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The Astrology of Barak Obama's Inauguration

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THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN ASTROLOGY

ECLIPSES OVER EGYPT

SURVIVAL PENDING REVOLUTION: The History of the Black Panther Party by PAUL ALKEBULAN

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Active Japanese Novelist of Broad Interests

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THE INAUGURATION'S ASTRO-AUGURATION


Special by THE NEW TIMES HOLLER!
From IT'S ABOUT TIME RECKONING DESK by
© Amir Bey, 2009
JANUARY 25, 2009


A chart done for a president's inauguration is an inception chart, essentially a birth chart for the coming presidency, and along with the president's natal and progressed charts and transits, can give us insights. President Barack Hussein Obama's inauguration took place at January 20, 2009 at 12:05'46" PM in Washington DC.








President Barack Hussein Obama as he took the oath of office the second time on Wednesday, 7:35 PM in the White House Map Room by Chief Justice John G. Roberts.


PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

OBAMA'S NATAL CHART
August 4, 1961, 7:24 PM AHST Honolulu, HI
Please note that astrologers had Obama's birth certificate before the primaries were over. In the future birthers should consult their local astrologers for B.C. info


THE FIRST SWEARING IN
MAJOR FACTORS

The chart has a Funnel Pattern. That refers to the shape of the planets' distribution in the chart, where one planet's position has more than 45 degrees separating it from the rest of the planets. That planet is called a Singleton or a Doubleton if there are two, and is often opposite the main group of planets. This pattern sometimes works as an opposition aspect or indicates contrasts and dualities, as well as a focal point for the other planets. The inaugural chart has Saturn in 21 degrees Virgo as a Singleton with an opposition to Uranus. This suggests what will be important for this administration is how Obama deals with tradition, the status quo, small details, planning, and whether he can maintain a balance between the unconventional and new ideas (Uranus), and the customary and practical methods (Saturn). His sense of those necessities is apparent in his pragmatic cabinet and staff choices, those he's chosen to take part in his inauguration ceremonies, and with the positions that he emphasized in his inauguration speech. It also implies that change (Uranus) will not come quickly, but only after taking careful steps that are based on carefully applied stratagems (Saturn).

VOID OF COURSE MOON

But..hold on! The Moon was void of course at the time Obama took the oath of office, meaning that it was forming no Ptolemaic aspects (sextile, square, trine, and opposition) before it left the sign that it was in. Traditionally that means that actions and decisions made at the time may be inconclusive, or even error-prone. Is a Moon being "void of course" something that has as much influence as Mercury Retrograde? Obama's inauguration offers interesting evidence against that.

There are many presidents who were nominated, elected or inaugurated, who didn't win elections, or like Gerald Ford, didn't serve a full term under void of course Moons. Clinton's second term inauguration had a void of course Moon, and the Monica Lewinsky scandal and resultant impeachment marred his successes like the economic surplus he accomplished.

Taken alone, according to tradtional concepts, this should not a good time for someone to be sworn in as president of the United States. However, the Moon is making favorable aspects with transiting planets, and to President Obama's natal chart, which in my opinion, helps to nullify the effects of a void of course Moon. The Moon, in 29 degrees and 47 minutes of Scorpio, is in an applying sextile aspect with the Sun/Mercury tight conjunction, which is right on the expansive Jupiter/Midheaven midpoint. While these significant and close aspects help to strengthen the Moon, they don?t totally erase the Moon?s potential precariousness. We often have to make the most of a situation and utilize or shape it to our purposes. Obama has defied or transcended seemingly tough obstacles, and in the coming years we will have the opportunity to witness how he plays the cosmic hand dealt to him on inauguration day.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CHART

President Obama announced his candidacy on February 10, 2007, 10:00 AM, at Springfield, IL. The chart has been calculated for 10:03 CST because accounts say "Shortly after 10 AM, CST", and "11:00 AM, EST".


He made his announcement during a void of course Moon, and we have to say that his campaign was a huge success! Why was his campaign successful? This is an interesting chart that gets support from the hits with his natal and the later inaugural chart: the Moon is 24 degrees 24 minutes Scorpio, in a wide conjunction to the inaugural Moon as it also applies to Obama's Midheaven; Venus is exalted and nearing an important phase of its cycle, and like the inaugural chart is also conjunct Uranus; and most importantly, exalted Mars is elevated and within 5 minutes of the inaugural Mars, and was squaring Obama's progressed Ascendant Descendant axis at the time. Watching Mar's cycle as it returns to that point in Capricorn during his presidency - this is Mars' first completed cycle since his announcement - could be revealing.
There are too many variables that have to be considered when judging the timing of an act or the relevance of a chart to be based solely on whether the Moon is void. Some astrologers don't deal with void of course Moons at all, and the Whole Sign concept in theory should not allow for void of course moon.



THE SECOND SWEARING IN

Hmm? could the fumbling of the oath of office that went down between Chief Justice John G. Roberts and President Obama during the initial swearing in be the result of a void of course Moon tick? To be on the safe side legally, because of Robert's of flub of the oath, a second oath of office was given on Wednesday, January 21 at 7:35 PM.




THE SECOND SWEARING IN.

It has the Moon at 15 degrees 22 minutes Sagittarius in the 4th House, with an applying square to the Venus/Uranus conjunction, which is much tighter, with a wide square to Saturn, making it the focal planet of a T-square configuration. Thus that chart is more dynamic, yet it doesn't have the stellium and Upper Hemispheric emphasis of the initial chart. The Sun is within two minutes of the 6th House cusp, and is closer to Jupiter. This chart's Lower Hemispheric emphasis stresses developmental issues, inner work that needs to be done, while the first chart can be seen as grander, more open. The second chart's Ascendant is O degrees 27 minutes Virgo. Having the Ascendant early in the sign in this kind of chart is not the most desirable, but this also points to this chart having an associative rather than a complete strength. I won't consider it as the inaugural chart. Instead I view it as giving supportive information. The reason the oath was re-administered was due to error; legally and thus for astrological purposes, one automatically becomes president at noon on January 20, and the oath is a formality. I would consider the first chart as the main chart, with the second chart giving added insights from the peculiarities of his swearing in.


THE 2008 ELECTION DAY CHART



November 4, 2008, 12:00, Washington DC

Election Day also had a Void of Course Moon. However, its separating conjunction with President Obama's natal Saturn and its applying conjunctin to his Jupiter in his 12th House give it important natal contacts. It also has an inconjunction with Obama's ruling planet, his 7th House Uranus. While Obama has apparently tanscended the effects of a void of course Moon, this chart does characterize aspects of his presidency. One thing that is a striking is how Uranus is associated with legislative bodies, and the 7th House is the house of adversaries. Please note the nature of Obama's natal Uranus, which is unaspected.


WHAT KIND OF PRESIDENCY?

How might he play his cosmic hand? President Obama's natal chart gives these favorable supports to the inauguration Moon and to the chart as a whole: his natal Jupiter is at 0 degrees Aquarius 51' and because it's Retrograde, it is applying to the inaugural chart's Sun/Mercury and Jupiter/Midheaven, joining the inaugural Moon. Moreover, the inaugural Moon is within one degree of Obama's 28 degree 53' Scorpio Midheaven, making a strong connection with his career and aims in life.

The inauguration Moon is in its "Fall" in Scorpio, and with its 7th House location, suggests that there will be challenges and many ups and downs in international relations and with US allies. The inauguration Moon's rulership of the 4th House with its placement in the 7th shows how US domestic security is linked with our international relations. Certainly there will be challenges posed by US adversaries and allies, not all antagonistic, due to ongoing situations, like the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Other challenges will come from the US's diminished diplomatic standing. The leadership vacuum left by the Bush administration has necessitated or allowed others to act; President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is an example. Born on January 28, 1955 at 10:00 PM, Paris, his Sun in the 5th House, sextiled by Mars conjunct Moon in Aries in the 7th, he's competitive, sharp, and quick to take on crises diplomatically, such as the Middle East and Russia's aggression against Georgia. His taking these initiatives is positive, but also there is a challenge posed by it, albeit a healthy one. Indeed Obama's problems are as likely to come from his allies both internationally and in the Congress. Overall, we can say that the inauguration Moon with its contact with the Sun/Mercury and Jupiter/Midheaven, while posing challenges is loaded with strengths that will find support from Obama's chart.

In terms of Congress, Venus's conjunction with Uranus in Pisces suggests overall good relations, but the opposition with Saturn says there will be obstacles. If a Venus/Uranus conjunction is viewed as innovative associations, unorthodox unions, then Saturn in Virgo implies technical objections from adversaries to them. Certainly a Venus/Uranus combination is altruistic; it gives social opportunities, would benefit the arts, and build and extend fellowships between diverse groups. Saturn in that mix would ask for structure and definition to be considered, that ideals would not be enough. Obama will have to create necessary frameworks and guidelines that would allow for broad social endeavors to have form and continuity.

While there is a significant majority of Democrats controlling the senate and the house, with Chiron having crossed his Ascendant in Aquarius and his Directed Venus crossing the Descendant he'll having many conflicts with congress. Late July may bring some tests as transiting Jupiter conjoined by Chiron, both retrograde, will oppose his natal Uranus.



BI-WHEEL OF INAUGURATION AND OBAMA


THE ECONOMY AND SATURN/URANUS

One major aspect is the Uranus/Saturn opposition that was so tight on Election Day is also present in this chart. It's telling that this opposition straddles Obama's money houses, the 2nd and 8th, which for a president signifies E-C-O-N-O-M-Y! And Saturn conjoins his Mars, while in the inauguration chart the opposition has Mars aspecting both planets favorably. Thus Mars, with its thrusting assertive if sometimes impulsive energies indicates what the action might or should be: to stimulate, to drive, to push. Note that Mars of both charts are in Earth signs, describing how practical and methodical this push should be. This is illustrative of the solution, but also the possible problems: too much stimulus, wasted efforts, and conflicting aims for example.

This combination will be in effect through late September, and will define Obama's approach to the economic situation. We can look to it as the framework for his economic plan, merging the traditional against the innovative, order vs. upset, the establishment usurped by the unorthodox. Here, the economy, in order to survive, must be renewed, and a new idea (Uranus) should have method (Saturn) to have a logical application. These planets' principles say government (Saturn) has developed a new direction (Uranus) or, a new era (Uranus) has transformed the status quo (Saturn). In Obama's natal chart these two planets are in an inconjunct aspect, within a very tight 3'.

Thus this situation connects with Obama's unique make-up: the Uranus/Saturn principal has been a constructive struggle for him to integrate. He has had to reconcile the socially electrical Uranus in Leo in the 7th House with his introspective and private Saturn in Capricorn in the 12th House: he has a reserved, internal foundation that is a source of strength as it deals with unconventional and social distractions. This combination in his chart is one reason that both the left and the right are confused by him. The inauguration Saturn will actually have a stronger connection with his chart than Uranus, because it conjoins his Mars. With Saturn as the Midheaven ruler and the Singleton planet of the inaugural chart, he will have to conform his Mars to its demands. The combination of Mars/Saturn in Virgo suggests planning, and detailed execution of action, as well as frustrated desires and risks to established practices. Obama's careful considerations for cabinet positions, where he very closely scrutinized the candidates' backgrounds show how he has been working to avoid potential problems, and is characteristic of Mars/Saturn in Virgo.



photo by Nadar Kander

THE NEW TIMES HOLLER! will make periodic astrological updates on President Obama's historic presidency. THE HOLLER! feels that he has presented the world with an enormous opportunity at a time that humanity seems to be going along the path of becoming an endangered specie.

The following note on void of course Moons added on 12/31/12: We see that Obama announced his candidacy, had Election Day and his inauguration all during void of course Moons. Whatever one's opinion of him, he ran a successful campaign in the primaries (his announcement chart's VOCM), won the election (Election Day VOCM, and was re-elected - if his presidency was a disaster, the Inauguration Chart VOCM would not have allowed his re-election.

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