The Birth Chart of Barack Obama
By Shelley Jordan

For the past couple of years astrologers have been forced to cope with the frustration of not having access to a birth time for Barack Obama. The other night a friend forwarded a photocopy of Barack’s freshly unearthed birth certificate to me - cause for real celebration! Even though astrology can’t predict the outcome of the election, we can study the charts of the candidates and learn - about their personalities and the way our culture responds to them.

Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, at 7:24 PM in Honolulu, according to the official record. The chart alone won’t tell us about the person. We have to match the chart to what we know about someone’s life and actions in order to understand what drives them.

His Ascendant is in Aquarius, with the Moon in Gemini - the sign of the inquisitive mind - in his 4th house of home and family. Barack has an emphatic Uranus-North Node conjunction in Leo at his Descendent, further developing the Aquarian themes of community, independence, originality and progressive thinking.

I have, however, observed in some Aquarian types the tendency to conform to the dictates of their culture and community of choice. In this case individuality becomes its opposite: conformity to the group, masked as independence only because it is an alternative to the prevailing orthodoxy. In reality, this pseudo-independence is simply obedience to another party line. It remains to be seen if and how Obama will assert his independence.

The Aquarian emphasis and the Moon in Gemini describe his intellectual orientation. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Barack Obama is no mental lightweight. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. This emphasis in air describes his cerebral tendencies and his skills as an orator, which are enhanced by Mercury in Leo.

Having Aquarius on the Ascendant and Uranus on the Descendent is like having Aquarius on two angles. This intensifies the symbolism of Obama’s position on progressive independence and humanitarian values. He was a community organizer early in his career and is a current voice for change in a moribund political environment.

The Aquarius-Leo axis also hints at a self-willed nature. He might find himself caught between his own desire for independent decision making and the demands of the party. The dilemma of Aquarius lies in expressing personal individuality while maintaining a position in society. Aquarius can run the gamut from eccentric individuality to trendy conformity.

Leo strives to be exceptional, the lord and master. Aquarius is Everyman, the masses, the collective. It will be interesting to see how Obama maintains a balance between aristocratic Leo and populace Aquarius. I’ve noticed many brilliant, original and talented people with Aquarius prominent in their charts – people who come up with unique solutions and alternatives to established methods and traditions.

As the first biracial person to run for the office of president, Obama seems to personify the ideal of the American cultural melting pot. Some of the most influential US presidents, like Lincoln and FDR, have been Aquarian types. Whether Obama could rise to that level remains unknown at this time. The fact that Dick Cheney has the Sun in Aquarius, too, makes it clear that astrology alone does not reveal all of the personality. It certainly can’t tell us about someone’s moral fiber. You’d think with Cheney’s Aquarius Sun, Virgo Ascendant and Pisces Moon that he’d be some kind of compassionate, service-oriented humanitarian, when he is actually the opposite.

With the Sun and Mercury in confident, charismatic Leo in the 6th house of service, Obama’s ambition and leadership drive have been expressed through his work. The Sun is square numinous Neptune, an aspect frequently seen in the charts of gifted people. With Cancer on his 6th house cusp, helping others was a value learned from his mother. The combination of 6th house service oriented planets and the Aquarian emphasis describes the community social service that defined his early professional years.

Obama’s dedication to work and service, along with his innate gifts, have rapidly lifted him from relative obscurity to his current position on the world stage. He emanates a cool and rational, patrician self-assurance. Venus, the ruler of his 4th house, is in family oriented Cancer in the 5th house of love and children. Venus aspects his 4th house Moon, describing an emotional attachment to home and family life.

He has Saturn conjunct Jupiter, an aspect that astrologers have long associated with the world teacher. This conjunction falls in his 12th house of imagination, compassion and idealism. Saturn is in the last degrees of authoritative Capricorn. Jupiter, the planet of beliefs and ethics, is in humanitarian and secular Aquarius, suggesting that Obama believes in humanity’s ability to rise to the current challenges that face us. Mercury is opposite the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, underscoring his intellectual rigor and powers of concentration and ability to deal with complex issues on a large scale.

The Saturn-Jupiter conjunction trine Obama’s Mars in Virgo points to organizational skills, executive abilities and a determined capacity for hard work on a large scale. Mars in Virgo in his 8th house might represent aggressive grass roots sources to finance his campaign, as transiting Uranus opposes it from his 2nd house.

During this Uranus transit he came under attack because of his pastor’s opinions, and resolved the conflict by quitting the church. Pluto was in his 11th house of community opposite his Venus, too, indicating some kind of reorganization of his relationships. I see this as an archetypal event expressing Pluto’s transition from religious Sagittarius to practical Capricorn. I suspect the tidal wave of religion that has swept the political arena for the past 13 years is finally receding.

At the time he announced his candidacy, Saturn was in Leo conjunct his Descendant, emerging into the public, upper hemisphere of his chart. Neptune was also hovering over his Aquarius Ascendant, illuminating his potential for his party.

Both Bush and Gore have their Ascendants in Leo, close to the same degree. At the time of the last election, Neptune was conjuncting their Descendents, describing the confusion and deception surrounding the election process.

Barack Obama’s Chiron is in his 1st house in Pisces. Could this be the spiritual healer the United States has been waiting for? Chiron is opposite Pluto in his 7th and square his 4th house Moon. He’ll have to use all his focus, charisma and resources to face down the powers of darkness that will try to undermine his campaign. His family life, which seems firm, given the 4th house Moon and Venus in Cancer, can help supply strength and support to assist him in the upcoming battle for the presidency.

copyright 2008 Shelley Jordan

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Shelley Jordan has written dozens of unique articles on astrology which have been published around the world. She has led workshops, classes, and groups and has trained many professional astrologers. She is known for her intuitive and practical consultations and is widely respected for her pioneering and original vision in the field of astrology.

For classes and consultations, email mimosaone@sbcglobal.net or call 608-256-5432.

To view previous articles by Shelley Jordan go to the 21st Century Astrology archive.