The polls and the pundits say this race is too close to call. Regrettably, astrology says so, too, although that does give one comfort that astrology truly reflects its times. Each candidate has pluses and minuses, and, amazingly, many of the same ones!

But perhaps that’s not so amazing. In many respects, George and John started out the same, so perhaps it’s only fair that they wind up together, just as they did in Davenport, Iowa in early August, when the two candidates were stumping simultaneously within three blocks of each other. Both men are the sons of privilege, both attended Yale, and both were initiated into the secret Skull and Bones society.

At that point, however, their paths diverged. One used his position to avoid active service during the Viet Nam War; one enlisted in the Navy. One may not have fulfilled his commitment to the Air National Guard; the other volunteered for the most stressful, dangerous duty available and served with honor and distinction. One endured a series of business failures until lucking into a good investment and parlaying that into a political career; the other had a successful career of public service including prosecutorial, executive and legislative duties.

And now here they are, in 2004, head to head and vying for the highest office in the land, with only the American voter to decide. And the stars.

And what do the stars tell us? Well, it just may be too close to call.

When we look at the day itself, November 2, 2004, the Day of the Dead, change would seem to be indicated. The Sun at 10 Scorpio is forming a T-Square with two Black Holes, Cernunnos at 9 Leo and Kybele at 12 Aquarius. Black Hole contacts impel change, often unexpected, usually dramatic. It’s doubtful, national polls having been so close for so long, whether either outcome would be seen as truly "unexpected," nor is a "dramatic" win likely by either candidate. There may be drama of another sort, however, in another close and contested election. The Sun is also squared to Neptune, implying deception and electoral sleight of hand, or possibly a disappointed incumbent.

Saturn at 27 Cancer, which represents the office of the presidency, is also part of a Black Hole T-Square, conjunct Kali at 28 Cancer and square to both Kore/Persephone at 27 Aries and Pele at 29 Libra. Again, change is implied, or at a minimum, an uncompleted term of office, should Bush be elected (the only two incumbents since 1960 to be returned with Saturn in aspect to a Black Hole on Election Day were Nixon, who resigned to avoid impeachment, and Clinton, who was impeached by the House but beat the rap in the Senate).

Saturn is also exactly inconjunct Mercury, a possible indicator of the electorate’s desire to adjust or amend the holder of the office of the presidency. Bush’s numbers have been flat-lining all year until the Republican Convention; in major polls taken by ABC, CBS, Newsweek and Zogby since February, the percentage saying he deserves re-election hasn’t risen above 46; those saying he should be replaced hasn’t fallen below 50. A significant bounce immediately after the RNC has evaporated, and current polls shows Bush still tied with Kerry or within the margin of error.

And Mercury may prove pivotal; at 27 Scorpio it is conjoined a Quasar and part of yet another Galactic T-Square, opposed a controversy-provoking Maser at 28 Taurus and square Black Hole Hekate at 28 Aquarius. Its position conjunct a Quasar implies a greater-than-usual voter turnout, which is likely to favor the challenger, and the square to Black Hole Hekate could indicate a reversal of direction for the electorate, withdrawing its support from the incumbent in favor of someone new. But the Black Hole and the Maser also argue for drama and controversy, and a high probability of electoral manipulation, which is more likely to favor an incumbent.

Venus at 5 Libra is also involved in a Galactic T-Square, conjunct a Quasar and square to Black Holes Durga at 5 Capricorn and Parvati at 4 Cancer. Venus on a Quasar implies a large female voter turnout; Mercury linked with a Quasar implies a large showing by young people; both traditionally favor the challenger.

The other significators would be the applicable transits to each candidate’s natal chart, his current solar return chart, and the chart for the moment of his acceptance of his Party’s nomination.

George W. Bush (born 6 July 1946; see chart) has some pluses in his transits for the period, and some minuses; often, they’re the same aspect. Transit Saturn at 27 Cancer has just made its second return to its birth position in his Twelfth House. This can be seen in two lights—as the start of a new cycle, it is a seed point, generative and powerful. But as the culmination of the old cycle, it is also an end point, a disavowal of what has gone before. End result, they cancel each other out.

Both transit Venus at 5 Libra and transit Jupiter at 8 Libra conjoin Bush’s natal Neptune and a Quasar. Again, two views—will this combination increase his ability to deceive the American people, and women in particular, or will Jupiter’s presence here cause him to over-reach in his deceptions, ripping off the mask and revealing him to others? In either case, women’s votes are likely to be uncertain, or not able to be counted upon, due to Neptune’s influence, and decisive to the outcome, due to the Quasar’s.

Transit Neptune at 12 Aquarius is exactly conjunct a Black Hole in the Seventh House, within orb of the Descendant, and closely inconjunct the natal Sun at 13 Cancer. While this probably helps to lock up Bush's Fundamentalist base, again, it begs the question of his honesty with the electorate as a whole, and the perception of his image which others have. Will the veils be cast aside, or shroud him more closely? Will Image trump Substance, or will it crumble to reveal a lack thereof? The transit Sun ties to this as well; at 10 Scorpio it is square to Neptune and trine Bush’s natal Sun. Conflict on one front, support on the other. The transit Sun is also exactly squared Bush’s natal Pluto, probably an asset, although Pluto can be tricky if there are unresolved issues from the past or more dirt to be exposed.

Transit Mars at 24 Libra is exactly conjunct the Nadir, and the 21 Libra Solar Eclipse of October 13, just prior to the election, is conjunct it as well. Once more—difficult to read. While Mars and eclipses both bring energy, the Nadir suggests finality or completion, but also foundations. Can an incumbent’s re-election fairly be considered a foundation point, or is it more of a continuation? Mars here can be seen as energizing Bush’s base, a type of foundation, but the eclipse may do just the opposite—overshadow that support. The eclipse is also exactly square Bush’s natal Chiron, which at 21 Capricorn falls in the Sixth House of service, including military service. Will his own record of service, or lack thereof, in the Texas Air National Guard, provide a fatal, Chirotic wound, or will there be a healing from this activation?

Probably most favorable is the position of the Lunar Eclipse prior to the election. At 5 Taurus, the eclipse is exactly conjunct a manifestation-evoking Quasar, in Bush’s Tenth House of career. But again, eclipses can cut both ways—will this be the confirmation of his authority and position, or the end to his career? Such an eclipse for a challenger could prove useful, highlighting his status and capabilities, making him look presidential; but what does it say for an incumbent, who has already attained the highest post the world has to offer?

Bush’s least favorable aspect is undoubtedly Pluto’s inimical stance. At 20 Sagittarius, Pluto is exactly conjoined Bush’s natal South Node, raking up all the muck from his past, exposing old scandals, perhaps encouraging too sanguine an outlook on Bush’s part. South Node contacts urge us to reach back to what is familiar and utilize old patterns of behavior; activation of this "comfort zone" could encourage complacency and false optimism, or too much reliance on "dirty tricks" such as the Swift Boat Veterans front, which may backfire. South Node activation periods can also be times when the chickens come home to roost, and our past catches up to us.

Bush’s Solar Return is very similar to his natal chart (view GWB's solar return for '04). This can be an advantage to him personally, as he feels "at home" for the year, and is comfortable, not challenged with integrating a different outlook. Black Hole Hades is still on the 25 Aries Solar Return Midheaven; again, this cuts both ways. Black Hole Midheaven energies present in the birth chart undoubtedly helped to propel Bush into the position he now holds, but with a cost—the disputed election. We may see history repeat itself, or we may see Bush’s career consigned to the oblivion of the Black Hole’s supergravity.

Solar Return Mars at 7 Leo falls on the 6 Leo Solar Return Ascendant; Bush is a fighter, and Mars will push his agenda aggressively. But both these points are squared the Black Hole at 7 Scorpio and the Maser at 8 Taurus; this could cause erratic or controversial actions, possibly a loss of composure which could be fatal. (Interestingly, Bush’s natal Mars at 9 Virgo tightly squares challenger Kerry’s at 10 Gemini, an apt image of the combativeness this campaign has evinced for months.)

Bush’s Solar Return Sun is conjoined by Solar Return Saturn; once again, hard to know which way the cat will jump. In a challenger, this implies increased responsibility, influence and power; in the incumbent, it inclines more to restriction and loss—he’s already at the top of the ladder, there’s no place higher to climb to.

One huge advantage the Solar Return chart gives Bush is its Moon placement; incredibly, at 26 Aquarius, this Moon is an exact match for the USA’s own. Ordinarily, one would expect a landslide victory from this position, as it enables the American people to self-identify with the native easily. But in the current atmosphere of division and polarization, such is not a possibility, though the margin of a Bush victory could be considerably increased by outside factors such as a theatrical unveiling of a captured Bin Laden or a devastating attack on US soil by terrorists just prior to the election.

Astrologer Mark Lerner of "Welcome To Planet Earth" has argued convincingly that one of the major indicators of electoral success is whether or not the Moon was void at the time of the acceptance speech for the nomination. Unfortunately for the astrological sleuth, neither candidate accepted under a void Moon.

Bush’s acceptance of the Republican Presidential nomination occurred at 10:10 PM EDT, Thursday, 2 September 2004, in Manhattan, New York. It’s not an impressive chart, and might be best suited for retirement, with a strong Fifth House stellium focusing on pursuits of pleasure, and the Moon, representing the public, in the Twelfth House of endings.

One possible point in Bush’s favor—the 28 Capricorn Midheaven for the acceptance, sandwiched between information-evoking Pulsars at 27 and 29 Capricorn, which may help him to get his message out, is also closely conjunct the nation’s natal Pluto at 27 Capricorn. Whether Pluto there suggests continued connections to the USA’s power center, or is merely an acknowledgment of the fact that Bush has gone as far as he can here and currently wields the ultimate power, remains to be seen.

It’s an irritable chart in some respects; the 19 Taurus Ascendant is stubborn and combative, a situation reflected in the Sun’s conjunction with Mars. The Ascendant is unconjoined galactically (there is a Black Hole three degrees off, so within the effects of its event horizon, but this is not a very strong connection), but it is in exact aspect to Pluto at 19 Sagittarius. That aspect, however, is an inconjunct, which implies an adjustment in personal power, and Pluto, fresh from its station direct earlier that week, is exactly conjoined a Black Hole, which also implies major revision of the status quo as regards personal power. Pluto also resides in its natural home of the Eighth House, a point of transition and transformation which could also signify a death, figuratively, as in career, or literally.

The Sun at 10 Virgo is just past the singularity of Black Hole Apsu at 9 Virgo, and exactly squared Black Hole Anubis. Again, energy in flux, with an uncertain outcome.

Saturn and Venus conjoin in late Cancer; there is no love lost in that conjunction, which could also reflect the importance of women’s votes in the election—if they support Bush, his authority is assured; if they break for the challenger, they signal his loss.

The only Tenth House energy is Neptune at 13 Aquarius, which is not encouraging. The Carteresque term ‘malaise’ comes to mind. Neptune in the Tenth certainly fits Bush’s Messianic Man on a Mission image, but it also signifies lack of focus and potential disappointment. Neptune is exactly conjunct a Black Hole and broadly inconjunct the Sun/Mars conjunction. More Wars for Oil are indicated.

The Nadir is exactly conjoined Black Hole Kali at 28 Cancer, a strong indicator of an unexpected, sudden change in residence, not always at the native’s discretion or direction.¹

If the election were being decided based on this chart alone, it is a clear loser, but it’s difficult to determine how much relative weight to give to this single point in time.

John Forbes Kerry’s road to the White House is equally paved with rocky celestial patterns. Born 11 December 1943 (view Kerry's birth chart), Kerry shares much of the same energies as his opponent.

The transit Venus/Jupiter conjunction of 5 and 8 Libra also falls on Kerry’s Neptune at 4 Libra, as it did on Bush’s. But for Kerry, the conjunction shows Venus and the Quasar exactly on the Midheaven, and Jupiter firmly placed in the Tenth House of career, while for Bush these fall in the politically nondescript Third. These are very favorable placements for a challenger in general, but again, Neptune here is problematic, and could indicate a huge disappointment or electoral fraud. Venus, however, is exactly squared his 5 Capricorn Mercury/Black Hole conjunction; if he can connect personally with female voters, the election is his.

Adding to the Tenth House activations are the placements of transit Mars at 24 Libra and the degree of the Solar Eclipse of 13 October at 21 Libra, both in the Tenth. Bush’s eclipse and Mars energies cluster about his Nadir, the bottom of the chart, the low point of the Wheel of Fortune; Kerry’s show him at the top of Fortune’s Wheel. Bush does have the Lunar Eclipse which falls two weeks later in his Tenth (this falls in the Fifth for Kerry, but is exactly inconjunct his Midheaven, possibly implying an adjustment in his career fortunes). As Solar and Lunar Eclipses go, both are powerful, but if forced to make a decision, I’d give the edge to a Solar.

The transit Sun at 10 Scorpio is square Kerry’s North Node/Pluto/Black Hole conjunction at 8/9 Leo. This could indicate enhanced power, but might also evoke revelations of prior misdeeds. The Sun is also pulling away from Kerry’s Venus at 3 Scorpio, though still within orb; this could give an edge with female voters.

As inimical as transit Pluto is for Bush, that’s how favorable it is for Kerry. At 20 Sagittarius, Pluto is still within orb of Kerry’s natal Sun at 18 Sagittarius, and his Ascendant at 16. These are powerful aspects, not to be taken lightly. In the past year they have given Kerry life-threatening prostate cancer and helped him beat it; almost squashed his candidacy and then given him his Party’s nomination. Overall, the pattern with this transit of Pluto in Kerry’s life seems to be to pull him to the brink of disaster, only to revitalize and regenerate him, Sphinx-like. And Kerry is noted for being at his best when the water is up to his neck. If the pattern holds, he’ll be in the White House.

Kerry’s 2003 Solar Return is still applicable, but the election is only 40 days before his 2004 Return, so we’ll take a peek at that as well to see what it can tell us. In 2003, the Sun/Pluto conjunction is palpable; at 18 and 19 Sagittarius, both celestials exactly conjoin Black Holes and are tied tightly to an 18 Virgo Jupiter by square. The conjunction falls in Kerry’s Fourth Solar House, and may have much to say about the campaign’s decision to go back to his roots and tout his Vietnam service as qualifications for the issues of homeland security (a Fourth House issue). This has proven controversial with the Swift Boat Veterans’ smear campaign, a situation perhaps foretold by the Midheaven’s exact conjunction with a powder-keg-like Maser at 28 Taurus. His reputation and public image is under siege.

Further, Kerry’s Solar Return Mars at 26 Pisces is exactly square the supermassive Black Hole at the Galactic Center, indicating that Kerry’s ability to project power on a global scale could be significant in the year’s issues.

A manifestation-evoking Quasar exactly conjoins the Nadir, and it is interesting to note that within days of this Solar Return in December 2003, Kerry took out a $6 million mortgage on his Boston home in order to keep his flagging campaign afloat.

Solar Return Jupiter’s inclusion in the pattern may have helped in pulling Kerry’s fat from the Plutonian fires described above this past year, giving him increased visibility and attention, helping to set up a drive for power and position. Jupiter ordinarily might have helped to pull the candidate out of his shell of reserved stoicism, but for the unfortunate fact of the Moon and Saturn in close conjunction at 11 and 13 Cancer in the Solar Return chart, which reinforces Kerry’s natal tendencies to aloofness. Oddly, that Moon placement is exactly conjunct the natal Sun degree of both Bush and the nation, giving Kerry a Solar Return contact to one of the nation’s Lights to rival Bush’s Solar Return Moon conjunct the USA’s Moon.

The 2004 Solar Return, which falls in the interregnum period between the election and the inauguration, shows Pluto at 21 Sagittarius still with the Sun, and a retrograde Mercury at Inferior Conjunction with the Sun, both at 18 Sagittarius, this impressive triple header tightly trine to the Midheaven at 19 Leo. This could indicate support for a powerful career change. A second triple conjunction of Mars, Venus and the Moon at 19, 22 and 25 Scorpio could indicate power expressed in the public sector, an interpretation that is supported by the trine from Saturn at 26 Cancer, itself opposed the nation’s Pluto. Kerry’s 2004 Solar Return Jupiter at 14 Libra is an exact match for the USA’s Saturn, representing the presidency itself.

John Kerry accepted the Democratic Presidential nomination at 10:22 PM EDT, July 29, 2004 in Boston Massachusetts, and the chart well reflects that moment in time.

The 3 Aries Ascendant, exactly conjunct a newsworthy Pulsar, is in the Sign of the Leader, and Saturnian/presidential energies abound. Saturn that day at 19 Cancer is exactly opposed a Black Hole, indicating a potential reversal in the Oval Office, and is both tightly sextile Jupiter at 18 Virgo and exactly inconjunct Pluto conjunct Black Hole Ereshkigal at 19 Sagittarius, which is itself conjunct Kerry’s Sun. The Sun for the nomination at 7 Leo is exactly square a Black Hole, indicating a change in fortune for the native, and is also exactly conjunct George Bush’s Ascendant, a fine example of throwing down the astrological gauntlet.

The Moon at 13 Capricorn is in the Tenth House (as are Pallas and Chiron), possibly indicating popular support, and is exactly squared Black Hole Nemesis at 13 Libra, which conjoins the nation’s Saturn, and exactly opposed the nation’s Sun. Vesta, indicating national security concerns, is exactly conjunct Black Hole Quetzalcoatl at 28 Pisces, from where it activates the strongest grid of Deep Space energies of which we are aware, with no less than 8 anomalies at the 28th degree of various Signs. Finally, both the Midheaven and the Nadir conjoin Black Holes, a possible indicator of a dramatic change in job and residence for the native.

In summary, probably too close to call. In 2000, based on current transits, I predicted Al Gore the winner by a nose. Gore did in fact get the most votes, a circumstance which would constitute "winning" by any standard of voting in any other race in the country. But electoral manipulation in Florida, a flawed and abridged recount, Supreme Court intervention and the quirks of our antiquated Electoral College system put Bush in the Oval Office.

This time, all things being equal, I’d give Kerry a slight edge again.

But as we know, all things are not equal. Florida is gearing up for massive voter disenfranchisement again, and there are indications the GOP has expanded this tactic to other key battleground states. Further, should major terrorist activity occur between now and the election, all bets are off.

My head says "Kerry," but my heart says "Bush," and quails at the thought. If elected, I do not expect him to finish the term. If re-defeated, I would not be surprised to find he doesn’t make it to Kerry’s Inauguration Day.

NOTES:

1. An interesting note regarding residences. Laura Owen in a recent ISAR circular has noted the aspects for First Lady Laura Bush and challenger spouse Teresa Heinz Kerry as regards moving, as a possible indicator of the election’s outcome. Heinz Kerry’s birth time is not certain, but if accurate, gives her a 27 Aquarius natal Moon, a close match for the USA’s own, while her progressed Moon at Inauguration Day will be conjoining the nation’s North Node. Either could indicate a closer domestic relationship with the USA and a claim on residence in the White House. Laura Bush’s birth time is unknown, but within the applicable time frame, transit Uranus seems to be closing in on her natal Moon, implying sudden domestic disruption.