Upsetting everyone….
The BBC is in the wars again. It seems every few years there has to be a spasm and outrage against it, usually originated on the Right, where they are found to have been economical with the truth, in this case on three occasions. Outrages against the Left seem to have less impact, remember their behaviour around Jeremy Corbyn, hardly a squeak was heard. Nevertheless, it is an attack against the most trusted news organisation in the world. So, what does the astrology say?
The natal chart, shows Mercury ruling the Gemini Ascendant, as you would expect from a news organisation. BBC was a forerunner of the large news organisations we are familiar with today. It was groundbreaking. Mercury speaks to the world, but here, Mercury is in Scorpio, which seems strange, Mercury is tightly trine Uranus in Pisces in the 10th house. Broadcasting was innovative technology in 1922 (Uranus) and the radio services later expanded into TV and film (Neptune). Indeed, film and drama comprise a large part of the BBC’s income (Neptune in the 2nd of money).
Mercury in Scorpio might also represent investigative journalism (hidden secrets). This is further emphasized as Mercury is separating from Jupiter which might also speak of excessive (Jupiter) secrecy in the organisation, Jupiter rules the 7th and 11th houses of partners and large groups (the BBC is a massive organisation, it has approximately 20,000 staff).
But the BBC is paid for (to some extent) by the people, what is the Moon (the people) saying in this chart? The Moon is in hard working, critical, detail orientated Virgo and conjunct the North Node in the 5th house of creativity, showing the future (North Node). The Moon is sextile the Sun in Scorpio in the hardworking 6th house.
The ruler of the 10th house is Saturn, dignified in Libra also in the 5th house. This shows the longevity (Saturn) and creativity (Libra, 5th house) of the Beeb.
So, back to this week.
What do we see? Venus and Lilith are transiting the Mercury Jupiter of their natal chart almost exactly. Venus is 4’16 Scorpio, Jupiter 4’5 Scorpio in the Natal chart, Lilith is 9’20 conjunct Natal Mercury at 9’01. A very close contact. The Sun is moving to conjunct the Natal Sun and Mars and Venus are conjunct the Natal Venus at 7′ Sagittarius. The Natal Venus rules the 12th house (the house of self-undoing). Certainly, this is a massive own-goal, dodgy editing, bias and economies with the truth. But I don’t think these transits show long term damage, except for the people who resigned (the DG among them).
And, what of the future? There are few major aspects heading to the Natal chart. Pluto will get to Mars in December 2030, Uranus will oppose Venus in 2028 and Saturn will oppose the Natal Saturn in March 2027, so it doesn’t seem as though the harm will have caused permanent damage.
Other ways to look at the future is to see if there are any lunations, Full or New Moons affecting the Natal planets. There is a New Moon at 28’25 Sagittarius on December 30th, conjunct the Descendant of the Natal chart, this might be when a new Director is announced, or when open enemies gather.
There is a Full Moon at 13’32 Cancer on the 18th of January, which is conjunct the first house Pluto. Pluto rules the 6th house, and there have been reports of furious employees at the BBC arguing the management have not been supporting them, this Full Moon might find the ‘natives restless’.
A New Moon at 28’27 Pisces on the 19th of March, is conjunct the 10th house South Node, suggests some Government (10th house) involvement. This may be some changes in the structures of management in some way. The Full Moon on April 2nd at 12’21 Libra is conjunct the Natal Saturn, ruler of the 10th house, suggests further issues with Government/Management. Notice that Saturn also rules the 9th house of Legal issues and the 8th house of debt. Will the threatened lawsuit go ahead? Perhaps.
Another predictive tool is secondary progressions. Interestingly,the progressed Moon of the BBC is exactly conjunct the Natal ascendant, which suggests a rebirth, Lunar progressions, especially to the angles are highly significant and usually a sign of movement, change and in the case of the Moon over the Ascendant, a change in public face or character in some form. I think this will be a positive move, especially as the progressed Mercury will be applying to the Natal Mars.
But, prediction is hard, who is to say which way the planets work out. Only that change is on its way, the progressed Moon on the Ascendant shows a new cycle in the life of the BBC is beginning, whether that is for good or ill, and indeed, what good or ill might look like, is hard to say. Although, both Left and Right criticize the BBC, ultimately the people have the same attachment to it as they do the NHS, with all its faults.
News gathering and presenting is a fine balancing act and what is dished up cannot please all the people all of the time. The Natal chart’s ruler, Mercury in tough minded and powerful Scorpio, conjunct and equally resilient Jupiter suggests it can weather this storm, while its Moon in Virgo quietly works in the background producing high quality programes which have a massive reach.
Part two of the Herbs and Astrology course starts on February 1st next year. Details here.
Elisabeth Brooke 