Quite possibly, the Michigan primary will shed light on two burning questions: 1) can Trump be stopped? and 2) is Sanders succumbing to Clinton’s establishment-fueled assault?
As a
mundane astrologer working in the urban wilds of Michigan, I was taken aback by
the Republican-controlled legislature’s decision to schedule this year’s presidential
primary election on March 8—the same exact day as a potent total Solar eclipse
at 18°+Pisces. Originally planned for a week later, the primary date was shifted
earlier for unclear reasons—not unusual with this legislature. Of course, if
Saturn and Neptune have anything to do with it (and they will), we haven’t seen
the last of the “unclear” moves this primary season.
The
March 8th eclipse chart is as tense, change-oriented and complex as
the election itself, and as the only total solar eclipse preceding November’s
general election, it is likely to impact the results. Importantly, the
Virgo-Pisces axis is prominent in this eclipse, which not only continues the
pattern set by the March 20, 2015 eclipse (the one that ushered in last year’s
presidential candidacy announcements), but also echoes the powerful mutable
outer planetary aspects we’re seeing these days. Simply put, the ground is
shifting beneath our feet, astrologically.
Out on a limb…
Going
out on an astrological limb here, it appears to me that the primary winners in
Michigan may be the candidates on the
ballot in November. My reasoning follows—your comments and well-considered
additions are always welcome!
First, a
caveat: the chart for Michigan’s primary election is set for the opening of the
polls at 7 a.m., while the eclipse’s moment of exactitude happens at 8:55 p.m.,
fifty-five minutes after polls close that evening at 8 p.m. The eclipse
will be visible in areas of Indonesia and the south Pacific, so that softens
the impact a bit here in Michigan, but it will still constitute a transit to be
reckoned with. Let’s look at the chart
itself:
Total Solar Eclipse 3-8-2016
Chart, set for 8:55 p.m., Lansing, Michigan
|
A day to watch…
With
so many strong aspects in this chart to the Eclipse point in Pisces and to the
Eclipse rulers, this will be a day to watch—and it will be the start of a
process that unfolds over the life of the eclipse (at least the remaining
months of the campaign). Dragon’s “tail” eclipses often demand “payback” of
some sort, so it’s possible the day will bring some long-festering, key issues
to a head (we have plenty to choose from). With the primary in Michigan and all
the restless Pisces energy involved, we can be assured that candidate views on
the Flint, Michigan water contamination crisis will figure heavily into voter
decisions. Before committing to a likely scenario, however, let’s examine the
Primary chart itself in more depth (chart follows):
Michigan primary election, March
8, cast for the State capital Lansing, and for the 7 a.m. opening of the polls.
Sun
and Moon (applying to new Moon/Eclipse) straddle the Ascendant and oppose
Jupiter-Node (Virgo) at the Descendant; Sun conjoins, Jupiter opposes Chiron
(Pisces). An
idealistic (Pisces) message will draw voters in, but should benefit candidates
with convincing ideas for pragmatic growth (Jupiter-Node). Voters may act on
their hopes for a more ideal “relationship” with a candidate. Chiron’s
placement reinforces what we know about voters feeling “wounded” by the
government and their eagerness to cast votes for change (a perceived “Other”)
on that basis.
All
of the above forms a T-square with Saturn-MC in Sagittarius. This configuration presents an
amazing mix of potential change and restraint, although Saturn lacks its usual strength
in Jupiter’s ruling sign (reinforced by the actual square to Jupiter!).
Nevertheless, the agendas of both Jupiter and Saturn here would be to temper
Neptunian excesses (or at least demand that Neptunian idealism be packaged in
some intelligible form), which should impact voting results (MC). Voters may
try to “hedge their bets” (Jupiter-Neptune opposition encourages speculation) with
their votes. Saturn’s position near the MC suggests Michigan needs to take its
responsibility in this election seriously, but (as we’ll discuss more below)
these Saturn squares could also indicate efforts at voter suppression.
Chart
ruler Neptune (Pisces) conjoins Mercury and the Moon; Moon-Neptune widely
oppose Jupiter. These
aspects seem doubly significant since we know Jupiter and Neptune also co-rule
the Eclipse point that perfects later that evening. The Moon in a mundane
national chart represents the People, so here, Michigan voters are likely to be
influenced by Media-spun illusions (Mercury-Neptune). They will be receptive
(Moon) to messages of change (mutable signs), and (not too surprising) will
vote for the candidate who most convincingly empathizes with their needs and
emotions.
Uranus
squares Pluto (Aries-Capricorn); Uranus inconjuncts and Pluto trines Jupiter;
Uranus semi-sextiles and Pluto sextiles Sun. The considerable influence of the
Uranus-Pluto stand-off on the overall presidential election will be channeled
through this duo’s respective aspect networks. In this primary, Jupiter will
expand upon the usual force of Pluto’s big money and powerful connections (the
media assault has already begun). Jupiter may thus also frustrate attempts at
revolutionary upheaval (Uranus inconjunct), but Uranus may leverage that frustration
into a coup nevertheless. Placed in the 2nd house, Uranus could
surprise the state bean-counters with a referendum on their values.
Saturn
in Sagittarius disposes Pluto (Capricorn) and trines Uranus. If this primary election is a
“map” of Michigan’s contribution to the electoral process, the Saturn-Uranus
trine (applying) reflects a revolutionary impulse waiting to manifest. Indeed,
early polling suggests a serious mood in favor of deep changes, but Pluto’s
commanding presence in the 11th house of public power, its sextile
to the Eclipse point and trine to eclipse ruler Jupiter will temper any change
Saturn and Uranus might produce. We’ll consider how this may impact the two “insurgent”
candidates in a bit.
Venus
in Aquarius inconjuncts (wide) the Node and is disposed by Uranus; Mars in
Sagittarius squares Mercury in Pisces. The Node gains added importance in an eclipse, so this
rather low-key Venus aspect may carry more weight than it would in a
non-eclipse related chart. In the 12th house, edging near the Pisces
stellium, Venus seems to suggest that the spoils of this election may be hard
to access until Venus transits over the Eclipse point later in March. Perhaps
the delegate count will be slow to resolve? In general, change-oriented votes
(Uranus disposes Venus) are likely to succeed over establishment ones.
On
another note, the Mars-Mercury square promises to promote harsh, deceptive
rhetoric and “smoke and mirrors” tactics. Voters are likely to encounter
“irregularities” in their access to the voting booth. This, combined with the
Saturn T-square described above, could certainly signal voter suppression
efforts.
Michigan mirrors the nation
Michigan
mirrors the nation at large in a number of ways, but especially in its critically
polarized politics, with the state’s progress often skewered by conflicting
liberal urban agendas and staunchly
conservative rural agendas. It’s a
gun-happy state, with gun owners currently using the threat of homegrown
terrorism to push for “open carry” everywhere. Michigan schools are struggling
to educate our children to national standards, with truly egregious failures in
cities like Detroit (we do have some really great universities—go figure).
As
with the nation’s, Michigan’s infrastructure is crumbling (a factor
contributing to the Flint water crisis), and though Detroit has emerged from
its Plutonian bankruptcy a better, much more vibrant city, deep problems persist.
The birth place of many American labor movements, Michigan is now a
“right-to-work” state, thanks to some hotly-protested, behind-closed-doors
legislative maneuvering. Wages are predictably stagnant; poverty is painfully
real for too many, and although job opportunities are expanding, Michigan’s
middle class has as many “potholes” as the roads.
Last,
but certainly not least, like many states, Michigan is coming to terms with
corporations looking to exploit our natural resources. Flint’s tragic situation
perfectly embodies the state government’s value system. As with the
nation-at-large and its lackluster response to global warming, there’s constant
tension between public health, environmental and business agendas.
Enter the candidates
Of
the candidates, Trump and Sanders best combine both establishment and
“insurgent” credentials. With his big money and “celebrity” status, Trump is
able to leverage the energies of Uranus-Pluto and Neptune. With his brash, offensive rhetoric he assumes the
mantle of “rebel” (Uranus), tearing down any critics, bragging about his
billions, and stoking his target audience’s anger (Pluto). Spinning every
situation like a top (Neptune) has allowed him to package his swagger as a
political platform—all supporters seem to care about is that “he speaks his
mind.” Trump’s momentum coming out of a win in South Carolina is rattling the
GOP establishment, but there are interesting astrological hurdles ahead we will
touch upon. Many pundits feel his South Carolina win defied all normal campaign
logic, but we can see that astrologically, defying
logic is what Trump does best.
Sanders’
political career as an unapologetic independent/socialist has delivered a
similarly devoted following, especially among Millennials. Sanders, however,
employs Uranus-Pluto and Neptune energies quite differently than Trump—he projects
a rebellious, protective “father” figure, daring his target audience to dream
big (as in a revolution) and demand change to the out-of-control capitalism he
claims has destroyed our middle class. Like Trump, Sanders also defies logic—in
this case, the logic of our socio-economic system and the limits it imposes on
“electability.” His candidacy may still be overwhelmed as Super Pac money
floods (Neptune-Pluto) the election, but astrologically, we can’t count him out
quite yet.
The burning questions…
Quite
possibly, the Michigan primary will shed light on two burning questions: 1) can
Trump be stopped? and 2) is Sanders succumbing to Clinton’s establishment-fueled
assault? Let’s briefly examine MI primary biwheels for both.
Candidate Trump
Inter-chart
Grand Square: Trump Sun-Node-Uranus opposite Moon (Gemini-Sagittarius) squared
by Primary Sun-Moon opposite Primary Jupiter. Primary Saturn conjoins Trump
Moon and opposes Trump Sun-Node-Uranus. This amazing configuration suggests intense
agitation and “cross purposes,” especially since the Primary Sun-Moon is fast becoming
an Eclipse point. Trump’s strategy depends heavily on ego glorification (full
Moon) and illusions (Pisces/Neptune) of pragmatic leadership (Jupiter in Virgo),
but can he deliver? The fact that Saturn is disposed by Sagittarius ruler
Jupiter tempers Saturn’s repressive force here, however, so his ego may be only
bruised, not broken.
All
the same, the rhetorical “shock” factor may not work for Trump as well in
Michigan as it has thus far (Uranus-Primary Saturn)—not because Michiganders
are less vulnerable to his message, but because his charmed candidacy may hit a
cosmic speed bump. With the grand square, he may start to feel less in control
of his political narrative and more at the mercy of how others frame his story.
A loss would certainly present that challenge, but so would a weaker than usual
win (more likely).
Primary
Mercury-Neptune-Moon trines Trump Mercury (Cancer). Primary Sun-Chiron trine
Trump Saturn-Venus (Cancer). Neptune
has been transiting trine Trump’s Mercury for some time, allowing him to “walk”
on political “water,” defying campaign etiquette and acceptable demeanor. The
Primary Moon’s trine to Trump’s Mercury will support his habit of—as one
analyst put it—“simulating intimacy” with his audiences. Neptune also supports
his tactic of overwhelming the Media with outrageous behavior (his Moon and
Uranus, Moon disposing Cancer Mercury figure into this), effectively blocking
coverage of other candidates. This tactic may lose strength, however, as the inter-chart
grand square (described above) promises to challenge Trump’s command of the
media.
The
Primary Sun-Chiron trine to Trump’s Moon-ruled Saturn-Venus may reflect a wound
inflicted on the candidate’s ambitions by the electorate, but his narrative promising
to “make America great again” implies a healing path (Chiron has been
transiting his planets for awhile now) that he could continue to leverage. Even
so, the inter-chart grand square will push him to be more specific about the
details (Jupiter in Virgo).
On the Sanders’ campaign trail
Sanders’
chart interactions with the Primary chart are equally dramatic—also including
an inter-chart grand square, for starters—let’s consider the highlights:
Inter-chart
Grand Square: Primary Sun-Chiron opposition to Sanders Sun-Node is squared by
Primary Saturn-MC opposition to Sanders Jupiter. The relative weakness of Saturn
tones down the pain of this grand square (as it does for Trump), but Sanders
will be feeling the bind. The 1st house Saturn transit is holding
his “feet to the fire,” especially square his Sun-Node—the vitality of his health
and his message will need a booster shot during this period.
Interchart
T-square: Primary Uranus conjoins Sanders Moon-Mars (Aries) and opposes Sanders
Venus; Primary Pluto squares both ends of that opposition. We’ll know which side of destiny
Sanders is on when we see whether this aspect hurts or helps his cause. If the
grand square doesn’t bottle up his message too badly—or doesn’t allow Clinton
to continue co-opting his message—Sanders could realize an upset victory from
this configuration. At the very least, Pluto’s position transiting Sanders’ 2nd
house could respond to his (and his supporters’) anger and frustration (Aries)
with the system (Uranus-square-Pluto) and stimulate 8th house
fund-raising.
Inter-chart
Grand Trine: Primary Venus trines Sanders Venus (Libra) and Jupiter (Gemini);
Primary Venus squares Sanders Saturn-Uranus (Taurus-Gemini) and sextiles
Sanders Mars (Aries). The
flowing energies of a grand trine should keep Sanders afloat through this
primary, and the sextile to his 5th house Mars could provide encouragement
and a “foot in the door” in terms of delegate numbers. Jupiter’s retrograde placement
in his 10th house suggests his goals remain alive, although
reworking his strategies could be important before Jupiter goes direct in May,
within two degrees of his Sun. As with Trump, many people are looking to hear
more details from Sanders about how he would accomplish his policy aims.
Bottom line…
Lots
more could be said about these two charts, let alone the remaining primary
candidates and their charts! Before we consider those two “burning questions” posed
earlier, however, a caveat: the candidates will be coming off Super Tuesday the
week before Michigan’s primary, so the delegate counts and standings will be
different than they are today, influencing voter perception (important with all
the mutable energies afloat) and probably, voter decisions. With that said,
however…
First,
can Trump be stopped? I don’t believe
the Michigan primary will nail his electoral coffin, but the charts suggest he
may lose momentum. This will probably prompt an even more shrill tone to his
rhetoric, which may or may not continue to serve him. If he’s come out of Super
Tuesday polishing his trophies and crowing, a slow-down in Michigan could be
laughed off (publicly, at least). If Super Tuesday hurts him, Michigan could
follow suit, although he will probably sweep certain areas of the state,
regardless.
Second,
is Sanders succumbing to Clinton’s establishment-fueled
assault? Again, Super Tuesday may tell chapter one of that story, but the
charts here suggest that the Michigan primary/eclipse could be leveraged to his
advantage.
Interestingly,
both Trump and Sander have fixed points in their charts that should shore up their
endurance—Leo rising (Mars conjunct) and Taurus MC for Trump; Scorpio rising
and Saturn in Taurus for Sanders. Speaking of fixed energies…
We’ll
consider Clinton’s chart—along with the other serious “establishment” candidates—next!
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, culture and media, the astrology of generations, and public concerns 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 2016. All rights reserved.
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