February 22, 2001
Nancy Lubar Sommers, LCSW
It has been a dismal time for the Democrats. Their true leader has been shafted by a right-wing coup that threatens the country’s prestige abroad and its prosperity at home. Their former leader has been drowned in the swamp of a malicious smear campaign in order to divert attention from the self-serving policies of the corporate cabal now running the government. Their leaders in the Congress have been induced into a semi-hypnotic trance by the offensive charm of the Backslapper-in-Chief. It has truly been a dismal time. But all things eventually change, and there is a shift in the wind coming for the Democrats.
Using the stars and planets as a guide, we can piece together some indications of the unfolding themes in the Democratic political scene. The first planet we need to understand is Saturn, the planet of difficulty, loss, and critical self-examination. Saturn years are lean years, a time of contraction and constriction. The temptation is to despair; the challenge is to repair the weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Since June 2000, the following charts have been under the frustrating, difficult, and demanding influence of Saturn: the Democratic Party, Al Gore, Bill Clinton, and, to a lesser extent, Tom Daschle and Dick Gephardt. Each of these charts has at least one significant position between 23 and 28 degrees of the fixed signs, degrees impacted strongly by Saturn since last spring. As of mid-March, the saturnine influence will begin to wane in these consequential Democratic charts, the last painful piece being the first week of April when Saturn squares the 28 degree Aquarius Moon in the Democratic Party chart. (It is worth noting that the last time Saturn crossed this degree was on November 7, when many Democrats felt their right to vote had been literally stolen by electoral shenanigans in Florida and other states. In the early days of April an angry outcry over some other issue might be heard from upset democrats.)
Interestingly, as Saturn moves away, two other planetary energies, Uranus and Mars, come into focus in the Democratic Party chart and the charts of the Democratic leaders in Congress, Tom Daschle (December 9, 1947) and Dick Gephardt (January 31, 1941). (Gore and Clinton will not feel the impact of Uranus until 2002.) Uranus tends to upset the status quo, bringing sudden and swift change as well as overwhelming and unexpected events. Those under its influence are likely to be rebellious, progressive, and determined. Hence, we can expect a major shift from the Democrats, beginning in March, as they move away from stodgy and cautious Saturn towards rebellious, idealistic, and independent Uranus. Swiftly moving and tumultuous events will also have a decisive impact. (Positions receiving strong Uranus transits during the next several months are: Democratic Party Sun, Pluto, Jupiter, and progressed Uranus; Daschle Saturn, Node, and Uranus; and Gephardt Uranus. There are much stronger positions coming for Gephardt in 2003 and 2004.)
The other relevant planetary presence in the coming months is Mars, which brings courage, combativeness, strife, and dynamic energy. We are currently entering a period during which Mars, from the perspective of the Earth, slows down and stays in the same area of the sky for several months. Such periods, which come roughly every two years, frequently bring much aggression and violence. In the Democratic Party chart the progressed Sun (17 Sagittarius) is currently in square aspect to natal Mars (17 Virgo). The combative quality this represents will grow much stronger through the end of the year as this progression becomes exact. Because the coming Mars retrograde period falls in Sagittarius, it will activate the Democratic Party progressed Sun/Mars square, especially during the last ten days of March and during the period from June through August. Significantly, Senator Daschle’s Sun falls at 17 Sagittarius, and Rep. Gephardt’s Mars falls at 18 Sagittarius. Thus, both are likely to manifest the action of Mars, i.e., forcefulness and courage, in the Democratic Party chart this year. As Saturn’s gloom begins to dispel for the Democrats in the next six weeks, we can expect these two men to connect with a fighting spirit and rally the Democrats in Congress to stand firm on matters of significance to us all.