George W. Bush: Destined to Lead © 2002 Charles Kipp

Whether or not one agrees with the politics of President George W. Bush, his birthchart very strongly indicates his destiny to lead both his country and his generation. As an astrologer, I am challenged to assess his personal qualities and characteristics from a strictly astrological perspective, without regard to my own political leanings and opinions about his controversial role in national and world affairs.

One of the greatest values of astrology is its ability to go to deep, underlying structural principles that mysteriously govern our lives and the destiny of the world. Such perspectives allow us to go beyond our own, and anyone else's conventional assessments of things, invariably based on very limited information and personal orientations or prejudices. The solar system space ship speaks with its own voice, beyond, although inclusive of, all conventional wisdom.

If our astrological perspectives prove to be relevant in the light of known facts, then we may wisely incorporate such perspectives into our understanding of those facts in terms that are not susceptible to the various "spins" that attempt to skew known facts toward particular agendas that fall short of the comprehensive scope afforded by astrology. It is this more comprehensive perspective that I will attempt to delineate in relation to the personality and personal destiny of George W. Bush.

Naturally, my interpretation of his birthchart is subject to further, perhaps different perspectives, but the astrological factors employed are objectively real and therefore resistant to manipulative adaptations. These matters are of paramount importance to all of us in our attempts to go beyond our own limited perspectives to gain a larger, more inclusive comprehension of what is going on.

There are several astrological factors that coalesce to confirm George W. Bush's destiny as the leader of our nation. One very major observation along these lines is the fact that the Great Conjunction of the seven visible planets in Taurus that occurred in May 2000, affecting a most powerful impetus toward a new agenda of world politics, formed in Bush's Tenth House of public recognition, achievement and responsibility. (See my February Echoed Voices column, "The 20-year Jupiter/Saturn Cycle: The King is Dead; Long live the King.")

This holds a special significance for Bush in terms of the well-known "curse of the oval office" associated with U.S. Presidents elected in "zero years," that is, years ending in zero. It just so happens that those "zero" election years correspond to conjunctions of Jupiter to Saturn that occur every twenty years. There is an uncanny tendency for those Presidents, greatly defying simple probabilities, to die in office. This "curse," has become fairly common knowledge in the deeper lore of American politics. It can therefore be assumed that both candidates in the 2000 election were aware of it.

Naturally, one must assume a strong tendency for practical politicians to discount the significance of such a "curse" as mere superstition. Belief in superstition (and astrology) is not conducive to success in modern politics. The reader, however, may make one's own assessment of how significant such factors may be, constituting a profound psychological undercurrent at the highest levels of political leadership. There is a long tradition of political "mysticism" that plays a significant role in world governance, largely unbeknownst to the general public.

The significance of the "curse of the oval office" derives from the fact that the visible and dramatic cycle of relationship between Jupiter and Saturn was used in ancient times as an index for the revitalization of kingdoms by the tradition of the "slaying of the king," well documented in James Frazer's "The Golden Bough." It is my opinion that this piece of American lore bespeaks the deep courage of both candidates in the 2000 Presidential election. It is a foregone conclusion that any presidential candidate must possess great courage, but a willingness to defy, or accept, as it were, this profound historical "curse" adds a significant dimension to that courage.

The courage of George W. Bush is highlighted by his Leo Ascendant, with both Mercury and Pluto conjoined thereto. Being a very slow moving planet, Pluto's transit through the signs of the zodiac characterizes whole "generations" with that particular stamp. Pluto transited through Leo from 1938 to 1957, largely characterizing the World War II babies and the entire "baby boomer" generation with the dramatization (Leo) of transcendental consciousness (Pluto).

Having this placement on his Ascendant makes of Bush a focal embodiment of that characterization, and Mercury's participation by conjunction to Pluto there emphasizes his unique capacity for articulating that characterization. This might appear somewhat ironic in terms of Bush's conservatism, however the powerful role he is now playing, particularly with regard to the "religious" implications of his destiny in terms of his confrontation with Islamic fanaticism, confirms this significance.

Another very significant indication of the transcendental implications of his destiny is the placement of his natal Sun in his Twelfth House, indicating a "hidden," "mysterious" purpose for his life. In Cancer, conjoined to the Sun in the birthchart of the United States (for July 4, 1776), this placement connotes a mystical link, as it were, with the destiny of our country. Furthermore, Saturn's placement, also in Cancer in his Twelfth House, adds a profound authority associated with that mystical link.

Aries at the Midheaven of Bush's birthchart shows a form of preemptive power in the public sphere. His public destiny is significantly associated with war and warlike qualities. In this regard, he is a natural leader toward mobilizing martial forces on the world stage. Mars, ruler of Aries, placed in Virgo in his Second House of possession and ownership, indicates the ability preemptively to maneuver toward his claim of authority. This is appropriate to the perception by many that he "stole" the election, as it were, and certainly contributed to his tenacity in the face of such accusations.

The powerful grouping of the Moon, Jupiter and Neptune in Libra in his Third House of immediate knowledge and communication connotes phenomenal diplomatic skills, and the placement of Venus, ruler of Libra, in Leo in his First House lends personal charisma and flair to those skills. These placements account for his ability to win approval for his more daring, preemptive agendas indicated by his Aries Midheaven and Mars placement.

Uranus in Gemini, conjoined to his North Lunar Node (Dragon's Head) in his Eleventh House, is a clear indication of a very progressive and energetic advocacy of the ideal of freedom and egalitarian policies in the social sphere, as well as the holding of a progressive "vision" for the future of humanity. This ability is emphasized by the absence of planetary placements in the region of his South Lunar Node (Dragon's Tail) in Sagittarius in his Fifth House. Furthermore, that South Lunar Node placement bespeaks a natural "inheritance" of expressiveness (Fifth House) of visionary ideals (Sagittarius).

From a broader perspective, the fact that all the planets of the solar system are placed in the eastern half of his birthchart, the rising (as opposed to the setting) side, and that all are contained by a close opening trine (120 degree aspect) from Jupiter to Uranus, very strongly represents personal initiative and preeminence toward the deployment of all the above mentioned agendas, focused at the Mercury/Pluto conjunction at his Ascendant.

There is a great deal more that can be said about George W. Bush's birthchart, particularly in terms of major transits of planets to his natal placements, especially in relation to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States and the Western world. (If there are sufficient requests for such an analysis sent to my email address below, I will respond in a future column.) This brief analysis of his birthchart, however, brings much perspective to the character and destiny of this man who holds the office of the presidency of our nation in these critical historical times.

These observations constitute neither support for nor opposition to Bush's administration. Rather, they provide relevant perspectives on his unique place in the history of the United States and the world. Certainly they contribute to the understanding of why he holds the position that he does. It is not necessary to agree with his particular brand of politics to acknowledge his unique status as an exemplary leader and an able representative of the American nation at this most critical juncture of world history.