What has been happening in Kate’s chart that might have precipitated this? Part of the problem may be that she is a very strong women. She looks as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. But with natal Pluto conjunct her Sun and Moon in Libra and on the Ascendant, she is very definitely in charge.

This aspect alone may be enough to cause drama and control battles in any relationship – with the potential to bring them to an early end. Kate is like a force of nature – future suitors beware!

Couple this with her natal Uranus being in square to Venus and she has a detached approach to love and sex – experimental too! Meanwhile Mars her relationship planet is in flirtatious Gemini and trines her natal Uranus in Scorpio. She is attracted to men who are educated and unpredictable – as is Sam.  She can also be quite unpredictable herself.

A look at her transits reveals that transiting Uranus in the sixth, and in her work zone has been aspecting her natal Mars in Gemini and that Saturn has been squaring it too. The ongoing Saturn/Uranus opposition means that Mars has had a battering from both planets. And as Mars is an indicator of her relationships and of the man in her life – it is this area of her life which has suffered and the cause – her job. She was working on Revolutionary Road which is a very Uranian title – a movie about a crumbling relationship, which seemed to mirror her own life situation. The film was being directed by her husband Sam,  and involved sex scenes between Kate and her long time friend and Titanic co-star  - Leonardo DiCaprio.

Saturn is going to be moving over her natal Sun/Moon/Pluto conjunction in Libra during October and November of this year, which is going to put a lot of pressure on her. She may need to pace herself from September on into 2011 in order to be able to handle all her commitments.  But Kate is a survivor – she will come out of all of this reborn – rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

Sam Mendes is a Sun Leo with a major focus on the sign of Virgo. He has Uranus conjunct Pluto in Virgo in opposition to Saturn in Pisces – so he too can blow hot and cold and enjoys plenty of drama. As there is no time of birth for Sam his Moon position is uncertain as is his Ascendant and other angles and houses of the chart. Pluto may have been squaring his Moon – the question is whether this has already happened, is about to happen or currently ongoing. This aspect would also coincide with major changes associated with the women or woman in his life.

It is said she now wants to divorce Sam Mendes, and is devastated as she had hoped their marriage would be for life.

What is unusual about this placement is that Mars is going to be here for some time – almost eight months to be exact, until June 7 2010. So whichever part of your chart it is moving through will be buzzing. Mars is retrograde from December 20 2009 – March 09 2010, which brings in a whole other dimension, that I’ll discuss later.

Mars is about energy, fizz and crackle. In our natal charts it shows how we go about getting what we want.

Those with Mars in a water sign will use the force of their emotions to achieve their aims. Those with an earthy Mars work on the practical level and often excel at getting things together. Mars is exalted in Capricorn. Those with Mars in an air sign use their mental energy to move mountains and those with Mars in fire use an intuitive and spirited approach to facing up to life’s challenges. The way Mars performs is also influenced by whether the sign in question is cardinal, fixed or mutable.

There is no doubt that those with Mars in Leo in their natal charts have a powerful desire to put their stamp on the world in one way or another. They love to interact with their environment and the people within it in flamboyant colourful and dramatic ways. This position is great for anyone who works in advertising or the media, as it allows them to channel their imagination in a larger than life manner. They enjoy taking risks and are generally very full on. There is nothing half-hearted about them. Some of these people do have big ego problems too. For instance they don’t like to hear the word ‘No’, when they have already decided that is should be ‘Yes’. If you don’t mind a few fireworks you will get along with them fine. If you are the sensitive kind it may be best to steer clear or keep a low profile. Sex is also important to these people, so if you are drawn to someone with this combination and are hoping you will become lovers, make sure you can keep up.

Whilst Mars is transiting through Leo it gives us all an opportunity to get out the paints, clay, musical instruments, crayons, materials and anything else that is essential to our being able to connect with our inner artist. Fixed fire creates great warmth and supplies plenty of energy. So when Mars is in Leo it really helps to channel some of this fire into creative endeavours as a way of expressing ourselves and sharing our life force with the world. It is time to co-create with your inner child and learn how to play. How you fare really depends on where you are coming from. Leo is associated with the Higher Self and also with our current appreciation of who we are. If we are in the zone, then activities such as creating art, falling in love, starting a business, being with our children, entertaining and being entertained and above all having fun go smoothly. It is only when there are ego problems and hang-ups that our efforts become warped or stunted as we wrestle with internal dynamics which block our energy flow.

If we feel insecure about who we are, we may try to get attention another way by creating a little drama in our lives so that the eyes of those around us remain on us. We don’t need to do this when we are simply being ourselves and doing what we do. The drama and the fireworks that come out of this usually occur when the head interferes with the natural understanding of the heart. We want everyone to notice us and it isn’t happening, so we create a ‘scene’ which appears to bring us what we want temporarily, but works against us in the long term. Once again it is all about ego.

Temper tantrums may be a possibility, especially if life gets very frustrating – but with this combination there is not much fall out – it easy to forgive and forget – being a spur of the moment thing. It helps not to get too bombastic or to act like a know-it-all, unless you want everyone to go off of you very quickly.

Overall this placement is going to bring everyone a chance to find their courage, overcome their fears and make fabulous progress – unless planetary aspects or transits in the natal chart indicate otherwise. Mars stirs up the area of the chart it is moving through, so wherever it is, you will begin to feel invincible. Go for it and keep stepping out of your comfort zone for best results.

Below is a long biography that is filled with insights and astrological detail. Zip straight to the end if you want to know more about what is coming up for Kelly over the coming year or so.

Kelly is the second child of three of rocker Ozzie Osbourne and his wife Sharon, Aimee being the oldest and Jack the youngest. As the world has watched her grow up, she has shown herself to be a wild child with a mind and ideas of her own.

She is a natural rebel with a strong personality – and her strength, which may have been seen as stubbornness, may soon begin to work in her favour.

Kelly is a Sun Scorpio as you might have guessed with her fondness for black clothes, black eye makeup and black hair. She didn’t only inherit this from her father – she has this inside of her as well. But aside from this she also has Pluto in Scorpio conjunct her Sun which makes her a Scorpio to the power of a hundred.

Actually she has a major focus on the signs of Scorpio and Sagittarius, with Jupiter and Mars in Capricorn, as a perfect counterpoint.

Kelly is always going to be a law unto her self, and she cares very little what other people think about her. In one of her typically forthright quotations she says, ‘America is obsessed with physical perfection. In America people thought I was ugly, but I would rather be what they consider ugly than what they consider beautiful. I don’t want to be perfect, I want to be an individual’.

Those with a strong Scorpio bias tend to live life in their own way with very little need for approval.

For years she has refused to conform to the slim and slender look of the typical celebrity. That is until recently when she allegedly developed thyroid disease, which meant that she naturally lost a lot of weight. From 2006 she seems to have been losing weight steadily and looking really good as a result. She has great bone structure, which she seems to have inherited from Sharon.

She was preparing herself for a role on stage in the West End musical Chicago, which required that she be a lot slimmer. To her credit she managed this, whether it really was due to a thyroid condition or not.

Another reason for her weight loss may be because she is happier than she has been in some time. She is very much in love with Luke Worral her current boyfriend, who is a model. Kelly reveals that when she is sad or bored she eats to feel better – but now she doesn’t need to. However Kelly insists that after watching her mother battle with bulimia and the destruction this caused – she is never going to become the victim of an eating disorder.

The powerful focus on the sign of Scorpio means that she can all too easily succumb to self-sabotage. When Scorpios aren’t happy they can become destructive and the one who suffers most out of it all is often themselves. For Kelly her most destructive habit has been her overuse of drugs, alcohol and painkillers.

Kelly not only has her Sun conjunct Pluto in Scorpio, she also has Mercury conjunct Saturn in Scorpio. Where people may get the wrong impression of her is down to her Gemini Ascendant. With Mercury conjunct Saturn in Scorpio in the fifth, she may be good at talking about anything and everything except what is really on her mind.

When Mercury conjuncts Saturn there may be a feeling of inferiority associated with intellectual ability. Kelly is very astute but this may not always come across in the way she speaks, as her abilities get drowned out by her attitude problem. This may have changed more recently, but it was certainly the case in the past. She would rather swear and be anti-social then allow the real Kelly out into the open – because if she did she may get hurt. A part of her is very sensitive to the opinions of others, even though she is also able to rise above such things.

Her fourth house of family, home and upbringing is also ruled by Mercury. In no way can she be said to have led a sheltered life. In a situation in which her mother and father have been through a rollercoaster marriage, her father Ozzy being wild and excessive in more ways than one, she has survived – but not without damage . Surprisingly Kelly insists that she is not the way she is because of her parents. However the astrological link is very apparent.

She first shot to fame when MTV shot a fly on the wall documentary of life with the Osbournes. It involved Sharon and Ozzy, herself and brother Jack. Her sister Aimee did not want to be involved. Since then she has tapped into the fame factor brought about by this, using her new found notoriety to kick start her singing career.

Kelly has not lived a sheltered life. For much of the time that the public has known her, she has been the most famous teenager in the world – doing a whole host of things that many teenagers would love to be able to do, and many that they should not.

Although she is aggressive and loud-mouthed she is also quite shy at times – and insecure. She has a lot more depth than people give her credit for and is currently putting all of her experience with drugs and rehab to good use by taking part in the The Surgery – a programme on BBC 1 Radio that gives help and advice on key issues.

Despite Ozzy and Sharon’s reputation they insist they have made Kelly aware of right and wrong, and she says that her parents aren’t as dysfunctional as everyone claims they are.

Kelly has a real ability to help those in trouble to turn their lives around – and this aspect of her may come more to the fore in the future. Meanwhile with so much focus on Scorpio in her chart, she has a powerful desire to dig deep into the well of life and the experiences that are available, and this she certainly has done.

Kelly has her Moon in Sagittarius in the sixth house of her chart. She needs her work and her lifestyle to be fun, adventurous and challenging. She does not appreciate being bored, in fact she can’t stand it.

Her Moon makes a semi-square to her Sun/Pluto conjunction so she can get rather carried away and do things to excess. However with this combination in her chart she is truly determined and won’t let anything get in the way of what she wants to do. If she has a goal in mind she will reach it.

But she can also be swing between being very intense and almost too flippant – from one to the other. However as life for her is always going to be very intense her Sagittarian Moon does provide some light relief. She loves to laugh and enjoys a good joke.

With Saturn in Scorpio and so much focus on her fifth house any man who gets close to her is going to be someone quite brave – or outrageous, or perhaps both. She is quite capable of flirting, but once she gets serious about someone then she really is serious. Getting past that Saturn in Scorpio defence system is not going to be at all easy. She does have Venus conjunct Uranus in Sagittarius as well, so she is enjoys either casual dates or heavy relationships – there seems to be no in between point. Either way anyone dating her would need to tread with care.

It must have been quite difficult for someone with such a focus on Scorpio to have the MTV cameras on her twenty four hours a day. Scorpios are not comfortable with such things, and the stress of being so exposed to the world with no privacy may have been another factor in her need for rehab in April 2004.

The documentary began in March 2002 and ran until 2005. During 2002 Kelly had transiting Saturn moving through the twelfth house of her chart, crossing over her Ascendant in July of 2002.

Saturn in the twelfth house has the effect of bringing all the skeletons out of the family closet. It may have been quite humiliating for her in some ways, although she would never have let on. The shadow side of her personal and family life was exposed for all the world to see.

During 2002 Saturn in Gemini opposed her natal Venus/Uranus conjunction and later Moon in Sagittarius. However Saturn then moved on over her Ascendant. By this time, Kelly would have been feeling quite different about her new found fame. Saturn in the first house tends to encourage the putting on of a mask, whether she would have been aware of this or not. She may have become more defensive and more determined to hide her real feeling from the camera and the world.

It was during 2003 that Sharon was diagnosed with bowel cancer and this brought a huge change in the family situation. As Kelly said herself, instead of it bringing everyone together, it pushed them apart. Sharon was determined to carry on with the show even whilst she having chemotherapy. She wanted the world to know what it meant to have cancer and that it could be healed.

During 2003 Kelly’s transiting Pluto conjuncted her natal Moon in Sagittarius which would have coincided with this event.
This must have been quite a traumatic time, and everyone in the family seemed to cope in their own way. Ozzy turned to drink, Kelly tuned to painkillers, and Jack locked himself up in his room. Kelly and her sister Aimee did not get on at all well due to the stress of the situation.

That this coincided with her Pluto/Moon transit meant that she suddenly became aware of the fact that her mother was mortal – and of the possibility that she could die. This transit lasted until the end of 2003 but the effects would be felt for some time into the future. It was in 2004 that she admitted her addiction to painkillers and went into rehab in Malibu. Almost a year later she still hadn’t got over it and checked into another rehab facility in Pasadena California.

Her sister Aimee is a Virgo – with a powerful Pluto/Saturn conjunction in her chart. Pluto is in Libra and Saturn at 0 degrees Scorpio, so she too has a powerful punch in her chart. During the bowel cancer episode her transiting Uranus aspected this conjunction, bringing powerful emotions to the surface in her life too.

As for Jack who is another Scorpio, transiting Saturn opposed his natal Neptune in Capricorn and squared his Moon in Virgo, after which it moved into the twelfth, whilst Uranus moved into his eighth.

Ozzy had Pluto trine natal Pluto over 2002 and Uranus trine natal Uranus over 2003 which may have coincided with a return to drinking.
Kelly admitted that it was a dark time for all, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be seen crying on the cameras. That Scorpionic self-control was in place.

Thankfully Sharon was given the all clear after her treatment, but the effect of her illness left scars within the family unit which lingered on for some years.

As far as her parents go, Kelly says that they are pretty much like any other parents who love their kids and want them to have the best. Despite Ozzy’s own excesses he is very protective of his daughters.

One noticeable point about the charts of the Osbourne family and the interactions between them, is that they all have powerful natal aspects and inter-aspects, which makes everyday a drama in one way or another.

Take Kelly’s relationship with Ozzy for instance. They get on wonderfully well in certain respects. His Sun conjuncts her Venus/Uranus conjunction, so they enjoy a quirky and fairly unique relationship. On one level they are almost like friends – enjoying life and having fun being in each other’s company. His Mercury conjuncts her Venus – and makes a wide aspect to her Uranus, adding to the openness of their relationship.

But then there is another aspect of their relationship that is quite prohibitive. Ozzy’s Pluto trine’s Kelly’s Moon, and squares her natal Mercury/Saturn conjunction in Scorpio. His Saturn also sextiles her Sun and squares her Venus.

There are distinct boundaries and perhaps even defences in place here which cannot be crossed – or are overlooked at peril. It seems that Ozzy is more than willing to lay down the law to Kelly, who may respond by going more deeply into herself and probably determining that she is going to have her own way anyway. There is a point at which their views clash and both being headstrong it means that they may argue frequently and may even disagree violently with each other. Yet this interaction is a learning curve for them both.

Kelly is such a strong character that she isn’t going to let anyone get the better of her, even her father. In their composite chart these powerful forces can be seen. Composite Sun, Neptune, Venus and Mercury are all conjunct in Scorpio – and aspecting composite Pluto/Uranus conjunction in Virgo. The more they clash and disagree the more learn.

Her relationship with Sharon her mother is different. They seem to clash in a different way. In this case it is Sharon’s Venus that conjuncts Kelly’s Mercury/Saturn conjunction in Scorpio, suggesting that Sharon may experience a wall between herself and Kelly at times. Much as they love each other – Kelly does have this ability to close herself off when necessary and to disguise her real needs or issues.

Kelly’s Pluto trines Sharon’s Moon – so their interaction is quite intense in this way. It is almost as though Kelly feels she is looking after Sharon and wants to make sure she is OK. They certainly know how to push each other’s buttons, but there is a great bond which underlies all of this and keeps them together.

Then there is her relationship with brother Jack, who is a fellow Scorpio. Jack has had his fair share of problems including spells in rehab due to drugs and alcohol. Jack has Pluto, his Sun and Saturn in Scorpio so he is capable of the same self-destructive tendencies as Kelly. Jack has a Leo Ascendant and would enjoy being in the limelight, but the Sun, his ruling planet is in the fourth house, which suggests that may not be quite as much in the spotlight as he likes to be.

This time it is Jack’s Sun that is conjunct Kelly’s Mercury/Saturn conjunction, so there is something about their relationship that seems to rub Jack up the wrong way. However they also understand each other too well. As Scorpios they have the ability to home in on each other’s weak spots and know how to press each other’s buttons to perfection. They also have a real fondness for each other – a genuine love. The composite chart of their relationship has seven planets in Scorpio – so the interaction between them may be loaded. There is a lot of rivalry but again that deep family feeling which keeps them together despite the disagreements they have.

What Is Coming Up For Kelly?

Kelly will be twenty-five this year – and is growing up fast. She looks more like a women and less like the rebellious brat that everyone suspected her of being. However it may take some time yet for her to grow out of this stage completely, if she ever does. Her progressed Sun is going to be moving out of Scorpio  and into Sagittarius which is going to usher in a new phase for her. She will be keen to make her place in the world and may be actively examining her beliefs about life.

Her progressed Moon will be moving to conjunct her progressed Sun – which means she is going to experience a progressed New Moon in Sagittarius shortly after her 26 birthday in early 2011. Until then her progressed Moon remains in Scorpio,  so there may be a few dramas that she needs to deal with over the coming year or so. Things may be intense – but she will be in her element. As the progressed Moon will also be in her fifth house, she needs to be careful that she doesn’t get back into self destruct mode as she did earlier in the year. She needs to handle her relationships with care. I will be posting more about her relationship with Luke Warrell over the coming weeks – so stay tuned for that.

When her progressed New Moon does happen it will be in Sagittarius and in her sixth house. This new phase will be linked with lifestyle changes which will include finding the work that she feels born to do, that has meaning and purpose for her. The search for meaning will become very important.

In terms of her transits she has been and continues to move through a time of major change. Transiting Pluto is currently forming a sextile to her natal Pluto – she is moving through the final phase of this at the end of November. Pluto will then sextile her natal Sun in the fifth – the first part of which will happen in early February.  As Pluto is in her seventh house it suggests that she is currently learning a lot about being in an ongoing relationship and what this entails. It also reveals that whatever is going on with Luke Warrell, it is very intense and this intensity is part of who she is. The experience of being in love may be changing her more than any other factor in her life to date.  She is questioning many things about herself and this in itself is helping her to move on in those areas of life that have been problematic.

Transiting Uranus it currently about to move into her tenth house, which is encouraging her to experiment with a number of interesting opportunities. This isn’t the time for her to settle, but a chance to find out what works and what doesn’t. She is going to have learned so much once this phase is over, and will have a much better idea of what she wants to do with her life. As it is likely to be moving through this area for many years – we may see Kelly trying her hand at some bold, outrageous, cutting edge and at times unbelievable projects.

With transiting Saturn moving through her fourth house for the next couple of years or so, this is the time when she will be laying down the foundations for her future successes. It is a chance to find her inner balance and to perfect the relationship with herself, so that she can better relate to others and to the world at large. As Saturn moves to oppose Uranus twice over 2010, it may coincide with a need to grow strong roots to better handle the many changes in her career life that are coming her way.

Saturn in the fourth is also an opportunity to work on healing family related issues by working on acceptance and release of inner feelings that may still need to be acknowledged. If she can do this many positive changes will come about as a result.

It may be too soon for Kelly to think of getting married – she is still moving through many changes. But come 2011 it may be more of a possibility – more on this soon…

Kelly has the ability to be a powerful force in the world and though she is still young – she could do a lot of good work by helping those who have been through tough times – especially the younger generation.

Don’t underestimate her, whatever she may have been,  she is going to be so much more in the future.

This is the latest edition of Rose Elliot’s classic book, in which she she discusses in depth the subject of planetary cycles and how they affect us throughout the decades of our lives. She reveals how knowledge of such cycles can guide and inform, and so help us to predict what is just around the corner.

Rose has been studying astrology for a long time and has developed a unique feel for it. Her style is informative and easy to read, and she writes authoritatively on this subject. In one way this book is like an astrologically biased  version of Gale Sheehy’s book ‘Passages’.

Although initially she discusses the cycles of all the planets, she pays particular attention to the slow moving bodies from Jupiter through to Pluto for the majority of the book.

The complete cycle of each planet from the initial conjunction through first  sextile, waxing square, trine, opposition, 2nd trine, waning square, 2nd sextile and back to the conjunction takes us on a unique journey. We experience the Jupiter cycle every twelve years, the complete Saturn cycle every 29.5 years. Many more people are experiencing the Uranus cycle in its entirety which takes around 84 years. No one will move through the entire Neptune or Pluto cycle, as it takes way too long. Every time a cycle is completed and starts again it is like a new turn of the spiral.

In this new edition Rose includes more detail and gives more examples of how the various phases in each cycle affect us. It is fascinating to see the match between the planetary cycles which happen in our late thirties and forties and how these coincide with the traditional description of the mid-life crisis. Over this time we get the Pluto/Pluto square (depending on the year we were born), Uranus opposition, first Neptune square, Saturn opposition and a Jupiter return.

The cycles of Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are the ones which bring the most change as they challenge the  status quo. Under their  influence we may be forcibly pushed out of our comfort zone and encouraged to take a new and more authentic path – one that nurtures our soul rather than our egos.

Rose explains each decade from childhood and our teen years through to the nineties and beyond, and the cycles which accompany each period. It makes for fascinating reading.

She also explains how tapping into the cycle of a particular planet at a key time can bring enhanced results. This is especially the case with the Jupiter cycle. It was supposedly during her first Jupiter Return that JK Rowling, held up at King’s Cross station, first came up with the idea for her Harry Potter series which became such a success. However, you don’t have to wait for the return, as you can tap into the cycle at other points too.

It is amazing how the energy of these cycles coincides so perfectly with the events that are interlinked with them.

She doesn’t mention Chiron, Ceres, Eris or others, but once you understand how the cycles work it is easy to do your own research.

I really enjoyed this book and the many very interesting examples of how it all pans out. Rose uses celebrities, historical figures and people drawn from all walks of life to illustrate her points and makes it very easy to grasp.

Saturn is exalted in the sign of Libra, and aside from a short period in 2010 from April 08 to July 22 when it moves back into Virgo, it will remain in Libra until October 2012.

As an air sign, Libra is associated with the relationship between one thing and another. The relationship can be between lovers, business partners, design elements, or the balance of ideas and ideals such as between justice and mercy.

It is about weighing one thing against the other and making necessary adjustments in order to preserve the relationship. It is all a delicate balance and sometimes the balance goes awry and things get out of kilter. But even this is a part of re-defining the relationship and making further adjustments until harmony is restored. It is not a static quality, but an active ongoing movement.

So when Saturn, the planet of overcompensation enters the scene, the scramble to find that perfect balance becomes more intense. This adjustment is usually an intuitive activity – such as when laying out a page of text or designing a new dress collection – it is an internal happening as you  shift things around until something inside of you – a sixth sense gives that OK feeling. You just ‘know’ that you have it right – and no one can tell you otherwise. When Saturn is around you may notice that your ability to ‘know’ has vanished. You now feel as though you have two left hands and tend to doubt your innate knowledge. Suddenly the little things become a big deal and that intuitive sense of rightness may go out of the window.

In relationships you may question ways of being together that you were fine with before. You begin to wonder – should I be more forgiving, less forgiving, should I be the one in control, am I getting enough out of this, if I were different would they love me more? Instead of being able to shift and flow along with each other as a couple sometimes giving, sometimes receiving, sometimes being in control, sometimes being more passive, you may feel a need to define the relationship and to create roles that tend to suffocate the free flow. Structure is part of every relationship, but with Saturn in Libra the structure or need to keep up appearances can take over, and the life and heart of the relationship may be stifled as a result.

So what is the best way to deal with this influence? It really depends upon which house Saturn is transiting through within your chart. If Saturn is moving through the first house, you will become very aware of your relationship with the outside world and of the need to project the right image. If your image isn’t in harmony with your authentic self, then it may seem as though you are encountering the outside world whilst wearing a mask – at some point it will crack . However, you don’t want to be too open and vulnerable either, so you need to use your image to enhance your authentic self rather than cover over it completely.

It’s a bit like make-up, which can either accentuate your natural beauty or give that beige-plastered and over-rouged effect that often looks worse than no make-up at all. If anything, you need to work harder when Saturn is in Libra in order to present authenticity in its appropriate form – and to be able to release that form when it is no longer working. Again it is a delicate balance.

If Saturn is transiting through your fourth house, it is your relationship to your ancestry, to parents and parental issues and to home and family affairs that takes precedence.  Trying to create harmony in the home is not going to work until you have dealt with underlying feelings, some of which may be quite negative and destructive. Your relationship to these feelings is also of importance, as is the way you deal with them. The point about these emotions is that they can be messy and are not wrapped in pretty packages that smell of scented perfume – they can be quite dank especially those that have been stuffed to the bottom of the pile.

Libra being an air sign is not at home with this kind of situation and may want to avoid bad feeling as it is not ‘nice’.  So when Saturn enters this zone, its presence may encourage these pockets of shadowy energy to surface – which won’t be a pretty sight. In this case creating harmony means admitting these feelings exist, being willing to feel them, to give them space to be, and then letting them go. If you do this regularly you will find that something wonderful begins to happen – the emotional charge that was taking up so much of your energy and making your life hell will decrease. You will find it easier to talk about relationship problems without having to justify yourself or be right. You will then have more authentic emotional space to create the harmony you are seeking.

It all comes down to acknowledging the underlying reality of the situation and working with this to create a harmonious structure that can contain it. It also means being willing to change one form for another when the outer structure has passed its sell-by-date. Yet when Saturn is part of the picture it becomes difficult to know what is appropriate and what is not. The form of the relationship and the roles each partner plays may be so solid that it is only when one or both parties begin to feel pained at being so inhibited, that change with all its unknowns becomes the best option.

If you begin to feel pained in your relationships whilst Saturn is in Libra, then use this as a signal to take responsibility and be more aware of where and how the structure is damning the flow, causing stagnation and a lack of real authenticity. The pain is pointing towards a need for dynamic change.

Celebrities and other famous people with Saturn in Libra are: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Paris Hilton, Leonardo Da Vinci, Jessica Alba, Beyonce Knowles, Vladimir Putin.

This is the women who took the last photograph of John Lennon curled up naked alongside a fully clothed Yoko Ono hours before he was shot dead, and the picture of a very pregnant Demi Moore, as well as many other notable creations. She certainly has no shortage of highly paid work. Her chart makes interesting reading.

The placement of Annie’s planets reads like one of her own portraits, full of light and intense shade. There is real beauty mixed with dark passion, emotional fireworks and at times an abstract insouciance.

As you might expect her Sun is in Libra conjunct Mercury and Neptune, bringing a wistful and rather beautiful quality to her photographs. Mercury at the centre of the conjunction indicates that she has a natural aesthetic sense which enables her to ‘see’ a potential photograph where others may not. With a focus on Libra her pictures  are reminiscent of the old masters as they sought to create the perfect composition.

The conjunction in Libra is aspected by Mars conjunct Pluto in Leo which in opposed by her Moon in Aquarius and squared by Venus in Scorpio. Her feelings run deep and her powerful personality runs through her photos like skeins of rich thread. Having Saturn in Virgo indicates that she is a perfectionist and willing to do whatever it takes to excel. Her Sun is also squared by Uranus, so she is naturally rebellious. Jupiter in Capricorn indicates that she has endeared herself to the establishment even as she loves to flaunt the rules.

As there is no time of birth for her it is not possible to align the planets with the correct houses, or to find out her Ascendant. But her Mars/Pluto conjunction in Leo suggests that she is a law unto herself and certainly someone who is not willing to compromise let alone live on a budget. Her art is everything and her chart reveals that it is her passion for photography and for life itself that may have resulted in a series of financial mishaps. She doesn’t know when to stop.

It is also of interest that she has Uranus in Cancer, a placement which suggests a movement away from the traditional family unit.  She had her first child when she was fifty-one back in 2001. She then had twins by a surrogate mother in 2005 – so she now has three girls. One of her more notable relationships was with writer Susan Sontag who died in 2004 – a relationship that lasted some fifteen years.

A look at her current transits shows that she recently moved her through her second Saturn Return last year, which can often be very unsettling. This is one time when people can be pushed into making decisions they may not have made otherwise. It is a time when the chickens  come home to roost, bringing a need to face reality as it is, and not as we would like it to be.

Transiting Saturn moves into Libra in late October 2009 which is going to be another sobering influence as it will eventually square her natal Uranus in September 2010 and conjunct her natal Sun, Mercury and Neptune in October and November 2010.

Along with this transiting Pluto opposes her natal Uranus in Cancer three times over 2010 which suggests that there are going to be a few major changes going on in her life. The first transit will be in February 2010 – and this is going to coincide with a need for drastic action at some level. It doesn’t exactly look as though Annie is going to continue to have her cake and eat it. The real deadline concerning her finances may turn out to coincide with this powerful aspect in February. Plus if she is busy discussing her money issues now whilst Mercury is retrograde – anything could happen.

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.

But would you also guess that Simon is a Libra, with his Sun, Mars and Mercury in this balanced and supposedly peace loving sign? This may be surprising if we don’t take a closer look at the sign of Libra and what it is and isn’t.

Libra is an air sign, which means that Librans tend to be more detached from their feelings and able to view life and relationships from a bird’s eye perspective. Librans are also able to judge fairly without discrimination, and we all know how much Simon enjoys doing that.

The sign of Libra is linked with justice and the sword of truth. As well as enjoying partnerships, Librans often have a natural ability to take a host of factors into account and make reasoned pronouncements based on their style of logic.

Simon finds it hard to say anything other that what he is thinking at the time – even if this does make him unpopular. He once read a page of comments about himself and realized how passionately the audiences disliked him. He says he almost changed and started to become much ‘nicer’, but then realized this really wasn’t his style.

So how does Simon Cowell shape up in the romance stakes? We don’t have his exact time of birth, but can still get a fair idea of his major characteristics in this area. Simon was last dating girlfriend Terri Seymour but they split up in November 2008, and he is currently single.

We know that he is picky and critical in the extreme, and this could certainly impinge on his love life. He has Venus in Virgo conjunct Pluto – and this makes him very intense and very passionate about everything, and possibly a pain to live with. He is not the kind of person who will ignore anything that irritates him. He will make a fuss until it is sorted out. There is no doubt that he is a control freak, which is not going to make life around him particularly easy. He apparently has an allergy to marriage!

Pluto/Venus aspects don’t tend to have such good press overall. Unsurprisingly this blend of influences can coincide with a craving for attention – and sometimes it doesn’t matter whether the attention is of a positive or negative kind. As long as he is not being ignored! There can also be something quite obsessive about this combination. People either love him or hate him, or really love to hate him – but you can’t forget he is there – he won’t let you.

His desire for success is probably more pronounced then his desire to enjoy a warm and happy relationship. He is another star who is most certainly married to his job. But one thing that is sweet about Simon is that he is really makes an effort to stay friends with his ex-lovers. They still seem to hang around him like honey bees.

Another powerful aspect is a sextile between Mars in Libra and Uranus in Leo – which means that he also lacks patience. Mars/Uranus aspects need some tempering if they are going to be used at their best. Otherwise there can be an adolescent streak that runs through the personality of anyone with this combination. It consists of wanting everything now, otherwise they may just have a tantrum. Once again in a love relationship this combination may not go down too well,.

Mars in Libra can be the peacemaker, but can just as easily upset the apple-cart and then enjoy the resulting mayhem – Simon falls into the latter category.

Uranus in Leo coincides with a need for ongoing self-gratification – which manifests in his love of life in the fast lane. Simon isn’t about to change his spots that quickly. But friends have also mentioned how generous he is. He doesn’t hang onto his money and loves to share his good fortune with others. This is something that would be greatly appreciated in a love relationship.

Simon is not a traditionalist, he prefers to do everything his own way – another trait of Mars sextile Uranus. He says that he not romantic in the normal sense, and dislikes Valentine’s Day because he prefers to show his affection all round year, not when the marketing forces dictate this should be . The same goes for Christmas and other occasions. He prefers to live from day to day and if he happens to want to purchase a present for his lover, or tell her how much he cares – he will. If not he won’t!

He does have his Moon and Jupiter in Sagittarius, which enables him to laugh at himself. He feels that it is important not to take oneself too seriously as this can ruin everything. He discovered this for himself and this may be his key to working with his obsessive tendencies – as long as he can see it all in perspective he knows he can survive.

Venus conjunct Pluto is also synonymous with great wealth or poverty and Simon has known both. Currently he is in line to overtake Oprah Winfrey as the most highly paid presenter on American Television. But there was a time when he went bust and claims he only had three pounds left in his pocket to get a cab back to his parents place.

His Moon in Sagittarius means that underneath it all he can see the funny side of his fame. He may have a philosophical streak which brings him comfort in times of difficulty and helps him to stay optimistic when the chips are down.

Jupiter in Sagittarius is another bonus for him, as it means that he gets the full benefit of this lucky planet. If he is prepared to work hard, it will bring him many opportunities and streaks of luck just when he might need them.

Saturn reveals where his greatest fears may lie and where he feels most vulnerable. He has Saturn in Capricorn, very early in the sign, and this is where it is most at home. It is this influence which may lead to his incredible sense of ambition. He is not content to graze at the bottom of the mountain, he wants to reach the top and it seems that because of all his hard work, he has won through. He also admitted in an interview in the Daily Mail in May 2009 that he suffers from ‘dark moods and miserable thoughts’, and they come upon him at any time even when things are going well. He apparently gets very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. He has even considered therapy.

Meanwhile looking ahead for Simon will there be any chance of wedding bells ever or never?

His progressed chart reveals that his progressed Moon has moved into Libra  whilst his progressed Sun has entered Sagittarius – so relationships are on his mind in one form or another. Hopefully it isn’t just his relationship with his money that turns out to be the most important in his life. If there is an adventure and more success on the horizon he will be there like a shot. Having had his progressed Sun in Scorpio for thirty or so years, the move to Sagittarius may brighten his act and mean that he becomes less intense, even if this is minimally so.

This year Simon’s progressed Moon will conjunct his progressed Sun, which means he is on the verge of a progressed New Moon in Libra. This could be significant as relationships may develop in strength and continue to do so through this latest progressed Moon cycle. He may find himself involved in relationships that last longer than many of his previous ones. A seed may be planted and something could well come out of it.

He also has a major transit going on at this time as transiting Pluto conjuncts his natal Saturn in Capricorn – which means that the structures in his life are going to change quite dramatically. He will have to let go of issues that have caused him pain in the past – actually this would be a good year for him to get some therapy – he could really benefit at this time. Pluto/Saturn aspects can also be quite painful – so he may have to endure more of those black moods. But if he really does make an effort to change he could come through this period transformed.

Over 2010 Pluto trines his natal Pluto and his Venus, so more change, more potential unleashed and more passion – perhaps there is a relationship coming up after all.

Simon is not the kind of person who will rest on his laurels after achieving so much fame and notoriety – he is always looking for the next big adventure. The next couple of years look as though they will bring even more success – he is not going to stop now. They will also reveal the true mettle of the man in terms of his love life. Stay tuned!

There are a number of reasons why I would highly rate this book. His association with Lois Rodden the now deceased Queen of Data, means that he is committed to high standards in this field. Using the Rodden rating system (RR),  each chart is accompanied by letters which range from AA – the highest rating for data retrieved from accurate sources such as birth certificate, government sources or written records – to the lowest DD which stands for dirty data that is mainly hearsay, cannot be verified and is contradicted by another source. I am happy to report that the majority of charts in the book have either an AA or an A rating. So this is data that can be used with confidence.

Frank originally compiled the charts as source material for his students at the London School of Astrology, and to this end the material is very clearly presented with one profile per page. The relevant charts are shown using both the Placidus and Equal House systems – so there are two charts per page enabling the student and astrologer to compare the differences to the interpretation created by each system. Each profile also contains the data necessary for further study, the rating, and a tribute to the astrologer (s) who provided the information. There is room for notes, chart observations and for writing down the usual info that goes with every in-depth analaysis of a nativity. Both charts and lay out make for easy reading.

Aside from students who else might benefit from purchasing a copy of this book? Astrology writers and bloggers such as myself will find this a very useful collection to have to hand. Researchers will also find the info invaluable. But aside from this every astrologer will benefit from taking a look at the charts in this book and seeing how astrology works out in the lives of real people. The study then comes alive in wonderful ways.

Frank has also written and compiled another excellent data book – British Entertainers – The Astrological Profiles – which is also a very worthwhile book to have on the bookshelf.

Those with Venus in Cancer can be difficult to get to know and also quite moody. You can never be sure who you will encounter on a daily basis as the emotions rise and fall like waves on the ocean. Sometimes they can be tickled pink by the craziest things and at others driven to a sullen darkness by someone who has hurt their tender feelings. Which is why crabs never usually wear their hearts upon their sleeves. They can be very difficult to get to know. If they decide that they don’t trust you and don’t want to let you into their intimate circle you will have a very difficult job trying to get them to change their minds.

However,  once you have become their friend or lover you will find them very attentive. They may get weepy at the slightest thing, they love anything soft and furry, they have an interesting sense of humour and if you are anything like their mother or feel a need to mother them, they will hang onto you for life.

Venus in Cancer is quite nostalgic, those with this placement tend to keep their old friends and never forget their first love – they may even have married them. They keep old love letters bound together with original and now faded ribbon, and pressed flowers or dried roses that came with romantic gifts.

They also hang onto memories, which is why it can be so hard to get them to let go of old hurts. They fear being wounded again which is why their approach to love resembles the zig-zag gait of the crab. Rather than being upfront and direct they find all kinds of ways to be in the aura of the one they adore whilst also managing to keep a low profile. If it looks like the prize is about to be snatched from their grasp they will change tack, rush in and grip with those pincers. But sometimes they are not quick enough and end up feeling like Cinderella who never got to go to the ball. Somehow, someway they have to learn to feel the fear and fall in love anyway.

Food may play a big part in their love life – with engagements and proposals happening over a special meal and many other occasions remembered with – you guessed it – another meal. Good food helps them to feel loved. Feed them tit bits whilst telling them how much you care, and they will be awed by your ability to have fathomed their weakness. If they are feeling down or sad they have a very real tendency to binge and get into comfort-eating – something to watch.

Venus in Cancer can be very loyal and deeply supportive. But some signs will find them too possessive and certainly overwhelming in their willingness to see to every aspect of your comfort and happiness. Sometimes you just want to  break free and come up from the ocean depths for some air.

With their ability to laugh and find humour in the simplest and yet most profound of situations they also know how to make you feel on top of the world. If you are friends with or have a partner with Venus in Cancer, you have someone around who can gauge your feelings and knows exactly what to do or say to lift your spirits.  Which has to be a bonus!