BUSH INAUGURATION/OATH OF OFFICE CHART—
SOLAR RETURN FOR 2003
Well, we’re at the start of the 3rd year of the Bush Administration, so here’s a look at the latest Solar Return (the chart cast for the exact time when the Sun returns to the same position it was at the time the Oath was given)! To quote from last year’s report, “The original ‘birth chart’ for the Bush “Oath of Office” has been described as a ‘train wreck.” The Solar Return for 2002 emphasized secrecy and aggression. (Check the article on 2002 for the details.)
So, what’s in store for the upcoming year? This chart is full of tension producing major configurations, so be forewarned!
Last year, Venus, which rules money, banks, general economic conditions, possessions (which can lead to hostilities, including war) and women, was located in the 7th House (war, foreign relations, allies) near the Sun (President) and Neptune (things that are hidden) in the 6th House, the area of the chart involving services, including labor groups and national employment, the armed services, and health issues. One could argue that the manipulation of the war on terrorism, which burgeoned into the “marketing” of Iraq after the summer, effectively masked the souring economic conditions for most of the year, probably right through the election!
This year the Sun-Neptune combination widely conjunct is posited in the 4th House, the house agriculture, mining (things related to the ground), and most notably, the political party out of power. You can be sure the President (Sun) will continue to “charm” and blur the lines on issues (Neptune) to the Democrats’ disadvantage. And look for more “fine print” hidden in bills that will come back to bite us later on.
Even though Venus is not part of the planetary combination this year, since the Ascendant is in Libra, the ruler of the chart is Venus. So the same elements--money, banks, economic conditions, hostilities and women’s issues--will remain in the mix. Look to see wrangling over more tax cuts and any Supreme Court nominees. And, of course, oil (Neptune) will continue to be priority one. The abortion wars are already on the schedule.
The Libra Ascendant is of special interest. Libra, of course, represents harmony, peace, fairness, and balance at first blush. But Libra’s great vice is laziness and Bush is often perceived as not being willing to really work very hard, in general, and this seems to extend toward reaching a peaceful resolution with regard to Iraq, North Korea, and the Middle East. With Libra, dealing with problems is often avoided until the last minute. Libra often needs advice and help in dealing with problems since they prefer not to face them alone, and one can see in this Administration how all the advisors seem to be more visible than Bush and will likely remain so.
In spite of the obviously large role being played by Bush’s advisors, of real concern is the fact that the Ascendant conjuncts the asteroid Vesta, which represents commitment to a cause, tunnel vision, and times of alienation and self-reliance and solitude. In addition, Bush’s natal Uranus and North Node are closely in trine with the Cancer MC of this year’s Inauguration Solar Return chart. If Bush decides to break free of his advisors and tries to over-compensate to prove he’s “his own man,” his narrow vision and impulsiveness can take charge -- and the ramifications can be dangerous indeed.
The danger of energy getting out of control is heightened by the fact that the Ascendant-Vesta conjunction forms a T-Square with the opposing asteroid Ceres on the Descendant with a Mercury-Chiron conjunction in Capricorn in the 3rd House squaring these angles. Also in the mix is Jupiter, located in the 10th House (President, Administration, reputation of the nation). Jupiter not only opposes Sun-Neptune, it also forms the apex of a Yod (Finger of God or Fate) as it quincunxes the 5th House Part of Fortune and Mercury-Chiron.
The asteroid Ceres highlights issues relating to children’s services and food-related issues such as farming, health awareness and world hunger and relief organizations. Pottenger summarizes Ceres as representing the home (land), security/safety, agriculture, labor, and family/food issues. It is posited in the 6th House which rules the illness of the people, the working class, the civil services, and the army and navy. Look for the Bush administration to continue their ruthless quest to cut services, turn their backs on international aid, and play on security issues to maintain the patriotic fervor of the populace.
According to Nolle, Chiron in Capricorn indicates the will to prevail no matter what the obstacles. The 3rd House placement manifests in the Bush Administration wanting to master the tools of communication and putting their ideas out into the world at large for their own self-interest. Of course, the mass media will play a key role. With Jupiter on the 10th House as the apex of the Yod we see that Bush is focusing all his energy to push through his policies but he might be unrealistic in his expectations because some of his risk-taking (5th House) may backfire. Tierney comments that quincunxes to Jupiter can be disorganizing and patience, timing, effort and common sense are required. Bush won’t be very eager to listen to criticism from the Democrats, which in the long term, might work against him.
Bush and the Administration may try to put a gloss on the Mercury/Chiron message machine by trotting out the softness and “fairness” of the “compassionate conservative” line (some of that Libra Ascendant), but the reality will be just the opposite. Pluto is also in the 3rd House, conjunct Venus (2nd House) which further emphasizes how issues involving the wealth of the nation will be manipulated or suppressed or pushed through in spite of opposition. This combination forms a Grand Trine with 10th House Jupiter and 6th House Ceres. However, the trine to Pluto-Venus from Jupiter, with all its disorganizing energies from the Yod, may not strengthen Pluto’s manipulative energies. The homeland security issues represented by the Ceres trine also may not be as an effective tool as they may have been earlier. And, in addition, 9th House Saturn, which opposes Pluto, may further limit to how successful the Administration will be when it comes to controlling the message, particularly when it comes to issues involving foreign affairs and the Supreme Court. Perhaps the media will become less supportive now.
Another powerful configuration in this chart is the Grand Cross formed by the opposing pairs, Gemini North Node (8th House) vs. Sagittarian Mars (2nd House) and the Scorpio Moon (11th House) vs. the out of sign conjunction involving 6th House Pallas Athene in Pisces and disassociated Uranus in Aquarius.
The Grand Cross is an inherently unstable and stressful pattern and the mutable nature of this Grand Cross heightens that instability. With Uranus involved, (although out of the Mutable element and thus disassociated in the Fixed sign of Aquarius), the pattern is even more subject to sudden releases of energy.
The Moon (women, family, the common people
and common concerns) axis indicates that women’s issues will
be a focus in Congress (11th House) and the nation.
Demetra George writes that Pallas can be an indicator of wisdom,
healing powers, or it can manifest as the goddess of justice and
protectress of the state or rule over political activism. In
Pisces, Pallas may act as an enlightened warrior or become a
martyr through turning the other cheek. Since Pallas in is in the
5th House, which rules the birth rate, along with
Uranus in conjunction (out of sign), I am guessing that Pallas
will be a warrior for women’s abortion and and other
reproductive issues. Note that the Bush Administration has
already altered information on abortion and cancer as well as
condom use and HIV protection, and by doing so, is providing
misinformation. (Never miss a chance to use Neptune
energy--"Bush science" is running rampant in many
areas, ie, global warming, etc.)
The Moon-Pallas opposition will emphasize the struggle to integrate the strong emotions and the real-world need to achieve concrete results, while the square to 2nd House Mars will intensify this struggle. The square to North Node indicates a need to share information and awareness with others. Since it falls in the 8th House, which rules public morality, the challenge for Moon-Pallas during the debates in Congress will be to focus on communicating TO people, rather than just talking AT them to get arguments across effectively.
Ninth House Saturn, which forms a Grand Trine to Uranus and the Libra Ascendant, could provide the necessary discipline for these efforts. On the other hand, Saturn can indicated a lack of courage to attempt such a fight, and since Saturn also rules the Democratic Party, such fear may be well-justified, given the party’s performance over the last two years.
The North Node-Mars opposition across the 2nd and 8th Houses highlights money and the stock markets (2nd House) and taxes, insurance, and pensions (8th House). While the stock market will continue to be a concern, tax cuts and Social Security “reform” in the guise of privatization are already on the table. The Administration may blow “hot and cold” on some of these issues, displaying sudden bursts of enthusiasm only to lose interest on them or move on to new policies when challenges arise. This is already evident in how the White House is concerned that their long proposed tax cuts may be revised since they are widely perceived as favoring the rich.
But the North Node also forms a Grand Trine with Neptune and Vesta, so the Administration will able to achieve many of their most important objectives by skillfully picking their fights and then muddying their true intentions in softened rhetoric and using charm and deceit in their dealings with Democrats and the public. And since Neptune is also part of a T-Square, with Jupiter opposing and Juno squaring this axis, we’ll see the same tactics used to deal with women’s rights and gay/lesbian issues (Juno).
As noted above, we do see some possible
stumbling blocks for the Administration this year. These are some
of the periods where the progressed Moon from the actual
Inauguration Day Chart of January 2001 (the natal chart of the
Administration) may trigger some key events:
1/21/2003 pr. Moon conjunct SR Moon 11th House (Congress); also pr. Moon quincunxes the Inauguration Day Neptune (10th House). Look for stress between Congress and the Administration. Perhaps Democrats will be loudly questioning the truthfulness of some Bush proposals.
2/23/03 pr. Moon squares SR North Node 8th House (Taxes, cabinet members, pensions.) More possible stress points.
7/10/03 pr. Moon trine Mercury-Chiron 3rd House (and related configurations) All the stops pulled out for the White House message; may not be totally successful.
7/21/03 pr. Moon oppose SR Part of Fortune 6th House (Illness of the people, army and navy, warships, dissension.) War? Anthrax attacks or reactions to the vaccine? Soldiers attacked with WMD? Protests?
8/21/03 pr. Moon square SR Venus 2nd House (Pluto nearby in 3rd) wealth of the nation, women’s issues, allies.)
Also, pr. Moon will be squaring the Inauguration Chart Pluto (8th House) and trining the Inauguration Day (2001) Ascendant (Taurus). War? Look for the exercising of more dictatorial powers, more secrets, spies, drastic events, resistance.
12/15/03 pr. Asc (18 Libra 57) sextiles SR Pluto
12/23/03 pr. Moon square SR Pluto (3rd House, Venus nearby in 2nd)
War? Look for some strong media manipulation by the Administration or problems with transportation/violence.
Copyright 2003, Gloria R. Lalumia