Review of Greek Mythology Reading Cards

 This is a wonderful deck to familiarize yourself with the Greek Pantheon. For someone new to mythology reading through this book and the accompanying cards is a good grounding in the Greek Deities of antiquity.

The instructions for using this deck as an oracle deck are limited and presume that you are familiar with other oracle decks or tarot for the methodology.

The artwork is digitally altered versions of classical paintings. Some will find this reprehensible. For me it is just too busy, especially the cards that show groups of people. One minor thing that would help future editions is to add a page or two relating the Greek Gods to the Roman Gods--usually just a name change--and then to astrology.

How Astrologers Think About Relocation

 

Astrologers think about changing residences or changing locations in this process.

I was recently asked to find “a time” for someone to move to another location over a thousand miles away. The person who approached me was a referral and likely did not know much about astrology. I was also inelegant in how I responded, so here I’m clarifying my thoughts.

First, what I told her was that yes, I could find a “time for her to move.” I said that this would be the time for starting her journey from her current location, BUT that this chart would only pertain to the trip itself. So, you could choose a perfect time to begin the journey, but that chart only applies to the trip, not your experience after you arrive. (I also said how much I would charge, and she hasn’t responded.)

So what can I say as an astrologer about relocations?

My first question would be what is your reason to relocate? Depending on the answer I would examine their natal chart, which recall, requires the (exact) time, date and place of birth. I would be looking for which planet or planets are aligned with why the person wants to relocate, because I would be emphasizing them in the next two techniques.

Then I would ask: How open are you to a variety of locations—world-wide, just in Europe, just in the USA, just in your state, just in your city?

If the person just wanted to relocate within their city or a small geographic area, the technique of choice is called a “Local Space Map.” This requires an accurate chart or it will not yield useful information.

Here's Joe Biden's Local Space Map set for the USA:

If the person wants to consider a wider area, then the technique is Astro-Carto-Graphy. This also requires an accurate time of birth yielding a correct birthchart.

Joe Biden's Astro-Carto-Graphy Chart for the USA.

That is the first consideration.

Next, I would be interested in two things: selecting a good time to sign the person’s lease, or buying a home, and a good time for signing their new employment contract. Those specifically address the person’s experience in that house, apartment, or job. Usually those two items, the residence and the job are major factors in how this new location will affect the person.

For Joe Biden, this would be the chart of the presidential inauguration:

Biden actually took the oath of office about 12 minutes earlier, but he officially became president at noon.

The last consideration is regarding the best time to begin driving to the new location or to the airport.

Lalia

 

 

Tarot Scopes March 2021 by Lalia Wilson

 Welcome March! Spring begins this month in the northern hemisphere, autumn in the southern hemisphere.

This month we are using four different tarot decks, with two being decks new to me and two fairly recent decks. I choose various decks to illustrate each month’s drawings so as to show the versatility and variety of tarot, to emphasize a particular season or sign, and because some are my favorites.

For the Fire signs we have the Nature Spirits Tarot, 2^nd edition (2021) created by Jean Marie Herzel and published by Bear and Company. For the Earth signs we have the Ostara Tarot (2017) created by Molly Applejohn, Eden Cooke, Krista Gibbard, and Julia Iredale, and published by Red Feather, Inc. For the Air signs we have the Encore Tarot (2019) created by Ciro Marchetti and available at ciromarchetti.com.  For the water signs we have the Light Seers Tarot (2019) created by Chris-Anne and published by Hay House.

We have five repeated cards this month The Page of Wands, The Emperor, The Lovers, The Wheel (of Fortune),  and The Hanged Man. Of the twelve minor arcana cards drawn eight were Wands! Wands are frequently associated with spring, which commences in the northern hemisphere this month. Wands are inspiration, the fire of action, the nucleus of creativity, that which prompts us to leave our winter inertia behind. The repeated Emperors connect with the first fire sign of the zodiac, Aries, the sign that also commences this month. The Emperor is the master of the physical world and its political systems, he is self-disciplined and unemotional. The Lovers are not so much a card of romance as a card of contracts and accepting social responsibility for relationships, so we will be stepping up this month. As a card indicating contracts, The Lovers also has to do with international agreements. The Wheel always changes, when some individuals are “on top of the world” others are at the bottom. The Wheel tells us that things always are changing. If they are bad, they will improve. If we are at the top of our game we need to have a plan for when life is not as kind to us. Finally, the Hanged Man says that some of us need to wait and reflect, to gain a higher perspective before it is time to take action. The Pages of Wands announce that better times are coming.

Aries: The Wheel and the Three of Wands:

            Dear Aries, your friends will be a big positive in your life this month. You are full of energy and raring to get busy. Both cards are favorable for new ventures, especially business ventures. Things are moving forward for you, Aries, take action.

Taurus: The Emperor and the Two of Wands:

            Dear Taurus, actions behind the scenes are ongoing. Either someone with a low profile, perhaps unknown to you, is interfering in your business, or you are working on things in your dream state. Either way don’t expect a fast start this month. Even so, you are eager to start things in motion. It will start slowly.

Gemini: The Lovers and the Six of Cups:

            Dear Gemini, it looks like a busy month with your public work. You shine in public and are feeling energized. Old friends and old times are highlighted.

Cancer: The Emperor and the Nine of Pentacles:

            Dear Cancer, this is a big month for your career and public reputation. With care you can get a big promotion or award. It looks like your money will be good, too. Even so, the Nine of Pentacles implies some loneliness, whether being alone by choice or for other reasons.

Leo: The Empress and the Page of Wands:

            Dear Leo, Faraway places are calling to you. Products, and importing/exporting medical or caregiving items is on your mind. Your sex life is strong, romantic, and dreamy. Your creativity is also working overtime. Good news and inspiration is all around you.

Virgo: The Lovers and the Seven of Wands:

            Dear Virgo, this is not the month to take on all challengers. The advantages are all with your opponents. Defend what’s yours. Adhere to any contracts. Don’t make waves as this is a time that you will create unnecessary problems for yourself.

Libra: The Hanging Man and the Ace of Wands:

            Dear Libra, it’s time for others to take the initiative. Your energy level is erratic this month and your health may need looking after. Hang loose. See the big picture. Conserve your energy.

Scorpio: The Wheel and the Five of Cups:

            Dear Scorpio, things look good at home and with your creativity. You want to jump into life with both feet and if you do so, will over expend your energy and maybe your money. It’s exciting that your energy is rising and that you can now circulate more. But be cautious.

Sagittarius: Death and the Ten of Wands:

            Dear Sagittarius, have you been having ominous dreams of great burdens and death? You are normally content and serene, but you seem troubled by unseen forces. Heed any warnings from your intuition and dreamlife. The opening up that everyone else seems to be viewing is not what you are seeing.

Capricorn: The Hanged Man and the Five of Cups:

            Dear Capricorn, there is a problem in your neighborhood, possibly flooding. Whether it is a physical problem or an emotional one, people around you are very sad. Your job is to keep your equilibrium and console those around you. If the heartbreak is yours, a time-out for relationships is indicated until you see the big picture.

Aquarius: The Tower and the Page of Wands:

            Dear Aquarius, you are naturally drawn to times of chaos and cultural mixing. Right now, some amount of that is prompting you artistically, allowing you to process the experience and ultimately gain from it. Are you able to take the high road and make lemonade from your lemons? The Page of Wands is bringing news of good times ahead.

Pisces: The High Priestess and the Four of Wands:

            Dear Pisces, you have attention on yourself and upcoming celebrations. Your intuition and inner guidance is accurate. Listen to your inner voice. Joyful occasions are coming!

             

You can use these Tarot Scopes to read your Sun sign, Moon sign or Rising Sign (also called your Ascendant). You can determine these by using free or low cost apps, or internet sites, and inputting your time, date and place of birth. The Rising sign indicates your entire life; the Sun sign is about your ego and creative forces, and the Moon sign is about your reigning needs, emotions, and flexibility.

            The tarot cards used as illustrations for this column are ones that I admire and want to share with you. Note that decks have subtle differences of meaning as they are reinterpreted by a new creator/artist, and, of course, the tarot reader. Enjoy that flexibility of meaning and the artwork of these various decks. Reading articles with illustrations like these will help you determine the tarot decks that most fit you. If you get bored seeing my favorites, I’m open to suggestions and gifts.

The Summer Solstice 2018: the chart for the season!

Astrologers interpret world conditions from the solstice or equinox chart that precedes them. Thus Summer 2018 , in the northern hemisphere, is indicated in the chart for June June 21^st at 6:07 AM EDT for the capital of your country. Thus Washington DC for many of us. (If you come from a smaller country, you may want to cast the chart for the nearest large country that influences life in your country.)

The chart for Washington DC has one tight aspect that will appear in charts cast for any world location. Another important aspect only exists in certain world locations. In Washington DC a stationary direct Neptune sits on the Midheaven! This is a big deal. About once in every 250 years will you get a stationary Neptune on any angle of the horoscope on the solstice in a given location. Even this solstice only has the Neptune-Midheaven conjunction over just a few degrees of longitude. This is a rare event.

Planets that are stationary are extremely powerful, the same can be said for planets conjunct an angle of the chart. Finally, of all the angles, the Midheaven, which this is, is the most important for public affairs.

Before we look at what Neptune and the Venus-Mars opposition mean, let’s talk about where they are operative. The Venus-Mars opposition is in effect all over the globe. However it will hit different houses in the solstice charts set for different locations. It will also hit different houses of people’s personal horoscopes. The stationary Neptune, though, will only be angular on four lines over the world map. These lines represent where that stationary Neptune is rising, where it is overhead, where it is setting, and where it is at the bottom of the chart. These areas are where Neptune’s influences will be strongest.

Neptune is overhead on the US East coast, especially in New England, then the influence travels south on a specific longitude line, going through Dominica (thus influencing Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico), the Columbia-Venezuela border, western Brazil, the Peru-Bolivia border then passing down the axis of Argentina. Only three other lines on the earth’s surface are so strongly influenced by Neptune, and this is the only one for which the influence is on public life.

Neptune is the planet of make-believe, illusion, filmmaking, deception, self-deception, smoke and mirrors, financial crimes, oil and pharmaceuticals, the oceans and fish, cosmetics, and glamour. Neptune is the Gaslighting planet. Neptune intentionally or unintentionally deceives others. This is intentional when we pretend we are a princess in a fairy tale. We knew we were not the princess. But when we deceive ourselves or are deceived by others, Neptune is difficult. The remedy is Saturn, hard reality.

Neptune on the Midheaven for the seasonal chart suggests that things will be slow. Neptune is just “hanging” in the sky, at its most prominent point. Neptune’s tarot correspondence is the Hanging Man. It looks like summer will be a slow season in public life. Do not expect much action by the US congress, supreme court, or executive branch. Though the United States is in an off-year election, this summer will be pretty quiet. Don’t worry, everything will return to business after Labor Day.

In people’s love lives, though, Venus-Mars is a lot of action: sex and drama. Venus, the planet of charm and sexual attraction, is in Leo opposing Mars, the planet of sexual and athletic drive,  in Aquarius. Neither planet is in a very favorable or very unfavorable sign, thus neither holds an advantage. Venus in Leo is prideful, passionate, and pampered. Mars in Aquarius is rational, quick to utilize social media, wordy, and group-oriented. Anyone with planets or points at 5-11 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) is ripe for some Venus-Mars drama this summer. Since Leo and Aquarius are both yang and masculine signs, they are extroverted. This configuration makes for a summer of romantic hijinks. Expect to see your favorite Hollywood actors in the gossip pages more than usual… and expect local community shenanigans as well.

This will be a summer to remember!

Lalia Wilson

To see my 2018 astrology guide click here: 

The April 2018 Shift

            The middle of April finds a time of major astrological change, all involving the sign Aries. Look to the Aries part of your horoscope to see where the action may be. Most important of these is Chiron’s entry into Aries on April 17^th in the United States, the 18^th in the Eastern Hemisphere. Chiron, the planet of wounding, healing, and mentorship, has a 50 year cycle. For those under 50, most of the world’s population, this will be their first encounter of Chiron in the warrior sign Aries. But Aries is further activated by Mercury’s direct station on Sunday morning, April 15^th, and the Aries New Moon that same evening. (The New Moon is on the 16^th in the Eastern Hemisphere.)

            The astute student and consumer of astrology will use these planetary energies, and others, to surf the tides of life.

            Given this emphasis on the sign Aries, the pioneer, we have a great chance to observe different degree symbolisms to see which ones work best for us. Here are five different sets of degree symbols, two of which are both derived from Jones’s Sabian Symbols, namely those of Hill and Bovee.

            I ask you to watch events over the next week to see which of these degree systems seem most useful to you.

Chiron Ingress into Aries at 0 Aries 00, 5:09 AM EDT on 4/17 is in Aries until September 25^th when it retrogrades into Pisces, and returns to Aries on February 18^th 2019 until June 2026.

Lynda Hill: “A woman has risen out of the ocean; a seal is embracing her.” Cycles starting. Beginnings. Emergence into concrete manifestation. Embracing and honoring the shadow. Recognizing our animal side.

            Bovee: A woman rises out of water; a seal rises and embraces her. Aries. A butterfly made perfect by a dart through it. Libra.  “A pinpoint of light capturing a tender moment;” emergent moments that initiate a new life cycle; photographic moments; freeze the moment; adeptness on land and in water.

            Goldsmith: “A Rebel commander leads a charge down the gangplank of a huge warship.”

            Janduz: "A sturdy man wearing coarse animal skins or fabrics stands firmly on the ground with a cudgel in his hand. He seems prepared to respond to any danger."

Aggressive, tough, and passionate character well-equipped for facing life struggles. One is able to use physical strength as well as intellectual weapons, according to one's social background. One is mainly interested in life's materialistic aspects and protects efficiently one's rights and assets. Nevertheless, there is a potential danger of loss and/or lawsuit related to inheritance matters. One must be careful not to let temptations, whether sex, gambling, or any other passion, prevail over one's major goals. Indeed, this degree is associated with Hercules, a man who can achieve amazing feats, but who can also fall into the traps of seduction.

            Adriano Carelli: “An armed warrior of herculean build tilling the soil.” An outstanding, original, independent personality. His ambitions and aims are beyond the common mark, He is up to great undertakings and can stand the hardest tests, not so much with the forces supplied by a spiritual faith, as with the inborn energy of his own character—endurance, positivism, and practical sense. “Through imagination, a lost opportunity is regained.”  Creative imagination and visualization. Hopes renewed when all seemed lost. Second chances. Last minute reprieves. Retracing your steps. Being exonerated or forgiven. Retrieving things. Making up for lost ground or time. Changing your mind, thus changing your outcome.

New Moon in Aries 26 Aries 02 at 9:57 PM EDT on 4/15. We have a New Moon every month, sometimes twice, but this one is more important. First, it is the New Moon in Aries, thus the energy startup for the Astrological year. Second is its close proximity to Mercury direct in Aries earlier the same day, and Chiron’s entry to Aries two days later.

Lynda Hill: “Through imagination, a lost opportunity is regained.”  Creative imagination and visualization. Hopes renewed when all seemed lost. Second chances. Last minute reprieves. Retracing your steps. Being exonerated or forgiven. Retrieving things. Making up for lost ground or time. Changing your mind thus changing your outcome.

            Bovee: A Lost opportunity regained in the imagination. Aries. An airplane hovering overhead. Libra. Powerful possibilities that capture one’s attention; promising potentials that stir excitement; thoughts of superhuman achievements.  Being lost in a world of imagination; human pride so excessive as to offend the gods.  Fantasies of extraordinary accomplishments, talents, and dreams; feeling of having found oneself again.  Reclamation; retrieval.

            Goldsmith: “A private investigator sits in front of a piece of paper and plots out possible methods to outwit a criminal.” 

            Janduz: "A man who stumbles over a stone is about to fall near a dragon watching him."  Inventive, non-conformist, and obstinate character. One does not share the ideas prevailing in one's social background and believes that obsolete traditions need to be reformed. After having reached the peak of one's career, one is threatened by a reversal of fortune which can be overcome after many years of hard work and much courage. However, total ruin can be avoided if one displays wisdom and persistence. If this degree is on the Ascendant and in conjunction with Mars and the Moon, there is a risk of violent death or serious eye condition. This degree also portends family estrangement and loss of traditions.

            Adriano Carelli: “A high-grown tree under the blast of a hurricane.” Whether the native is pushed upward by his noble household’s fortunes or by his own luck, he is likely to climb unhindered the ladder of honor and power. Should he have chosen a clergyman’s career prelacy [high office in the church] expects him and nearly belongs to him by birthright. [Since his rise in the world is relatively easy, he is not inoculated against hardships and dirty deeds.] He may lose his brilliant position, and his family’s star may dim and set forever.  

Mercury direct in Aries at 4 Aries 42, 5:21 AM EDT on 4/15 indicates projects can now move forward.

            Lynda Hill: “A square brightly lighted on one side.” Illuminated solutions that provide ways out of tight situations. Having to put up walls to protect or defend versus taking down the barriers. Putting all your eggs in one basket. Feeling fully contained. Walls and fences.

            Bovee: A square brightly lit on one side.  Aries. The ideals of a man abundantly crystallized. Libra. Compelling personal affinities that form a basis for individuation, realization, and idealization; a perspective that is a lens for viewing the whole.  Hardened ideals.  Seeing the world in a grain of sand.  Inner visions; being satisfied in the mind but frustrated in the world; working with lenses and filters.

            Goldsmith: A honeybee wrestles a large piece of debris from the hive, while other bees work on the walls of their palatial new abode.

            Janduz: "A man rides a horse up a winding and steep path at the brink of a ravine. He proudly looks further down into the valley where workers are bustling about."

A person meant to dominate others. Extreme circumstances put him/her in the highest positions, which is not devoid of danger. Although many disasters are experienced, one remains undisturbed and pursues the challenging path. This degree indicates that one belongs to a powerful and wealthy family. If of royal descent, and this degree is in conjunction with the Ascendant, this heralds that one will access the throne. If one is of modest origins, then, one enjoys the protection of the head of state or that of most prominent figures. There is also the possibility that one becomes the power behind the throne. In any case, one has real decision-making powers and becomes a leader in one's field, be it the arts, business, or politics.

            Adriano Carelli: The subject will lead all his life or most of it in obscurity. He will be either bodily disabled by blindness, deafness, or otherwise; morally or intellectually adrift; or steeped in the darkest misery. Whatever his plight, he will have to face a long and hard ordeal. If he emerges at all from his gloom, that can be ascribed only to a powerful, stalwart, plucky character, not to any favorable circumstances.

See more about this year in my book The Astrology Guide to 2018 at Lulu.com. Lalia Wilson

Jupiter Transits Scorpio: How Great Will It Be?

Jupiter crossed into Scorpio on October 10^th 2017. It will remain in that sign until November 2018—over a year!

Astrologers all over the web have been ecstatic in their praise and predictions for this Jupiter transit. Could it be over-hyped? Let’s look.

To start, Jupiter rules the sign Sagittarius and is the ancient ruler of Pisces. For the time being, let’s look at Sagittarius, a positive fire-sign. Scorpio is a negative, or yin, or receptive, water sign and makes no natural connection with Sagittarius. Further, Scorpio is the 12^th sign from Sagittarius. It has a natural 12^th House vibration to everyone with a Sagittarius Ascendant or Sun or Moon. The 12^th House is the house of secret enemies, mental illness, incarceration, and self-undoing. Twelfth House positives are the possibility to benefit from time alone, and to make spiritual progress. Think of a hermit as a 12^th House archetype. From the 12^th House standpoint, Jupiter is just as likely to empower your enemies, expand your mental problems, and encourage you to act in ways that will bring about your downfall, as it is to expand your spiritual progress. Jupiter needs Saturn, the planet of self-discipline, to avoid over-indulging and causing self-harm.

Let’s look further. Various astrology bloggers are saying great things about this Jupiter transit. We will look at some of the predictions and how we might make them happen. First, though, recall that Jupiter transited through (Tropical) Scorpio back in 2005/2006 and in 1993-1994. As well as about every 12 years before that. So, let’s first recall our experiences during those years and compare them to these predictions:

• 1.      A time to explore our deepest self.
• 2.      A time to explore our darkness or Shadow.
• 3.      A time to expand our passion, probably our Scorpionic passion, for intimate connections and sexuality. (Scorpionic passion is specified because all the fire signs are passionate. In addition, any Mars or Sun or Jupiter is passionate, but unless placements are in Scorpio or conjunct Pluto they are not specifically passionate about sex.)
• 4.      A time for greater libido, more sex, and more orgasms.
• 5.      A time to reconcile old issues, especially ones about sex, family secrets, death, mysteries, and taxes.
• 6.      A time to sacrifice something for our greater good. This is akin to amputating a leg with gangrene so that you can live—that’s the Scorpio version of “sacrifice.”
• 7.      A time to test our lovers and relationships in the absolute Scorpionic sense of life and death—you are for me or against me.

Before we delve into the seven potential aspects of Jupiter’s Scorpio above, let’s refer back to the last two Jupiter transits of Scorpio in 2005/2006 and in 1993-1994. Did any of the seven items happen in your life then? If so, most likely they will reoccur. But if they didn’t, they will not this time unless you seek them out. The real meaning of this transit is that you will the opportunity to engage in any of these possibilities. (Jupiter brings opportunities. It’s up to you to take them on.)

Look at the list and see if any of these opportunities appeal to you. To make them happen you need to put yourself into situations that will make them likely. Several speak directly to inner exploration and perhaps psychotherapy. They will require you to adopt some practice to explore your dark corners. To get the result you will need to do the work.

For the passions of sexuality you will need to connect with a partner or partners. If you live alone and have no social life, this is unlikely to happen. You will need to find a way to connect to the partner(s) that you desire.

Probably the best chances of positive outcomes for Jupiter’s transit of Scorpio is to look at your natal chart and see which House or Houses will be transited. There you will find a lot of chances to expand your life. (Let me point out that Jupiter transiting the First House, in any sign, means that you must travel in body or spirit, or you will end up expanding your body—getting fat.)

What is comforting about Jupiter’s transit of Scorpio? Not a lot. Scorpio is very intense energy that most people avoid. Having the planet of Good Fortune, Opportunity, and Growth in Scorpio means we must confront our Scorpio side in order to snatch the prize. 

I wish you the best of this transit, Lalia Wilson

Why Trump was elected President, and why it was the wrong move for America, by Lalia Wilson

The pollsters and most of the astrologers, myself included, did not predict that Trump would win the presidency of the U.S. It was a while after the election before I understood why he was elected and why it was the wrong move for the country, astrologically-speaking. 

Currently the chart for the United States of America (see note 1) has secondary progressed Mars in the sign Libra and retrograde. Libra is the least comfortable fit, of all the signs, for Mars. When you add Mars retrograde, re-learning how to use our Mars becomes much more difficult.

Secondary progressions, also known as a day for a year progressions, show how entities evolve. Our evolutionary task is always to expand and include the new facet of our being. In every chart Mars is the planet of taking action. It also symbolizes young men, warriors, police, athletes, and masculinity. When Mars changes sign by secondary progression our evolutionary task is to change our way of taking action, and changing our sense of the masculine. We can also think of this as expanding our expression of Mars. When Mars is retrograde, we are called on to step back and let someone else make the first move—to be more passive, to respond instead of initiating action.

During the history of the United States we have experienced Mars in the signs Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, and now Libra. Our nation’s natal chart has Mars in Gemini which means that our tendency is to scatter our energy and talk a lot. We take action by talking about it to our friends, neighbors and closest allies. As Mars has moved by secondary progression though the succeeding signs, we have had to learn new ways to operate. With Mars entering Libra in 1940, our Mars needs to act through peace-making, through diplomacy. Our efforts using this energy resulted in the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after the war and setting up a democratic government in Japan. We were also instrumental in founding the United Nations, which we host in New York City. In late 2006 our secondary progressed Mars turned retrograde in Libra. It will remain retrograde through early 2086—nearly 80 years total. It also will be in Libra throughout that time.

This means that the Universe is asking this nation to act in a Libra retrograde fashion. This means working with close allies. Responding, but not initiating situations. Using diplomacy. Thus, with secondary progressed Mars in Libra, success means stepping back from confrontations. Success means letting other countries set the agenda; and success means using diplomacy.

These modes of operation are characteristically feminine. They are ways that less powerful beings can work with bullies. As a nation, this new way of expressing Mars is uncomfortable for many, particularly men. This is one reason many faulted President Obama, because his style was too “laid back.” He was an exemplar of how to work with secondary progressed Mars retrograde in the sign Libra. Had Hillary Clinton been elected, she, too, would have easily worked with the same Mars retrograde in Libra energy.

Instead, Donald Trump was elected president. Why? Donald’s horoscope is strong with Fire and Air energy; these are the extroverted and masculine signs. His Ascendant, Mars and Moon, are in the Fire signs Leo and Sagittarius. These aspect each other, with Mars being conjunct the Ascendant and both trine, harmoniously related to, the Moon. When a person has a planet conjunct his Ascendant, he is the personification of that planet. Donald Trump thus represents Mars, the macho man. 

Mars in Leo lives grandly. Mars has multiple lovers, and in Trump’s case, three wives. Mars is bombastic, quick to anger, and can be a bully. Mars is the archetype of the young virile man. Thus Donald Trump represents Mars (at least one manifestation of Mars) in the national psyche. Those who voted for him, predominately men, wanted to keep the old ways of handling affairs with men in charge. With Mars this represents a certain kind of physically aggressive and take-charge man.

Choosing to elect Trump, a man who exemplifies an active Mars, is a rejection of the evolutionary thrust for our country. Since this runs counter to the evolution of our nation, it was the wrong move. If we followed our natural evolution, it would be time to express the calmer, more diplomatic, and more feminine energy of Mars in Libra retrograde.

Could Pence become president? Possibly. His chart is less martial than Trump’s, so he would be less involved with working out Mars karma for our country. Of note, though, is that Pence’s Mars is expressed as being a warrior for religious views, as his natal fiery Mars in Leo is right on the Ninth House cusp of religion.

In order to better understand Mars retrograde in Libra, study these individuals:

Frederick Winslow Taylor, father of scientific management.

Erich von Daniken, the author of books about extraterrestrial beings visiting earth.

Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas

Actor Dudley Moore

Musician Herb Alpert

Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov

Clare Boothe Luce, Ambassador, congresswoman, journalist

A country with Mars retrograde in its natal chart, is Japan. The national chart for Japan, as reorganized after WWII, has Mars retrograde in Scorpio in the tenth house. Japan is famous for stepping back from war since WWII when they were hit by two atomic bombs, resulting in over 200,000 people dying.

Note 1: Most astrologers use a chart for July 4^th 1776 in Philadelphia for the nation’s chart. Astrologers differ as to the exact time for the chart. I use the Scorpio rising chart set for 2:21 PM Local Mean Time. Other astrologers favor the Sagittarius rising chart, the Virgo rising chart, and the Gemini rising chart. In terms of the timing of secondary progressions, the difference between the Scorpio rising chart and the Sagittarius rising chart is about 6 weeks, which is nothing when you are talking about Mars in a sign for 45 years—and more when it retrogrades as it is now doing. A few astrologers use a chart for the Reunification of the United States after the Civil War in 1865, or for the establishment of the Constitution in 1789.