Obama & The Moment of Victory: An Astrological Reflection
It happened very suddenly, as you may recall. The polls closed in the western states and Barrack Obama was immediately anointed by all the broadcast networks as the American president-elect. In Chicago, where Barack Obama was presumably enjoying the moment, the time was 10 PM CST.
Not to get too far into the astrological weeds here, but any stargazer worth his salt will enjoy the fact that at that very instant of the announcement the transiting planet Mercury was making the exactest possible of squares to Obama's natal Jupiter. In astrology, Mercury is the messenger and Jupiter is the broadest and most optimistic sort of comprehension. It is in no way surprising, at least to an astrologer, that these two planets would be in significant aspect upon such an occasion.
What is a bit problematical is that the relationship between the two planets was an exact 90 degrees of separation, an aspect called the square. The square signifies a powerful combination of planetary energies, but energies that are essentially operating at cross purposes. While any combination of Mercury and Jupiter energies is likely to breed a "good news" vibe, the square hints at friction between the details of the news (Mercury) and the abstract or ideal purpose (Jupiter) that the details are being used to support or confirm.
If one may be forgiven the audacity of projecting into Mr. Obama's space on election night, the implication of the above is that the president-elect immediately and sharply intuited the stresses inherent between the news of victory and the purpose to which that victory must be put. Certainly any tendency in this regard was enhanced by a second very nearly as exact and also difficult aspect, an opposition (180 degrees) from the transiting Moon to Obama's natal Mercury. This latter situation may simply suggest an awareness of the public mood (the Moon in Aquarius) as the reflection of one's state of mind (Mercury in Leo), but most any astrologer would be quick to emphasize that here one is dealing with the stresses and the lack of clarity when emotions are aligned against reason.
That the stress of being a realist at an emotional time was central to Obama's experience of election night is reflected in two other aspects occurring upon this occasion. Transiting Mercury was approaching square to Obama's natal Mercury (less than two degrees), indicating that facts and opinions are at odds, eliciting a requirement to be very flexible in thinking and communications. In even closer aspect (less than a degree) was the transiting Sun (identity) making a square to Obama's natal Sun, which the eminent astrologer Robert Hand describes as a "test of your validity."
Knowing all this certainly makes Mr. Obama's "cool as a cucumber" acceptance speech before the vast crowd in Chicago's Grant Park all the more remarkable. Hardly seeming like a conflicted young rookie senator or an individual wrestling with a centuries-old racial stereotype, the man who had arguably just become the most significant individual on the planet seemed very much born to the cloth. His comfort and command almost made it seem as if he had done this sort of thing before.
Okay, so here is where astrology gets either really cool or really crazy depending on your temperament. In an earlier blog post, I brought up the issue of the nodes of the Moon and how they are believed by astrologers to yield information about destiny. Simply (too simply), the south node in a chart is related to past karma and indicates a set of values/behaviors with which an individual feels extremely comfortable but from which one must evolve in order to fulfill this life's destiny. The north node, often strange and difficult of approach, is the ticket out of karma jail.
What is eminently remarkable about a horoscope cast for the announcement of Barack Obama's election victory is: 1) the south node is sitting on the ascendant (the projection) of the event; and 2) the south node is conjunct (exactly in the same place, in this case within a degree) as Obama's natal sun (personality). The logical among you will quickly deduce that this also puts Obama's Sun (identity) on the event's ascendant (projection), which is as clear as astrology ever gets. But let's consider this south node thing a bit.
Astrology has a bias towards considering the south node unfortunate. Characterized as the behavior one must grow past or escape in this lifetime, it is painted as the refuge of the individual who refuses to grow. It's something you get no points for expressing because, if you go in for this sort of thing, it is something that you have expressed for many lifetimes.
Now the irony in the case of the Obama election announcement and acceptance speech is that the candidate's comfort is probably the exact thing the electorate needed to experience. In an election that made quite a case out of "experience," it was comforting indeed to see Mr. Obama so large and in charge. Karma aside, it sure felt like the universe was doing us a favor by making the newly elected president seem so competent and comfortable.
The suggestion being made by the universe, however, is that it expects something more than a comfortable regality out of our new commander in chief, or at least a redefinition of what true regality is. The symbolism of the signs in which the nodes are now positioned (South/Leo, North/Aquarius) suggest that whatever royal presence Obama has on the world's stage (he is a sun sign Leo after all), he will be tested in order to become first and foremost a true humanitarian in the service of others. His is likely to be the inner conflict that simmers between creating a cult of personality and undertaking a selfless contribution to the greater glory the world, a difficult balancing act that is likely to keep the world enthralled for at least the next four years.
It is good to keep in mind, though, that all of this is happening within Mr. Obama far more viscerally than it is to those of us who are just watching and hoping. Astrologically speaking, the enormous gas giant planets and potent little Pluto (clearly ticked off by its recent astronomical downgrade), may have some difficult surprises in store for all of us, presidents and paupers alike. The early signs are that Mr. Obama will have to wrestle with reality like the rest of us, and the prospect that he too will have to sacrifice comfort, certainly psychological comfort, is written in the stars.
"The king is dead, long live the king." For a chosen few this is no mere shout in the streets, but an enormous psycho-historical enigma and challenge. Just ask Barack Obama.
Not to get too far into the astrological weeds here, but any stargazer worth his salt will enjoy the fact that at that very instant of the announcement the transiting planet Mercury was making the exactest possible of squares to Obama's natal Jupiter. In astrology, Mercury is the messenger and Jupiter is the broadest and most optimistic sort of comprehension. It is in no way surprising, at least to an astrologer, that these two planets would be in significant aspect upon such an occasion.
What is a bit problematical is that the relationship between the two planets was an exact 90 degrees of separation, an aspect called the square. The square signifies a powerful combination of planetary energies, but energies that are essentially operating at cross purposes. While any combination of Mercury and Jupiter energies is likely to breed a "good news" vibe, the square hints at friction between the details of the news (Mercury) and the abstract or ideal purpose (Jupiter) that the details are being used to support or confirm.
If one may be forgiven the audacity of projecting into Mr. Obama's space on election night, the implication of the above is that the president-elect immediately and sharply intuited the stresses inherent between the news of victory and the purpose to which that victory must be put. Certainly any tendency in this regard was enhanced by a second very nearly as exact and also difficult aspect, an opposition (180 degrees) from the transiting Moon to Obama's natal Mercury. This latter situation may simply suggest an awareness of the public mood (the Moon in Aquarius) as the reflection of one's state of mind (Mercury in Leo), but most any astrologer would be quick to emphasize that here one is dealing with the stresses and the lack of clarity when emotions are aligned against reason.
That the stress of being a realist at an emotional time was central to Obama's experience of election night is reflected in two other aspects occurring upon this occasion. Transiting Mercury was approaching square to Obama's natal Mercury (less than two degrees), indicating that facts and opinions are at odds, eliciting a requirement to be very flexible in thinking and communications. In even closer aspect (less than a degree) was the transiting Sun (identity) making a square to Obama's natal Sun, which the eminent astrologer Robert Hand describes as a "test of your validity."
Knowing all this certainly makes Mr. Obama's "cool as a cucumber" acceptance speech before the vast crowd in Chicago's Grant Park all the more remarkable. Hardly seeming like a conflicted young rookie senator or an individual wrestling with a centuries-old racial stereotype, the man who had arguably just become the most significant individual on the planet seemed very much born to the cloth. His comfort and command almost made it seem as if he had done this sort of thing before.
Okay, so here is where astrology gets either really cool or really crazy depending on your temperament. In an earlier blog post, I brought up the issue of the nodes of the Moon and how they are believed by astrologers to yield information about destiny. Simply (too simply), the south node in a chart is related to past karma and indicates a set of values/behaviors with which an individual feels extremely comfortable but from which one must evolve in order to fulfill this life's destiny. The north node, often strange and difficult of approach, is the ticket out of karma jail.
What is eminently remarkable about a horoscope cast for the announcement of Barack Obama's election victory is: 1) the south node is sitting on the ascendant (the projection) of the event; and 2) the south node is conjunct (exactly in the same place, in this case within a degree) as Obama's natal sun (personality). The logical among you will quickly deduce that this also puts Obama's Sun (identity) on the event's ascendant (projection), which is as clear as astrology ever gets. But let's consider this south node thing a bit.
Astrology has a bias towards considering the south node unfortunate. Characterized as the behavior one must grow past or escape in this lifetime, it is painted as the refuge of the individual who refuses to grow. It's something you get no points for expressing because, if you go in for this sort of thing, it is something that you have expressed for many lifetimes.
Now the irony in the case of the Obama election announcement and acceptance speech is that the candidate's comfort is probably the exact thing the electorate needed to experience. In an election that made quite a case out of "experience," it was comforting indeed to see Mr. Obama so large and in charge. Karma aside, it sure felt like the universe was doing us a favor by making the newly elected president seem so competent and comfortable.
The suggestion being made by the universe, however, is that it expects something more than a comfortable regality out of our new commander in chief, or at least a redefinition of what true regality is. The symbolism of the signs in which the nodes are now positioned (South/Leo, North/Aquarius) suggest that whatever royal presence Obama has on the world's stage (he is a sun sign Leo after all), he will be tested in order to become first and foremost a true humanitarian in the service of others. His is likely to be the inner conflict that simmers between creating a cult of personality and undertaking a selfless contribution to the greater glory the world, a difficult balancing act that is likely to keep the world enthralled for at least the next four years.
It is good to keep in mind, though, that all of this is happening within Mr. Obama far more viscerally than it is to those of us who are just watching and hoping. Astrologically speaking, the enormous gas giant planets and potent little Pluto (clearly ticked off by its recent astronomical downgrade), may have some difficult surprises in store for all of us, presidents and paupers alike. The early signs are that Mr. Obama will have to wrestle with reality like the rest of us, and the prospect that he too will have to sacrifice comfort, certainly psychological comfort, is written in the stars.
"The king is dead, long live the king." For a chosen few this is no mere shout in the streets, but an enormous psycho-historical enigma and challenge. Just ask Barack Obama.
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