Happy Birthday, Tony!

A Predictive Look at the Australian Prime Ministers Year

By
Mari Garcia

ony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia celebrates his 57th

birthday on the 4th November and this article will attempt to
look at the challenges that are in store in the year ahead. To
put this article into context, Tony Abbott has just completed his first year as
Australias 28th Prime Minister in September 2014. It has been a challenging
twelve months as he leads one of the most unpopular governments in the
countrys history and has managed an approval rating of just under 40%. He
faces many challenges both domestically and internationally. Australia has
committed itself to renewed engagement in the Middle East, is battling popular
dissatisfaction with new taxes and social policies and has been accused of
reneging on its UN commitments. In the light of all of these issues, how will Mr Abbott fare?
Progressed Lunar Phase & Directions
Tony Abbott is in a First Quarter progressed lunar phase suggesting this is a time of emergence and
action as he etches his name into Australian political annals. By Primary Direction his Ascendant has
moved into the terms of Jupiter and he natally he has Jupiter in the first house emphasising a period of
personal triumph and success. Jupiter is in the sign of Libra, direct but in a wide conjunction to a
malefic Mars in detriment in the first house. We can say that this period, (which lasts until 2021 when
the Ascendant moves into the terms of Saturn) will be one of personal triumph but at some cost. This
cost comes as a consequence of action (Mars) taken which is not always seen to be either ethical or
effective. Indeed, he has been criticised for knee jerk reactions such saying he would shirtfront
Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit scheduled for Brisbane this year. Abbott has been a member of
parliament and served as Minister in the Howard government, where he earned a reputation for being
tough, uncompromising and to some, remorseless.
Firdaria
Abbott has been in a Venus ruled firdaria since 2011 and is currently in a Venus/Moon sub-period.
Venus is lord of the Ascendant and as such is responsible for his personal happiness and satisfaction.
Natally, Venus sits in the third house in a tight sextile to the debilitated Mars in the first. A planet in
detriment and angular can be very dangerous; wanting to act out its inherent nature and having the
leeway to do so as it is angular but doing so in a manner which is corrupted or dangerous. In this case,
Mars wants to be the action hero with some very questionable results.
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Abbotts public profile on the Australian political scene has centred on his pugnacious and confronting
style which reached dubious heights when he led sexist and abusive remarks against the previous Prime
Minister, Julia Gillard. Abbott has also been famously depicted in his budgie smuggler bathers or at the
centre of what are deemed macho activities.
The Prime Ministers profile as a mans man is enhanced whenever possible by publicists keen on
pushing the image of a can do, hands-on and capable leader. The Venus/Moon period has seen him
have to deal with lunar issues but more importantly with women in his life both personal and
professional.
Natal Ascendant

2014 SR Ascendant

The current sub-period of Venus-Moon started in February 2014 when it was revealed that his daughter
had received benefit in the form of a scholarship from a private educational institution; a benefit that
was not disclosed as per parliamentary rules. Additionally, we also saw the rise of Julie Bishop, his
colleague and deputy in her role as foreign and minister whose performance and deference has propped
up his international profile in spite of his gaffes. The influence of the Speaker of the House, Bronwyn
Bishop has ensured that Abbott and his government have been given carte blanche on the floor of
parliament with the Speaker restricting her censures only against Opposition members and rarely
chastising Government members. Both women, represented by the Moon, have been strong performers
and have protected and enhanced his standing. Both Venus and the Moon rule the angles: Venus the
Ascendant and the Moon the MC and both planets also make tight aspects to the angles they rule
emphasising the strength and support these women give him. With the transition to the Venus/Saturn
sub-period in April 2015, it will be interesting to see if these womens support disappears or no longer
provides him with the protection he has enjoyed.
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Profections
Applying the technique of profection whereby the Ascendant is moved one sign per year, the 57th year
falls in the tenth sign of career and status. Abbott has Cancer on the cusp of the tenth and the Moon,
ruler of Cancer is the lord of the year. Abbotts natal Moon is in Aries, conjunct the Descendant and in
the seventh house. The Moon although neutral by dignity is accidentally dignified in an angular house.
The Moon is the apex planet in a Yod, quincunxing both Neptune and Pluto. This is a powerful
statement and the fact that the apex planet is lord of the year, brings to the surface the inherent issues of
this Yod which talks about a latent power which is hampered by restlessness, insecurity and searching.
We have an Aries Moon that seeks security through action, motivation, challenge and especially a need to
be victorious. Its connection to Neptune and Pluto suggest there is sensitivity and depth of feeling
which will always be compromised in order to realise the matters of the house it rules. In this case, the
Moon, lord of the tenth will always put the matter of career and status as paramount regardless of any
feelings or sentiments which may be encountered. This a very determined and ruthless Moon, out to
achieve victory and attain status, influence and authority as the lord of the tenth.
In Abbotts 2014 Solar Return, the Moon is also in Aries, in the fourth house. This tells us that Abbotts
New Year will bring either matters which have been private to the surface or family matters become
prominent. As the lunar phase of the Return is Gibbous, this echoes the sense of revelation that seems
to be a theme.
The natal Ascendant of 9 Libra sits in the 2014 Solar Returns tenth house suggesting that natal issues of
prominence, career and status are high on the agenda. Conversely, the Solar Return Ascendant of 22
Capricorn sits in Abbotts natal fourth house, highlighting that his personal focus will be on his family,
heritage or endings of some sort. Mars and Pluto are both just rising in the Solar Return suggesting that
there are some very difficult matters that will be in the spotlight and Abbott will need to be both tough
and uncompromising in dealing with them otherwise he may himself be overcome.
One of the issues which has been simmering in the background is the contention that Abbott is still a
Brtitish citizen and tehrefre holds Australian citizenship. There is a record of his being granted
Austrklian citizenship by descent in 1981 but there seem to be no records of his renouncing of his
British citizenship. This is very interesting because Section 44 of the Australian Constitution is clear
when it says:

44. Any person who (i.) Is under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or a
citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign power: or
.... shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives1
This very recent public questioning has been happening since early September and teh Prime Ministers
office has used its power of veto to prevent a Freedom of Information request on the matter to be
released. The question remains unanswered.

Transits
Transits show Uranus travelling through the seventh house of relationships and conflicts, Pluto through
the fourth house of home and family, Saturn through the second house of wealth.
The hardest hitting transit will be the Pluto as it is conjuncting the IC and sextiling the Sun, echoing the
theme of hidden matters being brought out as
well as difficulties within the home or family. The

basis of his life and foundations are under siege

and may make him feel vulnerable as changes to

the family are both disrupting and disconcerting.

This transit has been operating for most of the

year and the final hit comes at the end of

November when he may get a chance to deal with

things once and for all. This transit echoes the

revelation of his daughters scholarship and also

the cost of arrangements made at public expense

to secure her living quarters. Revelations may

destabilise both his personal and professional

foundations.

With the lord of the year, the Moon in the natal

seventh house and Uranuss current transit

through the seventh, will continue to bring

unexpected, unwelcome and destabilising

opponents which threaten either existing or

potential alliances. For example, this could be the
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National Party who has long wanted an equal voice in matters directly affecting the rural sector. On
another front, this is also the open enemies who sit in Opposition and who have called Abbotts bluff
successfully on different occasions. Uranus has been retrograde and opponents have been either quiet or
ineffective however Uranus goes direct in December ramping up the instability or unpredictability of
contentions.

Uranus will then go on to oppose natal Jupiter in May and October and there may be options which will
seem very attractive and which Abbott will, given his nature, go to any lengths to explore, acquire and
possess. This may create a problem as the manner in which he pursues his objective may be seen as a
selfish move or an uncompromising one. The effect of this has the potential to backfire resulting in a
lack of co-operation from those on whom he relies. Abbotts tendency to push forward regardless of
others opinion will create waves with those he may have counted as allies. This may also be experienced
as sudden and unexpected decisions by others which will throw a spanner in the works. This could come
from the cross benches who continue to be a thorn in the side of the Government. The Palmer United
Party, whom Abbott has courted to support its Bills in the Parliament may prove to be the ticking bomb
as the instability of its policy platform as well as the recent revelations that its leader, Senator Clive
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Palmer borrowed money from a joint venture with overseas Chinese partners to fund his electoral
objectives, have started to surface.
Jupiters transit of the eleventh house has been beneficial for Abbott since Jupiters ingress into Leo in
mid-July 2014, bringing a bit of relief especially in the opinion polls. However, Jupiter goes retrograde in
early December and does not go direct again until mid-April 2015. A trying and perhaps frustrating time
as all the gains made previously are eroded. Abbott may find that the Christmas break brings more
worry especially where some of his colleagues are concerned as well as with public opinion.
Saturn squares Pluto three times in this period (January, May and October 2015) highlighting a difficult
time which will push the boundaries of comfort levels creating situations which call for changes. It will
be very interesting to see exactly how this plays out as Saturn transits the third house and squares Pluto
in the twelfth, again focusing on hidden matter which must be dealt with and changes made as a
consequence.
In summary, Abbotts year will bring up a waning of the support he has counted on previously to achieve
his goals. Hidden matters are revealed which may threaten his position unless they can be dealt with
effectively. The difficulty about this is that he may no longer have the luxury of privacy in which to do
this. Additionally, he may have to deal with the decisions of others and their impact on his own goals.
The summer period will be a testing time especially if the bushifire season highlights Abbotts climate
change denial. He will find himself at loggerheads not only with the science brigade but also with the
ordinary Australians, especially those in the rural sector who make up a majority of the volunteer fire
brigades at the forefront of these emergencies.
The major challenge for Abbott is to face not only his critics but especially those who have backed him
as the years unfoldment may reveal the real nature of the policies he stands for and/or the identity of
his hitherto unknown supporters. Many will say he is at the beck and call of the likes of Murdoch,
Rhineheart and Forrest but I believe that even these will pale in comparison when it is revealed just who
and how influential they are in Abbotts life. As the Saturn-Pluto transit peaks during the year, there are
major questions raised about both his leadership and his alliances.

Mari Garcia
Copyright 2014
Copyright Mari Garcia 2014. Mari Garcia is a consulting astrologer who has been involved with astrology since 1990. She has lectured widely both in
Australia and the USA and has published articles in Australia and overseas and writes for several local and national publications. Email Mari about a
Consultation at mgarcia550@bigpond.com. She runs a consulting practice in Adelaide and is co-principal of ASTRO MUNDI, which offers a four year
course in astrology, a Traditional Astrology course as well as special interest workshops and Master Classes. Mari can be contacted on 08 8563 9182 or check
out the website at www.astromundi.com. Keep abreast of developments at AstroMundi on Facebook.

Notes
Australian Constitution Section 44, Commonwealth Consolidated Acts sourced at
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s44.html [accessed 6/11/14]
2 The Liberal Partys coalition with the National Party enables it to govern but the alliance has been on uneven ground for a
long time with the Nationals, who represent the rural sector, feeling they are being marginalised especially in specific areas
such as drought assistance.
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