Hillary Clinton - in 2008 and in 2015/16

 
I've added to this blog post several times, the last being in 2015 when Hillary stood for the Democratic nomination, which somehow seems quite while ago now....or is it that so much murky water has flowed beneath the bridge since then?


I can only comment from afar, with input dependent upon news bulletins here in the UK (and goodness knows, we've got enough going on here with our own Brexit mess), but I've lost increasingly on my good night's sleep at the thought of Trump being elected as the next US President on 8th November. 

For goodness sake America, wake up and don't elect a dubious character with no real policies and wandering hands. You know who I mean.

Hillary may not be perfect. She has her faults. According to the Trump team, she's crooked - yet the investigations into her use of a private email server have shown she's done nothing wrong, and she's admitted it was ill-advised to use this method of communication. And she's moved on.

I've already looked in depth at her chart (re-read all I wrote below, especially regarding her Efficiency Triangle.) This woman is a hard worker, she can put in the hours and the energy - and she has the experience of high office to draw upon too. Her Age Point is in 12th House and her chart has, earlier this year, had the second Age Point intersection of her natal and node chart (for more on the node chart refer below, to blog posts on this topic and also my book The Living Birth Chart.) The intersection, or crossing point, often marks an important turning point in the life of the individual.  

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Read what I first wrote in 2008 - then see the additional comments I made as Hillary announced she will stand for selection as the Democratic nominee in 2016. Will she, won't she get the Democratic nomination? Trump seems to think it should be him and no-one else. Sanders appeals to many who are disaffected and seek change.

Clinton was born on 26.10.1947 in Chicago. Her time of birth is not clear, although there seems to be agreement that it was at 20.00 according to the research I've done. As a quick check to see if this might hold up, I note that her Age Point was conjunct Venus at the time of her marriage in 1975, which provides some supportive evidence for this time of birth.

But what of Hillary's chart? The chart structure is composed of two separate aspect patterns: an incomplete Trawler and an Efficiency/Performance triangle. The Trawler is a large figure, quadrangular in shape so therefore Fixed in motivation, and is made up of mainly blue and green aspects. It absorbs and gathers in - quite greedily and needily in the case of the Trawler, whose behaviour and motivation can be likened to an ever-rumbling empty stomach. The food and nourishment it trawls for and seeks to draw in is information and the person has good selective learning ability. In Hillary's chart it lacks the second long green quincunx aspect which may diminish the learning capacity, or make it more of a challenge. Both Sun and Moon - head and heart - are involved in this pattern as pinning planets, with the Moon just in Pisces as the highest planet in the chart. This Moon is in the 10th House, "on show", and could have the effect of making her need feedback and recognition.

The Efficiency triangle, on the other hand, is triangular in shape, making it's motivation Mutable. It rolls with the knocks, at the same time delivering an efficient output of energy in whatever task it undertakes. The planet at the apex of this figure is Saturn, excellent for grounding and making manifest whatever is worked at. The potential drawback in the combination of pinning planets here is that the Moon's North Node is involved. This is not a planet, and has no energy of its own which can be used in the overall drive for performance and efficiency embedded with this aspect pattern. Clinton will have to actively and consciously engage with issues and matters related to the 11th House, where the Node is placed, and the 5th, where the South Node (not shown) is in order for the pattern to function at its highest potential. This means creating a balance between being selective in who she spends time with and learning how to have the common touch.

She can be helped here by her Venus/Mercury conjunction in the 5th House; this provides valuable tools with which to make contact and communicate. But with these 2 planets in Scorpio, and the Sun there too, and all three of them being intercepted (in a Sign with no House cusps), this could be very difficult for her to do. She will rely on Venus/Mercury getting help from her powerfully placed Mars/Pluto conjunction on the cusp of the 3rd House - these planets are connected by a linear red square aspect looking for something to do - so she'll tend to project her relating to others via this powerful pair of planets.

Of course, this is only my speculation, based on what I observe and see on TV and read in newspapers about this particular candidate, but it does offer some speculation on where she might be coming from. As for her LifeClock, she has recently turned 60 and her Age Point is aspecting that North Node, and Uranus, both perhaps indicating a wake up call.

Addendum April 11th 2015 Hillary is poised to announce her entry into the running for the Democratic nomination for Presidential candidate. The Age Progression in her chart shows that her Age Point is now firmly in the 12th House, and in the sign of Gemini, where Uranus is placed. Whilst this current opportunity is likely to be her last chance of running for President, I wonder if she is also being egged on psychologically to seize it and run with it, and potentially become the first female president of the USA. Uranian energy demands change in the established set ups and rocks the status quo. Her Age Point is not making any aspect to planets right now, but it is in the zone of the intersection of Age Points between the natal chart and the node chart, where what is psychologically beneath the surface comes to light and is expressed. As this event is taking place on the 6/12 Existence axis of her chart, it's quite possible that she needs to stand again and to run - maybe to prove a point to herself as well as the outside world, and also to give meaning to herself in the context of her career as a politician. Questions of "Why am I here?" and "What am I supposed to be doing?" will probably have been explored as she prepares to the throw her hat into the ring.

Barack Obama

Democrat Barack Obama has won favour in Iowa in the first stage of his bid to become the next US President. Born on 4.8.1961 in Honolulu, no time of birth is available so his chart is set for noon. Because the birth time is unknown, the orientation of the aspect structure is likely to be different from that shown here, but nonetheless, it is visually a very striking chart. Viewed in this position, with the noonday Sun right at the top, it appears like a moving, ruffling fan.

(But see more recent posting "Barack Obama Revisited" 5th August 2008 too, as his time of birth has since become available. You might like to read this first though, then move on to the update).

There is a striking conical shape to this structure which indicates a flexible, Mutable inner motivation. With 4 red, 4 green and 6 blue aspects, Obama's tendency will be towards action/reaction, sensitivity and awareness. His chart shows a line up of planets in Leo, and his Leo Sun is strongly placed in this Sign at 12 degrees. An interesting feature is the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter as tension rulers in the chart. These two don't necessarily sit well together, and the image of Dr. Doolittle's "Push me - Pull you" creature comes to mind! Saturn and Jupiter together could be like driving with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. Jupiter in Aquarius will want to go forward at its own pace with no holds barred; Saturn in Capricorn will provide a steadying influence and could act like a wet blanket too. On the plus side, any ideas, new projects, talents, skills and high ideals will be formulated, underpinned with responsibility and made manifest in a thorough manner. A tension ruler in a chart acts like a filter through which everything experienced or expressed passes. Jupiter in this role could welcome all comers; Saturn will steadily suss out situations and provide a protective influence.

Obama has an interesting aspect pattern - a Megaphone- pinned by Mercury, Venus, Moon and Jupiter and composed of 1 red, 3 green and 1 blue aspect. Already ( via the wonders of colour coding!) we can see that this pattern is composed of predominantly blue/green aspects, and is pinned by blue (Fixed quality) and green (Mutable quality) planets. The literal translation from the German word for this aspect pattern is a "whisper bag". What does that mean in the context of this particular pattern?

Bruno, Louise and Michael Huber say of the Megaphone pattern, in their book Aspect Pattern Astrology, " We speak quietly into the narrow end and our voice suddenly fills the room. The other way round it works like the old-fashioned ear trumpet, as used in the past by the hard of hearing". This pattern is about communication - receiving it and giving it. This is supported and emphasised by the inclusion of Mercury as a pinning planet. The area of the chart that it occupies is important, but in Obama's case we can't know this without having his birth time. The high blue/green ratio of aspects in this pattern highlights its idealistic, imaginative qualities. From what I've heard of Obama's speeches, he knows how to use his words well. The Hubers also say "This person is a thinker who extracts a lot of information from communication, which he can then check for value and truth".
How Obama will fare in the next round remains to be seen. But one final thought. This man is 46. According to the Huber's LifeClock, psychologically he has recently been through the Low Point of the chart which is the low point of the whole life and a significant turning point in the life journey, when inner changes are made. This can be a time of frustration and crisis as well as a time of transformation and personal change. I've deliberately not researched Obama's life story in order to write about what I see in his chart, so there's no way I can know whether this might have significance to him. In the context of his bid to be selected as Democratic Presidential candidate, it's on the plus side that he's been through this personal Low Point prior to the 2008 elections.

Addendum: For an update on Obama's chart, now that his time of birth has become available, see my posting "Barack Obama Revisited", August 5th 2008.

Winter Solstice - the Turning Point of the Year

On 21st December the Sun is at its furthest point from the northern hemisphere, making this is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Meanwhile, down in the southern hemisphere the Sun is riding high in the sky as the exact opposite happens.

Photo by Maylis Curie

The winter solstice is a festival of light and in the northern hemisphere it coincides with Christmas. This Christian festival takes place at the same time of year as the pagan celebration of the solstice which celebrates the gradual and at first impercetible return of the light of the Sun after the long days of darkness. It's the turning point of the year and marks the return of the light and the rebirth of the Sun (the Son in Christianity...?), together with the promise of the warmth and energy the Sun brings to make crops - essential to life - grow once again after the earth has lain dormant.

This is the time of year when people of all faiths, and none, can express their connection with the earth, our life upon it in relation to others we meet, and our place in the solar system, so

celebrate !

Share the warmth of friendship at the turning point of the year and bring some light and joy into your own life and the lives of others.

Light a candle - call a friend - perform a random act of kindness - take a risk and smile at strangers as you walk down the street - glow with joy and it will come back to you in spades.

Greetings of the season to everyone out there, and may the warmth of friendship be wrapped around you at this time of year.

Astrology and the Meaning of Life

If your're a seeker and a searcher and puzzle from time to time about the meaning of life, this book covering a variety of subjects relevant astrological psychology may offer you some insights. I'm rather proud because I’ve been involved in the production of this book, and delighted because the contents provide a veritable banquet of in-depth articles using astrological psychology.

“AstroLog 1 - Life and Meaning” draws on selected articles which have appeared in “AstroLog” magazine, established by the Astrological Psychology Institute in Switzerland in 1981. These have been translated from the original German and in this book are available for the first time in English.

There are many articles by Bruno and Louise Huber, together with contributions from other teachers and astrological counsellors trained by and connected with API Switzerland. Topics include amplification of aspects of the Huber Method, new ideas and research, practical experience, links with other disciplines and case studies. I may be biased, but I can promise it’s a good read, whether you go through cover to cover, or dip into it to read the subjects which interest you most.

Articles and subjects are grouped into 4 categories:

• Astrological Psychology
• Life and Meaning
• Age Progression
• Growth and Transformation

The book is available from the APA Book Shop and Amazon. Happy reading!

Ricky Hatton, champion boxer

There's currently a lot of focus on UK boxer Ricky Hatton in the news, mainly because he's meeting with Floyd Mayweather in a much-publicised boxing match this weekend in Las Vegas. I'm no boxing fan, but I was intrigued to see what Hatton's chart looked like, especially as he's a "local lad" and is featured almost daily on the local BBC News.

Hatton was born on 6.12.1978 in Stockport UK. No birth time is available so his chart is set for noon. What was initially surprising was to see that his chart has only linear aspects. No aspect patterns are formed at all. Linear charts have a Cardinal quality. The motivation is go ahead, initiatory, always on the move towards the next goal, erratic and tangential.

Take a look at the chart image. It's composed of zig zagging lines, going back and forth from one side of the chart to the other. The image that comes to mind here is of Hatton in the ring, dancing on his toes as he weaves and dodges this way and that, fists up and head down.

Linear charts indicate restlessness. The next goal on the distant horizon is the one which is sought, and when it's gained, another will take its place. There's a constant moving on, not with smooth flowing movements, but in sharp, staccato, tangential ones.

Hattons' colour balance is 1 red: 2 green : 4 blue. His chart lacks red "doing" energy and drive, but this is compensated for somewhat by the 2 powerful conjunctions he has: Sun, Mercury and Pluto in Libra and Mars, Venus and Uranus in Scorpio. Conjunctions indicate seedling talents we have which need to be developed in order to fulfill their full potential. Libra is one of the most harmonious Signs, often associated with diplomacy and keeping the peace, so again it's a bit surprising to find out that pugilist Hatton is a Sun Libra person! Leave Libra aside though, and the power of Pluto in this conjunction with his Sun makes sense when considered in the context of his profession. Pluto can pack punches!

Some of this Sun/Pluto was evident yesterday in a item on our local BBC News, when Hatton was shown in the US ahead of the fight, giving a press conference along with opponent Mayweather. Whereas Mayweather was smartly dressed in shirt, tie and waistcoat, Hatton appeared in a soft black hat and black t-shirt. Written on the t-shirt in white, gothic-style letters was the word "Affliction", and beneath that was the emblem of a large and powerful eagle, with wings spread wide. Pure Pluto. Then there was a stand off between the two men. Whether this was staged or not, I have no idea, but they stood with chests touching, literally eyeball to eyeball, and this stand off seemed to be led by Hatton. Must have been getting his Pluto out again.

As I said, I'm no fan of boxing, but appreciate that it can be a great thing for some young lads (and maybe girls?) as it focusses and channels energy which might otherwise be used destructively within society. The British comedian Norman Wisdom comes to mind - he learned to box whilst in the army and this gave him a discipline he'd been lacking as a youngster. Clint Eastwood's film "Million Dollar Baby" I nearly dismissed and didn't see as it was about boxing - but I'm glad I went as it offered an interesting insight into the training, triumphs and dangers of this sport.

Will Hatton win on Sunday? Well, not having looked at Mayweather's chart, and not having Hatton's time of birth rather cancel out any chance of putting my head on the block there. All I can note is that Hatton has recently had his 29th birthday, which marks the first Saturn return. This often coincides with a big test in life, together with the need to take on more responsibility.