The Grande Dame of Fire

It's fascinating to take in the great diversity of opinion surrounding public figures. I  think we see what serves our personal identification purposes from day to day, and we project images of individuals we wish we could have in relationship. Our fantasy friends and lovers. And of course we sling hatred when we find obstruction in our real everyday connections or have an unusually high level on the self-loathing meter. The crucifixion of the Romneys is particularly interesting and perhaps it's the balancing part of last election's excess. Somehow they've become a convenient receptacle for the country's rage. The favorability puzzle. This forlorn country can't figure out who it likes. It likes hating the Romneys.

Before I knew anything, my unschooled reaction to Ann Romney was instantaneous and strong.  Her bold and direct style with no girlish trills, giggles, or apologies made an immediate impression. I was not surprised to discover that she is an Aries. I really got confirmation of my impressions when I saw that she has Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the North Node in Aries as well. A moon in Sagittarius adds to the heat along with Saturn and Pluto in Leo. Pow!!! A grand fire trine to beat all. Except mine.

Aries women are known to be father dominated and true to Aries, Ann was close to hers, but also extremely defiant. From the beginning this woman was determined to do things her own way.  Raised with Welsh Congregationalists, her father had become strongly opposed to all organized religion, although upon her request the family very occasionally attended church, and she nominally identified as an Episcopalian. When Ann decided to join the LDS church, Dad was not pleased. Of course, she went ahead, and chose George Romney as her guide through the process. The moon in Sagittarius speaks of religious longing and a personal connection to the godfigure.

She and Mitt were afraid to tell their parents about their marriage plans fearing opposition, which they did encounter, but she forged ahead on that plan as well.

Then she decided to build a large family and her parents freaked. She forged ahead and told them if they caused any trouble she wouldn't let them see their grandchildren. Naturally Ann Romney got her way once again.

When Mitt was thinking about a second run for the presidency, the boys objected, he was reluctant, but Ann laid down the law and you now see the result. She has a habit of refusing to let men get in her way. Aries people are headstrong crusading types who are oblivious to impediment. They plow through convinced that they are right. "I can beat anybody at his own game" is the phenomenon I apply to them.

The absence of water in Ann's chart compels her to develop her sympathetic nature as compensation. You often see this when an element is lacking. Mrs. Romney is known for helping women in their times of trouble. She's the best friend a person could have and many lay claim to that distinction. The fire trine is built for inspiration, and the Sag moon is a point of emotional generosity and humor, the point Ann dips from in growing the compassion that is so important to her. The fire energy is one of laughter and good times. And very high expectations. Larger than life, if you will. Well, larger than ordinary life. The joy she's so fond of is a Sagittarian necessity.

Aries women are also known to be champions of women's rights, not always in the traditional sense. Since men adore them, and they often marry just out of high school, they tend to enjoy the company of men and consider them their equals. With a husband and five sons, Ann Romney fits that description. But her unwavering support of other women tells more about her loyalties, especially when her friends are weak and in need of vitality. Aries often comes to the aid of struggling creatures of any kind. The moon in Sagittarius loves to come to the rescue, straightening everyone out whether he wants it or not. The "you should, you need to" factor.

Neptune in Libra opposes the Aries planets adding romance and glamour to her persona, plus idealism, confusion, and goddessness. Sensitivity and talent for compassion are also there. Mitt totally idolizes her. A lot of people do. Jupiter in Aquarius and Uranus in Gemini round out the air planets. Fire/air people are often vivacious, social, curious, and highly fun loving. Leadership comes naturally to them.

But she often speaks of the darkness she encountered when she got sick and she even got so weak that she lost control of her bodily functions, not an easy situation for an Aries, who likes to show the world how together she is. How tough and never in need of help. Notice how she has difficulty even saying the word "help" in the interview. Perhaps the Libra Neptune was a way to balance all the fire and lead her through a more gloomy passage. She seems to appreciate what she gained in that dark place, and true to Aries, it was no one's fault. It was her individual destiny. A chance to learn something about helplessness and humility, not known fire traits. And, of course, the opportunity to test her Aries might against an obstacle. A chance to win.

Aries frequently prefer the company of animals to people, much to her husband's chagrin. It is no mystery why Ann loves horses so much, especially with a moon in Sagittarius. The fire planets also point to a person with athletic skill. Sports serve to release the excess that can be problematic for these overheated types.

Zip Dobyns once told me that people with grand fire trines are often criminals or gurus. It's funny. I can easily imagine Ann Romney being a huge hit on the inspirational speaker circuit. She longs for the spotlight with her Saturn at 29 Leo, but that placement also indicates terror of the audience and the native doesn't get comfortable in the limelight until later in life. They wait in the wings until their turn comes, and I think Ann's moment might be here. Uranus is crossing her Aries stellium unleashing her strength and will. She could very well upstage some of the other lights, hackneyed as they've become, with her easy, subtle, relaxed confidence. One has to actually pay attention to hear her. The public seems primed to appreciate her and it will be interesting to see how she blossoms. The self knowledge she's gained through her experiences should come in handy.


Anyone who gets close to Ann Romney cannot resist absorbing some of the potency spilling out of her. You can see that in reporters' faces sometimes as they sort of sit there stunned and blinking for a moment unable to speak when the interview ends. She's not like the others. I was struck by the respect Dr. Siegal was showing Ann, and I found this interview to be a wonderful example of dignified behavior. Good chemistry. Ann is just a stay at home mom, so they say, but this proud Aries can hold her own with the professionals. And probably the gurus and criminals, too.

Should  the United States' destiny include Ann Romney as First Lady, I would expect a sort of royal presence in the White House with inspiration provided for women and attention paid to the challenges of living with long term illnesses. A return to Capricorn elegance would most likely occur. She uses alternative treatments and that, too, could be an addition to our health care bubbling stew pot. She wears her aging face beautifully which will be an inspiration to the gargantuan group of not so young ladies living in this youth centered society. They can barely afford their cosmetic surgery anymore, let alone their joint replacements. If she decides to defy a man again, it could be the president of the United States, and I really wouldn't put it past her.

Down to the Son

Big Daddy

"In ancient Roman myth, Saturn was a major god presiding over agriculture and the harvest time. Saturn's wife was Ops (the Roman equivalent of Rhea) and Saturn was the father of Ceres, Jupiter, Veritas, Pluto, Neptune, and Juno, among others. He was identified in classical antiquity with the Greek deity Cronus, and the mythologies of the two gods are commonly mixed. In Hesiod's Theogony, a mythological account of the creation of the universe and Zeus' rise to power, Cronus is mentioned as the son of Uranus (the Greek equivalent of Roman Caelus), the heavens, and Gaia (the Greek equivalent of Terra), the earth. Hesiod is an early Greek poet and rhapsode, who presumably lived around 700 BC.

According to the story, Cronus seizes power, castrating and overthrowing his father Uranus. However, it was foretold that one day a mighty son of Cronus would in turn overthrow him, and Cronus devoured all of his children when they were born to prevent this. Cronus's wife, Rhea, hid her sixth child, Zeus, on the island of Crete, and offered Cronus a large stone wrapped in swaddling clothes in his place; Cronus promptly devoured it. Zeus later overthrew Cronus and the other Titans, becoming the new supreme ruler of the cosmos."

This classic tale of father and child exists in all of our personal heroic journeys, but there is no better example of the story than in the chart of Mitt Romney, currently running for president of the United States.  Wherever Pluto sits in the chart, the native experiences fear for his survival and it becomes extremely important to respond to the urges delineated by the configuration. When Pluto conjuncts Saturn, as it does in Mitt's chart, the desire to achieve great things is paramount -- to surpass the father, lest he devour him and end it all. The destructive nature of Pluto can work to sabotage the native's efforts and the climb to success can be very very difficult, even when apparent success comes easily. The achievement the man seeks is deep and hard to access. The fear of annihilation by authority figures underscores the native's life. At the same time the rise can be spectacular if the unconscious drives are overcome or utilized to the native's advantage. Saturn in the 4th house is a long hard search for emotional security. A home in an alien world. Often the man feels like an orphan, as if his family is not his own, and the bottom is about to give way. Romney's obsession with producing a large close family is evidence of this fear, but it is not enough. Pluto is like a bottomless well.

Just prior to Mitt's conception, his mother was told she would never have another child. Enter Mitt in his Uranian shocking way. So he really didn't belong with the family. He was just borrowing it you might conclude. He's not supposed to be here, but many Pisces don't fully incarnate and don't want to. One foot out the escape hatch for them. 

 

At the bottom of Mitt Romney's chart, straddling the 4th house cusp, sits Saturn and Pluto in Leo, forming the foundation of his life and the source of fuel for his high achievement.  The planets indicate a strict upbringing with a potent authoritarian hand poised above the child. Mitt was in awe of his father, a high achiever, himself, and the boy was immersed in the hierarchy of the Mormon church. Being in Leo, Mitt was reluctant to express himself, sensing negative repercussions from these powers that be. You can see that today in what has been labeled his stiff carriage, something many Leo Saturns are afflicted with. Painful shyness and fear of embarrassment. Saturn likes to calculate its moves, and in spontaneous Leo, the planet encounters much difficulty. It's also shown by his impeccable manners. The Leo child wants to be loved, so he'll do what he must rather than risk being abandoned forever left to fend for himself. Oddly, he has rebellious Uranus in his first house, so toeing the line was probably a cause of much inner turmoil, thus his notorious pranks. The discomfort with the family was worsened by Pluto, which put his survival even further into question if he disobeyed these looming authority figures. He's been forced to keep his power under wraps, illustrated by the potent planets all below the horizon.  "He's weak!" they cry. I chuckle, glad to be in the know.

In 1968, Mitt went on a church mission to France and in June of that year he drove off on a trip with some of its members. An oncoming car crashed into his and he was declared dead. The driver of the other car actually did die, and lo and behold, it was a priest. So authority and survival really became manifest at that moment. Uranus won that round along with his very very powerful moon-Jupiter conjunction in Scorpio. Up from the ashes of destruction. You see this repeated throughout his life as he rises from the dead over and over. "Is Mitt finally finished?" is the constant question. He brushes himself off, and moves on leaving the crowd scratching it's collective head encasing its pea brain. The man learns from these encounters with fate.

The experience in the country instilled in him a belief that life is fragile and that he needed seriousness of purpose. It also represented a crucible, after having been an indifferent Mormon growing up.  He spent several months recovering physically from the accident and turned to his faith for emotional healing. It was in his hospital bed that he vowed to make something of his life.


So it's not surprising that his awakening came on a religious mission. His run for president has that quality. People are mistaken when they categorize the man as simply one amassing wealth. That's hardly the aim, just part of his drive to outdo his father, and probably to relieve the overwhelming insecurity of the 4th house configuration. And it's done. The missionary zeal of Romney is more important, since his unusual arrival with his heavy Leo planets in the fourth portray a special child with a special purpose larger than that of the already highly ambitious family. The Pisces planets high above the horizon imbue his goals with spiritual urges. Of course, the Plutonian energies lead him to the 7th circle of hell, sometimes, all the more reason to transcend. The Moon-Jupiter conjunction in the 6th house of health and repair tell of his dips into Hades followed by intense purification rituals. His life seems to be a giant purification ritual. Sixth-eighth house (Virgo-Scorpio) contacts speak of crisis situations and alchemical transformations. Healing businesses, healing wives, healing countries. The monetary missionary.

In keeping with the Virgo-Scorpio crisis setup, when Mitt served as a bishop in his church he was exceptionally good at counseling people through their troubles, particularly their grief. He had a special entrance in his home where community members could come quietly and secretly under cover of the night. He received them whenever they needed him, and their stories were kept in the strictest confidence. I think he understands people's shame (Pluto) before a judgemental god of perfection so he respected the need for privacy. The hushed and dark scenes portray the qualities of Saturn-Pluto, deep in the most personal and private part of the chart, and the Scorpio 6th house reveals his need for service through shared emotional pain, and of course, the power of Saturnian authority in deep matters of living. The long suffering Pisces factor adds to his facility with therapy. From what I understand, these characteristics precede him in the workplace, which is why people love working with him. Since I'm not a witness there, I'm not sure, but the image of him as a vulture or vampire is possibly inaccurate. You never know with Scorpio. Sometimes people's secrets aren't evil. Sometimes evil isn't evil. Sometimes darkness serves as protection and a basis for revelations of a subconscious nature.

Mitt's father followed a similar path to the one the son is on now. He ran for president but failed, due to a gaffe no less. Or the truth. Pluto-Saturn with its tendency to sabotage and at the same time create a driving desire to advance, has got the younger in its grip now. Will the father devour the son, or will little Mitt triumph and slay the monster of self doubt that so many Leo Saturns are saddled with? Can he lay this story to rest once and for all? It will require the ultra intense focus and concentration of the Saturn-Pluto conjunction to achieve this. Annihilation stares at him around every corner but being a flexible and quick Gemini-Pisces, he escapes. The Gemini trickster combined with the Pisces shape shifter creates the ability to disappear. People from Massachusetts often say when I ask them about his governorship, "Oh. I didn't even know he was there. I never saw him."

The crowd hates Mitt Romney. People loved his father, and now he faces another so called lovable man threatening to keep him from the full solar radiance he craves. In some way his significance was lost in the strange family, and now he is motivated to achieve something extraordinary and find the self-validation suggested by Saturn-Pluto. Oh, to finally bask in the attention of an adoring public. But the hurdle of hate is a high one to overcome and his competition is stiff in the stage performance area. The taskmaster Saturn makes it hard to absorb the solar love of Leo. Venus is conjunct his midheaven in Aquarius, so you'd think public adoration would come easily to Mitt Romney, and in time it probably will. But it sits in opposition to the Saturn and Pluto, a testament to the force of these entities, creating the undertow that keeps pulling him down, urging him to hide in cocooned safety. When Saturn transits Scorpio next and goes into mutual reception with Pluto, crossing his Moon-Jupiter, things are bound to get interesting.

But beyond earthly recognition of skill and achievement, Pluto and Saturn turn the native inward to the real source of power. Who is this god and father the man has been led to respect, even worship, without question? Who decides what? Eventually the question mark arises, and the native can feel as though he's groping in the dark for guidance, kind of like our country at the moment. With the first Uranus-Pluto square, it looks like the citizenry has become shockingly aware of the absence of leadership. A good thing. Perhaps we can learn to be more discerning since the traditional political parties have become ugly caricatures incapable of providing solutions for the nation's problems or spawning any noticeable talent We're on our own, thankfully. We rule as a collective, regardless of what Dad decrees.

Mitt Romney's puzzle is especially interesting to me since I, too, have the Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Leo. I can easily separate myself from personal and political judgements because I'm learning a great deal by observing him. His stage fright has diminished markedly with practice and increasing success. He's learning how to control his high strung Uranus in Gemini that can get your heart flipping and mouth gaffing. I'm glued to my seat watching his confidence grow as he suffers the blows of repeated humiliations at the hands of his new authority -- the press and the public. And they certainly are harsh judges, with justice sometimes in question. All of this is designed to guide the native to his own source of judgement and self esteem. When he reaches that point, the outer criticism might reflect it, barring his fateful tendency to sabotage himself, perhaps with the almighty Gaffe of all Gaffes. "What's a gaffe for the goose, is a gaffe for the gander,"  he might say.

But it goes beyond me. All seekers can learn since his dilemma is a symbol of Pluto in Capricorn (Saturn) and our universal  conflicts with internal authoritative voices. Our search for eternal power, the endless battery. The Expert. The Wise One. The Final Word. We all have a Capricorn house that Pluto is traversing now. We have Saturns of our own and 10th houses unique to our destinies. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are bit players. Liking them or agreeing with them are unnecessary.  Mitt is lucky in that his Gemini persona with Uranus is trine his MC. No guarantees, but a good start, considering the burdensome conjunction at home.

Fortunately presidents are temporary. Our systems travel side by side independently, helping when possible, recovering from wounds when necessary. The current phenomenal rise of political Independents in this country is revealing. The results are forthcoming as people begin to value, and even prefer, their own observations and opinions without excessive group verification.

 The questions touch us all. What are our true goals in life? How are we sabotaging our successes? Are we willing to drop what we've done so far in order to align with our best talents and our individual callings? Are we wasting time in misguided endeavors? Are we ready to face honest evaluations of where we are now and where we think we should be going and what we should be doing? Who decides? Are we preparing to be our own bosses? Can we murder our fathers successfully and climb to the top of our chosen ladders? What if we get there and Daddy is waiting with open arms after all? Full of pride. What a joy.

If nothing else, Mitt Romney's path is an education, not surprising from a Gemini rising.

The big bonus, if fortune smiles on you and you find your inner guide, is that you no longer have to grasp and pull the future to you before its time. It bestows a unique sort of confidence. Born of the circles of hell, heavenly fathers notwithstanding.