George W. Bush’s role in US destiny II

This is the second part of an article first published in the AA journal in February 2005. Link to part one and US horoscope.
The ruler of the Gemini 7th house (open enemies) of the US horoscope is of course Mercury and in the US chart we find it retrograde and placed in the 8th house at 24 degs. 12 mins, Cancer. In the Cosmic Loom, Dennis Elwell links the 20 – 23 degree Cancer-Capricorn axis with murder and sadism. (see footnote) My own study of both the French and Russian revolutions confirms that this degree area also works in mundane astrology, often showing up in charts when crimes against humanity are committed. A recent example of this was the Beslan siege with Saturn placed at 23 degrees Cancer 27. Looking at the US Mercury, I think that this orb could possibly be extended a bit further. When we look at the way America deals with her enemies we can see the potential for extreme cruelty, whether this be the genocide of America’s indigenous people or the “cowboy” mentality which allows everyone in the US to carry a gun.

However, the 7th/8th house link does not end there. With Pluto and the South Node in the second house, some examination of where America’s wealth comes from seems appropriate. Traditionally this would have been from small farmers: then came gold, copper, and later oil. However, Pluto also has links with organised crime, the Mafia, and in this case, with Mercury in the 8th – in opposition to Pluto – profits made from war (8th house) could also be making their way into the cash register (2nd). But staying with Pluto, here we can also see a classic example of Pluto’s link with corporate power. Shortly before his assasination President Lincoln wrote: “Corporations have been enthroned. An era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power will endeavour to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people…until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed”. With 39% of the America’s wealth in the hands of 1% of the population it is hard to deny that Abraham Lincloln also had vision. But let us now turn our attention to G. W. Bush.

Like many Presidents before him, G.W. Bush perfectly fits the Libra job description. (US, Saturn in Libra in the 10th) He can be charming and attractive, and has the sunny Leo streak about him. Anyone watching him on the campaign trail can witness how much he enjoys the limelight. With Venus in the first house ruling the Jupiter-Moon conjunction in Libra, he also knows how to make himself popular. When George Bush says ” I’ve got confidence in my capabilities, I love to be underestimated”, he is voicing what many political commentators now recognise, namely that George W. Bush knows how to disguise a punch. So here we see his Pluto conjunct the ascendant. In the myth, didn’t Pluto don a helm of invisibility? There is much we do not know about this man (Sun and Saturn in the 12th) but we do know he has powerful friends and associates (Pluto stands conjunct with the ruler of the 11th), and these friends have assured his ascendancy. So here we have a man who identifies himself with a force (Pluto) which is not personal in nature. Pluto is a trans-personal planet. This bond has placed him in the position of being the most powerful person on the planet. With his Sun conjunct the US Sun this identification with super-power has born strange fruit.

Unfortunately for the US, George W. Bush has his Sun in square to both Jupiter and the Moon. The tendency to overestimate oneself is self evident. The greeks had a word for this: they called it: hubris. Rich and powerful people are likely sooner or later to commit an act of hubris and in this way the gods punish.

Part III still to come…

footnote1: Dennis Elwell also notes that this degree area also shows up in the charts of philosophers. So if – like me – you have planets in this area.. don’t despair. Just get into some Alain de Botton 🙂