Spotlight on Mercury: Hillary Clinton

Here you see the most often used natal chart for Senator Hillary Clinton, Oct 26, 1947 8:00 pm CST, Chicago, IL, rated DD for dirty data as her birth time is unverified.

This is why I've not published or written much on her before. And I do think that one of the possible charts (for 8:02 am) makes a lot of sense because it gives this lifelong politician an ASC of 22Sco07, Mercury-SN rising, with Venus, Chiron, and Sun 2Sco19 in 12th house.

12th house Suns are quite prevalent for politicians including George Bush--it's a secretive placement good for deals behind-the-scenes with the true character well-hidden. At 8:02 am natal Moon would remain in Pisces although earlier--22Pis51, and the Mc/Ic axis you see here would flip--MC becomes Virgo rather than Pisces. (Senator Barack Obama's natal Chiron is 5Pis+.)

But my current purpose is to take a peek at natal Mercury, planet of thinking processes and communicating styles--a very important planet for anyone but esp for a politician who may be propagandizing at us ad nauseum from the proverbial bully pulpit. And birth time won't affect Mercury factors mentioned below...

Some general notes on Mercury in Scorpio:

Mercury in Scorpio gives an intuitive mind capable of deep insights, and perceptions which allow critical examination of human motivations. Things may be seen accurately but not necessarily in a charitable fashion.

Mincing words to spare others feelings must be learned for it does not come naturally to a Scorpio Mercury--if Clinton can't say what she really feels, she'd rather remain silent. This can be similar to a Mercury-Pluto conj (a la George Bush) which gives cruel speech and a talent for catapultin' the propaganda.

Many plans--'planning' is also a function of Mercury--are carried out in secret and communication occurs only with a definite purpose toward what she is trying to accomplish.

If Mercury is afflicted--and one may say that Mercury conj SN is an affliction, for it is somewhat similar to having a Mercury/Saturn conjunction, plus Mercury is actually squared by Saturn 21Leo21--there can be scheming, plotting, and ulterior motives. Well, okay--she's a politician in, of all places, Washington DC.

A Scorpio Mercury may also give much mistrust of others but makes a good researcher or detective.

Saturn square Mercury can give a tendency toward excessive worrying, mental inhibitions, and traditional thinking...aka lack of imagination. Overconcern with unimportant details may factor into the worry and there may be difficulty in gaining recognition for original ideas esp from the establishment.

This is the strict-adherence-to-law-and-order Mercury, often at all costs, and a fear of change may lurk just under the surface. Scorpio's influence gives Mercury a proneness toward jealousy and a deep fear of failure (enough to bring on crocodile tears? You betcha! And Moon in Pisces can turn on the waterworks in a flash--very helpful for a political thespian.)

In positions of authority, a Scorpio Mercury may resort to belittling the ideas of others, and trouble may come through written communications and contracts (Whitewater, anyone? Must be more where that came from or I'll eat my beanie bonnet.)

Now you see that Mercury is conjunct South Node (SN)...what of it?

South Node (of the Moon) is karmic in nature--it's where we've developed old ways of dealing with issues--appropriate at the time, but they no longer 'work'. Yet we continue to use them with lackluster results--aka neurosis. Remember her "vast right wing conspiracy"? How people laughed! (I didn't, did you?)

SN, an unconscious point in the chart, also relates to inherited talents, and with Clinton's Mars-Pluto-Saturn trio--all pointing to papa--I assume she has inherited some of her Scorpionic Mercurial traits from the paternal side, yet some must have come from mama (SN)...she got a double helping, I'd say.

Mercury conj SN indicates one whose ideas are either ahead of or behind the times. Positively this conj endows the person with mental originality--much-needed with her Mercury-Saturn square--and we've observed her sense of independence which the separative influence of SN brings. Plus, Mercury-SN often has difficulty with timing in speaking up--and sometimes isn't listened to and so becomes frustrated.

Often forced to proceed alone, it's difficult with this configuration to gain support or to get others to cooperate. Has she figured out how to do this?

If Clinton becomes president we'll all suffer mightily if she hasn't, for America's problems run deep and Washington is no longer known for cooperation unless there's a photo op involved or an earmark to scratch.

In the long run her ideas can prove to be correct if she uses the rest of her chart factors to aid this ahead-of-its-time Mercury-SN conjunction. Overhauling healthcare? Well, we'd be better off now if she had managed to have those ideas accepted then (although I believe those ideas weren't actually Hillary's, but that's okay.)

Whososever ideas she promotes, advances, or brainstorms, my sincere hope is for my only nag in the race...as ever and always, the United States of America.

Spotlight on Mercury: Mike Huckabee

Today I continue the series on candidates' Mercuries (their thinking and communication abilities and styles) with Republican Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, who has stated in the campaign that he will "represent the people on Main Street, not Wall Street."

Setting aside my intuition that none of the candidates will truly be able to perform this amazing feat from the Oval Office--and they won't occupy it long if they do--I submit to you my notes on Huckabee's natal chart with emphasis on natal Mercury 17Vir31 (sunrise--birth time unknown--Aug 24, 1955; 5:46:19 am CST.)

Mercury rules two signs of the zodiac--Gemini and Virgo. A Geminian Mercury is interested in ideas for their own sakes, while Mercury in Virgo prefers that ideas have practical applications toward financial success and status.

Depending on aspects, house placements, and other factors, a Virgoan Mercury indicates an analytical mind with practical reasoning ability. Precision and accuracy are important to this Mercury placement which works best in orderly surroundings where efficient procedures are prominent (The Astrologer's Handbook, Sakoian.)

Education and development of skills, including proper grammar, bring financial and professional success to the Virgoan Mercury. Language abilities make them good orators, an ability which has aided Huckabee in his early preaching career and, of couse, in verbiose politics.

Mercury in Virgo is oriented toward dedicated work, so when Huckabee mentions his previous hard work as governor, I believe him. Detailed work is attractive to the Virgoan Mercury which may show a shyness and a retiring air which doesn't like to waste time in idle conversation. Getting on with the job is more common unless other factors interfere.

Since I have no birth time for him, Mercury's house placement is unknown to me (though it wouldn't surprise me if Huckabee has Sag rising considering his previous poundage, plus: Jupiter = the preacher; the optimist), but we can be certain that natal Mercury is in a separating sextile (60 degrees) with n Saturn in Scorpio.

The fact that it is a separating (waning) aspect indicates that the aspect's gifts are inherited, probably from the paternal side--unless his mother wore the pants in the family--and with Moon in Scorpio, perhaps she did. And it's possible he received these abilities from both sides of the family, for we are all the 'flowering of our generations,' aren't we?

Mercury sextile Saturn: disciplined mind; organizational skills esp in career matters; prudence and forethought in the decision-making process; lecturing and teaching talents; math ability; never leaves anything to chance--there is purpose behind every thought and action.

That last trait is perfect for politics in which nothing happens by accident--if it happens, we can be sure it was designed to happen (FDR.) (btw: I consider this to apply to mysterious 'suicides' and plane crashes as well.)

As final dispositor of his natal chart, Huckabee's Mercury in Virgo underpins all his natal planets' energies, is strong in its own sign, and indicates a stable mind able to organize his talents toward long-term goals and objectives.

However, you may want to read my concerns about Huckabee as US president for a fuller view of aw-shucks-I'm-harmless Mike Huckabee.

note: please pardon the typo in the title of this post if you're seeing it--it has been corrected on blog!