Comments on the 2004 US Election

by Chakrapani Ullal

Written May 31st 2004

The world will be watching the United States forthcoming election on November 2,
2004 with baited breath. The chief contestants appear to be John Kerry (December
11, 1943 at 7:10am, Denver, CO) and George W. Bush (July 6, 1946 at 7:26am in
New Haven, CT).

John Kerry has Scorpio rising with Sun in the rising sign. Mars, ruler of the rising
sign is retrograde in the 7th house with exalted Moon in Taurus. The Sun, being the
ruler of the 10th house is occupying the rising sign in the constellation of Mercury.
The 10th house is occupied by benevolent Jupiter, occupying the constellation of
Ketu. The planet of democracy, Saturn, being in the 8th house is retrograde and
aspected by the 8th house ruler Mercury. The disposition of these planets appear to
be very powerful, creating many raja yogas – planetary combinations for power,
position and status in life.

The rising sign ruler, Mars, is in mutual aspect with the Sun, ruler of the 10th house,
creating a powerful raja yoga which has the energy to bring the highest political
position. He has the Moon, the ruler of the 9th house placed in an exalted position in
the 7th house opposite the Sun, the ruler of the 10th house, creating another
powerful raja yoga. When the 9th and 10th house rulers are mutually connected it
creates a highly effective yoga called a dharma/karma yoga which brings the
opportunity to become successful, gaining significant position and importance.
Moreover, the Moon and the Sun are called the royal planets, they are prominently
disposed in relation to the rising sign. In addition, the ruler of the rising sign, Mars,
is in conjunction with the ruler of the 9th house, the Moon, in the 7th house
aspecting the rising sign very strongly. This creates two more powerful yogas, one is
Bhagya yoga, a yoga for good luck and good fortune and the other is a
Sashi/Mangala yoga, which brings the fulfillment of desires. They are in Taurus,
who’s ruler Venus is occupying its own sign in the 12th house.

His rising sign ruler Mars, which is also the ruler of the 6th house, is retrograde in
the natal chart. Transiting Mars during the time of election is placed in Libra
associated with debilitated Sun and Ketu. And Venus, the ruler of Libra, is debilitated
in Virgo aspected by transiting Saturn. This means that Mars is not favorably placed
– it is in the 12th from the rising sign indicating the challenges he is facing in the
election with regard to visible and invisible enemies.

Saturn, the planet of democracy, is placed in the 8th house from his rising sign and
it is retrograde. In the Bhava Chart, Saturn is placed in the 7th house. At the time of
birth Saturn was therefore creating Sade Sadi from the Moon as well as Ashtama
Shani from the rising sign. This weak Saturn is aspected from the 2nd house by
Mercury, which is a malefic for this chart. Since he is passing through
Mercury/Mercury the malefic nature of this Mercury becomes more visible. However,
he has benevolent Jupiter aspecting its own sign, Sagittarius, where Mercury is
placed bringing some positive influence to this Mercury which can bring hopefulness
for Mercury to have an impact on the electorate. We also notice that both Mercury
and Jupiter are occupying the constellations of Ketu which is occupying Capricorn,
ruled by Saturn.

This disposition of the planets with so many raja yogas is sure indication of the
capacity to gain the highest position in the political field if the Dasha/Bhukti as well
as the transits of the planets are favorable at the time of election. Currently, John
Kerry is passing through the major cycle of Mercury which began May 2003 and will
continue through May 2020. In this major dasa of Mercury he is passing through the
bhukti of Mercury until October 2005 and the Antardasa of Rahu beginning
September 15th, 2004 to January 25, 2005. Mercury is not a benevolent planet for
Scorpio rising and Mercury and Rahu are not friendly to one another.

When we look at the Dasamsa chart, the chart for power and status, he has
Aquarius rising with Ketu in the rising sign. Retrograde Saturn and retrograde Mars
are in the 5th house with Saturn aspecting Rahu in the 7th house which does not
show strength in the dasamsa chart during election time since the Rahu Antardasa is
running.

Fortunately for Kerry, benevolent Jupiter will be transiting Virgo, his 11th house
from the rising and the 5th house from his Moon sign, enhancing his potential.
Jupiter passes through Virgo from the end of August 2004 to the beginning of
September 2005.

Overall it looks as though John Kerry has an excellent chart with a good possibility of
gaining the highest post but let us now look into the chart of the opponent.

President George W. Bush has Cancer rising with Saturn, Mercury and Venus in the
rising sign and Mars in Leo in the 2nd house, Jupiter and the Moon in Virgo in the
3rd house, Ketu in Scorpio with Rahu in Taurus, the Sun in Gemini.

Currently, the president is passing through the major dasa of Saturn which started
in 1987 and continues to influence until May 2006. Saturn is the ruler of the 7th
house, which is benevolent, and the 8th house, which is malefic, but placed in the
rising sign in the constellation of Saturn itself which gives it strength. Saturn is also
the ruler of the 5th and the 6th houses from the Moon sign and well placed in the
11th house from the Moon in conjunction with Mercury which has a positive
influence. In the dasa of Saturn he is passing through the bhukti of Jupiter which
has been operating from November 3, 2003 until May 16th 2006 and the Mercury
Antardasa beginning July 30th 2004 to December 8th 2004.

Jupiter is powerfully placed in the 3rd house aspecting its own house, the 9th, the
house of good luck and good fortune very strongly. Even through it is also the ruler
of the 6th house its aspect on its own house has strengthened its position as the
ruler of the 9th house which has the power to give highly beneficial results. Jupiter is
also closely conjunct the Moon, ruler of the rising sign thereby creating a powerful
Gajakesari yoga which has the power to bring people into prominent position. Since
the Moon, ruler of the rising sign, and Mercury, the ruler of the Moon sign, have
exchanged signs with a 3/11 relationship to one another it has added to the strength
of the Mercury.

Jupiter and the Moon are both occupying the constellation of Mars. Mars is called the
Yogakaraka planet for one born with Cancer rising. The Yogakaraka planet is that
planet which has the power to bring positions of status. And Mars is well placed in
the natal chart in the 2nd house in Leo, a friendly sign to Mars. Jupiter and the Moon
placed in the constellation of Mars, the ruler of the 10th house and the most
benevolent planet for Cancer rising, brings a yoga for accomplishment and success.

Currently, Saturn in transit is passing through Gemini and it is affecting Bush badly,
bringing a lot of negative publicity. It has definitely influenced his rating. However,
during the time of the election Saturn will be in his rising sign, exactly at the same
degree that it was occupying at the time of his birth. This helps him significantly to
increase his chances of winning the election. Added to that, during election time
Jupiter in transit will be in Virgo where Bush has Jupiter in the natal chart. That
again increases the power of the Jupiter.

In the dasamsa chart he has vargottama Cancer rising with exalted Mars and
debilitated Jupiter aspecting the rising sign very strongly and debilitated Saturn in
the 10th house. However, both Saturn and Jupiter have Neecha Bhanga, the
cancellation of the debilitation.

Overall, John Kerry has many raja yogas going for him in his chart which naturally
gives him the capacity to attain the highest position in politics, but the weakness of
the Mercury/Mercury dasa/bhukti has the ability to block the effects of the powerful
yogas to bring the desired results. However, in the case of George Bush, from the
Moon sign Saturn, Venus and Mercury in the 11th house has created a powerful raja
yoga and his Saturn has benefited him since his Saturn dasa started in 1987.
Currently, he is in the last bhukti of Saturn which is Jupiter, operating until 2006.
Since Jupiter is associated with the Moon, the ruler of the rising sign, it could
naturally give him advantage during this bhukti.

These two charts show that the race will be neck and neck. Therefore, even though
it is difficult to determine who will win, my best judgment says that George Bush
may have an edge over John Kerry.

Astrology is a science of indications only, it does not say a particular thing will
happen it only says that it can happen. But the difference between the “will” and the
“can” is the will of the person. An astrologer must have an unbiased mind and judge
only the influence of the planets, he must not judge the person in making
predictions.

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