Benjamin Franklin's Solar Return 2008

Born of a humble family in Boston, MA on Jan 17, 1709 (exact time unverified--using *10:30 am LMT as shown at astrodatabank.com --other possible birth times listed at end of post) Ben Franklin's Solar Return for 2008 falls on Jan 17.

This 15th child of 17 apprenticed to a printer when he was 12, and began his own printing company, age 17. The 10:30 am natal chart has shown links from the Solar Arc Directions for today which is one of the methods I use for deciding which chart to work with when an historical person's birth time is in question...simple synchronicity (as if there is such a thing!)

Fame and success attended Mr. Franklin whose Pre-Natal Eclipse Series, 14South, brings just that--success when an obsessive idea is finally accepted, then Jupiter brings along the promised success. His Jupiter, whose natural house is the 9th house of Publishing, Philosophy, and Religion, is happily placed in business-oriented Cancer, although Rx--which gave Franklin something of a maverick flavor.

ASC 7Ari14, sign of the pioneer, gives active Mars as chart-ruler, and Franklin is known to have been robustly healthy as a youth. Neptune, which he would not have been aware of in his lifetime, is in 1st house, indicating some confusion and early loss, and a talent for role-playing and deception--useful traits for an ambassador and politician to possess.

In the Placidus house system Saturn is barely in 1st house which gives stability to the personality, plus, early hardship and work (apprenticed at 12 years old)--Saturn rules 10th house 3Cap44, with pleasant Venus in Capricorn at MC (arts; literature.)

Mars applies to sesquiquadrate with Uranus (1A31) but approaches an even closer trine to Pluto (0A16.) The Mars/Chiron combo = the sacred warrior archetype, and there is a separating trine with creative Neptune...good for public relations and promotions...and for secretive pursuits such as Freemasonry meetings and rituals.

In her book, New Insights in Astrology, Nona Gwynn Press gives the sequiqradrant (135 degr) as having transformative power.

You will recall his rather funky promo for his Almanac where he published an "astrological prediction of death" for one **Titus Leeds, a rival almanac publisher. This ruse, a preface in the 1st edition of Poor Richard's, was carried on for years and gained Franklin much notoriety while promoting sales. Leeds did not cooperate and die at the appointed time yet Franklin insisted each year that Leeds was dead and that others had assumed publication of his almanac.

One assumes this farce aided almanac sales for Mr. Leeds as well, and I suspect they held in common brotherhood in a certain organization.

(BTW: I've gotten to where I only change house systems with historical charts when there's a known chart to duplicate--usually with Regiomantanus, or whatever was originally used at the time. Here I stick with Placidus. In this case, Venus is near enough to MC to be possibly placed in 9th house of Publishing.)

Jupiter in 4th house has associations with publishing success so the 10:30 am chart 'works' for his fortune being made in Publishing--he began Poor Richard's Almanac in 1733 and retired, age 42, in order to devote himself to Science until Politics 'called' him in appr 1753. Quite a whistle heard round the world--with America the decided winner.

However, if you look at the chart for 1:30 am, Jupiter and Uranus are placed in 9th house while Pluto (linked with the masses and with Publishing) falls in 10th house of Career and Public Standing. Yet this birth time puts n Moon in AQ--29AQ52, 4th house. Was Franklin's Sun in Cap with Moon in the humanitarian and scientific (and astrological) sign of the Water Bearer? Or is Moon in mystical Pisces as is so often said?

The chances during the 24 hours of his day of birth do favor the Pisces Moon, but just in case, here are the Images for Integration for both combos...

Sun Cap-Moon AQ: A prophetic poet is awarded high honors...An historian points the way to the future...Having struggled unaided to the peak, a mountaineer hitches a ride on a passing helicopter.

Worldy ambition and success mixed with furturistic, scientific concerns. See what I mean?

Now here's the Sun Cap-Moon Pisces blend: A child builds a sandcastle of reinforced concrete...Bilbo in Tokein's 'Lord of the Rings'...'Bathers in a Landscape' by Paul Cezanne...A wine collector uncorks a rare vintage to celebrate a success. (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Chas & Suzi Harvey.)

With our decider-in-chief off the continent (and as usual I feel a certain bouyancy), we're forced to decide for ourselves which combo may better describe Benjamin.

Franklin was ahead of his time and one cannot rule out a Pisces Moon, the sign which contains all other signs before it, and Cap-Pisces is a humanitarian combination--actually the humanitarian businessman. A New Moon personality, Franklin was emotional, impulsive, subjective, and intuitive.

His most powerful natal midpoint picture (which I entered on the chart but didn't complete due to lack of space, so here it is) has Jupiter/Pluto (plutocrats!) pointing at scientific reformer and rebel, Uranus...

Jup-Pluto = Uranus: intense application of resources to establish new perspectives; turning the tables; getting back on track or finding a better one; fanatical striving for improvements; sudden reform; adjustment to new circumstances (Tyl; Ebertin.)

In the 10:30 am chart, pictured here, there is also a YOD (Finger of God) which I neglected to colorize for you but will mention since it relates to a special life purpose but also to health issues.

Moon-Venus = Uranus: sudden romantic feelings and attachments (he was a laydees' man--and had Mars-Pluto midpoint conj Desc, 10:30 am); a periodic and sudden manifestation of sexual desire (hubba hubba); fits of emotion and irritability.

Ebertin gives Moon-Venus as glandular secretions and Uranus disrupts--this may cause convulsive states when triggering the Moon-Venus midpoint.

Well, I don't know what Franklin actually died from but it couldn't have been good--it killed him.

Now on that sassy note, let's consider his Solar Return chart for Jan 17, 2008:

Historical charts for our Founding Fathers intrigue me and I tend to use them to 'speak for' America in the here-and-now (or for whatever time frame under consideration.)

So you can imagine my semi-surprise when I found Hillary Clinton's campaign 2008 written all over it. And since Ben himself is no longer with us these 218 years, I shall give a pass to his SR as a personal map for him and mosey on to Hillary implications.

Primarily it's the Taurus Moon in 10th house of Public Status and Career that clued me in...

Mars/MC = Moon: publicity; an emotional appeal (!); changing status through emotional "feel" !!

Yes, Hillary is being said to be using a newly accessible emotional style. She's found her "voice" she says...and, this reluctant astrologer notes, her tear ducts along with it. Weepy crocodiles the world over are tres proud!

Venus-Jupiter = Pluto: publicity; the world view (as in NWO?); popularity; unbounded enthusiam (she's waited so long to take hold of the New Millennium baton...she expects it and perhaps has been promised it. Guess the New Moon over New Hampshire was Hill and John McCain hooking up.)

Sun-Uranus = Neptune: self-deluding schemes for ego recognition; blind zeal can only be detrimental; unexpected events connected with flying, water, or navigation.

Hey! that last sounds like Bush's tour of the Middle East when he was forced to motor instead of helicoptering--and of course, Franklin's Solar Return is also a simple transit chart for Jan 17. Perhaps Clinton will experience similar delays on the campaign trail--or Bush may have vehicle troubles again.

Pluto-MC = North Node (the public; associations): the desire to gain leadership; influence over other people.

Mars-NN = MC: excellent teamwork; partnership values are important.

Well, there you have it. Hopefully, Benjamin isn't squirming in his grave at this post with its quirky insinuations concerning our current outrage--er, I mean presidential campaign.

If he is, I'll be more than happy to fluff his pillow which will give me a chance to apologize to a Founding Father for the America this squad of politicians have brought upon us and upon the world.

Global domination indeed.





*other possible birth times: 11:00 am, 1:30 am, 9:40 pm, all LMT.

**Titus Leeds' predicted date of death: Oct 17, 1733, "3 hos, 29 mins PM"...a request for calculation supposedly made to Franklin by Mr. Leeds...cheeky monkeys!

For dates of Ben Franklin's triple Uranus Return visit Jude's Threshold if you wish.

a Black Hole president

That's what we have: a president and presidency full of Black Holes.

Alex Miller-Mignone's excellent article in the Daykeeper Journal on the Black Hole links to George Bush's natal planets (which includes America's Sun) shines light on seven years of Bush from his questionable (s)elections to the Oval Office, his propaganda cataputlin' (as he called it in a moment of unconscious truth telling), to his spying tendencies, and more.

Alex's article, one of a series, explains Bush's natal Sun in Cancer, and his Mercury-Pluto conjunction in 1st house, a pairing which indicates secretiveness, cruel thoughts, and persuasive speaking ability on its own. In the early years of his residency, Bush's manipulation of the English language was made out to be a joke--a sly-dog media's diversionary tactic to veil content.

Add Black Holes to the cauldron and we have our little devil of a dictator, his nibs himself, who believes his own versions of the truth, never letting reality interfere with his dreams of world domination...dreams and plans which were handed down from Poppy (old pal of *Anton Lavey, satanist supreme.)

A further article by Miller-Mignone is promised on Bush's Mars-Saturn placements and his "foreign policy" if what he does abroad can be called that.

If you've not read Alex's series on George Bush, I can't recommend it highly enough!


*Anton Lavey, born April 11, 1930, 3:10 am CST, Chicago, IL; Sun Ari-Moon Vir: "A surgeon performs a daring operation...A metal worker forges an intricate masterpiece...A William Morris design...A remembrance that the perfect is the enemy of the good." (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Chas & Suzi Harvey.)

(What do you bet Lavey considered himself perfect?)

The Sun Ari-Moon Vir blend is shared natally with two folks who made interesting observations...here are but two of them:

I don't want a lawyer to tell me what I cannot do; I hire him to tell me how to do what I want to do. --J.P.Morgan

(Describes the White House and the "Justice" Dept perfectly.) And...

Strongest minds
Are often those of whom the noisy world
hears least

--William Wordsworth


When it comes to George Bush, I heartily agree with Wordsworth on the issue.

Jan 10 in history: 1840--1997

At Gather.com there's an article on Jan 10 from 1840--1997 published in Gather's Today in History Group.

Diebold-Premier: secret vote counting in N.H.

NH: "First in the nation" (with corporate controlled secret vote counting)

By Nancy Tobi

Jan 7 2008: 81% of New Hampshire ballots are counted in secret by a private corporation named Diebold Election Systems (now known as "Premier"). The elections run on these machines are programmed by one company, LHS Associates, based in Methuen, MA. We know nothing about the people programming these machines, and we know even less about LHS Associates. We know even less about the secret vote counting software used to tabulate 81% of our ballots.

Democracy for New Hampshire

Paradox in New Hampshire

Assuming the primary count was honest last evening, it seems a paradox that proudly independent New Hampshire went for Hillary Clinton who stood beside her husband on the Mall in Washington DC for the New Millennium Gala on Dec 31, 1999 knowing what they had in store for America.

The promotion of one world government requires world wars and a world economy for their plans. As George Bush spreads his fly weight around the Middle East this week speaking on behalf of peace, he promotes the globalists' one world government--and Israel is in on it.

"For us or against us?" If against, you will be invaded and destroyed.

Has Bush actually brought peace to the world so far? Didn't our real troubles surface at his Oval Office installation? And yet his residency is only part of a years-long process.

Hillary Rodham Clinton knows. She knows and is part of the grand plan. Would New Hampshire support her if they knew her real voice? Tears and vulnerability? Puh-lease! Well, it seems to have worked.

And listen carefully to Bush's words as he combs the Middle East--especially for Oslo Peace Plan. Peace and security, they shout! for the world must be induced to put world citizenship above national citizenship.

The UN has been mum for some time--it won't continue to be, then watch what they say.

And as John McCain achieves his miraculous "comeback" in New Hampshire, he envisions 100 hundred years in Iraq. Big honkin' clue there. The globalists are covered D or R...whoever they vote for, they vote for us. How much clearer could it be?

New Hampshire, the granite state? Perhaps you supplied the stone for the Washington Monument where the thousand points of light shot into the dark night at Bill Clinton's command, Hillary standing by for her chance to take the baton.

Now, at last, she has stepped up to the plate...and the NWO steamrolls along. But now it's "smug and strong-armed maternalism." That must be what Hillary means by "change."

Paper ballots before Congress next week

If you'd prefer paper ballots in an effort to hopefully cut down on rigged elections--and we know Nov 4, 2008 will be fraudulent otherwise--here's the petition to sign which will be sent to Congress--the clock is ticking, m'peops!

MoveOn's paper ballot petition...you won't hear about it from any candidate, so don't bother with them--sign for America's sake.

Oil and the Betelgeuse: Jan 8, 1979

Today I've been composing elsewhere concerning Neptune, Pluto, oil and gas, and the 29th anniversary of 1979's Betelgeuse incident at Jude's Threshold if you'd care to read it.


Plus, Lim the Cat and I have posted something called Ganda Propping: a poem over at Lim's Limericks (cat photo included for the feline-inclined.)

Iranian gunboats mock US ships: Mars wins

From LegitGov

Hello, Pot? This is Kettle... Iran should avoid provocative actions: White House Jan 7 2008:

The White House said on Monday that the harassment of US Navy ships by Iran was "provocative" and warned Tehran against taking such actions in the future.

"We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. [Is illegally invading and occupying a country and killing over one million civilians 'provocative?' Just curious.]

Read article here.

With expansive Jupiter at the "Indians rowing a canoe and dancing a war dance" degree ("5Cap"), let's have a look at the Sabian Symbol (Jones) for this war promoting degree:

MOBILIZATION...

pos: a capacity for aggressive leadership and an unusual effectiveness in sidetracking minor issues for the sake of major achievement;

neg/unconscious/shadow side: unnecessary moods and tantrums.

Sound like diversionary but reckless tactics, and we suspect we know what major achievement Iran--and the neocons--are preparing for.

Perhaps Adriano Carelli's book of degrees (linked in previous post) will provide a bit more detail (my italics):

"Two open doors...is a degree of hospitality; home and hearth are open to all. (Persian Gulf?) A jovial (Jupiter!) character, a generous and unassuming nature, marred by imprudence in word and action. The native's lack of reserve will give fuel to other people's slander and, coupled with his sometimes reckless hospitality, will lead to material theft and plagiarism of ideas."

As with everything in life and Astrology, energy flows in both directions--simultaneously or in alternating fashion.

Transit Jupiter is approaching opposition to America's natal Jupiter, a period when no one is the least bit impressed with one's grandiose Jupiterian efforts (which may also describe Republican candidates' performances on the campaign trail!), and there is potential for overblown efforts and discouraging comparisons.

Kind of like little unimpressed gunboats mocking huge US vessels as we push into their territorial waters (disputed though they may be)?

Mars, the instigator, still oobs and Rx, at critical "29Gem"..."The first mockingbird of spring"...QUICKENING...

pos: consistent stimulation to others in all human affairs;

neg/unconscious/shadow side: annoying self-assertiveness.#

He who annoys attracts annoyance.

Being that it's the "first mockingbird" of a season, and "consistent stimulaton" this is probably the beginning of a campaign of another sort by Iran inspired by the explosive combo of the off-again-on-again opposition of Mars and Pluto--with Pluto at the "The pope blessing the faithful" degree which speaks of surrendering to a lust for power.

There's a lot of that going around.



And did you know that Jan 6 was the second conjunction of Iran's current Saturn Return? Natal Saturn 8Vir18 and Jan 6's Saturn 8Vir17!

Current transits to Iran's Saturn: Jupiter trine Saturn, a time of rewards for hard work, and there may be a lucky break with financial backing made available.

Venus square Saturn is an anti-social time but indicates that favors are received which require something of equal value in return.

The triple Saturn Return dates for Iran are: Dec 2, 2006; Jan 6, 2008 Rx; and August 5, 2008.