Astroworld

In Vedic astrology (or Jyotisha, as it is also known), the system uses a sidereal or star-based zodiac, as opposed to the Western system which uses a tropical base, which is more of a seasonal system of astrology). The system also uses the North (called Rahu) and South (Ketu) Lunar nodes extensively, and often (although not always) provides chart analysis without the use of the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Finally, and most critically for Mr. Bush’s chart, the system uses great planetary periods called Mahadasas. These large expanses of time, the shortest lasting six years and the longest lasting 20 years, provide enormous insights into the general parts of life upon which a person will focus, and also indicate events that will afflict or benefit the individual.

Vedic charts also have combinations called yogas. Yogas are special combinations that allow us to see special patterns in a person’s chart. Mr. Bush’s chart has many power-producing combinations in it. Let’s look at his chart a little now.

George W. Bush has a Cancer rising sign, with Saturn, lord of his seventh and eighth houses, in Cancer in the first house with Venus and Mercury. He has the Moon in Gemini in the 12th house (the Sun and Moon are royal planets, and in Vedic charts, the Sun in the twelfth house is found frequently in charts of public servants, like politicians. The Venus and Saturn combination in his chart strengthens his potential for leadership, as Saturn is a planet of authority and Venus a planet of popularity and likeability; both are important traits for a politician, He has Mars in the second house in Leo, which is a house of speech in the Vedic system. Mars is also a planet of war, and, most of his speech does discuss war. The third house of acting and skills (in this chart Virgo) has the Jupiter and Moon in it. This combination, in a Vedic chart, also grants popularity and success with the public.
This third house also links Bush’s chart to his first house and to several combinations in his chart, as he has his first house lord, the Moon, linked to Jupiter, his ninth house lord. It also, through Saturn’s aspect on the third house a link with most of the authority and luck producing planets in a Vedic chart—the lords of the first (Moon), fourth (Venus), seventh (Saturn), and ninth houses) and linked in some way. This is a very powerful chart.

There are also some flaws in this chart, as well. The presence of Saturn in the first house, in the same sign as Mercury and Venus, can give weak speech (an afflicted Mercury signification), and some problems with perceptions of fairness. Also the Saturn aspect to the third house affects his popularity, and can cause dips and trials in this sector of his life.

Mars in the second house gives rough speech but also, as James Braha has noted, gives involvement with drugs and alcohol, as has been noted in Mr. Bush’s life.

There are several factors that have benefited Bush’s election and retention of power, but the primary planet that helped him ascend to power and keep it is Saturn. Sound strange? Well Saturn is a planet of endurance, persistence and hard work, and Bush was in a Saturn major planetary period from 1987 to 2006.

Basically, when I have reviewed charts of national politicians, rises to power often occur during Saturn mahadasa. Saturn in Bush’s chart, as we have seen, is involved with several significant and powerful planetary combinations that have ensured success. But the most recent and last period of Saturn is ruled by Rahu, the graha that can grant success. This period, a Saturn-Jupiter-Rahu period, can give major scandal (Rahu is in Bush’s 11th house of friends, so the scandal has come from friends—political friends) and major planetary periods are also affected by the current movement of planets in the chart—so Saturn is in Bush’s rising sign right now, Jupiter is in his fourth house of security and home (so this area of life is fine now) and Rahu is in the ninth house, afflicting luck. So Rahu is giving Mr. Bush a downward roller coaster ride as I write this (May of 2006).

Ketu, the South Lunar node, is also contributing to Mr. Bush’s current decline in popularity. Ketu as a planet is often connected with spiritual activities, but it is also an indicator of thievery and loss. Some would say, placed as it is in Bush’s fifth house of speculation and politics, it helps explain his contested win in Florida in 2000, and also the allegations of fraud, vote tampering, and concerns over election machine manipulation that I have seen expressed during and since the 2004 election. More interestingly, Ketu in the fifth can make one adept at mantras, so the “fuzzy math” mantra he developed stayed with people. Ketu also gives daughters who are a bit out of control, and also will give an inability to lie about espionage (Ketu is placed in Scorpio, after all) and about war (Ketu is in a sign ruled by Mars). It can give genuine, almost revelatory spiritual experiences, and it should be noted that Bush has a special kind of Yoga in his chart (called by some a Kala Sarpa Yoga, but when Ketu is the lead planet (moving backwards it will encounter all the planets, it is called a Kala Amrita yoga); this yoga gives a very spiritual nature, and, like most charts in which planets are located between the nodes, gives a special purpose in life. He has said he feels this, and his current involvement with the war on terror and Iraq has undeniable religious overtones.

Ketu’s current transit over the sign containing the Moon and Jupiter has not been good for his image however, as he deals with historically low disapproval ratings. Ketu can cause scandal, decline in public enthusiasm and even humiliation, disgrace and a fall from power. One interesting example of a President who suffered from a Ketu major planetary period was Jimmy Carter, who was both elected (unexpectedly) during a Ketu period and who left office in humiliation during the same period, for equally unforeseen reasons.

Bu t, as President Bush enters his Mercury dasa (the effective date is May 13) will bring him even more problems, as Mercury rules two difficult houses (the 3rd and the 12th houses). The best thing about Mercury in Bush’s chart is that the Moon and Mercury exchange signs, so this strengthens Mercury, but Mercury and the Moon are the two most vulnerable planets in a chart. Both are public planets, and both change rapidly. Mercury is more intelligent than Saturn, but not as strong. Mercury dasa are notoriously unstable, because the planet changes signs so often and takes on the character of the planets with which it associates. Bush’s Mercury in Cancer benefits from its closeness to Venus, but does not benefit from its closeness to Saturn. Transiting Saturn is currently moving close to Bush’s Mercury; this will cause decline in his charm and resiliency as it moves through Cancer.

The Bush presidency and public image will be under major assault over the next two years. I am reasonably sure that the current initial murmurs about censure will turn to discussion of impeachment and possible impeachment hearings in late 2007. He will have a saving Jupiter transit between November of 2006 and November of 2008, but will also be entering a seven and a half year period of Saturn in late July of 2007. This is a somewhat humiliating transit. I think we will see gasoline prices go to over $4 a gallon by the end of this year and will force the economy into recession, similar to what happened in mid-1975, and Mr. Bush will enter another international conflict before the end of 2006. But as the economy goes sour starting in early 2007, that will spell a decline in support for the President, especially between March and April of 2007. (I am predicting that the U.S. economy will start a serious decline in late November of 2006, concurrent with Jupiter’s transit into the twelfth house from the ascendant in the U.S. Chart, as rectified by Vedic Astrologer Jim Kelleher; I have found this chart to be generally reliable for predicting events in the United States.) This situation will not be salvageable, and I think we will see another pattern reminiscent of the Nixon presidency—that of rising prices caused by the increasing cost of oil, and economic layoffs, caused by panic or pressure on spending caused by rising fuel prices.

I also expect most of Bush’s allies to start leaving, in fear of consequences. Vice-President Cheney looks particularly vulnerable just looking at Mr. Bush’s chart. The placement of the lord of the house of friend (Venus) under Saturn’s influence in the birth chart is not a good position. The question is, if this were so bad, how was he getting help from his friends during his past—particularly during his Saturn period. Well basically, Venus (and Mercury) were helping Saturn during Bush’s major Saturn period. Their presence in the same sign with Saturn lightened and elevated Saturn’s effect. But Mercury, in the same sign with Saturn, cannot offer the same protection. It is surrounded by more Vedic malefics than benefics (namely the Sun, Saturn, and Mars) so Mercury and to a lesser extent Venus, become weak and in difficulty when so placed in a Vedic chart. The 12th house rulership of Mercury is also not good for maintaining status—it is good for spiritual development, but not for status and holding high position.

I had spoken about Bush’s friends before and this is important to understand in a chart like this. Two benefic planets like Venus and Mercury will increase the benefic status of a malefic like Saturn. Saturn will not return the favor to Mercury, so the Mercury dasa will influence Bush’s Mercury period negatively, and Venus. Although it will help Mercury, is now dealing with the dumb mistakes dealt in The Saturn major planetary period.

Also, we must never forget that Bush will be in a significant Saturn transit next year, called a Sade Sathi (or the seven and a half years of Saturn). This happens when Saturn is in the 12rh, 1st and 2nd houses of the Moon by transit. Bush’s starts in July of 2007. This Saturn transit, although not always destructive, does bring major changes into a person’s life. It robs us of parents at times, friends, money and even position in the world. Based on the Mercury period starting this year, and the Saturn transit starting in July of 2007, you will see major changes in Mr. Bush’s life. Among these will be, at the very least, a censure vote, and I would not be surprised at all if he did not complete his second term of office. There are offsets to all of these negative patterns—there is a somewhat favorable Jupiter transit from his rising sign starting in November of this year, but it will also be a third house transit from the Moon—not good.

All in all, I think President Bush will be forced to leave office before the end of 2007, caused in part by a scandal, but also, as in Nixon’s case, by loss of popular support brought on by increasing energy costs.

Gary Gomes
Gary Gomes is a Vedic Astrologer, Shaivite Hindu (Gangadhara Girish), Kriya Yoga priest (Swami Kampananda), and an authorized instructor of the American Council of Vedic Astrology. One of his teachers has been K.N. Rao of India, among many other prominent teachers in the United States, India, and Great Britain. Gary is also the founder and president of the North East Institute of Vedic Astrology through which he promotes Vedic Astrology as a spiritual discipline. He is available for lectures, readings, and instructional assistance. Contact him c/o Crystal Expectations.