Power, Pluto, and Symptoms of Megalomania

In their book, The Planets and their Psychological Meaning, Bruno and Louise Huber share their insights into the planets and associated observable patterns of human behaviour for each planet. They describe behaviours being expressed at three different levels, or stages:

At stage 1, the person will be largely unaware and attached to matter and what is  material; it's what they call a "blind stage" as far as awareness is concerned.

At stage 2, the person's emotional responses are engaged, often resulting in a polarity, an opposition, and of learning the difference between positive and negative.

At stage 3, the person is able to discriminate and form accurate judgements as a greater self-awareness kicks in. In a nutshell, it's all about growing and developing awareness of self and ultimately, of others.

I share this in light of the current global situation where a tariff war, affecting trade and stability in just about every country in the world, was started on 2nd April 2025 by the 47th president of the United States. You can see his chart here.

The Hubers outline manifestations of each of the planets used in Huber-style charts at these three stages. For manifestations of Pluto (for without a doubt, that is the flavour of the energies the current incumbent at the White House is engaging with and expressing) they suggest:

"Masks, egomania, use of power, imposing the will, destructiveness, stirring up of what is suppressed, crises" for stage 1. 

"Megalomania, drivenness......" are among their suggestions for stage 2, and for stage 3, where discrimination, fairness, self-awareness and a loosening of the individual's ego needs are more evident, they suggest "...effective power, making a creative contribution to evolution".

But let's stay with stage 1 for now, because it seems to dominate the observable behaviour, responses, language and general demeanour of this 47th president. Hardly a day goes by without more jaw-dropping news of further heavier tarrifs for some countries, while others appear to be getting an easy ride. Like a yo-yo bouncing up and down, the parameters, boundaries and rules are switched on and then off.

It's an object lesson in power and ego-ridden behaviour, where things are changed, seemingly on a whim, and if there is criticism within the inner circle, heads roll as people are dismissed. Like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, who is childish and quick to give death sentences at even the slightest of offences, numerous news reports echo  this aspect of the president's behaviour.

In The Planets the Hubers go further. Examples they give of stage 1 Pluto behaviour are here, and  I quote:

"Pluto is always involved in problems of power. One calls for an unlimited reach of power, believing oneself to be the best, the greatest and the only one who is right. In the case of hardened ego powers this gives rise to megalomania or egomania, where a person thinks only he is right and everyone else is a novice.....A lack of consideration for the demands of others and ruthlessness are the unpleasant side of Pluto on this level. All its efforts are mobilised, it fights like one possessed for its property, status and power. Anyone who wants to contest this power will be labelled an enemy who must be go rid of."   (Extract from The Planets, p.89, B&L Huber)

In terms of Age Progression, the 47th president's Age Point is currently in the 2nd house for The Second Time Around (click for more info on this) He's 78, and in terms of Age Point, has re-entered  the phase of life first encountered at ages 6 to 12 years. 

Between the ages of 6 and 12, the child establishes him/herself amongst peers, creating a sphere of personal possessions. In the 2nd house the child defines and defends his/her territory and possessions, which may determine behaviour in later life. Whereas at ages 6 to 12 the 2nd house  is about gathering and hanging on to possessions, at ages 78 to 81, it's about letting go.

A final thought/quote, in this post which attempts to throw some light and astrological-psychological understanding on current events and the person driving them:

"This house is about letting go, but the 2nd house can also reignite a preoccupation with material possessions. Those of a materialistic frame of mind surround themselves with material possessions; become tight-fisted, unwilling to part with anything. They are scared of being short-changed.....become jealous and take all possible precautions lest anyone deprive them of anything."  (Extract from The Second Time Around, p.15, J&B Hopewell. See also The Planets, p.251)

 

Nancy Pelosi

I'm updating and re-blogging this post on Nancy Pelosi, which I wrote back in 2007, as this lady is currently very much in the news, especially in the US.

We usually don’t hear too much about Nancy Pelosi in the UK, but she's become quite prominent right now, following the riot and insurrection at the Capitol in Washington DC last week. She's calling for the speedy impeachment of Trump, following his role and subsequent disgrace as he egged his supporters on to break into the Capitol building on 6th January, looting and damaging as they went.

It's difficult to establish her time of birth (the chart is set for noon for 26.3.1940 in Baltimore MD) so I thought I’d take a general look at her chart but with specific interest in the Striving Figure aspect pattern it contains.

Pelosi’s chart is visually striking. The orientation would change if her time of birth was known, but I couldn’t help fantasising about turning the whole aspect structure upside down so that the chart image would resemble a crown. She does bear a crown of sorts, as on November 16th 2006 she was unanimously elected as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, making her the first ever female Speaker and the highest ranking woman in the history of the US government. 

 

As Speaker, she is second in line of Presidential succession after the Vice-President and she was the first woman to be this close in line. Now, she is joined as a high ranking female politician by Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris.

Readers in the US will know a whole lot more about her than I do - you can watch her on TV, read about her in your newspapers etc. I know she’s a Democrat, the mother of 5 adult children, a glamorous grandmother, is wealthy, comes from a political background and is regarded as a liberal. Visually, she’s also rather striking, like her chart, and for an 80 year old, she's looking extremely good - apparently without recourse to botox!

Her chart shaping shows a predominantly Fixed motivation, with an interesting Linear offshoot involving Sun, Saturn and Pluto. With a colour ratio of 4 red, 5 green and 5 blue aspects she has an excess of mutable, adaptable energy at her disposal which could have the effect of making her ultra-aware and sensitive, not satisfied until she’s got to the root of something and unafraid to search out answers. Sun and Jupiter in Aries could make her a formidable opponent; I wonder how intuitive she is and if she’s willing to take risks? The stellium of Venus, Mars and Uranus in Taurus suggests an ability to maintain and preserve as well as creative flair and an inherent sense of quality, taste and balance.

Striving figure

Venus and Uranus are part of the Striving Figure in her chart. Striving Figures are not that common. This figure is sometimes called the “Green Kite”, for obvious reasons, as it has green aspects all around the outside. These up the ante as far as sensitivity and awareness of the surrounding environment are concerned. Pelosi’s Striving Figure involves Jupiter and Mercury along with the Venus/Uranus conjunction. These planets between them form the Ear/Eye part of the figure, and as such they will cooperate to gather in information. With Mercury and Jupiter in this part of the whole figure, communication will be emphasised ( what could be better - she is the Speaker!). The Ear/Eye gives intuitive interpersonal skills. The Hubers say of this figure in “Aspect Pattern Astrology” that “the sextile provides receptivity and a unifying force, which means that the information obtained by the Eye can be assimilated and used for long-term objectives”.

People with this figure aim high, often seeking their objectives via the planet at the apex. In Pelosi’s case, the sharp end of the figure is not pinned by a planet, but by the North Node. It’s placement in Libra gives some clues to what she may be aiming for - justice, fair play, equality, balance - all qualities which could be associated with a Democrat. But a real understanding of her North Node in this position in the Striving Figure would only be possible if we had her time of birth. This would show which House, and therefore which area of life expression and experience that Pelosi would need to develop in order to really activate the potential of the Striving Figure and realise her goals.

You can read more about the Striving Figure (bearing in mind I’ve only touched on a few points about it here) in Aspect Pattern Astrology by the Hubers, and Using Age Progression by myself. Both books are available from Amazon.