Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Election day musings

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VOTE ANYWAYIt was just two years ago when, swept away by the excitement of the Saturn/Uranus opposition we elected the first African-American president who promised hope and change and a new America.  As one who didn’t much care for the Bush years, it was easy to hope and I figured anything would be a positive change.

I count myself in the 37% that still approves of Barack Obama.  Considering that he has presided over the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression, in my opinion he has done a remarkable job.  I wish he would get us out of Afghanistan, and I don’t think that health care reform should have been the first priority, but I think he’s handled the economic difficulties intelligently and that we are now seeing the results.

I think there’s no question though that the US government is broken and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.  When Pluto, the planet of destruction, entered the sign of governments and financial systems (Capricorn) it looked like the system might actually collapse.  This is something akin to a hospital patient who is rescued from a heart attack and then dies from MRSA – as long as the system is broken it remains in danger.

Pluto is still in Capricorn, so perhaps there is still hope: especially next year when Uranus in Aries challenges Pluto and there are minor revolutions going on in every corner.

The United States has been particularly affected astrologically because of the transit of Saturn and Pluto not only to the Midheaven of the chart (the point representing the national government), but also opposing Venus and Jupiter.  In fact, ever since Pluto crossed the ascendant of the US chart back in the year 2000 the country has been floundering.

When I was a kid in the 1950s my parents were extremely liberal and didn’t much like the Eisenhower government, but there was none of the vitriol that we see today in American politics.  I heard a news story today that there have been more negative attack ads in this campaign than ever in the history of campaigns.  Sadly, in this election cycle it seems to be the normally wimpy Democrats who have gone for the jugular.

The Cardinal Drama may be over, but don’t expect the US political scene to settle down any time soon.  Pluto is still at work in the US chart, and next March transiting Uranus (shock and awe, sudden change, revolution) will oppose the US Midheaven, moving into the fourth house.   The fourth house rules the American people: their sense of place, their national identity.  Astrologer Deb Houlding writes, “A malefic in this house may afflict the government through its opposition to the 10th House.”

I find it comforting to remember that life is always striving for balance.  It’s easy to become wrapped up in the political landscape and feel that it’s up to us to make change:  This is an illusion.  It’s up to us to keep our eyes open; to remain informed.  And then to trust that the Universe is unfolding in a way that may be mysterious, but is perfect all the same.

Lynn’s Skywatch is a day or two late this month.  If you’re not already on my mailing list and would like to receive a free report on astrological influences please sign up in the sidebar.

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Obama’s choice for the Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor

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Sonia SotomayorPresident Barack Obama just announced his pick for David Souter’s seat on the US Supreme Court:  Sonia Sotomayor.  Ms. Sotomayor would not only add another female voice to the Court, but she  would also be the first Hispanic to serve on the highest court of the land.

Originally appointed by President HW Bush, Ms.Sotomayor enjoys wide support on both the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle and was praised today by the President as someone with “a common touch and a sense of compasion.” A graduate of Princeton University and Yale University Law school, she grew up in the housing projects of the Bronx, New York, and is a second-generation woman of Puerto Rican heritage.

So who is Ms.Sotomayor?  Her astrological chart (born 6/25/1954, time unknown, Bronx NY) shows that she was born under the sign of Cancer which bestows a fierce love for family and a sense of pride for one’s ancestral roots.  Her Sun is in an extremely beneficial conjunction to Jupiter, the planet of expansion, optimism and abundance which is usually a signal of confidence and the success that results from a positive attitude.  Jupiter is also the planet that rules the law through an interest in shared thoughts and ideas, and clearly Ms. Sotomayor is well suited for the field of law.

This Sun/Jupiter conjunction is opposed by the planet Mars,a planetary combination which bestows a forceful personality that can be somewhat combative.  Ms. Sotomayor is obviously a hard worker with Mars (drive) in the responsible and success-oriented sign of Capricorn.  Her Mars forms a harmonious sextile to Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, which enhances her love of discipline and her ability to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Although Ms.Sotomayor’s Mercury (thoughts and the mental process) is in Cancer, which tends to signify an emotional thinker, her chart also contains a tight conjunction of Mercury to Uranus (innovation and change).  This shows that she is not afraid to embrace new ideas and explore new ways to solve old problems although the nurturing quality of the sign of Cancer will filter through every one of her decisions.  Mercury in her chart is retrograde, meaning it appeared to be moving backwards at the time that she was born.  In a natal chart that can signify someone who is less adept in the world of communication, and there is some criticism about Ms.Sotomayor’s ability to be able to clearly articulate legal details.

With four planets plus the South Node of the moon falling in the sign of Cancer, this is the strongest dynamic in her chart. Cancer people are sensitive and can be shy, but they will also fiercely protect their own – this includes not only their own people, but also their own ideas.  Anyone who underestimates the strength of the Cancer individual does so at their peril, because the tenacity of their claws can be astounding.

Ms. Sotomayor is going through a powerful transit of Pluto right now that is setting off the Mars/Sun opposition in her chart.  Transits of Pluto usually take us through cycles of tremendous change and transformation, and in this Pluto cycle began affecting her back in February of this year.  At the time that the announcement occurred Pluto was nearly exactly conjunct Mars in her chart.

From a broader viewpoint, the appointment of an Hispanic female to the Supreme Court marks a turning point for the identity of the nation as a whole.  Pluto (transformation) in Ms.Sotomayor’s chart exactly conjuncts Chiron (wounding and healing) in the US chart, signifying that she will be an instrument for healing the adjustment problems that have resulted from a changing population and resulting identity crisis in the United States.

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More thoughts on Obama and Neptune

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Barack ObamaI happened to watch CNN this afternoon while I was at the gym as they were discussing the appearance of President Obama at the commencement address.  Raymond Arroyo was a guest on the program, and he was shocked, SHOCKED! that President Obama had reversed his position on abortion from what he promised during the campaign.  Arroyo said that many Catholics voted for Obama because during the campaign Obama said that he wanted to see the number of abortions decrease, saying that this meant that Obama was against a woman’s right to choose.

Obama was very clear throughout his campaign that he was a pro-choice candidate, and he was endorsed by NARAL and other pro-choice groups.

This is an excellent example of how Obama’s natal Neptune/Sun square creates a Neptunian fog and illusion that can make it easy for others to see in Obama what they want to see.  This doesn’t make him deceptive; it simply means that he is an easy hook for others to hang their projections on.

I wrote about this phenomenon in an earlier post and compared it to my own natal Neptune/Sun and my experiences of being a target of the confusion of others.  There has been considerable hysteria among the astrology-savvy about Obama’s Neptune/Sun square that trickled down even into the comments of this usually very reasonable blog, especially during the election.  ”Obama is like Hitler.”  ”Obama is the Deceiver.”  ”Obama is Satan.”  There is already a full-length movie called “The Obama Deception.”

Astrologer Barry Perlman wrote eloquently last year about this phenomenon:

But when the Leo Sun squares Neptune, however, that purest light of ego-self (Sun) is interfered with by a mystifying cloud of fog we can only partially see through (Neptune)… leaving us to fill in specific blanks with what we wish to see, or what we wish not to see. Individuals born with a Sun-Neptune square often possess a hard-to-read quality, their sense of self somewhat obscured by context–who they’re with, what they’re trying to get across, how they’re feeling that day. Neptune, after all, seeks to dissolve ego boundaries, causing it to become less clear where another person actually ends… and where our own investments in who we imagine them to be (the good or the bad) begins.

There’s an inherent glamour and romance to Sun-Neptune people, in that we may pin our most idealistic imaginings onto the mysterious blank-slate in front of us. They appear larger than life (especially with a Leo Sun), able to rise above the common fray… and we wish for them to lift all of us up, too, on the wings of the faith we place in ‘em. Neptune promises such blissful transcendence from our daily woes, if only we can keep our faith intact.

Just as significantly, though, Neptune also tempts us to flirt with our own self-delusions. And as such, Sun-Neptune individuals often attract our suspicions just as readily as our admiration. Those not instantly drawn in by the promise of who the Sun-Neptune person might be–and unwilling to proceed on faith alone–may instead sleuth for hints of them being something wholly different than who they appear. Their sympathetic slipperiness of self is so quickly misunderstood as active deception, creating anxiety or paranoia aimed squarely at them… though, again, not necessarily based on who they actually are.

This kind of paranoia over the Neptune/Sun square is itself Neptune at work, creating confusion, illusion and delusion.  With Neptune square the Sun there is often a desire to sacrifice the Self for the good of the collective and this aspect is often found in the charts of people who dedicate their lives to the public,   Franklin D. Roosevelt , Bobby Kennedy and Sir Thomas More all had a Neptune/Sun square, and so did Maximilian Robespierre, engineer of the French Revolution.  It is also found in the charts of people who destroy themselves through their own illusion, such as Chris McCandless who wandered Into the Wild of Alaska and lost his life due to a romantic idea of survival.  The late River Phoenix and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who lost a large part of his life to mental illness, both have Neptune square the Sun.  But so did Franz Schubert and Jonathan Winters.

Planetary aspects manifest in an infinite number of ways, which is why a “cookbook” approach to learning astrology can only go so far.  One person with the Sun square Neptune will behave in one way, and yet we will find something completely different in another.  The Neptunian fog, however, does make it easy to project all of our hopes, dreams, and fears onto the Neptune individual which makes us the dangerous ones, not Neptune.

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Are the stars aligned to pass a health care bill?

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President Obama says that the stars are aligned to pass his health care agenda this year.  Well, we are in a unique position to see if the President is correct!  The House of Representatives pledged today to pass landmark health care legislation by July 31st.

Obama may be on to something.  The triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune will still be a tight formation as the three planets retrograde together within four degrees until early September, putting the pressure on all systems (psychological, social, governmental) to heal and evolve.  Saturn (convention) and Uranus (change) will no longer be in alignment, minimizing the partisan opposition that was so powerful from the fall into early in 2009 with the two were tightly in opposition.

Obama has interesting planetary cycles during the month of July that will assist him in passing legislation.  First is a square from Mars to Uranus in his chart – this can be a time of irritation and reckless behavior but it can also provide the pressure needed to stimulate change.  His progressed Sun makes an exact sextile to the Midheaven in his chart, the point where we express our Self in the public arena.  This is an extremely favorable event that signifies not only success, but also that the result will positively reflect on Obama’s public image.

It will be an interesting dance to design and implement a new health care design that serves the majority of Americans while not bleeding the treasuries even more.  But Saturn remains in Virgo, the sign of health care, through the end of the year so this is the time to make it happen!

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The Astrological State of the Union

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President Obama gave what was effectively his first State of the Union address last night when he addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.  The timing of the address is significant because planets in the astrological chart for the United States were being activated by the New Moon which occurred at 8:35 pm, shortly after President Obama began his address.

The New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon conjunct in the sky.  There is a fusion of the conscious mind (Sun) and the subconscious instincts (Moon), and New Moons are therefore said to be good times for new beginnings.

Countries have birthcharts just like people do, and we call the study of places and events “mundane” astrology, after the Latin word “mundo” which means “world.”  The astrological chart for the United States (astrologers, I use the Sibley chart for reasons discussed here) contains a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter (the two benefics, or fortunate planets) to the Sun (the Spirit of the country) in the seventh house of partnership which signifies a strong sense of optimism and desire to form positive alliances.  This combination of beneficial influences, combined with an expansive and optimistic Sagittarius ascendant, bestows the idealism for which the United States is known.

However, the restrictive planet Saturn forms a square (a challenging aspect) to the Sun, suggesting periods of deflation will be required when the idealism and expansiveness becomes too great.  Hence we find periods of extreme economic boom times, followed by panic and deflation (more on this in a later post).

Last night’s New Moon formed a trine to that Seventh House Venus and Jupiter in the US chart, activating the desire to come together and feel optimistic again about the direction the country is taking.  Most polls show a nearly overwhelming rise in support for Obama’s plans to move the country forward.

Astrologers use a forecasting technique in which the birthchart is progressed through time, revealing the evolving moods and character of the individual or nation.  Last night’s New Moon fell exactly on the Sun in the US progressed chart, so this is clearly a new start for the mood of the nation.  However, the US progressed Moon has been facing off against the progressed Sun since just after the election, and therefore also opposed last night’s New Moon.   The Moon represents our desire for security, and this dynamic shows resistance to any new plans, and a desire to adhere to the status quo.

Both the Sun and the Moon in the US progressed chart form a challenging aspect (a square) to Uranus, the planet of shock and awe.  Radical change is desired by the Sun squaring Uranus, but the Moon tends to retreat into a nest of safety when challenged by change.  This dynamic is mirrored in the opposition in the sky between Saturn (conservative values, the established order) and Uranus.

Clearly the US is experiencing a pull between these two forces. Uranus in the sky is completing a square to the US Mars, one of the forces that has generated such a tremendous desire for change at all costs.  But now we have Saturn is forming a square to the US Mars, putting the brakes on any efforts to move ahead with these plans for change.  With Saturn we are two steps forward, one step back, and sometimes we find ourselves taking three steps back instead.  However, transiting Chiron is forming a trine to the US Mars, which is giving us as a nation an opportunity to heal from the inside out while we formulate a new direction.

Transiting Pluto begins a challenging cycle to Venus in the US chart in a few weeks, which could go several ways.  Pluto creates endings and new beginnings, but can also intensify alliances and transform relationships.  We could see people within the country coming together in order to wage a battle with the nation’s enemies.  We could see a continued splintering within the country.  It’s really our choice – at all times, we have free will.

Jupiter events create opportunities and good luck, and there is no shortage of these opportunities for the United States this year.  Jupiter will retrograde later in the year which expands its influence since it will spend even more time forming harmonious aspects to Mars in the US chart (energy,confidence, and the ability to defend itself) and progressed Venus (the way relationships are formed, the kinds of alliances that we make as a country, the way we work together).  There is potential for healing as well this year, as Jupiter harmonizes with the US Chiron.

The United States is at an astrological crossroads.  The US progressed Mars turned retrograde last year, and is searching for a new direction.  Pluto, god of transformation, has been challenging the US Midheaven, the point of public perception.  The qualities that gave the US its power over the past 400 years will not work for the next 400, and the nation will have to adapt.  Economic systems are changing and becoming much more tenuous and fluid as they go global.  Traditional social systems are weakening and require a new way of looking at the way humans form families and cultural groups.  As a people we must become more lithe and limber so that we can adapt to the changing collective, or we will not survive the 21st century.  This is not a time to look back and long for the conservative values of the 1950s – those days are over.  There is a new day dawning, and we will have to be ready for it.

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In the field of astrological study known as “mundane astrology,” events and countries also have birthcharts that can be analyzed. The chart for Inauguration Day is also the chart for the Obama administration, because it is the moment of birth of the new government.  Although many astrologers have called for a change of the time of the Inauguration to permit the Moon to enter Sagittarius and thereby avoid the dreaded “Void of Course” period, the Noon time is mandated by the twentieth Amendment of the Constitution and would require an act of Congress to change.

I am less concerned by the Moon being void of course (making no aspects to another planet) than I am interested in the fact that the Moon on Inauguration Day sits right on the Midheaven of Barack Obama’s chart.  The Moon here represents the heart of the People, and it sits on the point where Obama fulfills his desire to serve the People (the Midheaven shows not only career, but where we fulfill the destiny of our Life Path).  He certainly begins his term with the full support of the American people: his approval rating is somewhere between 75 and 80%.  That is not surprising given the fact that transiting Jupiter is conjunct Jupiter in Obama’s chart, something we call the “Jupiter Return” that is associated with abundance and good things.

The Inauguration Day chart has a triple conjunction of Mercury, the Sun and Jupiter in Aquarius, all sitting right on Jupiter in Obama’s chart.  Jupiter here brings its expansion of opportunities to the realm of ideas (Mercury) and the very essence of the Administration (Sun) which is very auspicious.  These planets also oppose Obama’s Mercury, however, which suggests that there will be a necessity for him to make adjustments in the way he has thought about the issues of the day.  In the Inauguration chart, the Aquarius planets all sit in the Tenth House of Government which reflects the desire for rational thought and reason to be incorporated into Governmental affairs. The sign on the Midheaven, though, identifying the nature of the new government, is Capricorn.  This will be a disciplined and hard-working administration, putting the new Aquarian ways of thinking into a structured Capricornian form.

Another challenge for Obama will be the conjunction of Saturn in the Inauguration chart to his own Mars, indicating frustration (Saturn) in his being able to accomplish his goals and desires (Mars).  Uranus is involved here as well, opposing Mars in his chart and creating a restless desire to make changes that are likely to be thwarted by Saturn, but Venus is there too, creating alliances that assist in the process of change.  This conflict between the Uranian urge for change and the delays and disappointments of Saturn is likely to be less difficult for someone like Obama, who has a cool and reasoned way to approach these matters, than a more impulsive president who would chafe under Saturn’s restrictions rather than discover a way to bridge the gap between the limitations of Saturn and the inspiration for change of Uranus.

Transiting Pluto begins a two-year opposition to Venus in Obama’s chart (it approached within a degree back in 2008 during the pastor fiasco over Jeremiah Wright), and that signature is forever embedded in the Inauguration chart which will rule the next four years of the administration.  This suggests conflict with people whom Obama supposes to be allies, and the destruction of old alliances and creation of new ones.  This could be a challenge for “No Drama Obama,” who dislikes this kind of conflict and cherishes partnerships of long standing that are more effective and better able to get things done.

Chiron (the Wounded Healer) in the Inauguration chart sits right on the Ascendant of Obama’s chart.  His activities in government will have a deep and lasting effect on him that may be painful at times and act as a poultice for any of his unresolved feelings of identity confusion to arise to the surface where they must be healed. In this respect he becomes an archetype for the healing of these issues on a national scale as well.  What is America?  Who are Americans?  These are unanswered questions that will need to be answered in the Obama Administration.

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And now, we move forward…

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new-dayphoto by Jo Lidbetter

Barack Obama will be our first president born with Pluto in Virgo.  The past two presidents, Bill Clinton and George W Bush, were both from the Pluto in Leo generation, embodying the best and the worst of my generation’s noble ideals and self-centered execution.  Previously we had George Bush I, from the Pluto in Cancer generation, and before him Ronald Reaganhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif represented the Pluto in Gemini generation.

Pluto was in Virgo from 1956 through 1971, marking a shift from the grandiose dreams and obsessive expression of self that was the hallmark of the Pluto in Leo generation.  Of course those of us IN the Pluto in Leo generation don’t see our generation that way.  To us, we are the greatest generation because we inspired great things.  But Virgo is a very different sign and has a strong dislike for the pretensions of Leo.

As I wrote last year:

The Leo nature doesn’t have much thought for the future – it is anchored in the present and a need for pleasure and fun. Virgo, on the other hand, has a tendency to worry about the adequacy of available funds and planning for the future. Where Virgo is willing to work long hours toward a goal, Leo is more concerned with doing work that will allow the fullest expression of oneself. Where Leo seeks to express the Ego in the most perfect way, Virgo has an intense dislike of Ego expression, and herein lies the deepest difficulty between the two generations.

Molly Hall has a great article today harvesting the Pluto in Virgo language from Obama’s acceptance speech la night:

A new generation is coming into power with the election of Barack Obama for President. The Pluto in Virgo group (born 1956 to 1971) seeks to transform society through grassroots change, helping others, healing systems that are broken. I heard Pluto Virgo in his acceptance speech, when he talked about a new spirit of sacrifice and a new spirit of service.

It’s also in the sober way he describes what lies ahead”  But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand. The world wants a ‘less arrogant’ America, a perception that reached its pinnacle with the Pluto in Leo era (Clinton, Bush). Obama’s victory speech was full of humility, inclusiveness…and the longed for return of reality-based promises. It’s not going to be easy, as we still face the breakdown of structures and systems. But by electing this Pluto in Virgo President, there’s a chance for America to express her power with the common good of the world in mind.

I am one Pluto in Leo person that is ready to turn over the reins of power to the next generation to see what they will do with it.  Pluto in Virgo is thrifty and cautious and while the Pluto in Virgo folks may not be the most visionary generation in the world, they will be excellent stewards of the planets for the generations to follow.

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Obama’s Grandmother Has Died

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Barack Obama’s grandmother Madelyn Dunham, the woman who raised him for most of his formative years, has died in Hawaii.  I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the transit of the South Node over Obama’s Sun as an event that was significant here, but another transit coinciding with this event is the exact conjunction of transiting Chiron to Obama’s progressed Moon ever since the beginning of October.  The Moon represents our emotions and the women in our lives, as well as those that nurture us and whom we nurture.

I know our thoughts and prayers go out to Obama and his family at this time that is so sad and so exciting at the same time.

This may be a good time to mention that the State of Hawaii has confirmed the veracity of Obama’s birth certificate.

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The 2008 Election: The Generation Gap

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The US Presidential Election this year has been a battle between the Pluto in Cancer generation (John McCain), the Pluto in Leo generation (Hillary and Bill Clinton) and the Pluto in Virgo generation (Barack Obama).  Back in February I covered this in an article about the Clinton/Obama contest as a referendum between the early (Pluto in Leo) and late (Pluto in Virgo) boomers.  The passion of the feelings in the comments on this earlier article reveal the intensity of the conflict between these two generations.  (Note:  obviously these are generalizations about a demographic group as a whole.  Within these groups individuals find their own exprssion.)

The Clintons were central to a powerful Democratic political machine that was centered on loyalty and a politics of personality – hallmarks of the Pluto in Leo generation.  Although I am counted among that generation, I have to admit that there is truth to the blame that the early boomer (Leo) generation gets for being narcissistic and self-absorbed.  These are negative traits of Leo, but there are also positive ones:  generosity, inspiration, creativity and open-mindedness.  The Clinton era has reflected all of the traits of Pluto in Leo, both positive and negative.  But the strongest Leonine traits of the politics of both Clintons has been a powerful sense of pride and entitlement,  Politico reports:

The former president is disappointed, associates said, because he is eager to speak about the economy and more broadly about Democratic ideas — emphasizing the contrast between the Bush years and his own record in the 1990s.

This is an especially sore point for Bill Clinton, people close to him say, because among many grievances he has about the campaign Obama waged against his wife is a belief that the candidate poor-mouthed the political and policy successes of his two terms.

Pluto in Leo has a hard time turning over the spotlight.

On the other hand, we have Barack and Michelle Obama, Pluto in Virgo types.  Virgo tends to shy away from expressions of ego and doesn’t care much for Leo, and the Pluto in Virgo generation bears a fair amount of resentment against the egotism of the Pluto in Leo older brothers and sisters.  But often this resentment obscures the understanding that it was the boldness and vision of Pluto in Leo that started the wheels of change turning.  As a generation, Pluto in Virgo (1956-1971) has been the beneficiary of many of the changes that the Pluto in Leo generation, with their search for pleasure and freedom, sought to implement.

Then there’s John McCain representing Pluto in Cancer (1913-1939) - the generation that sacrificed everything for family and country, both under Cancer rulership.  This generation, as a whole, did not question authority or seek to pursue their own dreams as they lived through two World Wars.  Cancer’s main focus is on security and emotional safety, and they may have a greater tendency than other generations to relate best to people that are most like them (Cancer is rooted in tribal affiliations).

With the transition of Pluto into Capricorn, change is afoot.  Those who embrace change will vote for the new guy.  Those who fear it will retreat to the safety of the past and vote for the old one.

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Psychology, Rush Limbaugh and the Faith Forum

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John McCain/Barack Obama

John McCain/Barack Obama

With Pluto making its final swing through Sagittarius where it has transformed (Pluto) all aspects of the way we construct our theology of the meaning of life (Sagittarius), Obama and McCain joined televangelist Rick Warren for what may be the first of its kind forum for US Presidential candidates.  The fact that candidates feel it is important to share their faith with the country is an unusual development in itself, as this has not in the past been a highlight of Presidential campaigns.  John F Kennedy, famously the first Catholic candidate, minimized the importance of faith in his campaign.  Even Ronald Reagan, darling of the Religious Right, rarely attended church before he was in the White House, during or afterwards, though privately he was said to be devout in his adherence to the Bible.

Reading the candidate’s answers to the questions posed about issues like abortion and faith and the responses in the news from left-wing and right-wing media, I draw this conclusion:  Those on the right side of the aisle prefer a black and white approach to life, while those on the left prefer shades of gray and nuance.  Left-wing bloggers criticized McCain’s pat and rehearsed responses to pastor Rick Warren’s questions, while those on the right admired his clear and concise answers.  Conservative writers found Obama’s answers confusing and evasive, while more liberal writers extolled the virtues of his thoughtful and considered approach to the issues.

I’ll step out on a limb here and suggest that those with more conservative views are more security-minded and dislike change, so the lack of a strong stance that’s rooted in established tradition might be frightening.  On the other hand, more liberal thinkers would have a greater tolerance for the unknown, and in fact a greater enthusiasm for change and something new that requires consideration and deliberation in order to come to an intelligent conclusion.  Some viewers even said Obama was “too thoughtful.”

As astrologers, we often see the more extreme ideologies when there are inner conflicts between astrological signatures of conservatism (predominance of earth signs, Saturn) and signatures of liberal mindedness (air signs, Uranus).  That inner struggle between safety and security and more innovative thinking often results in an individual who becomes dogmatic on the right wing, or angrily rebellious on the left.

This is particularly true with those of us who have strong squares between Saturn and Uranus in our chart such as my own compatriots from the early 1950s. Rush Limbaugh is one of those, with a nearly exact square between Saturn and Uranus, Aquarius, the innovator, is rising in his chart so in some ways you might expect Rush to tilt more to the left.  But with the Sun in Capricorn and Saturn opposite the Moon, that conservative bent won the battle between the two ideologies.  But more important, the opposition between Mars in Aquarius and Pluto shows an obsession with power that makes the conservative mind view much more comfortable than a more liberal perspective which Rush deems “weak.”

After eight years of a president who famously “doesn’t do nuance,” I personally think a president who actually thinks through issues and considers them carefully would be a welcome change. But that has nothing to do with astrology and is just my opinion.

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