Sarah Palin was born on February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho at 6:00 p.m. This time was cited in a biographical article in a magazine in Palin's hometown of Sandpoint, Idaho.

Sarah Palin was elected mayor of a small Alaska town shortly before she began her Jupiter mahadasha, a 16 year planetary cycle. In 2006, when she was elected governor of Alaska, she had recently begun her Venus sub-dasha. This dasha pairing of Jupiter and Venus continued up until just before the 2008 presidential election.

Sarah Palin’s Vedic horoscope has Jupiter in its own sign—Pisces—conjoining Venus. In Vedic astrology, planets are considered to be conjunct when they occupy the same house, regardless of the degree separation. Venus is exalted in Pisces and in Vedic astrology an exalted planet takes on extra power. Both these conjoined and powerfully placed benefic planets helped to give Sarah Palin her date with destiny. In 2006, shortly after she began her Venus sub-dasha, Palin was elected governor of Alaska: Jupiter and Venus were simultaneously activated.

Palin has Jupiter and Venus in her Vedic 8th house (sudden events). House rulerships are extremely important in Vedic astrology. Palin’s exalted Venus rules her 10th house of career, fame, and high position in the government (conversely, it may also indicate a fall from high position). And, as already pointed out, her Venus is ruled by Jupiter in its own sign and conjunct Venus.

Palin's Jupiter is in a house it already rules—the 8^th—but it also rules Palin’s 5th house. The 5^th house is often connected with individuals who demonstrate enough wisdom to give advice and counsel to others—often through a position in government. However one feels about Sarah Palin’s views—and she is certainly polarizing—she does have many followers who listen to her.

Palin’s Venus sub-dasha ended shortly before the 2008 presidential election, but her Jupiter mahadasha will continue until 2013. This bright picture, however, is slightly clouded by some other planetary placements in Palin’s navamsha (9th harmonic).

Looking even farther ahead: In 2013, Palin will enter her Saturn mahadasha. Her Vedic Saturn is in its own sign (Aquarius), and Saturn is exalted in Libra in her Navamsha. Unlike Obama, her Saturn does not change houses in the Bhava Chakra. It will stay in her Vedic 7^th house. (The Bhava Chakra is a special horoscope that uses equal houses, instead of the equal signs of the main Vedic horoscope, to help forecast results of mahadashas).

Palin's Ascendant, or Lagna, is in Leo, which gives her a striking appearance and regal persona. Because this Ascendant creates a strong sense of self-interest and pride, it can sometimes lead to a life in politics and government.

Palin has a pattern called a Kala Sarpa Yoga (Serpent of Time). A yoga is a linking of planets. The Kala Sarpa Yoga occurs when all the planets (Vedic astrology does not use Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) are placed on one side of the lunar nodal axis (Rahu and Ketu in Vedic astrology, or the North-South Nodes of the Moon in Western astrology). Although this pattern is often believed to be strongly negative, the great and iconoclastic Vedic astrologer K.N. Rao takes sharp issue with that idea and says that Kala Sarpa Yoga can be and is sometimes present in the lives of highly successful individuals.

Palin’s Western Horoscope

In Sarah Palin’s Western horoscope, the 2012 election day will find Saturn (which will enter Scorpio in early October, 2012, just in time for the election) squaring/challenging Palin’s politically shrewd Moon-Mercury conjunction. Mercury rules her Virgo Ascendant, which increases that planet’s importance in her chart. Saturn aspects can bring a heightened ability to persevere, shoulder burdens, and do what needs to be done. The square from Saturn to Palin’s all-important planet of communication, however, can indicate that Palin will have difficulty getting her message across—if, that is, she becomes the GOP presidential nominee.

Palin has the mid-1960’s Uranus-Pluto conjunction in her 1^st house, carrying the generational astro-signature of powerful rebellion. She also has a remarkable five planet lineup in Aquarius, including both the Sun and Moon. Aquarius is future-oriented and the sign of the individualist. It can also convey an unpredictability, and one can already see how Palin’s decisions have been Aquarian—looking to her future, while eschewing conventional wisdom.

This strongly independent theme is also reflected in her Aries Venus. Venus is the ruler of her Taurus Midheaven (career). It is placed in her 8^th house, and describes her public persona—the Alaskan “pioneer woman.” Her Aries Venus will be hit directly by Uranus during the 2012 primary season, creating headstrong change, personal energy, and excitement.