Jon Huntsman – the Next Not-Romney?

Posted on December 17, 2011 by ohioastrology

Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, appeared early on to be the Republican Party front runner for presidential nominee. One by one, his contenders have risen in the polls against him only to fall like cake baked in a cheap apartment oven.

Michele Bachmann was the new flavor of ice cream back in the summer. She rose like a kite in the wind only to find the wind died down naturally as wind does.

Rick Perry had a short stint as front runner, possibly based on the power of the state of Texas.

Then there was Herman Cain who rose to the top of the polls in the fall with his 9-9-9 plan only to fall by the hands of painted finger nails and swinging hips – women. Women, then, are powerful in politics if only to be used against powerful men.

Newt Gingrich is the current “not Romney” fighting claims of inconsistency and zaniness. Americans don’t like zaniness in a president (or much else). But I say this all the time so will stop now. I promise.

The Next Not-Romney

I’m guessing there will be another one or two “not Romney” contenders before the primaries are over. There are three choices for next NR – Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. Paul, I believe, won’t make it because he has his own little cult. That leaves Huntsman and Santorum.

My guess is that it will be Huntsman. A member of my astrology meetup mentioned Huntsman way back when saying he thought this might be the man in the wings. Because of that comment, I’ve been keeping an eye on him. Huntsman hasn’t been a debate whore like the rest of the gang. That suggests some preternatural confidence.

Huntsman’s chart is about confidence.

Bachmann was the summer flavor, Perry and Cain were the fall colors and Gingrich is the winter fire. Maybe Huntsman, with sun in spring sign Aries, will be the spring flavor. Maybe more.

Jon Huntsman

Huntsman has sun in Aries. According to the Political Astrology Blog, which has claimed to discover his time of birth as 11:58 a.m., Huntsman’s moon is in Aries. That’s a double dose of Aries.

Aries is a cardinal fire sign. It’s the sign of the key phrase, “I am” and “me first.” Aries is about competition so Aries sun and moon is competition squared. This is a man who wakes up, sees the sun shine, and is already competing with his family to see who rose first.

And if he wasn’t the one to rise first, the next competition could be who showers the first. Not first in the shower? How about healthiest breakfast?

You think Huntsman’s not competitive?

I’ll bet you Romney’s $10,000 that he is. Huntsman’s sun is in the 10th house of career so everything little thing he does is about appearance.

One thing I’ve noticed about Aries that I don’t think was mentioned by the late Linda Goodman is that Aries, much like Pisces, has a certain naiveté.

Being the first sign of the zodiac, Aries is like a young child, innocent to the world and believing what others say. That does not make Aries a rule follower like Taurus and Capricorn. It just makes them unaware of the underlying motivations of their fellow men.

Aries has such a natural, childlike belief in itself that it doesn’t understand that others act out of insecurity, weakness and fear. Acting from those negative states produces ugly behavior that Aries just does not comprehend.

This naiveté for Aries provides a sort of psychic protection the way that boundaries and barriers provide a psychic protection for Capricorn. Aries, like Libra and Sagittarius, wears rose colored glasses. Aries naiveté is harder to penetrate than Libra and Sagittarius because Aries is more self-centered and draws energy from seeing itself as the light bulb in a dark room.

The rose colored glasses are cemented to the Aries face because in the end, Aries has extreme difficulty viewing life from another’s set of glasses. Libra will take off the glasses because the “other” has made that a necessity. And Sagittarius will eventually because the search for meaning allows this sign to alter its view.

Preternatural confidence is a necessity for a person who wants to be president of the United States. Huntsman both has the confidence and can handle the competition.

Huntsman’s slow, deliberate speaking style appears to arise from his Venus and Mercury in Pisces which trines Neptune in Scorpio. He may talk like a self-sacrificing, empathetic savior, and he might even see himself this way, but he’s not. He’s pure Aries.

Venus, Mercury (in Pisces) and the moon (in Aries) are all in the 9th house of philosophy, beliefs, long-distance travel and things “foreign.” This would explain Huntsman love of foreign lands. He may connect more with foreigners than with his own people.

Huntsman’s Jupiter and Saturn are in Capricorn, in square (Saturn a wide square) to the sun and moon conjunction in Aries. This is the aspect that leads me to the idea that Huntsman has a mean streak. Capricorn and Aries are two self-centered signs who want to be on top. Consequently, this aspect creates intense drive to SUCCEED.

What is success? Everyone’s definition is different. But that does not prostitute the meaning of the word success. Success still is about attainment and attainment still looks to the world and whatever the world is offering at this space of time and history. The acknowledgement of the outside world is the barometer of success. Success and social order are the tea and the tea bag.

Huntsman has all the elements in his chart – earth, air, fire and water. That does give him a nice balance that allows him to mix with the different elements of this world.

Mars in Aquarius means that Huntsman can share his success with a group, which is critical with so much self-centeredness in the chart. When he lies in bed, it’s about Huntsman but when he’s out in the world, a Cancer rising and Mars in Aquarius can convince others that while he’s got the number on his back and is running the marathon, when he crosses the finish line you cross the finish line.

Huntsman has an interesting and complex chart. He’s a mixture of shrewdness and innocence, of openness and cunning. For this double Aries (sun and moon) to stay quietly behind the scenes means he’s able to work from his Capricorn energy (Jupiter and Saturn) which quietly but ruthlessly plots and plans.

Pluto is transiting Capricorn right now and squaring Huntsman’s sun and moon. Huntsman appears much calmer than this aspect would suggest. Rather than ascending to the top of the ladder at this time, I would have suspected a fall from the ladder. Or an earthquake under the ladder.

Now I’m really wondering what is going on behind the scenes with this man.

One more thing about Capricorn — it rules the skin and knees. If the Political Astrology Blog has the correct time, Capricorn rules Huntsman’s house of health. With Pluto transiting this house, Huntsman will need to protect the knees and watch for illnesses such as arthritis and skin ailments.

I will continue watching this interesting man. I’m feeling more now from looking at his chart that he has something up his sleeve.

Maybe Huntsman is the real “not Romney.” Pretty soon we’ll know.

Posted in Politicians - Republican Presidential Candidates | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Talking to Your Cat (or Child) About Fidelity

Posted on December 15, 2011 by ohioastrology

Presidential primary and election time is a great time to bring up that most delicate of subjects with your cat (or child) – fidelity.

Fidelity comes up a lot during elections. The cynical part of me thinks it’s because politicians are driven by hard moon-Pluto aspects which translate into English (and psychology) as a compulsive and emotional need to control the environment. Hard moon-Pluto aspects also indicate a psychic invasion, usually by the mother. That psychic invasion leads to a compulsive need to control to avoid future invasion. Ironically, running for politics is a sure way to be psychically, emotionally and mentally attacked.

Fidelity issues in politics arise, I speculate, because of a sense of power and a desire to betray so that emotionally one can feel like the top dog. And, probably, the simple fact that the temptations are greater and more accessible.

The Mr. Smith of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” image does not hold up when looking at the charts of candidates. Detached and idealistic persons “serving” their country are not what come up in the charts of those that make it to the top of the US executive branch.

Talking to Your Cat (or Child) About Fidelity

Once again, my tuxedo cat Lacy lured me into a conversation about politics. Sly devil, she leads me to the trap so easily. This time it was about fidelity and the Republican presidential candidates. I want to share my own way of explaining this delicate issue of fidelity in case it helps others.

If you don’t care for astrology, just remove the astrological talk with another noun or adjective that reflects more accurately your beliefs.

The Conversation

The other day Lacy asked, “Is Newt Gingrich really going to pledge personal fidelity to his spouse?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Clearly the marriage vows didn’t cover it.”

“Why is this necessary?” she asked.

“For a man with so many planets in Gemini [or insert your own noun/adjective here], it is difficult to remain consistent. As I said before, in America everyone gets married. Maybe Gingrich (and Herman Cain) should have just been playboys, like the French dandies you read about in Balzac novels.”

“Do you think that Gingrich, who is married for the third time, will honor his agreement?”

All pet owners and parents fear these kinds of tough questions because we must talk about the bad side of human nature.

“No one can know for sure,” Lacy, “but Gemini and Sagittarius (where Gingrich’s moon is placed) both have trouble with consistency. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a Gemini sun, is famous for the quote ‘A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.’ Maybe Gingrich is a reincarnation of Emerson.”

“What about the other candidates? Do you think they mean it?”

“Rick Perry probably does,” I replied. “With that Pisces sun and Virgo moon, he is probably too shy to philander.”

“Then there is Michele Bachmann,” I continued. “She has Venus in Gemini, so likes variety, but with that moon in Aquarius, would probably be attracted to some nerdy scientist with little connection to his body. Rick Santorum also has moon in Aquarius so maybe he’s the type she would like.”

“So do you think she’s honoring fidelity in her marriage?” Lacy asked.

“We talk about this all the time. Astrology doesn’t say what will happen but merely explains the motivation if it does happen. Astrology can function as fortunetelling only if people are unaware of their own motivations and live more unconsciously than consciously.”

“What about Mitt Romney,” Lacy probed, “with that Scorpio moon? Aren’t Scorpios known to be highly sexed?”

“Yes, that is true,” I responded, blushing at the phrase “highly sexed” coming from my innocent little feline.

“Romney is also an authority in his church, another place where Scorpio moon finds comfort. If you can’t have intense physical connection with others, why not place yourself in authority and penetrate others’ secrets as a religious leader? Maybe Romney is happy to connect in this way rather than sexually.”

Lacy stared at me, her yellow eyes clearly confused. Scorpio energy is another of those delicate subjects in life.

I went on. “Scorpio likes to penetrate in any area of life. All connection for Scorpio must be intense and sexual encounters rate at the top of the intensity scale. Religious and political encounters are intense as well.”

I moved on, in rushed embarrassment.

“Ron Paul has sun in Leo and moon in Taurus. He enjoys physical pleasures. Taurus, though, is slow to move so probably if he had the chance for an affair, he’d think about it too long and miss the opportunity.”

“Isn’t Taurus one of the most loyal signs?” my feline asked.

“It is,” I replied. “Taurus is okay with having the same meal every day, which is how some view marriage.”

“That leaves Jon Huntsman,” Lacy meowed. “Why wasn’t he at the last debate where fidelity was discussed? Was he deliberately avoiding the subject?

“I doubt that,” Lacy. “I don’t know if Huntsman has had an affair, but if he did, it would be to punish his partner. With that Capricorn Saturn square Aries sun and moon, there is some meanness to the personality.”

“So when people cheat on their spouses, it’s not always for the same reason?”

“Yes,” I replied enthusiastically. I gave Lacy a Whiskas treat as positive reinforcement for learning her astrology so well and understanding that astrology provides the motivation but can’t really tell you if someone will do something specific.

Chewing her treat, Lacy gazed at me with love. “I will never leave you for another owner,” she said lovingly.

Posted in Politicians - Republican Presidential Candidates | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Most Sentimental Sign of the Zodiac is . . .

Posted on December 13, 2011 by ohioastrology

To me, Cancer is the most sentimental and nostalgic sign of the zodiac.

Sentiment, according to Dictionary.com is defined as “expressive of or appealing to sentiment,  especially the tender emotions and feelings, as love, pity, or nostalgia.”

When speaking of emotions, astrologically we are speaking of water signs. There are three water signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

Each water sign is emotional, but in different ways. I see Cancer (cardinal water) as sentimental, Scorpio (fixed water) as obsessive and Pisces (mutable water) as empathetic. Each of these signs has a propensity to live in the past: Cancer (nostalgic past), Scorpio (past grievances) and Pisces (past victimhood).

Sentiment I see most in the realm of Cancer which rules our inner emotions, early home life and the nurturing parent. Cancer’s sentimentality is a desire to return to loving, comforting emotions most associated with a loving upbringing.

If you don’t have Cancer or water in your chart, think of walking in the door after work to the smell of the crockpot simmering your dinner. Think of the warm bed you snuggle into with your cup of cocoa after a tough day. Think of lying under a blanket with your loved one (or loved pet) beside you watching a TV show from your youth (like Lost in Space or the Brady Bunch).

Most of us like these feelings but Cancer seeks them most. Because of this desire for the loving and nurturing feelings of youth, Cancer often recreates those habits or traditions throughout the entire life. Taurus, too, likes to recreate the routines of early home life, but more out of duty or a belief that those routines were best than out of emotional nostalgia.

Cancer rules the moon so our moon and its sign indicates how we seek comfort and how we react to life’s challenges. Reaction is returning to comforting responses developed in childhood.

If you find yourself needing some comfort, find your Cancer friend or loved one. Tell ’em about your bad day. They will give you a big hug, or cook you some dinner or relieve you of some nasty burden like a down jacket, sealing in the warmth and protecting you from a cold, harsh world.

Posted in The most . . . sign of the zodiac | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Republican Fight Club: Romney and Gingrich

Posted on December 6, 2011 by ohioastrology

Newt Gingrich is the new “not Mitt Romney” front-runner for the Republican Presidential Nomination. As I write, it occurs to me that maybe there’s always a “non-Romney” challenger so that Romney can get practice. Maybe the powers that be think if he can take on the other seven candidates one-by-one, he may have a chance against Obama in 2012.

This reminds me of an old Saturday Night Live episode with the late Phil Hartman. First we see an old martial arts movie where a gang of thugs attacks the hero. Each member of the gang runs up, dressed in black, one at a time, and the hero, dressed in white, repels them one-by-one.

Back to the SNL set, Hartman, with a gang wearing the same black clothes as the movie, tells his buddies that they agreed to attack all at once, not one-by-one.

That sounds like what’s going on in the Republican pre-primary campaign right now. If they all ganged up, Romney would be gone. But they are going one-by-one.

Romney and Gingrich – Different Elements

Romney has both sun and moon in water signs (Pisces and Scorpio, respectively). Gingrich has sun in air (Gemini) and moon in fire (Sagittarius).

In astrology, water is associated with emotions, air with thoughts and fire with intuition. How do these elements work in nature?

Water created the Grand Canyon. Water, in the form of a tsunami, killed thousands in Thailand and Indonesia in 2004. For water to be fresh, it must be fluid. Stagnant water is dangerous water filled with diseases like cholera.

Fire burns and destroys its host whereas water changes the nature of what it forms. Fire needs air and moves quickly until stopped by earth.

Air creates wind and wind knocks things over. Planes fly through the air and drop bombs or fly into buildings killing thousands.

Romney and Gingrich Fight Club

Water signs fight though manipulation and emotional slights. Fire fights openly (ala Cain) by overwhelming you with force. Air fights with talk, with ideas, and with facts pulled out of a hat like a magician.

Gingrich is a Gemini sun and has three other planets in Gemini (Mercury, Uranus and Saturn). Here’s a perfect, I mean PERFECT, representation of Gemini slight-of-talk from one of the November debates [quotes from http://nation.foxnews.com/newt-gingrich/2011/11/13/gingrich-refuses-criticize-romney%5D:

Major Garrett: Thanks again, Scott. Mis– Mr. Speaker, you said yesterday that Governor Romney is a competent manager. But you said you were unsure if he was really capable of changing Washington. You said you were the change agent. Based on the arc of this campaign and perhaps what you’ve heard tonight, would you care to evaluate Governor Romney’s ability to think outside the box and change United States national security or foreign policy perspectives.

Newt Gingrich: No.

Major Garrett: You said so last night. Then what was the point, sir? Then what was the point, sir, of bringing it up yesterday on a national radio show?

Newt Gingrich: I brought it up yesterday ’cause I was on a national radio show. I think he brings up things when he’s on national radio shows. We’re here tonight talking to the American people about why every single one of us is better than Barack Obama. And that’s the topic (INAUDIBLE).

* * * * * *

That last paragraph where Gingrich says he brought it up because he was on a national radio show is pure Gemini subterfuge. Gingrich is really saying, “I said it but that was yesterday” which means . . .?

Gingrich is paying homage to the dark side of Gemini – duplicity. Gingrich clearly has the ability to look you in the eye and claim that what he said yesterday doesn’t matter less than 24 hours later.

Gingrich will fight with words, slippery and tricky words.

If Romney pays homage to his watery nature, he will return the fight with watery manipulation which involves finding a way to gain sympathy. Water’s trick is to be the victim.

Scorpio, the sign in which Romney’s moon resides, tends to affect people strongly. Scorpios receive hate or love from their fellow men, but rarely a tepid response.

Another way to fight with water is to tap into the emotions of others for one’s benefit. In Greek terms, he must use pathos to move the audience from Gingrich’s logos.

Gemini (Gingrich) is cunning through mental agility and Pisces/Scorpio (Romney) is cunning through emotional perception.

Gingrich’s air creates waves in Romney’s water. Air also transports the clouds that bring rain. Romney’s water can put out Gingrich’s fire.

Since their natures are so different, I imagine their fighting will not look like fighting per se but disjointed attacks on each other that do not appear to have a clear connection. Since both are Washington insiders, there may be some behind the scenes fighting that we never see.

It will be interesting to see how long Gingrich lasts with his “I said it yesterday and it doesn’t mean anything today,” answers. Americans love fixed signs in the White House and do not care for mutable signs (such as Gemini and Sagittarius) which is almost the whole of Gingrich’s chart.

Gingrich may have gotten away with “waffling” during the debate, but the American public does not like waffling. One of those 180-degree turns may become the focus of Gingrich’s life as happened to Bush Sr. with his claim there would be “no new taxes.”

I can’t wait to see what kind of duplicitous contradiction becomes the bane of Gingrich’s existence.

Posted in Politicians - Republican Presidential Candidates | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Astrology of Cheapskates and Wallet Forgetters

Posted on December 5, 2011 by ohioastrology

Ever had the experience of going to dinner with a group of friends and when the bill comes, someone forgot their wallet? Or when you split the bill and everyone pays with cash, somehow there is not enough money? Do you have a friend who announces as you order that he/she doesn’t have money right now and asks you to pay?

There’s a Two and a Half Men episode where brothers Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and Alan (Jon Cryer) are on a double date at a restaurant and it’s time to pay. Alan suddenly has to go to the bathroom. Charlie decides to follow him and wait out his ploy to avoid paying. They spend 20 minutes in the bathroom pretending to poop when Charlie finally succeeds in waiting out Alan. Unfortunately, the dates didn’t wait and are gone when they return to the table.

Alan is a cheapskate.

Dictionary.com defines cheapskate as “a miserly or stingy person, especially one who tries to avoid paying a fair share of costs or expenses.”

Who are the cheapskates of the zodiac?

From my experience, cheapskates and “wallet forgetters” come from some zodiac signs and a particular house placement.

Cheapskates

Cheapskates are the folks who just don’t like to spend money on others. Other terms for this trait are tightfisted, stingy and parsimonious. When the trait is not extreme, it’s simply called frugality.

In the horoscope, the 2nd house relates to money and values. Your values are most clearly indicated by how you spend your money. We’ve all encountered someone rejecting an invitation with us because they have no money only to see that person spend the money on something else. That friend is simply indicating priorities (values) with the money they have to spend.

Individuals with sun or moon in the 2nd house are likely to be on the frugal-to-cheapskate continuum as opposed to the generous-to-spendthrift continuum.

Earth Signs

The earth signs are more likely to be parsimonious than the other elements (water, fire, air). Earth signs become cheapskates because they worry about survival. Taurus accumulates, Virgo worries and Capricorn seeks status. Money for the earth signs is saved for these reasons. Earth signs are not overly generous.

Astrologer Liz Greene, I believe, that likens money to emotions. If one is stingy with money, one is probably also stingy with emotions. Earth is not emotional.

Earth is, to me, the only element that truly derives happiness from material goods. The other elements, to my view, seek happiness through material goods but not from them.

Even more than sun sign, I find moon in the earth signs to talk and worry about money. If your friend spends the evening telling you about coupons, this friend may have moon in earth.

Moon in the earth signs will certainly shell out the cash but rarely out of spontaneous generosity. Earth signs follow the rules and if your earth-sign moon friend/family buys something for you, it is probably because it is part of a duty, responsibility or tradition. They will buy you a nice Christmas present, but won’t, in the middle of July, see a bag of your favorite candy and buy it for you for no reason. They might, however, buy it and store it away for your birthday.

Wallet Forgetters

Wallet forgetting is a different dynamic than pure cheapskate-dom. Wallet forgetting tries to get others to pay the bill because it doesn’t want to pay or can’t.

While the 2nd house rules one’s own money, the 8th house (its opposite) rules other people’s money. I find individuals with 8th house sun and moon to seek money from others either voluntarily (such as joint finances in a marriage) or involuntarily (such as forgetting one’s wallet).

The 8th house traditionally represents shared resources, death and taxes. That’s a lot of heavy Scorpionic material. Individuals with an 8th house emphasis are not interested in self-reliance emotionally or financially as are 2nd house folks.

Not all 8th house people will forget their wallets at the group dinner, but the 8th house is not shy about receiving gifts. Because they openly receive, they are also likely to openly give, even if what they are giving is not truly in their possession.

Second house individuals store (and hoard) whereas 8th house individuals share (voluntarily or involuntarily). Second house individuals pay in cash, 8th house individuals like credit cards.

Famous Cheapskates

My Google search turned up Jack Benny as a notorious cheapskate. According to Astrotheme, Benny had a Capricorn rising with sun in Aquarius in the 2nd house.

Leona Helmsley of “only little people pay taxes” fame, according to Astrotheme, has moon in Aquarius in the 8th house.

Google also mentioned a Hetty Green, an early 20th century businesswoman called “the Witch of Wall Street.” The Astrotheme chart for Green has moon in Leo in the 2nd house.

Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes had sun in Capricorn.

Financial or Emotional?

Cheapskates sometimes bother us, even if we don’t need their generosity. Is it because what they are really withholding is something more emotional?

If Liz Greene is correct in connecting money with emotions, this explains why there is often contention during the inheritance process. When the deceased makes financial decisions through the will, there is an emotional impact to those on the receiving end.

This explains why people can react so strongly to the “will” of the deceased. It’s not really about money; it’s about what the financial decisions mean in terms of love and emotion.

Posted in The most . . . sign of the zodiac | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Sign Most Likely to Hold a Grudge is . . .

Posted on December 3, 2011 by ohioastrology

First, what’s a grudge?

Sometimes in your life you decide to disassociate from other people. You don’t want them in your life for one reason or another. That is not the “grudge” I’m referring to.

Dictionary.com defines grudge as “a feeling of ill will or resentment.” Holding a grudge where you don’t acknowledge someone because you want to punish them is the type of grudge I’m referring to in this blog.

This type of grudge involves two aspects: punishment and denial. When you punish someone, you are making yourself into an authority in relation to that person. When you remove that person from your life as punishment, you also deny yourself any joy or pleasure you would have from their presence.

Therefore, a grudge involves a desire to punish and the ability to deny oneself pleasure.

What sign does that the best?

Capricorn.

Capricorn seems to be the sign that carries the most resentment. Resentment involves not just sensitivity, but a judgmental nature.

Capricorn loves authority and is known for its ambition. Whatever the lot in life, Capricorn sees itself at the top of the ladder, whether the ladder is in a corporation, restaurant, store or hot dog stand.

By punishing others through denying company and conversation (i.e., “the cold shoulder”), Capricorn willingly creates self-imposed isolation. Isolation can lead to loneliness which leads to more resentment.

That’s not to say that all Capricorns do this. It’s simply saying that those who harbor grudges as a form of punishment may be influenced by this complex and judgmental sign.

There is another sign that I place second in line for holding a grudge – Scorpio. Scorpio is extremely sensitive and it is easy to offend this sign. Scorpio gone bad is known to “bite its own tail,” meaning there is self-destructiveness.

Scorpio also seeks revenge for perceived slights. If a Scorpio is holding a grudge, they may also be plotting and planning.

Capricorn Grudge vs Scorpio Grudge

The Capricorn grudge is both punishment and self-denial. The Scorpio grudge involves hurt feelings and a desire for revenge.

Both signs can deny themselves pleasures for a long-term goal.

Maybe it was a Capricorn or Scorpio who invented Lent. How many people go through the entire period without sneaking a bit of the self-imposed denied object?

Posted in The most . . . sign of the zodiac | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Ohio Cat Shocked by Claim that Cain Had an Affair

Posted on November 29, 2011 by ohioastrology

My sweet tuxedo cat Lacy was shocked when I told her about the news story of a woman claiming to have had a 13-year extramarital affair with Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain.

“But isn’t he, like, a minister or something?” Lacy asked, whiskers aflutter.

“Yes,” I told her, “But people do not always follow the things they preach, especially Sagittarians. Sagittarians love to find meaning but don’t always have the discipline to follow their ideals.”

“Wouldn’t he feel guilty, though?” Lacy purred quizzically.

“He might feel guilty, Lacy,” I said, “We’ll never know. But sometimes people with a grand fire trine involving the sun, moon and Mars, like Cain has, feel so confident that they don’t believe the rules apply to them. They feel special.”

“We’re all special, aren’t we?” Lacy asked with feline innocence.

“Yes, we are. But folks with Leo in the horoscope feel even more special. Remember when we talked about Cain’s Mars in Leo? When Mars was in Leo this summer, Cain was rocking. Now that Mars is in Virgo, his life has gone to hell in a hand basket.”

“Is Virgo bad then?”

“No, Virgo is not bad. But when you have lots of fire in your chart, you live on possibilities. Virgo brings in the nasty details, like when you realize you left the dishes in the sink before you went on vacation. When you come back from Disneyworld, you have a pile of dirty, nasty, stinking dishes.”

Lacy stared at me with her yellow eyes, thinking about dishes, and then asked:

“Do you think he’ll stay in the race?”

“Even an astrologer can’t know that, Lacy,” I responded. “However, with so much fire in the chart and Pluto conjunct Mars in Leo, Cain may feel he’s invincible.”

“Wouldn’t staying in the race just embarrass his family?”

“I’m sure it would, but with only one planet in water, Saturn in Cancer, Cain isn’t much for other people’s feelings. In fact, with Saturn in Cancer, you’d think he doesn’t really like family life at all.”

“Cain is good looking,” Lacy said, turning her furry little head away in coy embarrassment. “I can see why women like him.”

“Yes, fire is often attractive due to its intense magnetic energy. Cain probably would have been happier as a playboy, but this is America so everyone gets married.”

“Maybe,” Lacy meowed, “Cain will overcome this situation when Mars leaves Virgo?”

“That’s a good thought,” I told Lacy, to encourage her in her astrological studies. “But Mars goes retrograde in Virgo and will not move into Libra until next summer. I fear if Cain stays in the race it will just get uglier and uglier. Mars will be in Virgo until a month before the Republican National Convention. If Cain stays in the race, he will have to cough up some Virgo-like details.”

Just then Lacy coughed up a furball. Sniffing the pile she remarked, “It feels good to cough it all up.”

Posted in Politicians - Republican Presidential Candidates | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

John Kasich – A Mars in Virgo Happy Ending

Posted on November 19, 2011 by ohioastrology

Welcome to Mars in Virgo, which began on November 12. Mars will go retrograde in Virgo and spend a longer than normal amount of time in this mutable earth sign.

Mars is outward projected energy in the sign of discriminating choice, health and work. Is this good or bad for you? It depends on the placements in your natal horoscope.

For Ohio governor John Kasich, this is a positive transit. Kasich has Jupiter, Venus and sun in earth sign Taurus and moon in earth sign Capricorn. At the beginning of December, Mars will be the missing piece of a grand earth trine.

Without knowing Kasich’s time of birth, I can’t know in which houses (i.e., areas of life) this grand trine will occur. It’s also difficult to know if the moon will be part of that grand trine.

Regardless, like seeks like and the earthy Kasich will relish in more earthy energy in his chart. Virgo is the “mental” earth sign which plans, worries and gets ailments due to excessive nervous output.

If I cast what’s called a solar chart for Kasich, with the sun in the first house, the trine will affect the 12th (possibly 1st), 5rd and 9th houses. The earth energy will be in the houses naturally ruled by fire.

It means that Kasich can express his true earth self with positive results. Normally when he wants to talk about the one cent discrepancy in the checkbook register, he might see bored, glassy-eyed expressions. From now until next June, he will have a captive audience for his detailed, practical and serious plans. The party will pause, the music will be turned off and people will listen.

The trine could involve Venus and the moon. If so, Kasich’s relationships with women will improve – again, in practical ways. If Kasich and the women around him are arguing about money and property, agreements will be reached. Practical problems will resolve, but not necessarily emotional or spiritual issues.

Jupiter is still transiting Taurus as well, hopping back ‘n forth over Kasich’s Jupiter and Venus and soon the sun. This is a lovely thing which brings abundance in material aspects of life (Taurus).

For the earth sign Kasich, Jupiter in Taurus and Mars in Virgo are like giving a geologist and extra sandbox to play in. Some like to delve into the collective waters, some like to burn like the logs in a fireplace and some like to soar like birds. Others, with strong earth in the chart, like to put their neat fingers into the dirt and plant new life.

I’m guessing that politically Kasich will have a good six months during the Republican Presidential primaries. Possibly he will play a big part in the campaign from now until June 2012. Ohio, then, will be in the spotlight.

Posted in Politicians - Ohio | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Astrology of Ayn Rand

Posted on November 16, 2011 by ohioastrology

My observation is that people’s beliefs mirror accurately their personalities. Even those sharing the same belief system will have slight or major interpretative differences based on their personality or cultural differences. I believe angry beliefs come from angry people and loving beliefs come from loving people.

By asserting our beliefs, then, we are merely asserting ourselves. But what else can we do, really?

Astrology, to me, accurately reflects one’s personality and by extension beliefs. Often people ask if I “believe” astrology, as though astrology were a religion. Astrology, to my observation, is a symbolic representation of an individual’s personality. It is not something to “believe.” It’s simply a description. It doesn’t answer “Why?”

Astrology, for me, aids in life in two ways. It creates an acceptance that others view the world differently and it reinforces that we all share the same energies, just in different focus and portion. We all have a chart that contains 12 signs of the zodiac. We are all the same in a unique way.

Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand, the Objectivist philosopher and author, mirrors the strong Saturnian influence in her chart. I’m sure she’d despise the idea that her philosophy springs from her personality (and that astrology would describe it) and not from “objective reality.” Yet having a personality in which we view the world doesn’t mean that there is no reality.

In astrology, earth signs are concerned with the material world. Air signs are concerned with the intellectual world, water with the emotional world and fire with the spiritual world.

Rand’s philosophy makes homage to all these worlds. Where she lacks, I believe, is the emotional world. She believed that emotions spring directly and consistently from conscious beliefs. If our emotions so closely followed our conscious beliefs, it would be easy to quit smoking, but it’s not. Even when the mental and physical aspects of addiction (or habit) are conquered, the emotional aspects still remain.

Saturnian Influence

Rand’s Saturnian influence comes from Saturn in Aquarius conjunct her sun in Aquarius and three planets in Capricorn – Uranus, moon and Mercury. Saturn rules Capricorn.

I call Aquarius the sign of the “perfect universe” as it’s the fixed air sign that rules groups, friendships and ideals. Aquarius has been referred to as the genius of the zodiac in that it views life in unique ways and is willing to stand on its own for its ideals. Being a fixed sign, it can be stubborn in belief and therefore can be rebellious, which is necessary to challenge existing beliefs.

Capricorn is the sign of authority, of control and responsibility. Capricorn is serious and represents father figures. Moon in Capricorn is seen as being cold and uncaring. This is because moon in Capricorn represses its feelings because feelings make one vulnerable. Moon in Capricorn wants to be strong and self-reliant, not vulnerable. Capricorn ultimately wants respect.

Why do I feel Rand’s beliefs accurately reflect her chart?

To me, Rand’s philosophy is a clear-headed, consistent view of the way things actually are, realities that people don’t care to admit. She’s the one yelling to the king that he has no clothes. She’s both an Aquarian rebel for confronting the king and also Saturnian in that she’s promoting the things we do anyway, but deny through social conditioning.

Rational Selfishness

As an example, Rand called rational selfishness a virtue. We are taught from toddler-hood to share our toys, to think of others. But do we really?

The Capricorn moon realism here is that we do expect a return for our actions. Capricorn rarely does something for no reason.

Have you ever held the door for someone? Were you angry that they didn’t say thank you?

Rand acknowledged that all interactions must be, by today’s term, a “win-win.” Whether physical, intellectual, spiritual or emotional, we expect a return for what we give. Ultimately I think Rand just called a spade a spade. We seek return for our output but it’s convoluted through our emotional need to see ourselves as “good.”

Why not just admit and accept that life is about trade?

Rand exposed that much called altruism is simply a way to undermine and gain from others. She did not hide her Capricorn moon, she reveled in it.

By promoting selfishness, she was a rebel. We may all be selfish, but who has the guts to not only promote it, but call it a virtue?

Structures

Saturn and Capricorn are ultimately about structure. I like Wikipedia’s definition of structure:

“Structure is a fundamental, tangible or intangible notion referring to the recognition, observation, nature, and permanence of patterns and relationships of entities.”

Rand liked both intellectual structures (philosophy) and physical structures (skyscapers). Capricorn wants the unruly world to have order, which is why it loves rules. Rand wanted you to think, but if you did not agree with her conclusions you were wrong. Wanting everyone in the entire world to share your beliefs is a way to have order which is the comfort zone of a Capricorn moon.

Emotional Life

Rand’s rational sun and cold moon are also seen in her relationships. She believed that that sharing the same philosophy meant you should enjoy sharing the same bed. What a unique pick up line! The married Rand convinced one of her neophytes, the married Nathanial Branden, to have an openly intimate and sexual relationship with both spouses’ consent.

When, many years later, Branden fell in love and left both Rand and his wife, Rand was furious. Wanting to hug, kiss and mix & merge sex organs with another is not often the result of rational thinking. If it were, how many marriages would exist?

Branden said, in his biography of Rand, that she more of a father figure than a mother figure. The original title of his book was “Judgment Day: My Years with Ayn Rand.” A judgmental father figure fits very perfectly with a Capricorn moon and Saturn conjunct the sun.

Rand’s Appeal

I believe Rand’s appeal stems from three things: 1) few truly live in three-dimensional reality and 2) political motivations present us with dualities (rather than polarities) and force us to pick a side creating internal discord and 3) we want to feel good about ourselves.

Have you ever been driving and realized that you were daydreaming? You got from here to there, but don’t really remember it exactly?

Do we really live in the three-dimensional world or in our thoughts, hopes and fears?

I’ve blogged my ideas on duality versus polarity. Rand’s razor sharp intellect encourages control of your own thoughts instead of accepting prevailing thought by default.

Ironically Rand’s rigid structures provide a stable framework for freedom of thought. Rand believed in man and admired man’s creations. Life, to her, was its own meaning and unearned guilt should not be placed on humans handicapping them from achievement. Rand lived in the present. Rand believed in life.

How many people do you know who love life so much?

And, of course, followers of Rand see themselves as Atlas, not the masses he’s holding on his shoulders. Rand makes you feel good about yourself and believe in yourself.

Posted in Authors / Filmmakers | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Lars von Trier – Dark Isn’t the Only Reality

Posted on November 14, 2011 by ohioastrology

My friend refers to Lars von Trier films (such as “Dancer in the Dark”) as “slit your wrist” films. Slate film critic Dana Stevens wrote after seeing Antichrist that she wasn’t sure if she would watch another of his films (she did).

I stopped with “Dancer in the Dark.” Why feel bad for no reason? I felt bad watching “Hotel Rwanda” but that was based on real events that make you question the world – How does something like this happen? What can be done to prevent it again? How does politics play into what happened? What would I do if that happened around me?

In other words, it’s cathartic.

Watching a von Trier film makes me feel bad with no purpose as though bad were just a flavor of gum to chew today, a gum that unfortunately leaves a residue in your mouth and ruins the taste of dinner.

What drives von Trier to darkness?

Sun in Taurus and moon in Capricorn represent a practical, down to earth being. Taurus, the fixed earth sign, relates more than any other sign to material reality and values stability, reliability and loyalty. Capricorn, the cardinal earth sign, is about power, control and responsibility. Both are serious signs that view the world as a serious place. Moon in Capricorn is associated with coldness and lack of emotion as the moon is meant to express but Capricorn’s nature is to control.

von Trier’s new movie title, Melancholia, probably speaks directly to why his movies are so dark. He is probably chronically melancholy and has an earth sign lack of ability to imagine himself differently. He may be sharing with us how he feels all the time. He may consider anything cheerful to be “unreal.”

Utopia was written by an Aquarius (air), Disneyworld was created by a Sagittarius (fire) and Las Vegas was imagined by a Pisces (water). Air, fire and water dream crazy dreams. Earth plans. Earth pays the bills. Earth cleans the upholstery. Planning, paying the bills and cleaning the upholstery may be necessary but aren’t what many would call fun.

Taurus and Capricorn are very capable signs who work hard. In earth sign fashion, they seek to have practical application of their goals. Earth signs do not sit in their bedrooms scribbling poetry in spiral notebooks. They send their poetry to the New Yorker. If they can’t crystallize the poetry into something concrete, then it has no value for them.

It’s important, then, for earth signs to have a positive focus. Ohio Astrology has looked at the charts of some other Taurus sun / Capricorn moon combinations – Ohio Governor John Kasich, actor George Clooney and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Whether the earth sign focus is positive (Clooney), negative (Hitler) or debatable (Kasich), the native will use all energy possible to turn ideas into concrete reality.

An interesting aspect in von Trier’s chart is the Mercury (in Gemini) / Saturn (in Sagittarius) opposition in 0 degrees. Saturn in Sagittarius can suggest a strict upbringing with lots of rules and little conversation about those rules. Mercury in Gemini is a talkative placement, seeking conversation as stimulus to explore the world. It’s like someone said, “Shut up” every time he wanted to talk.

As Pluto transits the sign of Capricorn, von Trier’s moon will be hit with a destructive but ultimately transformative force. He may have problems with women that create the need for him to express his emotions more clearly and openly.

The black-hole view of the universe portrayed in von Trier’s movies may be his Capricorn moon talking. Depression may result from the inability to express feelings rather than from the feelings themselves. Resentment is common in Capricorn and comes when others do not do what you want, which is just about all the time.

Or maybe von Trier transforms his melancholy by filming it. Maybe when he’s done with the film, he kicks back on a recliner, opens a beer and watches some Mickey Mouse cartoons.

I hope so. Otherwise he may have that view that cynical earth signs sometimes have that only negative manifestations are “real.” Extreme negativity is its own delusion as much as believing you were once Napoleon so that you can feel powerful. Extreme negativity is simply a defense that renders the outside world as “stupid” because they believe themselves to be happy. If you are depressed, happy people might be like that light shining on you when you walk out of a theater. It hurts, until you get used to it.

Posted in Authors / Filmmakers | Tagged , | Leave a comment