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Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone & Walter Mondale

October 29, 2002
Geneva Clark

In a cruel twist of fate Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash on Friday, October 25, 2002, on his way to the funeral of a friend. With his death Democrats have lost one of their strongest voices and advocates of traditional Liberal issues. Wellstone was a sure cinch to win his quest for re-election as Minnesota's senior Senator with transiting Jupiter going over his dynamic Moon/Pluto conjunction. With the balance of power between Democrats and Republican's, in the Senate, in such a precarious state, hanging on to Wellstone's Senate seat is imperative for continued Democratic control of the Senate.

Paul David Wellstone was born on July 21, 1944 in Washington, DC, although the time of his birth isn't known, I believe a time of 2:56 AM could stand up to some serious scrutiny. While this may be an educated guess on my part, it IS still a speculative chart until the true birth time is confirmed. A 2:56 AM birth time gives Wellstone 16 Gemini on the Ascendant. This ties in with his wonderful and well developed sense of humor, a hallmark Gemini signature. Wellstone won his first bid for the Senate, in 1990, against a popular opponent, Republican incumbent Senator Rudy Boschwitz, largely because of his clever campaign ads that resonnated with voters in Minnesota.

One showed a befuddled Wellstone doggedly chasing down the evasive Boschwitz, in a similar vein to Michael Moore tracking a camera shy Vice President of General Motors in the documentary film, "Roger and Me". Wellstone's quest was a simple confirmation of a debate between the two candidates, with no luck getting past overly officious and protective secretaries and Boschwitz staff.

The point of Boschwitz growing out of touch with his constituents, living a sequestered, Ivory Tower existance, while Wellstone had to breathlessly chase him around all over the state just to get Rudy to agree to a debate, was told with sly, pointed wit. Wellstone used his self-debricating humor, poking gentle fun at his own lack of a big war chest. In another ad, the video and audio were speeded up, and Mr. Wellstone said he had to talk fast because "I don't have $6 million to spend."

On Monday morning, October 28, C-Span opened coverage of the Senate proceedings showing an empty Senate desk and chair with black bunting on it and a bouquet of lovely flowers adorning the top. It was in memory of Senator Wellstone and to acknowledge his service and contribution through twelve years in the Senate.

All the time I'm watching the proceedings I could just sense that his colleagues on the floor of the Senate, paying him such heartfelt and moving tributes, half expected to see Paul leap up from behind his desk, in his best jack-in-the-box imitation, crying out, "Look, it's me! It was all a joke. Hah, hah---fooled ya!" Paul's animated sense of humor, and ability to laugh at himself was well known, and appreciated.

Assuming that Wellstone did have Gemini on the Ascendant, ruling planet Mercury is in Leo, right at home in his natal Third. What better placement for a man who made his living debating on the floor of the US Senate promoting and advancing ideas and sharing wisdom----well, at least on the Democrat's side. Paul's Mercury opposes his Mid-Heaven, indicating a man whose profession (Mid-Heaven) was teaching at a University and later serving as a US Senator. Both bring a strong emphasis on talking and communicating, another indication of the powerful Gemini/Third impact in his life.

Senator Wellstone loved meeting and talking with people on campaign swings. Paul could be something of a ham, consistant with a strong Leo stellium in the natal third. Once,in a political discussion, a reporter, carried away in the mood of the moment, exclaimed that Wellstone himself should run for president. Taking her aside, in mock seriousness, he stage whispered why his campaign would likely never get off the ground:

"First off...I'm short, I'm a liberal AND.....I'm a Jew." A wonderful anecdote to demonstrate Paul's ability to find humor in any situation, and how he never took himself too seriously.

Wellstone had the fixed sign propensity for getting into a comfortable niche, staying in one situation for a long time, attributable to five planets in Leo, and Aquarius on the Mid-heaven. Prior to serving in the Senate, since his upset election victory in 1990, he taught political science at Carleton College, a small liberal arts campus in rural Northfield, Minnesota, for 21 years---since 1969.

Paul married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Ison, in 1963, both were 19. They were married for 39 years, and stayed very much in love. Sagittarius is on the cusp of his natal Seventh, with ruler Jupiter, in Leo, loosely conjunct the cusp of the Fourth House of family and domestic conditions. Paul was a man whose life totally centered around his wife and three children, someone who exemplified the true meaning of "family values" not just using those words as self-promotion to sell himself politically.

Paul's meaning of family extended itself to people he worked with to whom he came in contact. From the Twin-Cities Pioneer Press comes this: " Sally Aspin and Connie Murphy expected to drive from Virginia to Duluth tonight to hear Wellstone debate. Instead, they came to mourn his death. "He made us feel like we were family," said Murphy, who arrived wearing a green union jacket. "As small as we were in his world, he made us feel like we were big." What better description of a family loving Cancer man with a powerful concentration of planets in big hearted Leo?

Paul was the son of immigrant Russian parents who came to America to escape the persecution of Jews in their native land. Typical of immigrants of that era, they poured all of their hopes for the future into their son, emphasizing learning and education as a way to obtain a better life than they had. At times this was awkward for Paul, because he had a learning disability, indicated by Mercury in the Third of learning and the mind, in a semi-square to Saturn.

This is complicated by his struggle to read and understand charts and graphs. Paul overcame this handicap by studying harder (Saturn) and taking more time (Saturn) to absorb information. Such dogged determination, and resourcefulness, can be seen with Pluto in his Third of learning, alongside a persuasive Leo Moon, showing the family influence at the heart of his quest.

He found an outlet in sports---specifically wrestling. Paul's appreciation and talent of the manly art is indicated by the sextile between Mars, of physical sport, and Saturn of form and pattern. He was a conference champion at 126 pounds and used that as a springboard to gain admission to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his BA in Political Science in 1965, and continued at the University earning his Ph.D in 1969. From there he accepted the teaching position in Northfield Minnesota. Someone once pointed out that both he and Governor Jesse Ventura were from Minnesota and both were wrestlers. Paul went one further saying, "yes, but I'm a REAL one."

Natal Chart for Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone (Speculative Birth Time)

That has to be the epitome of a man utilizing the best of his fixed sign dynamics. Married to the same woman for 39 years, obtained his scholarly degrees at the same university, worked at the same profession, in the same location for 21 years before advancing into another line of endeavor, and stayed in that field for another 12 years until his untimely death.

Paul's wife Sheila was considered his working partner. She focused her work on preventing violence and protecting victims of domestic violence. Serving on many national and Minnesota advisory committees dealing with this issue, Sheila was also appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Violence Against Women Advisory Council in 1995.

Interesting that Jupiter, ruler of Paul's Seventh of marital partners, is in the Fourth of home and family, opposing the career and profession Mid-Heaven. The couple's domestic life complimented and flowed into their shared professional interests and concerns. The sextile between Jupiter and Saturn adds to Paul's common sense approach, and, along with his strong Leo stellium, enhances his willingness to fight for the underdog and to stand up, on the floor of the Senate, frequently alone, with nothing but the strength of his convictions to aid him.

How appropriate, then, that he and his wife died together, as they had been for over 40 years. They were high school sweethearts and probably were each others first, and only, love. Paul's chart shows only one marriage and he certainly made the most of an excellent one with a very worthy partner.

The Gemini rising time for Paul also bears out his physical appearance. Saturn in the First House tends to modify an ascendant that may give a tall or wiry appearance, like Gemini. Saturn as the rising planet would tend to shorten the physical stature; Paul was only 5 feet 5 inches tall.

Because Paul had a brother who suffered from mental illness, indicated by Mercury in semi-square to Neptune, and Sun, ruling the Third of siblings, in another semi-square to Uranus, in the Twelfth of tragedy. Paul worked tirelessly to improve mental health research, funding, and treatment, making it a top priority in measures he brought before the Senate during his career. Joining with Republican Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), Senator Wellstone wrote the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, a groundbreaking law ensuring health care coverage of mental illnesses be provided on par with coverage of other medical illnesses.

Bi-wheel Chart for Crash of Senator Wellstone's Plane

Unlike the natal chart for Senator Paul Wellstone, with a speculative birth time, this transit chart is set for the exact time radio contact was lost with the plane carrying him, his wife and daughter and three campaign aids, along with the pilots. This chart has a number of compelling contacts to Wellstone's own horoscope.

The first thing I find remarkable about this chart in relation to Paul's natal planets, is the close possibility of Paul's Gemini Ascendant directly opposed by transiting Pluto. Natally, with this contact coming across his First and Seventh axis, indicating the polarity between self and important close relationships, Pluto on the Seventh cusp directly opposing his Ascendant, and appearing natally with Jupiter, the planet ruling the Seventh of partnerships, could be an indication that his wife (7th/Jupiter) would perish (Fourth House of endings) beside him.

In this transit chart the same polarity of Ascendant/Pluto opposition also falls across the same First/Seventh Houses, emphasizing the same dynamics. But this gets even more significant when we see that transiting Moon is also involved, about 2 degrees away from a conjunction to Wellstone's natal Ascendant.

That puts it a bit out of orb to be the timing planet in this tragedy. But maybe not if we factor in that the transiting Moon fell exactly on the last solar eclipse, at 19 Gemini. That could be the point that links the Pluto/Ascendant opposition to the transiting Moon. And may have signaled Senator Wellstone's death even as early as last June. Additionally, notice that this Moon/Eclipse conjunction opposing Pluto/Ascendant is squaring Wellstone's natal Chiron in Virgo, turning the aspect into a powerful T-Square.

The same transit of Jupiter over Paul's abundance of Leo placements, especially the close approach to his likely Ascendant ruler, natal Mercury, pointed to his easily winning a third-term election bid, along with the Jupiter going over his Moon/Pluto conjunction.

Probably the most stunning planetary impact would be trans Uranus, retrograding back to a tight conjunction with Wellstone's likely Aquarius Mid-Heaven. Very telling that natally Uranus, the planet of aviation and air travel, is found in Paul's natal Twelfth. Could this be a signal of sorrow (Twelfth) from an aviation accident (Uranus)? OK, that might be stretching it a bit, but Uranus going over the Mid-Heaven can bring about sudden, abrupt and totally unexpected life altering events.

Trans Uranus is also within orb to his natal Leo Jupiter, possibly pointing to a sudden and unexpected (Uranus) release (Jupiter). Also see that Paul's natal Saturn, the planet associated with death and destruction, is opposed by trans Chiron, the planet identified with death and transcendence through the cycle of life, operating right across the 2nd/8th death axis. This is a classic indicator of the cycle being completed, with the opposition to Saturn, the Keeper of Time.

I find it noteworthy that this same powerful opposition, between natal Saturn and Chiron, becomes a T-Square when we add the energy of Mars, squaring either side of the opposition. Interesting that two of the most significant and consequential T-Squares tie into both transiting and natal Chiron in both instances. Chilling, in fact, when we remember that the plane crash was caused, in part, from haste and rushing (Mars) in square to Saturn, associated with time. Paul was on his way to a friend's funeral, the ultimate event symbolizing death and reincarnation.

We can't neglect mention of trans Venus, in the crash chart Twelfth, retrograde and weakened in Scorpio, the sign of Venus' detriment. Venus in the Twelfth would normally act as a protective and benevolent agent, but that input is totally absent due to Venus being in such a weakened position. Then add to that Venus is squaring Paul's Leo planets, specifically his Moon/Pluto conjunction, and that is opposing transiting Neptune in Aquarius. Indicating the mass destruction (Pluto) of half of his family (Moon) in confusing (Neptune) circumstances.

Ironically some aspect books describe this as a time when one's sense of direction is vague and nebulous. Others give warnings that traveling during this time is problematic, leading to confusion or detours in direction.

The Ninth House, in the crash chart, appears to be only occupied by trans Jupiter. The Ninth is, of course, a travel house. What could be the ultimate trip, the most significant journey we will ever take but our final destination? The Ninth House symbology of this becomes even more meaningful when we add Paul's natal planets. Now we find fully eight of Paul's natal planets all clustered into the crash chart natal Ninth. Add to that Paul's natal North Node, the point of destiny, is exactly conjunct the cusp of the Ninth, indicating that traveling on this last journey was to be his ultimate fate.

The shock and tragedy of this situation is further illustrated when we spot the fated North Node, in a travel sign, Gemini, conjunct the Senator's natal Uranus, of aviation and air travel, in the Twelfth House representing a sad and grievous situation. Note the loose square from natal Mars, the planet of plane crashes and wrecks.

As is typical of an astrological analysis, once the various layers are peeled away and compared to key natal and transiting aspects, the blow and trauma of Senator Wellstone's premature passing is clearly seen. I can't be positive that my choice of a birth time for Paul Wellstone is correct, but I find it very significant that directed Venus, an appropriate planet for his 1963 marriage, was in a less than a one degree opposition to Paul's natal Aquarius Mid-Heaven.

2002 Bi-Wheel Solar Return for Walter Mondale

With the fate of control in the Senate such an unstable and insecure factor, the Democrats must zealously guard all Senate seats they now occupy. With that in mind Minnesota Democrats have approached Walter Mondale to run for the Senate in Paul Wellstone's place. I won't go into much of Mondale's background. He was Vice President under Jimmy Carter and later ran an unsuccessful bid in 1984 to become President with Representative Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. Mondale made political history with his choice of Ferraro, making her the first woman in US political history to be a candidate of a major party seeking a top level office.

Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale, born January 5, 1928, Ceylon Minnesota, 10:30 AM CST, got his political legs working for Hubert H. Humphrey's 1948 US Senate campaign. Mondale's political life closely paralled Humphrey's own. Both were Senators from Minnesota, both went on to become Vice President of the United States and both launched unsuccessful campaigns to be President in their own right. When Humphrey moved on to serve as Vice-President under Lyndon Johnson, in 1964, Mondale was appointed to fill Humphrey's unexpired term. Mondale won election to the seat in 1966, and re-election in 1972. In 1976 he and Jimmy Carter were elected Vice-President and President respectively. A re-election bid was unsuccessful in 1980, as well as the Mondale-Ferraro ticket in 1984.

Mondale appears to be the first choice to replace Paul Wellstone on the ticket. According to news sources the surviving adult children of Paul and Sheila Wellstone, sons David and Mark, consider Walter Mondale the right choice to run for the office in their father's stead. Mondale's activist progressive background, his service to Minnesota and the nation make him a natural choice. He has the name recognition and the capability to carry on Paul's mantle.

Mondale's solar return, for January 5, 2002 show a wealth of information relevant to a sudden change in the direction of his life. One very significant signal that this would be a more dramatic and meaningful year for Mondale is Sagittarius on the SR Mid-Heaven. It has been my observation that anytime a SR has that placement you're looking at a very important and momentous year. Maybe due to the Jupiterian association of release and freedom through death, it can also signal a year when someone close to us is taken in death. As for me, my daughter died the year I had Sagittarius on the Mid-Heaven of my solar return.

Isn't it telling that Mondale's natal Saturn, representing reluctant duty and a task done with a heavy heart is closely conjunct the SR mid-heaven. Note also that Capricorn is on the cusp of the Eleventh House of friends. The SR Ascendant holds Aquarius, a sign that resonnates with the future and forward thinking. Important decisions will be made due to unique and unusual circumstances. Further, Aquarius' ruling planet, Uranus, is closely conjunct the Ascendant, coming from the Twelfth of tragic circumstances. Transiting Uranus was less than 2 minutes away from an exact conjunction with Mondale's SR Ascendant when Paul Wellstone died.

This SR really becomes super-charged with symbolic significance when we also spot trans Pluto in a close conjunction to the Sagittarius Mid-heaven, and conjunct Mondale's natal Saturn. This is doubly important with trans Pluto crossing Mondale's own natal Sagittarius Mid-Heaven. Pluto in the profession and destiny sector points to a strong likelihood of a major life transition during the year.

Looking at the opposite point, we see SR Saturn hugging the cusp of the Fourth of home and domestic conditions, this could indicate a residential move due to a responsibility imposed on Mondale that he feels obligated (Saturn) to accept. Being a Capricorn Sun Mondale likely is familiar with the Saturnian energy associated with duty and obligation in heavy circumstances. Not only does Capricorn appear on the cusp of the Eleventh of Friends, but it also governs the Twelfth of sorrowful circumstances.

Further, trans Saturn has now moved forward to closely conjunct the SR North Node, another point of destiny and change in the apparent course of life. Taking place in the Fourth House indicates a fated move due to unfortunate (Saturn) circumstances. SR Saturn itself, retrograde in the communications Third House, foretells of receiving unhappy news. Note also that SR Saturn is involved in a Grand Trine to Neptune in the Twelfth and the Moon conjunct the cusp of the Eighth of death, all involving influence in the ending houses. The trine may be working with Fritz, making it easier for him to get back into the gruelling tedium of a senatorial campaign. Fortunately for him he'll have less than a week to talk to voters, so the physical demands on the 74 year old statesman will be nearly nil.

Mondale's natal Mars receiving an exact square from trans Mars signals that he'll be engaged in a rough and tumble battle. Aries on the cusp of his SR Second shows he'll be energetically and vigorously (Mars) defending his personal outlook and values. Natal Mars is also found close to the SR Mid-heaven and in a loose conjunction to trans Pluto, showing that Fritz is ready to pick up the mantle of destiny (Mid-Heaven) and fight the good fight (Mars). The competitive Mars square and contacts to Pluto shows this can be a serious battle, with a profoundly consequential play for power being the all important prize. Note that Pluto does rule Fritz's natal Ninth, the sector of ambition and drive.

The importance of Mondale's Jupiter/Uranus conjunction can't be overlooked. Jupiter as ruler of his career Mid-Heaven calls to mind the gregarious, affable politician, combined with Uranus, ruling Mondale's natal Twelfth, the area of circumstances taking place behind the scenes; appropriate symbology relating to politics. Both planets appearing in Fritz's natal First House point to a personality skilled at self-promotion (First House) resulting in a career in political service.

This also points to the inexplicable (Uranus) situations in Mondale's life when he had been plucked from seeming obscurity to play a fated role in the nation's destiny, and at the same time the unusual circumstances played out fortuitously (Jupiter) in his favor. Mondale was a little known Attorney General in Minnesota when he was chosen to fill out Hubert H. Humphrey's Senate term when the later became Vice President. This catapulted Mondale into the national political arena. Interesting that we find Mondale's Saturn had progressed to an exact conjunction with his natal Mid-Heaven in January 1965, when he took his Senate seat.

It shouldn't be too surprising then to find that Mondale's progressed Sun has now moved to 29 Pisces, in a nearly perfect conjunction with the same natal Uranus that has compelled him, all of his life, and now through unforeseen circumstances, back into the public eye. The significance of progressed Sun in the 29th degree, a point of transition and finishing up old business and making a new start, can't be missed with the evolving situation of the senatorial campaign and the vigorous fight for Paul Wellstone's seat.

The SR North Node, in the Fourth of endings and beginnings, in square to the Uranus/progressed Sun conjunct, sits just waiting for the right transit to come along and trigger a crucial aspect. Saturn, fulfilling the mantra as Lord of Karma, seems to be the perfect choice. What other planet would we call on to indicate taking up a heavy burden (Saturn), under very difficult (Saturn) circumstances, in order to fulfill a point of destiny (North Node) that has been suddenly and unexpectedly (Uranus) thrust upon him?

Notice also that transiting North Node, at 9 Gemini when Paul Wellstone was struck down, had reached an exact conjunction to Walter Mondale's Solar Return Saturn. These heavy and powerful aspects seem to signal that Mondale has a very significant role to play in this tragic drama

2003 Bi-Wheel Solar Return for Walter Mondale

Since Walter Mondale's 2003 Solar Return takes place in such a timely fashion, the day after the swearing in of the 108th Congress, a look at this chart appears to be in order. The most striking feature of this SR is the very tight conjunction of Mondale's Uranus/Jupiter to the SR Mid-Heaven. It appears that the dynamics of Mondale's natal Uranus, once again becoming prominent whenever he is in the political arena, now keeps its promise as he enters a new phase of his professional life.

Notice that 29 degrees occupy the MC and its corresponding point the IC, cusp of the Fourth House. Clearly this shows a significant year of transition. Notice also that Mondale's own Ascendant is on the cusp of the SR Ninth of political ambition and goals.

With 29 degrees on the cusp of the Fourth, a change in residence is indicated to go along with the impending change in profession. The transition degree on the cusp of the MC may also indicate that Mondale will only be a temporary replacement for Wellstone, we'll have to see how that plays out. Significant also that Mercury, ruler of the 4th, is in the SR Seventh, indicating a move (Mercury) to a new residence (Seventh is the fourth from the Fourth of home and domestic conditions, indicating the conditions of the new home).

Cancer appears on the Ascendant, likely this will be an emotional year of flux for Mondale. Cancer, as ruler of the natural Fourth House, is another factor pointing to a move for the Mondales this year. Trans Saturn has now moved back, by retrograde motion, to tightly conjunct the chart ruling planet, Mondale's own Gemini Moon. Taking place in the SR Twelfth confirms the indications of returning (retrograde) to a previous condition, and moving (Moon) due to accepting an obligation (Saturn) of a prominent government (Saturn) position.

Considering this is a six year term, Mondale would be 81 years old at the next senatorial campaign. He may feel up to the challenge but, wisely, is probably looking ahead and assessing his limitations. Activity in the Twelfth, showing factors behind the scenes, points to a workable agreement between Mondale and the Democrats that his service as Minnesota's Senator will not be for the full six years.

This is affirmed by the trine to the Moon/Saturn conjunction from trans Uranus, in the SR Eighth, a house vital for support and political backing under demanding and awkward conditions (Twelfth). Trans Moon, in a conjunction to Uranus, in the SR Eighth, points to the strong public (Moon) support that Mondale will need to see him through returning to this demanding profession.