Set against the backdrop of the potential foretold by the Grand Conjunction chart of 28 May 2000 and the Aries Ingress chart of 20 March 2000, the theme of self-undoing and wanton folly for South Africa is set to continue until the year 2020. Some may argue that the mistakes made are in keeping with an infantile constitution and governmental rule that is only eighteen years of age, and that in the big scheme of things, this is but a fleeting moment in time. The other side of the coin is that the life-span of a human being is much shorter than that of a country and this time period of twenty years is an enormous chunk out of the life of any individual; the ramifications of this turbulent period for the individuals who reside in the country have the potential to be severe and are of course subjective.

The September Equinox, also called the Autumnal Equinox, occurs on the 23rd. This has always been viewed symbolically as a period of change and the numerous festivals and feasts celebrated around the world at this time bear testimony to that. While it is spring in the summer hemisphere it is the essence that is important, not the accident, and the September Equinox denotes autumn symbolism. Those of us in the southern hemisphere stand poised to welcome spring however, and South Africa’s planetary movement depicts the potential for change in many significant quarters; assessed against the backdrop of the symbolism of the Autumnal Equinox, this adds spicy undertones to the floral top notes.

The planetary movement in the month of August depicts the potential for turbulence and there is significant activity pertaining to the financial sector with both Mercury and Jupiter turning retrograde. In the Lunar Return chart for South Africa the main significator Jupiter is posited on the malefic fixed star Hamal indicating potential for the present-day woes to continue.

Any given month exists within a broader time frame and the current cycle of time is one of change and uncertainty. Lunar Return charts of countries are assessed in relation to their Solar Return charts which in turn are delineated within the more complicated charts used in mundane astrology such as the Aries Ingress chart and the relevant Saturn/Jupiter conjunction.

“In the heavens you can see man, each part for itself; for man is made of heaven. And the matter out of which man was created also shows the pattern after which he was formed”. Paracelsus: Renaissance physician, botanist, alchemist and astrologer.

This article explores the symbolism of The Grand Cross of Matter and explains its importance to man, especially in light of the imminent change pertaining to one of its four 'Watchers of Heaven'. The more we learn about our universe and about the connection between all things, the more we realise that nothing is random; understanding this is crucial to our understanding of life itself.

On 18 May 2011 South Africa went to the polls in the 4th municipal elections since 1994 - one day after Full Moon; the ANC’s leading role in ending white rule helped it secure more than 60percent support across the country in every election held since the first all-race vote in 1994 - this remains unchanged. The national results saw the ANC's share of the vote decrease from 65.9 to 62percent with the DA increasing their share of the vote from 16.6 to 23.9percent. The gain in voter confidence for the DA bodes well for a democracy where a strong opposition party is crucial, but the minimal loss by the ANC in comparison depicts that the DA gained the majority of its increase from the loss in votes by smaller opposition parties and not from the ANC.

May is a month of reprieve after the tumultuous times of late. Use this month to take stock of what is happening in your life and focus on what still needs to be achieved this year - the proverbial clock is ticking. In May it is best to turn inwards towards introspection and decide which aspects of your life must die in winter in the southern hemisphere or which seeds must germinate in the northern hemisphere so that space can be cleared for new things people and events waiting to enter.

Use May as a month to gain knowledge on a holistic level: all knowledge assists us in making better life choices, one way or the other. We often get stuck in behavioural patterns which are no longer beneficial to our growth, or we hang onto habits (or people) that cause us harm. Before the 'tone' of the year becomes too firmly entrenched, use the shift in seasonal energy to alter things in your own life.

2011 has been an eventful year to date; the major newsworthy events being the unrest in Egypt and Libya and the devastating earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. The planetary movement in April suggests that further change can be expected, including that of an unexpected and militant nature; simply put, April could be another month of international chaos. The Grand Cross of matter is shifting this year with the last of the 4 fixed stars, Regulus, moving into Virgo: Regulus watcher of the north, Fomalhaut watcher of the south, Antares watcher of the west and Alderbaran watcher of the east will all be in mutable signs. Life as we know it will slowly (over 200 years) shift gear. Those who are able to think on their feet apply flexibility and plan for the unexpected will be the least sensitive to change.

Jupiter the great benefic, opposes Saturn the great malefic on 28 March: these two planets are known as the Great Chronocrators or “timekeepers of the cosmos” and are applied specifically as such in mundane astrology (the study of events in the world). Does this planetary movement have major significance globally and for South Africa specifically?

Will the petrol price increase substantially on 28 January 2011? Next week petrol prices in South Africa could rise 26c/litre and diesel prices 29c/litre if current market conditions remain stable for the remainder of the week, as shown by the latest figures from the Department of Energy.

Will Shrien Dewani stand trial in South Africa? The London hearing for the extradition of Shrien Dewani to South Africa for a murder trial was adjourned to February because he was ill.

Recent weather conditions have devastated certain regions in South Africa as well as affected other countries like Australia. Can the celestial bodies shed light on this?

Saturn, the great malefic, turned retrograde on 27 January, and will remain so until the middle of June. Saturn rules time, permanence, structure, the ground/solidity, and so forth as well as the legal system.

A client contacted me to help shed light on whether he and his wife should set sail on the cruise which had been delayed due to nasty weather, or disembark. Using a horary chart I told him the voyage would set forth in 3 to 4 hours from then, and that based on the chart, they should disembark.

The Planets and You, a free weekly newsletter  circulated every Wednesday, addresses specific events such as interest rate hikes, political elections, and natural disasters; on a more light-hearted note, forecasts for events such as the Academy Awards and great sporting events such as the Tour de France, are discussed. To ensure you receive this free topical communication tool please subscribe via the home page. This week, 26 January 2011, we take a look at the 13th zodiac sign that made news recently , the Dewani debacle, the South African petrol hike scheduled for 28 January and the devastating wet weather conditions experienced of late.

The message for 2011 is about balance between what has gone before and what is yet to come; we will need to strive for equilibrium between what is tried and tested and which has stood the test of time, and that which is new and innovative and which may be more beneficial or effective. The adage of not throwing the baby out with the bath water will hold true for 2011, with the baby being either the old, with its firm, solid and secure parameters or the new which possibly still has to define its boundaries. 

“Round,
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel...
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind.”

The Windmills of My Mind, written for the original Thomas Crown Affair film, performed by Noel Harrison.

Synopsis for 2010

South Africa should enjoy a relatively stable year with no major upheavals. Obviously this does not negate the normal trials and tribulations which afflict the country - problems do not simply disappear. The economy will be much improved for the duration of this year, but specifically in the second half, and this includes moveable assets such as the currency and export items.

Introduction

At the outset it is important to highlight that the broad majority of analysts consider the turbulent economic conditions of 2007/2008 and those that we are set to face in 2009 to be cyclical; in other words, not sustainable over the long term and certainly not indicative of South Africa’s true underlying economic strength. The chart set for 2014 confirms this by the significator of the assets and the economy of the country, Venus, being placed in her own sign, thus essentially dignified. Her placement of combustion, even though she has power over the Sun, shows that the assets/economy are not being viewed clearly, possibly even under valued, and that we run the risk of depleting or destroying them.

The question

I judged this chart for a client at the beginning of November and it once again entailed turning the chart as the Querent was South African and the Quesited, Benazir Bhutto, was the opponent of the leader of a foreign country.

“Will Benazir Bhutto win the election in Pakistan in January/February 2008?"
6.16PM, Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 November 2007, 15Taurus17 Rising.

Those in my inner sanctum believed that I disliked Barack Obama as I had very little interest in whether or not he would win the presidential race in America – some were astounded that I had not delineated a chart to assess this matter. I do not dislike him, in fact I am completely neutral as I know very little about him and have not availed myself of the opportunity to gain insight into the man behind the publicity campaign. American politics does not stir the fire in my loins, and I am not silly enough to blame the man for the naivety of the masses. Let me explain this statement – it was said that he was the new hope of the free world, that he would change the course of history, that he was the answer to the world's problems, and in South Africa that the plight of the previously disadvantaged would be high on his agenda because of his ethnicity. Barack Obama is not the new Messiah and he cannot single handedly solve the world's problems – this type of assumption astounds me and I find it hard to swallow. He is simply the leader of a country which does impact greatly on the other nations of the world, and it is at this point that I turn my attention to the chart.

Astrology is always a serious business when interacting with clients as although the questions posed may seem frivolous to the astrologer, the judgements delivered can have serious implications on the lives of your clients. It is therefore imperative that an element of fun is maintained when you are a practicing astrologer otherwise you end up taking yourself too seriously. I love this craft, it is my passion and my inspiration, and I need to “play” with it as well to keep the love affair exciting. I do this by posing questions that are thought provoking and seeing how the craft can bend within its technical parameters. The fun element is derived through the application of skill – just as a master goldsmith would create a piece of jewellery - bending and shaping his metal, seeing how pliable it is within its very firm parameters – so too can the delineation of a chart do this for the astrologer. I have no burning desire to be right or wrong when I assess these questions – my wrong could be God's right and vice versa – it is merely an application of my level of skill pitted against a craft that will always be bigger and better than me. The sheer delight of doing this cannot be matched by anything else and only someone who is not an astrologer would find this statement hard to swallow!