ScorpioRising

Inexplicably,many astrologers use a Gemini Rising chart, which corresponds to an early morning time, most popularly stated as 2:17 AM. While there is zero historical evidence to suggest an early morning time, an entire mythology has developed around the idea that one or more of the Founding Fathers were astrologers and selected this time as the most propitious. The fallacy of this argument is that no astrologer would pick a time when the chart ruler, Mercury, was retrograde, as it was on this date. Nor could Uranus, representing the urge for independence and freedom, be placed on the Ascendant, since it wasn't even discovered until 1781.

On the U.S. Ascendant is the Scorpionic image of the eagle prominently featured within the Great Seal, the design of which was commissioned on the same day that the Declaration of Independence was signed. Scorpio was originally designated as an eagle to symbolize the courage, vision, freedom, and majestic power of this sign.

The MGM lion at the U.S. Leo Midheaven reflects the national interest in and cultivation of entertainment. Abraham Lincoln’s image, derived from the five-dollar bill, is placed at the foundation of the horoscope, since he ideally represents the moral foundation of the country. The Taurus Descendant image is adapted from the Merrill Lynch bull logo, and reflects the nation’s primary public interactions to be based on business and investments.

The Eagle, Lion, Bull, and Man in this combination resonate with the ancient astrological tradition of using these four icons to represent the fixed signs of the zodiac. The Great Sphinx blends these same creatures with its head and chest of Man, wings of the Eagle, hindquarters of the Bull, and forequarters of the Lion. These four as an ensemble are prominently featured in Christian prophecy, notably Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelations 4:6-7. They remain in esoteric use through the Tarot card known as The World.

May 11, 2009 - Unemployment

the sixth house of employment conditions holds Chiron. Currently, progressed Venus is heading toward Chiron, showing the stressed employment numbers.

May 18, 2009 - Automakers. The collapse of the automakers began when transiting Pluto entered into an opposition to the U.S. Mars a few years ago. Industries based on metal extraction are not favored

July 20, 2009 - Pluto Leverages America's Future. For the first time in U.S. history, transiting Pluto is in the 2nd house. Over the past year it has opposed Venus, leading to the current credit crisis.

July 27, 2009 - Health Care Reform. The U.S.Mars is a key in the health care discussions as ruler of the 6th house of health, and located in the 8th house of insurance and budgets.

October 12, 2009 - Obama's Nobel Prize. The U.S. progressed chart shows a unique development: the progressed Ascendant at 24º Cancer is conjunct natal Mercury, plus a double Pluto influence.

October 19, 2009 - The Dow hits 10,000 - The first time the Dow crossed the important 10,000 level was on March 29, 1999 when the U.S. P2 Ascendant and P2 Jupiter were conjunct.

Presidential Astrology - How using the U.S. Scorpio Rising chart can help decipher who will win Presidential elections. An extraordinary statistical anomaly is that ten of America's 44 presidents have Mars in Leo. Find out why.

Why Scorpio Rising? - Why not Gemini or Sagittarius? The three most popular U.S. charts are compared and contrasted. This essay is ten years old, but still rings true.

The planets in their houses

Pluto, the Ruling Planet - is located in the third house, and thereby defines where the country finds its dominant strengths: mass media, transportation and communication systems, computer and information technologies, and the innate intellectual power of its founding Declaration.

Sun in 9th House - points to the patriarchal religions which have done so much to form the essential American character. The U.S. Sun is also conjunct Sirius, a first-magnitude star with a long, exalted history, and one that has played a prominent role in our planet's greatest empires.

Moon in 4th House - describes American as a nation of immigrants. In Aquarius, Americans' security needs are associated with multicurtulaism and a litany of personal freedoms. Transiting Saturn through the Aquarian fourth house has consistently brought organized movements toward socialism.

Fist of God Formation - connects the Moon, Sun, and Saturn with aspect lines that make the configuration resemble the so-called Finger of God, but because the aspects are all hard, it has been given the more forceful name of the Fist of God. With Saturn in Libra, this complex can be associated with America's balance of power.

Leo Midheaven - describes astrologically how American culture is dominated by entertainment, sports, and Hollywood movies. All major wars, Presidential deaths in office, and seemingly random, but historic turning points feature major transits and progressions to the U.S. Leo Midheaven.

The Eighth House - The overall tone of the U.S. natal chart gravitates toward the eighth house, which is tenanted by four planets. This stellium emphasizes the importance of corporate and financial affairs in American lifestyles. The eighth house is the house of pooled assets, or essentially, the house of capitalism.

Major Transits - to the Scorpio Ascendant have all left their characteristic imprint on the nation. This essay takes a look at how Saturn transits have brought conservative governments, while Uranus and Neptune brought an independent President (Carter) and Neptune a glamorous one (JFK). Pluto transits have been the most historic.