Trump's State of the Union, Astrology, and Nancy Pelosi's Big Mistake

I don't really enjoy writing about political astrology, but Donald Trump's Natal Chart is SUCH a great and public astrological teaching example, I can hardly resist the temptation! So remember people, this is educational - and I'm doing this for you, not for me! :)

Pelosi and Trump, picture courtesy NBC News

It’s almost as if Nancy Pelosi was working for the GOP when she didn’t consult an astrologer to pick a date for Trump’s delayed State of the Union speech, set to begin at 9pm Eastern time on Tuesday, February 5^th. The Moon will have just entered Pisces, crossing into Trump’s 7^th House, the place of partnerships (7^th House is “We,” opposite 1^st House which is “Me”). 

 

Trump's Natal Chart with Transits 5 Feb 2019

Trump's emotional pitch will be to his base (“We”), those he considers to be his “partners” in his Presidency. The transiting asteroid Chiron at 29 degrees Pisces (the critical degree not only of Pisces but the entire 360 degrees of the zodiac!) in his 8^th House (shared values, valuables, resources and intimacies) gives him the ability to articulate the collective pain and suffering (as he internalizes / externalizes it), but to whom does that pain and suffering pertain? The transiting North Node conjuncts his natal Venus/Saturn conjunction in Cancer in his 11^th House gives a clue. “Security” is the keyword, and ancestral ties (Cancer) structured around patriotic institutions (Saturn) are romanticized (Venus) in his 11^th House (his friends, community, collective, affinity groups). He will speak on themes of “Homeland” (Cancer) “Security” (Cancer again, but with Saturn), activating his “friends, community, collective, affinity groups,” which are not universal but particularistic, have a basis in shared heritage (Cancer again) and heirlooms (like the flag). The pain and suffering of "Americans" (his particular definition of what that term means) who share his world view and identity is the pain and suffering channeled by Donald Trump during the transit of Chiron at 29 Pisces.

Transiting Jupiter conjunct his natal Moon in Sagittarius in his 4^th House will enlarge and magnify his inner self-perception (4^th House) of himself as the child of a “good” and “virtuous” immigrant (Sagittarius), i.e. his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, born in Scotland and immigrated to the United States in 1930, working as a domestic servant in Long Island before marrying Fred Trump in 1936. Trump’s natal chart betrays his inherit insecurity about the nature of his own roots, Mary Anne being symbolized by his natal Moon (“mother”) in the 4^th House (nuclear home and family, the “Hidden Parent”). Transiting Jupiter super-sizes this inner image of “mother,” while transiting asteroid Ceres (archetype of the mother who will literally go to hell and back to rescue her child, as embodied in the Ceres (Demeter) / Persephone (Proserpina) / Hades (Pluto) myth) conjuncts Trump’s Black Moon Lilith in 4^th House Sagittarius. Trump will defend his actions at the border with immigrants as a defensive measure against what he sees as an encroaching threat. He will most likely exaggerate and dramatize (Sagittarius) about immigrant women and children in distress or bondage (Black Moon Lilith) who need to be rescued (Ceres). The transiting Sun in Aquarius is conjunct his natal asteroid Ceres in his 6^th House (ruling “employees” or power differential relationships with unequals) literally makes him believe he is “rescuing” women and children with his immigration policies, including separating families at the border and incarcerating children in detention centers. 

Aggressive Mars in Aries transiting his 9^th House (“Foreign” or “exotic” people, places and things”) will reflect in pugnacious, war-like language, possibly via threats against other nations. Unstable, erratic Uranus at 29 Aries (the ultimate degree of the Cardinal Fire Sign) in Trump’s 9^th House shows his unpredictability and seemingly capricious, inconsistent and often surprising behavior around foreign people and powers.

 

Trump's Natal Chart with Transits and Progressions

Finally, Trump’s progressed Moon is at 24 Leo conjuncts his natal Mars in Leo in his 12^th House, very close to his Ascendant (“Rising Sign”) at 29 (again, the “ultimate” degree of any sign) Leo. He is emotionally unconscious (Moon in 12^th House), driven by his subconscious and instinctual mind, perceiving enemies in hidden places (Mars in the 12^th House) against whom he must roar (Leo) and rampage (again Leo) and fight (Mars). 

Trump’s progressed Venus at 18 Libra conjuncts his natal Jupiter in Libra in his 2^nd House, making him feel (despite any evidence to the contrary) invincible and as if he is truly fighting on the side of good and justice (Libra). This transit also says a lot about money: Progressed Venus on Jupiter in the 2^nd House is expecting a major windfall (payoff?). Progressed Mars transiting Libra / 2^nd House makes him the defender of his personal values and valuables; expect to hear the word “fair” a lot (Libra), although expect to hear it used aggressively (Mars).

Transiting Moon in Pisces during State of the Union directly opposes Trump’s progressed 1^st House Sun in Virgo conjunct his Ascendant. Because he was born during a Sun/Moon opposition (during a Lunar eclipse), this natal angle of Sun/Moon opposition will support rather than hinder his efforts.

Chart for State of the Union Address

 

As I said earlier, Nancy Pelosi should have consulted an astrologer prior to scheduling Trump’s State of the Union for 6pm Pacific time on Tuesday, February 5^th. Virgo Rising at 29 degrees (again, the “ultimate” degree of any sign) in Washington, D.C., just as the TV cameras begin to roll makes Mercury the ruling planet of the event, and Mercury is the planet of communication. Transiting Chiron at 29 Pisces directly opposite the Ascendant of the speech itself hints at the embodiment via speech (Virgo at 1^st House cusp) of the collective pain “We” share (if “we” includes anyone Trump believes to be in his affinity group, i.e. “Americans” – at least those he believes to be legitimately American, rather than the universal “American” ideal). Transiting Mercury at 22 Aquarius opposes Trump’s natal Mars in Leo, stimulating words and ideas (Mercury) he may intend to signal inclusiveness (Aquarius) but filtered through a defensive lens (Mars), ultimately read as exclusiveness (Leo).

The Ascendant of the State of the Union conjuncts Trump’s progressed Moon. With all this being said, it should be a triumph for Trump and a lesson for the Democrats to consider the stars before giving their greatest foe an open mic.

Pictured herin: Trump’s natal chart with Transits, Trump’s Natal Chart with Transits & Progressions for February 5^th, and the chart for Washington, DC at the scheduled time for the State of the Union address.

"Astrolojew" Now in The Jerusalem Post!

So pleased and proud to announce that my monthly "Astrolojew"  horoscopes have found a new home at the Jerusalem Post! You can read them every month (in sync with the Hebrew Chodeshim) in the Sunday Supplement. According to the emails I'm receiving from friends in Israel upon waking this morning, the print version is announced on the front page and taking up 40% of the back page! Forecast for me? I'm feeling fantastic, thank you very much!

For Adar Aleph 5779:

CLICK HERE TO READ ONLINE 

Lunar Eclipse / Super "Blood" Moon of Tu b'Shevat 5779

Lunar Eclipse / Super "Blood" Moon of Tu b'Shevat 5779

The upcoming Lunar Eclipse / Super "Blood" Moon on Tu b'Shevat (January 20) will be visible all over North and South America. The Eclipse occurs at 9:16pm Pacific time (12:16am January 21 Eastern, 7:15am Israel time).

Lunar Eclipses happen predictably every year, only during Full Moons. Any given Jewish Year includes between six and seven Full Moon holidays: Tu b'Shevat, Purim (Purim Katan during leap years as well), Pesach, Pesach Sheni, Tu b'Av, and Sukkot.

The Talmud discusses eclipses and their effect on the nations of this earth. From the Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 29a:

When the sun is in eclipse, it is a bad omen for the whole world. This may be illustrated by a parable. To what can this be compared? To a human being who made a banquet for his servants and put up for them a lamp. When he became wroth with them he said to his servant, ‘Take away the lamp from them, and let them sit in the dark’. It was taught: R’Meir said, whenever the luminaries are in eclipse, it is a bad omen for Israel since they are inured to blows. This may be compared to a school teacher who comes to school with a strap in his hand. Who becomes apprehensive? He who is accustomed to be daily punished.

The basic idea is that lunar eclipses are trouble for the Jewish nation, while solar eclipses mean trouble for the non-Jewish nations - yet Israel still suffers, as the non-Jewish nations take their troubles out on their convenient scapegoat, the Jews. This is the Talmud's poetic way of saying that the Jewish people experience trouble in this world in predictable, regular patterns - just as predictable and regular as the eclipse cycles themselves. The writers of the Talmud were simply managing expectations rather than making prophetic statements.

For those who are all tied up in anticipatory knots from reading predictions about the impending eclipse, keep this in mind: There was a full Lunar eclipse on Tu b'Shevat in 1999, 2000, 2009, 2018 as well as this year. There was a full Lunar eclipse on Purim in 2007 and on Purim Katan in 2008, as well as on Sukkot 2014, Pesach 2015, and Sukkot 2015.

With anywhere from six to seven Full Moon Jewish holidays per any given year, and anywhere from four to six (depending on the year) eclipses (solar and lunar) per annual eclipse cycle (there's NEVER a year without eclipses!), the statistical likelihood of an eclipse falling on a Jewish holiday is predictable and normal.

Lunar Eclipses ONLY happen on Full Moons. The term "Super Moon" is used when a Full Moon is at perigee (the closest it comes to Earth during the year). But not all "Super Moons" come with an Eclipse. A "Blood" Moon occurs during an eclipse when sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere. This eclipse is also being called a "Wolf Moon," which is one of the Native American names for the mid-winter Full Moon of January. Some tribes call it the Full Snow Moon. Not all "Wolf Moons" (or Full Snow Moons) or any other name for a Full Moon feature a Lunar Eclipse.

January's lunar eclipse comes two weeks after the Solar Eclipse / New Moon which inaugurated Chodesh Shevat. This year (5779) Chodesh Shevat began smack in the middle of Solar Capricorn, it was kicked off with the Solar Eclipse / New Moon conjunct transiting Saturn on January 5th and 6th. Less than a day later, Uranus stationed Direct at 29 degrees (the “ultimate” or “critical” degree of any sign) of Aries after his latest Retrograde period, which began last August. This makes Chodesh Shevat 5779 extra-powerful.

Shevat is the month associated with Aquarius. Both Uranus )the modern planetary ruler of Aquarius) and Saturn (the classical planetary ruler of Aquarius) are exerting pressure in the effort to bring about change – Saturn in his slow and steady way, Uranus in his abrupt, sudden, and surprising way. These Celestial Titans are tag-teaming in the Cardinal (initiating) signs of Capricorn and Aries (aided by Mars’ recent ingress into his home sign) to overcome the tectonic pressure generated by fear-based resistance to what we all know in our heart is inevitable change.

Comfort zones will be shaken, concepts about security upended, definitions of both “ally” and “enemy” will be reconsidered, ideals will be challenged. The universe is sending a memo: did you receive it yet? The times, they are a-changin’.

Aquarius the Water-Bearer in Jewish Art

Human imagery in Jewish art wasn't as "assur" as some might think. Depictions of "D'li" - the water bucket, the symbol of the zodiac sign of Aquarius, often featured the water-bearer himself in human form. 

The medieval commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra tells us: "Aquarius rules over Israel," not only in his long commentary on Exodus but in his "Sefer ha-Olam" as well. Ibn Ezra reminds us the Talmudic maxim "Ain Mazal l'Yisrael" ("there is no constellation that rules over Israel") applies only when Israel is keeping every jot and tittle of the Torah. But when has that ever happened? When Israel (corporately) doesn't keep the Torah, Israel is just as subject to the celestial influences as all the other nations.

Pictured: Aquarius from the mosaic floor of Hammat Tiberias synagogue, 4th Century. 

Depiction of Aquarius from a Megillat Esther, Italian, 18th Century. 

Image of the Water-Bearer, Aquarius, from a mahzor for the three festivals, Vilna, 1844,

and "Aquarius" from the Sefer Evronot, illuminated manuscript by Asher ben Shemuel Cohen, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1624.

 

Shevat: Tag-Team Titans Test Tectonic Tensions

Chodesh Shevat 5779 (January 7 – February 4, 2019 )

The Hebrew month of Shevat, which runs from January 7 – February 4 of this year, is associated with the Fixed Air sign of Aquarius (D’li, the water bucket) and the Tribe of Asher. 

 

Aquarius / D'li from Sefer Evronot, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1624

Aquarius is one of the few Mazzalot which has two planetary rulers. In classical astrology, “Shabbtai” (Saturn) ruled both Capricorn and Aquarius. After Uranus (Oron) was discovered in the late 18th century, modern astrology assigned Uranus to the rulership of Aquarius. Yet Aquarius retains vestiges of Saturnian energy to this day and should be considered in the individual’s natal chart equally with Uranus in terms of chart rulership, if the individual has Aquarius on the Ascendant.

 

Aquarius from 4th Century mosaic floor, Hammat Tiberias Synagogue

Asher, the Tribal ruler of Aquarius, comes to teach an important lesson about how sometimes material blessings obscure our self-perception, impeding our ability to do the hard work of self-scrutiny which leads to self-improvement. 

Both Jacob and Moses blessed Asher (which means “Happy”) with abundance and prosperity, from which he would support his brethren. Yet Asher’s riches created enough of a comfort zone for him that he didn’t prioritize conquest of his Tribal portion and failed to drive out the Canaanites altogether from his lands. Although he joined his brethren in war against “foreigners” (Midianites, Amaekites and others), he wasn’t punctilious about ridding his own inheritance of the Canaanites. 

Aquarius, from the Amsterdam Mahzor, 1240

These external examples come to teach an internal reality. Aquarius is a loyal friend and humanitarian, but sometimes indifferent to his own vulnerabilities. Although the most idealistic of all zodiac signs in terms of his perception of others, if protected by prosperous circumstances, he won’t strive hard for self-perfection. Asher finds redemption through humility, as illustrated by when his Tribe accepted Hezekiah’s invitation to the Tribes of the Northern Kingdom to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 30:11). The part of our own personal natal chart where we find Aquarius is where we find our highest expression of friendship, brother/sisterhood, loyalty to community, and humanitarianism. 

This year Chodesh Shevat begins smack in the middle of Solar Capricorn and is kicked off with the Solar Eclipse / New Moon conjunct transiting Saturn. Less than a day later, Uranus stations Direct at 29 degrees (the “ultimate” or “critical” degree of any sign) of Aries after his latest Retrograde period, which began last August. 

Both Uranus and Saturn are exerting pressure in the effort to bring about change – Saturn in his slow and steady way, Uranus in his abrupt, sudden, and surprising way. These Titans are tag-teaming in the Cardinal (initiating) signs of Capricorn and Aries (aided by Mars’ recent ingress into his home sign) to overcome the tectonic pressure generated by fear-based resistance to what we all know in our heart is inevitable change. 

Comfort zones will be shaken, concepts about security upended, definitions of both “ally” and “enemy” will be reconsidered, ideals will be challenged. The universe is sending a memo: did you receive it yet? The times, they are a-changin’.

Celestial Trifecta: Solar Eclipse / New Moon in Capricorn / Rosh Chodesh Shevat!

Solar Eclipse / New Moon in Capricorn on Sunday, January 6 at 3:28am Jerusalem time. Molad of the new month of Shevat on Sunday at 11:13 (14 chalakim) AM, followed by Rosh Chodesh Shevat on Monday.

 Yes, this year Chodesh Shevat begins literally in the middle of Solar Capricorn (15 degrees). Both Capricorn and Aquarius (the constellation of Shevat) are ruled by Saturn ("Shabbtai") in classical astrology. Saturn himself, old Father Time, sits only 3 degrees away from the Sun/Moon conjunction that is the New Moon / Solar Eclipse. 

Jupiter ("Tzedek") in Sagittarius semi-sextiles Saturn in Capricorn, and the Sun/Moon eclipse.

Some possible reflections of these celestial portents include but are not limited to:

- Resolving financial matters in a "Lucky" way. This does not mean "gambling," it means a lucky break, a payoff, recognition of your mature and responsible decision-making which manifests in good fortune or a significant upgrade in a long-term and somewhat stressful material world austerity period.

- A greater degree of Self-Acceptance and the ability to integrate work-in-progress, imperfect parts of Self into waking consciousness. 

- Expanded joy of accomplishment. Not a giddy happiness but a deep, profound, and perhaps surprising joy springing from the internalization of your own competency, developed by the combination of time and hard work.

- The regenerative power of joy triggers a greater ability to reestablish affinity with your own body and experience your own vitality and life-force, regenerating and reviving both body and soul.

May the celestial reflection of the terrestrial conditions shine beautifully upon you, and unfold with astounding grace!

"Astrolojew" at Mystic Mountain in the Holy City of Tzfat!

Astrology in Jewish Cultural History

 

 

For those of you who were able to attend the special presentation at Mystic Mountain in Tzfat on November 28th, it was wonderful to see you all! For those of you who couldn't make it - sorry to miss you! For ALL of you: here's a link to a folder which contains an audio recording of last night's presentation on Astrology in Jewish Cultural History, as well as a PDF of the PowerPoint with visual accompaniments and notes.

Parshat Vayetzi - "Birth of a Nation"

#‎Vayetzei‬ - "Birth of a Nation"

The Parsha this week tells the birth-story of 11 out of 12 of the Tribal Patriarchs, laying the foundation for understanding the Cycle of Sacred Time which is the Jewish Year, as reflected by Jewish Astrology.

The order in which sons of Jacob were born, the spiritual identities of the four mothers who birthed them, and their unique Tribal functions, both outwardly in physical reality as well as inwardly in the realm of symbols and archetypes operating within the individual personality, all have their seeds in this week's Torah portion.

The 12 Tribes correspond to the 12 constellations. This week it's "Birth of a Nation." Later on in Parshat BaMidbar, the appointed directions and functions of the now-mature Tribes are described in exact detail.

"As Above - So Below." The 12 Tribes around the Mishkan (Tabernacle) is the reflection of the heavenly arrangement. Recreated in exact detail each of the 42 times they encamped in the desert, as if to indelibly stamp this power-configuration into our very DNA, this arrangement is the sacred mandala of the Israelites.

Chodesh Kislev is Coming!

Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5779:

New Moon at 15 degrees Scorpio today (Wednesday November 7th), Rosh Chodesh #Kislev tonight through Friday (2 days this year). 

We welcome the Hebrew month of Kislev Nov. 8-9. Kislev is connected to the mutable fire sign Sagittarius (Keshet, the bow), the Tribe of Benjamin and the traditionally beneficent planet Jupiter (Tzedek). The Holy of Holies was built upon a tiny bit of Benjamin’s tribal land during the time that the Temple stood in Jerusalem. Just as the Temple gave spiritual light to the world, Kislev gives spiritual light to the soul during the darkest part of the year.

This year, Kislev begins 13 days before the Sun enters Sagittarius on the solar calendar. This gives most of November a Scorpio-Sagittarius (Mars-Jupiter) flavor, supersized by Jupiter’s return to his home sign of Sagittarius on Nov. 8 for the first time since Nov. 2006-Dec. 2007 and multiplied by Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius/Scorpio from Nov. 16 through Dec. 6.

Jupiter’s propensity for devotion can be seen in how Benjamin named his ten sons for life events connecting him to his supposedly lost brother Joseph. Sagittarius the Archer is brutally honest, aiming for the highest truth with his bow, shooting right through convention, tradition and the status-quo to reach the heart of the matter.

Pictured: Ceramic plate from my "12 Tribes" Series, Kislev/Benyamin/Keshet. Benyamin is portrayed as the "Wolf" of Genesis 49:27. Note the glyph for the planet Jupiter ("Tzedek" ), the ruling planet of Sagittarius.

Astrology Classes Online and In-Person Coming in January 2019!

It's never too soon to schedule Astrology learning opportunities for 2019!

TWO Classes Coming in January 2019!

Adults (Online) 

and 

Teens (in Berkeley, California)

ADULTS:

So, You Want to be an Astrologer? 

Beginning Astrology Classes with Lorelai Kude, MA
 (" Astrolojew”)

12 Weekly Online Sessions 
Sundays, 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern, 8pm Israel time
January 6, 2019 - March 24, 2019

The successful completion of this 12-part course will equip students in the basics of astrology and the Jewish and Kabbalistic astrological methods, as developed by Lorelai Kude, MA (“Astrolojew”), during 35+ years of professional practice. At the end of the course, participants will be able to read and understand their own personal natal chart and will possess the skills to begin reading the charts of other people. Students will gain valuable insights and “best practices” for their own careers in astrology.

Tuition for the 12-part course is $360.

Classes will be held online in an interactive digital environment (Zoom or Google Hangouts, still to be determined).

Contact lorelaikude@yahoo.com for details about the curriculum and to register.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SYLLABUS  

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TEENS:

COMING TO THE EAST BAY JCC IN JANUARY 2019!

Berkeley, California

HANDS-ON JEWISH MYSTICISM FOR TEENS

Lorelai Kude

lorelaikude@yahoo.com

Class Description

This engaging, interactive class for Teens 11-18 will present an age-appropriate introduction to the foundations of Jewish mysticism via a hands-on engagement with text, art and artifact drawn from the Jewish mystical tradition. Each two-hour class will combine text-based learning from classical sources such as the Torah, Talmud, Sefer Yetzirah, selected writings of the medieval commentators such as Ibn Ezra, and the Zohar, with the opportunity for students to use the arts to creatively respond to the ideas they’re encountering. This 10-session course will draw from three major areas of the Jewish mystical tradition: astrology, kabbalah, and magic.

Class Info:

 
Date and Time Tuesdays 6:00 to 8:00

East Bay Jewish Community Center, Berkeley California 
Dates:

Session 1 January 8th, 15, 22, 29, February 5th, and 12th. (no class on 17^th)

Session 2 February 19th, 26th, March 5th, 12th, 19, and 26th. 

Class size:15 max class size Ages 11 to 18, 

Class cost 175$ for each 6 Weeks classes.

Light vegetarian meal served.