It seems more likely he will adapt by limiting (Saturn) what he texts and to whom. He will also probably develop codes (7th Pluto) to shorthand his intimates, something he may already do.

Bottom-line is his free-wheeling Gemini Moon trine Jupiter, sextile Mercury shows he thrives on information. Far from being scattered by it, he rakes through it with the alacrity of a computer. He then “downloads” the information through physical activity like basketball (Mars in Virgo trine Saturn) which helps him ground.

I don’t see the Blackberry going, nor the laptop. I simply see an integration of the technological age into the walls of secrecy and power through judicious planning. If Obama can remember his wailing wall prayer, showing an awareness of the dangers of ”pride and despair”, he is well poised to avoid the pitfalls of haste in an electronic age. However, can he discipline everyone who has his number to behave with the same discretion? With Uranus in his 7th house, that remains to be seen.

In the chart for 9 am 8/29/1936 at Cocosolo, Panama, this action is taking place in his 6th house (work, health). It is a HUGE reason any voter should look carefully at his VP because with the erratic energy of Uranus just starting to go through this house, McCain will not show a great deal of consistency in work and health. Often people change jobs in this transit unless they’re giving a great deal of freedom. I don’t think the presidency is a job with a lot of freedom, no matter how free-wheeling W seemed to have appeared at times.

Since the aspect is exact today, it is highly possible Obama will be on the stage alone tonight. It is also possible McCain will come in with a great deal of disruption. This continues the theme of the Saturn/Uranus aspects that will be so pivotal in this election (structure vs. chaos, old guard vs. change, age vs. youth)

McCain is a Virgo, and Mercury retrogrades are particularly discombobulating to Virgos. But in his horoscope it activates his first house (with the transit of Mars as well). Since Venus is transiting on his Pallas, I think he truly believes the right move was to be at the hearings. He needs to be in action right now. If you look at pictures of him before he arrived in D.C. and look at him now, he looks calmer, his eyes (another Mercury symbol) are even and rested (instead of one drooping). It is very important that he responds to where Uranus wants him to be during this transit, or he will make himself sick.

It seems highly likely he will play it both ways; having run to the “rescue” on Capitol Hill and returning in time to debate Obama. Tonight’s moon in Virgo is exactly on McCain’s Sun at the time the debate is scheduled to begin. It appears the mood of the people may be sympathetic to McCain.

Since Obama has Pluto (power) at the same degree, (6 Virgo) he must be very masterful in walking the line of respect for McCain’s response to be at Capitol Hill while stroking the public’s need for a presidential candidate who is present in negotiations and not simply wearing a title.

If you’ve read the story about Sarah Palin’s pregnancy, this is classic Aquarian behavior. She kept it to herself, making her own counsel and it was a surprise by the time the public knew about it. Same with her other kids finding out their little brother had Down Syndrome. Aquarian upsets, but not to the Aquarian. The baby did come early, but my guess is his Libra moon is trine the Neptune in Aquarius…

My mother-in-law has a stellium in Aquarius. She worked a union job all her life, has seen her benefits disemboweled through airline bankruptcies, is a devout Catholic but also a feminist and always voted Democratic except for Eisenhower.

She is one of the rabid Hillary supporters that concerns Obama’s platform. Much to my husband’s horror, she had been threatening to vote for McCain. He was, after all a war hero and she felt Obama lacked experience. Nonetheless, it’s been the nomination of Sarah Palin that put her squarely back to the Democratic side. She is insulted by the choice, as though Palin was chosen simply to pander to women.

Because the election takes place with the Saturn/Uranus opposition, it seems to me Sarah Palin as an Aquarius is going to be the pivot that turns the vote. Will the more Saturnine Aquarian voters win or the Uranians? Or will it require the exquisite balance of both? I’m only getting warmed up on these thoughts: next musings, my mother!

Monica and I will be discussing these new developments on our live radio show and I will post soon.

Pluto/Venus is a theme for Obama with this election. Transiting Pluto will come to his natal Venus early next year, signifying dark forces that will be beyond his control. This isn’t necessarily a doom forecast, but certainly indicates his relationship to his wife, women and a wrestle with his values. The more conscious he is during this process, the better for him (and if he’s elected) the nation. Nonetheless, there will be situations beyond his control. This could indicate he wins: OMG! Michelle under a microscope and now he sees the real deal of the country’s finances, etc once he’s in.

Or it could indicate he loses and hits a darkness of confidence. The Venus/Pluto theme is repeated in the nomination chart, with a different configuration. Venus is in the 8th, applying square to Pluto in the 12th. I keep wondering if there’s a lady from his past the Republican press might find to try to upset Obama. Or a seemingly shady financial dealing.

I don’t know that it would be enough to blow the election for Obama, but I do know he has very powerful enemies who are intent on undermining him. It’s true I don’t need astrology to tell me this. However, this electional offers the indication that he will have support if he remains able to effectively communicate his sincere feelings.

Monica Starr and I were discussing on AstroChatter Radio that Biden could be the Saturn (older statesman, corporate connections from Delaware) to Obama’s Uranus influence (change, upstart) with the Saturn/Uranus opposition in the sky around the election. But since he is declared with this energy around him activating his natal horoscope, it seems Biden may somehow attract discord. He may not be the cause of it, but the results could be the same.

He is not a stranger to debate and controversy involving what comes out of his mouth. Obama may in the end project a more temperate presidential image, with Biden as his Scorpionic pit bull.  With all the buzz about the Clintons planning a coup at the DNC, Biden was born with a Scorpio stellium and can go the distance (ideally Obama will be able to let him know when to let go of the bone).

Since Hillary’s birthtime is not verified, Uranus could be hovering near her Moon in Pisces. This promises to be an interesting few days; let’s hope in the end it’s for the best interest of the country and not a “who does Mommy love best!” tantrum.

For more in-depth reflection, check out Monica’s take on Biden.

Paris Hilton’s Mars (how we assert ourselves) is in Pisces (enhancing her glamour). Although Mars in Pisces may not at first seem aggressive, hers is in direct opposition to his Virgo Sun. Watching Paris for President, the “flyboy” must wince every time she refers to the “old man” in this short. Her Venus in Aquarius is inconjunct his Neptune/Venus in Virgo and he seriously underestimated her reaction to his reference. His Mars in Leo is conjunct her Moon/North Node, which will always trigger an emotional response when attacked. Senator McCain, if you want to stay in the race, follow Reagan and get yourself an astrologer!

But Hilton does not come across angry in the tape; still she uses it for her own agenda, self-promotion and no mistake, promoting Obama.

Her reasons for indirectly promoting Obama, by trumping the absurdity of McCain’s statement are certainly obtuse. Hilton could potentially be a powerful figure of great influence in a positive way,  if she can break free from the compulsions of her privileged upbringing. But that’s another article. Right now I’m looking at her connections to Obama’s chart, her Leo Moon/Node conjunct his Sun. This silly little video blasts McCain and as a result supports his opponent.

Paris is burning hot, but in a cool, detached, madly Aquarian way. Ouch! Take that… you old man McCain!

An Aquarian moon would be close to her Saturn (discipline) which supports the self-sufficient attitude she seems to exude.  An Aquarian moon indicates a person who analyzes emotions and has the ability to detach; if her moon were in Pisces, she would be harder to read. Both Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush have Pisces Moons (and Scorpio Suns!) yet for Mrs. Bush it has not been an issue. She speaks with compassion and some degree of guardedness. But she is not someone who puts herself out in roles that make the public distrust her agenda. She is primarily a wife, mother and homemaker and works within that identity to the satisfaction of the public.

Hillary always strode outside those roles, and her stride became wider when the opportunity of First Lady was hers. The elusive quality of her water Sun/Moon make people question who she really is.  A quote in February 2008 from Michelle in reference to Hillary as a possible VP to Obama on  Good Morning America: “I’d have to think about — policies, her approach, her tone.”

If Michelle’s moon is in Aquarius, it would connect with the US moon. Her ability to understand the people can be very keen. She seems to be quickly assessing and recalculating, much as a GPS figures out where to go when the route changes. As she reigns in her natural unbridled intelligence, she is now modeling herself after the more-measured Mrs. Bush. I don’t foresee it would be at the cost of her identity; she is simply steadying herself for the climb.

Her North Node (karmic destiny) is in Cancer which is on the US Sun. If her moon is in Aquarius it amplifies the potential of what she could do with the First Lady role, especially for children and America’s self-sustainability. More to come!

I’m writing some first impressions as I look at his horoscope in relation to the US chart and Election Day 2008. The midpoint of Neptune/Chiron is hovering on his Ascendant of 18 Aquarius. Nancy’s comment (see “Savior/Victim” blog) brings up Chiron in relation to the “pain-body”.  I think it’s telling that Obama’s Venus/Neptune midpoint is on the US Chiron. The US Chiron is in Aries, very different from Obama’s in Pisces. The Aries Chiron ignores the pain, therefore creating more of it. The Pisces Chiron seeks to heal himself through healing the whole. His Venus/Neptune midpoint can stimulate desires both negative and positive. It depends if the public is ready to heal or embarrassed or attached to its shortcomings. There does seem to be a great deal of idyllic sentiment around that day linked to him (Neptune/Mars on his Sun/Moon). This new time looks very strong for his winning the election.

I would still advise him to rest, eat right and work on a form of meditation that doesn’t involve secret cigarettes! There’s too many Neptune contacts, which have always concerned me for his health, even though he’s a young man. It is critical he finds a spiritual center, especially now that his pastor and he have parted. He certainly has the tools to find it within himself and with his Chiron in the first, lead the country by example.  But this does not mean he wants a public face with his faith; his Chiron is in a T square with his Moon and Pluto. I think it pains him to have this private part of him subject to public scrutiny, but he is well-aware of the path he must walk for the greater vision.

One striking recent example of the mutual reception of Neptune in Aquarius and Uranus in Pisces was the webcast of the Eckhart Tolle/ Oprah conversation about his book: A New Earth. Neptune (how we’re all connected in the cosmic soup) in the sign of the networker, brought Aquarian Oprah to new heights of cyber-visibility. With Uranus (electronics, television, new technology) in Pisces, she delivered ancient metaphysical truths through Skype, chat rooms and webinars. There’s a date floating around that would make Tolle an Aquarius as well. Two Aquarians had no problem espousing the virtues of detachment and living in the present. Oprah’s webcasts

But I’m bringing up Tolle because of a quote from A New Earth. “The foundation of American economic prosperity rested on the labor of four to five million black slaves. In fact, the suffering inflicted on Native and Black Americans has not remained confined to those two races, but has become part of the collective American pain-body. It is always the case that both victim and perpetrator suffer the consequences of any acts of violence, oppression, or brutality. For what you do to others, you do to yourself.”

The concept of Tolle’s pain-body, if you’re unfamiliar with it, can be considered an amalgam of karma (we repeat lessons until we finally get it) and psychological complexes (that which we suppress, bites us and everyone around us). We carry an individual and collective pain-body. With the mutual reception of Neptune and Uranus (collective and individual) it bodes well for healing this part of America’s pain-body.

It is seductive to look at the astrology for Election Day and the Inauguration and be concerned (see sidebar about 7 Astrologers POV). I will write more about that later. But I think what’s important as we watch Obama (because everytime he’s out in public, he’s taking an act of faith) is to believe we live in an America where a man or a woman of any faith or color could become president.

Because that’s what gave birth to the USA horoscope, with its Cancer Sun (loving the landscape, apple pie and tendency to keep to itself). Our moon in Aquarius is our love of freedom, Everyman’s freedom. Hillary Clinton’s graceless allusion (Mercury in Scorpio) to the loss of RFK was probably an awareness of her own vulnerability as well as Obama’s. We are in a period of profound change and as a result, all our fears are coming out.

Whether or not America is poised to heal its pain-body with women is another story. It certainly is a good sign that Obama has obvious respect for his wife and an equal relationship. And the affectionate bump of success showed the world a spontaneity not often seen with poised politicians… a very playful gesture… (maybe the new time for Obama is right and he is Aquarius rising)!