Bush vs. Kerry?

Or is the choice really about voting out an old policy and voting in a new one? As I am writing this, the presidential elections seem far in the distant future. Even so, the candidates appear to have been chosen, and the battle is on. We are bombarded daily with commercials that tell us that Bush has approved the ad, or our congressman has approved the ad. But do these ads help us to decide which candidate we approve?

One thing astrology can do is reveal each candidate’s position vis-à-vis the stars. Bush and Kerry are close to the same age and have remarkably similar backgrounds. Both graduated from Yale, both spent time in uniform, and both are strong politicians. What makes them different on the level of personality and character? Astrology tells the story.

Comparing Apples to Apples?

Not really. For starters, Bush has the Sun in Cancer and Kerry has the Sun in Sagittarius. Bush can be over emotional, although he seems to have emotional control most of the time. A lack of understanding that arose in childhood can throw him into an emotional tailspin. He is fortunate in his partnership with his wife.

Kerry operates more on the basis of intuition. He is able to plan carefully because he can sense outcomes clearly. He isn’t always serious. He enjoys sports and an outdoor environment. Even though Sagittarius is a fire sign, Kerry tends to make cool decisions.

Bush has the Moon in Gemini and Kerry’s is in Libra. Gemini and Libra are air signs, indicating that both candidates use thinking as a secondary way of solving problems. For Kerry, this secondary function works well with his intuition, allowing him to verify intuitive insights logically. For Bush, thinking things through is the opposite of his more conscious, gut-reaction style of decision-making.

Looking at the charts, you will notice that both men have large gaps where there are no planets. Bush’s concentration of planets on the left side of the chart indicates that he is self-directed in his life. He likes to make his own decisions, and tends to be self-contained under ideal conditions.

Kerry is more outwardly directed, taking his cue from others and seeking partnerships that are likely to further his desires. The scales are tipped toward public life, while Bush would actually rather not be in the public eye as much as he is.

Forecasting for Bush

If we only consider the nature of the aspects, Bush has six indications that he will experience an end to one way of doing things and the beginning of another. He has two indicators of major adjustment in his life, three that show opportunities, and two that suggest he is in the process of developing a new awareness of himself and his associates. This sounds rather like what happens when a person changes jobs.

Forecasting for Kerry

Kerry has a lot more tension and stress evident in his chart at the time of the election. Assuming he is the Democratic nominee, he has been working very hard to get elected. The tension is taking its toll in terms of self-awareness, voice wearing down and energy flagging. Like Bush, he has indicators of the end of something and the beginning of something new. These could simply be indicators of the end of the campaign, or they could mean a new job as president. Kerry has a lot of rather pleasant aspects, indicating that conditions will not be all stress and work. He has made a lot of new friends during the campaign, solidified his political position and very likely will find his new work very much to his liking.

According to traditional astrological predictive methods, the candidate who has Uranus most active at the time of the election wins. If this guideline holds true in 2004, then Kerry will win. He has three very powerful connections working for him, while Bush has only one.

What Will Be on the Voters’ Minds on Election Day?

To determine this, I looked at the U.S. chart. The Sun has moved forward by solar arc direction (a way of progressing the planets over time) to exactly 0 degrees of Pisces in the Third House of neighborhood activity. Elections are very much about the neighborhood, with polling places scattered across every area of the country in local precincts. The people will be seeking something new in the way of government, I believe. They will be voting with their hearts. The candidate that appeals to the heartstrings of the people will win the election.

There are three indicators of voter dissatisfaction that suggest adjustment in the direction the country has been going; four indicate comfortable conditions around the election itself, with one that suggests new awareness of the coercive power that has controlled our thoughts since 9/11, and one indicator of some exciting or dramatic news about renewed spirit of enterprise and determination of the people to move in a new direction.

My assessment of the three charts — Bush, Kerry and the nation — suggests that people will demand change. If Bush can’t promise a radical change in direction by the time of the election, I believe Kerry is very likely to win, especially if he sticks to a more optimistic view of what can be done to turn things around in the war against terrorism, the economy and our feelings of self-esteem and security.

For a glance at the candidates’ transits for election day, go to the Llewellyn website at www.llewellyn.com.