February 15, 2001
Nancy Lubar Sommers, LCSW
Though the old adage of March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb is often true, it may well be the opposite this year for the Resident in Chief. The planetary configurations for him during the first few weeks of the month bring with them the balmy, warm, and friendly skies of Venus, but as we move into springtime, the political and international atmosphere may feel more like a gigantic hailstorm. I believe that powerful events will transpire that will rock the administration, continuing with aftershocks and profound implications for many months.
In mid March there is an indication of a powerful surge of energy coming to the Democratic Party. This newly aroused fighting spirit should be particularly apparent from the 15th to the 24th. We see this in the Mars/ Pluto conjunction falling on the Pluto/ Moon conjunction of the Inaugural Chart. Pluto rules the seventh house in that chart and therefore represents the opposition party. This conjunction will bring with it difficulties for the administration from angry Democrats since it is also exactly semisquare the Sun in the Inaugural Chart, i.e., the president. Moreover, from the 21st through the 24th Mars will be crossing the progressed Sun of the Democratic Party chart which is currently square natal Mars.
Also significant in late March is the movement of transiting Uranus, the planet of sudden, unpredictable, and often violent action that tends to buck against restriction and dogma. Uranus moving into exact square of Saturn in the Inaugural Chart indicates a series of disruptive and unexpected events that will greatly challenge the administration from late March through July. One aspect of this will most certainly be the escalation of the Middle East conflict, which promises to be severe through at least August. There is a likelihood of domestic and political difficulties as well. The forces of freedom, innovation, and independence (Uranus) will be at war with the restrictive and conservative elements of the administration (first house Saturn).
Interestingly, it is Dick Cheney's chart that shows the most activity and stress during this rather challenging and difficult period. With Uranus conjunct his natal Mercury and square his natal Uranus, he will be in high gear from March through August. Resident Bush's chart, on the other hand, indicates a highly charged period of action during the final week of March and here and there during the following months, but it is Cheney who seems to do all the footwork. This will take an increasing toll on his health that is likely to erupt into a full-blown crisis from January through March of 2002, with a possibility of retirement thereafter. (Cheney's converse progressed Sun quincunx natal Saturn activated by transiting station of Saturn January through March, 2002, followed by transit of Neptune conjunct natal Sun all year.)
Thus, the Shrub will face an increasingly difficult and treacherous world. Early in June his veneer of charm and congeniality will have faded completely never to regain its former luster, though there will be pockets of it from time to time. The inherent conflicts and struggles born in the Inaugural Chart will begin to assert themselves with force as spring progresses into summer and beyond. The Middle East will have challenging repercussions that will not be avoidable or yield to simplistic solutions. And by early 2002, with the Saturn station square his Mars, the Resident-in- Chief will be at an all-time low.