Updated: Obama's Prospects,
based on 7:24 pm birth time
Here's a look at Obama's official announcement that he was running for president. The event took place on February 10, 2007, a cold wintery day in Springfield, Illinois, and arrived after he had already established an exploratory committee the month before. His public appearances and speeches were attracting unusually large and enthusiastic crowds, as was the case on this day.
After some introductory remarks, Obama said: "That is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States." The BBC was covering the event live with a local clock ticker running on the screen, and froze it at the moment of the announcement at 10:13 am.
Now, horary astrologers running a chart for this moment will tell you that the Moon was Void of Course, and therefore nothing will come of his candidacy. Personally, I don't give this judgement much validity for a number of reasons, but primarily, that 17th century horary rules meant to answer specific and personal questions can't really apply to 21st century political events. But if there is anything to this notion, I'd like to see the proponents of this theory back up their claim by using historical announcements that bear out the Void-of-course Moon theory.
In any case, the major dynamic on this day was the Sun's opposition to Saturn, and a separating conjunction with Neptune. The Sun-Neptune conjunction took place two days earlier, and using the 7:24 pm birth time for Obama, landed right on his Ascendant, as Saturn was just past the conjunction with his Descendant. Obama's candidacy is therefore a reflection of the Saturn-Neptune opposition, which can be characterized as an attempt to make the hope and vision he espouses (Neptune) a reality, a practical force within our government (Saturn). The outer planetary activation of his Ascendant/Descendant angles corresponded to the initiation of his election campaign.
Not until nearly a year later, following stunning victories in the early primaries, did political pundits realize that this African-American could actually become the next president. Democrats in predominantly white states were casting their votes for Obama in large numbers, and by February 5's Super Tuesday, Obama held a small but significant lead over Hillary Clinton in the delegate count. The Solar Eclipse on February 7 took place at 17º44' Aquarius, nearly exactly conjunt his Ascendant.
Obama's Progressed Jupiter
What astrologically could account for Obama's enormous popularity? And will it sustain him through election day, November 4?
First, Obama's Uranus at 25º Leo opposes the U.S. Moon, which is his direct and radical connection to the American people. The orb is extremely tight. The U.S. Moon at 25º28' Aquarius and Obama's Uranus at 25º16' makes an orb of less than 1/4º, which is tighter than anything in McCain's chart. It's what allowed Obama to surpass other well-known and popular national candidates, notably John Edwards, who has zero natal or progressed connections to the U.S. Moon.
But above and beyond this vital link, Obama's chart is charmed in rare and magnificent ways. His natal Uranus is conjunct his North Node at 27º Leo in the seventh house of partners and the general public, and the two (Uranus and NN) are being activated by his progressed Jupiter at 27º Capricorn. Activated Jupiter-Uranus combinations are frequently found in celebrity charts, especially when they're headlining in the news cycle. They foster the exciting enthusiasm, the charismatic aura, and the multimedia buzz that money can't buy.
But Obama's progressed Jupiter at 27º Capricorn also happens to be conjunct the U.S. Pluto, the nation's ruling planet. Jupiter to Pluto attracts the attention and support of America's wealthiest and most influential people. His P2 Jupiter is standing direct, so will be in this degree area (where it forms a precise quincunx to his North Node) for many years, promising a bright future in American politics.
And to add yet another phenomenal astro-event, one that put this enduring P2 Jupiter complex into play in early 2008, was his progressed Sun forming a trine to his P2 Jupiter during the early primaries. It was still a strong influence in January since it became exact in December 2007, by which time he had become a genuine contender.
To summarize, here's a shorthand version of Obama's key planetary gems:
Natal Uranus opposite U.S. Moon (orb 0º13')
Natal Uranus conjunct North Node in 10th (orb 2º02')
P2 Jupiter quincunx North Node (orb 0º01')
P2 Jupiter conjunct U.S. Pluto (orb (0º14')
P2 Sun trine P2 Jupiter, exact December 2, 2007
There's one more astro-event in play that might very well carry him to the inauguration in January 2009. His progressed Venus was nearly conjunct natal Uranus when he announced back in February 2007. As this aspect grew stronger over the next few months, Obama's popularity escalated as he began drawing crowds larger than all the other candidates' crowds combined. Venus rules a candidate's general popular appeal, and when it's conjunct Uranus, crowds can get pretty wild and crazy, almost irrational in their manic support.
Obama's P2 Venus, moving at the rate of 1º12' per year, is now approaching the conjunction with his North Node, which of course picks up the rich support from his P2 Jupiter. These two aspects, P2 Venus conjunct North Node, and P2 Venus quincunx P2 Jupiter, become exact on October 18 and October 24, 2008, respectively. This is just in time ofr the national election, and one would be hard put to find a more favorable astrological set-up. So add these two gems to the above rare and phenomenal conditions:
P2 Venus conjunct NN (exact Oct 18 2008)
P2 Venus quincunx P2 Jupiter (exact Oct 24, 2008)
Barack Obama's chart does show some severe challenges between now and election day, so here's what's standing in his way. From the natal chart, his Sun's only major aspect is the square to Neptune at 8º Scorpio. At its best, the Leo Sun becomes inspired by Neptune's vibrations, and the leadership role becomes one of inspiring others, leading them to a hopeful future. The downside of this is that it lacks practical experience, the kind of nuts-and-bolts approach that Hillary Clinton and John McCain portray.
Obama's Neptune is exactly conjunct the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, making him a screen for Americans' highest hopes and dreams. It can work the other way around, meaning that people can become disillusioned by what he represents, or that he may be revealed as something other than how he portrays himself. He was born during John F. Kennedy's Camelot days, and as we all know now, that youthful, visionary, peace-loving image that the Kennedy family presented became tarnished when his sexual adventures were exposed years later.
Considering the challenging outer planet transits, probably the most significant is Uranus opposing Obama's Mars three times. The specific dates are June 12 and July 10, 2008, and March 12, 2009, but collectively they represent a lengthy phase when he comes under attack from his political enemies. Since Mars re[resents his Inner Warrior, a Uranus hit can be particularly damaging to his standing. Transiting Uranus to Mars is a volatile, explosive energy, and anything can happen.
What makes this particular transit so potentially dangerous is that Obama's progressed Mercury and Mars are conjunct in his 8th house of death and re-birth. This P2 Mercury-Mars conjunction becomes exact on June 25, but is a secretive force to reckon with during the entire phase that transiting Uranus is in opposition to his natal Mars. The P2 Mercury-Mars conjunction takes place at 22º Libra, so that as transiting Uranus opposes natal Mars at 22º Virgo, it's simultaneously forming a quincunx to the 8th house progressed conjunction. This confluence of astro-events at 22º will bring intense enemy action, and any prudent astrologer might also be concerned for Obama's physical safety. In shorthand, this line-up looks like this:
To summarize, Obama's horoscope is super-charged with extremely fortuitous progressions, especially when considering the connections to the U.S. horoscope. This is offset by a rather dangerous and potentially campaign-collapsing development in his 8th house. If he can stay centered while under attack from both the McCain campaign, he is the favored to win both the Democratic nomination and the general election.
