The first thing that struck me about this chart was that it has Capricorn rising. We have not had a Capricorn Ingress chart with Capricorn on the Ascendant since 1995 at 2⁰ Capricorn. As most know the UK chart of 1801 has Capricorn on the IC (9⁰) and in the 1066 Capricorn was on the MC (8⁰).  I will come back to this point when I consider the weather indications for the coming Winter quarter for the UK.

We have four planets in mutable signs and two in fixed.  The main issue is how many of the planets have authority to act? Will it be a season of change and more change? Or, will apathy win?

As Saturn remains in the same sign for 2.5 years, in 2023 Saturn was in Pisces as he is here.  The difference between 2023 and ‘24 is the position of Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces. In 2023 he was in Taurus, this year in Gemini, the sign of his detriment.

At this Ingress, Jupiter has an applying square by retrograde motion to Saturn, who not only is in Jupiter’s sign, but also in the bounds and terms of Jupiter. We can say Saturn is dominated by Jupiter; but, Saturn has a predominating square to Jupiter (he is in the 10^th sign from Jupiter so is “above” him).

In general Saturn represents authority figures, those who stick to the rules, are unbending and unyielding. With Saturn in the fluid sign of Pisces, we can expect and have experienced changes in our lives through authority figures. Labour won the Election and then in rapid succession proceeded to break every “promise” made to the people.

In this instance, Saturn ruling the Ascendant indicates the people. He is peregrine, in the third sign relating to all forms of communications, transport of all kinds and rumours. He is sextile the Rising Sign so can see to manage the affairs of the people, but in his peregrine condition he is not able to accomplish much. The people are tossed this way and that with no clear horizon in sight. There may be a lot of disruption to our public travel services, either through weather or strikes.

The closest aspect is of course the opposition from the Moon.  The Moon is in the 9^th sign, waning in light. She rules the 7^th of partners, both business and foreign relationships. This hard aspect may suggest problems with matters related to faith – well this now appears to be a country lacking in faith due to there being no Archbishop of Canterbury as I write. No longer do children sing hymns in assembly as it offends those not of a Christian faith.  Also, it is now apparently a crime to sing hymns outside of a Church grounds, there was a video of a woman being cautioned by a police officer because she was singing a hymn to herself in the street! (SGT newsNetwork/twitter/21/11/2024)

According to the wonderful translation by Oner Doser of Sadullah Al-Ankarawi Ingress Charts in Mundane Astrology, when the Moon is in the 9^th, in a sign ruled by Mercury, it brings corruption in religion. Could it be there will be more resignations and scandal emerging from the governing Clergy?

Mercury, the ruler of the Moon and the 9^th sign, is located in the 12^th sign of Sagittarius. This is the place of Institutions such as Governments, Banking, hospitals (this was the place of the Monastery or Convent), and prisons. It is also the house of secrets, spies and those who seek to cause damage.

Mercury is, as is often the case at this time of year, in his detriment, but in his own face or decan, so not peregrine. He has an agenda. There is a mutually applying opposition to Jupiter in Gemini. Mercury in the 12^th suggests secrets that may be divulged or exaggerated due to the aspect with Jupiter. He is clear of the Sun so may be visible in his actions.

There is a separating square from the Moon and applying square to Saturn. Mercury also sextiles Venus and has a separating trine from Mars.

He is approaching a square with Saturn whom he dominates. The people may be dominated by the Unions, health service and those employed on our behalf by the Government. We are hearing how the Civil Service seems to have a big say in our Governance, despite not being elected. In effect they are the servants of the people, but operate out of their control. As we have seen in the past few months in the UK, people who have not actually committed a physical crime but a “hate crime”, are being incarcerated, whilst those who have committed physical crimes are being set free. With Mercury governing the 9^th of Law and judiciary, being placed in the 12^th, it would appear he is acting against the “people” for reasons not apparent at this stage.

Jupiter is not in good condition. He only has dignity by triplicity but is otherwise peregrine. The 6^th is the place of unions, Government employees such as police, fire service and civil servants. Could there be problems around the number of employees and the costs of their pensions looking to the future? Looking ahead to the Aries Ingress 2025, Jupiter will be back at 14⁰ Gemini, so there will be a resurrection of issues that arise through this winter quarter in the Spring.

Venus in the house of assets is also peregrine, so even though she aspects both of her signs by trine and square, she does not have much authority over affairs of the 10^th sign and the 5^th. The IC falls in the 5^th place, so this also will have 4^th house connotations. If we take the 10^th sign as indicating our current PM and Venus as his indicator, we can see he is weak, without authority, ineffectual in relation to the people’s assets and with only the close square to Jupiter who is located in the house of unions, health and Government servants, there is very little chance of financial happiness for the working people of the country.

There is a vague reception between Venus and Saturn as he is in her exaltation and she in his sign. However, they are in aversion so cannot see to influence one another.  Both operate independently.

Now we come to Mars. Mars rules the MC degree and can indicate both the King and/or the PM. This Mars is retrograde across King Charles natal Ascendant degree and will return here at the end of April 2025. King Charles’ Sun is at 22⁰25 Scorpio. The Degree of the MC falls within a few minutes on his Sun. We may have further news regarding the King, his health and public profile.

Mars is located in the 8^th sign of Leo and can view both his signs. He is in aversion to the Sun, so could be out of control, burn though money of others, and will aggressively defend his decisions. There may be conflict with others over financial matters and as Mars retrogrades back into Cancer, there may be challenges with partners and political allies.

It has to be said; I have seen better charts for the UK! But this is just a continuation of global malaise. We are all affected by decisions made by other countries, and with the current line up of Government Ministers who perhaps are not the best people in the positions they hold, we can only stumble on into a cold winter and wait for Spring.

Talking of “cold winter,” the astrological significations for the country indicate a winter of snow and in places, arctic cold as the Moon and Saturn are parallel at +/- 8⁰ of declination. You can say “well it is Winter, what do you expect” but it would seem we are in for a very cold winter indeed.

At the start of this article, I mentioned how unusual it is to have Capricorn Rising at the Capricorn Ingress. I went back over the past 66 years and found Capricorn rose in the UK in 1995, 1987, 1962 and 1958 .

The last time Capricorn rose was 1995.  In the Winter Solstice chart for 1995, we notice Saturn was in Pisces as he is this year.  Unlike this year (2024), 1995 had four planets in Capricorn, including the Moon emerging from New some hours earlier. Venus was in Aquarius as she will be this year, only Jupiter was in his own sign of Sagittarius. This year he is in the opposite sign of Gemini.  I also noted Mars and Jupiter were conjoined the Sun by declination.

When I looked up the weather conditions for 1995/96 I discovered on the 30^th December 1995 the lowest ever UK temperatures was recorded at -27.2°C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands. Between 23^rd-26^th January most of Britain experienced sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms. With a preponderance of planets in the cold, dry rising sign of Capricorn, we would certainly have forecast cold, dry conditions but not that cold!

When I looked up the weather conditions for 1995/96 I discovered on the 30^th December 1995 the lowest ever UK temperatures was recorded at -27.2°C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands. Between 23^rd-26^th January most of Britain experienced sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms.

January 1996 was the dullest on record! (https://community.netweather.tv/topic/34001-the-winter-of-1995-96/).

With a preponderance of planets  in the cold, dry rising sign of Capricorn, we would certainly have forecast cold, dry conditions, but not that cold! The next chart I considered was that of the Winter Solstice for 1987.

In this chart, Saturn was in Sagittarius and Jupiter was in Aries, so both of the major superiors were in fire signs. This was actually a fairly mild winter with snowfall in January, but nothing as dramatic as 1995 when the snow and freezing temperatures reached the South of England.

The next was the Winter I remember (just!!!) of 1962/3 when most of the UK was frozen for three months and so many animals froze to death. In parts of the South West of the UK, the snow formed drifts of up to 20 feet deep. The reason I remember this so clearly is because my rabbit Snowy froze to death – but my father got Snowy out of her hutch, wrapped her up and put her in the oven to thaw out! Believe it or not, she came back to life – now people know why my Father was such a Hero to me!

In this chart, Saturn was in Aquarius, in aversion to his sign. Three planets were in water, and only one in fire, but four of those planets were in fixed signs and it certainly was a very long hard winter that has not been equalled since.

Here is what I found on good old Wiki-

January 1963, the sea froze for one mile (1.6 km) from shore at Herne Bay, Kent. The sea froze inshore in many places, removing many British inland water birds’ usual last resort of finding food in estuaries and shallow sea. The sea froze 4 miles (6 km) out to sea from Dunkirk. The upper reaches of the River Thames froze over, but not in Central London partly due to the heat from the two power stations at Battersea and Bankside.

It took until the 6^th March 1963 before there was a day without frost across most of England!

Before summing up, the Capricorn Ingress chart should be viewed against the Aries Ingress of 2024.

As we astrologers know, Saturn stationed direct at 12 degrees Pisces mid November but is still close to his degree of the Aries Ingress. What is noticeable here is Mars, the planet of war and strife retrograding back to the degree the Moon held at that time. This suggests more strife for the people and problems in our relationships with other powers.

A quick glance at the Lunation’s over the next three months. On the 30^th December is a New Moon at 9⁰ Capricorn, close to the Rising degree of the Aries Ingress.

The New Moon on the 28^th February falls at 9⁰ Pisces and is very close to Venus of the Aries Ingress.

The final lunation is an Eclipse at 23⁰ Virgo 57 and falls on the MC of the Capricorn Ingress. At the same time, Mars is 18⁰ Cancer on the Descendant of the Capricorn Ingress chart.

I hate to be gloomy, but it look as though this quarter may not finish on a high!

To sum up:

I feel that in 2024 we are in for cold and wet winter as we have two planets in fire, 2 in air, 2 in earth and only 1 in water. But thanks to the work done by Tania Daniels on the “opening of the doors” it would seem we are in for a short, very cold arctic snap that will penetrate to the south of the UK, but in the main it will be wet and cold.

So stock up on your thermals and wellington boots and look forward to the Spring!

Happy Christmas and may there be Peace for all in 2025.