After years of suffering through the cold and brutal Bush
Winter, we are hard pressed to believe that Spring will ever arrive.
Many fear that it might even be sabotaged by some dark, destructive,
and unpredictable stroke of fate. A barely suppressed anxiety lurks
underneath the excitement and expectation of the 2008 election. Many
Democrats worry about the potential for an October-surprise terrorist
attack that could tip the scales to the GOP warmongers. Even worse, the
frequent comparison of Barack Obama to either John or Robert Kennedy
has kindled fears of his vulnerability to a similar and deadly end.
From an astrological point of view, there are certainly some causes for
concern that there will be unexpected attacks of some kind that impact
the nation in the coming year, but whether these are overseas, on US
soil, are violent or financial in nature, or perhaps some aspect of all
of these, is yet to be seen. It is useful to look at these indications
one at a time and then note where and how they overlap.
The Spring Equinox chart of 2008 when drawn for the US (3/20/08, 1:49
AM, Washington, DC) has an exact square between Uranus (19Pisces18) and
the Ascendant (19Sagittiarus16). This suggests upsetting, unexpected,
and transformative events that impact the nation directly during the
course of the 12 months that this chart is in effect. The period of
most likely manifestation of this rather volatile energy is from
October 2008 through early January 2009, when transiting Uranus returns
to 19 Pisces for over three months. December 9 through December 12,
when both the Sun and Mars will cross the Spring Equinox Ascendant and
be square to Uranus, indicates a particularly dangerous time.
In the US chart, transiting
Uranus will be in a potent square to natal
Mars (21Gemini23) from May through August 2008, receding somewhat but
still in effect until strengthened once again during its final crossing
in late January and February 2009. This aspect highlights war, acts of
aggression by the US, and sudden attacks on the US and its interests.
It will stimulate military activity, attacks on the military, and
possibly violent attacks within the country itself. In 1968, during the
time of the Tet Offensive and the assassinations of both Robert Kennedy
and Martin Luther King, transiting Pluto was square to US Mars, a
similar aspect that greatly stimulated the warrior-like Mars energy.
Also in the US chart, in the midst of this 8-month Uranus agitation of
natal Mars (5/08 through 2/09), transiting Saturn will make a station
from late November 2008 through January 2009 in square to US Mars,
indicating a time when the military push runs into significant
obstacles, and the power of America to pursue its goals is very
constrained and frustrated. There is a push/pull feeling: the US is
agitated and wants to respond aggressively (Uranus/Mars) but feels so
encumbered that it cannot actively pursue its interests with much
energy (Saturn/Mars). It is worth noting that both Ben Bernanke, the
Federal Reserve Chairman, and Henry Paulson, Secretary of Treasury,
will be constrained and frustrated by the Saturn station as well,
indicative of a financial downturn at the end of the year accompanying
whatever else is unfolding.
In Barack Obama's chart (8/4/61, using unverified 1:06 PM,
Honolulu), the Uranus station of May through July 2008 will fall in a
tight opposition with Obama's Mars (22Virgo25). This suggests
he will be attacked repeatedly, harshly, and from unexpected vantage
points by the GOP. We will also see in him a far more aggressive and
sometimes angry candidate than witnessed previously. The fact that this
transit coincides with Uranus square the US Mars and is during the
year-long period of Uranus square the Spring Equinox Ascendant does
suggest some possibility for danger during this May through July
period, and again, once Uranus goes direct, from late November through
mid-March 2009, after which all of these influences will be past. A
look at Michelle Obama's chart (1/17/64, Chicago), however,
does not suggest any periods of possible grief except perhaps during
April and May 2008, and that would only be if her birth time falls
during the particular few hours which would bring the Saturn station in
opposition to her Moon. At present, no birth time is known for her.
Thus, although Obama is likely to be put through the usual GOP slime machine during the next several months, it seems unlikely he will be physically hurt or incapacitated in any significant way. It does, however, seem quite possible that US interests and perhaps the country itself will undergo some very significant upsets and possibly some attacks in 2008 and especially from late November 2008 through early January 2009.
