US Election 2012: Obama or Romney?

I’ve been avoiding looking at the Astrology for the 2012 Election coming up on November 6th.  Seeing the Mercury Retrograde station on that day brought back memories of a former election in 2000 with another Mercury station, replete with hanging chads, and Supreme Court judges like so many black-robed wraiths, swooping down and stealing the election from the American people.  The Nazgûl of Middle Earth took possession of the Ring.

And any way, Astrologers, as we are continuously being chided by our fellows, are supposed to be unbiased.  Something that I realize I have been totally incapable of fully achieving, even in my most fervent application of Buddhist Equanimity.  Therefore in my desire to have my candidate win, I’m all too inclined to jump on the Astrologer Bandwagon and proclaim Obama the winner for 2012.... though not with the same 90% certainty that other astrologers have cited.   Nonetheless, the following will explain why I believe (astrologically) that Obama will win this up-coming election.

Romney is at the very end of a lengthy cycle, and is not going to make any brand new start until early 2016, following what appears to be a sudden change in his destiny and image in 2013-14.  Now, you could read this change as taking on a brand new position.  Like President.  But this change is unexpected and not at all what he had planned.  And interestingly, very Karmic in its unfolding.  It’s almost as if he’s presently barking up the wrong tree.  But a tree that has great personal and psychological meaning to the Governor.  With Saturn and Pluto at his IC (early childhood conditioning and inheritance) and his Moon in Scorpio, one could speculate (ad infinitum) about  what makes Romney run, what drives him, and what he has to prove to himself as well as the parental figures that he feels so betrayed or rejected by.  There are deep survival instincts here, and a drive that tells him he will never have enough, never be enough, to quiet the demons from his childhood.  This is heady stuff that he needs to work out in his own time.

When I was a boy, I used to think that becoming rich and becoming famous, would make me happy.  Boy was I right. ~ Mitt Romney

With Progressed Midheaven and Progressed Moon in ambitious Aries, both trine Pluto at the time of the election, this Pluto presence (need for power, and to prove himself, a sense of inherent destiny) not only drives him, but also shows who his base is: The plutocrats, the corporatists, and big money.  People that he feels most familiar with (Pluto conjunct the IC), that he can relate to, and who are backing and propelling him to the polls in November.  This was one of the reasons that I knew he would win the primary election.  It is so very powerful and hard to dissuade.  That in combination with Jupiter in his 1st House of Gemini, which will lead him, probably like no other time, to find favor in the eyes of many.  And with Jupiter stationing right after the Inauguration in January, while trine his Midheaven, and conjunct his North Node (finding favor with the people, leading to success), I had to look twice at the Romney chart for this election.  Things are not that easy to discriminate.  This is certainly not an automatic 90% win for Obama.  Romney has a lot going on in his favor.  But is it enough to win the Presidency?

The short answer is no.  It’s all the other stuff that is going on at the same time.  He is at the dark phase of his Progressed Lunar cycle.  A time of endings.  He’s going to be starting off in a whole new direction over the next several years.  One with unexpected surprises and perhaps a great deal of potential success.  Just not necessarily as President.  At the time of the election, the North Node in Scorpio will be conjunct his natal Moon/Jupiter conjunction.  His Progressed New Moon which occurs in early 2016, will oppose this Moon/Jupiter conjunction, as will transiting Jupiter at that time.  Meanwhile Uranus will conjoin his Progressed Midheaven, and Pluto will square it.  This is important.  It says that despite anything that occurs, even what appear to him to be losses, they are ‘meant’ to be.  It also implies that he does have a deep sense of destiny and purpose that does need to unfold.  And win or lose, this is part of that process.
   
I can’t recall exactly what I said.  But I stand by what I said, no matter what it was. ~ Mitt Romney

The other thing is that despite the strong supportive aspects and drive, he’s overwhelmed by Neptune at the time of the election.  Progressed Midheaven and Progressed Moon in headstrong Aries, are not only trine that hell-bent Pluto, but they are opposing his natal Neptune as well.  Meanwhile transiting Neptune which stations Direct in November, will be square his Gemini Ascendant at the time of the election.  Aside from the usual sense of loss, and disappointment that Neptune periods bring... they can also cast a veil over one’s image that is not often kind.  It makes him appear as weak, wavering, unsure of himself, and can even lead to states of humiliation.  It is not usually the best time to be in the public eye, for everything that he does, every mistake that he makes, is going to look even worse than it is.  Neptune when afflicting is terrible for one’s public image.  It makes you look like a pretender or a phony, even when you’re not.  And there probably are bouts of confusion between who he really is, and the mask that he believes he is supposed to be wearing.  It makes him appear untrustworthy and shifty.  Something that has been plaguing him from the start of his campaign.

Watching Mitt.  He’s like every movie monster who ever ate a city or sliced a teenager - the more glimpses you get of him the phonier he looks. ~ Bill Maher

Shortly after the election, Romney’s Progressed Moon enters the 12th House... which is the house of retirement and seclusion.  It does not come out of seclusion until 2016.  Also on the day of the Inauguration, Saturn is station square that natal Pluto, denying him the proof and power that he so desperately seeks.  While Pluto traveling in Capricorn in his natal 8th House (powerful business partners, his supporters) will square his natal Neptune, which could feel like a betrayal.  As if he had been not only deserted, or left at the altar, but that his spouse ran off with the best man.  There could also be issues here of some sort of financial impropriety, corruption or debt that will trail him like bad press, until it is finally resolved.

President Obama also has some powerful aspects.  He also has some questionable ones as well.  But interestingly, many of the most tedious and irksome aspects are coming to an end after the election and into 2013.  Making it seem as if at least, some of the obstructionism, will be coming to a close (changes in Congress?).  Though not all of it.  At the time of the election, transiting Pluto will be exactly trine the President’s natal Pluto in Virgo.  This is a generational aspect, and often not noteworthy out of context, except that Pluto, as the modern ruler of the President’s Scorpio Midheaven has much to do with his personal destiny.  And this destiny is tied up with the destiny of the world at this time as well.  This is reflected by the North Node, also in Scorpio, that is within a few degrees of his Midheaven at the time of the election.  It almost seems like it is his destiny to win. 

Even though you didn’t vote for me.  I hear your voices.  And I will do my best to represent you the best way I can. ~ Barack Obama

When Saturn enters Scorpio in October, it will not only apply to a sextile to transiting Pluto (and the President’s natal Pluto) but they will be further strengthened by being in each other’s signs.  This is a tremendous time for growth, rebuilding and beginning anew with a stronger fervor, and the support that goes with it.  At first glance, with Saturn on the President’s Neptune, one could read this as a loss, a feeling of undoing, and feeling unsupported, ill, weak and despondent.  A sense that his support is collapsing from beneath him.  It’s almost like a crisis in belief, or consciousness, that leads him to lose faith.  This could also be indicative of troubles overseas, or with foreign leaders.  But with Pluto coincidentally sextile from the 11th House of associates and networks, whatever is confronting the President over the Fall months, he has his own powerful group of supporters and power brokers in his own camp.  As well as a very strong personal support system that helps to reinforce his faith, and negotiate even the most trying of diplomatic trials.

The aspects at the time of the Inauguration are not wonderful, but they are powerful.  Jupiter is square Chiron at the time of the Inauguration and will engage the President’s Pluto.  This will bring a great deal of energy and ambition.  And as a result, a lot of big plans and promises will be made.  And a lot will be accomplished as a result over the next 4 years, if indeed he wins in November.  However, there will also be problems with (as usual and more of the same) people both challenging him, and trying their darnedest to prevent the President from accomplishing those goals.  There are also going to be questions of ethics and religious morality raised here.  But that’s the nature of politics and the recent discourse as of late.  Which is not a pretty picture, and getting pretty tired.  What ever happened to the separation of Church and State?

One of the great strengths of the United States is.. we have a very large Christian population - we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation.  We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values. ~ Barack Obama

But what decided me towards an Obama win are two points.  One is that Obama’s power and influence is on the rise at the time of the Election and the Inauguration, culminating actually in late 2014 to early 2015.  This is when the full statement of his affect on the world, his personal destiny finds its ultimate fruition.  It can be a time of huge success, with the accompanying expectations, and a strong sense of responsibility.  It can also be a time in which one is brought down to their knees.  The determining factors are the sequence of events and choices that the President makes leading up to this time.  It has a great deal to do with his own integrity as to how this period will unfold.  But, one way or another, his destiny will be unfolding in the public arena during this period of time. 

The other reason, is that there is going to be a change in the career of the President, but not until 2017.  I call these his Grand Finale aspects.  Three things occur in early 2017, at what would be the end of his Presidency.  One is that Progressed Midheaven (his evolving public image and career) in the sign of Capricorn (the Father of the country), meets Progressed Saturn, indicating a culmination as well as an ending.  Pluto, the co-ruler of his natal Midheaven in Scorpio, enters his 12th House of retirement in March of 2017.  And transiting Saturn, the planet of reputation and career enters his 11th House.  This is the place in life where we look back at all of our accomplishments, all that we have achieved, and we start thinking in terms of where we go from here.  What can he do with his accumulated power, talents, connections, that will and can also make some sort of difference in the world?  This sounds like someone who is trying to orchestrate the next chapter in his life. 

So it certainly looks like the President will be re-elected in November, Mercury station retrograde be damned.  Yes, there very likely will be some sort of shenanigans... which have already been in the works with attempts at Voter Suppression.  And there is destined to be issues with voting machines not working, or giving the ‘wrong’ information.  There could also be the same issue as in 2000, where the election is called for one candidate, and then handily given over to another.  Nothing is off the table.  Mercury stations are often rife with confusion and mixed messages any way.  Not a good day for an election. 

But at least the day of the Inauguration does not have a void of course Moon this year, as it did in 2009.  The problem with being sworn in during a void Moon is that the President finds themself unable to accomplish as much as they would hope to during their tenure.  If at all.  Interestingly there will be two Inaugural ceremonies taking place.  One in private on the 20th, which is the official day.  And one for the public the following day. This is because the 20th falls on a Sunday in 2013.  But it’s the 20th that counts.  Depending on the actual time of the swearing in ceremony on the 20th, will give us insight into the 4-year Presidency that will follow.

Despite my prediction in favor of President Obama, I don’t take anything for granted.  If people can not, do not, will not exercise their right to vote, even the most favorable of circumstances for a candidate can go for naught.  Even if the machines are jammed, the lines are perilously long, people try to render your voice silent, and the dark Nazgûl wraiths of 2000 try to rear their ugly heads... vote, vote, vote, and let your voice be heard.  Defy Mercury Retrograde. 

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt