Winter Solstice 2008
Winter Solstice 2008
Set for the White House, Washington DC, here is the chart for the first hour-minute-second of Winter Solstice Dec 21, 2008; 7:03:53 am EST; Jupiter is chart-ruler in 1st house and Direct, in his Fall in Capricorn so his expansive tendencies are somewhat limited.
Ascending is 24Sag30, Astraea (‘law and justice’), and Mars 25Sag40 whose Hour it is – suitable for initiating projects and for other Martian activities such as quarrels, policing, and perhaps violence and war.
This out-of-bounds Mars rules 11th house of Associations, Groups, and Hopes/Wishes, and 4th house of the Domestic Scene. One possibility of the above is legal proceedings concerning home foreclosures and for the attending problems they’re creating, including more loss of homes; or more hopefully, legal aid may be extended with Mars ruled by Jupiter.
Transit Venus 15AQ33 in 2nd house of Earning Ability/Values is squaring US natal Saturn in Libra, sign of Relationships and the Scales of Justice. Venus SQ Saturn is a time of legal worries, lack of money, and rejection (or feeling rejected.) Squares indicate obstacles, but may also indicate dynamic action.
Next up is Sun 00Cap00:00 conjunct transiting Pluto 00Cap52, both conjunct asteroid Atlantis, a signifier of America herself, and whose keywords are: ‘abuse of power’ and ‘feelings of doom’ (this relates to the legend of Atlantis which may have sunk itself into the ocean through an over-load of…power.)
Mercury 14Cap10 is just passing its opposition to US natal Sun (and thus George Bush’s n Sun), an ego-bruising time of disagreements when no one listens; working quietly on ones own is the best course.
Mercury and Saturn are in mutual reception (as are Uranus andNeptune) and may work closely together in concentrated effort…the young with the old.
Plus, Saturn is conj Fixed Star, Denebola: ‘to go against society; against the mainstream’ (‘Brady’s Book of Fixed Stars’) which on one level represents VP-elect Joe Biden (near his n MC.)
And yet there is benefic, protective Jupiter 26Cap33 helpfully guarding 12th house, well-placed in 1st house, and about to conjunct US natal Pluto, a period of increased resources (although in America’s case we must be concerned that it may bring a nuclear increase of some sort – perhaps spent plutonium?); greater power is achieved when Jupiter conjuncts Pluto, and monetary assets are evaluated and distributed – but to whom?, we have every reason to ask.
If more assets are gifted to Pluto, why, he already posseses untold riches, so perhaps this relates to the use of bailout billions which may finally be applied to help American homeowners, auto workers, and the taxpayers whose money it actually is. (Funny how Congress and the White House tend to think our tax monies belong to them, isn’t it? Hilarious!)
Yet tiresomely enough, Pluto in a national chart may also signify the Pentagon’s “awesome power” – and Jupiter has just been visiting the Pluto-Chiron midpoint 24Cap18, the ‘plutocracy’ duo of oppression.
We’ll have to see, and we don’t have long to wait (tonight is Dec 14.) This Jupiter is conj 2009′s Inaugural Midheaven (along with tr Pluto-Chiron by Jan 20, 2009 – ‘expanded plutocracy’?) Also by Jan 20, 2009, tr Jupiter will have entered the Solstice chart’s 2nd hou$e.
Yet there’s good news: at 26Cap33, tr Jupiter is at last beyond orb of opposing the US’ Cancer line-up of Venus, Jupiter, and Sun…hoorah! It will be twelve years before that triple transit grips our coffers again in opposition.
Sun-to-Pluto is a conjunction of power and authority, naturally, and of ego-drives and self-will. Intense aggressions may come to the surface as use of power is highlighted in an important role – apparently before the end of December.
(Or, if we use this chart for 6 months (until Spring EQ in March), the 1st house would represent appr 2 months; if using this Solstice chart for one year, 1st house = appr 4 months.)
Acting in moderation is difficult with Sun conj Pluto, but let’s hope for the best since it indicates meeting competition directly in spite of financial losses – and that’s a big part of how America got into bankruptcy trouble, by allowing war hawks to have their self-willed way in order to gain war profits at other people’s expense.
(If you enlarge the image, you may be able to make out US natal placements outside the chart, as well as a few factors I will not have time this evening to mention in text. This Page may require a later update.)
Across the 3/9 axis of Mind and Philosophy/Religion is the still-within-orb opposition of Saturn and Uranus forming a T-Square to the ASC and, if you allow a degree or so, to a rising Mars out-of-bounds.
Saturn-Uranus = ASC: the loner’s position is established; standing alone in the world; being placed in difficult circumstances; suffering hardships caused by others; mourning.
Saturn-Uranus = Mars: possible wrong use of extraordinary energy; great efforts and toil; challenging others to a decisive contest of wills; a forced release from strains and tension; anxiety about how things will get on.
As always, midpoint pictures may operate as ‘any, all, or none’; or only when triggered by transits and/or progressions. The next planet in the chart to meet the Saturn-Uranus midpoint is the fast-moving Moon, which in Astrology is an excellent timer…
Saturn-Uranus = Moon: changes for freedom; emotional courage emerges under duress.
With 00AQ47 on 2nd cusp (one of the Money houses), the president is indicated in relation to 2nd house issues because US inaugural Sun = 00AQ+ on Jan 20 of any Inaugural year. Inauguration 2009, of course, has Mercury Rx there as well – perhaps one of Obama’s younger aides or his own speechifying may need revising in some way concerning money or other issues.
As you see, the Nodal axis in nearing America’s Nodal Half-Return when weaker associations and partnerships bite the dust; stronger connections tend to be strengthened although they may undergo some kind of stress before settling in.
Well, if this were a Horary chart with Pluto in 1st house, we’d say there are elements coming up that are out of our direct control which wouldn’t surprise anyone, I suppose. Surgery or mining issues come to mind.
And with Moon 24Lib04 in 10th house of Public Standing, conjunct two lovely Fixed Stars of potential success, Arcturus (‘a different approach’) and Spica (‘a potential for brilliance’), we may hope the American people (Moon) are guided by Libra’s balanced wisdom, for the Winter Solstice Moon is conj the natal IC of George Bush, the Ending Point of any chart – aka, The Drain.
May we toss outworn shoes at his graying, soon-out-of-office head just as an Iraqi journalist did today in Baghdad. And you know, I can’t decide if it’s ironic or pathetic: the first Bush term began with The People throwing eggs at his inaugural limo.
Now his presidency is ending with a sign of extreme disrespect today from a citizen of the sovereign nation which he and Cheney invaded while pretending it would be a mere Cakewalk…shoes thrown at Bush’s thick head.
To me, ‘Death by Chocolate’ never tasted as bitter as the failed presidency of George W. Bush.
So as restructuring Pluto begins his long stay in Capricorn, I pray that the New Year of 2009 may bring people-pleasing improvements to America, the old girl who is, after all is said and done, my only nag in the race.
