President Bush won re-election in one of the nation’s most bitterly fought Presidential elections. In an article on the composite U.S./candidate Moon, Phil Brown wrote about President Bush, John Kerry, and the other Democratic primary candidates in the Winter 2004 issue of The International Astrologer. The article was written in December, 2003, over ten months before the general election. Here's what Phil said:

The Composite Moon in the 2004 Election:

A Fire in the Belly?

By Philip Brown

Each candidate running for President of the United States is ultimately proposing to enter into a democratic relationship with voters. It’s interesting, therefore, to look at the composite horoscopes of candidates with the U.S. chart. In particular, the Moon in such a composite would signify the emotional connection a candidate is able to establish with the country. The composite Moon is essentially the midpoint of a national feeling expressed through democratic voting and a candidate’s ability to connect with that feeling and then translate that connection into popular votes. One need only recall Reagan’s “Morning in America” re-election ads and the sun-gilded Clinton-Gore bus tours to recognize the role of a lunar feeling (or as cynics would have it, marketing) connection in national elections.

As I began to research this article, I was amazed at the number of composite USA/candidate horoscopes containing a Moon in fire signs, either Sagittarius or Aries. Although the composite Moon is the emotional connection of nation and politician, I was reminded of Walter Mondale’s famous remark that he did not have the “fire in the belly” necessary to run for President (he ran anyway, in 1984, and lost in a landslide to Reagan). Perhaps the composite Moon in a fire sign shows that the midpoint connection of candidate and voters lights the fire of passionate drive necessary to run a successful national election campaign. Four of the major Democratic candidates have the USA composite Moon in Aries, while the Bush/USA composite Moon is in Sagittarius.

The composite horoscope of President George W. Bush and the U.S. (using the Sibly chart) yields a fiery, “Let’s GOParty” Sagittarian Moon in the 3^rd house of communication. Bush’s USA composite also has a hard-to-beat Sun right on the MC and Pluto in the 1^st house, which might help explain how one can get fewer votes in an election and still become President. Whatever one might feel about his policies, this guy does not hesitate to pull the levers of national power: One has only to look at his cranked-up political machine and re-election bankroll of 200 million dollars a full year before the election. This composite suggests a very formidable national candidate, one who perhaps may get carried away with the extremes of democratic power but who can then cover it all with a national press conference “Hey, good buddy—lemme give you a cool nickname” Sag. Moon. Transiting Pluto will conjoin his USA composite Moon throughout the general election campaign, giving Bush an extraordinary ability to merge himself deeply and powerfully into the national psyche. As a side note, the Bush/USA composite Sun conjuncts the North Node, giving Bush’s presidency a fated rendezvous-with-destiny quality.

Howard Dean’s USA composite has a very strong, passionate 1st house Aries Moon, opposing an idealistic Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in the 7th house. Another way of reading the composite Moon opposition in any of these composites: an emotional projection of unmet national needs. Dean’s message resonates strongly with voters eager (1^st house Aries Moon) for what they deem to be more principled national policies. Unfortunately for Dean, as it is for all the composite Aries Moon candidates, Saturn will be squaring this opposition in the latter part of the current election cycle, presaging difficult challenges ahead.

Senator John Kerry, a war-wounded natal Sun-in-Sagittarius, also has a USA composite Moon in Aries, in the 4^th house, opposing Mercury: Kerry—an early favorite of the pundits-- has had trouble in the early stages of his campaign in communicating to the voters exactly who he is. However, he bears watching because the composite Sun (the midpoint of Kerry’s identity and the nation’s) is at the sensitive cardinal Aries Point (in this case, it’s the autumnal equinox degree) conjuncting charismatic Neptune, both elevated in the 10^th house near the MC. If he can get his message across, Kerry could be seen by many voters as a glamorous “wounded hero” with a perspective on the reality of war and combat uniquely suited for the 21^st Century.

Senator John Edwards is the only Southern Democrat running for President, a fact worth noting since the last three Democratic Presidents were all from the South (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon Johnson) and the ability to win Southern electoral votes is considered crucial to any Democrat’s hopes of winning a general election. John Edwards’ USA composite has an Aries Moon (again!) in the 1^st house, but this Moon is part of a tight T-square in which the Moon opposes Saturn and both planets are squared by a 4^th house Mercury. He may be able to connect powerfully with voters if he is able to stay focused and channel all that energy into the focal point of the composite 10^th house. Significantly, the Edwards/USA composite Pluto is in the 8^th house (shared power), indicating a potential role as a Vice-Presidential candidate if he performs well in Southern primaries.

General Wesley Clark has a USA composite Moon in Pisces on the IC, indicating an ability to connect with voters at the grass roots level and in the “town meeting” and coffee klatsch formats of early primary election campaigning. The composite Moon in the USA/Clark chart opposes Mars in Virgo, an emotional projection of national fix-it action befitting a natal Sun-in-Capricorn General. Pluto will be squaring this composite Moon-Mars opposition throughout the primary and general election campaign, giving General Clark a powerful campaign boost. Clark’s composite Moon conjuncts Dean’s composite Mars, showing the possibility of their becoming running mates at the Democratic nominating convention.

Joe Lieberman’s composite USA chart reveals another Aries Moon, this time conjunct Venus in the 4^th house. Saturn will square all four (Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman, and Dean) of the USA composite Aries Moons during 2004, making each of their candidacies experience challenges and difficulties in connecting with the broad spectrum of voters essential to win a presidential election.

Finally, what of Richard Gephardt, the Democratic House leader from the Missouri heartland? Like Clark, he has a USA composite Moon in Pisces opposing Mars. The composite 12^th house Mars conjuncts Neptune, both in Virgo, a highly refined and seemingly modest charisma which can resonate at some unconscious level with a national mood seeking fulfillment of unmet needs. This opposition will be squared by transiting Pluto moving through the composite 3^rd house throughout 2004. In addition, transiting Uranus will square the Gephardt/USA composite Jupiter-Uranus conjunction during 2004 and transiting Saturn will conjunct the composite 10^th house Saturn (probably good: a new cycle begins) and square the composite Sun (probably not so good, but a case can be made for this being a re-structuring of the candidate/nation identity, i.e. a change in leadership) in November, 2004.

Chart Data and Sources

U.S. Sibly chart: July 4, 1776, 5:10 PM; Philadelphia, PA. Source: Nicholas Campion, Book of World Horoscopes, Chart 370.

George Bush: July 6, 1946, 7:26 AM, New Haven, CT. Source: hospital records quoted on Astrodatabank. Rodden rating: AA

Wesley Clark: Dec. 23, 1944, 5:43 AM, Chicago, IL. Source: From memory, quoted in an e-mail posted on Astrodatabank website. Rodden rating: A

Richard Gephardt: Jan. 31, 1941, 5:00 PM, St. Louis, MO. Source: Richard Nolle in “StarTech” 1987, #10. Rating: A.

John Kerry, Dec. 11, 1943, 7:10 AM, Denver, CO. Source: Lois Rodden’s Data News. Rating: ?

Note: Birth times for Howard Dean, John Edwards, and Joe Lieberman have not yet been adequately sourced.

Howard Dean, Nov. 17, 1948, 7:21 PM, New York, NY. Source: Several individuals have quoted this birth data from Howard Dean, but it has not been verified. Rodden rating: DD.

John Edwards: June 10, 1953, 7:02 AM, Seneca, SC. Source: Michael Wolfstar on StarIQ, no source quoted. Rating: DD.

Joe Lieberman: Feb. 24, 1942, 2:30 AM, Stamford, CT. Source: From memory, mother via family friend, cited on Astrodatabank. Rodden rating: DD.

Scroll down for more analysis of astrological indicators in the general election campaign.

Astrology and the 2004 Election:

Conflict, Change, and Power

(NOTE: The following analysis was first posted here on 9/7/04. Like many astrologers, I followed my political bias and fervent hope to project that John Kerry would be victorious in the general election. Although this did not come to pass, I believe that much of what I wrote is still valid and describes the election contest accurately in astrological terms. I removed a rather arbitrary point system I used to add up a Kerry victory, but have kept everything else intact. I believe it is, for the most part, balanced--including several indicators strongly favoring Bush--and does predict much of what transpired.)

One way of looking at the 2004 Presidential election is through composite charts. John Kerry and George W. Bush are ultimately proposing to enter into either a new or a continuing relationship with voters. Composite charts for the United States (using the Sibly chart) and either George W. Bush or John Kerry yield some interesting comparisons. When November 2 election transits are added, the picture becomes even more striking.

First, a little keyword background:

Important factors in the composite chart for each candidate:

composite Sun=the national identity of the candidate and how the candidate fits in with the nation’s sense of self.
composite Moon=the emotional bond between voters and candidate.
composite Mercury=change, communication
composite Venus=sense of well-being a candidate inspires in voters; also, victory
composite Jupiter=the sense of prosperity a candidate inspires in voters

Important factors in transiting planets:

Jupiter=democratic election laws; positive results
Saturn=laws which restrain and limit; difficulties
Uranus=change of direction for the country
Pluto=power

The Composite Match-Up

Kerry’s composite Sun and Neptune are conjunct very close to the composite MC. He’s seen as a glamorous hero—and a waffler.

The composite Uranus represents the public’s desire for change—especially important in the challenger’s composite. Keep in mind that since Kerry is just 2 ½ years older than Bush, there is only a small difference of 7 degrees between the composite Uranus of each candidate. It’s best, therefore, to look at house placement and aspects to Uranus. In Kerry’s composite, Uranus is in the 6^th house—of jobs and healthcare. It is trined by transiting Venus and Jupiter, indicating a strong desire for change on election day.

However, transiting Uranus will also oppose Kerry’s composite Venus in the days and weeks leading up to the election. The opposition signifies conflict. Since this is a composite chart of the candidate and the nation he proposes to lead, the transit of Uranus suggests that Kerry will be seen by voters as conflicting with his own ideals—the “flip-flop” candidate. That’s not to say he really is indecisive, just that the voters will perceive him this way.

Mercury also indicates change. It is in Kerry’s composite 10^th house, trining the composite Mars. Those voting for Kerry will go for change.

Kerry will come alive in the days and weeks before the election. Evidence: the waning square of transiting Saturn to his composite Moon. Saturn is moving away from the composite Moon. Jupiter and Venus are presently in the composite 9^th house, but will soon cross over the MC of Kerry’s composite, bringing a change in his campaign’s ability to connect with the public. BUT…Venus and Jupiter will also be squaring Kerry’s composite Part of Fortune—he’ll be dealing with a full deck of cards, but they could be marked.

The lunar nodal axis=change versus the status quo. Kerry has lots of action squaring the nodal axis, indicating a conflicted public desire for change. Transiting Sun squares his composite nodal axis while the transiting nodal axis squares composite (and chart ruler) Jupiter. We want change, but also the status quo. Will we go forward to the unknown or back to the familiar? A question to ponder in the meantime: Is the lunar South Node a Republican and the lunar North Node a Democrat?

Most significantly, the transiting conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will cross over Kerry’s composite MC shortly before election day. This same Venus-Jupiter conjunction will be within a degree of hitting Bush’s Ascendant. A close call! Should we predict victory for a candidate with these two helpful planets crossing the MC or just about to hit the Ascendant of the composite chart? The advantage should probably be given to the candidate/U.S. composite which has actually had the two planets cross an angle. That would be Kerry, but it's still very close.

Bush’s composite has Pluto in the 1^st house. W is his middle initial—and also the middle letter of poWer. Throughout the election campaign, transiting Pluto will be hitting Bush’s composite Moon, giving his candidacy an extraordinary ability to bore into the national psyche. That does not mean it’s a good thing or that he will win—just that he’ll be able to do it. In an election, he does not hesitate to take the gloves off. Kerry’s composite Pluto is in the 11^th house. That’s not a bad placement for a sitting President—but Kerry has to get himself elected first and in this political game of rock-paper-scissors, a 1^st house Pluto beats an 11^th house Pluto.

Return to Home Page