Noel Edmonds and the NSPCC have now spoken about how the justice system in the UK treats children appallingly. Noel is supporting the NSPCC's campaign to ensure all child witnesses have the support they need in court.

He said: "Many children receive virtually no support at all. They turn up on the day and see some hairy-arsed warder who points to where they will be standing.

He added: "The NSPCC are very keen for me to moderate my language on this but I am very angry that... we still have a situation in a supposed civilised society that children report that appearing in court is worse than the abuse they suffered in the first place. That is absolutely appalling."

Unicef has just released its 'Child Poverty In Perspective: An Overview of Child Wellbeing in Rich Countries' report, which is a study of how industrialised - i.e. rich - nations look after (or otherwise) their children.

In a BBC website poll asking 'Is the UK failing its children?' over 73% have answered 'yes', over 18% answered 'no', and over 8% said 'don't know'. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6359363.stm )

This has come at a time when the UK is undergoing a lengthy transit of its 5th house, the house of children. In January 2005 on the Astrology for the 21st Century website (http://www.astrology21.co.uk ) this was written:

"Venus is in the 5th house of the UK's chart, and Neptune has recently crossed the cusp of the 5th and is now moving through it for the next few years.... The 5th house representes things like: children, royalty, sport, leisure and recreation, sex, gambling (including the National Lottery) and risk-taking activities, creative self-expression."

The Unicef report is making waves in the UK, but will it be truly listened to by the UK people? No doubt the government will ignore it; both Labour and the Conservatives have spent the last 24 hours pushing out their PR to obscure the issues. They talk of a need for 'aspiration'...... which is a very Neptunian idea, but not at a useful one at all - it's just a way of escaping accountability for the consequences government actions.

What we should be talking about is the healthier Neptunian and 5th house qualities: caring, warmth, compassion, heart, being wanted, being loved, but not wanted as machines to be economic units whose existence is designed to service society's wishes from on high (the worst, most unhealthy side of this astrological configuration) but as real people with real hearts, souls, minds, not the ersatz 'hearts and minds' that are churned out of the PR spin machines at every available media opportunity.

Here is the Unicef ranking of rich nations, with the UK coming last:
1. Netherlands
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Spain
6. Switzerland
7. Norway
8. Italy
9. Republic of Ireland
10. Belgium
11. Germany
12. Canada
13. Greece
14. Poland
15. Czech Republic
16. France
17. Portugal
18. Austria
19. Hungary
20. United States
21. United Kingdom

One of the most popular public figures in France, Abbé Pierre (Henri Antoine Grouès, 1912-2007), died recently. Abbé Pierre became well known in 1954 with what came to be called the 'uprising of kindness'. During a particularly cold winter, homeless people were dying in the streets and Abbé Pierre went on the radio to make a call to the French people to give practical help - blankets, tents, stoves, donations of money:

"For as long as the winter lasts, for as long as the centres exist, faced with their brothers dying in poverty, all mankind must be of one will: the will to make this situation impossible. I beg of you, let us love one another enough to do it now. From so much pain, let a wonderful thing be given to us: the shared spirit of France. If you suffer, whoever you are, enter, eat, sleep, recover hope, here you are loved'.

The call was heeded and there was an unexpected and widespread outpouring of compassion and practical assistance of such a magnitude that Abbé Pierre formed the Emmaus charity, which went on to have international branches from that initial seed. The goal of Emmaus is to help the poor, the homeless, and refugees, and its guiding principle is:

"...one which is essential to the whole human race if there is to be any life worth living, and any true peace and happiness either for the individual or society: Serve those worse off than yourself before yourself. Serve the most needy first."

Another Pierre, Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002), was a French sociologist whose most well known book was La Distinction - in English, it was published with a much more astrologically revealing title Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. In astrological terms points to his Venus in Virgo which is placed almost exactly to the minute on the midpoint of Bourdieu's Sun and Moon. (Also succinctly expressing in titular from his Venus in Virgo in the 5th house was his book The Rules of Art.)

The Guardian newspaper's obituary for Bourdieu said that he was "for many, the leading intellectual of present-day France... a thinker in the same rank as Foucault, Barthes and Lacan." which gives some idea of his impact and influence. In his native country he was seen as an activist, supporting those who society dominates. The Guardian wrote that he was known for "slugging it out with politicians because he thought that was what people like him should do." He saw sociology not as an abstract academic subject, but as a route that led to the redressing inequalities and situation of dominance and subordination, thus leading to freedom.

This weblog entry looks at the similarities and differences between these two similar, yet different, people. Using the paran connections of planets with stars, the concerns and activities of the two Pierres can be seen with clarity. These paran lists have been copied and pasted directly from the software which generated them without human intervention or interpretation to 'make them fit' the lives of Abbé Pierre and Pierre Bourdieu. The purpose is to give an insight into the people at the same time as showing how astrology works. The computer listings below are organised into periods of life - youth, prime, latter years, and foundation - but these are general guides not rigid categories, and all interpretations should be seen to apply throughout the life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pierre Bourdieu 

HELIACAL RISING STAR
    Procyon - Rising 09 mins 58 secs before Sunrise -
        A drive to diversify and add many options to one's life

HELIACAL SETTING STAR
    Ras Alhague - Setting 64 mins 25 secs before Sunrise -
        The healer; one who tries to bring help, through words or actions

PARANS - BY ANGLE
RISING - Stars of Your Youth
    Hamal as Saturn is Culminating orb 00 mins 03 secs -
        Hard physical or intellectual choices that can cause frustration or anger
    Murzim as Sun is Rising orb 00 mins 37 secs -
        The desire to make a statement
    Aculeus as Saturn is Rising orb 00 mins 41 secs -
        The researcher, to seek practical solutions to problems
    Betelgeuse as Venus is On Nadir orb 01 mins 08 secs -
        The successful artisan, or advancement due to a relationship
    Zuben Eschamali as Mercury is Culminating orb 01 mins 16 secs -
        Imposing one’s views on others
    Bellatrix as Jupiter is Rising orb 01 mins 38 secs -
        The historian or priest, a person who is more interested in people than money
    Deneb Algedi as Mercury is Setting orb 01 mins 53 secs -
        The scholar, the one who is seen to be wise
    Zuben Elgenubi as Mercury is Culminating orb 01 mins 55 secs -
        A spokesperson for a group, or a body of knowledge

CULMINATING - Stars of Your Prime
    Alhena as Jupiter is Culminating orb 00 mins 18 secs -
        The scholar or explorer; the person with a mission
    Vega as Jupiter is On Nadir orb 00 mins 46 secs -
        Obsessive problem solver, or obsessed with a grand idea
    Scheat as Jupiter is Rising orb 01 mins 18 secs -
        The theologian or sports person, both teaching a moral code
    Fomalhaut as Saturn is Setting orb 01 mins 19 secs -
        To bring to fruition one’s higher ideals
    Thuban as Saturn is Rising orb 01 mins 30 secs -
        One who holds onto power
    Facies as Jupiter is On Nadir orb 01 mins 39 secs -
        Strong but potentially abrasive religious or philosophical views

SETTING - Stars of Your Latter Years
    Alcyone as Venus is Culminating orb 00 mins 01 secs -
        A love of theatre or the rituals of religion: the poetic soul
    Zosma as Jupiter is On Nadir orb 01 mins 10 secs -
        The Angel of Mercy; to have compassion
    Castor as Sun is Setting orb 01 mins 15 secs -
        A person of words, a person who writes

ON NADIR - Stars of Your Foundation
    Alhena as Jupiter is On Nadir orb 00 mins 10 secs -
        The scholar or explorer; the person with a mission
    Deneb Adige as Sun is Culminating orb 00 mins 44 secs -
        To be seen as a pioneer
    Zuben Elgenubi as Mercury is Rising orb 00 mins 57 secs -
        A spokesperson for a group, or a body of knowledge
    Alkes as Saturn is Setting orb 01 mins 12 secs -
        Someone who is a source of new methods or doctrines
    Facies as Jupiter is Culminating orb 01 mins 12 secs -
        Strong but potentially abrasive religious or philosophical views
    Vega as Jupiter is Culminating orb 01 mins 14 secs -
        Obsessive problem solver, or obsessed with a grand idea

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abbé Pierre

HELIACAL SETTING STAR
    Ras Alhague - Setting 81 mins 24 secs before Sunrise -
        The healer; one who tries to bring help, through words or actions

PARANS - BY ANGLE
RISING - Stars of Your Youth
    Menkar as Saturn is Rising orb 00 mins 11 secs -
        One’s actions, or work affecting many
    Sadalmelek as Saturn is On Nadir orb 00 mins 34 secs -
        Building a lasting structure from a lucky chance
    Sirius as Moon is Culminating orb 00 mins 49 secs -
        A desire to create a lasting monument to a loved person
    Deneb Algedi as Mercury is Setting orb 00 mins 52 secs -
        The scholar, the one who is seen to be wise
    Aculeus as Moon is On Nadir orb 01 mins 07 secs -
        Hardship which leads to compassion
    Rukbat as Mars is Setting orb 01 mins 23 secs -
        A person who can cope with physical pressure
    Fomalhaut as Moon is Rising orb 01 mins 38 secs -
        To catalyse, or symbolise, idealistic or romantic feelings in others
    Menkar as Jupiter is Setting orb 01 mins 38 secs -
        Feast or famine, the fickleness of life
    Sirius as Sun is Rising orb 01 mins 41 secs -
        Sudden success which can burn

CULMINATING - Stars of Your Prime
    Alkes as Mars is Culminating orb 00 mins 03 secs -
        To take action to achieve and protect one's ideals
    Denebola as Jupiter is Rising orb 01 mins 36 secs -
        To have success with unpopular or different ventures

SETTING - Stars of Your Latter Years
    Bellatrix as Jupiter is Rising orb 00 mins 09 secs -
        The historian or priest, a person who is more interested in people than money
    Vega as Jupiter is On Nadir orb 00 mins 19 secs -
        Obsessive problem solver, or obsessed with a grand idea
    Arcturus as Venus is On Nadir orb 00 mins 34 secs -
        A leader in the arts or in humanistic politics
    Fomalhaut as Venus is Rising orb 00 mins 37 secs -
        The artist or the fanatic, seeing the magic in everyday life, or ideologies
    Alnilam as Saturn is Setting orb 01 mins 25 secs -
        To find simple practical solutions to complex problems

ON NADIR - Stars of Your Foundation
    Alkes as Mars is On Nadir orb 01 mins 06 secs -
        To take action to achieve and protect one's ideals

Virgin Media is about to launch - a company that combines Richard Branson's Virgin brand and mobile phone services with ntl's television, broadband and landline services.

Originally aiming for launch on 14th Feb (Valentine's Day, of course - or V-Day as Virgin were calling it) the launch is now reckoned to be the 8th, but subject to further change.

Astrologically-speaking, the 14th is better avoided for a company like this. Mercury is the planet that represents the communications and media industries. On the 14th Mercury will stop moving and then start to move backwards in the Earth's sky. A launch is, of course, meant to be the opposite of a standstill, so launching a communications/media company when the planet of communications/media is at standstill is clearly not a great idea.

The 8th is a heck of a lot better, however it wouldn't be surprising if things were delayed beyond that. Looking at the chart for the 8th, Mercury will be closely conjunct Branson's Jupiter, a good time for him to branch out in this way. Mercury will be forming a triple conjunction with Venus and Uranus in Pisces, which in itself is a good descriptor of a conglomeration of media, entertainment, and communications business (Pisces = escapism and image-based businesses as well as dissolving boundaries between media, Venus = leisure and entertainment, Uranus = technology and multiple media).

The Sun will also conjoin Neptune in Aquarius on the 8th, suggesting the new start in the industry that Virgin Media is intending to bring about. This conjunction also reinforces the ideas about recreation (Sun) and imagery/escapism (Neptune) with technology (Aquarius). So we have an unusual conglomeration of planets in Aquarius and Pisces combining to tell a story about a conglomeration that hopes to be a market leader.

This latter configuration - Sun conjunct Neptune - is also highlighting the Saturn-Neptune opposition, which is a longer-term aspect than the relatively fleeting Sun-Neptune one. On the one hand, this could be useful to Virgin Media because it symbolises business (Saturn) and ambition (Saturn) with image-based industries (Neptune) and multimedia (Neptune in Aquarius). On the other hand, herein lies the challenge, because Saturn is opposite Neptune and so it's literally a question of 'can they get it together' - the opposition is the furthest apart they they can be. Saturn opposite Neptune can, on its more negative side, symbolise problems with vision, focus, and aspiration - not good for a company that aims to deliver vision through various media.

The Moon will be in paran with the stars Spica and Vindemiatrix. The Spica link indicates an affinity with new technologies , and the Vindemiatrix link symbolises 'a watcher of people or events' and a company that 'collects the stories of people.

If the launch date moves by just a few days, most of the above will still apply. If the date slips back a lot then Mercury will probably be retrograde for the launch. Some astrologers say that Mercury retrograde is bad for communication and technology, but it's just not true. There are plenty of successful business ventures with Mercury retrograde. It would be interesting to see how the chart features change though, and so we'll revisit Virgin Media if the launch shifts to an alternative time.

Some new articles have recently been added to the website affiliated with this blog:

~ Groups of Power & the Power of Groups: Patterns of relationship in the G8, the UN Security Council, and the EU3

~ The Healer in the Sky: the constellation Ophiuchus in birth charts

~ Retrogrades in 2007: Mercury, Venus, and Mars will all be retrograde in 2007, this article discusses their potential significance

~ Catherine Tate: A look at the birthchart of the actress and comedian

To read them, please visit:

http://www.astrology21.co.uk

Or directly to the individual articles using these URLs:

Groups of Power & the Power of Groups

Healer in the Sky

Retrogrades in 2007

Catherine Tate

David Cameron's speaking Neptune again, and in particular, speaking Blair's Saturn-Neptune opposition transits:

"Mr Blair tried to shrug off the assault but Mr Cameron told him to recognise the "reality staring him in the face".

Reality staring him in the face? Pure Saturn-Neptune.

"The Government can't plan [Neptune undermining, Saturn planning]. Ministers are treading water [Neptune water, Saturn putting the breaks on, motionless, stuck]. They are all waiting for the Chancellor and not listening to you," said the Mr Cameron."Your authority [Saturn] is draining away [Neptune]. Why don't you accept what everybody knows - it is now in the national interest for you to go?"

The problem is, when it comes to the unpleasant side of Saturn-Neptune, it's not so much Cameron vs Blair as twins separated at birth.