Inauguration 1953: A Prayer for America

Dwight D. Eisenhower, official photo, May 29, 1959; Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

July 1, 2022

Reaching Back for a Better America

by Jude Cowell

As my fellow Americans and I face Independence Day 2022 with less constitutionally granted independence and freedom than before due to an overreaching Supreme Court, a tribute to a certain American Republican president might actually be appropriate for the July 4th holiday:

On January 20, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn in as our 34th president. Instead of one Bible for his Oath of Office, two Bibles were used: George Washington's Masonic Bible from 1789, some say turned to II Chronicles 7:14 (disputed), and President Eisenhower's own "West Point Bible" turned to Psalms 33:12. Eisenhower then gave his own Prayer and delivered his Inaugural Address. At his 1953 Inauguration, 'Ike' sounds like an actual American, and a listen of his 1953 address is recommended, if you can spare a few minutes.

Then recently, progressive broadcaster-author Thom Hartmann commented that in his opinion, Dwight Eisenhower was the last Republican president who believed in democracy. In fact, Eisenhower's 1953 Inaugural Address is a bracing tonic for those of us determined to fight against the authoritarian wave of lies, deceit, cruelty, and strong-armed paternalism now sweeping across America (Vote Blue in 2022 - and 2024!) and gaining hoofholds around the globe. Among others, Eisenhower's mentions of concepts such as "moral stamina" and "love of liberty" remind us of the America that, struggling toward a perfect union, we want to keep. Yet if our country must regress, let it be to these and other higher concepts and principles, such as President Lincoln's "better angels of our nature" - while leaving behind the racism and hatred of by-gone eras for those are what degrade and doom our nation to the ashbin of History. And anyone who promotes such negativity are enemy saboteurs of America, many disguised as "patriots." Yet as you know, dear reader, using religion to gain and wield political power is precisely what America's Founders feared!

So for the astro-curious, here's a view of the natal horoscope of Dwight David Eisenhower, born October 14, 1890. His chart shows Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Uranus in Libra, warrior Mars @13Cap39 (directly opposing US Sun of July 4, 1776), Jupiter @2AQ44, Saturn @12Vir39, Virgo rising, Gemini at Midheaven, and of course, the Neptune-Pluto Conjunction in early degrees of Gemini - at Midheaven with his 10th house North Node @17Gemini. Yes, the Neptune-Pluto duo can be bad news in the criminality and occult realms but for evolved individuals receptive to such influences, their combined energies can provide self-knowledge and a refined spiritual understanding (A. Oken). Then notably, in the realms of Politics, Ike's Libran Uranus can express and behave as a troublemaker, and/or as one whose reforms are in the interests of the public. A WWII General, perhaps his Uranian behavior was a case of alternating expressions!

Now at the risk of seeming to be sympatico with the current evangelical, Family-run, Opus Dei, Dominionist, theocratic bizarros sticking their camel's nose under the tent of liberty, privacy and other rights (with whom I am non-sympatico) while they set about stirring a noxious brew of church and state, let's consider the Scriptural messages that President Eisenhower spotlighted that day in 1953 as he began his presidency and prayed for America:

II Chronicles 7:14, our Creator's promise to heal the land of His people who turn from wickedness and seek Him. And here I'll quote Psalms 33:12 (KJV): "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own."

Well, to me this means that genuine spiritual renewal is needed across our nation but I must suppose that the current batch of holier-than-thous think they're the people referred to here. Yet through willful blindness, or their lack of genuine spirtual understanding, they leave out empathy for humanity, and show cruelty which negates any claim to such a worthy status that they might have had. Why, they act, legislate, and pronounce from on high as if they've never read the New Testament at all! And yes, we're all on paths to greater understanding (ye olde "God's not through with me yet") but the paths that theocrats trod seem darker than one would hope for leaders of our country - and We The People are expected to follow! Instead, their riding roughshod over the majority's wishes feels more of a return to Benito's Fascism or Adolf's Nazism, and those would be very dark paths indeed.

Therefore, in honor of the recent revelation of ketchup dripping down a White House wall (so in the news these days), here's a brief video clip from Mary Trump in case you missed it: Why Donald Trump Throws Food: An Origin Story - It's All About the Mash Potatoes!

So hopefully we can agree that POTUS #34 is a major contrast to man-baby POTUS #45. And to me, the contrast represents a sad symbol of how America and the White House have come down in the world. How much President Biden can elevate the country and the White House remains to be seen. But undermining his efforts at improvment is not in our country's, or in democracy's, best interests.

A Closely Related Post: On April 20, 2023, the Solar Eclipse Series That Affects All US Presidential Elections returns. And all lovers of democracy will need all the support we can get.

Horoscopes: DOJ 1934 with AG Bill Barr Confirmation

June 25, 2020: Below is a bi-wheel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Dedication Horoscope of 1934 (inner; Masonic ceremony led by FDR; '3:00 pm' - D. Ovason) with Bill Barr's Senate confirmation horoscope of February 14, 2018 (at approximately 1:05 pm est Washington DC - my thanks to mundane astrologer Gary Lorentzen for the timing). The partisan Senate confirmation vote was 54 to 45 for "the cover-up general" so that scofflaw Trump would be shielded from answering for his crimes and could more easily continue his nasty habit of overstepping the traditional limits of Executive power. Basically, Barr was installed in order to save Trump's shall we say bacon.

How many threats of retaliation were delivered against any senators considering a vote against Barr I cannot tell you but in multiple spots in the horoscopes you'll find mention of career-ending associations with certain dark elements of society, including the criminal syndicate/procurement variety. See particularly the dark green highlighted notes in 10th house and on the right (via rounded-up Sabian Symbols for the 2019 ASC-DESC axis degrees; also see the MC's symbol, the WHY? Point, top right, "18Sag").

And note that Opus Dei agent Barr's confirmation occurred a mere 4 days prior to the DOJ Uranus Return, number three of three (dates penned on chart, in blue), during what continues in 2020 and beyond to be 'a titanic power struggle' between global forces -> Pluto in Capricorn opposing Pluto in Cancer with the 2019 North Node ('NN") pointing toward 1934 Pluto, and the 2019 SN (aka, 'tail of the dragon') swiping 2019 Pluto. So considering our titanic topic is it curious that the pairing of Pluto-NN is sometimes known as the "tiger by the tail" aspect?

Please enlarge the image if you wish to read my study notes - not much text today for this week I'm mired within a household repair nightmare ever since the June 5, 2020 Lunar Eclipse 'hit' an angle in my natal horoscope!

Now here's an article about the alleged genesis of Barr's 'job application' memo but to cynical me (as a former resident of Washington DC!) this all seems a big old set up especially since Republicans knew very well what Bill Barr was and is capable of perpetrating to keep a president in office: William Barr's Unsolicited Memo to Trump about Obstruction of Justice in which Barr criticized the Mueller investigation of Russian interference in the Trump campaign and "questioned the scope" of the investigation. But perhaps we can agree that the "obstruction of justice" has been on the Barr-Trump-Republican side.

Justice Roberts to Head Senate Impeachment Trial

Crunch Time for America 2019--2020

by Jude Cowell

Although his natal horoscope is based on 'date without time' data (RR: X), you may wish to check out the natal horoscope of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts if you haven't since he will be the one to rule over the Senate impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump if there is to be one. Justice Roberts is said to favor protecting his reputation for non-partisanship and a Senate trial concerning Republican Trump will certainly provide an ultimate test of such a high-minded self-image--and I hope he's correct in his self-assumption because a balanced approach is imperative in this risky situation which must be American, not Democrat or Republican.

Born John Glover Roberts on January 27, 1955 in Buffalo, New York, John Roberts is an Air-Water Sun Aquarian with Moon in Pisces for the entire 24-hour period (Sun ranges from 7 to 7:30 Aquarius, Moon from 15 to 29 Pisces). This identifies his personality as an independent thinker and a humanitarian with a social conscience; he is intuitive, reverent, and eccentric. Somewhat gullible, Justice Roberts has a scientific bent and may be attracted to metaphysical or mystical subjects. Plus, he's sociable and friendly yet few people really know him. Sun AQ-Moon Pisces folk want to be of service to the world so presiding over a Senate impeachment trial is quite a significant way to accomplish this objective. His time has come, in fact, and there's much riding on this impeachment endeavor for Justice Roberts personally as well as for the nation and its future direction as a democratic republic vs a despotic monarchy. I say this after glancing at 2020 transits to his natal planets.

Justice John Roberts in 2020

A few examples include the harsh Saturn-Pluto Conjunction @22Cap46 (exact January 12, 2020) with the two karmic planets taking turns opposing his 'lucky' Jupiter-Uranus Conjunction (both Rx @23--26 Cancer). Saturn opposes natal Jupiter once on January 17, 2020 and Pluto opposes natal Jupiter three times beginning on or about January 29, 2020. Transiting oppositions to natal Uranus will raise his chances for additional political, financial, and/or possibly legal battles and conflicts which may very well affect Justice Roberts personally (and not just as spotlights on the topics he deals with as a Chief Justice of SCOTUS). If he takes a wrong path now, the odds of future conflicts increase.

November-December 2019

As for astrological factors during a potential Senate impeachment trial, we have no date to investigate so let's compare the planets of Wednesday November 13, 2019, the first public impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump's activities which apparently is set to open at 10:00 am est on Capitol Hill.

Of course, we have no houses for Justice Roberts without a birth time (12:00 pm is used) but three transits 'pop out' on that date--and note that the 3 South Solar Eclipse of December 26, 2019 manifests @4Capricorn upon the natal North Node of Justice Roberts, a major karmic indicator for him and for America (post contains an image of the 3 South Horoscope as well as the first eclipse of 2020 which occurs in tribal Cancer). Additionally, the 3 South December 2019 Solar Eclipse of 'traumatic transformation' conjoins and activates by degree the 11 North Prenatal Solar Eclipse of John Roberts. As I said, his time has come:

1. Sun @20Sco55 conjunct natal Saturn (20Sco16) denotes a time of serious situations that require trustworthiness, reliability, and probity. His seniority and past loyalty (to Republican objectives?? allegiance to Opus Dei?) can bring rewards, and current matters concern issues of authority and the senior position of others. Of course, this refers to his nibs and may also involve various culprits mired within Trump's Ukraine and/or other abuse-of-power capers, scandals, and deceptions. (And note that 20 Scorpio is the natal North Node degree of SCOTUS (1789), a karmic link to John Roberts' Saturn.)

2. Mars @26Lib11 conjunct natal Neptune (28Lib14) suggests a period when frustration is a potential due to others misunderstanding the Justice's methods or objectives, confusion and deception will (attempt to) undermine circumstances, unrealistic or deceptive enterprises are not favored, and issues involve matters of fraud, bankruptcy, charities, drug-trafficking, criminality, and/or penal institutions.

3. Pluto @21Cap03 opposes natal Jupiter (23Can20 Rx and conjunct Trump's natal Saturn) indicates that his best course will be to keep his aspirations on hold especially in relation to politics, and that titanic forces will block him in a power struggle which has huge consequences.

The Pluto-Jupiter opposition influence can at least partially describe the entire political process of a Republican Chief Justice who apparently possesses a social conscience attempting to protect the reputation of the Supreme Court (1789 chart shown) while fairly presiding over a Senate impeachment trial of a shady president with Republican partisans yapping at his heels in a desperate bid to hide their own crimes, foreign ties, and vulnerabilities.

And hopefully transit Neptune Rx @15Pis58--conjunct Achernar, star of crisis and endings--isn't floating too near the natal Pisces Moon of Justice Roberts for this can denote all manner of mysterious potentials including hidden threats to family members.

But surely a desperate Trump and the anti-government GOP wouldn't stoop that low to save their sorry bacon, right?

Above Image: Chief Justice John Roberts, official portrait; Steve Petteway [Public domain]

More personality details may be found in Sun Sign-Moon Sign, by Charles and Suzi Harvey.

DC Horoscope: 1st Public Impeachment Inquiry

Image: A speculative '10:00 am' Horoscope for the 1st Public Impeachment Inquiry into Donald Trump scheduled for November 13, 2019, probably opening at 10:00 am est Capitol Building Washington DC. US diplomat to Ukraine William Taylor is expected to present a damning case against Donald Trump--and note that personal name asteroid Taylor @22Lib53 sits atop the Midheaven ('MC'), the Goal Point of the chart and of the inquiry. Also at MC are starry Arcturus and Spica (the spike), and in L'Enfant's original plan for the District of Columbia, Arcturus represents the White House while Spica is the Washington Monument, or, the presidency as archetypally modeled for us by George Washington.

Asteroids America (10th house), Columbia (5th house), and Washingtonia (7th house--conjunct US natal Mercury Rx @25Cancer) are penned inside the chart as well; opposite Washingtonia is Hopi (ambush or prejudice) conjunct US natal Pluto Rx (1st house). The chart's Vertex @10Leo, a point of fated encounters, points directly toward Trump's natal 12th house Pluto (10Leo02), his Underworld planet and part of his natal midpoint picture of which to be afraid--Mars-Saturn = Pluto: brutality; rage, fury; murder; death of many people -Ebertin). As you know that Trump has already caused tragedies for many. That's his creepy, subversive Pluto in egotistical Leo.

Just crossed the 10:00 am MC is Trump's natal trio in Libra: Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter. He of the speculative ventures, fraud, and grand schemes of bubbly proportions (aided by his natal Mercury-Neptune square of fantasies, lies, inability to learn, and confusion). He's having morbid thoughts now (Mercury-Neptune = Saturn @16Cap23 in 1st house).

Lower right is marked transiting Icarus (who flew too high) @24Scorpio39--conjunct Trump's natal IC of Endings (round up to "25Scorpio" = "An X-Ray"). What is an impeachment inquiry if not an x-ray, a scrutiny looking beneath surfaces? As you see in the 12th house, Trump's natal South-Node-Moon conjunction has already risen so his next natal planet to rise is his 10th house Uranus (17Gem53) all the way over in the 6th house of this chart (unmarked). His North Node, then natal Sun in perverse Gemini soon follow Uranus, his guiding planet of chaos. And notice that the transiting North Node @9Can16 (conjunct hellish Hades!) still points in the general direction of the current 3 North Solar Eclipse ('PE" marked in red) with its 'news that transforms a situation'/'large plans are wanted--but don't get carried away' vibes (Brady), news that the first and other inquiries are certain to provide.

Now sprinkled around the outside of the horoscope, highlighted in blue, are a few of Trump's natal placements (June 14, 1946 10:54 am edt Queens, NY), plus, there's US natal Moon (We The People; the public) in 6th house with the Pluto-Chiron midpoint of Plutocracy @26AQ26 sitting atop it/us. I can feel the weight of plutocrats' boots on our backs, can't you?

Edit January 24, 2020: this month the Pluto-Chiron midpoint by transit has conjoined with America's natal Moon (We The People) in late Aquarius. Ouch. Exploitation and power abuse. Both perpetrated and experienced.

At 10:00 am "30 Sag" rises ("The Pope Blessing the Faithful"--and I'm sure he does) so let's not forget that a key player in Trump's so-called administration is pretend-AG Bill Barr, an ultra-right ideologue they say in league with Opus Dei. This gaggle of gangster kleptocrats surrounding Trump don't believe in democracy (asteroid of democracy, Ceres, is rising with passionate Eros, the piercing) so why are we allowing them to sabotage America? Besides, starry Acumen also rises with keywords: attacks which weaken and I sincerely hope that this and other political performances we're being 'treated' to these days bring a loosening of the grip around the necks of decent people the world over by global mob syndicates, networks of gangsters, bankers, corporatists, and other criminal elements banded together and now clawing and grasping for total control.

That my expectations for our nation's better future are very high, I know. But what better can a Child of the Revolution pray for?