Spotlight on Hillary Clinton

Some astrologers might not admit this, but when we first examine a chart, we look for the big aspects. By that I mean the conjunctions, oppositions, trines, and squares. We want to check out the obvious, the main themes of the person. For this reason, astrologers check what the Sun relationships are, first and foremost. Then one might inspect Mercury, to see how the person thinks, followed by Mars, to see how they outwardly act. The signs and houses give good information, certainly, but as Johannes Kepler believed, how the planetary "players" of the chart interact tells so much, and that gives us a core understanding of the person being scrutinized.

This doesn't mean, however, that one throws out the sextiles, semisquares and sesquiquadrates. Those bring in detail too, even if they are the "little siblings" of trines and squares. Using that same reasoning, I argue that we must include the halfling relations of the large planets: the large Asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, and the substantial-sized Dwarf Planets like Pluto, Eris, Makemake, and Haumea in the Kuiper Belt and beyond.

This is especially necessary to properly understand a presidential candidate like Hillary Clinton. If you don't use Dwarfs and Asteroids, you miss 90 percent of Secretary Clinton's major Sun relationships, because all you then have is a wide Sun trine Uranus. That means if you are a medievalist or a Vedic, you could declare her Sun unaspected! You would be totally blind to some very valuable information.

So far in this series we have focused on the Dwarf Planets in the charts of the candidates, but once you see Hillary's diagrams (wheel charts offered at the end), you will appreciate why this article centers on the helpful Asteroids. A standard selection is to use the first four discovered: Ceres (now considered a Dwarf Planet), Pallas, Juno, and Vesta. You'll also see Hygeia included this round, as it is larger than Juno and pops up in several key instances. If you're rusty on your Asteroids, you can jump to the Asteroid Interlude below to get up to speed. Finally, past presidents who also had asteroid-infused natals (as well as Dwarfs) will be mentioned to illustrate what this second President Clinton would be like.

The Hidden Hillary

Hillary Clinton's Birth Sun and its angular relationships. While there's some uncertainty about Hillary's birth time, I find the 8:02 a.m. more plausible than the alternates proposed/reported. Read about the confusion at Astro.com: Hillary Clinton. Generally I can't see HRC as anything but an eastern-hemisphere person, in charge of her own destiny. But what confirmed 8:02 a.m. for me was progressing it to her mother's death on Nov. 1, 2011. At that time, p. Sun (7 Cap 02) is sesquiquadrate p. Saturn (22 Leo 05) near exact, and p. Mercury (4 Cap 09) sesquiquadrate p. Haumea (19 Leo 59). The latter configuration shows her cut off (Haumea) from a key confidant (Mercury) who helped her think and parse her world. Sun opposite Ceres/Varuna (V). Sun opposite Ceres is the closest major Sun aspect Hillary has, and from reading her bios, you soon find out how important her mother Dorothy Rodham was in shaping her daughter's life and worldview. Varuna here is change/creating via The Word, as her mother stimulated her intellectually, encouraging her to read and study, something Dorothy's own mother failed to do. In her later years, Mrs. Rodham lived with Hillary and often discussed the events of the day with her when she came home from the State Dept. Clinton has said that her mother's influence and the story of her emotionally deprived early life, led Hillary to devote herself to children's concerns — you can't get more Ceres-focused than that. Sun square 2007 OR10. The unnamed large object OR10 (weeping heart icon) is found in individuals who have a deep sensitivity. The square would suggest this is problematic, but not if the person decides that being compassionate is part of their job (square).     Only one past president had natal Sun sq. OR10, Woodrow Wilson, who guided many progressive legislative policies through Congress. He helped pass laws like one that limited railroad workers to eight-hour days. Wilson also endorsed the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. He devoted himself to promoting global democracy, and for his sponsorship of the League of Nations, Wilson was awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize. Not a shabby president to resemble. Sun sesquiquadrate 2002 TC302. Here's another candidate this electoral season with the Neptunian-like TC influencing the Sun. To recap, we have Rubio (Sun sextile TC), Ted Cruz (Sun sq. TC), and Bernie Sanders (Sun opp. TC). Hillary is yet another one, and we're not done yet (hint, hint).     President Obama is the only president with Sun sesq. TC, and if Neptunian means you can keep a secret, he certainly did during the hunt for Osama Bin Laden (who had Sun conj. TC! OBL hid pretty effectively, too). Does Hillary have secrets? Will she be brought down by an e-mail server? If she had the square or opposition, there might be reason to be concerned for a personal scandal. But the irritation of the 135 degree angle is more the constant litany of opposition attacks and insinuations of scandal she and her husband have endured for years. This is what Obama has had to put up with, persistent claims he was born in Kenya and that he's a Muslim, despite well documented evidence to the contrary. Sun sextile Juno. Irregardless of Bill's affairs and failings as a husband, you must admit that one of Hillary's strengths is the fact that her husband is a former president. Bill Clinton is now more popular and well-liked than ever, and his support is vital to her reaching her most cherished goals. This indeed is a partnership (Juno) that was worth weathering its bad times. Sun trine Uranus/Hygeia. One of her early successes with health care (Hygeia) was when as First Lady, she helped advance passage of the State Children's Health Initiative Program that provided coverage for uninsured children. Her larger efforts in health care reform in those years, however, failed. The Sun/Uranus trine shows Hillary is quite smart and accomplished intellectually. Health care concerns probably remain a favorite issue of hers, so perhaps she could more successfully improve the existing law. Sun trine Pallas. Hillary spends a lot of time during her campaign promising to "fight" for the American people, and complains of the battles she has had deflecting Republican attacks. The former Secretary of State is indeed a motivated campaigner, and recalling how she very unwillingly suspended her campaign in 2008, I don't see her giving up this time, come hell, high water, or the ubiquitous Donald Trump. Sun square Vesta. Every public servant, especially one who contemplates grappling with colossal issues like defeating ISIS, slowing climate change, improving the U.S. economy in the face of fleeing manufacturing jobs and other businesses, should have Sun/Vesta in challenging aspect. Sun/Vesta people bear down and work until the job is done. They are used to disasters, and certainly we can name a few Hillary endured. But as she herself has said, she knows what it's like to be knocked down. You want someone who will always get back up and keep going. Vesta is dogged; see below for some Vesta Presidents, as well as other U.S. Commanders in Chief with Asteroids.

Asteroids: Symbolic of Service Demetra George suggested Virgo rules the Asteroid Belt in Asteroid Goddesses. The community of asteroids, positioned between Mars and Jupiter, fits well as Virgoans, since the position suggests a focus between will/energy and philosophy. They represent the desire for something more of life, and the striving to attain the knowledge or experience necessary to reach that goal. This describes the apprentice, the person who serves to gain knowledge. Named asteroids can provide detail, but you must find a limit. In More Plutos, I explained how valuable the largest Trans-Neptunians are; similarly, the most massive main-belt Asteroids (including Dwarf Planet Ceres) bring vital dimensions to birth and event charts. This requires that you determine a cut-off size, so your chart can remain focused. The first four discovered in the Asteroid Belt, Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, and Juno, are typically grouped together and most often used in charts. But note that Hygiea (the "Staff of Asclepius" icon, symbol of medical or healing arts), the 10th discovered, is larger than Juno, and warrants careful consideration. Asteroids mimic the personal planets, but they function in a more impersonal way. The large asteroids show people filling in for what may be missing in their personal life or that of others, and therefore "serve" or help to make people whole or supported. Ceres is a mother figure, similar to the Moon, but indicates someone acting as a mother, like a foster parent, nanny, cook, or caregiver. Pallas fights for right, much like Mars, but not selfishly (when well placed). Pallas is prominent in the charts of security guards, police, military figures, baseball players (they "hit" home runs, which is good!), drummers, and pianists (the piano, after all, is a percussive instrument). On the dark side, you may find terrorists, abortion-clinic bombers, and rogue cops with hard Pallas aspects. Vesta works, cleans, puts things right, similar to facilities personnel, disaster response teams, and workers in general. One could link Vesta to Mercury in the latter's co-rulership of Virgo, representative of "the little people" who work behind the scenes of many enterprises. Juno partners, helps one-on-one. Certainly this is the Asteroid Belt's Venus, and most expect it to represent marriage, but it symbolizes marriage as a role, not the romantic side. Juno can also be a business partner, running mate, and even vice president. Example: Dick Cheney had Juno (4 Virg 01) closely conjunct his Ascendant (3 Virg 00). Hygiea points to issues with health, medicine, and healing, and its indications range from bouts of illness to careers in health care. Hygeia has a Sun-like action (since Sun is the life giver) in its relationship to health. For example, Hygeia appears in the chart for the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), passed on March 23, 2010, with Mercury (11 Ari 58) trine Hygeia (11 Leo 32). At the time, Hygeia was also conjunct Obama's Sun (12 Leo 32). In addition, the U.S. progressed Hygiea (15 Sco 15) was trine U.S. p. Jupiter (15 Can 35), a figure that will persist for years, as the progressed U.S. Sun (now at 11 Pisces) applies to join them in a grand trine. In this way, we can expect that American health care will continue to improve, due to govermental action. Even Republicans no longer say they'll just get rid of Obamacare, but rather that they will repeal and replace the legislation. Which Presidents show us Asteroids at work, for good or ill? Specifically, who does Hillary Clinton resemble in her particular Asteroid figures? Abe Lincoln: Sun/Pallas semisquare Vesta. Lincoln was a wartime president. He was not happy going to war, but it was his unenviable job (semi-square Vesta), to attempt to save the Union. Lincoln kept close tabs on his generals, and in many ways earned the Pallas identity in his involvement in the Civil War. Whoever becomes president in 2017 will inherit the war on ISIS, so positive Pallas qualities would be invaluable. Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman: both Sun square Vesta. FDR and Truman became presidents during times of crisis, and were adept at tackling those problems, no matter the challenge. Roosevelt inherited the Great Depression, followed only a few years later by war in Europe and Asia. Truman was faced with picking up the reins of leadership when FDR died, and had the awful duty of ordering the atomic bombing of Japan to end World War II. They were tested at every turn, and yet persevered. Bill Clinton: Sun sextile Juno, and trine Pallas — identical aspects to Hillary! One can't help but wonder how Bill or Hillary could have Sun sextile Juno, when their marriage has been beset by his numerous affairs. But that's the nature of Juno: it's a job, a contract to which you are committed. There is another reason they are partners, beyond the intellectual and initial sexual attraction. Regarding Sun trine Pallas, both Bill and Hillary are stalwart campaigners, another example of "fighting" for a cause. George W. Bush: Sun square Juno, and opposite Pallas. As a contrast, George W has less favorable placements of asteroids. His vice president did all the work (square Juno) and some joke that Cheney was the acting president. The opposition to Pallas brings to mind the debacle of the Iraq war, not very well prosecuted if in fact it should have been initiated at all.

Hillary Clinton's Mercury/Venus Relationships. You can understand the people who dislike Hillary when you get a load of her stationing Mercury, albeit conjunct Venus, but in Scorpio and square Saturn and Pluto/Mars. Without the Dwarfs and Asteroids, this is a shocking figure. Yes, yes, that trine to Pisces Moon, but it's hair-raising to see this dynamo of a loaded fixed-sign square. But I ask you: what did you expect would make up a woman who wants to be President? You need someone who can cut through the crap, take names, kick butt and still be heard in a raucous, crowded rally. MercuryS/Venus conjunct in Scorpio. Despite her strong persona and forceful verbal delivery (Mercury), you don't forget Hillary is a woman (Venus). MercuryS/Venus trine Moon/TC302. Clinton has a real talent for connecting with people on an emotional level, even as she maintains a mystique (Venus trine TC). Venus/TC may also represent the questions many still have about the Clinton marriage and how it really works. MercuryS/Venus trine Makemake/Vesta. Here's another asset for her: she's had some incredibly useful yet unique (Makemake) jobs (Vesta). Other candidates at best have one or two big titles or achievements, whereas Clinton has been a senator, secretary of state, and even has already lived in the White House for eight years. Who can beat that? MercuryS sesquiquadrate Eris, sesquiquadrate Hygeia. Hillary certainly has had a lot of time to think about what went wrong with health care when she championed it in the 1990s. Perhaps she will have better luck improving an already existing program. Her Mercury stirred by Eris (Others) and Hygeia (Health issues) strongly suggest this is something that remains on her mind. MercuryS semisquare Quaoar (Q), Quaoar gambles, plays, experiments, and dares. These are perfect qualities for a politician. If you don't enjoy the game, you won't play it well. MercuryS/Venus sextile TX300. Hillary understands the media and, for the most part, they make her look good. MercuryS/Venus opposite North Node. With all her verbal gifts, Hillary is polarizing. There are people who will never "like" Clinton, which is something she probably has accepted, and with all that Scorpio/Leo, has probably shrugged off. MercuryS/Venus square Mars/Pluto, Haumea, and Saturn. Whoa, Nellie! Indeed, here's the big bad wolf and, as I said before, this multi-object square belies terrifying challenges for Hillary. What are we to make of it? Is the Mars/Pluto-Saturn-Haumea stellium part of HER, or might it also represent difficult obstacles she has faced? If she is still standing with such a burden as this, and has enough energy and drive to even run for the highest office of the land, perhaps this is the person who could actually deal with the threats facing the U.S. in this troubled decade.

Hillary Clinton's Mars Relationships. While this knot of heavy hitters in mid-Leo looked pretty troublesome when viewed from the vantage point of Clinton's Mercury/Venus, once we square off with it head-on, we find there's some support here, and important qualifications. Mars stellium in Leo, with close conjunction to Pluto, wider with Haumea/Saturn. Leo makes this group look pretty darn selfish. Mars/Pluto tight and applying signals that Hillary tends to turn on the pressure whenever she moves to act. She wields great power, and this includes power to transform (Haumea) structures (Saturn). Mars group square Mercury/Venus and Chiron. While this was discussed in the Mercury section, from this perspective, you notice the Chiron element. She gets the pain. This isn't easy for her, to make her choices and act. Chiron mitigates Mars/Pluto, which could run amok if, say, it were trine or sextile Jupiter or Uranus. When you grant that, you can see that monetary concerns (Venus) inhibit that Mars/Pluto drive. She knows she'd have to explain (Mercury) any pure power play. These two groups are positioned to regulate one another, and modulate that incredible Mars/Pluto/Haumea/Saturn juggernaut. Mars/Pluto sextile Neptune/Ixion (IX). If the serious brakes are in place from the Mercury group, Neptune and rule-breaker Ixion firmly support her intentions and desires. Hillary plans big, far-reaching effects (Neptune), and frankly is not afraid to go where no woman has gone before. If anyone can break the ultimate glass ceiling, this is the gal. Mars/Pluto sesquiquadrate Juno. Clinton's personal power is such, that any marriage would endure strain. As this is also Pluto sesq. Juno, it's a testament of her resolve that she has not completely given up and filed for divorce. Mars group trine Sedna. Mars and its cohorts here in usually self-centered Leo, are redeemed by the trine from devoted, sacrificing Sedna. This Dwarf Planet, with the longest planetary orbit (~11,400 years), is the model of steadfastness. Here is how Clinton's marriage endures, and how she has persisted in her attempts at attaining the presidency. She has an iron will (the hefty Mars group), buttressed by faith (Sedna), as much as it is defined by her vision and values (Mercury/Venus). Mars group square North Node. North Node's position is included more to highlight its relationship to the Leo stellium's Haumea/Saturn component. This is more a generational factor, one of the need for governmental (Saturn) reform (Haumea) at odds with the general public. How does one effect such reforms when people continue to vote against their interests?

Hillary Clinton, Progressed to the March 15 Primaries

Hillary Clinton has wanted to be president for a long time, if reports from former White House staffers are true. She relented in her run in 2008 in the face of Obama's surprise popularity, but only after enormous pressure was brought to bear. Is this her time? Secondary progression should show us if she is indeed on track.

Hillary's Sun and Mercury progress to conjunction during this campaign, becoming exact shortly before the election. Something is obviously culminating in her career. p. Sun conjunct p. Mercury. Someone running to be president might be well served with progressed Mercury catching up with p. Sun in Capricorn. What you have thought about, planned for, lived to see in your mind (all Mercury), comes to life (Sun), and it's career-related (Capricorn). p. Sun/Mercury trine p. Mars. This progressed trine came to perfection when she was Secretary of State, about six months after Bin Laden was killed. Her acceptance of this role in the Obama administration was an excellent career move, keeping her in the public eye and giving her extensive foreign policy contacts and experience. p. Sun/Mercury sextile p. Pallas. Clinton enjoyed the completions of both this and the Mars progressed trine, during her stint in the State Department. As this was just separating, she negotiated a cease-fire in Gaza in late 2012.     As a side note, the Sept. 2012 attack in Benghazi occurred during this p. Sun/Mars/Pallas easy opposition. Her p. Moon was separating from conjunct p. Pluto (and n. Mars), and was supported by sextile to p. Ixion and trine to p. Jupiter. No squares or semisquares/sesquiquadrates were present or coming. If she really mishandled the response to the Libyan embassy attack, there should be more difficult, applying indicators here. p. Sun/Mercury square p. Moon/Quaoar, Neptune, and Ixion, and widely square p. Eris. More trouble coming but not here yet, looking at this configuration. Expect when Sun/Mercury gets closely square p. Neptune, all the scandals ever linked to the Clinton name, will be resuscitated and picked over again by the media and her political opponents in the general election.      The squares to p. Eris happened years ago. P. Sun sq. p. Eris culminated in 2010, as her husband assisted with the Haiti earthquake response, so this may have been a period he was busier than usual and not there for her (Eris as Other, her "other" half). The p. Mercury/Eris square completed post-Benghazi, when political opponents sought to find some scandal in the White House's handling of the attacks, and sifted through her and other's comments. p. Sun/Mercury applying to conjunct 2002 TX300, and oppose Makemake, in the years ahead. Progressed Mercury reaches this axis in 2021, and the p. Sun in 2024. So you're looking at the challenges of a Clinton second term, if she wins in November.