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A quick note on the Empire State Building shooting reported this morning during the rush hour in NYC - it happened at the corner of 5th Avenue & 34 St if you know New York. I understand so far that 2 people were killed and at least 10 injured. This is a part of New York I personally know quite well as a few year ago on holiday I stayed just a few blocks from this corner.
So often we astrologers look at the violent terrible events and then forget that life goes on after a tragedy and in the heavens, the stars reflect this too. I thought it pertinent mainly for my American readers to take a look at the stars after the dust has settled.
There has been a nasty shooting at the screening of the latest Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado. A young 24 year old, James Holmes, apparently opened fire at cinema goers during a shoot out scene in the film, letting off a smoke bomb and leaving 12 dead and 50 injured. Luckily he was arrested by local police before he could kill any more and is now in custody.
Oh it’s getting rather dirty with accusations and insults of wrong doing flying between the two Presidential candidates. I said it would be in my analysis of the two candidates a few months ago, and even though I have already nailed my colours to the mast in thinking that Obama will just win the election in November (it’s going to be a close one), I think it is interesting to see what the planets are doing in the sky as it plays out the story beautifully.
This is a really nasty one developing. The city of Colorado Springs in the US is being threatened by one of several wildfires that have sprung up in the Rocky Mountains in the past week. Up to 36,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as the fire gets dangerously close to the city, President Obama has declared a national emergency and people are saying that these fires are the worst in history in the state of Colorado. As always, the planets are highlighting this situation in the heavens above us.
Ok, here we go!!! In the red corner we have the Pisces challenger, the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney representing the Republicans and in the blue corner stands the Leo born incumbent and representative of the Democratic party, Barack Obama. Now as promised, seeing as I am currently on a bit of a winning streak, I am going to get out my crystal ball (no, not really), gaze up to the heavens and give my two-penny worth of opinion of who I believe will prevail on 6th November 2012. I am going to look head to head, the astrology on the day as well as the visual astrology picture. I hope to provide the most comprehensive astrological guide on the web to the biggest and most significant political contest that will grip the globe in 2012.
I’ve been saying for months now on Solaris Astrology that Mitt Romney was the “chosen one” for the Republican nomination and his crushing victory in the first of the big states, Florida, brings him a huge step to achieving his goal to take on Barack Obama in November. This latest victory comes as transiting Neptune is on the verge of entering Pisces. Mitt, a Pisces himself is now going to be enthused as the big blue planet which rules his Sun is enhanced in power as it enters it's own sign.
“Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!”" That is the idea that comes to mind when I think about the proposed law to prevent internet piracy in the US which may shortly be implemented. Many large internet sites such as Reddit and Wikipedia (above) have blacked out their pages for 24 hours today (18th Jan 12) in a unified protest against this horrendously overbearing law which could have ramifications not just in the US but worldwide.
Astrology can be a hugely complicated subject, so just for once I am just going to concentrate today solely on the position of the planets with the President, as they can still infer a lot of meaning to the chart. Sometimes even I can get bogged down at looking for the hidden meaning and nuances of a chart, when the real truth is staring you squarely in the face. With this look at Barack Obama, I go back to basics.
There is serious sabre rattling in the Gulf right now, and tensions are rising as Iran tested 3 medium range missiles after a week of “military” manoeuvres and then told the US 5th fleet not to return to it’s base in Bahrain, lest Iran may act in retaliation. As if the Iranians are going to engage the Americans when they do go back (they wouldn’t dare), however with Iran flexing it’s muscles and getting potentially closer to building a nuclear device of their own, this is brinkmanship that the region could do without.
Tomorrow will be the 2nd month since the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street movement, a rolling protest that has gathered in steam and size as it’s effects and influence have spread around the world. As I write the main focus site for the group Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, has been cleared by the New York police, however this will only enliven the protest yet further. It is a direct reflection of the current Pluto/Uranus square which is still in operation and will be for the next 3 years.
I have always been fascinated by eclipses, maybe because I am closely associated with the Sun being a Sun sign Leo by birth. The Solaris name I use came to me on the day of a solar eclipse, and the effects of them and the ramifications of the totality point is something I study with great interest. The last eclipse of 1st July caused havoc for many across the world and as I have mentioned on this blog, the effects of that cardinal cross eclipse are still being felt.
Mitt Romney is currently leading the polls in the race for the Republican nomination to take on Barack Obama in 2012. This time 4 years ago he failed in his attempt losing out to Senator John McCain. Are things any different this time around and does Mitt stand any chance of becoming president? I look astrologically at his chances.
Mitt was born on 12th March 1947 in Detroit, Michigan at 09.51hrs. There is a second potential birth time which is known to Astrologers of 10.00am but the difference is negligible, for the moment at least. Like his main rival Rick Perry, Mitt is a Sun Pisces and he has a Scorpio Moon and a Gemini Ascendant. Before I delve into the planetary details, it is interesting to note that Mitt has no planets in Earth signs like Hilary Clinton. Those without any planets in earth often lack grounding (an obvious but true statement) and common sense. Starting things off and leading from the front is not really in the nature of the Governor of Massachusetts too, as he only has one planet in a Cardinal sign, and this is spiritual Neptune. With 5 planets in water, Mitt is someone who feels his way through life. He has tremendous determination and staying power with 5 fixed planets, and he is flexible and can shift his position to suit the situation with 4 in mutable signs.
Mitt’s Sun sits in the 11th house in wide conjunction to Mercury and we also find Mars here as well. His strength is in being a team player. He will work best when as part of a group, association or in cooperation with friends. As such, if he does achieve the nomination, his potential running mate I think will prove crucial to his chances, as Mitt is the polar opposite to Barack Obama who is very much his own man and somebody who prefers to run things by himself. With Mercury and Mars in conjunction, Mitt has a sharp mind, his arguments will be clear and convincing and will snap back with a quick response if challenged; this man is a good debater and has a clever turn of phrase in his armoury. Mitt’s Mars is in Pisces so at heart he is naturally non-aggressive and will hold back if challenged to fight. Mercury retrograde is quite reflective, introspective and deep thinking especially when it comes to personal subjects, or things of an emotional nature. Mitt certainly will have a poetic way of communicating, but I suspect he lacks the real passion of emotion in his speeches to inspire the masses, like a Kennedy, Reagan or Clinton for example. The Gemini Ascendant will make him question every action and concept put to him, make him strongly independent and often seem on edge, he may suffer with nervous tension and anxiety.
The Sun and Mercury square to Uranus in the first house. This man likes to be original, to be an individual standing out in the crowd. He will thrive in a fast paced environment, but his energies and thoughts may become scattered once under pressure. Uranus is in Gemini, he may attempt to sort out too many things at the same time, with the risk of nothing ever getting completed. This is also compounded by the lack of earth in the chart. A Taurean emphasis would be so handy here, a steadying hand on the tiller and this is why I believe that above anything else, Romney will need to choose very carefully a running mate who is going to compensate for his lack of earth signs. Mitt will have a penchant and an interest for science, development and the latest technology.
The Sun makes a trine to the Moon and Jupiter closely conjunct in the 6th house of health and everyday work. Here is an optimistic link, someone who believes that luck and fortune is on his side, and generally it is. He has big visions and and will work and work and work to achieve them. Here is no lack of effort. He will be drawn to help people in whatever way he can, to fix what has gone wrong. The 6th house suggests that health will be one area that he will especially be compelled to sort out. This is a tolerant man who will forgive mistakes in others, a worthy aim but one in a politician which can signal weakness. He is emotionally generous, but also very secretive and he will want to know what is going on all around him. Scorpio Moons need to know everything. Scorpio Moon can cause one to be very controlling and even cruel in situations. The iron fist of a tyrant lurks beneath the gentle watery Piscean air that Mitt will portray. This all leads me to think that this could be a very difficult man to work for, sometimes helpful but also capable of being very ruthless.
The last formation on the chart is an extended wedge formation encompassing the 4 planets I have yet to look at. We see a heavy Saturn/Pluto conjunction across the nadir of the chart opposite to Venus conjunct to the Midheaven with Neptune sitting at the point of the wedge. The Saturn Pluto conjunction is capable of huge success in one’s life, it concentrates power, determination and ambition however, as with all the planets the fall side of these planets can be quite devastating. I have nicknames this formation the crash and burn connection, because I have seen so many people with these two planets in a stressful aspect (conjunction, square or opposition) abuse the power and status that it brings, only to suffer the consequences, Rupert Murdoch just recently comes to mind – he has an opposition. Mitt’s conjunction lies opposite to his Midheaven, so it doesn’t take much genius to imagine that a square aspect or opposition from a malefic transiting planet could cause his lasting harmful damage to his reputation. Saturn in the 3rd house makes Mitt rather staid and serious in his communication, he will like to be strictly accurate and light hearted exchanges of views are not really his thing. Saturn is retrograde, so we know that the love of his father was never very forthcoming. Pluto sits in the 4th house, indicating that the relationship with him was very close and controlling. His father would have had a huge influence over his upbringing, someone Mitt hugely admired and yet feared at the same time.
Venus sits in the 10th house in Aquarius. Mitt is married to his work and commitments as much as he is to his wife. Venus in this sign suggests that Ann his wife is very much his friend and that they got married in unusual circumstances, they married immediately after he returned from travelling abroad as a Mormon missionary in France. The trine from Neptune to his Midheaven shows the spiritual link to his early work, and Capricorn on the cusp of the 9th house shows Mitt’s serious attitude to religion. He will want to be known for contributing something positive to the world. If he does become President, watch out for a huge encouragement to the arts, to entertainment and to American creativity in general. This is something that Mitt will want to be associated with. Neptune trine to Venus shows a dreamy expressive quality that is quite lovely. There is a soft heart to this man, someone who will love movies and music, art, theatre and fantasy. Neptune in Libra can be “influenced” by those stronger or more persuasive around them, there is the potential for gullibility or maybe deception in this position and connected to this powerful opposition in the natal chart, this just could be an achillies heel in his personality that could be exposed in the future.
On first inspection of this chart, I would not really believe that Mitt has the confidence and go ahead authority to make it to the White House. No earth signs and just one cardinal planet is not exactly the driving force that America requires right now as the world financial crisis takes a grip. On the cusp of the 2nd and 8th houses, the financial axis on his chart, we find Gemini and Sagittarius which is very laissez fair in one’s attitude to spending and dealing with other people’s money. It is almost expansionist rather than restrictive!! None the less, the transits and progressions for Mitt Romney seem up to the 2012 election quite kind. He has very few oppositions or squares to deal with until the middle of next year, and in late Summer when the big decisions are being made to whom to chose as Obama’s opponent, Romney has some spectacular transits with Jupiter hitting his Ascendant in June, trine to his Midheaven in July as well as being conjunct his North Node. The fact that his main opponents in the race, Bachmann and Perry are so reactionary in their views may just count hugely in his favour. The tide seems to be flowing in his favour this time around.
In August, on 27th the day of the Republican Convention in Tampa, the transiting South Node will be exactly conjunct his Gemini Ascendant. This is a very uncomfortable place for the South Node to be for the subject. Everyone will be so pleased at the wonderful position he is in, but internally he will want to hide away, to be invisible, to disappear. If Romney does win the nomination, and with these planets in the year before this day it is very possible he will win, will the enormity of the position he will find himself in hit home? I think that they will. At that point, he will know that he faces a lion on the attack, the incumbent Leo President that is Barack Obama. Romney’s progressed Moon at that point will start to enter his large 12th house, a time of unravelling of the life, a time of enforced changes when one is kept in the dark while the world around him swirls with confusion and deception. Once you realise what is going on, often it is too late to react and so you have to accept what is really going on. Because of the size of Mitt’s 12th house, the progressed Moon will not exit into his first house until 2016. It does not fill one with a great amount of confidence looking ahead. At the end of August, Mitt will start to pick up a square from transiting Saturn to his Saturn/Pluto conjunction, just as Saturn enters Scorpio in late September. Maybe his beliefs will come under attack, Capricorn ruled by Saturn sit as I mentioned before on the cusp of the 9th.
If you would like to read my updated assessment of who between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama will win on 6th November 2012 please click on the following link below…
Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney – Who does astrology say will win the 2012 US Election?
****Update 1st February 2012 ****
All abroad the Washington Express – A look at Romney and why he won the Florida Primary.
It is 10 years on, and the pictures still chill one to the bone. I personally had just got home from work just before 2pm UK time, I switched on the TV to watch in disbelief one of the Twin Towers was ablaze. Then an airliner appeared from the right of the picture (I knew it was a large passenger plane from the shape of the aeroplane) and smashed straight into the second tower. I sat in my living room transfixed and horrified as the shocking drama played out.
Going back 10 years to look at the astrology chart of the day, a view of the event clearly forms. We know the target of the attack – the Twin Towers. The twins immediately lead us to think of Gemini, the sign representing twins in the zodiac. Sitting in Gemini in the international 9th house (this was an attack that was felt across the world) were just 2 planets the Moon and Saturn.
Think of the chart as a picture, we see the Moon represented the people and Saturn represented the buildings and authorities standing side by side. Both the Moon and Saturn are under attack from three planets. Saturn receives a direct opposition from Mars in Capricorn from the 3rd house, and the Moon receives an opposition from Pluto exactly on the cusp of the 3rd. Also we see from Mars to Moon and from Pluto to Saturn are intensely focused quindecile aspects. Saturn receives a trine from Mercury on the Ascendant and the Moon receives a trine from unpredictable Uranus. Pluto is the planet of mass destruction, death and also of feeling trapped. You can sense the intense emotion that this Moon/Pluto opposition created and the force unleashed in the Pluto/Saturn quindecile destroying the buildings where so many people were left helpless waiting to die. Mars is the warrior planet and signifies the action, the attack and the force on both planets in Gemini. Extending the chart out a little Mercury, ruling Gemini also rules Virgo which sits on the cusp of the 12th house, the house of secret enemies and also of sacrifice. Those enemies had awaited their moment with precision and stealth, striking with ruthless efficiency at the same time sacrificing their own lives.
Notice the 3rd/9th angle, the transport and travel axis on the chart being highlighted. This is also backed up by Mercury on the ascendant. Mercury represents transport, the airliners being used as weapons and being central to the attempt. Uranus in it’s own sign of Aquarius trines the Moon the fifth house, providing the swift, shocking aspect of the attack on the people. The pattern of these trines zooming into the opposition and quindecile aspects mirror the path the two airliners took as they crashed into the towers. Stripping away the other planets opens up the picture, doesn’t it? Sometimes seeing less is more…
Just a couple of other things to notice. Mars was at the time of the first hit tightly quindecile the Midheaven in Cancer. This was an action aimed at the people and security systems (Cancer through the Moon rules both) to focus US public attention. There is a t-square from the Saturn Pluto opposition to the Sun at the point. The Sun shows the people at the top (the President) in Mundane Astrology and the 11th house represents the parties and government systems. The other target was a strike at the US Government itself, and later that morning the Pentagon suffered severe damage from a third plane crashing into the building.
The Midheaven on the day was receiving a conjunction from lucky Jupiter which was itself square to Mercury and the Ascendant, so fortune was favouring a successful attack at this time. Lastly, Neptune sat peregrine in the 4th house and alone away from the rest of the planets and thus dominating proceedings. Here is the indication that a spiritual (Neptune) leader sitting at home (4th) was behind the whole operation. We now know that man to be Osama Bin Laden, and ten years on from the shocking crime he masterminded, his assassination has for now provided a sense of closure to the US people over the unforgettable events of the 9th September 2001.
The race for the Republican nomination to challenge Barack Obama is now on and a surprise woman candidate is starting to steal all the headlines, Michele Bachmann. You know, sometimes it’s the one with the momentum, the one who comes out of nowhere who often steals the crown in American elections. Barack Obama emerged from the pack last time out having relatively little experience as a US Senator to eventually waltz away with the Democratic nomination and then the presidency, and the one I remember the most was Bill Clinton. Back a year and a half before Bill won the presidency, I read a newspaper article about this relatively unknown (unknown to those of us in the UK) politician from Hope, Arkansas who was building up a head of steam in the 1992 race. Twenty years on and the effect is happening again. Is this woman the real deal? Let’s look at the astrology.
Michele is a fiery Aries, born on 6th April 1956 in Waterloo, Iowa. I do now have an unconfirmed birth time for her, of 12.08. Is this am or pm? We have a couple of strong clues that it is pm. The first is an insatiable love for caring for children. She has had 5 herself and cared for 23 foster girls too!! The fifth house is the house of children and in her chart Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter (the planet of generosity and excess) is intercepted in the 5th. We also find Scorpio ruled by Pluto which on the cusp which if anything increases the effect – Pluto never knows when to stop. Those foster children had eating disorders, born out by the Pluto effect. Saturn sits in the 5th house too showing a serious attitude to looking after children opposite to Venus. You can see the link immediately in the opposition, girls (Moon) with serious health problems (Capricorn ruled by Saturn sits on the cusp of the 6th house of health). Placing Sagittarius squarely in the 5th house of children, confirms the second of the two clues. Michele has strong Christian faith, also ruled by Jupiter. By placing Sagittarius in the 5th, we suddenly find that Neptune the planet of spirituality is on the cusp of the 9th house of faith and beliefs. Serious Saturn sitting in Sagittarius adding a conservative edge to her beliefs. A very nice fit indeed. She will feel that he rightful place is at the top, and with Leo on her Ascendant and Sun and Mercury conjunct to her Midheaven, it only reinforces these desires.
Ok, working to the assumption that 12.08pm is a probable birth time, we have a 10th house Aries Sun conjunct to Mercury with an Leo ascendant too. The 10th house Sun is always a position of wanting to run things, her career and reputation will be very important to her. The Sun Mercury combination is a partisan one, she will see things her way and she will be outspoken. Aries ascendants as well as Mercury and Sun in Aries always remind me of the proverb “Look before you leap”. This is the thing that she has to learn to do as Sun/Mercury in Aries often doesn’t, landing those with the conjunction often in hot water. She will say and do things she will regret later, however if ever you want someone to lead you out of difficult situation (as the US is financially in), then there is nobody better than a forthright Aries to lead the way & Michele will be “vey” Aries in nature. That is what they were brought onto this earth to do.
The Sun/Mercury conjunction is trine to a Jupiter/Pluto in Leo conjunction sitting in the 2nd house of money and finance. Here is a need for the control of finance and this conjunction is opposite to her Aquarian Moon in the 8th house of big business and dealing with other people’s money. Michele is a finance and tax expert with huge experience. She has an emotional connection to the handling of other people’s money. With Mars in the 6th house of everyday work and Capricorn as I mentioned on the cusp of this house, Michelle will be extremely very hard working and have a very disciplined attitude. A money expert is just what America needs in these austere times? Returning to Pluto and Jupiter, Michele will have a love of luxury life and will spend hugely on making her own home as comfortable as possible. Pluto and Jupiter hate petty minded people, so watch out for her cutting down critics to size in a forthright manner, and also need to feel power and recognition, especially as both these planets sit in regal Leo.
Saturn is retrograde, as ever indicating that lack of love received from her father in her younger years (as mentioned before her parents divorced) and squares onto Pluto. This square is a profound aspect when activated by transits or progressions. Often losses or disappointments in life lead to some sort of emotional breakdown or depression, frustration and reinvention of the personality. Change comes at a cost, often through great pain – I suspect the parental split would have hit her very hard. Alongside these possibilities comes the potential with Saturn/Pluto for great achievement, high ambition and success. These people strive for the ultimate. With a square from Pluto to Venus indicating deep emotions and potential transformation through relationships, a t-square is formed. I get the feeling that when activated, this t-square has the potential for great heartbreak. Luckily for Michele at this time, that activation is someway off in the future. Saturn also trines onto Uranus, so she will have a knack for keeping the conservative values she holds true, yet pushing forward new radical ideas in the same breath. With the same old faces like Mitt Romney & Newt Gingrich seemingly towards the head of the running, and seeing that last time John McCain rain a pretty lame campaign on behalf of the Republican party, I get a feeling that they will be looking for a fresh new face to battle against Obama. Having got a taste of the female touch with Sarah Palin last time out, I wonder if Michele might just be the right woman to appear at the right time? Will her more controversial views like banning same sex marriage (conservative Saturn in the 5th of love given opposite to Venus and trine Uranus) hold up when opened to scrutiny?
There is one more t-square on the chart based around a dynamic Mars/Uranus opposition. Mars is in serious hard working Capricorn and Uranus accentuates this. Michele is a grafter, highly ambitious, disciplined somebody who will use all her energies and talents to get the job done. She will be an excellent strategist and planner and realistic in her aims. Even if she doesn’t make the top job, I can see her being very influential in the financial planning of a future Republican administration along the way. Mars squares onto Neptune in the 4th, so she has an ideal, a dream that that serious Mars in Capricorn is working towards, and she will have some innovative ideas to back her up vision. That vision I believe is two-fold, a social and spiritual vision for society in general based around her faith (Neptune in Libra) and more pertinently to her own situation a dream home full of peace and harmony. Having come from a broken home, one can certainly wish that she finds that ideal.
Finally Uranus conjuncts her ascendant from the 12th house. This gives Michelle a identification with those who are suffering. There is a very humanitarian response to those in need and her instinct reaction will be always to help. With the US in dire need of someone with financial management experience to pull the debt around, I think that this placing was very powerful and instrumental in her decision to run for the Presidency. She like to be an individual, someone out on a limb, and the conservative Tea Party, part of the Republican party but distinct in philosophy and ideas suits her perfectly.
Michele’s chart stacks up nicely alongside the US natal chart too if her birth-time is 12.08 instead of 00.08 . Her Aquarius moon is in conjunction (around 3 degrees) of the US moon, so her emotions will be picked up favourably by the American public. Her Sun/Mercury and Midheaven opposes the US Saturn; this is a huge link as her message will sit well with how the US needs to be administered. Her Neptune (dreams) trine the US Moon or public’s perceptions. Her hardworking Mars opposes the US Mercury, I suspect she may have battles with the press.
Michelle has been very vocal in the recent debt default crisis. Saturn opposite the Midheaven which is happening right now will encourage criticism of her stance on the matter. Saturn will go on to oppose both Sun and Mercury causing frustration and maybe run-ins with the media (Mercury rules the 3rd house of the press). However Saturn transits cause you to learn and by late autumn these transits will have passed. One other slightly worrying transit for her campaign is the fact that transiting Neptune will be square to her Saturn/Venus opposition for quite a while. Neptune tends to hide the truth until other transiting planets bring things into the open. Maybe there are skeletons in her closet? Also Transiting Saturn will hit her natal Neptune mid campaign which may things spinning off the rails.
At the time of the next Presidential election she will have SA Jupiter opposite her natal Sun & Midheaven which signifies luck, success and recognition, her SA Moon conjunct her natal Sun also giving her illuminated achievements and a female initiated influence. Her Solar Arc Pluto will be sextile natal Jupiter which is fortunate and hints at some sort of influential position. Solar Arc Venus will be opposite natal Uranus which gives excitement and a sense of being appreciated. All together, these are a very fortunate set of Solar Arc transits all hitting at the same time. It bodes well for her. Oh yes, one more aspect for you to consider. On the date of the next Presidential election, transiting Saturn will be exactly trine the US natal Venus, the sign of a female influence on the administration of the country perhaps?
Having looked at all the three main candidates, I am siding to the view that Michele will be involved in some way in the shake-up in the end, but maybe not as the Presidential candidate herself. I am leaning the way that she may be possible vice-president material, possibly to Mitt Romney as the main challenger to Obama, and as a pay off to the tea party supporters who’s influence now have a firm hold within Republican circles. There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge, however Nov 2012 may turn out to be a highlight time for Michele whatever happens.
I’ve been trying to work out over the past few weeks how all this American debt crisis was going to pan out. Finally late last night the lawmakers in the Republican lead House of Representatives and Democratic Senate finally thrashed out some sort of deal, raising the already sky high debt ceiling in the US another $2.4 trillion dollars to an almighty $14.3 trillion. In return, the US government deficit will be cut by the same amount over a 10 year period in a plan to be cut by a unified Republican and Democratic committee. By finally biting the bullet, but delaying the deep cuts that the US does need, somebody somewhere is going to pay a heavy price and the people are going to get rather upset by it all.
The outer planets always have a major effect on national charts, but because they move so slowly, you don’t see the results of what have been going on for some considerable time, effectively until the damage has firmly been done and a crisis point comes along. This is especially true of Neptune, who I feel is the real culprit for the financial crisis which has been going on. From 1992 Neptune has been transiting through the US second house, the house of money and national finance. Neptune in the second gives one artificial financial optimism, a false sense of security as danger and financial meltdown lurks around the corner. Neptune here is so deceptive, allowing illegal or wholly inappropriate practises to go on while covering up the truth. The first signs of Neptune’s rather nasty effects came with the dot com crash. At the time Neptune was making it’s way through the early stages of the 2nd house, Uranus, the planet of technology, also entered the 2nd in 1995 for a 6-7 year stay. In that time, dot com investment was on a free for all surge until finally in 2000 the market peaked. As Uranus ended it’s stay in the 2nd house finally exiting in Feb 2002, the markets crashed wiping off in total $5 trillion from the value of US companies. Admittedly the 9/11 attack did not help matters, but the jitters in the markets had started way before that incident.
In 1997, as transiting Neptune conjunct the US natal Pluto in the 2nd house that the present crisis started to form. Now 14 years on, you can see it so clearly. Excessive (Pluto) dodgy dealing and false optimism (Neptune) in the housing market (2nd house of personal possessions). The US house prices and speculation on them went out of control – the dot com bubble, the housing bubble – bubbles are so Neptunian in form, they float away looking all pretty and perfect, then suddenly “bang” they burst, and reality really hits home.
That bang in the US chart was created by transiting Pluto which entered administrative Capricorn in October 2008 (I use the US Sibly chart with a free and easy expansive Sagittarius ascendant). In life when you make a mess, you need the dustman (or garbage man for my American readers) to come along to clean things up. In astrology, we have Pluto to do that job. When Neptune makes a proper mess of things, Pluto comes along afterwards, chucks away what is rotten and not needed and then cleans up so that one can start afresh. Pluto restricts, destroys & reforms everything in it’s path, creating space for new growth to form.
Back to recent history. Pluto entering in Capricorn from the first house began to square the US Midheaven at 1 Libra, to oppose the US Venus at 3 Cancer and to have an immediate effect. The US national reputation went through the floor and the effect on Venus was devastating. Venus more than any planet is associated with possessions and personal money; the US Venus sits in the 7th house of dealings with other countries and that Venus squares the US Midheaven – there is a inherent link. We can say for sure that the state of the US finances affects not only the national reputation of the country as a whole, but also affects the world around the US too. The old saying goes that when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. As Pluto moved closer and closer to natal Venus, the financial crisis deepened, culminating in early 2009 as Pluto hit 3 Capricorn when the full extent of the housing crash was exposed. That contagion spread not only through the US, but through the world too. It is interesting also to note that the crash was caused by speculation on the housing market and the exposure of the dirty dealings due to the influence of Pluto. Speculation is seen through Jupiter, Sagittarius and also the 5th house and Venus through Taurus just rules the cusp of the 5th house. Venus is itself conjunct Jupiter on the natal chart and with a Sagittarian ascendant, an inextricable link and weakness in the US natal chart between financial problems and speculation. These problems have happened before and they will surface again.
Now, if the people of America think that the problems are now over, they’d better think twice. The budget agreement was passed as transiting Saturn (which rules the US financial 2nd house with Capricorn on the cusp) was exactly sextile to the US ascendant. A plan (Saturn) to restrict the growth of the US (Sagittarius on Ascendant) and in so doing cut the debt (Capricorn on cusp of 2nd). Transiting Saturn is going to conjunct it’s own position towards the end of this month, which I fear will bring even more gloomy financial news to the fore, and to top this Pluto has not yet done with it’s opposition to natal Jupiter. Jupiter as we know rules the US chart and by November Pluto will be making it’s last pass over 5:56 Capricorn in exactly opposing it. At that time, the cuts plan will be implemented but will they be hitting the right areas of the American economy? One thing I do know is that Pluto does not do half measures. These cuts are going to hurt ending probably with substantial tax raises on the way for many Americans, and with Uranus having recently entered the 4th house of opposition, watch out for disputes and action on a scale not seen in the US for a long time. The free market rebels (Uranus) to the administration will be out in force. This Uranus is going to cause a lot of discontent.
Moving back to Pluto, she will then move on to approach her next target, to oppose the US Sun in 2014. The Sun represents the President of the United States – now that’s a interesting subject for a future post!!!
**** Update 21st Nov 11****
Didn’t quite call this one right. Time wise I was spot on, but Pluto can mean restriction and blockage as well as transformation, and in this case the so called super committee pulled together to implement a cuts plan could not agree and thus blockage and deadlock has ensued. Uranus is showing it’s hand via the Occupy Wall Street protest, and I can see this escalating as the ineptitude of lawmakers yet exacerbate the financial problems in America. Looks like Obama is going to have to put his foot down and force the issue. It’s gonna be a long hard winter in Washington…
Over the pond in America, the debt debate is raiding it's ugly head as well as in Europe. As I understand it, the federal budget runs out on 2nd August and unless they lawmakers in America and the President agree a new budget or the President signs an extension to the current agreements in place, then the US will effectively run out of cash and will be defaulting on it’s current debts. Obama and his Democratic lead Senate wants to introduce a package which include $4 trillion of cuts but if the Republican lead house of Representatives does not play ball, then the President may be forced to raise the government’s debt ceiling as a temporary measure, obviously something he does not wish to do.
This debate goes back to 30th November last year when Obama forced through a pay freeze for federal workers, a measure to trim the huge federal deficit. Astrologically at that time Saturn was almost exactly conjunct the US natal Saturn. Saturn on the US natal chart is found at 14 degrees Libra in the 10th house of government and Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) sits on the cusp of the 2nd house of finance indicating that movements of Saturn will directly affect the US money supply. Saturn natally squares the natal Sun, showing the constant battles between the Government (Saturn) and the President (Sun). This aspect will always be a thorn in the side of both, no matter what parties or persuasions of the two factions. This conflict is inbuilt into the US chart and forever the animosity will be.
Moving onto April 1st and a raging debate over spending cuts and disagreements over a new budget pushed the US to within two hours of a government shutdown. Saturn, now moving retrograde had returned to 14 degrees Libra conjunct the US natal Saturn. This time Saturn is approaching it’s final pass of 14 degrees Libra before moving through for a final time as it continues it’s journey around the zodiac, returning back to this spot in 28 years time. Yet again, disagreements between the President and the Senate have flared up, and this time Saturn will hit 14 Libra towards the end of August. This says to me that the President will have to raise debt levels before an agreement will finally be thrashed out towards the end of next month. This agreement will have a lasting impact on the US economy, and we will see the ramifications of what they agree in around 7 years time when transiting Saturn squares it’s natal position.
President Obama’s birth certificate was published by the White House today to allay fears by some Republicans, in Particular Donald Trump that he was actually born outside the US. The situation astrologically was caused by Neptune in the past couple of months being square to Barack’s natal Midheaven. Neptune has been transiting through Barack’s first house of personal identity causing confusion (Neptune) about his public position (Midheaven). Obama shocked people with this act and looking at the chart, transiting Uranus is trine to his natal Mercury and his Midheaven bringing unexpected (Uranus) news (Mercury) about his right to do his job (Midheaven). By looking at extended house rulership, Uranus rules the chart and his projection to the world with Aquarius on his ascendant. Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo which on the 5th and 8th house cusps. This was a carefully assessed risk (5th house) to expose his origins (1st house) in order to change other peoples views (8th house).
Please also see Barack Obama’s natal chart analysis at the following link
Barack Obama - The astrology of the President
With just hours just to go, the deadlock over spending cuts between the Republicans and the Democrats in the US House of representatives is on course to derail a budget agreement. If they fail to agree one by midnight on the 8th April, the US will shut down, Government employees will be laid off, the military will stop being paid and even national parks will close. I look at the natal chart of the United States to try and see what is going on astrologically.
There has always been a debate over which chart to use for America as the actual time of the formation of the US is not officially known. I use the US Sibly chart for July 4th 1776 at 17.10hrs in Philadelphia. It gives a Sagittarius ascendant which is the embodiment of the American dream, big wide and expansive. Think of the importance of the motto of the US “in God we trust” – this phrase could only be Sagittarian in my eyes. Think of the wild west, the great outdoors, hunting, fishing – all Sagittarian. Think of the optimism which is so part of the American psyche. With Sagittarius ruling the chart, this brings Pluto into the second house, and we see the intense interest in the finance of big business. Pluto is in Aries and here is the enthusiasm and go ahead attitude to investment in stocks and shares. The Moon in the third house shows the importance of transport on the US, everyone has a car, and I mean everyone. The automobile was developed in the US after all.
The Moon is in Taurus, reflecting the easy going and somewhat conservative nature of the American public. Uranus in the 6th points to independent healthcare, something President Obama has been trying to reform. A full 7th house in Cancer including the Sun and Mars sitting here show that the inclination of the US is to protect it’s homeland and there will be an insular nature to the country, however whether the United States likes it or not, foreign policy will always dictate Government policy – shown by the square to Saturn in the 10th. Mars in this house shows that the military will always be on call to go abroad and sort out world problems. Jupiter and Venus together show a “joie de vivre”, a love of life and freedom for women. American culture and big values will be exported out around the world, reinforced by the square to the Midheaven.
Mercury in the eight shows opposite Pluto shows a media fascination big finance and business, also with the reporting of the macabre or scandalous stories – this is the Scorpio house of death and the unexplained. Neptune in the ninth house shows the importance of belief and spirituality backing up the ascendant. Neptune is also conjunct the Midheaven and the one face we all know of the US is the TV and film industry ruled of course by Neptune. Neptune is square to Mars, there is great energy and charisma in American TV and filmmaking and in the international ninth house, these programmes and films are shown around the globe.
Finally we find Saturn in the 10th house. Government is taken very seriously, and the President, represented by the square to the Sun can have serious disagreement with the Senate and House of Representatives. This is a fundamental design of the American government system to keep the President in check, however as we see today it can lead to stalemate.
Right to matters in hand. The current transits reflect all that is going on and more. Transiting Saturn is conjunct natal Saturn and square the Sun. Here we see the Government (Saturn) at odds with itself (Saturn always make you stop and think) and at the same time it holds the President (Sun) in check. Capricorn ruled by Saturn is on the cusp of the second house, so we know that this blockage will be about the nation’s finances. Transiting Pluto which also has an influence in this chart on the money supply, is opposite the Jupiter/Venus conjunction. Jupiter rules the chart through Sagittarius, so the nation as a whole will be affected. Jupiter can also be seen as an indicator of the nations wealth, being strangled by this Pluto opposition. Uranus is opposing the US midheaven from the 4th house of the official opposition, as well as transiting Jupiter and the Sun form the same house opposing Saturn, so one could safely say that rebels in the Republican party are to blame for the problems going on. Saturn is still retrograde for a couple of months and Pluto does not move quickly so I can see this situation dragging on for a while unless they can find a last minute solution.
Looking at the Solar Arcs, there are worrying aspects just around the corner. Solar Arc Mars is very close to a trine to Saturn which is aggressive and warlike. Mars rules the 4th house through Aries on the cusp and Capricorn is on the second so this could involve a more internal struggle over money rather than military conflict. More worryingly SA Saturn is approaching conjunction in the autumn with natal Uranus which sounds accident prone. Uranus rules the 3rd house through Aquarius, so this incident or incidents could be transport based. SA Pluto is approaching a square with natal Mars which is either very stuck or hugely destructive. This combination of solar arcs due to coincide in September/October definitely indicate that something nasty is lying in wait in the coming months for the United States.
