On his Quest and the Relocation of Thomas Paine

The political champion turned resurrection man: Out of thy own mouth I will condemn thee; artist Robert Cruikshank (1789-1856); British political cartoon satirizing Cobbett's retrival from America of Tom Paine's bones as "Napoleon watches from St. Helena and Britain erupts in revolution"; Bodleian Libraries {public domain Wikimedia Commons}; PD-1996

May 23, 2021: A few Astro-Notes concerning the indespensible Thomas Paine

by Jude Cowell

While some confusion has existed over the correct birthdate (OS vs NS) and hour for Revolutionary author and Founder Thomas Paine, for my purposes I tend to use his January 29, 1737 11:30 am GMT Thetford, England chart with Ascendant 3Gemini48 rising along with karmic planet of restriction and authority, Saturn Rx 4Gem48. Of course, that's Mercury-ruled Gemini, sign of The Writer, Messenger, Communicator, and Orator (who used to read his works aloud to the public). Of interest is that an earlier version of my SolarFire software gave 2Gem46 which rounded up = "3 Gemini": "A Garden of the Tuilleries" which resonates with Paine's French Revolution involvement and his imprisonment in France.

Meanwhile, perhaps you, dear reader, are familiar with an old SO'W post of April 30, 2006 concerning Mr. Paine and a curious double transit in May 2006 to both his natal Sun and Chiron: Sun to Chiron and Chiron to Sun, a doubly emphasized, simultaneously occurring 'cosmic link' cross the centuries suggesting hints about The Chirotic Quest of Thomas Paine and perhaps activating his spiritual and/or ideological descendants. As you know, a conjunction of Sun and Chiron has to do with self-transformation but one doesn't have to be conscious of it for this to occur - which is a good thing since Mr. Paine definitely was unconscious at his eternal rest in 2006. Yet in life, idealism was prominent via his inspirational Neptune in Mercury-ruled Gemini posited in the 2nd house of Values (money was something of an issue; he's known for donating all profits from his writings to The Cause of liberty and independence, assuming that Congress would pay him later for his efforts but we know how that turned out).

As for the double transits of 2006, it's doubtful that such a noble quest by a Founding Father who promoted the era's noble Enlightenment principles (his Uranus-Neptune opposition!) could have been fulfilled from beyond the grave under the auspices of warmongering profiteers such as Bush-and-Cheney in 2006. For tragically, as you know, any noble course America once promoted, even honored, was cruelly diverted toward 'the dark side' decades ago, not to mention our nation's original stain of slavery from 1619 onward.

Now if you're curious about William Corbett's famous disinterment in New Rochelle, NY of the body of deist Mr. Paine and the subsequent return of Paine's bones to Britain on November 21, 1819, check out The Adventures of Thomas Paine's Bones by Moncure Conway if you dare.

Meanwhile, for your consideration below is a bi-wheel of Thomas Paine's natal chart, center, with an outer horoscope of that very event, set for "just before daybreak" on September 25, 1819 New Rochelle, NY (source: Thomas Paine, by Craig Nelson, 2006), the reputed date and approximate time (using 5:00 am LMT) that Mr. Corbett, his son, and a hired hand, dug up the 'disrespected' remains of one of America's Founding Fathers, Tom Paine, who was denied burial in the Quaker cemetery due to his deism (and criticisms of his former colleagues) which had made him extremely unpopular in America (curiously, his natal Sun at "10AQ" = "A Popularity That Proves Ephemeral" - Jones):

Of course, it's possible that the unholy deed was begun earlier or later than the speculative hour of 5:00 am LMT shown here, but a change won't affect the fact that the 1819 South Node of the Moon @11Lib12 (in his natal 6th house), a Saturnian point of separation, sat squarely upon Paine's Prenatal Solar Eclipse (11Lib42) degree in the 9 New North Saros Series with its themes of 'great physical effort, and a potential for 'violence' (Brady's Predictive Astrology #ad) which suggests the hired hand's toil that morning. Digging a grave whether empty or inhabited involves great physical effort along with the upheaval of disruptive Uranus (20Sag47) at the 5:00 am IC (Ending; Roots) so this also describes the desecrating, even shocking, event as an 'uprooting' took place.

Plus, the 1819 Moon (11Sag41) of physical body was hiding mysteries of her own in the darker light of her Crescent phase (70:12) after floating beyond her opposition to Paine's natal Saturn rising (note that Paine's reputation and authority had suffered in England, too). Meanwhile, transit Jupiter Rx @7AQ28 was in process of conjoining Paine's natal Aquarian Sun (someone famous got 'carried away'!) while a triple line-up of planets all @27Pisces ("A Harvest Moon" - that's some 'harvesting', Mr. Cobbett) had moved beyond Tom's natal Venus-South-Node conjunction (separation from females; isolation) and are opposed by 1819 Venus @27vir40, venal planet of jealousy, envy, and vanity.

Additionally, Tom's natal North Node of meetings and destiny was rising at 5:00 am, and the Sun @1Lib28 was conjunct Nemesis (the unbeatable foe). Well, Cobbett was certainly that, for Old Tom had had no say in the matter of his relocation whatsoever. At least Mr. Cobbett eventually thought better of his controversial actions on that morning and he did stop his criticism of Mr. Paine at some point. Still, that's a mighty harsh, cruel Saturn-Pluto duo surrounding wounded Chiron there, isn't it? And all in Pisces, sign of the victim - and with 1819 Neptune, planet of erosion, undermining, mourning, and loss, conjunct what may just be Tom Paine's natal 8th cusp of Death and the Occult. To me it seems that Mr. Cobbett probably had some measure of exploitation in mind.

Then a wider view reveals that 1819 Neptune in Sagittarius was opposing Tom's natal Neptune in Gemini (sign of the pampheteer) which denotes that, yes, Thomas Paine was a victim of persecution during his lifetime and even, as we witness here via the lens of Astrology, in death.

Now naturally, several other chart factors are noteworthy so I shall trust you, dear reader, to locate them if you're curious.

In closing, here are details concerning the life and career of William Cobbett (b. March 9, 1763 Farnham, Surrey; d. June 18, 1835 Normandy, Surrey) provided by his Wikipedia bio page where you'll find that Cobbett's last years unfortunately were marked by a case of paranoia.

Recommendations: In case you've missed it so far, astrologer Mark Philips has written very interesting observations concerning Thomas Paine's natal Mercury in Aquarius.

And if you have 58 minutes to spare, don't miss Kenneth Griffith's theatrical documentary Thomas Paine The most valuable Englishman ever!

Natal Horoscopes of Capone-Manafort-Trump

August 2, 2018: Now that the tweeter-in-chief has compared his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort with Chicago gangster and tax-dodger Al Capone you know a comparison between their natal horoscopes had to occur. Below is a bi-wheel with Capone's C-rated natal chart in the center and Paul Manafort's 'noon' chart, outer. Penciled around the charts are some interesting links between Al Capone's planets and those of Donald Trump. As you see, Mr. Trump's Sun-NN-Uranus trio opposite his natal Moon-SN is prominently showcased on Capone's natal MC-IC axis:

The more stand-out links are Manafort's natal Jupiter conjunct Capone's Sun (28Capricorn--conjunct US natal Pluto), Manafort's natal Chiron 8Sag58 Rx (the wound and blind spot) conjunct Capone's natal Chiron 9Sag34, Capone's natal Jupiter 8Sco06 conjunct Manafort's Prenatal Solar Eclipse degree (4 South themes = 'strong emotions about money and/or relationships; a sense of fated events; frustrating blocks; sudden desire to end a relationship'). I won't mention Capone's Mars 29Can16 (Rx, OOBs, and at critical degree) conjunct Manafort's Ascendant since Manafort's chart is speculatively set for 'noon'. But we need no accurate birth time for Mr. Manafort to see Al Capone's Sun shining upon the natal Jupiter of extravagant spender and tax-dodger Paul Manafort during his current trial, thanks to the tweet-in-chief's (helpful?) efforts.

Plus, you see that Manafort's natal Saturn 00Vir04 Rx conjoins royal star Regulus (success if revenge is avoided)--and conjoins Trump's natal Ascendant and, by extension, his rising Mars in Leo. This link suggests that Manafort will 'stick' (Saturn) with Trump (ASC) and not turn state's evidence, even if convicted, but we'll see since 69-year-old Manafort's prospect of dying in prison may be a prison cell too far.

Also note that Al Capone's Syzygy Moon is his Prenatal Eclipse ('PE') 21Cap33 in the violent 9 New North Saros Series (conjunct Trump's natal Vertex!) and is the same series as that of Alexander Hamilton's PE, as already discussed.

Now here's a brief bio plus the natal chart of Al Capone if you wish a peek at his chart without my scribbles. And of course The Tower Eclipse of August 11, 2018 is affecting events already and may have much more to 'say' about the whole sordid mess--or in quick Uranian fashion may put an end to it!

On the Prenatal Solar Eclipse of Alexander Hamilton

John Trumbull [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Because of the uncertainty of the birth data of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton I've never properly posted his natal horoscope or made much mention of him astrologically here on Stars Over Washington. However, there are multiple rectified versions of his natal chart for the curious if you wish to have a look at them or at his noon chart. His early childhood on the Island of Nevis has been subject to speculation through the years although more seems to be known these days. Here's his Wikipedia bio page if you're interested and a view of his 'noon' chart is available here. The version I tend to favor is a rectified chart (by Dr. "H") set for January 11, 1755 1:23:37 pm Charlestown, Nevis with ASC 19Tau53 and MC 9AQ20--and lots of Capricorn planets suitable for the man who championed America's national banking system, served as our first Secretary of the Treasury, and more.

The Age-Old Question: Who's Your Daddy?

In the natal chart I favor, Hamilton's natal Neptune @7Leo47 Rx, leader of a Locomotive shape of planets (toward success), conjoins his IC which describes Hamilton's mysterious beginnings or roots. Plus, rising is Taurus, a money sign (the Taurean 'Bull of bullish Wall Street') and an Aquarian Midheaven, the Aspiration and Career Point, brings in humanitarian or social work which resonates with his natal Uranus inconjunct Neptune aspect that identifies his generation as fighting social ills and becoming involved in political work. This aspect (150 degrees) between the two planets of The Enlightenment (and of the NWO, as their energies have since been directed) was also in effect from 1922 through 1928. And as you know, they last conjoined three times in 1993 @18Capricorn..."POLITICAL POWER...neg: smug or strong-armed paternalism" - Jones. Of course, paternalism is how America began by the Founding Fathers and what is now 'on steroids' under dictator-wannabe Trump.

Yet there are horoscopes relating to Alexander Hamilton which can be accurately timed without doubt. One is the chart of his Prenatal Solar Eclipse ('PE') which perfected @22Lib35 on October 15, 1754 in the 9 New North Saros Series. This is a difficult series containing potentials for physical violence, accidents, and great physical effort (Brady). (A 9 New North last perfected in 2007 and will again in 2025.) His 1754 PE horoscope contains a YOD pattern (crisis; turning point; crossroads; special task; spiritual opportunity) with Neptune sextile North Node (understanding of cultural trends but evading them) at its base pointing toward natal Uranus @7Pis49 Rx. As you know, astrological Uranus can be crisis-prone on its own so when rivals Hamilton and Burr met with pistols in 1804, transit Pluto Rx, god of Hades, had been in process of conjoining Hamilton's natal Uranus with Uranus-Pluto combinations always explosive and often daring and foolhardy.

Now the YOD in his natal PE chart may be read as a midpoint picture: Neptune-NN = Uranus: unrestrained self-will; upset over the anti-social conduct of others; a sudden undermining or destruction of relationships. Add transit Pluto to Uranus' place in the picture on July 11, 1804 7:00 am Weehawken, NJ and Hamilton encountered potentials for: exercising a bad influence upon associations between people and/or the breakdown of a relationship between people living together (Ebertin). Tragically, sudden death by duel or any other means can do that to a man and his family.

Bitter Rivals

As for the 1804 duel's PE, it manifested on February 11, 1804 @21AQ36 in the 4 North Saros Series with themes of: illusion, restraint, restriction, separation, events that block, and people who are prone to misjudge their strength or the situation. These themes sum up conditions and events around the Hamilton-Burr duel rather well, I think, especially since at 7:00 am LMT in Weehawken, vengeful Venus in proud Leo was rising and shooter Mars was at the critical-crisis 29th degree of Taurus.

A solar eclipse in the 4 North series last perfected in 2002 @20Gemini (conjunct US natal Mars and Trump's natal North Node) and will manifest next as the Summer Solstice Solar Eclipse of 2020.