NewsScope for June 17, 2008

Obama's Birth Time: 7:24 PM

The Obama camp finally released his birth certificate in response to claims from the political fringe that he was born in Kenya, and therefore ineligible to run for president. For the astrological community, the search for his accurate birth time is over, and we now know that he was born at 7:24 pm, which gives him 18º03' Aquarius Rising and 28º53' Scorpio at his Midheaven.

With no planets in the Tenth or Eleventh houses, Neptune in the Ninth House is Obama's most elevated planet. Neptune was already a prominent player in his horoscope, since it's the only planet aspecting his Sun. Now, when Obama responds to a reporter's difficult question with "I believe...", we know that he's attempting to express some ineffable wisdom that transcends ordinary thinking and everyday dilemmas.

Obama's Neptune is precisely conjunct the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant. As JFK did in the early 1960s, Obama is channeling the nation's collective hopes and visions for a better world. He announced his candidacy on February 10, 2007 when transiting Neptune was conjunct his Ascendant, thereby giving his personal stamp to the collective urge for redemption from failed political, social and economic policies.

 Astrologer Liz Greene wrote the definitive book on Neptune, which in the political realm she associates with utopianism or socialism, and especially when Neptune is in Aquarius. Neptune's discovery in 1846 occurred the last time Neptune was in Aquarius, and coincided with the worldwide advent of socialism as a political ideology. Within modern American capitalism, Neptune's message is a leveling of the playing field, and as much as possible, a redistribution of wealth.

Obama's Economic Plan

 Last week, in an interview with The New York Times, Obama stated, "We know that over the last decade or so, that more than half of the economic growth has been captured by the top one percent of U.S. citizens. That means that the other 99 percent have seen their effective incomes go down. That is not a recipe for long-term economic growth."

 With Aquarius Rising, Uranus is the ruler of Obama's horoscope. And since his Uranus at 25º Leo is exactly aligned with the U.S. Moon at 25º Aquarius, his Uranian mantra for "change" strikes a resonant chord with the American people (Moon). While Obama's prominent Neptune might lead one to impractical or unrealistic goals, he has an efficient, productive Grand Trine in earth signs, which should help him implement his vision.

The Grand Trine connects a dignified Saturn in Capricorn with a hardworking Mars in Virgo, and Ceres in Taurus. Of these, Ceres is the most prominent because it forms a close square to his Ascendant. Ceres in Taurus infuses the otherwise quirky Aquarian vibe with serenity, calm, and stability. Ceres gives his projected personality the image of a caretaker, especially in the financial sense.

 At the moment, an extraordinary alignment is moving into place in Obama's horoscope: his progressed Ceres (26º52' Taurus) is squaring his progressed Venus (26º52' Leo), which is very near his natal Uranus. This configuration is primarily concerned with the economy, since Venus is the natural ruler of money. Around June 21-25, transiting Mars will activate this complex, so we can expect some big developments in his economic strategy.

Obama's Prospects

The horoscope previously used for Obama (set for 1:06 pm) resonates strongly with the chart set for the correct time (7:24 pm). What was formerly a 19º Aquarius-Leo vertical axis is now an 18º Aquarius-Leo horizontal axis. When he announced his candidacy on February 10, 2007, transiting Saturn and Neptune opposed each other along this degree zone. Likewise, the Solar Eclipse that took place on February 9, 2008 right after Super Tuesday illuminated these key degrees.

A major difference between these two charts is his Twelfth House, which now looks exceptionally charmed. With Saturn dignified in its own sign and lucky Jupiter tenanting his Twelfth House, we may now view this house as full of secret benefactors. He refers to the widespread support he has among Fortune 500 CEOs. His candidacy began precisely as his progressed Moon entered the Twelfth House.

Obama's progressed Moon will be conjunct his Ascendant on December 17, 2008. This will mean that his entire election campaign was conducted while his progressed Moon was traveling through his Twelfth House. His political enemies searched in vain for skeletons, but with Jupiter and a dignified Saturn protecting him, they found nothing. What Obama is doing in this campaign is channeling some collective urge for unity.

On November 4 (Election Day) transiting Saturn and Uranus will be forming an exact opposition, pitting elements of the status quo (Saturn) against the forces for dramatic change (Uranus). With Aquarius Rising and transiting Uranus in his First House, Obama clearly personifies the Uranian element. Obama's progressed Sun will be very favorably sextile his Midheaven in 2009, which represents a natural assumption of power.

For more on Obama's 7:24 pm horoscope, visit www.neptunecafe.com.

Thanks to the readers who noted the correlation between Tim Russert's death last week and item #2 on June's Top Five Astro-Events.

Reader feedback is welcome. Email wolfstar3@aol.com.