When The Fit Hits The Shan / Uranus in Taurus

 

One hundred and sixty two years ago, in 1859, Charles Dickens began his novel “A Tale of Two Cities” with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…” Of course this opening sentence goes on a bit longer in the actual novel, but you get the idea. Mr. Dickens was writing about a crazy, polarized time, much like what we’re experiencing now with the Covid Pandemic and its deniers, Climate Change and its deniers, Racial Inequity and its deniers, Truth and its deniers.

 

As a Professional Astrologer for over 20 years it is my business to pay attention to the movements of the planets and look for trends. Like for instance, a common thread linking Mr. Dickens time to our own is that the planet Uranus is shaking things up in the sign of Taurus.

 

One of the slower moving planets in our Solar system, Uranus or “the ringed planet resting on its side”, takes approximately 84 years to circle the Sun. Named after the violent and uncontrollable King of the Titans in Greek Mythology, Uranus is the planetary archetype associated with revolution and unexpected change on a grand scale, as well as individuality, freedom, and genius on a personal level. By contrast, the fixed earth sign of Taurus (where Uranus is currently transiting) is about stability, tradition, and conformity. Hence, when a volatile planet like Uranus passes through a fixed, status quo sign like Taurus, the walls of our institutions can be expected to shake and the  people will cry out (or lash out) for change. Sound familiar?

 

There is no doubt that over the last year Uranus’s signature unpredictability has been severely testing not only our society, but the world at large. In fact, here in the U.S. one need look no further than the utter collapse of our health care system during the Covid pandemic to find Uranian chaos (Uranus was finally in Taurus for good  by March 2019) . But that’s not all, how about the mysterious failure of Washington D.C. law enforcement to adequately respond to the violent insurrection that occurred in the U.S Capitol on January 6, 2021, especially when they knew it was coming (Uranus and Mars were squaring Jupiter in Aquarius at the time)? How was such a lapse of duty possible when a mob of thousands hoping to overturn the election started marching toward the Capitol while it was being covered live on CNN? Add to that the unbelievable denials afterwards by some of the elected officials who were present regarding whether or not anything even happened on that fateful day, particularly since film footage exists showing many of these deniers literally running and hiding for their lives. Let’s also not forget the Presidential election in 2020 that triggered the aforementioned insurrection (Uranus was opposing the Sun in Scorpio). After a record voter turnout that was by all official accounts a fair and secure process, there were nevertheless those who questioned the outcome despite President Biden winning by a landslide margin of over 7 million votes. To make matters even more absurd, after these election challenges were defeated in over 60 court cases around the country there is still to this day, almost a year later, a major media network in our country still telling its viewers we have an illegitimate President and the election was “stolen.”

 

As I previously mentioned, the antics of Uranus have not been limited only to the U.S. Just ask the Palestinians and their supporters around the world how they feel about the recent actions of the Israeli government, or vice-versa, if you want to hear what both sides of Uranian reactionary insanity sound like. And of course there is also the sudden “unexpected” collapse of the Afghan government less than 2 weeks after the U.S. military departed following its 20-year presence there (Uranus had been in an extended square with Saturn in Aquarius at the time). This of course happened after American Intelligence experts assured us that the ability of the radical, fundamentalist Taliban to regain power was “unlikely.” To an average person like myself who routinely expects everyone in the government to fail upwards no matter what they do, everything I’ve been recounting still sounds like the workings of a world spinning out of control (or fake news depending on your IQ) yet to any competent Astrologer these events I’ve listed have Uranus in Taurus’s eccentric fingerprints all over them. If you don’t believe me just reread what Mr. Dickens wrote, or perhaps you could try and find somebody in England who is old enough to remember back on September 30, 1938 when Prime Minister Chamberlain came back from Germany and told them Hitler wasn’t going to be a problem (yes, Uranus was in Taurus then too!).

 

Another interesting phenomenon going on now in our society that has piqued my interest and also seems to smack of Uranus’s influence, particularly when it comes to the total disregard and rejection of traditional mores, would be the “Non-gender identifying” phenomenon that is being championed by many young people. Here in America the act of exchanging a traditional pronoun like “he” or “she” for a more ubiquitous and supposedly freeing “they” adheres to the sort of individualism and rebelliousness that could easily be linked to Uranus’s influence.  This phenomenon becomes even more interesting after one realizes that in the Western Esoteric Tradition (as well as in many of the Spiritual systems of the East) the act of merging the duality of masculine and feminine into a single, unified awareness is considered the apex of spiritual realization and a significant transcendental step upwards. A second example of an esoteric phenomenon that I feel is linked to the Non-gender identifying movement and which has long fascinated me involves the numerous descriptions of extraterrestrial encounters (also ruled by Uranus) in which the abductors are described as exhibiting a genderless appearance. If that’s the case, then maybe the whole abduction phenomenon is not really about the invasion of our planet by another form of life. Perhaps what we think of as Aliens is really the archetype of a higher, universal, non-gender identifying wisdom within humanity that is trying to emerge?  During the Summer of 2025 as it exits Taurus to enter Gemini, Uranus will eventually catch up to directly aspect Neptune, the planet of transcendental love, meaning that perhaps by then we could have a better understanding if humanity as a whole is actually evolving toward a more universal “they” or will instead remain within the limits of a partisan he, she, or whatever else?

 

Now of course I am sure there are some who might want to challenge me and ask why I’m suggesting Uranus is so influential at this time? What about the other planets?  No doubt there are those who might say Saturn is more of a widespread influence now because of his authoritarian nature and predisposition for the rules. In addition, he’s also currently transiting through a sign he holds dominion over, namely Aquarius (which by the way is co-ruled by Uranus). On the other hand, there are probably some who might feel that Pluto is a more powerful energy on earth now, particularly because he symbolizes perhaps the two most powerful forces of change known to humanity, specifically death and regeneration. Another important point in favor of Pluto would be that the atomic bomb was invented shortly after his discovery, thus making him not only the Archetype of the Nuclear Age (which we’re still caught up in) but also the Patron God of every hawk politician on the face of the earth (war being humanity’s favorite pastime). Another planet that could be considered as having a strong influence now over the earth would Neptune, the archetype of enlightenment, although in my opinion his converse sides of illusion and escapism are far more effective tools for helping humans to experience the truth, albeit by default . Also, like Saturn, Neptune is transiting a sign he rules, in this case, Pisces.

 

After weighing all the above evidence, and in spite of the worthy cases that can be made for the influence of these other planets on humanity at this time, I would have to say that  Uranus still gets my vote as the prime mover and shaker over our current destiny here on earth. Why? Well, for one reason he’s about change for change’s sake, good, bad, or indifferent, and that’s a daunting force  to deal with. If you don’t believe me, ask anyone who’s been caught in the reasonless, random destruction of a Tsunami or an earth quake (like those in Haiti last week). Uranus is not concerned with teaching us a lesson or helping us to gain any maturity or wisdom after one of his unexpected occurrences, that’s much too pre-planned for an “on the edge” type like him. Uranus likes to be strapped to the front of the rollercoaster for the fun of it. He’s not about the trial and error of incremental innovation (practically or morally) he’s about that “Aha!” moment of realization that seemingly emerges out of a vacuum. Uranus is the flash of satori, not the study of philosophy. As an example, take that revolutionary invention from not too long ago known as the internet (which, by the way, is ruled by Uranus). At its inception it was touted as something that would effectively shrink the world by instantly expanding our ability to access unlimited information. Remember the first time you heard that mystifying, transcendental sounding term,“cyberspace?” Well, fast forward a little more than a decade and the once space age sounding notion of the internet is now nothing more than a universal shopping mall where thieves (along with government organizations like the NSA) can access your life and personal information with impunity. What was at one time thought of as a major technological step forward has essentially turned into a lawless land of disinformation; a hall of mirrors where base-less propaganda like “Stop the Steal” is promoted along with anti-mask and anti-vaccine lies that proliferate among the unwitting like mosquitoes in a swamp.

 

Now you may be asking yourself, “what can an average person with average illusions like myself do to prevent being ravaged by this current and unpredictable chaos of Uranus?” That’s more than a fair question, so let’s look at how Uranus is affecting each of the signs (No, I will not be talking about romance or career prospects.)

 

Of course the sign at ground zero for all this is Taurus, therefore Taurians in general should be ready for both welcome and unwelcome surprises into their well-ordered, aesthetically pleasing worlds (though at first it may be hard to tell which is which). On the other hand, Leos and Aquarians should be careful about thinking that they understand more than they do about any of this, after all it’s not always about you and no one put you in charge. At the same time, Scorpions should be careful not to use their stingers every time something happens that they didn’t expect (if you want to think like Machiavelli then you should expect the unexpected). For the earth signs, such as Capricorn and Virgo, they will likely find themselves touched by a bit of genius, so a useful mantra for them might be, “Build it and they will come” although the necessity for vaccinations and masks may put a damper on any dreams of manifest destiny for the time being. Last but not least, Cancers and Pisceans may find themselves feeling a lot more sensitive (and cranky) than usual, meaning they should seriously work on transforming some of their excess stress into a relaxing or liberating creative endeavor; perhaps a bread and breakfast or a massage parlor, but then we’re back to the vaccination and mask stuff….Oh well……..

 

In closing, I would like to stress how important it is when dealing with an unpredictable planet like Uranus to try and remain as objective as possible. You are not defined in this life by what you have, or by what you’ve accomplished, because at the drop of a hat all of that can be taken away “like a fist when you open your hand” (up to and including your life). Realize instead that what at first may seem like the world collapsing could, in actuality, be a blessing in disguise.  After all, contained in the word “revolution” is the word “love” spelled backwards, meaning that the ability to recognize and decipher hidden clues amidst the chaos could ultimately turn out to be the difference between experiencing this Uranus transit as either stressful or enlightening. In other words, pay attention; the world may not be what you’re assuming it is and Uranus is just trying to point this out.

 

Looking Back at “An Astrologist Examined the Trump Family’s Star Charts” published in Cosmo Online 2/9/2017

In January of 2017 I was hired by Cosmopolitan Online Magazine to analyze the Astrological Birth Chart of then President Elect Donald Trump along with the charts of his immediate family, specifically Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. The article was published on February 9, 2017 with the title “An Astrologist Examined the Trump Family’s Star Charts and the Results Are Crazy.”

I thought it would be interesting to republish this piece on the day that marks Mr. Trump’s first full year in office in order to see if what I originally wrote bears any resemblance to  the current situation.

What you are about to read is what I originally submitted to Cosmo before their editorial staff made changes. I was disappointed at what was removed from my original text, so I am happy at this point to be able to present  my original, unadulterated views on what the man many of us refer to as #45 was likely going to do during his first year in office.

 

Analysis of the Trump Family Birth Charts

 by T.C. Eisele

 

 Donald Trump born June 14, 1946

A natal or “birth” chart is a basic tool Astrologers use to gain insight into an individual’s personality. In looking at the birth chart of Donald Trump we are presented with a clear example of “what you see is what you get.”

Beginning with an opposition between his Gemini Sun and Sagittarius Moon, the stage is immediately set for a natural conflict between Mr. Trump’s emotions and ego that can often result in his having difficult relations with others. These difficulties are enhanced by a harsh relationship between Mercury, the planet of communication in the emotional sign of Cancer, and Neptune, the planet of illusion, showing a tendency for Mr. Trump to be convinced that the truth is whatever he feels it should be.

His Gemini Sun is also in conjunction with Uranus and works powerfully with Mars in Leo to make Donald Trump proud, individualistic, and highly unpredictable. An addition of Jupiter in Libra to this mix amplifies all of the aforementioned qualities as well as providing a continuous need for Donald Trump to be in control of any situation he is in. A Jupiter-Uranus trine further symbolizes an almost magical ability to manifest whatever he needs, although from an esoteric perspective, Magical Power that is directed by the ego instead of the Higher Self can ultimately result in one’s undoing rather than success.

It is interesting that Mr. Trump began his race for the White House in the year of his Jupiter return, a 12-year cycle traditionally associated with expansion. His Inauguration was approximately a month after the actual return and on that day Jupiter was in square to a conjunction in his birth chart of Venus and Saturn in Cancer. This is an alignment usually indicating someone who is both loyal and family oriented, although when mixed with the egocentric qualities previously cited would also explain the controversial first weeks of the Trump administration that were dominated by an unapologetic cronyism and “alternate facts”.

Jupiter will linger in this square to Mr. Trumps Venus-Saturn conjunction for a while and also include transiting Pluto in Capricorn. As result we could very well see this Presidency turn into a Reality TV Show over the Summer with a plot line more out of Machiavelli or “The House of Borgia” rather than the All-American, well scripted images we usually see coming out of the White House.

 

Melania Trump born April 26, 1970

Because there is no record for the time of day when Melania was born it is not known whether her Moon is in late Sagittarius or early Capricorn. If it’s in Sag it would be conjunct her husband’s moon, which is a great indicator of emotional compatibility and shared values. However, if her Moon is in early Capricorn (which is my guess) it would square her husband’s Neptune and essentially motivate them to see each other as whatever they wish; he as the powerful provider and her as the beautiful trophy.

This fantasy continues when we look at her Capricorn Moon in aspect to both Jupiter in Scorpio and a Sun-Saturn conjunction in Taurus, a combination indicating the ability to attract whatever Melania desires from her marriage as all three of these planets aspect her husband’s emotional Mercury.

With a powerful Venus-Pluto alignment, Melania fits snuggly with her husbands Venus-Saturn conjunction symbolizing attachments to home and family. In addition, her Venus in Taurus provides a strong tension to The Donald’s Mars in Leo serving to insure plenty of fire works between them (both romantic and otherwise).

The public image of Melania has so far been that of a subservient and dim spouse, however, with a grounded Mercury-Pluto relationship in her chart I think she may be somewhat different behind the scenes. After all, she did manage to seduce the man who is our President.

While her Taurus Sun craves luxury and comfort and her Capricorn moon will do whatever it takes to keep the situation going, Melania also possesses a pair of very volatile Mars-Uranus and Mars-Jupiter aspects. With an addition of Neptune to these positions, I suspect that the First Lady can be quite rebellious and is extremely sensitive to anyone trying to control her. While Mr. Trump may drive some of us crazy with his antics, we should rest assured that his wife likely does the same to him.

My overall sense is that if the walls of the White House had eyes (and Melania ever ends up living there) perhaps those halls of power will witness behavior by the First Lady during the next four years that could get her “Fired” by the Boss when they eventually vacate the premises.

 

Ivanka Trump born October 30, 1981

When it comes to dealing with a powerful personality like Donald Trump, you either agree or disagree, you’re either on the team or you get axed. Nobody gets to agree to disagree with a man like Donald Trump, except maybe his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

With a Venus-Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius aligning nicely with a Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Libra, on the surface Ivanka is glamorous, privileged, sophisticated, accomplished, and seemingly very lucky. However, with Mars in Virgo aspecting both her Scorpio Sun and Sagittarius Moon, the real lady behind the glamorous mask might be better described by Burt Lancaster’s line in the classic film, “Sweet Smell of Success” when he says to a colleague, “I wouldn’t want to take a bite out of you, you’re a cookie full of arsenic.”

With an additional Saturn-Mercury conjunction in Libra, Ivanka is nobody’s fool. She’s as smart as a whip but is also possessed of the same ruthlessness as her father when it comes to getting what she wants. This similarity results from the fact that they both possess an afflicted Sag Moon, a placement that can often facilitate the individual believing whatever they want to.

Ivanka also has an interesting anomaly in her chart in the form of Uranus in Scorpio being un-aspected. Generally when a planet has no aspects to it in the birth chart it is an indication that the energy associated with it will be either repressed or uncontrollable.

While Ivanka’s Scorpio Sun is quite well heeled behind her Sag-Libra glamour, that Uranus in Scorpio represents some very deeply rooted issues having to do with control, independence, and power. If she can maintain her cool and learn some important lessons of compromise and humility from the blowback of her Father’s natural hubris, it is quite possible that Ivanka Trump could end up unexpectedly emerging as a kind of Herkimer Diamond amidst a rough Presidency.

 

Jared Kushner born January 10, 1981

In comparison to the intoxication of power we have witnessed Donald Trump indulge in so far, his Son-in-law Jared Kushner would no doubt be seen as his designated driver. Somebody has to keep this heap on the road and with a Sun-Mercury conjunction in Capricorn working with both Uranus and Pluto, Mr. Kushner has the chutzpah to do so.

Born into privilege, Jared Kushner has seen both the pros and cons of ruthless ambition as a result of the conviction and imprisonment of his father, successful real estate developer Charles Kushner, for tax evasion and witness tampering. With a Pisces Moon, the above incident no doubt left a lasting impression on the young man and combined with his healing Chiron in Taurus and nurturing Ceres in Cancer, he is perhaps the perfect Dark Knight to stand behind the hard charging Mr. Trump.

Kushner is a natural strategist having Mars in powerful alignment with both Jupiter and Saturn, which no doubt serves as a potent antidote to Mr. Trumps arrogant Mercury-Neptune square, making Kushner the perfect Devil’s advocate to the Devil himself. In addition, Kushner’s nurturing Ceres sits right in the lap of Donald Trump’s Venus-Saturn conjunction with all three in turn closely flanked on both sides by the younger man’s Sun and Pluto, thereby making these two men a deeply loyal and Karmic Cabal.

Jared Kushner also possesses the same identical Neptune-Venus conjunction as his wife, which in turn relates back to his own Pluto and Ivanka’s Jupiter-Pluto, making this pair the real power couple in the Trump Court. Both of them are smart, driven, and loyal, as well as mutually turned on by power, money, and each other.

The real question though regarding Jared Kushner is if he has learned enough from the mistakes of his father to truly be of service to his new mentor before Mr. Trump ends up making the mistake of believing the United States Government is either his personal fiefdom or a Reality TV show.