DC Horoscopes: All Four 2018 Cardinal Ingresses

As you may remember, year 2018 opened its cosmic curtains with a New Moon @26Capricorn54 which perfected very near US natal Pluto (27:33) and echoed RNC 2016 when disruptive Uranian Donald Trump was nominated for the US presidency. For an overview of 2018, here are previous posts showing DC horoscopes of the 2018 Cardinal Ingresses which mark the beginning of each season of the year: Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumn Equinox 2018 (with chart details) followed by a view of the Winter Solstice 2018 horoscope which is also set for our nation's capital:

Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox and shown below...

Winter Solstice December 21, 2018 5:22:46 pm est Washington DC; Hour Mars; chart-ruler Moon in Gemini in 12th house of Politics, Karma, and Large Institutions; Mars-Neptune at Midheaven denotes weakness and failure and echoes America's natal Mars-Neptune square of misdirected action and confused motivation; the 'fog of war' may be suggested; evaluating Venus in Scorpio in the 5th house of Speculation and Risk-Taking leads a Locomotive shape of ruthless ambition and her trine to cloudy Neptune suggests what you see penned in the center of the horoscope including monetary fraud and an inflated Treasury, or, inflation used to control a nation's finances. the 2nd house of the National Treasury holds the Solstice's Prenatal Solar Eclipse in the 2 New North Saros Series, aka, The Tower Eclipse which manifests on August 11, 2018 @18Leo41 (DC horoscope shown). The 2NN began in 1928 if that tells us anything:

That Tweeter-in-Chief--You Know the One

Please enlarge the image to read my scribbled notes if you wish; highlighted in pink (for bullies like you-know-who) are most of Donald Trump's natal placements, and as you see, his natal Mercury precisely rises in the chart along with transit *Hades and asteroid Hebe (the server; also a Hebrew indicator), both retrograde. Fixed star Alhena ('the wound in Achilles' heel'--bone spurs?; and, to have a mission--to tweet, perchance to tweet alone) also rises, plus, North Node in 1st house is fortuitous and points toward starry Procyon (short-lived opportunities)--perhaps they are our own chances to improve our lot and make karmic progress within this kitten-in-string condition of ours.

A cadent Winter Solstice Sun @00Cap00:00 is in 6th house of Military-Police-Civil-Service (and Health) as are Mercury and Jupiter--conjunct upon malevolent, headstrong, royal star and Watcher of the West, Antares, a red star of war and/or violence. Meanwhile, the Tail of the Dragon (South Node) @26Cap55 is in process of swiping US natal Pluto Rx as it nears Donald Trump's natal Vertex (VX, a point of fated encounter; his @22Cap51) and if you look, bottom right, I've penned a note--that the January 12, 2020 Saturn-Pluto conjunction will 'hit' the natal VX of Mr. Trump. Basically, the Winter Solstice 2018 Nodal axis spotlights America's natal Mercury-Pluto opposition of propaganda, intelligence gathering, political talk of reforms, secrets, orbital weaponry, space exploration, toxins, and self-destructive impulses in business (Munkasey).

As for current nuclear issues, destructive, transforming Pluto (planet of plutonium), is at a critical degree (20Capricorn), power asteroid Toro, often active in nuclear or atomic charts, conjoins South Node, a Saturnian point of separation, and creator-destroyer Siva sits upon the 8th cusp conjunct US natal Pluto. And of course, as noted, there's Trump's natal Vertex in the midst of them all.

Of course, many other chart factors are worth noting for those who dare but I must leave them to you now as the Gemini Moon in 12th house hides away while activating Trump's natal Uranus (his 'guiding planet' in his 10th house of Career and Public Status) and note that the Moon-Uranus combination of energies in Political Astrology indicates excited people, and--an emotionally immature leader who rules by whim.

Uranian planet *Hades: a Scorpio-Virgo quality which adds fragmentation; associated with the Greek god Hades or Pluto; the Underworld (mythological or criminal-jc); the hidden; debris, recycling; unpleasant things; analysis; breaking down into parts; antiquity; ancient cultures; Astrology; Jazz; a study from the distant past (genealogy? jc); artifacts of past cultures; used items; discarded marriage partners; adopted children or stepchildren; karmic references ( New Insights into Astrology, Nona Gwynn Press).

Also of note in 2018 comes our annual 242nd Independence Day, aka, America's Solar Return 2018 with karmic Saturn, planet of accountability, authority, authenticity, limitation, delay, status quo, work, The Establishment, law, government, and business uppermost in the horoscope set for Washington DC.

Robert Mueller appointed May 17, 2017 - w 2018 Eclipse

Tomorrow, Thursday May 17, 2018, is the first anniversary/Solar Return of the appointment of Robert Mueller III as Special Counsel to investigate Donald Trump, the Trump campaign, his associates, and their ties or conspiracies, if any, to or with Russia and Vladimir Putin. On Thursday, the Sun will precisely return to its 2017 degree at 5:44 pm edt (based on its 2017 degree at noon edt). In the Solar Return 2018 chart (not shown), Midheaven @2Leo27 sports the 2017 position of asteroid Atlantis @2Leo01 (abuse or misuse of power; divine retribution; feelings of doom). Obviously, the themes of astrological Atlantis are very much a part of the Mueller investigation into the affairs of Donald Trump and we may also wish to note that in 2017, Nemesis, the unbeatable foe, opposed Atlantis.

And here's a cosmic curiosity: 2Leo+ also happens to be the position of personal name asteroid 'Mueller' on the day of Robert Mueller was born! (you can't make this stuff up).

On May 17, 2017 (Washington DC), the Sun @26Tau55 conjoined the nastiest star in the heavens, Algol, of Medusa-Head fame, the occupant of Mr. Trump's natal Midheaven. Regretfully for Mr. Trump and for the country he now haphazardly leads, enraged Algol at Midheaven has an especially malevolent reputation for potentials such as mob violence, murderous tendencies, and the possibility of a tragic end (Devore). Along with royal Regulus rising (success if revenge is avoided--otherwise, all that's gained will be taken away--Brady), this has been the cosmic condition of Donald Trump since birth (natal MC) and the Mueller probe is now the spotlight shining brightly upon the star's turbulence and affecting the enraged Mr. Trump's career and public reputation on the world stage (MC).

Inner: Special Counsel appointed May 17, 2017 12:00 pm edt Washington DC; outer: Solar Eclipse @18Leo41 2 New North Saros Series August 11, 2018 5:57:39 am edt Washington DC--the collapsing tower:

Of course, you see that Mr. Trump's natal IC @25Scorpio is affected (family; domestic scene) as transit Jupiter in Scorpio approaches and readies to enter Trump's natal 4th house from whence his his natal Uranus-NN-Sun trio will eventually be opposed--conflicts and unfavorable conditions are indicated for an extended period once the Jupiter oppositions begin in 2019. (Also see the penned note, bottom center of the chart: "transit Jupiter oppo 2017 Sun Oct 25, 2018".) Yet some respite may be felt for transit Jupiter will also conjoin Trump's natal Moon @21Sag, usually a happy time unless negative conditions interfere overmuch. For him this may be the case due to his natal Moon-South Node conjunction visited by tr Jupiter so perhaps happy expectations won't be met since a Jupiter-SN contact often denotes blocked endeavors and ethical clashes (as with current conditions). Actually, a look back at the period when this transit of Jupiter occurred about 12 years prior would be fruitful for those who have the time.

Many Towers Totter Across the Globe

As for the bi-wheel pictured above, the outer chart of The Tower Solar Eclipse of August 11, 2018 @18Leo41 is shown because of the involvement of Trump Tower in the ongoing Mueller investigation and the structure's location of at least two significant meetings (June 9, 2016 and December 12, 2017) under Mueller's scrutiny when Russians came to call--and because Trump is so very proud of this building with his name upon it. Plus, this Solar Eclipse conjoins the noon Ascendant of May 17, 2017 (Washington DC) and so I have used it to show upcoming transits to Mr. Mueller's appointment. Also note that a Solar Eclipse in Sun-ruled Leo indicates that karmic progress can only be made if the negative qualities of Leo are avoided--pride, vanity, egocentricity, pomposity, and ostentatious display (Lineman). It also confirms a karmic relationship with one or more offspring--offspring such as Donald Junior whose involvement in the Trump Organization and actions during the 2016 Campaign such as contacts with Russians and others are in the cross hairs of Robert Mueller's Special Counsel investigation.

Now planet Pluto of the (criminal) Underworld holds an important position in both charts @19Capricorn+ but in 2018 Pluto is unaspected and thus detached from any planet in the Eclipse chart, and unable to offer its regenerative power. For Donald Trump this condition of a lonely Pluto is a 'natal echo' since his natal Pluto @10Leo02 is also unaspected which I have previously termed "overshadowed by shadows" as we recently discussed when we took a ginger step into Donald Trump's 12th house of the Unconscious.

And perhaps you remember that May 17, 2017 happened to be the very date of the first of five Neptune Returns (14Pis01, as you see!) of the Republican Party (of 1854). Synchronicity much? The last of the five conjunctions perfects on December 29, 2018 which takes party members into 2019 with a disappointing wilt rather than a bang. And as you know, a difficult star inhabits the region of 15Pisces--Achernar = crisis at the end of the river, or, the risk of rapid endings. Yes, many Capitol Hill resignations have been announced with the probability of more to come--plus midterm election losses in November if a 'Blue Wave' is allowed to wash over America and voters mobilize themselves in great numbers.

Well, there are many more chart factors of interest here but as usual this should remain a post not a book so let's close with a few notes on the May 17, 2017 Sun-Moon blend which sounds like a description of Robert Mueller to me--at least in comparison to the squishy, quirky, changeable Donald Trump whose natal Uranus @18Gemini (his guiding planet) hints of his China connections:

Earth-Air Sun Taurus-Moon Aquarius: independent, fair, honest, morally sound, shrewd, tenacious, objective, realistic, committed to principles, resourceful, trustworthy, and capable; can be stubborn and overconfident which can come across as conceited. (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Charles and Suzi Harvey).

Related: 'The Tower' Solar Eclipse of August 11, 2018 happens to be the Prenatal Eclipse of the 2018 Midterms (horoscope shown with a link to eclipse details).

Historical Horoscope: The Battle of Agincourt

When History Meets Astrology!

The decisive English victory by Henry V against the French king at the Battle of Agincourt (Azincourt) on October 25, 1415 has held an understandable fascination for many people through the centuries. This fascination I also felt but little did I know until recently that a Strickland fellow was on the scene and fighting for the winning team, one Thomas de Strickland. Earlier alternate spellings of this venerable name include de Strykland.

UPDATE Feb 10, 2022: The legend goes that Sir Thomas de Strickland, carried the banner of St. George at the battle.

By Sir John Gilbert (1817 - 1897) {Public domain}, via Wikimedia Commons

So considering my liking for setting up Historical Horoscopes, I thought it might be cool to set up a chart for the Battle of Agincourt, Pas-de-Calais, Northern France. As for the timing of the battle's start, one source says that 'three hours after sunrise, still no fighting' and of course it had rained the night before so mud was in abundance (and helped the outnumbered Englishmen to win, plus, they skillfully utilized their longbows; Henry's strategy won the day, as you know). According to several accounts, Henry gave the order to advance at or about 11:00 am so the horoscope is set for that time. As you see, 7th house Saturn is at Station Rx in tribal Cancer as the Order of Chivalry, so popular in France, is disrupted forever by Henry and his men, and a new age begins. Jupiter (the general) in authoritative Capricorn rises in 1st house, is chart ruler (battle ruler), and represents Henry, the victor. Note, lower left, that Jupiter makes only one applying Ptolemaic aspect, an opposition to watery Neptune Rx, muddy details penned on.

Now this chart shows the modern planets added, of course (I can't resist!) and if we count rebellious Uranus there's a YOD pattern of crisis/special task/turning point with its apex karmic Saturn in Cancer which denotes 'aggravating circumstances via family ties' which I believe there were due to a certain brother arriving late to the melee. That Saturn is the apex planet of this configuration marks it as a doubly fated YOD and shows that perhaps the French may not have been as prepared for battle with Henry as they could have been--or simply that they were overly limited by their strong adherence to the Age of Chivalry while Henry and his army ignored such 'niceties'. Yes, Agincourt was the end of 100 years of war and there's warrior Mars at the apex of a dynamic T-Square between Pluto and North Node, an indicator of 'violence, brutality, and the misfortune to be placed in someone else's hand or power' (Ebertin).

If you wish, please enlarge the horoscope to read my scribbled notes concerning this Hour of Mars, the warrior:

Shown just below the Descendant (27Gem20) are Pluto and the Prenatal Solar Eclipse of the Battle, a Total Eclipse @23Gem53 in the 12 South Saros Series. However, this must be a 12 Old South series since 12 South didn't begin until September 19, 1541. Therefore, I can only add details on a Solar Eclipse in Mercury-ruled Gemini which, for karmic progress to be made, must include versatile, fluid expressions and logic without the negative qualities of Gemini such as duplicity, superficiality, and caprice. In Gemini, this also involves the gathering of information, and near the 9th house Mercury I have penned, "an informant?" for the Midheaven (Goal Point) contains the Sun-Mercury midpoint and the Sun is on the level of leadership, ruthless Henry, while messenger Mercury is on the 'French side' of the chart.

Plus, the addition of powerful Pluto (21Gem24 Rx) so near the Solar Eclipse denotes potentials for 'criminal offenses' so common in war and/or 'a charismatic leader of the masses' (Lineman). Pluto in Gemini reveals 'ruthless behavior with regard to society or the social order' (Ebertin) which the Battle of Agincourt certainly was as evidenced by the world-changing results of this brutal event.

Now for the curious who have time to spare, here' a Timeline documentary on The Battle of Agincourt.

Caput Algol screams upon Donald Trump's Midheaven

Medusa Wikimedia Commons; circa 1878

If you could choose any star to avoid in connection to your natal chart and planets it would probably be the most malevolent of them all, Algol (aka, Caput Algol). Here are potentials for Algol, some of which may remind you of a certain public figure we both know all too well these days:

"Mass tragedies: war, mass murder, fanaticism, ruthlessness, bigotry, propaganda, horror, violence, mass vandalism, mob violence, being torn to pieces, extremes of brutality. Death by hanging, strangulation, electrocution, wounds to the throat and neck." (Algol has been in Taurus for more than 1800 years, and Taurus rules the neck and throat...perhaps when it gets to Gemini this will change to wounds to the arms and shoulders ??) "Often found in criminal or murder charts. In mundane charts it may presage great disasters such as mine cave-ins, fires, quakes, riots etc. Extreme sickness." Quoted from Diana K. Rosenberg's page Medusa's Head.

Of course, "wounds to the throat and neck' suggest decapitation which can also include a 'heady' experience that causes a person to overdo his reactions, to 'lose his head'--like, for example, taking over the Oval Office reins and assuming you're above the law. And many would describe demagogue Trump in the White House as "a great disaster" for America and the world. Watch for May 15, 2018's New Moon @24Tau36 (7:48 am edt) for it blinks at Algol, stimulates the natal MC of Mr. Trump, and denotes a new cycle of activity which tragically may include some of the malevolent potentials listed above. The lunation also occurs within a degree of the natal Taurean Sun of the State of Israel.

So as you know, the Midheaven (MC) in any horoscope is the most visible point and describes The Goal or Aspiration Point of the person, entity, or event described by the horoscope. This 10th house cusp is sometimes known as the WHY? Point (ASC = WHAT?; DESC = WHERE or WHERE TO?; IC = HOW?) so there in Trump's Goal department nestles nasty star Algol. Does any of this remind you of the horrendous photo that comedian Kathy Griffin published in which she pretended to hold up a decapitated head of Donald Trump in Medusa-Head style? Me too. Wonder if Ms. Griffin studies Astrology?

Singapore! Trump-Kim Meeting Set for June 12, 2018

On May 10, 2018 a meeting between Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un was announced for June 12, 2018 in Singapore. This is subject to change, of course, so I don't care to write about the meeting's horoscope until closer to the event, if then. However, the founding data of Singapore may be useful. We should note that in the transits on June 12, the Mars-Uranus square will have waned (Mars 7AQ; Uranus 1Taurus) while the war-like Mars-SN conjunction remains worrisome for its possible military connection and the fact that it continues to ruffle America's natal Nodal axis (6Leo/AQ). Another square will be formed by then between Venus (diplomacy) and quirky Uranus (revolt; freedom; independence; disruption) denoting willful people who resent any limitations on their actions, and the easy or sudden breaking of relationships, not the forming of them!

Now there are multiple horoscopes for Singapore (originally founded in 1819 as a trading post) and below is a dual image of two of them, both set for August 9, 1965--one for 10:00 am JT -7:30 (Proclamation of Independence, lower left), the other for 4:15 pm JT, the official hour of independence.

As you see, the 4:15 pm chart shows interlaced (focused) YOD patterns of crisis, crossroads (like at a trading post?), and/or special purpose--one with apex Sun in Leo, the other with apex Saturn Rx in Pisces--and Saturn the chart-ruler since business sign Capricorn rises. On August 9, 1965 by transit was a fanatic Saturn-Pluto opposition across the Virgo-Pisces victim-savior axis, and of course, in 1965 the Uranus-Pluto conjunction was perfecting off and on with all the protests and restlessness we could use. Curiously, in the 10:00 am chart, Trump's natal Mercury @8Cancer conjoins Singapore's Midheaven (8Can01), and on June 12, 2018 (typical as it is) Trump's natal Sun will be sesqui-squared by transit Mars (7AQ55) indicating ego conflicts and ill-considered actions; this transit is a three-fer and will repeat on July 11, 2018 and October 5, 2018.

Singapore data from The Book of World Horoscopes, Nicholas Campion; charts shown here are #297 and #298. A third horoscope can be set for August 31, 1963 12:00 am JT with ASC 2Gem04, MC 27AQ17 (precisely where the current 1 South Solar Eclipse 'hit' on February 15, 2018 = "flooded with options and ideas"--Brady); also the 1963 chart reveals a practical Double Earth Sun Virgo-Moon Capricorn blend while the 1965 charts show a Fire-Earth Sun Leo-Moon Capricorn combination of energies.) Note that on the 10:00 am chart I've penned on most of Mr. Trump's natal placements--also note that large amounts of money may be involved in this 'summit' for in both charts gold-hoarding MIDAS conjoins Trump's natal Midheaven @24Taurus! So apparently Mr. Trump is expecting a lot from this meeting and relationship with Kim--even a Nobel Prize. The Cosmos does, after all, gift Trump with a Gemini New Moon near his natal Sun for his Solar Return 2018 which arrives a mere two days after his meeting with Kim!

Related are multiple versions of birth data and horoscopes for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (RR: XX) but his birth year seems to be 1983.

The Human Cost Of Ending the Iran Peace Deal - clip

From May 9, 2018 here's a Thom Hartmann segment that is informative as usual:

~:~

So far a horoscope for Iran, The Islamic Republic of Iran, has never been posted here on SO'W but here's a 2013 post 'Iran on the Edge' by The Classical Astrologer, Britain's Peter James Clark, concerning the country and citing two versions of founding data--one for April 1, 1979 12:01 am Tehran, the other (which is discussed in the post) set for the return of the Ayatollah on February 1, 1979 9:00 am Tehran. Obviously, these are modern charts related to regimes since the original founding data of the region now called Iran, once Persia, is lost in the midst of time!

A ginger step into Donald Trump's 12th house

Trump: A Man Overshadowed by Shadows

by Jude Cowell

The partial horoscope you see below centers on the 12th house of Donald J. Trump born June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York. Assuming that his birth time of 10:54 am edt is accurate, we find a Leo cusp making the Sun ruler of his 12th house with karmic Pluto and warrior Mars posited there in the house of the Unconscious. In a different house system, there may even be a bit of the Moon there as well through the last degree/s of Cancer, so I'll include that just in case and you can see what you think of its potentials. Of course, mundanely speaking, the 12th is also the house (department) of Politics, Self-Undoing, Karma, Behind-the-Scenes, and Large Institutions.

So now, if we all hold hands and tip toe, it may be safe to take a ginger step even deeper into the 12th house of the secretive Donald Trump by considering the 12th house influence of the Sun and Moon along with his Mars and Pluto posited there; and please note that all of these planetary energies are often displaced onto other people via Trump's transparent attempts to deflect accusations away from his nibs himself:

In his book Houses of the Horoscope: An introduction, Alan Oken names the micro-cosmic 12th the "I Am the Universe" house and says that it is "the custodian of the truth" which contains both hidden treasures and weaknesses. Plus, Oken notes that the 12th house is the place of hospitals, prisons, monasteries, dungeons, and insane asylums. One assumes that the US Congress must be included along with zoos. And since primal Pluto is the planet of Psychology, we should also note that Trump's natal Pluto in prideful Leo is unaspected and thus its influence is detached from the rest of his psyche and cannot moderate other components of his nature--neither can Pluto regenerate them. So manipulative wealth-hoarder Pluto, an 'ivory tower' isolationist, stands alone in Trump's Unconscious and suggests that he is a man "overshadowed by shadows" (Tierney), a condition which renders him consciously unaware of his most primal urges, desires, and motivations, and therefore leaves his darker nature intact and in charge.

Distorted by years of repression, Pluto in 12th house denotes intense passions, primal fears, and obsessions that for Donald Trump are unevolved because his Pluto is unaspected and detached from his other planets. He may often feel that his ego will be overpowered by others unless he fights 'tooth and nail' for he must win at any cost just to survive. Compulsively he tries one defense then another in an effort to defend himself from attack even though the gained relief may be only temporary and such 'solutions' usually lead to bigger problems later on. Is Trump a bearer of our Collective Shadow? Pluto in 12th says so, and reveals the presence of demonic forces of the unresolved 'sewage' of mankind. Tragically, this supports the theory now being heard in our public discourse that we Americans have the president we deserve.

That his natal Pluto has no regenerative function with his other planets says that shadowy facets of his personality are never confronted in meaningful ways, therefore, Trump is as he has been and will be. "Let Trump be Trump," say his fans. But unfortunately this gives Underworld Pluto even more power to sabotage and manipulate in dark and hate-filled ways.

As for Pluto (or Scorpio) associated with the 12th house, a famous bard said it best for he 'enjoyed' such a placement himself: "Hell is empty! And all the devils are here." - William Shakespeare.

And this American suggests that many of them have infiltrated Washington DC, led by Donald Trump.

As ruler of his 12th house, a 12th house Sun influence is a placement suggesting unconscious arrogance and egotism. A private sanctuary is needed since a sensitive and vulnerable nature is implied. This placement hints at Trump's private world of his own, a fantasy world where everything goes 'right' for Donald. Feelings of inferiority and poor self esteem were created by narcissistic parents who (one or both) belittled him in childhood. Yet his inner resources are vast and they must have been since he overcame negative conditioning enough to rise to the top position of leadership in the US--with Politics being an interest of a 12th house Sun. And as we've noticed, tolerating failure is not an option for Mr. Trump with a 12th house Sun influence for he only admires 'winners', an attitude his father may have expressed.

Of course, poor self esteem tends to inspire self-defeating behaviors and spark the images of martyrdom playing in his head as he reacts to current criticism as if his (shaming) parents are on his case. For on an unconscious level, they are--and these are life-and-death matters to Mr. Trump whose fight for survival goes on via the difficult situations that he himself creates from a deep-seated sense of guilt for being born. And this solar placement indicates feelings of being 'squashed' by his father who probably treated Donald's existence as insignificant. Note that Trump's natal Saturn (father; authority figures; restriction) in detriment in Moon-ruled, shell-building Cancer (mother; family; self-protection) supports this with tendencies toward difficult family contacts, depressing conditions within the family, emotional hypersensitivity, lack of personal security, neurotic reactions, materialism, and weight gain (Sakoian).

Moon and the 12th house: Maybe?

With very early degrees of Leo on the 12th cusp in the Placidus System, a possible Lunar association with the Unconscious 12th house in a different house system suggests a very private person though you'd hardly know this from Trump's long-held desire to be in the public spotlight. Actually, I've wondered of late how he could possibly have expected that gaining the White House with its resulting brighter spotlight would keep hidden certain of his actions and relationships secret. Oh well, that's another of the many paradoxes of Donald Trump and of course, the Moon is associated with publicity, good and bad! As for a possible 12th house Lunar influence, it indicates that feelings are often blocked and he tends to seek refuge in habitual activities performed automatically. One thinks of buckets of fried chicken eaten in bed as he watches TV personalities who support rather than criticize him. "Be strong, don't cry!" may have been heard from mother back in the day and any dependency on others probably frightens him on an emotional level.

And so it seems that little Donald may have been forced to care for himself in various ways due to an unavailable or distant mother and thus has learned substitution behaviors and activities for the nurturing he did not receive (his natal Moon conjunct the Saturnian South Node speaks to early separation from or rejection by mother--or the fear of it, resulting in rejection issues that may include feelings of physical inadequacy).

It has been reported that Mr. Trump spends hours with his mirror every morning tending to his personal toilette which includes a hair routine and Moon influencing 12th house denotes one who is compulsive about maintaining his caring-for-self rituals. To me, he favors someone who cuts their own hair because he doesn't trust anyone else to do it his way!

Now on a more positive note, Moon associated with the 12th house reveals a person with exceptional intuitive ability ('reading people') which is very useful in Politics and in public relations as he uses rhetoric to sway the masses ('the public' - also represented by the Moon). In fact, he used this ability to read public sentiment and got himself elected with it through reading emotional undercurrents. This intuitive ability is the primary reason I include a 12th house Moon here, that and Trump's deep emotional need for constant publicity and his issues with women.

Yet also, Mr. Trump seems to be confused over his relationship to women and has distorted ideas about them and about motherhood. Multiple homes and restlessness are suggested here due to a fear of 'settling down' and a deep distrust of others is also shown by a 12th house Lunar placement--distrust which was probably engendered by early emotional insecurities and strains.

Mars in 12th House: Anger Issues

Besides having Pleiadean stars of rage and passion at his Taurus Midheaven, motivational Mars, planet of action and energy, is in 12th house indicating that secret plots and hidden enemies are involved in his life and much work is carried on behind the scenes (including the hiring of 'private eyes'). Unconscious anger can be misdirected or displaced onto others while secret relationships, compulsive romantic affairs, and/or unacknowledged infatuations and fantasies may be prevalent. Passive-aggressive behavior and acts of revenge are implied as are hidden fears and paranoia--often concerning secrets or scandals which may become public and embarrass or humiliate. This "plumb the depths of the psyche" placement of Mars would be advantageous except for the non-involvement of his detached Pluto mentioned above. Still, Donald Trump is capable of plumbing the depths of other people's psyches although he keeps this handy skill as hidden as possible while using it to avenge himself against those he considers his 'enemies' (real or imagined). Note that the indications of the Moon possibly associated with his 12th house concurs via her intuitive ability.

Mars in 12th house also describes Trump's temper tantrums and enraged overreactions to outside events that don't go his way and to people who get in his way, and yes, again this placement points toward parental complexes instilled in Donald during childhood and adolescence when he probably heard such things as, Be a Man! or, You have no right to be angry! Of course, with his Mars rising in egotistical Leo, plus, the chaotic behavior of his natal Uranus in duplicitous Gemini, we know that angry is exactly what he was and is almost constantly. Yet 12th house Mars prefers to avoid open conflict, thus his squishy way of firing people such as former FBI Director James Comey--because Trump fears being challenged and feels inadequate to successfully defend himself. This placement also indicates one who sends others out to defend and/or speak for him, such as his old pal Rudy Guiliani and press secretary Sarah Sanders (often kept 'out of the loop' so that lies can be told with a more-or-less straight face).

As for acts of revenge, Donald Trump was apparently born with royal Regulus rising, a star with a caution to avoid taking revenge, otherwise all that has been gained will be taken away. This caution isn't proving to be one the retaliating Mr. Trump seems able to observe and we'll see at some point whether its dire warning comes to pass. After all, it's a natural law that what goes up must come down.

Now without going into too much detail, we should mention that a 12th house Mars also indicates a potential for sexual trauma in childhood leading to sexuality issues aggravated by the Be a Man! damage he may have internalized. In other words, his aggressive desire nature was squelched but has run rampant every chance it got. Now I have previously stated that the recent 'raid' of Dr. Bornstein's office of Trump's medical records came once the doctor publicly mentioned that Trump takes a hair loss drug, Propecia, with its known side effect of causing impotence, a 12th house fear of lusty Mars. His rising 12th house Mars in romantic, proud Leo must have been enraged by this anti-macho disclosure!

Plus, the Martian placement also suggests that Trump may suffer from disturbing nightmares (is this why he's said to sleep very little?) which range from aggression to acts of violence (undoubtedly intensified by his 12th house Pluto, planet of rape and the Underworld). He certainly has suggested that acts of violence be committed by others during Campaign 2016 and has identified with them himself from the bully pulpit of the White House.

Still, Mr. Trump may not consciously know what he wants until his desires are frustrated and he may be disappointed once he achieves them. That this may include his long-held obsession with occupying the Oval Office I shall leave up to you to decide.

Rudy Guiliani: Sun Gemini-Moon Leo plus Eclipses

A Brief Astro-Sketch of Rudy Guiiliani

by Jude Cowell

The natal data and horoscope of former NY mayor Rudy Guliani is rated A (from memory) if you'd care to take a look. Ascending is 29Vir47 with 29Gem06 at Midheaven, the Career and Public Status Point--which makes Mercury ruler of his chart and public status. His Mercury @12Tau50 (8th house) is unaspected (see details, below) and has an interesting Sabian Symbol:

'13Taurus' = "A Man Handling Baggage." That he does! Dane Rudhyar gives this degree a Keynote of: "Self-mobilization for social advantage"...COMPULSION FOR GAIN." This identifies Guiliani as "a man of ambition" (not that we need Astrology to determine that).

Yet with the task master planet of authority and authenticity, Saturn, at Midheaven, one must wonder if the placement's usual 'fall from grace' caution applies to Guiliani or will at some point apply. For as you know, Mr. Guiliani is Donald Trump's current 'face' on national TV and his recent appearances have stirred more turbulent storms rather than quelled them (perhaps purposefully!). For more Rudy info, I highly recommend last night's not-to-be-missed 15-minute segment by HBO's John Oliver on Rudy Guiliani.

And from Stephen A. Crockett a few minutes ago: Rudy Guiliani is Either a Spy for the Left, an Idiot, or Both Because He's Destroying the President With Every Interview.

Additional Rudy Astro-Notes

Born May 28, 1944 at 2:30 pm EWT in Brooklyn, New York (King's County), Mr. Guiliani's Air-Fire 'live wire' personality blend of Sun Gemini-Moon Leo resonates strongly with Trump's Gemini and Leo planets. Rudy's high-frequency, erratic Sun @7Gem16 and Uranus @8Gem49 conjoin at the degree of Trump's Prenatal Solar Eclipse degree in the 2 Old North Saros Series which repeats on July 13, 2018 @21Cancer (among the twin stars Castor and Pollux!) 2 Old North themes are: unfortunate news and separations though fast action can bring good results (Brady). Both Guiliani and Trump have quirky Sun-Uranus conjunctions though Trump's conjunction has North Node in between. So how long will Uranian Trump keep Uranian Guiliani as adviser when they both love to hog center stage? One must wonder. We should also note that this degree range of Gemini is that of America's natal Uranus of 1776--our nation's totem planet of independence, freedom, revolt, disruption, and separation.

Yes, Sun Gemini-Moon Leo personalities prefer center stage, thanks, and can become haughty when feeling unappreciated. It's a colorful combination of conscious and unconscious energies with its eye to the main chance and although Rudy was disappointed not to be chosen for White House service in 2016, he's there now, as improviser and shill for the braggart--in-chief. Fantasies of royal blood sustain his efforts toward performing to impress and thereby to improve his own social position yet a Saturn-Neptune square--angular in his chart--suggests tendencies toward fear, paranoia, confusion, and involvement in scandals and intrigue. Well, scandals and intrigue are givens under Donald Trump (who also has royal ambitions with kingly Regulus rising) so Rudy must feel quite at home now--assuming he still works for 'kingpin' Trump by the time I complete this typing!

We should also consider that Guiliani's natal Moon @23Leo49 conjoins ego-expanding Jupiter in Leo (20:02) and his Moon is close enough to Trump's natal Mars rising to add vigor and perhaps emotional upsets to their association. As for taking center stage, a Leo Moon's reigning need for constant approval, applause, and public performance is well known. So Rudy's emotional need for attention is bottomless but so is Donald Trump's so they have that not going for them.

Plus, Trump's problematic Mercury-Neptune square of fantasy and dishonesty is supported by Neptune Rising Rudy who was born under a highly imaginative Mars-Neptune sextile (2S02) and preference for fantasy over reality. Rudy's powerful out-of-bounds Pluto in Leo conjunct his natal Mars suggests involvement with weaponry, the military, violence, and/or underworld crime and of course his Mars-Pluto duo was busy while he was a mayor instituting draconian policing policies against certain New Yorkers. Born less than two years prior to Donald Trump, these men share Mars and Pluto in romantic Leo placements though not conjunct by degree--both have had three wives, and both are associated with violence.

Changeable Mercury in Stubborn Taurus in Charge!

Leader of a BOWL shape tipping across his Career axis, Rudy's 8th house Mercury in Taurus rules his chart (physical body; Virgo ASC) and Gemini Midheaven (Career; Public Status--both angles at 29th critical degrees) yet these degrees conjoin Cardinal World Points of Fame and Fortune (00Libra-00Cancer). Yet little Mercury, planet of communications and negotiations, is unaspected in his chart which emphasizes his corporate/big-business and occult 8th house and inclines him toward inflexibility and a lack of adaptation to change. Unaspected Mercury (which I've called the 'tofu planet' for soaking up the planetary energies it touches) benefits from contacts with other planets but here, alas, Mercury cannot. This indicates that Rudy is not inclined to weigh all sides of an issue and has difficulty recognizing alternative theories, ideas, and opinions. His communications occur in a spurt-like manner, he appears to be hyperactive, and his interests are limited. Plus, some threat of eventual mental deterioration may be present which is something that Geminis tend to worry about anyway via their "am I going crazy?" anxiety (a dual mind: Castor vs Pollux, light vs dark, etc.) One look at Rudy's wild eyes and we may wonder about his mental capacity, too, along with his 'colorful' rhetoric, questionable logic, and obsessive topics.

Rudy Guiliani's Prenatal Solar Eclipse ('PE')

Prior to his birth, Rudy's PE in the 18 South Saros Series perfected on January 25, 1944 @4AQ32 in his 5th house and at birth was opposed by his natal Mars (3Leo34--and by extension, his n Pluto 6:44). 18 South themes echo those of Donald Trump's 2 Old North PE: endings, partings, separations, anguish, grief--but new situations can bring positive results' (Brady). Cynically, this can be said to describe Guiliani's profiteering on the WTC attacks of 9/11/01. Plus, a PE in Aquarius denotes one who doesn't see past events as a burden but as karmic opportunities and a guide for future development. And when I mention 'karmic' I always mean reaping what's been sown, a natural law of the Universe (which effects even Donald Trump whose karmic overload must be huge--but we each have our own). In Aquarius, Rudy's PE indicates that "whimsical changes and contradictory efforts interrupt karmic progress and add to the accumulation of karmic debts." (Rose Lineman; my italics).

Well! Perhaps I should leave SO'W now and see if Rudy is still 'the face' of Team Trump!

On Donald Trump as Clumsy Liar

Well, planet Neptune flowing through its own sign of Pisces is busy veiling the truth on a daily basis! And now that the tally of Donald Trump's lies has surpassed 3,000 since January 20, 2017, the serial lies of the demagogue-in-chief are, at times, unbelievable and sometimes only petty yet his fans can't seem to muster a care. Linked below is a May 5th segment from CNN's Anderson Cooper which asks, does anyone care when Trump lies?

And an accompanying analysis by CNN's Gregory Krieg chimes in with How can Trump lie so much and be 'authentic' at the same time? Here's an explanation which in title alone attempts to mush together two antithetical elements for any astrologer: Saturnian authenticity with Neptunian deception. Meanwhile, I've always been told that truth mixed with a little falsehood is a lie, not a truth, yet we know that in the practice of Politics, a half-truth is very often a useful tool, even before Mr. Trump grabbed the Oval Office spotlight and coup'd the bully pulpit.

Well, all this fact vs fiction turmoil has brought on a quote from my all-time favorite journalist and one of my favorite writers, Mark Twain, whose following words are from his On The Decay of the Art of Lying, a tongue-in-cheek affair...or is it? In it Mr. Twain bemoans "the growing prevalence of the brutal truth" so see what you think but do not fret--for we may safely assume that Mr. Trump has never bothered to read such words as these, and besides--he never needed to since he comes by his lying talent naturally as seen by the square (blockage) between his natal Mercury (communications; thinking processes; news) and natal Neptune (lies, deceit; obfuscation; cheating; fakery). Yes, his 'carnival barker' and 'snake oil salesman' personas come from deep within, are applauded by his brash and rising Mars in dramatic Leo, sign of the showman, and are cheerfully supported by his bright Sun-NN-Uranus trio in duplicitous Gemini, Mercurial sign of the trickster.

Now here's Samuel Clemons, aka, Mark Twain:

Lying is universal--we all do it. Therefore, the wise thing is for us diligently to train ourselves to lie thoughtfully, judiciously; to lie with a good object, and not an evil one; to lie for others' advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably, humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously; to lie gracefully and graciously, not awkwardly and clumsily; to lie firmly, frankly, squarely, with head erect, not haltingly, tortuously, with pusillanimous mien, as being ashamed of our high calling. Then shall we be rid of the rank and pestilent truth that is rotting the land; then shall we be great and good and beautiful, and worthy dwellers in a world where even benign Nature habitually lies, except when she promises execrable weather. (My italics.)

Rotting the land? Then maybe Donald Trump has read Twain's words and internalized them as 'authentic' with a spirit of Saturnian seriousness for rotting the land of America seems to be part of Trump's mission--with a lot of help from complicit, overly compromised Republicans.

Related: do you know that 'Mark Twain' shares a double Fire personality blend with recent Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ronan Farrow? And if you've never seen it, here's a view of Samuel Clemons' C-Rated natal horoscope for the curious.