The astrology of winning presidential elections is fascinating.
Are those who win presidential elections ‘destined’ to do so? Because becoming President is, well, kind of a Big Deal. So there surely must be astrological indications of this in a candidate’s horoscope. And particularly planetary connections (aspects) to their horoscope on inauguration day.
My prompt for writing this is the U.S. presidential elections to be held in November 2016 (note: this post has been updated – I made an error regarding Franklin D. Roosevelt. This has now been corrected).
So in this post, I’m going to look at current and past Presidents who have accurate birth data. And I’ll look at what was happening for them on their inauguration day, the day they were officially sworn-in as president. For the most part, I’ll use the astrological technique known as Solar Arc Directions. Because in my experience they are consistent at showing the timing of significant life events.
And in another later post, I’ll look at current leading candidates in the race for the presidency, and what astrology says about their chances at the November 2016 election.
There are five Presidents in recent times who we have accurate ‘AA-rated’ birth data for, according to astrodatabank:
- Barack Obama
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- George W. Bush
- Jimmy Carter
- Richard Nixon
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Roosevelt became U.S. President on March 4th, 1933. He defeated Herbert Hoover. Below is his birth horoscope (inner wheel). And Solar Arc Directions (middle) and Transits (outer) for that date.
This chart, or diagram, is called a 90 degree dial. It looks rather different to traditional horoscope diagrams. But it’s a useful and clear way of displaying ‘hard’ aspects from Solar Arc Directions and Transits to the natal horoscope.
From the above, we see Solar Arc Directed (SAD) Moon aspecting his natal Mercury-Pluto square (red oval). Although not indicated, the SAD Moon is at 27° of Leo, forming a square aspect to natal Pluto and an opposition aspect to natal Mercury. Mercury is ruler of Roosevelt’s Ascendant and Midheaven signs. And the Moon in his horoscope is angular in the 10th house of career (see below).
As a ‘signature’ in his natal horoscope, Mercury-Pluto square denotes a powerful (Pluto) communicator (Mercury), and it is this particular feature of Roosevelt that is ‘activated’ at this time. A strong emotional drive (SAD Moon) now underpins and influences this natal configuration.
There’s also an applying aspect between SAD Midheaven (aka ‘M.C.’) and natal Neptune. This aspect indicates a dissolution (Neptune) of his former career (M.C.) and might also account for a presidency which was compassionate and sensitive to the many who were suffering through the Great Depression at that time.
RICHARD NIXON
Nixon became President on January 20th, 1969. As with Roosevelt and all the other 90 degree dials in this post, the diagram shows his birth horoscope (inner wheel). And Solar Arc Directions (middle) and transits (outer) for his inauguration day.
On the middle wheel are Solar Arc Directions and and the outer wheels shows Transits on his inauguration, January 20th, 1969.
On inauguration day, Nixon had Solar Arc Directed (SAD) Uranus to his natal Mars-Mercury (orange oval). And also SAD Sun to his Midheaven/10th house (aka M.C.), shown by the green oval.
Sun to M.C. brings a focus on ego, self, ‘kingship.’ The Midheaven is an area of the horoscope associated with career. Both of the above signatures are ones we’d expect for such a significant life event.
Nixon’s Gemini 10th house (of career) and Virgo Ascendant (his personality) are both ruled by Mercury. And he has a natal Mercury-Mars conjunction angular in his 4th house, as you can see from his horoscope, displayed in the usual format, below.
JIMMY CARTER
Carter was inaugurated on January 20th, 1977. Just as with Nixon, below is his natal planetary positions, surrounded by SADs and Transits for inauguration day.
Here we have SAD Neptune just separating from an aspect to Pluto (red oval). SAD Ascendant applies to natal Uranus (green oval), and SAD Mercury applies to Carter’s Moon (blue oval).
In his horoscope, Carter’s Moon rules his Midheaven/10th house (see below). His Moon in Cancer and it’s in the angular natal 1st house. Mercury to Moon is a great SAD to have if you’re going to speak publicly about your career and speak about what you stand for. And it will also give some emotional ‘bite’ to his speaking, something a detached Mercury in Virgo person like Carter is usually less able to do.
SAD Ascendant to Uranus indicates a huge sudden change (Uranus) in his environment. And if you look at the light blue outer wheel, you’ll see transiting Pluto and Mars (near the red oval) also aspecting his natal Pluto. This brings power and drive. And in his horoscope Pluto and the Moon are connected, by a 120° trine aspect.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Bush was inaugurated on January 20th, 2001.
The inner wheel shows natal positions. Middle wheel shows SADs and outer wheel Transits for January 20th, 2001.
Around inauguration day, he had SAD Venus aspecting his Sun (blue oval), and SAD Saturn to his Uranus (red oval). Venus is angular in his horoscope, in the 1st house and his Leo Ascendant is ruled by the Sun. This aspect also plays-up Bush’s apparent ‘charm’ in winning over voters, despite his limitations. SAD Saturn to Uranus has a Venus connection, because Bush has a natal Uranus-Venus connected by sextile aspect.
BARACK OBAMA
Obama was inaugurated on January 20th, 2009.
Inner wheel shows natal positions. Middle wheel shows SAD and outer shows transits for January 20th, 2009.
He had SAD Mars to his natal Neptune around inauguration day. And SAD Venus applies to his natal Ascendant. Mars rules Obama’s natal Scorpio Midheaven, and is angular in the 4th house of his horoscope.
More than anything, this Mars-Neptune combo reminds us of the election slogan, ‘Hope’; so prominent during his campaign. His election held considerable promise for a better America. SAD Venus to the Ascendant brings charm and ‘sweetness’ to Obama’s public persona.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
Becoming president is a significant life event. Significant life events have significant astrological correlations, particularly using Solar Arc Directions. From the above, you can see that anyone becoming president will have astrological indicators on or around inauguration day.
The astrology of winning presidential elections is indicated by several points. First, the next President will need at least one connection between SAD and natal planets on their inauguration day. Second, these connections should involve planets that are angular in the candidate’s natal horoscope (i.e. in the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th houses) and/or the ruler of the Midheaven.
In my next post, I’ll look at inauguration day 2017 and examine the likely contenders to be the next United States President. That includes Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump as the front-runners, and (so far) Bernie Sanders and possibly Ted Cruz as second-runners. Which of these – if any – has the best astrological connections for becoming President?
The only problem is that there’s only accurate birth data for one candidate – Trump.
It was Truman who became President (in 1945) when Roosevelt died – not the other way around. Roosevelt won four consecutive elections 32, 36, 40 and 44.
My apologies. I have corrected this error, and re-published the post. Thanks for pointing this out.
Fascinating that you look at the SAD’s for inauguration day rather than when the election happens. Is this just for an American election, due to their fixed election timings?
I think it is perhaps a better date than election day, because it is inaugeration day when they legally take power. It’s official. Up until then, they are in limbo in terms of uptake of their new role.