Spark That Lit The World

The Beatles last single "Now and Then" was released on 2 November 2023. It was fittingly accompanied by their first single "Love Me Do", originally released on 5 October 1962. These two songs are separated by over 6 decades, bookending a great catalogue of 188 original Beatles' songs, mostly written and recorded by them between1962 to 1969. 

The event shows up in John Lennon's horoscope in a surprisingly vibrant way.

THE BEATLES' LAST HURRAH

The reworked song is preceded by a 12-minute documentary film “Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song”. It is about the story behind the reworking of Lennon's demo into a proper Beatles song. The film includes exclusive footage and commentary from Paul, Ringo, George, Sean Ono Lennon and Peter Jackson. 

What is remarkable is that the final release will have a contribution of the two living members, Paul McCartney (81) and Ringo Starr (83), with a guitar lick recorded by the late George Harrison for the song in 1995, as well as with Giles Martin, son of their original producer George Martin, at the controls. 

An earlier such transformation of songs by John Lennon happened in 1995, when George, Paul and Ringo collaborated in 1995 on the Beatles Anthology CDs and DVDs. John Lennon's original demo of Free As A Bird was low key, but became quite impressive in the Beatles rendition. 

The earlier Beatles rendition involved a songwriting collaboration that was separated by three decades. It would have been impossible without Paul, as one of the songwriters present. His genius becomes apparent in blending new material seamlessly with John's original song that even manages to improve the original. 

A shortcoming of that recording was that Lennon's vocal was accompanied by his piano playing in the demo. At that time, the two could not be separated without losing either part of the voice or the piano. In the future, also this song may be remastered with the same technology. 

THE SONG

Here is John Lennon's original demo of Now And Then, recorded on a cassette recorder in his apartment in the Dakota building in 1979. As the film narrates, it took modern AI technology (machine learning), as developed by Peter Jackson for the Get Back documentary, to isolate and reconstruct Lennon's vocals. By itself, it became the foundation of the new song. Here is the long awaited Beatles' version.

LENNON'S LUCK

It is interesting to see how this event is reflected in John Lennon's 9° Aries rising chart. Even if he has passed on, his evolving energy remains among his friends, family and fans, who keep his memory and contribution alive. 

Lennon's chart is in the Mercury - Jupiter period. It would be a lucky period, involving his friends. because in the chart, Saturn as 11th lord of friends is conjunct Jupiter as 9th lord of luck and preferment in Aries and the 1st house of Lennon's chart. This combination signifies that his personality attracted great friends. Paul McCartney has repeatedly expressed how lucky he was to know and work with these gifted gentlemen. 

On the eve of the songs release, transit 11th lord Saturn is in Aquarius and the most effective point (MEP, +/- 5° from rising degree, where a planet has most influence) of his 11th house of friends, where it is in opposition aspect with Lennon's Venus as 7th lord of partners, in the MEP of the 5th house of creativity. Saturn has been in Lennon's 11th house MEP since earlier that year. 

At the same time, transit Mars as 1st lord of self is in Libra and the 7th house in opposition to the above natal conjunction. 

Transit 9th lord Jupiter has in recent months also been conjunct the natal duo, amplifying the luck.

Today, transit 5th lord Sun is also in the 7th house conjunct transit 1st lord Mars and opposite transit 9th lord Jupiter in the 1st house. 

What an unusual combination for friendship, partnership, creativity and luck to resurrect John Lennon's voice. 

Finally, as Jupiter and the Sun are also involved with Lennon's 6th lord Mercury in the 7th house, there is also a bittersweet tinge to the happy time.

EPILOGUE

Again, astrology surprises, here involving a deceased person. It suggests the dynamics he set in motion more than forty years ago have carried on with others to this day. This vibrant personality, John Lennon, still echoes powerfully among the living today.