The McCain-Palin ticket: an astrological perspective

Note:  This will be my last political post for a short while - politics is fascinating but too much of anything is not always a good thing. An obsession with politics can too easily take us away from our own internal process and a life that is grounded in a greater reality.

(If you missed Friday's article about Sarah Palin, catch up here.) One of the most interesting tools that astrology provides is a glimpse into the inner workings of interpersonal relationships.  Evidently McCain only met Sarah Palin once, at a governors meeting, before choosing her as his running mate, so their chemistry is untested. 

I've updated the original profile of Sarah Palin to reflect my (educated) guess that Palin's Moon is in Capricorn, and if that is true it harmonizes with McCain's Moon, also in Capricorn.  The Capricorn moon has a deep-rooted drive for success and achievement of one's goals - there is a strong sense of responsibility and respect for the establishment. 

McCain and Palin share a conflict in their charts between this need for the established structure.  McCain's Virgo Sun respects rules and requires order, and the Capricorn Moon and Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) retrograde in his chart depict a never-ending struggle to live up to one's own regulations.  On the other hand, Mars (in volatile Leo) squares Uranus in his chart revealing his notorious temper and rebelliousness.  Palin's Saturn conjuncts her Mars, suggesting that she must channel her drive and desires (Mars) through the rigidity of Saturn, and this combined with her Capricorn Moon is a strong indicator for someone who adheres to the rules and regulations of the status quo.  On the other hand, her strong Aquarian nature makes her a natural rebel.

It's great that McCain and Palin share this duality, which makes them both mavericks (Uranus/Aquarius)  in the conservative world (Saturn/Capricorn).  But what happens if they don't agree on where to buck the system, and where to adhere to the status quo?  I predict that tempers will flare and there will be a lot of juicy gossip as a result. 

Palin's and McCan's Mercuries are exactly trine (harmonious aspect) each other: her Mercury is in Aquarius and his is in Libra.  Mercury shows the way we communicate, so this is an excellent aspect for two people who must share ideas and communicate well together.  However, Uranus in Palin's chart sits right on McCain's Sun.  This is very exciting to McCain as Uranus can be quite stimulating, but its tendency towards surprise and sudden change is unsettling to him as well.  He will never be really certain where he stands with her..

The number of tight aspects between the charts of two individuals gives a sense of how connected their lives will be.  Whether those aspects are harmonious or difficult, if there are many points of contact between the two charts their destinies are usually tightely intertwined (we saw that with Obama and Biden.)  In the case of McCain and Palin, the aspects between their charts are generally favorable although there are not a great deal of close connections which suggests that they will not share any great destiny together.  They are on separate paths which collide for a short time.

The composite chart shows the nature of the relationship as it stands separate from the two individuals.  In this case, the Sun is at 29 degrees Scorpio, a critical degree that in horary astrology suggests that something will end.  I am not an expert in fixed star astrology, but this degree is square to (conflicts with) the fixed star Regulus at 29 Leo, which presides over rulership and leadership, as well as Alcyone at 29 Taurus which according to Rob Tillett rules "ambition, honor and glory, and trouble with the opposite sex."  We also see a square of Mars in Taurus, which shows perseverance but can also be extremely stubborn, to Pluto.  This combination illustrates conflict in the relationship, and a struggle for power and dominance.

Overall this is not a very good astrological pick for a running mate.  Transiting Uranus (radical change and surprising events)  is conjunct Saturn in McCain's chart right now and opposing his natal Venus.  This can often be a stressful time for a marriage, since Uranus instills a desire for change at any price and an abhorrence of the status quo.  One has to wonder whether in making this pick for VP McCain may be introducing a new woman into his life in a way that is politically acceptable.

Sarah Palin has been embraced by the religious right of the Republican party and that will help McCain win over that constituency.  But when these two are thrust together in the intensity of the campaign limelight, the weakness in this alliance will be more evident.