NewsScope for November 11, 2008

Obama's Vesta
 
One of the most important points in Barack Obama's chart is his Vesta, the asteroid associated with security, focus, and the sacred. Obama's Vesta is conjunct the Fourth House cusp and in the financially oriented sign of Taurus. Mythologically, Vesta is associated with the hearth, and so in Obama's chart we can see his devotion to home and family. Vesta's aspect network reflects his early home conditions.

Vesta is closely square Uranus and trine Saturn, with all three at 25º degrees of their respective signs. This is the tightest, most dynamic configuration in Obama's horoscope. Vesta's square to Uranus reflects his father's abrupt departure at an early age, while the trine to Saturn provided him with long-term family security. In the political sense, Vesta here gives a sense of patriotism and strong family values, especially when rooted in financial security.

Since Vesta is Obama's most angular placement, this asteroid carries extra significance. Vesta in Taurus at the foundation of his chart gives Obama a sense of inner calm, in spite of all the crises implied by the square to Uranus. Over the weekend, transiting Mars in Scorpio opposed Obama's Vesta as he sifted through the list of economic advisers and formulated an economic strategy.

Projected onto the global map via Astro*Carto*Graphy, Obama's Vesta is at the Midheaven in Kaliningrad, a Russian-controlled seaport between Lithuania and Poland. In the political realm, Vesta here has attracted an immediate, threatening response from Russia. Obama's Vesta-Midheaven line also goes right through the heart of the Republic of Congo, where international efforts are attempting to forestall genocidal warfare.

Obama in Moscow

Following last week's article on Obama's ACG map, a reader from Latvia wanted to know more about Obama's Pluto line running through Eastern Europe: "Putin, honestly, is right next door. Latvia, despite its size, is fighting attempts at being bullied and censored, even from across the border, since there are remaining a lot of Russian citizens from the former 50 years of Russification."

Obama's Pluto-Ascendant line is where things can get complicated quickly. One feels more intensely about geopolitical affairs where Pluto has influence, and relatively small rivalries can grow into lethal power plays. Pluto also offers the prospect of transformation, especially when projected fears are faced and dealt with honestly. But to see how Obama interfaces with Russia, the ACG maps aren't enough.

Relocating Obama's horoscope to Moscow* greatly refines the ACG maps. Obama's chart in Moscow features 18º Virgo Rising, with his Mars at 22º Virgo conjunct the Ascendant. Obama's Mars here projects aggression, which he voiced in the campaign as his support for the expansion of NATO into the Ukraine and Georgia, and by not denouncing Bush's plan to deploy an anti-missile program in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Consequently, the day after the election, with transiting Saturn and Uranus opposing each other right on Obama's Moscow Ascendant, Russian President Medvedev announced he would deploy missiles in Kaliningrad. Transiting Saturn and Uranus will hit Obama's relocated Ascendant-Mars throughout 2009, so we can anticipate more trouble. However, deal making picks up by early 2010, when Obama's relocated Midheaven progresses into Leo and forms a harmonious trine to Juno, the partnership asteroid.

Obama's People

Following the astrological aphorism that "planets are people," we can track which of Obama's appointees correspond to which parts of his psyche. As Obama moves forward with "deliberate haste" to fill his cabinet, he's already made a few key selections.

Congressman Rahm Emanuel (November 29, 1959; Chicago, IL; time unknown) was born with his Sun at 6º Sagittarius, where it forms a perfect square to Obama's Seventh House Pluto. Emanuel's reputation as a tough-minded tactician with a combative political style corresponds to his Moon-Mars conjunction in Scorpio, which resonates strongly with Obama's Pluto. Few people have the courage and freedom to play out their intensely passionate Pluto, but Emanuel is the perfect actor to play out Obama's.

Robert Gibbs (March 29, 1971; Auburn AL; time unknown) will be Obama's press secretary. His Aries Sun squares Mars, which astrologically explains his nickname during the campaign as "the enforcer." His Sun is at 8º Aries, where it's most closely aligned with Obama's Neptune at 8º Scorpio, so that Gibbs helps shape Obama's political image. Gibbs has a triple conjunction in Taurus (Ceres-Moon-Saturn), which is conjunct Obama's Ceres in the third house of communications.

Warren Buffett** is on Obama's economic advisory team. Buffett's Sun at 6º Virgo is another strong connection to Obama's Pluto, and if his position is further elevated, we can be sure that major economic reforms are in the wind. Obama's choice for Treasury Secretary will be his most important appointee, and astrologers will be able to see the shape of his economic plan according to how the planets line up.

*Obama's birth data remain the same, except the location is Moscow. Keep the time zone at AHST, but use Moscow's longitude and latitude.

**As foreshadowed in NewsScope's September 8, 2008 column.

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