March 2001

What went on in March 2001

11 March - 17 March

The most obvious thing which has happened over the past week is the US bombing of Iraq.

Zimbabwe - Independence

Zimbabwe have ordered many foreign journalists to quit the country. The journalists claim that this is due to their reporting on human rights abuses and attacks on the independence of the judiciary. One claimed that the government did not want to be observed while it turned into a dictatorship. Independence was won on 16th April 1980. Journalism and the judiciary are symbolised by Mercury and Jupiter. Jupiter is at 0 Virgo. This will complete the upcoming T-square of Mars, Jupiter and the Sun and turn it into a grand cross - the status quo and legal institutions are challenged. But this hasn't happened yet, although it was picked up by the Sun on Friday; it describes events which will take place this week. What happened last week? Looking at the midpoints shows transiting Pluto on the Asc/MC - a power struggle in the very heart of the country- transiting Mars and Jupiter on the Mercury/MC - professional communication is challenged by nationalism, militarism and violence - transiting Saturn on the Uranus = Saturn/MC - the point of balance and reform is tipped towards the conservative. Pluto has also recently passed over the Sun and MC, both significators for the leader of the country describing the power struggle and scandal around the leader. Pluto can also describe an underworld figure, possibly involved in organised crime or corruption. Looking ahead, Venus will retrograde at 17 Aries which is in hard aspect to the Mercury/MC point picked up by the current T-square. This does not look optimistic, and it does not take an astrological forecast to see the immediate future is less than rosy for Zimbabwe.

British Labour Party

The British Labour Party is currently experiencing a period of stress. After the exit of Peter Mandlesson, now there is apparent internal descent between members of the cabinet and Alistair Cambell, the Prime Ministers Press Secretary. Looking at the chart of the Labour party several factors meet the eye. The MC of the chart is at 4 Pisces, this will be picked up by the New Moon described in below. The Sun is at 8 Pisces, so this will be transited by Mars, Jupiter and the Sun but not by the T-square. The Sun and the MC are both significators of the Leader and Tony Blair has Mars at 3 Gemini and Ascendant at 4 Gemini. This week will probably be quite rough for the Labour party and Blair in particular. The third house of the chart is ruled by the Sun. This was aspected by Pluto and Jupiter last year, and accounts for the transport and education problems afflicting the party- both third house issues. The last pass of the Jupiter Pluto opposition will take place at 14 Gemini/Sagittarius in May. This also marks the point of transiting Pluto opposing Pluto in the natal chart; usually marking a period of major adjustment and re-evaluation.

18 March - 24 March

Today sees the Sun move into Pisces, which coincides nicely with the first flowers appearing in London. Spring it seems in now on the way. This also puts the Sun at the apex of a T-square with Mars in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Gemini. The opposition is exact early on Monday, the squares to the Sun are exact on Tuesday and Wednesday and Mars and Jupiter also make a contraparallel on Thursday; they are in opposition by zodiacal longitude and in declination. This day also brings us the New Moon at 4 Pisces, when Mars will have moved to 4 Sagittarius. Next Sunday sees Venus trine Pluto and sextile Mercury which is also about to turn direct.

This is not calm energy by any standards and the events involving the US, UK and Iraq do not give reassurance.

March 2001 sees Venus begin her retrograde journey on the 10th - see article about US attacks on Iraq. Pluto will also retrograde and Mars joins him on his station on the 19th. These three players continue to aspect each other over the next few days bring two streams of very intense energy together. Mercury also regains the position it was at before it went retrograde on the 18th so any movement which had been at an impasse will now be able to flow forward.

Areas of conflict which are not resolved before Venus turns will find little room for manouver. Although Venus is the planet of peace, it is also values and the retrograde period usually shows what we will fight for and cannot negotiate away.

Full Moon is on 9 March and the new Moon on 25 March.