The Celestial Wheel An In-depth Forecast   October 22, 2008     The Celestial Wheel Home

#75

Finale

The Presidential Race

October 22, 2008

Introduction

     This forecast completes analysis of the November 4 presidential election.  It is preceded by Celestial Wheels on June 2 and October 15.  These can be found on the Celestial Wheel home page, in the section, Forecast Series. 

     Those earlier forecasts predicted Barack Obama would win the election due to his running a tremendous Dasas (planetary cycles) of Jupiter and Moon.  This forecast reviews additional planetary karmas to validate that prediction and to bring further perspectives to the topic.

     Predicting an election winner is the most challenging Vedic Astrology task, for many variables influence the analysis, including last minute events that can turn a winner into a loser.  This concept of wild cards as game changers was used in the October 15 Celestial Wheel Commentary, in the section, When Will The Turbulence End?   Maybe not so coincidentally, financial turbulence or financial stability appears to be the big wild card in this election -- trumping everything else.  Another problem is disengaging from personal preferences.

     The final issue in predicting an election winner is that winner takes all.   In other predictions, one can be half right, or even close and still be relevant.  An example here is this summer's hurricane prediction for a storm hitting Houston and harming the oil supply.  Did this come true?  Yes.  Did it come true in a way that seriously harmed the U.S. economy, as predicted?  Well, maybe.  Nobody is actually sure how much damage was done, for the financial debacle has overwhelmed everything else.  In elections, the astrologer is either right or wrong. 

     Sections are:

     A.  A Final Comment On The First Baby-Boomers

     B.  The U.S. Chart

     C.  Kala Sarpa Yoga

     D.  Mid Analysis Summary

     E.  Presidential Candidates' Charts

     F.  Vice Presidential Candidates' Charts

     G.  Conclusion

(Note on candidates' birth times. A new birth certificate for John McCain surfaced last week, continuing the saga of uncertain birth times right up to the election date. This is like taking a cross country road trip and beginning each day by starting from home.  You never get anywhere.  All four candidates' birth data have been extensively researched, verified by matching characteristics and life events with the charts and confirmed by other Vedic astrologers.  Over 50  hours have been used in this task   If any readers wish to beat this to death further, I would be glad to furnish the data used for a Contribution of $100.00.)

A.  A Final Comment On The First Baby-Boomers 

     February 6, 2005 The First Baby-Boomers*  explained that people born shortly after World War II ended as having a lifelong drive for mastery in the person's field of endeavor, which brings long term success, often at the expense of others -- victimizing without conscience, but sometimes too, being the victim.  Bill Clinton and G.W. Bush, and their wives, all had this combination, suggesting the next President would also be a First Baby-Boomer.  This is a Yoga, a special combination, which consists of Rahu in Taurus and Saturn in Cancer.  It applies to people born between June 28, 1946 and ended December 14, 1947.  (Perhaps returning World War II soldiers' sperm was somehow pumped up by the war experience?)

     The 2008 presidential election was first discussed in the October 8, 2007 Celestial Wheel Commentary -- in the section, Second Gilded Age.  There, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson and Republican Mitt Romney were identified as the only candidates holding this Yoga.  While none of these people won their party's nomination, it's interesting how close Hillary and Mitt came.  In fact, Hillary kept running even after she lost to Obama!  And Mitt was the favored Republican Vice Presidential nominee until Sarah Palin captivated John McCain -- as explained below.

     While it appears the age of the First Baby-Boomer presidents is over, watch for both Hillary and Mitt for 2012.  The June 2, 2008 Celestial Wheel Commentary  predicted,

     If this prediction is doubted, consider other First Baby-Boomers who just refuse to go away -- Donald Trump, Sylvester Stallon, O.J. Simpson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oliver Stone...  Further, expect First Baby-Boomers to have influential roles in government and commerce during the next administration.  Because they are prey to a self-serving nature, they will act to perpetuate Second Gilded Age abuses, making the upcoming depression only more precipitous and severe.

(* The First Baby-Boomers was also published in the May 2, 2008 Celestial Wheel CVA (Council of Vedic Astrology) Journal --  TheCelestialWheel -- CVA Journal.)

B.  The U.S. Chart

     The U.S. finishes up its ten year Moon Dasa (planetary cycle) on November 30.  Moon Dasa symbolizes this Second Gilded Age.  That topic was discussed comprehensively in the December 1, 2007 In-depth Celestial Wheel, Through The Second Gilded Age.  Economic depression was predicted for the following seven year cycle of Mars. 

    Also, the September 30 Celestial Wheel predicted another major economic drop in February, 2009.  That could signal the beginning of, not a recession, but rather a depression. 

(Note: This economic prediction is included the election forecast to understand what the winner will face -- and it could be within weeks of his taking office January 21.  It makes the current tough economic situation truly grave, and to the extent that the public already senses the gloom ahead, suggests voters will choose the candidate most likely to be able to alter the course of the ship of state.  It's a potent advantage for Obama.)

     Through The Second Gilded Age also suggested that the Moon major and Sun minor cycle -- May 31 to November 30 -- would be positive, because the Sun is wealthy in this chart, the economy will begin to recover.  Well, that obviously didn't occur. 

     Here's why.  The August 2, 2008 In-depth Celestial Wheel, The Challenging Summer Of 2008, detailed the economic reversals brought by the challenging transits of Mars over Ketu and Saturn in June and July harming the three basics, food, fuel and shelter.  This was followed on August 1 by a truly debilitating solar eclipse on the U.S. chart -- that brought the confidence collapse, revealing secreted government or private skullduggery, or a major physical disaster -- like a hurricane, predicted May 23.  All of these eclipse harms have actualized, and as eclipse effects last for several months, or even longer, the U.S. remains in turbulent seas.

     Despite these problems, this Sun subperiod has prevented economic collapse.  This results because Dasas are the underlying karmas -- analogous to the river of life -- and transits are secondary, like weather events on the river.  So, while these summer/fall transit storms have repeatedly bashed the economic boat causing leaks, the powerful Sun has bailed out most of the water.  Still, a leaky ship is at risk.

     Putting this on a personal level, Jon Stewart on The Daily Show recently asked a truly cogent question, When is this financial debacle going to start affecting me?  Of course, many have been stressed by problems, but still most Americans have managed to maintain their lifestyles -- so far.  Well, Starbucks isn't doing well for people giving up expensive lattes -- a mirror the the larger economic storm of bad mortgages sinking the financial sector and battering the stock markets.

Keep in mind, the U.S. Dasas are Moon/Sun until November 30.       The Sun subperiod also uplifts attitudes and perception, for this planet of the ego and soul rules the ninth house of higher knowledge.      The U.S.'s wealthy Sun thereby also gives an ethical orientation and a sense for law, harmony and fairness. (Note: the U.S. ran its six year period from late 1982 to 1998.)           We continue to have the gluttonous, fearful and corrupt Moon as the major Dasa influence -- which is why Wall Street barons are unrepentant, and the Bush administration truly doesn't seem to care.       Too John McCain's campaign reacts to those same Second Gilded Age values.

United States July 4, 1776 at 6:17 PM Philadelphia, PA

     The modifying ethical Sun subcycle makes McCain conflicted, however.  So, he promotes his maverick reformer platform but concurrently blasts Obama with Gilded Age corrupt personal attacks.  This, however, is the low road.

     Obama's campaign clearly rejects the Moon's influence for that of the Sun -- the high road. 

     Because the U.S. chart represents the nation, the public is also and similarly conflicted -- lunar* anger, fear and selfishness -- opposed by solar* fairness, harmony and ethics.  That is thereby the choice voters make in this presidential election.

(*For those familiar with Vedic Astrology, those qualities oppose these planets' essential natures -- the the Moon being cool, receptive, perceptional, nuanced and caring and the Sun being hot, aggressive and ego-centered.  It is due to the dispositions of these planets in the U.S. chart -- rulership and placement -- they act contrary to their natures.)

C.   Kala Sarpa Yoga

     There is another potent force with global reach, which explains why the financial markets unraveling this fall has crossed the oceans. 

The July 21 Celestial Wheel included this August 1 chart for the solar eclipse, correctly predicting disruption of oil/gas in Houston in mid September. If you overlay this transit chart on the above U.S. chart, you'll see the eclipsed Sun at 15:32 degrees was almost on top of Rahu at 16:51 degrees in the eighth house of calamity.      Further, if you look closely, you'll see almost all the planets are on the right/below of Rahu and Ketu.  (See Rahu and Ketu at the bottom of of this forecast for the mythology.)  On August 1, only the Moon, Sun and Mercury needed to past by Ketu for all seven planets to be on the right side of these eclipse points.      The next transit chart, for August 11, shows these three planets having passed Ketu.  Beginning then, all the planets are to the right/below of the eclipse points.  This is Kala Sarpa.  (Note: While the fast-moving Moon breaks Kala Sarpa for half each month, it essentially continues for several months -- until December 16.)       Unlike the solar eclipse transit chart that hit only the U.S. chart destructively, this second transit chart containing Kala Sarpa impacts the entire globe.      Like the First Baby-Boomers Yoga, Kala Sarpa is also a Yoga -- a special combination giving specific results that can overwhelm other significations in a chart.  As it refers to head-of-the-dragon, Rahu (the future) and tail-of-the-dragon, Ketu (the past), Kala Sarpa means time serpent.      Years ago I attended a workshop on Rahu/Ketu by Komilla Sutton.  This is a specialty of hers, and Indian born Komilla holds a great depth of understanding of these difficult-to-grasp Eastern planetary symbols.       Komilla now states in her website that the current Kala Sarpa Yoga is responsible for the global financial meltdown.

Solar Eclipse August 1, 2008 at 4:45 AM, CDT Dallas TX August 11, 2008

     This astrologer politely differs because the meltdown originated in the U.S. and was clearly precipitated by the solar eclipse on the U.S. chart.  The eclipse revealed the lack of value in subprime mortgages.  Yet, Komilla's point is well taken, for Kala Sarpa's global nature spread the U.S. seeds out doubt to bundled mortgages purchased by financial institutions globally -- like dust from a major volcano circulates all over the world.  To state this important point a different way, while the solar eclipse precipitated the financial meltdown in the U.S., it was Kala Sarpa that caused it to circle the globe.

     Kala Sarpa Yoga is difficult to understand, for Rahu and Ketu are not planets (Grahas) but rather Chaya Grahas -- shadow planets, which describes their role in causing eclipses.  By being shadows Rahu/Ketu are more psychological influences than real.  As Komilla states, The main effect of Kala Sarpa yoga is on the mind.  Here as it is by transit, it will effect the masses and the acclivities where the public is involved there may be lots of worry, anxiety and stress. It tends to destabilize the situations. 

     Too, Kala Sarpa indicates potent predestination stimulating irresistible ups and downs.  As Komilla also explains, When the planets are within the Rahu Ketu axis, they are considered to be caught by the snake of time and therefore caught in circumstance in life on which sometime they have no control.  In personal charts, Nelson Mandella has Kala Sarpa, and he was in prison for 27 years before liberating South Africa from its apartheid government.  Closer to home, G.W. Bush's Kala Sarpa swept him to the presidency and then jerked him down to failure in that position.  (See the October 24, 2002 The Bush Presidency -- Profile & Prediction.)

     The specific area of Kala Sarpa concern is not easily determined, however, for the house/sign positions of Rahu and Ketu are not very definitive.  The October 11 Celestial Wheel divined the cause of the financial meltdown, as issuing from the solar eclipse, In the U.S. chart, calculating Mercury rules the seventh house of relationships and the tenth house of career.  These qualities make Mercury the chart's primary business planet.  On August 1, Mercury was right in the middle of the solar eclipse in Cancer, which is the U.S. chart's eighth house of turmoil.  (See the above solar eclipse chart.)  Thereby, Mercury was also eclipsed -- and this word literally means blocked.  After the August 1 eclipse Mercury transited out of Cancer, through Leo and then into Virgo in late August.  As also stated in the October 11 Celestial Wheel, on Sunday, September 14, Transit Mercury was just passing disruptive Mars (in Virgo), and also the U.S. chart's restrictive Saturn in the tenth house of career.  Over the weekend Lehman Brothers went bust and Bank of America took over Merrill Lynch.  These failures stimulated a confidence collapse in the markets the next day. )

     It should be noted that the October 11 Celestial Wheel observed eclipse influenced Mercury went retrograde, making it cross restrictive Saturn a second time October 2.  This resulted in the DOW Jones to tumbling 3500 points by October 19!  Lastly, now moving forward Mercury, will cross the U.S. chart's Saturn a third time on October 27.  This is naturally alarming, especially since the U.S. chart's underlying karma Dasas will be Moon/Sun/Ketu/Saturn.  Expect further financial turmoil then.

     What does all this mean?  First, the financial system will continue to unravel like the ball of string my cat bats around instinctively -- and thereby uncontrollably -- until at least October 27 and likely longer, until the end of Kala Sarpa December 16. 

     Second, it means that there is a potent karma for this fall's election to be Kala Sarpa predestined -- fated.  We can see this in the financial meltdown hurting McCain and helping Obama.  That the meltdown is global only accentuates the harms caused by McCain's Republican party during the last eight years of Bush's Kala Sarpa predestined fall.  Provocatively, on November 4, the Moon will be inside the Kala Sarpa boundary, adding to the fated nature of the election.  In fact, the perceptional/emotional Moon will be in the same house as Rahu, stimulating insecurity and fear on election day.

     Third, the financial sector continues its uncontrollable turbulence, and it may very well go really haywire again around October 27.  That will further discredit McCain, and he will be powerless to counteract it.

     To show how the financial meltdown impacted the candidates, below is a polling graph showing McCain's red line diving in mid September when the financial crisis first hit -- and Obama's resuming a gradual rise.

D.   Mid Analysis Summary

     This analysis is clearly involved and complex in the application of mysterious Vedic Astrology techniques.  A brief summary is helpful. 

     Section B showed that the election is choice between McCain's Republican low road and Obama's democratic high road.  While the Moon/Sun cycle brings both influences, voters have a choice in this fork in the karmic path.

     Section C explained that the August 1 solar eclipse brought the financial meltdown, that Kala Sarpa made this global, and its quality of uncontrollable fate also put Obama in the lead.

E.   Presidential Candidates' Charts

     John McCain's Dasas are Saturn/Jupiter/Mars October 5 to November 29 -- through the November 4 election.  This is the end of his 19 year Saturn Dasa that began in 1990.  Saturn in his sixth house gives him past life credit for government and indicates he strives hard to overcome competitors.  Yet is also makes him very stubborn, and an aspect from Mars creates stresses -- ups and downs.  That is primarily why McCain failed in the 2000 election.  The Jupiter subcycle began in October 2006, and this planet of expansion enabled McCain to finally rise above his Republican competitors in the primaries, though it may have been more their relative weakness than his strength.  It was an arduous task, however.  The Mars subcycle activates the Saturn/Mars struggle and also makes McCain angry and impulsive.  There is one noteworthy transit -- that of dissolving and fiery Ketu over his angry Mars.  This further sensitizes McCain, giving him seething anger.  It's amazing McCain has been able to contain his temper -- but not amazing he keeps changing his campaign theme and stooping to exaggerated and false personal attacks.

     Because Obama's willful Sun sits on McCain's fighting Mars, McCain truly dislikes his competitor, as seen in the debates, as well as in public statements.  Obama further stimulates McCain's dark side.   Beyond being a Republican associated with the Bush administrations' horrible blunders, especially and including the financial meltdown, his behavior drives him further to the low road.

     Obama is running Jupiter/Moon Dasa planets.  The Moon subcycle began November 23, 2007 matching his quick rise in the primaries and eventually knocking out Hillary Clinton.  Recall in the above analysis of The First Baby-Boomers, Clinton was both a formidable opponent and one who wouldn't give up.  Although Obama's Jupiter has mixed energies, it is still the planet of luck, fortune and wisdom.  Obama's Moon is spectacular for being exalted in the fifth house of government, past life credit and the mind.  It is this Moon that stimulates Obama's charisma, but just as valuably the mind - intellect, passion in his beliefs, great common sense and the ability to master new subjects.  An aspect from expansive and wise Jupiter amplifies these lunar qualities and also gives Obama the ability to overcome obstacles and prevail. 

     Obama's third level Dasa planet is Mercury from September 3 to November 11 -- past the election.  Basically, this results in Obama running his three mental planets -- Jupiter wisdom, Moon perception and Mercury intellect.  This is fortuitous in elevating luck and fortune and by itself can explain why Obama McCain beginning in September.  This combination also brings the full force of Obama's mental capabilities forward, enabling him to both run an excellent campaign with few missteps, as well as refute McCain's criticisms and personal attacks.  He's clearly taken the high road.

     Obama also naturally benefits from McCain's limitations and the lift up from the financial meltdown, and these can offset his being black.

     Another highlight of Obama's chart is that he has a Mars/Rahu combination.  Mars is desire and sports, and Rahu intensifies both.  This is what makes him an excellent basketball player at age 47, and it also gives him tremendous energy and desire that never quits.  Energizer Bunny is a good term for this.  So, we see Obama always on, always active, always pushing ahead.  It's a tremendous advantage, especially when McCain is impulsive, erratic and showing his age.

     Like McCain, Obama's chart is also afflicted by transit Ketu, which sits on his Sun, an indicator of self.  This was explained in the October 7 Celestial Wheel for that presidential debate, Ketu

F.   Vice Presidential Candidates' Charts

     Sarah Palin is running the very powerful Dasa planets of Jupiter and Moon, stimulating her rise.  Along with this, she's obviously a fierce, no-holds-barred competitor with Mars and Saturn in her sixth of competition, as we've witnessed in the campaign.  Yet, as also stated in the October 7 Celestial Wheel, she's all hat and no pony, and the electorate has quickly figured this out.

     The all hat comes from her exalted Venus with abundant Jupiter in the seventh house of relationships, which makes her a politician but also very beautiful in these planets both aspecting the first house of the self.  Mars throws an aspect to the first house as well, chiseling her features, adding sexual appeal and giving a somewhat exaggerated chin.  But, there's little depth under the beauty, likely because she used her looks and competitive nature to win.  Only now, faced with a position that requires knowledge, expertise and skill does she fall short. 

     It was mentioned above that Sarah Palin captivated John McCain.  McCain naturally likes the ladies -- the Moon rules the eleventh house of friends and is placed in the fifth house of love affairs, and his Venus in the twelfth house of hidden things brings secret love affairs.  No, he's not fooling around with Sarah Palin, but Palin's mesmerizing Venus/Jupiter/Mars influence on her first house of the self sits right on McCain's exalted Mercury and his Ascendant point in his first house!  McCain didn't choose Palin.  Palin captured McCain at their second meeting -- or McCain all-to-easily allowed himself to be caught.  (Watch the stage when Palin, and both McCains are present, and you'll see that Cindy McCain doesn't even look at Palin.)

     Palin, then, isn't so much about adding to the ticket but rather is an unfortunate consequence of McCain's weakness and passion for the ladies.

     Also, because of Palin's no-holds-barred competitiveness, she takes the low road in appealing to the conservative Republican base's social issues and slamming Obama with the worst personal attacks.

     Joe Biden is running his great exalted Jupiter Dasa.  The Celestial Wheel has watched Biden for years, stating in June 2005 that, In September 2006, Biden enters his truly great sixteen year Jupiter cycle.  His Jupiter rules the second hour of speech, the  fifth house of government and is exalted in the ninth house of fortune.  Although I haven't yet fully delineated Biden's chart, it certainly appears that he's one to watch.

     The October 1 Celestial Wheel, in discussing the upcoming Vice Presidential debate, stated, Joe Biden is running Jupiter with Saturn, and cautious Saturn acts to stabilize him.  Still, he has three planets (Venus, Mars and Moon) transiting the twelfth house of loss, which stimulates his impulsive gaffs -- like saying that F.D.R. would have come on TV to assure America, even as TV wasn't invented then. Venus transited into his first house October 15, enabling his warm supportive nature to shine fully again right through the election.  However, Biden still has the Sun and Mars transiting his twelfth, which brings both secret and open enemies -- again right through the election.  Since McCain hasn't gotten very far attacking Obama, directing their low road techniques at Biden is the natural, and really only, choice.  This could be rehashing of previous issues or bringing something new forward -- regardless of whether it's true or not.

     This will be tough on Biden, but it takes the heat off of Obama.  Also, it truly isn't likely the Republicans will be able to discredit Biden with low blows, as Palin has discredited herself.  Biden's Dasa planets are so powerful and advantageous, he won't be easily knocked down, and his first house Venus gives him the showman ability to convince.

G.  Conclusion

     This forecast has revealed and analyzed a large amount of information on influences in this election.  The low road, high road theme and the fated financial meltdown is the stage set for McCain and Obama to battle to November 4.  Hopefully, these thoughts will be useful for readers to understand the remainder of the campaign, as well as to make their own judgments who will win.

     With Obama in the lead and his chart continuing to be stronger than McCain's, he should prevail.  The running mates similarly favor Obama.

     Still ahead is the financial meltdown, which may very well reach another crisis point around October 27.  If that occurs, the already uneasy and fearful public will believe the predicted depression is coming, bringing Obama additional support. 

     This information affirms the June 2 and October 15 predictions Obama will win.

     The sole concern is that the Democrats have managed to forfeit every presidential election in the last thirty years except for Bill Clinton.  This election is Obama's to lose, but his chart is too favorable now for him to either suffer the bad luck or a major error(s) that would cost him the presidency.