When I look at the New President Elect’s Astrological birth Chart. I can quickly and clearly see the facets that this man expresses in his personality so clearly. There are many levels to interpretation and beneath the personality is the destiny and beneath the destiny is the character. The same is true of all of us. That we are agents of free will is a given. For this reason, prediction is never 100 %. Part of the challenge of interpretation, especially of outer events, which people are so often focused upon, is that there are many levels. The point is I aim to offer a clear and simple portrait of this unlikely candidate who would dare to be President of the United States of America. I have heard reviews on both sides – for and against. The more I look at Obama’s chart, the more I see why.

Barack Hussein Obama was born on August 4th, 1961 at 7:24 pm in Honolulu Hawaii. (Remember the 60’s? more on this later…) His Sun sign is Leo, his Ascendant or Rising Sign is Aquarius, the Moon is in Gemini, Mercury is also in Leo as is Uranus which is closely aligned with the Lunar North Node also in Leo, Venus is in Cancer, Mars in Virgo, Jupiter is also in Aquarius and is Retrograde along with the South Node, Saturn is in Capricorn and also Retrograde, Neptune is in Scorpio and Pluto is in Virgo. Those are the basic. The positioning of the planets in signs in terms of the houses, the aspects, the proximity of one to the other and so on, the nuts and bolts of Astrology, I shall unfurl below and therein offer interpretations as we go along.

The Sun and its sign and house position is ever at the heart of Astrology. To begin, then, the Sun in Leo at 12 degrees 33 minutes depicts something of a showman with expansive ideas and rather sober notions. A pretty good combination for a politician, actually, especially one whose role it is to be the front man. Is that not what a president is considering all the non-partisan power structures that do not come and go firmly stationed, behind and often unseen? With Gemini on the house cusp of Leo, he invariably expresses that charming quality of a Gemini quick wit and agile intelligence. That the cusp degree in the Placidus chart hosts an Aquarius decant and Pisces Duad (2.5 degree segments of a sign) indicates a future oriented and idealistic vision. Deception of self and other may well be at issue here. Of course, politicians are because they have to be cleverly deceptive. It is naïve to think that they will simply speak off the cuff. A President of a powerful country no less is bound to be well versed in top secret missions, then there are enemies eyes and ears at every corner, as is the nature of the game of espionage. The point is, so far so good for the role.

Mercury is also in Leo, trailing it by 10 degrees and both are in the 6th house. This is not an obvious house position for a leader holding such a position. The sixth house is ruled by Virgo and is symbolically about service, humility, purification, health, lifestyle habits, ecology, environmentalism and holism. Not you usual stance for such a power position, but then again, refreshing indeed. Mercury in the sixth house is well placed and lends to an analytical and constructively critical character. Mercury in Leo, on the other hand, is not as well placed as Leo is Mercury’s sign of fall. This can certainly amount to narrow and rigid attitudes and perceptions. Backed by Taurean influences, this can be all the more indicative of stubborn pride. Leo is the producer, director, actor and showman. Virgo is the service oriented devotee to higher causes. Taurus is a builder and a farmer and is oriented to multiple tasks, yet usually one at a time. The Gemini influence, on the other hand, allows for a multi tasking capacity – good balance. Balance and counter balance themes are important, especially where we see any imbalances. Fortunately, these are present here.

The Moon in Gemini, like the Sun in the 6th House is not a strong indicator of emotional strength. This potentially illustrates a shifting between over confidence and under confidence. The fact that Obama is said to be quite the chain smoker comes to mind here, whereas on stage in front of his adoring supporters, he appears cool as a cucumber. That the Moon is in its own domicile, the 4th House, is yet another one of those key counterbalances one might hope for. What this implies is that he genuinely cares, has a nurturing and empathetic nature. That the Moon is forming a rather close and challenging Square Aspect to Pluto is an indication that he has to work double and even triple time to maintain his cool and remain anchored in a stable emotional state. That The Moon is also in Square aspect to Chiron indicates that it is at the apex of a T-Square aspect. This intensifies the inner work he must do to offset and conceal the feelings of blame and judgement he may feel. Chiron is suggestive of a wound and when in close Square to the Moon is linked to Mother. That Chiron is in opposition to Pluto is actually a good sign that he has learned to cooperate with these issues both inwardly and outwardly as they are inevitable projected on to others. Emotionally, Obama is not the most stable and he probably has worked long and hard to address this. That the Moon forms a sextile to Mercury is suggestive of the probability that he is ever seeking to be cooperative. Rather than simply lead, he is probably much more comfortable delegating. This can be the sign of truly great leadership as he surrounds himself with people who can carry out his commands with full confidence.

Obama’s maternal instincts are further corroborated by Venus in Cancer – a sweet placement with strong orientations to home and family, That Venus is in the 5th House, the house governed by Leo – Obama’s Sun Sign, lends even more of the family oriented and maternal set of values we are fortunate to see. That Venus is part of a lovely Grand Trine Aspect in water Sign by way of a Trine aspect to both Chiron and Neptune lends to likelihood that he is actually very sincere, even deeply spiritual. That Neptune is the planet of highest elevation and in the Sagittarian ruled 9th House in Scorpio is further evidence of what might safely be interpreted as a deeply spiritual conviction. The fact that Neptune is forming a Square Aspect to his Leo Sun, however, is another one of his principle chinks in the armour. This is a sign of a potential for great deception of self and others. However, such attributes can be offset with a strongly placed Mercury and Saturn. Mercury is challenged by sign but elevated by House position and Saturn in Capricorn in the 12 hosts a similar mixed bag issue. So, while they are both upheld, both Saturn and Mercury have definite issues to overcome.

Saturn in Capricorn is a clear sign of power and authority. The 12th House placement is not so good. It can lend to a cold, distant and absent emotionality. His father is the source of this in terms of outer world influences. As I understand it, Obama’s parent did not stay together and he remained distant. That is what this position of Saturn implies. Thus, he may have a very cold and uncaring aspect to his nature, but few will ever see it as he either conceals and or at least represses it. Let us hope he has done some inner work and psychology on his father issues. Otherwise, they may come out suddenly and unexpectedly if triggered, due to the repressive state that position Saturn holds suggests.

That Saturn is in close aspect to Jupiter and that both are in the 12 House, the House of Pisces is yet another one of those counter balance themes that we look for when we see challenges such as Saturn’s placement. Interestingly, Jupiter at 0 degrees Aquarius is the planet of lowest degree and Saturn at 25 Capricorn 20 minutes is the planet of highest degree. Only the Nodes are at higher degrees which is 27 degrees 18 of Uranus and Leo respectively. This is important and I will return to it, shortly. So, all new cycles begin by triggering planets at the lowest degree which is Jupiter is Aquarius in the house of Pisces. Now that is a sweet counter balance to Saturn. It is suggestive of a deep faith in a higher power and countered by a deep and sincere measure of compassion, suggested by Neptune in the 9th House which is the natural placement for Jupiter. So, I would say that despite difficult times and probable hurts and grievances, Barack learned to forgive his father. In fact, he probably endeavoured and was supported to transcend him altogether. Again, Neptune in the 9th, as well as Uranus in the 7th, support this statement to be accurate. Jupiter in the lowest degree and Saturn in the highest is suggestive of risk backed by ambition, discipline and hard work. Two solid years on the campaign trail is some evidence of this.

Uranus in the 7th in Leo and in close conjunction to the Lunar North Node catches the eye very quickly. This is one indication of his close relationships with his grandparents. I have witnessed where children are close to and/or raised by their grandparents, it confers wisdom and is a sign of an older soul. That his grandfather would have had difficulties with his father suggested by a lower Inconjunct Aspect is likely. However, they both may have been moved to deal with the situation in an empathetic and respectful manner. I imagine he did so. Uranus in Leo, alike all the far planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto is a generational indicator, Uranus spends 7 years in each sign. The Uranus in Leo generation is the turning point that lead to the revolutions of the 60’s. The beatnik rebellios attitudes is one reflection and the back to nature hippy movement is the other. Put simply, this shows that Barack is something of a bridge between the 50’s and the 60’s. Chiron in the first House is further illustrative of this bridge quality in his overall mode of expression. I interpret this is an important factor because the attitudes in the 60’s rather directly opposed those of the 50’s and creating a smooth transition between these is hopeful. The conjunction between Uranus in Leo and Pluto in Virgo almost perfectly straddling and the Lunar North Node in Leo is a rather good sign as well. Had the North Node not been there it would have been not as good. What this suggests is a destiny to leadership. It again testifies to an attitude of cooperation and a wiling to allow others to play there roles as well. Obama knows what it means to share power. This could be his downfall, unfortunately. I see this without having looked to his future. With the Black Moon also in Leo and directly on the 7th Cusp the blindest spot in the chart, he would be wise to not give over too much power to his team mates. He will have to demonstrate quickly and decisively that he is the captain, lest others secretly plot to assume the role without the arduous process of election.

Mars in Virgo indicates a nice balance between work and play. This seems rather evident in his apparent candour. Growing up in Hawaii is bound to leave something of a playful past securely placed in his memory and perspective on life. Mars in Virgo is generally hard working and with Cancer on Virgo’s house cusp, Obama is a worker and a player who will dig diligently to get to the bottom of things. Mars in cancer is, at best, a sign of renovations on the home. The down side is harsh emotional leanings suggesting that his mother had her share of grievances and hard feelings herself. In the positive in this regard, Obama reflects a person who has undergone some of the same suffering that comes from broken homes that upwards to 50% of the population have and continue to endure. In this regard he is likely to be very empathetic. On the other hand, he may hold deep in his heart the ideal that his mother and father may be re-united. While this is highly unlikely in fact, it is not such a bad thing to want, in fact it might be fair to say, it is needed.

Obama’s chart signature is Aquarius, as is his ascendant South Node and Jupiter is placed there at the lowest degree. What this suggests is that he is, as he seems, truly a revolutionary, humanitarian Aquarian overall. The fact that Pluto is conjunct the North Node is an indication that he may well indeed have been working towards this in a prior life before an untimely death or something. Maybe he was Abraham Lincoln as some have made reference. If so, let us hope that he has learned what he must to not be subject to the same insult that ended the life of that Abe Lincoln.

This is a good enough introduction to gain a glimpse of this man who has captures the hearts, minds, attention and position of President of the United States. Against all odds and with high hopes, the world anxiously awaits his inauguration. Let us pray that the existing ruling powers do not decide to cause some havoc and alarm and find them selves ‘having to stay in power’.

So far, despite assertions that Obama is a saint countered by others who deem him a devilish trickster, I would say that he is quite as he appears. Willing, determined, uncertain, ready to take risks, cooperative and intelligent, I would have voted for him given what I see in his Astrology. I will continue to bring focus to Obama and his lead up to hi inauguration in January 2009, so stay tuned!