This morning after the Michigan and Mississippi primary voting while I was managing my anxiety over the thought of a Donald Trump presidency, I had a positive realization.
While Trump has won many primaries, he rarely gets a true majority of votes due to the large number of candidates running for the Republican ticket. While that fact has helped Trump and, to some, hurt the Republican Party, it also represents an important fact.
Americans don’t want to be divided in half and called “Democrat” or “Republican.”
Amongst my friends and associates I’m quite familiar with the response that politically one’s views have a little of both parties. This year’s election may indicate my friends and associates are representative of the whole.
This is great news to an astrologer that studies polarities and cycles and shies away from the constant dualism created as false choices. American dualism may be coming to an end . . .
What comes after the dualism?
Astrology teaches about cycles and the balance of polarities represented by elements (fire, earth, air and water) and modes (cardinal, fixed and mutable).
Your horoscope contains all the signs of the zodiac as does the horoscope of everyone you know. We’re all the same!
What’s different about each of us is the force and play of where the planets are placed in that 360-degree zodiac. Those planets may get along, or they may not. You may struggle with work while others struggle with relationship. You may find financial management as easy as breathing and others may find it an abstract and confusing mess of numbers that have nothing to do with the loaf of bread on my table.
It may be time for a new American political system and the ancient art of astrology is definitely the creative solution.
Definitely.
The Current Astrological Situation
Currently we have four candidates across the two parties that are rising to the top in the primaries. Here’s how they shake out element-wise looking at the sun sign (our active nature):
The four candidates have three of the four elements but we are missing fire. To find the fire that we see in the news, we need to go to the moon sign (our reactive nature).
Since there’s no overlap with sun and moon signs, we have eight of the twelve signs present. We’re only missing Taurus (earth), Cancer (water), Leo (fire) and Aquarius (air). Three of those signs are what we call fixed (Taurus, Leo and Aquarius). Scorpio is the fourth fixed sign. We have a lack of fixed energy in this election, a mode normally sought by the American electorate. Our culture is changing.
Fire
We can see how the moon-in-fire candidates (Trump and Sanders) were not expected to do so well but have prevailed through the ability of fire to create excitement and, as we see in this election, anger. Fire also represents hope and optimism. Let’s hope that “hope” arises sooner than later. But since fire-sign (Leo) Barack Obama used that word in his campaigns, hope may be off the list of adjectives for this election cycle.
Earth
Sanders and Cruz are the earth signs which are serious, responsible and practical. As you’d expect, your earth signs are good at providing the detail and reasons behind their beliefs. Usually those beliefs stem from practical concerns and often your “rags to riches” stories come from this element. Earth is heavy so is not as exciting as fire or air. But remember, you build houses from earth, not fire, air or water.
Air
Trump is the last air sign standing. Air is an element not really discernable to the naked eye. You need it for life (as you need the other elements), but you can’t hold it or store it (as with fire). Air is intellectual, social, gossipy and concerned with images. Trump is the best of air and fire (which feed each other) which creates and sustains the zeitgeist. Since Trump’s air sun constantly feeds his fire moon, he is a self-sustaining energy system.
Water
Clinton is water, water everywhere. Water is sensitive, emotional and intuitive. Don’t be surprised if she truly feels although she’s got that self-centered Mars/Pluto/Saturn conjunction in Leo (which is fire). Water, like earth, isn’t as motivating as air and fire although it makes for great therapists, spiritualists and psychics. But offering to understand and share pain with others isn’t as much fun as creating images for the self.
The Astrological Four-Element Political System
As we examine the flaws of having only one or two candidates who most likely have no astrological elemental balance as evidenced by their desire to control the world as president of the United States, we need to expand the system to contain more individuals so there is true representation for an increasingly diverse electorate.
While there are many details to work out, the ideal Astrological Four-Element Political System would have not two candidates on each ticket but four – one from each of the astrological elements so that there is complete balance.
So instead of just president and vice-president, we can tack on a vice-vice president and vice-vice-vice president. Later we can find appropriate titles for these extra two candidates.
The four candidates would represent the four elements – fire, earth, air and water. The candidates don’t need to have sun in these elements if they can prove they have a horoscope with a preponderance of an energy that provides balance for the four-person ticket.
There can be any number of these four-candidate groups running for the executive office which can be renamed the Balanced Elements of the United States. Since each group is balanced, no one loses when one group is chosen over another. My group may look different than your group, but all groups are balanced. With all four elements present, conflicts will work themselves out naturally.
If the air sign wanders off, then the earth can take over. When earth gets too boring discussing the nitty gritty of the tax code, fire can come in to motivate. When fire becomes overbearing, the water signs can listen to complaints. When water compiles the complaints, air will become interested again.
The Balanced Elements of the United States prevent self-destruction and authoritarianism through a natural cycle of give and take.
Let’s elect the Balanced Elements of the United States for president, vice president, vice-vice president and vice-vice-vice president.
Then a day or two later entering an interview with Anderson Cooper, Kasich was humble and vulnerable, openly admitting of his desire to please. The vulnerability looked great on him and, once again, I was Ohio proud.
The next day nursing my hangover with a couple espressos, visions of a Kasich past arose in my mind. My first exposure to Kasich was in the early 1990s when he was Ohio’s 12th District Congressman. Images arose of an irascible, insensitive Kasich with speech patterns more reminiscent of Bernie Sanders. When Congressman Kasich published a book in 1998, I was sure, as pundit Cokie Roberts would say, that Kasich had the presidential seal of the United States shaved into his chest. His ambition was palpable.
Today I’m finding Kasich’s long trajectory to the presidential run a bit touching and nostalgic. Today our candidates don’t feel the need to spend much time laying railroad track before riding the presidential train. A month or two in the Senate is all that is needed. Or maybe not that much.
Presidential Kasich is a bear gentler than in the past. Is this posturing or is this real?
Earth Sign Kasich
Patience is the hallmark of earth signs and Kasich has both sun (in Taurus) and moon (in Capricorn) in earth signs. Although being a “career politician” took on a bad reputation during the 1990s (or was it the 1980s?), that Kasich spent time with actual political responsibilities and produced actual results before applying for president is quite refreshing right now.
In addition to sun in fixed earth sign Taurus, Kasich also has Jupiter and Venus in that sign. At heart, Kasich is a steady and habit-oriented soul.
Moon in Capricorn is in detriment – that means the moon doesn’t like being in this sign. The moon likes to react and express while Capricorn forces the moon to hold it all in. Because Capricorn moon is master at controlling its emotions it doesn’t tolerate much in the way of emotion from others. That makes it a less-than-compassionate playmate at times.
But with that emotional reserve, moon in Capricorn is great at command and authority. Capricorn loves respect and seeks it from birth. This is the moon placement that becomes crossing guard in elementary school before it branches to all other forms of authority in later life (teachers, cops, politicians, managers, etc.).
Trump, with a chart full of unpredictable fire and air, is drawing out a characteristic that is truly more a personality trait of the newly-humble Kasich at the end of the stage.
Kasich’s (recent) past aggressive speech patterns stem from his Mercury in Aries (Bernie Sanders has moon in Aries which provides similar results). Currently transiting Uranus is in Aries which will add unpredictable outbursts to an already Aries impulsiveness toward speech. Uranus is still out of orb of Kasich’s Mercury so that will come later.
That Kasich is able to control Mercury in Aries during this election cycle is truly remarkable and also speaks to his strong earth sign chart which contains discipline and self-control.
A Huggable Kasich?
Currently Pluto, the great transforming planet, is passing through Capricorn. Without knowing Kasich’s time of birth, we can’t be sure when this transit will have the most influence on his moon.
Pluto transiting moon in Capricorn will attempt to transform this controlling placement of the moon. For Kasich, it also squares Saturn/Neptune in Libra, Uranus in Cancer and Mercury in Aries.
This grand square of cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn) is the relationship square. Aries is self, Libra other, Cancer family and Capricorn career. These are the different ways you interact with folks on earth and the square suggests that for Kasich it’s never been easy to truly feel connected to others.
Possibly Kasich sought a life in politics through a desire to master personal relationships?
If Pluto does its work, you feel loss and void followed by a sense of transformed self. Pluto moves you to the next chapter in your life. You wake one day and wondered how and when you crossed the gulf.
So is Kasich truly the more vulnerable man we see on television?
Astrologically it’s believable that events in his life have made him more compassionate and open to expressing vulnerability. For Capricorn moon, this is very, very difficult.
Pluto rarely comes without trial and pain because we’ve all adapted (called our “personality”) and making changes to that coding is never easy.
If this transformation is real, then it was probably preceded by some family outbursts (Uranus in Cancer), disappointments in partnership (Saturn/Neptune in Libra) and possibly a verbal confrontation (Mercury in Aries).
Transiting Neptune is in Pisces which can also lighten a heavy soul. That planet creates a cozy water trine to Kasich’s natal Uranus in Cancer and Mars in Scorpio. Water can bring tears, another uncomfortable event for moon in Capricorn. Do we have a crying Kasich?
A true test, I suppose, would be a full-frontal assault by the Donald. Kasich survived some early assaults (Ohio is doing well because it struck oil), but hasn’t had the full brunt of this intensely mean and nasty election process.
If the mean and nasty gets personal, will Kasich continue to control himself?
If the Columbus Ballet Met director is correct, that humans seek the arts to reflect our humanity back upon ourselves, then Eugene O’Neill’s play Long Day’s Journey into Nightreflects our self-pity.
While watching this long journey into unproductive regret and delusional nostalgia, my astrological brain kept screaming “Pisces.” The play consists of four family members with nebulous boundaries continually reacting to each other with the full gamut of emotions – love, pity, regret, anger and need.
This play exhibited the entire shadow side of Pisces which seeks connection through the dissolution of boundaries and is other worldly in its perception of the world. Negative Pisces is known for escapism in many forms from substance abuse to excessive fantasizing. Pisces is the garbage can of the zodiac because it can understand all experience drawing in others who may abuse that ability through psychic vampirism. The Pisces garbage can contains trash that does not belong to Pisces but that Pisces does not know how to discard. If emotional hoarding could be measured, Pisces could create the TV show.
In Long Day’s Journey into Night, based on O’Neill’s actual family, the father and two sons are drinkers. The sons express quite a bit of anger toward their father who they see as emotionally and financially stingy. Father was a famous actor in his day but through stunning financial success from one particular play, regrets that he never developed his talents fully.
Regret and self-pity, these are Pisces emotions.
The older son is an open profligate. He drinks himself into stupor and frequents whore houses (this is the early 20th century when a whore house was a recognized destination).
Drowning oneself in drink and sex – there’s some Pisces escapism.
The mother is a fragile and anxious soul who we learn is trying to wean herself from morphine, a drug she was given after a difficult childbirth not realizing its addictive properties. Mother, unfortunately, isn’t succeeding during the play. As she succumbs to the addiction once again, we learn of her life regrets – she wanted to be either a nun or pianist. Instead she fell in love and is now just a morphine-addicted nothing.
Nun or pianist – there’s some Pisces dreaming of a world over the rainbow – the world of spirituality or the world of music. As an astrologer friend often says, “Pisces invented music.”
The brother who is ostensibly Eugene O’Neill himself is also a drinker and, as the play progresses, we learn has tuberculosis (called consumption in those days).
While disease is in the realm of the Virgo/Pisces axis (a polarity), disease that leads to death is in the orbit of Pisces which is the last sign of the zodiac. Pisces represents the dissolving of our ego, which is death.
In case you are still not on the Pisces band wagon here, the play ends with all our characters in states of inebriation, many supine on the floor, with fog rolling across the stage.
Fog is Pisces. The spiritual world does not have the sharp edges of the third-dimensional world.
Running to my ephemeris, I learned that O’Neill was not a Pisces sun but a Libra sun. His moon, however, was in Pisces.
There’s much going on in O’Neill’s horoscope, especially in air signs with sun conjunct Uranus in Libra and Pluto conjunct Neptune in Gemini. There’s a bit of water too with Mercury and Venus in Scorpio and that Pisces moon.
Fire is present (Saturn in Leo, Jupiter and Mars in Sagittarius) but no earth which means no grounding.
Long Day’s Journey into Night is pure Pisces, pure syrupy, sticky Pisces. Why is there no air or fire in that play? Where is the rational distance or the futuristic hope?
Possibly the lack of earth prevented O’Neill from apply his more positive, rational personality traits to the content of his plays.
If O’Neill’s Astrotheme chart is correct, possibly his Libra desire for partnership focused on his 7th house (ruled by Libra) Pisces moon where he wasn’t able to deal with the Piscean emotions of the world around him. Yet he picked them up somehow and led, from his biography, a difficult and lonely life. He even tried to commit suicide at one point.
How did that Pisces moon overrule the rest of his chart?
Mothers and Sons
If I didn’t purge myself of self-pity forever after Long Day’s Journey into Night, I had another opportunity at the next play on my schedule, Mothers and Sons.
Could this be more Pisces moon, I pondered as I watched? If so, why was I being assaulted with moon in Pisces? What did I do to deserve this? Why me?
The playwright, Terrence McNally, sure enough has moon in Pisces.
Luckily for the audience, McNally has sun and Mercury in water-sign Scorpio and was able to transformation negative emotions into something more positive.
In Mothers and Sons, after losing her husband a lonely and angry woman (clearly depressed by today’s definition) visits her deceased son’s homosexual partner. This man is now happily connected to a new husband (husband being something not available in the past) and the couple even has a child (a son). They are a happy family.
This unhappy woman drops in unexpectedly on a purported task of returning an item but clearly she needs to talk to someone. She’s lost her husband and son and has no other children. Yet she’s too angry to open up and simply receive the counseling she clearly came for. Instead she expresses her anger toward her host who clearly would like her to leave.
The play ends on a much more positive (if a bit mawkish) note of the woman opening up to the couple’s son. Children do have this way of breaking through our barriers and all of our hatreds.
While the woman exhibited some of the extremes of moon in Capricorn, the hashing out of all past emotions unprocessed is a Pisces experience. A transformation of those emotions is cathartic. This was a Pisces moon dumping of the garbage can.
Terrence McNally
McNally as Scorpio sun swims in the currents of emotion so having a Pisces moon adds a more compassionate and open element to Scorpio’s normal boundaries.
Water and Scorpio especially at its highest level represents emotional honesty. The play was enjoyable to me personally because the mother’s anger was allowed to express in a very real way. She said things some of us think (in our private moments) and for all her repellent anger, she was understandable. Times had changed and it was difficult for her to catch up. She also raises the question of whether it’s okay to accept but disagree, a good question for our times.
Possibly McNally’s natal Neptune (which rules Pisces) in the opposite sign of Virgo and opposite his Pisces moon gives him the ability to see both the emotional and rational sides of any situation. Scorpio sun is always on the lookout for motivation which may be why, to me, his characters seem very real.
O’Neill’s characters, in contrast, were real but exaggerated. O’Neill’s characters had only negative Pisces traits of escapist self-pity. McNally’s characters have the ability to discuss their feelings and work through them.
McNally has a bit more earth in his horoscope than O’Neill with Uranus in Taurus (rags to riches?) and Neptune in Virgo. As an aside, today’s transit of Pluto in Capricorn may help McNally become a permanent fixture as a person and writer. He may have or probably will receive some awards during this long transit. In regular terms, he will have “arrived.”
Hillary Clinton’s Pisces Moon
Prior to finding myself in the audience of two Pisces-moon plays, I was examining the chart of presidential candidate and Pisces moon Hillary Clinton and noting that with Neptune transiting Pisces right now, Clinton may be feeling some sense of self-pity or regret.
As Clinton is on the public stage, Pisces energy can manifest as savior (the nun option for O’Neill’s mother) or the scapegoat (the lover in McNally’s play).
Clinton’s strong sun in Scorpio and Mars/Pluto/Saturn conjunction in Leo are strong, forceful placements than can override Pisces moon sensitivity and need for escape. Yet the moon is reactive and always there ready with comfort.
These two Pisces moon plays may help us understand what might lurk in the heart of Clinton as she reviews her past and forges a path for the future.
If perchance Clinton doesn’t win the 2016 election, she may have to ward against becoming like one of the characters in an O’Neill or McNally play. But as we can see from our artistic reflection of Pisces moon, we have several choices – we can lie drunk on the floor wishing we were a nun or we can express our feelings and open up to those around us. Letting go of the past is a lesson for Pisces moon.
The New Hampshire primary occurred on February 9 while the moon and Neptune were both in the sign of Pisces. Prior to the primary, I’d wondered how the emotional moon and mystical Neptune would play out in the Neptune-ruled psychic, empathic and malleable sign of Pisces.
Neptune and Pisces can bring gurus or scapegoats, mysticism or delusion, empathy or victimization. Because Neptune has no boundaries, the Neptune-ruled must develop critical thinking to create the needed boundaries in a world where the positive qualities of Neptune can be abused.
Would February 9 bring a scapegoat? I wondered back then.
Who were the candidates with Pisces energy? Democrat Hillary Clinton has moon in Pisces. Republican Jeb Bush has Mars in Pisces.
In politics as in life, one person’s inspiration is another’s greatest fear.
Who was the guru? Who was the scapegoat? Neptune is not Saturn, it has no clear answer.
In retrospect I see there was one strong Neptunian element from the Pisces moon candidate: guilt.
Women’s Guilt
As the primary drew closer, Hillary Clinton invited former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to speak at a rally.
It’s interesting that of all possible emotions and entreaties, guilt would be chosen to sway the voters. I’m not sure how men were expected to respond; it would be interesting to hear what they thought.
first and foremost, an emotion. You may think of guilt as a good way to get someone to do something for you out of a sense of obligation. Guilt is not a very good motivator. It’s more accurate to think of guilt as an internal state. In the overall scheme of emotions, guilt is in the general category of negative feeling states. It’s one of the “sad” emotions, which also include agony, grief, and loneliness, according to one comprehensive framework (Fischer, Shaver, & Carnochan, 1990).
Clinton learned the hard way that guilt is not a motivator. Albright did not succeed in helping her capture the female vote in New Hampshire.
According to Psych Central, guilt is also a destroyer of emotional energy:
Guilt. Rarely has one small word been so widely misunderstood. Guilt is frequently viewed as a virtue, as a high sense of responsibility and morality. The truth, however, is that guilt is the greatest destroyer of emotional energy. It leaves you feeling immobilized in the present by something that has already occurred.
There’s no way to know how Albright’s words influenced the female voter in New Hampshire. But clearly the entreat was an energy-draining moment for the Clinton campaign.
Pisces moon
Clinton’s strength and determination come from a strong fixed Scorpio sun square Mars/Pluto/Saturn in fixed Leo. Any person in any station in life with this aspect is a formidable force. The fixed squares create individuals with incredible drive who control and sustain the roles in which they are placed.
Clinton’s Pisces moon, in contrast, is much more open, flexible and emotional. Pisces moon is sensitive (as is Scorpio sun). Because of extreme sensitivity, Pisces can be escapist, from daydreams to substance abuse.
Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac. Back in the day, Pisces was considered the garbage can of the zodiac as well as the sign of self-undoing. Remaining in states of victimhood is one of the ways Pisces can self-undo (such as staying with an abusive partner). Pisces can find itself the scapegoat, which is a rough role of victimhood and one in which they can’t always extricate themselves.
The guilt that Albright promoted contains a bit of Saturn and a bit of Neptune. The obligation portion of guilt comes from Saturn – “you should” is Saturn’s keyword.
The emotional charge of guilt comes directly from Neptune. If Clinton loses all women lose and it’s your fault.
In the 1990s, Clinton explained her political difficulties coming from a “vast right-wing conspiracy.” While that may be true, the statement evokes self-pity that, again, returns a negative response from the public.
Even Clinton’s detractors would have to admit she’s survived a lot of political attacks and, until now, has survived. A weaker individual would have thrown in the towel long ago. How many of her competitors have survived as much as she has?
Clinton’s Mars/Pluto/Saturn conjunction is at-home in the world of politics. Yet Pisces moon is constantly victimized by it.
If this Pisces moon is elected president, how will the vast right-wing conspiracy react? Transiting Neptune will be moving over Clinton’s natal moon in spring 2021, about four years into the next administration. If Clinton is president at that time, Neptune will be part of that presidency.
For the last week, my cat and I have been arguing about presidential candidate Marco Rubio’s moon sign. Since we don’t know his time of birth, his moon could be in Cancer or Leo.
My cat thinks Cancer; I think Leo.
Leo moon, I argued, explained his preternatural ease with the political process and public speaking. Even his distractors concede he has political gifts. Leo is nothing if not self-confident.
My cat, affectionate and family-oriented, responded that Rubio talks all the time about his grandfather and family, a sure sign of moon in Cancer.
Geminis are good talkers, I responded. And if politicos love their families so much why would they seek the presidency, a sure-fire way to not see your family?
Maybe he has a Leo rising, she responded.
Smart astrological move, I thought. Leo rising would put a Cancer moon in the 12th, or hidden, house. Family life had to be hidden or concealed in some way, a feeling that can be evoked through immigration, legal or illegal.
While this move set me back, I argued that Cancer defense (we all have defenses) is to run inside its shell. Cancer shells are often home, family, food or drink. Running for president means leaving your shell behind.
Since our arguing led to a day of not speaking, I decided to consult the Internet to find the truth. Unfortunately, journalists don’t look for nuanced personality traits until it’s too late – after politicians are elected. Astrologers, thank heaven, are trying to figure it out in advance.
News stories focus a lot on Rubio’s finances, something we see astrologically as well with Venus, Mercury and Saturn in Taurus. It’s the Saturn portion that brings on the lack of material resources or perceived lack. Even when Saturn in Taurus has enough, they often seek more for a sense of security.
Ah, now I had an argument for my cat.
If Rubio’s moon was in Leo, I argued, we’d have a nice, albeit out-of-degree, T-square with Mars (in Aquarius), Venus/Mercury/Saturn (in Taurus) and moon (in Leo).
T-squares, as you know, create tension and drive. To seek something, we have need. The stronger the need, the more the striving. Running for president is some very intense striving, ergo very intense need.
My cat replied that Rubio doesn’t appear to be striving, that he looks so natural and loving and sincere.
Leo moon, I replied smugly. Leo moon.
New Hampshire
Since my cat can neither read nor write and is currently out of the room, I’ll speculate on Rubio in New Hampshire with a chart having moon in Leo.
Next Tuesday in New Hampshire, the primary voting booths will open with the sun in Aquarius and the moon in the early degrees of Pisces.
Pluto, Venus and Mercury will be closely conjunct in the sign of Capricorn. This conjunction forms a transiting grand trine to Rubio’s Venus/Mercury/Saturn in Taurus and Pluto in Virgo. Mars will be in Scorpio opposite Taurus.
The preponderance of earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) suggests practical results. The Mars aspect brings in money, specifically money owed. We see this frequently during political campaigns – the money aspects. There’s lots of spending and lending going on.
If Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders were reading the chart, he might start railing about how political donations corrupt our system. Rubio will probably gain some financial support next Tuesday but Mars will ask for returns.
When do we ever give money without expecting something in return?
Tuesday’s moon and Neptune conjunct in Pisces may bring some precipitation (with fog). This conjunction squares Rubio’s natal Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Pisces as well as sun in Gemini (a T-square). Rubio may relish the fog of idealism. Sagittarius ideals and Pisces ideals can look the same until you understand that Pisces is truly about self-sacrifice.
Self-sacrifice may appeal to those of a spiritual/religious bent, but could you truly sacrifice everything, including the ego gains from sacrificing?
Pisces is often the scapegoat, the worst type of sacrifice to the shadow side of the masses.
With so many candidates, it’s difficult to imagine who would be the likely scapegoat on Tuesday. There’s very little Pisces in this presidential run. The two remaining candidates with the most Pisces are Democrat Hillary Clinton with moon in Pisces and Jeb Bush with Mercury in Pisces.
But I digress, which occurs often with Pisces and Neptune. Back to the Leo moon center of attention, Rubio.
Keeping the attention on himself may be difficult for Rubio as the moon and Neptune are like a wide, surging river pulling objects downstream. Running for president involves defining oneself as one would carve a statue from stone. Unfortunately, Gemini/Pisces/Sagittarius energy are mutable signs and flexible and truly enjoy the ever-changing experiences of life. It’s difficult for these mutable signs to resist some white-water rafting which is so much more fun than standing in a corner carving a statue.
If Rubio’s moon is truly in Leo, a fixed fire sign filled with energy, this will keep him upright in a tidal wave of conflicting attacks. In fact, he may be more energized by the attacks. Leo is the sign that knows attention is way different than luck. Luck comes in “good” and “bad.” Attention is attention. Kind of like money, I suppose. Money’s source never impedes upon money’s delight.
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
Did you learn this adage as a child? While it may be technically true in a physical sense, words, if you ponder it a bit, cause a lot of hurt.
How many of your fights come from verbal interaction versus physical interaction? What if we were silent all day? How many fights would we have?
Do the math.
Words are a form of communication and are ruled by the planet Mercury. Mercury rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo. Gemini is viewed as the more pure manifestation of Mercury.
In today’s world of instant, ephemeral and often superficial communication, words paradoxically seem more permanent than ever. Once your words and images are in cyberspace, you can’t get them back.
The Republican front runner in today’s US presidential election is Gemini sun Donald Trump who seems a master of words and rhetoric. Gemini sun Marco Rubio isn’t doing badly for a first-run as he’s not a billionaire or sponsored by one.
On the Democrat side, Virgo sun Bernie Sanders is giving the purported unbeatable Hillary Clinton an early challenge.
Words change things.
Candidates Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are hurting right now from the Mercury-inspired words of Trump, Rubio and Sanders.
Gemini/Virgo Presidents
Only two US presidents have been born with sun in Gemini – Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican George H. W. Bush. Total years in office for these two men was six as Kennedy was assassinated while in office and Bush served only one term.
As with Gemini, only two US presidents have been born with sun in Virgo – Republican William Howard Taft and Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. Total years in office for these two men was a little over eight (Johnson assumed the presidency after Kennedy was assassinated).
Gemini and Virgo don’t have a strong history in the Oval Office.
Gemini and Virgo are mutable signs (as are Pisces and Sagittarius). Mutable signs are flexible, changeable and fluid.
There are three modes: cardinal, mutable and fixed. Cardinal signs are the initiators. Fixed signs are the maintainers and mutable signs are the changers.
By count, our nation prefers fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). Eighteen of our 44 presidents were born in a fixed sign. Aquarius and Scorpio are preferred in the fixed realm.
Fixed signs project consistency, focus and purpose. They are leaders because they can keep with the cause while others wander off, get bored or were never committed in the first place. Fixed signs are strong. A very common complaint during a presidential debate is that one’s foe has switched positions. In a sense, the presidential process demands the projection of a fixed nature whether you have one or not.
Or has that changed?
Have we finally moved from the Stone Age to the Digital Age in the US presidential elections? Are we now okay with our candidates ebbing and flowing in the waters of the public opinion? Don’t politicians serve the constituency and shouldn’t they change?
Or are we having mutable fun until marriage when we seek that stable, fixed partner?
The Cat’s Opinion
While pondering with my cat a turn of energy in presidential elections, she was very cutting in her opinion of humans.
“Your ideas of consistency are a delusion. Animals are much more consistent.”
When I expressed disagreement, I was assaulted with a list of my own inconsistencies: I don’t wake up at the same time each day (I explained weekends); sometimes I woke up at different times on those days called weekdays (sometimes I oversleep or take off work); I didn’t always brush her in the morning (sometimes I’m running late) and I almost never came home at the same time (does she think cat food grows in the cupboard?).
She then clarified that her own habits were entirely consistent: wake between 4 am – 5 am; eat, get a brushing, poop, go back to sleep, wake later, eat, play with toy mice then back to sleep for the evening. If there’s a full moon, run back and forth around the house prior to sleeping.
While starting to feel hurt, she explained that possibly the American public was being more honest by supporting mutable signs. Maybe we really don’t have solid, fixed opinions about the ever-changing world. Maybe we don’t know what to think right now.
Yes, I responded. Gemini sun Emerson did say that. But now I wasn’t sure what we were discussing. That’s what happens with words.
What about Saturn?
Just as my cat was convincing me that the American public was becoming more openly fluid in honoring and following the changing ideas of a Gemini leader, I stuck in the knife.
“What about Saturn?”
We all know that Saturn is currently transiting Sagittarius, the sign opposite of Gemini. Saturn is the great heavy that brought you time and gravity. When Saturn visits, you are asked to make good on your promises – or else.
Saturn “or elses” can be punishment related to loss of reputation up to physical constraints. If it’s really happening, it’s Saturn.
For Republican front-runner Trump, Saturn makes its full opposition to his sun in the second week of January 2017 – right around inauguration day (January 20, 2017). In the first week of that January, it will be conjunct his moon in Sagittarius. Transiting Saturn will first oppose his Uranus in Gemini at the end of November, several weeks after the election.
The time between election and inauguration is particularly difficult for Trump. Saturn is coming to get you!
It’s easy to say that Saturn will put the brakes on Trump. But will the brakes come from winning or losing? Winning the US presidency could truly be more difficult for Trump than losing. Winning means having a great weight on your shoulders (bones and responsibility are ruled by Saturn). Losing means an independent life saying whatever you want, more in line with his Gemini-Sagittarius freedom-seeking energy.
For Gemini Rubio, the transiting Saturn opposition (and conjunction to his Jupiter and Neptune) has already passed. Rubio has already walked the hot coals in bare feet. On inauguration day 2017, transiting Saturn will square his Pluto (in Virgo). In one way or another, Rubio will face off with some new, powerful forces.
Sanders, as a Virgo sun, experiences the Saturn transit of Sagittarius as a square. Jupiter is currently in Virgo which has given rise to five Virgo candidates (out of a total of 21 candidates). That transit will end in September as Jupiter enters Libra. The Virgo Political Tsunami may end at that time.
Saturn will square Sanders’ sun in mid February. That’s the time of the start of the primaries so we may see some setbacks here.
Sanders has the additional aspect of transiting Uranus (in Aries) conjunct his moon. Without knowing Sanders’ time of birth, we don’t know exactly when this will culminate in exact degree. Aries moon is the passionate and aggressive speech; Uranus has added to that. When Uranus passes, the energy is still there but must exist without the added dose of caffeine.
A Mutable Presidency?
While my cat thinks the American public is openly acknowledging its constantly evolving opinion in an ever-changing universe, I’m expecting Saturn to bring them back to the land of the concrete through Saturn’s old trick – fear. Saturn has things to protect like family, reputation, jobs, homes and cars.
“Maybe you don’t have enough mutable energy,” my feline said with purring accusation.
I was quite offended. This is a cat who still has a Pick Rick (Santorum) poster over her litter box from the 2012 election.
“Shall we take down the Santorum poster now that he is dust in the wind?” I asked.
“It’s not over till it’s over,” she replied then changed the subject. “It’s already six o’clock, where’s my dinner?”
Each sign of the zodiac has what’s called a key phrase. Four Seasons Astrologyhas a very nice listing of key phrases for both signs and planets. Here are the key phrases for the signs of the zodiac:
Aries: Key phrase: “I Am.” Adventurous, pioneering, courageous, competitive, direct, impatient, selfish. Ruled by the planet Mars.
Taurus: Key phrase: “I Have.” Sensual, earthy, loyal, materialistic, stable, stubborn, jealous, possessive. Ruled by the planet Venus.
Gemini: Key phrase: “I Think.” Mental, curious, nervous, communicative, chatty, distracted, social. Ruled by the planet Mercury.
Cancer: Key phrase: “I Feel.” Intuitive, sensitive, moody, domestic, emotional, nurturing, indirect, insecure. Ruled by the moon.
Leo: Key phrase: “I Will.” Dramatic, generous, enthusiastic, assertive, playful, vain, dignified, proud. Ruled by the sun.
Virgo: Key phrase: “I Analyze.” Logical, serious, modest, critical, clean, practical, discriminating, orderly. Ruled by the planet Mercury.
Libra: Key phrase: “I Balance.” Artistic, refined, charming, diplomatic, cooperative, fickle, idealistic. Ruled by the planet Venus.
Scorpio: Key phrase: “I Desire.” Intense, secretive, powerful, resourceful, magnetic, persistent, suspicious. Ruled by the planet Mars.
Sagittarius: Key phrase: “I Understand.” Honest, philosophical, independent, dogmatic, outgoing, blunt, optimistic. Ruled by the planet Jupiter.
Capricorn: Key phrase: “I Use.” Persevering, practical, disciplined, ambitious, conservative, patient, pessimistic. Ruled by the planet Saturn.
Aquarius: Key phrase: “I Know.” Idealistic, eccentric, unconventional, humanitarian, intellectual, tolerant, independent. Ruled by the planet Saturn.
Pisces: Key phrase: “I Believe.” Mystical, sensitive, submissive, compassionate, indecisive, self-sacrificing. Ruled by the planet Jupiter.
The key phrase for Capricorn sun and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is “I use.”
Ted Cruz Uses
Last week Cruz created a video short that included his wife and two daughters. According to this USA Today article, it was aired as an infomercial in the Iowa markets during the December 19 edition of Saturday Night Live.
In the infomercial, Cruz is reading Christmas stories to his children including “How Obamacare Stole Christmas,” “Rudolph the Underemployed Reindeer,” and “The Grinch Who Lost Her Emails.” These “Christmas stories” clearly reference Cruz’ political foes in the Democratic Party.
“Frosty the Speaker of the House,” who Cruz tells us in his infomercial, is “melting before Congress” is Paul Ryan, one of his Republican allies. Cruz sarcastically criticizes both friends and foes alike.
The last story that his daughters beg him to read is titled, “The Senator Who Saved Christmas” which pictures Cruz putting the star atop a tree.
My, oh, my. I thought candidate Donald Trump was the one whose head didn’t fit through the door.
Capricorn Cruz clearly “used” his daughters (and wife) for political gain although he drew the line at others “using” them.
Ted Cruz at Nixon.gov
While politicians have mentors, Ohio Astrology likes to find the spiritual political mentor during the election process. In the best of times, we like to think ourselves unique; in the worst of times, we like to find a kindred spirit. For Cruz, that kindred spirit is clearly Richard M. Nixon.
Where to begin?
Capricorn sun
The easiest comparison is that both Cruz and Nixon had sun in Capricorn. Capricorn is associated with discipline, caution and control. Discipline, caution and control don’t sound like much fun, but what individual, whether business person, athlete or artist, doesn’t need these traits to succeed?
Discipline, caution and control can also help one persevere into an unwelcoming crowd. Nixon was known for a brilliant mind but mean and narrow personality, yet he became president. His dogged persistence is to be admired.
Is this beginning to sound familiar?
Cruz and Nixon both demonstrate the shadow side of Capricorn which includes the excessive need for control, a meanness of spirit, a rousing of fear and paranoia (Nixon more than Cruz, but I’m expecting this to emerge in Cruz as the mud gets packed tighter and slung harder).
Success is the Capricorn throne and the crown is made of respect.
Nixon, we know, lost most, if not all, of his Capricorn gains to wade in the dark side of Capricorn – a sense of humiliation and failure from forced resignation of the presidency. Humiliation and failure are Capricorn’s deepest fears.
Moon in Aquarius/conjunct Uranus
Nixon had moon in Aquarius, which is ruled by Uranus. Uranus was also in Aquarius, but not technically conjunct. Cruz has moon in the more peaceful Libra but with Uranus conjunct. Both Aquarius and Libra are air signs which are associated with intellect. Both men possess powerful intellectual and debating skills.
This is a powerful and often a dangerous position. There is high emotional tension. Sometimes the affections are strangely and (possibly) tragically bestowed; there is an element of perversity and great determination, which may be directed wisely or unwisely, but very rarely follows any conventional or usual course. The interests are nearly always strange, and both mind and feelings differ from those of ordinary humanity, often giving rise to conditions with which it is exceedingly difficult for another to deal, because the native is deaf to reason and seems unable to help himself, there being a veritable paralysis of the judgment. Perhaps it is most perilous in Fire, and least so in Earth and Air, but I have known strange people with this aspect even in the latter element-they are, however, less excitable than those having it in Fire, their vagaries being more often intellectual. Things ordinary and common do not satisfy the nature at all, and the constant search for the marvelous may lead the native into all kinds of fantastic cults. Note particularly the strength of Mercury and Jupiter, for these planets may determine the measure and direction of the influence.
Both Nixon and Cruz are generally disliked as individuals but respected for their intellect. As Cruz himself said during the opening speech of one of the debates, “If you want someone to grab a beer with, I may not be that guy.” According to this Dallas Morning News Article:
Cruz is polarizing, and has been from the moment he emerged on the national stage. He’s alienated most Senate colleagues. That endears him to many conservative voters, even as others find him repellent.
The moon/Uranus (or moon in Aquarius) person is definitely independent in the Uranus sense but is also driven by moon compulsion. In the case of the conjunction, there was uneven or erratic emotional (moon) support from the early childhood, especially from the mother. This leads natives to seek independence from others’ emotional support. In other words, they develop an “I don’t need you” mentality. Rationality is a refuge against a world that is unreliable emotionally. Reason is always reliable because it appears to be the consistent and permanent.
While independence from emotional support from others can free one in many ways, the lack of emotional connection as president caused Nixon a bit of agony. I suspect it would be the same for Cruz.
Saturn in Taurus
Another aspect both Cruz and Nixon share is Saturn in Taurus. Often the natives with this placement feel a sense of physical want. Often they grew up poor and had to work and/or buy their own necessities. Even if they did not, there is a sense that others have more “stuff,” from cooking pots, to cars to careers.
With sun in Capricorn and Saturn in Taurus, there is the sense of the self-made man, a strong image in American life. I grew up poor and struggling while my peers had silver spoons in their mouths . . .
This sense of lack was very apparent in Nixon who created a secret “slush funds” to fund his campaign. Cruz probably has no need for such a fund as the non-secretive Super PAC seems to have replaced the secret slush funds.
Nixon, an intelligent man, fixed the sweating issue by allowing makeup in future television appears. He also later “used” television to his advantage.
Cruz was born with Pluto in Virgo (his at 29 degrees). Virgo is also ruled by Mercury. Like Nixon, Cruz is of a generation that is evolving how it communicates. Cruz, like all candidates, knows the power of television and today’s power of social media and satirical TV shows and news.
Could you imagine in 1960 candidates campaigning on comedy shows?
The Checkers Speech
Much of Nixon’s personality is revealed in his famous “Checkers Speech.” In this 1952 speech, as he was running for Vice President, Nixon responded to the claims that he created a political slush fund and used that money for personal use.
The speech is a glorious demonstration of Nixon’s Capricorn sense of working harder than others while being attacked by his enemies. He goes into great detail about his paltry wages (Saturn in Taurus) and his expenses.
While Nixon didn’t bring in his daughters as did Cruz, he certainly mentions them to evoke the pathos he is seeking. His wife does, toward the end of the speech, make an awkward appearance:
I should say this, that Pat [Nixon’s wife] doesn’t have a mink coat. But she does have a respectable Republican cloth coat, and I always tell her she would look good in anything.
And:
A man down in Texas heard Pat on the radio mention the fact that our two youngsters would like to have a dog, and, believe it or not, the day before we left on this campaign trip we got a message from Union Station in Baltimore, saying they had a package for us. We went down to get it. You know what it was?
It was a little cocker spaniel dog, in a crate that he had sent all the way from Texas, black and white, spotted, and our little girl Tricia, the six year old, named it Checkers.
Cruz Christmas Classics differs in one important way. While both Cruz’ and Nixon’s videos have a heady glow of self-righteousness, Nixon is definitely more self-pitying. Yet, both invoke the savior. For Cruz, it is himself. For Nixon, it is Eisenhower:
Why do I feel so deeply? Why do I feel that in spite of the smears, the misunderstanding, the necessity for a man to come up here and bare his soul? And I want to tell you why.
I love my country. And I think my country is in danger. And I think the only man that can save America at this time is the man that’s running for President, on my ticket, Dwight Eisenhower.
On the other hand, for Cruz to put his children in a mean-spirited video then cry foul when they are then used by the media has some of the Nixon self-pitying paranoia that made him so unappealing.
Why Nixon? Why Cruz?
If the unlikeable Nixon made it to the top of the mountain, could Cruz?
Nixon ran during the turbulent 1960s which released chaotic energy that created fear. Nixon promised law and order to ameliorate the fear.
From the Checkers speech:
You say, why do I think it [our country] is in danger? And I say look at the record. Seven years of the Truman-Acheson administration, and what’s happened? Six hundred million people lost to Communists.
And a war in Korea in which we have lost 117,000 American casualties, and I say that those in the State Department that made the mistakes which caused that war and which resulted in those losses should be kicked out of the State Department just as fast as we can get them out of there.
Communism is gone (like the wind) and Korea exists in its tenuous state. Times have ‘a changed and today our war is with the Middle East:
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz called on the United States to acknowledge “the evil” of “radical Islamic terrorism” following a series of deadly attacks on civilians in Paris, telling reporters moments before a religious liberty rally here at Bob Jones University that “we are at war” with the Islamic State. At least 129 people were killed in the coordinated attacks at several cites around the French capital.
I’m now at that age where the political process is pure theater having seen the same promises made over and over again. Democrat Hillary Clinton promises to tax the richest of the rich. Why haven’t eight years of Obama accomplished that? Or eight years of Clinton the Male?
During the primaries, the candidates always but always develop a “tax plan” which is pure theater. The tax code never eases, never becomes more simple. And there’s always the candidate with the flat tax plan. It never happens.
The Republicans want to make America tough and strong “again.” Is not the power to blow up the world strength enough? We are strong and there is war. What’s the true origin of war?
One political selling point that never dies is fear. Studies have shown that “bad is stronger than good,” in that we are more affected by a negative event (such as losing money) rather than a positive event (such as winning money). In effect, we fear loss. Possibly we have this “negativity bias” because we are all facing the ultimate loss eventually – death.
Cruz isn’t the only candidate selling fear. But like Nixon, with whom he shares some important astrological markers, he may be the most effective.
The sun is in Sagittarius from the end of November through mid December, changing to Capricorn just before Christmas. In this country, we are very Sagittarius during the month of December – we eat, drink, sing, shop and spread cheer.
Or, at least, we used to.
This year our Sagittarius cocktail has not a slice of lemon, lime or olive. Instead it has a wooden sliver that may cut your finger as you pick up the glass.
You might have noticed.
Sagittarius
Let’s step back for a moment and talk about Sagittarius energy. Astrology.com has a nice article about Sagittarius traits. Here are the first two paragraphs:
Sagittarius, the ninth sign of the zodiac, is the home of the wanderers of the zodiac. It’s not a mindless ramble for these folks, either. Sagittarians are truth-seekers, and the best way for them to do this is to hit the road, talk to others and get some answers. Knowledge is key to these folks, since it fuels their broad-minded approach to life. The Sagittarian-born are keenly interested in philosophy and religion, and they find that these disciplines aid their internal quest. At the end of the day, what Sagittarius wants most is to know the meaning of life, and to accomplish this while feeling free and easy.
It’s the Archer that represents Sagittarians, although in this case it’s a Centaur (half man, half beast) that is flinging the arrows. Centaurs were the intellectuals of ancient Roman mythology, and Sagittarians are quick to consider themselves their modern-day counterparts. Those born under this sign are clear thinkers, and choose to look at the big picture most of the time. They also like it when others agree with their well-thought-out point of view. The alternative to this, for better or for worse, is a Sag who can become argumentative and blunt. That’s not to say that these folks are intransigent — Archers will listen to what others have to say, in keeping with the Mutable Quality assigned to them. Indeed, Sagittarians are enthusiastic consumers of information (and enthusiastic in general), the better to get the answers they need. It’s also a good idea to give Sags lots of room to explore their world. Once these folks start to feel hemmed in, they’ll become impatient and difficult.
Sagittarius is an archer, not a farmer or doctor or lawyer. Archer. Archers shoot arrows.
Late astrologer Linda Goodman had much more to say about the Sagittarius passion for causes and the ability to offend through directness than you’ll find in the online articles.
Saturn in Sagittarius
On Christmas Eve 2014, Saturn moved from the sign of Scorpio in to the sign of Sagittarius. As Saturn is far away, it went “retrograde” (appeared to move backward) soon after and in September of this year began forward again through Sagittarius.
Saturn is the slice of wood on the Sagittarius cocktail glass.
Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter) is expansion and Saturn is contraction so you have an energy pattern of a rubber band being expanded and contracted all the while flying through the air hitting people in the eye.
Café Astrology has a nice write up of Saturn and Saturn-in-Sagittarius. Some excerpts from the article:
Saturn in Sagittarius is looking for practical applications of our personal philosophies. We may be firming up our belief systems, but should avoid rigid thinking. There can be a sense that our freedom is curtailed or limited in some manner until we realize that freedom is not about escaping responsibility – it’s what we can enjoy after tending to our responsibilities. Saturn in Sagittarius will test our moral sense. If we’ve become too moralistic, we may be challenged to walk the talk and practice what we preach.
Sagittarius is a very outspoken sign, but with Saturn here, we may take more time with, and before verbalizing, our ideas and opinions. There can be a lot of time taken on formulating and sharing ideas, as we tend to want to be totally correct. There is a big difference between asserting ourselves from a place of healthy confidence, and asserting ourselves brashly and blindly, which can give us a false sense of confidence or bravery. This Saturn transit discourages the latter as we work on the former.
Group responsibility for actions of one or more in that group (i.e., guilt by association)
The 2016 presidential race began as Saturn entered Sagittarius. It’s fascinating to an astrologer that the presidential nominee front-runner in the Republican Party Donald Trump has moon in Sagittarius. Another two Republican candidates also have moon in Sagittarius: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and business woman Carly Fiorina (In past blogs, I mistakenly thought Carson had moon in Sagittarius but was using the wrong birthday).
It’s no wonder the Republicans are getting all the attention right now! The moon is our reactive, emotional response. In Sagittarius, the desire to fight and defend principles is strong. Everyone is shouting and those in the energy pattern know they need to shout the loudest to be heard right now!
What’s even more fascinating is that Christie and Fiorina are both Virgo sun. Jupiter is currently transiting Virgo which is energy in square to Sagittarius (both are mutable). These two candidates are the embodiment of the energy we are currently experiencing.
Jupiter in Virgo combined with Saturn in Sagittarius creates the profound statements and critical responses we hear almost daily right now – not only in the election process but in our culture.
The three outer planets are Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. All changed signs in the three years of 2008-2011. That indicates a global shift of consciousness.
In 2008 when Pluto moved into Capricorn, we saw a global financial collapse. Folks across the globe were dealing with national and personal financial issues. By 2011 when Uranus entered Aries financial recovery was adequate for political uprising – possibly all that was revealed in the financial collapse shed light on the inner workings of global politics. About the same time, Neptune moved into Pisces creating the desire for more spiritual connection.
When Uranus entered Aries in 2011 for a seven-year journey, we saw the beginnings of the Arab Spring. Uranus is still in Aries and the revolution has spread. In the United States, it’s a cultural revolution, a cultural civil war.
Saturn takes about 2.5 years to transit a sign. Combined with the outer planet energies, the shouting over moral and cultural issues in the US will last through the presidential election and throughout the first year of the next president’s term. Saturn will not move into Capricorn until January 2018. At that time, there may be a sense of law and order prevailing. However, Saturn will hook up with Pluto in Capricorn a bit later which may also indicate law and order that is mandated by power (Pluto) which can be quite restrictive.
On the Democrat side, we have three candidates, none with Sagittarius sun or moon. Nominee Bernie Sanders, however, has moon in fire-sign Aries. Like Christie and Fiorina, Sanders also has sun in Virgo and is known for passion (which sounds like shouting). Let’s add Sanders to the list of those embodying the current energy pattern.
The moral of the story, is that to win the 2016 presidency, you must shout. Let’s see if a moon-in-Sagittarius nominee prevails on the Republican side.
Sagittarius, like any sign, may shout, but isn’t always shouting. Sagittarius is passionate about beliefs and often defends the underdog. Saturn in Sagittarius is a great time to put the rubber to the road with your beliefs. If you don’t like trash strewn about the neighborhood, are you willing to go out and pick it up?
Saturn in Sagittarius combined with Uranus in Aries also creates violence to defend and support beliefs. This is another challenge of this aspect. Has killing others ever truly changed a belief? Why do we get so angry when others don’t agree with us?
Hopefully when Saturn is finished disciplining and organizing Sagittarius energy, we’ll follow passion that promotes wellness for all rather than passion that promotes and defends fears and insecurities.
Fear and insecurity – that’s Saturn too. How much of our belief system is tied to fear and insecurity?
If you’re romantically involved with an astrologer, the best way to keep the flame burning is to add to all your stories a date and time. For example, on your first date your astrologer will ask what appears to be an innocent question:
“So when is your birthday?”
You normally would answer something like, “August.”
But if you respond, “August 17, 1995 at 2 pm in Philadelphia,” your date will be excited like a child on Christmas morning. Of course, he/she will also rush off to the bathroom with cell phone in hand to cast your horoscope.
If you don’t get a call for a second date, you know you have a cursed chart. But if you do get a second date, you know the match is made in heaven (or, at least, the sky).
If you’re already married to an astrologer, always add astrological detail to your stories to show your love. For example, if you are talking about a fight with your boss at work, you may be tempted to say:
“We fought over a deadline. He is so inflexible and won’t lift a finger to help.”
Instead, to keep your astrologer spouse interested, say:
“My double Virgo boss (which lets your spouse know that he is a demanding perfectionist) won’t let me extend the deadline (because then you won’t be perfect and get a gold star from authority) and won’t lift a finger to help (your spouse will know it’s because he’s involved in some obsessive-compulsive activity or is afraid to get dirty).”
Or you could just say, “My boss has a lot of Virgo energy” and your spouse will be on your side.
Mickey Mouse
While channel surfing through the Decades channel, which covers daily This Day in History, I learned that Mickey Mouse was born/launched on November 18, 1928.
I’m an astrologer; I got excited.
Exact date in hand, I ran to the ephemeris (book of planet locations) to take a glance at Mickey’s chart. On this date, the sun was in Scorpio, the moon in Capricorn or Aquarius.
Scorpio is charismatic, like Mickey. Moon in Capricorn or Aquarius seemed, however, a bit remote and suspicious and untrusting of others. Was that Mickey?
As I pondered it, I realized that I don’t know the true personality of Mickey Mouse. As I searched for traits to describe Mickey, I could come up with none.
As any researcher would do, I consulted a panel of experts (i.e., Facebook n=104) and asked for adjectives to describe Mickey Mouse. The response was 0 percent.
I then consulted a family member who visits Disney World regularly and asked for five adjectives to describe Mickey Mouse. She produced two then stalled: cute and funny.
Does Mickey Mouse have a personality? If he doesn’t, why does a nation adore him?
Mickey’s Three Personalities
Searching for Mickey’s chart online, I found three different “times of birth.” The first two dates appear to correspond to shorts being released. The third date, November 18, is when Steamboat Willie was officially released and seems the more official date of Mickey’s coming out:
Not a fan of Mickey Mouse myself, I learned more about his personality though the article Siri, Mickey Mouse and Apple’s cult of personality, Mickey’s original manifestation was rougher with emphasis on physical gags:
… In his initial incarnation, Mickey thought nothing of abusing a few animals and taking revenge on his enemies.
As time moved on, Mickey’s rough edges were softened, along with his nose and ears, but what remained was his can-do attitude, a pervasive sense of optimism that hard work would win out in the end. This resonated with depression-era audiences looking for an escape and also for hope that things would get better if they worked hard enough.
It wasn’t always this way. In earlier shorts produced by Walt’s studio Mickey was a main character, but he was also simply a tool to be used for a laugh. There was very little sense of self-awareness or consistency on display and many of his appearances were just strings of physical gag humor.
Walt continued to refine the character in his famous story sessions, where he would act out the parts of all of the cartoon’s cast to his animators and help to define what those characters would or wouldn’t do according to their nature. As attention was paid to Mickey, he grew to be more of a wholesome front man for everything Disney, and in doing so lost some of his mischievous spark.
Now we have an adjective to describe Mickey – wholesome.
What is Mickey Mouse’s True Personality?
Mickey’s true personality may be transpersonal, as he represents so much to a nation but contains so little as an individual. Astrologically, there is one interesting change between the May, September and November charts. The outer planet Neptune moved from Leo to Virgo and was in one degree of Virgo on November 18, 1928.
Neptune’s sign position indicates the kind of cultural expression manifested by the imaginative and creative faculties of mankind in a given 13-year period. The generation that has Neptune in a given sign shares a common spiritual destiny. The intuitive and creative faculties of such a generation will take on the qualities of whichever sign Neptune occupies.
Neptune rules image, film and fantasy. Your truly Neptunian soul is often living in a world other than this one and Neptune at its worst is lost in fantasy. Neptune is ethereal, inspiring and difficult to explain to others. Neptune is intuition. Neptune is fog that dissolves boundaries.
Neptune in Leo would spiritualize Leo qualities.
Leo is a fire sign associated with romance and self-expression. Leo is the leader and actor, with loads of charisma, who is often the center of attention. Leo, like all fire signs, seeks the spirit and is filled with energy. Leo seeks the spotlight for the self.
Sound like Mickey?
Maybe this sounds like Mickey to some. But the movement from Leo to Virgo early in Mickey’s development seems to describe the quick evolution of an edgy Mickey to a “cute and funny and wholesome” Mickey with few discerning characteristics.
Virgo is the sign of health, work and service. Back in my early days learning astrology, Virgo was often represented by the servant. Those with strong egos and desire for attention (i.e., Leo) do not make good servants. Servitude requires a weaker or, at least, a more flexible ego. Virgo in its desire for perfection represents a type of purity.
Neptune idealizes the sign in which it is placed. In idealizing Virgo, Neptune is idealizing the opposite of its nature – perfection and purity. Neptune is a watercolor painting while Virgo is a coloring book. Virgo categories and organizes while Neptune dissolves.
Mickey is the manifestation of Neptune in Virgo with an idealization of perfection, a state that does not exist because perfection is different for each person. While Mickey might have been born with a host of characteristics, Neptune in Virgo cast a veil over that personality and presented us with purity. Neptune is sacrifice and the imaginary Mickey clearly had no problem sacrificing his intense Scorpio traits for the spiritual essence of Virgo. Mickey is the servant or “wholesome front man” for all that is Disney.
Mickey does have a personality, a single-trait personality of purity that allows us to find our own personal perfection through his image. This is what makes Disney “the happiest place on earth.”
From Thanksgiving to just before Christmas, the sun is in Sagittarius, a sign associated with expansion. In the US, we spend lots of money and eat lots of treats during Sagittarius then retreat into winter solace and resolutions during most of Capricorn.
This year’s Sagittarius energy has the added input from Saturn which is transiting Sagittarius. This holiday may seem lest festive due to Saturn inserting harsh realities into a time when images of optimism and abundance are normally prevalent.
Last year I pondered deeply, very deeply, about Santa’s sign of the zodiac, and this year I gave more consideration to Mrs. Claus and the elves.
Santa, to me, is a Sagittarius as I wrote about at length here.
Sagittarius is the mutable fire sign.
The elves I believe are pure Virgo as Virgo is the sign of work. Santa’s elves are helpers, content to work in the cold North Pole (don’t call it a sweat shop – no one is sweating) while Santa gets all the credit due to his exuberant jolly nature, corpulent physique and bright red outfit.
Traditional images of Santa’s realm lead me to believe that his elves are male – something I need to continue pondering. If there are no female elves, then where do little elves come from? That too is a bit Virgo in that sexuality isn’t present – elves are simple…
Ohio Astrology 