| Toyota, the Japanese car company, has been getting | | | | traditional astrology this is one of the worst signs for |
| a lot of bad press recently. Some of its models have | | | | Saturn to be in. |
| been diagnosed with a 'sticking accelerator', which | | | | Saturn in Aries is often about being frustrated, and not |
| means that taking your foot off the gas pedal doesn't | | | | achieving what one wants. It might also, quite literally, |
| necessarily reduce your speed. | | | | describe the sticking accelerator. Saturn represents |
| The company have recalled a huge amount of cars | | | | difficulty and restriction, while Aries is an assertive sign |
| and from an astrological point of view I'm very | | | | that sometimes likes to go as fast as possible. |
| interested in what's going on. | | | | This Saturn is making a stressful, 180-degree aspect to |
| The Toyota Motor Corporation came into being, as an | | | | Mercury, and this suggests periods of despondency. |
| independent entity, on August 28 1937, meaning that it's | | | | For example in 1949 and 1950, when the Japanese |
| a Virgo organisation. | | | | economy was in trouble, the company was at risk of |
| It's probably useful having a Virgo star sign if you're a | | | | going bankrupt. |
| manufacturing company. Virgoans regard detail as | | | | In 2009 and 2010 Saturn in the sky is moving through |
| being important, and they like to get things right. Quality | | | | late Virgo and early Libra. In Virgo it's making a |
| control will be second nature and the products will | | | | conjunction to Toyota's Mercury, in Libra it's making an |
| have a reputation for dependability. | | | | 180-degree opposition aspect to its own position. This |
| So when the company became aware of the faults in | | | | is because in 1937 Saturn was in early Aries, in 2010 it's |
| its cars, and had to embark on a massive recall, it must | | | | in early Libra, and the signs Aries and Libra are |
| have been a real shock to its Virgoan system, and I'm | | | | opposite each other. |
| sure that a period of intense self-analysis is beginning. | | | | Matters are made worse by Pluto. At the moment |
| When we take a closer look at Toyota's horoscope, | | | | Pluto is in early Capricorn, making a 90-degree aspect |
| we see a really good chart, and it's therefore | | | | to Toyota's Saturn. Pluto is an intense yet |
| completely logical that the company's done so well for | | | | transformational influence, that can often be difficult to |
| itself over the years. | | | | deal with. |
| On August 28 1937 the Moon was in Taurus, a sign | | | | While all this is going on, the planet Uranus is moving |
| where it's very strong - to use the jargon, the Moon is | | | | through the last degrees of Pisces, in preparation for |
| 'exalted' in Taurus. Furthermore, it's applying to | | | | its entry into Aries. In other words it's another planet |
| favourable aspects with Venus in Cancer and | | | | that's triggering Toyota's Mercury and Saturn. |
| Mercury in Virgo. | | | | This astrological triggering will continue for some time - |
| Mercury, by the way, is the planet of communication, | | | | in theory until 2012. So I wouldn't be surprised if the |
| and its rulership of Virgo gives it real strength. The | | | | next couples of years bring some big changes to the |
| company is able to get its message across, loud and | | | | company, that force it to completely overhaul its |
| clear, and because of the Moon-Venus aspect it | | | | organisational and managerial structure. |
| knows how to put its target audience at their ease. | | | | However as I've already explained, Toyota has got a |
| However in astrology there's no such thing as a | | | | strong horoscope and I am confident that the current |
| perfect horoscope. At the time of Toyota's | | | | crisis will cause the company no lasting problems. |
| incorporation Saturn was in Aries, and according to | | | | |