He also gave it seven . . . → Read More: When Good Bishops Turn Bad]]> Tweet

What could have caused the Anglican Bishop of Willesden – Pete Broadbent to vent his spleen on his Facebook page concerning the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton? He branded them as ‘shallow celebrities’ and voiced his view that their marriage was set up to fail by the gutter press.

He also gave it seven years. Not content with this he went on to insult the Royal Family saying its history was filled with ‘broken marriages and philanderers’ and writing that the basis for the hereditary principle is ‘corrupt and sexist’. Neither did Prince Charles nor William’s mother Diana escape his wrath. Describing them as ‘Big ears and the Porcelain Doll’, he remarked that he was glad he had missed out on their wedding.

Since his outburst he has had to apologize profusely for embarrassing the Church as well as the Government, the Royal family and many others. He has been suspended indefinitely for his remarks.

He was born on July 31 1952, and his time of birth is unknown.  A glance at his chart reveals that  his Sun, Venus and Pluto and Mercury retrograde are all in Leo – so he enjoys a spot of drama. He loves creating it and being a part of it. His natal Venus conjuncts Pluto so he may have an inbuilt need to be in the spotlight. Pluto and Venus in this placement suggest that a deeper impulse caused him to grab the limelight in a way that caused great offence to many people and lost him his job. The influence of Pluto is often linked with feelings which can be instinctual and childish in the extreme, especially when they surface at  inconvenient times. Worse than a Freudian slip, experiencing  a ‘Pluto moment’ can leave one ashamed and deeply embarrassed for months and years on end.

Pete the Bishop is also a rebel with ‘feelings’ about many issues in life. This probably isn’t the first time he has courted disaster by disclosing his views – but up until now he has got away with it. With Mars in Scorpio trine Uranus in Cancer, his behaviour may have caused a few schisms in the past. His Venus/Pluto conjunction is at the apex of a T-square with Mars in Scorpio and Jupiter in Taurus. There is an element of self-sabotage here which has affected his very comfortable career, and may have undermined it in the past in subtle and perhaps not so subtle ways. Mars square Pluto is a very tense angle and may coincide with irritation and frustration at the least thing which causes frequent outbursts. Usually these outbursts are not  measured – but occur spontaneously with little thought for the consequences.

Jupiter square Pluto and Venus suggests that he loves big gestures and enjoys being a figure of some importance. However to maintain his position he would have to tread with care.

A look at his transits  reveals that he is currently moving through his second Saturn Return. His natal Saturn is in Libra – the sign of relationship and marriage. The second Return occurs in the late fifties and often coincides with major changes which affect our status, our goals and our future ambitions. Although the effects of Saturn tend to be slow, Saturn Returns often coincide with fated events that alter the warp and weft of our plans. There can be something implacable about Saturn Returns that carry us away on a trip we may be wary of taking. If we knew in advance what was coming we might even refuse it.

So the cloth has been cut and the garment is being prepared. It is interesting that his Saturn Return in Libra and the resulting shock waves should be associated with his remarks about a marriage. Next year transiting Saturn goes on to square his natal Uranus and conjunct Neptune. In both instances the cosy and comfortable world that he was once a part of will continue to change and will never be the same again. Yet he also has the possibility of using this to transform fate into a destiny of his own making – difficult and at times painful though it may be.

Considering the aspects she has in her chart it looks like she is going to be . . . → Read More: Kate & Prince William – Katy Waits No More!]]> Tweet

It looks like Kate finally got her Prince. But does she have what it takes to fit into the lifestyle that now awaits her? How will the coming year or so pan out for her and William? Let’s take a look!

Considering the aspects she has in her chart it looks like she is going to be fine. She has some interesting contrasts which suggest that she knows how to put on a public face – but that she also has a very private face reserved just for William. She is very ambitious and may actually enjoy playing the part she seems destined to play. This is down to her Sun in Capricorn which squares her Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Libra.

There is an apparent conflict between the the two and yet – there is a degree of  similarity. Saturn in Capricorn almost revels in duty and loves the formality and need for decorum that go with being Prince William’s wife. Saturn and Pluto in Libra suggest an ability to put on a mask that suits the situation she finds herself in. However the Sun in Capricorn represents a more natural love of tradition and traditional ways, whereas the Saturn/Pluto square suggest a need to bury aspects of her real self behind a facade in order to fit in with whatever is going on.

Mars in Libra loses its firmness and sense of purpose, and tends to go with the prevailing conditions. Yet Libra is an interesting sign, and though it lacks the impulsiveness of Aries it does have a more underhand way of getting what it wants. So Mars in Libra may work through flattery and other subtle techniques to attract the conditions that it needs to flourish.  Katy will fit in, and will certainly enjoy aspects of her various duties, but there are bound to be certain areas where she may find herself faking it. The fact is that she can – she is quite capable of keeping this up until she no longer wants to, or it becomes unnecessary.

Her Moon in Cancer reveals that at heart she is a family orientated person and that her family are very important to her. Family life is central to her happiness and sense of wellbeing – so hopefully this is something that will continue for her to an extent. Whatever her relationship with the Royal family, her family will continue to rally round as best they can. However, there is  friction between her Moon and the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in her natal chart. She is never going to be able to incorporate her new situation into the old. It will always be a case of being where she needs to be which could at times fracture the sense of family unity which she so enjoys.

Kate also has Venus retrograde in Aquarius conjunct Mercury, and both square her natal Jupiter in Scorpio. Both planets are  in aspect to natal Uranus in Sagittarius. This placing of Venus and Mercury suggest that she can remove herself from difficult  situations simply by detaching from them. She almost rises above them and views them from another perspective which may help her resolve problems, but at other times can cause her to go into denial. However in square to Jupiter, she has another choice – she can  allow herself to feel deeply into the situation, and so work through her instincts. Depending on what she is dealing with she may go either way.

Venus retrograde encourages her to think deeply about her relationships with others and also with herself. The usual give and take of a relationship may be replaced by a tendency to question each move and every interaction and to wonder about them long after they have taken place. As Venus also trines Mars in Libra this can give way to a sense of insecurity which may undermine her friendships and love life. It leads to endless questions which may never be answered. However, as long as she can open to and connect with her gut feelings she won’t go far wrong. This is the part of herself she can trust.

Uranus in Sagittarius in connection with Venus and Mercury gives her another kind of intuition – it means she has the ability to read into a situation and to simply ‘know’ the answer. This isn’t the same as trying to think things through logically, as it is beyond thought. Deep inside she is free spirit with a real love of adventure. A part of her dislikes being constrained and loves the freedom to explore and experience challenges and ever new experiences. So she is a woman of contrasts and at times conflicts. But her chart reveals that if anyone can be William’s bride she can. She does have what it takes to succeed – as long as she can satisfy and nurture the different  aspects of herself. Her natal Saturn/Pluto conjunction in sextile to Neptune also shows that she is capable of making sacrifices,  and that this one that is likely to be ongoing.

So how do her transits and progressions pan out over the coming year or so? There is no doubt that 2011 is going to be a momentous year for Kate. Not only is is the year of her Saturn return, when Saturn conjuncts her natal Saturn in Libra and then goes on to conjunct Pluto, she also has transiting Uranus trine her natal Uranus in Sagittarius. So at the time when she is about to be cast in a very specific role, another part of her needs more freedom than ever. William will also be going through this same aspects in his chart, so between them they may decide to rewrite the rule book in their favour. They may do away with a lot of  the protocol that  creates more problems than it is worth. This could already have started, as it is said that William wants to organize his own marriage ceremony rather than allow it to be done for him.

It seems they are both entering into a major commitment with no let up – but that they intend to make a few radical changes along the way. Kate’s chart reveals that she is coming into her own and discovering her power, yet also losing her power in certain areas. On the one hand she will gain in confidence and become very accomplished – on the other she will have to surrender aspects of her power and surrender to forces other than her own. The extent of this will become all too clear in the weeks and months ahead. There are going to be phases when she quietly resists this and other when she is more willing to adapt.

Prince William has a progressed New Moon in Cancer and his seventh house over 2011 which begins a new phase for him not only in the sense that his marriage marks the beginning of a new  life, but because it also marks the start of  his own family. His progressed Moon will move into Leo followed by his Sun two and a half years later. So within this time frame he and Kate may have their first child.

As a Royal couple they may make a refreshing change from the norm.

Perhaps he needed time to grow up – as he may have taken her for granted in certain respects. . . . → Read More: Prince Harry And Chelsy A Tentative Approach]]> Tweet

Prince Harry and Chelsea Davy  have been meeting up in secret to discuss the future of their relationship. It seems that since they split earlier in the year Harry has realized just how much Chelsy means to him.

Perhaps he needed time to grow up – as he may have taken her for granted in certain respects. Harry has a wide conjunction between Mars and Uranus, so he tends to act first and think later.  This is one side of him. There is another side where he can be something of a dark horse especially when it comes to revealing his true feelings.

Saturn is his ruling planet, and it is in the sign of Scorpio in the eleventh – which suggests that he may play hard to get or hard to keep as this blend of influences can cause havoc in relationships unless there is an awareness of what is going on. Chelsy also has Saturn in Scorpio so their ability to be truly comfortable with each other may take a while to develop.  They may have been playing cat and mouse with each other is subtle ways.

Imagine a couple of Scorpions circling each other – both naturally defensive and ready to strike first in order to fend off a supposed attack. If they succeed in learning to trust each other and can find a way to regularly discuss their vulnerable feelings they may be able to develop a very deep and truly loving relationship – one that will last the test of time. But if this is going to happen they need to pace themselves and take it all very slowly. The fact that they are willing to talk is an excellent sign.

They may fall in and out of love a few more times as their love life will naturally encompass all ranges of feeling which includes love and hate – but if they can accept these extremes they will be able to create partnership which may be the envy of others who cannot access the same depth of feeling.

Over 2009 both have had some interesting transits which are still in progress. Chelsy has had transiting Uranus in opposition to her natal Venus in Virgo, whilst Harry has had transiting Uranus  in opposition to his Sun. Both have needed space to do their own thing, to experiment with other relationships and to reflect on what they really want. Fast forward another nine months or so and we will have a better idea of which way this is going.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines this as having . . . → Read More: Paul Burrell – A Time Of Peace And Plenty]]> Tweet

Studying Paul Burrell’s chart, (no known time), I began thinking about which aspects and planetary placements might coincide with being a butler or a courtier in a Royal household. A deeper look enabled me to realise that in his case his success was largely due to his mercurial abilities.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines this as having qualities of eloquence and ingenuity combined with a certain sleight of hand.  Paul has such qualities in copious amounts – and these have enabled him to rise through the ranks, starting as footman to Queen Elizabeth II, becoming personal butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, and finally ending up as a celebrity and media personality in his own right.

Paul is a Gemini with Mercury in the first degree of this sign, giving him an undeniable way with words – as much with what is said, as with what isn’t. To survive in the Royal household you would need an ability to filter all kinds of information and to tease out the gossip from the important stuff. The gossip in itself would also need to be analyzed for what was worth following up. With his Moon in Aquarius trine his natal Sun, he has an inbuilt set of antennae which would have helped him to tune into all kinds of information buzzing around the palace ethers. He could sense  ahead of time what was coming. And he was and is very clever. All very useful if you are living in such close proximity to someone like Diana.

But it doesn’t stop there as his natal Mercury squares Pluto in Leo and sextiles Mars in Pisces. Along with his familiarity with the daily commerce of Royal life which involved the trading in hints, atmospheres and innuendos, he is more than aware of the power of knowledge, and the leverage that this has in certain circles.

He talks openly about those things that he can talk about and will remain clamlike about issues that should remain secret, unless there is a good enough reason to spill the beans. Mercury/Pluto aspects are more quiet and deadly than the others. With Mars in Pisces aspecting Pluto – there are signs that he was perhaps not quite as innocent or wronged by the many accusations as he would have us believe. Mars in Pisces often operates with a hidden agenda, and is capable of a double bluff. After the publication of two books about his time spent in service of Diana, he appears to have given away many of her most personal secrets, which seems strange for someone who swore that he would take them all to the grave with him.  His reputation at least in the UK plummeted as a result.

Paul has a T-square in his chart with Venus in Taurus at the apex in square to Moon/Uranus opposition with Uranus in Leo. What is especially interesting is that Diana had exactly the same T-square in her chart involving the same planets, except at different degrees of the same signs. With this shared configuration they understood each other only too well. Despite other areas where they may have been in conflict, there was a degree of complicity in their relationship. In Paul’s chart the difference was that his natal Venus also opposed Neptune in Scorpio. making a wide square to the Moon and Uranus. Although both Paul and Diana were highly strung, and although it could be hard to discern the motives of either – Paul had the upper edge. Diana claimed at one time that he was her ‘Rock’, and yet it really appears to be more of a case of shifting sands.

There were blurred areas and nothing was clear cut and obvious. Diana sought to release tension through her various relationships – Paul sought relief in his dreams, fantasies and visions of what could be. Mercury inconjunct his natal Neptune may have encouraged his thinking mind to go overboard by coming up with any number of schemes and plans – all of which had his success and wellbeing as the main priority.

The synastry between Paul Burrell and Diana, Princess Of Wales reveals a fated component. His Moon squares her Neptune, as it does his own, which suggests that they were very attuned to each other in an almost telepathic sense. His Venus also opposed her Neptune so he was certainly caught up in her spell, and yet with his Pluto conjunct her Mars in Virgo and her North Node – he could be very manipulative, and perhaps tried to master the one he was supposed to serve.

Paul became increasingly close with Diana the more isolated she grew from the rest of the Royal family, and was with her at almost all times. As her Pluto trined his Venus she may have relied on his company to mask the pain she felt after the breakdown of her marriage. However with a number of Pluto and Neptune inter-aspects between them their relationship also seemed to have a rather unhealthy aspect which was really doing either of them any favours.

At the time of her death Paul’s transiting Uranus was squaring his natal Venus in Taurus, was triggering his T-square and was coming up to oppose his natal Uranus in Leo. His world was shattered by this event and life would never be the same again.  Actually it took a turn for the worse. He came close to a mental break down and took with him over 300 of Diana’s personal belongings for safe keeping.

In October 2002 he made an appearance at the Old Bailey accused of theft. Once again we find this crucial T-square being triggered in his chart this time by Neptune, whilst transiting Pluto opposed his Sun. Whilst dying a death of profound humiliation, only made easier because the Queen helped save him at the last minute, he seemed simultaneously to be reborn. From this point on his career began to take off. In 2003 A Royal Duty was published, selling over 2 million copies worldwide  – an account of his time spent in the service of Charles and Diana, and of their marriage and divorce. In 2004 he was on prime-time TV in I’M A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here – in which he was runner up. Since then he hasn’t looked back. In 2007 – The Way We Were was published, another book about aspects of his relationship with Diana that he had omitted in the previous book. This too was equally successful. Once again his mercurial nature has enabled him to turn his hand to many new activities that have helped him to flourish.

He suffered further humiliation after giving evidence at the Inquest into Diana’s death over 2007/08 and his reputation plummeted still more, so much so that he has kept something of a low profile ever since, and has not returned to the UK. His confession that he had held back key pieces of information which may have been crucial to the inquest occurred when he was tricked by a ‘pal’ into bragging about his misdemeanours.

However this is 2009 and the horizon seems relatively clear, the sky almost blue and the birds can be heard singing. Paul resides in Florida and has developed a multi-million pound business out of what began as a cottage industry. He currently sells monogrammed articles from fine wines to bed sheets to furniture, and along with his media appearances seems set to continue his lavish lifestyle and to enjoy being the talented entrepreneur he has always been. For now he can relax and look ahead to a very satisfying future.