Square Dancing with the Presidential Candidates

Posted on August 12, 2012 by ohioastrology

In elementary school I loved square dancing. So when, several years ago, a friend wanted the gang to go square dancing, I was all for it.

Much to my surprise, square dancing is difficult. I suppose back in elementary school we went slower or the teachers guided us through a few basic steps. The real square dancing is fast and you have to know what square dancing terms mean. When the singer says, “take your lady home,” that means you go back to the original position, standing next to each other (I think).

In astrology there is an aspect called a square. It’s when planets are in signs that are 90 degrees apart (which is a square). It’s really easy to figure out. If planets are in the same modality (cardinal, fixed or mutable), they are in square aspect.

Square dancing is fun if you know what you’re doing and are able to listen and respond quickly. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll be bumping into everyone (as we did a few years ago) and you will feel both embarrassed while at the same time understanding how, astrologically, planets in square aspect interact.

Let’s Bow to the Left, and Bow to the Right

We now have our two couples for the 2012 General Election Presidential Square Dance. Democrat Barack Obama (incumbent) will be standing next to Joe Biden while Republican Mitt Romney has chosen Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his partner.

Let’s Circle Left

Obama has sun in Leo (fixed fire) and moon in Gemini (mutable air). Biden has sun in Scorpio (fixed water) and moon in Taurus (fixed earth) (chart according to Astrotheme).

Let’s Circle Right

Romney has sun in Pisces (mutable water) and moon in Scorpio (fixed water). Ryan has sun in Aquarius (fixed air) and moon in Libra (cardinal air) (chart according to the Political Astrology Blog).

Let’s Start with the Squares

You may have noticed that we have a little bit of fixed sign squaring going on. Obama’s sun in Leo squares Biden’s sun in Scorpio and moon in Taurus which opposes Romney’s moon in Scorpio and squares Ryan’s sun in Aquarius.

When all four signs of a modality are present, we call it a grand square.

Americans love fixed signs in the White House because there is focus, purpose and unwavering belief. We don’t want someone who says, for example, that they will never raise taxes and then turns around, while in the White House, and raises taxes.

Looking at charts throughout the world, fixed signs are often leaders because you need this kind of focus, determination and strength to handle the assaults that will occur toward any public figure.

I don’t recall the political reasons why Obama chose Biden for Vice President, but I don’t think it was based on personality traits. Where Obama is a fiery communicator, Biden is a methodical plotter.

Romney’s moon is in Scorpio so he’s also serious and intense like Biden. These two would probably make nice running mates if they weren’t, like, in opposite parties.

Ryan has sun in Aquarius which is intellectual and aloof, square Romney’s “I’m gonna get you back someday” moon in Scorpio. Ryan’s sun in Aquarius is opposite Obama’s sun in Leo saying Ryan has more group consciousness while Obama has more personal, show-off consciousness.

Do-Si-Do with the Elements

By element, it’s a little more interesting.

Romney has sun (Pisces) and moon (Scorpio) in water signs. Ryan has sun (Aquarius) and moon (Libra) in air signs.

Water and air – interesting partnership.

Water is beneath the surface and air above, so Romney will take care of the “let’s not talk about it” parts of the election process and Ryan will stay above ground checking the weather gauges. If Ryan’s chart is accurate and he has moon in Libra, this will be fine with him. Libra doesn’t go below ground because it’s dirty and ugly there.

Sun in Aquarius and moon in Libra is idealistic to the point of delusion. Moon in Libra is constantly looking to others as a mirror and reacting to styles and trends of the crowd (even if the Aquarius sun believes itself to be a rebel).

The problem of water and air spending a lot of time together is that water will start to be bothered by things while air has no clue anything is awry.

Both water and air react to the environment, but water reacts to the emotional current and air to the intellectual current.

Obama has sun (Leo) in a fire sign and moon (Gemini) in an air sign. Biden has sun (Scorpio) in a water sign and moon (Taurus) in an earth sign.

Obama and Biden make fire, air, water and earth – all four elements. Having all four elements represented makes them more flexible in covering what each element represents: fire, enthusiasm; air, ideas; water, emotions; earth, practical matters. In their collective personalities, they can conjure up what is necessary for the occasion.

Need a cheering crowd? Send Obama. Need a detail explained for 25 minutes? Send Biden.

While both the Romney/Ryan and Obama/Biden partnerships have elemental balance, Romney/Ryan is more like a teeter totter and Obama/Biden is more like a four-couple square dance.

Newest Partner

Our newest partner to the dance is Paul Ryan. Let’s take another peek at his chart, the one found on the Political Astrology Blog.

If this chart is accurate, Ryan’s more than a little spacey. From articles written about his nomination to the ticket, he doesn’t sound like a man with Neptune in Sagittarius directly on the ascendant. But the next few months will indicate if this is accurate.

When Pluto was at the beginning of Sagittarius in 1995-1997, Ryan probably went through some religious or spiritual conversion. Neptune in the first house, in any sign, has to be careful about being manipulated through religion, spirituality or gurus. Neptune seeks bliss and religion and spirituality are often marketed like any consumer good.

With sun in Aquarius in the third house and moon in Libra in the eleventh house, Ryan probably doesn’t like to spend much time at home or alone. He’s always seeking groups, groups where he can express his ideals. Ryan is the type to help all the neighbors shovel snow while his own home remains buried. He may help others but neglect the needs, especially emotional, of those closest to him.

While moon in Libra likes partnership, it is not an emotional sign. It wants shared activity whether others are willing or unwilling participants. Libra garners its identity by reflecting off of others so Ryan is well aware of what you are doing and the latest trends. By watching your actions and mimicking those actions, he’s actually slightly removed from his own motivations.

Ryan, then, should absolutely love the election process. It’s his comfort zone. And with Neptune in the first house, Ryan may not really know himself after the process is complete. We may see a metamorphosis of Ryan. It will be interesting to see his personality in four months.

With Saturn in Taurus in the sixth house of health, combined with Aquarius energy, I get the sense that Ryan doesn’t like to be touched. He may be turned off both by a sense of uncleanliness and also a nerve sensitivity to touch. With Saturn in Taurus in the sixth, neck, throat and thyroid problems are a possibility. The shaking hands and kissing babies portion of the process may turn him off a little.

Down the Center and Back

Let the debates begin, I say! This election process hasn’t been any fun since Rick Santorum headed back to Pennsylvania. In the 500 Republican debates (or however many it was), the talk got a little repetitive. Now we bring in the other side to have a more natural disagreement, instead of fabricated disagreements (like Newt Gingrich attacking Romney’s wealth) to create differentiation.

There are 52 days until the first debate, 52 days to send out the invitations, get the peanuts and beer and cheer for your team.

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Freedom and Beyond

Posted on August 11, 2012 by ohioastrology

When I think of Thomas Jefferson, I’m always stunned by how a man who drafted our Declaration of Independence could hold slaves. The ability to hold such diametrically opposed views (and actions) to some is hypocrisy and to others schizophrenia.

Astrology has taught me to look for underlying motivation. Maybe there is a cold logic behind the ability to write,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, . . .”

while at the very same time holding captive human lives from birth to death.

Freedom as a Commodity

Freedom has many definitions including these two from Dictionary.com: 1) the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint and 2) exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

If I drive to the mall right now, I will have to stop at traffic lights. Traffic lights are an external control and interfere with my freedom. If there were no lights, I’d get to the mall about 15 minutes faster and would be totally free.

How could I get rid of traffic lights?

I could work with others to get rid of traffic lights, but then we’d have to create a bunch of rules for intersections and mutually agree to obey those rules. But that would still limit my freedom from external control.

One way I could have freedom from traffic lights is to become the dictator of the country and make the rule that when I drive to the mall, all cars must be off the streets and the traffic lights turned off (a little like North Korea).

I would have freedom, but no one else would.

Maybe, then, freedom, to Thomas Jefferson, was a commodity meaning that there is a finite amount of freedom for us human beings to share. The more freedom you have, the less I have, just as with mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner.

While the words of the Declaration of Independence are pure, the intent may have been simply to break from England and no more. Freedom from England meant fewer folks sharing the mashed potatoes at dinner. And with slavery intact, fewer even.

More mashed potatoes for me.

Saturn and Material Reality

In astrology, all planets from Saturn toward the sun are called “inner planets.” Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are called “outer planets.”

Saturn is the limit of our material world. Consequently, it rules structure. Anything brought into form is part of Saturn’s world.

Uranus, in astrological symbolism, is the awakener who creates sudden, disruptive events to bring us into a new energy pattern.

Uranus breaks then Neptune dissolves and finally Pluto transforms.

Think of a star that explodes (Uranus) then dissolves into space (Neptune) until it is caught up in the universe to become another form (Pluto).

Or, more simply, think of the old Alka Seltzer commercial: plop, plop (Uranus), fizz, fizz (Neptune) oh what a relief it is (Pluto ejecting waste).

Back in the 1970s during the Women’s Liberation Movement, women complained that men considered them “sex objects.”

“Object” equals Saturn. The problem, to me, isn’t simply that men see (or saw) women as sex objects. The issue is that as people we view ourselves as separate from everything else and other people and earth become “objects.” A sex object is just one of many objects. Slaves are just another object, as we can see from the registries of slave owners’ properties.

What is Freedom?

I believe true freedom is in the realm of Uranus, which is beyond form. Beyond form, freedom is for everyone at every moment in time.

Uranus freedom does not view the world as a world of objects to be used (“I use” is Capricorn’s key phrase, Capricorn being ruled by Saturn). Uranus freedom is freedom from the self as an object and by extension others (and nature) as objects.

When Uranus freedom is described a typical reaction is to wonder if we should just turn our heads to negative events.

Uranus freedom doesn’t negate Saturn’s world. Saturn is Saturn, Uranus is Uranus. Saturn is about structure, Uranus freedom.

While I don’t like stopping at the red light, I understand it and fully support it. No Uranus at four way intersections, please.

In Saturn’s world, structure prevails. I don’t personally believe that rationality prevails, although that’s what’s taught. We are all born into the world of structure and the structure is considered the norm, even if slavery is part of the structure. It can be difficult even to know to question the structure as it’s so pervasive.

Recently I came across this quote by Tuli Kupferberg and have been thinking about it a lot and it’s what prompted this blog:

“When patterns are broken, new worlds can emerge.”

Patterns are Saturn and breaking them is Uranus. And what are those new worlds? Who knows!

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Uranus in the Fourth House – Enlightenment Through Falling Light Fixtures

Posted on August 9, 2012 by ohioastrology

One of the many accusations against astrological prediction is that one creates “self-fulfilling prophecies.”

It’s a valid accusation and I’m positive it happens (and I do it). But because it happens doesn’t mean it always happens that way.

Events occur in our lives and we all try to explain those events through science, religion, philosophy, psychology and mysticism.

If it rains on your wedding day, is it merely the whim of what we call weather or is it God sending a message that your marriage is doomed? Or is there a psychological reason we planned our marriage in November when the likelihood of rain was great? Should we stay centered and see bright sunshine in our mind’s eye negating the rain on the empirical outside?

Uranus in the Fourth House and Falling Light Fixtures

In this thing called a horoscope, Uranus in Aries is transiting my fourth house of personal consciousness, personal emotions and family “home” life.

Here are some excerpts from Robert Hand’s “Planets in Transit” regarding Uranus in the fourth house:

  • A common effect of this transit is a sudden change in your home environment or even a complete change of residence.
  • Problems and tensions that you haven’t been dealing with in your personal life will probably surface now, and you will be forced to handle them. The problems can range from powerful psychological encounters with the people to whom you are most intimately connect, to repairs that are needed in your home.

In addition to describing changes, Hand points out that Uranus also brings a sense of freedom. Uranus’ association with enlightenment, I believe, stems from this same idea of freedom. As I see it now, it’s not freedom from actual prison bars or oppressive situations but freedom from one’s own restrictive thoughts. Ultimate freedom, I believe, is freedom from your own ego, your own self.

So, I ask, when I was standing in the kitchen the other day and the glass ceiling lamp came crashing down with no warning just a few feet from me, was this event a self-fulfilling prophecy because I happen to know that Uranus is transiting my fourth house? (I’m also on my third move because of circumstances over which I have no control).

It may seem strange, too, to say that while I see this as a Uranus in the fourth house event, I’m also able to see it as a ceiling fixture falling near me as a contained event in itself with no relation to anything other than itself.

The falling light fixture is not about me. On the other hand, the life I live is a representation of the energies I carry which are represented by the horoscope. I’m energy living within larger pools of energy and those energies are symbolized through astrology.

Or I simply have a poltergeist in the house . . .

Uranus as Enlightenment

If you read tales of enlightenment, you may have heard of “sudden enlightenment.” Uranus is sudden and shocking.

The ceiling fixture crash was not caused by Uranus in the fourth house, but it represents that sudden, shocking energy. I was truly stunned and it took some time to recover. That I could have been standing under the fixture when it came crashing down is an image that still disturbs me.

Uranus is a wake-up call. On a spiritual level, it does more than urge you to get out of a broken down apartment. At this stage of my life, I see this current period of moving as teaching me a lot about what I carry around with me (as I blogged about in “What Part of the Horoscope Represents Your Baggage?”).

My fourth-house Uranus transit will be different than yours because of the combination of other planets in my horoscope and my personal development. Maybe your Uranus transit through the fourth house is finally selling that house that’s been on the market for two years.

Or maybe for you it represents changing career to one that is more fulfilling and offers more freedom of schedule.

Uranus transiting the fourth may be as simple as breaking a few habits, partying on Monday nights instead of Friday nights.

Hopefully your fourth house transit of Uranus won’t produce falling light fixtures. If every day or every so often you bring in a little Uranus (change), en-“light”-enment doesn’t have to produce lights falling on your head.

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Koch Brother Astrology

Posted on August 8, 2012 by ohioastrology

Today’s reality TV shows cover everything from having a baby to painting your truck. If we don’t care to watch real people doing real things, we can watch the famous judge singing competitions at “American Idol” or watch them dance together on “Dancing with the Stars.”

I’m thinking the U.S. election season should jump onto the reality show bandwagon. Election season should be covered 24/7 from August to November and be called, “Cavorting with the Millionaires.” Election season is when the millionaires come out to play.

Most of my days are spent with the middle class, both working and socializing. I rarely, if ever, spend time with millionaires and never, ever spend time with billionaires (although I wouldn’t mind). Election season gives me a rare chance to peek into the lives of those that make millions from me in a myriad of ways I have yet to understand.

OHA has already taken a peek into the personality of Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire who funded Newt Gingrich’s wildly raucous but ultimately unsuccessful run for Republican presidential candidate. That particular entertainment (which I enjoyed immensely) cost Adelson a few million and he’s planning on donating just as much to Mitt Romney with the ultimate goal of protecting his money. Romney definitely knows how to do just that so Adelson’s investment is logical.

Two other names that have arisen during this election season and are Charles and David Koch, billionaire brothers supporting mostly, if not only, Republican party candidates. Let’s take a peek at these two moneyed-men.

Charles Koch

This ABC news story indicates that the Koch brothers are private. That part of billionaire-hood I understand. If I buy a new gas grill, for example, I know not to put the box out on the front lawn on trash day because it sends the message, “New Grill in Backyard for the Taking.”

If I had billions, I’d do the same but double or triple. Wealth and privacy go together like developing film and a darkroom.

From their charts, I also believe that both Koch brothers would be private if they had only modest wealth.

This is a chicken and egg question – are they private because of their wealth or are they wealthy because of their discretion?

Charles, the older brother, has sun in Scorpio and moon (and Mars) in Capricorn. David, the younger brother, has Saturn, sun and Uranus in Taurus and moon in Pisces or Aries. If he’s truly as private as his older brother, I’d guess moon in Pisces.

You may recall from “My Money, Your Money” that Taurus and Scorpio are opposite signs, with Taurus ruling the money and assets you earn yourself and Scorpio ruling the money and assets you share or get from others.

Charles, with sun in Scorpio and moon in Capricorn, probably spends little of his wealth. This is a penny-pincher extraordinaire who might have billions because he’s spent only $10,000 since childhood.

Moon in Capricorn, emotionally and financially restrained, might be protecting the money we could all have if we didn’t stop at Starbucks for $5 cups of coffee and make impulsive purchases like those expensive bath towels.

Scorpio in combination with Capricorn doesn’t have much sympathy for your woes. It’s shrewd, savvy and has practical genius so don’t complain to Charles that you can’t pay your mortgage while wearing designer clothes.

Mars conjunct moon in Capricorn gets what it wants. Don’t cross this man or you will be both Capricorn and Scorpio punished, each of which is highly unpleasant in singular.

Pluto in Cancer is opposite the Capricorn energy, but not by exact degree. I’m guessing with moon in Capricorn and the fact that he is oldest, Charles is running things. He determines what the family is having for supper.

Moon in Capricorn also takes control during the most unpleasant of events (like funerals) so if things get bad, go to Charles and he will fix the ugly. When you’re happy, he’s not quite as responsive because he’s a problem solver, not a happiness nurturer.

Venus and Neptune in Virgo are very exacting and detailed. Not only is Charles a penny-pincher, he probably wraps his owns pennies and writes his name and address on the paper.

This is a man of order, authority and discipline. His house is neat and would be if he had two cents or two billion dollars. He’s got pride and dignity and it wasn’t caused by money; money is the result.

Pluto is currently transiting Capricorn creating some issues of will between Charles and the women in his life. If he has employees, there is some problem here as well. Lesson to be learned is that sometimes softness is better than hardness when dealing with others. The tai chi symbol suggests that qualities in extreme become their opposite and moon in Capricorn hardness can become a weakness, especially when you have to depend on others, like when in illness.

Saturn will move into Scorpio at the beginning of October and Charles (and the world) may find their investments shrink like a shrinky dink (or a home value in 2008).

When Saturn transits his Jupiter in Scorpio in a couple years, look for the foreign investments to shrink as well.

David Koch

David has Saturn conjunct sun, which is a difficult placement in general. His brother Charles has moon in Capricorn so there is a Saturn/Capricorn cast to the brotherhood. Probably the father was stern and severe or just the opposite which created emotional reserve in the boys.

Like his brother, order is paramount. Again, if he lived in a one-room shack, the shack would have order.

Although David shares the reserve, caution and money-focus of his brother, he appears to have a much more outgoing personality than his brother.

If moon is in Pisces, he may hide away but if moon is in Aries, there is a fierce competitive personality. He notices if you pass him on the freeway and may run you off in response (of course, all men do that).

Mercury and Jupiter are in Aries so David can be quite outspoken. He may embarrass his brother with his blunt (earth signs) and impulsive (Aries) speech. David tells it like it is which may make others wince.

Mars and Venus in Gemini create a fickle, fun-loving person. Uranus conjunct the sun (even in Taurus) also suggests some sudden, impulsive moves, both on the love front and financial front.

David may be reserved in manner, but he’s much more likely than his brother to take a risk. David as a Taurus would be more interested in property while his brother, a Scorpio, would be more interested in making money off of others’ assets.

Last year Jupiter transited Taurus which was good for David’s property values. Jupiter is now in Gemini soon to cross both Mars and Venus. Fun is on the way. David, unlike his brother, enjoys spending his money as much as making it.

I always think of Taurus as materialistic in a positive way – it truly enjoys the pleasures of the earth. Taurus isn’t buying something because the neighbors have it; it’s buying that nice car because it enjoys the feeling of leather on the skin.

Gemini is about friendships so David may also share his wealth with friends to create good, happy times.

Uranus is currently transiting Aries and will conjunct, in several years, David’s natal Mercury and Jupiter in Aries. The fun will continue as well as unexpected events.

When transiting Saturn enters Scorpio at the beginning of October, it will be opposing David’s natal Saturn in Taurus.

Because of all the positive transits, I think this Saturn opposition, which is normally difficult, will be a good thing for David. He will have pressure to lend or give money away. Holding onto assets is best here and I think the fun in his life will override this pressure to pay someone or something back.

A Peek into the Mind of a Billionaire

After looking at horoscopes for 27 years, I’ve come to see each personality as having a “theme.” We all deal with money, but money may not be the theme of our lives. We earn it and spend it, but have something else as the true focus of our existence.

We all say we want more money, but do we really? Or is it more important to be creative, spend time with family or engage is sports? Would we really be happy if someone gave us money or do we want to earn it ourselves and see money as the result of that achievement?

The Koch brothers may have inherited their wealth but with charts full of Taurus, Scorpio and Capricorn they have a drive for material wealth and material success regardless of what was provided at birth.

This is where astrology meets your underlying belief system. Is the emphasis on Taurus, Scorpio and Capricorn in their charts because of the circumstances of their birth or would they have had those qualities regardless of time and place?

As we watch “Cavorting with the Millionaires” it’s a good time to examine our own relationship to money and how our attitudes toward money were shaped during our childhoods. Instead of just wanting more money, we might examine how our financial situation represents our life pattern.

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Ohio Political Fight Club: House District 7

Posted on August 6, 2012 by ohioastrology

The seat in Ohio House District 7 is being sought by Joyce Healy-Abrams (Democrat) and Robert Gibbs (Republican). This district contains counties both east and west of I-71 in Central Ohio including Clark, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Ross, Fairfield and Perry.

That’s one funky district.

Interstates 70 and 71 seem like ley lines in Ohio, storms passing either north or south of I-70 and I-71 demarcating east and west. To cross the sacred boundaries of both I-70 and I-71 seems sacrilege.

Joyce Healy-Abrams

Healy-Abrams is sun in Leo and moon in Cancer. Leo and Cancer make for the perfect mate – both romantic (Leo) and loving (Cancer). I don’t know if Healy-Abrams is married (although the hyphen suggests she is), but if not, boys, I’d give her a call.

With Uranus also in Leo and Mars in Gemini, Healy-Abrams is more spontaneous and quirky than a Cancer moon would suggest.

Pluto and Venus in Virgo, however, make her extremely picky and demanding in love, the partner needing to be perfect. Power struggles thus ensue when the partner has personality traits that are different than Healy-Abrams’ own.

Moon in Cancer combined with Neptune (in Scorpio) square Mercury (in Leo) create quite the storyteller. Expect a little emotion and drama in all of Healy-Abrams’ stories. The waitress wasn’t just rude, the waitress fairly spit in her face (double check with waitress before committing to print).

Jupiter in Sagittarius creates a bit of wanderlust, although with moon in Cancer the bed pillow and half of the kitchen cupboard is in the backpack. Healy-Abrams is an “everything but the kitchen sink” kind of packer, although you may also find the kitchen sink.

Saturn is in Capricorn in Healy-Abrams’ chart indicating problems with the knees and standing on one’s own. Leo is proud but Cancer a bit insecure. The challenge is to be one’s own person regardless of how the family reacts.

Pluto is transiting Capricorn right now and will provide some lessons along these lines – big lessons. Knees and bones are included in these lessons.

Robert Gibbs

Gibbs has sun in Gemini and moon in Scorpio or Sagittarius.

Gemini / Scorpio combined is extremely cunning while Gemini /Sagittarius is extremely foot loose (and goes with the flow).

We need a time of birth for this one.

We do know for sure that Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus and Venus are in Cancer with Mars in opposite sign Capricorn. Mars in Capricorn says “this is what I want and I’ll do anything to get it” while Cancer represents merging with family and religious units. Capricorn is world acclaim and Cancer is family love and comfort.

Pluto is in Leo (fire), Neptune in Libra (air) and Saturn in Scorpio (water). Gibbs’ chart has all the elements (fire, earth, air and water) so suggests a versatile personality.

The moon placement is important in any chart, but especially here. I get a sense of a very disjointed personality rather than a versatile one. Are we calculating or loving? Or are we only calculating when seeking things for our family?

Whether the moon is in Scorpio or Sagittarius, I’m sensing a lot of inconsistencies. Gibbs, if anything, is probably difficult to know.

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and is conjunct, right now, Gibbs’ Mars in Capricorn. We’re going to see Gibbs more calculating side. He wants this seat badly and will do a lot to get it. Capricorn is about authority and the establishment so Gibbs may be courting some powerful friends.

As Pluto transits Capricorn, the opposite sign of Cancer is also affected. Individuals with Cancer in their charts must determine how Capricorn energies affect their family life. Capricorn is society and reputation, scaling the corporate ladder. Sometimes achievement in the corporate world can create neglect of family matters, especially emotional concerns.

For women, this is a known problem. Successful business and political women often are asked to speak on how they balance motherhood (see Hillary Clinton 1992 and Marissa Mayer 2012) with their careers.

For men, balancing family and career is also a challenge even if the world doesn’t ask, “Can you really be a politician AND a father?”

Rather than women rejecting the question of home and career balance, maybe we should simply extend the question to men as well. Is it good for your children to live under security in the White House as you batter your political opponents with negative attack ads? Are you denying them a carefree childhood?

Even if the media doesn’t ask Gibbs these questions, his family might.

It’s about family, stupid

Both Healy-Abrams and Gibbs are experiencing Pluto in Capricorn opposite their Cancer energy. I’ve seen this in quite a few political charts recently.

Both may focus on family in their campaigns but the real question is, “Are you taking care of your own family?”

Maybe taking care of others through political life is also a way to nurture a larger family, the family of community.

Source of candidate data: Ohio 2012 Election Center

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What’s the sign of zodiac most likely to go with the flow?

Posted on August 5, 2012 by ohioastrology

After writing about trustworthiness in the zodiac, it occurred to me that signs not ranking high might feel slighted. While trustworthiness has a very positive connotation, the universe appears to me (through astrology) to seek balance. Trustworthiness is needed, but so are other qualities.

Extreme trustworthiness, which relates to extreme dependability, can create a rigid, routine type personality. The balance to dependability is fluidity, or going with the flow.

In other words, if the world was run by dependable and trustworthy people, we’d have better politicians but possibly not much change or growth as earth likes routine and the way things are (and the way things were – tradition).

Flowing with the elements

By element, this is easy to see. The elements are fire, earth, air and water.

Does earth flow? Earth erodes and moves more than flows.

Does fire flow? Fire razes more than flows.

The two elements that flow quite clearly are air and water. We even talk about air flow and water flow. Air flow creates weather and water flow creates such things as the Grand Canyon. Don’t underestimate air or water.

Flowing with the modes

There are four elements and three modes which creates the 12 signs of the zodiac. The modes are cardinal, fixed and mutable.

Cardinal are the self-starters and initiators – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

Fixed are the sustainers – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.

Mutable are the changers and adapters – Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Mutable, by nature, is changeable and therefore flows. Cardinal doesn’t exactly flow – it pushes. And fixed is clear in that it stays put.

Going with the flow

If air and water naturally flows and mutable naturally changes and is adaptable, then the most “going with the flow” signs are the air and water mutable signs – Gemini and Pisces.

Gemini

Gemini is the sign of the twins and represents the period in life when we move from non-verbal babyhood to talking toddler-hood when we touch everything and put everything in our mouths (which moves us to the Cancer, the sign after Gemini).

We know that toddlers and children need much stimulation to learn and grow. That’s why the kindergarten classroom has pictures and drawings and objects to stimulate life in three-dimensional reality.

Gemini grown up continues to seek stimulation and often is associated with the journalist, who talks to everyone and seeks factual information. Gemini flows naturally to the next point of interest, the same way hyperlinks move you from one page of the Internet to another. Gemini is a hyperlink.

Gemini’s negative characteristics, I believe, stem from the same need for stimulation. Gemini is easily bored so might find commitment boring. Because Gemini loves to talk and gather information, it can be the gossip. And because Gemini is so quick, it’s easy to fool others that are much slower to see which shell, in the shell game, has the pearl.

Gemini is fun and interesting and brings liveliness to our environment.

Pisces

Pisces is the sign of the two fish swimming in different directions. Like Gemini, we have double.

Linda Goodman, I believe, said the fish swimming in different directions represented Pisces ability to link past and future, to see both.

If Gemini picks up all the factual information in the environment, Pisces picks up all the emotional information.

Gemini sees a bunch of people at the party and wonders how he/she will get a chance to talk to all of them. Pisces sees a bunch of people at the party and notices that the party hasn’t yet jelled, that people are wondering if a new bottle of wine is on its way (something Pisces also thinks about) and that certain people are deliberately not at the party.

Pisces can feel from a long distance away and is associated with psychic ability. Because Pisces can feel so deeply and has empathy as well, Pisces can go with your emotional flow which is why you confess all of your secrets to Pisces.

Because Pisces goes with the emotional flow, Pisces can often ignore its own needs and then becomes associated with sacrifice. Pisces can get lost in the emotional flow. “Me” and “we” is difficult for Pisces as it is difficult for a drop of water to separate from the ocean.

Pisces is the emotional antenna in your life. It can both absorb and transmute emotional input, sometimes at a cost to itself. It’s the Pisces in your life that explains how your dad’s actions truly represent his love for you, something you didn’t understand.

Looking for the flow?

Are you feeling trapped in routine? Are you feeling like life is passing you by and you never do anything interesting? Looking to get out from under the rock and go with the flow?

If so, your air and water signs friends can help or any sign that is mutable. As they go with the flow, they are sometimes hard to catch. Don’t expect to meet your “go with the flow” friends every Sunday at the same time (except Virgo who may be so picky about the restaurant that you’ll ditch them for a Gemini or Pisces anyway).

They go with the flow and that’s what you need, right?

Addendum: I found this quote recentl – “When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.” – Tuli Kupferberg

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What is the most trustworthy sign of the zodiac?

Posted on August 4, 2012 by ohioastrology

While my tuxedo cat, Lacy, and I were looking through OHA search terms (or was it Astroknowlogy?), we noticed the question “Can you trust a Capricorn woman?”

As a Capricorn woman, I’d say “yes,” but I thought it best to seek a more objective view before blogging. So I gave Lacy an “Owner Satisfaction Survey.”

Survey results indicate that I am generally trustworthy with high scores on 1) cleaning the litter box (daily); 2) cleaning the food and water dispenser (weekly) and 3) making sure there is a cat sitter when I am out of town.

My low scores involved feeding, that ever-critical of functions. It seems I’m not consistent with arrival time in the evening (overtime, socializing) and do not get up early enough (4 a.m. – 5 a.m. is the ideal time) and have inconsistent wake up and feeding patterns on weekends.

While it’s good to have objective feedback, I still think anyone that cleans your poop should be kind of worshipped.

Trustworthiness

Dictionary.com defines trustworthy as “deserving of trust or confidence; dependable; reliable.”

Let’s start with the easy part of this definition – dependability and reliability.

Dependability and reliability are in the realm of earth signs. If the earth itself were not dependable, there would be no life (which is something to think about as we pollute it).

Your earth signs are steady like the earth. The earth does change, but slowly over time. Of course, there are those sudden eruptions of earth (like earthquakes). Don’t make your earth friends angry (especially Taurus) or you will see earth break apart.

Because earth is solid, there is rigidity to the personality of an earth sign. So when it breaks, it’s a big deal. Water, in contrast, is always breaking down and coming back together, as is the nature of water. But when earth has a breakdown, you will probably find it in a strait jacket.

Dependability and reliability also relate to routine, which you will find sacrificially present in the life of earth signs. Earth signs are proud of routine and longevity which lends also to the delightful quality of loyalty. Loyalty and longevity are bunk mates.

Deserving of trust? I do think we trust those whose actions we can predict. Do you give your extra set of house keys to a routine, dependable person or the friends who wants to be a wandering minstrel and poet?

With trust, you want to know that what the person says is what he/she will do. Newt Gingrich, for example, says anything at any time. Mr.Gingrich is filled with Gemini and Sagittarius energy which lives for the moment.

That doesn’t mean that in Gingrich’s heart of hearts he doesn’t care. It just means the stimulation of new people, interesting surroundings and challenging ideas are the bone that he chases whenever it’s thrown.

Earth signs are interested in new people if they have something in common. New surroundings are suspect because you don’t know if you will like the food and if the bed is the correct firmness for a good night’s sleep. And challenging ideas are something that can wait until the chores are done.

What kind of trust?

While trust may seem like one thing, the question “Can you trust a Capricorn woman?” makes me wonder in what realm the trust is sought.

Do you want someone who will keep a set of your house keys but not go through all your drawers? If so, earth signs are good and Scorpio too (fixed water) but stay away from air signs.

Do you want someone you can trust with your heart, someone who will marry you and stay through thick and thin?

Earth is good for that too, but you might feel the person is honoring a sense of duty rather than a sense of love. Water signs, in contrast, will stick around because of pure love and admiration. In fact, you may have a little trouble with water if you want to say goodbye.

In answer to the “Can you trust a Capricorn woman?” question I would ask the questioner if this were a friend, boss or love interest. Capricorn will manifest trust in different ways in different arenas.

While some signs may be more trustworthy than others, we all have our insecurities and act on them occasionally, regularly or frequently.

If a sign falls into default patterns due to discomfort (out of the comfort zone), there may be a breach in trust. With the sign of Capricorn, the breach may be in areas of career or ambition.

If you are competing for a job against a Capricorn woman, then there may be a reason for a little lack of trust.

Trust is in the eye of the beholder

I trust this doesn’t answer the question. The more I blog on astrology the more I feel that our horoscope represents lens (or DNA) through which we view the world and what we perceive is an energy pattern, not an absolute.

My ability to trust you and have you trust me is dependent on our personalities and how each of us defines “trust.” If trust is dependability, then earth signs fit the bill. But if your idea of “trust” is on the emotional plane, earth signs may come up short.

I’ve always found that jealous people are doing things they shouldn’t and that’s why they, in turn, show jealousy toward their partners. In other words, they fear you’re doing to them what they are doing to you.

Any question about a quality or characteristic in others brings up this same dynamic, to me. If I’m worrying about trusting you, then can you trust me?

Posted in The most . . . sign of the zodiac | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ohio Political Fight Club: House District 15

Posted on August 2, 2012 by ohioastrology

This round of Ohio Political Fight Club pits Steve Stivers (Republican) against Pat Lang (Democrat) in Ohio’s House District 15. Stivers name is quite familiar to me as he has hosted numerous job fairs in the state. Running on that alone should keep this man in his house seat.

Steve Stivers

Stivers has sun in Aries and moon in Sagittarius or Capricorn. Moon in Sagittarius versus moon in Capricorn is more than night and day – it’s about complete lack of control (Sagittarius) or total emotion-annihilating control (Capricorn).

Which is it?

I’d have to ask someone who knows him which it is. Is he a military task master or an out of control fun-loving man who can’t give up that one indulgent habit?

If moon is in Capricorn, there’s an earth trine (not by exact degree though) in the chart showing a grounded person with spunk (sun in Aries).

Stivers focus on job fairs might be more than response to economic times – he might be an earth trine who thinks of little besides work.

Stivers also has some water in the chart (Neptune in Scorpio, Saturn in Pisces and Venus in Pisces) indicating a feeling nature even if moon in Capricorn may suggest otherwise.

What Stivers lacks is air, the ability to socialize with ease and relate on an intellectual plane. Stivers is a man of action, a good thing, but he may not be able to communicate well why he does what he does. His response to your questions might simply be, “Wait and see then you’ll understand.”

Uranus in Aries is conjunct his sun providing energy. If the moon is in Capricorn, Pluto is hovering and creating great tension and frustration because Aries/Capricorn is intensely impatient and the people in the office just aren’t fast or responsive enough.

Neptune transiting Pisces will help Stivers relax a bit as he realizes (none too soon) that he doesn’t have to save the entire world.

Whew! That’s a relief but what to do now? Aries and Capricorn can’t rest, so what’s the next mission?

Pat Lang

Lang has sun in Libra and moon probably in Aquarius. Where Stivers has no air in the chart, Lang is filled with it.

Venus and Pluto are in Libra too so Lang loves a relationship and especially one where he is in control. He wants to be in control because if you wander off, he feels insecure.

Saturn in Leo is trine sun in Libra indicating a serious commitment to romance and pleasure but a lack of true confidence. The romantic and persuasive realm is where Lang feels most comfortable.

Lang will enjoy the socializing part of running for office but may not know what to do if he were to actually win the seat. Day-to-day tasks take more than charm to manage.

Moon in Aquarius has fixed opinions about an ideal society. What lacks in Lang’s chart is earth. There’s no ability to ground ideas in reality although there is a great deal of organizational ability.

Libra is pushy as it’s a cardinal sign. So expect lots of “We should do it this way.” To stop the argument I have some advice – just say you agree and the idea can start now.

You have plenty of time to work on prevention should Lang have enough focus to implement free landscaping for all homeowners, free legal advice for everyone, and life sentences for people who litter.

Mercury in Scorpio represents Lang’s detective mind, when he’s not distracted by charming people. Although there’s some insight into others’ motivations, air still has a certain naiveté.

Jupiter and Mars in Cancer represent love of family and small groups of close friends (The Big Chill).

Uranus transiting Aries will oppose the Libra energy and square the Cancer energy causing disruption from “others” who just won’t calm down, even after Lang has explained all of his actions in detail.

Pluto is transiting Capricorn and opposite that Jupiter in Cancer. Family life will change structure for Lang. Some members of the family may separate from the unit.

Lack of Air meets Lack of Earth

Stivers lacks air (social ability) and Lang lacks earth (practicality).

In the age of visual image, sociability (and charisma) can often trump practicality. However, as Pluto transits Capricorn razing our economic structures, earth may trump air this time.

The other interesting thing about earth is that it doesn’t go away. It’s under you at all times. Air, water and fire, on the other hand, come and go.

Source of candidate data: Ohio 2012 Election Center

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If you want to be a famous Hollywood director, what sign should you be?

Posted on July 30, 2012 by ohioastrology

Do you want to direct Jaw-dropping Titanic movies that Gangs in New York will see in droves with Apocalyptic endings that are famous even in New Zealand?

If you do, you’d better be these two things:

1. Dramatic
2. Controlling

Dramatic and controlling – now which sign contains both of these endearing qualities?

Control makes me think of Capricorn. But Capricorn is about structure and rules and laws and other such boredom. No drama here.

Drama makes me think of Leo, the Drama Queen (male or female) of the Universe. Controlling? In a way, since they are constantly seeking your attention. But the desire for attention comes first; the control would be an ancillary product of that need for limelight.

That leaves ten signs to filter.

Hmm. Drama and control, drama and control.

Another member of the zodiac control freak club is Scorpio. Scorpio is a fixed water sign. The mixture of water feeling and fixed purpose creates a personality of emotional extremes – it loves or it hates (or you don’t exist).

Scorpio intensity creates strong reactions in others (ala Hillary Clinton) that either hate or love the Scorpio. Adam Ant, punk poseur and Scorpio sun, has a song “Friend or Foe” where he sings that he wants all that get to know him “to become admirers or my enemies.” I believe Mr. Ant is deliberately playing on Scorpio traits.

Scorpio is ruled by the “planet” Pluto, god of the underworld.

The stereotypical evil Scorpio is digging in the dirt so it can feel the underbelly of the world and struggle with thoughts of good and evil (sound fun?).

Personally I find Scorpios delightful company because of their keen insight into others. If you see into the motivations of others and don’t laugh, you’ve probably got some problems. My Scorpio friends laugh at the world.

Looking at some of the titans of Hollywood directing, I found a lot of Scorpio and Pluto:

1. James Cameron – Leo sun, Pisces moon, Pluto conjunct sun
2. Francis Ford Coppola – Aries sun, moon in Sagittarius or Scorpio
3. Peter Jackson – Scorpio sun, Leo moon
4. Martin Scorsese – Scorpio sun, Pisces moon
5. Steven Spielberg – Sagittarius sun, Scorpio moon

It makes sense that we’d find the sign Scorpio in the movies. If we don’t have strong reactions from the movies, why would we watch them?

While movies themselves are in the realm of Neptune (images), the emotions contained within the movies are Scorpionic – people love or hate. Who wants to see a movie about two people who go to lunch and then go home?

We want Scorpio drama, passion, hatred and love.

This may explain why we never tire of movies about the Holocaust. We know the Holocaust was horrific, so why do we keep watching those images?

Ostensibly it’s so we don’t “forget,” but I wonder if some part of us wants to watch intense and disturbing images, to take an emotional and spiritual roll in the mud.

After our intense roll in the mud (watching gangs beat each other up with chains, watching men being chewed alive by sharks, watching thousands of people die in the cold north Atlantic, watching men die grotesque deaths in pointless wars and watching Hobbits throw (wedding) rings into caverns of hot, bubbling lava), we shed our dark sides and come out purged and clean.

It’s the same reason we go to horror movies, but it’s more obvious what we are doing.

Scorpio goes the other way too and we have intense love and passion. Scorpio isn’t all dark – don’t believe those ancient astrology books.

If you want to be a titan-of-a-director, being a Scorpio would help. And if you weren’t born a Scorpio, you can either 1) add some intense emotion to your movie (and a car chase) or 2) stick with the indie flicks.

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Ohio Political Fight Club: House District 6

Posted on July 29, 2012 by ohioastrology

Ohio House District 6, from this map, covers about 75 percent of the eastern side of the state. It appears to be the Ohio River East district. I hope each of the candidates has a nice boat.

This November, Bill Johnson (Republican) will be facing Charles Wilson (Democrat). Let’s see what’s happening along the old Ohio River.

Bill Johnson

Johnson has sun conjunct Saturn and Venus in Scorpio and moon in Taurus. Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer trine Scorpio and sexile Taurus.

Mars is in Aquarius opposite Pluto in Leo. A nice Mercury/Neptune conjunction in Libra (very poetic) trines Mars in Aquarius and sextiles Pluto in Leo.

The words that come to mind for Johnson are serious, practical, intense, deep and stubborn with a smooth demeanor and comforting presence that can calm anyone at any time.

Nice stuff.

The element least represented is fire so Johnson can be overly practical and serious and get a little blue about life, especially with that Saturn conjunct sun in Scorpio. If you ask Johnson to throw away a yogurt container for you, he will execute this request in the same manner in which he would lead a group of soldiers through enemy territory, if asked. (I just Googled and see he does have military service).

And don’t insult his momma. Johnson can take anything you say about him, but talk about a loved one and he’ll have his eye out for the next opportunity to not help you.

Transiting Saturn is moving from Libra to Scorpio. In Libra, Johnson may have had laryngitis or some other restriction on speech. With Neptune conjunct Mercury in Libra, there is much ability for graceful and diplomatic speech. This is a guy who could be a speechwriter for the president. If we had time of birth, we could see where that nice conjunction lives.

Saturn moves into Scorpio at the beginning of October and will be Johnson’s second Saturn return. It’s time to get less serious and lift any self-imposed restrictions. Johnson probably has a code of ethics he’s followed since grade school and some of those vows may no longer be necessary.

It’s time to lighten up and share some stuff, like money and property. A charitable contribution to a group may be just what’s needed to release some energy from the Aquarius/Scorpio square.

Neither Scorpio nor Taurus is detached and some letting go might finally occur and feel like freedom.

What kind of freedom?

With that Mercury/Neptune conjunction in Libra, I’m wondering if Johnson doesn’t want to do something sweet.

Charles Wilson

Wilson is a Capricorn sun, Gemini moon (but possibly Cancer). I’ve been seeing a lot of this Capricorn/Gemini energy in this election.

Capricorn, like Scorpio, is serious and proud. These two men will probably duke it out over who is most responsible (“I spent an entire Saturday removing gum from sidewalks.” “Yeah we’ll I drove every senior citizen in the district to church last Sunday.”).

Pluto is transiting Capricorn right now but it will be a while before it conjuncts Wilson’s sun (15 years or so). Then Wilson will go through transformations of his ambitious personality.

Gemini is an air sign. Capricorn and Gemini in combination create an Executive extraordinaire but not a feeling or compassionate person. (If Wilson’s moon is in Cancer, that’s a different story).

Capricorn and Gemini make for shrewdness and mental agility, of the practical kind. This is the person who can bargain quickly, running exchange rates in his mind. This is the person who watches stock prices and takes calculated risks. The risks are mostly for ambition and because he gets how things work, not necessarily for the gains the risks provide.

Wilson’s Uranus and Saturn are in Gemini. Transiting Jupiter will make a visit here soon. It’s possible that the moon is near that conjunction as well.

While Wilson is smart, he often flaunts it and Jupiter makes him want to audition for Jeopardy. With Mercury and Venus in Aquarius, it’s also possible the when Wilson speaks, no one really can understand what he’s saying. He may be too abstract and have unclear connection between his ideas.

Relations with siblings are on-again off-again with this aspect. Jupiter’s one-transit through Gemini will make sibling and neighbor relations more friendly.

Mars in Sagittarius opposite moon in Gemini suggests some indulgence which might then make the Capricorn sun feel guilty (or maybe not). Jupiter opposite sun adds to this and suggests lots of appetite – for food and other things.

Pluto in Leo sextiles Neptune in Libra. Wilson is of the hippie generation and would have been 23 years old during the summer of love. Did he act like a Capricorn sun or Gemini moon during that time?

When Saturn enters Scorpio at the beginning of November, Wilson may be even harder to understand as Saturn will square the Mercury/Venus conjunction in Aquarius. Talk will be of money and credit and Wilson may talk respond with mathematical formulas of high finance rather than in language that the average person understands.

Battle of Seriousness

Both Johnson and Wilson are serious men. Both have executive ability, shrewdness and maturity. Wilson, if moon in Gemini, is less consistent but more adaptable.

I’d try to follow this race but two serious men talking about balance sheets isn’t the fun I look for in a political race. I’m looking for Newt Gingrich style entertainment of talking back to the moderators, changing ideas every ten minutes and ridiculous personal attacks on opponents.

Now that’s politics.

House District 6 might be okay with a boring election knowing that either candidate will at minimum take the job seriously. Seriously.

Source of candidate data: Ohio 2012 Election Center

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