HILLARY AND THE VENUS-NORTH NODE CONJUNCTION

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Last week, Venus conjoined the North Node and two powerful women made news. The first was Hillary Clinton, preparing to end her term as Secretary of State amidst wild speculation she will run in 2016 for president. According to a Bloomberg National Poll published the day of the conjunction, 70% of Americans have a ‘mostly or favorable view of Clinton.’ Since Venus symbolizes a woman, the North Node indicates physical manifestation, and Scorpio represents power, that a powerful woman would make news was not too startling.

            But why Hillary?

The transiting conjunction provides no context, which is only obtained through the interactions of the transits with the natal chart. So, I was surprised to see the transiting North Node and Venus conjunct the natal South Node. Hillary was having a half-nodal return, a time when the North and South nodes exchange notes about the manifest and unmanifest realms. Since the transits activate the nativity, with the South Node stimulated, I was expecting some manner of loss. Typically, no matter how spiritual the South Node may be, its activation almost always coincides with suffering or loss. Yet, what was expressed here was high standing and professional accolades. This was doubly puzzling since the transiting North Node was square natal Saturn at the transiting South Bending, further suggesting some outward loss for Saturn (standing, authority). Nonetheless, here she was, practically being elected president four years in advance (transiting Venus-North Node trine natal Moon). I interpreted the meaning of the natal South Node as service; she is sacrificing herself for the country.

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            However, yesterday, news surfaced that at the ‘beginning of the week’ (likely Monday or Tuesday, December 10-11), Clinton picked up a stomach virus, became severely dehydrated, fainted and suffered a concussion. As a result she would be unable to testify on the Hill this week about the Benghazi attacks. On Monday December 10, 2012, transiting Venus was at 23°27 Scorpio, in partile conjunction with her natal South Node (applying 7'), conjunct the Ascendant, natal Mercury, progressed Chiron, and square natal Saturn. Here was an unhappy loss (Venus conjunct the natal South Node) from a manifest (North Node) head (first house) wound (Chiron) that negatively affected her health (Venus ruling the 6^th), left her unconscious (natal Mercury in the 12^th) and unable to fulfill her professional duties (Saturn at the transiting South Bending).

            What of the other woman? Read on…

SUSAN RICE AND THE VENUS-NORTH NODE CONJUNCTION

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On Thursday, December 13, 2012, one day after the partile conjunction of transiting Venus and the North Node, Susan Rice withdrew her candidacy for Secretary of State amidst the political brouhaha over the Benghazi attack. In Republican circles, she has been widely criticized, particularly by Senator John McCain, for reiterating White House talking points on the Sunday morning news shows. Pundits have opined that his wrath is a response to her aggressive stance against him in the run-up to the 2008 election when she campaigned for Obama.

            As is too often the case, Susan has no recorded birth time. In these instances, a fountain of information can be gleaned from the nodes. Natally, Mercury rules the North Node, and Jupiter rules the South Node. This year, progressed Mercury will conjunct the progressed South Node, an indication of some manner of loss for Mercury. On Thursday the transiting Sun was conjunct this pair, activating the aspect. As a result of misinformation, received and delivered, she withdrew her name from consideration(Mercury ruling the North Node outwardly expressing the loss of the South Node).

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Meanwhile, the transiting Venus-North Node conjunction was conjunct the natal Sun. A repetition of aspects is a signal to pay attention: something important is happening. (Here the combination was between the Sun and a node). The natal Sun is square Saturn in Aquarius that was at the transiting North Bending. What appears to have materialized in Susan’s life was John McCain’s heavy hand of authority: he did not appreciate her power (or sincerely believes she has used it inappropriately – transiting Venus in detriment in Scorpio). In addition, the White House that provided the talking points, did little to support her (Saturn square Sun). Realizing her own weak position, Susan decided not to pursue a higher position of responsibility. Although the houses would shed further light on the circumstances, the nodes and the planets conjunct and square them, often supply sufficient information to tell the story.