Politicians & Their Politics 

                 Liberals and Socialists,

                      Conservatives or Fundamentalists -

                                     It’s All in the Chart !

                                        Meira B. Epstein, C.A. NCGR-PAA

                       (First published in The Ingress - a New York NCGR publication)

My personal astrological philosophy is that every human experience can be found in the chart, including opinions and political views. This article is not a definitive research, but a concise cumulative observation of astrological significators for what motivates people ideologically when they get involved with politics, or simply express their own views. This is not about the 2008 elections, but some guidelines for understanding the motivations behind the words and the actions of the political figures in our lives. Needless to say, opinions and observations expressed here are mine alone.

As it stands now, the United States is a two-party system drawn along the division between Democrats-Liberals and Republicans-Conservatives.

 At least as the general perception goes, Left-wing, Liberals and Democrats represent the working class, the desire for progressive social reforms based on the principle that the government must help, get involved and provide financial and other assistance to individuals and communities, which should be funded by progressive taxing that “takes from the rich and gives the poor”, thus creating a government welfare system that takes upon itself more responsibilities for the prosperity of the individual.

Ironically, today’s Democratic party began its history as also called ‘The Democratic-Republican Party”, founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 1792 (exact date unknown.)  Years later it split into competing factions one of which became the modern-day Democratic party.

 In our time, Republicans-Conservatives come across as the party of capitalism and big business, of the well-heeled, and the wealthy, of a social elite and those who are close to positions of power and aim to preserve their own power-base. The capitalist ideology advocates that market forces should be allowed to act freely without government intervention. Social programs are kept to minimum on a charity basis. Right-wing people of all stripes tend to vote Republican.  The Republican party was founded (in a schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin, “on a cold and windy night” on March 20, 1854) on an anti-slavery platform and resistance to power and pressure of the South. The slogan of John C. Frémont, it’s first candidate was "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Frémont.” The new party emphasized a vision of modernizing higher education, banking, railroads, industry, and cities, while promising free homesteads to farmers. Ironically, this sounds a lot like the democratic slogans of today.

And then there is the religious divide. The religious right and those who supports traditional and fundamentalist values, opposing ‘separation between church and state’ seem to be in the Republican camp while all those who oppose that (from atheists to alternative religions) seem to fall into the Democratic camp.

Political issues vary with time, but the positions taken by those who clearly fall into the above classification is usually quite predictable. The above descriptions are more along the lines of stereotypes. Obviously, there are those who don’t fall into these neat black-and-white categories. It is my opinion that regardless of ideology and idealism, people who choose political careers are drawn to it for the sheer sense of power and influence.

Before we move into the technical part, I wish to make the following comment:

Astrologers often discuss politics, coming from their own personal views, which, in my opinion, color and even distort their astrological judgment. It often sounds more like political activism rather than impartial astrological analysis. This becomes apparent at times of presidential elections, when discussions heat up and astrologers are asked to predict the outcome and pick a winner. In order to properly explore the astrological signification of politics, we must strive for professional objectivity, “leave our personal likes and dislikes at the door” and learn to separate our own views from what the chart says.

Astrological Signatures Relevant to Politics

For the most part, these are found in the outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - in various combinations of hard aspects with Personal Points – Aries Point, Lunar Nodes, Mc, Asc, Sun, Moon. As it is not possible to show all the charts here, each of the following signatures is followed by a short list of some well-known personalities that exemplify it. The charts are available in AstroDataBank and other sources. Some are date-only with no time.

Jupiter indicates a sense of abundance and entitlement. Money and wealth. Aristocratic or upper class roots or connections. Jupiter-Sun gives an attitude of  “I am in the right”. It lend self-confidence and optimism, which is something people actually want to see in their leaders.

See: Ross Perot, Pres. Ronald Reagan, G.H. Bush, G.W. Bush, Napoleon Buonaparte (France)

Saturn signifies old values and tradition. It indicates rigid and exacting attitudes, enforcing the letter of the law. It is bureaucratic and administrative. Can be an authoritative task master.

Saturn-Mars, Saturn-Sun, paradoxically, may also lean towards left-wing by identifying with the plight of the downtrodden and by indicating an opposition to the authorities and the ruling class. Thus, can go both ways, Democrat or Republican, when it comes to issues of power. It also conceals a sense of personal inadequacy and the struggle to overcome it. Sun-Saturn hardens the person: “What doesn’t break me make me stronger”.

See: Pres. Theodor Roosevelt, G.W. Bush, Hugo Chavez, Joseph Stalin (Russia),

Uranus is ruthless, harsh and dispassionate. It is independent, strong-willed, obstinate and dictatorial. Can make unpredictable one-sided decision.

See: Pat Buchanan, Che Guevara (Cuba), Saddam Hussein (Iraq). In the 7^th house of Pres. G.H. Bush it seems to describe the wife.

Neptune is THE Social Reformer!  The idealist and the visionary, who refuses to accept prevailing reality. Usually a left-wing person drawn to communism in its various incarnations. Neptune-Sun can be the “political chameleon” – the one who changes identity and political color. There is a mystique about the person. What you see is not what you get. Can be a genius and a great strategist – maneuvering in unforeseeable tactics.

See: Al Gore, Pres. G.W. Bush, Barack Obama, Pres. Richard Nixon, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara (Cuba)

Neptune-Jupiter (especially in hard aspect): Financial idealism - “Put your money where your mouth is”. Benefactor. Money spent on social causes. The “inflation aspect”. Wasteful - money with no limit, spent unwisely. Credit card economy – borrow, live on debt.  Money for charity and social reform. Irresponsible in handling of funds. If connected with the 8^th house – fund raising, the ability to get other people to donate money to social causes.

See: Pres. FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, Jesse Jackson, Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Nicolas Sarkozy (France)

Pluto  spells ‘þ’ for Power & Politics! Overpowering. Seeking power. Recognition and a sixth sense for where the center of power is and what it takes to acquire. ‘þ’ for Psychological manipulation of the masses.

See: Pres. Ronald Reagan, Ross Perot, Vladimir Putin (Russia), Hilary Rodham Clinton (8:00 AM chart)

Pluto-Jupiter (especially in a conjunction):  Plutocracy – ruling through Money and wealth. Tongue-in-cheek, I call it “The Republican Aspect”. 

See: Billy Graham (evangelist), William Buckley (ed. National Review magazine).

Pluto-Sun-Saturn is the quintessential quest for power.

See: Pres. Theodor Roosevelt, Hugo Chavez (July 28, 1954, no time, Sabneta, Venezuela)

Additional Planetary Combinations that have Political Implications:

Venus -conj- Mars adds a sexual undertone that adds irresistible charm. It creates charisma and attraction by the masses, enabling the politician or the leader to “have their way” with the populace.

See: Pres. Bill Clinton, Moshe Dayan (Israel), Mahatma Gandhi (India), Adolph Hitler

Sun-conj-Moon also brings people together and facilitates unions.

See: Karl Marx, Mike Bloomberg (mayor)

Vulcanos (Uranian TNP) with the Personal Points indicates influential connections, personal power and the ability to influence.

Kronos (Uranian TNP) with the Personal Points makes the person ‘presidential’, prominent, ‘the head of’, an authority. Kronos-Zeus combines leadership with a lot of energy and drive.

Zodiacal Signs Contribute in the Following Manner:

The Fixed Signs - Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius  are about power. They are the powerhouses of the Zodiac. All four can be dictatorial, unflinching, not yielding, not  budging, steadfast, determined and loyal.

Sun-Aquarius, contrary to popular belief among astrologers, is not the rebel nor the atheist. It does tend towards social awareness, but under the rulership of Saturn, it leans towards old-world order and can be quite authoritarian. It loves antiquity, archaeology, history, classical languages, and so on.

See: Presidents Abraham Lincoln, FDR, Ronald Reagan. Sonny Bono, Mike Bloomberg (mayor)

Cancer, Capricorn  typically display traditional values, family, patriotic values. In general - tend to be conservative. See: Pres. Richard Nixon.

Sagittarius  Deals with race relationship, anti-Semitism and all ethnic issues, religious and cultural bias. 

Charts & Data

The beginnings of the Democratic Party are hard to pinpoint in terms of exact events/dates. It is generally attributed to 1792, and was first names as “The Democratic-Republican Party” in a letter by Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, dated or published May 23, 1792. In the absence of a better date, Thomas Jefferson’s election to president can serve as a ‘Democratic Party chart’. See data below. The rational is that in every momentous mundane event the planetary configurations form continuity from a previous one, all the way to the original inception chart.

The Republican Party is the younger of the two, and has a more distinct beginning, of date, place and even time: March 20, 1854, Ripon, Wisconsin, evening hours, at the schoolhouse. See the link below for “A participant recalls the Ripon meeting of March 20, 1854. Milwaukee man one of seventeen who christened the Republican party”

    

 

               

It may be a bit of a bold statement, but it seems to me that the Republican signature is represented by Jupiter and the Democratic one is represented by Saturn, thus matching the broad-stroke planetary definitions listed above.

Data & Sources

Republican Party

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.ripon-wi.com/ripon-wi/page.asp?p=little_white_schoolhouse

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=948

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=1&id=2135&key=republican&cy=

Dates

Birth: March 20, 1854, Ripon, Wisconsin, in a schoolhouse, in the evening hours.

First official meeting: July 6, 1854, Jackson, Michigan, “under the oaks” (daytime)

First national convention:  February 22, 1856, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Democratic Party

http://www.arkdems.org/HistoryofDemocraticParty.aspx

http://people.csail.mit.edu/hqm/writings/jefferson/odur.let.rug.nl/usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jefl97.htm

Dates:

First identified by name (The Democratic-Republican Party):  May 23, 1792:  In a letter from Jefferson to President George Washington, he gives a name to the party then headed by Washington: “ That the ultimate object of all this is to prepare the way for a change, from the present republican form of government, to that of a monarchy, of which the English constitution is to be the model. ……… The republican party, who wish to preserve the government in it's present form, are fewer in number. They are fewer even when joined by the two, three, or half dozen anti-federalists, who, tho they dare not avow it, are still opposed to any general government: but being less so to a republican than a monarchical one, they naturally join those whom they think pursuing the lesser evil.”

Thomas Jefferson becomes the first Democratic president:  February 17, 1801, when the House breaks electoral college tie and chooses Jefferson as President over Burr.

© Copyrights Meira B. Epstein, All Rights Reserved.

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