A joint publication of: Astro Logos and Zyntara Publications

ISSUE NO. 45

September 2008

   VAN Archive - www.Zyntara.com

In this issue:  
Standing in the Radiance of Venus - A visual astrology view of the US presidential elections and its self-imposed union with Venus.

Sympathy versus Hubris - The sky maps of John McCain and Barack Obama

Introduction
This issue is focused on the forthcoming presidential elections with, firstly, an historical look at elections through the eyes of visual astrology and then applying this to the sky for the day of the election in November. Seeing the election as rivals families in a royal court enables one to look forward to the elections of 2012 and 2016 with surprising results.  We then focus on the paired images of the horizons at birth of the two candidates - John McCain and Barack Obama.

A Swallows Update
The Swallows lunar eclipse bought another invasion and further boundary issues, as it did with its last occurrence in 1990 which saw the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. On 8th August, 2008, Russia invaded Georgia in defence of South Ossetia, a small group of people who were seeking independence from Georgia. This conflict is complicated and will not resolve itself quickly, thus adding another statistic to the Swallows lunar eclipse record. Meanwhile the Pope, also associated with this eclipse, is embroiled in a conflict between Muslims and Catholics over a speech he made earlier in August - right on cue. One gets a strong feeling that all of this is going to grow into bigger things.

 

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Standing in the Radiance of Venus -
A visual astrology view of US presidential elections and its self-imposed union with Venus
Bernadette Brady M.A.
 

Modern day two-party political systems would have appeared strange to the eyes of the Mesopotamian astrologer priest. However, they were not unfamiliar with concept of rivals seeking to overthrow the king and in that light they would have considered the two-party system as a kingdom ruled by two warring families, each one claiming different levels of power at different times. But our early forefathers of astrology would have warmed to this political struggle within the US because, unlike any other country, the US presidential elections have been tied unintentionally by law to the ever-important and powerful Venus cycle. This is a concept they would have considered most logical, as it allows the party or faction receiving the blessing of Venus to gain the rulership of the kingdom. Venus was the only female deity in their world view and her power, which was considerable, was her ability to bestow radiance on any star or planet near her. If the king received this blessing, then he was protected and strong. If, however, she choose to give it to a rival, then the king could be overthrown.

The USA's adoption of the Venus cycle

It so happens that the term of office for the US President was set by the founding fathers at four years and so, starting from 1792, US presidential elections have been held every four years, always occurring on any year divisible by four. At that time the date of the different states' presidential elections could vary, as long as they fell within a 34 day period before the first Wednesday in December [1]. However, as time passed and communication between the states increased, it was clear that candidates were gaining an advantage in some states due to early victories in others. Thus by 1845 it was decided that the four yearly presidential elections would be held on the same day throughout the country. This date was set as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, thereby locking the presidential elections into an interesting Venus cycle [2].

Every eight years Venus returns to the same place in the sky. Look at the planets on your birthday when you are eight years old and you will notice that Venus is around the same zodiacal degree for when you were born. This is also the case for your 16th birthday, 24th birthday, and so on. This regular cycle of Venus, when linked with the US four yearly presidential elections, means that every second election Venus will be in the same place in the zodiac. Indeed Venus simply alternates between two zodiacal position from one election to the next over the many elections since 1792. These two positions are the early degrees of Libra and the middle degrees of Sagittarius.

Added to this is the fact that the elections are also tied to a calendar date - elections occur between the 2nd and 8th November - thereby locating the Sun, for every election, within the middle degrees of Scorpio.  When these two cycles are combined - the four-year elections with a set date every four years - then Venus for any given election can have only one of two relationship with the Sun: it will either be in Sagittarius, giving it good separation from the Sun, and thus it will be seen as a bright Evening Star; or it will be in Libra, also with a good separation from the Sun, and thus it will be seen as a bright Morning Star.

Morning Star Elections or Evening Star Elections

To the astrologer/priest of the Mesopotamian court, these four-yearly set calendar date elections are custom-made for Venus. With this perfect alignment between the two, they would have considered it an intentional and fortunate association which allowed Venus to be the deity who chose the winner by casting her beams on nearby planets representing the king or his rivals. The brighter she was the greater her favours and with the US system of presidential elections, Venus is bright for every election and could and would give her strength and imprimatur to either the king or the king's rival in the court. So the astrologer/ priest pondering this contest would want to know whether Venus was, firstly, a morning or evening star, as that changes the nature of her favours, and then, secondly, explore who she was empowering with her beams. 

Sorting out the Elections

The following are the election dates divided into their Morning Star Elections with Venus in early degrees of Libra and the Evening Star Elections with Venus in the middle degrees of Sagittarius.  
 

Venus as Morning Star favours the one who holds the crown

Venus as a Morning Star was considered more independent, desiring to function alone or give favours which are powered with rashness, haste and or free-thinking. Generally this does not favour the political networking and back-room deals needed for any rival to rise to power. For this reason it is rare for the  “king” or the king’s chosen heir to lose power at a Morning Star election. Indeed there have only been two occurrences since 1900 when they did, that of the first election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 when he took the White House from the Republicans, and Ronald Reagan in 1981 when he took the White House from the Democrats. Every other election since 1900 which has Venus as a Morning Star has resulted in no change to the "family" who is ruling the White House.

The only two successful challenges to  the "throne" since 1900 in Morning Star elections
Franklin D Roosevelt successful in 1933 - Venus was radiating Jupiter with Mars on the  king star "Regulus".	Ronald Reagan successful in 1981 - Venus was radiating the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter.

Venus as Evening Star favours the one whom she radiates

This is the type of election where there is a greater possibility for changing who holds the power in the court. This situation does not guarantee change but as an Evening Star Venus is far more active in terms of networking and co-operating in team work and thus her blessing is more suited to the nature of politics, potentially empowering the rival with the luck and skill required for success. The candidate symbolised by the planet or star which is receiving the light of the bright Evening Star Venus will tend to be the victor. 

 Venus favours the Rival - a look back at other Evening Star elections.

[Note of Interest: Of the twenty-eight presidential elections since 1900, ten of these elections have seen changes in the party governing the White House and of those ten changes, eight of them have been Evening Star Elections. Thus there is a track record of  28.5%  times of change with an Evening Star election versus 7% times of change for Morning Star elections. ]

The Evening Star Election of 2008 – a Visual Astrology view

So now we have another Evening Star election. The "family" that rules the White House is the Republicans, and, for this Evening Star election, the king has retired and the appointed heir is seeking the throne. There is, of course, the rival "family" who, for this election, are the Democrats and, as always, the rival is seeking to claim power at these times of change.

As the astrologer/priest, you watch the heavens looking for the way of Venus. If the king is being challenged, this does not hold well for the Republicans. If Venus is radiating a planet, then what is that planet and who does it symbolise, the king's heir or the rival? From our Mesopotamian mind set, we can ask this question of the heavens: "Can the king's selected heir win the White House or will the court rival overthrow him? Which of the two families in the court will take the throne?"

The sky for the Evening Star election on 4th November, 2008.

The 2008 Evening Star Election
At the time of the election Venus is once again radiating Pluto but differently to the 2000 election as there is also a distant but bright Jupiter in the cape of Sagittarius (see image above). If Venus’ empowerment goes to both planets, questionable as the orbs are wide, then this would symbolise a landslide victory to the younger "crown prince", a bold sweeping ascent to the White House where the sheer weight of the mandate places great power in the hands of Obama. Such power can be a heady drug for any politician so the younger rival will need to remember that he is not Caesar, he is not one of the gods and is only human. 
 

But if Venus' light does not reach Jupiter, then the emphasis will be focused on the raw power-struggle of Pluto. The election will be won by the "family" with the most money, power and grit. Adding to this intrigue, the heir of the retiring king is not being damaged by Mars. Rather that Mars is expressing itself as John McCain, the Soldier. 

One gets a sense already of the power of the Jupiter Pluto victory to the young contender, Obama, but if it comes to a fist fight in the manner of the 2000 election - the last Evening Star election where Venus radiated Pluto  - then the victory will go to the one who can wield the most money and power.  

The victory will be most sweet for it will last for twelve years

On a final note, whichever party gains the White House, they will hold it not only in the 2012 elections but also in the 2016 elections. In the election of 2012 a Morning Star Venus radiates the Sun-Saturn conjunction which will give much blessing on the king. In the 2016 which is an Evening Star election, Venus once again radiates Saturn, with no threat to the king. So Visual Astrology is indicating that the ruling party will hold the White House for at least 12 years. Presidents may change at any stage but the "family" that wins this current election in 2008 gets a very large prize indeed.  

Kings or Presidents, it is all just power and rivals which is the intrigue of any royal court. Not much has really changed since astrology first emerged between the rivers of the fertile crescent.
 

Sympathy versus Hubris
The sky maps of John McCain and Barack Obama
 Darrelyn Gunzburg

The July 2008 Visual Astrology Newsletter we looked at the potency of the the sky pictures that collect around the horizon at the time of birth. In continuing this we can consider the horizon not just from the perspective of a single story but also as a pairing of images, pulled together by the person's birth. Although the Mesopotamian astrologer/priest may not have worded it in this way, we can ask who governs the eastern and western horizons, who blesses how we are seen in the world and what is being catalysed in ourselves when in relationship with others? As an example I have focused on the two candidates for the US presidency as these are two figures that are currently in the news.
 

John McCain - The Virgin and the Sea Monster: Nobility born from pain

McCain's horizon shows two constellations both of whom are standing upright. This doesn't always happen, as orientation depends on the latitude of birth. Both of these images, however, portray 'uprightness',  the concept of decency and honesty.

The constellation of Virgo, the great fertile goddess in the sky, governs his eastern horizon at the time of his birth, so McCain is seen as one who is noble and dignified.  The constellation of Cetus, the whale, governs his western horizon at the time of his birth, and rises in confrontation on its hind legs. So it is this great unknown beast from the depths that is catalysed in him when in relationship with others and which he then seeks to incorporate into who he is. His presidential ticket is coloured by his track record as a naval aviator, one who has faced Cetus via the hidden depths of torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and survived. McCain comes from military stock - his father and his paternal grandfather both became four-star United States Navy admirals [1]. As a man of war, he embodies those issues and brings them up from the depths into the light of day so they can be considered more clearly. McCain is known for his work towards restoring diplomatic relations with Vietnam in the 1990s and for his belief that the war in Iraq should be fought to a successful conclusion in the 2000s. He presents to us, the public, the noble and dignified wounded warrior.

One could say that as McCain wrestles with the chaos and mayhem of human collective issues, initially as a victim of it and then as a protagonist for it (Cetus), so he is seen as someone who is able to offer knowledge and insight in ways that bring nobility out of pain (Virgo). McCain could therefore unintentionally evoke feelings of sympathy rather than qualities of leadership.

Barack Obama - The Sea Goat and the Lion: protection into law

Obama's horizon constellation images are also upright. The constellation of Capricorn, the great sea-goat law-giver and educator in the sky, governs his eastern horizon at the time of his birth, so Obama is seen as a stabilizing force, one who educates his people and brings order.

The constellation of Leo, the lion, governs his western horizon at the time of his birth, just as its front paws reach down and touch the earth, grounding the constellation. So it is this great lion which protects the precious waters of the life-giving Nile. It is also linked with Sekhmet, the Sphinx-lioness who was "an active aggressor of behalf of her father's enemies" [2] and the symbol of sovereignty. Both these are catalysed in him in his associations and which he then seeks to incorporate into who he is. His presidential ticket is coloured by his track record as a lawyer, seeking to bring change at the grass roots. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney along with teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School  (1997-2004) before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.[3]

One could say that as Obama seeks to bring sovereignty to his relationships (Leo), in order to  protect his people with laws that stabilize and steady society (Capricorn). He could therefore suffer from hubris as such a combination is reflective of the Roman Caesars.

In summary...

Both men represent vastly different ways of presenting their passion and their argument for presidential nomination and both have a nemesis - sympathy versus hubris.

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain - accessed 5th September, 2008.
[2] Brady, Bernadette (2008). Star and Planet Combinations, Bournemouth: Wessex Astrologer.
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama - accessed 5th September, 2008.