With so much angst, anxiety, and anger surrounding the presidential race — not to mention our autocratic baby president — I thought it would be interesting and worthwhile to take a step back and look at what astrology (yes, astrology!) had to say about the top 4 Democratic candidates for President (excluding Bloomberg, who I’d rather ignore).
The election has gotten me back onto DailyKos after a looong break, so I should clarify that I’m not an astrologist myself, nor am I promoting anything or anyone here. But I like to read a lot.
As a natural skeptic, I long viewed astrology as a lot of New Age nonsense with little basis in reality. But I had the good fortune to end up attending The Evergreen State College, the ultimate "hippie" college, nestled in the woods outside Olympia, Washington. At Evergreen, I was introduced to all sorts of people, concepts, and substances that broke open my uptight, hyper-rationalist mind and made me into a skeptic of scientific materialism itself.
The book that turned me on to Astrology was a massive tome entitled "The Secret Language of Birthdays," written by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers. Hanging out with some friends one night, I noticed this giant book with a beautifully illustrated cover, and my curiosity soon got the better of me. The general profile of people born on my specific birthday, December 1st, was so eerily descriptive of who I was and wanted to be that I was stunned. I read more, and eventually discovered the other books in the "Secret Language" series.
My basic takeaway from these books is that astrology seems to reflect real patterns and tendencies in human affairs, but only insofar as we get way more specific than the usual, simplistic division of people into twelve basic types. People are just far more complex than that.
What most of us commonly refer to as our Zodiac sign is only one part of our 'astrological chart', more specifically known as our 'Sun Sign'. Our sun sign is important, but it's only a piece of the puzzle.
Each of us reflects a combination of influences, and thus merely knowing our Sun Sign won't tell us all that much. To gain deeper insights, one must delve into the various positions, tilt, and directions of the sun, moon, and planets when we were born. Of course, all of this takes a lot of time and research, so for the sake of expedience, we can learn a great deal of relevant information by focusing on the position of the moon.
There are two aspects of this. Our 'Moon Sign' is the counterpart to our Sun Sign, and is determined by the moon's position in the sky at birth. As with our Sun Sign, our Moon Sign generally tells us a lot about our personality.
But there's something else about the moon's position that offers incredible insights into not only our personalities, but our general path in life. According to Goldschneider and Elffers, the position of the north and south nodes of the moon at our birth indicates our 'Karmic path' in life, and they identify and describe 48 of these paths in their book, "The Secret Language of Destiny," published in 1999.
I thought it would be enlightening and fun to take a look at what this book had to say about the 'Karmic paths' of the top Democratic candidates for President, as well as Trump. Though I am only including what seems to be the most relevant excerpts, I found most of what they wrote to be incredibly insightful, so I wasn't just cherry-picking a few of the best bits. I've also edited out all the astrology jargon, and info about their personal relationships. It's worth reiterating that this book was written 20 years ago, well before most of these candidates came into the public eye.
Bernie Sanders September 8, 1941
"The life purpose of those on this karmic path is to take the fertile imagination and visionary abilities...and ground them in...pragmatism. Dreamers,...Many born to this path will be forced to become intensely pragmatic people...in order to provide something tangible to the world.”
“Whether it is their livelihood or not, the men and women on [this] Way are the artists and poets...[who] have been granted the ability to manifest some pretty big dreams. Not only are they born with great drive and persistence, but through their work on this path they will learn the art of making things happen. Their great blessing is their inherent belief that anything is possible...Others see them as unrealistic because they spend much of their time daydreaming or caught up in fantasy...Questioning everything and refusing to assume anything, they are rarely satisfied by a simple answer...their devotion to something greater than themselves...is often enough for them. They don't need approval, accolades, or glory. This makes them both appealing to others and irritating since their omniscient manner can come off as egotism. They seem ineffectual and self-important all at the same time. There are those who will love them for their vision and find their distraction to be endearing.”
Though they are by nature idealistic dreamers, their karmic path "calls them, as their parents once did, to ‘make something of themselves.’ These men and women are blessed with the ability to see the theoretical or the possible in a tangible form in their mind's eye. Developing the knack for transforming this vision into the concrete is the goal of this path. Thus, they must ground their ideas and theories into something practical - perhaps even something the rest of the world can use...It is particularly important if they are to rid themselves of any tendencies to sloppiness or a propensity to make mistakes by acting too quickly or glossing over the importance of details. Stern self-discipline will be needed...through mental discipline, those on this path will learn to be more effective communicators. Presenting their plans with clarity can be crucial to garnering the necessary support from others to make things happen. These individuals are in a position to leave their mark on the world permanently. However, it is important for those on this path to realize that this is a path not about fame or riches but about making the world a better place. Symbolically, a kind of sacrifice is called for here."
And yet, for those born with his Moon sign on this karmic path, there is a warning for what might happen should he be elected. "There is an inclination to hold themselves aloof and fail to garner the support or resources they might need from others to really get their projects off the ground."
Elizabeth Warren June 22, 1949
The authors say of this Karmic path, "this is the path not of a maverick but rather of one who works with others to accomplish an often lofty mission. Moreover, those on this path will enjoy using their excellent ability to think strategically and their dramatic flair when the time comes for them to share their discoveries with others. Possessing a quiet brand of intellectualism and a subtly nuanced mode of thought, the men and women on this karmic path will use their talents more for the good of their cause than for self-aggrandizement, always seeking to bring something of value to others. The individuals on this path are born with an innate savvy that makes them quite worldly and even a bit dramatic. Accomplished in the art of diplomacy, their capacity to understand the politics of almost any situation is beyond compare...the mission of those on [this] Way to give to their society something of benefit...so compels them that they often sacrifice their own needs in order to answer their calling."
"Many on this karmic path reach the pinnacle of success after long periods of anonymous work...they may even become teachers or educators." They "are born with pioneering and leadership abilities...combined with their great breadth of vision and idealism" that makes them "well suited to the kind of concerted effort and group endeavor that beckon, and [they] will have an amazing grasp of how to inspire those around them to work toward a common goal."
Her sun sign falls on the cusp of Gemini-Cancer. "Romantic and inspirational, Gemini-Cancers often put their talents and energies in service to a higher purpose, be it family...or political and social causes. [They] can be mild, even self-effacing, but they can also enchant others, their sweetly innocent charm can be seductive. Although possessed of a certain magnetism, Gemini-Cancers can be remarkably cool customers. They have a useful objectivity, and their reasoning powers make an effective foil to their deep emotions. They are an interesting blend of logic and feeling."
Regarding her moon sign, Warren was born on what the authors call 'The Week of the Teacher'. "It can be said that they have a calling for imparting information and, more important, presenting it in a manner that others can understand. Verbalizing their ideas and observations, generating discussion, and leading by example are all [their] favorite activities...[Their] moral stance...is unusually strong, even unyielding. They tend to side with the underdog and to feel all forms of unfairness and discrimination keenly...Although excellent bosses, parents, and teachers...they can be very demanding and critical, making their dislikes known sharply and incisively. [They] often have a host of admirers."
Joe Biden November 20, 1942
Interestingly, Biden's karmic path is, according to the authors, the same as his erstwhile principal, President Obama. Their very differing personalities, meanwhile, correspond with their differing Sun and Moon signs. Much of what the authors write about Biden's karmic path seems even more evocative of Obama than Biden, but nevertheless could describe either one. They are highly charismatic, sensitive people who tend to mask their deeply emotional nature behind an exterior of rationality. The key lessons for them to learn have to do with learning to trust themselves, and learning who to trust (and not trust) in order to reveal their powerful inner light to the world.
"The individuals born on [this] Way are among the most deeply sensitive...It may be difficult to discern, however, since...they cover up their soft underbelly with a hard shell of cool objectivism and ostensible rationality...There is something otherworldly or even mystical about these individuals. They are, in fact, touched by forces far greater than themselves, and they are concerned with ideals, abstract notions of justice, and universal issues having todo with compassion and humanity. Their tremendous kindness is obvious in how much they care for small children and animals. Often these individuals are not even aware of their inherent mysticism themselves. Other people seem to sense it and are drawn to them for it...Ultimately, trusting themselves, they will be able to show the world their great inner light."
As to Biden specifically, people born on this path during his birthweek are "likely to undergo some profound personal transformations in the course of this life's journey." While that sounds a bit vague, the authors hit the nail on the head when reporting those born at this period are, "Likely to be motivated by an overriding desire to make the world a better place, [and] they can attain great things, provided they can overcome emotional volatility."
Those born with his Moon sign on his karmic path are, "Gifted with a ‘human touch’...these individuals can enjoy wonderful realization of their dreams and aspirations...ambition is sure to come to the forefront here, and these individuals will be possessed of both a fine perception of their own strengths and weaknesses and a clear picture of what goes on in the hearts and minds of others. They will perhaps be at their best behind the scenes, pulling the strings or whispering into the ears of those on the forefront."
Pete Buttigieg January 19, 1982
Those born to [this] Way are here to develop the ability to persuade others to their point of view rather than to dominate them. These career-oriented individuals have executive ability, but...they [must] learn to temper their management style by learning how to seduce others to accede to their wishes rather than demanding they do so.” “Because of their heightened sense of responsibility, those born to [this] Way often... impose their wills on those around them not so much as a hostile act but as an expression of their belief that they know best. In fact,... [they] have a great capacity for devotion and want to make a contribution to the lives of their fellow men. It's just that...Possessing a tremendous capacity for emotional detachment, they often do not consider the effects of their actions on others. So responsible and hardworking are those on [this] way that they often do not bother to delegate their work, choosing to do it themselves to save trouble. The result is that they overburden themselves with work and worry." "The men and women on this path have executive ability...Their management style, however...can be too direct for their own good. Coworkers and employees see them as being heavy-handed...Of course, they themselves never see things this way. They view themselves as confident, capable, and having the courage and heart to "be the responsible one."
“Generally, the individuals on this path have good intentions and hearts, it's just that their methods need some work...they must transform the manner in which they attempt to control others, moving from domination to persuasion., from giving orders to seduction."
"Individuals who are successful on this karmic path may become adept at influencing the public at large. Eventually, these people will begin to invoke collective symbols and powerful imagery to persuade others...It should be noted that those on this karmic path will rarely resort to moral shortcuts, lying, or telling half-truths to get what they want, as their sense of honor precludes doing so. They always win their arguments through hard work and preparation. They combine the logical reasoning...with the formidable powers of observation...to make any case they present undefeatable."
People born on Buttigieg's particular birthweek are, "Gifted with an unusual ability to tap into collective ideas and needs, these individuals...can experience a truly transformative life experience, as they have both highly developed instincts and the ability to inspire others."
For shits, I then looked up the Karmic Path of our current thief-in-chief, the Donald. Again, this book was written in 1999, and no I didn't make this up.
Donald Trump June 14, 1946
"So preoccupied are these ambitious and larger-than-life souls with their goals and mythic ways of living that often they never become acquainted with themselves...The individuals on this karmic path are born with big personalities. Everything about them is huge: their ideas, their feelings, the way they live, and even their ambitions. Rarely do they do anything on less than a grand scale. When upset, it's an event of volcanic proportions...If they want something, nothing stops them from getting it. You can find them in the biggest homes and the fanciest cars...The trouble is that none of this bounty makes them especially happy...As imposing as these men and women may appear to the rest of us, the sad truth is that often they are clueless as to who they are and what makes them tick...There is something of the snob in these individuals...They simply believe themselves to be inherently superior to others and therefore above it all...Their big personalities tend to have big egos to match." "A pitfall here is that there is something of the drama queen about these individuals, men and women alike. When things don't go their way, they tend to withdraw and sulk. And what a royal sulk it is. They can stay bogged down for weeks in their rage or self-pity or both." "It is extremely easy for those on this path to become lost in their romantic illusions and fantasies."
Because Trump was already famous back in 1999, when the authors wrote this book, Trump is actually one of the famous people profiled for this path! The authors say of him, "Because of his love of achievement and press coverage, businessman Donald Trump does not give the impression of someone whose top priority is becoming better acquainted with his inner humanity...His adherence to hislarger-than-life persona does not speak well of his progress on this path." Ha! Ya think?