Category: election

On This Day 2019, Boris Landslide — But What a Difference a Year Makes

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It is only a year since Boris Johnson won a big 80 seat majority in the UK General Election, promising to ‘get Brexit done’.

Whilst Brexit appears to be basically achieved, it is still unclear as to the nature of Britain’s relationship with the EU following our exit.

But of course, this has been an extraordinary year for other reasons. The government’s, and in particular the Prime Minister’s handling of events of this year, have come under much critical scrutiny.

I don’t recall any government with such a majority ever falling from grace so quickly. It is difficult to see it recovering, even in the long term. For whilst there does not have to be another general election for four years, I think that the present paradigm of political parties have run their course.

In my opinion, the winner of the next election, which may not be that far away despite the governments majority, will likely be the leader of new party.

Copyright Francis 2020

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Moon, Astrology And The Politics Of Capricorn

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Over the course of the next day the Moon in Virgo will trine — that’s a 120 degree aspect considered positive in astrology — three planets moving retrograde in Capricorn: Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn.

In astrology Capricorn is perhaps the political sign par excellence. The fact that three heavyweights are occupying the cardinal earth sign for most of this year, along with disruptive Uranus in financial Taurus, bears testimony to the political, economic and cultural maelstrom which we are witnessing.

Earth Signs and Structure

Capricorn, and earth signs in general, are about structure. Uranus moving through Taurus is forcing us think of money and security in different ways. Delving and transformative Pluto in Capricorn is digging deep into the political quagmire and pulling up a whole host of frightening truths we scarcely knew existed.

Restrictive Saturn has returned to its own sign until the end of the year, trying to hold on, sometimes desperately, to the status quo. Soon the greater malefic (so-called) will team up with Jupiter and both will shuffle through the threshold –into Aquarius, but that’s another story.

Jupiter in Capricorn is in the sign of its detriment, it doesn’t sit well. How can his need to expand be easily accommodated into the sign of restrictions? Nevertheless his generally benevolent presence there does mean that there are signs of hope and support, to maintain some kind of structural coherence.

Some Better News?

So over the next day, the Moon will contact these inhabitants of Capricorn from Virgo, hinting to me that we may see some slightly more beneficial news, even though all three planets are retrograde. This ‘better’ news, whilst being political and economic, may also involve good news in regard to some health issues or even be related to work and employment — all Virgoan issues.

That said, soon after making contact with Jupiter, the Moon opposes confusing Neptune in Pisces, indicating that we need to take heed of the fact that not all of the news we are getting today is going to be clear or indeed trustworthy. As ever we are going to have to use our own discernment and apply it vigorously.

Copyright Francis Barker 2020

Brexit Countdown – An Astrological Perspective Part 1

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So finally it appears to be happening, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is due to formally leave the EU at 11pm GMT on Friday January 31 2020.

Of course, there will be an ongoing debate during 2020 as to the nature of the final ‘deal’ between the two powers, whether it is based on the ‘Canada Free Trade Deal’, or even leaving on WTO terms at the end of the year in the event that no agreement has been made.

Nevertheless the UK is leaving, after much stuttering and fall out and two general elections since the referendum vote in June 2016.

But from my own astrological perspective, what does the leaving time and date signify, if anything?

Libra the balance but will we see justice?

I will start with the ascendant, or rising sign of the chart for 11pm, January 31, set for Westminster, the seat of the UK Parliament. We have Libra rising, a very political sign to do with justice, diplomacy and legality. It is no surprise that Libra has more than its fair share of politicians, lawyers and teachers with the Sun and other important significators in that sign.

Libra rising sets the political character of the moment, the scales, justice, a sense of something being ratified legally and that it has not been an easy course to reach this point. There has been, and there will continue to be, much debate.

However, Venus, the ruler of Libra and thereby ruler of the chart, is in Pisces in the 6th house, close to Neptune and in challenging aspect to an inflammatory Mars in Sagittarius.

Whither the Health Service?

In mundane astrology the 6th house is often seen to signify the nation’s health, perhaps the state of the UK’s health service, and we know how contentious the talk has been in regard to this, with claims that any future deal with the USA might see terms which gives Washington access to and power to ‘meddle’ with what many still regard to be one of the best health systems in the world.

Astrologically at any rate, it seems clear that the state of the health service, plus the Police and armed forces and their future role, will be the source of much angst in months and years to come.

Although Venus is said to be well placed in Pisces, the proximity of Neptune and the aggravation from Mars does indicate weakness, perhaps a continuing debate, encouraged and enflamed by the media, about as to whom can have access to free health care once, and if, free movement ends.

Radical Aquarius – radical government?

The Sun, always a prime factor in any chart, is in Aquarius in the 5th house of speculation, sport and leisure, a very positive placement I feel. Like Libra, Aquarius is an air sign, fitting well with the current Prime Minister Johnson’s air dominated chart.

Aquarius is forward looking, fair minded, radical and so we might well see a strong push towards political reformation, something which probably all sides would concede needs to be done. Just how far this might go is anyone’s guess.

There is much talk about reforming the House of Lords, even to the point of questioning its very existence. The state of the union has also been talked about, with Scotland clearly disaffected with being taken out of the EU as part of the UK.

Will Scotland be able to wave ‘tata’?

One wonders whether one of the reforms might be to do with the constitution of the UK and the relationship between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Could we be heading towards a more federal union? Will Scotland be granted ‘special’ status within the UK to placate its push towards independence?

As the 5th house rules speculation and the stock market, or partly so, we could see changes here too, though the continuing health of it would seem to be assured, depending on world economic trends.

Sport and leisure activities are also likely to be strongly emphasised during the next phase.

Within the next few days, Part 2 in this series will continue to investigate this chart and the changing nature and role of the United Kingdom in the coming years.

copyright Leofwine Tanner 2020

If you would like your own astrological report, or one creating for someone else, please contact me on leoftanner@gmail.com

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Election 2019: Spend, Spend, Spend! Is There a Tomorrow?

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Ever since 2008, when the bottom fell out of the financial markets, we have been living in one of the longest economic downturns ever.

The economies of the ‘western world’ have been largely propped up by printing money and cutting back on services – AUSTERITY! Yes, it was the mantra.

That’s why, as in the UK for example, there’s a manifestation of potholes in the roads which never seem to get repaired.

So why now, in this election, has austerity suddenly been cancelled? Even the Tories, often the champions of cut backs, have promised to spend billions on the NHS and put up the minimum wage above £10 an hour. Conservatives?

Don’t believe it

Naturally, from the evidence of the past, we have to treat each manifesto promise with extreme caution. However, the government of any complexion is promising to spend like there’s no tomorrow – and thereby borrow – billions and more billions to add to the already catastrophic levels of debt….. when there is little or no sign of an economic upturn.

It has been argued that large government spending schemes, like improving the infrastructure, can actually kick start the economy and create many jobs. This may be so, but if so why has it taken so long for this to happen?

Over the previous decade we have all taken hits and cut backs, the medicine of austerity, whilst the economy has been essentially bumping along the bottom, only to be told now that even the Conservatives have ‘seen the light’ and we can spend ourselves out of the doldrums.

The cynic in me says I should not believe a word of it.

copyright Francis Barker 2019