Transits to Obama's Chart

Let's start with a look at some of the most important transits to Obama's chart. Unless you believe the "birthers," he was born 8/4/1961, 7:24 PM, in Honolulu HI. (For more astrological information on Obama, see my "Obama Astrologized" article.)

Transits to Obama's chart on 3-23-10

For starters, Pluto, the slowest and most powerful outer planet, was making a virtually exact sextile (60°) to Obama's natal Chiron. Pluto brings transformation, and Chiron is the planet that most specifically represents health and healing. Clearly, this energetically flowing aspect did much to set the stage.

Pluto also was making another "soft" angle - a 120° trine - to Obama's natal Pluto. Since Pluto rules Obama's Scorpio midheaven (the cusp of the 10^th House), this connection empowers his ability to create transformation in the world.

Transiting Neptune (dreams and visions) and Chiron (health and healing) were conjunct Obama's South Node of the Moon. With these moving planets aligning with his "axis of destiny," it was time to fulfill his karmic duty: making his vision of fair and affordable medical coverage for all US citizens a reality. He obviously didn't get everything he wanted. But, political pragmatist that he is, he did the best he could under the circumstances.

Neptune and Chiron were also opposing Obama's Uranus, which represents revolution and paradigm shift. (Uranus is a powerful planet in Obama's chart: with Aquarius rising, Uranus is his modern chart ruler.)

A Progressive Progressed

Progressions to Obama's chart 3-23-10

Looking at Obama's progressed chart, we see two additional factors. His progressed Moon - the evolving mood of the soul - was conjunct Chiron! And his progressed Sun, his evolving sense of identity and purpose, was very late in Virgo - most of the way through the 29^th and final degree!

The progressed Sun moves at a snail's pace, taking 30 years to creep through a sign. When it finally approaches the next sign, there can be a sense of urgency about wrapping up unfinished business relating to its current placement. With Obama's progressed Sun poised to enter Libra this summer, it was time for him to wrap up Virgo-related matters. And - no surprise - Virgo is the sign that rules health and healthcare.

Clearly, the moving energies affecting Obama's chart were mostly supporting his efforts to get the healthcare bill passed. But what about the chart of the country whose citizens will be so profoundly affected by it?

The USA's Transits

As usual, I am using the "Sibley" chart for the USA: July 4, 1776, 5:10 PM, in Philadelphia, PA.

Transits to USA chart 3-23-10

Let's start once again with powerful, transformative Pluto. It was opposing two of the most important planets in the USA chart: Venus (ruler of the midheaven) and Jupiter (ruler of the chart). Even more significantly in this context, Venus rules the USA's Sixth House of health and healing.

Transiting Neptune (dreams and visions) and Chiron (health and healing), which were such major players in Obama's chart, are also important here. They both were conjuncting the USA Moon, which represents the public in a country's chart.

Given the health care bill's high level of controversy, and the difficulty Obama had getting it passed, we wouldn't expect a cakewalk USA transit chart. In fact, none of the USA transits discussed so far are "flowing" by definition. The oppositions being made by Pluto to Venus and Jupiter are considered "hard" angles - challenging by definition - and a conjunction can feel either hard or soft, depending on the circumstances.

Some of the toughest aspects were being made to the USA chart by transiting Saturn. Saturn is the planet most representative of conservatism and maintaining the status quo. One group this planet obviously represents is the Republican Party. Its representatives, more often than not, have fought vigorously against major US social legislation, including this healthcare bill.

On March 23, Saturn was sitting right on top of the USA midheaven (taking action in the world) and making a strong square to natal Venus (the USA's healthcare ruler). Fortunately for Obama, Jupiter -- transiting in the compassionate sign of Pisces - was trining the USA Sun. The Sun represents the core of the USA's identity, and also rules its Ninth House of politics.

Quantum Global Shift

As extraordinary as the passage of this landmark legislation is, it's merely an early expression of even more momentous changes to come -- in the USA and around the world. As I describe in great detail in the MP3 audio recording and accompanying PowerPoint of my "Quantum Global Shift" lecture, and touch on in two articles ("The Saturn-Uranus Opposition" and "Pluto in Capricorn"), we've now entered what could be called "The 60's, Part 2." This is a time of global paradigm shift that will leave the world profoundly transformed before the end of this decade.

I will not go into great detail on these energies here, since I have covered that ground so thoroughly already (especially in "Quantum Global Shift"), but a few summary paragraphs seem appropriate.

Sky transits (Jupiter out) 3-23-10

In the short term, a series of five Saturn-Uranus oppositions - the first one memorably exact on the day Obama was elected president -- finishes by the end of Summer 2010. This fundamentally represents old structures that have outlived their usefulness (Saturn) being replaced by revolutionary new paradigms (Uranus). But not without a fight!

A similar theme is being played out by a series of Saturn-Pluto squares, which began in the fall of 2009 and run through the summer of 2011. Saturn's meaning is the same, but Pluto is relentlessly insisting on the transformation of everything that no longer serves the greater good into something that does.

Through 2011, Uranus and Neptune never stray far from the 30° semi-sextile (and, for most of that time, mutual reception) that has connected them since the summer of 2008. Taken collectively, the energies of these two planets and the three signs they occupy during that time - Aquarius, Pisces and Aries - could be taken to mean "initiating a compassionate global spiritual revolution." I'm seeing more people around me waking up faster than ever before - how about you?

But the most momentous sky event, which started heating up in early 2009 and will last through most of the 2010s, is the Uranus-Pluto square. It's Uranus and Pluto who will be primarily responsible for the "60's, Part 2" phenomenon. In combination, they represent themes such as revolutionary transformation, superpowered technological innovation, shamanic breakthroughs, sexual liberation and sudden awakening.

Uranus and Pluto were conjunct during the 60s, and it is only now that they're making their next world-shaking aspect. What started in the 60s goes to its next level of evolution now - but, of course, in the context of contemporary life. (Although tie-dye does seem to be making a comeback!)

In Conclusion

In summary, we've had a look at moving energies working on three levels to support the passage of the healthcare bill: transits and progressions to Obama's chart, transits to the USA chart, and major sky transits affecting the whole world. And, from an astrological perspective, it appears that the passage of the healthcare bill is only the beginning of a series of momentous changes to come in the next few years. In this decade, increasingly rapid and radical transformation will be the global status quo.

And not a moment too soon! It is growing increasingly clear to more and more people that humanity has now reached a crucial crossroads. We all must now develop far greater compassion - for each other, for our fellow species and for the planet - or face unthinkably dire consequences.

So here's to everyone working to bring about a worldwide outbreak of compassion, love and awakening. Spread it around!