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First in a Series:
The Astrological Road to the Whitehouse- 2008
Spotlight on Scorpio Frontrunner
NY Senator Hillary Clinton
By Shelley L. Ackerman
[From Shelley's weekly 'Shimmering Stars' column in
The Westchester Guardian, © 2008]
Dear Hillary:
For the Astrological Vote, please tell us definitively:
What Time Were You Born?
Ok. We’re not THAT big a sector of the population, but we count too. And in case you’d forgotten, many of our forefathers were either astrologers or students of astrology. (Ben Franklin loved the stuff and used it quite a bit in his Poor Richard’s Almanac). The astrological symbolism in Washington D.C. is significant and impressive. According to David Ovason’s book, The Secret Architecture of Our Nation’s Capital, DC’s “Federal Triangle”, consisting of the Washington Monument, White House and Capitol building were ‘placed’ to be aligned with the three main stars of the constellation Virgo!
In September 1992, your late mother-in-law Virginia Kelley responded to my query by letter and informed me that your husband Bill was born at 8:51 AM (on Aug 19, 1946). And how lucky was he that November?
Astrologers go crazy working their special mojo in election years, not only to get a sense of who will win but also because of the extra energy spent responding to that very question from the legions of nay-sayers and interested parties alike.
2008 brings a special set of circumstances to the mix as well as a specific problem regarding accurate birth times to deal with:
For the first time since the American Revolution, Pluto, the planet associated with death and rebirth, transformation, and great wealth, enters the sign of Capricorn on January 25th. Capricorn's rulership includes big business, banking, structure and governments. All candidates in the running now have declared themselves as ‘agents of change’ and whether all of you mean in or not, or whether we as a nation like it or not, change is what will happen in the next 8 years.
On Election Day, Pluto will be back at 29 degrees of Sagittarius for one last visit to the sign of religion, politics, and long-winded grandstanding. But two other planets will be of great influence that day: The planets Saturn and Uranus will be exactly opposite each other, indicating a tremendous battle between the old and new, the familiar and the unknown.
Who will shepherd us through the unchartered choppy waters of 2009 and beyond? Will it be a woman, an African American (Obama), a former Vietnam vet (McCain), a former NYC mayor (Giuliani), a Southern Baptist minister (Huckabee), or an 8 X 10 glossy, the former Massachusetts Governor Romney?
As of this writing Dear Senator Clinton, after losing Iowa you showed us your heart and won New Hampshire, Michigan, and Nevada. You’re back and on track, but Senator Barack Obama’s popularity and momentum can’t be denied (more on Barack Obama in a follow up piece). Will you, Hillary join the list of former Scorpio U.S. Presidents that have included John Adams, James K. Polk, James Garfield, Teddy Roosevelt, and Warren Harding and become the first woman to run the free world? Well that depends on which birth time you use to delineate your horoscope, and you have, by most accounts, provided two.
Chart: Hillary Clinton Day/Night
Click for larger view
As a reminder, Hillary Rodham Clinton was born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago. The confusion is to whether you were born at 8 PM, as you said to Boston-based financial astrologer Joyce Levine at a fundraiser in October 2005, or at 8:02 or 8:03 AM as stated by your Mom in the Chicago Sun Times a few years back and confirmed by a staffer in 2003. Astrologically, a 12 hour difference is huge. It is literally and figuratively the difference of night and day. The earlier time gives you Scorpio rising, the sun in the hidden but powerful 12th house, and Mercury and Venus rising on the ascendant. The Virgo Midheaven does make sense with your hard working ethic and well-developed critical faculty. The evening birth time would give you 29 degrees of Gemini rising. Valid astrological arguments can and have been made for both times. Either way, you have the moon in Pisces which describes a woman who is more sensitive and empathetic than many of us realize.
As we gear up for Super Tuesday primaries, and we watch this most dramatic of election years unfold, so many of us wish you well. You have a lot on your mind. But it would be so helpful, and that much sweeter if you let us, the astrological community, and the world at large, know for sure what time you were born!
Aquarian Oprah OWNs New Television Network
Oprah has done it again!
On the heals of the Jupiter/Pluto conjunction last month on her late degree Sagittarius ascendant, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo productions has merged with the Discovery Network to form OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
This adds to her inhuman schedule which includes hosting her daily show, running her Leadership Academy in Africa, and her commitment to Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign.
Oprah has looked tired lately and she’s put on some weight again. But rather than dismiss this under the heading of ‘falling off the wagon’, consider the fact that when Jupiter hits the ascendant, and is in the first house, we always tend to expand literally and figuratively.
Oprah recently had Dr. Christiane Northrop on her show and revealed that she (like many other women) has tested positively for Vitamin D deficiency which contributes to bone loss.
I continue to salute Oprah and am grateful for the service she provides. This week’s show was especially wonderful.
Chart: Oprah
Click for larger view
Jan 17: Moon in Taurus trine Sun in Capricorn @ 9:05 PM
Jan 18/19: Moon in Gemini
Jan 19: Venus in Sagittarius opposite Mars in Gemini @ 10:10 PM
Jan 20: Moon in Cancer, Sun enters Aquarius @ 11:44 AM
Jan 21: Jupiter in Capricorn trine Saturn in Virgo @ 4:15 AM
Jan 22: Moon in Leo, Full Moon @ 8:35 AM
Jan 23: Mercury conjoins Neptune in Aquarius @ 8:16 PM
* All times EST.
Chart: January 22 2008 Full Moon
Click for larger view
ARIES: Someone you care about may demand more of a response from you than you’re capable of giving right now, and that will just have to be okay. Along similar lines, a spirited female you know well needs her freedom and will not listen to anything you say that borders on clipping her wings. Let it be, you have other more important matters to tend to and can expect to make great and substantial professional headway if you keep focused on them.
TAURUS: The Sun enters Aquarius on Jan 20 lighting up the career part of your world, so revel in the glow and work it. You may be tempted to take charge of and sign off on a financial agreement without making sure that other parties are on the same page and skipping this step could cause a problem later. The trick is to keep your energy and enthusiasm up while others drag their feet. Great news on a legal matter should be on its way and ready for signature by the end of the week.
GEMINI: The favorable aspect between Jupiter and Saturn in hard-working by reliable earth signs in your financial-real estate (astrological) houses describes a scenario where you could get some help or refinancing regarding a living situation. Don’t knock it. It may not be the most luxurious spot on earth, but it’s a place to call home and enjoy for years to come. Your ruler Mercury conjoins with mysterious and slippery Neptune in your 9th house of foreign affairs. Better to take a poetry class in university than to fall prey to the empty words of love uttered by a seductive visitor from abroad.
CANCER: The full moon in your money houses on the 22nd gives an affirmative nod to a creative pet- project of yours that needs some backing. This is the first part of a multi-staged endeavor. With Mercury going retrograde soon, there may be delays, but do not let that dissuade you. The favorable aspect between Jupiter and Saturn assures that the people on board are in it and with you for the long haul. What more assurance do you need?
LEO: The favorable flow between Saturn and Jupiter is sobering and stabilizing in the financial department, and while the course of action that lies before you may be less sexy than what you’d like it to be, you can count on the results and take it to the bank. The Sun in Aquarius puts the focus on socializing in general and a relationship in particular, but look out: Silver tongued Mercury conjunct slippery Neptune Aquarius warns that you must not believe most of what you hear, at least for the time being.
VIRGO: Here’s a challenge: Can you use the words discipline, withholding, joy, and poetry in one sentence that makes sense? Try it.. This week, seemingly disparate elements merge and if you’re creative you’ll have a blast with it. The favorable ‘trine’ between Saturn in Virgo and Jupiter in your 5th house of fun and creativity says that less is more. Luck comes your way if you retreat and give into the more reticent aspect of your nature. Let a female business buddy or someone from overseas do your bidding. Writing a poem about your present predicament brings relief.
LIBRA: Work your charm on your legal team, in court, and with politicians if need be. That doesn’t mean that insincerity is called for, quite the contrary. The essence of your charm has always been your authenticity and the refreshing quality that you bring to situations in which the others involved wouldn’t know the truth if it smacked them on the head. This week, the truth and your charm are one of the same: they (it/you) can heal any situation and bring out the best in those you didn’t think had it in them
SCORPIO: Talk is cheap- boy is it ever! If there ever was a week for you to say less and do more- this is it! As Pluto readies to change signs, get your financial house in order and prepare for new surroundings. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will move, but the way that you relate to your environment will change dramatically. The full moon across the career/family axis of your chart indicates that your relatives are as much a part of this transformation as you are, siblings expecially. Count them in and confide in them.
SAGITTARIUS:You attract more bees with honey than with vinegar. Venus (in your sign) opposite Mars describes a potentially exciting romantic encounter but it could also point to a very heated argument that gets out of hand if you let your mouth run wild. Words can heal or destroy, the choice is yours. But why even allow yourself to get into anything potentially self-destructive when your career and financial life are so up for a miracle. Someone important is ready to recognize and reward you. Rise to the occasion.
CAPRICORN: This will go down as one of the most satisfying weeks of your life. Your ruler Saturn is in perfect alignment with lucky Jupiter in your sign, and while this will happen again later in’08, you can expect some good news either on a legal matter, or one that has to do with publishing, education, or a situation overseas. Don’t rest on these laurels just yet: these happy developments merely set the stage for many tasks that must be accomplished, ones that will assure stability for you and those you love.
AQUARIUS: Inviting a sibling or neighbor to a soiree may make it that much more interesting but don’t be surprised if they try to steal your thunder or challenge your Belle of the Ball or Alpha Male status. With the sun in your sign, no one can diminish your popularity and it is they who end up looking foolish. Resolve financial issues quietly and under the radar. No need to let anyone except those you must work with know any of the details or even what you’re up to at this juncture.
PISCES: No one really has to remind you that no man is an island and that in order to have a friend you must be a friend, but it’s worth mentioning. And while we’re into important reminders- stay centered this week. You have much to lose if you succumb to your lower and more self-indulgent nature. A partner or very close friend may annoy you while standing firm on an issue, but this inflexibility is the biggest blessing in disguise. Be grateful for their wisdom and willingness to take your nonsense.