This is not an evaluation of Ms. Kennedy's qualifications for the New York senator seat, but a look at what motivates a private person to seek a very public office. by Lynn HayesCaroline Bouvier Kennedy has led a life that has been at once charmed and full of tragedy. The only survivor of the political era fondly remembered by some as "Camelot" for its beautiful illusion of perfection, she has long shied away from publicity and preferred to work behind the scenes as a writer and as a board member of various nonprofits.
Ms. Kennedy (born 11/27/1957, 8:15 am, NY) has the Sun in Sagittarius and, if the 8:15 am birthtime is correct, Sagittarius on the ascendant. Normally a Sagittarian Sun and Ascendant denotes an individual of jovial (Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter/Jove) temperament and character. But here we also see a 12th House Sun, describing the longing for privacy and a need to be hidden, and Saturn conjunct Mercury, illustrating a serious (Saturn) mind (Mercury) that perhaps leans towards depression despite the naturally buoyant Sagittarian influence.
Pluto forms a square (challenging aspect) to Ms. Kennedy's Sun, a dynamic which often (but not always) denotes a familiarity with either death or abuse at some level. Pluto's intensity can exhibit many forms, and while the Pluto/Sun square does sometimes reveal a violent victimhood, it can also describe the death of a parent or a lifetime associated with death. We have certainly seen this with Ms. Kennedy, whose father was killed when she was only six, and who also lost her uncle at a young age.
Ms. Kennedy also has a tight conjunction of Chiron (the Wounded Healer) to her Moon (emotions), suggesting a life of emotional pain that requires consistent application of conscious healing in order to be resolved. The Chiron/Moon conjunction is nearly exactly square to Saturn, which deepens the pain of this dynamic but also builds tremendous strength of character through crisis.
Caroline Kennedy was virtually invisible to the public through much of her adult life, and only emerged on the public stage when she spoke to the Democratic Convention in the year 2000 following the death of her brother, John Kennedy Jr. The death of her brother was certainly a devastating event, and it occurred as transiting Saturn (challenge and disappointment) formed an exact square to the Chiron/Moon square. Over the next year, however, Pluto began to make a harmonious transit (a sextile) to the Chiron/Moon conjunction at that time which would have helped to facilitate the transformation of her healing process.
n January of 2008, when Ms. Kennedy announced her support for Obama's presidency, transiting Chiron was completing a transit to her Moon and natal Chiron. At this moment, Venus in her progressed chart is exactly conjunct her progressed Ascendant, the point at which we become visible to the outer world. At the same time, transiting Chiron is making a sextile to her natal Ascendant, completing the process of healing and deepening into a personal comfort level. This has likely been a long journey of healing for her, and her emergence onto the political stage is very likely a part of this personal healing journey.
Over the next year Chiron will continue to work on her chart in harmonious transits to Jupiter in her chart, the point at which we find faith and belief that life has meaning, and also to Mercury in her chart, opening up new levels of understanding. She will also have a large number of Jupiter opportunity transits, including a trine of Jupiter to her natal Jupiter which is a very positive event. The New York governor will appoint the next senator of New York, so she will not have to run for the seat. I cannot predict whether or not she will be appointed, but it does seem clear that her public life is really just beginning.
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Fascinating account Lynn. Glad you focus on people in the news to help us appreciate how the transiting cycles work on the big stage.
Other impressions: Mars in Scorpio squaring the Chiron/Moon conjunction and Uranus in Leo creates the challenge of a T-square. Seems she has to consciously pick up her energy and demonstrate her leadership if she is going to be perceived as a force to be reckoned with. Certainly has the necessary tools in her chart to overcome the passiveness. As Mars creates the fulcrum of this T-square seesaw, the stability of the Uranus - Moon/Chiron opposition depends on how she moves her life force (gee, I hope she physically exercises - she really needs to do that to get this Scorpio energized).
Transiting Uranus square her Mercury may provide her with the impetus to "speak out" from that 1st house of hers rather than acting behind the scenes.
In the past, the role of the Kennedy women has been the "wind beneath your wings". Always in the background dealing with the emotional upheaval caused by the men in the family. Is Ms. Kennedy ready to emerge from this shadow? If not the Senate, then look for Obama to offer her a prominent role in his administration. The tricky part is Saturn in Virgo in the 9th squaring her rising sign through July thanks to a protracted retrograde cycle. Hence, the timing may be a bit off to launch her "new look". "Time will tell" says the Virgo's in the audience. ;)
Thank you Lynn for your insighful comments and summary.
With out having time at present to study Ms Kennedy's
astrological transits and progressions... I just pray
that she is guided by her own inner spirit.
But it seems she is being pushed and used by an entourage
of ambitious third parties who want to use her name
and her presence. She has suffered all of her life
quietly and with dignity. I do not think she should
seek the political spotlight at this time or ever in her life.
Great post, Lynn! I have been wondering about her chart recently, too, since I also have 12th house planets (incl. the Sun) and can relate to the "private life" experience.
I also agree with Joseph's comment that the timing may be off for her. Amazing how after years of a certain status quo in politics, at this juncture when Caroline decides to throw her hat in the ring, we are suddenly seeing a push-back against cronyism/nepotism in politics. Lots of debate has cropped up in the media about whether she deserves to be given the seat, without a record of service in political office.
Again, this isn't to say whether she should or shouldn't be appointed, but it's just interesting that the political winds have shifted at the very moment she chose to come out of the shadows. In fact, she triggered the debate by declaring interest in the seat. Almost like events are conspiring to make that move to the forefront more difficult than it already is!
In her public statements, Caroline Kennedy has said that Obama was the first candidate to really inspire her, the way people have said JFK inspired them. So her desire to step forward and serve seems genuine. But I think the entry of Pluto in Capricorn is causing a re-evaluation of government, and challenging the way things are usually done. Which would include questioning whether to bequeath a Senate seat to the daughter of a former president, and a member of a powerful political family.
In the past, the role of the Kennedy women has been the "wind beneath your wings". Always in the background dealing with the emotional upheaval caused by the men in the family. Is Ms. Kennedy ready to emerge from this shadow?
Great points Joseph. The Chiron conjunction to the Moon also suggests the carrying of the wound (Chiron) of the family history (Moon).
But it seems she is being pushed and used by an entourage
of ambitious third parties who want to use her name
and her presence
This is an interesting point, but I don't see this at all. Caroline Kennedy doesn't strike me as someone who can be pushed or used, and now that Obama is in office I don't see why her name would be needed. Cuomo, who perhaps is better qualified, has an equally progressive agenda so I'm not sure this idea of an entourage pushing her to run makes sense.
I think we all are a bit weary of cronyism and nepotism and I think Ms. Kennedy will encounter resistance from the public. But it's the Governor who will make the appointment and he will be swayed by the winds of political power.
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