The Dead Hand of Old Men

War, war, what is it good for?

These last months old men have lead young men and innocents to their deaths, so many of them, what do they have in common, if anything?

Looking at the astrology of tyrants and warmongers what, would I expect to see? Well a lot of Air, as air is the element of the ideologue, the thinker, the philosopher and also the tyrant who can easily sacrifice his people (and they are nearly always men) for an idea. Plus, for the religious leaders, as these religions as the Abrahamic ones (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) I expect to see a strong Saturn (which rules these religions, especially their more fundamentalist/patriarchal wings). Plus a good dose of Neptune, which is often seen in fanatics, and Mars and Uranus for violence, and perhaps Capricorn for leaders, Aquarius for ‘freedom fighters’, Scorpio for secret dealings and Aries for war.

As it turns out, my predictions were mostly correct, although interestingly, the leaders of the most warmongering countries

Ismail Haniyeh leader of Hamas, born in a refugee camp in Gaza 61 years ago has most of these, a Sun Saturn conjunction in Aquarius, along with Venus, Jupiter and Mercury, showing the intellectual (he was a university professor) and visionary (however much you dislike his vision). Fixed Air is good for ideologies, and can show the tyrant. He has a powerful, calculating Mars in Capricorn which shows the strategist, someone who understands how power works and plays the long game. His Moon Neptune conjunct in Scorpio (although we do not have the time of birth the Moon will be in orb) can show religious fanaticism, cruelty and secret power plays. The two Scorpio planets are squaring the stellium in Aquarius. Wikipedia reports he has amassed great wealth, which is another Scorpio trait. The Moon can describe our childhood, growing up in a refugee camp doubtless confronted him with many of Scorpio’s darkest experiences.

No birth time, data from Wikipedia.

Ali Khemenei, the religious leader of Iran, who supports Hamas also has the skillful and ambitious Mars in Capricorn. It squares a stellium in Aries, Mercury, Saturn, Sun and Moon. Moon Saturn in Aries suggests the spiritual warrior, Saturn in Aries can be cruel, harsh and bullying. The Venus Jupiter conjunction is softer and more mystical but is opposed by a pragmatic Neptune in Virgo. Wikipedia claims he has created parallel institutions throughout Iran to consolidate his power, a classic Mars in Capricorn move. He rules with an iron fist, like Saturn crushing the Moon, in recent years brutalising the Iranian women who demanded more freedom. His rule through threat and violence is shown by his Mars Uranus trine. Like Haniyeh he has reportedly amassed personal wealth of billions of dollars, belying his ‘spiritual motivation’ reflecting, perhaps his greedy Jupiter Venus in Pisces.

no birth time, info from Wikipedia.

Source: http://www.astrotheme.com.

Xi, leader of China has a very different chart. Like Ismail Haniyeh, Xi had hard experiences as a young man. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside for ‘re-education’ his father was denounced. He stated these experiences gave him a more pragmatic approach to power, as you would expect from a Virgo Ascendant. His is the chart of an ideologue (Sun and Jupiter in Gemini conjunct the MC). He is persuasive, but perhaps duplicitous. His Moon in Leo will insist on adoration and tolerate no rivals, and indeed a ‘cult of personality’ has grown around him. He has a dignified Saturn in Libra conjunct Neptune which may look like religious fervor, but may represent the belief or faith in the Chinese Communist Party. Unlike Haniyeh and Khamenei, Xi lead an anti-corruption programme in China and is not believed to have accumulated great wealth despite his Venus in Taurus. As a bureaucrat, Xi’s repressions have come at once removed, he is no warrior but a clever strategist. His Mars is weak, unlike Haniyeh and Khamenei. His violence is perhaps more intellectual (Mercury conjunct Uranus) certainly, China controls its people using technology and a sophisticated social credit scheme.

Source http://www.astrotheme.com (time un-verifed).

Putin’s chart shows the similar airy theme, he has a stellium in Libra, a weak Sun conjunct a strong Saturn plus a Neptune Mercury conjunction, which may show his subterfuge and spying, he was a member of the KGB and also, his reported paranoia. Sun Saturn can show difficultly in expressing one’s true nature (Sun) which is inhibited and self-doubting. He has the Scorpio of Khamenei and Haniyeh showing a need to succeed by any means necessary. He has a strong Mars in Sagittarius which has the flavour of the crusader, with the idealism and cruelty which accompanies it. Mars trines the powerful Pluto in Leo conjunct the MC which both demands attention (Leo) and rejects or destroys it (Pluto). His Moon in Gemini in the 8th house reflects the themes of his Sun and Ascendant, power, trickery, secrecy and brooding sexual power; he was a bit of a pin-up in Russia at one time and certainly promotes his masculine virtues in photographs of him hunting, fishing etc. He is educated and has a doctorate in economics. Putin has a greedy Jupiter in Taurus, pre-the Ukranian invasion his personal wealth, according to Fortune is 200 billion dollars, making him the one of the richest men in the world. His Uranus (18′ Cancer) is square his Libra stellium and is especially close with Saturn at 17′ degrees, this can show extreme cruelty. Putin is reported to have been hands on the torture and killings of opponents at one time.

Source: http://www.astrotheme.com

Biden, another Scorpio, with a powerful Mars, secretive Mercury, power hungry Sun and manipulative Venus there. He was born a year before Khamenei making him the oldest leader. He does not have the ideologues’ air we found in the other charts, he does have a wide Saturn Uranus conjunction in Gemini with Uranus conjunct his descendant, perhaps reflecting the personal tragedies in his life. As discussed above, Saturn Uranus can show violence and cruelty and as Commander in Chief of arguably the most bellicose country (Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria etc etc.) the violence is once-removed. Biden’s Uranus Saturn are conjunct Putin’s Moon suggesting a personal animosity between the two men as well as their respective countries. Interestingly, Biden’s Venus (ruler of his 6th and 11th houses) is conjunct Putin’s Mars (ruler of Putin’s 6th and 1st) I’m not sure what this symbolises in their relationship… Biden’s genial manner and ease of achievement is shown respectively, by a Sagittarius Ascendant and a dignified Jupiter in Cancer trining his Scorpio planets.

Another interesting similarity in the charts is Saturn, which is is conjunct both personal and transpersonal planets. Haniyeh has Saturn conjunct his Sun in Aquarius, the true ideologue. Khamenei has Saturn conjunct his Sun (and maybe Moon) in Aries, the warrior. Xi has Saturn conjunct Neptune in Libra using guile and persuasion to rule. Putin also has Saturn conjunct his Sun this time in Libra showing how he used intelligence and persuasion to govern. Both Putin and Xi had some degree of personal charm which enabled them to overcome difficult circumstances in youth. Biden, with Saturn conjunct Uranus shows shocks and sudden violent reversals. What about their Mars, the planet of war?

Both Khamenei and Haniyeh have Mars exalted in Capricorn, playing the long game, slowly moving towards their goal. Interesting that Putin and Xi do not have strong Mars, Sagittarius and Cancer respectively, which suggests they are less hotheaded and more strategists. Although, Putin with his Scorpio is more of a risk taker in war. Biden has Mars in Scorpio strong, secretive, powerful, but certainly not reckless. Of the five examples, Putin, Khameni and Haniyeh show the most markers for warmongering and violence, while Xi and Biden are more powerful figures, Biden behind the scenes, Xi centre stage.

Of course, if you have some of these combinations in your horoscope, it does not mean you will suffer or prosecute wars and violence. The beauty of astrology is that planetary energies can be expressed on many levels. You can fight for personal power, for justice or to protect the vulnerable there is always a degree of personal choice.