Miliband also not fairing well with the eclipse square his asc and eclipse mars opposite his mars.

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December


10th December Total Lunar Eclipse in Gemini
Eclipse across 1st/7th Taurus rises in eclipse chart, Venus chart ruler in Capricorn, 9th house
Venus gains added strength via its reception to Saturn. Venus and Saturn are the two most dignified planets in this chart.
Eclipse on UK mercury, at the same time transiting mercury is retrograde - some sort of about-turn?

• Eclipse on Miliband's MC/IC how is his status being eclipsed?

22 December Capricorn ingress

Late degree of Scorpio rising, chart ruler Mars in Virgo, 9th house

Moon conj asc from 12th; Sun square Uranus and trine Jupiter. Are things about to change? Sense of light at the end of a tunnel. Venus (ingress chart ruler) is opposite UK Venus - sign of a party/celebratory mood but also a sign of excess. Maybe by now we have all had enough of tightening our belts and are going all out for a good Christmas and hang the cost.
I've had enough of looking at politician's chats by now - I have nearly a year to do comparisons to the ingress

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Added notes (assuming everyone is still with me here)

SIX Eclipses in a year happens every 4.5 years or so. Four of the six 2011 eclipses are Metonic returns of the eclipses of 1992, repeating on the same dates and degrees. The other two repeat the date and degrees of the New Moons! While many eclipses repeat at 19-year intervals, some do not.

1992 events

• April General election - Tory win (despite us being in a recession caused by the Thatcher government)
• May Channel tunnel opens
• September 'Black Wednesday' forces withdrawal of sterling from the ERM
• Sterling, under strong financial pressure from speculation on the money markets, was pulled out of the European Union's Exchange Rate Mechanism. This was a major blow to the Conservatives' reputation for economic competence, but it relieved pressure on Britain's economy by ensuring that the currency could float independently.
• Queen's "annus horribilus" speech
• November Fire at Windsor Castle
• March Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson divorced
• April Princess Anne divorced her husband. (remarries Dec)
• December Charles and Diana separate
• This was also the year of the Rodney King riots in LA
• Bosnia and Hercegovina Seceded from Yugoslavia
• Peace in El Salvador, In February, El Salvador signed peace agreements between the leftist rebels and the rightist government. Open elections followed two years later.
• Quebec votes to remain part of Canada, Quebec had been campaigning for many years to become independent, but the vote fell short of what was needed for the change to happen.
• Hurricane Andrew hits Florida, killing 14, it left 250,000 people homeless, and was one of the costliest hurricanes in history.

Other chart data used
UK Union 1801 - Natal Chart 1 Jan 1801 NS, 00:00, LMT +0:00:28 Westminster Eng, 51°N30', 000°W07'
David Cameron - Natal Chart 9 Oct 1966, 06:00, BST -1:00 London United Kingdom, 51°N30', 000°W10' Rodden Rating: A
Nick Clegg - Natal Chart 7 Jan 1967, 05:56, GMT +0:00 Chalfont St Giles United Kingdom, 51°N38', 000°W34' Rodden Rating: A
Ed Miliband - Natal Chart 24 Dec 1969, 12:00, CET -1:00 London United Kingdom, 51°N30', 000°W10' Rodden Rating: X
Conservative Party - Event Chart 12 Nov 1867 NS, 12:00, UT +0:00 London ENG, 51°N30', 000°W10' Rodden Rating: A
Labour Party - Natal Chart 12 Feb 1906, 12:00, UT +0:00 Westminster ENG, 51°N30', 000°W09' Rodden Rating: A
Lib-Dems - Natal Chart 3 Mar 1988, 12:00, GMT +0:00 Westminster ENG, 51°N30', 000°W09' Rodden Rating: A
Queen II, Elizabeth - Natal Chart 21 Apr 1926, 02:40, -1:00 London England, 51°N30', 000°W10'
Prince Phillip - Natal Chart 10 Jun 1921, 21:46, EET -2:00 Corfu > Kérkira GREECE, 39°N36', 019°E56' Rodden Rating: AA
Margaret Thatcher - Natal Chart 13 Oct 1925, 09:00, +0:00 Grantham England, 52°N55', 000°W39' Rodden Rating: A

**Saros Series quotes from Bernadette Brady’s excellent Predictive Astrology: The Eagle and the Lark


One final note- apologies for the erratic line spacing - Blogger randomness at work