John Forbes Kerry, 11 December 1943, 08:03AM (+06 Hours), Denver, Colorado, 39 N 44, 104 W 59
John Kerry is the Democratic candidate for the forthcoming US Presidential election. He is campaigning against the incumbent George W Bush. Kerry is considered a somewhat mysterious figure in US politics - the media often asks 'Who is the real John Kerry?' and 'What does John Kerry really stand for?' He has a reputation as a 'flip-flopper', an individual who changes his mind about issues as soon as the political wind switches direction.
An analysis of Kerry's sign placements shows that he is temperamentally attuned to mutability - to contact, exchange, interaction, to influencing and being influenced. He has a large number of planets in the mutable sign axis Gemini-Sagittarius. This polarity lies along the horizon with Sun rising and a stellium setting in Gemini including the Moon, Saturn, Mars and Uranus. The planetary emphasis on the Gemini descendant suggests that people (his electorate) want to hear what he stands for but only get a rather confusing message from their man.
Mars and Uranus are a dynamic pair - Mars is forthright, driven and ambitious; Uranus yearns for a better world. On the other hand, the Moon-Saturn conjunction suggests an inhibition in Kerry's approach to others. This may symbolise the rather distant air that surrounds him in his campaigning style. It may also indicate the rather guarded and reserved praise that he receives, even from members of his own party. This planetary set-up is a push-pull combination in action. He wants to seek out others and lead (Mars and Uranus) but at the same time he seems to pull himself away and retreat from an emotional connection (Moon and Saturn).
This emphasis on mutable signs contrasts with the fixed (four-sided or quadrangular) nature of John Kerry's main aspect pattern linking Mercury, Venus, Pluto-Node and Mars-Uranus. In Huber astrology, a quadrangular shape in the aspect structure points towards a mode of consciousness that seeks out security, safety and a high degree of stability in life. Oddly, this may give Kerry a rather conservative and old-fashioned outlook on the world. It may also incline Kerry to be 'risk averse'. This is not necessarily an undesirable characteristic in a global leader, but challenging times call for daring visions and brave leaders.
There is also a strong linear element to the aspect structure. This is identified in the opposition between Sun and the descendant planets. This is likely to be a highly energetic dimension of his chart, energising the push-pull feeling. Linear patterns are representative of driving cardinal energy. The cardinal energy represented in the oppositions also fall across the first and seventh houses. These are cardinal houses, amplifying the power of this linear structure.
Kerry's challenges in terms of self-presentation are compounded by his third-ninth house axis. The other mutable sign polarity, Gemini-Pisces, is intercepted in these houses. Two mutable planets, Jupiter and Neptune, frame this axis from the ninth house. The ninth house is the place of higher learning, of individualised thinking, of ideas that reflect a personal philosophical vision of the world. It is through this house that Kerry could announce what he stands for and set out his unique vision. In short, Kerry could declare himself to the world from the ninth house. However,
Jupiter is virtually unaspected in the ninth and somewhat cut off from the central portion of the chart by the square between Pluto-North Node and Venus. Jupiter is in the final degrees of regal Leo, the sign on the ninth house cusp. Leo is a dramatic sign, full of flair and vigour. It is a sign of individual power and leadership. But for all this bold flourish and undoubted promise, Kerry's ninth house seems rather empty. There is an impression of vacuity and void about this house. It is easy to sound rather judgmental about this area of Kerry's chart!
It seems that Kerry is prone to being swayed by the ideas of others because of an openness in this area of his chart and a lack of planetary focus and integration. His chart seems to press up toward the ninth house, only to find an empty space and a rather isolated planet. This house sounds a 'dumb note' in a chart that emphasises the upper, conscious hemisphere. His chart seems to radiate out through the upper houses suggesting that he can create an impression in the world. But the world rushes in on him through the ninth and is blocked by the red aspect. The red aspect seems to guard his soul and protect his innermost identity from the gaze of the world.
A deep message of Leo on the ninth is this: I lead through heartfelt vision. I believe that the world wants a new vision at this time. The old paradigms of war and capital are dying. Consumption is draining the Earth of its resources in double-quick time. John Kerry's horoscope suggests that he has many of the necessary qualities to lead during a period of great transition. Neptune, the planet of Cosmic Identification and Transcendence crowns his chart. Neptune (Love) and Jupiter (Faith) are the most elevated planets in his horoscope. I feel that Kerry is, at heart, a spiritual man who desires to make his inclusive, unifying vision available to the world. I believe that he wants to reach out to others with his dreams. However, for a politician, who lives by negotiating his way beteen competing powers and vested interests, this clearly involves a risk.
Of course, it is easy to be seduced by Neptune on the midheaven. The most intangible and potentially glamour-ridden planet is in 'flip-flopping' Libra to boot! Kerry is a politician and politicians are pragmatists, not generally given to flights of imagination and dreaming. Kerry's Neptune may be no more than smoke and mirrors, spiritual potential masking illusion and the potential for deception and disappointment. Right now there may be mistrust and a degree of cynicism about his 'flip-flopping' mutability and 'push-pull' style - can voters believe what Kerry says? Are his actions authentic? Until John Kerry steps forward and says 'This is who I am and this is what I believe in', this mistrust may dog his campaign efforts and potential electoral appeal.
However, I believe that if Kerry truly declares his spiritual vision to the world, if he speaks his mind with all his heart, the world will follow. This is his Leonine, ninth house promise.
Ed Gillam
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