Trump the Magic Dragon

The more Trump's poll numbers defy gravity, the more lavish the adjectives used to capture the essence of Donald Trump and his appeal. He’s an “alpha male, tapping into our hunting DNA” says one; he has “comedic sense” with how he times his insults, says another; his language skills serve him well; he attacks naysayers with “visceral” ruthlessness; he’s playing “3D chess,” when his opponents haven’t even found the board, but he’s “sophomoric;” he’s an egomaniacal bully—not even an adolescent, but more fit for the “sandbox,” and so on. Reportedly, there’s even a new “study” springing up regarding this candidate’s enigma… you guessed it, “Trumpology!” 

Despite all of this, however, no one seems quite sure if—on the flip side of his blustering routine—there’s a serious presidential contender. How about a little Astro-“Trumpology?”

Trump’s birth data is Rodden rated AA (birth certificate in hand): June 14, 1946, 10:45 a.m., EDT, Jamaica, New York. The chart (using Tropical Equal houses and True Node) is shown below:

 A full-blown chart reading is beyond our scope here, but a few key highlights say a lot:

·         Gemini Sun conjunct Uranus, disposed by Mercury in Cancer. This combination speaks to Trump’s prodigious language “skills,” and they are skills of a sort, as he can deploy them when needed to achieve a purpose. As ruler of his Sun, his Cancer Mercury supports the defensive “pre-emptive strike” mode Trump adopts when challenged: he knows instinctively (Cancer/Moon) what his audiences want to hear and he delivers. Why they want to hear what he delivers is another story, entirely.

·         Sun -Node-Uranus stellium elevated in the 10^th house; the entire stellium falls trine Jupiter in Libra. These amazing energies capture the conundrum Trump poses to our times: is it possible to be the grandest blowhard out there, and still work for the wellbeing of our society instead of against it? Possible, but oh, the pitfalls. With his Node sandwiched between this whopper Sun-Uranus, it’s not surprising Trump feels entitled to be head honcho on the world stage, and that he expects people to just trust he will “know” (Uranus = “eureka” insights) what to do about all issues when the time comes. With this stellium trine 2^nd house Jupiter in Libra, it's possible Trump’s simplistic “build a wall” answer for everything sounds fair and just to people who are simply tired of everything being so complicated.

·         Full Moon type – 4^th house Moon opposes Sun from Sagittarius, trines Mars at the Leo Ascendant. All this fiery energy supports Trump’s inflated (Jupiter rules his Moon) sense of entitlement. With his Ascendant at the critical 29^th degree of Leo, he has all the finesse of a fire-breathing dragon, but with Leo rising and a 10^th house Sun, he’s the boss, so get with it, or you’re fired!

·         12^th house Mars in Leo conjunct 29^th degree Leo Ascendant and square Taurus MC. We can certainly see the “bully” potential of this configuration because this Mars plays hardball and will not be denied his day in the Sun. “Might is right,” with this energy—whether financial, verbal or military might. Mars square the MC suggests a challenge with anger management, but this is hardly a problem: Leo knows anger has its uses and deploys it strategically in the service of destiny (MC).

·         Taurus MC disposed by 11^th house Venus in Cancer; Venus and Saturn conjunct in late Cancer and inconjunct the Moon. This array certainly fits Trump’s tendencies to dig his heels in (no apologies needed) and launch his hair-trigger defenses at the slightest affront. A Taurus MC clearly wants to be accepted (read “a winner”) and noticed (witness the Trump Towers built all over the country). Hence, his instinctive (Cancer/Moon) attacks on the looks and prowess of others (critics are all “losers”) and a defensive rhetorical style (Cancer Mercury). Interestingly, a Taurus MC is perfect for a builder, and his Cancer Venus/Saturn are great complements, for building the ultimate secure homeland. It’s no mystery why “walls” solve so many problems for this builder.

·         Mercury square Neptune in Libra. Never underestimate the power of denial and obfuscation. Trump’s telling retort when challenged for his brutal name-slinging—“Why should I apologize if I’m not wrong?”—speaks perfectly to Mercury and Neptune’s “Mad Hatter” subjectivity. Whether we would be well-advised to elect Trump as negotiator-in-chief or not (Rand Paul’s concern, expressed in the 2^nd debate), yes Trump probably could negotiate with Putin—another master of denial and obfuscation (Mercury conjunct Neptune!). Trump claims he would probably get along with Putin, which makes sense here, as long as they don’t trip over each other’s illusions!

·         Pluto in Leo in the 12^th. Trump’s Pluto is not only hidden away in the inscrutable 12^th, but it also forms no major aspects, which makes it even more compelling. With a Cancer cusp, Pluto in Leo here guards the ego survival needs of the Sun (ruling Leo) like the mythical dragon guards his treasure. A deep-rooted survival anxiety and need to live forever—in some concrete form—dominates this house. Mars on the Ascendant could have added fuel to this anxiety at birth; let’s leave that for therapists to ponder.

So, what are the odds that Trump is a serious presidential contender for 2016? Based on what we’ve seen in his chart, I’d say a Trump nomination is not as inconceivable as the outraged pundits might wish. His chart and the U.S. Sibly chart (one of the nation’s recognized founding charts) connect in several telling ways, in fact. A quick review follows (see Chart below):

·         Trump’s Mercury conjoins  Sibly Venus-Jupiter-Sun. Since Trump’s Mercury also disposes his Gemini Sun-Node-Uranus, this configuration ties his personal agenda and destiny into the nation’s financial workings pretty nicely.

·         Trump’s Venus-Saturn in Cancer conjoin Sibly Mercury and oppose Sibly Pluto in Capricorn. Trump crows about his billions every chance he gets (2^nd house Jupiter and Neptune chime in here, too). Whereas lesser mortals couldn’t get by with strutting around the barnyard like Trump does, a lot of his supporters would like the U.S. (and its president) to do more strutting on the world stage, so the exercise serves him well, despite the mock media outrage.  

·         Trump’s Sun-Node-Uranus opposition to his Moon forms a t-square with Sibly Mars in Gemini, square Neptune in Virgo. Trump’s passionate (full Moon) quest to restore “American greatness” through military (Mars) means may be more than bluster, seeing how his chart taps into the nation’s delusion-prone Mars-Neptune square so tightly. U.S. Fossil fuel (see Neptune connections below) and Defense industries will be humming again—ah, the return to “greatness.” Unfortunately, Mars-Neptune also assures that we have repeated national memory lapses: We seem to forget that we didn’t become “great” again in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, and Iran would be just more of the same, only worse. Better to have an alligator-wrestling contest with Putin and call it a day.  Nevertheless, the worn-out “return to greatness” war cry garners votes, and with Sibly Mercury (opposing Pluto in Capricorn) disposing Gemini Mars, Wall Street has the champagne bottles cooling as we speak.

·         Trump’s Jupiter and Chiron in Libra conjoin Sibly Saturn and square Sibly Sun. This configuration points to a dilemma regarding Trump’s values and intentions: is he seeking the presidency because he deeply values such service (2^nd house Chiron), or would the presidency feel more like a desirable acquisition to him (2^nd house Jupiter)? Either way, the “checks and balances” built into the federal government would likely feel too rigid and confining to Donald Trump, Executive-in-Chief.  Congress and the Supreme Court (Sibly Saturn) might not be amused. Considering the “magical” connections his Jupiter enjoys (conjunct Chiron, trine Sun-Node-Uranus), however, capturing the presidency—on his own terms—is not as outlandish as it may seem.

Finally, a quick takeaway:  the astrology seems to suggest that with Trump, our electoral process is being redefined as we speak—heavy on the entertainment value; light on political substance—politics as “reality TV.” Sound bites and tweets, packaged for mobile consumption, and no holds barred—the dignity of public service rendered a quaint throwback. Just a few election cycles ago, then-Democratic nomination seeker Howard Dean was shut down overnight for simply howling with enthusiasm at the podium. It seems today, with the stakes higher than ever, that U.S. politics has devolved into an alligator wrestling match.  How this will help the U.S. regain its “greatness” on the world stage is another story. Stay tuned….it’s going to be a wild ride!

Raye Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former university English instructor. A graduate of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye focuses on mundane, collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest in current affairs, the astrology of generations, and in issues of public importance such as education and health. Several of her articles on these topics have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the years. Raye can be contacted by comment here, or at: robertsonraye@gmail.com.

© Raye Robertson 2015. All rights reserved. 

Tilting away...

By way of introduction...

These are certainly crazy times for mundane astrologers--too much happening too quickly to digest, much less to write about in any depth! As always, though, some stories rise to the top of the heap and loudly broadcast the astrological dynamics of our times, which makes them great subjects for mundane analysis. These stories and the events they report are more than "trending"--they are redefining our life on this planet as we speak! While I love the efficiency of a good tweet that offers a ripping commentary in a handful of characters, sometimes a topic is worth a few more words and some in-depth consideration. That's my intent for this "diary" (probably a misnomer...there's no way this will be a daily affair!) -- to offer a quick, but thorough astrological look at the burning issues of the day and to invite your comments and thoughts. Agree or disagree with me, I welcome your polite, insightful comments. 

Tilting at windmills...

 Don Quixote (El Ingenioso Hidalgo de La Mancha) has made quite a comback in our cultural consciousness these days: the latest spin on The Man of La Mancha is thriving on Broadway and a new analysis of this endearing dreamer of "impossible dreams" is also coming out as we speak. The irony of this comeback is, of course, its timing, while the world is awash in toxic idealism and its consequences. Most dramatically, millions are on the move from the Middle East, Africa and Turkey to Europe and beyond, desperately seeking refuge from the tragic situations roiling their homelands. Extremism of all types represents an attempt to use idealism for less than ideal purposes. Suffice to say, Uranus and Pluto have certainly been having their Cardinal heyday, breaking down social structures and leaving chaos in their wake. As we'll see, Neptune is feeling its oats as well.

It seems to me that a major theme today is the confused line between idealism and the quest for power. Between delusion and righteousness. A situation closer to home kind of says it all: Is Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis a latter-day Quixote (or more likely, a “Christ” figure) for sitting in jail in contempt of the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage? Wikipedia reports a birth date of September 17, 1965 in Morehead, KY (see Chart), and a few key highlights of her noon chart (no birth time available) seem to reflect the media stories pretty well. See the chart below.

For starters, Davis has a potent 29^th degree Jupiter in Gemini, which squares her 24° Virgo Sun and is disposed by her 16° Virgo Mercury. Mercury falls between and is squeaky close to both Pluto and Uranus (a remarkably tight stellium). The controversy over removing her “name” from marriage licenses issued by the Clerk’s office is clearly seen here: Putting her “hand” (Mercury) to those certificates is, in her mind (Sun), intimately tied in to her faith (Jupiter) and to her ideological concept of purity (Jupiter in Gemini-Mercury in Virgo).  The Moon's position is unconfirmed (no birth time), but the noon chart suggests that her Moon is probably in Gemini also, quite possibly within orb of a square to her Virgo stellium. Words and emotions are fused even more tightly into a compelling ideological mix.

In Davis's words, the issue of sanctioning a gay marriage is a “heaven or hell” decision; with her tight Mercury-Pluto-Uranus conjunction in perfection-minded Virgo (Hades/Pluto’s abduction of the virgin Persephone comes to mind), this unwillingness to follow the law because of her beliefs is not hard to see. There is also, of course, the very real question of power at stake—and the delusions that often accompany power.

Davis’ tough Virgo stellium leaps off the page when we see that it opposes her Saturn (12° Pisces) and Chiron (20° Pisces). Together, this speaks to both power and delusion—in this case, manifesting as a weighty feeling of Saturnian responsibility and an internalized, wounded “Christ” figure. Saturn’s debility in Pisces clouds her sense of public responsibility, leaving her open to Neptune’s capacity for delusion. Chiron placed in Neptune’s domain can instill a deep-seated fear of being forsaken by God (or the “government” by default) and a taste for martyrdom. One person’s delusions of “speaking for God” are another person’s deeply held convictions, of course, but with Mercury as the filling in her Uranus-Pluto “sandwich,” all opposed by this painful Saturn-Chiron-Neptune mix, it’s not surprising that Davis is fully convinced of her beliefs/delusions; she feels them in her very core.

Neptune in Scorpio disposes the Pisces mix, all the while wearing a rather intense frown (similar to Davis's booking photo), probably from rubbing elbows with Mars (tightly conjunct) and its co-dispositor Pluto (by tight sextile). The Mercury-Uranus addition to that sextile suggests that Davis relishes what she sees as a fated “teaching” (Virgo-Scorpio) opportunity on the issue of gay marriage. All of this mutable/fixed energy, anchored by the “big guy” Jupiter in Gemini assures that Davis’s zealotry spins a truly coherent universe in her mind—one in which she feels absolutely entitled to preach and rule. The problem for the larger society arises when she projects (consciously or unconsciously, same difference) her perceived absolute authority on to the affairs of her public office.

Viewed astrologically, the psychology driving her quest seems equally stark. She won’t be the first or the last to cloak rage, defensiveness and self-righteousness—especially as inspired by Neptune, Mars and Pluto—in the aura of religious belief and the will to “martyrdom” (imprisonment). Her Scorpio grouping (Venus, Mars and Neptune) and its chart interconnections suggest that sexuality is an exceedingly intense subject for her. Scorpio energy can feel threatening enough; better to be on the defense. Suffice to say, it’s not surprising she feels at home in a dogmatic Christian sect that rejects the full range of human sexuality options. Her out-of-sign Venus-Jupiter trine assures this issue will loom large in her mind and emotions.

Under Davis’s administration, her Office became an ideological fiefdom in which she could project any discomfort she may have in regards to sexuality, framing it all as a quest for “religious freedom.” Predictably, she’s garnering the media attention (Mercury-Uranus) to do so. The politicians who quickly aligned themselves with her have calculated the wedge-issue potential for this “quest” and they like what they see. What better way to distract voters from the harder, less emotional issues of the day?

By claiming to speak for God, Davis is also tapping into the priestly power Pluto and Neptune offer in her Virgo-Scorpio sextile, and she appears eager to take her message into their collective domain. In the process, the fragile line between religion and government is erased even further. With Saturn in Pisces trine her Mars-Neptune and disposed by her Neptune and ideologically-charged Jupiter in Gemini, she probably won’t be silenced any time soon.

This same constellation of energy has served Davis's political ambitions well to date (running for office as a Democrat, amazingly); it'll be no surprise if she becomes the new standard bearer for Bible-Belt fury this coming election cycle. “Tilting at windmills” takes many forms.

Raye Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former university English instructor. A graduate of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye focuses on mundane, collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest in current affairs, the astrology of generations, and in issues of public importance such as education and health. Several of her articles on these topics have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the years. Raye can be contacted by comment here, or at: robertsonraye@gmail.com.

© Raye Robertson 2015. All rights reserved.