The compelling majesty of the rising sun each day is a moment that can give pause to even the most cynical among us. As the darkness slowly recedes in deference to the increasingly omnipresent light, a celestial paintbrush burnishes the sky with color, like rose petals strewn before the advent of the king. A boisterous choir of birdsong also rises with the sun, solemnly heralding its daily journey.
In astrology, the placement of the Sun just reaching the eastern horizon is considered a position of great potency, containing within it the power and determination of the imminent day, like the gathered strength of the lion about to leap across a great distance. This extraordinarily dynamic first house Sun can be found in the chart of Senator John Kerry and has colored his life with an inordinate sense of focus and dynamism.
Kerry’s birth chart is also strongly impacted by a waxing, almost exact Full Moon. This tempers and sometimes contradicts the fierce striving of the rising Sun with sensitivity, an awareness of others, and a healthy objectivity, as well as endowing it with a tremendous emotional energy.
And coloring all of this – the striving ambition, the power, and the sensitivity – is the profound sense of duty, responsibility, and depth of Saturn, which sits very near the Moon and opposes the Sun. Although Saturn can give a very serious and sometimes dour demeanor to one so thoroughly infused with its energy, it also offers a steady, solid trustworthiness, especially in times of great stress. Saturn is the carrier of burdens who will not shirk from any duty. Combined here with an enormously dynamic solar position, it indicates the determination, depth, commitment, and resolve that will be necessary to restore the shattered landscape that will be left when the Bush Family Circus leaves town.
Currently, Senator Kerry is enjoying the progression of his Moon conjunct natal Jupiter, which will continue through March, and a trine from transiting Uranus to his Venus, with the first pass peaking on March 8. These aspects are bringing with them the sense of popularity and success that come with the newly secured role of Democratic presidential nominee and leader of the Democratic Party, a role that has remained virtually empty for three years. But come the end of March, the real fireworks may begin.
Uranus, the planet of upsets, surprises, and sudden revelations, moves to a quincunx with Kerry’s Midheaven as of late March through April 17, followed by Uranus square natal Uranus from mid-April through mid-July 2004. This transit is likely to bring some sudden and unexpected salvos from the Bush campaign that may include attacks on the Senator’s prestige and reputation (Midheaven). It is possible the Mars/Uranus square of March 26 through 28 will begin this process with a really aggressive onslaught. The strong Uranus influence of this period is also likely to stimulate unique ideas and a break from some traditional policies as Senator Kerry flushes out his vision for America. This burst of creativity may be especially strong in the areas of healthcare and employment since Kerry’s natal Uranus is in the 6th house of work and health.
Mars in the natal chart shows how and where a person will be aggressive and how successful that focused energy and drive will be. Interestingly, Kerry’s Mars at 10 Gemini tightly squares Bush’s Mars at 9 Virgo, which describes a very combative relationship between these two men. We will see this exacerbated from late March through early June 2004 due to the Jupiter station at 9 Virgo. This period may also bring some slight increase in Bush’s popularity and his stature as a war-time president, specifically from late March through May 22, during a period when the Saturn influence on Bush is minimized.
Both men have strong progressions that intensify the inner strength of their respective Mars positions and that will be triggered by the coming Jupiter station. Kerry is under the progression of Mars conjunct his natal Mars that extends from December 2002 through mid-February 2006. Bush’s year-long progressed Sun conjunction to natal Mars will peak in early June 2004. But whereas Bush’s natal Mars is weakly aspected by only a sextile to the Sun and a sesquiquadrate to the Midheaven, Kerry’s very dynamic Mars is conjunct Uranus, opposite the Sun, widely conjunct the Moon, and trine the Midheaven. This highpowered Mars is evident in Kerry’s dramatic war history, the prosecutorial work he has done both in and out of Congress, and the strong offense he has thus far manifested in the early campaign against George Bush. There is a great deal of the Warrior archetype in these positions – courageous, competitive, and willing to fight the good fight - but tempered by the serious consideration and sense of responsibility of Saturn.
Although things are likely to go very badly for Bush from late May through July due to various Saturn transits, Kerry seems to have mostly smooth sailing, right through the Democratic Convention in late July. At that point he will benefit from the very strong Jupiter transit square his Ascendant, Sun and Moon. This highly charged energy will bring a feeling of success, expansion and optimism that will be especially strong the last 10 days of July. There may be some minor difficulties for Kerry from the 15th to the 23rd of July due to Saturn quincunx his natal Sun, but these will pass quickly.
The period following the Convention up through the election is perhaps the most important one in a campaign, since people are beginning to pay far more attention than previously. The candidate’s visceral appeal to the voters is crucial during this time. In Kerry’s chart, Venus is the ruler of his all-important Midheaven, the point of career goals and reputation, as well as the generic indicator of attraction and popularity. During these post-Convention months, we find two significant Venus aspects that will augment Kerry’s attractive power and his “likability” quotient.The first is the converse progressed Midheaven square to natal Venus which begins in August 2004 and peaks the following August 2005. This will then be intensified by the other major aspect, the stationary trine of transiting Uranus to natal Venus, which covers the period from September 1 through December 25, 2004. To further strengthen the feeling of charisma and appeal of these configurations, Kerry’s progressed Moon will sextile natal Venus from September 18 through October 18.
There is one period where Kerry may run into some problems, though Bush’s chart does not indicate any parallel improvement for his campaign. Nonetheless, the period from September 13 through October 5 may bring some setbacks, difficulties, or possible financial struggles for the Kerry campaign. Minor health complications are also possible. These issues derive from the transit of Saturn semisquare Kerry’s Mars and the converse progressed Moon square his natal Saturn. After October 5 these setbacks will evaporate.
In Senator Kerry’s natal chart there is a Pluto/ North Node conjunction sextile the Midheaven. This aspect suggests the likely attainment of a powerful position that has contact and influence with the public. In early 2004, the progressed Midheaven (7 Sagittarius) moved to trine the natal Node (7 Leo), and will reach the exact aspect in January 2005. By mid-October 2004, the progressed Midheaven will move to trine natal Pluto (8Leo) as well, remaining in orb through October 2005. This suggests a period of time, during 2004 and 2005, when the latent power and scope of the Pluto/Node conjunction will come to reach its full potential. The series of Jupiter aspects just prior to, during, and after the 2004 election will augment these progressed configurations, bringing Kerry to a time of extraordinary success, power, and influence in late October and early November 2004, and therefore likely symbolizing his victory in the presidential election. Here is the line-up: Jupiter conjunct the natal Midheaven from October 17 through 22; Jupiter sextile the natal Node, triggering progressed MC trine natal Node, October 27 through 31; Jupiter sextile natal Pluto, triggering progressed MC trine natal Pluto, November 1 through November 4; Venus/Jupiter conjunction exactly sextile natal Pluto, on November 4.
It is worth noting here that while Kerry is experiencing a growing popularity and appeal, George Bush will be largely bereft of his much vaunted charm and charisma during the election period and will likely be in the midst of one of the least favored times of his life. Bush has often gotten away with tremendous mischief with only a wink and a nod due to his engaging first house Venus. But it will become more and more obvious that this Venus is increasingly out of commission come November. Beginning in May 2004, converse progressed Venus will be semisquare to natal Saturn, exact by February 2005. By July 2004, progressed Venus will be square to natal Saturn, exact in July 2005. These aspects will then be triggered by the stationary conjunction of transiting Saturn to natal Saturn, itself a very difficult aspect, from September 24 through December 7, 2004. Taken together these suggest a rather morose and burdened period for the current White House resident, when nothing seems to be going right, his polls are at an all-time low, and the consequences of his reckless and ill-considered policies become increasingly and painfully apparent.
In the US chart, the progressed Sun will change signs for the first time in 30 years and move into Pisces come November 2004. This signals a distinct change of direction for the country and will likely first be manifested by a regime change in the White House. Initiatives begun by the current administration during the final year of its term, with the Sun in the 29th degree of Aquarius, are likely to come to naught or be totally transformed by the void of course nature of the progressed Sun’s position prior to November. Currently, Senator John Kerry is riding the cresting wave that will soon wash ashore and transform the landscape. For the Democratic Party, he is the embodiment of the Warrior archetype, and he has come to slay the dragon.