Trying to Triage

I haven't often had reason to use the word 'triage' in everyday speech or writing, but this morning I realised that it's time to triage my several worries and anxieties.

What do I worry about first?

Is it a further spread of my cancer? Or catching - and due to compromised immune system - probably dying from, coronavirus? Or dealing with painful side effects from my medications? Or anger and disappointment at the way the US presidential election 2020 is shaping up.....etc.etc.etc.

I've been kind of self-isolating against common and garden 'flu since before Christmas 2019, so I'm used to that - it has to be the best way for me to avoid picking up this nasty new bug. I'm doing the long-playing hand-wash routine now, too. Worrying will not help, being mindful of risks might. Avoidance is, at least, possible in this case.

I'm doing everything I can to avoid a further spread of my cancer (breast/bone) by regularly taking the medications prescribed. I have, by my own choice, postponed until late this month a PET scan required to monitor my internal situation in detail. I've felt the need for some breathing space, to enjoy, without anxiety, a little more "free" time, as well as allowing more time for painful joint and muscle side effects to, perhaps, decrease to enable me to do the test more successfully. I do worry, of course, but I tell myself that, at 81, I'd be facing the big shuffle off anyway, after an eventful but very good lifetime, for which I am truly thankful.

The results of the November 2020 presidential election will be unlikely to affect me personally much, if at all, but it still depresses me that the one golden chance the people of the USA had to get a president who really and truly cares for ordinary people and their needs, is likely to have been trashed this year by Democrat bosses - corporatists, and conservative in all but title.

Bernie Sanders is a hero for continuing to fight for us - it'll be a generation or more before there's another chance such as that which has been on offer this time around. The Democrats don't want Bernie, never have, never will - he represents policies which would adversely affect their wealth and privileges. They have used every trick in the book (and more) to depress results in his favour. I've been watching more political stuff on TV lately than I have for many years - it's just so obvious what's going on. Media manipulation is, indeed, "a thing"!

As for the most likely Democrat presidential candidate - I don't dislike Joe Biden, but his age is showing, far more than is the case for Bernie Sanders. Bernie has been tearing around the country campaigning like a man half his age. Biden has done little, and when he does manage to make a bit of a speech it's weak and unimpressive. I will not use the word 'dementia', as many have in regard to Biden's speech, but I do believe that it's too late for him to make a good president. His time came some 10 to 15 years ago, when he did have charisma and a certain presidential look and sound about him. See my first blog post on Joe Biden, in 2007, here - a very different take from the one I have today. Bear in mind that, in 2007 I was still fairly wet behind the ears with regard to politics in the USA!
https://twilightstarsong.blogspot.com/2007/11/joe-biden.html
Biden is obviously, now, in the pocket of the oligarchs and Dem establishment. Considering his age, and the serious universal health issues which have lately arisen, I suspect that all will not proceed exactly as planned in November. This isn't as much of a worry to me as the rest of it, but it's something of which I'd dearly love to see the outcome...if other issues allow.

2020 & All That

I've written next to nothing about the presidential election due in November 2020 - too many other things on my mind, I guess. Early this year, before medical issues for a second time snatched my attention, I did take a look at the natal charts of some likely Democratic contenders, even before they had announced their candidacies. I came to the conclusion that, of those I investigated, most likely to do well according to their natal charts and upcoming planetary transits, were Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker. My posts on the topic from earlier this year can be accessed via the label cloud in the sidebar (scroll way down); just click on "presidential candidates 2020". Many moons have passed since those posts. Elizabeth Warren is, indeed, as I + her natal chart suspected, doing well in the polls - second only to Joe Biden in most of them.

I came to the conclusion, early on, that my own preferred candidate, Bernie Sanders, will not be allowed anywhere near the Democratic nomination by the DNC - nor will my other favourite candidate Tulsi Gabbard. Sad, but true. It has been said that the DNC would rather see another Trump presidency than ever countenance a US President Bernie Sanders. This - THIS - is what is so wrong about politics in the USA, and in the UK these days come to that. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader there is equally vilified by many!


I'd not feel too badly about a president Warren with Booker as her VP, given the rest of the choices available. I shall now make Warren/Booker my prediction! I'd be surprised if Joe Biden can sustain his current lead - I rather hope not - he's just another Republican-lite in my estimation.

Of course, if I haven't shuffled off already by November 2020, I'll be 81 going on 82, and probably fixing to shuffle off before very much longer, so my feelings on this issue are somewhat irrelevant. I'd love to know how it all turns out though, and whether astrology worked well in this particular case.

Saturday & Sundry Thoughts on This & That

Not many or particularly deep thoughts. Over the past week or so I've been feeling tired, exhausted, fatigued, fed up.... It's not really connected the breast cancer issue. Both incisions are healing well, and the pesky drain was taken out at last, on Thursday. Stitches likely to be taken out on Monday. There might be a course of radiation sometime in my future, but I have not yet made my appointment with the radiation oncologist for assessment - I need a little breathing space, damn it! It's our 15th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. We missed a celebration last year, have missed celebrating my birthday and husband's birthday already this year.

My secondary issue, lymphocytic colitis, discovered after colonoscopy, has been causing more problems after it had gradually started settling down. I suspect that side effects from the 6-week course of meds I bought - at the knock down price of $1,400 - have been kicking in during past days. I have only 5 days' worth of tablets left. Side effects of this med do include unusual tiredness, and various types of discomfort stomach/bowel-wise. These should subside once I finish the course (I hope).

Other thoughts, unrelated to health issues:

If Joe Biden eventually becomes the Democrats' nominee in the 2020 presidential election - it simply has to have been "a fix".

Happy to see the name of Mike Gravel around once more, this time in context of the 2020 election.

Two of my posts on Mike Gravel from 2007 and 2008:

https://twilightstarsong.blogspot.com/2007/10/soapbox-time.html
https://twilightstarsong.blogspot.com/2008/05/changing-horses.html

We watched "I, Daniel Blake"

on Netflix this week - a 2016 British movie. It made me as angry as I've ever felt watching any movie or TV drama. Angry, not at the movie itself, but at the circumstance described in it, which are present for far too many people in the UK (and in the USA too as it happens). Gold Star to the movie's director, Ken Loach (also famous for other hard-hitting films such as "Kathy Come Home" and "Kes"). Thank the gods for the Ken Loaches of this world - unafraid to say what needs to be said in ways that strike at the heart.

 James Spader as Alan Shore, Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt

David E. Kelley, in the USA, is another such writer/director, though not as raw and hard-hitting as Ken Loach, he still managed to get said things that needed to be said. We've been re-watching (by DVD) the whole series of "Boston Legal" this week. Alan Shore's wondrous closing speeches are the jewel at the heart of each episode; these address issues that needed to be candidly addressed at the time the show originally aired. Those same issues mostly still need a candid airing in 2019 - because really nothing much changes, does it? "Boston Legal" managed to last for 5 seasons on ABC channel, 2004-2008. Those outspoken closing speeches did, eventually, raise the hackles of the network's owners, or their advertisers, I guess. Where is today's comparable show?

Oh what a tangled web.....

Clinton’s New E-mail Excuse...

The New York Times obtained the deposition of former State Department administrative official Lewis A. Lukens, who had helped Clinton set up her computers when she took office in 2009. According to him, he had suggested that she use a desktop computer at the State Department solely for her personal e-mails, unconnected to the official department network system. Clinton shot that idea down, saying that she was "not adept or not used to checking her e-mails on a desktop........"

Explanations so far include: she did not want to carry two phones; she did not want the public reading her yoga routines and wedding plans for Chelsea; she doesn’t even know how to wipe a computer, anyway....

I refuse to believe that Hillary Clinton is not "adept or not used to checking her e-mails on a desk-top." The woman has been in a government environment for decades, either as First Lady, a Senator, or Secretary of State. She isn't adept with a desk-top computer? Maybe she doesn't like to use one in 2016, when most young things (decades younger than her) are all in with the hand-held variety of computerisation, but how about back in the 1990s and early 2000s? One had a desk-top, or its portable cousin a lap-top then - no other option. Has her memory failed her? She must have used a desk-top at some point in her working life.

More detail from Eric Zuesse on Lewis Lukens’s sworn testimony is HERE.

Opinions vary on whether E-mailgate will further unravel Hillary Clinton's progress in the presidential campaign. It was interesting to note that just before the weekend certain TV commentators, previously pro-Clinton seemed seriously concerned.
At this link Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd, voice concern. Is this the first sign of a vibration that might, eventually, have Hillary Clinton being thrown, as they say, under the bus?

There's this also, regarding other serious charges which may or may not be pending. The article in the second link appeared at Huffington Post recently, but was later removed.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/breaking-hillary-clinton-to-be-indicted-on-federal-racketeering-charges/5527829

https://archive.is/bERJ6

If any of this is even half true, then certain people must be rehearsing the under-bus Clinton throw right now.

Whether such an outcome would help or hinder Bernie Sanders is in doubt, dependent on timing. Timing on this must be a fine art for the DNC, the President and others with influence. They do not want Bernie as nominee - this we know.

The only way I'd speculate a reasonably good outcome, if any of this is true, would be for Hillary to be nominated, then forced to stand down due to legal matters pending, so that DNC would become able to replace her with a nominee of their choice. Joe Biden perhaps? Were that to happen, naming Bernie as Biden's VP might convince enough of Bernie's supporters to accept the outcome....or not. I cannot imagine any outcome more likely to help matters, or to avoid some very, very nasty scenes.

Something up their sleeves?

There was an interesting speculative piece at Counterpunch yesterday:
Plan B Is Not Bernie by Jim Kavanagh.
It begins:

I admit: It’s all speculation.

On April 4th, I wrote on Facebook: “My prediction: the next President of the United States will be someone who is not yet in the race. (e.g., Possible alternative Dem ticket: Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren.) How crazy am I?”

This wasn’t just a wild guess. It was based on a few considered convictions.

And ends:

It’s almost certain that Hillary Clinton will be the nominee of the Democratic Party and the next President of the United States. But if, perchance, she gets derailed by a deus ex machina like the FBI, you can bet that the Democratic Party will have a Plan B, and it won’t be Bernie Sanders. It will be an attempt to stop Bernie Sanders. Perhaps it is just a coincidence that a Joe Biden-Elizabeth Warren ticket gets mentioned in the national press the day after Hillary’s Chief of Staff walks out of an FBI interrogation. Or is someone floating a balloon?

Would Bernie ever bite? Maybe not, but if the day comes, it’s some dish like this that the Democratic Party will try to serve.

A bit of speculation does provide flavour to an election season that is becoming all too predictable in the available too-and-fro argument and insults online and in media generally. Mr Kavanagh's whole piece is well worth a read.

A Biden Appreciation

We watched the Biden/Ryan debate on Thursday. Five minutes into the proceedings I was remembering how I'd felt about the now Vice President during the last election circus 2007/8. Joe Biden impressed me a lot then.
I was disappointed when he left the primaries at an early stage. On Thursday evening he impressed me again. I love his straight-talking style, unaffected, right to the point, no messing! He's the leader we should've had. He is a natural leader. But The Powers That Be (whoever they are, and whatever their reasons) didn't want Biden, they wanted Barack Obama and allowed no obstacle to his achieving the presidency.

I've nothing to say about Paul Ryan - he doesn't speak my language. I'm not going to say "Biden won", though he did dominate. "Winning" these things is purely in the eye of the beholder. The debates offer political equivalents of football games or boxing matches - the side you support can do no wrong, t'other can do nothing right. One has only to visit a left-leaning blog, then a right-leaning blog, to be presented with totally different views on the matter - all a bit pointless anyway, but grist for bloggers' mill (and my own).

For anyone seeking a good blow-by-blow account, go read Big Joe & the Joyful Noise by William Rivers Pitt at Truthout. In his last paragraph he wrote this: "... The sun came up on Friday morning to shine upon a world that will never, ever underestimate Joe Biden again....."

A couple of snips from my 2007/8 posts mentioning Biden, who is the focus of this post, follow. Full versions of the posts, and several more, can be accessed easily from the Label Cloud in the sidebar - Biden's astrology features there too. In looking back over my posts from that time, I was surprised how engaged I'd felt in the whole election ballyhoo. I've lost that enthusiasm this time around, but the sight of Biden on Thursday brought back an echo of it.

"Joe Biden is growing on me! I'll not be disloyal to Dennis Kucinich, he's still top of my heap, but Joe Biden comes a close second in the current line-up of Democratic presidential candidates. He, like Dennis Kucinich, is usually sidelined in televised debates, in favour of "the front-runners", but when he does get an opportunity to speak he makes it count.............................Biden as Prez would give me confidence in the USA I think, a feeling of security, the kind of security I used to feel back in the UK. I don't feel the same here - so far. Whatever government was in power in Britain, and I experienced many I didn't agree with, I always felt that they'd do the right thing if push came to shove. It's down to the way he answers questions, his attitude and bearing, he seems to have substance - in a nutshell, he appears presidential. Or could this be the old Scorpio magnetism at work?"

"And so to the man who turned my own mind away from voting either third party or (perish the thought) Republican: Joe Biden. Another man who knows exactly how to speak to the public, inform and inspire without ever talking down. Why the heck he didn't do better in the primaries I'll never understand. I have a lingering suspicion that "the fix has been in" for a long, long time. Obama was earmarked, nothing was allowed to stand in his way. I'll try to keep an open mind if he does become president, I'll hope my own assessment of him has been wrong. Anyway, back to Joe. That inspirational Scorpio had me hooked again..... Joe's nomination as VP will make the future so much more interesting and reassuring for yours truly."

Tarot 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I wondered what the tarot would have to say about 2009, so put the question, "What do I need to know about 2009 in the USA?" I made it specific to the USA to avoid confusion, but in the process probably caused some!

I shuffled, cut and drew 3 cards in the following order:


Queen of Coins/Pentacles
2 of Coins/Pentacles
Knight of Swords

I'd hoped to draw one or more cards from the major arcana, but instead two court cards and a 2 of Coins/Pentacles. I resisted the urge to wait a couple of days and do it again. I always think the first draw offers the best answer, even if it's not offering an immediately clear scenario.

So - I think this is a hint about two people who will become extra significant in some way during the year. But who?

Queen of Coins - Coins equate to the Earth element in astrology.
If I hadn't asked specifically about the USA, I'd have thought of Queen Elizabeth (the literal Queen) who is a Taurean, and really a stereotypical Queen of Coins. I'll still bear her in mind because I've known the cards do a bit of a sideways lurch before. Something connected to the Queen of England then - stepping down, illness, bereavement - maybe? If we stick with the USA, Michelle Obama strikes me as a Queen of Coins. Steady, loving mother, down to earth, sensible, businesslike. Perhaps something affecting the new First Lady, something as yet unknown, big development.




The 2 of Coins can be interpreted as continual change and transformation, but it's not a gloomy card. If approached in the right state of mind the changes can be seen as helpful, leading to an all round improvement. Careful handling is needed, and again Coins/Pentacles relate to Earth, and material things, finance too. We already know this is going to happen, it's apt but nothing new. Could the element of change though be connected to the 2 personalities in the two cards on either side of the 2 of Coins? It may be noteworthy that this card is between them. I don't "get" Hillary Clinton as Queen of Coins, otherwise I'd take a stab at idea that something might cause she and Joe Biden to swap jobs. That's probably too outlandish....but who knows? The cards sometimes do relate well to their absolutely literal meanings - so widening it a little - a prominent male swapping jobs, or replacing, a female - or vice versa. Hmmmm - back to Queen Elizabeth stepping down and being replaced by Charles or William.

Knight of Swords: would relate to Princes Charles or William if the cards have indeed lurched across the Atlantic for me. Otherwise, we have seen Knight of Swords before in my set of tarot experiments - he appeared in relation to Joe Biden, and I identified the card as Biden then. Joe Biden will naturally be in the news quite a bit as the new Vice President, but here he'd be drawn to attention in a special way - something he will do or experience over and above regular duties, perhaps something more personal - anyway, a big news story with him as the lead player. Swords relate to the element of Air in astrology, so though the Knight of Swords can relate to a military type, the way the stereotype operates is via mental processes - cutting through murky situations with sharp intellect.

Nothing from those cards seems nearly as dramatic as I'd expected. The spread might well relate to one specific incident, here or abroad, involving the two personalities in the court cards. Alternatively, the spread's apparent mildness could be an indication that 2009 will not be the horrendously dramatic year some people expect.

This is all in the spirit of experiment - I'll be keeping this spread in mind throughout the year, and reporting back!

TAROT - Biden/Obama. Blagojevich.

At the suggestion of astro-blogging colleague Robert Phoenix I'm trying 3-card tarot readings on the question of how Joe Biden and Rahm Emmanuel will influence President-elect Barack Obama in coming years. I suspect Robert has some misgivings on this score. A reading on Biden/Obama follows. (One on Emmanuel to be done at a later date). When the drama involving Rod Blagojevich blew in I asked a second question - a brief explanation is in the last paragraphs of this post.

So, concentrating hard on VP Designate Joe Biden, I asked: "How will Biden affect Obama in his coming years of power?"

In the following order, I drew 3 cards:

Knight of Swords
Judgement
Ace of Wands

The tricky part of tarot reading, with a question like this, can be adjusting the archetype of the 3 cards to fit the context of the question. It's not too difficult this time. Once again I am flabbergasted that three randomly drawn cards from 78 can be even vaguely appropriate to the question asked.

Knight of Swords definitely represents Joe Biden. He is Knight to Obama's Kingly position. Swords represent the element of Air , the Knights relate to the element of Fire - so here we have Fire and Air blended: intellectuality, directness, verging on rudeness (how very appropriate for Biden), passion, commitment. Also, here we have the archetypal warrior both actually and metaphorically. This is the source of my colleague Robert's misgivings, I suspect, along with the thought that Biden is part of "the old guard" in Washington. Will Biden be inclined to push for conflict rather than conciliation and compromise? Will his inner warrior affect and infect Obama? Will he influence Obama to fall back on "old ways", so that the mantra of "CHANGE" disappears without trace?

Judgement - a card of the Major Arcana, so the most significant of the three drawn. This card relates to Pluto and the element of Fire, so blends well with the previous card. The illustration shows a mythical Day of Judgement, but that is metaphorical only - it's meant to give an overall feel of the card indicating re-birth, renewal, new directions, big changes, letting go of the past. In this context I'd say that the card indicates Biden's transformation from independent Senator to Vice President, a second-in-command position from which, though offering advice based on past experience, he will, in the end have to be led rather than lead. This is a positive card, telling us that Biden will need to undergo a certain transformation, so what we know of his past will no longer be relevant in his new situation. In other words, he will not be able to influence Obama to follow "old ways", instead Obama will influence him to follow new ones.

Ace of Wands - the suit of Wands relates to the element of Fire, so once again it blends with the other cards in the spread. Aces represent beginnings and the purest emanation of the suit's element - here Fire : creativity, courage, enthusiasm, energy. In this context the card relates to Biden's new position in the coming adminstration. It's a very positive indication that he'll approach the change of lifestyle and attitudes with vigour and courage, his advice to his President will be creative, almost visionary.

The three cards together indicate nothing negative, other than that first "warrior" archeype, but we must note that the following cards indicate an ending followed by a beginning, a change of direction and new creative energy going forward. We might extract from this that President Obama, who will always have "the last say" on issues appertaining to war and policies, will bring his influence to bear on Biden - the new direction - rather than the other way around, as might be feared by some.

That's how I read it anyway. And at the very least - the cards are positive, energetic and show courage to face whatever events emerge. In my own view, we should feel incredibly lucky to have these two men at the helm at this particular time in history.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the day the drama about Rod Blagojevich blew up, I decided to ask the question, "Is here anything seriously negative due to emerge with regard to Obama?" I did shuffle the cards extra well, using three different methods, and was "gobsmacked" as we used to say in Yorkshire, to see two of the same cards which appeared in my reading posted 6 December (No Drama Obama)
The new set of 3 is:
6 Swords
Temperance
8 Coins/Pentacles.

It's quite odd, too, that the 6 Swords came up in an earlier reading - just before Obama's grandmother died, and he travelled to Hawaii (I failed to pick up the exact message at the time, but recognised it later). Perhaps then, the first card indicates a journey during the Holidays, alternatively, a moving away from danger and stress. The 2nd and 3rd cards could be interpreted exactly as in "No Drama Obama". So I think I can extract from the reading that the cards are (kind of) saying - "we've already told you this - stop worrying!"

Nothing negative is likely to emerge on the Obama front any time soon, say the cards. I think we can exhale!

Getting My Mars On

Mars will enter Scorpio tomorrow. It'll take the planet of energy, forcefulness, aggression and war until 10 days after the general election to reach my natal Mars at 28 Scorpio, but it will be within range for quite some time before that.
Astrolgy Weekly says of Mars in Scorpio:

"Mars in Scorpio indicates that you will assert yourself in an energetic, positive, proud, practical, resourceful, courageous, persevering and emotionally intense manner. You have an uncompromising spirit, deep reserves of energy, a strong instinct for survival and the ability to overcome even the most difficult of situations - you will fight to the end to defend your principles."

My own instinct to persevere kicked in while discussing the possibility of a campaign yard sign with the husband. He has Mars in philosophical Sagittarius trine his Mars-ruled Aries Sun, sextile my Aquarius Sun):

She: "What I'd really like to do is put an Obama-Biden yard sign in front of our house. What do you think? Shall I order one?"

He: "If you must, but it's not the cleverest thing to do in a neighbourhood where McCain-Palin yard signs are spreading like weeds. One guy in a road behind us still has an enormous sign, left there since 2004: "Bush - Cheney ~~~We Don't Need a Change". You won't change anybody's mind. What's the point? "

She:"How about a bumper sticker then?"

He: "We value our car too much to risk some idiot scratching the paintwork or slashing the tyres. I don't like bumper stickers."

She: (threateningly) "I shall wear campaign lapel pins all the time!"

He: "Pins are fine".

She: Tch!!

I could have persevered more but my "strong instinct for survival" intervened! As a small contribution to the anticipated Mars Return energy I sent for a couple of campaign pins, they arrived yesterday. These are quite subtle, I don't expect anything other than the odd raised eyebrow in response - which will elicit an Aquarian wink (a la Palin) from me.




Of course, as Mars heads ever nearer to one's natal Mars one could ratchet up the aggression and stomp around Walmart waving an Obama-Biden placard.

The husband can bail me out later.

*** *** ***

PS ~~~ Any passing reader, unimpressed by the current Palin farce, and could use some laughter therapy, should read blogging buddy R.J. Adams' post of today, at Sparrow Chat:
"Sarah Palin: Sparrow Chat’s Choice For Vice President".

Exposure of an Aquarian/Alaskan Hybrid

Tonight's vice-presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin is bound to be in the news for days, maybe weeks, to come. Astrologers, pundits and experts have had their say on the subject of Sarah Palin, governor of one of the nation's most unspoiled, wild and remote states. Further attempt at serious comment by yours truly would be superfluous.

A couple of years ago we had fancied a trip to Alaska - until I investigated the likely cost of a vacation there, from Oklahoma. Instead we satisfied ourselves with a DVD set of the 1990's TV series "Northern Exposure", set in a fictional Alaskan town. We watched about half the set some time ago, then gave it a rest. Returning to it recently, with Sarah Palin's emergence in the meantime, the tales now have a slightly different significance. The quirky characters and unlikely, almost surreal storylines of "Northern Exposure" add a humorous edge to what some of us already see as high farce in the current Republican presidential ticket.

"Northern Exposure" is fiction, but often fiction has a kernal of fact embedded - it needs it to help readers relate to the story. So, I'm wondering whether her years in Alaska have infected Gov.
Palin with the same quirkiness of Alaskan natives portrayed in "Northern Exposure"? Or is her own quirkiness down to the cluster of five oddball Aquarian planets in her natal chart? She could be described as an Aquarian/Alaskan hybrid - the ultimate in quirkiness! I could easily see Ms Palin as a character (or caricature) in "Northern Exposure", should it ever be revived.

Anyway, I expect plenty of quirk will be on show in tonight's debate ! Joe Biden's likely reaction:



UPDATE:

My opinion (for what it's worth): Biden won, Palin held her own but failed to exhibit any in depth knowledge on any subject relating to NATIONAL politics.
She kept reverting to her record in Alaska. I guess "you can take the gal out of Alaska, but you can't take Alaska out of the gal". Two big niggles from me - she should be trained not to say "NUKULAR" - we've seen this from Bush and how the comedians have mocked it - surely she could have been schooled not to follow suit - was it deliberate? If so it's even more ridiculous.
And "Eyerak" - makes me cringe. Give the nation, at the very least, the courtesy to pronounce its name correctly, as Biden did.

USA Character Chart

I'm periodically drawn to look at Astrodatabank's collection of the various charts used to represent the USA. Most astrologers seem to prefer those set for 4 July 1776, Independence Day. These have a variety of ascendants depending on rectifiction by the astrologers, using important events in the country's history to pinpoint a rising sign.

As I usually say on this topic, I'm not completely convinced about the logic behind such charts, or any chart representing an inanimate entity. If there is going to be a chart to represent a country though, it ought to reflect the "feel" of the country in question, even if placements don't coincide exactly with historically important events. I'm finding, in astrology generally, that though some trends can be foreseen, accuracy in actual prediction of events is patchy. The outer planets, including Saturn, are the most reliable when trying to foresee trends, but even these are fallible. Many factors, including charts of involved individuals, other countries, companies or groups need to be brought into focus also, leaving a very tangled web and confused scenario. Predictions made from one perspective only are going to be hit and miss at best.

So, concentrating only on national characteristics, what outstanding and necessary features would I look for in a chart of this nation?

1. First and foremost: Aquarius and/or Uranus must be emphasised. I see the birth of the USA as a very Aquarian/Uranian event. The establishment of the Republic is sometimes referred to as "The Great Experiment" - an effort to provide government of the people, by the people, for the people. Whether or not it worked out as planned, it was a very Aquarian/Uranian proposition. From days of the early pioneers, people here have displayed a determination to create change (Uranus)of one kind or another in their own lives or the lives of others, not always for the good, it has to be said. Aquarius and Uranus are not necessarily forces for good, though they often are.

2. Sagittarius/Jupiter should also have fairly prominent placing. Excess, over-indulgence, "bigness" and exaggeration are easily recognisable in the overall character of this country. Not forgetting religion, also the province of Jupiter/Sagittarius. Many of the original settlers were fleeing their own countries to find religious freedom; religion has been, and still is, for good or ill, an important part of the nation's character.

3. Leo ought to feature in the chart, Leo leads, and the USA thinks of itself as "world leader".

4. Mars should feature: military might, and the will to fight, has been present from the Revolutionary War which spawned the USA, to the present-day debacle in Iraq.

5. There should be a clear opposition aspect somewhere in the chart to represent the sharp dichotomy of public opinion which arises frequently on issues. I see this as a distinct feature of the USA's national character. It sometimes seems, to me, as though there are two distinctly different countries here.

Conclusion: All the 4 July 1776 charts have too much emphasis on Cancer (Sun) for my liking, the same applies to the 2 July (Armistead chart) which I'd previously considered a good choice. I don't see the character of the USA as in any way Cancerian. The Sun is one of the main representative factors in any chart, so, for me, none of these properly represents the character of the USA.

The above exclusions narrow my field considerably!

The Signing of the Constitution chart has Sun in Virgo, also inappropriate for the USA, in my view.

The nearest match I can find is the David Solte 1777 chart:

"David Solte's Presentation of the U.S. chart, data given in San Diego Astrological Society "The Uranian," May 1993, time rectified. He used the minutes of the Continental Congress to narrow down the passage of the Articles of Confederation to a few hours between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on Nov. 15, 1777, when they were meeting in York, PA. Solte then rectified the chart to 12:46 pm Local Mean Time for the date and time when the Articles of Confederation became effective. The Declaration of Independence had declared that America was a separate entity from Great Britain, but it was not until the Confederation was established that the U.S. became a group of states united under one government.
Quite a few astrologers find that this chart works well for following the fortunes of the US government and the nation as a whole."

(Copied from Astrodatabank, linked above).

Here we have Sun in Scorpio - not ideal, but I can see how passionate and stubbornly Fixed Scorpionic traits could fit the USA's national character - the majority seem very passionate about their flag, their patriotism, their religion, their "American Dream". One of Scorpio's symbols is the Eagle, a much revered USA national symbol. This chart has an Aquarian ascendant, so fits my stated requirement. Uranus in Gemini trines and blends with the Aquarius ascendant - that's even better! Jupiter in Leo, the leader's sign, lies on the descendant angle, a strong position, with Sagittarius at midheaven, possibly the strongest position in the chart. There's a cardinal opposition (Cancer/Capricorn) between Mars and North Node of the Moon, a sensitive point, providing dichotomy, as well the required Mars connection. There's a second opposition, between Venus and Chiron, the Wounded Healer, further underlining the nation's propensity to split in two.

No existing chart exactly fits my personal view of a USA national personality, David Solte's 1777 chart comes near. Interestingly, a blend of Leo, Aquarius and Scorpio is what the nation stands to get get from an Obama/Biden ticket in the General election this year.

Presidential Players

I suspect that more words have been written about the characters in this year's US presidential election than almost any other characters in recent history. This has to be attributed mainly to the widespread use of the internet, mushrooming of blogs, and opening up of news sites to readers' comments.

Almost everything that could be written about the astrology of the leading characters in this tragi-comedy of an election has already been written. As I cast around for a new approach I spied on my bookshelf Robert Camp's "Love Cards". The title sounds trite, and if it hadn't been recommended to me by someone on an astrology message board, years ago, I'd never have given it a second glance, and I'd have missed a lot - it's an intriguing book.

Robert Camp uses a system which originated in another book: "Sacred Symbols of the Ancients". It's based around an deck of playing cards, astrology, and some other mysterious ingredient. I don't know what that ingredient is, but the system can be eeerily accurate in assessments of character and when exploring compatibility potential.

Playing cards are fascinating enough in themselves.Wikipedia explains their symbolism, as well as their origins. The deck widely adopted in Europe many centuries ago, and still in use, is described thus:
"Popular legend holds that the composition of a deck of cards has religious, metaphysical, or astronomical significance: typical numerological elements of the explanation are that the four suits represent the four seasons, the 13 cards per suit are the 13 phases of the lunar cycle, black and red are for day and night, the 52 cards of the deck (joker excluded) symbolizes the number of weeks in a year, and finally, if the value of each card is added up — and 1 is added, which is generally explained away as being for a single joker — the result is 365, the number of days in a year. If the other joker is also added, that makes 366 days, the amount of days in a leap year."

Is it coincidental that the cards relate so closely to our calendar? If so, then it's a rather amazing coincidence. Anyway... back to "Love Cards":

The Birth Card (just the first of many categories explored in the book) is comparable to the Sun sign in astrology. "It is the card that ruled our planet on the day we were born. People born under a certain card's rulership will all share some distinguising traits..... The Birth Card is the strongest and most important symbol of who we are in this lifetime."

All that is needed to consult this system is a person's day and month of birth. Let's see what the cards have to say abut the US presidential and vice-presidential candidates. What follows is an absolute minimum, just to give a flavour, it barely scratches the surface of what can be gleaned from "Love Cards".

Sarah Palin has stolen the headlines recently so I'll start with her. Her Birth Card (11 February) is Ace of Spades. Other birthdays covered by this card are June 13, March 9, April 7, May 5, June 3, July 1. The card is called "Card of Ambition and Secrets", and in some circles is known as "The Magi Card." "Most ambitious and material-oriented card in the deck, but also the most spiritual." The book tells us that these people have a lifelong conflict between material and worldly issues and a deep pastlife spiritual heritage. A card of extremes.
Britain's Princess Diana (born 1 July) had this Birth Card, by the way.

Hillary Clinton's (26 October) Birth Card: 9 of Hearts, and Barack Obama (4 August) Birth Card: 9 Diamonds. Nines in all four suits have something in common (as do all groups of numerical or royal cards). Concerning Nines, the book tells us ,among other things, that these people are "never truly fulfilled unless they find ways to give of themselves to others. Many of them take this to the highest level and become saviours of humanity. Many great spiritual leaders and teachers have Nines as their Birth Cards. In many ways Nine is the opposite of the Ace" (see Sarah Palin, above). "Whereas the Ace needs to be selfish and self-centered, the Nine cannot. Each time the Nine tries to do things for themselves they reap untold misery and pain. It goes against the grain of their soul's essence. Nines can develop strong victim-saviour completes and all of them exhibit this to some degree.....". Sound familiar? Hillary Clinton has been said by some writers to consider herself a victim; Barack Obama is often referred to as a Messiah or saviour figure. I notice too, though, that George W. Bush's Birth Card (6 July) is 9 Diamonds, same as Obama's. Oops! "The underlying message for the 9 Diamonds person is that they arrive on the planet with a host of value-related beliefs, ideas, concepts, needs and personal attachments that must be let go of".

To complete the cast, a word or two about John McCain (29August) Birth Card: 10 of Hearts, and Joe Biden (20 November) Birth Card: King of Hearts.

Re John McCain's 10 of Hearts- "To truly understand the Tens, we must also be familiar with the Aces" (see Sarah Palin above). "The Aces and 10s are very much alike." 10 of Hearts is the "Success With Groups" card: "A leader, not a follower, has much ambition and could stray off the path of truth as a result"

Joe Biden's King of Hearts - "The Loving Father Card" (Jaqueline Kennedy was also of this group). The Kings all have power, naturally! King of Hearts has power with people and personal relationships - charming and very intelligent. "It is not wise to argue with them, their keen minds can always find a response". The VP debate with Sarah Palin should prove interesting!

Conventionally Speaking - for a third time.

We were out for most of the day yesterday, returned to find that Barack Obama had actually been nominated. My last frail hope or dream of an upset is gone, but I am clear now as to what I have to do on 4 November. I have no choice, in spite of many doubts.

We tuned in to Convention coverage last night as John Kerry took the stage. Another worthy statesman, but I found him as uninspiring as I'd found Mark Warner on Tuesday evening. He, like Warner, has Sun in Sagittarius, also Sagittarius rising. He has 4 planets in Gemini which ought to boost communication skills. His natal Mercury, instrumental in communication, lies in Capricorn (like my own). I should have connected, I didn't. I'm beginning to realise that it's mainly in politicians with a good dollop of Scorpio that I find inspiration.

Former President Bill Clinton's speech followed later. Enthusiasm erupted, the Convention came alive. Bill has four planets in Leo, including Sun and Mercury, 4 planets in Libra plus the ascendant, and Moon in Taurus. Not a single Scorpio planet here, yet I've always found him inspirational. It could be the stark contrast of show-bizzy Leo and diplomatic Libra allied to a thoroughly down to Earth Taurus Moon that I find fascinating. He speaks without affectation, never tries to talk down, and in addition there's an indefinable something there. I remember after 9/11, I lived in the UK then, watched events with horror via TV. The one thing which afforded any kind of reassurance at all was the sight of Bill Clinton comforting people in New York. I'll never forget that. He's been unwise, he's been unfaithful - that's between him and his wife, none of my or anybody else's business. He inspired again last night. He praised Obama's choice of Vice President, said much of what I had felt myself about this. The audience loved him. I believe he'll enter history books as "one of the greats".

And so to the man who turned my own mind away from voting either third party or (perish the thought) Republican: Joe Biden. Another man who knows exactly how to speak to the public, inform and inspire without ever talking down. Why the heck he didn't do better in the primaries I'll never understand. I have a lingering suspicion that "the fix has been in" for a long, long time. Obama was earmarked, nothing was allowed to stand in his way. I'll try to keep an open mind if he does become president, I'll hope my own assessment of him has been wrong. Anyway, back to Joe. That inspirational Scorpio had me hooked again. Astrologer Marjorie Orr has some interesting observations (dated 23 August at 20.40hrs) concerning potential for conflict in the charts of Biden and Obama. For me that's a plus. If Obama ever needs reining in, Joe's the fellow to do it! He said all the right things last night, it's the start of the honeymoon period, that was to be expected! Joe's nomination as VP will make the future so much more interesting and reassuring for yours truly.

When I assess my own reaction to all this and compare it with the attitudes apparent in what have been my favourite political blogs for several months, I find I'm badly out of step. Most there still seem determined not to vote for Obama in the General Election. In spite of what's been put forward so far at the Convention, there still isn't total unity in the party. I'm out of step, both with them and with avid Obama fans. I'm not unduly worried. Aquarian Suns are more often found out of step than walking lockstep with anyone or any group. It's in our blood.

It's Scorpio Joe!

The guessing game is over. Barack Obama has picked Joe Biden to be his running mate.
Biden as VP is the only choice, other than Hillary Clinton, who might entice me to vote for Obama in November.

I wrote about Joe last year - I liked him then. We haven't heard much from him since he dropped out of the primaries, very early on. My tarot cards didn't lie -see here- the person chosen is someone who suffered defeat in the past - in the primaries, and that 5 swords in "past" position could also relate to the loss of his first wife and child in a car crash, long ago.

Today I'll re-post my blog about Joe Biden, from November 2007:

Joe Biden is growing on me! I'll not be disloyal to Dennis Kucinich, he's still top of my heap, but Joe Biden comes a close second in the current line-up of Democratic presidential candidates. He, like Dennis Kucinich, is usually sidelined in televised debates, in favour of "the front-runners", but when he does get an opportunity to speak he makes it count.

When I first saw Senator Biden on TV, he reminded me a lot of Lord Louis Mountbatten. (Folks in the USA may not be familiar with Lord Louis - he was the uncle of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip. British Admiral, statesman and the last Viceroy of India. He was assassinated, in 1979, by the IRA who planted a bomb in his boat in the Republic of Ireland.)





Until the last two TV debates featuring the Democratic candidates, I hadn't paid much attention to Joe Biden. HeWhoKnows commented that he always liked him, in spite of an unfortunate tendency which, in years gone by, came over as "shooting his mouth off". I saw a remark the other day which supports HWK's impression. Someone wrote that Biden has a shoehorn hanging from his bottom lip, ready for the next time he puts his foot there. Well, so far, so good, I haven't noticed this tendency in him yet, so perhaps he has mellowed with age.

I wonder if there's any significance in the fact that of the 8 Democratic candidates there are three Sun Scorpios, Biden, Clinton and Richardson, and one (Kucinich) with a Scorpio stellium. That's a high proportion of Scorpio influence! A possible answer to my question may appear in tomorrow's blog entry.

Whoever becomes president (and I hope it will be a Democrat) will certainly need a passionate desire to put things right in the USA, a strong constitution (and Constitution), and a thick skin. You know, I'm not too sure about Scorpio's skin, I suspect it's not as thick as they would have us believe. If one of the Scorpio candidates does become president, I'd guess that he or she will have paid dearly, emotionally, by the end of their term of office. Senator Biden's Sagittarius ascendant, whilst probably enabling his bluntness, may also provide a helpful buffer.



Joe Biden's natal chart indicates that he is very Scorpio: passionate, deep and determined. Born 20 November 1942, Scranton PA, his birth time according to Astrotheme was 8.30 am, giving him a Sagittarius ascendant.

In 1972 Senator Biden lost his first wife and a daughter in a car accident. 1972 was the year of his Saturn return, and most certainly a year when his life history turned a page. In an article HERE, by Renee Schoof we are told:

"In 1972, Biden's wife and baby daughter were killed in a car accident. His two young sons were hospitalized with serious injuries. The accident happened a week before Christmas and six weeks after Biden had been elected one of the youngest U.S. senators ever. One of his sons, Beau Biden, now 38, the attorney general of Delaware and the father of two children himself, recalls that his father said at the time: "Delaware can get another senator, but my boys can't get another dad."
"Those weren't just words," he added. "He lived them".......

Biden has never had a home in Washington. He's always made the commute."

During the week before Christmas 1972, the time of the car accident, Saturn would have reached 16 Gemini (retrograde), 7 degrees from Biden's natal Saturn.

Senator Biden re-married in 1977.

"He has taught law on Saturday mornings at Widener University since 1991. His income is his $165,200 Senate salary and $20,500 from teaching. In a 2005 ranking of the 100 senators for wealth, he was 99th. In other words, unlike most other presidential contenders, he isn't a millionaire."



Biden as Prez would give me confidence in the USA, I think, a feeling of security, the kind of security I used to feel back in the UK. I don't feel the same here - so far. Whatever government was in power in Britain, and I experienced many I didn't agree with, I always felt that they'd do the right thing if push came to shove. I don't think the fact that Senator Biden reminds me of Lord Mountbatten has anything to do with the feeling I get. It's down to the way he answers questions, his attitude and bearing, he seems to have substance - in a nutshell, he appears presidential. Or could this be the old Scorpio magnetism at work?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE
There's an interesting take on Obama's psychological reasons for chosing Joe Biden as VP, at NO QUARTER this morning.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden is growing on me! I'll not be disloyal to Dennis Kucinich, he's still top of my heap, but Joe Biden comes a close second in the current line-up of Democratic presidential candidates. He, like Dennis Kucinich, is usually sidelined in televised debates, in favour of "the front-runners", but when he does get an opportunity to speak he makes it count.

When I first saw Senator Biden on TV, he reminded me a lot of Lord Louis Mountbatten. (Folks in the USA may not be familiar with Lord Louis - he was the uncle of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip. British Admiral, statesman and the last Viceroy of India. He was assassinated, in 1979, by the IRA who planted a bomb in his boat in the Republic of Ireland.)





Until the last two TV debates featuring the Democratic candidates, I hadn't paid much attention to Joe Biden. HeWhoKnows commented that he always liked him, in spite of an unfortunate tendency which, in years gone by, came over as "shooting his mouth off". I saw a remark the other day which supports HWK's impression. Someone wrote that Biden has a shoehorn hanging from his bottom lip, ready for the next time he puts his foot there. Well, so far, so good, I haven't noticed this tendency in him yet, so perhaps he has mellowed with age.

I wonder if there's any significance in the fact that of the 8 Democratic candidates there are three Sun Scorpios, Biden, Clinton and Richardson, and one (Kucinich) with a Scorpio stellium. That's a high proportion of Scorpio influence! A possible answer to my question may appear in tomorrow's blog entry.

Whoever becomes president (and I hope it will be a Democrat) will certainly need a passionate desire to put things right in the USA, a strong constitution (and Constitution), and a thick skin. You know, I'm not too sure about Scorpio's skin, I suspect it's not as thick as they would have us believe. If one of the Scorpio candidates does become president, I'd guess that he or she will have paid dearly, emotionally, by the end of their term of office. Senator Biden's Sagittarius ascendant, whilst probably enabling his bluntness, may also provide a helpful buffer.



Joe Biden's natal chart indicates that he is very Scorpio: passionate, deep and determined. Born 20 November 1942, Scranton PA, his birth time according to Astrotheme was 8.30 am, giving him a Sagittarius ascendant.

In 1972 Senator Biden lost his first wife and a daughter in a car accident. 1972 was the year of his Saturn return, and most certainly a year when his life history turned a page. In an article HERE, by Renee Schoof we are told:

"In 1972, Biden's wife and baby daughter were killed in a car accident. His two young sons were hospitalized with serious injuries. The accident happened a week before Christmas and six weeks after Biden had been elected one of the youngest U.S. senators ever. One of his sons, Beau Biden, now 38, the attorney general of Delaware and the father of two children himself, recalls that his father said at the time: "Delaware can get another senator, but my boys can't get another dad."
"Those weren't just words," he added. "He lived them".......

Biden has never had a home in Washington. He's always made the commute."

During the week before Christmas 1972, the time of the car accident, Saturn would have reached 16 Gemini (retrograde), 7 degrees from Biden's natal Saturn.

Senator Biden re-married in 1977.

"He has taught law on Saturday mornings at Widener University since 1991. His income is his $165,200 Senate salary and $20,500 from teaching. In a 2005 ranking of the 100 senators for wealth, he was 99th. In other words, unlike most other presidential contenders, he isn't a millionaire."



Biden as Prez would give me confidence in the USA, I think, a feeling of security, the kind of security I used to feel back in the UK. I don't feel the same here - so far. Whatever government was in power in Britain, and I experienced many I didn't agree with, I always felt that they'd do the right thing if push came to shove. I don't think the fact that Senator Biden reminds me of Lord Mountbatten has anything to do with the feeling I get. It's down to the way he answers questions, his attitude and bearing, he seems to have substance - in a nutshell, he appears presidential. Or could this be the old Scorpio magnetism at work?