On the 29th of October the UK parliament voted for a general election, to be held in just over 6 weeks’ time. Here’s a quick look at the chart of the election, with an attempt to see what, if anything, might be indicated at this most volatile and unpredictable period in British politics.
Predicting election results with astrology is notoriously difficult, highlighted recently when a panel of 6 distinguishes astrologers unanimously predicted a Hilary Clinton win in the 2016 US elections. This has precipitated much useful reflection on astrology and prediction, including by veteran podcaster Chris Brennan. Many approaches are taken; here is not the place to share them, nor discuss their various merits and detractions. In this short analysis I am working mostly from the chart for the election itself, drawn for the moment poling booths open in the capital, London: 7am on the 12th December 2019. While many would use the chart for when booths close (10pm), arguing that only when the last vote is counted is the result finally sealed, I hold that astrology’s prime ritual centres around moments of initiation (eg. the birth moment), so prefer to use the opening chart.
The UK Election 2019 Chart
In such an election chart we locate the incumbent - the Conservatives - in the first house and its ruler, thus Jupiter in Capricorn in the 1st. The opposition parties are found in the 7th and its ruler, thus Mercury in Sagittarius on the 1st cusp. Here I’m moved to extend the opposition beyond simply the Labour Party, the traditional opposition in this largely two-party political landscape, given double-bodied Gemini sets, ruled by bi-directional Mercury in double-bodied Sagittarius. However Corbyn and the Labour Party, politically, ideologically and temperamentally, fit the classic image of the 7th house ‘open enemy’. Moreover, Corbyn’s Sun is at 6º Gemini (see below).
Assessing their fortunes through their relative strength suggests both are going into this election somewhat weakened: Jupiter (Tories) is in its fall (dishonoured) and Mercury (The Opposition) its detriment (ineffective), with Mercury running to get out of the self-sabotaging 12th house, and in doing so is weakened as it closes in on the Sun. Both being in their minor dignify of face suggests they at least enjoy some degree of autonomy.
Jupiter moves quickly on to trine upsetting Uranus, suggesting a surprise or wake-up moment for the Conservatives. Mercury’s next aspect is squaring off with a boundary-dissolving Neptune, hardly reassuring unity and focus within opposition parties. Perhaps it conveys something like an uncomfortable amalgamation. But before this, Mercury is moving to cross the Ascendant, and thus acquiring more initiative, prominence and power to act, even if in less-than-effective ways. That the first house belongs to the incumbents, the Tories, lends me to speculate a rather fractured opposition pulling itself together as it moves into forming the government. But is that enough of a testimony?
What about Moon, always of importance in such a chart? She shines at fullness, in double-bodied Gemini in the house of the Opposition, the 7th house. How interesting that it picks up the Sun sign of both key leaders, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, and something of their style of duplicity, fickleness and hedging bets. Being less that two hours after the Full Moon (Sun-Moon opposition) there is a strong image of polarisation, perhaps a legacy of the campaign being characterised by the establishment of extreme positions. Full Moons also symbolise something coming to a head, the flowering, for good or bad, of that which was planted in the past*. That this cycle’s NewMoon, at 4º03’ Sagittarius, fell only 0º10’ from Mercury, significator of the Opposition, is potentially a testimony in their favour, then particularly so given the Full Moon is in the 7th; what happens, and how they conduct themselves, around that New Moon may well prove a game-changer.
The Sun and Moon, falling in a full Moon across these 1st and 7th houses, could also be connected with the Conservatives and the Opposition respectively. Their similar essential strength (dignity by face) suggests an equally matched tug of war, but this nocturnal chart favours the Moon (The Opposition), already strong by virtue of her full light. Being closely conjunct the star Bellatrix (Orion) (orb 0º22’) brings Moon honour in battle through courage and strategy, but possibly, given her lack of supportive aspects, towards a lost cause.
What of Brexit in this chart? In a previous article I have located Brexit in the signature of the applying conjunction of Saturn with Pluto, an image of intransigent power battles, scapegoating and institutional destruction. That Venus, lady of the 10th house of governance, besieged right in the midst of this close and tightening opposition is a rather alarming symbol of what this election may be bringing down upon the institution of parliament, to say nothing of the economic implications (the conjunction falls in the 2nd house of finances). And the sign on the Midheaven, Libra, suggests to me a result involving compromise, negotiation and even coalition.
Elsewhere I have played with the idea of seeing Saturn in this particularly challenging conjunction as the Brexiters, and Pluto as the Remainers. In a tentative speculation I might see Venus’ move from Saturn to Pluto as a shift in gravity from Brexit towards Remain. But perhaps I’m squeezing too much out of this chart. And, moreover, as I’ve pointed out before, symbols in such an intense conflation are unstable and can easily reverse. Either way, this chart appears to show the UK government (and, or perhaps just, governance) in the grip of an intense process of (self-) destruction. But let’s not forget that Saturn doesn’t catch Pluto until mid-January 2020, suggesting it’s likely to be even well after the election before the leave/remain conflict comes to a head.
Finally, of curiosity but perhaps little significance in the outcome, note the strength of parliament (11th house) in this chart: Mars dignified, right in the middle of Scorpio in the 11th, shows it defiant and emboldened. Its mixed mutual reception with Pluto tempts me to interpret this as parliament’s fundamental support of Remain (Pluto).
Election Chart - transits to key politicians’ charts
What follows is some very brief notes on transits, and connections with the Election chart explored above, to the charts of the main party leaders. Some astrologers would see transits as central to the judgement of an election, but here I am exploring them only as an adjunct or support of the Election chart, and even keeping their particular meaning acquired within the Election chart itself.
Boris Johnson (The Conservatives)
The Saturn-Venus-Pluto conjunction falls at his IC. Could this indicate that he might be forced out of his home, No. 10? The Election Full Moon falls on his strong Mercury, highlighting his mental gifts and trickster personality. And Election Mercury (The Opposition) opposing his Mars, ruler of the 7th house of enemies, paints a good picture of the battle he is engaged in. It’s interesting to see the Conservatives imaged in the Election chart above as Jupiter at 2º Capricorn, right on his South Node, reinforcing and calling upon his old establishment narrative. Jupiter also sextiles his Moon, ruler of the 10th house of leadership, boosting his controlled command, augmenting his attaching to power. And Election Mars (Parliament) directly triggers his Neptune-Jupiter opposition - which Reinhold Erbertin connected with poor speculation, seduction, hypocrisy and scandal caused by instability.
It is impossible not to ignore the often-used chart of the Conservative Party (noon on 12th November 1867 in London), with the intense Saturn-Pluto conjunction passing right over its 18º38’ Capricorn Ascendant. This is such a clear image of intense and irrevocable change, destruction even. Some have questioned whether they will survive Brexit, and this suggests not in the form they are now in. Whilst, as their name conveys, they are change-resistant (fixed Sun-MC opposite Moon-IC), they do have a Scorpio Sun, indicative of the power of renewal. [Note: Some astrologers work from a chart of the ‘Tamworth Manifesto’ (12am 18/12/1834 in London), and whilst the Moon, Mars and Saturn in that chart are all mid-cardinals, to me it doesn’t quite convey the depth of crisis the party seems to be facing as well as this 1867 chart.].
Jeremy Corbyn (Labour)
I am not satisfied with the chart given for Corbyn on Astro-Databank, rating C. Information from Corbyn himself, that he “was born late in the day, at an inconvenient time” was rectified to 8pm, giving 24º Scorpio rising. I’ve rectified it from many key life events to 11:26pm, a chart that, to me, works much better. It has 5º Capricorn rising, with ruler Saturn in Leo (on Regulus) in the 8th House. Key connections here are Election Mercury (The Opposition) at 4º Sagittarius opposite Corbyn’s Sun (has his party come to hold a position contrary to his own?); the Brexit signature, Saturn-Pluto, trines his Mars-Moon conjunction, symbolising forced seismic shifts on his own values, with potentially transformative implications on his turgid and ineffective leadership (detrimented Mars is 10th ruler) and his steady capacities for negotiation and partnership (Moon is 7th ruler); and Election Jupiter (The Conservatives), at 2º Capricorn, could be seen as somehow supporting or pushing him into an authoritative demeanour, increasing his confidence and even charisma. Perhaps, as a possible support of this rectified birth time, we might see 2020/21 bring a radical shift for Corbyn, with Uranus moving over his speculative IC.
Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrats)
With the Liberal Democrats an increasingly important third party in the UK political scene it would be interesting to look at the Election Chart in relation with leader Jo Swinson’s birth map. Currently there doesn’t seem to be a birth time available, so I will leave this for the time being. However, a quick look at the chart for the Liberal Democrats (3rd March 1988 in London, for the press announcement at approximately 10am.) reveals the Election Jupiter falling on the Capricorn stellium which, having negotiated recently their Saturn return (and after extended Neptune transits to the Lights during 2014-18), could encourage a mature voice and leadership (Saturn rules their MC) if they can get over their fear of getting into bed with another party again (Saturn on the cusp of the 8th, which it also rules).
Conclusions
It’s hard to make a final call on the result of these elections, given the complexity of the situation and the subtlety of the symbolism, which can be read in often-contradictory ways. However, if pressed I would risk suggesting that the Election Chart just might show the Opposition taking power from the Conservatives, backed up by some of the party and leader charts. However it seems clear to me that the result will not resolve the tensions in the country, with the population remaining polarised and the Brexit boil continuing to fester. I will continue to muse over these charts and may update my thoughts in a later post.
Footnote
* It’s interesting to see in the chart of the election bill that enabled the calling of this election, passed at 8:23pm onTuesday 29th October 2019 (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-50212212/page/2), a New Moon. However, as chart ruler, being Void of Course and in its sign of fall, this could be seen as an indication that the election may be unable to fulfill the intention behind it, to break the Brexit deadlock.