In 2008, astrologers are again energetically analyzing the astrological charts of the presumptive candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama. A big impediment has been the lack of reliable birth times for all of the candidates, but there is a bigger problem. This year, something doesn't seem right. No one feels good about the astrological conditions on election day, nor the conditions on inauguration day. There is a shadow looming over the charts.
A Primal Antagonism
In 2008, the major planetary configuration of interest is a Saturn-Uranus opposition that occurs on Election Day itself, November 4th. (From a geocentric perspective, the planets will be 180 degrees apart, or directly opposite each other.) This event begins a series of five such oppositions that end in July 2010. This is a combination that occurs approximately every 45 years. This year, the Saturn-Uranus combination is the astro-elephant in the room. It tells us quite a bit about the energies surrounding election day, and thus the next four years.
Astrologers see the Saturn-Uranus opposition as particularly problematical because the natures of the two planets are so different. While planets beyond Saturn relate to more unconscious and universal themes beyond our individual control, Saturn itself describes the structures and boundaries that define our limits within the physical world. In some sense, Saturn fits the definition of reality as given by Phillip K. Dick as, “that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” It is the leaden symbol of conservatism, resisting change and yearning for stasis, if not the past.
Conversely, Uranus is the archetype of change, deviance, and rebellion. Often acting in a lightning-fast manner, it seeks to tear down the type of restrictions that are represented by Saturn. In his writings, the philosopher and cultural historian Richard Tarnas sees Uranus as Prometheus, the figure who stole fire from the gods and gave it to men. He calls Prometheus the "Awakener."
While researching material on Ralph Waldo Emerson for a recent article, I received the gift of a synchronicity. Curiously, I found that Emerson used the Saturn-Uranus polarity in a cogent political analysis in which he describes the "primal antagonism" between Conservatives and Reformers. In his 1841 essay The Conservative, he relates the following:
“There is a fragment of old fable which seems somehow to have been dropped from the current mythologies, which may deserve attention, as it appears to relate to this subject.
Saturn grew weary of sitting alone, or with none but the great Uranus or Heaven beholding him, and he created an oyster. Then he would act again, but he made nothing more, but went on creating the race of oysters. Then Uranus cried, `a new work, O Saturn! the old is not good again.'
Saturn replied. `I fear. There is not only the alternative of making and not making, but also of unmaking. Seest thou the great sea, how it ebbs and flows? so is it with me; my power ebbs; and if I put forth my hands, I shall not do, but undo. Therefore I do what I have done; I hold what I have got; and so I resist Night and Chaos.'
`O Saturn,' replied Uranus, `thou canst not hold thine own, but by making more. Thy oysters are barnacles and cockles, and with the next flowing of the tide, they will be pebbles and sea-foam.'
`I see,' rejoins Saturn, `thou art in league with Night, thou art become an evil eye; thou spakest from love; now thy words smite me with hatred. I appeal to Fate, must there not be rest?' -- `I appeal to Fate also,' said Uranus, `must there not be motion?' -- But Saturn was silent, and went on making oysters for a thousand years.
After that, the word of Uranus came into his mind like a ray of the sun, and he made Jupiter; and then he feared again; and nature froze, the things that were made went backward, and, to save the world, Jupiter slew his father Saturn.” --Emerson
Okay - I liked that quote from Emerson. So poetic and a wonderful way to see these archetypal energies. An opposition between Saturn, the Cosmic Karmic Taskmaster, and Uranius, the Radical Changemeister, does seem to represent the polarized feelings of the electorate this year. There are those who feel we have an obligation, a duty (Saturn traits) to see the war in Iraq finished correctly, and those who want change - and want to leave Iraq abruptly (Uranus traits). This continues through-out the conservative agenda (Saturn) vs the liberal agenda (Uranus).
On to some of the transiting aspects of Election Day:
*The Saturn-Uranus opposition, previously discussed, becomes exact at 8:33 AM EST. Significantly, on this day, it acts synergistically with a number of major structures in the chart, forming an uncomfortable relationship with the planet Venus, implying stresses on the social order or (perhaps) international tensions.
*Mercury, our trickster friend from 2000, moves from the sign Libra to Scorpio at 11:00 AM EST. This places it in something of an unsettled cosmic state, introducing the possibility of the kinds of information "irregularities" we saw in 2000.
*In the morning, the Moon is in a sign of its detriment (Capricorn), and is void of course. It changes signs about an hour before most of the polls close on the east coast (7:01 PM EST). This suggests, in the worst case scenario, that the public will not benefit from the election, and imparts a pointlessness to the day's activities.
*There is a Mars-Neptune square aspect (90 degree separation), symbolizing misdirected or exploitative energies as well as possible feelings of discontent or wasted effort.
I don't 100% agree. Mercury in Scorpio to me indicates that there is hidden information - secrets. Perhaps secrets exposed - Scorpio loves to find out others secrets, almost as much as it loves to keep it's own. Heh.
The article talked about what this could mean - and I found this interesting, especially since today I saw that Biden's name was floated as a possible VP for Obama:
More likely is some kind of scandal involving one (or both) of the candidates that may cause him to quit the race. McCain seems to be more subject to this possibility than Obama, but remember that we are expecting the unexpected. Cape Cod astrologer Gary Christen has told me that he expects a dark horse candidate to materialize after some unfortunate event befalls the nation or the "orthodox" candidates. Jacob Schwartz, who did so well in calling the 2000 election, still publicly insists that Joe Biden will be the Democratic candidate. Now that would be unexpected.
Well - I think there will be some surprises coming down the pike - say in October?
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