Thomas Canfield
The Autumn Equinox chart has some interesting features for power and the transfer of power. Juno, the asteroid of marriage, is rising in the chart. Juno rules those things gained through traditional marriage, like money, social status, and political contacts. Juno is in a square to Mars in Cancer and Ceres in Capricorn. The old methods of intimidation and control may no longer work with a new generation of voters. Juno in Libra may bring in more considerate voters who will not stand for the old methods of button-pushing to get a reaction. Juno, along with the Ascendant, is trine Jupiter in Gemini, and that may indicate a more intelligent and studious approach to politics.
The Autumn Equinox Sun is trine the Moon in Gemini. It is definitely a time for listening and paying attention to what is being said. The trine may mark equilibrium between masculine and feminine values during the season. The Equinox Sun is opposing Neptune, and the illusions and religious fantasies of the past may no longer have any more influence. People should be looking at the motivations of religious groups and question their devotion to power. The questioning of values may be emphasized with the North Node trine Pallas, asteroid of wisdom. People may be asking what makes the wise men so wise, or are they just a bunch of wise guys? A new group has come up calling itself “Evangelists for Harris.” They are warning people to beware of “false prophets” and to test what is being said by evaluating it with Scriptural values. With Mercury in opposition to Neptune, the power of critical thinking may prevail over the gaslighting. Strange fantasies and dogmas may not be able to stand up to reliable data.
Mercury sextile the Midheaven may have some profound messages for the season. However, Mercury is squaring the Part of Fortune, and it is possible some of the messages may not get to their intended audiences. Mercury is trine Uranus, and that might help in spreading the messages. Even if talking heads are discussing the messages and disparaging them, at least the messages will be getting out there. Mercury is also squaring Jupiter and the Natal Sun-Node-Uranus of Donald Trump. In the Equinox chart, Jupiter conjunct Trump’s Sun-Node-Uranus is in the Ninth House of Legal Matters, while Mercury is in the Twelfth House of prisons, insane asylums, and hospitals. It may be a subject of debate which institution he will be put in first. With the Part of Fortune on Trump’s Sun, he may have some legal good news (such as one or two charges being dropped), but Eris and Chiron sextile the Part of Fortune may brings some news he does not want to hear, such as in health matters. (Will he have to confess his real weight?)
Saturn is trine Mars, and old fashioned ways may spark the militarism and chauvinism during the campaign. Saturn is sextile Ceres, and there will be attempts at control from the older generation. Saturn is being opposed by Vesta, asteroid of hearth and home, Vesta was the ruler of “family values”, but now families and their values are changing, with more families concerned about birth control, women’s natal care, and Gay relatives. (After the August Democratic Convention, the Democrats have taken “family values” as their own issue.) Vesta is sextile Mars and trine Ceres. New family values may be standing up to the old brand. When people start attacking certain groups and practices, modern families may respond, “That’s my child you’re talking about.” (Some right-wingers have tried picking on Gus Walz because of his disability, but they have been slapped down by more considerate people.)
The most powerful planet in the chart is Venus in the First House. Uranus and Neptune are sextile and forming a Yod aspect to Venus. It is an indication that women’s power may be the driving force of the season. Venus rules more than sensuality and ownership. It is a planet that stands for creative power, and giving birth is only part of it. More people, especially more women, may be signing up to vote for the historical event of electing a woman President. Venus at 29 Libra is conjunct the Sun of Kamala Harris at 27 Libra. The sextile between Neptune and Uranus will be forming a Yod to her Sun all through the election season. In a situation like this, the “Finger of God” aspect could just as well be called “Finger of Goddess” since Goddess power may be the focal point of the aspect.
Venus is making a square to Pluto as it moves retrograde into Capricorn. Pluto will be in Capricorn through Election Day. It is the last time for the financial powers to manifest their influence in controlling an election. Venus, energized by Uranus and Neptune, may be sending a message to Pluto that money is being bet on the wrong horse. The Equinox Sun and the Moon are in an out-of-sign trine to Pluto. More congenial messages may be sent to those in power that the old control of Capricorn is fading away, and a new administration will begin with Pluto in Aquarius and providing a new form of people power. Keep in mind that the Sun of Kamala Harris is squaring Pluto in Capricorn. Standing against the billionaires club may gain her new prestige.
Uranus will be trine Pluto, and that might offer an Aquarian message that the old ways of control are fading away. Neptune will be sextile Pluto, which has been standard for the past few decades. The fading of religious authority may serve as a warning to Pluto in Capricorn that control will not work. The North Node is approaching an out-of-sign sextile to Pluto, which will be more exact by Inauguration Day. Values will be changing and Pluto may have to work with the change or be left behind. With Pluto at the bottom of the chart, the uphill struggle may be too much for the dwarf planet.
Venus will be in a wide opposition to Eris and Chiron. This may provide the assurance that womens’ health issues will be receiving important attention, and will be the focus of new political power. The Part of Fortune is sextile Eris and Chiron, suggesting success for medical argument and upheaval for old legal arguments. Mercury is quincunx Chiron, and people will have to think about what the medical matters mean. Old notions about “childless cat ladies” will have to fade away. Chiron squaring the Midheaven will still need to argue over the misinformation distributed. However, with Venus energized in Libra in a wide square to the Midheaven, there may be enough women’s power to stand up to the old beliefs.
Leading the women to stand up and step forward will be Kamala Harris. She has a tough T-Square with Mars opposing Saturn and both squared by Jupiter. Transiting Uranus is on her Jupiter in her Seventh House, and she is being energized by the new partnerships she is making. Her Saturn is trine her Sun, and trine the Equinox Venus at 29 Libra. Transiting Saturn is opposed by her Venus, Pluto, and Uranus in Virgo. (No question that her right slogan is “We won’t go back.”) The political opposition may not be able to stand up to her, and the Equinox could mark a time when she gains an insurmountable lead in the polls which may continue through Election Day. With the aspects to her Natal Sun, her most successful message may be the lesson on identity given to her by her mother, “Don’t let them say who you are. You tell them who you are!”
