The Mystery of Hillary Clinton’s Astrology Chart

As the 2008 Presidential race heats up, astrologers are somewhat at a loss in making predictions because two of the major players’ birth times are unknown-Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama. For Hillary, the two most commonly given times are 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on October 26, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. In one chart, she has Gemini Rising, while in the other she has Scorpio Rising. The two Midheavens-the career point at the top of the chart-are opposite one another – 4° Virgo in Chart 1 versus 5° Pisces in Chart 2. The house positions of the planets, however, are not all opposite one another in the two charts, so the house placements ought to be revealing.

In general, with a questionable birth time, I’d recommend against making a snap judgment based on the rising sign. So many factors could affect how the rising sign is expressed: planets in the 1st house; planets that make hard aspects to the Ascendant itself; and the sign, house placement, and aspects of the ruler of the Ascendant. For instance, Pluto square the Ascendant would give a certain Scorpionic cast to the outward personality, though not as obviously as with Pluto conjunct the Ascendant. Uranus conjunct the Ascendant could make for an Aquarian type – in spades. A Leo-rising person with the Sun (Leo’s ruler) in Cancer in the 12th would not necessarily register as Leonine.

In Hillary Clinton’s case, however, the differences between the two Ascendants are suggestive. The 8:00 p.m. time gives Gemini rising, with Uranus in the 12th house conjunct the Ascendant. It’s true that Hillary espouses liberal causes, yet Uranus conjunct the Ascendant should indicate more of a rebel or maverick, and with Uranus in the 12th house, her involvement might be likely to backfire on her. The 8:00 a.m. chart, with Mercury in Scorpio in the 12th conjunct the Ascendant, makes a bit more sense. She’s a potent speaker, political to the core, shrewdly analyzing every move. Yet, her shrewdness shows through a bit too clearly, making her less than beloved by some segments of the population. In either case, however, the Ascendant has a Mercurial tinge to it – Gemini rising vs. Mercury conjunct the Ascendant – so we must remain undecided at this point.

The 12th house is extremely prominent in the 8:00 a.m. chart, with four planets (including personal ones – the Sun, Mercury, and Venus – and Chiron) in Scorpio. It’s a popular misconception that 12th -house types tend to fade into the background: George W. Bush also has the Sun in the 12th, along with Saturn. All we can say for certain about a 12th-house Sun is that the person’s true self is hidden from the general public. Since the 12th is traditionally the house of secret enemies and “self-undoing,” Hillary’s stellium might be relevant to the political scandals that tarnished the Clinton administration. The 12th -house Venus-Chiron conjunction in Scorpio might also partly explain her apparent tolerance of Bill Clinton’s sexual dalliances. (With a completely unknown birth time, it would be hard to say whether Pluto or Scorpio was operating in the 12th – recall what I said earlier about false positives.)

Uranus is the only planet in the 12th in the 8:00 p.m. chart; the 5th house is prominent instead, with three Scorpio planets plus Neptune in Libra. This combination does not ring true. Even though former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton is clearly a much-loved child, with that stellium in the 5th you would not expect an only child, but rather a lively brood. (Of course, not everyone with a strong 5th house has children; for instance, some of these natives are creative artists or performers, and some work with children as a career.) On the basis of our analysis so far, I am leaning toward the 8:00 a.m. chart.

The biggest remaining difference is the placement of the triple conjunction of Mars, Saturn, and Pluto in Leo. In the 8:00 a.m. chart, these planets are in the 9th house; in the 8:00 p.m. chart, they are in the 3rd. Yes, having the trio in the 3rd house (communication and thinking) of the 8:00 p.m. chart could fit Hillary’s penetrating mind and powerful speaking ability. However, that quality could also be accounted for in the 8:00 a.m. chart by Mercury on the Ascendant, closely square Saturn and trine the Moon. The placement of this planetary trio in the 9th house in the a.m. chart also shows Hillary’s Ivy League law school success and persistent activism in legislation. Mars, Saturn, and Pluto in the 9th might also represent the legal battles and even dirty politics that she has become entangled in, including several legal actions taken against the Clintons during their years in the White House.

Finally, the transits to the a.m. chart make the most sense, with Saturn transiting the 9th house, given her highly political stance and congressional post for the past few years. Saturn has been crossing back and forth over that 4 degree Virgo Midheaven since October, 2007, and she’s been running and running hard for all these months. As a good test of 8:00 a.m. birthtime, Saturn will make its last conjunction to that Midheaven around the first of July, 2008.

If it’s the correct chart, her race for the Democratic Presidential candidate should come to a decision point at that time where she either prevails or quits, and if she quits, we’ll know whether she’s willing to run for Vice President or not. The specifics I can’t predict, but when Saturn crosses one’s Midheaven, they usually get a promotion. The Presidency is the promotion she’s hoping for, but Vice President is a step up from either senator or First Lady.